Heroes to Hunters

Chapter 21

I wrote in that the UA group had finished their Rampage fight last time, but I had a new idea after reading some of the comments. So you'll get the round 2 fight, or rather it's a bonus round for a fight this time. On with the show.

(No POV)

As Kuvna was escorting the UA hunters back, she heard a voice call out from above. "KUVNA!" she and the rest heard and looked up. Coming from above was Han, with Willie floating in behind him. As he landed, Riley popped out of the ground and ran up to the rest. Kuvna was surprised by the entrance and asked, "what's going on? Has something happened?" "Yeah. We've got big trouble coming. A Narwa and two Ibushis." Han reported with a severe look on his face.

Kuvna's eyes widened, as did a few of the more experienced UA hunters. Midnight stepped up first and said, "aren't those supposed to be the Elder Dragons of this area?!" Han nodded before explaining that Narwa was heading for the center path, while the Ibushis' were taking the other routes. "Meaning you'll need some serious backup for this fight. So I'm here to give you some extra help." Han explained while cocking his Rampage Heavy Bowgun.

Kuvna offered to stay to, but Han told her she had to help at the central defense. "The Ibushis appear to be a bit younger, so I can help them better here. But the Narwa is much older. They'll need some extra experience with that beast." "Alright. I'll head that way. Good luck. To all of you." Kuvna said before wirebug launching herself and climbing up the walls.

With that done, Han gave out some new orders. First being that everyone had to take some time and rest, eat, and restock their equipment. "Second, I want a few more of you waiting at the rear gate. Aside from setting up defenses, try to set up some traps as well as fueling the kilns. We need every advantage we can get to fight back against the Serpent God of Wind." And his last order was for everyone to be careful and watch one another's backs during the fight.

Thanks to the felynes using some distraction tools, the Elder Dragons were delayed enough to give everyone two hours to prepare. With some more monsters heading toward the paths as well. Izuku, Mirio and a few others had already finished resting, so they asked what they would be facing. "It's a three wave battle this time. First seems to be a Basarios, so you'll have to focus on it for sure. Second appears to be a Rakna-Kadaki. And last but not least is Ibushi. It'll probably bust through any gates left, but you should be able to do some damage before it gets to the end."

With the details given, the UA hunters head out to defend their positions. Momo though catches Todoroki and Jiro before they head out. "I don't want to jinx things, but I want to clear a few things that I have been avoiding with you two. I know you both have feelings for me, you've made those thoughts clear. And I'll be honest, there were some feelings growing during our time together at UA." Momo says to the two. Who are both wide eyed at her admission. She goes on to say that Jiro had been a good friend and someone she cared deeply about. While Shoto had helped her get past her insecurities and stand for herself again.

"I'm not sure where this could go down the line, but maybe we can take a cue from Midoriya, Uraraka and Tokage's relationship. And make this work," she said while taking both of their hands. While both were surprised, they were also a bit happy that their mutual crush had somewhat answered them. "We'll have to see what we can do later. For now….. we have a Rampage to fight." Shoto says with a small smile on his face. Jiro jabs him a bit and says that she wanted to say that.

While the three of them were coming to terms, the rest of the UA group are readying up for the fight ahead. "This will probably be more insane than the fight against Zorah Magdaros. That thing was slow and there was only one severe threat! Yeah, now we've got dozens of strong monsters to fight and another powerful Elder Dragon!" Mineta, Rin and Yui banter a bit while preparing.

Han then tells Izuku that he'll be staying at the backline for the fight. "I can help coordinate and aim the gear where we need it. Stay ready." Izuku nods while Han heads back to the final gate.

With a bit of trepidation, the student hunters prepare for the next fight against the horde of monsters. Izuku took his place at the front again with his machine cannon and aimed down range. "Its too bad we couldn't set up the barricades again," he says to Akatsuki while the palamute was sitting next to him. The canyne leans up to his master, and the green haired teen pets him. Finding a bit of calm before the storm.

Then the horns ring out and the hunters know it is time. The first set to run in are a group of Great Izuchis with Khezu flanking them. Izuku, Tetsutetsu and Yui unload as fast as they can on the monsters. While Momo, Shoto, Rin and Setsuna fire their ranged weapons at the beasts. Mineta and All Might though are waiting at the gate to fire on the monsters. As a Khezu starts to wind up, Mineta fires off a retreat shot and makes the monster reel back.

All Might then protects the short hunter from an Azuros attack with a barrage of cannon shots. Meanwhile Izuku and Ochaco are both on the ground fighting against the monsters. "Well me being able to shoot away didn't last long!" Izuku quips before vaulting over a Tetrandon, and arial spin striking it. Ochaco meanwhile is dodging around as best as she can with her dual blades, before going for a Shrouded Vault into a Great Wroggi.

Jiro then jumps down and helps both with a hunting horn smash to the Tetrandon's face before playing a few notes to boost both of them. After the opening attack had been cleared, the alert came in that the lead Basarios was attacking. But the UA hunters are ready for it and make quick work of it with the use of the Dragonators.

While catching their breath, Midnight calls out for everyone to heal up while they can. "We've got a minute before the next wave. Be ready!" Tetsutetsu and Rin help Itsuka who had been knocked over by the Basarios blast gassing under itself while she was nearby. "Well that could have hurt more. But only a little. Thanks, Tetsu," she said after accepting a potion from the hard head.

While most could use more time, they don't have a choice as the next wave is upon them. Starting with Pukei-Pukei flying above and spitting poison down upon them. And Basarios and Rakna-Kadai attacking on the ground. The later of which throws quite of few of them off with its silk spitting attacks. "I guess we should have seen that coming!" Rin shouts after getting wrapped up in the webs.

Momo catches Shoto saying the two of them needed to focus on the spider like wyvern. They unload with their bowguns on the beast while the rest fire all around. But there is a new problem; barely any of the students are currently on the siege weapons thanks to the number of monsters attacking. "Akatsuki! Get help boy!" Izuku calls out and his canyne partner runs off to the upper gate.

Momo, Shoto, and Izuku eventually manage to defeat the Rakna-Kadai, and then back up arrives. In the form of Miruko, Ryukyu and Mirio. "Got your back Midoriya!" Mirio calls out before using his hammer to smash down on a Khezu at the gate. Miruko engages a Great Wroggi on the ground with her Snow Slicers and Ryukyu winds up with a Hunting Edge and comes down on a Tetrandon next to the Great Wroggi.

The three help to ease up the pressure on the other hunters, and a few of them get back to their siege weapons. "Thanks for the help, Mirio-senpai! I wasn't sure who would come." Izuku says while getting back on his machine cannon. Mirio nods before saying that Mirko was the first to jump on running to help the rest. While he and Ryukyu were asked by Han to help her as well. "Guess he figured she'd be too focused on fighting herself that she wouldn't really help. And I wouldn't say he's wrong." Mirio says while watching Mirko go full speed slashing down the back of a Rathian after Tower Vaulting.

With a chuckle the two top hero students focus in on the monsters coming over the barricade again. The UA hunters clear most of the beasts, but the next powerful monster comes in. A larger Rakna-Kadai.

While most are focused on the other monsters like Basarios and Khezu that were heading for the gate, the two former pros are focused on the monster that dragged them to this world in the first place. "Well, I wasn't expecting to get payback so soon. But I'm not complaining!" Mirko shouts before engaging the Empress Spider with her dual blades.

Ryukyu suppresses a shiver while thinking back on how the two almost died, before backing up the former Rabbit Hero. Right when Mirko was reeling from an attack, she got her legs wrapped up by the spider. It started to drag her towards itself and was igniting the gas inside its throat to roast the rabbit. But right as it fired, Ryukyu jumped in and guarded with her Jawblade. She planted the blade in the webbing before charging forward and smashing into the spider with the side of her sword.

"I had things under control!" Mirko complained loudly. While Ryukyu rolled her eyes before saying, "obviously." The two then work together to attack the spider a few more times, while the students keep shooting it and all of the other monsters gathered. It takes about ten minutes, but they clear the second wave.

As everyone is catching their breath again, All Might calls out to the rest. "Most of you should head up to the final gate. From what Han said, it won't take long for Ibushi to plow through most of the defenses down here. But we can hit it with a Dragonator attack and a few other shots before it gets up to you," the former number one says to the students. While most of them don't want to leave, they know he has a point.

After the students had moved up to the final gate, Midnight was standing by at one of the Dragonatoer switches. With All Might at his cannon after setting a few bamboo bombs and a dragonbait set up at the gate. Mirko had taken up Izuku's post on the machine cannon, while Ryukyu was at the kilns and feeding as much coal as she could into the fires.

But when the horns go off, they all feel tense as they feel the winds change from Ibushi moving into the area. It then blasts through the front barricade and lets out a powerful roar. While not having as sensitive of hearing as she did before, Mirko winces and covers her ears from the painful call. She shakes it off before firing as many shots as she can at the beast. But it barely notices her.

Midnight is blow back slightly from the ambient wind around Ibushi, but she still gets into place and fires the Dragonator. The spears pierce the sides of the Elder Dragon and make it reel for a second. Allowing both All Might and Mirko to keep firing on the monster. While Ryukyu keeps piling in coal as fast as she can.

But it is almost for naught as Ibushi reaches the gate and quickly demolishes it. But it still gets blasted by the wyvernfire artillery. And thanks to Ryukyu's speed and determination, Midnight can fire off one more Dragonator before the Elder Dragon runs off to the final gate.

At the gate, all the former heroes, hero to hunter students, and former villains are preparing. They took Han's advice and didn't set up defenses around the first barricade and walls. "Apex's and Elder Dragons like them just smash through the defenses. And those stations. Better to set up along the way. Get ready!" With that said, all the hunters prep their weapons and potions to fight.

When Ibushi first arrives, it quickly blasts through the barricade and defensive wall at the bottom. "Glad none of us were down there! That would have hurt!" Iguchi says while drawing his Iron Gospel. The rest nod while drawing their weapons or setting up in siege installations along the walls.

Mineta had swapped to a machine cannon, and he was covered by Tetsutetsu who had his Hypno Knife drawn. Izuku had his glaive out while standing with Ochaco and Toga. Both of whom had Dual Daggers at the ready. Han was ready with his heavy bowgun, while Nagant was on a ballista near the gate. All Might and the other former pros were a bit behind, but they eventually caught up. With the former number once again taking up a cannon to blast the Elder Dragon.

Rin meanwhile was waiting at the Spitting Wyvernshot for the weapon to be ready. And he was the first to truly fire on the Serpent Dragon of the Winds. He dropped a massive shot that made the monster flinch. Yui was at the kilns to start shoveling and then Ryukyu helped her with the kilns.

The rest all engaged the monster as many ways as they could. Izuku and Nejire took to the air and sliced into the beast as fast as they could. And gained a few of the boosts from the kinsect. The dual blade fighters rushed in next and tried to slash and cut all along the Elder Dragon's sides while it was close to the ground. With the few sword wielders cutting in next to do some damage and build their spirit power. While the ranged fighters all were blasting with whatever bullets they had.

But then Ibushi spun itself around a bit before unleashing blasts of wind spheres, before turning upside down. And firing a powerful blast of wind and dragon energy from it mouth. The blast knocks all of the hunters back and destroys most of the installations. While most of them are recovering, Ibushi turns back to the gate. Izuku slowly wakes up, and he sees Han standing firm and aiming his bowgun at the Elder Dragon.

He shakes his head a few times before standing himself. Not long after him is Tetsutetsu who covered Mineta after the installation exploded. Mirko is standing as well and draws her blades again. When Ibushi looks like it is about to attack Han, Mirko uses her wirebugs to send herself into the air and come down like a mad buzz saw. Izuku fires off a few pellets and sends his kinsect out to gather essences before attacking himself. While Tetsutetsu wirebugs as fast as he can before using a Falling Shadow technique to pull himself into the monster's face.

He then quickly slashes it before bashing it in the face with his shield. Izuku then uses a Silkbind Vault to propel himself up again and slash around and around at Ibushi. Before using Recall Kinsect to pull himself back and heal a bit. All the while, Han has been peppering the head and other sensitive sections of the monster with bullets from his bowgun. Ibushi then winds up and attacks Han with a blast.

But the experienced hunter had been counting on that. He quickly bound himself down and used the Counter Shot to absorb the attack. Before blasting Ibushi in the face with some of its own power. The four kept the Elder Dragon busy for as long as they could, while the rest collected themselves. Hanai being one of the first to stand again.

She was still waiting for the installation to be rebuilt, so she drew her bowgun and started shooting as fast as she could. But this seemed to just annoy the Elder Dragon. Let alone the other shots and attacks it had taken. It wound itself around again, and then attacked Hanai with a blast of wind sending her into the air.

While she was trying to reorient herself, Ibushi was coming up from under her. And about to devour the fallen hero. Han saw this and dropped his bowgun before calling to Tetsutetsu. "Kid! Launch me up as best you can!" Tetsu was surprised, but quickly got his shield into position. Han then jumped onto the shield, and both pushed as hard as they could to get the hunter up in the air.

Han used his wirebugs to get closer, but he was still going to be slightly short with the third. "Han! Catch!" Izuku called out, before throwing his weapon like a spear. Han caught it just in time, and the momentum pulled him a bit before he used a vault to pull him closer to the two. He then spun the glaive around, slicing the monster a bit, before hooking into Hanai. Who had only just noticed that she was about to be eaten.

Han then kicked off of the Elder Dragon's face while holding Hanai close. And since she disliked feeling like she kept having to be saved, Hanai took the time as they were falling to take a few shots at the Elder Dragon. "That was a bit too close!" Han said after getting back to the ground. Hanai thanked him, while still shooting at the monster.

Han nodded before handing Izuku back his glaive and running to get his bowgun. The rest of the UA hunters were shaking out of the stun that Ibushi had hit them with. Akatsuki started snarling after standing up, with Setsuna next to him. "I know what you mean boy! I'm pissed too!" she said before lining up a few shots with her Kamura Light Bowgun.

Rin was one of the last to shake out of the stun, but by the time he was the Spitting Wyvernshot was ready. He lined up his attack and unleashed the hellfire from above. The shots stunned Ibushi enough that the rest could continue to pile on attacks before it could attack the gate again. Luckily it only took a few more minutes before the beast was done and flew away.

When it left, (dropping some parts to itself as it flew off) all of the heroes and students collapsed. They were all more exhausted than they were before, and all of the gun wielders were out of ammo. But they were happy. They had faced off with an Elder Dragon of this new region and won. "I guess this is some of what it feels like to be a hero. It feels….. exhausting but in a good way." Toga says while laying on her back. Iguchi agrees before helping her and Tetsutetsu up.

"I guess you don't have as much problem with me?" Tetsutetsu asks while shaking hands with the former villain. Iguchi smiles before saying, "guys like you aren't the biggest problem in our old world. If anything…. You and that Kirishima guy might be more of what we need." After saying that Tetsutetsu shakes Iguchi's hand and tells him he is a hero today.

For others they were each recovering in their own ways. First with Jiro helping Momo up. Then going over to help Shoto as well. He was a bit surprised, but he gladly accepted the hand outstretched. Momo then pulled both of them into a hug, saying she was glad they were both okay. Mineta was offered help up by Yui. While he was surprised, he wasn't one to push some solidarity, and maybe a bit of sympathy away. Yui and Rin both admitted that Mineta was really brave during the whole fight. "You don't have the armor we do and you still stood your ground. Even you did seem like you were about to wet yourself." Yui said in a monotone bit of praise with a little smile. Mineta wants to brag a bit, but he is honestly too tired to say anything more than, "thanks."

With Ochaco, Setsuna, and Izuku, they are all just glad that they made it out okay. And that saved Kamura Village. "I don't know about anyone else, but I just want to sleep for a while after this fight." Setsuna says with a laugh. Mirko and Ryukyu fist bump at the fact they faced off with something that scared them and defeated it. While Han is looking over to Hanai and saying she fought well. "You're not going to try and check on me?" Hanai asks with a slightly accusing tone. Han smirks before saying, "there's no point to that. I know you're okay. And you can stand plenty strong on your own."

Hanai just sighs before calling him an idiot. But then thanking him. With that, and the reports from the other passes that the threats were defeated, all of the hunters and villagers could return to Kamura for a bit of rest, some feasting, and the handful of rewards from the defense of the village.

This took a bit longer because I had a bit of writers block as well as dealing with Midterms and graduate school issues. But I'll be able to get back into the writing groove before too long. Please review.