MHA: Mewtwo

Chapter 9: IX: ghost of the past.



That night, Raiden's eyes burned with rage. Did it really have to happen now? he thought bitterly. Just as he was finally having fun with his friends? And worse—now, when he was still caught in an existential debate about his purpose?

As the fires raged in the distance, Raiden's mind raced. Should he go? He knew he couldn't do much—he wasn't ready. He was still too weak. That much was clear. Yet, something inside him stirred, urging him forward, pulling him toward the chaos.

His friends noticed the shift in his demeanor. Most of them assumed he was lost in bad memories, offering what little comfort they could. One of them gave his back a reassuring pat, while another hurried to the kitchen to bring water, hoping it might help him settle.

But Emi knew better. She always did. That's what made them best friends—they'd known each other nearly their whole lives. Emi grabbed Raiden's right hand with both of hers, her grip firm but gentle. She leaned closer and muttered, "Stay. I know what you're thinking. But Rai, it's not the time. You know it's not the time. And we don't even know if it's really them."

Raiden sighed, closing his eyes as he tried to rein in the bubbling rage threatening to consume him. He even knelt on the ground, focusing on steadying his breath. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, the fire in his chest refused to extinguish.

He knew it was a stupid idea. He told himself over and over again that there was nothing he could do. And yet, the urge wouldn't subside. It wasn't even about fighting—it was simpler than that. Raiden needed to know. He needed to see for himself if it was the same group.

Finally, he looked up at Emi and the rest of his friends, all of whom gazed at him with concern. His voice cracked as he whispered, "I'm sorry." Before anyone could stop him, Raiden bolted toward Emi's backyard.

He could feel the energy coursing through him as he began to transform. His body glowed, the air around him shimmering with psychic force. His muscles shifted, his tail extended and thickened, taking on a sleek, purplish hue. The once familiar contours of his body gave way to an otherworldly form—gray, lean, and imposing. Small horns protruded where his ears once were, and a faint aura of power surrounded him, emanating from every fiber of his being. His resemblance to a mythical creature was undeniable—his presence was both commanding and unearthly. A total swift from the easygoing Raiden.

Fully transformed, Raiden prepared to unleash his telekinetic power, intending to lift himself into the air and head straight for the site of the fires. He crouched slightly, Ready to jump.

But just as he was about to take off, something heavy collided with him, sending him tumbling back to the ground. "WHAT THE HELL—?!" Raiden sputtered, disoriented, as he looked up to see Emi sprawled on top of him, panting but determined.

"You're not FUCKING going," she growled, her voice shaking with equal parts anger and desperation. "I don't care what you say, Rai. You're not going. The day you're a real hero, fine—but not today."

Raiden couldn't believe it—Emi was using her Quirk against him. Her power was straightforward but incredibly effective: she could shift her weight without altering her physical appearance. Now, she weighed as much as four people combined, pinning him to the ground. It was impossible for him to move without unleashing the full force of his Quirk, but that risked harming Emi, and he couldn't let that happen.

Seeing how determined Emi was, Raiden sighed heavily. His resolve to leave hadn't wavered, but he knew he needed to approach this differently. He met her determined gaze and, after a long pause, nodded. Relieved, Emi's expression softened into a faint smile as she deactivated her Quirk and her weight returned to normal.

The moment her weight lifted from his body, Raiden whispered, "I'm really sorry." And then he activated Disable.

This ability granted him two precious seconds of escape, just enough to break free from Emi's grasp and take off into the air. His flight wasn't fast—about 25 km/h (15 mph), barely faster than someone sprinting—but it was enough to put distance between them.

Flying low above the rooftops, Raiden pushed his Quirk to its limit, his mind racing. He had to avoid being seen. Using Quirks without a license was illegal, and as a first-year U.A. student, he wouldn't qualify for one until his second year. Getting caught could jeopardize everything.

After fifteen grueling minutes, he reached one of the incident sites. The exertion had drained him; his telekinetic powers consumed far more stamina than his other abilities.

The location was a medium-sized clothing store, and it was eerily empty. No witnesses, no bodies, no villains. The place was a wreck, but it was devoid of life. Even the guards were missing—and this was supposed to be a 24-hour store. Someone should've been here.

Unease prickled at him as he surveyed the scene. Raiden propelled himself onto the rooftop, his powers aiding him. From above, he scanned the area, searching for clues. His chest tightened with frustration as his gaze darted around. It was impossible to stay calm when everything seemed wrong.

Then, in the distance, he caught a glimpse of movement—a shadow darting off a roof. It was brief, but he was certain he saw it.

Raiden didn't hesitate. He took off again, this time sticking to the other side of the street to avoid being seen. His strategy was simple: stay out of sight until he could confirm who—or what—he was dealing with. But when he arrived, his frustration doubled. The figure had vanished.

Resigned, Raiden turned back toward the main street, ready to apologize to Emi and the others. But just as he approached, an orange-red glow caught his eye. It came from the opposite direction—near a construction site. How had he missed it earlier? It was such an obvious spot.

Heart pounding, Raiden rushed toward the source of the light. From the corner of a nearby building, he peered into the site. His breath hitched at the sight before him.

The cement was scorched with charred marks, the air thick with the acrid smell of burning. In the center of it all, sitting casually on a wooden crate surrounded by scattered construction materials, was him.

The Red Man.

The man responsible for Raiden's coma.

But something was different. He wasn't the hulking figure Raiden remembered. His once-bulky frame had transformed into something leaner, more compact. His muscles were dense, compressed into a frame that still exuded raw power. At 2.3 meters tall (7'3"), he was smaller than before, but somehow, even more intimidating.

Raiden's powers flared instinctively as his body prepared for a fight.

Before he could act, the man spoke, his deep voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Don't bother hiding. I know you're there, boy. I saw you coming. Let's talk."

Reluctantly, Raiden stepped into the middle of the construction site, stopping about ten meters away from the Red Man. A mix of fear and anger tightened in his chest as he stared at the figure. It was then that Raiden noticed yet another change in the man's appearance—an extra pair of arms extended from below his normal set. They were slightly larger but just as muscular, making him look like an oni, minus the horns.

Raiden opened his mouth, ready to make a comment, partly to confirm if this was really the same person. His instincts screamed that it was, but the changes were too extreme to ignore. Before he could get a word out, however, the man spoke first.

"HAHAHAHAHA! I knew it was you! What's happening, boy? How do we meet twice, huh? And right when we decided to strike? What are we, fated or something? HAHAHAHA!" His booming laughter echoed through the empty site. "And look at you, surviving! Tell me, kid—how are you holding up?"

The man's joking, carefree attitude made Raiden's skin crawl. Every word grated against him, but he couldn't afford to show it. Raiden silently cursed himself for not listening to Emi. This whole situation was beyond reckless. But since he was here, he decided he might as well make the most of it. If he could gather even a shred of information and—most importantly—get out alive without passing out, that would be a victory.

"I'm… doing fine," Raiden replied, forcing his voice to stay steady. "I was in a coma for a year, so, y'know, I'd be grateful if you didn't leave me in that state again. Everyone calls me Sleeping Beauty because of it. You look… different." He tried to play it casual, forcing small talk.

The man threw his head back and laughed, the sound rumbling like thunder. "HAHAHAHA! That's funny, kid! Sleeping Beauty, huh? Good nickname. Don't worry, don't worry. I'll let you off this time. It'd make no sense to leave you alive only to kill you now, wouldn't it?" His grin widened, and Raiden's stomach churned. "As for my appearance? Well, I can't tell you that. Trade secret, kid. HAHAHAHA!"

Every laugh from the Red Man echoed ominously, a cruel reminder of how powerless Raiden truly was. The only thing keeping him rooted to the ground was the brutal reality: he had zero chance of defeating this monster.

"Well, kid, tell me—wanna join?" asked the Oni, his voice steady but layered with an unsettling tone.

Raiden blinked twice, caught off guard. "Join what?" he blurted out.

"Our cause, of course. Our group. I'm inviting you," the man replied, crossing his upper arms while placing his lower ones on his hips. "Last time, you were just a target. That's why I did what I did. Also, back then, I didn't have the authority to make this offer."

"And now you do have the authority? Why would you even invite me?" Raiden asked, his confusion growing. He couldn't begin to grasp the direction of this conversation or the motives of the man standing before him.

"HAHAHAHAHA! Yes, now I have it," the Oni boomed. "You see, my organization is pretty meritocratic. Do a good job, and you climb the ranks. And I've done a damn good job. HAHAHA! That's why I'm inviting you now." His voice was calm but carried an unmistakable edge of madness.

Raiden's mind raced, struggling to make sense of it all. "And why me?"

"Ah, good question! Even though I look like this, I'm pretty sharp," the Oni said, stepping off a wooden crate and beginning to pace theatrically.

"That day, I let you live out of courtesy. I'm a gentleman, you see. But I also noticed something—something about the nature of your powers. Psychic powers. And now, seeing you for the second time..." He spread his arms dramatically, his voice growing louder.

"I believe you and I are connected. That's why I decided to invite you. Think about it: my powers are physical—pure, raw strength. I'm nearly the epitome of physical prowess. And you, on the other hand, are purely psychic. We're two extremes of the same coin: mind and body, HAHAHA! There's meaning in that, don't you think?"

Raiden felt the danger in every word but remained outwardly calm. He needed to tread carefully. If he said yes, the Oni might drag him to their base, which could mean the end. But saying no could carry risks too. He thought hard before speaking.

"Does my answer determine what happens to me next?" Raiden asked cautiously.

The Oni's grin widened, and he responded without hesitation. "No. Whatever you say, you'll leave this place alive. I'm just playing right now," he said with a shrug. The erratic nature of his behavior sent a shiver down Raiden's spine, but he chose to respond regardless.

"I'm sorry, but no. You said it yourself—we're two extremes. Mind and body. Hero and villain." This time, Raiden's voice didn't falter. He prepared himself to flee, but the Oni's reaction caught him off guard.

"I see. I SEE! HAHAHAHAHA! SO THIS IS HOW IT WILL BE!" the Oni roared, his laughter reverberating across the construction site.

"HAHAHAHA! GOOD LUCK, KID. THIS MEANS WE'LL FIGHT IN THE FUTURE. HAHAHA! SO FUNNY! Sadly, my time is up. The pests are coming. See you around!"

Before Raiden could respond, a streak of yellow shot toward the Oni. With fluid precision, the red Oni countered it with a roundhouse kick, deflecting dozens of feathered projectiles to the ground. The feathers embedded themselves in the dirt, leaving only faint scratches on the Oni's skin.

What happened next was even more shocking. The ground beneath them split apart, glowing with a crimson light. From the cracks emerged hands—gnarled, monstrous hands—that latched onto the Oni. He smirked and gave a mocking wave goodbye as the hands dragged him into the depths, like a demon returning to hell. Once he vanished, only charred marks remained where he had stood.

A second later, a hero arrived, his voice cutting through the eerie silence. "Are you okay, kid?"

Raiden turned to see Hawks, the number six hero in the nation, his red wings glowing faintly in the dim light.

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https://buymeacoffee.com/earth1

Hello guys, I decided to leave hawks into this position for now, in the future will be the number three, Also, I hope you liked, I'm tryng to made something different, not the typical all for one, yes he will be there obviously, but I wanted something more, I hope you like it and I will wait for your comments. 

POWER STONES PLEAAASSEEE hahahahahah


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