[Musutafu]
[Point of view: Third person]
The day in the city was a hive of emotion.
It was boiling with palpable anxiety, reflected in every corner, in every home, on every television screen broadcasting the long-awaited press conference of the Symbol of Peace.
All of Japan held its breath.
The terrorist attack a few days ago had shaken the foundations of society.
It's been a long time since something of such magnitude had been seen, an act of violence that had left scars not only on the city, but also on the psyche of the people.
Entire families gathered in front of the television, with the volume turned up and their muscles tense.
They wanted answers. They needed guarantees.
But those who were most eager for this conference were the reporters.
Not out of genuine concern, but because there was blood in the water. They swarmed around All Might's podium like a pack of hungry wolves, their eyes glowing with anticipation and claws ready to tear at any shred of information.
Each one had his own agenda.
Some wanted the truth, others were looking to sell a story, and a few just wanted the scandal.
Because fear sold, tragedy sold, a hesitant All Might live and direct would be the cover of the month.
And yet, when Japan's strongest man appeared, his mere presence crushed the anxiety like an unstoppable wave.
"Hello, people of Japan! Don't worry, I'm here!" he exclaimed in his signature powerful voice, which resonated without the need for microphones or speakers.
The air vibrated with his energy. His smile was unwavering, his posture firm, his shadow gigantic under the glare of the cameras.
But if you thought that would be enough to appease the wolves, you were wrong.
Chaos erupted in an instant.
—All Might! Is it true that the terrorists managed to infiltrate the city center without being detected?
—The authorities have been criticized for their lack of response! Will more drastic measures be taken in the future?
—The victims demand justice! How does the government plan to respond to their demands?
—There are rumors about a villainous organization that could be behind this! Is it true?
The questions came like a storm, each one more aggressive than the last.
Society's fear fueled the media's desperation. And they, thirsty for headlines, devoured the panic and regurgitated it in the form of sensational news.
All Might raised a hand, asking for calm.
—Japan is strong. And the heroes will not rest until every threat to their people is eradicated.
His tone was confident, his voice like a rock against the waves.
But the reporters wouldn't let go of their prey so easily.
—That doesn't answer any questions, All Might! How did the terrorists manage to act so freely?
—The people need to know if we can trust heroes after this disaster!
Cold sweat seeped into the crowd, mixing with the tension.
All Might, for his part, kept his smile, although inside, he was exhausted.
He hated these moments, where the image of the hero mattered more than the action itself. But it was his duty to reassure people.
He cleared his throat.
—Nowadays, we believe this was a warning. A message to a hero society that has perhaps become complacent. But this will not happen again.
It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either.
And then, one voice rose above the rest, shrill, venomous.
—We have information that a child was attacked by pro heroes shortly after the attack! All Might! Do you have anything to say about a pro hero attacking a teenage civilian?
The silence was shattered.
The cameras turned, the murmurs turned into a roar.
Suddenly, the conference was no longer about terrorism.
The fresh blood of an innocent victim was tastier than any national security news.
And now, everyone wanted to see if the Symbol of Peace would bleed with her.
All Might froze slightly at the question.
Not because of the content itself, but because of the way the reporter had twisted reality to create a fresh and compelling headline.
It disgusted him.
He sighed, straightened his back, and began to speak with the calmness of someone who has had to explain the obvious too many times.
—The heroes present were tired and frustrated at not finding anyone responsible amidst the chaos. When they saw the boy in question emerge from the crater, apparently unharmed, alarm bells went off. That's what prompted the action.
His explanation was clear, concise, objective.
But the reporters only heard what suited them.
The pens danced fiercely across the paper, capturing the "truth" that would sell the most. Their minds weren't looking for justice or context, only for the best angle to shock.
The headlines were already forming even before All Might finished his sentence.
"Young terrorist found at crime scene!"
"Terrorist children attack the country!"
"Teen Linked to Attack: A Danger to Japan?"
Sensationalism was a cancer that was eating away at society, and the worst part was that no one in the elite of heroes could do anything about it.
Because in the end, the real puppeteers were the high-ranking officials, those who controlled the media, those who dictated what the people should fear.
All Might sighed heavily.
It wasn't worth it to stay here.
He bent his knees and, in a single movement, disappeared from the scene.
But his deeply furrowed brow made it clear what he thought about all this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Streets of Musutafu]
[Point of view: Third Person]
—What did you just call me...? Damned mortal.
In front of him, two mortals were standing in the middle of the street, one of them still clenching his fist, his breathing labored from the confrontation he had just had with the other.
God had not intervened to break up the fight.
I didn't want it to end.
That fight had entertained him more than he would admit out loud.
The raw emotions, the unbridled fury of humans... were like a delicacy for his boredom.
But although he didn't want to get involved, he didn't deviate from his path because of those mortals.
The blond, his eyes still sparkling with rage, turned to him, his brow furrowed in a grimace of disbelief and contempt.
—What did you say, extra!
Those words were like a spark in a powder keg.
For some reason he himself didn't understand, his anger erupted.
Their gazes collided like swords on an invisible battlefield.
Their jaws clenched, their fists clenched, and almost animal-like growls issued from their closed lips.
It was not just a simple exchange of hostility, but a battle of wills, a silent war where only one of the two could prevail.
A deathly silence fell over the street.
The air itself seemed to have frozen.
But before they could exchange another word, the green-haired mortal awkwardly stepped between them.
—No, don't fight, I think...
His weak words were the height of insult.
Both the God and the blond turned their furious gazes towards him in unison.
—Get out of here, extra!
—Get out of here, mortal!
The green-haired boy was shaken to his core.
Her legs began to tremble as if they were about to give way at any moment, and her face twisted into a grimace of absolute fear.
Hades thought about ignoring him and just pushing him away.
But his body didn't respond.
His left arm froze in place, motionless, while his right hand, in an act completely beyond his control, gently rested on the boy's shoulder.
His own eyes widened in bewilderment.
It was as if something inside him was acting on its own.
And before he could stop it, his mouth uttered words that would never have come from his own being.
—Calm down, boy. Everything will be all right now.
He felt nauseous instantly.
That voice, that intonation, was not his.
It was... the other one.
That second consciousness, that remnant of the mortal who once inhabited this body.
For a moment, his own control almost completely vanished.
The weight of that pure, absurd goodness left him stunned, as if he had been wrapped in chains of light that burned his skin.
"Why the hell does this keep happening...?" he muttered to himself, unaware that the green-haired boy, still with a distraught expression, had heard him clearly.
He didn't say anything.
But the confusion in his eyes was evident.
The duel of glances had been interrupted.
The blond, still frowning, clicked his tongue in annoyance and walked away, muttering curses under his breath.
Hades, unintentionally, imitated his actions.
He made a sound of disdain, pushed the boy's hand away, and turned on his heels without another word.
The green-haired boy stood there, paralyzed, watching their backs retreat.
I didn't understand what had happened.
But I knew that that day, something had changed.
Still shaking, he looked at his watch and remembered he had something more important to think about.
Today he was going to train with his idol.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sound of the streets was a chaotic hubbub that invaded Hades's ears with an uncomfortable aggressiveness.
The city moved at a speed that was completely alien to him.
Shiny, rumbling metal carriages glided along the paved roads, moving forward with almost mechanical purpose.
To his eyes, it was like watching soulless creatures move in perfect synchronization, guided by invisible forces.
The mortals who piloted them seemed to have tamed these iron beasts, sitting within them as if they were thrones of war.
He watched the coming and going of these carriages with a mixture of bewilderment and disdain.
—Is this how these mortals travel now?
In his time, transportation was limited to horses and carriages, wind-driven boats, and the surefootedness of warriors.
Everything depended on the individual's own will.
But here... here everything was different.
Hades walked through the crowd, watching the passersby indifferently.
Weak humans, oblivious to their existence, preoccupied with their own problems. Most passed by, absorbed in their tiny light screens, their banal conversations, and the monotonous rhythm of routine.
He found it fascinating and repulsive at the same time.
For centuries, he had seen the rise and fall of civilizations.
He had witnessed war, famine, plague, and utter despair. But this world... this world felt different.
It wasn't better.
It was just a make-up job with a false sense of progress.
With his hands in the pockets of his worn jacket, Hades continued on his way to his "home" under a bridge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Upon arrival, the view was the same as always: empty, cold, and without a soul to greet him.
For anyone else, this would have been depressing.
For him, who had spent millennia in solitude, it was nothing more than the norm.
However, something new caught his attention.
Right in front of the ashes of his old campfire, on a small blanket, was a pile of fresh mushrooms.
Above them, a folded note.
He unfolded the paper and read carefully:
—Hey... I saw you ate all the mushrooms I left you yesterday... So, I grew some more! I hope you enjoy them.
Below was a series of scribbles and scratches, as if someone had tried to write something else, but couldn't.
The only legible thing was a solitary word:
-Thank you.
Hades clicked his tongue, raising an eyebrow skeptically.
—Why give me something without expecting anything in return...?
Still, he wasn't foolish enough to refuse a gift.
He took the mushrooms without hesitation and put them in his mouth.
As he chewed them, his mind stopped thinking about the girl Kinoko.
He would happily accept the offering.
....
Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months.
For a god, time was once an irrelevant constant, an infinite stream that flowed without stopping.
But in this fragile mortal body, every second counted. Every heartbeat was a reminder that he was trapped in the treadmill of human existence, condemned to hunger, cold, and fatigue.
But that didn't mean he would give up.
Since his arrival, Hades forced himself to strengthen his new body. He couldn't bear the thought of remaining weak, so he turned his surroundings into a makeshift training ground.
In the woods near his shelter, he spent hours chasing rabbits, trying to match their speed and reflexes.
At first, his attempts were pathetic: he tripped over roots, got tangled in branches, and ended up with his face covered in dirt.
The rabbits, quick and agile, seemed to mock him with every jump.
Frustrated, he decided to change his strategy. He watched their movements, analyzed their patterns, and eventually, he began to get close enough to almost catch them... but "almost" wasn't enough.
When hunting failed, he resorted to fishing.
With a makeshift spear made of sharpened wood, he tried to catch fish in the river.
His aim was poor, and more than once he ended up falling into the water with a loud splash.
"Damn mortals and their pathetic bodies..." he growled, soaked and shivering with cold.
But he didn't give up.
With each attempt, his movements became more precise.
He learned to detect reflections in the water, to control his breathing, to wait for the exact moment before attacking.
Finally, after dozens of failed attempts, he managed to spear his first fish.
A small victory... but a victory nonetheless.
However, the most difficult thing was his sword training.
His great bone blade, a manifestation of his skill, was a monster of impossible weight.
He tried to lift her again and again, using all his strength, but he could only move her a few inches before his arms gave way.
Every attempt ended the same way: him lying on the ground, his muscles burning and his pride in tatters.
-Shit...
He gritted his teeth, breathing heavily.
His body was simply too weak.
—If I can't even wield my own sword, how am I supposed to purge this world of its corruption?
Every night, that question tormented him.
And worst of all, his second personality kept insisting on a single thought:
—Become a hero.
That idea disgusted him.
For him, the "heroes" of this world were nothing more than instruments of a rotten society, used to maintain a false balance.
How could I be part of something I despised?
However... if that was the only way to achieve his goal, then he would take it.
In his own way.
With his own justice.
If the world was doomed, he would take it upon himself to destroy the flawed structure on which it stood and rebuild it with his own hands.
—If I'm going to become a hero... I'll do it under my own rules.
And no one, not even the gods, would stop him.
[Several days later]
The cold of dawn woke him up before the sun even rose over the horizon.
Hades opened his eyes slowly, feeling the dampness of the earth beneath his back.
His makeshift shelter under the bridge offered little comfort, but at least it protected him from the wind and rain.
He yawned, rubbing his eyes in annoyance.
Sleeping in this mortal body was a detestable necessity.
No matter how hard he tried to get used to it, sleep followed him like an inevitable curse.
He sat down slowly, stretching his arms and feeling how his muscles, although still weak, were firmer than when he came into this world.
—Tch... this feeling again...
Her stomach growled in protest, hunger an irritating reminder of her fragility.
He placed his hand on his abdomen and sighed in resignation. Today he would have to find something to eat with the mushrooms before the pain became unbearable.
But then, his mind brought a thought forgotten by the lethargy of sleep.
—Today was the day.
Yesterday, as I was wandering around the city trying to kill boredom, several television screens played the same thing over and over again:
—The long-awaited UA entrance exam begins tomorrow! Japan's future heroes will compete for their place at the country's finest academy!
Hades was silent for a moment, processing the information.
—Shit... has it been so many months?
He stood up slowly, shaking the dust off his clothes and his mind, which was wandering with the idea of time.
The morning chill no longer bothered him as it had before. His body, though still far from its former splendor, was growing accustomed to the hardships of earthly life.
He clenched his fists, feeling the slight tremor in his fingers.
But, it wasn't nervousness I felt, it was anticipation.
He had no interest in being a "hero" in the sense this society understood it. But if he wanted to shape this world in his image, he had to first infiltrate its foundations.
A light wind blew through the trees, dragging dry leaves along the ground, causing a chill to run through Hades' body.
The boy groaned at the feeling as he approached a group of low branches where his clothes hung. They were old and faded, but clean.
The dampness of the river had left them somewhat stiff, but at least they didn't smell dirty.
He calmly took them down, inspecting them with a critical eye.
His shirt, though threadbare, still covered him. His pants had several patches made with improvised threads, and his shoes... well, they were just simple sneakers he'd found in the trash months ago. It wasn't the best presentation, but they served them well.
Before dressing, Hades walked toward the river. He removed the worn clothes he'd worn to sleep and waded into the water.
A chill ran through his mortal skin once more, bothering the boy.
—Tch... Damn cold...
He submerged himself up to his neck, feeling the water wash away the dust and sweat from his body. It didn't take long for him to get used to the temperature, so he took the opportunity to scrub his skin and hair, removing any traces of dirt.
When he considered that he was clean enough, he got out of the water.
A frigid wind hit his damp skin, making him grunt in annoyance. He dried himself with what little he had on hand and dressed quickly.
The rough fabric was uncomfortable, but he was used to it.
Once ready, he took a breath and started walking.
But...
I had no idea where the UA was.
When he set out, he thought he would be able to find his way around easily.
But the city was large, the buildings were too similar, and the labyrinthine streets made him question whether he had really set off in the right direction.
He frowned, looking around with mild irritation.
—Where the hell is that damn academy...?
Just as he was considering stopping someone to ask, he noticed something curious.
A "stream" of teenagers was walking in the same direction. A river of young people, dressed in decent clothes, some chatting animatedly, others with tense expressions.
The answer was obvious.
—Hmph... I guess I don't need a map.
Without hesitation, he began to follow the crowd.
As he walked, he heard snatches of conversations.
—I'm so nervous! God, I wish I could score at least one point!
—They say there are robots in the test, but how many will there be?
—My dad told me Midnight went to UA. I bet this is the best school in the world!
Hades ignored most of the murmurs, but he couldn't help but notice something they had in common: excitement and fear.
For all these young people, this exam was the first step towards their future.
....
Arriving at the imposing entrance of UA, Hades looked up briefly, analyzing the structure.
He wasn't interested in the design or the history of the academy. But he could recognize that the place exuded authority and prestige.
Without pausing too long, he walked into the campus.
The interior was crowded with teenagers, all finding their way, checking leaves and making sure they were in the right place.
That's when a problem arose: Hades had no idea where to go.
He stopped in the middle of the hallway, looking around in slight confusion.
So...
—Hello, my young listener! Are you lost?
Hades turned around slowly.
In front of him, a man with blond hair and dark glasses smiled at him with such brilliant energy that it almost irritated him.
He wore a striking black jacket and had a relaxed posture.
However, what caught Hades's attention most was her voice. It was strong, clear, and had a tone that echoed throughout the hallway.
He looked at the blond man with a neutral expression, showing neither discomfort nor interest.
"I was here a few months ago," he said bluntly. "I took a written test with the white rodent, and then I fought lifeless metal creatures."
The teacher tilted his head slightly, as if processing the information.
—Oh? You mean Principal Nezu?
Hades didn't respond. He didn't see the need to repeat the obvious.
The man crossed his arms and looked thoughtful for a moment before asking:
—So, tell me, young listener... what is your name?
—Hades.
The simplicity of his response left no room for doubt or interpretation. He added nothing more. He didn't explain anything. He didn't bother to give a last name or any other information.
The man raised an eyebrow, but didn't press the button. Instead, he pressed a small earpiece into his ear and began speaking to someone on the other end of the line.
—Hey, I have a kid here who says he already auditioned with Principal Nezu. Name: Hades... Yeah... Uh-huh... Really? I see.
Hades waited patiently, watching the master's face as he spoke.
After a few seconds, the man smiled slightly and nodded, although the person on the other end of the call couldn't see him.
-Understood.
The communication over, the man turned to Hades with a more relaxed expression.
—Well, kiddo, it looks like you're exempt from the written test. You'll just have to wait until the physical orientation.
Hades nodded slightly, somewhat surprised.
"So what now?" he asked without emotion.
"Now!" The man spread his arms in an exaggerated gesture. "Just relax and enjoy the moment. You have some free time before the action starts!"
The boy did not respond.
He simply looked around, observing the other applicants who seemed increasingly nervous.
[Two hours later]
—Damn... this is fucking boring.
Almost two hours had passed since the written exam began, and Hades had absolutely nothing to do.
He wandered aimlessly through the halls of the UA, observing the immaculate walls, the large windows, and the artificial lights that illuminated every corner of the building.
Everything was too clean, too tidy, too... sterile.
For some reason, he found it uncomfortable.
He wandered through the halls, trying to kill time, but at some point he realized he was lost.
He couldn't remember which direction he'd come from or how to get back to where he was supposed to wait. It didn't bother him too much, but it was annoying.
He sighed and decided to sit in a corner of the empty hallway. There was still time.
Wait.
Wait.
Wait...
When the two hours of tedious boredom finally ended, the same blond man from before appeared in front of him with a big smile and an envelope in his hand.
—Here you are, my young listener! I thought you'd vanished into thin air.
Hades looked at him without any expression.
—I was just waiting.
"Sure, sure..." The man held out the envelope. "Here, this is your pass."
Hades took the envelope and opened it casually. Inside was a card with a capital letter "B" engraved on it.
—And this?
—That's where you'll take the physical test. Now you can enter the auditorium!
Without further ado, the man patted him on the back before walking away with a cheerful smile.
Hades looked at the card for a few seconds before shrugging and walking toward the auditorium.
As I walked in, the place was filled with teenagers sitting around, some muttering nervously, others deep in thought.
Hades took a seat in the first empty spot he found and waited for the orientation to begin.
[POV: Hades]
The orientation was... long.
Honestly, I didn't pay too much attention.
At the beginning, the blond man spoke enthusiastically, moving his hands back and forth while projecting images onto a giant screen behind him.
I had a hard time keeping up with him, but from what little I understood, the challenge consisted of destroying metal creatures and accumulating points based on their value.
There were different types of robots: some were worth one point, others two, and the largest ones three. They didn't mention anything about earning points for saving others, so I assumed the only goal here was to destroy.
"Hmph... Just a hunt," I muttered to myself, crossing my arms.
I looked around. Almost all the students seemed anxious or nervous. Some were constantly moving their legs, while others clenched their fists as if mentally preparing themselves.
Suddenly, a murmur caught my attention.
In the distance, a tall boy with glasses walked briskly up to a green-haired man and began scolding him for something. I didn't hear exactly what he said, but judging by his expression, it sounded like a scolding.
The boy with glasses spoke seriously and gestured with his hands, while the green-haired man just nodded nervously. I ignored it and returned my attention to the screen.
Finally, the orientation ended, and everyone stood up at the same time. The mass of students began to move like a river of bodies moving in the same direction.
Not knowing exactly where to go, I just followed them.
We walked through wide, well-lit hallways with high ceilings and immaculate floors reflecting the white lights. At every step, we heard murmurs and excited conversations.
After several minutes of walking, we arrived at a large parking lot where several yellow floats were waiting.
Some students climbed on them without hesitation, while others, like me, decided to keep walking.
The journey was absurdly long and tiresome; for a moment, I regretted not taking the yellow carriages. Still, after a while, I arrived.
The air here smelled different, cleaner, as if the city itself were filtering through.
I had no idea how it worked exactly, but the difference from ordinary streets was noticeable.
The path continued until it reached an open area, where the enormous metal gates that separated the artificial city from the rest of the place stood.
They were enormous, and seemed capable of withstanding any attack.
—Why are humans so obsessed with absurdly large things?
That was my first statement when I saw the huge metal door that separated me from the entrance exam.
A large crowd of teenagers gathered around, muttering things that were almost impossible to understand.
Among them all, I recognized the green hair of the mortal I'd encountered a few months ago. He looked slightly different, but strangely, his hips seemed to have grown larger instead of his upper body.
I decided to ignore it.
After what seemed like an eternity, the doors began to open with a mechanical screech.
The moment the space was wide enough, I leapt forward without a second thought.
At first, there was no reaction. Just a stagnant silence and confused looks from the other teenagers.
Until a powerful voice broke the lethargy.
—That boy knows what he's getting into...! And what are you waiting for? There are no countdowns in real life!
The man's words caused the crowd to react instantly, snapping out of their initial stupor and rushing toward the vast concrete jungle.
[Teachers' lounge]
The test had begun. In a large, dark room, multiple screens illuminated the faces of the professional heroes monitoring the exam.
Nezu, the small but astute director of UA, watched expectantly the performance of the young aspirants.
—Do you think the boy will go through with this, Aizawa-san?
His question was directed at a man with black hair and a sleepy look, who was drinking coffee with excruciating slowness.
He didn't take his eyes off the screen where a black-haired boy was seen making his way through the test.
"Most likely it will happen," he stated, narrowing his eyes at the object in the young man's hand.
In the image, Hades wasn't carrying the greatsword he'd displayed during his previous assessment. Instead, his right arm was covered in a bone gauntlet.
"Interesting..." Aizawa muttered, taking another break to drink his coffee.
From another corner of the room, a blond man with a bright smile rested his elbows on the table.
—Hey, hey, hey! Isn't that the boy who was exempted from the written exam?
"That's right," Nezu confirmed with a mysterious smile. "I personally reviewed your written exam and physical evaluation."
"What's with that thing on his arm?" a woman asked, leaning forward curiously. "Is that his Quirk?"
Aizawa slowly shook his head.
—We don't know for sure. During the initial test, he demonstrated the ability to summon weapons from bones. He displayed two weapons, that glove, and the sword he used that day was enormous, but he couldn't even lift it.
"And now he's wearing a gauntlet instead?" someone else commented, stroking his beard beneath his mask. "Looks like he learned from his mistake."
Nezu laughed softly.
—Looks like you've been training hard.
Aizawa's eyes narrowed even further.
—That, or he's just someone who knows how to adapt quickly.
The screen then showed Hades hitting several robots in succession and destroying them with relative effort.
There was a moment of silence in the room.
—Well... Looks like this exam is going to be interesting.
[Battlefield: 5 minutes before]
Hades was running around without a care in the world as he destroyed the smaller robots with the number "1", which were relatively fragile compared to the higher rated ones.
These robots were clearly designed for students without quirk enhancements or similar abilities.
In the short stretch that Hades had just covered, he had accumulated a total of 10 points.
However, he knew that wouldn't be enough. Wanting to quicken his pace, he looked at his right arm and immediately summoned the jet-black sphere.
—Larry!
Dark energy began to envelop his arm as the ground beneath his feet cracked, creating web-like patterns that spread out in all directions.
As always, the little skeleton appeared before him, standing with its characteristically fragile appearance and barely taller than his knee.
Larry was the only one she could count on at that moment. However, she didn't dwell on it too much. She knew she needed to continue without wasting any time.
—Corpse Equipment!
A grey glow enveloped the small skeleton, while Hades' right hand glowed the same colour.
As the gauntlet materialized, Hades clenched his fist, feeling the gauntlet.
But, he had no time to get lost in his thoughts, and in an instant, Hades quickly advanced towards the robots, who were the weakest on the field.
He used the power of his gauntlet with precision.
Although he didn't dwell too much on the fragility of his enemies, he could tell that their efforts weren't as exhaustive as they had been at the beginning.
The gauntlet's energy was beginning to stabilize, and with each new blow, his gauntlet grew hotter.
A grim smile spread across his face as he advanced toward the robots with the number threes printed on their chassis.
The group of five Level 3 robots seemed like an interesting challenge. He could feel their presence approaching, but beyond that, what worried him was the growing number of human presences rapidly approaching from behind.
It was a strange feeling.
I could feel them getting closer, almost as if I was just following them aimlessly.
The most alarming thing was that he knew that in less than ten seconds, those mortals would catch up with the robots that were taking an interest in him.
I wasn't going to allow this.
Without another thought, Hades spread his legs, planting one firmly in front of the other. A cloud of dust rose from the ground as he took his first step.
The speed he felt as he moved forward left him slightly impressed. He hadn't known that chasing rabbits and running over uneven terrain would help him increase his top speed.
However, he didn't let that distract him; his focus remained clear.
With a brutal swing of his arm, Larry's gauntlet activated with force. The shockwaves emanating from it tore through the three-point robots like melted butter under a hot knife.
The attack was continuous, and as it disintegrated the robots, Hades felt his body begin to feel dizzy.
The adrenaline kept him going, but the physical exertion was beginning to take its toll.
As he finished the final blow, Hades nearly fell to his knees from dizziness. He nearly threw up the last of his breakfast, but managed to stay on his feet.
"Damn..." he growled, crouching down for a moment to catch his breath, while looking around, alert for new enemies.
Hades slammed his fist into the ground.
His breathing was erratic, his chest rising and falling violently.
The air burned his throat, and his vision blurred, as if everything around him were distorting. A deafening ringing pierced his ears, the echo of the blows resonating in his skull.
He couldn't feel his right arm. It burned and felt heavy.
His arm was shaking and felt numb, after so many erratic blows with the gauntlet.
He had twisted too far, his muscles burning with stabbing pain.
He was dizzy with scattered thoughts as a faint green glow covered his arm.
-Hey?
A small hand rested on his shoulder.
-Are you OK?
He nodded slightly, lacking the strength to respond.
Breathing hurt. Each breath weighed like a rock in his chest, fatigue eating away at his nerves.
"Are you sure you're okay?" the voice insisted.
That worried tone bothered him. He didn't need sympathy, much less from a mortal.
He gritted his teeth.
But before he could answer, a loud crash shook the ground.
The mechanical roar resounded in the air, accompanied by alarms.
—Freeing the zero point!
The sky darkened as a mass of steel emerged between the buildings.
Debris flew in all directions, and students screamed in terror. A metallic monstrosity advanced, crushing the concrete like paper.
A smile appeared on Hades's lips.
A machine like this... reminded him of the ancient war monsters he'd faced in the past. A fight like this... made his blood boil with excitement.
But the grip on his arm grew stronger.
—We have to go!
The fear in his voice was evident.
I didn't understand it.
Why was I trembling? Why wasn't I feeling that same adrenaline rush?
I was going to answer him, tell him he had nothing to fear, that he was going to crush that thing like it was nothing.
But he didn't get a chance.
A brutal push brought him out of his reverie.
His back hit the ground, and he blinked, confused.
She... had pushed him.
A mixture of surprise and anger filled him, but he froze when he saw her on the ground.
The rubble had trapped her.
Her small figure trembled under the weight of the concrete.
He wanted to move.
But he couldn't.
A knot tightened in his chest.
Something unknown coiled in his stomach.
The roar of the machine shook the ground.
The mechanical foot descended and was not going to arrive in time.
"Help her!" a voice in his head screamed desperately.
The shadow of the colossus spread over them.
Her legs trembled, anxious, wanting to run, but her mind was stuck in a dilemma.
Save her? Why?
She was a mortal.
But he had saved him.
The conflict raged inside him.
He turned his head, searching for something, and was desperate to see Larry.
But instead... was the bone sword.
Her eyes widened in surprise, and her fingers instinctively closed on the handle.
But, unlike before, the weight... didn't exist.
White steel flashed in his vision, light as the wind.
He didn't understand why, but he didn't care.
He leaped forward, the blade slicing through the air.
The first cut easily shattered the concrete.
The second one sliced the debris into pieces.
A third cut raised a cloud of dust.
Stone fragments fell in all directions, freeing her, the thrill was instant for him, yet he didn't have the luxury of wasting time.
He took her in his arms.
His legs roared with unknown energy.
He took a step and the ground broke beneath his feet.
The world became a blur.
The metallic monstrosity was left behind.
The roar of the colossus was replaced by the sound of the wind.
Hades ran as fast as he could, his heartbeat pounding in his head, each stride making the ground crunch beneath his feet. The girl, who had witnessed it all, froze.
She had accepted her fate, closing her eyes, waiting for the fatal blow of the machine. But instead, when she opened them, she found a pair of crimson eyes staring at her with a mixture of helplessness and suppressed rage.
It wasn't anger directed at her.
It was anger towards himself.
For a moment, she was caught in his gaze.
A strange feeling washed over her, almost as if the world around her had disappeared for an instant. She felt enchanted, without understanding why, until her brain processed the reality.
He had saved her.
I didn't expect it.
Not even in her wildest dreams could she have imagined that the boy she'd pushed moments before would rescue her from a sealed fate. She thought it would be like in the movies, being carried gracefully in his arms, just like a princess.
But the reality was completely different.
With tremendous abruptness, she was thrown over his shoulder as if she were a sack of potatoes.
"Hey..." she said, slightly indignant, but she didn't have time to protest.
The wind roared in his ears as the boy's speed created a residual wave that made the ground vibrate.
And before she could even say a "thank you," she was unceremoniously tossed aside, discarded as a nuisance.
-What the devil...!
Indignation rose in her throat, but her anger faded into the background when she saw him turn decisively.
—Stay here...
There was no hesitation in his voice.
Before she could respond, the boy had disappeared, his speed leaving a biting breeze behind him.
...
Hades' legs roared with energy, each step propelling him forward with fierce determination.
The mechanical colossus filled his field of vision.
Every fiber of his being screamed for action, to smash that stupid pile of junk.
He gritted his teeth.
At less than ten meters, he lowered his center of gravity and propelled himself with all the strength of his lower body.
His muscles strained to the limit, a spasm of pain running through his legs as he pushed them beyond what was humanly possible.
A dry sound resounded as it took off from the ground.
The wind whipped his face.
The metal mass was getting closer and closer, and for the first time in his life, he felt the tingle of pure emotion.
But something caught his attention.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a silhouette ascend beside him.
A boy.
Green hair, fierce look, determination in the eyes.
Hades recognized him instantly.
They ignored each other, no words, no prior agreements. Only one absolute certainty:
They would destroy that thing.
The sword in his hand changed.
Heavy.
Much more than before.
Because?
When he'd used it to save the girl, it had been as light as a feather. Now, he felt its weight crushing his arm.
It didn't matter.
It was not a disadvantage.
It was his greatest advantage.
The mechanical colossus roared beneath them, emotionless, fearless. Just a machine programmed to crush, to destroy.
But this time... no.
Hades felt the heat of battle course through his body like liquid fire. His fingers gripped the sword's handle brutally, his arms screamed with exertion, but his mind had only one goal.
Destroy.
Midoriya advanced beside him, his fist wrapped in a brutal pressure that seemed to make the air vibrate. His green eyes shone with a mixture of adrenaline and pure determination, as if the entire universe depended on that blow.
Hades was not far behind.
The metal gleamed in the light as he twisted his body, positioning the sword high, gathering the full force of his descent. Gravity pulled him down, the wind roared in his ears, but nothing could distract him.
Nothing could stop him, he couldn't stop, if he did, he would fall.
A guttural scream emerged from his throat, raw, primitive, visceral.
—Die!
The sword descended like an executioner's guillotine, unstoppable, lethal.
At the same time, Midoriya roared his own war cry.
-Smash!
The fist landed with a piercing crash.
The metal of the colossus trembled.
But the sword...
The sword tore through the armor with tremendous violence.
It wasn't a simple cut.
It was a slash that split the air with a terrifying hiss, slicing through the metal surface with such brutality that it left a red-hot scar.
The metal was not just cut, it was burned.
A burning scarlet line was etched diagonally from the robot's neck to its left arm, as if the fires of hell itself had kissed the steel.
The colossus shook, its structure creaked, cables sizzled like electrified snakes.
The world seemed to stop for a moment.
And then, destruction came.
First, the explosion started from within, a violent implosion that engulfed the machine's core in a flash of sparks and flames.
Then the shock wave erupted outwards.
A burst of energy enveloped them, throwing them in opposite directions, causing them to spin uncontrollably in the air.
Hades felt his sword slip through his fingers, but it didn't matter.
Because as he fell, his gaze met Midoriya's.
They were both panting, their bodies shaking with exhaustion, but the adrenaline kept them awake.
Their lips curved into almost identical smiles.
The colossus was defeated.
They did it.
They both began to fall.
The void embraced them, adrenaline still burning in their veins.
And they smiled.
Their bodies were exhausted, covered in scratches, muscles trembling from overexertion.
But they smiled.
Because they did it.
Their gazes met in the air, heavy breathing, but satisfaction reflected on their faces.
—My... name is... Midoriya —the green-haired man whispered, with a smile of pure accomplishment.
Hades took a second to respond.
For the first time, he understood what that strange sensation was.
Realization.
—Hades... You can call me that, Midoriya.
...
They both smiled.
Their bodies gave way to gravity, letting themselves fall into the abyss of emptiness.
The air whistled in their ears, the world spun slowly around them, and for the first time in a long time, they felt peace.
The legs were unresponsive, the exhaustion was absolute, and yet... there was no fear.
Acceptance only.
Midoriya let out a small, choked laugh, his voice a whisper muffled by the wind.
—A pleasure... Hades-san...
Hades responded with a tired smile, slowly closing his eyes.
—Ha... Sure, it was a pleasure meeting you, Midoriya.
The end was approaching.
The ground was there, waiting to receive them with brutality.
But the fall... never came.
Something, or rather, someone, interrupted his descent.
Hades felt a strange tug in his back, as if his body had suddenly lost all weight. His mind, dulled by fatigue, took a few seconds to understand what was happening.
They were floating.
Just inches above the ground, suspended in the air by an invisible force.
And then, a voice brought them out of their lethargy.
—That... was close, haha.
It was a female voice, with a strange touch of carefree humor, as if saving two people from a fatal fall was an everyday occurrence.
Their eyes widened in unison, first stunned, then surprised.
Midoriya turned his head. Hades did the same.
And when their eyes met, relief exploded in the form of laughter.
It was pure, nervous laughter, a mixture of disbelief and gratitude. They laughed until the pain in their bodies reminded them they'd pushed their limits.
Then, they both looked down at the person who had saved their lives.
A young woman with brown hair held them with her skill, as if they were balloons tied to her will.
Hades tilted his head curiously.
—It seems my debt to you has increased once again, mortal.
The girl blinked in surprise and then puffed out her cheeks in an adorable pout.
—Don't call me that! My name is Uraraka Ochako!
—Yes, yes, whatever you say... You can call me Hades.
Her attention returned to Midoriya, who was still smiling, although with a certain daze in his eyes.
—Shouldn't you introduce yourself too?
Midoriya blinked a couple of times, still processing the situation, until he realized he was being rude.
—Oh, yeah... Sorry. But you can call me Midoriya.
Ochako nodded, and without losing her enthusiasm, pointed towards the entrance to the battlefield.
—It's nothing. Besides, look, help has arrived.
The three watched as a small, frail-looking old woman began to care for the wounded.
Midoriya sat up a little, his eyes wide open.
—Her! She's the recovery hero, the youthful heroine Recovery Girl!
Hades, on the other hand, snorted in disdain and rolled his eyes.
Midoriya looked at him in disbelief, but before he could respond, the weight of his own exhaustion fell on him like a slab.
Hades felt it too.
Fatigue was no longer something I could ignore.
He closed his eyes.
—I guess I'll go first...
His voice was barely a murmur before he fell into unconsciousness.
Midoriya let out a weak laugh.
—Ha...
And then, it fell too.
Ochako felt a shiver of nervousness as she watched them plummet through the air.
Without wasting any time, he gently deactivated his Quirk and let them slowly descend to the ground.
Then he ran toward the old woman with palpable urgency.
—Excuse me! They need urgent attention!
Recovery Girl looked at them calmly, a small smile on her lips as she assessed the scene.
—Well, well...
He said nothing more.
But in his eyes, there was something more than simple professional concern.
There was recognition.
There was interest.
There was a hint of a previous conversation with Nezu about a certain boy they had been watching.
Gently, the old woman snapped her fingers, signaling the medical robots to transport the young people on hover stretchers.
He saw them one last time before they were taken away.
Midoriya still had a slight smile on his face.
Hades, on the other hand, seemed to sleep with a slight frown, as if even in unconsciousness he was still on the warpath.
Recovery Girl let out a soft sigh.
—These kids... they're going to be trouble.
And with that thought in mind, she turned around and followed them, ready to do her job.
TO BE CONTINUED.