Hey, Everyone! Well, going by the votes I got in reviews and PM's, Duncan will be giving Bakugou a lesson in humility he won't soon forget. And if the fight looks familiar, good! That's the point. But that's for later.
In this chapter, when Izuku meets Duncan for lunch, the half-kaiju is going to do three things that didn't happen in the anime until season 2 and the latter half of season 3. One; recommend upgrades to his costume to reduce the backlash strain and damage to his body from One-For-All. I say reduce because if eliminated completely his body would never get used to it. Two; tell him that All Might always used One-For-All through his whole body, not just his arms and fists. And three; tell him to stop trying to imitate All Might's style and find his own. Don't worry, Izuku will still learn a lot from his internship with Gran Torino, and incorporate it into his new fighting style.
But first, we open the chapter with a flashback. Enjoy!
Chapter 2: Advice and Experience
"WHO'S NEXT?!", the massive, scar-faced villain with a fake left eye challenged with a psychotic laugh, surrounded by the broken and bleeding bodies of several citizens and police officers. "COME ON! I WANNA SEE MORE BLOOD!"
The police were now keeping their distance, but had evacuated the area and formed a perimeter. Muscular was too strong! He was way out of their league. Whenever they tried to use their guns, the brute simply picked up a car or chunk of concrete to block the bullets, then threw it at them, laughing like a maniac! Where were the Pro Heroes? If Muscular wasn't taken down quickly, he would just carry on with his killing spree….starting with them!
"YOU'RE GOIN' DOWN, PRETTY BOY!", yelled a figure who leaped into the combat zone. He had spiky silver-blonde hair, square-jaw, bulky, wearing a blue costume with white highlights as well as heavy, metal bands around his wrists, belt, and forehead resembling black & yellow 'caution' barricades. He swung his right fist, only for Muscular to easily block the punch with his left forearm. His muscle-fibers writhed disgustingly and bulked up even bigger!
"So a Pro finally shows up!", Muscular sneered. "You're 'Death-Arms', right? You're strong, but not as strong as me! SHOW ME YOUR BLOOD!"
Muscular punched the hero, who tried to block with his forearms, only to hear a sickening *CRACK!* as both his arms broke from the force; which the villain carried through to strike Death-Arms' face! The Pro Hero went tumbling painfully away, his nose, eye, and scalp all bleeding profusely. He looked dazedly toward his grinning assailant. Muscular advanced on him as he struggled to rise, to keep fighting.
"AW YEAH! THAT'S WHAT I WANNA SEE FROM YOU, HERO! SHOW ME MORE OF YOUR BLOO…WHAT THE...?! AAAAHHH!", the titan's rant was cut off as a bolas flew in and tied up his ankles, causing him to fall flat on his face, then shocked him with thousands of volts of electricity. Snarling, he tore off the offending weapon.
"WHO DID THAT?! SHOW YOUSELF SO I CAN CRUSH YOU!"
"I've heard of muscle-bound meat-heads before but, dude, you are totally abusing the stereotype", a voice called from behind him. Muscular turned to see a guy wearing a grey bodysuit with strategically placed pieces of black armor, boots, gauntlets, purple cape, utility-belt, and a knight-like helmet that hid his eyes, leaving his mouth exposed but his jaw and chin protected. "Is that your quirk or do you just eat steroids for every meal instead of food?"
"WHY YOU LITTLE PUNK! YOU THINK YOUR ARMOR OR YOUR TOYS ARE GONNA KEEP ME FROM CRUSHING YOU?!"
"Oh no", the kid grinned. "I wouldn't dream of trying to fight you myself. Besides, I'm just the distraction."
"Distra….?" *WHAM!* Muscular only saw a red blur a nanosecond before being struck in the face with such force that he was staggered back several yards. He'd never been hit so hard in his life! After clearing the stars and tweeting birds from his vision, the villain looked up to see another young man between him and the mouthy one. But this one was very different.
He appeared to have some kind of dragon quirk, was a little taller than the kid in the dark armor, and appeared to be wearing only a pair of black-camo cargo pants, utility-belt, and sleeveless biker jacket trimmed with steel studs. His build was athletic but not very large, so how could he be so strong?!
Muscular then noticed something warm and wet flowing down his face from his nose and an unfamiliar salty, metallic taste in his mouth. Puzzled, he touched a hand to the area. His fingers came away red. A red that he knew well. A red that he normally reveled in seeing. He clenched his fist and jaw in rage, and focused his fury on the winged young man in front of him.
"What's the matter?", Duncan snarked with a smirk. "I thought you loved to see blood? So I thought I'd do you a favor and show you your own. Though judging by that nasty scar and fake eye, I'm not the first, am I?"
"Oh, I'll give ya credit for getting a lucky shot in like those Water-Hose losers", the villain sneered. "BUT NOW YOU AND YOUR JOKING LITTLE FRIEND ARE GONNA DIE, JUST LIKE THEY DID!"
Muscular charged forward, his muscles writhing and bulking up, covering his arms and torso in a thick layer of muscles. "My quirk increases my strength so exponentially, that my muscle fibers burst out of my skin! THERE AIN'T NO WAY YOU CAN MATCH MY STRENGTH! SHOW ME YOUR BLOOD!"
Muscular threw a thunderous jab at the red dragon-boy, who blocked with the sharp, armored ridges on his forearms, cutting the villain's knuckles. As Muscular recoiled, Duncan lunged in and slashed an "X" across the brute's chest with the claws of both hands. Muscular howled in pain he'd never experienced before as bloody pieces of severed muscle fibers fell to the ground! He blindly swung a left-hook, catching Duncan in the jaw! The half-kaiju rubbed his jaw a bit as the bruise and swelling from the hit suddenly stopped, then faded away.
"What good are such strong muscle fibers if they're cut?", Duncan grinned.
"YOU BASTARD!", the bruiser roared, lunging for the punk who dared to actually injure him! Duncan flew up, flipped forward, and kicked his huge opponent right between the shoulder-blades, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Didn't you know that your skin is the first line of defense against dirt and injuries like cuts?", Duncan quipped as Muscular got to his feet. "And burns?"
Duncan blasted the exposed muscles of the villain's back with a low level jet of firebreath. Muscular screamed in pain and rage, and turned to charge his tormentor. Duncan set his stance. Then he spun, knocking the villain's feet out from under him with a tail-swipe, followed through with a reverse round-house kick to his head; reversing the bruiser's mid-air 'cart-wheel', then a right-handed downward punch to the chin that basically equated to an upside-down uppercut; pile-driving the brute's head into the ground all in one move!
The police, Death-Arms, and a few other newly arrived Pro Heroes were astounded as Muscular slumped to the ground unconscious as he returned to his base-form. Ken then approached to secure the villain with specialized bindings and cuffs from his belt.
"Take him away, officers", Ken called out.
As the police took Muscular into custody, the media pushed their way closer and barraged the two American with questions, while paramedics tended to Death-Arms and the injured police officers.
(End Flashback)
"Duncan? Hey, Bro!"
"Huh? Yeah, I'm here", Duncan said, snapping back to the present, his lunch-tray in front of him. "Sorry, Kenny."
"Geez, Bro, you were dug in like a tick", Ken snickered, sitting opposite him. "Where were you just now?"
"That fight with Muscular", Duncan said as the cafeteria began to fill up. He idylly munched on his food while watching for Midoria. "That guy was damn near as strong and fast as Uncle Might is now."
"Yeah, it's rare to meet anybody, good or bad, who matches your strength, Duncan", Ken agreed morbidly. "Scary."
"Well, according to my dad, I won't reach my full strength for a few more years, but he says when I do I'll be twice as strong as Uncle Might in his prime", Duncan added. "I only beat Muscular that fast because he was an undisciplined brawler while I've had martial arts training. Plus my greater speed, armor, and other abilities gave me the edge. Not to mention your distraction letting me get that critical first solid shot in at the beginning, throwing him off-balance."
"And now he's loose again", Ken grunted. "What a headache."
"Back-burner for now", Duncan said when he saw Midoria and his friends with their trays and waved them over. "Hey, guys & gals! Have seat and join us?"
"Sure, Duncan", Midoria grinned, setting his tray and sitting next to Ken. Ochaco sat next to him, while Iida and Tsuyu slid in next to Duncan. They all dug into their curry and rice, while Duncan and Ken ate their double-cheeseburgers and fries, making small talk about the hero classes and exercises.
"Yesterday you said you needed to talk to me at lunch today, Duncan", Midoria said. "Is something up?"
"Yes, I believe I heard you say that as well", Iida confirmed.
"Ribbit", Tsu agreed.
"There's nothing wrong, is there?", Ururaka asked worriedly.
"No, everything is cool", Duncan assured them with a smile as they dumped their trash. "I just have some ideas to help Izuku. Ken, could you…?"
"Sure, bro", Ken nodded. "The rest of you come with me. I think some of my gear could be adapted to help you all out, and I'd like to know more about your quirks…."
"Here", Duncan slid a folded paper to Izuku once the others were gone. "I saw that you keep injuring yourself with the backlash when you push too hard with One-For-All. These are designs for reinforcements to your costume to reduce that backlash. You still need training and to be careful not to push too far past current limits in the meantime, though. They won't negate all of it. The backlash will still have some impact and wear on your muscles and bones. That way, it will safely strengthen your body and increase your limits over time; like how body-builders build strength and muscle-mass. Thus, increasing your ability to use your power."
"Wow! This is great, Duncan! Thanks!", Izuku practically gushed, looking at the diagrams. "I'll send these right over to the Support Section."
"And here's some advice", Duncan leaned closer, to speak quieter. "All Might actually keeps a near-constant low 'at ready' charge of All-For-One through his whole body, not just a big surge in his arms when he 'smashes'. Plus, you're trying too hard to copy him and his style. Believe it or not, that could hold you back. Find your own style that feels natural to you and your strengths. I've seen how you study heroes, villains, and even your classmates; learning from them, adapting their moves and strategies; either to counter or use yourself. I saw you do it first-hand in the combat training when you used your knowledge of Bakugou's fighting style to literally get the drop on him! That was epic! Use that talent to find and create your own best style."
"You're right. I have been trying to copy All Might. I admire him so much that I must have been doing it subconciously", Izuku started muttering, making Duncan clear his throat to get his attention back. "Sorry! And the way you and Ken fight is really cool. Fluid almost."
"And you were pretty good at it, too", Duncan grinned. "Picked up on the moves pretty easily. Not many can learn it that quickly."
"So between training and my study of many others…"
"Exactly. Find your own way that works best for you", Duncan nodded. "And stop relying on your fists alone. Remember; you are not All Might. You are his chosen successor. He would want you to find your own way while following his example."
"I will! Thanks, Duncan", Izuku fist-bumped the older teen.
"Anytime", Duncan replied with a smile, returning the fist-bump.
xxXXxx
"Hey, Duncan! And Kenny! How's it going? How do you like Japan so far? Oooh! How do you like UA so far?", the perky, cheery, hyperactive Nejire Hado asked rapid-fire when she entered the Class 3-A Heroes classroom and saw the two at their desks.
"Hi, Nejire", Duncan chuckled at the girl's eager antics. "Everything has been great more or less. Right, Ken?"
"Yeah, just peachy", Ken added. "UA has been really cool, especially being teaching assistants."
"Well, since you two arrived, we've gone from being the 'Big Three' to the 'Top Five' of UA", Mirio Togata grinned. "It's just awesome how you two have so much experience already! Already ranked the 6th and 7th heroes in America and not even Pros yet? And with you being quirkless, Ken? That's so cool!"
"Thanks", Ken smiled modestly. "We'd heard that Japan was one of the countries where the 'quirkless' were often seen as outsiders or useless; often bullied as children. I'm one of – admittedly – only a few who are proof that even the quirkless can become heroes. I'm hoping to open closed minds."
"Your hope and positivity are both inspiring and painful", Amajiki Tamaki groaned depressingly.
"Hey, Tamaki", Duncan turned to the "manifest" quirk-user. "I placed some orders online from the States that I think would be handy to add to your arsenal menu. Plus Kenny thought of some things you might want to add from cuisine around the world. Pretty much everything is sustainable, and thanks to the internet you can get almost anything from anywhere in the world in two days or less. Here's the list."
(A/N: This is an ideally optimized world in which the proper measures to quell pollution, over-hunting/fishing, and irresponsible logging, as well as instituting the use and advancement of alternative energy sources and technology were taken decades ago. Thus there are far fewer endangered species in this world.)
"Oh. Well, ok, I guess I'll take a look", Tamaki sighed, looking at the list.
Ordered online:
Alligator jerky and 'slim-jim'-style meat sticks. Uses: Powerful tail, armor-like hide, sharp teeth + powerful jaw(strongest, most powerful bite on the planet!)
Rattlesnake jerky. Uses: Rattle-tail useful as a distraction, venomous fangs.
Jack-rabbit jerky. Use: Legs for jumping/leaping and speed.
Canned turtle-soup. Uses: Armored shell, claws
Ghost-pepper salsa. Use: organic pepper-spray.
Prickly-pear preserves. Use: spines.
Other foods to consider:
Salmon. Use: gills able to breath both fresh and salt water.
Swordfish. Use: Duh! The 'sword'!
Pheasant. Use: Wings capable of flight.
Dried/roasted scorpions. Use: long tail with venomous stinger.
Frog-legs. Use: Powerful legs for jumping, webbed hands/feet for swimming.
Tamaki was impressed. He had never even thought of any of these foods, although he had a few misgivings about the scorpions. They all had potential, and Duncan had already ordered a few for him.
"Wow, Tamaki!", Nejire chirped from over his shoulder, startling him. "Those all look super useful for you! Thanks, you guys!"
"Well, the nature of your quirk gives you potential limited only by the cuisine of the world", Ken said honestly. "That's really impressive."
"Ugh! Your positive praise is painful", Tamaki whimpered as he face-planted on his desk.
"I'll give you the stuff I ordered when it arrives in a day or two, Tamaki", Duncan chuckled. "Hey, after school today, how about we treat you three to dinner at the "World Buffet" across from the train station? There's something we'd like to talk to you about, and you might be able to help us."
"I don't see why not", Mirio replied with his usual smile. "I'll just message my parents that I'm having dinner with friends."
"Oooh! That sounds both fun and yummy!", Nejire squealed, clapping excitedly.
"Yeah. Sure. Whatever", Tamaki groaned.
"RRRR-RAR-RAR-RAR-RAR! EVERYONE IN YOUR SEATS! CLASS IS STARTING!", their teacher with the junkyard-dog quirk, Hound-Dog, literally barked as he entered the classroom.
xxXXxx
"This idea of yours sounds great, guys", Mirio said over his plate of shepherd's pie and spaghetti & meatballs. "It would not only fast-track deserving heroes to 'Pro' status, but it would still work with the existing Agency, Pro, and Sidekick system as it stands now, and would streamline deployment of Heroes where and whenever they're needed!"
"Totes!", Nejire agreed as she picked up another buffalo wing from her plate of assorted delicacies, while Tamaki listened quietly as he stared into his platter of teriyaki octopus, Cajun catfish, potatoes au gratin, and buttered broccoli. "So you want us to be part of this organization you're putting together?"
"Yes, but it's more than that", Ken chuckled. "We'd like your help in scouting potential members here at UA."
"And not just from the hero courses", Duncan added. "We want anyone who shows potential to be of benefit from any of the courses. We've already noted several from each of the hero classes, but other than the first-years you three know more about all of them than we do, so we'd value your assessments and suggestions."
"Sure! We can do that", Mirio said. "Who've you got so far besides us?"
"From Class 2-A, Petaru Parkuro. Hero name: Spyder. Quirk: spider; possesses the abilities plus the proportional strength, speed, and agility of a spider."
"Also from Class 2-A, Hiro Tadashi. Hero name: Challenger. Quirk: mega-mind; powerful telekinetic, telepath, and an inventive super-genius in just about every field of study. He's so smart, he's also taking classes from the Support Course and still easily maintaining straight A's. Rumor has it that he can build or fix just about anything."
"From Class 2-B, Mei-Ling Kusagari. Hero name: Spiral. Quirk: an evolved hybrid of both her parents' abilities. Her father is the Pro Hero Fourth-Kind, but she has six super-strong arms as opposed to his four, and she's also not as strong as her father. Her mother is a powerful sorceress and has been teaching her since she was three years old. However, due to her multiple arms, she is able to cast up to three spells at once."
"Also from Class 2-B, 'identical' twins Jiro and Kono Hachime. Hero names: Yin & Yang. Quirk: binary abilities; Jiro has enhanced strategic intelligence and toughness while Kono has enhanced strength and reflexes; but when they clasp hands, both brothers have all of their abilities."
"Another from Class 2-B, Astrixa Kristoff, a transfer from Norway. Hero name: Valkyrie. Quirk: eagle; the large feathered wings on her back enable her to fly at high speeds and altitudes, and she can clearly see things up to a mile away."
"From our Class 3-A, Toshiro Hunta. Hero name: Hard Target. Quirk: un-erring aim. Whether it's with his signature compound bow, his mini-crossbows, or pretty much any thrown weapon or object, he never misses his target. And his array of trick and specialty arrows is mind boggling. Rumor has it that UA teacher Snipe plans to take him on as a sidekick when he graduates."
"Also from Class 3-A, Masaharu Suzuki. Hero name: Mechanic. Quirk: technopath; he can command and manipulate machines and technology with his mind."
"From Class 3-B, Miki Morimoto. Hero name: Mirrorz. Quirk: reflection; she can reflect any force used against her back at the source."
"And that's who we've scouted so far", Duncan concluded after his and Ken's back & forth reading of the list of potentials. "We may add more after the UA Sports Festival, as well as the best of the first-years."
"Good idea. The Sports Festival will showcase what all our fellow students can do", Mirio nodded.
"But remember", Nejire grinned mischievously, "Since you two are now students of UA, you'll both be competing in the Festival, too, with the rest of our year!"
"Aw man!", Ken groaned. "I forgot about that!"
"Don't sweat it, Bro", Duncan chuckled at his best friend.
"Easy for you to say, Duncan", Ken grumbled. "You're a powerhouse."
"And you have just as much real world experience as I do, remember?", Duncan assured him. "You defeat opponents with powerful quirks all the time."
"And this might put your mind a bit more at ease", Mirio smiled. "Only the first-years are restricted to UA gym uniforms for the Festival. Upperclassmen like us get to wear our costumes and support items."
"Well that's a relief", Ken said thankfully. "I mean, I can hold my own in close combat, but against quirks that can strike from a distance, I'm just a difficult-but-not-impossible-to-hit target without my gear."
xxXXxx
The next day, Ken was TA for Class 1-B, while Duncan went to 1-A. He saw Mr. Aizawa just outside the door putting eye-drops in his eyes. Duncan smiled as he remembered the teacher asking to let him try to erase his quirk when he learned of Duncan's hybrid heritage. Aizawa's erasure worked on his healing factor, but his kaiju abilities were not affected in the least.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Aizawa", Duncan greeted cheerfully. He kinda felt bad for the teacher. He always looked so exhausted.
"Rosenblatt", he replied tiredly, and opened the door…to chaos!
"TELL ME HOW YOU DID IT, DEKU! TELL ME HOW YOU HID THAT QUIRK ALL THESE YEARS! WHY YOU PRETENDED TO BE WEAK! DID YOU THINK YOU WERE BETTER THAN ME?! YOU WERE LAUGHING BEHIND MY BACK, HUH?! TELL ME OR I'LL SET YOU ON FIRE, YOU LOSER!", Bakugou yelled angrily in Midoria's face while pinning him against the windows, several other students trying to break it up.
"You've known me long enough to know I'm not like that, Kachan!", Izuku countered firmly. "I've always thought you're amazing!"
"Bakugou! Come on, man, let 'im go", Kirishima tried to urge his new friend to back off.
"This is unacceptable behavior for a UA student, let alone in the hero course, Bakugou!", Iida snapped.
"What is your damage, dude?", Kyoko chided at her explosive classmate.
"YOU EXTRAS STAY OUTTA THIS!", he yelled as he sparked up his free hand.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!", Mr. Aizawa yelled, activating his quirk. The other students backed away as Duncan flew across the room to pull Bakugou off of Midoria to pin him against the windows the same way he'd been holding his rival.
"GET OFF ME, YOU DAMN LIZARD!", Bakugou yelled as the rest of the class took their seats.
"Shut up, you hot-head!", Duncan hissed.
"I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH!", Mr. Aizawa repeated. "I don't even want to know what started this, because I can guess! Bakugou, you've been a problem from day-one! You're talented. But your temper and your arrogant attitude are already getting old! Curb them! Fast! Because one more unprovoked outburst like this and not only will I expel you from UA, but I will blacklist you from every reputable hero school in the country!"
Angry as he was, Bakugou blanched at the threat. If that happened, he might never become a Pro Hero!
"Mr. Aizawa", Duncan said, never taking his eyes off the angry teen he was restraining. "I have…..experience dealing with his type; the exceptional 'star-athlete' so thoroughly convinced that they're the best that any challenge to that belief seems like a physical attack and must be crushed without mercy. Who look down on everyone else, bully anyone they perceive as weak, and the adults around them enable them rather than rein them in because they're 'destined for greatness'. They're not capable of adjusting their attitudes themselves. Someone has to do it for them."
"Are you suggesting I just expel him now and be done with it, Rosenblatt?"
"No", Duncan replied, glaring at the still angry Bakugou. "He has talent and potential. He still could be a great hero one day. Like I said, he just needs an attitude adjustment. But in cases like his, there's only one way. And I volunteer, with your permission, of course."
Shoto Aizawa considered his options. He had a feeling he knew what his TA had in mind. It was drastic. And while undoubtedly effective, there was a risk that the emotional and psychological trauma could be too much, and UA could lose a promising potential hero. However, he was also at his limit with Bakugou's attitude problem. Aizawa had also read Duncan Rosenblatt's school records; including his history with a classmate named Troy Adams, who was clearly just like Bakugou…..until Rosenblatt 'adjusted' his attitude. They remained bitter rivals, but Adams reined in his arrogance and attitude.
"Alright. We'll include this demonstration with today's quirk training", Aizawa decided. "Everyone change into your costumes and meet me in Combat Gym Beta."
"Demonstration?", Bakugou asked in confusion.
"Right", Duncan grinned. "See, you're being given a rare opportunity to totally cut loose and go all out on your opponent: me. You think you're the best? That you're unstoppable? That nobody could possibly win against you without trickery or deceit? Well here's your chance to prove it."
"Oh this is gonna be fun", Bakugou smirked wickedly.
xxXXxx
Ten minutes later, Class 1-A was gathered in one of the highly reinforced gymnasiums. Mr. Aizawa and most of the class stood off to the side, while Bakugou and Duncan faced each other, waiting for the signal to begin. Bakugou flexed his fingers as Duncan morphed to full-kaiju.
"All right, you two", Eraserhead called out. "On my signal….Begin!"
"Haaah!", Bakugou yelled, launching himself forward with his quirk. Duncan made no move.
"DIE!", he screamed, throwing a big right-hook at Duncan's head and exploding a huge blast in his face, making several of his classmates gasp. "That was easy!"
"Is that the best you've got?", Duncan's voice called out from the smoke of the blast. Then he chuckled, "I've gotten more bang from a bundle of firecrackers."
"What?!", Bakugou exclaimed as the smoke cleared to reveal a completely unharmed Duncan. "Are you laughing at ME?! NOBODY LAUGHS AT ME, YOU LIZARD PUNK!"
He then pulled the same distraction-into-a-backblast move that he'd used on Deku in the combat exercise…..only to be palm-struck in the chest through the smoke, sending him tumbling backwards! HOW?!
"I'm a firebreather, nimrod!", Duncan smirked. "I can see through smoke and fire!"
'No way! This is impossible! Dammit!', Bakugou was cursing to himself as he stood back up. Then his gauntlets flashed briefly. He grinned. They were fully loaded. "LET'S SEE YOU SHRUG THIS OFF, YOU BASTARD!"
He aimed his right gauntlet at Duncan and pulled the pin, unleashing a massive explosion at the half-kaiju. His smirking sneer dropped in shock when Duncan stepped out of the smoke, removing his ruined sleeveless biker jacket.
"Good thing I've got a bunch of these", he said off-handedly, then glared at his opponent. "Is the other one ready yet? Come on! Let me have it!"
"LIZARD BASTARD! DON'T YOU DARE LOOK DOWN ON ME!", a scream of rage and frustration, Bakugou aimed and fired his other gauntlet at full power. Duncan took the hit easily, then shot up out of the smoke to fly over his opponent, twisting in the air behind him to blast him in the back with a fire-ball! Bakugou staggered forward with a yelp of pain!
"Here it comes, kid!", Duncan yelled as he charged forward. "That same right-hook that you love to use!"
Duncan swung his fist, shattering the boy's right gauntlet with ease, the follow-through slamming into his side! Then he grabbed Bakugou's now bare arm and spun around in a 180.
"KACHAN! DON'T YOU EVER FORGET WHAT YOU ARE!", Duncan taunted – echoing Bakugou's own taunt to Deku in the combat training – as he swung the boy over his head to slam him to the floor on his back so hard he bounced a few inches! "YOU'RE A NOVICE!"
Kachan groaned in pain as he got to his feet. All his life, he'd been the one with the upper hand, he'd always been the best and strongest.
"Maybe you were the best in whatever little town or neighborhood you grew up in", Duncan said as he approached the first-year. "But the world is far bigger than that. You may be tough and talented with your powerful quirk, but you are not as special as you think you are. No matter how lucky or how powerful you are, there will always be someone bigger, stronger, more powerful than you! All of your 'success' and 'greatness' stems from pure luck."
"SCREW YOU!", Kachan screamed, throwing his left gauntlet forward to blast only for Duncan to shatter it before he could fire then slap him in the face! "I AM BETTER THAN ALL THESE EXTRAS! ESPECIALLY DEKU!"
"No, you're luckier than most", Duncan said firmly, slapping him again, this time on the other side. "Your quirk? Sheer luck of the draw. You could have just as easily gotten a weak or useless quirk, or even been born quirkless. You are not, nor have you ever been some destined 'chosen one'. And the universe has not just been giving you everything you deserve. You were lucky to be born with your quirk."
"DIE! DIE! DIE!", Kachan yelled in response, blasting Duncan with the strongest explosions he could manage.
"I know the real reason why you hate Midoria so much", Duncan growled. "You hate that someone you considered lower than dirt, whom you tormented for years, was suddenly a rival to your 'awesomeness'! That he's suddenly risen to your level, when you thought you were in a class of your own! Well, let me tell you something; he worked hard to get here! Aside from one chance encounter, he made it here on nothing but his own hard work and study! His success threatens your entire belief system! Because if he can reach your level, that means anyone can! Which means you're not as special as you always thought you were!"
"NOBODY IS AS GOOD AS I AM! I'M THE BEST THERE IS!", Bakugou yelled defiantly, blasting his opponent uselessly, tears starting to form.
"*GRRRRRR!* FACE FACTS, KACHAN!", Duncan snarled as he lunged through the smoke to grab him by the throat and choke-slam him to the ground. Hard. "Not only does your quirk not hurt me, but I am clearly stronger and more powerful than you! YOU CAN'T BEAT ME! YOU. ARE. NOT. INVINCIBLE!"
"GET OFF OF ME!", the former arrogant bully cried, the tears finally flowing. He'd stopped fighting and just cried. Not only at his helplessness, but at Duncan's words. Duncan looked up toward Aizawa, who nodded. Bakugou'd had enough. Duncan released him and let him sit up. The rest of the class was shocked silent, the only sound was the sobbing of Bakugou. His pride was broken. His over-inflated sense of self; deflated.
He'd been beaten on every level by someone more powerful than him. His entire world view and his place in it had been laid bare for the delusions they were. So what now? He looked up to see a scaly, clawed hand extended to him.
"It's never easy to face the truth about yourself", Duncan said gently, hoping that he had not broken the boy's spirit along with his pride. "And a certain amount of pride is a good thing for a hero to have. But too much is dangerous; for yourself and others. I exposed the folly and deluded lies of your pride for what they are. You can hate me for it if you want. The real question is what will you do now? Will you go back to hiding behind your pride and delusions? Will you give up you dream and walk away? Or will you accept your new reality and rise up to become a great hero?"
The gym was dead silent as Bakugou looked up at the American and the hand he had extended. Moments stretched into minutes. Then he reached up and took that hand! Duncan smiled as he pulled Bakugou to his feet.
"Fine. Whatever", Bakugou grunted. "Just know that I'm still gonna be the best! I'm still gonna surpass All Might one day and become the Number One Hero!"
"I don't doubt that you'll be great", Duncan smirked. "And strong rivals like Midoria and Todoroki can only help you get stronger."
"All right", Aizawa called out, getting everyone's attention. "Now that that's over, everyone pair up. For half of the remaining time, you're all going to work on different ways to use your quirks, and the other half figuring out ways your quirks could work together."
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Author's notes: As you may have notice, Duncan and Kenny will be helping Izuku and others advance more quickly; either through advice, training, or recommending costume modifications.
The potential recruits are all my OC's, although "Spyder" is basically a Spider-Man clone and "Spiral" is based on a character of the same name in Marvel, but without the cybernetic implants. "Yin & Yang" were inspired by Mos & Menos from 'Teen Titans' and "Hard Target" is similar to Hawkeye and Green Arrow.
Next chapter, we have my version of the attack on the USJ!
Long reviews and suggestions are welcome as always! Flames will be used to toast marshmallows for s'mores.
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