It's been two days since I joined as a provisional hero. Contrary to what I expected, Kamui turned out to be quite patient with my training. His mantra has stayed with me during these days we've spent together:
"End the fight before they can move."
His quirk works very similarly to a part of mine. The reason I chose him was precisely to follow Principal Nezu's orders,since from now on I'll have to fight from a safe distance to avoid public attention, learning from the best available is necessary. Kamui Woods mainly operates in Mustafu, which helps my economy a lot since I don't have to travel far to reach our destination. For now, I can't help but feel satisfied with the results I've been amassing lately.
Before the sun even peeks over the horizon, I'm already at our meeting spot,a small apartment that doubles as his agency. That's where I am right now, waiting for him.
To pass the time and avoid boredom, I decide to check my suit from bottom to top. My black boots are tall, the tip reinforced with an oval metal plate. I wanted to make it wedge-shaped, but I was forced to give up on the idea because it was "too violent." A shame, really.
My equally black pants are made of nylon 66. I specifically requested this fabric to prevent tearing in the middle of a fight. Even if I could fix it, it would still mean an unnecessary loss of threads. The same fabric has been treated to be moisture-resistant and flame-retardant.
I also wear gloves similar to a motorcyclist's,their main function lies in the reinforced knuckles. Once again, I was forbidden from making them more dangerous than necessary, so they're really just an aesthetic touch.
Moving upward, my torso is first covered by a long-sleeved shirt that also shields my neck. Over that is a gray ballistic metal plate protecting my chest. As I said, avoiding unnecessary expenses is always good. Finally, a brown leather jacket with the same flame-retardant properties. And lastly,currently resting on my knee,is my helmet.
It's a chin-supported helmet that covers up to the nape of my neck, hiding my entire face. There's nothing remarkable about it except that it's built to withstand multiple blows and is extremely shiny. I suppose it could become my signature.
While sitting with one leg crossed over the other, I hear the door open. I quickly stand as Kamui speaks.
"Did I keep you waiting too long?"
"Not at all. Are we going to the usual spot?"
"No, no,today I figured we could go on patrol."
"Really? That would be great!"
I don't waste a second before getting into motion. He turns around and walks off without waiting for me, while I let the locking mechanism of my helmet attach to my skin. Whenever I wear it, I always pull my hair back to avoid discomfort,it's become almost a reflex at this point.
Finally, I take a few long strides to catch up to him. Since I'm about half a foot taller, the task is easier. These past few days we've grown closer, and more importantly, I've learned a lot about how to adapt my quirk more effectively at long range.
My previous method, according to him, wasn't wrong,deploying hundreds of threads in enclosed spaces to limit an opponent's movement is quite effective. However, in situations where you're outnumbered, it's best to restrain your targets with thicker, more durable "branches."
How these branches work, in my specific case, is easier to grasp when you have a live example by your side. First, the base form remains in my arm. The moment I want to attack with this technique, my arm splits into threads that intertwine around my forearm. These threads then regroup, using tension cables as their base, forming multiple "branches" that extend across a much wider area. A small improvement I made to this technique was adding hooks to these branches,like tarantulas,so once they latch onto a target, they prevent any sudden movement. Of course, this is a personal touch... and a secret.
Patrolling is basically greeting civilians and waiting for something to happen. Much to my disappointment, Mustafu is currently quiet due to the threat of All Might, who resides at U.A.Though that doesn't stop some lunatic from throwing their life away for a bit of cash. And god, I hope that happens soon.
Talking of Lunatics, tomorrow is the return of Stain in Hosu, I don't think Midoriya is going to have much trouble with him but I'm still going to intervene, there is something I want to discuss with that guy not as Karma, but as Akuma, it has its purpose,trust
-Akuma, are you paying attention?-
-Ah...-
-Tsk, I was explaining how our routine work, didn't you hear? Sigh....-
A friendly tap lands on my helmet as we walk. He shakes his head and proceeds to explain again.
"You see… as heroes, we're responsible for a specific section. This section is assigned to us based on our performance and specific traits. Every now and then, we have to support our colleagues depending on how difficult the situation is. In my case, I usually collaborate with the heroine Mount Lady. I suppose you know her."
Even something so simple has surprisingly realistic and strict policies. It's interesting to see these things unfold so naturally. While we talk procedures, a message from Mei pops up in my inbox:
> Akuma Akuma! Your baby is ready! Come pick it up!
>Bet
>…?
Ah, I guess they don't know what that means either. Whatever the case, my skeleton is finally ready—and just in time.
"Excuse me, Kamui…? I need to go to U.A. to pick up a part for my suit. Is it okay if I step out?"
"Hmm? Well, if it's necessary, nothing can be done. Go quickly,if something comes up, I'll let you know."
The hero doesn't seem annoyed by my sudden distraction. Instead, he scratches his head and gestures for me to go.
Even so, I don't plan to waste any more time. Running through the city streets, I don't hesitate to cut through alleys and use my quirk to leap between buildings, even if it goes against the rules. No one's watching, and I have a certain degree of freedom right now. It takes me less than 20 minutes to reach U.A., and from there, about 5 to get to the workshop.
It's right when I'm just a few centimeters from the door that my senses scream in unison,danger.
I don't hesitate to jump back, and inside that room,like an oven,a blast builds up and reaches its peak. A split second after I move out of the way, Mei comes flying straight out the door. With nothing to crash into, she simply tumbles across the floor, her face covered in soot and reeking of smoke. I brush away debris from the explosion out of my path and extend a hand to help her up.
"Seriously, they should just hire you to make explosives."
"Hah! These are just defective babies. I still haven't reached my peak, that's for sure—but I'm getting closer every time. And the baby I made for you is special in many ways."
"Don't say weird things like that, Mei."
"Heh."
I step into the smoke-filled room while removing my helmet, shaking my head to free my hair. Burnt oil floods my nostrils as I spot the culprit behind such an impressive explosion. The shape catches my attention,even if it's deformed now, the idea of anti-gravity boots comes to mind, judging by the bits of metal that have lost their magnetism thanks to flames caused by a poor use of wiring.
I hear Mei rummaging behind me as I lean closer to inspect the invention. For all her eccentricity, you can't deny the girl's intelligence. I can't help but wonder what I could create in a world with fewer limitations than mine,but that's not my job, at least not for now. Maybe someday. Who knows?
"Here it is!"
When I turn, all I see is Mei's now-clean face practically pressed against mine,close enough for our noses to touch,while she grins from ear to ear, pressing a briefcase against my chest.
"You really have no concept of personal space, Miss Inventor."
"What, nothing embarrasses you? It's no fun if you don't get nervous."
She says as makes a pout, her cheeks look adorable puffed out
"…I'm sorry?"
"Forget it. Just try it on."
She sighs with a half-smile, watching me. I just chuckle, not giving it much importance. First, I take off my jacket, then unstrap my armored chest plate, and finally my long-sleeved shirt, leaving my back exposed as I sit on a bench.
"Would you do me the honor?"
"Heh, well… with pleasure."
Mei doesn't hesitate to open the briefcase with a loud click. I glance over as she plays with my skeleton,just as its name suggests, the piece resembles a spine with ribs. At the center of those ribs sits a metal box that will hold my core.
Her hands run over my shoulders as I lean forward, opening my back. Slowly, I feel the metal slip into my body. Threads weave between the carbon ribs while the spine sinks in as well. In the end, nothing looks different from the outside.
"Whoah, just… incredible! Absolutely incredible! Your body is a treasure! Let me explore it! I could..."
Mei stops speaking when she sees me remove my left boot,and my own foot opens, revealing my core. The small, cold white orb gives off a silvery, steaming aura. She takes her time to admire it in silence while my chest receives the core and places it inside the box, where it will be completely safe for now. Still, I decide to wrap a thread around it,just in case. In case I ever need to "wake it up."
After spending a few seconds without the core inside me, breathing becomes necessary. That cold feeling of being incomplete is invasive and unpleasant—but easy to forget once the core returns to its place.
"That's all, Mei. Thank you very much."
"No problem, Akuma! Please, come back every now and then!"
"I will, no need to worry."
She laughs warmly as I leave, quickly returning to her work just as I return to mine. A message from my mentor arrives with perfect timing, and I can't help but smile as I read it:
> Main Bank. NOW.
By the time I arrived at the designated location,the central bank of Mustafu,it had taken me about fifteen minutes. A record time, considering it was farther away than where I had parted ways with Kamui. Even from a distance, the commotion around the building was clear: about seven patrol cars were parked outside, fourteen officers had cordoned off the area, and two investigators were waiting inside a nearby van.
Kamui was staring directly at the bank's entrance. I also caught sight of Mount Lady, still in her normal form, speaking with some officers. Oddly enough, I didn't see Mineta. That poor idiot… did they really leave him behind?
"I came as fast as I could. What's going on?"
"Ah, Akuma… no, Mayhem. Well, the situation is complicated. Six armed individuals were reported entering the bank half an hour ago, but we haven't heard anything since. There must be several hostages inside, but our personnel haven't been able to contact anyone in the building."
Kamui Woods rubbed his chin as he looked at me again.
"Well, this could be good training for you. Tell me,what could we do here?"
"If they're not making demands, that complicates things. It lowers the value of the hostages while giving them total control of the situation. Maybe they're planning to stay for a long time, or they have other methods that don't require negotiation?"
As my words filled the air, my threads crept into the shadows, slithering along the pavement before climbing up the wall. As thin as the wind, nobody suspected a thing as they slipped through the nearest skylight on the roof.
It didn't take me long to find a security camera. I used one thread to crack the casing and shred the electronics inside, all for the purpose of creating an extra eye inside it. Sure, I could rely solely on echoes and vibrations, but I prefer to see threats directly.
And if there's one thing that's hard to create, it's an eye. Ever since I first received my quirk, it took me three full years to make them functional. It's a tedious, complicated process, one that requires all my focus.
The threads extended from my body into the camera housing. Just this alone took three minutes. Once enough material was inside, the shape of the eye came first,the foundation for everything else. Next was the cornea substitute: a braid of transparent micro-threads worked well enough. The diaphragm was made of contracting rings, which, as their name suggests, controlled the eye's movement by lengthening or tightening the strands that formed the main structure.
Some threads formed parallel sheets, bouncing light back along nearly the same path. The entire area was wired like a nervous system, sending electrical signals to my core, which,though I honestly don't understand how,lets me see with perfect clarity.
Finally, after that little process, my vision sharpened. Using the security camera as cover, I adjusted my sight. It didn't take long to identify the aggressors.
On the ground floor of the bank, sixteen hostages were gathered in a circle. They ranged in age, there was even a child tightly clinging to his mother, some adults and 2 unarmed guards
The situation was unpleasant to see, the museum was silent only interrupted by the distant sobs of some member of this group, further away you could hear the constant drilling of some machine below the floor
Next to them was a man dressed head to toe in black. From what I could tell, his quirk allowed him to hold objects in the air. He was using it to aim four guns at the hostages while guarding the entrance. That was a problem.
On the upper floor, watching from above, was their apparent leader. He supervised his underlings while staring at a vibrating phone, refusing to answer it. His quirk remained a mystery as my threads ventured deeper into the building.
Almost at the same time, I spotted a younger boy wandering the bank, his clothes covered in dust. He spoke to the man with the levitating guns.
"Almost ready. Can you tell the car to get in position?"
"Are you stupid? They'll be tracking every call outside. We can't just chat freely. That's what we've got the chameleon for. You just focus on your job and leave the rest to us."
The conversation reached me through my threads, vibrations carried and interpreted. So they had a getaway car ready,and someone called "the chameleon." That made seven members in total. Three upstairs, one outside… which meant three were in the bank's vault. Those ones remained unidentified, but I could work with that.
I quickly pulled my threads out of the building and began scanning the area. A driver, huh? If I could find him, things would get a whole lot easier.
To be honest, I could hand this information over to the heroes and the police. But that would only create more problems. Once the criminals realize their escape plan has been exposed, who knows what those lunatics might do? And besides… I'm curious to see if I can control a group of criminals on my own.
Analyzing the scraps of information I've gathered is mandatory. Considering the number of members involved, they're clearly aiming for a massive amount of money. That rules out a small car. A van would be too conspicuous. Which leaves… a truck. There's always the possibility of multiple vehicles, but they only mentioned one driver. So,a truck.
The problem was, around here, there wasn't really anywhere a truck could park without drawing attention. Police patrols were circling constantly. So how…?
My foot tapped the ground repeatedly as I racked my brain for any possibility,until I noticed a postal truck rolling casually down the street adjacent to the bank. Strange. By this hour, deliveries should've ended a while ago…
There is no fucking way
Meanwhile, Kamui Woods was killing time during the stalemate, chatting with his coworker, Mount Lady, while investigators tried to make contact with the robbers.
"Hey, don't you also have a trainee?"
"Oh yeah, but that kid's pretty annoying, you know? He's always staring at me weird, so I just have him watch over my house."
"Like… a dog?"
"And you,how's yours? I was surprised he even accepted your invitation. You're so peaceful, and his style is so violent, I thought you two would never click."
The heroine twirled her hair with her mind on another place, recalling that infamous battle of Akuma's. The fragility of his body, and at the same time the mental strength to keep moving forward despite it all,it was captivating in its own way.
"Well, the kid's quiet, learns fast, follows orders. Makes working with him pretty easy."
"Speaking of which… where is he?"
"Eh…?"
A few blocks away from the bank, where the main team was currently stationed, sat Ryuichi Gojiyama, behind the wheel of a delivery truck, waiting anxiously for the signal.
Ryuichi was a wanted criminal. After wreaking havoc in Naruhata under the effects of Trigger and being defeated by Captain Celebrity, he'd escaped and gone into hiding. Recently, he'd been contacted for this job. Desperate for money and no longer able to use his Quirk as freely, he'd accepted.
Still, he was confident no one suspected him. Parking in the designated alley, he drummed his fingers against the steering wheel while he waited. Lost in thought, he didn't notice the door opening until it was too late. He whipped around instantly, raising the pistol he'd been loaned, but before he could fire something gripped his neck and smashed his face into the steering wheel. The airbag deployed with brutal force, shattering his nose.
The trigger slipped from his fingers as he was yanked out of the truck. His back slammed against the pavement, vision blurry, blood pouring down his face. Through the haze, he managed to glimpse his attacker.
"W-who?!"
"Shhh. Don't say much. I don't want to hurt you too badly,it'd get me in trouble."
The sight of that crimson helmet would never leave Ryuichi's mind. He gasped for air as threads coiled around his throat, binding him in a cocoon and cutting off his breath, lifting him up into the alley air.
In his final moments of consciousness, one thought burned through his fading mind: Heroes weren't supposed like this....right?
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The Chameleon, on the other hand, was small-time. He'd never accomplished anything significant, so this heist was his chance to catch the eye of bigger organizations,or so he thought. His mutation-type Quirk allowed him to turn invisible for short bursts. Tall and fit, with a ridge running down the center of his head, strange eyes, and scaly green skin, he was an eccentric sight. Which is why he covered himself head to toe in clothes.
His job was simple: run ahead unseen, scout threats, and help with transporting the cash. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. The hostages weren't resisting,not with four guns floating inches from their faces thanks to his partner's Quirk.
Down in the vault, the twins were tearing through walls with the drills sprouting from their arms, their raw strength making the work easy. With over five bulging sacks of money, they left the vault completely empty.
The three regrouped on the ground floor. Their leader descended from his post above, nodding to the "guardian" to follow them. They headed for a forgotten section of the bank where the last member waited: a younger man with a Quirk that turned materials into malleable clay-like mass.
"All set, boss?"
"Chameleon. Your turn. Run to the rendezvous and report any threats."
The young man pulled away the last covering from the hole they'd dug. Without hesitation, Chameleon bolted, fading into invisibility as he darted through back alleys. It took less than three minutes for him to find the truck waiting. He said nothing, simply pressed the radio's button and let static flow—a prearranged signal to avoid direct communication.
Relieved, he approached the truck… but noticed immediately the driver wasn't in sight. Had he run off? Impossible. Maybe...
"What?!"
Something clamped onto his leg. A strange mass of fibers spread across his skin, tightening. Threads wrapped around his body, locking his limbs in place before he could resist. Panic overtook him. Sweat beaded down his face as he tried to scream,only for a web to seal his mouth shut.
By instinct, he looked upward.
There, hanging upside-down from a nest of interwoven threads that filled the alley, was a boy in a red helmet. Even behind the visor, Chameleon felt those heavy eyes piercing him.
"It's true—nobody looks up by instinct. Seriously, are all of you like this? Hah… well, makes my job easier."
The Chameleon's body went limp, suffocated. His radio was smashed to pieces. All he could do was watch as he saw his comrades approaching—walking straight into the lair of this bizarre hero.
In a blink, the twins arrived. Spotting their fallen teammate, they went on high alert as the rest of the crew followed.
Mayhem dropped from above, striking first. One twin was slammed into the wall with Kamui's binding technique, knocked out cold in an instant.
The other roared and charged, his arm transformed into a drill.
"You bastard!"
The drill pierced through Mayhem's leather jacket, scorching the edges with sheer friction. Mayhem sank to one knee. The twin smirked with triumph—until Mayhem spoke.
"Argh! You got me! …Right in my new skeleton, idiot."
An instant later, the second twin was impaled against the delivery truck's doors, eyes rolling back white. From Mayhem's lower back, a long, blood-red tendril pulsed before retracting.
That left only three.
At the front stood the boss: tall, imposing, dressed in a sharp blue suit. Behind him, the younger man in a hoodie and baggy pants trembled, sweat pouring down his face. And at the rear, the levitator kept four guns aimed at Mayhem, his mask hiding everything but his nervous eyes.
"Well… three left. That's fine," Mayhem muttered.
"Don't underestimate us, you little shit! Do you even know who I am?!"
"No. And I don't care. That makes you irrelevant. Honestly, talking all high and mighty when you might not even be canon."
"Canon…?"
While the boss sputtered, the unconscious bodies of the twins rose into the web above, strung up like prey. Desperation flashed across his face. Should they abandon the others and flee? Before he could speak, Mayhem leapt forward.
His helmet slammed into the boss's skull with a brutal headbutt, dropping him. A palm strike to the solar plexus crumpled the younger one, forcing him to his knees, gasping for air.
The levitator was all that remained, four guns trembling in the air.
"Don't you take another step, you psychotic freak! Or I'll show you what I can do!"
Mayhem shook his head—and stepped closer.
As promised, the man fired. Four deafening shots rang out, sirens blaring in the distance as the police were alerted. And yet… Mayhem stood unscathed. The guns clattered uselessly to the ground, tangled in threads.
"Sorry. My strings get caught pretty easily, you know?"
"W-wait!"
That was all he managed before a fist smashed his jaw, another crushed his liver, and a boot to the chin knocked him clean out.
Mayhem bound him quickly, dragging him over with the others and stringing their bodies up out of reach. Finally, he turned his attention to the unmoving Chameleon lying nearby. With a flick of his hand, he cut him free.
"You're a mutant like me, aren't you? Consider this a favor. My name is Akuma Matsumoto. You know who I am,of course you do. I'll be contacting you soon. Don't get into trouble until then. Now get the hell out of here."
The hero's voice was cold, commanding. The Chameleon bowed his head, trembling. That figure filled him with terror. Without hesitation, he activated his Quirk and vanished into thin air.
No money. No victory. But alive.
And as the sound of patrol cars closed in, only one thought gnawed at him: Why me? What makes him so special?
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At the end I was scolded for at least half an hour from Kamui, with Mount Lady laughing in silence behind him, turns out what I did was extremely unprofessional and reckless, also, Kamui hates when he isn't the one to stop the villains, noted
Anywho, the hostages were unharmed, and nobody said a thing about some bruises that strangely appeared in the body of the criminals after they surrendered by their own, this world is so strange after all...
The day ended quickly after that, I also learned the hassle of fill out reports to the police, even then, my mentor helped me a lot to write more precisely and get out of trouble for not specify correctly or skip events, he is such a good dude
With this, the only thing left is Hosu, God, I'm so excited