The Soul of a Hero
Chapter 10
This time will have a bit more with what you might say exposition. From not just the hero/meister side, but a bit from the villains as well. After all, the League of Villains' raid failed and there are a few new players who could make even AFO and Garaki nervous. Or…. They may be associated with the two of them. So, on with the show.
(No POV_
"Death Scythes and witches? People who get orders from "Lord Death" to eliminate dangerous individuals? Sounds like the worst nightmares for any villain," a shadowy entity says to the leader of the League of Villain, Shigaraki Tomura.
Who grumbled and acknowledged the man in the video as the one who beat him and killed Nomu. "Didn't even hesitate at the thought. They say they follow justice and order, but they just do what they want to preserve the so-called peace! No different than the heroes." Tomura rages while scratching at his neck and bandages.
The misty villain Kurogiri tries to get the young man to stop, while the man on the other side of the screen was uneasy and unsure of the matters, they could go with going forward. 'I heard about the massive green dragon he unleashed from his weapon before. And that was before it was made even stronger! It would probably be best for us to lay low.'
As the master was thinking this, his doctor was intrigued by the experiments of the witch involved. 'She didn't cause massive mutations or have to make beaked or odd-looking beast the same way I do with my Nomu. Instead, she could bring a person back while they still looked human. Perhaps we should seek one out.'
Tomura was fuming though and wondering if there was anyway to get a meister on their side. Or maybe a weapon to strengthen their own Nomu weapons. Kurogiri eventually got him to stop fussing and scratching at his bandages and the man child villain left the bar in a huff.
While the LOV was dealing with their resounding defeat at the reveal of who it was that defeated them, others were unsure of where to take the news of these new interlopers to their plans. And other plans besides those.
"Hello? Ah! Mitsumera-san! Good to hear from you again. What? Yes, I'm a bit unsettled by what that whatever or whoever he is said regarding quirks as well. Especially when he could show the form some of the souls took. I do wonder what this could mean for us going forward."
The one speaking was Yotsubashi Rikiya, the CEO of Deternat and the secret head of the Meta Liberation Army. The one he was speaking to was a long time supporter of their cause Mitsumera Kitsu. A fox tailed woman who disliked that people associated her with trickery and other immoral attitudes because of her appearance.
Though this was all a front. Mitsumera was in fact an alias of Da Ji. When the spell to warp their old world's perception failed, Da Ji was flung into this world almost 200 years ago. At that time, it was the chaotic dark ages of quirks, and she was fascinated by the ideals of the original leader of the MLA.
Given they were nearly identical to her own in wanting to be free to do whatever she wanted. Killing, torturing, experimenting, and having sex with anyone or thing. Thus, she quietly began supporting the whole of their group. Using a set of aliases that were supposed to be related to each other.
After talking and agreeing to send some extra funds and the like to Deternat, as well as some polite conversation, Rikiya thanked the fox like woman for her aid. "Perhaps I should have tried to find the others. I could have helped Charybdis get to a safer lab. That or taken that boy and used him as a new weapon against my old toy."
As she was thinking this aloud, her familiars separated from her, and she pet one of the smallest ones. While she was doing that, she was also thinking on the night she killed Izuku's parents. There was nothing special about them. No noteworthy thing about an encounter or her wanting to cover her tracks. She just felt the pull of her magic.
"I couldn't and didn't want to resist. I wanted to kill them. Possibly their entire building! And it felt sooo good to do it. And the boy would been so much fun to use. If only that brat hadn't gotten in the way."
As Da Ji is saying this, a mix of dangerous fox like looks come across her face. From conniving and sensual when she thought about how she killed Inko and Hisashi. To vicious and sadistic upon remembering Jon slicing off her arm. And thinking about what she wanted to do to him.
She sighed before questioning where the other members of her coven were. Not to mention the few witches they had picked up who were uneasy about their powers and what they could do.
"If we could get at least a few of the younger or other witches with us, then…. I might be able to start up my organization again. But I can't find or sense them! And I don't want to tip my hand too much to that boy Rikiya. Perhaps a bit of time will tell." Da Ji says before sipping on some wine while her smallest familiar curled up on her lap. And the largest loomed behind her. It's mouth big enough to devour a person whole in its sinisterly grinning face.
Back at UA, with Jon's whole announcement and the details of who he was and his mission revealed he now had a new role at the school. Teaching more hero students on what they could expect when it came to witches. Or at least a person with a strong soul.
Illustrated when he faced off with the third year students. "Seriously? You guys are supposed to be the best, and yet you can't even make me get serious or determined. Guess that shows where you all stack up."
He was currently staring down the Big Three of UA. Who were the only ones left standing after fifteen minutes of Jon beating most of the students senseless and bloody. Even Togata Mirio was bleeding after he tried to attack the meister.
"Cough! Hack! How the heck did you hit me!? I know I was permeating!" Mirio asks while the other members of the Big 3, Hado Nejire and Amajiki Tamaki, were keeping their distance.
Jon just snorts before saying, "you really think I couldn't hit you? You still have a body. And that means your soul is still there. All it does is make it easier to attack and maybe destroy your internal organs. So please. Keep using that pitiful idiotic trick. And see where it will get you."
All three give him angry looks at this before taking their renewed chance to defeat the meister. Tamaki goes in first to stab with his swordfish. And it strikes home! Sort of. Right as it was hitting, Jon flared and focused his wavelength on the likely impact point and stopped it.
He then grabbed the swordfish and pulled the hero student to him quickly. And before he could put up his clam shell defense, Jon was on him and struck his stomach as hard as he could. Letting loose a blast of soul force as well.
Tamaki collapses and starts vomiting all over the ground. He tries to turn his arm into a weapon, but he can't due to losing all of his stored food. Jon then kicks him so hard in the side he sends the boy flying through two boulders. All while still looking bored.
Nejire snarls a bit at this and uses the strongest waves she can to blast Jon. He actually feels a bit of pain from this and grunts while trying to keep his footing. He nods internally and thinks, 'better. But there is a reason I've been called the Successor to the War God of the DWMA.'
As Nejire unleashes another strong blast of her waves at Jon, he focuses and pushes forward with his belief. And grabs onto Nejires energy waves and stops them from rushing him. She and the rest look on in shock and disbelief.
Especially when he uses the spiraling waves to wrap up the girl in her own quirk. And use it to slam her into the ground a few times pulling her in for a savage set of attacks. The first is a knee strike to her stomach that knocks the wind out of her and breaks a few ribs. He then slams both of his fists down on top of her head and drives it into the ground.
He then kicks her away before pulling her back with the spirals of her quirk. Shoulder impacting on her core, before comboing some more strikes with his kicks and hands. Culminating with him tripping her up and then slamming her face into the ground again. Before double palm soul force striking her.
"How is that even possible?!" Aizawa demands while looking at the massacre (he couldn't even call it a battle at this point). Ming though lets out a small hum before explaining about his nickname of the War God's Successor.
"Black Star, his father, was one of the few humans who could compete with Lord Death himself in terms of pure skill, ability, strength, power, you name it. During the last battle with the Kishin on the moon, Black Star was able to do anything he could his mind to. Jon has trouble doing that against witches, but when he does focus hard enough, he can do similar. Catching lasers, dodging light, he's learned to do that just by observing his father."
Everyone listening felt as though their brains were melting due to the sheer insanity that the Death Scythe was describing. Nezu though thought about the matter and saw it a similar to number 1 hero of America, Star and Stripes.
Saying, "Star and Stripes could give herself an order that would allow her to grab Hado-san's quirk. But to be able to do that with sheer force of will alone? That is truly impressive." While they had been talking, Jon was currently beating down Mirio. With the blonde teen finally passing out after the twelfth blow. Five of them having gone through him and shocked him internally.
Ming meanwhile had taken to acting as a leader for the weapons and some of the other meisters. Though there weren't that many for her to guide at this point. After cleaning up and letting the third years recover, Jon decided to check in on someone who was under supervision.
"So. Made any decisions?" Jon asked Tensei who had been staying in the infirmary for the last week or so. He was looking out the window with a pensive look on his face. "I don't know. As much as I'd like to be a hero of any kind again….. I'm not sure about this whole… zombie or whatever I am thing."
Jon shrugs and sees the man's point. He goes on to say that it would be hard to try and live again with his current state in life. Not to mention that parts of his body don't feel like they belong.
"I know that feeling. Trust me. But if you're worried that you're some kind of monster, don't. You still have your soul. Not an amalgamation, not someone else's, it's yours. Meaning; this is your life now. It's just a bit unusual. And this is coming from someone who…. Well let's just say at times I wonder if I'm a Frankenstein's monster myself."
The meister's self-admission to his own fears and worries don't alleviate Tensei's. But they do help him see that he can't let it hold him back from enjoying or living the new life he had. He gulps before asking what Jon suggested he should do.
Jon hums before asking if there was something special he wanted to do or protect. "Something that worked often for me was focusing on the witches who hurt me. You can't get payback or have to worry about stopping the one who…. Well you know. But maybe you can do something else."
Tensei looks out the window again and sees his brother running on the Phys Ed track. Seemingly to be pushing his limits with his quirk. Perhaps in a way to make up for his brother no longer able to be a hero.
Tensei grips his fist before noting there was something. "But…. I don't know where to start." Jon smiles before saying he did. He pulled out a small mirror and put in the code for Death Room before handing it to Tensei.
The former speedster spends a few days secretly getting used to what he can do with his new body. And the strange new powers it granted him. But that is a story for later.
Something else that had happened though on the Soul World side, was the choosing of new Death Scythes. Something Jon and Ming happened upon when they made a different report to the Death Room.
"Uh, Mom? Big sis? What are you two doing there?" Jon asked when they had called the other dimension. His adopted older sister Ayame Star just gave her usual smirk before saying she was on a short list to be a Death Scythe.
Jon winced at this, given his sister was fairly insufferable to begin with. But giving her power and authority would just make things worse. 'And I'm pretty sure Rei can't stop all of her impulses.' Jon thinks while his blue haired sister was bragging.
However, her ranting was stopped by their mother. By her noting that she would be the more likely candidate given her experience. "And your father and I did defeat one of the worst threats while you were still in the Academy, Ayame." Tsubaki says with a pointed look at her daughter.
She just pouts before her meister, Rei Evans grabs her shoulder and tells her to let it be at that. "Good to see you looking well Jon. Though stopping one of the ones who hurt you has probably helped." Rei said with a smile. One Jon and Ming returned.
Once all of that talking was done, Ming was asked to work with the Hero Commission as an interim given the lack of presence and people on the Quirked World side that could use demon weapons. With the dragon like woman nodding to the black- and white-haired God of Death.
For the other meisters and weapons, they were each working with the students to improve their skills and prepare the hero students for the likely problems to come. Without having to beat most of them bloody to make their point.
Johari took some and gave some lessons to those who specialized in reconnaissance. Taking inspiration from Shoji's tentacles to extend her soul perception within a small area. "I'm so used to just tracking a specific soul wavelength. But like this I can track multiple of the same wavelength in a smaller area. Maybe even find the root or original one."
She was currently doing this while trying to pick out the original or real Ectoplasm amidst his clones. Eventually succeeding after a dozen or more tries. Izuku meanwhile took to practicing hand to hand with the various hero students.
And many of them experiencing similar pains to when Star was battling them. "You may not hit quite as hard, but it feels like you can inflict more pain!" Kirishima says after having his hardening broken through by a soul force attack.
"It's probably because Izuku is so good at analyzing. He can pick up on small details that we wouldn't think about or notice. And with his training, he can take advantage of that training to attack a sensitive spot." Bakugo says while icing his black eye.
Sato and plenty of the other first year close quarters specialists think the same as they nurse their own bruises. While Izuku just smiles before going to practice with some of the more long ranged specialized students.
Though this time, he was focusing his wavelength through Jane to hit distant targets. "Wow! You hit the target dead on from over a kilometer away! Even Snipe-sensei can't hit that!" a few of the students say as they were practicing their own ranged attacks. Such as Momo using a long range cannon to try and hit a target. Only succeeding due to splash damage.
"It's still not enough though. I can't… measure up to her." Jane says with a frown from her soul space. Snipe himself who was watching the training hums and asks who she meant. "Yumi. Yumi Azusa. She's the Death Scythe of the East Asia branch. She's also a gun type weapon. But she can hit a target accurately from over 10 kilometers away. With barely an inch for error."
Hearing that impossible feat of accuracy makes all of the 'long range' users drop their items. With Snipe feeling extra self-conscious, given it was another person who made his Hero name seem like a pointless one or a charlatan's bravado.
Izuku just sighs before asking her, "that was after she became a Death Scythe though. And she's generally only got the one form, right? Even with her enhanced shapeshifting. You have a lot of forms and you can be much more flexible for the situation at hand. You just need to play into them."
Jane blushes a bit from inside her soul space before thanking Izuku. They spend a bit longer practicing their sniping before Izuku goes to train with Melissa. Who was actually working in the development lab to keep up her skills in said profession.
"I may be a meister now, but I still enjoy making my tools and gadgets. Besides, some of them might be useful down the line. Better to be ready than sorry." Melissa said when Izuku asked her about it.
But with her devices made, she stopped and was up for a spar with Izuku. Which quickly became more intense when El and Mary were added to the mix. Some noting the intense flames that were coming off of the shield girl as she and Mary's weapon forms clashed.
"Izuku. This isn't getting us anywhere. But something else might." Mary said in her soul space. Izuku looked down at the weapon before questioning what she had in mind. "Try passing your soul wavelength to me. I'll do the same."
"We haven't had a lot of luck with that though. You sure about this?" Izuku asks while retaking his stance. While it was true, he could resonate to enhance his physical abilities and the like, he had yet to really be able to resonate at the same level as Johari or Star could.
Mary just gave him a shark toothed smirk before saying, "hey nothing ventured, nothing gained. Lets just try it and see what happens." Izuku raises his eyebrow at that, but his own smirk grows readjusting his grip on Mary. He felt both of their souls' crackle and fizz as they passed their wavelengths back and forth.
"Mel be ready! They're going to do something crazy!" El alerted her sister within her soul space. Melissa gulps as she could feel the energy and power rise in Izuku and Mary. While resonating, Izuku can feel out a piece of Mary's soul that was kept in check by her anti-magic wavelength.
'Anti-magic is for healing and fighting evil. I don't know what you are, but I could use your help to make this work.' Izuku thinks within his soul as they resonate. Whatever it is willing to go along for the time being and the red half of Mary's blade overtakes the white.
Izuku is somewhat acting on instinct as he adjust and positions his blade for the attack he is thinking of. He holds the blade up by his eyes in a thrusting position. And does just that. As he rushes forward, he calls out, "Blood Ray Pierce!"
He slips a bit at the end though and the blood red beam of soul energy is launched at an angle away from Melissa and El. The resulting blast pierces through the wall of the Gym Gamma where they were practicing.
As well as leaving a track that cuts all the way to, and through part, of the main UA building. With one of the last pieces burned being just above Mineta's head as he was sitting down in the bathroom. The boy passing out while sitting on the toilet.
"Okay that was cool, but you might want to work on controlling it!" Melissa says with some panic. Izuku lets out a slight chuckle before agreeing with her. And then the two have to explain what happened later to the teachers at UA.
While normally the school would be getting ready for the UA Sports Festival, the board as well as Nezu thought it would be best to postpone it for the time being. "Not long, but considering all of the….. incidents and occurrence that have happened as of late it might be best to hold off for now."
Most of the teachers agree and they tell their students the same. For the meisters though, they were each given new orders on targets for elimination by Lord Death.
Melissa and Eldora were to head for South America to deal with some gang. Johari and Muwali would go to Australia to deal with some Bunyips that were dragging people into the billabongs. Izuku, Jane, and Mary would head for Europe to eliminate a trio of serial killers.
"Luckily, the World Hero Commission is willing to foot the bill for the time being. But be careful all of you. You're still pretty green when it comes to what we do as meisters. But I trust you can handle yourselves. Good luck." Jon says after ending the call with Lord Death. And the meisters move out.
Normally I'd just pick one and go from there, but I thought it might be fun to let those who are reading this decide on who should be the focus of the next chapter. I have the base fights, challenges, and culture shock moments dreamt up for each already. So, I'll leave it to you the audience: who do you want to see first? Leave a review and suggestions!