Chapter 42: Battle of TartarosAuthor: Geraint
(MC's POV)
At the bridge entrance, I stood alone, facing off against the Pro Heroes. Seeing that most of them had gathered here... things were going exactly as planned.
As expected... I still hate this plan.
"You've told me that a lot these past few days," I replied to Roboco. "But you have to trust me. This is for the sake of everyone in the country."
Even if everything goes smoothly… what about you? Sacrificing yourself for a better future? You'll be branded a villain forever! There's no coming back from this!
I smiled.
"You'll understand after this battle. The children born after today… they'll dream of becoming heroes—not puppets to a corrupt system."
Because you'll destroy and rebuild the hero organization… in exchange for yourself!
"A small price to pay for salvation."
You're too selfless, Father! What about the people who care about you? Me, Grandpa, Master… even Mirko! She'll be devastated if she finds out!
...
I went quiet.
The Pro Heroes launched their Quirk attacks. I activated my superspeed to dodge, zipping through the chaos.
Pewww!
I blocked a few attacks with my right hand and neutralized them instantly.
"Sorry, daughter… this is the best plan I could come up with, given the time we have left. The others require too much preparation. But with this, Tsutsumi Kaina's execution will be stopped," I murmured.
Father... Roboco's voice trembled with worry. I still couldn't believe an AI could sound so human.
"This is the final phase. All I need to do is stall the Pro Heroes here. While they're distracted, the Commission won't have reinforcements for the uprising in their own backyard. I'm counting on you to jam the comms, Roboco."
...
She didn't respond.
I ignited my lightsaber and deflected bullets from Snipe.
"What's wrong? Is this all the Pro Heroes can do?" I mocked.
Crust, the Shield Hero, charged toward me, his body sprouting stone-like hexagon shields.
"Falcon!"
Just as he got close, I launched a front kick.
CRACK!
"Uuugh!"
My kick sent him flying, crashing into a group of other heroes.
"Crust!"
He stood up, blood trickling from his mouth, which he wiped with his wrist.
"Be careful, everyone! Ichika excels in close combat—attack from a distance!" Rumi warned them, still observing me.
"Like hell I will!" Endeavor roared, flames flaring around his arms as he rushed forward with a blazing hook punch.
"Endeavor, don't—!" Rumi shouted. "You stubborn old man!"
I deactivated my saber and returned it to my belt. I raised my fists in a boxing stance.
"Vanishing Fist."
As Endeavor closed the gap, I stepped forward and threw a lightning-fast left jab.
BAM!
"Ugh!"
He staggered, blood from his nose. He stepped back in shock.
"What was that?!"
"Endeavor, back off!" Rumi shouted.
"I refuse!"
He attacked again, only for me to counter with another sharp jab.
BAM!
"Ugh!"
His nose bled even more.
"Stop messing around and fight me seriously!"
My eyes narrowed.
"You think I'm playing? Fine... Have it your way. Just don't disappoint me."
I shifted my footwork, dancing with sharp steps. Endeavor's expression faltered.
He instinctively leapt back, raising his guard.
"What's wrong? Why are you running? Why are you running?!"
I dashed forward, only for several ropes to wrap around my limbs and neck.
Best Jeanist had struck with his Fiber Master Quirk.
"As expected of the No. 4 Hero. You reacted fast," I complimented, struggling slightly. The fibers tightened.
"I won't let you have your way, Falcon!"
The thread around my neck constricted.
"This is gonna be fun."
With a surge of brute force, I snapped all the threads. Best Jeanist's face paled.
"I won't waste this chance!"
Rumi leapt in and delivered a spinning kick to my helmet.
CRASH!
I stumbled, landing on my back as pieces of my helmet scattered.
My face was fully exposed now.
Rumi's eyes widened. I met her gaze—and grinned.
"Pffffft! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"
I let out a wild, unsettling laugh as I stood up.
Rumi frowned.
"What's so funny?"
"To think… they'd use my loved ones against me. How low. It only makes me want to destroy that corrupt system even more."
"You're crazy, Ichika."
"I might be crazy—but only for you. I don't care about those rotten old men."
"You said you wanted to be a Pro Hero like me! What happened?!"
I couldn't answer her.
"Enough talk. Let's fight!"
Kamui Woods attacked from behind.
"Lacquered Chain Prison!"
Wood spiraled around me, trying to trap me—but I weaved through it effortlessly.
Cementoss placed both hands on the ground.
The terrain shifted.
Massive cement walls erupted around me.
In the distance, Mt. Lady transformed and raised a colossal fist.
I used the Mind Stone in my left hand to manipulate the walls telekinetically.
"What?!" Cementoss was stunned.
"Thanks for the ammunition," I smirked.
I hurled the concrete walls back at them.
Crust blocked them with his shields.
Snipe aimed his gun—but I used telekinesis to yank it away.
Useless.
Edgeshot leapt high, flattening and twisting into a needle form.
I tore off my chest armor, revealing my upper body.
"Thousand Sheet Pierce!" he yelled, lunging toward me.
I smiled, arms wide.
CLANG!
His attack bounced off my body.
"What?!"
He tried again—flattened, twisted, and struck with his arm.
"Spiral Spear Hand!"
CLANG!
Another deflection.
Edgeshot broke into a sweat.
"Impossible…"
Above me, Mt. Lady slammed her fist down.
BOOOOM!
I was smashed into the ground.
...
"Huh?"
From beneath the debris, I stood in the sewers—lifting her colossal fist with one arm as I walked up.
"M-M-Monster!"
Some Pro Heroes stepped back in fear.
Mt. Lady recoiled and tried to stomp me with her foot.
I caught it with both arms, cracks forming beneath my feet.
I gritted my teeth, strained—and finally tossed it aside, causing her to stumble and fall.
"Kyaaah!"
She tried to steady herself against a building but slipped.
"Mt. Lady!" Kamui Woods called out.
"Ouch! Ouch! I'm fine!" she groaned.
I looked around.
"Well then... Who's next?"
The other Pro Heroes hesitated.
(To be continued.)
A/N: I'll fix more mistakes later.