Hello everybody! And welcome back to another chapter of Legion!
It's been so great to see everybody's support, and after some time thinking about it, I've decided to develop Darth Kyofu. Now, to be fair, I will warn you all now that updates for that story will be far more sporadic since obviously, it would deviate so far from canon that I honestly need to think about it, but I do want to try.
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: Fordo was with Inko at the time.
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Let's kick it off then!
WARNING: This chapter will go into some darker themes; it begins with the bold and ends with the line cut.
Legion: Internships
"When we rescue others, we rescue ourselves."
"All Might…you're cracking the table." Aizawa pointed out as Toshinori breathed in deeply and calmed himself. He should have warned Izuku about Gran's pranks, but at the same time he was glad that his boy had reacted so quickly. They were currently in a room that had been repurposed by the Vod'e as a communication center, with equipment from the Support Course that had been linked to their communication system.
Powerloader had been very happy about the setup, glad to see his students get some experience.
He'd made sure to check that they wouldn't explode, however.
Huh, his boy.
"My apologies…"
"It's alright, if anything it's proven just how right Cody was to insist on the comm center." Aizawa said as he nodded to the clone in the room.
"Plus, it shows that range hasn't been a problem so far. As it is, I'm still gonna follow protocol." Pressing a button, Cody called his brother."
"Mand'alor. UA. Confirm false alarm."
…
#Confirmed. All Clear.#
#Confirmed. All Clear.#
Ochako let out a sigh of relief, allowing the tension to fall from her shoulders, she noticed the two clones who'd arrived with her loosen the grip on their weapons before putting them away.
Gunhead watched her calm down, admittedly a bit worried at seeing a newbie have such a rapid and tense response to an attack.
Then he remembered that these UA kids had apparently already faced villains at the USJ and had even witnessed a lot of death.
'Yeah, this reaction is about right…ain't that just sad.' Gunhead thought before calling out to her.
She turned and apologized but he waved it off.
"It's fine…look, you kids have been through a lot already. Much more than you should have, you've got good instincts judging by what I saw, here I'm going to teach you how to hone them."
A small pause, gravity seeming to increase on them.
"It's gonna be so much fun!" Gunhead finished with a cheer.
'He's adorable!'
"Are you alright, kid?" Death Arms asked as he kneeled next to the girl who was sitting against the wall. Kyoka's heart was pounding, the sound reverberating through her ears, the jacks itching to dig into something and unleash their power.
"Yeah just…it was really sudden, the call came in and went away so fast, and we're all so far apart like…"
"Like the USJ, huh? I heard a lot about that from Cutup and 4040." Death Arms said as he laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Kyoka merely nodded while holding her hands to her head, not shrugging off Death Arms but not exactly leaning into his touch either.
"Have you talked to anybody about it?"
"Hound Dog-sensei has been having counseling sessions with all of us…but it's still hard…I don't know how Izuku manages it. How any of them manage it. Fordo…he killed a guy and…" Her jaw clamped shut as she trembled.
Death Arms sighed before sitting next to her.
"You know…a part of me wants to say that these internships have been a bit rushed."
"I-I can do this…I have to do this…I-"
"Hold up, I didn't say that I was sending you back, merely making an observation. Either way, you're here, and my job is to help you out." He said before sitting next to her.
"I think this is something you need to hear…cause you're definitely not the first hero student to see deaths in the field, and you won't be the last." Death Arms began as he began to fiddle with a cigarette.
"It happened about two years ago, I'd taken an internship for a third year hero student from UA, my first intern actually…anyway…"
Izuku glared unamused at the old man who was currently shaking in front of him.
"Hello? Who are you?"
"Uh…Midoriya Izuku. From UA."
…
"Who?"
'I swear All Might I will get you back for this…I gave up internships with Ryukyu, Kamui Woods, and Crust. If this guy is senile…"
"Hahaha, oh Sorahiko."
'Nana?'
"Izuku? Can you hear m-?"
'Barely…you're starting to fade.'
"Tell hi- … -aid hi."
He hoped that the fact that he could hear her, even if only for a moment, was good news for him.
"Nana says hi." Izuku snarked.
Nana smiled as she opened her eyes and looked on from inside the Mindscape, it seemed that things were progressing but would still need to drag Izuku inside to tell him the news.
"Certainly gave the old man a heart attack, huh?" She heard from her side. Turning, she faced Dandy who was approaching the users that were currently awake.
The First turned towards him with a smile and the three then turned to look over the expanded facility.
"Magnificent, aren't they?" Dandy remarked as they observed the marching clones below them.
"Indeed." The First stated as they saw a company march, then halt. They gave a sharp left face before bringing their rifles to present arms.
"Progress is continuing, hopefully we'll be able to deliver the good news soon, but it's hard to actually bring Izuku down here. I've been able to get into contact with him a few times, but we've only seen each other in moments of extreme emotional duress." Nana said as she looked over the thousands of clones that were in front of her, all of them eager to see the outside world yet remaining patient.
"Hopefully as we progress, Izuku can come here of his own volition." Dandy replied as they continued moving forward.
Nana then burst out laughing.
"What is it?"
"Torino just fainted."
Sorahiko woke up in his bed.
'Huh? That was a weird dream…must have slept in…wonder if Toshinori's boy is here yet.' He thought to himself as he got off his bed, idly noticing that he'd worn his costume to bed.
'Man I'm getting old. I don't remember putting on my costume last night.'
Then he started to smell something in the kitchen.
"Don't tell me I left food out last night." Gran grumbled as he headed to his kitchen. Going inside he found it completely odd to see a boy in armor from the legs down cooking things in his kitchen.
"Oh hey, you're awake. Gotta admit, when I said that Nana said hi I didn't expect you to pass out." The boy mumbled as he continued to cook. "Also you really need to get something other than Taiyaki, I mean honestly, your fridge was filled to the brim with them."
Torino's eye twitched. Did this brat think he was funny?
"Can't be healthy for someone to eat so much sugar, especially someone of your, uh, experience level."
Was he making fun of his age?
"Nice try at the prank though, could have used some work."
'That's it.'
"But I gotta say-oof!"
Izuku wheezed as he hit the ground harshly.
"Alright brat, I may cut you some slack for being Toshinori's boy but ain't no way that I'll take you disrespecting Nana's name like that!" He growled while looming over the boy.
"Hey…she's the one that told me to say it." Izuku groaned out as he tried to regain his breath, this old man certainly was fast!
"What are you talking about!?"
"You know if you get off me it'd be a lot easier to explain." Izuku snarked. Gran Torino snorted before stepping off the boy to let him explain himself.
"Basically, One For All's alive in a sense, Nana's a part of it. I actually spoke with her face to face during my final fight in the Sports Festival and I heard her right as I got here."
Sorahiko looked deep into the boy's eyes, and finding no deception in them, gulped slightly before turning around. Izuku could see him trembling a bit, and he didn't believe that it was because of old age.
He let the man collect himself and eventually Torino turned around.
"You must be something else kid…alright…you had your fun, now let's get started, I'm going to put you through the ringer for making me lose face." Torino said with a grin and Izuku gulped.
'Uh oh.'
Heading to the living room, Gran Torino paused and gave an absolutely evil smile.
"Hope you're fast enough!"
FWOOM!
"Hey, wait!"
Gran Torino began to bounce around the room before clutching the wall atop the door.
"I saw you at the Sports Festival kid, you got guts, and your clones have potential. You used One For All pretty good for the first few rounds, but when the going got tough you practically destroyed yourself. Heh, he might be a good Symbol of Peace, but that fool All Might's no teacher."
'I'm suddenly regretting a lot of things now.'
"I promised him to pick up his slack, so let's get things kicking, put on the rest of your costume!"
'Then again, nothing ventured, nothing gained.'
"Oya!" Izuku barked out with a smile of his own.
One For All sparked throughout his body as he let it protect him once more.
"Hope you have a doctor!" Torino roared as he sped towards Izuku.
"Hope you have insurance!" Izuku yelled back as he reared his fist.
Hosu
"Are you alright, Tenya?"
Tenya shook his head, getting out of his mind as he continued walking forward. The two clones next to him also managed to regain their bearings and they continued their patrol.
"Y-yes, I'm fine…I didn't realize that they added a radio to the armor…"
"Oh right, forgot to mention that. We implemented it into all the students' costumes to prevent communication failures like the USJ. You have a comm built into your helmet and wrist, depending on your preference, you can choose which one to make the primary."
"How interesting, Mand'alor really put thought into this…as expected of him."
"Vod's just looking out for everybody."
"I'm glad to see you're doing fine." Manual said as he walked up to them, the four then continued their patrol as Manual began to tell them about the importance of street patrols and maintaining peace with their presence although lately the streets had been more active, especially with recent events.
"Speaking of, it's hard to believe that Ingenium's little brother is on an internship with me…I'm sure there were far more capable heroes than me."
Tenya breathed in deeply before stopping and bowing.
"You're right, and I apologize…I originally chose your internship because I wished to hunt down the villain who crippled my brother but recent events have…changed my mind about the matter."
"Hey, easy there. No need to bow…I knew already." Manual replied as Tenya rose from his bow.
"I…cannot deny it. I hate that villain with every fiber of my being for what he did to my brother…but somebody I know gave me hope that things will come out for the better, he made me promise him not to go after the Hero Killer…and I cannot break that promise." Tenya said as he looked out to the street to where the people were simply walking, so assured by their mere presence.
It was a responsibility he was unsure that he could bear, but knew that he must.
"Alright, so you guys were the ones who attacked UA, huh?"
The previously mentioned Hero Killer was currently addressing Shigaraki and Kurogiri, testing them to see their motivations.
"And you want to add me to your numbers."
"Yeah, after all, you've got so much more experience as a villain, it'd definitely be a level up." Shigaraki replied.
"Tell me then, what are you after?"
Shigaraki paused.
"Honestly, I want to kill All Might. Destroy everything he ever built and everything I don't like. Especially brats like him." Shigaraki stated as he held up a picture of Izuku, fist raised high by All Might's own hand. "And his minions."
The atmosphere then became very tense as Stain started to glare.
"I was foolish to ever be interested. You're the type of person that I hate the most."
"Huh?"
"You want me to go along with your childish tantrum?" Stain asked as he readied his blades. "What meaning is there in killing without conviction?"
Kurogiri was apprehensive now. Stain had been brought in to help spur Shigaraki's growth, which seemed to have been sparked by the announcement of UA's new clone army.
But now it seemed like the plan was going awry.
"Is it fine for this to continue, Sensei?"
"This is fine! There's no point if we just tell him the answer. He still needs to think about where he needs to mature. Let this spur on his growth! After all, this is what it means to educate. This is all for him."
Izuku panted heavily as he rested on the ground, his armor pieces all around him, next to him Gran Torino was breathing lightly but smirking all the same as he rubbed his cheek.
"Heh, not bad, kid…I'm honestly surprised that you managed to give me a scratch."
'He's a monster! No wonder All Might's afraid of him!'
The house was completely wrecked, mostly from footprints in the plaster and a couple of holes where Izuku and the wall had become intimately acquainted.
"You know, I first saw you during the Sports Festival, but I tuned in late, so all I saw was you destroying yourself in your last two fights. It worried me, I thought you were thinking that you could just brute force your way through things like All Might. Fortunately, I rewatched and focused on other aspects as well."
Izuku sat up to listen as Gran Torino continued.
"You've got a good head on your shoulders, passable fighting skill, and you've got decent support with those clones of yours. But you can get angry, extremely so, and I'm warning you now, that your anger can destroy you."
Izuku gave a slow nod before responding.
"I know…and believe me…I was worse. During the USJ, I tried to fight like All Might and I paid the price for it. My…my brothers paid the price for it. I ended up crippled during the fight and couldn't do anything after. The Sports Festival was my first try at changing things up, becoming faster, not just a carbon copy of buir."
Torino raised a brow at the unfamiliar word but nodded.
"He told me that his anger was what led him to getting that scar." Izuku continued but was unable to say much more of anything.
Torino nodded sadly as his mind started to go back to that fight.
"That fight was hard for all of us."
Izuku gulped before deciding to ask.
"Can you tell me more?"
Torino sadly shook his head.
"Sorry kid, but that's not my story to tell…besides, there's no need for you to worry about it. The villain that Toshinori faced is long gone."
Izuku nodded, unwilling to pry but still needed to ask one more question.
"Buir said that you knew Nana, she was your friend right?"
Torino softly smiled, his mind wandering.
"Protect him, Sora."
"The best."
Best Jeanist Agency, Tokyo
"Frankly, I don't like you."
The clone gave a deep snort as Bakugo could only stare in shock at Best Jeanist.
"You only chose my agency because I'm one of the top five most popular heroes, right?"
Bakugo growled as he retorted that the hero had been the one to send the offer.
"Yes, I suppose I did. You see, recently I've only been getting the good apples of the bunch. You were the first one to strike my interest for being the complete opposite. During the festival, I saw your work. You have an excellent quirk and it's obvious that you have good skill and training. By talent alone you're already top sidekick material."
Jeanist then struck a pose, the second one so far.
"But you're arrogant, brash, and hot-headed, you think yourself the strongest and act like an animal when you perceive loss, quite simply, you have a ferocious nature." He said as Bakugo got steadily and steadily angrier.
"Did you just choose me to give me a lecture-hrk!" Bakugo's rant was paused as he was suddenly bound by Best Jeanists' fibers.
"It is my job as a hero to correct people like you."
Bakugo could only stare in anger and disbelief.
"After all, Heroes and Villains are two sides of the same coin. I'll show those glaring eyes of yours what makes someone a hero."
"What are you trying to do?" Bakugo asked angrily.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm educating you on how to be a hero. The way you speak, your appearance, controlling your emotions, enforcing your morals…we have a lot of work to do. In the span of one short week, I will sew that into your body."
The clone helmet-palmed.
He didn't like puns.
Fourth Kind Agency
Although there was a perceived rivalry between Kirishima and Tetsutetsu, the both soon found themselves united under the common threat of Fourth Kind smashing his fists upon their heads.
The clone that was sent to observe them was facepalming at what was obviously two himbos having the time of their life, the fact that they kept shouting out the word 'manly' didn't do them any favors.
He did enjoy the information gained from Fourth Kind about how heroes were paid.
That and whenever Fourth Kind got annoyed he'd give them a good hit on their heads.
All around the country, the students undergoing their internships were learning the foundations of hero work during their internships.
Not all of them were the best, however.
For the students that is, as Mineta found out while he slaved away in Mt. Lady's agency. The clone that came with him however, had been received much more warmly and was currently learning about damage control, costs, and insurance about insurance from Mt. Lady's team.
When asked later why she had Mineta doing such busy work, she replied about immediately being able to tell that he was a pervert.
The clone nodded and went about his day.
Cutup and Kyouka were currently running behind Death Arms, who was extolling the importance of continuous training, even when on patrol.
Elsewhere, Tsuyu and another clone were doing pushups alongside Selkie's team on the deck of his ship.
After the Sports Festival
Shoto had woken up in time for the awards ceremony but was stopped as he found himself face to face with his father.
"Aren't you going to say that I'm in your way?"
Todoroki remained silent.
"You finally did it, I admit I'm slightly disappointed by your loss, but you've finally left this childish tantrum of yours behind! You've got power, but you still lack control, come with me to my agency, and I will lead you on the path of the mighty! You'll become the perfect upgrade of me!"
Endeavor extended his hand out towards his son, but Shoto merely looked at his own with an odd expression.
"It's not like much has changed…this isn't something that just happens…I still need to think about this. It's just…back then, as I fought against Midoriya, I completely forgot about you."
Endeavor was taken aback but stood still as his son passed him.
"Whether or not that's a good thing, if this is the right path…I still have to figure it out for myself."
UA Before Internships
"You're going with your father? I thought you hated him." Izuku stated as they prepared themselves to leave.
"Regardless of my feelings towards him, he's still the Number Two Hero and the best fire user in the country. If I'm to become the hero that I need to be, I need to catch up on my left side." Shoto said as he finished putting on his costume.
Later, in the silent car ride towards his father's agency, Todoroki found himself in awkward silence with the clone who'd been chosen to go with him to his father's agency.
"I've made a vow." Todoroki began, grabbing the clone's attention. "That I would apologize to all of you for my actions at the USJ." He said before bowing inside the car.
"I accept your apology and I forgive you as well."
"It's odd, how easily you all have been forgiving me, surely some of you would be more hesitant to do so, or hate me at the very least."
The clone took a deep breath and leaned forward, taking off his helmet, and Todoroki was met with a familiar face.
Well, mostly familiar. The clone lacked the scars that had become commonplace to see on Midoriya's face. Todoroki absentmindedly rubbed his own scar, wondering if he should talk to Midoriya about his own in an attempt to connect with him.
He wouldn't know where to begin though.
"Look Todoroki, for a while we were, as a whole, extremely pissed at you. But we also understand that not everybody sees us as people. Not everybody takes into consideration our lives. Is it fair? No, not at all, but if anything, you've been changing. You're trying to make up for your mistakes, and well…no brother will hold that against you."
Todoroki nodded and the car turned into a more comfortable silence.
"Do you have a name?"
"Yeah, call me Jet."
Once they made it to the agency, they were soon found by Endeavor, who surprised the both of them by asking for the clone's name before beginning their training.
It was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
Izuku had proven himself for his first day, and as such, Gran Torino had decided to get him started on a small patrol of the area.
In his own words, 'It's better than sitting around on our asses all day.'
Unsurprisingly however, Gran Torino had left him alone for the most part, only offering some small snippets of advice.
He'd also taken the time to tell some stories about Nana and Toshinori from back in the day and even went in depth as to what exactly amounted to training.
'No wonder he's so afraid of you.' Izuku kept that thought to himself, however.
No need to inhibit his wrath.
"I'm going for some taiyaki, you keep an eye out for any trouble."
"There isn't much trouble in this city."
"Eh, we'll probably move on to Shibuya soon enough, it's denser, but for today I want you to start off with basics before I throw you in, after all, this time I have time." Torino said as he walked into the store.
Izuku turned and kept looking around before a glint caught his eye from a tall building to his right.
His eyes widened in shock and his blood chilled.
He moved.
One For All blurred through his body faster than ever before as he jumped towards the building that he saw the glare, the pavement cracked beneath his feet as in one push of his feet he made it to the top.
And tackled her.
"NO! PLEASE STOP! LET ME GO! LET(sob)...me…go(sob)..." He heard the girl scream before her cries turned into sobs as she started to break down in his arms.
He refused to let her go.
"It's okay…it's okay, I don't know what happened, but everything's alright now…" Izuku whispered in her ear, absolutely refusing to let her go.
The girl pleaded with him to let her go, to let her end her suffering, but eventually just broke down even further to incoherent sobs and chokes.
"It's not worth it…believe me…it's not worth it." Izuku said as he continued to hold her.
Eventually after a few minutes, she was coherent enough to speak.
"Why would you save me?" She asked pitifully.
"A hero does not need a reason to save." He responded as he continued to hold her.
"But…I'm quirkless…"
Izuku's heart filled with pain and his blood turned cold.
"That…doesn't matter."
"How can you say that? Everybody I've ever known has said that I'm worthless, useless, that I should just die, that it'd be better that I did." She murmured into his chest.
"That's not true…don't you have anybody who cares for you? What about your parents?"
"They died when I was little, I wanted to join them. I wanted to see them again." She whispered as she extended out her hand towards the edge of the building.
Izuku felt tears fall down his face as he continued to hold her and whisper assurances and apologies.
"Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything…you saved me, and you're still here, even knowing that I'm quirkless…"
Izuku then took note of her clothes, she was in middle school and she was pale with white hair, certainly an odd color for a person as young as them but with quirks-no, focus. He looked around and saw her backpack up against the wall and next to them a pair of shoes.
Red shoes.
"You can let go now…I don't want to jump anymore…I was building myself up for today and now the moment's gone." She whispered, her voice hoarse and cracking from her previous crying.
Now she was just…broken.
Izuku held on to her shoulders, but sat in front of her.
Letting go, he grabbed his helmet and slowly took it off, his emerald eyes meeting her ice-blue.
"What's your name?"
"Isobe Masako…"
"I'm Midoriya Izuku, also known as Mand'alor."
"I know…I saw you at the Sports Festival."
"How old are you?"
"I'm fourteen…"
"You're in middle school, huh?"
She merely nodded as her eyes remained blank. Izuku sighed as he set his helmet down and began to fumble with the armor on his foot. Exposing the black undersuit, he placed his foot next to her own. The sight of it caught her gaze but she remained confused, merely staring at the boy in front of her.
"You know…you and I aren't so different."
"Hm?"
Izuku then grabbed the fabric near his pinky toe and ripped it open, exposing his toe to the air.
"How about you take a count there?"
Isobe blinked before turning to his exposed toe. Izuku saw her count in her mind before she blinked again and peered closer. Counting again, disbelief filled her features before she turned to him in shock.
"Impossible…"
"Look, Isobe…I know what it's like, for the longest time I thought that I was quirkless…my quirk didn't manifest itself until I was ten."
Disappointment filled her features, perhaps this wasn't the best thing to show but it was too late now.
"So there's no hope for me…"
"There's always hope, maybe not for the things we want, but for what we need and what we want to achieve despite our failings…what do you want to achieve?"
"I…I wanted to be a hero…'cause I liked how they saved people, but I can't…I'm quirkless and everybody says I should stay out of the way. They…bullied me, took my things, destroyed them…everything you can imagine and I…I just wanted it to end. I gave up on that dream a long time ago." She finished before crossing her arms over her legs and letting her head fall.
Izuku gulped before speaking his mind.
"I'm sorry…for all of it, you never deserved this…none of us did. I know a bit of what it's like, I lived quirkless for a long time, and even after I got my quirk, things didn't really change. Once people make a decision about you, it's hard to change their minds."
"You've been alone for so long, Isobe, but you don't have to be anymore…it…it might not be your dream anymore, but I believe that you could have become a hero, can become a hero."
She peered up and looked at him in the eyes, her own pleading at him for acceptance and validation.
"Even if I'm quirkless?"
"Of course…I certainly wouldn't mind working with Japan's First Quirkless Heroine." Izuku replied.
She wept.
"We'll take her to the precinct, I'll stay with her and start an investigation into her home life at the orphanage and her middle school. You did great work today, Midoriya. Or should I say, Mand'alor." Detective Tsukauchi said as he went over some final details with Izuku.
"Thank you for responding to my call, detective."
"I'm just glad that I was in the area and could offer my help." He said before turning to address some other officers.
Izuku turned and saw Isobe being led to a car and headed over to her.
"Isobe!"
"M-mand'alor…" She stuttered before gulping. She fidgeted with her feet for a moment before deciding to throw caution to the wind, and hugging him.
"Thank you…for saving me…" She muttered into his chest.
"It was my genuine pleasure." He replied, resting his chin on her head as he held her for as long as she needed. Eventually, she pulled away and waved but was stopped as he gave her something.
"If you ever want to talk, I'm here." He said as he gave her a note.
"Thank you…I'll do it…I'll go for my old dream again, I'll become a hero, so that I can save someone like you saved me!" She said with teary conviction.
Izuku nodded at her and waved as the car drove off, only once the car disappeared did he turn around and sit down at the same cafe that Gran Torino was at earlier, and sat down.
"You did good kid, I saw it all from the rooftop."
"Thanks…" Izuku trailed off as he began to shudder as a few tears began to trail down under his helmet.
"This world is cruel…" He painfully whispered.
"Far too cruel, boy. Far too cruel. But that's why we're here, to save the ones who are downtrodden, and beaten, and at the end of their rope."
"If I hadn't seen her…"
"But you did. What if's are pointless to think about. You saw her and you saved her. Don't cheapen that by thinking about what might have been." Gran Torino finished as Izuku let out soft gasps as he let himself go, Torino's hand rubbing up and down his back.
"Let it out, boy. At least you're not a brain dead musclehead who thinks that tears are for the weak."
Izuku nodded and let himself cry, the emotional burden being slightly relieved.
"Never forget this feeling, never forget what it means that you managed to save someone. That's what it means to be a hero."
"Yes, sir."
Toshinori was left feeling a mixture of both pride and sorrow.
He was proud that his boy had saved a life, but sorrowed at the fact that he'd been exposed to the darker realities of hero work.
'Quirkless, huh? I remember those days, but it sounds like things have gotten worse since my time…maybe I can do something more public?'
Sure, as Toshinori Yagi he'd donated much of his income to charities to retain his anonymity and to also ensure that nobody used his name as propaganda against certain groups.
It was annoying honestly, every single thing he did or said was taken under scrutiny. Toshinori wasn't blind as others thought he was. As much as he played the fool, he could see how his actions, while with good intentions, had led to unexpected consequences.
But this was the price that he paid to become the Symbol that the world needed.
He only hoped that Izuku and his friends would be able to change things.
…
A knock at the door, it looks like Tsukauchi is here.
Bakugo was currently regretting his internship choice as, to his perspective, Best Jeanist was spouting off a bunch of random crap that had nothing to do with fighting villains.
That and he was combing his hair into this ridiculous haircut.
It exploded back into its natural shape but that wasn't the point.
Even the damn clone looked annoyed, although his hair wasn't poofing back anytime soon.
What a waste of time.
Toshinori sat down with his friend, a fresh cup of tea for both of them.
"Sorry to intrude so suddenly, All Might."
"No worries, Tsukauchi. I'd like to thank you for helping out Izuku with that attempted suicide yesterday."
"Of course, he's already doing good. But I'm afraid that I'm here for other business."
"Right…what have you found out?"
"Well…among the villains that the Vod'e eliminated at the USJ, we were able to retrieve the headless corpse of the thing called Nomu. After we went over the testimonies that it was apparently artificially created, we started an investigation of our own…technically I'm not supposed to tell you this, cause you're not part of the investigation, but we did DNA tests on the remains."
"DNA tests?"
"Yes." Tsukauchi said as he showed a mug shot of a random criminal with olive hair and large lips. "We discovered who Nomu was, and as you can see, the images are far different from each other, which led us to believe that we might have a clue as to a mastermind." Tsuakuchi gulped and pursed his lips.
"Toshinori…the test results also came back positive for multiple quirk factors from DNA that came from at least four different people."
Toshinori's eyes widened in surprise.
"Four people, could he even have been considered human?"
"No, but that isn't the worst part. His body was modified with drugs and other methods so that he could handle multiple quirks. But the thing is, even with the DNA fully integrated…he wouldn't be able to gain the quirks from the DNA alone."
Toshinori really didn't like where this conversation was going.
"That means that someone had to have given them to him."
Toshinori gasped and stood up, disbelieving.
"Don't tell me…"
"Considering the circumstances, it would be reasonable to assume so."
Toshinori snarled and began to buff up from his anger.
"To think…that he would survive, that he would start to move again!"
"Buir, I have failed you…" He thought as he clenched his fist.
"But I will not fail my son. Whether or not he is still alive, I will destroy him once more, and ensure that my boy does not face him."
"So you wanted me to join you, yet all I see is a child having a tantrum. To truly accomplish anything, you need to have conviction and desire. By natural law, those who are weak, those who lack these will be left behind."
Stain was over Shigaraki's paralyzed body, his blade piercing into his shoulder.
"That's how we end up like this."
Shigaraki growled in pain and ordered Kurogiri to send him back, but he was unable to, also paralyzed by the hero killer's quirk.
"This world is overrun with false heroes, the very word itself having lost its true meaning. They, and the villains that wave around their power without purpose should all be purged."
Stain then started to move his other blade towards Shigaraki's face, nearly touching the hand on it.
Shigaraki grasped the blade with his hand, the metal immediately beginning to decay.
"I'd rather keep this hand…conviction. I don't have time for something like that, but if anything, I'd have to say it involves All Might and his brat. I want to destroy a society that worships him and would place that kid on a pedestal." Shigaraki said with a sadistic smile as he lashed out, Stain barely escaping in time.
"You know, this really hurts, and we don't exactly have a healer in our party ya know? How about some payback?"
"So that's who you are…"
"Huh?"
"Our goals oppose each other, yet we both agree that the present must be destroyed."
"Oh screw off. Go home and die. Aren't I the kinda guy that you hate?" Shigaraki said, confused at the turn of events.
"I was merely testing your resolve. Only on the verge of death do people show their true colors." Stain replied as he put away his blades. It's different, but you do have that desire, a corrupted seed of conviction deep within you. How will it sprout? That is yet to be seen." Stain finished as Shigaraki merely glared balefully.
"Unless of course, I dispose of you first…"
Kurogiri finally managed to move his body.
"Dispose of me? Heh…Kurogiri, get this guy out of here, I don't need somebody as insane as him as a party member."
"Shigaraki Tomura, he would be a great asset to us if he joined."
Shigaraki paused as he turned to think about All Might's boy…but shook his head.
"My business is done here, return me to Hosu, my work is yet to be done there."
Hosu
Manual sighed in relief as he removed his helmet, grateful for the day to be over.
"Pretty slow day, huh?"
"Yes, I suppose it was." Tenya said as he removed his own. The clones next to him sat down with some food and began to eat.
"Well, with the whole city on full alert it's not like villains will come out to play. I wonder…" Manual trailed off as he went to grab something.
Tenya took off his glasses and began to rub his hair, tired from the day's events. Even though there weren't any events to speak of.
Sitting down himself, he raised his brow at the food that was passed to him in a bowl, some onigiri.
"Eat up." The clone said as he ate his own.
"Thank you. I'm sorry, I don't think that I ever asked for your names."
"I'm Waxer, this is Boil."
Tenya greeted them calmly before returning to his thoughts.
"So, what's on your mind right now? Let me guess, hero killer?" Waxer asked.
Tenya grimaced but nodded.
"You want to talk about it? Just cause Mand'alor managed to help you out doesn't mean that it's all off your chest." Boil continued.
"It's just…well…I did plenty of research before I chose this internship, I learned that the Hero Killer usually injures or kills at least four heroes whenever he visits a city. I don't know if he finds it funny or just uses the number four as a premonition, but so far Tensei was the only one attacked."
"That's not good, that definitely means that heroes need to be on the lookout then, anyone of them could become his targets." Boil said as he crossed his arms and stared darkly at the table.
"Yes…originally I had planned on hunting him down, but now…I'm not sure what to do."
"Well, you focus on what you can." Waxer started as he finished up his food. "Right now you're here to learn how to be a hero, not a vigilante, so learn what you can from Manual and apply that to saving others."
"Waxer's right, we get it. You're angry. But you're not the only one who's dealt with that. Problem is that you can't just bottle it all up and expect things to go right."
"And make sure you talk to someone, us clones have been talking with Hound Dog and some others lately, help us go through what happened at the USJ."
"Really?"
"Yeah, maybe it's just cause we're part of Izuku's quirk, or maybe it's just our own perspective of things, but I think that too many heroes try to do everything alone…when they shouldn't be."
'Not being alone…saving others…' Tenya thought as he looked at his last piece of onigiri.
'If it came down to it, and I alone saw Stain attacking another, would I go to save them, or would I give in to my anger and attack wantonly?'
Izuku was meditating on the train. Earlier Gran Torino had decided that it'd be a good idea for Izuku to branch out and focus on criminals for a bit to get his mind off things.
"Nothing cleans the mind out like good old-fashioned beatings!"
"Gran! That's horrible!"
"It's cathartic, that's what it is!"
Izuku snorted, his train (heh, pun) of thought interrupted as he looked out the window, they were currently on the way to Shibuya, where it was denser and therefore had a larger criminal element.
He was very excited that he'd be able to show off his costume to so many people.
As it was, it would be good for him, sparring with Gran Torino would only take him so far, it was important for him to expand his horizons in combat.
A sudden pinch in his head made him grimace and he gripped his temple in pain.
"Everything alright?"
"Yeah I just…felt this sharp pain in my head, as if something's-"
His radio crackled.
#RED ALERT! RED ALERT! HOSU CITY IS UNDER A WIDE SCALE ATTACK!#
Izuku's heart froze as both he and Gran Torino paid attention to the crackling comm.
#THIS IS U.A. CONFIRM REPORT!"
#THIS IS CT-0120, BOIL! I CONFIRM! We've got multiple fires and explosions in the city, civilians are panicking all over the place and hero's are scrambli- oh no!#
Izuku's heart began to race, he could feel his pulse in his ears and began to breath heavily.
#FALL BACK, FALL BACK! YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT THING!#
#BOIL! WHAT'S GOING ON!?#
#I don't believe it…we've got more Nomu!#
Earlier
A black portal opened up behind Stain, who was perched on top of a water tower, as if he was the judge of the city he was observing.
"Hosu's nicer than I expected. So, what are you going to do?" Shigaraki asked from behind.
"I will reform this city. In order to do so, more blood must be shed." Stain replied.
"Is this what you meant by your work needing to be finished?" Kurogiri asked as he remembered Stain's words from their earlier encounter.
"I see that at least you understand."
"Very funny."
Stain then raised his arms toward the city as he gave his great proclamation.
"The title of Hero belongs only to those who have committed great deeds, but too many today use it as a mask as they worship money, fame, glory and other worthless endeavors." Stain narrowed his eyes in contempt. "Until the world realizes its mistake, then I will continue to strike from the shadows to purge it!"
With a snap his blade was in his hand and he leapt down to the roof before running off.
"I think I get it now…at least part of it."
"Shigaraki Tomura?"
"I'm not like Sensei, or even you, Kurogiri. I admit that I'm not the smartest guy around…but I think I can understand some things. For all his talk about 'destroying the present' and 'purging the world', he's basically a gothic chuuni trying to start a grassroots movement. So noble I could even cry." Shigaraki mocked while scratching his neck.
"You shouldn't mock him too much, as a matter of fact, in every city that Stain has passed by, crime rate has fallen lower, some say it's due to the heroes' rising consciousness of their actions, so they neglect him."
Shigaraki chuckled in amusement.
"To use a word that Sensei loves to say, 'ironic'. The Hero Killer becomes a Hero Creator…he and I really are on different teams, even if we can be called the same faction. I guess it's time we kill two birds with one stone. Kurogiri, send out the nomu."
'I wonder if you'll be there, Midoriya Izuku…after all, we have unfinished business with each other.'
"Now then…shall we begin?"
The sudden explosion had thrown everything into chaos, Manual, Tenya, Waxer, and Boil had been among the first responders.
As Tenya was running however, he grew suspicious and by chance turned his head.
Eyes widening, he ran off.
"What the, Tenya where are you goin-!"
KABOOM
Another explosion rocked the area, sending Waxer to the ground.
"Damn it!" Boil yelled out as he activated his comm. "RED ALERT! RED ALERT! HOSU CITY IS UNDER A WIDE SCALE ATTACK!"
More explosions began to rock the streets as heros started to begin countermeasures.
"This is U.A. Confirm report!"
"THIS IS CT-0120, BOIL! I CONFIRM!" He then moved forward and tried to get some civilians out of the way. "We've got multiple fires and explosions in the city, civilians are panicking and heroes are scrambli-oh no." Boil groaned out as a haunting figure appeared from the fire, it was hauntingly similar to the same creature that killed his brothers at the USJ, only smaller and without a beak or eyes.
Heroes were already facing it, but we're being struck back, brutally impacting against the buildings.
"FALL BACK, FALL BACK! YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT THING!" Boil called out to the heroes, unaware that his comm was still on.
#BOIL! WHAT'S GOING ON!?#
Boil shakily reached for his comm as he stared at the creature in horror.
"I don't believe it…we've got more Nomu."
Izuku froze, his mind turning blank.
'No..'
He could hear his brothers screaming from within the Mindscape, desperately trying to break out, trying to summon themselves.
'Nononononononononononono'
'Let us out! Let us help!'
'I can't-'
'Raatin ali-'
'Nomu, kill.'
'Vod!'
'Izuku!'
'Not again!'
'Let us out!'
'No!'
'IZUKU!'
'I WON'T'
Sparks began to flash all over his body as he desperately tried to prevent the summoning.
He couldn't let more of his brothers die.
His mind began to turn into a cacophony of emotions, both from himself and his brothers as their combined will was starting to overcome his own.
'No…please…'
Fortunately for him, everything turned black.
Unfortunately for Izuku, he woke up to a punch.
"Gah!"
"How dare you! How kriffing dare you!" He heard the clone above him snarl. Izuku shakily stared back into his eyes.
"I…I-" Izuku gulped and shook his head, unable to speak.
"You dishonor us by refusing to let us fight, you're dishonoring the fallen and right now you're certainly dishonoring Jango's memory!" The clone yelled before grabbing Izuku by the armor and bringing him close.
"I-I can't-"
"Don't you get it Izuku, all of us are willing to go out there and fight and protect the people that need saving! How can we do that if you try and lock us in here!"
"I CAN'T LOSE YOU!" Izuku finally yelled back as his voice cracked.
"I lost a thousand of you at the USJ against a Nomu. I saw Jango get crushed alive by the Nomu! Now there are more!? What do you expect me to do?" Izuku cried out as he got to his hands and knees.
"How can you expect me…to willingly let more of my brothers die? Because I don't know if I can summon you back in time…I don't know if I even can…"
This time another, familiar voice came to his aid.
"What do you mean, Izuku?" Nana said as she knelt next to him, comforting him with her embrace.
"I…when I came back to school, the first time I saw a clone, I tried to summon him back to the Mindscape…but nothing happened, and now I'm wondering…did I ever have the ability to dematerialize them? Was Fordo a fluke? Was Jango just popping in and out of his own volition? Coinciding with my own will? If I see any of you at the brink of death, will I have to watch you die again, helpless to do anything?" Izuku whispered as he bowed his head.
"Am I losing control of my own quirk?"
"Vod…Jango was…a special case." The clone said as he knelt next to him. "Truth be told there's still a lot that we don't know about what exactly he was capable of doing…what we're capable of doing."
"But what matters right now, is that people are in danger and we swore an oath, all of us, that we'd be heroes. That we'd serve and protect the people. How can we do so, if you don't let us?" He gently asked as he held onto Izuku.
"But what if you die?"
"Then we die as heroes, just like you said…but I promise you Izuku, we promise you…" The clone said as he raised Izuku's head and he looked towards the multitude of clones that were in front of him, all staring at him intently with promise behind their eyes.
"We'll do our best to come home and that we'll all stand with you. You just have to let us. Remember, you're not alone anymore. You never were."
Izuku gulped before nodding.
"We do, however, have some good news…One For All and Legion are unique in that they are both sentient and adaptable," Nana began as she helped him up to his feet.
"As your strength in one grows, so does the other…when you first opened the portal, many of the Vod'e were allowed back in where they were healed." Nana stated as Izuku looked at her in confusion, then understanding.
"So as I grow stronger, I can potentially reopen that portal, so that the clones can come back in."
"Yes, you could potentially even do so now on a much smaller scale, but that is NOT an excuse to strain yourself…we…we've also theorized that the reason that you've had so much trouble and health issues is because of the fact that One For All is a separate quirk, and humans aren't meant to have more than one."
Izuku gulped at the news, this explained a lot unfortunately. The blood in his mouth, the extreme strain in his muscles, everything.
"However, again, due to the unique nature of your quirks, they are, for lack of a better word, synchronizing. Hopefully as after enough time has passed, you'll be able to use both to their full potential as one singular quirk, but until then, they will destroy you. You must be careful, Izuku, or the damage you do to your body will be irreparable." Nana grimly warned.
Izuku nodded in understanding and faced his brothers.
"Is this truly what you desire?" He asked.
"KOTE!" All of them cried out, fists high in the air.
"Then as your Mand'alor…I will lead you!" He roared as he raised his fist in return. "If you say that you will fight, then I will fight alongside you, and if you die, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!"
"OYA!"
"TO ARMS MY BROTHERS, WE MARCH FOR HOSU!" Izuku roared as the world began to fade to black once more.
"Kid!"
Izuku gasped and stood up quickly, stumbling a bit from the sudden jump but soon gained his bearings.
"You alright, kid? You were unresponsive for a good second there." Gran Torino asked in concern.
Izuku nodded and put on his helmet.
"I'm fine, I just had to talk with my brothers in the Mindscape. What's the plan for Hosu?" Mand'alor asked as he put on his helmet.
"This train doesn't hit the Hosu train station, but there's a stop with a line that can get us straight ther-"
"Hey look! That building just exploded!"
Izuku's headache returned and he pressed his hand against the metal, trying to apply some pressure.
"Is there a fire?"
The pressure increased even more, regardless of whatever he tried to do.
"What's going on!?"
"IZUKU/VOD!"
"Passengers, please hold on to your seats."
"EVERYBODY GET DOWN!"
BANG!
People started to scream as the wall of the train was broken into by a hero's body. He crashed harshly against the floor and tried to rise up, but a greyish hand grabbed his face and shoved him down, knocking him out.
The metal was torn away, and a somewhat familiar visage appeared.
"Nomu!" Izuku gasped out.
'But it's different! Not nearly the same as that killer's size!' He observed while still frozen.
"Help them out kid! Then head into the city! I give you permission!" Gran Torino yelled as he bounced around the train, kicking the nomu's face and then pushing it out of the train. The two crashed through the line and then out to the city, the two crashing into another building in the distance.
"Gran Torino!" Mand'alor yelled out fruitlessly as he lost sight of him.
'Damn it, I should have given him my wrist comm earlier!'
He then looked at the people who were panicking and knew that he needed to do something.
'Send in just a squad for the train!' Izuku yelled into the Mindscape as he activated his power. Focusing, a squad of troopers appeared inside, surprising those that were still paying attention.
"Send a runner up to the front, tell the conductor to get to the next station! The rest of you, evacuate the people to the cabins ahead of this one, help out the civilians and take care of any injured!" Izuku ordered as he leapt out towards the city.
Tenya slowly crept up to the figures in front of him, it was him, the same man who crippled his brother.
Tenya could see it, if he could just get there at the right angle, a rapid burst and some good aim he could take his head off.
"...Promise me that you won't go off on your own like some vigilante after the Hero Killer, you dedicate your time there to learn how to be a hero and save people. You come back home."
But could he? Would he break that promise?
Tenya's introspection also let him look at the situation differently and he almost gasped at seeing another hero in Stain's grasp.
'In my desire for revenge, I didn't even notice him…'
Tenya swallowed deeply, he knew what he had to do.
'As much as I hate you…I have a duty.'
"Looks like the idiots have started causing chaos, no matter, I'll dispose of them later. Right now…" Stain said as he held up Native with his hand against the wall, the latter was bloody from a gash in his shoulder and was paralyzed. "I must continue my work."
"Bastard…die…!" Native growled out, helpless to do anything.
"If you really are a hero," Stain retorted. "You should choose your last words more carefully." His sword flashed under the moonlight as he thrust forward.
A high pitch whine caught both of their attention and light began to flash at the end of the alleyway.
"I choose to save…not revenge. Torque Over: Recipro…"
'What the-?'
"BURST!"
In one moment, Tenya was on top of Stain, kicking him away. In the next, he grabbed Native and ran down the alley.
"Oh no you don't!"
Tenya grunted in pain as something impacted against his foot tripping him. Both him and Native crashed harshly into the ground
'He's fast!' Tenya thought as he tried to recover from the fall.
"I don't know how you're back on your feet, but I recognize that armor anywhere…so tell me, Ingenium, how is it that you stand before me now?" Stain snarled as he grabbed his katana.
Tenya grit his teeth as he got himself to his knees. Helping Native and leaning him against the wall, he stood.
"Kid, just run…"
"I…am not Ingenium…" Tenya began, ignoring Native.
"Hm?"
"Ingenium is the man who leads dozens into the rescue of hundreds. Ingenium is a hero who has saved hundreds throughout his career and inspired thousands more. Ingenium is my brother…and I am merely trying to follow in his footsteps." Tenya declared as he stood in front of Native, challenging Stain.
"Oh? So the brother of a fake then…have you come to kill me? Boy? Not very heroic now, is it?" Stain asked as he raised his swords.
"No…it's not. And while I would love nothing more than to break your spine over my leg, I know that I cannot. Besides, I made a promise to my good friend Mand'alor, that I would come here not for revenge, but to save people…and that I would come back home. I intend to keep that promise." Tenya stated as he clenched his fist.
Stain grinned.
"Heh, how interesting, I'll have to find out more about this Mand'alor myself. People who are all talk are worth a dime a dozen and this world must be purged of the corrupt. Let us see then, how well you fare. Who knows?"
Stain's blades flashed as he rushed Tenya and appeared atop of him, tips glinting in the moonlight as he prepared to bring his swords down on Tenya.
"Maybe you'll be worth sparing!"
Mand'alor jumped through the streets, using the concrete jungle as a playground.
#UA. Boil. The Nomu's are not like the one at the USJ.. So far I've found a flier, a brute that's regenerating but it's nowhere near as fast or as strong.#
#Copy that Boil.#
"Boil. Mand'alor, I'm here as well! There's a third Nomu! It's white with four eyes and currently engaging Gran Torino!"
#Thank goodness, we need reinforcements! Heroes are falling left and right against the black one!#
"Where's Tenya?"
#We lost him in the panic, he ran off!#
"Damn it, Tenya! I swear if you still ran off to do your vigilante osik [crap], then I swear I will beat your ass so badly you'll be the equivalent of a buggy!" Mand'alor groaned to himself before heading off to the middle of the street.
'One company.'
He let One For All become the fuel for Legion, and extended his arm out.
'Keep it under control…don't break yourself. Imagine a small door.' Izuku thought to himself as energy surged around him.
He'd never tried this before, and he knew he couldn't make that enormous doorway from before, but maybe, just maybe, he could make a small one.
A green spark in the air, tiny, but as he poured in more power, it began to grow until it became a narrow doorway.
'Looks like my limit's 10% when making the door, and I'm already pushing myself as it is.'
He grinned under his helmet however, this meant that he could do it.
"Legion." He said, straining under the pressure.
"Forward. March."
The sounds of marching footsteps began to arise from the green portal and one by one, the clones began to come out. They moved quickly and organized so that within a few minutes 144 clones were out in the streets.
"You're doing good Izuku, synchronicity is still in effect, so your body isn't receiving damage, only strain."
"Hey, I can hear you better now, Nana."
"That's good news, I think that's enough for now."
Izuku relented and let the portal stop, taking deep breaths, he was supported by the last two clones who'd come out.
"Your orders, sir?" The company commander asked.
"What's your name, trooper?
"4477, sir."
"Alright then, once you can come up with a name. Troopers, our main priority is to get the civilian's out of harm's way and provide support to the heroes! I want a medical station on standby and men checking the buildings, and for the rest of you to show no mercy against those abominations! OYA!?"
"OYA!" They all cried as one.
Together they charged towards the center of the battlefield, fires roaring around them and people panicking.
"Go go go!"
"First platoon! Get these civvies out of here! Second platoon, damage control! Third, establish a perimeter! And Fourth, keep fire on the nomu and provide backup for the heroes!"
"Go go go!"
"Up to the front!"
The heroes on the scene were surprised by the sudden surge of men in white armor, but were glad for the assistance.
"Hey, you're those clone guys from the Sports Festival, right? From that Midoriya, kid?" One asked as he retreated a bit.
"Yep, we're here to help. I've got men evacuating the buildings and establishing a perimeter, we'll provide cover fire against those nomu!" 4077 said as he ducked from some flying debris, the hero next to him grunted but grinned.
"Well, you guys certainly brought the calvary!"
"Squads! Form up! Open fire!"
The nomu shrieked as it started to lob debris at the clones who were forced to scatter.
"Spread out! Keep that thing in one spot!" A clone ordered as his brothers began to spread out, some of them helping out heroes that had been injured by it.
"It's got regeneration!"
"But it's slow! Keep at it and stay out of its range!"
"HIT THE DECK!"
The clones hit the ground but one was too slow as he was picked up by the flying nomu and screamed in fear.
"Shoot him down!"
"Hold your fire! You'll hit him!"
The nomu stayed circling around, so they set a few of the clones on lookout and kept their focus on the big one.
"Hold on brother, we'll get you down." One muttered as he continued to open fire.
Elsewhere the other platoons were helping as much as they could, clones were backing up cops in maintaining the perimeter from idiots that tried to get closer or were helping out the firefighters in calming down the fires and helping in evacuation of people from the area.
Izuku would be proud, if he wasn't focused on finding Tenya.
"Tenya. Mand'alor, respond. Where are you!?" He called out as he began to jump across roofs and searched for his friend.
"UA. Mand'alor! Can you track our relative positions so that I can find him!"
#One moment Mand'alor…he's close by! About 100 meters east!#
"Got it! I'm on my way!"
#Mand'alor if the Hero Killer really is there, you need backup, you can't face him by yourself!#
"I don't plan too, All Might! Why do you think I called? Send out the alert! Have the heroes converge on my location!"
As Izuku got closer, he could hear the sounds of fighting before everything went silent.
'No!'
Izuku finally jumped over an alley and saw him. Tenya was lying down over another hero, as the Hero Killer prepared to kill them both.
'NO!'
In a blur of light he sped forward and attacked.
Tenya groaned as he fell over Native, desperately trying to cover his body. Stain was ruthless and his attacks had been brutal.
Tenya coughed out blood into his helmet, having taken a stab to the gut and multiple lacerations over his body, even with the armor.
But he promised and as he heard Izuku's voice over the radio (I forgot about that, should have called it in as soon as I saw him) he hoped that his friend would find him.
"Oh? Even on the brink of death you try to save that fake?"
"A hero's duty…is to save others." Tenya retorted.
"You should have just run, kid…" Native groaned out from below him.
"How could I call myself a hero, how could I call myself Ingenium's younger brother, if I did not try my best to save you?"
"A valiant effort," Stain said as the sound of his boots approached closer and closer. "But ultimately futile. You're definitely worth sparing however, young, but still capable of putting the lives of others before your own, even above that of your personal desire of revenge against me."
Tenya suddenly froze, unable to move.
"What the-?"
He felt a hand grab him and roll him over off of Native.
"You, however, will be the offering for a more just world."
"No, stop! Stop it!"
"Die."
"SMASH!"
"Kuh!"
Stain was sent flying as Mand'alor appeared with a punch to the face that sent him flying down the alley.
"Mand'alor!"
Without pause, he took out a pair of pistols and began to fire, forcing Stain back even more.
"Tenya, you and I are going to have a serious talk after this! I thought I knocked this vigilante osik out of you you blasted fool, why you gotta act all jareor [reckless, suicidal] on me!?"
"I didn't!" Tenya gasped out. "I tried to save Native but he got me!"
"It's true." Mand'alor snapped his attention back to the top of the alley where Stain loomed over him.
"So, you are the one known as Mand'alor. I must admit, you're very interesting. Able to convince this child to put true heroics over his own selfish desires. I admit, were it not for you, he may also be joining the false hero as a sacrifice."
"Hero Killer: Stain, heroes are already converging on our position, I suggest you either surrender or leave." Mand'alor said as he pointed his guns at him. Unfortunately, at this angle, Stain would be able to easily dodge any shots fired at him.
"I think not, my work must be finished tonight. And I will strike down any who stand in my way. Yet now that I see the one who inspired this child, I do wish to see how well your resolve fares against my own."
Mand'alor grimaced under his helmet. He could immediately tell that Stain was on a far different level than anybody from the USJ, or Shigaraki even.
Looks like there was no choice.
"Time to find out."
PTEW!
Stain leapt into the air and began to move quickly as Izuku fired his pistols, desperately trying to keep him away from the two below him.
Stain quickly threw two knives at the guns, cutting one and almost spearing Mand'alor's hand with the other, forced to drop them, he was forced to dodge another one and kicked away another that was aimed for Native's face.
'Damn it, I need to get out of here!' I need to get him into an open area away from them!'
Charging up One For All, he leapt from his spot and started to bounce off walls around Stain, forcing him on the defense.
'He's too fast for my shots, and he's scarily good at aiming those knives. And using the minigun will take too long to spin the barrel. I've got to move fast! Izuku thought as he sped under Stain's blade and then jumped over him, delivering a brutal smash to his head.
Stain fell to the ground, appreciating the boy's good instincts at getting close to an opponent with longer range but also cursing the armor. He'd felt his knife scratched against the armor plating instead of the black undersuit that he aimed at.
'Well then, I'll just have to wear him down.'
With a flurry of strikes, Stain began to attack Mand'alor, who used his forearms to block his blades as best he could.
Mand'alor himself was confused as to how well he was blocking, but it seemed like the slight headache was having its uses.
'Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right. Wait what?'
"Uh, Nana?"
"Later! Focus!"
"Right!"
'How is he blocking my attacks so well!? Is he a pro that I haven't heard of or another hero student with exceptional skill?' Stain thought as he continued to strike against him, even using kicks and other blades, all to get some blood.
Unfortunately for Stain, Mand'alor did not give him time to think more about that as he was suddenly met with a boot to the face that knocked him backwards and forced him to drop one of his swords.
"-sword!"
"Alright unknown voice, you've helped me out so far!"
He grabbed the blade and, as if he was possessed by someone else, took up an odd pose, with his right leg back and his left hand pointed towards Stain, the sword parallel to his eyes.
Stain's eyes widened in surprise, throughout his studies he'd seen references to that old form, but it was a dead art.
'How does he know about that form?'
Either way, he needed to take this seriously.
Stain also took a pose, his blade held in front of him with both hands, a strong stance beneath him, his muscles tensed and readied for a single moment.
"Guys?"
"Le- me he-, Nine."
At once the two attacked and Izuku felt like a stranger in his own body, a phantom sensation taking over his limbs while the pain in his head didn't fade away but rather became focused, turning from pain to simple pressure.
Their blades met and screeched against each other, as the two fought with all their might.
'I don't know what's happening but I'm certainly not complaining!'
"You have strength, Mand'alor. Let us see how you fare!"
"Today you fall, Stain!"
And their blades crashed once more.
And I'm ending here for now, yes I know, another cliffhanger. I enjoy suspense. But also I need to really work on this fight so that it's good for all of you!
Thank you all for your help and support! I'm glad that I'm able to do this for you all.
Be on the lookout for Darth Kyofu, coming soon!
Omakes:
Another Zanpakuto inspired AU.
Bakugo left behind Deku's worthless, broken body. Hopefully now the idiot would see reason and drop out of the hero course and give up on that pathetic dream of his.
"HERO TEAM WINS!"
"What the hell!?"
Quickly making his way up, infuriated by the uselessness of his partner he was left gobsmacked at seeing Deku right in front of him, perfectly unharmed. Even his costume was unsinged, the white robes mocking him.
"WHAT THE ! $!"
"Now now, Kacchan, no need for such harsh language." Izuku said with a soft smile, looking at him in amusement, as if he was a child.
"HOW THE HELL ARE YOU UP!? I BROKE YOU INTO PIECES!" Bakugo roared in pure fury. Uraraka and Iida both looked at him in confusion but Izuku kept staring at him with that same infuriating smile that they'd had throughout their entire childhood, as if he knew something that Bakugo didn't.
"Did you?" He heard from behind.
Bakugo gasped as he saw the same Deku he'd beaten walking around as if he didn't just go through a world of pain. Although his costume was burned, and his face bloody and bruised, he was walking around as if nothing happened.
"How-?"
"It's quite simple, Kacchan. The reason that it seemed that you fought nothing, is because quite truthfully…you fought nothing. I quite simply deigned you unworthy of my attention." Izuku said as the clone walked up in front of him.
"What?"
"Allow me to demonstrate." Izuku said as he held up his hand.
"Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu."
Hmm, that's opening up a lotta smoke right there. Again, thank you all! Until next time!