Chapter 138 - New Era

When the first rays of sunlight touched New York in the morning, the thin mist still hung in the air, and a cool breeze swept across Westchester. This small county in the northern suburbs of New York was home to a retro-style castle. Until today, no one knew that the "Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters" was actually a school for mutants.

However, today, the school's name had officially changed to "Hero Academy."

The previous day's issue of My Hero Academia had made a grand announcement to the world: the era of the variant-human hero was upon them.

A bright spring day, unusually bustling with activity, replaced the usual tranquility. Westchester was experiencing the largest influx of people in its history, with crowds flocking to the castle to see what the newly rebranded Hero Academy was all about.

People of all ages, professions, and backgrounds came to witness this historic event. The media from both home and abroad had also gathered; such a momentous occasion was not to be missed.

Rachel's family made their way slowly through the throng, her parents nervously holding her hands. They reached the castle's grand front gate, which separated the tourist area from the college area. With guidance from the staff, Rachel and her family entered the college area, where several X-Men were there to assist mutants and their families.

The most prominent figure among them was Beast, the head of the Mutant Affairs Department. His burly blue form, paired with glasses, made him both formidable and reassuring.

"Rachel, are you sure you want to join the Hero Academy?" Beast asked calmly, glancing at Rachel's parents to confirm their decision.

Due to the unique nature of mutant abilities and the relatively sparse population of Hero Academy students, there were no entrance exams to filter out candidates. Instead, the X-Men had pre-screened potential students through phone interviews. Some mutants with less potential had been tactfully rejected.

Becoming a hero was no trivial matter.

Rachel nodded with determination. "Yes, I want to be a hero."

Her parents, who had been persuaded by All Might's recent appearance, were also supportive of Rachel's decision.

Beast welcomed the new hero girl and led Rachel and her family into the academy.

"Rachel, I'm Jean Grey, and I'll be your teacher," said the red-haired Jean Grey as she guided Rachel to a classroom. Her parents went to the self-service area on the lawn across the way.

Rachel felt a sense of comfort knowing that Jean, who had similar telepathic abilities, would be her teacher.

In the classroom, several other teenagers were present. The number of mutants joining this time seemed fewer than anticipated, a concern for Charles Xavier.

"Alright, let's introduce ourselves and choose a hero name for the future," Jean said with a warm smile, clapping her hands to gather everyone's attention. The students sat in a circle, starting introductions from the left.

"I'll go first. I'm John Aoxing. I can transform into Thunderbird and have super strength, super speed, and enhanced senses," said the excited teenager, pointing to his younger brother. "This is my brother, James Zhengtu, who has the same abilities as me."

James nodded shyly.

"My name is Clarice, and I have the power of space teleportation. I can make myself blink across distances," said the timid girl with magenta hair and light green eyes.

"My name is Max. I can absorb and manipulate photons, essentially becoming a beam of light," the older boy said with a grin. "You can also call me Max, and I'm pretty good at paying for food."

"I'm Lauren Straker, and I can control elements," introduced the blonde girl, who smiled and added, "And this is my brother, Andy. He has telekinesis, but he hasn't chosen a hero name yet."

Andy looked a bit annoyed at this comment.

Finally, Rachel spoke up, revealing her abilities and her chosen hero name, "I'm Rachel, and my hero name is Surprise Girl."

Jean smiled and said, "Great introductions! Let's all relax and wait for the opening ceremony to begin." She then left the classroom to prepare for the event.

The students began chatting, and soon, senior students like Xiaoqi and Ganglishi came in to help them get acquainted with the academy.

On the lawn, the families of mutants and visitors chatted, enjoying the green grass, central fountain, and swimming pool that made the Hero Academy seem inviting.

"This Hero Academy is quite a spectacle," remarked Lauren's father, Reid, as he and his wife, Guy Terlin, walked around, taking in the sights. Guy sighed, "They're making a lot of noise. I heard the top management even set up a secret agency."

Reid frowned with worry. He had heard from a colleague in a special organization not to get involved in such matters. He couldn't help but smile inwardly, relieved that Xu Mo, the chairman of Marvel Comics, was here. Reid had decided to send his children to this academy partly due to Xu Mo's influence and the power of One Punch Man.

"It's pointless to worry. Once the children enter the academy, their relatives' identities will be known anyway," Reid said decisively. "I've already submitted my resignation for their safety."

"Absolutely," came a voice from the side. Reid and Guy turned to see Xu Mo standing nearby.

"You're Xu Mo, the chairman of Marvel Comics?" Guy asked, surprised.

Reid was taken aback but relieved to see Xu Mo, who had become a significant figure due to his connections with mutants.

Xu Mo greeted them cheerfully. "Sorry if I overheard unintentionally. I just happened to pass by. I didn't expect you to be family members of mutants."

With cheers rising from the front, Xu Mo smiled and invited them, "Why don't you join me to witness the beginning of this new heroic era?"