The Cloud Quirk's Lethal Formation

USJ Landslide Zone

Something's not quite right here, thought Slade as he kicked another villain back down the slope. Most of these guys are chumps, and they don't seem to be too talented at strategic fighting. Another villain jumped up from behind Slade, only to receive a highly dense elbow to the face which put them down for the count. So I guess it just begs the question, he surmised to himself, how do these guys plan to kill All Might?

Slade took a quick moment to glance over at Todoroki, who was having no trouble at all freezing one villain after another whenever they entered his line of sight. "How are things going on your end," asked Slade as he punched away a villain with a gas mask on. "Fine just so long as you keep any stragglers from getting behind me," answered Todoroki as he spread his ice out to freeze a few other villains.

"Not a problem," said Slade as three more villains rushed at him. Slade rammed his shoulder into the first villain, causing him to grunt in agony as he went rolling back while the other two villains split and tried attacking Slade on both sides, one with a hammer and the other with metal gloves. Slade stopped the hammer by catching it with his hand while allowing the other villain's fist to impact with his jaw, and shatter.

"Ow what the # #," exclaimed the villain as he held his throbbing hand. "My body's density can reach higher than cheap metal fists," said Slade as the other villain tried to wrench his hammer away from him, unsuccessfully, "And my weight increases too which means." Twisting his body, Slade yanked the hammer-wielding victim off his feet and swung him into his metal-fisted compatriot, causing them to roll down the slope next to them.

"As much fun as this is we really need to wrap this up," said Slade. "Then you'd best jump as high as you can," said Todoroki as he turned his attention to the last group of villains who'd managed to regroup and were charging up the slope. "Then on three," said Slade as he quickly lowered his density. "Three!" they both said at the same time as Slade jumped several feet into the air while Todoroki sent out his largest sheet of ice yet along the ground and froze the rest of the advancing villains.

"Some villains," said Slade as he landed lightly on his feet, "And they were bragging about trying to kill All Might." "It must mean they have some other plan," said Todoroki. Suddenly, a final two villains, one with a combat knife and green paint smeared across his eyes and a spear-wielding villain with the head of a bird and wings coming out of his back charged from two separate hiding places.

Reacting quickly, Slade increased his density and caught the spear in one hand and the knife in the other, his increased weight stopping the villains in their tracks. "Then why don't we ask them," said Slade as he held the villains in place. "My thoughts exactly," said Todoroki as he sent out a wave of ice, freezing the two villains while stopping just short of reaching Slade.

"Alright," said Todoroki as he addressed the two frozen villains, "Listen well, in your current state it'll be only a short time before frost bite or hypothermia begins slowly killing your body, but fortunately for you I want to be a hero." Well he's certainly got intimidation down, thought Slade, releasing his grip on the villain's weapons as he watched the interrogation. "I can unfreeze you, but only if you tell me what I want to know," Todoroki held up his right hand and moved it closer to the knife-wielding villains face to emphasize his point, "How are you planning to kill All Might."

USJ: Fire Zone

Everything hurts, thought Clay as he struggled to open his eyes, and why is it so #$#$ing hot in here? Clay managed to open his eyes after another moment and was confused when he noticed cracks in front of his eyes. Aw man, he thought as he saw the cracks in his goggles, I've hardly had this costume a week and I already need repairs on it thanks to that giant, brain-headed douche.

Detaching his goggles, Clay managed to struggle to his feet, pain coursing through his body as he leaned against the wall of the building he'd landed in. I shoulda figured, he thought as he slowly moved along the wall and looked out the window, the fire zone. The entire area was designed to look like a city with a massive dome surrounding it to keep the fire from spreading into any other sections of the USJ. And, for obvious reasons, this particular section was dubbed the fire zone because it had several buildings and even parts of the street in a constant blaze.

At least I didn't land in one of the burning buildings, Clay thought to himself as he assessed his condition. My entire body feels like one big bruise, he observed, and the amount of pain I'm in will make it practically impossible to run any faster than a slow jog, and my arms and legs are too beat up for close quarters combat. Clay raised his hand and used his quirk to produce a small cloud around his hand, noting how the heat affected it.

This is probably the worst area I could've landed in, he thought to himself, because my quirk requires a degree of moisture from my body, any excessively dry or hot areas make it harder for me to produce a large number of clouds which limits my attack options, and since I clearly can't fight at close range I might have only a couple of options left, sneak attacks or. Clay's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps climbing the stairs to his floor.

"I know I saw it land over here," said a gruff voice. "Well this better not be a wild goose chase," said another, unfamiliar voice, "I've been dying to shoot something today and that kid with the blasted tail keeps hopping away whenever we get near him." Crap, thought Clay as he stood up straighter and tried to move, close range villains I might can handle but a projectile villain will be a problem for me in my injured state.

Clay tried scanning for a hiding spot among the ruined building he was in, but his injuries prevented him from moving too quickly and just as he was about to hide, the villains came walking into view. "Hey there's one of 'em," said the gruff-voiced villain who was wearing some kind of mask shaped like a flame. "Finally target practice," said the other villain as he raised his hand, producing a barrel from his palm.

Reacting on instinct, Clay quickly formed a spike with his clouds and sent it flying at the villain. "Gaaah!" screamed the villain as the spike shot through his shoulder and curved around as Clay manipulated its path through the leg of the other villain. "AAAArgh!" screamed the second villain as the cloud spike dissipated. Clay wasn't sure what surprised him more, how quickly he'd been able to use his attack or the fact that he practically used it on instinct. But he quickly regained his composure when realization struck.

I guess it's gonna be like that then, thought Clay as he stood up straight again and began walking forward, passing by the two villains as they collapsed to the floor in agony. If I really think about it, this whole mess seems familiar in a way, thought Clay as he began descending the stairs, here I am again in another burning area full of villains. And just like before, it looks like I'm gonna have to resort to my more lethal formation if I'm gonna have any hope of getting out of here alive, Uncle is definitely not gonna be happy about this.

Clay reformed a small cloud on his right hand as he reached the bottom floor, keeping his eyes peeled for any more enemies. As he made his way outside of the building and onto the burning streets, a number of voices attracted his attention. "That kid with the tail has got to be around here somewhere," said a villain as he and a small group of them rounded a corner out into the street. Great, thought Clay, it looks like they have entire groups of villains waiting in the other areas.

"Hey there's another one," said one of the villains with bat-like ears and an upturned snout. "Before you do anything stupid," said Clay as the group of villains slowly approached him, "Just know that I'm in a hurry, so if you just point me to the exit I'll be on my way, otherwise-." "Nice try kid," snarled a villain with the face of a coyote, "But our job's to kill anyone they send here, so quit bluffing with that smoke in your hand."

"Have it your way," said Clay as his clouds formed a couple of spikes and spinning blades behind his back, "'Cause that's the only warning I'm giving out right now." Clay tensed his arm and sent the small weapons outward at incredible speeds. The surprised villains hardly had time to react as the spikes tore through some of the villain's shoulders or legs while the spinning blades slashed at the tendons near the other villain's feet.

The villains cried out in varying degrees of anguish, pain, or just plain unbelief as Clay approached. "Now I'm gonna ask one more time," said Clay as he kneeled down next to one of the villains who was holding their ankle where his Achilles tendon had been cut, "How do I get out of here?"

"T-the entrance," said the villain through gritted teeth, "It's j-just down this street." "Thank you," said Clay as he stood back up, "Don't fret, you probably won't bleed out from that injury, probably." The villain tried asking what he meant by that, but Clay was already walking away.

"Clay!" called a familiar voice, drawing his attention as he looked up to see Ojiro swinging down from one of the lampposts and landing a couple feet from his friend, "Did that warp villain manage to get you too?" "If you mean that shadowy mist guy, no," replied Clay, "I got # $#slapped out of the main plaza and through the dome into here by that blue, bird-faced giant they brought with 'em."

"I'm amazed you're even still alive after something like that," commented Ojiro. "I formed a protective layer with my clouds," explained Clay, "It allowed me to survive the impact, but pretty much everything hurts to one degree or another right now, I'm doing good just walking normally." "If that's the case then you may want to take cover for a bit," said Ojiro, "They've got villains wandering around this area and likely every other area of the USJ, and I can't really fight them and carry you at the same time."

"I can still use my quirk to fight," said Clay as he started walking again, "And don't worry about carrying me, I can handle walking." "How are you planning on fighting," asked Ojiro. "I just need to use a different attack formation," said Clay. Before Ojiro could question him further, another group of villains emerged from a nearby building.

"Oh man not good," said Ojiro as he took a fighting stance. "Not for them," said Clay as he formed a pair of cloud shuriken and kunai. "Lethal formation," he said, "Humming Stratus."

USJ: Landslide Zone Entrance

"So that's their big plan," said Slade as he and Todoroki, and hopefully Hagakure, exited the landslide zone, "They got some big blue, bird-faced prick who's supposed to be able to take on All Might, I'll believe that when I see it." "Well if it is true," said Todoroki, "Then we need to get out of here as soon as possible and get help." "And get our classmates to safe-," Slade stopped talking as he noticed a sudden shadow descending on them.

Reacting instinctively, Slade increased the density of his body as both he and Todoroki's eyes shot upwards towards a lion villain pouncing on them. "You won't make it that far!" Exclaimed the villain as he reached his claws for Todoroki. Just as he was about to reach the white and red-haired boy, Slade shoved him out of the way as the lion villain's claws sank into Slade's costume.

"What the?" questioned the lion villain, "I know this quirk and this scent." "Then you know this is gonna hurt too!" Exclaimed Slade as he grabbed the villain's arm and swung him over his shoulder. "AAARRGH," screamed the villain as he slammed against the ground. Todoroki wasted no time in freezing the villain to the floor with his right hand.

"Try ambushing us now," said Todoroki as he withdrew his hand. "I am so over these chumps," said Slade as he turned to leave. "You," groaned the lion-headed villain, "Of all people why did you have to be here, and don't tell me that cloud-wielding friend of yours is here too." "Sorry have we met?" asked Slade.

"Hard to believe you'd forget," said the lion-villain, "You beat down a number of my fellow villains, tossed me over a catwalk into flaming wreckage, and on top of all that you insured the destruction of our oil tanker by releasing-OOOOF!" "Just shut up already," said Slade as he kicked the villain in the face, knocking him out, "We ain't got time for a babbling villain."

"What was he talking about?" asked Todoroki as Slade started walking towards the central plaza. "Who knows," said Slade, "I slammed him down pretty hard, add to that the fact that he's frozen he could've just been delirious."

"There was no listing in his speech," said Todoroki, "And his recognition of you was unmistakable, you've met before haven't you." Slade was about to respond when the doors to the entrance burst open, attracting both of their attention. Slade's eyes widened as an unmistakable blond-haired man with enormous muscles and two hairs sticking up like antennae strode in among the billowing smoke cloud he'd created by busting down the door.

"Well it's about time," said Slade as he and Todoroki watched All Might, wearing a regular suit without the jacket and yellow pants stop at the top of the stairs, "We might just get through this after all."

At last, All Might has arrived, while Clay's taken off the kid gloves. But it also seems the past is catching up with the two friends as an old face returns. In other news, for those of you who have been following my other story, The Adventures of Team WA, I have finally started writing the next installment known as The Adventures of Team WA Volume 2. I'll be posting it as a new story in the coming weeks, hopefully as early as some time next week. I'll also try to keep up with my other two stories as well. As for this story, stop in next time as Clay reveals the origin of his lethal formation while Slade must make a decision about intervening in a clash of titans. 'Til next time.