Chapter 44: Spirit and Body
The day continued after breakfast. And for the first three hours, Mineta reviewed what he learned about Balintawak the other day. He learned two minor but useful tricks that can aid him in his battle. The first was the abaniko, strikes that utilize the turning motion of the wrist. And the second was the semi-strike, a fast attack that's done before a block.
While they were by no means powerful, damage was still damage. A tree can still fall to millions of small cuts.
But now, it was time for his next lesson. And so, there stood Mineta in his Hero costume… In the back alley of the Temple where the light was dim and there was a variety of trash laying about.
"Welcome to Simulated Ground C. This will be your training area for the rest of today's session." Fenghuang said as she continued to stretch.
"This is the Temple's back alley." Mineta retorted. His teacher shook her head as she walked over to a trash can.
"This is Simulated Ground C. With authentic simulated garbage, my young pupil." She repeated while opening the lid of the garbage can. Mineta looked inside and found bags of packaging peanuts inside. He leaned back, brows furrowed before studying the other bits of garbage lying about. Those stacks of aged magazines? They were actually a carved blocks of laminated wood. The scrap metal that was leaning against the building? Those were simulacrums made with ply wood.
Even the various vents and wires on the walls didn't look right. At least, the ones on the Temple side weren't correct.
"… Let's just get right to it. What are we learning today?" Mineta asked, giving up the argument.
"We'll be sparring to build what you've learned so you can effectively use it in the field. You may use your Quirk in conjunction with your Balintawak training. And don't worry about your abilities not being compatible; I've taken the initiative and had our armorer apply a non-stick coating to your baton." Fenghuang answered. Mineta raised an eyebrow to that and moved to test that. But just like Midoriya's shoes, the sticky orb didn't adhere to the metal of the rod. The shorter boy nodded to that before tossing the hairball up the wall so it won't interfere.
And with that, his master took out two giant knives–
"Hold on, what's that!?" Mineta asked, taking a step back. His master wasn't going to butcher him was she?
"These are bowie trainers used by knife fighters to polish their skills. According to reports, the Hero Killer used bladed weapons against the Heroes he attacked. So I must get you accustomed to fighting them before our patrol in the event you get caught up in the fight." Fenghuang explained as she readied a stance. The shorter boy felt any argument against that die on his tongue. She was right. If by some misfortune he had to fight Stain, he needed to know how to handle it.
Otherwise he'd end up in easy to eat pieces.
"Okay, I'm ready." Mineta said as he took up his stance. The heroine nodded and dashed forward, knives swinging with the left ahead of the right. The shorter boy, in response, met the left slash and pushed it back before blocking the right. Fenghuang drew her left knife back over her right shoulder and swung into Mineta's guard. That attack had much more force in it, causing the shorter boy to flinch.
Using that opportunity, the heroine pushed with both knifes while turning her body. This force ended up throwing Mineta off balance and onto his back. Fenghuang then leapt onto him, pinning his baton hand with one leg, his open hand with the other, and shoving blunt aluminum into his neck.
"Not bad, but you need to keep your posture stable when you guard. Now try to work your Quirk into the battle." She said as she got up from her student. Mineta nodded as he got up. He returned to position and the two went at it again. Due to his height, Fenghuang's attack angles on the shorter boy were limited. Even then, the speed and ferocity of her swings were something to behold.
But Mineta managed to find an opening. He thrust forward while pulling a hairball off. His teacher stepped back to avoid the strike, but that was what he waited for. He threw the ball at the ground with just enough speed to reach it before Fenghuang's foot. The heroine looked at her foot, then at a rather smug Mineta.
Before he could speak, she leaned in and slashed, hitting the artery in his neck.
"Don't assume the fight is over until the Villain is unconscious, completely restrained, or unable to battle in any way. Rendering their lower half immobile doesn't mean victory." Fenghuang explained. She then removed her shoe and took out a new one from a nearby duffle bag. Mineta raised an eyebrow as he caught just how many shoes were in there.
His teacher really prepared for this occasion, didn't she?
"Again with your Quirk." She said, taking position again.
"Yes Shifu!"
For the next two and a half hours, Mineta and Fenghuang repeated that spar. With each loss, the shorter boy's weaknesses were pointed out for correction. And as a result of this, he was starting to keep up with his teacher. Not only that, Mineta was finding more and more opportunities to use his Quirk. Slowly but surely, direct combat was becoming an option for him. No longer did he have to rely on just predator tactics and forward planning.
He'll need to figure out how to work pitching into this though.
Still, it wasn't easy getting to that point at all. Fenghuang kept throwing in new moves to keep her student on his toes, readying him for anything. She began including thrusts after the 3rd spar. Then at the 8th, she began using back cuts with bowie's swedge or back edge. At the 16th, she began using reverse grip attacks. At 23, she began throwing in feints. For spar 31, she began including kicks of various kinds. For spar 44, she threw one of her knives at him before fighting with an open hand. And recently, starting from spar 50, she began swapping the one knife between hands.
By the end of the 58th, there were so many shoes on the ground stuck to hairballs. But despite all that, Fenghuang was still able to gracefully move through and deal a fatal strike to Mineta.
"Hmmm… Take a break my young pupil while I make a call." She said as she walked off. Mineta, taking many deep breaths nodded, before the heroine walked a few steps away. The shorter boy then propped himself against a wall, feeling the exhaustion run through him. Now that he thought about it, he wasn't really built for direct combat. He was short and didn't have stacks of muscle like Midoriya did.
Looks like he needs something more for this to work.
"Shifu, I've brought what you need."
Mineta looked over to the new voice and found himself looking at what was a contradiction. There stood a light haired man who had a pretty face that also had a degree of roughness to it. He looked polite and gentle, but there was an air of danger behind his eyes. Fenghuang bowed and the man bowed back as four others came out and began cleaning the alleyway with great gusto.
"My young pupil, I want you to meet another of my eight masters. This is Kamishiro Yuu, the head instructor for Practical Self Defense. Master Kamishiro, this is Mineta Minoru of UA." The Heroine greeted as she gestured to the man.
"I heard you're making great progress with Shifu. Keep up the good work." Kamishiro said with a bow.
"Yeah, she's been very thorough." Mineta replied. The man then handed the shorter boy a bag, inside was a thermos and a large bun. Okay, lunch then. But where was Fenghuang's portion? Or was she not going to eat yet?
"Help yourself; I need to prepare for a demonstration." She said before going into a whispered conversation with Kamishiro. Mineta shrugged and took a bite out of the bun, this time it had ground chicken inside. He then unscrewed the thermos and drank deeply from it, hot chrysanthemum tea filling his empty gullet. He could feel his body relax as energy began returning to him. The shorter boy didn't know what was in the food and drink here, but it was a Godsend.
Now he can keep on training.
"We're ready to begin the demonstration. Please pay attention my young Pupil." Fenghuang said as she readied her training knives. Kamishiro readied himself as well. But while he was unarmed, the man had forearm and lower leg guards as well as plated gloves. But before either of them could exert their intent to spar, Mineta realized something.
"Wait, what about–?" Mineta began as he looked to the ball and shoe riddled alleyway. That was until he found that there was nothing but asphalt and the assorted simulated trash. His eyes popped from their sockets as it scanned around. But alas, the evidence of his and his teacher's numerous spars were gone. Strange, he was feeling pretty okay that morning, so they should have been stuck for at least a few hours longer.
"We couldn't wait that long, so I had the cleaning crew rip out the asphalt they were attached to." Fenghuang explained. That caused Mineta's eyes to launch out even further. Rip out!? He began to examine the ground more and finally noticed that certain spots were darker than their surrounding area. There was also the faint smell of asphalt in the air.
"Due to the intensity of some of the spars between me and the eight masters, it's only reasonable to have cleaning crews that are also repair people. But with that sorted, are you ready for the demonstration?" The Heroine said. Mineta sighed, he seen all sorts of nonsense by this point, what's one more to the list?
"Ready…" The shorter boy answered as he looked to the two teachers.
Fenghuang and Kamishiro nodded as they faced one another. They entered their stance again and the air about them changed. Unlike when she faced Mineta, the Heroine had serious intent to injure. As for her sparring opponent, he was giving a glare like he was a hunter out for prey. Mineta leaned back into the wall, hoping that they weren't too focused on each other to not notice him.
And then they leapt.
The strikes came at each other fast, much faster than what Mineta was used to. And now that his teacher was fighting a taller opponent, she was able to show off even more attack angles. But that didn't even deter her opponent, as Kamishiro was able to weave and block the slashes. Each time his arm guards met the bowie trainers, a soft sound echoed through the alleyway. Honestly, this whole thing looked like a scene out of an action movie.
Fenghuang thrust forward before swiping across. Kamishiro, while intercepting it like usual, then grabbed the back of the blade with his right hand. His left hand then darted forward and grabbed the partially exposed grip from the Heroine's hand. And with one good pull and push, the fake blade escaped her grip and fell to the ground behind Kamishiro.
The man then punched, unleashing a flurry of jabs at his opponent. Fenghuang weaved or parried them with the trainer. And had it not been for those arm protectors, Kamishiro would be getting cut up if the knife been real. The Heroine kicked towards his throat, though the man easily ducked under. But before he can capitalize on her vulnerable leg, Fenghuang shifted her body and quickly brought down her raised leg. Her knife then came swinging down on Kamishiro's head.
The man quickly grabbed a nearby fake stack of magazines and hurled it into his opponent. Fenghuang blocked the incoming projectile, but it delayed her attack by a second, allowing Kamishiro to roll back and escape. Upon righting himself, he threw another fake stack at her. The Heroine evaded the attack and approached, slashing once he was in range. But he simply intercepted it by grabbing and raising a garbage can lid.
Kamishiro then tried to shove it into Fenghuang, but she simply jumped back. And then, as the two stood armed with their own weapons, they began to relax. The bloodlust that surrounded them had finally passed.
"And that is the end of the demonstration. Well my young pupil, have you noticed anything?" Fenghuang asked, turning to Mineta. The shorter boy snapped out of his 'audience mode' and began processing what he saw. It was a spar, but there were so many more moves that Kamishiro performed. Blocks using his arm guards, that disarm, and using various items around him to create openings, he used everything that he knows and what is around him.
"When a Hero battles a Villain, it effectively becomes a street fight. And in such a scenario, you can say that all bets are off. You must use the full breadth of your abilities and your environment. But while us Heroes must keep collateral to a minimum, there are things that we can still do to tip the scales in our favor." Fenghuang said.
"But… Isn't that dishonest?" Mineta asked. He didn't know why he asked that when he could guess where this was going. Perhaps he just remembered the negative reaction his classmates had to his Calvary Battle tactic. It was wholly unfair. And no Hero who uses such plans can be considered Heroic, let alone become popular like Mineta was trying to be.
Or maybe that was the problem.
"Not to the handful of pragmatic Heroes in service. It's like Eraserhead said during the Sports Festival, Villains refuse to play fair. And if a Hero doesn't stack the odds, they are more likely to fall. So in our next few spars, try to think of and work in a few moves that takes advantage of something." Fenghuang said.
"Uhhh… Yeah, about that. I kind of promised not to use cheap tricks… On my friends at least." Mineta replied.
"And that's fine. But you must understand that by holding that trickery back, many of your advantages will be lost. Master Kamishiro, this is your specialty. Please inform my pupil the most dangerous kind of enemy." Fenghuang said, turning to the other teacher who was still there. Strange, Mineta thought he would've gone back inside. But he supposed that meant Kamishiro was here to make sure he understood something.
"Of course Shifu. Mineta-san, what is the first thing you think of when I say 'strong' and 'weak'?" He asked, facing the shorter boy. While the shorter boy wanted to say the first answer that came to his mind… He kept his mouth shut knowing his teachers wanted him to delve deeper. Strong and weak is something that is both arbitrary and defined at the same time.
Like Midoriya was stronger than Mineta, but weaker than Todoroki or Bakugou.
Or when it came to emotions, Tsuyu was a rock while someone like Kouda is jumpy.
Everyone had their own strengths and weaknesses, a balance that is maintained one way or another.
"Alright, now that I have you thinking about it. Tell me, what kind of person made this scar?" Kamishiro asked as he lifted a part of his shirt. On the side of his abdomen, just above the waistline of his jeans, was a several centimeter scar. And judging by the marks above it, he needed stitches for it to heal. Mineta flinched to the sight, despite having seen worse injuries amongst his classmates. Perhaps it was because it was a scar on a self defense teacher that made it scary.
"… Someone stronger than you. They got past all your skills and managed to stab you." Mineta answered, still staring at the scar.
"It's actually the opposite, someone weak gave this to me. One night, after fighting my old mentor, a kid I saved from bullies suddenly stabbed me. He thought that if he killed me, a famed street fighter, that no one would dare bully him again. I barely survived that attack and never saw him again… But it was an eye opening experience; it redefined what weakness really meant to me." Kamishiro explained. Mineta felt a chill run down his body to that story.
And thinking about it… How many Heroes were almost killed in a scenario just like that? Someone unassuming walks by and suddenly a knife, gun, or Quirk hits them? If that's the case, then the most dangerous kind of enemies were the weak ones. Or rather, the weak but smart ones.
"It seems you've caught on my young pupil. There's nothing more dangerous than a weak and intelligent foe. These are the advantages you're giving up by not resorting to cheap tricks. And please note that this rule will apply no matter how strong you become. You will always be weaker than someone, so aim to be smarter than they can ever be." Fenghuang said.
Mineta processed those words and the image that came to mind was All Might's scar. Whichever Villain inflicted that on him must've been weaker, seeing that All Might is still around… And yet they were smart enough to create an opportunity to rip into him. If that's what a pragmatic Villain can do… Imagine what a pragmatic Hero is capable of? Actually, Mineta knows what they are like.
He's learning from one back at UA. He's learning from another right now. And he, as the Sports Festival has proven, himself is one. Granted…
"Alright, I'll embrace the rat within… But my friends aren't going to like this. Between this and my creepy desires, I won't be surprised if I get casted out again." Mineta said, scratching the side of his face. Fenghuang simply shook her head before approaching her student, crouching down to meet him at eye level.
"I'm certain things won't end the way you believe they would. You're bettering yourself on one front and your friends will one day appreciate the pragmatism on the other. What matters is that you, yourself, know how far you've come since the start of this internship. All the training and meditation that was placed within your body and soul, they will be the proof of your efforts. But if they still don't see you any better than vermin… Well, their opinions aren't the only one that matters." Fenghuang said.
Mineta began feeling a new wave of hope in his chest. His teacher was right; he shouldn't put too much sway in what the others say about him. While Class 1A definitely means well, unless it's Bakugou, there was really only one person's word he should listen to. Well, two now that he has Shifu too. So with a smile, Mineta took up a stance again, ready to spar once more.
"Then let's sharpen those fangs my little mouse, for they're the tools that'll make even the mightiest giant kneel." Fenghuang said before she charged at Mineta.
Chapter 45: Wisdom of the Masters
The fated day has finally arrived. Honestly, it came all too soon for Mineta. And yet… He felt more than ready. After yesterday's back alley training where he learned how to be the rat he always was, he could now fight with almost all of his abilities. Pitching at that range was still out of the question. But at least he has his trusty baton.
After training, there was the patrol. Nothing happened though, which was a relief considering Mineta still felt unnerved from THAT incident. And finally, the second day closed with a meditation session. But like the first, nothing revealed itself within the shorter boy's thoughts. It was frustrating, but he supposed this was just par for the course.
Now it was noon of the third day. And Mineta was back in the back alley for one last lesson before the hunt. He was in his UA gym clothes as Fenghuang's armorer was making an addition to his costume. Inspired by Kamishiro, he decided to place plates into his gloves and boots. Now, the forearms and lower legs will be armored and protected. He didn't do anything around the wrists though, fearing that it would affect his pitching.
Though that is unrelated to what was happening right now.
"Gah!" Mineta cried as he was thrown into a wall. His opponent, Soren the North, relaxed and apologetically looked towards the shorter boy. He turned to Fenghuang who was observing the two.
"Perhaps it's best if I restrain myself. Your student will end up unable to join your patrol for the Hero Killer." Soren said.
"No! I can do this!" Mineta shouted as he got back up. He didn't know what the Viking was talking about, he felt fine. If it was his old self from before, he would've surely been unable to do anything. Besides, this last lesson was important. He needed to know how to stop a strong attack.
"You heard him Master Soren, please continue. And young pupil? Remember to use your left hand to support your baton. You will need the extra strength. It is only when you completely stop the weapon that you can remove it." Fenghuang said. Both of the men nodded before turning to each other again. Soren swung his training short sword at Mineta's neck like he was going to decapitate him.
The shorter boy turned his body to face the blow, as he learned in Balintawak and met the strike. He immediately put his left hand behind his baton, locking both arms. He leaned his body forward a little as his feet pushed against the asphalt. He must have been pushed a few centimeters, since his angle changed in relation to Soren.
But as soon as the attack came… It stopped and Mineta found himself locked with the Viking. Like with Kamishiro yesterday, Mineta shot his left hand out and grabbed the exposed part of the sword's grip. And upon wrapping his fingers around it, he shifted his baton to be on top of the blade. With a pull and push down, the weapon was peeled from Soren's fingers.
The training sword clattered behind Mineta.
"Congratulations my young pupil, you blocked an attack and disarmed a foe stronger than you." Fenghuang said as she went to pick up the sword.
"That was hard… But really simple…" Mineta said panting.
"That it is. But once you understand body mechanics, you can do a lot of things. Disarms, dislocating joints, breaking bones, all those rely on understanding how human anatomy behaves." Soren explained, taking the training sword from the Heroine.
"And that's why the Dislocation and Fracture license is an uncommon thing amongst Heroes. One must first pass a knowledge test then a psychological and Quirk test, before they receive it." Fenghuang added. Mineta looked up at his teacher with eye brows raised. There was a license that allows a Hero to break bones? And as if to answer that question, the Heroine handed her student an ID card.
Taking it, Mineta saw that it was indeed real. The Heroine was indeed trained to misplace a person's skeleton. And thinking about it, Aizawa probably owns one of these too. Most likely in the case he needs to break something to stop a Villain.
"Okay… So what now?" The shorter boy asked, handing the card back.
"Now, you rest while Master Soren and I gather some information with the other masters. However, you will be needed in an hour at the Taiji hall. Consider it a meeting before we depart for our Hero Killer Hunt." Fenghuang answered, gesturing to the door back into the temple. That sounded reasonable enough, it was plenty of time to put things in order. So after a bow, Mineta headed back inside. He first went to get something to eat, just another pork bun and more tea. He then went to the shower room and quickly rinsed himself of the sweat and dirt. And finally, once he returned back to his room, Mineta took a nap.
It seemed strange how he couldn't sleep on night one but can one hour before the mission. But he supposed that only shows how much he's grown over the last two days. Alternatively, Mineta has simply accepted the terrifying reality he cannot avoid. Whatever the case was, it felt nice to have a moment of peace all to himself.
To bask in the calm before the storm.
A knock soon roused him from that stillness, the darkness of sleep clearing from his head. Mineta sat up and looked to the door as a monotonous voice called out to him.
"Mineta Minoru, it is time. Join us in the Taiji hall as soon as you can." Eclipse said. The shorter boy got up and stretched everything out. He threw on his UA gym uniform, seeing that there was still some mileage in it, and quickly headed out. And with one quick trip down the elevator, the shorter boy slid open the doors to place he's come to recognize. Though there are some people inside he doesn't know.
Upon the yin of the Taiji was Fenghuang. On the eight trigrams surrounding her were Soren, Eclipse, Kamishiro, and five others he doesn't know, one of which was a panda for some reason. And surrounding them were a several other people who either wore Hero costumes or t-shirts with the temple's name printed on it. If Mineta had to guess, those were other Pro Heroes and the senior instructors for the various styles taught here.
The shorter boy noticed his teacher gesture towards the yang, causing him to automatically go there. And upon sitting down, Fenghuang began speaking directly to him as if no one was around.
"Welcome to your first meeting among the Heroes, Masters, and senior instructors of the temple. If you have any questions, you are free to ask them. But before we start the main discussion, may I ask you to recall your second lesson here?"
Even without having several eyes on him, Mineta was finding it difficult to remember. Was she referring to the six point defense? Or was it something else? Really, he started his training on the second day of the internships. So what about day one? After arriving and being thoroughly confused, he met Fenghuang. She told him to not let preconceptions cloud his mind. Then there was cleaning the toilet…
No wait, there was something before that.
"Was it… Respecting and helping the 'backstage crew' to keep a place running efficiently?" Mineta replied, that memory a little hazy due to the emotional exhaustion he felt back then. His teacher simply nodded before gesturing to the people that surrounded them. This caused Mineta to follow, gathering the facial details of the fellow members of the temple. And soon enough, he'll be getting a name to match those faces.
"Great wisdom can come from anywhere. So during times like these, it is important to gain as many perspectives as possible. It is those who fail to heed the words of their peers who are the most ignorant. So take this to heart my young pupil, there is always something to learn. Now, let's begin this meeting." Fenghuang said before clapped four times in a particular rhythm.
The lights in the basement as well as the halls above them turned off, plunging everything into darkness. Then, from somewhere, projectors began to display several holographic screens before everyone. On those screens were various photos and reports on the victims of the Hero Killer. Mineta paled as a cold sweat seeped from his skin. From crime scene pictures to official autopsies, he can read up on Stain's twisted work.
And upon seeing Ingenium's file mixed in, his stomach began churning. What would Iida do if he caught Mineta reading something so personal?
"Do not avert your eyes my young pupil… For this is the grim reality of Heroics and Emergency Services. Behind every success and failure are unimaginable amounts of pain, blood, and even death. Recognize this and you'll find your heart better prepared for the road ahead. However, if this is too much and you wish to leave, you may do so. I, nor anyone here, will judge you for that." Fenghuang said sadly.
For this to be his, Midoriya's, and all of his classmates' possible future, it all made Mineta ill. He just wanted to run, hide in bed, and wait for the storm to pass. But he gripped the floor, reminding himself of the lessons learned since the very beginning. From Fenghuang's wisdom to his first meeting with Midoriya, the road of a Hero is fraught with danger.
"I'm fine… If I coddle and shelter myself, I'll never become steel." Mineta said, taking a deep breath. His teacher actually gave a small smile to that. Then, as quickly as it came, Fenghuang's face returned to that grim and serious expression. She then looked around the hall, nodding to her eight masters before gesturing to the air. 41 profiles of people appeared, a brief status summary listed right below them.
Some were dead… Others were crippled beyond recovery… It painted a very ominous picture of the Villain who caused all of it.
"These are the victims of Hero Killer's campaign of terror. They were found by police or other Heroes in alleyways not unlike the one we have behind the temple. We only have a vague idea of Stain's appearance, given the critical health of his survivors and his elusive nature. However, not all information has vanished with the Hero Killer. Through the injuries he has inflicted, we can piece together his combat methodology, martial prowess, fighting style, and, if possible, the nature of his Quirk. Allow me to begin by starting with general observations." Fenghuang began.
She made another gesture, an image of a human body appeared. Red lines and circles then began to appear on the image, marking areas of injury no doubt. Then the name of the victim appeared, causing Mineta to clam up as he stared on.
Iida would definitely pulp him if he found out about this.
"These are the injuries that the Turbo Hero Ingenium sustained. These superficial, yet well placed cuts suggest the Hero Killer is armed with blades and is well versed on how to use them. And to have overcome Ingenium's natural speed, the Hero Killer was either faster or had a special trick to slow him down. I believe it's the latter, seeing that Ingenium's lower back was damaged in a very precise way. Something that isn't possible when both are moving at incredible speeds and one of them is armored." Fenghuang began. She then made another gesture. The image changed to a blank human figure with several bubbles pointing to various parts of its body.
Some of it started to fill itself out. In the bubble pointing at the hands, the words 'uses blades' popped up. At the arms, the words 'skilled in blade fighting' appeared. At the legs, the phrase 'fast?' showed up. And finally, in a miscellaneous bubble not pointing to anything, 'has a special trick' was written within.
"With general details covered, let's move onto the specifics. Does anyone wish to contribute their observations?" Fenghuang asked, looking around. Soren raised his hands and the Heroine locked eyes with him. With a simple nod, the Viking made a gesture and put up high detailed photos of cut and stab wounds. Mineta felt his gut flopping around again. Seeing something so unsettling up close was not how he imagined this meeting would turn out.
"Based on the roughness of the cuts and the shape of the stab wounds, I propose that the blades the Hero Killer wields have a single edge and are serrated." Soren said, pointing at the wounds. The cuts were jagged instead of smooth. And for the stab wounds, one end was a little wider than the other. And as Mineta thought about that, it began to make sense.
Though it was sort of disturbing how quickly the shorter boy was getting accustomed to this. Fenghuang nodded to the man before noticing another had raised their hand. This time, it was from Eclipse who was visible for once. He still sounded completely unenthusiastic however.
"Those blades are likely to be a long sword and a long knife. Look at these images if you will."
The cloaked man made a gesture and several image scans of two torsos came up. Both of these sets had this highlighted streak on them. In the first set, the line ran directly from the lower abdomen to just beneath the shoulder blade. In the second, the line was parallel and started from the side of the ribs before stopping halfway in. And upon realizing that the line represented tissue damage, the nausea came back to Mineta's stomach.
"In the first set, there was complete penetration; only a sword long enough is capable of that. The second set was similar except in the opposite direction. There's also the fact that it's just easier to slip a knife in at that angle. To be sure, I've recreated the injury pattern using simulacrums. The results were remarkably similar." Eclipse said, bringing up images of two damaged test dummies.
Fenghuang studied the dummies, noting where the simulated damage was and how it looked. If it weren't for the transparent gelatin flesh, organs, and plastic bones, Mineta could've sworn that he was looking at a real body. But that wasn't the point of interest. What were are the lines of black ink inside the dummies. They mirrored the damage shown in the torso scan as he said.
"Excellent work Master Eclipse. Your tests in conjunction with Master Soren's notes have added more clarity to this mystery. Is there anything else that can be added?" Fenghuang said, bringing up the image with the Hero Killer notes. The 'uses blades' text disappeared and was soon replaced with 'uses serrated, single edged knife and sword'.
A young woman with light blue hair and dressed in lightly armored white clothes raised her hand. Her dignified posture reminded Mineta of Yaoyorozu just as her calm expression brought Tsuyu to mind. This, along with other features, drew Mineta towards this mysterious woman…
However, the bow that lay in front of her just as easily pushed him away. It was as long as she was tall and looked to be sturdy enough to take a blow or seventeen. The shorter boy didn't want to imagine what it would feel like to get hit by that, arrow or bow.
"Master Murakumo, please tells us your observations." Fenghuang said, turning to the woman. She nodded and waved towards the holographic screens. The images were of small cuts on a body clustered in a strange way, pictures of a wall with bloodstains, and several pictures of puncture wounds in an odd line.
"I'd like to raise the possibility of throwing and auxiliary weapons being included in his arsenal. The first image contains irregular stab patterns, quite unlike the precision of the other wounds. This suggests that the Hero Killer has used throwing knives to injure a distant target where precision is more difficult to achieve. The marks on the wall of the second image support this." Murakumo said calmly.
Mineta raised an eyebrow to that, what marks on the wall? Looking at the second photo set, the shorter boy ignored the obvious blood splattered everywhere. Instead, he looked at the spaces between the stains. And, as his eyes started to focus, he began to notice small, scattered dents in the concrete. Like something small briefly hit them...
"I was wondering about those, thought they were made with just the blade's tip. So what's this about auxiliary weapons?" Soren asked.
"I think I got it." The panda said as he raised his hand. Despite how soft and cuddly he looked, his voice had a biting edge to it. Kind of like Bakugou, but he didn't feel nearly as dangerous.
"Master Ping, what are your thoughts?" Fenghuang asked, turning to the panda.
"The thing she's talking about is the weird row of punctures in the third picture. Isn't that weird? The whole thing's in a straight line and it's not even that deep. It makes me think he has some sort of spiked gear on him, like boots or knuckles. It's like he wants to tenderize the people he's fighting... Eugh…" Ping answered, visibly shivering at that last thought. Mineta shared that sentiment, that wasn't a pleasant thing to think of.
"Your observations are duly noted Master Ping. And thank you for your observations Master Murakumo." Fenghuang replied. She brought up the notes and gestured towards the bubble pointing at the hands. Two extra lines of text appeared, 'uses throwing knives' and 'has spiked equipment'. But not long as the Heroine returned to a still position, did another master raise their hand.
This master had an incredibly lithe figure. They were also completely androgynous, so much so that Mineta couldn't figure out which pronoun to use. It was like looking at Thirteen, except you can see their physical features. Perhaps he should listen for what Fenghuang refers to them by.
"Master Kokyu, your thoughts?" The Heroine asked. Mineta mentally slapped himself, she mostly calls them by title. Still, he opened his ears to what the wisdom they are about to share.
"In all the alleyway photos, I found faint boot prints along the walls. And between the pools of blood, there are the same boot prints. It was difficult, but I found them to be well placed in relation to the Hero's prints. The Hero Killer makes full use of his space when attacking his target. So I can say he has an incredibly acrobatic and mobile style." Kokyu said, their voice neither deep nor high pitched. Fenghuang and the others nodded to that. The Heroine then brought up the notes again.
In the bubble pointing to the legs, the text 'fast' was replaced with 'acrobatic and agile'.
"Shifu, if I may contribute." A man with a strange accent said, raising his hand. He was dressed in what was a cross between a vintage noble and a bandit, complete with a black bandana around his eyes. In front of him was a rapier in its scabbard. And while it was in its scabbard, the wear on the decorated guard and hilt spoke volumes of his ability.
"Of course Master Vengador, you are always free to speak."
"Then I'd like to comment on our foe's mentality, as unlikely as that sounds. Due to the presence of shallow and mortal wounds, I'd say our Hero Killer is 'toying' with his targets. It is as if he has some greater purpose for them, like he wishes to teach them and the people who find their bodies something." He answered.
A hum went around the hall before things went into meditative silence. Mineta swallowed and dived into his thoughts on that point. What on Earth could a Hero Killer teach? Someone with blood on their hands would have nothing profound, let alone sane, to offer to the world. And even if he did have something legitimate, who would listen? The League of Villains?
"Honestly, I'd like to meet this guy just to see what bat shit lessons he has in mind." Ping said with a scoff.
"I wouldn't put much heed in it, Master Ping. There's no merit in insanity." Murakumo said looking towards the panda.
"Correction, COMPLETE insanity." Soren added with a growl.
"Masters, do not dismiss the ravings of a mad man so easily. Remember, great wisdom can come from anywhere." Fenghuang said, still in a state of meditative serenity. All eyes went to her, staring in confusion over her words. Mineta knew she was trying to teach them all something… But this still seemed a little counterintuitive even for a kung fu master.
"Uhhh… Shifu? You're willing to listen to that sort of crazy?" Mineta asked, finally speaking up. The Heroine opened her eyes and looked to each one of her audience members. They all looked on with anticipation, waiting for their next lesson about the world.
"Yes, because learning about one's perspective can tell a lot about a person's character. It tells me of their struggles, their achievements, and the events that lead them there. More importantly, it shows me the weaknesses in their thinking. By acknowledging their words, no matter how senseless it may be, it becomes open for debate. And when something can be debated, it can be refuted and turned against them. So if this Hero Killer wishes to 'teach' us something… We shall return the favor in full." She answered.
Silence took over the room again as they mulled over her words. The shorter boy tried to form an argument against that, thinking it can't always be like that. But for each scenario he came up with, he already imagined a counterargument to it. And now that his thoughts were on the subject… An effective argument comes from acknowledging counterpoints before deconstructing them with evidence.
Do that enough times and an argument will become irrefutable. A loss to whoever's against it.
"As always, your wisdom exceeds us all. We are humbled Shifu." Murakumo said, lowering her head. The others followed with Mineta doing so as well, though he was a little slower. They soon rose to face their teacher again just as Fenghuang looked to one of the masters. She had red hair, finely developed muscles around her lean body, and a heated glare that can break kneecaps. She was also a foreigner like Soren, Vengador, and Ping.
"Master O'Sullivan, would you like to add to something?" Fenghuang asked.
"Just the idea that our man can't be completely insane; he's beaten 41 Heroes after all. He'd also have the sense to know what he's getting into before picking a fight. I know if I was going up against a Hero, I'd want to know what they can or can't do." She replied.
"An excellent point, let's add that to our list along with Master Vengador's notes."
The Heroine pointed towards the bubble that pointed at the head. The text 'has a higher motive' and 'is knowledgeable of his opponents' appeared. Fenghuang then looked around for any others who wish to contribute. For a moment, she locked eyes with Mineta but he shook his head. The shorter boy couldn't even begin to think of something to add.
Especially not when many great points have already been brought up.
Fenghuang turned to the last master who hasn't spoken, Kamishiro, and waited for him. He was in clear thought about something. Not that it mattered since someone broke him out of his focused state.
"Kamishiro, Shifu wants your opinion." Soren said. The man's eyes looked up and saw all eyes were on him. He bowed slightly in apology before changing the images to the alleyways again. Was there another detail here?
"Because the Hero Killer's victims have all been found alone in alleyways, it makes me believe he wouldn't do well against groups. In that sense, he behaves like an assassin who eliminates any advantages his opponent might have. Whether that is the environment or numbers, the Hero Killer will make things favorable for himself." Kamishiro said.
"If he really was an assassin, he'd end things in one strike." Eclipse commented.
"I've been thinking about that too. Why cause so many shallow injuries only to deliver the coup de grace later? The answer to that might have something to do with the 'special trick' Shifu mentioned earlier. I believe those wounds are a requirement for his Quirk to activate." Kamishiro asked. Conversation spread around the hall as everyone began to examine that question.
Mineta himself dived into the memories involving Midoriya's Hero notebooks. If there was any information involving Quirks and how they behave, it would be there. However, while Blood Quirks weren't rare by any imagination… There weren't many Heroes who had used such a power. Like guns, blood based abilities have a heavy stigmatism surrounding them.
But that didn't mean there was nothing to work with. Vlad King had a blood based Quirk and is still an active Hero; he is even a teacher at UA. And if Mineta remembered correctly, his power was called Blood Control… He can freely manipulate his blood once it was outside his body. So if Vlad needs to draw blood to activate his Quirk…
Why can't the Hero Killer?
"I think Master Kamishiro is right." Mineta spoke up. All eyes latched onto him, waiting for his response. With a deep breath, he shared his reasoning with them. And as each word left his mouth, Fenghuang and the eight masters nodded to each point. Not long after Mineta finished did the Heroine made a gesture towards the notes. The 'has a special trick' text in the miscellaneous bubble changed to 'has a blood based Quirk'. And with the addition of 'stacks advantages in his favor', a clear idea of the Hero Killer was made.
"Now that we have the best possible profile, we may begin preparing in earnest. Young Mineta, please follow me after this meeting. We need to fit you with another piece of equipment before we depart. And everyone? Thank you for sharing your perspective, it was enlightening." Fenghuang said before bowing. All in the hall returned the gesture, all shouting the same thing.
"You're welcome Shifu!"
Chapter 46: Prelude to Carnage
"We have arrived…" Eclipse said, parking the van in an empty lot. Mineta released himself from the upholstery as Fenghuang and her Heroes calmly left the vehicle. How were they not disorientated by Eclipse's driving? Especially when the man was invisible and speeding the entire time? And if the shorter boy was being perfectly honest, he thought they would crash multiple times.
But now that it was over… Mineta began regaining his bearings.
Right now, they were in Hosu City, the last place the Hero Killer was spotted. And, as one would expect, Mineta could see several extra Heroes, some in pairs, patrolling the streets. It seems like the Hero Association is done taking chances with Stain. And neither were the Heroes of the Heaven and Earth Temple.
Before leaving the Temple, Fenghuang had her Heroes wear stab vests and limb guards. Even Mineta had to wear a vest to supplement the forearm and lower leg guards added to his gloves and boots. But while more armor was suggested, the shorter boy declined as it might hinder his pitching. It was just crazy to think he can go into this mission without his signature skill.
Mineta got out of the van and went to the group that gathered at the back. The two vans that were tailing them finished parking and more of the Temple's Heroes exited it. They also gathered around Fenghuang as she opened the Van's trunk, all their weapons stored inside.
"Gather around; let's review the divisions and patrol areas. First, there's a detail that has recently come to light. The Hero Killer wears a blood red scarf. If you happen upon it, give chase but do not engage unless you have support. And do not forget the tracing beacon you've been given, it will allow us to collectively descend upon your location. Stain will not be escaping justice anymore." Fenghuang began.
"Thunder Team, search Hosu North Commercial. There are plenty of alleyways for the Hero Killer to hide in. Water Team, search the abandoned offices on the east end and stay alert of the shadows. Wind Team, I've heard the Flame Hero will be joining the hunt. Link up with him and share what we've discovered, fill in any information gaps he might have." Fenghuang instructed as she passed around their equipment.
As Mineta sat by and watched his teacher give instructions, a thought passed by him. "I wonder how everyone else is doing, hopefully better than me."
Has Midoriya discovered anything new with One for All? Did Uraraka become battle hardened? Has Bakugou finally learned some God damn manners? What about Todoroki? He was interning under his estranged father Endeavor. Here's hoping nothing happens to undo Midoriya's Sports Festival efforts. Was there anyone else?
And then it hit him, wasn't Iida interning under someone in this city? The Normal Hero Manual if he remembered right.
"Hold on…" Mineta muttered as he followed that line of thought. That's strange, why him specifically? While there was nothing wrong with him, being a well rounded Hero with a good water Quirk, there wasn't much he could teach Iida. Unless it was philosophy and attitude, then Manual could… No, any Hero can offer their insight and wisdom to him. If it's not for the Hero, could it be for the city?
But there wasn't much to Hosu City that Mineta was aware about. The only thing of note would be…
Mineta felt a tingling digging into his spine. His eyes started to go wide upon realizing the answer. He even went for his baton to draw some strength from it. However, nothing could calm the fear that now gripped his heart. He couldn't admit it to be true…
And yet, here he was, running to the only person who can help him.
"Shifu! We need to go! My friend's in trouble!" Mineta shouted. Fenghuang snapped her attention to the shorter boy and crouched down to him.
"Tell us what's wrong." She said, eyes unflinching and resolute. Mineta swallowed the lump in his throat, he was about to reveal Iida's personal problem. Here's hoping he understood that this was an emergency. That vengeance wasn't anything like the noble, by the book, class president Mineta knew. But if he didn't step up now, there will be an empty seat in Class 1A.
"My friend's name is Iida Tenya, his brother Ingenium was crippled by the Hero Killer and he wants revenge. Nothing's happened yet, but it's only a matter of time before Iida finds him! He'll get himself killed!" Mineta shouted. His blood was pumping just as his nerves were firing. The world seemed to be getting bigger and smaller at the same time. And soon enough, his breathing started to become fast and shallow.
This wasn't supposed to happen. He and Midoriya should've stopped it somehow…
Fenghuang, wordlessly put her hand on her student's shoulder and gently squeezed it. The panic that was coursing through Mineta began to settle. His heart slowed and his breathing became steady. Before long, he was back to normal. Well, as normal as discovering your friend is on a quest of vengeance against a notorious serial killer.
"Sorry… I panicked…" Mineta apologized. His teacher simply shook her head and gave him a calm smile. She then stood and resumed her position as Shifu of her Temple.
"Another objective, find Iida Tenya and bring him to safety. His costume should resemble his family's Ingenium design, so look for white armor with a dark blue under layer. Do what you must to stop him from making a terrible mistake." She instructed.
"YES SHIFU!" The all shouted before running off in various directions. The only ones left in the area were Fenghuang, Murakumo, and another Hero he doesn't recognize. Fenghuang then wordlessly gestured to the West before she began moving out. The group quickly followed with Mineta having to put a little more effort in his walk.
Block after block, street after street, they've briskly moved through Hosu's west end. But after 15 minutes of searching, there was no word from any of the teams. There was no sighting of Stain or Iida. And as more time passed, the anxiety in Mineta built up again. What if they were too late? What if, at the end of the night, he'll be finding his Class President's name on the news?
No, he couldn't think like that. There was still time. And with his Shifu and her Temple backing him, Mineta knew the worst won't come to pass. Or so he hoped…
"Grape Shot!"
The shorter boy was pulled quickly out of the way as something slammed into the nearby building. Snapping out of his thoughts, he looked behind him to see a mess of a Hero embedded in the concrete. Mineta paled as he stared at him, the relief of seeing him still alive dampened by a resurfacing memory. Aizawa was there, standing before a mass of muscle and horror. And then, in only a few seconds, his limbs were mangled and his face was smashed against the earth.
A screech of agony pierced his ears. Mineta slowly turned to the noise, bowels loosening themselves to it.
Standing there was a pale green skinned hulk of a beast. It was covered in bone like armor and had six spiked tentacles hovering over its broad back. Worse still was the fact that it had no jaw, eyes of pure madness, and most distinctly, an exposed and swollen brain.
"Nomu…" Mineta said as a desperate laugh escaped his throat. It was happening again. The creature's tentacles sprung forward, not even bothering to even take aim at anything. Mineta's brain, just aware enough, managed to move his body out of the path of one tentacle. Something was caught though, making the shorter boy almost afraid to check. He slowly looked down where the sensation was…
There was a mark across the side of his vest. And to his relief, the attack didn't pierce through. One of the tactical pouches was torn off however. But what it contained made Mineta wonder if he really was lucky. Quickly checking the ground as the Nomu roared, the shorter boy saw his broken tracing beacon.
Unlike the tracing beacons held by Fenghuang and her Heroes, his had two extra characteristics. The first was having the highest priority signal. The second was that, if damaged or destroyed, the other beacons would be immediately notified. This special beacon was meant to safeguard Mineta…
But now, it would save his teacher.
"Grape Shot! You need to go! Lead the civilians away from here!" Fenghuang shouted, her whirling staff redirecting the whipping tentacles. The Nomu roared as it charged forward, knuckles dragging across the asphalt. But the agility of the Temple's Heroes was much better, simply diving out of its way as it plowed into a storefront. While Mineta didn't want to leave, knowing just how much damage this thing can cause, there was nothing he could do.
The Nomu was practically a super weapon of the League of Villains. And though this one didn't seem as strong as the USJ attack one, it was still way above Mineta's level. So with all fear in his heart, he had to make a run for it. Though he hoped this won't be the last he would see of his teacher.
Mineta took off running, only looking back after several seconds of sprinting. Fenghuang and Murakumo were attacking the gaps in the beast's armor from differing angles as the third Hero with them kept its attention. The way they danced around the Nomu was like hornets swarming a man. But the shorter boy knew it was only a matter of time before the thing caught them.
And he didn't want to be around to see it when it does.
So he kept running away, screaming at people to not go that way. A nearby explosion incited more panic as everyone began to flee. It was absolute chaos and Mineta couldn't really make heads or tails of anything. And that only feed the long buried feelings of mediocrity within him. He was supposed to be better than this…
But something snapped him for those thoughts. Just for a brief moment, through the anarchy happening all around him, he saw a man with a finned, blue helmet running across his sight. That was Manual and he was going towards the source of the explosion. However, nowhere did Mineta see his friend in shining armor.
Oh no.
"No, no, no, no, no!" Mineta thought as he began running harder than before. This time, he was going where Manual just came from. If Iida wasn't with his mentor, then he most certainly separated himself to hunt for Stain on his own. Meaning Iida has no back up when he inevitably finds him. And what's to say he hasn't found him already?
What if Mineta was already too late?
"Fuck that! I'm not going to fail anyone again!" Mineta thought, footsteps lighter than ever before. For every alley that he came across, the shorter boy slowed and focused on it. If he even spotted a silhouette with the remote likeness of Iida, Mineta was going down that path. But after the seventh empty alley, a hope began to rise that maybe, just maybe, things will be alright.
"AARGGH!"
His blood turned cold as his heart beat even faster. That scream didn't come from too far away, perhaps just three alleys away. Mineta picked up speed, thanking Heaven that the roads cleared away real quick. Two alleyways left, he began to remove one of the special baseballs from his bandolier. Thinking about it, he never really practiced his pitching recently. And now is a really bad time to discover that his accuracy had gone down.
One alley… Here goes nothing.
Mineta turned the corner, ready to field the ball in his hand. And already did his eyes catch the sight of three things. The first was an injured Hero, Native, in the corner, unmoving but still alive. The second was an injured Iida on the ground, unmoving but still alive. And the third was a menacing figure standing over Iida, his katana's point poised to fall at any moment.
Stain.
The shorter boy's body twisted as his arm was pulled back, his target was picked. Mineta's arm slung forward, driving the ball between his fingers towards the Hero Killer. Stain's intense eyes snapped in his direction, katana swinging to intercept the attack. But upon seeing the blade move away from Iida, Mineta charged and threw hairballs at the Hero Killer. And after intercepting the baseball, Stain leapt away as he kept swinging to block the strange attack.
Mineta continued to throw a few more around Iida and the other Hero before stopping in front of them. He then drew his baton; entering the stance he became familiar with these past few days. The Hero Killer landed, his boots scraping against the pavement. He looked at his ball covered katana and gave it a quick flick. He frowned in irritation before discarding it.
"Another kid… Let me guess, you're here for revenge too." Stain said as he drew two long knives, both single edged and serrated. Mineta flinched at the pressure that the Hero Killer exuded. But he steeled himself; knees steadying as he resolutely stared back at the monster before him.
"No, I'm here to save an idiot from himself."
Chapter 47: Seeds of Faith
"Mineta-kun…?" Iida asked, unsure of what he's seeing. Mineta ignored his class president as he continued to stare at Stain. The shorter boy was carefully making notes about him and vice versa. But he could feel it; the Hero Killer was ready to pounce at any moment. So whatever info he can get now would be super helpful.
Granted, he was exactly as Fenghuang and her Eight Masters had pieced together. Armed with specific kinds of blades, had spiked boots, attack people in alleyways, fast and acrobatic, etc. And looking at the still immobile Iida and Native, Mineta has figured out the Stain's 'special trick'.
"He can paralyze people by drawing blood. How it's triggered… I don't want to find out." Mineta thought. Since one cut would probably spell the end, it's best not to let any of those blades even graze him. If he gets out of this somehow, he needed to thank Shifu for preparing him.
"… Are you really going to stand against me? For a fake like him?" Stain asked as his glare hardened.
"Fake? I know his acting's pretty wooden, but Iida's anything but a fake." Mineta said with a light laugh. Why was he telling a joke now of all times? Perhaps it was his way of keeping his nerves from fraying. Or maybe the shorter boy was already starting to lose it.
"Mineta-kun, go! This has nothing to do with you!" Iida shouted, body quivering as he tried to move. It took all of Mineta's will to not react to that. He couldn't take a single eye off of the Hero Killer lest he lose the initiative. And besides, it was already too late to turn tail.
"Seeing how you're not wanted by all parties present… I'll give you this one chance to leave. But if you really plan on staying, you'll be mercilessly cut down like them." Stain said with a growl. Mineta felt a shiver rattle his bones. But there was something about his words that only strengthened his spirit. And so, Mineta straightened his back and squared his shoulders, recalling the moment he first met Midoriya.
"Even though I'm not wanted… And I'll probably be killed in seconds… I'm not going anywhere. A true Hero stands his ground."
"Mineta-kun, no!" Iida screamed.
An inquisitive smirk spread across Stain's face as he readied to sprint towards his foe. With Mineta's free hand, he quickly took a ball from his head and waited. The Hero Killer darted towards the shorter boy, his speed intense. Mineta quickly threw it at Stain's next footstep, his timing perfect as–
Stain's pace changed at the last moment, lengthening his stride over the hairball after it has landed. The shorter boy's eyes widened but his body was already moving. His baton went up as Stain came in swinging. The Hero Killer's speed was just about the same as Fenghuang's, allowing Mineta to withstand the attacks. However, due to the difference in build, Mineta felt himself lose ground, something he couldn't afford.
However, there was one thing he was thankful for… Stain's strikes weren't as strong as Soren's attacks.
From his right, Mineta saw the next strike aimed at his neck. Palm up. The left side was clear but Stain was readying a follow up. If he didn't do 'that' right now, the shorter boy would be pinned. So, as the right strike swung in, Mineta raised his baton to defense point six. And upon meeting, the two weapons filled the air with the sound of clashing metal.
The Hero Killer applied pressure to his right blade, keeping Mineta's baton pinned. However, this provided the opening that the shorter boy needed. It was now or never.
Mineta's free hand shot out, grabbing the end of Stain's knife grip as he pushed down on the blade with his baton. Due to the angle of attack, the Hero Killer's grip on his weapon was weakened. And with this motion, the knife slipped out of his hand as Mineta took it away. Stain swung in from the left with his other knife and Mineta blocked it with both blade and baton. The shorter boy then turned the hand that held the baton and thrust towards the one place that would end the fight.
The groin.
However, his foe saw this coming and immediately leapt back. Mineta tossed the blade in his left hand behind him before recovering the ground he lost. He took up his stance again and stood ready for the next onslaught. Stain examined his empty hand before a wide grin spread across his face.
"… It seems I've misjudged you. I've lost my blades in confrontations before. But this is the first time I've lost two in succession. And to such a short kid no less." Stain commented, drawing another blade. This time, it was a smooth, double edged dagger with a broad blade.
"Then maybe you should retire while you're still ahead." Mineta retorted, taking the chance to take a hairball into his free hand.
"Not an option. Not while there are still fakes poisoning society, like the two 'Heroes' you're protecting." Stain said before darting forward. But unlike before he leapt towards the wall, an attempt to get the aerial advantage. Mineta quickly tossed the hairball in his hand, this time waiting just a little longer to ensure the Hero Killer gets stuck. The ball stuck to the spot where Stain's foot was about to hit, only for him to shift away again. However, due to the bad angle, he couldn't leap off with much power.
Using that, Mineta tried to trap the area Stain was going to land on. But again, the Hero Killer simply shifted his feet and landed on clear asphalt. He charged forward, engaging Mineta in another flurry of slashes. This time, he was more calculated and quick with his attacks. And it really took everything Mineta had to even hold his ground.
But it was only a matter of time before he was overwhelmed.
"You are looking more and more like a real Hero! There are so many fools out there who are nothing but talk! They've forgotten what it means to be a Hero! Just like those fakes behind you! They are nothing but posers who–!" Stain began. Mineta felt something snap inside of him. He ducked under one slash and swung up as he stood. His baton aimed for Stain's inner thigh, but the Hero Killer leapt back.
He went on guard as Mineta stared at him in disbelief.
"You killed and maimed so many people… Brought so much fear and grief… Just for that? Wanting more ideal Heroes is great, but this is not how you do it! In fact, this is just making it worse!" Mineta said, slowly going into a shout as he gestured around him. Stain furrowed his brows as he slowly walked forward. And Mineta was so focused on the Hero Killer that he didn't even bother to throw a hairball.
"Would you care to explain? Because every person I've met were either vain glory hunters or angry vengeance seekers. Just like your friend behind you, he showed me nothing but hate and strayed far from the ideal. Avenging your brother? He should be above such petty motivations." Stain said, spitting every word at the shorter boy. He then stopped right in front of Mineta, his shadow looming over him. It was like looking at a cliff face that could fall at any moment.
But the shorter boy didn't run. He continued to stand proud against the Hero Killer.
"My brother isn't a petty reason! He's done so much for people and for–!" Iida began, anger rising again.
"Iida!" Mineta shouted, interrupting him. "He's not right… But neither are you… I mean, just look at you."
"This is nothing! Once I'm up, I'll finish what I started! It's what Tensei nii-san wanted!" Iida screamed, his body trembling in an effort to move.
"If your brother was the Hero you saw him as… He wouldn't want this from you. To sacrifice yourself for his sake. And what can you do? He paralyzed you once, he can do it again." Mineta retorted. His eyes continued to watch Stain as he watched back. Neither of them moved, even when they were close enough to attack each other. Right now, it was a battle of wills. And the first to flinch would be the one to go down.
"I must win! Even if I must give my life to do so!"
Again, something inside Mineta snapped upon hearing that. Was his class president really this blind? Does he not know what would happen if that came to pass? If so, then Iida needs a reality check.
"Your brother just lost his legs. How would he feel if he lost you too?" Mineta asked, the tension in him reaching a new level. He could hear Iida gasping in an attempt to respond. But there was nothing he could say, not to that question. And taking that as a cue, Stain began swinging with renewed vigor. But Mineta wasn't going to budge. He met those blows with all the zeal and fury his small body could muster.
"Now do you see it? How fake his mask really is? That's the true face of your friend! His true character!" Stain shouted. Mineta ducked under his next swing from the right. He then blocked the one coming from his left with his forearm guard. While it was heavy, he managed to stop it. And with that, he quickly flicked his baton into the Hero Killer's fingers.
Stain winced as he backed off a step before Mineta could follow up. The shorter boy, keen on not letting him get away, grabbed one end from Stain's bandana and pulled. However, upon seeing that, the Hero Killer simply cut it and started to step back again. Only to be forced to dodge when Mineta began to lob several balls.
To do this though, Mineta had to place the baton at his hip. But with both hands free and knowledge of Stain's footwork, he knew the Hero Killer couldn't safely advance without becoming stuck. He didn't just throw it at Stain either. The shorter boy threw it all over the place. It didn't matter that his scalp started to bleed and hurt, he wasn't giving an inch to Stain.
Mineta stopped throwing and quickly rearmed himself, wiping at the trickling blood so it didn't obscure his vision. He then watched Stain carefully look around, no doubt planning his angle of attack. And, strangely enough, Mineta found him looking at the blood that soaked his mask and gloves. It was as if he was working that into his plan.
"Oh great… He's going to try and take the blood…" Mineta thought, quickly examining if he left blood anywhere else. There wasn't, so he was still in luck. And hopefully, it won't run out any time soon.
"… Why are you going so far for that Fake? Because he's your friend!? Such naïve values will only–" Stain asked.
"Would you shut up? This isn't about him! This is about you and your jaded world view! Fake? Not a Fake? It's like you're trying to make everything either black or white when that's just not possible. People are just too complex for that sort of logic. Or are you so deranged that you don't give a shit?" Mineta interrupted. Stain's brows furrowed deeply before he raised his left arm and threw his long knife.
The shorter boy's eyes widened but his body went into automatic. He moved to the side, letting the blade pass by him. Only now did his brain register that the thing could hit Iida. But upon hearing a metallic clang, Mineta breathed a little easier knowing the knife hit nothing but asphalt. Though his worries were about to worsen…
"I. Am. Not. Deranged. I wouldn't have been able to kill and maim 41 Heroes if I was. No… I am a visionary looking to change this corrupt cesspool we call a society, one body at a time." Stain said, thunder rolling in his voice. He even began walking forward again, stepping around every ball in front of him. Still, that extreme reaction meant a nerve was touched.
So let's hope this won't end horribly.
"Then you're deluded. Randomly spilling blood won't change anything, just as a flower can't be forced to bloom. What you want needs time and people with open minds to happen. But tell me, who wants to talk philosophy with a murderer? You're just making things harder for yourself." Mineta answered, staring unflinchingly into Stain's eyes. But using his peripheral vision, the shorter boy noted the various bits of trash that he could use for later.
Stain, drawing another blade, began swinging at Mineta again. But like before, the shorter boy met them with everything he's got. However, there was something in Stain's attacks that was different. What that was though, the shorter boy couldn't say.
Still, he should keep talking to try and get into his head.
"Think about it! Despite everything, no one's talking about your crimes with any nuance. No one knows what you're trying to accomplish. All they're concerned with is bringing you down! But things can be different if you just say something!" Mineta shouted, blocking each swing that came his way.
"Pretty words, but that's ultimately useless. People will only listen to actions. So let them come; I'll show them just how fake they really are." Stain said. He pushed Mineta's baton out of the way, before stabbing downward with his other knife. The shorter boy stepped aside, leaning away from the strike before ducking under the next. He met another swipe from his right with his baton.
However, when meeting another attack from his left with his forearm guard, Mineta realized he was trapped. He couldn't move, not without getting himself cut in the process. He was also open to a kick Stain's spiked boots. There was nothing he could do...
"… No one is fake. And even if they are, they can change if you just let them. I know this… You know this…" Mineta grunted, straining to hold back the blades. To his surprise, Stain responded instead of just giving him the boot. Perhaps he was getting complacent? Or just amused by his feeble struggle?
"I don't. People might act like they've turned over a new leaf… But when no one looks, they go back to their old ways. It's just the way we are; our true nature isn't so flexible."
"Don't give me that. We don't know ourselves like we think we do. I always believed I was nothing but a perverted coward. But others helped me open my eyes and find my way forward. In a single moment, they've changed me. And I'm not alone in that; I've seen it happen with others. Are you telling me that wasn't real? That it never happened?" Mineta asked, still struggling to hold back the blades.
Silence as the Hero Killer looked down on him.
"What about you? Are you telling me you were like this from the start? That you became the Hero Killer because it was your lifelong dream? That someone or something didn't change the way you saw yourself and the world? Can you honestly tell me that?" Mineta continued, finally feeling his arms starting to buckle.
"… No, I cannot." Stain answered; his vise grip attack loosening.
"Then anyone else can do the same, they can grow to be something great." Mineta said, sounding a little hopeful that, maybe, he reached him. Stain stared on in silence, before moving the blade on Mineta's right side. The shorter boy was then kicked aside, the shock to his tired arm causing him to finally drop his baton. The Hero Killer charged forward, going for Iida once more.
Without missing a beat, Mineta stepped onto the nearest hairball on the ground. He launched himself to a hairball on the wall and bounced off of it. Thanks to his speed and angle, he arrived in front of Stain just before he could plunge his knife into Iida's skull. The shorter boy raised his hands, hoping to stop the attack somehow.
The silver of the blade flashed.
…
…
…
*Drip*
"Mineta-kun…?" Iida asked, looking at the blood dripping next to him.
The shorter boy could only stare into Stain's eyes, doing everything in his power to not look right. But when there was no pain, he grew disturbingly curious. So slowly, he turned to assess the damage. Stain's blade was buried into his right shoulder. And looking further up, that same blade had also passed through the palm of his right hand.
Only when he saw blood, his blood, stain his glove and ooze down the blade did the pain set in. A horribly sharp fire ran through his right arm and he couldn't contain the scream.
"AAAGGGHHH!"
"There are so few who're willing to die for their so called 'ideals'. But you've exceeded my expectations. Simply remarkable." Stain said, releasing the knife and stepping back.
Despite feeling like he was dying, Mineta pulled a hairball off his head. If this bastard was going to keep fighting, then he'll have to make every last flicker of life count. But that attack never came. The Hero Killer, instead, simply sheathed his other knife and began walking the other way.
What?
"Where… Are you going?" Mineta asked, slowly lurching after him.
"Home to meditate, a lot can be learned from tonight." Stain answered as he continued to walk. Mineta tried to take another step, but found himself falling forward. The stress of the battle, physical and mental, had finally caught up to him. And he would've hit the ground had it not been for Iida catching him.
"Iida…?"
"I don't know. Suddenly, I could move." He answered before looking up to the Hero Killer, finding him staring back at him.
"You've got a wonderful friend Ingenium, he went to Hell for you. So don't take his faith for granted. Do that and you'll meet the end of my blade once more." Stain said before running into the dark of the night.
"WAIT!" A new voice shouted. A green figure then appeared and bolted down the alleyway, giving chase to the Hero Killer. Mineta weakly smiled as he easily recognized that reliable back anywhere. And upon hearing another, more stoic voice, the shorter boy finally began to relax. Well, as relaxed as he could be considering there's still a blade stuck in him.
"You guys… Are… La…" Mineta said weakly.
And then it all went black.