BNHA Singularity 156 (Patreon)

Turning to face Izuku, Roman narrowed his eyes and asked, "Have my words offended you? If not, I would...recommend you not go out of your way to offend me..."

Shrugging relaxedly, Izuku countered, asking, "Who's offended? I first paid you a compliment and then made a simple observation. I genuinely wasn't aware that Octopi possessed tails."

"I see..." muttered Roman, his expression deadpan and tone as flat as the nearby Alissa's chest.

Reaching up to adjust his tie, Roman remained silent for a few seconds before, once again, turning away. He had reviewed the video of Izuku's performance during the UA Sports Festival and knew there was, as much as he lamented the fact, a substantial gap in their power. Furthermore, by 'turning the other cheek,' as they say, he gained the pretense that Izuku was going out of his way to pick a fight, strengthening the sentiment that he was 'uncivilized' compared to the rest of them.

Seeing through Roman's ploy, Izuku shook his head, grinning as he turned to make conversation with Historia. Roman had clearly benefitted from the boost in his Intelligence, but it didn't change too much. Roman's ego was too monumental for him to take slights in stride, so Izuku knew it was only a matter of time before the pink-haired wastrel said or did something that 'mandated' having the ink slapped out of him...

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Arriving less than a minute before the assemblage began, Henry jogged over to the front of the Knight Course, skipping an explanation as he said, "I assume everyone's here. With that in mind, today is a special day as we have a guest, someone each of you should recognize. He's mainly here to assist with an international investigation, but he'll also be helping level out the crime rate that has risen since the start of the Meta World Transversal Phenomenon."

Following Henry's words, a distinct 'twing' sound reached the ears of everyone present, compelling them to look to the sky as a bright twinkle appeared in the clouds overhead. Then, in the blink of an eye, a massive hole was created, revealing the blue sky beyond as a large but controlled explosion rattled the arena.

Accompanied by a familiar, "Fear not, boys and girls...!" the smoke and dust were promptly cleared away by a swirling vortex of wind pressure as Toshinori, wearing a modified version of his Silver Age costume, shouted, "FOR I. AM. HERE...!"

As a look of stunned realization flashed across Roman's face, most of the other Knight Course students immediately discarded their usual masks, a few hastily preparing objects for Toshinori to sign while Alissa, pumping her fists excited, outright shouted, "Holy shit, it's All Might...!" with stars in her eyes.

"That's quite the enthusiastic vocabulary you have there, young lady! But, please, let's mind our manners while we're on school grounds!" exclaimed Toshinori, wagging the index finger of his right hand. Alissa began fanning herself and reacting a fangirl in response, but with everyone else similarly enthused, she didn't feel embarrassed. If anything, she was annoyed that she wasn't the first to rush forward to get Toshinori's autograph...

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Following the initial excitement and impromptu autograph section, Henry, who had effectively faded into the background, let Toshinori be the one to explain, "Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, allow me to explain what you'll be doing from now on. By now, you've all experienced what it's like in the breaches and gained the ability to see Status Boards. But those breaches were all Field Types and at least partly cleared. Henceforth, you will be assigned to independent Heroes and Agencies to gain experience working alongside the military and clearing entirely unexplored breaches!"

Using a remote that activated a holographic display, cycling between images of various geographies, Toshinori explained, "So far, five types of breaches have been discovered and categorized. The most common are Field Types. As the name implies, these appear as natural terrains such as forests, plains, grasslands, and even volcanoes floating in the sky."

Clicking the remote and causing the display to show what looked like the ruins of an ancient, overcast city, Toshinori appended, "Next are what are known as Ancient Ruins. These appear as ancient, ruined cities, often with a particular theme. Compared to Field Types, Ancient Ruins typically have fewer monsters, but they are of special interest to various governments as they are a trove of knowledge and the most readily available source of Artefacts..."

Following Field Types and Ancient Ruins, Toshinori explained that the remaining three breach types were Labyrinths, Quest-types, and Boss Challenges. Labyrinths were regarded as some of the most dangerous due to the number of hidden traps lying in wait, but if you made it to the end or stumbled across a treasure chest, there was a chance you could acquire powerful Blessings or rare Artefacts. Quest-type breaches were even more rewarding, but as they had participation restrictions and you couldn't leave without completing the Quest issued upon entry, they were regarded as death traps for the unprepared.

"But the most dangerous of all breaches, bar a few exceptions, are those that powerful Boss Monsters call home," explained Toshinori. "Unlike the monsters you've seen protecting cores, real Boss Monsters are powerful enough to take out even experienced Pros if they attack recklessly. Thus, if you ever enter a breach and receive a notification that a named monster is nearby, leave immediately and inform the person in charge. Each of you is a promising prospective Hero, so while it can be rewarding to take risks, never do so carelessly."

With Toshinori exuding sincerity from every pore of his being, several of the Knight Course students began questioning whether they were on the right path. Those in Roman's group were more resistant to the effect, but Alissa, Cain, and Dae-Jung had serious, contemplative expressions. They each had circumstances that made it difficult to escape the influence of Roman and his cronies, but with the literal 'Symbol of Peace' before them, a feeling that had nearly been snuffed out in each of them was rekindled: hope.

Finished with his explanation, Toshinori raised his right hand in a saluting gesture and said, "Okay, now that I've explained the basics of what you'll be doing for the next month, you check your emails to find information on all the Heroes and Agencies participating in breach suppression. Each has their own list of requirements, so look them over and respond to the email with your top ten choices in order of preference. Assuming you submit the form on time, you should receive a follow-up email by 10 PM notifying you of your first assignment."

Placing his hands on his hips, Toshinori bellowed, "And with that, today's assembly is over! Thank you all for coming, and if you have any questions, concerns, or complaints, I'll be available for the next two hours to answer and address as many as possible!"

Clicking his tongue, Roman told his group, "Let's us away," before turning to leave. Most of his group readily or reluctantly complied, but two people stood their ground, causing Roman to frown as he looked back and asked, "What do you think you're doing...?" with his gaze focused on Alissa.

"Taking back control of my life," replied Alissa, forcibly tearing the choker from her neck and tossing it against Roman's chest. The interior had the initials R. A. A. embroidered in ornate gold print as, ever since she was all but forced into his employ, Roman had regarded Alissa as his property, a pet compelled to obey his every order.

Narrowing his eyes, Roman feigned ignorance, asking, "And what's this supposed to be...?" while gazing down at the choker. In response, Alissa gave him the middle finger and offered an insult that nearly caused Izuku to do a spit take from his position off to the side, expressing, "Eat shit and live, you tentacled freak."

Noticing the exchange, as Alissa wasn't exactly being discreet, Toshinori asked, "What's going on here?" with his characteristically broad smile and his fists on his sides.

As she hadn't completely lost her reason, Alissa didn't attempt to expose Roman on the spot. Instead, she shrugged and answered, "I don't want to cause a scene, but once you're finished with the Q&A, there's something I need to talk to you about."

Recognizing the silent plea in Alissa's eyes, Toshinori didn't hesitate to respond, "Of course! I'd be happy to hear what you have to say, young lady!" in his usual, bellowing tone. However, anyone who knew him well could see that, despite being bright enough to rival the sun, Toshinori's smile didn't quite reach his eyes...

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"What the heck? I expected it to be all futuristic based on the exterior," remarked Alissa, wearing her distinctive green outfit and carrying a large duffel bag on her shoulder as she and Dae-Jung were led into the Shield Compound by Izuku.

"All the futuristic facilities are underground," replied Izuku, smiling as he added, "Once you've had a chance to get settled in and decompress, I'll give you the grand tour."

"Underground...?" Alissa parrotted, looking down as she wondered how many floors deep the facility was.

"That's right," affirmed Izuku, explaining, "There are thirteen floors total, and you'll be staying on the eighth. This top floor is basically a rec center, complete with a state-of-the-art kitchen, gym, pool, and hot springs. The others include things like a solid-light combat sim and production facility, but you won't have access to those for the time being."

"Jeez..." muttered Alissa, feeling a mixture of shock and relief since it said a lot about UA that could build such a high-tech facility in only two weeks. The Royal Academy touted itself as one of the most prestigious schools in the entire world and had some of the wealthiest people in Europe chairing and sponsoring it. Yet, despite hosting numerous charity galas throughout the year, almost nothing got upgraded unless one of the alumni wanted to show off or mend their reputation by making a very public donation...

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After showing Dae-Jung and Alissa to their respective rooms, located on opposite ends of the eighth floor, separated by gender, Izuku intended to head up to the first floor to grab a bite to eat when the latter grabbed the back of his blazer, an anxious look marring her face as she asked, "You're not going to ask me what happened...?"

"No, but I'm a pretty good listener," replied Izuku, smiling as he turned to face the petite tomboy, adding, "If you want to talk or feel like you need to get something off your chest, I'm all ears."

"And you won't judge me...?" asked Alissa.

"Everyone judges everyone," replied Izuku. "It's how we form opinions and decide how we feel about people. So, no, I can't say I won't judge you. I can, however, promise to be empathetic. Is that enough...?"

"Whatever..." muttered Alissa, stepping aside as she said, "Just hurry and come in..."

Entering Alissa's room, which felt fairly spartan as she had yet to add any of her personal flair, Izuku remained silent as she closed the door, made her way around him, and sat on the end of her bed. Then, while staring at him with a tense expression that partially displayed her angular teeth, she asked, "So...how was it...?" without specifying what she was talking about.

Understanding what Alissa was referring to, Izuku caused her face to turn a deep shade of crimson as he casually responded, "Squishy...?" with a bit of upward inflection, making it sound like he was asking a question.

"You didn't notice anything else?" asked Alissa, scooting back and pulling her feet onto the bed as she clarified, "Like...did it smell or taste weird? A guy like you, I bet you've tasted plenty..."

"That's an understatement..." responded Izuku, his smile gaining a hint of impossible-to-conceal chagrin. Alissa didn't notice it, however, as she laid on her back and rolled up her panties and spats, exposing her completely hairless pussy as she tentatively inquired, "Then...can you check mine and tell me what you think?" in a slightly shaky voice.

"Sure," replied Izuku, causing Alissa to feel relief, anxiety, and growing excitement as he made his way over and gave her a closer look. There was nothing wrong with it at a glance, but when Alissa swallowed hard and permitted him to check her more thoroughly, Izuku ascertained the cause of her concern. The...elasticity of her vaginal opening was unlike anything he had experienced. He didn't dare try, but he felt like he could shove his entire hand into her with room to spare...

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(A/N: It's both worse and not as bad as some might be imagining. Either way, know that Roman will be held accountable for his actions. That much is certain.)