A Demon Among Heroes

by Musketdragon

Hello?...Yes, this is he. I've contacted you to ask for your assistance. I understand your organization is known for dealing with adverse situations? Well...My academic establishment, no...All of Japan is in danger. The pillars upholding our society are near their breaking point, and dark forces rally to exploit it. Will you help us, Sir Integra Hellsing?

11. Chapter 11

Disclaimer: The intellectual property rights to Hellsing belong to Kouta Hirano, as does the My Hero Academia series, with Kohei Horikoshi.

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the feedback. To those of you who highlighted my mistakes in previous chapters, I appreciate your attention to detail. This chapter won't be as eventful as the one before it, but I'd say that fits the structure of a story. You normally experience a down period as you're building up to the next hallmark. Anyways, please enjoy yourselves.

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Deep Within An Unknown Location:

He could still remember that day, so long ago now. The day he first realized what he wanted to become.

Before he'd developed his Quirk, All For One had been a child like any other. A jovial young lad, to whom befriending others came naturally. He possessed a preternatural talent for negotiation and adaptation, as well as excelling academically. He took great pleasure in spending time with his friends and developing those connections. It didn't take long for him to become the envy of his whole school district. And as his name grew, he read voraciously.

All manner of literature from fiction to non-fiction, horror to comedy, science to economics. He loved this hobby of his, as it felt as though he were stockpiling knowledge. While he had no way of knowing whether it would be useful or not, he enjoyed it greatly, nonetheless. And then one day, he encountered the story that would stick with him for the rest of his days. A short novella, detailing the exploits of its titular antagonist, "Count Dracula".

He first read about him at the tender age of ten. The Prince of Darkness. The Son of the Dragon. Dracula. Commanding the air, land and sea. With a flick of his wrist, he forced men to bend the knee while swallowing their greatest attacks with ease. Crushing their spirits like glass. Possessing flight, superhuman strength, unnatural speed, hyper regeneration, what could the almighty vampire lord not do?

His romantic fool of a brother chose the opposite route, admiring Abraham Hellsing for daring to face such a foe. Why praise mere humans? Why not aspire to become something more, like Dracula, forsaking God and seeking to become something greater? It pained him when, at the end of the story, Dracula was defeated by Van Helsing and his comrades. To think a mere wooden stake would triumph over centuries of experience. How humiliating it must've been, for Dracula to suffer such a defeat. It was those stories that convinced him he could use his Quirk to become something beyond human. Beyond any other Quirk user, even.

He felt admiration. He felt intrigued. And above all, he felt envious. And when his Quirk developed, it was as though the heavens themselves were confirming his ambition.

It was during his invincible reign of dominance over Japan that he came across something no one could have anticipated. During one particular excursion into Japan's government files, his lackies stumbled upon a few choice documents detailing an event referred to as the "Millennium Incident".

…

Although much of it was covered in black ink, there was enough information to construct a reasonable picture of what took place. And the results were horrifying. Millions of people massacred in droves by an organization of Nazi vampires. Already sounding unbelievable, it got worse as, apparently, one of their strongest soldiers was a werewolf who'd been dubbed "The Captain". Alongside a Catholic madman and his army of crazed devotees, Millennium tore London apart.

The dead went unburied because by the end of it all, there were none left to mourn. A sea of flames arose in the city as all resistance collapsed underneath the onslaught. But somehow, at the time he read the document, London itself still stood. Repopulated and restored to its former glory, almost as if nothing of the sort had ever happened. How could this be possible?

Hellsing.

According to the vague descriptions held in the files, Hellsing arrived and ultimately saved the day. In the end, every single member of both the Catholic forces and Millennium was cut down. There weren't enough details to draw a clear picture on what exactly Hellsing was. For all he knew, the same Van Helsing he'd read about was just as immortal as Dracula and had returned to prevent London's destruction. Or perhaps it was a separate organization entirely?

But what caught his attention, just like "Dracula" had all those years prior, was the mention of the term "vampire". If the report was to be believed, which many of his subordinates at the time had urged against, such supernatural beings existed and potentially surpassed whatever depictions there were in literature. Dracula may just exist, and the mere prospect of that convinced All For One that he had no other choice but to further pursue his ambitions.

He would become Japan's Dracula, an immortal emperor ruling the nation from afar while sat atop his throne of fear and glory. None would question his authority. And with his reign cemented, he would do everything in his power to gain immortality and gather all the knowledge in the world. And one day, he would surpass Dracula so that the Lord of Shadows would forever live in HIS shadow!

Now here he sat, reading the document detailing Wolfram's failure on I-Island. Within that document lay multiple clues hinting at what he most longed for. The Symbol of Evil stopped himself from shaking with excitement. Perhaps it was time to ramp up the League of Villain's activity? He activated one of the many monitors in his room, contacting Shigaraki. His successor would have to begin preparing himself for what was to come.

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The Torn And Mutilated I-Island:

On the crushed remains of I-Island, there hung an unconscious Wolfram off a stray metal pole. David Shield's Quirk Amplification Device fell off him, landing on the rocks with a broken *CLANK*. The villain had been soundly beaten through the combined efforts of Class 1-A and the Symbol of Peace, All Might. Wolfram's once muscular body was now shriveled and deflated after using the untested Quirk Amplifier. Several feet away from the Wolfram's frail form, the dirt began violently shaking as a muddled mess of dark green hair burst free.

"Waaagh!" Deku groaned, spitting flecks of soot out of his mouth. Had they won? Eyeing his surroundings, he discovered that to be the case after gazing upon Wolfram's decrepit state. Walking closer to the beaten man, the young boy poked his chest to make sure he was still alive. He was still breathing, thank goodness. Though faint, Wolfram's was clearly breathing.

The urge to hammer Wolfram for answers surged through Deku's very core, but he knew better than to wail on this walking skeleton. Enough blood had been spilt that night. I-Island had seen enough excruciating torment to last a lifetime.

"DEKU-KUN!" A high-pitched voice cried out.

Turning, he was delighted to find Melissa Shield skipping up the hill to meet him. The rays of sunlight coming from the sunrise illuminated her blonde hair as it flew behind her. The mere sight of her was refreshing after everything he'd gone through.

"Melissa…" He breathed. He tried mimicking her energy, but found he was just too exhausted to reciprocate it properly. Worst part of it was that the final clash with Wolfram had deprived him of his shirt. All he had left were his dress pants. His mom was going to be so furious when she found out about this.

"I'm glad…" Running up and giving him a helping hand, they looked down the hill and spotted David Shield chatting with All Might. "PAPA! ALL MIGHT!" Melissa shouted, unable to hold back her tears. For a non-Quirk user to have gone through so much in less than twenty-four hours… he couldn't possibly comprehend how this must've felt for her. For it all to finally be over. "I'm so glad… I really am… Thank you. Thanks to you all, we were able to save everyone."

He smiled.

"It's thanks to you, too, Melissa. I was saved so many times by your Full Gauntlet. Thank you very much." Bowing, Deku at last understood how it felt when others had to deal with him and his well of self-doubt.

"Deku-kun…"

"Um, but sorry! I broke it…" Yep, his naked fist was proof enough of how much stress he'd put her gauntlet through. Sure, that's what it'd been designed for, but still. And shockingly, his wrist felt completely fine. No broken bones whatsoever. He didn't want to come off as greedy, but he wondered if she'd be willing to give him another one…

"Don't worry about that." She told him, reassuring him that it absolutely was not an issue. Compared to all the help he'd provided, this was nothing.

"Deku-kun!"

They heard Uraraka shouting at them from far below. Standing at the bottom of the hill was the rest of Class 1-A, all of them checking to make sure they were alright. Everyone was relieved to find they'd had emerged in one piece. He and Melissa informed them that All Might as well as the professor were also alive before making their way down to join up with their friends. From where they were sitting, it looked as if Mr. Shield and All Might were having a heart-to-heart, and he didn't want to get in their way.

"Are you two okay?" Iida anxiously asked once they'd reconvened.

"Yep!" Deku replied joyously, hoisting up his intact hand as evidence. "Melissa's Full Gauntlet was amazing! Too bad it broke…"

"Again, don't worry about it, Deku-kun. I can make a replacement if you'd like. It's the least I can do after all you've done for me." He appreciated the offer and found it hard to refuse, but he worried that becoming overly reliant on support items would hinder his training. "I'm just as thankful to the rest of you, of course. If there's anything I can do to pay you back…"

"Nonono, that isn't necessary. After all, true heroes don't do this while expecting something in return. We helped you because it was the right thing to do." Waving his arms back and forth, Todoroki spoke what everyone else was thinking.

Although… now that he thought about it, there was one thing she could do for them...

…

Ten Minutes Later:

*SSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTT*

"Aaand… that should just about do it. Feel any better?"

Closely examining Alex-kun's waist, Melissa tore off the old bandages and applied one of her First-Aid devices to his bullet wound. Fortunately, she wasn't bothered by the sight of his toned abdomen, unlike Yaoyorozu who had to excuse herself, the memory of their dance in the reception hall still haunting her. Melissa didn't forget about the others though and made sure to heal their wounds as well with her toolbox of neat gadgets. Deku, especially, suffered some broken ribs and was in desperate need of some first aid.

"Very much so, milady. You have my thanks." Gently rubbing the area where he'd originally been injured, Alex-kun grinned gratefully as Deku helped him get back onto his feet.

After returning to retrieve Alex-kun, Deku and his friends proceeded to extract the civilians they'd hidden and guided them to an open area where it'd be easier for authorities to find them. Luckily, the other pro heroes who'd been held hostage were also freed after Melissa had regained control of the security system, and they'd been the ones to locate more civilians and contact authorities on the mainland. Soon, a fleet of rescue boats and other vehicles were landing on shore.

They spotted All Might leading David Shield onto one of the boats. There was no way he'd be remaining on I-Island to heal, not after it'd been so thoroughly decimated by Wolfram and that supernatural hurricane which had blown through earlier. They still had no idea where it came from, and that only heightened the mystery lying beneath this horrific incident.

Who'd killed all those people? Who'd poured all their blood out onto the streets of I-Expo? Who'd spawned that dense, nigh impenetrable fog? And most importantly, where had all the blood gone? Even the pros were perplexed at how such a large quantity of liquid could magically vanish without leaving a trace. Not a single drop could be found anywhere, not even when a pro hero who could detect moisture gave it a try. They came back empty handed. It was truly confounding. Sadly, with Wolfram tapped out, they'd have to wait until he was in a secure prison cell before getting the answers they so sorely desired.

*pat*

"Preoccupied by your thoughts again, Deku?" The soothing tones of Alex-kun brought him out of his stupor. Once more patting him on the head, Deku felt a teensy bit silly being treated in such a fashion, especially after overcoming such a strong opponent.

"Alex-kun…" He whined, still finding great comfort in his dear friend's warm smile and soft palms. Like an eldest sibling consoling his younger kin, Alex-kun showed no signs of disapproval like previous instances. There'd been times before where, even though he didn't look angry, he'd still give off that impression while listing off all of Deku's mistakes.

On the other hand, this time he did none of that. In fact, he seemed legitimately proud of him. This was the first time since they'd met that Deku had accomplished something without Alex-kun's help, and he'd performed beyond all his expectations. This was Alex-kun's way of telling him that he'd made significant progress, that he'd taken another step towards his dream of becoming a true hero.

Deku tried his best to hold back his tears. And even better, he succeeded. Sure, his eyes were still visibly watery. But they weren't leaking profusely like previous times, and that was all that mattered.

"Come. It's time we returned home." Nodding cheerfully, Deku and Alex-kun rejoined their classmates as they made their way onto the ship. As the members of Class 1-A all boarded the ship that would take them back to mainland Japan, Deku took one last glance back at I-Island.

I-Island had left him with a whole lot of questions to answer. But on the flip side, he'd been given so much in return. True, undeniable progress in terms of his individual power. While he couldn't rightly excuse all the harrowing things they'd seen on I-Island, the future Symbol of Peace was still grateful to have gained so much from it. With an even greater urge to advance and grow, Deku bowed one final time as I-Island gradually shrank into a tiny dot in the horizon.

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A Few Days After I-Island:

*PFF*PFF*PFF*PFF*BAM*

"Stop using standard attacks, use the unorthodox!"

A mat of green hair flew across the room, tracking a trail of electricity behind it. Leaping above his opponent, the young trainee landed behind him and unleashed a barrage of attacks. Incorporating a series of flurries and kicks into his onslaught, Izuku Midoriya left very little space for his opponent to maneuver. Yet amazingly, that's precisely what Alexander Anderson did.

In a masterful display of skill, his foe caught his punches and easily redirected his kicks. When Deku rebounded off the floor and bolted straight at him, Alex-kun crouched low and flung him over his shoulder. Still able to fight, Deku activated Full Cowling once more and resumed his onslaught.

"How often must I tell you? Control my central line!" Alex-kun sighed. Deku wasn't doing enough to force him to switch positions, giving him the space to focus on just his arms instead of his legs. Absorbing the advice instantly, Deku stopped his flurry mid-swing and launched his fist straight into the ground. At 20% power, his punch blew out a massive portion of their training zone. Not that they cared, they were on a beach. The same beach Deku had cleaned up after first meeting All Might. The resulting eruption of sand forced Alex-kun to swerve out of its way.

"Gooood." Alex-kun purred with delight, happy to see him adapt so quickly.

When Deku dashed at him again, intent on closing the distance and thrusting his fist into his stomach, multiple black holes materialized on the ground next to him. Oily tendrils emerged from the voids and attached to him, dragging him off his feet and straight into a small hill of sand.

"Darn it, Alex-kun…" Deku mused as he shook sand off his hair, bouncing up off the ground and charging once more. A fierce exchange followed, with Alex-kun consistently in control of the fight. No matter how many punches Deku threw, it seemed like Alex-kun always knew exactly how to block and counter it. It was incredible how well this paragon could control the pace of their battle.

"Must you destroy my progress? You're gripping your fists too tightly." Commenting on Deku's form, Alexander's expression turned when he recognized a noticeable flaw in his form. Reacting accordingly, Alex-kun capitalized on Deku's next mistake and swiftly unclasped the boy's gauntlet. Smoothly confiscating Deku's equipment, he signaled to Deku that the spar had concluded.

"Now too lightly." Alex-kun chuckled, playfully flipping the gauntlet in the air.

Taking a moment to recover, Deku and Alex-kun took a seat on a bench nearby. They thankfully hadn't broken any of the public property nearby. They were smart enough to avoid destroying everything in their vicinity. As they recuperated, Alex-kun began examining Deku's Full Gauntlet. "Hmmm… a new one?" He wondered, recalling how Deku had broken one on I-Island.

"Yeah. Melissa made it for me as thanks for saving her father. It isn't as durable as the old one, so it can only withstand two of my full powered punches. But as long as I keep the power low at around 20%, this should last me a while."

Alex-kun giggled thoughtfully.

"She's a considerate person. However, I would advise you to refrain from growing over-reliant on such trinkets. The strongest combatants are those who remain threatening when stripped of all their equipment. It is there where your true strength lies."

"Good thing I can rely on my friends to be there for me." With a straight face, Deku replied as earnestly as the most honest child. He wasn't wrong, however. His friends could indeed make up for his faults.

"I know. And you can trust that we will always be there to aid you. However, a mighty castle is only as strong as its foundation. A great sprinter only as quick as his heart beats. Before you can rely on others, you must first learn to rely on yourself." Carefully returning the Full Gauntlet back to Deku, Alex-kun made sure that they maintained eye contact during the transaction.

"Remember what I've taught you, Deku. If you are to succeed against the strongest villains, you must have fear, surprise, and intimidation on your side. What if any one element is lacking?" He raised an eyebrow. "It would be best for you to retreat. You must break them before you engage them. Only then may you have your victory."

Deku took Alex-kun's advice to heart, but nonetheless found himself disputing a number of his points. In his eyes, a true hero did not use fear or surprise to defeat the bad guy. A true hero approached their enemy from the front, like All Might. Confident and sure. They didn't scare the bad guy, but instead convinced them that what they were doing was wrong. Now, maybe intimidation also played a factor in it. But that was based more off the hero's reputation than anything else. And in All Might's case, his reputation had already been cemented.

Deku was glad to have Alex-kun there offering advice. At this point, the European transfer student had become a surrogate big brother. Even his own mother had gotten used to him visiting. When Deku brought up his qualms with Alex-kun, he was glad that got an open and honest response.

"Of course, I'm aware that running away is not an option for a hero. Nor is frightening your enemies with violence or otherwise. However, make sure not to disqualify them entirely. None can foresee the future, my friend. Better to accept them now than regret forsaking them in your hour of greatest need."

Quietly, Deku considered everything Alex-kun had told him. He wanted to be a true hero, that much was certain. However, if he ever was put into a scenario where those principles weren't enough, wouldn't Alex-kun's ideas be more useful? He wanted to trust the boy who'd already done so much for him but hesitated to even consider something that might run against everything he believed in. Suddenly, a blaring shout rang out into the air.

"WELL SAID, YOUNGSTER ANDERSON!" Said All Might, bursting in out of nowhere and landing right in front of the two classmates.

"All Might?!" Deku cried out. While not exactly surprised, All Might had already appeared like this numerous times already, his master miraculously barging in still offset the comforting atmosphere he'd had with Alex-kun.

"INDEED, I AM HERE!" All Might shouted his catchprase at the top of his lungs. "Youngster Midoriya, what Anderson said contains many hidden truths. But ultimately, every hero holds to their own philosophy. So long as they adhere to building a society where everyone can smile, the path they follow shall prove true!" He pointed his index finger right at Deku's face.

Deku stared at the floor. Now his master was telling him that everyone could follow their own path, just as long as the ultimate goal remained the same. And Alex-kun had told him to keep his options open in the event straightforward heroism wasn't enough. Both gave similar ideas, yet it felt like the two were coming from radically different ideologies. He trusted both of them, though. He didn't want to say no to either one. He'd have to give it some thought before reaching any sort of conclusion.

"Thanks, All Might…" He replied, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. Alex-kun also bowed respectfully to the Symbol of Peace. Deku wondered how Alex-kun would react if he found out that he was All Might's successor, and the next user of One For All. Honestly, he'd probably just laugh and take it in stride. Nothing ever seemed to bother him, not even when he'd been shot with a bullet.

After all the things he'd experienced on I-Island, Deku did feel like he'd begun to close the monumental gap in strength between himself and Alex-kun. Of course, the dashing European was still far better at outthinking his opponents. Not to mention his Quirk which gave him much more flexibility in a fight. But at least now, Deku was confident that he was beginning to make progress.

"The sun has begun to set, Deku. It's time we head back." Poking him on the shoulder, Alex-kun lead Deku towards the stairs off the beach so they could return to the apartment complex.

Behind them, Toshinori Yagi was struggling with his emotions. On one hand, he was happy to see his pupil accepting advice from others, and for the person he was taking advice from to be arguably the most talented student in U.A. On the other hand, he wondered if it was a condemnation of his own skills as a teacher for his own student to be seeking guidance from someone else.

Was he doing it all wrong? Had he bought the wrong guide to teaching? Refusing to let himself be indicted in such a fashion, All Might ran forward and wrapped his arms around both Alexander Anderson and Izuku Midoriya.

"ALLOW ME TO CARRY YOU BACK!" He shouted right as he lunged into the sky.

This not being the first time he'd been carried off by the Symbol of Peace, Deku calmly spent some time to reflect on how his summer schedule was shaping up. As it turned out, despite a special few from 1-A failing to pass the Final Examination, it was soon announced that they would all be permitted to attend the summer training camp. Since it was still Aizawa-sensei making the announcement, naturally it carried a few caveats. Such as the fact that all five of their classmates who'd failed, those being Kirishima, Kaminari, Ashido, Sato and Sero, would receive special supplemental lessons. Making matters worse, Aizawa-sensei said that those lessons would be WORSE than summer school.

Even though some among them were discouraged by the news, everyone else was eager to start preparing for the trip. So much so that they all agreed to go on a shopping trip together so they could purchase equipment for the Training Camp. Not everyone would be joining them, sadly. Kacchan outright refused and Todoroki-san apparently was apparently supposed to go somewhere else. But regardless of whether all of 1-A joined in or not, Deku was looking forward to the occasion. With his summer seemingly filled to the brim with stuff to do, it was starting to feel like this would be the most fun summer he'd ever had.

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One Week Later At Kiyashi Shopping Ward Mall:

It was midday when they gathered at the front doors, making sure they all knew each other's phone numbers so they could keep in touch. You couldn't afford to come here alone since the place was so big that it was easy to get lost in it.

The mall was already bustling with activity by the time they went inside. Strewn about the place were all manner of shops, restaurants, and small playgrounds for children to frolic in while their parents left to peruse the aisles. At least 4 stories tall, there were rows upon rows of people strolling down the walkways, all of them casually searching for items, baubles and other trinkets.

Foreign trees lined the promenade in an orderly manner, each of them separated from the next by a couple of feet. They made for beautiful decorations, contributing to a calmer atmosphere that ran counter to the rather chaotic crowd of people marching all over the place.

"Welcome to the Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall! This place has more shops than anywhere else in the prefecture. It's got the coolest and trendiest stuff you can find! You, with the six arms! Or even you, with those big, swollen calves! You'll find everything you need here!"

Shoji and Iida were both shocked after being so blatantly highlighted by the announcer. Then again, their Quirks did significantly enhance those specific regions of their bodies in ways that made them difficult to ignore. Luckily, they seemed to have gotten used to such treatment and laughed it off.

Seeing all of his friends dressed so casually was weird to see. Ashido had shown up wearing a black shirt that had "Pinky" printed on the front, ironically enough. Hagakure arrived in a striped tanktop, though that was all they could see of her, as usual. Deku felt the most normal when looking at Iida and Yaoyorozu, both of whom came wearing more business-casual clothing. Iida donned a more formal polo shirt and well-ironed khaki pants while Yaoyorozu wore a nice dress shirt and a long skirt around her waist.

The biggest surprise of all was seeing Alex-kun finally wearing something besides his U.A. uniform or his suit and tie. This time, he wore…

Just the suit! No tie, just the dress shirt and pants. How Alex-kun managed not to sweat in that attire at this time of year, he would never know. After everybody finished commenting on each other's choice of attire, they all set out and began browsing Kiyashi Mall in search of the best stores to purchase outdoors gear. Unfortunately, Deku lost focus quickly.

"Stores have to do more than simply cater to body types that differ by Quirk. They also need designs for all ages, from teens to seniors. No wonder this place draws so many customers. Huh? Could that be a state-of-the-art, first edition All Might-?"

"You're scaring the children. Stop that." Tokoyami begged. In the end, Alex-kun had to snap him out of it with a pleasant pinch on the cheek.

Though there were a few other interruptions, such as a group of fans who still remembered the show they'd put on during the sports festival. It was shocking to see that there were still people who remembered that event. Fortunately, those people left once they'd gotten a few commemorative photos.

"I've gotta find myself a giant duffel bag." Jiro announced. She left along with Yaoyorozu, who apparently also needed one.

"I need some rugged outdoor shoes." Looking around, he checked to see if anyone else needed something like that.

"Me too, me too!" A wristwatch flailed excitably in the air. Hagakure and Kaminari agreed to visit one of the shops together. Just before they left however, Iida lunged in front of them to give them some kindhearted advice.

"OUR MANUAL RECOMMENDS WELL-WORN FOOTWEAR… OR, ah… should we focus on utility instead…?!" As energetic as he normally was when enforcing the rules, he seemed to lose steam once he started thinking about what might make more sense than what the rules stated.

"Where d'you think they sell lockpicking equipment and hand drills?" Mineta pondered this as seriously as Archimedes did mathematics.

Deku laughed aloud as Mineta grumbled over his perverted thoughts. He knew he couldn't stop him from doing it, but he still wished it nonetheless. Noting the numerous distinct items being sought after, Kirishima suggested that they all split up and meet back later at a designated time. They all agreed and in only a few moments, the only ones left were himself, Uraraka and Alex-kun.

"They all went off in a hurry." Deku mused. How this had come about, he didn't know. They'd come here with so many people, only for this to be the case. "How about you, Uraraka? I'm looking for a couple of heavy wrist weights…"

"I need… bug spray…bug…" She addressed him normally at first. But then something dawned on her, followed by her cheeks growing flush before finally, for no reason whatsoever, she sprinted off into the sunset. "… BUG SPRAY!" She yelled while waving her arm in the air as though she were already swatting a fly away.

"I'M THE BUG?!" Aghast at what he feared could be Uraraka rejecting his mere presence, Deku looked to Alex-kun for reassurance. Presently, his friend was giggling quietly into his fist. When he was done chortling at his expense, Alex-kun rubbed Deku's hair like he always did.

"I'll leave those signs for you to interpret, Deku dearest." Grinning, Alex-kun then pulled out his notebook. "Now then, I suppose I'd best be on my way."

"You're going by yourself?" He'd been hoping to hang out with Alex-kun during this exhibition. And besides, he wasn't sure if he trusted himself not to get lost in the massive shopping mall. In response, Alex-kun chuckled in his usual charming way.

"Consider this an inspection of your decision-making skills. It is up to you to determine just what you will bring with you to the training camp while avoiding losing yourself amongst the mob."

He gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder before departing, leaving him all by himself.

"Nearly the whole class came, but now I'm alone…" He mumbled.

Even before going there, he'd guessed that everyone would have different needs and wants. But he'd still held out hope that they'd stick together and find stores which catered to everyone. Still though, Alex-kun was right in that this would be a good chance for him to get better at making his own decisions.

"Ohh, cool… you're from U.A.! Can I get your autograph?"

Someone called out to him. Looking back, he saw a hooded civilian approaching him from behind.

"Huh?" He gasped, caught completely off guard. Even though he'd tried to keep a low profile, Deku had still kept track of every individual within a ten-foot radius of his vicinity. Yet amazingly, he hadn't sensed their presence whatsoever.

"You're the kid who got wrecked in the sports festival, right?!"

"Whoa… y-yeah…" Aawww… Sure, most people hadn't forgotten what'd happened at the sports festival. But he'd still hoped that they'd at least forget that! He really didn't want to be stuck with that kind of reputation...

"Then, during that business in Hosu, you ran into the Hero Killer! You're seriously something else!"

Umm… how did this guy know about that?

"You sure know a lot about me…" He mumbled, the atmosphere becoming more disconcerting by the second.

"Man, I can't believe it, though. To think we'd meet again, here!"

Wait, they'd met before?

"Can't help but think that something special's helped you come this far." The boy's voice was adopting a more dangerous and menacing tone as they drew closer. "Something like fate… or destiny, maybe… Well, I guess for you… we last met in that attack on U.A." At that point, it finally clicked for him. He cautiously angled himself to catch a glimpse of who this person really was.

"Let's get some tea and chat, Izuku Midoriya." Whispered the desert-like lips of Tomura Shigaraki.

…

He wanted to scream. He wanted to escape, create some distance that he could work with. Shigaraki's Quirk let him disintegrate anything he touched, which meant being anywhere close to his hands was a life-threatening situation. Actually, scratch that. Alex-kun had managed to negate it somehow, but that was an exception. Right now, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Shigaraki had already wrapped the palm of his hand around his throat, meaning any escape attempt he made would lead to a quick death.

Sweat began pouring down his face as he tried to not lose himself in panic. If he could just stall for long enough, surely someone would notice the panicked expression on his face and call a hero.

"Easy now… You're gonna act like we're a couple of old pals. No making a scene, okay? Calm down. Breathe naturally. I just wanna talk. That's all, so don't you try anything funny." Shigaraki smirked gleefully as he hovered a finger above Deku's throat. "It'd be all too easy. The second all five of my fingers touch your neck… your throat would start crumbling. From the skin inward… you'd turn to dust in under a minute."

"I-In a crowd like this…? Try that… and the heroes'll show up…" He gulped. "They'll come and catch you…!"

"No doubt. But take a look. At them." He pointed a finger at all the smiling people who were just going about their daily lives. "It's not crazy to imagine that someone could commit an atrocity at any given moment. So why do they smile and mingle like this?" He asked. "Because the laws and rules are built on their individual morality… they're convinced that 'No one would ever do that'. In the time it'd take to catch me, I could take twenty… No, I could take thirty of them out…"

Tomura Shigaraki… this guy was serious, that much was certain. Going through the numbers in his head, Deku agreed that it'd take a while for help to arrive. Plenty of time for Shigaraki to kill off a large portion of the crowd. That left him with only one real option…

"…Talk… about what…?" Deciding that it was better to go along with the villain than openly resist, Deku lowered his voice to a whisper.

"Smart move. We might as well sit for this. Let's try to relax…"

Openly being held hostage, Deku allowed himself to be led away towards a nearby bench where the two foes took a seat next to each other. The atmosphere was stifling, and it didn't help that his captor had a vice-like grip around his neck.

"I pretty much hate everyone and everything… but right now, what really grinds my gears is the Hero Killer." With the mention of the Hero Killer, that grip only grew tighter. Deku tried moving a bit to lessen the pressure but feared that Shigaraki would interpret it as retaliation.

"Wasn't he working with you?" Deku inquired. They were both villains, right? They'd both shown a distinct obsession with All Might, too.

"I never really agreed to that, even if society seems to think so. And that's my problem. Everyone's got their eye on the damned Hero Killer. Our attack on U.A… the Nomu I unleashed in Hosu… It's all been overshadowed by HIM. No one's noticing me. Why?" Was this why he'd come here today? To debate? "He can grandstand all he wants, but in the end… all he's doing is destroying what he hates. So what makes us different, Midoriya?"

Goodness… this was tough. Having to answer questions for someone with a radically different ideology than him wasn't how he normally spent his evenings. Usually when under pressure, he'd just go with his gut instincts. But now it was different. He knew that this time, throwing punches wouldn't be enough to fix this problem. So all he could do now was try and earnestly answer Shigaraki's question.

"What… makes you different…?" Still though, what a question. One that was difficult for him to answer, given how difficult it was for him to focus at that moment. "… I think… Well, I can't accept what you do… and I don't understand it…" The biggest ideological qualms he held against Shigaraki was the seemingly illogical nature of his ideology. He didn't seem to have a real reason behind any of the crimes he committed, just an inexplicable desire to harm others. "But the Hero Killer… Although I can't accept him… I do understand him… For both me and the Hero Killer… It all started… with All Might. Back then… he even saved me. So at the very least… he's destructive, but he's doing it for a reason. It's not just for fun. Not at all. His methods may be wrong… but I think he's at least trying to live by his ideals."

The Hero Killer had a clearer goal, despite how atrocious his methods were. He thought that pro heroes today were doing it just for the money, and so he wanted to get rid of them. A reasonable idea, but that didn't make it okay. Shigaraki's reaction to this observation was downright terrifying. Deku's pupils grew bigger than quarters as the white-haired monster keeled over in thought. Was he angry? Frustrated? Or was he delighted that someone finally put it into words?

"Ahhh… It's all so clear now. Feels like I've connected the dots. About why the Hero Killer pisses me off so much… and why you're so damned irritating… I think I get it now. It's all cuz of… All Might."

"Huh?" Okay… maybe he'd managed to put it into words for him, but… that wasn't what he was getting at. It looked like Shigaraki had misinterpreted the meaning of what he'd said. Unfortunately, the leader of the League of Villains no longer cared about Deku and had gotten lost in his own head.

"Right…? Right. That's the conclusion here. Man, what was I so hung up on anyway…?! The reason these fools can smile and live their lives… is cuz All Might's always got that grin on his face." God, why did he look so scary? His bone-white hair and cracked lips made him look like a mummy. And that spine-chilling grin… "Smiling wide, as if to say… there's no one he can't save! Ah, I'm glad we had this chat! So glad! Thanks, Midoriya!" Unaware that he was steadily choking the life out of his hostage, Shigaraki began descending into an ecstatic frenzy at the delusion that the root of all his problems was still All Might.

"I'm heading down the right path for me!" He cried out as silently as he could. "Hey, no squirming! Or do you wanna die? You saying you want some of these fine people to die?" How ironic. Despite being polar opposites ideologically, Shigaraki felt he could to use the Hero Killers ideals as steppingstones for his own quest. Now he'd gotten rid of what was bothering him. Now he could get back to-

*thump*

"Is there something amiss, Deku?" The newcomer asked, his sultry voice immediately garnering Shigaraki's ire. Before he even knew it, blood was rushing into his brain. The voice alone was enough to identify who this person was.

"Oh? Have you made a new friend?" Tilting so their eyes met, "Alex", as he was known to Shigaraki, leaned in to get a closer look at his face. In reality, Alex's thin, twisted smile and narrowed eyes made Shigaraki shiver in fear for the first time in his whole life.

"Isn't that just… delightful."

---

0.0

---

Alucard had been aware of Tomura Shigaraki's presence since the very moment they'd gathered at the entrance. The juvenile buffoon sincerely believed a dark hoodie would serve as a sufficient disguise.

Nonsense. It was the hottest time of the year. No one would wear such heavy attire unless they had something to hide, which he did.

He'd waited patiently for the boy to move while deploying shades to scan the entirety of the shopping center. After identifying the absence of any additional threats, Alucard then waited until everyone else had already departed before making his move. He sought to discern who amongst them was Shigaraki's target. After his classmates had all left, Alucard was certain that All For One's apprentice had come for Deku.

Seeing this as a welcome opportunity to expose Deku to his evil counterpart and test how proactive he could be, Alucard made up an excuse to leave him all by himself. Erasing his presence and disappearing in the shadows, he'd concealed himself in the dark corners of the promenade and watched as events unfolded.

Sadly, it seemed Deku still lacked the ability to turn an unfavorable scenario to his favor. Shigaraki's "imposing" bearing was drawn from the impression that Deku wouldn't risk innocent lives to take down a single villain. Alucard had vehemently sought to delete that disposition of his, yet it appeared he had failed. Mercy and love had already been cemented as two of his philosophical pillars.

It was still amusing nonetheless, watching a fountain of sweat pour down Deku's forehead as Shigaraki, in contrast, seemed to soak it in. What a dreadful lifestyle he must live, for the boy to be so deprived of moisture.

Inevitably, Shigaraki grew impatient. His grip on Deku's neck tightening, Alucard decided that now was the ideal moment to make his entrance. Emerging from the shadows behind a palm tree, he'd hypnotized every nearby pedestrian and convinced them that he'd been there the whole time. Once that was finished, he then strolled through the crowd and seated himself beside Deku's tormentor.

"How… delightful…" Dragging his words as he spoke, he drew Shigaraki close as he spoke. It was obvious from the look on his face that he remembered him. Hidden deep within his irises was a seething, uncontrollable rage. It was taking every ounce of the minimal self-control Shigaraki possessed to avoid lashing out at him.

Truly a pity, then, that Alucard was so well-versed in manipulation and coercion.

"Oh? Good sir, have we met before? Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but your complexion matches that of an old friend of mine. You share some of his distinctive facial features, most notably the visible scars from an earlier incident." Alucard tilted his head as if he were legitimately curious, but his ominous expression perfectly offset his amiable demeanor.

Shigaraki, on the other hand, was beginning to quake ferociously as his fury started boiling over. He hated heroes, society, and everything in it. However, ever since USJ, he'd grown to despise "Alex" more than all of that. From their single encounter there, he'd developed a deep-seated hatred towards this uppity, aristocratic asshole.

"Well then," Alucard stepped away and lifted Shigaraki's arm off of Deku's shoulder. "You must be quite a big fan of All Might's. After all, that's almost all this tender child speaks of." Shigaraki clenched his fists as Alucard dragged Deku away from him.

Inwardly, Alucard was taking great pleasure in enraging this petulant babe. Laughing maniacally at Shigaraki's mental gymnastics as the crazed child weighed the benefits and drawbacks of starting a fight in the middle of the shopping center. Alucard knew that all he needed was one more push.

"Anyway, this was a welcome chat, but I'm afraid we had best be on our way. A pleasant day to you, sir. Ah, what was All Might's signature phrase again? Plus Ult-"

He read the boy's movements before he'd even commenced his attack. In a matter of milliseconds, Alucard shoved Izuku aside, maneuvered his hand into a position where it could block Shigaraki's palm, and plunged his other fist deep into Shigaraki's liver. Needless to say, he executed his plan to perfection. From manipulating the crowd to watch them out of the corners of their eyes, to enticing Shigaraki into provoking a battle, to countering each and every one of the boy's subsequent attacks.

*POOOOMMMFF*

"KUUUGHH!" Spittle flowed freely out of Shigaraki's mouth as all the air left his body. The force of Alucard's counter was supernatural. Were it not for the hellish training All For One had subjected him to, Shigaraki's liver would have already been ruptured. Luckily, or perhaps unluckily depending on your perspective, he was still conscious afterwards.

The speed of his reaction was also abnormal as Shigaraki dove below and tried knocking Alucard's legs out from beneath him. He contemplated disintegrating his hand which was currently holding on to his own, but he still had doubts after what'd happened at USJ. In response, Alucard bent his knee and blocked him before grabbing Shigaraki's arm with both hands and throwing him over his shoulder, slamming him flat on the floor. Instead of spit, this time it was a few droplets of blood that shot out of his mouth.

"GUH-UGH!" The impact left visible cracks in the marble floor.

Not finished quite yet, Alucard decided that the floor needed a redesign and flung Shigaraki over his shoulder once more. This time, the impact left an even bigger crater. He felt Shigaraki trying to disintegrate his wrist more than once while performing this move, but his efforts proved fruitless yet again. This boy hadn't yet realized that his Quirk was worthless against him.

Of course, that was the case with most Quirks. Regardless, Shigaraki would need to put some thought into how he could fight him properly before considering another ambush.

Having been beaten senseless by Alucard, Shigaraki lay lifeless on the ground. Still conscious, but incapable of retaliating out of sheer disbelief. Now it was an undeniable fact that his flawless Quirk could do nothing when put up against "Alex". The realization made him lose all the confidence and self-assurance he'd gained after his earlier talk with Izuku Midoriya. Was Alex really someone he just couldn't stand up against? No, that couldn't be it. Otherwise, what was the point of his hatred? Still cognizant of the situation he was in, he began inching his fingers into his pocket.

While their battle had been raging, the bustling crowd of active shoppers had faltered in lieu of the spectacle occurring in front of their eyes. Deku especially found himself unable to look away as he watched Alex-kun once again demonstrating a level of brutality and skill far beyond anything he'd seen before. It was amazing how readily Alex-kun would dive into a fight and win it with such ease. But in the stunning confusion, no one noticed the pros who'd been called in to investigate the commotion.

"Heroes! Heroes are coming!" Distant voices began crying out. Onlookers realized that someone had contacted the authorities, and heroes had been deployed to see what was going on to stop the shopping center's traffic.

And when they did arrive, their jaws immediately dropped onto the floor. What was this? Some random teenager had subdued a heavily dressed emo kid, and caused thousands of dollars in property damage to boot. But the worst part of all was the fact that they couldn't tell who the bad guy in this situation was. The civilian who'd contacted the authorities had described the assailant as a juvenile boy wearing black clothing. Not exactly helpful, considering both participants were around the same age and wore similar attire.

"Um… HALT!" One of the heroes shouted. Having already envisioned the future events in his mind, he raised his arms into the air and stepped aside. "Who started this?" The pro hero inquired. Alucard wasn't inclined to provide him with an answer since he already knew that someone else would do it for him.

"Please, wait!" Running in front of him, Deku spread his arms defensively to ward off their suspicion. How fortunate that Alucard could rely on him to act with so little restraint. "This isn't Alex-kun's fault!"

The heroes seemed doubtful of the validity of his testimony. However, individuals standing amongst the crowd began providing their own input in exonerating Alucard of all guilt. As Deku began retelling the order of events leading up to that point, Alucard was cognizant of the portal which had appeared directly beneath Shigaraki. No one else noticed until it was too late, and the pale faced miscreant managed to escape with the help of Kurogiri's warp gate.

But right before he disappeared, the boy took one final murderous glare at him. Nothing had to be said to communicate just how much he loathed him. Next time, Shigaraki would utterly eviscerate him.

The vow seemed genuine, though Alucard knew it would never be fulfilled. He simply lacked the tools necessary to pull it off. Standing beside the panicked bush of hair, Alucard spent a few minutes ruffling Izuku Midoriya's scalp before he finally calmed down. The pro heroes were saddened by the fact that they'd failed to apprehend the criminal, so they found someone else to apprehend in his place.

"For the unlawful use of a Quirk in a public area, please come with us, Alexander Anderson."

In order to keep up public appearances, he had no choice but to obey. Deku protested vehemently but was ultimately unable to alter his fate. In the end, Alucard was led to the security office where he was given a strict talking-to. Since he was still a student in their eyes as well as a first-time offender, there was no need for him to serve jailtime. And once they reviewed the footage and it was revealed that he'd never even used his "Quirk", whatever impetus they had to arrest him dissipated entirely.

In the end, U.A. staff were called and informed of the incident. Particularly Nezu, who insisted that he was the only one who needed to be briefed. After speaking to him over the phone, Alucard could tell that Nezu would have some words for him later.

---

0.0

---

"…Hmmmmm…" Nezu groaned, rubbing his snout.

Seated across from him was Alucard, legs crossed while sipping his drink with an oh-so satisfied expression on his face. U.A.'s diligent principal had hoped that things would quiet down over the summer. Instead, it was the exact opposite. The incident involving the Hero Killer was one thing, Alucard couldn't rightly be blamed for that. Then more recently, there'd been I-Island, which was something else entirely.

"Alucard… be honest with me, please… did you do this…?" Not wanting to even catch a glimpse of the horrific photographs, Nezu slid them over into Alucard's waiting fingers. The vampire didn't even bother picking them up, since he already knew what the contents were.

"Indeed." Confirmation slithering out through his lips, Nezu could have sworn he saw Alucard's eyes becoming more reptilian as he spoke.

"Why?"

"Why do you concern yourself with the lives of those who seek to do you harm, my dear Mr. Principal?" The ever-present conflict between their individual philosophies. Nezu had tried dodging it in the past, justifying Alucard's inhumane treatment of his victims as being necessary in the moment. But this time, things were different. He couldn't just let this slide without proper justification. Even then, his actions on I-Island ran counter to everything U.A. stood for.

"Alucard, there was no need for you to go that far. With your powers, apprehending their leader would have been a breeze. Then his men could have been forced to surrender, and I-Island wouldn't have been turned into a cemetery."

All those bodies… Nezu had heard about All Might's righteous fury upon witnessing the pitiful remains of Wolfram and Nine's forces. The Symbol of Peace had demanded answers, yet there were no traces of the culprit to be found. Wolfram had already been sent off on a boat heading to his new prison cell and Nine was… all over the place.

Surely, there was a better alternative to this carnage. Something more suited to the ideals of their society. The true depth of Alucard's slaughter made Nezu want to vomit. If this was how bad it was now, then how awful must it have been during the Millenium Incident?

"And worst of all, do you honestly believe that this will go unnoticed by All For One?" Nezu wanted to slam his furry paws on the table in frustration, but he restrained himself.

That was still his biggest concern though. So far, everything else could be excused as mere coincidence. Attributed to other students and pros. This time though… this stood out too much for him to even imagine covering up. Had Alucard finally lost it? Was he at last showing his true colors? Had Sir Integra Hellsing misjudged her most powerful servant?

Basking in the glory of the tiny mammal's outburst, Alucard chuckled softly before returning his teacup to its plate and resting his elbows on his kneecaps. Waiting patiently for Nezu to finish, he stared longingly into the white creature's pupils. Eventually, his piercing gaze overtook Nezu's irritation, and U.A.'s principal sat back down behind his desk.

"Nezu…," Alucard began. "…Understand that everything I do is meant to be to your benefit. For in revealing our cards to him, we are now cognizant of his awareness." Due to his actions on I-Island, All For One had undoubtedly grown weary to the possibility of Alucard's existence. And while that may have seemed problematic, this was not the case. "For you see, my dear Nezu, it is WE who now hold the advantage."

Nezu couldn't quite grasp what his bloodthirsty compatriot was hinting at. So, he elaborated further.

"Prior to now, you were uncertain as to whether he knew of my presence or not. And if he did, that would have been a horribly disadvantageous position. But now we can rest assured in knowing that he does. Do you understand?"

Giving it some thought, Nezu at last felt like he understood what Alucard was implying. Before, he'd been working under the assumption that All For One did not know that Alucard was in Japan, nor that he even existed. But as time passed, his confidence in that assumption had begun to fade as the likelihood of All For One catching on grew. And eventually, he started having to form plans around two different scenarios, one in which All For One was still unaware and another in which he wasn't.

But now, thanks largely to Alucard's bloodlust unfortunately, he was positive that All For One knew the truth, thereby making Nezu's job easier, as now he only needed to plan around a single condition. And it wasn't as if All For One suddenly possessed the tools necessary to kill Alucard. Hellsing, as Nezu was told, had already installed multiple agents to monitor the movements of All For One's organization. If they made moves to acquire any holy artifacts, they would be informed beforehand.

Thinking about it now, this scheme Alucard had concocted teetered between spontaneous genius and utter madness. But by now, he'd come to expect that from The Impaler.

"Uuuuuugggghhhh…" Nezu took a deep breath before sighing. His fur coat's pure white sheen would turn gray at this rate. "Truly, dealing with you is strenuous beyond belief."

Giggling, Alucard politely replied

"Well, luckily you came to us fully expecting a laborious task."

Rubbing his long snout, Nezu was forced to admit the truth in his words. From the moment he'd entertained the thought of going to Hellsing for aid, he knew that handling them would be taxing. Honestly, he'd foreseen far more bodies being buried than what they'd seen up till now. So, to be fair, he respected Alucard for exercising so much self-restraint. Capping the casualty level at thousands rather than millions must've taken a great deal of discipline.

Knowing they came from backgrounds so separate that they could never reach an impasse, Nezu relented. He knew it would be more productive if they moved on rather than bicker.

"One last thing. Thanks to your actions at the Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall, I have no choice but to impose sanctions onto you. Of course, you never used any of your powers during this incident, so the punishments will be lighter than they should have been."

Had Alucard actually employed his shades to harm Tomura Shigaraki, he would have left Nezu with no choice but to deny him permission to attend the training camp. Of course, such measures would have been for public appearances alone. Alucard would still have attended, just under a different disguise.

"So what will I be burdened with this time?" Alucard asked.

"Oh, I doubt it'll be that great a burden on you. In fact, you'll probably appreciate it." He subtly answered. "You'll find out what it is once you arrive at the camp."

Alucard charmingly tilted his head, smiling coyly at Nezu's "mystery". The little teddy bear grinned in response.

---

0.0

---

U.A. Courtyard:

The classes of 1-A and 1-B were boarding buses which would take them to the Training Camp. They were told beforehand that the location of the camp would not be disclosed until the day of their departure, just to ensure that it wouldn't be leaked to anyone dangerous. Sitting at the front of Class 1-A's bus, Eraser Head flipped through his booklet on the first day's schedule.

After the principal told him what his students had endured on I-Island, Aizawa had genuinely considered giving them some more time off so they could recover. Alexander Anderson got shot, they accidentally bore witness to a truly traumatizing sight, and Deku broke some bones for perhaps the fifth time since coming to U.A.

While he would have understood if they wanted to delay the trip to readjust for a bit longer, their fervor and anticipation was still strong enough to justify not changing anything. Anderson's bullet wound disappeared without scarring, which seemed ridiculous unless one considered his Quirk. He still wasn't entirely familiar with the finer details of the boy's Quirk, so he was hoping to gain a deeper understanding of it through this training camp.

Aizawa turned around to look at the back of the bus. "We'll be stopping in about an hour. After that, we'll…"

*MURMUR*MURMUR*MURMUR*MURMUR*

He was shocked to see his students busy chatting amongst themselves while ignoring everything he said.

"Let's have some music! Something summery! Some tube songs, maybe!"

"SEATS ARE MEANT TO BE SAT IN! SIT DOWN, EVERYONE!"

"Gimme some pocky."

"No way, nothing beats Carol's End Of Summer in the summertime! But it's not the end."

"Let's play the I-Spy game! I SPY A BANK!"

"Hey, I said gimme some pocky."

Alexander and Izuku were the only ones not involved with the mania, though Izuku looked to be imitating Alexander. The growth of their relationship was one of the more interesting developments in 1-A. From his perspective, Alexander appeared to have become Izuku's primary role model. That was a surprise, seeing a child who'd been so obsessed with All Might transition to an individual as courteous and aristocratic as Anderson.

The abrupt nature of Anderson's arrival had seriously shaken Aizawa's initial impression of him. Sure, there were other talented students like Todoroki and Bakugo. However, both had flaws which sort of balanced out their innate skills. Todoroki was haunted by the burden of his troubled family life, and Bakugo was just a little prick. Meanwhile, Anderson rivaled even some of the pro heroes in both poise and grace while also ranking as highly as Todoroki and Bakugo in combat capabilities. The kid was the whole package, and that's what made him so suspicious.

No one that talented just happened to transfer to U.A. right before the most tumultuous semester they'd seen since its establishment. This doubt had lingered in his mind for a few days now, so at the moment it was nothing more than a hunch. But the more he thought about it, the more Aizawa wondered if there was more to Alexander Anderson than met the eye. And he wasn't the only one paying close attention to 1-A's newest star. He often noticed Todoroki, Yaoyorozu and Bakugo all giving the boy cursory glances. Although Yaoyorozu's intent seemed to lean more towards affection than doubt. He'd even seen her blush a few times.

But the most interesting occurrence had been the principal's decision to assign someone to watch Anderson while at the training camp. Nezu excused that it was because of Kiyashi, but he knew better. This surely had something to do with all the weird things that'd happened since this Alexander transferred. Whether Nezu somehow had a hand in it or he just shared Aizawa's distrust towards the boy, he wasn't sure.

Again, the training camp would be his opportunity to decipher this child. He'd be keeping a close eye on him, alongside the "special guest" Nezu deployed.

Sullenly turning his attention back to his rowdy students, Aizawa couldn't bring himself to make them shut up. It wasn't as if they were wrong to be so excited for the training camp. After all, they had yet to realize just how hard things were going to get from here on out.

"Hmmph. Oh well… I guess this is their only chance to have some last-minute fun." He'd let them enjoy themselves for a bit longer. It'd be nothing but suffering once they got there.

About an hour later, the bus came to a stop at the resting point. 1-A was treated to an exquisite view of a lush, mountainous forest area. A beautiful overlook that stretched out for miles into the horizon. A gorgeous lookout area most tourists would die for. This… did not look like the rest stop Aizawa had promised them.

"Gotta pee. Gotta pee… Hold on… what kind of rest stop is this?" Clutching his crotch in muffled pain, Mineta cringed as he searched desperately for a bathroom.

"Right? And where's Class 1-B?"

Perplexed, everyone stared questioningly at their teacher. Unfortunately, Aizawa wasn't offering up any satisfying answers.

"Of course we stopped here for a reason." Taking a few steps to the right, he made way for a woman dressed in a cat outfit to introduce herself.

"Heya, Eraser!" The young lady wore a helmet that'd been designed with two mechanical cat ears on top. Her outfit was comprised of a frilly red skirt, a utility belt with a paw-shaped buckle, a sleeveless conductor outfit and two large cat gloves.

"Sorry. Haven't seen you in a while." Strangely unimpressed by her extravagant attire, Aizawa stepped into the background as the woman was joined by another, similar dressed lady and a sharp-eyed preteen.

"Rock on with these sparkling gazes!"

"Stingingly cute and catlike!"

"WE'RE THE WILD, WILD… PUSSYCATS!" They shouted in unison, striking an over-the-top, flamboyant pose.

"These are the pro heroes who'll be helping us out this time – The Pussycats."

"They're a four-member hero team who all work under a single agency! This veteran team specializes in mountain rescue operations! They've been in business for 12 years now-" Deku began enthusiastically listing off all of their achievements. However, he made a horrendous mistake by mentioning how long they had existed. For his crimes, the blond cat delivered a swift yet soft punch to his face.

"WE'RE 18 AT HEART!" She yelled while maintaining her pose.

As Deku made an effort to reconcile with the bereaved pussycat, their leader walked right past them towards the handrail.

"This whole area here is our territory." While it wasn't odd for pro heroes to be assigned specific locations to watch over, a forest area such as this seemed strange. Pointing one of her gloved fingers out into the valley, she seemed to indicate that they should all direct their attention to that direction. "Your lodging is at the foot of that mountain over there."

"Huh…? Then why'd we stop halfway…?" Uraraka stuttered, already worried. Everyone else seemed to have begun catching on to the pussycat's implications.

"Let's… get back to the bus? Hurry…" Sero insisted.

"It's now 9:30 A.M. I'm thinking… around noon, at the earliest." She whispered. The mood turned for the worst as the rest of 1-A realized why they'd stopped at such an odd location, and what was about to happen to them.

"Aw, crud… no way…"

"RUN!"

"BACK TO THE BUS, QUICK!"

"Kitties who don't make it there by 12:30 won't get any lunch." The red cat woman mused. Finished begging the blonde pussycat for her forgiveness, Deku had to play catch up with his friends who were all in the middle of dashing back inside the bus. Unfortunately for them, that was no longer an option.

"Sorry, kids." Aizawa spoke. "The training's… already begun." The blondie slammed her furry palms onto the dirt. The ground began to shake as suddenly, a massive tidal wave of the land rose up and out into the valley below. None of 1-A were spared as they all fell into the depths.

"This is our private territory, so feel free to use your Quirks!" The black-haired cat lady cried out to them. "You've got three hours to reach the facility on foot! Make it through… THE BEAST'S FOREST!"

---

0.0

---

Needless to say, only one made it in time for lunch. After witnessing his classmates descend into the forest below, he reacted accordingly and split himself into a colony of bats. He graciously offered to carry a handful of them to their lodgings. Those who insisted were summarily denied. Despite how badly Mineta needed to piss, it would be more efficient if the boy pissed off instead. He needed to work on his endurance, after all.

And, as he anticipated, Deku, Yaoyorozu and the others were confident they could handle the challenge. He approved of their decision as once again, this was simply another part of their "training". Many were displeased by his sudden departure, particularly Mineta and Kaminari. But their opinions mattered little to him. After all, fighting mindless beasts was a waste of time for him. In contrast, spending time wallowing in muck and filth would do wonders for their stamina and resolve.

He was intrigued by the recent spike in supervision. Aizawa and others were scrutinizing his every movement nowadays. Their sideways glances and peeks did not go unnoticed by the vampire. In fact, his reaction went along the lines of

"Finally!"

At last, the long and arduous wait had concluded. Now he could set about imparting unto them the necessary evidence to see through his guise. Only then would things start to get interesting. Wanting to see how far Aizawa's suspicion went, Alucard cast his "Third Eye" to Eraser Head's current position. Still standing on the road where they had tossed 1-A off, Aizawa seemed to be discussing the purpose of the trip with one of the Pussycat's.

"Pretty crazy pace you're putting these kids through, Eraser." Said the leader of the Pussycats, the Pro Hero Mandalay.

"Well, normally these are skills they wouldn't learn until the start of their second year. But we're here now because they need to learn them sooner than that. Hence the sped-up pace. They need provisional permits for Quirk use in emergencies. Those limited licenses allow them to act as heroes. The villains are really starting to move now, so even our First-Years need self-defense skills." Aizawa replied.

Mandalay and her associate Pussycat, Pixie-bob, both grew worried at the prospect of a villainous resurgence. Alucard had surmised from the behavior of most pros that many had grown comfortable with the current state of affairs, dealing with small-time criminals and gangs who were often too preoccupied fighting each other to effectively fight the pro heroes. Smiling for the camera when the job was done before taking off their masks and reveling in their fame and wealth. They had grown complacent, hence why they hoped to maintain the current status quo. Unfortunately for them, that would cease to be the case sooner than expected.

"By the way, don't you think we should be doing something about that kid who's just flying over the forest?" Said Pixie-bob, pointing one clawed finger out at Alucard.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you guys about him." Aizawa then revealed to them the details behind his hunch that there was something more to "Alexander Anderson". He informed them about all of what he had achieved in his first semester, quickly garnering their admiration. But they too shared Aizawa's sense of unease. For such a young child to outperform his peers to this extent signaled that perhaps there lay something beneath that handsome exterior.

"Should we assign someone to watch him?" Asked Mandalay.

"The principal is sending someone else to do that. They should be getting here pretty soon, if I'm not mistaken. So just let him do as he pleases until their arrival." Finished talking, Aizawa suggested they return their attention to 1-A's first lesson of training camp. "You take over from here, Pixie-Bob."

"Ooh, leave it to me! My fur's standing on end!"

While Pixie-bob began adjusting her visor, Mandalay turned to address the grim little child standing behind her.

"Time to move, Kota." She said as she nudged him along.

A shadow descended over his eyes as the boy gazed out towards the members of Class 1-A, who were currently fighting their way through a mob of earthen golems. The twin horns on his hat only added to his devilish appearance.

"... Ridiculous." He whispered resentfully, clearly harboring a deep seated bitterness towards heroes.

This child had undoubtedly lost someone precious to him as a result of a hero's incompetence. Alucard couldn't wait to see the trouble he'd bring for Deku.

And so it was with his staff-permitted flight that Alucard reached the lodgings with practiced ease. He carved out a billboard with the words "Welcome!" and left it facing the forest before entering the "Pussycats Catnip Inn". There was no point in waiting for them. After all, by his estimates it would be evening by the time they arrived. For now, he would survey the surrounding area and install multiple shades throughout it, knitting a secure web to keep out any potential invaders. And by "keep out", he meant kill any small fry and perhaps let in anyone capable of entertaining him.

---

0.0

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Later That Same Day:

"'It'll only take three hours.' Yeah, right..." Wheezing, Sero stumbled out of the Beast's Forest. He would have tripped were it not for Alucard's intervention, swooping in and providing him some greatly appreciated support. "~~~Thanks, Alex-kun..." He rasped breathlessly, grateful to finally have some rest.

"So hungry... Gonna die..." Not waiting even a second to be given permission, Kirishima staggered over and leaned on Alucard's other shoulder. Wordlessly, Yaoyorozu lurched forward and leaned onto his back, too exhausted to even blush at the physical contact.

"Sorry. That's how quick WE would've made it." Mandalay teased. Alucard grinned at the sideways glance she gave him, along with the resentful stares Mineta and others had set on him. From the looks of his pants, Alucard was uncertain if it was piss or sweat which had utterly drenched Mineta's shorts. Perhaps the latter, yet he hoped for the former.

"Flaunting the power gap in our faces...?" Rikido coughed.

"Mew mew mew... we actually thought it'd take you longer." Covering her laughter under her large furry glove, Pixie-bob still praised their success. "And you dealt with my Earth Beast pretty easily too. Not bad. Especially... you four." She said, pointing at Deku, Todoroki, Iida and Bakugo. "I'm guessing your past experiences allowed you to act without hesitation?" Impressive. Had she gleaned that from their performance alone, or had she been informed by a third party? Regardless, she shed any prior semblance of decency once she began spitting at them. "GONNA HAVE FUN THREE YEARS FROM NOW! I'M MARKING THEM AS MINE!"

To think this 31-year old woman was so hopelessly lonely that she even cast her sights on children almost half her age. Alucard himself had been subjected to similar sentiments when he was still human. Compared to the fetishistic nobles of the Ottoman Empire, Pixie-bob waiting for them to reach the age of consent was still preferable, although undesirable nonetheless.

"Hey, Mandalay... I didn't know she was like that." Aizawa whispered.

"She's worried about being a spinster forever..."

Really? How pitiful, for a woman her age to still be seeking a suitor. Her desperation became further pronounced when she slapped Deku several times after he asked about her age. An ill-mannered inquiry, yet one he'd come to expect from the crude and honest Izuku Midoriya.

"Hey, I've been wondering... That boy. Whose child is he?"

"Oh, he's actually my nephew. Kota! Come over and say hello. You'll be spending a week with these guys, after all..."

As Deku approached the malevolent child, almost everyone there knew what was going to happen.

"Hi. I'm Midoriya, from U.A. High School's Hero Course." He extended his hand to him. "Nice to meetcha."

*SMACK*

As Deku crumpled down onto the dirt, hands clutching his crotch, the perpetrator of this most heinous crime shuffled away. And the whole time, Alucard was giggling madly to himself. Inwardly, of course.

"MIDORIYA!" Iida jumped to his friend's aid, although there was little he could do. "Hey, kid! Why'd you punch Midoriya in the junk?!"

The veins bulging in his eyesockets, Kota glared back in response before irately saying

"I can't abide jerks who wanna be heroes."

An oddly mature response from an otherwise unassuming toddler.

"ABIDE?! HOW OLD IS THIS KID?!" Iida shouted, a mixture of fear and curiosity in his words.

"Cute kid." Eyeing up the boy as he made his swift exit, Bakugo couldn't help but admire him for delivering such a hefty blow to his most hated "rival".

"You two are a lot alike." Todoroki pointed out, an observation which the bereaved blondie did not appreciate.

"A lot alike? Buzz off. Don't wanna hear anything outta you, Mr. Threw-The-Match!"

"Sorry."

The similarities were striking, to say the least. One had to wonder if the two were related.

"Enough of this sideshow." Aizawa motioned for everyone to come to him, while also giving Deku time to crawl over. Alucard joined Iida in helping him off the dirt and carrying him over. "Go get your luggage from the bus. Drop your things off in your rooms. Them come to dinner in the mess hall. After that, you'll bathe. Then it's bedtime. The real training starts tomorrow. Now hurry up."

Once his classmates were finished stacking their luggage bags on their shoulders, Alucard guided them to their bedchambers and helped each of them organize their rooms. Deku required a few extra minutes to rest, but luckily he recovered in time for dinner. At the dining hall, while everyone else was focused on scarfing down as much sustenance as possible, he noticed Deku's gaze being drawn towards the dismal and downtrodden Kota. For someone who had just been struck in the groin, he showed admirable resilience for being so concerned about the child's wellbeing. To grow up in a society as hero-obsessed as Japan and openly despise then could only lead down a "dark" path, at least by their standards.

Bath time was more of the same. The boys and girls were segregated into different baths, yet all that separated them was a simple wooden barrier. It stood over twenty feet tall, which would have been sufficient were it not for the fact that all of the customers had Quirks. And as usual it was Mineta, their resident sexual offender, who decided to try his hand at catching a glimpse of 1-A's women at their most vulnerable. Alucard did nothing to stop him, as he'd already installed a shade in the area between the walls and knew Kota had stationed himself there, hiding in wait for someone to do that.

Mineta fell, absolutely defeated by the boy's staunch fury. But when the girl's thanked him, he himself was exposed to their nudity. Falling from his perch, Deku was quick to act in catching the unconscious boy who was bleeding profusely through his nose. Following that minor incident, Deku took the passive Kota to his aunt. With a shade planted in a corner of the manager's office, Alucard was able to hear every word of the discussion between Mandalay and Deku. Alucard's hunch had proven to be true. As it turned out, Kota's parents had been heroes who perished in the line of duty. Too immature to comprehend such an unfortunate demise, his misunderstanding eventually grew into a deep animosity towards Japan's hero society.

...

What an idiot.

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0.0

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The Next Day:

"Today, the real training camp begins. Ideally, you will all emerge stronger. Strong enough to acquire your provisional licenses. More specifically, there's a growing hostile force out there. Through this, you'll be prepared to face it... so stay sharp and work hard."

They were not accustomed to waking up so early in the morning, so a few of 1-A were still woozy. But they still made an effort to appear somewhat presentable, which he could respect.

"To start... Here, Bakugo." Aizawa tossed him a metal ball. "Try throwing this."

A wide grin appeared on his face. Eager to demonstrate his superiority, the spiky-haired brat gave his all to throwing it as far as he could. Contrary to his expectations, he only beat his previous record of 705.2 meters by approximately 4 meters. Alucard wanted to laugh at the frozen shock on the petulant child's face, yet was halted by Aizawa's reasonable explanation.

"Yes. You have been through a lot these past three months. Undoubtedly, you've all grown. But it's only your techniques and minds that have matured. Well, and your bodies, a bit. But as you've all just seen, your Quirks haven't kept up with the pace. Starting today, you'll..." For once, Aizawa's eyes opened wide, enunciating what he said next. "...improve your Quirks. This'll be so harsh that you'll wish you were dead, so do your best to stay alive..."

Subsequent hours were brimming with the suffering of both Class 1-A as well as 1-B, who later joined in on the fun. Most of the training was quite intense. As buffoonish as he was, watching Bakugo repeatedly generate explosions while submerging his hands in water put on full display his grit and determination. Kaminari attaching himself to a generator and maintaining a constant output of electricity was also impressive. Uraraka keeping herself afloat in a giant bouncy ball was... amusing. Sato and Yaoyorozu just sitting in front of a table and consuming as much nutrients as possible was downright hilarious. Yes, their Quirks made it necessary, yet that didn't take away from how comical they looked.

Now of course, with 1-A and 1-B counting over 40 students altogether, more supervisors were necessary to ensure each member got their share of guidance.

"That's why we have these ladies." Was Aizawa's response when asked that question.

"THAT'S RIGHT. WE'RE FOUR PARTS OF A WHOLE! ROCK ON WITH THESE SPARKLING GAZES!"

"WE'VE COME TO LEND A PAW AND HELP!"

"We've come from... somewhere..."

"STINGINGLY CUTE AND CATLIKE!"

"WILD, WILD... PUSSYCATS!"

Making their triumphant return, the four equally ridiculous pro "heroes" made their way out onto the field. Ragdoll's Quirk, "Search", gave her open access to the location and weaknesses of anyone she lay her eyes on, making it easy for her to identify where the students could improve. Pixie-bob's "Earthflow" let her control the earth beneath them, allowing her to easily forge the ideal training environment. Mandalay's "Telepath" was just that, letting her communicate with each student individually. And Tiger... wasn't even a girl. Alucard had heard of this type of individual before. While unique to what he'd known back when he'd still been human, this didn't really affect him.

After all, with his abilities, Alucard could be whichever gender he desired.

While Tiger led Deku and the other power-up types through a boot camp of muscle-tearing proportions, Aizawa dragged Alucard aside and led him somewhere else. When he asked why, Aizawa informed him that he would be receiving a "personalized" training course.

"And who is to be my instructor? The rest of the staff are currently unavailable, as I'm sure you are aware."

Aizawa sighed before answering.

"CONVENIENTLY, your antics at Kiyashi gave us exactly what we needed to make this work. The principal assigned someone to supervise you during the training camp as a quasi-'punishment'. They should have arrived-"

*SWOOOSH*

"-RIGHT NOW!"

Bursting from the distant treeline, a blur of white and brown soared through the air before landing right next to Eraser Head. Not even the lackadaisical Aizawa could conceal how much her appearance had rattled him. Wearing her signature white-toothed grin, Rumi Usagiyama slammed onto the grass with an audible *STOMP*, forming a miniature impact crater.

"Hey there, kiddo." She said nonchalantly, flipping her hair out of the way. In contrast to her entrance, her greeting was incredibly subdued.

Having regained his composure, Aizawa took to the forefront in laying out the details.

"Mirko here has been called in to personally coach you throughout the rest of the week. You don't have to worry about your classmates, they're off doing their own training. Just focus on improving your own Quirk, that's what this whole camp is for. Don't expect her to go easy on you just because you interned for her, okay?"

"Of course, sir." Alucard bowed.

"Good."

Aizawa left after that, wanting to see how intensely the other members of 1-A were working.

"I never thought you'd so willingly abandon your duties."

"Hiroshima'll be just fine without me for a week. And besides, this is where all the action is."

"Re~ally?" Alucard cooed. "And what makes you think that, pray tell?"

"Spare me the sass, Al. Anyone with a brain knows that wherever 1-A goes, so do the bad guys."

Ah, so she did read the news. He'd been under the impression that Mirko preferred breaking bones over breaking books.

"Forgive me for wondering what one so young could possibly offer for an elder like myself." Jokingly, Alucard broached his status as a vampire, wanting to know how much she'd inferred from that knowledge.

"Try looking more your age first, then we'll talk." She laughed. It seemed she'd drawn some conclusions. How many of them were right would be left up to time. "Now then... we've got this whole forest to ourselves. Let's see how long it takes me to knock you down a peg."

---

0.0

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Meanwhile, Standing Atop A Far Off Mountain:

"I'm itching... itching to go..." A hooded figure leaned ominously over the ledge, eyeing up the lights of U.A.'s Training Camp far off in the forest. "Let's hurry up and move...!" He pleaded.

"It's too soon. Besides..." Urging caution, a man who wore a gas mask gripped his backpack. "As I already told you, there's no need to do anything flashy."

"Yeah. But who died and made you boss?" The League of Villain's newest addition, Dabi, smacked him aside. Beside him stood the other newest to join their ranks, Himiko Toga. Both looked more than eager to get started. "This will just be a signal fire. We'll fill those heroes full of holes... and put them in their place. All for a brighter future."

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0.0

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Author's Notes: For those of you unaware, I based Deku and Alucard's practice session off a scene from the Star Wars Clone Wars show from 2003. I'm debating on skimming through the Training Camp Arc so I can reach the one after it quicker, but there is also a healthy amount of potential hidden in this arc that I may consider adapting it to the best of my ability. I'm thinking about going back and making some slight edits to my earlier chapters, just to correct any past mistakes. Please offer your opinions and any constructive criticism you may have in the reviews. I'll see you in the next.