6 flew far away...crashing into a few trees before finally collapsing in her own blood.
A ‘new path’ had been created in the forest. It truly peaks one’s interest as to how those ‘other paths’ were formed.
She was dying. She needed to use her last remaining heal to save herself and, despite her own unwillingness, ignore her second boss’s condition.
6: “S...orry b...ss one. *Cough* *SHIIING*
I need...to do this…to survive.”
…
Mr. Abrams was a tired man. A very tired man. Today, he was an extremely overworked man.
- Searching for missing children..
- Learning one of those children may be related to the Ancient ‘Titans’..
- Learning one of those children may be related to the dreaded Malierano Family..
- Learning one of those children may be related to the Nation of Villians, ‘Villain Haven’..
- Learning he needed to help rebuild the strength of the formerly undefeated ‘Prince of Shades’, that, for some reason, is currently out of whack..
- Learning that one of those children is related to the deplorable ‘Molodov Watts massacre’, and is traumatized by it..
- Hearing that very student call another ‘killer’..
- Having 6 students respond to that word: ‘Killer’..
- Learning one of those children has a superpower that is so weak it’s been ranked as Z grade...and HE needs to raise it all the way up to acceptable standards...all the way through the alphabet..
- Discovering he has officially become those missing children’s homeroom teacher..
- Learning he must train one of the ‘normal’ students that he received to become an outstanding Hero…..or at least qualify for sidekick courses..
- Forcing those children to ‘get along’..
- Dealing with the ‘assembly’ fiasco, where he faced indignant messages from his ‘fans’ and even had to gather his class and escape from them later..
- Hearing one of his students declare himself ‘king’ in front of the entire student body, brought him greater stress than before..
- Defacing the 10 Chosen ‘kings’ by Hero Society in front of everybody attending, those 10 included..
- Searching for missing children, part two..
- Dealing with an Ericson brat that was picking a fight with said missing child..
- Having to clean up after one of his students that decimated a 5 mile long arena..
- Needing to continuously teleport everyone to and from specific locations all the while ensuring nobody stepped out of the teleport range(Although it is somewhat impossible to ‘step’ out of his range, since his ‘range’ is only small when he condenses it)..
- And finally, after coming home to his son’s snoring: he receives a call to inspect an outside threat against the students...that is no where to be found. OH wait! Another call reports that the threat WAS found!! Unfortunately the guy leaving the threats was a mercenary who specialized in teleporting and… had already teleported away the very moment Mr. Abrams stepped foot in their direct vicinity. All of the nearby heroes that were supposed to be on patrol HAPPENED to be busy with other mercenaries or villains too. After a minor game of ‘Cat and Mouse’, Mr. Abrams chose to put a little more effort and promptly K.O’d the man..
- Right after he reported in to the school, as well as Hero Society, and delivered the mercenary to Herotopia’s ‘Villain Capture Center’, his fellow non-combatant teachers asked for help in ‘safeguarding their kids’ from the vulture-like children surrounding them..
Mr. Abrams was very tired… Oh how he envied his son able to happily snore away without worry!
…
...It was time to change that.
Mr. Abrams: “Rhys! ...Rhys!
…
…
…RHYS wake up right now!!”
*BOOM!*
Rhys: “...Huh? Aww, man not again.
Haah. Dad can you stop blasting me with those weird...freaky bunny bombs of yours? Now the couch is gone!”
Mr. Abrams: “Hmph! Good. You can make me another one.
Rhys: “Wha- but that’s NOT FAIR!
…
...Haah. So tired. Even complaining is *Yawns* tiring…”
Mr. Abrams: “Good luck with your creation energy practice.
.
.
Oh! And I’m increasing your training by 3.”
Rhys: “What?! But I can barely handle it as IS!! Is my training schedule being increased by three more training sessions?! By 3 more days?? Or three more hours?? Which… Which is it? Tell me already!"
Mr. Abrams: “Oops. Did I say BY 3? I misspoke.
.
.
.
...I meant that I’ll be increasing your training regimen TIMES 3. Everything you’ve been doing until now will be multiplied by three. You’ll thank me later, I’m sure.”
Rhys: “Wha- ARE YOU INSANE YOU BUNNY FETISHIST-”
*BOOM!*
Mr. Abrams: “Tell me Rhys: *Cleans hands* What did you think of that boy…’Nathan Ericson’…?
Rhys: “*Yawns* Welp, I think that he was pretty fast, but given that he’s an ERICSON who are known to pop out talented children for Hero Society as a whole...I’m not impressed. The other three shocked me though. Having a God and a kingdom to help you sounds pretty nice~ Mmmh…”
Mr. Abrams: “...When someone sends you flying, you AREN’T supposed to take a nap wherever you land! *BOOM!* *BOOM!*”
Rhys: “Aaah! *Covers head* can’t you use another animal?!”
Mr. Abrams: “Of course not…
Everybody loves bunnies – See? Look how happy you’ve become with hundreds of my ethereal bunny friends playing tag.”
Rhys: “You… EVIL FATHER! I just wanna sleep!! You CAN’T just take your anger for having to babysit a bunch of non-combatants out on ME!!”
Mr. Abrams: “You’re right, so I won’t do that. Instead, I’ll ensure that you don’t lose to Nathan Ericson(or Noel for that matter) by giving you such a power-up that you’ll be able to ‘sleep’ through fights and still win.”
Rhys: “*Gasp!* Really?! I can really do that??”
Mr. Abrams: “Oh, yes~ Are you ready to train? Hehehe.”
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
…
Mr. Pierce: “Ah, Abrams! Hello again, my friend. Thank you for accompanying us all this evening. You see, the thing is-”
Mr. Abrams: “Spill it Pierce. Why have the ‘Gentleman of the Breeze’, and ‘Round-up Gal’ from the former top 20 list, requested my protection. And don’t spout that nonsensical ‘Oh we gave up fighting’ bull on me – because I won’t buy it!”
Mrs. Haldeen: “Well...*Looks at Mr. Pierce who gazes back* The thing is...”
Mr. Abrams: “Hmm? What is it? Are you two being secretive about something?”
Mrs. Haldeen: “We-”
Mr. Pierce: “I’ll say it. Abrams! Let’s speak about this topic while heading to the dorms. Our students are tired after a long day of us making them wait, and I’d rather talk as we walk.”
Mr. Abrams: “Hmm? The two of you are acting really weird…
...but okay.”
Mrs. Haldeen: “You guys have fun. I’ll oversee both groups and head forward a bit. Make sure that you tell him, Pierce. And set up...you know.”
Mr. Pierce: “Got it.
Oh Winds~ Guide my hand as I cast a perimeter that nullifies all noise! Sound Barrier!”
*SHHING!*
A barrier of Wind – like a mini typhoon, encased them both. Sound waves clashed against the obstructive barrier with rapt ferocity while both gentlemen took a stroll through the beautiful forest entrance to immerse themselves in a casual chat.
Umm...well. As ‘casual’ as any conversation can get when topics of utmost secrecy are involved.
Mr. Abrams: “*Looks around* Okay, spill. Why did you summon me here Pierce? And what’s with the extra protection? Is there a need for such a grandiose force-field?”
Mr. Pierce: “Houdini! *Clasps hands on Mr. Abrams’s shoulders* You are in incredible danger!”
Mr. Abrams: “? What the fuck are you talking about?”
Mr. Pierce: “Actually, we were sent here to distract you. The goal was to tell you to escort us, but around here at the forest entrance, we were supposed to ask if you could retrieve something, ANYTHING, from our classrooms. We were told that ‘they’ would handle the rest.”
Mr. Abrams: “They? Who’re ‘they’?”
Mr. Pierce: “Hell if I know – AHEM - I do apologize for that...obscene language just now. The truth is, for the majority of my time at the stadium, I can’t for the life of me remember where I was – NOR what I was doing up until that girl’s punch shook the arena. Some memories pass through and I can recall them a tad, like assigning seats for my class and watching the fights, but but most memories in between first assigning them seats and that punch...I keep drawing a blank.
As for those...fleeting memories I DO have - I remember the details vaguely. Almost like I was watching a movie and my body’s actions were NOT my own.”
Mr. Abrams: “...Would you mind if I took a ‘peek’?”
Mr. Pierce: “Be my guest, but let me finish talking first. The truth is, Mrs. Haldeen and I were given two special rings by the principal this morning, prior to coming here. But it wasn’t by him directly. He sent them two weeks ago and they arrived this morning before we each left for school. One of those two rings are right here. It’s called a brain protection ring.”
Mr. Abrams: “...Brainwashing..”
Mr. Pierce: “Mhm. As I looked into the ring, some of my memories returned, but the most important memory showed me inside of a black room alongside Mrs. Haldeen, and we were...speaking to somebody within the darkness. That somebody...resembled...resembled…”
Mr. Abrams: “...Resembled who? Is there somebody we know about that twho could ACTUALLY almost succeed in overwhelming the brain protection rings?”
Mr. Pierce: “I...don’t know. I dare not accuse him directly because it would cost me my job, but… they kind of resembled…”
Mr. Abrams: “Yes? Who is it?”
Mr. Pierce: “They...resembled the principal.”
Mr. Abrams: “!!”
Mr. Pierce: “But that doesn’t make any sense, right? I mean, the principal would never- furthermore he doesn’t even hold the ABILITY to brainwash… Also, why give us the rings, which restored some of our senses? I’m very confused but--”
Mr. Abrams: “What does this entail for me? You stated clearly that I was in danger.”
Mr. Pierce: “I can’t be certain, but… the orders Mrs. Haldeen and I were given had us going to the forest without you, after you were busy with ‘something’ inside of the non-combatant’s school building. You were CLEARLY being targeted for some malicious intent! I don’t know what will happen to Mrs. haldeen and I, but we think it’s safe to assume that somebody dangerous is currently inside of the school, and they’re targeting somebody related to you, IF not you, yourself. Protect your son, and please protect yourself. We plan on going to the Hero Society after this day ends.”
Mr. Abrams: “I’ll go with you.(Usually in a scenario like this one, people like this who escape the villain’s clutches to deliver a message wind up missing that very same night while they’re alone. Might as well help them out to end the night, as thanks for the brave warning...if that’s what it really was…)”
Mr. Pierce: “Thank goodness that you offered because honestly, this situation has the two of us riled up a bit. Oh! I believe she wanted me to warn you not to trust a woman, because in her memories, there’s a female voice close by the silhouette talking to us!”
Mr. Abrams: “Right… a woman close to the principal...now, why does THAT sound familiar?(Furthermore, could the target be my son? No, he’s too lazy to have enemies...but I have some. I think this is a possible follow-up to investigate, after I find out how many of my enemies are still around and free… just what could this strange news signify?)”
Mr. Pierce: “That was all. Please let me know when you’re ready to leave and we could take your warp to Hero Society for a report. O Wind! Deactivate the sound barrier please.”
Mr. Abrams: “Okay. I’ll tell you when I’m ready. Furthermore, do you still need me to escort you all the way inside--”
Elijah: “HEELP!! PLEASE – PLEASE SOMEBODY HEEEEELP!”
.…
Mr: Abrams: “Hm?? This voice… it almost sounds like…!”
As swift as he was able, he immediately teleported to the front of the crowd, and saw an extremely sickening sight.
Eren: “Oh – Oh God!! Oh Gods! Oh - Oh Go--- *Bleugh!*”
Fana: “YAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! NOOOOO!”
Reggie: “What the fuck, what the fuck! He’s, he’s--”
Ronald Reyes: “Really...this is too much to be just a prank. Is this for real..? Are we supposed to just...walk right in there? Where that...that guy and whatever he’s carrying came out from??”
Mr. Abrams: “No… no, no, no, NO!!! WHO THE FUCK IS ON GUARD DUTY TODAY?!!!”
Yes. There were supposed to be guards, constantly overseeing them 24/7. Supposed to be...but they were actually missing.
Had they been there, he would most certainly not be witnessing the horrifying scene displayed in front of him right now.
Elijah was crying: covered in blood and sweat, but adamantly running. He was carrying a classmate in his arms...both of them were covered in blood.
...And the body in Elijah’s arms...was missing his head. His name once, was Leos.
A non-combatant, and Mr. Abrams’s student – HIS responsibility.
*BOOM!*
Then, the forest shook. Every one of the students, except for Eren, Reggie and Ronald, screamed and ran towards the teachers. They couldn’t help it: This was too scary! They were all supposed to be going into a relaxing mansion – sized Dormitory where they could all experience what it’s like to be protected by hundreds of guards, royalty-like treatment due to being unable to leave the campus grounds, and the company of 41 other students other than themselves to comfort each other while they put up with the ‘Realist Faction’ festering deep within hero high.
Yet...What they witness FIRST thing they arrive to the forest, is a dead student, another carrying him and screaming out for help, and an earthquake that felt to them all as if it shook the entire world.
Obviously it didn’t, but they THOUGHT it did! That was the location where they were supposed to sleep at!!
Elijah: “I… *Sniff* I was trying… *Sniff* to find my way ba-- *Sniff* back! Back to the… the building! But then – then I saw…
Mr. Abrams…
Please...”
The teacher no longer paid anyone else any attention. He immediately warped over to Elijah and hugged the boy, before pulling Leos’s corpse away from his grasp. After that – he activated his ‘Remote Viewing’.
In front of him, far away a few hundred feet lay another body: it was Oliviera’s. He couldn’t tell if she was alive or dead. It was moving some, but that could be post-mortem spasms or something.
Yet, what of the others?
They should be at the dorms, right? Continuing his search in one set location, he eventually stumbled onto the building. It’s runes were all gone, vanished entirely. The doors had been broken down somehow, and inside…
Mr. Abrams: “Oh no…”
There was another dead student – her name was Alyandrea: a beautiful aspiring hero who, unlike Elijah, wasn’t planning on remaining a non-combatant.
In the hallway next to the gym stood a one-armed giant that he ‘knew’ had a trauma with fighting back. This situation was probably her worst nightmare.
At least one girl remained untouched…
however, it was at this moment Ophelia received numerous flesh wounds before losing her other arm.
And on the boy’s side…
An unknown body was laying sprawled on the floor further away, and he even seemed to have severe burn marks, making his face slightly unrecognizable.
A woman held the three students at gunpoint, and before he could blink them to safety, JUST as he began scanning the area to find them at the end of her barrel…
Their bodies exploded in a mass of flesh and blood. The woman maniacally laughed, and a bright light overtook his vision.
Mr. Abrams’s Remote Viewing encapsulated the entire building. This meant that EVERYTHING happening was simultaneously occurring in his vision. Finding all of his students took precedence...However he only found them during their deaths. Processing everybody’s whereabouts took a few milliseconds too long. The guilt overcame him fiercely at this series of losses.
More unnecessary deaths, caused by his inability to act soon enough…
.
.
.at least, these were his gloomy thoughts until the light dimmed. Once it had done so: His eyes nearly dropped to the forest bedding below him.
Fana: “Waaah! Waaahhhh! *Sniff* WA--”
Leos: “...Mnngh? What the?”
Elijah: “I’m sorry...I’m sorr--!!!”
Leos: “…”
Elijah: “...(A...A head??!)”
Leos: “...The fuck are you hugging me for, ya weirdo?”
Fana: “Waaa----AAAAAHH!”
Eren: “What the-!! This CAN’T be real!”
Reggie: “AAAHH! A – A MONSTER...! A...A ZOMBIE!!!”
Ronald: “…”
Mrs. Haldeen: “…”
Mr. Pierce: “…”
Mr. Abrams: “...What the fuck?”
He took another look with his Remote Viewing ability, still overseeing the entire Dorms, and sure enough...
...Everything...rewinded? No….somehow, those who’d died came back…
...to life?! Is this a fucking joke? Playing with death, is a GOD at work down here?
What even is this fucking ass-pull of a superpower??
Without warning…
*BOOM!*
The ‘world’ shook once again...or rather, just the forest. And upon looking again, most of the Dorm was missing. He quickly searched for signs of life and located Ian, Brennan and Li Shun just fine – tucked beneath dangerously heavy rubble. In hindsight, he shouldn’t have been so stupefied by Leos and teleported EVERY non-combatant he located next to his side.
Mr. Abrams: “Wait a moment: Every student?
.
.
.
Ophelia, Aria, Alyandrea, Ian, Li Shun, Brennan, Oliviera(still laying down), Elijah, Leos,Where are those two argumentative brats?
.
.
.
AND WHERE THE HELL IS WAYNE??”
The parameter of his Remote Viewing continuously grew, overshadowing the entire Dorm building’s perimeter. He saw Wayne at last, searching through the forest, opposite from Oliviera’s position. It seems like he tried to escape after hearing the loud shockwaves and earthquakes, without bothering to check on anyone else.
Wayne…
Smart from a survival standpoint, but also stupid because against a powerful foe – there’s greater safety in numbers. You never know if there are more enemies and he was walking right to them.
Moving on...he began scanning in wide motions throughout the entire forest. He thought those two wouldn’t have any trouble escaping to find help, until he remembered the bathroom incident. They both might actually be piss-poor with directions.
This sounded troublesome, so he planned to teleport them first and lecture those two on their failure to protect the weaker classmates in such a critical time! This would also serve to aid him in truly testing if he could trust either of the two ticking time bombs – or take some drastic measures against them.
.
.
Like this his wide-spread search continued.
Until he stumbled into one specific patch of forest…
Where an epic battle was STILL taking place.
---