Notes: Yes people... story isn't dead. sometimes you get sick for a week... and when sick, you don't wanna write. sometimes you have a super busy work schedule after that and have no time. and then sometimes you leave the state to visit family for a week.
yep... life happens.
literally just finished writing this now, so havent proof read it lol. will edit it through the weekend but couldn't wait any longer to get it to all of you.
i do appreciate the love you have for the story, but yes, while i didn't want to take a month for an update, it happened. also had a few changes made to my original story, so hope you all enjoy!
Walking down the forest path, Katara and Jiro slowly shifted their eyes back and forth as they made their way further into the dark trees. After coming to their turn, they had barely gone more than a few minutes before they heard Momo scream in the distance. Jiro shivered and rubbed her arms. "Y-you know she gets scared easy. Probably wasn't that bad what they did." she tried saying to calm herself.
"Yeah, you're probably right." Katara chuckled, taking a breath as she suddenly heard rustling in the bushes next to her. Jiro noticed it as well and felt her heart jump, immediately latching onto Katara's arm. They both kept their eyes on the side before something suddenly dropped from the trees causing Jiro to scream out.
"Ahh, get away!" Jiro gasped out as the dark figure of Shihai Kuroiro jumped in front of them. As he laughed out, Jiro glared and looked away. Katara, while very startled, was able to keep herself from screaming. Jiro's hands latched onto her arms also kept her from screaming out.
"I-it's alright. Nothing too bad here." Katara huffed out. While she never really considered herself super brave, Katara had dealt with many scary moments before and felt like this was nothing she couldn't handle. She grinned internally and clenched her fist. She pulled on Jiro's hand, making the frowning girl look up to her while she pulled her along. "Don't worry, we can get through this."
Katara looked back forward, her confidence lasting five seconds before they saw Setsuna Tokage's floating head smirking at both of them.
"AHHHHHHHH!" Both girls screamed out and clutched each other.
"Hahaha! Oh that's the best one yet! Haha!" Setsuna laughed out as her head floated back towards the trees. Katara blushed and glared to the chuckles she heard from the bushes, pushing Jiro away and crossing her arms.
"I was just startled, alright?!" She yelled out, only making some of the giggles grow louder. Shaking, Katara scowled and stomped on the path. "Let's get this over with, okay?" as she walked, she noticed a pink mist beginning to flow through the trees towards her and Jiro making her raise her eyebrow. "What's this? One of you going to try and trick us with that? I'm not gonna fall for-
Katara's eyes shot open when she saw a body fall towards the ground, realizing it was the shadow kid from class B unconscious. "What the?"
"Kuroiro!" Setsuna yelled out through the bushes as she dropped down next to her classmate, her body back together as she tried shaking him. "Yo, what happened?! Get up!"
"That wasn't your class?!" Katara brought her arm up to cover her nose and mouth. "Jiro, don't breath this stuff in. I…" her words fell off when she turned to see Jiro stumble over and collapse onto the ground. "Jiro!"
Running over, Katara shook her classmate to try and keep her awake, only to find she had already fully fell unconscious. "What is happening?" She questioned in worry, looking around to see the mist getting thicker around them.
"Everyone in class A and B! This is Mandalay! Villains have attacked! I repeat! All of you retreat and head back to the compound now!"
"That voice…" Katara whispered to the sudden voice of Mandalay's telepathy reaching her. She then noticed Setsuna picking her classmate onto her back while holding her breath. Knowing they couldn't hold their breath for long, she quickly aimed her hand at a nearby tree and pulled back, ripping out a large stream of water from it. "Wait, use this!" She huffed out and shot some water over to the green haired teen.
Setsuna yelped in shock as she felt water suddenly splash onto her shoulders. "Woah, hey! What are-
Setsuna stopped talking as the water swirled around her head before creating a sealed air pocket inside the bubble. "Woah…" She turned in surprise to Katara, watching the waterbender forming her own water sphere around her head. "That's pretty cool."
"It won't be much though," Katara said, her voice muffled through the water bubble. "The air won't last long." Reaching down with her free arm, she scooped Jiro and pulled her onto her back while her other hand moved to keep the water moving around both she and Setsuna. "We have to get out of here."
"Yeah, let's get them out of here." Setsuna responded as she adjusted her classmate on her back. "Let's get them back to camp and out of… whatever this stuff is."
Katara stepped towards the path, but before she moved, her gaze shifted back towards the trees through the swirling fog. She knew Momo, Tokoyami and some of the others were all still in the forest, and she was afraid they needed help as well. She then remembered Shoto was also out there, feeling her chest tighten in concern for him as well. "Let's go after the others." She said.
"What?" Setsuna looked at her in confusion. "We should get out of the woods."
"We can't just leave everyone else out there with this weird fog. They need our help. We should try and find the others."
While she was concerned with getting out of here, Setsuna was also growing concerned with what was happening with her classmates in the woods. She huffed out and gave a small nod towards the class A girl. "You're right. Let's try and find them real quick."
Adjusting the students on their back, both girls turned towards the woods where the mist rolled through, and where there rest of their classmates were. Without hesitation, Katara ran straight into the forest, with Setsuna running after her.
"Wh-what's happening?! Why are there villains here?!" Mineta trembled out as he backed up with his other classmates. Izuku and a few others sat open mouthed in shock behind Mandalay and Tiger as they stared at Pixie Bob on the ground, her head bleeding underneath the blunt weapon pinning her to the ground.
"Pixie Bob!" Izuku yelled out in fear as the other two pussycat members stepped forward, facing off with the two villains standing above her. The one pinning her head down was what appeared to be a man with brown shoulder length hair in orange and white, while the other was dressed just like the hero killer Stain but with pink hair standing up and his body covered in green scales like a gecko.
"How dare you lay a hand on her!" Mandalay growled and clenched her fist as she stepped forward.
"Come now, don't be so hasty!" the lizard man grinned and opened his arms. "We are the vanguard squad of the league of villains, here to continue the work of the great man Stain!"
"Stain?" Izuku felt his heart jump at the memory of the hero killer, glancing over to see Tenya sweating as well. As a stared at his friend, however, he noticed the look of fear wasn't due to the hero killer look alike, but instead at the blue glow coming from the trees burning in the distance. He then remembered how Katara, Uraraka and the others were still in the forest, which meant a certain someone was also out there.
"Momo…" Izuku whispered out in worry as he looked to the distance, his concern now focused onto a certain black haired girl in the forest. He didn't even realize it, but he began moving away from the others towards the smoke rising in the distance. "She's out there still…"
"Midoriya, stay with the others!" Tiger demanded, but the green haired teen was moving further away. "Midoriya!"
"Momo and the others are out there…" Izuku's body sparked green as his body moved on auto pilot. "I have to go and help them!" Leaping off the ground, he burst through the air and disappeared into the treeline. He didn't know where he was going, but he wasn't going to sit by as the others needed help.
"Damn kid…" Tiger growled and turned his attention back at the villains standing there. "All of you, stay behind us and head back towards the facility! We will take these villains on!"
Ojiro and the other students all standing there watched in shock as the two pro heroes stood up to face the new villains. Turning, they went to run to safety where their teacher was at the compound. As he did though, he couldn't help but notice another one of their classmates had gone missing. He looked around, only to confirm his thoughts when he saw it was true.
"Where did Iida go?"
Deep in the forest, Tsu and Tokoyami kept their eyes peeled as they looked back and forth. Mandalay's warning to them put them both on edge as they watched for anything.
"They said villains have attacked here?" Tsu asked as she scanned the tree line.
"How did they find this place? Aizawa sensei said this place was hidden." Tokoyami responded.
"Ribbit. Maybe they followed us here. Either way, we should get back to camp now."
"We don't know where the villains are. If we aren't careful we may run into one."
A sudden branch breaking in the darkness caught both of their attentions, stepping closer until their backs were nearly touching. They both kept their eyes towards the sound, just as a sickening voice rang in the darkness.
"Flesh… flesh….give me… this is work. But... flesh!"
"Who… who is that?" Tsu asked as the cold voice got closer, almost like the owner was mumbling it out in a daze. Before she could say anything else, her eyes widened as a stream of blades burst out from the trees straight towards them. "What the?!"
Both of them jumped out of the way as the razor sharp blades shot out through the shadows and ripped into the ground where they were. Tokoyami looked back at the jagged blades in shock before following the attack into the treeline. "What is that?"
Before Tsu could respond, the long blades jumped out further from the ground and rushed towards the pair of them. "Ribbit?!" Tsu croaked out as she leaped onto the trunk nearby while the sharp weaponry chased her. She jumped again as it shot right past her face and sliced through the bark. "Let's get out of here now!"
"But where is he? I have no idea where he is." Tokoyami yelled out as the blades retracted back towards the shadows. "We can't rush out in the open."
"Use dark shadow and search ahead. With that, we can find him from a distance." Tsu offered, but the look Tokoyami gave her confused her. "What's wrong?"
"I… I can't use him now." Tokoyami grunted as he backed up away from where the blades came from. "It won't be safe."
"What do you mean? He can go out and-
"I can't." Tokoyami grimaced and clenched his fist, glancing up at the dark sky through the cloud. "I can't put us at risk."
"Tokoyami, if we don't-
Tsu's eyes widened as the blades ripped through the branches from above straight towards her, jumping down just as the tree was cut straight through. She landed onto the ground to see the sharp knife like appendages ripped through the bark and rushed towards her classmate. "Tokoyami, look out!"
In a matter of seconds, Tsu leaped as fast as she could right at Tokoyami, shoving him out of the way just before he was skewered. She however couldn't move fast enough, screaming out as she felt the jagged edge slash through the top of her shoulder.
"Tsu!" Tokoyami yelled as he watched her flop onto the ground, rushing towards her but jumped back as the razor blades whipped out through the air towards him once again forcing him to duck back. His eyes drifted down to his friend on the ground, feeling his heart race when he saw the blood pouring onto the ground. His beak began trembling when he saw her shaking on the ground, her hand turning red from the blood leaking through her fingers.
"Flesh… so… so soft. Need more!"
The anger in Tokoyami's chest began boiling over at the voice of the villain through the trees, his teeth clenching together in fury at seeing her hurt. As he did though, he unconsciously released the quirk he was trying to hold back, feeling it seep through his body and explode outward. Tsu heard him yell out, her eyes opening up in shock when the dark shape of a monster overtook Tokoyami, the frog teen watching as Dark shadow roared out, the creatures mouth now large enough to swallow someone whole. Its blood red eyes glowed in the faint light, it's body now rising eight meters off the ground.
"T-Tokoyami?" Tsu mumbled out as she sat up clutching her shoulder. She stared in disbelief as the large form rose into the treeline and growled out, watching as Tokoyami was ensnared in the dark mass unable to break free. "What's going on?"
"Tsu, get away from me!" Tokoyami screamed out in fear.
Before she could say anything, Tsu gasped as dark shadows massive claws swung straight towards her. She barely moved out of the way in time as the claws shattered the tree behind her, looking up in terror as the large beast roared at her once again. "Tokoyami!"
"Tsu. Get out of here! I… I can't control him in the darkness!" Tokoyami strained against the power of his quirk, watching helplessly as Tsu evaded while dark shadow now attacked anything that moved. He couldn't do anything to keep his quirk from doing this, the dark night now giving the power inside of him near unlimited free will in a drunken state of rage. "Dark shadow, stop! She's a friend!"
"RAAAAAHHHHH!" Dark shadow roared into the night, its flowing energy putting it in a rabid fury. "Give me blood!"
"Dark shadow, please!" Tokoyami pleaded as he felt the dark energy flowing out of him. He could only stare in fear as Tsu evaded another swipe from his quirk. Straining as hard as he could, Tokoyami was unable to stop his quirk now. He felt a tear in frustration fall down his face as he was completely under dark shadow's mercy, unable to stop his quirk from chasing after Tsu through the darkness.
Running through the forest, Katara struggled to keep her bending going around herself as she carried Jiro. Trying to balance her classmate on her back with one arm while her other moved to keep the water on herself and Setsuna's head was no easy task. Not only that, but she began having trouble breathing as the air inside her sphere was growing thin. She couldn't drop the water though as the gas in the air was still hovering around them.
"How far does this stuff go for?" Katara huffed out.
"It's covering a huge section of the forest. Where it came from, no god damn clue." Setsuna growled out behind the waterbender.
"What?" Katara asked in confusion to how she knew that as she turned to look at her. Before she could say anything, she gasped out in shock as she saw the left side of Setsuna's head missing completely inside her water bubble. "Wh-what happened to you?!"
"I'm fine, calm down," Setsuna rolled her remaining eye at Katara's freaked out reaction. "It's my quirk remember?"
Katara mouth hung in shock as she saw the missing section of the teen float down from above the treeline and pass through the water before reattaching to Setsuna's face. Katara now blushed remembering the floating head from earlier. "S-sorry. Just had a lot on my mind." She paused as she readjusted Jiro on her back. "So, this stuff keeps going in the forest?"
"Yes. It's a lot thicker to the east, but the weird thing is the fire further away."
"A fire? What do you mean?"
"Well…" Setsuna huffed as she tried keeping her head straight in the thinning air. "It seemed like it looked bl-
"Katara!"
Both teens turned to the sudden voice ahead, Katara's eyes widening in relief when she saw Momo kneeling up from the ground with some kind of mask on her face. Standing above her was Kirishima with the same kind of mask on his face, along with a Tetsutetsu and Awase of class B with them as well. "You are alright… I was worried."
"Yeah, we are fine." Momo's eyes widened when she saw Jiro unconscious on Katara's back. "Oh my god, Jiro! Is she alright?!"
"I'm not sure. She's still breathing but she isn't waking up." Katara coughed as her air was becoming hard to take anymore, feeling her head begin to spin. Momo noticed that and activated her quirk on her forearm.
"Here…" Momo lifted her arm up and created several more gas masks out. "Take these. It will let you breathe safely."
"Here, let me get her!" Kirishima said as he came over and helped Jiro to the ground, while Tetsutestu aided Setsuna with her classmate. As soon as they set them down, the two girls looked at each other and nodded, Katara letting the water fall as they reached for a mask and slipped it on their faces. As soon as they could, they both took deep breaths in relief as they felt their heads clear with fresh air.
"Thank you." Katara huffed in relief.
"Yeah, much better." Setsuna whistled in satisfaction. Her happiness only lasted a moment before she saw Shiozaki unconscious on the ground in front of Yaoyorozu. "Shiozaki? This shit got her too?!"
"What the hell is going on?! What is this stuff?" Kirishima yelled out in confusion.
"Whatever it is, it's taking out anyone who breaths it…" Momo said as she stood up. "Make sure you keep these on."
"How the hell did these villains find us?" Tetsutetsu growled and adjusted his mask. "Didn't the teachers say it was a secret?"
"Can we talk about this later and get the fuck out of here?" Setsuna snapped out. "We got three people out cold here. We should get them back to camp with the teachers."
"What about everyone else out there? We can't just leave them!" Katara demanded out. "I'm not leaving before we find them."
"We can't just haul all of them through the woods with us, though. It's too dangerous." Awase from class B said.
"Let's take them with us, then." Setsuna offered and disconnected her hands from her body as they floated down and grabbed Shiozaki's shoulders. "With my quirk I can carry two of them at least."
Tetsutetsu gave a concerned look at his classmate. "You shouldn't head back alone. We should stick together."
"With them being down, it would just put everyone at risk. Me and Awase can take them back to camp while you go and help everyone else."
Nodding as they left, the remaining four students turned and faced each other in the mist. "Alright, let's split up and try and find anyone else as fast as we can. We have no idea who else needs help." Katara said as she turned to Momo. "Yaoyorozu, you come with me."
"Okay. Kirishima, take these." Momo handed over several more masks to her classmate. "Give these to whoever needs them."
Grabbing the masks, Kirishima gave a hesitant look through his own mask. "Uh, you sure you are okay going without us? Maybe we should split up between you two."
Katara frowned when she saw him notion for the guys to split so they were each with either herself or Momo. "I think we can handle it. If we don't split up, we won't find everyone fast enough."
"Sounds good! Let's go and get it!" Tetsutetsu threw his fist in the air making the others smile in agreement.
"Alright, Let's go. Be careful out there." Katara told them before turning and running with Momo into the woods.
Watching the girls leave, Kirishima sighed into his mask in worry still. "Think it's good to let them go without us?"
Tetsutetsu gave a small shrug. "They are pretty tough, dude. I think they would probably take us both out in a fight."
Laughing, Kirishima shook his head although honestly kind of agreed as both he and his class B counterpart ran the other direction. "You're probably right, man. Let's go and find everyone else!"
"Hell Yeah!" Tetsutetsu cheered with him as they gave a fist bump to each other. As they ran through the smoke, however, He felt a strange feeling that there was something else around them. He couldn't explain it, but it was like there was something dangerous coming up. Eyeing the smoke, he clenched his fists as he ran with his teammate. "So this is the second time you faced villains, huh?"
Kirishima sighed internally as he thought back to the USJ. "Yeah… I mean, most of the villains that attacked us were actually just random guys off the street. They weren't like that crazy, but they were still trying to kill us."
"But you guys all made it out… and you had to fight some villains." Tetsutetsu questioned, wondering if they were going to have to do the same right now.
"Yeah we did. I just hope we don't run into anything crazy like that monster in the end." Kirishima grimaced thinking of the Nomu as they ran through the now thinning smoke. "Nice, we must be getting to the end of this crap. Let's just try to hurry and-
His words were cut off as a loud crashing sound rang through the forest. They both skidded to a stop at a large figure was suddenly launched their direction. "Woah, watch out!" Kirishima yelled out and ducked to avoid being hit. He turned as the figure skidded across the ground and came to a stop, seeing what appeared to be a large, hairy beast like creature in torn clothes. "What is tha-
"Shishida!" Tetsutetsu called out in fear as he ran over to his classmate, the teens beast quirk shrinking down as he returned to his normal size. Tetsutetsu pulled off his mask andgasped in shock as he saw the condition of his friend, fully unconscious and blood seeping out of large gash on his broken arm. "Shishida, what the hell happened?!"
"Damn, that fur ball was pretty tough. That was a good stretch for me."
Both Kirishima and Tetsutetsu look up in shock to the voice behind, catching sight of the large figure walking their way. The massive being was over two meters tall and draped in a black cloak, with a white hockey mask covering his face. Whoever this was, it was obvious he wasn't part of their classes. Glaring, Tetsutetsu stood up and activated his steel quirk. "What the hell did you do to my friend, you bastard?!" he yelled out in anger.
"I was trying to be nice and ask a question, but he didn't tell me what I wanted and grew all big. I guess he has more bark than bite…" the masked man chuckled as he approached, his head turning towards Kirishima before snickering. "Oh, look at my luck. I found someone on the kill list."
"The what?" Kirishima said out loud as he hardened himself as well. "You're part of these villains, aren't you?"
"I just tagged along with these guys so I could do what I want…" the cloaked figure laughed as he stuck his out of his cloak, his skin suddenly becoming enshrouded in muscle fibers. "And you are exactly what I need right now. Something for me to kill!"
In the blink of an eye, the masked man leaped towards them and swung his muscle engorged arm at Kirishima. He gasped out and raised his arms up to block as the fist collided with his wrists, his eyes going wide from the pain through his hardening while we was launched through the air.
"Kirishima!" Tetsutetsu screamed out in shock as he watched him fly into a large tree, looking back just before the mans large fist plowed into his own stomach. Even with his steel, he felt his body buckle over slightly before being knocked back several meters. Coughing out, he glared as the large man walked towards him. "Holy shit, this guy is strong…"
"Well, not many little brats would be standing after a punch from me. That's a neat little quirk you both have…" the villain Muscular laughed as he removed the mask from his face, revealing a short haired blonde man with a synthetic left eye. "That's good. That means I get to have a little fun with both of you before you die."
Tetsutetsu gritted his teeth as Muscular came at him again, jumping out of the way as the large fist slammed into the ground shattering the earth. Standing back up, Tetsutetsu could barely see the large arm clothes lining him and launching him into another tree. The bark splintered from his back smashing into it, wincing out as he felt the steel in his chest vibrating from the intense impact. Muscular laughed out and cracked his knuckles. "For someone who is metal, you don't seem that tough actually."
"Hey, muscle man!" Kirishima called from the side getting his attention. "Get away from him!"
"Huh?" Muscular smirked when he saw the red head standing there, only his clothes slightly damaged above his hardened body. "Already up? Alright, let's go then!" The laughing villain leaped through the air right at Kirishima, both of his arms enshrouded with muscle fibers. Kicking off the ground, Kirishima yelled out and braced his own fist and threw it forward.
Elsewhere in the forest, the trees rushed by in a blur as Tenya burst through the forest. His eyes darted back and forth as he looked for anyone, but he was looking for a single one specifically to make sure she was okay.
"Katara… you better be alright." Tenya hissed to himself in worry as he ran faster. As he was going, however, he noticed a strange pink cloud hovering too late before he was already upon it. Quickly taking a breath before he inhaled it, he covered his mouth as he rushed through the center of it. "What is this stuff? It's not normal fog." he said to himself. He wasn't sure what it was, so he certainly wasn't going to breath it in.
While hoping it was only going to last a few moments, he was surprised to see it growing thicker as he went. He was beginning to have trouble seeing ahead of himself, looking around before realizing he was completely turned around in this strange mist. He couldn't tell which way he was going now, unable to tell the difference from the path or the forest now. "Where am I? Why is this getting thicker?"
He turned and rushed to the right, hoping to somehow be out of this strange mist before his breath ran out. He sprinted quicker to hopefully be out of it in a moment, but his heart nearly stopped when he came through a swirling cloud before coming face to face with a revolver.
BANG!
Tenya's heart skipped in his chest as he felt the bullet rip through the top of his hair, tripping in shock and rolling across the ground. He quickly crawled back up and flipped around to see the figure in a school uniform and gas mask staring at him. "Well, you're pretty lucky you were moving so fast. Never shot at a target so fast before." Mustard chuckled and pointed the gun at Tenya once again. "Maybe It'll take two."
"What are you-" Tenya gasped and kicked off the ground just before the gun went off again, bursting to the side and moving into the mist. "He's trying to kill me!" he shouted in shock, guessing this person was his own age by the uniform he was wearing. "Why would he be with the villains?!"
Mustard could sense Tenya moving through the mist, grunting in annoyance to how fast he was moving. "Stand still, damn it. Or is that all you can do, run like a coward?" he taunted and fired off another round.
Tenya gritted his teeth as he ran around even faster, making sure he wasn't giving this person a chance to aim. He gasped as he heard another bullet whiz right past his head. While running however, he felt his chest begin to tighten from holding his breath. He knew this was not going to last if he kept going like this, knowing he had to either run… or do something now.
'I'm still not allowed to fight villains without a license, but I can't just let him go or he could hurt someone else.' Tenya grunted and skidded to a quick stop. 'I have to stop him!'
Mustard quickly reloaded his gun and grinned to himself as he sensed Tenya stopped moving, spinning the cartridge and aiming it at the UA teen. "You wannabe heroes are always so cocky. Thinking you can just stop and everything will be-
"Recipro burst!"
Mustard gasped as he was grasped by the back of his jacket and dragged through the forest. The sudden force caused him to drop his pistol as he was carried like a rag doll over the dirt, unable to even see where they were due to the speed. "What the hell?! Let me go!"
"I am taking you back to the camp! The pro heroes will properly arrest you and bring you justice!" Tenya yelled through his hand covering his mouth.
"Get your hand off me, damn it!" Mustard thrashed and punched at the arm holding his jacket before his jacket suddenly ripped free. "I'm going to kill-
WHAM!
Moving that fast, Mustard went completely out cold as his helmet shattered from crashing into a large tree. Tenya gasped in surprise from accidentally letting the villain go. As he stared for a few seconds though, he saw the mist was immediately dissipating from the villains quirk being shut off. Taking his hand off, Tenya took a deep breath taking in the fresh air in relief. "Well, I… didn't actually use my quirk on him." he sighed out.
He bent down and saw the villains face, his eyes rolled over white and blood dripping down his head. Now that the mask was off, he saw he really was just another teen like himself. Frowning, Tenya could tell he was certainly not getting up anytime soon, however, meaning they were safe from the mist now. He grunted in annoyance seeing his exhaust pipes smoking out, knowing they needed a little time to cool before he could use them again. Quickly using the villains own jacket as make shift bindings, Tenya stood up and ran into the woods once more.
"I'm coming Katara…" he said to himself. "… you came to help me. Now I have to return the favor!"
"Come on!" Kirishima screamed out and threw another punch forward, his hardened fist slamming into the forearm of Muscular. The moment it connected, the teens eyes went wide when he only received a cold smirk from the large man.
"All that hardness and you got no strength behind it? What a waste!" Muscular roared out and brought his other fist forward at Kirishima, who threw a punch to counter as well. What Kirishima didn't expect was the pain he felt rushing through his arm from the impact. He gasped and tried to jump backwards, but Muscular's large hand shot forth and grabbed his face, feeling the pressure growing on his skull despite his quirk.
"Rah!" Tetsutetsu ran forward and slammed his fist right into Muscular's side, the force enough to catch the villain off guard and glare. Unfortunately for the teens, it simply made him swing Kirishima and slam him right into Tetsutetsu through the forest and skid across the ground. Coughing, Tetsutetsu crawled out from underneath Kirishima and shook his shoulder. "Hey, you good, man?" he asked.
"Yeah…" Kirishima groaned and sat up. "This guys is- shit, look out!"
"Come here!" Muscular burst forward and kicked the unsuspecting Tetsutetsu in his steel stomach and launched him through the treeline before turning and driving his fist into Kirishima's blocking arms. The red headed teen winced as he felt his arms shake before he wad slammed into the trunk of a large tree as Muscular grabbed his throat and pinned him there. "Before I kill you, why don't you help me out a little. I'm looking for a kid named Bakugo. You know where he is?"
Kirishima's eyes shot open in shock to what he heard. "Wh-what? What do you want with Bakugo?"
"Oh, so you know him? That's good. If you tell me where he is, I can kill you quick. Sound good?"
Glaring, Kirishima reached up and grabbed the arm holding him. "You think I would just sell out my friend? You can go to hell!"
Instead of being frustrated, Muscular only grinned. "Fine. That means I get to have some fun with you!" He brought his other fist back and drove it into Kirishima's stomach, the teen wincing out despite his hardening power. Laughing out, Muscular let go of Kirishima's neck and began unleashing a barrage of punches into his stomach. "Hahahaha! This is great! You can take a hit, kid!"
Kirishima gasped out as he took the hits, feeling like his stomach was beginning to crack under the devastating impacts. He tried to block but the pain only intensified in his arms, his back pounding into the trunk over and over causing the wood to splinter. Muscular continued to laugh as he slammed his fists into the teens body. "Haha! Come on, I want to hear you scream!"
"Get off him!" Tetsutetsu yelled as he charged forward, throwing himself onto one of Muscular's to stop him, yet he was helpless to stop the unrelenting power of the villain. He was quickly thrown off like a rag doll before Muscular simply chuckled and let Kirishima's battered body slump down the trunk.
Muscular chuckled and walked over to the downed Tetsutetsu, the teen's eyes widening as the villains leg lifting up as it swelled with growing muscles. "Don't worry. There's plenty to go around for both of you!"
"Smash!"
The forest rang out with the loud crack of the fist slamming into Muscular's face, the sudden impact surprising the villain and forcing him back a few steps. Tetsutetsu and Kirishima stared in shock at the green blur that appeared out of nowhere before they both recognized the class A student that landed in front of them.
"M-Midoriya?!"
Izuku's body sparked with energy as he faced the towering man in front of him. His face was twisted in anger as he saw what what happening to Kirishima, luckily making it in time before it was too late. "Kirishima, are you guys okay?!" he asked in concern.
Shaking off his shock, Kirishima winced as he sat up against the trunk. "I… I'm good."
"Yeah, thanks man." Tetsutetsu breathed in relief we wasn't just crushed into the ground, standing up beside the newcomer. "Luckily we can take a hit."
Sighing in relief, Izuku suddenly gasped out when he realized Kirishima wasn't with his assigned classmate. Immediately his heart began racing when he remembered who he was with. "Kirishima. Where is she? Where's Momo?!" He yelled in worry.
"She's with Katara. But Midoriya… this guy is after Bakugo!"
"What?!" Izuku turned back to the large man smiling his way. "What does he want with Kachaan?"
"Well look what we have here. What luck I have that I find two guys on the kill list." Muscular laughed and pulled the cloak off his body revealing his red tank top and green pants underneath. "And you got a little more punch than the other two. This night just gets better for me!"
Izuku swallowed as he stepped back, processing what he just heard. 'Me and Kirishima are on a kill list? But he's after Kachaan specifically? What does he want?' No matter what the reason was though, he had to do something since this guy was trying to kill his friends. Clenching his fists, he gritted his teeth and tried thinking of the right plan. He knew he couldn't carry both of them out of here, and with another student down that meant they had no choice but to stay. And this man was set on coming for them, but he remembered the rule they weren't allowed to use their powers on others before they were heroes.
But like any hero would… Midoriya wasn't going to let this man hurt anyone else.
"I'm not gonna let you hurt them anymore!" Izuku shouted out in defiance and readied his body, making Muscular only laugh more.
"Alright kid, let's see what you can do!" Muscular jeered out and launched himself forward at the green haired teen, surprised by the burst of speed Izuku evaded with to the side. Grinning, he increased his leg muscles more and blasted off the ground right towards the wide eyed teen several trees away. "Don't make this boring for me!"
Izuku barely had enough time to duck underneath the fist smashing straight through the tree behind him, kicking off the ground to try and give himself some distance between them and the others. He however wasn't expecting Muscular to suddenly come and bull rush him with his shoulder and plow him across the dirt.
"Midoriya!" Kirishima yelled in fear as Midoriya bounced across the dirt. He struggled to stand back up from his sore muscles, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched his friend jump away before being crushed by another punch. He wanted to run out their and help him out, but his body suddenly felt a hundred times heavier. His legs locked in place as his hands shook. He could only stare in fear and terror… knowing he was helpless against someone like this.
"Smash!" Izuku yelled as he unleashed an 8% powered punch and struck the blocking arm of muscular, his eyes widening in shock as he watched the muscles ripple but not break.
"Not enough kid…" Muscular smirked as he enshrouded his other arm in muscles. "If you wanna punch, you throw it like this!"
Izuku brought his arm in to block, but before he could he was shoved out of the way by Tetsutetsu taking the full blast to the stomach. The steel teen immediately buckled over, his breathing labored from the strike much stronger than the ones earlier.
"Tetsutestsu!" Izuku screamed in worry before his brow scrunched in anger, charging left hand and charging forward. He felt the energy burn inside as he brought it up to 10% this time. "Smash!"
"Hahahahaha!" Muscular laughed as his fist rushed forward and collided with the teens, his mind screaming in pleasure as he felt the bones break in Izuku's arm and seeing the pain overtaking his face. "More, I want to hear you all scream out!" he cheered out before spinning and landing a powerful kick to his target's chest and launching him through another tree.
"AHH!" Izuku screamed out, clutching his shattered arm as he tried crawling back up. He was given no time to recover before Muscular came down with both fists and crushed the ground along with Izuku into the dirt.
"M-Midoriya!" Kirishima gasped as he felt the ground itself shake from the impact. He had to go and help his friend… but even as he saw the blood pouring down Midoriya's face, he couldn't get his body to move away from his spot. His fists shook as he tried to take a step, but his own blood ran cold watching the villain laugh above his friend. He no matter what he felt… nothing was making him able to move.
"Leave him alone!" Tetsutetsu called out, but in a flash Muscular's fist plowed into his face and flung him into the ground. He couldn't even yelp out in pain before the large boot of Muscular slammed down onto his chest, coughing out blood from the pressure seemingly denting his steel in. He couldn't take it anymore, forcing his quirk to deactivate making the villain cackle.
"Damn, you little bastards were some good punching bags. Most people begin begging after a few hits, but you brats gave me some fun! But I've got to go and grab that Bakugo kid, so I got no more time to play anymore. How about I just kill you and get this over with?" Muscular cracked his knuckles and chuckled staring down at the damaged teen below him. "I may as well start with the tin can here."
"You get away from him!"
Muscular turned to see Midoriya flying through the air straight towards him, making him grin larger. "Back for more? You are better than I expected! I will make sure you die before your friends here!"
"You won't be killing me, or any of them!" Izuku yelled out as he brought his right arm back, focusing everything in his right arm. "I won't let you hurt them any more!"
Muscular's smile fell as he felt the energy pouring out of Midoriya, suddenly feeling concerned as the teens arm was seemingly glowing. 'What the hell? He's different than before!'
'One for all… 100%!' Midoriya's fist rushed forward and glowed bright as he focused his power. "Detroit… SMASH!"
BOOSH!
Kirishima and Tetsutetsu gasped out form the powerful shock wave erupting out from Midoriya's attack, shielding their eyes as tree branches snapped around them from the gust of wind rushing out. After a few seconds the pressure slowly died down, the thick cloud of dust and smoke blocking their view before they saw Midoriya standing there, his right arm now shattered and covered in blood and bruising. And Muscular was nowhere to be seen.
"M-Midoriya…" Kirishima stuttered out in disbelief, watching as his friend panted there.
"Holy shit…." Tetsutetsu muttered in shock, wiping away some of the blood around his mouth.
Izuku wobbled slightly as he stepped away from the thick dust cloud in front of him and turned to the others.
"You… you guys alright?"
Both of the others were shocked that was the first thing he said, instead of worrying about his own injuries. Tetsutetsu laughed out and whistled at what he just saw. "God damn, man! You are freaking strong! No wonder Juzo couldn't get you in the festival!" When neither of the other two smiled, he awkwardly coughed and rubbed his head. "I… I'm good. Little sore but I think I can manage."
Kirishima however only clenched his fists in frustration and glared at the ground, gritting his teeth as he felt sick to his stomach. "I… I'm sorry. I should have tried and helped you earlier. But… after he was hitting me, I… I just-
The snapping of wood pulled the trio out of their thoughts and caused their blood to run cold. They all turned and looked to the clearing smoke, their hearts ramming in their chest when they saw the shifting mass walking towards them. The once large form of Muscular was now engorged with muscle fibers over his entire body, his shirt shredded from the massive size his torso became from his quirk, his maniacal smile still lurking above his rippling form.
"Damn… it's been a long time since I felt some pain like that." Muscular chuckled as his form slightly retracted. "If I didn't get serious right there, it may have been bad for me."
Izuku felt his mouth tremble in shock and terror. 'N-no way… that was a 100% smash. That's the same as All Might's!' he screamed internally.
"That dude is still up?! The hell?!" Tetsutetsu gasped out.
"You really are awesome, kid. I had no idea someone in these brats here was going to be so strong! It's been so long since I actually found someone worthy of a challenge!" Muscular jeered out as he cracked his neck and reformed the muscles on his body. "I haven't felt this excited in ages!"
"We got to get out of here!" Kirishima said as he watched the muscle covered villain walk their way.
"Both of you, get out of here!" Izuku yelled out as he clenched his broken fist. "I will stop him here!"
Both Kirishima and Tetsutetsu gasped at the demand, knowing their was no way to be victorious. "Midoriya, no! Let's go!" Tetsutetsu said.
"I won't let him get past me. Get back to the camp!" Izuku ordered as his engery flowed once more to his arm. "I have to stop him!"
Muscular couldn't stop from grinning as he saw the green haired teen standing defiant, enveloping his body in even more muscles and blasting forward. "Midoriya!"
Planting his feet, Izuku glared as he readied another 100% punch and drew his arm back. "Detroit… SMASH!"
Both combatants collided in a clash that shook the entire area, trees shaking from the intense force being generated. Unlike the first time, however, Muscular was not thrown back as his entire form was a swirling mass of muscle pushing forward.
"What's the matter? This is weaker than before!" Muscular laughed out as he could hear the strain coming from Midoriya. "You are still so good! I want to hear you scream!"
Even as he felt his body seemingly breaking beneath him, Izuku refused to stop and pushed back even harder. "Shut up… I said I won't let you pass! Kirishima, Tetsutetsu, go!"
Despite his call, the other two stood their frozen in horror, watching as the blood leaked out of Izuku's arm even faster the harder he pushed. "Midoriya!" Kirishima called out.
"Damn kid, you're the best!" Muscular cheered in pleasure as he enshrouded even more muscles on his body, relishing in the excitement of having to try. "Give me more!"
"SHUT UP!" Izuku screamed out as he felt his body pushed into a large tree, the bark beginning to splinter from the force. As he tried however, he felt the trunk behind him split and force his body deeper into the wood as the rippling form crushed him even harder.
Tetsutetsu felt helpless standing there, his body too damaged to use his quirk anymore. Even if he did, he knew he couldn't do anything to stop this man. "What… what do we do?"
Kirishima however was panicking in his head, so many things screaming inside telling him to do so many things. He didn't want to say it, but inside he felt fear gripping his heart, telling him to run away and save himself. He cursed himself thinking that, but he knew better than to deny the truth. It was the reason he didn't move to help Midoriya earlier… and the same reason he didn't move that day to help others when they needed it.
'What the hell is wrong with me? He's going to die and I'm just sitting here!' he cried inside his head, but when he saw the look on Midoriya's face, he felt his heart stop. Tears poured down Izuku's face, in pain and frustration as he pushed against the madman. But he could also see the fear in his friends face, knowing he may not make it through this. His mind then suddenly reminded him of what he heard his favorite hero say, the same thing that inspired him to be a hero himself.
"Anyone who isn't afraid of almost certain death is just a huge idiot! I'm scared of villains and of dying! But I know something even scarier. The last expression of someone dying, and the pain of being unable to save them."
"No…" Kirishima grunted out and stepped forward, his body hardening on instinct. "… I won't stand here."
Tetsutetsu suddenly noticed the movement to his side, gasping out as Kirishima ran forward. "Wait, no!" he called after him, but his words went unheard as Kirishima continued forward.
"I won't sit by…" Kirishima yelled and clenched his fist, running straight at the distracted villain and bringing his arm back. "WHEN SOMEONE NEEDS HELP!"
Muscular gasped in surprise when the sharp knuckles of Kirishima drove right into his cheek, slicing his face and making him wince slightly. He turned his head and glared at the culprit. "You want some more after this? I have plenty more for you and-
the villain's smirk fell when he suddenly felt his body being pushed back, gasping and looking forward again. "Shit… the moment I let up?!"
"I wont…" Izuku growled as he pushed forward, his foot bracing against the tree and forcing him out. "… I won't let you touch him!"
Muscular's eyes widened as Izuku's foot kicked off the tree behind him and shattered the tree entirely. "Where the hell is this power coming from?!"
'One for All… 1,000,000%!'
Izuku's fist ripped away from the muscles enshrouding him, the villains mouth dropping in shock as the clenched fist plowed right towards him. "DETROIT… SMAAAAAASH!"
The ear splitting crack of Izuku's fist colliding with Muscular's face rang through the trees as the villain was blasted through the forest. Tree trunks shattered as the limp form of Muscular slammed through them over and over, snapping like toothpicks while he bounced across the ground and disappeared in the dark distance of the forest. After a few moments, silence overtook the air once more, only to be broken as Izuku took a deep breath and looked up to the sky.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
The cry was a mix of pain and relief, the adrenaline coursing through his body barely keeping him conscious above the injuries he was feeling. He panted out over and over, trying to calm himself before he finally turned to the others staring at him in shock.
"You… you did it." Kirishima muttered in amazement, falling back on his butt in relief as well.
"That was crazy, man…" Tetsutetsu added.
Breathing heavily, Izuku looked down to the ground and winced as he tried to close his fist once more, his hand shaking uncontrollably and unable to clench it shut anymore. He knew he couldn't stop now, though. He had to keep going. "You guys head back to camp. I will go and find everyone."
"What?!" Kirishima gasped out. "You can't go out there! You need to come back with us!"
"Tell them the villains are after Kachaan. I have to find them!"
"Wait!" Tetsutetsu called out after Izuku as he ran away, his voice falling flat as the One for all user disappeared into the darkness. He had to go and find Kachaan before the villains got to him. Not only that, he was worried about everyone else who was out there, if they had to face someone like he just did. His heart beat faster as he ran through the trees, his mind playing tricks on him as he pushed harder.
"Please be okay…" he grimaced as he imagined a certain girl being attacked, her eyes wide in terror before she was hurt. He clenched his teeth and refused to accept that from happening, pushing his legs harder as he prayed for her safety. "Please be okay, Momo."
Carrying the unconscious class B student on his back, Shoto sighed in relief as the strange mist had dissipated where he was now. Taking a breath in, he felt better not needing to cover his mouth anymore. He was lucky to have seen one of the other class B students collapse just before he had the chance to breathe it himself. The only problem was he had no idea who else had been affected, and what other villains could be waiting ahead for them. It also didn't make it any easier having to listen to his classmate next to him.
"Why the hell are we packing that extra around?! The bastard is slowing us down!" Bakugo barked out.
"We aren't leaving him out here. We have to get him back to camp for help." Shoto grunted.
"He's already out! Just let the teachers come for him later. I'm going to go and kick those villains asses!"
"We can't just rush into something when we don't know what's happening. Besides…" Shoto grumbled, adjusting the student on his back. "We don't know who else needs our help out there."
"Hmph…." Bakugo rolled his eyes and cracked his knuckles. "That's why I'll go beat the shit out of those villains! Just stay out of my way when I bring them down!"
While glaring at Bakugo's attitude, Shoto couldn't help but feel the urge to rush out there as well. With what they heard from Mandalay, they had no idea how many villains had somehow found this place, and there was no way to know who was in danger. Even though the most logical answer was to rush back to camp and let the pros handle the situation, his heart was telling him to run straight into the forest and fight as well. He wanted to keep everyone else safe as well, but he had to find someone in particular and make sure she was okay. To stop anyone from hurting her and-
"Blood…Blood."
Both Bakugo and Shoto stopped walking at the grumbling voice ahead of them, catching sight of the figure in a black straight jacket and steel restraints covering all over his body. Their eyes widened in shock when they noticed the figure was leaned over a puddle of blood. "Hey Icy hot… Who was ahead of us?" Bakugo asked.
"Tsu… and Tokoyami." Shoto slowly answered as the figure seemingly wanted to drink up the blood before turning up to them, the restrained man's mouth also wired fully open.
"Flesh… tastes so good…" the killer Moonfish hissed out as he faced the newcomers, his eyes hidden by the steel restraints all over his head. "Give me more."
Eight minutes earlier
Katara and Momo ran through the thick gas together, having yet to find another student through this hovering cloud. Breathing heavily through her mask, Katara began to worry how everyone else was doing. Being in this stuff for so long, she was afraid more had accidentally inhaled the sleeping fumes and fallen unconscious as well. She then felt her heart beat faster as she thought of Shoto, knowing he was one of the first groups going in and was much further in the forest. She clenched her fists and ran faster hoping to get their in time. As they ran though, they were shocked when they heard a loud pop echo through the sky.
"Hey, wait!" Momo suddenly shouted and skidded to a stop. "what was that?!"
"I don't know..." Katara said in confusion before turning the same direction as her friend. To her surprise, she heard several more ring out right after. While she was still new to this world, she had heard this sound enough to tell what it was. "That… that sounded like gun shots…"
Momo brought her hand up and gripped her hand in fear who that gun was being used on, only hoping they were able to escape safely. After several moments of silence, they both were surprised to see the gas suddenly dispersing into the air. "Wait, look. The air is clearing up." Momo pointed up to the clearing sky.
"Yeah…" Katara said in surprise. After a few moments, the air had fully cleared up, allowing her to fully see her surroundings unobstructed now. Seeing it was safe, she pulled her mask off and took in the clean air happily. "That's better. What made it clear up, though?"
"I don't know, but whatever happened it worked out for us…" Momo answered as she slipped her mask off as well. "Let's keep going and hopefully find a few others."
"Right." Katara nodded in agreement as they took off through the trees once more. To her amazement, they only had to run a few hundred meters before they ran into a familiar class B face. "Kendo!"
The orange haired teen looked to see the two girls running her way. "Katara!" She shouted back as they approached. "Glad to see some more are okay."
"Were you alone this whole time?" Momo asked her.
Kendo shook her head. "No. I was with my friend Yui when that gas came and I used my quirk to cover her. We were able to get through this stuff…" She gave a small frown in worry when she turned towards the trees. "A few others weren't as lucky and got knocked out by it."
"Some more of your friends got put to sleep?" Katara asked in concern. While she was still wanting to go and find Shoto, she couldn't just sit by when others were in trouble too. And if anyone could take care themselves, she knew he was certainly capable of that. "Take us to them. We will help bring them to the camp."
"Really?" Kendo smiled at the offer. "That would be amazing. Thank you."
"Of course. We can try and find others while we go to them." Momo added as well.
"Thank you both. Come on, they are back this way." Kendo waved them both after her as she ran back into the woods. "Yui already headed towards camp with someone else who was asleep as well. If he hurry we can get the others and catch up with her."
"We ran into Tetsutetsu and Tokage as well. She went back to camp with Awase and a few others who were knocked out." Momo informed her as they followed through the forest. "Tetsutetsu went with Kirishima to find others who need help, too."
"With whatever is happening, we need all the help we can…" Kendo grunted out. "We have to find the teachers or the pussycats fast and figure out what is going on. They said Ragdoll was out in the forest keeping an eye on the test, so hopefully she got some others to safety too."
Katara looked up to the sky and looked to the half moon and frowned, wishing she could be at her peak strength tonight. "If we can get to her, she could use her quirk to find where everyone-
A loud buzzing sound cut through the air causing all of them to stop in their tracks. Katara's eyes shot open when she saw a large tree falling their direction. "Look out!"
Kendo and Momo gasped out when they were tackled out of the way just as the tree crashed down where all three girls were just moments before. Coughing, Momo sat up and inhaled in shock from the close call. "Thanks. That was close."
"What the hell was that?" Kendo questioned as she stood up, but when she did, her mouth hung open in shock when she saw the form standing behind the cut down tree. "What… what is that thing?"
Katara turned and looked that direction as well, feeling her heart skip when she saw the creature walking their direction. The monster was just like the others she had seen before, but this ones skin a light green color instead of black or gray. It's muscular body had not just two arms, but instead another one coming from it's back with a chainsaw instead of a hand. What was similar however was the exposed brain on its head above it's metal guarded mouth, a brain exposed just like every other one she had seen.
"A nomu?! What is that doing here?!" Katara shouted out as she stood up.
"That is one of those things that attacked the school?" Kendo asked in shock, seeing one in person for the first time.
"We have to get out of here! We need to find Ragdoll quick!"
"K-Katara…" Momo shuttered out, her eyes shaking in fear to what she saw. "In it's hand. That is…"
Looking down to his closed fist, Katara's mouth fell open in terror when she saw the yellow head piece that Ragdoll had been wearing. What made her terrified though was the thick coating of blood covering the nomu's hand. "That thing… did it…?" she slowly said as her fist clenched tight, breathing in hard before opening her hand towards one of the nearby trees.
Kendo expanded her fists as the nomu charged straight towards them. "Here it comes!" she yelled out.
Arching her knuckles, Katara ripped out the water from the tree she was near and brought it around her arm. She stared in caution knowing what these things could do, hardening it into ice and shooting it forward. "We have to get back to camp! Go!"
The nomu slashed through the ice with its saw before screeching out and lashing out towards the trio. She she rolled, Momo formed a shield in time before the creature's chainsaw swung down at her, sparks flying off the steel from the metal grinding. Kendo used this chance to strike the creature with her enlarged hands, but to her shock the beast only buckle over before standing up from her hit. "This thing is strong!" She shouted out.
"I know, they all are!" Katara yelled as she pulled out water from another tree and shot it forward, the force just enough to push it away from Momo enough to give her the chance to get out from it. Pulling the water back over her shoulders, Katara spun around and shot a long water whip out cracking the nomu in the chest making it screech out in fury. She tried bending her water back to attack again but glared when the beasts chainsaw cut through it. "Don't get too close to it! That weapon is dangerous!"
Kendo gritted her teeth in annoyance to that, watching as Momo created a small cannon from her body while Katara continued shooting water at the creature. Being a close range fighter, she felt out of place fighting this thing. She then saw the tree that had been cut down earlier and grinned. "Now that is something that could work." She said to herself.
Shooting off several cannonballs, Momo was shocked to see the creature seemingly walk through the smoke with only a few scorch marks on it's body but no significant damage had been dealt. As she slashed it with her water whip once again, Katara saw this one bled and didn't regenerate like the other one, meaning it didn't have a healing power like the one with All Might. "It's strong, but it can't heal like the one at the USJ. We can trap it here and get away to warn the others!" She yelled to the others.
"On it!" Momo answered and created a grappling gun, aiming the weapon at the beast's back while Katara continued to distract it. "I'm ready!"
Nodding, Katara summoned more water from another tree and enshrouded both of her arms and launched the water forward. The thick water tentacles encased on of the nomu's arm and it's opposing leg. The creatures chainsaw arm reached around to cut itself free, but before it could, the grappling hook pierced it beneath the saw and held it in place, unable to move as the creationist locked it to the ground.
"It's in!" Momo shouted.
"Do it now!" Katara yelled to their final member to the side besides the downed tree.
"Here it goes!" Kendo growled and brought her fist back and plowed into the side of the tree. Despite it hurting bad, she hit it hard enough to launch the large trunk into a roll straight towards the nomu. With the tree pinning it down, it would be the enough time for the girls to get out of there.
But plans never go accordingly.
The girls all gasped in shock as in one quick motion, the nomu cut itself from the water and the grappling cable at the same time before turning and slashing through the tree as well. Momo was certain the arm had been pinned in place, but when she looked back at the creature, she felt her jaw drop in disbelief. Sprouting out from the nomu's back were five additional arms, three more chainsaw's, one hammer and one with a spinning drill tip.
"What… what is this thing?" Katara muttered in shock. "It has eight arms?" The nomu looked from one girl to the next, but when it stared towards Katara, it shrieked out and ran forward, all six weapons aimed straight at the wide eyed waterbender.
"Katara!" Momo shouted as she watched Katara summon her water and launch it forward. As it collided, the creatures many chainsaws went forward and slashed through her stream of water, dissipating its power immensely as it continued forward. She shot forth another grappling hook, but like her last one it, it was cut free immediately by one of it's many weapons. "Katara, get back!"
Bending up a wave beneath herself, Katara was able to move fast enough out of the way in time before the nomu got to her. As she surfed out of range from it, the creature seemingly screeched in annoyance before turning and heading right towards the other two. Kendo was the one closer this time, the teen retreating as the creature ran straight at her with it's arms raised. "No!" Katara screamed out seeing her in danger and rushing back towards her.
Momo also ran after the class B leader, her arms glowing from her quirk at work. "Kendo, here!" she yelled and threw forward a pair of steel shields for Kendo. Catching them, Kendo clutched one to each of her large fists and turned to block the chainsaws swinging her way. Loud cracks of chain blade to metal rang out from the impact as she pushed back against two arms as once, but gasped when the hammer arm swung around and cracked the shield so hard she nearly lost it in her grip. She stared in worry again as it raised another chainsaw up before a large surge of water overtook the creature and suddenly froze over.
The girls turned to see Katara standing there with her hands out, exhaling as she closed up the ice fully. "You okay?" She asked.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Kendo took a deep breath and nodded. "Y-yeah, thank you." Her thanks was short lived when they heard the ice suddenly crack near herself, her mouth falling open as the loud buzzing of the creatures weapons continued inside the ice. "No… no way."
The others gasped out as the ice around the creature shattered outward, its many arms flailing about freeing itself from the frozen prison and going straight at Kendo as if nothing had happened. "Kendo, get back!" Katara screamed in fear as she tried bending the ice back in water to push her out of the way, but the beasts arms moved too fast keeping back any water or ice from coming near itself. "Kendo!"
Still attacking, the nomu brought it's one saw down and slammed into Kendo's right handed shield knocking it free from her grip while it's other chainsaw arms flailed wildly. Wincing from the hard impact, Kendo brought her remaining shield up to keep one of the spinning saws from hitting herself. She gritted her teeth to keep the shield up, her feet skidding across the dirt as it pushed forward. Her eyes widened when it's drill arm suddenly struck the shield dead center, the spinning tip grinding against the steel in a bright flash before she screamed out from the intense pain in her hand falling backwards and dropping the shield.
"Kendo!" Momo gasped in shock as the nomu had drilled straight through the steel and pierced Kendo's knuckles, the class B teen's hand shaking and pouring out blood. She quickly ran over and threw forward a pair of flash bangs directly in the creatures face, the blinding flash causing it to screech out as she ran over to Kendo's side. "Kendo, your hand!" Momo gasped when she saw the open wound on her hand.
"I'm… I'm fine." Kendo hissed out and stood up with Momo's aid, the pair moving away as the creature came to and looked straight towards them both. "It's coming back!"
Before the nomu could react, though, a powerful water slash flew through the air so fast it was hard to see it move before a spray of its blood burst out from its outreached chainsaw arm. Both Momo and Kendo were shocked to see the arm had been cut close to in half down to the bone, the white skeleton of the creature exposed beneath the spraying blood. The nomu hissed out and turned towards the culprit, seeing Katara standing there with a look of anger on her face. "Stay away from them!" She warned it as the beast screeched and charged her once more. "Get out of here, both of you!" Katara yelled and summoned a large stream of water to herself and launched it forward.
"Katara, no!" Momo yelled back as she watched the nomu cut through her attacks and approach her. "Get out of there! Don't try and hold it off for us!"
"Both of you go! If I don't hold it back, we all won't get away from this thing!" Katara shouted and shot forward a barrage of ice spikes. "Go!"
"We can't leave her alone with that thing!" Kendo clenched her fist and looked back to the side, seeing the other shield she had that was knocked free earlier. "We have to help!"
Back with Katara, she gritted her teeth as the nomu got closer and closer, its many arms cutting through her attacks faster than she could gather water. The fact she had to keep pulling water from plants was becoming tiring, especially since the ones around her were now becoming scarce with water and it was slower than just lifting up water from a normal source. Even with multiple icicles sticking out of the monsters chest, it still marched forward and swung one of its many saws at her forcing her back. As the hammer arm drew back for a swing, she quickly formed an ice shield to block herself, gasping out as the large weapon almost broke fully through her barrier. The hammer swung again and crashed through, the ice pushing her back and slamming her into a large tree trunk.
Wincing out from the hard hit, Katara lost her focus for a moment making her bending falter, her water and ice falling away leaving the nomu no more obstacles between herself. Her eyes widened in shock as the bloodied chain saw arm rose above its head and spun, ready to come down at her any moment. She had to stop it somehow, searching for something to use. She had the tree behind herself, the water on the ground that had spilled, the blood pouring down it's arm and-
Blood.
Because it was exposed, Katara could sense the blood coursing through the nomu's body unlike before. She felt her heart beat faster as when it moved its arm, she could almost sense the shifting of muscle as well. She couldn't think anymore as it approached however, Knowing it was either do or die in this single moment right here. Quickly raising her hand, focused her mind and arched her knuckles out just as it came down towards her.
In that single moment, the air seemed to freeze as the nomu stopped moving momentarily, the other two girls in stunned silence as the beast halted it's attacks as it twitched slightly. "What… what just happened?" Kendo asked in confusion.
"I don't know…" Momo mumbled out as she stared at the frozen beast, the creature seemingly stopping because something her friend was doing.
Katara's hand shook as she held the nomu in place, having bloodbended without the full moon for the first time in her life. To say this was a success was not what came to mind however, and this was not because of her hesitance to use it. No, was the problem was was how difficult this was to hold, sweat forming on her forehead as the creature began slowly pushing forward.
The lack of the full moon was the first problem, causing her mind to strain as she pushed past her limits to focus on the muscles inside the body. Another problem was she was already somewhat tired from the intense training they had been having over the last couple days, her muscles still somewhat tired from being pushed so hard. The major problem however… this nomu was incredibly strong physically and was fighting through her already weakened bloodbending from no full moon. Her eyes widened in shock as the drill arm behind began slowly shifting forward, the nomu screeching as it's appendage shook and moved forward.
"No… S-stop!" Katara gritted her teeth and pushed harder doing everything she could to try and stop it. Her grip on it was beginning to falter, however, the nomu's arm feeling the light slack before launching it forward with all of it's strength and piercing the waterbender in the left shoulder. Instantly all her focus on bending disappeared, and all she could do was scream out from the steel ripped through her flesh and out the back.
"KATARA!" Momo and Kendo cried out in fear as their friend was pierced and hoisted off the ground, and the ear splitting scream of Katara rang out into the night as the nomu skewered through her shoulder into the tree.
"No, get off her!" Momo screamed in anger and created another cannon, not caring about the strain it put on herself and blasted the nomu directly in the back. The force was enough to make it stumble, turning back to see them coming its way. Hissing through the metal guard in it's mouth, the nomu ripped the drill from Katara's shoulder and let her slump to the floor as it turned back towards them.
Clutching at the hole in her shoulder, Katara trembled in shock and pain from the burning sensation coursing through her body, her muscles shaking in pain as the blood poured out of her shoulder and through her fingers. She panted hard trying to keep herself calm, but the nerves firing from the injury to her brain were overflowing her senses, making her want to just scream out in pain and pass out right there. When she opened her eyes, however, she only felt fear for the others there with her and what they were facing.
Kendo was using one of the shields to try and strike the nomu in the chest, only for it's many arms to overwhelm her own strength and slam her into the ground, bringing it's large foot down and crushing the shield into her chest making her gasp out in pain. Momo tried shooting it with her cannon once more which did make it get off Kendo, but creating the large weapons with her quirk had taken out her energy causing her to stumble over. She barely had time to create another shield to halt the chain saw slamming into her chest. "Y-Yaoyorozu, get away!" Katara yelled out as the nomu raised its hammer arm above itself, her heart pounding as Momo created a steel helmet as the weapon came down, gasping in horror as the hammer cracked into the metal and forcing Momo to the ground. "Yaoyorozu!"
She forced herself up as she saw Momo shake from the hard impact to her helmet, feeling her heart burn with rage seeing both of them on the ground in danger. She stumbled forward and forced herself towards them as she huffed out in anger. "Get away from them!" she yelled and ran as fast as she could, feeling her anger outweighing her fear as she got closer. "I SAID GET AWAY!"
She thrust her hand forward to rip out the water from the tree behind her, but instead of a single thick stream of water, she was shocked when a wave of water rushed past her and engulfed the nomu fully and crushed it into the ground. The powerful surge of water swallowed up and launched the nomu deep into the forest. Katara sat in confusion to what just happened, staring in shock towards the direction the nomu went. "What… where did all that…?" turning around, her mouth fell open in bewilderment when she saw the reason to what happened.
Not only was the tree behind her drained of water, but nearly a dozen others behind it had also been stripped as well at the same time. "How… how did I?"
Silence fell over the trio for several moments, with Kendo coughing and slowly crawling up from the wet ground. "Holy shit… that was crazy." She huffed out and clutched her pained chest, feeling a few ribs slightly damaged. She still crawled over to Momo, slipping the dented helmet off the creationist and shaking her. "Yao… you alright?"
Completely dazed from the hard impact, Momo shook her head trying to clear the ringing in her ears. "Yeah… I just… shit." She muttered out and clutched her head, feeling some blood fall down her forehead. More so though was the splitting headache racking her brain. "I can barely see."
"Just take a second." Kendo exhaled and stood up, wincing as she felt her ribs ache unbearably. "You okay, Katara?"
"I… think so…" Katara muttered in response, still completely confused what happened. She wasn't even trying to pull from more than one tree right there, and even if she did, there was no way she could have pulled that much out at once. She looked down to her hands in amazement, unsure what she did differently there. But then, a pulsing sensation ran through her mind making her gasp out in pain, clutching her head in agony as it happened again. "Gah!"
"Katara!" Kendo yelled out in worry when she heard her cry out, helping Momo up and running over to the waterbenders side. "Katara, what's wrong?"
Katara couldn't answer as the strange sensation continued, pusling in her mind every few seconds as if something was squeezing her mind itself. "What… what's happening?!" She cried out, unable to stop the sensation from continuing.
"Katara, what's going on?!" Momo asked in worry as she watched her friend shake.
Over and over, the odd feeling coursed through her head, each time the pain getting worse. Not only that, but every time it hit her, images flashed inside her mind in quick shots. Energy swirling around herself and enveloping her, bright eyes staring down at her… and the form of a beast towering above her. The pain in her mind was too much to let her focus, however, only able to dig her nails into her hair in agony as they continued.
"Something's wrong, we have to get her help." Momo said and tried to stand her friend up, but Katara was unable to move, still curled onto the ground in torment. "Katara, come on, we have to go!"
Kendo was about to say something, but the cracking of branches nearby made her heart drop into her stomach, turning to where the water had gone and gasp when she saw the nomu running towards them once more. "That thing is back again! We have to go!"
"What?!" Momo turned in horror as she saw the creatured barreling towards them, grabbing Katara by the shoulders and trying to pick her up. "Katara, we have to go now! Get up!"
Katara opened her eyes slightly to see the nomu coming their way, but another pulse ran through her head, replacing it with a glowing beast running at her. She wanted to move, but everything inside her was causing her to lock up an agony. Kendo gritted her teeth and grabbed the shield once more to try and slow it down as Momo got Katara to move, but a single swing from the nomu's arm crashed into the steel and launched the teen across the clearing like a rag doll. "Kendo!" Momo yelled out in worry as the creature was on them now, creating a steel net and throwing it towards it to slow it down in anyway.
It was useless however as the nomu cut right through the material like nothing, screeching out and swinging one of its many chainsaws towards the new shield Momo formed. She struggled to keep it back before another hard hit knocked it from her grasp, her eyes widened in horror as the spinning chain swung directly for her stomach. She jump back but screamed out as it just grazed her side, cutting a slash across her flesh and forcing her to collapse to her knees in pain.
Katara's heart jumped as she saw Momo fall in front of her, feeling her stomach drop as the nomu brought one of it's normal fists back to slam into to her friend. "N-no!" She screamed out, using every bit of strength she could through her own pain to move and push Momo out of the way, but she was helpless to do anything as the nomu slammed its fist directly into her chest and launched her backwards.
"KATARA!" Momo screamed out in terror as she watched blood fall from Katara's mouth as she flew through the air, bouncing across the ground before colliding hard into the dried out tree. As she hit, Katara's head smacked hard into the splintered wood, the intense impact breaking her hair free from it's braid and knocking her out cold. "NO!"
"K-Katara!" Kendo coughed out blood as she through the dented shield away. "Leave her alone!"
Both of the other teens watched helplessly as the nomu walked straight towards Katara, terrified as its large hand reached for her once more. They crawled back up to their feet through the pain they both felt, afraid to see their friend killed right here and there as the nomu's many arms pointed towards her… but instead of ripping her apart, the arms in the nomu's back retracted back inside of itself, the creature letting out a small hiss as it scooped up the water bender around the stomach and hoisted her off the ground. They both sat in shock before they saw the beast turn and walk into the forest, carrying the limp form of Katara in its grasp.
"It's… it's taking her…" Kendo mumbled in shock. "Why didn't it kill her?"
"No… no no no!" Momo winced as she covered her injury, slowly walking after the disappearing creature. "Katara!"
"What the hell is it doing?" Kendo hobbled after as well, fighting through her pain as she followed the creationist.
Momo grimaced as she felt blood leaking through her hand, creating a wrap around her stomach as she ran after her friend. Whatever happened, that thing was taking her friend, and she was not going to sit by and let that happen. "Katara!"
"Wow, he sure took a beating from someone!" Twice said out loud as he ecstatically moved before posing seriously. "Must have been a pro that stopped him."
"Don't be an idiot. None of the pros here are strong enough to take him down."
"your clone was already taken down by a pro, though…" Twice pointed out before giving a salute. "Nothing personal against you!"
Ignoring the loud man behind him, Dabi stared down at the unconscious form of Muscular on the ground beneath himself. Even though he was in idiot, Dabi knew Muscular was no slouch when it came to combat. He gave a chuckle and played with one of the piercings on his face. "These damn kids here are pretty strong. Must have been one of the ones Shigaraki wanted dead."
"Well use that nomu you got to carry him back when we leave! He's too big for me!"
Sighing to himself, Dabi knelt down and stared at the knocked out man on the ground. He then thought back to the nomu he was given control of for this mission, having sent it back out after it already delivered one of the targets to them. While he had done what Tomura had said and ordered it to kill any student that got in it's way, there was a single thing he had done as well for himself causing him to smile to himself.
While it would attack any person it came across, Dabi had secretly ordered what the nomu would do if it came across two specific teenagers in the forest. Even though they were on the kill list, that was something Tomura wanted for himself. This however was for himself, and he could care less what the others thought of his personal goal. He cracked his knuckles and looked up to the sky, somewhat hoping he could have his little fun. If the nomu came across the two he had shown to it, it was to bring them back to him… Alive.
Notes: Ahh Shit! this it what i told you! big things happening! things are beginning to unravel slowly and hope the payoff will be worth it later! please let me know your thoughts! till next time!