Chapter 377: Choice and Guessing

"Huh, a clone." Aizawa didn't give it much thought and rushed into the forest again. At the same time, he shouted to the four nearby students, including Iida, "Go inside immediately. I'll be back soon!"

Blue flames, the choking smell of burning, and dangerous poisonous gas had begun to spread throughout the forest.

By now, the moon was completely obscured by thick clouds.

"Sensei!!!"

As Aizawa swiftly weaved through the trees, he soon spotted Midoriya running toward him, carrying Toru Hagakure on his back.

"What's wrong with her?" Aizawa asked solemnly.

Midoriya answered anxiously, "There's a strange poisonous gas in the forest. Anyone who inhales it will fall unconscious!"

"Poison gas, huh... Alright, take her back to the facility. There's a Hero first aid kit there. Bradkin knows how to treat it!" Aizawa didn't waste time and immediately gave the order, preparing to head back out to rescue more students.

But Midoriya stopped him again and told him about Kota being alone on the hilltop, as well as Kaminari's earlier call.

At first, Aizawa looked troubled by the situation. But after hearing the rest of the report, his expression relaxed slightly.

"I'm just worried Kaminari might be held back by Mr. Bradkin, or that he'll choose to go find Kyoka and the others first..." Midoriya said, clearly distressed.

In his mind, even though his classmates were important, they were trained Hero Course students, far better equipped to handle danger than Kota.

If it were him, he would've chosen to save Kota first, no question.

"Don't worry. If Kaminari was the type to follow orders that obediently, he wouldn't be Kaminari. And as for making a choice... don't forget, Kaminari Denki is also a trainee hero."

Just as Aizawa said this in his usual calm tone, he noticed a flicker in Midoriya's expression, and then realized that a golden shooting star was reflected in his eyes.

"That's..." Aizawa turned and looked up, watching the glowing figure disappear into the distance alongside Midoriya.

"Sensei, you're right! That's exactly where Kota is!" Midoriya shouted excitedly, pointing at the night sky.

"It's not surprising. That's the most logical outcome," Aizawa said quietly, lips pursed.

"Also, since you have your phone, call Mandalay and tell her this..."

At the same time...

"Kota!"

"Can you hear me?! Come back to the facility right now!"

"I'm sorry. I don't even know where you usually are. I'm sorry, Kota! I really can't save you. Please come back!"

Mandalay's voice, filled with guilt, worry, and anxiety, echoed through Kota's mind. But right now, he couldn't focus on that at all.

Because in front of him stood a tall man, wearing a loose black cloak and a white baseball-style mask.

The pressure radiating from him and the sound of his footsteps slowly approaching made Kota instinctively back away. A creeping fear began to consume his heart.

"I was looking for a good vantage point, but I didn't expect to run into a little brat. Still, I think I saw you on the target list," said the masked man, who was well over two meters tall.

"But it doesn't matter. This mission allows for some free hunting."

"Although... you don't really look like a hero."

Hearing that, Kota's fear could no longer be hidden. His face twisted in terror, and his body trembled violently. He wanted to run, but there was a cliff behind him, and his legs were completely unsteady.

"At least your hat looks nice, kid." The man took off his white mask and continued, "How about trading it for this old one of mine?

"They said the newcomer trial period was too short and made me wear this toy. I don't even know what that crap means."

"No... don't, ahhhhh!!" As the masked man approached, Kota's instinct for survival kicked in. He staggered and ran down the mountain with stiff steps, trying to escape.

"Hey, don't go. Let me warm up a bit before I find that blond kid!"

Bang!

The man suddenly pushed off the ground with explosive force. The area beneath his feet cracked, and in the blink of an eye, he landed directly in front of Kota. The impact shattered the ground beneath him as well.

"Is that good enough?!"

As he spoke, his thick arms emerged from beneath the black cloak. A mass of pink muscle tissue rapidly surfaced from his skin, forming a layer of muscle armor.

However, due to the force of his movement, his black cloak and hat were blown away by the air pressure.

At that moment, Kota—trembling in fear—got a good look at the man's face. It triggered a memory deep in his mind.

After his parents were killed, he had seen this man's face on the news.

Unknown real name. Nicknamed "Muscular." A rugged, fierce face. Short blond hair. A left eye permanently damaged during the fight with his parents. His Quirk was pure physical enhancement!

All of this perfectly matched the man in front of him.

Bang.

There was a sharp sound as the white mask was thrown to the ground. The man's muscle-covered arm swung toward Kota.

"Dad... Mom..." Kota, unable to move, was overwhelmed with fear. Tears welled up in his eyes as his parents' faces flashed through his mind.

Boom!

The muscular fist came crashing down, instantly obliterating the ground within a four- to five-meter radius with sheer force.

But there was no satisfaction in Muscular's eyes, because a faint golden light flickered just before impact—a brief golden flash!

"Hmm?!"

Muscular retracted his fist and looked up, only to see a blond boy glowing gold, wearing an ornate golden robe. On the back of the robe were five dark golden Chinese characters:

The First Raikage!

"That boy really is the protagonist. Just like I guessed... it happened," Kaminari said softly, holding Kota in his arms.

He hadn't even considered looking for Kyoka, Momo, or the others he cared about most. For some reason, his instincts led him here—because of his gut feeling about this world.

If his guess was right, then something had definitely happened to Kota!

"Yo!"

"Turn around. You look familiar. Let me see if I've got the right guy," Muscular said, cracking his neck.

But Kaminari ignored him and whispered to his suit, "'Pikachu' mode."

The next moment, the golden robe on his body began to glow and detached itself, transforming into the familiar Pikachu.

"Pika!"

"Kota, follow Pikachu back to the facility," Kaminari said softly.

"But... but... that guy, he's the murderer!"

"What?" Kaminari froze.

"Water Hose!"

"He's the one who killed my mom and dad!!" Kota cried out, his voice shaking. Kaminari's expression darkened, and he fell silent.

"Really? So you're the child of those heroes?" Muscular said with a laugh. "Well, isn't that fate?

"Let me think... Water Hose, right? The ones who damaged my left eye a few days ago?" Muscular touched his prosthetic eye and the scar around the socket.

"Well then, maybe today you'll get to see your parents again. Even if it's just their Quirks..."

(To be continued.)

***

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