Greetings, Examinees; as you undoubtedly have noticed, you have been paired together for the final stages of today's testing. Stage One, you, and your partner will be taken to a crime scene and will have to solve the crime with the information present and the knowledge provided by onsite personnel. Good Luck, and your test begins NOW."
The doors opened, and a detective appeared to be waiting. It was a third year dressed as a detective.
"Heroes, thank goodness you're here, the crime scene has already been secured, and CSI is already on the scene. Please come with me," he said as he took off a practiced measured step. Both the "Detective" and Artemis were surprised when Izuku opened a pouch and pulled out a small notepad and pencil.
"Glad we can be of service, Detective. May I have your name and badge number, please?" Izuku said his training from Eraser Head kicked in about the investigation.
"I apologize; I am Detective Bullock, ID#GPD49123." The boy replied.
"Why did you ask for that information" Artemis inquired.
"When we file the after-action report, it is good to have our point of contact's name and badge number," Izuku responded. "What is the situation, Detective?"
"A neighbor reported hearing what appeared to be a struggle when an officer responded for a well-fare check the found the front door partially open, giving them probable cause to enter after the calls went unanswered. The resident Theodore "Ted" Dymer, was found deceased due to the body's state. After CSI declared the scene safe, we put the call into the hero network."
Izuku began to smile as certain little things clicked into his hero otaku brain, all he needed was to see a few more pieces, and he would know what they were dealing with. "Why did CSI have to declare the scene safe?" Izuku pressed.
"You just have to see it, the freakiest thing I have ever seen," Bullock replied as he popped a lollipop in his mouth, almost like a cigarette.
Artemis listened to the exchange. It seemed Izuku was already formulating a hypothesis, but she couldn't figure out how with so little information. Upon arriving at the crime scene, Detective Bullock said he would wait outside as having seen it once was more than enough. Upon entering, the room was in disarray, indicative of a struggle; all the CSI people seemed hard at dusting for prints or other such work.
Izuku immediately noticed a thin man in the back working diligently with what appeared to be a broken vase; the man had slick black hair and black glasses. Izuku smiled to himself as he and Artemis approached the lead technician.
"Welcome, Heroes Officer Mallory. At your service, the body is over here," she said, motioning them towards the bedroom. As they passed down the hall, they both noticed what appeared to be a workroom in one of the spare bedrooms; the door looked smashed in. They were led into the back bedroom, where they were introduced to Detective Renee Montoya; she welcomed the detectives and motioned to another tech that pulled the sheet back to reveal a blonde victim in his "30s" with a hideous grin that was so disturbing, Artemis recoiled which the "actors" seemed to appreciate it when Izuku started to smile himself.
"Mallory, I assume that toxicology is being worked on as we speak, but is this the cause of death."
"We can't be sure," she said suspiciously, "But there is evidence of massive blunt force trauma to chest and legs; there are several broken bones."
"Excellent," Izuku said, turning suddenly to Artemis, "I know what is going on; I need you to confirm that the workroom we passed contains traces of bomb-making material while I confirm a few things."
"Officer Mallory is it possible that damage was done with a large hammer or mallet, as in something comically large," he said, excitement in his voice.
"Yes?"
"Thank You," he immediately returned to the main room and the man working on the vase, "Excuse me, sir, what is your name?"
"Edward Nigma, sir, have you come to mock me too."
"I would never dream of it; I wondered what is so curious about this vase."
"The vase is out of place with all the rest of the decorations, like it didn't belong; when I noticed it, I found that the flowers were not real," he began.
"They were fake, and the vase is a cheap knockoff. It would be from a prop shop designed to break apart when it hit something." Izuku finished.
"Yes, that is correct, hero," he said, a sound of defeat in his voice. He leaned in and whispered, "How soon did you know?"
"I started to suspect as soon as I met Detective Bullock." He whispered back. "Sorry, not sorry," he shrugged.
Artemis emerged from the room and confirmed to Izuku what he had suspected. "Great, follow me." Upon exiting the space, Izuku immediately turned and said, "Where is Axis Chemicals?" The detective, stunned, told him, and Izuku raced off with Artemis in tow.
"What is going on?"
"I love heroes; I mean, I love heroes. My grandmother had some old pre-quirk comic books, and I got hooked as a child. All the clues and people we have met are from those comic books. Right now, we are going to fight, I am guessing Ms. Joke, and I am not sure who will be her sidekick. They are playing parts of The Joker and Harley Quinn." He said as they moved forward. "We need to find noise-canceling headphones to protect ourselves from Ms. Joke, and there is an electronic store. How convenient."
"But we don't have any money."
"Under article 208.35 of the hero justice code, we can requisition needed items from any shop as long as we fill out the form, and we have to show how they were critical for the mission at hand for the commission to reimburse the shop if not it comes out of our pay."
"How do you know all this?"
"I have very, and I mean very, thorough teachers." He said with a dazzling smile.
"Do you have a plan?"
"If they follow the script, Ms. Joke will be on the catwalk over the vats, and Harley will be nearby, ready for an ambush; I am guessing your quirk has something to do with your bow?"
She smirked, "You can say that?"
"How good of a shot are you? I noticed you don't have any arrows. Does that mean you create them with your quirk? If so, are they lethal? Can you make them non-lethal? How many can you fire at once? Is the range limited because they are made of energy? How many shots can you do before you need to rest? Is there a cool-down period in between shots? Instead of multiple shots, can you make one big one?"
"Whoa, calm down there, that is many questions," Artemis chastised him but an ever-present smirk on her face.
"Sorry, I get a little excited about quirks; I can control it for the most part but with the exam and everything," he said sheepishly, rubbing his head. "Any information you are willing to share would be helpful."
"Well, what about you?"
"Well, my quirk allows me to do what I call Rabbit Step, it is a short-range teleportation that gives me a momentary burst of speed, and I can also shoot a fire blast from my hand."
"Two Quirks?"
"No, just one. Why it allows two such different abilities is beyond my understanding."
"No, I get it; quirks are bullshit." She said with a smile. "I create my arrows; I am a damn good shot; their lethality is tied to how much energy I pour into them. Yes, I can fire multiple at once. Does that cover it?"
"Yes, I think so; we should gain access from a higher floor so we can rush in; if we can, I want to rush her as quickly as possible; our best bet is to take her out fast before her backup can interfere. We need to be aware of bombs; once we remove Ms. Joke, we may need to split up while we turn off the bombs. The victim at the first scene was a bomb maker."
"Sounds like a plan. How far ahead do you think we are of the others?"
"I have no idea if the other crimes are based on something fictional as well; whomever Momo is paired with is probably flying through this just like us, Set is brilliant, but I don't know her reading habits; Haru reads a lot as well, and Cassandra is a wild card. She reads, but I know she doesn't like anything with death or murder."
"Why are all the people you listed sound like girls?" Artemis asked.
"Because they are." He said, wincing. "Look, it just happened that way. Don't look at me like that."
Artemis laughed, "I just have to watch myself around you, playboy." She said teasingly.
Izuku blushed. "Now, let's move. I want to make sure we make it to the next stage."
They entered the electronic shop, where the "proprietors" were surprised at their entrance, and even more so when Izuku requisitioned the headphones; he quickly filled out the paperwork before handing them to her. Quickly they moved to Axis Chemicals, the facility was just as Izuku imagined it would look, and he was amazed at the amount of money that would have been spent to create this whole setup; he shook his head as he could picture Nezu smiling wildly as he approved all this nonsense.
For some reason, Nezu felt that someone had insulted him.
Locating the central area, they could view Ms. Joke from a vantage point from the building across the way; Izuku wished he could take a photo sure to form she was dressed in the purple suit, grease paint and all.
"How do you want to do this, Izuku?"
Izuku smiled manically at her, "Let's go right through the window."
"Are you mad?" she responded. "I love it. Let's do it."
-Ms. Joke-
She sat above the chemical vats waiting to see the examinees, it was interesting when she was approached to aid in the exam process seeing how she taught at Ketsubutsu Academy, but she wasn't about to turn down an invitation from U.A.
She read over the files on her opponents, surprised to see that that hunk of man Eraser Head recommended one; the kid's file was thick, and his quirk was versatile. The kid had seen actual combat and had proven elusive, heavily trained, and armed. The girl was an archer, Olympic level, and her quirk made her that much more dangerous. Both were in incredible shape. She made sure to keep their names in mind if case somehow, they slipped through, she could snatch them up. An older heroine recommended the girl she wasn't familiar with named Apollo.
Additionally, they might be willing to do a favor for her school as a form of reciprocation. Upon perusing the script, she found the scenario to be impressive. After examining the role, she was asked to portray, she realized that her unique personality and mentality fit the part. Although playing a villain was not her preference, she contemplated voicing her complaints. However, there was a girl at her agency who was a perfect fit for the role of Harley Quinn, the girl's hero name was Harlequin. With a swift phone call, everything was arranged.
Harlequin did have a small problem as she was mute, but her support gear had pre-recorded messages, so a quick update, and she was ready to roll. Harley was positioned above the rafters while Ms. Joke was on the catwalk watching the entrances. They had rigged all the doors to alert them once one was opened. They were fully prepared. Then all hell broke loose.
-Izuku and Artemis-
"Are you sure you can pull this off?" she said nervously as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Oh yea, ok, I am going to step before we hit the glass when kick-off and find start shooting; I will rush Ms. Joke. You keep her at a distance and Harley off my back; she is the wild card. We don't know what her quirk is. Make sure you roll when you land, as we will have all the momentum plus the movement from Rabbit Step." He pulled her in close, and they jumped.
Oh, Orion, long have I waited—just a bit more.
-Ms. Joke-
She was unprepared; suddenly, the noise on the catwalk caught her attention as the two examinees appeared. Artemis rolled as she came up. Her bow was in front of her, and multiple arrows were launched; they seemed about to strike her teammate directly in front. When he suddenly disappeared, and Ms. Joke had to backflip away to dodge the shots that went high, she realized her error as a missile of a boy collided with her back, halting her momentum violently.
"Oh, hit the back, how cliché." She called out. The boy immediately grabbed her to restrain her arms, "This is why I got fired from the mattress factory for lying down on the job." Nothing? What is going on?
She struggled to free her hand as the pain from her back slowed her down, and she could roll so that he was on his back, and she was on top. "If you wanted to hold my hand, you could have just asked lover." Still, no response. Was her quirk even working?
Taken by surprise, Harley dove from the rafter, pulling one of the diamond patterns that covered her costume. It came free and enlarged as she threw it at the archer.
Harlequin
Quirk – Diamond Rhapsody
She can control her projectile's size, density, and rigidity by removing the diamond-shaped patterns from her costume. This enables her to create barriers or bindings as per the situation.
Artemis's eyes widened as she dodged past the corner of the diamond coming at her and fired off another shot; her opponent blocked the arrows when a diamond on her forearm grew into a riot shield. Quickly she tried to push her advantage, attempting to dive the archer backward. Artemis instead leaped sideways, planting her foot on the railing, and jumped sideways, turning and firing, hitting the Harley in the side and leg, dropping her to the ground. Artemis twisted her body again as she crashed into a lower catwalk; her body racked with pain; she quickly lined up a shot and fired, striking Harley Quinn in the temple. The girl screamed silently as Artemis's energy raced through her brain, falling unconscious. Artemis wiped the blood from her brow, struggling to her feet, and ran for the stairs to rejoin the fight against Ms. Joke.
She noted that the boy was strong, much stronger than her, and very well-trained. Ms. Joke then, relying on her training and the fact that she was double-jointed, could dislocate her shoulder and roll on top so she was straddling Izuku; it was then she noticed the headphones. "You cheeky bastard," she quickly headbutted him in the nose, causing him to break his hold. She ripped the headphones free with her free arm, "Do you know why God created orgasms? So, women can moan when they are happy."
He tried to fight it, but a choked laugh escaped his lips. Instead, he steps down, dropping through the gate. As she fell through locating his target, he activated it again and appeared above her. She whirled and looked above her when he yelled. "How do you get a girl off her knees? Cum"
Ms. Joke, who was on her knees, smiled as she dodged his descending attack, "What do you call a teenage boy that doesn't masturbate?"
"A liar," he called back, leaping forward, a fire blast erupting over her head, forcing her to bend underneath the flame. "How many emo kids does it take to screw in a lightbulb?"
"None, they all sit in the dark and cry," she responded, hearing laughter escape him as she swung to sweep his leg, she felt it make contact, but he bent with it coming down on her lower waist as she turned her legs around his head locking in a triangle hold.
"Oh, earmuffs," he responded, suddenly, she felt a rush like they were falling as her body impacted hard on the decking, her head bouncing off violently, the hold broken Izuku broke forward, bringing his elbow crashing into her temple, stunned, he then rolled her over and secured her wrists. Drawing his dagger, he cut a long strip of fabric from her coat and gagged her. He moved free, letting loose all the laughter he had been holding in. That was how Artemis found him; she wondered if he had lost his mind.
TEAM 4 HAS PASSED. PLEASE STAY WHERE YOU ARE. YOU WILL BE ESCORTED TO THE NEXT ROUND.
Artemis and Izuku sat tight as Izuku passed the girl some gauze for her head wound. It was a shallow gash, but due to location, it looked worse than it was; Izuku smiled as Aizawa was one of the people to come to the scene; he dismissed them with a nurse and another proctor as she turned his attention to Ms. Joke who had regained consciousness by this point and was sitting at her makeshift gag. As they were being led away, he heard his mentor, "See, I told you if he figured out who you were, he would have a counter in mind."
"The headphones were one thing, but he was cracking jokes; I need you to help me walk. I swear that initial back shot dislocated something."
"Fine, Emi, but this is because we owe you for helping with the exam." He replied.
"If you wanted to thank me, you could take me on a date," she quipped, ready for his regular rebuttal, but instead, she was rendered speechless by his reply.
"How about coffee first? I know a place over on 36th open all night." He said.
Recovery Girl looked them over, and after some gummies and a quick kiss, they were sent on their way; as they entered the waiting room, they heard the announcement,
TEAMS 1 AND 3 HAVE PASSED, PLEASE STAY WHERE YOU ARE, AND YOU WILL BE ESCORTED TO THE NEXT ROUND.
TEAMS 12,18,20, 28 HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED. PLEASE STAY WHERE YOU ARE; YOUR ESCORT WILL BE WITH YOU SHORTLY.
Izuku was happy when Momo entered the room, and she was relieved to see him waiting. Momo was followed by a giant beast of a man, almost literally named Ottar, who grunted his greeting before taking a seat in the corner. This man was practically a giant having to duck to enter the room, heavily muscled with rust-colored hair, eyes, and boar ears. He wore a dark blue sleeveless top with a red pectoral, collar-like part, grey pants, and brown and gray shoes. Izuku noticed some look pass between him and Artemis but said nothing. Instead, after the man took his seat, Izuku introduced Momo and Artemis as they waited for others to join them.
Setsuna joined. Next, her hair was twisted above her head and flew in complete disorder with another tall boy who was very loud. He was tall, over 6 feet but shorter than the first, with dark brown hair and black eyes, wearing black pants, a white button-down shirt, and a broad smile.
"SEE, I TOLD YOU THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT; WE WERE ABLE TO DISPATCH OUR OPPONENTS POST HASTE."
"Dude, not so loud, and yea, but the hurricane was a bit much," Set replied, trying to smooth her hair as Izuku and Mom stifled their laughter; Momo took pity and created a brush for the poor girl.
"I UNDERSTAND. NEXT TIME I SHALL MAKE THE HURRICANE SMALLER. HAHA. I AM INASA YORASHI. IT IS A PLEASURE TO MEET EVERYONE."
Set smiled and took her seat as her teammate did the same, his knee bouncing, and the same smile plastered to his face.
Next, a woman whose face was covered by a black veil stepped in a small voice. She greeted everyone, but for some reason, Izuku felt she was looking at him; silently, he shook his head, feeling like a bit of a narcissist for the thought. She was with a pale-skinned young man with angular eyes, mid-length spiked hair of beige color, a flat nose, and small eyebrows. His most unusual feature is his teeth, which sit outside his skin. He has no discernible lips, giving him a skull-like appearance.
Next, a Heterochromia teen with white and red hair entered and looked over the assembled group. His gaze lingered on Inasa, whose smile failed when the boy entered as the two glared at each other. He was accompanied by a tall and beautiful young man who was handsome. His skin is smooth and white, almost feminine, and he has a lanky look. He has well-groomed long brown hair and bluish-gray eyes like the vast sea. He was dressed in a simply looking military-type uniform, black with a red strip, his single-button jacket in perfect shape, golden buttons crisp, gold earrings, a luxurious white cape draped across one shoulder, and a confident smirk. His eyes quickly dismissed all the males in the room, focusing solely on the women. His gaze flittered between Artemis and Momo before it fell on Momo, and her skin crawled under his watch.
"I was unaware that the goddess of seduction would be present today, but you should restrain your gaze, my dear; I am here now." He said, stepping closer.
Setsuna almost gagged, and Artemis rolled her eyes. "As grandiose as your declaration may be, sir, I am neither this goddess you suggest, and my gaze is most restrained."
"There is no need to play games, lovely; we can dismiss this rabble and discuss the importance of your surrender; I will be most gentle, I assure you."
Izuku went to stand, but Momo placed her hand on his knee. "Sir, I know you not, and after this brief interaction, I wouldn't know you if the human race's survival depended on it. I request you never speak to me again and turn your lecherous gaze upon the floor, as you will have more success with that than with any member of the female race."
A look of repulsion crossed the boy's face as he took his seat and turned his attention from the ladies as if it was some punishment.
Another strange individual swept in but not nearly with the toxicity of the most recent entrant. His clothing was all black, and he wore a solid silver mask with a hand-painted question mark. A flourish, a small hand-held sign appeared in his hand with the words "HI!" written on it. He waived it like a hand and took his seat.
A woman followed him in her hand, shimmering scales covering her body with black eyes with green slits like a snake's; her arms were tucked into her flowing green silk blouse. She bowed to the room as she entered, a fork tongue snaked out, and she smiled. "Greetings and salutations." She hissed as she took her seat.
The door opened, and Nezu walked with a grin on his face. "Welcome, you are the final group, the next round is simple, a one-on-one fight win, and you are in. Lose, you are welcome to take the regular exam. Artemis vs. Veil, Todoroki vs. Mystere, Yaoyorozu vs. Hyakintohos, Tokage vs. Lady Viper, Honenuki vs. Yorashi, and Midoriya vs. Ottar. Good luck."
Momo, Set, and Izuku all felt sad that Haru and Cassandra hadn't made it this far but would have to focus on the now. They were also thankful that they wouldn't be facing each other. The groups exited the room into a hall and then were directed to different doors to do battle.
-Artemis vs. Veil-
They entered the arena, and Midnight stood in the center of the room. "Welcome; the rules are simple you win by rendering your opponent unable to continue. All matches will be monitored from the booth, with no lethal attacks. Good luck." She turned and exited the room.
The two took positions across the ring from each other.
"Are you going to keep up the act," Artemis called out. "I know who you are."
Veil reached and pulled the veil from her head; the girl had light gray hair and eyes. "A pleasure to see you again, Artemis; it has been a long time."
"Shall I call you Syr, or would you prefer…."
"Syr is fine, for now."
"You couldn't resist, could you, see you have given Orion the blessing of Fire Bolt."
"He just isn't complete without it; it wasn't easy ensuring that a tome would be ready for him in this day and age; I see you have positioned yourself for the chase as well. With her gone this time."
"How did you know?"
"I have always seen when he returned. He shines so brightly that I could never miss it, but this time is special. The others are gathering as well. By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes. The world called out for him this time; she called for him again."
"Surely you are jesting; there is no way she would do so again."
"Are you so blind, Artemis? Did you not see the fox? Do you not see the others? I did not call for Ottar. He was here waiting for me. Your Orion is not yours. You had your dance; he is MINE this time; let you wait another 1000 years for your turn. Odr has returned for me. I will not yield him to the likes of you."
"He is neither mine nor yours; Orion belongs to more than that and would never surrender him to the likes of you. If you are correct that she has called him back again, then there is more at stake than you and mine desire."
"Enough, let us dance and see who will be by his side for tomorrow at least." Syr snapped.
"So eager to fail, allow me to indulge you." Artemis retorted. Her bow sprang to life as she quickly fired two arrows. Syr dashed forward, her long dress falling, leaving a lithe bodysuit; with practice grace, she danced passed the arrows, blade of yellow energy forming in her hands as she closed the distance. Artemis leaped back, hoping to keep distance as the blades spun unnaturally fast in Syr's palms.
With a cross of her arms, the blades flew towards Artemis; quickly going on the defensive, she could knock one away cleanly but not the other, barely managing to alter the trajectory enough though the spray from her left arm signaled a vicious blow. She landed as the blades like boomerangs came rebounding back, one deflected, the other she ducked under, only to meet Syr's knee as the blades came to her attacker's palms again. A downward slash was narrowly avoided as the spinning horizontal attack was made, landing and cutting Artemis's stomach; a sharp sting invaded her body. The wound not deep would be a constant source of distraction for the remainder of the fight.
Another flick of the wrist sent a blade flying again; Artemis' foot pushed off, leaving a small divot in the floor under her as she slid under the flying blade, her bow snaking out to deflect the attack of the other, with a spring-loaded push from her strong legs her fist found its home at the underside of Syr's jaw sending the girl flying back. Twisting in the air, she aimed, her arrow flying free, hitting Syr in the leg; the girl's hand came up and caught the rebounding blade. Artemis noticed it had an air of panic, like she wasn't immune to her knives.
Syr dropped to her knee, her face twisting into a visage of rage; the blades flew again as Artemis landed. This time Artemis spun to the right using her bow to deflect again and dance out of the path of the other. The blades followed a set course as they circled out and made their return; with Syr down to one leg at the moment, Artemis took the opportunity to read a more significant attack as she rushed in behind the returning blades.
Syr knew what was coming; reluctantly, she caught one blade, letting the other fly past; as she brought I up to see the swing of the bow, Artemis swung the ever-growing arrow like a short spear, forcing Syr to twist, putting all her weight on her injured leg, driving her to the ground. Artemis saw the blade returning yet again; she quickly spun low to avoid the blade and lashed out with a kick connected with Syr's face, sending the girl sprawling. Artemis leaped back the arrow in her hand, now ten times larger than a regular arrow.
"STARLIGHT BARRAGE!" she yelled, firing the arrow into the ceiling, pushing her quirk. Another large arrowhead formed in Artemis's hand, and she stumbled, almost losing consciousness from the sudden usage of power, "MOON FALL," a sizeable crescent blade of white and silver flew low parallel across the ground. Syr eyes widened, rolling forward. She pushed off the foot with all she could, snagging the free-flying blade as it settled into her palm. She twisted, trying to face the ceiling as the large arrow collided with the roof, and dozens upon dozens of hands rang down from the ceiling, desperately Syr attempted to deflect the rain of arrows with her blades; it did the job, but more hit the girl sending pain jolting through her body. Artemis was not content with this; she fired two shots that buried themselves in the top of the girl's shoulders; Syr screamed as she had to deviate her blades as she fell to the ground, her limps rendered useless. Artemis stalked and stood over her, arrow notched.
"Be a shame to mar your pretty face."
"This isn't over, Artemis. I YIELD." Syr called out.
"MATCH. VICTORY ARTEMIS. PLEASE CEASE ALL FIGHTING."
Artemis let the arrow dissipate as she stepped over Syr and walked towards the open exit. Medical bots entered from another door to tend to Syr.
-Todoroki responded vs. Mystere-
The boys stood across the room as the boy in the silver mask held up a sign, "Best of Luck =)."
"No luck is needed," Todoroki responded, with a stomp of his foot, a wall of ice rushed forth. The other shrugged and spun in a circle, turning so thin that he seemed to disappear; as the ice hit him, he spun back in behind Todoroki like a top hitting him in the back of the head with his sign. It struck him with a clang of metal, sending the Heterochromatic teen sprawling to the ground; Mystere leaped forward he brought his sign down like an ax. Todoroki arms shot out as ice exploded again, his eyes widened, and he saw Mystere body thin out into a near sliver as his opponent slid past the ice.
The now impossible thin sign suddenly turned flat and enlarged, breaking Todoroki's arm. He suppressed a scream and instead reached out and grabbed the sign unleashing all the ice he could and sending it down the shaft. Mystere solidified inside the ice, unable to continue.
"MATCH. VICTORY TODOROKI."
Todoroki holding his broken arm glared at his opponent; the sign read, "Sorry, not sorry 😉." In a huff, Todoroki made his way to the exit.
-Momo Vs. Hyakintohos-
"Destiny has brought us together again, goddess, but despite your body's desperate cries, I cannot allow you to have victory over me, but should you need proper comfort and a desire to be on top. We can arrange that afterward." He called out, adding a wink at the end.
Momo's eyes narrowed in anger. How dare this man. A lesson must be taught today.
A Kusari-Fundo of fire formed in her opponent's hand as Momo formed a Bo Staff and rushed him. A smirk played across his face as his fire weapon lashed out, wrapping around the staff, and yanking it out of Momo's hands; he spun to add flair to his attack as he found his target again, expecting to see panic, but he saw none. Instead, Momo was mere feet from him, to metallic Escrima Sticks in her hands; the first hit broke his jaw, the second fractured ribs as she knelt, the third dislocated his knee, the fourth broke his right arm, and the fifth a strike to the temple gave him a concussion and knocked him unconscious.
"Sorry couldn't hear you," she said as she strolled towards the exit.
"MATCH. VICTORY YAOYOROZU"
-Setsuna vs. Viper-
Set took her stance as her opponent slowly slid her arm out of her sleeves, revealing they were cobras.
"Well, that's interesting," Set commented.
"Indeed, now let us combat."
Set decided to rush in, a foolish act her opponent felt until the depth of Set's plan was unveiled. As the cobras flashed near blinding speed, Set allowed them to strike, separating her biceps from her shoulders to prevent any spread of poison, and her arms at the elbows flew past and wrapped around her opponent's throat. When the vipers released their bite, her feet flew into their mouth, forcing them open and wedging themselves in their throats. Separating her head to a safe distance, her torso speared Viper's body driving out any air the girl might have as her legs came back and struck her behind the knees. It was over in a matter of seconds as Viper choked unconscious.
"MATCH. VICTOR TOKAGE."
Set bowed to the girl and reassembled herself, keeping her biceps floating near in case of poison as she made her way to the exit.
-Juzo vs Inasa Yorashi-
Juzo immediately tried to soften the ground as his opponent seemed distracted, and he thought victory was in his grasp until Inasa raised his hand into the air. Juzo felt his blood run cold as a guttural yell escaped his opponent's lips.
Suddenly the wind picked up, and Juzo dove into the ground seeking shelter, but in the end, if offered none, the boy kept calling the whirlwind, and soon the floor was being ripped up and flung around the room; Jiro tried to escape but couldn't as he spun in the air, he could feel the centrifugal force pulling the blood from his head. He silently cursed his draw as the world faded to black.
-Izuku vs. Ottar-
Izuku took a deep breath steadying himself.
"The lady's eye has fallen upon thee, and I am here to see if you are worthy of the gaze," the behemoth of a man said across from him.
"What, lady?" Izuku asked.
"Thee Lady!" Ottar replied. He held his hand palm down out in front of him, and a sizeable broad sword rose from the ground, appearing to be made of the arena stone, but as his hand wrapped around the hilt, the stone fell away, leaving a gleaming blade in its place. "Draw thy blade, and let us cross weapons to determine your worth."
Izuku drew his Hestia knife, and the old language flared; as it did so, he felt his back burn. Something inside begged to be awakened. Ottar was in front of him before he could react; the blade's flat found its home as Izuku flew, crashing into the wall, blood spraying from his mouth. He impacted so hard he rebounded; Ottar was there again; this time, the blade swung like a bat driving him back again, and more blood fell from his mouth. Ottar moved again, but on instinct, Izuku Rabbit Stepped across the room, falling to his knees as Ottar's strike sent cracks racing the length of the wall.
His vision hazed as he blinked before him was not Ottar but a black giant, more significant than a ten-story building. A strange forest surrounded him, blurred, unclear people around him; he knew they were his allies, but he could not see their faces. The giant was coming to kill not only him but all of them, again, he looked, and he could see the entire ARC class, Momo, Itsuka, Set, Tetsu, Reiko, his teachers, and his mother all broken near death. At the very back was his Hestia, young and youthful. "Stand tall, Bell; you are the one that will turn back the darkness, let them sound ring, and let hope be heard across the world."
His eyes opened, no longer darkened, and he could see Ottar coming; Rabbit Step was across the room again.
"Are you going to do nothing but run now little rabbit? I will not follow you to Wonderland."
"No, I will drag you with me." He responded. A bell chimed.
-Haru and Cassandra-
Although it was not surprising, the girls were unable to make it to the final exam due to their insufficient combat skills. However, they were entrusted with the responsibility of tending to the injured after the exam. Haru utilized a small portion of her quirk to hasten the natural healing process of those with minor injuries, while Cassandra took care of the more severe ones. Suddenly, they heard the sound of a bell ringing.
-The Victors-
Momo, Artemis, and Set stood in shock as Inasa stared daggers at Todoroki.
"I would rather walk across a blazing desert than share the halls with one like you."
"Your opinion means nothing, as does your goals." Todoroki spat back.
He faced Nezu, the person who welcomed them, and said, "I am withdrawing my application from this university. If you accept him, then this is not the right place for me. Ladies, please be cautious around him as he is not a hero. He has inherited too much of his father's traits. I wish you good health and hope to cross paths with you again on the city streets." As he left in anger, a bell rang in the background.
-Izuku vs. Ottar-
Ottar rushed forward only to be met mid-stride by Izuku, their blades colliding but neither moving. A bell rang.
Izuku sidestepped a punch, throwing one of his own for it to be blocked; the giant blade came crashing down; the Hestia raised, deflecting the edge to the side, allowing Izuku to step inside Ottar's guard and, with a rising strike, a shallow cut was landed across the man's chest. Ottar fist crashed into Izuku, sending him flying back. A bell rang, and his left fist started to glow.
The rabbit stepped behind Ottar, spinning in the air using the velocity given to him by Ottar's strike to land a spinning kick to his opponent; he felt the blow land solid; he saw the man's head bend, then shrugged it off. Ottar spun his sword flying through the air; again, it glanced off the Hestia Knife as Izuku slashed at the man's leg, getting kicked back for his effort. As Izuku's gaze followed his strike, he noticed that the ground beneath Ottar had cracked where it wasn't before. Izuku's keen mind raced; the kick should have caused more damage than even a monster as giant as Ottar could shrug off; all-might he was not. He must somehow be redirecting the force of my blows into the earth. The bell rang.
Quickly he engaged, moving as fast as he could, two then three rabbit steps, rapid, strong blows, the ground cracked and splintered as Otter would fend him off. The bell continued to ring, and it was getting louder with each ring. Now it was more akin to a gong being rung. Throughout the testing area and the school, it could be heard.
-Tower-
High in the tower, she grabbed at her body in ecstasy, crying out in wonder and joy and the brilliance of the light before her.
-Observation Room-
As Inko anxiously observed the battle, she tightly gripped Midnight's hand. Aizawa sat focused in his chair while the others frantically searched for the source of the noise. He noticed the boy's hand glowing coordinated with the chime and saw Izuku's speed and strength increase as he attacked relentlessly. A cold smile crept onto the Underground hero's face, knowing his student had discovered the solution.
-Momo, Artemis, Haruhime-
As each chime echoed, it sent shivers down their spines and filled them with hope. The vibrations resonated deep within them, and they sensed that Izuku was summoning them.
"The Argonaut has been awakened," Artemis whispered, closing her eyes as the next gong was almost defining.
-Izuku vs. Ottar-
The bell gonged. Izuku looked at his clenched fist, bloodied and with broken ribs; he rose again to his feet.
"You have been weighed, measured, and found wanting," Ottar spat.
"That is not for you to judge; I bow not before you, not before anyone. You will know my resolve today; I will engrave it upon your soul if necessary." He dashed forward, and Ottar swung, and Izuku disappeared; he instinctively swung again, and Izuki disappeared five more times. Then he couldn't even track Izuku anymore, and then he felt the impact against his cheek. And his world went dark; he tried to channel the energy of the attack into the ground, but it was too much. He fell to the ground, jaw broken.
Izuku stumbled, coming to a stop, and standing over his opponent. His shirt was in tatters, his pants torn, his body bloodied, ribs broken, hand broken, but he was standing.
"MATCH, VICTOR MIDORIYA."
He triumphantly held the Hestia Knife above his head; his arm raised high. Even as Inko charged toward him, he maintained his stance. Aizawa motioned for Midnight to restrain Inko while he cautiously approached Izuku, who had his back turned to them. The glowing red tattoo on his back was fully visible and seemed to pulse like a heartbeat. Aizawa circled Izuku calling out to him, but there was no response. As he gazed upon his pupil, he noticed that he had fainted while still standing. Inko, after being given permission from Aizawa, rushed forward, placing a hand on her son's back. Her sudden cry and the proximity of Midnight enabled them to catch Inko before she collapsed.
*Author Note*
So I know the middle fights were short as especially compared to Artemis and Izuku's. Momo's was intended that way as well as Juzo's. Set's just worked out that way as i thought about the encounter, and I wanted Todoroki's was harder to plan out so it was shorter as well. His ice in a confined space I had a hard time figuring workarounds.
Thank you to everyone for the follows and favs I appreciate them. Reviews are always great, I read them all.
