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?

12. Chapter 12

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

Author's Notes: Thanks for all of the positive feedback. I'll do my best to maintain the same level of quality you've seen throughout the story. I've more or less established what I believe is a reliable process to follow when writing, which has really helped me iron down my style. Still not wholly confident in my writing abilities though, so I hope you will continue giving me constructive critiques. Anyways, please enjoy yourselves.

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Standing Atop A Distant Mountain:

"I mean… this is no good. Not cute at all." Himiko Toga sighed, messing with her piped black mask. The gray cylinders lining the front of the rubber mask closely resembled teeth giving her a creased, demented smile.

"Our shadowy orchestrator has planned everything. Despite appearances… there is sure to be sound reasoning behind it all." One of her companions stated, a thick gas mask hiding his face. Toga hardly batted an eyelid at his comment.

"Not asking about any of that. Just saying this isn't cute." She pouted, huffing aggressively. Meanwhile, the tallest one among them cracked his knuckles in frustration.

"Who the hell cares? Let us get down there. My blood's pumping over here." His leather mask was dotted with numerous pinholes, muffling his voice until it was nearly unrecognizable.

"Shut up, you wackjobs. Not yet… we wait…" Dabi warned. There weren't enough of them to begin the operation just yet. Conveniently, as he spoke, multiple figures emerged from the shadows behind them. "… Until all ten are here."

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Job… a job…"

The intimidating visages of the new arrivals greatly enhanced their moral. Unconcerned by their tardiness, Dabi shrugged it off before making sure they were all present and accounted for. Despite how he normally acted, Dabi was far more calculating than he let on. After confirming that everyone had arrived, he turned his attention back to the training camp where their prey, a feast of U.A. students, were currently resting.

These "teammates" Dabi had been assigned to work with were far stronger than those common thugs and burglars brought during the raid at USJ. Each one of them, outside of Dabi and Toga, were already well established in the criminal underworld. And after agreeing to this mission, All For One had made sure to enhance their equipment to further their chances of success.

"Doesn't matter how many punks with ambition you bring along. That only increases the risks. It's far better to have a small number of experienced elites. First, we'll make them understand… that their peace rests in our hands." Dabi sneered, staring out at the shining bright lights with a mixture of anticipation and glee.

He couldn't bare to wait any longer, yet even he knew that haste would only lead to the failure of their mission. They would have to endure the painful wait until the right moment presented itself. Only then would they spring their trap and show these heroes that they weren't as indomitable as they believed. But as Dabi thought this, a gigantic explosion erupted in the distance.

*KHHHAAAFFWWWOOOOOOOOSSHHH*

The massive explosion of dust and bark shook the entire valley, sending shockwaves through the mountain they stood upon. The enormous cloud of dust kicked up by the eruption flew high enough into the air that it could surely be seen for miles. Staring in amazement at this unexpected spectacle, the group of villains' previous confident behavior began to fade away in lieu of this sight. While they were all confident in their ability to match such power, none of them had come expecting it from a group of rookies.

The sudden explosion made Dabi recall the parting message All For One had given them in their orders.

"Be vigilant, for there may be a tiger hiding within that flock of sheep." The old man had crowed. Even though all of them had bowed out of respect, none of them had taken it seriously.

Were they actually supposed to expect these U.A. students to put up a fight? Sure, they might have warded off Shigaraki's ambush at USJ and survived I-Island, but Dabi was confident they were more than enough to fulfill their objective with no complications. That said, his confidence was shaken after witnessing that blast earlier. Now he was starting to believe All For One's advice.

Luckily, All For One had prepared a contingency plan just for this moment. Dabi had worried it was a horrendous misallocation of resources, but now the decision seemed quite prophetic from their leader. Lying dormant in a spot which was far enough to remain hidden while close enough to help if needed, All For One's newest Nomu possessed an... odd array of Quirks.

Watching aloft from the hilltop, the elite group of villains kept a close eye on the events transpiring below. Already devising a plan of action, not a single one of them took note of the solitary crow perched in the trees behind them, its scarlet irises unnaturally still.

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U.A. Training Camp:

After dinner, Alucard had watched Deku deliver a bowl of curry to Kota. Unfortunately, his kindness went unappreciated. Alucard had entertained the thought of giving the naive buffoon a lecture on reading other's emotions and adjusting his approach to better suit them, but ultimately decided against it. The boy lacked the subtlety to employ such a skill.

No, Kota's education would have to be left up to him. And with his "guests" already on their way, the lesson he had in mind would most assuredly make the stubborn boy "rethink" his philosophy. He was far too young to be so self-assured.

The sun had already set by then. Most of 1-A and 1-B were settling into their bedtime routines, starting with relaxing in the saunas and brushing their teeth. After almost 12 hours of nothing but training, getting some time to themselves must have felt liberating. However, for one, the hardship was not yet over. For it was only after the sun had set and the moon's translucent glow overtook it when he could perform at his peak.

Alucard didn't require sleep. He occasionally rested in his coffin to clear his mind and rejuvenate his powers, but even that was more a formality than anything else. Doing battle under the abusive rays of the sun did damper his abilities somewhat, which was why he normally fought during the nighttime. And on this night, his opponent had demanded he face her with his full retinue of powers.

Rumi Usagiyama was an eccentric individual. Despite scratching the surface of his true nature, she seemed fully intent on delving deeper into him. Her curiosity and willful obstinance made her an entertaining opponent. After observing her during their practice session, which consisted primarily of him delivering heavy damage to her abdomen while tanking bone-crushing blows in turn, Alucard had already gleaned the depth of her knowledge.

She knew he was a vampire, that much was certain. During the Final Exam, he'd used a slew of his Level 1 abilities. There were no signs that she was aware of what lay beyond that restriction. If she were, no doubt she would have informed All Might and the rest of Japan's professional heroes the moment she reached that realization. And it was reasonable to assume that she knew next to nothing about what had taken place on I-Island, beyond what had been released to the public as well as her own speculation.

That would serve just fine. For now, at least. He knew the time would come when circumstances would align in his favor, and he would have his master's complete and utter approval to reveal his true nature to this stale society. But until then, having just one individual be cognizant of his strength would suffice.

*CRASH*BOOM*KAPOOOOOOWWW*PPFFFFFWOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHH*

They attempted to stay quiet but ultimately failed. While they had intended to conclude before bedtime, Mirko had thoroughly lost herself in her bloodlust. Despite their exhaustion, their many onlookers still found the energy to gawk at the fight. From the onsen, the members of Classes 1-A and 1-B all looked on in horror as thick trees were tossed into the air like sawdust.

Simultaneously employing his familiars, Alucard knew that members of the League of Villains were watching their battle at present. Hopefully this would serve as a reminder that they were not the domineering force they so arrogantly presumed themselves to be. Memorizing their features, Alucard swiftly identified the de facto boss of their group. It was the none other than the Frankenstein-knockoff who'd joined All For One's organization only a few weeks prior.

And accompanying him was the crazed schoolgirl, Himiko Toga. Her perceived madness barely ran below surface-level. He had existed on this world long enough to have bore witness to true madness, and hers was a sham in contrast. Hopefully her power would provide him some modicum of enjoyment, otherwise she would be truly worthless.

The villains looked to have concocted their scheme and set out into the valley. Having already been given the planned schedule for the training camp, Alucard knew that there was going to be a night trial. One in which Classes 1-A and 1-B would take turns trying to frighten the other. Surely, it would be then where Dabi and his compatriots would spring their trap.

Alucard hoped they would display some creativity, otherwise his mercy would prove to have been naught but a massive waste of time. Oh well, at least he could look forward to messing with his classmates some more.

He had taken notice of the increased surveillance on his status, as of late. Some were better hidden than others of course, though that didn't make it any less noticeable. Todoroki especially had taken to monitoring his every move. Given how methodical the boy was, it was safe to assume that he planned to interrogate Alucard at some point during this training camp. That was an event worth looking forward to.

Well, not that it would change anything. Events were already cascading out of their control. Soon, he would be the only one capable of directing the wheels of fate. For the moment however, he was busy enjoying himself with Mirko.

After hours spent beating her down, her movements were growing more fluid as she grew accustomed to his basic move set. Now he was forced to use more sophisticated attacks in order to restrain her. Where once a black hole would have been sufficient in grabbing her when she landed on a surface, she adapted by striking the ground with greater force and annihilating his hands as they emerged from the inky brine.

Despite his blows carrying enough power to shatter bones, Mirko refused to give in to her injuries by halting her assault. In fact, she was ultimately successful in driving him away from his initial position. Making him move was quite an achievement, given their difference in both experience and strength.

"Looks like you're having a little trouble there!" She jeered. "Why don't you draw that pistol of yours again so I can block the bullets like last time?!"

She alluded to their past bout, when he'd unleashed the full power of his Level One upon her. She had managed quite an admirable feat in their previous battle. Redirecting one of his bullets with the velocity of her Luna Ring alone took more than skill alone. It showed a deep understanding of physics which he at first had not attributed to her. Rumi Usagiyama was proving herself to be a capable opponent, and although he didn't believe that releasing his familiars was necessary as of yet, further development of her talents could see her become a combatant on the level of Walter or even Anderson.

"Sadly, that is a privilege you must earn, Mirko." He mused. In the next moment, however, a dark shadow blew out of the tree branches above him.

*FFFWWWWWSSSSSSHHHH*

"ALRIGHTY!" Mirko yelled out, careening down onto Alucard's shoulders.

Barely managing to duck underneath and dodge her, Mirko's deadly legs grazing his shoulder bones were enough to embed cracks into them. A paltry wound for a being such as he, but still a considerable amount of damage. Giggling as he skipped out of reach, Alucard couldn't hide his glee. Mirko was most certainly the most fun opponent he'd yet encountered in Japan. And unlike the Hero Killer or those damned buffoons on I-Island, she didn't crumble when faced with the prospect of her demise.

Unlike other mortals, Mirko fully embraced her own mortality. At the end of the day, her form of flesh and blood was merely a conduit for delivering retribution to evildoers. In that respect at least, she reminded him so much of those other men. Assuming she remained so resilient, she might just join the ranks of those he respected.

For now, though, they were simply training partners. And as they decimated the Pussycats' training grounds, both heroes and villains watched in abject shock. Alucard blocked another barrage of punches and kicks, skipping backwards to absorb the recoil. While he would have loved nothing more than to delay their exercise for longer, he didn't wish to deprive Mirko of the stamina she would need to deal with the oncoming threat.

"I do believe we should conclude tonight's bout, Mirko dearest." Alucard sighed.

"And why's that?! Need to catch your breath?!" She yelled, rebounding off a tree trunk and flying straight towards him, her legs twirling in a deadly scythe.

"Hardly." He replied casually. "I simply feel that it would make more logical sense if you conserved your energy for the battle that is to come." He calmly caught her foot and thrust her back up, letting her spin through the air before landing gracefully on the grass.

"What do you mean?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I am referring to the team of villains sent by All For One to interrupt this precious little summer camp of ours." Mirko's long rabbit ears perked up at the mention of All For One, the long dormant Dark Lord of Japan intimidating even the most stubborn heroes.

Silently, her eyes drew back as she began sniffing the air and surveying the surrounding area. Making quick use of her enhanced senses, Mirko spread out her range of awareness to encompass everything from the lodge the students were staying in, all the way to the farthest reaches of the valley. Despite her efforts, she didn't smell anything particularly out of place.

"Where are they hiding?" She asked, already familiar with how Alucard liked to apply his shades as mobile cameras.

"They aren't, at least for now. They've simply posted themselves in the surrounding area." Using his foot to trace an outline of the valley in the dirt, Alucard drew an accurate picture of where they were relative to the enemy. "At the moment, there is no risk that they will launch an attack. However, I would imagine that reprieve will be brief."

"They'll have to go sometime at night…" She mumbled, deep in thought. "…How many of them are there…?"

"Ten." Said Alucard. Despite saying that, he wouldn't be surprised if they had something extra lying in wait. Now that All For One was aware of his presence, Japan's Dark Lord most definitely had prepared some contingencies.

"With so few, they'll have to wait until we've split up before they can attack…" Scratching behind her ears, Mirko combed through every possible scenario, spending time calculating the odds of each one before finally arriving at her conclusion. "The Test of Courage."

"Well done." Alucard clapped, happy to see her reach the same conclusion he had. It might have taken her more time than was perhaps necessary, but that didn't take away from her deductive reasoning. "Would you like some suggestions?"

"…" Mirko held her breath, uncertain as to how best to answer. Given his pedigree, the Rabbit Hero had faith in Alexander Anderson's strategic mind. Meanwhile, she was afraid the plan he ended up devising would lead to less fighting for her, and that was no good at all. Of course, there was also the risk that anything he came up with would end with an ocean of blood, but that wasn't her primary concern.

"Well?" Alucard jeered, eagerly awaiting her answer.

In the end, Mirko decided to just go with her gut instincts and agreed to hear him out. After all, the goal was ensuring that all of the students emerged unscathed. If that meant sacrificing the privilege of kicking some villainous teeth in, that was fine by her. Hiroshima had no end of crooks for her to beat up. So, as the moonlit night reached its apex, the rabbit, alongside her vampiric companion, slowly made her way back to the Pussycats Lodge.

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The Next Day:

Deku groaned in pain. His limbs were so sore from all that training that just climbing out of bed was a struggle. Even worse, no one was given any time to really rest as the staff woke them all up early and had them all back outside training with almost no time for breakfast. He and most of 1-A were just barely able to keep up with the insane pace set by the Pussycats, but that didn't make things easier. In fact, that just made things worse. Well, at least for the remedial group.

"Remedial group. Why've you stopped moving?" Aizawa-sensei spoke harshly, berating Ashido, Kirishima, Sero, Sato and Kaminari. He'd been running them ragged since the moment they'd arrived, to the point where not a single one of them could even stand up straight.

"HNNGH!" Straining ferociously against his headband, Kirishima was struggling to take a single step forward. That was just how sore his muscles were after the ordeals they had suffered yesterday. Listening from a safe distance, Deku couldn't help but pity the sorry souls.

"Sorry. Just… a little sleepy…" Groaned Ashido, her legs wobbling beneath her.

"Those extra lessons yesterday…" Kaminari and group had been subjected to additional lessons while everyone else had been blessed with a reasonable bedtime, which explained why none of them could keep their eyes open for more than a minute.

"I told you this would be rough." Sensei sulked. He'd warned them that things were only going to get worse after day one, but none of them had prepared themselves for this kind of hardship. "Sato and Kaminari, reaching your limits is a matter of life and death. To increase that capacity, repeated and extended Quirk use is key. Sero… in addition to extending your capacity, you need to strengthen your tape and increase its firing speed. Ashido, you need to improve your skin's resistance against your acid during periods of extended use. And finally, Kirishima. Building those muscles and making your body even harder will create a nice synergy effect."

Glaring at each member of the remedial group, Aizawa sensei made sure they all knew exactly what they had to do. While his eyes were drilling holes right through them, everyone understood perfectly what would happen if they failed during the training camp.

"But most importantly, you all have to make up for your piss-poor performances during the final exam! Think about that when the others are doing fine, and you lot are dead on your feet." His voice sounding deceptively calm, he next redirected his passive-aggressive anger towards Uraraka and Aoyama. "Uraraka! Aoyama!" He cried out. "You guys, too. You didn't quite manage to fail, but it was a close call. You needed 30 points to pass, and you two got 35."

WOW! They hadn't told him what scores they'd gotten on the exam, only that they had passed. But hearing how close they'd been to failure made Deku's heart skip a beat. Maybe he should come up with some ideas to help them get stronger…

"Close one!" Jolting in fear, Uraraka shivered at the thought of joining the remedial class. She wasn't one hundred percent confident that she could endure such hardship, after all.

"How vexing!" Keeled over like he was about to vomit, Aoyama looked away awkwardly in response to his teacher's harsh message.

"So don't let up. You're all looking sluggish today." Lessening the hard tone of his voice, Aizawa motioned for the duo to return to their training. "Always be conscious of who you are. That's the key to improvement. That's why you're out here sweating. Why I'm riding you so hard. Keep it in mind, always."

Who I am? Deku stumbled while in the middle of his workout, uncertain as to the best interpretation of his sensei's advice. Who was he? He was Izuku Midoriya, of course. But was that really what Aizawa-sensei meant? Maybe he wasn't thinking hard enough about it… he should probably ask Alex-kun about it. Or maybe All Might, if he was coming.

"By the way, Aizawa sensei, this is the third day…" Stopping to rest, Deku staggered as he waved to his teacher.

"Don't look so limp. I just told you to stay firm." Aizawa interrupted him, reprimanding him for showing signs of fatigue.

Wrapping his arms behind his back, Deku timidly asked

"…But is All Might… are the other teachers gonna come?"

"As I explained before we left… We're keeping staff to a minimum to make it harder for the villains to pin us down." Behind his back, Ragdoll frantically waved her fluffy paws in the air while excitedly telling them that was why they'd been assigned to watch over them.

"As for All Might… he's more than likely one of the villains' targets, so of course he won't be coming here. For better or worse, he's a guy who tends to stand out. That's why…"

Emphasis on the "worse", he assumed. Not that difficult to imagine how much attention All Might received.

"I see…" he mumbled, still unable to conceal his disappointment. He'd actually hoped to have both All Might and Alex-kun beside him at the training camp. Looking back on the previous school year, the two people whose opinions he treasured most hadn't really interacted with each other very often. Which was why Deku had secretly wished to see them here together, while also able to watch him grow stronger as well.

On that topic, his gaze unconsciously turned towards the section of the forest that'd recently been torn apart by Alex-kun and the Rabbit Hero, Mirko. Despite witnessing the shockwaves of the spar last night, that hadn't made it any easier to hide their amazement come daylight. Walking out of the lodge and seeing a gigantic chunk of the forest flattened made everybody's jaws drop.

He brought it up with Alex-kun later. But rather than bask in the glory of his training, Alex-kun instead attributed the destruction to Mirko-sensei's untethered lust for battle. Apparently, he had been forced on the defensive throughout the full course of their fight, dodging and parrying Mirko's strikes to the best of his ability. Deku wondered if there was anything he could take away from Alex-kun's own experience, to which his friend responded that all he needed to do was make better use of his "Full Cowling" and work on lowering the odds of his bones breaking. That answer wasn't all that satisfying, but he'd had come to expect this level of ambiguity from Alex-kun.

Back in the present, Deku gazed over to the corner where Alex-kun and Mirko were currently focused on increasing his stamina. From what he could tell, Alex-kun was trying to generate more familiars while splitting his consciousness into all of them. A look of fierce concentration was embedded on Alex-kun's foggy face as he continually disappeared and reappeared over the next hour. Not wanting to fall behind, Deku redoubled his efforts on completing Tiger's workout plan.

Another hour passed before Pixie-bob summoned everyone's attention.

"Mew Mew Mew… Listen, everyone! Tonight… both classes are going head-to-head in a Test of Courage! Your reward for intense training is some intense fun! It's the carrot-and-stick approach!" She hopped from student to student and patted each of them encouragingly.

"Ah… almost forgot about that!"

"Seriously? I hate scary things…"

"A banquet of darkness…"

Deku's classmates, despite their exhaustion, all looked somewhat relieved at the prospect of any sort of respite from this torment. If it meant they could catch a break, what did it matter if they encountered a ghost or two?

"Some special event they've got planned for us?"

"Classes going head-to-head? I like it."

The students of 1-B were equally as enthusiastic for the Test of Courage. Maybe even more so, as this was their chance to one up 1-A. Deku didn't feel any personal attachment towards this class rivalry, yet he still made an effort to understand where both sides came from. Both sides had their motives, so he couldn't openly oppose it.

"With that said… WORK YOUR BUTTS OFF IN THE MEANTIME!" Pixie-bob screeched.

But while everyone else returned to their exercises, Deku stopped to contemplate Aizawa-sensei's earlier words. Who was he, exactly? What sort of identity should he be aiming for as a hero? The reason he'd set out on this journey was all thanks to All Might, but recently the boy had started feeling more attached to Alex-kun. Of course, he was still close to All Might, but there was no denying that Alex-kun was the one providing him with more real-time guidance.

That was another reason why he'd asked if All Might would be joining them. He'd wanted to use this camp as a way to gauge how close he was to the two. Still, there was plenty of time for him to figure that out. It was supposed to be impossible for any villains to find them here, so he could use the next week to really sort out his feelings.

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Dinnertime:

*CHOP*CHOP*CHOP*CHOP*CHOP*CHOP*

"Bakugo, I'm really surprised! You're like a pro with a kitchen knife!" Shocked at how skillfully Kacchan was dicing the carrots, Uraraka couldn't help but stare at the results of his handiwork. Sadly, Kacchan wasn't the type to appreciate compliments.

"SURPRISED? THE HELL?! HOW CAN YOU BE BAD WITH A KNIFE?!" He shouted back.

"Whoa! Haven't seen him actually be good at something in a while." Kaminari added.

While they were all busy setting the tables, the exhausted remnants of the remedial group were desperate to scrounge up what scraps of energy they had left. Alex-kun had even offered to give each of them a massage but was barred from doing so by the staff. And so, they were left with nothing to do but wallow in searing pain.

"How's everyone so full of energy…?" Kirishima leered enviously as he lurched to the water fountain. Deku wanted to help him but was preoccupied with his own work, that being retrieving the firewood and placing it into the oven.

"So what'd you want with All Might?" While carrying a pot of water, Todoroki-kun stopped and asked Deku about his inquiry on All Might. "Heard you ask Aizawa-sensei about him."

"Right…" Caught off guard, he put down the log he'd been holding. "Just… about Kota. That's all…"

"Kota? Who's that?"

"Huh?! That kid. He's over th-" But as he pointed over to where he'd seen Mandalay's precious nephew earlier that evening, the sharp-eyed child was nowhere to be found. "Oh… he's gone." Kota had probably wandered off to that "secret base" of his at the top of the mountain.

"He must really not like us…" Deku mumbled.

Mandalay had told him the story about how Kota's parents had been killed in the line of duty, and how that experience probably ruined the young boy's impression of their society. How could he, someone who had grown up wholly immersed and obsessed with heroes, possibly empathize with a child who so deeply despised them?

"When it comes to heroes… Well, he's got something against Quirks and our super-powered society. I just couldn't get him to come around. But All Might… I bet he could find the right words…" Rubbing the back of his neck, Deku grew worried that maybe he'd made a mistake, confronting Kota the day before. "What would you tell him… Todoroki?"

"It all depends." Todoroki replied, following a brief pause.

"Well, sure, but…!"

"Without knowing his background, some righteous speech from a stranger would just be annoying. Words alone have to be pretty meaningful to really move someone…" Stopping occasionally to really think through how best to communicate his feelings, Todoroki gradually lowered his pot of water onto the ground so he could focus more on his words. "What actually matters… is what the person saying it has done. What they're doing in life… You gotta back up words with actions, I think…"

… Yeah. Now that Todoroki had said it, he realized he had felt the same way. While All Might would often be able to come up with the best way to comfort the people he rescued, the main reason it worked was because it was in the heat of danger. Were All Might to simply try and convince Kota while they were still safe in this forest, he doubted the message would be received as warmly.

"Of course… You're right… Why should he care what a stranger has to say?" He sighed, deeply saddened by the notion that he may just have to move on and let Kota's distaste grow.

Todoroki turned away and picked up his pot.

"I'm not sure what you're trying to get out of him… but it's no good butting into such a delicate situation." He mused. "You tend to do that, surprisingly…"

"Sorry…" Deku bowed his head apologetically. There were times when he sincerely felt bad about his immense curiosity and tendency to poke his head where it didn't belong. Alex-kun had mentioned that multiple times already, that this habit of his would inevitably bring him into harms way. But what was he supposed to do? Just sit by and watch as others were swallowed up by their demons?

He couldn't let something like that happen. After all, that wasn't what true heroes did. Giving help where it isn't asked is what makes a true hero.

"DO I SEE IDLE HANDS OVER THERE?! WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING THE WORLD'S GREATEST STEW!" The sound of Iida's high-pitched squeal pierced his eardrums, knocking them both out of their contemplative stupor. As both students rushed back into their work, neither of them picked up on the thin black void residing in the shadows.

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One Hour Later:

"Now, then! Bellies are filled, and plates are clean! Next up…"

1-A didn't wait for Pixiebob to finish before screaming at the top of their lungs

"THE TEST OF COURAGE!"

Pixie-bob clapped her hands together and began gathering the members of both classes. As Ashido was waltzing over to join them however, Aizawa-sensei called her back.

"Sorry to break it to you, remedial group…" His voice was as monotone as usual, but this time with a vindictive edge to it. Intrigued by this, Todoroki discreetly eavesdropped on the conversation as the look on Ashido's face quickly soured. "You've got your extra lessons with me now."

"NO WAAAAAY!" She screeched. 1-A's rambunctious pink bumpkin immediately made a run towards Pixie-bob but was swiftly apprehended by Aizawa's bandages.

"Sorry. But you were slacking during training earlier, so now I'm gonna cut into your playtime…" Dispassionately dragging her and her companions away from everyone else.

"WAAAHH! GIVE US A BREAK! TEST OUR COURAGE!" They cried out in desperation, furiously and yet hopelessly wriggling against the ties that bound them.

Deku looked visibly shaken by their torment, clenching his fist while silently accepting reality. Those who failed the exams needed to be punished if they were ever to attain their full potential. Todoroki was less sympathetic than him, since in his mind this whole "Test of Courage" thing carried little meaning to it to begin with. But he chose to go along with these antics anyways because it gave him an opportunity, one he'd been seeking for quite some time.

"Right." Mandalay began. "Class B will be on the offensive first. They should already be standing by, waiting for the starting signal. Class A will head into the forest in teams of two, one team every three minutes. You'll find name cards at the halfway point. Grab your own, and then come back here! Start to finish, it should take about 15 minutes for each team!"

Todoroki didn't exactly see how this test could possibly frighten anyone. One of the core tenets of horror was the fear of the unknown, and their instructors had already revealed exactly what was going to happen. They were now fully aware that there was no risk of harm and that anything they encountered whilst traveling through the forest would most likely be the result of a classmates Quirk.

"The scarers aren't allowed to make direct contact. They'll just be using their Quirks to startle you as best they can." Mandalay continued, further shrinking the scare factor to basically zero. As she finished her sentence, her teammates lunged forward in unison to deliver the final part of the spiel. "SO GET CREATIVE! WHICHEVER CLASS MAKES THE OTHER WET THEIR PANTS MORE WINS!"

"YAAAAAAAYYYY!" Ragdoll yelled as she leapt high into the air.

"Please don't. That's gross…" A bead of sweat rolled down Jiro's cheek, reeling at the idea that they'd have to count the number of people who pissed their pants.

"I SEE! It's an opportunity to work on our ingenuity through competition… as well as a chance for us to broaden the utility of our Quirks. I EXPECTED NO LESS OF U.A.!" Wholly unaware of the actual intent behind this event, Iida blindly followed what the staff was saying and did his best to give it a reasonable explanation. He had to admit, 1-A's class president had a knack for explaining the unexplainable.

"Teams of two…? Okay. There are 21 of us, minus the five getting extra lessons… so there're eight teams in total." Deku muttered as he did the math.

After drawing lots, 8 pairs were formed. Tokoyami with Shoji, Jiro with Hagakure, Uraraka with Tsuyu, Yaoyorozu with Aoyama, Iida with Koda, Ojiro with Mineta, Alex-kun with Bakugo, and Izuku with him. That second to last pair was bound to cause trouble. In fact, a positively devilish grin had already sprouted on Alex-kun's face. Like everyone else, he was aware of their clashing personalities. But unlike the rest of his class, he found this deeply amusing. Meanwhile, Bakugo was hell-bent on finding a replacement.

"Hey, Tail… switch with me…!" Refusing to even look at Alex-kun, Bakugo glared fiercely at Ojiro, who balked under the peer pressure.

"Why me…?" Ojiro groaned, backing away as slowly and yet quickly as he could manage.

As things were starting to heat up around Bakugo and his insistence on swapping partners, the inklings of a plan began sprouting within Todoroki's mind. He could easily take advantage of this situation and twist it to his favor. While he held no qualms towards Deku, there was just something else he needed to do. A mystery he was determined to solve.

"Just shut up and find someone else already." His tone growing angrier every second someone didn't agree to his request, Bakugo soon began directing his rage right at Alex-kun, insisting that he find another partner. Sensing an opportunity, Todoroki excused himself before leaving Deku and stepped closer to the enraged Bakugo.

"Hey." He tapped him on the shoulder, garnering Bakugo's signature fiery scowl. "Why don't you switch with me if you're so desperate?"

At first, Bakugo didn't seem at all interested in this deal. He hated Deku just as much as he despised Alex-kun, after all. However, after giving it some thought, it looked like he came to the realization that the recency of his dispute with Alex-kun made him prefer teaming with Deku over him. And if this was the only deal he was getting…

"Whatever…" Bakugo groaned, begrudgingly accepting his offer.

"Todoroki?" Deku whispered, wanting to know why his friend seemed so eager to switch teams. The sad look on his face tugged on Todoroki's heartstrings, but those puppy dog eyes weren't enough to stop him.

"Don't worry, Deku." He sighed, motioning for his classmate to avoid reaching any misconceptions. "There's just something I want to talk to Alex-kun about."

Although he still seemed bothered, Izuku nodded affirmatively in response. Perhaps he was worried that there was something going on with Alex-kun, but if anyone was capable of fixing it other than Alex-kun, it had to be Todoroki. Hesitantly, he and Bakugo silently marched off together, leaving Todoroki with Alex-kun.

"While I appreciate the sentiment, Todoroki, I must question how that pairing is any better than what preceded it." Shaking hands, Alex-kun smiled warmly at his new partner.

"If I were in Bakugo's shoes, I'd prefer a hatred I know over one I've just been introduced to."

"Fair point." Alex-kun chuckled.

As the two held a friendly chat near the forest's entrance, Todoroki maintained a weary eye on each move Alex-kun made. Every step he took, mouthful of air he breathed, the tiniest fidget of his arm, he kept track of every minute detail. But why? Why was the despondent and aloof Todoroki suddenly so obsessed with his European classmate? It had all begun after the Hosu Incident.

After receiving Deku's mysterious text, it didn't take him long to realize what it meant and start racing through the city in search of them. He didn't find anything, instead stumbling into some pro heroes and Deku. The reunion was short lived however, as Deku frantically insisted that they go help Alex-kun.

But things got fishy after they found their wounded classmate. Todoroki had been thorough in inspecting every alleyway he could, and he was certain he'd passed that alley earlier. However, he hadn't heard any commotion back then. No signs of a clash, no violent shouting, no indication that something was wrong. And from their injuries, it was obvious their fight had been brutal. A brawl like that couldn't possibly have been so quiet. And even if there were such a means, why go to such lengths?

That was when Todoroki first grew suspicious of their newest prodigy. But he dismissed those feelings at first, deeming them not worth his time. What mattered was that Alex-kun had defeated the Hero Killer and that Iida was safe and sound. Maybe the sounds of their battle were drowned out by the fight with the Nomu.

But then there was I-Island.

Things seemed normal at first. Well, as normal as a hostage situation could possibly be. They were all doing their best to stay calm and come up with a plan with the highest likelihood of success, all while saving as many lives as they could. And after they commenced their counterattack, Alexander made the selfless decision to take a bullet meant for Deku. That seemed perfectly in character for him since the pair had formed a close bond after their first meeting.

However, it was in that act of compassion that the contradiction lay.

Since first transferring into 1-A, Alexander Anderson had demonstrated a level of cunning and wit far beyond anyone his age should have possessed. The ease with which he handled stressful situations was comparable to the most experienced pros out there. And his Quirk was incredibly versatile, allowing him to manifest all manner of creatures and objects which he could morph to his will. So, when he body blocked that bullet, there was no question that he did it with the best intentions in mind.

The question was… why was his method so primitive? Had he been placed in the same scenario with Alexander's Quirk, Todoroki would have summoned a crow to tank it. That way, he'd be able to protect Deku while also remaining unscathed. Alexander had summoned crows in the past, so surely he could have done it then. Surely, he would have come up with more creative solutions than simply diving in the way.

Now, one might argue that Alex-kun simply lost his composure. That Demu's imminent demise startled him to the point he forgot everything else. And while that excuse would have worked for your typical U.A. student, Alexander Anderson was not your typical U.A. student. He was levelheaded, calm, almost Machiavellian. Any time someone cornered him, be it Yaoyorozu or Deku, he always had a creative way to escape. So, the notion that he would just leap in front of the bullet seemed… silly.

And after muddling over this, Todoroki was reminded of what'd happened during U.A.'s Sports Festival, and how Alexander "accidentally" ran off the racetrack. Back then, he'd been too distracted by his own… familial problems to concern himself with it. But looking back now, he empathized with Yaoyorozu's outburst in the locker room. Did he throw the race? He was beginning to think the answer was yes.

More signs were pointing towards the existence of some sort of conspiracy. Something seemed blatantly off about Alexander Anderson. A glaring contradiction, one hidden underneath a thick layer of sarcasm and wisdom. When their class encountered that river of blood in I-Expo, Alexander had been the only one able to keep a straight face. Was there some kind of hidden motive behind all this? Why had he disqualified himself from the race? Why did he fatally wound himself when he could have avoided it? Why did he have such a tame reaction to something so traumatic?

"Tell me why, Alexander Anderson." Slamming his hand on the tree trunk behind Alex-kun, Todoroki forced him against the coarse wood. This time, there was no escape for 1-A's wunderkind. He'd make sure of that.

---

0.0

---

"Well, he certainly took his time." Alucard's patience was starting to wear thin by the time the crimson-striped boy finally sprung his trap. The amateur had assumed he hadn't noticed his sly glances and sideways peeks, nor read the intentions behind him switching with that spiky buffoon. Far from being stealthy, Alucard wouldn't have been surprised if even Deku had noticed.

After waiting in line for their turn in their adorable little "Test of Courage", the duo made their way inside upon Pixiebob's instruction. Once he felt certain that no one was nearby to spot them, Todoroki at last made his move, yanking him off the main path and into the shadowy thickets. There, he pinned him against a tree, even freezing his legs in place.

Not wanting to give away the fact that he'd been cognizant of the boy's plan from the very beginning, Alucard persisted with his oblivious act for just a little longer.

"My oh my, Todoroki. While I acknowledge your feelings, I unfortunately cannot return them."

"Stop it, Alex. I'm sick of your games." Todoroki grimaced, still unused to playing the aggressor. "You've led us all on for long enough, and I demand answers."

"Whatever could you be referring to, dear-"

*SHING*

"-friend?" Alucard spoke casually, unfazed by the humongous shard of ice aimed at his skull.

Todoroki said nothing, instead drilling into him with his eyes eyes. They briefly stared at each other before Alucard decided that the time was ripe to begin executing his own master plan. Blowing a tuft of hair off his forehead, he softly tugged Todoroki's forearm, prompting his captor to melt the razor-sharp icicles and back off. Calmly dusting himself off, Alucard sighed before meeting Todoroki's stern gaze.

Cutely tilting his head, Alucard gave him a bright smile as he asked

"Well then, where would you like me to start?" As he spoke, Alucard used telepathy to forge a bridge between his mind and Todoroki's, one which only the vampire could cross. He didn't want to miss even a second of the show.

The tables began to turn as the atmosphere grew vastly different from what came before. While still retaining his cheerful smirk and lively charisma, the sudden mood change did not go unnoticed by Todoroki. The same person was standing in front of him, yet the dynamic had shifted dramatically. A chill ran down his spine as he recognized the grave error he'd made. He had neglected to confirm whether he could handedly defeat Alexander Anderson in a one-on-one dual. And the aura of murderous intent emanating from him told Todoroki that his odds were low. Despite this however, he refused to back down now.

"… Who are you?" Slowly breathing out, Todoroki tried to calm his nerves. He still felt apprehensive in his presence. Alexander Anderson had grown into his role as the voice of reason in 1-A, easing tensions whenever he was needed. But this was completely different.

"A mercenary. One hired by your principal to protect and guide Izuku Midoriya." Alucard considered revealing the honest truth to him but chose instead to stick with his previous alibi. Such a revelation might overwhelm the unprepared child.

"Why him?" Oh? Was Todoroki still out of the loop regarding Deku's status as the disciple of Japan's #1 Hero? Would it complicate things at all if he were allowed to join in on the fun? Wwweeeeeellll… while it did admittedly present some unpredictable elements into Nezu's plan, there was no denying how much more entertaining this entire ordeal would become.

"Because he is the successor of All Might." Alucard smirked. The lack of control made the poor Todoroki look so pitiful.

Todoroki's expression soured at the news that Deku was the successor of All Might. And as Alucard laid out the inner workings of All Might's Quirk, Todoroki maintained his menacing stare. There were so many questions he could ask just about that alone, but he'd tackle that later. Right now, he needed answers regarding Alexander Anderson, and him alone.

"Why did you disqualify yourself from the race?" He asked.

"Your principal wanted to avoid revealing my presence, and securing first place at Japan's most prestigious festival would most certainly have done so."

"Reveal your presence to who?" Whoever they were, they surely had something to do with the attack at USJ. The League of Villains must have a leader, so perhaps it was them. But did Alex-kun already know who they were?

"Why, All For One, of course." Alucard chuckled. "You disappoint me, Todoroki. I thought you would have known by now." He angled his finger to poke Todoroki's forehead but was met with the keen tip of a shard of ice, nearly piercing his skin.

Todoroki snarled before becoming silent, ruminating on everything he had heard so far. From what he had learnt, the Principal had been worried about All For One and had thus made the decision to hire mercenaries from overseas to protect All Might's successor, who happened to be Izuku Midoriya. Assuming all the tales about All For One weren't exaggerated, the choice to recruit foreign powers seemed reasonable. However, that didn't suddenly justify Alexander Anderson's actions. Though he hadn't brought them up yet, Alex-kun's threatening aura signaled to Todoroki that he may have been the perpetrator behind the massacre on I-Island.

"And your fight with the Hero Killer?" Todoroki didn't want to delve into that just yet. There were still other questions that remained.

"Him?" The vampire sighed. "I teleported us to a discreet location where I could conduct a more intimate meeting with him."

His eyebrows contorting and lips twisting, Alucard could tell by reading Todoroki's face that he was struggling to solve all of these questions solely from the miniscule hints placed within each sentence. It was an absolute delight to behold as he watched the amateur detective try his hand at cracking this case.

"And that ocean of blood on I-Island?" He murmured. "Was that your doing?"

The sinister fire burning in Todoroki's eyes sent him a message, that his next answer here would determine what next was to follow. Whether the boy would treat him as a villain or as a fellow U.A. student. Alucard knew that deep down, Todoroki had no desire to see a friend suffer. And this was precisely why he chose the road less traveled.

"… Who else?" Alucard whispered; a sadistic smile stretching across his lips. There was no fun in simply appealing to this infant's childish wants.

The air around them grew chilly at first. Then, in a matter of seconds, it fell below freezing. The blades of grass beneath them began freezing over as a pale wind started to blow. A sullen shadow had descended upon Todoroki's gaze as he pondered his next steps. Scoffing, Alucard raised his arm in an effort to draw the boy's attention. He was successful in doing so, as Todoroki instantly shoved Alucard's wrist back against the tree trunk.

"Anyone else would have been trapped in a frozen tomb by now, Anderson. The only thing keeping me from handing you over to the pros is everything we've gone through this past school year. So unless you want me to do that, you'd better give a good reason why." The poor child was struggling to breathe evenly. "Tell me why, Alexander Anderson."

Examining the youngster's facial features, Alucard noted his pursed lips and slanted eyebrows. Even now, Todoroki was still uncertain as to how he should handle this situation. Was it because he knew that despite the results, it was far more likely that he had performed it with just intent than otherwise?

"You are already aware that no civilians were harmed on I-Island, Todoroki. That river of red you and the rest of our classmates witnessed that night? It came from the corpses of those sent to kill you." The shards of ice aimed at his throat began to retract as Alucard summarized all that had happened while they were off galivanting in the Central Tower. His entrance onto the island. His battle with Nine and his squad. As he recited the details of the League of Villain's operation, Todoroki's face paled.

"Don't tell me you're so naïve as to think that just because someone gave an inspiring speech, your enemies would keel over and surrender. Obviously, they had a backup plan." Alucard scoffed. Todoroki made the same mistake Nezu, saying that he could easily have spared the thousands of mercenaries he'd encountered. Fortunately for Alucard, the boy stopped short. Thankfully, he was more aware than his principal of the risks involved with restricting oneself to such acts of mercy. Who could predict whether sparing one villainous life would lead to the loss of an innocent one?

Still doubtful of the reliability of Alucard's testimony, Todoroki lowered his guard slightly. But Alucard already knew the boy was close to accepting his words as truth. All he needed was a little more time.

"You swear you didn't spill a single drop of innocent blood that night?"

Alucard lifted his hand to his chest, resting his palm over his heart.

"Rest assured, only those deserving of punishment received it."

Peering further into Todoroki's thoughts, Alucard giggled at the ideological strife he found within. Todoroki did not agree with Alucard's sentiment, yet neither did he completely disagree. As heroes, killing was taboo. It was a line they were never meant to cross, not even in the direst of situations. After all, weren't they meant to save lives rather than take them? If they got blood on their hands, could they really call themselves heroes?

However, despite this philosophy being deeply ingrained into not just Japan's society but all of human society, Todoroki had always held mixed feelings towards it. Growing up in a household like his, Todoroki had developed a deep-seated resentment towards his father, the pro hero Endeavor. An abusive man whose sole purpose in life was surpassing All Might, he pushed his children to indescribable levels of torment in the name of that purpose.

Naturally, Todoroki had contemplated killing his "beloved" father on multiple occasions. Never carrying them out, but always letting it sit there in the back of his mind. The reason All Might could parade his "No Killing" policy across Japan wasn't exactly because he was right, but because he and everyone else believed he would always prevail.

Sadly, that wouldn't always be the case. What if there was a situation where there was simply no alternative? No guarantee of a clean victory? While one should never condone it, neither should one sit back and knowingly allow one to be taken. If you could somehow emerge victorious with no blood spilt, that was ideal. But if you lacked the strength to do so, what then? Let the bodies pile up, all so you can stand by and arrogantly proclaim your moral superiority?

"He is far too indecisive to arrest me." Alucard concluded, clicking his tongue. While a tinge disappointed that he wouldn't yet have an opportunity to test the young talent, this outcome had not been outside his expectations. In reality, it lay square in the center of his scheme.

Everything had gone according to plan. A hint of hypnotic suggestion here and a little manipulation there had bought him just enough time to reveal a fraction of his nature to Todoroki, while simultaneously allowing Dabi and friends to commence their attack. All of it exquisitely synced together to leave Todoroki with just enough information to be satisfied but still hungry for more.

And now, as a thick mist descended upon the forest, Alucard knew the time had come to properly introduce himself to the League of Villains.

---

0.0

---

Further in the forest, three 1-B students were hiding in some bushes. The trio of Juzo Honenuki, Itsuka Kendo and Yui Kodai were getting restless. 1-A students were supposed to come once every 15 minutes but for some reason the next pair had yet to show up. Popping his head out of his bush, Honenuki giggled in delight.

"Kodai. That scare tactic of yours is sending 'em all running." He smirked, although that may have been because his teeth all sat outside his mouth. A physical feature which others often pointed out, but he'd gotten used to prying eyes after years of it.

"Put yourself on the line, Yui." Giving her classmate a thumbs up, Itsuka brushed some leaves off her head and patted Yui on the shoulder. Their stunt involved Honenuki using his Quirk to turn the dirt into quicksand while Itsuka employed hers to make a platform for Yui to stand on. This way, Yui could submerge herself in the quicksand without needing to worry about suffocating. With this setup, they could create the illusion of a spectral ghost manifesting in the air before disappearing into the ground.

And so far, their setup had been quite successful at sending the 1-A students running. Their most recent victims, Tsuyu and Uraraka, had been given such a fright that they'd both lost their voices while sprinting away.

"Mm." Yui nodded, equally pleased with their results.

"Todoroki and Alexander are totally gonna wet themselves." Honenuki laughed. Itsuka wasn't so sure about that. What were the odds they could catch arguably the strongest kids at U.A. off guard?

Alex-kun, especially, stood out from the pack like a sore thumb. The rivalry between 1-A and 1-B had already been one-sided enough, but his addition only exacerbated the already gaping chasm lying between them. The trio of Alexander Anderson, Shoto Todoroki, and Katsuki Bakugo utterly trampled every attempt 1-B made at stealing the spotlight. Todoroki and Bakugo were tough enough, but Anderson was the whole package. Drop-dead gorgeous, intelligent, strong, you name it.

And while he was probably the nicest guy in all of U.A., Itsuka had begun picking up certain details that made her suspect something else was going on. Unlike Yaoyorozu or Ashido, she wasn't so lovestruck as to overlook some of the weirder parts of Alex-kun's recent activity. For example, she had heard about how he'd allegedly thrown the race at the Sports Festival by running off the racetrack. Even more suspicious, however, was something she'd seen during this very training camp.

Apparently, the Pro Rabbit Hero Mirko had been sent just to keep an eye on him after he'd used his Quirk in public. If the news was to be trusted, he had singlehandedly beaten the ever-living crap out of a rogue villain who'd tried to ambush him. First off, it couldn't be a mere coincidence that the villain chose to target Alex-kun specifically. It was a mall, the odds of grabbing the strongest guy there were, like, one out of a thousand. Second, while the punishment given seemed reasonable at first glance… after giving it some thought, it really wasn't.

Why dispatch one of the highest ranked pro heroes just to watch a kid who retaliated purely in self-defense? They could have just told some of the staff here to keep a closer eye on him, and that might have worked just as well. Sure, Alex-kun had interned with Mirko, but was that seriously enough to justify them making this potentially costly decision?

"Hey… have you girls noticed…?" The sound of Honenuki asking a question reminded Itsuka where she was. She shook herself out of her rampaging thoughts and turned to look at him. Fervently sniffing the air, her classmate looked somewhat alarmed.

"Smells like something's burning." Yui confirmed.

"Huh? Now that you mention it… where'd this smoke come from?" Itsuka wondered.

As they tried finding the source, however, the smoke steadily began billowing out of the dirt, rising higher until it engulfed their kneecaps. A single whiff of the strange mist told Itsuka that something was very wrong.

"Maybe we really did scare those two and make their Quirks fire off…" Before Honenuki could finish his sentence, he fell onto the ground with a hard *THUD*.

"Honenuki?!" Shocked, Itsuka could barely process what'd happened before instinctively covering her mouth. "YUI! DON'T BREATHE THE SMOKE! IT'S POISONOUS!" She gasped, enlarging her hand until it was big enough to block Yui off from the dangerous mist.

*WHOOOOOOOSSSSHHHH*

Unbeknownst to them, the smoke was not restricted to their area. In truth, the whole entire forest had become enveloped in the suffocating mist. As the U.A. staff looked on in worry, Dabi stood far away, having set fire to an enormous chunk of the forest so that the wind would blow the smoke straight into the training camp.

"Let's begin. Put them in their places… League of Villains' Vanguard Action Squad." He whispered maniacally.

In another location, Himiko Toga stealthily approached the ignorant duo of Uraraka and Tsuyu. Meanwhile, the rest of the squad had departed and arrived at the training grounds, announcing their presence by knocking out Pixie-bob.

"Stay out of our way, Kitty cats." One of them said as he pinned Pixie-bob down, the butt of his staff pressed against her cranium.

"How…? Even with all our precautions…!" A distraught Mineta couldn't believe his eyes. "How… HOW'RE THERE VILLAINS HERE?!"

"PIXIE-BOB!" Deku shouted, noticing how her visors had been broken after suffering a hit from that villain's weapon. She was bleeding, but he couldn't tell if she was knocked out or just dazed.

Mandalay and Tiger positioned themsleves defensively in between the villains and the U.A. students.

"Damn…" Mandalay grit her teeth, the villain squad's advantage in numbers being a great cause for concern.

Deku's eyes combed the training grounds, the visage of one in particular stuck in his head. The boy even younger than he was who showed a unique distaste towards heroes.

"KOTA!" Deku gasped, realizing that Mandalay's nephew was nowhere to be found.

Unfortunately for All Might's successor, he couldn't do anything at the moment. Not when the villains had Pixie-bob pinned down and were threatening to crush her skull under the pressure of their gigantic staff. Where was Alex-kun? Had his close friend and mentor concealed himself so he could deliver a surprise attack? But then he remembered that Todoroki and Alex-kun had already ventured into the forest for the Test of Courage. So by all accounts, they were on their own.

"MWA HA HA HA HA! Pleased to meetcha, U.A. students! We're the League of Villains' Vanguard Action Squad!" The masked reptilian-looking man called out. His outfit bore a close resemblance to the Hero Killer's, which made Deku think that maybe they shared ideologies. If that were true, what reason could they possibly have to attack the training camp?

"League of Villains…?! How'd they find us…?!" Mashirao quivered in fear, his tail batting back and forth like a cat's.

"Should I go ahead and crush her pretty little skull?" Threatened the punk-rocker looking one, grinding his weapon against the side of Pixie-bob's skull. "Should I? What do you guys think?"

This infuriated Tiger, whose face turned scarlet in rage. Unfortunately, he was in no position to attack when his teammate was being held hostage.

"As if I'd let you…"

"Wait, wait. Don't be hasty, Big Sis Mag! You too, Tiger. Calm down." The remaining members of the Pussycat's grew quiet as the lizardman ordered them to hush. "Holding power over someone's life is everything! Or don't you believe in following Stain's tenets?!"

So they WERE devotees of Stain's! Which meant… either they were defying his tenets, or had come all the way out here in order to kill what they believed to be "corrupt" heroes.

"Stain… so these are his followers…!" Iida couldn't believe his ears as he was reminded of what was, without question, his greatest shame.

"YEP! We sure are! Ah, and we know about YOU, four-eyes!" The lizard pointed one scaly finger at Iida. "You're one of the ones who brought about Stain's end in Hosu City. Let me introduce myself. I'm Spinner." The reptilian man grabbed hold of the blade hilt on his shoulder and unveiled a true monster of a weapon. His eyes opened wide as he revealed his grisly homage to Stain's own arsenal. "And I intend to make HIS dreams come true." He announced proudly, a mad smile on his lips.

"Whoa…" The sight of this abominable weapon made Deku unconsciously take a step back. He couldn't even call it a sword. It was just a cobbled mass of knives and other sharp objects, just barely being held together by a few iron chains.

But Tiger was unfazed.

"That's all well and good, but… That woman lying there, Pixie-bob… Lately, she's started to worry about getting married. Hoping to find some happiness as a woman in this world… and at this age, trying very hard…" A powerful aura of ferocious intent consumed Tiger as he tensed for battle. "How dare you scar her face like that… and stand there yapping away like it's nothing?"

"SO HEROES REALLY DO DREAM OF FINDING ORDINARY HAPPINESS IN LIFE?" Spinner leapt forth to meet them.

Mandalay and Tiger both stepped closer together to cut off any chance Spinner had at reaching the students. Fortunately for them, that wasn't necessary as a whirling ring of destruction tore through the air and made a beeline towards the villain holding down Pixie-bob.

"LUNA FALL!"

*CRUUUUNCCHH*

Driving her foot right on top of his cranium, Mirko knocked the man senseless before he could even respond, the blow carrying enough force to drill him straight into the ground. His staff falling onto the dirt with a thudding *THUNK*, the villain's head slumped to the right, his neck loose and tongue hanging outside his mouth.

"MIRKO?!" Everybody behind her shouted, stunned to see her arrive so abruptly. Even Spinner stopped in his tracks to stare.

"Yo!" The Rabbit Hero replied nonchalantly, picking up Pixie-bob and leaping over to them. "Thought you might need my help." She said while plopping Pixiebob down on a nearby table.

"MIRKO-SENSEI! WHERE'S ALEX-KUN? IS HE ALRIGHT?!" Midoriya called out to her.

"You know, I was wondering that myself." She shrugged. "Don't worry though, I'm sure he's fine. What we SHOULD be worrying about is how we're going to beat up these sonsabitches!"

Cracking her knuckles, Mirko joined Mandalay and Tiger. By now though, the villain who Mirko had driven into the dirt had regained consciousness and was furiously digging himself out. Deku honestly felt bad for the man since he seemed heavily concussed as he swayed heavily while rejoining his companion. But it didn't take very long for him to get back into things as he and Spinner charged.

"Tiger! I've broadcast the order! Ragdoll will make sure the other students are safe. It's our job to hold them back here!" Unflinchingly, Mandalay told everyone something she probably should have said from the start. "GET GOING EVERYONE! AND REMEMBER… NO FIGHTING! LEAD THEM, CLASS PRESIDENT!"

"UNDERSTOOD! LET'S GO!" Iida immediately corralled his classmates together and began shoving them away from the area. Even though Mirko's arrival raised their odds of success, they couldn't have any potential hostages nearby for the villains to scoop up.

As they were leaving, however, Deku caught a glimpse of Mandalay's firm expression. Despite how determined she looked on the outside, he was able to see past that and knew that hidden beneath it was a well of anxiety. She was worried about Kota.

"Go on without me, Iida."

Refusing to just run away and also wanting to alleviate Mandalay of that stress, Deku turned back towards the fight.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, MIDORIYA?!" Iida screamed, stunned by what he thought was his friend losing his mind in the middle of this difficult situation. Even though he knew he would be in for an earful once this was all over, Deku was sure that this was the right thing to do.

"MANDALAY! I KNOW WHERE HE IS!"

---

0.0

---

"KOTA…! YOU HEAR ME, KOTA?! GET BACK TO CAMP! I'm sorry I don't know… where you're always running off to… I'm sorry, Kota! I can't come for you, so get back here!"

Mandalay's desperate message went unheard as her nephew had his attention pulled elsewhere.

"I just came up here for the view, and what do I find? A face that wasn't on the list." A cloaked figure loomed nearby, the wind blowing ominously against Kota's teary eyes. "By the way, that hat's pretty slick, kid. Why don'tcha trade me for this lame mask? I'm a newbie to the operation, so they made me wear this dumb toy."

He had come up here to get away from those stupid "heroes" like every other day. Only this time, someone had been here waiting for him. He never expected to meet a villain up here. He assumed this guy was a villain because… well… he was tall, wore a mask, and screamed of "I'm going to eviscerate you".

"WAAHH…" Kota made a mad dash to escape but was caught when the villain jumped off the ground, barreled through the air, crashed off the stone wall and cut off his escape route.

"I'm gonna have fun with you." The villain proclaimed mockingly, having abandoned his mask sometime during his little show of force. Something seemed to have clicked for him, as he gleefully unveiled his left arm with a smile.

*SHWOOOOMM*

A thick layer of muscle fibers broke free of the man's flesh, consuming the entirety of his arm until it resembled a wire cable used to support bridges. But the worst was yet to come. As Kota took a closer look at the villain's torn face and his glass eye, he began having flashbacks to those torturous days following the deaths of his parents, sitting in front of the television screen as news reports repeated those same sentiments over and over again.

"Water Hose… a fantastic pair of heroes. But their wonderful lives… were tragically cut short by on heartless criminal. The suspect is still on the run as police and heroes attempt to ascertain his whereabouts."

"You…!" Back then, he hadn't cared about the murderer all that much. All that'd mattered was that his parents were dead, and the entire world seemed to be celebrating. But now, as fear consumed every fiber of his body, Kota recognized his mistake.

"His Quirk is a simple power-up type, making him highly dangerous. If you see this man, call the police or contact a hero immediately… At present, his left eye… should be scarred from his encounter with Water Hose…"

"Dad…! Mom…!" He'd been wrong.

As the man who'd murdered his parents rushed towards the scrawny little boy, Kota couldn't even muster up the strength to scream. He was so terrified that his very limbs grew numb. Fortunately, both individuals were so caught up in the moment, neither saw the bush of green hair until it was too late.

*CCRRAAAACCCKKKK*

A huge tower of dust ballooned from the sheer force behind the impact of the man's fist. Shockwaves shook the foundation of the rocky hill they stood on, sending chunks of it flying down into the valley below. The impact sent ripples through the air, ripples strong enough to send Kota and his savior sailing away from their would-be murderer.

"Hm?" The villain, unperturbed by the arrival of this new combatant, licked his lips in delight. "Now YOU… were on the list."

Kota looked utterly shocked at who it was who'd saved him. Rising off the hard floor, Izuku Midoriya clenched his fists. He'd made it just in time to rescue Mandalay's nephew. Sadly, there hadn't been enough time for him to grab Melissa's Full Gauntlet, so he'd have to make do without. Another item he'd have to deal with not having was his phone, which'd gotten smashed to pieces during the rescue. In other words, they were on their own.

He was alone. Somehow, Deku would have to deal with this fearsome villain all by himself. And all while protecting Kota, just to make his job even more difficult. He wasn't sure if he was strong enough to manage that, not even after all that training with Alex-kun. Turning around and seeing Kota, tears streaming down his face, helped harden his resolve. It didn't matter how impossible this seemed.

"It's… It's gonna be okay, Kota… I'm gonna save you!" Even if he was on his own, there was no other way but forward.

---

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"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK BY TWO VILLAINS! AND THERE MIGHT BE MORE OUT THERE! ALL THOSE WHO CAN SHOULD GET TO CAMP AT ONCE! IF YOU ENCOUNTER AN ENEMY, DON'T ENGAGE! JUST RETREAT!"

Alucard smirked. Mandalay's telepathic message came at the perfect time. As Todoroki realized that his chance to interrogate him had run its course, he had no choice but to back down. He couldn't possibly pursue the truth when his friends and classmates were in dire need of assistance. And if Alexander Anderson was powerful enough to wipe out an island's worth of villainous minions and convert it into a bloody basin, they'd need his help too.

"How unfortunate." Alucard crooned. "It would seem our appointment must end here." Much to Todoroki's chagrin, the arrogant look on his face wouldn't be going away any time soon.

Todoroki grinded his teeth in irritation, bothered by how much Alex-kun's personality had changed. The Alex-kun he'd come to know was elegant, even noble. And while this version, which he assumed was the "real" Alexander Anderson, still carried an air of dignity and charm, he was also brash and cocky. Was this even his real physical form? His real name? His real powers? Just how much was there lying underneath his bourgeois shell?

"This won't be the last time we talk about this, Anderson. So, don't try anything funny." Checking he was following close behind him, Todoroki took the lead on their way back to camp.

"My dear Todoroki, what have I done for you to deem me so untrustworthy?" Alucard grinned.

Todoroki scoffed, frustrated at how much and yet how little he had extracted from Alex-kun. But he knew they had bigger issues to deal with at the moment. Frustrated, Todoroki composed himself so he could focus on the problem at hand.

"The gas must be the work of a villain. The others must be in trouble, so we should regroup with them. We'll go around the goal and head straight to camp." That was most likely the best route for them to take. One of the Pussycat's should have been placed nearby to oversee the Test of Courage, so odds were that they didn't need to worry about that area.

However, his assumption would prove false only a few short minutes later. As they jogged down the dirt road, their progress was hindered upon encounting a darkly dressed individual crouched on the dirt path. Alucard had sensed him from a while back but hadn't mentioned them since he was curious to see how Todoroki would deal with them.

"Pretty. So pretty. No. This is work. So alluring. But no. Can't…" They were clearly insane, Alucard concluded. The facial coverings and leather straps indicated they were either a mental patient or an especially obsessive masochist.

"Tokoyami and… Shoji…" Alucard heard Todoroki mumble something about their winged classmates. Perhaps he was worried that they may have encountered this villain at some point and had already been disposed of. That most definitely was not the case, as Alucard would have done something to prevent that.

"Pretty flesh. Gah! So enticing, though… gotta do the job." The masked fiend slowly turned to face them, whispering his deranged ramblings as he did.

As Todoroki considered their options, Alucard received a vital transmission from one of his familiars. The message it carried prompted him to tap Todoroki on the shoulder.

"Todoroki, do you mind handling him alone?" Cheekily, Alucard peered over Todoroki's shoulder and nudged him forward. "You needn't doubt yourself in this matchup, for you are most assuredly superior in both firepower and skill."

"What?! Why?!"

Unfortunately for the young defiant, there was little time for any sort of explanation.

"I'm afraid our mutual friend requires my immediate assistance." While Alucard would have taken great pleasure in seeing what emotion appeared on Todoroki's face, his shades were telling him that All Might's little disciple was faced with a truly formidable opponent. Now was not the time for him to indulge in his selfish desires.

The urgency in his tone told Todoroki that it would be better he simply submitted to Alucard's wishes rather than protest. Still loath to obey the orders of the person he'd so recently interrogated, the boy nodded affirmatively before turning to face his assigned opponent. While he had no reason to trust him, Todoroki couldn't quite bring himself to doubt his classmate's analysis. After everything they'd been through, it'd been hammered into him that Alexander Anderson was far better than him at evaluating other's strengths.

"Excellent!" Alucard happily saluted as he skipped away and vanished in the brushes. "I will be delighted to enumerate my background to you when next we meet."

Sighing, Todoroki readied himself for battle.

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Back At Kota's Hideout:

"You're… gonna save him…?" The ominous man reared back in laughter. "A budding hero would say that. Always spouting off about justice wherever you guys show up." More fibers sprouting out of his skin, the grotesque villain tore off his cloak and released a cocoon of muscle fibers.

Deku stood defiantly before his hulking opponent, afraid to look away from him for even a second. He still wasn't sure how powerful this guy was, or even how his Quirk worked. He was going into this fight totally blind, which went against everything Alex-kun had taught him.

"Fear, surprise, and intimidation." The words rang through his head. Alex-kun had told him numerous times that it would be better to retreat were any of those three elements at all lacking. Sadly, that just wasn't an option right now. Not when there was someone he had to protect.

"Your name's Midoriya, right? This is perfect. You're high up on our kill list." The murderer's right arm was engulfed by his somatic cells, increasing its size and probably power. "I'm gonna torment you real bad! Now show me some blood."

Here he comes! His adversary loaded a right hook and leapt up into the air. A highly telegraphed punch, one that Deku knew he could've dodged easily thanks to his training with Alex-kun. But again, Kota's presence prevented him from dodging. So, Deku activated Full Cowling and absorbed the full blow.

*DOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM*

Crashing into the mountainside, Deku spit out blood and tumbled onto the ground. He was able to land on his feet though, so that was a plus.

"Ah! Wait. Better not." The villain halted his assault. His arms bruised and battered, Deku could hardly focus long enough to process what the man was saying. "That's right. Might as well tell me, if you know. Where's the kid named Bakugo? We've got a job to do here…"

Kacchan?

"RAWR!" Giving him no room to think, his opponent thrust at him and carved a chunk out of the mountain.

Were they really there for Kacchan?! But why…? It wasn't like he was a villain!

"YOU DON'T KNOW? THAT YOU'RE FINAL ANSWER? FINE. IN THAT CASE… LET'S PLAY!" Knocking Deku upward with a reverberating *SMACK*, Deku was unable to retaliate. His arms were still numb after that first hit. He needed more time to recover before he could start fighting back. So until then, he'd have to just take this guy's hits.

"HAA HA HA! BLOOD! LOVE IT. SO FUN! WHAT WAS THAT, AGAIN? YOU'RE GONNA SAVE HIM, RIGHT? SO WHY'RE YOU RUNNING?! THAT'S A WEIRD WAY TO SAVE SOMEONE!"

A stream of blood was leaking down Deku's cheek, but that was fine. He'd suffered worse injuries before. Now wasn't the time to worry about Kacchan. That could come later. Right now, he needed d to focus on the man in front of him. Luckily, he'd seen enough of the villain's Quirk to understand its inner workings. A muscle fiber Quirk that enhanced his speed and strength, but not necessarily his durability. If he could work his way through those muscle fibers and into the softer area underneath, he might stand a chance.

Once again activating Full Cowling, Deku surged off of the rocky floor and sent a five percent punch drilling into the man's waist.

"What the…? That s'posed to be your Quirk?!" Sadly, the villain had deftly blocked the punch with his forearm. "Pretty quick, but… WAY TOO WEAK!"

*SMACK*

Sent flying in an instant, Deku reoriented his body so that he landed on his feet. The results of his training were shining through, but just barely. He was still taking quite a beating.

"My Quirk's a muscle enhancer. These muscle fibers of mine can't be contained even by my skin. They raise the standard in speed! And power! Get what I'm saying?! You're nothing but… AN INFERIOR VERSION OF ME!" Towering above him, his opponent didn't bother finishing him off. He was using this opportunity to gloat. And even though he didn't enjoy being berated with taunts, Deku knew this was his chance to counter. "You understand where I'm coming from?! I can't help but laugh! You're gonna save him?! How?! Talk is cheap when you're yapping about the impossible!"

He raised his arm into the air.

"You really oughta… be honest with yourself!"

*Gonk*

What'd made that noise? Peeking around the muscular body of this tyrant, Deku saw that it was none other than Kota who'd tossed a tiny pebble at the back of his foe's neck.

"Water Hose… my mom… and dad…" Almost hissing, a mixture of abject terror and a deeply embedded hatred poured out of Kota's weeping eyes. "Did you torture them like this… when you killed them…?"

"!" Deku was shocked. Was this really the same man who'd killed Kota's parents?

"Whoa… seriously? You're their kid?" Even the villain was surprised, unable to contain his astonishment. "This must be fate or something." It looked like he'd lost some steam as the villain spoke so casually now that one might be surprised to know he'd been trying to kill Deku a couple of seconds earlier. "Water Hose. They're the pair that gave me this glass eye."

"BECAUSE OF YOU AND THOSE LIKE YOU… THINGS ALWAYS END UP LIKE THIS!" Emotional, Kota was shivering in both fear and fury. Enraged at the sight of the man who'd killed his parents.

The man sneered at Kota's accusations.

"Brats like you sure know how to pass the blame. It's no good. I don't really hold a grudge against 'em about my eye. I killed 'em, just like I wanted to. And they tried to stop me. We all did our best and had to deal with the results. What's bad is when you can't put your money where your mouth is…"

"LIKE YOUR DEAR MOMMY AND DADDY!"

Willing himself forward, Deku activated Full Cowling once again and lunged to intercept the attack.

"Aha! I knew you'd attack me, you worthless piece of trash." Since he hadn't put his all into that punch, the cruel man was able to twist himself around and face the reinvigorated Izuku.

For Deku, he knew that this was it. All or nothing. After running through every idea he could possibly come up with, only one of them had a high likelihood of success. He would have to gamble everything he had on this one attempt.

"THE ONLY ONE TO BLAME… IS YOU!" Electricity surged through his body as Deku rushed towards his nameless foe. His opponent was faster than him, more durable than him, and strong enough to kill him with one shot. There really was only one way out of this. Every fiber of his being was aimed at striking one specific section of that man's body. One spot which happened to be retracting as his opponent loaded his fist. Now was his chance. As he launched his fist at the muscle fibers on his arm, he accelerated right as the fibers reconnected.

*SSSHPPPP*

Jamming one of his arms in between the man's muscles, Deku instantly pulled back his one remaining good arm to load up a subsequent shot.

"So?! Gonna hit me with that other weak arm of yours?!" But despite how tough he acted, a bead of sweat did form on the villain's forehead as he noticed that this punch was different from what'd come before it.

Don't waste your time with talk, that was another lesson Alex-kun had taught him. That was a privilege reserved only for those who held the advantage. And at that moment, that definitely did not apply to him. All Deku needed to think about doing right now was… One For All, 100 Percent!

*SMASH*

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Meanwhile, Perched Atop A Nearby Tree:

Well, circumstances did not favor the future Symbol of Peace at the moment.

After pardoning himself and leaving Todoroki to deal with the mental patient, Alucard made use of his familiars to whisk himself to a spot where he could aid Deku if necessary. And from what he gathered, the necessity of his assistance was debatable. Deku's adversary this time was far more suited to him than his past opponents. The one-eyed maniac's Quirk created a sturdy cocoon which could easily absorb all the power carried by Deku's fearsome fists. And in spite of the time he had invested into educating the brat, Deku was nevertheless ill-equipped to overcome this barrier.

The explosive punch which the boy sent careening into the villain's chin created a cavernous pit in their battleground. Kota was sent flying from the recoil but was saved by an exhausted Deku, who just barely managed to catch the toddler's shirt collar with his teeth. The boy was in no condition for a prolonged bout, what with his broken elbows and swollen eyelids. Relief poured out of Deku as he let himself believe the fight was over. But with his Third Eye, Alucard knew the battle was nowhere near finished.

*SSWWOOOOSSHHHHH*

Out of the whirling orb of dust came a walking ball of tendons and muscle fibers. A lumbering mass of flesh and blood vessels. Deku had heavily telegraphed his punch, giving his experienced opponent plenty of time to steel himself. He buried himself with his Quirk, protecting himself from the boy's most powerful attack and emerging practically unscathed.

*SHLIK*

Luckily for him, it wasn't all misfortune. As he drew his muscle fibers back into his body, this impenetrable wall revealed its cracks. It was clear from how the villain swayed that he had been shaken, his body no longer following his every command. By Alucard's judgement, the two stood on an even playing field. And, much to his surprise, this fact did not escape Deku, who regained some semblance of composure following this realization.

"Impressive..." Alucard whistled, happy to see some signs of legitimate progress. After all the time and effort he had invested into cultivating this crop, it was inevitable that he would eventually develop some degree of affection for it. "He's learning."

"W-W-WHAT DO YOU WANT?! WHAT'S THE LEAGUE OF VILLAINS AFTER...?!" Deku screeched in a bid to stall for time, despite the answer to that question being blatantly obvious.

"Like I care." The villain dismissively began sorting through his back pockets, glass eyes falling out in his clumsiness. "All I wanna do is rampage. As long as I get to use my Quirk without holding back, I'm good. Remember earlier when I said we were just playing? I did, for real! I said, 'Let's play!' and I meant it! But no more of that! Playtime's over cuz you're strong! So now..." Extracting his glass eye with practiced ease, he inserted a new, black pupil with an audible *Squish*. "I'm using my serious eye."

Not wasting time, Deku grabbed Kota and vaulted away from the enormous plume of smoke that followed.

*BOOOOMMM*BAM*RRRRMMMMMMMMMMMBBBBBBBBB*

No longer holding back, the villain's blows blew huge chunks out of the mountain and created a landslide of rubble that tumbled down into the depths of the valley. Alucard had to admit, he liked this man's style. After all, it held many similarities to his own. Contemptuous of the weak? Check. Playfully restricting one's powers unless otherwise necessary? Check. Were the circumstances different, Alucard would have liked to indulge in a delayed fight with the muscular buffoon. Sadly, that was a pleasure he could ill afford.

Exhausted after using 100% of One For All's power, Deku used what deductive reasoning he had left and made the correct decision. He skidded to a halt, plopped Kota down behind him, and stood his ground. With little reserves left, the boy knew that retreat was quite literally not an option. All he could do now was rely on what strength he had left, as well as a bit of luck. Alucard had seen him pull off similar stunts already, so he was confident in the boy's victory. Although, it might not be enough to finish off this foe. And if that were to happen... well, that just meant more for Alucard.

"Get back, Kota." Deku whispered. "But not too far, or he'll go after you. So... yeah, about 7 paces... If he gets me, you run as fast as you can back to camp."

"Gets you...? Come on, don't do it! It's hopeless, so let's run. You saw... your attack didn't even scratch him! And... both your arms... are broken..."

As his adversary formed his muscle fibers into a blunt spear and dove at him, Deku activated Full Cowling in one final attempt to ward him off.

"IT'S OKAY!" He yelled.

Almost weeping from fatigue, Deku threw one last punch directly at the tip of the spear. At first, it appeared he was at a disadvantage, with the villain even commenting on how his punch was even weaker than the one which had come before it. Slowly being pushed back by the weight of their collision, Deku was just barely holding on as he ordered Kota to run away while he still could.

"WOW, KID! YOU'RE REALLY SOMETHING ELSE!"

"Sh...SHUT UUUUUPP!" Straining furiously against him, Alucard could tell that Deku was losing all sensation in his arms. But so determined was he to prove his foe wrong that he powered through even that, forcing his limbs to stand firm. As their exchange of blows passed all sensible margins, only one participant was showing any sign of exhaustion.

"SHOW ME... SOME BLOOD!" The villain simply refused to quit as he goaded Deku to give him more. Crushing him further and further into the rubble, his glee was briefly interrupted after a torrent of water splashed against his face.

"ST... STOP IT!" Kota cried out, tears flowing down his cheeks. His Quirk was as effective as his natural human reaction! Pitiful.

"Wait your turn, 'kay?! I'll kill you when I'm good and ready..." However, in his conceit, he once again handed Deku the ideal chance to strike back. But by the time he realized his mistake, it was too late.

"AS IF... I'D LET YOU... KILL HIMMMMMMM!"

*SSSMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSHHHHHH*

Crashing into the hard wall, the man's vulnerable back was dealt a critical blow as numerous bones were shattered by the impact. A veritable chasm was dug out of the mountain, effectively creating a mineshaft for anyone willing to dig there. His glass eye came flying out of his eye socket and fell off the edge. He couldn't even retrieve his muscle fibers, which now lay lifeless next to him. So thoroughly defeated was he that somehow, not a single pebble touched Deku as they were launched as a result of the destruction.

Meanwhile, Alucard was glad to see the boy surmount yet another obstacle. This feat would undoubtedly raise his self-esteem and help him realize that he did possess the strength to succeed on his own. And although he would have preferred Deku not break his own bones to do so, that was still a work in progress. Overall, Alucard would reward the ailing soul with a B+.

Having drained his reserves to completion, Deku almost collapsed. Were it not for Kota alerting him to it, he would not have been able to catch himself. As the two conversed with one another, Alucard's familiars notified him of an approaching threat. This one several times more formidable than the pawn Deku had just laid low. Deku was in no state to defeat it at the moment. Alucard decided that it was time to execute Phase Two of his scheme.

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Author's Notes: This chapter was pretty fun to write. Even though I'm sure you were excited to see Alucard tear them asunder, you'll unfortunately have to wait another month. The Training Camp Arc should conclude in the next chapter. You can expect subsequent chapters to begin moving further and further away from the original manga/anime. I'll try to release one or two more chapters before summer ends, at which point I may take a break in order to focus on my studies. Thank you for reading, and I'll see you in the next.