Chapter 13: Chapter 13 - Unknown Father and Unknown Daughter
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"The rules are simple—fighting amongst yourselves is allowed, quirks included. However, in the case you kill someone, then heavy repercussions will happen."
Of course, saving them is guaranteed, even if a student is about to die. Saving them is highly probable if they are not mush, in ashes, or charred.
The examiner looked around, letting the first rule sink into them. After a few seconds, she continued.
"Second rule: Teaming up is allowed. Third: No sexual conduct or assault is permitted. We are watching. Those who break the third and next rules will immediately be restrained. Lethal restraint will be done if the individual resists."
The third rule's topic got some murmurs in the crowd. After all, hormonal teenagers on an island for one week with females in the mix, what can go wrong without establishing strict ground rules.
"Fourth: Killing is not allowed. This shouldn't be said, but it has happened in the past. Fifth: Attacking downed and unconsciously injured examinees are not allowed."
This a rule that shouldn't have to be said, but it needs to be since young teens may be caught up in the moment of the exam.
"Moving on. The island has robotic animals that you must take down to acquire points. I will not announce their point system. You must scout them out for yourself; they're marked anyway."
Next, the examiner showed an array of animal droids, with blurred numbers points, that the students could expect from the island. "These droids don't act like their natural counterparts; they will actively seek you out."
This got a reaction from everyone; the majority shook from their boots when they clearly remembered an automaton in the form of a tiger.
"Another thing to note is that there are robotic survivors as well. If you take care of them, you will receive points for the manner of service. Examples, giving water, giving food, the works."
'Huh, sacrificing scavenged food for points or maybe even bringing them to safer area counts?' Leo wondered. The examiner was only giving the gist. It was up to the examinees themselves to expand that idea.
"Three last things before we end this orientation. Fighting students have no point bearing, so it is only a disadvantage to fight each other. When in a team, you share points no matter who destroyed what equally. Finally, there will be a timer."
The examiner's words got everyone in a twist, 'Wasn't it usually a fixed one-week exam?' were the swimming thoughts in everyone's heads.
"Progressively, one needs to acquire a certain amount of points per day to continue the exam. So, if one were to score 100 points on the first day but zero on the next, then that person is out. Final score: 100. And the amount of points needed to remain is 30. Easy, right?
"So, if you think you scored enough, you can easily quit anytime and not wait the entire cruel week. And as a bonus, there will be more robots on the first day."
While many nodded in relief, Leo thought differently. 'They're trying to throw people off into thinking that simply meeting the 30 points per day is fine. The exam, at its core, is a competition on who gets the highest. And only the top 50 make it to the Hero course. A 0.5% acceptance rate from the original 10 thousand plus, and already 70% left due to fear of the hidden test. Talk about rooting out the weak.'
"Hmm, this could be a lie, though," someone whispered, but with Leo's hearing, he was able to hear the bits and pieces, and a thought struck his mind.
'Right... this could be a lie. I mean, the Academy wants the best, so why would they want cocky and content people who quit thinking their acquired points on the first day would be enough?'
"Or maybe I'm just overthinking. Bah! It matters not. It's not like I won't finish the entire exam, so why am I even thinking of this?" Because of the stress, he began thinking of useless things that didn't relate to him.
Slamming his fist onto his palm, he agreed with his own words, garnering the stares of others. "My best. Simple as that, just do my best."
"And that will be all, examinees. Please stand and make your way to Hall C, where you will receive a basic loadout of rations, water, and tools." She pointed to the side of the auditorium, where another massive door opened up, emphasizing the way.
When everyone made their way and got their gear, the examiner spoke again. But this time, through an announcement.
[If you have opened your drybag, you will be pleased to know it is waterproof. Inside contains a specialized knife, it turns dull when used to harm examinees.]
The feature on the knife pooped the mood of a few, but generally, many loved the component. The risk of stabbing someone is high, especially during high-pressure situations. However, this brought Leo to a different thought, 'Can I take damage from a knife wielded by an ordinary guy? Haven't tested my passive durability on sharp objects.'
[Next, 1.5L of water is accompanied by 2 days worth of rations. Foraging for your nourishment is advised. A 10-meter rope, 5 match sticks, and an EpiPen.]
Leo inspected his equipment and was satisfied. The rope had a quality to it, the drybag wasn't easy nor hard to tear, and the bottle of 1.5L water was metal. You can boil water in it for sterilization.
[And with this, you're all set. All you need to do now is follow our guides that will lead you to the ship that will bring you to the island.]
As they followed the guides, the speaker was awoken back to life. Causing a few heads to turn while others decided their ears were enough.
[Ah yes, before I forget. May the odds be ever in your favor, hero hopefuls. Bzzt~]
'Ominous much?'
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Helicarrier, bridge
Hovering over an artificial man-made island was a Helicarrier. Of course, such a thing is hidden from the public eye. Villains and citizens didn't need to know about it.
And at the bridge, a bald black man with an eye patch and a leather trench coat oversaw everything. He was none other than the Director-Principal of SHIELD Academy. Nicholas Joseph 'Nick' Fury.
(Director: Oversees the system in how an Organization is managed. Principal: Oversees day-to-day operations)
And yes, he does occupy two positions. In his eye, a single trustworthy person shouldering everything is better than two competent workers with different agendas.
His quirk helped him carry that burden. Eyes of Security was its name in his young days, or should it be called Eye of Security now? Its ability to see danger and safety was second to none.
Asking himself whether something is dangerous or safe to something, his quirk will handle the load and show whether it is green(safe) or red(unsafe).
And because of this, he propelled himself to where he is today, ensuring the prosperous future of SHIELD Academy.
He wasn't always its Director, however. He was a part of a secret department named SHIELD, the actual SHIELD that the Academy is based on.
However, that other SHIELD had a whole different meaning. Unlike the Academy, known by the public, the actual SHIELD eliminates threats that can overthrow America's or the World's balance.
And it gets its future agents from SHIELD Academy as much as possible.
Anyway, he became the Director of the Academy when his mentee and Deputy Director, Maria Hill, was ready to step up and take the role of its Director.
And now here he was, observing another annual exam, overloading his eye, ensuring the safety of students is met while ensuring its difficulty and efficiency in culling the weak.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen. Report of the site, is everything ready for the arrival of the chicks?" His voice is like a typical Tuesday, evident by confidence and experience.
"Everything is at the ready, Sir! Medical personnel and med-bots are all thoroughly checked, and so are the extracting teams for the examinees." A man came with a data pad, read all the relevant information, and handed it to the Director.
"Oh? That quick? I didn't know every last one of you had improved." He joked, but he knew why everything ended up prepping faster. Although his joke did garner some smiles.
The plan to show the deaths of fake examinees worked like a charm, instantly removing 70% of possible extra work. Fewer students, then lesser resources needed to be moved as well.
"Anyway, any notable applicants that we should take note of?" his voice commanding while he browses through the data pad. Standing straight and ready to answer, "Many children of heroes are within the applicants. However, only a few have parents in the Top 100, Sir!" Proceeding to show their names on the pad.
Nothing was notable within them, and they have extensive information about these children since they are in the eyes of the public. From quirk use, mastery, and all.
Before Fury could voice another, the subordinate spoke, "Permission to speak, Sir!" Fury nodded, expressing his answer. "Kayden Break... the daughter of Kayden Break is here. Raiden Ei. It seems she took her mother's last name."
The subordinate's voice was stiff when he spoke the name. After all, Kayden is notorious internationally. He is legally infamous, for he challenges the top heroes of countries worldwide.
Kayden, too, has a Hero License but merely acquired in the legal premice to practice quirk usage. If he didn't have such a thing, he would've been branded as a villain long ago due to the humiliation he has caused numerous heroes.
Humiliation because Kayden broke their massive egos of always calling themselves the strongest or mightiest.
Officially speaking, Kayden does not have a daughter, but SHIELD and its information-gathering network is something to not underestimate. So, even if Kayden did not announce his daughter's existence, it doesn't mean SHIELD doesn't know about it.
"Hmm, and that is what you call notable. Anything else?" Fury deadpanned at the subordinate. 'Does this motherfucker not know what notable is?'
"Well... I don't know if it's notable or not, Sir, but there was a school shooting up in Falmouth, Maine, around two years ago. And there was CCTV footage of a boy saving a classmate, but it was never made public since they were minors."
At these words, the SHIELD agent borrowed back the data pad and showed the CCTV footage of the boy. "Name?" Fury asked, "And give me the complete information this time."
"Right!" the agent answered a bit too quickly. Was it that nerving to be around Fury?
"Name: Leo Morningstar, Quirk: Energy Manipulation and Physical enhancement via energy, Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, but they moved to Falmouth, Maine, after some years. Parents: Single mother, Lucy Morningstar, a quirk specialist, and trainer. The father was never in the picture since birth, so it's listed as unknown."
The agent then proceeded to show a young Leo braving the halls of his school and reaching his friend, Siren. However, Fury didn't buy that the kid's quirk was only Energy Manipulation that could enhance the user's physical abilities.
"Play it back," he ordered, and the agent did so without question. "Tell me, agent. What did it look like when he stepped out of that room?"
Answering, "Scared and immediately darted for the walls, which was a lucky thing since the shooter appeared almost immediately."
"Yes, it could seem that way. But look at how he acted once he reached the corner wall and hid behind it. It seemed or knew something would appear where the shooter did." Staring at the agent for his lackluster observational skills, making the agent gulp.
"Or it could be because the shooter had loud steps. If it weren't for another angle showing the shooter tip-toeing his actions, that could be the case."
"Add danger or presence sensing to his quirk. I got a feeling about this kid, and my intuition never failed me." Fury finished his observation and handed back the pad after watching the video.
'Except for the time a cat scratched my eye...' He mused, remembering how he trusted a cat's cuteness, and that cat scratched his eye, impairing it. Maybe this was Fury's start for his infamous trust issues.
"Unknown father and another with a father who kept her existence hidden. Fucking fathers, *Sigh*" Cursing to himself, already feeling the problems pouring in.
"I need a drink... a strong one."
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Sorry for the late upload!
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