Super in the Shadows

The best schools have dark rituals, deadly monsters, and crazy youngsters. This one is no exception. ENJOY!

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Legendary U was phenomenal!

Jack felt it as he made his way through the complex...

Everything shimmered with Mana: the buildings— some of them floating amidst a blue glow, the lawns— the sentient grass excitingly moving about, and even the people— all truly remarkable.

Lots and lots of students could be seen chattering and moving about, with many showcasing their Quirks: fireballs, glowing barriers, mini-tornadoes, lasers, pink bunnies, and countless variations!

It was breathtaking, quite literally.

Deep breath.

He closed his eyes, enjoying this feeling of fullness. He had never been here before, yet he felt at home. He was akin to a lost soul finally finding an anchor; this bustling was so damn peaceful!

And as he was enjoying himself, he felt Sharky's concerned hand land on his shoulder.

"Having second thoughts? No one can blame you if you do."

"That's not it. I belong here. Also, can't you smell it?"

Jack spiritedly pointed all around.

This aura. This Mana. This was life! Hell, he didn't even mind the playful strands of grass trying to tie his shoelaces together to trip him. It seemed the little things had been emboldened by his lack of Mana.

All he did was look at them...

The grass strands suddenly froze as if robbers stared down by an officer. They even turned purple in fear, especially as he approached a large hand and~ PET.

"Be good, alright?"

"~~~~~"

The soft grass contentedly wiggled under his touch as it realized he meant no harm, and it felt so damn nice: the freshness of morning dew, the cuteness of tiny grass, and even an adorable purring.

It liked it. They liked it. So much that the strands were now playfighting each other for his attention. Then again, they couldn't be blamed. Who else but a dumbass like him would care about grass?

Well, technically, Gleamgrass, but it didn't matter to most. In fact, it was the same for Sharky, who was still scrunching his nose while trying to smell whatever Jack had talked about.

Pfft— He was around Mana too often. No way he'd even notice— wait, what?!

"I CAN SMELL IT! I CAN SMELL IT!"

As Sharky suddenly screamed, Jack knew something was wrong. Why was he salivating non-stop?! Why were his eyes red?! Why did he look more shark than human?! And then it got worse.

He just bolted away as if he had a Devil on his heels!

He rushed past the entrance gate, quickly taking a right with Jack barely following behind, a courtyard soon coming into sight. Actually, no. This wasn't a courtyard, this was a freaking death trap!

Ominous. Dark. Scary. Oppressful. No traffic. 200% red flags! Yet, even that wasn't enough to stop Sharky, the fool, rushing in, truly having lost all reason. Sighing, Jack still followed even then.

And in there awaited an utterly insane scene...

Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!

An altar of blood, an all-consuming fire, and a crazed devil cackling by the side. What in tarnation had they just stumbled upon?! He felt himself at a loss for breath and at risk of gaining a new phobia.

Wasn't this a school?! The devil obviously didn't care...

“Oh? What do we have here? Fresh blood? How delightfully intriguing!”

Dark. Tenebrous. Except for the small fangs that radiated malice. And as the devil strode closer, Jack finally saw him entirely. Tall, a good portion of it being horns, sly eyes, and vivid red skin.

Makeup? No, this wasn’t SFX at all. It was all real.

[Found a Malevolent Devil!]

[Flee or Flee?]

[ERROR!]

For an instant, Jack froze. Wait, the voice of the world, now?! Monsters shouldn't trigger it, not within him anyway since he wasn't a Super yet. Wait, a minute, could it actually be?!!

That's when Jack realized what this thing was, or rather what this guy was!

'Sigh. Guess he's just a prankster. Better tell Sharky before he—NVM.'

Jack suddenly witnessed a certified Sharky moment. So what if there was a devil? It didn't prevent him from taking a decisive step with his shark-like teeth already out and his fat rippling in excitement.

Seeing this, the devil sneered, straightening his suit-like uniform.

"Oh? Want to fight? I'll play with you whenever—"

"Who cares about that?! I'm hungry!"

"You... don't you have eyes?!"

The devil froze as Sharky unhesitantly bypassed him, reaching the flaming, bleeding altar. Except, the thing actually turned out to be the edgiest BBQ setup ever?!

It had a demonic appearance, with skulls all over and a bloody sign “Free Food if you dare!” that looked too ominous and threatening to be true. Yet, Sharky still greedily salivated at the steaks on it.

With this, the devil seemed about to facepalm royally.

"This one's a fool, isn't he? Hehe, I'll deal with him, but before that..."

That's when he playfully refocused on Jack. But, the way he stared at him was horror-inducing, as if he was trying to steal his soul, as if he would rip him apart, as if he— What?!

The intimidation prank didn’t have any effect.

Jack simply raised a brow, his dark eyes seemingly lighting up. And for some god-forsaken reason, he even seemed pleased with meeting a "devil" on the first day of school?!

At this moment, he was even happily taking in the scene…

The purple glowing magical circle in a corner, with runes swimming in it as if little fishes. He wasn’t sure what purpose it served, but it felt inviting yet terrifying, as if it guarded the BBQ?

Then there was the devil's outfit. As far as he knew, Legendary-U didn’t have a uniform, but this student wore one. Black, with purple embroidery, and even a crest on the left pocket.

Finally, there was the mysterious man himself.

Before he could stop himself, Jack used his hand to compare their height. He himself was merely 5’10, yet he was almost a head taller, if one didn’t count the horns.

Horns were said to help control magic. Was it true? How would that actually feel like? But while he was excitingly staring, the devil somehow turned even redder, shaking.

“Y-Y-You?! Have you no shame?!”

“Sorry about that. First time seeing a Malikor in the flesh.”

Jack awkwardly rubbed his head, butterflies flying in his stomach. This was a Malikor, a real Malikor! Who knew Legendary U had one of those legendary prankster devils as a student!

At that moment, he had to resist the urge to ask whether he had ever seen the Arcane Union or, even better, the Cinderveil plane. If yes, what was it like to breathe in a different dimension?!

There was so much he wondered, yet he turned to his friend instead...

“Sharky, if you want to take a bite, better do it now. No point waiting unless you have six hours to spare. That’s Cinderhorn meat, and it takes ridiculously long to cook."

“Oh? I don’t have six hours…”

Shrugging, he didn't hesitate to grab a bloody steak that shimmered with a purple light, devouring it lightning fast! The way he stuffed his mouth like a squirrel was so funny, yet a certain devil didn't laugh.

Actually, not only did he not laugh, but he started freaking out.

"YOU?! HOW DUMB ARE YOU?! Spit it out! Spit it out!"

His eyes bulged, his limbs flailed, and as he saw Sharky just standing there with a puzzled look, he utterly despaired. ‘Who the fuck eats suspicious raw meat?! Fuck. I’m gonna be expelled, won't I?’

But then he felt sick. It was even worse. There was nothing left to spit out...

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

Any second, the fool would burst in a blaze of gory, his flaming entrails exploding all over the courtyard. Even Healers would be helpless. Cinderhorn meat was that scary!

With that realization, the devil forced himself to smile.

"Never mind, it's nothing, nothing at all..."

The fiery poison was already in the fool’s veins. No point worrying him. ‘Go peacefully, you beautiful bastard.’ As he bitterly sighed, he silently counted.

In three seconds, it would be over…

Three

Two

One

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“Happy New Year!”

Jack just couldn't resist, his happy greeting feeling so out of place. There was no explosion. There was no dead freshman. There was only a playful Jack giving a shellshocked devil a teasing smile.

After all, Sharky's quirk, Devour, was far from normal.

And amidst the silence, Jack saw an opportunity to make a new 'friend', leveraging the guilt.

"Anyway, take care, devil guy. You better get ready, 'cause next time I'll have LOTS of questions for you! Also, if you have a birth Sigil or an Arcane Grimoire, you better bring them along. Cya~"

That's when he departed, bringing a back-to-normal Sharky along. And as he did, there was a thud in the background, a certain devil falling to his knees.

But they had barely left earshot that Sharky frowned.

"What did you say it was? Cinderhorn..."

He accurately typed on his phone, launching a search. And as he arrived on the wiki page, he turned utterly ashen, trembling.

“Grilling Cinderhorn meat in public?! That guy’s a freaking psychopath! Jack, we gotta report him! Who knows how many he’ll kill if we don’t intervene? What if…”

He, who had been so casual a second ago, was completely losing it. Then again, that much was expected, considering the VERY graphic side effects of eating an entire steak.

Cinderhorn was only safe to consumption after grilling it thoroughly to weaken the flames contained inside the flesh, otherwise anyone normal eating it would 100% die!

Yes, one had to burn it to weaken its supernatural fiery properties!

But hearing him freak out, Jack only chuckled.

“Psychopath? Naw, he’s just your regular Malikor prankster, one who showed surprising mercy. This school’s just that insane, I believe. Besides, pretty sure there was a barrier around that BBQ.”

“There was?! I didn’t notice. It smelled so good…”

Sharky awkwardly rubbed his head, already forgetting about it. He instantly turned cheery again, already eying the large arches that led inside the main school building.

The entire thing looked like it had been carved from a Greek temple: gorgeous white marble, an amazing view, and... falling in pieces at places. Still, it looked excitingly grandiose.

Oh, and it got even more grandiose when one saw the flying ivory bridges leading toward the surrounding floating pavilions. They were akin to glowing mobile stairways to Heaven!

Jack could have watched it the entire day, but alas they had places to be.

The duo navigated the student crowd as they entered the main gates. They were new, but no one was especially looking at them, everyone doing their own thing.

But even if they didn't care, Jack still watched...

A man with more fur than a dog

A kid rolling in an energy ball

A lady flying her way in

People here really were special. They didn't just have Quirks; they clearly knew how to use them decently and weren't afraid to show off. But just as they were advancing, Sharky suddenly stopped.

He was akin to a rabbit coming face to face with a lion, restless!

"You again?! How did you even get here so fast?!"

Before them was the "same" devil-like individual, his mere presence parting the busy crowd. Except this time, he was bowing as if an English gentleman, just missing the golden monocle.

And hearing the disbelief in Sharky's voice, he grinned.

“Name’s Lucius Graves, the greatest—”

“Splitter.” Jack completed.

That’s when the devil faltered, almost falling down. In his eyes appeared confusion, shock, disbelief, and even slight fear?! How?! How did he know?!

A Splitter, a Super that could create copies of themselves. A bad Splitter was easy to notice, but that was the whole point! He wasn’t a noob that easy to figure out!

Prior info?! It didn't feel like it. A setup?! Probably not. A knowledge-based Quirk?! Maybe. Which was it? As endless possibilities flashed in his mind, so did his curiosity grow. And sensing this, Jack chimed in.

“Would you like to know?”

Jack gently asked, his dark eyes resting on the devil.

And that’s when everything changed. The relationship between the two changed, but so did the entire hallway. After all, people instantly sensed the Drama about to begin!!

Jack raised a single finger, the devil loudly gulping. One? A hundred Credits? Or was it a thousand? Or maybe one whole Mana crystal?! Ironically, he felt about to make a deal with the Devil.

Still, he HAD to know! There was something too mysterious about the youngster's smile. But for all the craziness and madness he had expected…

“One interview. We can do it during lunch sometime.”

That was it?! Nothing more? Jack could clearly see the relief on the man's face. Just like this, he had pretty easily struck some goodwill. And as the man looked at him as if a saint, Jack chuckled.

"Don't overthink it too much. Also, how's the hand?"

Jack casually asked, yet didn't even bother to stick around for the answer. He simply walked away, leaving a bunch of very confused bystanders behind, but that was more than enough.

Not too far away, a devil in a courtyard shook…

With a jerk, he raised his palms toward his eyes. The skin was pierced in a few places. It was from his own nails, from clenching too hard earlier. He hadn’t even noticed before.

That’s when he felt a chill down his spine.

Noticing the tiny holes wasn’t hard.

Noticing the tiny holes in an unfamiliar school, in an unfamiliar setting, next to a demonic altar, next to a literal devil, with a friend “dying” by the side… now that was impossible!

“You, who are you?!” This question resonated inside him. No, it didn’t just resonate inside him, but through all the “hims”.

Across the entire school, devils suddenly rose from their slumber. They all wore the same outfit to the tee, and they all had the same question ravaging their mind.

“You, who are you?!” “You, who are you?!” “You, who are you?!” “You, who are you?!” “You, who are you?!” “You, who are you?!” “You, who are you?!” “You, who are you?!” “You, who are you?!” “You, who are you?!” “You, who are you?!” “You, who are you?!”

At that moment, the first regular student of Legendary U, one that didn’t even possess an ability, had already caused a commotion. And it wasn’t a ripple either, but a tidal wave!

With this, the school seemingly trembled. Yet, even as it did, the source of it all remained blissfully oblivious. In a very dark place, Jack was now "bickering" with his best friend.

At that moment, Sharky's grin was larger than the moon as he roared.

“Wait, are we… lost?! You lost us?! Holy shit, Jack! We’re Lost!”

"What do you mean we? I'm at the right place!"

“Then, how do you explain that wall, eh?”

They were at an impasse, Sharky enjoying the hell out of it. After all, getting lost alone was concerning, but getting lost with one’s best friend was an adventure!

And this specific adventure sure was getting interesting…

They were in an underground passage that smelled of humidity, stuffiness, and rats! Jack had chosen it because it led directly to their respective destinations, at least in theory.

Now, he couldn’t help but frown as he glared at the enchanted interactive paper map he had grabbed near the entrance. On it, he could clearly see a T junction, a path leading to the Battle Complex and another to the Support one.

But there laid the issue: it wasn’t a T here, but an L instead! There was a goddamn wall blocking Jack’s way! Had it been recently added or something? What kind of bullshit was that?

Stopping, he came closer to observe it, running his hand across the gray plaster-like surface. It was rough yet smooth, less humid than the rest, but more importantly, warm?

Wait, what if this thing simply wasn't a wall...

“Never mind. The map’s fine.”

Jack concluded. Then, without hesitating, he mightily raised a foot and… KICKED?! He was akin to a barbarian in rage mode or a kid having the Wi-fi taken away. He went to town on the wall, beating it savagely.

And that’s when the thing rippled.

As if Jello, it started wobbling and then grunting, its color changing completely. What was once a gray wall turned almost transparent, revealing lots of half-melted bones.

Sharky gasped; even he knew this creature!

A gelatinous cube, an ooze-like being that devoured matter, anti-matter, and basically anything entering its belly. More importantly, it was known to eat even humans!

“Jack, I think we should leave…”

“Hmmm, maybe, depends really. Give me a quick minute.”

Instead of cowering, he approached, rhythmically tapping its outer exterior. It almost looked like he was trying to play the drum: “.... . .-.. .-.. --- / - .... . .-. .”

“.... ..- -. --. .-. -.--”

As the creature replied, Jack smiled. “Obviously! I'd be weird if you weren't!” He laughed, tapping some more, glad all his studying hadn't been for nothing.

He kept at it until the creature started wobbling wildly like a Japanese sumo on an elliptic machine! Then, as if a drawbridge rising, the monster actually opened up, revealing a VERY clean hallway.

Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle, the creature was welcoming them inside...

That’s when Jack froze. Just looking at the human-sized hole in the cube made him nauseous. What if it suddenly decided to eat him? What if it just wiggled by mistake?

His guts churned. He felt bile go up his throat. He felt the urge to run. He wanted so much to turn back. Yet he couldn’t. If he gave up that easily, what would it make him?

Everything he knew assured him it would be fine…

This thing seemed to be the school cleaner, a friendly one. Its wobble had even assured him safe passage in Morse. Or so he thought. But what if he had misunderstood? He clenched his fist.

‘C’mon, Jack. The sane thing’s to turn back! The sane thing’s not to risk your life. The sane thing’s to accept your fate. You’re just a quirk-less, powerless loser!’

He inwardly berated himself. And as he did, a fire burned inside him. Yes, retreating was the sane thing to do, but that's precisely why he couldn't do it!

He really, really, really wanted to turn back, but he’d regret it if he did.

“I’m Jack Motherfucking Bright.”

Hyping himself up, he powerfully took a step forward. One that was as confident as his nerves rocky. Then he took another, and another, until he was deep in the creature.

And that’s when he heard it… BLOP!

He felt the slime's jiggle in his soul. The creature had already closed the “entrance” behind him. After all, why would it leave it open for no reason? Yet, it was as if death had him in its grasp.

It scared him shitless. He felt trapped, he felt cornered, and about to die. As he broke into a sweat, it almost became too much for him to handle. But that’s when it happened.

“Hehe, Jack Motherfucking Bright, was it? Do you love MILFs that much?”

As he heard Sharky’s voice, he was stunned into confusion.

The teasing voice came from right behind him. And as he turned, he saw Sharky right by his side, even if the Battle Complex was in the other direction. Why? Why was he here?!

The latter chuckled, pointing upward…

“I had to see it. Doesn’t it look just like the sea?”

As if by magic, the oppressive and terrifying feeling went away. As Jack looked upward, what he saw wasn't a murderous gelatinous cube but a sea of jelly gently swaying.

Glowing acid bubbles, fishy-looking bones, and even waves.

It really looked like a sea, or perhaps, even a starry sky. And with that realization, the fear completely went away. He even stopped to observe it all, blown away by the beauty.

‘This sure is peaceful. I could remain here forever.’

‘Who knew gelatinous cubes were that neat.’

‘Date-worthy even, with the right girl’

Peaceful, so damn peaceful, especially with Sharky by his side. The man knew he wasn't good with enclosed spaces and had followed. That simple. And amidst the beautiful scenery, Jack chuckled.

“You’re crazy, you know that?”

“Of course! I gotta be crazy to be your friend. But don’t worry, we can be crazy together! Doesn't that sound fun?” It sure did, fun enough that he could resume walking.

But this time, Jack’s confidence wasn’t faked as he steadily progressed.

Then a minute later, they were erupting out on the other side, the creature even wobbling them goodbye. From there, it was only a short distance to the Support Complex.

Sitting, Sharky more than lazily waved him away….

“You go, imma chill a little bit, then go back.”

"Gotcha! Take care!"

With this, the two parted after sharing a few words. But Jack had barely disappeared when Sharky changed entirely, madly flailing on the ground.

“HOLY SHIT THAT WAS INSANE!” And as he gazed back at the gelatinous cube, he gulped loudly. “Yeah, no way I’m going back in there alone. I’m not a godly nerd like him!”

He’d surely take the long way around, no matter how long it took! And as he decisively nodded, he wasn’t the only one facing the gelatinous cube with fear.

On the other side, there was a certain devil…

“Where is he?! Why can’t I find him?!”

He had checked every goddamn hallway possible, above and below ground, and yet couldn’t find the mysterious youngster anywhere. It was as if he had vanished!

This T-shaped junction was one of the last few remaining.

“Of course, this damn thing’s blocking the way.”

He resentfully glared at the gelatinous cube that didn’t react to his presence. In fact, the creature was completely opaque, seemingly slumbering and not giving a damn.

Should he wake it up? No, better not. He shivered, soon consoling himself.

“Whatever, I guess it doesn’t matter. Even if it saw them, this thing can’t speak. Also, it's not like two freshmen could bypass it either.”

Sighing, he turned back the way he had come from. Still, where the hell had he gone?! At this moment, dozens of devils all over asked themselves that same question.

And at this rate, they’d all collapse from exhaustion, too…

Just like that, a senior was about to turn insane, which Jack was utterly oblivious to. Actually, he was about to reach a room resonating with his map that read: “Support 101 — Introduction Course!”

This was it! Here would begin his journey!

He powerfully took a step… and collided with the air?! That’s when he felt a squishy pressure, heard a soft moan, and soon the empty corridor rippled, revealing a collapsed person.

He froze. Had he just avoided an ambush?! But seriously, what was up with this school?!

There knelt a half-naked girl, ass up...