We finally arrive at the rescue training facility.
It's a massive place, divided into several different areas, one simulating a landslide, another a fire, and many other disaster scenarios where we could train and learn how to deal with them.
I was excited, and so were the others.
"This is a practical training area I created to simulate all kinds of accidents and disasters, and its name is: the Ultimate Space for Jams!!" said a figure dressed like an astronaut.
"It's the Space Hero Thirteen!" Midoriya says. Beside him, Uraraka looks just as excited at the heroine's presence.
Thirteen and Aizawa talk for a bit. It seems All Might won't be participating for now.
"Before we begin, just one thing, or two, or three, or four…" It keeps increasing…
"I'm sure you already know this, but my Quirk is called 'Black Hole.'"
"It's a Quirk perfect for removing debris and rescuing people injured in disasters!" Midoriya adds, and Uraraka nods enthusiastically.
"Yes… however, this is a power that can easily be used to kill people." The excited murmurs stop, and everyone pays closer attention to Thirteen's words.
"Please don't forget that each of you possesses a Quirk that can cause an accident. One wrong step is enough to accidentally kill someone."
"And during All Might's battle test, I believe you lost your sense of danger, abusing those powers against one another. This lesson will serve as a new beginning!"
"Let's learn how to use our Quirks to save human lives!"
"Your Quirks do not exist to harm others."
I can't help but reflect on myself after hearing Thirteen's words. It's hard to believe when my Quirk turns me into a perfect weapon for killing humans, like a combination of a ghoul and a vampire…
A soft touch on my arm pulls me out of my thoughts. I see Himiko smiling at me.
I manage to return a soft smile that goes unnoticed despite the crowd around us.
We hold each other's hands, fingers intertwined.
That last action doesn't go unnoticed, I can hear Mina, Toru, and the other girls sigh softly before turning their attention back to Thirteen.
"Please take this exercise as a full understanding that your Quirks exist to help people!"
"That's all! I'm grateful for your attentive and patient listening!" She finishes her speech with a theatrical bow. We applaud and thank Thirteen for her words.
"Alright, the first thing—" Aizawa begins, but the lights in the USJ start flickering, and the power goes out completely.
Then something strange appears in front of the fountain at the center of the USJ.
Several people with threatening appearances begin to emerge. I'm sure it's a portal.
"Group up and don't move! Thirteen, protect the students!" Aizawa shouts.
Most of the students seem more confused than scared.
I pull Himiko closer to me and activate my Rinkaku. The four tentacles hover defensively in front of us.
"Is this like that training pattern from the entrance exam?" Kirishima asks, not realizing how dangerous the situation has become.
Aizawa gives another order, already putting on his famous goggles. "Don't move! They're villains!!" Those words finally seem to alert the students.
I look around, no villain trying to sneak around, not even one coming from behind, which feels strange, especially since one of them has a teleportation ability.
"Eraserhead and Thirteen… according to the teacher schedules we acquired yesterday, Mr. All Might was supposed to be here, and yet…" says a strange figure that looks like a mass of dark smoke wearing an elegant bartender suit.
"So what happened yesterday was your doing, you troublemakers…" Aizawa says as he unwraps his scarf.
"Where is he… we went through all this trouble and gathered so many of us..."
"You can't tell me All Might, the Symbol of Peace, is not here…" says a pale, thin figure with strange hands scattered across his body, one of them covering his face.
"I wonder… will he appear if I kill the children?" he adds threateningly.
"V-villains!?"
"Sensei! What about the intrusion alarms?!" Momo asks.
Apparently, one of the villains must have a Quirk that disabled them.
Aizawa throws himself into the group of villains after briefly speaking to the students.
I don't pay much attention to what he says, because I'm focused on a specific figure standing out among the villains:
A muscular man, as tall as All Might, with a somewhat triangular face and his brain exposed outside his skull.
But it's not exactly his appearance that catches my attention, it's his lifeless eyes, like a doll, a puppet. I feel a sense of danger coming from that guy.
While Aizawa deals with the large group of villains, we begin evacuating the USJ, but we don't get far before a portal opens in our path, and the suited figure appears in front of us.
"I'm afraid I can't allow that," he begins.
"Greetings, we are the League of Villains. I apologize for the presumption, but we took the opportunity to enter U.A. Academy, the base of heroes."
The man continues speaking in an elegant tone, despite the subject being literally about killing All Might.
I see Thirteen opening the finger of her suit, indicating she's ready to act. Stepping in front of her would only get in her way, and be stupid, and…
Kirishima and Bakugo leap forward and attack the man… or rather, try to attack him. He disperses into smoke and reappears.
"That was quite dangerous, but expected. Though you are mere students, you are also the 'golden eggs' of the hero world."
Thirteen shouts for the two to run, but it's already too late. The man activates his Quirk again, enveloping the students in smoke.
I try to retreat with Himiko while covering us with my Rinkaku, but we get caught.
─── ◆ ───
[A/N]: Here's an image of Kaneki's Koukaku; it should have the gauntlet covering his entire arm, but the AI was doing strange things, so I'll try again later.
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