Beep…
Beep…
Beep…
My eyes slowly opened.
Bright white lights burned into my vision, forcing me to squint. Everything felt… heavy.
My body didn't want to move.
"…Where…?"
My voice came out dry.
I tried to lift my arm—
—and paused.
It moved.
Smoothly.
No pain.
My eyes widened slightly.
"…What?"
I clenched my fist.
Strength surged through it—stronger than before.
Not just strength…
Control.
My quirk—it felt sharper. More precise. Like something inside me had been refined.
"…Why does it feel like I gotten anZenkai boost? strange…"
I took a deep breath and exhaled.
I slowly pushed myself up, ignoring the faint dizziness. The room around me came into focus.
Sleek white walls. Transparent screens. Advanced medical equipment humming quietly.
"…What the fuck? Did I die and wake up in Cyberpunk…?"
Then the door suddenly slid open.
"MIDAS!"
Before I could react, arms wrapped tightly around me.
"…Mom…"
Cybele's grip tightened.
"You idiot…!" her voice trembled. "Do you have any idea what you just did?!"
I stayed quiet.
"…You could've died," she whispered.
That hit harder than any attack.
Slowly, I raised my arm and hugged her back.
"…I know."
Silence filled the room.
Her grip loosened, but she didn't pull away completely. When she looked at me again, her eyes were tired.
She clearly looked like she hadn't slept in hours.
"…Don't ever do that again," she said softly.
I didn't answer right away.
Because I couldn't promise that.
The door opened again.
Footsteps.
Calm. Measured.
Howard Stark stepped into the room.
His expression was different.
No smirk. No sarcasm.
Just seriousness.
"…You're finally awake," he said.
"Yeah," I replied.
His eyes scanned me—analyzing.
"Your vitals stabilized faster than expected. Your body… healed faster than expected for the severe injuries you suffered."
"Kid, you're lucky you're born with a genetic freak of a body. because if not you would've been dead."
I stayed silent and stared at the window.
He crossed his arms.
"What you fought wasn't just a random villain."
The room grew quiet.
"…That man you fought worked for Hydra."
I froze.
"Ah shit, so Hydra wants me gone now. I already expected this to happen, but to send a man that strong to kill me is insane. I have to get stronger before I die in this increasingly dangerous world," I thought.
Mom stiffened slightly.
Howard continued:
"And usually they send people out to kill me, but surprisingly, they were targeting someone else."
His gaze locked onto mine.
"…And that target they were after is clearly you."
Silence.
Heavy.
"…So it's not over," I calmly said.
"No," Howard replied bluntly. "You still have time to leave the country, since they have almost the same political power as the president."
Mom stepped forward.
"This is madness! Me and Midas are leaving this country, then."
Her voice was firm, but Howard and I could both pick up the fear hiding behind it.
Both of us looked at her.
"Because I'm not going to stay in a country with organizations coming after my son."
Howard didn't argue.
"…That would be the logical decision."
I looked down at my hands.
"This is finally my chance to go to Japan," I thought.
I looked back up at them.
"…If we leave…" I started.
They both looked at me.
"…We should go to Japan."
They paused.
Mom blinked. "Japan?"
"Yeah," I said. "Their hero system is better. Stronger. More organized."
I clenched my fist slightly.
"If people like that are coming after me… I need to get stronger."
Not just stronger.
Prepared.
Howard studied me for a moment.
"…Japan's hero infrastructure is… impressive, especially because they have strong heroes like All Might and Endeavor," he admitted. "Better response time. Better training systems."
Mom looked between us.
"You just want to go to UA, don't you?"
I didn't answer, but she could tell from my eyes.
Her voice softened.
"…Then we'll go."
[Later That Day]
Cameras flashed.
Reporters crowded the damaged street.
Destroyed pavement.
Collapsed buildings.
The aftermath of the fight.
Standing in front of it all—
Howard Stark.
He adjusted his tie, then stepped forward.
"I'll keep this brief."
The crowd went silent.
"What happened here today… is my responsibility."
Murmurs spread.
"I will personally fund the reconstruction of this entire street. Every building. Every damaged structure. Every affected family will be compensated."
More flashes.
More whispers.
Then his tone changed.
Sharper.
"But let me make one thing clear."
The air shifted.
"This attack went on longer than it should have."
Reporters leaned in.
"Where were the heroes?"
Silence.
"If individuals with power are trusted to protect the public—then they should be there when it matters."
His voice didn't rise.
But the weight behind it did.
"I will not allow something like this to happen again. Because if so, then I'll stop funding the American Hero Association and the military."
He turned and began to walk away, ignoring the questions being asked as thousands of cameras flashed.
[Unknown Location]
A dark room.
Silent.
A screen flickered.
The footage played again.
And again.
And again.
The moment—
Where the boy stood.
Where the hired mercenary stood, his face shocked.
Where gold spread.
Crack.
Shatter.
Silence.
"…He was weak…"
A voice echoed through the room.
Calm.
Cold.
"…He got outsmarted by a mere 10-year-old."
The screen shut off.
Darkness returned.
"…Interesting."
A pause.
Then—
anger.
Not loud.
Not explosive.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
"…Send another."
A shadow moved.
"No."
"…Send more."
The air itself felt heavier.
"That boy…"
A faint smile formed in the darkness.
"…cannot be allowed to live."
[Midas POV]
Night.
Quiet.
I sat by the window, looking out at the city.
Everything felt… different.
Stronger.
Sharper.
But also—
heavier.
"…Hydra…"
I know they'll send more. If they send a man who destroyed a whole block with ease to kill me, then I know more are going to come.
I clenched my fist.
"…Good."
I grinned.
"I'll use their grunts to make me stronger."
My grin widened, and I felt my blood pumping. My hand pressed into the bed, and I only pressed my hand deeper into the bed making it snap and bend.
Because when they come find me—
They'll just give me more XP.
I turned the bed frame to gold and reshaped it to normal, making it stronger to hold my weight, I sat down on it and i laid
down and closed my eyes making the darkness fill my vision me once again.
To Be Continued…