Embersunblaze: Here it is folks, the climatic battle between Deku and Uravity is about to be underway. Hope you all enjoy it :) Like always, please leave a review!

Chapter 16: The Beast

Uravity kept her gaze set ahead, fighting back the urge to glance over her shoulder at her captor. She could feel Midoriya's dark stare burning into her, daring her to try and escape. "As if that would be possible," She frowned, the tightness of his Blackwhip quirk numbing her arms. She focused ahead, keeping a close eye on her friends as they were also led, bound and captured by their possessed classmates.

Siren's sidekick, Kai was leading the group, with the teens following close behind. Kirishima had a tight, muscled hold on Pinky, one arm wrapped precariously around her neck to keep her struggling to a minimum. Kaminari had flung a semi-conscious Earphone Jack over his shoulder. Uravity could see her comrade slowly gaining consciousness, her eyes struggling to stay open. Though, it was clear that her muscles were still completely parazlyed by Kaminari's electric attack. Even her quirk was useless, with purple pop-offs from Mineta's head dangling at the ends of her ear jacks as a precaution. Uphead, she could see Dark Shadow holding a very weakened Creati, who's overuse of her quirk had zapped her of all her strength. Uravity could see her dark eyes downcast and guilt ridden and knew that their leader was most likely blaming herself for their current predicament.

"Poor Creati…" Uravity thought sadly. "You tried your best…we all did." She winced as Midoriya gave her a painful jab from behind, urging her forward at a faster pace. The brunette grimaced, forcing herself not to be affected. "He's not himself. I have to keep remembering that." She took a quick glance over her shoulder, meeting Midoriya's glaring red rimmed eyes staring right back at her, cold and with no recognition showing. She quickly turned away, unnerved.

"I have to think of something but what?" She was sure Kai was leading them right back to the main cavern where Siren would be waiting ready to dish out whatever lethal punishment the villainess had in mind. "Would she make us fight the boys again or maybe have Kai or someone else finish them off?" Uravity doubted they would last long if it came to duking it out against Midoriya and the rest. Not with Creati and Earphone Jack in these conditions. Whatever Siren had planned them, Uravity knew it would be bad. "The only chance we have now is for either Tsuyu to arrive with the pro-heroes or for Invisible Girl to somehow find a way to free them or…." Her gaze fell on the black whips binding her arms together. "I wonder…would Deku even listen?" Uravity took a quiet breath, calming her beating heart as she slowed her pace, shortening the distance between the two.

"Hey Deku. I know you're able to hear me." She whispered, lips barely moving. "I know the real Deku is in there somewhere. If he can hear me, I want him to know we really need him right now." She tilted her head over shoulder and found the controlled Midoriya listening with a deep frown. "I need him right now." Their eyes met and she was sad to see nothing but anger in their green depths.

Uravity sighed, picking up her pace as they continued down the tunnel. "I guess my feelings didn't reach him." She muttered, bowing her head morosely. It quickly rose back up as artificial light lit up the area as they entered a large, roomy cavern. The same one they had been in earlier when they had first met Siren. The lascivious villainess was pacing near her throne, looking very much annoyed. She turned, a smile playing on her lips as the group entered.

"You had me worried there for a moment." Siren paused, eyes narrowing. "Wasn't there more of them?"

"I have one of the boys scouting for the invisible one." Kai explained, gesturing for the others to halt. "I was told an attack was made against her, but I haven't got wind of the outcome yet."

Uravity and Pinky exchanged worried glances at these words. With all the other boys here, there was only one left to front an attack. "Bakugo." Uravity mouthed, as Mina brows creased anxiously. Uravity felt her heart sink, feeling sick with worry for her friend.

Siren crossed her arms, not pleased. "Your little eight legged friends are pretty slow on the updates."

"They can only be out of the water for so long." Kai replied defensively. "And they aren't exactly quick creatures."

She flipped her pink hair, deciding against commenting. Instead she directed her foul mood towards the captives, lips curling into a haughty sneer. "Guess your little escape didn't last very long did it?"

"Don't think we're done just yet!" Pinky snarled, looking ready to sink her fangs into the villainess. "When I get out, I'm going to melt that wrinkled face of yours into a puddle!" Kai's tentacle swooshed through the air, whacking her across the face. Pinky grimaced, spitting out blood.

Uravity bristled with rage, head whipping to snap at the villainess. "That's enough Siren! If you really want us gone, then come and fight us yourself!" She challenged, struggling against her binds. "Stop hiding behind all these men like a coward!"

Siren eyed the young brunette coldly. "The youth truly are naive. You label me as a coward but I'm only doing what women for centuries have done. Trying to get ahead using the tools bestowed upon us." She explained, gesturing to the group of boys under her control. "Whether it's our looks, our brains, or even our bodies, we girls have always found ways to get by in a society that tends to favor the big and macho." She tilted her head, grinning wickedly at Uravity. "Is it so wrong for me to use my quirk to achieve that same power?'

"You're forcing innocent people to do things against their will!" Uravity snapped. "That's not achieving equality! You're just being a bully and creating chaos!"

"Tut! Tut! Didn't your pretty brainiac over there already tell you?" Siren asked, wagging a teasing manicured finger. "I'm no mind controller. The only thing I do is make them want me, more than anything in the entire world." She leaned in close to Uravity, her grin spreading maniacally. "Every little thing they do to you, every bone they break, every head they snap, is all because they, themselves, want to!" One finger came down to lift the young girl's chin so that their eyes met, her cold blue eyes looking down upon Uravity's burning gaze. "Remember girl, it doesn't matter whether we meet in battle or not. The fact is…you can't compete with me."

Her sharp nail nicked Uravity's skin as she sauntered next to Midoriya. Uravity growled, glowering as the older woman leaned against his shoulders, her long pink hair falling down his bare chest. "No matter what you do, these boys will always choose to follow me. I am the one they desire, I'm the one that will make all their wishes come true."

"You're crazy." Uravity spat.

Siren smirked, bringing her lips to Midoriya's ear and whispering. She then pulled away, signaling for Kai to follow. Kirishima, Kaminari, Tokoyami, and Mineta stayed where they were with their captives. Kaminari threw Earphone Jack to the ground, crouching over her with one hand pushing against her back roughly, ready to use his quirk again if she struggled. Tokoyami stood near, with Dark Shadow's arms covering up almost all of Creati's skin as he held her. Uravity felt Midoriya pull her towards the center of the cavern.

To her surprise, the black whips binding her retreated back to Midoriya. She rubbed her arms, trying to get feeling back into them as she glanced uneasily around. Siren was now seated at her throne, with Kai standing near. The villainess clapped her hands and one of Kai's tentacles dutifully handed her a microphone.

"Alright ladies and gents, I think it's time for our final show for the day." Siren announced, waving a hand towards the isolated couple. "For our final act, we'll be doing a series of one on one fights. I'm afraid there'll be no tricks this time around. The only way to get out is to win. But girls I warn you…" She said, eyes narrowing dangerously as she gazed upon them. "These boys are fighting to kill."

With that said, the idol-like smile returned to her face as she gestured towards Uravity and Midoriya. "First up will be these two!"

Uravity's eyes widened and she turned to face Midoriya. "We have to fight?" She whispered, as Midoriya simply nodded, fists clenching at his side.

"NO!" Pinky screamed, struggling against Kirishima's strong hold on her. "Please! Let me fight! I'll fight him instead!" Beside her, Earphone Jack struggled to lift her head up, eyes shining with anxiety. While Creati was too stunned to speak. Pinky continued to scream at the villainess, pleading to switch places with Uravity to which the sultry villainess simply ignored.

"Pinky…" Uravity murmured, feeling touched by her friend's concern. In a louder voice she called out, "It's okay Pinky!" She forced a smile, despite the fear that overwhelmed her. "I'll be fine….I promise." Pinky's eyes flashed with angry tears, sensing the falter to Uravity's words.

The young heroine turned away from her comrade, facing her opponent…and her friend. "Deku…" Their last battle was still fresh in her mind, the wounds still hurting. She touched the cut on her cheek, a reminder of just how deadly his motives had been at the time. "It can't be like before. This time there's no running. I have to face him." She clenched her fists determinedly. "I have to break him from her quirk! If I don't…none of us are leaving here."

"Deku, please." Uravity said earnestly, in a last ditch effort to reach her friend. "Don't do this. You're going to do things you will regret." He didn't reply, remaining stubbornly silent.

"Let the show begin!" Siren called out, snapping her fingers towards Midoriya.

Deku released a feral yelled, green sparks flying from his body as his quirk activated. Uravity spun on her heel, gaping at the speed Deku charged at her. His body twisted, his elbow coming from the side and ramming into her chest. She gasped, getting the breath knocked out of her by the impact. Then before she could react, his leg came up slamming into her side and knocking her across the ground.

"URAVITY!" Creati screamed out fearfully.

"Arghhh!" Uravity yelped, skidding across slippery ground and falling into one of the many shallow pools of water that littered the cavern. "He's so strong…and fast…" She huffed, clutching her aching ribs. "I can't even defend myself." Her gaze fell on the dark water, an idea surfacing. Shivering, she quickly stood just as Deku ran at her, fist raised for a punch to the face. Moving her arm up, she swept his punch to the side while using her foot to kick him away from her. At the same time, she brought her hand down, scooping water in her palm and throwing it in his face.

Deku hissed in pain, as the salt momentarily stung his eyes. "Sorry!" Uravity mentally apologized, using the distraction to sweep her glowing fingers across the pool's surface. She ran from pool to pool, repeating the motion. The water rose in a slow beautiful motion, creating silvery walls of liquid. Deku growled, frustrated as he lost sight of his adversary.

"Deku! Listen to me!"

He turned his head, black whips shooting out towards a shadowy figure behind one of the pool walls. A stalagmite crumbled into pieces behind it. The voice then came from a different direction.

"I don't know what you think you'll gain from following Siren, but is it reall;y worth it?" He shot his whip at a different wall, destroying yet another stalagmite. "You've worked harder than anyone else I know to become a hero!" Angrily Deku charged through the floating liquid, soaking himself as he searched for the voice that seemed to echo across the whole cavern. "Are you really going to throw that all away?!"

"Where are you?" Deku hissed, his voice coming out unnaturally low and murderous as he scanned the remaining pools.

"Think of all the people who have helped you!" Uravity's voice called out desperately. "Your family!" Deku yelled out, shooting out tendrils of black whips in every direction. "Your friends!" The whips struck each wall of water, shattering them into millions of floating droplets, looking very much like sparkling stars as they filled the cavern. "OF ALL MIGHT!"

"ENOUGH!" Deku roared, his black whips surrounding him like dark tentacles poised to attack. His head whipped around, studying the destroyed walls of liquid and broken fragments of stone. But no Uravity…

"No! I'll never stop! Not until…." Her voice rang out, closer than its ever been. Eyes widening, he looked up and found her floating right above him, the millions of water droplets orbiting her. Her fingertips came together, glowing pink as her quirk deactivated. Instantly the droplets fell upon him like a downpour. He covered himself, gasping at the cold water pummetting his bare skin. Then a shock even greater than that came as Uravity's fist came down, punching him in the face as she cried out. "...YOU LISTEN TO ME!"

The two crashed together, their bodies jumbled in a tangle of limbs and blazing black tendrils as they skidded across the slick stone. They crashed into a thick stalagmite with Deku throwing the heroine off him. Uravity landed in a crouch, the side of her face covered in blood from her wound reopening in the tussle.

"Open your eyes, Deku!" She demanded, her tone unwavering. "You're a hero with people depending on you!" The hero lifted himself up, thumb swiping away blood from his mouth as his green gaze burned loathingly at her. She stood her ground, refusing to let him intimidate her any longer. "You can't just let them down like this!"

He gave a vicious snarl, jumping up and charging at her. Uravity grimaced, touching her cheeks with her fingertips. Before he could reach her, she quickly kicked against the ground, propelling her weightless body back into the air. Switching gears, Deku crouched and leapt after her, using his quirk to give himself the lift he needed. Uravity knew he was coming and bought her arms up to block his kick. The force sent her flying backwards slamming into a nearby hanging stalactite. The heroine clung to it, using it to keep her body from hovering further.

As he fell, Deku's Blackwhip snapped out, shooting straight at Uravity. "No!" She yelped, pushing herself away as the whip entangled the rock, pulling the Deku upwards. He clung to it like a spider, shooting more whips at her. "This isn't good!" Free floating and unable to dodge, she did the only thing she could and flung her right arm up to protect her vitals as one of the whips wrapped around it.

"Let go of me!" Uravity uttered, pulling at the black tendril that covered her arm. Deku shot her a grin, a cold malicious smirk that shot chills down her spine as realized what he was about to do. Without hesitating, he jumped from the hanging rock formation, pulling his whips down with him. Uravity's weightless body followed, her arm painfully being tugged downwards. As Deku landed, he gave a thunderous roar, forcefully tugging his black whips and bringing Uravity crashing into the ground.

"URAVITY!"


While the two teens sparred, the spectators on the sidelines watched the battle anxiously. With Earphone Jack forcefully being held to the ground by Kaminari, there were limits to how much she was able to see of the skirmish. Mina and Creati tried to give her play by play updates on what was happening between the two.

"Midoriya's making the first move!" Creati stated, sounding close to completely breaking down as she watched her friend getting rushed at. "No! She's gotten hit! Uravity, move! NO URAVITY!"

"We….have…to help." Earphone Jack grimaced as Kaminari gave her a warning shock of electricity through her back.

"Leave her alone!" Pinky snapped, causing the blonde to cast her a dirty look and for Kirishima to tighten his hold on her. One arm held her throat while the other wrapped around her midsection, binding her arms to her side and crushing her body against him.

"I'm sorry" Creati gushed, tears rolling down as her body shook from suppressed sobs. "This is all my fault…my plan failed. I was careless with the details. If I hadn't used up my quirk so much, I wouldn't have gotten captured so easily. Not only that but I even sent Invisible Girl away, alone into the unknown. Now look at what's happened. Uravity is in trouble and we don't even know if Invisible Girl is alive." She bowed her head miserably.

"Stop it."

Creati glanced downwards and saw Pinky shaking with fury, her yellow gaze fixed on the battle, where Uravity was making the pools of water rise. "There's only one person responsible for all this and it isn't you." Her eyes narrowed, focusing on the sultry villainess lounging on her throne as she keenly watched the battle's progress. "And I swear I'm going to make sure that bitch pays for all of this." Uncontrollable rage was filtering through the pink skinned heroine. Anger that their plan had failed. Anger that she was being forced to watch the execution of one of her dearest friends in the worst possible scenario. And anger that the person holding her back from saving that friend was the guy she had feelings for.

"I'm warning you Kirishima! Let me go!" She growled, buckling as she tried to loosen his hold. "If you think I'm going to just sit here and watch my friend fight alone, then you don't know me at all!"

Kirishima scowled, his arms bulging as his skin hardened further, becoming ragged and spear-like. Pinky gave a seething hiss as the pointed ends dug into her skin and began shredding at what little clothing she had on. She dug her bare feet onto the cold stone, trying to push backwards against him. In response, he easily lifted her higher, so that she had to stand on her toes just to keep balanced.

"This isn't working!" Pinky fumed, infuriated that she was unable to break away. "I can't match his strength…at least not without my quirk." She closed her eyes, fighting back the impulse. "No! I don't want to hurt him! This isn't his fault…."

"LISTEN TO ME!"

She opened her eyes, shocked as she witnessed her friend come down from midair, punching Midoriya across the face. The force sent both of them tumbling to the ground, where Uravity continued to try to get through to her adversary. "Uravity…she's giving this fight all she's got…even though she and Midoriya…." Pinky clenched her fist, grinding her teeth as memories filled her mind of her and Kirishima back at the beach, sitting together on the volleyball court.

Kirishima had smiled at her, jokingly pointing out how she liked stir up the drama between their friends at which at she had replied,

"That's the best way to make high school memories! And I for one want to make sure our class makes a ton of fun memories on this trip!"

"I'm sorry Kirishima…" Pinky whispered, pupils narrowing into cat-like slits. "But I still want to make those memories possible…."

Kirishima blinked, grunting as he felt his captive suddenly become very slick as a slimy ooze-like substance started secreting from her skin. He winced, growling as a burning sensation surged through his body, her acid eating at his bare skin. He gave a roar of fury, rehardening his skin the acid made contact with.

"Pinky?!" Creati called down, attention shifting as she suddenly noticed the commotion an enraged Kirishima was causing. "What in the world are you…?"

"I can't let Uravity fight alone!" Pinky yelled out, her determination unwavering as she continued to leak out acid from every part of her bare skin. Drops of it dripped onto the ground, sizzling as the corrosive liquid dissolved the stone. Unwilling to let his captive win, Kirishima gave a roar of fury, hardening layer upon layer of skin in an attempt to protect himself from her lethal quirk. He squeezed her body against his, trying to crush her. She snarled, wincing as his claw-like nails purposely stabbed into her flesh until dark, red blood began to mix in with the acid. Steam rose above the two heroes as it became a battle of wills to see who would be the first to give in to the pain they were each inflicting upon one another.

"Pinky…" Creati murmured, heart aching at the turmoil her friend was putting herself through.

"Pinky…stop!" Earphone Jack begged, unable to turn away from the horrible display. "This is too much! You're hurting yourself!"

"You don't understand! I can't…" Pinky forced out, whipping her head to glare at her friend with a tear-streaked face. "I CAN'T JUST WATCH HER BE KILLED!"

It was then that Kirishima let about a bellow of pain, the acid becoming too much for him. Pinky winced, the sound like a dagger digging into her heart. "Please…just let go!" She begged, as he continued to writhe, wanting to get away but some unknown force urging him to keep her trapped. "Please…Kirishima!" She closed her eyes, trying to block out the horrible, horrible noise. "Please…JUST GIVE UP ALREADY!"

A sob escaped Pinky as she suddenly ceased the flow of her acid, growing limp in his arms. Kirishima quieted, breathing raggedly, but still maintaining his steel-like hold on her. Lucky for him, his quirk had saved him from any permanent damage from the acid. Pinky kept her head bowed, unable to look up at her comrades or watch the battle.

"I'm sorry, Uravity." Pinky whispered, as frustrated tears dripped and landed on the acid-eaten ground. "I just couldn't do it….I just couldn't do it anymore!"

"URAVITY!" Creati shrieked, shrill with terror.

Pinky whipped her head up, gasping as she watched Midoriya's Blackwhip wrap around a floating Uravity's arm. In one smooth motion, he had given the dark tendrils a hard jerk that sent the entangled girl whipping downwards, her body gruesomely crashing into the ground.

A loud sickening snap echoed in the silent cavern, followed by an ear-splitting scream of agony.

For a moment all they could see was Uravity's limp body, laying still on the stone ground. Then, to their relief, she slowly moved to a sitting position, her face scrunched up in undeniably pain. Deku, who had landed not too far from her, tensed up and readied himself to pull at her again with his Blackwhip quirk.

But before he could do so, the Uravity's free arm shot out and gathered the black tendrils in her palm. The whips became illuminated in a pink light, floating upwards as they became weightless. The tendrils wrapped around her arms were also affected, losing their tightness and freely floating away from her arm. The now free limp fell uselessly against her side, broken and covered with red burn marks that spiraled across the skin like a tattoo. Cradling the injured arm against her, she forced herself to a crouch as Deku retracted his black whips. But before either of them could make a move, Siren clapped her hands, halting the show.

"Bravo! Bravo!" Siren cheered, standing up and clapping. "I must say this has been so amusing to watch. So much I just had to give you props." She rested her hand on her waist, smirking as she added haughtily. "Though the whole floating water trick was a little naive don't you think?"

"Listen to me!" Siren cruelly imitated in a mockingly high pitched voice. "You're a hero! Stop being so mean! Boo Boo!" She cackled, sneering at the injured heroine. "Like he gives a crap anymore. Hasn't it been drilled into your little brains by now that there's no getting through these boys? There's only one thing on their mind now and it isn't flying around in tights and a cape!"

But Siren's words were lost to Uravity, whose sole focus was on the discomfort of her broken arm at her side. The pain was blinding, the world around her becoming distorted and confusing. She felt her body shaking and knew she couldn't go much longer. To her surprise, this thought didn't scare her.

"Maybe cause I always knew I didn't stand a chance against Deku." Uravity wondered absently, feeling her mind slipping away, memories of the boy drifting in and out like an old film. Of their first meeting outside of U.A. and then of how he had rescued her during their U.A. Hero Entrance Exams, breaking his arm and both legs in the process. "It's odd," She thought, clutching her damaged arm. "I feel like our roles have been reversed. Then again, you were always getting hurt." Images of him fighting against Todoroki during the sports festival, breaking his fingers and arm in the process. Then of a severely injured Deku fighting to save his rival at the summer training camp. "This pain I'm feeling…you've felt this more times than anyone could possibly imagine…."

Siren was still speaking, her voice seeming so far away and unimportant to the physically drained heroine. The young girl grinded her teeth, forcing her shaking legs to lift herself up. Deku glanced her way, fist clenching as he sprung into a fighting stance. Uravity winced, her arm throbbing painfully against her.

"And yet….you always kept going…Always going "plus ultra" even when it meant getting hurt in the process. That's how much being a hero meant to you. Now more than ever I understand that." She lifted her head, facing him as he growled, a green static building around him as he prepared to finish her off. She squared her feet, preparing herself. "Which is why I have to stop this. You've worked too hard…suffered too much….to let it all go to waste!"

With a wild snarl, Deku rushed towards her, fists raised to destroy her once and for all. Uravity stood her ground, waiting. Her eyes flashing in determination as he loomed over her like a dark shadow, his pupils dilated to beast-like slits.

"URAVITY!" All three of her comrades called out, willing her to move out of the way.

"DIE!" He roared out, fist coming down.

At the last second, Uravity side stepped, her uninjured hand slapping him across the face. "Which is why…." Immediately his body began to hover, the teen growling in annoyance.

"With my last bit of strength…" Before he could counter her quirk, she grabbed his neck, forcefully slamming her head into his in a powerful headbutt that made the bystanders watching cringe.

"I have to make my feelings reach you!" Without missing a beat she grabbed the stunned boy, bringing him down to her level.

"Please work!" She begged, closing her eyes and planting her lips against his.


His world had dissolved into madness.

Nothing made sense, not even his own body. It felt suffocating, constricted, burning with a fever that seemed unwavering. Every fiber of his muscles convulsing, aching to be released to smash, to destroy. His vision felt narrowed, distorted with every shadow, every stranger looking like an enemy waiting to take what was his.

It was like a beast had been let loose, taking control of him. Searching, searching for the thing it desired. The thing we desire…the voice. Yes, the voice that drove away everything. All the troubles of the world, the pain, the anxiety, everything…He needed the voice. He could hear whispers of its melody…stirring a fire that blazed within, deep in his core. It urged him forward, to strike down anything in his path. Promising him that good things would follow, pleasant things, things that would quell the beast within once and for all.

But an enemy stood in his way. Someone who was not the voice. An irrelevant someone whose voice grated at his nerves, angering the beast. Someone who needed to be dealt with. But before he could deal the final blow, something strange occurred.

A new sensation enveloped him. A tingling feeling that seemed to spread across his body. The beast stirred, unsure and hesitate, like a stray animal unused to the comfort of a gentle hand. But as the strange touch continued, the whispers that had fogged up his mind faded and the blazing fire at his core cooled to a pleasant warmth that drove away all anger and frustrations of before.

"What…is this feeling?" Deku quietly wondered, slowly opening his green eyes. He was floating, with Uraraka's lips pressed against his. "Uraraka?" He thought, mind feeling fuzzy and disoriented. He blinked, eyes widening as he realized what was happening. "URARAKA?!"

He jerked away, blushing furiously and floundering around as he hovered over her. "Ura..Ura…ura…wha…what's….going…on?!" His embarrassed stuttering halted as he took in her ragged appearance, gaze immediately falling on her scarred, broken arm. "Uraraka…what happened? You're hurt…"

It was then he noticed the odd shape of the red marks along her arm, looking very much like rope burns. He felt an odd jerk in his brain, a feeling of intense anger that still seemed to linger. "No…that can't be…I didn't…I wouldn't…" He touched his cheek and felt it bruised, as if someone had recently punched him. A horrible sinking feeling twisted in his gut. "Did…I do this to her?"

Feeling unsure, he reached a hesitant hand towards her. "Uraraka…did I…?"

"WHAT THE HELL!?"

Deku whipped around and saw a livid lady with long pink hair standing near a throne, hands balled into fists at her side. A dark hair teen, with tentacles protruding from his sides stood close to her, also looking upset. Their attention was solely focused on him.

Before he could ask, he heard a shriek of pain from Uraraka and then the weight returning to his body as he fell heavily to the ground. He turned back to her and saw tears of pain rolling down her face caused by her fingers moving to make contact with the fingers of her broken arm to deactivate her quirk. He moved to help, but she shook her head, eyes frantic.

"Cover your ears! NOW!"

Hearing the desperation in her voice, Deku instantly obeyed. He cupped his hands to his ears, pressing as hard as he could. The world around him grew silent. A look of relief passed over Uraraka. "What's going on?" He found himself wondering. He turned back to the strangers and found the woman speaking while pointing a finger in their direction. The way her mouth moved it almost felt like she was singing. An uncomfortable chill ran through him. He felt Uraraka's hand on him and he glanced down at her, concentrating as she mouthed a word to him.

"Siren?" He repeated aloud. She nodded, pointing to the woman.

"Siren?" Deku repeated silently, minding reeling. "Is Uraraka trying to tell me that's her quirk? If I recall, a siren is a sea creature from western lore that uses its voice to lure sailors to their doom." His eyes widened, connecting the dots. "Of course! She must have the same ability! That's why Uraraka wanted me to cover my ears. So I wouldn't be affected! But wait, does this mean she's the one who took the abducted teens? I must have gotten abducted then, but what about the rest of the class?" In answer, he felt Uraraka touch his arm. He followed her pointed finger, gaping at the sight. Kaminari, Kirishima, Tokoyami, and Mineta stood together with red eyes, holding tightly to the group of beaten, weakened girls. "What…are they doing?! Don't they realize that's our friends! How could they…" He stopped himself, grimacing. "No…I can't say anything…not after what I did." He turned away, focusing on the two villains. The siren-quirked woman seemed to have realized her power wasn't working on him. She pointed furiously from the tentacle-quirked boy to him. The sidekick nodded, dashing at them with his tentacles raised to attack.

Uraraka touched his arm and Deku nodded. "Don't worry." He promised, pushing his hands against his ears as hard as possible. "No matter what…I WON'T LET HER VOICE REACH ME!"

He opened his mouth, screaming as loud as he could to block out any sound as he charged forward, eyes glowing brightly as he faced off against this vile, new villain.