Multiversal Recruitment

Thanks for the support! In this episode, you'll see the decision I made regarding my companion.

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Seeing Mirko coming toward me, I took position, cautious, with my mind racing at a thousand miles per hour.

(Her legs are her greatest weapon. Honestly, I don't know if I could survive a single kick from her... Better not let her hit me!)

With no time to plan, I gritted my teeth and ran straight at her, catching her a bit off guard, though her excitement only grew at the prospect of a good fight.

"Don't disappoint me!" she shouted, launching a powerful roundhouse kick which I barely dodged by sliding under it like a limbo player. I quickly got back up, adopting a boxing stance and throwing a flurry of punches—none of which landed, as she dodged them with ridiculous ease and speed.

"What's wrong? My grandma fights better than you, and she's in a wheelchair," she taunted, blocking a side punch with her forearm and giving me an amused look.

"Tsk..." My pride bruised, I attempted another strike with my other arm, only for it to be blocked the same way.

"Haven't you learned—Aagh!" she grunted as a surprise headbutt landed squarely, dazing her. I used that brief opening to spin and kick at her head with my heel, but she barely managed to dodge it.

"Damn it…" I cursed at the failed attempt. If I wanted to talk to her, I'd have to knock her out first. Easier said than done.

We both recovered, blood running down from our foreheads. Our physical skills were evenly matched, but for obvious reasons, she had way more strength in her legs than I did.

I was starting to seriously doubt my plan. Even if I won, the heroes would come for me, and if they weren't enough, more would arrive. Aside from Mirko, I doubted I could take on anyone from the top ten.

"Don't get distracted!" I snapped out of my thoughts as I saw Mirko closing in, leaping toward me with that same excited smile.

"Moon Arc!" she yelled, launching a powerful kick. Alarmed, I jumped to the side, rolled, and crouched as I watched her kick slam into the concrete, shattering it.

"Weren't you looking for me?!" she shouted. Her predatory smile said it all—she was enjoying the fight, but then I noticed something else: she was deliberately keeping me busy and away from the civilians who were quietly being evacuated.

"I think I misjudged you..." Of course I did. Mirko is a hero through and through. Even if I give her the adrenaline rush she craves, she'll never betray her world.

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?!"

"I can't keep this up." Making up my mind, I looked at the civilians. Mirko, following my gaze, grew angry and lunged at me.

"Coward!" This time she held nothing back, dashing at me at full speed as I started running toward a nearby pregnant woman.

Of course, Mirko caught up to me, preparing a kick meant to stop me in my tracks.

I glanced at her incoming strike, pulled out my pistol quickly, and fired without hesitation.

The bullet hit her right thigh, drawing blood. But with a wild grin and clenched teeth, she didn't stop. I had no choice but to cross my arms and brace for impact.

Her kick landed. I heard the crack of my bones and endured the pain, gritting my teeth like I'd done countless times before. Without flinching, I grabbed her leg, catching her off guard.

Then, without giving her a chance to react, I pulled her down hard onto the asphalt. She coughed from the impact, and by the time she looked up—

It was too late.

Breathing heavily, I held the woman by the neck with my gun pressed to her head.

"I think it's obvious what'll happen if you move, right?" I said as the woman in my arms sobbed in terror. I apologized silently in my heart.

"Tsk... I let my guard down..." Mirko muttered, glaring while clenching her fists, then grinning arrogantly.

"What's your plan? Go ahead. If you do it, I won't show any mercy when I capture you." The other heroes had already finished evacuating the civilians and were surrounding me. I glanced at them all from the corner of my eye.

"I have one question. Depending on your answer, I'll either surrender... or I'll kill her." I said firmly, pressing the gun harder against the woman's temple.

"What do you want to know?"

There was a tense silence, broken only by the sound of sobbing and everyone's heavy breathing from nerves.

Salazar was sweating. He never thought it would come to this—but now, he had no other option.

"Are you willing to kill... to help someone who truly needs it?"

Everyone was stunned by the question. Mirko analyzed both the situation and the man before her.

They all misunderstood. Some thought he was a psychopath threatening to kill unless someone killed him first—putting Mirko in a difficult position.

But in truth, he was testing the waters. Based on her answer, he would know whether it was possible to recruit Mirko... or if it was a waste of time.

She seemed resolute, stepping forward calmly after evaluating everything.

"First you say you were looking for me, then that I'm not what you expected, and now this? Makes me wonder something."

Stopping in front of all the heroes, hands on her hips, she stared directly at him.

"That question... Are you asking it for her? Or for yourself?" Their eyes locked. He said nothing—but that was answer enough.

"I'm sorry. I can't help you." Her response was sincere. She sighed and crossed her arms. I didn't change my expression or posture.

She was more perceptive than I expected. For some reason, I thought this might work. But Mirko is a hero at heart—I should've known she'd never accept.

I sighed and let go of the woman, who immediately ran toward the police aiming their guns at me.

"I see... Sorry for the inconvenience. But I had to be sure." Raising my weapon, I aimed at the unconscious villain on the bench. Mirko's eyes widened, and she lunged toward me.

"No!"

I pulled the trigger.

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[Time Remaining: 84:32:40]

Escorted by an officer with handcuffs around my wrists, I entered a room with iron walls and a one-way mirror. I assumed someone was watching from the other side. I was placed in front of what seemed to be a detective, seated at a metal table. They locked my cuffs to the table before the escorting officer left.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Naomasa Tsukauchi. May I know yours?" he asked. I didn't answer, just stared at the cuffs keeping me restrained.

"I don't like handcuffs."

"I'm sorry, but it's a necessary security measure. You've been classified as dangerous."

"Dangerous enough to be sent to Tartarus?" I asked, raising my gaze to meet his. Naomasa, being a seasoned detective, didn't flinch under my threatening aura.

"If you cooperate, you won't have to go there."

That answer was enough to make me suddenly kick the table, making Naomasa flinch and pull his gun.

"Is this what you call cooperating?" I asked with a cynical smile as he squinted at me, weapon still drawn. Officers stormed into the room to drag me away.

Behind the mirror, Mirko was biting her nails in frustration, standing beside police chief Kenji Tsuragamae, the dog-headed man.

"I don't get it. He seemed like he needed help... so why is he acting like a damn idiot now?!" She slammed her fists onto the table, denting it. The police chief just shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Mirko. We can't always know what's going on inside a villain's mind. He'll be transferred to Tartarus tomorrow," he said, walking away as she stared at the chair where Salazar had sat.

"Tsk…" she clicked her tongue, leaving the room without answers.

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[Time Remaining: 71:44:54]

Pushed into his cell by a guard, now wearing the standard orange prison uniform and holding a welcome kit—just a toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, and soap in a plastic bag.

His hands were free, but he wore a collar that nullified his Quirk.

"Back to this again, huh..." he muttered, touching the collar and clenching his fist in frustration. He looked around his cell—bunk beds. His cellmate was using the toilet and only gave him a passing glance, chuckling quietly to himself.

Dropping his bag on the top bunk, he heard an annoyed grunt and turned to face the other inmate—an unpleasant-looking fly-man hybrid.

"That's my bed, newbie…"

"Hey, let me ask you something. Do you know a woman with purple hair and magenta highlights? She's been here for about four or five years."

"Huh?" The man frowned, clearly confused, and walked toward him threateningly.

"I don't know who you're talking abo—" He froze when he felt something cold against his forehead. Looking up, he saw the barrel of a gun aimed at him.

"You sure you don't know her?" Salazar asked more seriously this time. The fly-man started sweating and shook his head.

"Men and women only meet during lunch, right?" he asked again, getting a nervous nod in return. That confirmed his theory.

Tartarus was a unique prison—criminals of all genders were housed here, though the cells were separated. The only time they saw each other was in the communal cafeteria.

But there were over 100 modules in all of Tartarus.

"How long have you been here?" Salazar continued his interrogation. The fly-man, despite having many questions, valued his life and answered without hesitation.

"T-Ten years…"

"And you've never seen her?"

He shook his head again, terrified.

"Then you're useless."

Cut.

Guards saw blood spilling from the cell. When they arrived, they found the prisoner's corpse. Salazar sat on the lower bunk, turning to face them with a serious expression.

"Can I request a module transfer?"

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After hours of moving from cell to cell, he didn't let the guards rest. He didn't have time. The message was clear:

Transfer me or I'll keep killing.

Eventually, he was relocated. After torturing/interrogating a prison informant, he discovered the person he was looking for was in Module 86. He requested a transfer. The guards, baffled by his behavior, accepted—on the condition that he wouldn't kill anyone else.

Probably the hours spent clearing out bloodied cells had made them more... compliant.

Escorted in chains—hands and feet bound—by three guards armed with lethal gear, he kept his head down, but wore a smile.

This time, he wouldn't fail.

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Thank you for the support, the comments, the feedback, and the stones thrown at my humble story! I'd love to hear more suggestions or things to incorporate into the plot. As you've seen, I really like consulting you all.

I'll leave this poll for later, but it never hurts to prepare early:

What world would you like to see next?

Also, a review wouldn't hurt. Just saying (^^")