After making sure Nine wouldn't die in the middle of the night, I booked it back to U.A as fast as I could.
After explaining the deal I'd struck with Nine and his companions to Nezu, I finally returned to my room to crash for the few hours I could, since I was kinda tired. Despite being stronger than a normal Viltrumite despite all the restrictions, I still got tired after a week with no sleep.
Thankfully, Viltrumite biology is so buffed that the four hours of sleep I got were all I would need for the next week. I would be sleeping a full eight hours once I was done with this mess, however.
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While Micah slept, the rest of his class did not fare as well.
Since they didn't know that Nine and his companions were no longer a threat, they had holed up the injured and civilians on one of the smaller islands connected to Nabu Island. This gave them a choke point they could guard, and they'd spent the entire night getting ready for a fight.
Since most were dead tired after so much excitement, Alarielle and Mikasa were left to keep watch during the night. Alarielle had plenty of energy stored within her and had no problem staying up; Mikasa simply didn't trust anyone else to do the job as well as she could.
As she sent small butterflies and other insects to patrol the areas she couldn't see, Alarielle kept up small talk with Mikasa.
"So, I remember seeing a report of the terror cell that still lives on in Germany, the Warriors they call themselves, correct?" She asked as Mikasa tensed slightly.
"Yes." She said curtly as Alarielle pried for more.
"If you don't mind me asking, how do they continue to survive in Germany? Your country is almost as strict as Japan is when it comes to Quirk Laws. I'm surprised to see a group as dangerous as them still operating."
Mikasa didn't answer, simply glaring into the darkness beyond as Alarielle suppressed a sigh. She then perked up as an idea came to mind. "So tell me, are you and Eren dating? What's he like? He always seems so serious. Does he have any family back home?"
That got Mikasa talking. Though Alarielle noted with amusement that she never answered her first question. That didn't bother her much, however, since it kept the eyes in the dark distracted as she maneuvered around them.
She didn't do much; she didn't even have to use much power to find them. The three of them were full of so much energy that even Khaine took note. They were nothing close to her, and even farther from Micah's overwhelming power, but compared to the rest of the class, it was troubling.
The interesting thing, however, was how familiar they seemed to be with Mikasa. They always stayed out of her line of sight, as if they didn't believe I could sense them despite the darkness.
She didn't bother pointing them out, even though it would be very easy to destroy them. She was faintly concerned about how similar their energy signature felt to that of both Eren and Armin, and, concerningly enough, Sasha.
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"I still think this is a bad idea." Slice admitted as she gave Nine a bottle of water she'd found. Chimera sniffed the air as Nine gulped down the water.
"I'm healed, Kiruka. I no longer feel the pain of my body destroying itself cell by cell, no longer feel the impending doom that comes whenever I use my quirk. If the price to pay for that is loyalty to another, and the removal of my other quirks? So be it."
"I still don't think he was being completely honest." Chimera huffed from his corner.
"For such an offer to come at this time, after all we've done to get this far, that boy just drops out of the sky and offers salvation on a silver platter? I don't trust it."
Nine listened patiently as his friends let out all their worries for their future, and for him. Once they were finished, he lifted his hands and removed his mask, enjoying the slightly musty air of the lighthouse.
"I had no choice in the matter." Nine said as Slice and Chimera looked confused, so he explained.
"He mentioned the HPSC was aware of me, and that heroes were hunting me. Not looking, hunting. I know my power well; I could easily kill all the heroes they send after me, but what if they send an Underground hero? What if they sent him after me?
As strong as I am, I would still struggle to fight AFO, much less kill him. That boy gave me a chance to live and still prove my dream can be a reality. That and him sparing you is enough, for now."
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As they disappeared into the dark forest, Porco couldn't help but glare at the darkness behind them.
"Careful, Porco, you keep looking like that, your face might get stuck." A voice chuckled as they touched down on the forest floor. Porco turned to see his compatriots already eating their rations.
"Reiner and Annie should be here! They're the reason we lost the Colossal!" Porco snarled as he tore open his own ration. The female of the group was saddened at the mention of the Colossal, but said nothing.
"You know good and well why Reiner and Annie can't be here." The other person, an older man, said as he sipped coffee. "Besides, we'll be more than enough to deal with Eren and Mikasa."
"What about the students? There is also the princess we have to worry about." The female spoke up as the older man set his cup down. "The children will be easy to deal with, since they're worried about Tomura's little pet. As for the princess? She should know better than to get involved."
"What's the matter, Pieck? Worried about a bunch of savage children?" Porco snorted as she frowned. "No, of course not. I'd just rather not anger their parents or the Principal of their school. Not to mention that one boy, Micah, was his name?"
"Oh please, that's all just propaganda! You know how the Japanese government is." Porco sneered as the man spoke up. "Wrong, it's all true. Pieck is right on that front, we don't need to get his attention at all."
"With respect, Warchief Zeke, do you really think some savage child could kill THE All For One? Even our records tell of his dark deeds. Besides, I'm certain my claws could tear him in half."
Zeke shook his head. "No, command has verified the reports. All For One is dead, killed by a child who has power to rival All Might. Do not go after the students at all, I'd rather not have such a monster sent after us, dealing with Levi will be bad enough."
Porco snorted, but remained quiet for the rest of the night as they ate their rations, unaware of the slitted eyes that watched them from the treetops.