《In My Hero Academia with a Jujutsu Kaisen Gacha System》


 Shimizu Souta, Info Sheet & Artwork

    <h4>Chapter -1: Shimizu Souta, Info Sheet & Artwork</h4>


    <strong>Artwork:</strong>


    Ver. 1 (Casual)


    Ver. 2 (Sukuna Look)


    -


    <strong>Cursed Techniques:</strong>


    Boogie Woogie - Todo Aoi


    Blood Maniption - Choso


    Auspicious Beast Summons - Ino Takuma


    Disaster mes - Jogo


    Construction - Yorozu


    ck Bird Maniption - Mei Mei


    Cloning - Bag Man


    Ten Shadows - Fushiguro Megumi


    Pain Killer - Nitta Arata


    Ratio - Nanami Kento


    Tool Maniption - Nishimiya Momo


    Disaster Tides - Dagon


    <strong>Skills:</strong>


    Yuji''s Hand-to-handbat skills


    Yuta''s Swordsmanship skills


    Maki''s Weapons Specialist skills


    Kenjaku''s Martial Arts skills


    Ijichi Kiyotaka Barrier skills


    <strong>Abilities/Passives:</strong>


    Nanami''s CE reserves.


    Yuji''s Pain Tolerance


    Sukuna''s Poison Immunity


    Fushiguro Toji''s Advanced Perception


    <strong>Cursed Spirits:</strong>


    Inventory Curse, Zaiko


    <strong>Weapons:</strong>


    Kugisaki Nabora''s Hammer


    ughter Demon


    Kusakabe Atsuya''s Katana


    Maki''s Polearm


    yful Cloud


    MeiMei''s Axe


    Ruyi Jingu Bang

 Chapter 1: NO. 1 - Shimizu Souta: Origin

    <h4>Chapter 1: NO. 1 - Shimizu Souta: Origin</h4>


    What is reincarnation?


    From what I understood, reincarnation is the religious or philosophical belief that the soul or spirit, after biological death, begins a new life in a new body that may be human or animal.


    Now, then, what is transmigration?


    Transmigration, also known as rebirth, is the idea that a living being''s non-physical essence starts a new life in a different body after death.


    Some would say these two concepts are the exact same or simr enough that they might as well have the same word to describe them. Others would argue that these two concepts arepletely different ande with their own distinct differences.


    What is my opinion on the matter, one may ask?


    It''s simple.


    "Who fucking cares?"


    "Sou-chan! You can''t say that! That''s a bad word!"


    "Meh."


    I looked away from the young, pale-blue-haired little girl and popped another grape into my mouth. I ignored her annoyed pout and looked up at the annoying blue sky as I continued eating my snack. Sighing in defeat, my fellow orphan retook her seat next to me on one of the small pastel-colored chairs and grabbed her half-eaten cookie.


    "...want a grape?"


    "Really?!"


    "Yeah. Here."


    Hase Keiko''s vibrant yellow eyes glowed with happiness as she epted my offer. She didn''t wait to devour the sweet and crunchy pieces of fruit as she chewed on the fruit with arge smile.


    "Thank you, Sou-chan!"


    "Yeah, yeah. You''re wee."


    Now then, where was I? Ah, yes. I was talking about reincarnation and or transmigration. It''s definitely not something a five-year-old child like myself would normally think about or deliberate during their recess break. However, the topic was very relevant to my current situation.


    I was a person who was seemingly reborn with all their past memories into a new world. It was a crazy and almost unbelievable fact the moment I realized the truth after I realized I was once again a baby being held in my mother''s arms. I had tried to brush this off as a dream, but the dream had seemingly never ended. Seeing that this was now my reality, I had to take the reality of my situation seriously and move on.


    "Ah! Sou-chan! Kei-chan! Let''s go y hero!"


    I looked over at another fellow orphan as he came to a stop in front of both Keiko and me with an excited smile. The boy had dark orange hair and orange-colored eyes. However, the color of his hair and eyes was quickly forgotten when the young boy''s body resembled an anthropomorphic red-scaled walking lizard. This fact would normally cause everyone in the area to panic and run in fear or confusion. At least, it would have in my past life.


    "Okay!" Keiko nodded and jumped off her chair. "Let''s go, Sou-chan!"


    "I''ll pass," I said and waved them away. "You two go ahead."


    Keiko looked dissatisfied with my answer, but the walking lizard, Tsuchida Hideo, nodded and grabbed her wrist. He began to pull the surprised Keiko off towards the center of the orphanage''s open courtyard, where several other children were grouped up together. Off to the sides were a few of the orphanage''s caretakers watching the gathered kids with amused smiles as they continued their daily chores or duties.


    "Oh! Oh! I want to be All Might!"


    "No! You were All Might yesterday! It''s my turn!"


    "No way! See! I have yellow hair like All Might, so I should be All Might!"


    "No fair! No fair!"


    I sighed as the group of kids began to argue about who would be Japan''s number one hero in today''s session of their made-up game, heroes and Viins.


    Yes, you heard me right. All Might. The plus ultra guy that can punch a hole through the atmosphere and change the weather. A fictional character from one of <i>my</i> world''s hit anime/manga series, My Hero Academia, was now, in fact, a real person in this world.


    This means that alongside him, every other character from that series was now a living, tangible person alongside the very world the author of the series created. At least if everything I''ve seen on television was to be believed, this meant I was now in a world where around 80% of the poption had some sort of power or quirk that could determine the course of your life.


    <i>Why couldn''t I have just vanished into the nothingness of the universe? Instead, I''m now stuck in this train wreck of a world. </i>I released a long sigh and leaned my head back onto my chair. "I guess it''s not so bad. I could have popped up in Attack on Titan or Berserk." But still, the thought of being in a world where 80% of the poption has a quirk is daunting. It''s not the world I was used to, and it''s a lot to take in.


    I closed my eyes and popped another grape in my mouth. I leaned back and rxed under the sun''s warm rays of light.


    In my previous life, I had greatly enjoyed the series for what it was. But as the story progressed and began to near its inevitable end, the writing and character directionpletely lost me. I had dropped MHA after ss 1-A used the power of friendship to bring back the series protagonist, Bakugo-<i>cough</i>, I mean Midoriya Izuku, back from his short stint as a vignte.


    This meant I had a pretty good understanding of the future and people in this world. Well, that is if everything happens like it did in canon. If not, then I got nothing, and I''d continue with my n of getting the heck out of Japan as soon as I possibly could. I had no interest in sticking around for the fall of Japan''s society when shit hit the fan after all. But even with my knowledge, I have to be careful. I can''t predict every twist and turn, and I don''t want to get caught up in something I can''t handle.


    Some would say, "Why don''t you use your knowledge of the plot to help you? Wouldn''t you have an incredible advantage you could leverage to propel you to the top?" Normally, they would have a point. My future knowledge made me incredibly powerful. I could turn the tides of either side easily if I wished or use my knowledge to ce myself at the top of the hero world.


    Unfortunately, there was a caveat.


    I was five, almost six, years old, and I had not awakened a damn quirk due to an extra joint in my fucking toe. I was quirkless and had no real potential in this world''s society.


    Normally, In cases like mine where an individual gets ced into a fictional world, it''s usually due to a being of higher power or a god wanting to fuck with me for some sick amusement. Usually, at least in the stories I''ve read or seen where this was the case, the person who was reborn would have received an OP ability or a cheat to help them progress in this world.


    I, however, didn''t get Jack shit and was born as a normal person.


    Trust me, I tested it.


    I had tried lifting objects much heavier than myself to discover if I had superhuman strength. Nothing. I had tried running faster than Speed of Sound, Sonic. Also nothing. I had tried expelling beams of power out of my eyes, hands, and feet. Surprise! Even more, nothing! The only thing that differentiated this body from my past one was my ability to learn stuff. I guess you could call me smart but in a world where might makes right, that shit didn''t matter.


    To make matters worse, my parents from this life had died due to a massive fight that nearly leveled an entire city block into a ming parking lot. Remember that clip sad-sack Deku loved to watch when he was but a weed? The one where All Might pulled out several people from a ming wastnd with a smile? That''s the one. My parents had died due to one of our apartment walls crashing down and crushing them alive.


    I had watched them be crushed before my very eyes as a small three-year-old. Completely helpless and weak to do anything as their pained screams filled my ears as the stone column slowly crushed them to death-


    "Fuck! Okay! Stop that, stop it." I closed my eyes and grasped the sides of my face tightly as my stomach felt like it was about tounch all my grapes back out.


    It didn''t matter that I was a person reborn into a fictional world; seeing that was seriously messed up, and the nightmares from that day still haunted me every now and then. I had to be some sort of psychopath if what I saw it didn''t affect me at all. I didn''t even like thinking about it.


    Moving on, then.


    I released my face and frowned as I watched the kids running around as they chased one another. Their game of heroes and viins resembled something more like tag but with teams. I joined in from time to time so I didn''t give off the impression that I wasn''t a normal kid to the adults. It was a pretty simple game, but it was a nice distraction from the monotony of being a child with little freedom.


    As the kids ran around, I looked around the orphanage with uninterested eyes.


    The orphanage was arge, old building with a worn but weing appearance. The exterior was painted in a soft, pastel color, giving it a sense of warmth andfort. As one entered the building, you were greeted by a spacious and brightmon area where children''sughter echoed off the walls. Colorful drawings and artwork adorned the walls, adding a touch of cheerfulness to the surroundings.


    Around the open courtyard, small, pastel-colored chairs and tables were scattered around the area, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere for us children. The caretakers moved about with gentle smiles, tending to the needs of the children and ensuring that we felt safe and loved, at least to a point.


    This orphanage was primarily used to house all the children and young adults who lost their parents or guardians during that tragic night. Some of the children sported burn scars and different healed injuries on their bodies as they ran around with reckless abandon while theyughed. Despite how it seems, I knew a lot of my fellow orphans were deeply affected by losing their parents and or siblings from the destruction. Looking down at my scarred hands, I grimaced at the memory of my pitiful attempts at removing the ming debris that separated me from my parents.


    "Okay, kids!" I looked up to see one of our caretakers, a woman with kind features and brown hair, call out to us with a small smile. "It''s time to head back inside!"


    A collective wave of disappointed groans and moans sounded out from the children as they all slowly marched into the main building. I hopped to my feet and joined the orderly line of children as we walked inside towards our rooms to clean up for supper.


    x x x


    Shimizu Souta.


    That was the name I was given this time around. It was also the name that sat next to three others on the door that led to my shared room. I walked up to my bed and threw my body on its soft surface with a grunt. Tilting my head, I looked over to my nightstand and reached over to open the top drawer. Reaching in, I pulled out a small notebook and flipped through the several pages of writing I did.


    As with everything in life, given enough time, I was sure I would forget several key points of the MHA plot. So, to avoid that, I had written everything down in this notebook so I wouldn''t forget. This normally would have been risky. What if the notebook fell into the wrong hands? If that were to happen, I would be seriously fucked. So, to avoid that, I wrote everything as if I were writing a fictional fantasy story and switched up key names with ceholders.


    One example would be that Midoriya Izuku''s name was changed to Sheep Boi, while Bakugo Katsuki is now Spiky PomPom.


    Great names, I know.


    Anyways...


    I had tried to figure out where I was in the timeline by looking through the news and any information UA released about its students. I also watched the yearly UA sports festivals to see if any of the Big Three showed up to give me a better idea as well. From what I knew, Mirio, Nejire, and Tamaki, UA''s Big Three, were third years in the original canon, so that would clue me in on when things would start with Midoriya.


    Unfortunately, those three haven''t showed up yet. Meaning they were probably still kids and I had to wait a couple more years until things popped off. Once I finally see them at the sports festival, I would finally get my indication of when to start getting my shit together to leave the country. No way in hell would I be here when All for One started wrecking everything.


    Despite my n of getting the hell outta dodge, I still wrote down everything I could remember from the original story. This starts when Midoriya first meets All Might during the Sludge viin incident, and it goes up to the point where Shigiraki skewers Bakugo and nearly kills Gran Tarino. Thest thing I remember reading was Midoriya going through his lone wolf arc until when his goodie-to-shoes ssmates bring him back to school with the power of friendship.


    Ugh. After that, I don''t have a clue what happens, so whenever things get to that point, I''ll be leftpletely blind to whatever awaits the world.


    Damn it. Why didn''t I stick with the series until it ended? Assuming the series did have an ending and that it didn''t continue going for several more years until Midoriya and his ssmates graduated. Well, this is all on the assumption that my actions don''t derail the main plot from its course.


    Such is the Butterfly effect.


    Then again, I had no intention of getting involved in Horikoshi''s mess. So I didn''t really have to worry about the future-


    <strong>[...98%, 100%. Loading Complete!]</strong>


    <strong>[Congrattions! The Jujutsu Kaisen Gacha System is now fully installed!]</strong>


    "...say wha?" I sat up slowly and looked at the floating game-like screen with wide eyes. I looked around my shared room and found none of my roommates to see if this screen was real or if I was losing my marbles. "The Jujutsu Kaisen Gacha system?"


    <strong>[The Jujutsu Kaisen Gacha System will allow you, the User, to use Social Points, SP, to pull random abilities, techniques, skills, items, and much more from the universe of Jujutsu Kaisen to empower you to greater heights!]</strong>


    <strong>[The way the User can earn SP is by interacting with this world''s main yers and by having either positive or negative social interactions. Each individual interaction will result in different amounts of points the User can spend to be able to pull for a chance to receive either a Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold, tinum, or Diamond tier rewards.]</strong>


    "Oh, no... I don''t like where this is going."


    <strong>[1500 SP will allow you to pull 2 times with a 35% chance to pull a Diamond tier Reward]</strong>


    <strong>[1000 SP will allow you to pull 4 times with a 50% chance to pull a Gold tier Reward.]</strong>


    <strong>[700 SP will allow you to pull 6 times with a 45% chance to pull a Silver tier Reward]</strong>


    <strong>[500 SP will allow you to pull 8 times with a 75% chance to pull a Bronze tier Reward]</strong>


    <strong>[250 SP will allow you to pull 10 times with a 85% chance to pull a Copper tier Reward]</strong>


    <strong>[We would like to thank the User for partaking in the Jujutsu Kaisen Gacha System, and we hope that it will help serve you inpleting your goals! As a gift, you have been awarded 1500 SP!]</strong>


    "Now, wait a minute! I have way too many questions!" I swiped at the floating screen as all the informational screens vanished, leaving behind a small floating Gachapon machine in front of me. The machine looked exactly like any other gachapon machine that could be found in Japan. The prizes inside all contained different colored prize balls that glowed with a mysterious power. At the center was arge dial that one would use to pull a prize. "This can''t be real. I''m going nuts! I knew I should have gone to that therapist like that doctor said!"


    Despite saying that, I eyed the lever with curious but suspicious eyes. Taking a deep breath, I reached over and turned the dial. I jumped back in surprise as the dial''s surprisingly cool metallic texture. I took a few seconds to calm my beating heart and once again grabbed the lever.


    <strong>[How much SP would you like to use?]</strong>


    "I see. So I have to tell the machine how many points I want to use. Let''s see, I have enough points to do any of the five options. But doing the most expensive options will limit how many pulls I can do." I debated on what to do and brushed back my ck hair with a groan. "I can''t believe I''m really entertaining this delusion. Still, if there''s even a small chance that I''m not crazy and this thing is legit, then this could be my opportunity to rise to the top."


    Jujutsu Kaisen is another anime/manga series from my original world. The series held a plethora of amazing and broken abilities from characters that could easily molly-wop almost everything in MHA. If this Gacha system could grant me abilities and techniques from that world, then nothing could stop me from achieving all of my ambitions. Gojo Satoru''s Limitless and Six-Eyes or even Ryomen Sukuna''s Cleave/Dismantle technique would make me invincible. If I could pull either of those techniques, then the sky would be the limit.


    "Use 1000 SP." I said and twisted the dial. The machine nked and hummed as the bottom lid sprang open to reveal a glowing stic ball. I tentatively grabbed the ball and snapped it open.


    <strong>[You have pulled: Nanami Kento''s Cursed Energy Reserves! Rank: Silver.]</strong>


    "Wow!" Instantly, I felt my body swell with a newfound source of power. I looked down at my scarred hands and clenched them into fists.


    Let''s see. From what I remember, Cursed Energy, or Juryoku, is a power source that stems from negative emotions. Sorcerers and cursed spirits from JJK use cursed energy to fuel their jujutsu. Negative emotions are present in every human being to some extent. If this amount is higher than a certain degree, it grants the human the ability to see cursed spirits.


    Using that knowledge, I focused my negative emotions to bring out my cursed energy or CE to the surface. Slowly, ck and blue waves of fire covered my hands. My mouth stretched widely at the sight of my new power, but it quickly vanished due to my brief distraction.


    "Damn, having Nanami''s reserves doesn''t necessarily mean I have his control." I looked back up at the machine and saw the number three next to it. "Right, I have three more pulls. Hopefully, I''ll get something like cursed energy mastery. The Six-Eyes would be great."


    Twisting the dial, I watched the prize balls dance within the machine. With a satisfying pop, the lid opened to reveal another prize ball. I grinned and snapped open the lid, only to frown at my prize.


    <strong>[You have pulled: Nobara Kugisaki''s Hammer! Rank: Bronze.]</strong>


    "...what am I supposed to do with this?" I lifted up the hammer and saw the small pink heart on its surface with a frown on my face. "Unless I pull her technique, this is useless unless I decide to be a carpenter."


    I ced the hammer inside my nightstand and turned back to the Gacha machine for another pull.


    <strong>[You have pulled: Yuji Itadori''s Hand-to-Hand Combat Skills! Rank: Silver.]</strong>


    "Yes!" I pumped my fist and felt a wave of knowledge surge into my brain. Jumping onto my feet, I tried to throw out the series ofbos that reduced Mahito into a pathetic mess. But to my immense disappointment, my body failed to keep up with my mind. Meaning that my young, untrained body was incapable of performing a decent one-two punch. "Tch. I guess this means I have to train my body to be able to keep up. Hah... maybe I''ll get lucky someday and get Toji''s body."


    With one final pull left, I did a quick prayer to Akutami Gege and twisted the dial.


    "Come on,e on! Give me my Gold tier reward!" After another second of waiting, a glowing gold prize ball finally rolled out. Slowly, I reached out and grabbed the ball with arge smile on my face and snapped open the lid.


    <strong>[You have pulled: Todo Aoi''s Cursed Technique, Boogie-Woogie! Rank: Gold.]</strong>


    "Yes!" I pumped my hands into the air in celebration but suddenly paused. "Hold on. Boogie-Woogie switches the positions of the user and anything they desire that has above a certain amount of cursed energy. Meaning that if I want to switch with something, it needs to have... cursed energy. Shit! Fuck!"


    I fell onto the floor and watched as the floating gachapon machine vanished, seemingly sensing I was done pulling for now. I remained where Iy until the sounds of rushing footsteps caused me to turn my head to see Keiko above me with a wide, excited smile.


    "Sou-chan! Sou-chan! You''ll never believe who''sing to visit us today!" Keiko said as she danced around me. Pure happiness radiated off her, causing me to squint at her.


    "Ha? Who the hell ising here?"


    "It''s Japan''s number one hero! <i>All Might</i>!"


    My eyes grew wide as saucers at her answer, causing Keiko to chuckle at my expression as I quickly rose to my feet.


    "...seriously?"


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Hello! This was a story idea that has been running through my mind for the past several weeks now. This story is mostly for fun and for me to release my frustration on how MHA was handled and how it ended. I know a lot of its fans enjoyed the ending, but I''m not one of them. So this is mostly my response to it. Depending on how it''s received, this story will either continue or stop here. So be sure to let me know what you think if you want to see more!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 2: NO. 2 - The Number One Hero

    <h4>Chapter 2: NO. 2 - The Number One Hero</h4>


    After drying my face with my blue towel, I looked up at the bathroom mirror. A small, youthful face stared back at me, barely containing the excitement within. My ck eyes danced around as I intensely scrutinized my appearance. My straight but spiky ck hair wasbed back semi-neat, a stark departure from my usual wild and unkempt look. I was also wearing my nicest pair of clothes: ck pants and a hoodie. I said nice, not fancy.


    "Hurry up, Loser! It''s my turn!"


    "Yeah, yeah."


    I hopped down the step stool I was standing on and opened the bathroom door to see a long line of children waiting to use the bathroom to take a shower, change, or freshen up. This was not a regr urrence at the orphanage I stayed in, but due to our special guest tonight, everyone was in a rush to clean up and look presentable.


    "All yours, my kind Sir." I made an exaggerated motion towards the door, and an older boy with dark grey hair red at me briefly before stepping inside the bathroom.


    "Tch. Quirkless runt." The grey-haired jerk said before he closed the door.


    "Make sure you clean your ass! I don''t think the caretakers can keep buying you more underwear!" I quickly pounded my fist on the bathroom door and decided to run off. The loudughs of those still in line echoed behind me as an embarrassed but angry yell rumbled in the halls.


    "T-Thats not true! Gah! I''ll get you, you quirkless little shit!"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    I chuckled as I slowed to a walk with my hands in my pockets. I knew it was childish of me to pick on a child, but I didn''t appreciate being bullied for something that was out of my control. It also didn''t help that I did, in fact, receive social points with <i>every</i> interaction I had. It wasn''t just limited to the main yers, as the system said. Although the points I got from everyone else were minimal.


    Now then, back to the jerk, the way he treated me wasn''t umon, as a few others at the orphanage called me names for myck of quirk. I, of course, took it all like a champ and retaliated in my own subtle way.


    Said retaliation involved numerous pranks and framing them for minor transgressions to get the caretakers to punish them.


    I stopped walking and looked down at my hands with a frown. Looking down the hallway, I saw a boy sitting on a chair while reading an old manga. His hair wasposed of several hundred green worms as they danced around on his head¡ªdefinitely one of the oddest quirks I''ve seen.


    <i>p!</i>


    The boy with worms for hair looked over in my direction but quickly shrugged. I sucked my teeth and ruffled my hair in frustration, ruining my once-brushed hair.


    "Just as I thought, I can''t use Boogie Woogie on those without CE," I muttered and continued walking towards my destination, which was the cafeteria. "Just my luck, one of the best cursed techniques, and I can''t use it due to me being the only one with cursed energy in this world."


    I brought up my right hand and held my chin as I began to think of a way to properly utilize the technique with this world''s limitations.


    "What if I pumped someone with some of my CE to allow me to switch with them? Just like how Todo infused his CE into a rock during his fight with the transfigured humans." I muttered and decided to head outside instead of the cafeteria. "But is that something I can do? What effect will CE have on the people of this world? Hm..."


    Opening the door, I looked around and saw no one else outside. I jogged over to the south side of the building, where no one usually hung around, to ensure I had some privacy. Scanning the ground, I found a well-sized rock in between a few des of grass. Crouching down, I went ahead and grabbed the rock. With it in hand, I began to focus until waves of blue and ck enveloped my hand. Slowly, I attempted to infuse my CE into the rock. After five minutes, I began to grow irritated at the rock and myself. No matter what I did, I couldn''t get my CE to do what I wanted.


    "Tch, This is hard. I just awakened this stupid gacha system and my CE. I shouldn''t be surprised that I''m not an expert at this. Todo was a Grade 1 sorcerer, after all. So, for him to be able to switch with a rock on the fly is easy. Currently, I''m no better than a Yuji at the start of the series." Just before I decided to give up, I decided to give it one more shot.


    "Think of CE as electricity and cursed techniques as everyday appliances. Using electricity on its own is hard. But anyone can connect a vacuum cleaner to an outlet and power it on. Using that theory, all I have to do is think of this rock as a battery and pump my CE to charge it. I can''t just try and force my CE into it and expect it to work."


    I closed my eyes and began to imagine the rock as a small battery. Carefully, I slowly pumped my CE into the rock. It took some time, but I eventually felt the transfer of energy go as I wanted. It was at that moment that I opened my eyes and saw the rock now covered in an aura of CE. Grinning at my achievement, I stopped pumping my CE into the rock and saw that it continued burning with my power. However, it gradually began to disappear without the continuous supply of CE from my body.


    I stood up and chucked the rock towards a far-off tree and pped my hands. Before I knew it, I had suddenly swapped ces with the rock. I looked back to where I once stood and saw the rocknd on the grass, the embers of my CE now gone.


    "A perfectly executed Boogie Woogie swap." I couldn''t help but feel a surge of pride and satisfaction at my sessful use of the technique.


    I pumped my fist in the air and felt my understanding of CE improve. Raising my fist, I was able to quickly summon my CE around my arm and, in no time, infused it into the aforementioned limb. Walking over to the rock, I picked it up and held it in my hand. Grunting, I began to grip the rock in my grasp and eventually managed to crush it.


    "With CE, I should be able to enhance my body to improve my strength, speed, durability, and stamina. With enough time and practice, I should be able to give most pro heroes a run for their money with pure CE alone." I said as the now shattered pieces of rock slid out of my hand and onto the ground. Looking at my hand, I saw that my experiment had its consequences.


    At the center of my palm was a deep gash from one of the pieces of rock cutting into my flesh. The gash was now bleeding, causing some blood to drip onto the des of grass below. I winced in pain, but the smile on my face didn''t disappear as I pulled out a handkerchief from my pocket to stop the bleeding.


    "Maybe I could create my own cursed tool to swap with so I didn''t have to keep infusing rocks with CE?"


    With my experiment over with, I decided to head towards the cafeteria. As I walked, I wondered which option I should use my remaining 500 SP on. Reaching the cafeteria door, I heard several loud voices on the other side. But what stood out the most was the loud and booming voice that sounded bigger than life.


    That voice! I quickly opened the door and saw the Symbol of Peace himself dressed in his red, white, and blue hero costume at the center of therge cafeteria with severalrge bags filled with presents and gifts behind him. Standing all around the man were all the inhabitants of the orphanage. Each one of them was looking at All Might in awe and excitement. Off to the side, the adults and caretakers also looked like they were creaming their pants at the sight of therge man, but they held themselves back for the kids.


    "Haha! I am here! With several presents for you all!" All Might said as he began handing out gifts to all the boys and girls. "Now, now! Don''t be shy! There''s enough for everyone!"


    "All Might..."


    I was left in awe at the sight of All Might. Despite having read and watched the series, having the man himself right in front of me in the flesh was apletely different experience. It was as if I was sharing the room with a demi-god! I shook my head to stop myself from falling deeper into the mindless recesses of a crazy fan and remembered just who the man was.


    <i>Okay, enough with the zing.</i>


    All Might, or should I say Toshinori Yagi. The very person who held up Japan''s society with his presence alone and the man who lived his whole life doing what was right. A true hero. I wondered if this is what it would feel like if I ever shared the same room with Superman, too. Then again, All Might is this world''s Superman.


    But thergest question in my mind right now was why someone of his caliber was doing at an orphanage. My orphanage! I looked around and saw a distinctck of cameras and reporters, so this wasn''t a PR stunt. Not that All Might would do something like that. But still, why was he here?


    "All Might! All Might! Can I have your autograph?"


    "Oh! I want one, too!"


    "Me too! Me too!"


    Several dozen voices began to chant and beg for the man''s autograph. All Might looked around at all the children and then kneeled on the ground with arge, friendly smile.


    "Of course! I''ll be more than happy to!"


    I walked over and leaned on one of the far walls and watched as All Might began to give everyone who wanted one an autograph. He even signed some of the presents he brought as well.


    "How kind of All Might to do this for the kids."


    I looked over to the side to see the orphanage''s principal director standing beside one of the caretakers. Her face was weathered and kind as her brown hair had hints of grey. "He already does enough being one of our most generous donors. He really is Japan''s greatest hero."


    <i>I see. So that''s how it is.</i>


    I looked down at my shoes and listened to the excited chatter and yells from the children.


    <i>So, All Might is arge part of why we all have a roof over our heads and for the warm food in our bellies.</i> It was at that moment that my respect for the man grew evenrger. <i>Does he do this for several other orphanages or help centers? Or could it be...</i>


    Could it be because of guilt?


    During that horrible incident that caused me and several others here to be orphans, All Might was one of the heroes at the scene who helped with the evacuation. I wasn''t saved by him when it happened; no, I was personally saved by Uwabami. So All Might is here to check on us or something close to that.


    I shook my head with a smile. "The man is a bleeding heart, all right."


    "Shimizu-shonen."


    I jumped at the sudden loud and very close voice of the number one hero as he stood in front of me with a kind smile. In hisrge hand was a gift-wrapped present. "I believe you haven''t received a gift yet. Here, I hope you enjoy it!" His eyes then zeroed in on the wound on my hand. "Hm, are you okay, young man?"


    "Eh? You know... my name?" I said as I epted the gift with a grateful bow. All Might nodded and chuckled. I then looked down at my hand; the wound had clotted already, and the makings of a scab began to form. "Oh, I just got this... ying a game." All Might nodded at my answer and mumbled something about kids being kids.


    "Of course I do, Shimizu-shonen. I know all of your names." All Might said as he looked back at several of the children as they opened and yed with their gifts. "That over there is Fumiko-shojo, Akito-shonen, Hidemi-shonen, Kanako-shojo, Junpei-shonen..."


    I listened as he continued to name every single child in the room, much to my surprise. He got each and every single name correct. After living here with everyone for two years, I knew them all well.


    "That''s amazing," I mumbled. "I can''t believe you remember them all."


    All Might nodded at my words and rested his hands on his hips. "It''s the least I can do."


    "...hey, All Might." I looked up at therge man. "Thanks for giving this ce money. I guess I have you to thank for all that broli they feed us."


    <strong>[+100 SP]</strong>


    <i>So many!</i>


    All Might looked briefly surprised, but it was quickly hidden by a boastfulugh. "Hah! You''re wee, Shimizu-shonen! Think nothing of it! Anything to help the next generation!"


    "I guess the saying ''Don''t meet your heroes'' doesn''t apply to you, All Might," I said with a grin as I looked down at my gift.


    <strong>[+150 SP]</strong>


    "That''s quite thepliment, Shimizu-shonen." All Might said with a grin as he looked around the room. "Hopefully, I can continue to live up to that standard. Being a hero is much more than just beating up viins or looking cool. It''s also about helping those in need and lending a hand to yourmunity."


    I smiled at him and nodded.


    Who would have thought that All Might was even more impressive in person? He truly had a heart of gold. It''s no wonder society relied on him so heavily; he was THE hero.


    After watching my fellow orphans have fun with their gifts, All Might nodded and looked up at the clock.


    <strong>[+100 SP]</strong>


    "It seems I have to go now, Shimizu-shonen!" All Might said with a loud voice, gaining everyone''s attention. "I''m off to continue my patrols through the city!"


    "Awh! Really!"


    "Don''t go, All Might! Please! please!"


    All Mightughed and saluted us all. "Haha! I''m afraid not you all! Someone could be out there that needs to be saved! Now then, be sure to eat your vegetables and get plenty of sleep!"


    In a burst of wind that caused loose papers and hair to flutter, All Might disappeared in a burst of pure speed. I blinked in confusion at the sheer level of speed All Might had and turned to the now open doors towards the back of the cafeteria. Despite being sad at the fact that the number one hero was now gone, everyone still looked happy that he had paid us all a visit.


    I looked down at my All Might themed gift-wrapped present. I shook the gift as was tradition and shrugged. In one swift motion, I tore off the wrapping paper and chuckled at what I received.


    It was a limited edition Prime All Might figurine. On the bottom was a sticker that stated it was one of five that was released worldwide.


    "Heh, this is something that bushy-haired nerd would go crazy about." I chuckled and looked over to see Keiko dancing around with a light blue All Might themed hoodie. "Now then, I have some more points I can spend."


    With a limited edition figure in hand, I made my way out of the cafeteria and headed to my room.


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Despite wanting to wait to see if this fic gained more traction andments, I couldn''t help but write the next Chapter. Let me know your thoughts on the story and what you all would like to see! Make sure you leave reviews orments!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 3: NO. 3 - Money? I Need That!

    <h4>Chapter 3: NO. 3 - Money? I Need That!</h4>


    <strong><i>...4 Years Later...</i></strong>


    The bustling city streets were filled with a steady stream of people, each one seemingly in a hurry to get to their destination. The sounds of car horns, chatter, and footsteps filled the air as pedestrians weaved through the crowded sidewalks. Tall buildings loomed overhead, casting long shadows over the bustling streets below.


    The asional street performer added a touch of music to the urban symphony while the smell of street food wafted through the air, tempting passersby. Amidst the chaos, a sense of purpose and determination seemed to drive each person forward, creating a captivating energy that pulsed through the city.


    That was until arge explosion and thundering cracks filled the air due to four individuals dressed in dark outfits.


    One of the darkly dressed individuals was crashing through brick walls and parked cars with reckless abandon with his great strength. The man had arge body that seemed to be made up of sharp blue-colored stones. His heavy footsteps caused rumbles to rock the streets as he continued his charge.


    The next individual was covered in a ck body suit as purple mes covered his hands and feet. Using his mes, the man was capable of pushing his body through the air to allow him to fly. asionally, he threw small fireballs at the cars lining the street, causing them to explode. Luckily, no one was standing near the vehicles when they exploded.


    Gliding on some sort of invisible flying disc a few feet behind the two was a woman with bright blonde hair who had arge grin on her face. On her shoulder was arge backfilled with money that asionally let loose a few loose bills through the air as she maneuvered in and out for now panicking city folk.


    Lastly, A thin man with extremely long and stretchy limbs used his body to move over everyone below him with maneuvers resembling a slinky. The man''s extremely stretchy limps made it easy for him to move with great speed and precision. This allowed him to move out of the way just in time as the Lion hero, Shishido, swiped the air from where he once stood.


    Shishido''s hero costume resembled a lion, with long, spiky, brown hair that appeared like the mane of a lion. On his costume was arge amount of golden fur, with several spikes both in front and on his back, positioned so that they resemble fangs, and a ck mouth with exposed teeth that resemble a lion''s maw.


    "Hah! Some hero! You''re slow as shit!" The man with the stic quirk yelled as heughed at the chasing pro hero.


    "Ragh!" Shishido growled in anger as he looked over to see therge man covered in a blue-colored stone crash through another car. Nearly crushing a woman alongside her young child. Seeing this, Shishido grew even more enraged and pushed his legs to go even faster. "Stop at once, you viins!"


    The lion-themed hero exploded forward and flew under the stic viin, much to the stretchy man''s surprise. Shishido''s goal was for the woman to glide through the streets. But just as he was about to reach the blonde woman, she looked back and raised her hand in front of her.


    "Gah!" Shishido grunted as he crashed head-first into an invisible barrier.


    "Hah! Is this really what pro heroes are capable of? How funny!" The womanughed as she and her three partners in crime allughed and continued to run.


    Shishido shook his head as blood ran down his forehead. "Damn you, Fearsome Four! I won''t let you get away!" He then stood up and continued the chase. As he ran, he yelled for everyone on the streets to get out of the way for their safety.


    This all happened as I leaned against one of the walls of this street''s local bookstore with my hands in the front pockets of my ck and red hoodie.


    "These four clowns are going to get away if another Hero doesn''t show up soon," I said as I watched their retreating forms disappear around the corner. "Anyways, what was I doing? Right, looking for work."


    I ignored the chaos around me as people looked at the destruction caused by the fleeing viins and lone hero. Now, then. Despite being 11 years old and the legal working age in Japan being 15, I still had hope I could find a shop that would hire me for some cheap childbor. I wasn''t particrly concerned about how much I would get paid as long as I got paid.


    A question anyone would ask in this situation would be why an 11-year middle schooler needs a job. The answer, you simpleton, is for money. Being an orphan didn''t necessarilye with a weekly allowance. To be able toplete my goals and ambitions, I needed money. One of the said goals was to have a steady stream of passive ie. The way I nned to aplish that was to begin selling my own written stories and manga from my original world. Considering most of the most prolific and famous works from my world didn''t exist here, it was a guaranteed way to make some dough.


    "Oh, so you''re doing what most reincarnated people do in these types of situations? How original." I hear you saying.


    Yes. Yes, I am.


    If it ain''t broken, don''t fix it.


    Jumping over some rumble, I stopped when I saw an elderly woman struggle to get to her feet. Before I could decide what to do, an older girl in a high school uniform jogged over to the elderlydy and helped her up. Seeing that, I continued on to the street filled with several shops a few blocks away.


    As an orphan, I knew it was only a matter of time before the orphanage would no longer be able to support me once I came of age. Meaning I had 4 or 5 years left until I got kicked out onto the streets with nothing but some pity money and a bus pass. This only made my need for money even more imperative. I needed money to fund my art supplies and writing tools. Without those, I could never bring my stolen stories to life for me to sell to a publisher.


    "Hah... if only I could have gotten adopted. Then I wouldn''t have to do this."


    Normally, a cute and handsome, well-behaved boy like myself would have been adopted years ago like my many orphaned siblings, like Keiko. However, due to what happened to me four years ago, my body passively releases a slow and steady stream of negative energy that scared away any hopeful parents from adopting me. Then again, most people tended to avoid me due to my negative energy as well. Bad vibes, I heard some say.


    Said negative energy was my cursed energy.


    I paused in my trek and waited alongside many others for the passing cars to stop at an intersection. As we stood patiently, some of the people closest to me began to step away from me slightly. Their expressions were nervous and anxious. I paid them no mind. Once the cars stopped due to the red light, the do not cross sign changed to walk, allowing us all to cross the street.


    "Even after four years, I was only able to pull two other techniques besides the Boogie Woogie," I muttered as I finally reached the busy shopping and service center located in my city of Hamamatsu. The sound of clinking marbles could be heard from my hip, where a small ck bag was tied to my belt. "Then again, I did get a lot of lesser skills and items, so I guess it''s okay. Not like I was able to rack up the points to spend for the higher tier rewards."


    Besides the Boogie Woogie, I had managed to pull two other cursed techniques.


    One of the techniques was Big Bro Choso''s Blood Maniption.


    Blood Maniption allows me to control and shape my blood beyond its natural form or motion for a variety of effects. It can be used to manipte every aspect of the user''s blood, including bloodposition, internal blood flow, sma, pulse rate, body temperature, and red blood cells.


    The technique allows the user to control blood externally as long as it belongs to the user. The external blood can be hardened to create mid-range projectiles and or objects that the user desires. This is called Convergence.


    In the hands of apetent sorcerer like Big Bro Choso, it has the potential to be an incredibly useful technique. It was the skill that allowed Choso to stand against Uraume and False Geto for a brief amount of time. Unfortunately, I don''t have the same potential as Choso due to my normal human body. I could only use so much of my blood before I would pass out. Something I learned the hard way.


    My third technique was Takuma Ino''s Auspicious Beast Summons.


    In order to use this technique, I had to hide my face using a mask. Which was the reason I had a ck mask with white Spider-Man-like eyes in my back pocket. This would then allow me to be a spiritual medium that can summon forth four Auspicious beasts to use their abilities with CE. The beasts were Kaichi, Reiki, Kirin, and Ryu.


    Number 1, Kaichi, would allow me to summon a horn covered in a spiral pattern on it. I can use it as a long-ranged homing projectile cloaked in CE, and it won''t stop until it hits my intended target, like a blue shell from Super Mario.


    Number 2, Reiki, would allow me to cover my body in cursed water that I can use to cushion myself from danger and or increase my overall mobility. Pretty much turning any environment into an ice rink while giving me a protectiveyer of armor.


    Number 3, Kirin, allows me to fight with a massively reduced sense of pain, but it will also cause my stamina to be drained away. The downside to this beast is when my intended goal for summoning it ispleted. I''ll be left unable to function for a limited amount of time, which would make using this beast in a fight against multiple opponents a risky move.


    Number 4, Ryu, thest Auspicious beast, summons arge serpentine dragon-like creature that will crash into my intended target to deal arge amount of damage. However, like in its fight against Sukuna in JJK, if enough damage is dealt to the dragon, it will be forced to disappear.


    It''s something I don''t really have to worry about here since I''m the only one who can perceive beasts powered by CE. Trust me, I tested it. I had walked around this very city with Ryu flying above my head. The most his presence did was give the public a sense of anxiety and unreasonable fear.


    All in all, the technique is pretty much like the baby brother of the Ten Shadows technique without the need to defeat them in a ritual in order to use them.


    These two techniques were gold-tier items I had managed to pull over the course of four years. After all, saving up the minimal points from my everyday interactions was a slow and annoying process. I had thought of ways to increase my social points faster, but that would mean finding any of the main cast members from MHA. Something that is by no means easy to do in a country as big as Japan while being a little kid.


    Another discovery I made once I had all three techniques was that I automatically had a perfect understanding of how to use them like their original owners. It was as if I had trained my entire life on how to use them! This is something I didn''t realize when I first used Boogie Woogie due to my sheer excitement at having the technique and my gacha-based system.


    Besides those techniques, I had also pulled mostly clothes and junk from the show. Some examples are Maki''s sses, Yuji''s Jujutsu High jacket, Gojo''s round sunsses, and even Geto''s wooden sandals. The only other helpful reward I got from my pulls was Yuta''s swordsmanship skills. While really amazing, it was an impractical skill until I got my hands on a real katana. And for that, I needed money. Or I could just steal one. But for now, I had to make do with creating a katana construct using my blood.


    Over the four years, I also trained and improved my mastery of my CE. Using what I knew from the series and the advice and teachings from Gojo and Nanami, I was now pretty proficient in imbuing myself and using CE to put me around a grade 2 sorcerer or so.Then again, I didn''t really have anyone to tell how well I was doing, so this was mostly conjecture on my part.


    During that time, I also trained my body to better handle Yuji''s martial arts. Boosting me to be a pretty decent fighter, given my current age, at least, I thought so. I haven''t really been in a fight to check my progress. But if the well-defined muscles on my 11-year-old body were anything to go off by, I think I was doing pretty good for myself.


    "What a slow four years... I have to find someone from the main cast. I need to start earning some real SP."


    I released a long sigh and began going store to store to ask if they were willing to break thew- I mean, hire me. To my utter shock, no one wanted to hire an 11-year-old for some reason. Wonder why? Despite all those rejections, I pressed on for a few more hours, going from marketce to marketce.


    "Sorry, kid. You''re too young."


    "Ah, well, I don''t think I can hire someone so young. I might get arrested..."


    "Where are your parents, little man?"


    "This some trick? Get outta here, kid!"


    ...were some of my responses.


    With the sun now on the horizon and my curfewing up, I took a drink of my iced coffee and groaned from my seat on a bench. My spirits were low, and my motivation was even lower. The image of me living under a bridge quickly caused me to hop off the bench with newfound determination.


    "I can''t give up," I said as I walked over to thest shop on the street. "I just need a few thousand yen to start. Thats it. After that, I can sit back and watch the money flow in."


    With a confident nod, I quickly reached the final shop on this street and looked up at the sign. Only to take a step back in shock at the name.


    Hatsume''s Mechanical Repairs and Such.


    <i>Hatsume? As in Hatsume Mei? </i>


    "Holy shit," I uttered in surprise and looked into the surprisingly big shop/store.


    The inside of the store was equipped with several tools and machinery for repairing, maintaining, and servicing vehicles and machinery. The workshop was equipped with tools such as wrenches, sockets, jacks, and power tools, as well as machinery like hydraulic lifts, airpressors, and diagnostic equipment.The shelves on the walls were lined with several different pieces of equipment and refurbished appliances being sold for a cheaper price.There were a few customers inside the store, either browsing or talking to arge, burly man with long pink hair pulled up into a man bun.


    Off at the back was a young girl around my age with shoulder-length pink hair and yellow eyes. Arge pair of goggles, much too big for her, sat on the top of her head lopsidedly. The little girl was sitting on a tall stool while working on arge steel box with several mechanical parts strewn all around the table she was working on.


    However, what caught my attention the most was the crudely drawn help-wanted sign on the ss window beside the main door.


    <i>This is my chance! If I can get hired here, I can make money and earn a lot of SP!</i>


    I clenched my fist and pumped myself up. After taking a deep breath, I stered a confident expression on my face and entered the store.


    x x x


    "Sorry, kid. I''m looking for someone who knows their way around everyday appliances. You got that skill set?"


    "Uh." That was my intelligent response.


    The man behind the counter, Hatsume Minato, chuckled at me and patted my shoulder. When he was done, I saw a few new ck soot stains on my shoulder. "It''s gettingte, kid. Best you go off home before your parents get worried about you."


    "Please!" I ced my hands on the old, worn-down counter as Minato began to walk over to a shelf stacked full of boxes full of mechanical parts. "I can learn! Seriously, I''m pretty smart, and I can pick things up fast! I just need a shot!"


    Minato looked over his broad shoulder and shook his head. "Sorry, kid. Even if I wanted to, you''re like, what? 10? I can''t hire you based on that. It''s illegal."


    <i>Damn you, Japan''sws! Why must you be so considerate? </i>I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists tightly in frustration. Off behind me, I heard the cackles of Mei as several loud ngs from a hammer echoed loudly. <i>Don''t give up, me! Do I really have to use </i>that <i>card?</i>


    "I''m 11! Also, you don''t have to pay me a full wage! I''ll even ept five-er, s-seven hundred yen an hour! Please!" I bowed my entire body while I used my most pathetic and sorry-sounding voice for the most empathy. Minato looked over to me with a remorseful look as he carried a box.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Hah... Sorry, kid. Can''t do it." He sighed and looked out his shop''s ss windows. With a nod, he walked over to the yellow phone that was on the counter and brought it up to his ear. "Listen, kid, I''ll call your parents toe get you. It''s gotten too dark for me tofortably send you out. Some real sketchy people are out there these days. What''s their number?"


    <i>I guess I have to use that card after all. The orphan card!</i>


    "... don''t got any."


    "What''s that?" Minato raised a brow in confusion. "Speak up, kid."


    "I don''t have any parents. I''m an orphan." I said with a sad but angry expression. "They died during the Iwata incident a few years back."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "...I see," Minato whispered, his eyes briefly looking over to where his daughter was working. "I''m sorry."


    "I don''t need any pity or empathy." I looked up into his surprised eyes. "I just need a chance! Let me prove to you that I can do what you need me to do! Please! I don''t... don''t want to be homeless in a few years. So, please. Let me prove to you that I can do this."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Minato stood still for several moments and maintained eye contact with me with a serious expression. I didn''t flinch or look away and kept eye contact with therge man. I didn''t want to have to use my orphan status to get a job, but I couldn''t let this opportunity go. I had to use this chance to earn SP by interacting with Mei. She was the only person I''ve run into besides All Might in the past 11 years who could give me the points I needed.


    Seeing as she was around my age or younger, I finally had a good grasp of where I was in the timeline. At most, I only had five or six years before the major events from the plot started. If I wanted to be able to survive and thrive in this world, I had to pull more Gold and Diamond tier rewards.


    Because in this world, power meant everything. I need to pull the Limitless technique and the Six-Eyes. With that power, I would be untouchable. Nothing could stop me from living the easy-going and wealthy life I wanted. And to do that, I had to be one of Japan''s top heroes-


    <i>...Is that really what I want?</i>


    Huh?


    Minato closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, missing my startled and confused expression. I then heard him whisper something along the lines of "I can''t believe I''m doing this."


    "Fine. I''ll hire you." Minato said, reaching inside the box of mechanical parts he had brought over and pulled out a thick manual for a fridge and arge textbook about mechanical engineering. "But <i>only </i>on the condition you''re capable of putting one of these together from scattered parts. Do that, and I''ll hire you as an apprentice. This way, you can be paid, and I won''t get in trouble with thew. Hopefully. You cane here after school to watch and learn from me so that you can aplish your assignment. How does that sound?"


    I epted the books from his hands and flipped through the several pages full of information and mechanical jargon. I nodded and looked up at him with confident eyes.


    "That sounds great. Thank you very much! I won''t fail you, Hatsume-san!" I said with a deep, respectful bow.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Despite being practically guilt-tripped into this, Minato nodded with a smile and grabbed a blue jacket from one of the chairs near the wall. "We''ll see, kid. Come on, I''ll take you over to where you live. MeiMei!"


    <i>Off all nicknames... MeiMei? </i>


    "Hm?" Was the pink-haired girl''s response.


    "I''m heading out, so I''ll be locking up early. I''ll be back in a few minutes; try not to blow up the shop. Okay?" Minato said as he guided me to the front door.


    "Okay! Can you bring back some more ball bearings and an electric actuator?" Mei called out without stopping to look at us, too entrenched in her project. "My adorable baby is almostplete!"


    "Ah, I almost forgot. That''s my daughter, Mei." Minato told me as we watched the young inventor work with an intense focus. "If I''m too busy, you can ask her any questions. She could put one of those fridges together once she turned four, so I advise you to learn from her, too."


    "At four?" I muttered as I flipped through the thick andplicated manual. That wasn''t surprising, considering what she would aplish at UA in the future. "I see. I''ll be sure to ask her for help then."


    "Just a small warning, though." Minato smiled awkwardly as he rubbed the side of his head. "My daughter is a bit... entric. You''ll understand soon. Okay, let''s get you home."


    "Right."


    As Minato and I left the store, Mei stopped her machinations and looked back at our retreating forms with a confused expression. Shrugging, she slid her goggles over her eyes and grabbed a pair of fine tweezers to twist a tiny wire into ce.


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Looks like this story is picking up some traction. The metrics and power stones are picking up! So, as a thank you, here''s the next Chapter! Keep those reviews,ments, and power stonesing! Trust me, those really tell me you all are interested in me continuing this story. Otherwise, I''ll move on to the next thing that my mind thinks up.</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 4: NO. 4 - Touching Grass

    <h4>Chapter 4: NO. 4 - Touching Grass</h4>


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Hoo boy, 100 power stones and 17k views!</strong>


    <strong>As thanks, here''s the next Chapter!</strong>


    -


    One of the first things I learned about Hatsume Mei was that she was a big ball of weirdness.


    "How''s this?"


    "Hmm, you have the green and red wire in the wrong terminal points," Mei said as she rolled back over to her work area to resume working on her project, or as she likes to call it, her baby.


    I also learned that she was much more brilliant and creative than the original series gave her credit for.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    I nodded and quickly fixed my mistake. Once I did, I saw the control board finally light up. I thanked Mei and received a quick "Mhm." Which was more than I got during my first week of working/learning under Minato and Mei. During that period, she mostly ignored me as if I wasn''t there. Too entrenched in her babies to pay attention to the new individual who now shared her space.


    I ced down my wire cutters and grabbed a screwdriver to tighten down a loose screw. From there, I continued working on the fridge''spressor while keeping an eye on the control board every now and then.


    During my time at Hatsume''s Mechanical Repairs and Such, I hade to understand the fact that I was pretty damn intelligent. Even more so than I originally thought. I had always thought my intelligence was decent, if not slightly higher than average, due to my ability to get straight A''s at school constantly on any subject, but I never really applied myself beyond school. I was so entrenched in training my CE and techniques that I never paid much attention to training my mental strengths.


    However, now faced with the opportunity to push myself to go beyond what I thought was possible. I finally found out that I could apply my intelligence to learning pretty much whatever I wanted and quickly. If my progress in understandingplex engineering problems was anything to go off of. Sure, I was no Tony Stark, but I was well on my way to bing a decent mechanical engineer, which was probably the reason why Mei had recently started acknowledging me as more than "Dull eyes" and began using my actual name.


    "All right, you two," Minato said as he walked over to the back of his store where Mei and I were working. He was using an old rag to clean his hands. "Time for a break. You''ve been back here working for three hours now. Go out and stretch your legs. Touch some grass."


    "No way. My baby isn''t ready yet!" Mei said with a giant smile as she continued working on arge mechanical boot. "Can''t do it!"


    "MeiMei." Minato said slowly and grabbed the screwdriver out of her hands.


    The ten-year-old inventor gasped in horror and tried to take her tool back, but her father''s greater stature caused her to just il around uselessly. I leaned back on my stool and watched as Mei continued to try to take back her tool. Minato then looked over at me and my assignment with approving eyes.


    "Not bad, you''re halfway there. You weren''t lying when you said you were a fast learner." Minato said as he ced the screwdriver next to Mei''s project but quickly picked her up to stop her from getting back to work. "Hmm. Another couple of days, and you''ll be done. You may have a future at this."


    "Ah, thank you, Hatsume-san," I said with a small smile as I rubbed the back of my head. I felt a little bashful since I didn''t really receivepliments, just jeers or jokes over my being quirkless. So this was a nice change of pace. "It is arge part thanks to Mei. She''s brilliant."


    "And don''t you forget it!" Mei said with a smile as she gave up trying to escape her father''s hold. "See, Papa! If you let us keep going, we can finish his baby by tomorrow! Just put me down and-"


    "Nice try there, MeiMei. Out you two kids go."


    I got up and followed after Minato as he carried a despondent Mei towards the front door. Stepping outside to the bustling street, he ced Mei down and turned to me with a small smile. "Here. Get yourselves some ice cream or something. I don''t want to see you two until 5 o''clock. Got it?" Minato said as he handed me a few bills.


    I nodded at him and ced the money into one of my pockets. "Got it. I''ll be sure to walk Mei through the park so she can touch some grass."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Good man," Minato said and patted his daughter''s shoulder. "Go on, sweetheart.


    "But-but my baby''s..."


    "No buts. Now go on, you two."


    I walked over and grabbed Mei''s wrist to begin pulling her toward a park a few blocks away. Mei sniffed and rubbed her eyes as she followed behind me. This was something we grew used to doing after a few days of me starting my apprenticeship. Minato had discovered that I was a great way to get Mei out of the shop to get some fresh air. I didn''t mind doing this, considering I owed the man for the opportunity of being hired to work for him once I was done with the fridge. It was also a great way to some points.


    "Hey, hey, Souta! Let''s sneak back in! I''ll help you finish your baby so you can start working at the shop!"


    "Can''t do that. Your father will find out, and we''ll get in trouble."


    "Hm, you''re probably right. Okay! New n! We sneak back in, and I continue working on my baby while you keep a lookout!"


    "How does that benefit me?"


    "It doesn''t!"


    I squinted my eyes at her and sighed. Pulling her along, we continued onward toward the park. Much to her displeasure, despite that, she continued following me and didn''t attempt to pull her wrist free to make a run for it.


    It was mostly due to all her past attempts resulting in failure. Using my CE, catching up to her was easy. So, after a while, she threw in the towel and decided to just give in to her fate, which was unfortunate for me. The points from our chases were plentiful. Soon enough, I would be able to pull for two Diamond tier pulls with all my saved-up points.


    After a couple more minutes, we finally reached the park we visited every time Minato kicked us out. We did go to other ces, sometimes, like the beach, but neither Mei nor I enjoyed going there, mostly due to the sand. It was coarse and rough and irritating, and it got everywhere. Making the park was our go-to spot. With it being Sunday today,the park was well upied by visiting families and kids around our age.


    I looked over to the familiar ice cream stand to see the stand owner, a friendly old man named Sojiro, handing out ice cream to several small children. Nodding, I turned to Mei. "Wanna get some ice cream?" I said as I waved the money Minato gave me.


    Despite her desire to be at the shop rather than here, Mei quickly smiled and nodded her head. She had a prettyrge sweet tooth. "Sure, might as well. Oh! I want to try that orange-looking vor today!"


    "Let''s go get some then." I let go of her wrist, and we walked over to the vendor.


    "Hello, Sojiro-san. I''ll have a vani ice cream."


    "And I''ll have that funky-looking orange one!"


    Sojiro chuckled at Mei''s words and nodded. After scooping our orders into two small paper cups, he handed us each our ice cream, which I quickly paid him for. After thanking him, Mei and I walked over to a shady spot under arge tree and took a seat on the grass. I was careful not to sit on my bag of marbles that were on my belt. Mei happily ate her ice cream with a smile, seemingly enjoying the new vor she chose.


    "Hey, Mei?" I asked as I scooped some ice cream into my mouth.


    "Hm?" She responded with a spoon in her mouth.


    "What do you n on doing in the future?" I asked as I watched several children ying the game Hero several feet away. They were using their quirks to try and attack a little boy with a mutant-type quirk. The boy himself had the physical appearance of a bumble bee, making him look quite monstrous. In my opinion, it seemed like the kid wasn''t having much fun but yed along just to fit in.


    "The future?" Mei said with a hum. That didn''tst long because she quickly got into my personal space with arge smile, causing me to lean back. This was nothing new. She had no understanding of what personal space was. "It''s obvious, isn''t it?! I''m going to be the world''s greatest inventor! To do that, I''m going to have to show off all of my babies to the world and future investors! No better ce to do that than being at UA in the support course!"


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    I nodded and looked down at my half-eaten treat. "UA... so that''s where you want to go."


    Mei nodded and turned to me with a raised brow. "What do you want to do? Oh, oh! Do you want to join the support course too? Is that why you begged Papa to be able to work for him?"


    "I didn''t necessarily beg..."


    "Mm, yeah, you did."


    "Geh." I closed my eyes at the embarrassing memory from two weeks ago and looked away from her cross-hair yellow eyes. "No, that''s not necessary why. I just needed a job, is all."


    "Because you''re an orphan, right?" Mei said with little thought and suddenly froze. A rare look of embarrassment took over her face. "Ah... sorry about that."


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    I smiled at her and shook my head. "It''s okay, Mei. But yeah, due to my situation, I needed money, so I had to get a job."


    "I see..." Mei muttered as she ced her empty cup down and pulled her knees to her chest. A brief moment of awkward silence hung over us as we sat. Looking over at her, I ced a hand on her shoulder and gave her a few pats.


    "Rx, Mei. I''m not mad. I know you didn''t mean it like that."


    Despite the way Mei acts, which is usually hyper-focused and seemingly uncaring for others. She was actually a pretty thoughtful person underneath the whole crazed inventor shtick. She just had a tough time expressing herself. This is a fact most would never learn due to them giving up on getting to know her better due to her loud personality.


    But after working alongside her every day for two weeks and knowing the way she''d grow up to be, I had a better time understanding and getting her to talk on topics other than inventing or her babies. It''s how she learned to befortable with me in such a short amount of time. A fact that shocked her mother and father, causing them to invite me to dinner every now and then. They were nice people. Even when I told them I was quirkless, they didn''t treat me any differently.


    "Then... what do you want to do in the future?" Mei asked with a rare look of intrigue you''d never find on her unless she was talking about her babies.


    "I want to live an easy life and be rich," I said without a hint of shame andid down on my back to watch the blue sky above. Arge grin grew on my face as I envisioned my future. Mei smiled and nodded at my answer.


    "How do you n to do that?"


    <i>By bing a hero.</i>


    ...Is what I wanted to say. But for the past week or so, I''ve been questioning that line of thinking. Why exactly did I want to be a hero? At first, it was because of the potential the top pro heroes could earn in revenue. The sheer amounts of cash one could make from all the sponsorships, brand deals, and endorsements were mouth-watering to me.


    So, with that in mind, why am I even debating doing it?


    I wanted money, so why not go with the option that will all but guaranteerge amounts of it? I knew in time that I would umte several dozen cursed techniques and skills from the Gacha system that would allow me to be a pretty diverse fighter and Hero. With that in mind, shouldn''t bing a hero be the obvious choice?


    No, not exactly.


    In the series All Might, Toshinori Yagi dedicated his entire life to bing the symbol of peace. Sacrificing his personal happiness and chances of true meaningful rtionships to uphold justice and society itself. All up to the point of being disemboweled and having society turn on its head at the slightest inconvenience.


    Endevear, Todoroki Enji, became a man ovee with greed and jealousy in his pursuit to be the number one hero and surpass All Might. In his journey to do so, he essentially bought a wife so she could bear his children with him in order to create the ultimate quirked human to surpass All Might. Scarring and abusing his children.


    Hawks, Takami Keiko, was groomed from his childhood after being sold off by his mother to the Hero Public Safety Commission to be their perfect little puppet due to the sheer potential of his quirk. Not to mention that due to his duty to the HPSC, Hawks ended up killing Twice in cold blood.


    I could go on and on about how heroes from this society weren''t true heroes at all. Sure, there were some that were genuine in their desire to do what was right, like All Might and Midoriya, but a few good apples don''t make up for a rotten batch. Maybe Stain had a point after all? Then again, he was a murdering psycho who deemed himself judge, jury, and executioner.


    But still, he had a point. Wouldn''t I, someone only interested in bing wealthy, be proving him right? Why, then, should I be a hero if not for the sake of truly being one?


    So, I decided to change course. Instead of putting my safety and well-being in jeopardy to be a hero in the hopes of bing wealthy, why not focus on creating stories and pieces of entertainment that I know will guarantee me loads of money? I''ll still use my Gacha system to strengthen myself for when shit hits the fan. I don''t want to get killed when Shigaraki or All For One starts destroying the country.


    I know some would call my decision a waste. Why umte all these skills and abilities if you''re not going to use them? I was in the perfect setting, so why not? Well, it was because I wasn''t a shonen hero whose heart beats and bleeds for justice and righteousness. I was in no hurry to save cats from trees or yell about friendship or the sort. I''ll leave that for Midoriya. He''s got this. At least, I think he does. I doubt Horikoshi killed him in the end or took his powers or anything along those lines. He was a shonen protagonist, so everything will work itself out.


    "I''m going to write and sell books," I said with a smile. "That''s how!"


    "Books?!" Mei jumped at me and leaned over my body with an incredulous look. "That''s so boring! Why don''t you just make babies like me? That''s a much more fun way to get famous and make money! I know! I can take you on as my assistant!"


    I pushed Mei''s face away as she was growing much too close forfort. To those around us, it was starting to look like we were a bold young couple unafraid of getting touchy in public the way she was pinning me under her. I couldn''t have that because I liked this park. I didn''t want the people here to think that Mei or I were some perverted couple. I nced over to Sojiro and saw him give me a thumbs-up.


    Oi, it''s not like that, you old geezer.


    "How generous. To be the assistant to <i>the </i>Hatsume Mei! What an honor!"


    "I knew you''d see it my way! So you ept?!"


    "Nope."


    Mei threw a handful of grass at my face.


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>I was originally nning to have this epic fight break out at the park, but it ended up not feeling right and shoehorned in. So that was scrapped. Worry not; there will be some action soon. </strong>


    <strong>Quick question for you all: I''ve seen someone ask if there will be romance in this story. There can be, but I''m not too certain about the pairing or if you degenerates want the MC to have a harem. So, I''ll leave it up to a vote. Because democracy.</strong>


    <strong>Vote here for single pairing; also, name who you want to see as the main love interest.</strong>


    <strong>Vote here for a harem. Also, name a max of THREE partners. No more.</strong>


    <strong>The one with the most votes wins. The poll will be closed once I hit Chapter ten or so, so you all have time.</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 5: NO. 5 - Confrontation

    <h4>Chapter 5: NO. 5 - Confrontation</h4>


    At the sound of the school bell, everyone in the ssroom began packing their stuff to head home. Some cliques were discussing what to do or where to go; other students headed toward their after-school clubs. At the front, the teacher began to organize and gather all the work from their busy day to start the slow grading process.


    Still in my chair, I lifted my arms above my head and stretched them. Hearing a few pops from my stiff joints, I sighed in relief and stood up. Grabbing my bag, I walked out of the ssroom to head towards my job, or if a police officer asked, my apprenticeship. Heh-heh. Who knew breaking thew was so rewarding? Oh, criminals and viins did. No wonder they did it.


    It''s been around three weeks since Ipleted my fridge assignment, much to Minato''s approval. He was genuinely impressed that I couldplete the fridge within three weeks of watching and observing him or Mei. He was so impressed that he ced me in charge of refurbishing and repairing all appliances brought to the store/workshop.


    It was arge responsibility that pushed me to continue learning. It didn''t hurt that the pay was good. Minato didn''t start paying seven hundred yen like I originally asked during our initial professional interview. No, Minato began my hourly wage at two thousand yen. How generous of the guy.


    Thanks to my generous wage, I was able to buy the materials I needed to start working on the drafts for the stories I nned on writing.


    I decided to begin with writing and selling three books before moving on to work on making the manga I had nned. Thankfully, my ability to draw from my previous life carried over, so I had confidence that I could pull this off. I just needed to save up some more money for the art supplies I needed to get.


    In terms of my nned books, I had alreadypleted the first entries for two of my books, with my third one halfway done. The three stories I wanted to tell were the novelization of Star Wars, Harry Potter, and the Hunger Games. These were some of the most prolific works from my world that had sold millions on their own, with sessful movies to go along with them.


    When I had finished my first two books, my next challenge was to find a publisher that would take a chance at taking me in. So, instead of searching for one in person and being brushed off due to my age, I decided to use the inte to find a publisher. I started off by selling one book instead of two; that way, I could ask for much more money on my next book once the publisher saw how much money my stories could make.


    The Hunger Games series would be my first work as an author. With that in mind, I began sending the first five Chapters of the book to several publishers I found online under the pen name Gege and waited to see who would bite the bait. I didn''t have to wait long because, after a few days, I received several offers from at least half of all the publishers I contacted.


    At that point, all I had to do was y my cards right and choose the best offer. It didn''t hurt that I mentioned to my potential publishers that they were currentlypeting for the rights to my story, causing them to double their offers for my story.


    Having my pick of the litter, I chose the offer from a publisher in America where I would receive an advance of 65 thousand USD and 8% of the royalties from each copy of the book sold. It wasn''t a lot, but that was mostly due to me being a new and unknown author. But for an orphan with little money, it was enough to start.


    Now, all I had to do was wait for my new publisher to begin selling my book to the public, which should take a few weeks from now. At that point, all I had to do was sit back and watch the money flow into my bank ount.


    Reaching the shoe lockers, I switched out my indoor shoes for my old outdoor sneakers and walked outside. I came to a stop in front of a bike rack near the entrance of the school but stopped when my ears picked up a far-off noise.


    I looked over to the side of the school, where I saw four students walk around the corner. Two of the students had their arms over the shoulders of a short boy with a mutant-type quirk that gave him the appearance of a hunchbacked ogre.


    e on,e on. We want to talk."


    "U-um, but I have to go home-"


    "Hah? What the hell do you say, freak? Didn''t you hear Keiji? We just want to talk!"


    I squinted my eyes where the four disappeared and shrugged. This wasn''t really my problem, so there was no need to get involved. If I did, I could risk getting those bozos to focus on me due to me being quirkless.


    It''s not like I don''t have my own set of hecklers to worry about or anything. Most of what they did was call me names and petty stuff like that, but it never escted from that. I mean, there was that one time one of them got physical, but he mysteriously ended up unconscious behind the school with a bag of drugs that somehow ended up in his school bag, causing him to be expelled when one of the staff found him after receiving an anonymous tip.


    How terrible.


    Just as I was about to leave the front gates of my school, I found my legs frozen and unwilling to move. I stared down at my sneakers with a heavy frown and sighed. Turning around, I began to head off towards where the four students went.


    Mutant decrimination.


    It was a significant problem no one wanted to talk about in this society. Those with mutant-type quirks were treated like second-ss citizens just for the fact that their quirks made them look so different from regr humans.


    Shoji, Spinner, and that foxdy Midoriya saved when society copsed came to mind whenever I saw these forms of discrimination. It was just so easy for some people to mistake those with mutations for viins on the simple fact they looked monstrous. It wasn''t fair.


    "Hey, hey. Kagawa? You got any money?"


    "Ah, n-no..."


    "You''re not lying to me now, are you?"


    "N-no! I swear!"


    I came to a stop around the corner of a rather deste spot behind the school and peered back at the scene ahead. The boy with ogre-like mutation, Kagawa, I think I heard them say, was against a wall with the other three students incircling him. From their looks, they were a year or two older than us, making them our upperssmen. They each had these amused and predatory looks as they watched Kagawa squirm under their gazes.


    One of the boys, the one with short red hair and eyes, held up his left hand next to Kagawa''s ear and lit a small pathetic fire no bigger than a match on his palm. "You better not be lying to us, Kagawa. I don''t have to remind you what I do to liars."


    Kagawa jumped and squealed as the red-haired asshole slowly brought the fire closer to his ear.


    "I-I s-swear! I-I''m not lying! I used it all up at lunch!"


    "Hmm. That so?" The boy with brushed-back purple hair said with a thoughtful look. He was what one could call handsome. But to me, he looked uglier than a pile of dog shit. "Very well. We believe you."


    "R-really? I-"


    "From now on, you won''t be eating lunch. Instead, you''ll be giving me your money every day." Purple shit stain said with an easy smile. "Got it?"


    "Huh? But I-"


    Kagawa was interrupted when thest of the three stooges kicked him directly in the stomach, causing Kagawa to hunch over and hold his stomach in pain. The boy who kicked him had spiky ck hair and serrated teeth. Let''s call him Dipshit.


    "Shut it, freak!" Dipshit grabbed Kagawa''s short brown hair and yanked his head up so he could look at Dipshit''s angry face. "Didn''t you hear what Nobuyuki said?!"


    Kagawa closed his eyes and tried to look away but was once again yanked by his hair. Tears were now flowing from his mismatched eyes.


    "Okay, that''s enough." I said while I approached the four with my hands in my pockets. They all turned to look at me in surprise and slight fear, but the three bullies quickly rxed when they noticed I was not a teacher.


    "It''s the quirkless loser," Dipshit said as he walked over to stand next to the red-haired asshole, who looked amused. Purple shit stain looked over to me and then over to Kagawa with a smile.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "This a friend of yours, Shimizu?"


    I didn''t respond but continued walking toward them, causing Purple shit stain to frown.


    I have two options avable to me right now.


    One option was to go grab a teacher and tell them what was going on, letting the adults handle the situation.


    Option two was to ask these clowns to kindly stop bullying Kagawa. This will cause them to reflect on their actions and, in the end, make them change their ways.


    "Hey, we''re talking to-"


    <i>p!</i>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Dipshit''s face rippled as my open palm pped him across the face, sending him rolling across the ground. His eyes were nk, and arge red welt began to grow on his cheek.


    "I choose option three," I said as I continued walking toward the other two shocked bullies, their wide eyes locked on their unconscious friend. "I choose Violence."


    "W-what-"


    <i>p!</i>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Hold on, You can''t just-"


    <i>p!</i>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Down on the ground with red welts on their unconscious faces were thest two bullies. Purple shit stain and the red-haired asshole were both lying face down on the dirt. One of them even wet their pants. I huffed and looked over to a frozen, wide-eyed Kagawa.


    "Oi. snap out of it," I said and began to leave. "I suggest you get out here before the three stooges wake up."


    "Ah! Oh, uh, right!" Kagawa grabbed his school bag from where it sat and quickly caught up to me as we turned the corner. He held his bag tightly against his chest as he hobbled behind me. I didn''t pay him much mind as we left the school grounds.


    "T-thank-"


    "Don''t thank me." I interrupted him and came to a stop, causing Kagawa to almost crash into me. "I didn''t do that to save you. I did that because I hate bullies. So next time, stand up for yourself. Even if that means you''ll get your ass kicked. Got that?"


    "..." Kagawa looked at me wide-eyed while his mouth opened and closed silently. In the end, he closed his mouth and nodded quickly.


    "I''mte for work," I muttered and began walking, leaving Kagawa behind. "See ya."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    I continued walking away without turning back to see that Kagawa was now bowing to me as tears streamed down his face. My eyes looked over to a floating screen that disyed my total saved-up SP.


    <strong>[Total SP: 4,579]</strong>


    <i>Tonight, I finally get to spend my saved-up points! Gotta grab some snacks on the way home.</i>


    x x x


    I smiled and waved at Minato and Mei as I walked out of the shop''s front door once we exchanged our goodbyes. Today had been another busy and productive day at work. Besides interacting and being subjected to testing out several of Mei''s recentlypleted babies, I had finished refurbishing a microwave and a vacuum cleaner while fixing a toaster an olddy brought in during my precious fifteen-minute break.


    Usually, I wouldn''t have done that so I could read up on the newest issue of Inventors Monthly featuring David Shield. However, Chiyo, the olddy who came in, was in charge of the bakery across the street.


    Chiyo always gave me a peace of bread or a cookie when I passed by for free, so I was more than happy to help her. Break be damned, those baked goods of hers were to die for! This was why I was now happily chewing on a piece of melon bread on my way home, courtesy of Chiyo once she saw me step outside.


    The city was bathed in the soft glow of dusk as I walked through the bustling streets. The fading sunlight painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, casting long shadows across the pavement. The city lights began to flicker to life, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. People of all shapes and sizes hurried past me, their silhouettes blending into the urbanndscape. The distant hum of traffic and the asional honking of horns filled the air as the city came alive with the energy of the evening.


    "Holy crap! It''s the ninja hero, Edgeshot!"


    "It''s him! It is him!"


    "Kyaa! He''s so handsome!"


    I arched an eyebrow and looked down the street where arge group of people were going crazy over Japan''s current number six hero. I caught a quick glimpse of the guy and saw that he had the overall appearance of a traditional ninja, like in the original series.


    "Whats string-man doing here?" I said as I quickly looked around the area, my melon bread now entirely eaten. "I don''t see any viin or a cat stuck in a tree. On patrol then?"


    Shrugging my shoulders, I decided to take a different path because there was no way I could walk through all these crazy fans. With my hands in my pockets, I made my way through a nearby alleyway. It was dark, and the air stank due to some built-up garbage, but as long as I could walk home unimpeded, I didn''t care.


    "Hey. Hey, you. Kid."


    <i>Fuck me.</i>


    I sighed and looked behind me to see a shady individual walk out of the shadows. He was a tall man dressed in a ck trenchcoat and hood. The hood hid his features as two white eyes peered at me from the darkness.


    "I''ll be taking all your valuables." The cloaked man said in a deep, scratchy voice.


    "I think the fuck not."


    "...huh?" The man said, seemingly not expecting me to not be afraid.


    "Dude, I''m 11. What the hell do you think I have of any value? Unless... you''re a pedophile!" I said as I covered my body, my right hand discreetly grabbing one of the marbles from the bag that hung on my belt. "You fiend! Pervert!"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Tch! Damn kids. Just give me the bag, and you won''t get hurt!" The man growled and walked towards me with a knife in his right hand. Hisrger body loomed dangerously over my much shorter stature. This situation would have rendered most kids my age a shacking, muttering mess.


    But not me. No, I was a Jujutsu Sorcerer.


    Unofficially, of course.


    I raised my hand and threw the marble at the man. Seeing this, he leaned to the side and chuckled at my pathetic attack. "Heh. What was that? A marbl-"


    <i>p!</i>


    The man''s white eyes grew wide when I suddenly appeared beside him, my body momentarily floating in mid-air as my right fist was coated in CE. He had no time to react, and I threw my fist smack dab in the middle of his face. The man''s head snapped back from the force of my punch, and his body tumbled back onto a trash bin.


    Boogie Woogie is a cursed technique that activates when the user ps their hands together. The technique switches the positions of the user and anything they desire that has above a certain amount of cursed energy.


    However, due to the apparentck of CE in this world, I''m unable to switch with anyone. Making the Boogie Woogie, a once mighty and versatile technique in the world of JJK, a limited-use technique. The only way I was able to make use of this technique was to switch with items infused with my CE or a cursed tool. Unfortunately, I haven''t been lucky enough to have pulled any cursed tools yet.


    This is why, over the course of four years, I''ve been slowly and carefully creating my own cursed tools in the shape of the bag of marbles I''ve been carrying every day. Thus allowing me to use the Boogie Woogie!


    "T-that hurt, you damn brat!" The man said as he shakily stood to his feet. Drops of blood dripped onto the filthy ground from his face as his white eyes red at me hatefully. "I was just going to rob you; now I''m going to gut you as well!"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Ooh, scary." I slid down my ck Spider-Man mask on my face and got into a fighting stance, CE covering my aching fists. "You''re gonna have to catch me first."


    Despite the seemingly calm disposition I had, I couldn''t stop the slight trembles that rocked my body. This was, after all, my first-ever encounter with someone who was seemingly willing to end my life. My first real fight. For someone who''s lived a rtively normal life so far, this was a scary experience.


    The only thing calming me down was the bonus feature of having a rxed mindset inbat, thanks to Yuji''s Hand-to-handbat skills and Yuta''s Swordsmanship skills.


    <i>Fuck! That hurt! What''s this guy made of? </i>I shook my hands in an attempt to get rid of the numbness.


    "Die!" Therge man yelled as he closed the distance in a split second thanks to his long legs. When close, he shed his knife at me in an attempt to slice my throat.


    <i>p!</i>


    "Grah!"


    I struck the man on his side with a powerful punch and pped my hands again in order to appear on his left. I spun in the air andnded a kick in the man''s face, causing the man to take several steps back. One of his feet rolled out from under him as he stepped on something small and round.


    I jumped back and winced. Each hit Inded began to hurt my fists or feet. It was as if I was striking solid stone.


    "What! They''re all over the floor!" The man said in surprise as several of my marbles surrounded him. "Just what kind of quirk do you have?!"


    <i>p!</i>


    "What? You thought I just had one of them?" I said as I used Blood Maniption to cover my fists in hardened blood once I reappeared to his right.


    Before he could move, Inded a quick one-twobo at his midsection. The man folded over from the pain and flinched when he heard me p again. His eyes looked around wildly to find my new position but grew confused when I didn''t suddenly appear anywhere close to him. The man''s head then jerked to where I originally stood, and he saw that my hands were now outstretched in front of me. Palms pressed together.


    <i>Convergence.</i>


    Blood Maniption: Convergence. This skill involves applying pressure to blood in order topress it to its limit. The bloodpressed with convergence is then released through a single point. The initial speed of blood enhanced with CE well exceeds the speed of sound when released. The secret art of Blood Maniption has a name...


    "Piercing Blood."


    I released an incredibly fast ray of blood straight at the man''s shoulder, causing him to drop his knife. I could have aimed straight for the man''s heart, but I had no intention of killing a man today. I knew this was risky, but I believed I could defeat him without killing him.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    "You''re strong kid. I''ll give you that."


    The man said as he grabbed the front of his jacket and ripped it off. My eyes grew wide when I saw that his entire body was covered in grey stone.


    On his shoulder, where my piercing blood attacknded, I saw a big crack stretching from his shoulder to his chest. The pale exposed skin underneath had arge bloody gash. I also noticed that everywhere else I hadnded a strike, there were now small cracks on his skin. His face wasposed of severalrge tes of stone while a pair of white eyes stared at me in begrudging respect. "But you won''t beat me."


    <i>This guy is like Kirishima and Tetsutetsu... Getting past his rock-solid defense won''t be easy. Using Piercing blood again isn''t an option either; I''m starting to feel lightheaded. </i>I took an unconscious step back as the stone-quirked man stepped forward. <i>Using my blood katana against him won''t work then. Where the fuck is Edgeshot when you need him!?</i>


    "I think I''m doing well for a little kid. You, on the other hand, haven''tnded a single hit on me." I said with a confident and easygoing voice. I was doing my best to channel Gojo''s confident personality so the guy wouldn''t see how nervous I actually was. "Kinda pathetic if you ask me."


    "You got guts, kid; I respect that. But I''m ending this."


    The man rushed me and threw a series of punches my way, each of which I dodged and weaved away from, thanks to my shorter size and speed. The man may have a tough defense, but it seems to slow him down as well. I pped my hands andnded another punch onto the man''s back, causing him to stumble, but he then spun around to swing at me wildly. I jumped back to dodge the swing and shook my hand in pain. Despite having hardened my fist with my blood, it still hurt punching solid stone.


    "Number two, Reiki!"


    I felt water wrap around my body, covering me in ayer of defense. I pushed myself forward and slid across the rough floor as if it were made of ice. My opponent looked momentarily surprised at my boost of speed but quickly recovered. He kicked the air where he thought I was going to be but stumbled when I backflipped over his leg. He looked up just in time to receive a powerful kick that cracked the stone armor on his neck and cheek.


    "Got you." The man with the stone defense quirk smirked as he grabbed my ankle while I was in mid-air.


    "Shit!"


    I was tugged through the air and mmed into the brick wall to our left with enough force to crack the bricks in several sections. I gasped as all the air in my lungs shot out of me from the force of the blow. The man wasn''t done there; no, he pulled me out of the wall and lifted me up in the air. He pulled his other arm back and punched my stomach with bone-breaking strength. I felt myself ck out for a split second as I flew back through the alley, only to crash into a stack of trash bins and boxes.


    <i>If it wasn''t for Reiki and focusing ayer of blood around my stomach at thest second, All my organs would have been turned to mush.</i>


    I tried to get back to my feet, but the sheer amount of pain I was feeling forced me to stop. I red up at the approaching man as he walked towards me with a confident stride.


    <i>Damn it! I shouldn''t have hesitated and held back with my piercing blood technique! If I hadn''t, I wouldn''t be in this situation.</i>


    "Your quirk is something else. Teleporting and blood control! How impressive! It''s almost as if you had two quirks! Seeing that mask, it seems like you wanna be a hero. Don''t you, you runt? Unfortunately, the road ends here for you."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <i>Shit. Despite having three cursed techniques, I''m still so weak! </i>I ignored the stabbing pain in my midsection and forced myself to my feet. My cheeks suddenly swelled, and I was forced to lift my mask so I could spit out arge amount of blood. I wiped my mouth and watched as my opponent was now only ten feet away. Sliding my mask back down, I felt my legs begin to grow weak. <i>This is bad! I have to run!</i>


    "Now then, die!"


    I looked up to see the man dash towards me with his arms held above his head, ready to smash my head into a paste.


    "Number four..." I held my hands in front of me in a simr manner as Potential Man would for the Devine General, but my hands were open and t. "...Ryu!"


    The stone man may not be able to see my Auspicious Beast, but he could immediately sense a wave of negative energy explode out from me, causing his eyes to grow wide in fear.


    From my hands, a wave of CE took the form of arge serpentine dragon that shot straight into my opponent''s chest. Ryu opened itsrge jaws and mped down straight into the man''s chest. Shattering his armor and cutting deep into his torso.


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    This was a technique that was capable of pushing back <i>the </i>Ryomen Sukuna in his Heian-era form.


    In other words, this guy was defeated in a sh.


    A loud explosion shot out from around me as Ryu and the now-dead man crashed straight through the building beside us. Ryu kept flying even after shooting out the other side of the building and released my would-be killer in the air. Ryu vanished and returned back to me just as the man''s body fell to the ground with a loud crack.


    Unfortunately, the mannded straight in the center of a busy road. Causing a wave of panic to flood the streets. Luckily, no vehicle or person was underneath the man''s heavy body when he crashed. In no time, arge crowd of people gathered around the body.


    "Ahh!"


    "Is he dead?!"


    "H-his chest!"


    Due to pumping almost all of my remaining CE into Ryu to ensure my victory, I began to feel extremely tired. It didn''t help that my injuries caused pulses of extreme agony to echo throughout my body. But I knew I couldn''t stay here. I had to leave immediately. I gazed over at my dropped marbles and cursed.


    <i>No time to gather them. What a waste!</i>


    Limping away, I took off my bloodied mask and used the wall beside me to support my weight as I left the area. As I neared the street from which I entered the alley, I was relieved to see it sparsely upied. Everyone was too focused on therge crater with a dead man in the center to pay any attention to an inconsequential 11-year-old.


    <i>Don''t pass out. Don''t pass out. Don''t...</i>


    I had numbly walked in a single direction; it didn''t matter where I went as long as I left the area of the fight. My vision was blurry, and I couldn''t make out my surroundings. Sadly, after a while, my legs took me as far as they could. Like a puppet with its strings suddenly cut off, I fell to my knees and mmed face-first onto what felt like grass.


    <i>Shit, I''m passing out.</i>


    Slowly, ck began to epass my vision, and I knew no more.


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Happy Monday, everyone. Here''s a new Chapter! Let me know your thoughts on this story''s first fight sequence and what cursed techniques you''d like to see!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 6: NO. 6 - Let鈥檚 Order Some Gyoza

    <h4>Chapter 6: NO. 6 - Let''s Order Some Gyoza</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa is a tall man with short ck hair and rectangr ck eyes. He wears his signature tan overcoat and matching hat. Underneath, he wears a ck suit, a green tie, matching cks, and dress shoes. His expression was calm as he stepped out of his private vehicle.


    His gaze swept over the extensive crime scene that blocked off arge section of a once-busy street located within the heart of Hamamatsu. Several uniformed police officers and their cruisers stood as a barrier to stop curious civilians from entering the area. His ck eyes then zeroed in on therge crater at the center of the road.


    "Sansa," Tsukauchi said as he walked over to one of the officers standing near the crater with a small notepad. Lying still at the center was a white nket covering a still body. What stood out the most from this officer was therge cat head on his shoulders. "What do we got?"


    Sansa nodded his fluffy head and flipped through several pages in his notepad. "At around 7:30-7:46 pm tonight, a man by the name of Uchida Ryota, the now deceased, fell from the sky andnded in this crater with several stab wounds around his torso. The pro hero Edgeshot was the first on the scene and is currently on a four-block search for any potential suspects. Some witnesses say that he exploded out from that building and suddenly fell." Sansa said as he pointed at the building across the street. The building had a massive hole in its front wall on the third floor. Rubble and destruction could be seen poking out from the opening.


    "Any other casualties? How many were injured?"


    "Luckily, there were no other fatalities from the incident. However, several of the people from inside the building were injured when Uchida crashed through the building. They''ve been taken to Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital." Sansa said, much to Tsukauchi''s relief.


    "Tell me more about Uchida Ryota," Tsukauchi said as he and Sansa walked away from the crater and towards the damaged building. "What was his quirk? Any criminal history?"


    "Uchida''s quirk is called Stone Constitution. His entire body is covered in ayer of thick stone that gave him ayer of defense." Sansa said as he and Tsukauchi now stood on the third floor, the Detective surveying the damage. "The man also did have a record. Three assaults in the past two years, and he was arrested for robbing a convenience store four years ago. He even assaulted several officers when they tried to arrest him."


    "So, a repeat offender with a strong defensive quirk," Tsukauchi said as he turned his head to examine where therge trial of destruction seemingly entered from. "That doesn''t exin how Uchida flew through this building and into the air. Does he have any ties with the yakuza or any of the local gangs?"


    "We''re currently looking deeper into his background, but so far, it doesn''t seem to be gang-rted."


    Tsukauchi hummed and walked out of the building by the side door. Sansa followed behind him as they entered an alleyway full of officers and forensic investigators. There were several areas marked with tape and small yellow cones. Tsukauchi took his hat off and kneeled down next to a cone, his eyes focused on the two objects beside the cone.


    "Marbles?"


    Tsukauchi muttered with a raised eyebrow. Standing up, he turned to watch some of the members of the forensics team gather what seemed like blood. But from the looks of their disappointed faces. The blood might not be viable due to it mixing with the dirty alleyway water.


    "It looks like the fight began here and somehow ended up on the street," Sansa said as he looked over at the damaged brick walls in the alley alongside the several ruined trash bins. "A deal gone wrong?"


    "Perhaps," Tsukauchi said as he stared at the pile of ruined trash bins and boxes. Turning back, he saw therge hole in the building lined up where he stood. "Whoever Killed Ichida had enough power to send him through three stories of solid brick and steel."


    "Could it have been a vignte?" Sansa asked as he looked straight through the building where Ichida had crashed through from beside Tsukauchi.


    "That''s what we''re going to find out."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    "Huh, an unfamiliar ceiling."


    I blinked slowly in an attempt to remove the remnants of sleep from my eyes and turned my head to the side. That small action of mine caused a ripple of excruciating pain to shoot through my body, causing me to clench my teeth to stop the iing yell of agony.


    It was then that the memories from my fight flooded the forefront of my mind. Reminding me of the fact that I had killed a man with the use of Ryu. It didn''t matter that I had done it in self-defense; it didn''t change the fact that I had taken that man''s life.


    <i>I''m... a murderer.</i>


    "Easy there, kid. You shouldn''t move around too much."


    Despite the warning from the unknown voice, I quickly turned towards the direction the mysterious voice came from, causing another jolt of pain to course through me.


    Sitting in a chair several feet away was a rather well-built man with blond hair and gray-blue eyes with no eyebrows. He seemed to be in his mid-twenties or so, and he had arge scar splitting his forehead. There were visible traces of facial hair over his mouth and at the bottom of his chin. The man''s attire consisted of a blue-cored shirt over a white tank top and a standard pair of pants and boots.


    <i>This guy seems familiar... shit! My head''s killing me.</i>


    "The hell are you! Where am I? What year is it?!" I grabbed my head to try and relieve the pain as I fired off several questions to the strange man.


    Seeing my clearly distressed reaction, the man stood up quickly with his hands in front of him in a disarming fashion.


    "Wow there, kid! Easy! I''m friendly!" The blond man said with a shaky smile. "I found you unconscious a block away! So I just, eh, brought you to... my apartment and... treated your wounds?"


    <i>Why is he saying that like a question?</i>


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    Despite the pain, I pushed myself up to sit on the small bed and looked down at my body. My entire upper body was covered in decently well-ced bandages and other first aid care. I tentatively touched my torso, where my precious organs were, and found no traces of scars.


    <i>Phew, I still have my organs. That''s a win in my book.</i>


    "The name''s... Jin. Like I said, you''re in my apartment, and the year is 2394?" Jin said with a confused look as he scratched his head. "I, uh, how are you feeling? I''m not the best with first aid, and I wasn''t sure if calling an ambnce was the right call. I don''t know your situation after all..."


    <i>Hold the phone. Jin? As in</i> <i>Bubabagawa-something Jin! It''s Twice!</i>


    "I see... Thank you for your help, Jin." I said with a wince as a sharp pain pulsed from my stomach.


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    "Don''t worry about it. I couldn''t exactly leave a kid lying in the street like that." Jin said as he walked over to his small kitchen.


    While he was gone, I took a quick look around. Beside me, I found my backpack that held my manuscript for my third book, Episode One of Star Wars. The apartment was rather run-down, with stains on the walls. There was minimal furniture and personal effects throughout the small apartment. Off in the corner were several empty beer or liquor bottles gathered together. The air was rich with the aroma of cigarettes, which made my nose twitch. After a few seconds, Jin came back with a bottle of water.


    "Thanks."


    I epted the drink and took several thirsty gulps, suddenly aware of how dry my throat was. When my thirst was quenched, I looked back over to Jin and saw him look ufortable and unsure where he stood. His left hand was rubbing his head fiercely. "How long was I out?"


    "I think two days?" Jin said as he retook his original seat. I nodded and rubbed my face to help calm myself.


    "Two days? Well, that''s not good." I said as I looked down at my bed and then at the lone sheet and pillow on the ground several feet away. <i>He gave up his bed for me.</i>


    Despite knowing that Jin, or Twice, would one day be a viin part of the League of Villians. I couldn''t help but be sympathetic to him after reading the original story. While he did a lot of bad things throughout the story, Jin was by no means evil. He was a character gued with mental illness and loneliness. He was a person who truly cared for the few friends he had, and he had proven himself to be reliable by his found family in the League of Viins. Only to one day be killed by someone he believed to be his friend.


    <i>Then again, I''m not squeaky clean anymore. I did kill a man. So, in terms of heinous actions so far, I''m probably worse than Jin. Unless there''s something, Horikoshi didn''t share with the ss for his backstory.</i>


    For a so-called future viin, instead of walking away and leaving my unconscious body wherever he found me. He decided to help me in my moment of need.


    He was a real one for that.


    "Thank you, Jin. Truly. I owe you for helping me." I softly said as I swung my legs off the bed. I ignored the pain and looked at the surprised man with a smile. "You wouldn''t happen to have a phone? Would you?"


    x x x


    "Go on, Jin. Eat. Your food will get cold."


    "Ah, well, alright..."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    I smiled at the man and grabbed another handful of noodles with my chopsticks. On Jin''s head was a hood, and the medical mask he had worn earlier was in his jacket pocket. I slurped my ramen hungrily and loudly, showing my appreciation for the chef''s delicious food.


    Jin sniffed the alluring aroma of his food and finally began to eat. Immediately, a small smile grew on his face from the taste, and he immediately dug in hungrily as well.


    The particr ramen stand we were at was rtively busy at this time of day. Despite the high traffic, the wait was worth it for a bowl of their delicious ramen. As one could imagine, not eating for two days had made me extremely hungry.


    So, after getting dressed in my now-washed clothes, I invited Jin to join me in eating as a way of thanks for helping me. He tried to refuse initially, but I wouldn''t take no for an answer.


    I was a persistent and persuasive guy.


    One look at his kitchen told me all I needed to know. The man didn''t look like he''d had a decent meal in a long time, so buying him dinner was the least I could do. I did have some decent money after selling my first book, after all.


    "You sure you don''t have to hurry home? Ain''t your parents worried about you?"


    "Don''t get any, so it''s fine. You want some gyoza?"


    My straightforward answer stumped Jin momentarily, leaving him confused and unsure of what to say. Despite his silence, he looked at me with an expression of understanding. In the end, he just nodded, and I ced an order for some gyoza.


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    While I didn''t worry too much about the Orphanage''s reaction to my disappearance, I was more concerned with how the Hatsumes'' would react to my disappearance.


    My excuse for the orphanage director was that I had stayed at a friend''s house and that itpletely slipped my mind to tell them I would be gone for a few days. By her angry voice and overreaction, it was to say she was worried about me. How nice of her.


    Things got dicey when I called Minato. Safe to say, I got chewed out by the man due to leaving him in the dark for so long. I had given him the excuse that I had gotten in trouble at the Orphanage, and I ended up being grounded with no phone privileges. I was lucky to have woken up when I did because Minato told me he was about to head to the Orphanage, where I stayed for answers. If that had happened, things would have gotten moreplicated.


    When Minato handed me the phone to speak to Mei, I wasn''t able to give her an excuse before she called me a "Big idiot" and hung up the phone. Her reaction caught me off guard, and I was left stumped, causing Jin to stare at me with confusion while I gazed into nothing like an idiot.


    "You know, you didn''t have to do this." Jin suddenly said as I ced some gyoza in my mouth. His face was downcast and hidden by his hood. His eyes stared deeply into his empty ramen bowl. His right hand pressed against his head, and his left foot began to tap repeatedly on the floor. "I should be the one buying you food. You''re a kid, after all."


    "It''s fine. Really." I waved his concerns away as I lifted my arm up to show off my now clean but lightly damaged hoodie. "You gave me your bed and even washed my clothes, and you even treated my wounds. Buying some food for my new friend isn''t a big deal. It''s the least I can do."


    Sorry, wallet, you''re taking one for the team.


    "...friend?" Jin whispered as he slowly turned to me, his eyes wide and unbelieving. "Me?"


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    "Well, yeah," I said honestly.


    Despite my future knowledge of the man, I wouldn''t hold what he has yet to do against him. I could only judge him for what he <i>has</i> done. And what he had done was help me during my moment of need. Who knows what would have happened if someone else with much darker intentions found me instead?


    In my eyes, Twice was a bro.


    "Unless you think being friends with an 11-year-old is weird. If you do, I don''t me you. It is odd now that I think about it."


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    "Are you sure?" Jin looked at me, his eyes shaky and fearful. "That you want to be friends... with someone like me?"


    "Someone like you?" I asked. "Why not you?"


    "Because I''m... I''m..." Jin whispered, each word causing his head to droop lower and lower.


    "You''re Jin, right?" I interrupted, causing his head to snap back up. "You''re the guy who saved my bacon. That makes you a hero in my eyes. So I don''t see a problem with us being friends. Do you?"


    <strong>[+100 SP]</strong>


    Jin''s eyes grew wide and wet at my words. His mouth opened and closed like a gaping fish. His mind struggled to find a response. Ultimately, he gave me a small smile and a nod. Seemingly not trusting his voice.


    "Great. Now then, how about another order of gyoza?"


    "...sounds good."


    "Another order of gyoza for me and my friend here!"


    <strong>[+200 SP]</strong>


    x x x


    I closed the door to my small room and threw my book bag onto my small bed. I shimmied my way around my few belongings and took a seat on my chair beside my small desk. Did I tell you my room was small? Because it is.


    After a few years of not being adopted, the room I had shared with three other kids began to grow bigger and bigger as each one of them got adopted. The caretakers and director all looked at me with sympathy alongside a hint of fear. Over time, my CE began making them ufortable around me. I didn''t me them; I practically radiated negativity.


    Anyway, they had decided to move me to a private room so I could have some more privacy due to my unexpectedly extended stay at the Orphanage. This pretty much meant that they didn''t expect me to get adopted, and they were hiding me away in order not to scare future hopeful parents from adopting the other kids. Harsh but understandable. At least I got my own room now, even if it was the size of a utility closet.


    I leaned back on my old, creaky chair and winced as its wooden backrest dug into my sore back. "Man... I got my ass kicked." I lifted up my shirt and peeled back some of my bandages to look at the massive purple bruise on my stomach. "Yikes."


    When I finally got back to the Orphanage, I was greeted by a furious but surprisingly concerned director. The older woman must have asked me dozens of questions until she was finally satisfied. Thankfully, my ability to create excuses was unparalleled.


    Unfortunately, I ended up actually being grounded for a month.


    I sat on my chair for several minutes, my expression pensive and frustrated as I rested my weary body.


    <i>I almost died. I only managed to win through the skin of my teeth.</i>


    <i>I should be happy that I am still alive. Not many 11-year-olds could boast they managed to beat a grown-ass man. But then again, how many 11-year-olds have killed someone as well... knowing that, why is it that I''m so... disappointed in myself?</i>


    After having a couple of hours to think things through from the moment I woke up today, the fact that I had killed that man in the alleyway no longer bothered me as much as before. It was either him or me. And I chose me. I couldn''t let that bring me down.


    I wonder if there was something wrong with me in the head or if I was just mad coping.


    "What would have happened if I was with Mei? Would I have been able to protect her? I was barely able to protect myself." I whispered and felt an unreasonable swell of anger rise in me.


    Despite being alive for 11 years, I''ve only really had two people I considered friends, three when you counted Jin.


    My first friend was Keiko, a sweet girl who was also orphaned alongside me during the Iwata incident that took our parents. She now lived happily with her new family in Masutafu. I was happy for her.


    My second friend, the wacky but brilliant Mei. If you looked past her crazy and obsessive behavior towards her inventions, she was actually pretty funny and fun to be with. Causing her to dig a ce in my heart despite my initial intentions of using her like a point farm.


    I had tried making more friends in middle school to ease away the loneliness I felt, but having a constant flow of negative energy trickle out of me made it a challenging task. Add in my quirkless status, and my ability to make friends gets worse.


    So, not much luck there.


    So the idea of either Keiko or Mei, the very few friends I did have, getting hurt or killed because Icked the strength to defeat anyone who wanted to hurt them caused me to grow angry.


    Angry at myself for being so <i>weak</i>.


    <i>That fight was a wake-up call... I see that now.</i>


    "I didn''t win because I was strong. I won because I got lucky." I muttered and summoned my gacha system. The floating gacha machine pulsed with power as the stic prizes inside glowed with energy. Looking over to the floating screen beside the machine, I saw that I had umted 5100 SP to spend. "It''s time I changed that. I can''t let what happened two days ago happen again. I need strength. I need to get stronger. I have to be the <i>strongest</i>."


    An image of Gojo and Sukuna shed in my mind.


    I reached over and spun the dial on the gacha machine while using 1500 SP. I waited and listened as the prizes danced in the machine until one of them popped out of the lid.


    The Diamond tier reward pull only had a 35% chance of pulling a reward befitting the point cost. Meaning my chances of getting a legendary reward were low. However, the prize''s bright blue glow erased any doubts of this one being a dud. Grabbing the prize ball, I snapped open the lid and grinned.


    <strong>[You have pulled: Jogo''s Cursed Technique, Disaster mes! Rank: Diamond]</strong>


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Thanks for 100 PS! Here''s your bonus Chapter!</strong>


    <strong>I hope you all enjoyed today''s Chapter!</strong>


    <strong>Please leave me some reviews! Let''s get some more people to read my little story as well. </strong>


    <strong>Just to be clear, 100 PS = a bonus Chapter!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 7: NO. 7 - Testing and New Goals

    <h4>Chapter 7: NO. 7 - Testing and New Goals</h4>


    <strong>Quick AN:</strong>


    <strong>I''ve seen someone ask this question, so I''ll go ahead and answer it for everyone.</strong>


    <strong>The question: Can the people from the MHA world see the MC''s abilities?</strong>


    <strong>Answer: Sorta, kinda.</strong>


    <strong>No, the people of MHA can''t see pure cursed energy, cursed spirits, or shikigami. With one exception, I''ll exin why when it gets to that point. (lol)</strong>


    <strong>But at the same time, yes. They can see physical attacks created by cursed energy. Examples are fire, ice, water, or any natural or elemental constructs or attacks. Mahito''s transfigured humans could also be seen because they were originally human. Domain Expansions can also be seen. Also, beams made of cursed energy, like Ishig¨­ri Ry¨±''s Granite st, can also be seen as well. Because it''s too cool not to be.</strong>


    -


    "I don''t know about this one, Mei."


    "It''s fine, it''s fine. You''re built different. I''m sure you can handle the knockback."


    "You said there wasn''t going to be any knockback."


    "...you must have misheard me."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    I squinted my eyes at Mei as she finished adjusting the pair of mechanical arms on my body. I grunted as she tightened one of the straps extremely tightly around my bicep with a sweet smile on her face.


    "That sorta hurts."


    "Ah, does it? I''m sure it''s fine."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Ever since I came back to work after my month-long grounding, Mei has been acting weirder than usual. By weirder, I meant she''s been treating me much more... roughly than before.


    This made sense; she wasn''t very subtle about hiding the fact that she was mad at me for up and leaving her alone for weeks. I had underestimated how much she had grown to care about me, which was odd in itself, knowing her character.


    Then again, I had given up on expecting the world around me to stay the same as in the anime/manga. The people around me were very real with human emotions. Not characters behind a screen or on ink on paper.


    When I entered the shop on my first day back, Mei looked extremely happy for a split second before her happiness melted into a nk smile. Her eyes looked at me with a silent message of future retribution. But when it came to Mei, that meant I would end up being her Guinea pig for the several babies she had made in my absence.


    All Minato said to me was, "Good luck," and left the storefront.


    What a traitor.


    So, for the next two weeks, I''ve been subjected to testing baby after baby in the hopes of getting her to forgive me eventually. Sure, her anger was a bit nonsensical, but she was 10. So, she got a pass.


    "Alright, remember to undo the safety mechanism! We don''t want a repeat of yesterday!" Mei said as she took several steps back and stood behind an old rusty car for cover.


    We were outside behind the shop where Minato stored a lot of his junk andrge mechanical parts that took up too much space inside. There were also some cars lined up outside that he worked on in his free time. The car Mei was using as a shield was an old 2015 Toyota that Minato gave her to use as she wanted.


    I rolled my eyes and did as she said. I grabbed the small switch on the top of the left forearm armor and gave it a spin, turning off the safety. I moved my arms up, down, left, and right to test their mobility. They were a bit hard to move, and the arms locked at times, but it was much better than the Mk. 3 from a few days ago. So that was a win.


    "Alright, let''s see what these can do," I whispered and stepped closer to arge boxing bag made out of steel, courtesy of Minato. I slid into a loose stance and leveled my gaze on the steel bag. I heard the inner mechanisms in the arms whirl and waited.


    <i>Beep.</i>


    <i>Wham!</i>


    A small dent appeared on the steel bag from my right punch. I slid back and swiveled tond a left hook punch onto the bag''s side, leaving a more significant dent than before.


    I paused and looked down at the knuckles of the arms fists and saw several cracks and indents from my strikes. "Okay, that''s it. Any more than that, and they''ll break, Mei." I said as I looked back to see Mei run out from behind her cover, arge grin on her face.


    <strong>[+8 SP]</strong>


    "Heh-heh! Amazing! Amazing!" Mei swept her hands on the steel bag to feel the dents that I caused. Well, her mechanical arms caused. "What an improvement!" She then turned to me and grabbed the sides of my arms to inspect the damage. "I see. It seems the shock absorption for the arms needs work. How do you feel?"


    "My hands feel a bit stiff, but they''re not in any pain," I said as I flipped on the safety switch in order for Mei to start removing the arms. "However, the elbows were locking up between strikes."


    "Unfortunately, this is as fast as I can make them right now," Mei said as she entirely removed the right mechanical arm and ced it on a nearby table before moving to the left. "At least, if we want to avoid breaking your bones, I can improve the inner power regtors to circumvent the time to charge between strikes."


    "Ah, yes. Please do that. I like my bones not broken."


    "Yes, yes. I''ll be sure to keep that in mind." Mei smiled as she ced the fully removed left mechanical arm on the work table.


    She then grabbed my hands in hers while her thumbs swept over my red knuckles. The cross hairs in her yellow eyes grew slightly as she took a close look at my skin. "Hm, they''re a little swollen. Are you sure you''re not in any pain?"


    "Yeah, they''re fine. Just be sure to increase the padding inside the gloves." I said as she let me go in favor of writing down several notes on her clipboard.


    "Will do!"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    I smiled at her as she continued writing and drawing all her ideas. It was pretty fascinating watching her work. It''s still hard to believe she''s capable of such amazing inventions at such an early age. I turned my head to the steel boxing bag to look at the small dents the mechanical arms created.


    <i>Then again, she will eventually create support gear advanced enough to handle Midoriya using 10-20% of One for All after all. No, stuff like these power arms are just the start.</i>


    "You''re amazing, Mei," I said without looking at her. She paused in her writing and rambling to look at me in confusion. "These arms of yours are just the beginning. I know one day, your babies will change the world. I''m sure of it."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "Of course they will! Way to state the obvious, Souta! Just you wait! My name will be known throughout the world!" Mei said with arge, proud smile on her face as she puffed her chest out.


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    I chuckled at her egotistical attitude but didn''t disagree. Having an unorthodox mindset and a strong sense of self will only serve to push her to new limits. A fact that pushed Jujutsu Sorcerers like Gojo and Sukuna to the very peaks of the Jujutsu world.


    <i>I have to be like Mei. I have to push myself if I want to be among the strongest in this world. That fight from a month ago has shown me I can''t keep living my life like I did before. If I do, I''ll get killed by the likes of Shigiraki, All for One, Overhaul, the Nomu, and so many other strong people.</i>


    I looked down at my hand and clenched it into a tight fist.


    <i>I have to be stronger. For that, I need more fighting experience to improve my understanding of Jujutsu. I can''t rely on the inherent knowledge of how to use my cursed techniques. Knowledge isn''t mastery. I need to push beyond and reach the heights of Gojo or Sukuna. No! I have to surpass them! And with the power of this Gacha system, I can reach levels far beyond andp them!</i>


    Suddenly, a stray drop of water fell on my clenched fist. I blinked and looked up at the sky to see dark grey clouds and rumbling. Mei looked up as well and quickly scrambled to grab her mechanical arms.


    "Ah! It''s going to rain! Baby # 12 isn''t waterproof! Souta, help!"


    x x x


    <strong><i>...Three Months Later...</i></strong>


    The rainy city at night was a spectacle of glistening streets and shimmering reflections. The glow of streetlights created a soft ambiance, casting a warm halo around the rain-soaked pavement. The sounds of raindrops tapping against the roofs around me and sshing onto the ground fill the air, creating a soothing symphony.


    The city lights dance in the puddles, creating a mesmerizing mosaic of colors. The reflections of neon signs and traffic lights add an otherworldly quality to the urbanndscape, turning the city into a dreamlike, ethereal ce. Despite the wet sidewalks and misty air, there''s a certain beauty and tranquility thates with a rainy night in the city.


    But what stood out the most to those paying attention to the rooftops of the surrounding buildings were the dozens of perched crows looking down at the streets. They watched the passing citizens with an eerie razor-sharp focus.


    I looked out at the city of Hamamatsu with a steady gaze. A ck hood sat over my head to shield me from the non-stop rain as I kneeled on the edge of one of the roofs near the financial center in the city.


    Underneath my ck jacket was a long-sleeved white shirt with a high cor. Below my waist were ck jeans and sneakers while a sheathed katana sat on my left hip. Sitting inside a ck Ker shieth strapped to my back was a short but wide-edgedbat knife with a ck fur guard.


    I pulled out ughter Demon from its sheath and held it out for the ck crow who was standing on my shoulder. Its head twitched as if to nod to my silentmand, and it grabbed the de between its feet. Once it secured it, the crow jumped and flew away.


    Nodding, I stood up and used my CE to help me jump from rooftop to rooftop toward my new destination. After traveling for a few city blocks, I stopped at the edge of a rooftop belonging to an old warehouse. My attention focused on the scene below.


    "Where are you heading?" A voice said with amusement, cutting the putter patter of the rain.


    "C''mon sugar, we just wanna chat!"


    "L-leave me alone!" A feminine voice yelled.


    Down below on the dark city streets, a woman dressed in an attire fit for a hostess speed-walked across the dimly lit backstreets. Her dark brown hair was wet, and so were her slightly revealing clothes, causing them to cling to her curvy body.


    Following behind the clearly fearful woman was a small group of men. They walked after her with amused smiles on their faces as they ignored the pouring rain that drenched them. Two out of the five men had mutant features due to their quirks.


    One of the mutated men had four arms and red skin, while the other man had arge head and small limbs with yellow skin. The other three men all had normal features, their quirks most likely being the emitter type.


    I watched the woman from the rooftops as she continued to try to escape her pursuers and make her way in and out of several streets. But no matter what she did, the group of men continued following behind her. This went on a while longer before the woman came to an unexpected dead end at the end of a long, dirty alleyway, her face lighting up with fear and dread.


    "Oh no." The woman said, quickly spinning around to try and leave, but she was soon halted by her pursuers, who were creating a wall with their bodies. "G-go away! O-or I''ll call the police!"


    "Please, you probably don''t have a phone. If you did, then you would have already called them." One of the men said he had dirty blonde hair and green eyes. "You ain''t callin'' no one, Sugar."


    "T-then I''ll scream!"


    "I wouldn''t. Thest gall that did that got her tongue ripped out." The man with red skin and four arms said with a grin, causing the woman''s face to pale.


    "Yeah, so shut ya mouth!" The man with arge head and yellow skin shouted. This caused thest two in-looking members of their group to chuckle.


    "Ay yo, boss man. Ain''t she a looker?" One of the in men said. His tongue slowly glided along his lips. "Much prettier than the one fromst night."


    Hisment caused the woman to begin shaking in fear, her legs slowly walking back until her back hit the cold brick wall. Her arms slowly rose up to wrap around herself.


    "Five on one. I like those odds." I muttered.


    I used CE to strengthen my legs and jumped off the roof I stood on and fell. A surprisingly soft crash rocked the wet floor as I madendfall onto a puddle between the men and the woman, sending water everywhere. I rose to my feet and slid my hands into my jacket pocket. Several moments of silence hung in the air as I cooly stared at them from the darkness of my hood.


    "...whose the shrimp?"


    "Just for that, I''m kicking your ass first." I pointed my finger at the man with four arms and red skin.


    <strong>[5x6= +30 SP]</strong>


    Four-arms looked dumbfounded for several seconds before he began tough his head off. His four cronies soon joined in on theugh as they all looked at me with amusement.


    <i>Blood Maniption...</i>


    "It''s just some kid ying hero! Listen here, kid. Get out of here before we-"


    <i>Flowing Red Scale.</i>


    Before anyone could react, I dashed straight at the four-armed man and sent my blood-covered fist straight into his stomach, causing the man to fold over in pain, his face twisted in agony. The man''s entourage all looked so shocked at my sudden burst of speed and power that they remained frozen. The woman behind me stared at my back with wide eyes, clearly surprised at my show of power despite my size.


    I leaned in close to the red-skinned man''s right ear, a mask made of cracked blood now over my eyes, and whispered.


    "I told you, didn''t I? You''re going down first."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>

 Chapter 8: NO. 8 - Pincushion

    <h4>Chapter 8: NO. 8 - Pincushion</h4>


    Blood Maniption: Flowing Red Scale.


    It is a technique that increases the user''s body temperature, pulse rate, and the number of red blood cells. This results in a significant boost in energy and physical abilities, allowing the user to perform superhuman feats such as increased strength, speed, and agility.


    The enhanced strength and speed granted by Flowing Red Scale can be used to boost the user''s capabilities in hand-to-handbat.


    Making a knowledgeable fighter a force to be reckoned with.


    Jumping to the side, I was able to dodge the red-skinned man''s pair of well-muscled arms with ease. He growled in anger and swung at me again but once again hit nothing but air as I took a back step. His eyes twitched at the fact he was too slow and uncoordinated to hit me. His red skin glistened in the dim light, a stark contrast to his ck, tattered clothes.


    <strong>[+8 SP]</strong>


    "Grr! Help me, you idiots!" The four-armed man roared to his crew, jolting them all to action.


    "R-right!"


    "We got your back, boss!"


    "Tch! This ain''t no kid! He''s too fast and strong!"


    I rolled my eyes from under the darkness of my hood and raised my arms in front of me in a loose boxer''s stance. The four-armed man held his stomach and took a back seat to watch three of his crew dash towards me with therge-headed man hanging back. He looked down at his stomach and saw a dark red bloody spot that slowly disappeared, causing him great confusion.


    "You''ll regret this, you bastard!" One of the in-looking men pulled his arm back and threw a sloppy punch at my head.


    <i>His teeth are all different colors. </i>I observed and parried his punch to the side, causing the man to trip. I jumped up and crashed my elbow into the side of his head. Sending him to the ground, unconscious. <i>Huh, now they''re all yellow. His emotions must be why his teeth change colors. What a dumb quirk.</i>


    <strong>[+8 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+8 SP]</strong>


    "Nishi!" in man #2 yelled as he and in man #3 looked down at their friend. The two of them then charged at me, their faces twisted into rage. "You''ll pay for that!"


    Despite theirrger size and numbers, I was able to move in and out from their strikes and kicks with ease. These two men were untrained and relied heavily on their numbers to overpower me. Someone with decent training could keep up with them thanks to how they telegraphed each swing or blow.


    The man to my left seemed to have a quirk that gave him super long fingernails onmand, and the one on my right seemingly had a quirk that gave him extra joints in his skeleton. Their pathetic quirks didn''t even offer them any buffs or attack power.


    Unfortunately, they were up against someone amped up with Flowing Red Scale and with Itadori Yuji''s hand-to-handbat skills. Mr. left-right-goodnight himself!


    <i>m! Crack!</i>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    The two men fell onto the ground like bags of bricks from my swift, well-ced punches and kicks to their heads. I looked at my three knocked-out opponents with disappointment.


    "You done hiding behind yourckeys?" I said towards the four-armed man. The one with therge head and yellow skin shook in annoyance from where he stood. "How pathetic."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Take this! Wave of might!"


    The man with therge head sent out his right hand towards me. His hand was covered in a golden hue of energy, and his palm was pointed in my direction. In the blink of an eye, arge concentration burst of energy flew straight at me, causing my eyes to grow wide.


    <i>Shit! No time to dodge!</i>


    I raised my arms in front of me and concentrated my CE throughout my body to reinforce myself. The energy burst mmed into my body and sent me skidding back several feet. I dug my feet into the ground and immediately began to slow down.


    I slid to a stop beside the woman at the end of the dead end. She looked at me with worry and slight trepidation as I dropped my arms beside me. I ignored her in favor of analyzing therge-headed man''s quirk.


    <i>Before he unleashed that attack, he was holding his arm behind his back to hide what he was doing. In fact, he was doing that during my fight with the three bozos. That means his attack needs to be charged before he can use it. Therefore I-</i>


    "U-um, are you okay-"


    "Be silent."


    <i>Silence you, wench! I''m thinking!</i>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    The curvy woman flinched at my quick and rudement. I paid her no mind and stepped forward to begin walking toward myst two opponents, causing the nervous, yellow-skinned man to flinch. It seemed that he didn''t expect me to be able to tank his attack. Immediately, he pulled his arm behind himself to charge up another attack.


    <i>As if I''d let you. What do you think this is? Dragon ball?</i>


    I exploded towards therge-headed man, causing him to flinch and break his concentration momentarily. Just as I was about to reach the bobblehead, Four Arms decided it was time to get back into the fight.


    Four Arms grunted and used both of his right arms in an attempt to punch my head through the wall behind me, only to miss as I weaved under his attack. Using a quick back step, I created some space between me and therge mutant. He then stepped in front of hisrge-headedpanion and shifted into a Mui Thai stance.


    "Damn, you. Just who are you?!" Four Arms growled out.


    Instead of answering, I rushed to the red-skinned man and delivered a right CE-enhanced punch that he quickly blocked. I tilted my head to the side and felt the wind from his left jab slice next to my ear. Using my short height, I stepped into his personal space andnded a hook punch into my opponent''s liver.


    Four Arms clenched his teeth in pain and was about to smash his upper arms onto my head when an invisible force crashed into his liver again, knocking him off bnce.


    "Divergent Fist," I muttered as I dashed after Four Arms. Leaping into the air, Inded three snap kicks onto my opponent''s head, chest, and stomach. Thanks to my Divergent Fist, each attack had a dyed second impact.


    Four Arms violently spun in the air from my attack and fell in a puddle below. As his body mmed on the floor, arge, victorious grin grew on his face. I felt the hair on my body stand up, and I quickly looked over at Mr. Bobblehead.


    "Wave of might!"


    <i>Shit, so much for sticking only to Blood Maniption.</i>


    Just as the wave of yellow energy was about to m into me, I held my palm towards the ground and shot out a concentrated burst of mes that illuminated everything in the dead end. I felt my body violently jerk upwards as I moved out of the way of Mr. Bobblehead''s attack.


    "F-fire?!" Mr. Bobblehead screeched as he saw his attack miss.


    <strong>[+8 SP]</strong>


    Inded on the ground with ease and looked over to see Four Arms now on his feet. A look of apprehension and nervousness on his face; behind him, Mr. Bobblehead was shaking like a leaf.


    "Those f-mes. Aren''t they like Endeavor''s!" Mr. Bobblehead muttered, his face covered in rain and sweat. Four Arms growled and began running full speed toward me.


    "Don''t be ridiculous! This punk just has a fire quirk! Hurry up and recharge-"


    "I don''t think so." I held up my hands and swiped them to the side. Four Arms suddenly jerked to the side and flew straight into Mr. Bobblehead. The two men rolled on the ground in a heap of iling limbs.


    "M-my body." Four Arms muttered as he trembled. "It h-hurts!"


    "Tajima-san! What''s the matter?!" Mr. Bobblehead asked Four Arms, er, Tajima, as he watched the four-armed man shake uncontrobly on the ground. Blood began to spill out of Tajima''s mouth and eyes as he convulsed on the ground.


    "<i>Much prettier than the one fromst night</i>," I said as I continued pointing my hand at Tajima, repeating what one of the in men said earlier. "That''s what your buddy said, right?" Slowly, I clenched my hand tighter and tighter, but not to the point of closing my fingers into a fist.


    My action caused Tajima to hold his stomach tightly as he screamed bloody murder. "You see, I don''t particrly like people like you guys. Rapists and the like. So, I''ll do the world a favor and just get rid of you five. Kay?"


    For a moment, I hesitated in what I was about to do next. I looked behind me at the frightened woman and imagined what could have happened to her if I hadn''t decided to go on my crusade to get stronger. She could have been raped, beaten, or even killed by these rabid dogs. I took a deep breath and steeled my resolve.


    At the same time, unknown to me, a piece of my humanity shriveled within me.


    "Blood Maniption: Human Pincushion."


    Human Pincushion was the first original technique I created with my Blood Maniption curse technique.


    It requires me to inject my own blood into my opponent''s bloodstream, imbued with ayer of CE. Theyer of CE protects my blood from being deluded or absorbed into my opponent''s body, meaning that it willy in wait until I reach out to it andmand it to do whatever I wish. Whether that be to restrict their movements or to shred their insides into pieces.


    To finish off the technique, Imand my blood to exponentially expand like a short-range explosion simr to a grenade, sending long spikes of blood throughout my target''s body.


    Once I called out the name of my first original technique, I made a fist, and spikes of my blood shot out of Tajima''s body, causing him to look like a bloody pincushion. His face was twisted in agony until it finally rxed. Blood slowly leaked out of his body, mixing in with therge puddle of dirty water underneath him.


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+12 SP]</strong>


    "Agh! Y-you-you killed him!" Mr. Bobblehead yelled as he quickly stood up and began to run away. "Leave me alone!" As he ran, he saw a lone crow at the end of the long alleyway. But what confused him the most was thebat knife underneath its tiny legs. The small bird cawed and swiftly flew away.


    "Funny. That''s what she said, too." I said as I motioned to the woman behind me, who was now on the ground on her knees. Her face was etched into shock and horror at my actions.


    <strong>[+8 SP]</strong>


    I ignored the woman and raised my hands.


    <i>p!</i>


    I suddenly appeared where the droppedbat knife once sat, causing Mr. Bobblehead''s eyes to grow wide and his mouth to open in horror. I held my right fist in my left hand as I charged up my CE. Due to his body shape and head size, Mr. Bobblehead was unable to slow his speed and stop his run, causing him to trip right in front of me.


    <i>Wham!</i>


    My punch struck true as it broke Mr. Bobblehead''s nose and sent him crashing back a dozen feet. His broken nose sprayed blood all along the dirty, wet ground. Once he rolled to a stop, his body twitched a few times until it stilled into unconsciousness.


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "Damn it." I looked down at my bloodied and bruised right fist with a frown. "I thought I would have gotten it that time for sure."


    I have been trying to achieve a ck sh for the past two months, and so far, I''ve failed at achieving a single one. I needed to reach the sparks of ck in order to further push my understanding of the essence of cursed energy.


    But so far, no luck.


    I sighed in frustration and walked down the alleyway; as I did, I passed by the four knocked-out men and one corpse. Reaching my newly acquired weapon, ughter Demon, I bent down and slid it back into its holster.


    Standing up, I noticed the woman I inadvertently saved stare at me with a dumb expression.


    "Why are you still here?" I asked the frozen woman. My voice snapped her out of her daze, causing her head to spin to me with fear. "Get the hell out of here already."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "I-uh... I don''t..." The woman said shakily before standing to her feet.


    At first, she took a few small, unsure steps, her eyes scanning all the downed men and dead bodies before turning to me. She looked scared but somehow relieved at the same time. Without saying another word, she ran out of the alley and disappeared around the corner.


    I looked up towards the rooftops where three crows were perched. Their eyes were looking down at me with loyalty.


    "Follow her. Make sure she gets home." I called out, causing one of the crows to caw.


    (I, Geto, will make sure that monkey- I mean, human- reaches her nest.)


    I nodded at the crow I named Geto as he pped his wings and flew away. I scratched the back of my head as I still couldn''t get over the fact that I was now able to understand what the crows under mymand said.


    It was an odd experience; being able to speak to my crows wasn''t something I thought my recently pulled cursed technique, ck Bird Maniption, could also do.


    Don''t even ask me how they got their namesake personalities.


    Was MeiMei able to understand her birds as well?


    If so, that''s a fact Gege hid from us all. How dare he.


    (Standing around here has gotten boring, so I''lle along. Maybe I''ll even fly into a hawk to fight? Heh, it won''t even be a fight. I''ll take it down quickly! I am the strongest, after all.) Crow Gojo said as he followed behind Crow Geto.


    The crow beside Crow Gojo, Crow Shoko, shook her head before looking down at me from her perch.


    (Haa... I''ll make sure they don''t get distracted, Master.)


    "...right, you do that,"


    Crow Shoko nodded her little head and flew off. I watched them all fly away and turned to the unconscious men on the floor.


    With a heavy heart, I raised my hand up and summoned a fire ball.


    "Let''s clean up this mess."


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>I''m d to see this story picking up steam! </strong>


    <strong>Thank you, everyone, for reading my silly little story. Thanks for all the power stones and story views. Here is a bonus Chapter! I saw ament asking for a list of Souta''s current techniques, skills, and anything else he''s gotten through the Gatcha. That will be added in the next Chapter due to some of the abilities spoiling the next Chapter.</strong>

 Chapter 9: NO. 9 - Productive Three Months

    <h4>Chapter 9: NO. 9 - Productive Three Months</h4>


    Jumping from rooftop to rooftop in the dead of night like a parkouring ninja was pretty fun.


    Due to the size of the country, almost all of the livingplexes, like apartments or houses, had to be built pretty close to one another in order to save space. This also applied to the metropolitan areas in the cities where all the buildings and skyscrapers were practically stuck to one another to save space.


    Yeah, there were some areas in the country where there were more spaced-out buildings like those made for the government or private organizations, but those weren''t thatmon to run into.


    Due to that, traveling from rooftop to rooftop on foot was pretty easy since you don''t have to leap acrossrge distances to get to the other side. Making traveling from Ward to Ward all the more easy.


    "Should start heading home now."


    I leaped in the air using my CE and felt the cool night air brush past my face. It felt nice and refreshing.


    Three months.


    It''s been three months since I''ve embarked on my quest to master jujutsu. This journey has led me to engage in nightly skirmishes with the less savory elements of our heroic society. The city is teeming with criminals and scoundrels, outnumbering the heroes three to one.


    Now, some of you might be wondering why an 11, now 12-year-old kid would go around getting into fights with grown-ass adults. The answer is simple: for experience.


    My path to mastering jujutsu sorcery and my curse techniques is not an easy one. I''ve meticulously nned my physical training, ensuring that my new, more strenuous routine doesn''t impede my growth. Rushing would be counterproductive. It wouldn''t do me any good to hinder my development just to get a teeny bit stronger than before. I still had time, so there was no need to rush.


    I didn''t want to risk being short after all.


    Anyways, back to what I was talking about. My reasoning as to why I was getting into fights was to increase my fighting experience and my understanding of jujutsu sorcery. My goal was to get to the point of understanding jujutsu like Sukuna himself while having the battle IQ of Gojo himself.


    My goals may seem lofty, even unattainable to most canon jujutsu sorcerers. But I''m not most sorcerers. I''m different.


    I was <i>him.</i>


    I was <i>that</i> guy.


    Or at least, I would be soon.


    I blinked out of my thoughts andnded in an abandoned alleyway a block or two from my orphanage in order to change. I stuffed my jujutsu uniform away and put on a ck hoodie and blue jeans. Now changed, I walked out onto the sidewalk and began walking home.


    Yup, just a 12-year-old walking alone at 2 am.


    Now then, where was I...


    I had a cheat, or as some would call it, a golden finger, that could give me every known cursed technique in the original series without the blowback. Making my potential even more significant than that of Potential Man himself. It wouldn''t be far-fetched to say that I could one day be an untouchable God.


    Just imagine the sheer power of someone with the Six Eyes, Sukuna''s cursed energy reserves, Limitless, the Ten Shadows, Shrine, and Star Rage could do. It was both frightening and exciting to think about.


    Some of you may have noticed I only listed four techniques. There''s a reason for that.


    Unfortunately, I made a disappointing discovery when I unlocked my fifth cursed technique. I was only able to use four techniques within 2 hours of each other. Let''s see, let''s exin this in video game terms. Let''s say my body has four magic slots into which I could assign a single curse technique. If I wanted to change one of the techniques, I had to wait two hours for one of the slots to cool down in order to switch that technique to a different one.


    Out of curiosity, I pushed myself to use five techniques at once, but I didn''t like having blood flow out of my eyes, nose, ears, and mouth while the most horrible headache tried to melt my brain. Safe to say, I''m sticking to four curse techniques until I can safely handle more.


    Despite that slight hup, it wouldn''t do me any good imagining what I could one day be able to do until I actually pulled those techniques and passives from the gacha system.


    So far, I''ve yet to pull any of the aforementioned techniques. But I have managed to pull some other great techniques so far.


    I now had Jogo''s Fire Maniption, Yorozu''s Construction, MeiMei''s ck Bird Maniption, and finally, Goda Toshio''s Cloning.


    Who was Goda Toshio? That was the name for Mr. Bagman from the hidden inventory arc in JJK.


    I do want to dispel one thing right now: Jogo''s Fire Maniption and Yorozu''s Construction did not make me OP. At least, not yet.


    No, Jogo was said to be on par with around 8 or 9 of Sukuna''s fingers. Making him an incredibly powerful curse spirit. Heck, his fight with Sukuna himself at Shibuya was the perfect example of what one with such a technique could do.


    However, Jogo was a special-grade curse spirit with a lot of cursed energy.


    I, on the other hand, have the reserves of a grade 1 sorcerer.


    Which means I had no hopes of pulling off any crazy and over-the-top moves that could melt an entire city block.


    Moving on to Yorozu''s Construction technique. It was by far one of the most impressive and diverse techniques in the catalog of curse techniques.


    The technique itself allows me to re-create <i>any</i> substance I recognize with CE, with the exception of special cursed tools. In other words, I could bring to life anything I could imagine! The sheer limitless number of possibilities was enough to cause me tough like a madman!


    Which I did when I initially pulled the technique from a diamond pull, which happened to be at school. I was looked at as if I was a crazy person for an entire week after that.


    The technique had one restriction, which was that it did not recreate special cursed tools. That aspect of the technique was a little disappointing. My ns of creating a small armory of my two tools went out the window. Said two tools were Kusakabe''s Katana and ughter Demon. Two weapons that went well with Maki''s weapon mastery skill, which I pulled a while ago, as well.


    Back to the technique, creating something from nothing uses a lot of cursed energy, making this technique extremely energy-inefficientpared to other cursed techniques. However, due to my rtively okay reserves and low understanding of jujutsu, the most I could create before exhausting myself for an entire day were small-medium items.


    This was rather sad and disappointing; not being able to be a heavy hitter immediately was annoying, but there was nothing I could do. I had to keep training to be able to one day use these techniques to their maximum potential.


    This brings us back to myst two techniques.


    ck Bird Maniption and Cloning.


    As the name suggests, ck Bird Maniption allows the user to imbue crows with CE and control them at will. The user can manipte multiple crows at the same time from an extended range away from themselves.


    Additionally, the user can also share vision with the birds, making the technique perfect for surveince. It also makes the crows, under the user''smand, absolutely obedient, so they can also be used offensively, even at the cost of the bird''s own life.


    That move was something I didn''t find myself ever using unless it was life or death. This was primarily due to the mistake I made when I began naming my crows after several JJK characters and the bonus ability to understand what they were saying. It would be cruel and heartless of me to use them like MeiMei did as suicide bombers.


    I used this particr technique to scour the city to find any seedy locations crawling with people to beat up-I mean, criminals to stop. It also helped me avoid any patrolling heroes and police as well. A convenient technique indeed.


    I arrived outside of the orphanage''s west building and began sneakily making my way over to the window of the storage room; I mean, my room was located using precise movements and stealth.


    As I sneaked around, I thought of myst acquired technique. Bag man''s Cloning.


    This technique allows the user to clone themselves using a kind of mud-like liquid material manipted with their CE. The user can produce up to four clones for a total of five bodies. Using the cloned bodies, the user can instantly change out their real one with a clone at any time, sorta like Boogie Woogie but without the pping.


    Every clone can be considered exactly identical to the original caster, with the exception of the clones knowing their clones. Which was a relief when I found out that little tidbit. I didn''t want a Twice situation to happen.


    I haven''t had many opportunities to use this ability inbat as of yet. If anything, I wanted to save this technique as my trump card for a rainy day. You never know when you might need a get-out-of-jail-free card. So, instead of using it on the field, I decided to use my clones for a more productive and lucrative reason...


    "Page seven is done! I''m ready to ink the next one!"


    "Got it, got it. Here''s page eight and nine."


    "Dude, there''s a typo on Chapter twenty-one."


    "Oh yeah? Then fix it."


    I used them to write up my books and manga!


    Stepping into my room, I closed the door behind me and congratted myself on another sessful infiltration. The sight of four other perfect copies of myself greeted me as they all were hard at work on their assignments. Seeing my arrival, they all paused and turned to me.


    "Ah, the boss is back."


    "Wee back, Boss!"


    "Oi, you got some blood on your shoe."


    "You smell like failure. No ck sh tonight either?"


    <i>I could do without the personalities these guys have.</i> I rolled my eyes at theirments and threw myself on my small bed. They didn''t mind my dismissal and got back to work.


    Each of my copies was wearing different colored shirts to separate themselves better as they all ved away. Two of my copies were typing away on books 2 and 3 of The Hunger Games on their newptops, while the other two were drawing up a storm for next week''s Chapter of my new serialized manga.


    What was so great about these clones, besides their snarkyments and the fact that my small room was now even smaller thanks to their bodies and all the art supplies and notebooks, was the fact that they didn''t get tired or have any human needs!


    This technique really came in handy, considering I still needed to make money while training myself to be the strongest, which means that I could have them work on all my current and future books and manga series without stopping. A perfect and productive child sweatshop!


    "Oi, boss. Our editor called while you were gone." Clone Green said as he stopped drawing. Clone Yellow nodded and inked away at the page in front of him. I turned to CG with tired eyes and nodded, causing him to continue. "She says she wants to meet you and that she won''t take no for an answer again."


    "Tch. That woman sure is persistent." I muttered as I rubbed my face. "Fine! Fine! I''ll call her tomorrow to set up a meeting. As long as I can get her off my back. One meeting shouldn''t hurt."


    CG nodded and picked up his pencil to continue sketching away. I sighed and looked up at the roof. The exhaustion from today''s shenanigans and training is catching up to me. Slowly, my eyelids began to grow heavier and heavier before sleep consumed me.


    "Oi, Boss. Brush your teeth."


    -


    <strong><i>Info Sheet</i></strong>


    Shimizu Souta


    Cursed Techniques:


    Boogie Woogie - Todo Aoi


    Blood Maniption - Choso


    Auspicious Beast Summons - Ino Takuma


    Fire Maniption - Jogo


    Construction - Yorozu


    ck Bird Maniption - Mei Mei


    Cloning - Bag Man


    Skills:


    Yuji''s Hand-to-handbat skills


    Yuta''s Swordsmanship skills


    Maki''s Weapons Specialist skills


    Abilities/Passives:


    Nanami''s CE reserves.


    Weapons:


    Kugisaki Nabora''s Hammer


    ughter Demon


    Kusakabe Atsuya''s Katana


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Thank you for the 500 PS! I hope you enjoyed the bonus Chapter!</strong>


    <strong>Now, then, new poll time!</strong>


    <strong>The time to vote on ourst poll ising to an end soon, so here is a new one for you all. I''m curious to see what direction you all want to see Souta head in, whether that be the heroic route or the viinous one. Or maybe something in between? Let me know what you all think!</strong>


    <strong>This poll will end in Chapter 20.</strong>


    <strong>Vote here for the Gojo (Good) route. <-</strong>


    <strong>Vote here for the Sukuna (Selfish) route. <-</strong>


    <strong>Vote here for the Kenjaku (Evil) route. <-</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 10: NO. 10 - School, Games, and The Crawler

    <h4>Chapter 10: NO. 10 - School, Games, and The Crawler</h4>


    "No way, man! I can''t believe it ended in such a cliffhanger!" A young middle schooler with four eyes andrge ears said with an excited smile as he closed this week''s edition of Jump.


    "I know, right?! Now we have to wait another week to see if Raphael can survive his fight against Karai." A blue-skinned boy with fish scales all over his body said with frustration. In his hands was another copy of the newest Jump.


    "Hey, at least we can read Gege-sensei''s other works while we wait. What Chapter are you on anyway?"


    "I''m on Chapter 18. Let me tell you, man, things are getting intense." The boy with the fish scales said as he pulled out a copy of The Hunger Games.


    <i>Heheh, my reach has grown to even here.</i>


    I grinned as my ssmates continued talking about my book from my spot at the back of the ss. It was currently lunchtime, and everyone was separated into their own little groups, enjoying their food together.


    I, however, sat alone. Just me and my small boxed lunchprising of rice, grilled fish, vegetables, and some miso soup. All I needed was my lunch for thepany. Who needed friends while you had some delicious miso soup?


    Not me, that''s who.


    As I ate, I looked over to the table where the chattering students talked and saw an image of four turtle brothers on the main cover alongside the rest of the included stories'' main characters.


    It shouldn''t be hard to guess what famous story I brought to life in the form of a Shonen manga. It was none other than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.


    I''m in a world where stories like Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, Bleach, One Peace, and several other famous works don''t exist. But I chose to start with the tale of the four turtle brothers, not because it was easy, but because I wanted to establish my first initial loyal fan base.


    You see, there is very little mutant-type representation in media. Well, unless you count Godzi, I mean, Godzillo. But he''s Godzillo, and this meant that those with quirks that transformed their bodies beyond their control had very few stories that showed them off in a heroic light. Whenever they did show up, they were often shown off as the enemy or major viins.


    But imagine their shock when a new story of four mutant brothers fighting for Justice as heroes came out of nowhere to rock the manga world. It was no surprise that my manga was an overnight sess with around 40% of the poption!


    People couldn''t get enough of my story, and the sheer inte buzz was explosive. There were theories, fan art, and even some fan fiction as well. The sheer number of sales from my first volume caused my bank ount to swell up.


    Add up the great numbers The Hunger Games is making in sales worldwide, and things are looking very promising for my future. Still, THG did have a rocky start that had me and my publisher sweating for a while.


    The book didn''t sell so well at first, but once I released my TMNT manga a week after the book''s release, my fans couldn''t help themselves but buy the book as well due to wanting to see what other stories Gege-sensei could tell. Thus boosting the book sales numbers! The book had gotten so popr that it even made it on the New York Times best-seller list.


    Slowly but surely, I was building myself up as quite the prospective new author.


    I couldn''t wait until I released Harry Potter and Star Wars in a few months; this world wasn''t ready for two of the greatest works of fiction to hit them.


    "Ew, look at him. He has that creepy smile again."


    "He''s not gonnaugh like that other time again, is he?"


    "So creepy."


    Any happiness I felt immediately left me as two whispering girls looked at me with disgust from where they sat. I frowned and flipped them off, causing them to blush in indignation. They gave me a re and turned away with a huff.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    I wolfed down the rest of my lunch and ced my bento box away. I leaned back in my chair and stared at the ceiling with boredom.


    "Man, I hate school."


    x x x


    "Fuck! Nah, man, stop spamming!"


    "Get good, you pleb!"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    I red at the mask-wearing Jin, or Twice, as I mashed the square button on my controller. No matter how manyplex or diversebos I had Ryu do, Jin was somehow able to get his character, Akuma, to dodge and avoid all my attacks.


    "Haha! You were but a fool to think you could challenge me! He just needs some training! He''ll get it!" Twice said as he changed personalities mid-fight, all the while knocking my health back with ease.


    "Shut it, you Deadpool wannabe! I''ll kick your ass today!"


    The two of us were currently sitting on a couch in Jin''s much cleaner and organized apartment. A pair of the controllers sat in our hands as we yed thetest iteration of Street Fighter on my futuristic yStation 16.


    This was a reurring activity the two of us did twice a week when we had some time off. Me from school, work, jujutsu stuff,f and Jin from his crime shenanigans, which mostly involved him working as a henchman for a local gang. But don''t worry, he''s not a bad guy. He''s just trying to make ends meet.


    Sometimes, we watched some movies or even walked around the city to mess with innocent civilians by ying harmless pranks on them. Like the time we put a fake spider in a guy''s coffee, and he screamed like a little girl. Or when we pretended to be lost tourists and asked for directions to a ce that didn''t exist. We even grabbed some street food here and there and discussed the meaning of life when we saw a squirrel dry humming another squirrel.


    It was a refreshing and pleasant experience for me to have a friend I could be myself with, thanks to his older age, considering I was in my early twenties when I died. So, having a brothat I could make crude jokes with was great.


    It took a while for Jin to befortable enough with me in order for him to wear his mask in my presence, but when I proved to him that his different personalities didn''t change my opinion of him. He became more open and rxed. So whenever the two of us hung out at his ce, he wore his mask almost all the time.


    And let me tell you, talking to Twice was funny as shit.


    "Eat shit, scrub! Good game, my friend!" Twice held out a hand for me to shake while his other hand made crybaby motions. I rolled my eyes and pped his hand away, causing him to hold it against his chest with a pained expression. "Violence is never the answer. No, it''s the solution!"


    "Amen to that."


    "Don''t agree with him! Yes, agree to my ways!"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    x x x


    "Gahh, it''s a viin!"


    "Watch out!"


    Inded on my perch on the edge of the rooftop and looked down below at the chaotic street to find arge man covered in jagged rocks. Despite this being a rtively busy street, this guy decided it was a good idea to start raining punches into the street, causing everyone close by to panic and run away in fear.


    Who knew things in Naruhata were as hectic as they said?


    "Well, this is weird," I muttered as I watched the seemingly out-of-control man destroy the sidewalk, causing a cloud of dust to rise all around him. "What''s up with this guy? He trip or something?" I then looked down the road to see someone dressed in a... All Might hoodie with motorcycle protective gear?


    "What is this? Clown hour?"


    "I''m the man who charges into danger! The Crawler!" The weirdo, I mean the Crawler, said as he slid along the ground on all four limbs. His head perked up at the sight of the rampaging nut case, and he quickly came to a stop. "Wait... really? Isn''t this guy..."


    Landing on a traffic light several feet behind the Crawler was a girl maybe three or four years older than me dressed in a skin-tight ck outfit with small bat wings on the small side of her back. She had pink hair pulled up in twin tails as a ck painted-on mask sat over her eyes.


    <i>Huh, another one? Are these two new heroes or something?</i>


    I looked down at the crow beside me and squinted at him. "Oi, Crow Nanami. Didn''t I tell you to look for crooks in isted locations? This is too public."


    (Hm, I originally found therge rock human a few blocks away in an isted area. It seems he decided to move here for some reason.) Crow Nanami said as he tilted the small round sunsses over his small eyes.


    I nodded at his answer and didn''t ask where he acquired those sunsses for the sake of maintaining my fleeting sanity.


    "I see..."


    "Gagagaga! Y-you! You again! The C-Crawl... The Crawler!"


    I turned my attention back down towards the crazed rock-enhanced man and the Crawler. It seemed that these two scrubs knew each other somehow. A fact that the Crawler took great pleasure in as he slid in and out of therger man''s attacks.


    "Hear that? He called me Crawler! Not Cruller!"


    "Stop looking so pleased! Most people wouldn''t want viins remembering their names!" The pink-haired exhibitionist said to the Crawler.


    The Crawler decided to take things a little more seriously as he began to carefully lead the rock man away from the popted area they were in and towards a more solitary location. The girl in the tight ck suit pulled out a phone and stayed where she was while her apparent partner slid away.


    <i>Not abat type, then.</i>


    "Crow Nanami," I said as I stood up from my spot and adjusted my ck hood. I was wearing my sorcerer outfit, which wasprised of a thick ck jacket, a long-sleeved white shirt, and a high cor underneath. I also wore ck jeans and sneakers while my katana hung from my left belt hoop. Finally, ughter Demon was resting inside a shieth strapped to my back.


    "Any news on that assignment I gave you and the others?" I jumped from rooftop to rooftop while keeping an eye on the Crawler and the so-called viin. Crow Nanami flew behind me and shook his head.


    (I''m afraid we still have yet to find any humans with those bird-like masks. I''ll be sure to expand my search, even if it means I''ll have to work overtime.) Crow Nanami said with a sigh.


    "Good, keep at it. I''ll handle things from here. I want to see what these <i>heroes </i>can do." Crow Nanami nodded and flew off into the night.


    Seeing the Crawler and the Rock Mane to a stop at a parking lot, I jumped down between two buildings and slid down one of the brick walls while ws made of my blood sank into the brick to slow my descent until I came to a full stop on the wall. With my blood ws as anchors, I was able to stay stuck on the wall under the cover of darkness.


    <i>Suck on that, Spider-Man!</i>


    Blood Maniption was such a diverse and great technique!


    I watched the ongoing fight with disappointment as the Crawler just continued sliding around to avoid the Rock Man''s attacks. All the while, the pink-haired girl with some sort of jumping quirk watched while telling the watching public to call the police.


    "Definitely not heroes. These two are probably Vigntes." I muttered as The Crawler continued to not put up a fight. "Keep doing that, and you''ll trip on all the holes you two made."


    I didn''t have to wait long before The Crawler''s back foot fell into one of the craters therge Rock Man made with his attacks, causing the Crawler to trip. Seeing his opportunity, Rock Man pulled his arm back to finally crush the Crawler.


    "Koichi!" The pink-haired girl shouted in worry just as The Crawler was about to be struck down.


    "Koichi. Did she really shout his real name out loud?" I debated on whether to help these two clowns, but a fast-moving shadow moved towards the parking lot caused me to pause.


    A loud metallic ng rippled through the air as a long-haired ninja with a triangle-like mask stopped Rock Man''s punch using only his katana. Showing off an impressive amount of skill and strength. Rock Man took a step back, his face twisted in confusion, almost as if he couldn''t believe his strike was blocked by a meager sword.


    Not wasting a second, Mask Guy swung his katana at Rock Man''s raised defense with aggressive shes. Littering therger man''s rock-covered body in slices and cuts.


    "Hoh, not bad." I grabbed the grip of my own katana and watched the ongoing fight with interest and some excitement. "He''s pretty good."


    "It''s the cops!" The pink-haired girl cried out as the sounds of police sirens neared their location.


    Hearing this, the once-rampaging Rock Man hightailed it out of the parking lot and away from the area. It didn''t seem like The Crawler or Mask-Man were going after him. Instead, the three decided it was more important to chat.


    "Um... thanks for the save. Who are you, exactly?" Koichi asked as he and his partner looked at Mask-Man.


    "The name''s Stendhal. Another meddler, just like you." Stendhal said as he sheathed his katana. Once Stendhal was done posing and looking cool, he then jumped away using an impressive amount of speed and jumping ability.


    I leaped up onto the rooftops and began following after Stendhal with an excited grin on my face as the tell-tell signs of Flowing Red Scale covered my eyes.


    I knew from the moment Stendhal showed up that he wasn''t a hero.


    No, the guy was practically radiating negative energy.


    "Now then, where do you think you''re going?"


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>With this Chapter, our first poll to determine the romance aspect of the story hase to an end. I''ll announce the results in the next Chapter!</strong>


    <strong>Now that I''ve had some time to see how this story is being received, here''s how bonus Chapters will work from now on.</strong>


    <strong>300 PS - Bonus Chapter 1</strong>


    <strong>600 PS - Bonus Chapter 2</strong>


    <strong>1000 PS - Bonus Chapter 3</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 11: NO. 11 - The Sparks of Black

    <h4>Chapter 11: NO. 11 - The Sparks of ck</h4>


    <i>ng!</i>


    "That wasn''t very nice. You could have poked an eye out with that." I said as I slid my katana back into its sheath after deflecting a speeding knife.


    Standing behind me was Rock Man, his face covered in sweat, and a worried and pained expression settled over his face. That expression quickly changed to surprise when he noticed my sudden appearance in the extended back alley path he was running through. He stood stock still as his gaze shifted from me to his pursuer, Stendhal, who was now staring daggers at me from the other end of the alley.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "You dare get in the way of true judgment?" Stendhal said as he reached over to his katana. He unsheathed his dangerously sharp weapon and pointed it toward me in one swift move. "You must be this viin''s partner. Very well then, I''ll be sure to take you both down."


    "Villian? Listen here, Tuxedo Mask." I pointed a finger over at Rock Man. "I don''t really care about or know who this guy is."


    "Then why get in my way?" Stendhal hissed, his patience running low. I rolled my eyes under the darkness of my hood and then moved my hand to point at him.


    "Because of you. You see, there''s this thing I''m trying to get. And so far, all the clowns I''ve fought couldn''t give me the push I need to get it. You, on the other hand, have some pretty impressive moves." I drew out my katana and held it in both hands beside my head. "So what I want from you is a good fight."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "...enough of this charade. I''ll cut you down and then move onto the one behind you!" Stendhal growled out and rushed at me with incredible speed; his katana pulled back and ready to slice me in two.


    <i>This is my chance. I have to limit myself to only my pure strength, speed, skills, and CE. No curse techniques. I have to push myself tond a ck sh.</i>


    I dashed forward as well, ready to meet my opponent head-on. The sh of metal echoed through the alley as Stendhal and I engaged in an intense sword fight. Our katanas shed and sparked as we moved with incredible speed and precision. Each strike was met with a swift parry or a skillful dodge, creating a mesmerizing dance of des.


    <i>This guy''s good! If it weren''t for both Yuta''s swordsmanship skills and Maki''s weapons specialist skills, I doubt I''dst this long!</i>


    At some point during our fight, Rock Man had decided it was time to get the hell out of dodge and made a break for it, leaving me and Stendhal alone.


    Stendhal''s formidable skills pushed me to the limit, but I matched his every move with determination and focus. Our intense exchange of blows continued; however, Stendhal was slowly gaining ground on me. His bigger size and strength were giving him the edge. It was only thanks to my CE and my natural strength that I was even able to put up a fight.


    "You''re skilled. I''ll give you that." Stendhal said as he deflected my horizontal strike. "But I''m stronger."


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    <i>Crapbaskets! </i>


    In a move that took me by surprise, Stendhal closed the distance between us and kicked my stomach with his foot. I grunted as I slid back on the ground, only to look up at the descending de of his katana over my head. Moving on instinct, I raised my weapon above my head and deflected his attack away, causing him to lose bnce momentarily.


    <i>Now''s my chance!</i>


    I let my katana fall onto the ground as I prepped my CE into my right fist. Stendhal looked down at me and jumped back just as I was about tod a CE-enhanced punch at his stomach.


    <i>Shit! </i>


    As he moved away, he threw two knives at me with precision and speed. I raised my right arm and used it to block the knives from stabbing into my torso. With a wince, I ripped them out and threw the knives at the ground.


    "How foolish. You''ve abandoned your weapon in hopes of hitting me with your fist. Perhaps you''re not as skilled as I originally thought." Stendhal said as he leaned forward. "Now then, it''s time for evil to be cut down!"


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    Stendhal, with his razor-sharp katana, moved right at me with incredible speed, aiming to strike me down while I was unarmed.


    I red at him as I narrowly dodged and weaved away from his nonstop lethal strikes with calcted and graceful movements. It was taking everything I had to not get sliced or skewered with every attack Stendhal executed.


    Despite my efforts, Stendhal''s formidable skills were quickly pushing me to my limits. I was growing tired, and my speed was beginning to drop.


    Stendhal noticed this and capitalized on my drop of speed. He slid his left foot out and stepped on my foot, causing me to trip up. Swiping his sword diagonally, Stendhal finally managed tond a cut on my body.


    Seeing my blood, Stendhal smirked under his mask and spun on his hips to cut off my head. His foot was still pressing down on my own, keeping me in ce with his greater strength.


    <i>Shit! Dodge! Dodge- There''s no time or space to dodge!</i>


    Time seemed to slow to a crawl as I watched Stendhal''s razor-sharp sword grow closer and closer to my neck. I tightened my hands into fists as I red at the man in front of me and charged CE into my fists.


    <i>I''m not going to lose to you! I refuse to lose!</i>


    It was at that moment that I finally felt it.


    "ck..."


    Just as Stendhal''s de was a millimeter away from my neck, Inded a punch straight into Stendhal''s face while applying my cursed energy within 0.000001 seconds. Causing a distortion in space around both Stendhal and me as arcs of red and ck sparked to life.


    <strong>"sh!"</strong>


    Stendhal''s mask shattered on impact as his body flew back several feet in a violent spin. I winced as a long, shallow, bleeding cut now adorned the side of my neck. Despite the pain, I felt my mind grow clearer than ever before.


    <strong>[+100 SP]</strong>


    "I understand now," I muttered as I looked down at my hands. I clenched them tightly and looked over at Stendhal; an aura of CE quickly grew around my body. "It''s just like Todo said; all this time, I''ve just been using CE without truly understanding it, like a novice chef using ingredients without any purpose. But now, it''s so clear to me."


    "Stand up, Stendhal. Let me show you what 120% of my potential truly looks like." I said as Stendhal finally managed to stand to his feet; his face was profusely bleeding, and his nose was broken.


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    "...your conviction is unshakable," Stendhal muttered as he held his bloody face with his hand. He was swaying where he stood as his knees shook. He then raised his hand to show off a bloodied knife. "But this fight ends here."


    I watched in confusion as he raised the knife to his mouth. In an instant, my eyes grew wide in realization. "No way, are you-" A long tongue slipped out his mouth and gave the bloody knife a long lick.


    "Geh!" I felt all control of my body leave me as I copsed on the floor in a heap, causing my hood to fall off my head. I tried to move, but the most my body would do was tremble in exertion. Despite that, I spun my head to re over the man who would one day be <i>Stain</i>. "Y-you bastard."


    <i>What the hell?! What''s Stain doing here dressed like that?! Did I miss his backstory or something?!</i>


    Stendhal fell to one knee as he looked over at me with a shocked expression before it turned into a wide, bloodthirsty smile. "You have potential, child. That is why I will not extinguish your light today. Our fight has taught me many things... I''m sure we will meet in the future to finish today''s battle. Farewell."


    <strong>[+100 SP]</strong>


    I watched helplessly as Stendhal turned around and walked away slowly with a wobble until he disappeared into the darkness. I continued to try and move my body but found the task to be impossible.


    <i>Flowing Red Scale!</i>


    With my technique active, I slowly pulled my hood over my head and began to push my body up. As I moved, it felt like each of my limbs was strapped to 226 Kilogram weights, making the normally easy task of standing a herculean task.


    "Damn... now I have to wait for his quirks effect to wear off. Just great."


    -


    <strong>Thank you for the 300 PS, here''s your bonus Chapter!</strong>


    <strong>Alright, everyone. Here are the results of the romance poll! This should be obvious, but you can''t vote more than once. So repeated or spammed votes don''t count. You know who I''m talking about.</strong>


    <strong>Harem: 36</strong>


    <strong>Single Route: 50</strong>


    <strong>And so, the single route has won over the Harem route. </strong>


    <strong>Another thing that surprised me was the amount of love people have for Hatsume Mei, the crazy inventor otaku, her name came up 31 times for her to be the main love interest. Making her the winner! In second ce with 8 votes was Hado Nejire, while she won''t be my focus, I''ll give her some attention as well.</strong>


    <strong>However, I do want to preface that the romance aspect of the story will take a back seat. Sorry if that disappoints some of you, but I rather focus on the plot and the fights.</strong>


    <strong>Thanks to everyone who voted!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 12: NO. 12 - Hidden Inventory

    <h4>Chapter 12: NO. 12 - Hidden Inventory</h4>


    <strong>AN: </strong>


    <strong>Happy Halloween, everyone! Here''s a free bonus Chapter as my treat to you all.</strong>


    -


    <strong>[You have pulled: Itadori Yuji''s Pain Tolerance! Rank: Silver.]</strong>


    "I''m not sure if that''s a good thing or not."


    I watched as the small stic prize ball in my hand slowly shimmered away once I received my reward. In an instant, the slight pain on my still-healing neck had be a lot more bearable. With enough focus, I pushed the pain to the back of my mind as if I wasn''t even hurt at all. Even so, the injury still stung.


    I was sitting in my small room, loose papers and art supplies strewn around, as twoptops sat on my desk. Unlike usual, there were no clones ving away today. The reason was therge stack of manuscripts and a year''s worth of weekly Chapters sitting in several folders on a cluttered desk.


    Safe to say, I was extremely ahead of schedule.


    I was even in the negotiating process of selling the first entries to both Harry Potter and Star Wars. It wouldn''t be long before my name blew up in this world, well, at least my pen name.


    "Use 700 SP." I said as I twisted the gacha''s dial. After a few seconds, a new prize ball popped out of the machine.


    I hated to admit it, but I was now thoroughly addicted to gambling away my points. Hopefully, my new addition stayed to this gacha machine and not to the blood-sucking casinos this world has to offer.


    It killed me at times not to go all in, but I knew I had to be careful with my points. Otherwise, I''d keep hoarding more useless junk from the JJK world. It got to the point that I had to rent an entire storage unit to store all my useless junk.


    I already had ten pairs of Gojo''s sunsses. I didn''t need more. Even if they were from a designer brand.


    <strong>[You have pulled: The Inventory Curse! Rank: Silver.]</strong>


    "Say wha?"


    I watched with curiosity as cursed energy began to gather in the space in front of me from seemingly nowhere. After a few seconds, a purple wormlike creature appeared in the air. Before it could fall on the ground, I caught it in my arms.


    "Huh, so I can win cursed spirits as well? Neat. Does that mean I can pull Rika as well?" I said as the wormlike curse spirit looked at me with a derpy expression. "Now then, are you loyal to me or what?"


    The curse spirit nodded as if it fully understood me. I grinned and lifted it close to my body so it could wrap itself around my torso like it did with Toji.


    "Awesome. I''m going to call you... Zaiko. Yup!" I patted Zaiko''s head with a smile, causing the spirit to hum. "Zaiko it is!"


    I walked over and reached under my bed to grab my only two weapons: Kusakabe''s katana and ughter Demon. I lifted them towards Zaiko''s mouth and watched in fascination as he swallowed them both easily. Causing them both to vanish seemingly. I then reached into its mouth and pulled out ughter Demon.


    "Now I can always walk around with my weapons. How convenient. You wouldn''t happen to have Toji''s arsenal, now, would you?" I asked Zaiko. The spirit looked confused and shook its head. "You don''t know who Toji is? Hmm, I wonder if this gacha system clears your memories when it brought you here. This only begs the question of whether you were Toji or Geto''s spirit that I snatched or if you''re an exact copy made by the system itself."


    Before I could think any deeper into the possible mechanics of my gacha system, the rm on my phone went off. I reached over to my desk and hit the snooze button on my phone. Today was the day I would finally meet my editor for my TMNT manga.


    She had been pestering and repeatedly asking for an in-person meeting after the sudden rise of my story''s poprity. Apparently,munication over email and texts wasn''t good enough for her.


    Without wasting any time, I quickly used my remaining five pulls. Sadly, I didn''t win any more decent rewards¡ªjust a bunch of more useless junk like Miwa''s ck tie and Miguel''s funny hat.


    "Let''s get a move on, Zaiko," I said, walking out of my room to begin walking through the orphanage''s hallways. I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out a pair of round sunsses to ce over my eyes.


    "Hopefully, this won''t take too long."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans filled the air as Mikami Asuka, a red-haired woman with blue eyes dressed in a yellow cardigan jacket and ck khaki pants, sat at a cozy corner table in the bustling cafe.


    She watched as the barista expertly steamed milk for hertte, creating a mesmerizing swirl in the cup. The gentle chatter of other patrons provided a soothing background noise, and the warm glow of the afternoon sun streamed through therge windows, casting a golden hue over the entire space.


    Asuka took a moment to savor the tranquility of the cafe, which was a wee break from her usual hectic days. She took a sip of hertte. The rich, velvety vor danced on her taste buds, bringing a contented smile to her face.


    Asuka had been working in the manga industry for the past two years now, so her experience in the field was somewhatcking. Despite that, she was hungry and desperate to secure her spot at the top of the industry. This meant she had to find the next big story to shake the manga world.


    That was easier said than done. Even after one year of searching and interviewing several hopeful future Mangakas'', Asuka came up empty-handed. All of the stories and one-shots she''s seen were generic and boring. There was nothing new and fresh. Nothing that would catch the reader''s attention.


    That was until she received an email from someone by the name of Gege.


    This wasn''t unusual by any means. Asuka''s email was constantly receiving messages from wannabe artists who wanted her to take a chance on them and their works. But the message she received from Gege was different. His message was short and to the point.


    <i>"Read this and let me know when we can start."</i>


    Gege''s message was one of extreme confidence. Some wouldn''t be remiss even to say a bit egotistical. But when Asuka took a look at the attached files, she couldn''t help but be unimpressed with the art quality. The drawings were decent, but nothing impressive.


    But they didn''t have to be.


    No, what stood out like a star in the sky was the story.


    The tale of four mutant ninja brothers who fight against evil and protect the innocent from the shadows as unsung heroes was attention-grabbing.


    It was also the very story she''s been in search of this entire time. Asuka wasn''t like most people. Most people wanted to seerger-than-life heroes performing grand heroic feats while looking handsome, beautiful, and <i>human-like</i>.


    It wasn''t a giant secret that the media didn''t like to show off those with mutant-type quirks. No, heroes like Gang Orca, Wolf-Man, Super Snake Woman, and many more pro-mutant heroes weren''t exactly pushed to be on the front pages or main time slots on television or movies.


    Even in today''s day and age, people still can''t differentiate between those who look different and monsters or viins.


    However, a story like the one of the turtle brothers could be the push to help society change. Even if it''s a small push. So Asuka instantly agreed to take on Gege and submit his story to Jump. The bigwigs in charge almost didn''t ept running the story, but Asuka wasn''t one to give up so easily. She pushed and pushed the bigwigs until they agreed to give the story a shot.


    And to everyone''s surprise, except her, Gege''s story was an instant sess. The readers couldn''t get enough of the tales of the four ninja turtle brothers and their rat father. Week after week, each edition of Jump had massive sales¡ªarge part due to Gege''s story.


    You can also imagine her shock when she found out that Gege was also a writer as well. He has written the recently awarded New York Times bestseller The Hunger Games.


    Asuka had asked to meet Gege on several asions, but the Mangaka was adamant about maintaining theirmunication over the inte or by phone. But after working alongside him for several weeks, Asuka wouldn''t take no for an answer anymore.


    <i>"Fine, we can meet at this cafe in Musutafu then."</i>


    That''s how Asuka ended up in a lovely cafe in the city of Musutafu. Her face was eager and impatient to meet the man who did so much in so little time.


    ncing around, Asuka noticed a group of young teenagers engaged in lively conversation at a nearby table, theirughter adding a cheerful energy to the atmosphere. The aroma of freshly baked pastries wafted from the disy case, tempting her with their decadent sweetness.


    "It''s almost time. Where is he?" Asuka asked as she took another sip of her drink.


    Lost in her thoughts, Asuka failed to notice a young ck-haired boy dressed in a ck hoodie and white shirt as he looked down at his phone and then at her repeatedly. With a shrug, he walked over and sat in the chair opposite of her nonchntly.


    Noticing the weird kid sitting in front of her, Asuka raised an annoyed eyebrow at him. "Hey, kid, you lost or something? Listen, I don''t have time for you. Can you go bother someone else?"


    "Kid? Lady, I''m twelve."


    "So, a kid," Asuka said with a sigh. She then made shoo-shoo motions at her uninvited guest with an eye roll. "Do you want some money or something? Here''s five hundred yen; now go away."


    The youth wearing sunsses took the bill with a shrug and slid it into his pocket. Still, he didn''t move and stared at Asuka with a slight grin. The red-haired woman slowly began to feel an odd feeling from the kid in front of her. Almost negative.


    This caused Asuka to slowly slide back into the back of her chair. Her reaction caused the ck-haired boy''s grin to stretch wider in amusement.


    "Ah... I-I have to go now." Asuka muttered as she began to gather her stuff to leave the table.


    "Really?" The young boy said in an amused tone. "I thought you wanted to meet me, Mikami-san." In an instant, Asuka froze and turned to him with slowly widening eyes.


    "Gege... s-sensei?"


    "In the flesh."


    A few momentster, a long, hushed, high-pitched whine filled the cafe.

 Chapter 13: NO. 13 - A Bitter Pill

    <h4>Chapter 13: NO. 13 - A Bitter Pill</h4>


    The city of Musutafu was a special city.


    It was your run-of-the-mill city located in the Shizuoka prefecture. Around a 2 hour train ride from the orphanage I live at.


    However, there were several key locations ripe with potential points waiting to be made within Musutafu.


    Locations like Midoriya''s Apartment, Takoba Municipal Beach Park, Tatooin Station, the Todoroki household, Aldera Junior High, and finally, U.A. High School.


    But I wasn''t here for any of those locations today.


    No, I was here to visit my old fellow orphan and friend. Hase Keiko.


    "This must be it." I looked up from the GPS on my phone at the impressive-looking two-story home. A bag of fancy cookies in my right hand. "Hm, not bad."


    Zaiko grunted from his spot on my shoulder as it also looked over the house.


    My amusing meeting with my editor, thankfully, onlysted two hours.


    Asuka was a rather fun person to mess with. Unsurprisingly, my young age had thrown her for a loop. While watching her stutter and apologize for being rude was funny, she recovered quickly, and we both got to business.


    She had tried to sneakily impose some story beats and suggestions for my story, as all manga editors try to do, but I quickly shut that shit down and told her what my ns for my story were. Asuka was surprised that I only had so many Chapters in mind for the duration of my story and that I didn''t want it to run for years on end.


    Asuka immediately tried to dissuade me from this due to the sheer poprity of my story. However, when I mentioned that I had another story nned once TMNT was done, she quickly changed her tune and peppered me with questions.


    This version of Japan wasn''t ready for Dragon Ball Z to drop. This one''s for you, Toriyama. Your legend will live on in this uncultured world.


    "What do we got here."


    I stepped forward and read the namete by the house gate. Yoshiyuki, it read. I reached out and pressed the doorbell on the house''s stone gate pir and waited. As I waited, I looked over to the house next door, where a ck crow was perched on its roof. I nodded at Crow Megumi, causing him to nod back.


    From my calls over the years with Keiko, she had told me that her new family was apparently super wonderful and friendly. They had been very supportive and loving of her. I was happy for her. I truly was. She was a sweet girl who had gone through hell very early on. She deserves some happiness.


    It wasn''t until recently that she insisted Ie and meet her family. Something I had been pushing off for as long as I could.


    Not because I didn''t want to.


    Of course not.


    No, it was due to how busy I''ve beentely and my nightly escapades. But Keiko had finally had enough and all but ordered me toe today.


    Stubborn woman, er, child.


    "Sou-chan!"


    Keiko ran out of her front door and swung open the front gate of her house to jump into my arms. She had arge smile on her face as she tried to squeeze the life out of my body.


    "You''re here! You''re finally here! You''ve gotten taller!"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Calm down, Keiko," I said with a small smile, causing her tough. "You''ll crush my gift."


    The excitable blue-haired girl jumped back and looked down at the blue bag in my hand. She then grabbed my other hand and dragged me towards her home.


    "I can''t wait for you to meet my mother and father! I''m sure you''ll love them! They''re so nice, and they even let me decorate my own room however I like. Oh! Oh! I want to show you my room!"


    "Easy there, girl," I said as I patted the top of her head in an attempt to calm down her high levels of energy, just as I did during our time at the orphanage. "Let me meet your new folks first."


    "Ah, heh-heh. Sorry! I''m just... so happy to see you again." Keiko softly said as we stopped by the front door. Her yellow eyes gazed at me with fondness. "I missed you."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "..." I kept still and stared at her in stumped silence. A soft, warm feeling grew around my chest. What I felt wasn''t romantic. No, this feeling was something else. It was hard to describe... it was nice. "I, uh, I miss-"


    "Keiko-chan! Is this the young man you''ve been talking about nonstop?"


    My eyebrow twitched in annoyance, and I turned to look at a middle-aged couple standing by the door.


    The man had wellbed brown hair with a light build; he was dressed in casual clothing well suited to being at home. The woman beside him had ck hair pulled into a low ponytail. She wore a pink blouse and a long yellow skirt hung down her legs.


    The couple looked away from their daughter and flinched when their eyes met my own. It seemed that they were able to quickly pick up the negative energy I was producing. Usually, it took most people a few minutes of being around me to notice.


    "You must be, Souta. It''s a pleasure to finally meet you, young man. Keiko here has had nothing but wonderful things to say about you." Keiko''s new mother said with a smile, seemingly getting over any of the feelings she felt about me. "My name is Yoshiyuki Hana. And this here is my husband, Yoshiyuki Kenta."


    "It''s a pleasure to meet you both," I said with a slight bow of my head. It wouldn''t do me any good to be disrespectful to my friend''s parents.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Wow, I''ve never seen you bow to anyone, Sou-chan. How rare."


    "I can be respectful. I just choose not to."


    "You''ve grown up so much, Sou-chan. I''m so proud."


    "You do know I''m older than you, right?"


    The Yoshiyuki couple chuckled at our conversations. I, on the other hand, was taken aback. It seems that Keiko has grown rather bold ever since she left. I missed the little girl who hid behind me whenever we had people over. Her newfound confidence was both surprising and amusing.


    "Now then, why don''t you two kidse on in? We wouldn''t want the snacks Keiko worked so hard to prepare to go to waste, now do we?"


    "M-mother! Don''t tell Sou-chan that!"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    x x x


    Keiko''s room was a cheerful and cozy space. It perfectly reflected her vibrant and bubbly personality.


    After talking and getting to know Keiko''s parents for around forty minutes, I came to the conclusion that the Yoshiyuki couple were good people. Unlike most people Ie across, they barely had any traces of negative emotions. Something I was able to pick up pretty easily, thanks to my abilities as a sorcerer. The two of them truly loved and cared for my friend.


    A fact that put me at ease, still, I would continue having Crow Megumi watch over her. Just to be safe.


    Once the Yoshiyuki couple were satisfied after asking me a multitude of questions about myself, they let Keiko and I go up to her room per her request.


    The walls were painted in a soft shade of sky blue and adorned with colorful posters of her favorite anime characters and bands. Arge bookshelf stood against one wall, filled with several children''s books and trinkets. Afortable bed with a bright floral bedspread sat in one corner, apanied by a plush All Might toy.


    The room was illuminated by fairy lights strung across the ceiling, casting a warm and inviting glow. A small desk, littered with art supplies and sketches, upied another corner. Sitting on a chair was the All Might-themed sweater she had received all those years ago. Overall, the room exuded a sense of joy and individuality, perfectly capturing who Keiko was.


    "You sure went wild with decorating your room," I said as I walked over to her desk, where several sketches sat.


    They were rough drawings of female hero costumes. Each one of them had detailed notes of what each article of the costume did or what it was made of. Seeing them caused my amused smile to melt away. With my back turned to her, Keiko nodded happily and threw herself on her bed.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Yeah! Isn''t it wonderful! I have it all to myself, and I don''t have to share it." Keiko froze in her excited chattering and turned to me with a sad, regrettable expression. "I''m sorry, Sou-chan. I didn''t-"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "It''s fine." I interrupted her as I sat down on her bed toy beside her. "I don''t need any parents anyway. I''m incredibly self-sufficient, didn''t you know."


    "I know. But still... I feel like I''m bragging when I show off my room and my parents. Ow! Why did you hit me with my own pillow!?"


    "Because you''re being stupid," I said as I turned to her with a grin. "I''m happy you''re happy. So don''t worry about little old me. I''m doing just fine."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Keiko remained silent and brushed her fingers on the bandage on my neck. "Then what''s this? Are you still getting into fights?"


    "...no?"


    I sat up and looked over at her desk, where all her hero costume sketches sat. "I see you still want to be a hero." I said in order to change the subject, Keiko quickly sat up and covered my eyes with her hands. "I thought I told you that was a bad idea."


    "No, don''t look! I-I''m still working on them!" Keiko said with an embarrassed blush as I chuckled. "And, of course, I still want to be a hero! After all, I want to be just like All Might. I want to save people from danger with a smile like he did when he saved me!"


    I grabbed her hands and removed them from my face with a sigh. Standing up, I walked over to her desk and ced a hand on her hoodie.


    Being a hero was something she always talked about when she still lived with me at the orphanage. Then again, that''s pretty much what every kid talks about when they''re young and full of dreams.


    However, unlike most kids with weak andme abilities, Keiko''s quirk actually had some potential. Her quirk was called Loving Sheild.


    Loving Shield allowed her to summon barriers or walls of blue energy capable of stopping/blocking anything as strong as her. What powers her quirk is her abnormally high levels of positive emotions. However, if her happy emotional state gets disrupted or shaken, her energy barriers will grow weaker or break.


    At the moment, her quirk is rather weak due to her young age and inexperience, but with enough time, I knew that her ability had the potential to grow to be rather powerful.


    "Do you think... I can''t do it?" Keiko asked shyly, her hands on her knees as she looked down at her pink carpet. Her usually bright and happy yellow eyes were now dimmer. I once again found myself sighing and brushed back my hair.


    "It''s not that. You know how I feel about heroes. It''s a dangerous profession, Keiko."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "I know that! But I know I can do it!" Keiko said with a grin, her previous shyness gone as if it was never there. She then pped her hands like a certain blonde alchemist and held her palms to me. I watched as a barrier of blue energy half her size burst to life in front of her. "See?! I''ve been working really hard on my quirk! Try and get through it like before."


    <i>It''s true. This is a lot bigger and solid than before. </i>


    I reached out and ced a hand on the barrier. Touching it didn''t hurt or burn me; the only thing I felt from touching it was a nice, cool feeling. Slowly, I began to push the barrier with my natural strength. The barrier didn''t budge. I then tried again with my CE and saw the barrier begin to shake. Seeing that, I stopped pushing.


    "Not bad; thest time I did this, my hand was able to push through it as if it were made of jello."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Heh-heh!" Keiko smiled and released her barrier in favor of cing her hands on her hips. "See! I''ve gotten a lot stronger. I''ll definitely be a great hero someday!"


    Images of destruction and mutant humanoid creatures popped into my mind. A light blue-haired man with the power to crumble anything he touched creped up behind Keiko and slowly began to reach out to her face, ready to decay her to dust.


    <i>In a few years from now, Keiko will probably be in the same year as Midoriya when he joins UA. If she does make it in, will she be ced in 1-A? No, I doubt it. At most, she''ll probably make it to a general education course like Shinso. As long as she stays away from ss 1-A, then she won''t be at the heart of everything.</i> <i>She''ll be fine.</i>


    I wanted to tell her to quit. To give up her dream of being a hero. It would only get her killed. She wasn''t part of the main cast, and that meant she didn''t have any plot armor like the rest of ss 1-A. Keiko could very well die as one of the background characters.


    But if I told her to give up now, would that be fair to her?


    Was I really going to risk our rtionship based on my paranoid what-ifs?


    "...Yeah. You''re right." I forced my face to smile at her as I wrapped the All Might-themed sweater around her shoulders. "You''ll definitely be a great hero someday... I''m sure of it."


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    Keiko looked at me with wide, happy eyes before wrapping her arms around my shoulders as sheughed and jumped. I was d that her face was pressed into my shoulder; it meant she didn''t have to see the frown on my face.


    -


    <strong>Thank you for the 600 PS! </strong>


    <strong>I hope you enjoyed todays bonus Chapter.</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 14: NO. 14 - Meet The Protagonist

    <h4>Chapter 14: NO. 14 - Meet The Protagonist</h4>


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>I have two quick announcements:</strong>


    <strong>I''ve been looking back and rereading Chapter 8, and I''ve been mulling over my decision to have Souta experiment on the criminals he takes down to awaken cursed energy within them. At the time, I didn''t notice howrge of a leap his character made, from being against killing to going Orochimaru on people. My bad (lol). Thus, I have decided to remove that part of the story. So like how there''s no war in Ba Sing Se, that part of the story never happened.</strong>


    <strong>(¤Å ?? ? )¤Å Please read on with that in mind! </strong>


    <strong>The next announcement is that I added some artwork to the auxiliary Chapter to give you all a better idea of what Souta, along with Keiko, looks like. It''s a bit spoilery, but eh, we''ll get there. Currently have up to Chapter 21 written.</strong>


    -


    As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the city of Musutafu, I found myself walking through its bustling streets to get my mind off my earlier talk with Keiko.


    The fading light painted the buildings around me in soft hues of pink and gold, creating a mesmerizing backdrop for the silhouettes of different shaped people going about their evening activities. As I walked, my mind was busy thinking back to the events of today as Zaiko gurgled on my shoulder.


    <i>"You''ll definitely be a great hero someday. I''m sure of it." </i>


    The words I said to Keiko continued to rey in my head. I couldn''t help but wonder if I made the right call to tell her that. But therge, bright smile she gave me dissuaded those negative thoughts of mine.


    "Fucking softie."


    After a while, I grew tired of the busy streets and changed course to stroll through a nearby residential area. I gazed up to see a canvas of pastel colors, with wisps of clouds catching thest rays of sunlight that made up the sky.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    I turned my head to the sound of a hushed bang that sounded like an explosion. Curios, I began heading in the direction of the sound. As I grew closer, I was able to hear the fading sounds ofughter.


    Finally, I came upon a small neighborhood park and saw a green, bushy, haired figure looking down at a smoking notebook standing at the center of the park.


    My eyes grew wide as I watched an 11-year-old Midoriya Izuku pick up his charred notebook with a sad expression on his dirty, teary-eyed face.


    <i>Holy crap. It''s Sheep Boi! I mean Izuku!</i>


    Izuku sighed and walked over to one of the swinging chairs on the swing set. With a sigh, the boy took a seat and slowly swung back and forth. He was so lost in his little world that he had yet to notice me at the park entrance.


    Seeing my opportunity to interact with the main character of this world, I walked over to the swing set and took a seat beside him.


    "You know," I suddenly said, catching Izuku off guard. "You shouldn''t be ying with fire here."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "O-Oh! No! I wasn''t ying with matches or anything like that." Izuku squeezed his ruined notebook nervously as he looked between me and it. "This was because... because..."


    "Easy there, kid. I''m not gonna tell on ya," I chuckled and began swinging back and forth. Zaiko gurgled in glee as the wind stroked its face. "The name''s Souta. Shimizu Souta."


    "Kid? But you don''t look that much older than me?" Izuku muttered and then perked up, suddenly remembering his manners. "Ah! I''m Midoriya Izuku. It''s nice to meet you, Shimizu-s-san."


    "Just Souta is fine, Midoriya." I swungzily and smiled at the soon-to-be nervous wreck. "So, why did you ruin your notebook? You got some dirty stuff in there or something?"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Izuku''s face burned bright red as he quickly shook his head. "What?! No! Nothing like that! It''s just my, uh, my hero notes..."


    "Hooh? Hero notes? You mind if I take a look?"


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    Izuku pressed his lips together and seemed unsure of what to do. In the end, he nodded meekly and tentatively handed me his ruined notebook. I looked down and saw the notebook''s title: Hero Analysis for the Future #5.


    I smiled, seeing one of his famous notebooks in person, and began to flip through the pages. Despite the notebook''s ruined cover, the pages within were still in pretty good condition. Pages and pages of detailed notes and drawings on heroes of old and new filled the book.


    It was pretty impressive. Especially considering he was still around 11 years old.


    "Wow. This is some pretty impressive stuff, Midoriya." I said as I looked up at his surprised face. "Really impressive. You got some analysis quirk or something?"


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    <i>Holy-So much! Is this the point potential thates with interacting with the main cast?!</i>


    "Ah, no... Nothing like that. I just really love heroes, so I pay a lot of attention to them. Heh-heh..." Izuku looked away from me with his hand on his neck, his body tense. "It''s sorta like my... hobby?"


    <i>He thinks I''m going to make fun of him.</i> I looked away from him and flipped through a few more pages to eventually find arge section dedicated to All Might. <i>Dang, he hasn''t even started middle school yet, and he''s already like this. </i>


    "That so? Then what''s <i>your </i>quirk?" I said with an expectant look and watched as he froze. His green eyes shifted back and forth to look anywhere else but at me.


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    "I''m uh... I''m quirkless." Izuku softly said in a small voice with his eyes tightly shut.


    Despite my issues with the Midoriya Izuku from the original series, seeing him in person and acting in such a way left a bad taste in my mouth. I couldn''t help but be reminded of my little brother from my past life. He and Izuku were pretty simr.


    Izuku jumped slightly when I ced my hand on his shoulder. "I see. Well, that makes two of us then." Izuku''s eyes grewrge at my revtion. "Because I''m quirkless as well."


    <strong>[+100 SP]</strong>


    "R-Really?!" Izuku shouted as he jumped to his feet. "I mean, It''s just that I haven''t met anyone else who was quirkiness! I didn''t mean to be rude, Shimizu-san, I mean, Souta-san!"


    I chuckled at his reaction and waved his worries away. "It''s fine, Izuku. I get it. At least now I know why you were acting like a scared kitten. People can be pretty mean to us just for not having powers." I then held out his notebook and stood up as well. "Is that why your notebook got burnt? Someone pick on you?"


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    "No, Khan was just... he lost control of his quirk. That''s all..."


    "Hm. If you say so." I said with a tone that told him I didn''t buy what he said, causing him to look away. "We may be quirkless, Izuku, but that doesn''t mean we''re <i>worthless</i>. You wanna know what I did when someone looked down on me just because I was born with an extra joint in my dumb toe?"


    Intrigued, Izuku turned back to me and looked at me expectantly.


    "I kicked his ass."


    "You what?!"


    <strong>[+40 SP]</strong>


    <i>This kid''s reactions are hrious.</i>


    "Oh, yeah." I flexed both of my arms and grinned at him. "He had this quirk that gave him the ability to make any one of his limbs super strong. He thought that made him better than me, so he thought it was a good idea to smack my lunch on the ground while his little friendsughed. Unfortunately for him, I stood on business and mmed him onto the ground. Sure, I got suspended for two weeks, but that shitstain never bothered me again."


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    "N-no way. You really managed to beat somebody with a quirk! I can''t believe it." Izuku said with an amazed look as he furiously scribbled into his notebook. "You said his quirk let him increase the power behind any one limb, correct? Just how much power could..."


    <i>Well, one thing is for sure: Izuku is definitely a quirk nerd. </i>


    I shook my head as Izuku muttered away theories and ideas based on my short description of Whatshisface''s quirk. I rolled my eyes at him and grabbed his shoulder to stop his muttering.


    "You''re missing the point here, Izuku," I said and took my hand back. "What I''m trying to tell you is that just because we''re quirkless, it doesn''t mean we should just let those with quirks walk over us. Kinda like this Khan asshole who burnt your book."


    "It''s not like that! Khan is my friend! Really!"


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    <i>Hmm, this kid sure is delusional</i>. <i>No wonder he turned out the way he did if this is how he thinks now.</i>


    "Fine, fine. If you say so, Broli Boy." I then pointed over at his notebook and smiled. "Quirk Analysis for the Future. That means you wanna be a hero, right?"


    "A hero..." Izuku whispered. His eyes were both hopeful and downtrodden. "I... Quirkless people can''t be heroes... right?"


    <i>If this was a shonen anime, which it is, this is the moment I give Izuku the words he''s been waiting to hear ever since that dickhead of a doctor told him he was quirkless. Hopefully, all those hours of watching Naruto will pay off now.</i>


    "Eraser Head, Sir Nighteye, Midnight, and several other heroes mainly use their hand-to-hand skills and hard-earned strength to be heroes. Sure, they have fancy quirks that help them do their jobs, but that''s nothing some impressive support gear can''t cover for." I said as I looked down at my feet and wracked my brain to find the right words to say to this sad little boy.


    I was never the best at giving speeches or talking. So, I hoped that I was making sense of his overthinking butt. "So why not? Why can''t <i>you</i> be a hero?<i> </i>As long as you put in the work and train yourself to the bone, I don''t see why not. Don''t let those losers or anyone else put you down, man. I mean, look at this notebook of yours. It''s some impressive stuff."


    <strong>[+200 SP]</strong>


    <i>Ka-Ching! Maybe I''m not so bad at talk-no-justu after all?</i>


    "Do you really think so?" Izuku whispered,rge tears swelling in his eyes. "Can I truly... be a hero, too?"


    Sorry, All Might. I''m stealing your line here. I need them points. Papa needs himself the Limitless.


    "Yes, Izuku. You <i>can</i> be a hero."


    <strong>[+500 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[Congrattions on earning 500 SP in one go! You have unlocked a new tier! The tinum Reward Tier!]</strong>


    <strong>[3500 SP will allow you to pull 1 time for a 50% chance to pull a tinum tier Reward!]</strong>


    I ignored Izuku''s little sobs in favor of looking at the new system screens in surprise. Slowly, arge, hungry grin grew on my face as I turned to Izuku.


    <i>Looks like I just found my new golden goose-I mean, my new friend.</i>

 Chapter 15: NO. 15 - Stolen Street Cred

    <h4>Chapter 15: NO. 15 - Stolen Street Cred</h4>


    <strong>[You have pulled: Ryomen Sukuna''s Poison Immunity! Rank: Gold.]</strong>


    "Hm, an excellent pull."


    "Indeed. A very useful passive."


    "Gentlemen, I believe it''s time."


    I looked around at my four clones as we all sat on a random round table I found on someone''s rooftop balcony. Zaiko sat on my shoulder as usual. A pair of Gojo''s shades rested over its derpy eyes. We were all dressed in my jujutsu uniform as we looked at one another with varying expressions.


    "You mean the tinum pull." Clone A said to Clone B as he intertwined his fingers and leaned forward on the table. "Hm, a high-risk, high-reward pull. It''s a risky option."


    "Hah! What are you? Pussy? I say we go all in!" Clone C pped his hand on the table as he leaned back on his chair. "So what if we lose all our points on the off chance we don''t pull a reward? What life without some risk?"


    "You sound ridiculous. We have a better chance at pulling for a Gold tier reward. At least with that, we have four chances to win something! Not just one!" Clone D shook his head as he crossed his arms. His, my? Expression was set in a look that said, "I can''t believe we''re having this conversation."


    "Boss! I say we go for it!" Clone B abruptly stood up and turned to me with arge smile. "I say we do it! This could be our chance to get one of the four techniques on our wishlist! Just think about it. We have a 50% chance of pulling the Limitless, The Ten Shadows, Shrine, or Star Rage! Let''s be OP!"


    "Hmm." I hummed as I looked out at the night sky. The city lights in the background shined brightly. Perhaps even encouragingly. "You all had strong arguments and sound points. With all your opinions in mind, I''vee to a decision, Gentlemen. I say we go for the tinum pull!"


    Two out of the four clones cheered while the other two sucked their teeth in annoyance. I reached forward and grabbed the floating Gacha machine''s dial.


    "Use 3500 SP."


    I slowly twisted the dial as my clones stood behind me, their faces nervous but excited. We watched as the machine rumbled and glowed a bright silver as the stic prize balls danced enticingly behind the machine''s ss case. None of us breathed as we watched the lid finally snap open to reveal...


    <strong>[You have pulled: Fushiguro Megumi''s Cursed Technique, The Ten Shadows! Rank: tinum.]</strong>


    "Yes!"


    "We did it, boys! We made it!"


    "I never doubted this choice for a second!"


    "Stop the cap."


    Suddenly, several loud bangs shook the door behind us as we all stopped our celebration. We all turned to look at the door I barricaded with a chair.


    "Who the hell is out there? I''m calling the police!" A loud, angry man shouted as he continued to bang repeatedly on his door.


    "Shit, no time to experiment," I said as all my clones melted away into CE. I spun on my heel and jumped off the roof balcony as the old geezer continued to yell.


    Leaping from rooftop to rooftop, my face broke into a grin as I raised my hands to make a hand seal of a dog.


    "Divine dogs!"


    Two loud howls filled the chilly night air as my madughter followed behind them. Causing dozens of once happily sleeping people to wake up in annoyance at the loud noise.


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    A man with long ck hair looked around his surroundings with dry but calcting eyes. He was dressed in a ck jumpsuit with a utility belt around his waist. On his feet were ck boots, and a white rope-like cloth sat coiled around his neck. The man''s name was Aizawa Shota, otherwise known as Eraser Head.


    "Any idea on what happened here, Eraser Head?"


    Aizawa turned to look at another fellow hero who had a ck mask over his eyes and an attire simr to the armor Spartans would wear, including a green hooded cape and a ck shirt that appeared to be stitched down the middle with a red pattern. This was the pro hero, Crust.


    "A few," Aizawa muttered as he looked around therge, dark warehouse.


    The abandoned warehouse Aizawa, Crust, and several police officers stood within loomedrge, its weathered bricks crumbling and stained by years of neglect. Rusting metal beams jut out at odd angles, while shattered windows create a haunting mosaic of jagged ss. The air is thick with dust and blood, and the faint smell of mold lingers, hinting at the dampness that has seeped in over time.


    Inside, the vast open space is filled with remnants of its former life¡ªrows of empty shelves and scattered debris litter the cold concrete floor. Sunlight streams through the broken windows, casting eerie shadows that dance across the walls. Graffiti tags ssh colors against the drab interiors.


    However, what stood out the most in the warehouse were the several bloodied and bruised criminals strewn around everywhere, with even more outside being treated by first responders.


    "Slowly, slowly, okay! I got him!"


    Aizawa turned to see three police officers slowly bring down one of the unconscious men onto the ground. The man they had retrieved had been hanging upside down with a rope attached to his legs from one of the rafters above.


    Crust nodded in approval at the officer''s teamwork and walked over to one of therge tables at the center of the warehouse. Stacked neatly on one another were several bags of narcotics and stolen support gear meant for heroes. Standing around the table were two officers taking inventory and pictures of the gathered contraband.


    Grabbing a bag full of colorful pills, Crust carefully inspected its contents before looking over to Aizawa. "Ecstasy." Crust said before cing the bag back. "Seeing that all this stuff is still hanging around, I''m guessing this is the work of vigntes."


    "Possibly," Aizawa said as he crouched beside two empty duffle bags. He reached into one of the bags and pulled out a 10,000 yen bill. "Hmm, a deal gone wrong, then. If this was vigntes, they made off with two or more bags full of money."


    "Eraser Head, Crust." One of the police officers, a woman with brown hair tied into a ponytail, said as she walked over to Aizawa and Crust. "One of them just woke up!"


    Aizawa and Crust turned to one another and nodded before following the officer. The three walked out of the warehouse, where several ambnces were parked and paramedics were treating the recovered criminals.


    The man had deep green skin and blue eyes. His hair was extraordinarily spiky and nonkept. Matching his loose attire. The man was covered in bruises and even bite marks resembling that of arge dog or wolf.


    "D-Demon. It was a demon!" The green-skinned man muttered in fear as he trembled. He then to the two pro heroes with almost a manic gaze. "That thing came out of the shadows and took us all out!"


    "Slow down," Aizawa said as he raised his hands to try and calm the erratic man down. "Take a breath and calm down. Now, exin what happened here tonight. Who attacked you all?"


    The man held his head as his eyes began to tear up in fright and trauma.


    "This wasn''t how tonight was supposed to go down, man. We were supposed to make the deal and get our money. But then that <i>thing </i>showed up and defeated us like we were nothing." The man said as he closed his eyes as if to keep away the mysterious boogeyman. "And thatugh... that Demon wasughing as it attacked us all one by one. Like this was a game!"


    Aizawa and Crust exchanged disturbed nces at each other. The nearby officers and paramedics, who were listening intently, began to grow concerned as they listened to the man''s story.


    "Did you happen to get a name?" Crust said softly, not wanting to frighten the scared and traumatized man any further. The man froze and turned to him and whispered.


    "It-<i>He </i>called himself ... Sukuna. The King of Curses"


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    "There''s one fundamental rule for interacting with others. You know what that is, you pile of dorks?"


    <strong>[13x5= +65 SP]</strong>


    I threw another chip into my mouth and looked down at the pile of bodiesposed of middle schoolers. They all wore the same school uniform as me, but unlike me, theirs were dirty, bloodied, and even smelled of piss.


    The pile of students, some mutants and some not, beneath me all groaned and moaned in pain while a purple-haired student opened one of his unbruised eyes as he struggled to breathe from under me.


    "...what are you going on about, you quirkless- Gah!"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Shh. I''m doing a thing here." I said as my right fist found a new home in his stomach. "Now, where was I? Ah, that''s right. The one fundamental rule for interacting with others is a simple one. I won''t kill you, so in return, please don''t kill me either. Substitute any word for kill. The point is drawing a line so you do not infringe on others. In order for both to exist together, they need to honor that... Or something like that. Do you guys get it?"


    "Not really."


    "I thought he was quirkless? How is he so strong?"


    "I c-cant breath..."


    I sighed and threw the half-eaten bag of chips at its original owner''s face, who happened to be at the bottom of the pile that acted as my meat throne. "Yeah, me neither."


    Sorry, Megumi. I failed you.


    I stood up and climbed slowly down the pile of middle schoolers. Once I was back on the ground, I looked over at my creation and took a picture. Now, a sight like this would have normally brought attention to the surrounding student body. Thankfully, we were all on the south side of the school, away from all prying eyes and teachers.


    How did things end up like this? I hear you asking.


    Things 1, 2, and 3, from where I helped out Whatshisface a while back, had a bone to pick with me from when I pped them silly. So, in retaliation, they gathered up arge group of their scummy friends to teach me a lesson.


    It was a brief and easy lesson. It took all of three minutes for me to kick all their asses without sending them to the hospital. Hopefully, they''re quick learners, so I didn''t have to do this again.


    "Oi, you three." I pointed at the three bozos from before, causing them all to whimper loudly.


    "Y-yes!?" The three shouted.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "This is yourst warning. Mess with me again, and I''ll rip your balls off. Oh, also, don''t mess with that guy anymore, either. Ka... Ka-whatever, too."


    "...you mean, Kagawa?"


    "Yeah, him! In fact, I better not hear you three or any of you in that pile bullying anyone in this school. Got me?!" I said in a raised voice as I lifted my pristine knuckles at therge pile of middle schoolers.


    "We understand!" The loud, scared reply came from them all.


    <strong>[13x5= +65 SP]</strong>


    I nodded and walked away from the meat pile to begin heading to work. Unaware of the several hidden onlookers watching from their hiding areas.


    As I walked, I wondered how long I would continue working for Minato. Money wasn''t much of a problem anymore due to my book sales and recently acquired bags of cash, so there was little point in working for the low wage Minato was paying me. But if I did quit, then Mei and I would have less time to hang out or for me to earn some SP.


    "Hm, what to do?"


    I walked straight through the crowds of city folk, their bodies parting the way like the Red Sea. Confusion and nervousness were across their faces as they turned to me as I passed them.


    "Eh, fuck it. I''ll keep working there. I owe Minato for the chance after all." I nodded as I reached the street where Hatsume''s Mechanical Repairs and Such was located.


    <i>Yeah, that''s the reason. It''s not because I enjoy being around the crazy tornado that is Hatsume Mei and not being alone.</i>


    Yeah, the cope is real.


    I walked through the store''s front door and heard the familiar bell chime. "What do we get going on today, Hatsume-san?" Minato grinned at me as he looked up from thepound motor he was working on.


    "Ah, Souta. You''re here. Hatake-san brought in a deep fryer from his restaurant, which has been giving him trouble. Can you take a-"


    "Souta!" I brazed myself as a blur of pink crashed into me. I looked over my shoulder to see Mei''s smiling face covered in dirt and grime. "It''s ready! Baby #18 is ready! You have toe look!"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Hello to you too, Mei." I said as Mei let me go in favor of grabbing my hand to pull me off towards the back of the shop. Minato sighed and stood in her way, a dirty rag in his hands.


    "Not now, MeiMei. Souta has some work to do first."


    "Hah? Nah! My baby is so much more interesting than that!"


    "Souta is here to work, MeiMei. Not to help you invent futurewsuits."


    "I resent that!"


    Iughed at the father and daughter duo as they bickered about how I would spend my time today.


    Mei and I were so caught up in the moment that we didn''t realize our fingers were intertwined.


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Quick question: do you all want to see Souta go to UA? I''ve been seeing a lot ofments suggesting he go there. Or should he take a different path?</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 16: NO. 16 - Barking Pomeranian

    <h4>Chapter 16: NO. 16 - Barking Pomeranian</h4>


    Izily moved left and right from the ridiculously slow, uncoordinated punches my green cash cow threw. I had my hands behind my back as I spun to the side and stuck out my foot, causing Izuku to trip forward.


    "Ah!" Izuku grunted as he rolled on the floor.


    "Hmm, this may be harder than I thought," I muttered as Izuku stood up. His clothes were covered in dust and dirt while a few stray leaves from the trees around us poked out from his bushy hair.


    Up in the tree branches watching us were three crows hidden within the leaves. As they watched, their little heads scanned around the area.


    (The green one should just give up. He''s got two left feet.)


    (Nah, he''ll get it soon.)


    (Salmon.)


    I ran a hand through my hair and watched as Izuku patted his clothes. Once he gathered himself, he took a deep breath and rushed me again. As I watched, a lone thought popped into my head.


    <i>This kid is uncoordinated as heck.</i>


    "Izuku, stop throwing all your weight behind your punches."


    I looked around the public park we were in and smacked another sloppy punch of his. I then tapped his forehead with my two pointer fingers, pushing him back onto the ground.


    "Gah! I-I''m trying! I''m just not good at this. All Might makes it look so easy. He beats the viins up in one punch!" Izuku said as he remained seated on the floor. He then smiled and punched the air. "He would just yell SMASH and Bam! The day is saved!"


    "Yeah, but he''s All Might. He can punch a hole in the atmosphere." I walked over to him and picked him up from the scruff of his shirt like a dog. "You, on the other hand, can barely do ten pushups without looking like you''re about to pass out."


    "Sorry..."


    I sighed and ced my hands on his shoulders. "Don''t be sorry, Izuku. Be <i>better</i>."


    Don''t sue me, Santa Monica.


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    Izuku looked at me with wide, awestruck eyes. Immediately, he nodded with renewed vigor and raised his arms into a poorly executed boxing stance.


    A far cry from the stance I taught him.


    But hey, he''ll get it eventually.


    You see, for the past month or so, I''ve taken it upon myself to help my golden goose- I mean, my friend, to train up his skills and strength. My goal was to have him be in a much better state than in canon for when he receives All Might''s quirk.


    It''s the least I can do. He was the reason I got the Ten Shadows.


    That and I need to earn back my points after losing 7000 SP on those two failed tinum pulls. Who knew my luck would run dry after that first pull?


    Damn, gacha. You unforgiving bitch.


    "Okay, let''s take things slow." I stepped back and ced my hands behind my back. "This time, focus on your footwork and bnce. Just keep up with me, and don''t worry aboutnding a hit. Just stay on your feet, and don''t let me trip you. Got it?"


    "Got it."


    For the next half hour, Izuku''s performance has taken a turn for the better. This time, he focused his attention on staying on his feet and maintaining his bnce. The times he did begin to lose his focus, I simply smacked his face lightly to bring back his focus. We continued on like this until his rtively short stamina finally ran out.


    With Izuku panting on the ground, I strolled through several trees to the area where I had left the red cooler I had brought and grabbed two water bottles. As I closed the cooler''s lid, Crow Maki sent me a vision of three neers approaching Izuku and my location.


    Walking towards us were Bakugo and two of his followers.


    <i>Hm? It seems it''s time for me to finally meet that headache.</i>


    Thanks to Crow Maki, Crow Inumaki, and Crow Panda, who was a crow and not a panda, I always had a clear view of my surroundings thanks to their overwatch. Those three made it almost impossible for anyone to sneak up on me without some sneaking quirk or super speed.


    "What the hell? Deku? The hell are you doing out here?"


    "K-Khan?!"


    "Wow, it really is Deku!"


    <i>That''s what I get for choosing the local public park near Izuku''s apartment. </i>


    I rolled my eyes and walked back to where I had left Izuku and found the spiky-haired, somehow fan-favorite, angry Pomeranian himself.


    Bakugo Katsuki.


    Oh, and his two cronies, too.


    My opinion of Bakugo Katsuki from the original series was that I didn''t like him.


    The guy was an asshole to Izuku just because of his dreams and his quirklessness. The guy even told the green bean to kill himself. Not to mention the way he treats others due to his perceived greatness. And don''t give that "Oh, but he had so much pressure on him to seed" bullshit. That doesn''t give you a pass to treat those around you like trash.


    But to be fair, I would give this Bakugo a chance to prove my preconceived opinions of his main timeline character wrong.


    Bakugo was ring at Izuku with annoyance as his hands twitched. Behind him was a long-haired boy with grey hair and droopy eyes, while the other boy had medium-length, unkempt ck hair.


    "You following me around? Is that it, Deku?!"


    "N-No, that''s not it, Khan. I was here t-training." Deku said in a meek voice as he tried to maintain eye contact with Bakugo. The two cronies behind the blonde chuckled as they watched Izuku shrink into himself.


    "Training? Don''t tell me you still think you can be a hero?! I told you that a quirkless nobody like you has no chance of ever being one! So give up already!" Bakugo screamed as he got all up into Izuku''s personal space as small explosions popped in his right hand.


    <i>Never mind, fuck this guy.</i>


    "Ka-Khan, I-"


    "Okay~" I walked out from behind the tree I was standing behind, surprising the three neers. "That''s enough, you barking Pomeranian."


    "The hell did you say?!" Bakugo yelled as he ignored Izuku and stomped over to me. He was trying to look intimidating, but seeing an 11-year-old throw a tantrum was anything but intimidating. "Who the hell do you think you are, you extra?!"


    <i>Yesh. This is grating.</i>


    "Khan, wait! He''s my-"


    "Shut it, Deku! I''m talking here!"


    Izuku flinched as Bakugo turned to him with an annoyed, angry scowl. I rolled my eyes at Bakugo''s constant screaming and rubbed the side of my head.


    "Man, you''re so damn loud. Why is that? You hard of hearing or something?" I said as I walked over to Izuku and held out the water bottle in my hand. Izuku looked down at the cool beverage and epted it numbly. Bakugo was stunned that I seemingly ignored and insulted him at once. "Get lost, will ya? My friend and I are working on some stuff. Now shoo~."


    <strong>[+150 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+120 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    The two cronies at the back looked stunned and turned to one another in silent disbelief. Izuku was looking back and forth between Bakugo and me withrge, worried eyes.


    <i>What''s with these kids? They''re treating Bakugo like the Grand Puba.</i>


    I grinned as the sounds of repeating pops and cracks rippled behind me. I looked over to Bakugo and saw his face burn red with rage as his eyes shrank into slits.


    "You bastard! I''ll kill you!" Bakugo dashed toward me as fast as he could with his right arm outstretched. His palm was glowing with small explosions as he <i>swung</i>.


    <i>Smack!</i>


    "You know, kid. Using your quirk on others for no reason isn''t allowed." I said as Bakugo''s face was half turned while a red handprint rested on his cheek from my p. Slowly, he turned to look at me with wide, unbelieving eyes. "What''s the matter? Cat got your tongue?"


    <strong>[+100 SP]</strong>


    Growling in rage, Bakugo ran right at me with both arms flying forward, palms pointed right at me.


    <i>Wham!</i>


    "...huh?" Bakugo blinked as he stared up at the trees and sky from his spot on the floor.


    <i>This is weirdly cathartic.</i>


    "What''s just happened?" The boy with long grey hair whispered as he and his friend stood frozen in ce. The messy ck-haired boy shook his head and rubbed his eyes.


    "I blinked and then... Bakugo-san was on the floor."


    "...Khan?" Izuku uttered as he stared at me and Bakugo in a delirium. It was as if he was watching something that couldn''t be possible.


    "Hey, <i>Khan</i>. You ight?" I looked down at the blinking blonde with arge, mocking smile, my hands in my pockets. "How does it feel to have been beaten by someone who''s <i>quirkless</i>?"


    <i>Technically speaking.</i>


    <strong>[+170 SP]</strong>


    What I had done was perform a quick and easy over-the-hip toss on Bakugo in the blink of an eye. Making it seem, to the untrained eye, as if Bakugo somehow just teleported on the floor.


    "...quirkless? You?" Bakugo muttered as he slowly stood to his feet. "Quirkless? Quirkless?!" He raged as he red at me with fury. "As if I would get beaten by some quirkless loser!"


    <strong>[+200 SP]</strong>


    "Let''s see, here we have someone with an okay quirk that can make explosions," I said while pointing at Bakugo with azy smile. I then pointed at myself. "And here, we have a quirkless nobody with no potential. Hmm... there''s no way I could have beaten you. Isn''t that what you''re thinking?"


    I walked a few feet away and held my hands up with azy expression. "C''mon, boy. My two hands are all I need to wrangle you."


    "DIE!"


    Bakugo dashed toward me with rage-enhanced speed as his hands glowed from the umted sweat in his palms. Just as he was about to fire an explosion at point-nk range at my chest and face, my hands flew up and grabbed his wrists.


    Pushing them outwards, his built-up sweat exploded beside me uselessly. Even after he released his explosions, I held his arms firmly in ce in my vice grip as he tried to pull away.


    Seeing the kid jerk around like a trapped animal, I felt a pang of sympathy for the young kid.


    "See?" I said with a calm expression. I leaned in close to his stunned face and whispered so only he would hear me. "Learn from this, Bakugo. If you keep looking down on everyone else, you''ll never be able to see your own weaknesses."


    I leaned my head back and smashed my forehead into his own. Bakugo grunted in pain and fell onto his butt as his hands flew up to hold the growing welt on his head.


    "Agh!"


    <strong>[+200 SP]</strong>


    Don''t worry. I was careful to hold back.


    With my piece said, I cracked my neck and walked over to Izuku. "Let''s call it a day, Izuku. How about we go for some ice cream? My treat."


    "I... uh, huh?"


    I wrapped my arm around the stunned Izuku and led him out of the park after I grabbed my cooler.


    All the while, a frozen but enraged Bakugo stared at our backs with unreasonable hate in his eyes. His two friends? Followers? Whatever theory were, were too nervous and scared to say a thing and merely kept as silent as they could.


    -


    <strong>I hope you all enjoyed todays bonus Chapter! </strong>


    <strong>I know we didn''t reach the PS requirement of 600 for it, but what the hell, here''s my gift to you all for being such great readers with funnyments.</strong>


    <strong>Just a heads up, I''m not nning on doing the cliche thing and bashing Bakugo. So look forward to his future character arc. ( £þ? ? £þ? )</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 17: NO. 17 - Playing Hero

    <h4>Chapter 17: NO. 17 - ying Hero</h4>


    <strong>AN: Thanks for the 1k PS! What Chads you all are. </strong>


    <strong>As thanks, here are two new Chapters!</strong>


    -


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    The old loading dock stood as a testament to years of bustling activity, its weathered wooden beams telling stories of countless shipments and deliveries. A faded sign hung above, its once-bright letters now peeling and barely legible, hinting at the dock''s long-past glory days.


    Rusting metal fittings and heavy chainsy scattered around, remnants of the machinery that had once ttered with life. The air was thick with the scent of salt and aged wood, mingled with the faint aroma of oil and the ghosts of cargo that had been stacked high. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the corrugated roof, casting streaks of light across the dark, cracked concrete floor.


    Pockmarked walls bore evidence of time''s relentless march, with streaks of moss creeping in where rainwater had seeped through. A few scattered crates, long forgotten, sat in the corners, their once-bright colors dulled by the passage of time.


    "Hoho! Not bad!" Arge, pot-bellied man grinned as he looked inside one of the parked vans beside one of the loading bays. Sitting within the van were ten young children with their limbs tied together with rope; their mouths were covered with tape while their eyes were covered with blindfolds. "A very nice group tonight. Great work, as usual, Okuma-san."


    Okuma, a woman dressed in a two-piece business suit with long ck hair and green eyes, smirked as she walked over to the other van. "I aim to please, Satoshi-san. There are so many desperate parents in a rush to begin their kid''s hero careers that they''ll more than be happy to hand them over to a <i>hero recruiter</i>." Okuma nodded to the two men standing beside the back doors of the other van.


    One of the men nodded and opened the back door to reveal another group of bound, scared children. Seeing this, Satoshiughed and stepped inside the van to inspect the children.


    The bound children were all shaking in fear as they sniffed and cried underneath their bindings. Satoshi stepped in front of a young brown-haired boy with dove-like wings on his back. The man then brushed the boy''s wings slowly with a malicious grin.


    "Yes, very nice. I think I''ll give this one a run before we turn them in." Satoshi said lecherously, causing Okuma to look away in difort.


    "Remember that these kids bring in more profit if they''re pure," Okuma said nonchntly.


    "Yeah, yeah. It''s fine. It''s been a while since myst one, so I''ll eat the pay cut." Satoshi said as he licked his lips. With a chuckle, he stepped out of the van and closed the doors behind him. "Alright. I''ll take it from here."


    Satoshi pulled out his phone and tapped its screen. A soft ding pinged from Okuma''s phone as she watched arge amount of money be deposited into her secured bank ount.


    "I''ll let you know when the next batch is ready." Okuma said as she turned away to begin walking over to her parked Handa across the street.


    "All right, boys! Let''s get moving. I want to get to Hokkaido before morning!" Satoshi said as he turned to look at his two men, only to find them missing. In an instant, all the surrounding street lights that illuminated the area exploded. "What the hell? Where the fuck-"


    <i>Crack!</i>


    Satoshi jumped back in fright as Okuma''s body fell directly in front of him from above, causing her to yell in pain as her right leg was snapped to the side. The woman screamed as she lifted herself up to look over to Satoshi.


    "Ah! H-help m-"


    "<i>Piercing blood.</i>"


    Satoshi''s mouth opened in a silent scream as Okuma''s head burst into a gory mess as an impossibly fast line of blood pierced through her skull. Satoshi took several steps back but then froze when the two thumps echoed behind him. The pot-bellied man, against his better judgment, turned to look behind him.


    There, lying on the ground with their bodies ripped to shreds as if they were mauled by a pack of dogs, were his men.


    "How many?" A low, dispassionate voice said from behind Satoshi, causing the man to jump. Satoshi watched in fear as a dark, hooded figure slowly emerged from the shadows. "How many kids have you taken?"


    "I... I-I don''t..."


    Satoshi struggled to say before the hooded figure swiped his arm up. Two incredibly swift lines of blood flew through the air and stabbed through Satoshi''s knees. Causing the man to yell in pain and fall to the ground. The hooded figure then pulled his arm back, and the two lines of blood retracted into his jacket sleeve.


    "Whatever. It doesn''t matter." The hooded figure said as he walked over to the bleeding Satoshi. The figure reached down and took Satoshi''s phone. The pot-bellied man pushed himself up as the hooded figure nodded over at... nothing? Satoshi blinked in confusion and looked back at his attacker.


    "Do it slowly. Ah, but drag him far away. I don''t want the kids to hear." The hooded figure said and turned away.


    Satoshi was left confused, but he suddenly felt his arm explode in pain. "Aagh!" He looked over to his arm as several bleeding puncture wounds covered his skin. A sharp, jerking motion then pulled him to the ground as his body was quickly dragged along the ground by an invisible force.


    "Gah! What is this?! Let me go!"


    Satoshi turned his head back to the hooded man''s back as he crouched next to the bodies of his men and Okuma. Without warning, their mangled bodies exploded into bright mes. The fire didn''tst long because their bodies were reduced to ash in a few seconds from the intense heat.


    That was all Satoshi saw before he was dragged around the corner towards the pitch-ck entrance of one of the loading docks abandoned electrical rooms.


    The door then mmed itself closed, stifling Satoshi''s bloody screams of agony.


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    "All done?"


    I looked down at my divine dogs as they ran over to me from around the corner. They barked and nodded at my question as I looked down at the ugly man''s phone. "Good. Now then, what should we do with these kids?"


    I walked over to both of the parked vans and pulled open their rear doors. Sitting inside both of the vehicles were around 19 or so kids. Each of them tied, blindfolded, and gagged. I stepped back to look around the old loading bay and shrugged. I reached into Zaiko''s mouth and pulled out one of my many burner phones to dial the police.


    "Hello? So, uh, there''s two vans full of kidnapped kids in the old loading dock by Toyohashi City. Huh? My name? Sorry, can''t give you that. Just send several of the boys in blue here, okay?"


    I hung up the phone and crushed it into pieces. The sounds of whimpering and silent crying grabbed my attention as the kidnapped kids leaned on one another forfort.


    There were children ranging from six to ten years old. All of which didn''t seem to have any mutation-based quirks with the exception being the small boy with wings on his back. I looked around the area and saw that there weren''t any traces of the violence that had just happened.


    Which was good; I didn''t want to traumatize these kids.


    "All right, kiddies. Let''s get you out of there."


    Over the next five minutes, I helped each of the kids out of their binds and took off their gags and blindfolds. Throughout the process, I slipped off my hoodie in favor of wearing my ck Spider-Man mask. I didn''t want to risk these kids recognizing me after tonight. My divine dogs were off in the background, keeping watch in case any more of the kidnapper''s crewmates showed up.


    Once they were free and off the dirty old vans. The group of kids all looked around with fear and anxiety, which was fair. We were in some dark old loading dock with no light. One of the children, a little girl with bright blonde hair, walked up to me nervously.


    "U-um, M-Mister? Are you a h-hero?" The little girl asked, gaining everyone''s attention.


    "A hero?" I said as I crouched down so I would be at their eye level. "I suppose, from your perspective, I am."


    <strong>[3 x 19 = +57 SP]</strong>


    "See, I told you a hero would save us!"


    "Yeah! We''ll get to go home soon!"


    My words caused a domino effect as all the kids visibly rxed at the implication I was a hero. They all began to chatter happily and surrounded me to ask dozens of questions. The little blonde girl in front of me sighed in relief and smiled at me widely.


    "Thank you for saving us, Mr. Hero!" The little girl said. "I''m Haru! I didn''t ever give up hope that a hero woulde save us."


    "Yeah, yeah! A hero!"


    "Mr. Hero, your costume is so cool!"


    "What''s your hero name, Mister?"


    "Okay, okay." I held my hands in front of me in an attempt to calm them all down. "Take it easy. My hero name? Well, I don''t really have a <i>hero </i>name. But you kids can call me... Sukuna. How''s that?"


    <strong>[3 x 19 = +57 SP]</strong>


    "Such a cool name!" A boy with short, grey hair and an All Might shirt said as he jumped up and down. "How did you find us, Sukuna?"


    They all grew quiet and waited for me to answer with smiles. Haru had walked closer and grabbed my left hand with a curious expression.


    <i>Might as well y the part. At least until the police get here.</i>


    "You see! I was patrolling the streets in a nearby city and heard your cries for help!" I said in a boisterous voice, simr to All Might. "I ran straight here in a sh and took down the evil viins. They all ran away crying at the sight of my power!"


    My ims caused everyone to cheer and yell in excitement. They showered me with praise and asked questions about what my quirk was or if I knew any other pro heroes. Iughed and indulged in their little questions for several minutes before the sounds of approaching police sirens could be heard. We all looked over to see shing red and blue lights glow behind the loading dock''s main building.


    "Okay, kids." I stood up and brushed some of their heads gently. "You all have to wait here for the nice police officers to take you all home, okay?"


    "Huh? Aren''t you going to stay?" A young boy with brown hair and dove wings, his name was Oki Katsu, said with sadness, causing everyone to whine and plead with me to stay. "Please stay, Mister Sukuna!"


    "I want to. I really do. But the policemen and women will take good care of you all. Besides, I think I hear more cries for help. You all want me to go save them like I saved you, right?" I said gently, causing the children to pout.


    Thankfully, they understood what I said and parted the way for me to leave. As I began to walk away, I turned back and looked at Haru.


    "Haru, keep an eye on them for me, okay?" I said with a thumbs up, causing the little girl to nod and return the gesture.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "I will! Now go save the day, Mister Sukuna!"


    I smiled behind my mask and made a show of powering up before leaping onto the roof of one of the vans before jumping onto the rooftops of the loading bay''s main building. All the kids waved goodbye as several police cars and ambnces came to a stop several feet away.


    Dozens of officers poured out and approached the children with worry. Quickly and carefully, they guided the children to the paramedics to be checked and treated.


    I watched all this go down from the shadows on the rooftop; my divine dogs and crows were beside me as we peered down. I then pulled out the phone I took from the ugly, pot-bellied man and red at the list of contacts on his phone. My eyes focused on the contact named "Boss Man."


    It wasn''t my intention to y hero tonight.


    Running into these kids had been a coincidence from my usual nightly training routine. From what Crow Nobara found, I thought this was a simple drug deal for me to bust. But it turned out to be so much more.


    Human trafficking. Kidnapping. And other horrible crimes against children were something I detested now and in my previous life.


    So when I saw that these vans held several tied-up children, I acted and executed all these rabid dogs without mercy.


    My actions tonight had stopped Haru, Katsu, and all the other kids from tonight from disappearing and falling into the darkness of human evil due to the agendas of money-hungry degenerates.


    But seeing this long list of contacts on the corpse''s phone, I knew that this wasn''t the end of their operation. No, this was just the tip of the iceberg.


    I was no hero, and I knew that.


    But that fact just made what I was going to do next even easier.


    "Let''s go <i>hunting</i>."

 Chapter 18: NO. 18 - Pink Menace

    <h4>Chapter 18: NO. 18 - Pink Menace</h4>


    <strong><i>...2 Years Later...</i></strong>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    The narrow alley was slick with rain, the asphalt glimmering under the dim streetlights as a middle-aged woman with ck hair dressed in a blue raincoat ran. The woman''s name was Fujioka Hisoka.


    Known in the underground world as "The Coil," she operated under a veil of secrecy, leaving behind nothing but whispered tales and a trail of chaos. Her background was shrouded in mystery; some said she was a runaway with a sharp mind and a fierce ambition, while others spected about a more sinister lineage.


    Regardless of her origins, she had a talent for slipping through the cracks of society, always one step ahead of thew. Her expertise lies in cunning heists, drug trafficking, embezzlement, murder, and human trafficking. Especially involving those with children with promising quirks.


    With a quick wit and a calm demeanor, Hisoka navigated theplexities of the criminal underworld, forging alliances and manipting rivals to serve her purpose. Despite her darker traits, she was incredibly loyal to her boss. Hisoka would never do anything to put him at risk or capture.


    Even from the infamous Demon god himself.


    The King of Curses, Sukuna.


    The very same Demon that was chasing her down like prey.


    Hisoka''s heart pounded in her ears as she sprinted through the shadows. As she ran, she looked back in fright only to see nothing behind her. Despite that, she continued running. Her grey eyes were wide with fear as they looked around wildly.


    She turned sharply, narrowly avoiding a trash can that ttered to the ground behind her. The adrenaline surged through her veins, propelling her forward. Every breath felt sharp in her lungs. With a grimace, Hisoka crouched low and jumped onto the wall to her right, and springboarded herself back and forth down the alley.


    Hisoka''s quirk, Repeated Hopping, allowed her to use her legs like coiled springs to jump off nearby surfaces, simr to a pinball, to travel at greater speeds.


    The scent of damp concrete filled the air as she bounced past a closed shop front, her mind racing to find an escape route.


    Hisoka''s instincts kicked in; she veered to the right, cutting through a narrow pathway that twisted between two buildings with a long jump. The darkness enveloped her like a cloak, but she knew her pursuer was relentless.


    She knew once the Demon God found you, he would stop at nothing to get you.


    Hisoka didn''t want to end up like all her now-dead crewmates. All dead at the hands of that man.


    Suddenly, she heard what sounded like a crow''s caw above her, causing her to look up and momentarily lose focus of her quirk, sending her crashing along the wet ground in a painful roll.


    "Heheh. Go on, get up and run. Run!"


    Hisoka quickly crawled to her feet at the sound of the voice. Panic, fear, dread, and many more emotions surged within her. She needed a n. She needed to escape!


    ''I don''t want to die!'' Hisoka screamed in her head.


    Up ahead, a chain-link fence loomed. She leaped toward it, fingers gripping the cold metal. Just as she scrambled over the top, something solid coiled around her left leg and <i>pulled </i>her back.


    "Ah! Let me go!"


    Hisoka''s chin mmed on the hard ground, causing her head to swim as the pain of her body being dragged along the rough ground pulsed.


    Looking down at her leg, Hisoka saw a thick red liquid-like rope tied around her leg. She couldn''t help but wonder if that was blood. Her eyes followed the rope to its point of origin, only to find a shadowed figure down the alleyway.


    The visage of the mysterious figure caused a wave of panic through her.


    It was him.


    It was Sukuna.


    The very man who threw arge portion of Japan''s underworld into uncontrolled chaos. The killer of criminals and viins alike with no mercy.


    "No! No! <i>Let me go!</i>"


    Reaching down, Hisoka tried to remove the red rope from her leg in a frenzy. Her once well-manicured nails dug into the rope and her skin, but the most she did was scratch and rip her flesh. Leaving the rope undamaged. Hot tears streamed out of her eyes as she finally came to a stop; slowly, she looked up at the pair of cold, amused eyes looming over her.


    "Well, that was fun." Sukuna''s low, rough voice said as he reached down and grabbed the top of her head with his gloved right hand.


    Hisoka whined and fought to remove his hand from her head, but his grip was irond. The man, no, the <i>Demon </i>before her, then effortlessly lifted her up and held her above the ground, the pressure around her skull increasing.


    Hisoka whimpered as she desperately tried to remove the Demon''s hand from her person, but she then made the mistake of looking down at <i>his </i>face in her panic, causing her to freeze like a rabbit.


    A wide, merciless smile looked at her in amusement as his ck eyes peered straight into her soul from beneath the ck hood and high white cor. What stood out the most were the sharp, ck tattoos that adorned his face.


    "Now then, enough games. Where''s your boss at? Oh, and I suggest you answer me quickly. It''ll hurt a lot less if you do..."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    I let out a deep, long yawn as I used my hand to cover my mouth. I then smacked my lips and blearily looked around the empty storefront of Hatsume''s Mechanical Repairs and Such. I was wearing my work uniform over a pair of casual clothes, the uniform being a simple ck apron.


    "Hmm, you getting enough sleep, Souta?" Minato asked me from his spot on a stool where he was watching a baseball game from the small television set on the far left counter. "You know, a young man like yourself needs his full eight hours to develop properly."


    "Oh, yeah? How many hours of sleep does Mei get?"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "...barely six. It helps that she doesn''t know that the candy she snacks on at night are actually mtonin gummies."


    "Smart."


    Minato then stretched his back and looked at me with a stern look, like a father would give to their misbehaving son. "Still, you should try to get some more sleep. You up all night ying those video games or something?"


    "Nah, I was just upte... studying," I said with a small grin as I pulled out a book from under the counter. "Don''t worry, Hatsume-san. I''m getting my sleep. Thanks for the concern."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Minato smiled and nodded at my answer. He then turned back to watch his game as I read my book. The book was on the Meta Liberation War. It was actuallya very interesting read; there were a lot of points I agreed with within it and some that I didn''t.


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    Minato and I looked at one another as the store rumbled around us. We turned back as a muffled explosion could be heard behind us. I stood up and closed my book while sighing.


    "I got this one."


    "Don''t forget the fire extinguisher," Minato said as he turned back to watch his game.


    Walking towards the back of the store, I grabbed the fire extinguisher from its case and slipped on my outdoor shoes. As I did, I looked up at therge mirror set beside the coat rack to see my reflection.


    I was now 170 centimeters tall, cing me slightly above average for young Japanese boys like myself. My looks had changed quite a bit as well.


    This was the result of puberty, alongside my training, nightly excursions, and the constant flow of curse energy within me. Who knew CE had a passive effect of boosting my body?


    That almost makes up for the fact that everyone I encounter looks at me like a crook or a creep.


    Almost.


    My body was well-muscled and defined. A few scars littered my body, with the most prominent scar being the one on my neck from my fight with Stain. Fuck that guy. My face and hair looked very simr to Megumi''s, and my sharp eyes took after Toji himself.


    "Gueh," Zaiko muttered from over my shoulder. Pulling me out of my observation of myself.


    "Right. Mei."


    Soon enough, I reached arge newly built shed/workshop located several meters away from the store''s main building. I rolled my eyes at the sight of the wisps of ck smoke rolling out of the workshop''s open windows.


    "Mei!" I yelled as I entered the smoking workshop, my free hand waving the bellowing smoke away. "You alive?"


    "Haha! Sess! A major sess!"


    I heard Mei excitedly yell from somewhere within the smoke. I found myself smiling at her mad cackles and walked over to the right wall where arge switch was located. Flipping it, several load fans came to life and quickly sucked out all the smoke upwards toward therge venttion system Minato and I built.


    With the smoke now gone, I took a look around therge workshop with a proud smile.


    The workshop was a unique blend of controlled chaos, innovation, and, above all, a passion for engineering. As you step inside, you''re greeted by the sight of messily organized tools hanging on a maic wall.


    The workshop features expansive workbenches made from sturdy hardwood, each meticulously designed and dedicated to specific tasks¡ªmachining, welding, or assembly. Overhead, bright LED lights illuminate every corner, ensuring that even the tiniest detail is visible. Walls are adorned with pegboards disying an array of tools, from wrenches to calipers, all easily essible.


    At the heart of the workshop is arge CNC machine, its sleek design signifying advanced technology. Nearby, athe and milling machine stood at the ready, showcasing a mix of traditional craftsmanship and modern innovation. Perfect for crazy steampunk enthusiasts.


    There is a designated area for prototyping, filled with creative sketches pinned to a board, alongside 3D printers actively producing thetest designs. Adjacent to this is an ample open space designated for testing finished inventions. This area had signs of heavy use, with visible burns and dents from Mei''s various tests and mishaps.


    The air is tinged with the lingering smell of smoke and various materials; metal shavings mix with the scent of fresh painting from the painting booth, where pieces arepleted with a focus on both aesthetics and durability.


    The workshop also boasts a small,fortable lounge area,plete with a coffee brewer and arge basket full of choctes, where Mei would sometimes take a brief moment to recharge her creativity. Off to the back corner was the ever-growing pile of inventions Mei had created over the course of two years.


    Overall, the mechanical workshop Minato and I built as a gift for Mei''s 13th birthday was a pretty impressive sight, equipped for productivity and the creative exploration of engineering.


    "Mei, what did your dad and I say about explosions? If you''re going to cause one, have the filtration fans on." I said as I ced the fire extinguisher on a nearby table, no longer needing it due to ack of ongoing fires.


    There, standing next to the designated area for testing, was Mei in all her dirt, grime, and oil-covered glory. Her long pink hair was pulled into a high ponytail as her newly made steampunk goggles sat over her eyes. She wore thick mechanical overalls over her lower body while the upper half of the overalls were tied around her waist to expose a ck tank top over her upper body. Around her waist was a brown belt full of tools.


    Mei pulled her goggles off her eyes and over her head as she turned to me with a giant megawatt smile. "Souta! Look, look! My newest baby is ready!" Mei ran over to me and pulled over to hertest and greatest creation. "Isn''t it beautiful?!"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    I hummed and looked over the impressive-looking mechanical robot. It heavily resembled Diva''s mechanical mech from Overwatch, a game from my original world, in its construction. However, unlike Diva''s mech, Mei''s was much smaller and had a bulkier design. Despite that, it was extremely impressive.


    "It''s freakin awesome," I said with a smile as I walked around the mech to inspect all of Mei''s work. Mei grinned as she followed behind me with her hands behind her back. "Nice work on the coupling here. I see; this undercut you added will definitely help with the mech''steral movement. Very nice, Mei." We stopped in front of the mech, our eyes locked on the machine''s tiny cockpit. "I think this may be your best baby yet!"


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    "Really?!" Mei said with arge smile. Her cheeks were a tinge of pink.


    "Absolutely. But I think it can get better than this." I said as I held my chin in thought, my mind whirling. "I think you can improve its design by streamlining the mech''s limbs. Improving the speed and reducing its overall weight. Yeah, there''s definitely more you can do."


    Mei nodded along to my suggestions as she wrote down several new notes and sketches on a notepad she pulled from... somewhere.


    "Mhm! Yes, I see what you mean. Frankly, I felt I could have done better with the size of my baby''s arms and legs, but then I wouldn''t be able to include the missiles and booster jets." Mei said nonchntly as I froze.


    "Haha, you''re kidding, right?" I said with a nervous smile as I looked at the pink-haired menace I called my friend. She turned to me, her smile widening, but offered no answer to my question.


    "You''re kidding... right? <i>Right?</i>"

 Chapter 19: NO. 19 - News Bulletin

    <h4>Chapter 19: NO. 19 - News Bulletin</h4>


    "Keiko, don''t stop moving! Izuku, stop overthinking it and follow your instincts!"


    I continued to watch the future number one hero try and run around a quick-moving blue barrier held up by a tired blue-haired girl. Izuku''s calcting eyes followed the barrier created by Keiko''s quirk and halted when he found a small opening due to her swaying her arms.


    I grinned when Izuku leaned down and exploded forward with impressive speed (for him) around Keiko''s defense, causing the girl''s eyes to widen. Izuku dashed forward with determination and reached out to grab Keiko with his dirty and bruised hands.


    "Take this!" Keiko jumped back as she let go of her current barrier in favor of pping her hands. Izuku tried to correct his course but was suddenly pushed to the side by a fast-moving wave of erratic energy.


    <i>Good. It looks like you''re getting used to using your defensive barrier offensively. </i>I grinned as Keiko fell to a knee due to her tired state, her face covered in sweat. <i>Still, she''s using too much energy. We''ll work on that.</i>


    "Geh! So close." Izuku slid to a stop from the force of Keiko''s attack. His chest was rising and falling quickly as he rested on the ground. "Y-you really have an amazing quirk, Hase-san."


    "T-thank you, Izuku-kun." Keiko smiled tiredly as she tried to stand but failed due to her shaky legs. "But I think you''re the amazing one here. You''ve gotten so much faster that it''s getting hard for me to keep up with you now."


    The green-haired nerd''s eyes grew wide as an embarrassed blush spread on his face. His right hand was rubbing the back of his head as a true embarrassed protagonist would.


    "T-that''s not true! It''s all thanks to Souta-san''s training. Otherwise, I wouldn''t stand a chance."


    With a sigh, I stood up from thewn chair I had been sitting on for the past twenty minutes and walked over to Izuku. As I walked, I passed by Keiko and patted her head, eliciting a small smile from the girl.


    "I thought I knocked that self-deprecating habit out of you, Izuku," I said as I lightly mmed the bottom of my fist on his bushy green and ck hair. "Don''t tell me you forgot. I suppose I can give you another lesson then."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "N-no! Sorry! It just sort of slipped out..." Izuku looked panicked as he rose to stand, his hands waving around in front of him. He then looked over to Keiko and jogged towards her. "Oh, look! Hase-san looks like she needs help getting up!"


    "Yeah, yeah. Go run and hide behind Keiko''s skirt."


    "But I''m not wearing a skirt."


    I shook my head and looked around at the rather impressive backyard of Keiko''s house. The backyard stretched out like a canvas, wide and inviting, with lush green grass nketing the ground. Towering trees line the perimeter, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze and providing dappled sunlight in scattered patches while a wooden fence encircles the space.


    All in all, it made for the perfect training spot for both Keiko and Izuku.


    Then again, any ce where that brat Bakugo didn''t pop up was perfect.


    Looking over toward the green-haired ball of kindness, I thought back to the two years I had spent molding and teaching the kid martial arts while strengthening his once-skinny body.


    Due to all that time whipping his butt into shape, Izuku was now a decent fighter who could stand toe-to-toe with any kid in his age bracket in a pure hand-to-hand fight. If someone took a closer look at my ball of y, they would be able to notice the lith but strong muscles on his frame, even from under his baggy clothing.


    I also tried to toughen up his mindset so he wouldn''t be such a pushover, but my progress was slow on that front. Additionally, Keiko didn''t approve of my "Bullying," as she called it. Severely slowing down my progress on turning Izuku into a confident, ass-kicking protagonist.


    I smiled as I watched my two friends/students talk excitedly with one another from their spots on the wooden bench they sat on. They were going over their performance in today''s sparring session. While they talked, Keiko''s mother walked out with a tray of drinks for them with a loving smile.


    "Hmm, perhaps your energy reserves for your quirk coincides with each p of your hands? Have you ever noticed a strain with each p you do, Hase-san?"


    "Now that you mention it, I think I do feel a slight pull whenever I activate my quirk. I can''t believe I never noticed. You''re so smart, Izuku-kun!"


    I introduced Izuku to Keiko around a year and a half ago when I decided that if I was going to train him, I might as well train Keiko so she would be a heavy hitter if she does get into UA or not.


    Knowing what future that school had, I''d prefer it if she went to Shiketsu.


    At first, Izuku was extremely nervous at the fact he was talking to a girl, but Keiko''s bright and happy disposition quickly melted away his awkward nervousness.


    Sorta.


    Fine, it took him around a month or so to talk to her without any issues.


    Keiko herself epted Izuku as her friend immediately, which didn''t shock me whatsoever. She always had an easy time making friends if going off the way everyone at the orphanage loved her was anything to go off by. It also helped that the two of them coincidentally went to Aldera Junior High.


    Anyway, while I had Izuku work on his body strength and techniques, I focused on getting Keiko''s quirk to level up beyond what she originally could do. Using my rather extensive knowledge of all twelve of my cursed techniques as a base, Izuku and I were able to quickly brainstorm all of the possibilities Keiko''s quirk could have.


    Some of our ideas were moving barriers, vertical and horizontal positioning, floating disks so she could essentially walk on air, fast-moving concentrated barriers to use offensively, and so much more.


    Keiko had a highly versatile quirk that could be used for so much more than just simple shields. Despite that, getting her to the point of actually implementing all of our ideas was a slow climb up a very steep mountain.


    So far, Keiko has only been capable of performing moving barriers, vertical and horizontal positioning, and fast-moving concentrated barriers to use offensively. And even thatst one was a work in progress.


    Still, she was slowly growing, and there was no doubt in my mind that my friend would be more than ready for any hero school she got into in three years.


    Training wasn''t all the three of us did. We also did the typical activities most young teenagers do as well. Going out to watch movies, wasting time around the local mall, hanging out at one another''s houses (except mine, for reasons), and a lot of other activities.


    All this time spent together caused the two of them to grow pretty close to one another while I tagged along. Having two genuine friends, or an awesome sensei like me, so early on in his life had the added effect of increasing Izuku''s self-esteem.


    Which was a plus in my book. I needed him to be ready for when shit hits the fan in case I''m not around.


    I would have introduced these two to Mei, but with her personality, she might just ignore them for a few weeks before even bothering to remember their names. Still, I''d give it a go when she finally decides to get out of her workshop.


    Actually, I''m going to have to force her to go outside, if I''m being honest.


    "Souta-kun."


    I was nudged out of my thoughts as Keiko''s mother walked up to me with a motherly smile and a ss of fresh lemonade in her hands. "Would you like a drink?"


    "Thank you, Yoshiyuki-san. This is just what I needed." I epted the drink with a smile and took several sips. Causing the older woman to smile.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Huh? Weren''t you sitting around the entire time, Sou-chan? Why are <i>you </i>thirsty?" Keiko asked as she looked at me with squinted eyes. Izuku tried to look away while covering his mouth to hide the amused smile on his face.


    "Teaching is a hard job that requires nourishment, Keiko. That''s why."


    "Oh, is that what you call it? I always thought it was because you werezy." Keiko said with arge, bright smile.


    "...I don''t like this new snarky attitude, Keiko."


    x x x


    "Nue."


    Rising from the shadows arose arge owl-like creature with orange feathers and a white mask-like skull. Itsrge wings stretched and pped in the wind as two sets of talons stepped around on the rooftop we stood on. Its mask-like face and human-like teeth looked around the area before settling on me.


    I grinned at therge bird shikigami and jumped onto its back. Without waiting for amand, Nue pped its wings and took flight.


    As the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Nue soared high above the sprawling cityscape. I felt the rush of wind against my face and hair as we glided across the sky; the sensation of freedom filled my lungs.


    "Ahh, I''ll never get tired of this."


    Below, the city pulsed with life¡ªcars streamed along the streets, their headlights twinkling like stars, while the rhythmic hum of urban existence created a symphony of sounds. Skyscrapers reached toward the sky, their ss facades reflecting the fiery colors of sunset.


    If anyone were to look in my direction, they would see someone soaring through the air in a seated position without assistance.


    Quite the funny sight.


    With each movement, Nue and I glided effortlessly, weaving through the clouds that dotted the twilight sky. I gazed down at the parks speckled among the concrete, where small clusters of people enjoyed their evening and distant bridges that connected different parts of the city like veins in a living organism.


    As we continued on our journey above, the lights below began to blink on, transforming the ground below into a vibrant tapestry of flickering colors. It was a breathtaking view, a moment of tranquility amidst the bustling chaos below.


    There truly wasn''t anything like soaring through the skies.


    Sure, I could fly like Yorozu did with her bug-like wings using my Construction technique. But I liked riding on Nue a lot more. Sitting on my shikigami''s back as it soared through the sky reminded me of how Goku rode on his Nimbus cloud.


    I was living the dream.


    Unfortunately, the sight of arge, ck dome in the far-off mountains came into view. Nue tilted its wings, and we began to descend toward the ck dome or, as I know it, a curtain.


    My shikigami and I glided right through the curtain with no issue, and the sight of arge Japanese-style building surrounded by a ten-foot-tall stone wall surrounded by thick trees came into view.


    Soon enough, Nuended on therge open courtyard of the property and quickly melted into my shadows after I gave it a thankful pat on its wings once I was on the ground.


    I looked around myrge home and grinned.


    Yes, <i>my </i>home.


    I had run into this property a year ago during one of my nightly runs when I tracked down a band of Yakuza I thought worked for the Shie Hassaikai, the organization led by Overhaul. Unfortunately, the group of Yakuza I found wasn''t affiliated with the child-abusing assholes and was instead a part of a different group.


    Oh, that didn''t mean that I was going to let these guys go. No, these guys had partaken in several horrible acts such as human trafficking, drug smuggling, child pornography, Extortion, weapons smuggling, and assassination.


    How did I know this? Well, after you torture a few of their captured grunts for a day, they''ll sing and tell you anything you want.


    Not a very heroic thing to do, but what can I say?


    I ain''t no hero.


    I was simply someone who did as they liked.


    Whether that be taking out a band of murderous viins or beating a power-drunk hero''s face in, it didn''t matter. I did as I wanted for my own amusement and interest.


    This was a mindset I had adopted around a year ago or so. Finding and getting rid of some of society''s worst members who conducted some really abhorrent activities can change one''s mindset really quickly.


    I''m not sure when it was when I no longer blinked at the act of killing those who deserved it. It must have been when I found that one rabid dog who called himself a man in the middle of cutting a young 14-year-old girl into pieces after he had vited her for several hours.


    Shit like that really messes with one''s head...


    Now, where was I?


    Ah, right. My house.


    After getting the confessions of their group''s crimes from my captured yakuza members, I found no issue with stepping foot into their property and eliminating everyone inside.


    Cleaning out all the Yakuza was quick with the help of the Ten Shadows technique and alongside my clones. We struck at the dead of night and took everyone out from the shadows with quick effecientness like ninjas.


    It also helped that these Yakuza weren''t all that strong, too. Sure, there were some of them who had some impressive quirks, but they weren''t much help when they weren''t given the time to be used.


    Once everyone was gone, all thepound needed was a thorough cleaning and enhanced security in the form of several well-ced seals, creating three strong curtains around the property.


    I didn''t expect the silver-tier reward¡ªIjichi Kiyotaka''s barrier skills¡ªto be useful, but I was pleasantly surprised.


    Now, if any people approached the barrier without my permission, they would experience a strong sense of confusion and bepelled to turn around and leave. It was a rather simple but extremely strong warding barrier that would keep all those darn kids and the government off my property.


    And if somehow they did get past the first curtain, there were two others ready to ward them away with even stronger defenses.


    The property itself heavily resembled the one from the Emiya residence from the Fate series. This means that it had several Japanese-style rooms throughout the main household and a storage room in the backyard beside the courtyard. Off on the right side of the courtyard was a well-sized building the Yakuza mostly used for storage that I turned into a dojo.


    Attached to the rooftops of the main building were several sr panels I created using my construction technique. Something I wouldn''t have been able to do if I hadn''t gotten Tsukumo Yuki''s<i> </i>CE reserves to help power my technique. She wasn''t a Special Grade Sorcerer for nothing.


    This ensured my property was self-sufficient when it came to power.


    When it came to the water, I effortlessly created a highly efficient water transport/filtration system using my mechanical knowledge and my Construction Technique. So, after hooking up my new filtration system to a nearby flowing river, I now had super clean, free-running water for my self-sufficient house.


    What about the orphanage? I can hear some of you ask.


    Surely, I didn''t just disappear on them again. I was still a barely 15-year-old kid in their eyes, after all. There''s no way they would be okay with me moving into my own home without an adult guardian. ?


    The answer to that problem was to send a clone in my ce to keep up appearances.


    What an unlucky fellow.


    Deciding I had stared at my property long enough, I walked through the back door and removed my shoes.


    While I may not have been Japanese in my past life, I appreciated the way they didn''t wear shoes inside. Kept the floors clean. I walked past the room I used as my library and stepped into my kitchen to grab an apple. On the shelves in my library were several books and manga.


    Some of these were books 1-3 of The Hunger Games, Episodes 1 and 2 of Star Wars, and the first entry to the Harry Potter series. Twelve physical volumes of my TMNT manga sat beside volumes 1, 2, and 3 of Dragon Ball Z.


    There was even a poster for the recently released TMNT TV anime by studio NAPPA in a frame as well. I''ve truly made it as a Mangaka with that milestone.


    My editor, Asuka, was over the moon now that one of her Mangakas finally got an anime adaptation for their series. In celebration, she took me out to one of Japan''s most expensive sushi restaurants in Tokyo.


    The fool. I sure made her regret that decision when she got the bill.


    Safe to say, my career as a writer/Mangaka has been very sessful so far.


    Now, all I needed was to get some movie adaptations for my books.


    I threw myself on myrge L-couch and turned on the 80-inch OLED television. The television opened to a news channel where a brown-haired newscaster with a purple top looked up from her stack of papers. Arge ck and red title sat in bold letters near the bottom.


    Shocking News! Why?! Bloody Tragedy at Corellia Junior High!


    "Sources tell us that the middle school student who mauled her ssmate, injuring him severely, is still on the run. No information on the attack has been offered as of yet." The newscaster said with a disturbed expression.


    The picture changed to a male student, but his face was hidden from view. "Toga was always smiling and friendly... I can''t believe she''d do something so brutal."


    The picture changed again to a scared girl, her face also hidden from view." I saw her... Toga. She stuck a straw into Saito''s and sucked on it. It was like she was in a trance."


    I clicked off the television and sat up on my couch, my hands underneath my chin.


    Toga Himiko.


    She was one of the main antagonists from the original series. If left unchecked, Toga would one day be a member of the League of Viins, affiliated with the Vanguard Action Squad, andter bing one of the nine lieutenants of the Paranormal Liberation Front.


    Besides all her fancy titles and positions, Toga was also a girl who was mentally unstable due to the years of mental and possibly physical abuse from her parents due to her nature. She was a person who was pushed to her breaking point until she finally snapped and attacked her ssmate.


    <i>"That child is a... demon."</i>


    <i>"That smile, so creepy! Stop it!"</i>


    <i>"Why can''t you be a regr girl? Why can''t you be normal?!"</i>


    The words her parents said to Toga when she was a child must have left deep mental scars in her psyche. No wonder she went crazy.


    "Now then... what do I do?"


    I have two choices in front of me right now.


    Option one, I do nothing and let things proceed like they would in canon. This would keep the timeline as close to the one in canon, giving me the edge when Shigaraki and the League start their shenanigans.


    Option two, I start a search for Toga and help her go through her issues so she doesn''t go down the road of viiny. While I''m not sure what happened to her at the end of the story, if it ever did end, with her status as a killer and a member of the League of Viins, I doubt she had a happy ending.


    "I don''t know... she may be more trouble than she''s worth." I ran my fingers through my hair as I tried to make up my mind. "Still, she would be a great constant stream of points."


    Coming to a decision, I stood up from my couch and walked out of my living room toward the back door. I slid the door open to step out into my back patio. Once outside, I looked up and whistled. Quickly, several of my crows flew down from theirrge birdhouse full of fruits, seeds, and corn to stand at attention before me.


    Standing in a neat, orderly line were Crow Gojo, Geto, Shoko, MeiMei, Yuji, Nobara, Mai, Miwa, Momo, Todo, Yuta, and Hakari.


    "Alright, everyone. I have a job for you."


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Wow, you absolute madds! It hasn''t been a day and you all already achieved the 300 PS requirement for a new Chapter. Hopefully, you all enjoyed It! </strong>

 Chapter 20: NO. 20 - Unwanted Attention

    <h4>Chapter 20: NO. 20 - Unwanted Attention</h4>


    The morning sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over my home''s courtyard. I stood at the center, my bare feet nted firmly on the cool dirt floor, the earthy scent of the surrounding trees filling the air. A heavy, scuffed punching bag hung on a steel pole in front of me.


    With each steady breath I took, I felt my curse energy course through my body. I began with a series of slow, deliberate movements, focusing on my several stances.


    Each pose was a dance of strength and bnce, cultivating a connection between my body and the ground. The rhythm of my breath matched the flow of my motions, creating a zone-like state that brought me into the moment. As I transitioned from one stance to another, I visualized an ever-changing opponent before me.


    All For One, Shigiraki, Overhaul, Nine, Wolfram, The Nomus, Muscr, and many more.


    With a sudden burst of energy, Iunched into a series of punches and kicks, my limbs slicing through the air with precision. The sound of skin meeting the heavy bag echoed around me. Each satisfying thud motivated me to push harder and harder. Sweat began to bead on my forehead, but I weed the difort, knowing that each drop represented progress.


    After several hours of relentless practice, I finally paused, my shirtless body coated in a sheen of sweat. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. Feeling my heart rate slow, I sat cross-legged on the ground and continued to focus on my breathing, grounding myself in the stillness of meditation.


    Nitta Arata''s Pain Killer, Nanami Kento''s Ratio, Nishimiya Momo''s Tool Maniption, and Dagon''s Disaster Tides were the four curse techniques I had managed to pull in the past two years, much to my dissatisfaction.


    Nitta Arata''s Pain Killer allows its user to stop existing injuries from getting any worse. Arata can''t heal wounds, but he can stop bleeding and reduce the pain for anyone he applies it to. However, any injuries sustained after the technique''s application are unaffected.


    A rather useful technique for a supportive role. It''ll help me continue a fight without having to worry about any life-threatening injuries.


    Nanami Kento''s Ratio allows its user to use this technique to mark their target''s body with lines divided into tenths. If the user is able to strike one of these lines on exactly the seven-to-three ratio point, they deliver a critical hit to the subject. This allows them to deal significant damage on tougher adversaries and cleave weak opponents in two in a single hit.


    If used properly, Ratio could be used tond critical hit after critical hit on an opponent. Not to mention the potential it had ifbined with a ck sh. It was exciting to think about.


    Nishimiya Momo''s Tool Maniption allows its user to freely manipte a sorcerer''s broomstick or tool by levitating it telepathically. Among other magic broom-rted skills, this technique grants the user the ability to levitate on the tool or create gusts of powerful wind imbued with CE.


    What can I say about this technique? I didn''t n on moving around with a broomstick, so this technique was useless unless I could figure something else out for it.


    Finally, Dagon''s Disaster Tides allows its user to manifest high volumes of water and control it using their CE. It is incredibly versatile, allowing for use in all ranges. It can be used as a water shield for close and mid-range and as arge, sweeping wave for long-range.


    Having another curse technique from one of the disaster curses was a great addition. While Dagon didn''t have the opportunity to show off all he could do like Jogo, I knew that with enough training, I could push this technique to greater heights.


    Just imagine a gigantic roaring tsunamiing your way.


    Definitely a promising technique.


    Even with all these new additions to my evergrowing list of curse techniques, I was still unsatisfied.


    Having the Ten Shadows was not enough. I still needed the Limitless, Shrine, Star Rage, Sukuna''s CE reserves, and the Six-Eyes. Not to mention, I haven''t even gotten a single Domain Expansion as well.


    Hell, I''ll even ept Takaba Fumihiko''s Comedian or Mahito''s Idle Transfiguration at this point.


    Actually, I wouldn''t mind Mahito''s technique. I forgot how crazy strong it was. One touch, and I win. Talk about overpowered.


    Why was I so unlucky that I hadn''t gotten any of the techniques or passives I actually wanted? Damn you, gacha gods!


    For skills and passives, I was able to pull Kenjaku''s Martial Arts skills, Ijichi Kiyotaka''s Barrier skills, and Fushiguro Toji''s Advanced Perception.


    Kenjaku''s Martial Arts skills were a wonderful addition to my already impressive martial arts repertoire. It has greatly increased my hand-to-hand proficiency to even greater peaks. After all, a sorcerer who had lived a thousand-plus years has had a lot of time to learn almost every martial art ever created in his world.


    Ijichi Kiyotaka''s Barrier skills were something I didn''t know I needed until I had it. Barriers in the JJK world were used to conceal, contain, or deny entry to others within that space. Ijichi, in particr, was a rather skilled barrier user who was trusted highly by Gojo Satoru himself. The man proved himself an asset when he used a barrier to conceal Gojo''s Hollow Technique: Purple during his opening attack on Sukuna.


    Fushiguro Toji''s Advanced Perception had heightened my five senses to their absolute peak. It''s what allowed Toji to see cursed spirits even without CE. Like Maki, there were only things he and she could <i>see </i>in the world. Changes in temperature and the shifts in density were things I could now <i>see </i>around me as well.


    It was a seriously broken passive. I was thankful to have won it with that Diamond tier pull.


    All my other rewards were just more useless junk. I could essentially cosy almost every character from JJK at this point.


    Still, I couldn''t wait to wear the homeless, child-support dodging fit.


    "Gueh."


    I opened my eyes to see that it was now pitch ck. I turned to Zaiko and then to the star-filled sky with a nervous expression.


    "Did I just meditate through the day again?" I sighed and rubbed my face. "Shit."


    "Gueh," Zaiko uttered and looked over at the two descending crows who quicklynded in front of me.


    (Boss! Boss!) Crow Yuji squeaked as he hopped onto my knee with Crow Nobara behind him. (We found that human!)


    Crow Nobara hobbed beside Crow Yuji and pecked him on his wing, causing him to squeak. (Gojo found the human, you dolt!)


    (Alright, alright. So mean...)


    "Good work, you two." I stood up and lifted my arms to unwind my stiff joints. I then began to go through some stretches. "Now then, let''s go pick up a stray."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Theboratory was dimly lit, with flickering fluorescent lights casting eerie shadows across the cold, sterile walls. The air was thick with an unsettling mix of chemical odors, a pungent reminder of the experiments conducted within. Rows of ss beakers and vials lined the cluttered countertops, some bubbling ominously with iridescent liquids while others were stained with dark, iprehensible substances.


    In one corner, arge metal table stood, grimy and stained, adorned with surgical tools that glinted menacingly under the weak light. Charts and diagrams, filled with iprehensible symbols, were pinned haphazardly to the walls, giving a sense of frantic research and obsession. A heavy metal door, slightly ajar, groaned asionally as if it harbored secrets that it desperately tried to keep hidden.


    The faint sound of dripping water echoed in the background, punctuated by the unsettling hum of machinery that seemed to breathe with a life of its own. Shadows danced along the walls, sometimes resembling figures peering out from the corners, evoking a sense of dread and anticipation.


    In this ce, the line between genius and madness was blurred, and one could almost feel the presence of unrestrained ambition and evil lingering in the air, whispering of dark experiments waiting to be unleashed.


    "Hmm... <i>Sukuna</i>. What an interesting fellow."


    Sitting behind aputer within theb was a man dressed in a suit whose face was entirely made up of scar tissue, extending from above his upper lip and covering his entire head and the back of his neck. As such, he had no visible nose, ears, hair, or eyes, though the outlines of his eye sockets were visible. Attached to his face and neck were several life-sustaining tubes and wires that stabbed themselves into his skin.


    Some would feel sorry for the sad state this man was in, but those who knew who he truly was would sooner run in terror.


    For this man was none other than <i>All For One</i>.


    Once Japan''s most powerful viin. Unmatched by <strong>all</strong>.


    All, except for the Symbol of Peace himself, All Might. Who reduced him to the sad state he currently found himself in.


    A slow, intrigued smile grew on the disfigured man''s face as he looked at the blurry image on hisputer of a hooded figure with a long ck and golden staff sitting over their shoulders as he seemingly flew through the air in a standing position as the moon hung in the starry sky.


    "A quirk that allows you to control your own blood, swap ces with small objects, great strength, high speeds, flight, a form of telekinesis, the ability to conjure both fire and water, masterful martial arts, and high-level weapons knowledge, and who knows what more." All For One said with an evergrowing sinister smile. "You''re like <i>me</i>."


    "How very interesting indeed."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    The paved streets glistened under the pale glow of the streemps, casting long shadows that flickered in the night breeze.


    Toga Himiko<i> </i>kept her distance, just enough to remain unseen but close enough to keep the drunk sryman in her sights. The man moved back and forth, swaying around due to his inebriation; his coat red slightly as he trekked.


    Himiko was a fair-skinned girl with an attractive face. She had inward-tilting yellow eyes with thin, slit-like irises that resembled those of a cat. Her wide mouth had a somewhat feline appearance, as her canines were pointed and longer than her other teeth, giving her a vampiric look. Her loose, shoulder-length hair was a pale ash-blonde, and two chin-length side bangs framed her face.


    With each step, her heart raced. The streets were nearly empty except for the asional rustle of leaves and the hum ofte-night traffic. Himiko followed the man into a dimly lit, narrow alley, its walls adorned with peeling posters and fading graffiti. The scent of damp earth mingled with something spicy, perhaps leftover food from a nearby restaurant.


    He paused at a corner, ncing over his shoulder. For a fleeting moment, she held her breath, pressing herself against the cool brick wall to blend into the shadows. The man seemed to scan the area, and she wondered if he could feel her presence. Shrugging, the man unbuckled his pants and pulled out his member to release himself on the wall before him with a long, satisfied sigh.


    Himiko''s face grew into a wide, hungry smile as she gripped her dirty boxcutter tightly.


    The man''s back was turned to her.


    This was her chance.


    She walked around the corner where she hid behind, her dirty school uniform matted with dirt and dried blood. Her loose, crusty hair swayed as she approached the man with a ring hunger in her stomach. As she took one step, she felt her legs shake from exhaustion, causing her to briefly pause. The several sleepless nights Himiko had gone through were beginning to affect her.


    But that would change soon. Himiko would finally have a taste of the glorious, delicious, beautiful, life-sustaining blood again!


    She couldn''t wait!


    Her dear Saito''s blood was so delicious; she couldn''t wait for another taste! Blood was all she could think about! Not even her painful hunger or thirsty throat could distract her right now.


    "Blood... j-just a little. Just a t-taste." Himiko muttered as she and the man were only three meters apart. "I''ll just stab you a little bit. It''ll only hurt for a second."


    "Are you sure you want to do that? Once you start down that path, you won''t be able to stop."


    Himiko and the pissing man spun to look at a hooded figure leaning against one of the walls in the alleyway with their hands in their jacket pockets. Seemingly appearing out of thin air. The drunk man quickly buckled up his pants and turned back and forth to the hooded figure and Himiko.


    "W-what the hell?! Who the hell are you two?!"


    "Get lost, you bozo." The hooded figure shooed the man away. "And stop pissing in the streets. That''s disgusting."


    "Huh?! Who the hell-"


    <i>Shunk!</i>


    Both Himiko and the man blinked in confusion as a thick knife stabbed itself beside the drunk man''s head, silencing him.


    Seeing the weapon, the man screamed in fright and ran out of the alleyway. Leaving the hooded individual and Himiko alone.


    Sukuna pushed himself off the wall and approached Toga.


    "Now then, Toga. Let''s talk."


    -


    <strong>AN: </strong>


    <strong>I''m both amazed and horrified at how fast we reached our next PS goal!</strong>


    <strong>I hope you all enjoyed this Chapter and Toga''s first appearance into the story. </strong>

 Chapter 21: NO. 21 - Not a Monster

    <h4>Chapter 21: NO. 21 - Not a Monster</h4>


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Here I am again, delivering another bonus Chapter to you all. Jesus, you all are insatiable. I love it. I suppose I have to determine the following PS requirement.</strong>


    <strong>Let''s see if we can hit 1500 PS this time!</strong>


    <strong>Without further ado, enjoy the Chapter!</strong>


    -


    I watched as Toga took a nervous step back. Her scared eyes scanned me up and down while asionally looking around for an escape route.


    "W-who are you?" Toga whispered. "Did my p-parents send you to find m-me?"


    I looked over Toga''s state of dress and frowned. The girl was still wearing her school uniform, but at this point, it was hard to tell it was a uniform, given how dirty it was. Her skin was also covered in filth, and my enhanced sense of smell was able to pick up that she hadn''t showered in a while.


    "No, no. Those asshats didn''t send me after you." I said as I threw back my hood. No need to keep scaring the girl.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Standing in front of me wasn''t the Toga Himiko that would one day fight and kill for the League of Villians. No, this was the Toga Himiko which had recently went through a mental breakdown.


    A broken girl that had finally snapped and attacked her ssmate, causing her to run away out of fear of the consequences.


    This Toga Himiko was just a scared, confused middle schooler. Not a trained killer.


    "My name is... Sukuna. Nice to meet you, Toga." I said as I took a seat on a nearby stack of wooden boxes.


    I intentionally made myself smaller to her in order to help calm her down. I wanted to tell her my real name, but I decided against it for now. I wanted to see how this ys out first.


    "Huh? Sukuna? Are you... with the police? A hero?" Toga asked as she held her boxcutter in front of her. But by the way the boxcutter shook in her dirty hands, it was easy to tell she was still terrified of me. "I-I''m not going back to them! I won''t! I can''t!"


    "Easy there. No one''s taking you anywhere you don''t want to go." I said with my hands raised. I then slowly reached into my jacket and pulled out a paper bag. Toga watched me carefully as I reached into the bag and pulled out a warm meat bun. "You hungry?"


    "I''m not-" A low, rumbling sound echoed from her stomach, causing the girl to blush in embarrassment and frustration. "I''m not hungry..."


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    "That so? Well, I''m famished." I said as I ced the wrapped-up meat bun a good distance away from me on the wooden box I sat on and pulled out another bun from the bag. "Ima eat."


    And so I did. Who would have thought meditating all day without eating a thing would cause one to be painfully hungry?


    I ate my food silently while keeping an eye on Toga. She looked away from me toward the other end of the alley but then back at the waiting meat bun. Her stomach rumbled again, causing her to grimace.


    She then shuffled closer and snatched the meat bun away. Toga quickly unwrapped the bun and began to eat with gusto.


    "These buns are my favorite. The old woman who makes them always makes the dough fresh every day." I said softly and took another bite. "She doesn''t just make meat buns, though. There''s a multitude of vors, too."


    Toga ignored me and continued to eat like a starving animal. I smiled and slid over another bun for her, which she quickly took while throwing me a suspicious re.


    "I... like sweet things."


    "That so?" I smiled at her and then brought out a canister. "Water?"


    Toga paused mid-bite and eyed the canister suspiciously. I chuckled, took a sip from it, and then held it back out. "See? It''s not poisoned or anything."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <i>It''s not like it would do anything to me if it was.</i>


    Toga frowned and then snatched the canister out of my hand quickly. She eyed the finish of the canister and then back at my lips with hesitation. Finally, she gave in and took several long, thirsty gulps from the canister.


    When she was done, she let out a long gasp, her face contorting into a wide, satisfied smile. Her eyes then grew wide, and her arm flew up to cover her lower face.


    "Hooh? You have a pretty cute smile there." I leaned back on the wall behind me and pointed at my teeth. "I like your sharp fangs."


    <strong>[+35 SP]</strong>


    "...y-you do?" Toga asked in a small, hushed voice. Her body shrank into itself as she looked at me with distrust and some hope.


    "Oh yeah. Anyways, what were you nning on doing here, Toga?" I asked as I looked down at the boxcutter in her hand. "What were you nning to do with that?"


    "I... I was..." Any sense of ease Toga had built up disappeared as she returned to her flight or fight mode. "Blood... Saito-kun... I didn''t..."


    "He''s alive, you know? That ssmate of yours." I said while taking out a picture of a ck-haired kid who looked like Izuku in a hospital gown. I held it out for her with an easy-going smile. "You didn''t kill him."


    <strong>[+40 SP]</strong>


    Toga''s eyes were wide in surprise, and the boxcutter in her hand fell on the ground as she grabbed the picture from my hand. Her legs began to shake from under her until her knees gave out, causing her to fall to the ground. Tears began to fall from her eyes as she looked down at the picture of her ssmate.


    "S-Saito-kun. I didn''t... kill him." Toga whispered as her shoulders trembled. "He''s alive. But..." She then looked up at me with the saddest smile I''ve ever seen. "But I''m still a monster. A demon."


    <i>Poor girl. What have your parents done to you? Great, now </i>I <i>feel like I''m the monster for wanting to use you as my points farm.</i>


    She then hugged herself as her head hung low. "I... was told not to smile. I was j-jealous of everyone..." Toga stared down at the picture in her hands with a frown. "Saito-kun... I had a crush on him. And then that day happened, and I was so transfixed on the blood on his face. It was beautiful. But I couldn''t ask him for his blood because if I did... he would say I wasn''t human... just like Mother and Father."


    I kneeled down in front of her and hesitantly ced a hand on her trembling shoulder. Even after all this time, I was still dogshit at talking to orforting people. Especially with sensitive stuff like this.


    Man, where was Izuku when you needed a protagonist-powered speech?


    "Toga... you''re not a monster. Far from it. I''vee into contact with some real monsters in human skin... You''re not even close to resembling one." I said softly. Toga shook her head and leaned away from my touch. I frowned and pulled her in for a hug. A hug that she fought to escape from.


    <strong>[+40 SP]</strong>


    "Let me go! Let me g-go!" Toga tried to push me away, but my greater strength kept her in ce. "You don''t even know me!"


    <i>But I do know you. At least, a version of you.</i>


    "Listen to me!" I grabbed her face so she could look me straight in the eyes. Herrge, wet eyes were looking at me with sadness and hurt. "Forget what your damn parents said to you! They''re wrong! You''re not a monster or a demon or anything like that! You''re just a middle-school girl!"


    <strong>[+65 SP]</strong>


    Toga''s hands slowly came up and grabbed my own. "But I... I like drinking blood. That''s not... normal. I''m not normal."


    "Hah! Normal? The fuck does that mean?" I smiled and pulled back my hands. After taking off my gloves, I held out my palms in front of her. I then activated my technique, causing a stream of blood to flow out of my palm. The blood then shifted into different shapes. "You know, people like us, those with blood type... abilities, aren''t looked upon nicely by society. We''re looked at like freaks, and no one wants to see what we can do just because of some blood. Hell, the people out there avoid me just because they get a bad feeling! The pussies. But you know what I say? Fuck em! Fuck them to hell and back. Why can''t we live like we want, like everyone else?"


    <strong>[+100 SP]</strong>


    What I said was true. In this super-hero society. Those with ufortable or "gross" quirks were looked at with disdain and disgust. dking had to prove himself for several years until his blood type quirk was seen as okay. And that was with the benefit of being a famous pro hero with great connections.


    But not everyone can be like him, a famous pro. Everyone with what were deemed as ufortable quirks had to hide their abilities just for the chance to fit in. It wasn''t fair. That goes twice for the Heteromorphs.


    This society wasn''t fair.


    But was any society fair?


    Throughout my speech, Toga began to smile wider and wider. A look of happiness and relief flooded her face. Seeing that, I continued.


    "So what if you drink blood? If you want, I''ll let you drink mine!" I grinned at her and slid back my sleeves in order to hold out my bare forearm for her to bite. She looked down at my forearm with a deep desire. Her eyes transfixed on my veins.


    "...are you sure?"


    "Yup, go nuts. And don''t worry about me. I''m built different."


    <strong>[+150 SP]</strong>


    Toga looked unsure but then shyly opened her mouth to reveal her sharp fangs. She grabbed my arm gently and brought it close to her lips. Before biting down, she looked up at me questioningly. I smiled and nodded at her. Toga blushed and sank her teeth into my forearm.


    Her fangs hurt for a split second, but Yuji''s pain tolerance made it so as if she wasn''t biting me at all. Toga''s face grew blissful as a deep, red blush covered her face as she drank away. She was starting to remind me of a cat, especially considering her eyes, so I began to pet her head out of instinct.


    After a minute or so, I began to feel a bit lightheaded. Thankfully, she pulled away, seemingly having her fill. She licked the dripping blood off my forearm and then off her lips with a clouded look in her eyes.


    "How do I taste?" I asked in amusement as Toga leaned into my chest. Her eyes began to close slowly as her breath began to slow. Just before she fell asleep, Toga whispered a single word.


    "Heavenly."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    A soft glow filled the room as dawn light pierced through the windows. Himiko stirred, her mind slowly unfurling from the depths of sleep. For a moment, she was enveloped in a cocoon of warmth andfort, but as awareness crept in, she felt a flicker of disorientation. The sheet beneath her was unfamiliar, cool against her skin, and she could hear the faint sound of birds chirping outside.


    This wasn''t her bed.


    This wasn''t her house!


    Himiko''s eyes snapped open, blinking against the brightness, and she quickly propped herself out of bed. She looked around the bare room. The floors were made of pristine hardwood, and the walls were painted soft beige. Arge dresser and desk stood on the other side of the room. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves outside, casting fleeting shadows across the space, creating a dreamy yet unfamiliar atmosphere.


    Panic fluttered in her chest as memories from the night before began to assemble.


    <i>"Forget what your damn parents said to you. They''re wrong! You''re not a monster or a demon or anything like that! You''re just a middle-school girl!"</i>


    Himiko remembered the strange boy''s words, causing a wave of warmth to flood her chest. Anxiety filled her as the thought of her meeting with Sukuna was nothing more but a dream.


    Himiko swung her legs over the side of the bed. The chill of the wooden floor met her bare feet, grounding her in reality. Himiko noticed that she was still in her dirty, tattered school uniform. This gave her a sense of relief that nothing had happened to her while she was asleep. She took a deep breath, attempting to calm the whirlwind inside her.


    "No. It wasn''t a dream. Last night was real... right?" Himiko said as she stepped through the sliding shoji door; the soft sound of the door gliding on its track weed her into the gentle tranquility of the traditional Japanese home Himiko found herself.


    The coolness of the hardwood floors enveloped her bare feet, their cool textureforting beneath her as she took a moment to breathe in the faint scent of cedar that lingered in the air.


    Sunlight filtered through the rice paper screens, casting delicate patterns on the floor and illuminating the carefully arranged tokonoma, a small alcove that disyed a simple yet elegant piece of art¡ªa hanging scroll depicting serene mountains, apanied by a single ikebana flower arrangement.


    As she moved further inside, the dim light of the interior contrasted with the vibrant garden colors visible through another shoji window. The well-kept garden, with its moss-covered stones and neatly trimmed bonsai trees, beckoned with the promise of peace. The gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze and the distant sound of flowing water from a small stone basin added to the natural atmosphere.


    Continuing her exploration, she found a small library full of books and manga. Stepping inside, Himiko looked over to a reclining chair where a novel sat on the armrest. Losing interest, she then walked out into the strangely western-styled living room.


    Himiko perked up when she heard the sounds of swooshes cut through the air. Despite her apprehension, Himiko walked to the shoji door that led outside. Sliding the door open, she saw a vast open courtyard where a young ck-haired boy her age was going through several katas with his ck and gold staff. The boy was dressed differently fromst night, now in a ck martial arts gi.


    However, Himiko could still recognize him as the boy who voluntarily gave her his blood. Oddly enough, hecked the sharp ck tattoos fromst night, and his hair wasn''t brushed back. It now sat in a loose, wild fashion on his head.


    "Sukuna?" Himiko asked carefully, her cheeks tingling as a blush grew.


    Sukuna quickly stopped an overhead swing with his staff and turned to her with a small smile, sending a wave of warmth through Himiko''s body.


    "Ah, Toga. You''re finally up," Sukuna said as he walked over to her with his staff over his shoulders. "You hungry?" Sukuna then looked her up and down, causing Himiko to feel self-conscious suddenly.


    "Actually, how about a bath first? And some new clothes?"

 Chapter 22: NO. 22 - New Roommate

    <h4>Chapter 22: NO. 22 - New Roommate</h4>


    After throwing Toga''s dirty clothes in the wash, I returned to the kitchen to start breakfast while she cleaned herself up. While I wasn''t the greatest cook, I was decent at making essential dishes.


    "Now then." I tied the straps of my ck apron and washed my hands. "Let''s see what to do. What to do..."


    I walked over to my stove and flicked on the heat while cing a nonstick pan on the burner. From there, I walked over to the fridge and pulled out several ingredients for my nned meal: steamed rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and various side dishes.


    A traditional Japanese breakfast.


    Personally, I would have gone with some waffles and bacon, but I didn''t know what Toga liked to eat. Well, other than sweets. Better to go with something familiar.


    As I lost myself in the cooking rhythm, I heard Toga''s soft footsteps approaching. I looked away from the cooking fish to see her clean as a whistle while dressed in some of my old clothes. They were from when I was a little younger, so they fit her pretty well. Her blonde hair was no longer crusty and dirty; it was now soft and with a bright sheen.


    Toga paused at the entrance of my living room and looked at me awkwardly; her hands and feet moved around nervously.


    "Go on, take a seat." I flipped my fish over to see some beautiful grill marks. "Food should be ready soon. Make yourself at home."


    "Okay," Toga muttered and walked over to the dining table.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Taking a seat, she watched me cook with attentive eyes that reminded me of a curious house cat. I grinned at the mental visual. Soon enough, I finished cooking today''s breakfast and ced all the dishes on the table.


    After removing my apron, I sat in front of Toga and grabbed my chopsticks to eat. I paused as I grabbed some rice when Toga didn''t grab her eating utensils.


    "What''s up?"


    "Oh, it''s just that you didn''t give thanks." Toga lifted her hands and ced them together. "My... parents said to always give thanks before eating."


    "Ah, right. Forgot that was a thing."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    I nodded, ced my chopsticks down, and pressed my hands together. We both gave thanks and began eating our food. As we ate, Toga looked at me nervously and then over to the empty chairs beside us.


    "Are your... parents not going to join us?" Toga said as she sliced a piece of her fish. Her chopsticks shook as she tore the flesh into pieces.


    "Nah, I don''t got any parents. They died during a viin attack a couple years back." I said in what I hoped was a calm tone as I sipped my soup. "It''s just you and me here, Toga. So rx. No one''s going to jump out and take you away."


    "Oh, I''m sorry to hear that..."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    <i>This is weird. I''m so used to the crazy Yandere version of Toga that it almost feels like I''m talking to another person. </i>


    I couldn''t help but wonder just what the original Toga Himiko went through in her years of running from the police and killing who she wanted for blood.


    Living on the streets really does change a person.


    "It''s fine, it''s fine. Now then... what do <i>you </i>n on doing?" I asked as I turned serious, causing Toga to stiffen. "Once your clothes are done being cleaned, you''re free to go. I''m not holding you here against your will. You''re free to leave anytime you want."


    "I..." Toga looked down at her half-eaten miso soup with unsure and reluctant eyes. "I don''t... know what to do. I can''t go back home. The police, my parents, everyone... they''re looking for me. I-I don''t want to go to <i>jail</i>."


    "Hmm, then where will you go?" I ced my elbows on the table while I rested my chin on my hands. "You gonna leave the city? The country? What''s your next move?"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Toga pressed her lips together and ced her chopsticks down. She brought her hands over herp and squeezed them tight in frustration.


    <i>Damn, I feel scummy. I''m practically backing her in a corner. But still, this should benefit us both.</i>


    "I think-" Toga closed her eyes, but I suddenly interrupted her.


    "Haah! Man, I sure do have a <i>big </i>house!" I leaned back in my chair with my hands behind my head; the abrupt loudness of my voice caused Toga to jump in her chair. Her cat-like eyes looked at me in surprise and confusion. "Living here on my own sure is lonely. It sure would be nice if I had a cool new, blood-obsessed roommate to share it with!"


    "...huh?"


    "But where would such a person be?" I leaned forward and made an exaggerated thinking motion. I then grinned at her. "You know anyone like that?"


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    "I don''t understand. Why? Why are you doing all this?" Toga asked with genuine confusion. "Why are you being so kind to me?"


    <i>Ain''t that the million-dor question?</i>


    There was no way I could up and say I wanted to keep her around to farm points.


    No, that would be ridiculous.


    Even if I did say that, I knew that statement wouldn''t be entirely true.


    In the original story, I always felt bad for some of the members of the League of Villians. Most of them were just the rejects of society who had no one to turn to until they found each other. I know they did some extremely horrible stuff, but none of that has happened in this world. At least for some of their members.


    Just like my friend Jin, Toga had yet to do anything horrible. In my opinion, at least. Sure, she attacked and nearly killed her ssmate, but that was an ident due to her mind cracking under years of verbal abuse and pressure to conform.


    With that in mind, I can''t help but feel a sense of responsibility towards her. Maybe it''s because I see a different side of her, a side that''s vulnerable and in need of help. This Toga could still be saved. She could still have a future¡ªa happy ending.


    And I wanted to give her that.


    Not because I was some hero or pir of Justice but because I couldn''t ignore her pain.


    It was simply because I <i>wanted</i> to do so.


    I swear, Izuku was a bad influence on me.


    "I wish I could say I was doing this out of the kindness of my heart. But humans aren''t like that." I said while looking out at my courtyard from the still-open shoji door. "I suppose you could say I helped you out of a whim. But that just sounds like a flimsy excuse."


    "Then why?"


    "I guess... I just wanted to help you." I turned back to her and smiled. "I wanted save Toga Himiko. It''s as simple as that."


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    A long silence fell over my living room as Toga stared at me wide-eyed. Her right hand rose over her heart, and she tilted her head down so her bangs hid her face. Her other hand rose and swiped across her eyes where hidden tears no doubt fell.


    "You mean it?"


    "I do."


    "You don''t think I''m a monster?"


    "I don''t. I told you already, didn''t I? You''re just a cute middle school girl with a pretty smile. You''re not a monster or anything like that."


    "...okay," Toga whispered before she sat up straight. She had arge, pretty smile as she looked at me with an emotion I could not quite ce. "I''ll be in your care then."


    I nodded and smiled back.


    "Wee home, Toga."


    <strong>[+150 SP]</strong>


    "Himiko... Call me Himiko."


    "You got it. Oh, by the way, my actual name is Shimizu Souta."


    "Hmm, I like Sukuna-kun better."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "Izuku-kun! Over here!"


    Midoriya Izuku looked over to see his blue-haired friend, Hase Keiko, waving at him from his ssroom entrance. She had a bead of sweat on the side of her face from running across the school toe pick up her friend. Those still hanging around the ssroom turned to her briefly before shrugging. Keiko''s presence had been a repeat urrence in the room.


    "Hase-san!" Izuku said as he quickly ced his books into his school bag. "What are you doing here?"


    Keiko grinned and lifted a packed lunch. "Wanna have lunch with me?"


    "O-oh! Yes! Of course!" Izuku blushed in embarrassment as he stood up from his chair with his yellow backpack strung on his back.


    "I just have to go buy some."


    "Ah, don''t worry about that. I made some extra, so you''re wee to eat it!"


    "Are you sure? I don''t want to be a-"


    "You''re no bother, Izuku-kun. Now let''s go eat!"


    Izuku smiled as he and Keiko walked through the halls of Aldera Junior High. The halls were rather packed, with students moving to their preferred lunch spots or heading to the cafeteria. Despite that, the two quickly reached their favorite ce: a bench under arge tree in the school''s open courtyard.


    Once they were situated, the two began to eat Keiko''s packed lunch. At the same time, they chatted about random topics, primarily topics revolving around the newest pro heroes around the world or All Might. In the end, they ended up focusing on the subject of thetest TV anime that was released a month ago.


    "You know, I still can''t believe how cool the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are! I thought the manga was great, but the anime adaptation somehow elevated several of the manga''s panels!" Izuku said as he grinned in excitement while holding thest volume of TMNT.


    Keiko nodded with a smile as she ced the empty lunch boxes into her school bag. "Right? I mean, four mutant turtles trained in ninjutsu living in the sewers¡ªwhat''s not to love? Oh! Oh! Who''s your favorite?"


    "Hmm, that''s a tough question... I think I have to go with Leonardo. He''s the leader and so disciplined. I really admire his dedication."


    "Good choice! I like Raphael. He''s got that whole tough-guy thing going on, but you can definitely see his softer side, too. I appreciate his passion. He kinda reminds me of Sou-chan a little."


    "True! Raphael does have that intense attitude like Souta-san. What do you think about their dynamic as brothers?" Izuku asked.


    "It''s awesome! They bnce each other out so well. You''ve got Leo''s focus, Raph''s aggression, Donatello''s brains, and Michngelo''s carefree spirit. It''s like a perfect recipe for adventure." Keiko said as she held up a finger with each point she made about the turtle brothers. "And it teaches a good lesson about teamwork. Even though they argue sometimes, they alwayse together when it counts."


    "Exactly! Speaking of which, do you remember that scene where-"


    "What the hell are you two nerds doing here?"


    Izuku and Keiko both stopped their excited conversation to look over at the three neers.


    Standing a few meters away were Bakugo Katsuki and his two ever-present followers. Katsuki had his hands in his pockets while an annoyed expression marred his face. The two followers behind him looked at one another with nervous expressions before they forced on looks of confidence.


    "Khan," Izuku said evenly. Keiko frowned as she turned to Katsuki. "We were just having lunch."


    "Oh, yeah? Well, keep it down. I don''t need you and your little girlfriend bothering me with all your geek talk, Deku." Katsuki said with his usual loud bravado as he red at Izuku and Keiko.


    "S-she''s not my girlfriend, Khan. Hase-san is just my friend." Izuku said with a slight blush on his face.


    "Bakugo-san. Did you perhaps stub your toe this morning?" Keiko said with a kind smile, causing Katsuki to twitch and turn to her with a snarl. "Oh my, such a nasty look. Do you have something in your eye?"


    "What did you say, you bitch?"


    "It seems all your little explosions have caused you to be hard of hearing. You should get that looked at. It would be a shame if you became deaf in a few years." Keiko said as she ced her hands on her knees, a calm smile on her face. Izuku sighed and looked over to his friend nervously.


    "Hase-san," Izuku whispered to try to calm down his friend. "Calm down."


    To Izuku''s knowledge, Keiko was usually a very happy and positive person. Over thest two years, she had been a bright light in his life. The days that he spent alone due to his condition were no more, thanks to her and his friend/teacher, Shimizu Souta.


    Despite her usual bubbly attitude, Keiko quickly became upset with anyone who bothered or made fun of Izuku for his quirklessness. It was as if she transformed into a different person. This change was both frightening and ttering for Izuku.


    "Who do you think you are, huh?!" Katsuki growled as he took a step forward to Keiko but didn''t move any further. "<i>That </i>guy isn''t here, yet you''re so confident. You think you''re stronger than me! Is that it?!"


    Keiko suddenly lost her smile and stood up with her hands on her hips. "I don''t like fighting, Bakugo-san. So, I''ll use my words instead. Please leave Izuku-kun and myself alone. We only have a few minutes left of lunch, and we don''t want to waste them bickering with you."


    "Hah! You damn-"


    "Khan!" Izuku stepped beside Keiko and turned to Katsuki with a nervous but stern expression. "That''s enough. There''s no need for us to argue. We''ll tone down our volume so we won''t bother you, okay?"


    Katsuki looked stunned at Izuku''s sudden boldness. His red eyes looked over Izuku''s body to see that his lith muscles sat under his school uniform. Even the way he stood was steady and loose, as if ready for anything.


    "Deku... you..."


    Katsuki grit his teeth tightly as he stared into Izuku''s unflinching eyes.


    <i>''Damn you, just how much have you changed Deku! Is it all because of </i>that <i>guy?''</i> Katsuki thought angrily. <i>''Damn you! Damn him!''</i>


    "Bakugo-san. I think-" The boy with the long hair nervously said as he looked around the courtyard where several students were watching the altercation. Some were even whispering about how Katsuki was trying to fight Keiko, one of the student body''s favorite students, due to her happy and bubbly personality. "I think we should back off before someone calls a teacher."


    Katsuki spun around to yell at him and noticed that several students were indeed watching him. Some of them even had their cell phones out to record them.


    Not wanting to get in trouble and possibly ruin his chances of getting into his dream school, UA Highschool, Katsuki sucked his teeth and began walking away.


    "This isn''t over, Deku, Twin Tails! Not by a long shot." Katsuki said as he and his followers left the courtyard.


    Izuku sighed in relief and turned to Keiko, who was rubbing her head in exhaustion.


    "That guy sure is a ball of nerves."


    "H-he''s not that bad."


    "..." Keiko squinted her eyes at Izuku, causing him to shrink under her gaze. "I''ll believe it when I see it." She then sat back down and grabbed the TMNT volume that Izuku had ced on the bench. "Now then, where were we?"


    Izuku smiled and sat beside Keiko. The two of them fell back into their conversation until the school bell rang.


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>And with that, our resident Yandere is now a part of the fold! Her character was always a favorite of mine in the main series, and so many others. So it was a little sad watching her go out the way she did in canon. </strong>


    <strong>Ah, I almost forgot. Regarding the poll to try and determine Souta''s route. It was an extremely close poll, but Sukuna''s route had the slight edge around ten more votes than Gojo. This means that Souta will be more selfish, as most of you have already seen. But I won''t have him be aplete edge lord or a uncaring monster. </strong>


    <strong>I decided that he would be about 70% Sukuna with 30% Gojo sprinkled in. A nice blend of chaotic evil and neutral good.</strong>


    <strong>Now then, I have to say, I never expected you all to pour all your power stones into my little story like you have this week. I may have to rethink the PS requirements moving forward so I don''t run out of Chapters! But I''ll leave that for next week.</strong>


    <strong>This time, your next bonus Chapter will be at 2000 PS! Good luck!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 23: NO. 23 - Hard-Hard Way

    <h4>Chapter 23: NO. 23 - Hard-Hard Way</h4>


    "Hey, you okay? You''re making our team look like shit!"


    "Hm, oh yeah. I''m fine. Just a bit tired."


    Rubbing my face with my hand, I looked over at Twice from the couch we were sitting on with tired eyes. The two of us were ying thetest installment of Call of Duty. I looked at my score and saw that I was going negative while Twice was on the top of the scoreboard.


    Fucking try hard.


    "Perhaps you''ve been taking on too many hours at work? Nah! He just needs to drink more coffee, is all!" Twice''s fingers clicked on his controller with rapid speed and skill. The man was racking up kill after kill with effortless ease.


    I''ll give the man this: he''s a god-tier gamer.


    "I guess that''s part of it," I muttered as I tapped away on my controller. I cursed when my character was sniped from across the urban map we were on with a perfect headshot. "Damn you, NoobMaster69. It''s always you!"


    "Oh yeah, that guy is pretty good. He''s nothingpared to me! The scrub!"


    I smiledzily as Twice and I continued ying through several more matches. As we did, my mind melted away into what I''d been up to during the past few weeks.


    My newest roommate and friend, Himiko, had quickly settled in with me after our little talk. It didn''t take long for her shy and reserved personality to melt away into a more happy and yful one, simr to the one her main canon counterpart had.


    As a wee home present, I took her out incognito to one of the nearby shopping centers so she could buy some clothes and fill out her room with whatever she wanted. She was hesitant to take advantage of my money, but I waved that away. At this point, money wasn''t a big concern to me with all my sources of ie.


    After receiving the green light, Himiko went absolutely crazy on her shopping trip. She went from store to store, picking and choosing everything that looked cute to her. Don''t even get me started on how many hours we spent clothes shopping.


    My poor wallet sure took a hit that day...


    Despite the hit my finances took, Himiko''s bright and free smile somehow made it worth it.


    From there, the two of us lived together as any two good roommates would. We each had our fair share of responsibilities and tasks to help around the house. Himiko even offered to take care of our meals. Something about not wanting to be aplete free-loading sponge.


    Despite her much happier disposition now, I knew she couldn''t continue living like this. I didn''t want her to constantly look over her shoulder for police, private investigators, or even heroes, worried that she might be arrested for the crime shemitted.


    That''s not the life I wanted her to live. I wanted her to be free to do what she wanted.


    This meant I would soon have to enact <i>that </i>n to ensure it happened.


    Moving on from my blood-obsessed blonde friend, Mei had begun to move on from herrge projects to much smaller, more focused inventions. These were more in line with the support gear heroes would use in their line of work. Which meant I was up for several more hours of testing each new brainchild of hers.


    Some of which exploded in our faces.


    Inventing and testing weren''t everything Mei and I did together over the weeks. I had decided that she needed to get out of her workshop more, so I took her out to explore the city more often, much to her annoyance. Thankfully, it didn''t take that long for her to forget about her babies and ease into having fun with me as we traveled around.


    I can still remember her ecstatic expression when I took her to the yearly Tokyo Inventors Convention. She was like a kid at a candy store, going from stand to stand, peppering the overwhelmed inventors with thousands of questions.


    Thankfully, when it came to hanging out with Izuku and Keiko, they were a wee break from the craziness of my pink and blonde-haired friends.


    My time with the two hero-obsessed nerds was spent focusing on their training. Keiko with her quirk and Izuku with his physical/martial arts training.


    Keiko''s proficiency with her quirk was slowly but surely improving. She now had little issues using her typically defensive quirk in an offensive style. Her barriers were even able to hold back a low CE-enhanced attack from me for a few seconds.


    Izuku''s progress was impressive. His body was slowly gaining more and more muscle from my carefully nned exercises made for him. It wouldn''t be much longer for his body to resemble that of a professional young athlete. Along with his athletic build, Izuku''s martial arts were steadily improving.


    His ability to take in a new technique was an odd one. Izuku wouldn''t learn what I taught him the way I wanted him to; no, he would instead take the technique I wanted him to learn and internalize it in a way only he would understand. While I''m d it worked for him, it did slow down his rate of learning, which was fine with me.


    At this rate, I had no doubt he would be a little monster when he got All For One in a few years.


    Thergest contributor to myck of energy was my nightly excursions through Japan as my alter ego, Sukuna. The King of Curses himself.


    Thanks to all the chaos and interference I''ve been running in Japan''s underworld, the name Sukuna was slowly but surely bing a well-known name.


    Criminals and low-lives feared it, while heroes and the police abhorred it.


    Those pesky little heroes and boys in blue sure tried their best to catch me, but a quick use of Rabbit Escape left them scratching their heads in frustration.


    I wasn''t too sure how <i>they </i>saw the technique; I theorized that as the rabbits swarmed around me, their cursed energy had the effect of covering me in a sort of CE nket, causing me to go invisible for a brief time. But I wasn''t too sure if that was the case. I wasn''t a normie, after all.


    Back to the Sukuna stuff, going off the way, some hoodlums screamed my name in fright as they ran off with their tails between their legs at the mere mention of my name. I would say that the name Sukuna was quickly bing a household name.


    Which was great. It was my duty to spread the name of the lord. The name Sukuna would be known and praised by all in this world!


    "Hah-hah! Tactical nuke, iing! Run! Run like the roaches you are!" Twice yelled, and the screen became a hazy yellow when he activated the highest kill streak avable in the game. Killing everyone in the game.


    Thankfully, I was able to truly rx whenever I hung out with my bro, Twice. I didn''t have to act like the responsible, sorta adult with him, unlike I did with the others. I could truly sit back and be myself when I was with him. A fact that I told him, which caused him to fall into silence. He didn''t have to say it, but I knew my words had touched him.


    ying video games, watching movies, and making fun of tourists were just some of the few things the two of us did. It was fun and rxing. Unfortunately, the two of us couldn''t hang out more than just twice a week. I wasn''t sure who he rolled with, but they''ve been really busy making big-money movestely.


    How did I know it was big money? One look at his vastly improved apartment was an easy way to tell.


    It was no longer a run-down ce with little to no furniture. It was now full of several personal items and cool stuff. Not to mention the sizeable OLED TV he got us to y games on.


    With the match over and done with, Twice grew uncharacteristically silent as he ced his controller down on the coffee table.


    "Hm? What''s up, Twice? Cat got your tongue?"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Twice rubbed the back of his neck for a few seconds before slowly taking his mask off. I raised a brow at that as Jin turned to me with a regretful look.


    "Uh, listen, Souta." Jin started. "My... job is getting pretty busy. They''re going to fly us out to Kyoto for a big job. Yeah... They need some more hands to help out with repairs after a big viin attack. Yeah... So we won''t be able to hang out for a while."


    Throughout our time together, Jin had told me he worked for a constructionpany in charge of repairing the destruction caused by viin attacks. At least, that was his cover story. Despite how close we''ve gotten, he couldn''t bring himself to tell me what he actually did.


    I didn''t mind it. The guy didn''t owe me his secrets after all.


    "I see," I grinned at the man and patted his shoulder. "No problem! You gotta do what you gotta do to get your bread, my guy. Just let me know when you get back, I''ll be sure to finally kick your ass in Street Fighter."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    Jin looked visibly relieved by my reaction and smiled. He nodded at me before he quickly slid his mask back on.


    "You wish, you scrub! Train hard, and I''m sure you''ll beat me!" Twice said as the next match was about to start.


    "Now I''m definitely kicking your ass. Just you wait."


    "You can do it! Dream on!"


    x x x


    As Nue, Zaiko, and I glided through the vast, inky expanse of the night sky, the city below came alive in a dazzling disy of twinkling lights. Skyscrapers pierced the darkness, their windows shining like stars fallen to earth, each flickering light telling a story of lives in motion.


    The air was crisp and cool, brushing against my skin. As Nue banked to the left, the iconic Tokyo skyline came into fuller view, silhouetted against the darker shades of the night. Neon signs shed in vibrant colors as if winking cheekily at the vastness of the universe above.


    "Hah... I ain''t feeling it tonight." I muttered as Iid down on Nue''s ample back. My jujutsu uniform pped in the wind as we cut through the sky. "Nue, take us home, boy!"


    Nue roared and banked right towards the direction where my home was located. As we flew, my eyelids began to fight me. They were urging me to fall asleep to get some much-needed rest. Before I could be seduced bydy sleep, several bright shes of blue popped in the distance.


    "What''s that?" I asked while looking at the now fading lights. "Nue."


    With a powerful p of its wings, my Shikigami sped off toward where the blue lights appeared.


    After a few short minutes, we came upon an old lonely boat dock. I jumped off Nue''s back and looked around the eerily silent dock with sharp eyes, my Shikigami melting away into the shadows.


    The air around me was cool and tinged with the salty scent of the ocean, mingling with the earthy aroma of damp wood. Silhouetted against the star-speckled sky were some nearby boats.


    A faint breeze whispered through the dock, ruffling the boats'' tarps and sending ripples across the dark water. Dimly litnterns hung from the sides of the dock, swaying slightly, their flickering mes illuminating sections of the nks with an ethereal glow.


    "That smell..."


    I turned to the right to see a wide open door swaying in the air that led to arge seaside warehouse. My enhanced sense of smell could pick up the scent of burnt flesh from within the building.


    Curiosity took over me, causing me to walk towards the door. As I walked, I noted several ck scorch marks on the concrete floor leading to the warehouse. Passing a ss window, I saw my reflection bounce off its surface.


    While bathed in the shadows of my hood, one could still see the bottom half of my face. Adorning my skin were long, sharp ck tattoos.


    These were the tattoos Sukuna had on whenever he took over Yuji or Megumi''s body or when he was in his original Heian Era body.


    How did I have them?


    The answer was easy. I had won them as a Gold-tier reward from one of my pulls several months back.


    The tattoos were purely cosmetic and didn''t offer any buffs.


    That is unless you consider the boost of aura they gave me a buff.


    The way the tattoos work is by applying some CE to my skin where they were located. Once they had CE flowing through them, they would quicklye to life and adorn my skin. After that, I brush back my hair and bang! King of Curses lookpleted.


    While not the greatest reward, it was very cool looking, in my opinion.


    Once inside, I moved through the quiet building and found the source of the terrible smell.


    Lying on the ground were three smoking, charred bodies.


    "Hmm." I leaned down and ced a hand on one of the corpses to feel its warmth. Off to the side was a burnt box with small <i>blue </i>mes dancing back and forth as they tried to swallow the wood. "Blue mes... Dabi?"


    Standing up, I jumped to the building rafters and looked around the warehouse. I saw no movement.


    Looking over to the ceiling, I saw an open skylight letting in some moonlight. Swinging to it, I jumped onto the roof of the warehouse and scanned the roads around the area. There wasn''t a soul to be found.


    "I must have just missed him."


    I sighed in disappointment and raised my hands to resummon Nue. But just as I was about to call its name, something fast sliced through the air around me.


    (Something''sing!) Crow Maki yelled.


    <i>ng!</i>


    I leaned my upper body back as a white and brown blur sliced the air where I once stood. Jumping back, I leaned low and watched as a rather short woman slid to a stop several meters away.


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "Not bad!"


    The woman had tan skin, narrowed red eyes, and long, defined eyshes. She had straight white hair reaching her thighs with bangs extending to her face''s left side. While slender and curvy, the woman also sported a lean, athletic, and well-defined build, especially in her arms and legs.


    She wore a sleeveless white leotard with dark purple trim around her shoulders and waist, a wide yellow crescent moon design over her chest, and a single thick metal te wrapped around her midriff. On her legs were purple thigh-high boots topliment her leotard, with more ting around the heel and toe areas, making her feet look like those of a rabbit.


    She also has a pair of thick, white gloves on her hands with long cuffs, sporting small triangr protrusions around their edges.


    "Looks like tonight is my lucky night! You''re that guy, aren''t ya? Sukuna, right?" The rabbit-themed woman asked as she eyed me like a hungry predator, her strong legs flexing. "I''m here to take you in, Villian. We can do this the hard way or the hard-<i>hard </i>way. Take your pick."


    <i>If it isn''t the Rabbit hero herself... Mirko.</i>


    I grinned from underneath the darkness of my hood as I reached into Zaiko''s mouth to pull out one of my newest weapon additions created by my Construction technique, the Ruyi Jingu Bang staff. The woman looked momentarily confused at the sudden appearance of my weapon before grinning wildly.


    "Looks like we''re doing the hard-hard way then. My <i>favorite</i>."


    <strong>-</strong>


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Thanks for the 2K PS!!</strong>


    <strong>Unfortunately, due to all the Chapters I''ve released this week, this will be this week''sst bonus Chapter. Otherwise, I won''t be able to keep up with demand! So, I''ll leave you all with this cliffhanger. </strong>


    <strong>Next time, Souta vs Rabbit Mommy-I mean Mirko!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 24: NO. 24 - Sukuna vs. Mirko

    <h4>Chapter 24: NO. 24 - Sukuna vs. Mirko</h4>


    <i>Damn, the unstoppable terminator herself, Mirko. </i>


    With a fierce cry, Mirko lunged forward, her leg slicing through the air like a whip. I pivoted to the side, my Ruyi Jingu Bang staff spinning in a blur to block her initial strike. The impact of flesh meeting solid tungsten steel echoed through the clearing, sending a shockwave up my arms.


    "Hoh! Not bad! You must be pretty strong to be able to take on one of my kicks!" Mirko yelled as she red at me.


    "Hah! If this is all you got, this will be a disappointing fight!" I roared back.


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    Mirko''s left eye twitched at my provocation, causing me to grin.


    In the original series, Mirko, or Usagiyama Rumi, was one of Japan''s strongest heroes. The woman was an unstoppable force of nature. During her fight with the High-Ends, Mirko continued fighting despite losing her limbs and getting extremely injured.


    In other words, she wouldn''t stoping after me unless I knocked her out or killed her.


    Killing her wasn''t an option; she had an important role to perform in the future, and I didn''t want to bebeled as a hero killer either.


    That and I didn''t want to deprive this world of her thunder thighs.


    Damn, these teenage hormones...


    Using Nue or the insect-like wings from my Construction technique to escape would be easy. Mirko had no way of chasing a flying opponent. Sure, she could try pursuing me on foot, but she couldn''t keep up for long.


    But I didn''t want to run.


    No, I wanted to test myself against her.


    Right here and now.


    I wanted to see how my refined martial arts prowess did against an actual pro!


    <i>Let''s see... I currently have the Ten Shadows, Cloning, Bird Maniption, and Ratio equipped. </i>My eyes looked over at the nearby body of water. <i>Hmm, Disaster Tides would have made this a breeze. Oh, well.</i>


    "Let''s see how pure skill and CE enforcement alone can do first," I whispered, my staff held at the ready.


    Seeing her move again, I countered by thrusting my staff forward, aiming for Mirko''s midsection. She ducked low, the golden tip of the staff grazing the top of her head as she rolled to the side.


    "I was hoping I would run into you eventually! Who would have thought tonight was my lucky night!" Mirko said with an excited grin. "I''ll do the police and those weak heroes a favor by taking you down!"


    Quickly regaining her footing, Mirkounched a flurry of kicks¡ªone after another, each kick more powerful than thest. I danced backward, my staff twirling defensively before me, deftly deflecting her powerful strikes. The rhythmic thuds of her feet against the warehouse rooftops reverberated below us as we exchanged blows.


    "Is that so? Try your best then, little Rabbit!" I said with an air of arrogance, ying into the role of my namesake.


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    I had to act it up. Win or lose, after tonight, Japan''s pro heroes would gain a huge insight into the once-mysterious Sukuna from Mirko.


    With a sudden burst of speed, Mirko leaped into the air, performing a spinning kick.


    "Lunar Ring!"


    My eyes grew wide seeing her rapid spinning kicks. I instinctively reinforced my entire body with CE and raised my staff above my head just in time to absorb the impact. The sheer force of her attack jolted my arms fiercely, staggering me back.


    <i>Shit! She''s strong!</i>


    I quickly repositioned myself, using my momentum to swing my staff down in a sweeping arc.


    "Not bad, little Rabbit! Not bad at all!"


    Mirko rolled to avoid the strike, but I had anticipated that. As she sprang up, I dashed in and thrust my staff forward, aiming for her legs. She expertly jumped over the Ruyi Jingu Bang, the tips of her boots barely missing contact. As shended, Mirko delivered a low kick that swept the ground beneath me in an attempt to knock me off bnce.


    "You''re pretty good! But it''s time to get your ass kicked!"


    "Big talk from such a little package," I muttered as I dashed back and twisted my staff to keep Mirko at bay.


    Mirko''s smile grew wide at myment. "Cocky bastard."


    <strong>[+45 SP]</strong>


    With a flourish, I thrust my staff out towards her, but the end of my staff met nothing but air due to therge space gap between us. Mirkoughed at my seemingly pathetic attack.


    "Hah! You blind or something!"


    "Go forth," I muttered andmanded my staff to <i>extend</i>. "Ruyi Jingu Bang!"


    The rabbit-themed hero''s eyes grew wide as my staff exploded towards her at incredible speeds. Due to the unexpectedness of the attack, the golden end of my Ruyi Jingu Bang collided right into her stomach,unching her back to the roof''s edge.


    "Gah! You B-Bastard!"


    The Ruyi Jingu Bang staff, the legendary weapon held by the Great Sage, Heaven''s Equal, Sun Wukong, was one of the many weapons I created with my construction technique over the past two years after gaining Tsukumo Yuki''s<i> </i>CE reserves.


    While it was a perfect recreation of Sun Wukong''s staff, it didn''t mean it would hold all of its original properties. To fix that, I focused 40% of my daily CE within it and infused my Construction technique into the staff from its inception to quickly transform it into a cursed tool over the course of a year.


    Simr to how Nanami infused his blunt sword with his seven to three cursed technique, I imbued my Construction technique into my staff to grant it the ability to expand, extend, shrink, and retract itself onmand using CE. The exact same way as Sun Wukong did with his original staff.


    It was nowhere near as powerful as his, but my staff was powerful in its own right.


    While it may not yet be a special grade-level tool just yet, it still packed a <i>mean </i>punch.


    Mirko looked over at me as I ced my staff over my shoulders with an angry expression. I then beckoned her on with ae-on motion. Undeterred, she propelled herself forward again.


    "Cheap tricks, you Bastard! Take this, Lunar Rush!"


    I prepared myself as Mirko unleashed an advanced series of kicks. Her legs blurred as they connected with my staff in rapid session. I weaved in and out to avoid the worst of her strikes, using my staff both as a shield and a weapon. Each sh of my staff''s solid CE-enhanced tungsten steel against flesh resonated like thunder in the still night.


    Our grand fight switched from the rooftop of the warehouse down to the fishing dock. Wooden nks, crates, poles, and even some of the boats all exploded or cracked from being caught up in our battle.


    <i>She''s slowing down. </i>


    I risked a quick nce at Mirko''s legs and saw dark splotches of blood spreading through her purple thigh-high boots. The dozens upon dozens of impacts against what was quite possibly the strongest piece of steel on the was having an effect on her.


    "Come on, little Rabbit. Don''t stop trying! I''ll y with you all night!" I said with an excited grin as her red eyes met my ck ones.


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    "Don''t worry about me. Now that I''m warmed up, the fun can finally begin!" Mirko said with arge, battle-hungry smile as she flexed her sexy-I mean powerful legs.


    "Nah, you''re done. Your legs are shaking. I''ll do you a favor and end this now," I said and made a hand sign resembling a snake. "Great Serpent."


    "Huh? What the hell-"


    From below Mirko, arge white snake shot up from the shadows with its jaws wide open. Out of sheer, pure instinct, Mirko looked down just as my Shinigami was about to bite down into her. She tried to jump away from the danger she sensed, but at thest second, her legs involuntarily froze on her for a single second.


    A second she didn''t have the luxury to have wasted.


    "What?!" Mirko yelled as she, from her perspective, somehow flew into the air, her limbs somehow restricted. Great Serpent had her tightly in its jaws but, on mymand, avoided piercing her with its sharp teeth. "What is this!?"


    "Let''s fight again someday, Mirko."


    Mirko helplessly watched as I shot up toward her with my right arm pulled back; my staff was now safely back inside Zaiko. I scanned Mirko''s body and found the seven-to-three ratio point. Coating my fist in CE, I swung forward and struck her at her diaphragm.


    <i>Ratio!</i>


    <strong>[+100 SP]</strong>


    Mirko''s eyes grew white as she gasped loudly in pain as my fist sank into her body. While in midair, I dismissed Great Serpent and caught the now unconscious hero in my arms. Landing on the ground, I looked around the vicinity and found a hidden area. Making my way there, I ced Mirko down and adjusted her so she would be in afortable position.


    "Great fight," I said to the unconscious woman and stood up.


    Reaching into Zaiko, I pulled out a burner phone to call the police. But just as I was about to dial the number, I heard several loud sirens heading in my direction.


    (Oi, Boss.) Crow Maki said as shended on my shoulder. (Some of those costumed losers are heading in this direction.)


    "We better get out of here then."


    With nothing more to do, I walked over to the warehouse from earlier and sank into the shadows.


    x x x


    Himiko and I werefortably sprawled on the living room couch, a cozy nket draped over us. The familiar blockyndscape of Minecraft filled the television disy in front of us. With each click of our controllers, we navigated our blocky avatars through lush forests and rolling hills, our movements mirroring each other''s.


    "Hey," Himiko said, yfully cing her foot on my chest as she used a pickaxe to mine several blocks of iron. "Aren''t you supposed to be at school?"


    "Yeah... I guess I should be," I drawled, cing several wood blocks down for our ambitious mansion. "But who cares, right?"


    "Well, shouldn''t you be there?" Himiko slowly said as a skeleton walked into her cave,unching arrows at her. "Not that I''mining."


    "Man, fuck school. My limbs are too sore for me to bother in going." I said as I crafted a wooden door. "Besides, I sent a clone in my ce. I love that technique."


    "Did I ever tell you your quirk, er, your ability, is broken? Likepletely." Himiko continued exploring her cave and came upon some diamonds beside a stream ofva. "Oooh, diamonds!"


    "Heh, it is a bit broken. Ain''t it?"


    After her first week of living with me, Himiko finally mustered the courage to ask about my quirk. Seeing no problem in exining how my abilities worked to her, I described the concept of curse energy. At first, she was skeptical, but when I had her try on one of my pairs of Maki''s specialized sses, I was able to show her Zaiko and my Shikigami.


    From there, I told her what I was currently capable of. Safe to say, Himiko was both amazed and in disbelief at myundry list of abilities.


    I was a little worried about revealing the truth to her at first, but after a couple of weeks together. Himiko had proven herself to be an extremely loyal person.


    A very touchy person but still loyal.


    After that, telling her what I did at night was easy. That is, without all the gruesome and darker things I encountered or did. All she knew was that I was some sort of Vignte. This was an easy sell to her, considering the way we first met.


    "Hey."


    "Yeah?"


    "What do you say about finally meeting some of my friends? What do you think?" I looked away from the game and stared at Himiko with a genuine smile.


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    Himiko looked taken aback and quickly became excited. She ced her controller down and crawled over toy on my chest, her arms around my neck.


    "Really?!" Himiko yelled, seemingly oblivious or uncaring of our current situation. "I can finally meet Mei-chan, Keiko-chan, and Izuku-kun! You mean it?!"


    "Yeah, I think so. Now that you have a better handle on your impulses, thanks to the daily doses of blood I give you, I think it should be fine." I brushed back her loose blond hair with a smile. "I trust ya."


    <strong>[+40 SP]</strong>


    Himiko smiled widely with a rosy red blush and shoved her face into my chest, causing me to wince.


    "Ah, sorry!"


    "I-It''s fine."


    Himiko hummed and rubbed my chest gently to try and soothe my pain.


    "Want some waffles?"


    "...yes."


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed today''s Chapter!</strong>


    <strong>Now, after seeing the sheer number of power stones I receivedst week, I''vee up with some new PS goals for the bonus Chapters, which should let me breathe between uploads so I can write. Hopefully, these are fair, and I hope you all continue to read,ment, and leave funnyments. That is what motivates me to write this. </strong>


    <strong>Sunday - Free Chapter</strong>


    <strong>400 PS - Bonus Chapter # 1</strong>


    <strong>800 PS - Bonus Chapter # 2</strong>


    <strong>1200 PS - Bonus Chapter # 3</strong>


    <strong>1600 PS - Bonus Chapter # 4</strong>


    <strong>2000 PS - Bonus Chapter # 5</strong>


    <strong>2500 PS - Bonus Chapter # 6</strong>

 Chapter 25: NO. 25 - A Fun Day Out

    <h4>Chapter 25: NO. 25 - A Fun Day Out</h4>


    Himiko and I were peacefully walking through the streets of Hamamatsu as we made our way to Hatsume''s Mechanical Repairs and Such. Looking over to the happily skipping girl beside me, I saw how she looked around my home city in wonder and excitement.


    The two of us haven''t gone out too often, for obvious reasons, but when we did, Himiko thoroughly enjoyed it.


    She was dressed in arge pastel pink jacket with a white hood that hovered over her short white skirt. A pair of white and red sneakers were on her feet, while her legs were covered in ck thigh-high socks. Maki''s round sses and a white medical mask were on her face.


    The mask was there to try and hide her identity, at least slightly.


    "Now remember. Mei can be a bit entric."


    "How interesting!"


    "Don''t get offended if she can''t remember your name. It took her weeks to remember mine."


    "I''ll just have to make a super duper strong impression then!"


    "...are you saying I don''t?"


    "..."


    Seeing that she wouldn''t budge, I let the matter go. Himiko''s excitement at making new friends was toorge to be shaken by my warnings.


    It didn''t take much longer for us to arrive at the storefront. Once there, I held the door open for Himiko, and we walked in. To my surprise, I saw Mei''s mother, Hatsume Yumiko, behind the counter.


    Yumiko had long ck hair and bright green eyes tied into a high ponytail. She wore a casual dress with a clean apron around her front.


    "Ah, Souta-kun!" Yumiko said with arge, motherly smile. "You''re finally here!"


    "Hatsume-san," I said with a slight bow, which Himiko copied. "It''s nice to see you. It''s rare to see you in the storefront. I figured you''d be wrangling Mei."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "I tried that. But that girl inherited her father''s strength and stubbornness. Oh! Who''s this cutie? A friend of yours?" Yumiko said as she walked around the counter to gush at Himiko, causing the blonde to blush. "Your outfit is so cute! I love your sses!"


    "A-ah, thank you." Himiko nervously said. She then ced her hands in front of her and properly bowed to Yumiko. The ingrained manners drilled by her parents kicked in. "I''m... Toga Himiko. It''s a pleasure to meet you, Hatsume-san."


    "Our names are so simr! Isn''t that a coincidence!" Yumiko gushed as she inspected Himiko''s signature hair buns. "Did you do your hair yourself? I love it! I wish MeiMei would let me style her hair."


    I smiled as I watched Yumiko happily talk to Himiko. Despite being thrown off by the woman''s bright and motherly personality, Himiko quickly regained her cheer. The two then entered a long chat over what outfits they thought were cute and how they go about styling their hair.


    <i>I wonder if Himiko was ever able to talk to her own mother like this. But knowing how they treated her, probably not. This must be new to her.</i>


    Unconsciously, my right fist began to tighten in anger. The quick snippets I read in the original timeline were just scratches on the surface of what Himiko''s parents did. I didn''t want to think of what kind of life she had to live under her parents.


    "Let''s go, MeiMei! Souta is here!"


    "No! Take me back! This is kidnapping!"


    "I can''t kidnap my own kid."


    I snapped out of my dark thoughts at the sound of Minato''s and Mei''s loud voices and noticed that my nails had dug into my scarred palms. Causing some blood to seep out. I quickly created some bandages with my Construction technique and wrapped them around my palm.


    "You can''t imagine how hard it was to get her out of her workshop. Don''t even get me started on what I had to do to get ready." Minato said as he walked into the room with a dressed-up Mei under his arm. "Thanks for taking her out, Souta. Gods know she needs some fresh air."


    "It''s no problem, Hatsume-san," I said as Yumiko and Himiko watched Mei struggle to escape from her father''s hold.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Souta... how could you?" Mei muttered as she was ced on the ground. She was dressed in some casual clothing, which consisted of sneakers, jeans, a jacket, ck gloves, and steampunk goggles. She even had her travel tool set on. "The betrayal! Why would you do this to me? I told you I wanted to work on my newest baby today! I even invited you to watch me!"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "You can''t build stuff every day, MeiMei. You need to go outside every now and then. Spread your wings. Expand your horizons." Yumiko said with a warm smile as she ced her hands on her daughter''s shoulders. "Go enjoy yourself. Okay, Sweetheart?"


    Mei looked ufortable at her mother''s encouragement and nodded regretfully. Yumiko always got her to listen somehow. "Okay..."


    "Great!" I said, wrapping an arm behind Himiko''s shoulders. "Mei, this is Toga Himiko. She''s that friend of mine I told you I wanted you to meet."


    "Yup! You can call me Himiko! It''s nice to meet you, Mei-chan!" Himiko jumped toward Mei and grabbed her gloved hands with arge smile. "Let''s be great friends!"


    "Do I have a choice?" Mei said with a defeated sigh, her hands twitching as if desperate for tools.


    "Nope!" Minato, Yumiko, Himiko, and I all said.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    x x x


    The train ride to Musutafu was an annoying one. Himiko wouldn''t stop asking Mei dozens of questions.


    Usually, this wouldn''t get any answers from Mei. But thanks to Himiko''s acute perception skills, she quickly changed subjects and began to ask Mei about her inventions. Now, THAT got the pink-haired inventor otaku to talk.


    "...and then I used a different type of polymer, which ended up doing the trick! You should have seen my baby! It was amazing!" Mei said excitedly as she showed Himiko several photos on her smartphone.


    Her loud and crazed energy caused some of the nearby train folk to stare at her in annoyance. A well-dressed man had an irritated look on his face and was about to tell Mei off when I suddenly stepped between them and <i>smiled</i> at him. He swallowed whateverment he had and slithered away.


    "Wow! You sure are super smart, Mei-chan! Tell me, tell me, how did youe up with this baby''s design?"


    "I''m d you asked, cat-eyes! You see, I..."


    <i>Damn, Himiko moves quickly. She''s already on a personal-features name base. Soon enough, Mei will actually remember her name.</i>


    I sighed at the unfairness of it all and looked outside the windows at the speeding buildings as they blurred by. I felt a buzz in my pocket and pulled out my phone. It was a message from Keiko.


    [Keiko: Izuku-kun and I are here! Let me know when you all are almost here!]


    I responded by saying it shouldn''t be much longer. Sending my message, I put my phone away and continued to listen to the two chattering girls. A small smile grew on my face as I watched the two enjoy themselves in their conversation.


    x x x


    "It''s nice to meet you! I''m Hase Keiko!"


    "Oh, I''m Midoriya Izuku. It''s nice to meet you two."


    "I''m Toga Himiko! But you all can call me Himiko! I''m so happy to meet Suk- <i>Souta-kun''s</i> friends!"


    "..."


    I reached out and lifted Mei''s chin up from the small metal box she snuck with her, causing her to realize where she was.


    "Oh. Remember this name! I''m Japan''s- no! The <i>world''s future </i>leading genius in all things support gear and innovations! Hatsume Mei!" Mei said with no shame as she ced her fists on her hips.


    "Ah, she''s exactly like you said she would be." Keiko said as she and Izuku walked over to us. Creating a group of five. She then turned to Himiko and smiled. "Souchan has told me that you''re a great cook, Himiko-chan. We should swap some recipes!"


    Himiko''s eyes glowed with glee as she nodded eagerly. "I''d love to! Oh! We should all swap numbers! You too, Izuku-kun!"


    "H-huh?! Me too?!" Izuku blushed in embarrassment from beside me. I blinked as his shirt had the words <i>Dress Shirt</i>. "O-okay!"


    "Bro, you need to calm down." I ced an arm around Izuku''s shoulder and motioned to Himiko, who was happily exchanging numbers with Keiko and Mei. Thetter didn''t exactly know why Himiko took her phone as she tinkered with her small box. "Himiko won''t bite... I think."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Huh?"


    "Okay!" I stepped forward and pped my hands. "Let''s get this show on the road, everyone! We have a city to burn!"


    "Right!" Kieko and Himiko pumped their hands in the air with excited grins.


    "We are? Tch. I forgot to bring my methrower then." Mei muttered as she looked over at me from her small project. "That''s okay! I''ll fashion up a new one in no time!"


    "Bet." I said as we all began walking down the sidewalk toward the local shopping mall.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Izuku blinked in concern as he stayed in ce while we all walked off.


    "That was a joke... right?"


    "Let''s go, Izuku!"


    "Ah! Coming!"


    x x x


    The hustle and bustle of the mall filled our ears as we navigated through the crowded aisles,ughter and chatter filling the air. Bright lights bounced off the polished floors, illuminating the colorful storefronts that lined either side of the wide corridor. Seeing what apparently was a cute-looking dress, Himiko and Keiko dragged us all into a chic boutique.


    "Come on, you guys! You have to see this dress!" Keiko eximed, holding up a vibrant blue sundress that seemed like any other to me.


    "Oh! You should try it on!" Himiko teased as she held up a pink skirt. "So cute! I want to try this on!"


    "You should! I know you''ll rock it!" Keiko replied with a bright smile.


    "Awe, Really?!" Himiko blushed as she held the skirt tightly. She then looked over to see a ck denim jacket. "Oh! That jacket would look great on Mei-chan!"


    "Hm?" Mei looked up from where I was holding her shoulder in order to stop her from wandering off. "No thank-" Before she could finish, Himiko and Keiko grabbed her wrists and pulled the pink-haired inventor off to the changing room.


    "Souta! Help! I''m being taken!"


    "I''ll remember you fondly, Mei."


    "Souta!"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    After that, Izuku and I ambled over to the store''s shoe section. Izuku sighed as he turned to me with a shaky grin.


    "Man, girls can be pretty scary."


    "True," I muttered as I raised a pair of grey and ck sneakers. "What do you think of these?"


    "Oh, I think they''re really cool," Izuku replied as he looked over at a pair of very familiar sneakers on disy. "Wow, those look impressive."


    "Dude, those are literally the same shoes you''re wearing."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Are they? Hmm."


    The girls, and a reluctant Mei, continued browsing and trying on their outfit picks for another hour and a half. Sometime during their mini fashion show, Mei had snuck away from them and found refuge with Izuku and me on a bench. I then promptly received two smacks on the head from Mei.


    Once Himiko and Keiko were somewhat satisfied, we all decided to take a break at the food court to grab a bite to eat...


    "The hell do you mean you don''t think Godzillo can beat All Might?" I mmed my fist on our table and pointed my chopsticks at Izuku, who looked uncharacteristically confident. "Such sphemy. All Might''s a scrub next to the King of the Monsters!"


    <strong>[10 x 4 = +40 SP]</strong>


    "Souta-san, I''m sorry, but you''re wrong," Izuku said. "All Might is Japan''s number one hero! The world''s strongest hero! While I do think Godzillo is an amazing hero, All Might is on apletely different level."


    "You damn fanboy. This is the thanks I get after raising you as one of my own." I stood up and walked around the girls, who were watching us in interest as they drank their milk tea. "I won''t take this disrespect lying down. I''ll put you down, Boy! Say it! Say that All Might ain''t shit next to Godzillo! Say it!"


    "Geh... I-I won''t!" Izuku stood up and stared me straight in the eyes. "All Might is the best hero ever! I won''t back down, not even from you Souta-san!"


    I grit my teeth as my fists clenched tightly. "Damn... to think you''ve grown so much to the point of standing up to me. I see you''ve grown a little... Very well, I''ll let this slide." I ced a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him. "I''m proud of you, Izuku."


    "Souta-san..."


    <strong>[10 x 4 = +40 SP]</strong>


    Keiko, Himiko, and even Mei turned to one another in confusion.


    "What just happened?" Mei asked as she tilted her head.


    Keiko shrugged as she sipped on her drink. "I don''t know. I stopped trying to make sense of what Sou-chan does or says after we turned six."


    "Hmm, this must be a guy thing then," Himiko said as she held a finger on her chin. "Very interesting."


    x x x


    After a few more hours of wasting time and messing around at the mall, we all agreed to go watch a movie at a nearby theater.


    <strong>[Total SP: 8,619]</strong>


    <i>Man, today has been a treasure trove of points.</i> I smiled over at my group of friends as they bickered over what movie we should watch.<i> Then again, I have been saving my points up for a wild gambling night.</i>


    Izuku and Keiko tried to get everyone to watch the newest superhero movie. At the same time, Mei wanted to watch a documentary on the hundred years of innovation of hero support items. Himiko was trying to convince everyone to watch a horror movie.


    I was more than happy to let them figure out how we were going to waste two hours from thefort of this cushioned seat I sat on. Leaning back, I looked around at the busy movie theater lobby, where several people ambled about.


    "That''s her. Isn''t it?"


    "Yeah. She fits the description."


    I turned to see three police officers walk through the theater''s main entrance. They had steady and determined looks on their faces as they headed straight towards my group of friends. Specifically, towards Himiko.


    "Ah, shit." I stood up and made two hand signs. My twin divine dogs and several rabbits rose from my shadows. "Go warn, Himiko."


    My Devine dogs nodded and ran off towards her. Thanks to Himiko wearing Maki''s sses, which let her see my Shinigami''s, Himiko quickly saw my divine dogs and rabbits. The dogs pawed at her leg and turned to the police. Her eyes grew wide in fear before she quickly slipped on her medical mask.


    "A-ah, I''m sorry! I have to go home! Something important came up!" Himiko abruptly said as she dashed away from the confused group.


    "Toga-san?" Izuku said as Mei watched in confusion.


    "Himiko-chan? What''s wrong?!" Keiko called out, but Himiko was already gone.


    Seeing her run, the officers sped up but didn''t run after her in order not to raise a panic in the public.


    "Alright, let''s do this."


    Cracking my neck, I walked over to a distracted couple and snatched one of their coffees and napkins from their table.


    With a hot cup of coffee in hand, I headed straight at the police officers and <i>identally</i> crashed into one of them.<i> </i>Spilling hot coffee all over his chest and face.


    "Gah!" The officer cried out in pain as he quickly tried to rub off the coffee from his face.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "I am so, so sorry! I just spilled a very hot liquid all over your face." I yelled as I tried to help the officer by patting his clothes with my napkin. I dabbed his face, chest, and, finally, legs.


    While I was at it, I winked at my rabbits,unching them into action. Two of the rabbits rushed over to the officer I was patting and quickly tied their shoces together.


    As they got to work, I quickly lowered myself and extended my leg, causing the second iing officer to trip and fall.


    "Whoa there! I didn''t see you!" I cried out with a spin, spilling all of the remaining coffee into the third and final officer''s face. Causing him to scream and grab his face in pain. "Here, let me help you!"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    I reached over to a nearby table and ripped off its tablecloth, leaving all of the contents on top of the table in ce. I wrapped the tablecloth around the third officer''s head, blinding him as my rabbits tied hisces together.


    Moving over to the fallen officer, I winked at my rabbits as they finished tying hisces as well. They gave me a thumbs-up and melted into the shadows.


    "Officer! Officer! Let me help you!" As I moved to help the fallen officer, I ended up tripping on nothing, causing me to fall over him. "Gah! I''m so clumsy! I''m all thumbs today."


    <strong>[5 x 3 = +15 SP]</strong>


    "Get out of the way kid!"


    The officers red at me and tried to run where they hadst seen Himiko go, but they all ended up tripping due to their tied shoces.


    "Can''t believe that worked," I muttered as I walked away from the struggling officers.


    Reaching the others, I saw that they were too worried about Himiko''s disappearance to have seen my performance. How sad.


    "Hey, guys. What''s up?" I asked them. I then looked around with a look of suspicion. "Where''s Himiko?"


    "Sou-chan!" Keiko cried out as she grabbed one of my jacket sleeves. "Himiko-chan suddenly left! I tried to call her, but she won''t pick up. I''m worried about her! She looked really scared."


    "We have to go after her. What if she''s in some kind of trouble?" Izuku said with a concerned expression while Mei nodded.


    "Okay, Let''s go after her, then," I said as I looked over my shoulder to see the confused officers scanning the lobby. "Let''s get moving."


    x x x


    "There you are."


    I walked over to Himiko as she sat on the rooftop of my house with her knees against her chest. Sitting down next to her, I looked out at the dark star-filled night sky. A soft hup escaped Himiko as she buried her head into her knees.


    "I was having so much fun."


    "...I know."


    I wrapped my arms around her as she leaned her head into my chest. Her sobs shook my chest as she cried.


    "They were worried about you, you know. They didn''t give up looking for you until I forced them to stop." I whispered as I rubbed her left arm. "You made some really good friends, Himiko. There will be a lot more opportunities for you to hang out with them."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "It''ll just happen again... They''ll keep looking for me." Himiko said as she looked up at me with tears streaming down her face. "It''s not fair... I don''t want to live like this... I just want to be <i>free</i>."


    I said nothing but pulled her in tighter as she continued to cry into my chest. A cold feeling swelled in my chest as I brushed her hair.


    "Don''t worry, Himiko. You will be... I <strong><i>promise</i></strong>."


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Wow, you guys really threw all your power stones at my window. Here I was doing some personal stuff today and Ie back to WN to see the first goal already being met.</strong>


    <strong>Very impressive. </strong>


    <strong>Well, here is your first bonus Chapter of the week! Be sure to leave me plenty ofments! </strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 26: NO. 26 - The Ends Justify The Means?

    <h4>Chapter 26: NO. 26 - The Ends Justify The Means?</h4>


    The Reverse Cursed Technique, a rare and exclusive ability in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen.


    The process of turning negative energy into positive energy is simple in theory.


    A negative multiplied by another negative creates a positive. That should mean that I should be able to multiply my cursed energy by itself to create reversed cursed energy.


    Sadly, it wasn''t that simple.


    Reversed Cursed Energy, or RCT, is mainly used to heal oneself or another. Thetter is much harder to do, considering only three characters could do so in JJK.


    Those being Shoko, Yuta, and Sukuna. Not even the strongest sorcerer of the modern era, Gojo Satoru, could heal someone else with his RCT.


    RCT is capable of healingrge wounds, poison effects, or even healing an entire lost limb''s back. Thus making having the RCT in your arsenal a massive boon.


    There was also another bonus effect of the RCT besides healing.


    That is the ability to fuel one''s cursed technique with positive energy to create its reversal. Gojo''s Reversal: Red is a prime example.


    The only caveat of RCT is its formidableplexity. It''s incredibly hard to use and understand, a challenge that only a handful of jujutsu sorcerers in JJK have managed to ovee. Those sorcerers were either geniuses or extremely talented at jujutsu.


    The skill ceiling on this technique was practically among the stars, considering that I''ve failed to grasp how to use it over the past six years. Not even the boost of CE understanding granted to me from a ck sh helped me get any closer to understanding the core of cursed energy.


    "I really hope I don''t have to be nearly killed like Gojo to understand RCT. Even then, I doubt it''s a guaranteed skill to learn when I''m bleeding out."


    Standing atop the rooftop of an old building in my jujutsu uniform, I leaned against the gritty concrete, letting the cool evening air wash over me. Before me sprawled the city of Osaka, its skyline punctuated by a blend of sleek ss towers and aged brick structures, each one telling a story of its own.


    Cars raced along the avenues, their headlights streaking past like shooting stars against the darkness. I could hear the distant echoes ofughter and conversation, hints of life woven into the fabric of the night. The aromas of street food wafted up, teasing my senses with the promise of adventure and indulgence.


    "There he is."


    I looked down at a lone male student with ck, unkempt hair. He had a striking resemnce to Izuku that one wouldn''t be remiss in assuming Hasashi cheated on Inko. He was dressed in an expensive-looking school uniform as he walked down the lone street towards his home.


    "Hello there, Saito," I muttered as my ck tattoos burned to life. Brushing my hair back, I grinned at the unsuspecting student. "About time you showed up."


    I raised my hands, fingers spread, cing one in front of the other while my thumbs hooked on one another.


    "Nue."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "Yes, Mom. I''m fine. Just a little tired," Saito said as he spoke on his phone. "I should be home in a few minutes, okay? Alright, see you soon."


    Slipping his phone into his pocket, Saito jumped as a deafening roar echoed around him. Saito turned with his heart racing in his chest, just in time to see a shadowy form swoop down from the darkening sky.


    ''W-what was that!?'' Saito thought as he looked around the sky in fright. ''A Villian?!''


    Before he could scream or run, thick, a tight pressuretched onto his shoulders, lifting him effortlessly into the air. Panic surged through Saito as he dangled high above the ground from the invisible force, his home city sprawling like a patchwork quilt below.


    "Saito, right?" A sudden voice said from above, causing Saito to look up and see a hooded figure somehow standing in thin air above as they flew through the sky.


    "W-who are you?! What is this?!" Saito''s yells pierced the blowing winds as he thrashed and kicked, but whatever was holding him had an irond grip.


    Sukuna grinned at Saito but remained silent. Saito yelled in fright as they jerked upwards into the air. They grew higher and higher, up until the point that the city below seemed so small.


    "Oh god... Oh god!" Saito muttered in terror as his body came to a stop in ce in the sky. "So high! I''m going to die!"


    "Heh, don''t worry. You won''t die." Sukuna said as she looked down at Saito with a grin. "That is if you do as I say."


    "W-what do you want?"


    "It''s simple really. A month and a half ago, a girl named Toga Himiko stabbed you and drank your blood. Allegedly," Sakuna said as his voice turned cold and uncaring, a far cry from the yful tone he had before. "You''re going to drop all charges against her, and you''re going to tell the police that <i>you</i> attacked her. Acting in self-defense, she defended herself with a boxcutter she found on the ground. There was a struggle, and you ended up stabbed. Toga then tried to help you, but it was misinterpreted as her drinking your blood by a scared and confused onlooker."


    "What!? That''s not what happened! That psycho-"


    Saito was interrupted when his left shoulder was suddenly released, causing him to yell as he swung around from solely his right shoulder. His old stab wound burned to life, sending pain through his chest. Saito''s eyes turned down to the city below, and fear began to squeeze his throat.


    "Don''t drop me! Help!" Saito screamed as tears streamed from his eyes.


    "Tell me, Saito. What happened that day you were stabbed," Sukuna said coldly with his hands in his pockets. "I suggest you be <i>honest</i>."


    Saito''s eyes grew wide and finally closed with resignation.


    "I-I... I attacked Toga-san... she was scared and defended herself. She s-stabbed me in self-defense. It was my fault. Not hers! Sa-Sayaka-chan was confused about what she saw that day... Toga-san was trying to help me. Not d-drink my blood. That''s what h-happened."


    "Good, very good. Now that your memory has been refreshed, I suggest you talk to the Detective in charge of your case and enlighten him about what actually happened. Is that understood?" Sukuna said as Saito felt the invisible force on his right shoulder began to loosen.


    "Yes! Yes, I understand!"


    "Excellent. Oh, and Saito." Sukuna leaned down to peer at Saito with a steady gaze. "Don''t think about telling anyone about this or going back on your word. Because I will find you and your family. Trust me, you don''t want that to happen."


    Saito looked away from Sukuna''s terrifying, cold eyes and nodded. His cries overtook his ability to speak correctly.


    "I''m d you understand. Now, let me take you home. I''m sure you don''t want to keep that dear mother and that sweat little brother of yours waiting." Sukuna said as they began flying through the now night sky. "Don''t worry about Sayaka; her story will match yours. <i>Trust me</i>."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Detective Ige Yoichi slumped into his worn-out armchair, the kind that had molded to his body over the years. His grey hair, once full, was beginning to thin at the temples. His once-bright eyes now seem dulled, with dark circles forming beneath them as he looked around his home.


    The faint light from the streemp outside cast long shadows in the dimly lit living room, where the clock ticked away in a steady rhythm. Yoichi''s coat was crumpled on the floor.


    He surveyed the room, a mix of unwashed coffee mugs and scattered case files cluttering the coffee table, each one a testament to the relentless grind of his job. The harsh memories of the day ¨C crime scenes that haunted him, the grief-stricken faces of victims'' families ¨C flickered through his thoughts like an old film reel. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, trying to ease the tension coiled there.


    Standing up, Yoichi passed his coffee table, where several past-due medical bills sat alongside a framed picture. The picture was of Yoichi, a brown-haired woman, and a little girl hugging a teddy bear. The picture was what one could call the perfect family.


    Stepping out to his balcony, Yoichi pulled out a box of cigars and slid out a stick. Lighting it with a small, engraved lighter. Yoichi ced the cigarette in his mouth and took a long drag.


    Each minute felt like an hour, each hour a lifetime. Yoichi recalled the nights they used to spend together, reading his daughter her favorite stories as she snuggled close, her giggles echoing through the house.


    Now, all he could do was pray for her recovery, reliving moments of joy that seemed so distant now. Thinking of his sick daughter, Yoichi felt a growing headache.


    ''What if the doctors couldn''t find the right treatment? What if... no, I can''t let myself think that way.'' Yoichi thought as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.


    Having finished his current cigarette, Yoichi pulled out another. Just as he was about to light it on, the lights within his house turned off. Looking over his shoulder through his ss sliding door, Yoichi froze. He then took a deep breath to calm himself and walked inside.


    ''Calm down. I must have forgotten to pay the electric bill.'' Yoichi thought as he walked over to the light switch on the wall.


    Flipping it, he froze when he saw a hooded figure sitting on his recliner, the framed picture of his long-dead wife and daughter in his gloved hand. ncing over where he left his service weapon, Yoichi began to slowly slide over to it.


    "Don''t," Sukuna said as he ced the frame down on the recliner''s armrest. "You''ll be dead before you get anywhere close."


    "Who are you?" Yoichi hissed, his nerves firing. Despite his fear, he kept himself calm. His decade''s worth of police experience kicked in. "What are you doing in my home?"


    Sukuna ignored him in favor of lifting up one of his newest case files. Yoichi recognized it immediately; it was the Toga family case. "I''m here to talk to you about this. You wille upon a sudden breakthrough with the case tomorrow. Shuji Saito and Emiko Sayaka can no longer continue the lie, and they will finally tell the truth about what happened that night when young Saito attacked Toga Himiko. I believe their confessions will finally close the case."


    Yoichi swallowed the built-up saliva in his mouth, his face covered in a nervous sweat. "What have you done to those children?"


    "Me? Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. I merely suggested theye clean. Embrace the truth." Sukuna said as he rose to his feet. Yoichi noticed the ck tattoos on his lower face. "Your job, Detective, is to use their confessions to clear Toga Himiko''s name. Drop all of the criminal charges on her."


    "...you''re asking me to twist the truth. Cover Toga Himiko''s crimes." Yoichi grits out, his hands clenched into fists. "I refuse."


    Sukuna grinned at his response as if expecting it. He then reached into his jacket pocket and brought a smartphone. On the screen was a video. A live video. Yoichi''s eyes slowly grew wide in terror as he saw the live feed on the phone.


    The video was of someone recording his sleeping daughter in her hospital room from outside her private room. The video then shifted to show a masked person looking down at the camera before moving back to the young, sick girl.


    "This is your daughter, right? I''m sorry to hear about the cancer. It''s just not fair." Sukuna said as he tossed the phone at Yoichi. The man quickly caught the device, his face contorted in fear and worry. "Kyushu University Hospital. A very good hospital. A very <i>expensive</i> hospital." Sukuna walked over to the coffee shop where several unpaid bills were sitting. He then threw down a photo of Yoichi talking to several tattooed men. "Now, why would a highly decorated detective like yourself be seen talking to the local Yakuza?"


    "...I borrowed money from them," Yoichi said in defeat as he slowly fell to his knees. "I was there to pay off some of my debt."


    <i>m!</i>


    Yoichi jumped when a ck duffle bag full of several stacks of 10,000-dor yen bills was dropped on his coffee table.


    "There. Your debt is paid." Sukuna said as he looked over at Yoichi. "There will even be enough left to pay off those pesky hospital bills for your little girl. Maybe even some for her university tuition."


    "...why are you doing this?"


    Sukuna said nothing and walked over to stand beside Yoichi. Sukuna then grabbed the top of his hood and pulled it back to reveal his young, tattooed face.


    "You know who I am?"


    "...yes. Those tattoos. Those clothes... You''re <i>him</i>. You''re Sukuna."


    "Correct. You do know what me showing you my face means, don''t you?"


    Yoichi looked away from Sukuna''s cold, expressionless face and nodded.


    The seasoned Detective knew what Sukuna was implying. Now that he knew what he looked like, Yoichi and, by extension, his daughter''s lives now belonged in the hands of thispetent and dangerous individual.


    Detective Ige Yoichi was now in Sukuna''s pocket.


    "...I do."


    "Good. Now, here''s what you''re going to do for me."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    I slid down a brick wall in some dirty alleyway with a groan. I yanked my hood off my head as my tattoos melted away. I rubbed my eyes with the back of my forearm and let out a long sigh.


    "Damn, that was harder than I thought."


    I, of course, had no real intentions of hurting any of the people I threatened tonight. It was all a big bluff in the guise of the threat of bloody murder.


    Yes, a bluff...


    While I may have gone a bit overboard with Saito, my whole n relied on him following through. His confession was pivotal for the case to be thrown out to ensure Himiko''s freedom. While I did feel a bit bad about turning him into the attacker and possibly ruining his life, I quickly didn''t care.


    Himiko came first.


    That meant I had to put the fear of god into him.


    When it came to threatening Sayaka, the girl who witnessed Himiko drinking from Saito like a cup of juice, I kinda ended up making her cry. Like a lot. Damn girl was an ugly cryer. But at least I knew she wouldn''t talk.


    Threatening to burn her house down with her and her family inside was rather effective.


    I was worried things were going to get dicey when it came to the Detective, thankfully, my carefully crafted n worked to get him in my back pocket.


    Sure, it cost me a bag of cash and beating up a crew of Yukuza, but it was a long-term investment. He would be my prime source of information when it came to the police or any ongoing investigations with the heroes.


    Hopefully, my money would help his kid...


    Oh, look. I <i>do</i> have a heart.


    As insurance, I had a crow watching each of them just to be safe.


    Despite notpletely agreeing with my evil methods, I couldn''t disagree that they were effective in getting my chess pieces to move where I wanted them to. The only piece left was to take down the king piece.


    The king piece being Himiko''s parents.


    This time, however, I was rather excited about threatening them. Depending on how they reacted, I wouldn''t be opposed to actually going through with my threats.


    "Now then..." I pulled out my phone and looked up the Toga family name. "Where to start."


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>I want to say I''m shocked you guys got your second bonus Chapter in a day, but at this point, I shouldn''t be. That makes three new Chapters in one day! You''ll run out of your weekly supply at this rate.</strong>


    <strong>Anyways, let me hear your thoughts and opinions on this Chapter. This was one of the harder ones to write for me so some feedback would be appreciated. </strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 27: NO. 27 - Mind Shift

    <h4>Chapter 27: NO. 27 - Mind Shift</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Toga Kazuhito adjusted his tie as he stepped out of the love hotel behind him, ready to make the journey home now that some of his stress had been relieved. The dark bustling streets were alive with the sounds of honking horns, chattering pedestrians, and the distant strains of music wafting from nearby cafes.


    Kazuhito was a man in histe forties with dark blonde hair and yellow eyes. He had an angr face with droopy, tired eyes. The man was dressed in his business attire while a suitcase swung back and forth in his hand.


    He navigated through the throngs of people, his briefcase swinging lightly at his side. The aroma of street food filled the air, from sizzling ramen to sweet street desserts, tempting him to pause and indulge.


    Exactly like he did with the whore he hired on a weekly bases. A habit he picked up ever since that <i>monster </i>did what she did. Ruining his family name.


    Kazuhito''s mind traveled back in time to when the demon that was once his daughter was once his sweet little girl. However, it all changed when he and his wife saw her holding a bleeding bird with arge, evil smile. It was then that he realized her true nature.


    ''Why? Why did I help give birth to a thing like that?'' Kazuhito thought as he rubbed his tired face. ''Why couldn''t she have been like her brother or sister?''


    As he strolled along the crowded sidewalks, Kazuhito took in the sights of the city that once seemed so vibrant. Now, it was colorless and dull before his eyes. The muffled sounds of distant traffic faded as he turned into a dimly lit alley, seeking a shortcut to his car. Entering the parking lot where his car was located, Kazuhito reached into his pocket for his car keys.


    Suddenly, his nose twitched as he sensed a presence behind him.


    This was thanks to his quirk, which was called Blood Radar. His quirk allowed him to feel the presence of anyone with blood. However, it was rather weak and only expanded out to 2.5 meters.


    Turning around, Kazuhito looked around at the empty parking lot with confusion.


    "Did I imagine it?" Kazuhito muttered.


    An unnerving silence fell over the parking lot; not even the constant sounds of the bustling city could be heard. Out of nowhere, the sound of approaching footsteps filled the once-quiet air. Before Kazuhito could react, a pair of strong hands grabbed him, pulling him into the darkness.


    Panic surged through him as he struggled against their incredibly strong grip. But before he could yell for help, a cold liquid material slithered over his mouth before solidifying. Silencing him.


    He caught a glimpse of the figure above him¡ªIt was a ck hooded individual dressed in a white, high-cor shirt. But what caught Kazuhito''s eyes were the tattoos on his attacker''s face.


    That and therge, bloodthirsty smile on his face.


    Kazuhito''s heart raced; he had no idea what the hooded figure wanted. All he knew was that this individual was much stronger than him. Despite that, Kazuhito tried his best to escape their hold before a heavy blownded on the side of his head.


    As his consciousness left him, Kazuhito heard the figure finally speak.


    "Be sure to wake up soon, Toga-<i>san</i>," Sukuna said mockingly. "You and I have a lot to <i>talk </i>about."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    The room I stood in loomedrge, an expanse of faded shadows that seem to stretch endlessly. The high ceiling was lost in the darkness, where cobwebs hang like tattered curtains, swaying slightly with the asional draft. The air is thick and stale, carrying a musty odor.


    Walls painted a once-bright color are now dulled by time, are cracked and peeling, and reveal the bare, rough stone beneath. In one corner, an old wooden chair stands as a solitary piece of furniture, its surface scratched and splintered.


    Flickering light from a solitary overhead bulb casts erratic shadows across the floor, where dust particles swirl like tiny ghosts caught in a dance. The floorboards creaked ominously underfoot as I stepped up to the sleeping man.


    <i>Smack!</i>


    "Wake up already," I said as I watched Himiko''s dad wake up from his little nap.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    He blinked as he shook his head, eyes blinking in confusion. Kazuhito tried to move, but the fact that I tied his arms and legs to a rickety old steel chair made it an impossible task.


    "Where-"


    <i>Smack!</i>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    I pped the blonde man again, interrupting his dumb question. Kazuhito grunted and spat out some blood onto the dirty floor from the force of my p. He turned to me with fear in his eyes as I stood still and continued to stare at him.


    There were no words.


    No sounds made between us.


    Just silence.


    Gus Fring, Walter White, Anton Chigurh, Tywin Lannister, and many more were the characters I channeled for the more sinister parts of Sukuna''s personality I used during my nightly escapades. Who knew wasting so many hours of my past life watching so many movies and TV shows woulde in so handy?


    "P-Please, I have a wife and children-"


    <i>Smack!</i>


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "How funny," I said in a low voice. "An unfaithful cheating husband who called one of his children a demon and threw her away at the first sign of trouble is using his family to bargain for his life. Don''t you think it''s <i>funny</i>?"


    The tied-up Toga patriarch looked down at his bare feet, his eyes tearing up. Seeing this caused me to re at the man. "What... do you want from me?"


    I looked behind the man where one of my toad Shikigami sat, nodding; the toad shot out its tongue and wrapped it around Kazuhito''s throat. The man grunted as he was pulled back to the point where the chair he sat on tettered back and forth from its back legs. Kazuhito looked around in fear as he tried to maintain the chair''s bnce from whatever invisible force was holding him. His breathing was starting to bebored as my toads tongue slowly began to tighten.


    "I don''t want anything from you, you failure of a father." I walked over to stand beside the man, my hands in my pockets. "But I do want you to do something for your daughter, Toga Himiko."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Kazuhito''s eyes grew wide in realization. The fear he once had in his eyes turned to shock and then anger, causing his already red face to be a bright crimson.


    "She did this, didn''t she? She hired you to do this to me!" Kazuhito yelled with a red face, the pressure around his neck forgotten. "That damn Demon! I knew I should have-"


    <strong><i>Smack!</i></strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    For the first time in several years, I felt anger rise within me.


    To see what should have been Himiko''s loving father yelling out her name as a curse caused me to grow cold. I was extremely tempted to put the man down like the rest of those rabid dogs I''ve encountered.


    It would be so easy... just one quick twist of my wrist.


    But I controlled myself, even if this human trash deserved to die in my eyes.


    He was still Himiko''s father.


    And I didn''t want to hurt my friend by killing her father.


    "Say another word about her, and I''ll show you what an actual Demon looks like. Do you understand?" As I spoke, I had several blood tendrils slither out of my back. Their sharp ends slithered close to Kazuhito''s face, ready to slice him to shreds. "That <i>clear?</i>"


    The blonde man''s terrified eyes watched the sharp blood tendrils dance around in the air. With a quick nod, the man closed his eyes as if that would save him from his fate.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "C-crystal."


    "Good. Very good."


    With a silentmand, my toad Shinigami released Kazuhito, causing the man to cough and for his chair tond on all fours. I ignored the frightened man and retracted my blood back into me.


    "Your daughter will soon be cleared of all her alleged crimes," I said calmly, my words sending a look of disbelief on Kazuhito''s face. "Any and all charges against her will be dropped, and her innocence will be established. She will be able to return to society to live her life as she pleases."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "What? How is that possible? Himiko attacked and nearly killed her ssmate!" Kazuhito was confused and in disbelief.


    "What you think doesn''t matter. The fact remains that Himiko will be able to go home without fear of being arrested." I said before bringing out several forms from within my jacket. "But she''s not going home to you and your family. No, she won''t have anything to do with you all anymore."


    Kazuhito looked at the papers I dropped on hisp with confusion. As he read the documents, his eyes grew wide.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Are... you serious?"


    "I am." I then reached over to release his right arm. With his writing arm free, I held out a pen with a threatening expression.


    "Now <i>sign</i>."


    x x x


    "My mind... feels fuzzy,"


    I rubbed the side of my head. I leaned into my couch, still dressed in my jujutsu uniform, as I sat in my dark living room. Zaiko sat on the couch beside me, his derpy face looking at me with confusion, while an orange folder sat beside me.


    It was around two in the morning, and all the lights in my house were off, leaving my surroundings in darkness. The only light that illuminated the room was the moonlight that flooded the room from the open shoji door that led outside.


    My actions from tonight and the past few nights were starting to weigh on me.


    While my actions from the past week weren''t as bad as the ones I''ve done during thest two years, which involved me hunting and killing the worst of the worst, they stood out more due to the fact I acted against innocent people.


    Except Himiko''s dad. Fuck that guy.


    "Did I do the right thing?" I asked myself. "Maybe there were other ways? Was what I did right?"


    <i>Of course not.</i>


    I thought I would be okay with being the bad guy in order to help Himiko. To y into the role of <i>Sukuna </i>in order to free her, no matter the cost.


    But after everything was said and done, I found myself having second thoughts on whether or not I did the right thing.


    "How annoying. Why is this soplicated?"


    A pair of soft footsteps caused me to leave my conflicting thoughts.


    Looking behind me, I saw Himiko walk into the living room. Her hair was a loose mess, and she was dressed in an oversized shirt. She was rubbing one of her eyes as she walked over to me, causing me to discreetly slide the orange folder under the couch. Seeing that, Zaiko slid off the couch and slithered over it.


    "Sukuna-kun?" Himiko said with a yawn. Her eyes focused on me and quickly grew wide in concern. "What''s wrong? Did something... happen?"


    "Huh? No. Why do you ask?" I said and stered a smile on my face as I leaned on the couch. "What are you even doing up?"


    Himiko said nothing but continued to walk around the couch. Once in front of me, she sat down on the couch and shuffled over until her body was pressed onto mine. I blinked in confusion as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and then pulled my head onto her chest with a small smile.


    "When... I was younger." Himiko spoke as she rubbed my hair. "There were days when I was really sad and lonely. I wanted my mother to hold me just like this. To make it all go away. But she never did, not since... <i>that </i>day."


    I said nothing as she continued to pet my hair, my earlier thoughts melting away.


    "Well? Do you feel better?" Himiko asked me softly as she continued to hold me.


    "...yeah. I think so."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "I''m happy to hear that," Himiko said as she leaned her head on my own. "I don''t want to see the people I love look so sad, so whenever you feel down, I''ll hold you just like this, okay?"


    "Love?" I smiled in amusement as I sat up from her hold. Himiko smiled and nodded.


    "Yes. I love you. You ept and understand me for who I am, and you let me suck your blood. You even gave me a home where I can be who I want, and you shared your friends with me. People I''vee to love as well," Himiko blushed brightly and hugged my arm. "You''re important to me, Sukuna-kun. So I''ll always be there for you! No matter what happens."


    I sat in silence as Himiko hummed a little song to herself as she continued to cling to my arm.


    I wasn''t sure if the love Himiko felt for me was romantic or if she was just using the word as a term of endearment. Her canon self did throw that word around pretty loosely, after all. Then again, I supposed it didn''t matter which one it was.


    "Thank you, Himiko," I said, causing her to look at me in wonder. "You just helped mee to terms with what I was struggling with."


    "I did? Great!"


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    I smiled at her as the two of us continued to sit on the couch, enjoying each other''s presence andpany.


    <i>I see now... It doesn''t matter what I have to do to keep those I care about safe and happy, even if it means threatening, torturing, or killing those who wish them harm. As cringe as it sounds, I''ll do whatever it takes to keep those I care about safe.</i>


    Because, in the end, they''re all I really have in this world.


    -


    <strong>AN: </strong>


    <strong>I hope you all enjoyed today''s bonus Chapter! </strong>


    <strong>With this, Toga''s first mini arc will being to a close soon. I couldn''t exactly move on with the plot before addressing her situation. </strong>


    <strong>At the same time, we''re starting to see how Souta''s mindset is beginning to crack and change. While he may act it, all his actions and curse energy is having an effect on him in a negative way.</strong>


    <strong>To what ends? We''ll just have to wait and see. </strong>


    <strong>Be sure to leave me plenty ofments! It''s what gives me the motivation to write this.</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 28: NO. 28 - A Glimpse

    <h4>Chapter 28: NO. 28 - A Glimpse</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Several of Japan''s pro heroes were gathering together in arge meeting room. Among them were Eraser Head, Crust, Midnight, Edgeshot, Best Jeanist, Mirko, and finally, Ingenium. These heroes were seated around a long table as two dozen police officers stood in front of the room''s walls.


    "Great, now that we''re all here, we can begin." Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa said as he walked up to therge projector screen in the front of the room. "I gathered you all here due to the urgency of the matter at hand."


    Naomasa pointed the small remote in his hand towards the projector screen. With a push, the projector came to life and disyed a blurry image of a hooded individual jumping from the rooftops of an undisclosed city.


    Eraser Head eyed the elusive figure he had spent thest year trying to track. "Sukuna."


    "That cheating bastard!" Mirko yelled with her arms crossed as she red over at the image. "Just wait until our rematch! I''ll kick your ass."


    "Easy there, Mirko." Midnight teased as she leaned back on her chair. "It''s just a picture."


    "I know that, damn it!"


    "Yes, as some of you are already aware. The individual in this picture is the Villian known by many as Sukuna, The King of Curses." Naomasa said as he clicked his remote again.


    The image changed to another image of Sukuna but from a different angle. It was zoomed in to show off the bottom half of Sukuna''s tattooed face, but due to the distance this picture was shot, the image was extremely blurry.


    Naomasa looked away from the image and addressed the assembled heroes. "What we initially thought was a lone Vignte has quickly changed to be a dangerous murderer. He is now a suspect in several murders and assaults, making him a person of high interest tow enforcement. It appears that wherever Sukuna goes, violence and bloodshed follow. In just a short year, he has caused multiple deaths and has hospitalized those he chooses to spare. My sources indicate that the entire underworld of Japan does their best to avoid him."


    "I don''t understand." Ingenium, otherwise known as Ida Tensei, said. "What is his goal? There must be a reason why Sukuna is doing all this. Do the police have any leads as to why?"


    "At the moment, Sukuna''s actions are unknown. There doesn''t seem to be any rhyme or reason for his violent actions." Naomasa said with a troubled look. "That makes him unpredictable and extremely dangerous."


    "Indeed." Crust nodded his head before turning to an annoyed Mirko. "However, what bothers me about Sukuna is the fact that Mirko here fought and lost to him. I would have thought that such a killer like him would have ended her life or even injured her to the point of retirement."


    "He got a lucky shot, that''s it!" Mirko shot up to her feet with an angry look. "The only reason I lost to that damn bastard was due to that cheap trick at the end."


    "Regardless, Sukuna could defeat a pro hero of Mirko''s caliber." Best Jeanist said as he brushed his hair to the side. "That makes him extremely dangerous. He''s no longer some small-time vignte, criminal, or thug. He is a lethal viin. Tell us, Mirko, about your fight with him. What quirk does Sukuna have?"


    Everyone turned to the bunny-themed heroine as she sat back down with a thoughtful expression.


    "That''s the thing," Mirko said as she crossed her arms under her chest. "I''m not sure. During our fight, he mainly stuck to using that super durable staff. From our fight, Sukuna has incredible strength, speed, reflexes, and martial arts skills that let him keep up with me. But in the end, he made this odd hand motion, and I suddenly felt my instincts yell at me to run. And before I could get away, <i>something</i> grabbed me."


    "What do you mean by ''something''?" Edgeshot asked as he looked over at Mirko with curiosity.


    "It''s hard to describe," Mirko said, rubbing her hair in frustration. "It felt like an invisible force grabbed me and held me in ce. My instincts were screaming that I was in extreme danger as if I were trapped in the jaws of a powerful predator. But before I could even attempt to escape, Sukuna charged at me and... knocked me out with one punch." Mirko finished her ount, feeling a mix of shame and anger.


    "So we have a highly skilled killer with an unknown quirk that can freeze someone in ce." Eraser Head said with a sigh. "We''re not in a good spot."


    "Indeed." Naomasa nodded as he looked out at everyone in the room. "Despite that, we can''t continue to let Sukuna do as he pleases. We have to bring him to justice."


    "While I hate to admit this." Midnight said, gaining everyone''s attention. "Despite his methods, Sukuna''s actions have caused the crime rate to drop 15% over thest year to today. Now, I''m not saying what he''s doing is okay. No, he''s a killer, and he needs to be stopped. But at the same time, his mere presence is bing a deterrent for criminals and viins alike."


    "That''s because the criminal underworld knows that Sukuna won''t hesitate to kill them. That''s not a deterrent. That''s fear. And fear shouldn''t be what stops evil or crime from urring." Best Jeanist said as he leaned forward on the table. "Sukuna must be stopped and charged for his heinous crimes. There will be no exceptions."


    "Still..." Eraser Head said with a sigh. "Sukuna is also arge part of why several dozen kidnapped children have been able to go home. He''s motivations make no sense."


    "Even so, Jeanist is correct. Sukuna is now one of our top priority targets," Naomasa stated as he epted a stack of folders from one of his officers. He began passing the folders around to the gathered heroes. "These contain all the information my team and I have gathered on him. For now, I rmend that anyone who encounters Sukuna immediately call for backup. He is not an opponent to be faced alone. I believe our best chance for victory is through a coordinated attack involving many pro heroes working together."


    Midnight leaned over to the rabbit-themed hero. "He''s talking about you, Mirko."


    "Shut up!"


    "Enough." Eraser Head muttered as he received one of the folders. "We have a lot to cover. So let''s get to work."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    In the tranquility of the early morning, I sat cross-legged on a worn mat in the center of my home''s dojo. The air was still, carrying only the faint scent of sandalwood from the far-off burning incense. My eyes were gently closed, shielding me from the vibrant world beyond. I took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill my lungs, then slowly exhaled, releasing any tension that clung to me.


    <i>Find it... find it. Find the core of cursed energy.</i>


    With each breath, I focused on the rhythm of my chest rising and falling, allowing thoughts to drift like leaves on a gentle stream. I acknowledged them without judgment, letting theme and go, inviting a sense of calm to envelop me. My mind slowly began to settle like dust after a storm.


    <i>Turn negative energy into positive energy.</i>


    As I sank deeper into the stillness, a wave of serenity washed over me, grounding me in the present moment. At the same time, waves of cursed energy danced around my body like roaring mes.


    Time seemed to stretch, with each minute transforming into an eternity of peace. The sounds of the world outside faded away, reced by the gentle rhythm of my heartbeat.


    It was then that I finally saw <i>it</i>. It was a flicker, barely a second. But I finally saw <strong><i>it</i></strong>.


    The core. The core of cursed energy!


    But as fast as it came, it quickly disappeared just as I was about to reach out and grab it!


    "Shit!" I fell back to my back and looked up at the star-filled night sky. "I was so close! It was right there! Damn it all!"


    Still, despite my failure to grab the core of curse energy, I was still extremely happy to finally have gotten a glimpse of it after several months of meditation to reach it.


    It was only a matter of time before I learned the reversed curse technique!


    Sure, I could use Round Deer to heal myself, but I didn''t want to rely on my Shikigami all the time. I needed to be able to heal my body on my own.


    "Ah," I muttered as it finally hit me that I had meditated all day. "Not again."


    "Sukuna-kun! You''re finally done! I was getting worried for a second there."


    I looked over to see Himiko dressed in her pajamas as she walked out of our house, a small smile on her face. In her hands was a bucket full of ice and water.


    "...Himiko."


    "Yes?"


    "What''s that bucket for?"


    "Oh, I was worried you turned to stone, so I was going to dump this on you to check."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "...thanks?"


    Himiko nodded and spun back to go back inside. "You''re wee! I put your dinner in the fridge, by the way. I''m going to bed now, goodnight!"


    "Uh, yeah. Goodnight."


    I nodded numbly at her as she closed the sliding door before standing up. I moved around and stretched my stuff joints with a nervous expression.


    She had been in a lot better spirits after she had called Keiko, Izuku, and even Mei back to let them all know she was okay after running off that day. They had all epted her apology rather quickly, causing Himiko to glow with glee, knowing that her new friends didn''t hate her. She and Keiko were even in the talks of setting up some sort of get-together or sleepover with just the three girls.


    The fools, good luck getting Mei to agree toe along.


    "I need an rm clock..." As I was finishing my stretches, I grinned and decided to check on my luck today. With a snap of my fingers, the gacha machine that''s been the bane of my new gambling addiction popped into existence.


    <strong>[Total SP: 12,710]</strong>


    "It''s not gambling night, but let''s see what you got for me tonight, Gacha gods. I''m feeling lucky," I said as I used enough points to get a tinum tier reward pull. Grabbing the glowing prize ball, I tossed it in the air with an amused smile before snapping it open. "Heh, maybe I''ll get a special-grade cursed weapon? I wouldn''t say no to the Split Soul Katana. It''ll go well with yful Cloud-"


    <strong>[You have pulled: Gojo Satoru''s Cursed Technique, Limitless! Rank: tinum.]</strong>


    I felt my breath leave me suddenly as I fell to my knees. The knowledge of how to use the Limitless filled my brain in an instant.


    This was it.


    I did it!


    Before I could jump for joy and thank the benevolent gacha gods, my brain jerked to a stop when it sensed a missing qualification in order for me to use the Limitless technique.


    The Six Eyes.


    "...Crapbaskets."


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>I''ve been getting a lot ofmentsining about how I''m handling some aspects of the story. I can understand that some of you are expecting some Shakespeare levels of writing on something I do in my free time, but I''m mostly writing this for fun and to release some of my frustrations with the original MHA story.</strong>


    <strong>Oh, and to read everyone''s funnyments.</strong>


    <strong>Keep that in mind as you read. </strong>


    <strong>Anyways, I''ll see you all on the next bonus Chapter!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time.</strong>

 Chapter 29: NO. 29 - Free

    <h4>Chapter 29: NO. 29 - Free</h4>


    The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as Himiko and I settled into a corner booth at the cozy caf¨¦. Sunlight streamed through therge windows, casting a warm glow over the polished wooden tables. The gentle hum of conversation and the clinking of cutlery added to the inviting atmosphere.


    After receiving our orders, I sipped on my ck coffee while Himiko indulged in a rich mocha, its choctey sweetness bringing a smile to her face. Only for it to quickly melt into a nervous expression.


    "Rx, Himiko. Trust me, it''s all going to be fine."


    "I do trust you. It''s just... I can''t help but be a little nervous," Himiko confessed, her eyes darting around the caf¨¦, a hint of fear in them.


    "Don''t be," I said as I grabbed her hand. "Everything is going to be fine. I made sure of it."


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    Himiko nodded and took another sip of her drink. Despite my attempt to calm her down, she still looked a little nervous. The two of us continued to wait for our guest in the cafe. With each bell ring of the cafe''s door, Himiko seemed to grow even more nervous.


    "He''s here," I said without looking up while I sipped my second coffee. Himiko let out a cute squeak as the cafe''s bell chimed once again.


    Entering the cafe was no other than Detective Ige Yoichi. His aged eyes scanned the cafe before falling on me and Himiko. He froze momentarily when our eyes met. A slow grin rose on my face as I watched him swallow the lump in his throat.


    After taking a deep breath, Yoichi walked over to us and ced his briefcase on our table. As he sat down, Himiko slid over until her body was pressed against mine.


    "Detective Ige," I said with an easygoing tone. My face was etched into one of superiority, resembling a certain king of heroes. "I was beginning to think you wouldn''t show."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "...sorry. Getting everything in ce took some time." Yoichi said as he opened his briefcase. He then looked over to Himiko. "It''s nice to finally meet you, Toga-san. I''m Detective Ige Yoichi. I''m d to see you''re alright."


    "Ah, yes," Himiko said without looking at the Detective, her eyes scanning the windows and doors for any uninvited guests. "Are you... the one who has been handling my case?"


    "Indeed I am... Or at least, I was."


    "Huh?" Himiko said in confusion as Yoichi slid over several sheets of paper to her.


    Clicking on a pen, he held it out to Himiko. "Write down <i>your </i>version of events from that day. Once I receive that, I''ll take care of the remaining bits of the investigation to close it. It should be but another few days before I can clear you."


    "...huh?" Himiko said numbly. "Clear me? What... do you mean?"


    Raising an eyebrow, Yoichi turned to me questioningly. I smiled innocently and took another sip of my drink. Sighing, Yoichi looked back to Himiko.


    "Shuji Saito and Emiko Sayaka have revealed the truth about what actually happened at Corellia Junior High three months ago. Shuji Saito confessed to me that he attacked you because you rejected him. In anger, he tried to attack you. In order to defend yourself from a muchrger and stronger attacker, you found a nearby box cutter and struck him. Emiko Sayaka has also admitted that she was under the influence of hallucinating drugs the day she witnessed the incident involving you and Saito. What she thought was you drinking his blood through a straw was actually a misinterpretation. Once her mind was cleared of the drugs, Sayaka was able to recall that, in actuality, you were attempting to give Saito first aid."


    Himiko blinked numbly and nodded. She then turned to me with a questioning nce, only to receive a smile from me.


    <strong>[+40 SP]</strong>


    "...yes. That''s right." Himiko said with a frown, leaning into the story. "That''s... what happened."


    Yoichi closed his eyes and sighed, almost as if in disappointment. "I see. I need you to retell those <i>exact </i>events in writing. Once I submit those, you will be cleared of any crimes and wrongdoing. You will be free to rejoin society with a clean record."


    Nodding, Himiko quickly began to do what she was told, but she stopped.


    "What''s... what''s going to happen to Saito-kun and Sayaka-chan?" Himiko whispered, a tinge of regret in her voice. I nced at her and watched as she waited for Yoichi''s response.


    "Saito is currently in a Juvenile Detention Center where he will serve his time for his... crime. Sayaka''s case is still being determined. My guess is that she will also face some time in a Detention Center. But that''s still to be determined by a judge." Yoichi said as he then reached into his briefcase to pull out another stack of papers. "This is also for you, Toga-san."


    epting the papers, Himiko read them over with steadily widening eyes. For the first time today, arge, bright smile broke out on her face, a clear sign of her relief and joy. "Is this... for real?"


    "Indeed," Yoichi muttered and eyed me with a careful gaze, his caution evident. "Your parents have signed a private agreement stating they will have no more to do with you and that any family ties you have with them are no more. As of today, you are free to live your life as you please."


    "Does that mean... that I''m free?"


    "Yes, Himiko," I said, causing the happy girl to turn to me. Tears pooled in her eyes.


    "You''re <i>free </i>now."


    <strong>[+250 SP]</strong>


    x x x


    The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm golden light over the park as Himiko and I strolled along the winding path. The air was fresh, scented with blooming flowers and the distant aroma of a nearby food cart, whereughter mingled with the sound of sizzling.


    "Look at those ducks," Himiko pointed, giggling softly as a cluster of mards sshed in a small pond, quacking loudly as they fought over breadcrumbs tossed by an enthusiastic child. Her face was free of any medical mask or hood to hide her identity.


    I nced over, a smile creeping onto my face. "They seem to have their priorities straight," I replied, raising an eyebrow yfully. "A perfect picture of chaos."


    As we walked, the leaves danced gently in the breeze, creating a soft rustle that blended harmoniously with the distant sounds of children ying. The park was alive¡ªcouples were sprawled out on nkets, families were ying catch, and joggers zipped past, their feet thudding rhythmically against the path.


    "You know," Himiko said thoughtfully, her cat-like eyes cloudy as she took in our surroundings. "The world around us feels so... magical right now. It feels like the world is slowing down just for me."


    I nodded, my gaze lingering on her as she sauntered with her hands behind her. "Is that so? Makes you appreciate the little things, doesn''t it?"


    "Yeah... exactly."


    We continued walking side by side, her fingers brushing mine asionally. Himiko took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin. "I''m so happy I met you," she abruptly said, ncing up at me. "It''s thanks to you that my life''s changed so much... I can finally be <i>me</i>."


    I shook my head and watched as an older couple walked past us, hand in hand. "You don''t have to thank me. I just did what I had to do to help my friend. Now, you can go back to school or do whatever you want. The sky''s the limit."


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    Himiko''s perpetual blush grew brighter, and she nodded as we approached a small gazebo surrounded by vibrant flower beds. As we stepped inside, her eyes lit up. "Let''s sit for a while," she suggested, gesturing to the weathered wooden benches.


    Sinking onto the bench, we shared afortable silence, watching the world around us. Children''sughter echoed in the distance, and for a moment, everything felt just right.


    I turned to her, my expression softening.


    Despite my brain telling me to shut up and enjoy the silence, a part of me wanted to open up. "You know, I really enjoy these silent moments with you, Himiko. It''s nice... Growing up, I used to be all alone after Keiko left. So having someone else to share the silence makes it a little easier."


    Himiko smiled, her heart fluttering at his words. "Me too, Sukuna-kun. It''s nice to just be here. Together."


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    The two of us sat in silence as we watched the world around us without much care for anything.


    Suddenly, all the terrible things I did to get to this point felt extremely worth it. Seeing Himiko''s rxed smile, I knew I would do it again.


    "Hey, Sukuna-kun?"


    "Yeah?"


    "Can... can I continue to live with you?" Himiko whispered, a tinge of nervousness in her voice, as she slid closer to me until our shoulders were pressed together.


    "Of course. You can stay as long as you want."


    <strong>[+100 SP]</strong>


    "Okay... then I''ll stay with you forever then."


    At her response, I found myself chuckling. She seemed offended by myugh, but she quickly joined me.


    For the first time since my parents died, I felt a part of my heart and soul regain itself.


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>2000 PS, Acheived!</strong>


    <strong>And with that, Toga''s first mini arces to an end. I do feel I could have done better at flushing all the real world implications on a situation like hers, but we''re not here for all that real world BS.</strong>


    <strong> We''re here for anime shenanigan''s and fights.</strong>


    <strong>Anyways, let me know your thoughts and what future events or ideas you''d like to see. I''m trying to make this fic as interactive as I can. It''s why I did all those past polls.</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 30: NO. 30 - Gambling Night

    <h4>Chapter 30: NO. 30 - Gambling Night</h4>


    Nestled atop Mount Mitsumine in the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park was the Mitsumine Shrine.


    It stands as a testament to ancient Japanese spirituality and craftsmanship. This mountaintop sanctuary, often described as one of Japan''s most beautiful mountain shrines, offers visitors or tourists a unique blend of natural beauty, historical significance, and spiritual energy.


    With its rare wolf worship and intricate architectural details, Mitsumine Shrine provides a captivating experience for those willing to venture off the beaten path.


    Or so this pamphlet in my hand says.


    While all this was fine and dandy, I wasn''t here for all that touristy crap.


    No, I was here because I heard that this shrine is said to bring good luck to all who visit it.


    And who needs a boost to their luck stat more than anyone? Well, that''s me! The guy RNGesus and the Gacha gods seemed to have an issue with.


    "We''re all set up, Boss." Clone A said as he motioned to the table full of offerings and the burning essence sticks. "Phase 1 is done."


    "Excellent," I said and raised a walkie-talkie. "Team B. How''s it going on your end? Over."


    "Team B reporting in. All the wolf statues have been prayed to, and we left plenty of offerings behind. Phase 2 isplete. Over." Clone C said from the other end.


    I nodded and looked over to the majestic shrine. This location would typically be ripe with locals and foreign visitors, but it was empty due to the dark sky above me. It was around three in the morning, meaning there wasn''t anyone around to disturb my ritual.


    "Where''s Hikari?!" I called out as I scanned my surroundings. After a few seconds of looking around, I finally found the crow. He was cuddling up next to Crow Kirara. "Get over here!"


    (Tch! Yeah, yeah.) Crow Hikari muttered and flew to stand on my shoulder. (Why do you need me anyway?)


    "Well, if you''re anything like your counterpart. You''ll be bursting with good luck for me to sponge off." I said while holding up some corn for him to eat, which he did. "After all, tonight we gamble away my hard-earned saved-up points!"


    (Hah! I see! Let''s gamble it all away then!) Crow Hikari said as he began to dance a little crow dance while rave music started to y in the background. Looking back, I saw two of my clones dancing while arge portable speaker sat on the ground.


    "Alright, knock it off!" I yelled, causing one of the clones to turn off the music.


    "...buzz kill."


    "Who invited him?"


    "Gueh," Zaiko muttered from his spot on awn chair.


    I ignored theirments and brought out the prayer beads from my ck and white kimono. With a snap of my fingers, the Gacha machine materialized to life. I then dismissed my clones and took a deep breath.


    <strong>[Total SP: 9,949]</strong>


    "I was somehow lucky to have pulled the Limitless a week ago; now all I need to do is get the Six Eyes. Hopefully, all my preparations wille in clutch." I muttered and mulled over what to do. "Let''s see... while I could go all in and do two tinum pulls, I could waste almost all my points if they fail like those other six other tries I did over the year. No, I need to y this smart. Start small and do one tinum pull at the end."


    With my mind made up, I reached over to the machine and used enough points for two Silver-tier pulls. Most of the rewards were more junk or clothes, leaving only two worthwhile rewards.


    <strong>[You have pulled: Gakuganji Yoshinobu''s Guitar! Rank: Silver.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have pulled: Miwa Kasumi''s New Shadow Style Techniques! Rank: Silver.]</strong>


    "Not bad, not bad. Okay, next!"


    Moving up, I used enough points to do two Gold tier pulls. Sadly, the majority of the pulls were some repeat skills, items, or techniques I already had. Fortunately, myst pull ended up being a decent reward.


    <strong>[You have pulled: Yoshino Junpei''s Shikigami, Moon Dregs! Rank: Gold.]</strong>


    "Another Shikigami," I said as Crow Hikari and I watched a swirl of CE appear in the air before us.


    Quickly, the CE formed itself into arge, glowing jellyfish-like creature with several tendrils flowing about. Itsrge ck eyes looked around before settling on me with an unfocused look.


    "Hey there," I said without much care. My hands pressed together to unleash a Piercing Blood attack. "I''m just going to ask you this once... are you loyal to me?"


    Fortunately for the jellyfish, it nodded and flew to stand behind me.


    "Good. You will be known as... Jello, from now on!" I said, causing Jello to tilt its head in confusion before nodding.


    I thenmanded Jello to go chill next to Zaiko. Jello followed my order and glided over to my wormypanion. The two of them turned to one another before nodding in acknowledgment.


    "Hmm, maybe all of the Shikigami I pull will be naturally loyal to me? Then again, Rika is a different case. She''s incredibly loyal to Yuta, so who knows if she''ll be like Zaiko or Jello." I said, turning back to the gacha machine. "Ah, well. I''ll leave future me to deal with that. Now then, let''s keep going."


    I twisted the machine''s dial after using 1500 SP for a Diamond tier pull. As I waited for my reward, I grew more anxious now that I was at the more expensive tiers. I rubbed my prayer beads between my palms and prayed to any god who would listen.


    "C''mon Gege! Give me something good!"


    <strong>[You have pulled: Fushiguro Toji''s, The Chain of a Thousand Miles! Rank: Diamond.]</strong>


    "I mean... this is fine. It''s fine. One more time!" I turned the dial after spending another 1500 SP. I waited anxiously, my hands blurring as they rubbed the prayer beads, causing smoke to bellow out from the friction. "C''mon, C''mon, C''mon! Hikari! Dance! Boost my luck!"


    (You got it!) Crow Hikari cawed and began to dance back and forth while Crow Kirara turned the music back on.


    <strong>[You have pulled: Zenin Naobito''s Cursed Technique, Projection Sorcery! Rank: Diamond.]</strong>


    "Yes! Great pull!" I pumped my fist and felt the knowledge of the technique fill my brain. Crow Kirara turned off the music and waited for her cue. "I was going to blow my brains out if I got another repeat technique."


    (Can you do that while I''m not around?) Crow Hikari said as he pped his wings.


    I ignored my crow and turned to my remaining points. I had 3,549 SP left. It''s just barely enough for a tinum pull. I took a deep breath to calm my jittery nerves and reached for the gacha machine.


    "...use 3500 SP."


    Twisting the dial, my crows and I waited with bated breath as the machine vibrated and glowed. Due to the sess with myst tinum pull that resulted in me gaining the Limitless, I was worried all my good luck for the month was gone.


    <i>Clink.</i>


    (Yo, Boss... you got something.)


    "I did? Huh, I thought my mind was just coping."


    I reached out to the glowing prize ball and tenderly held it in my palm. I swallowed the lump in my throat as my mind whirled at what could be within the small stic ball. "Come on, give me something good."


    <strong>[You have pulled: Ryomen Sukuna''s Domain Expansion, Malevolent Shrine! Rank: tinum.]</strong>


    "Holy... shit!" I yelled, my eyes wide as saucers. "Finally! A Domain Expansion! And not just any Domain Expansion! <i>The </i>Domain Expansion!"


    Even though I was thrilled to have won one of JJK''s best Domains, I felt my mind hit a roadblock.


    "I see... This is like the Limitless." I said with a thoughtful expression. "To use Malevolent Shrine, I must already have Sukuna''s Shrine technique. Without that, I can''t use the domain. It''s safe to assume that any other Domain Expansion I pull will need its original technique in order for it to work. Tch! I should have gotten Chimera Shadow Garden or Coffin of the Iron Mountain, then.


    I flopped onto the ground and looked at the night sky with a disappointed but happy smile.


    "Regardless, I got some great rewards today," I said, cing my hands behind my head. "Hmm, I wonder how the girls are doing?"


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Three girls, Keiko, Mei, and Himiko, sat on the carpeted floor, surrounded by colorful nkets and pillows in Keiko''s bedroom. The soft sounds of conversation and the ying movie on the blue-haired girl''sptop filled the air.


    Keiko, dressed in her pajamas, excitedly pulled out a deck of cards out of her closet. Himiko, wearing an oversized shirt she had borrowed from Souta''s closet, continued to style Mei''s hair. Meanwhile, Mei, who was dressed in a loose shirt and shorts, nestled deep into the pile of cushions she had created for herself while Himiko worked on her hair.


    In Mei''s hands was thetest issue of Inventors Weekly. It was all she was able to grab before her mother all but snatched her from her room before driving her to Keiko''s house for a "normal girl" sleepover.


    "How about a game of Uno, girls?" Keiko asked as she crawled over to Mei''s pile of cushions.


    "That depends. How much are we ying for?" Mei asked as she flipped a page in her magazine.


    "...you and Sou-chan y for money a lot, don''t you?" she quipped, her tone light and yful.


    "Yup." Mei smiled as she looked up from her magazine. "But he usually ropes my Papa in, too."


    "Hm, that sounds like him." Keiko sighed, turning to look over at Himiko, who was humming. She continued to work on Mei''s hair. "Hey, Himiko-chan. I know how Mei-chan met Sou-chan, but I never asked how you two met."


    Himiko nced up from Mei''s hair, a small, warm smile on her face. "I ran into him one night while I was out for a walk. I hadn''t eaten all day, and he offered me a meat bun." As she talked, Mei''s mouth fell into a small frown. Confusing her before she shrugged the feeling away. "We started talking and discovered that we had a lot inmon."


    "Hmm." Keiko smiled knowingly as she looked at both Himiko and Mei. "I see. What a wonderful story. It seems like Sou-chan grew to be a lot more generous with age. Back at the orphanage, he wouldn''t even think about sharing his stuff with anyone. Well, other than me, at least."


    "That reminds me..." Mei said as Himiko stepped away, her work done. Her hair was now styled into twin tails. "You and Souta grew up together, right? How... how was he like?"


    Keiko blinked as both Himiko and Mei looked at her with curious expressions. Keiko took a moment to collect her thoughts, her gaze drifting off to a corner of the room, where a small framed picture of her and Souta back from when they lived in the orphanage hung on the wall.


    "Well, Sou-chan was always a bit of a mystery to me when we were younger. All he did was read or draw," Keiko started with a nostalgic smile on her face. "He was the kind of person who would ignore everyone around him, no matter who it was. Even though he didn''t seem to care much about anyone, he always kept an eye out for me for some reason." Keiko said as she brushed her left shoulder unconsciously, catching Himiko''s eye.


    "I guess it was because I was quite a handful¡ªmore than any other kid. There was one summer when I tried to build a treehouse for everyone. I nearly got some kids and myself stuck in that tree behind the orphanage for hours! But then he showed up and helped us all down." Himiko and Mei smiled softly as they listened to Keiko. "From that point on, he always nagged me to be careful in whatever I did. Sou-chan would even share his snacks with me sometimes and tell me some of his made-up stories. He also helped me with my homework when I couldn''t figure it out."


    Keiko paused, a hint ofughter in her eyes. "But he could also be a little odd and overprotective, too. Once, a kid from our elementary school tried to bully me because I... didn''t have any parents... but then Sou-chan showed up and began beating up the boy. He did end up getting in trouble, but he didn''t care. It was hrious and kinda scary at the same time."


    Looking back at Himiko and Mei, Keiko''s happy expression melted into one of sadness. "But a few years back, I was lucky enough to finally be adopted. I was so happy when they told me I would go home with a new family. Only to quickly cry when I realized I''d be leaving Sou-chan behind." Keiko said as she quickly rubbed her eyes. "H-he said, "Don''t worry about me, damn it. Go on and be happy. I''ll be just fine."... He always had that bad habit of saying bad words. After I left, we''d talk on the phone every now and then, but it wasn''t the same. I... I missed my <i>big brother</i> a lot."


    "Keiko-chan..." Himiko whispered and crawled over to the now softly crying girl to give her a hug. Mei looked ufortable, but she quickly ended up copying Himiko, not too sure what else to do. The three hugged one another as a warm,fortable silence hung in the room.


    "Just so you know," Keiko whispered from between her two new but still precious friends. "If either of you do something to him... you''ll regret it."


    "...huh?"


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>And with that, we''ve reached the end of all your avable Chapters for the week. And it''s only Wednesday, too. </strong>


    <strong>I know this Chapter gets very touchy and emotional, and that might not jive with some of you. But it was necessary for her character. Hopefully I was able to drive home that Keiko sees Souta as a brother and not a potential love interest. </strong>


    <strong>Quick question, do you all prefer the way I''m currently releasing Chapters? As in you all meet my PS requirements and you get a Chapter immediately, or should I change it up so that you all get a new Chapter everyday as long as the PS goals are met? At least that way you all aren''t starved for Chapters until Sunday.</strong>


    <strong>Anyways, leave me your thoughts andments and I''ll see you all next time!</strong>


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 31: NO. 31 - Signing Event

    <h4>Chapter 31: NO. 31 - Signing Event</h4>


    "Thank you for your continued support!"


    "O-of course! Thank you for all your work, Gege-sensei!"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    I waved goodbye to the incredibly excited young man who was cosying Michngelo as one of the event staff escorted him toward the exit. I adjusted the cardboard Mechamaru helmet over my head and greeted the next person in line.


    "I-I-I''m a huge fan of yours, Gege-sensei!" The young girl with the features of a prime mantis said as she held out volume 1 of my TMNT series. "C-could you please sign this?"


    "Absolutely. What''s your name, kid?" I said as I grabbed the book from her.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "It''s Ike M-Makoto!"


    "Well, Ike. Thank you for enjoying and supporting my work." I said, my voiceced with appreciation. "I can''t wait for you to see the uing movie. We all poured our hearts into it."


    "I will! I absolutely will!"


    I waved goodbye as Makoto was guided off. Looking over to the left, I saw an extremely long line of excited fans waiting patiently to be next. Arge majority of them were cosying characters from both my TMNT and DBZ series.


    There were even some individuals cosying characters from my other book series if the survival outfits, wizards'' capes, and various space costumes were anything to go off by.


    Why was I currently at a significant signing event held within an expensive venue dedicated to just this event? ording to my editor, Asuka, my first public appearance was all to promote and generate hype for the uing TMNT movie. By extension, all the hype around the movie would also boost its manga sales.


    Seeing as how my series had passed 55 million units soldst month, the campaign is doing exactly that.


    The movie was set to take ce after the TV anime series ended in a couple of weeks. While I wasn''t that interested in continuing the story after I finished it in my manga, my editor and NAPPA''s president made some excellent points about why I should do it.


    The movie was intended to be a send-off to the ninja brothers and a love letter to the fans. At that point, I agreed to do the movie and wrote the story.


    And thus, here I was, signing book after book as I met hundreds of my fans. Arge movie poster hung behind me while my editor and staff sold books and merchandise off to the side. Although I would have preferred to be training or messing around with my friends, the steady number of points I received from each interaction made this event worthwhile.


    The extra money from the event was also nice.


    "Gege-sensei." the next person in line said as he stepped in front of the table I sat on. "I''m a big fan of all your works. Could you give me the honor of signing my book?"


    I turned to him and saw that he looked somewhat familiar. He had a reptile-like appearance, with bright green scales for skin and a face shaped like that of a lizard. His hair was a desaturated pinkish purple in color, and it was rtively long and swept backward. He was dressed in a ck hoodie with his hood over his head, and a red ninja mask covered his eyes.


    <i>Oh shit, it''s your boi, Spinner!</i>


    "Sure thing," I said and epted the veryst volume for TMNT. "What''s your name?"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Ah, it''s... Iguchi Sh¨±ichi," Sh¨±ichi said as he rubbed the side of his head with an embarrassed blush. "I just want to say that your series means a lot to me! When I bought the weekly Jump, I couldn''t help but be super immersed in the story! It was as if I was right there. I felt... seen."


    "I see. I''m happy to hear that, Iguchi." I signed his book and added a quick drawing of the four brothers, much to his delight. "I''m d you connected with my story like that. I wanted to show the world that Heteromorphs could also be amazing heroes. I believe that anyone, no matter what they look like, could be heroic and a role model."


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    Sh¨±ichi''s eyes grew wide as I returned his book to him with a nod of my cardboard head.


    "Are... you like us too?" Sh¨±ichi asked with a hopeful tone. "Is that why you''re hiding your appearance."


    <i>Let''s see what to say. I could lie and rack in the points, or I could be honest. What to do...</i>


    "Would it make you feel better if I was or not?" I asked as I leaned on the table. Sh¨±ichi looked momentarily taken aback. "I''m not blind to what you''re getting at, Iguchi. But I think you need to remember what I was trying to convey in my story. Remember, it doesn''t matter what others may say or do to you; what matters is..."


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    "Doing what''s right." Sh¨±ichi finished one of the quotes Leonardo said often in my book. A slight look of eptance on his face. "Yes... you''re right, Gege-sensei. I''m sorry for being too forward."


    "It''s okay, Iguchi. Really." I said and held out my fist for a ssic fist bump, surprising Sh¨±ichi. "Go on, don''t leave me hanging."


    "R-right!"


    <strong>[+70 SP]</strong>


    Sh¨±ichi smiled widely and bumped my fist. He was then guided away by one of the event staff, arge smile on his face as he held his book tightly. I waved goodbye at him and then turned to the next person in line.


    Unfortunately, everyone else wanted a fist bump as well after seeing me give one to Sh¨±ichi.


    <i>Ah, shit. </i>


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    The cold night air cut through the alley as Bubaigawara Jin, or Twice, stumbled forward, pain radiating from his leg where the long metal shard had bitten into him.


    Jin was dressed in a ck and gray bodysuit that covered his bodypletely, along with gray boots. The upper half of his signature mask was gray with white eye sockets, while the lower half covering his mouth was ck. Jin also sported red and green wristbands where he stored his measuring tapes.


    Each step sent fresh waves of agony shooting through his body, but he couldn''t afford to stop. Behind him, several pairs of footsteps echoed a relentless pursuit that drove him to push past his limits.


    "Get the hell back here, you masked Bastard!"


    "You''re not getting away, not ever!"


    "Says you! They''re gonna catch us!" Jin yelled against his best judgment.


    ''Tonight''s job was not supposed to end like this!'' Jin thought as he ran.


    When Jin heard that the famous group, The Vanishing des, was searching for a new member, he eagerly seized the opportunity to join them. Bing part of this sessful criminal organization, known for its impressive sess rate, would provide him with a steady stream of ie from their operations.


    And for a couple of months, it was working out exactly like he hoped. Their crimes or heists were sessful, and their profits were considerable. With more money in his pockets, Jin could now improve his apartment. He was now able to buy a fancy new TV and games for himself and his dear friend, Souta, to y on whenever the two hung out at his home.


    With more money, Jin was capable of going out to have fun with his friend and to be the one who buys them food. After all, what good was money if not used to have fun with one''s friends?


    After all, Jin valued his friends over everything.


    Jin would do anything to avoid being alone anymore.


    This was why he pushed himself to do more dangerous jobs with arge payout with The Vanishing des group despite what he normally would do, which were more straightforward and small-time jobs.


    But why exactly was Jin running away? The reason was that The Vanishing des''s newest hit ended in disaster. They were under the impression that tonight''s job was a simple heist. However, when they arrived at the location, they quickly found out they were set up by one of their members.


    After fighting for his life with everything he had, Jin was able to somehow escape, leaving the rest of his criminal group for dead. A fact that Jin didn''t mind due to them treating him like a freak.


    They didn''t care for <i>him</i> at all; it was just his skills they were interested in.


    It hurt him at first. But Jin quickly got over it. In the end, he already had a real friend. And that was enough for him.


    "Where''d he go?! Find him!"


    Despite escaping the trap, three powerful quirk users were now chasing after him.


    Jin nced back, his heart pounding as he saw his pursuers quickly gaining on him. Panic surged through him, forcing him to sprint, even as he felt his blood seeping through the makeshift bandage on his thigh while hot, burning pain pulsed from his sliced-up arm and the open wound on his back.


    Jin''s mind raced. He had to find a way out, a ce to hide!


    "Maybe we can dig a hole and hide inside? No way, let''s find a box and ship ourselves off to Canada!" Twice muttered as he looked around wildly.


    He darted around a corner, each movement a battle against the pain threatening to overtake him. The walls of the narrow alley closed in, but he knew he had to keep moving. There was no choice; the darkness behind him was far more dangerous than the darkness ahead.


    With a desperate edge, Twice spotted an open door to a nearby building¡ªif only he could reach it in time. He pushed himself harder, the adrenaline flooding his system, drowning out the agony from his cuts. Shadows swirled as he plunged into the doorway, praying it would be enough to keep his pursuers at bay.


    Landing on a telephone poll a few ways away was a ck crow. Seeing an injured Jin enter a building with arge number of persuaders after him, it quickly released a loud caw. Alerting its fellow brethren.


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    The warm glow of the restaurant enveloped me and Asuka as we settled into a cozy corner table, a flickering candle casting dancing shadows on our faces. The tter of cutlery and the soft hum of conversation created aforting backdrop as we perused the menu.


    "I think I''m going to go with the Yakitori," Asuka said, looking up with a smile. Her eyes sparkled in the candlelight. "It sounds incredible."


    I nodded as I leaned back in myfortable chair. My wrist and back are sore from the hundreds of signatures and pictures I''ve taken. "Hmm, that does look good. Let''s see... what''s the most expensive thing they got here."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Oi, you''re not doing this to me again." Asuka pointed at me with an annoyed expression. "I know I said I would pay, but please be considerate of my wallet."


    "I''ll take that under advisement."


    After the waitress arrived, we went ahead and ced our orders. The two of us talked about today''s events and the profit numbers from today''s sales and tickets. From there, we moved on to talk about the uing movie.


    When our food arrived, the aroma filled the air, enhancing our hunger. "Wow, this looks amazing!" Asuka eximed, her mouth watering at the sight of her Yakitori.


    I nodded as I watched our server ce my order of Gy¨±don in front of me. I felt my stomach growl eagerly as the two of us gave thanks before digging in.


    Just as I was about to ce some food in my mouth, I saw one of my crows fly down in front of the restaurant''s ss windows. It was Crow Miwa.


    (B-Boss! Twice is in danger!) Crow Miwa said in a panic, her wings spread out, catching curious looks from the pedestrians walking on the streets. (Hurry! He''s in terrible shape!)


    "Sorry, Asuka. I have to go."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Without wasting any time, I stood up and threw down some money on the table. Before she could utter a word, I ran out of the restaurant in a sh. Shoving and pushing those aside as I did.


    "Damn, kid, watch it!"


    "Hey!"


    "The youth these days! No respect!"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Running outside, I dashed around the corner into a cramped alleyway and jumped along its walls to reach the rooftops.


    Once out in the open air, I summoned Nue and hopped onto its back. As Inded on my Shikigami''s back, Crow Miwanded on my shoulder and told me where Jin was located while Jello, in his miniature form, materialized behind me.


    "Let''s go, Nue!"


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>I hope you all enjoyed today''s Chapter!</strong>


    <strong>Quick update! I''vee to the decision that from now on, all of the bonus Chapters I release will now be uploaded once a day after my current PS requirements are met. This way, you all will have a new Chapter each day throughout the week. This new update schedule should help you all so you''re not starved for content until the new cycle starts.</strong>


    <strong>Example:</strong>


    <strong>(BC #00) = Bonus Chapter</strong>


    <strong>Sunday - Free Chapter</strong>


    <strong>Monday - 400 PS (BC #1)</strong>


    <strong>Tuesday - 800 PS (BC #2)</strong>


    <strong>Wednesday - 1200 PS (BC #3)</strong>


    <strong>Thursday - 1600 PS (BC #4)</strong>


    <strong>Friday - 2000 PS (BC #5)</strong>


    <strong>Saturday- 2500 PS (BC #6)</strong>


    <strong>If a PS requirement isn''t met, then there won''t be a new update the following day. But going off how you all enjoy breaking my windows with your stones, that shouldn''t be a problem.</strong>


    <strong>This new update schedule should give me more time to write and stock up on new Chapters for you all. As of right now, I have up to Chapter 45 written. </strong>


    <strong>Now that all the boring updates are done, I hope you all leave plenty ofments for me to read through. </strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 32: NO. 32 - Death Warrants

    <h4>Chapter 32: NO. 32 - Death Warrants</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "Stop fucking moving, you bastard!"


    "Nuh-uh."


    Jin jumped back with a wince as he narrowly avoided the long de arm of the man in front of him. The man had short grey hair and solid ck eyes, and long, jagged des made up his arms.


    Growling, the man tried to dislodge his arm from the steel pir he ended up stabbing his de-arm into.


    "st this crazy fucker, Tagawa!" The man with des for arms yelled, looking up at a figure standing on several stacked containers within the warehouse.


    "Hah! Already on it!"


    Dashing behind a wooden box, Jin watched the box explode as a speeding ball of green energy crashed into it. Running away, Jin looked up to see a woman with short dark green hair ce what appeared to be a bubble gum ball in her mouth. After chewing on it, she turned her head towards him and spat out another speeding ball of green energy.


    "That''s gross! Kinda cool, though." Jin said as he rolled back to avoid the speeding st that smashed into the floor.


    ''Damn it! I''m gonna get caught! I-I need to make another me! I h-have to!'' Jin thought as he hesitantly raised his arm to activate his quirk. ''N-no! I can''t!''


    "Got you!"


    A veryrge man exploded out of the brick wall Jin was running alongside. Jin grunted in pain as he was grabbed by his shoulders by the man''srge hands. Jin squirmed as he tried to escape therge man''s grasp, but the four-meter-tall mutant who had him in his grasp grinned at his weak attempts.


    The titan had red, ted skin with sharp white teeth. His muscles were capable of giving Endeavor a run for his money, as the only article of clothing he wore was a pair of old jeans.


    "You wouldn''t mind letting me down, do you?"


    "...no."


    Rearing his arms back, the red titan threw Jin across the warehouse. His speeding body crashed through several wooden crates until he rolled to a stop. Jin gasped in pain as his body rolled to a stop. Pushing past the pain, he tried to push himself up, but all he felt was agony throughout his limbs.


    Looking down, Jin saw his blood began to pool under him, sending a wave of fear through him.


    ''No! No! If I''m not the original, I''m going to disappear! I have to get away!'' Jin thought as he looked around the warehouse for an escape route. But due to his tired and injured state, all he could do was turn his head to stare out at therge skylight on the ceiling. ''C''mon body! Move!''


    "You''re losing your touch, Shigeo." Tagawa said as shended a few feet away from Jin, causing him to jerk toward her.


    "Fuck you! Just you wait, you crazy bastard, I''ll rip you in two!" The man with des for arms, Shigeo, growled as he walked toward Jin''s position with an enraged expression.


    "I prefer you don''t. I quite like being whole." Jin said as he tried to get up but only ended up grunting in pain.


    "Shut it, you crazy freak!"


    "Easy now, Shigeo." The red titan, Ryo, said as he stomped over to stand next to Tagawa, who was chewing some gum. "We still need to ask this guy where The Vanishing des hide their loot."


    "Fuck the loot," Shigeo growled as he stopped over Jin''s head, his de arm pulled back. "I''ll take this guy''s head to the Boss instead."


    ''Shit! What do I do?!'' Jin yelled in his head as Shigeo looked down at him with a wide, bloodthirsty smile. His arm swinging down at him, ready to slice his head off. ''I don''t want to die! Not when things were finally going right for me!''


    "Shigeo, stop!" Ryo and Tagawa yelled as they rushed to stop their angrypanion from botching their assignment.


    <i>Crash!</i>


    Everyone froze as therge skylight above broke into hundreds of shards of ss as a hooded figure descended towards them.


    Turning to them, Sukuna pped his hands together and spoke.


    "Piercing Blood."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    I watched my attack pierce straight through the right shoulder of the man with des for arms. The man yelled in pain as he staggered away from Jin to grab therge bleeding hole in his shoulder after turning his de arm back to normal.


    Landing on the ground, I quickly scanned the other two upants in the room and then turned to Jin.


    My friend was lying on a stack of broken wooden crates covered in his own blood while several cuts adorned his body.


    "You three just signed your own death warrants," I said, standing to my full height, CE flowing around my arms.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Who the hell is this guy?!" The green-haired woman yelled as she spat a ball of green energy at me.


    I tilted my head to the side as the nasty energy ball flew past me. Seeing her attack miss, the woman quickly threw another bubble gum into her mouth.


    <i>So that''s how it works.</i>


    Taking a step forward, I dashed straight at the green-haired woman with CE-enhanced speed. The woman and therge red man were briefly surprised at my burst of speed but quickly recovered. The red-skinned titan growled and swung his massive arm to crush me.


    Projection Sorcery.


    This technique divides one second into twenty-four frames of animation using the user''s field of view as the projection angle of view. The user can trace a predetermined set of movements into those twenty-four frames and execute them in that single second.


    Moving using this technique makes the user appear to move unnaturally fast, making them seem as if they are glitching around on the surface.


    <i>Bam!</i>


    "Hah! You weren''t so tough!" Therge red manughed as his right fist crushed the ground in front of him. Sending smoke and dust around him. "That what you get for-"


    "Ratio."


    <i>Wham!</i>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    I mmed my CE-covered fist into therge man''s back. Launching him forward with a crack. The man mmed straight into a steel beam, bending and snapping the beam around it. With no support, severalrge crates ended up falling onto the man.


    "Ryo! You bastard!" To her credit, the green-haired woman quickly recovered from the shock of seeing the red titan fly.


    She was about to spit another ball of energy at me when I suddenly appeared in front of her with Projection Sorcery.


    I mmed my hand over her fast-expanding mouth, causing her eyes to grow wide in terror.


    "Bang," I muttered as her head exploded in a shower of gore and green energy. Thanks to my CE reinforcement, my hand was left with only a few scratches.


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    I watched her body tumble to the ground and looked over to the man I attacked with Piercing Blood.


    "Hey, you. Dodge."


    Mr. des-for-arms was clutching his bleeding shoulder with a scowl. "Y-you! You fucker! I''ll tear you to shreds-"


    Using Projection Sorcery, I appeared right in front of him and punched the side of his head with incredible force.


    Due to the power of my CE-enhanced punch, the man''s head did a full 360 spin. Causing several disgusting cracks to pop out of his neck. Lifeless, the man copsed forward onto the ground.


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    "I told you to dodge," I muttered and turned to Jin. Seeing that my attention was now on him, Jin tried to raise his hands in surrender but only managed to twitch his arms.


    "Hold the phone! I''m not with them!" Jin pleaded. "Yeah! We''re part of apletely different criminal group!"


    "Even when you''re bleeding out, you''re still the same as ever." I threw off my hood and deactivated my tattoos with a grin. "You need a hand, Bud?"


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    "SOUTA!" Jin yelled in shock, his eyes wide. "Why are you here?! Man, I''m happy to see you!"


    "I''ll exinter," I crouched next to him and ced a hand on his chest. "Now then, <i>Switch</i>."


    Due to my body''s current four technique limitation, I''m only capable of safely switching one of the four techniques I have equipped for another after a two-hour cooldown.


    However, to bypass that wait time, I made a binding vow with myself that would allow me to switch any one of my four equipped techniques in an instant by saying the word "Switch." But in doing so, I would be down a slot for 24 hours. This could be done a total of three times.


    "Pain Killer," I said as I switched Blood Maniption for it and activated the technique, instantly stopping all of Jin''s wounds from getting worse and numbing his pain. "There, that should keep you together until I finish up with that red guy."


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    "Wow, I feel better. Hold on, Red guy? Didn''t you send him to go meet his Mommy?" Jin asked as he slowly sat up.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    "Nah, I only knocked him down for a little bit," I said, turning my tattoos back on as we turned to look at a very angry titan stomp toward us.


    Ryo, I think his name was, turned to look at his deadpanions, and his face contorted in what could be called unyielding rage.


    "I''m going to <i>smear </i>you both all over these walls."


    "Ooh, scary."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    As I took a step forward, Jin grabbed my pants, stopping me. I turned to him in confusion and saw the worried look on his face. "I''m not sure what''s going on or how you''re capable of doing all this, Souta. But we need to run! This guy is too strong! I saw him rip one of my old crewmates into pieces! Pieces I tell you!"


    "Rx, Jin," I said, patting his hand. "I won''t lose. I''m pretty strong myself."


    <strong>[+40 SP]</strong>


    Stepping away from my friend, I cracked my neck and approached Ryo, who was now breathing deeply in anger. I stopped a few feet away from him and beckoned him on.


    "C''mon then, big guy. Show me what you-"


    <i>m!</i>


    I moved to the side as his veryrge fist crashed into the floor where I once stood. Moving to his side, Inded rapid, fast punches to his ribs. Ryo shrugged them off and swung his entire left arm at me. Dashing back slightly to avoid his blow, I leaped up andnded two snap kicks onto his face.


    Ryo grunted in pain, but he quickly reached out to grab me mid-air. But before he couldy his hands on me, two invisible attacks knocked his head back.


    "Divergent Fist. Or kicks in this case." Inded on the ground and watched Ryo blink in confusion. "A rather easy trick to avoid. Well, that is if you''re a Sorcerer."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "You damn, Brat!" Ryo roared, his red-ted muscles expanding to absurd levels. "I''ll fucking kill you!"


    "Give it your best shot."


    Ryo roared and began to chase me through the warehouse. Hisrge body crashed through anything that stood in his way.


    As we moved, he tried tond dozens of punches, but his enraged muscle state had the adverse effect of slowing down his already slow speed. Despite that, I could acknowledge that his punches were extremely strong if all the craters he was making in his failed attacks were anything to go off by.


    <i>Let''s see, I have the Ten Shadows, Pain Killer, and Ratio equipped. </i>I backflipped away from Ryo''s wild haymaker and grinned. Focusing my all on this fight, the sudden feeling of entering a flow state enveloped me. <i>No, let''s keep this simple and use straight hands!</i>


    I stopped dodging Ryo''s attacks and stepped to the side, avoiding histest punch. Seeing that I had finally stopped avoiding him, Ryo grinned and moved in. But at the sight of my excited smile, he hesitated.


    "Toote." I stepped into striking range and <i>swung</i>. "ck <strong>sh!</strong>"


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    "Gah!" Ryo yelled in pain as my fist sunk into his tough muscles.


    Sparks of red and ck sparked around us as the space around my strike distorted. Feeling my mind enter the zone, I grinned in excitement and jumped up.


    "ck <strong>sh!</strong>"


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    The red-skinned titan''s head snapped up as my roundhouse kick crashed into his jaw. Spinning in mid-air, I spun around andnded an uppercut into his sr plexus.


    "<strong>ck sh!</strong>"


    <strong>[+40 SP]</strong>


    Ryo''s eyes went white in pain as he stumbled back, his body swaying back and forth from the intense pain. Blurring in front of him, I felt my body be coated in an aura of CE before it concentrated over my right fist. I held my fist in my left hand by my side and<i> </i>struck with Ratio.


    <i>"</i><strong><i>ck sh!</i></strong><i>"</i>


    <strong>[+80 SP]</strong>


    Arcs of red and ck shot out all around us as Ryo''srge body was sent flying back until it crashed <i>through </i>the warehouse''s north wall.


    Hended in a heap outside, arge bleeding wound over his stomach. Walking out of the hole his body made in the wall, I looked down at his chest and saw no movement.


    <i>Four ck shes. Not bad.</i>


    "I hoped you were more durable than that," I muttered and walked back inside of the warehouse. "How disappointing."


    As I walked , Jin was watching me with wide, unbelieving eyes.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Damn, Bro. That was awesome!" Jin yelled as he tried to stand, only to lose his bnce. Before he could fall on his face, I moved under his right arm and caught him.


    "Easy there," I said, guiding him outside. "You may not feel it, but you''re still cut up. I''d use Round Deer on you, but its RCT only seems to work on me."


    "Round Deer? RCT? What''s that? Is it Christmas already?" Jin said as he held his side, wincing in pain.


    "Don''t worry, Jin. Let''s go get you patched up." I said as I summoned Nue. "Now then, hop on."


    "Hop on?" Jin asked in confusion before I handed him a pair of Maki''s sses to put on. "What are you-Wow there! Is that a giant bird!? So neat! What''s up with its face?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 33: NO. 33 - New Housemate

    <h4>Chapter 33: NO. 33 - New Housemate</h4>


    "All my stuff... gone! Hey, at least we don''t have to clean the apartment this week."


    "Hmm," I held my chin in thought as Jin and I glided through the air on Nue''s back. Jello was gliding behind mezily while Zaiko rode on its head. The masked man was curled up into a depressed ball beside me. "It seems that the crew mate that betrayed you and your old group must have gotten all your home locations. They must have ransacked it before setting it on fire."


    "That damn snake! Ima kill ''em!" Jin roared as he shook his fist in the air, causing him to wince in pain.


    "Easy there, Bro. Let''s get you all healed up first." I said, patting his shoulder. I looked ahead and saw therge ck curtain over my home in the distance. Jin followed my gaze and freaked out.


    "Crap! We''re gonna crash! It''s so spherical. Spherical!"


    "Rx. We''ll be fine." I said as we effortlessly flew through the curtain.


    Jin patted himself after we passed by my barrier as if to check if he was all there. He then looked around at therge forest surrounding my home.


    "Neat ce. Wonder who it belongs to."


    "It''s mine."


    "Seriously?"


    "Seriously."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Nuended on the courtyard and lowered itself so Jin wouldn''t agitate his injuries any further. I helped him get to the ground before dismissing my Shikigami.


    "Goodbye, you majestic bird." Jin gave Nue a solute as it melted into my shadows. "May we meet again in the field of glorious battle."


    I slid under his arm and helped him move towards the main house, but before we made it too far, the shoji door leading to the living room slid open to reveal Himiko.


    "Sukuna-kun! You''re back!" She jumped out to the patio but stopped when she saw Jin. "Who''s this?" She asked before blushing. "He''s all covered in blood!"


    "Sukuna? Wait! As in <i>the</i> Demon God?!"


    I ignored Jin''s incredulous masked expression and turned to Himiko. "This is Bubaigawara Jin. He''s a good friend of mine who will be staying with us."


    Jin turned to me in shock. "Wait, really?!"


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    "Of course. I can''t have my best Buddy living out in the streets when I have more than enough rooms at my ce." I said, watching as his wide eyes trembled. "You''re more than wee to stay as long as you want."


    "Souta..."


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    "Yay! New housemate!" Himiko celebrated as she got under Jin''s other arm, an excited smile on her face. "I''m Toga Himiko! How''d you get all cut up? Oh, oh! Do you mind if I taste some of your blood?!"


    "I may not have enough to share. Absolutely! Go for it!"


    I grinned as the two continued to talk to one another while I sat Jin down before patching him up.


    It was no wonder why the two got along so well in the original timeline. I could see that both Himiko and Jin were ecstatic to meet another person who didn''t mind their individual quirks, which left them both to talk to one another with ease.


    "There," I said as I applied thest bandage on Jin''s back. The three of us were now in the dining room. "All done. Now, let''s go show you to your room so you can get some rest."


    Jin nodded as I guided him through my house. Himiko had stayed back in order to heat up some food for Jin.


    As we walked, I noticed that Jin was uncharacteristically silent.


    "Souta," Jin said, not in his Twice voice, but in his own. "Thank you. Truly."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Don''t mention it. Besides, I still have to kick your ass in Street Fighter."


    "Heh... yeah, you''re right."


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    x x x


    "Good morning, Shimizu-san!"


    "It''s good to see you!"


    <strong>[5x10 = +50 SP]</strong>


    I blinked in confusion as arge group of my fellow students all bowed to me. I stared at them in confusion before looking over at the other students near the shoe lockers. Some smiled at me, while others quickly sped off with fear in their eyes. Some of the female students were even waving at me with rosy cheeks.


    <i>The hell is going on. What happened while I was gone?</i>


    "Ah, yes. Morning?" I muttered as I grabbed my indoor shoes. "How''s uh, how are things going?"


    "There were some rival gang members bothering some of our fellow students yesterday after school, but we quickly got rid of them, Boss!" One of the gathered delinquent-looking students said after standing at attention. He had spiky orange hair and brown eyes. He also strongly resembled a certain substitute Shinigami. "We then walked that student all the way home!"


    "That''s right!"


    "We showed those losers!"


    "Fuck them!"


    "Great work...?" I said while scratching my head.


    <strong>[5x10 = +50 SP]</strong>


    Mypliment seemed to throw them into a frenzy as they all yelled in happiness as if they just won the lottery. I then walked away from them to head to my homeroom. Some of them even bowed to me as I left.


    "S-Senpai!" A short girl with white hair and red eyes stopped in front of me shyly. Two girls stood a few feet behind her with encouraging smiles. "P-please ept this!" The girl held out a bag of cookies as she bowed her head.


    "...okay?"


    I epted the bag of cookies, causing the white-haired weirdo to smile widely. She and her friends then all ran away, giggling while looking over at me with blushes on their cheeks.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Okay, detour time." I changed directions and headed off to the rooftop of the school. As I speed walked, I received smiles and small bows from my fellow students throughout all three years. I ignored the sheer insanity of my surroundings and walked out onto the roof. "Okay! Exin, you motherfuckers!"


    My four clones all quickly rose from the ground; their faces were etched into wide, proud grins as they brushed their hair back and posed.


    "Hah! What do you think, Boss Man?" Clone C said with his arms crossed. "The school is now your oyster! No one will disrespect us ever again!"


    "That''s right! We now rule this school!" Clone B smiled in pride while cing a leg on a nearby bench, his right hand grasping the chainlink fence. "Isn''t it great! Big C sure turned this school around from the dump it used to be."


    "I took a few months off from school, and you created a delinquent group," I said to Clone C as I held my face at the sheer absurdity of the situation. "I didn''t want all this attention!"


    "Why not? Everyone at this school either admires you or fears you now." Clone C looked at me like an ungrateful child. "Besides, I thought you weren''ting back here, Boss. So I decided to have some fun while you made mee here in your ce. Talk about scut work."


    "Hey, you pulled the short straw. Stopining." Clone D muttered as he leaned on the door leading inside. "Besides, it''s not all sunshine and rainbows drawing and writing all day."


    "I literally heard you three say what a sucker I was..." Clone C red at his fellow clones, causing them to look away.


    "Shit, I told you we were being too loud."


    "That bastard has great hearing..."


    "We all do."


    "This is my fault." I sighed and took a seat next to Clone B, who nodded. "What else have you done, Clone C?"


    "Not much else. I turned down a few confessions, got into some fights with some fellow gangs, and set up amunity garden for the delinquents here to work on. Small stuff like that." Clone C said as he pulled out a small notepad I know I didn''t have. His eyes scanned the notepad. "I think that''s it."


    "...I''m going home."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    The spacious room was filled with the soft beeping of several medical machines. A figurey motionless in the bed. The elderly man, his silver hair well-groomed, slept with a calm expression beneath his white nket. Standing beside theatose old man was a tall 26-year-old man.


    The young man had short brown hair and thin, golden eyes. Covering his face was an old-style red, magenta, and gold gue mask designed to filter bacteria from the air. He wore a dark green bomber jacket with a purple fur-lined hood. Underneath, he had on a ck button-up shirt and matching pants,plemented by a light grey tie, a belt, and whitece-up shoes. On his hands, he wore white surgical gloves that helped manage the effects of his Quirk and kept his hands clean.


    This man was Chisaki Kai, otherwise known as Overhaul.


    Kai stood motionless for several more minutes, simply gazing at the sleeping man with calm eyes. His right hand reached out to the man in front of him, but at thest second, Kai hesitated.


    <i>"Chisaki... Haven''t I told you no already? The child, really...? How little do you think of people?"</i>


    Blinking away the memory, Kai brought back his hand.


    "I''m sorry, Pops... but this is for the future of the Shie Hassaikai. Once I put the Yakuza back on top, I''ll bring everything back like it was."


    Closing his eyes, Kai turned away from the man he respected deeply and walked out of the private room.


    "Overhaul."


    Kai looked over to his right and saw a man with fair skin and thin, dark eyes. The man had pale chin-length hair that formed arrow shapes that resembled that of clock needles. He was dressed in a long white raincoat with its hood down. This man''s name was Kuruno Hari, Kai''s right-hand man and a leading member of the Eight Bullets.


    Standing beside Hari with a nervous expression was a little girl with short, messy, and unkempt bluish, off-white hair. The little girl had wide, innocent-looking red eyes. Poking out from the right side of her forehead is a small, brown horn while she wears a dirty, pale, short-sleeved dress.


    The girl''s name was Eri.


    "Chrono," Kai said as he looked at his direct assistant. His cold eyes then turned to stare at the little girl, causing her to whimper. Eri tried to move away but was kept in ce by Hari.


    "Are we moving forward with the n?" Hari asked.


    Kai''s eyes remained on Eri before he looked over to Hari, giving him a nod.


    "Yes. Prepare the surgical room... The research phase will now <i>begin</i>."


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>And with that, Souta''s little family now has a new member: Twice!</strong>


    <strong>We also get a glimpse into what''s going on with Overhaul and Eri as well. I can''t wait to show off to you all what I have nned for that arc.</strong>


    <strong>Like always, please let me know your thoughts and leave me plenty ofments on todays Chapter!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 34: NO. 34 - Target Found

    <h4>Chapter 34: NO. 34 - Target Found</h4>


    <strong><i>...A Few Months Later...</i></strong>


    I observed Izuku, his body marked with bruises and blood, as he prepared for the next move. He transitioned into a poisedbat stance, his right arm raised and left arm hanging loosely, his legs positioned for stability.


    I acknowledged his stance with a nod and mirrored it. We advanced towards each other on the grassy field surrounded by trees, our eyes locked until our right limbs were mere centimeters apart.


    <i>Fuck yeah, we finally did </i>that<i> Raid scene.</i>


    Without warning, Izuku lunged at me, his fist a blur as it hurtled towards my face. I dodged within a hair''s breadth, countering with two swift jabs to his midsection. He grunted, his body twisting to deliver a spinning back kick towards my ribs.


    "Not bad."


    I smirked and swiftly dropped to the ground, using the momentum to knock his supporting leg off bnce. He refused to stay down, executing a kick-up to regain his footing. I closed the distance, and we engaged in a rapid exchange of blows.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    For each punch or kick he tried tond on me, I parried and countered with my own strike. Izuku red at me, frustration clear on his face at the fact that he had yet tond a single blow while his body was assaulted with punches, kicks, elbows, and knees from me.


    Feeling cheeky, I stepped back and patted my cheek tauntingly. I leaned forward with my hands behind my back, gauding him to attack me. Izuku''s left eye twitched as he decided to risk it; he stepped in and spun on his hips to try and hit me with a mean left hook.


    Unfortunately for him, I wasn''t one to give away free hits.


    He had to earn them.


    "Gah!" Izuku grunted as Inded a vicious counter to his face with a left jab, knocking him away and onto his back.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Okay, that''s enough for today," I said while walking over to give him a hand. He was covered in sweat from the hours of sparring we''d done the day. "Good work, Izuku."


    Looking up at my hand, Izuku rubbed his nose and epted my help. Without much effort, I lifted Izuku to his feet. "T-thanks." He said as his nose began to bleed slightly. Reaching into my back pocket, I gave him my hanker chief. He thanked me again and epted it, using it to clean the blood from his nose.


    "You''re getting better. Your moves are much sharper than before, and you''re letting your instincts guide you. Still, you need to incorporate more kicks into yourbos." I said while performing two high snap kicks in the air. "<i>Remember</i>, Izuku. You have legs, too."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "I''m trying! It''s just that you move too fast for me tounch any kicks at you." Izuku said as he began to roll his shoulders. "But thinking back on our spar, I think I had a few opportunities where a kick would have worked better than a punch."


    "Ah, you noticed them now?" I flicked his forehead and nodded. "I purposely made those openings for you, broli hair. Learn to take advantage of the smallest opening you can find."


    "Oh, sorr-"


    "..."


    "I''ll be sure to do better next time," Izuku said with a sheepish smile.


    "Atta boy."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    I gave him a pat on the shoulder and led the both of us out of the secret training ground I found in the woods.


    "Souta-san, can I ask you a question?" Izuku asked, his face nervous.


    "Sure, what''s up?"


    "Well, you''re going to be graduating Junior High soon... Hase-san and I were wondering which High school you would be going to." Izuku turned to me with a curious expression. "Um, have you, maybe, I don''t know? Thought of trying to go... to UA?"


    <i>Ah, so that''s what those looks were.</i>


    Over thest couple of weeks, I''ve noticed both Keiko and Izuku shooting me these odd, nervous looks. The looks that said they had something to say but weren''t confident enough to say it.I normally would have pressed them on what they wanted, but it was pretty funny watching them struggle.


    "Where''s thising from?" I asked him without turning to him. "I''m sure Keiko''s told you what I think of heroes."


    "...she has." Izuku came to a stop, his eyes focused on the grass. I stopped in my movements as well and slid my hands in my pockets. "I''m not trying to tell you what to do. But UA has other courses than the hero course! You can try to join the support department! Hatsume-san says your mechanical skills are second to none! I''m sure you''d-"


    "Nope. Not interested."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "H-how about the general education course then?" Izuku stepped closer to me, his expression resolute. "It''s well-known that everyone who has graduated from UA''s general education course hasnded impressive jobs right out of high school! They also have the opportunity to get into any university they choose! There are numerous benefits to attending UA!"


    He''s right.


    There are benefits to joining UA.


    He just didn''t mention anything that interested me.


    But what did interest me was the sheer SP potential at UA. Now <i>that</i> wasn''t something I could risk passing up.


    Still, that didn''t mean I was going to join the hero course. Of course not. No, I''d rather just join the general education course and breeze through all three school years under the radar while farming SP.


    Well, until Shigaraki and All For One decided to y.


    The only downside was that I''d have to waste a year there while I waited for Izuku and everyone else to join. I''d be bored out of my mind.


    Well, I suppose I could get Himiko to join with me. She has been working hard to make up for all her missed time and assignments from school. Even if she was doing it all from home. So, it wasn''t impossible for her to join alongside me once she fully caught up and graduated.


    After being cleared of any of her used crimes, Himiko received a pardon and a formal apology from the police for her <i>false</i> usations. UA shouldn''t be able to hold her past against her and deny her entry.


    But would she even want to go?


    Hmm, questions forter.


    I raised an eyebrow at him and looked up at the blue sky beyond the thick tree branches above. "...where''s thising from, Izuku?"


    "Huh? No, I was just-"


    "UA is <i>your </i>and Keiko''s<i> </i>dream school, Izuku. Not mine." I turned to him with a yful frown. "Besides, I was thinking of dropping out of school after I graduated Junior High."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "What?!" Izuku said in surprise. "But that would be such a waste! You''re incredibly smart, and your hand-to-hand skills are on apletely different level! Not to mention your mechanical knowledge! Please, Souta-san! Reconsider!"


    "Rx. I was just yanking your chain." I patted his hair and motioned for him to walk. "Look, I won''t promise you anything, but I''ll give UA some thought. Maybe I''ll go just so I can mess with Mei, Keiko, and you once you three join. It''ll be a riot. You''ll be calling me Senpai and all that underssmen stuff."


    "...is that the only reason you would go?"


    "Do I need more?" I said before breaking out into a run. "C''mon! We gotta hurry up and finish our ten-kilometer run before it gets dark! We don''t want your mom to worry about youing homete again."


    "A-ah, right! Wait for me!"


    x x x


    "UA?" Himiko muttered while looking over to me from across the dinner table. "<i>You</i> wanna go to UA? Seriously?"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "That doesn''t sound like you. I knew it was too good to be true! He must be a sleeper agent!" Jin said as he pointed at me with his chopsticks.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Yeah. I know how it sounds." I chewed on some of Himiko''s curry with a thoughtful look. "But it''s not for the hero course. It''s for general education."


    "Even still, isn''t that sorta dangerous for you, Sukuna-kun?" Himiko turned to me with her brows arched. "<i>Sukuna </i>is a wanted "viin" that every hero in Japan wants to catch after the news you beat up Mirko got out. You''re like their golden snitch."


    "Toga-chan has a point, Souta. You''d literally be walking into the lion''s den with this choice." Jin said sagely before shrugging. "But what''s life without a little thrill? Maybe you''ll get yourself a girlfriend there?! You are at that age, after all."


    <i>Snap!</i>


    Jin and I turned to Himiko. She was smiling widely with her eyes closed. The chopsticks in her hands were snapped in two. Which was concerning, considering they were some of our nicer chopsticks, which were made out of stainless steel.


    "...damn girl. Do it again!"


    "Oh, my. It seems we got some defective chopsticks." Himiko said as she stood up, that wide smile still on her face. "I''ll go throw these out and get a new pair."


    Jin and I looked at one another with a "what the hell was that" expression before shrugging.


    "Still, Toga-chan is right. You going to UA is risky. If they pick up that you and Sukuna are one and the same, then you''ll have an entire school full of pro heroes on you." Jin said. "What is it that you''re trying to get out of that school that you can''t get anywhere else?"


    <i>Butt loads of SP.</i>


    "I guess... it''s because I''d want to be able to go to the same school with all of my friends." I said while rubbing the back of my head, my brain formting a believable excuse. "Because after Izuku, Keiko, and Mei graduate, I''m sure they''ll be super busy to the point we all won''t be able to see one another like we do now. I know I won''t see them until year after, but at least I''ll get to be their annoying Senior when they do."


    <i>How''s that? </i>


    What am I saying? I wouldn''t even buy what I said.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "I see. Well, I guess that''s fine then." Jin shrugged and went back to eating. "Good luck with the entrance exams!"


    "I guess if that''s how it is, then it should be fine," Himiko said as she retook her seat, a new pair of chopsticks in hand. "Don''t worry! I''ll be sure to get in with you! Oh! I''m getting all excited to go to school with you and everyone else!"


    <i>Hmm, never mind then. </i>


    I suppose I shouldn''t be too surprised at my housemate''s reactions. Himiko and Jin were rather simple and straightforward. While they gave me some initial pushback due to the chance of getting caught, they didn''t try to dissuade me from doing what I wanted. That pretty much fell in line with who they were and their beliefs.


    "Thanks, you two." I ended up saying this without much thought. They both turned to me with a smile and a thumbs up in Jin''s case.


    "No worries! What are friends for!"


    "Mhm! What Jin-kun said!"


    <i>Tap tap.</i>


    The three of us turned to the window over the sink where a ck crow with red marks on the side of its head stood. Standing up, I walked over to the window and opened it.


    "What''s the matter, Araume?"


    (Sukuna-sama.) Crow Araume bowed before hopping onto my forearm. (I''ve found the human you''ve been searching for. I rmend you move quickly. I believe the human intends to leave the country.)


    Off behind me, Himiko and Jin both turned to me when they felt the air around them shift. They found it hard to breathe, and their heart rates sped up out of nowhere before that sensation instantly vanished. They blinked in confusion as they turned to one another, wondering if what they just felt actually happened or not.


    "I see," I muttered as I rxed myself. I then ced Crow Araume on my shoulder, much to his glee. "We should go help him <i>pack </i>then."


    "Souta." Jin stood up and walked over to me as I was about to leave. "Is everything alright?"


    "Hm, ah." I said, remembering that no one else but me could hear what my crows were saying. "Yeah, everything''s fine. A... job came up. I''m gonna have to cut dinner short."


    "Allow me to apany you then! Let''s go kick some ass together!"


    "Jin..."


    "Please, Souta." Jin ced a hand on my shoulder and removed his mask. "I know you''re very capable and strong, but I still want to help you. Even if you''re the <i>Demon God</i> of the underworld, I want to be there for you. It''s the least I can do after everything you''ve done for me. There''s nothing wrong with friends helping one another."


    "Me too!" Himiko jumped up and stepped closer to us, a determined look on her face. "I want to help you too, Sukuna-kun! It''s like Jin-kun said, friends help one another, right? Besides, I think it would be fun to work as a team!"


    <i>This isn''t a game, Himiko.</i>


    "You two..." Despite the sincerity of their words, I couldn''t find it in me to ept. Maybe being so open with my abilities and secret identity wasn''t the right move. "What I do... isn''t exactly pretty. I''m a killer. And I make those I hunt... suffer. There''s a reason why the criminals and viins are scared of the name Sukuna. I don''t want you two to look at me any different once you realize what it is I exactly do."


    Himiko and Jin turned to one another before they smiled softly at me.


    "Don''t underestimate us, Souta."


    "Jin-kun''s right. We''re not going to see you any different than we do now. So please, trust us and let us help." Himiko walked up to me and held my right hand, her fingers caressing my old burn scars.


    "...fine. But you two follow my instructions. No matter what. Got that?" I said while taking my hand back, much to her annoyance. Still, she and Jin both nodded.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Sir, yes, Sir!" Slipping his mask back on, Jin soluted me as if he were in the military. Himiko quickly copied him with a nod.


    "Yeah, what he said!"


    I gave them a grin but then looked them both up and down. "Well, if we''re going to be a team, you two are going to have to look like you''re Sukuna''s allies."


    As I watched them both talk excitedly over some silly team names or costume ideas, I felt a cold pit form in my stomach. I looked away from them and took a deep breath.


    I just hoped I didn''t regret this decision one day.

 Chapter 35: NO. 35 - Kobashigawa

    <h4>Chapter 35: NO. 35 - Kobashigawa</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "Hurry the hell up! Don''t you dare forget those briefcases, you damn imbecile!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    Deep within a highly secured mansion on the outskirts of Kyoto was a group of people rushing within arge office. They were all dressed in suits while they moved with haste to collect, pact, organize, and secure several documents, expensive items, and stacks of money.


    Sitting in a chair with an annoyed expression was arge man dressed in an expensive ck and blue three-piece suit. He had four pairs of eyes, all of which were a different color. His brushed-back ck hair was sleek and shiny, while a well-kept mustache sat over his lip. He was tapping his fingers on the armrest of a ludicrously expensive gold and red patted chair.


    "Kobashigawa-san." Stepping into the frantic room was a beautiful woman with neon violet hair. She was dressed in a skin-tight hero suit that entuated all her natural curves. A short ck cape hung from the woman''s shoulder while her ck high heels tapped along the shiny quartz flooring. "Rx. Nothing will go wrong while I''m around."


    The woman, Shimmer, otherwise known as Imada Kiyomi, was known by the public as Japan''s number 25 ranked pro hero. She was one of the country''s rising stars with an impressive quirk called Shimmering Energy.


    Shimmering Energy allowed Shimmer to use the energy around her as a weapon to use in any way she deemed fit. By bringing out the natural power within nearby technologies, vehicles, electrical cables, or even the sun above her, Shimmer could manifest that energy into powerful beams of pure energy tounch at her targets.


    However, despite her growing fame and powerful quirk, Shimmer was a hungry, insatiable, opportunistic person who would take whatever she thought would benefit her. Being a hero was just a means to an end for her. She didn''t even care about the people she saved; they were all just a way for her to earn more money.


    So when she was offered 150,000,000 yen to protect a paramount crime lord, she jumped at the opportunity. Despite knowing all about his past and abhorrent actions.


    "Tch, for your sake. You better be right, Shimmer. Especially at what you''re costing me." Kobashigawa growled as he turned away from the woman to re at a short, nervous woman standing patiently beside him. "How long until we''re ready to move?!


    "G-gah. W-we almost have everything packed, and your ne will be ready to depart as soon as we arrive at the runway, Kobashigawa-sama." The nervous woman, Kita Kobeni, said while looking down her tablet. "It should only be another t-ten minutes."


    "Not good enough! Make it five!"


    "Y-yes, Kobashigawa-sama!"


    "Not bad; everyone either respects the hell out of you, or they''re scared shitless," Shimmer said with a small sultry smile. "You sure do live up to your reputation, Kobashigawa-san."


    Sora Kobashigawa, otherwise known as the Dealer of Sin, was one of Japan''s three major crime bosses. He came up from nothing and made a name for himself by doing whatever it took to get to the top. Whether that meant murder, ckmail, arms smuggling, corruption, and human trafficking.


    All his actions allowed him to achieve the heights of power he now held. He was one of the world''s richest men, and his influence spread far beyond his home country of Japan. He was untouchable by the government, police, and even the pro heroes. His power and status are what allowed him to have such a prosperous and unimpeded career.


    All that allowed him to enter the <i>Demon King''s</i> inner circle. Further bolstering his infamy and strength.


    There wasn''t anyone within the underworld that didn''t <i>know </i>his name.


    There wasn''t anyone who didn''t <i>fear </i>his name.


    That is, all except that force of nature that has been systematically destroying everything he''s built over his entire life over the course of two years.


    His most significant source of ie, his human trafficking ring of children with impressive quirks, was destroyed.


    His dozens of safe houses that kept his vast wealth were all burned to the ground. Money and all.


    Hisrge army of two thousand strong quirk users were all ughtered or crippled to the point he now only had around two hundred men at his disposal.


    Not even his most trusted and loyal business partners wanted anything to do with him for fear of gaining the Demon God''s attention.


    "That damn bastard, Sukuna," Kobashigawa growled, the armrest under him cracking under his grip. "I''ll fucking have his head for what he''s done. I''ll never stoping after him until I get payback."


    "Did you say... Sukuna? As in the King of Curses Sukuna?!" Shimmer said in shock, turning an angry look at Kobashigawa. "You didn''t say <i>that''s </i>who wasing after you!"


    "Shut up!" Kobashigawa yelled, shooting to his full height of 2.5 meters. His four eyes shrank into slits as he red at the shaken hero. "I''ve already paid you your wage, woman. Now you either do your job, or I''ll skin you and your entire family line one by one! Is that clear?"


    "...crystal."


    With a huff, Kobashigawa walked away from his chair and began yelling at his staff to quicken their already fast pace.


    "Shit. What did I get myself into."


    Shimmer mumbled and left the room to head to the mansion''s electrical room. Once there, she grabbed a pair of thick electrical cables and begged to absorb the several thousand bolts of electricity. As she did so, her violet eyes glowed with power.


    "I''m sure all those rumors I heard of him were all blown out of proportion. I''ll just kill Sukuna and be done with this dumb job." Shimmer said with a smile. "Yeah, this''ll be a walk in the park."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Himiko and Twice sat on Sukuna''s Shikigami, Nue, as it flew over the city below them towards their destination. Looking up, Himiko watched as Sukuna flew above them using what appeared to be mechanical wings that resembled those of a dragonfly.


    Sukuna was dressed in a ck haori with a white kimono and ck undershirt that was connected to a ck hood that hid his features. On his lower body, tied together with a ck belt, were baggy martial arts pants and ck martial arts shoes.


    Around his body and over his shoulder was Zaiko, Sukuna''s ever-faithful weapon inventory, while Jello, another Shikigami of his, sat on his other shoulder in a much smaller form.


    Himiko herself was dressed in a ck-blue uniform with a yellow hood that had cat ears on top. A white and yellow cat mask covered her face to hide her identity, while the mask''s eye holes had the lenses of one of the curse tool sses. Strapped behind her was a blunt sword covered in white tappings and ck dots as two knife holsters were strapped around her thighs.


    Himiko was a little concerned at the sudden shift in her friend''s personality once he was fully changed. He was now more silent and cold, or at least that''s how he felt to her. Himiko was curious to know whether this was due to his current focus or if this was how he normally was whenever he went out at night as the King of Curses.


    "Trust Souta, I mean, Sukuna, Toga-chan," Jin said as he turned to look at her. "You may have been training with us for the past few months, but being out here is different. Yeah! It''s scary!"


    Jin was dressed in a heavily modified version of his old suit. Instead of it being a skin-tighttex suit, Jin''s new costume was made of a thicker, more reinforced material that offered him greater defense and protection. The areas where his joints were still had the flexibility required for his acrobatics or hand-to-hand skills.


    Strapped to his back were twin katanas that Souta implemented as an extrayer of offense while Jin''s wristband measuring tape tools sat over his wrists.


    "I do trust him. That''s never a question." Himiko said, her hands gripping Nue''s feathers tightly. "I guess... I''m just not used to this version of him."


    "I see. I get that... But from what Sukuna has told me, this guy he''s after is seriously bad news. He''s been after this guy for two years, and tonight is his chance to end it."


    "Bad news? What did this guy do?"


    "...he''s someone you don''t ever want toe across. Ever." Jin said, his voice deadly serious. "He''s one of Japan''s most powerful crime lords, and he''s the reason so many... so many children go missing. This guy is as close to evil as one can get."


    Himiko''s eyes grew wide, the weight of what was going on finally settling upon her. Taking a deep breath, she schooled her anxiety and fear.


    "I think I get it now. This is some super serious stuff." Himiko said, her eyes determined. "Still, I''ll do whatever it takes to help Sukuna-kun. I owe him everything."


    "Good! Just remember to stick close to me." Jin said as he flexed. "We''re just back up today! Leave all the heavy lifting to Sukuna! He''s pretty strong, you know?"


    Himiko smiled with a nod, her soft gaze falling back over Sukuna as he flew with the moon above him.


    "Yeah. I know."


    Despite not ever seeing what Sukuna could <i>truly </i>do, Himiko absolutely believed what she said.


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    (This is where the human is, Sukuna-sama.)


    "Good work, Uraume."


    I gave Crow Uraume a piece of fruit and dismissed her. Watching her fly away, I turned to Himiko and Jin as they jumped off Nue. They gave the Shikigami a few pats before it melted into shadows.


    They jogged over to me and came to a stop at my side. We peered down at the sizeable Western-style mansion below the hill we were on with the trees on our backs. The mansion was nestled between several tall trees hidden away by severalrge jutting boulders.


    "That it?!" Jin said as he examined the mansion below. "I wonder how much a night here would cost. You think they got an Airbnb?"


    "Yeah, this is it." I turned to Himiko and Jin, my voice unintentionally low and cold, causing them to stand straight. "You two stay away from Kobashigawa. He''s mine. Your role is to hang back and take down his henchmen while I move in... At the FIRST sign of things going south, I want you both to get out of here. Is that clear?"


    "You got it!" Jin nodded while Himiko looked conflicted.


    "Himiko." I took off my hood and stepped closer to her. My calm eyes gazed into her own reluctant ones. "I know you''re a skilled fighter. The amount you''ve learned in those few short months we trained is proof of that. But you''re still not ready for what we could face down there. I''m sure Kobashigawa has hired some strong people to keep him safe from me. I just... don''t want you to get hurt. <i>Either </i>of you."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Ah! Okay!" Himiko crossed her arms and turned away with a pout. "I''ll be sure to get out of there at the first sign of trouble."


    I smiled and patted her head. As I walked away, I missed the light blush that burned on her cheeks. Stopping by the edge of the cliff we were on, I gazed down at the mansion and its surrounding terrain.


    Jin, who did pick up on Himiko''s blush, lifted a small g with SSxTH on it. He waved it around before tossing it over his shoulder to step beside me, as did Himiko.


    I reached into Zaiko and pulled out yful Cloud while Jello floated behind me. Himiko pulled out Nanami''s blunt sword while Jin whipped out one of his measuring tapes.


    "Okay. Let''s begin."


    <strong>[IMAGE]</strong>


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>And so, Souta''s long two-year mission will now reach its climax! </strong>


    <strong>Hopefully, you all will enjoy the little visual I did for thest scene. It took around the time to write an entire Chapter, so it''s a bit rough. Depending on how things go, I may or may not make a few more of these for future scenes.</strong>


    <strong>Be sure toment and leave your thoughts!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 36: NO. 36 - The Raid

    <h4>Chapter 36: NO. 36 - The Raid</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "You good for nothings better not have left anything important. Or I swear to god I''ll tear all your worthless heads off!" Kobashigawa said as he settled into his armored limousine. Sitting in front of him with her legs crossed was Shimmer, while his assistant Kobeni sat to his right.


    "W-we have everything packed, Kobashigawa-sama!" Kobeni said quickly. Kobashigawa grunted and then motioned for his driver to begin moving.


    Just as Kobashigawa and his several other vehicles were about to depart, everything around them abruptly shook with incredible force.


    "Maximum Output: cial Wall."


    Rising from the ground around the western-styled mansion was a tall wall of solid, freezing ice. The wall of ice continued to grow until there was no escape for anyone within the mansion.


    Jumping out of his limousine, Kobashigawa looked up in shock. His eyes scrutinized the vast wall of pure ice that was impeding his escape. With a growl, the crime lord turned to the right to find the source of all his problems, standing on top of the ice wall.


    "Sukuna..."


    Kobashigawa red at the King of Curses; beside him were two other individuals staring down at them behind their masked visages. Jumping back into his limousine, Kobashigawa turned to his driver. "Go! Get us back inside!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    The driver behind the wheel mmed his foot on the gas; he then spun his head back to guide the limousine back into the mansion''s garage.


    Shimmer was about to exit the vehicle to confront Sukuna, but Kobashigawa grabbed her arm and stopped her.


    "Not yet. Let my men tire him out." Kobashigawa said as <i>all </i>of his remaining men ran out to confront Sukuna and his two cohorts using whatever quirks or weapons they had avable. "Once he''s on hisst legs, you''ll end his pathetic life."


    Shimmer frowned but nodded nheless. Her eyes locked onto Sukuna''s form.


    "Alright."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "Stay close to each other. Take out-<i>down</i> the stragglers."


    Sukuna said as he jumped down the wall of ice with little issue. Himiko and Jin nodded as they followed after him, albeit more slowly.


    As Himiko and Jinnded, they watched as Sukuna seemingly glitched out of existence before appearing and reappearing all over the mansion''s front courtyard, taking down dozens of Kobashigawa''s men with ease using his three-section staff.


    "Dang, Sukuna-kun."


    "Remind me not to get on his bad side. Nah! We can do twice-no! Three times better!"


    Deciding it was time for them to contribute to the cause, Himiko and Jin dashed forward with their respective weapons ready.


    "Who the hell are these two?! I thought the Demon God worked alone?!"


    "Who fuckin cares! Kill ''em!"


    Dodging to the side, Himiko avoided a wide left swing from arge man covered in spikes. ring at him from under her mask, she gripped her blunted sword and <i>swung</i>.


    <i>"Remember, Himiko. This may look like a short, blunt sword that can''t cut anything. But this de is so much more than that. Within this blunted de is an imbued technique that cannd a critical strike if you cannd a hit on the seven-to-three ratio point on your target... I''m going to show you how to find that point."</i>


    Remembering all of Sukuna''s training and teachings, Himiko''s eyes scanned the spiked man''s body and settled on a single point directly below his hip.


    ''There!'' Himiko shed her blunted weapon directly at her target.


    Before her very eyes, a sh of ck and a long line with ten lines appeared before her. At the seven to three ratio point of that line, Himiko saw a red dot explode a brilliant red.


    "Gah!"


    The man covered in spikes yelled in agony as his body was suddenly flung back with a violent spin. With a loud thud, the mannded on the ground. Himiko stared at him for a few seconds and sighed in relief as she saw him breathe. ''Okay, at least now I know how much force to use.'' She thought before looking down at her weapon with a twinkle in her eye.


    Seeing that, several of Kobashigawa''s men paused and looked at Himiko with caution.


    "Wow..." Beneath her mask, a wide, confident grin grew on Himiko''s face. "This is going to be fun."


    Off several feet away, Jin leaped over two rushing men as they tried to tackle him onto the ground. Grabbing his measuring tape, Jin held it out in front of him to stop a downward slice from a katana held by a woman with dark orange hair and horns on her forehead.


    Twisting his tape around the woman''s sword, Jin yanked the de down, bringing the woman down with her weapon. With her upper body leaning down, she was unprepared for the flying knee strike that impacted her nose, knocking her out.


    ''Souta is taking down the ones with the more lethal and powerful quirks.'' Jin thought as he looked around at the knocked out or dead henchmen. Thanks to all his years as a criminal and thief, Jin was capable of distinguishing the strong from the really strong. "How thoughtful!"


    Flying in and out of several henchmen was Jello. The once small, nowrge, Shikigami stabbed its sharp tendrils into all those it passed, inflicting them all with a lethal dose of poison that took them all down within a few minutes. Due to the fact no one besides its Master and his twopanions could see it, the Shikigami had zero issues taking down all of its Master''s enemies.


    "Watch out, Twice!"


    Jumping back, Jin watched as arge Bull-like man charged through where he once stood. Looking over to Himiko, Jin gave her a thumbs up as shended beside him.


    "Thanks for the heads up, Mystique!"


    "Ugh, I still don''t like that name..."


    They turned to therge bull-man as he snarled in anger. Hisrge hooves dug the ground below him.


    "You two will die a slow and painful death for disrespecting Kobashigawa-sama!" The bull-man, or as many know him as Horn-Rush, roared. "I''ll take you two down, and then I''ll put an end to Sukuna!"


    "Like hell you will, ugly," Himiko said as she pointed her de at the man.


    Jin nodded and scanned their surroundings. Besides Horn-Rush, there were around fifteen more henchmen staring them down. Reaching up, Jin grabbed his twin katanas and pulled them out of their sheaths.


    "Hmm, I''m still not too sure about using these yet. Nah! We''re practically pros!" Jin said as he and Himiko sprang to the side to avoid another charge from Horn-Rush.


    Sliding to a stop, Jin swiped his sword up to parry a metal bat that tried to bash his head in. With a spinning back kick, Jin knocked back the bat-wielding woman whose body was covered in blue fur. Spinning in ce, Jinnded a thin cut on the chest of a man who tried to stab his long, sharp fingers into his stomach.


    "What a cheap move! Attacking a man when his back is turned like a pussy!"


    Several feet away, Himiko was performing a series of backflips to avoid an upward swipe of Horn-Rush''s horns. Spinning in mid-air, Himiko pulled out one of her extra knives and drove it down into the shoulder of a man with grey skin that was directly below her.


    The man''s singr eye grew wide as he yelled in agony before Himiko mmed her blunt sword into the side of his head, knocking him out.


    Standing up, Himiko watched as Jin wrapped his measuring tape around Horn-Rush''s head as he rode on his back.


    "Yee-hah! Ride ''em, cowboy!"


    "Get off me, you bastard!"


    From behind, four of Kobashigawa''s men tried to rush Himiko''s while she was seemingly distracted. Noticing their approach, she reached inside her knife holster''s small sidepartment to take out a small red pill.


    Unfortunately for the men who thought they would take down Himiko with her back turned, she was trained by one of the most skilled hand-to-hand fighters on the to be hyper-aware of her surroundings.


    "Nice try!"


    Himiko yelled as she popped the pill into her mouth. Biting into it, Himiko felt a swell of strength fill her as she ingested Sukuna''s blood.


    Blood Doping.


    It was a new method for Himiko to quickly gain the physical traits of the person whose blood she ingested using her Quik. Boosting her strength and speed without having to transform fully.


    While this method of activating her Quirk resulted in her Quirk''s true potential being dulled down, it still granted her a short burst of some much-needed power, which came in handy in a pinch.


    "Gah!"


    "Ah!"


    "Fuck!"


    Himiko slid to a stop as shended four perfectly executed strikes with her blunted de onto her four would-be attackers with quick speed. Each of her strikes activating the des imbued technique of Ratio into her targets.


    One by one, they allnded from beingunched back from her attacks in a heap of mangled or bruised limbs.


    Breathing in exertion, Himiko looked over to therge hole leading into the mansion.


    "Sukuna-kun. Good luck."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    "A-around this corner! He''s behind that wall!"


    Stepping around the corner of the long hallway, the terrified young woman who was crying the whole time pointed at a massive wall made up of what I could only assume was heavily fortified steel. Several pirs and expensive-looking furniture sat all around the wall.


    Stepping beside the woman, she squealed in fear at me but remained in ce.


    She then pointed at the wall with a trembling finger, her expression seeming to be on the verge of throwing up.


    "T-there..." The woman, Kobeni, whispered. "Please don''t k-kill me. I never wanted to do any of this! My parents made me get a-"


    "Shut it. I didn''t ask for your life story." I muttered before heading towards the wall where Kobashigawa was hiding behind. "Now get out of my sight."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Y-yes! Thank you, Sukuna-sama!" Kobeni said as she quickly ran away through the halls where several unconscious or dead, bloodied bodiesy.


    <i>That woman seemed familiar...</i>


    With yful Cloud in my hands, I walked towards the wall before sensing the air in front of me shoot up with heat; this caused me to immediately dodge to the side as a high-speed beam of energy shot through the wall to my right like a hot knife through butter.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Sukuna." A woman with violet hair dressed in a hero costume said as she walked around one of the room''s pirs. "The King of Curses. From the way everyone talks about you, I thought you were this huge four-armed monster with an extra set of eyes. But seeing you know, I''m a little disappointed."


    <i>That''s a terrifying close guess.</i>


    "The pro hero... Shimmer." I said while examining the woman.


    I remembered Shimmer from one of Izuku and Keiko''s long conversations over some of Japan''s rising heroes during one of their breaks.


    From what I could recall, Shimmer was capable of shooting high-powered sts of energy from her hands and mouth. Thetter being something she didn''t do too often. Her Quirk needed a constant supply of external power to work, but seeing as how several arcs of electricity sparked around her, she was fully charged.


    ncing at the burning <i>holes</i> in the several walls her attack caused, I couldn''t risk getting hit by any of her sts. That meant getting in close to her was my best move.


    I couldn''t give her the breathing room tounch any more of her energy sts at me.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Oh? The great old <i>Demon God</i> knows about little old me? I''m ttered." Shimmer said as she ced a hand over her chest with a mocking smile. "I''m impressed you made it this far. Kobashigawa-san had some rather powerful grunts stationed all along his mansion leading here. Even I would have had some problems getting here unscathed. But here you are! Looking pristine! How impressive you are... but is that some sweat I''m seeing on your body?"


    Shimmer then held out a hand towards me; sparks and arcs of energy ran up her body before coalescing into a concentrated ball in front of her palm. "However, this is as far as you go. Now, then, could you do me a favor and die?"


    In a sh, a powerful beam of energy was sent careening towards me.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 37: NO. 37 - Sukuna vs. Shimmer

    <h4>Chapter 37: NO. 37 - Sukuna vs. Shimmer</h4>


    I slid under the energy st above me as it drilled straight through the wall behind me. Rolling to the side, I jumped onto the right wall and created three ninja stars with Construction. Rearing my arm back, Iunched them straight at Shimmer.


    "The hell?!" Shimmer canceled her attack and leaned back to avoid the flying projectiles before making a gun shape with her hand.


    Several bullets of energy were shot at me from her finger, causing me to weave in and out of their trajectory. As one of the energy bullets was about to slice through my head, I swung yful Cloud into it. Causing it to explode into embers of light.


    "Not bad. I can see why you''re one of Japan''s rising stars." I said as we eyed one another carefully. "Still, that won''t save you from me."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "That so?" Shimmer grinned, her body pulsing with energy. "What are you going to do? Kill me?"


    "Yes."


    I glitched out of Shimmer''s eyesight as I used Projection Sorcery to close the distance between her and me quickly. The corrupt hero''s eyes widened at my seemingly impossible speed, causing her to growl and m her hands on the ground, sending arge wave of energy down the long hallway, shattering and scorching the entire floor.


    <i>What an incredibly destructive ability.</i>


    Canceling my Projection Sorcery, I leaped over the wave of energy and used Construction''s liquid metal to create three Wolverine-like ws over my hands.


    Stabbing them into the wall, I clung horizontally and eyed Shimmer. Anchoring my feet with spikes, I mmed my hand on the wall and activated one of my newest techniques.


    Uraume''s Ice Formation.


    This cursed technique allows its user to lower the temperature around themselves to extreme levels of cold. These freezing temperatures allow the user to produce ice and frost at will, which enables them to create multiple sheets of solid ice by simply touching a surface.


    "Frost sh."


    Immediately, a wave of sharp ice spread out from my hand, heading towards Shimmer. Seeing this, Shimmer dashed off to the side and swung her arm in a wide arc, releasing a wave of energy that destroyed my ice attack.


    <i>Now''s my chance.</i>


    Using Projection Sorcery, I sped off toward Shimmer and appeared right beside her, much to her shock.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "How! How are you so <i>fast</i>?!" Shimmer roared as I swung yful Cloud into her raised arm. She clenched her teeth in pain before she pointed her arm right at my chest.


    Spinning my staff around me, I smacked her forearm up, causing her to release her st above us, striking the ceiling above. Stepping in, I swung my elbow into her left bicep with a vicious swing.


    "AGH!" The so-called hero yelled in agony as she hobbled back, holding her ruined bicep. ring at me, Shimmer pointed her hand at me and sted a beam of energy.


    Due to our close proximity, I barely managed to dodge the beam by leaping back. The top half of my hood was burnt away, revealing my face to Shimmer.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "A... <i>kid</i>? You''re telling me the scary Demon God is just some snot-nosed kid?!" Shimmer roared as her injured bicep began to swell an ugly shade of purple. "How dare you... how dare you!"


    "Easy there,dy. You''ll get wrinkles if you keep making that face." I said mockingly.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Shimmer raised both of her arms despite her pain, with the bottom of her palms pressed on one another as arge ball of power began to form rapidly.


    Seeing the rapid build-up of power, my eyes grew wide as I mmed my hands onto the floor.


    "Take this! My ultimate attack! Shimmering sh!"


    "Maximum Output: Frost Calm!"


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Himiko gasped in exhaustion as she leaped back to avoid Horn-Rush''s overhead swing that shattered the floor where she once stood. Looking over at Jin, she saw him pick himself up from the wall where her horned enemy threw him through.


    "Not good," Himiko whispered as she ran away from Horn-Rush''s mad dash. "Does this count as the first sign of trouble?"


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    Himiko, Jin, and Horn-Rush all paused as the mansion''s roof exploded in a swell of energy andrge pirs of ice.


    The building shook as all of its windows shattered while ice epassed everything within several meters of the mansion. Streams of white smoke and steam danced around the building as the tremors finally subsided.


    "Kobashigawa-sama!" Horn-Rush yelled in worry as he ignored Himiko and Jin in favor of rushing inside the ruined mansion.


    "Sukuna-kun," Himiko muttered as she tried to run after therge bull man, only to be stopped by Jin. "Jin-kun?!"


    "No, we need to pull back now. Fuck that! Time for round five!" Jin said as he shook his head. He motioned down at their battered bodies. "We can''t keep up with that level of power; we won''t run, but we can''t follow inside. Let''s catch our breath and prepare ourselves if anyone runs out."


    "But..." Himiko tried to argue, but her sore muscles and injuries burned all around her body. Due to this being her first ever big-time fight, she wasn''t used to the strain that it inflicted on her body. "Okay."


    "I''m worried about him too, Toga-chan. But I believe in his strength." Jin said as they began falling back to the still-standing shed on the mansion property. "Yeah! Sukuna aint some punk bitch! I bet he''s just fine in there!"


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    <i>Fuck, that was close.</i>


    I threw down my ruined haori and looked around the ruined mansion around me. The long corridor that made up the hall Shimmer and I once stood in was nothing but ruined chunks of concrete and ice.


    Looking over my body, I saw that I only had superficial injuries on my body while my clothes were slightly charred.


    <i>I was lucky enough to erect severalyers of CE-reinforced ice in front of me at thest second. Otherwise, I could have been sted away.</i>


    cing yful Cloud into Zaiko, I lifted my hands.


    "Round Deer," I said as I summoned a tall,rge deer-like Shikigami. While it wasn''t as big as Sukuna''s version, my deer was still a foot taller than me.


    It then reached over with its snout and touched my extended hand. Soon enough, I felt my body grow warm as Round Deer''s RCT healed my wounds. "Thanks."


    Round Deer nodded before melting away into my shadow.


    "I didn''t expect her to have that kind of attack," I muttered as I walked towards the damaged reinforced safe room Kobashigawa was within. "Shimmer must have put all her remaining energy into that move."


    Despite therge explosion, therge reinforced steel box had taken the st like a champ. Even so, therge hole on its roof stood out like a sore thumb.


    "Sukuna!"


    I turned to my left and saw arge, raging, mutant bull man dashing toward me with cold fury in his eyes.


    The mutant was covered in cuts and bruises as he quickly closed the distance between us. Sighing in annoyance, I made an elephant-like hand sign.


    "Max Elephant."


    Quickly rising from my shadows, Max Elephant shot out arge wave of water at the raging bull man, causing him to slow down to a stop. He raged at me while he tried to push through the torrents of water.


    "Nue."


    Flying toward the bull man, Nue screeched and released several thunderbolts down at the bull man, causing him to shout in pain as his body was assaulted with several thousand bolts of electricity that were further amplified by the water surrounding him.


    I stopped my Shikigami''s attacks as therge bull man fell forward onto the ground, his body charred and smoking. Dismissing both of my Shikigami, I made my way over to therge reinforced steel box.


    <i>Damn... I''m starting to run low on CE. If I run into another strong fighter, I may be in trouble.</i>


    Reaching the structure, I looked down to see Shimmer propped up against the safe box. Her eyes were zed as her breaths came out in slow, wet wheezes.


    Shimmer''s body was covered in cuts, burns, ice, and blood. Several parts of her costume were ripped to shreds while her left arm and right leg were no where to be seen.


    "...h-help me." Shimmer wheezed out as her eyes looked up at me.


    I stared down at her with no emotion rising within me. All I felt was... nothing. Kneeling beside her, I stared into her eyes andid a hand on the top of her head.


    "Did you know?" I asked. "Did you know what the man you were working for did? To all those children he took and sold?"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Shimmer''s eyes slowly grew wide before she closed them.


    "I-I... yes."


    I said nothing but quickly encased her body in a block of ice. Standing up, I pulled my leg back and shattered the ice block into thousands of shards. Leaving no proof that the corrupted hero Shimmer was ever here.


    "I guess I''m a hero killer now."


    <i>Bang!</i>


    I flinched and looked down at the small red cartridge sticking out of my right shoulder. Looking over to the man I''d been searching for the past two years, I saw arge, victorious grin rece the brief surprise on his expression. The gun that shot me gripped tightly in his hand.


    "Haha! You''re ice quirk is gone! Now you''re nothing-"


    <i>Wham!</i>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    I appeared in front of him and punched him so hard he rolled across his ruined mansion.


    Kobashigawa tumbled on the ground in a heap, the gun he once held now on the floor in front of me. Reaching over to my shoulder, I pulled out the red cartridge bullet and saw the needle covered in some of my blood.


    "This is..."


    Slowly, my eyes grew wide at what this quirk-nullifying bullet meant.


    "Eri...?"


    Kobashigawa tried to push himself up as he cradled his shattered bloody nose in his left hand. He turned to me with a vicious re as he finally stood to his feet. He spat out some blood and grinned at me as he popped his knuckles.


    "Not bad. It seems that even without your quirk, you''re still pretty tough-"


    Blurring in front of the crime lord, Inded a vicious punch into his stomach that pushed him off the floor.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    From there, I moved in and out,nding punch after punch into his stomach, chest, and face without letting him realize he was being attacked. With a front kick, I sent Kobashigawa flying back until his back mmed into his safe box.


    "Guah!"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Dashing in front of him, Kobashigawa wailed out as my hook punch crashed into the side of his face. Reaching out, I grabbed his jacket and mmed him back into the side of his reinforced steel box before spinning low tond a manji kick on his left cheek. Launching across his ruined mansion until he crashed straight through one of the few remaining standing walls.


    Using Projection Sorcery, I reappeared in front of him before he could fall and struck a mountain breaker double punch onto his chest. Blood exploded out of his mouth, nose, and eyes as his battered body crashed through the wall behind him.


    My breathing calmed down as I watched his body m onto the floor. A pile of expensive paintings beneath him was soon ruined as his blood spread out underneath him.


    Walking next to him, I bent down and grabbed his hair. Yanking him up, I held his bruised and ruined face close to the red cartridge I had in my fingers.


    "<i>Answer</i>. Where did you get this?"


    "I... I bought it from the Shie Hassaikai... to take away your quirk. So I could... kill you."


    "Is that so?" I said before cing the bullet into my pocket. I then held out my hand and created a block of ice in my palm, shocking him.


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "T-that''s impossible... you shouldn''t be able to use your quirk!" Kobashigawa muttered in despair before I created a very sharp icicle in my hands. He stared at it with fear before I jammed it into his shoulder. "Agh!"


    "Tell me... <i>Where</i> did you buy this bullet?" I said with a t, even tone. Twisting the icicle in his shoulder, the man grunted in pain. "I won''t ask you twice."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "He''sing out!" Jin said loudly, gaining Himiko and Jello''s attention.


    They all turned to see Sukuna stalk out of the ruins of the mansion, but before they could wave at him, they paused.


    The stone-cold expression on their friend''s face set them all on edge. Pausing, Sukuna looked around at all the unconscious or dead bodies with an impassive nce. He quickly noticed that the only dead bodies lying around were from the goons he and Jello killed.


    Slowly, a small grin grew on his face as he turned to where Himiko, Jin, and Jello stood/floated.


    "Not bad, you two," Sukuna said as he rubbed the back of his head. All the traces of his overpowering negative energy receded back into his body. "I''m impressed."


    "Sukuna-kun!" Himiko yelled as she ran over to jump into his arms. She snuggled into his chest as Jin walked over.


    "Is it... done?" Jin asked.


    Hearing Jin''s question, Himiko stepped back¡ªa severe expression on her face. Sukuna frowned and slowly nodded.


    "Yeah... It''s done." Sukuna nodded before lifting a small red carriage with a needle on one end. "But it''s far from over."


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>And with that, Souta''s long two year hunt hase to an end. </strong>


    <strong>Coming next, the Shie Hessaikai arc!</strong>


    <strong>Be sure to leave me plenty ofments!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 38: NO. 38 - A Hero In The Making

    <h4>Chapter 38: NO. 38 - A Hero In The Making</h4>


    Midoriya Izuku pushed himself off the ground, determination written on his face as he embarked on his morning jog through the streets of Musutafu. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the city, and he could feel the cool morning breeze against his skin. With each step, he focused on his breathing, body movements, and rhythm.


    <i>"Remember, Izuku. Controlling one''s breathing can be the difference between losing and winning. If your breathing is wrong, then your body and mind will be too." Souta said from his spot on Izuku''s back as the green-haired boy struggled to do push-ups.</i>


    As he ran, Izuku reflected on the training and teachings given to him by his friend/sensei, Shimizu Souta. Smiling at the special memories he and Souta had together caused Izuku to speed up. Despite being quite the sadistic teacher, Souta''s training sure showed its results on his body.


    After all, a twelve-kilometer run was a cakewalk for him now.


    All his training would soon pay off when it helped him secure his spot at UA. Once he got there, his dreams of bing a hero who saves everyone, just like All Might, would one day be a reality¡ªQuirk or no Quirk. This thought motivated him as his feet pounded rhythmically against the pavement. He envisioned himself breaking through his current limits, reaching new heights, and rescuing those in need.


    <i>"Yes, Izuku. You can be a hero." Souta said as he ced a hand on Izuku''s trembling shoulder.</i>


    <i>"A hero? Of course</i>,<i> you can be a hero!" Keiko eximed with a fist pump from where they sat on the grass.</i>


    "That''s right. I can be a hero. I just have to work twice-no! <i>Four</i> times harder than everyone else!" Izuku said as he was all but sprinting now. He wasn''t even aware he left his own city.


    Pushing himself even faster, Izuku finally began to feel his legs burning, but he embraced the difort. This was more than just a jog; it was a step toward his dreams. A demonstration of his relentless heroic spirit. He kept running, fueled by hope and determination, ready to face whatever obstacles awaited him on his path to heroism.


    "...hah! Look how pathetic he is!"


    "Right? A guy with a viinous Quirk like he wants to train to be a hero! What a joke!"


    Izuku''s legs mmed themselves on the ground, causing his shoes to skid along the sidewalk. Coming to a stop, the green-haired boy turned his head over to where he heard the voices. Suddenly, a loud thud followed by a cough echoed out from a nearby alleyway. Walking closer, Izuku leaned his head around the corner.


    Standing over a downed purple-haired boy who seemed to becking some sleep were two boys around Izuku''s age dressed in tracksuits. The boy on the left hadbed back dark red hair, while the other had short teal-colored hair. Izuku felt his muscles twitch as the teal-haired boy reared his leg back, ready to strike the downed purple-haired boy.


    "Stop that!" Izuku yelled, dashing into the alleyway. "Leave him alone!"


    "What the hell? Get lost!" The dark red-haired boy, Azuma, growled out. His eyes red at Izuku. "This doesn''t have anything to do with you."


    "What are you doing to him?" Izuku ignored Azuma''sment and stepped closer to the three.


    The teal-haired boy, Itoh, raised a brow at Izuku and looked down at the boy, holding his stomach in pain. The purple-haired boy, Shinso Hitoshi, looked over at Izuku in confusion. The green-haired boy stopped a few feet away, his equally green eyes looking down at him with concern.


    "This guy? He your friend or something?" Itoh asked while pointing at Hitoshi, who sat up against the brick wall behind him. His eyes stared at Izuku incredulously.


    Izuku frowned and turned to Hitoshi, once again ignoring the two boys, further agitating them. Shinso frowned and turned to Izuku.


    "Who the hell are you? I... I don''t need your help." Hitoshi said as he tried to stand, but Itoh knocked him back down.


    "Stay down where you belong, you viin."


    "Stop that!" Izuku said, his body moving before his mind could think.


    Itoh grinned at the challenge and swung his right leg to kick Izuku''s side. Raising his leg, Izuku shin-checked Itoh, causing the teal-haired boy to wince. Stepping in, Izuku sent two open-palmed strikes onto Itoh''s chest. Coughing, the teal-haired boy stumbled back before he received a front kick from Izuku. Knocking him on his back.


    "W-what the hell?" Azuma muttered before he activated his Quirk in his panic.


    Azuma''s Quirk, Tongue Tape, allowed him to shoot out his tongue five meters at his target with around 200 newtons of force.


    ''It''s so slow.'' Izuku thought as he weaved under the tongue. ''Or am I... that fast?''


    Due to the boy''s open use of his Quirk, Izuku no longer had the need to hold back to just open-palmed strikes. Lifting his fists in front of his chin, Izuku dashed into Azuma''s personal space and struck the boy with a solid right hook into the side of his head. Izuku watched Azuma fall headfirst to the floor before grabbing the boy''s shirt, preventing him from falling headfirst onto the concrete.


    "Ah! I didn''t mean-" Izuku muttered and turned to look at Itoh, who quickly stood up and ran away.


    "Y-you freak!"


    "No, wait! What about your friend?!"


    Izuku lowered Azuma onto the floor as Itoh left the alley. Scratching his head, Izuku looked over at Hitoshi, who was staring at Izuku wide-eyed. Smiling awkwardly, Izuku stepped forward and held a helpful hand out.


    "Are you okay? They didn''t hurt you too much, did they?"


    "...no? I mean, yeah! I''m fine," Hitoshi said as he snapped out of his stupor, numbly epting Izuku''s help. "How did you do that? Do you have some sort of speed quirk or something?"


    "Speed quirk?" Izuku asked with a tilt of his head. "No, nothing like that. I''m actually Quirkless. Ah! I''m Midoriya Izuku. Nice to meet you!"


    Hitoshi stood in surprise at the apparently Quirkless kid who was capable of doing something so amazing. Something he couldn''t do despite having a Quirk.


    Sure, with his Quirk, Brainwashing, he could put someone in a state where they were forced to obey whatever hemands. Hitoshi could have easily stopped his attackers if he had activated his Quirk. But if he did do that, then he''d just be proving all those who called him a viin in the making correct.


    "I''m Shinso Hitoshi... It''s nice to meet you, too."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "What the hell...?"


    Coming to a stop, a yellow-skinned police officer looked up at what could be called an impressive ice sculpture, were it not for the fact that it was a gruesome disy of violence.


    A man was propped up in mid-air by a long spike made of ice. The spike holding the man was skewered straight through his crotch area and extended all the way upwards through his midsection and exiting out of his mouth. Dozens of spikes of ice were jutting out of his body as if he were a human pincushion, each of which was covered with frozen blood.


    "What... could have done this?" The yellow-skinned police officer muttered.


    "A monster."


    Jumping in fear, the officer spun to see Japan''s number two hero, Todoroki Enji, otherwise known as Endeavor.


    Endeavor is a tall, sturdily-built man with a very muscr physique. He has short crimson hair, which he wears spiked up around his head, and sharp turquoise eyes. His beard and mustache were made up of dancing mes, showing off his incredible control over his Quirk.


    His hero costume isprised of a tight, navy turquoise bodysuit, with mes streaming across his chest, upper torso, arms, and, most prominently, his shoulders. mes danced around his eyes, working like a makeshift mask. He also wore tall boots that appeared to be either made of fire themselves or constantly left alight, as only their soles andces were visible around the mes. He sports white bracers on his lower arms, styled in a cage pattern. Around his waist was a blue belt with a pouch on either side.


    Scanning the area, Endeavor took in the sight of therge ruined mansion and all the blocks of ice covering the ground and destroyed structures. Dozens of officers and a few heroes moved around to try and render aid to the survivors, which seemed to be made up of several hired criminals and hired mercenaries.


    Ignoring the officer, Endeavor walked up to the gruesome ice sculpture and ced a hand on its base. Gradually, the sculpture melted into arge puddle of water, causing the brutalized corpse to fall to the ground. Looking down at the body''s face, the number two hero frowned.


    "Can''t say you didn''t get what you deserved." Endeavor said.


    "That''s not a very heroic thing to say, now is it?"


    Turning his head, Endeavor watched as a blonde-haired man withrge red wings descended from the sky.


    "...Hawks."


    Hawks or Takami Keigo''s hero costume resembled that of an aviator''s uniform; he wears a ck shirt with a wavy golden pattern, over which he has a modified tan jacket with a high cor and slits over his shoulders to amodate his wings; the insides and cuffs of the sleeves are lined with white fur and ck gloves. He has a red square-shaped lobe piercing in each ear. A rounded, yellow-tinted visor sat over his eyes to protect them from the harsh winds or dust whenever he took flight.


    "Endeavor," Hawks smiled slightly before a frown grew on his face at the sight of the body. "It is him. Kobashigawa."


    Endeavor said nothing to the young hero, only responding with a slight nod of his head. Looking over to a nearby group of medics, Endeavor waved them over.


    The four medics rushed in but froze in fear, disgust, and shock at the sight of the mangled man below. Wordlessly, they got to work at gathering the corpses to ce on the designated pile near the entrance of the mansion where several other bodiesy.


    "So, any ideas on who could have done this?" Hawks asked as he followed after Endeavor.


    "I think you already know."


    "...yeah. I talked to a few of the survivors, well, at least the ones who weren''t scared into silence. This was all the work of our good friend Sukuna." Hawks frowned as he rubbed the side of his head. "It seems we need to change his quirk description to some sort of ice quirk. A powerful ice Quirk."


    "Mirko said Sukuna''s Quirk was some sort of telekinesis ability. This contradicts that." Endeavor kneeled down and pressed a hand on the ground. With careful control, he began to melt the ice all around the mansion. Allowing the police, medics, and heroes to work unimpeded. "I''m starting to think that Sukuna has more than one Quirk."


    "More than one Quirk?" Hawks frowned. "That can''t be. Some of the witnesses said that Sukuna didn''te alone; he brought help this time. But even so... they didn''t mention anything about Sukuna''s allies using any ice Quirk. If Sukuna does indeed have more than one meta ability, this could only mean one thing..."


    "I''m surprised." Endeavor stood up and turned to Hawks with a careful and suspicious expression. "For someone your age, you seem to know about <i>that</i> man."


    Hawks nodded and looked around at the ruined mansion. Walls were toppled over, furniture was crushed and torn to shreds, the roof was nowhere to be seen, and the floors were burnt and smashed.


    "I do," Hawks admitted. "Call it a... job requirement."


    "I see," Endeavor replied, not too interested. "Regardless, the possibility that Sukuna could have more than one Quirk ces him on apletely new level of danger. He needs to be taken down. Immediately. He can''t be allowed to do as he pleases any longer."


    "Does that mean you''re joining the task force?" Hawks questioned.


    "No, I will be leading my <i>own</i> task forceprised of myself and my sidekicks. If Sukuna is as strong as I suspect he is, I should be the only one capable of taking him down." Endeavor said before he began walking off. "There''s nothing more to do here. I''ll leave the rest to you."


    Hawks smiled awkwardly at his idol and waved goodbye. As he watched Endeavor finally leave the premises, Hawks looked around with a sigh. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and dialed a very familiar contact.


    The Hero Public Safety Commission Chairman.


    "...report, Hawks." A low, calm voice spoke from the other line.


    "The situation regarding Sukuna has changed." Hawks spoke into his phone, and his oncex expression turned serious. "He''s <i>much</i> stronger than we initially thought. I believe he might be connected to <i>that</i> man."


    "...very well. We''ll proceed with n C then."


    "So you''ll be sending in my Senpai?" Hawks asked as he used his feathers to help the first responders. A long silence was shared between him and the Chairman.


    "Yes, we can''t risk Sukua''s existence reaching the public and disturbing the peace... we''re sending in Nagant."


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>As I was about to post Chapter 38, it seemed that I identally deleted thest three Chapters by mistake! <(x_x)> I thought I was on the drafts tab and identally nuked them. My bad. They''re back up now, tho!</strong>


    <strong>While I''m not too sure when exactly Nagant got arrested for killing the HPSC Chairman in the original timeline, I don''t think it was that long from the start of canon going off how long her hair was when she escaped Tartarus. So, hopefully my inclusion of her makes sense.</strong>


    <strong>Anyways, let me know what you thought of this Chapter! </strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 39: NO. 39 - Combat Training

    <h4>Chapter 39: NO. 39 - Combat Training</h4>


    Images changed one after another in rapid session.


    My sight trailed the broad city skylines of Kyoto before it suddenly changed to a small shopping center within Tokyo. My vision changed again to a run-down residential area before moving onto the bustling city streets of Shibuya. With each change of scenery, I felt the growing headache hurt even more. Despite the pain, I continued switching between the dozens upon dozens of viewpoints.


    All of this was in an effort to find any gue mask-wearing individuals or a small little girl.


    "Souta. Souta? Souta!"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    I was snapped out of my shared sight with my crows by a very annoyed Mei. She had her hands on her hips while she looked at me with narrowed eyes. Her sharp expression soon gave way to concern as she tilted her head in worry.


    "Are you okay? You seem... distracted?"


    "I''m fine. I was just... lost in my thoughts," I said before looking down at the fold-up table where two armored arms rested. Beside them was a small chest te and a backpack where slim, butrge batteries sat within. "Where are we at?"


    Due to the subject being changed back to her inventions, Mei grinned and motioned to the nearbyptop that was connected to the arms.


    "All the final touches are done! We just need you to finish programming the changes to your code, and we can get started testing my baby!"


    "Right. I''ll get to that."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Walking up to theptop, I began to type away several new lines of code while also changing some of my past work. As I worked, I looked up to see therge quirk testing room I had rented out for Mei, Izuku, Keiko, Himiko, and my <i>uncle</i> Jin.


    The room itself was meant for those who wanted to use or train their quirks within rtive safety and to avoid getting in trouble for illegal quirk usage in a public space.


    Over the past few weeks of searching for Eri, I had decided I was sick of having to keep up the charade of being an orphan and having to send a clone in my ce to the orphanage. With careful nning and some expensive forged documents, I had Himiko transform into Jin and adopt me from the orphanage. This was mostly due to her being able to maintain a professional demeanor longer than Jin.


    The forged documents I had bought from a guy I know gave Jin an entirely new life with no history of any of his past crimes. On Himiko''s suggestion, Jin was also my estranged uncle, who had a falling out with my father. Causing the news of my parent''s death not reaching him until very recently. In order to make it up to his brother, Jin had walked into the orphanage and promptly adopted me. The caretakers and director looked a little <i>too</i> relieved that I was finally leaving.


    Things got a little moreplicated when I told Keiko about Jin. She had rained several questions on the man when I finally introduced him to her. Apparently, Keiko didn''t appreciate the fact that my uncle had left me alone in the orphanage for so many years due to the dispute between him and my father.


    Jin, the actual Jin, was constantly on his toes around Keiko, but he did rather well sticking to the story the three of us came up with. Even after I told her I didn''t hold Jin''s absence against him, Keiko still gave him the cold shoulder from time to time while clinging to me.


    ncing up from theptop, I watched the four of my friends chatting about something I couldn''t quite hear. Jin was wearing a ck and white mask that resembled his original one but with enough changes that they couldn''t be mistaken as one and the same.


    We excused this away by saying Jin was in a terrible ident that left his face scarred and sensitive to the air. Thankfully, I had some sickeningly nice and understanding friends who epted our excuse.


    "Alright. All ready."


    I told Mei, who bounced with excitement; she then called everyone over, causing them to all approach the table where the armored arms and chest te rested.


    "Hmm, it''s not very cute," Himiko muttered as she reached out to touch the arms. Jin walked up behind her and peered down at the armored arms as Himiko yed with their fingers.


    "How neat! Can they st energy beams out of their palms?" Jin asked as he and Himiko yed thumb wars with the arms.


    "It''s amazing, Hatsume-san, Souta-San!" Izuku said with excitement in his eyes as he looked over the support gear Mei and I worked on for him. "Can this really help me be a hero?"


    "Sure can!" Mei walked around the table, pushing past Keiko, Himiko, and Jin. She grabbed Izuku''s wrist and all but yanked him over. Wordlessly, I began strapping the chest te and armored arms onto him as Mei adjusted the straps over Izuku''s limbs.


    "Wow! These really are amazing!" Keiko walked over to watch as Mei and I finished putting the support gear on Izuku. "So with this, Izuku-kun will be able to better keep up with everyone else, right?"


    "Exactly!"


    "Not exactly," I said, cutting off Mei''s high energy.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    She walked over to me and rubbed the top of her head on the bottom of my chin with a pout. "This gear won''t be able to keep up with those who have a good handle on their quirks. At least, not yet. Mei had some earlier designs we worked off from, but we need to test out how these arms perform first before improving them."


    "What Debbie Downer said." Mei then unplugged the cables that connected the arms to theptop. "However, once we test these babies, I''ll be able to vastly improve them with the data we collect from their performance today!"


    "So, are you guys going to do a bunch of boring tests then? Howme." Himiko sighed and took a seat on one of the fold-out chairs beside the table.


    "I don''t know, it could be fun! I wanna go home." Jin said as he took a seat next to Himiko.


    "Nah, nothing like that," I said while taking off my jacket. I walked out into the center of the training ground and rolled my shoulders. "We''re going to do something more practical. Combat training. Keiko, Izuku, get over here. Today, you two will be working together to take me down."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "What?" Keiko asked in surprise. "But that isn''t fair. With the added arms, Izuku-kun may be stronger than you now, Sou-Chan. Plus, I''ve gotten a lot stronger with my own quirk."


    "She''s right, Souta-san. Isn''t this too much?"


    Suddenly, they both blinked in confusion as an oppressive wave of power swept over them. Before they could question it, the mysterious wave vanished.


    "Aren''t you two kids getting overconfident?" I began to warm up by hopping from foot to foot as I rolled my arms. "How about this: if either of you manages tond even a single blow on me, I''ll take everyone here on a shopping spree. How''s that for incentive?"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Shopping?" Keiko muttered, her eyes wide with excitement. Arge, confident smile spread over her face as she ran over in front of me. "Okay! Let''s do this!"


    "Hase-San!" Izuku yelled in shock at how quickly his friend changed.


    "Ooh! Things are finally getting interesting!" Himiko grinned and brought out two pompous from... somewhere. "Go Izuku-kun! Go Keiko-chan! Fight! Fight!"


    "Hmm, I could have sworn you''d be cheering for Souta," Jin mumbled before lifting a g with a chibi face of myself. "You got this, Bro! I mean, Nephew! Win! Win!"


    "It''s okay, Izuku," I said while easing into a loose fighting stance. "Show me the results of all your years of training."


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    "Souta-San..." Izuku uttered softly. Taking a deep breath, he slid into his own stance and began to re at me. "Very well. I''ll show you what I''m capable of!"


    I grinned at them both and beckoned them on.


    "Let''s get this show on the road then."


    <i>p!</i>


    I backflipped away as a barrier of blue energy swiped past where I once stood.


    "Not bad, Keiko. Right for the throat!"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "I have you to thank for that!" Keiko smiled at me and followed after me.


    pping her hands, Keiko unleashed three more waves of energy, all of which took on the shapes of fists. I danced around each of them and flipped over a low kick thrown by Izuku. With a re, he spun around and flicked out two snap kicks at my midsection. Grinning, I moved out of range of the first kick before pping his second kick to the side.


    <i>Let''s see how well that chest te holds up.</i>


    With a flick, I punched him on his chest using some minor CE enhancement. Causing him to grunt as his body rolled back several meters.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Izuku-kun!" Keiko yelled as she ran sideways. pping her hands, Keiko hopped on a blue disk she conjured below her feet. Gliding across the floor to float in front of Izuku, Keiko pushed her hands in front of her. In a sh of blue, a wide barrier the size of a car rushed at me. From behind the barrier, Izuku leaned down and rushed me, using the barrier as a blind spot.


    "A distraction. Not bad, you two."


    I leaned to the side to avoid Izuku''s flying kick after he used the barrier as aunching pad, resulting in him flying behind me. Seeing theirbined attack fail, Keiko pped her hands again,unching three flying pirs of energy at me with a wince; I pushed myself off the ground and reappeared in front of Keiko. Surprising her with my speed.


    "F-fast!"


    "Really? I suppose we have to up your running exercises then."


    "G-geh..."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Reaching out, I grabbed both of her hands and used them as leverage tond a strong donkey kick at Izuku''s face from where he tried tond a sneak attack. Using my abdominal strength, I flipped over Keiko andnded behind her with her wrists still in my grasp. Keiko''s arms were locked in front of her as she failed to escape me as her back was pressed against me. Trapping her.


    "Still too stiff," I pushed her forward andnded a good kick onto her back, sending her stumbling into Izuku.


    "Are you okay, Hase-san?" Izuku asked Keiko, who quickly nodded as they turned to me. I grinned at them as I slid my hands into my pockets.


    "Don''t tell me that''s all you two got?"


    "Not even close." Izuku and Keiko both said in unison. Turning to one another, they nodded before rushing forward.


    Izuku reached me first and threw out a right punch at my head; I easily dodged it and moved back to avoid a left punch. From there, our fight turned into a dance where he tried to use everybo he had in his arsenal. Unlike before, his speed was much greater, probably around a 5% boost, thanks to the armored arms. As we moved, I noticed that he was purposely keeping himself in my direct line of sight.


    <i>So that''s how it is.</i>


    "Now, Izuku-kun!"


    "Right!"


    I smiled and remained in ce as Izuku flipped away just as Keiko sent a veryrge and very fast barrier right at me. It was the size of a small house, but it wasn''t all that thick. It seemed that Keiko had exchanged the durability and strength of the barrier in favor of increasing its size and speed.


    "Not bad."


    <i>Crack!</i>


    Stepping beside Keiko, Izuku watched the loud plum of dust from Keiko''s attack slowly begin to settle. Keiko''s breathing was quick, and sweat covered her face. She then fell onto her knees as all her remaining strength left her.


    "Did that get him?" Izuku muttered, his posture stiff.


    "I don''t know, maybe?" I said as I peered into the plum of dust. "Do you see him?"


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Both Keiko and Izuku spun to see me standing in between them. Before he could move, I spun on my left foot and kicked Izuku''s exposed stomach with a strong back kick.


    The boy gasped as he wasunched back, his body curling up in pain. Keiko was about to yell out his name, but I grabbed the top of her head and mmed her onto the ground. Seeing both of them down for the count, I turned to an incredibly happy Mei.


    Himiko had a pout on her face due to the loss of a free shopping trip, but she didn''t seem surprised at my win. Jin was giving me a standing ovation while yelling bravo here and there.


    "How''s that? You get any good data?"


    "Tons!"


    x x x


    "Oh! Oh! How about we switch out the baby''s current flex ring for one that allows a wider range of motion?!"


    "That might work. But it might also rip Izuku''s arms off."


    "That''s okay! We''ll just make Midoriya-kun some new arms!"


    I smiled at Mei as we made our way back to her house. Izuku and Keiko both groggily went home together while Himiko wanted to go buy some ingredients for tonight''s dinner. Jin was promoted to bag carrier by her and was promptly dragged with her towards the store.


    That left Mei and me to carry all of our equipment back to her home. Normally, this would take more people due to the weight of the gear, but I had no issues carrying it.


    Over my shoulder was arge metal case where the damaged arms and chest te sat while the fold-up table was strapped to my back. Mei walked beside me with arge backpack full of her tools andptop as she scribbled away new designs and ideas on her handy notepad.


    "Huh?"


    I mumbled as Mei suddenly held my free left hand. She wasn''t paying attention to me as we continued to walk down the city streets.


    "What''s the matter, Mei?"


    "Hm? What do you mean?" Mei asked, genuinely confused.


    "Well, you''re holding my hand," I said, raising up our joined hands. She then blinked and made a soft "ah" noise.


    "I don''t know... I guess I just wanted to hold it," She said as her fingers tightened around my own. "Do you... not want to?"


    We continued walking, my eyes focused on her face. Feeling my gaze, Mei''s cheeks slowly began to redden. I then shrugged and looked back up.


    <i>Is she...? No. This is Mei we''re talking about. She''s probably worried she might wander off, so she''s using me as a guide or something.</i>


    "No, it''s fine,"


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    I adjusted the metal case over my shoulder and missed the wide smile that grew on Mei''s face, something she wasn''t even aware she did.


    The two of us continued walking hand in hand until we reached her home. Once there, we let each other go and walked inside her house. I greeted both of her parents before cing her baby down into her little work area in her room.


    "Okay. Don''t work on these too much, and try and get some sleep." I said while rolling my weary shoulder. Mei walked up to the case and snapped it open while she brought out her tool bag from her backpack. "Don''t think I haven''t noticed the small bags under your eyes."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "What''s sleep in the face of innovation!" Mei said as she sat on one of the armored arms on her work table.


    Just as she was about to undo the screws holding the forearm tes down with a screwdriver, I ced a hand over her own. Stopping her. I then gave her a stern look that she tried to squirm away from.


    "Mei."


    "...fine. I''ll get some sleep. Happy?!"


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    Taking my hand away, I gave her a nod with a smile. "Yup. That way, you won''t blow these or me up identally. Again."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "I said I was sorry! I didn''t know that Baby # 34 was going to blow up during the testing face!"


    "Tell that to my eyebrows."


    "They grew back!"


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>I have a quick question: I''ve noticed several requests for me to add Toga as Souta''s other potential partner alongside Hatsume. While this would go against the one-partner agreement I made with everyone, I wanted to see how everyone feels about this now that I have more readers than when I first conducted my original poll. </strong>


    <strong>I''m only willing to do one other partner, and with how I have written the story so far, Toga may be the only other love interest I''m willing to add, considering that these two characters are most likely the only ones I can see epting a polyamorous rtionship.</strong>


    <strong>I''ll be leaving it up to you all. Long live democracy.</strong>


    <strong>1. Yes, add Toga and make it a love triangle.</strong>


    <strong>2. No, keep it as a single pairing with just Hatsume.</strong>


    <strong>Happy voting, until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 40: NO. 40 - It Never Ends

    <h4>Chapter 40: NO. 40 - It Never Ends</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "What a pain in the ass." Said a man wearing a thick pair of sunsses despite the night sky. He had brushed back brown hair while he wore a pristine three-piece white suit.


    The man was sitting in the back of a white SUV as it drove through the streets of Shinjuku. He looked beside him where a young little girl with ck hair pulled up into twin tails cried loudly. Her once frilly pink dress was now stained red with blood. "Shut the hell up, you damn kid!"


    "Mommy! I want my mommy!" The girl cried. Only to be silenced once the man smacked her on the cheek.


    "You better learn to follow directions. Otherwise, you''ll end up like your mommy." The man said mockingly. He then looked over to his driver. "How much longer?"


    "Just another ten minutes, Takakura-san."


    Nodding, Takakura looked down beside his leg, where a small paper bag containing a few thousand yen was sitting. "What a waste of time. That bitch didn''t even have enough to cover the drive here, much less pay off her debts to us." He then looked over to the silently crying girl. "That means her debt is now yours to pay. You got that, you damn brat!"


    The now orphaned girl said nothing as she tried to press her body against the car door in an attempt to get as far as she could from Takakura. Grinning in amusement, Takakura pulled out his phone and began to scroll through several images.


    The images were of a middle-aged ck-haired woman being punched, cut up, and kicked by two men in suits. The pictures scrolled one after another, each one showing the woman in a worse state than before. Thest photo, a selfie of Takakura making a peace sign with the dead woman in the background, could be seen on the phone. Causing the man to chuckle in amusement.


    "Huh?" The driver said as he squinted his eyes. "What''s that-"


    <i>Kam!</i>


    Without warning, the vehicle in front of them that held his underlings exploded in a ball of mes. Freaking out, Takakura''s driver spun the wheel, but their SUV was suddenlyunched into the air, spinning through the air before it fell roof down on the road. A loud screeching filled the inside of the vehicle as it slid across the pavement, muffled by the scared yells from within the car.


    "Eguchi! You dumb bastard! What the hell did you do?!" Takakura yelled in anger as he picked himself up from the roof of the SUV. Arge scratch stretched across his forehead to his left cheek, spilling blood down his face. He then looked off to the side and found that the little girl he took was no longer beside him. "What?"


    The loud sound of ss shattering stole Takakura''s attention as he watched his driver, Eguchi, be grabbed by an arm. With a mighty pull, Eguchi was pulled out of the SUV with a frightened scream. Takakura remained silent as a very bright sh of orange light and a wave of heat struck him.


    "W-what is this? What''s going on!"


    It was then that a charred, smoking skeleton fell down in front of the broken windshield. Takakura looked on in silent horror as he noticed the lone gold tooth on the jaw''s central incisor. Exactly where Eguchi had his own.


    "...Eguchi?" Takakura muttered before the door beside him was ripped clean from its hinges. Before he could react, Takakura''s left ankle was grabbed by a powerful vice grip. "Gah!" He yelled as he was dragged out of the vehicle, his face scraping along the ground where several shards of ss sat scattered.


    Looking around wildly from his upside-down position, Takakura screamed until a martial arts shoe kicked his teeth in.


    "Shut up," Sukuna muttered before looking down at a phone with a green case. On the case were a pair of bunny ears. cing the phone in one of his pockets, Sukuna lifted Takakura up, only to drop him on his head. Causing the man to cry in pain. Crawling onto his back, Takakura was about to beg for his life when he finally noticed the tattoos on Sukuna''s body.


    "I-it''s you..." Takakura muttered with dread.


    Sukuna said nothing as he raised his hand, summoning a ball of fire in front of his palm. Takakura''s eyes widened with terror, seeing the burning ball of death.


    "Are you with the Shie Hassaikai?"


    "Me? I-I''m not with those guys." Takakura said. Unfortunately, that was not the answer the King of Curses was looking for. "No, wait-"


    Watching the now burning body with expressionless eyes, Sukuna walked away as the man''s screams eventually died down. Stopping midstep, Sukuna looked around at the dozens of scared observers without a care.


    Without saying a word, Sukuna leaped away from the scene. Leaving behind dozens of scared observers who would all quickly spread what they saw that night.


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    Photo Maniption, Hasaba Nanako''s cursed technique.


    It was one of the newly added techniques I gained a week ago during a gold tier pull. Not much was known about the technique due to its short appearance during the Shibuya arc in JJK.


    However, from what was shown of the technique before Sukuna killed Nanako, it appeared to give her the ability to manipte the subject within any photograph she took. That would have exined how she and Mimiko survived Jogo''s attack.


    Its true potential was made clear to me after all of the technique''s information was poured into my brain. As I suspected, Photo Maniption did give me control over the subjects within the photo I took with the cursed tool that was her phone. Once the photo is taken, I can move, cut out, or even delete anything I take a picture of.


    However, using this technique requires <i>a lot</i> of CE. Especially the option to delete the subject of my choosing. That was probably what Nanako was nning to do to Sukuna before he killed her. Though, I doubted that would have been enough to kill him.


    This was the technique that allowed me to remove the girl from the car earlier tonight from the men who murdered her mother. Using the technique had eaten up around 30% of my overall CE. And all I really did was move the girl over to another photo I took, which was the rooftop I was standing on before I attacked the two vehicles.


    Cutting a subject from the picture would take up 55% of my CE, and deleting something would cost 75%. It was an extremely useful technique in a controlled situation, but the CE it takes up made it a useless technique in actualbat. Even so, it''s what allowed me to move the girl from a tight situation.


    The poor girl was confused and scared of me at first, but after I messed up my hair and removed my tattoos, Iforted her as best as I could before taking her to one of the best orphanages in Japan.


    The orphanage that I had a heavy hand in molding ever since my actions as Sukuna began.


    I used around 60% of all the money I took from my escapes to fund the operation. At the same time, I made sure to take a closer look at all of its employees to make sure they did their job well. I even introduced myself to the Director in charge of the orphanage. He was suspicious of me at first, but after two years of working together, the man now trusted me and my intentions heavily.


    After exining the little girl''s situation, the Director took her with a heavy heart. As I left, the girl had a sad and lifeless expression. Seeing that caused me to regret not being able to save her mother.


    But I failed to get to them in time.


    Using Construction, I gave the little girl arge rabbit plush toy. She tentatively took the plush before being guided inside by one of the orphanage''s caretakers.


    Taking down Kobashigawa ended up causing more problems than I had hoped. With such arge power gap left behind due to his death, dozens of criminals havee out of hiding to try and fill that gap themselves. All in hopes of bing one of Japan''s newest and cruelest crime lords.


    Unfortunately for them, I was still here.


    <i>Damn, I''m starting to sound like Batman...</i>


    Even so, I had to focus on my primary objective.


    Find Overhaul and save Eri.


    Jumping from rooftop to rooftop, I scanned the streets below underneath my ck hood. Landing on a tall light pole, the people below were unaware I was above them with the light below me.


    Just as one of the bar-hopping college students was about to look up, I was gone.


    "Three weeks. Three weeks of searching and still nothing."


    I frowned as I scaled the side of a tall apartment building. Reaching the top, Inded in a crouch and leaped toward the building across the street. With a roll, I sprung up andnded on the roof''s edge.


    "How frustrating..."


    Some would question why I was so pressed on finding Chisaki and his goon squad. It wasn''t because I was interested in fighting or killing him.


    No, I needed to find Eri and get her away from him. From the snapshots, they showed us from the original canon, the poor girl was sliced and pulled to pieces who knows how many times. It was why I had my crows search for her right away ever since I acquired MeiMei''s technique.


    Much to my annoyance, after so many years of searching high and low, I''ve yet to find a sign of the Shie Hassaikai. I just needed Chisaki to slip up once, but the man has been cautious. But knowing that his quirk-nullifying bullets were now on the streets, I had to boost my search.


    I wouldn''t let Eri suffer a <i>second</i> longer if I could help it.


    <i>Something''sing!</i>


    I sted off to the side just in time as a high-speed object crashed where I once was. The corner of the roof cracked as a long, pink, and indigo bullet rested within the ruined rooftop.


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "A bullet?" I calcted the bullet''s trajectory and where the crack of the rifle sounded out from; I spun to the right and looked straight at a high-rise building in the distance.


    There, crouched on its rooftop, was a figure with long pink and indigo hair in a high ponytail. Her most distinguished feature was the long sniper rifle sticking out of her right elbow.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    <strong><i>...a few weeks ago...</i></strong>


    <i>"It''s all a sham."</i>


    "We have two heroes pushing civilians tomit crimes. Afterward, they turn them in to the police and collect rewards for capturing them." A blonde man wearing a suit said. His sses reflected the small streams of lighting in from the small gaps between the shades within therge, dark office he was in, giving his spectacles an eerie glow.


    This man was the Hero Public Safety Commission Chairman.


    "It wouldn''t do for us to bring any official charges against them. But they must be dealt with." The Chairman finished.


    Standing across from the man was a woman. She had long hair wrapped into a ponytail and secured with a hair clip. She wore a hero costume, which consisted of a simple dark sleeveless turtleneck jumpsuit with two tes underneath her chest, a utility belt, and knee guards. She also wore white boots and a long scouter over her right eye, shaped like a lightning bolt.


    The woman''s name was Tsutsumi Kaina. Otherwise known by her fellow heroes as Lady Nagant.


    "...you think that by killing them, society will be improved?" Kaina said, her eyes half-lidded. The Chairman frowned at her words but remained silent. "If we don''t show people the bad side of things, that''s brainwashing by omission."


    "Nagant. Wouldn''t you agree that the most important thing for us to do is to maintain the hope that public-facing heroes have brought into the world?" The Chairman said as he walked around the lone table within the room. Sitting down, he looked up at an unconvinced Kaina with cold, calcting eyes.


    "If this is the only way... then what does the future hold for us?"


    "Your <i>duty</i> is to follow orders." The Chairman said firmly. "This is not a job-"


    <i>Ring Ring!</i>


    A soft ringtone interrupted the Chairman. Pausing, he kept his eyes trained on Kaina before reaching over to his phone, which was resting on the corner of the desk beside aptop. Lifting his phone to his face, his eyes narrowed before turning to Kaina. "Excuse me for a moment... Report, Hawks."


    Kaina''s right arm twitched as she looked away as the Chairman spoke on his phone. As the man talked, Kaina''s mind swirled and fizzled as her thoughts threatened to drown her.


    "...very well. We''ll proceed with n C then... Yes, we can''t risk Sukua''s existence reaching the public and disturbing the peace." The Chairman said before turning to Kaina with an expression that she''d never seen on the man before. "We''re sending in Nagant."


    Hanging up the phone, the Chairman crossed his fingers in front of him. "Change of target. You are to find the man known as Sukuna and <i>eliminate</i> him at all costs. This will be the most important job of your career. Is that clear?"


    "Sukuna?" Kaina said with recognition. "I thought there was already a task force focused on him."


    "There is," The Chairman nodded. "But after several months of nothing, we can''t afford to wait on them to do their job any longer. Sukuna needs to be removed from society at once. You have full ess to any and all resources you require to get this done. You are to begin immediately. Understood?"


    Kaina looked down at her right arm before turning to the Chairman''s head. Her eyes grew cold and lifeless before she closed them. Taking a deep breath, Kaina nodded and walked out of the office.


    ''After this... I''ll stop this madness.'' Kaina thought as she walked down the hall to prepare for her next and final mission for the Hero Public Safety Commission.


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>I know that the timeline between when Nagant was arrested was around 5-15 years before the start of canon or so. So, some of you might have an issue with me including her sote in this story''s timeline. Regardless, I don''t think moving her up on the timeline really affects the overall story for MHA, considering her role in the original canon. </strong>


    <strong>Still, her character was a favorite of mine, and I wanted to use her throughout my story. </strong>


    <strong>With that quick statement over, let me know your thoughts andments!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 41: NO. 41 - The Lovely Lady Nagant

    <h4>Chapter 41: NO. 41 - The Lovely Lady Nagant</h4>


    <i>It''s Nagant!</i>


    "Switch!" I yelled as I switched out Photo Maniption for Projection Sorcery.


    I glitched out of sight and reappeared across the roof. Hearing a whiz slice through the air, I jumped across several rooftops, dodging bullet after bullet. With each dodge, the bullets grew closer and closer to my position. Using CE, I increased my speed to clear the city block I was in within a sh.


    <i>Damn it, I''m starting to regret using so much of my CE today!</i>


    Using Blood Maniption, I used a blood tendril to stop my movement. Letting me narrowly miss a bullet that smashed through a ss window from the building beside me. Blood spread over my eyes in a mask as I activated Flowing Red Scale, further boosting my movement speed and reflexes. In conjunction, I used Construction to create armor around my vitals with my liquid metal.


    "She''s good. She''s very good!" I said as I ran through the city.


    <i>I can''t use my wings or summon Nue due to not having the Ten Shadows equipped. Even if I did, being in the air would make it hard for me to change directions while also making me an easier target. That''s something I can''t afford to do with Nagant</i>!


    While I was moving, I slowly worked my way towards her bird''s nest. I needed to close the distance between us in order to take her down. However, that was easier said than done.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    "A different direction?" I looked to my left toward where thetest bullet came from. "She must have moved. But how? She shouldn''t have Air Walk. A support item?"


    Two more shots rang out, and I saw the air shift in front of me. Even if I had Toji''s perception, that didn''t mean my body was equipped with the speed to keep up with it. Even now, my CE-enhanced body alongside Flowing Red Scale made me barely fast enough to dodge <i>one</i> bullet.


    <i>Shit. This one''s got a curve to it! </i>


    "Geh." Blood sttered behind me as her second bullet sliced through the side of my stomach where my armor didn''t protect me. "Damn it!"


    <i>If only I had Yuta''s or Sukuna''s CE! I would have been able to speed-blitz her!</i>


    My eyes zoomed off to where the bullets came from; I was able to finally see how Nagant was moving around. Strapped to her back was apact jetpack that allowed her to boost from rooftop to rooftop while a grappling hook strapped to her left arm yanked her where she wanted tond. Not only that, but she also had some sort of hover boots that gave her a boost of speed.


    "It seems like the HPSC isn''t ying around! That gear looks expensive!" I yelled toward Nagant. Her head twitched as she leveled her sniper and fired another shot. "Show me what you''ve got!"


    Projection, Construction, and Blood Maniption.


    Those are my current techniques after using my Binding Vow once. I needed to find a way to close the distance using these three techniques. Otherwise, it''s game over.


    "Let''s see how well you keep up with me with this!" I yelled as I pushed Projection Sorcery to its maximum, causing my body to glitch all over the city as I rushed toward her.


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "How the hell is he so fast?!" Kaina yelled as she activated her jet back tounch herself to the building across from her. While in mid-air, she saw Sukuna seemingly glitch out of reality as he quickly approached her position. "He hasn''t used that ice quirk of his either! Does that mean he really <i>does </i>have multiple quirks!"


    Tracking down Sukuna was no easy task. After receiving her assignment two weeks ago, Kaina had poured every recourse avable to her to track the so-called King of Curses down.


    Seeing as how the task of finding and taking down Sukuna had failed to find him for several months, Kaina decided to take a different approach from actively searching for him. Instead, she focused her efforts on finding criminals and viins who met Sukuna''s established MO. If you find them, then it would only be a matter of time before Sukuna woulde knocking down their door. A door you had a pair of eyes trained on.


    Still, her n wasn''t wless. Even after finding several criminals and viins that had a high potential of being his target, she always seemed to be one step behind Sukuna.


    That was until he made the mistake of creating a public execution in front of many civilians on a busy street. Luckily for Kaina, she was only a few blocks away from the incident.


    Raising her left arm, Kaina fired her grappling hook toward the building''s concrete roof. Feeling it anchor, she quickly retracted the cable, sending her through the air with a jerk. Before she could crash into the ground, Kaina unsped the grappling hook and activated her hover boots to slide across the entire length of the roof in two seconds.


    With a jump, Kaina raised her sniper arm and aimed. Her trained eyes scanned the sky, buildings, and rooftops before she saw a flicker of movement. Trusting her hard-earned instincts and skills, Kaina fired a shot toward where she knew her target would be.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    With her scouter, Kaina saw Sukuna raise his left arm. In an instant, arge te of ck liquid created a shield in front of his chest. Her bullet struck true and sent him skidding back. Coming to a stop, the ck shield Sukuna created broke from the impact, causing him to look <i>straight</i> at her with a wide grin.


    "He''s good. I''ll give him that," Kaina muttered as she ripped off a lock of her hair. Onmand, her hair changed its shape into a long, sharp bullet she injected into her sniper arm. "I guess you don''t get as famous as you did without the skills to back it up."


    Raising her rifle up, Kaina zeroed in on Sukuna''s head.


    <i>"Lady Nagant! Lady Nagant! Oh wow! Can I shake your hand?!" A small boy from a group of children asked excitedly as they ran up to her.</i>


    <i>"Me, too!"</i>


    <i>"You''re the best!"</i>


    <i>"Heh. Sure. But only if you kids have been good." Kaina said as she turned away from the officer she was speaking with to offer the children her hand. </i>


    <i>Extending it, Kaina''s eyes widened when she saw her arm covered in deep crimson. </i>


    "This isn''t the time to think about that," Kaina said as she watched her target disappear again. Her brief distraction had caused her to miss her opportunity. "Focus on the mission! Your <ist</i> mission!"


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    At the sight of an incredibly fast-moving crimson spear, Kaina jerked her body back as she activated her support gear just in time to avoid several crashing <i>blood </i>and steel spearsnding all around her.


    "Shit." Kaina weaved in and out from the falling weapons before she heard the ttering sound of steel. "The hell?!"


    Turning her head, she saw several chains ttering through the sky and between the buildings around her. Kaina spun in ce with her rifle raised as she tried to find Sukuna amidst all the sounds and rushing chains around her.


    "Right here, Nagant!"


    Spinning, Kaina fired her shot at the source of the voice. Her eyes grew wide when her bullet collided with a voice recorder¡ªsmashing it to pieces.


    A soft, almost inaudible tap behind her caused Kaina to freeze. The sound was barely audible, but to her, it might as well have been a booming detonation. Roaring, she spun around with her rifle half raised, but it was toote.


    "Checkmate," Sukuna muttered before he <i>punched</i> her.


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    My fist met her stomach as I punched Nagant across the rooftop. Not stopping there, I rushed after her as she tumbled to the ground. Grabbing her by the front of her shirt, I pulled her to her feet and sunk my knee into her injured stomach.


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "Gah!" Nagant grunted as spittle and blood flew out her mouth.


    Reaching back, I tore off her jetpack and threw it off the rooftop. She red at me as soon as she recovered her bearings. With quick precision, she snapped out two left jabs at me. Moving side to side, I avoided her blows and kicked down her rising sniper arm back to the ground.


    "Lady Nagant!" I said as I maintained a close distance between us. Using Wing Chun, Inded a series of strikes along her body. In a split second, I swiped my hand through the air and removed her grappling hook from her left forearm. "I was wondering when those sorry excuses at the Safety Commission were going to send their attack dog!"


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    "I-I''m not-" Nagant didn''t get to finish her sentence as Inded a left hook on her cheek. With a sharp stomp, I destroyed her left hover boot. "I''m not their attack dog!"


    "Then tell me, why are you here?!"


    Enhancing my fist with CE, I punched Nagant''s right shoulder, causing her to scream out in pain.


    Lady Nagant was by no means a bad fighter. No, if anything, she was extremely skilled in hand-to-handbat. She wouldn''t be as famous as she was if she couldn''t perform without her Sniping Quirk. No doubt a result of the Safety Commission''s years of training. Unfortunately for her, I was much more skilled.


    Stumbling back, Nagant managed to escape from the close range we had. With a rebellious roar, she raised her right arm despite the agonizing pain in her bruised shoulder and aimed the barrel of her shortened sniper right at my face.


    <i>Shit! I messed up!</i>


    I screamed in my head as I stared down the barrel that was only 30 centimeters away from my face.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    Everything around me slowed to a crawl as I watched the bullet leave its muzzle. There was at most half a second to react before the bullet shot through my head.


    The spinning pink and indigo bullet rippled through the air as it was a hair''s breadth away.


    <i>Switch! </i>


    In a microsecond, I exchanged Blood Maniption for the Limitless technique.


    Using the Limitless without the Six Eyes was not an impossible task to aplish.


    No, it certainly was usible to be used. However, using the technique without the Six Eyes''s godly control of cursed energy made activating the neutral Limitless, Infinity, an extremely draining move. It was as if one were to try to collect a cup of water with a mesh strainer. It was an impossible task. This means that once I activate the Limitless, I''ll be throwing away my already depleted CE at record speeds.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    "W-What?!" Nagant yelled as her bullet stopped an inch away from my head by some invisible barrier.


    <i>Fuck! My CE!</i> I instantly felt my reserves begin to plummet with incredible speed. <i>It''s barely been half a second but I already feel my CE drop by 35%!</i>


    Without wasting any more time, I slipped out of the bullet''s path and deactivated the Limitless. I ignored the feeling of exhaustion and rushed Nagant with pure, raw speed. Due to the shock of seeing her seemingly sure-kill bullet stop mid-air, Nagant was still frozen in shock and unprepared for the powerful blow Inded on her face. Sending her flying back and over the roof''s edge.


    Nagant was wide-eyed as she felt gravity take hold of her body. Closing her eyes in eptance, she let her body plummet. That is until I shot to the edge of the rooftop and wrapped my fingers around her left wrist. Stopping her from falling.


    She opened her eyes to look down at the dark, sparkling city streets below before looking up at me. Slowly, her indigo eyes grew wide in surprise as she looked over my exposed face. The ck hood that usually hid my identity had blown off in my burst of speed in order to reach her before she fell.


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    "You''re... just a kid," Nagant said with horror. Her eyes trembled as she examined my features. "I almost killed a <i>kid</i>."


    "I''m not a kid," I said as I looked down at her hanging form. "I''m almost 16."


    She remained silent before she looked over to her right arm. I kept quiet as she had her internal struggle before she sighed.


    "Go ahead... drop me. End this already."


    "...do you want to die?" I asked.


    "I don''t know," Nagant muttered. A strong breeze blew past us, tousling her long hair to the side. "But it doesn''t matter what I want. I tried to kill you. I''m sure you''ve killed for less. So go ahead."


    I frowned at her answer and sighed.


    Lady Nagant.


    A tragic character who was groomed by the Hero Public Safety Commission to be its ruthless executioner in the original storyline. She reached her breaking point when she was ordered to kill two heroes and instead killed the Commission chairman. This act led to her imprisonment in Tartarus. Eventually, she was used by All For One to capture Izuku for him.


    While it seems that the event where she killed the Chairman had yet to happen, Nagant still had that dead, lifeless look in her eyes. She was nearing her breaking point. If left alive after this, Nagant would indeed proceed with killing the man who turned her into an unstoppable killing machine¡ªkilling the once hopeful young girl with dreams of grand heroics and serving the public.


    "Nagant." Raising her head at my voice, the woman stared up at me with defeat. "I... have a proposition for you."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "A proposition? You want me to make a deal with a serial killer like you?" Nagant said as she looked down at the far-off ground. "I suppose I don''t have much of a choice with my current situation."


    I smiled in amusement at her response. "Trust me. I think this will work out for the both of us."


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>What do you all think of the new ending Horikoshi made for MHA?</strong>


    <strong>Personally, I think it''s a lot better than his original ending. It also set </strong><strong><i>that</i></strong><strong> fan base on fire. (LOL)</strong>


    <strong>Please be sure to leave me ament on today''s Chapter.</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 42: NO. 42 - UA Entrance Exam

    <h4>Chapter 42: NO. 42 - UA Entrance Exam</h4>


    <strong><i>...A Few Weeks Later...</i></strong>


    "There it is! UA!"


    "I''ve only seen it from far away, but it''s so much more amazing in person!"


    I rolled my eyes at how Izuku and Keiko were geeking out over UA''s main entrance, which happened to be UA''s famous UA barrier. The barrier''s primary purpose was to keep out those without a Staff ID, Student ID, or a special permission pass to enter.


    Around us were several dozen hopeful students making their way in through the gates with their special permission passes.


    Passes that Himiko and I have in our pockets.


    "I was expecting... more," Himiko muttered as she rested her chin on my shoulder, a bored look on her expression.


    "More?!" Keiko yelled in disbelief. Rushing over to Himiko, Keiko grabbed her shoulders and began to rock her back and forth. "Himiko-Chan! This is UA! The greatest and most prolific hero school in Japan! You can''t understand how jealous I am that you and Sou-chan get to go before me!"


    "Rx, Keiko," I muttered as I picked up Keiko with little issue, saving Himiko, who looked dizzy from all the shaking. "Remember, we still need to pass the entrance exam. Besides, we''re here for Gen Ed. So who cares about all that extra hero crap?"


    <strong>[16 x 5 = +80 SP]</strong>


    "What did he say?"


    "Why is that loser even here then? Such disrespect"


    "Did he say, Gen Ed? He must be weak if he can''t even think of taking the hero course exams."


    Izuku looked nervous from the annoyed looks andments I received from myment from those around us. I, on the other hand, didn''t care about their little opinions and ced Keiko down.


    "Alright, you two need to go home now." I looked over them both with a pointed look, causing them to look disappointed. "I said I''d take you to the entrance to look at the building. Now that I have done that, you both have to go home. Himiko and I need to go take that exam."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "It''s okay, Keiko-chan, Izuku-kun! You''ll both be attending the school in another year! Oh, I can''t wait for all of us to walk home together!" Himiko smiled as she did a little excited dance. I rubbed my hair and grabbed her wrist to begin pulling her towards therge H-shaped building that was the school.


    "Go on, you two. Be sure to text me when you get home!"


    Keiko and Izuku nodded before waving goodbye.


    "Okay! You two got this!" Keiko yelled with a thumbs up.


    "Good luck, Souta-san! Toga-san!" Izuku called out, a little more subdued.


    Himiko waved at them while I nodded with a slight grin. Turning up at the building, I noticed that the anime didn''t do it justice. It was a massive building made up of hundreds of ss panels. The school grounds themselves were mind-boggling in scale, going off theplimentary map they gave to all the student hopefuls. It made me wonder just how much money funded this ce.


    Jumping over beside me, Himiko wrapped her arms around my right arm with a happy smile. This caused several of the students around us to blush at our "Bold" behavior on school grounds.


    "Let''s do our best, Souta-kun!"


    "Yeah. Let''s do our best."


    "Would it kill you to sound a little excited"?


    "...maybe."


    x x x


    Some would imagine that the entrance exam for one of Japan''s most prodigious schools would be rather difficult. So, when I went over all of the questions from the rather thick booklet that was our test packet, I came to one conclusion.


    This exam ain''t shit.


    Sure, for anyone with room temperature IQ, I could see this test being a colossal challenge.


    But for someone like myself, this was a breeze.


    After taking fifteen minutes out of the two-hour exam, I stood up and submitted my booklet to the astonished overseers sitting behind a long table. Several dozen other students remained in therge hall, still working on their exams, and they looked at me with expressions of confusion or amusement.


    "Do you... have a question?" A woman dressed in an ordinary suit and tie asked.


    The man sitting beside her eyed me with annoyance. He probably thought I wasn''t taking this seriously or something.


    Jokes on him; I actually <i>wasn''t </i>taking this seriously.


    "Nope. I''m all done." I said with my hands in my pockets. I looked around the table in front of them with curiosity. "What''s next? Another packet or something?"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Uh, no. For the General Education course, all you need to do is pass the written exam with at least an 85-90% score." The woman said slowly as if talking to a dimwit. "Would you... like to take another look at your exam?"


    "Nope!" I smiled at the woman, causing her eyebrow to twitch. "If that''s it, I''ll be leaving now."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Not waiting for her or the annoyed man beside her to speak, I left the testing room and looked around at the <i>massive</i> hallways. Seeing that no one was around to stop me from wandering, I decided to go ahead and explore the ce.


    Walking around unimpeded, I strolled by several empty ssrooms, lecture halls, gymnasiums, and even some bathrooms. Some rather unique and clean bathrooms. While extremelyrge and impressive looking, UA was rather nd. Then again, the school was empty today in order to hold the entrance exams for all the new student hopefuls.


    Walking around a corner, I paused when I finally found the school''s expansive cafeteria.


    Sniffing the air, I picked up a rather pleasant aroma and strolled into the cafeteria. Off to the side was a rtively small line of people grabbing some food. Seeing the iconic blue, white, and red gym uniforms of UA, I figured these people were students grabbing a bite to eat. Shrugging, I walked over to the line and grabbed a lunch tray. Stepping beside one of the UA students, I waited for my turn.


    "What will it be, young man!" The chef behind the counter asked. He was wearing a cooking apron and a chef hat, as well as a mask that covered his face. He also wears white gloves and shoes. There''s also a tube that connects from his mouth to his back. Blinking, I quickly realized that this was the pro hero, Lunch Rush.


    "Hm, Chef''s choice!" I said with an easygoing grin. Lunch Rush looked surprised at first before nodding in excitement.


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "Now, that''s something I don''t hear too often! Very well! Leave it to me!" Lunch Rush said before his hands moved in a blur. In no time, he ced a mouth-watering bowl of Nabe Yaki Udon. "Please enjoy!"


    "Believe me, I will."


    After paying for my food, I found a lone spot on a long lunch table and dug into the incredibly delicious bowl of noodles. I was so lost in my meal that I failed to notice someone plopping down beside me with a tray of their own food.


    "Hello there! You''re a new face!" A girl with long light blue periwinkle hair and blue eyes said as she turned to me with a wide smile. "Hey, did you know you have this bad vibe around you? Oh, how''d you get that scar on your neck? You''re not wearing a school uniform or a gym uniform! Are you here for the entrance exams?"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "...huh?" I muttered as I held up some noodles in my chopsticks. Snapping out of my bliss from the delicious food, I realized who was sitting beside me.


    It was Hado Nejire.


    x x x


    "My patience is being tested..."


    After finishing my pleasant lunch, Nejire apparently took it upon herself to continue following me around.


    When I asked her why, she said that she was extremely curious as to why I radiated such a negative vibe.


    "So why did you choose UA to go to anyway? Oh! Oh! You''re a year younger than me, but you''re almost as tall as Togata-san! You must have some really good gics!" Nejire said as she walked beside me.


    "Shouldn''t you be... anywhere else, Hado?" I stopped walking and turned to the bright girl with a deadpan stare. She tilted her head in confusion before shaking her head.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "I don''t think so. Nope! I''m totally free!"


    "There you are, Hado-san."


    Nejire and I turned to look at another student with pointy elf-like ears. He has messy, dark indigo hair, which sticks out behind his head, and thin, tired-looking eyes that are partially covered by his bangs. His shoulders were hunched over as he walked over to us.


    <i>The man, the myth, the bundle of anxious nerves, Its Sun-Eater.</i>


    "Amajiki-kun!" Nejire jumped as she walked over to Amajiki Tamaki, another member of UA''s future Big Three. "What are you doing here? I thought you were training with Togata-san."


    Pausing, Tamaki looked over at me before hunching over and avoiding any eye contact. Looking closer, I saw his shoulders tremble slightly.


    "I-I was, but Mirio asked me to get you. T-there''s something he wants to test out that he needs your help with." Tamaki said in a hard-to-hear voice.


    "Awh. Really? But I was having so much fun with my new friend." Nejire whined before brightening up. "Let me introduce you, Amajiki-kun! This is Shimizu Souta! A soon-to-be first year!"


    "A-ah, hello?" Tamaki muttered, still refusing to meet my eyes.


    "Sup," I said to him before turning to Nejire. "We''re friends?"


    "The best!" Nejire nodded and ran over to Tamaki. "I''ll find you again once you officially join UA, Shimizu-kun! I have to go help Togata-san! Bye-bye!"


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Before Tamaki or I could say a word to one another, she grabbed him by his wrist and all but dragged him through the hallway. I stood rooted in ce until they were out of sight.


    "...she''s a bit annoying. But she''s also cute." I muttered. "I guess that evens out?"


    x x x


    "We''re home!"


    Himiko called out as she threw her book bag down onto the floor after she took off her shoes.


    "Wee home!" Jin called out from deep in the house.


    I followed behind her as she ran through the main hall toward the living room. "Kaina-Oneechan! That exam was so hard!"


    Entering the living room, I watched as Himiko jumped into the arms of Tsutsumi Kaina. Otherwise known as Lady Nagant. Kaina had an ufortable expression as she rubbed Himiko''s back from where she was sitting on the couch. She turned to me with a look that asked for help, but I only shrugged my shoulders.


    "Uh, there, there?"


    Himiko smiled and pressed her face into Kaina''s chest as she deepened her hug with the older woman. Kaina blushed slightly from having Himiko push her breasts around with her head.


    Why is the extremely dangerous hitman, Lady Nagant, in my home? I can hear you ask.


    You see, after our showdown in the streets of Shinjuku. I had proposed to Kaina that she abandon the HPSC in order toe work under me.


    I promised her that if she did, I would help her take down the corrupt organization that was once meant to protect and serve the public before falling to a more sinister regime that pushed Kaina and other young, hopeful people to be what were essentially assassins.


    In return, Kaina would offer me help whenever I asked for it. Which hopefully wouldn''t happen too often. I didn''t want to push the traumatized woman any further than she already was.


    At first, she was hesitant to join the infamous Sukuna, but after exining to her what I truly did and stood for, she finally agreed. It seemed that the HPSC had embellished my reputation to the point that I was some sort of boogeyman to everyone who knew my name.


    Kaina was worried that after betraying the HPSC, they would send someone to hunt her down. However, I assured her that she would bepletely safe under my protection. The multipleyers of security at myrge home would provide her with the peace of mind she needs to heal her worn-down spirit.


    Upon hearing we had a new housemate, Himiko had all but glowed in happiness at the prospect of another woman living with us. She even began treating Kaina like the big sister she never had, much to the older woman''s embarrassment. Kaina struggled to deny Himiko, most likely due to her weakness against children.


    She could have done without Himiko''s excessive touchiness, though.


    Who would have thought the extraordinarily lethal and dangerous Lady Nagant had a soft spot for kids?


    When it came to Jin, the two got along well. Even if Kaina thought he was a bit odd. Every now and then, one of Jins jokes cracked through her mask of indifference and toughness. Giving us a glimpse of her warm, softer side.


    My rtionship with her was one of mutual respect. Despite her seeing me as a supposed kid, she knew I handled myself like a grown adult. When I wanted to, at least. I wasn''t sure if I would call our rtionship friendship. I knew that we had an odd connection due to our bloody history. We understood one another in a way no one else could.


    "Souta! You''re finally here!" Jin said as he looked up from therge pot he was working on. "How was your exam? You botched it, didn''t you?!"


    "I think it went alright," I said as I took a seat on one of the stools beside the kitchen ind. "I shouldn''t have anything to worry about when ites to getting in or not. The exam was easy."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "Easy?!" Himiko shot up, much to Kaina''s relief. "That exam was one of the hardest things I''ve ever done! There were also a bunch of stupid questions involving heroics, too!"


    "Well, it is a <i>hero</i> school," Kaina said as she picked up her book and resumed her reading. "Even if you''re not in the heroics course, don''t be surprised if they sprinkle in some topics involving heroes."


    "Yeah! What she said!" Jin said as he pointed at Kaina. Behind him, the pot began to boil over. "Oh no! My soup!"


    "I guess..." Himiko pouted before she sat against Kaina on the couch. "Still, I think it should be pretty fun going to UA."


    "I still fail to see how going there benefits you, Souta-san." Kaina looked over at me with a confused expression. "All you''re doing is cing yourself in unnecessary danger. Your disguise is just a hood and some magic tattoos, after all."


    "Rx, Kaina. I have my reasons." I smiledzily at the woman as I tried some of Jin''s soup. "Besides, haven''t you ever heard of hiding in in sight? I''ll be fine."


    Kaina didn''t look convinced, but she dropped the subject nheless. Choosing to instead focus on her book.


    Just as I was about to go to my library to grab a book of my own, I felt a strong pull in my mind. Stopping mid-step, I closed my eyes and focused my senses. In no time, I opened my eyes to see through the eyes of one of my crows.


    Looking down, I watched a rough-looking man with several children''s toys step inside a ck sedan. After cing all the newly bought toys in the back seat, the man reached over to the passenger seat, where a ck <i>gue</i> mask sat underneath a coat.


    "Found you."

 Chapter 43: NO. 43 - Attack On The Shie Hassaikai

    <h4>Chapter 43: NO. 43 - Attack On The Shie Hassaikai</h4>


    "All right, everyone. Listen up."


    I stepped before arge printout of an expansive connecting business building tucked away between several other homes and buildings. Surrounding the extensive building was a tall gate with only one entrance at the front. Several other pictures were taped below it, showing the surrounding empty homes and other structures.


    Himiko, Jin, Kaina, and I were all in one of my extra rooms, which I had transformed into a small war room. A long table lined with three chairs on each side stood in the middle of the room.


    "This here is the Shie Hassaikai Compound. It''s run and operated by the Eight Precepts of Death, headed by Overhaul. It''s newest Yakuza boss." I said as I pointed at a blurry image of a man with brown hair dressed in an oversized green jacket.


    The man''s most stand-out feature was the red and gold gue mask over his nose and mouth. In the picture, Overhaul is walking through one of the building''s connecting hallways, followed by a man dressed in a long white raincoat and holding his hood up. A ck and gold gue mask sat over his face. In his arms was a small girl who seemed to try to shrink into herself. "Behind him is his right-hand man, Chronostasis. In his arms is our main objective, Eri."


    "The girl they''re experimenting on to create this quirk-destroying drug," Kaina said with narrowed eyes as she held the red cartridge bullet between her fingers.


    Sitting beside her, Himiko shifted ufortably as she looked at Eri with a sad expression. Jin leaned forward on the table, his usual loud personality silent. I nodded before pointing to each photo of Overhaul''s Eight Bullets.


    "That''s right. That bastard has been slicing Eri and using her Quirk to fashion a new line of quirk-erasing bullets. Until recently, one of my other targets shot me with one to erase my <i>Quirk</i>. Considering that was the first time I''ve seen the drug being used, it''s safe to say Overhaul has a working prototype he''s giving criminals to use." I said as I motioned at the bullet in Kaina''s grasp.


    "Unfortunately for them, it didn''t affect you, thanks to your cursed energy!" Jin said as he punched the air in front of him. "The fool!"


    "Right, that negative energy of yours," Kaina muttered as she looked at me thoughtfully. "It still amazes me how only <i>you </i>can use such a unique power source. Not to mention the seemingly endless abilities it gives you. It''s a little unfair if I''m being honest."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Sukuna-kun is basically a walking cheat code," Himiko said.


    "That''s right, that means I won''t have to worry about being shot by those bullets and losing my abilities. You three, however, still can lose your Quirks if you do get shot." I walked over to the map that was sitting on the table and pointed at the building''s main entrance. "For that reason, I will be entering in first while loudly announcing my presence. Once I''ve gotten thepound''s attention, Himiko and Jin will move in after me to look for Eri with the help of my scout rabbits."


    Moving my finger across the map, I ended up pointing to a building a few blocks away. "Kaina, you''re to provide them cover fire once they have a hold of Eri. While I''m confident I can take down most of Overhaul''s men, I''m not blind to think some could slip through and chase after them. You''ll also stop any reinforcements from entering thepound."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Consider it done," Kaina said with a nod.


    "Himiko." I turned to the blond girl. "Thanks to the modifications I made to your outfit, you should be able to make full use of your Quirk to bypass their defenses once I make my entrance. You''ll disguise yourself as one of the Yakuza so you can search for Eri unimpeded."


    "No problem! I''ll find Eri-chan and snatch her from right beneath their noses!


    "What about me? What about me!" Jin said as he raised his arm like an excited student. "What''s my task?!"


    "Jin, you''ll be Himiko''s shadow. Follow her in her disguise and take out any of Overhaul''s underlings through thepound. You''ll also create two clones of me to act as your two''s backup. You need to make sure you have a clear escape route out of the building once Himiko has secured Eri. Because once they realize she''s missing, they''re going toe after her like rabid dogs."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "You got it! Leave it to me!"


    "I''m impressed you gathered all this information in such a short amount of time," Kaina said as she looked over all the intel in the room. "In my opinion, those crows of yours are probably your most impressive ability."


    <i>It''s all thanks to Nanami''s hard work. That crow is the reason we finally caught sight of one of Chisaki''s men.</i>


    I gave her a smile and nodded. "Yeah. There''s no better intelligence-gathering team than my crows. Now then, let''s go over each of the Overhaul''s Bullets and what they can do..."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Pain. All Eri knew was pain and fear.


    Ever since her mother disowned her after she identally made her father disappear with her Quirk, Eri had been subjected to dozens of experiments by that cruel man, Chisaki. Her body had been sliced and ripped apart so many times that she no longer knew the total number. But what she did know was the deep, intense pain she felt every time she was brought into <i>that</i> room.


    Even as she sat in herrge, dark room, Eri was terrified. The toys Chisaki''s men bought for her were strewn all around, ignored by her. There was no joy to be found in them. Only fear.


    Laying on her side, Eri curled herself into a ball as tears streamed down her face. The bandages tied around her arms and legs itched as she held herself in an attempt to find somefort. But whenever some of her bare skin touched her bandages, she was quickly reminded that there was no escape from the pain.


    "Mommy..." Eri''s whispered. "I''m sorry... I didn''t mean to do that to Daddy..."


    Closing her eyes, Eri''s mind worked against her and reyed the memories of her father screaming as his body was reminded back into nothing. Eri could only stand in shock as she looked over her father''s scattered clothes. She was only brought out of her numb confusion once her mother began to scream.


    "I''m so sorry."


    Holding herself tightly, Eri made a weak wish within her mind. Not to escape her current situation but for someone to hold her andfort her.


    To make all her pain, fear, and guilt go away.


    In the eerie silence of her dark room, Eri cried herself to sleep.


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    "Is it done?"


    I heard a sigh from the other end of my phone. "Yeah, we''re currently getting thest resident in the ward out. We''re still working on getting the next ward to move, but it''ll take some time." Detective Yoichi said. "You wanna tell me what''s going on over there?"


    I grinned at the man''s curiosity as I looked down at thergepound below. Since this was Yakuza territory, I didn''t have to worry about civilians getting in the way of our operation due to all the surrounding buildings being empty. They were all a front set up by Overhaul to keep everyone away from his base of operations. Evacuating everyone else close by was just a cautionary step.


    After a quick fly-through with my crows, I was sure that no one who didn''t belong here was within a 100-meter range of thepound.


    "I told you, didn''t I?" I said lowly. "There''s going to be a grand light show."


    Hanging up the phone, I raised my right hand up and held up my middle and pointer fingers out. "Emerge from darkness, cker than darkness. Purify that which is impure."


    Above thepound, a ck slime-like substance appeared over the sky and crawled down toward the ground. It extended out 30 meters from thepound radius. Once my veil was up, I lifted my hands and clenched them together to activate mytest technique.


    "Maximum Output: Forest Encirclement!"


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Dressed in a modified version of her hero costume, Kaina had her sights trained on the far-offpound with a steady eye. Floating above her was Jello. The Shikigami was there to act as Kaina''s Sentinel while she kept an overwatch over thepound.


    Suddenly, everything around thepound began to shake uncontrobly as several hundred roots shot out of the ground to form a wall all around thepound. Trapping everyone within the ring of nt life.


    "...so that''s the bang he was talking about," Kaina muttered as her direct line of sight into the building was left unimpeded. "Show off."


    x x x


    Off within the Shie Hassaikai Compound, Kai looked around in confusion as his surroundings began to tremble. Turning to his second inmand, Kai saw the man try to remain on his feet as everything shook.


    "What is this?!" Kai roared in anger as he rushed out of his office. As he struggled to bnce himself, Kai finally left the room and looked out of the hallway window. "...What?"


    As far as he could see, hispound was surrounded by thick roots that seemed to reach the skies themselves.


    "Overhaul!" Hari yelled as the trembling finally began to subside. "Are we being attacked?!"


    Kai red at the roots outside and spun on his feet. Speed walking, Kai and Hari made their way through thepound.


    "Move the Boss out of thepound at once! When he''s safe, gather all our research and get it all to site B!" Kai growled out. Hari nodded and lifted his phone to make the call necessary, only to find that his signal was jammed. "Ourmunication has been jammed!"


    Kai red at Hari and quickened his pace. "Then go on foot! I''ll grab Eri."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    Landing in front of thepound''s front gate, I lifted my leg and broke down its doors. Rushing toward the front doors, I lifted my hand and sent a ball of fire crashing through them. Several grunts of pain yelled out as my attack blew the doors off their hinges. Stepping inside, I looked down at a few Yakuza grunts sprawled out on the floor.


    <strong>[5x7 = +35 SP]</strong>


    "Sorry, I''m not taking my shoes off," I said and made a hand sign. "Rabbit Escape."


    Rising from below were six dozen rabbits, spreading apart; they all gathered into six teams of twelve. In front of each squad was a lone rabbit squad leader; they turned to me with curious expressions. "Find Eri and then lead Himiko and Jin to her."


    Nodding, they all scampered throughout the hall. I watched some open a few doors while others jumped into the venttion system. I waited a few moments before I heard two pairs of footsteps behind me. Himiko and Jin looked around the ruined front doors and then at the knocked-out or dead men on the ground.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "What an entrance," Jin said as he raised his hands up to create two perfect clones of myself. They turned to one another and shrugged before they tried to summon one of my Shikigami.


    "That''s odd." One of the Twice clones said. "I can''t feel any CE within me."


    "That''s because you''re Twice clones," I said to them, causing them to nod and ept their situation. Which made sense; I was pretty used to having copies of myself. They were mainly here to provide Jin and Himiko with some extra muscle.


    "This one will do," Himiko said as she crouched next to one of the Yakuza thugs. Using her new blood extraction system that I created for her, she began to drain out a cup of blood from the man below. With a smile, Himiko then drank the blood.


    Jin and I watched as her body morphed to resemble the Yakuza member perfectly, except for the gear she wore, which was now strapped to the man.


    "See! I told you I had to be naked for this to be perfect!" Himiko''s new low voice whined.


    "Yeah, no. I''m not having you walk around in the nude." I said before the three of us heard several running footsteps approaching our position. "I''ll clear a path. I already have my rabbits searching all throughout thepound. Once they find Eri, one of them wille find you."


    "Okay."


    "Copy that!"


    Nodding at them, I slid my hands in my pockets and walked over toward the quickly approaching group of Yakuza thugs. Scanning their group, I saw that none of the Eight Bullets were with them. Grinning, I stomped my foot and sent a wave of sharp roots that shattered through the floor toward them.


    My newest Diamond tier curse technique, Disaster nts, belonged to the Disaster Curse, Hanami.


    This technique allows the user to form and control a variety of cursed flora. Its capabilities are normally initiated telepathically, activating the technique next to the user or near a target, but it can also be deployed from the user''s body.


    The nts created by this technique can vary in size, shape, and physiology. Anything from simple flowers to giant wooden roots can be formed. The flora of the technique is, however, still made from cursed energy, meaning that curse-like nts can be created quickly and deactivated instantly.


    Unfortunately, I wasn''t able to absorb the life energy from the nt life around me due tocking therge red flour that Hanami had on their shoulder. While disappointing, it wasn''t that big a deal.


    Therge group of Yakuza thugs all tried toe to a stop at the sight of the iing wave of wooden spikes; unfortunately for them, they were too slow to evade my attack.


    One by one, they were all quickly skewered by my sharp wooden spikes in a wave of blood and violence. Grinning at their defeat, I slowly made my way through thepound.


    <strong>[13x25 = +325 SP]</strong>


    "Now then,e and get me."

 Chapter 44: NO. 44 - The 9th Shadow

    <h4>Chapter 44: NO. 44 - The 9th Shadow</h4>


    "You! You dare attack the Shie Hassaikai!"


    I grinned at the three Yakuza standing in my way. Those three were Yu, Setsuno Toya, and Tabe Soramitsu of the Eight Bullets.


    Yu is a tall, muscr man with shadowed eyes with a shaved head. His choice of mask was a simple medical mask that covered his mouth, unlike the signature beak-like mask worn by the rest of the Eight Bullets.


    Toya had chin-length golden blonde hair that was parted to his left to obscure his right eye. A beak-shaped gue mask rested over his mouth and nose.


    Finally, Soramitsu wore a ragged bup sack mask, unlike his fellow Bullets, which covered his entire head and was held by a rope knot around his neck. The mask has two openings from where Soramitsu''s eyes are visible and a stitched smile.


    <i>It''s the three that fought Tamaki.</i>


    "Huh?! Answer me, damnit!" Toya yelled, his eyes burning with anger.


    "Let''s see... a man who can snatch any one item he wants while another can sprout crystals from his body. And then there''s you, ugly. All you do is eat." I said as I pointed to each one of them, causing their expressions to grow panicked after I announced their Quirks.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "How do you know this information?" Yu said carefully, his expression cautious. "Did one of our men talk?"


    "That doesn''t really matter at this point." I began walking towards them with a growing smile. mes came to life all around me as miniature volcano heads grew all around the walls. "After all, you three are all dying today."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Running through the halls, Himiko swung open each door she came across with a bang. With another bang, she looked around the room full of surprised Yakuza thugs room with annoyance.


    "Damn it." She said in the low voice of her current Yakuza disguise.


    "Let''s keep moving."


    Himiko nodded at Twice-Clone Sukuna as the two continued running through the hallway. Leaving behind several confused thugs.


    "What the hell? Was that Fujimoto? Since when does he wear sses?" One of the thugs asked as they stepped out of the room to watch the disguised Himiko and TC Sukuna run away.


    "Yeah, it was. But who the hell was that guy?"


    "Hello!" Jin shouted from behind the group. Spinning around, the small group of thugs turned to see Jin and another Sukuna clone standing a few meters away. "Get ready to get your teeth kicked in! It''ll only hurt for a second!"


    The small group of thugs never stood a chance at thebined might of Jin and TC Sukuna as they dispatched them all with precision, speed, and skill.


    Turning a corner, Himiko and her partner came to a halt as a small white rabbit waved its little arms at them. "Did you find her?!" Himiko asked with a smile. At the rabbit''s quick nods, Himiko pumped her hands in victory as she released her disguise. Reaching behind her, she grabbed her cat mask and slipped it over her face. "Lead the way then!"


    "You go on ahead, Himiko." TC Sukuna said as Himiko turned to see a man with a ck gue mask and a furry vest. Behind him were several other Yakuza thugs holding various kinds of weapons. "I''ll hold off these clowns."


    "I can help-"


    "Go." TC Sukuna said as he slid into a loose fighting stance. "Remember, I''m just a clone."


    "You two punks really think I''d let you go!" Sakaki Deidoro yelled sluggishly. He raised arge green bottle of Soju and began chugging the drink. "Have a little taste of my quirk-"


    <i>Wham!</i>


    "I may not be as fast as the original." TC Sukuna said as he mmed his right fist into Deidoro''s stomach, causing thenky man to throw up all his alcohol. Momentarily stunning the man. "But this should be more than enough for you, sorry sacks."


    Himiko didn''t waste another second and sprinted after the rabbit.


    "Good luck, Sukuna-kun!"


    "Don''t worry about me! Save Eri!"


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    Deciding to pick up the pace, I rushed through the hallways, sending waves of sharp roots and balls of fire through thepound. Several of Overhaul''smon thugs tried to get in my way, but they all ended up being nothing but a minor inconvenience.


    Coming to a stop, I looked around therge open room I ended up in. My eyes came to a halt at the sight of two que mask-wearing individuals standing in the center.


    Rappa Kendo and Tengai Hekiji.


    Kendo is a huge, muscr man with long, light brown hair. He is wearing a tattered t-shirt and dark pants covered by a light blue tunic and is decorated with two belts. He also sported a pair of gloves with leather straps that covered his knuckles with metal.


    Hekiji wore a traditional dark-colored yukata with a pair of geta on his feet, a long white piece of cloth acting as a belt around his waist. On his face was a in brown gue mask strapped to his face with three belts, one down his forehead and one on each side of his face, that also covered his ears like mufflers.


    "I''ve heard of you," Hekiji said with malice. "Sukuna. The underworld''s boogeyman. Tell me, King of Curses. What have the Shie Hassaikai done to incur your wrath?"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Who flipping cares?! Let''s fight, King!" Kendo yelled in excitement as he punched the air in front of him. "Fight me like a real man! No weapons! Just our fists and fighting spirit!"


    "What has your little loser group done?" I said, extenuating the word "loser." "How about torturing a child? That sufficient reason for you?"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "I see. So your goal is to take the girl."


    "Yeah. That and to kill each and every one of you." I said as I raised my hands into a brand new hand sign. "You said you wanted a good fight? Well, let''s see how you handle this, then... Morning Tiger!"


    Rising from the shadows behind me was a three-meter tall muscr tiger. It stood on two powerful hind legs covered in ck and red fur. With its anthropomorphic physique, Morning Tiger flexed its arms as it walked around me. Its long, sharp fangs shined in the light as it roared loudly. Shaking the very room in its fury.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "What was that?!" Hekiji yelled as he and Kendo looked around wildly for the source of the noise.


    "That was one of the hardest Shikigami I have ever subdued," I said as I threw a pair of Maki''s cursed tool sses at them. "Here. To make things somewhat fair."


    Confused but open for anything, Kendo ripped off his que mask goggles in favor of slipping in the sses.


    "Rappa! You fool! This could be some sort of trick!"


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "Amazing!" Kendo muttered in awe as heid his eyes on therge, muscr Shikigami. Arge grin spread over Kendo''s face as he punched his fists together. "Now, this will be a fight for the ages!"


    Rushing in simultaneously, Kendo and MT met in the center of the room. Their massive fists collided together, sending out an enormous shockwave around them.


    Confused as to why his partner was seemingly attacking the air in front of him, Hekiji tentatively ced the sses over his eyes. Seeing therge Shikigami, the Yakuza member stepped back in shock.


    "Pretty impressive, isn''t it?" I said as I watched Kendo and MT enter a pure hand-to-hand battle. "It took me a month of careful nning to be able to subjugate that one. Now, he may not be Mahoraga, but MT isn''t something to take lightly."


    "Yes! Yes! This is it! This is the fight I''ve always dreamed of!" Kendo said as his face was punched violently to the side by a mean hook.


    In retaliation, Kendo swung a powerful uppercut into MT''s stomach. Sending the Shikigami back slightly. Growling in anger, MT roared and spun its massive left arm for a wild haymaker that Kendo took on like a champ. Blood exploded from therge gash on the top of his skull, but he paid it no mind. Instead, Kendo began to unleash a torrent of punches at MT''s chest.


    "Grah!" MT roared as it swiped its five sharp ws through Kendo''s chest. Having moved back in time, therge brawler was able to avoid a lethal blow.


    "ws?!" Kendo roared in anger before shrugging. "I suppose those are part of you. I''ll allow it!"


    <i>This guy is the textbook definition of a battle maniac.</i>


    "Rappa! Watch out-"


    "Don''t you dare interfere with this fight!" Kendo spun back to re at Hekiji. Stopping the man from activating his quirk. "If you do, I''ll kill you myself!"


    "How about I just do that now?"


    Blurring in front of Hekiji, I swung my katana through the air and watched it bounce off a round, golden barrier. Stepping back, Izily looked inside to see Hekiji looking at me unimpressed.


    "Did you really think it was going to be-guh?" Hekiji stopped speaking as blood spewed out of his mouth. Looking down, his eyes widened when he saw arge wooden spike spear through his chest.


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    "Yes. Yes, I did think it was going to be easy." I said with a grin while pointing at the ground. "You see, you barrier types like to protect the area around you on the surface. But you never stop to think about what''s <i>beneath </i>you."


    The man said nothing as his body slumped over, causing his barrier to disappear. With another Bullet dead, I turned to watch MT and Kendo''s fight finally reach its climax.


    The floors were cracked and broken whilerge craters and holes littered the walls all around the room from the nonstop onughts of attacks from the two strongbatants. Bruised and bloodied, Kendo''srge grin never wavered as he breathed heavily. Across from him stood a perfectly intact MT. Its green eyes narrowed sharply at its enemy.


    Despite Kendo''s rtively strongbat-based Quirk, which granted him the ability to rotate his shoulders at extreme speeds to attack his targets with a near-endless barrage of bullet punches. He ended up being no match for MT.


    Morning Tiger was an incredibly strong Shikigami. Being the second tost one of the Ten Shadows, just behind the Divine General himself. MT''s abilities were rtively minimal but incredibly impressive.


    Itsrge and powerful body already gave it the edge versus your run-of-the-mill fighters. Add on its expert level of close-quartersbat that involved quick, powerful strikes and slices from its ws, MT made for an opponent one could not get close to without a n. To finish things off, simr to Mahorag, MT had a passive ability to learn and adapt to its opponent''s fighting style. Making it so that the longer you fought it, the easier it would be to predict your moves and attacks.


    It was a damn shame it never got shown off in the JJK canon because it ended up being one of the most badass-looking and dangerous Shikigami on the Ten Shadows roster.


    Falling to his knees with both of his arms hanging uselessly beside him, Kendo looked up at MT and me with a satisfied expression.


    "That''s it... I''m spent. I''ve only lost to one other man. Safe to say, this fight takes the cake." Kendo turned to me before exposing his neck. "You''ve earned your kill. Go for it."


    In a sh, MT swiped its massive right ws through Kendo''s neck. Removing the man''s head from his shoulders in a stter of blood.


    <strong>[+35 SP]</strong>


    With its job done, Morning Tiger sank away into my shadow, leaving me alone with two more dead Bullets. Without giving the corpses another nce, I continued onward through thepound.


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Hopefully, you all enjoyed my interpretation of Morning Tiger. The only Shikigami of the Ten Shadows that never fully appeared in JJK.</strong>


    <strong>If you need help Imaging its appearance in my story, just look up the Tiger Vanguard from ck Myth Wukong. That''s pretty much what I imagined it to be(minus the sword), just with a different coat of paint.</strong>


    <strong>Like always, be sure to leave me plenty ofments!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 45: NO. 45 - Take Down The Yakuza

    <h4>Chapter 45: NO. 45 - Take Down The Yakuza</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "Well, what do we have here?" Kaina muttered as she watched several vehicles enter the surrounding veil.


    Souta had told her that the veil would help conceal the chaos from within, but it wouldn''t stop anyone from getting inside because he didn''t have the time to set up warding curtains. That meant anyone was capable of walking inside anding upon their operation.


    The vehicles all came to a stop outside of the surrounding wall of thick roots. She watched several Yakuza thugs all step out and look up at the massive construct in confusion. One of the men walked up to the wall of roots and raised his hand, summoning a torrent of mes over his palm.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    Reloading, Kaina watched as everyone began to scramble around in fear and confusion at the sight of theirrade''s head being blown to pieces. Without pause, Kaina began to unload bullet after bullet onto the Yakuza. She felt no hesitation or regret at killing them all. Why would she? If they were part of Overhaul''s group, then they all stood by and did nothing as the man tortured and experimented on a helpless child.


    <i>Bang! Bang! Bang!</i>


    x x x


    With a backflip, Jin avoided a horizontal swipe of a spiked tail one of the Yakuza thugs sent his way. Dashing in, Jin struck a forward kick into the thug''s stomach, staggering him. Capitalizing on the opening, Jin spun in ce and crashed his foot onto his opponent''s temple. Knocking him out cold.


    "See, I told you all your training was helping!" Twice-Clone Sukuna said with a grin as he walked away from a small pile of knocked-out or dead thugs.


    "You call that training! It was torture!" Jin yelled as they ran down the hall after Himiko. "You had me throw down a jacket just to pick it up for hours! How is that good training?"


    "It worked, didn''t it? Your parrying skills are on another level."


    "...noment."


    Out of nowhere, the hallway Jin and TC Sukuna were in began to warp and spin, sending Jin to the floor while TC Sukuna barely stayed on his feet.


    "Looks like Irinaka J¨­i finally found us." TC Sukuna said as he looked around the spinning room. "If only I had my CE and techniques, I could have blown this entire hallway away."


    "Wh-what do we do then?!"


    "It''s easy. We just have to find the bastard." TC Sukuna grinned as his eyes scanned the length of the hallway. "Damn, I guess my advanced perception is missing too... We''re in a pinch."


    "What happened to all that confidence?!"


    <i>m!</i>


    TC Sukuna and Jin rolled out of the way from tworge stone pirs that tried to crush them underneath. Jin shot to his feet and sprinted down the hall, only to trip as his surroundings began to twist again. TC Sukuna flipped and weaved away from several more iing arms as he looked around at his surroundings.


    ''I may not be the original, but Twice was at least able to implement my sharp eyesight and senses. Where is he? Where is he?!'' TC Sukuna thought a while back, flipping away from several falling chunks of concrete. ''I just need to see a glimpse of him!''


    "Gah!" Jin grunted as he was sent rolling back after J¨­i was able to finallynd a strike on him. Ignoring the pain, Jin rolled to the side to dodge a crashing pir that shattered the ground below. "This isn''t good, Sukuna! We need to escape!"


    "We can''t bring this guy to Mystique or the real me. We have to take him out here and now!" TC Sukuna yelled as he ran up the length of an iing stone arm. Jin sighed and redoubled his efforts despite the pain in his left thigh.


    "Alright, alright!" Jin yelled before he drew out his twin katanas. "Okay then... Maximum effort."


    x x x


    Looking around at all the unconscious bodies, TC Sukuna grunted as he swayed back and forth. His vision was unfocused, and his stomach felt as if it was flipping nonstop. He looked over at his remaining enemy, Deidoro.


    The Bullet himself was covered in bruises and blood. It was only thanks to his Quirk, Sloshed, that he was still standing.


    "You''re a tricky one... even with my Quirk''s entire focus on you, you''re still standing!" Deidoro yelled from his spot on the ceiling. "Just fall already!"


    "Not today!" TC Sukuna said as he fought his dizziness and loss of bnce. Dashing toward Deidoro, TC Sukuna sent a punch to the Bullet but ended up missing due to his double vision.


    Deidoroughed and shuffled back from TC Sukuna''s range. Grunting in annoyance, TC Sukuna tripped before rushing Deidoro again. Without all his support, all Deidoro could do was run and evade his attacks. Then again, TC Sukuna knew he couldn''t afford to get hit again. His body couldn''t afford it.


    ''I just need one opening. Just one!'' TC Sukuna thought as he struggled to keep up with Deidoro.


    ''This guy! No one has ever managed tost this long! Just what is he?!'' Deidoro thought as he crawled further back from the pipes he was hanging from. ''I just have to send him another st of my Qurik! That will-''


    Deidoro jerked as the back of his left foot hit a wall from the dead end of the hallway. In his panicked evasion and inhibition, the Bullet failed to notice that he was slowly and carefully being lured into a trap.


    "Got you."


    TC Sukuna dashed in front of Deidoro and <i>struck</i>.


    "Wah!" Deidoro cried out in pain as he was sent crashing down on his left arm, breaking it.


    Now free of Deidoro''s Quirk, TC Sukuna ripped out one of the ceiling pipes and closed the distance in a sh. Standing over the Bullet, TC Sukuna drove the pointed end of the pipe straight into Deidoro''s skull. Panting, TC Sukuna leaned against the wall to catch his breath.


    "Damn... doing this without CE is hard as shit."


    <i>Bang!</i>


    TC Sukuna blinked in confusion as he looked down at the bullet hole over his heart. Just as his body began melting away, he looked up at another member of the Eight Bullets. In the man''s hand was a handgun.


    "Cheap move, you pussy." TC Sukuna said as his body sttered on the floor.


    Nemoto Shin huffed in annoyance before looking down at Deidoro''s corpse.


    Down the hall behind Shin in a wheelchair was an oldatose man. This man was the old Yakuza leader of the Shei Hassaikai.


    After giving his oldrade a somber look, Shin walked off to theatose man and began wheeling him out of thepound.


    x x x


    "In here?"


    Himiko panted as she looked down at the nodding rabbit. Grabbing the doorknob, Himiko carefully opened the door and peered into therge dark room.


    Strewn around on the floor were several toys. Noticing they were in pristine condition, Himiko walked into the room and found therge bed in the middle. There, sitting in its center, was a little girl with pale blue hair that reached the small of her back. Reaching up, Himiko removed her mask so as not to scare Eri.


    "Eri-chan?" Himiko softly asked as she crouched in front of the bed, causing Eri to flinch. "You''re Eri-chan, right?"


    "Y-yes," Eri whispered in a soft, scared voice. Hearing the child speak in such a way made Himiko''s heart clench in pain. "Are you here to take me to that room?"


    "That room? What room?" Himiko asked softly, causing Eri to tremble.


    "The room... the room where they c-cut me."


    "No, sweetheart." Himiko got on the bed and brought Eri into a soft, warm hug. "I''m not here to do anything like that. No, I''m here to save you. To take you away from here so that they never hurt you ever again."


    "W-what?" Eri whispered in shock as she felt Himiko''s soft embrace. Eri''s eyes began to tear up as she felt the softness of Himiko''s touch. "You... you''re here to<i> save me</i>?"


    "Mhm! And not just me! All of my friends are here to save you! We''re not leaving this ce unless you''re with us!" Himiko said with a wide smile as she picked up the girl.


    "Hey you... put her back."


    Himiko and Eri spun to the door to see Kai and Hari standing at the entrance of the door. With a re, Kai slowly began to remove his right glove.


    Himiko red at the two men and quickly ced Eri behind her defensively. Sliding her hand into her thigh holster, Himiko grabbed a small ck ball that was glowing with cursed energy. Eri looked down and watched as Himiko snapped the ball in two.


    "Put Eri back <strong>right now</strong>," Kai said in a low voice as he began walking toward Himiko with his hand raised.


    Suddenly, several muffled explosions began to shake thepound. This caused Kai and Hari to look around in suspicion.


    "Did they nt bombs all over thepound?!" Hari yelled as everything rumbled around them, causing the ceiling to crack and the walls to shatter.


    "No." Kai hissed before he zeroed in on the direction of the noise wasing from. "<i>Something</i> ising."


    With each new explosion, the explosions grew louder and louder before they were ear-shattering. Himiko grinned and brought Eri down before covering her with her body.


    <i>CRACK!</i>


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    Shooting out of the concrete wall, I quickly took in my surroundings and found Himiko holding Eri protectively. Sitting on the ground beside her was a small shattered ball.


    The ball itself was something I created with my Construction technique. Within the ball was a hollow space I used to store some of my CE. Unfortunately, the stored CE could onlyst 10 hours before they needed to be refilled. Upon breaking one of them, the stored CE would burst out into a pulse I would be able to sense within a set distance. I had given Jin and Himiko each one of these balls in case either of them got into a life-or-death situation or if they ran into Overhaul during this mission.


    Looking to the right, Iid my eyes on Overhaul and Chronostasis.


    "There you are, you germaphobic Bastard!" I yelled as I rushed them both.


    "It''s you!" Overhaul hissed as he tried to reach down to the floor. Beside him, Chronostasis pulled back his hood to reveal his hair.


    Just before they couldunch their attacks, I raised my hand up and shot off several hundred smallpact balls of fire with incredible speed to the point they resembled bullets. Acting quickly, both Overhaul and Chronostasis jumped back behind the door frame as my fire bullets collided through the walls.


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "Go! Get Eri out of here!" I told Himiko as I pointed to therge hole I had created with my explosive entrance. Not needing to be told twice, Himiko nodded and lifted Eri into her arms. Eri looked at me in wonder before she was whisked away.


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    Moving on instinct, I leaped back as several spikes shot out from the floor in an attempt to skewer me. Not stopping there, the hole-riddled wall in front of me rippled, and dozens ofrge concrete pirsunched toward me. Swiping my hands in front of me, I instantly created a thick shield made of wood and roots from below. A loud explosion of dust, wood, and stone flew in front of me as my defense took on Overahul''s attack.


    "I can''t lose sight of them," I muttered and leaped out of therge hole Himiko left a few seconds ago.


    As I turned the corner, I skidded to a stop just as Chronostasis was about to rush past me. He mmed his feet into the ground, halting his momentum to avoid getting any closer. But I was already charging forward with my right arm raised.


    <i>Wham!</i>


    My knuckles crashed through his gue mask and shattered it into pieces, sending shards into his skin and slicing his left eye. The man grunted in pain before I vanished from his sight. He was momentarily confused before he looked down to see my body low to the ground.


    With a wet smack, Chronostasis''s head snapped to the right as Inded a powerful Manji kick into the side of his head. The man flew across the hallway and crashed into the wall.


    Off in the back, Overhaul growled, seeing his right-hand man being dispatched so quickly.


    "Sukuna..." He muttered with rage. "Why are you after Eri?"


    I pulled off my hood and gave him a re. "I''m here to save her."


    "Save her?" Overhaul repeated with a stupefied voice. "Since when does the<i> Demon God </i>of the Underworld <i>save</i> people? Have you decided to turn a new leaf and be one of those pathetic heroes?"


    "Nah. I''m no hero. Besides, I''m pretty sure real heroes wouldn''t ughter all of your men one by one. Or am I wrong?"


    Hearing that, Overhaul didn''t seem fazed by the revtion that his Bullets and henchmen were all either dead or not. "It matters not if my men are dead or alive. What matters is that I get Eri back... Bring her to me, and I''ll let you and all of your partners live to fight another day."


    "You make it sound as if you already won." I popped my neck and looked at him as if he were stupid. "Look around you, Overhaul. You''ve <i>lost</i>. Yourpound is in pieces, and all your men are scattered or dead. There''s no version of this where youe out on top."


    The young Yakuza boss looked over at the knocked out or possibly dead Chronostasis with an unfocused look. Closing his eyes, Overhaul took a deep breath before he pulled out a grey gun with a green vial on top from out of his jacket.


    "Thats!-"


    My eyes widened at the sight of the Trigger drug in Overhaul''s hand.


    Throughout my time as Sukuna, I had scarcely run into criminals who used the trigger drug in order to fight me. While the drug may have given them a significant power boost, it still wasn''t enough for them to defeat me.


    However, in the hands of a man with an already super-powerful Quirk. The Trigger drug could bolster his already broken abilities to an unimaginable level.


    Not willing to risk it, I moved in to stop the man. Unfortunately, he pped his hand on the wall beside him and sent dozens of spikes towards me.


    <i>If Chisaki, of all people, takes that drug, who knows what it could do to his quirk?!</i>


    "I didn''t want to do this... but I can''t risk losing Eri. Not when I''m so close to perfecting the vine that will rid the world of this filth known as Quirks!" Overhaul said before stabbing the gun into the side of his neck. With a pull of the trigger, he injected himself with the drug. "I won''t be stopped... I won''t stop before I rid this entire world of <strong><i>Quirks</i></strong>!"


    I raised my arms in front of me and pumped as much CE to reinforce my body as I could.


    In a sh, everything around me shattered and exploded.

 Chapter 46: NO. 46 - Sukuna vs. Overhaul

    <h4>Chapter 46: NO. 46 - Sukuna vs. Overhaul</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Pirs of jagged concrete ripped through the twisting and warping hallway in an attempt to crush both Jin and Twice-Clone Sukuna. Despite the rolling environment, the two were somehow able to run away from the iing pirs.


    "Show yourself, you damn coward! We just want to say hello!" Jin yelled.


    With incredible intensity, TC Sukuna''s eyes scanned the ceiling, walls, and floors. His focused expression remained as he flipped over two rising boulders that jutted out in his path. As he spun in the air, TC Sukuna noticed a small, almost unnoticeable crack in the ceiling.


    ''There!'' TC Sukuna thought as hended on the warping ground. Flexing his muscles, the clone used the warping environment to his advantage to quickly close the distance between himself and Irinaka J¨­i.


    "Shit! He found me!" J¨­i yelled as TC Sukuna was now only a few centimeters away.


    <i>CRACK!</i>


    Everything around TC Sukuna, Jin, and J¨­i violently shook without warning. Knocking the Bullet out of the shattering ceiling and sending TC Sukuna and Jin onto the floor. Jin tried to push himself up when he noticed an iing wave of spikes erecting from the walls, ceiling, and floor toward them in the now motionless hallway.


    Being the closest to the iing wave of death, J¨­i''s body was skewered from head to toe. The man wasn''t even capable of screaming out in pain as a concrete spike shot out of his mouth.


    "Jin!"


    Turning his head, Jin watched as TC Sukuna dashed toward him.


    In an instant, the spikes reached Jin''s position.


    x x x


    With hisrge body crashing and shattering the walls around him, Katsukame Rikiya continued running toward Overhaul''s location.


    Rikiya is arge, tall, and very muscr man. He wears a ck tank top with a stand-by symbol in the middle. A pair of blue socks and orange sneakers adorned his feet as massive gauntlets and knuckledusters rested over his fists. Finally, like the rest of his fellow Bullets, a ck gue mask sat over his face.


    "I''ming, Boss!" Rikiya yelled as he smashed through an entire wall.


    With a tackle, therge man exploded out of two more concrete walls to arrive at a long hallway. Turning his head, Rikiya saw his boss and Sukuna down the hall.


    Before he could rush toward his leader, Rikiya saw Overhaul inject himself with the Trigger drug.


    "...this can''t be good," Rikiya said as everything around him exploded.


    "Ragh!" Roaring in pain, Rikiya was stabbed with several sharp spikes that erupted from all around him.


    "Ah... Katsukame." Rikiya heard Overhaul say through the chaos and bellowing destruction. "I need your strength as well... thank you for your sacrifice."


    Before he could question what he meant, Rikiya looked down as arge, flesh-like arm stabbed through his chest. From within, Rikiya felt hundreds of tendrils shoot through his body. Sending unimaginable pain through him.


    As he released a silent scream, Rikiya''s consciousness vanished as his body was broken down.


    x x x


    Throughout the battered and ruined Shie Hassaikaipound, several flesh-like tendrils with hands on the ends slithered throughout the building. It resembles an expanding bloodstream or root system below arge tree.


    Quickly, the hand tendrils found the corpses of Kendo, Hekiji, Deidoro, and J¨­i. Instantly, their bodies were broken down and absorbed into the tendrils.


    With their jobs done, the flesh tendrils returned to their main body.


    <i>Kai''s </i>body.


    x x x


    "Must go faster! Must go faster!"


    Himiko screamed as she looked back at the iing wave of spikes. Reaching the top of the stairs, she finally found a window leading outside. Without pause, Himiko covered Eri''s head and leaped out of the ss. Shattering the window.


    Bracing herself, Himiko fell down two stories with a roll just as spikes exploded out of the hallway she was once in. Wincing in pain, she quickly looked over at Eri. Seeing that the girl was safe, Himiko ran again despite her aching ankle.


    "W-wait! We can''t leave him! H-he''ll die!" Eri said with fear on her face as she watched the building that once trapped her explode into hundreds of pieces with giant jutting spikes rising high into the sky.


    "Don''t worry! Sukuna-kun is strong! He won''t die here! He can''t!" Himiko yelled as she ran toward the single hidden exit point on the surrounding wooden wall around thepound.


    Squeezing through it, Himiko left thepound''s premises and began running down the empty streets. Raising her arm, she waved it around wildly. Sending a message to their overwatch.


    <i>KABLAM!</i>


    Hearing Eri gasp loudly, Himiko turned around and saw a giant monstrosity with several arms standing on two thick legs explode out of thepound.


    Jutting out of its back and arms were long, jagged bone spikes. On its thick neck was a massive bird-like head filled with razor-sharp teeth. However, inside the mouth was a shirtless, six-armed man with brown hair. His red and ck skin seemed to pulse with barely restrained power.


    "It''s him..." Eri muttered in pure terror as Himiko stepped back in shock at the enormous 15-meter tall <i>Kaiju</i> standing over thepound.


    "Is that... <i>Overhaul?</i>"


    x x x


    Off in her sniper''s nest, Kaina blinked in bewilderment as a giant monster exploded out from thepound alongside severalrge spikes.


    "What is... that?"


    Refocusing her attention, Kaina noticed Himiko waving at her from outside the wooden perimeter. Zooming in, she saw that the blond now had their objective in her arms. Smiling, Kaina leveled her scope around Himiko as she ran off with the child. Seeing no sign of Jin, Kaina frowned and assumed the worst despite herself.


    "Souta-san, Bubaigawara-san... you two better be alright," Kaina whispered as she watched over Himiko and Eri.


    x x x


    Shaking his head, Jin blinked blearily as he awoke from his sleep. Looking around, he noticed he was hanging from one of his measuring tapes. The tape itself was tied to one of his katanas, and the sword itself was stabbed deep into one of the spikes that was jutting out of the ceiling.


    "Souta..." Jin muttered as he remembered what the TC Sukuna did to save him...


    Moving quickly, TC Sukuna grabbed Jin and pulled out his katana. Before he could ask what was going on, Jin was thrown over TC Sukuna''s shoulder. From there, the clone moved in and out of the way from the onught of spikes with precision and skill.


    Despite his fast speed, they were both still sliced and stabbed by the passing spears of death, with TC Sukuna taking the brunt of it, causing his body to begin melting.


    Feeling his deathe close, TC Sukuna made onest ditch effort and pulled one of Jin''s measuring tapes to tie to the katana''s grip. With a roar, he stabbed it into one of the unmoving spikes just as he was stabbed through the chest.


    Due to the suddenness of the move, Jin''s head and arm were knocked against a low-hanging pir of stone from their earlier battle with J¨­i, knocking him out cold.


    Back in the present, Jin ignored his injuries and released his measuring tape, causing him to fall down onto the ground in a heap. Luckily, there was a wide enough gap of space where hended. Saving him from being skewered by the spikes lining the floor.


    "D-did Overhaul do this?" Jin muttered as he tried to stand, only to stop when he felt pain burst out of his thigh and left arm.


    Looking down, he saw the tip of a thin stone spike stabbing through him. Turning to his arm, Jin''s eyes grew wide in horror and then unimaginable relief when he saw he had a <i>broken </i>arm.


    "I''m real! I''m not disappearing! I''m the real one!" Jin yelled in happiness as he grasped his broken bone. Shaking his head, Jin stood to his feet and began limping through the hallway of spikes towards the loud sounds of battle in the distance.


    "Hold on, Souta... I''ming."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    With a grunt, I threw therge boulder off me and stood to my feet slowly. I was covered in cuts and blood as my ck haori was ruined and tattered. Throwing it off, I looked up at the massive form of Overhaul''s new monstrous body.


    "...crapbaskets."


    <i>Crack!</i>


    Using CE-enhanced speed, I jumped to the side as one of Overhaul''srge six arms punched the ground I once stood on. Shattering the floor and sending rubble everywhere.


    <i>Such power... one punch from that, and I''m a goner!</i>


    "What have you done, Overhaul?!" I roared, once again dodging a wild punch thrown by the Yakuza Head.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "I''ve done my research on you, Sukuna." Overhaul bellowed from his position in his Kaiju body''s mouth. "I know that you''re not an opponent to take lightly. Your work on taking out Kobashigawa''s entire regime is proof of that. There''s even a rumor going around that you have more than one Quirk. That''s why I won''t underestimate you... no, I''ll use everything in my power to kill you right here! After I''m done with you, I''ll find and take Eri back!"


    "Over my dead body."


    "That''s the n." Overhaul said as he stomped toward me.


    I swung my arm up and sent several sharp roots up into Overhaul''s stomach, sending blood sttering all over the floor. Not stopping there, I leaped up into the air and summoned two small volcano heads below the Kaiju''s position. With a flick of my wrist, two burning beams ofva shot up and knocked back Overhaul. Burning and melting his already injured body.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Stumbling forward in ruined and mangled limbs, Overhaul roared as he further destroyed his ruined body parts with his Quirk. After a split second, he immediately fixed all the damage I''d done.


    "Sukuna!" Overhaul roared as his sixrge arms all swung at me wildly. "I''ll make you pay for everything you''ve done!"


    "Nue!" Jumping on my Shikigami''s back, I flew out of his range of attack.


    In an instant, a thin flesh tendril with a clock end on its tip shot out toward me and stabbed into Nue''s wing. I watched in shock as Nue''s movements slowed down to the point as if it was in slow motion. With no speed or momentum, we began to fall back into the ground.


    "You... can <i>see</i> Nue?!" I yelled as I brought Nue back into my shadows. "You can actually see my Shikigami?!"


    <i>But how?! He shouldn''t be able to!</i>


    In order to slow my descent, I shot out a wave of fire at the ground. Just as I was about tond, the ground below shifted, and a massive concrete fist shot out from beneath me. I was only able to lift my arms defensively before I was bashed away.


    Pain shot up my back as my body collided with one of thepound''s remaining walls. With a grunt, I pushed myself up and watched my blood drip onto the ground.


    "Round Dee-"


    Just as I was about to summon Round Deer in order to heal myself, my surroundings shifted and moved to create two massive walls at my sides. Within a second, they rushed toward me in an attempt to crush me. Gritting my teeth, I used Projection Sorcery to evade the iing attack.


    Jumping out of their path, I heard a loud crack explode behind me as the two walls collided. Without pause, I sent a wave of fire at several arrow shaped tendrils that tried to stab into me.


    <i>He''s not giving me a moment to breathe!</i>


    At the sound of a roar, I turned to see Overhaul''srge body stomping over to me. Raising all six of his arms, he mmed them down onto the ground. The floor all around him cracked and shattered as a wave of destruction sped toward me.


    ring at the iing attack, I leaped up and summoned a long-flowing root from the ground to catch me. Using the root, I had it move me away from the exploding shards of concrete.


    "W-what is this?!"


    I felt my equilibrium inexplicably go out of wack, resulting in me slipping off my flowing root.


    Crashing onto the floor, I felt pain and vertigo overwhelming my body and senses. Lifting my head, I saw one of Overhaul''s many arms pointing at me.


    "This... is Deidoro''s Quirk," I muttered and pushed past the effects of Sloshed. "But how does he have that Quirk! Deidoro wasn''t anywhere near us!"


    <i>If Overhaul has Deidoro''s Quirk, then could he also have the other Bullets abilities as well? But when did he fuse with them?!</i>


    Overhaul grinned down at me, but his head snapped to the side as his actual lower jaw exploded by a speeding pink and indigo bullet. With his focus thrown off, I felt the effects of Sloshed disappear.


    Looking over to where Kaina was, I gave the woman a massive grin.


    <i>I owe you one!</i>


    Running out of Overhaul''s line of sight, I brought my hands up and held my right hand to my side. Fire burst alive all around me as the broken and shattered remains of thepound gathered together into the sky above in a beautiful, fiery sphere.


    "Maximum Output!" I leaped up into the sky, causing the burning ball of mes to burst with power. Overhaul fixed his face and turned to me with rage in his crazed eyes. "Maximum Meteor!"


    With a swing, Iunched the meteor straight at Overhaul with a grin. Despite not having enough time to make the attack as big as I wanted, I knew it would be enough tond some considerable damage, if not kill the man.


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    Overhaul was surprised at the sight of therge burning meteor, but he quickly roared and raised his arms to deploy a giant barrier around him. Unfortunately for him, his barrier stood no chance and shattered once my attack struck it.


    Unwilling to give up there, Overhaul held all six hands out and grabbed hold of the meteor. With a ground-shaking roar, he began to slowly push the meteor back.


    "Raaagh!"


    Overhaul yelled as his Kaiju body began to burn and disintegrate from the intense heat. Before I couldunch my next attack, I saw several cracks appear over the meteor''s surface. In a sh of fire, the meteor broke apart as Overhaul used his Quirk to shatter it to pieces.


    Leaning forward, Overhaul broke down his burnt arms and quickly repaired them. From behind him, several bullets began to rain over his back from Kaina''s sniper.


    Turning hisrge head in her direction, Overhaul created several considerable golden barriers around his back to defend himself from the bullets.


    Due to his new defense, the bullets ended up changing course to different parts of his vast body.


    Growling in irritation, Overhaul grabbed arge chunk of concrete the size of a small house and hurled it toward Kaina''s sniper nest.


    "No!"


    Using Disaster mes, Iunched a concentrated spear of fire that knocked the chunk of concrete slightly off course. Causing it to collide with the middle of the building Kaina was on top of. With a loud explosion, the building began to crack and break as it leaned on its side.


    Squinting, I saw Kaina use Jello to slow her fall from the falling rooftop.


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    "You damn, Brat!" Overhaul spun to me and stomped one of his thick feet onto the ground. Using his Quirk, Overhaul sent dozens of massive spikes that tried to skewer me. "I don''t have time for this!"


    With CE-enhanced speed, I managed to evade the majority of the iing spikes, but one of them managed to snag me on my side.


    <i>This isn''t working! Nothing I''m doing is having any effect! If I don''t stop him soon, I''ll run out of CE!</i>


    "He may be able to fix any of the damage I do to him, but how about if I freeze him into a block of ice instead?! Switch!" I said as I exchanged Disaster nts for Ice Formation. "This better work!"


    Seeing as how I wasn''t reduced into a bloodied mess from his attack, Overhaul growled and stomped towards me with his sixrge arms ready to smash me to paste.


    Raising both of my palms in front of my mouth, I blew out arge gust of ice.


    "Maximum Output: Ice Age Prison!"


    The air around us became unbelievably cold, resulting in the floor beneath us frosting over. From all around Overhaul''srge Kaiju body, enormous chunks of ice came into existence and quickly expanded all over his body.


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    Growling, he continued to fight his way towards me despite his growing ice prison.


    Finally, therge building-sized ice formation enveloped all of Overhaul''s Kaiju body, leaving him frozen in ce just in time as his right hand was only a few meters away from my position.


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    "Finally... heh, I was worried I was going to have to summon Mahoraga for a second there."


    Falling to a knee, I felt my low reserves of CE catch up with me. As low as they were, I was unable to summon Round Deer to heal myself. I looked down at my stomach, where the tip of a concrete spear was stabbing through me. Reaching over at the flowing blood from my wound, I grimaced while I debated whether to take it out or not.


    "Souta!" A bloodied and injured Jin limped out from around arge chunk of rubble. He then roared out in a panicked voice. "MOVE!"


    Without hesitation, I forced my body to move, but it was toote.


    A muscled arm shot out from a small crack in the ice formation that encased Overhaul''s kaiju arm from right in front of me. The arm bulged and swelled before it stretched out toward me. In a sh, the arm''s hand grabbed onto my right wrist.


    "Die." Overhaul said with arge grin from within the ice.


    My eyes grew wide as I felt something very wrong begin to spread from my wrist up my arm. Gritting my teeth, I coated my left hand with CE and sliced off my arm from the bicep down. Leaping back, I watched as my bisected arm exploded from within Overhaul''s hand.


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    <i>Fuck! That was close!</i>


    Sliding to a stop, I looked over at my bleeding stump of an arm and winced. Using my binding vow, I switched out Disaster mes for Blood Maniption in order to stop the blood.


    <i>Down to two techniques...</i>


    Breaking out of his ice prison, a much smaller Overhaulnded on the ground with a crack.


    Standing at a height of 396 centimeters, Overhaul''s oncenky body was lined withrge, powerful muscles. Much like his Kaiju form, he now had reddish-ck skin with three arms on each side of his torso. Over his shoulders and his back were severalrge pair of eyes that stared at me with rage. Jutting out of his elbows, knees, and back wererge, sharp bone spikes.


    "You sacrificed your own arm for your survival." Overhaul said through his moving gue mask. As he spoke, it sounded as if several different people were speaking at once. "You''re only prolonging your inevitable death."


    I remained silent as I red at him. "This is far from enough to stop me, you child-abusing piece of shit."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "What I did to Eri was all in the name of progress." Overhaul lifted his arms up with an excited expression. "Once I rid this world of the decease known as Quirks, we can all return to how things once were."


    "You''re a madman." I spat out, feeling lightheaded. "I''m going to kill you for everything you''ve done to Eri. I''ll make you suffer a <i>hundredfold</i>."


    "Please," Overhaul scoffed. "I can see that you''re barely able to stand on your feet."


    <i>He noticed.</i>


    "By the way..." I could practically feel the grin on Overhaul''s face as his many eyes looked over to a worried and injured Jin. The man was leaning heavily against a chunk of rock as the tip of a spike stuck out of his thigh. "I think I should return the favor from when you took out my subordinates, don''t you think? <i>Souta</i>."


    Kneeling down, Overhaul ced one of his hands on the ground. Bombarding out of the floor, severalrge spikes sprang toward the masked man.


    <i>Shit! Fuck! Shit! </i>


    Throwing all of my remaining CE into Projection Sorcery, I glitched towards Jin. Each new appearance of mine elerated my speed even further.


    <i>Be faster! Save him! </i><strong><i>No matter what!</i></strong>


    Using my remaining arm, I all butunched Jin across the ruins of thepound.


    <i>Shnk!</i>


    "...n-no," Jin muttered as he pushed himself up, tears pooled around his eyes. "NOOOO!"


    Grinning, I gave my friend a weak thumbs up.


    Below me, several sharp spikes prated throughout my body. Locations such as the side of my neck, my left shoulder, my chest, and my left knee were all stabbed with a thick concrete spike.


    Against my will, I felt my eyelids force themselves close over my eyes as my body began to grow cold. From around my shoulders, Zaiko groaned and wrapped itself tightly around me as if tofort me.


    "...run, Jin... Get out of here..."


    <strong>[+999 SP]</strong>


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Tired and covered in sweat, Himiko paused in her run, the sudden feeling of dread spread over her chest. Holding Eri closer to herself, Himiko turned around and heard a faint yell behind her that sounded like Jin.


    Hearing the far-off yell as well, Eri whimpered and buried her head into Himiko''s neck.


    "This is all my fault," Eri whispered.


    "...Sukuna-kun?" Himiko uttered, her gaze focused on the disappearing veil in the distance.

 Chapter 47: NO. 47 - Save Her, No Matter What

    <h4>Chapter 47: NO. 47 - Save Her, No Matter What</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Kai watched as Jin held his head in his hands. The masked man was crying hysterically as he rocked himself back and forth on the ground. At the sight of the pathetic man, Kai disregarded Jin as a threat.


    "Souta... no, you can''t... is this m-my fault? Souta... all my fault."


    Standing still, Kai carefully eyed Souta''s still body. Crimson streamed freely down the spikes that were embedded into his body, flowing into therge puddle below him. Ripples pulsed out with every new drop of blood that fell.


    Satisfied that the so-called King of Curses was dead, Kai turned to the direction he hadst seen Himiko and Eri run off to. Bending his knees, the Head of the Shie Hassaikai leaped into the air andnded on a far-off rooftop. With incredible ease, he began sprinting and jumping from rooftop to rooftop toward the key to his future.


    "You''re not going <i>anywhere</i>, Eri."


    x x x


    "Thanks, Jello," Kaina muttered as she rolled off the Jellyfish Shikigami.


    With a grunt, she looked around the huge pile of rubble behind her from where the building copsed. Scanning over at the nearby buildings, Kaina turned around and pointed at a nearby rooftop that overlooked the ruinedpound.


    "Jello, can you fly me up there? I need to-" Kaina''s eyes grew wide in confusion as she watched the Jellyfish Shikigami slowly began to disappear. "Jello?"


    The Shikigami released a low moan as it finally disappeared.


    "Wait... don''t tell me!" Kaina gasped and began sprinting toward thepound, her expression tight and panicked.


    <i>"How could someone destroy my Shikigami''s?" </i>


    <i>Souta said as he ced some more barbecue into his mouth. "Well, the only way that could happen is to exorcise them with CE. But considering I''m the only one with that power, that''s not really a concern. Hmm... another way would be if I''m either knocked out or killed. That could force them to be dispelled for a short amount of time. Even then, I''m not too sure if they </i>would<i> disappear. Well, except for Jello. It seems to run off my CE like a leach. So if I do get taken out, Jello would probably disappear... But I doubt anybody besides a scant few could do the job."</i>


    ring ahead, Kaina quickened her pace as she jumped over a fallen piece of rubble. With practiced ease, she parkoured over and around the scattered piles of spikes and chunks of concrete around thepound. Hearing hushed sobs, Kaina quickened her pace and turned the corner.


    "It can''t be..." Kaina muttered as she slowed to a stop. Her eyes trained on the still, skewered body of the young man she had grown to respect deeply. Underneath him was arge puddle of blood. "Souta-san."


    Looking to her right, she noticed Jin wallowing away while muttering iprehensibly to himself.


    Despite her few short weeks living together with Souta, Jin, and the incredibly touchy Himiko, Kaina had sincerely enjoyed her time with the three oddballs.


    Living with them had made her almost forget her bloody past. Every day during their daily meals together, Kaina had wondered if this was what it would be like if she pursued a different path in her life.


    A path where she surrounded herself with close friends or family. A path devoid of bloodshed and murder.


    It was lovely.


    And now it was gone.


    Even if she and everyone else managed to escape alive, the glue that held Himiko and Jin together was now dead and gone. Things wouldn''t be the same again.


    Stepping up to Souta''s body, Kaina hesitated but ultimately closed his half lidded eyes. Reaching out to Zaiko, she picked up the worm and ced it around her own shoulders. Taking a deep breath, she walked away from Souta and approached Jin.


    "Bubaigawara-san," Kaina said in a cold, detached voice. A voice she had grown used to hearing during her time in the HPSC. Walking over to the man, she reached down and grabbed his shoulder. "Get up... We still have a mission toplete."


    "...I can''t," Jin muttered, his hands over his head. "Souta is... he''s dead, Kaina-chan. He''s <i>dead</i>."


    "I know," Kaina whispered. Kneeling beside him, she grabbed his face and lifted his head so he could look at her. "But we still need to save Eri-chan. Remember? It''s what Souta-san would want. We have to help that little girl. Do you understand?"


    Sniffing, Jin closed his eyes and collected himself. After a few seconds, he ignored all his injuries and forced himself to stand up. Brushing his arm over his eyes, Jin wiped the tears off his face. "Y-you''re right... let''s go save Eri-chan."


    Nodding, Kaina bandaged Jin''s thigh and ced his arm in a sling before they began running off toward where she hadst seen Himiko head in.


    As she ran, Kaina turned back to look at Souta''s unmoving form.


    "Goodbye."


    With no one left around, no one was there to notice the ripples on the blood puddle''s surface quicken until they came to aplete stop below Souta''s body.


    Inexplicably, the ripples began to invert.


    x x x


    Several blocks away, dozens of people were walking toward their evacuation zone, guided by police officers wearing bored expressions.


    "Hah... what a pain." One of the traveling civilians said with a groan as she wiped some sweat off her neck. Beside her, another young woman nodded. "Shouldn''t they have warned us ahead of time we were supposed to have an evacuation drill?"


    "I know, right? Like, shouldn''t they be more considerate or something?" The brown-haired young woman said with an eye roll.


    "Keep it moving, everyone." An officer with sharp teeth and green eyes said as he directed therge marching crowd forward. "Remember, act as if this was the real deal."


    Standing next to a bookstore at a nearby intersection, Detective Yoichi and one of his subordinates stood beside one another. Watching the annoyed crowds walking down the street.


    "Hey, Detective Ige? I don''t mean to question you or anything, but why are we doing this?" A young man with slicked-back ck hair said.


    "I told you already, Kurihara-kun." Yoichi took a drag of his cigarette and then blew out a puff of smoke. "This was simply a precaution. We got a call about a bomb threat. But from the sound of the caller''s voice, that call was clearly a joke."


    "If it was clearly a joke, is evacuating <i>twelve </i>city blocks full of people really necessary?" Kurihara said as he motioned at the agitated people and even some police officers. "I can''t believe the Chief okayed this."


    ''That''s because he didn''t.'' Yoichi thought as he looked away.


    <i>Kabang!</i>


    Suddenly, a powerful tremor rocked the city all around them, causing all the evacuating people and officers to momentarily lose their bnce. Off in the distance, smoke and chunks of concrete flew up into the sky. As the structures fell, several more tremors shook the city, causing waves of panicked screams through the civilians.


    "W-what was that?!"


    "Holy shit! Was that an actual bomb?! I thought this was a drill!"


    "Where are the heroes?!"


    Detective Yoichi watched the rising pirs of smoke with wide eyes.


    ''Damnit, Sukuna! What the hell is going on over there?!'' Yoichi screamed in his head as he heard several officers begin to call in the situation. There were even some calls being made to bring in some support from heroes. ''Whatever you''re doing, do it fast, Sukuna!''


    "Detective! We need to get these people out of here!"


    "Right! Let''s get moving!"


    x x x


    "It''s okay, Eri-chan! Everything''s going to be <i>okay</i>!"


    Himiko forced herself to smile as she continued running through the empty city streets. She winced as her swollen ankle sent waves of pain up her leg.


    Eri looked up at Himiko with worry as she continued looking behind them. Herrge red eyes scanned the streets below before moving up to the rooftops. A wave of terror shot through her as she spotted a six-armed creature with a gue mask staring down at her with rage in his eyes.


    "He''s here..." Eri whispered. Pulling on Himiko''s shirt, Eri pointed behind them in a panic. "He''s here! He''s here!"


    Feeling as if a bucket of ice had spilled over her, Himiko stopped running and spun around. Looking up to where Eri was pointing, Himiko found Kai looking down at them.


    ring at him, she forced herself to continue running.


    "He won''t get you, Eri-chan! I promise!"


    "No... that''s enough," Eri muttered. "Just let me go... or he''ll kill you too."


    "N-no! No one''s dead!" Himiko yelled as she ignored her injured ankle. "I''ll save you! Just watch me!"


    "Admirable."


    Feeling a wave of nauseae over her. Himiko''s sense of bnce turned upside down, causing her to trip and roll on the ground. With blurry vision, Himiko looked down at Eri and double-checked to see if she was okay.


    "E-Eri-chan." Himiko said as she tried to stand, but her body and mind continued to sway. "It''s okay... I''ll protect you."


    The two girls spun around as a loud crash rumbled behind them. Looking back, Himiko and Eri watched as Kai slowly stood to his full height. Eri began to shake as she took in his new, more terrifying form.


    "Eri," Kai muttered coldly. "Come here."


    "Stay b-back, you six-armed piece of shit!" Himiko growled out as she stood up despite the overpowering nausea. Reaching behind her, Himiko brought out her blunted weapon as she stood in front of Eri protectively. "Where is he?! Whe-where''s Sukuna-kun?!"


    "Ah... Were you two close?" Kai said with amusement in his golden eyes. "<i>Souta</i> tried to stand in my way... so I killed him."


    Himiko''s expression fell into disbelief and despair before she closed her eyes. Shaking her head, her eyes narrowed into slits as she red with as much hate as she could muster at Kai.


    "No! You''re lying!" Himiko roared with tears running down her face." He''s not dead! You''re lying!"


    Sighing in annoyance, Kai dismissed Himiko and began walking over to Eri. "Enough of this. It''s time toe back, Eri. Unless you want this girl to die as well?"


    "I... don''t want that," Eri said in defeat. She began to walk over to Kai, causing Himiko to look at her in surprise.


    "Eri-chan?"


    "Please... Just go. I don''t want you to die too." Eri said as she began walking toward Kai. Her small hands gripped the fabric of her long dress. "Forget about me."


    "I don''t think so!"


    Gasping in exhaustion, Jin marched towards Kai with his expression set into a rage. Himiko, Eri, and Kai turned to watch Jine to a stop from the other end of the street.


    "You''re still here?" Kai asked in annoyance.


    "I am. I won''t forgive you for what you did!" Jin roared as he pointed a finger at Kai. "But I promise you this! We will <i>save</i> that little girl! No matter what!"


    "You''ve seen what <i>I</i> can do," Kai said as he motioned to himself. "I''ve defeated the so-called Demon God. Tell me, what can <i>you </i>do?"


    Jin huffed angrily and pointed up to the sky.


    "That."


    Kai, Himiko, and Eri all looked up at the rooftops to see over 50 Kaina clones all aiming down their snipers at Kai with fire behind their eyes.


    "And this!" Jin yelled as arge wave of ck liquid exploded behind him. Rising out of the goo, dozens upon dozens of Jin clones sprang to life. Their eyes were set into a frenzy as they glowered at Kai. "Sad Man''s Parade!"


    Before Kai could react, the sky rained down a volley of death.

 Chapter 48: NO. 48 - Awakening of the Fallen

    <h4>Chapter 48: NO. 48 - Awakening of the Fallen</h4>


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>A quick word from me before we get into the heat of things. </strong>


    <strong>It seems that there has been a lot of negative feedback in thest few Chapters regarding the flow of events and character decisions.</strong>


    <strong>I was going to write a long list of why I did what I did, but that would be pointless. My reasoning over why the events from the Overhaul fight happened the way they did is in the writing. Whether some of you are able toprehend that isn''t something I can help. ©´(¡ä©`£à)©°</strong>


    <strong>If you decide to drop the story because Souta isn''t some omnipresent, overpowered, emotionless, super genius, perfect protagonist, that''s okay. I''m sure you''ll find another story on WebNovel that will tickle your fancy. </strong>


    <strong>For all of you who are enjoying my story for what it is, thanks for your continued support andments. It''s what keeps me writing! (??¦á??)</strong>


    <strong>Now then, without further ado. Let''s get on with the show! </strong>


    -


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Bubaigawara Jin''s Quirk was called, Double.


    It was a Quirk that allowed Jin to create an exact duplicate of anything, living or not. To duplicate something, he first needs to know its precise measurements and characteristics.


    When they receive enough damage, the clones Jin creates will disappear. However, instead of disappearing into nothing, they decayed into a mud-like substance. The duplicates created were less durable than the original, and the second duplicate was even less durable than the first. This continues with each new copy made by a copy.


    When Jin creates a duplicate of a person, he personally has no control over the clones because they have their own autonomy, personalities, and abilities that are utterly identical to the original.


    "Take this! My ultimate attack!" Jin yelled as he pointed a finger at Kai. "Sad Man''s Parade!"


    Up on the rooftops, the small legion of Kaina clones all lifted their rifles and fired their weapons at the momentarily stunned Head of the Yakuza. Bullets rained down on Kai, with dozens of loud cracks filling the sky.


    "What is this?! Is this your Quirk?!" Kai yelled as he raised a golden barrier over him to defend himself from the hail of bullets.


    Due to the constant onught of powerful gun fire, the barrier over Kai began to crack fast until it shattered. Dashing to the side, Kai evaded the wave of bullets, but a few shots struck true.


    Grunting in pain, Kai quickly broke down and repaired his tattered arms. Sending a wave of excruciating pain through him, as his Quirk always did whenever he used it on himself.


    "Damn pests!" Kai spat out.


    "You''re the pest!" A small army of Jin clones dashed toward Kai with anger in their eyes. "Yeah! We''re gonna kick your ass until there''s nothing left!" Another clone roared as he drew out his katanas. Several yells of agreement rumbled through the crowd of clones.


    "I''m going to shove my sword up your ass!"


    "Let''s give him the people''s elbow!"


    "Spit in his cereal!"


    Running at high speeds, several clones leaped at Kai and swung down their respective weapons. ring at therge number of clones, Kai swiped three arms at the nearest group. As his fingers brushed past the clone''s bodies, Kai activated his Quirk, forcing them to explode violently.


    Looking down, Kai growled in annoyance as a mud-like substance poured over the ground from where he killed the seven clones. ''They''re not made of flesh and blood.'' Kai thought.


    "Those barriers of his are tricky." A Kaina clone said as she tore off a strand of her hair to turn it into a long bullet. Loading it into her arm, she raised her sniper and adjusted her aim. "Even so, I''ll make you pay for what you did, you piece of shit."


    <i>Bang! Bang! Bang! </i>


    Moving back to dodge another wave of bullets, the young Head was given no time to collect himself as he was either assaulted by a hail of bullets or a swarm of Jin clones.


    Down the street, away from the battle, Himiko seized the opportunity and snatched up the surprised Eri from the ground despite her mental turmoil. "It''s time to go, Eri-chan!"


    "W-what about them?" Eri asked as Himiko limped away from the battle.


    "They''ll be okay! We just have to-"


    "I don''t think so!" Kai yelled as he pressed his hands onto the ground.


    Within seconds, an expanding wave of huge spikes erupted from the ground. Skewering several iing waves of Jin clones and destroying the surrounding buildings into pieces. The Kaina clones above tried to move back before they toppled down with their respective perches, but only half of them were sessful in retreating into safety.


    "Shit." The original Kaina muttered as she ran behind the alleyways, catching glimpses of the destruction Kai caused with a <i>single</i> move. Behind her, the original Jin did his best to keep up despite his injured thigh. "This fucker is strong."


    "He was a lot stronger before," Jin said between huffs. "Souta... Souta was able to force him into the form he''s in now. I don''t think we''d stand a chance against that monster form of his. Hold on! Can he still turn into that!"


    "Let''s hope not." Kaina and Jin turned the corner and continued running. "But taking down Overhaul isn''t our objective. It''s getting Eri-chan out of here."


    Exiting the alley, Kaina looked around and spotted Himiko and Eri struggling to get away across the street.


    "Himiko-chan! Over here! Hurry." Kaina yelled as she looked down the street, where hundreds of Jin clones rushed Kai despite being obliterated. Up above, the remaining Kaina clones fired off rapid-fire shots at the six-armed man. "We need to use this distraction while itsts. At this rate, it won''t be long before he runs out of clones to kill."


    "Kaina-Oneechan! Jin-kun!" Himiko smiled as she dashed toward her two friends from behind the car they were using as cover.


    "We''re using our backup escape route." Kaina told Himiko as she and Eri reached them. Holding her arms out, Himiko handed Eri to Kaina. "Move fast and stay low. Let''s go."


    "Right."


    Feeling a far-off explosion rumble through the streets, the four began moving once again. As they traveled through the streets using the chaos as cover, Himiko approached Jin with an anxious expression.


    "Jin-kun," Himiko said in a small voice, causing Jin to look away. "Is it true? Is... is Sukuna-kun..."


    "It''s true," Jin muttered. "Souta is... he''s gone, Toga-chan. He died... saving my life. It''s all my fault. I''m so, so sorry."


    Himiko''s expression became crestfallen as she fought back a sob. "It''s not your fault, Jin-kun. It''s not... anyone''s fault but Overhauls! I swear, I''ll kill him one day! I''ll gut him! I''ll make him pay for what he did!"


    "Pick up the pace, you two! We don''t have a lot of time-"


    <i>Crack!</i>


    Arge wall made of concrete and asphalt rose in front of the four, causing Eri''s eyes to widen in terror as she realized they''d been found. Kaina cursed as she turned back to watch Kai walking over to them, his body covered in sliding mud. But what caught her attention was his burning golden eyes piercing at her.


    "No, he''s not looking at me," Kaina muttered as Himiko and Jin stood in front of both her and Eri.


    "That bastard won''t stop at nothing to get Eri-chan back."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    Turn a negative into a positive.


    Multiply negative cursed energy by itself.


    Combine them! Smash them together!


    ...


    There it is.


    The <strong>core</strong>.


    Grab it. Hold onto it. Make it yours!


    ...


    Finally.


    The Reverse Cursed Technique.


    Blinking, my surroundings slowly came into focus. I looked down and saw several concrete spikes stabbing deeply into my body. Using my only remaining arm, I pushed myself free and stumbled back. Due to the blood loss, my knees gave out from under me.


    I looked down at the bleeding holes within my body and transformed my remaining curse energy into positive energy. Slowly, I began to heal myself with RCT, just to the point where I wouldn''t die. Unfortunately, I didn''t have enough left over to heal my arm back.


    As my body healed and my blood recovered, I reached up and ripped off my bloodied white kimono top and tight ck shirt, leaving me shirtless.


    When I was sufficiently healed, I stood up on wobbly legs and stared at my newly healed but still bloodied body. Despite feeling the effects of CE exhaustion, I couldn''t help but feel <i>extraordinary</i>.


    "How wonderful," I muttered with a smile. "My mind feels so... so <i>clear</i>." Looking up, I enjoyed the feeling of the wind on my face. "Was this what Gojo felt?"


    Once I felt my lightheadedness disappear, I finally noticed the floating screen in front of me, and a crazy grin stretched across my face at what I read.


    <strong>[Congrattions on receiving over 900 SP in one go! You have unlocked a limited-time event! Any of your draws will now have an added 45% chance of winning one of your chosen Tier''s highest-level prizes!]</strong>


    <strong>[Time Remaining on Event: 00:00:55]</strong>


    "Nothing says Gacha like a limited-time event." Snapping my fingers, I summoned my Gacha system and checked my current points.


    <strong>[Total SP: 7491]</strong>


    "Use 3500 SP," I spun the dial and waited. With a satisfying click, the Gacha machine''s lid flipped open to reveal a glowing prize ball.


    Lifting it tenderly, I snapped open the lid and grinned.


    <strong>[You have pulled: Okkotsu Yuta''s Curse Energy Reserves! Rank: tinum.]</strong>


    Without wasting another second, I immediately equipped Yuta''s reserves of cursed energy. Restoring all of my lost energy and fueling myself with the secondrgest reserves of CE from all of JJK.


    With so much CE at my disposal, I felt an incredible boost of power fill me. Further boosting my current high.


    <i>If I were topare Tsukumu Yuki''s CE reserves with Okkotsu Yuta''s, it would be likeparing a kiddie pool with arge pond! This is amazing!</i>


    "This won''t do," I muttered, raising my right bisected arm. Immediately, a burst of steam rose out of my bicep as bone, flesh, blood, and skin grew. Flexing my new right arm, I grinned widely with euphoria. "Better!"


    "Hah-hah! Again! Use 3500 SP!"


    <strong>[...You have pulled: Ryomen Sukuna''s Cursed Technique, Shrine! Rank: tinum.]</strong>


    At the sight of one of my most highly sought-after techniques after I first received my Gacha system, I began to chuckle. That chuckle soon turned to a small giggle before bing full-blownughter.


    "The heavens must be smiling upon me today!" I yelled as I held my arms up and danced over my own spilled blood, sshing and spreading the crimson liquid around me while my tattoos burned to life.


    "Now then... time for round two."


    Turning my head, I listened and watched the chaos and destruction in the distance shake the surrounding area. With a grin, I brushed back my hair and stared up at the smoke-filled blue sky.


    "...switch."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "Enough of these petty tricks!"


    Kai roared as he mmed all his hands on the ground. "I''ll just rip you all to shreds! I''ll fix Eri once you''re all dead."


    "Iing!" Jin yelled in panic as a wave of spikes rushed them. Running forward, Jin sent out a massive group of clones to try and slow down the wave of death. Unfortunately, the legions of clones were only able to slightly slow down the onught of rushing spikes.


    "Kaina-oneechan! Take Eri and run!" Himiko yelled as she swung her blunted sword onto the wall, using the de''s imbued technique to break a small butrge enough hole in the wall behind them. "Go! Hurry! We''ll slow him down!"


    "You''re asking me to leave you both to die!" Kaina yelled in disbelief as she held Eri tighter to her chest. Causing the crying girl to cover her head with her hands. "There''s no way you two can slow <i>that</i> down!"


    "Just stop it! Let me go, and you all won''t die!" Eri yelled in despair as the wave of spikes finally neared them all.


    "No one''s dying today."


    A cold but calm voice said as a bloodied and shirtless figure blurred in between them all and the iing wave of death.


    Himiko, Jin, Eri, and Kaina watched in disbelief as apletely <i>healed</i> Souta swiped his right arm to the side.


    "Dismantle."

 Chapter 49: NO. 49 - Sukuna vs. Overhaul, Round 2

    <h4>Chapter 49: NO. 49 - Sukuna vs. Overhaul, Round 2</h4>


    "Dismantle."


    The iing wave of spikes instantly crumbled into thousands of tiny cubes as my invisible attack sliced through the air. My attack had also cut through the sides of the buildings around us. Off down the street, Overhaul stood in bewilderment as his golden eyes stared into my own.


    <strong>[+65 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+35 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+45 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+55 SP]</strong>


    "It can''t be... you''re <i>alive</i>?"


    "Yup. Still alive and kicking." I grinned at the six-armed man and waved my newly healed right arm. "I even grew myself a new arm. Pretty neat, ain''t it?"


    <strong>[+35 SP]</strong>


    "Impossible." Overhaul red at me as he scanned my body. "How is this possible? Do you have some healing Quirk as well?!"


    "Nope. It''s called the Reverse Cursed Technique!" I motioned to my healed body, then pointed at my head with a crazed smile. "You should have chopped my head off or broken me down. Now, you''re going to lose, <i>Chisaki</i>."


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    "I''m<i> </i>going to lose?" Chisaki looked offended at my use of his name and began walking toward me. "No, I''m going to obliterate you until there''s not even a single atom of you left!"


    Behind me, Himiko and Jin looked at me in shock and joy while Kaina stood in disbelief. Eri, who wasn''t familiar with me, just stared at my back with surprise. Around Kaina''s shoulders, Zaiko looked at me with relieved, derpy eyes. "Is that... really you, Sukuna-kun?" Himiko asked in a small, scared voice. As if afraid, she was currently hallucinating what she was seeing.


    "It can''t be," Kaina muttered as Jin rubbed his eyes. "I saw your body with my own eyes. You were <i>dead</i>!"


    "S-Souta?" Jin asked.


    "Yup, It''s me. Sorry about that little scare back there." I said without turning around, my focus aimed at Chisaki. I swiped my hand behind me and sent a Dismantle at therge wall behind the four. My attack swiftly shattered the concrete wall into pieces, leaving them all room to escape unimpeded. "Now, you all need to get out of here. I''ll handle things from here."


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+55 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+36 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    "You can''t," Eri said as she made Kaina ce her on the ground. Turning back, I looked at the small, scared girl with a tender smile. I had to struggle to hold my manic grin away so I wouldn''t unsettle Eri. "He''s too strong! You''ll die! This is enough... I''ll go back to him. I don''t want any of you to die. Not for... someone like me."


    "The girls, right," Chisaki said as he continued walking towards us. "Give her back, and I''ll consider showing you all a modicum of merc-"


    <i>Slice!</i>


    Suddenly, the bottom half of Chisaki''s body was cut in half.


    With no lower body support, the Head of the Shie Hassaikai fell onto the ground in shock. Blood and organs sshing below him. The man gasped in pain as he looked down at his sliced body.


    "Be quiet, trash." I ignored Chisaki and walked over to Eri. Kneeling down beside her and Kaina, I ced aforting hand on Eri''s head. "It''s okay, Eri. I''m not going to die. We all came here to save you, which means we won''t stop until you''re safe and sound. Now, big sis Kaina here is going to take you somewhere safe, okay?"


    "But-"


    "No buts!" I smiled and brushed her ubed hair back with a grin. Compelling the girl to look up at me withrge, hopeful eyes. "Just leave this to your big brother, Souta!"


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    Rising up, I looked over to Kaina''s expression and saw that she was in a state of disbelief and doubt. Reaching out, I ced a hand on her shoulder. Cementing the fact that I was indeed standing in front of her. "It''s really me. Sorry about the scare back then. But right now isn''t really the time for exnations." I turned back to watch as Chisaki finished restoring his lower body. "You all need to get out of here. <i>Now</i>."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "...okay." Kaina nodded and ced a hand over my own. "I''ll hold you to that."


    "We won''t!" Himiko yelled as tears ran down her face. "I won''t just leave you here to die! I can''t... I can''t go through <i>that </i>again."


    Smiling at the blonde, I walked over to her and hugged her. "I''m sorry about scaring you, Himiko. But trust me, I won''t lose. I''ll <strong>never </strong>lose again."


    Turning to Jin, I grinned at him before cing a finger on Himiko''s forehead, much to her confusion. Using precise curse energy control, I painlessly knocked her out. Sliding my arms under her slumbering body, I handed her off to Jin, who struggled to carry her over his shoulder despite his broken arm.


    "Don''t worry, bro. I got this."


    <strong>[+40 SP]</strong>


    Jin stared at my face for several seconds before nodding. "Okay. You better win, then. Otherwise, Toga-chan will bring you back just so she can kill you herself."


    "Don''t worry, I know." I nodded as I walked away from the four of them.


    With nothing more to be said, Kaina picked Eri up, and the four of them began speeding down the street. As they fled, Chisaki and I restarted our little staring contest before I gave the man a grin.


    "Sorry about the hold-up. That was really considerate of you to give my friends and me time to talk."


    Chisaki glowered at me as he flexed his arms. "Consider it a parting gift. Once I''m done with you, I''ll find them and kill them all before taking Eri back."


    "Is that so?" I rubbed the back of my head and gave him an amused look. "Well then, let''s get started. Shall we?"


    Dashing toward him, I mmed a fist straight into his stomach with incredible power. Chisaki''s eyes bulged out of his head as he flew back through one of the buildings behind him with a loud crack. Sending rubble and dust all around him.


    <i>Woah! That wasn''t even a full-powered strike!</i>


    "Not bad! Is this what one can do with suchrge reserves of cursed energy!" I looked down at my hands andughed. "How incredible!"


    Jumping back, I avoided several pirs of concrete from crushing me. The apartment building beside me shattered into chunks before reconstructing into a massive fist with spikes for knuckles. The first flew through the air and smashed into me, sending me flying through the air.


    <i>Impressive. With this level of reinforcement, an attack like that isughable.</i>


    From below, Chisaki shot out of the roof of a business building using a quickly rising pir beneath him. Raising one of his arms, he tried to use Deidoro''s Quirk, Sloshed, on me. Only to watch as his arm flew off him with a clean cut.


    "Geh!" Chisaki groaned.


    "Hurts, doesn''t it?!"


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    I grinned and moved to the side as he tried to grab me. Swiping my left arm, I watched as arge cut appeared on his chest. Sending blood through the air. With an application of his Quirk, Chisaki healed his injuries andbined all three of his right arms into one massive appendage. With a wide swing, he tried to punch me down to the ground with a heavy punch.


    Spinning in mid-air, I watched as hisrge fist flew past me in slow motion. Using a punch of my own, I knocked hisrge arm away and sent a volley of Dismantles all over his body. Blood and flesh flew around Chisaki as he was sliced to shreds. The ground, buildings, cars, and whatever else was below us ended up being torn to shreds as well.


    "Such power," I muttered with a euphoric smile.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "You bastard!" Chisaki roared as he put his body back together just before he mmed into a building. Destroying the structure. From below the wreckage, Chisaki made an expression of pure rage as he ced all four of his hands on the floor.


    Afternding on the ruined ground, I sent several shes toward the massive iing waves of jagged spikes. Effectively destroying them in one move. Before I could sprint after him, Chisaki erupted arge barrier around me in an effort to trap me.


    "How amusing."


    I looked around me as the streets and buildings all began to twist and warp like a tornado around me. Trapping me within its urban structure. I grinned at the sight as the solid whirlwind erupted spikes from the inside. It was at that moment the barrier that was supposedly keeping me contained disappeared, and the tornado of death shrank, ready to slice me to shreds like a giant blender.


    Sliding my hands in my pockets, Imanded several hundred Dismantle shes to dance around me in a speeding circle to act as my own impromptu barrier. Cutting and slicing all the spikes that spun around me before they ever had a chance of getting near me. Smiling, I swiped both of my arms to the side and watched as the solid concrete tornado split in two.


    As both halves fell with an earth-shaking crash, I looked out and saw Chisaki staring at me in disbelief.


    "Why won''t you die?!" He yelled before using a pir tounch himself at me.


    Standing in ce, I aimed my left hand at him as my right hand rested over my forearm.


    <i>Slice! Slice! Slice! Slice! Slice! Slice! </i>


    Chisaki and everything behind him were all instantly destroyed into chunks, bs, and debris as my onught of Dismatles obliterated everything within half a block.


    Flying in mid-air, Chisaki''s decapitated head flipped around, and his scattered body parts flew all around him. With a low, monstrous roar, he somehow <i>pulled </i>his entire being back together into one.


    <i>"SUKUNA!" </i>Chisaki''s scream pierced through the sky as his voice reverberated everywhere around us. "What are you?!"


    "Me?" I answered with a grin. "I''m your <strong>executioner</strong>."


    "Raagh!" Chisaki yelled as he forced his body to transform back into the Kaiju form from before. However, unlike before, he was much smaller. Seeing this, he stretched several flesh tendrils into the ground and fused the concrete, metal pipes, and whatever else he could grab into himself in the act of desperation. Increasing his size and power. Doing this caused Chisaki to roar in pain.


    "Getting desperate, are we?" I mocked as I leaped over the crumbling city streets.


    With an ear-splicing crack, Chisaki''s disfigured Kaiju form dug into the road below and lifted an <i>entire </i>street above his head.


    With a heave, heunched it at breakneck speeds at me despite therge size of the structure. Just as it was about to m into me, I pointed a double-finger gun at the side of the structure.


    "Scale of the dragon. Recoil. Twin meteors." I chanted with a small smile. "Dismantle!!"


    <i>SLASH!!</i>


    Chisake stood in shock as the massive chunk of concrete, asphalt, rock, and dirt was split cleanly in half.


    The young Yakuza Head was unprepared when my attack continued onward and sliced him and everything behind and around him in two. My empowered Dismantle continued onward, causing all the buildings within half a city block to split in two. Causing the structures to copse and shatter from the stress.


    <i>To think this is only around half of what Sukuna was capable of. How frightening.</i>


    <strong>[+85 SP]</strong>


    Screaming in pain, Chisaki grabbed his bisected kaiju body and forced himself back together.


    Falling to his knees, Chisaki panted as his thrown projectile crashed back onto the ground, releasing a loud explosion through the streets and sending shockwaves everywhere. This resulted in the buildings surrounding me still intact and the windows behind me shattering.


    "It hurts... it hurts so much!" Chisaki groaned as he held his real body from within his kaiju''s mouth. "I can''t keep putting myself back together! My mind-my mind... <i>will</i> shatter!"


    "I told you, didn''t I?" I said as Inded on therge pile of rubble from the thrown upheaved street. "I told you I was going to make you suffer a <i>hundredfold </i>for what you did to Eri... I should make good on my promise."


    Grinning madly at Chisaki, I raised my hands and made the Enma palm sign.


    "Domain Expansion... Malevolent Shrine."


    Rising from behind me, a disfeatured demonic Buddhist shrine came to life. Several bovine skulls emerged from nothing at the base of the shrine. The hip-and-gable rooftop quickly grew out, jutting horns, two smaller and closed mouths in each gable, and human skulls that hung down from them.


    The shrine had four entrances, each designed asrge, grotesque mouths that featured human-like teeth and tongues. Between the twoyers of the roof was a smaller mouth filled with sharp teeth. Additionally, at each corner of the shrine stood four short, tree-like stumps with gnarled branches.


    Upon its creation, a wave of darkness and crimson spread out from the shrine. Epassing a 100-meter radius. Bathing everything caught within it in a hellishndscape.


    Malevolent Shrine.


    Unlike other Domains, It does not cut out a separate space with a barrier.


    Manifesting a Domain without a barrier was like painting in the air without a canvas.


    It is a truly divine feat.


    To top it off, by adding a pact to allow its victims a path of escape. It vastly increases the range of its guaranteed sure-hit effect to a maximum of 200-meter radius.


    Though out of consideration for the still upied homes, businesses, and schools in the distance. I restrained the effect to a 100-meter radius limited to the surface.


    As soon as my Domain appeared, thousands upon thousands of nonstop Cleaves and Dismantles ripped Chisaki, and everything caught within the Domain''s 100-meter radius into pieces, slices, chunks, and ribbons. All up to the point, nothing remained.


    As I watched the relentless destruction with my hands pressed together, Iughed as Chisaki continued to rebuild himself after being torn to shreds in a repeating cycle of pain and violence.


    The reason his body had managed to hold out for so long was that I was restricting the output of my Domain where he stood. Ensuring he would get caught in a nonstop cycle of pain and agony.


    <strong>[...]</strong>


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+90 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+120 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+145 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[...]</strong>


    <i>Hooh... look at all those points.</i>


    Chisaki screamed a silent scream as his mind was all but shattered at this point. It was only due to his body''s biological need to survive that he continued to rebuild himself again and again unconsciously.


    "Not bad, Chisaki," I said as I released the hand sign and made several pacts with myself to ensure the effects of my next move were simr to the real Sukuna''s. Holding my hands in front of me, I watched with a grin as powerful mes sprang to life all around me. Scorching and liquefying my surroundings in their intense heat.


    "This may be overkill... but I don''t care. I want to watch it all <i>burn</i>."


    Holding my hands out, I collected my mes into arge ming arrow at my side. Due to the effects of my mes, everything within the Domain began to heat up and burn to extreme levels. Melting and distorting solid steel and rock into liquid.


    Raising my fire arrow, I aimed at Chisaki''s repeatedly rebuilding body, which had been reduced to his normal human state due to all the lost biomass.


    "...<strong><i>Open</i></strong>."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "What the hell is going on over there?!"


    "I don''t know! Let''s hurry!"


    Dashing through the streets, several pro heroes who had answered the police calls for help dashed as fast as they could down the abandoned city streets. As they all ran, the loud sounds of destruction and explosions resounded out in front of them. The nonstop tremors that rocked the ground below them caused them to struggle to remain on their feet.


    "Hey... what the hell is that?" One of the heroes, a woman with sea-green hair that reaches just past her shoulders and a short fringe with syed ends held down by an orange bandanna, said with wide eyes. This was the Pro Hero, Fukukado Emi, otherwise known as Ms. Joke.


    At her remark, all the assembled heroes paused and gazed up at the sky as orange and red light spread across the horizon. Suddenly, the distant ruins of the destroyed city several meters ahead ignited in bright, scalding mes, followed by a massive pir of fire that shot up into the heavens. Simultaneously, a powerful tremor shook the ground around them as if a mighty earthquake had struck, sending them all sprawling to the ground.


    Burning streams of fire danced around the pir of mes as if celebrating its very creation. The pro heroes could do nothing but watch in frozen terror until the divine pir slowly faded, leaving behind several columns of dark smoke in its destructive wake.


    "...l-lets go! S-someone might need help!" It was only due to her many years as a pro that Ms. Joke was able to break out of her stupor. Despite her shaking legs, she forced herself to run forward.


    Seeing Ms. Joke move, the rest of the heroes nodded shakily and followed after her. Running as fast as they could, the heroes all quickly reached the source of the mes.


    "...h-hey?" One of the heroes, a man dressed in a yellow and ck costume, muttered. "W-wasn''t there... several buildings right here?"


    No one had the courage to respond as the heroes looked around the expansive, empty area in front of them.


    There was nothing left within the 100-meter lot of space. Nothing but charred rock and bellowing pirs of smoke. Off in the background, ruined buildingsy in tatters with long cut-like gouges strewn across their surfaces. The level of destruction was on apletely different scale that no one present had ever seen outside a natural disaster. It wasn''t far off to say that the scene before the heroes resembled that of an apocalyptic war zone.


    "Hold on!" Ms. Joke yelled as she spotted a figure somehow standing in the center of the destruction. "You there! Are you okay?!"


    Standing behind several pirs of smoke, a shirtless figure turned to them with a grin. Due to the distance, the pros weren''t able to make out any details other than the white, bloody, baggy martial arts pants and the several ck <i>tattoos </i>covering his body.


    "...hold on, tattoos? Isn''t that!?" A hero dressed as a firefighter, sporting a long yellow jacket with high-visibility lines running down the center along his sleeve cuffs, hem, and high cor, as well as a red fireman hat said. This was the pro hero, Backdraft. "Is that... Sukuna!?"


    At his statement, the far-off figure grinned and turned around. Seeing Sukuna trying to escape, all the pro heroes moved in.


    "Stop him!"


    "Don''t let him get away!"


    "Hold it right there!"


    As fast as they could, they all reached Sukuna''s position. However, when they arrived, they quickly found that no one was there. Looking around in a panic, they all searched for the man they suspected to be responsible for the catastrophic attack.


    "Find him! Don''t let him get away!" Backdraft yelled as he searched everywhere, but the pirs of smoke made it hard to see anything within the radius of the destruction. "Come back here, you Villian!"


    Off above a rooftop several dozen meters away, Sukuna watched the heroes run around wildly in search of him.


    With nothing more to do, Sukuna turned around and vanished.


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>And with that, the Shie Hassaikai arc hase to an end. </strong>


    <strong>Personally, I listened to the Malevolent Shrine and Thunderp OST while writing this. Hopefully, you all read this while listening to the OST. It makes it more immersive. </strong>


    <strong>Please leave me plenty ofments on today''s Chapter!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 50: NO. 50 - Aftermath

    <h4>Chapter 50: NO. 50 - Aftermath</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "There''s still no concrete exnation for the cause of the widespread destruction that urred in the Florrum Ward. Luckily, the local police were conducting a routine evacuation drill that ended up saving thousands of lives."


    A newscaster dressed in a ck suit looked into the camera and stated, "Witnesses to the event have reported seeing and hearing what could be described as a possible bomb explosion or arge-scale battle. However, in contrast to the ims made by the HPSC and the heroes present saying that was indeed the case, several eyewitness ounts suggest that the destruction resulted from a significant battle. Here are some interviews conducted by our on-site team just a few minutes after the incident."


    The screen changed to two young men with wide, frantic looks. Behind them were several rising pirs of smoke and piles of wreckage.


    "-and then there was this superrge explosion followed by this massive earthquake that knocked me on my ass!" The man to the right said as he made wide arm movements. "But that was nothing to thatugh I heard in the direction where everything was going down. It was like, super maniacal!"


    "Yeah! I don''t think what happened here was a bomb! I think it was some sort of fight!" The second man said with his arms crossed. "I''d bet my bottom dor that this was a Villian attack!"


    The screen changed again to show a middle-aged woman with ck hair with cat ears.


    "I''m not sure if what I saw was real or not, but from where I was standing, I think I saw a person flying across the sky. The crazy thing is that whenever that person moved their arms, everything around them split apart!" The woman recounted as she pointed up at the sky where she supposedly saw the figure. "But a few minutester, there was this enormous pir of fire that shot up to the sky! It got so hot I thought I was going to burn alive! And I was several blocks away, too!"


    The screen changed once more to a petrified older man. He was sitting on a street curb.


    "This was no bomb. No, this was done by two men. Very, very powerful men. I''ve never seen anything like it. I''m telling you, this was a-"


    <i>Click!</i>


    cing the remote control down, the Chairman for the HPSC looked away from the projector screen and turned to stare out at the gathered individuals sitting in the expansive meeting room.


    Sitting alongside the extra-long office table were all of the HPSC''s highest-ranked members and officials. They all had grave and vexed expressions as they looked down at the papers before them.


    "What happened in the Florrum Ward is now out of our control. The narrative has run away so far from us that our official statement is being treated like a conspiracy!" The Chairman spoke calmly as he looked over at the gathered individuals around the table.


    Standing beside him, a blonde woman with brushed-back hair stepped forward and addressed all of the gathered members. This was the HPSC''s Vice Chairman.


    "As you all have been briefed, we have strong suspicions that the cause of the incident was Sukuna." The VP said, lifting her own remote to show a blurry image of Sukuna dressed in his white kimono and ck haori outfit. "The pro heroes, Ms. Joke and Backdraft are very confident that he was on the scene right after the mysterious explosion of fire."


    "Sukuna." One of the board members muttered with an annoyed expression. "I thought we sent Lady Nagant to handle him."


    "That we did." The Chairman said as he adjusted his sses, an annoyed look in his eyes. "Unfortunately, we believe she was killed during her mission. All we found were scraps and pieces of her rifle with arge amount of her blood and hair at the scene... She was no match for Sukuna."


    "That can''t be!"


    "Nagant failed?!"


    "What of the security cameras?!" Another member leaned on the table with a desperate look. "Surely there must have been one camera that caught what truly happened in Florrum!"


    "There were around 358 cameras in that location." The VP said as she scrolled through several slides beforending on arge map with hundreds of X''s scattered across it. "Unfortunately, they were all either tampered with or destroyed."


    "Could Sukuna have something to do with the Yakuza? That was <i>their </i>territory, after all." A woman with short orange hair said.


    A bespectacled older man shook his head. "That''s very unlikely. The Shie Hassaikaipound was reduced to rubble. At most, it seems that a possible battle between the group and Sukuna urred. Resulting in their destruction."


    "That man must have followers." A high-ranked official muttered as she leaned back in her chair. "It''s inconceivable that a single man can perform such acts all on his own."


    "Whether he works alone or not doesn''t matter. What matters is that Sukuna must be taken down at all costs!" A dark-skinned board member looked over at the Chairman. "It won''t be long before the public bes aware of him. And if the level of destruction in Florrum is anything to go off from, Sukuna is much too powerful for any normal pro-hero to take on. We need <i>All Might</i> to step in."


    At the mention of the number one hero, everyone in the room began to utter their agreements and ideas. Standing still, the Chairman seethed silently as he watched all those he gathered seemingly dismiss him.


    This wasn''t a shock to the man. He could understand why they were all dismissing him despite his higher rank. It was due to his mishandling of the situation. If only he had handled the situation with Sukuna before the destruction of Florrum, then he would still have the confidence of his upper staff.


    "Enough." The Chairman spoke loudly, his voice heavy with authority. Slowly, everyone within the room grew silent as they turned to him. "I''m aware of the gravity of the situation, and I''ve made the proper arrangements to bring Sukuna down. I will not allow the so-called <i>Demon God</i> to destroy the peace of this country."


    The Chairman stepped forward and gave everyone a stone-cold nce, causing them all to remember why he was the Chairman of the HPSC.


    "On that, you have my <i>word</i>."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    The aroma of sizzling meat and vegetables wafted around my back courtyard. Smiling, I flipped a piece of tender beef and looked beside me at the two foldout tables lined with cooked meats, vegetables, drinks, and sweets.


    "What do you think, Eri-chan? Is it tasty?"


    "Mhm! It''s good! It''s sweet!"


    I smiled as Kaina wiped the corner of Eri''s mouth with a napkin. Eri smiled at her and then went in to take another bite of her candied apple. Brushing her hair back, Kaina ignored her own te of food in favor of doting on the small girl.


    "Eri-chan! Eri-chan! You need to eat some meat, too!"


    Himiko smiled as she kneeled next to Eri with a piece of grilled steak between her chopsticks. Eri nodded and let herself be fed by Himiko. Enjoying the taste, the little girl chewed happily on the food.


    "We did a good thing, didn''t we, Souta?" A bandaged Jin said as he walked up beside me. His ever-present mask was nowhere to be seen. Lifting up his te, I ced some grilled chicken and mushrooms on his te.


    "Yeah. It almost made getting stabbed worth it." I grinned and ced some more raw chicken on the grill. "Then again, that''s not really on Eri. I was just too weak at the time."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "If you''re weak, then what am I supposed to be? The strongest! That''s what!" Jin proimed as he flexed his good arm. "Still, what was that move of yours called again? The Positive Inverted Technique?"


    Flipping a thick slice of onion, I turned to him and grinned. "Close. It''s the Reversed Cursed Technique. It''s pretty much when you multiply a negative against itself to get a positive. Easier said than done, though. But now that I understand it, I can pretty much heal any injury I get as long as I have enough cursed energy."


    "That''s so broken," Jin muttered as he looked down at his broken arm. It was now in a signed cast held up by a sling.


    It''s been a week since our battle against the Shie Hassaikai and the death of Chisaki. Throughout that time, countless reports and stories have been made to cover the unexinablerge-scale destruction that urred in the Florrum Ward, where it all went down.


    You couldn''t find a single news station that wasn''t covering or creating its own scenarios or stories. The official story supplied by the HPSC and the police was that a bomb had identally gone off. However, arge number of the public didn''t buy their story. Some were calling it an act of terrorism. Others arge-scale Villian attack. But what interested me the most was that no one had used my name even after a group of heroes spotted me.


    "It''s most likely the HPSC keeping the truth of the situation under wraps." Kaina had said after Himiko asked why the truth wasn''t being told. "They''re trying to keep the public from knowing of Sukuna''s existence."


    This made sense. Those in power would do anything to secure the semnce of peace within this country. No matter the cost. Hence Kaina''s bloodied past.


    Still, I wasn''t too interested in whether or not Sukuna took the credit or the fallout for what had happened. I was more worried about Eri.


    The young girl wasn''t quick to believe me when I told her and everyone else that I had taken down Chisaki. After an hour of talking and convincing her that Chisaki was truly gone and that he would never hurt her again, Eri broke down into tears. Causing Kaina and Himiko to forget their list of questions for me in favor offorting the girl.


    But once Eri fell asleep from all her crying, it was finally time for me to exin how I survived.


    Exining to them what the Reversed Cursed Technique was went about as well as I thought. They understood what I was trying to get at, but the deeper concepts of how the technique worked were impossible for me to exin.


    "It''s sorta like this... you have to go fwoosh, fwish, and fwoosh again. Sorta like that!" I said as I made these odd hand motions.


    Safe to say they weren''t amused.


    Himiko was rather annoyed I had knocked her out, but she quickly forgave me. That was on the condition that I would always greet her with a hug for the rest of my life. No matter the time or ce. While it was a little embarrassing, it was better than receiving the cold shoulder from her all the time.


    Unlike Himiko, Jin was extremely happy that I had risen from death with little exnation other than the swooshes and swishes. The man had even given me a quick bro hug after I came back from wiping any traces of Chisaki from the.


    He was a real one for that.


    Kaina took my exnation in stride. Her words were that my abilities were already strange and powerful enough as they were. Being able to heal myself from the clutches of death shouldn''t be that big of a stretch.


    But the weirdest thing to me was when she hugged me tightly and patted my shoulders. This was weird because she wasn''t an overly touchy or emotional person. Well, that was unless it came to Eri. She became quite the mother hen when it came to her. The woman had some crazy maternal instincts.


    Moving onto Eri, the poor girl was still deeply traumatized by everything Chisaki had done to her. However, when I asked her what she wanted to do, whether that be going to an orphanage or staying with us, she grew into hysterics. Eri ran to Himiko and Kaina and began to cry, saying that she wanted to stay with the people who saved andforted her.


    "I can''t believe you, Sukuna-kun." Himiko gave me the stink eye.


    "Souta-san... you''re terrible." Said Kaina.


    "Not cool, Bro. Not cool..." Jin muttered.


    Theirments were harsh but not undeserved.


    Still, I needed to give Eri the choice. I didn''t want her to feel like we would decide her future simply because we saved her.


    "Souta-oniisan. Would you... like to try some?" Eri shyly asked after walking over to me. She looked back to Kaina and watched as the older woman gave her a nod. With newfound confidence, Eri held out her half-eaten candy apple toward me.


    Smiling at her, I kneeled and took a bite from her offered treat. Chewing, I brushed back her straight hair and picked her up. "It''s delicious." Moving over to the grill, I continued being the grill master and ced the finished beef onto a tray. "What do you want to cook next, Eri? How about some broli?"


    "Can we put my apple on it?"


    "Hmm, we may end up burning it." I grabbed some broli with my tongs and ced it on the grill. "Here, let''s try and cook some greens."


    Throughout the night, we all enjoyed a warm feast in honor of Eri. I looked around at my friends as they savored the meal and each other''spany. Jin and Himiko were doing their best to make Eriugh while Kaina and I exchanged amused smiles from our spot beside the tables.


    Looking up at the star-filled night sky, I let a small smile overtake my face as I enjoyed thepany of everyone around me.


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Quick announcement everyone!</strong>


    <strong>I know most of you have been enjoying the daily updates from this story. </strong>


    <strong>Unfortunately, I will be switching over to a new update schedule starting on Sunday. This is primarily due to my life growing busier and busier. As much as I want to keep pumping these Chapters out for you all, I do have responsibilities, bills, and a mortgage to pay for. (T?T)</strong>


    <strong>Here is how the updates will look like from now on~</strong>


    <strong>New Chapters:</strong>


    <strong>Sunday(free), Monday(500 PS), Wednesday(1000 PS), and Friday(1500 PS).</strong>


    <strong>That makes four Chapters a week. Sorry if that''s a letdown for some of you, but it''s better than no Chapters at all. </strong>


    <strong>That''s all I have to say. Thanks for reading today''s Chapter!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 51: NO. 51 - Day to Day

    <h4>Chapter 51: NO. 51 - Day to Day</h4>


    "What''s that?"


    "That''s a penguin."


    "Ahh... what about that one?"


    "That would be a Sea Otter."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    Eri smiled at the yful otter from her spot on my shoulders as I stepped closer to the enclosure. She held onto my hair and pulled me to the right towards the next zoo animal. Eri''s newly appointed guardian jellyfish Shikigami, Jello, floated above her like a sentinel.


    "Look at that! A panda!" Himiko said as she grabbed my hand and pulled both me and my passenger to the next exhibit." Oh! Oh! Let''s take a picture!"


    "I''ll do it! I''m an excellent photographer!" Jin raised his Canon camera from over his chest and began snapping several shots of us three. Zaiko grunted from his spot around Jin''s shoulders as the unmasked man moved around to get different angles. From beside him, Kaina smiled softly from behind her thick sses and newly dyed shoulder-length ck hair. "Kaina! Get in there!" Jin said, turning to the woman.


    "I don''t know..."


    "Please, Oneechan?" Eri said with a small smile. Causing Kaina''s weak defenses to crumble.


    "...okay."


    After counting down, Jin took a picture of us four with a thumbs up.


    "Jello. If you would." I said as I looked over to the jellyfish.


    Jello floated over to Jin and took his camera. Dashing over, Jin joined the four of us as Jello took our picture. At the sight of the floating camera, several other of the Zoo visitors paused and stared in confusion. It didn''t take long for them to get over the odd sight, chalking it up to some sort of camera or levitation Quirk one of us had.


    Over the next two hours or so, the five of us continued exploring the Kanazawa Zoo, going from exhibit to exhibit as Eri wanted to see all the different kinds of animals with a childish curiosity.


    The reason we were here was because Jin wanted us all to celebrate Himiko''s and my eptance letters to UA. I didn''t particrly care to celebrate, but Himiko suggested we all go to the Zoo. After hearing what a zoo was and what it entailed, Eri was super excited to go.


    "That was a st!" Himiko eximed as we strolled out of the Zoo. She nced down at Eri from beside her, their hands intertwined. "Did you have a good time, Eri-chan?"


    "Mhm!" Eri nodded with a smile as she held up her bag of cotton candy. "I had a lot of fun!"


    "I''m happy to hear that!"


    As we grew closer to the parking lot where Kaina parked our recently bought Hoda SUV, we heard a loud bang off down the road. Kaina, Jin, and I stepped in front of Eri and Himiko as we watched an ongoing battle between a pro hero and a viin.


    The battle seemed to be in the viin''s favor before some backup arrived for the hero. Now outnumbered and overpowered, the heroes quickly took down the viin with minimal environmental damage.


    "Not bad," I muttered as I helped Eri inside the car. "These Kamakura heroes are pretty efficient."


    "True." Jin nodded as he sat down on Eri''s left. "But what can you expect when it''s a four versus one fight? It was a super unfair fight!"


    "Who cares?" Himiko said as she sat on Eri''s right. I got into the passenger seat, and Kaina got behind the wheel. "At least they kept their fight off the street. I hate the traffic the heroes cause with their little fights."


    "From what I remember," Kaina turned on the engine and began driving us out of the parking lot. "This section of Kamakura has some UA graduates from a few years back. Makes sense that they''re so effective."


    "UA?" Eri looked up from her sweet treat with curious eyes. "Isn''t that the school Souta-Oniisan and Himiko-Oneechan are going to?"


    "That''s the one." I looked back at Eri and gave her a small smile. She nodded and took another bite of her cotton candy. "Enough about this. Let''s go grab some lunch."


    "Let''s get some Ramen/Sushi!" Himiko and Jin said excitedly before turning to each other with challenging looks.


    "Not again..." Kaina muttered as she removed her shades.


    Bringing out a notepad, I flipped through the pages before I arrived at a page with a scoreboard. It was split between Himiko and Jin, with Jin in the lead.


    "My money is on Jin this time around. You?" I asked Kaina as I raised a small bundle of bills.


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "Please stop gambling in front of Eri-chan..."


    As we left the Zoo, the heated debate on where we would eatmenced between both blonds.


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "Yes, I have just arrived."


    Walking through the Narita International Airport, a tall, well-built man with brown hair held a ck disposable phone next to his ear. As he walked, he made no attempt to walk around or avoid all those who crossed his path.


    Those who were shoved away were quick to anger, but one look into the brown-haired man''s dead grey eyes caused them to freeze in their curses. Quickly, everyone who stood in his path moved out of the way.


    "Excellent." On the other line, the HPSC Chairman nodded as he stared out at Tokyo Bay from the end of a boardwalk. "You have full ess to all of the HPSC''s resources. I want this done as soon as possible."


    "Yes... Understood." The brown-haired man said in a thick ent with German tones. "Worry not, I will find this King of Curses and bring his head to you."


    "Make sure you do. Remember, you''re not the only one who was given this contract." The Chairman said as he hung up the call.


    The head of the HPSC continued to watch the rolling waves of water before throwing his phone into the sea. Turning around, he walked down the boardwalk in the direction of his awaiting driver and car.


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    Himiko flipped through her textbook with a bored expression. "Okay, so can you exin this concept again? I''m still having trouble with the periodic table trends," she asked, tapping her pencil against her chin.


    I nodded and sat up from the oversized pink bean bag chair while cing down my manuscript for Order of the Phoenix. After stretching, I walked over to her desk and peered down at her work.


    Currently, the two of us are located in Himiko''s room. It was full of bright colors and full to the brim with girly knickknacks, and arge makeup table sat along the wall. "Sure. Think of it like a map. As you move down the groups, the atoms get bigger because of the added electron shells. And as you go across a period, the nucleus gets stronger, pulling those electrons closer," I exined, drawing a quick diagram on one of Himiko''s notebooks. "Get it?"


    Himko held her chin and nodded. "I see... I don''t get it," she replied, smiling.


    "Is that so..."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "...sorry," Himiko muttered with a small bow. "It''s only thanks to all those nights of cramming we did that I was able to pass the UA entrance exam."


    Sighing, I rubbed the top of her head. Thanks to her hair being down, as it usually was at home, I was able to pet her unimpeded. "It''s fine. We just gotta get you to the point where you won''t struggle in ss. After we start school, I''ll help you study some more."


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    "Sukuna-kun..." Himiko faked, cried, and jumped into my arms. Much to my chagrin. "you''re so kind!"


    "Uh-huh. Now, get back to work. I told you no television if you don''t finish this set of problems." I grabbed her head and pushed her back.


    "So mean! It''s been thirty minutes! I''ve studied enough!" Himiko whined and gave me her best puppy dog eyes. "Please! No more!"


    "Fine." I reached down and grabbed her pencil from her hand. Unknown to me, Himiko''s thumb traced my own as I plucked her writing utensil away.


    Flipping to a new page, I scribbled down a graph drawing alongside some numbers. "Only if you can answer this question."


    "...I''ll continue studying." Himiko cried as she flipped open her textbook.


    "You do that."


    "Is Souta-Oniisan being mean to Himiko-Oneechan?" Eri asked from the cracked door. Behind her, Jin nodded as he watched as I exined several problems to a sulking Himiko. "She''s crying..."


    "Nah. Souta is just trying to help Toga-chan," Jin whispered as he and Eri continued to watch the study session. At some point, Himiko tried to sneak away, but I ced my hands on her shoulders to keep her in ce. "...I think."


    x x x


    "So you''re saying that what you did back in the Florrum Ward was only half of the size it could have been?" Jin asked as he, Kaina, and I all sat out on the back porch as we watched the starry night sky. Off in the background, Himiko and Eri were watching television.


    "Yup." Nodding, I took a sip of my coffee as puffs of steam flew out my mouth from the chilly air. "I had to limit the size of my Domain. Otherwise, the scale of destruction would have reached out another 100 meters."


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    Kaina and Jin blinked at the revtion and thought back to the images of the Florrum ward from the news. The scale of destruction was already quite wide and horrifying, but to hear that it could have been three times worse than that was eye-opening.


    "That''s... rather impressive," Kaina muttered as she took a sip of tea.


    "It''s one of my most destructive abilities." I closed my eyes and thought back to the moment Malevolent Shrine was slicing and shredding everything apart around me. In the center, Chisaki''s body was repeatedly torn to shreds as a look of sheer agony was stered on his face. As I thought back, an unconscious, sadistic grin grew on my face. "I don''t think I''ll be able to use that Domain again... at least not within a popted area."


    "Yeah, that ce looks like a parking lot now. Maybe they''ll put a mall there?" Jin nodded and leaned back in his chair. "Still... even after getting as far as we did, we were still able to see that pir of fire reach the sky. It kinda reminded me of a, well, nuke. Some real scary stuff."


    Hearing Jin''sparison made me frown; I wouldn''t be surprised if everyone who hadid eyes on the Divine Arrows'' effects had mistaken it for a nuclear explosion.


    <i>Sorry, Japan.</i>


    "How did you do it?" Kaina asked, her eyes curious. "How were you able to get the police to conduct an evacuation drill?"


    "I have a guy on the inside. While I wasn''t sure I was going to use a Domain Expansion at the time, I was sure that the nearby civilians could have gotten caught up in our attack." I exined as I finished my drink. "I''m d I did that. Otherwise, as I was at the time, I doubt I would have hesitated using my Domain even if there were people close by."


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "..." Kaina and Jin remained silent at my confession.


    From there, the three of us sat in silence as we simmered in what I said.


    "I... don''t think you would have done it." Kaina turned to me. "Despite what you think and have done, I don''t think you''d disregard those around you without a second thought. Otherwise, you would have killed me instead of offering me to join you."


    "Kaina-chan is right, Souta." Jin nodded. "I believe you''re a lot kinder than you believe yourself to be."


    Looking down at the few drops of ck liquid in my cup, I wondered if what they said about me was true.


    Would I not have used my Domain if there were people still nearby?


    Or would I not have cared and used it to erase Chisaki and anyone else who was unlucky to be there from the world? No matter the consequences?


    <i>I''m not sure.</i>


    "...you two might be right," Forcing a smile on my face, I raised my head and turned to them. Raising my empty cup, I stood up and motioned indoors. "I''m gonna grab another cup. Be right back." They both nodded at me and began a new conversation between themselves.


    As I walked inside, I lost my fake smile and grabbed the pot of coffee.


    "Yes... I hope you''re both right."


    "Sukuna-kun?" Himiko said as she walked up behind me. "What''s the matter? You alright?"


    Turning to her, I blinked in confusion as she was once again able to pick up on my troubled state. Looking back, I saw Eri focused on the childish anime that was on the television.


    "I''m fine," I said after filling my mug. "I was just in my head, is all." Turning to her, I saw that she was unconvinced. Walking forward, she walked up to me and brought me into a tight hug with her head on my shoulder. cing my mug on the counter, I slowly returned the hug.


    "Don''t forget what I told you that night, okay?"


    "...yeah. I know."


    <strong>[+35 SP]</strong>


    After a few seconds, she pulled back slightly and reached up to my cheeks. Her fingers brushed against my cheeks, causing me to stare at her with half-lidded eyes.


    Closing her eyes, Himiko began to lean in.


    "Himiko-Oneechan! You''re going to miss the show!" Eri said as she walked into the kitchen, causing Himiko to jump back and turn to her with a flushed face. Tilting her head in confusion, Eri looked back and forth between me and Himiko. "What''s the matter? Your faces are all red. Are you two sick?"


    <strong>[+55 SP]</strong>


    "A-Ah! No, it''s just a little warm here!" Himiko fanned herself as she turned to me with a shy and rmed expression. "Sukuna-kun here must have the heat on too high! Let''s go lower it, okay, Eri-chan?"


    "Okay!"


    Grabbing her little hand, Himiko pulled Eri along toward where the thermostat was. Before they left the kitchen, Himiko turned back and offered me a little wave with a smile. Not waiting for a response, she turned the corner and left.


    Standing still, I blinked several times before rubbing my warm face with my hand.


    "...thisplicates things."

 Chapter 52: NO. 52 - Siblings

    <h4>Chapter 52: NO. 52 - Siblings</h4>


    With a single leap, I crossed through the sky and watched the streets below pass me by in a blur of lights. The dark sky above hung over me as I moved through the city of Tokyo with no real direction.


    "Was she going to kiss me? Hah... no, she definitely was." I muttered as I stared up at the crescent moon above. "Has our rtionship been leading up to this point, and I haven''t been able to see it? No... I just didn''t want to acknowledge it."


    My mind reyed back to the events of a few nights ago when Himiko leaned in to kiss me in the kitchen. I had always thought that our rtionship was more of a tonic friendship rather than a romantic one. After all, her future was to someday fall in love with Izuku. Just like in-


    "Just like in canon." I sighed and shook my head. "At this point, I''ve messed with this world so much that nothing is guaranteed. Shit! What if I pushed Izuku away from his future of meeting All Might?!"


    Landing on a tall water tower, I stared out the twinkling city skyline with an annoyed look.


    "Should I have not gotten involved?"


    Despite my thoughts, it was toote toin about what my actions may or may not have done to the future. What was done was done. I just have to go with the flow and make sure that Izuku got One For All. Somehow, at least.


    "What am I going to do about you, Himiko?"


    It''s not that I didn''t think she was attractive. No, she was a very pretty girl. She was also one of my closest friends. I''d tear this whole city to shreds for her, but I never thought of her in <i>that</i> light. Or anyone, for that matter.


    Sure, I''ve ogled some of the female heroes here and there. But who can me me? They walked around in these ridiculous skin-tight costumes all the time; what''s a young man like myself supposed to do?


    I''ve never considered pursuing a rtionship with anyone, mainly because I was always busy. My time was filled with various responsibilities: working at my job, helping Mei with her babies, gathering evidence on the HPSC, training Izuku or Keiko, spending time with Jin, Kaina, Himiko, and Eri, writing my books or manga, developing my body and skills, and going out at night as Sukuna.


    My te was <i>stacked</i>.


    Not to mention the uing headache that will be UA.


    "Would it be so wrong... to be with her?" I sighed for what felt like the hundredth time and looked over at Zaiko. "What do you think I should do?"


    "Geuh."


    "Go for it? But what if something goes wrong and we... you know? Stop being friends."


    "Geuh?"


    "Yeah. That would be bad. We do live in the same house, too. Maybe I should act like that almost kiss never happened?"


    "Geuh..."


    "You''re right. That would be a pussy move." I nodded at my wormy inventory and rubbed the side of my head. "You can be pretty wise, you know that?" Hearing that, Zaiko nodded sagely.


    "I guess I''ll sleep on it." I jumped up and used the window ledges of the apartment building in front of me to reach its roof. Landing in a crouch, I looked out at the now peaceful city with a small grin.


    <i>It''s nice to see my hard work pay off.</i>


    (Hey, Boss.) Crow Maki said as shended on Zaiko''s head. (I found something nearby.)


    <i>So much for that.</i>


    (Bonito kes.) Crow Inumaki nodded as he perched himself beside my foot.


    "That right? Let''s go check it out then."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Todoroki Fuyumi and her younger brother, Natsuo, walked leisurely together towards their home. Due to having been behind on some of her work, Fuyumi ended up working into the long night. But when she finished and noticed the time, she had called her brother to help walk her home.


    Despite the city streets being safer now than a few years back, Fuyumi was still a little nervous about walking home alone.


    Todoroki Fuyumi is a young woman of average height with grey eyes. Her hair is mostly white, with noticeable strands of crimson throughout. It is shoulder-length, except for the ear-length side bangs she has and a short clump that falls down her forehead.


    "It''s fine, Neechan," Natsuo muttered as he helped carry some of his older sisters'' paperwork through the dark streets of the Shizuoka Prefecture. "I actually prefer you call me when you get out thiste. That way, I don''t have to worry if something might happen to you."


    Todoroki Natsuo is a young man of above-average height with a rather well-built figure and grey eyes. He sports white spiky hair with two short strands hanging down the middle of his forehead.


    "Are you sure? What about your sses? Don''t you have any assignments to work on?" Fuyumi asked with worry.


    "Like I said, it''s fine!"


    Smiling, Fuyumi nodded at him as they continued their walk home.


    Stepping out of the corner in front of him, a figure appeared in front of them, a dark hoodie pulled low over their face. Fuyumi''s heart raced as she watched the figure swiftly reach into his pocket, revealing a knife with a glint that caught thest rays of sunlight.


    "Give me your phones and wallet. Now," he demanded, his voice low and threatening. "Be quick about it."


    Fuyumi froze, adrenaline pumping through her veins. Despite her fear, she stepped around Natsuo. "Natsuo, stay behind me," she whispered urgently, trying to shield her brother. She clutched her bag tightly, trying to think clearly.


    "Neechan?!" Natsuo hissed, his eyes locked on the man with the knife.


    "Please, just take what you want," Fuyumi said, her voice trembling. "We don''t want any trouble."


    The robber''s eyes narrowed, clearly agitated by her hesitation. "Stop wasting my time!" From behind the Todoroki siblings, two more figures stepped out of the shadows. Their wide grins broadened as they looked up and down the siblings.


    "You heard the man. Give us your stuff, and you both will be on your merry way."


    "More of them?!" Natsuo spun around and stepped in front of his older sister. His grey eyes looked down at the metal pipe and knife in their hands. ''Shit! What do I do?!'' Natsuo thought in panic.


    "Just do what he says," Fuyumi urged, trying to maintain herposure. Slowly, she unzipped her bag and pulled out her phone, wallet, and any other valuables she had. As she did so, she could feel her heart racing.


    "Here, take it.." she said, holding everything out to the man in front of her. Her other hand was still firmly gripping Natsuo''s.


    "You too, boy!" The man with the metal bat snapped, ncing nervously at the street as if expecting someone to intervene.


    Natsuo reached for his wallet, feeling a mix of fear and anger bubble within him. In one swift motion, he threw everything he had over at the two before him. "There! Now leave us alone!" He said, his voice steady despite his shaking hands.


    The pair in the back grinned and picked up Natsuo''s belongings while the man in front of Fuyumi grabbed her items. cing them away, the man with the bat looked Fuyumi up and down. His eyes hungrily took in her rather developed figure.


    "Hey, you boy." The man raised his bat and leveled it toward Natsuo''s face. "She''s your sister, right?"


    "...you have what you want. Now leave us the fuck alone!" Natsuo roared, his body moving protectively in front of his older sister. Rage and terror burned within him.


    "Hey, big sister." The man turned to Fuyumi, who slowly turned to him. "If you don''t want us to kill your brother, start stripping." Hearing such a demand, Natsuo exploded with rage and rushed the man.


    "YOU!"


    <i>Wham!</i>


    "Natsuo!" Fuyumi kneeled next to her brother after the man with the bat mmed his weapon onto the side of his head. Knocking him down. Seeing this, the other two menughed at Natsuo''s pathetic attempt. "Natsuo!" Fuyumi yelled in worry.


    "You heard my friend, didn''t you." The man in front of Fuyumi lowered his knife over the injured and bleeding Natsuo. "Go on then. Otherwise, I''ll gut the kid."


    Feeling trapped, Fuyumi slowly nodded and stood up. With blurry vision, Natsuo looked over at his sister with dread. "We''re the number two hero''s children! Endeavor is our father! So stop this!" Natsuo roared, angry at the men who were trying to make his older sister deface herself and angry at himself for having to rely on his father.


    "Endeavor?" One of the men said in amusement. "Yeah, right. You two have white hair, and the number two has red hair. Nice try."


    "It''s true!" Natsuo cried before his face was kicked to the side.


    "Natsuo! Enough! Don''t hurt him anymore! I''ll... do want you to want. Just stop hurting him." Fuyumi cried as she grabbed the hem of her turtle neck shirt and began to pull it over her stomach. Seeing this, the three men grinned and watched as the bottom of her shirt was now under her breasts.


    ''Stop it, Neechan!'' Natsuo red hatefully at those around him. "Don''t do this..."


    "How pathetic."


    Natsuo jerked his head up as he watched the man with the metal bat fly off to the empty road beside them after a ck and gold staff mmed itself into his skull. Spinning around, the man beside him received a blow over the top of his head. With a crack, the robber''s head mmed itself onto the concrete below with a sickening crunch.


    Fuyumi, Natsuo, and the remaining robber all turned to Sukuna as he stepped over the unconscious man below him with his staff over his shoulders. Panicking, the robber tried to move toward Fuyumi to try and use her as a hostage or shield, but before he grew too close, the man''s upper face exploded with blood by a long slice that ripped his eyes apart.


    "GAH! M-my eyes!" The robber cried as he fell onto the ground, his blood spilling everywhere.


    "Pull your shirt down already," Sukuna muttered as he walked past Fuyumi and Natsuo. "A-ah, right!" Fuyumi quickly pulled her shirt down and kneeled over her brother. They watched as Sukuna stood over the robber and stared at him with a dismissive look.


    Flipping his staff, Sukuna mmed it down onto the bleeding man''s head with a thud, knocking him out.


    Shaking his head, Natsuo''s vision started to clear. As he looked up at Sukuna, he couldn''t shake the feeling that the man seemed familiar. Suddenly, it clicked. This was the same man who had burned a person to death in the streets of Yokohama. Natsuo recalled the hastily recorded video taken by a pedestrian that day, and there was no doubt about it: this was the very same person.


    "F-Fuyumi. Get behind me." Natsuo gritted his teeth and forced himself up. His grey eyes focused on the very dangerous man before them.


    "How pathetic," Sukuna said as he turned to Natsuo, causing the college student to balk. "You couldn''t even protect your sister. You call yourself a man?"


    "What?! Who-"


    "Be quiet," Sukuna muttered in a low tone, promptly causing Natsuo to grow silent. "Trash like you don''t get to talk."


    Walking over to the other two men, Sukuna swiped his hands and sliced their eyes apart as well. Seeing the violent sight, Natsuo flinched and stepped back in fear. Just as Sukuna was about to leave, Fuyumi stepped forward with trembling legs.


    "T-thank you. For saving my brother and me." Fuyumi said with her hands in front of her. She then gave him a slight bow. "Thank you."


    Remaining still, Sukuna didn''t offer a response before he leaped into the night sky. Leaving the two Todoroki siblings alone on the street with three mutted men.


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    I watched the cops and paramedics collect the three bleeding but still alive fools that were strewn around on the street. Off to the side, Fuyumi and Natsuo were being attended by a curvaceous young woman who had big red-orange eyes and pointy teeth.


    Her most distinguishing feature is her long, ming yellow-green hair, with two bangs on each side and a wider bang extending from the center of her forehead to the right. This is the Pro Hero Burnin, also known as Kamiji Moe.


    "So that''s Burnin." I stood in the shadows down the street and watched everything proceed with an appreciative nod. "She''s a looker alright."


    Moving on from the attractive hero, I looked over at Fuyumi and Natsuo. The female Todoroki looked shaken and was beingforted by Moe. Off a few feet away, Natsuo had a bandage around his head. He had a thoughtful but angry expression on his face.


    "I think you went too far." Standing beside me, a clone said as he looked Moe up and down. "It was a tough situation he was in. You can''t expect everyone to be a kick-ass fighter."


    "Yeah, I know." I nodded and leaned against the cool wall behind me. "Hopefully, he can get over this so he can grow from it. I know Endeavor ain''t teaching him how to be a man. Or, well, raising him at all."


    "It was a three-on-one! With weapons!" My clone thumped my chest with an eye roll. "Cut him some ck. I''m sure after tomorrow, he''ll join a martial arts gym and hit the weights... Either that or me it on his dad."


    Nodding, I watched the scene continue for a while longer. Looking around, I still didn''t see a sign of Endeavor showing up. An action that Fuyumi seemed to copy me in.


    "Poor girl."


    "A very fine girl, though."


    "Dude."


    "...right. My bad."


    Dismissing my clone, I turned around and leaped up onto the rooftops to begin to head home. As I moved around, I looked over at my umted points.


    <strong>[Total SP: 5701]</strong>


    "Use 1500 SP," I said while spinning the Gatcha machine dial in mid-air.


    <strong>[You have pulled: Inumaki Toge''s Cursed Technique, Cursed Speech! Rank: Diamond.]</strong>


    (Mustard leaf.) Crow Inumaki said as he, Crow Maki, and Crow Panda flew alongside me.


    "Couldn''t have said it better myself."

 Chapter 53: NO. 53 - New Pupil

    <h4>Chapter 53: NO. 53 - New Pupil</h4>


    I hummed as I stared into the nervous eyes of Shinso Hitoshi. Standing a few feet away from him, Izuku and Keiko looked at one another with nervous smiles. Sitting beside one another on a bench next to the two, Mei and Himiko sipped on some milk tea as a gust of wind blew through the public park we were at.


    "...tell me, boy. Why are you here?" I asked Hitoshi as I leveled a serious look at him. He looked at Izuku nervously, only to receive a go-on motion from him.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Ah, well, I was hoping... you''d take me on as a student." Hitoshi rubbed the back of his head as he stared me in the eyes. "You see, I want to be... a hero. And Midoriya-san has told me that you''re the reason he''s as strong as he is. So, please, l ask you to take me on as your student." The purple-haired boy finished by offering me a bow.


    "I see, I see..." Nodding, I walked around him and inspected him closely, much to his difort. I stroked the beard I didn''t have and nodded to myself, much to Hitoshi and everyone else''s confusion. Himiko, however, found my teasing funny. "A hero, you say? So you want to help people?"


    With a serious expression, Hitoshi nodded. "I do. My Quirk... my Quirk allows me to control people after they answer any question I ask. Everyone says that it''s a Viins Quirk. But... I don''t agree with that. I want to help people and be a hero. To do that, I want to make it into UA to be the best hero I can be."


    <i>Hoh, that was pretty solid.</i>


    I looked over my shoulder at Izuku. At his nod, I turned back to Hitoshi and patted his shoulder.


    "Okay. I''ll help you out." I smiled at him and stepped back a few feet. "From this point on, you''ll call me Shimizu-sensei. You''ll follow all my instructions withoutints. As long as you agree to that, I''ll whip you into shape."


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    Smiling, Hitoshi nodded. "Thanks- I mean, thank you, Shimizu-sensei!"


    "Great! Now then, let''s see what you got." I took off my light jacket and threw it down on the grass. Rolling my shoulders, I motioned for Hitoshi to attack me. "Come on. I don''t got all day."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Hold on. You mean we''re starting right now?"


    "Of course. You only have a year or so before you can take UA''s entrance exam. That doesn''t give me much time to beat you into shape." I said as he quickly removed his hoodie.


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "Beat me into shape..."


    Stepping forward with a nervous look, Hitoshi slipped into a stiff and unrefined fighting stance. "Hmm... I see Izuku has taught you a few things already." I said as I picked up on all the openings he was showing.


    "Yeah, I asked him if he could teach me. But he told me it would be better if you taught me instead." Hitoshi said as he and I moved closer to one another. "The most he taught me was his stance and a few punches."


    "That true, Izuku? You giving out my teachings?" I asked Izuku without turning to him, causing him to freeze up. Keiko chuckled at him as he blushed in embarrassment.


    "I told you to ask first," Keiko whispered as she patted Izuku''s shoulder.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "I did... sorry, Souta-san. I should have asked you first." Izuku said with a little bow. Waving him off, I raised my fists and grinned.


    "It''s fine. Now then, show me what you got, Hitoshi."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "I was hoping Sou-chan would have held back a little. Maybe ease Shinso-kun into it." Keiko muttered as she and everyone else watched as Souta repeatedly assaulted Hitoshi with punches and kicks. "But that I was probably asking for too much..."


    The purple-haired young man tried his best to dodge or attack back, but his inexperience was clear as day. Souta grinned at the sloppy left punch Hitoshi tried to use to strike him in the face. Grabbing his wrist, Souta used an over-the-shoulder toss to m Hitoshi on the floor.


    "He is holding back," Izuku said with a wince. "Otherwise, Shinso-kun would have been out cold already."


    "That''s true." Himiko nodded as she watched Souta p the back of Hitoshi''s head. "Whenever we train together, Souta-kun doesn''t generally hold back too much. Says it''s because the real world won''t hold back either."


    "Hm? I didn''t know he was training you too, Himiko-chan." Mei turned to Himiko with a surprised look. "Do you wanna be a hero, too?"


    "With your Quirk, I''m sure you''d be a great Hero!" Ever the Quirk enthusiast, Izuku turned away from the merciless beatdown of his newest friend to look at Himiko with excitement. "Your Quirk would allow you to be one of the best infiltration heroes ever! The sheer potential of bing anyone is way too high! And all you need is a bit of their blood; sure, getting the blood itself may be a challenge, but I''m sure with the right support gear, you''d..."


    All three girls smiled as Izuku fell into another one of his extensive Quirk analysis rambles. He was speaking so quickly that his sentences sounded like an incoherent mess. However, this was nothing new for the three of them at this point. So, as always, they nodded along with easygoing smiles.


    "As Izuku-kun said, your Quirk has a lot of potential," Keiko said as she walked around Izuku and mped a hand over his mouth, causing him to blush in embarrassment as he finally realized he was rambling. "I know you and Sou-chan start UA in a week, but do you want to eventually be a Hero?"


    "A Hero?" Himiko muttered in wonder as the memories of her parent''s harsh words filled her head. Demon, monster, and non-human came to mind. "I don''t know... I don''t think I''m suited to be one."


    "I think you''d be a good one." Surprisingly, it was Mei who said this. Everyone turned to the pink-haired inventor as she gazed warmly at Souta as he sat on Hitsohi''s battered body while drinking a water bottle. "But in the end, that''ll be your choice to make. And if you ever be one, I''ll support you 100% as your personal hero support gear specialist!" Mei said as she tilted her steampunk goggles.


    "Mei-chan," Himiko whispered before she hugged the now ufortable pink-haired inventor Otaku. "Thank you!"


    "Uh, yeah. Please release me now."


    "Nope!"


    Himiko rubbed her right cheek against Mei''s while she smiled in happiness. She was happy to know she had so many people who believed in her and weren''t disgusted by her Quirk. It truly felt as if she was on cloud nine at the moment. Looking over at Souta and Hitoshi, she watched as the ck-haired object of her affection was going over what he and his newest student would begin working on.


    As she watched them speak, Himiko couldn''t help but feel a pang of anxiety rise within her. After the incident in the kitchen all those days ago, she and Souta have been... awkward around one another. At times, they were able to interact normally with one another when it came to eating their meals with everyone else in their household or when it came to training.


    However, things became awkward whenever they were left alone. Himiko and he would look away from one another as they fumbled over what to say. Thankfully, it wouldn''t take long for Eri or Jin to pop up to break that tension.


    ''What am I going to do?'' Himiko wondered as she leaned onto Mei''s shoulder. A pensive look on her face. ''Why did I do that? If I didn''t, then nothing would have changed between us. We''d still be having fun and talking about random stuff together. Now everything''s messy. All because I wanted to kiss him.''


    "Himiko-chan?" Keiko leaned forward, causing the blonde to blink out of her thoughts. Mei, who had picked up on Himiko''s downtrodden expression, was patting the girl''s shoulder mechanically like her own mother did to her whenever one of her inventions blew up. "Is everything okay? You seem a little down." Keiko said.


    Sitting up, Himiko rubbed her hands together and smiled softly. "I''m okay! Sorry, I was just thinking about... how UA will be! Yeah, I''m just getting worried about what kinds of sses they''re going to have!"


    "...is that so?" Keiko said with a thoughtful smile. She didn''t press on the subject out of respect for her privacy. "I wouldn''t worry if I were you; you''ll do just fine! Just believe in yourself!"


    "Ah, they''re done," Izuku muttered as he watched Souta and Hitoshi walk toward them. Or, in Hitoshi''s case, limping toward them.


    From the corner of her eyes, Mei noticed Himiko stare longingly at Souta. Feeling a tightness around her chest, Mei frowned and looked down.


    ''Am I sick or something?'' Mei thought. Oblivious to her feelings.


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    After I was done beating-<i>training </i>Hitoshi, I gave him a personalized routine for him to follow. That included what he should eat and which exercises he would do independently. We would meet together every day at the hidden training ground at the park Izuku and I frequented for his training.


    There, I would try to bring him up to speed enough so he could at least keep up with his future peers. With the aid of his Quirk, I was sure he could put up a good fight at his own entrance exams. Maybe he''d even get into ss 1-A or 1-B?


    With that out of the way, everyone went their own way home while Himiko and I took the train. We would normally take Nue, but it was still rtively bright outside, which was why we currently found ourselves standing in a rtively packed train. Due to how full it was, we were standing with our hands holding onto the handrails.


    "Did you really have to smack him around like that?" Himiko asked as she giggled at the memory. Grinning, I looked up and nodded.


    "Probably not, but that''s how I started Izuku out. Besides, Hitoshi took it like a champ."


    The train shook slightly, causing Himiko to lean into my side. She and I stiffened as our arms rubbed on one another before she quickly righted herself. From there, the two of us rode along in silence. Her lightly blushing cheeks caused my own to heat up at the sight.


    <strong>[+35 SP]</strong>


    <i>I go from fighting some of the worst society has to offer without blinking to a nervous teenager when ites to romance. How sad.</i>


    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her hand move slowly until it was only a few centimeters away from my own. In the end, she sighed and began to pull away.


    "Here." I reached out and grabbed her hand, holding it firmly in my own. "This should help. Can''t have you tumbling around. We still have another half hour to go."


    Her cheeks burned at the contact. With a broad smile, Himiko nodded and squeezed my hand. "Mhm! Thanks!"


    Closing my eyes, I decided that I couldn''t keep ignoring Himiko''s feelings for me. That would be a cowardly move only a harem protagonist would make. Even so, I wouldn''t rush this. If this was meant to be, I wanted to take my time and let things y out. Because if things between her and me didn''t work out, I at least hoped we could still be friends.


    "Ah, that reminds me." I abruptly said, turning to her. "I''ll be going away for the weekend. I have some... business I need to take care of."


    Tilting her head cutely, Himiko''s expression grew serious. Leaning in, she whispered. "Is it another job? Is the Sukuna attack force moving out?"


    Due to her close proximity, I was able to pick up the flowery, sweet smell of her shampoo. Before I could continue breathing in her scent like a degenerate, I pushed her back gently.


    "No, nothing like that." I shook my head and stared out at the blurring buildings outside the train. "Remember that one Shikigami I told you about?"


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    "Hold on... you don''t mean that one?!"


    "Yup. It''s finally time to subjugate the Divine General himself... <strong>Mahoraga</strong>."

 Chapter 54: NO. 54 - The Divine General

    <h4>Chapter 54: NO. 54 - The Divine General</h4>


    NO. 54 - The Divine General


    "This will work fine."


    Jumping off the hoverboard I created using my construction technique and mechanical knowledge, Inded on a patch of dirt and looked around at therge, empty ind Crow Gojo had found.


    (I know, right? Pretty sweet.) Crowjo said as he flew around above me with Crow Getonding on my left shoulder. (Satoru, mind your manners in front of Shimizu-sama.)


    (Nah.) Crowjo said as hended on my head.


    Ignoring the two bickering birds, I walked over to the center of the ind, which was located 500 kilometers away from Japan''s maind. At the center of this untouched chunk of dirt, a rise ofnd emerged, dotted with clusters of vibrant wildflowers. Here and there, patches of tall grass danced in the wind. To the east, small, jagged hills jutted out erratically.


    "Alright, you two, time to bounce," I said, causing them to hop off and fly around me. "It''s time to get to work." Nodding, both birds flew away from the ind. Their little pping wings pushed them out of sight.


    Reaching over, I ced Zaiko on the hoverboard and pushed it out to sea once I programmed it to stop 300 meters out of the ind''s range. "Sorry, bud. Can''t let you get caught up in this. If you get hit by the Sword of Extermination, that''s it. Better safe than sorry."


    "Gueh." Zaiko nodded as it glided over the ocean''s waters.


    After I was sure Zaiko was out of range, I took a deep breath to calm my erratic nerves. "Despite knowing what ising, the thought of summing Mahoraga is still nerve-wracking." Despite what I said, I grinned in excitement and raised my fists up parallel to each other.


    "In all of sorcerer history. There''s only been one sorcerer who''s managed to subjugate this Shikigami. And after today... there will be two."


    Below me, my shadows danced and expanded all over the ind. The once orange-yellow sky from the early morning hours instantly disappeared, leaving me alone in a pitch ck. "With this treasure, I summon... " Appearing into existence, four wolves made of shadows and four frogs made of light faded in front of me. With several loud howls, the wolves cried out into the darkness as if in wee.


    "Eight-Handled Sword, Divergent S Divine General... <strong>Mahoraga</strong>!"


    Behind me, arge 3.2 meters tall figure wrapped in a cocoon blinked to life. Dozens of glowing cords were intertwined with it, and glimmers of light fizzled all around. Suddenly, a loud crack echoed through the darkness as a wide maw filled with teeth emerged from the top of the cocoon. In an instant, all the cords snapped together, and a gust of steam burst around the cocoon. With a powerful rip, four extensive wings tore free from the confines of the cocoon, revealing what was inside.


    A towering, muscr humanoid figure with four wings protruding from its eye sockets flexed its massive muscles as it stepped forward. Swinging from the back of its head was a tail-like appendage as the Shikigami''s mouth released a low moan. Around its right hand were grey wrappings, while its loose ck hakama pants were held up by a white sash. Hovering just above the Shikigami was arge eight-handled Dharma wheel.


    Jumping as far back as I could, I narrowly dodged a downward punch that split the ground where I once stood. Grinning, I looked over at Mahoraga as he turned me with arge frown. Jutting out of its right fist came the Sword of Extermination.


    "Amazing. The Divine General himself!" I yelled as we stared at one another. Stepping forward, I raised my hands and made the Enma Palm sign. "Sorry, Mahoraga. But I can''t risk you adapting to Shrine. So let''s hurry this up and have you join the team."


    "Domain Expansion... Malevolent Shrine!"


    Due to beingposed of cursed energy, Mahoraga was subject to being affected by my Shrine''s Cleave attack. An attack that automatically augmented itself depending on its target''s cursed energy reserves.


    This was an attack I couldn''t properly use in a world where its humanscked cursed energy. This left me to rely solely on Dismantle unless I could ce my hands on my intended target to manually use Cleave.


    Unfortunately for the Divine General, he was immediately bombarded by both deadly attacks within the Domain''s sure hit area of effect, which was a whopping 200-meter radius. This resulted in the ind and sea around us being ripped to shreds until nothing was left.


    <i>He''s trying to adapt. </i>I smiled at the Shikigami.<i> Unfortunately for you, I didn''t give you the time to adapt to Cleave or Dismantle! </i>


    Within a few seconds of my Domians activation, Mahoraga was torn to shreds, leaving behind a rolling Dharma wheel on the torn-apart ground. Deactivating my Domain, I walked toward the wheel and picked it up. With a satisfied grin, I dropped the wheel back into my shadow.


    "That makes ten."


    Raising my hands, I resummoned Mahoraga.


    "With this treasure, I summon..."


    Rising from my shadows, the subjugated Divine General stood behind me. Ready for mymand.


    "Let''s see... we have two days to get you as beefed up as we can," I said as I raised my hands, causing roaring mes to appear over one arm while wisps of ice appeared over the other. "With 18 cursed techniques avable to me, 17 if we don''t count the Limitless since I still can''t use that properly, I''m sure we can get you to adapt to most of them."


    Mahoraga said nothing; he merely nodded as he understood my intentions through our connection.


    The Divine General''s most notable power is its <i>adaptation </i>to any and all phenomena, made visible through the turning of its wheel. If the General is hit by a particr attack, the wheel turns once the attack is analyzed, and Mahoraga adapts; if its adversary uses that same technique again, Mahoraga will counter it from then on.


    Mahoraga''s adaptation process begins when it analyzes an attack as soon as it experiences it. The progress of this adaptation is measured by the number of times the eight-handled wheel spins. After a certain period, the adaptation isplete. During this time, if Mahoraga is struck by the same attack again, the adaptation process speeds up with each additional hit. Even after its adaptation is finished, Mahoraga can continue to analyze the attack and develop various strategies to counter it.


    Generally speaking, Mahoraga''s adaptations can be defensive in nature, allowing it to be physically resistant or immune to attacks while also healing any injuries sustained prior to the adaptation. Additionally, these adaptations can be auxiliary, enabling Mahoraga to perceive normally invisible attacks. Moreover, Mahoraga can also adopt offensive adaptations, which allow it to modify the properties of its own attacks so that it can bypass enemy defenses.


    If done carefully, it was possible to have Mohoraga adapt to the point where almost <i>nothing </i>could affect it. Making it the ultimate weapon and shield that no living being could hope to ovee.


    That was unless its opponent had a powerful cheating ability as well. But I''ll deal with that issue when it rolls around.


    I knew I wouldn''t be able to push Mahoraga to adapt as far as I wanted in these short two days. But that was a non-issue. I had several more nights after today and tomorrow to continue his adaptions.


    "Oh, man. We''re going to be so broken!" Iughed and prepared myself for the nonstop assault I was about to unleash on the Divine General.


    I then remembered that Zaiko was still floating over the sea several meters away.


    "Right... Let''s go get Zaiko first."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Amidst the hum of machinery and the soft glow of fluorescent lights, Hatsume Mei stood focused, her brow slightly furrowed in concentration from within her workshop.


    d in a grease-stained coverall, she knelt beside arge, disassembled engine, its metallic parts scattered around her like puzzle pieces yet to be fitted together. With her toolbox at her side, she reached for a wrench, her fingers nimble and precise.


    The rhythmic clinking of tools against metal filled the air as she tightened bolts with steady determination. She took a moment to wipe her brow, ncing over the intricatework of wires andponents.


    Mei had always been fascinated by how things worked, a curiosity that had blossomed into a passion for engineering. Each piece she handled felt alive in her hands, a challenging puzzle that begged for the right solution. Once she found that solution, she was free to innovate and improve on the original design.


    As she paused to consult her notes, the world outside faded away. The engine''s mechanical heart seemed to pulse in time with her own as if reacting to her every move. She took a deep breath and dove back into her task, her fingers deftly rerouting a stubborn wire. With each adjustment, she imagined the engine roaring to life.


    Stepping back to inspect her work, Mei looked back at one of the most precious babies within her workshop.


    A set of mechanical arms and a chest te sat strapped on a mannequin. These mechanical arms were the support gear she and Souta had been developing for Izuku to use in his future hero career. Thanks to many hours of hard work and testing, she and Souta were able to cycle through three new interpretations of the arms. This resulted in Mk. 4 standing proud on her old battered mannequin.


    Stepping up to it, Mei brushed a gloved and dirty hand over the arms with a soft smile. The memories of her and Souta spending countless hours working together yed through her mind.


    "<i>Our </i>baby," Mei muttered as she leaned her head on the newly improved chest te. Closing her eyes, Mei rested for a moment. Her heart began to beat faster and faster when an image of Souta''s grinning face filled her mind.


    Blinking in confusion, she stepped back and wondered why her mind had been thinking of her longtime friend so often. Whenever she thought of him, a pang of sadness also filled her heart when he wasn''t around. Frowning, Mei walked over to her break area to grab herself a small chocte. Looking down at a yellow sticky note, she read the handwritten note left by Souta.


    "Don''t eat all these in one go. They weren''t cheap, so be sure to enjoy them slowly!" The note said.


    Feeling her cheeks warm up, Mei began to wonder if she wasing down with some sort of bug or sickness. After unwrapping the candy, she popped it into her mouth and began enjoying the sweet treat.


    "Maybe... maybe I should call him," Mei mumbled as she brought out her phone. But before she could press on his contact info, she remembered the text he sent her and everyone else in their little group chat.


    [Souta: I''ll be out the entire weekend. I''m doing something important, so I won''t be avable. I''ll talk to you all on Monday¨q( ?_?)¨r]


    "Ah... that''s right," Mei said in disappointment before moving back to her current project. As she grabbed her tools to continue working, she couldn''t help but smile at the thought of when she would get to see Souta again.


    "Now then, let''s see how we can improve you, Baby # 56."


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>I did some research on whether or not Mahoraga retained all its adaptions after it was unsummoned and resummoned. There were a lot of theories that said yes and a lot that said no. </strong>


    <strong>Without a clear answer, I''m just going to go with yes for this story. The Opp Stoppa Raga will keep all of its adaptions after his subjugation. Something that Souta will take advantage of. This means that this Mahoraga will be quite possibly the most powerful being in the verse if given enough time and adaptions.</strong>


    <strong>Anyway, that''s all I wanted to say. Be sure toment on today''s Chapter!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 55: NO. 55 - UA High School

    <h4>Chapter 55: NO. 55 - UA High School</h4>


    Sitting up, I blearily looked around my spartan bedroom and yawned. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I tossed my nket off and stood up. After performing a few stretches, I walked inside my bathroom and let my body go on autopilot as I brushed my teeth, showered, and did my business.


    Once I was done, I quickly got changed into my new school uniform. Said uniform consists of a long-sleeve, button-up white shirt, dark blue-green pants, a gray zer with blue-green stripes on the cor and hem of the sleeves, and a red tie.


    Eyeing the tie in annoyance, I tossed it over my shoulder and slipped on Yuji''s jujutsu uniform under my zer. Its red hood sat over the grey zer ratherfortably. Before I left my room, I grabbed my backpack and lifted Zaiko over my shoulders, disturbing his own sleep.


    "Gueh?"


    "Time for school, Bud."


    "...gueh."


    "No, I can''t leave you behind."


    Reaching the main living area, I noticed Kaina was up already with a mug of coffee in her hand. She was reading a book on child development while a stack of pancakes and fruit sat on the dining table.


    "I see you''re taking the role of Eri''s caretaker seriously," I said as I served myself some breakfast and coffee. "Thanks for the food." Nodding, Kaina looked over at me and inspected my uniform.


    "Where''s your tie?"


    "That death trap? Somewhere in my room." I cut up some of my food and began to eat. Kaina frowned and closed her book. Walking over to me, she stood behind me and began to mess with my hair. "Oi. I rather like the "I just woke up like this look."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Smiling, she shook her head as she finished tousling my hair into a more presentable look. "I know you''re just going to UA to mess around but you can at least look the part. It is one of Japan''s most elite schools, after all." Stepping back, she smiled and nodded at her hard work. "There. That''s better."


    Frowning, I looked away from her and muttered. "Thanks."


    "You''re wee."


    It was odd to have someone act like an older sibling toward me. Considering my age and past experiences, having my hair tosled around was a bit embarrassing. But I wouldn''t say I didn''t like it. Who wouldn''t want a hot older woman fussing over them? Especially someone like Kaina? I''d be a fool to wave off her help and support like a bratty child.


    She wasn''t like this with me after she first moved in. No, Kaina only began acting like a pseudo-older sister toward Himiko and me after the attack on the Shie Hessaikai.


    Maybe it could have something to do with her finding my skewered bloody body and thinking I was dead. But who knows? I certainly wasn''t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.


    I liked being pampered here and there, thank you very much.


    "Before I forget, here. Take this." Kaina reached beside her chair, where a ck gift bag sat. Reaching over, I epted it with a small thanks and peered inside.


    "This is..."


    Reaching into the bag, I raised a familiar-looking thick ck and white mask.


    The mask was quite intimidating to behold. On the right side, there were tworge eyes that appeared to follow anyone who looked at it. In contrast, the left side featured two much thinner and smaller sharp eyes. The rest of the mask had a smooth, clean texture, while my facial tattoos were imprinted over it.


    <strong>[IMAGE]</strong>


    "I saw you drawing this a few weeks back," Kaina said as she motioned for me to try it. cing it on, I felt the mask straps secure themselves tightly, but not ufortably, around my head. "Now you don''t have to run around in that ridiculous hood to hide your identity anymore."


    Removing the mask, I stared down at it without any expression on my face. Seeing this, Kaina grew worried before I turned to her with a genuine smile.


    "Thank you, Kaina."


    <strong>[+55 SP]</strong>


    "Ah..." Kaina blinked as my expression caught her off guard. Slowly, a warm smile spread over her face as well. "You''re wee, Souta-san."


    Reaching over, I ced the mask into Zaiko and continued to eat as Kaina returned to her book. We both enjoyed the silent peace between us.


    "UA! Let''s go!" Himiko yelled as she, Jin, and Eri ran into the living room with excitement. Himiko was dressed in a uniform simr to mine but suited for her gender. That just meant she had a skirt and ck leggings.


    Well, it was nice while itsted.


    "Oh! Are those delicious pancakes I''m seeing!" Jin announced with a flourish as he grabbed three tes. "My favorite! Actually, I''m a waffle man!"


    "Pancakes! Pancakes!" Eri pped as she sat down beside me. "Good morning, Souta-Oniisan!"


    "Good morning, Eri," I said as I brushed the girl''s hair back, causing her to giggle. Her small, almost nonexistent horn sitting over her forehead.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Good morning, Sukuna-kun!" Himiko ran behind me and hugged me from behind. Causing her chest to press into my upper back. "Are you excited? I''m excited! Let''s go!"


    "Huh? Oh, yeah. <i>Suuuper</i> excited."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "...your voice says otherwise."


    x x x


    Himiko and I stepped off the train and made our way through the bustling crowds in the train station. As we walked, our UA uniforms attracted curious nces from several other students and adults. This wasn''t too surprising, as it wasmon knowledge that those who graduated from UA would eventually be great heroes. However, when it came to students from other departments, people tended to lose interest.


    Leaving the train station, the two of us ignored the stares from those around us and continued on our way to the UA campus.


    "Hey... Souta-kun." Himiko said in a nervous voice as she came to a stop, which was aplete 180 from her early excited attitude. "Can we talk?"


    Pausing, I looked back at her and noticed her anxious expression. "Sure."


    "Listen... I''ve been thinking about, well, I''ve been thinking about Saito-kun and Sayaka-chan." Himiko looked at me with a tight expression. "While I''m happy for everything you did to help, I can''t help but feel... guilty about how things went down. So I was wondering if there was anything you could do to help them."


    "Ah." I nodded and looked up at the morning sky. "Those two."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "Yeah..."


    Closing my eyes, I sighed and rubbed the back of my head. If I was being honest, I hadpletely forgotten those two kids. They were only a means to an end. Turning back to Himiko, I saw the look of regret in her eyes. This issue must have been chewing away at her for a while.


    <i>How didn''t I notice?</i>


    "I suppose... I can try. I met this shifty criminalwyer a year ago who can probably help them out." I said as I thought back to the man who I had run into during one of my nights as Sukuna.


    On that night, I had found thewyer tied up and about to be executed by two of his past clients. While I didn''t know this when I stepped in, thewyer quickly thanked me and pledged himself to me once he realized who I was.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    From what I remembered, thewyer worked out from the back of a day spa and nail salon somewhere in Saitama. Despite his roach-like behavior, I came to realize that he was actually really good at his job.


    He also had an odd slogan as well. Better call... Better call something or another.


    "I can''t make any promises, but I''ll do what I can," I said, causing arge, thankful smile to grow on Himiko''s face.


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    "That''s perfect! Thank you so much!" Himiko jumped next to me and hugged my arm into her chest.


    "Yeah, don''t worry about it. Let''s get moving; we don''t want to bete on our first day."


    x x x


    UA Highschool.


    This institution is the number one ranked school for heroics and is considered the top Hero academy in the country.


    With an eptance rate of less than 2% and a student body of approximately 225 students per year, UA High School is a highly sought-after institution for any aspiring hero.


    It was the school that helped give rise to some of Japan''s most famous and sessful heroes. Heroes such as All Might, Endeavor, Best Jeanist, and many more. All of which had entered the top ten of Japan''s Hero Rankings.


    With all this in mind, if you wanted to guarantee your position as a great future hero, you''d do everything in your power to attend UA.


    But if your name is Shimizu Souta, then you couldn''t care less about all these des or fancy smancy state-of-the-art training facilities.


    "ss 1-D, ss 1-D," I muttered as Himiko and I walked through the bustling hallways of UA in search of our ss.


    As fate would have it, Himiko and I were lucky enough to be ced in the same ss. A fact that made her super happy once we found out about our ssroom cements.


    "Oh! over there!" Himiko said as she pointed over at the ridiculously big door down the hall.


    Despite its size, the door was rather easy to slide open. Stepping inside, we looked over the ssmates we''d be sharing a rather big ssroom with for the next three years.


    "Some colorful characters in here," I said as I walked over to the front of the ssroom, where a seating chart was posted. "It''s in alphabetical order."


    Himiko scanned the seating chart and jumped for joy when she saw that she would be sitting behind me. Considering herst name started with a T while mine was with an S, this wasn''t very surprising.


    "Let''s go say hi to our new neighbors!" Himiko grabbed my hand and dragged me to our seats.


    Once there, I threw my backpack down beside my chair and slumped down. cing her own backpack down, Himiko looked to our left, where a rather in boy with brushed-back red and ck hair sat. He had a disappointed expression on his face as he stared nkly at his desk.


    "I didn''t make it... I didn''t make it into the hero course... I''m a failure." The boy muttered.


    From what I recalled from the seating chart, this guy''s name was Konya Toshio.


    "Whose this sad-sack?" Himiko uttered, unimpressed.


    "Ever hear of not kicking a man while he''s down?" I said, turning to her. "You want this sad-sack to cry or something?"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Who the hell are you two!?" Toshio rose to his feet, an annoyed expression on his in face. "Don''t you know that talking about others is rude? Apologize right now!"


    "Nuh-uh." Himiko and I said.


    <strong>[+8 SP]</strong>


    "What do you mean, Nuh-uh?!"


    "Okay! Pause!" Sliding between us was a short girl with long ck hair and green eyes. Tied around one of the bangs that framed her face was a long red string. "Let''s all get along, okay? We''re going to be ssmates after all!"


    "Who are you?" I asked as I peered at her. The ck-haired girl turned to me and flinched as she picked up on the negative energy that I regrettably emitted.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "A-ah, I''m Ogasawara Hikari!" Hikari said as she forced a happy smile on her face. She spun away from me and waved at Himiko. "Let''s all be good friends!"


    "Okay!" Himiko smiled and pulled out her phone. "Let''s exchange numbers then!"


    With a sigh, I ignored the indigent Toshio and happily chattering pair of girls and leaned my head on my desk. "I want to go home..." From in front of me, a rather tall and well-muscled male student turned to me with arge grin.


    "You want to go home on the first day of your high school career! Now, we can''t have that!"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Looking up, I squinted my eyes at the tall, ck-haired, grey-eyed bundle of annoying cheer that was my deskmate. "Huh?" At myment, Hoshino Jurou chuckled and patted my back as if we were long-time chums.


    <i>Don''t use Dismantle, Don''t use Dismantle, Don''t use Dismantle...</i>


    "I''m looking forward to our wonderful three years together, my friend!" Jurou''s teeth sparkled as he offered me a thumbs-up. My negative energy seemingly had no effect on him. "Ah! Where are my manners? My name is Hoshino Jurou! It''s a pleasure to meet you, Shimizu-kun!"


    "...Is it toote to drop out?"


    I ignored everyone around me as all the remaining students who would make up my ss filled the ssroom. As everyone talked and mingled, I let my mind wander to the sessful release of the TMNT movie that came out three months ago.


    The movie itself had some of the best animation the series has had thus far while adapting one of the most famous runs from my old world, The Last Ronin. While I tried to push for that R-rating at the beginning, I was outvoted by the NAPPA''s president and TOHO''s board of directors. Keeping the movie PG-13 would help secure more ticket sales and not alienate arge part of our younger audience.


    Despite theck of excessive blood and violence, the movie performed extremely well and tied a neat bow to the turtle brothers'' story. The movie racked up 196.2 Million USD in ticket sales worldwide during its theatrical run. Or 29,490,455,498.40 in yen. Earning me a very decent chunk of change. I used some of that money to decorate and customize the hell out of Eri''s room.


    Hopefully, this trend will continue once my very popr DBZ manga/anime has its first movie release. Unlike in my original world, I would weave the non-canon films into the canon proper to maximize my earnings.


    The movies were set up to be events one couldn''t hope to miss in order to get the full experience. At least, that''s what NAPPA''s president and I agreed we''d call it after seeing the sess of the Last Ronin.


    It was a little scummy to push my audience to watch a movie to get the whole story, but hey, I have to make my money.


    Thinking back, I could still remember the amazed expressions on everyone''s faces when I took them all to the TOHO theater for the movie''s opening night. Izuku and Keiko''s expressions were still the funniest of the bunch. Usually, tickets like these were incredibly hard to get a hold of, especially the seats I had. When they asked where I got the tickets, I told them I won them in a raffle, considering I still hadn''t told everyone outside my household that I was Gege.


    <i>When should I do that? Hmm...</i>


    "Alright, everyone. Take your seats." A slow, monotonous voice called out as a rtively young woman with short, slightly curly, light hair and ram''s horns on her head walked through therge ssroom door.


    The woman''s face had a drowsy appearance as if she was mentally checked out. Keeping up the hero motif the school had going on, the woman was dressed in a hero costume. Said hero costume consisted of a Chinese Cheongsam mini dress with long funnel-shaped sleeves that hid her hands, high-heeled shoes, and a domino mask covered over half her face.


    Stepping behind the lone podium in the front, the woman turned to us with a bored expression. Her eyes quickly scanned each and every single one of us. "My name is Shin''ya Onemu. I will be your Homeroom teacher from today onward."


    "Hey, isn''t that the pro hero, Moonlight?!" One of my ssmates said in awe. Like a domino effect, hisment caused a wave of whispers and chatter. "She used to be Ingeniums Sidekick?! Why is she here?"


    "Settle down, settle down... Why did I let Ingenium talk me into this?" Onemu muttered under her breath as she leaned on the podium. At the Homeroom Teacher''s instruction, everyone quickly stopped talking. "We have some time before the entrance ceremony, so why don''t you all introduce each other? Let''s start over here and go down the line."


    "No problem!" Rising to his feet, a brown-haired male student turned to us and grinned. "The names Ishimoto Keiichi! My Quirk is called Animal Shifter! I can transform into any animal I want for a full three minutes! How awesome is that?!"


    Everyone in the ss, except for me, pped and eagerly asked Keiichi questions about his Quirk, much to his delight. Following that, each student began introducing themselves and exining their Quirks. For the few Heteromorphic students in my ss, they described their abilities instead. Eventually, it was my turn.


    With a sigh, I stood up and stared up at the ceiling. "I''m Shimizu Souta. Unlike you all, I don''t have a Quirk. But what I do have are these hands. They''re rated E for everyone." I raised my fists and wiggled them. "What else? Let''s see... ah, I also like coffee."


    <strong>[5 x 20 = +100 SP]</strong>


    <i>Ooh, not bad. Maybe I should say some more out of pocket shit around here?</i>


    With my introduction done, I sat back down and took in the surprised looks from everyone around me. Their expressions weren''t anything I hadn''t seen before. After all, meeting a Quirkless individual was rather rare these days. I was even able to pick up some frowns and looks of uninterest.


    "Ah! I''m next!" Jumping to her feet, Himiko stole everyone''s attention from me and began her introduction. "My name is Toga Himiko! I can''t wait to be friends with everyone! My Qurik... my Quirk is called Transform! As long as I can drink someone''s blood, I can take on their physical appearance, as well as copy their voice!"


    At the description of her Qurik, I saw some disgusted looks thrown Himiko''s way while some of our ssmates looked intrigued. Our Homeroom Teacher had a pensive look as she smiled at Himiko. It seems she was able to pick up on the potential of Himiko''s Quirk.


    After Himiko''s introduction, I lost interest in listening any more. Once everyone was done with their introductions, Onemu got the ss moving out of the ss to begin heading to the school''srge auditorium for the entrance ceremony.


    Standing with my ss, I looked over to therge podium at the back of the auditorium, where a small white bear, mouse, and dog-looking chimera stood. Off behind him were other Pro heroes, such as Recovery Girl, Thirteen, Hound Dog, Present Mic, Midnight, Cementos, and many more.


    "Hello to you all! I am Nezu, and I will be your Principal for the next three years! You can call me Pricipal or Pricipal Nezu; either is fine with me! Hah-hah!" Nezu said into a microphone with a smile. "Now then, let''s get things underway..."


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>I hope you all enjoyed today''s Chapter and the scene visual I made to show off Souta''s new mask. </strong>


    <strong>While I know a lot of readers had issues with how I handled the Himiko and Saito plot line, I''m sorry to say that I''m not done with fraud Izuku just yet. I got something cooking on slow for his character heheh.</strong>


    <strong>Please make sure to leave me ament and your thoughts! </strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 56: NO. 56 - School Life

    <h4>Chapter 56: NO. 56 - School Life</h4>


    "Hey, did you hear? All of ss 1-A was expelled! Like, on the first day!"


    "Shit. Really? Is that allowed?"


    "Apparently. The teachers here have much more freedom to do what they want. That''s UA for you."


    Gossip filled the cafeteria loudly. All of which revolved around the hot-button topic of the expulsion of every student in ss 1-A. Everyone was either talking about it or trying to dig up more details.


    <i>Aizawa doesn''t y around.</i>


    "Hey, scrub," I said, looking at my frozen ssmate, Konya Toshio. "You still upset you didn''t make it into ss 1-A?" I then took a bite of my onigiri as he mechanically looked over to me.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "...that could have been me. I could have been expelled on the first day!" Toshio said dramatically as he held his chest as if in pain. "This must be fate! I was ced in ss 1-D, so I could one day take up one of those empty spots in ss 1-A!"


    <i>This guy must be off his medication.</i>


    "Uh-huh."


    I ignored him and turned to Himiko, who was happily munching away at some fried rice beside me. Sitting to her left was that ck-haired girl from yesterday, Ogasawara Hikari. Feeling my gaze, she turned to me and jumped. She then raised her arms over her t as a board chest and turned away.


    <i>The hell? Does she think I''m ogling her or something? If I were to ogle someone here, it would be Midnight. I have no interest in those empty, t fields of yours.</i>


    Today was the second day of our UA High school career and the official start of our <i>elite</i> education. Yesterday didn''t count because it was mostly about our course introductions and orientation. Principal Nezu''s speech made up for arge portion of the morning. He mostly spoke about how excited he was at overseeing our development and what kinds of Heroes, Support Innovators, or even future schrs we''d all be.


    After that, we all just meandered through the day. During our extensive free period to get familiar with the school''s curriculum, several of my ssmates had already created and joined their own cliques.


    The so-called attractive and strong students created one for themselves,posed of seven students. The rest broke off into their little groups and whatnot. Unfortunately, I somehow found myself in a group filled with weirdos. Said weirdos were as follows...


    Konya Toshio was an odd and possibly schizophrenic guy with dreams of grandeur. He believes with his entire soul that it''s only a matter of time before he bes a great hero despite his piss-poor Quirk.


    Ogasawara Hikari was a short, friendly girl who made quick friends with Himiko. She also seemed to think of me as a sketchy character who wanted to do illicit things to her. Dream on, girl.


    Ike Mitsuko was a red-haired, orange-eyed cat girl who loved to talk about manga and anime non-stop. She had little care for those who thought anime was for children. Due to that, most of the ss paid her no mind. But I thought she was chill.


    Finally, Ishimoto Keiichi. He was a tall mountain of endless joy and charisma who saw the best in everyone. He also loved to talk about working out and all things muscles. A bit nieve that one.


    These four people sat around Himiko and me at a lunch table at the back of the cafeteria.


    "Waah! This week''s Chapter was so intense!" Mitsuko cried as she closed this week''s newest JUMP. "To believe that Goku-san was the legendary Super Saiyan! So epic! He''se a long way from being the young boy who fought off the Red Ribbon army."


    "Goku? From that manga Dragon Ball Z?" Keiichi looked up from his protein-heavy lunch and flexed. "I''ve heard my little brother talk about him a lot! He sure has some impressive muscles!"


    "He sure does!" Mitsuko nodded.


    "If anything, you should stop growing your muscles, Keiichi-kun," Himiko said as she pointed at the struggling button on his zer. "Otherwise, your zer is gonna pop."


    "Haha! Worry not, Toga-chan! I have several spares in my locker!"


    Despite being surrounded by a unique group of ssmates, I was thankful that they didn''t treat Himiko any differently because of her Quirk. While not everyone shot her a disgusted look during our introductions yesterday, I could hear severalments throughout the ss calling her Quirk disgusting. Even at UA, there were still rude and discriminatory people; they just concealed their attitudes better here.


    "Shimizu-kun! Here, I don''t like my broli, so you can have it." Mitsuko said as she dropped her vegetables on my tray without waiting for my reply.


    "Oi. I''m not your waste bin where you can dump the food you don''t want. Also, what are you? 5? Eat your veggies." I said as I began eating the broli despite my words. I wasn''t about to turn down some of Lunch Rushe''s delicious food.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Huh? No way. They''re gross..."


    "You are a five-year-old."


    After lunch, sses began as in any other school. Due to being in Gen Ed, the majority of our teachers were nonheroes and experts in their respective fields. They were great at teaching and exining their subjects to us all. I could see how attending UA''s Gen Ed course all but guaranteed one''s admission to the college or university of their choosing. The education here was second to none.


    Still, this didn''t mean I wasn''t bored out of my mind. I''ve grown so used to avoiding school thanks to my clones, but that was something I couldn''t do anymore.


    Being in such a ce full of SP potential, I had to be the one to attend in order to rake in the points due to my clones not being able to earn them for me by proxy.


    "Shimizu-kun!"


    Unconsciously, my hand flew up and caught a flying piece of chalk that would have hit my head. Breaking out of my daydreaming of nappin'' under a tree. I looked forward and saw my very annoyed teacher. All around me, I received annoyed and amused expressions from my ssmates.


    <strong>[5 x 20 = +100 SP]</strong>


    "Since you want to stare out of the window so much, how about you answer this question, Shimizu-kun." My Maths teacher, Yamaoka Saki, said as she pointed at the rather intricate question on the chalkboard.


    With a quick read-through, I leaned on my right hand and stared at herzily. "It''s 1/6, 0.166, or 0.167."


    With a sigh, Saki nodded and turned back to her chalkboard. "That''s correct. Good work, Shimizu-kun. But please... pay attention to the ss."


    "Sure thing, Teach."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Call me Sensei, Shimizu-kun..."


    "I guess he <i>is</i> smart." I heard one of my ssmates whisper to their desk mates. "He did get second ce on the written exam, after all." Was another student''s reply.


    "I guess that exins how someone like <i>him</i> got into UA then."


    <i>Is this casual racism or casual discrimination? Wait, those are the same thing.</i>


    I felt Himiko bristle in anger from behind me as the ss''s lesson resumed. Reaching back, I patted her hands to calm her down.


    I looked down at my notebook and quickly wrote down what our teacher was exining with little issue. As I did, I missed the look of interest from one of my ssmates. A rather handsome, tall young man with grey hair and electric pink eyes stared at me before turning back to the lesson.


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "Theplete breakdown of Kobashigawa''s empire and the destruction of the Shie Hessaikai. Our dear friend Sukuna has been rather busy."


    Deep within his darkb, All for One swiped through several dozen photos showing off the destruction at Kobashigawa''s mansion and the utter devastation left behind by the battle between Overhaul and Sukuna, which resulted in the utter annihtion of the Florrum Ward, leaving behind a 100-meter wide area of <i>nothing</i>.


    "Kurogiri." All For One said without turning around.


    Appearing behind him was a person whose entire body seemed to be made out of a dark purple mist, save for his eyes, which were a glowing yellow. The man, who was made of mist, wore a very elegant suit with a tie and a metal brace that went from around his corbone to just below his eyes.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Yes, Master?"


    "I believe it''s time I finally see what the King of Curses is capable of myself." All For One grinned as he focused on a lone image of Sukuna, who was dressed in his ck haori and white kimono outfit.


    "You mean..." Kurogiri muttered as he realized his master''s intentions.


    "Yes. Let the Doctor know that I will be using <i>that </i>one." All For One chuckled as he leaned back in his chair, his right fist under his cheek. "Let''s see firsthand what Sukuna can do and if he is truly worthy of my attention."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    <strong>[You have pulled: Kurourushi''s Cursed Tool, Festering Life Sword! Rank: tinum.]</strong>


    Whistling from behind my new mask, I lifted the short, thick, cleaver-like sword with a unique shape and a grotesque design. If memory serves me right, this was quite possibly one of the most powerful weapons in all of JJK.


    <strong>[IMAGE]</strong>


    The Festering Life Sword''s most prominent feature was the six distinct firing barrels on the front of the de that couldunch close-range projectiles at its target.


    Even if the sword is blocked by an opponent''s weapon, it''s capable of shooting small eggs into the enemy''s flesh to infect them. Shortly after being embedded into the target''s skin, the eggs hatch, and small insect-like curses spawn from the wound. The same effect urs if the de shes the target directly as well.


    During its fight with Yuta, Kurourushi had managed tond a few strikes with this sword. Resulting in curse insects exploding out of Yuta''s body violently. It was only due to Yuta''s excellent fighting prowess and RCT that he was able to survive the attack. If he had fought any other sorcerer besides Yuta, Kurourushi would have won.


    This means that the only way to survive a blow from this sword is to have RCT or an extremely powerful regenerative ability. Even with thetter ability, the cursed insects would continue to multiply within you. The victim would have to remove the body part where the sword struck before the insects had the chance to spread.


    "Talk about OP." I grinned at the de and ced it within Zaiko, causing the worm Shikigami to shudder. "We have just enough points for two more pulls. Use 1500 SP." I reached out and twisted the Gacha machine''s dial. Soon enough, a nice glowing prize ball popped out.


    <strong>[You have pulled: Ieiri Sh¨­ko''s RCT Proficiently! Rank: Diamond.]</strong>


    "Huh," I muttered as my brain downloaded everything Shoko knew about RCT. Raising my hand, I focused my RCT and watched as waves of white flowed around my hand. "So <i>that''s</i> how you heal others. I gotta say, it sure isplicated."


    Using my remaining points, I twisted the dial and waited.


    <strong>[You have pulled Uro Takako''s Cursed Technique, Sky Maniption! Rank: Diamond!]</strong>


    "Ooh! That''s a good one." I said with a grin and dismissed the Gacha machine. "Today has been a very lucky day for me. Still, I could do without winning MeiMei''s panties..."


    With my gambling session now over, I looked around at the knocked-out bodies of the four debt collectors who thought they could do as they pleased. Off to the side, a battered and bruised young man around 25 years old sat knocked out against his living room wall. All around him was broken furniture and thrown appliances.


    Ever since my encounter with the little girl whose mother was killed by greedy debt collectors, I decided to make my presence known to each and every collection agency in the country. I began tracking down all of their organization''s hideouts after extracting the information from their underlings.


    While I would have rather gotten rid of these debt collection groups in their entirety, I knew it was an impossible task. Sure, I could kill them all, but in time, more would pop back up. Simr to a hydra. So, to begin my new operation, I focused on the more violent debt collectors who used terror and violence to collect their money. I made it clear to everyone in their line of work that this approach of collecting their money would be met with violence and retribution by me. On the other end, I was more lenient to the ones who collected their debts with a softer approach.


    Even with my involvement, there were still some people and groups who went against my warnings and got violent with those who owed them money, like these four bozos around me. Whenever that happened, I quickly found them thanks to my hundreds of crows all around the country and made an example out of them.


    <i>Looks like I just found four new test subjects for the Festering Life Sword. But first, let''s do a little test...</i>


    Kneeling down, I ced my right hand over one of the debt collector''s chests and began channeling RCT into his body. While I knew that normal cursed energy had a negative, almost poisonous effect on the humans of this world, I wondered what positive cursed energy would do. Soon enough, the man''s wounds began to heal.


    <i>Good. It seems that RCT doesn''t have any adverse effects on the people in this world.</i>


    Moving over to the beaten young man that these men had beaten to near death, I used RCT to heal him enough so that his ribs weren''t stabbing into his lungs. When I was done, I grabbed the debt collectors'' wallets and threw down their money on the ground.


    "Here you go. Don''t spend it all in one ce." I said to the knocked-out young man before collecting all four of the debt collectors'' bodies.


    The next day, all four of them were found by the members of their agency and their Boss. Their bodies were torn and ruined by dozens of hungry insects, leaving their corpses a bloody and ruined mess.


    Safe to say, they quickly fell in line.


    Unknown to me at the time, my actions were beginning to have a ripple effect on the criminal underworld.


    The name Sukuna was beginning to have more than one effect.


    Instead of just causing fear and dread within all those who heard it, my name was now gardening respect and admiration from several individuals and groups.

 Chapter 57: NO. 57 - Morning Walk To Work

    <h4>Chapter 57: NO. 57 - Morning Walk To Work</h4>


    "Eat up, you three. You earned it."


    Nodding tiredly, Izuku, Keiko, and Hitoshi all gave thanks and began eating therge bowls of beef gyudon before them. Smiling, I picked up my own bowl and ate as well. Our isted training ground,posed of a grass field with surrounding trees, offered us a nice pocket of peace.


    Izuku and Keiko were both covered in bruises and dirt from their usual training regime. Hitoshi himself was in a worse-off state because he had just recently started my training from hell. Due to there only being one short year left for them to prepare for the UA entrance exam, they had asked me to up their training as high as I deemed safe.


    Sadly, they quickly regretted that decision of theirs due to the dozens of new aching pains throughout their bodies. Despite the pain, they were making significant progress on their bodies and abilities, respectively.


    Izuku''s body was now a wall of tight, well-pact muscles that could make any personal trainer proud. His reflexes andbat abilities were second to none. While he may not yet be a master at any of the martial arts I taught him, he was quickly getting there. Give him another five years, and he''d be able to give me a somewhat decent fight.


    I had no doubts in my mind that when he got One For All, he''d be able to use at least 15-25% of its power right off the bat.


    Keiko''s progress was remarkable as well. Due to all her hard work and Izuku''s advice, she''s been able to make fantastic progress with her Quirk. As we suspected, she was now able to use her once-defensive barriers in several offensive and creative ways. She could even manipte a barrier beneath her to allow her to essentially fly around like a hoverboard.


    To add to her Quirk training, I also had her up her speed and strength training as well. I even had her learn Wing Chun as well. I didn''t want her to find herself in a situation where she would be defenseless if her Quirk was somehow unusable or locked away. Her progress in learning the martial art was slow, but she was getting there.


    Finally, my newest mound of y, Hitoshi, was a rather interesting person to train. He was definitely no prodigy in hand-to-handbat or a physical beast. No, he was actually rather slow at learning the things I taught him. However, this didn''t mean he was falling behind.


    No, the purple-haired kid was a hard worker.


    Much like Bruce Lee''s saying goes, Hitoshi didn''t practice 10,000 kicks once; he practiced one kick 10,000 times. I sometimes stuck around after I dismissed everyone and watched as he continued his own training into the wee hours of the night.


    The kid definitely had a heroic spirit. It was just hidden away by his demeanor and mannerisms. That spirit of his would help push him much father than most. Not to mention his rtively strong Quirk.


    Brainwashing.


    In order for his Quirk to work, Hitoshi only needed to have his opponent answer his question once to ensure his victory. So, after much brainstorming between Izuku, Keiko, and I, we all came up with several ways to help Hitoshi improve his meta ability.


    One way was for him to learn how to throw his voice around in order to better trap his opponents to answer him. Another was to have him wear a mask with a voice modtor that would change his voice. This would allow him to confuse and trick his targets into answering him even if they knew how his Quirk worked, which I already had Mei working on a prototype.


    We even tested to see if using a voice recorder with his voice would still activate his Quirk.


    Much like how Inumaki did during the fight against Sukuna in order to freeze the King of Curses just enough to be caught in a Domain.


    And if the mind-controlled Izuku was anything to go off by, it was a resounding sess.


    "Everything hurts..." Keiko muttered as she ced some of the lunch I bought everyone into her mouth. "But this food sorta makes up for it."


    "My legs are still shaking," Hitoshi said as he massaged his aching shins. "I''m gonna feel this in the morning."


    Izuku nodded and swallowed. "Try an ice bath. That helped me during the first few months."


    "Hold on, months?" Hitoshi swallowed as he stared at Izuku and Keiko in horror, who nodded with dead expressions. "What did I get myself into..."


    Grinning, I reached out and patted his shoulder. "You''ll be fine. No pain, no gain, right?"


    "I guess..."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Pain was all I knew."


    "I have nightmares of you, Sou-chan..."


    I chuckled at their pained expressions as I brought out three more packed bowls of food. "You say that now, but look at you three. You two are a lot stronger than you were at the beginning. I''m sure you two will be little monsters once you enter UA." I said to Izuku and Keiko, who blushed at my praise. I then turned to Hitoshi. "And you, Hitoshi. You may have just started, but I''m certain you''ll catch up with them soon. Just keep working hard."


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    "Ah, right," Hitoshi muttered and scooped the remaining food in his bowl into his mouth to hide his red face.


    "Thank you, Souta-san. It''s all thanks to your help." Izuku said with a smile while Keiko nodded in agreement.


    "That''s right, Sou-Chan. We couldn''t have gotten this far without you." Keiko said with a warm smile. "So please continue to look after us."


    "Yeah. You got it."


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+35 SP]</strong>


    Leaning back, I watched them eat with a small, proud smile on my face. Despite the rather greedy origins of how our rtionships started, I was d I decided to help these three out.


    Not only due to the points but also because of the hardships that woulde their way in one year.


    They needed to be ready for what wasing.


    x x x


    "Dig deeper," I said to another me who wasn''t one of my clones or a twice clone. "The energy is there. You just have to grasp it."


    "I''m trying. It''s almost as if it doesn''t want to do what I say." Himiko said in my voice as she tried to bring out the minimal amount of cursed energy within her. Sighing in defeat, she leaned back and stared at the darkening sky. "I''m sorry, Sukuna-kun. I don''t think I can do it. I can use Jin-kun and Kaina-Oneechan''s Quirks just fine, but when ites to your curse energy. It just doesn''t want to listen to me."


    Ignoring how weird it was to hear my voice talk in such a feminine cadence, I nodded and wondered why she couldn''t use CE. She had it within her; at least, her transformed body did, so why couldn''t she use it?


    "Could it have to do with your soul?" I muttered as I remembered how much the soul came into effect within the world of JJK. Could being born with CE be a factor? Did CE have to be an integral part of a person''s being to be used? "How confusing."


    I would know this for sure once I pulled Mahito''s inane technique, Idle Transfiguration, which would allow me to be able to see and manipte a soul. But I hadn''t had much luck at pulling that technique thus far. I could get lucky and pull a skill that would allow me to see a soul, like how Yuji or Sukuna could.


    "I suppose there''s not much we can do," I said as I walked over to Himiko, who was now dissolving away my appearance. I held a hand out to her and lifted her to her feet. Even after she was standing, she held onto my hand with a slight frown.


    "Sorry, I couldn''t use it," Himiko said with disappointment.


    Pulling away, I patted her shoulder with a smile. "It''s fine. I guess I really am the only one who can use CE... At least for now."


    "I guess so."


    Himiko muttered as we made our way toward the main house from our courtyard. Sliding open the shoji door, we came upon a rather amusing sight.


    Jin was currently in a heated debate with Kaina over where arge segment of legos would go while Eri happily built a spaceship of legos. Behind them stood arge box with a picture of a castle.


    "I''m telling you this part goes here!" Jin said as he tried to ce the piece in his hand down onto a half-built foundation. Kaina ced her hand over his face and pushed him back.


    "No, you clown. The instructions says it goes on the other side!"


    "Screw those instructions! Legos are meant for creative freedom!" Jin said as Eri began adding wheels to her spaceship. "See! Look at Eri-chan! She gets it!"


    "Are you blind? It''s supposed to be a castle! Not whatever it is you''re trying to build." Kaina pointed over at the box where the image of a colorful castle sat.


    "What did we walk into?" Himiko asked with a giggle as Kaina threw the instructions into Jin''s face. Causing the man to fall back dramatically.


    "I don''t know," I said as Eri continued to y peacefully while both adults began throwing legos at one another. "But it''s gonna make a great Christmas card."


    I then pulled out my phone and took several photos.


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Blinking tiredly, Aizawa Shota walked through the early morning streets of Musutafu on his way to work.


    ''Hmm, since I have no students to teach. Maybe I''ll take a nap all the way until lunch? Yeah. That sounds good.'' Shota thought as he passed by several people heading to work, school, or early morning runs/walks.


    Due to his status as an underground hero, no one recognized him as a pro hero. Something that he found to bepletely okay. Shota didn''t care much about all the unnecessary attention. This also meant that the majority of the UA student body who weren''t already familiar with him would not be aware he was a teacher.


    <i>"Who''s this bum?"</i>


    <i>"Should we call someone? I mean, he shouldn''t be here, right?"</i>


    <i>"Sir, do you want me to show you the way out?"</i>


    This ended up being the case with the now expelled ss 1-A. Shota didn''t find some of thosements confusing him with a homeless man to be very amusing. So he ended up taking a small amount of joy after he expelled all 20 of his students after finding zero potential in them.


    At some of their crying faces, he did end up feeling slightly bad before getting over it.


    If those kids couldn''t handle something as simple as a Quirk apprehension test, then they would have no chance of surviving the grueling world of pro heroes.


    Even so, all 20 of the students he expelled should be finding out that their expulsion was a ruse sometime today. Hopefully, his "wake-up call" would get them to start taking UA more seriously.


    He was d he was able to talk to Principal Nezu into granting him the ability to expel and re-enroll all of his students. If it weren''t for that, he wouldn''t be able to scare his students straight. It also had the side effect of granting him thergest explosion rate in UA history.


    At least on paper.


    "Maybe I''ll get a coffee," Shota muttered as he came to a stop to watch an alleyway cat jump out of a trash bin with a small piece of meat in its mouth.


    "S-Stop! Help! He stole my purse!"


    Sighing in irritation, Shota looked across the street and watched a tall, hooded man sprinting down the street with a white purse in his arms. Down the sidewalk was a short, older woman with an antenna on her head was desperately looking around for help.


    Several bystanders stood frozen and simply watched as the man ran off. Not a single one of them moved to help or provide any help for the older woman.


    "Just my luck. Crime before my morning coffee." Shota said as he prepared his capture tape. Just as he was about to sprint after the criminal, he noticed two students dressed in UA''s zers in the criminal''s path.


    The taller of the two stepped in front of the criminal with his hands in his pockets and performed a sweeping low kick that sent the hooded man flying through the air. In a snap, the boy snatched the purse right out of the man''s grasp. The student''s unruly ck hair swayed as he stood up and walked over to the downed man, the white purse now in his grasp. The blond girl beside him just watched without worry before walking off down the sidewalk toward the older woman.


    ''Should I step in?'' Shota thought as he grew just close enough to be able to act should things get dangerous, but a small part of him that witnessed the ck-haired boy''s moves stopped him. The way the student moved was quick, wless, and with high precision. ''No, as long as he doesn''t use his Quirk. It should be fine. Let''s see what this kid can do.''


    The hooded man quickly stood up with an angry look on his bird-like face as he noticed the purse he stole was no longer in his possession. Finding it in the young boy''s hand, the criminal moved toward him to take it back with a desperate look.


    What Shota witnessed next was impressive. The boy effortlessly dodged the man''s swiping taloned hands. He then pulled the birdman''s hood over his head, causing him to lean forward. Grabbing the man''s left bicep, the student pulled him in and kicked out his leading leg, effectively tripping him.


    After the man fell onto the ground, the student pulled the thief''s right arm behind his back and pressed his left knee over their wrist. Locking them into ce. The man tried to wrestle his way out of the student''s grip, but it seemed that despite his age and size, the student was much stronger than him.


    "All of that without using his Quirk... At least seemingly." Shota muttered as he watched two police officers jog over to the scene with the blonde girl and older woman trailing behind.


    The officers instructed the student to step away from the thief as they quickly bent down and fastened handcuffs around the man''s wrists. Shota observed as the blonde student helped the elderly woman walk over to where the ck-haired student was.


    Seeing her, he then returned her purse with an easy-going grin. The woman expressed her gratitude to both of them before the officers approached to ask questions about what had urred.


    ''Interesting.'' Shota thought as he turned around and continued on his way to UA. ''I''ll keep an eye out for those two. Especially the one with ck hair. Going off their uniforms, it seems like they''re first-year General Education students. Hmm, I wonder what Quirk he has...''

 Chapter 58: NO. 58 - The Monster

    <h4>Chapter 58: NO. 58 - The Monster</h4>


    Quirk Development and Practical Combat.


    UA offered two Quirk-focused sses for students in General Education, even if they weren''t part of the Hero course. Unlike the Hero course, which included daily Quirk andbat-focused sses, these sses met only once a week, with the Quirk Development and Practical Combat sses alternating with each other.


    This week was the Practical Combat ss, where we were allowed to use our Quirks against one another under the supervision of our teacher, Ectosm.


    "Good work, you two." Ectosm nodded at two of my ssmates. They smiled at the hero''s praise and walked off the training pad. "Okay, you two are next."


    "A-ah, right!"


    "Hah! Get ready to lose!"


    In front of me, a nervous Ogasawara Hikari and a confident Ishimoto Keiichi walked forward and stepped onto the training pad. Looking around, my ss was within one of the somewhat over the top and impressive training rooms south of UA''s campus where all of the practical training took ce.


    Off to the side was an array of workout equipment andbat gear. To the back were several more training pads where the rest of my ssmates were using their Quirks to fight one another with a clone of Ectosm watching over them.


    I focused on the ongoing fight between Himiko and some blue-haired guy who seemed to haverge mechanical boxing gloves over his steel arms. She weaved in and out from her opponent''s jabs with practiced ease, using her great speed and agility. Seeing this, the blue-haired guy, Yamazaki Kazuhiro, began to grow agitated that he couldn''tnd a strike on what he thought was a weak opponent.


    <i>Atta girl.</i>


    Focusing back on the ongoing fight in front of me, I watched Hikari squeak as a brown-haired tiger pounced after her.


    The brown-haired tiger was actually Ishimoto Keiichi.


    His Quirk, Animal Shifter, allowed him to transform into any living animal from the animal kingdom for a solid 60 seconds. The downside to his Quirk was that once transformed, he couldn''t switch to any other animal or change back before the full 60 seconds were up.


    In a rush, Hikari used an ink pen to draw on arge sketch pad. Exploding in a burst of ink from her sketch pad was another tiger made entirely of ink. Seeing this, Keiichi''s eyes grew wide in surprise before the ink tiger pounced on him.


    Hikaris Quirk, Ink to Existence, allowed her to bring anything she could draw to life. Usually, this would be a pretty powerful meta ability, but it seemed that her constructs were only as strong as herself, which ended up being the reason why Keiichi was able to quickly overpower her construct with a swipe of his ws.


    Just as he was about to attack a panicking Hikari, his body transformed back into his human form. Resulting in him being thrown out of the training pad due to being in a mid-lunge.


    "Gah! Dang it!" Keiichi punched the ground in irritation as he turned to a shocked but pleased Hikari. "You just got lucky! Got that?!"


    "...do you happen to be a sore loser, Ishimoto-kun?"


    After they walked off the training pad, Ectosm called my training partner and me up. Strolling over to the pad with my hands in my pockets, I inspected my soon-to-be opponent. She had long orange hair tied into twin tails with ribbons. She was rtively well-developed with a pretty face.


    Her name was Muraoka Kohaku; she was apparently the daughter of some big-time CEO who worked for one of Japan''srgest support gearpanies.


    "Ugh, I can''t believe I have to waste this week''sbat ss on a Normie like you," Kohaku muttered as she gave me the stink eye. With a stomp of her foot, a stone golem rose from the ground and stomped its way over to me. "Ah, well. I''ll just make this quick and move on to my next opponent."


    "Normie?" I said with a raised brow. "That''s a new one."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Seeing the stone golem, Ectosm turned to me with a worried look. "Shimizu-kun, is this an opponent you''refortablebating?"


    "It''s fine, Teach. I took piano and calligraphy growing up." I rolled my shoulders and eyed the Golem with interest.


    <i>Despite her Bitchy attitude, she does have a pretty cool Quirk.</i> I turned to Kohaku and saw a bead of sweat on the side of her face. <i>Hmm, even now, it seems she''s using a good chunk of energy just to keep it standing.</i>


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Ah, very well then...? If you arefortable with this, then you both may begin." Ectosm said as he backed away from the center of the training pad.


    "Behold! The power of my glorious Golem!" Kohaku said with a wide grin as she sent her Golem toward me. Therge stone summons stomped its way over with loud thuds, gaining the attention of our other ssmates who were waiting for their turns. "Punch him!"


    I hopped to the side as the Golem swung itsrge stone arm over where I once stood. Grunting, Kohaku then ordered her Golem to chase after me in order to punch me again.


    <i>This thing doesn''t have the ability to think or act on its own. Its movements are entirely dependent on its master''smands.</i>


    "Hey, Princess. Is this really the best you can do?" I called out as I effortlessly danced around the Golem''s attacks with my hands still in my pockets. Sweating in exertion, Kohaku blushed in embarrassment at my nickname for her as she struggled tomand her to summon to hit me. "I thought one of the ss''s most popr and <i>strong </i>students was capable more than this snooze fest."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "S-shut up!" Kohaku screamed with a red face as she swung her arm in the air. "Crush him! Crush that annoying bug already!"


    At her loudmands, the Golem upped its speed and power. Grinning, I flipped over a low sweep and used its thick arms to run up onto its shoulders. Leaping over it, I looked down at Kohaku''s surprised face and moved right at her. With little issue, I spun around her and mped my hand over her mouth.


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "There we go. No orders, no movement." I said as I watched the stone Golem freeze. "Your loss, <i>Princess</i>," I whispered into her ear, causing her to shiver. I then made a chopping motion over her head and looked over to an impressed Extosm.


    "The match is over. The victory is Shimizu-kun''s."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Letting the fuming rich girl go, I watched as her stone Golem crumbled into rubble. If only Kohaku were able to get around the limitations of her Quirk, she would be a pretty formidable opponent.


    <strong>[5x10 = +50 SP]</strong>


    "Shit. Again? How is he doing that?"


    "For a Quirkless guy, he''s somehow able to win every match. You think he''s cheating?"


    "Nah. My brother is a ck belt in karate, so I can tell Shimizu is a very proficient fighter. He''s just <i>that </i>good."


    I funneled out my ssmates''ments and turned to Kohaku, who was angry and blushing. She stomped in front of me and pointed a finger at my face.


    "How rude."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    "Rude?!" She roared. "How dare you touch my l-lips like that! How am I supposed to find a suitable husband after having my lips smothered by you? Hear me, I will win our next match! That I swear, Shimizu!"


    "What happened to Normie?" I tilted my head and pushed her finger away. Kohaku looked away and began walking off.


    "...I never called you that."


    "Hmm, if you say so."


    "Hey... <i>Souta-kun</i>." Himiko said in a low voice as she leaned her chin on my left shoulder. Her eyes were closed while a wide, tight smile spread over her face. "You''re not bing one of <i>those </i>guys, are you now?"


    <i>What did I do? Wait, what does she mean by </i>those guys<i>?</i>


    "...no?" I muttered as I looked over where Kazuhiroy unconscious and surrounded by a few of our fellow ssmates. At my answer, her somehow glowing eyes stared into my soul.


    "Great!"


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "In there. Move it."


    Dressed in a blue two-piece jumpsuit, Shuji Saito stepped through the door one of the Detention Center''s guards held open. Walking inside the small room, Saito saw a well-dressed man sitting behind the room''s lone bolted-down table.


    Hearing the room door close, the man dressed in a tan three-piece suit looked up and noticed his client''s arrival.


    "Ah! Saito-kun! I''ve been waiting so long to meet you finally!" Standing up, the man walked over and shook Saito''s hand. "My name is Gakiya S¨­ru."


    "Who are you?" Staring at the man in confusion, Saito looked at the briefcase and stacked documents on the table. Grinning, S¨­ru patted Saito''s shoulders and led him to a chair.


    "Of course! You must have no idea who I am. But worry not, I know all about you, my boy!" S¨­ru said as he sat down in front of Saito. Grabbing a folder from his briefcase, S¨­ru flipped through several pages andnded on one specific document. "Let''s see... lying to the police, conspiracy, defamation, and the cherry on top, assault. Those are some grave crimes, my boy. Fortunately, you have one of Japan''s finest criminalwyers on your side."


    "Lawyer? You''re mywyer?" Saito blinked in confusion as he stared at S¨­ru with hope. "Did my parents hire you? I knew they hadn''t given up on me! Are you going to help me get out of here?!"


    "Indeed I am! I''ve been working day and night to get you out of this dump for several weeks. A good student such as yourself doesn''t belong here, right?"


    "Y-yeah! that''s right! You see, this wasn''t my fault. This was all Toga-" Before Saito could finish, he felt the temperature in the room plummet.


    S¨­ru''s once friendly and happy demeanor was nowhere to be seen. Standing up, he walked around the table and leaned to the side. Standing in front of the room''s lone hidden camera in the top corner.


    "It seems you''ve forgotten, Saito-kun," S¨­ru whispered with a small smile. "Betraying your word to <i>that</i> man won''t end well for you. Or your family... Or have you forgotten?"


    Leaning back in his chair in terror, Saito stared into S¨­ru''s frigid brown eyes. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Saito shook his head.


    "You''re with <i>him</i>..." Saito whispered.


    Nodding, S¨­ru''s cold expression immediately transformed. Arge, easy-going smile spread across his face as his demeanor shifted into a more friendly tone.


    "That''s great!" S¨­ru said with a cherry tone. "I''m d we''re on the same page now, my boy! Now then, let''s talk about getting you out of here!"


    Forcing a smile, Saito nodded and listened as S¨­ru walked him through everything he''d done to get him released.


    The older, brown-haired man spoke about his talks with the judge and how Toga Himiko made a case for his release, shocking the young man. Thanks to the victim of the attack being willing to forgive his actions, the not-so-corrupt judge was willing to lessen Saito''s punishment.


    Instead of finishing his sentence for his crimes, he would now be released on parole while performingmunity service. Usually, overturning a case like this would be unthinkable in a country like Japan. But thanks to the corrupt judge, the new ruling went unimpeded.


    "Is this really happening? I can... go home now?" Saito muttered in a daze.


    Giving the boy a slight nod, S¨­ru smiled and returned all his documents to his briefcase. "Yes, this is really happening. We should be able to get you and young Sayaka out as well. Kids with bright futures like yourselves deserve a second chance. We should be able to get you released in another two weeks. So please be patient, Saito-kun."


    "No way, Sayaka-chan as well. I can''t believe it." Saito said with tears in his eyes.


    With his piece said, S¨­ru stood up and went to the door. Saito turned to him and bowed his head in a burst of happiness.


    "Thank you, Gakiya-san! Truly!"


    Pausing, S¨­ru smiled slightly. "Don''t thank me. This was all thanks to <i>him</i>."


    Hearing the man''s cold voice return, Saito''s glee subsided slightly. He was again reminded that his freedom was only thanks to the man who ruined him.


    "...right."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    "Gah! Damn it. This guy''s tough." A man dressed in a feathered cape with a jumpsuit with arge N on its chest said as he picked himself up after being punched. This was the pro-hero Native. "But as a pro, I can''t let these guys win."


    "You hear that, Bro? The big ol hero thinks he''s going to win,"


    Two men stood across from the pro hero, wearing amused smiles as they observed Native wiping the blood from his injured lip. The man on the left had shiny, reflective skin with a metallic sheen and sharp, serrated teeth. On the right, another man with long, dirty blond hair flexed his arms, causing his muscles to bulge and pulse.


    "Whatever, let''s just kick his ass so we can get out of here." The dirty blond said as he and his partner approached the injured hero.


    Up above on the rooftops, I watched the ratherckluster battle between Native and the two thugs unfold with a bored look as I chewed on some Tokoyaki.


    "How boring," I said as I finished myst octopus ball. Sliding down my four-eyed mask, I stood up and jumped away from the snoozefest of a fight. "Let''s go see if I can''t find another fight."


    Leaping over the city rooftops, I scanned the streets and sights below with steady eyes. Landing on an empty bridge, I paused as I felt a disturbance in the air to my right. Focusing, I noticed a speeding blur of ck flying right at me.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    With a hop, I flew ck as arge, winged creature with an exposed brain crashed straight through the bridge. Shattering and destroying the structure with ease and causing the nearby people below to panic at the sight of the creature.


    "What is that thing!"


    "Someone call a hero!"


    "A monster!"


    With a swing of its massive hands, the <i>Nomu </i>blew the dust cloud around it and turned to me as Inded on the road in front of it. Everyone ran around me, screaming as therge Nomu lumbered across from me.


    The Nomu stood around 2.5 meters tall and was heavily muscled. Its dark skin was marked by several prominent scars. On its back were wide, dragon-like wings, and its dinosaur-like feet cracked the pavement beneath its weight. It wore a pair of pants over its lower half. The creature''s long fingers ended in sharp steel ws that dragged along the ground, leaving thin gouges in their wake. Its bird-like snout stretched out, filled with rows of sharp teeth as it let out a low growl.


    <strong>[IMAGE]</strong>


    <i>I don''t recognize this one... no, wait. It sorta resembles the Nomu that fought All Might during the USJ incident!</i>


    From underneath my mask, I looked around the surrounding rooftops and buildings. Despite my search, I failed to see any signs of Kurogiri or Shigiraki.


    "Hey, ugly," I called out to the Nomu. "Where''s the one holding your leash?"


    With a ss-shattering roar, the Nomu exploded toward me with incredible speed. The creature swiped one of itsrge arms at me and tried to slice my head to pieces.


    <i>If it''s like the one that fought against All Might during the USJ incident, then it should have a shock absorption Quirk. Let''s see how it handles against my slices!</i>


    "Dismantle."


    I swiped my hand down and watched as the Nomu''s arm was sliced into several bloody parts. Ignoring the loss of its limb, the Nomu''s head snapped toward me and bit its teeth at me. Weaving around its slobbering jaws, I swung my CE-enhanced fist andnded an uppercut into the bottom of its jaw with Ratio.


    "Grah!" The Nomu groaned as its head snapped back violently before its body followed suit. Spinning in the air, the Nomu crashnded on a parked car.


    <i>That attack didn''t do much damage. The most it did was send it flying back.</i>


    "W-what is that?!" A woman dressed in a business suit cried as she and several other nearby people freaked out at the sight of the monstrous bloody Nomu.


    "You''re a tough son of a bitch." Inded on a nearby traffic pole and watched as the Nomu''s missing arm slowly regenerated. Rolling off the ruined car, the Nomu searched the street before its nose sniffed the air. Its head then jerked to my position with a roar. "Healing, animal-like senses, strength, durability, flight, speed, and who knows what else."


    Stepping off the traffic pole, I grinned at the beast and rolled my neck.


    "Good. This wouldn''t be interesting if you weren''t at least this strong."


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Happy Holidays, everyone. </strong>


    <strong>I wasn''t going to draw a visual for the Nomu at first, but I decided to do it anyway as a gift for you all!</strong>


    <strong>Please leave me plenty ofments!</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 59: NO. 59 - The Number Two

    <h4>Chapter 59: NO. 59 - The Number Two</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Walking down the busy sidewalk, three fashionably dressed girls strolled, theirughter ringing out like music amidst the urban noise. They wore high-waisted jeans with crop tops and oversized jackets.


    "Did you see thetest episode? I can''t believe what happened!" One of the girls, Suzuki, gushed, her lengthy hair bouncing as she animatedly gestured with her hands.


    "I know, right?" From beside her, a second girl, Kajiwara, replied, flipping her sleek ponytail. "That plot twist was everything. I''m still not over it."


    As they passed a trendy caf¨¦, Utsushimi Camie, a member of the three girls, paused momentarily, taking a quick selfie with her friends in the background. "This is going straight to my Insta feed!" she dered, adjusting her sunsses. The other two posed dramatically, yfully rolling their eyes but secretly loving the attention.


    Just as Camie was about to post her picture online, a loud explosion down the street stole their attention. Like a chemical reaction, everyone who was once walking without care began to panic and scream. Camie and her friends remained still due to the sudden ball of fire that erupted from a ck monstrous creature punching a parked car.


    "W-what is that?!" Kajiwara screeched as she grabbed onto Camie''s arm. "A monster!"


    "It''s like, totes ugly," Camie said calmly; however, her legs shook as the winged creature released a roar and lifted the remaining pieces of the car. Its head seemed to scan the air and growled.


    With a throw, the monster threw both halves of the ming vehicle toward Camie and her two friends, causing the three to scream in terror.


    "That won''t do."


    Camie watched with wide eyes as the ming vehicle was sliced to pieces. Landing in front of three, a ck hooded figure wearing a mask aimed his right hand at the iing beast. In an instant, severalrge cuts appeared over the Nomu''s body. Sending blood gushing onto the street.


    Turning to them, Sukuna waved them off like they were pests.


    "What are you wastes of space still doing here? Get out of my sight." Raising his hand, he then flicked his finger at them. Causing a burst of strong wind to blow them back.


    This jolted the girls to snap out of their stupified daze, and they began running away. As she ran, Camie turned back and watched as the masked man who saved her life effortlessly jumped around the monster''s unrelenting attacks.


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    <i>I''ve been fighting this thing for over 5 minutes now, and I haven''t gotten a single point. Howme.</i>


    Sliding under a wild haymaker, I grinned at the Nomu''s crazed swings. Moving in, I ced my palm on its stomach and unleashed several Cleave attacks. A spider web array of slices spread over the Nomu''s torso as its blood sttered in front of me. Ignoring its injuries, the Nomu grabbed me by my shoulders with itsrge hands.


    "Don''t touch me."


    <i>Shlik!</i>


    The Nomu growled as its arms were ripped to ribbons. Landing on the ground, I leaped up and kicked it across its face with a loud crack. The gically modified creature crashed through the wall of the bookstore to our left, sending bricks and debris everywhere. The people who were hiding within the bookstore all screamed and ran away once their eyesnded on the healing Nomu.


    Reaching down, the Nomu grabbed arge chunk of the broken wall and threw it at me. Moving to the side, I dodged the thrown wall and tilted my head back as its ws sliced through the air. Blurring right above it, I drove my fist into the side of its brain. Sending it flying back. Despite the high level of strength I put behind my punch, the Nomu righted its body and nted its feet onto the ground.


    "You''re durable to physical blows," I muttered and swiped my fingers to the side. A long, deep sh ripped across the Nomu''s body as it stumbled back. "But against my shes, that durability of yours is pretty weak."


    Seeing the Nomu blur away, I raised my hands up and caught its powerful right elbow strike. Due to the force, I flew back through the city street. Spinning midair, Inded on the pavement and used Dismantle to skate along the street. The Nomu growled as it chased after me. Seeing the abandoned vehicles around it, it began to chuck them at me effortlessly. Seeing the cars fly right at me, I gracefully slid in and out from their trajectories.


    "At my current level. You''re not much of a threat." I said as I jumped to the side as the Nomu mmed its left fist onto the ground. Shattering the street and breaking the surrounding windows. "Still, from everything I''ve seen. You''re much more powerful than the Nomus Endeavor and All Might fought in the original timeline... I wonder how they would do against you."


    The Nomu before me growled in anger at the fact it continued to fail tond a blow on me. Turning to me, it opened itsrge maw, and a ball of blue energy began to form in front of it.


    "That''s new."


    Dashing to the side, I watched as a bright beam of energy shot through the building in front of me. The beam''s loud screeching noise filled the air, causing all those still around us to cover their ears. The beam slowly began to fizzle out until steam flowed out of the Nomu''s mouth.


    "Not bad!" I yelled as I moved in to strike the Nomu''s chest with Ratio. The creature groaned as its body snapped back from the critical blow. "What else did they shove into you?!"


    The Nomu had no chance to reply as I punched and kicked its body down the street with Ratio. The people who hadn''t yet managed to escape all screamed and moved out of our way in order to not be crushed. Growing fed up, The Nomu tried to skewer me with its ws, but it watched dumbly as its ws were sliced off. Reaching up, I grabbed its bottom jaw and pulled my right arm back.


    "ck <strong>sh</strong>!"


    <i>Wham!</i>


    Combining the sparks of ck with my Ratio technique, the Nomu shot straight up into the sky with a resounding crack that shook the streets. Its spinning body crashed through a tall building that was in its path.


    Jumping after it, I turned to my right and swiped my arm to the side. Unleashing a Dismantle on a fast-approaching fireball the size of a small house. Sighing in irritation, Inded on a nearby rooftop and looked up, where a flying Endeavor red down at me.


    <i>Fuck, the heroes are here.</i>


    Standing all around me were several more heroes, most likely his sidekicks, with their Quirks primed and ready to be used. I looked them over and found Burnin among them, a confident look on her masked face.


    "Sukuna!" Endeavor yelled out with a frown. "I suggest you turn yourself in now while you have the chance."


    <i>Even so, I was wondering when I would run into you, Number Two.</i>


    I turned my head back up to the ming man and shook my head. "If it isn''t the number two hero himself. Domestic Abuse Man! Tell me, <i>Hero</i>, what are you going to do about <i>that</i>?"


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    ring at me in anger and confusion, Endeavor turned just in time as the Nomu flew right toward him with its ws aimed straight at his chest.


    <i>Let''s see how well you do, Number Two.</i>


    <i>x x x</i>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Raising his ming hands up out of instinct and several years of experience, Endeavor used a wall of fire to push back the iing Nomu. His intense mes caused the beast to growl in anger as it was blocked from reaching its actual target.


    "What is this creature?" Endeavor said as he looked over the Nomu''s monstrous body. The injuries left from his powerful mes were quickly healing. "Are you working with Sukuna!?"


    Hearing its target''s name, the Nomu sted forward with a mighty p of its wings. Seeing the creature moving toward him again, Endeavor propelled himself forward with his mes and charged his right arm with fire.


    "sh Fire Fist!" Endeavor yelled and punched the Nomu across the face, causing arge burst of fire to explode over the bio-engineered beast.


    Grinning, Endeavor pulled his arm back, but he quickly moved to the side as the Nomu burst through the roaring mes. Due to the heat, the Nomu''s sharp metallic ws melted off its fingertips. Undeterred, the beast made a fist and swung a powerful punch into Endeavor''s stomach. Moving quickly, Endeavor raised his arms and used a wave of fire to help absorb the punch''s strength.


    "Agh!" Endeavor grunted as the Nomu''s fistunched him down the chaotic streets below. With a burst of fire, he slowed his descent and slid back along the road. Looking down, the Number Two hero watched as his arms shook. "Even after dampening his punch, that thing still managed to hit me with this much power... I can''t afford to be hit straight on."


    <i>Crack!</i>


    As the Nomunded down the street, it red at Endeavor. Its burns finally healed. In its mind, the Nomu reasoned that the man before it would try to stop it from reaching its true target. To aplish its mission, the Nomu needed to swiftly eliminate the ming man before moving on to its intended victim.


    ''A strong regenerative Quirk and strength. By the looks of it, this thing seems to have several more abilities as well. Taking it in alive may not be an option.'' Endeavor thought, taking a calming breath. The Nomu roared and rushed him. "In other words, I can''t afford to hold back!"


    x x x


    Kamiji Moe, the pro Hero Burnin, watched Sukuna weave in and out of her fellow sidekick''s attack with incredible ease. Strewn all over the rooftops were more than 20 of Endeavors sidekicks. Their forms were battered and beaten, but fortunately, they were all still breathing.


    ''I can''t believe it. He took them all down with such ease!'' Burnin thought with clenched teeth. Her original confidence was long gone. ''We don''t stand a chance! Is this really the same guy who stepped in to save Fuyumi and Natsuo?!"


    "Now, now. Don''t be so hasty." Sukuna mocked as he flipped over Onima''s wide punch. With a flick, Sukuna sent Onima crashing harshly against the floor. Knocking him out. "Is that all you sidekicks got? How dissapointing."


    A man wrapped in bandages and a purple k jacket moved behind Sukuna without a word. Reaching into one of his k jacket''s many pockets, Kido pulled out several blue balls and threw them at Sukuna.


    The balls themselves were capture support items. Once they made an impact with their target, they would explode and release a thick goey material that would quickly solidify and restrict the movements of whoever was caught.


    Turning his head slightly, Sukuna swiped a finger to the side, and all ten capture items were sliced apart, causing them to explode.


    "What was that?!" Kido said as he was suddenly pushed forward into the raining goo by some invisible force. The force was a small green toad, Shikigami, with little white wings on its back. Seeing himself caught in his trap, Kido tried to remove the goey material, but his body ended up trapped within its confines.


    Sukuna walked toward Kito with a raised arm but suddenly moved back to avoid a ball of green fire that zed past him. Turning, the King of Curses saw Burnin reach up and remove another ball of mes from her flowing hair.


    "Get away from him!" Burnin yelled as she threw away her current doubts and fears and flew toward Sukuna using her Quirk. Reaching up, she pulled out two long ming swords from her hair and swiped at Sukuna. "I''ll stop you!"


    "How cute. You think you''re a threat."


    Sukuna and Burnin moved in and out along the battered rooftop as she shed and swiped at him with her ming swords. With each swing, Burnin grew increasingly angry and helpless as she noticed that Sukuna''s full attention wasn''t even on her. No, his primary focus was on the ongoing battle between Endeavor and the Nomu down below.


    ''He''s ying with me!'' Burnin thought in despair as she swiped her ming sword at Sukuna''s head. Only for the man to weave under it with ease. ''How! How is he so strong?!'' Burnin thought as shebined both swords into onerge de of fire.


    Thrusting forward, she watched as Sukuna swiped a finger across the air. Inexplicably, herrge me sword broke apart into useless embers. "H-how?"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I grow tired of this," Sukuna said as he appeared in front of her. Burnin tried to jump back, but Sukuna grabbed her wrists and held her in ce. "I expected more out of Endeavor''s Sidekicks. But in the end, you''re all so <strong>weak</strong>."


    "You won''t get away with everything you''ve done, Villian!" Burnin yelled as she tried to pull away from his grip but failed to do so due to his great strength. "Once Endeavor defeats that thing, he''lle and stop you!"


    "I''m counting on that," Sukuna said as he finally let her go. Moving too fast for her to see, he struck her straight in the stomach. "Now go to sleep."


    Falling forward onto the ground, Burnin watched as Sukuna walked over to the edge of the roof to watch the ongoing bursts and shes of fire down below. Before her conscience left her, Moe red at Sukuna one final time before she fell unconscious.

 Chapter 60: NO. 60 - True Firepower

    <h4>Chapter 60: NO. 60 - True Firepower</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "Tch! How annoying."


    Mirko red at therge shark man she had beaten in less than a minute being cuffed by two police officers. Off to the side, three broken cash registers sat on the side of the road as excited and curious bystanders watched the ongoing arrest.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Good work, Mirko. Impressive as always." One of the officers said as she secretly fangirled over the rabbit-themed hero.


    "Yeah, yeah. It was nothing." Mirko said as she threw her hair back. ''This guy couldn''t even get my blood flowing. What a disappointment!'' She thought.


    Once the officers had everything under control, Mirko waved goodbye to some of the excited bystanders and leaped up onto the nearest rooftop. From there, she used her powerful legs and incredible jumping ability to continue her patrol through the city.


    "What a bunch of weaklings! I need a good challenge! I haven''t had a good fight ever since... ever since <i>him</i>!" Mirko growled out as she came to a stop on a rooftop water tank. "Damn, Sukuna. Just wait. I''ll kick your ass, and I''ll show you just which of us is the stronger fighter."


    Ever since her fight with the King of Curses, Mirko couldn''t stop thinking and reying their fight in her mind every day. There must have been a way to beat him that she didn''t think of at the time.


    With that in mind, she pushed herself to train even harder than before. Mirko was fully confident that her newly grown strength would help her beat Sukuna in their rematch.


    That was her belief until the revtion she and everyone else on the Task Force heard regarding Sukuna.


    If the reports of him being the reason for the utter destruction that urred in the Florrum Ward were to be believed, then her or anyone else''s chances of defeating him were doubtful.


    "Bah! I''ll believe he''s as strong as they say once I see it with my own eyes!" Mirko said with a confident smile. cing her hands on her hips, she eyed the streets below before her cell phone began to ring. "Make it quick, Erasure Head."


    "Mirko. Where are you?!" Erasure Head''s voice was strained. Raising an eyebrow, she looked up at the starry night sky.


    "I''m in Osaka. Why?"


    "Good, You''re close by. Sukuna is in Wakayama! Endeavor is currently on the scene, but we need to move fast. How fast-"


    "I''m on my way!" Mirko yelled and abruptly hung up.


    Flexing her thighs, she exploded off toward the direction Erasure Head said Sukuna was in with as much speed as she could muster. As she ran, a wide, excited smile grew over her face.


    "Hah! Just you wait, Sukuna! I''ll kick your ass!"


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    "Hell Spider!"


    I leaned to the side as several long tendrils of pure fire sliced across the streets below. The tendrils moved quickly and cut clean through some of the surrounding buildings. However, I noticed that Endeavor''s attack had been focused and restrained to avoid causing too much coteral damage in his attempt to take out the Nomu.


    <i>No wonder I pay so much in taxes. A lot of it goes into fixing the damage these heroes do. Then again, I did fuck up a good chunk of the Florrum Ward... </i>


    In the ruined city streets below, the massive, monstrous Nomu swiftly evaded Endeavor''s attack. Charging forward, the Nomu tackled the Number Two hero, knocking him back. Endeavor grunted in pain as he was thrown across the street, his body crashing into a damaged vehicle.


    Despite his umted injuries from his long, drawn-out fight with the Nomu, Endeavor pushed himself back up and red at the beast.


    "He won''tst much longer at this rate." I leaped through the air andnded on a different rooftop to get a better view of the fight. "It doesn''t help that he''s holding back due to being so close to so many buildings and people."


    Scanning the environment, I saw several people who, for some reason, hadn''t evacuated. They were all watching the violent fight with wide, excited eyes. Some were even recording it as well.


    "Idiots. One slip up, and they could get killed getting caught in the crossfire." I muttered and debated whether I should help Endeavor out or not. "Not yet. I wanna see how far the Nomu can push this Endeavor."


    "You damn beast." Endeavor said as he ignited his right arm with roaring mes. "How is it you''re that much stronger and faster than me!"


    With a twist of his hips, Endeavorunched a st of intense mes at the Nomu. Seeing the iing attack, the Nomu opened its mouth and unleashed its own energy st into the beam of mes.


    When both attacks met in the center, a bright sh of light illuminated the entire area. Squinting, I watched as both Endeavor and the Nomu tried to overpower each other.


    "I won''t let myself lose to you!" Endeavor yelled as his feet began to slide back from the intense gusts of wind caused by their shing attacks. "shfire Fist!"


    With a loud yell, steam flew all around Endeavor as he increased the power of his attack. His beam of fire swelled and burst with high intensity as it quickly overpowered the Nomu''s attack. In a sh of bright light, the Nomu''s body was sted back into a building. Resulting in the building copsing over its burnt remains.


    Panting in exhaustion, the mes around Endeavor slowly began to decrease in size until they were only small embers. Falling to a knee, steam and smoke rose around him as his battered body reached its limits.


    "Not bad." I pped my hands, gaining Endeavor''s attention from down below. I looked down the hot, searing street where several scattered fires burned. "You have some amazing control over your Quirk. Still, you should have let everything you had loose."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "What are you talking about-"


    Exploding from underneath therge piles of rubble, a quickly healing Nomu rose to its full height. Bone, flesh, and skin regrew back as its newly regenerated wings pped. Once its head was back in ce, the Nomu threw its head back and released an ear-splitting roar.


    "It can''t be!" Endeavor muttered in shock as the Nomu turned its attention to him. "Nothing could have survived that attack!"


    Landing in front of the spent hero, I slid my hands into my pocket and motioned to the bio-engineered beast. "That thing did." Raising my mask above my mouth, small tattoos appeared at the sides of my mouth. "Don''t<i> move!</i>"


    Inumaki Toge''s cursed technique, Cursed Speech, allows its user to reinforce their words using cursed energy at their opponent. Whatever the user says willpel their target to act or be acted upon based on those words spoken.


    A rather simple technique but <i>extremely</i> powerful under the right user.


    However, like most cursed techniques, overusing Cursed Speech takes a physical toll on the user''s body. The stronger the words used, the worse the side effects are. In the worst-case scenario, cursed speech could backfire on the user and result in sore throats, coughing up blood, and/or losing the ability to speak.


    But thanks to RCT, those drawbacks are reduced to a minor inconvenience.


    Another drawback of using Cursed Speech in a worldcking in CE is that I have to use double the amount of CE in order for the technique to work. However, thanks to my veryrge reserves, that issue has been rendered a minor hindrance.


    Immediately, the Nomu before me came to aplete stop. Its limbs were seemingly frozen as it remained rooted in ce. From behind me, Endeavor''s eyes grew wide as he also froze from hearing me speak. After healing my injured throat with RCT, I slid my mask back down and turned to Endeavor.


    "Watch, Endeavor. I''ll show you what true <i>firepower </i>looks like." Walking forward slightly, I stared at the Nomu and grinned. "<strong><i>Open</i></strong>."


    Reaching out, I opened my palm and watched as a long stream of mes danced in front of me.


    <strong>[+50 SP]</strong>


    "...mes?" Endeavor managed to whisper through his slightly open mouth.


    Holding my arms forward, I brought my hands together and concentrated on igniting my mes. As I spread my arms apart, a thick stream of fire began to dance between my palms. Then, bringing them back together swiftly, I grabbed one end of the mes with my right hand and pulled.


    "This was fun, but I''ve grown bored of you," I said to the Nomu as I held my Divine Arrow beside me. "Now... begone."


    <i>FWISH!!</i>


    Letting go, I watched my arrow strike true and detonate once it reached the Nomu. An immense st of heat exploded from the Nomu as my attack caused a bright orange light to bathe the city in its glow.


    Once the light died down, the Nomu kneeled over. Its burning body slowly began to disintegrate into charred pieces of rock and dust. The only proof of the beast''s existence was therge pile of burning ck powder where it once stood.


    Turning to a shocked, unmoving Endeavor, I walked toward him and stood over him with my hands in my pockets.


    <strong>[+150 SP]</strong>


    "Now then, what should I do with you?"


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Standing on an isted rooftop a few kilometers away from where Sukuna and Endeavor were, a tall man dressed in a suit and wearing a ck mechanical mask observed the King of Curses as he stood over Endeavor with a pleased grin.


    "Excellent. You''ve exceeded my expectations, Sukuna! While the loss of the Nomu is regrettable, the information I gained from watching over you is invaluable." All For One said as his head turned to watch several iing figures approaching Sukuna''s position. "Interesting. How will you handle this development?"


    All For One turned to a young man with messy, grayish-blue hair of varying lengths. He wore ck pants and a long-sleeved ck shirt paired with red shoes. The most notable feature of the young man was a disembodied hand covering his face, obscuring most of his features except for his red eyes.


    "Be sure to watch and learn, Tomura. This person may one day be a useful ally to your cause."


    "...yes, Sensei."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    "Get away from him!"


    I watched as several strands of fiber wrapped around me. With a sudden pull, my body was lifted into the air, leaving me suspended. Quickly, dozens more strands began to encircle my limbs, effectively trapping me in ce.


    <i>Hoh? What do we have here?</i>


    I looked over to my right and watched as Best Jeanist held his hand up. In his grasp were dozens of fiber strands. Behind him, Edgeshot and Crust watched me closely and carefully.


    "Sukuna." Best Jeanist said with a tone of finality. "Your reign of evil stops tonight."


    "Is that so?" I muttered as I <i>tried</i> to escape. Or at least, I made a show of trying. "These are some mighty strong fibers. It seems I''ve been caught."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    Rushing beside Endeavor, Ingenium came to a stop and checked over the Number Two hero. "Endeavor! Are you okay?!"


    "I''m fine!"


    Growling in irritation, Endeavor felt control over his body return to him. With a grunt of exertion, he slowly stood up. He looked over to the rooftops and saw no sign of his Sidekicks. "What of my sidekicks?" He said as he quickly turned to me, his eyes full of caution despite my apparent capture.


    "Midnight is currently checking them over. Thankfully, it seems that they''re all alive. Just knocked out." Ingenium said as he turned to me. "...so that''s Sukuna. I didn''t think it would have been this easy to capture him."


    "Capture me?" I said mockingly. Slowly, I began tough in amusement, gaining confused and suspicious looks from the heroes. Hearing myugh, Endeavor gritted his teeth and forced his mes back on. "How amusing! Do you think <i>this</i> is enough to stop me?!


    In a split second, all the fibers holding me in ce were ripped to shreds. Landing on the ground, I swiped my hand through the air and watched as an extended, shallow cut appeared over Best Jeanist''s chest. The cut was not shallow due to Jeanist''s durability; it was shallow due to the fact that I had held back on that attack. Shocking everyone but Endeavor.


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+35 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+40 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    "Jeanist!!" Crust, Ingenium, and Edgeshot yelled in concern as they watched Best Jeanist stumble back and grab his bleeding wound.


    "Come on heroes. Show me what you can do." I said as I motioned them to attack me with a grin. "Come at me!"


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Quick question that''s not rted to my story, do any of you have any good story rmendations? I''ve been looking for some but they''re all ratherckluster. Also if any of you know any good Manhwas, leave me their titles.</strong>


    <strong>Other than that, I''ll see you all next time!</strong>

 Chapter 61: NO. 61 - Heroic Beatdown

    <h4>Chapter 61: NO. 61 - Heroic Beatdown</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Kamihara Shinya, or Edgeshot, growled and shot toward Sukuna. Seeing his longtime friend, Best Jeanist, be so ruthlessly attacked had made him angry. It was only thanks to his many years as a Pro Hero that he was able to cool his head just enough not to act irrationally.


    "Spiral Spear Hand!"


    ttening and twisting his body into a sharp string, Edgeshot burst straight at the waiting Sukuna with blinding speed.


    From behind his mask, Sukuna grinned and snapped his hand out, grabbing Edgehots thin form. ''He-He grabbed me?!'' The hero screamed in his head as Sukuna used his <i>body </i>to block one of Ingenium''s flying kicks.


    "Ah! Sorry, Edgeshot!" Ingenium yelled and hopped back, fearing he may force Sukuna to do something rash with Edgeshot within his grasp.


    "I wonder... what would happen if I ripped you apart as you are now," Sukuna said as he stared at Edgeshot''s thin form.


    Seeing something fast approaching, Sukuna released Edgeshot and dodged arge flying object. Hopping back, the King of Curses watched as Crust ran toward him with his arm cocked back. Upon release, the Prounched another chunk of his Shield-based Quirk at Sukuna.


    Swiping his finger to the side, Sukuna managed to easily rip apart Crust''s attack.


    "Recipro Burst!"


    A st of intense fire burst out of the engines from Igenium''s elbows, sting him forward with incredible speed. Reaching Sukuna in a blink, the Turbo Hero threw out a powerful kick that would have pushed Sukuna back were it not for him spinning around Ingenium.


    "Unfortunately, you don''t seem to be able to change directions. Can you, Ingenium?" Sukuna taunted as he watched Ingenium try to slow himself down to a stop down the battered street.


    Feeling a burst of heat from behind him, Sukuna turned and saw Endeavorunch a st of mes at him. Unlike before, the man''s mes were smaller andcked the same intensity from his fight with the Nomu.


    pping his hands in front of him, Sukuna sent a Dismantle toward the fire, splitting the st into two separate waves of mes. As the mes flew past him, Sukuna saw several dozen thin fibers fly toward him in an effort to trap him.


    Sighing in annoyance, he released several sh attacks through the air that ripped apart Jeanist''s threads. The hero ignored his bleeding chest as he swung his arms to the side to unleash several more strands onto Sukuna. At the next moment, Sukuna blurred away and reappeared on Jeanist''s right side. Shocking the man.


    ''Such speed!'' Best Jeanist thought as he tried to move away.


    "You bore me," Sukuna muttered as he punched Best Jeanist on the side of his stomach, directly over his liver, with his technique, Ratio.


    Best Jeanist''s eyes grew wide as his body wasunched across the street violently.


    Rolling to a stop, Best Jeanist''s wide eyes stared up nkly into the night sky as he took slow, shallow breaths.


    x x x


    "Dude! Are you getting all this?!"


    A spiky-haired blonde teenager said as he watched the ongoing fight down the ruined road. He was dressed in an orange and ck hoodie as he hovered over his ck-haired friend, who was wearing a high-cored blue shirt.


    "Yeah, man! We''re going viral!" The young ck-haired boy said as he held up his phone to record the battle. On his screen in the top right corner was a number showing off over 5 million viewers tuning in to watch the intense fight between several of Japan''s top heroes and the mysterious masked man.


    Off behind them, a pink-haired girl shook as her shoulder-length hair continued producing cherry blossom petals due to her Quirk. "Guys, I think we need to get out of here before we fucking die!"


    "Nah, we''ll be fine."


    x x x


    "Jeanist!" Edgeshot yelled and ran right at Sukuna. Spreading his arms out, Edgeshot sent several kunai at Sukuna. Before they could reach him, the weapons were all torn to shreds. ring at the King of Curses, Edgeshot transformed his body into a thin strand and flew toward Sukuna''s chest. Hoping to pierce the masked man''s lungs in order to incapacitate him.


    "<strong>Sleep</strong>."


    Raising his mask slightly, Sukuna used Cursed Speech at Edgeshot. The Ninja Hero''s small eyes grew wide before his long, thin body fell onto the ground in a heap of string. Quickly, Edgeshot fell into a peaceful slumber on the pavement.


    "Sukuna... what a powerful foe," Crust muttered as he and Ingenium looked over at their unconsciousrades. Crust then looked over at Endeavor''s form and noticed the man''s normallyrge mes were now much smaller. Steam rose over the Number Two''s body as he red at Sukuna. ''It seems that Endeavor is running on fumes. To think that Sukuna had pushed the Number Two hero so far.'' Crust thought.


    Suddenly, arge gust of pink gas gathered around Sukuna. Looking down, Sukuna tilted his head as the gas quickly rose up until he finally took a breath.


    "Nighty night, King of Curses. This is it for you." The R-rated Hero, Midnight, said in a sultry voice as she held her costumes thin, torn off the fabric in her hand, exposing arge part of her shoulder and arm as she walked out from behind a building corner. At the sight of Sukuna''s still-standing body, Midnight froze as the masked man began to chuckle.


    ''It can''t be!'' Midnight thought.


    "Midnight. You''re here too?" Sukuna said as he swiped his arm through the air, sending her Quirk''s sleeping gas away from him with a mighty gust of wind. "Unfortunately for you, your Quirk is useless against me."


    "You gotta be kidding me!" Midnight hissed as Sukuna rushed toward her.


    Before the Demon God could reach her, Ingenium dashed toward him and sent a wide kick at his head. Raising his arm, Sukuna blocked the strong kick and grabbed onto the hero''s leg. Chuckling, Sukuna used a weak Cleave onto Ingenium''s leg, slicing Ingenium''s Achilles heel.


    "Gah!" Ingenium screamed as Sukuna spun and kicked the Turbo hero through a window.


    "Sukuna!" Crust yelled as he rushed Sukuna with arge shield raised in front of him. With as much power as he could muster, Crust bashed into Sukuna''s side and sent the King of Curses sliding back.


    Seeing his attack having an effect, he rushed in again to bash his shield one more time.


    "Let''s see how that shield of yours works against this... Piercing Ox." Sukuna said as he moved to the right.


    Blinking in confusion, Crust heard several loud thuds rippling through the street. Unseen by him and those around him, arge ck Ox dashed through the street and bashed the top of its head into Crust''s shield. Shattering the man''s defense and mming its head right into Crust''s stomach.


    "Gah!" Crust yelled in pain as his consciousness left him.


    Off to the sides, Midnight and Endeavor watched on with confusion as Crust was attacked by a seemingly invisible force.


    "It''s like Mirko said!" Midnight said with growing concern. One by one, every member of the Task Force was being taken out with seemingly rtive ease by Sukuna. "Damn it. Where are you, Eraser, Mirko?!"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Piercing Ox continued running with Crust''s unconscious body over its head until it dug its legs into the road, causing Crust to fly through a brick wall from the abrupt loss of momentum.


    "How long am I going to stand here?!" Endeavor growled as he watched Crust be buried under the wall''s debris. Taking a step forward, Endeavor clenched his teeth and ignored his overheating body in favor of dashing at Sukuna. With a roar of defiance, he summoned his mes back over his body and flew at Sukuna.


    Turning to the ming man, Sukuna chuckled. "Switch."


    Endeavor was confused by the word, but he had little time to think as arge wave of water rose out of thin air and impacted him with incredible force.


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    Due to Endeavor''s already overheated body, the crashing wave attack from Disaster Tides left him utterly helpless as the water extinguished any remaining embers around him. While he could still rely on his pure physical strength and speed to attack me, his struggle to lift himself from the wet floor made me doubt he would be much of a threat.


    <strong>[+65 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+55 SP]</strong>


    "This isn''t good." Midnight muttered as she held her whip at her side. Turning away from Endeavor, her eyes grew wide when she found no sight of me. "Where did he-"


    "Right here."


    <strong>[+35 SP]</strong>


    Before she could react, I grabbed the top of her head and knocked her out with a careful application of CE. Like a puppet with its strings cut off, the R-rated hero copsed onto the ground.


    "Water as well?" Endeavor coughed as he raised his head to re at me. "Just how many Quirks do you have!"


    As I walked toward him, I began to chuckle. "Would knowing the answer make your loss any more bearable?" Stopping in front of him. I debated if I should switch out two more techniques for Disaster mes and Ice Formation.


    I wondered what type of expression he''d make at seeing what he spent most of his life trying to achieve be done so effortlessly before his eyes. In the end, I chose against that. As funny as that would have been to see, I couldn''t risk leaving myself with limited techniques in case more pro heroes arrived.


    "This was fun, Number Two. Next time, let''s have a real fight." Before I decided to knock him out, I paused. "Oh, that''s right. How are those two children of yours? The pretty girl and the angry little boy?"


    <strong>[+75 SP]</strong>


    "So that was <i>you</i>?!" Endeavor hissed as his body began to slowly heat up. In the end, he failed to produce his precious Hell Fire. Seeing his Quirk fail him, Endeavor ended up choosing to just re at me. "...why? Why help them? What benefit is there for you to have saved them? Were you hoping I''d be in your debt?"


    "I saved them on a whim," I muttered as I looked out at all the battered and destroyed streets. The utter destruction from tonight''s battles had left deep scars on the surrounding buildings and roads. Especially the areas around where I had destroyed the Nomu with my Divine Arrow. "Nothing more than that."


    "...are you connected to <i>that</i> man?" Endeavor said carefully, hoping to acquire as much intelligence on me despite his situation.


    "Ah, you mean <strong>All For One</strong>," I said as I turned to him.


    I could have told him that I had no affiliation with the Quirk stealing man, but I decided not to. It was better to keep the heroes and everyone else who was privy to me guessing who exactly Sukuna was. That way, they''d stay off my trail for as long as possible.


    "...wouldn''t you like to know?"


    Appearing beside him, I bashed my fist into the side of his head. The Number Two hero rolled on the ground from the force of my punch and remained still at my knock-out punch.


    <strong>[+90 SP]</strong>


    <i>I should fight Pro Heroes more often. They give out a lot of SP.</i>


    At the sight of all the beaten and unconscious heroes, all the people who decided to hang back to watch or record the fight foolishly walked out from their hiding spots with disbelief on their faces. It was as if they couldn''t fathom the fact that their precious heroes had actually <i>lost</i>.


    Standing still, I chose to remain in my spot over Endeavor''s fallen form, holding my head high for them to see¡ªindeed, for the world to see. To be cheeky, I even gave them a bow as a way of thanking them for being such a wonderful audience.


    <i>And with this, I announce myself to the world.</i>


    "No way... the heroes lost?"


    "W-who is that guy? He''s... so strong."


    "Even the Number Two lost..."


    "The heroes called him... Sukuna, right?"


    Standing straight, I decided it was time to get the hell out of here before <i>All Might</i> showed up.


    No matter how much stronger I''ve gotten, I had no illusions that I would be able to beat the man.


    At least, not until I had the Six Eyes so I could use the Limitless without worry of draining all my CE.


    "Where do you think you''re going, Sukuna?!"


    <i>Fwoosh!</i>


    Raising my arms, I blocked a rather powerful blow that sent me skidding back. Looking at my attacker, I grinned at the sight of the Rabbit hero, Mirko.


    She was covered in a thin sheen of sweat as her chest rose and fell quickly as she breathed heavily. Her red eyes stared into me with... hunger?


    <i>What''s that about? She must really be upset that I knocked her outst time.</i>


    Mirko then blinked and looked around the scattered pro heroes. At the sight of so many fallen pros, she calmed herself and leaned low.


    <strong>[+45 SP]</strong>


    "I hope you had a nice warm-up with these chumps because I don''t want to hear any excuses after I kick your ass!" Mirko yelled with ferocity as she all but exploded toward me.


    "Hah! This night just keeps getting better!" I said as I rushed in to meet her head-on. "Don''t disappoint me again, Little Rabbit!"


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Thanks to everyone who rmended their stories to me. Now I have a lot of content I can enjoy and gain some inspiration from. I''m not gonna lie, I''ve been on a creative slump as ofte which is slowing down my writing. </strong>


    <strong>This means that I may have to change some of my ns up to make things more interesting for me to write. I''m sure that these new ns and ideas of mine will probably upset some of you but we''ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Until then, enjoy the ride.</strong>


    <strong>Like always, leave me plenty ofments and your feedback.</strong>


    <strong>Until next time!</strong>

 Chapter 62: NO. 62 - Pandoras Box

    <h4>Chapter 62: NO. 62 - Pandoras Box</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Watching with wide, unbelieving eyes, Midoriya Izuku stared at his phone as he watched the Number Two hero be beaten down into unconsciousness by a mask-wearing man. Shinso Hitoshi''s expression was tight and tense from beside him as the sweat from theirte-night jog through the city dripped down his face.


    "What the hell is going on?" Hitoshi muttered as he watched the King of Curses bow and rise with his hands outstretched beside him. "Who... is this guy?"


    "Thements are calling him... Sukuna." Izuku said as he and Hitoshi watched severalments from the livestream scroll by. "The King of Curses."


    x x x


    Sitting within an old, abandoned apartment building on the outskirts of Chiba. A tall, ck-haired young man watched the ongoing fight between Sukuna and several Pro Heroes on aptop. His deep blue eyes watched with growing amusement as Sukunaunched a massive wave of water onto Endeavor.


    Arge, crazed smile grew over the young man''s gnarled, wrinkled, purple skin. Suddenly, a low chuckle escaped his mouth as he quickly burst intoughter once Sukuna punched Endeavor across the street.


    "So that''s him! That''s Sukuna, the King of Curses!" The young man, Dabi, said in delight as he leaned back into an old, dirty couch. "To think he''d handle Endeavor like a child for everyone to see. How wonderful!" Standing up, Dabi walked over to the broken, boarded-up window to stare at the far-off city buildings.


    "With you, I''m sure I can aplish all of my goals," Dabi said in a low tone as his eyes took on a dark sheen. "Just you wait, Endeavor. I''ll soon burn everything you''ve ever touched until there''s nothing left."


    x x x


    From behind the safety and privacy of the Mightgate, situated at the top of Might Tower, Toshinori Yagi clutched his injured side as he witnessed Endeavor being knocked out by a powerful strike. He turned toward the gate, gritting his teeth in frustration as he attempted to transform into his powerful All Might form. However, he was hindered by several loud, bloody coughs.


    "Damn it! If only I hadn''t used up all my time!" Yagi said, narrowing his eyes as he turned back to the livestream on hisrge television screen. Seeing Sukuna showboating, Yagi couldn''t help but feel a sense of relief that the man hadn''t killed any of the heroes who tried to take him down. "So that''s him... Sukuna. There''s no doubt about it. You''re just like <i>that </i>man."


    x x x


    "Come on, Eri-chan. It''s time for bed."


    Walking into the living room, Kaina smiled at the young girl as she watched the television with wide, curious eyes. Turning to the woman, Eri smiled at the ongoing news channel.


    "Look, Oneechan! It''s Souta-Oniisan!" Eri said.


    Tilting her head in confusion, Kaina looked up at the news channel reporting an ongoing battle between several heroes and a lone viin in Wakayama. A panicked reporter was giving a quick recount of what had happened so far, from when Sukuna was trapped by Best Jeanist all the way to him knocking out or taking each of the heroes out of the fight with almost unbelievable ease.


    "Oh no."


    "Hm?" Walking into the room, a tired Jin turned to the television and quickly realized what was happening. Sliding off his gaming headset from his ears, Jin''s wide eyes turned to Kaina. "Holy shit. Souta is on the news!"


    x x x


    Sitting in his chair in arge open office on the highest floor of the Detnerat Company Building, Yotsubashi Rikiya hummed in amusement as he watched Sukuna effortlessly knock out each hero who tried to take him down.


    The rich and powerful CEO chuckled at the sight of Sukuna''s bow to the audience before looking over at a man with long ck hair hiding his eyes under thick bangs.


    "Tell me, Skeptic. What are your thoughts on the man they call Sukuna?" Rikiya said with a small smile.


    Chikazoku Tomoyasu, otherwise known as Skeptic, frowned as he quickly typed on hisptop from his seat. "Sukuna... He''s been a ratherrge thorn in the HPSC and Hero''s sides. From the files and photos they''ve tried to hide, Sukuna was the one truly responsible for the destruction of the Shie Hassaikai and arge portion of the Florrum Ward. The man is... extremely powerful and feared."


    "How marvelous," Rikiya said before turning back to his monitor screen. "He''ll make a wonderful addition to the Meta Liberation Army, wouldn''t you say? With him on our side, I can finally see Destro''s visione to life."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    x x x


    "Hey, Keiko-chan? Where are you?" Himiko said as she walked down the stairs of Hase Keiko''s family home.


    Walking into the living room, Himiko found her friend standing, shocked, still in front of the television beside her parents. Stepping up beside Keiko, Himiko watched on as a news broadcast showed off video clips of Sukuna fighting off several of Japan''s famous heroes.


    "Sukuna-kun?" Himiko whispered in surprise as the clip of Sukuna punching Endeavor onto the ground yed.


    "I''ve... never seen anything like this," Keiko said, seemingly not hearing Himiko''s familiar suffix. "For a single Viin to defeat so many Pros. I can''t believe my eyes."


    "How scary." Keiko''s mother, Yoshiyuki Hana, said with worried eyes as the defeated forms of the Pro Heroes shed on the screen. "They''re all alive... right?"


    "I think so." Yoshiyuki Kent, Keiko''s father, said as he held his hands tightly. "Yeah. I''m sure those heroes are just fine."


    Blinking in bewilderment, Himiko slipped off her facial mask and stared at Sukuna as he bowed to the camera.


    ''I thought you were going to stay under the radar, Sukuna-kun...'' Himiko thought as she felt her phone buzz. Lifting it, she saw a text from Kaina.


    [Kaina-Oneechan: What the hell is going on??!!]


    x x x


    All throughout Japan, thousands upon thousands of people tuned into the live stream or dozens of news channels covering the ongoing fight with Sukuna and several of Japan''s pro heroes.


    There were even growing viewers from outside the country as well. Several of which were intrigued foreign pro heroes and viins who watched with careful eyes as Sukuna made his first-ever appearance on the national stage.


    x x x


    Closing the metal door behind him, a tall, brown-haired man walked across the rooftop of a high-rise building. Reaching the edge, he slipped off his ck backpack and brought out a pair of military-grade binocrs.


    Zooming in, the brown-haired man focused his sights on Sukuna as he punched Endeavor away from his position; the King of Curses was approximately 25 kilometers away. The man then raised an eyebrow at the sudden appearance of the Rabbit-themed hero, Mirko.


    cing his binocrs away, the man, Gunther, raised a cell phone up to his ear. "I have Sukuna in my sights. But there seems to be a straggler. What should I do about her?"


    "The situation has already escted far beyond my expectations... Mirko is a small price to pay for Sukuna''s death. If you have a shot, take it. No matter who gets in your way." The HPSC Chairman said from the other line. "Finish this. <i>Tonight</i>."


    "Understood." Gunther man said as the Chairman hung up. Stepping back, he removed his ck jacket, leaving him shirtless.


    For the past decade, Gunther, a man born in Germany, had been working as one of the world''s most elite assassins.


    Gunther has built quite a legend for himself, with a 99% sess rate in eliminating his assigned targets. Thanks to his reputation and powerful Quirk, he only epted jobs with the highest payouts. So when the Chairman of Japan''s HPSC offered him one of the most lucrative contracts he had ever received, Gunther didn''t hesitate to take out the man known as Sukuna.


    Taking a deep breath, Gunther''s torso began to twist and shift as steel, cables, and machinery grew out of his flesh. The man grunted in pain as the machinery continued to grow and change until it formed arge rail gun. Snapping out from under the barrel, a bipod nted itself on the ground.


    Sighing, Gunther reached out to the rail gun controls and began charging his Quirks power.


    Gunther''s Quirk, Railgun, allowed him to sprout arge mechanical Railgun from his chest. However, doing this causes Gunther significant levels of intense pain. Once charged, the Railgun can fire a powerful 5-meter radius st that can obliterate anything in its 50-kilometer range into ashes.


    "Charging..." Gunther said as he ced his binocrs onto a helmet. cing the helmet on his head, he focused his sights on Sukuna''s form. "15%... 18%... 21%... 26%..."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    With a twist of her hips, Mirkounched a powerful kick onto my raised forearm. Using CE reinforcement, I grinned behind my mask as I swiped her foot away.


    "Whats up with that mask you''re wearing?! Don''t tell me you''re getting shy?!" Mirko yelled as she slid back. Rushing in again, she unleashed several kicks at me. "And where''s that fancy stick of yours?! Don''t tell me it broke!"


    Parrying and weaving around her attacks, I flicked out a punch she barely managed to block at thest second with her arms. Grimacing at the punch, Mirko grabbed my forearm and used it as leverage to try and kick the side of my head with an elegant spin.


    "I figured I''d give you a handicap. Ain''t that considerate of me?" I said mockingly as I leaned back, avoiding the kick.


    <strong>[+35 SP]</strong>


    "Bastard," Mirko said with a wide grin as she flipped back. Leaping high, she pulled her leg up and flexed her leg muscles. "Luna Arc!"


    With an upwards kick of my own, I met her attack head-on using Ratio. Due to the impact of our attacks, the ground beneath me rippled and shattered. Mirkos eyes grew wide at the sight of her attack being pushed back.


    <i>That''s it! She''s definitely on another level from these bozos!</i>


    Flexing my legs, I jumped up to her. Mirko was momentarily surprised that I had closed the distance between us until our faces were only a few centimeters away. "Excellent! Show me all of your ultimate moves, Mirko! Let''s dance!"


    <strong>[+100 SP]</strong>


    At my statement, Mirko''s eyes grew wide as a dark blush grew on her face. Immediately, a wide, maniacal smile grew over her face.


    "Hah! I''ll make you regret saying that!" Mirko yelled as we entered a speeding battle up and down the street.


    As we fought, we exchanged powerful kicks and punches, each of us trying to outmaneuver the other. I was aware that if I increased my CE reinforcement, I could easily surpass her in both strength and speed. However, that wouldn''t be any fun. Unlike the heroes around us, Mirko relied on her hard-earned strength and skills, battling with just her bare arms and legs. I respected that, as I also spent hours training and practicing each day.


    "Lunar Tijeras!" Mirko screamed as she quickly pressed her thighs against the sides of my head.


    <i>...should I get out of this or not?</i>


    Before the Rabbit-themed hero could spin to m my head into the pavement, I slid my hands over the insides of her thighs and <i>pushed</i>. Mirkos eyes grew wide in disbelief as I overpowered her leg strength in seconds.


    <strong>[+55 SP]</strong>


    With her legs spread out before me, I drove my fist right into her face. As her head snapped back, I twisted my hips and swung my left arm.


    "ck <strong>sh</strong>!"


    <strong>[+65 SP]</strong>


    Mirko gasped in pain as she was flung back across the street in a wild heap from my punch striking her left thigh. As she rolled, I appeared behind her andnded a kick on the side of her torso.


    Crashing into the ground, Mirko blearily looked up to me before a challenging and hungry, bloodied grin spread over her face. Standing up, she red at me as she swiped the blood dripping down her face with her forearm.


    "That... all you got? How pathetic." Mirko muttered as she shook her head to stop her vision from spinning. Looking down, she saw a nasty bruise over her shaking injured left thigh. "If you think this is enough to stop me, then you''re fucking stupid."


    <i>How cheeky.</i>


    Ignoring her pain and injuries, Mirko dashed toward me and sent a forward kick onto my stomach. Bracing myself, I tanked her kick andnded a left hook onto her face. Spitting out a glob of blood, she grabbed my arm and held it tightly against her side. Twisting, she flipped her body to the right.


    <i>Wham!</i>


    Raising my right arm, I blocked her kick and countered with my own flying knee. From there, we continued to exchange quick punches and kicks at one another from within our close distance in a dance of violence.


    Despite all her attempts, Mirko''s attacks could barely manage to get through my reinforcement. Unfortunately for her, that meant her own body was umting much more damage than she could throw out.


    Seeing that she was on the losing end of our exchange, she released my arm and jumped back with a wince. Looking down, Mirko saw her bruised and bloody limbs begin to shake in exhaustion and pain.


    <strong>[+35 SP]</strong>


    "Am I seriously going to lose again!?" Mirko growled out before ring at me. "Fuck that! I''m winning this!"


    Before she could rush me once again, a bright light shed out from behind her. Transforming the once-dark night sky into a bright white.


    I looked behind her and saw a massive beam of energy slicing through the air across the city toward her and me. Anything that got in the beam''s way was obliterated into nothing. The buildings, towers, and water tanks were all swiftly destroyed and erased.


    Due to the beams radiating energy, all technology within 3 km began to short out and shut off. This immediately caused all surrounding phones and cameras to stop recording the ongoing battle.


    Due to her instincts, Mirko stopped moving and turned around to see the 5-meter-wide beam flying right at her. At its current speed, the flying beam of death would reach her before she had the time to react.


    "How rude. Interrupting our dance like that... switch."


    Blurring in front of her, I grabbed the very <i>air</i> in front of me as if it were a piece of cloth and <i>pulled</i> up.


    Uro Takako''s Cursed Technique, Sky Maniption, is the ability to turn the sky into a tangible surface.


    Sky Maniption can warp and distort the very air itself. Granting its user the ability to seemingly warp the world around them in any way they see fit. The user can also strike the very air itself, and if used in front of an opponent, it can break the sky around an opponent to bypass <i>any</i> defense they have.


    However, in this case, I manipted the very air in front of me to change the iing beams'' trajectory toward the sky above.


    The massive beam of energy instantly changed its course as the very sky around it twisted upwards, sending it flying straight up into the sky itself. All those around the area and far-off city watched in awe as arge beam of light stretched into the heavens before it slowly began to fizzle away.


    <strong>[+155 SP]</strong>


    "...w-what?" Mirko muttered in shock as she stared up at the slowly darkening sky.


    "We''ll have to pick up our dance another time, Little Rabbit," I said, turning to her. "I have a bug to crush."


    Without another word, I vanished in a burst of speed.


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "...what the hell?" Gunther muttered in German as he watched his beam somehow be redirected into the sky. "I-Impossible."


    Blinking, he quickly used his binocrs to look down onto the street. Only to find a confused Mirko looking around. "Where did Sukuna go?"


    "What an impressive Quirk."


    A wave of goosebumps spread across Gunther''s body as he heard a low voice speak from behind him. Due to the rail gun sticking out of his chest, he was only able to spin his neck around to find Sukuna standing behind him with his hands in his pockets.


    "From your ent, you''re not from around here. Which begs the question... what is a foreigner with such an impressive Quirk doing in <i>my </i>country?"


    "H-how did you..." Gunther felt his tongue swell within his throat as a wave of terror flowed through him.


    Not in all his years as a professional assassin had he felt such a heavy aura of power from a single man. Without warning, two deep gouges sliced through the ground beside him from an imperceptible force. Causing the German man to freeze in his spot.


    "I''ll give you one chance to prolong your sorry existence," Sukuna said as he pointed a finger at Gunther. "Tell me <i>who</i> sent you."


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>Happy New Year, everyone!</strong>


    <strong>It''s been a wild 2 months since I uploaded Chapter 1 of my story, and I''m happy I garnered such arge and funny audience. Thanks for all yourments and support, and I hope you all continue to read my little story until itspletion!</strong>


    <strong>I hope you all enjoyed the reactions from the wider world of MHA over Sukuna''s grand debut. I know that this was a part of the story several of you were waiting for, and I hope I got each of the character''s reactions urately.</strong>


    <strong>Until Next Time!</strong>

 Chapter 63: NO. 63 - Shaken Society

    <h4>Chapter 63: NO. 63 - Shaken Society</h4>


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "A giant viin."


    Izuku said as he and Keiko watched from the safety of the police blockade alongside several other people.


    Standing tall on the train tracks at the Tatooine train station, a massive man with a beastly appearance, possessing a head resembling that of a horse or a shark and a very wide-set, muscr body, growled as he ran amok.


    The giant Villian had long, dark brown hair, which he wore in dreadlocks, and a reddish-brown beard around his jaw. He wears a tattered ck shirt, the sleeves ripped off and the front ripped open, and a pair of blue jeans.


    "Go away!!"


    The giant Villian roared as he looked up to see a man wearing a tight dark blue body suit and wooden-like armor on his limbs. Over his head was a thick, wooden helmet that hid his features. This was the new Pro Hero, Kamui Woods.


    With a wide swing, therge man mmed his arm across the train tracks. Sending a steel beam onto the ground. Rushing from under the bridge, another hero with a prominent square chin and arge headband with a yellow and ck-striped caution pattern, matching his thick wrist-guards and the belt around his waist, raised his arms to catch the falling beam.


    This was the Pro Hero, Death Arms.


    "Oh, Backdraft is here too," Keiko said with a smile as she and Izuku watched as a long water barricade came to life before the curiousrge crowd.


    Off a few feet to their right, the Pro Hero Backdraft told the rowdy crowd to stay behind his water barricade.


    Landing on the station''s overhead roof, Kamui Woods red at the Viin, destroying everything around him. "You used your skills for illegal purposes when people are going to work, and you havemitted a theft resulting in injury! You''re really evil incarnate!"


    "Go, Kamui Woods!" Keiko said with excitement, turning to her friend. She saw the deep thoughtfulness behind his eyes. "Izuku-kun? Everything okay?"


    "Ah... Yeah. I guess I''m still thinking about what happened two weeks ago." Izuku said as he watched Kamui Woods and therge Viin fight. "I still can''t believe that they all lost. Not to mention that the Viin, Sukuna, got away in the end."


    "Oh... That." Keiko whispered as she looked over the expressions of the crowd.


    Since the battle between Sukuna and several of Japan''s top Pro Heroes, including the Number Two hero, Japan''s society had begun to doubt the ability and strength of the heroes they once admired and adored.


    Witnessing not just one or two but seven of the greatest heroes in the country lose to a single man was devastating. The situation worsened when it waster revealed that many of Endeavor''s sidekicks had also been defeated by that same individual that night. It was disheartening to see notable heroes like Endeavor, Best Jeanist, Edgeshot, and even Mirko all fall in what seemed to be a one-sided battle.


    If such a thing could happen to some of Japan''s best, then what hope would there be for the people of Japan to have in the rest of their Heroes in any future conflict?


    Younger generations believed that everything would have gone well if All Might had been present. In contrast, older generations seemed toe upon a profound truth about their society due to this incident: their overreliance on one individual, All Might.


    If things could only turn out well if the Number One hero was around, what hope would there be once the man finally retired or somehow perished one day?


    Would incidents like the night that Sukuna defeated several pro heroes continue to happen?


    Some members of the older generations in the crowd watching Kamui Woods battle the giant Viin wore worried and grave expressions. Even though they didn''t want to consider it, the possibility of the heroes losing seemed very real¡ªa stark contrast to their previous belief that the heroes would always triumph.


    One consequence of witnessing all seven heroes being defeated in such a manner was the increase in criminal activity throughout Japan within just two weeks. Viins and criminals were emboldened by Sukuna''s actions.


    If one man could defeat so many pros on their own, why couldn''t they?


    These thoughts belonged to those foolish and egotistical enough to attempt to imitate the King of Curses.


    This arrogance ultimately led to their swift defeat by the very heroes they believed they could ovee.


    The individuals from the underworld who were already familiar with Sukuna''s notorious reputation became even more fearful of him.


    Another result of the King of Curses''s actions was that many individuals began to form groups to pledge their loyalty to their new unofficial leader.


    After all, when such a powerful and infamous figure as Sukuna gains widespread recognition, it''s only natural for other inspiring individuals to rally in his wake.


    In summary, the night of the battle between Sukuna and all seven heroes shook Japan''s heroic society to its core.


    "It''s okay, Izuku-kun!" Keiko said with a bright grin; she grabbed his right, scarred hand in her own and squeezed. "I''m sure once All Might finds Sukuna, he''ll beat him in the blink of an eye! He is the strongest, after all!"


    Seeing his friend''s bright and warm personality, Izuku couldn''t help but smile. "Yeah... You''re right!"


    "Canyon... Canon!!"


    At that moment, a massive and curvaceous creamy blonde-haired woman in a skin-tight purple and tan costume burst out of nowhere and kicked the giant Villian in the head,unching him off the train tracks. Off beside her, a frozen, stunned Kamui Woods remained where he stood as his ultimate attack was interrupted.


    Landing on the ground with a loud crash, therge woman leaned forward to show off her ample ass to the crowd beneath with a yful look as she hovered over the unconscious Viin.


    "Piece of cake for the world''s next hottest Hero. Hi there, everyone; I''m Mount Lady! Now you don''t have to worry about this bum anymore." Mount Lady said as she winked at the crowd.


    "It''s Mount Lady! Take pictures! Pictures!"


    "Look at her costume! Nothing left to the imagination!"


    "Please step on me!!"


    Keiko sighed at the now livelier crowd reactions as a wave of men and even some women brought out their phones and cameras to take shots of the newly debuted Hero, Mount Lady. "Hey, Izuku-kun. We should hurry and get to school-" Turning to her friend, she saw him writing quick notes in his notebook.


    As she watched him mutter to himself, Keiko smiled warmly as Izuku returned to his Hero Otaku-self. Grabbing the cor of his school uniform, Keiko began guiding Izuku through the crowds.


    "Come on. Let''s get to school."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimizu Souta POV]</strong>


    "Chef''s choice?"


    "Chef''s choice."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "Haha! That''s what I like about you, Shimizu-kun!" Lunch Rush cheered as he walked back to whip me up a new delicious dish.


    Once he was done, I was presented with an exquisite te of seafood pae. After thanking the man, nay! The artist. I paid for my lunch and sat down at my usual table surrounded by Himiko, Hikari, Toshio, Jurou, and Mitsuko.


    "Lunch is my favorite period," I said as I dug into my food with a hum.


    "You attend one of the most prestigious schools in Japan, and your favorite period is lunch?" Toshio said with a deadpan expression.


    "Souta-kun may be onto something. Lunch Rush is on another level!" Mitsuko said with a grin as she enjoyed her bowl of udon.


    From beside me, Himiko giggled and grabbed a shrimp off my te. I turned to her in betrayal as she quickly ced the shrimp into her mouth before I could steal it back.


    "Heheh. Sorry, Souta-kun. But if it''s any constion, the shrimp was very delicious."


    "My shrimp... how dare you."


    Ignoring Himiko''s betrayal, I refocused on eating my lunch. As I ate, my mind traveled back to the discovery I made a week ago.


    <strong><i>...two weeks ago...</i></strong>


    "An Assassin?" Kaina said slowly, her face serious and calcting. "Knowing the Chairman, he was probably getting a lot of pressure over my failed mission. But to think he would go so far as to hire Assassins outside of Japan."


    "From the looks of it, the Assassin was willing to kill anyone in the crossfire as long as they managed to get a shot on me," I said as I leaned on one of the wooden beams of my patio. "If I hadn''t redirected the st, Mirko and everyone else within the buildings that were in the st''s trajectory would have been killed."


    "That''s concerning," Jin said as he rubbed his chin in thought. "That means that the gloves are off when ites to you. Did that guy, uh, Gunther was it? Tell you how many more Assassins areing after you?"


    "Before I killed him, he told me he believes there is a possibility that at least six other Assassins are traversing the country in search of me, hoping to kill me. While he wasn''t certain about the exact number, based on what the Chairman told him, the contract on my life is an open one. If they are anything like Gunther, then these Assassins will possess powerful Quirks." I nced down at my dinged-up mask and set it on a nearby table. "I''ll need to stay alert whenever I go out."


    Kaina nodded and crossed her arms under her chest. "It was only because of my extensive experience in tracking some of the most elusive targets in Japan that I was able to locate you the first time. If these Assassins are as skilled as I believe, they will most likely find you soon."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    "Not to mention the fact that you are now super famous!" Jin said with wide eyes. "What were you thinking, Bro?! Now everyone knows about Sukuna! You''re practically the country''s number-one enemy right now!"


    "Easy, Jin-kun," Kaina said softly as she ced a hand on his shoulder, calming the anxious man. Seeing this caused me to raise an eyebrow. "But he''s right, Souta-san. You went ahead and made a show of beating down several of Japan''s pirs. Like it or not, you''re now on everyone''s hit list. Everyone, and I mean <i>everyone</i>, will be gunning for you."


    "Yeah, I know," I said with a sigh. "Everything just got away from me at that moment. One minute, I was enjoying some takoyaki, and the next, I found myself fighting a bioengineered Nomu. From there, things just kept spiraling out of control."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Walking up to me, Kaina ced her hands on my shoulders. "At this point, what''s done is done. The only thing I can rmend for you to do is to have Sukunay low. At least for now."


    <strong><i>...present...</i></strong>


    "Lay low, huh..."


    "Shimizu-san."


    Stepping in front of our lunch table, a tall male student with grey hair and electric pink eyes spoke to me with a calm expression. The nearby tables full of students all looked at the grey-haired student with wonder. Which wasn''t surprising; this was this year''s most handsome and intelligent student, Tajima Yuu.


    Tajima Yuu was also said to have this year''s most promising Quirk.


    That Quirk is called Body Shift.


    Body Shift allows Yuu to transform any two body parts into whatever he can imagine. Whether that be massive ming swords orrge buster riffles that can obliterate almost anything. he can also create hover boots on his legs or a jetpack on his back that lets him fly around.


    Despite having a powerful and diverse Quirk, Yuu was ced in the General Education course. This was because he had the flu during the entrance exam, which prevented him from participating in the practical hero course examination.


    Regardless of his unfortunate circumstances in being ced in the General Education course, Yuu was one of the most promising students among all of the first-year students. When the Sports Festival arrived, no one doubted that Yuu would be transferred to the Hero course, recing one of the reinstated students of ss 1-A.


    Due to all this, the guy was revered by all our peers as the first year''s golden prince.


    Guys wanted to be his friend, and the girls wanted to be with him.


    Oh, this Ikemen bastard also happened to be in my ss as well.


    Himiko tilted her head in confusion as Hikari kept looking back and forth between me and Yuu. Mitsuko, Jurou, and Toshio watched on in curiosity as our ssroom''s shining prince stared at me intently.


    "Such an intense stare... is Tajima going to confess?" Mitsuko whispered as she whipped out a Yaoi manga from her bag. "How exciting!"


    Off in the back at the so-called popr table, several students, alongside Muraoka Kohaku, all watched on with gaping expressions as their <i>friend </i>interacted with the oddballs/losers of the ss.


    <i>What does this handsome bastard want with me?</i>


    "Shimizu-san," Yuu repeated himself. "Please spar with me after school."


    "...say what?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

 Chapter 64: NO. 64 - I Promise

    <h4>Chapter 64: NO. 64 - I Promise</h4>


    "I apologize. I didn''t intend for there to be an audience." Yuu said as we turned to a rather big crowd standing off to the side of the extensive training room Yuu had booked.


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Himiko and our odd little group stood beside the crowdposed of the popr kids and some other first-year Gen Ed students. Noticing my stare, Himiko waved with a small smile while the rest of our group cheered me on. Off beside us, Cementoss stood watching over us with a patient expression as our overseer.


    "Go, Shimizu-san! Kick that pretty boy''s ass!" Toshio yelled with an indignant expression as Kohaku red at him.


    "As if Tajima-kun would lose." Kohaku huffed as she flipped her orange hair back. Her eyes then nced over to me quickly with a conflicted light.


    "It''s whatever." I shrugged and adjusted my gym uniform. Looking around the training mat below us, I eyed Yuu with a bored look. "So, what''s this about again?"


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "Ah. Of course." Yuu nodded and began to stretch. "Throughout our limited practicalbat sses, you and I have yet to be assigned to the same group. However, I''ve kept a close eye on you throughout your own matches. Despite your Quirklessness status, you''ve somehow been able to win your matches through sheer skill, strength, and speed alone. For this to be possible, you must hold mastery over several martial arts despite your young age... I want to see how my own physical skillspare to your own."


    "I see," I said, getting the gist of what he''s getting at. "What do you gain out of this? If you use your Quirk, I doubt I could keep up for long. There''s no real benefit from fighting a Quirkless person."


    Shaking his head, Yuu stared into my eyes with a calm, calcting look. "No, I do stand at attaining something from a pure hand-to-hand fight with you. That is getting one step closer to my goal of attaining <i>true</i> strength." Slowly, he slid his body into a perfect Aikido stance. "Please allow me to see where my skills stand up to yours, Shimizu-san."


    <i>Huh. He''s not like how I expected. I guess I have to rethink my biases.</i>


    "...I guess that''s fine. I got some free time." I nodded and slid into my own Wing Chun stance. "Show me what you got."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Hearing my agreement, Yuu smiled slightly and began to close the distance between us. Seeing us both ready, Cementoss stepped forward and held a hand up before bringing it down.


    "Begin!"


    Yuu darted forward, light on his feet, feinting with a quick jab before twisting into a roundhouse kick. With little effort, I stepped back, the air whooshing as the kick passed inches from my face. Without pause, I countered with a thunderous straight punch, aiming for Yuu''s chest.


    Yuu twisted his body, deflecting the blow with a forearm block, but the sheer force of my attack sent him sliding back a foot with a look of surprise.


    "Oh?" I muttered, seeing my opponent''s reaction speed and skill. "Not bad."


    With curiosity welling within me, I charged. My fists flew like sledgehammers toward my grey-haired ssmate. Face twisting in exertion, Yuu ducked and weaved under one of my haymakers before he tried to drive an elbow into my ribs.


    The popr crowd behind us roared as the strikended with a dull thud. However, the crowd quickly grew silent as they saw my palm holding Yuu''s elbow before it could touch my torso. Seeing this, Himiko and my oddball group all cheered.


    <strong>[+8 SP]</strong>


    "You''re fast," Yuu said with an impressed look as he tried to force me back but failed to move me even half a centimeter. "And strong."


    "How observant."


    Grabbing Yuu''s arm with lightning speed, I yanked him forward and smashed a brutal knee into his midsection. Yuu gasped, the air driven from his lungs. Letting him go, I watched as he grunted in pain, but he quickly leaped back. As he regained his footing, he spun into a back fist. I watched his attack fly harmlessly past my jaw as I leaned back slightly.


    <i>Kids good. Very good... for a brat.</i>


    "Not bad," I said with a grin. "But you''re gonna have to hit me eventually to win."


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    Yuu responded with a flurry of strikes: a jab to my throat; I blocked aside. A spinning elbow, I parried away. A low sweep, I leaped away.


    Moving in, Yuu blocked my jab but failed to avoid my hook punch into his ribs. Yuu grunted, but he ignored his pain to bring his foot down like a hammer onto my knee. With a swing of my arm, I smacked him over his ear and threw his strike off target.


    Deciding it was time to end this <i>spar</i>, I dashed in and unleashed a volley of attacks. Panicking, Yuu sidestepped, barely dodging the blows. His face was tight and fatigued as he tried his best to avoid my attacks, but more and more punches and kicksnded.


    "You''re pretty good," I said,nding a jab into his face. "But you''re slowing down."


    Hearing this, Yuu finally lost his cool and charged, his movements heavy now. I ducked low, slipping under a wild swing, and drove a fist into the side of his knee. The pink-eyed pretty boy bellowed in pain, his leg buckling.


    I seized the opportunity and spun into a flying knee that connected squarely with his jaw. But I was careful to hold back so I wouldn''t break it. His eyes went nk for a second before he copsed onto the ground.


    "Enough!" Cementoss called out as he moved between us. "This spar is over!"


    I nodded at the teacher and walked over to a panting and injured Yuu. "You''re a pretty decent fighter, Yuu."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    <strong>[+5 SP]</strong>


    "...that''s all you have to say?" Yuu panted before a small smile erupted on his usually calm and stoic expression. "You''re a monster, Shimizu-san."


    "Why, thank you."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    "I can''t believe it... Shimizu beat Tajima-san."


    "H-he just got lucky! If Tajima-kun used his Quirk, then Shimizu would have lost in the blink of an eye!"


    Leaning on the wall behind the chattering students, Aizawa Shota watched as Souta pulled Yuu up onto his feet while Cementoss was steadying the injured boy.


    ''Impressive. This kid''s got potential.'' Shota thought. ''Shimizu Souta. Quirkless. Even so, his skills, strength, and speed are on another level.''


    Humming, Shota leaned forward and walked out of the training area with a thoughtful expression. As he turned the corner, Shota saw a poster of Endeavor on the wall bulletin board. Pausing, Shota stared at the Number Two Hero and thought back to the meeting he and several of his fellow pro heroes had a while back.


    <strong><i>...several days ago...</i></strong>


    Shota stood in therge, private hospital room with a heavy frown. His eyes scanned over his colleague''s injured forms with a regretful light.


    Best Jeanist, Hakamada Tsunagu was covered in heavy bandages while IV fluids were being passed into his system. The man was in a medically induceda.


    Ingenium, Ida Tensei had his leg in a cast while propped up on a pillow, and his face was etched into disappointment.


    Crust, Kanemoto Tsuyoshi had a neckbrace below his head, and his face held slight bruises and cuts. Down below, his chest, right leg, and left arm were covered in thin casts.


    Edgeshot, Kamihara Shinya was leaning against the back wall, his body covered in light bandages. The man''s eyes were closed, but from his crossed arms, his fists were shaking in rage.


    Mirko, Usagiyama Rumi was lying on her hospital bed with her legs crossed and arms under her head. She was wrapped in bandages while a pensive and irritated look rested on her expression.


    Midnight, Kayama Nemuri was pacing back and forth with an annoyed and disappointed expression as her hands were clenched tight.


    Finally, Endeavor, Todoroki Enji stood next to his own bed while only a few scattered bandages could be seen on him. The man''s expression was one of anger and impatience.


    "How long must I wait here?!" Enji said gruffly as he crossed his arms, his blue eyes looking over to the door next to Shota with annoyance. "I could be back in my agency working to find Sukuna!"


    "And do what? Lose?" Rumi said with a grin, causing the Number Two Hero to turn to her with a re. "If you haven''t realized it, <i>Number Two</i>. You''re no match for that guy."


    "And <i>you </i>were?"


    "Tch!" Rumi rolled her eyes and hopped onto her feet. "If it wasn''t for that beam of death, I would''ve beat him!"


    Shota rolled his eyes and walked over to his longtime friend, Nemuri, to ce a hand on her shoulder. Stopping her nonstop pacing. "Easy. What happened back there wasn''t your fault."


    "My Quirk should have worked on him!" Nemuri frowned and turned to him. "He should have been knocked out right there and then! Maybe... maybe it was that mask that helped him avoid the effects of my Quirk?"


    "Regardless of how Sukuna did it, it doesn''t change the end result," Shota said as he guided Nemuri to sit. "But... if I had gotten there in time, I could have turned off his Quirk, or Quirks, so you all could have stopped him. This was on me."


    "It wasn''t your fault you were several miles away, Erasure Head," Shinya said as he opened his eyes. "You hold no me. The me lies with all of us for failing to bring that viin down."


    "Some Pro''s you all are!" Rumi called out with a huff. "Even withrger numbers, Sukuna still beat you all! Pathetic!" Looking down at her hands, the Rabbit hero gritted her teeth as a frustrated growl escaped her. "I just need one more shot! I''ll... beat him for sure."


    Despite Rumi''s frustration, her eyes became soft as a confused frown grew on her expression. ''Sukuna could have easily avoided that st that night. But he ended up saving me and everyone else in the way. Why would he do that? What''s his game?'' Rumi thought.


    Stepping into the room with a tired look, Tsukauchi Naomasa scanned everyone in the room. Seeing everyone present, the Detective walked over to the center and took off his hat.


    "I''m sorry for beingte," Naomasa began. "I''ll keep this brief. I just got off the phone with the Chief and the Chairman of the HPSC. As of now, all Task Forces created to apprehend the viin Sukuna have been dissolved. Furthermore, any individual Hero attempting to take down Sukuna is now prohibited. We also need to address another important matter: the creature that Endeavor fought. There is a new mysterious third party involved with significant resources we must be cautious of."


    "You can''t be serious?"


    "What!?"


    "This can''t be. Then who will stop Sukuna?!"


    "Fuck that!"


    In response to the Hero''s heatedments and questions, Naomasa rubbed his tired face and raised a hand. "These decisions weren''t made by me; they came from higher up. I''m sorry, but as we''ve just witnessed, having arge number of Heroes isn''t sufficient to take down Sukuna... He has demonstrated that he is too powerful for any <i>ordinary </i>Hero to confront."


    Blinking, Shota stood up and red at the Detective. "You''re saying... only <i>he </i>can take him down?"


    Before Naomasa could respond, a tall man withrge muscles entered the hospital room, dressed in a red, blue, yellow, and white costume. He had chiseled features, including a strong jawline, pronounced cheekbones, and bushy eyebrows. His short blond hair was swept back, with two distinct tufts sticking up slightly on either side of his head. A wide smile stretched across his face.


    "All Might." Endeavor hissed under his breath as the Number One Hero''s powerful presence filled the room.


    "Fear not, for I will bring Sukuna to justice," All Might dered, his form radiating absolute strength. "On that, I <strong>promise</strong>."


    <strong><i>...present...</i></strong>


    Sighing, Shota rubbed his eyes and continued on his way toward the main campus. Even with the assurances that All Might was now focused on Sukuna''s capture, Shota could not help but feel anxious. Perhaps it had to do with Detective Naomasa''s parting words to him.


    <i>"Eraser Head, you will be acting as All Mights support. Your Quirk will prove invaluable in stopping Sukuna from using his many Quirks." Naomasa said as he handed Shota a ssified folder.</i>


    "Hah... I just need some sleep."


    x x x


    <strong>[Shimzu Souta POV]</strong>


    Now out of my gym uniform and back in my school uniform, Himiko and I were walking out of the school''s main gates in afortable silence.


    "You can''t imagine all the people that were in disbelief that you beat that pretty boy," Himiko said as she held onto my zer as we traveled down the stairs. "Still, their expressions were pretty hrious, which reminds me. Why''d he want to fight you anyway? Is this another form of bullying I don''t know about?"


    "No, nothing like that." I shook my head as I looked back at her. "He just wanted to see where he stood when it came to martial arts."


    "Ooh! It''s like that anime Eri-chan and I are watching! So he''s like your fated rival or something, right?!"


    "I''m not sure if I''d call him my rival. Maybe a decent warm-up to the warm-up."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Just before we could leave the school''s premises, a loud and cheerful voice called out behind me.


    "Shimizu-kun! Shimizu-kun! I finally found you!" Running towards us was none other than a beaming Hado Nejire. Walking behind her in amusement were two other individuals, one of which was Amajiki Tamaki, who I''d already met. The other, however, was a tall, muscled blond with small eyes and arge, happy smile on his face.


    <i>It''s Tintin... I mean Togata Mirio.</i>


    Jumping in front of Himiko and me, Nejire smiled widely at me as she got into my personal space. "I''ve been looking everywhere for you, Shimizu-kun! I tried looking through each first-year ss, but I never could find you!" Turning to Himiko, Nejire somehow smiled wider. "Oh! Who''s this?"


    With a raised eyebrow, Himiko turned to me with confusion over our overly excited upperssmen. "This is Toga Himiko. A friend of mine." I said before motioning to Nejire. "Himiko, this is Hado Nejire. Our Senpai."


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    While she still wasn''t entirely sure what was going on, Himiko smiled at our periwinkle Senpai and gave her a slight bow. "It''s nice to meet you, Hado-senpai!" She said before wedging herself between Nejire and me. Apparently, Himiko didn''t like how close our rather pretty Senpai was getting to me.


    "It''s nice to meet you too, Toga-chan!" As if suddenly remembering her two friends, Nejire waved over at Tamaki and Mirio. "These two are my good friends! Amajiki Tamaki and Togata Mirio! Say hello to your Kohais, you two!"


    "Togata Mirio! It''s nice to meet you two!" Mirio smiled brightly as he waved at us. "And also, wee to UA!"


    "...Amajiki Tamaki... Hello." Tamaki said with his head down. Looking up, he flinched when he noticed my stare and returned to staring at the floor.


    "It''s nice to meet you two. Please take care of us." Himiko said with a small respectful vow while I simply gave them a nod.


    "Sup."


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+30 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    Mirioughed at my greeting and walked closer to me with a hand under his chin. He hummed as he looked me up and down. "Hado-san was right. You do have this negative feeling about you! How interesting!" He said with augh before patting me on the shoulder as if we were longtime friends. "I''m sure you must get stopped by the police a lot because of it! Just kidding!"


    "...actually, I do," I muttered in annoyance as I recalled the several times patrolling officers stopped to talk to me whenever I was out in the city.


    "...for real?" Mirio said.


    "For real, real."


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+20 SP]</strong>


    "Oh! I have a great idea!" Nejire said with a cute hop, causing her rather ample chest to move. I watched them bounce around before quickly looking off to a far-off tree as I felt Himiko''s stare fall on me. "As your Senpais, we''ll treat you two to some ice cream! What do you all think?"


    "That sounds like a wonderful idea!" Mirio said with a smile as Tamaki sighed before nodding. "Works for me." The shy boy said.


    <i>I''d rather go home, but I''m not gonna pass this chance at making points up.</i>


    "Sure, that sounds good," I said with a nod before turning to Himiko. "What do you think?"


    "That sounds fun! Count me in!" Himiko said with an excited smile before grabbing onto my right arm. She then turned to Nejire and her smile somehow grew wider. "Thank you for inviting us!"


    "Of course! Now let''s go! I know this great spot a few minutes from here." Nejire said, oblivious to Himiko''s unsaid message as she walked in front of us. Turning to my clingy blonde friend, Nejire began asking several questions as we walked to the ice cream shop.


    "Wow! You have sharp teeth and cat-like eyes! Does your Quirk have something to do with cats?" Nejire said before her eyes grew wide as she gasped loudly. Jumping in front of me, she leaned into my personal space again and stared into my eyes. "I can''t believe I forgot to ask you, Shimizu-kun! But, what''s <i>your</i> Quirk?"


    Scratching the back of my head, I gave her, Mirio, and Tamaki a grin. "Ah, I''m actually Quirkless."


    <strong>[+55 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+55 SP]</strong>


    <strong>[+75 SP]</strong>


    "...eh?"

 Chapter 65: NO. 65 - Midoriya Izuku: Origin

    <h4>Chapter 65: NO. 65 - Midoriya Izuku: Origin</h4>


    <i>"Even if I don''t have a Quirk, can I be a hero?"</i>


    Izuku looked down at the streets below with a heavy frown. Off in the distance, he seemingly ignored a rising pir of smoke. His scarred hands clenched onto the stall railing tightly as his question repeated inside his head.


    "I guess...this is why they say never to meet your heroes," Izuku muttered as he walked away from the railing toward the rooftop''s staircase.


    As he traveled down the building with his yellow backpack, Izuku''s dull green eyes remained focused enough for him not to trip down the stairs.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    <i>"Pros are always risking their lives. These days, more than ever... I cannot simply say, "You can be a hero without a Quirk." If you want to help others, then you could also be a police officer."</i>


    <i>"Listen up, Deku! Twin Tails may have a small chance due to her Quirk not being useless, but you? I don''t care how much useless training you''ve been doing, but you don''t have a chance in Hell to get into UA! So don''t even think about it!"</i>


    Izuku mmed his fist into the wall beside him with a wince; the words from both his idol and old friend reyed through his mind. Clenching his eyes tightly, the green-haired boy took a deep breath and continued down the stairs.


    "No... I can''t let what they say stop me. I already made up my mind that I would be a hero! Quirk or no Quirk! If I gave up now, I''d be spitting in the faces of everyone who helped and believed in me! Souta-san, Hase-san, Hatsume-san, Toga-san, and Shinso-kun! They all said I could be a hero! Even if... even if my idol says I can''t, I''ll keep moving forward and make my dream a reality!"


    Despite theughs and jeers from his ssmates, Izuku remained unfazed by their reactions when his teacher announced his goal of entering UA.


    Katsuki''s insults and threats for him to stay away from UA were ignored. Izuku had grown too far to flinch in fear at his former friend¡ªno, his bully''s threats¡ªany longer. Even without a Quirk, Izuku knew he had value and potential.


    That potential reared its head when he managed to evade that sludge Villian''s attempts to gain control of his body until<i> All Might</i> finally arrived.


    After All Might defeated the sludge viin in the blink of an eye and was about to leave, Izuku acted on impulse and grabbed onto his leg as he soared through the air. It was only due to his countless hours of training that Izuku was somehow able to hold on during their flight.


    When All Mightnded, Izuku realized he needed to ask the same question he once posed to his dear friend and teacher.


    <i>"Even if I don''t have a Quirk, can I be a hero?"</i>


    After he asked his question and nced over to gauge the Number One hero''s reaction, Izuku noticed that All Might had transformed into apletely different person. Rather than the towering symbol of strength he was known to be, All Might now appeared as a small and frail man, looking as though he could be knocked down by a mere gust of wind.


    All Might revealed that he had sustained serious injuries in a battle five years ago, which had left him in a weakened state. This injury limited him to only three hours each day to act as a hero. For Izuku, learning this truth about his idol was disheartening, but it highlighted that the life of a professional hero is fraught with dangers, even for the Number One hero.


    All Might''s revtion that Izuku''s dreams and aspirations were unattainable crushed him. ording to his lifelong idol and hero, without a Quirk, bing a hero was a foolish goal.


    Exiting the building All Might hadnded them on, Izuku forced a smile on his face as he ran toward the direction of the far-off chaos further into the Tatooin Shopping District.


    "I wonder what hero will show up," Izuku said as he quickly moved in and out of the worried crowds.


    Deep within the ming shopping center, arge crowd of people watched on as a young man with ash blonde hair struggled to escape the hold of a sludge-like monster withrge eyes and a mouth. The ash blond boy, Bakugo Katsuki, roared as he released several explosions in an attempt to escape the Villian''s hold.


    "Let me go!"


    "We can''t get close to help with all these explosions and fires!" One of the heroes at the scene raised an arm over his face as a gust of smoke flew past him. All around him, several other heroes watched on as Katsuki struggled and unleashed his Quirk. "If the boy doesn''t stop, we won''t be able to help!"


    Off down the chaotic street, Mount Lady winced as she nervously looked around the area. Unfortunately for her, due to her size, she was unable to get any closer to help.


    "Fire and wood don''t mix. I''ll let another hero handle this!" Kamui Woods said as he sprinted through the shopping district with both of Katsuki''s followers within his arms.


    Looking around, Backdraft released several water jets onto the roaring fires through his arms and shoulder-mounted water hose. "Where are the fire trucks?! Can any of you move in to help?!"


    Despite their pro-hero status, the assembled heroes hesitated to assist Katsuki. The ongoing explosions and mes made it impossible for any of their Quirks to be effective in the current situation. This left the watching crowd bewildered as they observed the heroes apparently doing nothing to save the boy, who was slowly suffocating.


    "... I''m pathetic." Standing all the way behind the crowds with his left hand clutching his injured side, Toshinori Yagi winced as he watched the ongoing pandemonium with a helpless grimace.


    ''If only I hadn''t wasted all my time today! I can''t believe I made a mistake like this after admonishing that fan!'' Yagi thought as another explosion rocked the district.


    x x x


    Arriving at the Tatooin Shopping District, Izuku stood on his toes to try and catch a glimpse of the ongoing battle. His eyes scanned each of the gathered heroes and found that Mount Lady and Kamui Woods were on the scene. Even Power Loader and Back Draft are here, too.


    "It''s too bad Hase-san isn''t here. There''s a lot of pros!" Izuku said with a grin before his sight finallynded on the Villian deep into the ming alley. "Hold on... why is <i>he</i> here?!"


    Izuku said in shock, instantly recognizing the very same sludge viin who had tried to take control of his body earlier that day.


    ''Did it get away from All Might?! No... those bottles. All Might dropped him... because of me!'' Izuku thought with horror as his shaking green eyesnded on the terrified red eyes of his ssmate and old childhood friend.


    "Khan..."


    Without a second thought or a moment to consider his actions, Izuku burst forward with quick speed. Weaving in and out of the gathered crowds, he leaped over the police barricades and the unmoving heroes with determination.


    "Idiot! Stop!" Power Loader yelled but made no effort to stop Izuku.


    ''Remember Souta-san''s teachings! Find your opponent''s weaknesses and openings!'' Izuku thought as he quickly scanned the sludge Villian''s form. Combining his Quirk analysis knowledge andbat skills, Izuku promptly grabbed the top of a nearby trash bin lid and threw it with as much strength as he could muster into the Villians right eye.


    "Gah!" The Villian roared in pain as the trash lid found its target. "My eye!"


    Dashing in, Izuku jumped andnded a roundhouse kick into the Villians other eye.


    Roaring in pain, the viin''s hold on Katsuki ckened. Seeing his chance, Izuku''s hands snapped up andtched onto Katsuki''s cor. With a great heave, he pulled back and managed to dislodge half of his ssmate''s body, ignoring the heat around him from the roaring fires.


    "Not enough!" Izuku hissed as the Villian turned to him with a growl.


    Looking down, Izuku quickly apologized to Katsuki before using him as leverage to push himself up. With both hands on Katsuki''s back, Izuku pulled his legs into his chest and then unleashed a powerful front kick that struck the viin''s eyes once again.


    "Gah!! My eyes!"


    Flipping back, Izuku roared and jerked Katsuki right out of the sludge viin''s body. Finally freeing him from his hold. The two middle schoolers fell onto the floor in a heap of limbs, Katsuki coughing and breathing heavily.


    "Khan! Get up! We have to-"


    "You damn punk! Die!"


    Izuku turned up to see the Villian form its right hand into several long liquid spikes. With nothing left to do, Izuku moved over Katsuki''s body and braced himself. Izuku awaited the searing pain of being skewered, but in the end, the pain never came.


    Looking up, Izuku saw All Might holding the viin''s wrist within his grasp.


    "I really am pathetic." All Might said as he turned to him within his muscled form. "Even though I admonished you, I wasn''t putting what I said into practice!" With blood gushing from his mouth, All Might reared his other arm back. "Pros are always risking their lives! Detroit... SMASH!!"


    With explosive power, All Might carefully pinned Izuku and Katsuki down as he unleashed a right punch that caused over 145 per-mile winds to rush through the streets. Moving quickly, the nearby pros all gathered and secured the nearby civilians just as the winds rapidly reached them.


    A few streets away, everyone turned up to see a wildly spinning tornado dance through the sky above the Tatooin Shopping District with wide and confused eyes. Eventually, the powerful tornado finally died, causing the sky to darken and grey.


    Slowly, rain began to fall over the area as both heroes and civilians alike turned to All Might, standing in the now-ruined shopping center with his left arm raised in victory.


    "...that was awesome," Izuku said as he somehow maintained his consciousness throughout All Might''s disy of unmatched power.


    Unknown to everyone below, a hidden figure dressed in a long ck cloak and mask nodded before throwing an empty soda bottle down onto the rooftop he stood on. Resting on his shoulder, a ck crow with small red markings on the side of its head squawked.


    "Good work, Izuku."


    Turning around, the cloaked figure began walking away before he melted into a swirl of curse energy while the crow flew off into the sky.


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>While I''m not confirming anything, what would you all think about if I wrote a story within the world of Attack On Titan after I finish writing this story? Despite its devisive ending, I have love the AOT story since I began watching/reading it. It''s one of the GOATs in all of anime/manga. </strong>


    <strong>While I may not have a concrete idea of what I would do with it, I am intrigued by what I could do with that world, whether it''s another SI story or an in-world character story.</strong>


    <strong>As for where I am with this story, I''m around 45-65% done with it or so (currently working on Chapter 74). Meaning that the ending isn''t that far off.</strong>


    <strong>Anyway, let me know if you all would be interested in reading an AOT story from me and what you would be interested in seeing from it! If not AOT, what would you like to see me do next?</strong>


    <strong>Like always, leave me plenty ofments on today''s Chapter, and I''ll see you all next time!</strong>

 Chapter 66: NO. 66 - Stay With Me

    <h4>Chapter 66: NO. 66 - Stay With Me</h4>


    "You''re pouting."


    "...I''m not pouting."


    <strong>[+15 SP]</strong>


    Nejire''sck of respect for personal space and her constant questions have led Himiko to misinterpret how our Senpai views me. During our after-school ice cream trip with the future Big Three, Nejire has shown excessive curiosity about me ever since I mentioned that I am Quirkless.


    Because she didn''t have much personal space, our periwinkle-haired Senpai was practically hanging off my left arm while she questioned me about what it was like to be Quirkless. Her actions seemed to irritate Himiko intensely, while Mirio couldn''t help but chuckle at the situation.


    What caught my attention the most was the annoyed nces Tamaki had thrown me whenever Nejire touched me.


    That boy had it bad for the blue-haired bundle of curiosity.


    How interesting.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Returning to my current spar, I smiled at Himiko as she ducked under a quick swing from my wooden bokken. I slid in and swung my weapon diagonally at her, and she blocked my strike with a wince. Himiko huffed and decided to go on the offensive.


    With quick movements, I blocked each of her attacks with swift precision. The cks from our bokkens crashing into each other echoed within my dojo as we danced around one another.


    "Admit it! Admit that Hado-senpai is cute!" Himiko said with a re as she shed the air above my head. Spinning around her, I bumped her back with the bottom of my bokken, causing her to stumble forward.


    "Well... Hado is a cute girl. But what does that have to do with anything?" I jumped back as sheunched a roundhouse kick at my midsection. "Wait, don''t tell me your-"


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    "Don''t say it!" Himiko screamed with a red face as she threw her bokken down and engaged me in a hand-to-hand fight.


    Seeing her flustered face, I felt a mischievous grin grow on my face. Parrying a left jab, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her in by the small of her back. "Say what? That you''re jealous?" Himiko blushed brightly as our chests pressed onto one another. "Besides, I think you''re pretty cute, too."


    <strong>[+100 SP]</strong>


    "A-ah!" Closing her eyes, Himiko squeaked cutely and swung her right hand up. Unprepared for her punch, my head snapped back as her fist struck my chin.


    "Gah! Ma tougue!"


    "Sorry!"


    Using RCT, I healed my once-bleeding tongue and chuckled at Himiko''s embarrassed expression. "Nice one. I can''t remember thest time you ever hit me."


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    "That''s because there was nost time."


    "Ooh... Good job?"


    Himiko twirled one of her blonde locks as she stared down at the dojo''s wooden floors, a soft blush over her cheeks. "So, you think... I''m cute?"


    I stopped rubbing my hair and turned to her with an awkward smile.


    "Yeah... I do." At my answer, Himiko took a deep breath and slowly walked toward me. Her determined gold cat-like eyes looked into my own as her face was now barely a few centimeters away.


    <strong>[+45 SP]</strong>


    "Sukuna-kun," Himiko whispered as she reached out and grabbed my hands in her own. "Can we talk? About... <i>that</i> night?"


    <i>Ah, it seems we''re finally addressing the elephant in the room.</i>


    "Oh. <i>That</i> night." I looked down at our joined hands as she rubbed her thumbs over my scarred knuckles. "When you..."


    "Yeah... When I almost... kissed you." Himiko''s face became bright red as she avoided my gaze. Sighing, I pulled away, causing her to frown.


    "You have feelings for me, don''t you?"


    "...I do."


    <strong>[+55 SP]</strong>


    A long silence weighed heavily within the dojo as we stood awkwardly in front of one another. After taking a deep breath, Himiko ced her hands over her chest as small tears began to pool at the edges of her eyes.


    <i>Don''t cry, Himiko. I''m not good with crying girls. </i>


    <i>Now, then, what I say next will determine the future of our rtionship. I have to be careful.</i>


    "Himiko... I have feelings for you, too. But... they''re not exactly the same as your own. Like you told me before, I do love you. You''re one of the few people I truly value in this world. However, that love I hold for you... isn''t romantic." I admitted as I looked into her eyes. Hearing my answer, her eyes became crestfallen. Reaching out, I held her cheeks and smiled softly. "But that doesn''t mean they can''t <i>change</i> someday."


    <strong>[+75 SP]</strong>


    Himiko''s eyes grew wide as a warm, happy smile grew on her face. A burning fire lit up behind her eyes at the fact that there was a chance for her feelings to someday reach me. Reaching up, she held my hands with her own. "That''s okay with me! I''ll just make you fall for me then! So be prepared for that!"


    Hearing her promation, I chuckled and brushed off her tears. "I see. I''m looking forward to that day then."


    Moving in, Himiko hugged my chest tightly as her face pressed against me. She was positively brimming like a schoolgirl in love. Tentatively, I wrapped my own arms around her back, causing her to sigh in content.


    <i>...was this the correct answer?</i>


    x x x


    (The boy has been offered All Might''s power, Sukuna-sama.) Crow Uraume said with a slight bow as he rested on my forearm. (However, it seems that the skinny man wishes to test the boy''s will and dedication before passing on his Quirk.)


    "I see... good work, Uraume." I stroked the crow''s head and looked out at the dark forest in the distance. "With that, I guess I don''t have to worry about the future too much now. Things should proceed smoothly from here."


    (I aim to please, Sukuna-sama.)


    With nothing more to be said, Crow Uraume flew off my forearm and headed back to watch over Izuku. While I did feel a bit bad at keeping tabs on my green-haired friend, I had to ensure he received One For All.


    No matter what I had to do to make that happen.


    "Who would have thought that bottle would have missed Bakugo by a few kilometers? The whole timeline could have been messed up... even more than it already is." With a sigh, I leaped down from the roof of my house and went inside.


    Since it was around three in the morning, everyone was asleep. Rubbing my eyes, I stifled a yawn as I made my way toward my room for some much-needed rest.


    <i>Sniff sniff.</i>


    Pausing, I turned toward the direction where I heard some muffled sobs. At the sound of the familiar, soft voice, I frowned and made my way toward it.


    "Eri?" I whispered as I softly knocked on her door. At my knock, Eri immediately grew silent. "What''s wrong?"


    "...nothing. I''m okay."


    <strong>[+10 SP]</strong>


    Eri was, in fact, not okay.


    Even after we had rescued her much earlier in the timeline from Chisaki, it seemed that the dead Yakuza boss''s influence on her remained strong like a weighted nket made of trauma. A trauma I knew the girl tried to hide under her apparent happy demeanor around the house.


    Kaina, Eri''s official caretaker, had told me that the girl had night terrors a few times a week. Preventing her from getting a whole night''s sleep. The only thing that seemed to ward off the nightmares was when Kaina stayed with Eri. It appeared the woman''s presence considerably calmed the girl down.


    Knowing all this, I should have made my way over to Kaina and woken her up so she could help, but from the bags under the woman''s eyes, I saw today. I knew she could use a full night''s rest. Besides, Eri was my responsibility as well. It''s about time I helped more than just on the financial side of things.


    Sighing, I walked inside her room and closed the door behind me. Peering through the darkness, I saw Eri sitting up on her bed with her knees tucked into her chest. Her cheeks had tear stains, and she buried her head behind her knees to avoid my eyes. Off in the corner, Jello turned to me silently before looking over to its ward.


    Sitting beside her, I turned to her and ced a hand on her back. "Another bad dream?"


    "...yes," Eri whispered with a sob. "I was back in that ce. And <i>he</i> was there. He was... c-cutting me again." Eri said as she brushed her arms, which were covered with a long-sleeved shirt. She never liked wearing anything that exposed her scars.


    <i>Once I get Idle Transfiguration, I''ll make those scars disappear.</i>


    "Oh, Eri." With a heavy frown, I brought her into my chest and held her close. Her trembling form pressed against my chest as her soft sobs grew stronger. "You''re safe now, Eri. No one can hurt you anymore. I''m here to protect you. We all are."


    <strong>[+25 SP]</strong>


    "I know... I just can''t forget about <i>him</i> and everything he did." Eri whispered as she grabbed my shirt tightly while her head pressed into my chest, causing her tears to soak into my shirt.


    Feeling irrational anger burst into my chest, I took a calming breath and began to rock her back and forth gently. Closing my eyes, I thought back to something my original parents would do for me when I was a small child. I could faintly remember my own mother''s voice, but I remembered the lyrics clear as day.


    <i>I was never much of a singer, but this isn''t about me.</i>


    e stop your crying; it will be alright. Just take my hand, hold it tight." I began to sing softly, causing Eri''s crying to slowly stop as she turned up to me with wide eyes. Reaching out, I held her hand gently. "I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, don''t you cry~"


    "For one so small, you seem so strong. My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm. This bond between us can''t be broken. I will be here; don''t you cry~ ''Cause you''ll be in my heart, yes, you''ll be in my heart from this day on, now and forever more. You''ll be in my heart no matter what they say. You''ll be here in my heart always~."


    Once I finished singing, I felt my cheeks burning slightly due to never having sung to anyone before. Pulling away, I smiled down at Eri''s wide eyes. "Sorry, I''m not really a good singer, but... my mom used to sing this for me to help me feel better when I was younger."


    <strong>[+100 SP] </strong>


    "That was really good, Oniichan. I... like your voice." Eri said her new title for me was seemingly missed by her. "I-I feel a lot better now. Thank you." She said as a small smile grew on her face. "Can you... stay with me, Oniichan? Just until I fall asleep?"


    "...you got it."


    Laying down on her bed, Eri snuggled into my chest as I hummed the song to her softly. After a few minutes, she finally fell asleep with a soft smile on her face.


    Before I could get up to head back to my own room, my eyes began to grow heavy. Despite myself, I quickly fell asleep beside Eri. Her little hand clutching my own scarred one tightly.


    -


    <strong>AN:</strong>


    <strong>I hope you all enjoyed today''s tender and mushy Chapter; there aren''t too many of these within this story.</strong>


    <strong>Bonus points for those who know where the song Souta sang is from.</strong>


    <strong>Like always, leave me ament on today''s Chapter, and I''ll see you all next time!</strong>

 Chapter 67: NO. 67 - A Detectives Musings

    <h4>Chapter 67: NO. 67 - A Detectives Musings</h4>


    Dressed in my Sukuna get-up, Iy on the ground of one of Kyoto''s tall buildings with my arms crossed behind my head. Despite Kaina''s advice ofying low, I couldn''t help myself and decided to go out as Sukuna again.


    During this time, I decided I''d saved enough points to go on a lengthy gambling session while chewing on some Okonomiyaki.


    <i>Clink!</i>


    <strong>[You have pulled: Reggie Star''s Hollow Whisker Basket! Rank: Gold.]</strong>


    "Not bad... what am I saying? That''spletely useless here."


    <i>Clink!</i>


    <strong>[You have pulled: Satoru Gojo''s Fashion Sensibilities! Rank: Silver.]</strong>


    "Huh? Why?!"


    <i>Clink!</i>


    <strong>[You have pulled: Kugisaki Nabora''s Cursed Technique, Straw Doll! Rank: Gold.]</strong>


    At the sight of Kugisaki''s technique, I sat up from the cold ground and grinned. "Finally! A technique!" Jumping to my feet, I went through the knowledge of the technique and smiled. "Now I can attack someone''s soul directly using Resonance for some extra unheble damage. Very nice."


    <strong>[Total SP: 12,649]</strong>


    "I still have a lot of points left. Let''s bet on our lucky stars and draw the Six-Eyes!" I reached out and used 3500 SP and ended up with... nothing.


    "Fuck!"


    I punched my palm in frustration and cried over losing so many points. With a sad sigh, I decided to y it safe and used 1500 SP for a Diamond pull.


    <i>Clink!</i>


    <strong>[You have pulled: Aoi Todo''s Domain Expansion, Symphony of Unending Apuse! Rank: Diamond.]</strong>


    Blinking, I felt the usual burst of information flood my brain. "Hold on... Todo didn''t have a Domain back in JJK. Could that mean that... this System can grant me the fully realized Domain of every Curse Technique I have?!"


    Slipping off my mask, I failed to notice the wide, greedy smile growing on my face. Slowly, a low chuckle escaped my throat as I held my head.


    "Incredible... simply incredible!"


    As I looked down at my mask, excitement welled within me as I envisioned myself as the strongest being on the, wielding a Domain for every technique in my arsenal.


    "Sukuna... the actual Sukuna would be rolling in his grave if he knew of my true potential. With enough time, I''d be a God amongst men. No! A God of Curses!"


    Before I could fall into delusions of godhood that would make Yagami Light blush, I pped myself and calmed down. No matter how much power I could one day wield, I couldn''t allow myself to get drunk on it.


    Otherwise, I would be <i>exactly </i>like Sukuna. Perhaps even worse.


    "I can''t allow that... no matter what."


    Falling on my ass, I looked over to my remaining points and sighed. "Use 1500 SP."


    Over the course of several minutes, my luck seemed to have run out due to me winning a lot of clothing and useless skills like Miwa''s cooking skills, Todo''s idol knowledge, Gakuganji''s musical skills, and Nanami''s knowledge of stocks. Then again, thatst one might be useful.


    Towards the end, I was lucky to have won another technique with thest of my points.


    <strong>[You have pulled: Geto Suguru''s Curse Technique, Cursed Spirit Maniption! Rank: Gold.]</strong>


    "In a world without curse spirits? How... useless."


    x x x


    <strong>[General POV]</strong>


    Walking through the dark city streets of Kyoto, a very tall, fox-like woman with a curvy figure looked around anxiously at her phone.


    The woman had shoulder-length blonde hair, with a single strand falling on the right side of her face. Herrge blue eyes were framed by thick eyshes, and she had pointed ears. In addition, her body was covered in green fur, while her underbelly was white and furry.


    "Oh, dear. Am I getting close?" The woman, Miyagawa Naomi, muttered as she looked down at her phone''s GPS. "Maybe I should just call someone?" She said as she looked around the more solitary area of the city she now found herself.


    The bustling, loud streets and busy sidewalks were now off in the distance. With a disappointed sigh, Naomi decided to head back and call her friends to let them know she would bete for their get-together.


    "Me and my bad sense of direction," Naomi muttered, her blonde eyshes fluttering as she headed back to the main streets.


    "Hey! Hey! Hold the phone! Where are you going?"


    Naomi jumped and turned to see three seedy individuals walk toward her. Blinking, the fox-like woman squeaked nervously as the approaching men whistled.


    "Damn, dude! Look at her!"


    "She''s like super freaking tall! And those boobs! They''re huge!" A man with the features of a toad said as a long, thick tail danced in the air. "Hey, sweetheart. Come y with us! We''ll show you a good time!"


    "A-ah, sorry. I have somewhere to be." Naomi said with fear as she tried to escape. Unfortunately, her fear held her back from running.


    "Come on! Don''t be like that! Me and my buddies will show you a night you''ll never forget-"


    "Enough!"


    Jumping down from a nearby fire escape, a man with pinkish-purple hair and green scaly skin wearing a blue masknded between the men and Naomi.


    Standing to his full height, the man could be seen wearing thick ninja-like gear while a pair of katanas rested on his back alongside a long wooden staff. At his sides were a pair of nunchucks and Sais.


    "Go on, flee! I shall handle this!" Iguchi Shuichi, or as he''s now known, The Masked Overwatcher, said as he drew his wooden staff. "Now!"


    "O-okay!" Naomi nodded and ran off, but not before looking back to see Shuichi''s broad back.


    "Who the hell are you supposed to be?" One of the three men, a man with a Quirk that allowed him to hover 3 centimeters above the ground, said with a re as his night of fun was now ruined.


    "Me? Just a guy trying to do what''s right." Sh¨±ichi said before dashing forward with his staff raised high.


    x x x


    Tsukauchi Naomasa released a heavy sigh as he leaned back on his rolling chair. Stray hairs could be seen on his chin and upper lip while dark bags hung under his eyes fromck of sleep.


    "Off the case... what the hell is going on?" Naomasa muttered as he reached over to his coffee mug, only to find it empty.


    Giving up on his caffeinated beverage, the Detective rubbed his tired eyes and looked over at all the strewn-out papers and documents on his desk.


    Or at least, thest remaining papers and documents he had over a case he''s spent the past year building.


    Every piece of information that he and his team worked so hard to collect and uncover about the viin Sukuna had been taken by the HPSC. The new private enforcement team they hired would be in charge of the case from now on.


    An action that had enraged the Detective and his hard-working team.


    When Naomasa had charged into the Police Chiefs office for an exnation, Tsuragamae Kenji could only offer him a disappointed look.


    <i>"I''m sorry, Tsukauchi. It''s out of our hands. Let''s leave this to All Might and the private enforcement team... at least, for now."</i>


    Seeing the Chief''s weathered and defeated expression, all the fight Naomasa had disappeared. With nothing more to do, the Detective returned to his office, where a lone folder sat in his desk drawer.


    The HPSC and that new enforcement team hadn''t taken <i>everything</i> from him.


    Naomasa was lucky enough to have taken some of his work home during the siege of their intel. While bare, the folder held just enough information that would allow him to continue his own off-the-books private investigation. He''d be damned if he didn''t do everything in his power to help his friend, Toshinori Yagi, in taking down Sukuna.


    Shaking the sleep away, Naomasa looked around his private office, where several awards and des rested on his wall. There was even a framed picture of him and All Might sitting on his far-off bookshelf. After taking a deep, calming breath, the Detective turned back to his work.


    "It''s not like the sudden surge of criminal activity wasn''t enough due to Sukuna''s actions; now we have dozens of copycats and dozens of his so-called followers running around Japan... Was this his intention?" Naomasa wondered as he read through several police reports from all over the country.


    The reports were on the arrests of several wannabe vigntes and criminals wearing what seemed to be crudely made masks that Sukuna wore on the night of the Wakayama Incident. The night in which the King of Curses seemingly took down several of Japan''s pro heroes with ease.


    After Sukuna''s existence went public, it seemed that all the information he and his team had gathered was somehow leaked to the public. Naomasa didn''t know whether this was due to a mole in their forces or if their systems were hacked.


    But what he did know was that the information of everything Sukuna had done was now out in the open. And that brought dangerous consequences.


    Said information started from Sukuna''s vignte acts of taking down criminals and inadvertently keeping the streets clear due to the criminals/Villian''s fear of him was a significant factor for arge portion of society calling him a hero without limits.


    The sheer idea of some calling Sukuna, a mass murderer, a hero was sickening to Naomasa.


    The situation worsened when people learned that Sukuna had single-handedly taken down one of Japan''s most notorious crime lords, along with his extensive kidnapping and child trafficking operations. This only solidified Sukuna''s status as a hero, someone who did whatever was necessary, regardless of the consequences.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    A lethal protector, some called him.


    This caused a meteoric rise of support and adoration for Sukuna through the inte and word of mouth. In the end, this caused several civilians to try to enact their own justice for those they deemed to be in the wrong.


    Unfortunately for them, they misjudged just how ruthless the real world was.


    Several vignte wannabes ended up dead due to them overestimating their own strength.


    The lucky ones ended up arrested with minor injuries, while several others ended up in the hospital with grave injuries.


    When it came to the criminal underbelly, they somehow grew emboldened to act out more against the heroes. Before, heroes were an unstoppable force that could not be beaten. No matter what. But after the Wakayama Incident, that mindset that kept those too scared to act was shattered.


    Now, Viins and criminals attacked heroes without fear to show off their own strength and prove their dominance. Because if the King of Curses could take down a couple of heroes and be famous, why couldn''t they?


    Thankfully, inplete contrast to the Sukuna supporters, there were still those who condemned him for his crimes.


    Arge number of the people of Japan were now calling for his immediate arrest and to be brought to justice.


    Even after several weeks after the Wakayama Incident, to this day, the police were still constantly bombarded with questions and demands about when Sukuna would finally be stopped.


    It was reassuring to hear that society still held the rule ofw above vigntism.


    "Madness. Pure madness." Naomasa said as he stood up, his stiff joints popping after being motionless for so long. "If we don''t take down Sukuna soon, the public will only fall deeper into madness. He needs to be stopped soon. No matter what."


    Walking over to his office''s lone window, Naomasa stared out to the night sky with hope in his eyes.


    Hope that All Might would soon set everything back to the way it was. Back when things were peaceful and when the public didn''t support a mass killer.


    x x x


    Shuji Saito walked through the dark streets of his home city with dull eyes, his body seemingly on autopilot as he hobbled down the lonely sidewalk.


    <i>"Get out! Get out of my sight! I-I didn''t raise some criminal!"</i>


    <i>"I can''t believe you would have done such a thing... I have no son."</i>


    Despite all the tears he''s spilled today, Saito''s eyes began to grow humid yet again. With a choked sob, he numbly walked into a nearby alleyway and leaned against the cold brick wall to his right.


    "No... no, that''s not true. I''m not a criminal!" Sliding to the ground, Saito sobbed as he hugged his backpack. A backpack full of money.


    <i>"Ah, before I forget</i>,<i>" Gakiya S¨­ru muttered from inside his dingy little yellow car. Leaning back, thewyer reached back and grabbed a ratherrge backpack. He then tossed it to a recently released Saito. "This is a gift from </i>him<i>. Now then, good luck, young man. Let''s hope we never have to meet again."</i>


    "Money... is this his way of apologizing?" Saito chuckled as he unzipped the backpack where bundles of yen sat within. "What good is money... when my life is ruined?!"


    With an angry roar, Saito threw the backpack down the alleyway, causing the pile of money to spill out. "My parents look at me like I''m the scum of the earth! All my friends treat me like a monster! Money won''t fix this!!"


    Ever since he was released from the juvenile detention center a week ago, Saito had been treated like the lowest of the low. Like the scum of the earth. A horrible criminal. Abandoned by everyone he knew and cared for because they believed he was a heinous criminal who attacked helpless girls just so he could satisfy himself.


    The sheer disgusted and disappointed expressions his friends and family gave him made Saito almost jump off the nearest rooftop avable.


    But something deep inside him stopped him.


    What had stopped him from taking his life was Saito''s deep, deep, utter <strong>hatred</strong> for the man who ruined his life.


    "Sukuna!" Saito howled with his forehead pressed against the floor, his arm clutching his stomach tightly as if in horrible pain. "I HATE YOU!!"


    "Is that so? Well, it seems we have that inmon then, young man."


    Saito looked up sharply toward the sound of the voice. Standing over his thrown backpack, a man dressed in a suit and an odd ck helmet held his hands behind his back.


    ''What is this feeling? This guy feels just like <i>him</i>?! No... This is different. Who is this person?'' Saito thought as he stood to his feet numbly.


    "I have a proposal for you, Shuji Saito." All For One said as he approached Saito calmly. Arge grin stretched over his scarred face from under his helmet. "One that I think will benefit the both of us quite nicely." Reaching out, All For One held out a hand toward Saito.


    "Come, Saito. Let me help you destroy the man known as Sukuna, the King of Curses."


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