Sorry for delays, this chapter took a while to edit for 2 reasons!

1. Its very long.

2. I had a bitch of a time finding out Adachi's heroic theme music~

Anyways, enjoy! :D

Season Three, Episode XXV

Our Attack

. . .

Sonzai Suru

. . .

"So you're going to fight me now?" Ryoko asked, looking down at me with a sneer. "You're joking right? Those two combined couldn't stop me, but you think that you, alone could beat me?"

I shrugged casually, "Don't need to beat you, just gotta keep you here until the Pros arrive." Teleporting back, I narrowly avoided her fist slamming down on top of me, instead she hit the ground uprooting a chunk of the earth. "What you think I'm just gonna stand there and take it? I'm not a brawler like those two so you'd better work on your aim!"

"How long until you slip up huh?" She demanded, lunging at me again. I teleported out of her reach, appearing behind her before she took a backswing at me. "You're so predictable!" But I was ready and before her fist could make contact, my body phased out into the Rift. "What the hell?" She stopped, looking around trying to find me.

I appeared again in the same spot, hand on her leg. "Yeah, I realized most people would try to counter my warping the same way you do, predicting my moves." Before teleporting us both a few hundred feet into the air. "So I learned how to counter that!" Then I let her fall, teleporting back to the ground safely.

Figuring out how to use the Rift in combat was difficult, and took a few extra steps in my thought process to do it on the fly, but with the power to phase out my body I could safely get the drop on just about anyone now no matter how good their reaction time is!

"Gaaah! DAMN YOU!" Ryoko cried out as she fell the to earth, bringing up her arms to protect her face as she slammed into the ground. Smashing it up more and opening a crater.

"So what do you think?" I taunted, landing beside the crater, "Kinetic Dampeners handle that one alright? I can go higher."

Ryoko pushed back up to her feet, dirt falling from her body as she shook it off. "Hrrnn... You were always the most annoying," She grumbled, turning back to face me again. "You might have a few new tricks-"

"Will you just shut up already," I interrupted, shaking my head. "Blah blah blah still can't beat me blah blah, you are such a broken record," Stuffing my hands into my pockets. "You wanna brag about how we can't do anything, about how our attacks don't work, and about how much better you are than us... You really don't get it, none of us care!" Not often that I lose my cool, but I think I was just as annoyed with her as she was with me. "You're like a bad anime villain, you've got this sense of superiority that you never earned, this power you have now isn't even yours!"

I could tell I was only making her more angry, "Shut your mouth, runt!" Teeth grit and eyes that could kill.

"Make me!" I fired back immediately, "You spent the last few months getting turned into some kind of science fiction monster, while we all busted our asses! The difference is that we actually grew from our experiences together, while you're still the same hateful, pathetic, lonely person you were before."

"SHUT UP!" I disappeared, reappearing in the trees above as Ryoko smashed the ground where I'd been. "You don't know ANYTHING!"

"I know that we tried to be your friends!" I scoffed, "You were one of the rejects just like us, but you couldn't accept that and now here we are..." My hand landed on her back, as I phased in and out of reality to get in close, "That's why you'll fall, over and over again." Before teleporting her high up into the air just like before. "Until the pros get here and put you away for good..."

She was falling fast, I could see her exiting the heavy smoke clouds looming over the camp from those fires. She was facing upward, what was she doing? I could see that her body had changed again. She looked like she did when using that brutal power on Adachi and Sen. Her Overdrive Matrix must have been active but for what purpose? Trying to cushion the fall in that form?

She flipped, just before hitting the ground she righted herself in the air. Raising her arms high above her head, "HRAAAAAGH!" Screaming as she brought them down.

On impact, I had to teleport away. Coughing for breath as she blew the ground apart, dust spreading in all direction around us. I couldn't see anything, but I wasn't stupid enough to stick around. Knowing she might try to sneak attack I teleported further away, trying to escape the cloud. But the moment I reappeared-

"GOTCHYA!" I tensed up as she grabbed me by the neck. Immediately putting pressure on, cutting off my air as she lifted me off the ground. "I told you, the Overdrive matrix improves every aspect of my Beast Quirk, that includes all my senses," She sneered, wearing a vicious fanged grin as she pulled me closer to her face. "Looks who's underestimating others now... And it JUST COST YOU YOUR LIFE!"

Before she could even draw back her fist, there was an explosion of dust nearby. I saw a blue and red blur, slamming into her flank, a massive reptilian fist right to her jaw. The gust of wind blew away the dust cloud, and the blow sent Ryoko flying while she let me go. Adachi caught me with his tail, but he wasn't his usual self. I mean, sure he was in his croc form, but-

"Is that Sen's aura?" I asked confused, it was cloaking his entire body like her aura projection but didn't seem to be impairing his movements.

"Sen will explain," He replied quickly, setting me down. It was only then that I realized he one had one good arm, the other was clearly broken and hung limp at his side. "She's nearby, I need you to bring Mako to her and come get me once he's there."

"But how is-" Before I stopped, smirking internally. "You've got a plan don't you?"

"Its not a good one, but its a plan."

"Ballin, try not to die while I'm gone!"

. . .

Kaiji Adachi

. . .

Easier said than done, Suru.

A plan? Yeah I had one.

Maybe not a very well thought out plan, but it was a plan.

Suru vanished, as Ryoko pushed herself up. The blow to her cheek bled lightly, good. I knew her Kinetic Dampener had to have a limit, Suru's use of Gravity seemed to have forced her to it. "So you're back up," She spat a bit of blood on the ground, body shifting back to normal as the Matrix powered down. Her muscles were trembling, did that power hurt her body? "Hmph, then I'll just put you down again!"

Her attack was less reckless, as she charged swinging with two upper arms. I jumped back, movements enhanced by Sen's Aura, increasing the power of my jump. It was a hell of a shift in balance, and I had to be careful to account for the extended movements. Landing on my heels, I knew I had to keep moving. I needed to buy time now, but Ryoko's attacks were more focused, less rabid.

Something changed while she was fighting Suru, "You think it'll be that easy?"

"Don't try to bullshit me," She scoffed, as we began to circle on another. "Your arm is busted, and you can't keep up that form forever... Not in your condition."

She wasn't wrong, I still had plenty of stamina by my body was aching everywhere. "Then why are we still talking?" I narrowed my eyes sharply, "You know the police and pro heroes will be here soon, why haven't you retreated yet?"

She grit her teeth, "Who said I wanted to go back to the League huh?" She demanded, "Maybe I got what I wanted, and maybe now I'm gonna fly solo!" She lunged at me, I used my one good arm to defend as she hammered in with those Impact Drivers. My splintered bones cracking further, struggling to hold together under the weight of her assault as I was pushed back.

I couldn't keep losing ground, I just needed a moment for Suru to do her job. "HrrrAAAGH!" Pivoting, I spun around rolling off her attack, slamming her with my tail as Sen's aura focused around it increasing the impact. The blow sent her flying, sliding back across the clearing she'd created with her impact. "I can't let you do that Ryoko!" I shouted back at her, "I'm stopping you tonight, I won't let you get away!"

"I'd love to see you back that up!" She charged me again, and just as I was bracing for another attack-

"Yo!" Suru's hand slapped onto my back, "Found bird boy, lets go!" Before we both vanished.

The world changed from an uprooted section of the forest to a nice grove, Sen was meditating nearby with Mako waiting in his chair. She lifted her head as we arrived, "Adachi, you're still standing, now are you going to explain this idea of yours?"

I fell forward onto my knees, shrinking down into my base form. "Y-Yes, just give me a moment... The aura projection worked perfectly Sen, you nailed it." I added with a faint chuckle.

"Those lacerations are bad, and your arm is broken." Mako analyzed at a glance, "You've likely got bone fractures, maybe internal bleeding, you need to stop fighting."

"Not happening, my wounds will be fine." I assured, "Regeneration, remember?"

"Yeah but its slow right," Suru scoffed, "It takes you like an hour to just heal a bruise or a cut... Also why am I here?"

"Mako, heal my other arm." I ordered, "I'm going to need it, it probably won't heal fast enough." I explained.

He rolled himself over suspiciously, taking my injured arm into his lap. "Okay... But I want more details." As he started to get to work.

I looked between my classmates, cringing occasionally as my bones were slowly put back together. "Now that we know Sen can use her aura to increase my attack power..." My eyes landing on Suru, "I just need to be faster."

Her face turned to a question mark as she tilted her head, before seeming to realize what I was getting at. "No way, we don't know if that'll even work! Or if its safe!"

"Doesn't matter," I shook my head, "You explained your new power as super charging you cells, and your cells are in all of us... By that logic, it should work." I explained, "Chronoboost me."

"Not happening," Suru shook her head. "That puts an incredible strain on the body, you can't brawl with Ryoko like that, you're already injured!"

"Any damage it does will be healed," I assured, not really knowing the truth myself. "Remember, you said it makes your body do everything faster, that should include my regeneration right?"

"Hold on," Sen seemed to understand what I was getting at, "You're banking this plan entirely on your body healing faster than Ryoko and the Chronoboost break it?"

I mean, when you say it like- "Yeah, basically."

"Adachi, my aura is one thing but this... I don't know." Sen shook her head. "We've gotten her far enough from the camp, we can wait for the pros to arrive and deal with her."

I grit my teeth, seeing the reservation on their faces. But I couldn't stop, we were so close! "Dammit, I don't want to wait for the pros!" I barked at them, forcing myself to stand as Mako finished up with my arm. "I want to fix this! Right now! Ryoko was our classmate right? We... We have to take some responsibility for this!" Looking between the lot of them, before my eyes drifted downward. "I... I have to take some responsibility for this."

"Adachi," Mako placed a hand on my arm. "Look at you, you can barely stand, what Ryoko did wasn't your fault... We've done enough here."

"No, no we haven't." Suru sighed heavily, shaking her head. "Look at this mess we've created," She scoffed, "If we let her walk away the winner, it means she was right doesn't it? At least in her mind..."

"Perhaps," Sen didn't sound too sure though. "But I don't like the idea of sending you back out there alone to face her..."

I placed a hand on her shoulder, making her look me in the eyes. "I won't be alone, you and Suru will be backing me up with your power, this isn't just me..." I looked around to the others. "This is our counter attack."

Mako released a short chuckle, "Geez I forgot how convincing you can be... Alright alright fine, go kick some ass... Not like I can stop you anyways."

I smirked at that, before patting him on the shoulder. "Thank you Mako, we'll be back for you... Now let's move Class 1-Z!"

. . .

Shikemono Ryoko

. . .

Adachi was gone.

Sen was gone.

Suru was gone.

I'd sent them all running, now it was time to go. Panting heavily as I moved through the forest, not heading for the extraction point, I'd long since gone over my five minutes as it was. They'd likely all disappeared without me, now I just had to escape this place before a pro hero caught me. Even then, in my banged up state, I could probably still crush the average pro... Maybe I'd cross paths with Mr. Aizawa, I'd love to smack him around a little...

"RYOKO!"

Turning slowly, I spotted Adachi standing alone at the edge of another clearing. He'd noticed me already, even in the underbrush and darkness he could see me. So I made my way over, stepping out into the moonlight as smoke parted briefly above us thanks to the breeze that flowed through these mountains. I stared back at him, in his base form... Maybe he didn't have the power left to change.

But if that was the case- "Why are you still chasing me?" I demanded, eyes narrowed sharply. My sensed were keen, ready for Sen or Suru to jump out at any second.

His arm was healed, I could tell as he rolled his shoulders. "I told you, I wasn't letting you leave here..." He was squaring up, the same way he did back... When we used to train together. "Last chance, surrender or get taken by force."

Any feeling that pose dragged out, I shoved it right back down. "Screw you, I must have knocked something loose if you think you can take me down in your condition." I spat harshly, as I began advancing on him. "But if you're so eager, I'll make this quick!" I lunged at him, two fists drawn back to level the little bastard. "Huh!?" He dodged, sidestepping with speed someone in his condition shouldn't be able t-

((Adachi's Theme time! Seigi Shikkou From One Punch Man, preferably extended))

Before I could react, his left arm lit up with Sen's aura. "HRAAAAGH!" He threw his own punch, driving a fist right into my gut before I had time to react. The impact magnified massively by the aura and some other force, the sheer speed his blow had struck my ribs created a gust of wind and had me sliding back on my heels.

"Gaah!" I lurched forward, blood spewing from my mouth. When I looked back at him, I was so confused. The fingers on his left hand were broken by the punch, but they were healing slowly. "What the hell was that? What did you-"

But he didn't give me time to make demands, charging me at high speed I only just barely had the time to get my arms up. A barrage of punches hammered me from all sides, powered by Sen's Aura and this newfound boost he'd received. My Kinetic Dampeners were at their limit, I could feel every blow breaking through my defenses. But I could feel Adachi's bones breaking on impact as well. What was he doing? How did this happen!?

His tail struck me from behind, but he'd just been in front of me right? How was he this fast!? The impact rocked my spine, sending me face first into the dirt. My shock was replaced quickly by rage, everything about this just pissed me off. My Overdrive Matrix was kicking into high gear while I pushed myself up. "I don't know where you got this strength from, this sudden boost in power..." As I turned on him, in my advanced form, I charged. "But how long can you keep it up!?"

Adachi attacked me head on, both his fists lit up with her raging aura. "I guess we're gonna find out!"

His blow landed first, striking me across the jaw. But I dug in and held my ground this time, swinging right back. I slammed a fist into his ribs followed by the Impact Driver firing. I could hear his ribs crunching as he doubled over my arm, why wasn't he using Sen's Aura to defend himself?! "Gnngh!" I winced his claws dug into my skin, he'd grabbed a hold of my arm and was gripping it tight. Before he threw his head upward, slamming the back end into my chin from below. "Gah! Dammit!" I stepped back, jaw rattled by the blow even as blood ran from the back of his feathered head.

Why was he doing this? Just how much abuse could he to take?

Had he just been toying with me when we fought before!?

"So you were holding back earlier!?" I demanded, swinging wildly at him. He weaved in between attacks, delivering a barrage of blows to my chest and stomach that took the wind out of me. Before I managed to lay into him with my lower arms, my Impact Drivers striking his arms as he tried to block. The force sending him flying, rolling across the ground. "You gained new power and tried to hide it from me!? DID YOU THINK I WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR IT ADACHI!?"

"This power isn't mine alone, and I'm not afraid to admit that." Adachi replied, blood running from the corners of his mouth. His eyes burning with a fire I'd never seen before, even though his breathing was labored. "Mako's Healing power, repaired the arm you broke... Sen's Aura empowers my attacks, and Suru's Chronoboost super charges the speed of my body..." What the hell is he talking about!? "All their strength, flowing through me..." I don't remember this Adachi. "This... This is all of Class 1-Z, trying to defeat you!" Before he charged me again, "I will stop you, Ryoko! No matter the cost!"

No matter the cost? I could see the cost.

As blood from internal wounds I didn't create splattered the ground with every movement he made.

I couldn't imagine how much pain he must be in...

When did this happen? When did he get so strong?

He was just... Some loser that I sparred with!

I tossed him aside so easily before, at the festival.

"GAAAH!" I screamed in frustration, Overdrive Matrix burning red hot as I pushed it to the very limit. "Then show me what you've got!" If he wanted to meet me head on, fine, I'd crush him with a barrage no amount of stubborn determination could survive! "FINE! You're Quirks against mine! DON'T HOLD ANYTHING BACK!"

Adachi closed the gap, meeting me head on like a madman. "ALRIGHT RYOKO LETS GO!" He roared, both arms cocked back. At the same, time Sen's Aura exploded around him, using an immense amount of power to try and shield his entire body.

But I didn't slow down, hammering away at him with impact drivers firing rapidly. That sound like machinegun fire echoing into the night, across the forest as I struck him. He was punching me right back, we beat the living hell out of one another. I could feel his punches losing steam as the split skin on his fingers seeped with blood. But something was wrong, he wasn't budging. I'd sent him flying with attacks of his caliber before, maybe it was Sen's aura shielding him, or this new power. "Damn you Kaiji!" I snarled viciously, picking up the speed of my attacks even as my arms burned with pain. "WHY ARE YOU SO STRONG!?" My attack finally broke, arms slowing down as the drivers slid out, steaming hot and bright red. They were marked with my blood, internal damage most likely.

I'd pushed myself too far with that attack, but Adachi was-

Transforming!?

His body was bleeding all over, skin broken all over his broken arms and upper torso. The aura faded, as he rapidly changed forms into a pale lizard. I didn't realize it until it was too late, as he lunged forward. Sen's Aura rekindled around a horn that had sprouted on his snout, and he had a clear shining target. My arms were too slow to stop it!

"GAAAH!" I cried out in pain, as he drove that ivory horn into my Overdrive Matrix, the crystaline sphere embedded in my chest pierced with ease. My blood spurted from it, covering his body, as pain shot through my entire form. Almost immediately, I began to shrink back down to my regular beast form. "Gnnngh! Aaaagh!" Pain, so much pain, it made me angry! "You... BASTARD!"

My arms, one of them at least, found the strength to move. I swung at Adachi with a brutal uppercut, firing off an impact driver one final time even as it burned and blooded my arm further. The blow sent him sky high, any semblance of balance or sturdiness lost as he flipped through the air upward. Before Sen's aura surrounded his form, halting his flight and leveling him out over me.

The moon shined through from above, making him look like a burning silhouette as the lights faded and he began to fall. Adachi clearly still had some semblance of his senses, as he began to roll forward into a flip. Spinning downward towards me, was this some kind of attack? Wait, Sen's Aura! It had reformed, surrounding Adachi's muscular tail. Even though his arms were battered and completely broken, his tail was in perfect condition! Was that part of his plan this whole time!?

He was spinning so fast, his speed increasing with every rotation. The impact, it was going to hurt, I needed t- "Gah!" I tried to move, but my body resisted. My muscles exhausted and legs cramping, I couldn't escape. "Nngh! NO!" Raising my weak, overworked arms. "I-I'll block it!"

"From Class 1-Z!" Adachi cried out, as that powerful tail came down. "THIS IS OUR ATTACK!"

The ground gave way beneath me as he made contact. I could feel my arms breaking, the Impact Drivers taking some kind of mechanical damage as well. The blow rattled me to the core, and the entire area was leveled. Trees had leaves ripped from them, any loose brush was blown away, the grass and dirt layer beneath it were torn asunder. I was driven into the ground, blind to whatever the aftermath might have been.

Everything had gone silent though, aside from my own haggard, heavy breathing. Getting up was painful, so painful. My entire body ached, back screaming, arms refused to move. It wasn't just the bones, my drivers were totally busted and wouldn't move in or out, jammed into place. Even so, I managed to get up on my knees, crawling out of the dirt, I began looking around for Adachi. This had to be it right, I'd... I'd survived his ultimate attack, I'd won!

But as the dust cleared, my heart began to sink. I saw Adachi standing nearby, his back was turned to me. Arms still hanging limp at his sides, tail dragging on the ground broken and bloody. Most of the scales had been broken off by the attack, he only had weak legs to stand on. But even so... How? How was he even still standing!?

"Gngh!" Shooting pain in my chest, a hand went to my Overdrive Matrix, the bloodflow had stopped but- My heart clenched with fear, as I realized the noise had alerted Adachi to me. He turned his head, staring over his shoulder at me. His pale face was covered in a mixture of his blood and my own, and those once sharp reptilian eyes were empty, was he even conscious?

"R-Ryoko..."

How?

How did he get so strong?

This couldn't be real, he wasn't even close to Sen and I before now!

This had to be a nightmare, just a bad dream...

"You..." I muttered, fear filling my voice. "Y-You're... Some kind of monster, Adachi... Th-That's the only way you could..." This was just like before, as soon as Sen began to overpower me at the festival I was consumed with this horrible feeling. "Ngh!" I flinched, as Adachi turned fully and took a step towards me.

"Y-You're... Wrong..." His words were nothing but mutters, almost incoherent. "I-I'm not... Strong enough..." He took one more step, and started falling forward. Before he could hit the ground however, he got one foot under him and regained his support. "Ryoko..." His head lifting slowly, until he was staring me right in the eyes. His senses had reasserted themselves, it seemed. "Next time... Next time I'll-" His words never made it out, as he finally collapsed onto the ground.

Did this mean I won?

...

No, this was a loss.

Another failure.

"You were late." I stiffened as Kurogiri's voice sounded behind me. The warping criminal taking shape, "Are you finished here?"

I winced in pain, eyes drifting downward. "Why... Are you here? I thought if we didn't make the rendezvous-"

"Adachi!" I heard Sen's voice, footsteps approaching rapidly.

"The master has one more assingment for you..." He replied, as the smoking warp began to consume me. I looked up towards Adachi one final time, seeing not only him but Sen and Suru racing over as well. They only got one last look at me, before I disappeared into the darkness and left the camp behind.

So that was it? I survived the attack, lost again... And now its just over?

What's supposed to happen to me now?