Azur Heroes
Chapter 18
Now we'll get to some early stages of the mission to attack or rather save those on I Island. As well as prep and more planning. I know I might have gone overboard with the beatdowns, but I felt some of them were right for the characters involved. So on with the show.
(No POV)
After talking with Nezu and the rest of the UA team, All Might took John to the side to talk with him about some training and prep for the mission to save I Island. "I may be going with you, but I think the biggest challenges will be the ones you undertake inside."
"Yeah probably. But….. we have to get to the inside and save who we can. So, what did you want to train with me in?" John asked while looking up at the older hero. All Might smiled brightly before saying he wanted to work on some variations of attacks with his quirk.
The experienced hero noted that Kotov tended to rely on what seemed like bare minimum power and the tech in his leg. "I'm curious about that. Also I'm wondering how your 'Maximize' as you call it works."
The American Commander was a bit confused but went along for the time being. "Yeah my quirk works by converting extra stored up calories into strength. I kinda over pushed it though. After Yorktown got hurt."
Kotov had a slightly dark look but pushed it aside to explain in more detail. How Maximize worked was that Kotov could convert excess calories absorbed when eating into a type of stockpiled energy.
"The Fat Gum guy? You could compare some of it to how his quirk works. The difference is, that mine isn't stored the same way. And it can be refined differently. Namely, when I was working out like crazy in my "dark phase", my musculature shifted to where…. Well I'm like this."
All Might appraised the man with a nod. Noting that he did have impressive muscles that he could only compare with his own. "But I thought you were always like that?" All Might said with a tilt of his head.
John rolled his eyes and admitted the advertising and toy companies just made him look like that to sell. "I wouldn't say I was fat, but I was more barrel chested before. But I got so pissed and channeled it into bulking up." To get back on topic, Kotov mentioned that his quirk worked by channeling the energy stored up into his muscles.
"After working with it a while though, I know that I've massively increased the amount of energy I can store and unleash. I mean it wasn't like I was using it all that often working in Oklahoma."
But first training with Star and Stripe, the military, and then pushing himself to crazy levels had made it to where his power let him spar evenly with Star. "And that's when she has her quirk making her super strong."
"Well that was a lot of information, but it tells me that you truly can learn some of my techniques!" All Might said while taking the American deeper into the forest battlefield. It was there, the number one of Japan demonstrated a few of his techniques and skills with his own quirk.
Kotov hummed before asking how the hero used said techniques and began to learn how he could use them. While he could use some of the power of the Texas, Detroit, and Nebraska Smashes force and learned how to do the New Hampshire Smash for mobility.
But he still didn't feel they fit for him. "Like they work… but it doesn't feel right. Maybe. Because of my training with the military. I didn't learn from a hero school or idolize you after all. Hang on, I'm gonna try something."
Kotov rolled his shoulders a bit before bringing his arms close to his sides and fists before his face. Somewhat in the "tight defense" boxing style. He started up his quirk through his whole body before focusing on his fists and upper arms alone.
All Might hummed before throwing a weak (for him) punch towards the number two from the US. And it was knocked away before the hero was hit in the face, not by a punch, but a sharp burst of wind. But not just one. Kotov threw at least a dozen air burst punches in rapid succession. Knocking All Might backwards.
John clenched his fists tighter before pulling his arms back and swinging them forward at high speed. And creating a sharp hurricane of air around the hero. 'Not what I expected! But impressive nonetheless!' All Might thought as his costume was being torn in a few places.
He then used his own force to chop away the air swirling around him. "Interesting. Any thoughts on what you'll call it?" All Might asked with his usual smile. Kotov shrugged and just said, "uh… Wind Slash? Sonic Cutter? Don't know."
The two heroes left it at that for the time being and went to train more. Izuku though was getting some different training. Namely by sparing and practicing with both the heroes and some of his girls. Namely, Kawakaze, Atago, Akatsuki, and Kirishima. "You know, you don't have to go. You could leave this to-"
"To who? The heroes? Just my girls? News flash Aizawa: I'm the Commander of a fleet of shipgirls and I've had to fight them myself. And I'm not just going to stand down while someone needs my help. I fought from afar long enough. I will lead my girls and team on this mission. And I will bring them back safe."
The glare he's shooting Aizawa's way, as well as the dedication in his words strikes a chord with the heroes and his shipgirls. With Kawakaze blushing and trying to cover it up. Atago squealing and saying she was so proud as his big sister. While Akatsuki and Kirishima both took a knee as if bowing to a lord.
Midnight licked her lips and shivered at how determined and solid Izuku seemed in his stance. Screaming 'youth' in her mind. Mic who was observing was impressed and stuck to helping Jiro with the frequency needed to help the team sneak in. Aizawa grunted before resolving to try and dissuade him more.
"Fine. If you think you can do this, I won't stop you. But I want to see if you have even some base combat skills to save people." Aizawa says as his eyes flash and he takes the ends of his capture cloth. Izuku lets out a groan before rolling up his right sleeve and rolling his neck.
Aizawa then powers up his quirk and charges at Izuku. Which confuses the boy as part of the capture cloth is launched at him. He ducks under that and punches Aizawa in the face with his metal arm. Breaking a few of parts of the hero's face and sending him backwards.
Before he could recover, Izuku led in with knee before putting in some light jabs and other punches. 'I don't understand. Why wasn't he thrown off when he couldn't use his quirk?' Aizawa thought before punching and kicking back at Izuku.
Though one of those ends up hurting him more. As he put all of his strength into a kick that impacted Izuku's metal arm. As Aizawa was flinching from that pain, Izuku felt something of a flash of inspiration for an attack.
He built up some tension in his left arm and burst forward with a strong side jab into Aizawa's ribs. Leaving the black-haired teacher open to a follow up set of punches aimed at his head. Though he did evade a few of the ones thrown from Izuku's metal arm.
'Okay, guess he knows/learned more from all of them than I respected.' Aizawa though before wrapping part of his capture cloth around Izuku's arm. Then trying to pull him around from that. But both he and Izuku were surprised when the boy wouldn't budge.
Before the surprise faded, Izuku tensed up both arms again to attack. First by yanking Aizawa back to him. And then using another strong punch from his right to knock Aizawa to the ground. "That's it! Now I'm pissed!" Aizawa said as he rolled to his feet.
He leapt at Izuku and used the cloth to tie up Izuku more. "I may not have been able to move you, but I can bind you!" he said as he pushed Izuku towards the ground. But he forgot about an important factor again: Izuku's right was mechanical.
And the boy turned said appendage into a blade to slice through the capture cloth. He then uses a flash added to it to blind Aizawa. Before doing his tension blows again to impact Aizawa's chest and stomach. And finishing by pulling the hero's head under his arm before popping the neck. With a quick tripping up and dropping of Aizawa's face into the concrete.
"I'm not sure why you thought it would be that easy." Izuku said while getting up from the ground. All Aizawa could do was groan before asking why his quirk didn't work. "Why would it? I don't have a quirk." Izuku said before getting back to practicing. And also making Aizawa feel even more like an idiot.
For the next few days, the heroes and shipgirls readied themselves for the fight to come. And loaded up on the ships to take them to Hawaii for the operation. "I have to say, your new ship is impressive Ayanami." Izuku said while walking along said demon's deck.
"Thank you shikikan dess. With this, I'll be much stronger in our fight with the Sirens." Ayanami said. She had grown a few inches all around, and her face seemed to have a more mature air about it compared to before. With a new uniform that had a smaller top and skirt, but stockings and attachable sleeves with wave designs flowing behind her.
Her sword meanwhile seemed more mechanical and larger compared to it's previous state. The biggest boon to her though was her torpedoes and their firing efficiency. Not to mention she was accurate enough to disable some ships without sinking them. At least until she came aboard to cut any possible Sirens down.
Riding aboard her was not just Izuku, but a few from the hero classes as well. Namely Jiro Kyoka, Hagakure Toru, and Togata Mirio. "So, any thoughts on what we'll be up against Commander?" Mirio said with a smile towards Izuku.
Who let out a breath before admitting he had no clue. "If we had something. Just a little bit of intel, I could refine the plan more. As it stands…. I'm worried about those of us going into the island itself."
"Okay that's not really comforting when we're a part of that attack. Sir." Toru said before remembering that Izuku technically outranked her. Izuku apologized and admitted it was mostly nerves talking. "At least with all these ships we've got a probable chance."
He looked out over the ships gathered and reminisced about the plan he, Kotov, Nezu, and Hagure had worked on. Hagure was one of the ships involved in the mission and currently carrying a pair of heroes herself. Those being Tokoyami and Edgeshot.
Alongside her, Kinu was floating and ready for a fight. Her ship was sturdier than ever thanks to retrofitting. Her rigging and her ship itself had more armor and the weapons were more fluid in movement than they had ever been. Though something that made her a bit disgruntled was that she didn't receive much in terms of physical improvements with the retrofit.
"I've still got little compared to my sister," she grumbled while thinking of Nagara's bountiful bosom. She did appreciate the section of her hull that would hold her katana, and the new skill she had learned. One that she was certain would help in the battle to come. But it still felt like a bit of a loss compared to Ayanami.
Of course, it wasn't aided by the heaviest ship in the vanguard. That being Atago. She refused to stand aside for this. Not just to aid Izuku, but to face her sister again. "I don't know what happened to you Maya. But this won't make you feel better. It will only hurt more."
To round out the vanguard group, Yuudachi was raring to go. Snarling and practically cracking her knuckles at the idea of facing off with more Sirens. "Even if some of ours did stab us in the back," she thought aloud sadly. Wondering if some of her sisters were among those she'd have to fight.
At the rear of that trio, were the heavier ships. Shinano being the lead one. She was currently napping in her command tower. While floating above the main panels. She grumbled a bit as she shifted to the side a few times. Muttering a few things about what could come. Not that there was anyone to hear it.
Across from her, Katsuragi was excited for her chance at participating in a really serious operation. "I can't believe I get to do this! And I'll have my chance to really be hero this time!" she said to her current passengers. Those being Nejire and Ryukyu.
While the dragon lady had initially been hesitant to join in the mission (given what happened to her at the start of the war) some talking and convincing from her favorite hero student Nejire had inspired her to come along. "Are you sure these will work?" she said while looking over a special vest and armor set she was given before leaving Japan.
It was something Reno and Akashi had cooked up. A set of armor that would protect Ryukyu when trying to fight against the Sirens. As well as some weapons that could leave an impact. "Though it is still in the testing phase, it should be enough to help in this battle ma'am!" Reno announced over the comms.
The flagship for Izuku's main attack fleet was Kii. Who was more than happy to be in command of the group to hit the Sirens where it hurt. "And teach those traitors a lesson!" she said while sharpening her sword.
"Do not underestimate our foes young Kii. It could be disastrous." Mikasa warned. She was to be part of the combined fleet with some of the American ships. Which was where Ayanami and Hagure would be as well.
New Jersey had a chuckle before saying, "ah c'mon Mika! Don't worry so much. We'll be ready when the time comes. Right honey?" Kotov smiles before agreeing. But was not alone on her bridge. As All Might, Koda Koji, and Nezu were also aboard the American ship.
"Are you sure I'm right for this job sir?" Koda signed with tears practically pouring out of his eyes. John smiled back before saying, "you'll be fine. We need you for one of the most important factors. Getting us to the island." That doesn't really help Koda as he runs off to panic in one of the lower deck areas.
Ticonderoga meanwhile was ready to unleash her burning planes of power. And willing to protect who she could with her shielding abilities. "Too bad we didn't have another carrier to work with. But it will still be a fight to remember," she said while leaning back in her command tower.
The last ship to round out the group for the combined fleet was Reno herself. And while she wanted to go with her leader/partner/hero, she also knew that wasn't part of the plan. "With some luck those small shield chargers should help keep the rest of you safe…. Probably."
This doesn't fully reassure the heroes, but they are willing to go along for the time being. And they had plenty of time to stew on the matter. As the trek to the rough area where I Island was would take them over a month to get to. About the same as what it would take for the rest of the San Diego fleet to get there from Pearl Harbor.
Bataan meanwhile was the air support for San Diego fleet when all met up. Not just because of her anti-air and sub capabilities. But because she had the power to empower all of her ally's anti-air and carrier reload.
"Based on the description, she does seem like quite the strong support." Nezu said while looking at the predicted flow chart of the battle he and Izuku had drawn up. "A full assault would be better with those who can put out more fire or air power. But this is a rescue mission. One For All is better used to support and to save lives in this situation."
All Might's back straightened upon hearing that. "What did you say here skill was called?" he asked with a tremble in his voice. Kotov looked at him funny before reiterating the name One For All. The number one of Japan smiled and felt more of a connection with the nervous, but still hopeful carrier at sea.
With the Botwa base fleet, Yorktown was the flagship of the group. With Star and Stripe sitting in her command tower. "I hope we're ready for all of this." Star says with a few of the remaining heroes from the US behind her. Namely, a former troublemaker turned respectable hero: Captain Celebrity. As well as his former sidekick The Skycrawler.
"We're ready for them. Between my own barrier and the gear Miss Reno had made, we should be fine!" Skyline said with a smile. And while tempted to flirt with the number one, he also knew that he'd be courting major pain if he did. "Crazy to think that I'm working with one of the heroes who inspired me." The Skycrawler or rather Haimawari Koichi said while remembering his time in Japan.
Another hero with them was Clair Voyance. While she wouldn't be as helpful in direct combat with the Sirens, she would be of greater help in saving many of the people of I Island. "But aren't we a little short on manpower. Or ship power I guess," she asked while noting they only had four ships running.
"We'll be meeting with the others later. Laffey will join with the vanguard ships, and Bataan will work with Alabama and Yorkie." Cleveland said over the coms. "Hey Cleve-bro? Think those folks from Japan would like to hear my singing?"
Alabama shot down that thought by saying, "if you started singing, I'm pretty sure you could be charged with war crimes. Or just general crimes against humanity." Her deadpan delivery of that statement gets a number of laughs from the fleet and heroes. Including a certain hothead.
Namely the former number three hero of the US, Red Hot. A red and blue haired woman with orange eyes. She was shorter than Star and Stripe by a fair margin. Only coming to about 5 ft 5. And she didn't have as much musculature compared to the top 2 heroes. Going for a leaner type of build as a hero.
Much like Endeavor of Japan, she was a special type of fire quirk user. With her quirk being one that turned her into a being of living flame. Her costume was one that allowed her to contain her flame body without the worry of it being extinguished or destroyed. Though it came with the caveat that she had to turn back into flesh after a period of time. Normally, she'd be able to be in fire form for 30 minutes and turn back for a similar amount of time.
However, in competition with Kotov she had pushed herself and her quirk to where she could fly for 45 minutes and had to return to human form for 20. Only for the current number two to outdo her during his dark phase and superseding many of her feats with his strength alone.
"I'm a little surprised you would volunteer for this mission. Given how you like to bicker with my husband." Yorktown said to the burning hero. Who sighed and admitted that it was a chance to show him up somewhat. "But more importantly, there are a number of people who need to be saved. And if my flames can buy some time or do some damage, I'll use them to help who I can." Red Hot said while glaring at the sea.
Within I Island, things were much less jovial. As a human collapsed from exhaustion, a blade was drawn near their head. "Keep moving. We want these trees ready in time for the blossoms to bloom. Let alone all of the alcohol you have." Maya said with venom dripping from her voice.
"Enough. It does us no good for them to die or unable to move." Suruga said while gripping Maya's arm. The cat-like heavy cruiser snarled but couldn't make up for the gap in strength between the two ships. So, she sheathed her sword and stormed off.
Suruga sighed before helping the human up and moving them on their way. While this and other suffering was happening, Melissa could see and feel it all from within her tube. 'I have to…. Try and help them. AAAAHH!' she thought before screaming in pain.
"Ha…. Blasted thing won't focus. I told you hooking her up to all of those extra servers wouldn't do any good." Tester said as Melissa's body was pumped full of electricity. Observer sighed and contemplated that they should just scrap the "faulty hard drive" as she saw it.
Temperence though argued against that. "Give her time. She'll accept the reality soon enough. And we can get back to our search." Melissa winced as the electricity finally ceased. And tears leaked from her eyes.
As she was forced to calculate for the Sirens again, she could vaguely make out a new voice calling to the invaders. Just barely seeing white haired beings talking with them. And then another white-haired entity appeared next to her tube and the console. Doing something before zipping away faster than most could see.
Melissa felt as though her thoughts were less muddled and started to be able to understand more of the situation. Let alone remembering how she ended up in this position. As some of her senses returned, she also noted an important factor. Her captors hadn't noticed she was able to think for herself again.
'I have…. To try and do something,' she thought before pulling up a few schematics of the changes to I Island. Subtly so the Sirens wouldn't notice. And then send them out to anyone who could help. While also making sense of some other data they had been forcing into her mind. 'P…. R…. ships?'
So I'll leave it there for now. I hope you all liked the little Vigilantes reference there. As for Red Hot, I'll get into more detail about her later. But suffice it to say, she is quite similar to Endeavor in her mentality. Just without the domestic violence. That includes frustration at being knocked down in rank by a guy who didn't want to be a hero.
I'll get into more detail about her later, as well as where Izuku will now stand as a hero. And I hope some of you caught onto the Street Fighter references again. Though they won't all be like that. It just seemed like a good way to add some variety.
Back on track, I'm also wanting to illustrate that not all of the traitors agree with what is going on. Even if they intend to stay the course. And that will be some of what help all of those left behind and Melissa especially. Please review!
