Chapter 40: Cat and Mouse
Shigaraki hated to admit it, but he was panicking. His plan had fallen apart, and now he had this unknown player to deal with!
"Do you want to play a game~," a mechanical, echoing voice growled out.
The voice was low and dark; and it seemed to fill the whole court yard.
Shigaraki shivered as it washed over him. The voice oozed wicked intent and it held immense presence just like his Sensei's. However, somehow this voice seemed even more terrifying...
"Who are you," the shaken villain called out, not wanting to back down and show his fear; though his voice shook just enough to give it away.
The mysterious person just laughed again.
"No matter," the voice growled out, as it seemed to come from everywhere. "You don't really have a choice!"
And, before the blue haired man could react, a large broken down animatronic lunged at him from the shadows—mechanical eyes blazing a hellfire red that seemed too hollow and unearthly to be human.
With a loud, soul shaking scream, the robot tore at his chest and blood flew through the air.
Shigaraki stumbled back in immense pain, thanking his lucky stars he was able to at least dodge enough that he was bisected.
The animatronic tried to continue it's attack, but Kurogiri used the momentum of his boss' fall from the hurried dodge to have him fall through a hastily erected warp gate.
The enraged animatronic growled in fury and in a blink of his eyes, he was once again hidden in the shadows.
"Are you okay, Shigiraki Tomura," the warp gate villain asked in his polite monotone.
"What was that," the man screamed. "Nobody mentioned that in our reports! It's not fair! There shouldn'tbe a hidden boss!"
Shigaraki growled as he forced himself to his feet. He wasn't going to let some reject robot beat him!
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Springtrap laughed in delight as he continued to taunt the hand wearing villain. Occasionally, he would pop out from his hiding places, or from the trees that littered the grounds, and land a blow on the man and disappear when the mist villain would warp the blue haired man away again.
He could see the hand wearing villain slowly loosing his composure as he became more and more paranoid and enraged.
"Spring," William said admonisihngly. "I know I said you could play, but you need to end this."
"Oh, come on, Willy," the humanoid bunny purred. "Don't you want this man to suffer?"
"Yes," William admitted. "But, our brat needs treatment!"
Springtrap clicked his tongue, but he didn't argue.
"Oh well," the animatronic bunny said with a disappointed sigh. "It was fun while it lasted."
Springtrap once again launched himself out of the shadows, but this time Shigiraki had enough of the game of cat and mouse!
"Nomu," the villain cried and the bird creature let go of Aizawa and seemingly teleported in front of Springtrap.
The monster back handed the humanoid rabbit so hard, the animatronic got hurled into the base of the water fountain hard enough that the tile cracked with a loud bang that echoed around the court yard.
Izuku and William yelled out in concern from the mindscape.
Springtrap groaned as he felt the broken parts digging into his body. Luckily he didn't have to worry about the springlocks in his broken suit.
"i hope this won't hurt the squirt," Springtrap thought with a worried growl. "Sorry brat, this will probably get worse..."
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The students all around the building who could see the fight screamed in fear as they saw the monster who brutally defeated their sensei sent their classmate flying.
"Zuku," Kaminari screamed from where he watched at the edge of the mountain zone.
"Midobro," Kirishima muttered with tears in his eyes.
"Hurry, kero," Tsu said weakly; tears falling down her face in guilt and shame. "We need to get Toshi and Aizawa-sensei out of here while they're distracted."
Kirishima nodded and picked up his violet haired classmate as gently as he could while Tsu used her tongue to discretely bring their down sensei to them so they could escape.
"What a mad blanket of darkness," Tokoyami muttered sadly as he bowed his head, Ojiro just laid a hand on the black clothed teen's shoulder, eyes bright with unshed tears.
Meanwhile, Uraraka was hanging off of Hagekure bawling her eyes out. Two of her best friends were critically injured, if not dead. Both of her senseis were also critically injured. She was so lost. Were they going to die?!
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Springtrap tested his movements as he slowly got up. Hopefully the damage to his suit would be manageable.
"Spring, are you okay," Izuku asked frantically, worried for his friend.
"I'm fine, squirt," the bunny said with a fanged smirk. "One little hit's not going to take me down."
"Thank goodness," William muttered. "Be more careful you idiot rabbit!"
Springtrap chuckled at his long time companion's concern.
"Sure, Willy," he said. "Just watch the brat!"
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"Look, Uraraka," Hagekure shouted in joy and relief. "He's okay! Midori's okay!"
Uraraka tore her head from the invisible girl's shoulder to look back at the court yard. She watched in disbelief as her friend slowly stood up and stretched his limbs.
"How," she whispered in awe at his strength.
"I don't know," the other girl cheered. "But, at least he's okay!"
All around the building similar conversations were repeated. But, one thing was sure. Their hope was restored.
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"How," the blue haired villain shouted in rage as he saw his adversity stand back up. "My Nomu is as strong as Allmight!"
"Are you sure," Spring taunted the child-like man. "It felt like a love tap."
The animatronic personality was lying through his teeth. He couldn't take many more hits like that, and the three people living in his head knew it. Just one hit was enough to dent his suit's torso and lodge several pieces of scrap metal into his torso. He was lucky to still be on his feet!
Shigaraki growled and ordered Nomu to attack again. However, this time Springtrap was ready, and he jumped onto the fountain and then launched himself in the air and over the monster. Then, the animatronic launched an attack from behind.
He racked his claws through the beast's stomach strong enough to bisect a normal human being using his own soul's energy. Then, he got the hell out of dodge.
"Ha, wasn't to tough," Spring said as he shook the blood off his claws.
The blue haired villain started to laugh hysterically, and Spring looked at him growling in annoyance.
"What's so funny," he demanded, his eyes flashing a dangerous red.
"Did you really think it would be that easy," Shigaraki mocked as the Nomu once again punched the unsuspecting Spring across the room. "Nomu was enineered to take Allmight on at 100%!"
"Dang it," Springtrap growled as he took stock of his injuries.
His front and back armor was ruined, and blood leaked from the deep gouges in his frame. He was glad that he was 'dead', as he couldn't feel any pain. However, if he wasn't more careful, he would kill all three of them.
"Will, how do I defeat that thing," Spring growled. "I can't take another hit! Our suit's been taking most of the damage with the help of me using power from our soul. But, if we keep taking damage, that thing's going to either going to drain our life force, rupture our insides, or shatter our soul!"
William muttered nonstop as he went through plan after plan.
"The brain," he yelled. "Go after the brain! It can't regenerate if it's damaged...hopefully. On second thought, tear it out and chuck it as far away from the monster as you can!"
Springtrap grinned darkly as he growled, "Gladly!"
Springtrap started to laugh hysterically, and then he once again disappeared.
"Giving up," Shigaraki yelled as he looked around the court yard. "Have you finally figured out that you have no chance?!"
Springtrap, not wanting to potentially give away his position, didn't answer the childish man. Instead, he put his all into one more burst of pure speed as he launched himself at the bird-like monstrosity from behind.
The monster screeched as it desperately tried to pull him off as he used his claw to keep his balance and to pull him onto the beast's shoulders. However, Springtrap was too determined to be detoured and he frantically dug his claw into the monster's head when he regained his balance.
"What are you doing to my Nomu," Shigaraki screamed at him while the beast screeched in pain.
Springtrap just chuckled in victory when his claws finally dug out the bird's exposed brain and the monster collapsed like it's strings were cut.
However, just before it fell, it go one luck hit on Spring, and the bunny—once again—went flying.
Springtrap panted as he tried to get back up, but his suit was now too damaged. Blood soaked the suit, and the humanoid bunny concluded he probably cut an artery.
"No," Shigaraki yelled in pure fury. "It's not possible! Nomu was built to defeat Allmight! How did this NPC turn into a hidden boss!"
Shigaraki screamed in fury, and then he rushed for the downed Springtrap. Springtrap tried to force himself to move, but his suit wouldn't respond. Everyone else was to far away now to help as well.
"Sorry, squirt," Springtrap thought as he sighed in self-loathing. "Sorry, Will. I hope your ready to die together once again, old friend..."
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"Spring," Izuku screamed as he watched as Shigaraki lunged at his friend. "Spring! Move!"
"He can't," William said grimly as he clenched his fists. "We're too injured."
Izuku started to cry uncontrollably.
"Help," Izuku internally begged, and unknowingly, his soul lit up with his plea like a beacon. "Help! Somebody, anybody, please!"
Right as Shigaraki's hand brushed against Spring's suit, Izuku saw something in the corner of his eye. However, he didn't pay the event much mind due to the mind blowing event that was happening.
Shigaraki's hand was phasing through them.