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The next morning, I was sore as hell. The System was already talking.
[GOOD MORNING, SURVIVOR. READY FOR ANOTHER DAY OF QUESTIONABLE DECISIONS?]
"Shut up."
[DON'T BE RUDE. YOU'RE ALIVE BECAUSE OF ME.]
"And despite you."
[TOUCHÉ.]
Breakfast was normal. Mom kept eyeing me like she wanted to say something. I ate fast and left before she could.
At school, the atmosphere was weird. Less loud than usual. Everyone was still processing yesterday. Not every day you get attacked by terrorists. I walked in, sat down, and ignored the stares.
Kirishima nudged me. "Yo, how's the body count?"
"Still at zero. Unfortunately."
Mina grinned. "Bet Shigaraki's still crying in a corner somewhere."
I stretched my arms. "Wouldn't be surprised if he developed a stutter from yesterday."
Kaminari leaned back. "Dude's got a whole villain squad and still took an L. That's rough."
Sero laughed. "And the way Ryuu kept going? I thought he was gonna combust."
Iida adjusted his glasses. "That isn't something to be proud of."
"Sure it is," I said. "One terrorist down, several to go."
Bakugo scoffed. "Tch. You're getting cocky."
I pointed at him. "You say that like I haven't always been."
Before he could argue, Aizawa walked in. Still looked like he got hit by a bus, but at least he was standing.
"Sit down," he muttered.
We already were.
"You handled yourselves well," he said. "Mostly. Some of you still have a death wish." His eyes flicked to me.
I grinned.
"You'll have the day off from training. Don't get used to it," he continued. "We'll resume normal activities tomorrow."
Kirishima raised a hand. "What about the press? They're still freaking out, right?"
Aizawa sighed. "That's not your problem. U.A. has it handled."
"Handled how?" Kaminari asked.
"Not your problem," Aizawa repeated.
The rest of the day was slow. Classes were normal. No one tried to kill us. Kind of boring, honestly.
Lunch rolled around, and we sat at the usual table.
Mina poked at her rice. "Anyone else feel like we should be doing something?"
Jiro sipped her drink. "Like what?"
"Dunno. Something. After yesterday, this feels… weird."
"It's called a break," Sero said. "Enjoy it."
Tokoyami crossed his arms. "Chaos cannot sustain itself. Even the abyss must rest."
Kaminari stared. "Bro, you are so dramatic."
"You would not understand."
"No, I understand, it's just funny as hell."
I ate my food and tuned them out. Across the room, a few other students kept glancing at us. Guess we were officially "the class that survived a terrorist attack." Great.
Yaoyorozu leaned in. "You've been quiet."
"Always am."
She gave me a look. "No, you're not."
"Maybe I am now."
She hummed. "Unlikely."
I shrugged.
Across the table, Kirishima nudged Bakugo. "Dude, you've been quiet too."
Bakugo scoffed. "What, you want me to scream?"
"Wouldn't be new."
Bakugo grunted.
Jiro smirked. "Maybe he's just mad Ryuu got all the attention."
"I'M NOT MAD."
I smirked. "You sound mad."
Bakugo slammed his drink down. "I WILL KILL YOU."
"Try it, Sweaty Ass."
He lunged. I dodged. Chaos followed.
–
Aizawa stood at the front, looking as exhausted as ever. "We have a major event coming up. The U.A. Sports Festival."
The room went silent for half a second before the chaos started.
"A sports festival?" Kaminari leaned forward. "Like, a school event kind of thing? Or—"
"U.A.'s biggest event," Yaoyorozu cut in. "It's essentially taken the place of the Olympics in terms of national attention."
"Exactly," Aizawa continued. "It's one of Japan's biggest events, and every Pro Hero worth anything will be watching."
Mineta shot up. "Wait, hold on! That sounds like something villains would try to infiltrate… Isn't it kinda dangerous?"
"Not your problem," Aizawa said. "Security will be five times stronger than usual. If anything, this is proof the school is confident in its crisis control now."
I rested my chin on my hand. "After the USJ? That's a bold claim."
"Yeah, no offense," Sero added. "But we kinda got jumped like five minutes ago."
"Security's different for an event like this," Yaoyorozu said. "There will be multiple Pro Heroes stationed throughout, not to mention increased police presence."
Iida straightened up. "Regardless of security concerns, we should focus on the opportunity this presents."
"The hell's the big deal about it?" Bakugo leaned back.
"The country's top heroes are all watching," Yaoyorozu said. "Many of them scout students directly from this festival."
Kaminari whistled. "So, like, first pick for internships?"
"More than that," Jiro said. "If you do well, you can basically set up your whole career early."
Kirishima grinned. "So we gotta go all out, huh?"
Aizawa cut in. "You only get three chances to participate in this festival. If you want to be taken seriously as a hero, this is not an event you can afford to overlook."
That shut up most of the room. The atmosphere shifted a little—less casual, more focused.
Bakugo grinned. "Good. I needed an excuse to crush everyone."
"Yeah, try to live up to your dreams only to fail," I muttered.
He immediately turned. "What was that, you extra?"
I ignored him.
Kaminari asked, "So, is it just normal sports crap, or do we get actual fights?"
"There are multiple events," Yaoyorozu said. "Obstacle courses, combat trials, endurance matches… each year varies slightly."
"Basically, it's not just about being strong," Kaminari said. "You gotta be good all around."
"Sounds like a pain," Jiro muttered.
Uraraka clapped her hands together. "I think it sounds fun!"
Tsuyu looked at her. "You're aiming for first place?"
"Well, yeah! We all should be, right?"
Aizawa didn't bother waiting for more discussion. "It's in two weeks. Prepare however you want. Just don't fail."
He picked up his sleeping bag, clearly done with the conversation. "Class dismissed."
Kirishima cracked his knuckles. "Guess that means training starts now."
I stretched. "Yeah, yeah. Try not to break anything before the actual event."
Bakugo scoffed. "Tch. You should be worried about yourself, Number Two."
I flicked a pen at his head. "Keep talking, Short Fuse."
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"
I grabbed my bag. "Later, losers."
Two weeks to prepare. Time to see how far I could push the System before then.
After school, I walked home with Izuku.
He glanced at me. "You good?"
"Yep."
"…Really?"
I sighed. "Yes, Izuku."
He hesitated. "Yesterday was a lot."
"Yep."
"You don't have to pretend it wasn't."
I side-eyed him. "I'm not pretending."
He frowned. "You were in the middle of it."
"So were you."
"Not like that."
I rolled my shoulders. "It's done. Move on."
He exhaled through his nose, clearly unsatisfied. "…Fine."
We walked the rest of the way in silence.
Mom was waiting again.
"You're not late today," she said.
I kicked off my shoes. "Surprising, right?"
She sighed. "You two have homework?"
Izuku nodded. "Yes, Mom."
"Then do it."
I headed to my room.
[NEW MESSAGE: WOW, YOU'RE STILL ALIVE. CONGRATS.]
"Bite me."
[NO THANKS. BUT HEY, CHECK THIS OUT—]
A new screen popped up.
[NEW ABILITY: SYSTEM SHOP UNLOCKED.]
I blinked. "The hell is this?"
[YOU CAN NOW BUY SHIT.]
I stared at the screen. "Explain, bitch. Do I throw money at this, or is it like you shaking your ass for singles on a stripper pole?"
[WOW. ZERO HESITATION. I RESPECT IT.]
"That is not an answer."
[ALRIGHT, DUMBASS. SYSTEM SHOP USES POINTS. YOU GET POINTS FROM COMPLETING QUESTS, LEVELING UP, OR BEING ENTERTAININGLY STUPID.]
I scrolled through the interface. "So you are saying if I keep pissing off villains, I can buy shit?"
[IN THEORY, YES. BUT LET'S BE REAL, YOU'RE GONNA BLOW IT ALL ON DUMB SHIT.]
I ignored that and looked at the options. There were basic items like potions, stat boosters, and—
"Wait, hold the fuck up. Did you really put a 'Mystery Box' option in here?"
[YEP. GACHA, BABY.]
I clicked on it. "What's the drop rate on good shit?"
[10% CHANCE FOR SOMETHING USEFUL. 30% CHANCE FOR SOMETHING WEIRD. 60% CHANCE FOR ABSOLUTE DOGSHIT.]
I exhaled through my nose. "So it is just a gacha system with extra steps."
[BINGO.]
I checked my balance. I had exactly 500 shop points from all the quest completions. One Mystery Box cost 300.
I bought one.
[YOU REALLY JUST—OKAY. PROCESSING PURCHASE…]
A window popped up.
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU GOT: 'STREET-RAT SURVIVAL GUIDE' (PASSIVE SKILL)]
I clicked on the description.
[STREET-RAT SURVIVAL GUIDE (PASSIVE):
INCREASES CHANCE OF FINDING USEFUL SHIT IN TRASH, STOLEN GOODS, AND RANDOM LOOT. BOOSTS STREET SMARTS AND PETTY CRIMINAL INSTINCTS.]
I stared. "This is just a fancy way of calling me a hobo."
[HEY, I DIDN'T PROGRAM THIS. YOU'RE THE ONE WHO BOUGHT A RANDOM BOX LIKE A DESPERATE GAMBLER.]
I backed out before I could make more bad decisions. I had 200 points left. Not enough for anything game-changing. Whatever.
"I decided to become a vigilante," I grinned. "I have two weeks. I can earn stats by batting villains, I can get quests, and therefore, I can get points for the shop. It is perfect. System, show me if you have anything that can alter my face or anything."
[OH GREAT, WE'RE SPEEDRUNNING CRIME. LET ME CHECK.]
A new menu popped up.
[DISGUISES & MODIFICATIONS
Basic Face Changer Mask – 200 Points
Advanced Disguise Kit (Full-Face Morphing Tech) – 500 Points
Hood of Shadows (Passive Obscurement in Low Light) – 350 Points
Voice Scrambler Implant – 300 Points
One-Time DNA Scrubber (Removes All Identifiable Traces for 24 Hours) – 250 Points]
I scrolled through. "Anything cheaper?"
[NOPE. YOU WANNA DO CRIME? PAY UP.]
I checked my balance. 200 points left. Just enough for the face changer mask.
I bought it.
[ENJOY YOUR NEW LIFE OF BAD DECISIONS.]
A black mask dropped into my inventory. I pulled it out, inspecting the material. Smooth, flexible. Looked like some high-tech movie shit. I pressed the side, and the surface flickered, shifting into a generic face.
"Good enough," I muttered.
[OH WOW, REALLY GOING FOR IT, HUH? WANNA BUY A FAKE NAME TOO? MAYBE A PROP MUSTACHE?]
"Shut it. I need a place to test things first."
[WELL, YOU COULD ALWAYS TRY THE CLASSIC—BACK ALLEYS, ABANDONED LOTS, OR MAYBE JUST JUMP INTO A GANG WAR FOR FUN.]
That was actually a good idea. I pulled up the map on my computer, searching for active crime spots. A few red dots popped up—low-level incidents, minor disturbances. Nothing serious.
I stood up, grabbed my bat, and headed for the door. "Nah, can't use bat. It is my signature."
Izuku looked up. "Where are you going?"
"Jogging," I said.
His face twisted. "At night?"
"Cardio."
He clearly didn't buy it but didn't push.
I slipped out, walking down the street. Once I was far enough from home, I pulled the mask on. The display flickered, adjusting to my face. I tapped the side and set it to something unremarkable—plain features, forgettable.
[NEW QUEST: FIRST NIGHT OUT
Objective: Successfully test vigilante work without getting caught.
Reward: 250 XP, +2 Awareness.
Failure: Criminal record, potential ass-kicking.]
I moved fast, cutting through alleys. The streets were mostly empty, save for a few salarymen hurrying home. The air was cool, the city humming with distant traffic.
I turned a corner and saw them. Two guys, one holding a knife, the other rummaging through a woman's bag. She was backed against a wall, frozen.
"Alright, let's see how this goes," I muttered.
"Yo."
Both turned. The knife guy squinted. "Who the fuck—?"
I stepped closer, cracking my knuckles. "Go through this the easy way or the fun way. Your choice."
The guy holding the bag sneered. "Oh, tough guy, huh? You got a death wish, dumbass?"
I grinned. "Something like that."
Knife Guy flicked the blade forward. "Get lost before I—"
I grabbed his wrist, twisted, and yanked. The knife dropped. I kicked it away. He yelped and swung his other hand. I ducked under it and drove my elbow into his gut. He crumpled with a wheeze.
The second guy backed up fast. "H-Hey, man, we don't gotta—"
I stepped in. "Yeah, we do."
He tried to throw the purse at me and run. I caught it midair and threw it back at the woman. "Go." She hesitated for half a second, then bolted.
Dumbass One groaned on the ground, clutching his stomach. Dumbass Two turned to bolt.
I grabbed his hoodie and yanked him back. He stumbled. My knee met his ribs. He hit the pavement, gasping.
I stepped over Hoodie Guy. "If I see you pulling this shit again, I'm taking more than your dignity."
He nodded fast. The other one groaned again. I grabbed his wrist, yanked him up, and slammed him against the wall. "You get it too?"
He wheezed. "Y-Yeah, man, I get it!"
"Good." I let go. He slid down to the ground.
[WELL, WELL, WELL. YOU GONNA START PICKING UP STRAY CATS TOO, HERO?]
"Shut up."
[HEY, JUST SAYING. MAYBE NEXT TIME, GRAB A CAPE.]
"Maybe next time, I'll uninstall you."
[GOOD LUCK WITH THAT, SMARTASS.]
I grabbed the knives off the ground. One went into my hand, the other into my inventory. "New style, baby."
[WOW. LOOK AT YOU. ALL GROWN UP. ABOUT TO START A KNIFE PHASE LIKE A TEENAGE EDGELORD.]
I twirled the blade. "By the way, System, did you really not think through before giving me 'Last Laugh?'"
[WHY? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU PLANNING?]
I chuckled. "You have no idea how exploitable you are, lol."
Two weeks of vigilante work flew by. I got better at dodging, stabbing without killing, and making sure my face never showed up on a camera, although it was fake, you never know. I focused on street-level scum—muggers, gang thugs, and the occasional dumbass trying to act like a villain. The mask and knife helped. The System's bullshit quests helped even more.
I gained XP, leveled up thrice, and racked up enough System Points for a few decent skills or mystery boxes. The cops still had no idea who I was, but I got a vigilante name even before I got myself a hero name.
"Bastard Hero."
No idea who started it, but it stuck. Probably the assholes I beat up. Some street gang idiot screamed it before I broke his wrist, and now half the underworld in the neighborhood knew some knife-swinging freak was running around their turf. At least it sounded cool. Better than whatever Kaminari would've come up with.
[Gains Over Two Weeks:
Total Levels Gained: +3 (Now Level 10)
Stat Gains:
+5 Strength
+6 Agility
+4 Endurance
+7 Combat Proficiency
+3 Awareness
+2 Charisma
+5 Intelligence
New Skills Unlocked:
Silent Steps (Passive): Moves make less noise, harder to detect when sneaking.
Improvised Weapons Mastery (Passive): Anything can be a weapon if you swing it hard enough. Bonus damage with non-traditional weapons.
Low Blow (Active): A perfectly executed cheap shot. Bonus effectiveness when hitting weak spots.
New Items:
Weighted Forearm Guards: +10% Unarmed Attack Power
Blackout Balm: Temporarily erases scent trail from tracking animals or Quirk users.]
Not bad for two weeks of work. No killing, just breaking enough bones to make idiots reconsider their life choices. A few of them got bold and tried to track me down, but Silent Steps and Blackout Balm made it easy to disappear when shit got too loud.
As I was lazily lying on the recliner, I called System. "How many points I got? Let me get some goodies for the Sports Festival. Entrance exam was one thing, but assholes in our class are too strong."
[YOU HAVE EXACTLY 3,000 SHOP POINTS. TRY NOT TO BLOW IT ALL ON DUMB SHIT.]
"That is literally the point of having points." I scrolled through the store. "What is even worth buying?"
"Should I buy Mystery Boxes?" I murmured. "Mystery Boxes are mysterious."
[OH BOY, HERE WE GO.]
I scrolled through the store. Mystery Boxes cost 300 points each. Good odds of getting something decent, but with my luck, I would probably end up with a fucking party hat and a stick of gum.
[LET ME GUESS. YOU'RE GONNA BLOW ALL YOUR POINTS LIKE A CRACKHEAD ON PAYDAY.]
"Thinking about it."
I checked the other options. Some decent stat boosters, a few consumables that could heal or temporarily buff abilities. Nothing game-changing. The only big-ticket items were locked behind 1000+ points. I had 3,000. I could get something solid, or I could gamble.
Gambling was more fun.
I bought three.
[OF COURSE YOU DID.]
[PROCESSING PURCHASE…]
A new screen popped up. Three boxes hovered, waiting to be opened. I tapped the first.
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU GOT: "STREET RAT SURVIVAL GUIDE" (PASSIVE SKILL)]
I stared. "You gave me this already."
[NO REFUNDS, DIPSHIT. ENJOY YOUR UPGRADED HOBO INSTINCTS.]
Fine. I opened the second.
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU GOT: "INSTANT REPUTATION" (+10% FAME BOOST FOR ALL ACTIONS)]
"…What the fuck is this?"
[MAKES YOU MORE NOTICEABLE. BASICALLY, WHENEVER YOU DO SOMETHING COOL OR STUPID, PEOPLE WILL HEAR ABOUT IT FASTER.]
So if I did some wild vigilante shit, the underground would catch wind even quicker. Could be useful. Could also be a problem. Whatever.
I opened the last one.
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU GOT: "FUCK YOU, I'M ALIVE" (ACTIVE SKILL)]
I squinted. "That name is a choice."
[ACTIVATES AUTOMATICALLY WHEN YOU'RE NEAR DEATH. TEMPORARILY TRIGGERS "LAST LAUGH" WITH A BOOSTED EFFECT.]
I grinned. "So I just get stronger the closer I am to dying?"
[PRETTY MUCH. YOU'RE A FUCKING COCKROACH.]
"Neat."
I backed out of the shop, checking my remaining points. 2,100 left. Enough for something decent. I scrolled again. Some weapon upgrades, new gear, tactical equipment. Then I saw it.
[EXPERIMENTAL COMBAT DRUG – "BERSERKER SHOT" (ONE-TIME USE) – 600 POINTS]
[INSTANTLY BOOSTS STRENGTH & SPEED BY 50% FOR FIVE MINUTES. TEMPORARY DAMAGE RESISTANCE. AFTEREFFECTS UNKNOWN.]
Naah, I am not a druggie. Mom would be sad. Anything higher than Mystery Boxes? With low chance of something juicy. I feel lucky today.
[OH, SO YOU'RE REALLY JUST GONNA GAMBLE EVERYTHING AWAY, HUH? FINE. TRY THIS—]
A new option popped up:
[HIDDEN LOOT BOX – 1000 POINTS]
[RARE OR BULLSHIT. NO IN BETWEEN.]
Perfect. I bought two.
[OH BOY, CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU GET ABSOLUTE GARBAGE.]
First box.
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU GOT: "ENDLESS MOMENTUM" (PASSIVE SKILL)]
[CAN'T SLOW DOWN, WON'T SLOW DOWN. AS LONG AS YOU'RE MOVING, YOUR SPEED INCREASES GRADUALLY. HARDER TO STOP, HARDER TO CATCH.]
That was… actually good. I opened the second.
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU GOT: "CROWD FAVORITE" (PASSIVE SKILL)]
"The bigger the audience, the bigger the show."
[WHEN PERFORMING IN FRONT OF A CROWD, ALL STATS INCREASE IN PROPORTION TO THE NUMBER OF SPECTATORS.]
[MORE CHEERS? MORE BUFFS. MORE BOOS? EVEN BIGGER BUFFS.]
[GRANDSTANDING, TAUNTS, AND DRAMATIC FLAIR AMPLIFY THE EFFECTS—THE LOUDER THE REACTION, THE STRONGER YOU GET.]
I grinned. "Alright, now we're talking."
[DISGUSTING. YOU'RE JUST GONNA BULLY PEOPLE TO DEATH NOW.]
"Not my fault you gave me the tools."
[THIS IS WHY I HAVE TRUST ISSUES.]
I checked my balance. 100 points left. Not enough for anything major. I closed the shop and leaned back. Two weeks of crime-fighting, and now I had real upgrades. Sports Festival was in a few days. Time to push harder.
Strength (STR): 45 – I wasn't flipping cars just yet, but I could deadlift small motorcycles and punch hard enough to break ribs. Arm wrestling? Yeah, I was taking bets.
Agility (AGI): 50 – Quickstep made me damn near untouchable. At this speed, I could probably juke Endeavor out of his own boots.
Intelligence (INT): 54 – I was no supercomputer, but my battle instincts were sharp, my strategies on point, and my insults? Lethal. Genius IQ? No. Smart enough to outthink 99% of people in a fight? Hell yes.
Charisma (CHA): 80 – Let's just say Midnight didn't kick me out when I called her "the hottest lesson I've ever learned."
Luck (LCK): 1 – Some things never change. If a meteor was falling, it would miss everyone and flatten only me.
--
"I used to be a humble reader like you…But then I took a Ryuu chapter to the heart."
Now I limp around with trauma, laughter-induced abs, and NO REGRETS.
Drop a Power Stone, Dragonborn. Don't make me call the Companions.
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