Vlad was walking home proudly with his diploma, but then something catched his attention... It was the big tv up near the Fifth Avenue. The Tv shows an interview with Willow Ivanova & a boy... Vlad stopped and decided to watch it.
Interviewer: So, UltraX Ivanov, right? Well then answer this, back in 2020, you smashed a giant robot using immense amount of power... Just when thinks looked hopeless you jumped and attacked the robot hard, but one detail was missed in the news report... You used a weapon which hit right in the core of the robot in the chest, and then you attacked him with the immense strength of your power, you used another weapon to do that... Which leads to the begging question people been asking for almost 3 years now...
Interviewer: What is the name of your power and what does it do?
UltraX closes his eyes, he seems a bit worried.
UltraX: Sorry, it's a secret. I don't like explaining my manifestation at all.
UltraX: But I have to say ask you, interviewer... Do you think a human with no manifestation can be a hero too?
The Interviewer was surprised that UltraX pulled that question.
Interviewer: N-No-
UltraX made a fist and hit the table.
UltraX: as expected... You will say no despite everything. You think a Human with no power can't be a hero?
UltraX: Well I must tell you then, you are wrong. I've seen Humans who fought against Villains without any power, personal experience must say... And what I am saying is... Anyone can be a hero if they just try. Whether they have no choice or just feel the need to protect the ones they love & care about... A real hero doesn't think twice before rushing in to save someone.
Willow was surprised by the fact, her expression says it... The Interviewer and Willow felt like this was just a blessing from a future pro-hero.
UltraX: Otherwise I will keep the Ivanov name and the family up and ready to fight till death!
The Interviewer clapped his hands.
The Interviewer: That was amazing speech, UltraX.
The Interviewer: Anyways, Willow. Does your son date with a girl by any chance and how would you express their releationship from your point of view?
Willow looks at her son and then back at the interviewer.
Willow: Well... For starters, the way they met wasn't anything normal. Must say saving lifes comes with a price always. He on the other hand used to date someone before entering the hero course at age of 15 and a month before the entrance exam of that course... However after he entered the hero course and passed the entrance exam, he lost his girlfriend... But then again a week after the big robot attack, he started dating again and has a girlfriend, even though I added details that are not answering the question, I must say the girl he dates now has some style and understands my son perfectly.
The Interviewer: Alright, well there is more questions so I hope ya ready for another hour of questions, Ivanovs!
As Vlad watched the screen, he was not expecting such speech from someone who just finished his third year, knowing that day when he watched the report for the giant robot... He was not expecting it to be him from 3 years ago. Vlad knows some humans are born with manifestations of one of the parents, has both or a combined one... Or a mutated one as well. Then Vlad walks away as he realized he was gonna be late for lunch back home.
Vlad arrived at the front gate after 35-45 minutes later, the gate opened and he walked down the path leading to his front door, as he opened the front door... He got in and went to the kitchen, noticing it's empty... Now that he realises, Elaina has not answered a single message since he left the mansion. He decided to hang his diploma in his room, not long after. After he hanged his diploma on the wall of his room, he pulled his phone out and tried to call Elaina, but after a minute of no answer... Vlad again called and called for another 5 minutes before giving up.
Vlad: Damn it, where is she? She would usually be home around lunch, expect if... No way, I doubt she has went after a major threat enemy around this time.
A voice was heard saying "Oh please... I am right here~" as someone grabbed Vlad from behind.
Vlad: H-Hey!
It turns out Elaina was hiding in his room waiting to surpirse him. Then Vlad was let go off.
Elaina: Hehe! You never expected me, did you?
Vlad rolls his eyes as he was a bit annoyed now.
Vlad: Yeah yeah... Whatever you say there.
Elaina: Yeah congrats finishing your second school year! I am actually surprised that you didn't get a B+ out of this test... Or atleast the pro-hero spared you... hehe hell if I know.
Vlad then looks at Elaina,
Vlad: You know very well, I always score an S on every test and hero training!
Elaina: Yeah, Yeah... But don't count on that, I heard that Willow as a third year teacher will make sure you never Score a single S, she will make sure you learn that perfection does not exist in a way, that you were just lucky to get S in your first two years...
Vlad: W-What do you mean?
Vlad was a bit worried and afrad for a moment...
Elaina: I mean that... She will make you regret the day you signed up for the hero course. Third years don't get out of alive without getting an F or a D at their entrance exam.
Elaina: So whatever ya do, do not test her patience. I've seen her teaching methods before.
Elaina then hugs Vlad.
Elaina: Either ways, I am sorry I forgot to cook lunch again hehe~
Elaina: It's just that I was worried for you being attacked by a Villain on your way home, that I was stressed as fuck! God don't make me worry again and be on time!
Ah yes, Elaina is worried as usual... She shows those kind of emotions only after Vlad being late for longer then 45 minutes to 4 hours.
Elaina: Either ways, I will get my apron, maybe get yours too. We should cook together, like old times! What'cha say, Vlad?
Vlad thinked... He hasn't gotten to spend much time with somewhat of a family... He does not refer to Elaina as a sister or her parents as mom and dad... He just lives in the mansion as he has nowhere to go. He hasn't changed his last name to Vans yet, which would be illegal if he uses a different last name, but again it worked with the public and tricked the government... And no reader, Vlad & Elaina are not siblings at all or are releated in any shape or form.
After sometimes, they both started cooking together, making some delicious food together as they talked...
Elaina: Oh yeah that reminds me, my mom & dad called me and told me that when we get married, maybe you should use your actual last name in the future...
Vlad: Hm-
Elaina: I mean... You know, your last name was never really changed and you been hiding that from the public after me & mom took you in 6 years ago on a rainy day... But that doesn't matter for now, what matters is that You do not consider yourself adopted by any means, you never were really, my parents refused to adopt you for a good reason.
Vlad then cuts the carrots and puts them into the frying pan which was on the top getting heatend up.
Vlad: Oh I see what you mean, I should change my last name to Vans after we marry or keep my real name and use Vans as a fake one...
Vlad: But your parents forced me to fake my last name till we both are legal enough to marry, tell me why did they do so much for some random kid?
Elaina puts a bit salt on the carrots in the frying pan and some spicy sause as she moves the spoon in a circle, making sure no carrots fall off.
Elaina: Well let's just say we have that one rule which also applies to heroes to take anyone in and help em if they need to. It's normal, really. I am just waiting till you turn 18 this august...
Elaina smiled and giggles as if she was preparing for the day Vlad turned 18.
Elaina: To be honest, we took you in because we had to help you, but I grew so attached to you, so I convinced my parents if you can stay in and live with us. Man did it take sometime to convince em... Heh guess I had interest in you not as a brother, just as someone who I can talk to without freaking out I am a half-breed and I have a demon form...
Elaina: You understand me, I understand you... We are quite the duo and you know it.
Vlad looked at her again and Elaina looked at him, their eyes were meeting.
Elaina: You wanted to become a great hero since childhood, I wanted a person who understands me... Guess we both will get what we want in the end of the day, am I right?
Vlad smiles.
Vlad: Obviously! Either ways you got yours, I am gonna make my dream a reality too! I will become a great hero and protect everyone!
They continued cooking and after they cooked and finished, they made up the table and sit on it eating together as usual, They both looked happy again, almost as if they went off track.
The next moring, it was time... Elijah has made his way to Europe in Paris (France) and then he took a plane for Sofia (Bulgaria). Elijah breaths in and out getting out of the airplane and walking down the stairs.
Elijah: Bulgaria, the home to the ranked 7th royal family... Their big place is located in Plovdiv.
Elijah exits the airport after few minutes and goes to find a good fast food place before he goes to take a train, considering that he has to work with the Ivanovs till Garou is contained. Elijah took his time getting food to eat and food for later as he now gotten to the train station... He stopped as he saw someone spesific...
Someone: So you have finally came to Bulgaria after saying you would contain Garou as quick as possible haha... Such an irony.
That someone spoke as if it's normal to say that... Of course it has to be UltraX.
UltraX: You know, it is just business between my family & you, after Garou is done for... Well we will part ways and never talk ever again, do you understand?
Elijah looks him in the eyes.
Elijah: Yes, I understand.
UltraX: You better keep that in mind. if you think anything more then that... I will personally have to remind you in a not so nice way if ya forget.
Elijah looks away thinking to himself, how he will get to even team up with them if it's just business. The Ivanovs can they work with others besides themself?
Elijah: So can I ask you something, am I the first one ya do such business with?
UltraX: Not really, there were some before you. But it wasn't big business like ours. Remember we are dealing with Garou, but in the meantime we located more dangerous threat...
"Located a more dangerous threat..." Elijah wondered what does he mean, but then he realises something... It is releated to the big bad devils who come by...
Elijah: You mean-
UltraX: Yep... The Gun Devil & The War devil... Both have been seen attacking near the coasts of Russia, Japan & France. In remarking... The war devil only attacked Japan and rumours say they somewhat possess a girl, while the Gun Devil attacks at random... However I got to suspect the Gun Devil will attack the Bulgarian black sea coast or the France coast again. But both are low chances to happen anytime soon...
UltraX: You know very well how devils work around this world... They either kill humans, turn humans into their own personal slaves or work with corrupted heroes and very evil guys... Devil hosts that is. Devil hosts either sign contracts or are forced to be ones. Forced Devil hosts are humans who are technically possessed by the devil or controlled though mind or some kind of strings... I find it weird how some devils are sickeing me to my very core...
Elijah knew most devil hosts are evil and cause a big amount of trouble since most of them signed contracts, but he never heard of forced devil host before.
Elijah: This is new... Forced Devil hosts... How is that possible?
UltraX looks at Elijah.
UltraX: You do not know... Anything that is wicked and twisted can become a reality because of those devils who seek to take humans by force and use them for their own actions. However are all devils evil that is the question society asks today...
UltraX: You see we are not hunting any of these 2 devils, we are hunting the mind devil. That Devil can control anyone's mind at will, now let's go to Plovdiv, I gotta introduce you to the rest of the family, event if you met my very strict mother already who loves to mess with her students with C4s and anything deadly during training.
UltraX laughed it off as he grabbed Elijah and suddenly him & Elijah were infront of the gate of the Ivanov Mansion, then Elijah got to the nearest trashcan and puked...
UltraX: First time eh? Well that happens to everyone, now come on.
The Big gate opened and Ultra was walking down the path, Elijah followed as he was thinking... Is UltraX's manifestation some kind of teleporation one... Or he has three manifestations... Elijah only could think... As they both approached the front door, it opens... The one who opens it was...
Mina: Oh X, you are back finally! We must catch up to our very special training-
Then Mina notices Elijah... They both looked each other in the eyes, talk about it has been sometimes since both seen each other...
Elijah: What is this anti-hero doing here?!
Mina: What is this pervert doing here?!
UltraX was confused...
UltraX: You two know each other?
Then both Elijah & Mina look at X.
Mina: Yeah, he in basic kidnapped me back in Texas, that pervert knocked me out in such a no no way I am still offended, he even asked me some ver-
Elijah: First of all it was not sexual kidnapping, this is misunderstanding! Two you killed some random man on the street, I had to knock you out since you are anti-hero... But not gonna lie sorry for hitting your ass before doing that...
Elijah nerviously smiles as Ultra started at him...
UltraX: No wonder how you met her, she always gets herself in trouble with some kind of a hero near her and she does not listen when I tell her she should run away, but I will have some very nice discussion with you Eli after we done introducing my old man...
UltraX had formed a fist and hold it tight where Elijah could see it, this was a threat of course... Elijah wasn't as afraid, but he knew nothing about Ultra's durability, speed, stamina or even strength so he was worried... Both of em entered in and then Ultra started speaking again.
UltraX: Mina Anderson, you already met her. Now let me introduce you to the old man, you should know he is known to be the carrying bones of this family alongside me.
Ultra pressed a button opening a elevator door from the wall behind the living room's sofa, Elijah was impressed, both enter the elevator and Ultra presses the red button which had B on it, he pressed it, the elevator door closed and the elevator started moving down... Few minutes later it arrived down at a floor under the mansion, the elevator door opens revealing 3 big rooms. Both got out of the elevator and the door closed.
UltraX: Well here we are, the underground area of my family's mansion. there are 3 big rooms, on the left we have the laboratory, that is where my father spends his time researching the scienece of the manifestations, sometimes he researches with my mom it is getting disturbing ya know... The room on the right is the weapon room, also the room where me & my family upgrade gear & support items we could use for ourselvs or the heroes that need em. Of course further in the hallway in the middle is the big training room where All of the family trains their strengths in there, including Mina.
Elijah was surprised he knew that all top royal families had mansions, but the Ivanovs have far advanced area underneath too.
UltraX: Well, let's just hope my mom isn't in the laboratory with my father, I hate it when she is there... Especially since she messed up some stuff last time, for a tough teacher she can be a little bit clumsy, but nonetheless enough speaking for a normal life when we do no hero stuff.
They both entered the laboratory seeing a man who is 6'2 in height... He seemed to just have finished with some research about... AIRFORCE.
UltraX: Dad, I brought him like you asked!
The man turns around and says "hello." which after that follows a short introduction...
Name: Luke Ivanov (Hale)
Age: 50
Information: UltraX's biological father who is also obsessed with science for some reason, he is pretty much the soft underbelly of the Ivanov family despite carrying it alongside his son, his manifestation is interestingly the same to Garou's second one.
Manifestation: Airforce
Manifestation information: Airforce allows the user to use the air as a possible weapon, such as pushing someone far away and maybe they fall to their death, basically the wind makes you go bye bye, drawback is different depending on the user, Luke Hale's drawback is that if he overuses it, he will lose focus & balance overtime in a fight.
Luke: You must be Elijah... It's a pleasure to meet you.
Luke pulls his hand from his science coat's pocket.
Elijah: Pleasure to meet you sir.
Elijah pulls his hand out of his jacket's pocket and both of em shake their hands, then they both put their hands away.
Elijah: So your manifestation is Airforce?
Luke: Mhm, yeah I was naturally born with it. My parents on the other hand... Well my father hand Rain Storm and my mother... My mother on the other hand well her powers were unknown. I believe she had Airforce too, but I doubt it.
Elijah seemed more curious, as if he wanted to peak his nose where he shouldn't like he did when he met Garou, in their fight Garou used Airforce only once... Which Elijah just wondered was Luke & Garou releated or is it just a coincidence.
Luke: Either ways I assume you have not met my wife yet, she is-
Willow: Oh Luke~
Luke looks at the entrance of the Laboratory while Ultra & Elijah turn around to see Willow walking by.
Willow: Oh hey son, I see you brought that pro-hero the New York MA Headquarters has sented to us, very good, Well it seems like we will have a fifth person to train with while we investigate the devil activity in Bulgaria.
Willow: Heh either ways, I knew I would find you three here. So, Elijah Kanomato was it? I heard you were the one taking the patrol test for Vlad Vans, I know you rigged it.
Elijah's face changed from a bit surprised to a shocked one.
Willow: You know I would punish you so hard right now and sent you right in your grave if I wasn't a hero workin in business with you... You are just lucky you are alive.
Willow was not so happy about the patrol test results about Vlad Vans, but she seemed to let it slip aside for now as if she had more important business then trying to make Elijah pay up for rigging the results to save Vlad.
Willow: Either ways, UltraX... Elijah you both go out and patrol Plovdiv for the rest of the day, me & Luke have some important business to take care off.
Elijah bows, while UltraX just put both of his hands in the pocket.
Elijah: Yes, Mrs. Ivanova!
UltraX: Whatever you say, mother.
Both UltraX & Elijah left the laboratory room and went back to the elevator.
Luke: So we have to meet up with Tatsumaki?
Willow then looks at Luke as if she didn't want it, but she had to.
Luke: Guess that expression answers it. Well she said she is at the underground base under the city square waiting for us & Iskra. As usual she gotten more serious, but she still acts like a childish person at age 28... Ugh, why did the president of Bulgaria even let her in the Plovdiv MA Headquarters is my only question which I asked for 6 months now...
Luke: Well doesn't matter, we should move and get to meet up.
15 minutes later, at a apartment on the top of the roof, someone was watching...
Someone: This city of Plovdiv in Bulgaria is full of 25 pro-heroes & 1 royal family...
Someone: This city alongside the country needs liberation...
That someone laughed as if they were preparing for something... Then they turned around and walked away... As usual no matter where, sometimes the darkness is lurking and only real heroes can stop that darkness and make it light.
In the meantime Elijah & UltraX were patrolling the city square, both were getting something to eat and they sat at a bench. Elijah was taking his first bite of the pizza, while UltraX has already finished, since he was eating fast as usual.
Elijah: You call this patrolling, you sound like the lazy kid that become pro-hero just because of his family being in the top 20.
UltraX: Relax it man, Bulgaria has less villains and devils then the rest of the world.
Ultra was saying that as if it was an everyday thing, he seemed to relaxed for such serious time of being a hero and patrolling around the city. Plovdiv also known as the second largest city in Bulgaira was supposed to be full with criminals, gangs & villains... (also maybe devils) But it turns out the city itself is much quiet then usual. Elijah takes a bite and eats his pizza with least of his worries cleared or something... The city square is pretty peaceful in a way, as the Ivanovs living here was just one of the reasons why Bulgaria had less criminal rate then most countries... As well as in the meantime in the underground MA Headquarters of Plovdiv...
Luke & Willow were arriving and take their seats, as that woman named Tatsumaki was already in the middle of the table alongside they infront seen other heroes from Bulgaria... Well the woman usually is annoying to listen to, even though she never has meetings with the MA in Plovdiv that much, this is the second one this year.
Name: Tatsumaki
Age: 28
Manifestation: Telekinesis
Manifestation Information: the user can use phsycic and grab anything from living people to objects to even an entire building, if used on people it can disable someone else's manifesation while being held, that is only till they are being holded, however overusing it may cause the user to slowly lose focus & maybe pass out.
Tatsumaki: Well, well. It seems that all of you losers, including the rank 7 royal family has finally arrived on the meeting...
Tatsumaki: Listen we are gonna discuss some very annoying thorn in our job as heroes... Garou, the devils that are still not beaten the shit out off and the anti-heroes.
Tatsumaki was sitting with her usual pose, while the rest were ready.
Tatsumaki: Alright, so Garou's last encounter was in Texas at Houston... Reports say that there was also an explosion there caused, after some searching the explosion seemed to have been caused by a short midget loser with electricity power who fought Garou.
Guy 1 (Pro-hero): From what I have heard, that short midget loser ya refer to is a pro-hero and second stop calling everyone loser just because you have telekinesis.
Tatsumaki looks at that guy with an obviously annoyed look.
Tatsumaki: Tell me what to do one more time... And I will sent you to the hospital, loser.
The guy then proceeds to stay quiet, while Luke was holding his laughter. Then Tatsumaki continued her explanation.
Tatsumaki: Basically, Garou has not left america... But we have other randoms like you in position to find, fight and contain him, ever since that idiot messed up at Houston.
Tatsumaki: Not to mention, devil activity has grown high in 1/3 of the world... God some humans are pretty greedy to become devil hosts. Either ways the mind devil has been hiding in Bulgaria as records say, nobody knows which city they are or what trouble they are causing, I heard that the Mind Devil has a host, which could bring more chaos then we already have... You're country I can only feel pity for.
Tatsumaki breaths in and out, while Willow reads the doccuments Tatsumaki left on the big table for all heroes except her to read. Those show possible locations of the Mind Devil and their host, stats & information and possibly anything that can be in use to fight it.
Tatsumaki: Surprisingly enough, The Mind Devil probably will be defeated only by a mentally strong person who does not fall for his tricks or just manage instant kill attack. Since devils usually cannot be killed, they will be sent back in hell and stay there for atleast 6 months or 6 years depending on how fatal the critcial attack was.
Tatsumaki was thinking to herself, how is her sister even handleing such a serious job to be a leader of the MA Headquarters of some city in a country... Then the meeting continues on...
End of Chapter 3