Chapter 28 – True Heroes…
The entire arena was packed with spectators, and there wasn't a single free seat.
On a giant screen, the image of a tall, slender man with long blond hair, gathered into a large tuft on his head, a small brown moustache, and a smile plastered on his face. He wears a black jacket with a very high collar; he has buff shoulder pads and elbow pads, both studded, and black fingerless gloves. His neck is obscured by a directional speaker; he wears headphones and orange sunglasses. The presenter, who also opened the UA gates at the start of the Festival, is a teacher and professional hero. The Voice Hero: Present Mic.
«The UA Sports Festival!!» announced Present Mic «The place where future Heroes gather and fight at their respective throats to reach the pinnacle! Our beloved annual brawl!!» it ended by making the spectators cheer
The cheering, impatient crowd could be heard in the corridors, pressing in on the young students with almost tangible pressure. Present Mic, unleashed in his uncontainable energy and deafening din, made it even more difficult to stretch their nerves during the presentation.
«And now, behold to you those for whom you unbelievers have crowded so hard!» exclaimed Present Mic «The first miraculously saved who faced the onslaught of a group of Villains with will of steel!»
There were 11 entrances on one side of the arena, from which each class would exit. From the shadow of one of those entrances, the introduced students appeared.
«From the Heroic Department of the first year!!! Here is class 1A for you!!!»
From a viewer's perspective, the students might have looked like ants based on where they had found a place, but the students felt crushed by the thousands of curious and interested eyes, not to mention the roar of welcome. Many in Class 1A trembled with incredible anticipation. Katsuki was excited and driven to do his best to take first place, while Ida questioned whether the students could do their best with all those people, without denying that they could be more easily noticed by the Professional Heroes.
The presentations and receptions of the other classes, compared to those of 1A, seemed more moderate but no less impressive. But even so, many students expressed their dissatisfaction with the reception, which was less warm.
Despite the euphoria in the arena, Melissa continued to peer through the students in search of Izuku, advancing a little farther to find him more easily. His absence did not go unnoticed by the entire class, nor by many spectators who came to witness this mysterious giant.
«Deku must have pissed himself.» Katsuki boldly stated, drawing a cold stare from Melissa
On a small stage, located in front of the entrances to the various classes, Midnight raised her whip and snapped it with a decisive gesture, attracting attention and, at the same time, silencing the students.
«Alright, guys, I expect a clean game from all of you!!»
Her presence immediately attracted the attention of male viewers and provoked furious stares from many female viewers for obvious reasons. She was also referred to by her full name, known among Professional Heroes: 18+ Rated Hero, Midnight.
«Wait, did they say 18+? But aren't we in a high school? Are we sure there are no problems?» asked, surprised, Fumikage.
«Silence! My role as a teacher is legitimate!» Midnight exclaimed, annoyed, cracking her whip again «And now, let the support referee come in and give the opening speech as well.»
«Exactly, colleague!» Present Mic's voice rang out «And now, enter the main attraction of this Festival! The USJ slaughterer! The person known as the Golden Giant! Of class 1A, IZUKU MIDORIYAAAAAA!!!»
Applause rang out in the arena. They were not vital, just of pure formality. The little applause dropped until it disappeared. After a few minutes, only people could be heard chatting: the person introduced had not yet shown himself. Even Midnight didn't know whether to wait or look for Izuku.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The metallic clang of armoured boots echoed down the corridor behind the stage; everyone spun toward the source of the footsteps, holding their breath and staring.
Izuku, with composed and disciplined steps, emerged from the cold shadow of the tunnel. He wore his full armour and held the weapons tightly. The sun struck the auramite of the armour, making it sparkle and dazzle spectators like a blade of light. These whispered to each other, incredulous that they were not dreaming and, inexplicably, disturbed by his presence.
On stage, Izuku nodded, a formal greeting to Midnight, who, despite maintaining a confident smile, had once again been captivated by the beauty of the armour.
The whispers in the stands joined those of the classes in front of the stage. Everyone expressed surprise and doubt. Izuku stood still for a few seconds, then did what he always does: restore order and silence. The dry sound of the spear on the metal called for glances, and his authoritative posture silenced everyone.
*****
Honestly, Izuku didn't like Present Mic's presentation. In fact, he really wouldn't have wanted a presentation, but unfortunately, he doesn't decide what to do or not do in there. He had wanted his not to come out until the applause died out. He doesn't need encouragement for what he has to say.
After all, I'm not here to encourage. He thought as he took a deep breath before speaking. Silence had fallen, and everyone present was waiting for his words.
«What is a Hero?» He asked, looking at the spectators, his voice modulated by the helmet, «Every person here has a different answer to this question. This school was created to teach its students how to fight like Heroes, act like Heroes, speak like Heroes, and be Heroes. But exactly, what makes a person a True Hero?»
His question was met with silence. Not because they didn't want to try to answer the question, especially the Professional Heroes, but because their curiosity was all focused on the interlocutor. Everyone, in that pause, heard him sigh in disappointment.
«It's not his looks, it's not his money, it's not his experiences, it's not his charisma, nor his costume nor his Quirk that makes a person a Hero. What makes a person a Hero is their determination to do what they have to.»
The seals on the helmet were unlocked, and Izuku removed his elongated helmet, revealing his scarred face, making the girls and women who had seen him for the first time blush. The atmosphere changed slightly: it was always silent, always focused on Izuku, but now everyone didn't want to miss a single word of that man whose eyes had clearly seen too much.
«I know many Heroes. The same ones you know, too. Yet they pale in comparison to a person who did not ask to be one but became one. Someone you would disparage for being a Quirkless showed me what a True Hero is. This Hero's name is Ursarkar E. Creed, Lord Castellan of Cadia.»
Voices rang out in the arena, some, as he imagined, filled with disgust at the idea that a Quirkless could be a Hero. The sharp, metallic sound of the spear boomed again, instantly silencing every voice.
«You don't know him, so I won't gloss over your insults, you spineless cowards.» Izuku's tone was so cold and condemnable that all those who insulted Creed, actively with words or passively with thought, trembled in fear «That man is dead, killed by armies of traitors who in exchange for power and Quirk have deliberately renounced their humanity by accepting dark chains, exalting the massacre and laughing at the hundreds of thousands of people who mercilessly massacred regardless of whether they were men, women or children.»
The words spoken wounded and stabbed many spectators, as well as the students, deep in their souls. Renewing that question: What did this man see that was so horrible?
«Cadia.» when he uttered the planet's name, a strange mix of pride and despair could be heard in Izuku's tone «This is the name of his homeland. For many years, that place was the front line against the traitors' forces. The blood of its sons and daughters continued to wet the earth not only in that place, but in many other places as well. All of them were Quirkless and, for as long as they can remember, they have always fought tooth and nail, even in the face of certain death. Now, his homeland has been destroyed.» that statement made everyone gasp.
Heroes such as All-Might, Midnight, Present Mic, and others who knew his situation realised that he was recounting an inevitable and destructive event that they could not imagine was as serious as it was. Other Professional Heroes suddenly felt helpless. A strange feeling of helplessness in the face of the words spoken by that golden giant, whose green eyes and words do not hide a single trace of falsehood. That tale made them feel small in front of an entire population of Quirkless who had given everything they owned only to see their homeland destroyed. "If I had been there, would the outcome have changed?" "Can I really call myself a hero, if people without Quirks armed with only courage faced Villains who didn't hesitate to kill them?" thoughts like that were gripping every single Hero, almost as if they could see that place.
Izuku's eyes closed. He took a deep breath, almost wanting to hold back feelings of anger and sadness from venting.
«I was there when Cadia fell. I fought to prevent it from falling. Despite the support and help of thousands of Heroes, despite my help, its fortifications were destroyed. The brave defenders were forced to retreat. The same land they walked on, turned against them by the ravenous darkness that had given power to the traitors. We had to evacuate, we had to regroup. But doing so would have cost many lives. Ursarkar E. Creed stayed. Despite the protests of the commanders who wanted to save their Lord Castellan, he remained with 5000 brave souls. They acted as a shield to allow the others to evacuate.» His eyes opened sharply; his gaze had become sharp, full of pride «And even when the evacuation was completed, they told him to retreat. I ordered them to retreat. They refused. Even when they could leave, they stayed. Even faced with a chance of survival, they planted their feet and continued fighting, selling their skin dearly to buy more time for civilians, wounded, and fleeing soldiers. Their death was the spark that lit the flame of hope in the darkest hour. The last thing he said, proud and indomitable, before falling, was just two words whose meaning became immense: “Cadia Stand!”»
When he uttered Creed's motto, he struck the staff of the spear again, generating another dry sound, more to honour those Heroes than to restore order. His eyes saw it. Dozens of spectators, mostly Professional Heroes, rose from their seats, upright and at attention, as if they could see, sense what he had seen, and feel his own pride.
«Cadia is not just a place.» he stated smilingly but earnestly «Ursarkar E. Creed and the Cadians… they ARE Cadia. Every single soul who fights, who has been trained by listening to their story, any human being who possesses their spirit, their resolve to fight even when death is certain, IS Cadia!»
Others stood up, feeling disgusted at the thought of sitting a moment longer, when people without Quirk offered their lives doing the work they believed only Heroes with Quirk could do.
«Why tell you this? Why name unknown people? Why cite places that could be blatantly invented?» his tone of voice had grown louder and deeper «Because their sacrifice showed me what a True Heroes is! They made their duty their life, sacrifice their creed, determination their weapon, refusal to surrender their armour.»
His eyes, until now fixed on the spectators who, in ever-increasing numbers, were rising from their seats with every word he uttered, now rested on the UA students in front of him. He saw their bodies shiver with awe or excitement; he saw their eyes glued to his figure, almost waiting for his order. And an order he gave.
«Young aspirants. UA students! Prove to all these people that you are worthy heirs! Show me that you are worthy of that spirit! Unleash your determination! Spur your body! Prove to yourselves that you are capable of becoming True Heroes.» His armoured fist pounded on his breastplate at the height of his heart; the sound of metal echoed throughout the arena. «CADIA STAND!!!» he screamed at the top of his lungs, and his words echoed in the arena.
As soon as the echo dissipated, the crowd and students roared with fervour from that story that exudes courage. The spectators who had unconsciously risen to pay homage to such distant heroes became even more upright and proud, as if they had just received news of the courageous deeds of one of their relatives. The arena reverberated with shouts and applause, and for several minutes, only two words were repeated by those present, echoing so loudly they could be heard in the surrounding area.
«««««CADIA STAND!!!»»»»»