Chapter 36
A blast of invisible energy struck Ingenium, knocking him back. To keep from falling, he used the thrusters on his shoulders.
Vesemir passed him on his motorcycle, gaining speed.
"Vesemir! Stop!"
The pro hero shouted after him, but Vesemir couldn't hear him over the roar of his machine. Police cars approached from the opposite direction, trying to turn around and pursue the young witcher, but the only one who managed to do so was Ingenium.
Vesemir spotted the pro hero's approaching silhouette in his mirror. He darted between two cars, but Ingenium didn't let up.
"Attention all units. Vigilante is moving west on the highway. Prepare a roadblock and block the highway entrances to civilians."
A voice from the police radio sounded in Ingenium's helmet. A Japan News helicopter appeared overhead, illuminating the silhouette of the boy he was chasing.
"Vesemir! You won't escape!"
When Ingenium was within arm's reach, Vesemir disappeared along with his motorcycle in a silver streak that shot forward. Where it ended, the young witcher reappeared.
Ingenium had been in many high-speed chases, but he had never seen such a quirk. Despite this, his determination to stop the boy only grew.
They were both now traveling at nearly 250 km/h (155 MPH). As he approached the boy, he disappeared into the silver streak and reappeared a little further away. He looked far ahead. The police had blocked the road ahead with patrol cars and a spike strip. He screamed in terror.
"Take away that spike strip, or at this speed, you'll kill the boy!"
But it was too late. Ingenium accelerated, trying to catch Vesemir and cushion his impending fall, but he only sped up, driving straight into the gap between the police cars... right where the spike strip lay.
*AARD*
When Vesemir got close, he used his witcher sign, but didn't direct the spell at Ingenium... instead, he aimed his hand at his Kawasaki. The motorcycle jumped a few inches over the spike strip, then landed on the asphalt, its wheels a few meters away.
Ingenium was an experienced pro hero. He also jumped over the spike strip and continued the chase.
"Vesemir! Stop, this is madness!"
Vesemir remained deaf to Ingenium's call. He didn't even hear it. He knew he couldn't give up. He had a mission to complete, and he couldn't afford to fail. He didn't want to hurt this man or the police officers who were trying to stop him.
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Austin, Texas.
Joe raised his eyebrows, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes.
"You sound like you're saying he won't leave a single survivor behind..."
Letho rested his elbows on the table, looking directly at the host.
"You must understand that the law in our world is different from yours. Vesemir is a 'Knight' with a capital K. I have never seen him break his word to anyone. If Vesemir has sworn revenge, there is no salvation for any of them. Anyone who participated in this, who helped them, who stood by and remained silent... everyone will pay."
Joe leaned back in his chair.
"Holy fucking shit....."
"Joe! Oh fuck... This kid you're talking about is on the run from Ingenium and the Japanese police!"
It was Jamie's voice as he was turning the news of the chase onto the screen to show it to Joe and Letho. The voice of a female reporter in a helicopter was reporting the event live.
"The UA teacher's son is escaping Ingenium! He just bypassed a roadblock in spectacular fashion!"
Joe looked at Letho, his eyebrows rising even higher.
"Letho, what the fuck is going on? It looks like this kid is playing GTA live!"
Letho's face was neutral. He spoke calmly.
"What do you think? Vesemir decided not to wait any longer."
Jamie, the producer, interjected.
"Look! He disappeared again and reappeared!"
Joe just slowly shook his head in disbelief. He looked at Letho.
"You can do that too?"
Letho shook his head.
"No, but if you play old news clips about his mother, you'll see he can do the same thing."
Joe whistled.
"Do you think Ingenium will catch him?"
Letho smiled grimly.
"It's better for Ingenium if he doesn't."
"Why?"
"Joe, have you not understood anything of our conversations? Vesemir doesn't harm innocents, but if anyone gets in his way, he'll have no choice. If Ingenium tries to stop him by force, he'll regret it."
Joe swallowed, shaking his head.
"Man, someone has to stop him."
Letho sat unmoved.
"Joe... Remember, he's not of this world. Don't treat him like a child. He's a highly trained monster slayer. He knows no other life. He had no choice. He had to become who he is now, or at best, he'd die at the hands of assassins."
Joe looked at Letho seriously.
"Viper... he's only 15."
"I know that, Joe... I know that..."
Letho stood up slowly and headed for the exit.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going back to Japan. I need to find him as soon as possible."
"Do you want to do this before some Pro-Hero arrests him?"
Letho turned his head to look into Joe's eyes.
"No, Joe. I want to bring him back to UA before he kills some Pro-Hero. I'm afraid Vesemir might not understand that they want to help him. PTSD didn't exist in our world... or rather, everyone considered it a sign of cowardice... I'm convinced the young man has traumas that drove him to what he's doing. He claims he's dispensing justice because it's the only form of justice he knows."
Letho nodded and left the studio, his steps heavy but determined. The first step to save Vesemir from prison has been taken.
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On a long stretch of highway, Vesemir managed to reach speeds of 340 km/h (210 mph for my American readers). The only one chasing him was Ingenium. This Pro Hero wouldn't let up. The helicopter was already far behind. The police hadn't closed that section of highway in time.
"Vesemir! Stop!"
Vesemir knew he would soon have to stop and face Ingenium. There was no way to outrun him through sheer speed, and he wasn't sure if opening a portal farther was safe at that speed. At best, he would fall into his hiding place and become one with one of the walls.
He exited the highway via one of the exits toward a district popular for nightlife. He entered an alleyway from which there was no escape....
He stopped his machine. The exhaust heated to red hot. The engine fell silent. Vesemir didn't turn off the bike, but switched it to electric mode, ready for a potential escape.
Ingenium stopped at the entrance to the alley. He looked at the boy dismounting and said,
"Vesemir! It's over!"
Vesemir calmly removed his helmet and placed it on the bike. He didn't respond. He glared at Ingenium, who began slowly walking toward him.
During the chase, Ingenium received information from his sidekicks, who had arrived at the warehouse... they sent him photos of the massacre, which he saw in his helmet. His voice was... heavy... full of disbelief that the teenager could have done such a thing.
"Vesemir. Why did you do it..."
"Because someone had to. That someone was me."
A wave of fear washed over Ingenium. Not for himself, but for the boy standing before him. His words were spoken with gravity and the conviction that he was doing good. Ingenium clenched his fists in rage at having to arrest this boy now.
"That doesn't justify murder! You're a child... we want to help you... I'm sorry, but I have to arrest you now... it's for your own good... Aizawa..."
"Aizawa is not my father!"
Vesemir replied with more emotion than he wanted to put into the sentence. Ingenium stopped talking... and let him continue the conversation.
"Why do people who traffic in defenseless people and murder innocents walk around this city with impunity? How come none of you did anything about it? Why has the police investigation stalled?"
Ingenium took a step forward, slow and devoid of aggression. His hands were raised in a gesture to calm the boy.
"You're not a judge, Vesemir... you can't just kill like that."
"Why?"
"Because we have a system where civilians place their hopes in us heroes. Murder is not the answer."
Vesemir shook his head sadly.
"Your system has failed. Your police force is ineffective, and most Pro Heroes prefer to look elsewhere... to the direction that will allow them to climb the rankings... to the direction that will make them even more popular... and monsters like those in that dock warehouse are doing whatever they want, and no one is stopping them."
Ingenium's tone changed to pleading. He wanted to keep the boy here as long as he could.
"I understand your anger. But murder won't fix the system. Come with me, and I promise you, I'll do everything in my power to fix the flaws in the system."
Vesemir shook his head.
"Before you swear oaths, understand that I take this seriously. Your word of honor is sacred. I know you can do nothing, so I will not accept your oath. It would be best for your own good if you didn't try to lie to me again."
Ingenium fell silent, his hands falling slightly.
"I don't understand how you can do this... I also don't understand why you hate your father."
Vesemir looked at him, his eyes sad.
"I do this because the Shie Hassaikai are monsters, and I am a witcher. I kill monsters... and as for Aizawa... I don't hate him, but... he's trying to control me. I've done well without him."
"Aizawa doesn't want to control you... he sees the potential to be a Pro Hero in you. Please, Vesemir... don't ruin your future..."
"You still don't understand, Ingenium..."
Vesemir took a few steps forward, almost within Ingenium's arms' reach.
"...I made a promise. What kind of man would I be if people couldn't trust my word?"
With that, Vesemir gestured with his hand and directed it at his feet.
YRDEN
At the same moment, Ingenium leaped forward, trying to catch and subdue the boy. Suddenly, he slowed. He almost succeeded. Vesemir emerged from the magical trap, put on his helmet, and mounted his motorcycle. He slowly rode closer to the Pro Hero.
"I don't destroy the future...I only kill those who take it from the innocent."
Vesemir slowly rode his motorcycle, pulling out of the alley. Only then did he realize that a crowd had gathered at the end, recording everything on their cell phones. The crowd parted before him as if he had cast a spell. After a while he joined the traffic and, avoiding the main roads, headed for his hideout.
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The next day. AU. Nezu's office.
Midnight, Hound Dog, Aizawa, and Nezu sat in silence, watching a video someone had posted online.
"...I made a promise. What kind of man would I be if people couldn't trust my word?" . . . "I don't destroy the future...I only kill those who take it from the innocent."
Aizawa looked tired...very tired. He hadn't slept at all the previous night. As soon as he heard about the pursuit, he had set out to find his son. He searched for him all night.
"My son..."
Midnight placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Shota, he's lost. But he's fighting for something he believes in...it's wrong, but we can still save him."
Hound Dog growled softly, leaning against the wall.
"He's driven by his traumas. We have to find him and stop him."
The atmosphere was so serious that Nezu even gave up drinking tea.
"Vesemir operates by the code. We failed and didn't manage to change his mind in time."
Midnight looked at Nezu questioningly.
"Do you think Viper's return will change anything? That he'll be able to contact Vesemir?"
"Yes... besides, we need to ask Hado-san and Kodai-san for help... I think they'll be able to influence Vesemir."
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Yui and Nejire were in Yui's new room, which was right next to her aunt's. They had both been watching the news. They had both seen the video online. Nejire flew nervously from wall to wall using her quirk.
"How could he do something like that! Leave without even telling us!"
She paused for a moment to play part of the recording of Vesemir and Ingenium's meeting.
"He... he's killing people, Yui! It's not right!"
Yui sat on the bed, her black hair covering her eyes. Her knees were drawn up almost to her chin. Her voice was quiet.
"Vesemir isn't evil. He... he believes he's doing something good. But... I'm afraid he'll lose it. That what he's doing... will destroy him."
Nejire stopped, her blue eyes glistening with tears, though she tried to hide them with anger.
"Lost?! Yui, he's already lost! Everyone's looking for him! Pro heroes, the police! What if they catch him?"
Yui raised her head, her eyes moist, but her voice remained quiet.
"I'm afraid no one will stop him. I'm afraid that if he goes any further, he'll lose everything."
Nejire slowly walked up to Yui and hugged her. Her shoulders trembled as she tried to hold back tears.
"I just....I'm....I'm so angry with myself for not seeing what was happening to him."
Yui leaned back slightly, her moist eyes looking at Nejire.
"We couldn't have known...Vesemir...he's always been different. He withdraws into himself...but we have to help him somehow...We'll tell him he's not alone. That...that he has us."
Nejire nodded, though uncertainty still etched on her face.
End of Chapter 36