Authors note:
Speaking: "…."
Thinking: '…'
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1 Week Later
Aincrad
Floor 1 {Dungeon}
Over the past week, Izuku had not only introduced Satoru to Aincrad but also started training him in the basics of aura and swordsmanship. Satoru was quick to catch on and learned the techniques surprisingly fast, prompting Izuku to suggest they face the boss together.
"You know, I just realized, I've never asked you what your quirk is," the green-haired boy asked, his hands in his pockets. He wore almost the same starting gear as the blue-eyed boy.
"My quirk? It's not really all that strong. It's called Quantum Shift. It allows me to manipulate possibilities within a certain range by shifting quantum probabilities. It's not really flashy like yours," Satoru replied casually.
"It may not be flashy, but who says a strong quirk has to be? Yours is very useful, even if it's subtle," the green-eyed swordsman commented before coming to a stop in front of a large double door.
"Well, we're here. Let's see if we can beat it together," the green-haired boy said, offering a fist bump. Satoru hesitated for a moment before accepting it, and then they proceeded.
Opening the door, they came face-to-face with the boss: Illfang, the Kobold Lord, and his Ruin Kobold Sentinels. Both of them got into their stances, readying themselves for battle.
The fight began well. Satoru kept the boss occupied while Izuku handled the minions. Afterward, they teamed up to deal significant damage to the boss. They even managed to deal with the hidden archers in the walls, though not without some initial struggle.
Then came the final phase.
"Alright, I've got him down to his last health bar, Master," Satoru said.
"Stop calling me Master! And good. Let's finish him off and get to the second floor," the green-haired boy replied, slightly annoyed at the persistent nickname.
"Sorry, old habits die hard, I guess. Let's take him!" Satoru said. He channeled silver aura into his blade and began his assault. To his surprise, however, the boss pulled out another weapon from its back and began jumping around the room at a speed Satoru could barely follow.
‚Dammit, how did it get so fast? I'm not sure I can react to this, he thought.
His fears were realized as the boss attacked. Unable to move his blade quickly enough, he was struck once, then twice on the back. Things weren't looking good. He had no healing potions left, and the monster was about to land a finishing blow. Closing his eyes, Satoru braced himself for death.
But this time, instead of pain, he felt a familiar presence. Opening his eyes, he saw Izuku jumping in front of him, taking the full power of the boss's attack to his stomach. The blow left a massive wound on the green-haired boy, and he fell to the ground, breathing heavily.
Witnessing this, Satoru sprinted to his side, cradling him in his lap. "Master, you're going to be fine, I promise. But please, don't leave me. I need you!" he cried, tears forming in his eyes.
"Satoru... I'm sorry, but I just couldn't watch you die. I'm sorry... but please live. Don't let me drag you down. And I told you, didn't I? Don't call me 'Master'..." Izuku said weakly before his voice faded. His eyes turned grey, and his body went still.
"Master, no! Please, not you as well!" Satoru screamed, but it was too late. He was already gone.
With tears streaming down his face, Satoru gently laid Izuku's body down. Then he stood up, his expression hardening. "Don't worry, Master. It'll be alright. I'll fix this," he said softly, a faint smile on his face, before turning to the boss.
"You... this is all your fault. You took him from me. And now you'll pay!" he screamed, pointing his blade at the boss. ‚I need power... more power. The power to obliterate him, he thought as rage filled his eyes. Suddenly, silver and white aura erupted from his body.
As if on command, both he and the boss charged at each other, exchanging blows. Satoru struggled slightly to keep up, but to the boss's surprise, its weapon suddenly exploded with white energy, leaving it wide open. Satoru seized the opportunity and unleashed a barrage of attacks on the monster's stomach.
As the boss tried to recover, Satoru was already on the ground, touching it with his hand. He then darted away, narrowly dodging the boss's retaliatory punch. The ground where Satoru had stood erupted, blowing apart the boss's arm in the process.
Not giving it a chance to regain composure, Satoru channeled his silver and white aura into his blade. Slashing at the air, he shouted, "Atomic Slash!" A crescent blade of white energy flew toward the boss, cutting it in half and killing it.
When it was over, the system congratulated him on his achievements and presented his rewards. But Satoru didn't care. He simply fell to the floor, grief-stricken, and stared down in silence.
Klap, klap, klap.
He heard clapping behind him. Turning his head, Satoru saw an older version of Izuku, dressed in a black and green suit with a black hooked cane hanging from his arm, smiling at him.
"M-Master!" Satoru cried, storming toward his mentor and embracing him in a long hug.
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20 Minutes Later
"So... you dying was just an illusion spell you cast?" the white-haired teen asked, tears still streaming down his face.
"It was," Izuku admitted, patting Satoru's head as they sat next to each other. "Honestly, I never thought it would work. From the beginning, there was a notice from the system saying no one could die for real in here, but I guess it worked out fine."
„Wait then what happened to the thugs that were chasing me?" the white haired teen asked
„ oh those guys, I just teleported them away somewhere" the space master answered casually.
"But Master, how could you deceive me? I trusted you. I... I believed in you!" Satoru stood up, his voice trembling with emotion. "And why do you sound like you knew what was going to happen?"
Izuku's smile faded. Rising to his feet with the help of his cane, he tapped it against the floor. Instantly, the scenery around them changed.
What unfolded before them was horrifying, a rotten, gray wasteland stretched out as far as the eye could see. Withering trees and bushes dotted the land, the remains of burnt-down houses stood like broken skeletons, and gravestones were scattered everywhere. The sky was a dull gray, lifeless and heavy. Most striking of all was a shining golden pathway winding through the streets, leading to a towering golden spire that seemed to pierce the heavens.
"What is this place?" Satoru whispered, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Satoru," Izuku said, his tone stern and emotionless as he gazed into the distance, "welcome to Floor 74: The Golden Spire."
Satoru's breath caught in his throat.
"Earlier, you asked why I deceived you," Izuku continued. "Before I answer that, let me ask you something. In your final clash with the boss on Floor 1, how did you feel? Didn't you find it strange that you suddenly gained new abilities?"
"I guess it did feel strange," Satoru admitted, confusion spreading across his face. "But what does that have to do with anything?"
"What you experienced is called an Aura Awakening," Izuku explained. "It's the highest form anyone using aura can ever hope to achieve. But it's not something you can reach through training, no matter how hard you try. Awakening requires a specific state of mind, a trigger."
"The reason I lied to you was to push you to awaken," he continued, his voice softening. "Because without it, you most certainly would never have reached this level."
Satoru's eyes widened.
"Normally," Izuku added, "methods like mine backfire, either killing the person or driving them insane. But I have an ability that lets me glimpse potential futures, giving me a general idea of how to achieve the best outcomes. I saw that if I did what I did, you would awaken. I know it's no excuse for lying to you, but let me say this."
Izuku stepped closer and bowed deeply, a full ninety degrees.
"I deeply apologize and hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. From now on, I promise to tell you everything, truthfully."
Satoru stood motionless, grappling with everything he had just learned. One question, however, lingered in his mind.
"But... why? Why would I need this? Why do you want me to have this power?"
"Look around you, Satoru," Izuku said, gesturing to the desolation. "Everything you see now wasn't always like this."
With a tap of his cane, the surroundings transformed. The sky turned bright blue, the grass and trees became lush and green, and as far as the eye could see, people went about their lives happily in vibrant villages and bustling cities.
"T-then what happened here?"
"Just look ahead."
Satoru obeyed, his gaze falling on an army of soldiers clad in black armor with golden accents. At their head stood a man with long black hair and golden eyes, clad in sleek black armor etched with intricate golden markings. On his hand was an armored glove made entirely of gold.
Satoru watched in shock as a hero appeared, taking on the army with ease. The hero quickly overwhelmed the soldiers and their leader, but when the golden-armored man extended his hand in surrender, the hero took it.
What happened next was unthinkable.
The hero's body began to turn to gold, and within moments, he was reduced to a golden statue. The army, now having defeated their enemy, regrouped and continued their march unopposed.
"This place," Izuku said gravely, "was overthrown by a force of evil. The hero was too naive to see the deception in the man's eyes. That man is Midas, the Gilded Emperor of this floor. He has ruled here for decades, and no one has been able to overthrow him since.
"Our world, too, is losing its symbol," Izuku continued. "That's why I took it upon myself to act as the guardian our world needs while the new symbol is being forged. We work in the shadows, drawing no more attention than necessary, keeping those who lurk in the darkness where they belong. But to do that, I need trustworthy allies with enough power to fight by my side."
Izuku extended his hand to Satoru, his gaze unwavering.
"So let me ask you this: Will you help me achieve my goal?"
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With the thugs
„ How the hell did we in up in this place, damnit everything was going so well" the bald man spoke stuttering because of the cold weather surrounding them. Currently the thugs were sitting in a circle around the flame headed man warming their hands and feet in an icy cave. Looking outside you could only see a raging snowstorm.