Ashes to Ashes, Power to Power: Chapter 6

The Flood Zone looked deceptively beautiful and refreshing as we exited the Conflagration Zone, the others looking just as wary about wanting to jump into the refreshing water.

“I feel like this is a trap,” Masaru/ Rock-Skin spoke with a frown as we got closer, pulling his rock protrusion back into himself while Riku grimaced as we stared at the partially submerged mock cruise liner and the collapsed waterslide on one end.

“It sure is. Kevin, could you…?”, She asked and I nodded as I picked up a rock, aiming before throwing a rock into the air. We watched as the rock hit the apex of its arc before falling down and my eyes widened as the calm waters rippled.

The next moment, a large wave shot up from the water as water poured down from the collapsed slide and into the lake, gritting my teeth as I placed my hands on the ground and took on the properties of the steel walkway we stood on.

“Get behind me!”, I called out, watching as Muscles/ Kang's body bulked out with a grunt, the two of us locking hands and forming a wall as everyone else hid behind us.

The wave crashed into us with a powerful force, nearly knocking the wind out of me and I forced myself to not breathe as the water pushed against my face. Turning my head to the side, I waited until the wave died down before I took a deep gulp of air, shaking my head to get the water out.

“Damn, I guess they really don't want us getting comfortable,” I coughed up a bit of water as I glanced behind me, everyone looking a bit wet but unhurt before I looked to Riku as she spoke up while shaking her tail dry.

“I can hear the faint sound of six simulated heartbeats in the part above water and another two underwater.”

“Kevin, let's move before the next wave,” Kang spoke up and I nodded before looking behind to see two with fish-like features on their faces.

“Names and quirks, please.”

“I-Isa and my quirk is Gills,” The guy spoke and I did take note of the gills on the side of his head before looking to the girl with the sac on her neck who just shrugged.

“Tonera. Deep Air.”

“Take in large amounts of air to swim deeply?”

“Yep,” She answered and I nodded before blinking as I noticed that apart from them, Riku, Kang and Masaru, the others were all not there.

“Uh…”

“You just noticed? The other three dropped their evacuees while getting down the Mountain Zone and were automatically disqualified.”

“…Ah, well, then. Riku, Kang, you two are with me and rescuing the ones in the top of the ship. Isa, Tonera, you two are for the ones underwater. Masaru, you are here to do CPR in case someone needs it or do you want to get in the water too?”

“I'm a rock. What do you think?”, He asked with a raised eyebrow and I shrugged before zipping up my suit as I shifted back to my organic form.

“Ready…go!”, I dove into the water alongside Kang and Riku, swimming towards the cruiser as fast as I could before taking a deep breath and placing my head under to see both Isa and Tonera swimming towards the bottom of the cruiser far faster than us.

Huh, guess those fish-like qualities are not just for show.

“Riku, sound off!”

“One in the top room, two in the centre room and the other three are scattered around the first lower deck of the ship!”

“I got the bottom three!”, Kang called out as we climbed up and I nodded as I watched him crash through the door before I looked to Riku.

“I'll take the top one.”

“I'll take the centre, then,” She said with a smile and I chuckled as I began to run towards the front of the ship, turning around as I got to the front before hopping onto the railing of the top room.

Pulling myself up with a grunt, I pulled myself up and over the railings, landing with a splash before walking to the ajar door to the top room and pushing it open carefully.

Walking towards the child dummy sitting on the bed, they had a nervous expression on its programmed face as I smiled and sat down beside them.

“Hey.”

“H-Hello.”

“Nice weather we're having, huh? Wait, that's the wrong joke to make. I'm proud to see you not crying, you know? Not many kids can do that.”

“G-Gramps always said t-that I'm s-strong,” The dummy spoke in between sniffles and I chuckled as I stood with a smile.

“That's good, but I'm going to need you to be strong now too, okay? Can you do that?”, I asked, smiling as the dummy nodded, turning myself and letting it climb onto my back before I froze as I felt a slight tremor beneath my feet.

'Please, just let that be Kang tearing off a door or something,' I prayed as I took a slow step before cursing as the ship rumbled, running through the door right as it collapsed.

Hopping over the railing while grabbing onto the edge as I passed it, I gripped it and flipped as I fell, landing in a crouch before looking back to see the slightly excited smile on the droid's face.

“That was cool, huh?”

“P-Pretty cool,” It answered and I laughed before running back to where we climbed on to see Riku and Kang standing there with Kang having four of the child dummies on his back and Riku carrying one on her back as well.

“That's everyone?”

“That's everyone. Take a deep breath, everyone!”, I spoke as I hopped over the railing, diving feet first into the water before surfacing with a gasp and beginning to swim back to the walkway.

As we got there, Masaru walked over and helped the dummies from Kang's back, the man letting out a groan as his body shrunk back down while I frowned at the veins on his body.

'Some kind of enhancement Quirk? If so, his body must be pissed at him right now,' I thought with a smirk as we walked the kids back to the medical zone to see Isa and Tonera already waiting with their evacuees being taken care of by the medics.

“H-Hey, everyone made it?”, Isa asked, smiling in relief as I nodded before looking down as the droid pulled at my hand.

“W-What will happen to us?”, It asked and I knelt down in front of it before ruffling its hair with a smile.

“You guys are going to be taken by these awesome guys to be checked over and make sure none of you got hurt. Then, they'll call your moms and dads to come pick you up.”

“A-And what i-if we don't have mommies or daddies?”

“Well, you said you have a gramps, right? Then, he'll come pick you up and you'll be safe. If not, I'll come back and make sure you're placed in a caring home. But! You'll have to do as they ask, okay?”

“O-Okay,” They nodded as I held up a fist, bumping it with a giggle before I stood up and walked over to where the others were waiting.

“You know that's a robot, right?”, Kang whispered once we were out of earshot and I nodded as I stretched my arms above my head.

“I know, but whether it's organic or not and human or not, a child is still a child, a soul that can be molded for great good or great evil. Therefore, I want to make sure that every child can be formed into the best that they can be.”

“…Huh, that's a way to look at it,” Tonera spoke up and I shrugged as we entered the Downpour Zone, only to raise an eyebrow at what I saw.

“…Huh?”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“And with that, the Tenth Group have made it to the Downpour Zone! Well done to everyone and please be patient!”, Toga's voice came over the intercom, but I frowned as I stood in the middle of the downpour zone along with the 22 examinees that had made it this far.

It was a surprise to see the other two groups waiting when we entered the Downpour Zone, the others being just as confused when Kai had explained what was going on.

“Apparently, we have to stay here until the last group ends it, but we don't know why,” He had said and that confused me as I thought we were just supposed to do rescue.

'Then again, this is from the same universe where students were forced to face off against teachers to pass their exams so it would make sense,' I thought with a shake of my head, thankful for the tent we were in or else we would have all been soaking wet by now.

“You guys just as anxious as I am,” I asked as I sat down with my group, all of them nodding as Masaru crossed his arms.

“Yup, something ain't right here.”

“You can say that again,” Riku murmured as she surveyed the room, looking around at the tall mock buildings while the wind howled as rain poured down.

Something is definitely wrong here as the rain hadn't let up once since we got here and I slowly stood up as I looked around before my eyes widened as something whizzed past my face.

I flinched as it destroyed the emergency supplies behind us, cries of surprise and shock echoing in the tent as we all dove for cover.

“What the fuck was that?!”

“Sniper! Southwest Building! Third floor! The smoke trail leads to there!”, Riku shouted and I frowned before flinching as another audible shot sounded above the rain, Masaru's pained grunt making me turn my head to see him lying behind cover while grabbing his left forearm with gritted teeth.

“It didn't pierce, but it's definitely broken!”, He called out, Kang grunting as he lifted up a table to block them from view.

Looking in the direction that Riku had shouted, I narrowed my eyes as I saw the brown trench coat, cowboy hat and gas mark, realizing who it is right as the figure began rappelling down the building while shooting another bullet at us.

Immediately touching the ground, I ripped a chunk of the dirt up and threw it at the bullet, stopping it while also blocking Snipe's view from us for a few seconds.

“It's the hero Snipe!”

“R-Really?! Why is he here?!”, Isa hissed from where he was hiding behind a table, the others looking just as weary before I frowned as Snipe's voice came from the intercom.

“Y'all did good gettin' this far, but life doesn't like to wait for clean finishes or final whistles. Sometimes, it comes while you're soaked, tired and under fire,” The man spoke and I realized what this was when the medics walked in and hid amongst us along with the droids that we had saved.

“Rescue isn't just getting people and putting them in an evacuation zone. Sometimes, you come under attack and this is one of those times. You guys wanna be heroes, right? Then, capture me before I shoot every droid you guys got,” The man sounded menacing as he aimed and shot his rifle and I gritted my teeth as I walked out before tanking the bullet to my chest with a groan.

“You fucking idiot!”, Kai hissed as he pulled me back into cover, to which I shook my head with a wry grin.

“Had to see how much it would work,” I muttered as I took out the bullet from my cracked chest before staring at the damage.

“Uh-huh, and how many can you take?”

“He's going to target the same spot and even if I shift back, it's still going to hurt so I'd say…another three or four at most,” I answered, to which Kai nodded.

“I'll buy you a minute. You need to get close,”

“And how will you buy that minute?”, I asked, to which the guy grinned as he stood up before electricity sparked around his arms.

“I have my ways. Oh, trigger-happy!”, The man called out as he walked out, making me raise an eyebrow as Snipe just stopped while aiming at him.

“Yeah, what's up, rookie?”, I gritted my teeth as I stood up, walking to the side of the tent before raising an eyebrow as Riku's nails cut right through it.

“What? I'm a fox, aren't I?”, She asked and I smirked as I climbed out, walking around the side while watching as Kang and the others stood beside the sparking Kai.

“Eat lightning, bitch!”, The guy exclaimed, thrusting his arms forward only to freeze as the sound of a bullet echoed in the air and I made haste as I saw Kai falling forward.

That set off the group as they charged in, watching as Snipe dropped the rifle before taking off the twin pistols from his side.

The next few moments showed his prowess as both a master sharpshooter and a fighter as he rushed into the crowd, easily hitting every person in a spot that was both as painful as it can be while causing the least amount of permanent damage.

Kang and Masaru were doing their best to protect everyone, but it was not long before their defences began to crumble under Snipe's precise attacks.

The man was like a phantom in the rain, always one step ahead and shooting at the right time to both blind them while also hitting a shot that chipped down their defences ever so slightly.

Masaru tried to catch one of his pistols with his good arm, but Snipe responded with another bullet to his rock jaw and then landing a heavy kick to his side that had him gasping for air.

Kang slammed his fists together and brought them down, Snipe responding by hopping back into him before shooting at his knees and delivering a backheel kick that snapped his jaw back once Kang fell down.

Riku's sharp eyes caught mine as I sprinted around the last building, nodding at me before she shot forward and ran on all fours right as Snipe spun towards us.

“Now!”, She exclaimed, drawing the man's attention as I dug my hands into the ground and tore out a jagged stone that I threw at his mask. The man turned his head while leaning out of the way, but it was not enough as the mask ricochet off of it and staggered him backwards.

Riku attacked from the side with a slash, but Snipe kicked her hand away while grunting as he spun and dodged my fist to his shoulder.

“Not bad, rookie,” The man muttered as he aimed his guns at our heads before I hissed as electricity coursed through my body, draining it while looking up to see Kai lying on his side with his hand held in the air and a grin on his face.

“Boom, bitch,” He spoke hoarsely as I pulled a fist back, Snipe paralyzed in his standing position as I swung my fist with a grin.

The stone and lightning combination made him wheeze as I delivered a crushing blow to his chest, sending him flying off to the side and into a barricade as I fell to my knees.

“Fuck, that hurt!”, I groaned as I held my chest, my breathing a bit ragged as I saw the two new cracks from where his bullets had hit me right as I punched him.

Guess even the average pro heroes are far better than I expected.

“Let's never do that again,” Riku muttered and I looked over to see her lying on her back with a strained smile and I just gave a thumbs-up in response.

“You'll hear no complaints from me.”

“I have ta' say, you rookies impressed me with that,” Snipe's voice spoke up and I looked over to see him sitting up with a grin and his pistols aimed at us.

As I waited for him to shoot, I blinked as he lowered his pistols with a chuckle before standing up and grumbling about his muddy pants.

“Well done. You guys and gals passed the final test. Welcome to the hero life!”

“…I hate this already.”

A/N: And there we are with the end of the Exams. I took a bit of inspiration from the exams Class 1-A did in the original series against Gang Orca but instead of a large group, it was just Snipe shooting.

In all honesty, Snipe could have taken them out with ease from afar, but he was there to test them, not to win.

Anyway, next chapter: To Be a Hero~!! Hehe~

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!