Chapter 1 early access
The sun hung high over the elementary school playground, its warmth contrasting the cold cruelty unfolding in a secluded corner. Izuku Midoriya, a wiry 13 with messy green hair and an ever-earnest expression, stood trembling but firm. His legs felt like jelly, but he refused to move. Behind him, a girl had just bolted, tears streaming down her face, leaving Izuku alone to face his tormentors.
"You really think you're some kind of hero, Deku?" Katsuki Bakugo sneered, stepping forward. His spiky blonde hair glistened in the sunlight, and his crimson eyes gleamed with malevolent glee. He rolled his shoulders as if gearing up for a fight. "What can a quirkless loser like you even do? You're a joke!"
Izuku's voice wavered, but he managed to choke out, "I… I couldn't let you hurt her. You went too far, Kacchan."
The other two boys, Katsuki's lackeys, laughed cruelly. One of them, a burly kid with a quirk that turned his fists into rough, jagged stone, pounded his knuckles together.
"You hear that? He's gonna stop us! The quirkless wonder thinks he's a hero!" Stonefist mocked.
The other boy, whose quirk gave him grotesque, bulging muscles, cracked his neck menacingly. "How about we teach him what happens to heroes who stick their noses where they don't belong?"
Izuku swallowed hard. His heart was pounding so loud it drowned out the playground's distant laughter. He knew he was hopelessly outmatched. But he couldn't let them keep hurting people.
"I don't care what you do to me," Izuku said, his voice firmer this time. "I won't let you keep bullying her—or anyone else!"
Katsuki's grin widened into something feral. "Big talk for a weakling like you. Guess we'll have to break you so you finally learn your place."
Before Izuku could react, Katsuki lunged forward, his palm crackling with tiny explosions. The blast wasn't strong, but it was enough to send Izuku stumbling back. He cried out as his knees scraped against the rough gravel. The pain barely registered before Stonefist's hardened knuckles slammed into his stomach.
"Gah!" Izuku doubled over, gasping for air. Tears stung his eyes, but he bit down hard, refusing to give them the satisfaction of hearing him sob.
"Look at him squirm," Muscle Kid jeered, shoving Izuku to the ground with ease. "Pathetic."
Izuku tried to push himself up, but Katsuki stomped down on his hand. Pain shot through his fingers like lightning, and he screamed.
"What's the matter, Deku? Thought you wanted to be a hero," Katsuki taunted, pressing harder until Izuku's fingers bent at an unnatural angle. "Heroes don't cry, do they?"
The sharp crack of bone echoed in Izuku's ears, followed by white-hot agony. His vision blurred, but he clenched his teeth, refusing to beg.
Stonefist loomed over him next, delivering a brutal punch to Izuku's side. Izuku felt a rib give way. He collapsed fully, coughing violently as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"Hey, maybe we should stop," Muscle Kid said, his voice uncertain now. "He looks like he's gonna pass out."
Katsuki shot him a glare. "Don't tell me you're going soft. He deserves this for thinking he's better than us!" He crouched down, grabbing Izuku by his shirt collar and yanking him up. "You don't get it, Deku, do you? You're nothing. You'll always be nothing. So stop pretending like you can be a hero."
Izuku's voice came out hoarse and broken, but there was still a flicker of defiance. "You're wrong… Kacchan. I… I'll show you. Someday… I'll be a hero… even if you don't believe in me."
Katsuki's face twisted with fury. "Keep dreaming, loser." He hurled Izuku to the ground one last time, and his head smacked against the dirt. Stars danced in his vision, and the world tilted sideways.
Finally, the group stepped back. Katsuki crossed his arms, glaring down at the crumpled boy. "Stay out of my way next time. Unless you want this to happen again." With that, he turned and walked off, his lackeys trailing after him.
For several long moments, Izuku lay there, battered and broken. His arm hung limply, his fingers grotesquely bent. Every breath sent fresh waves of pain through his ribs.
Izuku winced as he crawled into the bushes near the school's fence, his broken arm throbbing with every movement. He bit back a groan, his swollen lips trembling as he reached for the small camera he had hidden earlier. His hands shook as he retrieved it, the tiny device feeling heavier than it ever had before.
"This… this is enough," he whispered to himself, staring at the tiny blinking light that indicated the footage was intact. His battered face lit up with a flicker of hope. The camera had caught everything—the punches, the kicks, and Katsuki's cruel words. He'd been documenting this for a week, enduring beatings after beatings, all to gather evidence that couldn't be ignored.
Izuku took a deep, steadying breath, trying to gather what little courage he had left. His legs wobbled as he stood, clutching his side where bruises were beginning to form. He limped toward the school's main office, every step a reminder of the pain his body carried. But the thought of exposing the truth—the truth about Katsuki and his cronies—kept him moving.
…
Inside the principal's office, the air felt stale and heavy. Principal Takamura, a middle-aged man with thinning hair and a crisp suit, sat behind his desk. His demeanor was always calm, but there was an edge to his smile that made Izuku's stomach churn. Izuku clutched his phone tightly, his knuckles white.
"Midoriya," the principal greeted, his tone clipped. "What brings you here? You look…" His eyes flickered to Izuku's battered face. "…worse for wear."
Izuku hesitated but steeled himself. "Sir, I need to show you something. It's important."
The principal raised an eyebrow but motioned for him to proceed. Izuku placed his phone on the desk and opened the video. The screen lit up with the image of Katsuki and the other boys cornering him. The audio was crystal clear, capturing Katsuki's sneers and taunts.
"You're a joke, Deku!" Katsuki's voice snarled from the device. The video showed every punch, every kick, and Izuku's pained protests.
Principal Takamura's face shifted as he watched. For a moment, Izuku thought he saw genuine horror in his eyes. The principal leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.
"This…" he said slowly, his voice low. "This is… troubling."
Izuku nodded eagerly, wincing at the movement. "Yes, sir. They've been doing this to me for weeks. And it's not just me—they've been hurting other kids too. I couldn't stand by anymore. I had to—"
The principal held up a hand to silence him. "Midoriya, do you have any other copies of this video?"
Izuku blinked, his heart sinking at the question. Something about the way the principal asked made his stomach twist. "Uh… no, sir. This is the only one."
Principal Takamura's lips curved into a tight smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Good." With a deliberate motion, he tapped on the phone, navigating to the video file. Izuku watched in horror as the principal deleted it.
"W-wait! What are you doing?!" Izuku shouted, lunging forward. The pain in his arm flared, and he stumbled, clutching the desk for support. "You can't delete that—it's proof! It's the truth!"
The principal stood, towering over the trembling boy. "Midoriya, you need to calm down. I'm protecting my students."
"Protecting them?!" Izuku's voice cracked as tears welled in his eyes. "They're the ones hurting people! You're supposed to stop them, not cover for them!"
Principal Takamura's expression darkened, his voice dropping into a menacing tone. "Listen to me, boy. Those students are the pride of our school. Do you understand? Star students. Bright futures. I can't let your little vendetta ruin that."
Izuku shook his head furiously. "It's not a vendetta! I just… I just wanted to do the right thing!"
The principal's fake smile returned, but it was colder now. He placed a heavy hand on Izuku's shoulder, making the boy flinch. "And you will, Midoriya. Here's what's going to happen: you're going to tell everyone you broke your arm on the way home. That way, I won't have to report you for carrying a weapon."
Izuku froze, his tears spilling over. "A… weapon? I don't have a weapon! I didn't do anything wrong!"
Takamura leaned closer, his breath hot against Izuku's ear. "That's not what it looks like to me. We had reports of a box cutter in your bag. You wouldn't want that to get out, would you? A boy like you… quirkless, angry, looking for revenge. People might start to believe it."
Izuku's heart shattered. "But I didn't—"
The principal squeezed his shoulder tighter. "Look, boy. This is for the greater good. Our school's reputation depends on this. You're being a real hero right now, taking the fall. Isn't that what you want? To be a hero?"
Izuku's legs gave out, and he collapsed into the chair. His broken arm hung limply at his side, his tears dripping onto the floor. The principal patted his shoulder one last time before stepping back.
"Take a week off, Midoriya," he said coolly. "Think about what you've done."
Izuku felt the weight of his choice settle on his shoulders like a boulder. "I'll do it," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'll say I broke my arm on the way home."
Principal Takamura's face split into a pleased smile. "Good boy, Midoriya. See? You're being a hero already. No suspension for you." He patted Izuku's shoulder again, his touch cold and condescending. "Now run along. This is the best decision for everyone."
Izuku walked out of the principal's office with his head hung low, a dull ache spreading from his chest to his entire body. His broken arm throbbed as he clutched it, but the pain from the principal's words hurt far more than his injuries. "Be a hero?" he muttered bitterly under his breath. "Is this what it means to be a hero—to lie, to let people like Kacchan get away with everything?"
He felt sick. Not just from the beating or the injustice, but from himself. He had agreed. He would lie and say he broke his arm on the way home. He would let the bullies win.
As he shuffled toward the gate, a wave of anger surged through him. His fists clenched at his sides despite the pain. "No… this isn't right," he thought, a tear slipping down his cheek. "I want to fight back. I want to be strong enough to—"
A scream pierced the air, jolting him from his thoughts. Izuku spun around, his good hand instinctively reaching out as if he could do something, anything. But the scream wasn't from a person—it was coming from his phone.
The screen flashed, an otherworldly glow illuminating his face. The words "CONGRATULATIONS!" appeared in bold, golden letters. Below it, text scrolled rapidly:
"You've been selected for early access to the Hero's Legacy System. Stats allocated as follows:
Body: 15
Physical: 15
Mind: 30
Choose your class to begin your journey. Your first quest will start immediately. Note: Classes can advance into higher tiers."*
Izuku blinked at the screen, his tears momentarily forgotten. "What… what is this?" His thumb hovered over the screen as he scrolled through the available classes: Mages, Sorcerers, Pyromancers, Swordsmen, Spearmen, Bowmen, Gunslingers, and more. His heart raced as he read the descriptions, but one class caught his eye: Martial Artist.
His thoughts flashed to All Might, the Number One Hero. All Might fought with his fists. All Might stood tall, unwavering, and strong. If Izuku couldn't be a hero with a quirk, maybe he could fight like All Might.
"Martial Artist," he whispered, his thumb pressing the icon.
A bright light enveloped him, and he felt something materialize on his body. Gloves appeared on his hands, sturdy and snug, perfectly fitted. He glanced down to see knee pads and steel-toe shoes covering his legs and feet. The gi he wore was dark green, reminiscent of his school uniform but more battle-ready. A faint golden glow surrounded him, and for the first time that day, he felt… powerful.
He stared at his fists, flexing them in the gloves. "This… this is incredible!" he exclaimed, his broken arm somehow feeling better. The pain wasn't gone, but it dulled under the surge of adrenaline. Before he could fully process what was happening, the glow intensified, and a loud "WHOOSH!" filled his ears.
….
When Izuku opened his eyes, he was no longer on the school grounds. He was in a stone corridor, dimly lit by torches mounted on the walls. The air smelled damp and earthy, and the floor was uneven under his feet. It looked like something out of a video game.
A notification appeared in front of him, glowing in midair:
"Quest: Complete the dungeon or die. Good luck."
Izuku's breath hitched. "What? Die?!" he exclaimed, panic creeping into his voice. He glanced around frantically, but the only way forward was a set of stairs leading down into the darkness. He swallowed hard, his mind racing. "I don't have a choice. If this is real… I have to do it. I have to survive."
The first room Izuku entered was wide and empty, save for a single figure standing in the center. It was humanoid but entirely black, like a living shadow. Its glowing red eyes locked onto him, and the notification changed:
"Defeat the Shadow. Reward: 50 XP, 10 Class XP."
Izuku's heart pounded as the Shadow lunged at him, its movement unnaturally fast. He barely sidestepped, stumbling as the creature's claw-like hand grazed his arm. It didn't hurt much, but the sheer force sent him sliding backward.
"Focus, Izuku!" he yelled to himself, planting his feet. He raised his fists, his new gloves feeling solid and secure. The Shadow came at him again, swinging wide with its left arm. This time, Izuku ducked low, pivoting on his right leg.
As the Shadow passed, he swung his right fist upward, aiming for its torso. His punch connected, and the creature stumbled back, a glowing "-115" appearing above its head. "That's… my Physical stat plus a hundred," he realized.
The Shadow recovered quickly, lunging again with both arms raised. Izuku gritted his teeth, dodging to the left and striking out with his left leg. His steel-toe shoe slammed into the creature's side, another "-115" flashing above it. The Shadow screeched, swiping at him wildly. One claw grazed his cheek, and a red "-20" appeared over his head.
"It's fast," Izuku thought, dodging another swipe by twisting his body to the side. He planted his left foot firmly, pivoted, and drove his right fist straight into the Shadow's face. The impact sent it skidding back, and a larger "-215" appeared above its head.
The Shadow staggered, its form flickering. Izuku didn't let up. He rushed forward, ignoring the pain in his body, and delivered a rapid series of punches: right, left, right. The creature's health bar, which had appeared in his peripheral vision, dropped rapidly.
With a final cry, Izuku leapt into the air, bringing his right knee down on the Shadow's head. The moment his knee connected, the Shadow dissolved into a burst of black mist, and the room fell silent.
A new notification appeared:
"Quest Complete. Reward: 50 XP, 10 Class XP."
Izuku panted heavily, collapsing to his knees. His health bar showed he was down to 1300/1500 HP, but he had won. A small smile tugged at his lips despite the exhaustion. "I did it," he whispered. "I fought back… and I won."
The XP bar in his peripheral vision filled slightly: Level: 1 XP: 50/100
His Class XP bar filled as well: Class Level: 1 XP: 10/100.
As the next set of stairs appeared before him. He's catching his breath from his first fight, Izuku hesitated at the base of the stairs, the eerie quiet of the dungeon pressing down on him. A soft chime interrupted his thoughts, and a translucent menu appeared before his eyes, glowing faintly.
"Menu Opened: Stats & Skills"
Izuku blinked in surprise. "Stats? Skills? This really is like a video game…" he murmured, tentatively swiping through the interface. His eyes locked onto the detailed list of his stats:
Body: 15
Physical: 15
Mind: 30
His gaze shifted to the Skills section. There, under Martial Artist, two skills stood out:
Hand-to-Hand (Passive):
Level 1. Adds 100 damage to any unarmed attacks or class-appropriate weapons.
Power Strike (Active):
Level 1. Adds 100 damage to a single attack. Costs 25 SP.
Izuku's jaw dropped. "That's why I hit so hard! It's not just my strength—it's the skills adding to my damage!"
He noticed an SP bar in the corner of his vision, currently at 150/150. "So I have stamina points too. I need to keep an eye on that during fights."
Izuku's jaw dropped. "That's why I hit so hard! It's not just my strength—it's the skills adding to my damage!"
He noticed an SP bar in the corner of his vision, currently at 150/150. "So I have stamina points too. I need to keep an eye on that during fights."
Scrolling further, Izuku noticed an option to spend XP on attributes and skills. The interface explained:
"1 Stat Point = 10 XP. Skills and upgrades also cost XP depending on their complexity."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So I can invest in more than just fighting skills… there are things like cooking, studying, even inventing." He browsed the options, feeling a spark of curiosity. "It's like… it's giving me a chance to be more than just strong. But for now, I need to survive."
His hand hovered over the Physical stat, and he pressed it. A notification popped up:
"Spend 50 XP to increase Physical from 15 to 20? Confirm?"
Izuku nodded. "Confirm."
He felt a sudden warmth spread through his body, his muscles tightening slightly. His Physical stat updated to 20, and he clenched his fists experimentally. "I feel… stronger," he said, marveling at the sensation. "Okay, time to keep moving."
Climbing the staircase, Izuku emerged into a larger chamber lit by flickering blue torches. The air smelled damp and metallic, and his footsteps echoed against the stone floor. He paused when he heard a low, guttural growl. His eyes darted toward the sound, and he saw them: three goblins.
They were small but stocky, standing about waist-high with sickly green skin and jagged teeth. Each wielded a crude weapon—one had a spiked club, another carried a rusty dagger, and the third was barehanded but had claws that looked sharp enough to shred flesh.
"Three against one," Izuku muttered, raising his fists. "But they're smaller than the Shadow. I can handle this."
The first goblin lunged at him with the club, swinging it wildly. Izuku sidestepped to his right, his steel-toe shoe scraping against the floor. "Too slow!" he shouted, planting his left foot and delivering a sharp jab to the goblin's face with his right fist.
The goblin stumbled back, a glowing "-120" appearing over its head. Before it could recover, Izuku followed up with a quick kick to its side, sending it sprawling.
"One down!" he shouted, spinning to face the others.
The second goblin rushed at him, its dagger glinting in the dim light. Izuku ducked under its swipe, pivoting on his left foot to deliver an uppercut with his right fist.
"Power Strike!" he called instinctively, feeling a surge of energy flow into his punch. The impact sent the goblin flying backward, crashing into the wall with a sickening thud. A glowing "-220" hovered above its motionless body.
Izuku panted, wiping sweat from his brow. "Okay, that took a chunk of my stamina… I need to be careful."
The final goblin hesitated, its red eyes darting between Izuku and its fallen comrades. It let out a guttural snarl before charging at him with its claws bared. Izuku took a deep breath, focusing on its movements.
As the goblin lunged, he dodged to the left, twisting his body to deliver a spinning roundhouse kick with his right leg. His steel-toe shoe connected with the goblin's head, and it collapsed in a heap.
A triumphant chime echoed through the chamber as the final goblin dissolved into shimmering particles. A glowing message appeared in front of Izuku:
"Victory! XP Gained: 150. Class XP Gained: 30."
Izuku grinned, catching his breath. "I did it! Three enemies… and I won!"
Another notification popped up:
"Would you like to check your rewards?"
He eagerly pressed "Yes," and a new screen appeared, listing his spoils:
3 Goblin Gloves: 10 damage
Shadow Cloak: 10 to defense
Before his eyes, the gloves he wore changed. They became sturdier, with faint green runes etched into the leather. He flexed his fingers, feeling the added strength. "These feel amazing! I'll hit even harder now."
As he equipped the Shadow Cloak, a dark, lightweight fabric draped over his shoulders, blending into the shadows around him. He felt a subtle sense of security. "So this adds defense… it's like armor."
Izuku beamed, his earlier despair replaced with a growing confidence. "This system… it's giving me the power I've always wanted. Maybe… maybe I can become a hero after all."
He glanced toward the next set of stairs, determination burning in his eyes. "Let's keep going."
Izuku's heartbeat quickened as a loud ding echoed through the dungeon. A glowing notification appeared in front of him, its text bold and ominous:
"WARNING: Boss Room Ahead."
He swallowed hard, sweat dripping from his brow. His fists clenched, the Goblin Gloves creaking slightly under the pressure. "I've come this far," he muttered to himself, glancing at his dwindling stamina bar. "I can't back down now. If I can survive this, I'll be stronger."
Summoning every ounce of courage, Izuku pushed open the massive stone door ahead. It groaned loudly as it swung inward, revealing a cavernous chamber bathed in eerie green light. At the center stood the boss: a hulking Orc, at least ten feet tall, with skin the color of moss and muscles that bulged grotesquely. Its red eyes locked onto Izuku, and it let out a deafening roar, hefting a massive wooden club that looked like it could crush boulders.
"Here we go," Izuku whispered, his body tensing as he entered his stance. The Orc didn't wait. It charged forward, the ground shaking beneath its feet.
The Orc swung its club in a wide arc, aiming to flatten Izuku in one blow. Izuku darted to the right, his steel-toe shoes scraping against the stone floor. He barely avoided the attack, the wind from the swing ruffling his hair as the club smashed into the ground with a thunderous BOOM, leaving a crater in the stone.
"It's fast for something so big!" Izuku thought, circling to the Orc's side. He lunged forward, throwing a sharp right hook into the creature's ribs. The impact landed with a satisfying thud, and a glowing "-120" appeared over the Orc's head.
The Orc grunted, seemingly unfazed, and retaliated with a wild backhand swing of its massive arm. Izuku ducked, feeling the air rush past him as the strike narrowly missed his head. He rolled to the side, using his momentum to spring up and deliver a spinning kick to the Orc's knee. The steel toe of his shoe connected, and the Orc stumbled slightly, a "-115" flashing above it.
"Stay focused!" Izuku yelled to himself, dodging another swing of the club. This time, he rolled forward under the attack, planting his palms on the ground and kicking upward with both feet into the Orc's chest. The creature staggered back, roaring in frustration.
The Orc slammed its club into the ground again, sending a shockwave that rippled through the room. Izuku was caught off guard and thrown off balance, landing hard on his side. Pain flared through his body as a "-500" appeared over his head. Gritting his teeth, he scrambled to his feet just in time to see the club coming down in a vertical smash.
He dove to the side, the club missing him by inches and cracking the stone where he had just been. "Too close!" he muttered, his breaths coming fast and shallow. Sweat dripped into his eyes, but he didn't have time to wipe it away. The Orc was relentless, swinging the club in a brutal horizontal arc. Izuku ducked low, feeling the wood whistle past his head, and countered with a quick uppercut to the Orc's jaw.
"-120"
The creature roared, spittle flying, and kicked out with its massive foot. Izuku jumped back, but the edge of the kick clipped his side, sending him skidding across the ground. A "-400" appeared above his head, and his health bar dipped dangerously low.
Izuku panted, wiping blood from his mouth. "I can't keep taking hits like this. I have to finish it!" He activated Power Strike, feeling the surge of energy flow into his fists. The Orc charged again, raising its club for a devastating overhead blow.
Izuku waited until the last possible moment, then sidestepped to the left, letting the club crash into the ground. Using the momentum, he leapt onto the Orc's arm, running up its massive forearm like a ramp. The creature roared in confusion, trying to shake him off, but Izuku held firm.
"This is it!" he shouted, channeling all his strength into a single punch. He drove his right fist straight into the Orc's face, aiming for its glowing red eye. The impact was explosive, the glowing "-320" signaling a critical hit. The Orc reeled, dropping its club as it clutched its face in agony.
Not letting up, Izuku jumped down and unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks to the Orc's legs and torso. Each strike landed with precision, the Goblin Gloves adding an extra 10 damage to every hit. The Orc stumbled, its health bar dropping rapidly.
Finally, with one last desperate roar, the Orc swung its massive arm in a wild arc. Izuku ducked under it, pivoted on his left foot, and delivered a spinning roundhouse kick to the side of the creature's head. The blow landed with a deafening CRACK, and the Orc toppled to the ground, its health bar depleting to zero.
The room fell silent as the Orc dissolved into shimmering particles, leaving behind a glowing chest. A triumphant chime echoed through the chamber, and a notification appeared:
"Boss Defeated! XP Gained: 700. Class XP Gained: 70."
reward:
Orc Gloves (15 damage)
Izuku collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. His health bar showed he was dangerously low, but he couldn't stop the grin spreading across his face. "I did it… I really did it!"
Another notification appeared:
"Level Up! All stats increased by 5."
Izuku felt a sudden surge of vitality as his body grew stronger. His health bar and SP bar refilled, and his stats updated:
Body: 20
Physical: 25
Mind: 35
As Izuku admired his new equipment, a final message popped up:
Another bright light engulfed him
Izuku blinked, trying to adjust to the surreal feeling of being back in the real world. The broken arm he had been nursing for hours was gone, and the aches and bruises he'd carried from Katsuki's brutal beatdown were nothing but a memory. He flexed his fingers and stretched his arms, marveling at the restored vitality coursing through his body.
"Everything… healed," he murmured, a mix of confusion and awe in his voice. "Was that all real? The dungeon, the Orc, the skills?"
As if to answer his question, a glowing notification screen appeared in front of him, floating in the air like something out of a dream.
"Tutorial Dungeon Complete. Full release in two years. Enjoy early access and hope you survive."
Izuku tilted his head, reading the words carefully. The screen shifted, and a new interface appeared, showing a map marked with various locations. Each location was labeled with levels ranging from one to one hundred. Alongside the dungeon markers were smaller, less imposing icons representing side quests.
The list intrigued him. One quest caught his eye immediately: "Find the Lost Cat"Reward: 50 XP.
A small smile crept onto his face. "Helping people and earning XP at the same time? That's perfect!" he said, swiping to bring up more details about the quest. A map expanded, showing the exact location of the lost cat. The convenience of the system amazed him.
"This isn't just about fighting monsters," Izuku thought aloud. "It's about helping people too. I can really do some good with this… and get stronger in the process."
As he pondered the possibilities, another notification popped up. This one addressed a question he had been wrestling with: What's the difference between Class XP and Regular XP?
The explanation materialized in glowing text:
"Class XP levels up your class and unlocks new class-specific skills. It's primarily earned by defeating enemies or performing actions aligned with your class. For example, practicing martial arts or defeating foes using hand-to-hand combat will grant Class XP. Regular XP can be used to purchase skills, upgrade stats, or unlock other abilities unrelated to your class."
Izuku nodded slowly, his mind buzzing with strategies. "So if I focus on my class, I'll unlock more martial arts abilities. But if I want to get stronger overall, I'll need to balance Class XP with Regular XP. This system is… amazing!"
Curious, he opened his skills menu. Under his Martial Artist class, a new skill had appeared:
Nimble Body (Level 1): Allows the user to move more fluidly and perform acrobatic feats, increasing agility and flexibility.
"I have to test this out," Izuku said, his excitement bubbling over. He looked around for something to use as a challenge and spotted a nearby wall. Crouching slightly, he focused on the skill, feeling a strange warmth flow through his body.
With a powerful leap, he vaulted the wall effortlessly, landing on the other side with cat-like grace. He crouched on the ground, marveling at how natural the movement felt, as though he'd been training for years. "This is incredible!" he exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face. "I've never felt this light before. If I keep using this skill, I'll become even more agile."
Opening the menu again, he checked the progress of his skills. Power Strike was now 50/1000, far from leveling up. "So just using it earns XP," he noted, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "But it's so slow. If I want to speed up the process, I'll need to spend XP. That's another tough decision."
He scrolled to Nimble Body and saw that it was at 0/1000. Deciding to focus on honing it naturally, he chose not to spend XP on it just yet. Instead, he turned his attention to his stats. His regular XP total sat at 850, a substantial amount. "Let's see… if I spend some of this wisely, I can boost my stats and be ready for tougher challenges."
He navigated to the stat upgrade menu, raising his Physical stat from 25 to 30 for 50 XP. The change was instantaneous; he felt his muscles tighten and his body grow stronger. "It's like I'm leveling up in real-time," he said, clenching his fists experimentally. The sensation thrilled him, but he also noticed something else: the cost to upgrade Physical had increased.
"So it's 50 XP per point now," he murmured. "If I keep boosting it, the cost will just keep going up. I should spread out my upgrades."
Scrolling to Body and Mind, he noticed that upgrading these stats still cost only 10 XP per point. He spent 200 XP, raising both by ten points each. His stats now read:
Body: 30
Physical: 30
Mind: 45
Immediately, he felt a surge of power ripple through him. His health bar expanded to 3000, his stamina bar to 300, and his mana bar to 450. A notification flashed briefly to confirm the updates.
"This is incredible," he said, his voice full of awe. "I feel like I'm finally catching up to everyone else… no, like I'm surpassing them!"
His thoughts turned back to the quests. Helping others while growing stronger—it was everything he'd ever wanted. He brought up the map again and locked onto the lost cat quest. A new determination lit his eyes as he set off toward the marked location.
"I'll start small," he said, jogging down the street with newfound confidence. "But I'm going to make the most of this system. I'll train harder, fight stronger enemies, and help as many people as I can. I'll prove to everyone—and to myself—that I can be a hero."
Author's Note:
Hey there, readers! First off, thank you for diving into this story with me. I'm thrilled to bring Izuku's journey through in, My Hero System to life. I just wanted to take a quick moment to let you all know that I do have a ship in mind for this story, and yes, it involves one of my absolute favorite characters: Himiko Toga. I know she's a bit of a wildcard (okay, a lot of a wildcard), but there's something about her dynamic, chaotic energy that makes her such a fun character to explore in a relationship.
That being said, I'm open to suggestions! If you've got a pairing you'd like to see, feel free to drop your ideas. It doesn't matter if it's someone unexpected or unconventional,I'm all ears. Oh, and for those of you who enjoy a little madness in your mix, Mei Hatsume, the pink-haired genius inventor, is definitely another character I'm considering. I think her eccentric personality would be a fascinating counterbalance to Izuku's earnest determination.
So, whether you're rooting for Toga, Hatsume, or someone else entirely, let me know! This story is as much for you as it is for me, and I want to make it an unforgettable journey for everyone. Now, let's get back to Izuku's adventures in dungeons, skills, and heroics. Thanks for reading and supporting!