A Tarnished Hero

Chapter 46: Higher We Go

After resting for half an hour – as he told himself he would – Izuku stood up and began the trek back to the other Site of Grace where Katsuki and Melina waited. Fortunately for him, the sorcerers he knocked out were still unconscious, making the trip back a quick one.

Entering the room, he found Katsuki listening to Melina as her soft tone narrated the contents of the book, the ash blond focused solely on learning the knowledge and secrets contained within the dusty tome. Izuku blinked, he knew Katsuki was always a serious learner. Hell, he would almost always get top remarks on his grades during tests because he was that serious in becoming number one. But seeing it in action made him do a double take due to how quiet the ash blond was being.

"Oh, you're finally back, dear companion of mine." Melina's lone eye zoomed in on Izuku, her golden orb twinkling underneath the light of the Site of Grace.

"Didn't kick the bucket this time, huh?" Katsuki turned around, greeting the armored man with a light scowl. "So, now we go back to climbing this shitty academy?"

"Yes. Also, why shitty?" Izuku tilted his head, a bit confused as to why Katsuki would say that to this grand architecture that held secrets no mortal man would ever be able to lay their eyes upon in their entire lifetime.

"Cuz the reception sucks." Katsuki humphed, and Izuku had to admit, he had a point. Imagine how easier it would be just to climb all the way to the top if the sorcerers just let him through? Plus, he didn't even get that many runes in here other than the giant red wolf and those zombies back at the cemetery because of his non-lethal approach to the sane sorcerers.

Which reminds him, he should probably go over the entire area with a fine toothed comb. Can't miss out on any other sweet loot he could find hiding within tombs and graves. But that would be for after he had conquered this academy.

"Anyway, shall we go? The top awaits." Izuku turned to move and Katsuki followed, all the while Melina faded from view as she vanished into thin air.

()()()

The trip back to the giant room with the red wolf was as peaceful as his backtracking to where his companions waited, the sorcerers still in their blissful reprieve from the harsh lady known as life. Once they arrived, Izuku was quick to kneel down beside the Site of Grace and just rest for a bit more. Katsuki, seeing the act, loitered around for a bit as he waited for Izuku to finish whatever he was doing.

His eyes widened, however, when he saw Melina materialize out of thin air, and he was about to ask how she did that, but then he remembered that she said something about always being around, prompting him to stay silent. Izuku, meanwhile, exchanged some words with the brunette, before kneeling as he offered his hand to her. Melina accepted it and then began chanting in a different language that Katsuki couldn't understand.

The ritual proceeded unimpeded, golden motes of light circling around them as they slowly pressed themselves against Izuku's armor. The greenette felt his muscles coil, his limits surging to newfound heights. His core roared with newfound strength, his chest growing hot as the dragon's power that coursed within him hum like a choir.

Izuku smirked beneath his helmet. Already, he could tell that if he fought this wolf from earlier, it would be far easier than his first attempt.

"Thank you, Melina." He said to the brunette, the single-eyed maiden only nodding as she caressed Izuku's knuckles before she vanished. Standing up, Izuku called out to Katsuki, the ash blond coming over with nary a sound as he stared at him with an imaginary question mark hovering over his head.

"The fuck was that all about?" Katsuki pursed his lips, his arms crossed. "Don't tell me you two were a thing?"

"Not essentially." Izuku shrugged at the misunderstanding. He and Melina were close, no doubt about that, but there was no romantic love between each other. At most, they liked each other as the best of companions in this horrible world. "Anyway, about that ritual thing? You know the currency we used with the merchants?" The ash blond nodded. "I can also use them to strengthen myself with the help of Melina."