Back on the beach on a Sunday morning, both master and student stood in front of each other. The piles of trash on the beach were still present but are becoming less and less each day. Enough so that people were thinking of visiting but change their minds as thrash was prevalent around not even a simple walk would make them reconsider.
But they're not important to what's currently going on in the open place right now as the mentor went over today's sparring. "All right, Midoriya, I'll go over this one time: we'll be using the boxing rules under Marquess of Queensberry. Fifteen rounds under three minutes each. After each round is a minute break, after that minute break is over a new round begins. For the first five rounds you'll be using everything I taught and you'll not be using your quirk. As for me, I will not be engaging in the first five. No, I will only be blocking every strike you attempt to make. After the first five you are allowed to use your quirk in the second five but I'll start countering as well. Then, in the third and last five rounds I'll ultimately engage. The purpose of this sparring test is to see how far you've currently come. This isn't about winning or losing but to see if progress has been made. Thus far, you've been making great strides on the regimen, young Midoriya, but we'll now see if those strides bear fruit."
Nervously gulping, Deku nodded. This is it. He made great steps and giant leaps through the regimen. Now it's the time of how far he comes. Holy jeez, he felt like throwing up. Sweat poured out of him nonstop. He was getting dizzy, was he getting dizzy? The world was spinning, that's for sure.
Gulping again, Izuku cried out 'I'm ready' which caused All Might to nod. Telling him to walk a meter and more, Izuku stepped away and stopped at a respectable spot that's a good distance from his idol.
Seeing a thumbs up from his protégé All Might then took out his phone and set up the timer. He then shouted. "When I say 'fight' the round begins. Give it your all, my boy."
Hear a 'yes sir' All Might then pressed the button as he shouted. "Fight!"
Actions Turn Violence
Just as he put the phone away already he stopped a fist coming right to his face. Shoving it away he then blocked another one and another. Young Midoriya was clearly trying to get a headshot. The speed of those punches has certainly increased. Close to a pro. And the power behind those fists was no joke either. While it ain't hurting his palms it surely takes the wind out of some poor regular sap if those punches hit them directly on the stomach.
But he didn't aim for the stomach, Young Midoriya kept going for his head. The ones. Weeks prior he taught him the number system. Assigning each body part a number for the young lad to hit. A concept he adapted from the Old Age from a famous trainer, Cus D'Amato, who trained high profile boxers with the most famous boxer, and one of the greatest of all time, being Mike Tyson.
He instructed each number to him. Where to hit and chain each one of them to a combo. Young Midoriya soaks them up like a sponge. Each number he commanded the young dreamer would let fist fly an instant to the assigned body part with terrifying accuracy. Weeks they do this and weeks Midoriya gets it down to a capital T.
So it weirded out All Might on why his successor kept going for the ones, his head. When, in a burst speed, Young Midoriya let out a snake strike of an uppercut straight to him on the chin. Seeing coming from a mile away All Might already placed a palm to interrupt it when the uppercut suddenly vanished right from his view and then…
Pow!
A marginal pain spread through from his right side of his abdomen. A slight hiss as All Might recognized what happened. 'A feint. He tricked me with that one and went for a number three, my liver. A liver shot. Not bad. That's why he continued going for those ones for me to think he was being predictable. Trying to hit my head, a blow that would get me stagger and dizzy, so he can get me to keep blocking until I'm in a state of ease and, at the fake punch, would trap me if I see it as a non-theart. Excellent Young Midoriya, just excellent. In the very match, no less.'
Just as Izuku was about to commence another three a long ring came from All Might's pocket signaling it was the end of the first round. He jumped away as All Might took out the little device again.
"Three minutes already." He muttered, not expecting the time to go by that fast. 'Then again, the motion of this is starting to settle in.' He started the timer again for the one minute break. 'Can't help but feel this ecstatic. When was the last time I spar, much less trained with someone, that can at least give me a slight of the pump? Well, this is different. I'm training the next Symbol of Peace to get to my level and beyond so he can fight evil when, inevitably, I'm no longer around. But still.' He could no longer hold that large grin of his. 'This? This is getting me pumped up.'
Another ring, telling him that the break was over. As he sets up the time for the second round, Izuku stretches as he formulates a plan of achieving the impossible. Going the full fifteen rounds with the Greatest in the World. He doesn't expect to beat him, that's another impossible thing he knows he can't achieve. But if he can take it to the full fifteen then it was enough for him. It will be enough. He won't take anything less.
As All Might set up the timer for the second round he arched his brow upon seeing a stance Young Midoriya took. 'Boxer-Puncher? So, trying to utilize the jabs for full efficiency. Eh, my boy? Very well, let's see if you can land another hit on me.' He pressed the timer and, instead of putting it back in his pocket, he dropped it over as he yelled out "Fight!"
Kicking off the sand, Izuku used his learned footwork to confuse All Might. Faster and faster he needs to go faster so All Might won't follow his moments. Encircling around him Izuku then unleashes the first jab, thinking he got All Might at least dizzy.
Sadly, that mighty quick strike was blocked by the Number One's bear-size palm. Grunted in annoyance that the first one didn't land, the Emerald Dream went back to the first strategy while still continuing the current one. Three quick jabs fly straight to the Goliath's head. Each one blocked with relatively ease. But that didn't deter him, only fueled the fire within more and more as he didn't let up those shotgun jabs, one after another.
Thinking he had All Might relaxed again, thinking he was dead set on targeting his head, non-stop barrage on ones, he stopped dead on his tracks. Pivoting his lead foot, Izuku reared his dominant fist back, his right, and rotated his hips. And with a battlecry he fired his crank up power punch in the form of a straight right. Putting all his weight in his pivot foot he aimed at the assigned number two, the stomach.
He hit squarely on the target. Well, that would have been true if All Might wasn't fooled twice on Izuku's strategy. A forearm barred that round winning punch dead. All Might didn't even look hurt, much less a wince, from that hit which certainly would make a regular person chuck up their stomach contents if landed on the stomach or have a broken arm if they duplicate the same thing All Might did.
Growling in frustration, a bubble in the hero-to-be was starting to inflate as he started to formulate another plan as he once again strafe around his idol with the amateur footwork. A combo of jabs went everywhere on the great mountain body. A one-one-two, a three-three-one, a four-, either side of the ribs,-four-three.
But no matter how many he mixed-up or how fast his jabs were, each one still kept getting blocked. Izuku gritted his teeth, not happy his punches weren't landing. He decided to forgo this current tactic and throw caution in the wind. Stopping the kinected motion of his arm, he then closed the gap between them by jumping with one of his knees raised high. A clear aim straight to All Might's chin again. He saw the clear surprise on his mentor's face, certainly taken aback. The lessons on kickboxing were now finally starting to show Izuku couldn't help but grinned, thinking he got his second hit.
And it assuredly came true, for as soon as the solid knee landed the phone ring again from the sandy ground. The second round was over.
His young successor stumbled back away from him after he hit his chin with that out of nowhere jumping knee strike. A little jolted, he won't deny, but that wasn't enough to make him call it quits. Villains like War Bringer, King of Liches, and the villain group, the Nasty Rotten Ruffians, certainly pack more powerful punches than Young Midoriya's but that doesn't mean he was getting there.
Maybe age was starting to catch up to him, or Young Midoriya is improving that greatly. Getting closer to the required level of inheriting [One for All]. Pressing the button for the one minute break All Might couldn't help but ponder. There was more than just strength behind his successor's strikes. He felt some emotions behind it as well. Negative ones. Desperation, frustration, and certainly anger. Odd, wonder what got his boy feeling like that.
Before he could think more about it the phone rang. That was a fast one. Not that he is complaining. He isn't that winded. But Young Midoriya over there, he is breathing rather heavily. Sweat was coming off of him, already a portion of his training clothes were stained by it. But he didn't show signs of fatigue. Not one bit of being dog-tired. The fire behind those emerald eyes was still lit brightly. The boy's hungry like a lion.
He chuckled at the eagerness. Albeit, he does need to teach him not to waste too much energy or else he'll gas out far too early.
The timer of the third round has been set up, he wonders what the next three minutes will tell. A press and the starting yell All Might put up a forearm to block a kick to his head. Will, that was a blazing way to begin the new round. Before he could even get up he felt both hands clenching his hair from both sides hard and a knee hammer right on his frontal face. Again and again, Young Midoriya didn't let up as he continued driving the knee strike barrage. But it had no to little effect on him as he fully stood up like a sleepy giant who has just begun waking up.
Seeing that the attacks weren't having enough impact his successor then did something more unorthodox. As All Might straight himself up, Young Midoriya brought his body closer and encircled his arms around his thick neck while, fruitlessly, bringing his entire weight down, taking the giant with him. All Might instantly knows what he was attempting to do. A futile guillotine choke, but the execution deserves praise. A lesser person would have surely been choked out but with his tree trunk of a neck that ain't happening.
Realizing this as well, Young Midoriya let go and descended down. But once his feet were planted he fired both his fists in a vicious rapid-paced. Hooks, crosses, jabs, and uppercuts landing everywhere in such a messy fashion All Might grimace. This is not how he taught Young Midoriya. Precision and quick simple actions to handle any circumstances in the field of hero work. Not a wild and hazardous manner that will do way more damage than good.
A ring sounded across the beach. The third round was over.
Izuku completely stopped his onslaught and turned, walking away with a slight rough kick across the sand that dusted off. An act that did not go unnoticed by All Might.
"Young Midoriya." He heard him speak. "Do you perhaps need more time to recuperate? There's no shame in needing to catch more than a breather."
"I'm fine." He responded, sounding more rough and aggressive than necessary. More than his usual soft demeanor. His breathing was more akin to huffing in aggravation of a perfectionist who couldn't get that single stroke of paint on his soon to be masterpiece just right. "I can still go on." The bubble is inflating, he was getting angry his idol didn't take it seriously at the last moments of the third round. Never even bothering blocking a single hit. It was a mockery to him. As if all that work, all that effort, were for naught. It was making him feel…
'Useless. Everything I do is useless.'
Very unpleasant memories resurfacing from the deep dark corners of the back of his mind. Each past event plays as that bubble keeps growing bigger and heavier. Useless, worthless, good-for-nothing. Those three words continuously flash in before him. Tears started on the corners of his eye, stinging him. He's mad, he's really mad. The bubble was about to burst!
Now, he's concerned. Very concerned. Toshinori felt this sparring thing was a bad idea. Whatever it was affecting, Young Midoriya was bringing something out of the normally determined, nice boy. Sure he's determined right now, but it felt more raving. More seething and ready to go on a warpath. But Toshinori debated himself if he should end this right now or keep going and hope whatever is gnawing at his successor will be phased out.
'Oh, I'm gonna kick myself for this if it's the wrong one.' The next round was set and he placed the phone on the ground, never taking his eyes off from the boy. His thumb lingering above the button, contemplating. He pressed it with a shout. "Fight!"
A heavy impact clubbed his right cheek. Okay, that one stings, that one really stings. What the heck? Where did that power and speed come from? Quickly getting up All Might escaped an air breath from a spinning roundhouse. Specks of yellow briefly enter his field of vision. Wait, that's [Hamon]! Young Midoriya shouldn't use it until the next set, he knows that. So why-
A deep delivered blow dived right on his non-existent stomach. Cutting his thought off and causing air in his lungs to expel out of his mouth like someone stomp on a bellows hard. Pain erupted through him, one that is right up there in his early years of hero work back in the United States against villains that give him major trouble. Grunting, holding his stomach he dodged a strike, and another and another. His body swayed and weaved, its motion familiar to him they fell in perfect sync.
He then takes notice of his protégé when the striking suddenly becomes faster and faster. Easily outpacing them All Might inspect Young Midoriya and he ain't liking what he sees.
Tears pour out of him, which isn't new to him. The boy was a comical cry baby, which, he admits, was funny at times. But this was not comical at all. The face the boy had was one of pure frustration, snarling like a desperate animal trying to catch their prey or else they'll die, veins popping out in angry throbbing and pulsating. And his eyes, no longer they held the flames of a determined hero who'll, no matter the stakes, always save the day with a smile. No. Those eyes held the eyes of a man in possession, like a demon took hold of him and wreaked havoc on everything they saw.
And the only thing those eyes see is him. All Might dodge each and every single one as the wild golden flame aura enveloped boy grew more erratic while Young Midoriya kept his unfaltering bombardment of fists, screaming out his lungs.
"--TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA—!!!"
Taking a hop back to gauge this carefully, Young Midoriya kicked the ground like a soccer player. A billow of sand obscure his vision. Some got in his eyes forcing him to close. Rubbing it to get those small grains out he felt the hits from Young Midoriya finally contacting him. Each blow was like a bowling ball crashing down from high places. He was gritting his teeth, the boy's quirk was giving him an immensity of power and it seems to keep growing and growing. In a somewhat last-minute endeavor to stop his successor's onslaught, All Might swipes his arm across to swat him away and possibly stop his frenzy.
But he felt nothing but air. Not a single thing contacted any part of that wild swing that is his arm. Then something seized it, almost like a grapple, tightening the pressure and moving it at an angle. An arm lock. If it was any other occasion he'll praise the young man but the likelihood of his arm breaking in two was seriously in the critical point a slight more adjustment and snap!
Not wanting that outcome to ensue, All Might copied what Young Midoriya did prior by grabbing a fist full of sand with his free hand and threw it at Young Midoriya's direction. Hearing a 'Ack' and his arm free, All Might immediately went behind his successor. Holding him up by engulfing his head and arm with his arm in an improvised head lock and immobilizing Young Midoriya's other arm by placing it behind his back and slightly twisting.
Thrashing in his hold All Might tried calming him down. "Midoriya, that's enough! I don't know what's going on with you, but you need to control yourself."
But Izuku wasn't listening, he was still continuing his escape. He banged the back of his head against All Might's chest but it had no effect. He tried to claw his arm but it didn't work either. Then he bit his idol's arm, hard, thanks to [Hamon]. His teeth sunk deep in those barrels of muscles, enough for blood to steep out which was also enough for All Might to let go, not expecting him to take such a measure.
Once he was on the ground Izuku turned around and took a deep breath. The aura of [Hamon] becomes more wild like a forest fire. He rear back his right arm and twisted both it and his hips.
All Might instantly identify what punch the young man is about to throw. 'That's a-that's a corkscrew!'
And with a roar, Izuku threw the punch as it made an inward drilling motion with all the power he could muster behind it.
"OVERDRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE—!!!"
He's eyes might deceive him but to All Might it looked like the punch puncture right through the very air itself as it made its way to his-
'My heart! He's aiming for my heart. This ain't a regular corkscrew. It's a Heartbreak Shot! Where did he learn that?' Indeed, All Might only taught Izuku the regular corkscrew, not its various. The only example is that Young Midoriya might have researched it, along with the famous home country feather-weight champion boxer from the Old Age who popularized the technique.
But he shouldn't be focusing on that. He needs to focus on neutralizing the corkscrew that will definitely leave permanent damage on him if it landed on his heart, especially since it is now powered up by the lad's quirk to the max. He can only think of one way. 'Forgive me, my boy. But-'
"You need to calm down!"
With a twist of his own hips, the Number One Hero threw his one punch which parried the younger of two fists, and landed squarely on the boy's diaphragm. Izuku let out a loud coarse howling sound that tells All Might it has to be very painful as the Emerald Dreamer went sailing across the beach and onto the sea.
The golden light of [Hamon] dissipated as the only thing Izuku saw was a watering darkness before blacking out.
A/N: Alright, so originally this was gonna be a two-parter. Two chapters of this whole thing showing the whole 15 rounds sparring between All Might and Deku. Sadly, the whole thing was scrapped as soon as I wrote and this was the result. Bummed out, but what are you gonna do? Anyway, here's the new chapter hope you like it? Have a pleasant day.
