Chapter 6: Superhuman Warfare Part 2
Bakugo's group finds themselves in an alley, covered in the shade of the 2 buildings that made it. They can feel the hairs on their necks go on end, feeling as if they're being watched, but no matter how many times they look around or upwards, they see nothing.
Invisible Girl: Ohh… I don't like this! I feel like something really REALLY bad is about to happen!
Bakugo: Shut up, clothes! Nothing's gonna happen as long as I'm here! … I'd like to see that All-Might wannabe try to sneak up on us.
Red Riot: I'm honestly a lot more nervous about being found by that Bat Guy.
Bakugo: That Quirkless rich bastard?! As if he's a threat!
Tsukuyomi: You're underestimating our enemy?
Bakugo: Whatever toys he has, I can break, Bird Brain! Doesn't matter what kind of skill he has, without a quirk, he's nothing.
Invisible Girl: Please stop insulting him! You might make him angry!
Bakugo: He should worry about ME getting angry!
Red Riot accidentally scrapes his foot along the ground, making him harden himself. Invisible Girl yelps and Tsukuyomi summons Dark Shadow. Even Bakugo had flinched.
Red Riot: … Sorry… I think that was just me…
Bakugo: Damn it, Shitty hair!
Invisible Girl: You nearly gave me a heart attack!
Dark Shadow: Jeez, you guys are tense.
Tsukuyomi: It's like some kind of psychological warfare… he's probably watching us right now… studying us… waiting for the right moment to drag us into the shadows…
Bakugo: Shut up, Bird Brain! Riot, cover our asses! Clothes, take point and keep an eye out for those American Extras! Bird Brain, tell your shadow not to crowd me! We both know what happens when my Quirk and it interact.
Dark Shadow moves himself under Tsukuyomi's cloak as the group reforms, with Invisible Girl in front and Bakugo behind her. They're nearly at the end of the alley and Invisible Girl peeks out.
Invisible Girl: … I don't see anyone.
Bakugo: Red Riot, is anyone following us? … Shitty Hair, I asked you a question!
They all turn around to see that Red Riot had disappeared without a trace.
Bakugo: Damn it! Where did he go?! You 2 were supposed to be watching him!
Tsukuyomi: You tasked me with no such duty.
Dark Shadow: You just told me to stay away from you!
Bakugo: CRAAAP! I could tolerate Shitty Hair, but now I'm stuck with you extras! Clothes, are we still clear?!
He turns around to her.
Bakugo: Clothes, answer me!
There was nothing there, but then again, it's hard to know whether or not someone invisible was actually there. Dark Shadow comes out from the cloak, waving his arms around where she SHOULD have been.
Tsukuyomi: She's not there.
Bakugo: She's NEVER there, but I get what you mean… Bird Brain?
Tsukuyomi: Yes?
Bakugo: DUCK!
He turns around, hand popping before blasting a small explosion towards the bird-headed student. Said student ducks out of the way as Bakugo's blast knocks an incoming projectile off its course. It pierces a nearby wall, revealing itself to be some sort of sharp, bat-shaped tool, like a throwing dagger. From the shadows, Batman slowly steps into view, with his cape covering him like a shroud. Dark Shadow gets ready to fight and Bakugo lifts his hands, which glow slightly with his Quirk.
Batman: Good reflexes, though your observational awareness needs work.
Bakugo: Where are Kirishima and Clothes, Bat- Batstard!?
Batman: Secure, which is more than I can say for you.
Tsukuyomi: Dark Shadow, ensnare him!
Dark Shadow stretches out to grab Batman, but the sound of pressurized air can be heard. Said sound was made by the dark knight as he had pulled out a grappling device and reels himself out of harm's way, leaving a small, silver handled device in his wake. The device beeps 3 times in quick succession before going off, revealing itself to be a flash-bang. Dark Shadow crows and is reeled back to Tsukuyomi, who had covered his eyes with his cloak and his ears with his hands. Bakugo, who was behind them, wasn't as affected by the device, used to the sound of his own explosions in his ears. He explodes after Batman, chasing him towards the rooftops as Tsukuyomi regains his senses. Batman lands, ready and waiting for Bakugo as he flies after him. Tsukuyomi has regained his bearings and follows as quickly as he can, using Dark Shadow to help himself fly. Batman pulls out another one of his bat-shaped throwing stars and throws it downward. It soars past Bakugo, missing him entirely.
Bakugo: YOUR AIM IS SHIT!
Batman: Wrong.
The batarang was never intended for him, as the wing of the throwing projectile slices through Tsukuyomi's cloak down the back, rending it in 2 and making him flightless. Dark Shadow manages to catch them on some piping before they can fall to the ground completely. Bakugo, seeing he was unharmed, continued to chase Batman, who was starting to run.
Bakugo: RUNNING AWAY!? MAYBE YOU AREN'T CRAZY!
Batman suddenly stops dead in his tracks before dropping onto his back. Bakugo's inertia causes him to soar over the young billionaire. Before he can completely pass, Batman grabs him by his gauntlets, forcing Bakugo to hit the rooftop. Batman rolls backward onto his feet, getting into a fighting stance. Bakugo leaps to his feet, eyes blazing with anger.
Bakugo: You're gonna regret that, you Quirkless freak!
Batman: I bet you said the same thing to anyone you thought was Quirkless.
This caused Bakugo to pause.
Batman: I looked into your Elementary and Middle School files. Getting into them was child's play. While the teachers and faculty praised you for your excellent grades and talent with your Quirk, there is also an extensive list of incident reports with other students who are either Quirkless or have a Quirk weak enough to be deemed so.
Bakugo: Are you going to lecture me or fight!?
Bakugo fires off a few blasts at Batman, who merely bobs and weaves around the blasts.
Batman: Tell me, Bakugo. What kind of hero uses his abilities to put others down?
Bakugo: Shut up!
He chases Batman around the rooftop, only to miss grabbing him and to get struck by a punch or a kick in return.
Batman: Does me being Quirkless upset you? Or does it upset you that there could be someone that can be as strong, if not stronger than you running around, able to become a hero even without a Quirk?
Bakugo: I SAID SHUT UP!
He furiously explodes around Batman, trying to dive bomb or at least graze him with a blast, but he always seemed to be 3 steps or more ahead of him.
Batman: I think I know the problem. Despite your talent with your quirk, despite being one of the most gifted people to have such an ability, you're terrified of the idea that there's someone who can be better, of someone who's stronger, of someone who can beat you with little effort. In the end, you're just a delusional bully who thinks that as long as your strongest, you're the best-
Bakugo: JUST DIE ALREADY!
He brings his hands together, seeing red.
Bakugo: HOWITZER-
Before he can even complete his battle cry, Batman raises a small detonator. When he first brought Bakugo down, he had stuck small plastique explosives to his grenade gauntlets. He presses the trigger and as Bakugo fires off, the plastique explosive goes off as well. Not only did it make Bakugo's Howitzer Impact sail above his intended target, but because he wasn't prepared for the sudden explosion under him, it makes him go off-balance, especially as the foregin explosive pierces his gauntlets and ignites the nitroglycerin charged sweat that resides inside. Bakugo is sent flying to the edge of the rooftop, arms aching from being unprepared for the surprise attack. He gets back up, looking for the man who dared to make a fool of him.
Bakugo: YOU THINK YOU'RE SMART!? YOU THINK YOU'RE TOUGH!? YOU AREN'T SHIT COMPARED TO ME, YOU BASTARD! YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE NEXT NUMBER 1 HERO! NO ONE WILL BEAT ME TO MY GOAL! NOT YOU! NOT THAT HALF-N-HALF BASTARD! AND ESPECIALLY NOT THAT LOSER, DEKU! YOU HEAR ME!? I'M GONNA BE BETTER THAN ALL-MIGHT EVER WAS! IF YOU WANT TO REALLY FIGHT ME THEN, FIGHT ME LIKE YOU MEAN IT!
He pants, still looking around, spinning, sweating, and paranoid of where this man… no, this monster will come out.
Bakugo: WHERE ARE YOU!?
Batman: Right here.
He turns around to be met by a fist to the face, followed by another. A series of blows comes at him at nearly all sides. Chops, kicks, punches, assaulted his senses. Chest, mouth, neck, right forearm, left shin, nose, ribs, left shoulder, right calf. It was like he was a punching bag. Tsukuyomi had finally made it to the roof to see Bakugo being beaten down. His nose and mouth were bleeding, part of his head gear had been broken off, his arms and hands were bare from the sudden explosion, and he was pretty sure a few ribs were broken. Finally, there was a reprieve in the beating. Bakugo squinted at his foe, still standing, but breathing heavily. Batman flattens his hand and strikes between where his right shoulder meets his torso and the feeling in Bakugo's arm disappears. He attempts to raise his left arm, only to be met with the same fate. The 2 hands chop just under his ears and all he can hear is ringing before he's forced to focus on sudden pain that was emanating from the backs of his knees. He can barely see his wrists and ankles being bound together with capture tape as he's forced to drop.
Batman: All of this power and skill… and you lost to someone Quirkless.
A sharp kick to his head was all Bakugo could feel before going unconscious. Batman turns his focus to Tsukuyomi, who was frozen in fear. Dark Shadow was even trembling as Batman slowly approached them. Tsukuyomi takes a reflexive step back, about to fall off the edge of the building, but was caught by the neck of his shirt by Batman, whose gaze was like a white void through the lenses of his cowl.
Tsukuyomi: What… beast of the shadows are you?
Batman: I'M BATMAN.
A mist is sprayed in his face, courtesy of a small vial from Batman's belt and sleep overcomes him, forcing Dark Shadow to dissipate since they're in the sunlight.
Across the fake city, the last group standing, being Deku, Uravity, Grape Juice, Pinky, and Tail Man, had heard the explosions, before everything went quiet.
Pinky: Those were Bakugo's explosions.
Grape Juice: That's good… isn't it? It means he's fighting one of them!
Uravity: Maybe… but something just feels… wrong…
Tail Man: It's quiet…
Deku: There were 2 intense sounding blasts coming from that area… they sounded too close together, but one was definitely Kachaan's Howitzer… but the 2nd sounded like it occurred at the exact same time. Did he use his gauntlets? No, he wouldn't waste the fuel stored up in them if he's already using a Howitzer…
Uravity: Deku, what do you think?
Deku: I think… It's best if we keep moving. We still have to save All-Might.
Tail Man: That's a very weird sentence to hear…
They come across a warehouse and Uravity floats carefully to one of the windows to peek inside. All-Might was inside with his back to her. She floats back to her group to tell them what she saw.
Deku: Did you see anyone else there?
Uravity: No… He was completely alone, tied to a chair.
Deku: Hm… Maybe he's being guarded from outside the room… We'll go to the front of the building and see if we can't tempt whoever's there to come out, while you go back to the room and get All-Might.
?: Sounds like a good plan, but I do have some notes.
A shadow looms over them and they look up to the sky to see a bird- no, wait, a plane, no, wait- Superman blotting out the sun with a kind smile and his arms crossed over his chest. He floats in mid-air, cape fluttering in a cross-breeze.
Amanda Narrating: Clark Kent, AKA Superman. Quirk- -Redacted-
Grape Juice: AHHH!
Pinky: He can fly!? That is so cool!
They all take a defensive stance as he floats down, landing in front of the building, putting his fists on his hips.
Superman: So, how do you want to do this?
Deku: Um… What do you mean?
Superman: Well, seeing as your target is right there, you could try to go around me or through me. I would suggest around, but I am going to get in your way while doing so. I am willing to allow you the first move, since you are playing the heroes in this case.
Tail Man: Um… thanks?
Superman: No problem. I know I'm supposed to be the villain in this, but I can't get into the mindset. Ma says I don't have a villainous bone in my body.
Deku: Well… If our options are to go around you or go through you… We'll divide and conquer! Grape Juice!
Grape Juice throws his sticky balls at Superman, hoping to pin him down. All he does is smile as he becomes a red and blur blur, dodging the projectiles.
Deku: He's so fast!
Grape Juice eventually stops and Superman does as well. He raises an eyebrow curiously, looking down to see he had stepped on one of the balls by accident.
Mineta: I got him!
He lifts a foot, breaking the ground and concrete with it. The hero team's eyes widen at the amount of strength, used as simply as someone who had just stepped on chewed gum.
Superman: Huh, missed one. Whoops.
With a swinging kick, the ball stuck to his foot, as well as the piece of ground, were sent soaring away, twinkling off into the sky.
Deku: Flight, super speed, AND super strength!?
Pinky: That's TOTALLY overpowered!
Uravity: Just what is your Quirk!?
Superman: Well… it's hard to explain, but Principle Waller explained that I'm like a solar battery. I absorb solar energy at an incredible level, and with that energy, I can use it in a multitude of ways. For example-
He stretches his arms out before clapping them together, making a sound like thunder and sending a powerful burst of wind at them. Grape Juice uses his sticky balls to stay in place while Pinky melts some holes in the ground to hang onto. Uravity holds onto her ankle and uses her gauntlet's new cables to grab Tail Man before he flies away. Deku manages to stand his ground, holding his arms over his face.
Deku: Such power! It almost feels like one of All-Might's air pressure attacks!
As the attack dies down, the final team of heroes regroups.
Deku: Uravity, get to the hostage. We'll keep Superman occupied!
Grape Juice: We will!?
Uravity: Good luck!
She starts to run off to the side to find another opening. Superman prepares to cut her off, but a spray of acid crosses his line of sight.
Pinky: Not so fast, villain!
Using her acid, she skates her way towards the man of steel as her fellow heroes follow her lead. She dances and slides around him as he tries to grab her, but is grabbed by Tail Man, wrapped around like he was being squeezed by a python.
Superman: Nice job. Not many people would be able to grab me like this… unfortunately, there's no one who can hold me for long!
He flexes his arms and Tail Man is forced to release him. More sticky balls are thrown his way by Grape Juice, but they seem to have no effect on him. Meanwhile, Uravity had gotten around to the other side of the building and started to float up to the floor where All-Might was.
Uravity: I just have to get All-Might and bring him back to the starting area. It's an automatic win if I can do it… no… WHEN I do it.
Once at the floor, she opens a window from the outside and peeks in, still only seeing All-Might. She floats inside before landing softly on the floor, approaching him as quietly as she can.
Uravity: whispering Psst… All-Might.
He turns around with a smile.
Yagi: Oh, Young Uraraka. Glad you're here.
Uravity: Is there anyone else here?
Yagi: No, it's just me.
Uravity: Where are the other villains?
She unties him from some… frankly loosely tied bindings.
Yagi: They split up. Aquaman went with Wonder Woman, Flash went with Green Lantern, and Batman went alone. You've already seen Superman outside.
There's a yell from some of the others outside, followed by a small quake.
Uravity: Wait… that's only 6… Where's the martian guy?
Yagi: Martian Manhunter. Not sure.
Uravity: Whatever the case, I need to get you out of-
She stops in her tracks.
Uravity: Wait… How would All-Might know how they split up? He was sped into the city by the Flash ahead of everyone else… he was probably tied up without knowing how they would split up, too…
"Yagi": You deduced that quicker than I thought you would.
She turns back to "All-Might" before hearing shuffling from a corner. From said corner, another All-Might, much more tightly wrapped up, and mouth duct taped, tumbles out, strapped to another chair. The fake All-Might's eyes turn red and he slowly morphs into the 7th member of Task Force J.
Amanda Narrating: John Jones, AKA Martian Manhunter. Quirk- -Redacted-.
Martian: I applaud you on your quick deduction skills, Uravity, but your chances would have been greatly improved, if you had aid with you.
He steps forward and Uravity takes a step back in response. Noticing some barrels nearby, she quickly slides over to them, touching them to make them float, before using the wires in her gauntlets to hurl them all at Martian Manhunter. He stays eerily still, before turning transparent. As the barrels soar towards him, they fly harmlessly through his body, piling up against the wall behind him.
Uravity: WHAT!?
He becomes more opaque as he continues to walk towards her. She makes herself float to the ceiling, sending her wires towards All-Might, latching onto his chair.
Uravity: Hang on, All-Might!
With all her strength, and focusing her quirk along the cables, she swings All-Might into the air. Martian Manhunter allows the bound hero to pass through him, but that only led All-Might to being flown out the window. With the momentum from the swing, Uravity allows herself to be flown out as well.
Martian: Hm… Clever.
Uravity: Sorry about that, All-Might!
His eyes widen and she can see one of his fingers pointing behind her. She dares a look back and sees the green humanoid floating towards them.
Uravity: You have got to be kidding me! RELEASE!
The student and teacher drop, with All-Might screaming, albeit muffled, as they hurtle towards the ground. Before they can hit, she touches All-Might and they float a few inches from the ground before she releases them again. She undoes her cables from All-Might and makes him float one more time so she can carry him easier in the chair.
Uravity: Sorry I can't untie you, All-Might, but I don't have anything to cut the ropes with!
All-Might: MmmMMmmmmmMmmmm.
Uravity: I just hope Deku and the others are doing ok.
Grape Juice: WE ARE NOT DOING OK!
He and Tail Man were currently ducked behind a large pipe which had been knocked down along with others from one of Superman's counter attacks to Mina's Acid spray. She thought if she could cover a wider range, she could corner him, but he just blew it upwards with intense force, causing several of the pipes to melt and fall. Izuku was doing his best to keep the others safe from the falling wreckage, not able to get a hit on Superman yet.
Pinky: Feel free to punch him ANYTIME, Deku!
Deku: I can;t with you , Tail Man, and Grape Juice close by! I could risk hurting you!
Pinky: We'll be fine! Just punch him into a building and we can catch up with Uravity!
Deku: If you're sure! He's so fast! It's like training with Gran Torino again. I don't know how much force he can take, but if he has that much power on hand, I shouldn't hold back! One For All, Full Cowling! 20%!
Green Sparks cover him and he charges at Superman.
Deku: SHOOT STYLE- ST. LOUIS SMASH!
He leaps into the air, spinning slightly as he delivers a strong roundhouse kick to Superman's right side. Unprepared for it, Superman is sent careening into another nearby building, creating a large hole to be made.
Tail Man: Great job, Deku!
Grape Juice: You got him!
Deku: C'mon! Uravity could use our help!
Before they can move, they hear the shifting of rubble from the hole made by Superman, as he rises from the wreckage, seemingly unscathed, save for some dust from the crash.
Superman: I… actually felt that…
His eyes were slightly widened and he had an unusual smile on his face, like he was impressed and shocked at the same time.
Superman: You're a lot stronger than you look, Deku…
Deku had a frightened expression, as well as the others.
Mineta: IS THIS GUY ALL-MIGHT'S SECRET CHILD OR SOMETHING!?
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, where Creati's team was tied up.
Shoto: Hm…
Creati: What is it, Shoto?
Shoto: I don't know… I just… felt like someone said something I would have…
Deku: Guys… get to Uravity… I'll keep him busy.
Pinky: Are you sure you can-
Deku: It's ok.
He turns, straining a smile and holding a thumbs up to them.
Deku: I've got this.
They nod and rush to find their floating friend as Deku turns back to Superman, taking a deep breath, fists raised.
Superman: So… Do you want to make the next move?
He steps out from the rubble, popping his knuckles.
Superman: Or should I?