Chapter 23 - Introductions

"Congratulations! Under me, you'll be mentally scarred. You'll get so used to guts and blood that you won't flinch at the sight of a popped head. Welcome to my version of the Hero course!" He finished with a smug eating grin and crescent moon eyes, delighted with his future actions.

"What the fuck..." Someone said, but it was the collective words everyone wanted to say out loud.

Yes. Clearly, what the fuck kind of entrance speech was that? It was a unique and ominous way to start the class for freshmen.

Everyone had mixed reactions: raised brows, slacked jaw, scrunched face of confusion, and facepalms.

The head adviser for the class, however, was satisfied with their colorful reactions. It's funny, actually. He entered the class half-naked; he only came with red leather studded metal pants and maroon-colored dress shoes, yet no one commented on them.

Turning his back, unintentionally showed off his prominent lean muscles that now highlighted his bare body. "How uncouth," said Raiden from the side; the girls around her agreed with dusted pink cheeks.

With his back turned, he grabbed a whiteboard marker and started writing.

[The Undead Hero: Ban]

[Real Name: Ban]

[Quirk: Immortal Regeneration]

[Teacher of Hero Course, Platinum]

After writing, there were some wild reactions from the class. On the front row, a teen of African descent stood up. "Ah! He's actually the Undead Ban! The Hero who suddenly disappeared 30 years ago is surprisingly our teacher!"

After that unexpected spiel of information, the student in question stood out from the class as he stood there with nine pairs of eyes staring at him incredulously.

But his rather rambunctious spiel gave some info to the students, and after processing it, it was their turn to widen at the information. During the introduction of teachers, Ban's intro was actually relatively minimal, and only a select few students knew him, Leo included. Maybe he wanted it that way.

'So... this guy is old?' Were the students' thoughts.

Turning to face the class again, Ban smiled at the student, who blurted out a bit of his background. "Well, I'm glad one or a few of you brats know me. Seriously... being a retired Hero really is a straight graveyard for your fame." He said in a mocked, hurt voice.

His scarlet eyes pierced the African-American student, observing him. This immediately made the person in question sit down like a mole caught looking out of his dug hole.

"Since you're the first to speak up, why don't you introduce yourself," Ban suggested. But the way he stared at the kid was a whole different story.

Shooting up from his seat once again, "Y-Yes, Sir Ban! I-"

But before he could even start, a marker immediately flew toward the teen's face. Instead of getting hit, the teen in question dodged with a head weave.

'Oh? Nice reaction speed and he only dodged with his head too.' Leo thought after witnessing what had just happened.

"First off," Ban raised a finger, "Don't call me Sir; that just makes me feel old. On paper, I am old. Physically and mentally? I'm... yeah, let's not talk about that."

"Then what should we call you?" It was Leo this time who asked, making heads turn his way. "Simple. Just Ban, I'm not one for formalities, got that?"

All the students in the class nodded their heads while some still looked at the still-standing teen, probably awkward by being slightly forgotten.

"Anyway, get on with the introduction so we can get on with our physical," Ban grunted.

The still-standing teen finally introduced himself, "Uhm, I'm Miles Morales. Born and raised in New York and just turned 14. My quirk is [Shock Spider]; I can do what a spider can and apparently also zap and turn invisible. Sometimes only though, still can't control it, haha," Miles said, scratching the back of his head.

Raiden, hearing Miles say 'zap,' was curious now. After all, her quirk falls under electrokinesis. But if all he has to describe it with is zap, then she figured it's probably weak.

Next, Ban looked at Leo as he was the second who spoke.

Miles sat down to give Leo the class's attention.

"Leo. Leo Morningstar. I was born in Gr-Brooklyn but mainly spent my best years in Falmouth, Maine." Leo started but almost had a slip in the introductions. He felt almost compelled to speak the truth, fastening his heart rate slightly.

However, he didn't show that he was affected or distressed. He's been lying about his background for years; this is nothing; it has to be.

He continued, "Turning 14, my quirk is called [Bright Juggernaut]. I can manipulate the energy inside me and use said energy to strengthen myself. And I can also use it to fly, that's all."

His explanation got some heads peaking up; two such ones were Arlo and Eren. Since they were the victims of his quirk but only one of them saw Leo's final form.

"Well, that explains the big body at this age, Mister Gigantor," Percy jokes, eliciting some chuckles. It was one of the main things the students of this class noticed about Leo. His rather muscular-swimmer body was a weird sight for teens their age. Hell, even most adults don't get that kind of physique.

After that, the person next to Leo stood; it was Perseus 'Percy' Jackson. "Hey! I'm Perseus Jackson, but do call me Percy. If you can't tell, I'm half-greek, though I hope to call myself a 'Demi-god' when I become a Hero. Anyway, turning 14, as well. My quirk [Poseidon] allows me to create and control water. Bonus, I can talk to horses and marine life; cool, huh? Oh, and also, I can maybe... manipulate the weather... since clouds are just fart clouds, after all. That's all."

'Quite the personality,' Leo thought, but he had to nod at the quirk, too; that quirk had massive potential.

And like dominoes, others started introducing themselves.

"Arlo, from the Fortier Family. 14, my quirk [Barrier] allows me to reflect physical attacks and protects me. I have french blood in me if you have noticed from my name."

"Eren Yeager!" a dark-haired teen shouted, bumping his fist to his heart with vigor. "Turning 14, from Texas! My quirk [Titan] can transform me into giant humanoids; I can also regenerate like Teacher Ban, but very slowly; thank you!"

Hearing this, Leo was wide-eyed. 'So this shouting brat was the giant I faced that day!? I made many mistakes in that fight; I should've dug into his body like a xenomorph and started ripping from there. Next time.'

But from there, Leo leaned toward Percy, "He has you beat in your introduction. Unless you're going to shout like him, that's tough to beat."

"What can I say? There'll always be a shouting kid in a class," was half greek's response.

Next, who stood up was a rather attractive-looking teen, though she had a face that mainly looked serious, or was it fiercely calm? She was a noticeably tall, fair-skinned teen with straight waist-length black hair, blue eyes, and broad shoulders.

"Diana Prince, hello to all. 14 of age, my quirk [Warrior Princess]," saying her quirk's name made her somewhat serious face blush. When naming quirks, it's usually the Doctors and parents naming them. And you can only change it when there's a significant change in the quirk or the person paying a hefty amount to change it.

The students seeing her reddening cheeks, couldn't help but release a slight grin. "I have super strength and can make my stares compel people to tell the truth. Looking forward to fighting strong people. Nice to meet you." Saying her last bit, she eyed Leo with intensity.

'So, she's the cause for my slip-up,' Leo thought while staring back at her. This staring back and forth did not go unnoticed by the people in the room.

"Leo, look at you. It seems a big body translates to strength for her. I mean, her eyes basically went through me, ignoring me. And just so you know, I can bench a lot of weight with my water." He spoke loudly, intending for Diana to hear as well.

"I see. Then keep more water inside you to physically bench then," Diana quips back, making Ban laugh out loud.

"She got you there," was all Leo said.

"Hmm, she did."

Anyway, the next person stood up and quickly gave his details, literally. The person was the embodiment of getting straight to business.

The person had dark green hair of medium length with teal-ish undertones at the roots, swept back with two neck-length locks. His piercing cat slit pupils and golden irises looked supernatural in nature, and bears and purple marking on his forehead the shape of a diamond.

"Alatus Xiao, 14, Quirk [Hurricane Spear], I can summon a unique spear alongside me, being able to manipulate winds. Thank you." And sat down afterward.

"Raiden Ei, San Fransokyo, greetings," she bowed a bit. 'A Lady through and through... yet she was stuffing her face with rations during the exam,' Leo couldn't help but compare. "I am 14 years of age, and my quirk is [Eternal Lightning]. A potent form of electrokinesis, a pleasure to meet you all."

San Fransokyo was a city rebuilt by both American and the Japanese governments. The previous, San Francisco, was ruined after an abomination of a villain went on a rampage after injecting himself with multiple syringes of high-quality American triggers. He... no... it was mainly stopped by All Might, an upcoming rookie hero during the time.

And with All Might stopping it, the American government decided to pay homage to All Might's hometown country. Hence the current architecture and community of the place resemble much of Tokyo, the heart of Japan.

Anyway!

And finally, the last person stood up with a chipper. She had platinum blonde hair, innocent blue eyes, and skin so fair that there was no blemish.

"Good morning, everyone!" Her accent spoke through her words. If one spoke their mind, they would say it sounded like german, yet not. "I'm Angela Ziegler~! Soon turning 14, my quirk [Healing Light] can heal almost anything. And since I'll be in your class, you can go all out in training; sounds lovely, yes?" She looked around and saw the sparkle in their eyes when they heard a healer was among them.

"Too shy to answer~? No worries, I can see the sparkle in your eyes, my friends~" and with that, she sat down, positivity radiating off of her.

"With that all done, does anyone have any questions?" Ban cut through the positive with his neutral manner of speaking, unaffected. His tone is more like a formality, not wanting a student to ask.

However, someone did ask. Miles raised his hand slowly. Ban sighed but didn't let it show. "Ban, why is it our dorms are mixed? Wouldn't it be better to categorize all ranks?"

This question made Ban smile slightly, "Good question, kid. Before I answer, does anyone want to throw an answer?" He asked, scanning the room.

"To bolster camaraderie?" Leo asked.

"Hmm, anyone else?" Ban answered.

"To make friendships?" Angela threw an answer.

"Possible."

"I don't know why, but my gut says training," Percy answered, which made Ban point at him instantly. "Yes. The joking brat is correct."

"Huh?" Everyone was confused. Mixing ranks can be a form of training?

"It's a form of training for the real world. Do you know why?" he asked rhetorically. "It's because a hierarchy of fame and power exists for Heroes, no matter how much they shy away from the media," he stated.

"Everywhere you go, you will receive stares, reactions, and comments. Whether you are a bottom-ranked Hero or at the top, you will get them, especially at the top. I'm pretty sure you brats got stared at the moment you went out of your dorm room, am I right?" Ban got nods from everyone.

"That is a taste of fame, but only very little. You kids are in a controlled environment, no stalking, no fishing for information, nothing. This is training for the real world. Get used to the eyes; they're everywhere. Anyway, let's go! I got to test your physicals, go!" He barked an order, making everyone move quick.

'This batch is something else... the quality of their quirks are top notch. But that's useless if they got a weak spirit.'

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CHEEERS!