Chapter 42 – Conservai
Izuku did not miss a single move from either fighter. He didn't get distracted for a moment. Compared to previous clashes, Melissa wanted to get really serious here: use every single resource at her disposal to do "the right thing."
Izuku felt the full weight of his choice pressing in as he watched the fight. A bad feeling crushed him, twisting his stomach into knots. When the realisation struck, panic seized his heart. What—?! Are you kidding?! Since when?! Melissa was using Conservai, but not the basics he had taught her; instead, she was attempting an advanced level, which, given her capacity, was dangerously reckless.
«Imperatoris dentes!» he hissed, annoyed, in high Gothic «I never taught her such recklessness!»
«I guess you're talking about how Shield-san is fighting.»
«Yes.» Izuku confirmed, his voice trembling as he stared at Melissa «She is unconsciously taking terrible risks. How the hell does she do it?»
«Cementos just contacted me.» Midnight informed. «He's also worried about how the fight is unfolding. Shall I have him intervene?»
Although Cementos-sensei cannot perceive the true danger, stopping the fight remains the safest course of action, and it can be done…
Izuku tightened his grip on "Mercy". If he had listened to his human side, Izuku would have intervened to prevent his student from continuing the dangerous, self-destructive fight. But as a Custodian and teacher, Izuku knew he couldn't do it, even though he understood that that risky way of fighting was to save… or to help someone. But is it really worth it?
«Let's wait a little longer.» he finally decided.
Despite his decision, Izuku remained vigilant, his muscles tense like violin strings, prepared to intervene if Melissa’s risk escalated.
Melissa uses Conservai to help control One for All's energy as she absorbs and assimilates data and runs simulations. That idiot! Her brain won't hold all those processes for long.
A few seconds passed, and Shoto's left side ignited, engulfing itself in flames.
«Damn. I thought you were going to win.» Shoto cursed, irritated «And instead you made your opponent use his flames. Now tell me, what are you going to do?»
«What I've done so far: do the right thing.» Melissa replied fiercely, calmly.
The eyes of both opponents were determined but dangerous. Terribly dangerous.
«Shooooto!!» a person shouted from the stands, making Izuku turn «Have you finally accepted your destiny?! Yes, that's right! This is the first step to glory! Surpasses me with my blood flowing inside you!! And make my dream come true!!!»
«Ad Imperatorem et Throno...» hissed Izuku
Patience and calm are virtues that Izuku is proud of, but even they have limits. After Melissa's confrontation with Endeavor, his student's self-destructive behaviour, and Endeavor's recent public statement, Izuku felt his calm wavering. He doesn't know how, but Midnight noticed it and took him by the arm, drawing his attention.
«Calm down Midoriya-san.»
Izuku calmed himself with a deep breath, but his composure was shaken moments later as both opponents lunged at each other with dangerous intent.
«Oculi Imperatoris!» Izuku clicked his tongue, snapping «Cementos-sensei!»
*****
Shoto threw a flurry of ice at Melissa, who jumped by recklessly using One For All's power. She severely damaged her left leg to get closer to Shoto. Faced with the wave of ice, Melissa threw a left fist, the more damaged one, generating strong air pressure.
«Shield-san, thank you so much.» Shoto sincerely thanked her as he launched his fire attack.
Cementos created a concrete wall between the two fighters to stop them; however, the blows had already begun.
Cold air from the ice and hot air from the fire mixed, making a big steam explosion. The air pressure Melissa generated produced a large shock wave that destroyed Cementos' wall and sent both fighters flying. The shock wave spread through the arena.
A cloud of steam had formed, and no one could see what the result of that explosion was.
«What's happening?!» asked Present Mic, who had rolled over from his chair «Are these students monsters by any chance?»
«This is what happens when heat comes into contact with cold air...» Professor Aizawa explained extremely calmly
«And it generated an explosion like that?! How hot was it?! We can't see anything!! What will have happened?»
As Present Mic continued questioning, the steam cleared. Midnight, still in pain after being thrown to the ground, gently rubbed the back of her neck. Everyone focused on the arena, seeing Izuku, motionless at the ring's perimeter, protect something from the concrete dust. Lifting his cloak, he revealed an injured and unconscious Melissa.
«Shield is out of the ring.» he declared calmly but authoritatively «Todoroki advances to the finals.»
*****
Izuku looked at Melissa on the raised bed at Recovery Girl's temporary infirmary. The girl's left arm and leg were in casts. Still unconscious, Melissa had electrodes on her head connected to a brainwave monitoring machine, installed at Izuku's request.
«Melissa!!!» called Toshinori worriedly, opening the door violently.
Izuku kept his gaze locked on his student, even as Toshinori approached, his face contorted with pain that seemed to grip his entire being. Toshinori clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles blanched, eyes burning with despair and guilt for his step-niece.
«This girl took too many risks.» Recovery Girl said, her voice sharp with irritation «Her left hand has a compound fracture. Such a wound must not be left like this. She needs surgery.» she concluded with a long sigh as she carried some long papers.
«...What is Shield-san's brain state?» asked Izuku, maintaining a neutral tone.
«She is in a REM state, but instead of wake-like electrical activity, the activity is similar to that of an... unusual flow state.»
«How unusual?»
«Gamma waves…» Recovery Girl began, looking at the papers «are on a frequency I never thought I'd see.»
«Give me numbers, sensei.»
«...102 Hz»
Izuku's body stiffened. Such a brain frequency during sleep is not normal at all, yet he doesn't find it strange either.
«Until REM status returns to normal, keep Shield-san sedated or in a coma. She doesn't have to wake up until then.»
«What?! What does this mean?» Toshinori asked worriedly.
«It means her brain is returning to normal after using the Ka'tha Conservai intensively for too long.»
«Conservai?»
«One of the many martial arts of the Adeptus Custodes.» replied Izuku «Conservai, spoken to the carlon, teaches that the brutal elimination of opponents must not make one lose sight of the overall strategic framework.»
«Okay, but what does that Ka-something have to do with your request to keep her sedated?» asked Recovery Girl, noticing the painful note in Izuku's voice
«How can I explain this simply...» Izuku began, massaging his chin «Conservai primarily aims to enter a state of concentration that stimulates brain activity, allowing for even more effective reception and assimilation of information, greater speed of mental simulation, and faster decision-making skills.»
«Huh? I got a little lost. Are you saying it's a mental exercise?»
«I'm using Conservai right now. Since I learned it, I haven't stopped.»Izuku said after thinking «Even as we speak, I'm analysing smells, sounds, sensations, and tastes, developing strategies to defend the infirmary or Melissa, to assess potential risks, and to plan attacks, defences, or escape routes. The post-USJ report is also a concrete result of the Conservai.»
«I understand, but Melissa? Why is she in this state?» asked, unconvinced, Toshinori.
Izuku showed a complex expression, then he opened Melissa's eyelid. Both Toshinori and Recovery Girl were surprised by what they saw: Melissa's pupil was dangerously dilated, and her eye was moving wildly in every direction.
«In this fight, Shield-san pushed her brain hard, almost making it act like a supercomputer. Now, her mind is overloaded, trying to sort through too much information. Every impulse overwhelms her.»
«And you taught her something like that?!» asked Toshinori
«I didn't teach her anything like that,» Izuku said calmly «I only taught her the basics, which consist of exercises in meditation, concentration, and observing what is around her. Teaching her everything in just two weeks is nearly impossible, even for a novice Custodian. Honestly, I believed it would take years before I could even hint at the advanced knowledge and, consequently, the danger it would pose to her brain. But she... also managed to learn the advanced concepts of Conservai on her own during the Festival.»
«On her own? You're saying-»
«That her learning and use of Conservai is a frighteningly natural talent.» Izuku said, his smile trembling, suspended between overwhelming pride and a gnawing worry.