From Kōgūyami-sensei, Lock finally learned the truth: the flames he used to scorch Iron Shark hadn't only defeated him—they had unknowingly burned away the lethal toxin of the Quirk-Enhancement Drug, saving his life.
And behind that drug was the villain organization calling itself Evolutionary.
To understand them, Lock had to look back to the beginning of the Quirks themselves.
In the earliest days of Quirks, those whose bodies changed—tails, horns, extra limbs, animal features—were viewed as monsters.
Jiro Kyoka's headphone-jack earlobes, or Ryukyu's dragon traits—ordinary now—were once enough to make someone feared or shunned.
Discrimination.
Bullying.
Alienation.
Those who suffered banded together.
They preached that mutation was not deformity, but evolution—a higher form of humanity.
And over generations, that belief hardened into fanaticism.
They studied the body.
They studied Quirk genetics.
And what was once a support group twisted into a dangerous, obsessive villain faction.
"According to Kōgūyami-sensei, the police and multiple Pro Heroes searched an area ten kilometers wide," Lock said, unfolding a printed city map.
Eight red circles marked eight possible hideouts.
"Evolutionary's been spooked. When the Heroes and police approached these places, someone tried to interfere—stalling tactics." Lock tapped the map. "They're buying time. Moving data, scientists, and equipment. So the Commission issued Hero missions citywide to hit all eight points at once."
Sirius leaned forward. "Which one are we assigned?"
"This one." Lock tapped the southern outskirts. "An abandoned Kawasaki Electric factory. It's the point assigned to Kōgūyami-sensei. We join him."
Virgo, left behind to manage the office, bowed as Lock, Kamui Woods, and Sirius headed out.
Hero work awaited.
…
"The police already issued the mission. Now we wait for more Pros to assemble."
Kōgūyami checked his watch—4:00 PM.
Inside a temporary safehouse near the southern edge of the city were three heroes already on standby:
Pussycat Dolls – Pixie-Bob (North American Shorthair)
Pussycat Dolls – Mandalay
U.A. High School Heroics Instructor – Kōgūyami (Snipe)
The door opened.
Lock entered with Kamui Woods and Sirius in tow.
"Sorry, we're late. The distance from the city center was longer than expected."
"No worries," Kōgūyami said with a smile. "To be honest, Mage—" he quickly corrected himself, "Lock— I thought you'd arrive even later."
Lock's Hero name was Mage, but using personal names among Pros was acceptable in planning stages.
Kōgūyami turned toward the two behind him.
"Kamui Woods. Sirius. Correct?"
"H-Huh!"
They straightened instinctively. Facing well-known veteran Pros was overwhelming for newly licensed Heroes.
Their profiles were exchanged:
Kamui Woods — Fairy Tail Agency
Sirius — Fairy Tail Agency
Mage — Director of the Fairy Tail Agency
Whoah! So you are the second-year kid who became a Pro!"
Pixie-Bob bounded over energetically.
Ponytail swishing, blue cat-pattern bodysuit gleaming, paws raised—she was lively as ever.
Rumor said she was already of marriageable age and very concerned about it.
She leaned close, hands on her hips.
"Aaaah, I'm so jealous! You're so young! You're gonna be super famous someday—here, let me cry on you—!!"
Mouth open, ready to wail dramatically—
Lock reflexively pinched her cheeks between both hands.
Both froze.
Pixie-Bob's face puffed out like a chipmunk mid-hiccup, her saliva attack halted at the source.
"Sorry—sorry-pfft—pfft!" Lock let go, unable to stop himself from laughing.
Pixie-Bob's face went scarlet.
"H-HE BULLIED MEEEEE! MANDALAYYYYY!"
She flailed at him with harmless paw-swats—more like tickles than attacks.
Mandalay dragged her back by the collar, sighing.
"She's just… sensitive. Reaching the age where she really wants to settle down…"
Kōgūyami cleared his throat loudly.
"Alright, that's enough. Since we're all here, let's begin the briefing."
He turned serious.
"Deep in these outskirts lies the abandoned Kawasaki Electric factory. When we approached earlier, hired lowlifes stalled us."
Just petty criminals—obviously paid off.
They offered nothing useful.
Thanks to Kōgūyami's Clone Quirk, they were swiftly rounded up for police pickup.
"There are no hostages involved here," he continued. "If this location truly belongs to Evolutionary, our mission is to subdue every villain present. However—before fighting—we investigate. Determine the situation."
Safety first.
That was the educator in him speaking.
Lock raised a hand.
"Let me handle reconnaissance."
The mimetic spell—Mimesis—learned from the previous A-rank draw was perfect for this mission.
Kōgūyami turned to him.
"You have a stealth ability?"
Lock nodded.
"Then—good. We'll rely on you."
He stepped forward toward the window overlooking the factory's direction.
The first move belonged to him.
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A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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