MHATG: Chapter 322/323

Chapter 322: A Mysterious Man Appears!

"So, among the heroes present, who can break free from their restraints and stand up now?"

Kaminari patted his mother's back reassuringly, then took two steps forward and scanned the room, his voice cutting through the silence.

There was no response.

Frowning, Kaminari looked up at All Might, who was lying on the stage. "All Might, what about you?"

"Wait a moment..."

All Might's face flushed red as he strained against his bindings. The blue energy bands wrapped around him trembled, slowly coming apart as wisps of steam-like white smoke seeped from his body.

"Ughhh—!" His muscles bulged as he struggled with everything he had. "How can I just lie here and do nothing?!"

Veins protruded on his forehead, his face contorted in pain and determination.

"I... I am... the Symbol of Peace!!!"

Crack!

Kaminari noticed small cracks forming on the restraints binding All Might, but it was clear he still needed time.

"Even All Might is struggling so much… It looks like I can't rely on the other pro heroes right now."

Kaminari sighed. If the heroes had been in better shape, he could have entrusted his parents to their care and gone to provide backup.

To be honest, he was deeply worried about Kyoka and the others. Based on the intel Tetsutetsu had given him, there had to be at least forty or fifty villains—if not more—and they were all heavily armed with automatic rifles.

"In that case..."

Crack!

Kaminari activated High-Voltage Mode, golden electricity flaring up around his body. Closing his eyes, he used Radar to scan the surrounding area once more.

The villains' reinforcements would arrive soon—after all, this venue housed all of the island's pro heroes, making it one of the most strategically important locations after the tower's summit.

But what puzzled him was why the villains hadn't simply executed the heroes on the spot. Wouldn't that have been much easier?

If he were in their position, he would have eliminated all the pro heroes immediately.

Sure enough, in his black-and-white Radar vision, he spotted a dozen armed soldiers pouring out of a distant elevator.

"Pikachu, stay here and protect my parents."

After issuing his command, Kaminari turned sharply and strode toward the exit.

"Come back safe... son!" His parents pursed their lips, watching him go with worried expressions. Yet, as they looked at the bold righteousness kanji on the back of his cape, they felt an inexplicable sense of trust and security.

"Sorry... I... I still need more time..." All Might gritted his teeth, still struggling against his restraints. He looked at Kaminari's back, frustration and guilt flickering in his eyes.

"Please, Kaminari boy!"

Da-da-da-da-da-da-da!

Gunfire erupted outside, louder and more intense than before.

Many of the elegantly dressed women in the hall instinctively closed their eyes in fear, clinging to their companions or murmuring silent prayers.

"Ahhh!"

"Why—why aren't the bullets working?!"

In the spacious corridor, a squad of black-clad soldiers had been firing at the approaching blond teenager for nearly twenty seconds.

Yet, they were now forced to accept the impossible reality, their weapons were useless.

The instant the bullets left their muzzles, they stopped dead in the air, as if frozen by some invisible force. It was like a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie.

Some soldiers with sharper vision noticed faint golden electricity flickering around the suspended bullets, as well as in the surrounding air.

Click, click, click!

Soon, their magazines were empty. But instead of reloading, the soldiers exchanged glances, then tossed their rifles to the ground in unspoken agreement.

However, this was not a sign of surrender.

Because beyond their firearms, they had something even deadlier—Quirks.

"Hmph, looks like you're not with the League of Villains," Kaminari remarked as he observed their shifting postures and predatory stances.

Their eyes, expressions, and battle movements were clearly different from the villains at USJ.

"Don't compare us to those low-life thugs!" A massive soldier, easily twice the size of a normal person, stepped forward. His bare hands transformed into sharp leopard claws, his eyes narrowing into menacing yellow slits.

"We're trained combatants! Our Quirks are just as strong as yours, heroes!"

"But..."

"Unlike you heroes, we don't waste time on useless things. We dedicate everything to training for fighting and killing!"

"Oh?" Kaminari arched a golden eyebrow, then smirked. "Are you saying you're stronger than heroes?"

"Without a doubt!!"

Boom!

The leopard-clawed soldier launched himself upward, instantly landing on the ceiling before dashing toward Kaminari at incredible speed.

"Kill him! Damn hero!"

"!!!"

Simultaneously, the other black-clad soldiers sprang into action. Some charged along the corridor walls, while others stayed put to unleash ranged attacks.

It was an overwhelming sight, like a dozen uniquely powerful monsters rushing toward him from all directions.

"What's the difference between soldiers and minions?"

Faced with the oncoming assault, Kaminari remained expressionless.

He simply raised his right hand.

And in the next instant, all the suspended bullets in front of him abruptly changed direction.

"To be honest..."

Before he could finish speaking, dozens of bullets surged forward, propelled by electromagnetic force. Golden streaks of light crisscrossed the air, forming a dazzling three-dimensional web of destruction.

"Ahhhhhh!!!"

Unfortunately, the beautiful spectacle was accompanied by the sound of bullets piercing flesh and agonized screams.

The golden bullets struck their targets with pinpoint accuracy, embedding themselves in arms and legs. The larger, more physically enhanced enemies received the courtesy of two or three shots each.

"My legs... I can't move my legs!"

"It's electricity! The bullets are carrying electric currents, our bodies are paralyzed!"

The leopard soldier clutched his injured arm, staring in horror at the bloody holes in his limb.

The gunshot wounds hurt, but for these soldiers—hardened by Quirks and rigorous training—it wasn't enough to take them down completely. Their enhanced bodies could still withstand the pain.

"Now... tell me, what's your faction called?"

"We..." The leopard soldier sneered, about to respond.

But Kaminari cut him off.

"Forget it. I'll just ask your boss directly."

"You—?!"

CRACK!

A blinding surge of golden lightning filled the corridor, and in mere moments.

No one remained conscious except Kaminari Denki.


---

Meanwhile, outside the central tower, in the entertainment district's moonlit plaza, a mysterious figure sat beside a fountain.

Judging by his size, he appeared to be a boy.

What made him stand out was his strange attire, despite it being the scorching midsummer month of July, he was bundled up in a thick white hooded leather coat, reminiscent of an Eskimo.

Not only was his entire body concealed beneath the heavy fabric, but even his hands were tucked away inside the coat's pockets. His legs swung back and forth idly, betraying an air of boredom.

"Hurry up... hurry up... hurry up. I haven't gotten any exercise all day!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 323: Settlement of Accounts!

When Kaminari returned to the venue hall, he noticed that All Might was no longer there, most likely, he had gone to support Midoriya and the others.

This made him hesitate. Should he stay and protect his parents, or should he go find Kyoka and the others?

What if he left now and villains arrived later via the elevator? The pro heroes were still incapacitated on the ground.

He had faced the same dilemma earlier when deciding whether to rescue Tetsutetsu first or head straight to his parents. Although saving Tetsutetsu had turned out to be the right choice, what if something went wrong this time?

What do I do… what do I do… Kaminari lowered his head, deep in thought, uncertainty clouding his expression.

Seeing their son's hesitation, his parents exchanged a look, immediately understanding what was on his mind.

His father spoke up first.

"Kaminari."

"Huh?" Kaminari lifted his head in confusion.

"Go for it!"

His mother followed, smiling warmly. "We're safe now. It's time for you to go help Kyoka and do what you need to do."

"But… what if more villains show up?" Kaminari hesitated. He knew there were still dozens of enemies left.

"No, didn't All Might already leave? The villains should be focusing on him now," his father reassured him.

Kaminari thought for a moment, then nodded. "That's true..."

If there were villains at All Might's location, there were definitely also villains at Kyoka and Momo's location. And it wasn't certain which group had more.

Just then, an announcement echoed through the venue.

[I-Island's security system has returned to normal mode.]
[I-Island's security system has returned to normal mode.]

At the same time, the blue restraints binding the pro heroes suddenly unlocked and disappeared into thin air.

"We're free?!"

"Has the security system been restored? That's great!"

The newly freed pro heroes quickly stood up, cheering. The ordinary civilians also breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that their safety was now much more secure.

"Did Kyoka and the others do this…?" Kaminari wondered to himself.

His mother wiped away her tears, smiling as she looked at him. "Do you feel relieved now?"

"Go on, Kaminari," she said softly. "You're a hero candidate!"

"Alright!"

Kaminari locked eyes with his parents, then gave a firm nod. Without another word, he flicked his Justice Coat, transforming into a golden flash as he rushed out of the hall.

The pro heroes around him tried to call out to him, but he ignored them.

To be honest, he didn't have much respect for these so-called "heroes."


---

As Kaminari surged forward in High-Voltage Mode, he noticed several unconscious villain soldiers lying along the way.

"All Might, huh? Looks like he was thinking the same thing about eliminating potential threats."

Realizing this, Kaminari abruptly stopped, then turned and ran in a different direction, not back to the hall, but outside the tower.

BOOM!!

In the next moment, he shot into the sky, his Coat billowing behind him as golden electricity crackled around him. He looked like a Super Saiyan, blazing through the night.

His reflection streaked across the tower's steel walls, growing longer and longer as he soared higher.

The tenth floor, the twentieth, the thirtieth, the fortieth, he was ascending at a speed far faster than Midoriya and the others could ever climb by stairs.


---

At the top of the tower, an area two floors above the 200th floor served as a helipad, large enough to accommodate ten helicopters at once.

A red-haired man wearing an iron mask strode across the rooftop.

With his right hand, he carried Dr. David Shield over his shoulder.
With his left hand, he held a bloodstained box containing the Quirk Amplification Device and its related data.

He moved toward the helicopter parked in the center of the rooftop.

"BOSS, what about the other soldiers?" A pink-haired man standing guard at the helicopter's entrance asked in surprise.

"Let them serve their final purpose." The iron-masked man's voice was ice-cold. "Start the helicopter immediately. We need to retreat before the security system is fully restored. The mission is complete."

"Understood!"

As his subordinate, the pink-haired man had no objections. After all, he wasn't the one being left behind.

"Kill… kill me!" Dr. David Shield's hoarse voice rang out.

The iron-masked man sneered. "Not yet. We still need you for more 'work.' Your wish will be granted when the time comes."

BOOM!

Just as he placed Dr. Shield and the bloodstained box onto the helicopter, rapid footsteps echoed from behind.

Midoriya, clutching his injured shoulder, staggered onto the rooftop entrance, panting heavily.

"Wait… a… minute…!"

"Hm?" The iron-masked man turned, narrowing his eyes at the familiar green-haired boy.

"Tch. You again. Looks like I was too soft on you last time."

"Give me back the doctor!!" Midoriya shouted.

The iron-masked man chuckled. "Oh? So you're not here for me—you're here to capture this criminal instead?" His white coat fluttered in the strong winds generated by the helicopter's rotors.

"Wrong!" Midoriya shouted, his body crackling with green electricity.

"I'M HERE TO SAVE THE DOCTOR!!"

BOOM!

The iron-masked man slammed his hand onto the metal ground. "Interesting. So you want to 'save' a criminal, hero candidate?"

Suddenly, a massive steel pillar shot up from the floor like a python, hurtling toward Midoriya.

One after another, steel beams emerged, swiping at him in rapid succession.

"I want to save everyone!" Midoriya yelled. "I want to get Dr. David out!!"

Agilely dodging the metallic attacks, he leaped closer to the helicopter.

"You're dreaming, kid!" The iron-masked man sneered, reinforcing his Quirk. More steel pillars rose at an alarming speed.

"Shut up!"

Midoriya roared, "This is what a hero does! A hero saves people in need!!"

With a determined cry, he punched the approaching steel pillar, shattering it into flying shards.

BOOM!

The reinforced metal crumbled like brittle tofu under the force of his fist!

"Oh? And how exactly will you 'save' him?"

The iron-masked man—no, Metal Man—grinned wickedly as he pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Dr. David's head.

Midoriya froze in place.

"See? Being a hero is such an inconvenience," Metal Man taunted. "Because of that, you're completely helpless."

Even as Midoriya stood still, the metal beams continued their relentless assault, aiming to crush him to death.

"Take off!" Metal Man ordered.

"Yes, sir!"

Without hesitation, he jumped into the helicopter. Moments later, the aircraft lifted off, quickly ascending into the starry night sky.

"Damn it!!"

"Give him back!!"

"Give me back the doctor!!!"

Midoriya's frustrated screams echoed across the rooftop.

Melissa, who had just arrived beside him, gasped as she noticed something golden streak across the night sky.

It was a meteor.

No—

It was Kaminari.

"You think you can escape?"

His voice rang out, carrying a dangerous chill.

"You and I still have unfinished business."

BZZZZZT!

The familiar sound of a thousand birds chirping filled the air.

In the next instant—

The golden lightning-clad comet collided directly with the helicopter.

"RAIKIRI!!"

(To be continued.)