Izuku walked through the forest swiftly and silently, a contrast to his Nomu who lumbered through the forest with force. That was an unfortunate problem with his Nomu that not even a command would fix, since it was so bulky it couldn't help that it's weight made noise when it walked. Still it gave it a plus 3 for it's intimidation factor, which would come in useful in a variety of situations. What those situations are he couldn't think of right now, but he knew they existed.
"Okay Izuku deep breaths. Deep breaths," Izuku said to himself trying to calm his nerves.
This was it, his debut as a villain. And in nearly every instance first impressions were everything to future appearances. If he wanted to be known as a threat that should be reckoned with then he had to be serious. Izuku knew he may not be the strongest in the League or the Vanguard but he had brains, and his Nomu which technically gave him the brains and brawn combination. Of course he still lacked experience but that was what he was here for, to complete his objective and gain experience. That still didn't help out with his nervousness though.
"Just get in character right?" Izuku said to himself thinking of a way to seem like a professional villain instead of a nervous teenager. "All I have to do is seem threatening and act like I'm in control is what Dabi said."
So now Izuku just had to think of a way to be threatening, or seem like he was always a step ahead of the people he fought. Well Izuku had pretty much memorized the entirety of information on the Pro Hero's present at the camp, and the students from the sports festival. So letting them know he knows everything about them would be a good way to intimidate them... right? Well if all else failed he had the Nomu to help him out.
Izuku cleared his throat as he turned to his Nomu. "We will find Ragdoll and complete our objective." Izuku said as an air of confidence sounded from his voice.
The Nomu gave no indication that it heard him, but Izuku knew that it did. Now that he was filled with confidence Izuku felt better than he ever did. He felt alive, he felt... free. Free to do whatever he wanted and not be held back. Yes he knew that he wasn't the strongest villain in the world, but he was with the League of Villains and more than that he was the second in command of it's main assault team. He wouldn't have gotten that position from Shigaraki if he didn't deserve it. No, he would show that he did by finding Ragdoll, capturing her, and would kill ANYONE who got in his way.
Just as he was about to continue on he stopped dead in his tracks when he felt something in his head.
"ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS! THE TRAINING CAMP IS UNDER ATTACK BY THE LEAGUE OF VILLAINS! DO NOT ENGAGE! REPEAT DO NOT ENGAGE! RETURN TO THE BASE CAMP AT ONCE!" A female voice rung in Izuku's mind.
Izuku immediately knew what Quirk sent the message and who said Quirk's owner was.
"Mandalay sent a message, means that she knows we're here now," Izuku said shaking his head. "If she wanted the students to be safe then don't send a message to everyone in the forest including the villains."
Izuku frowned at Mandalay's poor use of her Quirk. Yes he knew she had to concentrate on who she was sending her messages to, but even still it would be better to let the students figure it out that they were being attacked and run instead of corralling them in the same location. Well if they were exposed like this now, then there was no use being subtle and sneaky. So why not cause a scene where he was.
"Nomu," Izuku said getting his Nomu's attention, who turned to look at his master. "Send a message to everyone in the area, burn the path we walk to the ground!" Izuku said threateningly snapping his thumb and pinky finger together.
In response to it's masters commands 8 blowtorches emerged from the Nomu's back. The Nomu planted its feet into the ground as it began lighting the area around it on fire. Izuku remained safe as he stayed ahead of the Nomu's area of effect. Izuku's plan was to create a wall of fire that would block anyone of the students from getting through the path they walked. Izuku knew there we're very few students who possessed Quirks that could douse fire on this scale, and the ones that did would be dispatched when he found them.
"Come, and keep blowing behind us." Izuku instructed as the Nomu began to follow Izuku, and it continued to spray the area behind him on fire.
Everything so far was going great for him. His Nomu was making the trail they walked burn which would hinder any students from crossing it for a while, which would give him time to find Ragdoll. In the meantime as the fire kept burning and spreading it would likely draw the Pro's there to rescue any injured students. And the most like one to come and save them Izuku knew would be Ragdoll. He knew this because her Quirk allowed her to search for the location of up to 100 people at a time, and monitor them. So creating a giant area of effect would do wonders for drawing her where she would be most useful like a moth to a flame.
"Or rather a kitty cat to the Chinese butcher." Izuku said chuckling at the sick and demented joke he made. Toga would be proud at how his sense of humor as a villain had grown.
Izuku was continuing his path of burning when he entered a clearing. Now he would have just kept moving if the opposite side of the clearing wasn't bustling with moving plants, and the sound of breaking leaves, twigs and footsteps.
"This way you two hurry!" Izuku was able to hear a frantic sounding female voice call out from the movement.
So now he knew he had three... "guests" coming along. Which he was all to okay with, a fight against a few people was exactly what he wanted. He would show them that Bakugo was wrong and that he wasn't weak. His old self would probably cower and run at this situation, but his new self was not. He was Deku the villain, and he would be the villain that left his first mark at this attack. Getting back into his villain persona again Izuku turned to his Nomu.
"We have company Nomu," Izuku said snapping his pinky finger and thumb again making the Nomu return its blowtorches to it's back. "Lets give them a warm welcome shall we."
Just like Izuku said three people emerged from the overgrowth. Just as they emerged they all stopped and eyed him warily. Izuku recognized all three of them nearly immediately. Two of them were UA students both from the separate Hero course classes. Both of them Izuku could easily have his Nomu deal with if they got in the way of him. He could care less about them, no it was the third person he really cared about.
"I guess Lady Luck is in a good mood tonight." Izuku said casually as Ragdoll took a fighting stance.
"Get behind me!" Ragdoll said as the two students followed her instructions.
Izuku took notice of them and racked his memory in an attempt to match their faces to his memory. 'Momo Yaoyorozu and Yosetsu Awase, Quirks Creation and Weld respectively.' Izuku recalled from his memory. Well while Izuku was busy racking his brain for information, why not use his tactic of letting them know he has all of their information
"Pro Hero Ragdoll. Real name Tomoko Shiretoko, Quirk Search. Age 31 years, height 5 foot 4 inches." Izuku said as Ragdoll's eyes grew at the revelation of her information.
Ragdoll bit down on her teeth in an attempt to suppress her jumpy nature. 'He knows my age and height! How much else does he know?' Ragdoll questioned in her mind. She believed she could take him on in a fight since the villain didn't look overly impressive and her Quirk should giver her an upper edge. But was his knowledge his Quirk or did he do research on her before hand. Plus she knew nothing about him and she had to worry about the two students with her at the moment. She decided her best bet was to stall for a fight and give them a chance to escape.
"How do you know that!" She yelled at him bracing for a fight, making sure to give herself the guarding stance to block any attack on the other two.
'Just as I thought. Let them know you know personal details and it sets them on edge.' Izuku monologued in his head at the sight that his strategy worked.
"I know everything about you my dear," Izuku said chuckling as he started taking a few steps forward. "I know the fact that it was your idea to form the Pussycats, that your birthday is April 8th, and that your blood type is O," Izuku continued giving off more of his knowledge which was setting Ragdoll on edge.
'There's no way he could know that! Only the others knew that it was my idea!' Ragdoll thought terrified.
this guy knew enough about her and talked like he knew her for the longest time. No matter she was a Hero and would fight him to protect the others.
"When I rush at him you two run!" Ragdoll said to the two students with her, who gave her a look of uncertainty.
'When the opponent is on edge keep them that way.' Izuku recalled further advice from Dabi when they were busy preparing for the attack.
"I would listen to her if I were you two." Izuku said threateningly as the two students turned to look at him.
"And why should we listen to you villain." Yaoyorozu said shakily getting into a fighting stance herself.
"Yeah all three of us can take you in a fight!" Yosetsu Awase said following suite.
Izuku shook his head at their naivete. 'They still want to fight after being told twice now by two different Pro Heroes to run' Izuku thought shaking his head deciding to oblige them. "You may be able to take me 3 on 1," Izuku began as he rose his hand up and snapped his middle finger and thumb. Suddenly the sound of spinning and grinding metal filled the air as the Nomu made it's presence known to the trio, with six chainsaws sprouting from behind the Nomu's back. "But how about 2 on 3!"
Izuku watched as all three of them flinched and stepped back at the sight of the Nomu, which Izuku could only assume looked more threatening from the towers of fire behind it that were still spreading through the area. Well at least he could say that his first impression was going good so far, now all he had to do was prove he had the bite to back up his bark.
"So since you two decided to stick around I'll make sure you get quick deaths before I'm done." Izuku said as he prepared to signal his Nomu to attack.
He was planning to have his Nomu off the two students as he rushed Ragdoll, and then had his Nomu back him up against her. All he really had to do was have his Nomu restrain her, and then inject her with one of his sedatives. A simple sweet and effective plan that if everything went right he could accomplish.
"Nomu!" Izuku called catching his beasts attention and causing the trio to prepare for a fight. "Kill the two students! Leave Ragdoll to me!"
Following its masters command the Nomu let out a growl as it charged towards the two students that it's master told it to attack. Recoiling in shock Ragdoll yelled at the two to run at which they did retreating back into the forest. However as her back was turned Izuku quickly drew one of his sedatives syringes and rushed towards Ragdoll who using her Quirk was able to dodge his attack, which miffed Izuku but didn't hamper his mood. Instead Ragdoll tried attacking the Nomu in hopes of stopping it or at least giving the other two enough time to get away. As she rushed towards the Nomu Izuku quickly puts himself between the two stopping Ragdoll.
"I'm afraid I can't let you interfere with him." Izuku said as his Nomu disappeared into the forest after the two, it damaging and destroying the trees with it's chainsaws as it ran.
This caused Ragdoll to worry as she didn't think the students could defeat whatever the beast was in a fight, nor that they could outrun it. Using her Quirk again while they were still in range, Ragdoll let out a sigh of relief as she was able to sense that they had a semi good head start. Refocusing on the villain before her Ragdoll took another fighting stance hoping to end this fight quickly. Scanning his weak points Ragdoll found that he was weakest at his joints, such as his knees, shoulders, and elbows. So all she had to do was concentrate her attacks there and hopefully she could end this quick enough to help the other two, and then go and help Mandalay and the other Pussycats.
Izuku grit his teeth as he felt a tingling feeling wash over him. 'She scanned my weak points,' He thought slightly aggravated but quickly calmed himself down. 'Out of all the Pussycats she's the most soft of them. I could use that." Izuku said internally as he began formulating a plan.
"How long do you think those two can run?" Izuku asked coyly smirking behind his mask. "After all they are already tired from your and the other Pussycats training,and it would be a shame to see two good individuals go to waste like that."
'Whats he playing at?' Ragdoll thought to herself as the villain began to move again, and he was holding up a syringe filled with an orange liquid. Ragdoll had many ideas run through her head at what was in that syringe since she saw him try to use it on her earlier but she dodged it, but whatever it was she didn't want to find out the hard way. So she was caught off guard as the villain effortlessly tossed it at her, it landing harmlessly at her feet.
"So I'll make a deal with you," Izuku said as he watched Ragdoll eye the syringe he threw at her. "I will call of Nomu and let those two go free if you agree to come with me peacefully," Izuku said continuing, slowly reaching into his pocket and grabbing the clicker he was given to remotely command or summon the Nomu to his location. "Sounds like a fair deal right? You come with me and the two kids get to live."
Ragdoll had to bite down on her tongue to keep from lashing out at him. But she was not an idiot despite her usual hyperactive demeanor of a young child who was on a sugar high mixed with gallons of coffee. She knew the risks that her job would entail her to take, and if giving herself up would protect the two students then she would do it.
Ragdoll glared at the villain as she prepared to speak. "So all I have to do is inject the needle into myself right?" Ragdoll said making sure to keep her guard up, since it was hard for her to read the masked villain to predict his next move.
Izuku began sending a hidden amount of rapid silent clicks to the Nomu. A rapid flurry of clicks that translated into Morse Code in the Nomu's brain.
'Return... To... Me... Forget... Students... Come... Restrain... Ragdoll...' Izuku said in his head since it was was a habit of his to do that when using the Morse Code on the clicker. 'At least she's implying that she'll do it. Nomu is just a precaution after all.'
"Correct. All you have to do is inject the sedative into any point in your body and I'll call off my Nomu." Izuku said trying to reassure her that if she complied with his demands that the students would be safe. Although unbeknownst to her they already were at least from the Nomu, he couldn't speak for the others of the Vanguard. But at least he had the upper hand now, since even if she didn't inject herself Nomu was on the way to restrain her. All Izuku really wanted was for the two students to be gone from the altercation since they were a factor Izuku didn't like. But now that they were either dead or far enough away from the area know he could worry about capturing Ragdoll all he wanted.
Ragdoll let out a miniature growl from her throat. She hated the situation that she was in right now. All she wanted to do was to get the students she had found to the main camp cabin like Mandalay had ordered. Instead she found herself face to face with a villain that wanted to make her sedate herself, and to come with him for some mysterious reason wanted her.
"Tick tock tick tock Ragdoll. Times running out!" Izuku said trying to keep Ragdoll on edge, which would hopefully make her make a rushed decision. And give his Nomu time to get back to the area since he doubted he could take Ragdoll on alone right now.
Ragdoll took one last glance at the area the students fled through and used her Quirk. Thankfully the students were safe and far away. However she was unable to sense the location of the beast that followed them through the forest. 'Wait! Wheres the "Nomu" he keeps referring to?' Ragdoll thought panicked as she quickly used her Quirk to find where it's location was.
"To late." Izuku said as he snapped his pointer finger and thumb.
Just then Ragdoll felt a massive presence behind her. Before she could even turn around she felt a large fist connect with her head. Stumbling backward from both the shock and force of the unexpected blow Ragdoll attempted to steady herself on a nearby tree. Only for another massive punch to nearly hit her, instead only breaking the tree in half as blood splattered from her mouth. Looking up at what was attacking her Ragdoll was able to see that it was the Nomu that was attacking her with two sledge hammer arms from it's back. She gulped at the sight of seeing the massive brute up close, it was definitely a lot more intimidating. She had heard that one of these things was able to go toe to toe with All Might during the USJ incident that happened. She didn't want to imagine what this one could do to her if it was also on par with All Might.
Balancing herself Ragdoll withdrew the claws that her cat paw gloves possessed and attempted to claw at the Nomu. Her main fighting style might have been a support one, but Tiger made sure everyone of the Pussycats knew how to fight one their own should the need arise. As she jumped at the Nomu it attempted to swig both of its hammer arms at her. However she ducked and slid under it slicing it's legs drawing blood. The Nomu gave no indication of pain, instead resorting to trying to stomp Ragdoll landing a successful kick to her torso sending her back. As the kick connected Ragdoll could feel the force behind it break a few of her bones and maybe a rib or two. That wouldn't deter her efforts though, since now she knew that the students were safe her only priority was to defeat these two and go help anyone else she could, or at the vary least stall for enough time for backup to arrive.
Izuku meanwhile had to give Ragdoll credit for fighting the way she did. 'She defiantly knows how to fight solo despite being a support fighter," Izuku monologued in his head. 'Even though she's outmatched by Nomu she wont just be swinging widely at it hoping to hit, she has a viable strategy and technique to her style.'
Izuku continued observing the brawl between Ragdoll and the Nomu, docking down mental notes as he watched. It seemed that Ragdoll was also keeping an eye on him with her Quirk while she fought, which Izuku noted as a smart move. Since her Quirk was one that was like a second nature function to her, she could fight the Nomu and not need to worry about an unnoticed surprise attack from him as long as she was focused enough. Still though in the end Izuku knew what was going to happen, and it did pain him to watch Ragdoll spit out and bleed blood all over herself and the area. Sure he was making the sick and demented jokes earlier but unlike Toga, Dabi, Moonfish, and Muscular he hadn't really ever seen blood that much that wasn't his own, nor had he ever really inflicted any sort of wounds like that on others. The main reason he joined the league was to show people that he wasn't weak and that they were wrong for doubting him. Oh well at least he didn't need to kill Ragdoll and only capture her and bring her back before the others completed their assignment. Who knows maybe if he got done early he and Nomu would be able to go after a few more of the students. The more time he was able to get used to seeing blood and taking lives the better he would be at doing it in the future.
Ragdoll got hit directly on the side of the head with a low impact smash of one of the Nomu's hammers, knocking off her radio cat ear headset damaging it, and splattering blood over it. It had purposefully deafened and weakened the hit as to not kill the person it was fighting. Its master had drilled into it with plenty of images and commands to not kill this particular person, because this person was important to the Creator. And if both the Creator and the master wished for this person to still be alive then he would not disappoint them and risk being punished. The Nomu watched as Ragdoll stumbled woozily around the impacts of its punches and hammer smashes finally beginning to take a tole on the frail female. The master had stated he wanted him to restrain her, and the Nomu saw no better time to try that then now. As it rushed forward to try and grab the bleeding Pro Hero, she still continued to fight by dodging the attack and rushing towards it again striking its outstretched arm. This time however the Nomu let out a growl of pain as it felt the vital muscle fibers tear in its arm that it quickly withdrew. Then it's healing factor Quirk kicked in and began repairing the scratches that Ragdoll had left all over its body, the sound of stitching, slithering, moving, and squelching flesh sounded off as the wounds closed.
Ragdoll gulped upon the sight of the Nomu healing, unknowingly swallowing a little blood which made her stomach flare up. She could feel every broken bone in her body right now, every torn muscle and ruptured organ she felt it. Her entire body was on fire with pain, and nearly on fire from the forest fire continuing to spread. To top it off she could barely even stand let alone move since her legs had taken a few hits from the Nomu's hammers,and she was exhausted for the extended combat and running she had been doing. But if she was going down she was going down swinging with all she had. She drew every ounce of strength and willpower left she prepared to attack again. But felt a needle plunge into her back as her body started going numb and her consciousness start drifting as her mind raced with one last thought.
'I... forgot... about... him...' Ragdoll thought losing consciousness.
"I apologize but I would rather you stay alive." Izuku said as he moved to catch the falling Ragdoll who finally passed out from both her injuries and the sedative.
Izuku raised his hand and closed it signalling the Nomu that it no longer needed to attack. The Nomu obeyed and returned the sledge hammer arms into its back and became docile waiting for its next command. Izuku meanwhile attempted to perform first aid on Ragdoll to stop the bleeding from her injuries. He had been told to get her back alive and he doubted being brought back in a bloody mess, and having a bunch of broken bones as well as being in critical condition was what Shigaraki had in mind when he said capture her. Nonetheless he was going to make sure she survived this endeavor even if he had to risk ruining his image with the others of the Vanguard. As long as he completed his mission then he didn't care what the others would think. At least he knew Mustard and Toga wouldn't care and would still hold him at friend status at worst.
"Glad I brought this." Izuku mumbled to himself as he pulled out a small first aid kit from a pouch on his his thigh. He had originally brought this encase he got hurt during the mission and had to do treatment in the field. Ironic that now he was about to perform treatment on the person he was given a Nomu to help capture. But the flaring amount of heat that he felt on his back reminded him of the fire.
One look around his surrounding however dictated this wasn't the best place to perform first aid. What with the giant forest fire he had created and all behind him. Shaking his head at the stupidity and backlash of his choice he was now experiencing, he decided his best bet was to take Ragdoll with him to his pickup point and perform first aid there. He would carry Ragdoll with him and have the Nomu act as a guard, a solid plan he decided since if the Nomu carried her and they ran into another fight it would only risk further injury to her and he didn't want to risk it. After all what would it mean to his reputation if he failed his first mission when he only really had one objective. He didn't want to think about what Shigaraki would do to him if he failed like that.
"Nomu," Izuku said as he regained his pets attention as the Nomu craned its body to face its master. "Guard us as we move to the pickup point."
After he said that he snapped his middle finger and thumb again, the Nomu responding by summoning the six chainsaws from its back but keeping them inactive. Best not to draw attention to them as they try and get to the pickup point, since the sound of whirring and grinding metal wasn't exactly what one would call subtle. Kneeling down Izuku attempted to pick Ragdoll up bridal style since that would be the safest way for him to carry her without risk of further injury. Surprisingly to him she was very light for what he was expecting her to be. Yes he knew she was like twice as old as him and shorter but he didn't expect her to be light like she was. Plus while he did spend a while building up a small layer of muscle on him, he by no means considered himself to be muscular enough to take someone on in a fistfight or carry someone like he was. So the fact that he as able to carry her while only having to walk a little slow honestly surprised him a good deal.
"A guess hard work and determination does pay off." Izuku said to himself as he carried Ragdoll into the forest toward his pickup point.
As Izuku walked he found himself watching his surroundings more intently than he probably should have. He knew non of the other villains would try and pull a sneaky one on him like this except maybe Toga, but she was on the other side of the forest. So the fact that he felt eyes on him didn't sit well with him. He even stopped once or twice in an attempt to ease his nerves and suspicions.
'If someone is there than it wouldn't be a student or Hero since they would have attempted to take back Ragdoll from me,' Izuku discussed in his head finding his conclusion logical. 'Which means that its someone else who's watching if there is anyone.'`
Deciding to take the safe route and knowing that he was still a decent walk to his pickup point he had an idea on what to do. If someone was following them then best to ward them off of their trail.
"Nomu," Izuku spoke as he and the Nomu stopped walking. "Burn this area and then return to following me!"
Izuku then cleared the area after he said that command. Obeying it's orders the Nomu sprouted a few blowtorch arms while keeping its chainsaw arms. It then proceeded to lash out with both sets of tools on the surrounding area as soon as its master was out of the way. It hacked at and fell many of the trees which caused it to unknowingly caused it to help accelerate the burning process as it sprayed the flames of the blowtorches. In a matter of less then a minute the area was burning steadily and the Nomu heading after Izuku who was safely ahead of the flames.
'Most useful thing I ever got.' Izuku praised internally as he heard the Nomu lumber back behind him.
Luckily for Izuku after the Nomu burned the area he was at before, he felt that feeling of being watched leave. That actually felt like a huge relief off of his chest as he hoped it was smooth sailing to his pickup point from onward. Glancing down into his arms at the unconscious body of Ragdoll Izuku let a small sigh escape his mouth. Was this really what he wanted out of life? Sure his old self would have fainted at the idea of meeting any Pro Hero in person after all, but now here he was with him holding the bloody and battered body of one that he had a beast he was given to attack her. It semi saddened him that he had to do that, but he was not about to appear weak to the people that had given him a chance.
"Nomu," Izuku spoke breaking the silence of their trek as they entered a clearing that Izuku had long since memorized the location of. "Hold her gently as I radio for pickup."
Izuku held out his arms towards the Nomu, who slowly and securely held Ragdoll within its hands. While the Nomu lacked finesse and had a clunky and bulky grip on her Izuku knew that it wasn't enough to harm her further for the time being. In a few seconds he would be holding her again anyway so what was the damage that could be done. Reaching up to his ear Izuku pressed the radio transmitter button that was tied into all the Vanguard members on the mission and a main set back at the base.
"This is Deku speaking. I request pickup at designated location. Objective completed. Over and out!" Izuku said into hos headpiece, static filling his ears as he spoke.
He motioned for the Nomu to hand him back Ragdoll, to which the beast obeyed doing it's best to gently transfer the injured Pro Hero. It was successful and soon Izuku was holding the body of Ragdoll again with only a few more slight bruises from the Nomu's grip. If he had to chose between that and her having more injuries that were fatal, then he would take the bruises on her. But pretty soon enough Kurogiri's purple mist warp gate arrived, with even Kurogiri himself there as well.
"Greeting Deku, I trust your mission went well?"Kurogiri asked as he examined the boy and the unconscious form he was holding.
"Very well Kurogiri," Izuku said as he looked up towards the League's warper. "Although I would like to request medical assistance for Ragdoll here," Izuku continued as he prepared to step into the portal. "I don't know what we need her for but she's no use to us dead or like this."
'Quite observant young Midoriya. Sensei was right in his decision for assigning you this task through Shigaraki.' Kurogiri thought proudly as he set the portals location. "Very well. I have set the portal to take you to the location we need Ragdoll at. The man there can heal her upon your request," Kurogiri said moving aside to give Izuku enough room to go in. "A fair warning though before I leave it is best to be extremely polite to the man on the other side. And before you ask why, all i can say is that he is above Tomura Shigaraki in terms of leadership positions." Kurogiri warned knowing that it was unnecessary since Izuku was always polite, but just wanted to be on the safe side.
Izuku nodded upon receiving the warning from him, and began walking through the vortex of mist. He would never get used to the tingling feeling that made all of the hair on his body stand up, as he crossed the threshold between locations. The lace that he emerged in was dark, extremely dark in both terms of atmosphere and lighting. The place had an uneasy aura of death and misery that didn't sit well with him. He also felt a strong intimidating aura that made all of his blood run cold and stop. Feeling a presence behind him Izuku reluctantly turned around.
"Welcome Izuku Midoriya. We have much to discuss."