Chapter 21: The Nail Gun Symphony and the Tacticool Traitor part- 3
"You are not a soldier," Hirano said. He reached out and ripped the beret off Slaughter's head. "That beret is from a costume shop. The stitching is wrong. And your 'dog tags'..." Hirano yanked the chain from Slaughter's neck. "These are from a Call of Duty collector's edition."
Silence filled the room. Even the zombies outside seemed to quiet down for the reveal.
Saya walked up to Slaughter. Her face was red, not with embarrassment, but with fury. "You lied? You claimed to be Special Forces! We trusted you!"
"I... I played a lot of shooters!" Slaughter defended weakly. "It is basically the same thing!"
(Wow,) Ethan commented. (That is the saddest defense I have ever heard. And I have been inside the mind of a man who tried to date a body pillow. Finish it, Hirano. We don't need to kill him—that is messy. Just... exile him. Let the apocalypse judge him.)
"We are leaving," Hirano announced. "We are going to the Humvee in the parking lot. You..." He pointed at Slaughter. "You stay here. You have plenty of books to read."
"You can't leave me!" Slaughter shrieked. "The zombies are in the hallway!"
"I cleared the hallway," Hirano said. "But more will come. Good luck, 'Sergeant'."
Hirano turned to the girls. "Let us go. I will take point. Saeko-san, watch the rear. Saya, stick to me."
Saya nodded, rushing to his side. She grabbed his arm, her fingers digging into his tactical vest. "You... you are really okay?"
"I am fine," Hirano said, a small blush finally appearing on his cheeks as he felt her touch. "I promised I would protect you, Saya-chan. I intend to keep that promise."
Saeko smiled—a rare, beautiful smile. "You are full of surprises, Hirano-san. I feel safer already."
They walked out of the room, leaving the screaming Transmigrator pinned to the wall.
As they reached the parking lot and climbed into the Humvee, a notification popped up in Ethan's mind.
[Incident Report: World 6][Target: Kohta Hirano.][Love Interests: Saya Takagi & Saeko Busujima.][Status: Alpha Male Status Established. Harem Route: Unlocked (Possibility).][Villain Status: Pinned to a bookshelf. Likely to be eaten by a zombie librarian.][Reward: 1500 System Points.]
(Excellent work,) Ethan praised. (You didn't just save the girl; you became the man. Keep that confidence, Hirano. The apocalypse is long, but with that nail gun, you will be fine.)
"Thank you," Hirano thought back. "I... I think I can do this."
[System Alert: New Transmigrator Detected.][World Designation: World 7 - The World of Heroes (My Hero Academia Universe).][Setting: U.A. University for Heroics (Adult Setting).][Host: Shoto Todoroki.][Villain Identity: "Inferno" (Transmigrator with a 'Fire God' System).][Villain Objective: To steal Momo Yaoyorozu by proving his fire is 'superior' to Todoroki's and mocking Todoroki's daddy issues.]
(Todoroki? The guy with the split hair and the emotional baggage?) Ethan sighed. (And another fire user? Why is it always fire? Can't we have a villain who uses, I don't know, aggressive bubblegum magic? Fine. Let us go teach this 'Inferno' that you don't mess with the icy-hot hero.)
[Initiating Transfer...]
...............…..
World 7: The World of Heroes (My Hero Academia Universe - Adult University Setting)
Ethan arrived in the mind of Shoto Todoroki. The sensation was... conflicted. Half of the host's body felt cold, the other half burning hot. It was like having a fever and hypothermia at the same time.
He opened his sensors. They were in a massive training arena, surrounded by concrete pillars and cheering crowds. It was the U.A. University Sports Festival—the final round.
Opposite Todoroki stood "Inferno." He was a Transmigrator with flaming red hair (dyed, obviously) and a costume that looked like a reject from a heavy metal band. He was surrounded by blue flames that burned hotter than normal fire.
In the VIP box, Momo Yaoyorozu was watching with concern.
(Okay, Shoto. Wake up. We have a match to win.)
Todoroki stood stoically, his face blank. "Who are you?" he thought, surprisingly calm.
(I am your inner drive. Your quirk's consciousness. Whatever. Look, that guy across from you? Inferno? He has a microphone hidden in his collar. He is broadcasting his trash talk directly to Momo's earpiece. He is telling her that you are 'damaged goods' and that your fire is weak compared to his 'Divine Flame'.)
Todoroki's mismatched eyes narrowed. "He is insulting me to Yaoyorozu?"
(Yes. And he is right about one thing: You are holding back. You are refusing to use your fire side because of your father. Inferno knows that. He is banking on you only using ice so he can melt it and humiliate you.)
"I will not use his power," Todoroki muttered, glancing at the flaming figure of his father, Endeavor, in the stands.
(It is not his power!) Ethan shouted, channeling the famous Deku speech. (It is YOUR power! Are you going to lose the girl and the match because you are throwing a tantrum at your dad? Inferno is going to roast you, then he is going to ask Momo out on a date to a hibachi grill. Is that what you want?)
Todoroki looked at Momo. She looked worried. She clasped her hands together, silently cheering for him.
(Look at her, Shoto. She deserves a hero who is whole. Not half a man. Use the fire. Burn this clown.)
Inferno laughed from across the arena. "What is wrong, Todoroki? Freezing up? Your ice is pathetic against my Blue Hellfire! Just give up and let a real man show Yaoyorozu what heat looks like!"
Inferno launched a massive wave of blue fire. It roared across the arena, melting the concrete floor.
Todoroki raised his right side. Ice shot out, forming a massive glacier.
HISS.
The blue fire consumed the ice instantly. Steam exploded, blinding everyone.
"See?" Inferno taunted. "Weak!"
Todoroki felt the heat. He felt the pressure.
(Do it,) Ethan whispered. (Ignite.)
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