Chapter 256 - 255: Operation Starting

Kaito casually adjusted his white suit jacket, letting his final words hang heavily in the ocean breeze.

The twenty paralyzed students of Class 1-A sat propped against the wooden beach fence.

They couldn't move their limbs, but their eyes tracked his every movement.

Reaching into his pocket, Kaito pulled out a sleek smartphone and dialed a highly secure number.

RING. RING. RING.

The line clicked open almost immediately.

[Ah, Hero X,] Principal Nezu's voice echoed cheerfully over the phone speaker. [I take it my first-year students are currently causing you a headache?]

Kaito glanced down at the exhausted teenagers.

"They wanted to join the global raid, so I gave them a quick reality check," Kaito reported casually.

A soft chuckle came through the receiver.

[I genuinely appreciate your intervention,] Nezu replied warmly. [They possess a very dangerous habit of throwing themselves into lethal situations.]

CLINK.

The sound of a porcelain teacup hitting a saucer echoed softly.

[They desperately needed a responsible adult to correct their reckless behavior without actually breaking their bones,] Nezu finalized. [Thank you for keeping them safe.]

Kaito simply nodded, sliding the phone back into his pocket.

He looked down at the twenty stubborn teenagers.

"Get some sleep," Kaito advised politely. "Leave the cultists to us."

He raised his right hand in the air.

SNAP.

Reality folded instantly without a single trace of Quirk activation energy.

The crashing waves and salty ocean breeze vanished completely.

--<>--

Location: U.A. Academy, Heights Alliance

Third Floor, Boy's Wing.

Izuku Midoriya felt the sudden, unmistakable softness of his mattress against his back.

He stared straight up at his familiar All Might ceiling poster.

Trying to lift his head, Midoriya realized his neck muscles were still completely locked in place.

The temporary martial arts paralysis held his entire body in a firm, painless grip.

'He fought us completely Quirkless for almost an hour...' Midoriya thought, his green eyes darting around his quiet room.

He processed the sheer scale of the skill gap.

'Then he warped twenty people into twenty different rooms in a single microsecond.'

Instead of feeling defeated, a massive wave of eagerness washed over him.

He desperately wanted to learn how Hero X processed tactical variables that fast.

--<>--

In the 4th floor, Katsuki Bakugo lay perfectly rigid on his own bed.

Bakugo ground his teeth together, glaring angrily at his ceiling fixture.

'I couldn't even graze his stupid white suit,' Bakugo thought, his pride stinging deeply.

A fierce, competitive fire burned in his crimson eyes.

He immediately vowed to intern at the X Agency and steal every single one of Hero X's martial arts techniques for himself.

--<>--

One floor above, Shoto Todoroki rested quietly on his traditional futon.

Todoroki calmly accepted the overwhelming defeat.

He silently wondered how Hero X managed to deflect his roaring fire wave using nothing but compressed air pressure.

--<>--

Fifth floor, Girl's Wing

Momo Yaoyorozu lay completely still in her luxurious bed.

She marveled at Hero X's inhuman processing speed, eager to study his defensive positioning.

--<>--

4th Floor...

Tenya Iida stared at his ceiling, desperately wanting to ask the white-suited hero about that explosive, vanishing footwork.

--<>--

3rd Floor...

In the another room, Eijiro Kirishima grinned widely despite his paralyzed face.

'He blocked my Unbreakable punch with his bare skin!' Kirishima cheered internally. 'That Iron Body move is so incredibly manly!'

--<>--

Each of the students who experienced the power of Hero X was back on their own dorms.

--<>--

Mashirao Ojiro and Rikido Sato stared at their respective walls.

Both close-combat fighters were practically buzzing with excitement, eager to learn the core stances of the Six Styles.

--<>--

Mezo Shoji and Fumikage Tokoyami mentally replayed the chaotic fight.

They couldn't understand how Hero X slipped through their combined sensory nets without making a single sound.

--<>--

Ochaco Uraraka, Tsuyu Asui, and Mina Ashido lay in their rooms, completely amazed by his perfect rhythm control.

--<>--

Hanta Sero, Kyoka Jiro, and Minoru Mineta simply tried to process the sheer absurdity of his vanishing speed.

--<>--

Yuga Aoyama and Koji Koda remembered those sharp, invisible air blades slicing through their ranged attacks effortlessly.

--<>--

Toru Hagakure lay frozen under her blankets.

She realized her invisibility meant absolutely nothing against Hero X's pure, refined combat instincts.

--<>--

Denki Kaminari just laughed weakly on his bed.

'I definitely need to apply to the X Agency next semester,' Kaminari decided instantly.

--<>--

Mirai Sasaki is currently operating under the alias Shin Kudo, stood quietly over the glowing digital tracking table.

Tsunagu Hakamada, utilizing the alias Tanaka, stood right next to him.

The missing Number Three hero wiped a small bead of sweat from his neck.

Tsunagu had absolutely no idea that his new, sharp-dressed investigative partner was actually the resurrected Sir Nighteye.

They had just watched the entire beach encounter through Eve 0.2's satellite feed.

"Those kids have grown terrifyingly strong, Kudo," Tsunagu admitted, his voice full of genuine respect.

He leaned against the edge of the glass table.

"Their twenty-man coordinated assault was nearly flawless," he added smoothly.

Mirai pushed his glasses up his nose, nodding in total agreement.

"If the anyone had faced that exact same barrage, they would be in the hospital right now, Tanaka," Mirai noted seriously.

The two veteran heroes looked at the blank satellite monitor.

They had watched Hero X dismantle the students' absolute strongest ultimate moves using nothing but physical martial arts.

He treated an endgame-level threat like toddlers playing in a sandbox.

The display of raw, overwhelming power completely shattered the veterans' previous understanding of human limits.

Mirai crossed his arms, letting out a soft sigh.

They both silently agreed that Hero X truly deserved the title of the Strongest.

With All Might retired, Hero X right now is considered to be one.

--<>--

Location: Global Airspace, WHA Deployment Routes

Radar screens illuminated simultaneously inside intelligence centers across the entire globe.

Thousands of World Heroes Association stealth jets broke through the cloud cover in perfect synchronization.

Leaving their respective domestic airbases, the aircraft scattered across twenty-five distinct international trajectories.

--<>--

Back in Japan, the bustling metropolitan streets remained eerily quiet.

With almost every single top-ranking Pro Hero deployed overseas, domestic defense fell squarely onto the shoulders of Gang Orca and a sparse handful of remaining local pros.

Patrolling the coastlines, the remaining Japanese heroes kept their communication channels wide open.

The entire country relied completely on the X Agency acting as an instantaneous, nation-wide safety net in case a Trigger bomb suddenly surfaced.

--<>--

Location: WHA Global Transport Jet, Pacific Airspace

A massive armored transport tore smoothly through the darkening sky.

Sitting quietly in a luxurious leather passenger seat, Toshinori Yagi stared out the reinforced window.

The retired Symbol of Peace watched the ocean passing far below, his skeletal hands resting on his knees.

Sitting directly across the aisle, Ethan Drive reached up and unbuckled his heavy flight harness.

CLICK.

The American pilot reached into a small cooler, pulling out two bottles of cold water.

Leaning forward, Ethan handed one to the retired hero.

"You holding up okay, Mr. Yagi?" Ethan asked respectfully, keeping his voice low over the hum of the jet engines.

Toshinori offered a weak, polite smile.

"I'm perfectly fine, Ethan," Toshinori replied, unscrewing the plastic cap.

Taking a quick sip, he rested the bottle against his leg.

Ethan leaned back into his own seat, running a gloved hand nervously through his hair.

"...This whole cult situation is a complete nightmare," Ethan muttered, looking down at his boots.

Pulling up a digital report on his tablet, Ethan scrolled through a series of classified WHA photographs.

"The casualty numbers from that first gas attack on that unfortunate country..." Ethan paused, shaking his head. "They are completely insane."

Toshinori looked down at his own scarred palms, feeling a familiar, heavy ache in his chest.

"It is a tragedy on an unprecedented scale," Toshinori agreed softly. "Millions of lives erased simply because of their genetics."

Swiping through his digital tablet, Ethan brought up a breaking Japanese press release.

"At least that Hero X guy stepped up back in Tokyo," Ethan noted, a hint of genuine admiration coloring his tone.

He tapped the glowing screen, highlighting the official WHA deployment roster.

"Overruling the global commission to bench a bunch of high school kids takes serious guts," Ethan chuckled slightly. "Most pros would just use the extra manpower without a second thought."

Toshinori nodded slowly, looking back out the window.

"He took the burden to protect the next generation," Toshinori confirmed, fully agreeing with the rookie's controversial decision.

But internally, Toshinori's thoughts spiraled rapidly in a much darker direction.

He thought about Mirai Sasaki.

'He brought Nighteye back from the dead,' Toshinori realized.

Now, Mirai was secretly walking around Tokyo operating under a brand-new alias.

Toshinori thought about the thousands of grieving families across the globe currently begging for their gassed loved ones back.

'If the world discovers Hero X can actually resurrect people...' Toshinori calculated grimly.

The sheer global panic and endless political demands would completely tear modern society apart.

Governments would literally wage wars trying to capture Kaito to revive fallen leaders or soldiers.

Clenching his fist, the former Number One hero made a silent, unbreakable vow.

He would take the secret of Sir Nighteye's revival directly to his grave.

--<>--

Location: WHA Strike Team Jet, European Airspace

Endeavor stood aggressively at the front of the tactical briefing cabin.

His flaming beard cast a flickering, intense orange light across the reinforced metal walls.

"Pay attention!" Endeavor barked loudly, slamming his massive fist onto a digital map.

THUD.

Slouching comfortably in a nearby passenger chair, Hawks lazily twirled a long red feather between his fingers.

"We're paying attention, boss," Hawks sighed smoothly, kicking his boots up onto an empty seat.

Endeavor glared fiercely at the winged hero before pointing a thick finger at the Otheon mountain range displayed on the screen.

"We drop into the primary Humarise headquarters in exactly forty-five minutes," Endeavor announced to the cabin full of heavily armed veteran pros.

He tapped the subterranean layout, highlighting three specific entrance gates.

"These fanatics already wiped out an entire nation," Endeavor warned firmly, crossing his muscular arms. "Do not treat them like common street villains."

He looked across the room, meeting the eyes of every single WHA strike team member.

"Expect heavy, coordinated resistance and immediate chemical weapons deployment the second we breach the doors," Endeavor finalized.

--<>--

Location: Edwards Air Force Base, California

Time: 1:30 AM (Local Time)

Cathleen Bate stood on the illuminated concrete tarmac, glaring aggressively at a parked stealth bomber.

Star and Stripe crossed her muscular arms, chewing angrily on a piece of mint gum.

"This is completely ridiculous," Cathleen complained, her voice carrying sharply across the empty military runway.

Standing nearby, a group of her elite fighter pilots exchanged nervous, sympathetic glances.

"The federal government locked us down strictly for domestic containment, Cathy," one of the pilots reminded her gently.

Cathleen kicked a stray pebble across the concrete.

CLACK.

"I know," Cathleen sighed, running a hand through her short blonde hair.

She looked up at the starry night sky, crossing her arms even tighter.

"They want me sitting right here just in case a Trigger bomb actually goes off in Los Angeles," she muttered.

Spitting her gum into a nearby trash bin, she shook her head.

"I just hate sitting on the bench doing absolutely nothing while the rest of the world goes to war," Cathleen admitted honestly.

Another pilot stepped forward, pulling a heavy steel wrench from his flight suit pockets.

"Hey, look on the bright side," the pilot joked casually, bumping her shoulder. "At least we don't have to babysit any provisional high school kids on a real battlefield today."

Cathleen let out a short, genuine laugh, her foul mood lifting slightly.

"I actually fully agree with that rookie on that point," Cathleen noted, nodding her head in approval.

She leaned back against a stack of wooden supply crates.

"Relying on teenagers to fight a global terrorist organization defeats the entire purpose of having adult Pro Heroes," she added firmly.

A third pilot walked over, holding a glowing digital datapad.

"I'm currently drafting blueprints for a new aerodynamic stealth jet frame," the aerospace engineer mentioned, grinning.

He tapped the stylus against the screen.

"Maybe we should formally commission Hero X to fold the titanium hull for us," the pilot suggested. "It would save us months of manufacturing time."

Cathleen cracked her knuckles, a massive, highly competitive spark suddenly lighting up her blue eyes.

"I really want to spar with that guy eventually," Cathleen admitted, grinning widely at the thought.

She vividly imagined throwing her New Order Quirk directly against his Canvas Quirk.

'My absolute rules of reality clashing against his,' Cathleen thought, incredibly eager for the challenge.

--<>--

Location: The X Agency, Tokyo, Back Office

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Makoto casually flipped through a thick stack of HPSC liability forms.

She sat at the edge of Kaito's desk, swinging her legs comfortably.

"You know, you could just fix this entire crisis in about five minutes," Makoto teased smoothly.

She signed her name at the bottom of a document.

Scratch. Scratch.

"You could fold the map, grab all twenty-five bombs, and throw them into the sun," Makoto pointed out.

Sitting in his luxurious leather chair, Kaito took a slow sip of his black coffee.

"I could," Kaito agreed casually, setting the mug down.

He leaned back, interlacing his fingers.

"But if one rookie solves a massive global terrorist threat entirely alone, the public will completely lose faith in the system," Kaito explained.

Makoto paused her signing, looking up at him.

"The thousands of working WHA heroes need to look competent," Kaito elaborated firmly. "They need the win."

He pointed toward the digital tracking table across the room.

"I'm just the ultimate safety net," Kaito finalized. "I only step in and warp the bombs into graffiti if the veteran heroes actually fail to secure them."

Standing over the glowing map, Mirai Sasaki pushed his glasses up his nose.

"He's absolutely right," Mirai agreed, his eyes locked on the scrolling maritime logs.

Tsunagu tapped the screen rapidly, zooming in on the Tokyo coastline.

"If society learns they only need one god-like hero to survive, the entire profession collapses," Tsunagu added seriously.

Having taken their short break to watch the students get dismantled, the two veterans immediately returned to their work.

They were determined to find the Japanese bomb themselves.

"Cross-reference the dummy corporations from the Klayd border with the recent warehouse purchases," Mirai instructed quickly.

Eve 0.2's synthesized voice echoed softly from the ceiling speakers.

[Filtering real estate transactions now, Mr. Kudo.]

Kaito watched them work, a small, satisfied smile touching his lips.

He picked his coffee mug back up, perfectly content to let the adults handle the detective work while he waited for the global raid to officially begin.

--<>--

Support the journey here:

patreon.com/Dr_Chad

(9 Advanced Chapters)