Chapter 32: XXXI: The woman
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the city, Raiden sat in the break room of Yoroi Musha's hero agency, finishing his dinner. He was scheduled to stay at the agency for the entire week, ready to assist at a moment's notice. The day had been long, but the quiet moment was a welcome respite.
Just as he began to relax, an alarm blared throughout the agency, jolting him upright. Instinctively, he reached for the suitcase that contained his hero suit. He'd been instructed to keep it with him at all times—just in case of emergencies like this.
Moments later, Musha appeared, already in full hero armor and flanked by other agency heroes. His presence was commanding, his voice sharp.
"What are you waiting for, kid? Suit up! This is an emergency!"
Without hesitation, Raiden opened the suitcase. Using his telekinesis, he pulled his suit into place with precision, fastening every piece in under thirty seconds. Fully geared up, he joined Musha, hovering just off the ground to keep pace.
As they headed toward the scene, Musha barked orders, his tone urgent but measured. "There's a hotel nearby on the verge of collapse. We don't know the cause yet, but our priority is rescuing civilians. Everyone, make sure you have your masks and tools ready. We'll coordinate with firefighters on-site, but unless there's a confirmed hazard like radioactive material, we'll be the first ones in. Understood?"
A unified "Yes!" rang out from the heroes as they surged forward.
Raiden took a deep breath, focusing his mind. He glanced around at the other heroes, noting the calm determination etched on their faces. Each of them, himself included, carried a suit equipped with integrated masks and environmental safeguards—regulations mandated this to prepare for hazardous conditions like gas leaks, fires, or toxic spills.
As the group approached the site, the air grew heavy with tension. In the distance, Raiden could see the hotel, its structure swaying unnervingly as debris crumbled from the upper floors. Sirens wailed, lights flashed, and the chaotic scene unfolded before them.
The building was collapsing in a zigzag motion, each floor cracking and buckling in slow succession. It was clear to everyone: it was only a matter of time before the entire structure came crashing down.
Raiden frowned behind his mask. This was a hotel—there had to be dozens, maybe hundreds of people still trapped inside. Every second counted. He glanced toward Musha, who was in a tense discussion with the firefighter in charge. Though he couldn't hear the conversation, he saw Musha nodding gravely.
When Musha returned, his expression was serious but calm. "The firefighters don't know exactly what caused this," he began, his voice firm and commanding.
"They suspect structural damage, possibly from poor construction. However…" He paused, scanning the faces of the heroes around him. "I've been doing this too long to trust coincidences. Stay alert. If this was deliberate, the perpetrator might still be nearby—though chances are, they're already gone. Either way, safety first. If anything seems off, call for backup immediately."
He gestured to the group, splitting them into teams. "I'll start with the lower floors. Those of you who can't fly, you're with me. Flyers, head to the upper levels and begin evacuations there."
He turned to Raiden and added with a firm nod, "You're authorized to use your Quirk at full capacity. I'll take responsibility for the consequences. Now move—we've got lives to save!"
Without hesitation, Musha and four other heroes dashed into the building, their movements swift and fearless.
Meanwhile, Raiden and two other flying heroes launched toward the upper floors. One hero propelled himself upward with large, metallic airplane wings sprouting from his back, while the other soared gracefully using wing-like appendages extending from under his arms and legs.
The trio landed on the roof in moments. The hero with the airplane wings spoke first, his tone brisk and urgent. "We need to split up to cover more ground. Mewtwo, I know this is only your fifth day, but this is an exceptional situation. We can't afford delays by sticking together. Understood, if something happens call us"
Raiden nodded, his resolve unwavering. "Got it." Without wasting time, he flew into the building, weaving through the chaos.
The interior was a disaster. Debris fell from the ceilings, walls cracked ominously, and the floors groaned under the shifting weight of the structure. Raiden used his telekinesis to clear the hallways, his hands moving with precise, deliberate motions to lift fallen rubble and create safe passage.
The upper floors appeared eerily empty. He scanned each corridor carefully, his eyes sharp behind his mask. Signs of hasty evacuations were everywhere—discarded bags, scattered shoes, overturned furniture. It was clear that many guests had fled in a panic.
Still, Raiden didn't take any chances. He methodically checked every room, calling out for survivors. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the sound of creaking walls and the distant rumble of collapsing debris.
Finally, as he opened the door to a room near the end of the hallway, he found someone
"Help... please."
The voice was weak, trembling with fear. Raiden turned to see an older man, likely in his sixties, pinned beneath the remains of a collapsed wall. Only his head and shoulders were visible above the debris. Kneeling beside him, Raiden placed a reassuring hand near the man's shoulder and spoke directly into his mind.
"Stay calm. I'm here to help. I'll get you out of this."
The man's wide eyes met Raiden's as he nodded shakily, clutching at what little hope he could find. Raiden's telekinesis flared to life with a wave of his hand, the invisible force gently probing the debris to assess the man's condition. Slowly, carefully, Raiden began lifting the chunks of concrete, ensuring nothing shifted dangerously. Piece by piece, the rubble was moved, finally revealing the man's lower body.
Raiden's stomach sank. An iron rod had pierced the man's leg, pinning him to the floor. Blood seeped from the wound, staining his pants and pooling beneath him. The sight made the older man's breathing grow shallow as panic set in.
"Damn... classic," Raiden muttered to himself, already forming a plan.
The man looked down at his leg, and terror overtook him. His lips trembled as he tried to speak, but Raiden cut him off with a firm, telepathic message.
"Listen to me. I can help you, but you need to stay still. This is going to hurt, but I'll heal the damage. Trust me."
Though his face remained pale, the man nodded, clinging to the promise of relief.
Raiden took a steadying breath and placed his hands over the rod. "I'm sorry," he said aloud, his voice firm. "This is going to hurt."
With a sharp telekinetic yank, he pulled the rod free from the man's leg. The man barely had time to scream before Raiden activated his healing ability.
Life Dew, bathing the wound in a soft, restorative water glowing. The bleeding stopped, the worst of the damage closing enough for safe transport.
"You're going to be okay," Raiden reassured, lifting the man telekinetically. Hovering just off the ground, the man was carried out of the building and delivered to the emergency responders waiting by the ambulances outside.
Without pause, Raiden turned and rushed back into the chaos.
This pattern repeated itself. He combed the upper floors tirelessly, locating survivors and ferrying them to safety. His telekinesis cleared blocked pathways, his healing powers stabilized the injured, and his quick thinking kept the operation efficient. Alongside the other heroes, they managed to rescue dozens in a short time.
Within twenty minutes, over fifty-seven people had been evacuated. The ground teams were working just as hard, pulling victims from the lower levels and rubble. But it wasn't enough. The hotel had housed over 150 guests, and time was running out.
Reinforcements from two more hero agencies arrived, bolstering the rescue efforts. Raiden didn't slow down. He pushed himself harder, returning to the point where he had last rescued someone and resuming his search.
By now, he had reached the 19th floor of the massive 23-floor hotel. The building wasn't just tall—it was sprawling, its endless hallways seeming to twist and stretch as more debris fell. Raiden flew through the corridors, scanning each room with sharp precision, his telekinesis clearing debris as he moved.
Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught his eye.
At the far end of a dim hallway stood a man in a hoodie, his face obscured by shadow. He wasn't running or hiding. He was just... standing there, staring directly at Raiden.
Raiden's instincts flared. Something about the man's presence felt wrong, like a jagged piece in an otherwise chaotic but natural scene. His brow furrowed as he sent a mental message.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The figure didn't move, his silence unnerving in the flickering light of the collapsing building.
"Sir, don't worry. I'll get you out of here." Raiden's voice was calm and steady as he extended a hand toward the man.
But before he could respond, the floor beneath him groaned ominously. With a sickening crack, it gave way, and the man vanished, dropping to the floor below with a startled yell.
"Just great," Raiden muttered under his breath, frustration flashing across his face as he rushed to follow.
He landed lightly on the next floor, his boots crunching against broken tiles and debris. But when he scanned the area, the man was nowhere to be seen. Raiden's brow furrowed. "What the...?" he murmured, looking around with his guard now fully up.
The room he had entered appeared to be a restaurant, albeit one now in shambles. Upscale decorations were scattered across the floor, and elegant tables lay overturned amid the chaos. The walls were adorned with nautical-themed decor: fishing nets, coral sculptures, and what Raiden initially thought was a trident.
He moved closer. It wasn't a trident—it was a massive fork, polished to a gleaming silver. Beside it hung an equally oversized spoon, both mounted as if they were prized artifacts.
"Really?" Raiden muttered, quirking an eyebrow at the odd choice of decor.
Curiosity got the better of him, and with a flick of his fingers, he reached out with his telekinesis to lift the spoon. It moved effortlessly, as if weightless, which struck him as odd given its size.
"Well, it's not like anyone's going to miss it, it going to break a the first hit, but maybe I can use it" he said, grabbing the spoon and tucking it under his arm.
With the giant utensil in tow, Raiden resumed his search for the missing man. He checked the kitchen—empty. The dining hall—nothing. The eerie silence pressed against him, amplifying the sense that something was wrong.
No staff, no patrons, no signs of life. The once-bustling restaurant felt abandoned as if everyone had simply vanished.
Frowning, Raiden headed toward the exit, his steps cautious. The door led to a dimly lit stairwell. As he began descending, a sharp metallic tang hit his nose.
"Smells like iron," he muttered, pausing mid-step. His senses went on high alert. That scent wasn't good—it often meant blood or something equally dangerous.
Tightening his grip on the oversized spoon, Raiden scanned his surroundings, ready for anything lurking in the shadows below.
As Raiden descended the stairwell, he tapped the intercom embedded in his suit, trying to report the situation. After a few attempts, static was all he received.
"Typical," he muttered, frustration flickering across his face. "Missing person, the smell of iron, and now no comms."
He approached a heavy door at the base of the stairwell, pausing to assess his options. His fingers hovered near the handle as he muttered to himself, "Alright if things go south, I'll fly out and signal for reinforcements." With a steadying breath, he was about to open the door before pausing "If I don't do it?" thought the boy, but right after he steeled himself opened the door, and stepped inside.
The room beyond was a vast dance hall. At one point, it must have been breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their light now dimmed, casting eerie shadows across the space.
The polished wood floors, once pristine, were cracked and splintered. Despite the decay, there was a haunting beauty to the room—at least until Raiden saw the figure at its center.
A woman knelt in the middle of the room, naked and trembling, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if trying to hold herself together. Sobs racked her thin frame. Raiden froze in place.
In another situation, he would've rushed to help, but here, everything felt wrong.
The room was a nightmare. Around the woman lay dozens of bodies, dismembered and strewn across the floor. Blood painted the walls, the floors, and even the chandeliers. Pieces of flesh clung to the broken furniture. It was a scene ripped straight from a horror movie.
The grotesque sight hit Raiden like a punch to the gut. He clenched his jaw, activating Calm Mind to steady himself before nausea could take over. His feet left the ground as he hovered in place, unwilling to step closer.
The woman slowly lifted her head. Her pitch-black eyes locked onto his.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice broken and trembling. "I didn't want to do this. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I couldn't stop it. They… they did something to me. It's not my fault!" Her words tumbled out in a frantic, desperate rhythm.
Raiden observed her closely. Her skin was ghostly pale, stretched tight over her bones, as if she hadn't eaten in weeks. Her hair, black and matted, framed her gaunt face. Every instinct in him screamed that this wasn't just a victim.
This was a predator.
He didn't respond. Instead, he prepared himself. Whether intentional or not, she had killed dozens of people. Her powers, whatever they were, classified her as a dangerous individual capable of great destruction.
So here there was no room for hesitation.
The woman's sobs grew louder, more erratic. Then, in the blink of an eye, she lunged at him.
Her transformation was instantaneous and horrifying. Her arms morphed into massive, serrated blades, gleaming with an unnatural metallic sheen. Her teeth sharpened into jagged fangs, and her legs bent into mechanical, spring-like appendages, propelling her forward with terrifying speed.
Raiden's instincts kicked in.
"Psyshock!" he shouted, summoning a burst of telekinetic force to intercept her.
The blast hurled her backward, but she landed on all fours, growling like a feral beast. Blood dripped from her blades onto the crimson-stained floor. Her black eyes locked onto him, brimming with fury and anguish.
Raiden floated higher, with his mind racing. This wasn't going to be an easy fight.
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Hello guys, here is today chapter, we are close to the end of the first part of the second arc.
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Leave some power stones for an extra chapter 43/80.
Enjoy the reading!!!