Chapter 25: XXIV: Simulacre.
After settling on their hero names, the students transitioned into lunchtime, a break that was as much about relaxation as it was about strategizing. They gathered around a table to review the internship offers they had received. Raiden, Mirio, Nejire, Tamaki, Yuyu, and Rei sat together, their trays of food largely untouched as they poured over the details of the offers.
Mirio had already made up his mind, confidently deciding to intern with Sir Nighteye.
Nejire, equally determined, was set on working with Ryukyu, the powerful Dragon Hero.
Rei, on the other hand, seemed to be leaning toward the Pro Hero Death Arms, his brow furrowed in contemplation because he was still unsure.
Yuyu, brimming with enthusiasm, had her sights set on Gunhead, a hero renowned for his practical combat training.
Raiden, however, remained undecided, his gaze fixed on the papers spread before him.
"Who are you planning to go with, Rai-kun?" Mirio asked, his curiosity piqued by Raiden's unusually intense focus. Even Nejire leaned closer, trying to sneak a peek at the paper Raiden was scrutinizing.
"I'm thinking about him," Raiden replied, gesturing toward one of the offers. His tone was calm but carried a hint of doubt .
"Him? But isn't he a little... old?" Yuyu asked, her eyebrows raised as she tilted her head. Her eyes scanned the name on the paper Raiden had indicated.
Indeed, the hero Raiden was considering was not the typical choice for most students. Yoroi Musha, the current No. 8 hero in Japan.
He was a veteran in every sense of the word. At around sixty years old, he donned a traditional samurai costume and was one of the longest-serving heroes in the country.
His age and reputation made him stand out, and not always in a way that attracted interns.
Tamaki, who had been quietly listening, spoke up, his voice low and hesitant. "He's known for being... well, a bit of a grouch with the media. Not just that, he's prideful, like... Endeavor." He glanced at Raiden with a flicker of concern.
Raiden met Tamaki's gaze evenly before responding. "That's true. He's prideful, arrogant, but... undeniably strong. He's not one of the public's favorites, and yet he's still ranked eighth. That's not because of popularity—it's purely because of his feats. When you consider his experience and skill, he's an excellent hero to learn under."
"Also, what's the worst it can happen? Now let's eat, teacher Said today it was going to be hard so we should eat" exclaimed Raiden, already decided for his internship.
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After lunch, everyone returned to class, settling into their seats when suddenly alarms blared from the walls, filling the room with a sharp, piercing sound.
The entire classroom was bathed in a pulsating red light, casting an ominous glow that immediately put everyone on edge.
Instinctively, the students prepared for battle—a habit ingrained in them through rigorous training.
Raiden and Tamaki transformed in the blink of an eye, their appearances shifting to their "heroic" forms.
The Naoka brothers followed suit, their expressions steely. It was clear this readiness was something Snipe had cultivated in them, and now it was paying off.
The door burst open, and Snipe entered in a rush, his boots hitting the floor with an urgency that matched the tension in the room.
"Good, everyone is ready. Excellent response—immediate alertness!" he said with a sharp nod of approval. With a wave of his gloved hand, the alarms silenced, and the red lights faded away.
"Now," he continued, his voice steady and authoritative, "we officially begin the intensive course."
Another wave of his hand, and compartments in the wall slid open, revealing multiple suitcases of varying sizes. Each bore a neatly inscribed name: Lemillion, Nejire-Chan, Suneater, Sharpbloom, Mewtwo, and others.
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Seeing the suitcases, the students exchanged curious glances.
They recognized the names, but none could guess what lay within.
Snipe cleared up their confusion swiftly. "These are your hero suits," he explained.
"Take them and head to City Campus One. You'll change there." His tone left no room for questions as he turned and strode out of the classroom without looking back.
Without hesitation, the students rushed forward, grabbing the suitcases bearing their names and hurrying after Snipe.
Their footsteps echoed through the corridors as they made their way to City Campus One, and to the bus that lead them there.
True to its name, the campus resembled a miniature city, complete with streets, buildings, and even simulated urban environments.
Though they had been at the U.A. for over a month, the sheer scale and realism of the campus continued to amaze them.
Once there, the students found designated changing areas and began to don their hero suits.
One by one, they emerged into the simulated city, each sporting a distinctive look that reflected their individuality and powers.
Mirio stepped out first, his suit a striking combination of white and blue with a bold red cape flowing behind him. The number "1,000,000" was emblazoned across his chest, symbolizing his aspirations and determination.
Tamaki followed, draped in a flowing white cape that concealed most of his body, adding an air of mystery to his appearance.
Yuyu's suit was sleek and black, hugging her form like a second skin. Over it, she wore armor plates on her chest and forearms, with a skirt that provided additional coverage. Lightning patterns adorned the suit, crackling across the fabric in vibrant detail.
Nejire's suit was a vibrant mix of blue and pastel green, its snug fit accentuating her agility. Spiral designs swirled along the legs and arms, giving her an almost ethereal appearance as she moved.
The Naoka brothers opted for a rock-and-roll aesthetic, sporting black jackets with rolled-up sleeves and ripped jeans. Their arms were bare, revealing tattoos that added to their edgy style.
Hana wore a delicate dress-like suit with floral embellishments, combining elegance with functionality. Protective armor adorned her chest, legs, and forearms, blending beauty and strength seamlessly.
Taro's suit was a sleek black design with intricate web patterns stretching across his back, converging on a striking black widow emblem displayed prominently on his chest.
Rei emerged in a heavily armored suit, with massive, knuckle-like gauntlets on his arms. His suit was a mix of deep blue and black, with jagged lines resembling fractures running throughout, giving him an imposing and battle-hardened appearance.
Finally, Raiden stepped forward in his transformed state. His suit was a metallic armor The headpiece is a helmet that covers the entire head, except for its horns, his eyes glowed behind the black visor. The helmet has a sharp, angular design, with a central crest and side panels that wrap around the sides of "Mewtwo's" face, enhancing his presence.
The chest armor is broad and heavily plated, providing a sense of strength.
It features a central core-like design, glowing faintly with energy, which seems to pulsate as if powered by Mewtwo's psychic abilities.
The shoulders are reinforced with angular pads that extend slightly outward, adding to the armor's intimidating silhouette.
The arms and legs are outfitted with segmented, jointed armor that allows for fluid movement while maintaining protection. Each piece is contoured to fit Mewtwo's anatomy perfectly, emphasizing its sleek yet muscular frame. The tail was kept un-armored to keep the flexibility.
The students, now fully suited, stepped into the mini-city, ready to take on whatever challenges awaited them. The air buzzed with anticipation as they prepared.
Snipe hummed in approval as he stood before the students, his sharp eyes scanning the group. "Today," he began with a hint of authority in his tone, "we will commence the practical segment of this course. Everything you've learned so far—the protocols, the maneuvers, the theories—will now be tested. We'll practice, we'll fail, and we'll improve. With enough application, these methods will train you to respond almost immediately in real-world scenarios," he explained, his voice brimming with determination.
"Form pairs," he instructed briskly.
"One group will consist of three members. Once you're organized, we'll jump straight into the training." Raiden glanced to his side, meeting Mirio's gaze. They exchanged a quick nod, wordlessly forming their team. Around them, the other students began pairing up. The Naoka brothers, inseparable as always, teamed up. Tamaki and Nejire gravitated toward one another, as they were close, so did Yuyu and Ren, while Hana and Taro became the final pair.
When the teams were ready, Snipe addressed them again, his voice cutting through the faint hum of anticipation in the air. "Today," he repeated, as he approached a nearby box, retrieving several numbered balls. He tossed one to each group before continuing, "We're starting with a kidnapping scenario. One group will act as villains tasked with executing the kidnapping and run away. The victim," he paused dramatically, gesturing toward a towering 1.7-meter teddy bear, "will be him." The oversized stuffed bear earned a round of chuckles from the students, but Snipe quickly silenced them with a sharp look.
"The role of the villains is straightforward," he said, pacing slowly in front of the group.
"Your objective is to be swift, silent, and strategic. If you can outwit the heroes, that's even better. The goal is to transport the victim across the city from one point to another without getting caught. Use the knowledge you've gained in class—your tactics, protocols, and even counter-strategies to mislead the heroes." His voice carried an edge of challenge, daring the students to rise to the occasion.
Turning to the other half of the group, Snipe shifted his focus. "The role of the heroes is equally clear. Your task is to rescue the victim and pursue the villians while adhering to key principles: prioritize the victim's safety, minimize harm to bystanders, avoid unnecessary destruction, and apprehend the villains.
Remember, these are the hallmarks of a true hero," he emphasized.
He was about to continue when the overhead lights flickered briefly, casting a momentary shadow over the room.
Snipe's sharp gaze darted around, but after a second, he dismissed it as a minor energy fluctuation and pressed on. "Now, we'll start with a demonstration featuring Group A and Group B,"
he announced, motioning to Raiden and Mirio as the heroes and Nejire and Tamaki as the villains.
"Group A will act as the heroes, while Group B takes on the role of villains. The villain group will have a two-minute head start to choose their starting location and execute the kidnapping.
Once the alarm sounds, the hero group will begin their pursuit. The rest of us will head inside to observe through the cameras," Snipe instructed.
With that, he led the remaining students into a nearby observation room.
Inside, the room buzzed with activity, screens displaying various live feeds from across the miniature city.
A massive central monitor showcased the best angles of the action. However, as Snipe reviewed the setup, he noticed an unusual distortion on the screen. The resolution was not as sharp as it should have been.
AFrowning, he quickly placed a call to the technical team. The response came promptly: a minor electrical issue lingering from the previous day was to blame. "It's nothing major," assured the technician, "we'll resolve it soon."
With no reason to delay further, Snipe turned his attention back to the task at hand, signaling for the event to begin.
Without further hesitation, Snipe gave the signal to begin.
Instantly, Tamaki and Nejire sprang into action. Tamaki transformed, sprouting a pair of large, feathery wings, and scooped the oversized teddy bear into his arms. Nejire flew close behind him, her energy waves propelling her gracefully through the air.
The two heroes, Raiden and Mirio, stood frozen for a moment, their eyes locked on the fleeing pair, silently strategizing as they awaited the alarm to start their pursuit.
The sharp sound of the alarm bell cut through the air, snapping the heroes into action. Raiden launched himself upward, propelled by his ability to manipulate gravity, and quickly reinforced Mirio with a burst of telekinetic energy, giving him an extra push to accelerate.
Together, they sped off in the direction where Tamaki and Nejire had disappeared.
However, as they moved through the simulated city, something strange began to happen.
The parked cars scattered throughout the streets suddenly sprang to life, driving aimlessly in erratic patterns. Meanwhile, the buildings lit up, their windows glowing with flickering lights.
Faint sounds of chatter and music poured from hidden speakers, adding an unexpected layer of chaos to the environment.
From the observation room, Snipe's voice boomed over the intercom, calm but instructive. "Cities are always noisy and unpredictable," he explained. "Part of your training is learning how to detect villains amidst distractions like these."
Raiden growled in frustration but didn't waste time.
He soared higher into the sky, trying to get a bird's-eye view of the city below. Scanning the horizon, he realized the villains weren't where he had expected them to be.
A sudden thought struck him—they must have changed direction before the alarm sounded, anticipating the heroes' pursuit. Shifting his focus, he scanned the opposite direction and spotted them. Tamaki and Nejire were weaving through narrow alleys, the teddy bear clutched tightly in Tamaki's arms.
Without hesitation, Raiden glanced at Mirio and pointed toward their location. Mirio nodded and sprang into action, activating his Quirk.
This time, his hero suit seemed to merge seamlessly with his abilities, allowing him to phase through walls without losing his clothing. He raced directly toward the fleeing villains, phasing through obstacles as if they weren't even there.
Unbeknownst to either group, their every move was being watched—not just by the teacher, but by something else entirely. Hidden eyes followed their progress, observing with an intensity that went unnoticed by all.
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Hello guys, here today chapter, for the ones on patreon I'm still fixing some key things in the chapters so the friday or Saturday I will uploaded until 20 chapters ahead.
Enjoy the chapter.
Power stones for an extra chapter 36/60