Kapitel 163: Chapter 162: Thought, Soul, Support

In the Ninja Camp, Kaminari had gone out on patrol, leaving Edgeshot stationed at the base alone.

Thankfully, since the death of his master, Edgeshot had long grown accustomed to solitude. At least, that's what he used to believe, until meeting Kaminari.

Now, for the first time in years, he found himself appreciating the company of someone sharp and inventive. Kaminari's curious mind and constant drive to create something new had, in a way, reminded him of the joys of mentorship.

"Hm?"

Edgeshot's attention was drawn to his laptop as a notification popped up on the screen.

"Last night, after 8 p.m., an arrest was made; the hero-killer was apprehended."

"Stain…" Edgeshot muttered to himself, his sharp eyes narrowing. Of course, he knew of Stain—the infamous villain who had become notorious in recent years. He was equally aware of how dangerous Stain could be.

"Endeavor, huh? Makes sense. If anyone could take down someone like Stain, it'd be him. But…" He paused, puzzled. "Isn't Endeavor's agency in Tokyo? Why was he in Hosu City? Did he go there specifically to capture Stain?"

Edgeshot scrolled further through the article while running through the situation in his mind. That's when the names of three familiar students caught his attention: Izuku Midoriya, Tenya Iida, and Shoto Todoroki.

The news article briefly mentioned their involvement but didn't provide much detail. It only stated that the three Class 1-A students had encountered Stain and were rescued by Endeavor at the critical moment.

"They're Kaminari's classmates, aren't they?"

Still, Edgeshot didn't linger on their mention for long. Of the three, only Shoto Todoroki piqued his interest, and that was primarily because of his background and exceptional talent.

As he continued scrolling, his eyes caught on a video thumbnail. Its view count had already surpassed 5.31 million, and something about it immediately demanded his attention.

Edgeshot clicked play, feeling an odd sense that this video carried significance—that ignoring it might leave him with regrets.

The video began with a narrator speaking in a calm, neutral tone.

"The Hero Killer, Stain.

"Real name: Akaguro Chizome. Inspired by All Might's debut, he resolved to become a hero himself.

"He later enrolled in a private high school but quickly grew disillusioned. In his own words, 'The education system revealed the corruption at the core of what it meant to be a hero.'

"Akaguro dropped out during his first year, and by the time he turned 20, he began advocating for a return to the core ideals of heroism. He gave speeches on the streets, calling for reform.

"But in time, he came to believe that 'words hold no power,' and abandoned this approach. Over the next decade, he taught himself combat skills and honed his techniques, preparing for what he saw as his duty.

"During this period, both of his parents passed away. There are no indications of foul play regarding their deaths.

"Stain's philosophy centers on the belief that heroism should not be driven by greed or personal gain. Only through self-sacrifice does one earn the right to be called a hero.

"He regards modern heroes as fraudulent, empty figures. Through his purges, he seeks to awaken society to the true meaning of heroism."

The video transitioned to footage of Stain himself. On the screen, he staggered forward, his glowing red eyes filled with intensity. He bellowed, his voice hoarse yet commanding:

"Someone has to bathe in blood… Someone has to awaken the true heroes!"

"Come, you impostors!"

"The only one worthy of killing me is a true hero… All Might!"

The video ended abruptly, leaving Edgeshot sitting in silence. His expression had grown tense and serious.

He wasn't moved by Stain's conviction, no first-rate hero would be so easily swayed. To reach their level, every pro hero had already forged their own ideals of heroism.

But the implications of the video left Edgeshot deeply unsettled.

"Who created this?" he muttered.

It couldn't have been the government. Nor did it seem like something Stain himself would produce. So who had the knowledge of Stain's past to compile this footage?

The details presented in the video, some of which went back over thirty years were troubling in and of themselves.

"The Hero Public Safety Commission previously mentioned that Stain had aligned himself with the group that attacked USJ… what were they called? The League of Villains."

Edgeshot frowned. "Could they have produced this?"

The timing of the video's release was suspicious. It had been uploaded immediately after Stain's capture, suggesting it had been prepared in advance. That meant the events in Hosu City were not random, they were planned.

The more Edgeshot thought about it, the more he began to suspect that the League of Villains wasn't as disorganized as they initially seemed. Even their attack on USJ might have been part of a larger strategy.

"If the USJ attack was meant to announce their presence to the world, then what's the purpose of this Stain incident?"

Edgeshot replayed the video, his sharp mind dissecting its contents. When it ended again, a single word escaped his lips.

"Ideology."

"The goal this time is to inject their core beliefs into society… to give their organization a purpose—a soul."

Edgeshot's gaze darkened as his thoughts accelerated.

"Through this incident, the League of Villains has captured public attention once again. And with Stain's ideology broadcast so widely, they're likely to attract followers, many of whom could be dangerous in their own right."

A sense of foreboding swept over Edgeshot. He could feel the storm brewing on the horizon.

"Ring, ring, ring!"

The sudden ringing of his phone jolted him from his thoughts. Glancing at the screen, he saw a message from Kaminari.

"Southwest. A five-meter giant bear."

Edgeshot didn't hesitate. In the next instant, his body blurred, leaving a long afterimage behind as he shot out of the wooden cabin like an arrow. He didn't even bother to open the door, phasing straight through it.

"Kaminari, don't do anything reckless! Protect yourself, but don't kill the bear!"

He remembered Kaminari's devastating move, Raikiri. Though All Might had sealed it at his request, Edgeshot couldn't be certain Kaminari would abide by that restriction. Ultimately, the decision was Kaminari's to make.

***

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Kapitel 164: Chapter 163: Vs. Giant Bear!

Fifteen minutes earlier.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"You… you're that boy?!"

Sato Ryoichi's tear-streaked face was filled with shock. First, he hadn't expected anyone to show up. Second, Kaminari looked entirely different from the way he had on the Shinkansen.

Kaminari nodded calmly. His gaze shifted to the old man in his arms—pale, bleeding, and gasping weakly for air. Without hesitation, he spoke.

"'Pikachu' Hemostatic Agent!"

"Yes, Master."

A small, five-centimeter-long syringe extended from the golden gauntlet on Kaminari's left hand. He handed it to Ryoichi.

"Give this to your grandfather."

Initially, Kaminari had intended to inject it himself, but the furious giant bear wasn't going to wait. Kaminari gently set the old man down on the ground, passed the syringe to Ryoichi, and dashed toward the rampaging bear.

Kaminari wasn't planning to fight it head-on. He wasn't that reckless, this bear was clearly something extraordinary.

With a powerful leap, Kaminari launched himself into the air, reaching the same height as the bear's massive head.

For a brief moment, their eyes met: Kaminari's calm, golden gaze clashed with the bear's crazed, bloodshot pupils.

"Maximum Illumination!"

"Buzz!"

In an instant, the golden armor covering Kaminari, resembling a saint's ceremonial garb flared with an intense, dazzling light.

The brilliance was so overwhelming that Ryoichi, crouching behind Kaminari as he injected his grandfather with the hemostatic agent, instinctively shut his eyes. The bear roared in pain, its massive paws swiping blindly as it struggled against the searing light.

"ROAR!!!"

Taking advantage of the bear's momentary blindness, Kaminari moved behind it, inhaling deeply. He gathered the golden energy crackling around him, then unleashed it.

"Lightning Dragon's Roar!"

"Boom!!!"

A column of golden energy erupted from Kaminari's mouth, slamming into the bear's back. The attack expanded upon impact, engulfing the bear in a brilliant "golden bowl" of energy.

"Zzzzzt!"

The sound of crackling electricity grew louder as Kaminari's right hand raised. A small iron coin, resting against his gauntlet, began to glow with electromagnetic energy.

"Electromagnetic Railgun!"

With a flick of his finger, the coin shot forward at hypersonic speed, becoming a piercing beam of light that disappeared into the golden explosion.

Kaminari wasn't holding back. Protecting endangered species was the last thing on his mind. The bear's murderous intent had been clear, and its rampage had left two lives hanging by a thread. Whatever had caused this mess didn't matter, what mattered was stopping the bear from harming anyone else.

In Kaminari's mind, this wasn't about morality or reasoning. It was about survival, a fundamental conflict between humans and a beast that had chosen violence.

When the golden light finally faded, the bear emerged from the destruction. It was still standing tall, its vitality seemingly untouched. Its enraged roar echoed across the forest.

"What?!" Kaminari muttered, stunned. "The Lightning Dragon's Roar didn't even faze it?"

He squinted, noticing only a slight singe where the railgun had hit. "The railgun barely took off a layer of fur… how thick is this thing's skin?!"

The bear roared again, turning its bloodshot gaze toward Kaminari, its focus now solely on him. Though his attacks hadn't inflicted much damage, they had succeeded in redirecting its attention away from Hideo and his grandson.

"Well, if one railgun didn't work, let's see how two do!"

Kaminari remained calm, though his mind was working quickly. Two iron coins, crafted from iron sand, appeared in his palm. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed them into the air in front of him.

Closing his eyes, Kaminari entered a meditative state. Pale golden currents sparked around the coins, forming visible circular tracks as they accelerated.

"Electromagnetic Railgun—Double Shot!"

"Swish!"

The two iron coins transformed into streaks of light, shooting toward the charging bear. Kaminari didn't stay idle, though. With a wave of his hand, he expanded his electromagnetic field, drawing more iron sand from the surrounding soil to gather around him.

From afar, Ryoichi and his grandfather watched in awe. Kaminari, cloaked in golden armor and surrounded by swirling iron sand, looked otherworldly—a figure of both power and serenity.

"ROAR!!!"

"Boom!"

The bear swung its massive paws, swatting the incoming railgun shots aside like they were flies. Other than a faint glow from the high temperature, its paws remained unharmed.

The attack had slowed its advance, but not by much.

"This thing…" Kaminari thought, his focus intensifying. "Its paw speed is insane—it deflected both railgun shots?!"

It was now clear to Kaminari that this was no ordinary bear. A larger-than-average black bear was one thing, but this creature was on another level entirely.

"It has to be a Quirk. That's the only explanation for this kind of strength."

"Woosh!"

Kaminari raised his hand, and the gathered iron sand surged forward like a massive black wave. The sand engulfed the bear, slowing its movements further.

But Kaminari wasn't done. As the bear struggled against the sea of sand, he pushed his electromagnetic control to its limits, drawing even more iron sand from the surrounding area to strengthen the wave.

"One hundred meters…" Kaminari thought, feeling the strain of his reach. "That's my limit. Half of what Misaka Mikoto could manage."

Despite the strain, the bear continued to push forward, taking massive steps through the dense sand. Its progress was slower, but it was still advancing.

"This won't hold it," Kaminari realized. "I need something stronger."

In the next moment, the iron sand began to compress and reshape itself under Kaminari's control. Slowly, the loose wave of sand solidified into a thick, silver snake.

Ryoichi and his grandfather stared in shock as the enormous steel serpent coiled itself around the bear, its metallic body shimmering under the sunlight.

The bear struggled, roaring ferociously, but the steel snake held firm, binding its movements.

Kaminari allowed himself a small smile.

"This Steel Serpent … it's working."

***

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