Before we begin, I apologize profusely for taking so long to update: My laptop finally died after 10 years, and I had to deal with an attempted break in and some family drama…along with a work college coming down with COVID and me having to work double shifts to cover them.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding, please enjoy! Lots of lore and history this chapter, with fights starting in the next, and the actual tournament the one after!
Within the hour, news reports were already flying through: violence in schools and in the streets, rallies amnd speeches calling for action…and the Pros could do nothing to stop it beyond damage control.
Class 1A's meeting with the Big 3 was cancelled, the trio and all third year students dismissed and sent to their work studies for the day in a vain attempt to contain the chaos. The other students were all sent home, Nedzu calling in a favor by having armored trucks and jets to the drop-offs.
"FUCKING BULLSHIT!"
As you can probably read, some where not pleased.
"Bakugo, control yourself!" Tenya started, only to be silenced with a glare from the explosive blonde.
"You all know I'm right! We helped against REVOCS and probably know how these losers think, unlike the Pros! But we're being sent home and told to wait?! FUCK! THAT! SHIT!"
"He has a point, you know." Fumikage noted, then looking up. "Ah, it appears we have a guest."
Everyone looked up to see someone coming down from the skies: A winged, green humanoid who settled down in front of everyone. What worried most was that his normal concerned or worried face was stone cold….for about five seconds.
"Izuku!" beamed an elated Ochako as she hugged and kissed him, making many squeal…especially when, after a wee bit of shock, Izuku smirked and returned the kiss while hugging Ochako back.
"Morning, my Mochi maiden." The dragon boy cooed after their lips parted, holding his girlfriend in his arms while they nuzzled their noses and foreheads "Heading to the gym?"
"Actually, we all got a half day and a week off." Eijirou explained. "Did you see the announcement at Parliament?"
Izuku's happy mood vanished and he let Ochako go.
"One of the Bancho let themselves into our dorm. Scared the orphans."
The near universal reply was a very loud:
"WHAT?!"
"They invited us to a tournament." Izuku said, revealing the invitation and letting uit be passed around. "I just wanted to check on you guys before seeing the area."
"I've…seen this handwriting before…" Momo said, holding onto the invitation. "..Tell me, izuku. Did the deliverer were a checkered Jester uniform with two masks?"
Izuku's eyes widened.
"Um..Y-yeah. You know…them…? You do…"
Momo let out a very unlady-like string of curses, some in different languages, before she manifested a spear. Kick
"Where are they?" She demanded. "I'm going to do what our schools SHOULD'VE done; ignore their old money backgrounds AND KICK THE EVER-LIVING SHIT OUT OF THEIR DAINTY REARS! Um..T-that is the right term, correct?"
Jiro and Shoto just looked at the Class rep, spellbound and feeling…funny.
"Aw, first time's always the best." Katsuki smirked knowingly. He remembered the first time Himiko had gone into a blood rage…those poor suckers. He then steeled himself. "I'm coming with you."
Izuku was surprised at this.
"Not today. Tomorrow." Katsuki clarified. "Makes sense for you to check out the place. But I'm going tomorrow whether you or the others like it or not. Now, I dunno about my classmates, but I'm a little pissed we only handled grunts during the REVOCS shit….Sides, gotta keep you safe."
Sad smiles now filled the area: It was a poorly kept secret in 1A that Katsuki had blamed himself for Izuku's state after the fight with Ragyo; losing his wings (even if they had regrown), nearly dying if not for the split-second aid of his classmates…and Katsuki had been safe on the ground, dealing with COVERS. He'd failed his best friend enough times. It stopped now.
Sides, he could use the delinquents in this tournament in lieu of the shit teachers and fake Pros.
"Kendo just texted me." Ida remarked, glancing at his phone. "Apparently, Insana knows one of the contestants in the tournament and wants to share his kmnoweldge."
"Then have him contact Amity." Izuku orded as he opened his wings again. "Ka-chan, say hi to Auntie and uncle for me. Ocha, I won't be long."
He then took to the skies and headed towards the address on the invite.
"…Anyone both glad and kind of sad he's so serious about this?" Tooru asked.
SANCTUARY
At the League of Villains' base, opinons were split.
"We better get out and see if any…" Tomura started, only for Curator to cut him off:
"Just to let things go and just focus on training for their next move, boy. While these delinquents are strong and noteworthy, its best to use this event for us to builid up resources."
"Yeah, sides, none of the brats near us are THAT good." Bearhead nodded, disappointed.
"Well, what about the middle schooler who killed one of the Bancho?" Tomura asked.
"….Very well. Kurogiri?" Curator began
"Already on it." The shadow man bowed before leaving.
Thoughout all of this, All for One had been chuckling, some time in full on evil delight at the chaos, other times in a forlorn sense.
"Sensei? Y-you okay?" The decayer asked.
"Probably best to leave him be. The last time this went down brings back…mixed memories." Garaki mused.
"Wait, what?" Mrs. Freeze asked. "This DID happen before?! I thought that was propaganda from other nations."
All for One shook his head and turned to face his henchmen.
"No. For once, great evil and chaos overtook the nation and I had nothing to do with it." The legendary supervillain began his tale:
"It was the end of the second generation of Quirks; they were now an established part of life, but there was no way to control them. So, the government, in their 'infinite' wisdom, decided to take from the Hunger Games and Battle Royale; rounding up the strongest children on record and sometimes off and having them fight for all to watch and cheer or jeer. And while the nation focused on bloodshed, I made my way to the top of society, finally achieving my dream of ruling Japan. That is, until General Kobushi and Kai Kongogh arrived."
Kai Kongoh. Oh, All for One remembered him. No one aside from All Might had done made him fear for his life like Kai had; incorruptible, steadfast and a paragon for right in an age of confusion and hatred. The man that All for One feared for a great many years….and whose son and grandson(s) where now stepping stones towards ensuring Izuku's rise to fame and glory.
"At that time, only three participants were left; Kai's son Homura, Masamune Gokurou and…Toshinori Yagi…"
He spat out at that name. His alliance with him to bring down Joker aside, he still LOATHED that brat. So Garaki took over.
"They ended the conflict and made everyone sign the UN's Qurik Act. But as it turns out, the bloodshed had been a ruse…MY mentor, a brilliant geneticist, had cultivated the DNA of the strongest students in the battles to create what Japan hoped to be its greatest weapon; Project: Hakai. The inspiration for my own Nomu. Far more powerful I admit…but uncontrollable and far too violent."
He let that sink in before continuing.
"Hakai ended up being the killer of Kai Kongoh and the reason for the Hero system being implemented. UA was built onto of where the first great hero of Quirked Japan and the symbol of destruction clashed in memory and to inspire all future heroes. So in short, while the 97 District project helped Sensei achieve the height of power, it also enabled the forces that give us so much trouble."
"No wonder the boss doesn't want anything on this." Volcano mused,
Kotaro, of all people, was the one who realized something.
"…You lost someone you loved."
All for One nodded, fighting back the memories:
Youichi with the Second and Third OFA users, the 'sidekicks' of Kai Kongoh. Running through the chaos as Hakai and Kai fought….
Yoichi pushing two little boys, brothers, out of the way of debris…
The Second and Third desperately trying to dig their comrade out of the rubble, sobbing and begging for him yto be okay, evemn screaming at All for One to help them…
Yoichji dying in his brother's arms…
SANCTUARY
"Okay, kiddo, you know what to do." A smirking man in a purple suit shooed away his 'protégé' one of the particpamnts in this Battle Royale knock off. A fellow lover of the dramatic, but a coward and dirty fighter…The Joker's kind of kid.
Once his student had left to prep for the fight the next day, Joker returned top his prisoner; the bound Mrs. Uraraka, who was being subjected to a therapy session strauight out of 'A clockwork orange'; watching a video that was made of nothing but the worst acts of humanity ever cvommitted to film.
She was taking longer than usual to snap, but it was just a matter of time. Besides, if his student had half a brain, he'd arrange something for her daughter; this woman was no Gordon.
SANCTUARY
"Thanks again, uncle!" Noi beamed over the phone.
"Just be careful, okay?" Her uncle said. "I know how strong you and the others are, but still…"
"No problem." Noi promised. "You take care yourself; you hear? Don't you have that vigilante and restaurant owner to deal with?"
"Oh those two? They're sport. Just like most of these punks."
The call then ended and Noi whistled to get everyone's attention.
"Alroighty, my uncle used his connections to get the names of the registered participants. Penny, if you would?"
Penny pressed her finger to Noi's phone and a hologhraphic screen came from her eyes; filled with names and profiles
"Most of them are juist you run of the mill troubled youth, nothing to grand…." Penny begtan. "But they DO share something in common; their neighborhoods were hit HARD by the COVERS and they have no Pro hero policing them due to lack of press and money. So, with Mr. Kongoh's project, it was VERY easy for them to rise to power….Strange, some of tyhem are redacted.
"they're probably Takeshi's old gang; the Dark Student Council." Akira mused.
"…Really? Dark Student Council?" Velvet asked. "THAT'S the best name they could come up with? Ah never mind, lets focus on the ones who0se names we DO have."
"Before anything else…I'm on the list." Akira pointed out, pressing 'Diamond Bancho' and revealing his own name. "And so is Takeshi."
Akira pressed the 'All Japan Bancho', and the picture of his brother filled the room.
Michiru, who had beenscanning through the names, gasped.
"Wait, I know that guy! Yuu Akiyama!" She touched his name, revealing a young man who wore a cape and doimino mask with a whip. "We grew up together; he was a genius and the best babysitter in town…and he's Quirkless."
"And I ran into the girl with Scorpion ponytail before Sanctuary started out." Hana noted. "Used pressure points to fight and led a biker gang…actually a pretty tough fight."
"I think I know that one." Sho said, touching the title 'Explosion Bancho.' The image that popped from that was of an incredibly werll buloit young man with fire like hair and eyes similar to Mina's. "Yup, that's the one; he was one of the White Clad's few try outs….And the only one they ever rejected."
This immediately set off alarm bells. Sho had explained that the members of White Clad included serial killers, child abusers, deluded lunatics and full on psycho and sociopaths. What the heck was so bad about this kid that they refused him?!
"He was TOO hotheaded." Sho simply. "He lived by the idea of everything being 'Hot Blooded.' And by that; destroy everything he didn't agree with."
Tae, who had been on the phone for so long groaned.
"Saki's mad she didn't make the cut, I take it?" Masato guessed, getting a groan.
"Wait a moment…" Katriana mused. "isn't that the fellow who tried to attack Akira's sister at Christmas?
Indeed it was; the same mummy looking boy…but now he had a name attached to him:
"Yukki's friend/stalker.'" Yuno growled.
"Wait what?" Melissa asked, making Yuno look ashamed.
"Well, Yuki, the sweetheart that he is, had another admirer aside from me. And I'll admit, he was…sane. But then, about a week before Midnight found him, we all met up, some words were said, one thing lead to another and…well, he went from this…"
She pulled out a picture of a handsome albino boy…
"To what we saw at Christmas."
And then everyone remembered the green skinned mummy who could only say 'Anti-Trust law..'
"…I'm not apologizing." Yuno humphed. "…Say, does anyone know where Izuku is?"
To be continued…..
Sorry for this rather uneventful chapter; it was originally going to end on a HUGE change to one of the cast members, but the fight leading up to said change is trickier to write than I thought and I think you've all waited long enough for an update to this story
Hopefully I'll get another chapter out in the coming days, but to whet your appetite: Overhaul's bullets come back.
See ya then!