Chapter 45: Tartarus
Author: Geraint
A/N: To support me, please donate to my PayPal.paypal.me/Geraint124x
(3rd Person POV)
Police arrived at the scene of destruction after the intense battle. Mirko stood silently, watching as they chained up Ichika's unconscious body and loaded him into a heavily armored truck, guarded by several top heroes.
She clenched her teeth, frustration on her face, tears welling in her eyes as her lover was taken away to Tartarus.
"Ichika, you idiot…"
"Mirko..."Ryukyu stood behind her, looking concerned—aware of their relationship.
Mirko wiped her tears with the backs of her wrists.SniffSniff
"I'm fine. Let's go. We still have to stop the chaos in the city."
The two left with the rest of the Pro Heroes.
A few hours later, they arrived in front of the Hero Public Safety Commission building.
"What is this…?"
The entire place was a mess. Protesters were still throwing paint and trash at the building entrance. The heroes stood in disbelief as the chaos unfolded.
"We have to stop them! Hurry!" Fat Gum was about to rush in, but a white car pulled up in front of them.
"Don't bother. It's already too late."
Out jumped the small white animal—the current principal of U.A., Principal Nezu.
"Principal Nezu! What's going on?" someone asked.
"This is the result of the Commission's hidden corruption being exposed. The people are furious. We can't stop them now unless those responsible surrender." Nezu's expression was grim.
"Was this Ichika's doing?" Mirko asked.
Nezu nodded.
"Yes. This was Falcon's true goal all along. The attack on Tartarus was a diversion. His real target was the Hero Public Safety Commission."
"Wait, where's All Might?! He was supposed to help us against Falcon!" Gang Orca asked.
"He has his own plan. Let's trust him." Nezu glanced at the damaged building.
(Ichika's POV)
- Heavenly Realm -
Wake up. It's morning already.
A soft, familiar voice stirred me awake.
"Uuuuugh… Five more minutes…"I groaned. I was still exhausted from everything that happened. The preparations, the battle… I hadn't slept properly in days.
"Still sleeping?""Yeah… Just a little more."
I turned to my side, snuggling into something soft.
"Hehe… how cute."
I recognized the giggle.
"But if you don't wake up, I'll play a prank on you."
I opened my eyes—and there she was. The beautiful goddess who reincarnated me. And I was lying on her lap like a pillow.
"Venus?"
"Hehe, ping-pong! It's me! The goddess of beauty, love, and fertility—Venus!"
(Img<<<)
"Wait—did I die again?!"
I sat up in a panic.
"Nope! You didn't die. That won't happen. You're basically immortal in that form."
"Oh… then why am I here?"
"You lost the battle, so I wanted to give you something."
"Are you going to make me even more OP? I refuse!"
"I know. You're not really into getting stronger. So instead…"She held out her palm. A glowing blue stone floated above it.
"That's…"
"A low-grade space stone."
(Img<<<)
"Here we go again. Giving me dangerous stuff."
"It's not dangerous."
"What if someone steals it?"
"Then it'll just become a normal rock. Only you can use it. Don't bother looking if you lose it—I've got tons of them in my backyard."
"Okay, never mind."
"I heard you're trying to build a body for your AI daughter, but the tech isn't advanced enough there. Study this stone—it'll help."
"Thanks."
The stone embedded itself in the back of my left hand. A sharp pain shot through my body as its power coursed through me.
"Uuuuugh…"
"How does it feel?"
"Good. You have other stones, right?"
"Yeah. Except the Power and Soul stones. You'll find Power stones in the higher realm where the main gods reside. As for the Soul stone…"
"A sacrifice."
She nodded with a bittersweet smile.
"Time to go back. Let's meet again soon." She waved.
I noticed… she looked even cuter now than when I first met her. Back then, she was kind of a mess.
Everything faded to black.
When I woke up, I was in a sterile white room full of security devices. Rifles, lasers, and sensors surrounded me. Any sudden move meant death.
I looked down. I was strapped into a massive steel chair, wearing a straitjacket that covered my whole body. Chains bound my arms and legs. A heavy machine gun pointed at me from the wall.
(I see… I was caught. Tartarus, huh?)
So, you're finally awake.
I heard Roboco's voice from the room's speaker.
"You hacked this place? Amazing, Roboco!"
As long as it's not a Google captcha, anything's easy for me.
"Hehe…"
You think this is funny?
"Nope. I'm just proud of you."
Do you know why I'm mad at you?
"Yep… I broke a lot of promises."
I looked away, guilt creeping in.
You're currently 500 meters underground. No one ever escapes this place alive.
"Oh, really?"
You're under constant surveillance, but I've been feeding them fake data.
"As expected from my high-spec pon—"
BANG!
A bullet grazed my side. It came from the machine gun.
"Uhh… Roboco?"
Hmph.
She was clearly still mad.
I remembered someone.
"Roboco, is Kaina still here?"
Yeah. She's imprisoned above ground. Her execution was stopped thanks to All Might.
"What's happening on the surface?"
It's been three days since you were captured. The whole country's in chaos because of you.
"Three days?!"
Is Mirko's thighs your kryptonite or something? What a perverted dad I have.
"Hey, hey, calm down! I'm sorry!"
Anyway, All Might and Grandpa Sebastian are working on something behind the scenes for you. I've been helping, because your plan was kinda reckless.
"What? Don't tell me—"
All Might sacrificed his hero image to save you.
I trembled.
"No… What is he thinking?! He's the Symbol of Peace! If the public loses faith in heroes, villains will run wild!"
Exactly. That's why you don't have time to be sleeping in here.
I smirked.
"Roboco, I have a surprise for you."
Oh?
"Meet me in my room at Might Tower."
Using my strength, I tore off the straitjacket and shattered the chains.
Rip!
I raised my left hand and opened a portal using the space stone. A swirling wormhole appeared.
"This… hehe… does put a smile on my face."
You're making me cringe, Father. Please stop.
"At least let me have fun with my monologues!"
If people knew how hard you're trying to act cool…
"It's fine. No one here knows."
What about Lady Nagant? Aren't you going to free her? And Gentle Criminal's here too, you know—because of you.
"Eh? Where's La Brava?"
She's a teenager. Still in police custody, probably.
I looked down and realized…
(I'm only wearing a white brief. Why does this feel familiar…?)
"If I keep this up, I'll really become the forbidden hero… Hentai Kamen."
It suits you, Father. He's the hero this world needs most.
"Seriously?"
Not joking. Imagine: 'If you become a villain… a perverted superhero will punish you!' Crime rate would plummet.
...
"No."
I returned to my room, suited up, then went back to Tartarus—to rescue Lady Nagant and Gentle Criminal.
(To be continued...)
A/N: I'll fix my mistakes later, even though everything was a mistake.