My Mangekyo Sharingan Can't Save My Hero Academia: 39 The Hero Killer 1

Everyone, Please read the end of the last chapter. I added a few adjustments.

__

INGENIUM — HOSU (SECTOR 6-E)

Tensei Iida's engines hummed at low idle as he moved through the backstreets, visor scanning every shadow, every alcove, and every fire escape that could hide a predator.

Hours of searching. Dozens of blocks covered. Still nothing.

'He has to be here somewhere.'

With Stain's constant attacks, Ingenium had taken it upon himself to track down the Hero killer. Allying Team Idaten with other Pro Heroes.

They'd been sweeping through Hosu for three hours now.

"Ingenium here. Sector 6-E clear. Moving to 6-F. All units, sound off with status updates." He tapped his Comms.

"Skywing, Sector 5-C. Nothing to report."

"Mirage, Sector 7-D. All clear."

"Enigma, Sector 4-A. Clear."

"Torque, Sector 7-B. No—wait."

Tensei slowed. "Torque?"

"Ingenium, this is Torque. Priority alert—Mirage is with me right now. She was attacked and her comm was stolen approximately six, seven minutes ago."

Tensei stopped mid-step.

'What?'

"Confirm—Mirage is physically with you *right now*?"

"Affirmative. She's standing next to me."

The world seemed to tilt.

Tensei was stunned. Seven minutes ago? That couldn't be right.

Due to the Hero Killers notoriety, strict rules had been adapted to always report your status every two minutes of the operation. If Mirage had last her comes six minutes ago ..

'That would mean ...'

He took a slow breath, forcing his voice to stay level.

"Then who the hell has been responding on her channel for the last seven minutes?"

Silence.

Dead, suffocating silence across the entire network.

Every hero heard it stopped their search at the realization. Someone had been in their comms. Listening in on their entire operation.

"Aw."

Just then, a new unfamiliar voice came through the line with a sigh of disappointment.

"Well," it said, almost sheepish. "That sucks."

Tensei's hand went to his comm immediately.

"Who is this? Identify yourself—"

**CRUNCH.**

The sound of plastic and circuitry being crushed.

Then static.

Nothing.

Tensei cursed under his breath and hit the comm again, voice hard and commanding.

"All units, this is Ingenium. Emergency protocol—cease all operations immediately. Unknown hostile has infiltrated our communications. Do *not* trust any orders unless visually confirmed. Regroup at Rally Point Bravo. I repeat: *regroup now.*"

Responses flooded in, tense and clipped.

"Copy."

"En route."

"Understood."

Tensei turned, preparing to activate his engines toward the rally point. 'This isn't good.'

He leaped off the road, and pivoted off the wall onto a nearby building.

'An infiltrator. In our network. For at least five minutes.'

Transversing the rooftops, numerous thoughts flooded through his head at the implications. 

'What did we say? What positions did we give away? Did we compromise the entire sweep?'

They had no idea who the enemy was, or the fact there would be another enemy. Was Stain not working alone?

This wasn't just bad.

'We can't .. huh?' He crossed another rooftop, engines kicking as he cleared the alley between buildings.

Then he and felt it.

Right then and there, a heavy,  oppressive feeling crashed into him like a blade pressed to the back of his neck from thirty meters away.

*Danger*

His instincts screamed before his brain caught up.

THUD!

His boots hit the next rooftop hard, turning toward the alley below

Dark. Narrow. Empty.

Except it wasn't.

Someone was in there.

'It's him ..'

Tensei's engines flared, blue exhaust kicking up dust as he shot forward into the passage.

The alley was barely wide enough for two people side-by-side. Trash bags lined one wall. A rusted fire escape clung to the other. Thirty meters ahead, the passage bent sharply left.

Tensei slowed as he approached the corner.

And stopped.

Standing at the center was a man wrapped in tattered red cloth and dark, patchwork armor. Bandages covered most of his face, leaving only his eyes visible.

"It's you."

It was the same description giving by the victims.

Same clothes, same physique, same look in his eyes. Blades hung from his belt. More were strapped to his arms and legs.

"Hero Killer." Tensei's fists clenched. “You’re under arrest. Drop your weapons and surren—”

WHOOSH!

The blade came before he could finish.

"Dammit!'

Tensei jerked his head sideways, the knife grazed his shoulder plates sparking off reinforced material past and clattering against the wall behind him.

'That was ..'

Turning his gaze, Stain was already pivoting for another strike, using the narrow alley to close in before Tensei could accelerate.

Tensei fired his engines, leaping backward with a to widen the distance. A blade slashed past the area he once stood on. "Very well. I'll have to take you in by force."

Stain didn't respond. Ingenium landed on his feet, engines thrumming with energy.

"Recipro .. uh"

Tensei's dodged as a second knife sliced past his ribs.

'What the ..'

He barely stabilized himself after cancelling his recipro when he was forced to block the third with his gauntlet.

‘He’s faster than the reports…’

Tensei skidded back, engines whining as he forced space between them. His gauntlet stung from the impact. The first two slashes were already too close; that third one had been inches from cutting open the seal of his suit.

Stain advanced without a word—no flourish, no posturing—just a steady, predatory walk that tightened the alley around him.

Tensei kicked his engines again, blasting sideways to reset the distance.

The instant his boots touched down, Stain was already in front of him.

“What—?!”

SQUELCH

Steel punched into Tensei’s abdomen, just under the reinforced panel. A hot bloom spread across his side, blood seeping out.

"Ugh .."

Tensei staggered, grabbing the attacker’s wrist on instinct. Stain twisted free with almost casual efficiency, stepping back just far enough that the blade slid cleanly out. It had only been ten seconds at most.

THUD!

Ingenium retreated while clutching his wounded side. Eyes never leaving the opponent. Stain watched him quietly, head tilting as if assessing a malfunctioning machine.

“You heroes,” he said. The voice was low, and sounded somewhat annoyed. “Always louder than you are competent.”

He dragged the flat of the stained blade across his bandages, then lifted it toward his face.

"This is Ingenium. Code red, I found ...".

The blood touched the Hero killer's tongue. And for Ingenium, everything stopped.

Tensei’s knees buckled instantly, the weight of his own body crashing down on him as if gravity had doubled.

“—rrgh…!” His fingers spasmed. His engines sputtered out, coughing blue sparks before dying entirely. The pain in his abdomen flared white-hot, but he couldn't move a muscle. "Paralysis .."

"Struggling won't work."

The sound of footsteps fell into his ears, until he could see the Hero killer's feet right in front of his face.

“A weak type. I suppose that suits your… reputation.”

He flicked the blade, scattering droplets of red against the alley walk.

"How Pathetic."

Tensei gritted his teeth. "Pathetic?"

"Your earlier statements to take me in by force. Without the ability to back it up. Coming alone against me. ... Was it arrogance or pride?"

Veins appeared on his forehead.

"This has nothing to do with pride criminal scum. You will pay for the things you've ..."

Ingenium stiffened. A wave of cold killing intent slammed intent him, halting his breath.

'This .. what is this ..'

Stain's eyes grew cold.

"The turbo hero Ingenium ... So easily scared against said criminal scum. How disappointing ..."

He muttered indifferently. "Your engines. Your speed. Your name. All wasted.”

Tensei’s vision blurred. Not from blood loss—fear.

“Heroes like you,” Stain continued, voice low and steady, “cling to a title without embodying the ideal. You wear the symbol but don’t bear the burden.”

His eyes narrowed, raising his katana.

“You disgust me.” His eyes settled on the lower waist. He would reclaim the title hero from this Fraud.

'Move.'

Nothing.

Tensei's body refused to obey him no matter how much he urged.

'Move. Please… move!'

Stain inhaled, preparing the finishing swing

TING!

Something sharp cut the air. Stain jerked sideways, instincts reacting before thought. He twisted, batting it aside with the flat of his sword while ripping a throwing knife from his belt and hurling it upward in one motion.

CLANG.

The knife spun through the air—caught mid-flight by a gloved hand.

'He dodged that huh?'

More shot towards him. Stain leaped backwards, weapons embedding into his previous position.

A figure dropped into the alley from above, landing between Stain and Ingenium with a quiet thud. Black clothing. Silver hair. Dark mask covering the lower half of his face.

"Phew. That was a close call." The figure spun the knife and tossed it aside. It clattered against the pavement.

"I almost didn't make it."

Ingenium's eyes widened.

Someone had come to save him?

'Is he a pro?'

He examined the look. There was a green vest over dark clothing, fingerless gloves, and combat boots. And ... Weapons? 'Are those kitchen knives?'

His thoughts shifted.

'Forget that. His costume doesn't really look like one of a Pro's. Plus I've never seen or heard of someone like him before. Meaning he's either a unknown pro or ...'

"You." He called out with difficulty.

"Huh?"

"I don't know who you are, but you can't be here. It's too dangerous."

Tensei's eyes turned to Stain.

"He can paralyze you with a single cut. Don't attack him. He only wants me. Save yourself."

Stain's eyes narrowed.

'Self sacrifice ..' He snorted, reassessing this false hero. 'At least he's not that far gone. Leaving him alive to spread the word will be good enough.'

The new arrival didn't move.

"Didn't you hear me? Go and get help. Don't worry about

me."

"Um, thanks, but I'm not here for you."

The masked man uttered without looking back.

"Huh?"

Tensei was stunned. Wasn't he here to ..

"Hello Stain."

Ignoring Ingenium, the masked man clasped his fists together, focusing on The Hero Killer.

"I've been dying to meet you."