Izuku felt numb as his entire view was covered in complete darkness, unaware of the world around him as he struggled to regain consciousness. Until the sound of several voices seemed to call to him through obscurity.
"There's no time, the eruption has started."
"Your friends need you."
"Wake up..."
"Wake up..."
"Wake up!"
Izuku's eyes snapped open as the sounds of his predecessors all yelled in his mind, only to see that his view was of the ground as he laid face first while his entire body was paralyzed.
Of course, he was used to this sensation whenever he went past his limit for One for All during his first year in UA and had to go visit Recovery Girl for help. But that didn't mean he was happy about this feeling, even more so when he remembered that Owen got the same treatment by Ken and his goons after being double-crossed. Turning to his side like a fish out of the water as he tried to get a view of the situation at hand.
"...Ownnn," Izuku slurred out as his face struggled to move, the tranquilizer taking on more of an effect than he realized.
"Grnngg!"
Izuku took that displeased groan as an answer as the feeling in his arm started to slowly return, his fingers twitching as the sound of molten lava pouring from the side as a nearby Sinoceratops started to flee the scene with a started bellow.
The green-haired hero opened the palm of his hand shakily as a burst of tendrils erupted, haphazardly grabbed whatever was in the surrounding area from nearby trees, logs, and even the ground as they each wrapped around tightly and startled to reel Izuku away from his spot.
Another groan from Owen was made as the sound of hissing was heard behind him, the lava now reaching the overturned jeep and slowly reaching the American on the ground. Causing him to flounder away from the sound like a caterpillar.
Izuku finally managed to reach a nearby log and flipped himself on the other side as a means of support while his legs slowly started to regain their feelings. Reaching his right hand over his makeshift table towards Owen, who by now was rolling himself towards Izuku with the molten lava nearing his person a few meters away.
With black tendrils shooting out of his arms again, Izuku managed to securely wrap around Owen's leg and started to drag him towards him. Pulling him away from the magma as the temperature started to rise around them, burning numerous trees and plants in the surrounding area.
After finally managing to pull Owen over the log that he was using for support, the American grunted from being dragged across the forest floor as he slowly got his own arms and legs moving. Shakily grabbing onto the log to support his own weight as he stood on his own two legs and stepped away from the river of lava pouring out towards them, with the hero following right after as he also stood to full height.
"Where's Zia?" Izuku asked worriedly seeing that the girl was nowhere to be found.
Owen shifted his jaw to try to get some feeling back onto his face as he looked around the scene, seeing no other signs of the teen or the goons that were with them earlier.
"I think they took her. If she was still here, she either would've been with us or dead."
Izuku clenched his jaw in frustration and anger at being tricked by Ken like that, even more so when it included someone being taken hostage. He didn't know who these guys were or what they were doing with the animals, but he knew that he was going to find out and shut it down. But first, he needed to get off the island with Owen and-
"Setsuna!" Izuku cried out in shock and realization as he realized the danger that they were in, with Owen's face shifting into the same expression after connecting the dots.
The hero's eyes widened as a large pulse of Danger Sense suddenly shot through him, the ground rumbling beneath him as lava continued to shoot out through the top of the volcano. Owen and him fleeing the scene with a sense of urgency, both to find the others and to escape the massive eruption behind him.
"Hello? Hello, can somebody hear me? Is anyone there?"
Claire slammed the radio in her hand onto the table in frustration at her voice going unheard, even as Setsuna continued looking for another way out of the room while Franklin continued to type on his computer.
"I-I'm trying everything." Franklin attempted to open the door with his laptop frantically, muttering something about thanking his father for persuading him into this group.
Setsuna slammed the metal door with her hand in a final fit of frustration, startling Franklin and Claire from the attempts as the splitting hero glared at the unseen troops that were beyond the obstruction.
"I knew it was too good to be true..."
Claire flinched at the dark and hollow tone coming from Setsuna, with Franklin forcing his unease down by focusing on the laptop in front of him. Inputting several commands into the system in hopes of getting one of the doors around them to open.
Releasing a final sigh of frustration at the door in front of her, Setsuna turned and made her way towards Franklin with a calm and even look on her face. Looking over his shoulder as he kept inputting several lines of code and passwords into the systems to escape.
"Have any luck over here Franklin?"
"I-I'm trying," the teen said with a bit of hesitation due to her no-nonsense tone that suddenly appeared from her, "I have been trying the door that we entered in, but it seems that they completely locked us out, but maybe..."
A metal clang opened down into the dark hall as hope for an escape grew, Franklin growing ecstatic at a means of an escape as Setsuna and Claire perked up in excitement. The splitting hero giving off an impressed grin at the teen's quick thinking in a stressful situation.
"Not bad Franklin, now we just need to meet up with Izuku-"
*Grrrrwl*
The deep growl that erupted from the newly opened hall made all their hearts drop. Claire and Setsuna peering into the dark in an attempt to see the cause of the noise as a beeping grew on Franklin's computer. Along with a red dot that suddenly appeared on the monitor and was steadily making its way toward them.
"What is that?"
The question only made Franklin pale as he read the cause of the new signal, swallowing nervously as he read the new information aloud.
"Proximity alert."
Setsuna didn't like the sound of that, and neither did Franklin if the way he suddenly stiffened in his seat was any indication as he turned to the dark hall in the center of the room anxiously. Claire stood by with a tense and anxious look in her posture.
"W-Where does that tunnel lead?"
"It opens to the rest of the-"
*Grrrrwl*
"...park."
Another deep, ferocious growl made Franklin rise from his seat while Setsuna tensed at the upcoming threat, putting herself in front of Franklin and Claire as the trio nervously looked on. Awaiting the carnivore that approached as its steps seemed to echo in the dark hall.
"It's the T-rex. It's the T-rex. It's the T-rex."
"Will you stop! It's not the T-rex!" Claire chastised Franklin even as she grew anxious at the unseen threat. "...Probably"
"Probably?"
"Guys obviously it's not the T-rex," Setsuna retorted even as she took a few wary steps back while separating the two from the hall in front of them. "It wouldn't fit in there."
That didn't make the others feel any better about the creature they were about to face, stepping away from the entrance of the hallway until a loud hiss behind them drew their attention. Small streams of lava poured in through the cracks above the ceiling and melted the ground behind them, startling them forward as they held onto the splitting hero as a means of support even as the temperature around them continued to rise.
Another roar erupted from the hallway even as lava continued to pour into the room, causing the two to back up cautiously in between the falling rivers of lava the figure finally emerged from the dark. Which caused Setsuna's eyes to widen in both
It was a bipedal creature with a long, narrow snout that was filled with cone-shaped teeth, perfect for grabbing onto fish and meat. Yet the thing that was odd about this certain specimen was the rough scales that covered its entire body, reminding Setsuna of a crocodile. Plus, there were also the webbed digits in between the claws on its feet and hands that proved it was used to living near water. Complete with two large fins on the side of its head that almost resembled ears along with a long and broad tail that was perfect for being in the water. Yet despite these vast differences in its anatomy, the greenette had a good feeling about what type of creature she was looking at right now:
A Baryonyx.
Setsuna flinched as an ear-piercing scream came from Franklin, a feat that would've made her question if that was his quirk if she hadn't already seen him use it to open the door outside earlier.
"See?! Not a T-Rex!"
"How is this better!?"
The Baryonyx made its way toward the trio with a snarl before a small stream of lava landed on the top of its head, making it flinch back with a startled grunt while shaking its head in discomfort. Trying to rid the pain with its hands as the trio stepped back.
Claire spotted a small cylindrical tunnel on their side of the room that had a part of a ladder sticking out, quickly going over and seeing that it had a hatch on the other side. Yet to her dismay, the ladder was locked into place and wouldn't fall no matter how hard she tugged on it.
"It's stuck!"
Setsuna quickly moved over to the redhead after hearing her cry and quickly put two and two together, getting into a slight crouch while cupping her hands as a means to boost her up onto the ladder.
"Here! Just try to get it open!"
Claire nodded in understanding as she stepped onto the hero's hand, getting a slight grunt from Lizardy as she finally got a hold of the ladder. Climbing up and towards the hatch that would hopefully lead to their escape.
"Franklin, now you!" Setsuna cried out seeing that Claire eventually made it on the ladder safely.
Franklin turned over towards the commotion for a moment before the Baryonyx made another lunge at the teen, only to get another head full of lava as it stepped back again with another roar of discomfort. The thick hide protecting most of the damage from the blazing inferno.
Setsuna watched the Baryonyx carefully as she also helped Franklin up onto the ladder, not moving until she saw the teen safely onto the metal bar before turning towards the carnivore that appeared before them. Only being a bit surprised to hear a low growl emerge from the Baryonyx as it locked eyes with her despite the falling streams of lava separating the two.
She watched in fascination as a bright blue glow suddenly emerged from the base of the creature's tail, slowly spreading up the ridges along the carnivore's back as a torment of water surrounded the appendage. Along with the jaw of the Baryonyx opening wide towards the greenette, whose fascination quickly wore off as a stream of pressurized water shot from its mouth and towards her. Only barely managing to dive away from the torment of water as it punctured the wall behind her, drawing its attention away from Claire and Franklin as another blast was shot.
The Baryonyx roared once more as it swiped its water-covered tail through the streams of lava and towards Setsuna, which she quickly dodged by splitting her torso into several pieces. Yet the hero and carnivore were caught off guard when a large burst of steam erupted where the water made contact with the lava, shrouding their view from each other as stray bits of magma continued to fall into the room.
"Any luck yet?!" Franklin shouted at Claire from behind after hearing the commotion underneath them.
"I-I'm trying!" the redhead answered back with strain in her voice, trying to turn the wheel of the hatch that was worn down from time.
It was only Setsuna's instincts as a hero that she was able to dodge the sudden snap of jaws that lunged towards her from the shroud of mist. Rolling backward behind her swiftly before delivering an uppercut on the carnivore that made it stagger back for a moment. The flow of the molten lava around them had increased drastically, covering the room in a bright red glow as Setsuna stared down the Baryonyx that was standing a few feet in front of her.
Meanwhile, Claire finally managed to turn the hatch in full rotation, unlocking the door and pushing it wide open. The sight of the sky met her face as she quickly pulled herself up and out of the tight corridor before reaching down and helping Franklin, who was delighted to be out of that cramped space and into the open air above ground.
"Setsuna! We made it out!" Claire shouted down into the tunnel with worry after leaving her to deal with the carnivore.
"We got to go now!" Franklin also called out.
The hero barely heard their cries over the sound of flowing lava and snapping jaws, still facing off the Baryonyx as the sounds of volcanic eruptions reached their peak. Catching them both off guard as Setsuna held onto a nearby wall while the carnivore stumbled back slightly with a grunt.
The heat of the lava made Setsuna's face bake in sweat, with Baryonyx not doing much better in the scorching heat due to its preference for water. Rearing its mouth wide open once more to shoot a final blast of water toward the hero.
Turning around from the rampaging carnivore and leaping over a chair, she quickly rushed to the ladder in a frenzy. Ducking her head down as another blast of water soared over the splitting hero's head and punctured the concrete wall harshly again. Sending rocks and concrete falling from the ceiling as she split herself into several numerous pieces and soared upwards through the exit with ease, leaving a roaring Baryonyx behind as Claire slammed the door shut.
Setsuna reconnected herself the moment she made it out with all her pieces, regaining her breath from the deathly encounter as the muffled roar of the Baryonyx was heard behind the metal latch. Claire and Franklin did the same beside her as they took in deep breaths of their own.
Yet as the trio started to calm down from their recent escape from the compound, the sound of rumbling caught Franklin's attention as his eyes widened at the sight of the mountain that was behind them. Making him stumbled back in shock as he turned back towards the two women in worry.
"G-Guys!"
It was only then that Setsuna and Claire saw what the teen was looking at, the active volcanic mountain they saw throughout the expedition was covered with streams of lava that burned throughout the numerous forests that littered throughout the bottom. All of it making its way towards them at a steady and rapid pace as Claired stumbled back in shock.
"Holy-"
The mountain erupted in a massive cloud of smoke and ash, sending numerous pieces of molten rock in all directions as one large piece landed just a few miles away from where they were standing. The piece of molten rock resulted in a large thud that startled the trio into worry for a moment before a shout was heard behind them in the forest.
"...Run!"
Turning towards the voice, they were surprised to see a powered-up Izuku running out of the burning forest carrying Owen over his shoulder in a firefighter carry. The look of worry and panic on his face was evident as the American on his shoulder repeated the greenette's warning with cupped hands.
"Run!"
It was only then that they saw what was coming behind them that they realized the reason for their worry. As a massive crowd herbivores and carnivores erupted from the forest while using their own quirks to survive the massive eruption behind them. Species of all kinds tore down trees and foliage as the mountain continued to explode behind. Ranging from the small Compsognathus to the largest Carnotaurus in carnivores to the galloping Gallimimus and anxious Apatosaurus.
"Time to go!" Setsuna cried out in surprise at the sight of the fleeing animals before separating her torso from her waist and carrying Claire from under her arms and into the air. Franklin looked stunned that he was being left behind by the splitting hero until Izuku came up from behind him and carried him underneath his other arm like luggage.
The two heroes fled the scene with their passengers even as the sounds of the volcano continued to explode behind them. Sending numerous pieces of rocks and ash into the air as another eruption occurred, causing even more panic among the fleeing animals behind them.
And despite the massive advantage that Izuku and Setsuna currently had over most of the fleeing animals by using their quirks, there were still several dinosaurs that managed to catch up with them with the use of their own abilities.
One of which was an Ankylosaurs that rolled itself up like an armadillo and speed its way down the hill, tearing through numerous rocks and logs with ease with its armor-like hide. Another was a small group of Compsognathus that joined together to make a slightly larger one, increasing their size and strides compared to running off on their own.
Setsuna had to dodge one or two Pteranodons in the air that suddenly dove down beside her, the flying reptiles screeching in terror of the falling ash and rocks while streaks of light followed their flight path.
Izuku tore through the underbrush in front of him as he ran through a small section of trees, jumping over rocks and logs that got in the way as the trees behind him fell from the incoming stampede. Making sure that none of the falling lumber and rocks hit his passengers or Setsuna even as the sounds of heavy footsteps weren't too far off and another massive explosion was made from the mountain.
"N-Not that I'm telling you how to do your job or anything Deku, but can you go faster?!" Franklin cried out in fear after a rock landed only a couple of meters away from them.
Izuku had no problem with that statement and was about to power himself with a higher percentage to leap away from the scene with Float when another sudden pulse of Danger Sense suddenly blared in his head. Turning his head slightly in surprise to see one of the molten rocks that were launched from the blast suddenly hurling towards him.
Reacting on instinct, he brought Owen and Franklin close to the front as the massive rock landed harshly on the ground behind him. Sending him off his feet while bringing his two passengers close to his chest as he landed through a massive log that was in the middle of the valley. Crashing through it with a grunt as he landed on his back near an unused Gyrosphere, having the wind knocked out of him as Owen and Franklin frantically checked on the greenette once they got out of his grip.
"D-Deku!"
"Come on man, we're not out this yet!"
Meanwhile, Setsuna paused in escape with Claire after hearing the sudden sound of wood breaking even as ash continued to fall from the air, her eyes widening in shock and worry at the sight of Izuku on his back as Owen and Franklin kneeled beside him. Quickly lowering herself onto the ground with Claire and reconnected her separated torso until they were all huddled beside Izuku, using a large log as cover for the time being.
"Izuku! Are you ok?!" Setsuna anxiously said even as the greenette got back onto his feet, looking no worse for wear other than soot, dirt, and a few singed spots on his back.
"I'm fine! I'm fine!" Izuku quickly reassured the group before getting into a slight crouch to prepare for takeoff once more as he charged himself. "But we need to move quickly, I don't know how much longer until-"
He was cut off as another big wave of Danger Sense suddenly blared in his head, his eyes widening in surprise when the sound of thundering footsteps seemed to increase behind him until it was impossible to ignore.
"Get down!"
The group was surprised when Izuku suddenly grabbed them with the use of Blackwhip and brought them close to him, unsure of the sudden act until herbivores suddenly started bursting through the massive log that they were using as a makeshift cover around them.
One was a Triceratops had spinning horns on its head like a drill, which was used to cut through one large piece of their shelter with ease. Another was an Apatosaurus that tore down another section of lumber with the use of its massive strength, a worrisome bellow erupting as it escaped the disaster behind them. An Ankylosaurs broke through of their left with its iron-like plating, making the length of the tree smaller.
As more and more animals started to run over and through the piece of wood, the amount of coverage that was available to them reduced until there were only a couple meters of wood on both sides from where they stood.
Throughout it all, Izuku kept the people around him close to his body as he increased the use of his quirk to the max, wanting to protect them all even if an herbivore managed to break through the piece he was using as cover. His durability providing them with another added layer of protection even if the wood behind them failed.
Yet it was unneeded as the last of the herd finally seemed to pass as the thundering footsteps came to a stop, as only a Gallimimus leaped over their heads before continuing its way. Causing the entire group to finally open their eyes as they waited for a moment for any signs of animals before the hero in green released them from his hold.
Franklin stumbled for a moment before putting his hands on his knees and taking in huge gulps of air to calm himself down from the frightful encounter, with Claire and Owen not doing much better as they tried to steady their hearts.
The stampede left behind very little wood that the group was using as cover, as the rest was reduced to sizable chunks or splinters. With a worn-out Gyrosphere tumbling down the hill gradually from the constant movement.
Yet despite this need for rest, Izuku and Setsuna knew that they couldn't stop right now. The fire from the forest continued to make its way towards them with molten rocks from the volcano falling in all directions. Causing the two to look at the group in worry for a moment before getting ready to move out with Izuku.
"'We're almost there guys, just bear it a while longer," Izuku said as he prepared himself to carry Franklin and Owen once more. "Then, we can finally get to the bottom of-"
Izuku went still as another pulse suddenly shot through his head, the others not doing much better at the hero's silence before two carnivores suddenly emerged from the burning forest. A bipedal creature that had a short skull with distinct scales and spikes that sprouted through the body, along with a pair of incredibly short forearms at the front that almost seemed comical. Yet the thing that stood out the most was the pair of horns that lay at the top of their heads, one that made it clear what kind of species of dinosaur they were looking at:
Carnotaurus.
Yet despite knowing the species of these creatures, Izuku couldn't help but be fascinated by the vast differences between them. As one was slightly bulky in size and had a pair of horns that greatly exceeded the length that a typical Carnotaurus should have, reaching over a foot in length while being deep red in color. Perfect for getting into duals with Triceratops or any other horned herbivores it might find on the island.
The other was what he expected a typical Carnotaurus to look like, the horns being short and almost blunt while the entire body was nearly pitch black. Yet he didn't know if it had a quirk to compensate, nor did he intend to find out.
However, it seemed that his pleas went unanswered as the two carnivores looked in their direction and started to head toward him and the group he was with. Causing everyone to stiffen as they prepared themselves for whatever may come.
"I thought they didn't hunt in herds or packs," Izuku quickly whispered to Setsuna as the carnivores started to near.
"It must be a breeding pair."
Izuku only scoffed at their luck as the Carnotaur stopped just a few meters away from them with a deep growl leaving their lips. Eyeing the group with caution as they tried to pick out the easy pickings, quickly looking over the shuddering Claire and Franklin with an open-mouthed snarl.
Izuku quickly deduced what the two carnivores in front wanted causing him to put himself between the others and the approaching Carnotaurs. The red one approaching his right while the smaller black one took the left.
He shared a brief look with Setsuna that made the woman nod back in understanding before she stood back with the others so that she could help them escape if needed. Standing between the group of volunteers and Izuku as the One for All inheritor stepped forward.
"I know that you're probably desperate if you're hunting during an eruption," Izuku started as he glanced at the two approaching carnivores on his sides, "but if you want to snack on these guys."
Deku stared down the two carnivores with a slight glare as he ignited his quirk that made his body glow bright green for a moment before it evened out.
"You're going to have to go through me."
The two roared at the face of the freckled hero and tried to rush him, with the smaller nimbler one taking a wider turn towards Setsuna while the bigger and sturdier red one tried to charge the hero head-on with his elongated horns as a means of distraction. An obvious strategy that the carnivores built after numerous hunts on various types of prey.
Yet both were befuddled when Deku stopped the large red one with a single hand getting a grip of the horn before shoving it downwards, causing the male to get a face full of dirt while the other hand was outstretched to the charging female. A black tendril leaped out to grab the edge of its tail before being yanked back harshly, causing it to fly back towards the stunned male carnivore as they both tumbled on the ground with disgruntled roars.
"Go! Get out of here!" Izuku yelled to the others as he saw the two carnivores getting back on their feet.
"Come on, let's keep going!" Setsuna called out to the group she was leading away from the fight, already knowing that she was not of much help in this scenario.
Claire and the others around her had no problems with that, continuing down the hill as the scuffle between Izuku and the two carnivores started.
Deku eyed the two carnivores as they started to get back on their feet, feeling conflicted about fighting two creatures that were only trying to survive. Yet didn't hesitate as he charged himself with a small percentage of his quirk, not wanting to outright kill the two if he could help it.
He floated upwards just as the red Carnotaurs snapped his jaws from where he was standing, allowing him to aim a swift punch to the side of the head that made the carnivore stumble for a moment as it shook his head. Trying to rid its discomfort as it prepared to make an attack again.
Izuku frowned as he landed back on his feet and viewed the condition of the carnivore that attacked him since that punch was about a 7% charge of One for All. Notifying him that whatever quirk that creature had allowed him to take a bit of a beating before it could take any effect.
Yet his eyes widened as a large blaring pulse of Danger Sense was shot through his head and the sound of loud, rapid footsteps started to approach. Turning to see the smaller black one that he threw earlier charging straight towards him with the speed of a runaway car, catching him off guard as it barreled straight into him and launching the hero in the direction where Setsuna was fleeing with the others.
The group gasped in fright and shock when the greenette suddenly plummeted right next to them, forming a crater on the ground as a bit of dirt was kicked up from the impact. Yet they didn't get a chance to ask what was wrong as the red Carnataurs suddenly charged at them. Causing Izuku to quickly get up from his spot to grab the beast by the horns and raised its head towards the other approaching Carnotaur. The collision slammed them both onto the ground once more with a flying piece of dirt and debris.
The movement also caused the unused Gyrosphere to roll towards Setsuna and the group she was leading, the sphere spinning with the opened door facing the sky as disgruntled roars continued in the background before finally coming to a stop beside the fleeing group of people.
Setsuna bit her lip as she glanced between the clear, unused vehicle and the combating Dinosaurs behind her. Looking between the Gyrosphere and Izuku with a slight grimace knowing that she wasn't much help when it came to combating massive quirk-filled dinosaurs. The unknown terrain ahead of them also being an obstacle to overcome with the addition of any other dinosaurs that were fleeing the scene. Making the idea of running the rest of the way seem ridiculous, leading her to make a quick decision as she faced the Gyrosphere and turned to the group she was leading away.
"Alright, everyone in the Gyrosphere."
Claire looked at her in surprise, with Franklin and Owen mimicking her from the sides as they also glanced between the discarded vehicle and the fight behind them. Izuku managing to get onto the back of the smaller carnivore by tugging its horns upwards, causing it discomfort as the larger male snapped its jaws at the overpowered hero.
"Are you sure about this?" Owen couldn't help but ask skeptically.
Another rumble from the volcano caused another thick cloud of smoke and ash to erupt, causing Setsuna and the group to look back for a moment. Izuku still being occupied with the dinosaurs as he kicked the larger one in the face with a superpowered kick, before wrapping up the snout of the smaller one with BlackWhip with an annoyed look on his face.
"I don't know how soon Izuku will wrap this up, but there is still a whole lot of area to cover before we make it out. And traveling by the Gyrosphere will be a lot faster than us running across the field. So we got no time to waste."
Owen bit his lip worriedly as he traded looks with Setsuna, knowing that their time was running out with the volcano. And they didn't know how long it would be until Izuku drove off the two carnivores, seeing that he was still trying to rein them in. Plus, the vehicle would aid them in their escape...
Taking a glance at Franklin and Claire, they seemed to have thought of the same thing even if they looked a bit anxious at the idea. Owen looking back at Setsuna with a firm, yet hesitant nod.
"Lead the way."
Setsuna nodded in understanding before reaching up with detached arms at the opening of the vehicle, pulling it down towards her with a slight strain and gritted teeth to turn it right side up. The others assisted in her endeavor by guiding it from the sides with their own strength until the entrance of the sphere was pointed towards them. Two seats sitting upright and ready to be used.
...
"Does it still work?" Franklin couldn't help but ask after a moment to take it in.
Setsuna ignored the snort from Owen as she looked at the quality of the controls and the seats inside, Which happened to still be intact despite its time here on the island with little signs of damage from the hit it received from the massive prehistoric animals earlier, Making Setsuna turn around to look at the group in dry amusement.
"Only one way to find out." she shrugged with a grin much to the others' bewilderment, "Who wants to get in first?"
The large red Carnotaurus was slammed into the ground roughly by another superpowered kick from the sparkling hero in green, making another disgruntled bellow from its maw as it struggled to get back on its feet.
It had thought that this would be easy prey to capture given the numerical advantage and the quirks it had with its mate but was quickly proven wrong as time went on and each attempt was foiled. The bruises and dirt that matted their skin were the only signs of a struggle as the green-haired human seemed unaffected.
Yet just as it was about to let out a call to let its mate know to cut their losses, it spotted the other group of humans that had initially fled the scene when the conflict started. Hesitantly getting into a large orb of some kind with the one dressed in purple assisting the redhead and nervous teen.
It took a quick glance over its shoulder from the ground to see the powered-up hero wrapping numerous tendrils around its mate's mouth. Restraining her movements from the neck up she pulled back in an attempt to escape the hero's grasp, one that was futile as Izuku leaped onto its back.
Deciding that she could keep him occupied for a moment, the male Carnotaurus slowly shuffled its way back onto its feet before heading towards the other people working on the Gyrosphere. Seeing an easy meal now that the opponent was distracted.
"You guys are really persistent, you know that?"
Izuku's question remained unanswered as another jerk from the carnivore made him reinforce his strength to restrict its movements once more, feeling a twinge of guilt at the state of the trapped Carnotaur underneath him as it buckled uncomfortably in his grasp.
It was easy to deduce these creatures as monsters given the vicious attitude people saw whenever they were on the hunt, even more so when the parks that held them failed to keep them in check and let them terrorize the guests that held them. Creating a persona of mindless beasts that attacked anything that stood in their way as they devoured meat.
Yet Izuku knew that there was more to these creatures than meets the eye thanks to Setsuna, whose passion for the prehistoric rivaled his when it came to heroes. Informing him of everything from the different kinds of eras that they lived in all the way to their preferred diet and lifestyle, a trait that he found interesting both on the woman he loved and the topic as a whole.
So while he knew that these creatures must've been truly desperate for food for them to be attacking them over the threat of the falling ash and eruption, that didn't mean that he wanted these animals to die by leaving them to face the volcano. Allowing the two carnivores a chance to end this futile fight and escape with their lives, before the rest of the eruption caught up with them. Yet they continued to be stubborn and tried to divert away from the rest of the group.
Izuku paused when he didn't hear the other Carnotaur charging at him again, take a quick glance at the surrounding area to see if he could spot the other carnivore only for his eyes to widen when he spotted the male heading its way toward the others in slow and steady steps.
Izuku switched his gaze between the female carnivore trapped underneath him and the Carnotaur approaching his friends, a grimace making its way onto his face as he made a decision and raised his hand.
"I'm really sorry about this," Izuku said as he grabbed a hold of the black-colored Carnotaur and gave it a super-powered chop on the back of its neck. Getting a strangled roar out of the female Carnotaur before it slumped on the ground with a mighty thud, unconscious to the world around it.
The greenette paused only for a moment before he turned towards the other Carnotaur with One for All charged up, tearing through the ruined terrain in a blur towards the group in a hurry. Taking a mighty leap toward the carnivore with outstretched arms as he prepared to tackle the beast.
"Get down!"
Setsuna and the others were startled at the sound of his voice as he made contact with the carnivore that managed to sneak up behind them. A strangled roar erupted from the massive beast as it was launched with Izuku over the resting Gyrosphere as Setsuna and Owen ducked their head down from the ongoing attack.
Unfortunately, the tail of the Carnotaur smacked against the sphere-like vehicle that Claire and Franklin were sitting in. Causing the two to scream in fear and shock as the Gyrosphere started to roll on its side down the hill, closing the open hatch as it did before it eventually slowed to a stop at the bottom of the small slope.
"Claire!" Owen shouted in worry as he traveled the short distance down the small slope, with the splitting hero following close behind as they peered into the glass to gauge their reaction and state. "Are you ok?"
"W-We're ok," the redhead's muffled voice was heard after taking a moment to check the condition of herself, Franklin, and the state of their vehicle.
Setsuna's momentary sigh of relief was short-lived when Izuku landed beside them, still emitting sparks from his body as he stared down at the opponent that lay ahead of him.
The splitting hero startled alongside Owen at the sight of the red Carnotaur slowly getting back on its feet, the skin riddled with dirt and a slight limp on its leg due to the scuffle it had with Izuku. A contrast to Izuku's relatively unharmed state save for the occasional pieces of dirt on his clothing.
Izuku tensed as Danger Sense continued to pound in his head, a feature that didn't stop ringing throughout his entire stay so far at Isla Nublar as he stared down the carnivore in front of him with irritation while ash and soot increased in frequency from the skies. The sight of the burning forest telling him that they were quickly running out of time to escape the island if this fight continued any longer.
The Carnotaur also paused as it took a glance between the sparkling hero and the crowd he was protecting, finally coming to terms that it probably won't get anywhere near them. A disgruntled bellow erupted from its mouth as it snorted the small bits of soot that fell into its snout, taking a glance at its surrounding at the fiery inferno that was approaching.
Izuku's stance calmed along with the others when he saw the carnivore relax its own posture and took an uneasy step backward from the group. Thinking for a brief moment that they would now be able to escape the island peacefully now that the carnivore he was fighting turned around.
Then she arrived.
A massive bipedal carnivore tore through the thick forest from the side causing all of them to flinch, the sight of its brown-colored scales almost an afterthought as numerous scars littered throughout its body from its time on an island. The three long slashes standing out the most on the base of its neck caused Izuku to let out a gasp as he realized what the new arrival was.
The infamous T-rex of Jurassic World.
The sight of the T-rex sinking its jaws into the tired Carnotaur that he was fighting was enough to make Izuku grimace with the others, feeling a bit of frustration at how its life ended when he was trying so hard to spare it during the fight. It didn't help that the smaller female had awakened from its unconscious state as well, seeing the larger predator take down its partner with such ease. Causing it to turn and flee the scene from the conflict at hand.
Before Izuku could even think about how he was going to deal with the T-rex that had just arrived, his eyes widened when the largest pulse of Danger Sense suddenly shot through his system. Making his eyes shift towards the volcano that was emitting smoke even as the T-rex stepped back from its freshly made kill. Coming to only one conclusion as the magma suddenly seemed to burst from the volcano:
They were out of time.
"Cover your ears!" Izuku shouted to the two who were outside of the Gyrosphere after seeing the volcano's active state.
Setsuna and Owen didn't hesitate to follow Izuku's orders even when the T-rex shifted its gaze towards them at the shout, snarling at the sight of humans just as the volcano exploded behind it. The eruption sending a massive shockwave that sent everyone there reeling in discomfort as the ground shook from the aftermath.
The massive shockwave also made their ears pop uncomfortably, even with them covering their ears. But it was even worse for the infamous carnivore that was unable to protect itself from the blast, stumbling in shock and discomfort as it shook its head before eventually stepping away from the group of volunteers and making its way off to the side to escape the cause of the ache in its ears.
Izuku uncovered his ears the moment he felt the shockwave pass, but that still didn't cause the ringing in his ears to cease. Blinking slightly in a daze as he focused his attention back towards Setsuna and Owen, who also uncovered their ears now that the threat was gone.
"IS EVERYONE OK?!" Izuku shouted out in worry after seeing the T-rex fading off into the distance.
"WHAT?!"
Izuku was about to shout the question again when he saw Claire and Franklin inside the Gyrosphere, running towards the vehicle in a state of confusion and worry seeing them inside. Looking for a way to open the hatch as the two inside continued to fiddle with the controls.
"Claire, Franklin, are you alright?!"
His words were met with frantic nods from the two inside the glass-like sphere as he turned to Setsuna and Owen for their next plan of action. But paled in unison with the people he was standing with at the sight of the massive cloud of ash covering the forest behind them along with several different creatures of all shapes and sizes running away from the explosion. Causing him to quickly spring into action as he grabbed Setsuna and tossed Owen over his shoulder once more.
"Go Go Go!" Izuku called out to the rest of them as he charged himself up with One for All and gave Claire and Franklin a massive shove to their mode of transportation. Sending the two passengers in the sphere rolling with startled shouts as the heroes followed closely behind.
Izuku followed the Gyrosphere from behind as another eruption from the volcano sent a massive wave of volcanic ash in their direction, with molten chunks of falling rocks crashing down onto the ground around them at a faster rate than before. The ground shook with tremors as dinosaurs of all different sizes and quirks ran away from the eruption in their direction.
Most of the fleeing animals were stragglers that didn't escape the initial blast from before, like several Triceratops and Ankylosaurs that tore through the ruining landscape with haste. Stampeding sauropods plowed through the fields alongside the Stegosaurs while Pteranodons screeched over their heads, dodging the occasional molten rock that soared through the air. The Parasaurolophus bellowed in fear as the massive cloud overtook those that weren't fast enough to escape, their bodies never to be seen again from the scorching ash.
A two-headed Allosaurus that was fleeing the eruption ran up to the Gyrosphere with a disgruntled bellow as it peered into the vehicle that Claire and Franklin rode, one of them snapping their jaws at the duo in interest before a massive piece of debris slammed on the ground in front of it. Causing the two passengers inside to cry out in shock as the carnivore stumbled onto the ground and fell on its side, not rising again.
Setsuna saw all these sights with a fearful and troubled look from her partner's arms, before tapping her mode of transport repeatedly with wide eyes after seeing the sight in front of her.
"Um, Izuku... I think we have a problem."
The freckled hero took notice of Setsuna's uneasy words as he watched several of the animals pause at the edge of the cliff with troubled bellows, trapped between the exploding land that was behind them and the massive cliff below.
Izuku took a quick glance behind him and the massive cloud approaching behind them, almost feeling the searing hot ash that was on their tail as he made a quick decision. Powering himself significantly as he ran towards the edge of the cliff right behind Claire and Franklin with a strained smile on his face. One that didn't put his passengers at ease.
"Hold on tight!"
Setsuna and Owen heeded his command as the freckled hero leaped off the cliff in a massive burst of effort, causing his passengers to scream and shut their eyes at the sudden increase in movement as they narrowly missed the searing hot ash behind him.
Izuku activated Float as he made the jump and shot a black tendril from his right hand towards the falling Gyrosphere below, causing it to jerk for a moment with a startled Claire and Franklin. The freckled hero paused for a moment as he made sure to keep a firm grip on the sphere-like vehicle, wanting to get to a safe location before they can open the Gyrosphere.
Yet as he prepared to increase his speed to move away from the falling ash, he was caught off guard when one of the large, stray rocks from the eruption was launched toward Claire and Franklin. Resulting in the Gyrosphere slipping out of his hand and making its descent into the massive waves below as Owen and Setsuna looked down in both shock and horror.
"NO!"
Owen watched in disbelief as Izuku shot a string of Blackwhip towards the falling vehicle, only for it to miss by mere inches as the glass sphere disappear into the churning water below. Causing a feeling of helpless and guilt to take place after the American encouraged them to get into the Gyrosphere with Setsuna earlier.
"We got to get them!"
"I-I know. I'm sorry," Izuku apologized with guilt as he floated forwards to avoid the massive plume of ash that now launched from the cliff behind them while peering at the churning waters for Claire and Franklin. "If we hurry now, we can still-"
"First things first guys, we got to get to safety!" Setsuna's stern voice of reason broke the two men out of their worries as they turned to her in a jolt, "We can't help them if we're burned to a crisp."
It was only then that they saw that there was still hot ash and lava flowing off the cliff, causing numerous hisses of steam as rocks and ash continued to plummet through the churning sea below.
Izuku nodded in understanding as he took a deep breath and he hurried along farther from their escape route until he was a fair enough distance away. Far from where any ash or rocks could fall onto Setsuna or Owen as he turned back towards the area where he saw Claire and Franklin fall.
Setsuna quickly separated herself from Izuku's grasp and floated beside him with a separated torso, knowing that her partner would have to act fast if he had any sort of chance of saving Claire and Franklin from drowning.
"Setsuna, grab ahold of Owen," Izuku advised Setsuna who quickly supported the American underneath his arms with a small grunt, as Izuku quickly dug into his pockets to bring out his communicator and another important item into the American's hands for safekeeping. "And hold on to these for me Owen, I'll be right back."
With Owen's hold on the greenette's items being confirmed with a nod, Izuku quickly cut off Float as gravity once again took hold of his person before he plummeted into the sea.
Setsuna watched with worry as she watched his body disappear into the churring waves below, biting her lip in nervousness as she waited for his return with Claire and Franklin.
Meanwhile, Owen looked at the items that he was suddenly entrusted with by the One for All inheritor. One of which was a communicator that several heroes used on the job to call in for backup or to get in touch with their agency, something that the American thought was needed given how he wasn't sure it was completely waterproof. The other was something that Izuku deliberately put inside of Owen's palm, something that felt oddly cubed shaped and significant if the greenette went out of his way to hide it from Setsuna.
Taking a quick peek at the hidden item, he nearly let out a gasp after seeing the familiar casing used for holding rings. Confirming to him at that moment that Izuku did plan to propose to Setsuna. Something that Owen wondered about when he initially met up with the two heroes in the airport earlier.
He quickly checked to see if the splitting hero holding him noticed his findings, but Setsuna's focus was only on the spot where Izuku dove. Making Owen quickly hide his findings in an attempt to preserve Izuku's wishes as he followed her gaze below the churring water below, waiting for Izuku's return.
Izuku plunged into the ocean and activated a small part of One for All to propel himself forward through the churning waters quickly, even as pieces of rock and lava continued to hit the surfaces above him. The red-hot bits of rock and lava hissed underneath the surface as he moved on with haste.
It wasn't his specialty to deal with underwater rescues like his Tsuyu, but he knew how to swim in a pinch whenever he had to do so. Cutting through the water with significant ease as he made his way toward the area where they jumped off the cliff to escape.
Reaching the base of the rocky terrain, Izuku rose above the water with a gasp for a quick breath of air and saw numerous herbivores struggling to swim after falling from the massive height. Sinoceratops paddled away tiredly above the water while the heavy animals like the Ankylosaurus and Sauropods sank underneath, unable to keep themselves afloat in the water.
Putting the heartbreaking sight of the unfortunate animals on hold with a grim look, he ducked his head underneath the water for any signs of his missing comrades. And widened in shock at the outline of the Gyrosphere slowly sinking to the bottom, with a steady stream of bubbles rising to the surface.
Wasting no more time, he quickly dove towards the vehicle with the use of One for All with haste until he was at the opening of the sphere. Seeing Clarie and Franklin desperately pound on the glass as water continued to fill inside now that he was close enough.
The hero quickly gestured to the two inside to stand back with a wave of his hand as he prepared himself to throw a punch, something that the redhead had no problems with as she pulled Franklin back from the window.
Rearing his fist back, the green-haired hero prepared about 8 percent of One for All through his arms to not send any glass shards into them. Yet as the punch connected to the vehicle, he was shocked when he saw that the act only sent numerous cracks through the glass, filling the vehicle with water fast as Claire and Franklin lifted their chins above the rising waters.
Izuku would've done facepalm when he remembered the fact that the Gyrospheres were reinforced to prevent any animals from harming the passengers, even durable enough to stop a bullet from piercing through the shell.
He increased his output slightly to compensate for this as he reared his back once more just as Claire and Franklin took a final breath. Falling underneath the water just as Izuku's punch broke the reinforced door of the Gyrosphere, freeing them from their underwater prison as he shot two strands of Blackwhip that wrapped around the waists of Claire and Franklin.
Once he was sure that their hold was secured, he gently pulled them out of the Gyrosphere before activating Float and leaving the falling Gyrosphere behind. Finally reaching the surface as he and his passengers took in huge gulps of air.
"You... guys... ok?"
Claire and Franklin could only nod at the question, getting a nod back from the hero as he looked on in worried. Making it a point to check on their condition whenever they have a safe place to land and make it back to Setsuna and Owen.
Speaking of the two, the woman in question lowered slightly whenever she saw him return with a gasping Claire and Franklin in his arms. Looking on worried as they continued to take in deep breaths from their escape from the contraption.
"I saw a dry area that was untouched by the explosion," Setsuna informed them in concern with Owen sharing the same sentiment with the expression on his face. "I'll lead the way."
Izuku nodded in understanding as he followed Setsuna to safety, making a mental note to add an underwater respirator or visor of some sort in his mask whenever he went back to Japan as he tried to ignore the faint bellows that occurred behind them. His unease about this whole job only grew as they made their way to dry land.
The heroes quickly dropped their passengers onto the beach, where Claire and Franklin slumped onto the ground in exhaustion with Owen and Setsuna checking on their conditions. Izuku put his own hands on his knees and took in gulps of air after the dive while looking on in worry.
Setsuna rubbed the back of Claire and Franklin in an act of comfort while also checking on their conditions with a critical eye, seeing that there was nothing life-threatening for the moment. Yet she noticed something that was off, something that she missed due to the recent attacks from carnivores and eruptions as a new pit of worry grew in her.
"Where's Zia?" Setsuna asked after seeing that the teen in question was missing, with Claire and Franklin showing their discomfort as well at the new information.
"It was a double cross, she must be with Blue," Owen explained while Izuku clenched his fists in frustration at his failure, turning to the teen with a hopeful look in his eye. "Can you still track them, Franklin?"
The teen brought the device out of his pocket only to see that it was ruined. Filled completely with water from his time under the ocean and the Gyrosphere.
"...Not anymore."
The group looked on grimly as the reality of the situation hit them, the fact that this operation to 'save' the dinosaurs was just another attempt to profit off of them. A feeling of anger and frustration was shared between all of them as they recovered from their ordeal while Claire slumped onto the shore in a state of shock and fury.
"Those bastards... It was a lie..." Claire seethed as she hit the wet sand underneath her in a fit of rage and resentment. "It was all a lie!"
Another eruption was heard from behind them causing them all to tense before the sound of a helicopter filled the air, with the sight of a military transport helicopter carrying along a roaring T-rex and the Carnotaur they were fighting earlier. All contained and ready to be moved as it made its way back to the freight ship.
"Not all of it..." Owen said with a frown as they watched the aircraft fade off towards the distance to some unknown destination, "Come on, let's go follow it.
The others had no problems with that, following Owen towards the sound of the helicopter for a good distance as they made their way through small plains of grass and ruined buildings before the sounds of moving cranes and shouts started to fill the air. The horn of the freight ship cut through the eruptions behind them every so often as men scrambled throughout the harbor.
They crouched low as they neared the top of a ridge to scout ahead as Owen pulled out a small pair of binoculars from his back pocket. Getting a close look at several of the men that were bringing animals into several cages with the help of others and vehicles.
Some of the more notable ones that were being transported were an Ankylosaurus that had an entire plating of diamonds on its back, covering it the entire length all the way to its sharp, club-like tail. Another was a Gallimimus that was deep purple in color while having a lightning bolt imprint embedded on its side, flailing around in discomfort as ropes were wrapped around its neck and a small cast was attached to its thigh, a vial being injected into its body before being forcefully thrown into a cage by some of the men.
An Allosaurs that was made of molten rock was also being guided into a cell with the use of electric rods and quirks, a steady flow of steam emitting from its body as a pulse of red glowed through its length every few moments. Causing two men to cool the area with the use of mist and air through their hands and mouth respectively as a helmet of some kind was put on top of the animal, with a vial at the top injecting a steady stream of some substance into its body.
Owen then turned his attention away from the commotion and towards the man who betrayed them in the jungle: Ken. Who was shouting orders to the other men around him in a frenzy, no doubt wanting to get off before the island exploded. Yet his attention was diverted to one of the trucks carrying an orange Stegosaur. Shouting for the driver to wait for a moment as he made his way toward the herbivore.
"Hello sweetheart, this will only take a moment," Ken told the herbivore as it stroked its snout with faux comfort, much to the confusion of the herbivore as it lay there numb and drowsy.
Ken stopped stoking the herbivore's snout as his entire arm turned into a set of pliers, gripping onto one of the molars tightly before tugging and yanking the incisor out. Causing the entire animal to shudder in pain and discomfort as a loud bellow rang out.
"There, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Ken rhetorically asked the herbivore with a small grin before dropping the tooth along with the several other incisors that he gathered so far on this expedition.
Owen furrowed his brow in anger and discomfort at the treatment of these animals before he saw Ken making his way to some other men, making his eyes widen as he finally saw the missing person of their group being held by two of the mercenaries.
"They have Zia," the American told the group with a sigh of relief. "I think they're about to load out."
Izuku released a breath he didn't know he was holding when he heard the confirmation from Owen, feeling a little better that Zia was still alive. Yet that left the problem of how they were going to get her out in the middle of so many armed guards.
Meanwhile, Franklin frowned as he eyed the numerous men running throughout the compound hastily putting everything together to leave before the volcano blows. The scale of this operation and the words that Ken said earlier about the dinosaurs being easy to find made him realize that they were on this island longer than they thought. Which only left the question:
"If they already had the dinosaurs, why did they need us?"
Claire narrowed her eyes in realization as she recalled the topic of the meeting with Mr. Mills, the entire reason why she went to go get Owen in the first place.
"They needed the tracking system and Owen to capture Blue."
Owen frowned hard before turning his view towards the mentioned raptor lying down on a forklift, the discomfort and pain were palpable as Charlie called on worriedly from the side of her own confinements.
"She doesn't look too good," Owen said worriedly after looking at Blue's condition before turning toward the two heroes with a raised eyebrow, "You think you can call for backup?"
A pause was made between the two heroes before a pained grimace was shared between the two greenettes, one that didn't help the others' hopes as they started to explain the situation.
"We can. We got the go-ahead to call in reinforcements if we ever found something suspicious, which we did." Setsuna admitted with a frown before turning her gaze to Izuku, "But..."
"Without a destination or knowing where that ship is going it's not going to mean much," Izuku finished off with a sigh.
The others nodded grimly at the fact before shifting their gaze back towards the group of mercenaries, who were finally loading up the last of the animals onto the boat as another explosion was heard behind them. Making Izuku look back for a moment before getting up from his hiding spot and heading towards the ship, with the others getting up as well other than a reluctant Franklin.
"Why are we leaving? The rock's good, we're safe on the rock."
"I rather not be cooked by a mountain," Setsuna called back as she followed Owen and the others.
…
"You know, it's a nice day to travel by boat." Franklin decided before getting up from his spot and following along.
Falling molten rocks started to pelt the coast as the last of the mercenaries made its way on board, with one final man leaving a truck on the harbor after concluding that it wasn't worth the risk.
Meanwhile, the group of escapees emerged from their hiding spot and made their way toward the massive ship, which blew its massive horn as a final send-off as it made its final preparations for departure.
As Owen ran with the group, he couldn't help but worry about the heroes' attire as the boat started to come into sight. Realizing that the men on board might notice their bright colors out in the open and won't hesitate to put them down unlike the time in the forest.
"If they spot you or Setsuna, they might gun us down before we even make it on board." Owen told Izuku in slight concern as they continued to run, "Can you think of a way for us to get in?"
The hero in green only nodded at the assessment before a small grin started to form and he charged himself a small percent of One for All.
"Leave it to me."
Owen was amazed as streams of smoke suddenly started to emit from Izuku's body, providing a bit of cover that blended in with the steam and ash from the falling rocks as he put himself in front of the group.
Explosions erupted from the sidelines as the fragments hit barrels of oil, causing Izuku to skid to a stop as he spotted another piece of molten rock heading directly towards Franklin who was falling behind. His eyes widened in surprise as he reached a hand out and quickly shot a strand of Blackwhip towards the teen.
"Franklin, watch out!"
The teen was unprepared as the black tendril suddenly wrapped around his waist and pulled him forward, just in time to miss another explosion from a set of barrels that was standing a few feet from where he was standing.
Franklin gasped in shock as he was once again being held by the One for All inheritor, the hero not removing him from his hold as he continued to make his way with Owen toward their escape.
"T-Thanks again for the save Deku."
"Only part of the job."
The massive ship was now closer than ever as the group was now keeping pace with one another, yet that still left the problem of how they were going to get on board undetected. As Izuku was sure that most of the men were notified about their disappearance on the island and wouldn't hesitate to open fire on them if he or Setsuna was spotted.
His gaze turned towards the lone cargo truck that was left on the harbor, giving them the solution of providing them cover while also allowing them to board the ship with minimal questions asked if done right.
"Everybody, get on the truck!" Izuku yelled as another piece of molten rock plummeted to the ground behind them, "We can blend in with the others!"
Setsuna only hesitated for a moment before nodding in understanding, reaching the back of the truck first before kneeling to give Owen a boost. One that the American took without prompting as Izuku deposited his own passenger. Though as Claire waited for her own turn to enter the vehicle, she was startled when Setsuna held both of her shoulders with a sympathetic yet stern expression.
"Claire, I'm going to need you to get us on board," Setsuna said with a grimace as lava started to pour in from the now-ignited forest, "It's the only way we're going to make it.
"M-Me?!" the redhead stumbled back in shock as she looked at the splitting hero in bewilderment, "B-But I never drove a truck like this one before, not even including the fact that it is in the middle of an eruption!"
Another rock slammed onto the pavement a couple of feet away from where the truck stood, startling the group as Izuku narrowed his eyes at the falling rocks. Seeing more of them erupting from the volcano and making their way toward them from the ash-filled skies above.
The hero in green squared his shoulder as he increased his output of One for All, before getting one of his arms into a flicking position while the other leveled it out. Releasing the pressure from his fingers so that a sharp and precise gust of wind burst from his hand and made its way toward the falling rock. Breaking it in the air and sending shards of it falling off course and away from them.
"I can hold it off for now, but we really need to get going," Izuku called out.
Setsuna nodded in understanding before sighing at the sight of Claire's nervousness at the task entrusted to her.
While the splitting hero felt for the redhead's plea, they didn't have much time for this discussion as the temperature around them started to rise from the increased flow of lava. Making every second count as the boat sent out one final horn for departure and Izuku sent bursts of winds to break any rocks that were headed their way.
"Look, those people on board are on the lookout for two heroes and a 'raptor wrangler' since they were the ones in contact with the most. While I wish it wasn't you, if they spot anyone of us behind the wheel this plan is moot." Setsuna started to explain her reasoning with haste. "They wouldn't be expecting you, someone who only stood back with the computer whiz to sneak on board."
Claire watched in slight fascination at the look of determination and sympathy coming from Setsuna, realizing the amount of frustration and anger behind her eyes at having to leave everything up to someone she was supposed to be saving. Something that she wasn't used to seeing whenever the concept of a hero popped into her mind. Even more so when the next few words left the greenette's mouth.
"Can you do this?"
The redhead then looked at the rest of the group that was huddled in the back of the truck, with Franklin looking nervously and on the verge of fainting from the numerous threats to his life today. Izuku eyed her in concern from the corner of his eye as he kept an eye out for any more falling molten rocks. Owen seemed the most reluctant on this whole plan as a pained grimace made its way onto his face, not wanting her to be put in danger any more than she had to.
She realized that Setsuna wouldn't ask her of this unless it was the only way for them to get them out of the situation safely, that they were entrusting her of all people to get them on board. And steeled herself as she looked toward the group with a determined expression.
"O-Ok," Claire said as she nervously nodded at Setsuna, "I'll do it. If I can draw out a T-rex with a flare and drive an ambulance while being chased by raptors I can certainly do this."
Setsuna paused for a second before nodding in understanding as she made her way to the back seat, looking only for a moment before smiling at the redhead with pride and faith. Until Owen helped the splitting hero on board before locking eyes with Claire, giving his own nod of appreciation and trust towards the redhead as he prepared for the bumpy ride ahead of them.
Taking a deep, shaky breath to calm her nerves, Claire quickly made her way to the driver's seat of the truck before buckling herself in. Only hesitating for a moment before taking the keys and starting the engine, taking off quickly as the tires screeched on the pavement below.
The group inside lurched for a moment at the sudden shift in momentum, feeling slightly at ease now that they were heading towards the boat and away from the eruption. Izuku lessened the amount of smoke emitting from his body now that they were on the truck as he continued to fire at the falling rocks behind them.
Claire put her all into the gas as she raced towards the fleeing boat on the other side, ignoring the sounds of exploding rocks behind her either from hitting the pavement or from Izuku's attacks. Yet her eyes widened when she saw that the boat had already departed from shore, leaving a gap between the harbor and their only escape route. A giant metal flap at the edge of the ship extended outward as the boat continued to drift away from the coast.
Claire steeled herself as she increased the pressure on the gas, the vehicle lurching forward once more as she pushed the limits of the truck.
"Hold on tight!"
Izuku quickly move away from the edge of the truck as he and the others on board held on, with the hero in green wrapping a tendril around each of the passengers for good measure as they felt the truck leap off the pavement of harbor and onto the edge of the ship. Jerking their body up in the air for a moment as the truck struggled to stay on board.
Claire could already feel the truck slipping off of the boat, forcing her to put the automobile into overdrive with a strained grimace. Causing the truck to push on as it jerked for a moment before finally making its way into the cargo ship.
Claire slammed the brakes just as she was sure the entire vehicle was safely inside the hanger of the ship, with her and the passengers in the back slumped over due to the constant momentum and exhaustion. The redhead took a moment to gather herself before finding a cap that was inside a compartment of the truck as a means of disguise.
"Good job," Setsuna sighed with pride as she looked at the redhead from the back, "Maybe you should give lessons in the DMV."
"Yeah... Let's hope I don't have to do that again."
A huff of a laugh escaped the green-haired woman before her eyes widened in shock, ducking her head down and out of sight as the sound of other mercenaries leaving their own trucks and vehicles started to increase and make their way toward the back of the ship where they were standing.
Claire couldn't help the uneasy knot of her gut from forming as she steeled herself to answer any questions coming from the approaching men, not wanting to expose her or her passengers. Yet their attention was not on the new arrival, but rather on the still open hanger of the ship.
A bellow from behind caught the attention of everyone on board as they looked out the open doors of the hangers. With Setsuna and Izuku peeking out from a tarp that Owen and Franklin managed to find in the back, their heart clenching at the sight of the Brachiosaurus they saw earlier making its way towards the boat in a futile attempt to escape the molten lava behind it.
Setsuna's eyes watered as she swallowed the lump in her throat at the sight of the fleeing herbivore, never feeling so useless in helping another out for a long time as the Brachiosaurus finally made it to the edge of the harbor. Looking at the departing boat with a heartfelt bellow as it stood up on its massive hind legs just as lava and ash neared.
She felt the touch of Izuku's hand from underneath the tarp as he also looked on in sorrow, the sight reminding him of the cruel reality that this animal was forced to face along with the various other creatures that remained on the Island. A fate that he didn't really have the power to change no matter how much he wanted it to happen.
The entire crew watched on as the sight of the Brachiosaurus faded into the distance as the last of its bellows echoed before the herbivore was covered in a bright orange light and ash before the doors of the hanger shut with a massive clang.
Signifying the destruction and end of Jurassic World as the boat finally headed out of Isla Nublar.
Thank you everyone for the ideas on quirks, if you ever have any more on any other species be sure to let me know. It might get added in!
