Aku the Samurai

Just Another Hero [Invite-Only]

Gauss

---

_{Location: Outside Le'Nombril Restau, Shibuya, Tokyo Prefecture}

---

It happened faster than he could even begin to react. Space twisted and everything around him changed, making him stumble in his steps.

His knee slammed onto the pavement, sending a jolt throughout his body and a gasp of surprise slipped from his lips. His Quirk kicked in quickly afterwards and redistributed the force in short order. Still, he could barely move, the sheer gravity of the villain’s power forcing him to a knee even as his Quirk tried to compensate. The scenery around him was one of utter devastation; ruined buildings and shattered streets as far as the eye could see. In the sky, a giant ball of flames fell, promising ever more destruction in its wake. Everyone was dealing with the pressure one way or another, but the biggest threat was only growing larger despite their best efforts.

There wasn’t enough time to move everyone, even if he had enough energy to do so in the first place. Fortunately, he didn’t have to come up with a solution just yet, since someone else did instead. Mei and Rin jumped into action and slowed the meteor, keeping it from getting bigger. It was still moving, but the most important thing was that now they had time to deal with its source, and that was exactly the plan his senior gave.

It was easier said than done, though. It wasn’t the best idea, but he didn’t have the luxury of coming up with anything else.

Gauss cracked his neck and stepped in front of his fellow heroes, facing Keyaru with an excited grin, “You heard our senpai. Don't hold back and hit me with everything you’ve got. I’m gonna make this big.”

@Danyel@Iamme@Dragon Arts@Digmata@Gerlando@BlackMaiden@The Man Emperor@Aku the Samurai@JrVader@Paingodsson@Letter Bee

Regalia

_{[Location] Near Arosa City, Estren
[Time] Saturday, 11:30 PM
[Interactions] N/A}

Tonight is the night.

Liza sat perfectly relaxed in the soft-cushioned chair in a lavishly furnished room, her hands folded neatly in her lap. The lights were off and a small pouch rested on her lap, packed with everything she needed for the night. Every inch of the room was covered, keeping every surface perfectly insulated from everything else. Her eyes were softly shut and her breathing was calm and measured as she waited patiently for the clock to strike twelve. It was a countdown to the final act, and all that was needed now was for the star of the show to take centre stage.

Three weeks she had been building up to this moment—three weeks of preparation, of cleaning up trash, of breaking cages, and of ensuring there was no room left for error. All that was left to do now was to wait. It was a pleasant feeling, being in complete control of something, if one that was remarkably fleeting at the best of times. Still as a statue, Liza waited without a hint of discontent, counting down the seconds until her mission was finally over.

And then it would be on to the next–

The clicking of a lock drew her attention away from her thoughts, and her eyes fluttered slightly, though she didn’t rise from her position. It was showtime. A minute or so passed before the door to the bedroom slid open and someone stepped in, his back turned towards her as he fiddled with something he was holding. He didn’t notice her yet, not that it would have changed anything.

“Are you well, Andersen-san? I understand the sea can be rough on the unprepared.”

The man started, dropping the bag held in his hands as he pressed himself to the door, his eyes trying futilely to find her in the pitch darkness of the room. With a soft smile, Liza reached over to turn on the lamb on the table. Her eyes opened slowly and she stared silently at him as he blinked the spots from his eyes. When his gaze finally landed on her still form, he sucked in a breath.

“Who–”

“Who am I?” she interrupted smoothly, unzipping the pouch in her lap and removing a syringe from its interior, “I suppose you could say.... I am a consequence of your actions.”

The man’s eyes darted to her hands as she removed the cap and placed her pouch to the side. His breathing quickened at the display and his muscles tensed.

“Do not worry. It is no less than you deserve,” Liza said gently, remaining seated, “And you will not feel a thing.”

Andersen immediately burst into motion the moment the words left her mouth, but she was faster. His hand was barely on the door’s handle before Liza appeared behind him, emptying the contents of the syringe into his neck with a single, precise movement.

Taking a few steps back, Liza watched him fall and then go still, “Apologies, Andersen-san. Fleeing would only make things worse.”

With a soft sigh and a gesture, the unconscious body rose into the air and moved behind her as she made her way over to the bed. She laid him across the mattress and reached into her pouch once again, then paused as she noticed something in his coat pocket. She hummed curiously and pulled out a flyer. Her eyes roamed over the print for a moment, and then neatly folded the paper before slipping it into her pocket. The Festival of Lights. It was still ongoing and Andersen had apparently been planning to go. Had, being the operative term here. It was convenient, then, that she had decided to do this now and not when he would have been surrounded by crowds as far as the eye could see. There was only a day left since she spent so much time preoccupied with other things, but it wasn’t too late yet. She still had another 24 hours to attend, if she so pleased.

.... It was a thought.

For now, though, she had a crime scene to clean.

---

_{[Location] Arosa City to Landow, Estren
[Time] Sunday, 04:30 AM}

In the end, Liza decided to attend the festival.

She didn’t do much on the way to Landow. She remained awake but relaxed, watching the scenery pass by from the car on its way out of Arosa City. It wasn’t a long drive by any means, so she wouldn’t have had much time to rest regardless. She had no intention of participating in any events while there, so she had simply entered the festival as a regular civilian. It was still mostly dark out when she arrived in Landow, the sun barely beginning to crest over the horizon, if even that. It was just as well; she preferred to blend in as much as she possibly could, and that was easier to do when the sun wasn’t up. However, trying too hard to seem unremarkable would just end up making her look out of place in a place like this.

To that end, she had chosen to dress nicely for the occasion. Disregarding her usual practical fashion, she had dressed in one of the more traditional attires of her homeland mixed with more common articles of clothing. Her nails were painted black and the barest hint of makeup adorned her features. Her hair was short enough that it didn’t require much work to style, and the only accessory she wore was a single earring with a ruby embedded within. A hint of nervousness would not be out of place for someone in her position attending an event of such magnitude for the first time. Such a response would not find its way through her countenance, however.

The ceremony began with the Regalia of Gaia, a young woman from Accadia. She dealt with the attention well, better than Liza herself would have. It was a.... unique feeling watching someone so similar to herself basking in the attention of thousands. Familiar and yet ever so different. She would never be in the limelight; it was her antithesis, and that was just fine by her. Fame was a curse.

Tradition was engraved in her being, so it was almost second nature for Liza to place an offering at Leviathan’s shrine, and then the others after that. She would have made one to her patron, but he was never much for public reverence. It was all so artificial, the way they made a show of it all. It was human nature to be greedy, to take a mile when given an inch. Cetra was a great example of that, though it wasn’t exactly something that concerned her. There were better things to have on her mind.

Liza gazed up at the sky with a tranquil smile as the sun began to rise.

“A beautiful sunrise for a beautiful day.”

Today was a celebration, after all. What was the worst that could happen?

Regalia

^{_{L i z a ' s s o u n d t r a c k}}

Liza Usui, A Poisoned Rose

_{P R E S E N C E}

---

Wise beyond her years, Liza is a polite, soft-spoken and non-confrontational individual without a speck of malice in her body. She never raises her voice or utters a curse regardless of anything and would never speak badly of anyone; not even behind their backs. Her thoughts, however, are another matter entirely. She doesn’t lie often, if ever, but her words are sometimes cryptic and give very little away for others to tell the difference and she hardly bothers to explain herself. As much as she can be peculiar, she holds herself and others to a certain standard and she makes no effort to hide her disapproval of those who fail to meet it, though it may not always be readily visible.

Despite her background, or lack thereof, Liza has little issue cooperating with people, but the opposite cannot be said to be quite as true. Though it could not be said that she is inefficient in her work, she offers little in the way of reprimand or assurances for those who’ve worked with her. Her overly polite yet paradoxically judgmental demeanour tends to put people off, to either no notice or care on her part. She is never uncivil nor antagonistic in her words or actions, and yet many who have met her would rather avoid her after the fact, seemingly against all logic. Often, she is described as less walking and more gliding, like a lizard on ice; quiet and imperceptible until someone notices her. Or, to be more accurate, until she allows it.

While Liza rarely goes out of her way to directly help individuals, preferring to deal with problems at their source, she has no issue with providing advice or even aid if requested. She never acts without considering the results of her actions, but she accepts without fuss that she simply cannot control the future regardless of her choices. Liza often stares at nothing, as if she is aware of something no one else can see; a sentiment more accurate than anyone knows. What she truly feels at any given moment remains something only she is privy to and her goals, as with her patron, are beyond your understanding.

Liza is gentle, but she is not kind.

_{C H R O N I C L E}

---

Before Liza became a Regalia, she was Nobody; a mystery in a city that crushed the hopes of those who dared to dream, and broke down and rebuilt the will of all who entered, just to shatter it like glass all over again. She was different, but not in a way anyone would be proud of. On the surface, Ochiwa was a brilliantly shining city in the ever-prosperous island nation of Tenshi. All its citizens were known to be kind and well-mannered and always welcomed outsiders with open arms. That, however, had deteriorated into a lie over time. A mere façade meant to hide the chaos festering beneath, sustaining itself on the destitute citizens who toiled ceaselessly with no end in sight while the rich indulged in the luxury wrought by their sins.

"Power does not corrupt. It merely strips corrupt men bare."

Liza held no sympathy in her heart for the poor struggling in the disgrace of a great city, no love for the wealthy few who profited off their labour and no regret for the actions she took that changed it for the better. For, while the elites of the city took advantage of its less fortunate citizens to make themselves richer, hiding beneath their masks of false charity, their true actions did not go unnoticed for long. And they were soon to learn that disregarding the law was not without consequence, and they were going to bear the full, unrelenting weight of their folly.

"They believe themselves untouchable. That they are above the law. Show them how wrong they are, my dear shadows."

As an agent of her country, Liza did things that would forever haunt the minds and hearts of most people. She was not like most people. People who knew her name were few and those who knew her face were fewer still, as was standard for those like her. Ochiwa became a different place almost overnight after the Kurai Lin passed through, delivering their judgement and sweeping away the corrupt like a hurricane. The citizens rejoiced for their restored freedom, but they would never know who saved them. Liza was a saviour of the city, but a hero to the people, she was not.

"A sharpened blade is meant only to kill. That is why they exist."

She was Kurai Lin. The keepers, overseers, judges, and executioners of Tenshi’s laws; guardians, in a sense. They were the ones who were sent to do the jobs no one else would. That was who she was, all she was. Until it wasn’t. The day her life changed forever was the day she left the place she once called home. No longer needed, she found herself lost, adrift in the sea of life with no direction. Her life had been simple before; she never had to question her purpose or whether what she was doing was right or wrong. Without anything to tether herself, she found herself unmoored and drifting directionless. That was when Gilgamesh came to her—a beacon of stability within her turbulent storm. Liza didn’t know why she was chosen then and still doesn't. Maybe it was curiosity, or perhaps it was simply pity, but the result was clear as day. Whatever the answer may be, she was forever grateful for her Dominant’s intervention.

After Liza became a Regalia, she was a nobody, because it was all she had ever known in life. The difference was that now, she had her own purpose, as well as the means to achieve it.

_{H O M E}

---

Tenshi is a temperate mountainous and heavily forested island nation with smatterings of volcanic activity mostly known for its mixture of ancient traditions and modern restyling, exquisite cuisine, and agriculture. Despite its modest size, Tenshi is quite technologically advanced, though its military is somewhat lacking compared to some others, aside from its powerful Navy. Though they are not the most welcoming of foreigners, they are a major supplier of produce that many mainland countries depend on. None of this is to say that the country is perfect, as it has its share of unsavoury factions, though its peacekeepers effectively enforce the law on most levels. When it comes to faith, Tenshi has a long history of worship for Gaia, the Earth Mother, though a fair few also reserve their religious fervour for Leviathan as well. The eastern and southernmost coast of the island sits on a major tectonic belt, making it prone to destructive earthquakes and tsunamis.

The people of Tenshi tend to value decency above all else, presenting a respectable attitude in all matters in which they are involved. Their language, the Japanese-adjacent Tenshin, is pleasantly smooth yet complex, with an important system of honorifics and many different dialects depending on location and education. The written form is separated into two syllabaries, partially based on an ancient language. While Tenshin is the main language used island-wide, due to the strict education standards upheld on Tenshi, a significant portion of the population is versed in at least two other languages, generally Common and/or Eshiyaos.

Though no longer an absolute monarchy, Tenshi still has a strictly defined social order. An emperor/empress is chosen and serves as head of government until either their death or abdication and the title is then passed down to the next in line. They have considerable authority on many matters in accordance with previously established constitutions, though their decisions are not necessarily final on any of those matters. The government rules based on tradition and stringent regulations and keeps watch on the corporations that operate within its borders, the most prominent of which is Monarch. The upper echelons of Tenshi possess a strong and long-held foothold in the country, but just as the laws are strictly upheld, so too are the rich and powerful to be kept in check.

At the top of the hierarchy sits the current ruler of Tenshi, Empress Kusanagi Usui, aided by her seven advisors. In recent years, a rise in political corruption and corporate crimes has led to the creation of a unique caste of individuals carefully selected and trained to uphold the laws and virtues of Tenshi by whatever means necessary. Its existence known only to a select few, the Kurai Lin is a covert group that answers only to the Empress’s court and operates with a higher authority than typical law enforcers.

The capital city of Tenshi; Kaihito, is a sprawling metropolis combining the best of two worlds; the ultramodern technological prowess of the present day and historic shrines of the past, as well as the Imperial Palace, a leftover from a bygone era. Surrounded on three sides by luscious woodland and mountainous terrain, including the country’s highest peak, Mount Aoji, the city is a metropolitan marvel of history and technology seamlessly blended in a show of wealth and prosperity. The steady march of progress is displayed nearly everywhere in the city through robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and other advanced technologies. Distribution and use of crystals are strictly, but fairly, regulated as a whole.

Outside of the cityscapes of Tenshi, the countryside is a vibrant and lush environment filled with rivers and lakes, wherein a major amount of agricultural production and trade occurs. It experiences great variance in its seasons, with bountiful springs, hot summers, pleasant autumns and heavy winters year round. Residents of the countryside tend to be less traditionally inclined, though they are still a generally pleasant crowd.

_{T R I V I A}

---

Likes:

• Structure
• Sour candy
• Trust

“Dislikes”:

• Disorder
• People who act without thinking

Miscellaneous:

• Liza is extremely adept at wetwork, though she claims to find it distasteful. Whether or not that’s true is up for debate.
• She is slightly short for a Tenshi native at 5’4, but her heels add three inches to her height, making her appear above average. She has considered making them higher, but she wouldn’t be able to keep her balance if they were taller.
• Liza is not an orphan but doesn't often mention her family.
• She is skilled in multiple martial arts disciplines, but her lack of physical strength has limited her options to ones that don’t rely on it. She compensates for her weakness quite well.
• She makes an excellent cook if one considers turning basic ingredients into poison an art form; she is used to it.
• One of her names is fake and the other is miswritten, though she never says which.
• Liza has a collection of knives and tools from every city she’s ever visited. Her collection is incredibly varied.
• Liza wears a choker to cover the tattoo that marks her as a Kurai Lin, even though no one would recognise it.

_{S O C I A L}

---

TBD.

Regalia

And there we go.

Liza Usui, A Poisoned Rose

^{_{L i z a ' s s o u n d t r a c k}}

‎

Lisabeth "Liza" Usui

_{P R E S E N C E}

---

Wise beyond her years, Liza is a polite, soft-spoken and non-confrontational individual without a speck of malice in her body. She never raises her voice or utters a curse regardless of anything and would never speak badly of anyone; not even behind their backs. Her thoughts, however, are another matter entirely. She doesn’t lie often, if ever, but her words are sometimes cryptic and give very little away for others to tell the difference and she hardly bothers to explain herself. As much as she can be peculiar, she holds herself and others to a certain standard and she makes no effort to hide her disapproval of those who fail to meet it, though it may not always be readily visible.

Despite her background, or lack thereof, Liza has little issue cooperating with people, but the opposite cannot be said to be true. Though it cannot be said that she is inefficient in her work, she offers little in the way of reprimand or assurances for those who’ve worked with her. Her overly polite yet paradoxically judgmental demeanour tends to put people off, to either no notice or care on her part. She is never antagonistic and yet most everyone who has met her would rather avoid her after the fact, seemingly against all logic. Often, she is described as less walking and more gliding, like a lizard on ice; quiet and unassuming until someone notices her. Or, to be more accurate, until she allows it.

While Liza rarely goes out of her to directly help individuals, she has no issue with providing advice or even aid if requested. She never acts without considering the results of her actions, but she accepts without fuss that she simply cannot control the future regardless of her choices. Liza often stares at nothing, as if she is aware of something no one else is; a sentiment more accurate than anyone knows. What she truly feels at any given moment remains something only she is privy to and her goals, as with her patron, are beyond your understanding.

Liza is gentle, but she is not kind.

_{C H R O N I C L E}

---

Before Liza became a Regalia, she was Nobody; a mystery in a city that crushed the hopes of those who dared to dream, and broke down and rebuilt the will of all who entered, just to shatter it like glass all over again. She was different, but not in a way anyone would be proud of. On the surface, Ochiwa was a brilliantly shining city in the ever-prosperous island nation of Tenshi. All its citizens were known to be kind and well-mannered and always welcomed outsiders with open arms. That, however, had deteriorated into a lie over time. A mere façade meant to hide the chaos festering beneath, sustaining itself on the destitute citizens who toiled ceaselessly with no end in sight while the rich indulged in the luxury wrought by their sins.

Liza was neither.

She held no sympathy in her heart for the poor struggling in the disgrace of a great city, no love for the wealthy few who profited off their labour and no regret for the actions she took that changed it for the better. For, while the elites of the city took advantage of its less fortunate citizens to make themselves richer, hiding beneath their masks of false charity, their true actions did not go unnoticed for long. And they were soon to learn that disregarding the law was not without consequence, and they were going to bear the full, unrelenting weight of their folly.

As an agent of her country, Liza did things that would forever haunt the minds and hearts of most people. She was not like most people. People who knew her name were few and those who knew her face were fewer still, as was standard for those like her. Ochiwa became a different place almost overnight after they passed through, delivering their judgement and sweeping away the corrupt like a hurricane. The citizens rejoiced for their restored freedom, but they would never know who saved them.

Liza was a saviour of the city, but a hero to the people, she was not.

She was Kurai Lin. The keepers, overseers, judges, and executioners of Tenshi’s laws; guardians of the people, in a sense. They were the ones who were sent to do the jobs no one else would. That was who she was, all she was. Until it wasn’t. The day her life changed forever was the day she left the place she once called home. No longer needed, she found herself lost, adrift in the sea of life with no direction. Her life had been simple before; she never had to question her purpose or whether what she was doing was right or wrong. Without anything to tether herself, she found herself unmoored and drifting directionless. That was when Gilgamesh came to her—a beacon of stability within her turbulent storm. Liza didn’t know why she was chosen then and still doesn't. Maybe it was curiosity, or perhaps it was simply pity, but the result was clear as day. Whatever the answer may be, she was forever grateful for her Dominant’s intervention.

After Liza became a Regalia, she was a nobody, because it was all she had ever known in life. The difference was that now, she had her own purpose, as well as the means to achieve it.

_{H O M E}

---

Tenshi is a temperate mountainous and heavily forested island nation with smatterings of volcanic activity mostly known for its mixture of ancient traditions and modern restyling, exquisite cuisine, and agriculture. Despite its modest size, Tenshi is quite technologically advanced, though its military is somewhat lacking compared to some others, aside from its powerful Navy. Though they are not the most welcoming of foreigners, they are a major supplier of produce that many mainland countries depend on. None of this is to say that the country is perfect, as it has its share of unsavoury factions, though its peacekeepers effectively enforce the law on most levels. When it comes to faith, Tenshi has a long history of worship for Gaia, though a fair few also reserve their religious fervour for Leviathan as well. The eastern and southernmost coast of the island sits on a major tectonic belt, making it prone to destructive earthquakes and tsunamis.

The people of Tenshi tend to value decency above all else, presenting a respectable attitude in all matters in which they are involved. Their language, the Japanese-adjacent Tenshin, is pleasantly smooth yet complex, with an important system of honorifics and many different dialects depending on location and education. The written form is separated into two syllabaries, partially based on an ancient language. While Tenshin is the main language used island-wide, due to the strict education standards upheld on Tenshi, a significant portion of the population is versed in at least two other languages, generally Common and/or Eshiyaos.

Though no longer an absolute monarchy, Tenshi still has a strictly defined social order. An emperor/empress is chosen and serves as head of government until either their death or abdication and the title is then passed down to the next in line. They have considerable authority on many matters in accordance with previously established constitutions, though their decisions are not necessarily final on any of those matters. The government rules based on tradition and stringent regulations and keeps watch on the corporations that operate within its borders, the most prominent of which is Monarch. The upper echelons of Tenshi possess a strong and long-held foothold in the country, but just as the laws are strictly upheld, so too are the rich and powerful to be kept in check.

At the top of the hierarchy sits the current ruler of Tenshi, Empress Kusanagi Usui, aided by her seven advisors. In more recent years, a rise in political corruption and corporate crimes has led to the creation of a unique caste of individuals carefully selected and trained to uphold the laws and virtues of Tenshi by whatever means necessary. Its existence known only to a select few, the Kurai Lin is a covert group that answers only to the Empress’s court and operates with a higher authority than typical law enforcers.

The capital city of Tenshi; Kaihito, is a sprawling metropolis combining the best of two worlds; the ultramodern technological prowess of the present day and historic shrines of the past, as well as the Imperial Palace, a leftover from a bygone era. Surrounded on three sides by luscious woodland and mountainous terrain, including the country’s highest peak, Mount Aoji, the city is a metropolitan marvel of history and technology seamlessly blended in a show of wealth and prosperity. The steady march of progress is displayed nearly everywhere in the city in the form of robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and other advanced technologies. Distribution and use of crystals are strictly, but fairly, regulated as a whole.

Outside of the cityscapes of Tenshi, the countryside is a vibrant and lush environment filled with rivers and lakes, wherein a major amount of agricultural production and trade takes place. It experiences great variance in its seasons, with bountiful springs, hot summers, pleasant autumns and heavy winters year round. Residents of the countryside tend to be less traditionally inclined, though they are still a generally pleasant crowd.

_{T R I V I A}

---

Likes:

• Structure
• Sour candy
• Trust

“Dislikes”:

• Disorder
• People who act without thinking

Miscellaneous:

• Liza is highly adept at wetwork, though she claims to find it distasteful. Whether or not that’s true is up for debate.
• She is slightly short for a Tenshi native at 5’4, but her heels add three inches to her height, making her appear a bit above average. She has considered making them higher, but she wouldn’t be able to keep her balance if they were any taller.
• Liza is not an orphan but she doesn't often mention her family.
• She is skilled in multiple martial arts disciplines, but her lack of physical strength has limited her options to ones that don’t rely on it. She compensates for her weakness quite well.
• One of her names is fake and the other is in the wrong order, though she never says which is which.
• Liza has a collection made up of knives from every city she’s ever visited. Her collection is incredibly varied.
• Liza wears a choker to cover the tattoo that marks her as a Kurai Lin.

_{S O C I A L}

---

TBD.

Regalia

Salutions. This looks like an interesting little story. I'm messing with an idea for Gilgamesh if no one's chosen that yet.

Fenix Tear [Invite | Ask Only]

Shinra Rudegarn

---

_{Location: Fortuna}

Stopping by the restaurant had been a blast, even if he’d had to pace himself to spare Rena’s wallet the extra strain, and he was as pumped as ever to start the quest. Weisz had explained the mission in further detail while they were eating, though Shinra only really listened to part of it. Most of what they spoke about went over his head, but the important bits stuck with him. That was more than enough.

Whatever the Krispy Klub Krew were up to, they’d stop them, finish the quest, get their reward and then call it a day.

At least, that had been the plan, but now, things weren’t exactly going the way they were supposed to. They’d made their way to Fortuna easily enough with their invitations and from there on, Shinra was happy to let Jaina take the lead since she was more knowledgeable than he was. And, yet, things had taken a misfortunate turn in no time at all.

He wasn’t sure when exactly, but something must have gone wrong somewhere along the line. Everything had been going well until suddenly it wasn’t.

The next thing he knew, he and Jaina were in cuffs and being dragged off to who knows where for apparently trespassing, and Rena was nowhere to be found. Things had happened way too fast for him to wrap his head around.

Shinra snapped out of his confused stupor with a shake of the head, then his brows furrowed, “Hey, what’s the big idea? We’re not intruders, we were–”

He found himself cut off as the men spoke over him, ignoring his words entirely. His shoulders slumped as they continued like he wasn’t even there, and he tugged on his cuffs listlessly. His ears perked up, however, when they mentioned having him and Jaina for dinner.

Shinra blinked.

.... Wait, were they serious?!

Shinra planted his feet to the ground, resisting the pull of the “We’re not gonna be anyone’s dinner!”

Shinra’s arms tensed and the chain linking the cuffs broke as he launched himself at the ceiling, landing in a crouch as his Ether Gear activated. He sent himself flying downwards with a light push off the inverted surface, a fist cocked back as he yelled–

“Magi-Mech Attack: Gravity Fist!”

His punch hit the bouncer holding his guildmate with tremendous force, breaking the floor and sending rubble flying every which way. Without a moment of hesitation, he grabbed Jaina around the waist and broke contact with the other vampires.

“Hold on tight!” Shinra called out as he jumped at a wall, smashing through it to leave the building, and the vampires, behind.

《 Super H.E.R.O. 》

[ 𝑅𝒾 𝓁 𝑒𝓎 ]

---

---

Lost in his thoughts as he was, Riley didn’t even bother looking up when Magician walked into the room, his voice nearly unbearably smug as he spoke. Whatever he was saying simply went in one ear and out the other. After a moment, there was a sound Riley didn’t recognise and then the man’s presence was gone.

Good riddance.

Dr. Reininger was next out but Riley was content to ignore everything and keep to himself for the moment. Wiseman was up next for the chopping block, which didn’t concern him. He had other things to–

All of a sudden, the lights went out and Riley perked up, his head leaving his arms to stare intently at the ceiling, eyes narrowed. He loosened his restraint and his vision splintered once again, seeing everything at its most base state. Something that he couldn’t quite get a grasp on caught his attention. Something that hadn’t been there before. His vision snapped back and he pressed a palm to his temple to soothe the dull ache behind his eyes.

How annoying.

The good doctor then tried to leave the room; emphasis on tried. Instead of the door opening as it should to let the doctor out, Dr. Reininger jerked suddenly and collapsed to the floor in a heap. Riley’s eyes followed her body as she fell heavily, nearly motionless as if hit by a thousand volts of electricity. No, not “as if”. She’d just been electrocuted by the door handle.

Was she dead?

The slight rise and fall of her chest answered his unasked question. So, not enough to kill anyone then. Riley wondered why that was. Surely, that would have been a far better way of ensuring whoever touched the door wouldn’t be an issue further down the line. Maybe they were simply more averse to killing than he was used to. Or, perhaps they simply couldn’t.

.... Regardless. With how things were shaping up, either ALISA was pulling a Skynet, or something else was at play here. Maybe even someone.

"Apologies for the intrusion. I simply need to keep you contained in order to prevent you from interfering with my plans. And also from escaping the range of the signal blocker. Please remain seated. Hey, but at least I got you out of therapy, right? That should count for something."

Were they.... talking to Wiseman? Was he their target? Did they not know who else was in here?

Not that it mattered; in the end, the result would be the same.

Riley’s eyes went back to the door as the man in question picked up the incapacitated doctor and placed her out of the way. The door was coursing with electricity—a measure to keep them trapped in the room, however long that would last. It wasn’t a terrible strategy by any means, but he’d seen better. Been involved in better, even. It was effective enough to get the job done, though.... well, not quite. For a moment his eyes were drawn to Wiseman's actions and his lips twitched as he watched the man escape out the side of the building.

So much for keeping him contained.

Briefly, he considered shifting to combat mode, but he dismissed the thought almost as soon as it came to mind. He’d wait until he actually met something he had to fight, even if it meant limiting his range. Even then, it was a coin flip as to whether it would even come to that.

Not that he needed it now.

It was easy to start the meltdown process as he approached the locked door. It was almost second nature at this point, with how often he found himself doing it. The electrified door served no obstacle in the face of his power, the metal deforming and melting before he even touched it. The electronics that made up the metal barrier shorted out and burnt up as its internal heat increased to extreme levels, and finally, Riley’s hand touched the door. His fingers sank through the molten metal like butter, and the rest of his body followed.

Now, all that was left was to find the people responsible.

“Where should I start?” Riley mused to himself.

Reborn in a Fantasy World, This Time I Shall...!

Sylva

Undead Smithy

---

Sylva used a few pieces of cloth to wrap a few of the rusted weapons together, making sure to leave just enough slack that they wouldn’t fall if he needed to run with them. He would have preferred to set up a few more precautions, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. He’d just have to settle with being able to defend himself with the sub-par weapons he had. When he was satisfied with his preparations, he looked up to see what the other two were doing.

Aw.

Sephily’s inability to lift the hammer was endearing, if a bit amusing to witness. Sylva couldn’t help but think of her that way, despite her words to be treated otherwise. It was just too much. Still, she definitely wouldn’t be very thrilled if she knew his thoughts on the matter so he wisely said nothing.

The small dagger she had was something at least. It was better than nothing and it fit her stature quite well, even if it wouldn’t be very damaging. Anyway, between Bianca’s hammer, and his small—less than stellar—arsenal, they had enough weaponry to hold their own against a few undead, if only just.

Wouldn’t help if the entire horde found them, though.

His ears twitched and he looked towards the direction from which the bell had been tolling. It was quiet now, leaving behind the deafening silence of an empty town, and the faint steps of feet on pavement. Well, there went that advantage. Now, it was only a matter of time before the rest of the undead found their way here, and he didn’t fancy waiting around for that to happen.

Sephily had the right idea. Staying here any longer wouldn’t yield anything of value, considering the state of the place. Their best bet was to get going before the undead came back.

“Right,” Sylva acknowledged, hefting a satchel of supplies over one shoulder to begin what would no doubt be a considerable trek, “That's enough zombies for one day. Let’s be on our way then.”

@VitaVitaAR @RolePlayerRoxas @PKMNB0Y

《 Super H.E.R.O. 》

[ 𝑅𝒾 𝓁 𝑒𝓎 ]

---

---

After Amune had been dismissed, the psychologist appeared in the doorway, looking out at the waiting room. She glanced down at her clipboard. “Riley? Is that right? I know you’re.... probably upset about this whole arrangement. But I promise that it’s very necessary and, most importantly, it won’t be as painful as you think.”

The woman was negotiating with the nuclear-powered hero like he was a toddler being forced to go to the dentist by his parents. Truth be told, though, the psychologist wasn’t really equipped to deal with unwilling patients. Most of the time, she spoke with or investigated people who wanted to be picked apart. This go-around, she was dealing with people who not only were not volunteers but actively had tried to get out of this situation to the best of their ability. This particular hero frightened Dr. Reininger the most. His powers were terrifying, even more so than many of the terrifyingly superpowered people she had interacted with over the years.

Still, she had no choice but to cross her fingers and do this job. Hopefully, her job wouldn’t cost her the rest of her life.

For his part, Riley studied the doctor silently, his vision scattering from the norm as he did. He supposed it was his turn now to be dissected, as much as he wanted to avoid it. The doctor’s assurances didn’t ease him as much as she probably hoped they would. Not as painful as he’d think? As if it was pain he was worried about. Pain he could deal with. Sharing his thoughts, he could not. It was particularly rich coming from her, though, considering how afraid she was.

Not that she was wrong to be scared of him.

Riley blinked his vision back to normal and ignored the tightening in his chest, eyes rolling downwards. It was nothing. Heaving a soft sigh, he stood from his chair and stretched, hearing his joints crack with a crisp snap. He popped another chocolate truffle through his lips and enjoyed the satisfying crunch between his teeth.

His eyes flickered back to Dr. Reininger, but his response lacked his earlier bite.

“That’s what they kept telling me.”

The doctor very tepidly entered her little office space, taking a seat in her chair and beckoning the one known as Fallout to do the same. She then analyzed her clipboard again, finding it to be disturbingly barren. This job only continued to get harder and harder, right?

“How about we skip all the silly direct questions on your psyche and instead talk about some more pleasant things,” the psychologist said with a weak smile. “You know, I come from Germany, and this is my first time visiting Castleburg, believe it or not. I understand that you’re also not from the States originally. Why don’t you tell me a little bit about how that came to be? Why come to America?”

Riley followed the doctor into her office with some measure of trepidation, though he didn’t show it. He never liked confined spaces. Too little room, too much that could go wrong with him in there. The memories certainly didn’t help. He rolled a truffle over his tongue, savouring its sweetness for a moment.

The chair he took looked noticeably less comfortable than the doctor’s. It didn’t bother him much; he was used to worse. He lounged in the chair without complaint, watching Dr. Reininger lazily as she checked her clipboard. And then came the questions. His origins, his objectives. Was he being a bit paranoid? Maybe, maybe not. At the very least, she wasn’t inquiring into his mental state. However long that would last.

“The name I–”

Riley stopped himself with a sigh, rolling his eyes at his misstep. He didn’t like the name—it made him seem like something he wasn’t—but it was there for a reason. That was something he should keep to himself. Lying came easily to him, but this was a situation where a little honesty might help a lot more in the long run.

“Why I came here, huh....” Riley paused to consider his next words before continuing, “Well, to put it simply, it was the most convenient place for me. Less chances of incidents. Trusy.”

“Oh, and H.E.R.O.'s here, too,” he added as an afterthought.

“I see,” the psychologist said, making some corresponding jots. “I do want to talk about ‘incidents’ and their associations with the United States. I see here on your file that you had, well, a bit of what you could call an ‘incident’ on your first trip to this city. Could you explain what happened there? HERO didn’t take very extensive notes on you, for whatever reason,” the psychologist asked.

Riley’s lips twitched slightly at the doctor’s question. He’d almost forgotten about that whole fiasco. It had been such an absurd coincidence too. Who would have ever predicted that a man’s “perfect murder” would be ruined simply because he ran into a moody teenager with more frustration than restraint at the time? Meeting Riley was probably the worst day of his life for that guy. But for him, it was just Tuesday.

Thinking back, it was quite funny. Getting arrested after the fact wasn’t.

“You could say I was just at the right place at the right time,” he said with a faint air of amusement. Then he mulled over the question again, his expression entirely placid. It was no wonder H.E.R.O. didn’t have much information about him, though he didn’t voice that particular thought.

“Depends on your perspective, though. Mr. Graham certainly didn’t think so,” Riley shifted in his chair and leaned forward slightly, an unnerving grin forming on his face, “Did they ever get him a replacement for that hand?”

Leaving the question to sit, he leaned back in his chair and let his bored expression fall into place yet again. That was as much as he was going to say on the subject.

“I... have no way of knowing the answer to that,” the psychologist said, a disturbed expression clear on her face. She flipped through a few pages on her clipboards, analyzing the information on there as she occasionally looked up and glanced at Riley’s face as if to make sure that this older adolescent boy was real and not the result of a nightmare she was suffering from.

“How about one more question related to your past? This group, LeNSec. Some type of mysterious vigilante hacking organization. What is your relationship with them, precisely? And why do you think HERO permits that relationship? Do you believe that HERO has accepted you into its fold because of, or despite, your affiliation with them? Or somewhere in the middle?”

Dr. Reininger adjusted her glasses. “Keep in mind, of course, that this is all completely confidential. I’m a professional, not a spy. You have my word that none of this leaves this office.”

That wasn’t quite the reaction Riley had wanted from the doctor, but he was satisfied with it nonetheless. He relished her look of disquiet for a moment before his expression flatlined and a frown settled on his lips from her next words. Ah, and here came the line of questioning he was somewhat dreading. He’d expected it of course, but if she thought he would trust her based on words alone, then she wasn’t nearly as smart as he’d originally credited her with being. Words were the cheapest form of currency in the world. They were empty and worthless, just like people.

His jaw clenched and unclenched in quick succession.

“That’s not one question, doctor,” Riley said lightly, lazily resting his chin on a palm, “I don’t really care, though.”

“My relationship with LeNSec is.... well, I guess you could call them a family of sorts?” The word felt foreign on his tongue, but he continued without pause, “.... something along those lines, I guess. My experience is a bit limited in that regard.”

Riley rolled another truffle between his teeth before answering the next question with a question of his own, “Why would I need anyone else’s permission to maintain my personal connections?”

A sigh escaped his lips as he mulled over the last questions, “Maybe they did take me in because of LeNSec or in spite of them, or some combination of both, or whatever. Doesn’t really matter. More likely, though, they just wanted to keep an eye on the walking disaster. Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Shifting in his seat again, Riley locked eyes with the doctor, the temperature in the room rising a few degrees, “Are you afraid of me too, Dr. Reininger?”

It was a rhetorical question, but there was a hint of vulnerability in his tone.

The good doctor tugged at her collar a little bit. Maybe the temperature control in this building was faulty. “Afraid is a.... well, it’s a strong word. I’ve worked with many heroes before, many of them who have very… volatile and potentially dangerous powers. I would say I take the appropriate amount of caution when working with such individuals.”

Of course, Reininger knew when she had an opening, and so she plunged right in. “Something you said there intrigued me greatly, though. You don’t need HERO’s permission to operate and choose who you associate with. You have, as you’ve alluded to, a very dangerous set of powers. And reading your files and some past incident reports suggests that you seem to have.... well, issues taking orders. You dislike HERO because they tell you what to do, you dislike ICOSA because we tell HERO what to do, to some extent. And yet, here you are. You could’ve told HERO ‘no’ to come sit here and melted anybody that tried to force you to do otherwise, and you could’ve turned me into a pile of radioactive carbon by now.” Reininger shivered a little bit at the thought.

“Yet here you are. You don’t need to take orders from HERO, and you still put yourself in a position to receive their orders. Why? Would you say it’s out of convenience, or obligation, or....?” Dr. Reininger trailed off before she adjusted her glasses once more as she examined the walking nuclear reactor.

Riley’s expression shifted back into neutrality as he leaned back in his chair, crunching another truffle between his teeth. He was quiet for a long moment as he considered the psychologist’s words with a thoughtful furrow to his brows. “Fear isn’t something to be ashamed of, doctor. It just means you aren’t a complete idiot. I.... don’t have that luxury.”

The next line of questioning didn’t bother him as much as it would have just a few years ago. It was an obvious next step to get an idea of where his loyalties lay if it wasn’t with H.E.R.O. or even with I.C.O.S.A.

“You’re not wrong about that,” he admitted easily, shrugging nonchalantly, “I don’t like HERO—or ICOSA for that matter. I might even go so far as to say I dislike them. And, yes, I could have done all of that to avoid sitting here and being questioned by you. Still could, actually, and it wouldn’t be particularly difficult either. There isn’t much here that could stop me if I decided to really get going. You certainly couldn’t.”

After a brief pause to let his words sink in, Riley continued.

“But I didn’t, and I won’t,” his tone hadn’t changed much, and his words remained light, but as far as the good doctor could tell, he wasn’t being deceitful.

Her final questions made him breathe a sigh.

“If I cared about convenience, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place. I’m not exactly doing this out of any particular sense of duty either.” Even as Riley said those words, the sound of screaming filled his ears; an echo of a memory. He could almost feel the heat, too.

Riley’s jaw clenched momentarily before untensing to let him speak, “.... “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,”. That’s a pretty famous quote, right? It kinda fits.”

“To put it more simply; I may not like H.E.R.O., but I dislike bullies more. In fact, I abhor them. That’s my reason.”

The psychologist gave a slow nod as she rapidly scribbled her pen on her clipboard, taking notes. “I see. Well, this has been very insightful, Riley. Thank you for your cooperation. You’re.... free to leave.”

The psychologist rested her clipboard down on the table. “I hope this type of conversation was fruitful.” She thought for a moment. “Well, I shouldn’t kid myself. I hope it wasn’t too painful, rather. But if you thought you gained something at all from that.... maybe speaking with a professional wouldn’t be the worst.” She shrugged to nobody in particular, knowing her efforts likely wouldn’t bear fruit.

“Can you tell Wiseman to come in on your way out? If I’m not mistaken, he’s the last person I need to see.”

Riley nodded at the doctor absentmindedly, “I’ll be sure to pass that along.”

Standing from his chair with a sigh, the teenager gave the doctor a final once over before turning to leave, “Well, this conversation has been.... interesting, and not entirely unpleasant. Under different circumstances, maybe your advice–”

He stopped himself mid-sentence, shaking his head with a sigh, “.... Never mind.”

Pausing briefly with one hand on the door, Riley raised his last truffle to eye level and considered it momentarily. His brows furrowed in contemplation as the one between his teeth dissolved in his mouth. Then, he closed his palm around it and squeezed gently, poking at its structure until it settled on the one he wanted. When next he opened his palm, a perfect sphere of pure white lay within it and he turned to face Dr. Reininger once more.

Gently, he placed the sphere on her desk, his eyes glinting with a measure of pride as he spoke, “Platinum-190. It’s the purest you’ll ever see.”

He inclined his head slightly, “Beregi sebya, doctor.”

With that said Riley finally exited the office space to re-enter the staff room where the others sat.

“You’re up,” he said laconically as he passed by Wiseman.

He dropped heavily into the seat the furthest away from everyone else and buried his face in his forearms. In times like this, Riley wished he could still feel something other than static.

He sighed.

What a drag....

Just Another Hero [Invite-Only]

Gauss

---

_{Location: Outside Le'Nombril Restau, Shibuya, Tokyo Prefecture}

---

The battle was over. The Nomu was dead, and his classmates and the civilians were safe and sound.

Yet, despite those facts, Gauss didn’t feel like he could relax just yet. Briefly, he checked his bracer once again and tsked in annoyance at what he saw. That last move took a lot more energy than he would have liked to expend. Healing people always did, he’d found, and that’s why he preferred to leave that part to others more suited to it. However, desperate times called for desperate measures, and he didn’t exactly have the luxury of choice. Letting Akira die due to inaction would have been foolish on his part. Not to mention rather unheroic of him.

Moving past that, he needed to–

It happened almost faster than he could react to it. The sudden flash of cold blindsided him—that didn’t happen to him very often, and that wasn’t about to change now. The ice crept over his armour at a blisteringly fast pace, spreading over its entire surface in a fraction of a second.

But he was faster.

With a burst of electricity, the ice shattered and Gauss took a few steps back, shaking the frost from his armour. He took a quick glance at the others, finding them in similar states to the one he’d just narrowly avoided, though his gaze lingered on Mei for a moment longer. She was completely encased in ice, her face frozen in an expression of surprise. Nothing he could do about that now that he was nearly running on empty. She still had a few minutes more before permanent damage settled in, so they had to make this quick.

Easier said than done....

His eyes settled on the woman standing on a platform of ice in midair.

An unknown villain with an ice Quirk who appeared nearly the moment the Nomu had been defeated? Gauss knew well that coincidences were oftentimes strange, to say the least, but this was not that. It was all a bit too convenient for his taste, and it made him curious.

This was going to be a pain.

No sooner had the thought manifested in his mind did reinforcements finally arrive on the scene. He sighed, half-relieved and half humorously, though he didn’t relax.

“Took you long enough. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a battery to charge.”

With his piece said, Gauss walked away from the gathered group, his charge already starting to build. In just a few seconds, he’d be topped up and ready to rejoin the fight, if it was still ongoing. It wasn’t his typical style, but he had to play the hand he’d been dealt, especially since it was a result of his own failing.

More than anything, he didn’t want to tap into his core reserve if he could help it.