A/N: Fair warning: the PvP fight won't be word for word what you see in the show, as well choreographed as the fight might've been. I'll try to keep it relatively close to the end product but still entertaining enough to be its own thing. Besides, repeating what's been done before can get boring pretty fast. I mean, I should know that better than most: the first few chapters of this story aren't exactly the best they could've been. I do have a plan for that, however. But enough of me blabbing on. Enjoy the chapter!

Review Responses:

Guest 1: Yes and no. And don't forget that Shoto isn't the only one in Remnant with heterochromia. He's just the first one they found.

Guest 2: That's for me to know and you to find out. Also, I have no comment to give for your second question.

Thunder Dragon: I highly recommend it! And as much as I wish that I could actually bring them together that soon, it's not gonna be for a while. Sorry about that. And the information thing gets resolved this chapter, but... well, just read on, you'll see. As to that last bit... we'll just have to wait and see. I have been keeping a backlog of different suggestions and story ideas that people have sent me, in case I do anything after this is done (which is probably gonna be a while). So yeah, feel free to send me your suggestion!

Kaisser Dragon: Not for a while, but I promise it won't be at the end of the story either. I'm not that cruel. And while I have been thinking of expanding on story ideas, I really want to finish this one before I do anything else, and it's probably gonna be a while until that happens.

Odin's Eye: BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!

… okay, it won't be quite that brutal, but you know what I mean.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY or My Hero Academia. They belong to Monty Oum, Kohei Horikoshi, and their respective publishing companies. Please support the official releases.

I do not own the cover image

Chapter 38: Fire and Fear

Yang and Izuku's boots echoed across the hard floor as they rushed as quickly as they could towards the elevator that led to Ozpin's office. They'd gone over the information that Izuku had gathered for almost a full thirty minutes, from Dabi and Emerald's lack of existence to Cinder and Mercury's death certificates. They had more than enough evidence that there was something off with the team, even if they couldn't rescind Yang's disqualification.

"So, how exactly is this gonna work, Greenie? I don' think It'll just be as easy as walking in and showing Ozpin what we've got on them," Yang said, knowing that this was going to be a lot more complicated than they initially thought it would be.

"Well, right now this is all we can do. I want to get you back in the tournament, but that's a pipe dream the way things are right now. Still, this proves that they faked their way into the tournament, and with everything that's happened, they could be charged with Identity Forgery, among many other things. I just wish I could do more to actually help you."

That got Yang to crack a small smile despite the current mood. Not a whole lot of people would go this far to help somebody, even someone they knew. Yet another thing she liked about Izuku, along with his sincerity and genuine kindness.

As they stepped into the elevator, they heard a voice on the loudspeaker as they announced the next match of the Vytal Festival, the results showing themselves on the monitor that hung in the elevator as the doors closed and the cabin slowly rose. It would be a bit of a trip, so they might as well pass the time with something, right?

Still, Yang had a very uneasy feeling in the back of her mind, concerning this rather odd pairing that would soon be fighting in the ring. Pyrrha and Penny? Seriously, what were the odds of two of the most skilled fighters they knew fighting in this round? It seemed sudden. And almost too perfect.

Just what was going on?

(meanwhile, Amity Colesium, Shoto's POV)

"Three!" Port bellowed as the two combatants readied their respective weapons, Pyrrha slowly drawing Milo and Akouo from their places on her back while Penny simply smiled as she began to stretch her fingers and gained a rather characteristic and bubbly grin. Shoto thought that the pairing was almost too perfect. There was no was almost no way these two had been chosen randomly. Still, it wasn't impossible, and that fact alone allowed him to calm his nerves and observe them from his perch within the crowd.

"Two!" Pyrrha narrowed her eyes at her opponent, gripping Milo tighter and positioning Akouo even further in front of her. She was nervous. This might be an opponent who'd be able to best her in combat. If he was down there instead of her, the half and half leader would likely be feeling the same way.

"One!" The tension reached its crescendo, Penny's gaze hardening as a silence that seemed to last far too long fell between the two opponents.

"Begin!"

The fight began with a flourish of hand gestures from Penny, her many blades unfolding rapidly from the pack attached to her back, those same blade following her hands as they moved. Her blades then shot out at her redheaded opponent, Pyrrha rushing forward to meet the advancing blades, dodging through them with all the grace you would expect of the amazon, never losing focus for even a moment as she continued to make her way towards the bow wearing girl. Shoto could see that that rather impressive display was hardly the beginning of their battle.

(Tenya's POV)

It seems as though she's doing alright, at least for now, Tenya thought to himself as the battle continued on, Penny's blades coming back to her in a pinwheel formation, forcing Pyrrha to jump out of the way and leaving Penny at a comfortable distance. They started to slowly circle each other, waiting intently for the other to make to first move, make a potential opening in their defenses.

Penny stumbling ever so slightly was all the opportunity that Pyrrha needed to act on, suddenly switching Milo into its javelin form and rushing her bubbly opponent, dodging ever interception attempt she made with carefully timed parries and dodges, eventually allowing her to get through her defenses and begin her own attack.

Milo's edge rocketed forward, fast enough for Penny to be taken temporarily off guard and almost managed to nick the edge of her clothing. She countered with another pinwheel formation to her blades, swinging them outwards as they glowed green with energy, causing Pyrrha to counter with a side flip and a quick shot from Milo's javelin, just barely managing to miss Penny's clothing before she countered with a spare blade spinning rapidly towards her like a buzzsaw, the redheaded amazon only barely managing to block it.

This is getting intense. I hope that she can stay focused.

(meanwhile, somewhere in Vale, Bakugo's POV)

C'mon, Magnet. Start taking this seriously, dammit. Bakugo thought to himself as he watched the match from his favorite table at the café he'd been frequenting, a steaming hot cup in his hand as he sat. Pyrrha then retreated further as Penny manipulated another blade to try and take out her legs, jumping over the attempt as she fired Milo again, sending her upwards as she launched her spear towards the copper-haired girl below, who waved her hand in a responding flourish and caused many a blade to dance in formation to send the amazon's spear from whence it came as Pyrrha landed a good, medium distance away.

It was here that she brought her shield to bare, and a good thing too, as Penny's blades had suddenly switched their forms to odd yet still deadly looking floating rifles, which began to prove their use as they opened fire on Pyrrha with green bolts of Dust energy at frightening speed, causing her to dodge the first few before being forced into a corner and forcing her to use Akouo more directly to deflect the incoming fire. This didn't last for long, however, as when the final bolt had been shot Pyrrha began rushing towards her opponent with all haste, this time with Milo in its blade form and Akouo at the ready, but Penny was ready this time, abandoning her long-range style and instead moving to meet the redheaded amazon on a clash that echoed throughout the stadium.

Dammit, Magnet, move! She's gonna get you trapped!

(meanwhile, Amity Colesium, Dabi's POV)

Dabi had to admit, he'd missed out on a lot since leaving the lab. He never remembered Penny being particularly combat savvy, but it was clear that she still remembered all the fights that she'd been required to witness. At least, in some way, he didn't know which but if the absolute beating she was laying down on Pyrrha Nikos was any form of evidence, then it was clear that she wasn't someone to be trifled with.

Not that I even would. I've got lines too, dammit.

The close-range fight between the combatants continued with Penny still on the offensive, almost looking as though she was dancing to a melody that only she could hear as her swords clashed against Milo and Akouo, singing a deadly song of blades and steel as the copper-haired girl managed to finally break through Pyrrha's defenses, sending her flipping backwards once more, righting herself in midair to fire off some shots at Penny, who too fired back with a few triple blade powered shots of her own. When Pyrrha got to the ground again, they-

"It's nearly time, Dabi," Kurogiri said to the scared and hooded figure across from him, watching the match from a secluded entryway to the stadium's spectator area. Damn. Thought he'd have a bit more time.

"Okay. Let's get going," Dabi said as the dark man of mist shifted into his warp gate form, Dabi stepping through to the rendezvous point as he too vanished without a sound. Out of sight. Out of mind. Like they were never even there.

I don't like that most of us don't know everything. Tomura, I really hope that you can give me some answers. Or you really won't like the way I get them.

(meanwhile, undisclosed location in Vale, Tomura's POV)

This is actually pretty damn entertaining, the white-haired man thought to himself as he, Compress, Twice, Himiko, Neo and Spinner sat in the nearly cleared area that was their hideout, watching the fight from the bar that they were currently sitting at, with All for One was present via a blank 'AUDIO ONLY' screen.

Penny had just launched herself into the air, using her weapon's gun forms to then send herself rocketing downwards to the arena floor, and her opponent spinning across the concrete ground as she followed through with a kick to where Pyrrha dodged from, a visible impact left in the tile as the fight continued as Pyrrha reached out for Milo-

"Sir. I believe It's almost time."

Tomura took his attention away from the match and gave it to Kurogiri, who'd just warped back into the hideout with Dabi emerging from the gate he'd made. Sighing, Tomura rose from his position on the stool, briefly stopping Oblivion from tipping over and falling as and said, "Five minutes. That's how long we've got till the plan begins. Then we 'storm the palace,' so to speak. Man, this is some clever shit, and that's coming from me."

"What do you mean?"

Tomura sighed at Spinner's question, seeing that his allies, with the exceptions of Compress and Kurogiri, were looking to him for some kind of context or proper answer. Dabi's was especially attentive, and even a bit hostile, but nonetheless he waited for him to give an answer. And the one that Twice gave was especially odd and a bit concerning, but nonetheless he sat and simply said, "Watch and wait. It won't be long now."

(meanwhile, Ozpin's office, Izuku's POV)

The elevator finally, finally reached its destination, the green haired inheritor and the blonde brawler quickly leaving the confines of the space and rushing into the office with all haste, their headmaster sitting behind his desk as he watched the battle between Pyrrha and Penny reach its climax.

"Headmaster, we've got something to show you," Izuku said as they came up to the edge of his desk, the gray-haired man finally taking his eyes from the screen as he acknowledged their presences, a sympathetic look crossing his face as he answered them, "Mr. Midoriya, Ms. Xiao Long. I'm sorry, but-"

"That's not what this is about," Yang said before the words could leave Ozpin's lips, and determined fire behind her eyes instead of the angry ones that he'd expected. It was odd, but it certainly wasn't unwelcome. It was far better than the alternative.

"Then-"

And then, out of the corner of his eye, and through the hollow reflection of the screen, they saw it. The wires catching on to Penny's limbs. Wrapping. Tightening. A creak. A crack. And another, this time around her torso. And it got tighter. Then a sickening groan of metal being torn asunder. The sparking of electrical wires being severed. Blades limp. Clattering to the ground. One half buried by the blade.

Penny had been brutally, viciously torn limb from literal limb. Everyone was in shock. Izuku stared on in horror. Yang's eyes had flared red. Ozpin's ever neutral, calm expression had finally given to one of panic. And Pyrrha, through what the screen would show them, was just as horrified by what she'd done as the spectators by what she'd just done.

(meanwhile, undisclosed location in Vale, Tomura's POV)

"I hate this part," Tomura muttered to himself as a black queen chess piece came onto the screen with a blood red background, cutting off the newsfeed of the battle that had just come to its rather startling conclusion. God, how much of a damn ego did this bitch have? If she was trying to sew fear into the populace, seeing Pyrrha rip that android to shreds should've been enough.

My Oum, just how sadistic can this bitch-

A brief spark interrupted that never finished thought. Dabi stood next to him, staring a storm of daggers straight into the screen as he gripped his hands down in vices. His fists were lighting, only needing the slightest bit more encouragement to become fully encased in flame. And the color of his fire had changed drastically. Instead of the dark, shadowy tinted flames from every other time before, the sparks were a bright, vibrant blue, as were the color of the runes that dotted his scarred skin. He was angry.

… No. Angry's too weak of a word. This kid looks absolutely livid.

Dabi, his eyes still filled to the brim with rage, took a shaky breath as he demanded, "Tomura. Send me back to the coliseum once it's been emptied."

"That won't do, Dabi," Compress remarked with a chastising tone, seemingly unphased by the brutality that had just unfolded. "We need everyone we can to come with us in order to rescue Torchwick."

"I don't care."

"Dude, you're vital to this," Spinner objected. "If we don't get you on that ship before we can hit the bridge, we don't have enough firepower to-"

"I don't care."

"But Dabiiii, we were supposed to-"

"I don't care!" the sparks were turning into lines of flame. He was losing it. Shit.

"Now you listen here-"

"Hey!" Tomura yelled to the group. "Would you all shut the fuck up? Oum, I can't believe that I'm the one who has to reign you all in."

"Now then," All for One's voice sounded throughout the room, silencing any would be objectors from speaking up any further. "What has you so distraught, Dabi? Will it hinder the plan?"

…

"... she's dead," Dabi said as he raised his sleeve to his eyes, catching the tears that had begun to roll down his cheeks. "She's dead. And I couldn't stop it. I... I have to go back. I can't just leave her like that. Not again. Not..."

It didn't take long for Tomura to put the rest of the pieces together. Whoever that android was, or had been based on, or however the hell she'd been made, had been important to him. Important enough that he'd ask to go back and bury what was left of her.

"It would appear that if he stays with you, he could be a liability on the mission. Are you willing to take that kind of risk, Tomura?"

There was a short silence before Tomura said, "Kurogiri, as soon as the coliseum's arena has been cleared of people, you're gonna let Dabi do what he's gotta do. Teleport him back to rendezvous point once he's done."

"But sir-"

"We can manage. Just be careful until we can get to the bridge," Tomura silenced Compress as he slipped on his dark grey trench coat that had just recently been covered with all the hands he'd so missed having, then slinging Oblivion's strap over his shoulder and allowing the sheathed weapon to come to rest at his left hip. "Dabi. If this goes wrong, and you're somehow captured or killed by Grimm, we can't help you."

"Don't need it," Dabi said as he leaned against the wall, suddenly finding himself fascinated with the crackling blue sparks of flame that danced their way from his fingertips to his palms and back again. He looked no calmer than before.

… he could use this.

(meanwhile, Amity Coliseum, Shoto's POV)

Shoto made no move to see if Pyrrha was alright. Nor had any of the other hunters in training, for that matter. They were still reeling from the shock of it all. The speech by that woman over the broadcast certainly hadn't helped things. Everyone had been silent since it had ended. And then the warning sirens blared. Threat level nine. Second from the top. The first in over twenty years. Everyone who wasn't a hunter was scrambling for the exit, not wishing to stay and be turned into Grimm fodder, and even some of those who remained looked hesitant.

As if on cue, there came an echoing impact from overhead. And the telltale screech of what could only be an Elder Nevermore. Another impact, this one sharper, more deliberate, as it slammed the tip of its beak into the shield. Now people were panicking, practically tripping over each other as they rushed towards the exits as quickly as their legs would allow them. The only ones who stayed in the arena were fellow hunters, who were either still in the same, ramrod state as before or hitting themselves against the barrier, trying to get in and get the red headed amazon out of there before the Nevermore broke through it first.

But still, with a sickening, booming shatter, the Nevermore finally broke through the outer shield, raising itself into the air to dive straight through the second one. Seeing that, Shoto threw all caution to the wind and immediately used his ice to freeze a portion of the energy shield in front of him and smashing an outline almost instantly to allow him access, sliding down to the area floor on a ramp that he created to get down there as fast as he could.

He heard Jaune and Tenya calling out as the inner shield finally failed, the gigantic bird monstrosity swooping upwards from the recoil and allowing the two of them to enter and try to get Pyrrha out of the line of fire. Despite everything that was happening, she hadn't moved a single inch, her glazed over emerald eyes transfixed on the unmoving, dismembered body and blades of her opponent. This wasn't the time to feel guilty, dammit! She was about to die!

Something that the red headed amazon still had yet to realize as the Nevermore landed with yet another echoing impact, the shockwave of which sent an unprepared Jaune and Tenya back several dozen feet as Pyrrha's were taken out from under her, sending her back far enough that they could support her as the wind wave ceased. Penny's body had been flung towards him, causing him to stop mid slide as he cushioned the landing. He knew how important she'd been to Ruby. They had to save what was left of her. She deserved so much more than that, but it was all they could do for her.

And then, unexpectedly, with a look of anger that far outshone that of even Yang's usual rages, was Ruby, and in her hand was one of the many discarded blades of Penny, currently digging itself up to the hilt into the chest of the again screeching Nevermore, this time in absolute pain. The rose themed huntress suddenly flipped backward, causing her boots to skid against the concrete of the arena floor when Shoto regained his composure, snapping himself to form and freezing the ground to speed himself towards where Tenya and Jaune were currently helping Pyrrha to her feet.

"Guys!" They heard a familiar blonde monkey faunus call to them. "Call down your lockers! Pin this sonofabitch!"

And that was exactly what they did, almost instantly whipping out the scrolls and setting the target destination onto the Nevermore. Shoto took special care to aim for the things head, even while it was moving. Thank you, Goodwitch, for showing how the rocket lockers could be used as fairly destructive air weapons.

And they proved to be quite effective as the Nevermore began to charge straight towards Ruby as she stared back with Penny's blade still in her grip, a loud landing noise echoing from the first three that had found their way to the Nevermore's still airborne body, followed by more and more until finally it came to a full stop at Ruby's feet, one final, halfhearted screech escaping its beak before two more lockers embedded themselves into its skull. His and Tenya's.

The lockers all hissed open individually, one after the other as the students who remained in the arena claimed them. The lockers on top of the Nevermore's head hissed open last, revealing Pride, which Tenya quickly claimed with a testing spin, and an empty one with the outlines of Jotunheim and Muspelheim still etched into it. A reminder of what he'd lost.

And a reminder to move onward.

Shoto snapped his fingers together quickly, the outline for a very rough, thick and jagged blade made of pure ice with a singular edge defining it as it curved back slightly. It had been a long time since he'd actually formed any constructs from his ice powers, but without the assistance of Jotunheim this was all he had. It was a crude construction that he could still remember from his childhood. He'd never imagined having to use it against Grimm of any kind. But right now, it was all he had.

Let's put it to good use.

(around the same time, Ozpin's office, Izuku's POV)

Cinder had just stopped her speech to the world of Remnant, leaving all three occupants of the room speechless. No one moved. No one spoke. The only sounds that could be heard were then uneasy yet ever steady ticking of the gigantic clock gears beneath them. Ozpin faced the window of his office, looking out at the academy that he'd overseen for so incredibly long. So, it had come to this, had it?

Izuku shook himself out of his stunned stupor, telling himself that he'd have time to grieve later. He turned and began to make way for the stairs, Yang instantly understanding the risks and following him out before Ozpin said to them, "Students! Please, wait!"

"Sir, whoever took over that broadcast obviously had a plan. We need to get to the coliseum and stop whatever's happening!"

"And I can't just leave my team out there on their own! They need us, dammit!"

The second elevator suddenly slid open, allowing Qrow, Goodwitch, Aizawa and All Might to rush into the office with concerned expressions and holstered weapons. Before they could ask what the hell had just happened, Ozpin turned to them and ordered, "I need the three of you to get to the city! It cannot be allowed to fall! Aizawa, you need to get to Amity Coliseum and help with the evacuation effort in any way you can. And send Miss Nikos here as soon as possible. We're going to need her. Mr. Midoriya and Ms. Xiao Long, you'll be accompanying Aizawa until you reach the grounds. Once you're down there you'll need to gather whatever students you can find and deter any Grimm that might've made their way up from the Emerald Forest or Forever Fall." As he finished, several off-color Bullheads made their way past his window causing him to further continue, "If you come across any White Fang, do not hesitate to do whatever you must to survive. I sincerely hope you won't have to, but that's the situation we're being faced with."

The teachers all held uneasy looks across their features, especially at the prospect of leaving the school so vulnerable, and Izuku held little confidence in the possibility that he could be of any help in this situation, but Ozpin did his best to reassure them. "I know things seem bleak, and I'd hoped to never ask this of any of you, especially my own students, but we can still prevent further damage and save many lives. I'll do what I can to coordinate with any huntsmen I can reach, but right now you're all we've got! Now get going!"

As soon as the words left his lips, All Might rushed over to the entrance to a nearby balcony, calling to Qrow and Glynda, "Climb on! It'll be a bit of a rush, but it's the fastest way to get to Vale right now!"

The red-eyed reaper, though reluctantly, climbed onto the towering man's back, Goodwitch following suit almost immediately afterward. He and Izuku made eye contact for the briefest of fleeting moments, enough to know that this was going to be the hardest fight of their lives before the smiling giant took off and into the sky, a jet trail of steam lining his way as he continued on towards the currently panicking city.

"You two, stop gawking and get moving!" Aizawa said to them as he made his way for the doors, silently beckoning for them to follow him as he did so. Izuku pulled out his Scroll, as did Yang, as they tried to contact their respective teammates, trying to coordinate while they still knew communications were up.

The dial tone had barely been in his ear for a few measly seconds before Shoto picked up, saying, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, we're fine. Is anyone injured?"

"As far as I can tell, no one's been seriously hurt. Most of the people we fought in the tournament are here, but I'm pretty sure that TAKT is down in Vale. Hopefully they can find Bakugo and back him up. I'm not entirely sure where Hitoshi is, but he and his team might be at the Fairgrounds."

"Is Ruby with you?" Yang asked as she finished up her call with Blake.

"Yeah. She's actually the one leading the charge. But enough about that, where are you guys?"

"On our way down to Beacon's grounds. We're gonna try to secure a safe zone and gather as many students as we can. Aizawa's gonna be making his way over to help evacuate the Coliseum. What's the situation?"

"Well-" a loud howl could be heard in a scratchy base tone over the call, along with several gunshots and the distinct sound of blades cutting and cleaving through flesh. "-it would seem that the White Fang are releasing Grimm onto the Coliseum. Sorry, gotta handle this. Be safe!"

That was all they heard over the line before Shoto's call cut off suddenly. The fighting over there had only just begun. And it was likely about to begin for them as well. They'd finally managed to reach the bottom of the stairs, Aizawa turned back to the two of them as he said, "I'll send Peach over to the docks in case anyone needs healing. Watch each other's backs, got it?"

"Yessir!" the two students synched, causing Aizawa to smirk ever so slightly before he ran off to find Peach and begin assisting with the evacuation.

Izuku and Yang practically burst through the doors with all haste, finding the courtyard in front of them filled to the brim with Grimm of several varieties and sizes. Beowolves howling to the moon, Creeps stalking through the panicking walkways, Ursa's roaring into the air with no sign of stopping their advance, and Griffons streaking into the cold, moonlit night.

"So, how do you wanna do this? Lemon Lime or Mighty Dragon?" Yang asked her green haired companion as Ember Celica shifted into its combat form, the brief loading of a shotgun shell echoing throughout the vicinity and catching the attention of some of the Grimm in front of them.

"Whichever one becomes appropriate," Izuku said as he drew Tempest from his back, the blade again early glowing in the silvery pale moonlight. This, while it produced no noise, caused even more Grimm to perk up, and a few to even scamper closer.

"You got it. Let's kick some monster ass!" Yang hollered as she and Izuku leapt into the Grimm horde with fire in their eyes, something that the Grimm, if they could feel something like fear, would've been terrified of.

(meanwhile, down in Vale, Bakugo's POV)

Another explosion echoed throughout the street as Bakugo stood atop a pile of Grimm corpses with Smoke and Shrapnel painted with evaporating Grimm blood. Hah! Told her he'd drench them.

"Hey! Bakugo!" he heard a familiar Wolverine faunus call out to him as he and the rest of his team dealt with any stragglers left in his wake. Thank Oum he'd actually managed to come across any hunters at all. Still, they were doing a damn fine job of picking up his slack. If there was one team he'd want to be stuck with besides his and the other two he was familiar with, it would've certainly been these guys.

That being said, having to handle the bigger Grimm could be a hassle in its own right, as was proven when a particularly large Ursa made its way through the streets and straight for him. His hands arched their way into almost looking like claws as a few sparks cracked off his palms. "C'mon!"

"I am here!" they suddenly heard echoing throughout the sky, a large frame with a steam trail following him as he landed on top of the Ursa with a concave boom, the ground caving in response to the weight of the blow as the Grimm began to fade into ash. Hoping off of his back, and dispatching of any Grimm who were unfortunate enough to try and take advantage of their landing, was Goodwitch and another hunter he didn't recognize, though if the look in his eyes was anything to go by he wasn't someone to fuck with. Ever.

"Hey, it's All Might!" he heard Mina shout in excitement behind him as she stood atop another disintegrating Beowolf, confidence now reaching her eyes as he once shaky smile leveled out and widened, and Kirishima's grin had since returned to his face, and carried through on his attack as he clawed straight through a line of Creeps. Even the normally stoic Tokoyami and Tsuyu had perked up at the sight of him, rushing to assist their teammates as more Grimm began to swarm through.

"Bakugo!" Kirishima called out once more. "You need to get back to Beacon and get help! There are a bunch of hunters in the city, but we can't take them all!"

Bakugo grabbed a Creep from off of the ground and flung it into a crowd of unidentified Grimm, firing off his machine guns to shred them into mincemeat before responding, "Like fucking hell I'm gonna run away from this!"

"That's not what this is about. Ribbit!" Tsuyu backed her teammate as she wrapped some Creeps into a ball before pulling at her whip blades and watching the ashes fly. "The only one here who'd be fast enough to even have a chance of getting over there in time is you."

"I'd try to get over there and help you, but I'm having a bit of a hard time keeping a lid on Shadow," Tokoyami said, smiling through strained teeth as he let Shadow dispatch of even more enemy Grimm, a monstrous roar emerging from its large and currently enlarging mass. "We'll be fine, so get moving!"

"... if you all die while I'm gone, I'm gonna kick your asses!" Bakugo yelled over his shoulder, running straight for All Might as TAKT battled the Grimm that seemed to have no end with massive, undeterred smiles on their faces. If they were going down, they were gonna go down fighting, Oumdamnit!

"All Might!" he called to the smiling giant as the aforementioned man swung his fist straight through an incoming Griffon that almost instantaneously faded into ash. He asked in response, "Young Bakugo? What do need?"

"I need you to throw me towards Beacon."

"But-"

"I don't like it either, but the airships are way too damn slow to make it over there in time, and we need back up over here! This is the fastest way!"

"Alright. You know how to redirect yourself in midair, correct?" All Might asked as he lowered his hand, giving the ashen blonde direwolf a stepping stone.

"What do you think I've been trying to do all year?" he asked in response as he stepped onto the golden giant's hand, crouching lower in order to give himself even more momentum in the air. All Might lifted him, winded up behind his shoulder, and...

KRAKOOM!

If the echoing of the throw wasn't enough to strike some fear into the Grimm, the strained yet stubborn look that was painted across Katsuki's face should've. The wind howled in his ears as the sounds of battle and chaos faded behind him, passing several Griffons and Lesser Nevermores on his way up before he finally managed to reach the apex of the throw in the middle of the sky. And for just a moment, so short that he wasn't even sure that it'd happened, it felt as though he was flying.

.

..

…

… wait, I'm supposed to be closer than this. Shit, did my gauntlets weigh me down?!

Something that he thought of a bit too late as he began to plummet through the air, briefly flipping himself over and widening his limbs, managing to slow himself to the point that he could properly see everything. He knew that the distance to Beacon proper was too far to get there just by using his explosions, especially without shattering his own hands, so he'd have to find another way over there. Slow though they were, it seemed as though procuring a Bullhead was his only option. Now where to-

An Atlesian Warship whirred into view as it began to slowly crest towards Vale, sending out various Bullheads to head the reinforcement effort.

I'd be touched if their AK's were actually anything other than cannon fodder armed with toothpicks and peashooters. Bakugo thought to himself as he repositioned himself into a dive, the howling of the wind filling his ears once more as he raced ever closer towards the top of the ship. Once he managed to get close enough, he righted himself in the air and started making several timed explosions to slow himself down enough that he wouldn't splatter against the ship on impact.

Even with the assistance of his explosions, however, he still landed on the ship with an echoing, metallic CLANG! as he dug the blades on Smoke and Shrapnel into the ship's hull, barely managing to find his balance on the rather windy platform. Then, overhead came an unusual ship. It was the same model as all the other that had departed towards Beacon and Vale, yet the texture of the hull was pretty different. It was a dull, dark violet with a distinct hum to that of the other bullheads, sounding almost like something demonic and Grimm-like. But emblazoned onto the side door, plain for all to see, was a symbol of the now defunct Creed of the Serpent, a cobra with fangs bared wide and a body coiled and ready to strike.

Bakugo knew that symbol, as well as its implications, and almost immediately trained his guns onto the hull of the ship as it landed, prepared to fire at anyone who emerged from that ship. No one who bore that brand could ever mean well. His family had learned that the hard way.

There was an audible hiss that came from the door as it opened with a slight emanation of steam, lifting to allow the only passenger of the ship to emerge. Dressed in a dark violet tailcoat with torn out sleeves, a skintight black t-shirt and baggy pants. His limbs were the most visually striking thing about him, however, as his head was entirely shaved with only bits of violet scales to decorate his otherwise unnotable appearance. They were prosthetics, with audible, smooth mechanical noises that had been spray painted a specific shade of blade and purple. His right hand was especially surprising, as it looked downright demonic with all the designs that he'd likely added to the arm itself.

And from that same prosthetic arm popped out a long, wicked looking chainsaw blade with serrated edges and a damn scary groan. And then, he spoke.

"Another traitor it seems. Oh well. I suppose we can't all be adherent to the cause."

And that groan got louder as the blade began to spin with all the silent fury of a man as depraved as Serpent Saw.

A/N: And that's the chapter! I'd originally planned on making it a lot longer than it was, but then I realized just how long I had to do this. Still, hope you enjoyed! Feel free to ask me any questions you might have concerning the story!

Also, chapter uploads might be a bit slow from now on because I have college to attend to. I'm not gonna abandon this story, far from it, but the uploads are gonna be more spaced out than they were before. That being said, I hope you guys all stick around because we've got a hell of a long way to go! WOO!

Next Chapter: Sep. 2nd or 9th depending on my workload

Seeya in the next one!