I don't own One Punch Man, nor do I own My Hero Academia. Each Franchise i owned by their respective owner..
...
A man sporting a long-sleeved shirt and a scar mark near his eyelids took a stride on the sidewalks. The street seemed serene today. No one came to him to pester him, or be bold enough to invade his personal space. That's how it usually goes with his rabid fans anyway..
Not to mention their expectant gaze...
Holding what looked like a plastic, King sighed, "Aw man, I forgot to buy a backup copy." He said to himself, peeking inside of the plastic bag, "What if a monster comes to my apartment again and messes up the disc?"
He took the time to peek his eyes to the rooftop for some reason, before catching the glimpse of two shadows soaring in-between the two buildings on the side.
Huh?
"That isn't a ghost, right..?" King asked himself, wiping his eyes to do a double-check, "Nope, that can't be it..."
Then..
The infamous King Engine rumbled.
Oh fuck, oh fuck, bad timing, please don't do this, people will notice and- shit, I'm done for if someone sees me! What should I do, what should I do-?!
"Oi."
King turned his head around, only to find the eerie gaze of a pair of ninjas that he recognised all too well.
Flashy Flash and..
"Err.." King scratched his hair, looking at the man with the purple mark on each of his cheeks, "Who are you-?"
"You don't know me?!" The man yelled, "I am The Speed O' Sound Sonic!"
"You don't look like him." King blurted, "Your hair is a bit short for that to be true."
Finding his impression of him to be a little insulting, Sonic gripped his blade, "How dare you-?!"
"Hold it." Flashy Flash lifted his hands up, "If we kill him, we will have one less ally in our mission."
"Mission-?"
"King." Flashy Flash pressed, walking forward, "Did you get the wind of the recent schemes devised by the Hero Public Safety Commission?"
King was idle for a brief moment. Schemes?
"No, I haven't." King's eyes perked in mild intrigue, "Can you elaborate?"
"Of course you haven't. For someone with the title as bold as 'The Strongest', you sure don't know how to manage your informations well. Should I be concerned? Besides, I have never seen you in action. Perhaps your reputation was built on a...lie?" Flashy Flash remarked.
Oops.
Man.
Wouldn't it be better if I just come out clean and..
Agh!
King cleared his throat, "Pardon for my aloofness, but let's just say.." King paused for a moment, contemplating about whether or not he should say it.
Oh well.
They'll buy it, definitely.
"Matters akin to these are far beneath my concerns." King stated, earning the deadly glares from the ninjas in front of him.
Like a monitoring visor, their eyes were glued into him for more than a few seconds. Sweat began to drip from beneath King's sleeve, as well as his forehead. His mouth reluctantly forced itself to open, but couldn't muster the sufficient strength to do so. All that's left for him to do is just wait and hope for the best..
"I see." Flashy Flash nodded, against his expectations, "I suppose that you have your fair share of monsters from the rougher side, but as it stands, the title of 'monsters' aren't exclusive to the non-humanoid entities. Some of us might be well concealed beneath the perks of being a human, but insidious traits lies ahead. Some of us have a beast laying dormant within, and they aren't any less despicable from the kind of monsters that you face. In fact, I'd say they're even."
'...He could've just said that humans can be villains as well.' King thought with a deadpan look.
"Which brings me to my next point: You have the privilege of seeing what the higher-ups are up to from up-close, yet you chose not to utilise that privilege. Had you not been so inconsiderate, the lives of the children they're targetting wouldn't be at stake right now." Flashy Flash continued, unsheathing his blade, "But I understand that someone of your caliber would choose not to intervene in such measly affairs, seeing that you have adversaries outside of our politics that you need to tend to."
He slouched his blade forward, "However, I need to see that strength of yours for myself."
Crap..I knew it...Man, I should just reveal myself..This sucks. Everything about this sucks. I know I have a quirk, b- but they're only limited to a certain extent! Shit!
Fear is my only tool, but even so, it's not even inconsistent! It's entirely dependent on the state of my emotions! M- my quirk isn't suitable for someone who's held in such an absurdly lofty standard like I am! I tried, okay?! I tried! I tried honing my quirk to a degree that meets to the standards that these people have put on me, but it's no use! No use at all! I'm still the coward that I was back then! I haven't changed! AHHHH! YAGI-BRO, WHY DID YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE TOWN AGAIN!??!
King's inner turmoil was overriding his remaining sense of rationality, understandably so.
"Prove to me that you are the King that they say you are, or else," Without warning, Flashy Flash motioned his blade at a speed that was incomprehensible to the average perception, as the nearby tree were slashed into a hundred of fragments, "You'll end up like that tree."
King's figure remained static, however, his hands could be seen shaking uncontrollably.
M- Man, I don't really want to end up on the wrong side of that blade..
I'm fucked. Should I retaliate? But shit...they outclass me. Every single one of them. My quirk..
It won't be enough!
"Fight me." And with that, King's fate has been sealed.
Or so it seemed.
"Wait." King held his hands up, "Haven't you noticed?"
Flashy Flash halted for a moment, trying to make sense of what King was saying, "Hm?"
"Aren't you forgetting that today is Tuesday?" King asked, pointing at Sonic, "Hmph, it looks like your friend has noticed."
Sonic, on the other hand, didn't get what point King was trying to make here, "What?"
"That's all I have to say. If you want a brawl, save it for later." King waved his hand in the air as he turned his back.
"W- wait!" Flashy Flash interjected, "What the hell are you talking about?!"
King stopped in his track, tilting his head slightly, "The atmosphere is composed of many substances of which have these numerical values: eighty percent nitrogen, and twenty percent oxygen. Although there are other additional components, such as methane, helium, calcium, and letaron paldon."
While the others looked at him with complete bafflement, King carried on, "Most notably, an element named 'Engawatson', which is not generally known in the populace, reacts with ponylezens contained in ionizing radiation, causing the organophose phenomenon. Then last Thursday, there was a full moon..which means that today, at noon exactly, it changed into a dual squat phase. Some of us who have antennas have noticed it already.."
Flashy Flash slid his blade down back to it's holster, his eyelids tweaking up and down as he tried to digest the information provided...
Huh..
"Fact is, it already has begun." King said, pressing more emphasis to the last word.
Huh.
I'm lost. Flashy Flash thought.
All the while that was happening, Sonic leaned forward, whispering to Flashy Flash's ear, "All those terms being thrown around, you got all of that?"
"Nope. Not really." He whispered back.
"I'm sure you catch the drift. Ever heard of the 'Dolzenabring Reaction'?" King inquired, much to the ninjas obliviousness.
What even is that?!
Discerning the look of disbelief in both of their faces, King decided to drop the bullshit and get to the point.
"In any case," King turned around again, his feet reluctantly moving forward, "Regardless of your awareness concerning this issue, any form of physical aggression between us would no doubt result in a catastrophical shift."
Flashy Flash reached for his blade again, "No, we're not done here!"
"FLASHY FLASH!" King raised the intensity in his voice this time, "WITH HOW ROTTEN THE STATE OF THE WORLD CURRENTLY IS, SHOULDN'T WE BE DOING ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN DUKING IT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET?! VILLAINS AND MONSTERS ALIKE ARE EMERGING, TERRORISING THE FAITHFUL CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY! INSTEAD OF INSTIGATING A FIGHT FROM WITHIN OUR SPECTRUM, WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE COMMON ENEMY!"
King then cleared his throat, "After all, both you and I, we're 'heroes'."
Flashy Flash's eyes stretched wide, "Right. But wait..."
I knew it. He's not going to let this slide anytime soon, is he? Man, I should just confess to him. Fuck. There might be some repercussions, but at least it's better than getting my innards slice and diced like a goddamn fruit!
King shifted his head around in a gradual fashion, uttering in a raspy voice, "Um...you see-"
"No. You're right. We're only wasting time here. We have more pressing matters to attend to, however.." He picked something from his pockets, before bringing it out...
An apple.
"I would like for you to demonstrate your adeptness in the art of swordsmanship." He stretched his arm forward, handing the apple forward to King, "That way, I can gauge the level of power that you withold just by looking at how you slice this apple. Your participation in this mission entirely depends on my conclusion."
Begrudgingly, King took the apple from the ninja's hand, though, he was a bit shaken by the challenge. What made him think that he was able to utilise this sword to it's fullest extent?!
"Naw, I'm kind of a novice when it comes to this thing." King said, his volatile emotions swirling within him like a rabid tornado.
Flashy Flash, however, insisted, "I do not require you to perform the same precision that I exert. I only ask that you comply."
Oh man. Oh man. Ohmanohmanohmanohmanohmanohmantheyregoingtokillmeforsureohmygodishouldnthavecomeouthereohfuckohfucksomeonesavemeplease-
"King." Flashy Flash sliced through his train of thoughts, "Shall we proceed?"
"A- ah, yes, yes, just, I'm merely thinking of what...techniques...I should use..." King uttered, foam forming over his head, holding the blade to his side, keeping this stance up for a couple of more minutes, the apple laying below his eye level.
Twenty seconds has passed.
Nothing.
Forty seconds has passed.
Still nothing.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Three minutes-
King's arms gave in, putting the sword down as he stood up, walking away, his eyes deflating, though occasionally, he would peek to his behind.
I- I couldn't do it.. they're going to kill me for sure...
Keeping up that stance alone already pushed me to my limits..
Guess I should just try to go home. If I keep it at this pace, they might spare me..
"He didn't...do anything..?" Sonic pointed out, turning over to see Flashy Flash, who was apparently reeling with shock, "Hey, what is the meaning of this?"
He didn't answer, seemingly submerged in his own trail of thoughts.
I couldn't see his technique..
Nay...
I couldn't see any movements at all.
This apple...
His eyes moved glaringly to the frame of the obviously unscathed apple, but his conclusions were all the more perplexing.
It hasn't even noticed that it's been cut. The cut sections rejoined themselves rather perfectly. Could it be...that King has mastered the divine skill to pass through the gaps between cells?!
Without thinking, his arms found itself lurching forward, gripping King right in his shoulder, "Wait!"
I knew it! Oh my god, they're really going to kill me! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! AHHHHHHHH-
"Join us in our mission!" Flashy Flash invited, much to King's confusion.
King's head rotated at a leisurely pace, catching the glimpse of the overly enthusiastic Flashy Flash, as opposed to his earlier expectations, "...hah?!"
...
With every clash, Garou's probability of coming out on top of this whole conflict increased.
"Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist!" Garou began deflecting every single of the attacks thrown at him by the villain, returning the same output of strength with twice the power, tearing the fibers of muscles that concealed his real form.
Fifty more seconds. Gotta make the most of it...
Garou retracted his fist, tilting his hips into the side, putting all of his weight into the force behind his kick, sending Muscular sliding into the left.
Before Muscular could even recover, Garou was already in front of him, before launching a barrage of relentless attacks that disoriented him momentarily.
Then...
He leaped to the front, using his knee to slam the bigger man into the floor, as they skid over the ground, creating a cleavage among the dirt.
Pinning the villain into the ground, Garou began to say his piece, "You might wanna spill the beans, freak. Were you sent by the Commission to take that kid in?"
"What's it to you anyway?!" Muscular pushed against his kneecaps, only for Garou to push even harder, preventing him from moving any further, "You and I, we're both in the same ballpark. What's gotten you so concerned...about some irrelevant kid such as that bastard?!"
Garou grabbed the man by his collar, "Save the villain platitudes for later, muscles. Tell me anything worthwhile, or I'll twist your arms. Both of them."
"Woohoo, scary, very scary. You know, you should've rehearsed everything that you were going to say before displaying such a pathetic intimidation tactics." Muscular began to jostle his seemingly immobilised form into the front, causing Garou's remaining force to falter, pushing him back, "I haven't utilised what my quirks are actually capable of to it's fullest extent, so don't get cocky!" He hammered him straight in his face with his fist as he finished, sending Garou colliding against several tree on his way.
Garou used his feet to regulate the momentum caused by the villain's attack, sliding against the ground as he prepared another stance. Blood began to seep from each side of his lips, feeling a bit light headed after taking the hit.
Dammit. He won't stand down! Garou thought, mopping the smidge of blood gushing out of his nostrils, Guess I'll have to come up with another strategy, and without the old man's quirk, at that. There's still the option of copying that guy's quirk, seeing how I've already caught enough of it to add to my arsenal, but that won't work in the long run. I don't do well in a clash of brute strength, not to mention that the quirk will weigh my speed down..
A shot of adrenaline coursed through his veins, pushing himself onward, mustering enough strength to mobilise himself further until he covered the distance between them both. A swirl of energy cohered with his hand motions.
Muscular moved his head to the side, avoiding the fist lobbing straight towards him. He caught Garou by his forearm, wrapping both of his hands around it, before slamming him into the ground. Without relenting, the villain proceeded with a slamming the palm of his foot into the ground where Garou was laying, to which he retaliated by rolling over, while Muscular continued to stomp forward, following to the direction where the man was rolling to.
Garou used his hand to recover himself to his feet.
Ten more seconds.
The villain sprinted forward, swinging his fist vertically. Garou took the brunt of the force head on, and while he did so, his finger moved forward, hurling into the direction of Muscular's jaw, and when it made contact...
His vision was temporarily distorted, a mist encircling the edge of his sight, "W- what the hell did you-?!"
Garou walked past him, rubbing the pain off of his cheek, taking something from inside the villain's pocket, "Sorry, had to take something important from there."
"Huh?!" Muscular swung his fist to the left, only for Garou to neatly avoid the attack without so much as an effort.
"You're currently stripped off your eyesight, might as well settle with that handicap for now." He pulled out the card, and...
Every ounce of detail, from his name, his height, his past occupations, and his quirk registry..
And the word 'Pro-License' pampered all over the top..
This is no doubt a provisional license.
He slowly tilted his head backwards, "This guy...is a fucking pro-hero?!"
I can't believe it, they're unhinged! Enough to recruit someone as depraved as this guy as a pro-hero, of all things!
"DAMN RIGHT I AM!" Muscular was already gunning for him from behind. Garou closed his eyes, as a surge of electricity coursed through his forearm.
Got no choice but to use that old broad's quirk, I guess. What was it again? Gong Of War?
Garou quickly turned over, his hip bending to the side in an abnormal manner, thrusting his fist forward, hitting Muscular square in the chest, penetrating through layers upon layers of muscle fibers, until it hit the center of his body.
Muscular let out a blood-curdling roar, his decadent muscles began to reassemble itself, "NOW THAT DOES IT, BRING IT ON, YOU FUCKER!"
"Yeah," Garou gestured for Muscular to proceed, "Go for it. I'll fuck you up a thousand times over if it comes to it."
...
Bang intercepted another pair of kunais heading straight to him with it's accentuated sharp point. Before the ninja from his rear side could get a hit on him, Bang quickly pivoted around, tentatively sweeping the edge of each of his fingers into the ninja's nerve points, quickly incapacitating him. He then wrapped his arms around his neck, carrying him above his head level, where the other ninja's took the initiative to strike from above, only for their attack to hit the incapacitated ninja straight in his temple, knocking him out cold.
Tossing his vulnerable body away, Bang quickly caught the legs of one of the ninja's, spinning him while moving forward, before letting go of his foot, letting him be hurled away into the direction of his ally.
However, just as he was about to take a breath, more ninja's came from every corner of the dormitory grounds.
But they weren't the only ones.
Ghastly, gargantuan creatures with some of the most grotesque physical appearances he's ever seen also emerged from the sides, with ninjas mounting on their backs.
"Ah, they're really persistent, aren't they?" Bang twisted his neck to the side, "Bringing monsters into the equation as well...Might as well let loose."
"OLD MAN!" Bakugo jumped to his side, "I'm not lettin ya hog all the glory all for yourself! I'm tagging along!"
"Now, now, Young Bakugo, jumping into a battlefield on this scale, you might want to reconsider. Besides, didn't I told you to go back inside a few minutes back?" Bang asked.
"I'm the class rep! The fuck you think I'm gonna do, sit on the sidelines while I let some geezer take my responsibilities!? This position was shoehorned to my shoulders for a reason!" Bakugo yelled, interrupting him.
"Pretty sure they chose you just to fuck with you, dude." The purple haired midget spoke up, much to his indignation.
Iida chopped his hand into the air, "Bakugo! While you may have a point, you need to get that unpleasant attitude corrected thoroughly!"
"Shut the fuck up, four-eyes!"
"Right, right," Bang sighed, "You can join the fight. The rest, it's up to them."
"I will join the fight!" Ejirou spoke up, as well as the other students.
"Count me in!" Mina chimed in.
"I'll bash their heads in!"
"We're not defenceless!"
Bang looked at them for a moment, his lips curling at the display of enthusiasm exhibited by these youngsters.
Hah...I miss the old days.
...
"There seems to be reports of several disturbances in various hero course schools," A man inside of a hologram screen emitted by a device spoke, "You seem to be well acquainted with these supposed disturbances, are you?"
"Ah, Kishimoto," McCoy moved his glasses slightly down to reveal his cynical eyes, full of deceit, "I thought you were supposed to be legally blacklisted from the Hero Public Safety Commission for the time being? I assume you bypassed our server through unconventional means."
"Don't divert from the topic at hand, you throttling snake," Kishimoto clenched his hands, "The initial plan was to go with a much more subtle, and gentler approach, not sending your death machines to senselessly endanger their lives."
"Hmph, now you're concerned about their welfare. Besides, it's not like our goals are distinguished from each other."
"No," Kishimoto replied, "You're not correct on that one."
"Ah? And how did you come to such conclusion, dear Kishimoto? Perhaps, there were some insiders that you had planted inside?" McCoy clasped his hands, "It's not surprising, really. Speaking of, what is your intention of calling me, anyway? There must be more to this than it meets the eye, and I must say, you have piqued my interest."
"To try to convince you."
"From?"
"From proceeding with this heinous scheme of yours!" Kishimoto slammed the table, "Are you that much of a thick headed fool!?"
"What's gotten you so self righteous? Weren't you intending to use them for personal gain?"
"My reasons are of my own, and that is to carry on the vision and the mission of the Public Safety Commission." Kishimoto stated, "And you are undoing everything that we've worked our rear's off in order to uphold our fundamental values!"
"Doesn't seem like that much of a value if you were willing to pull the same thing as I do." McCoy blurted, "As I've asked before, what makes you different than me?"
Kishimoto replied, "Unlike you, our plan was to give them an exclusive training, a perk, that they can use in order to reach the final stage of their education in just a year, but you..." Kishimoto's daunting glare was enough to tell McCoy that he knew, "What are you planning with them once you keep them captive?"
McCoy hummed for a moment, leaning his jaw against the the edge of his knuckles. Conceding, he replied,
"Just a little investment, 's all."