MHA: GAMER PATH

Chapter 126: Preparation…

~Ren Y. (Clone) POV~

[Next Day, Otheon, Shanty Town, Europe]

Otheon. Oh, Otheon.

Walking down Public Square, I couldn't help but marvel at the chance to escape my school life momentarily even if I'm a clone. Otheon is a fictional country in Europe and a primary location for events in My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission. Otheon neighbors another fictional country called Klayd.

Otheon and Klayd are located on an island at the southwestern rim of the Celtic Sea. The island is roughly egg-shaped and slightly larger than Ireland.

Otheon is the smallest of the two nations and has a coastline towards the Bay of Biscay. The culture seems to be heavily influenced by France, Spain, and Portugal, while the official language appears to be English. Otheon is a member of the European Union and has the Euro as its currency.

Geographically, Otheon is a mountainous country with grasslands and forests, although the closer someone gets to the border with Klayd, the more barren the landscape becomes. It is the most prosperous and touristy area of the city, with boulevards, squares, pedestrian streets, etc.

The buildings are European-style and include administrative buildings, government institutions, etc., as well as the most emblematic landmarks of the city, such as the Otheon Towers, four skyscrapers with wavy shapes. The city is large enough to have public transportation systems such as subways and trams.

Walking down the main street through the Public Square, I've been meaning to finally head towards my destination. Taking a few corners and turns, I reached my destination of heading to the slums of the city my first target.

Shanty Town.

On the other side of the river are the slums of the city, consisting of densely packed housing units of poor build quality, shacks, old camping trailers, etc. Poverty and crime in this area are high, as the heroes of the country hardly appear there due to it being a not very profitable place to work. Close to this area is also the Otheon Airport.

Making my way I find a rundown old weak building with the paint saying 'Stanleyk's Bar'. I grinned heading inside the Bar named Stanleyk's Bar.

Heading inside the bar, I can see the usual riff-raff one might expect in the bar. Heading inside the bar I get to see the owner of the bar Stanleyk.

Stanleyk is a stout, middle-aged man with notable wrinkles on his face. The top of his head is bald and he has curly dark brown hair on the sides as well as thick eyebrows. He also has visible arm and chest hair. He wears a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up underneath a purple vest with dull yellow buttons.

Reaching to him as he was busy cleaning the glass cup, he spoke up, eyeing me in a stoic tone, "Hmm…? You seem to be new around here. Did you want something to drink?"

I shook my head as I explained, using my false identity thanks to my new skill sounding completely different, "No. I'm hoping that I can pay someone for their time to show me around Otheon. Someone who knows the streets like the back of their hand."

Skill List.

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(Active) Lv. –

Description: By using the Quirk [OFA], the user can change their shape, size, color, density, texture, cellular composition, and/or atomic composition to mimic qualities, impersonate entities, amplify abilities, and/or traverse environments.

The origins of this power play a significant role in their capabilities and limitations; altering oneself on a cellular, atomic, and/or conceptual level will permit varying degrees of alteration, while methods that defy the laws of reality, such as magic, will most likely keep to their own set of conventions.

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Stanleyk raised an eyebrow as he looked at me skeptically about my words before asking bluntly, "How much are you paying for having someone show around?"

I merely grinned sheepishly as I answered honestly who I wanted to show me around, "Oh, that would depend on the person. But if at all, a street rat that knows his way around Otheon if possible. But on a side note…"

Leaning closer to Stanleyk, knowing he was an informant, I whispered to his ear, getting his attention as I said seriously, "… Any info relating to the Scervino Family or the Gollini Family would do. And I mean, what not to do to piss the mafia family off."

He genuinely shivered, looking a bit nervous at my words, but gritted his teeth as he bluntly demanded, "… Tch. Fine, but it'll cost – "

*Thud*

I shut him up for the info revealing a literal block of gold, causing him to open his mouth agape. He slowly took the literal block of gold as he whispered to my ear, "Fine. I'll tell ya what you need to know to not piss off the Gollini Family. And as for someone who'll show you around, I know a guy."

He grinned, explaining to me about the street rat that he wanted to show me around. I mentally grinned in my head, getting my guy.

/////

[Later, Otheon, Shanty Town, Europe]

Gaining the info of what not to do in this place, the informant Stanleyk was nice to provide me info of my street rat that's gonna show me around. He sent me to this place in Shanty Town.

Rody Soul's house. I flinched seeing the rundown old metal trailer area where he lived, along with the slums of the people.

Welp, it's a good place as any to find out more about the city. Heading there, I knocked on the door, asking curiously, "Hello? Is anyone by the name of Rody Soul living here? Stanleyk said you have a job you'll be able to do?"

*Knock*

Knocking lightly, I didn't have to wait long to get an answer as someone answered in a rush, "The old guy sent ya! Wait hold up I'm coming!"

*Thud*

Moving back to the side, I saw my chance to see Rody Soul in the flesh. Rody Soul is a resident and street rat of Otheon.

Rody is a young man with auburn hair that he has tied back into a spiky ponytail, along with gray eyes and sun-kissed skin. He wears a red bandanna along with a pair of sunglasses on his head, as well as a pale blue button-up shirt with several patches and a tan-beige jacket with an orange flower sticking out from the left chest pocket.

He wears a pair of thick, gray gloves and a blue and red striped tie. He also wears a pair of black pants that stop just above his ankles with patches on the knees, as well as a pair of dark brown shoes with a gray cloth wrapped around each of them.

Coming through the door, I also see his pet bird, or rather Quirk [Soul] Pino, a small pink bird-like creature, over his shoulder. Have to admit it looks kind of cute.

Brushing off the animal, Rody introduced himself in a carefree tone, keeping things calmly in front of me, "Ah! Sorry for waiting, sir, but are you the guy that Stanleyk sent over? How much are you paying for my time?"

I smiled lightly, bluntly saying, causing him to freeze in place at my words, "Thousand dollars per hour. Just show me around the place, Rody Soul, and I'll make it worth your time."

He froze as I took out a literal stack of bills, paying in advance. Pino froze, checking the money as Rody counted the cash in disbelief, his eyes widening every second.

I smiled at the kid who had just been dealt a bad hand. Due to his father leaving him and his siblings at a young age and how the community shunned them for their father's involvement with Humarise, Rody is a caring big brother who always places his siblings as his priority.

His siblings are so important to him that he will do anything to ensure their safety and well-being, even if it means considering an enemy's demands. Just can't help but respect the kid putting his brother and sister first.

He looked stumped as he nodded his head, saluting in a respectful tone, "Yes, sir! I'll be sure to show you around!"

Having Rody show me around, I'll need some time to locate my targets. Although, seeing Shanty Town is a place with the highest criminal rate here… I guess I can help clean some house, pestering the Humarise Cult and Gollini Family.

Sigh… I hope the original comes here soon. Best to take care of the groundwork.

Shame I used [New Order] for me unable to get EXP. But I can't tip off Sugar Daddy Rat God Nezu unless he gets suspicious of me.

Still gaining information would be vital. That and that chemical weapon that Humarise has would be useful in the war ahead... 

/////

~Iwao O. POV~

[Nighttime, UA Highschool, Nuse Office, Japan]

For a while, it seemed as if life was over ever since that day. I used to be called High-Speed Hero: O'Clock. Respected from all over Japan and hailed especially as one of the top Heroes the region has ever seen for a time.

As a hero dedicated to the people, I sacrificed everything I had for them. My mind, my body, and even the relationships I had to save lives… and of course, they supported my goal and job.

It was natural after all, that saving lives should take precedence over anything. It all came crashing down on that day when I came across the strongest being I have ever encountered.

AFO he introduced himself before plugging his fingers into my chest and forcibly extracting my Quirk. I resisted with all I had and activated [Overclock] to its fullest potential under the danger I was in.

Big mistake. [Overclock] is a quirk that allowed me to stimulate my brain, speeding up my perception and thoughts relative to everything else, allowing me to move at much faster speeds than others.

But that also came with intensifying my pain tenfold as I had to endure the process for so much longer than it should have been. Still, I resisted.

I punched, kicked, stabbed, and resisted with everything I had. Once that man was done with taking out my Quirk, he threw me like a rag doll where I had my face split open, revealing a giant red scar on my face that even Recovery Girl was unable to get rid of.

Forcibly retired and now out of a job for a time I had nowhere to go and nothing to do. Using the money I had saved I found myself visiting the liquor store more and more often.

It eventually led to the point that ruined my relations with my wife and daughter and became strained as I fell into depression till my wife got sick and my daughter left me sick of my shitty state.

After that, finding my daughter through vigilantism and criminal connections, I met Koichi, known as The Crawler. After that, it led me through various life-changing things, eventually finding my daughter and then helping a kid that Soga found asking for help.

Never did I expect the kid I helped all that time ago would grow into such an important figure one day. And tonight, it seems I and along with another victim of AFO, was one of the Wild, Wild Pussy Cats Ragdoll looking depressed.

Her friends, the other two girls, Mandalay and Pixie-Bob, are also here helping her friend through her difficult time. That was when our attention drifted to that brat and Nezu entering as he spoke in a respectful tone, "Glad to see you guys came here at short notice. And, hello again, old man, how's life?"

I merely clicked my tongue, replying casually with the brat crossing my arms together, "Just fine, and your snot nose, punk? What's the purpose of calling me and them here anyway, kiddo?"

All eyes were on him as he bluntly said, causing everyone but the rat Nezu to freeze, "How would you like it to have your Quirks back?"

… What?

I froze at his words as Nezu explained calmly with a sly grin on his face, hopping over to the brat's shoulder, "It's exactly as my student says. Recently, Ren here managed to copy the Quirk of [AFO] and has been trying to understand its abilities. And as of just recently, Ren here finally managed to grasp enough understanding to start helping people who lost their Quirks from AFO return to them."

I couldn't believe the words coming from Nezu. As did the other hero team, eyes widening as the one who lost her Quirk Rag Doll eyes widened as she asked in a hopeful tone, "Y… You have a way for me to return my Quirk…"

Listening to the lady's words, Ren explained calmly the situation regarding passing Quirks over to us, "Not exactly. It won't be like your original Quirk, Miss Tomoko. I can't go over to AFO to return your original Quirk, but the most I can do is give you a copy of it. I'm sorry if this wasn't the answer you were looking for…"

She looked a bit down as the kid showed his hand. I flinched, recalling that hole in the middle of his hand as he explained calmly, "But at the very least, it would help you with your everyday life. Besides that, if you want, I can refine your group Quirks as thanks for helping us during the Summer Training Camp."

The girl looked a bit conflicted before ultimately inhaling as she extended her hand over to him, agreeing in a thankful tone, "… Sigh… thank you."

*Shiii*

Seeing the light as their hands connected, the girl's eyes widened, shining a rainbow glow, exclaiming in a stunned tone, "Ah! My quirk! It really is back to me! Thank you, thank you, thank you…"

She kept on hugging the brat, pushing her in between her boobs crying out loud. I couldn't help but grin cheekily at the brat.

When she was done, Ren looked at me with a raised hand as he grinned, talking to me in an excited tone, "And what about you, old man? I know you might be too old and doing your 'nightly' activities. But how would it feel to be back in the field being a Pro Hero again, showing those thugs of Naruhata to be afraid of O'Clocks return? If not… UA is looking for experienced teachers in the field of crime fighting and could use your outlook?"

I sighed out loud, thinking of the idea of regaining my Quirk. I could say no, but the thought of returning to the field is tempting. I then resolved myself, extending a hand, saying in a clear tone, "I don't kid… I'm a bit too old for this again, but I'll think about it…"

He merely smiled as he lent his hand over to mine and said calmly, "Sure. Just know the offer is always open, old man."

*Shiii*

Feeling this sensation, closing my eyes, I feel that my old Quirk [Overclock] is returning to me again as I feel my brain tingle. Heh… that kid is something else, huh?