Hello, this chapter is late even though I had written 2800 words shortly after uploading the last chapter, but I started to feel unwell and got sick, so I didn't touch anything else and stopped writing. I decided to finish it now, 3 days later, even though I'm still sick but feeling better. Sorry for the delay.
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In a dimly lit room, a beautiful woman with pink skin and pink-silver hair could be seen lying on a giant beanbag chair, the same woman resting comfortably.
At this moment, Astra had none of her previous dignity. She wore nothing but a loose nightshirt that hung like an oversized t-shirt, with the words "Villain No.1" printed across her chest.
In her right hand, she held a bag of snacks, while her left hand lazily extended to grab another bite.
"Ah... this is the life," she murmured with satisfaction.
A piece of candy slipped and fell between her breasts. Astra looked at it for a second, then stuck out her tongue and licked it up with a quick motion.
"Mmmy~," she purred, savoring every second of the treat.
Snuggling deeper into the beanbag chair, her long pink tail coiled around her body, wrapping her up comfortably.
In her arms, she hugged a huge Mirko plushie, squeezing it affectionately as she gave in to the moment of total indulgence.
In the dim room, Astra let herself sink into the feeling of complete relaxation. With snacks within reach and the warmth of her beanbag chair surrounding her, it was hard to imagine that this same woman had just consumed a D-rank villain minutes earlier.
Her tail, now fully wrapped around her, covered her like a protective blanket. Astra didn't need to worry about anything at that moment; everything was perfectly under control, or so it felt.
The enormous Mirko plush she was hugging was a whim she usually wouldn't show others. With her nose buried in the toy's soft plush, Astra inhaled deeply and let out a contented sigh.
"Mmmm, I don't know how heroes handle so much tension," she thought to herself as her fingers absentmindedly drummed on the plushie. "Always on edge, always ready for action... Nah, that's definitely not for me."
With a slow, lazy movement, her hand reached for another snack. She chewed slowly, letting the flavor spread through her mouth as her mind drifted into increasingly relaxed thoughts.
She looked up at the ceiling, her eyes half-closed as the dim lights cast soft shadows on the walls. The world's problems felt so far away now.
"I should take more days like this..." she murmured, her voice husky with sleepiness. She stroked the plush more firmly, her expression softening. "Maybe I could even have a normal life if I wanted. Maybe..."
For a moment, her thoughts wandered to a fantasy of peace. She imagined a life without the pressure of knowing the future, without the knowledge that every minute counted, every second increased the chances of survival.
Just her, her whims, her sweetness, and peace. She smiled softly at the thought, even though she knew that dream was fleeting, an illusion.
"No, that's not for me," she told herself, squeezing the plush a bit tighter. "Not while there's so much power out there, waiting to claim the world as its own."
Astra hadn't forgotten the reality that awaited her. She was alone, for now, but she knew that in the future, she would have to face much bigger problems: All For One, Shigaraki, the League of Villains, the Meta Liberation Army…
And she couldn't forget about the heroes, either. Even though she would rather not fight them, she knew her quirk would eventually put her in direct conflict with them.
Someone who consumes quirks wouldn't go unnoticed. In many ways, she would be seen as a new threat, a possible successor to All For One, or even a future AFO. And although they already knew Shigaraki, she was certain she would soon become one of their primary targets.
It wouldn't be surprising if the Hero Public Safety Commission sent someone to eliminate her. Even if she became a hero, she knew the world wasn't all sunshine and rainbows.
Someone like Lady Nagant had to kill heroes who only worked for money, something Astra thought was complete nonsense. After all, being a hero is just a job in this society, so they were simply murders of innocent people.
And enrolling in UA wasn't exactly the smartest idea.
"I'm not naïve enough to believe I could infiltrate UA without raising suspicion," she thought, her gaze lost in the darkness of the room. "That damn mouse-raccoon-bear is too smart. I have no doubt he has ways of monitoring every student. I wouldn't be foolish enough to walk into the lion's den."
Astra knew well that her actions wouldn't go unnoticed for long. Eventually, they would find her; it was almost inevitable. She couldn't always be sure there weren't cameras around her, like with the Slime incident, and if she planned to keep collecting quirks, she would eventually draw the attention of heroes.
"Sooner or later, I'll have to face the heroes," she thought with a sigh. "And not just them, but monsters like All Might, UA, Star and Stripe, Endeavor, Nezu… and the entire heroic society in general."
Realizing the magnitude of her situation, Astra lazily stretched like a satisfied cat. She closed her eyes, hugging the plushie tighter as the sweet scent of her skin enveloped her.
It was a well-deserved rest after reflecting on her inevitable fate. She rolled gently in the beanbag, seeking a little more comfort.
"I don't just have to worry about the symbol of fear and the absolute master of the criminal underworld," she muttered to herself, a bitter smile forming on her lips, "but also the symbol of peace and a society that sees heroes as the answer to all their questions… as if they were gods."
Briefly glancing at the ceiling, Astra let her thoughts wander until she decided to set them aside and do something around the house.
"Well, I'll think about it later. First, let's clean up a bit," she said to herself.
Dressed only in her loose nightshirt, enjoying the freedom of having the house to herself, Astra quickly went downstairs. She turned on the TV, which was airing the news, while she cleaned the table.
"There are less than 10 months left until UA entrance exams. Right now, almost every young person in Japan is training to enter this prestigious academy, from which top 10 heroes like All Might and Endeavor have graduated. We hope the young aspirants manage to pass the tests and support hero society in their fight against the evil villains…"
Ignoring the rest of the broadcast, Astra simply muted the TV, then started looking for music on a platform similar to YouTube, known as Herotube.
The first song went: "'Heroes are the good guys, even if they're heroes for a better world~,'" she mockingly hummed as she skipped the song.
She tried another track: "'Villains~ tak tak~ I'm the muscular hero~.'" Astra rolled her eyes and kept searching.
"'We're heroes, and together we'll fight, together we'll win against evil~,'" another song played, but she quickly skipped it.
Finally, she found something slightly different: "'With my punch like All Might, with my fire like Endeavor, flying over people like Hawks, that's me, the definition of a hero, yeah, a hero you need~.'" Although she liked it a bit more than the previous ones, Astra kept searching.
"'I'm a hero too~ My heart is ready, and I won't back down~.'" But again, she realized the hero theme was everywhere.
She changed the song again and again, but everything was centered on heroes. Even though the last song seemed interesting, she quickly skipped it, frustrated. Astra wanted something unrelated to heroes, something different.
"Just once, something that's not about heroes, please," she murmured as she continued her search.
[30 minutes later]
Astra was noticeably irritated. It seemed like every song she listened to had to do with heroes, and it was driving her crazy. For someone who had been a music lover in her past life, this was simply unacceptable.
"I'm not asking for much, just a good song... Is that too much to ask?" she muttered in frustration as she continued searching in vain for something satisfying.
Finally, she gave up. "That's it, I've made up my mind," she said while biting into a piece of candy. "Before I came here, Astra had been expelled from university for using her quirk when a villain attacked. I had only stretched my body to punch one of them and save my friend Zorra from the attack, but the administration didn't like it. They expelled me without hesitation, and to top it off, my quirk wasn't useful enough for the career I was pursuing."
With a sigh, Astra settled into the couch. "Alright, I've got it. I'll be a content creator..." She paused for a moment, realizing how that might sound. "No, wait, let me rephrase that... I'll be a singer! I'll upload songs from my old world."
As the idea formed in her mind, Astra felt a new spark of excitement. "My first song, of course, has to be about heroes. If I want to attract people, it's best to start with something everyone listens to... but different, better than everything out there. And if all goes well, I could create a page just for my music."
Determined, Astra began searching the internet to see how much it would cost to get the equipment needed to record music. After a while, she also signed up for music lessons. "That wasn't so hard," she thought, satisfied. "There are even people offering free lessons."
Satisfied after buying everything she needed, Astra decided to finish cleaning up what was left in the house. Then she went upstairs to change, knowing that walking around in a nightgown with nothing underneath wasn't the most "family-friendly" thing.
As she came downstairs, she heard the front door swing open.
"Astra, we're back. Come help me with the bags," called her mother from the entrance. Her voice was warm but slightly tired. Astra observed Sakura, her mother, carrying several bags, some even with the help of her long tail.
Astra wasn't surprised to see her. Without a second thought, she went to grab some of the bags, using her own tail to lighten her mother's load and gently take a few more bags from her.
"Hey, Mom. How was your day?" she asked with a curious tone while continuing to unload the groceries.
Sakura smiled, feeling her daughter's affection. Although it was a small gesture, thanks to her quirk, she knew the immense love behind it. "Hi, sweetheart. It was tough, as always, but I'm fine," she replied as they both headed to the kitchen.
Shortly after, the door opened again, and her father, Natsu, entered with Ren, who had just come back from school.
"Look who's here!" Natsu announced with his usual energy, carrying a huge box with him.
Astra smiled slightly at the scene, something inside her appreciating the warmth of the family moment. Despite her recent inner conflict, she found herself quite comfortable with her family, recalling the tremendous love Astra had for them in this life, as opposed to her previous life as an orphan.
"And how was your day, Dad?" she asked as she helped place the bags on the kitchen table.
Natsu chuckled lightly. "It was a busy day, but nothing out of the ordinary. There was a small issue at the factory, but we sorted it out with a few calls."
As Sakura and Natsu started unpacking the groceries, and Ren went upstairs to put away his backpack, Astra stayed in the living room, lost in her thoughts.
"It's decided, I'm going to tell them about my idea," she murmured to herself, as she sat with a firm posture at the dining table. Clasping her fingers together and resting her elbows on the table, she took on a serious pose, unintentionally imitating Sasuke's famous stance.
"Mom, Dad!" she called out with a determined voice.
Hearing the serious tone in their daughter's voice, Natsu and Sakura quickly stopped what they were doing and came downstairs. Seeing Astra's solemn expression, they both sat in front of her. Natsu was the first to break the silence.
"What's going on, sweetie? Why are you calling us so formally?" he asked, a little concerned but curious.
Astra took a deep breath and began to speak. "Mom, Dad, I've decided what career I want to pursue after being expelled from university."
Her parents' faces immediately lit up with joy and relief. They were eager to hear what new path their daughter had chosen.
"That's great news! So, tell us, sweetie, what career have you decided to pursue?" Sakura asked with a smile.
Astra looked at them intently before giving her answer, her determination shining in her eyes. "I want to be a singer. I want to pursue music."
Her parents were momentarily surprised. Although they supported Astra in any decision she made, they had never heard her express an interest in music. In fact, as far as they knew, she had always criticized modern music, describing it as empty and soulless.
"Why the change of heart, sweetie?" Sakura asked gently, still processing her daughter's new aspiration.
Astra took a deep breath and, with all the sincerity in the world, responded, "I don't like modern music. It has no soul, it's always about the heroes. I want to create something different, music that changes everything. Please, support me in this."
Sakura and Natsu exchanged a glance, processing their daughter's words. They knew Astra wasn't someone who made decisions lightly, and if she had chosen this path, it was because she truly felt it in her heart.
Feeling the immense determination of her daughter thanks to her quirk, Sakura was the first to speak. "Alright, sweetie, I'll support you all the way."
Natsu followed soon after. "You can count on me, too, sweetie. Don't hesitate to ask for anything."
[2 months later]
With her parents' support, Astra attended her music classes without missing a single day. Thanks to her intelligence and her ability to perfectly mimic movements, she mastered several instruments in less than a week.
After practicing, Astra would return home and write novels based on her past life, which generated some additional income. Her most popular work among readers turned out to be one about a man who supports gender equality in a peculiar way.
With the earnings she made and some savings, she bought all the musical instruments she needed.
She transformed part of her room into a small soundproof studio, allowing her to record without interruptions. The design of the space reminded her of a recording studio she had seen in her past life.
Although she had learned to play multiple instruments in a week, Astra wasn't satisfied with that. She dedicated herself to studying audio editing, sound mixing techniques, electronic keyboard handling, and perfected the tones of her voice.
Moreover, thanks to her quirk and the absorption of Slime, after several attempts and errors, she managed to control her vocal cords to change her voice at will.
She also practiced a bit in the technological field; once again, her mind shone there, but she still wasn't good enough to do what she wanted; she needed to practice much more.
In these two months, although she hadn't absorbed anyone, she continued training consistently.
Despite having the potential for multiple quirks, Astra preferred to focus on perfecting her quirk and absorption, applying a philosophy she remembered from her previous life: "Don't fear the man who practices a thousand techniques; fear the man who practices one technique ten thousand times."
Thanks to her training, she could now separate and control parts of her body with precision.
Not only did she train her quirk, but she also trained her body. Every morning, she went for a run to maintain her endurance and did strength exercises.
Although many women didn't like looking muscular, Astra didn't care about that at all.
Her workout routine had produced visible results: she had abs, not extremely defined but clearly noticeable. Her thighs and legs were stronger, and her arms, while not overly muscular, no longer looked fragile. She resembled a more stylized version of Maki, but without the scars.
"Damn, I look amazing," Astra murmured as she looked at herself in the mirror.
In front of her stood a stunning woman in lingerie. She had pink skin, silver-pink hair, and blue eyes. Her figure was hourglass-shaped, which didn't take away from her athletic appearance. Her bust was more prominent, and her thighs were no longer thin like her previous human version. Now, she had well-defined muscles in her thighs and glutes. Her abdomen showcased a subtle but present six-pack, and her back was marked with lines that highlighted her strength; even her tail looked thicker.
[Image]
Astra lingered a moment longer in front of the mirror, admiring the change in her body. It wasn't just about aesthetics; she felt stronger, more agile, and, above all, more prepared for what was to come.
"It's amazing what a little discipline can do," she thought, running her hands over her abdomen and feeling the muscles now proudly accentuated. "I'm no longer the Astra I used to be. I'm in better shape now, and my stamina has improved, which means my quirk has also reached another level."
With one last look at her reflection, she stepped away from the mirror and began to get dressed. Astra chose a fitted white shirt that highlighted her toned figure and comfortable pants that allowed her to move freely. As she adjusted her clothes, a slight smile appeared on her lips.
"Image always matters... If someone looks beautiful, they'll attract more attention. Although, in this world, beauty comes in many forms, much more diverse than in my previous world. Here, there are literally men and women who are everyday elements," she thought with a light laugh, "I wouldn't be surprised if one day I run into a guy who's a chainsaw or a woman who's a house."
Satisfied with her appearance, she decided to skip makeup and walked calmly toward her small makeshift studio. She sat on a comfy beanbag, adjusting her posture as she picked up her guitar. She took a deep breath, feeling the serenity wash over her.
"Well," she murmured to herself, "originally I wanted to sing 'Holding Out For A Hero' by Bonnie Tyler, but thinking about it... I'm leaning more toward something that resonates with how I feel now." Her thoughts drifted back to one of the games from her past life, a dark and powerful melody that had always captivated her.
She decided to play the instrumental piece from Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, which would also serve as a trailer for her project, but people wouldn't know that until the game was released.
She adjusted the guitar, closing her eyes for a moment, allowing the connection to the surgical music to flow from deep within.
She began to play the first notes, creating a solemn, almost mystical atmosphere. The sound reverberated in the small space, each string she plucked evoking a different emotion: melancholy, power, and a deep sense of impending finality.
As the music progressed, Astra felt her mind start to fill the melody with words, almost without thinking.
She let her voice flow in whispers, an improvised lyric capturing what she felt in that moment:
Burning brightly, the fading light,
In the shadow of the night,
Once a king, now only ashes and flames,
The world crumbles beneath his name.
Echos of power, whispers of pain,
A cycle begins again and again,
No heroes left, no gods to save,
Only embers to face.
The melody grew in intensity, and with it, her voice rose, almost as if she were singing for an invisible audience present only in her mind.
Rise from the ashes, hear the call,
Embrace the darkness before the fall,
No saviors here, no light to claim,
In this world of fire and flames.
As she reached the last notes, Astra let the melody fade slowly, taking a deep breath as her mind returned to the present.
The song had turned out better than she expected, imbued with a sense of power and sadness. Something in that song resonated deep within her, reflecting her own future, filled with struggle, shadows, and difficult decisions.
Astra excitedly whispered to herself, satisfied with what she had just created, knowing that even though darkness always accompanied her, she had found a new way to express it.
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[End of Chapter 5]
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Hi back, I loved the ending, at first it was going to be the music from 'Holding Out For A Hero' by Bonnie Tyler, but then I decided to go with the one that plays when you fight Gwyn, and I ended up changing it because of what was written, with those lyrics.
[3519 wordl]