In the 20-square-meter rental house, Akira touched his chin and continued to meditate.
There were hundreds of quirks for him to choose from, and for a while, he felt a little overwhelmed, unsure which one to pick.
All Might's One For All was not available. Conversely, the power-hungry villain's All For One was also out of reach. It seemed that even if the quirks shared attributes, each had unique nuances in their use. So, he set those aside.
Akira noticed some less impressive quirks, such as charging electrical devices, turning hands into fans, or feet into propellers. While these might have business applications, they were too impractical for combat.
Since he could select a quirk, Akira was determined to choose the strongest and most versatile one he could find.
"Thunder attribute, light attribute, dark attribute, wind attribute, ice attribute, air manipulation, recovery attribute, power attribute, metal attribute, poisonous gas attribute…"
Akira considered these options good, but choosing one was difficult. Water and fire were too common, so he wanted a quirk that would surprise people.
"Air manipulation," Akira muttered. He recalled All For One's collection, which included a looted quirk called air push. However, air manipulation surpassed it; while air push had limited use, full air control offered versatility in combat.
From his memories of watching My Hero Academia in his past life, Akira knew only some quirks were showcased, like Yaoyorozu's creation ability, Bakugo's explosions, and Todoroki's ice and fire. Yet, he sensed this world might not have all those quirks. If they did exist, they were rare. The idea of controlling air to suffocate an opponent without a trace thrilled him.
Still, the light attribute was appealing to Akira, despite not knowing its full potential. The balance between light and darkness, much like yin and yang, fascinated him.
However, Akira ruled out the dark attribute. He planned to attend U.A. High School, and a dark-aligned quirk might raise suspicion, even though Tokoyami's shadow quirk was an exception. Choosing a dark quirk, especially as a newcomer, risked being misjudged or labeled suspicious.
He wasn't willing to take that gamble, especially if it meant getting on the radar of law enforcement. He preferred to stay under the radar and live his life without complications.
He also knew that mastering any of these quirks to a high level would place him above most quirk users. Most importantly, he could cultivate power in this world, like a form of spiritual training.
Akira had noticed a lack of strong spiritual energy in this world, making it difficult to progress from the initial cultivation phase to building a stable foundation. But having an additional self-defense method was better than nothing, given that this world might be much harsher than the anime suggested.
"Choose the thunder attribute." Akira finally made up his mind. Few had this power, and Kaminari's electricity quirk was far weaker in comparison to the thunder element.
Besides, Akira had a selfish reason: should he ever face a lightning tribulation when breaking through to the foundation-building phase, the thunder attribute quirk would be invaluable. Once he reached that level, even One For All or All For One would not be threats.
This choice would set him on his path, with the ultimate ambition of claiming power beyond imagination. Though he joked about future conquests involving both Yaoyorozu and Midnight, Akira chuckled at his own thoughts, reminding himself that he wasn't that kind of person—just kidding, of course.
With a laugh that cleansed his thoughts, Akira announced to the system in his mind, "I choose the thunder attribute quirk."
"Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the right to select a secondary attribute quirk. You may now select another quirk alongside the thunder attribute."
Akira was stunned. This system was better than he had imagined. Unlike other systems in typical transmigration stories, which often posed difficult challenges, this one felt generous.
"I choose air manipulation," Akira responded without hesitation. Paired with the thunder attribute, this hidden ace could catch villains off-guard.
As soon as Akira confirmed his choices, a surge of power surged through his body. After a brief moment of electrifying silence, the room was still.
The small apartment Akira lived in was part of a government housing complex for low-income residents. The original owner of this body was an orphan, as Akira's memories confirmed.
Despite the sparse conditions of his room, Akira felt invigorated.
He sensed the newfound powers: the lightning attribute in the forefront and the air manipulation behind it. Both quirks felt fundamental yet powerful.
Host: Akira
Quirk: Thunder and Lightning (Thunder's Return), Air Manipulation
Quirk Level: Thunder and Lightning (LV10100), Air Manipulation (LV10100)
Space Storage: None
The system's explanation of leveling up quirks appeared in Akira's mind: quirks could be strengthened either through a lottery that awarded experience fruits or through rigorous self-training and usage.
This meant that, to grow stronger, Akira would have to rely on saving people and accumulating rescue points for the lottery, or he could train tirelessly.
Back in his past life, Akira had been a novice Taoist, known for his unwavering determination. Even if saving points took time, he would perfect his quirks through dedication. Plus, Deku still hadn't inherited One For All. Akira already had two powerful quirks.
This comparison gave Akira confidence.
In a world where darkness lurked behind the scenes, Akira's eyes glimmered with resolve. Unknown and underestimated in his previous life, he was ready to rise with his powerful quirks and carve his mark in this new reality.