Chapter 9: Recon

After his meeting with Knuckleduster, Izuku couldn't stay focused. Even on his patrol he was muttering to himself constantly about what he had done. In retrospect, it had been a terrible risk to talk with anyone (how did Knuckleduster know he was underage? He wasn't that small), but he had learned so much. Still though, the encounter left him worrying all night. The next morning, his fretting continued. Knuckleduster seemed to know the streets and he appeared to be on the level. But even so, you couldn't trust a vigilante. Or at least, that's what he had always heard anyway. Then again, he was a vigilante and he was a good guy...

Still mumbling to himself, he blindly walked into his homeroom.

'…damn costume…"put away your tights"…ugh, I wish there was a sewing room in this stupid schoo-'

He froze. All his classmates were staring at him. Normally on Mondays everyone was scattered around with their clique, chatting loudly about their weekend. But not today. Today they were all seated and silent.

'Uh-' he started.

However, nobody said anything. Instead they just glanced at him before turning to each other. Several students let out audible sighs and a few even slumped down and rested their heads on their desks. For a moment, Izuku was confused before he remembered the Entrance Exams. No doubt everyone was anxious to learn what their marks were.

I really should stop muttering to myself.

Going to his desk, he quietly took his seat. The aura of dread was palpable as everyone waited for the arrival of their teacher. Mr. Tamanegi never really had a set schedule for when he arrived so there was no telling when he'd show.

The minutes crawled by with only the occasional cough to interrupt the stressful silence. Before long, the class heard more footsteps and everyone tensed, but it was only Bakugo. Bakugo seemed completely unconcerned by the stressful atmosphere, and calmly went for his desk behind Izuku. He probably didn't have the faintest doubt in his mind that he passed with flying colours.

I guess if I were him I wouldn't worry either. I don't think Bakugo has ever failed a test. Izuku thought begrudgingly.

Suddenly, Mr. Tamanegi stumbled into the room. Izuku resisted the urge to laugh. It seemed as though Mr. Tamanegi had a little too much to drink the other night. That or he was still feeling the clobbering that stripper had given him (probably both).

'Shhhhhh…Everyone, please be quiet.' Mr. Tamanegi whispered to the already deathly silent room, 'I'm feeling slightly under the weather this morning.'

The class watched as their bleary-eyed teacher shuffled across the room to his desk. Settling down into his old office chair, he winced as the chair squeaked. Opening up his desk drawer, Izuku heard him pour something into his coffee before taking a big sip. Everyone glanced at each other. They had seen this before. It meant that first period was going to be spent in "reading time".

'Um, Mr. Tamanegi?' Ruriko ventured nervously.

Mr. Tamanegi moaned.

'Please, Ruriko. Not now. I beg of you.' he said, setting his head down on his desk.

'But…But… Mr. Tamanegi. We need to know how we did on our tests!'

The rest of the class started murmuring in agreement. Though hardly loud, Mr. Tamanegi recoiled at the sound.

'Ahhhhhh….' he whined, putting his fingers in his ears and shutting his eyes, 'Okay, okay, okay. Just pipe down, will you? Here…'

Opening up his briefcase, he took out a sheaf of paper and placed it in front of him.

'Enjoy.' he mumbled as he pulled his jacket over his head.

The room was still for a heartbeat before everyone burst out of their chairs and stampeded towards the paper. Pushing and shoving they all frantically tried to grab the sheet to see what their marks were.

Bukugo and Izuku remained sitting as the battle unfolded in front of them.

'Even if you aced this test you still won't get into UA, Deku. You'll never get past the practical exam.' Bakugo said.

'Oh? I thought that the practical exam for the Support Hero's was a test of ingenuity and mental flexibility. Seems right up my alley.' Izuku said over his shoulder and Bakugo sneered.

'Ingenuity and flexibility using your quirk, Deku. So, unless you suddenly evolve to everyone else's level, I think you'd better prepare yourself for disappointment.'

'We'll see. Hey! I thought you were ignoring me?' Izuku said, twisting around 'Getting lonely?'

Bakugo rolled his eyes. Before Izuku could say anything else he heard a high-pitched squeal. Turning he saw Ruriko rush towards him.

'I passed!' she said excitedly, 'I don't believe it! I passed! Deku, I did it!'

'G-G-Good for you Ruriko!' stammered Izuku as the girl ran up to him, "I knew that if you just focused-'

'It's all thanks to you, Deku!' she cried as she pulled him into an awkward hug.

'Th-Th-Thanks!' Izuku said weakly as Ruriko did her best to squeeze the life out of him. He was about to extract himself from her grasp until he heard Bakugo scoff behind him. At that he suddenly put his arms around her and hugged her back.

'Come on, Deku. Aren't you curious to see what you got?' Ruriko said happily as she pulled herself back.

'Maybe a little I guess.'

'Well come on! You too Bakugo, don't just sit there sulking. Come see!'

At that Izuku and a grumbling Bakugo made their way up to see their marks. Slipping past his classmates, Izuku saw that both he and Bakugo scored within the top ten percentile of the national average, the highest bracket.

'I wish they said what your mark was specifically.' Bakugo said, glaring down at his name.

'Yeah…' Izuku said as he looked at the paper. Ruriko meanwhile was still ecstatic.

'My parents are going to freak out, Deku! I can actually go to my first choice now! Hey, maybe we should-'

Suddenly Mr. Tamanegi started shrieking from beneath his jacket.

'Eeeee! Please! No more! Everyone, if you all return to your desks quietly I promise we can have a movie day this Friday or something. Just, for the love of God, shut up!'

At that the class returned to their seats. Dropping his head to his desk, Izuku made himself comfortable as he prepared for a nap.

A secret nightlife, strip clubs, an appreciation for naps. Me and Mr. Tamanegi actually have a lot more in common than I would have thought.

Now that the gang war over, Shocker wasted no time in expanding his territory across the entire slums, taking control of everything from drugs and prostitution to illegal gambling and fraud. With a significant amount of manpower and resources at his disposal, he seemed more powerful than ever. But Izuku refused to give up his crusade.

Following his meeting with Knuckleduster, Izuku spent the next three months disrupting Shockers operations wherever he could find them. Whether it be by just beating up his men or by destroying his drugs, he tried his hardest to cause him as much financial damage as possible. But after countless nights of running around in circles, chasing down the same guys over and over, his cause seemed hopeless. He would never accomplish anything going after the dimwitted goons he was hitting. He needed to attack the upper levels.

Then one day he got a big break. After interrogating one of Shockers enforcers he learned that there was a private club located in a high rise, near the outskirts of the slums that catered to the rich and powerful who had discretion in mind. Reportedly, it was quite the lucrative business for Shocker and if it were to be compromised, his reputation would be badly damaged.

And so, Spider-Man went out to his next target, unprepared for just how depraved the city truly was.

Panicking men and women in various states of undress cowered beneath Izuku as he stalked past them towards the wall. Opening the emergency firehose box, he pulled out the thick nylon rubber hose.

'Come on man! What are you doing? Hey! You hear me?' shouted a bloodied man, his satin clothes ripped and torn. Struggling, he attempted to rise to his feet. However, the floor was littered with debris from the recent battle. Slipping on the water from the destroyed aquarium, he fell back down, swearing under his breath.

Stepping over the unconscious thugs and scattered bullet casings, Izuku dragged the firehose across the faux mahogany floor towards the fallen man. Wordlessly he hauled him to his feet and pushed him up against a giant, tacky statue of a nude woman. Swinging the firehouse around the statue, he started to tie the protesting man against it.

'Hello? You understand me? I don't have nothing to do with this! I-ack!'

At last the firehouse was wrapped tightly around him. Like a giant white python, it secured him firmly to the heavy plaster figure. Nodding in satisfaction, Izuku turned to his prisoner.

'There we go. Nice and comfortable. Now, I have a few questions for you, if you don't mind.'

'Fuck you Spider-Freak. Let me out of this.' spat the man, struggling in vain against the thick rubber hose. Izuku ignored him.

'First,' started Izuku crossing his arms, 'I want to know who you pay your rent to.'

'Pay? This is my joint, I'm an independent entrepreneur!'

'Yeah, you're a real businessman. But independent? No way. You're practically running a pharmacy in here and I'm guessing a delicate guy like you can't attract the kind of goons you had protecting this place. You must be working for somebody and we both know who controls the drugs and muscle in this part of town, so talk! Who's your boss?'

'If you know already then why're you asking me?' hissed the man angrily. Izuku raised his hand and the man's face paled.

'Take it easy! I work for Shocker okay? I pay him a lease to run my cathouse, you happy? If you got beef with him, then leave me out of it. I'm just an entertainer.'

'An entertainer?' Izuku repeated.

Over the months the squalor and misery he had seen in the streets of the slums had hardened Izuku considerably. He had come across young overdose victims his age. Dead for days and rotting, lying in the gutter like trash. He had watched people abandon their sanity and go on suicidal Trigger rages, attacking everyone they came across. He had even observed desperate teenagers like him sell their bodies to afford their next hit. But even so, the barbarity of what he had seen at this underground brothel had turned his stomach.

Seeing the murderous look in Izuku's eyes, the man started to struggle anew, a frantic look on his face.

'L-Look, I-I just give the people what they want, that's all.' pleaded the man.

Izuku let the matter drop. He still needed information.

'So, you pay Shocker. But which one of his guys collects? A place like this must generate quite a bit of revenue.'

'I-I go to him.' Izuku felt his pulse quicken, 'He get's the word out to me when he wants to meet and at the end of every month I bring him his due.'

'Where?' Izuku asked eagerly.

'We-We meet at an import/export office, Max Shipping.'

'Does he have an office there?' Izuku asked, unable to keep the rising excitement out of his voice.

'Fa-Far as I know.' said the man uncertainly.

Izuku stepped back.

This is it! Finally, the break I've been looking for. If I hurry, maybe I can catch him there! Or maybe I can pick up some clue. Either way, I'm closing in on you Shocker!

Izuku looked back at the man he had tied up. When he had first learned about the secret club he had expected to find the usual trash. Roided up tough guys and wanna be gangsters, and he had found those to be sure, but he had also found "respectable" people as well. A senior manager for a bank downtown, a prominent lawyer, and his most prized discovery, a city councilman.

The pimp turned his stomach. Looking away from him, Izuku considered the club's clientele. They were scattered around the room, hiding behind the furniture or their whores. With nowhere to run they merely watched him in frightful silence. They made him sick as well.

Just moments ago, all of them had been happily indulging themselves in their especially acquired tastes. Delivered to them, with courteous professionalism by the loathsome predator caught helplessly before him. For a brief moment, Izuku indulged himself and imagined what would happen if he were to turn the tightly wrapped hose on. It would be but a small recompense for the debauchery and misery he was responsible for.

Izuku suddenly felt himself become dizzy with nausea as he remembered what he had seen in the backrooms. What he had smelled. Swallowing back his bile, he took a deep breath.

I'm not a murderer. I'm a hero. I caught him already. I'm not a murderer.

Leaning down, he grabbed a discarded cell phone from the floor. Whoever it was, had been in the middle of a text message to his wife telling her that he was going to have to spend the night at the office. Shaking his head, he looked back at his sweating prisoner.

'I'll give you one chance to save yourself. Here, tell them everything. You'd better not leave anything out.' Izuku said as he dialed the Spider-Man hotline number. Holding the phone up to the man, he waited while the man talked.

During the man's stammering confession, Izuku saw a few of the more desperate patrons try and escape. He didn't bother chasing them. There were only two ways out and he had already blocked the front entrance. The second way involved a ten story fall and he was willing to oblige them that escape if they preferred. Eventually the man finished.

'Is Spider-Man still standing with you?' asked the voice on the other end of the phone.

'Y-Yes He's right here.'

'Can you put him o-'

Izuku crushed the phone in his hand. He wasn't so stupid as to taunt the police.

'So, what are-'

Before the man could continue Izuku punched him with a left hook. He hit him harder than he had to, pulverising his jaw and knocking out half his teeth in the process.

That ought to buy me some time. Unless they give him a pen, I've probably bought myself twenty-four hours at least. After school, I'll head over to Max Shipping and put an end to this.

The patrons around the room screamed as the man slumped over against the firehose, blood pouring from his ruined mouth. Clearing his throat, Izuku addressed the room.

'Well, have a pleasant evening everybody.' he called out and everyone cowered over again, 'Better get to work on those alibis. And if you get thrown in jail tonight just remember to thank your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.' Izuku said cordially before climbing out the black tinted window.

As soon as he left he heard panicked shouting fill the room.

They'd better hope they get thrown in jail.

By the time Izuku reached his apartment it was almost seven o'clock in the morning. Unlocking his apartment door, he stepped inside.

'Izu? Is that you?'

'Yeah Mom it's me. I just went out for a morning run.'

Taking of his shoes and entering the kitchen, he saw his mother busily cooking some eggs on the stove top. She glanced over at him.

'Well breakfast should be ready-'

Before she could continue he gave his mother a hug from behind.

'Izuku! You're covered in sweat! You're going to get me dirty!' said his mother in surprise.

'Sorry Mom. I'll go have a shower.'

Quickly turning away so she couldn't see his face, he went to the washroom and cleaned himself up. It was going to be a long day at school.

That evening Izuku went out to scout the Max Shipping building. He didn't know what he would find, but his spider-sense was tingling. Whatever it was, he got the sense that he would need to be ready for anything.

Izuku crouched down under the hissing vents as a helicopter flew overhead. Briefly its spotlight passed over him, but it was only for a moment, too fast for the pilots to notice him.

More helicopters with thermal cameras. I guess I'll add thermal camouflage to my costume wish list. Thought Izuku as his spider sense returned to a dull throb.

Climbing out from underneath the hot vents, he jumped down into the alleys to continue on the street level. Turning off from around an intersection, he saw a police cruiser driving away from him. The police presence was especially high tonight.

Before heading out, Izuku had taken the time to read the news. While city hall and the police were trying to downplay the controversy, there was only so much they could spin and the media was in a frenzy. Illegal drug use and sex scandals weren't unheard of vices amongst the city's elite but human trafficking? To make matters worse it was an election year in Musutafu and several of the people found at the brothel had been close friends with the mayor. As Izuku hid from another low flying helicopter he felt a certain grim satisfaction. He must have made someone important nervous.

Finally, he came upon the Max Shipping company building. It had taken him three times longer than it should have to get there but better safe than sorry. He didn't want to risk any interruptions tonight.

The Max Shipping building appeared to be a typical small business. It was a two-story, white brick building at the corner between a parking lot and a seedy motel. Izuku noticed a dark green SUV in the otherwise empty parking lot. It was a nice car. Too nice for this neighbourhood.

Somebody important must be working late. Thought Izuku, grinning under his mask.

The only question now was how to get in. A "legitimate business" like this probably had a security alarm and he could see a panoramic surveillance camera mounted to a ledge just outside the front door. The windows were all barred and probably made of shatter proof glass. However, there was one fatal weakness. There was a heat wave going through Musutafu and amongst the record setting temperatures everyone was doing whatever they could to stay cool. And so, it came as no surprise that someone had jury-rigged a small, residential grade AC unit beneath one of the second story windows.

He cautiously approached the building along the camera's blind spot before hopping up to the window. Peering through the thick glass, he saw that the room was deserted. All that was inside was a pair of desks covered with paperwork.

As carefully and as quietly as he could, he removed the AC unit, gripping it tightly with his fingers so it wouldn't fall to the pavement below. Slipping under the window, he pulled the AC box in with him and set it down under the window.

If no one is here tonight I'll set this up again. I don't want to leave any sign that there was a disturbance if I have to stake this place out.

Creeping across the room, he pressed his ear to the door. He could hear someone moving around somewhere close by. Their footsteps were making an odd clicking sound.

Heavy footfalls. Maybe this person has animal morphology or hooves?

Izuku opened the door and crept out into a second-floor balcony that ran overtop the main reception area of the shop. From here, he could see that the lower level was deserted. Pressing his ear to the floor he could hear the metal footsteps coming from just down the hall and around the corner.

Walking on the balls of his feet, he stealthily moved toward the source of the sound. Poking his head around the corner, he saw a bright fluorescent light coming in from under the door frame at the end of the hall. He walked up to the door. Taking a deep breath, he gripped the handle.

Let's hope this guy knows something.

Flinging open the door, Izuku strode in before stopping mid step. There pacing around the room, was the yellow costumed man he had first seen over five months ago.

'Shocker!' Izuku exclaimed.

The man stopped pacing and faced him and Izuku felt his spider sense go crazy.

'Ah, Spider-Man.' said the Man coolly, 'I was wondering if you would show up here tonight.'

Izuku blinked a few times before he recovered from his initial surprise. Hastily raising his fists, he studied his opponent.

He was wearing the same yellow, metal costume crisscrossed with black diagonal lines that he had worn before. He had a full helmet masking his face and on both of his arms he was wearing gauntlets that ran up his forearms to the elbow. By each of his thumbs Izuku could see a small red trigger.

Why would he wear a second layer of armour over his hands and arms? Those gantlets must be a weapon of some sort!

'You're a lot smaller than I thought you'd be.' said Shocker impassively, putting a hand on his hip, 'A lot younger too.'

'What are you talking about?' Izuku said, his heart about to beat out his chest, 'I'm here to stop you!'

Shocker nodded but otherwise didn't move.

'I figured it was personal between us. Tell me; I'm curious, what did I do to you?'

'Uhm, well…' started Izuku.

I'm not really here for vengeance or anything. He's never hurt me or anyone I know personally.

'I-I'm here because you're a villain! That's the only reason I need!'

'Oh. So you're one of those then.' he sounded disappointed, 'I suppose there is no sense in me trying to convince you to see reason.'

Izuku scoffed.

'Reason? You're a murderer! What could you possibly have to say?'

Shocker laughed.

'You want the speech? Alright.' Shocker sounded amused. After a brief pause, he began to speak: 'I get it, kid. You grew up watching hero cartoons; you saw the battles; the glory. You've heard All Might and the other heroes giving their interviews and thought you could fight injustice too. You could be one of the good guys! And so, being young and honest you looked around and found the one place where injustice is most visible. The ghetto, right? But have you ever wondered why your favourite heroes aren't here, fighting me by your side? Why is it that where the city suffers the most, the heroes are nowhere to be found?'

'The…slums are the way they are because people don't have jobs and-' started Izuku before Shocker cut him off.

'Yes, yes. Everyone knows that. It was that way in the old world too. That's not what I'm asking. Forget about the victims, I'm asking why the heroes aren't here fighting me with you.'

'Well, you're a small-time crook. They're busy fighting bigger threats.' It sounded like a lame excuse, even to him.

Shocker shook his head and chuckled softly.

'You've seen enough of my operation to know that I'm not so insignificant. A Trigger crazy junkie might roam around downtown and blow up a restaurant or rob a bank, but that pales in comparison to my crimes. No, this isn't a question of impact. The reason why I'm allowed to exist in relative peace is because all those heroes and the hero worshiping culture that created them, are only interested in the quick fix. They want to flex their muscles and beat down the rampaging monster, not fight the root cause of the problem.'

'Well, I'm here! I can put a stop to you right now!' Izuku declared, tensing himself.

However Shocker didn't move. Instead he merely sighed.

'Like I said. You're a product of your environment. Think of it this way. You've been fighting your way up the ladder of my organization, right? Well assuming you beat me, where will you go next? Me and people like me are created by our own government's incompetence and corruption. Will you fight them too? Are you going to go kick down the door to the mayor's office next?'

'Uh, no. That's stupid. If you want to fight corruption, you can vote.'

'Yes. Fight with your rights as a citizen. But nobody does that. The hero culture discourages it. You're supposed to fight the monsters in the streets not the monsters you elected. You know what your problem is, kid? You climbed too high up the ladder. The reason you're here, alone, is that most of the professional heroes recognize that it's in their best interest to fight the small fry, get the easy victories, pose for the cameras and move on. From their point of view, why would they ever want to change the slums? It's the perfect breeding ground for future villains to defeat. Meanwhile the mayor can point to the heroes and praise them for their valour. And beyond the mayor the government can use the attacks as justification for more registries, more consolidation of power, until they figure out a way to control quirks altogether. Then the heroes will become criminals, just like you are now.'

Izuku scoffed.

'Lately I've come across my own reasons to distrust the government, but even so you're cynical to the point of absurdity. Is that how you justify all the harm you've done?' Izuku said, before shaking his head in disbelief, 'Whatever. I came here to beat you up, not listen to you monologue.'

Shocker took his hand off his hip and raised his arms.

'Fine by me.' he said, his voice emotionless once more.

Izuku lunged forward at full speed. Before Shocker could react, Izuku smacking his fist against his mask. Shocker's helmet vibrated like a gong as he was sent flying backward and smashing through his desk.

Despite hitting him with his full force, Shocker started to rise to his feet. Raising his shaking arms he steadied himself and Izuku charged again. However, this time Shocker was ready for him. Next thing Izuku knew he was airborne. With a mighty blast of reverberating force, he was sent pinwheeling through the air, the wall behind him crumbling to dust before he could even hit it. Rag dolling as he went, he flew through the new hole in the wall and over the railing overlooking the lobby. Falling to the first floor with the rubble, he hit the ground hard.

Izuku gasped as his body slammed to the floor. It felt like every bone in his body had just been shattered like glass. He had encountered blasts of force before, after all he had grown up with Bakugo, but he had never experienced anything this intense.

Slowly he attempted to rise. Before he could get his bearings, Shocker landed in front of him, his armoured boots crunching the debris. Raising his shimmering, gauntleted hands he pointed his palms down at Izuku. Izuku felt a spasm and he forced himself to leap. Just barely he moved out of the way as some invisible blow annihilated the section of floor he had just been standing on. Where once there had been tile, there was a flash of dust, then an oval shaped crater deep enough to expose the metal piping beneath. Landing on the ceiling, Izuku felt his eyes go wide.

What the hell is his quirk?! Does he create shockwaves from his gauntlets?

Shocker, apparently confused, swiveled his helmeted head around as he scanned the lobby for where his prey had disappeared to. Sensing his chance, Izuku dropped behind him. Shocker must have heard him land because he quickly pivoted. Before he could attack again however, Izuku wrapped his arms around his waist. With a grunt, Izuku lifted him. Rotating on his hip, he threw him as hard as he could. Flying backward, Shocker burst through the lobby wall, smashed into several shelves of packages, and through another wall before colliding into the white brick exterior of the building.

Panting, Izuku dropped his hands to his knees. His body was in no condition to fight after that initial hit. As he tried to recover, he saw Shocker stand up from amongst the broken masonry.

No way! Thought Izuku with despair as he watched Shocker dust himself off.

'You've got a powerful quirk Spider-Man, but I'm afraid its just not enough. One more hit ought to…'

Shocker paused and looked over Izuku's shoulder.

'Can you excuse us please, I'm busy right now.' Shocker said in an annoyed voice.

'Business before pleasure, Herman.' tittered a high-pitched voice.

Izuku whirled. Standing just behind him was another costumed man.

Where did this guy come from? Nobody has been able to sneak up on me since I got my super powers! Is he another hero?

Izuku's hope quickly changed to dread as he noticed the man's face. He didn't need his spider sense to tell him that this was no hero. He was wearing a tight body suit with black leggings, red chest, red arms, and a yellow mantle with a lightning bolt around his shoulders. His eyes were covered by a thick pair of goggles.

'You must be Spider-Man!' he said, flashing him a toothy smile, 'Under different circumstances I would shake your hand, but I'm afraid I'm in a bit of a hurry.'

Izuku stared at him in bleary eyed confusion and the man laughed.

'Oh, where are my manners. People call me Speed Demon! Perhaps you've heard about me?'

Izuku's breath caught in his throat.

'You're the guy who's refining Trigger! Is that how you're so strong?' Izuku asked Shocker who was walking closer.

'What? No!' Shocker exclaimed indignantly while Speed Demon chuckled, 'Do I look like a junkie to you? I've trained my quirk and augmented myself with equipment I designed to become stronger. Maybe if you had done the same this battle would have gone differently.'

Izuku kept backing up as Shocker kept advancing towards him. Turning slightly, he angled himself so that he could keep an eye on both Shocker and Speed Demon. Izuku felt like at any moment he could collapse.

I need to buy some time so I can regain my strength.

'I thought you two hated each other. Why are you here?' Izuku said while trying to tense his legs for another leap.

'Hate? Oh, no, no, no.' Speed Demon said affably,' We've worked through our differences and decided a merger between our organizations would be better for everyone. I just came by to discuss some boring ol' clerical work. Shipment routes, people to bribe; you know, that sort of thing. Nothing for you to concern yourself with. If I were you, I'd be more worried about myself!'

Speed Demon laughed and Shocker came to a stop beside him. Now faced with two villains, Izuku felt himself sweat. What could he do now?

'I'll be right with you.' Shocker said to Speed Demon before raising his gauntlets back up, 'Now hold still…'

Springing forward, Izuku moved in to attack Shocker before he could finish raising his hands.

If I can disable his gauntlets, I might have a chance! I just need to-

'Urk!' gasped Izuku as something hard suddenly collided with his stomach. Slumping over in pain he started to fall over. However, before he could hit the ground he felt a hand suddenly grip his throat, hoisting him upwards.

Izuku cracked open his eyes. It was Speed Demon!

'Woo! You're a fast one! Not fast enough though. Still, no wonder you've been able to give Shocker so much trouble.' Speed Demon said enthusiastically while smiling, 'Say Herman, I do believe that if he had landed that attack you'd be down for the count!'

Shocker snorted.

'I've already taken his blows when he was at his strongest, what could he do to me now that he's half dead? Drop him, I'll finish this.'

'As you wish.'

Speed Demon released his grip on his throat and he fell. Hitting his feet on the floor, he found that he didn't have the strength to stand. Collapsing to his knees, he forced his chin up until he was looking up at the pair. He couldn't see either of their eyes, but he doubted there was any mercy in them.

'Fought like a true hero, Spider-Man. Courageous, but futile.'

Time seemed to slow as Shocker pointed both of his gauntlets at his face. As Shocker pressed down on his gauntlet triggers, Izuku's life flashed before his eyes. He saw his Mother and Father, Kacchan, and All Might. And he saw himself. Years and years ago. Running around with a cape, holding on to his dream. Never doubting that he would be a hero.

My dreams can't end like this! Not like this!

With a sudden surge of adrenaline, Izuku roared as he lashed out. With all the strength he could muster he kicked, sweeping Shockers legs to the side. Suddenly knocked off balance, Shocker threw up his arms. At that moment the force he had been storing from being knocked through the walls coupled with the blow Izuku just dealt him, amplified the power of his gauntlets to levels far higher than he had anticipated.

With a massive explosion, Shocker blew apart the rooftop to the building, shaking the old brick masonry loose and sending it crashing down on top of them. Shocker cried out in alarm and Speed Demon raised an eyebrow as the front of the building collapsed inward towards them.

As the bricks fell, Izuku was pushed forward by a wave of debris. Falling to his stomach, he felt his mind drift to unconsciousness as he was buried in rubble.