*So as maaaaaaany of you have pointed out. Yes, in the Ben Ten series Ghostfreak's second skin protects him from the sun. So then why, in my story, does it not work? Because I legit forgot it was even a thing. Like I knew he had a layer of skin over his real form but the detail that it actually served a real purpose totally escaped me. It's been way too long since I watched that specific episode and I felt confident in what I remembered that I didn't bother to revisit it. And if you are butt hurt over the fact that Ghostfreak was quote-on-quote nerfed then I am sorry. Just know that it wasn't my intention, it was just an honest to goodness mistake. In any case I hope you will stick around and enjoy the rest of this story has to offer.
*This story has a TV Tropes page.
*Please check out the side story "Heroes Never Die; It's Hero Time, Anytime."
"AAAAAAAaaaaaaaahhhhh!" Koji Koda's shouting echoes throughout the entire valley but whether it's of pain or just part of his exercise is unclear.
If anything, it's just part of the background as everyone agonizes over their individual exercises as the hot summer sun beats down on them.
The remedial group, especially, is feeling the heat. Each of them is just one push away from falling onto the ground and passing out with heavy bags under their eyes.
Sato looks sugar deprived, Denki's brain is fried from both his Electricity and from studying, Aoyama still tries to present himself as glamorous, but his usual shine is gone, Sero is struggling to keep his head up, while Mina isn't even trying to ward off sleep, and Kirishima is bent over and ready to collapse.
"Hey, remedial group. Keep at it!" Aizawa's scarf grabs Kirishima by the head and makes him stand up.
"Y-yes, sir." Kirishima weaky calls back while doing his best to hold back tears.
Mina can't take it anymore. "Sorry. But I need more beauty rest."
Denki lets out a pained moan. "Who knew yesterday's extra lessons…"
"…Would go on until two in the morning…" Sero whines.
Sato chokes back a sob. "…And start back up at seven."
"This is most terrible." Aoyama complains, adding a French accent when he says terrible.
"I told you it'd be tough." Aizawa scolds, already irritated by their lack of drive. "Remember, you're not just improving your Quirks, you're also working to overcome the many weaknesses I saw in the finals."
As the failures yelp and wince in shame, Ragdoll is laughing at their expense. "Tehehehehe!" Meanwhile, Aizawa continues to instill strict discipline. "Think carefully about why you're more tired than the others before you start whining." He pulls on the scarf forcing Kirishima to nearly bend backwards. "You have much to improve here." And with that he finally releases the red head who immediately falls back.
The remedial group winces and groans out a response. "Right. Yes, sir…"
Not one to waste a moment of educating his students properly, Aizawa turns to the rest of the hero course who are diligently participating in their exercises. "Don't lose focus. Each of you can move faster! And no matter what you're doing, just remember where you started from. Don't forget who you were before U.A."
He observes them each from Bakugou sticking his hands into the boiling barrel, to Todoroki's bursts of ice and flames, Midoriya's combat training as Upchuck, and Uraraka's gravity resilience. "Always keep in mind why you're sweating, and why your limits keep getting tested. That's what it means to improve."
Each of the aforementioned students repeat his words, allowing them to sink in.
From Bakugou. 'Where I started.'
To Shoto. 'Who I am.'
To Ochaco. 'How I got here.'
And finally Upchuck. 'And where I'm going.'
"That's all fine and inspiring and whatever-but what's their excuse?!" Denki cries out in outrage, pointing over towards Bakugou, Ochaco, and Upchuck. Who are a little more than surprised to be suddenly called out for no apparent reason.
"Yeah! They failed their exam too!" Mina whines.
Oh, right. That.
"Hahaha! What's this?!" Neito Monoma barges over, his usual air of arrogance coming off as waves. "Class A's star pupils failed their exam?! Hahaha! Oh, what a tragedy! Hahaha! Even the Rising Star failed?! What an ordeal! I bet you feel just oh so-GAAAH!" A splat of slime splatters his face making him gag and frantic to wipe it off.
All the while Upchuck plays innocent, a finger to his mouth in a way to make him seem cutsie.
Aizawa throws the chubby amphibian an accusing glare but makes no fuss about it. "In any case you're absolutely correct."
The Remedial Group gasps. "We are?!"
"Midoriya. Uraraka. Bakugou. It's time."
Ochaco slides out of the inflated ball, her face green, and stomach churning. "Time for what, exactly?" She asks between breaths.
"For your Makeup Exam."
Upchuck transforms back, returning Izuku to his usual nervous self. "Um, Mr. Aizawa, sir. Who-who are we facing?"
Aizawa sympathizes and quickly reassures the kid. "Relax, you're not facing All Might. I made sure of that."
"Oh, good…" He averts his gaze as the guilt and shame from then lingers over him like a cloud.
Aizawa understands his hesitation but even, so the kid needs to take this exam seriously. He can't afford to be distracted, especially if he wants to improve. "What happened during your Final Exam was, for lack of a better word, atrocious. Both on our account and yours."
"Sir?"
"We failed you as your teachers. I especially should have made sure that your strife and past trauma wouldn't play a factor into your Exam. As U.A.'s Teachers we have the responsibility to push you beyond your limits. But we must be aware of what boundaries we cannot cross. And we crossed it." he should have realized the signs and confronted All Might about them sooner. That was his mistake. "However, that being said, you three, especially two of you, need to learn proper cooperation."
Izuku and Bakugou start, before exchanging wary looks between each other.
"You don't have to get along. But we have to ensure that you both will put aside your differences for the sake of others first." Aizawa's eyes narrow dangerously. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Mr. Aizawa!" Izuku responds all too quickly.
"Yeah, we get it." Bakugou shrugs, while stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"Take these." Aizawa tosses each of them a backpack.
Ochaco weighs the bag in her hand, it's light enough but there's definitely a number of items inside. "What are these for?"
Izuku takes a peek inside his pack. "Are we going on a hike?"
That's what the items would suggest: there's a water bottle, a bag of trail mix, an emergency blanket, a knife, a pack of matches, an emergency flare gun, and some rope along with a first-aid kit.
"That's exactly what you're doing." Aizawa then points behind them. "See that?"
The three turn around and spot a metal container about the size of a wardrobe sitting atop a 2-wheeled wood-wagon; one with a pull bar in front to allow someone to push the cart forward.
"Yeah?" The three respond not entirely sure if that's what they're supposed to be looking at.
"It's your job to transport this container to the top of that Mountain." Aizawa turns the opposite way and points to the farthest mountain in the distance, one with an arched peak like a witch's hat.
"All the way over there?! It's so far!" Ochaco gasps, her jaw hitting the floor in shock.
"That's the point. You'll have to navigate through the Beast's Forest, trek across the Valley of Peace, cross over the Anavros River, and then climb your way up Witch Mountain." He has such a hard time not grimacing as he says those names. "Bring the container to the top undamaged and you'll receive full marks on the exam. However, if the container is damaged beyond repair, then you fail."
"Seriously?" Bakugou growls, already done with this shit. "You're having us do a fucking Transport Mission as our Makeup Exam?"
"Good, so you understand. Here's a map and a compass. You only get one so don't lose them" Aizawa tosses them over at Bakugou who nearly tears the map apart because he's so angry. "Feel free to use any of the items we provided for you. You have until sundown to complete the test. Do not disappoint. And good luck." His haunting Totoro grin flashes before them. "Because if you fail, you'll be joining your classmates stuck in the Remedial Course." He points over to said group who all look like Death warmed over.
A shiver runs down the trio's spine as they watch their classmates collapse one after the other.
"You're burning daylight." Aizawa warns. "Or are you dead set on joining them?"
"We're going!" Ochaco, Izuku, and even Bakugou blurt out before hurrying away to the wagon.
They scramble to get going with Bakugou and Izuku both taking the pull bar and pushing while Ochaco pushes from behind.
Aizawa, however, remains aloof as they begin their long journey ahead. He watches on until they disappear into the thick woodland.
A set of four voices creep up behind him and snicker.
"Tehehehe. There they go."
"It would be more sporting to give them a head start."
"Hehe, I can't wait to see what kind of strength those three are capable of."
"Let's show these kittens what a pride of felines can do."
Aizawa could care less what they do. "Do as you wish, just make sure they learn something. And that they don't kill each other." He walks away allowing the team of four to go on their way.
Besides, he has his own agenda. "As for all of you." He calls out to everyone else in the hero course. "Listen up! Everyone, follow me and Vlad King, we're going on a run to improve your stamina."
"Yes, sir!" Class A and B whine in unison.
Ch.68 Trails and Tribulations
(The Beasts' Forest)
The Beast's Forest is still the same as it ever was with massive trees blocking out the sun and ominous shadows creeping around from all corners The only difference this time is that the kids have an actual path to follow and there's enough of a gap in the trees to allow sunlight to break through and light the way no problem. Although the trail isn't exactly easy as it keeps twisting this way and that with loose rocks and large roots hindering their steps. Even so it's still a much more pleasant experience than being hounded by Clay Monsters for several hours.
"This is fucking stupid."
Well for most of them anyway.
"Why do I have to be the one to lug this giant piece of crap around?!" Bakugou shouts, lagging behind as he's been left to pull the wagon on his own.
"Because you lost." Ochaco teases from the front as she makes finger scissors.
"Dammit it!" Bakugou seethes he knew he shouldn't have picked paper!
"Don't worry we'll switch soon; it's barely been an hour."
"Then how come we haven't gotten any closer, damn it?! Deku, just where in the hell are you leading us?!"
Izuku nervously grimaces in response, as he clutches the map and compass. "I-I'm trying. But this map isn't exactly easy. And the trail keeps going all over the place."
"That's it, give me the map! I'll lead us out of here! In the meantime, you can be useful by turning into something that can pull the cart for us. Like that blind bear-thing."
"Wildmutt is not a bear. Nor is he a horse." Izuku clarifies feeling a little bit irked. "And even if I used Wildmutt, I could only pull the cart for ten minutes before I run out of time."
"I still say it'd be faster!"
"What's even your rush?" Ochaco asks while enjoying the fact that she doesn't have to do anything for now. "We have all day to complete the test. Besides it's an easy enough hike."
"Easy?! You're not the one pulling the damn cart!" Bakugou shouts as one of the wheels gets stuck between a set of exposed roots.
As Bakugou struggles with the wagon and Ochaco tries to wiggle the wheel free, Izuku takes a moment to really think about the test. 'Uraraka's got a point. There's really no need to panic as long as we keep a good steady pace, we'll make it up the mountain in no time. But that seems too easy, doesn't it? Maybe Mr. Aizawa is just testing our endurance? Or maybe our own willingness to even be near each other? Maybe he's just playing it safe this time?'
Not that Izuku can blame the teacher, not after the disaster he himself caused last time.
{"I bet you're thinking this is gonna be an easy stroll through the woods. Don't ya?"}
'Yeah. Exactly.' Izuku happily thinks, agreeing with the spontaneous voice in his head. 'It's nothing but a nice relaxing walk through the woods.'
He begins to hum along as he, Ochaco, and Bakugou continue on their way.
But they don't make it far until they all stop dead in their tracks.
The three immediately jump to action, taking defensive positions and their patience finally snapping. Deep down they knew it couldn't be this easy. No way Mr. Aizawa would ever make things easy. And this is exactly what they needed to finally snap.
"Did you hear that?!" Ochaco asks, scanning the woods for the source of the voice.
"Yeah, we heard it." Izuku confirms, pocketing the map and compass just in case
"Where'd it come from?" Bakugou scans thick trees as well but comes up empty.
Suddenly that same voice giggles in their heads. {"What's the matter? You're all on edge all of a sudden."}
Ochaco finally recognizes the voice. "Is that-?"
"It is, it's Mandalay." Izuku answers before she can even ask. "She's using her Telepath Quirk to speak to us right now."
Mandalay's Telepathic thoughts break through to them again. {"Listen little kittens. Did you really think Eraser was just gonna assign you a simple transportation mission?"}
"I didn't think that for a second." Bakugou brags even though they all already knew.
But the other two don't bother to call him out, figuring now wasn't the time. Instead, the trio turn their backs to each other and stand guard, standing in a tight triangle, each one covering a different angle in case she tries to pull anything.
{"Good, you understand then. Think of this as your official instructions. Don't worry I'm not gonna be the one attacking you…yet. Instead, I want you all to think of this test as a series of tests. Or better yet trials.""
"Is she being serious?" Bakugou huffs before being shushed by Ochaco.
{"In these trials we're going to do all that we can to not only test your abilities but to stop you from succeeding. Sorry but them's the rules, Eraser's orders. So do whatever you can to protect your cargo and complete the trials or else you'll be joining the others tonight at Eraser's extra lessons."}
They don't want that, no sir. They are instantly put on edge expecting Mandalay to show up at any moment and "test" them.
{"And another thing I will not be testing you during this trial."}
Ochaco carefully leans back and hesitantly asks. "Then who is?"
A giant brown blur leaps out from the canopy and crash lands right between the three teens, knocking them all off their feet.
"Lookie at what I found here." Tiger maniacally grins down at the fallen teens like they're nothing but tiny mice he can prey on. "Looks like I got me some new toys to play with." He flexes his claws, advertising to them that he'll hold nothing back.
"You wanna play?!" Bakugou shoots back up to his feet, his rage already spilling over. "Then let's play! DIE!" He charges, his palm already Exploding with heat.
"Such spirit!" With a sly grin, Tiger easily bends and side-steps his body away like if he were made of rubber. "I like your moxie, brat!"
Bakugou's Explosion completely misses, and his arm goes right past Tiger, leaving the boy open for the hero to grab him, spin him up and around, before tossing him aside.
Bakugou is thrown across the trail landing on the back of his head against the dirt and roots.
"Bakugou!" Izuku and Ochaco gasp as Bakugou is tossed aside like nothing.
"Ehehehe. Get ready little mice, because this is THE TRIAL OF SURVIVAL!" Tiger flexes, his muscles bulging and twisting due to his Pliabody Quirk and massively fit physique. "Can you make it through the Beast's Forest with me in hot pursuit? Let's find out!"
That's all the warning they get before Tiger takes off at a full sprint, charging right for them much like his own namesake.
Izuku gasps, stumbling back. "He's fast!"
Tiger leaps forward, his claws poised to strike. "Look alive otherwise you're not gonna pass!"
Like a blur, Ochaco jumps in from behind, acting quickly, not willing to allow the hero anywhere near the cart. "VENUS SMASH!"
With a twist of his body, Tiger easily evades the glowing pink fist. "Too slow!"
He strikes her down, slamming her against the ground.
Pressing her head to the dirt, Tiger turns his gaze over to the quivering greenette. "And then there was one."
"You're a bad kitty." Izuku nervously quips while spinning the Omnitrix's faceplate. "Thankfully I know there's more than one way to skin a cat." He locks onto Wildmutt's silhouette causing him to break out into a wide grin. "And I got the perfect K-9 for the job too! I choose you, Wildmutt!"
Following his hand slamming on the Omnitrix and the flash of green, Izuku undergoes the transformation. He can feel fur spreading across his body and his limbs expanding. But his base form doesn't really change, instead it seems to grow in size and muscle never adding or removing extra limbs. And he still has his sight. But there's a familiar static-like tingling across his body, sort of similar to when he transforms into Feedback or Buzzshock.
"Something's not right, Eh?" The transformed Izuku asks permission as the sequence ends.
"Don't give me excuses!'" Tiger pounces to attack, not caring what form the kid takes. "Show me the results of your training!"
He swings his fast forward but to his surprise Izuku's meaty hand catches it.
"Oh, I'll show you alright." Izuku grows as electricity dances off his body and with an ape-like screech he unleashes a blast of electricity right into Tiger's torso, launching him back and into the woods like a pile of smoking meat.
"Hahaha, I guess cats don't always land on their feet." The transformed Izuku laughs before peering down at himself. "Speaking of feet, mine are huge!"
Like ape-sized huge. He looks like a bipedal gorilla in yellow and black fur with grey skinned ape-like hands and feet. The only thing seemingly alien about this guy is that he has four fingers instead of five and there are a set of bolts on both sides of his wrists.
Peering around he uses the reflective side of the container in order to see his own green eyes with black pupils staring back at him. Even his face is ape-like with an out protruding lower jaw, bolts on the side of his skull, and a yellow lightning bolt-shaped horn decorates his forehead like a crown or misshapen unibrow.
"Not bad, Eh." He admits while admiring the new form. "I like the colour. Although the power is kinda repetitive, Eh?"
Ochaco and Bakugou slowly regroup, their jaws hanging as they stare up at the eight-foot chimp.
"Deku? Is this one new?! Like doesn't have a name yet, new?!" Ochaco asks, jaw agape.
"You betcha. And hey, maybe this one can do us the favour and help us win, Eh?" He holds two of his fingers close together, playing with a spark of static between them. "I think this one's got some good parlour tricks."
"What's with the Canadian accent?" Ochaco bluntly questions.
"Forget that." Bakugou waves her off. "Why the hell are you Bigfoot now?"
"Not Bigfoot, how about…?" The electrical ape thinks on it for a second before coming up with a brilliant name. "ELECTRICYETI!"
Ochaco and Bakugou give him deadpanned stares in response.
However, their judgmental stares go right over Electricyeti's head. "I know, great, Eh?"
"It's…not." Ochaco is sad to admit.
"Then what would you suggest?"
Bakugou scoffs. "Idiot, you can go with literally anything else like…Shocksquatch?" He shrugs as he gives out the first stupid pun that popped into his head.
However, Electricyeti seems to love it. "Oh! I like that one way better. Let's go with that instead! Eh? From now on this guy will be known as "SHOCKSQUATCH!"
"DON'T JUST AGREE WITH THE FIRST SUGGESTION I CRAP OUT!"
As the teens bicker and chat away, Tiger takes a moment to recover and psych himself back up just as Mandalay's Telepathy chimes in his head. {"Well looks like Eraser's training paid off. The kid really did develop a new form. In that case, it'd be irresponsible of us if we didn't help him figure out exactly what it's capable of."}
A smirk stretches across his face before he dashes away into the thick woods at a breakneck speed.
"Hey look!" Bakugou points him out. "The fucker's getting away!"
He instantly goes after him, blasting himself through the air with his Explosions.
"Don't run off on your own!" Shocksquatch sprints after him, moving quickly with his long stride.
"Guys, wait! What about the cart?!" Ochaco calls but it's no use, she stays back not sure what to do. She should go after them, but she'd be leaving the wagon unguarded. Oh, what is she to do?
Meanwhile, Tiger is keeping his head start but Bakugou is hot on his heels. Unfortunately, Shocksquatch can't seem to keep up.
"Wait for me!" Shocksquatch calls after them but there's no way that's happening. He has to speed it up. As he runs his upper body begins to lean more and more forward until his swinging knuckles are grazing and ground. And soon after they hit the ground but instead of straightening himself back up Shocksquatch begins to run in a full gallop, using his knuckles like that of a gorilla. "Oh, there we go!" With a grin he gallops forward using the momentum to propel himself off the ground.
Jumping straight into the air he catches a branch and uses it to swing himself forward. Again and again, he swings from branch to branch, even kicking himself off the sides of the giant trees in order to propel himself forward. "I'm on my way!"
Bakugou looks back and sees the yeti swinging through trees. "You're falling behind, Deku!" He turns his attention back towards the pursuit, and with one final blast he closes the distance between them while yelling out. "By the time you catch up I'll already have this guy eating dirt! Hahaha!"
But instead of running away or striking back, Tiger comes to a complete stop and grins back at the boy.
And before Bakugou can even understand what it means, a net springs out from the earth below him and swallows him up, pulling him into the air. "What the hell?!"
"Bakugou!" Shocksquatch gasps, moving faster between the trees. But just as he leaps from one branch to the next, he is left exposed as a log on a rope swings in and crashes into his side.
The giant ape goes down, plummeting down from the canopy and crashing into the ground with a loud thud.
"What the hell is this?!" Bakugou screeches as he struggles to right himself while hanging upside down in the net.
Mandalay's incorporeal voice giggles in their heads. {"Oh, I see you boys found yourselves in quite the pickle. Remember when Tiger said this was a Trial of Survival? Well can you navigate this course or will be lost to the Beast's Forest forever?!"}
Tiger smirks. "Oh, I already know the answer to that. These mice are gonna fail!"
"Fail?" Bakugou scoffs. "I don't know the meaning of the word!" With a small blast he burns the net away and rockets himself at Tiger.
The pro hero isn't worried and instead greets the challenge with a cruel smile. "Don't worry. I'll teach you all about it myself."
The two clash with Bakugou aiming for Tiger's head but the pro easily ducks away, using his Pliabody Quirk to evade. And using his own elasticity Tiger springs back up and delivers a powerful swipe to Bakugou's side. Bakugou's thrown off course but quickly recovers, kicking himself off a tree and blasting himself forward, burning the bark in the process.
Tiger leaps away, avoiding the strike all together. Before backflipping his way up and over a giant downed log.
"Get back here you coward!"
Bakugou doesn't hesitate to chase after him, rocketing himself over only to find that Tiger was waiting for this.
Tiger strikes as Bakugou launches himself over, plowing his fist right into the boy's gut. Despite having the wind knocked out of him Bakugou remains focused and strikes, managing to land a punch to Tiger's side. He swings again, this time aiming to blast the jerk to bits, but Tiger once again uses Pliabody to twist and evade.
"Hold still!"
"Hehehe!"
Bakugou swings again but as he does a spherical lump of wood swings in and smacks his arm away. Before Bakugou can react, more and more logs swing in, they're small no bigger than basketballs but they sure do hurt, forcing him to evade each one. But with his focus on the swinging pendulums, he fails to notice Tiger weaving his way through the very same traps before his fist collides with Bakugou's face.
And with that strike and the fact that he gets smacked around by a few of the pendulums, Bakugou goes down.
Tiger stands over him, smirking. "Just like a filthy mutt. You're all bark and no bite."
"Well, I got some bite for ya!" Shocksquatch leaps down from the canopy, after having climbed his way back up, and in his hand, he carries the same log that hit him earlier. As he plummets, he swings the log like a club before launching it at Tiger. "Move it or lose it!"
Tiger does neither, instead, using his Pliabody and great physique he actually catches the log by its end, using his Quirk he spins around carrying the momentum with him and then like a twisted rope he spins right around only to launch the log back at the ape-man.
Shocksquatch lets out a surprised ape-like yelp just before the log smacks him dead in the face. He goes down, losing his balance just before landing.
"Not the face!" He wails, grabbing at his face, and checking to make sure nothing's broken. "Dontcha know that's my money maker?!"
"Hehehe!" With a cackle Tiger makes his leave by leaping away into the brush.
"Dammit! You're letting him get away!" Bakugou sprints after him.
"Oh, no I ain't!" Shocksquatch joins the chase and they both jump over and into the brush together.
But the moment they land on the other side the ground underneath their feet gives out and they both fall right into a well-placed pitfall trap.
They crash to the bottom with Shocksquatch landing right on top of Bakugou. "Get your hairy ass off of me!"
"I'm trying, but this hole wasn't made for someone my size ya know!"
"You stepped on me, idiot!"
"OW! Hey! Why'd ya kick me?!"
As they struggle to climb out, Tiger is not too far away, silently judging as he listens to them bicker.
"Move over!" Bakugou shouts.
"I'm trying! Quick, I think we can jump from here. I'll toss you up!"
They both shout as they leap out of the hole; they're both pissed off and ready to take it out on their opponent.
But Tiger doesn't move and instead flashes them one cocky smirk.
And once again as their feet hit the ground they are swallowed up and thrown into the air by a giant net.
The two are dangled in the air, both pressed against each other way too tightly.
"Nice going, moron!" Bakugou barks, choosing to blame Deku for all this.
"Who ya calling a moron? Moron!" Shocksquatch oh so cleverly spits back.
He tries to wriggle himself free, but his fur gets caught in the net's fibers and gets pulled out.
"Yow!" Shocksquatch yelps as static charges around his body.
"Wait-wait, Deku-!"
Too late as Shocksquatch accidentally electrifies his partner. Realizing his mistake, he quickly cuts off the electricity but the damage has been done as Bakugou's skin and gym uniform are covered in electrical scorch marks.
"Sorry. My bad, Eh."
"Deku…you stupid monkey…Ugh." Bakugou shakes with anger but is too stunned to do anything right now.
"I'm disappointed, boys." Tiger shakes his head while calling attention back to himself. "Although I do appreciate you both volunteering."
"Volunteering for what?" Shocksquatch stupidly asks.
Tiger smirks while raising his fists. "For being my next punching bag."
The two doofuses go pale as they realize just how fucked they really are.
Tiger gets ready to strike, reeling his fist back, but before he can deliver the first punch, he is rudely interrupted.
"Oh no you don't!" A pink blur crashes between them, forcing Tiger to back off as wind and debris are kicked up. "If anyone's gonna beat their asses it's gonna be me!"
"Uraraka!" The two boys cry out.
Ochaco stands there along with the floating wagon, and she looks mad as she trunks her glare over to them. "What do you bozos think you're doing?!"
Shocksquatch sheepishly answers while averting his gaze. "Oh, you know just hanging around."
"We were thinking of kicking his ass!" Bakugou roars, causing the net to swing and shake and as it shakes the rope finally gives out and snaps causing them both to hit the ground hard.
Ochaco watches, unimpressed and embarrassed for them. "Well, it looked more like he was kicking yours."
Tiger chuckles, finding their arguing funny. "Good, maybe now it'll be a real challenge!" He presents his claws, challenging Ochaco to a fight.
Ochaco accepts and charges knowing that they have to end this here and now before it can drag on any longer.
Tiger charges to meet her and Ochaco prepares to counter, but it was a fake out as Tiger slips right past her and goes straight for their cargo.
"No! The wagon!"
"Die!" Bakugou finally breaks free of the net and unleashes an Explosion right into the air between the container and Tiger.
The Explosion doesn't hit but the heat is enough to force the pro hero away.
"Come on, we can take him." Bakugou growls.
"We can." Shocksquatch agrees at first, but after a moment he places a hand over Bakugou's shoulder. "But not like this."
Bakugou looks like he wants to say something back but after being played and the fact that Tiger just went after their cargo it's probably for the best to retreat. Although that doesn't mean he has to like it.
"DAMNIT!" With a roar Bakugou unleashes a massive Explosion that plumes out a ton of smoke and ash from burning the ground and nearby vegetation.
The smoke whips around in all directions, completely swallowing up the teens, while Tiger is forced back.
The smoke blinds him and gets into his lungs causing him to cough. As the smoke and ash finally settle away it's then he's finally able to see again. And right away he sees that those brats escaped. Well for now anyway.
"You can run little mice, but you cannot hide. Ehehehehe."
They really booked it out of there in a hurry and managed to put some distance between them and Tiger without tripping any more traps. And that is really a good thing if Bakugou's tattered and singed gym uniform is anything to go by.
They managed to hide themselves against a large crevice at the bottom of one of the giant trees while a barricade of bushes and ferns surrounded them, blocking them from view.
Ochaco pokes her head up through the ferns and has herself a look. "I think we lost him."
"Lost him? Lost him?!" Bakugou growls in frustration. "We should be out there kicking his ass!"
Ochaco gives him a tired expression as she pulls her head back down. "Right because you were doing a fine job of that weren't you?"
"Why you little-"
"Woah, woah, woah!" Shocksquatch cuts him off while sitting hunched over, trying to make himself as small as possible while hiding in the brush. "Let's not say anything that'll label us as bad as Mineta, Eh. Let's just admit that we might have jumped the gun back there."
Ochaco raises an eyebrow at him. "Might have?"
"We did jump the gun." He corrects. "But we know better now, and we know exactly how Tiger's gonna fight us."
"He's quick and slippery." Bakugou adds. "Not to mention he can really pack a punch."
"And he's smart. Too smart. Not to mention he was able to really take us by surprise thanks to all those traps."
Ochaco frowns at that. "Not very good odds when you sit down and think about it. Especially since he'll try to target the wagon first." She taps the side of the wagon which is just barely exposed over the bushes and ferns.
"He has the home field advantage." Bakugou continues. "He must know these trees like the back of his hand or paw or whatever. And I'm willing to bet he set all those traps himself, meaning he knows exactly where each one is hidden."
The yellow gorilla chuckles to himself. "I guess you can say that we're in the cat's personal hunting ground then, Eh?"
"Eh." The other two both reply with indifference.
But after thinking about it, a devilish plot begins to form in Bakugou's head. "Then let's change that; if we wanna survive then we'll make sure that he doesn't."
"What do you mean?" Ochaco asks.
"We're going to trap him instead."
Shocksquatch's not sure how that's supposed to work. "How?"
With a sly smirk Bakugou gets up and grabs the two of them by their shoulders. "You poor idiots, don't you know the trapper's trap can trap the trapper?"
The two stare back at him, baffled. "What?"
Even though they don't understand, Bakugou's zeal never falters. "Just follow my lead and it'll all work out."
The brunette and the great electrical ape share concerned looks but then shrug it off figuring they might as well go for it.
"Where'd you go little mice? You don't need to be afraid?" Tiger calls while peering around for any signs of the brats. "Won't you come out and play?"
He's been following their tracks for the last few minutes. Midoriya's ape-like footprints are obvious, and the trail left by the wagon's wheels just seals their fates as he comes across a large patch of brush and ferns surrounding a deep crevice at the base of one of the giant trees.
"Ah, there you are." Tiger grins.
It seems he alarmed whoever's hiding in the ferns as the rush jolts up as whoever's inside gets startled.
Tiger leans down, taking a crouching position like his namesake, and with his head lower to the ground he spots a little clump of yellow fur stuck on a stray branch. He grabs the little patch of fur and grins, confirming that at least Shocksquatch is inside. "Did you really think you could hide from me? In my own turf?! HA! Now that's a laugh! There's no use in hiding. So come on out and face me like a man you Darn. Dirty. Ape!"
"RAWWR!" An orange blur leaps out and slams Tiger to the ground before spit flies out a set of fangs hanging just above his face. "Let me tell ya somethin' Tiger, who everyone's found themselves both respecting and fearing within the last two days, you need to learn about proper Animal Taxonomy! Because in case you couldn't tell, but Rath is no monkey!"
The stunned Tiger blinks up at Rath. "But I said ape."
"Same difference!" Rath roars, grabbing Tiger and tossing him aside.
Tiger lands on his feet and slides to a stop but before he can counter Rath is already upon him, slashing at him and forcing him to evade and retreat.
With every slash missed is another tree or branch sliced in half by Rath's sharp claws.
"Such ferocity! Now that's what I like to see." Tiger praises between dodging Rath's slashes and jabs. "Now show me if you got the Eye of The Tiger."
"Oh, Rath's got it alright!" Rath manages to grab him by the leg. "And Rath has you! Rawr!"
He swings him up and over and slams him into the ground. With Tiger down, he swings his arm down as if it were a hammer, but Tiger manages to break Rath's grip and kick his fist away before it lands.
"It's the thrill of the fight!" Tiger exclaims as he slides behind Rath and grabs him from behind, holding his arms over his own head. "Rising up to challenge of your rival!" He holds tighter, pulling Rath's arms back even further. "Do you feel it?! Are you hungry for some more?!"
"Rath is hanging tough, staying hungry!" Rath thrashes like a wild bull and manages to shake Tiger off before spinning around and back handing him away. "You can stack the odds still Rath takes to the street for the kill!" With a roar he pounces at Tiger. "Because Rath has the skill to survive!"
"You sure have the guts!" Tiger counters, striking an uppercut to the airborne Rath's chin. "But you ain't gonna get the glory."
Rath shakes off the hit and growls. "You're just a man with his will to survive!" He charges in and manages to tackle Tiger in low before lifting him up and carrying him back. "But Rath has the eye of the tiger! Who loves the thrill of the fight!" With a shout he slams Tiger into the base of a giant tree causing the hero to grunt in pain.
He's not gonna let Rath get one up on him and instead Tiger decides to switch strategies.
"And is too slow on the uptake!" Using Pliabody he manages to slip out of Rath's grip, kick himself off Rath's own head and launch himself right at their hiding spot. 'The others must be protecting the cargo. But if I can stop them here it'll all be over!'
He takes a swing just as he crashes through the brush and ferns, intending on slashing the wagon apart the moment he sees it. But it's not there and neither are the kids.
"Rath is slow? HA!" Rath bellows in laughter. "Let me tell ya somethin' Tiger, master of the Trial of Survival, you're the one that's slow on the uptake! It was Rath's job not to kick your behind but to distract you till Ochaco Uraraka and Katsuki Bakugou could get away!"
Tiger stares back at him with a sweatdrop running down his head. "You…aren't Midoriya's brightest transformation, are you?"
"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?!" Rath growls in rage but soon he doesn't even have a target for his age anymore. "Huh?! Hey! You get back here! What kind of tiger are you anyway?!"
Rath calls after Tiger who immediately took off into the woods, presumably, to hunt down and stop Bakugou and Ochaco.
Rath growls, annoyed that he was ignored, but soon a smirk replaces his scowl as he recalls the plan.
Meanwhile, Tiger managed to climb his way up the trees and is now using the branches as springboards to launch himself across the canopy. 'Those brats couldn't have gotten far. And if my memory serves, and it does, there's only one path they can take with a wagon that size. Anywhere else and they risk damaging it. Which means-' He lets out a sharp gasp, he can make out their silhouettes down below. 'That they must be right here!' He can make out their blue gym uniforms as he gets closer; it must be them.
With his fangs and claws bared Tiger leaps down at them from above. "Get ready for the smackdown of your lives little mice! Because playtime is over!"
In a blink of an eye there is no hope for the teens to move as Tiger comes crashing down upon them, smashing them to the ground and shattering their wooden figures to splinters.
"Hang on a second." Tiger pulls back, ripping off Ochaco's jacket only to find that he only cut up a pair of logs and sticks made to look like the kids. "It's a-"
"TRAP!" Ochaco and Bakugou leap down from the canopy above, only wearing their dark undershirts and blue gym pants.
The two unleash a powerful SMASH and Explosion respectively, causing a thundering blast to roar through the forest.
Tiger manages to slip out and bear the brunt of the blast, but it still did some damage leaving him with scorch marks and burns. He has no time to relax as the dynamic duo pursue after him. Ochaco throws Ryou Spheres at him, but he manages to duck and twist his body out of the way but it was nothing but a distraction as Bakugou slips in and delivers a rather small Explosion to his side.
Tiger is flung to the side but using his incredible acrobatics he manages to twist himself around and land on his feet. "Oh, ganging up on me now?" He laughs, very much enjoying the fight. "Figured out you couldn't take me alone?!"
"I can take you myself! But this way is faster!" Bakugou barks back.
"Also not like I'd give him a choice!" Ochaco rushes in, her fist aglow.
But Tiger leaps away before she could do him in.
"But you have one." Ochaco continues, wiping the sweat from her brow. "You can give up!" She charges him again along with Bakugou.
"That's some mighty big demands, kiddos." Once again Tiger is forced back, evading this way and that, and now with two opponents he has a much harder time finding any openings to strike back. Well, if he can't find one, he'll just have to make one. "Just who in the hell do you think you're messing with?!" Tiger roars, grabbing Ochaco's arm just as she goes for a punch, and using Pliabody he twists around and swings her like a bat. Slamming her right into Bakugou. Bakugou is bashed to the side, crashing into a thornbush while Ochaco is tossed away in the opposite direction.
She hits the side of a tree and slides down, the bark digging through her undershirt and into her skin as she falls.
She manages to use one hand to catch herself before she hits her head on the ground. Now with both of them down Tiger in between them both. She sees no other option, they can't run now, not yet. "Bakugou!" She throws herself off the ground and fires a Ryou Sphere at the pro.
"I'm on it! I'm on it!" Bakugou blasts himself forward, his palm outstretched and sparking with heat.
"You two aren't a bad combo. Your powers make for a real Explosive Combination." With a twist of Pliabody Tiger easily turns his body and allows the two attacks to pass by from wither side. And with a cruel grin he smirks back at the stunned Bakugou just as the boy is about to fly past. "Too bad it wasn't enough." With a flick of his foot, Tiger pulls down on a hidden tripwire.
On que massive logs swing down from all sides, like destructive pendulums, crashing through the branches and leaves like trucks through fencing.
"Get down!" Ochaco screams as Bakugou lands before her. She grabs him by the head and pushes them both down as a massive log zooms right over their skulls.
"Heads up!" Tiger weaves through the swinging logs and delivers a kick right to their sides.
The kids are launched to the side, groaning in pain.
"Hey, you-..." Bakugou hisses before ducking his head down as another log swings in and nearly does him in.
Quickly he takes in the scene, the swinging logs are like pendulums swinging back and forth without losing any speed or power. And it looks like more are on their way, swinging back right at them both. "That's it!"
Seeing no other way out, Bakugou leaps up, his arms outstretched to his sides. "This is it, Uraraka!"
She understands and quickly presses herself to the ground while covering her head and ears.
"DIE!"
*BOOOOOOOOMMMM!*
Just as the logs are about to crash into them, the teen unleashes his most powerful Explosion yet. Blasting the logs to splinters and ash that go flying across the forest like rain.
Even Tiger is taken back, glad he was nowhere in that blast. And having been thrown off and with the teens now out of sight he waits for them to appear from the smoke. But nothing moves, there is no noise. And then just as he thinks they're done, Bakugou leaps out from the smoke and attacks.
But he's got nothing left in the tank as Tiger catches him by his face. "You must be the most tenacious little mouse I've ever met." Tiger admits, letting the seething Bakugou dangle there before him. "Don't be mad. You should be proud, you almost had me there for a second." His Claws tighten around the teen's face. "But almost surviving doesn't get you squat."
You would think Bakugou would spit back a nasty response, but instead a cocky smirk of all things stretches across his face.
"What's with that smile? Ah, shit! Did I hit you so hard that you lost brain function?!" Sure, Eraser gave them permission to go all out but still. Did he overdo it?!
"It's not that. My head's just fine." Bakugou peers through Tiger's claws, his smirk wider than ever. "But I'm not sure I can say the same about your eyes."
"What?"
"Just take a look around, haven't you noticed something's missing?
Tiger does have himself a look around and after a moment he does realize something is missing, or rather someone. "Where is she?!"
"Finally noticed?" Bakugou oh so wants to laugh at the pro's face. It really took him this long to notice that Uraraka ran off a little while ago. "We planned for this to be our last ditch effort, in case our first plan failed. I'd hold you off while she takes the cargo and runs off."
Tiger growls in frustration.
"What's the matter?" Bakugou teases. "Our instructions never said we had to beat you. We just had to survive. And escaping this dump of a forest is also surviving!"
"Another distraction?!" Tiger gasps. "You kids already tried that!" Frustrated, he tosses the boy aside before running off into the woods. "It didn't work before, and it won't work now!" And off he goes to stop her, he can't allow her to pass, not without a fight at least!
Even though he has to lift his face off the ground, Bakugou still can't stop snickering as Tiger runs off after her. "Hehehe, what a sucker."
Meanwhile, Ochaco is hurrying across the woods as fast as she can. But the terrain isn't making it easy, and neither is her leg. But despite that she runs, despite the limp, trying her best to make it to the wagon. And she needs to hurry, Bakugou won't be able to hold Tiger off for long so the faster she moves the better chance they have to pass.
"Ah ha! I found the stray!"
'He found me!' Ochaco snaps her head back and sure enough she spots Tiger parkouring his way through the trees. She hurries forward, desperate to move faster.
"You can't escape me!" Tiger bellows, leaping faster from tree to tree.
'I can make it!' She keeps moving, her heart beating in her ears as her lungs are ready to implode.
"You're going to fail!"
'I'm almost there!' With every root in her way she has to lurch herself forward.
"None of you will SURVIVE!"
'I-I…I made it!' Ochaco throws herself forward as hard as she can like a baseball player sliding to home base.
Tiger leaps down like a ferocious big cat pouncing upon its prey with its claws bared to rip and tear through his prey's bloody flesh. "You didn't make it!"
His foot hits the ground first, and the moment it lands a rope snaps around his ankle and rips his feet right from under him. "Waaah!"
Tiger is heaved right into the air by a tight snare trap.
"Rath! Now!" Ochaco screams.
On her que, a screaming orange furball rushes out from the bushes with a rope in hand. "Let me tell ya somethin' Tiger, one of our many proctors for this exam!" Rath slips and slides across the forest floor, lassoing up Tiger's claws and feet before giving the rope a hard yank, bounding his limbs together like he was a bucking horse. "YOU FAILED!" Rath roars with a grin as he slings the last of the rope around a nearby tree and ties it around.
Even while hanging upside down, Tiger struggles to break free of his binds but it's no use, they really got him here. Not even his Quirk allows for any maneuvering of his limbs since they got them all tied up. "I don't believe it. Beat me at my own game, did ya?"
"We did." Ochaco states proudly, leaping up to her feet with ease. A clear sign that maybe her limp wasn't exactly real.
"How? I know where every trap is located. I set them myself!"
"We know that." Ochaco confirms. "That's why Bakugou had the idea to make one of our own."
Tiger gasps. "He did?"
"I sure did."
They all look over to see that a smug looking Bakugou has just arrived on the scene. "It was easy to find one of your own traps once we knew what to look for. And all the flea bag over here had to do was copy it and set it right here for us." He gestures over to Rath when he says fleabag, earning an offended growl from the Appoplexian.
Tiger, albeit too late, is finally able to put the pieces together. "So, you weren't a distraction," He says looking at Rath. "they were."
"You got that right!" Rath laughs. "Betcha ya never thought Rath would pull one over on ya, did ya?!"
"No, I did not." Tiger admits it, the kids got him good. "Well played little-mice…kittens. You're on your way to becoming top predators."
"I'm already there." Bakugou smugly states.
"Not yet. But I'm proud to tell you that you've passed the Trial of Survival."
"Really?" Ochaco beams.
{"Yup!"}
The teens jump, startled by Mandalay's voice suddenly jumping into their minds.
{"Nice work, you had me worried there for a second, but I knew you'd pull through."}
"Ha, it was easy." Bakugou scoffs.
"Yeah, give us a real challenge!" Rath, of all people, agrees earning some points front he ash blonde.
Mandalay chuckles from her hiding spot; she's close enough to hear and see them but far enough away that they won't ever find out where she is. After all, someone needs to proctor this exam, {"You didn't think that was tough enough? Well then, we'll be sure to up our game from here on out. Go ahead on through the rest of the Beast's Forest. I'll give you your next set of instructions once you reach the Valley of Peace."}
"What is up with these names?" Bakugou questions to nobody in particular.
"Rath likes em." States the Appoplexian.
"You would." Bakugou retorts as the three uncover their wagon.
The wagon was nearby hidden by branches, leaves, and mud that the kids themselves plastered to it in order to camouflage it.
After wiping off the mud and leaves the teens get ready to leave while Tiger is still strung up in the air. "Hey! Aren't you gonna let me down?!"
A cruel smirk stretches across Bakugou's smug face. "Na, I'm sure you'll survive on your own."
"Bwahahaha! Good one!" Rath laughs, offering Bakugou a fist bump which he actually returns.
Meanwhile, Ochaco is both stunned yet happy about the development. 'Really?! Being trolls is what these two can connect over?!' She's really not sure if she should be concerned or glad that at least they're getting along now.
Despite this she doesn't offer to cut Tiger down and instead follows along as Rath takes the wagon and wheels it away.
Tiger, however, is far from upset; instead, he can see the humor in it. "Cocky little brats. Hahahahahaha!"
To be continued…
*And that was Ch.68 Trails and Tribulations. Or at least it was Part 1. To be honest, this was not gonna be a two parter, but I didn't make as much progress as I would have liked. So, I had to split it in two. Hopefully Part 2 will be ready for next Friday, but I can't say for certain yet. And if you liked this chapter then great news because Part 2 will be more of the same. (▽)
*Sooo, I'm gonna go ahead and call it out. Sorry for the forced "Eye of the Tiger" dialogue. I don't know why but I was just jamming out to the song during that scene and thought it would be fun to work in the lyrics. I know it was cringe, but hey I'm not getting paid for this so I gotta have my fun, ya know? Also, same thing about Izuku using Rath. I know there's gonna be some of you out there saying "Why didn't Izuku use Big Chill or Heatblast to beat Tiger?" And that's because I had more fun writing Rath vs. Tiger. And I wanted to introduce Shocksquatch.
*Speaking of which. Yes, Electricyeti-I mean Shocksquatch is Izuku's newest alien. I love this alien's Omniverse design, so I wanted to include him. Congrats if you guessed him showing up soon!
Responses for "Guest" reviewers from Ch.67:
Atom king: So everything has been going incredible for the UA students, especially izuku as he been transforming into different aliens while training with the other students with rath fighting tiger, diamond head going all scorpion especially Momo with two having an awesome sword fight plus finding out that she can use the sword but won't make diamond out of her body since there's the risk though I wonder if there will be an moment later in the story where she has to make crystals out of her body?
Now the big shock is the ghost freak rampage with him attacking everyone, that moment when he was exposed to the sunlight Zs'Skayr took over for an short time so I wonder when izuku use ghost freak again will there an Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde thing between izuku and Zs'Skayr?
Though I will say this Pandora box was briefly open so long will it be until it's fully open?
Guardian-Sigil: I really liked the last chapter. I had a great time and a lot of fun writing it. I also really liked those fights too. I got to fit in so many jokes, quips, and references. It was great!
There's still more to see between Izuku and Zs'Skayr. But yes for now the box only has a tiny leak. It's a slow leak but eventually everything will spill out.
ArguableReader: Oh-hoh boy, and there HE is, Zs'Skayr...YIKES! (0_0)
Guardian-Sigil: He is there. He's knocking at the door. But no one's answering…yet. (This is my way of saying that I'm slowly building to his reveal)
Guest: I like how Deku's cocky but isn't an asshole. Great chapter!
Guardian-Sigil: Same although I will admit he had some jerky moments here but I chalk that up to Rath's personality having an influence on him. Also he was friends with Henzu for a long time so he did rub off on him (Bad influence).
Jakesurfboy: Finally onto the Training camp arc and it's pretty good even if it's mostly taken from the anime for this chapter it's still good with what was added like the ghost freak part. Still I'm kind of surprised Ghostfreak is already trying to take over I thought he would be dormant for a while longer but honestly Villain ghostfreak would be nice to see in this story so maybe soon Izuku will be able to get the monster aliens like Blitzwolfer, Snare-oh, Frankenstrike and Whampire later down the line if ghostfreak appears for more than one arc as a major villain. Other than that I look forward to seeing how things go down and my prediction is Humungosaur vs Muscular for when the villans attack the camp assuming that's where the story goes but we will see
Guardian-Sigil: Well then I hope this chapter was a little more original for ya. Also Ghostfreak will be in and out of dormancy as it were for a little while. I just like setting things up and paying them off way later.
But I wouldn't count on Izuku getting the monster aliens any time soon. That won't happen until Season 5 of the anime. I have an idea on where and how I'll introduce them sooo yeah we're in for a wait
Guest: Is the new alien shocksquatch.
Guardian-Sigil: Yup :)
Shark: That Danny Phantom reference actually got me to laugh out loud lol. Ghost freak was the alien I have been waiting for you to get to and in this chapter you delivered. He's one of the more disturbing aliens that made the show have it's horror feel in the beginning. The next time he goes berserk will you have Ghostfreak speak more? Not demanding or anything just curious.
Guardian-Sigil: He actually will speak a little more. Now…what would he have to say I wonder? (Kidding I already know) :)
JuryLobster: Very entertaining chapter, the dick jokes from mina and tokage were halirious, the potential for mina and making dick jokes in the most random moments are limitless. So GhostFreak (his lil 'awakening' was badass btw) is weak to light even with his 2nd skin on?
Also! You said the next alien to appear is going to be a Omniverse alien aye ( : hmm I reckon, calling it now, putting money down, it's either gonna be ShockSquatch (Basically bigfoot, also in the woods, could make a cool fight scene with muscular) OR my original guess in Whampire from his interaction with toga(cuz honestly that's like the only way I see him getting inserted into Deku's roster haha) OR AGAIN Pixie dust(might get from mustards gas being everywhere? Plus is low-key a pretty good powerhouse the camp attack oh shit there's also the other gas guy gutrot)
All the other omniverse aliens are either joke characters and underwhelming for such a big part in the story, or either way to op and I think would appear later (Gravattack I reckon is appearing in the next movie chaps, cuz I don't see Uraraka giving bakugo OFA lol and Deku might get him after Uraraka gives him LITERAL DNA for OFA) and (Atomix, way to op he literally just stomps everyone if he appeared lol)
Guardian-Sigil: I'm glad it was fun. It was really fun for me to write. Although the dick jokes were a one time thing. Not gonna be making those a running gag or anything.
And you got it. It was Shocksquatch.
King kaiju: I just realised that you made an error, since Ghostfreak still have his cloak on him, then the sunlight shouldn't hurt him since the entire purpose of this cloak is that it protects Ectonurite from the sunlight, but in return they aren't capable of using their full powers.
We regularly saw Ben using Ghostfreak in the sunlight and not be hurt in the various shows, and it was only deadly to Z'skayr because he destroyed his cloak to be able to use all of his powers after he escaped the Omnitrix.
Are you simply taking a different route from canon with the Ectonurite, because if so, then I feel like you made this cloak a bit pointless. But still the chapter was good and I can forgive this tiny mistake since it gave us a cool foreshadowing of Z'skayr being Ghostfreak.
Guardian-Sigil: I'm assuming you read the Author's Note at the beginning of the not please read it, I explain myself there
BlueRanger-Lyric: Wow, that was a great chapter, plenty of stuff I liked about it, like the fights Izuku had to go through with Class A and B, it's an interesting idea and one I hope we see again, and I really like that heart to heart Izuku tried to have with Kota, I do hope that Izuku will still be Kota's hero and save him from Muscular or someone attacking Kota, but… that being said, the only gripe I have with this chapter is with the inaccuracies with Ghostfreak and his "Vulnerability" to the Sunlight, it's completely wrong, Ghostfreak only becomes vulnerable to the Sunlight when his protective skin is removed like when Zs'Skayr did when he broke free from the Omnitrix and then became vulnerable to the Sunlight, otherwise the skin makes sure that Ghostfreak doesn't get hurt by the Sunlight, don't in the show, there's been plenty of times when Ghostfreak was in the Sunlight and was not harmed by it in the slightest, what's your explanation for that? But other than that gripe, I really enjoyed the hint that Zs'Skayr is in there and is waiting for be free from Izuku's control, though I wonder how the rest of his Classmates (Who don't know the truth) and Aizawa will take finding one of Izuku's transformations growing a conscious and breaking free from his "Quirk", though I think the opinions may depend on what the Baby Big Chill thing happens, what do you think about that? Still, great chapter and definitely looking forward to what happens in the next chapter
Here's another gag I thought you could do with a famous line, like say a member of Class 1A made a fool of Izuku in one of his Transformations, like say Ditto, or even Rath, and Izuku took it so badly, he said "Of course you realize, This Means War" what do you think of that?
Guardian-Sigil: Anyway glad you mostly liked the chapter. And as for Ghostfreak. I'm gonna assume you read my first Author's Note in this chapter. If not, go read it.
Anyway I already know how I'm gonna handle explaining away Izuku's transformations possessing him
And yeah I'll probably use that line at some point
Guest: Hey OP, I was wondering, when will see Melissa Shield again? If so, will she have her own spin-off Plumber Academy adventures IN SPACE(dramatic reveal, right there) and maybe even team-up/befriend Lucy Mann for some intergalactic hijinks?
Will Vilgax have his UAF arsenal (at least laser beams, Shield of Seagle, or the Bioid Army)? Cuz I envision HNDIHT's Vilgax he like the Reboot, maybe he even gains a tattered cloak in his final battle against Izuku?(I know you don't want to add Reboot Elements, but you could like do an amalgamation of different aspects from each series and combine them into the perfect Vilgax). That's just my take on it. And yeah, I agree with the others that AFO and Vilgax have this Vandal Savage and Darkseid situation going on.
Also also, this is a weird one, but I kinda wanna see Tetrax meet Thirteen(heck, even have this scenario where they dated a bit). I dunno, it sounds neat.
Anyways, your work is probably one of the best I've seen in MHA/Ben 10 fanfiction yet. Take care!
Guardian-Sigil: Maybe I should have an Omake or two with Melissa at the Plumber Academy? Otherwise it won't be for a long while. Probably Season 5 but I will try to bring her back a little sooner than that. At the very least there will be mentions of her moving forward.
As for Vilgax…you will have to wait and see. But I will say that he is currently in his Classic Form. But yes, I took heavy inspiration between Dark Seid and Vandal Savage for Vilgax and AFO.
So Thirteen and Tetrax will meet. That will happen, not sure about the dating but who knows?
And thank you. Please take care as well
Dreadbot: I really liked all the fights in this chapter I thought they were really good I really thought it was interesting how you made ghost freak susceptible to light when midoriya still has him I thought that was very interesting and how he almost burned alive and how we saw our first glimpse of Zs'Skayr can't wait to see where you go with that I'm very curious who the people in that room are I'm not sure if it's League of villains or another group can't wait to see please keep writing
Guardian-Sigil: Soooo I hope you read my side story "Heroes Never Die; It's Hero Time, Anytime." cause I explain in the latest Omake who was actually plotting away in the dark there. That said I can't wait to explore Zs'Skayr some more
Metal Lizard: I have you thought of putting some Non Alien characters? because I can think that some could be tie in with some other characters.
Baxter Stockman- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
is a brilliant but mad scientist the creator of the Mousers and try's to prof that his machines are better that are better then the work of David Shield.
Tyrian Callows-RWBY
is A known serial murderer like Chizome Akaguro, or better known as Hero Killer: Stain Tyrian wants to get revenge on Hisahia Midoriya also Cinder for locking him away and now that he's escaped Tyrian will do anything to get back at him.
Kraven the Hunter-Marvel
he began his career using the typical tools of the hunter but over time he developed a preference to take down large animals with his bare hands Kravinoff also has the strength, speed and senses to match a jungle cat he also worked with Jonah Melville also Apex and has fought Gang Orca how also wanned to Hunt him.
Guardian-Sigil: So I have thought about it and if I do any Non-Alien/Series characters than It needs to be at a minimum or truly make sense and serve a purpose. That or just be simple cameos/easter eggs.
For example, I love Baxter Stockman but there's really no need for him. Dr. Animo is already a mad scientist and then there's MHA's own mad scientists. Also there's Dr. Psychobos from Ben Ten which I already hinted to exist. I will admit that I should have given Baxter a quick Easter Egg/Cameo during I-Island though. But if you make syou feel better, Bebop and Rocksteady have already made an appearance in the fanfic. And I do wanna use them again as recurring gag characters.
As for Tyrian…I no absolutely nothing about RWBY, sorry
And as for Kraven the Hunter…that goes back to what I said earlier about serving a purpose. Because Khyber from Ben Ten is literally Kraven but as an alien. That said, I will actually be drawing inspiration from Kraven when I write Khyber. So if I do both of them it's kinda a case of too much of a good thing, ya know? Again I love ⅔ of these characters but I can't really justify them. Sorry but thank you for taking the time to share your suggestions. Even if I don't use them they do help me think about other characters and help spark more ideas I could use. So this is still a great help because it confirms that I should make sure I take inspiration from Kraven for Khyber.
Sano: Just so you know, you haven't been using the theme song these past few chapters. So I was thinking you needed someone to remind you. Also, I'm pretty sure that the new transformation for this arc is gonna be Humungousaur, or Armodrillo, since he may need brute force while dealing with muscular.
Guardian-Sigil: I still have to add the theme song to the previous chapters. It won't be on the current arc since they don't technically revolve around the Forest Training camp.
Guest: I think pesky dust should be next
Guardian-Sigil: I like Pesky-Dust but he's not quite yet ready to appear.
Guest: If ghostfreak possessed aizawa he be more scarier
Guardian-Sigil: Oh for sure
Guest: I started to laugh really hard when izuku took control of kendo and scared the hell out of kaminari
Guardian-Sigil: Same. I really liked that action too.
DeadCool14: I loved that Ghostfreak fight so much. Incredible foreshadowing. But Ghostfreak shouldn't be affected by sunlight, that's what his second skin is for, or is it because it's Zs'Skayr?
Yeah, I meant them Deku's two bullies being like J.T and Cash, it would be neat, a chapter similar to The Gauntlet, minus the Techadon obviously, to give them closure like with Bakugou. Specially the long fingers kid, like the reason why he bullied Deku was because he felt insecure about his Quirk (which I imagine is just a weaker version of Kendo's Quirk, not very useful for hero work but not that unless)
How long would your post-Kamino hiatus be? Not an exact time, but an estimate
I personally like Chamalien more, Overkill is a cool name but it doesn't really fit the alien
All right, I get it, but seriously, it's worth it, it really picks up at Part 3, not that I dislike the first two parts. I mostly want to you to see because there are a lot of MHA voice actors in the series, especially in Part 5 (Japanese VAs that is)
Are you gonna do Ledgerdomain? It could be different, more alien based
What do you think of this idea for Gutrot? He can absorb toxic gases and learn the chemical make-up of it and not only replicate it but also create an antidote, and he can even just absorb it to get rid of it
Of the Ultimate videos by The Ink Tank so far, which are your favorites?
Is the Pyros-Pisccis War gonna be more important? Because that's how Kraab lost his body
You said that you don't like Mole-Stache but, he will still appear right? Like he could appear for little gags, he can hold his own in a fight, like this "Family Guy: Bully Day"
Are the Andromeda 5 gonna appear?
Would you do the thing about Bullfrag flirting with Tsu? Cuz you said you were gonna do that, probably not right now given how Bullfrag acted in the previous chapter, but maybe it could happen later after she does something that attracts his attention?
Guardian-Sigil: I know, I know. Ghostfreak isn't affected by the sun. First off I think that's BS but please read my Author's Note at the beginning of the chapter.
Yeah I won;t be exploring any version of TJ or Cash. I have a sort-of cameo idea for the long fingers kid but nothing more.
How long my hiatus will be? I don't know, it depends on how my progress goes and the fact I'll be taking a break for myself in general. I'll still do the occasional Omake or something but nothing else until I am ready
I am considering doing a version of Ledgerdomain but it be very different than what we know in the show.
Sooo Gutrot absorbing chemical sin the air is fine, but not sure if I will use it yet
My favorite Ultimate from Ink Tank? Not sure, I like Ripjaws' and Four Arms' isn't bad either.
The Pyros-Pisccis War? I have no clue what that is. Is it from the reboot? Well either way i won;t be using it. Plus I already explained how Kraab lost his body
Yes I do wanna have Mole-statch appear but there's no hurry to do so
I have no plans to introduce the Andromeda 5. I mean Izuku has 2 of them in his Omnitrix already
And maybe I will have Bullfrag flirt with Tsu. Again a lot of the jokes and gags in the story are thought up in the moment and often or not a lot get cut out because they don't work
Guest: His next incounter with malware he should loose feedback like how Ben did
Guardian-Sigil: Maybe
Guest: Test of courage runaway from ghostfreak no quirks allow
Guardian-Sigil: Hahahahaha!
Guest: Shinso better be careful the wildvine kind are immune to mind control
Guardian-Sigil: He really should.
Guest: Too bad he lost master control he could use it for the training camp
Guardian-Sigil: Meh, I'm not that upset about it
Guest: Love to see more deku x mina the teasing is funny
Guardian-Sigil: It is funny, isn't it?
DeadCool14: Can't wait for the Remedial Exam, also I saw the omake and seriously why are they so sadistic? XD
Are you gonna do that Ditto thing I mentioned for the remedial exam? That were Ditto can use his powers for mobility and attacks? Like he can clone himself upwards, grab onto a tree and reabsorb the clones back into him, and he'd do the same thing while fighting, he'd do a kick-up, clone himself towards an enemy and kick them in the face.
Idk if this is a spoiler but when Deku gets Alien X, would he have Bellicus and Serena? Because they are unique to Ben's Alien X. It's a yes or no question, you don't have to get into detail if you don't want to
Did you see the new opening for season 6?
Are you gonna add the Team-Up Missions to the story? It's a spin-off from the manga composed of one-shot stories that show, as the title says, team up missions between characters. I personally think the one with Deku, Ochaco, Bakugou and Miruko would be great for the story.
Are people gonna point out the aliens with accents?
When you introduce Gutrot, can I suggest these three powers for him? He can absorb gases from the area to clear them out and when absorbed he can learn their chemical make up to either recreate it, to a much less deadlier degree if they are poisonous, or to make an antidote, and he can also absorb some liquid chemicals and turn them into gas; if they can be converted into gas
Guardian-Sigil: I hope you liked the first part of the Makeup Exam! I know I did!
Also Ditto has already used that trick before. It was during his fight between Ditto and Xylene.
Yes Alien X would have Bellicus and Serena.
Yes I saw the new OP.
I wanna use a version of the Team-Up Missions but not sure I will fully use them yet
Obviously, yes people are gonna point out the aliens' accents
Also the powers for Gutrot aren't bad but he's already OP as it is when you think about it
Guest: Uraraka: Deku?
Ghostfreak: "Deku se fue de sabático cariño".
Guardian-Sigil: Oh, boy. She better watch out!
Guest: Por suerte para Kendo, Izuku no guarda rencor, y rara vez lo hace...
Por desgracia para ella "el otro tipo" no perdona, ni tampoco olvida...
Guardian-Sigil: They are like night and day. One justice the other revenge. A thin line between them but a clear difference between both
Fiddler: I'm going to be honest with you I don't think krabb should get a redemption I kinda think the reformed bounty hunter should go to tetrax, inform an idea I saw on one of your guest comments was that the negative nine would be a a rotating team so I think with the battle with the nine the techadon would get destroyed and krabb will betray izuku and joins vilgax.
And I was thinking with the ultimates, albedo will do something to the transformation that makes them ultimate and at first easily defeats izuku who develops a strong desire to defeat albedo.
Guardian-Sigil: I hear you. And thank you for sharing.
Guest: So here's my question are you going to add some one in class 1B because it's seem unfair for them when class 1A have 21 students probably when you get to class 1A vs class 1B Arc
Guardian-Sigil: Oh, you have no idea what I have in store for that. I already got that arc allllllll planned out. And I know exactly who's gonna be joining Class B to take on Class A!
Guest: La base de los fontaneros podria ser los dotmitorios seria genial.
Tanbien que ochaco y mina vaya aya para encontrar algo que les ayide a emcontrar a izuku y bakugo estas sean drscubiertas por lida. Momo. Kitishima y shoto al estos seguir las.
Me pregunto si abra un nuevo alien contra vilgax
Y los rayos lazer de vilgas que los use para matar a 5 heroes randon sin nombre seria genia que demuestre su poder asi como si nada ante el mundo
Guardian-Sigil: I got my own ideas, you'll just have to wait and see what they are.
Number: No te preocupes por olvidar ese dato de Ghostfreak, si te sirve de consuelo, los escenarios nocturnos son la mejor ambientación para que Ghostfreak pueda lucirse casi como una película de terror...
Guardian-Sigil: I agree, I always planned to use Ghostfreak mostly at night anyway. For the same reasons
MoarCheese: LMAO, can't believe some people actually got mad at the Ghostfreak Nerfing. Does it offen the canon a little? Sure, technically. But with how much work you put into writing everything else this offense is like a 1-2/10 on a scale. Not really that big of a deal. Actually, I kinda thought you nerfed Ghostfreak on purpose there, it was funny how you did not intentionally forget the scenes where Ghostfreak was out and about in the sun in some episodes of the OS. But, I think it worked great. Great actions, some intense writing and a prelude into a future arc. It's also SPOOPY MONTH so it's kinda in season! Really looking Forward to Z'Skayr, Top 5 villains up there with Malware and Kevin 11 in terms of memorability!
BTW its going to be this stories 3rd anniversary soon, any plans? What about the 100th chapter special? Gah! just so excited big things are coming to this story I'm sure! Thanks again for such an amazing story Guardian-Sigil (Formerly known as CreateGunner, RIP) whatever happens, its been a real fun ride!
Guardian-Sigil: Yeah they be upset. But I am actually with you. Even though it was an accident, I still like that he has the weakness. And right now, no I have no plans for anything special for the 3rd anniversary. I have one idea but not sure I will follow through with it yet
Anyway, thank you for the kind review
Guest: Kraab just chills lol
Guardian-Sigil: Hahahahaha!
