The Hero Heightening Project (Literature)/Sypnosis

## Prologue

> *She* did this. She's the one who sent me down this horror-ridden hellhole, the one who caused all this bloodshed. I will *never* be able to erase the images of their horrified faces, their mutilated bodies, from my mind.
>
> -Sakumai Bloom

The prologue begins with an Sakumai Bloom's point of view, mentioning that someone knows where she is, presumably an antagonist. Her arm hurts, and she grips it with her other hand. She suddenly hears a glitchy, female voice call her name, and she gasps, attempting to hide herself by bringing her knees to her chest. It begins to thunder as she hears footsteps coming towards her. Sakumai backs herself up against the wall as she sees a clawed hand wrap around the wall. She begs for this to not be the end as she says that 'she' caused bloodshed, and that she will never be able to unsee what she did. The last thing she sees is a red eye.

## Information

### Link

https://toyhou.se/~literature/144933.the-hero-heightening-project/2.chapter-1-rabbit-hole

### Word Count

2031

> Orphan. Crimson. Eyewitness. Tragedy. What the hell have I gotten myself into?
>
> -Kaiya Yoshioka

The chapter begins with Kaiya running down a staircase, chasing a floating crystal. It phases through two large doors, and Kaiya quickly opens the doors and slows down upon seeing she has walked in on an ancient, aquamarine temple. Scriptures, cracks and greenery cover its walls. She then walks up to the crystal, now floating above an altar. Kaiya, noticing a hole its exact size below it, pushes the dodecahedron crystal into it, causing the crystal to glow. She covers her eyes and peers through them to see a mystical figure now floating above the altar. It calls her name and extends its hand before Kaiya wakes up in a flash.

After a timeskip, Kaiya heads to the city square, where she sees a news story playing on one of the city screens. The newsanchor tells of a rumour about myterious beings with powers, damaging the city but also capturing criminals.

Kaiya heads home as she receives a crypted message of dots, lines and letters. She deletes it before another one files through almost instantly. She's about to delete it again before seeing that this one is entirely in morse code. She hastily translates it to see the message, 'NOBODY IS SAFE'. She tries messaging them back in English, the same message being sent through in response, so she decides to try something different - reply in morse code, as well. The anonymous user then replies to her. They tell her that they must be saved, and if she agrees to save them. She agrees, and Riddle 1 is sent through. Kaiya asks for a hint, but Anonymous begs her to 'find the gem', and that she must save 'them'. Her laptop glitches out and hums before turning off, closing the messages.

The point of view is then directed to Kenji Okada, who is decoding ancient scriptures before Minti pops up as a hologram through his phone. She informs him that a citizen in this city has been sent a riddle that threatens to destroy the Corporation. She asks Kenji to capture this citizen and inform the other Heroes of her, too, and to make sure that they 'don't get ahead of themselves'. He agrees, and she says that she'll send him more information later before Kenji snaps his phone shut, ending the call. He then sees his reflection in a mirror nearby, and goes up to it, wondering who he really is.

The point of view then switches back to Kaiya again, taking a night walk downtown so as to hopefully find something out about the riddle. She wonders what role she has in this as she reopens her messages with Anonymous to see that all of the messages have been deleted, except for Riddle 1 and 'find the gem'. She then pastes the riddle back into a translator, running through each individual line. She asks Anonymous for a hint, but the message deletes itself. Stuck for a moment, she then realises that she may know someone who could help her out.

The chapter then cuts to Kaiya at school. It's lunch time, and she runs through the crowd to find Liling Xīn, sitting by herself. She seats herself down and confirms if Liling likes riddles, to which she agrees. Kaiya asks for her help, and Liling asks her to recite the riddle out loud, but Kaiya, looking around, refuses to, asking if there's a safer place they can discuss it. Liling proposes that she comes to her house, to which Kaiya agrees. Kaiya is about to leave when Liling tells her that she expects some answers.

## Information

### Link

https://toyhou.se/~literature/144933.the-hero-heightening-project/3.chapter-2-hunt

### POVs

Kaiya Yoshioka, Hyousuke, Liling Xīn, Miss Dolita // Emi Solace

### Word Count

5678

> Dad's gone. I feel numb. what's the point in getting close to people anymore when all they're gonna do is leave me?
>
> -Kaiya Yoshioka

Chapter 2 starts off with a point of view from Kaiya, waiting outside of Liling's house. Liling opens the door and invites Kaiya inside her wooden, traditional home, which Kaiya notes is nothing like the rest of the city, which is full of technology and neon lights. Liling introduces Kaiya to Pei Xīn, Liling's grandmother. Liling invites Kaiya up to her room, and the two begin to walk before Kaiya notices an oil painting hanging above a shrine. She recognises one of the seven figures in the painting as the person from her dream.

She asks Liling who they all are, but it is Pei that responds, explaining that these figures are known as the Realmkeepers, and, with the use of the Seven Crystals, they keep the universes in balance. The shrine is for them. Pei says that they have existed for trillions of years and have created different aspects of the universe. Kaiya points to the one from her dream and asks who it is, finding out that she is simply known as V. Liling then brings Kaiya up to her room.

Liling's room is described as being dark with a heavy punk/rock theme, surprising Kaiya, as most people consider Liling to be a nerd. Liling mentions how she never tells people at school about this at all as she fears that they might judge her. Kaiya then replies that then Liling would know who is a true friend and who isn't. Kaiya suddenly sees herself in Liling, and tells her that she should be herself and not care if people judge her, and that Kaiya should know, given that people have judged her in the past. Liling is surprised and thanks her. Liling and Kaiya then set to work upon the riddle.

Liling asks where Kaiya found the riddle, to which she responds that someone sent it to her. Liling asks where the person got it from, and Kaiya suggests that it may have been from online. She shows Liling the riddle and she quickly researches it on the Internet, to no avail. However, she does suggest to Kaiya what she believes certain parts mean. She goes on to say that she thinks that 'an eyewitness' could be in relation to a crime, along with tragedy and orphans. The word orphans itself could be referring to an orphanage, crimson on their hands indicates that more than one person committed the crime, and someone either got seriously injured or died, linking the riddle to a murder case. Kaiya is shocked, and asks what murder case. Liling mentions that she'd have to do some research, but would have to involve an elder, stained glass, and would have to be connected to a string of other cases. Kaiya, feeling sick, decides to leave. She quickly says goodbye to Pei and is about to leave before she asks her if she can tell her more about the Realmkeepers sometime in the future. Pei happily agrees as Kaiya runs off.

The point of view switches to Kenji Okada, who is scrutinising a file of Kaiya, and wonders why she has been led to this path as Miss Dolita, who messages him asking if he would like to meet up in the Jutan District to do some Hero work. He agrees, and they meet at a temple, where Dolita is sipping tea. They exchange greetings as Miss Dolita explains that she accepted a new bounty for their team that involves infiltrating a criminal base and capturing the valuables. She says that Spade-eye is unavailable, but she invited Hyousuke regardless. They then go off to reach a boarded-up, abandoned train station, which they enter, walking through it until Dolita bends down and opens a trapdoor. They climb down and go through a hallway and reach a locked door, which Poppet, who Miss Dolita pulled out of her Magical Pouch, unlocks. They push it open and reach a large warehouse. They hear voices and quickly duck behind a pile of boxes.

A gang of criminals with various animal masks walk in, hoisting duffel bags. They throw them onto a nearby table and zip them open to reveal gleaming gold. The fox criminal, presumably the leader, tells the others not to take too much, but they go on a frenzy, distracted enough for Dolita to pin down the fox. The other criminals, enraged, run towards Dolita, but Hyousuke jumps over the boxes and fights the criminals off. Poppet makes sure that they're unconscious. Dolita then hoists the fox up, pinning his arms behind his back. Panicking, he asks them if they are cops of some sort. Dolita disagrees, telling him that they're Heroes here to put people like him in their places. She warns him not to do this again or else her and Hyousuke will turn him in, and he agrees. Dolita pushes him to the floor where he stays, paralyzed in fear. As Dolita contacts the Heroes, Hyousuke begins lifting duffel bags to see a note pinned under one, written in a number substitution code like the ones Kaiya has been receiving. It informs him that a girl will come to him with a riddle he has to help her solve, and that the devil will strike. He takes the note and hides it in his pocket, glancing at Miss Dolita and Poppet.

Returning from the mission, Miss Dolita sneaks through her apartment window, de-transforming into Emi Solace. The window suddenly chimes and asks Emi to identify herself. When she does so, it prepares to send an order to the fridge to prepare chocolate milk. She turns on the TV to a report from the Administrators, the government of Nakaru City, issuing a warning regarding the Heroes and officially deeming them a threat. Emi then questions whether or not a Hero would actually harm a Nakarian. Emi then has a flashback to her home life.

Emi reflects on how she's been distant from her family for a long time, since they were disconnected from her and her life. She reflects on the day she moved out, when she asked her mother if she really cared about her. Her mother questions that with an expressionless face, and Emi lets everything out, saying that her childhood has been taken away from her and that she's sad that her mother cares for the rest of the world but not her daughter. Penelope, her mother, tells her that she's exaggerating, to which Emi responds angrily that even if she divorced, that isn't an excuse for her to be distant and that her childhood is gone because of her. She then leaves the house forever.

Now inside of her new apartment, Emi is crying over her mother when she looks up to see Minti, choosing her to become the first Hero. Emi questions whether she's been crying for so long that she's hallucinating, to which Minti jumps out of her phone to prove that she is real. Emi reaches out to touch her ear to check that she is real. Minti asks her if she'll accept her offer, to which Emi asks what exactly her offer means. Minti explains that she works for a corporation that has noticed the corruption and crime of Nakaru City and wants to change things. She explains that they've been testing people around the city to see who's best for the role, and mentions that she can also get rid of her despair remnant. Emi asks what her power would be, to which Minti asks if she'd like to find out. Emi then takes Minti's paw and transforms into Miss Dolita. Minti explains to Miss Dolita her powers and how they work, and advises her to try one of her powers on a doll in the corner of the room - Poppet. It works, and Dolita swings her around in celebration, giving Minti a thank-you smile. Minti smiles in return.

Emi's magical phone vibrates, snapping her out of her thoughts, and she answers it to see it's Spade-eye. They discuss the corruption of the Administrators and how they have now been deemed a threat. Dolita looks outside the window and notes how wet and dark it is out there.

The point of view then switches to Liling, who runs to Kaiya's house in the rain. Kaiya brings her in, where her mother, Calista Yoshioka, asks what Liling's doing here. The two mention that Liling merely found something for Kaiya and wanted to see her. They then head up to Kaiya's room, where Liling gets out her phone and brings up a list of orphanages they could check. The duo then go out to see if they're the orphanages they're looking for. They check various orphanages, but don't get anywhere. Kaiya expresses her doubts about finding the orphanage, and Liling dismisses her, telling her she's overthinking and that they'd find it. Seeing Kaiya's face, she then asks why she's so upset, asking if Kaiya knows something she doesn't. Kaiya says that she can't say, and Liling asks if she's being threatened, to which Kaiya quickly denies. Liling, believing Kaiya doesn't trust her, says she'll merely send her the document and then she'll be done. Kaiya begs her not to leave, but Liling stops her, saying she doesn't want to argue and that she's going.

Kaiya, sitting down in the rain, wonders about why everyone leaves her, before hoisting herself up to a bus stop. She tries to scroll through her phone, but her fingers are so wet that the phone glitches, opening up her old notes instead. The notes consist of Kaiya figuring out her name, planning to tell her friends about her name, being asked to sit with the popular groups, her 'friends' using her as a joke, the next day, when she sits by herself, and then a timeskip to a year later, where Kaiya writes about her dad being gone. Kaiya finds herself beginning to type about how she messed everything up again, including her friendship with Liling.

## Information

### Link

https://toyhou.se/~literature/144933.the-hero-heightening-project/4.chapter-3-the-candidate

### Word Count

4825

> 'Our classes always go on about how good triumphs evil, but it makes me wonder... What's so wrong with being evil?'
>
> -Aia Arakaki

The chapter opens with Kaiya taking a walk at sunset before an Android, D1K94, stops her. It asks her why she is out here, and she responds that she is merely taking a walk. She asks why, wondering if there's a curfew, and D1K94 asks if she's seen a Hero with a scarf, dark hair and dark clothing, projecting an image of him in front of her. She says no, and the Android responds that the government has ordered the Androids to find and track down these Heroes, since they are 'unauthorised and dangerous'. It then asks her if she'd like an informational guide on how to find and report one, and Kaiya hastily agrees. It then opens up a Holobook and flits through the key points. Kaiya quickly interrupts it before it can drone on, and D1K94 quickly shuts down the Holobook and scans Kaiya before thanking her and leaving.

Kaiya continues walking before she notices a large building in front of her - Lily Gray Orphanage. She quickly gets excited before realising there's no stained glass in the orphanage. Disappointed, she's about to get going again before she walks past a peculiar, purple house with a crooked roof and a large, circular glass-stained window looking into the top floor. She suddenly fits the pieces together and goes into the orphanage. She turns a corner to see an old playroom, but notices nothing of interest except a precise arrangement of letters. She does a quick search to see that it's an alphabetical subsitution code, and quickly decodes it to see that it says, 'WHERE IT ALL BEGAN'. She then notices an arrow pointing to the floor and pulls out a floorboard, revealing a small hole with a scrap of parchment inside. It's in a whole new code - a number substitution one. Riddle 2 is then revealed.

Kaiya then goes to search the rest of the orphanage, to no avail, only seeing other cryptic messages on the walls. She decides to check the house across the road, but before she can do so, an old advertisement for the orphanage begins playing on the TV. It shows shots of its previous residents, and fades a telephone number, along with the title of the orphanage, into view. The TV then glitches to darkness as it begins to play Tape 1. While the tape is still playing, the TV glitches, telling Kaiya to run in morse code.

The point of view quickly changes to Minti's, her teaching Jay-Jay Trick what is presumably a different language. She congratulates them before she hears a yell in the distance. Jay-Jay asks her what's wrong, but she doesn't respond, floating upwards to get a better understanding of what she heard. She suddenly hears a roar, and realises that it's Kaiya.

The point of view then flashes back to Kaiya, who carefully turns around and yells to see the floor shaking and picture frames being flung off the wall. She runs to the kitchen and dives beneath the table as she hears an inhumane scream. She feels light-headed as she hears a loud sniffing, getting closer. It then stops before the thumps fade away. She slowly crawls out and creeps to the front door before the wall next to her begins to crash. She bolts outside as the invisible creature chases her, the orphanage collapsing entirely behind them. She runs to the nearest house and tries to tap the verification bar, but the door doesn't open, the pixelated screen at the top of the door flickering to life. It tells her that the resident isn't home and if she'd like to record a message. Kaiya begs it to let her in, but it declines, asking her if she needs help. She quickly scales the gate, but the same pixelated screen comes on, berating her. She tells it to be quiet, and it lowers its voice, it asks her to get off, but she refuses, almost at the top. It begins activating spikes as Kaiya gasps and pulls herself over, tumbling to the ground. She quickly examines herself for injuries and opens the garage to hide underneath a white sheet, turning to see Minti.

Kaiya screams, but Minti covers her mouth, looking around before she deems the coast clear, just as the Evales rampages through the garage, bringing the whole structure down. The two run out, and Minti directs Kaiya to the train station, where Kaiya asks where they're going. Minti merely says that wherever they're going is on the other side. Minti then contacts the Heroes on her Magical Phone, telling them that she is at Mewlane Station and that they must eliminate the Evales as soon as possible. One girl agrees to come help, and asks if she's with anyone. Minti looks at Kaiya before saying no. The girl then asks if she's with the Evales, to which Minti replies that she was before, and the girl has to go find the Evales, as it's caused enough damage in the central city already. She then snaps her phone shut and tells Kaiya that they have to get out of there. They go into an alleyway, and Minti mutters that she's shocked they lost something as big as the Evales when she cuts herself off, telling Kaiya, who is waving her hand in front of Minti, that something is behind her. The Evales roars at Kaiya as Minti taps a brick in a wall, leading to a metal tunnel. The two quickly crawl through and it melts shut behind them, as they make their way to Minti's Base.

Kaiya asks where they are, to which Minti responds that they are in a hideout, where the Evales won't find them. Kaiya is about to touch a mirror when Minti stops her, telling her that she doesn't want her to cause anyone a fright. Kaiya asks her questions, and Minti explains that she's a Magibu, a creature from the same universe as the Evales, and that she hoped she'd escape them here. She also says that she's been keeping an eye on Kaiya. When asked why, she explains that she's a Mascot and Recruiter of the Heroes. She tells Kaiya that she fits all of the requirements to become a Hero and wants to do this for her since she's been through a lot. She tells Kaiya about the despair remnants, and Kaiya asks about a catch, to which Minti responds that there isn't one, and she merely needs to defeat the Evales. When Kaiya begins to panic about this, Minti reassures her that Heroes are far stronger than any human, and Kaiya then accepts the offer, becoming Sakumai Bloom. Minti then explains her new abilities to her, and that she'll assign her a team and mentor soon.

Over the next two days, Sakumai gets the hang of her powers and helping the city out. She rests on a skyscraper's roof when Minti tells her that she's asigned her a team and that she'll bring her to them soon, to which Sakumai gets nervous. Before they get there, however, they notice an Evales. Sakumai jumps over to it and begins to battle it. Another Evales approaches her, and Sakumai freezes, about to die before Hyousuke comes and defeats both of the Evales, saving her.

## Information

### Link

https://toyhou.se/~literature/144933.the-hero-heightening-project/5.chapter-4-the-heroes

### Word Count

5185

> The Heroes are rather interesting, aren't they? Symbols of justice meant to serve the city. But they're soon going to devolve into their complete opposites. They're going to become the villains of this story. They're going to turn on one another, resorting to death. And I can't wait to see them fall. May the strongest survive.
>
> -Unknown

The chapter begins with Hyousuke killing an Evales. He turns to Sakumai Bloom, who is trembling on the ground. He asks if she is okay and pulls her up. Minti asks how he found them, to which he responds that he received an alert on the map on his Magical Phone. Minti then says that she was about to bring Sakumai to Hyousuke's base, and Minti leaves them be as Hyousuke brings Sakumai to meet his team. Before they reach it, Sakumai asks Hyousuke a few questions about how Mystics work. Hyousuke then opens a portal to the The Golden Quadrinity's Base.

Sakumai and Hyousuke step into Miss Dolita's Cafe, where they are greeted by Spade-eye and Miss Dolita, and is introduced to Poppet. Dolita offers to make Sakumai food while Sakumai goes to find her sub-base. She enters it and explores it before Hyousuke knocks on her door, asking if she's received a riddle. Sakumai, trying to cover her tracks up, asks why, and he gives her the piece of parchment written in a number substitution code. Sakumai asks if he also received the riddles, to which he says no, and that he received the note on a mission. Hyousuke scans the riddle and offers to help her decode them, and Sakumai accepts this offer.

The point of view switches to Minti, talking to someone wearing a fox mask, who asks if she's found the final Hero. Minti says yes, and that her name is Iris Callis. Minti is told to recruit her and put her in a team as soon as possible and to call off the search for Kaiya. When asked why, the unknown person says that she'd like to see how far Kaiya gets before she dies.

The chapter then switches to Hyousuke, searching for Lily Gray Orphanage on his laptop with Sakumai Bloom in his base. Hyousuke finds an article and video on the orphanage and what happened to it. It reveals that the place was bombed and burned to ashes, and that Aia and Amaterasu Arakaki were suspects. The two then go to look for the files on them.

Techno is modifying a cassette player belonging to Finnan, Hunter of Orion. When asked why he wanted this, Finnan responds that he merely wished to spy on the Corporation and see what they did. They're about to use it when Katsu the Grim calls for Finnan, causing him to leave and Techno to try out the cassette himself. He flicks through a few stations to find the conversation between the unknown figure and Minti. The unknown figure says that she can't wait to see the Heroes fall and see the strongest survive. Techno, panicking, runs out of the room.

A day later, at dusk, Sakumai asks Hyousuke if they're going to steal the file, to which he says yes. When the coast is clear, they exit the broom closet and enter the police station. They enter the nearest cubicle and Hyousuke finds the password and username to enter the app containing the files easily. Hyousuke finds the files of Amaterasu and Aia Arakaki and uploads it to his Magical Phone as someone calls out, asking who's in the office they are in. As the door handle turns, Hyousuke uses his telekinesis to block the door with a cabinet. Panicking, Sakumai tells him that they should leave. The phone finally finishes uploading the files, and Hyousuke grabs Sakumai and hovers the cabinet out of the way, letting police officers and an Android in. Sakumai begs them to know that this is a misunderstanding as Hyousuke hovers them away, making them collapse into a pile as the two Heroes run for it. They escape the police and enter an alleyway to meet Katsu the Grim, who Hyousuke enlists the help of. Katsu happily agrees and goes to fight them off with the help of his shadow creatures. They run away and are about to enter their base when Minti sends them all a message, telling them to meet at the Clubhouse immediately for a special event. They go meet with Dolita and Spade-eye.

A third eye appears on Spade-eye's forehead as her and Sakumai talk, freaking Sakumai out. Spade-eye introduces her to Third, a floating, sentient eye on her forehead that is a part of one of her abilities. The lights then dim, prompting Minti to get on stage and begin to announce the event. Before they begin, she introduces the newest Hero, Little Miss Sunny. She is about to announce this new event when Techno bursts in, running over to Katsu. When asked what's wrong, he cries that they will all die, and the Clubhouse goes silent. Minti goes to Techno, prompting him to run away from her and scream. Katsu asks Minti to tell Techno that he's overreacting, but she asks Techno to let her explain. When asked what she means, she begins to explain the Hero Heightening Project, its duration, and its rules. Hyousuke asks what 'drop out' means, to which Minti says that it means you will die.

## Information

### Link

https://toyhou.se/~literature/144933.the-hero-heightening-project/6.chapter-5-event-start

### Word Count

4665

> Minti... why would you betray me?
>
> Miss Dolita

Chapter 5 begins where Chapter 4 left off, all the Heroes in the Clubhouse beginning to yell. Techno, freaking out, curls himself into a ball. Spade-eye yells that she will quit, about to quit via her Magical Phone. Minti stops her, yelling that if she quits, she will die. Minti asks them all to simply complete the event, which Dolita and Katsu respond angrily that that's insane and most of the Heroes are presumably not even adults yet. Spade-eye attempts to strangle Minti, chasing her around the Clubhouse, which Minti puts a stop to by saying that trying to harm her is in violation of the Guidelines, something that can get Spade killed. Minti says that the cut will be on Friday, and dismisses everyone. They all run to the leaderboard as Techno stays in a shivering ball, crying until The Puppeteer tugs at his sleeve. He comforts him and gets him to calm down. When Techno asks him to promise that he won't die, he agrees, folding him into a hug. Techno then uses his abilities to calm himself down with music he created from his headphones, affecting his mood and improving it.

The Golden Quadrinity sit in their base as Hyousuke rings Minti on his magical phone.

## Chapter 6 - Staying Alive

The chapter begins where Chapter 5 left off, from the point of view of Spade-eye, who screams as Miss Dolita's body falls to the ground, along with Poppet. Sakumai screams as Hyousuke and Spade-eye run over to check on Miss Dolita, who has de-transformed into her human form, Emi Solace.

## Information

### Link

https://toyhou.se/~literature/144933.the-hero-heightening-project/7.chapter-6-staying-alive/

### POVs

Spade-eye, Kaiya Yoshioka // Sakumai Bloom, Detect. Ellis, Tadaki Shimizu // Katsu the Grim

## Information

### Link

https://toyhou.se/~literature/144933.the-hero-heightening-project/8.chapter-7-rifts/