The best stories start with monster girls, a Honda Odyssey, and a shitload of blood. This one is no exception. ENJOY!
.
.
.
‘Today sure is shitty…’
In the busy morning, a sorrowful youngster stood at the door of his local coffee shop, his dark hair waving in the wind.
< Welcome to the Cat-girl Café! >
It was 8 AM, the worst time to come here.
Usually, he would have waited until late night, until the quiet, but right now, he needed this—he needed anything, really.
‘Can't stay at home depressed…’
He forced himself to go inside, his senses instantly assaulted; autumn-based colors, the chatter of happy customers, and the fragrances of steaming beverages.
Then there were the Felaryn waitresses, a race of otherworldly cat girls that were very popular in the customer service industry.
Yet it all looked washed out and fake to him, his eyes focusing elsewhere. An advert on the wall, a gorgeous pin-up dryad girl happily presenting a drink.
< Pumpkin Spice! Liquid Happiness! >
‘God knows I need happiness right now.’
Today was his birthday, but also the worst day.
Sighing, he stood in line, a long one. But as he waited, his phone vibrated. With shaky hands, he fished it from his pockets, already dreading what to expect.
New Mail? He opened it…
< We’re sorry to inform you that—>
Again. It was always the same. ‘We’re sorry,’ they said, except they weren’t, they didn’t give a fuck. He felt heartache once more.
In fact, there had been countless...
< We’re sorry to inform you that—>
< We’re sorry to inform you that—>
< We’re sorry to inform you that—>
< We’re sorry to inform you that—>
….
Every single mail.
They were all the same: rejections from different Super schools.
He had worked hard in High School and gotten to know everything he could about Supers, yet it wasn't enough.
He had crafted the best presentation letters, volunteered for unpaid internships, and talked to many professors, all for nothing.
Those elitist bastards didn't want a poor bloke like him. Sighing, he swiped the screen, opening his favorite Web Novel.
He needed all the dopamine he could get right now, almost urgently...
< Super amongst Supers >
The name was silly, but it was fun. It was about a young amateurish Super facing all adversities as he learned to control his Quirk, grew powerful, and made friends, all the while exploring the universe.
It was cheesy, dumb even, but he could relate to the MC. His unyielding spirit gave him courage on days like this one and god did he need courage right now.
Expectantly, he opened the last chapter…
< Important Announcement! >
< The Author is Dead! >
< HIATUS! >
“…..”
The worst day in forever.
As he sighed, the line advanced, his turn coming. He stepped forth, the Felaryn barista at the counter already scowling.
“What will it be? Please be quick. There’s lots of people.”
“Large Pumpkin Spice Coffee…”
“We don’t have ‘large’ here. Short, Tall, Grande, Venti?” She showed a smug expression, her gray fur giving her a haughty Persian cat look.
“The biggest. I don’t care…”
“Venti it is. What kind? Americano? Latte? Mocha? Milk? Almond? Soy?...” He lost track; too many options. Hell, there might have been cowgirl milk for all he knew.
But just as he was seriously getting a headache…
“Wait, is that Jack?!” An excited voice came from the back store, a crazed woman erupting out of it, her glowing green eyes already fixated on him.
“Jack, it really is you! At this hour?!”
She rushed to the counter, every customer gulping no matter their gender. She was THAT pretty.
She was also the Dryad from the pin-up ad, aka Lilia Bloom, this place’s manager.
Green hair, green glowing eyes, a smile to die for, and a bust large enough to be considered a weapon of mass destruction. And as she ran his way. The jiggling was so intense it looked like an Earthquake.
“Shoo, I got this! Little gray, do something else!” She excitedly pushed the Ferlyn girl away.
For the first time today, Jack smiled. She was as enthusiastic and colorful as ever, her slender fingers already punching his usual black coffee order out of habit.
“One large coffee, regular, with lots of love and—”
“I’ll try the Pumpkin Spice one.”
“WHAAAA?!”
Her reaction was so intense that a few got nosebleeds in the background. Then she suspiciously looked at him as if he had been kidnapped and replaced by an alien!
Then again, it did happen. Otherworldly portals would open on the regular nowadays and she herself was the best proof of it. Finishing her inspection, she grinned.
“Daring are we today? Time to try new stuff! Cream? Sugar? Marry me?”
“Yes. Yes. Y— No Thanks.”
“Tch, a girl can try…”
She pouted so cutely that a dozen hearts almost exploded, Jack giving a wry smile. A Dryad girlfriend was fun… until it wasn’t.
He knew better. Under her gorgeous appearance resided a monster. To be precise, a man-eating monster since dryads were akin to mantises as far as mating went.
Smiling, she extended her hand, collecting his Debit Card. He was one of the few who still used something that ancient, most relying on Mana Payment instead.
< Ding: - 6 Credit! > expensive, to say the least, but today he'd 'pamper' himself.
“All good! Now, your V-card, I mean your membership card!”
As soon as he nodded, a tentacle-like vine extended from her outstretched hand and grabbed the thing from his pocket.
< Buy ten, get one for free! Buy a hundred, get a Dance! >
She winked, stamped it a hundred times, and expertly wrote her number on it like usual! Only then did she scan the card, a happy-go-lucky robotic voice resounding from the register…
< Ding! Ding! Happy Birthday Customer!>
< May You Have a Wonderful Day!>
< Lots of Love and Fun!>
That’s when she froze.
Today was September 2?! Only now did she realize the date...
Today was his birthday. Today he officially turned 18. Normally she would have celebrated him being legal, but she knew what it meant.
Today, his dream "officially ended". That’s why he was so different.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“J-Jack, I’m so sorry. I-I… Here, take this!”
The woman who had been boldly flirting a second ago turned as meek as a kitten as she hurriedly grabbed anything she could put her hands on. Muffins, Chocolates, even Ice Cream…
“I heard humans eat sweets when they’re sad. Pick anything, absolutely anything you like. It’s on the house! Cheer up, please cheer up!” She looked so panicked.
“I’ll be fine. You can be sure of it. I’ll be fine…” Jack gently patted her head reassuringly, ignoring shocked gasps and offerings. “Just the coffee’s fine. Thanks.”
He received it with both hands, the gasping crowd parting as he went to sit, their eyes brimming with questions. Who was that kid?! And how had he made the crazily powerful Dryad fall for him?!
He hadn’t. She just liked to tease people.
He was more like a little brother to her.
He just happened to live nearby.
Sitting in a brooding silence, he eyed the hot beverage, carefully taking a sip, unsure what to expect. “Mhhh. Sweet!” He couldn't help but exclaim.
As he drank, his taste buds sang. So sugary, so addictive, and it all mixed into endless flavors. On a regular day, perhaps it would have made him happy, but now even that felt… lacking.
‘Happiness’ hard, ain’t it.’
Sighing, he tried changing his mind. The circular tables had a Universal Screen embedded into them, aka a fancy TV.
'That probably beats brooding.'
Out of habit, he went to his favorite station: CMC News, aka Caped Media Channel, one of the best to report on Super News. On it, was a robbery in progress.
< Panic at the Victoria Square? A Villain! >
A luxurious shopping mall, lots of goons wearing black ski masks, and a Villain with a shadow club the size of a truck. It was intense, a cute reporter gasping.
< Oh my god, is that the infamous Shadow Vandal?! He might be an F-ranked villain, but he hasn’t been caught a single time! He's more slippery than a shadow, has dual Super Powers, and he’s…>
Jack sipped his drink, his mind already running full throttle. Victoria Square was protected by the metal knights, right? Which would show up? Steel Sentinel? Golden Paradox? The “Great” Iron Bull? Hopefully not the last one for the mall’s sake.
After all, the man was—
Jack forcefully stopped himself.
What was the point? Right now he needed to find alternatives, and fast. Super schools were the best catalysts, but that ship had sailed. Focusing on the orange beverage in his hands, he felt a bit foolish.
Yet, he couldn’t help his eyes from darting back to the screen. A golden tights-wearing hero had appeared, one with a golden hourglass-shaped knight helmet inspiring confidence.
Golden Paradox! Ah, but he wasn’t alone, either? There were LOTS of cops!
With this, Jack already knew the outcome.
One well-placed chime and the Shadow Vandal would turn into a Golden Stasis Statue, his time stopped. With the cops assisting, the villain would land in prison for sure.
Clicking his tongue, he finally turned it off, shaking…
Today was his birthday, but also the worst day. Tomorrow, he’d find a job. As for after...
'It's fine, it's just one hell of a setback. I just need to find an opportunity. Any. Problem's finding an actual human willing to teach me.'
He didn't know many of those...
But just as he felt at an all-time low, it happened. His phone dinged nonstop, all the messages coming from the same number, one with a shark profile picture.
It was from his best friend, Sharky...
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
"JACK, YOU GOT IN!"
"LOOK AT YOUR EMAILS!"
"OMFG THEY CHANGED THEIR MIND. WE'RE GOING TO LEGENDARY-U, BOTH OF US!"
"CAN YOU BELIEVE THEY RECONSIDERED SO LATE? GUESS MY LETTER WORKED HEHEHE!"
"WHERE YOU AT?! AT THAT COFFEE PLACE RIGHT? IMMA BE THERE ASAP! GET READY IMMA PICK YOU UP ANY MOMENT NOW!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
With trembling hands, Jack checked to make sure, and there it really was.
< Congratulations, you’ve been accepted to Legendary-U! We’ve reviewed your application and are thrilled to have you in our Support Division! School starts September 2. See you then! >
Today was his birthday, and it was the absolute best day!
He grinned, despair leaving him. He could barely believe it! It had finally happened! A permanent smile fixed itself on his face, and tears almost escaped him…
Tears definitely escaped a Dryad by the side as she looked over his shoulder.
“Jack, you’re in?! You did it! I’m so glad! I’m so damn glad!” She sniffled, so touched that she was quite literally burgeoning, and she was even crying as he left the place!
He had come depressed but was leaving hopeful, just in time for his friend to arrive. Tires screeched on the asphalt, a Honda Odyssey so modified it barely looked like one appearing, its door opening.
Yet, Jack didn’t even bother inspecting it, he hopped in!
“BUCKLE UP! This gonna be fast!"
His best friend called out from behind the wheel, his plump and kind face jiggling as he pushed the gas pedal, a terrifying scene about to happen. Whoever had introduced the no-speed-limit areas didn’t know Sharky!
And soon...
SKRREEEEE!
Rubber burned on the highway.
“AHAHAHA! Don't worry, Jack. We won’t be late on our First Day!”
His best friend’s voice echoed with dozens of terrified drivers rubbing their eyes in pure disbelief as the Gray Honda Odyssey passed them at 200 km/h!
This thing was a dinosaur, a relic of a past before the aliens, the portals, and the Supers. It was so old that it shouldn’t have been working, yet it was akin to a comet, a mad driver at the wheel.
“Hehehe, let’s put this in third gear, shall we!” Sharky cackled, accelerating, something that would have horrified anyone sensible.
Yet Jack comfortably sat in the passenger seat, smiling.
He seemed too relaxed, especially knowing the car door was now on fire.
He cared not for the screams of confusion. He cared not for the floating skyscrapers zooming across the horizon. He didn’t mind the shell-shocked delivery Wyverns either.
The poor things looked quite silly as they fell from the air, seemingly forgetting to bat their Draconic wings as they saw them, their bronze scales and sharp claws radiating in the light.
No, he even closed his eyes, showing a blissful expression.
All his efforts were finally about to pay off! Sure, he merely had his foot in the door, but it was infinitely better than before! All tension leaving his body, he felt so sleepy.
But it was fine. He’d finally see the world he had always envied.
He’d finally see the world he had always been watching.
Ever since that day when— FUCK!
That’s when it happened…
[Blood Sovereign Curse Activating!]
[Blood Sovereign Curse Activating!]
[Blood Sovereign Curse Activating!]
A bloody smell filled his nose, and he felt trapped. He who had been chill this whole time suddenly found himself aghast and trembling. IT WAS COMING!
He clenched the leathery seat, bracing himself. ‘It’s not real. It’s not real. No matter what happens, keep your eyes open! No matter—’
Then it started. The car's windows and dashboard crackled, glowed, and seemed to turn ethereal. They even twisted into a nightmarish version of themselves.
And then it bled. LOTS.
A torrent of blood escaped it all, filling the poor Honda. Sticky, smelly, vile. It covered him, painted his body & soul crimson, and invaded his mouth. He gagged, or tried to.
He couldn’t breathe.
He couldn't see.
He couldn’t—
His entire world turned red as the haunting happened. He felt powerless, yet he forced himself to stay awake. And soon, the world of red shattered, revealing a scene from his past.
“ROOOOAARRRRRRRRR!”
A towering monster of pure chaos and darkness.
Jack froze. Back then, he had shit himself and despaired, even more so as the thing kept changing shape: one second, a Black Dragon, another a Demon King.
The creature was an overlord of darkness, one that Jack never had any way to resist! Even if this was a vision, he still felt the same fear as back then, and yet he swallowed his terror.
His hands shook, sweaty, and he forced a smile. “Hello, old friend. How have you been?”
“ROOOOAAAARRRRRR!”
The creature roared again as if a conqueror announcing its arrival. At the same time, it extracted its gigantic body from the glowing, ginormous portal it had come from.
A blood portal. A blood portal on Earth?! A crazed— It had shattered his reality.
That day, Jack should have turned mad. He should have been devoured by the Dragon, along with the world. But as he simply stood there, there had been a mighty gust of wind.
The wind of change, the wind of power, but most importantly, the wind of Hope. He didn’t know how, but he had felt it and found himself smiling as HE appeared.
A true hero. No, something more.
A red cape, red gloves, a banana-colored overall, and a bald head reflecting the sun. He had come and punched. Just a regular punch, but one that eclipsed the world.
A single punch was all it took to obliterate the dragon. And, as if not having done anything big, the hero chuckled while gently ruffling Jack’s hair.
“You okay, kid? You shouldn’t play here. It’s dangerous.”
Nodding to himself, the man gave a gentle smile as he stepped into the portal, mumbling something about a Blood Sovereign or whatnot. And with his departure, the scary portal went away.
Young Jack was left behind, unharmed but forever changed.
All he could picture was that punch and that portal. Especially that portal. Crimson red, the color of bright blood, with tons of crackling darkness tendrils spreading as if ink on a sheet.
That day, his world lost its shine.
Everything turned white and colorless except for the Supers, their abilities the only beacon of hope he still had, something very ironic considering his body's condition. After all, he— never mind, time was up.
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a strong pull and an even mightier shake. With it, the crimson world disappeared, quickly replaced by an excited and jiggly face.
Jack was fine. The car was fine. It had all been a nightmare— almost.
In fact, his crazy mad driver of a friend was positively beaming:
“C’mon, Jack, stop sleeping and... holy shit, your eyes are bleeding again?!" But then he showed a mischievous grin as he kept going.
"Pale skin, red eyes, mysterious... tell me the truth, you're a vampire, right?! If you enter the school like that, you'll give everyone a heart attack! Better wipe it up... unless you wanna rizz up some goth chick, of course!"
“Rizz— What are you, twelve?”
“What?! I’ll have you know it’s in the dictionary! Actually, never mind that. We’re here, we’re finally here! Well, in the parking lot, but still. Can you feel your blood boiling?! Can you feel the thrill of youth!!!”
As his best friend kept babbling in the background, Jack swept his gaze toward the exterior. He was usually the calm and collected kind, yet even he couldn’t help but grin widely.
This was it! This was bloody it!
Amidst a world of boring white, the ginormous complex shone like the sun in his eyes. It paled compared to the blood portal from back then, but he couldn't care less.
He had longed for this. To become like that hero. To save his family. To see a vibrant world. He was like a drowning man in a chaotic sea, finally seeing a lifeline after so long!
And as he gazed at the glowing tagline at the entrance, his blood really boiled.
< My Super Academia! >
It was so beautiful and majestic. Legendary U, the place that contained all his hopes and dreams, the people there just didn’t know it yet. And by the side, his best friend chimed in.
“Jack, today’s the start of our legend! Oh, and if anyone dares to bully you, tell me, I’ll bite them!” In his eyes shone the most reliable light.
In fact, he was even chomping the air, his shark-like teeth beaming with a steel glow, a sharp contrast to his otherwise friendly-looking plump face.
Bite them? Jack knew he really would.
After all, he had already jeopardized his own admission to make sure they both got accepted. Seeing this, Jack felt a warmth in his stomach as he gave a thumbs up.
“Don’t worry, Sharky. I got this!”
Chuckling, Jack exited the Honda Odyssey, the car still burning from the previous high speed. Then, he went toward his destiny, every step filled with boundless confidence.
In the back, Sharky, also known as Finn Valor, froze, baffled. Not only didn’t Jack seem stressed, but he was even humming?! Raising a brow, he perked his ears, listening to the lyrics.
They belonged to an odyssey...
♩♫♪ When does a comet become a meteor? ♩♫♪
♩♫♪ When does a candle become a blaze? ♩♫♪
♩♫♪ When does a mortal become a super? ♩♫♪
When does a mortal become a Super, was it? Finn found himself grinning. How very fitting!
But just as he was lost in thoughts, Jack turned his way, his dark hair and even darker blood-tinted eyes seemingly shimmering in the morning sun.
“You coming, Sharky? What happened to not being late?”
“Hehe, is that a challenge? We can race if you want!"
All worries leaving him, Sharky eagerly followed, and for a moment, his eyes played a trick on him, the tiny, frail silhouette before him seemingly turning into a Titan!
Gasping, he rushed forward, already sure this would be hella fun. After all, this friend of his was very special.
Jack Bright. The only mortal at an Academy full of Supers...