AN: THIS CHAPTER IS HALF OF WHAT I'VE WRITTEN. IT WAS TOO LONG SO I'LL UPLOAD THE OTHER HALF SOON. THIS CHAPTER WAS DIFFERENT. I'VE GONE FOR SOMETHING I DIDN'T THOUGHT I'LL WRITE.
Class B already in there, at the deepest darkest part of woods, waiting to scare them. Class 1-A already divided into some groups with two people each. Basically they are playing a test of courage mini game. At least that's what Pixie Bob described it. Long story short, their gonna hold their scream when class B startles them. Otherwise it's going to be embarrassing. The future heroes screaming like kids aren't something they wanted.
"Each group follow the route with two minutes gap. First to reach the finish line scores high points. Remember that, I won't keep saying it." Pixie Bob shouted. The students have been gone through worse during the stay, and the game now feels the same.
"Yes sir." They shouted back.
Game started soon after. Each group gone after every two minutes. Due to the woods being like a maze, half of them turned wrong corner and put themselves into the 'lost' catagory. Izumi was by herself, because of their numbers was uneven. Still though she didn't mind it much. Things like this happened all the in her life. It ain't foreign.
"I hope those guys aren't well hidden. Just who am I kidding?" Izumi mumbled to herself and she almost took class B as a minor threat. She almost forgot the boundaries of being a hero. That boundaries had laws and rules. One of the rules are do not underestimate your opponents.
At some point, she heard rustling bushes and prepared for it. But nothing came except a bunny hopping across the small pathway. Even though it's a bit dark, she saw two red eyes of the bunny which startled her slightly. What she was missing is something that worth concerned. She couldn't see it. The huge 'thing' on her right side of the pathway.
But there's also something. She didn't see it. But the foul stench it produced tickled her nose, which made her gag. She slapped her palm over her nose and groaned. "What the hell?" Her voice was muffled because of her hand and she looks around to find the source.
It was a stench, as if something rotting. Not something, but to say perticular, it was the stench of rotting flesh. Izumi had tears falling because of she ain't used to it. Eventually her head looks at the same way the huge figure was. Her heart skipped a beat. Eyes widened. A scream almost came out of her mouth. Her eyes are fixated on the thing she saw and took a few steps back.
The figure was as tall as half the tree and that's enough of a reason to be afraid. She's now looking at the thing even though it's a bit dark. But her eyes don't fooled her. She's looking at a being which has it's brain exposed. An identical creature resembles the Nomu thing. No. It is the Nomu thing. Izumi' instincts worked on her veins and she's immediately took a defence stance as if the Nomu will pounce at her any moment. What she saw at USJ was enough for her to understand that she should, at any cost don't let it touch her even a little. Allmight fell for it' attack. She won't survive, that's for sure.
Few seconds passed as she stood there and was panicking internally. It's a matter of seconds the beast strikes. But the creature' eyes are void emotion and concentration as if it's not concious. It's eyes aren't looking at anything. Like... it' not even looking at her. Just straight ahead of it and avoiding her presence if it seems. Her posture relaxed a little. Only a little. It's taking a long time to attack, as if it doesn't have any plan to do so.
Izumi moved to the side test whether the creature follow her direction at all. But nothing. It stood there frozen solid. She realised something. It's not concious at all. Just like statue. But it doesn't look like rotting away because it's dead or anything. It's just standing there waiting for something to happen.
The air around her started to shift. And she didn't noticed it getting more purple because it was still thin as it flowed with the wind. Izumi' mind then set in calculating mode. She thought of the Nomu is here, whoever brought it is here too. Only villains had this type of thing. And that means... villains are here too.
THE VILLAINS ARE HERE!!!!
Her soul left her as the shock almost overtook her mind. First at USJ and almost killed them now here? Unbelievable. Just like that Izumi noticed the air change and her eyes widened. The air seem turning violent and Izumi immediately knew, breathing in whatever is was, a bad idea. So she slapped a palm over her mouth and nose. The last thing she needs to die breathing in whatever is it.
Her eyes picked up movements in the Nomu, but she knows that trying to fight it is bad Idea. 'I gotta find others.' she thought and ran towards a randomised direction in hopes of finding someone. Just hope that someone doesn't turn out to be any villains. On the way, Izumi heard blasts go off as the fight started.
When Izumi turned a corner, she saw blue fire was slowly spreading all around. Last time she didn't saw any of the Villains' quirks, so it's hard to guess which quirk belonging to who. Or are they attacked by the same group at all? What if there's someone else another than the people at USJ. Izumi wasn't planning to that way, so she gotta take a long one. She eventually breathed in air once she figured out that the purple gas hasn't reached here yet. But it also not far behind. She gotta find the teachers as soon as possible. Or any of her friends.
As she ran, something came and her instinct told her to duck. She did just in time to avoid a skeletal Nomu hand. Izumi rolled out of it's way and took off towards another direction. Thankfully the Nomu thing wasn't as fast as the last one. She stumbled many times and fell here and there recieving a lot of scratches and her elbows and knees are bleeding at this point. Soon she found a clearing in the distance and prayed to god that the clearing is their training ground where she last saw the teachers. She hope it is what she wanted.
But when entering the clearing, the opposite side was on blue fire, but thankfully on the middle of the clearing She saw Mandalay, Pixie Bob and few of class B and A students, looking around panicked and confused.
"Oh, thank god, you guys are okay." Izumi called out made her way there.
Mandalay saw Izumi and looks behind her. "Where's the rest of the kids? Have you seen them?" She asked.
"No, I haven't. I'm sure they're in there somewhere. We gotta be quick, come on." Izumi said and was about to leave but Pixie Bob got a hold of her hand.
"You're not going anywhere. Look at those wounds. And it's not your place to run out there and fight. You can die you know?" Pixie Bob said dragging Izumi back.
"But, we can't stay here and do nothing. What about my friends? They are in danger." Izumi said.
"We, know but we already set searching party. Your teachers and my teammates, obviously." Pixie Bob said.
They argued until one of them saw something emerging from the treeline. The same Nomu Izumi came across few seconds ago. It wasn't the fast one, but tracked her all the way here. It's like the Nomu' are active all of sudden as if they were being waiting for orders. But who' giving them orders. The same man she saw at USJ? If it's him, then they're again after Allmight but keep having false news that Allmight will be here. At least Izumi thought that.
Mandalay and Pixie Bob came to the front to defend the students. "Stand back. All of you. We don't know what it is." Mandalay ordered.
Izumi thought one thing. "Hero Mandalay. Can I ask you something?" Izumi requested.
"Now?" Mandalay said.
"Yes. Can you use your quirk and inform everyone that the Villains attacked USJ is here and they got bunch of Nomu'? Please, it' for everyone. At least they'll be prepared." Izumi requested.
Mandalay looks back at Izumi. "How do you know any of that?" She questioned.
Izumi sighed shaking her head. "We don't have time. Please. Others are in danger." Izumi almost begged.
Mandalay looks at Pixie Bob who nodded.
"Okay, I'll do it. But I need time to communicate. And this clearly not the correct time." Mandalay said.
"Don't worry, we'll cover you. The time is limited. Please." Izumi said and stood next to Pixie Bob facing the creature.
"Urhhh...fine. I'll try to do it as fast as possible." Mandalay said defeated and other students joined Pixie Bob and Izumi. They're not courageous or anything, but for everyone they gotta do it.
While Mandalay was doing her job, they confronted the beast who is basically bones and skin. It has few metal points at the top of its head and the Nomu moved towards them slowly as it could it seems.
"We gotta do something about the exposed brain of that thing." Izumi mumbled she aimed her hand directly at the brain of the Nomu and fired. It connects correctly and the fire almost fried the brain. The creature wobbles a little fell on it's hands and knees.
But... things gone south just in a minute. As the creature' hands touched the ground, the ground immediately took another form. The sand turned moist and soft, like a quick sand. On top of that, small wave like formation can be seen on the surface. Before any of them could do much, the awkward ground caused them to fall as well. Just as they fell, the ground slowly started to swallow them.
"Oh crap." Some of the students shouted.
"Shit, I can't move." Izumi heard some say. She so know their name except few who belongs in her class. Koji and Ayoma was there trying to get out as soon as possible.
"Don't struggle. It'll make you sink quicker." Pixie Bob shouted and tried to create a sand creature of her own. But due to the ground was acting weird, the formation of the creature she built wasn't perfect. It was wobbly and blob like. "Okay, things are going worse than I thought." Pixie Bob said and made her giant beast to attack the fragile looking Nomu. Because of how worst it's form turned out, the hand of the blob shattered after inflicting some minor damages on the Nomu. The Nomu hower wasn't doing anything but staying there on it's hands and knees.
They are halfway drowning in the sand. Izumi tried her best to aim at the Nomu and fire her quirk. Only a few of them hit the mark because of the ground was wobbly. The blob like sand creature accidentally got destroyed when Pixie Bob lost her focus.
Little by little, every single one of them drowned in the ground which sounds mental. Drowning in ground? Izumi really just want to think it's ridiculous and wake up from whatever nightmare she's watching. But the reality is always disappointing. At some point her left hand drowned as she struggled a little and now the mud is over her shoulders and slowly reaching her throat.
Her breathing quickened nervously and she closed her eyes. If this is it, then there's no wonder why old memories are coming back. She shook of the thoughts and opened her eyes and barely could look at everyone. But soon her roaming eyes fell on a cliff at the distance. It was just a regular cliff, but the memory it have was frightening.
Izumi' eyes widened in horror and looks at Pixie Bob and Mandalay, both of them trying to keep some of the drowning students on top again. "Mandalay, did Kota and Eri came back when we started the game?" Izumi shouted.
Mandalay and Pixie Bob froze and Izumi saw fear in her eyes. Mandalay looks at Pixie, who shook her head. "Kota." Mandalay mumbled and looks at Izumi. "Their in danger. We gotta do something and find them. We can't lose them." Mandalay desperately said and tried to crawl out of the mud only to sink a bit more.
Izumi had the same effect. Both of them are up there at the cave. She left them there. It' her fault that their in danger. Eri...Kota. Both of their faces appeared in her mind and one more face appeared on their side. The third face belongs to the young Izuku. She can't lose them too, like she lost Izuku.
A tear fell and she blamed herself mentally. She should've brought them with her. Now she has to fix it. If anything happens to the kids, Izumi won't survive. It's already too much to handle. Izumi' teary eyes narrowed and looks at the Nomu in pure hatred and her eyes glowed purple. The only thing to survive this pit of quicksand is to push her quirk even more. The psychic. A last resort that will give her a lot of pain. She gotta use it help others and herself. Mainly the two children who' life is precious than hers.
Izumi looks at others and she concentrated on everyone and she already started to gasp quicker. She never used it on many people at once. As her concentration solidified, a purple aura outlined herald and others. Soon they stopped struggling and watched Izumi as she used her quirk. She was having hard time but whatever she's doing is working.
She groaned and let her psychic lift them up. The thing is it's not heavy at all, but the cause of her discomfort is the poor concentration and brainwaves. Slowly they are being lifted out of the mud and before landed, Izumi wanted to do something else, she lifted up the wobbly mud with the quirk and formed the mud into a tube like formation and send it crashing into the brain of the Nomu. Instead of stabbing it, Izumi let the sand go through the slit of the brain and filled the inside of it's head. The Nomu screeched when the piling up sand ruining it's brain and destroys the nerves and cells. It' body twitched as if it's malfunctioning and eventually it's quirk died down. And the ground solidified including the muddy sand inside it's head. When the mud hardened inside it's head, it was too much to be contained and the amount of it didn't help at all. So, it's head exploded like a mini bomb.
Izumi let them drop and she also fell with a thud. She whined because of the overuse.
But her migraines aren't worse like it used to be. The training worked out for her. Others layed there as well and Mandalay was the first to stand up. "We gotta find Kota and Eri. They're defenceless out there." She said and crouched down to help Izumi.
Izumi was gasping for air and shook her head. "You gotta help them out of here." She tired said pointing at the students.
"But, we gotta find them. Pixie-" Mandalay was cut off when Izumi stood up shakily.
"Pro Hero Mandalay, I know where they are and I gotta go fast. It's my fault. I let them stay there. So it's my responsibility to keep them safe. Please trust me. Others need you here. Please." Izumi begged. Mandalay looks at Izumi not knowing what to say. "Trust me, please." Izumi' voice was so low and pleading.
Mandalay sighed and rubbed her temple. "Don't let them get hurt. And avoid fights on the way. Eri and Kota is our main priority now." Mandalay said.
"Ok, I promise." Izumi said that unknowingly. Promise? Really? Can she keep it? She shouldn't have said that. Promises can be broken even if not intended. Izumi will regret saying it, because she has a feeling that something is about to happen.
"Okay, now run as fast as you can. When you find them, head straight to the main building and let Vlad King know your presence. And do not leave the building." Mandalay ordered. Izumi nodded and looks towards the direction of the hill and sighed. Her migraines were effective but she didn't let it get on her way.
Izumi sighed and took off the way and the blue fire was surrounded the small pathway. The heat it produced was unbearable at some point. Thankfully her quirk helped bit to adapt. The narrow pathway however ain't the straightest she ever seen. While turning every corner, her body slightly grazed the fiery branches of bushes.
Izumi hissed in pain everytime the fire hits her. Her hands are burnt here and there, just like her legs and stomach. Her clothes ripped due to the fire grazing it. "SHIT!! It hurts."she cursed.
But still she didn't stop. Even after seeing few burning trees up ahead. She can't stop now, right? So she didn't stop. That's the mistake from her part. She should've stopped. Her right foot stumbled on a rock and her own speed caused her to land five or six feet away rather painfully. Wind got knocked out of her lungs and she screamed in pain. But that's not it. She heard crackling of burning wood. She looks up and her eyes widened in panic when seeing a thick branch covered in fire falling down and about to land on top of her. She almost saw death right before her eyes.
MEANWHILE...
Eri and Kota stared horrified at the scene happening at the woods surrounding the camp. Fire and purple mist was all over the place. Boom sounds echoes and they even heard screams not too long ago. The camp is far and between the chaos. Even if they try to run back, there's no way they'll survive. Thankfully they're too scared to even try such a thing.
"What is happening?" Kota mumbled.
"I don't know. I'm scared." Eri replied fearfully watching the raging fire.
Kota looks at her and around. "I should've stayed at the camp. It's my fault we're away from the camp." He said.
"Don't say that. We didn't knew." Eri comforted and looks back at the destruction. "I hope everyone is fine." She mumbled.
Kota felt bad. If only he stayed at the camp, then Eri should have been with her friends. It's his fault. "I'm sorry." He spoke.
"Huh?" Eri asked.
"I'm sorry for everything." He apologized again. Eri didn't know why he said it, but before she say anything, things gone really horrible. It started with them hearing heavy footsteps, just behind them. Both kids froze on the spot and slowly and fearfully turned around. What they saw was horrifying. Or simply say, 'who' they saw was horrifying.
There stood a huge figure clad in black and had black long hooded coat as an outfit. They could only see a white mask full of holes, instead of an actual face. "What a wonderful evening. Thought I'll have a better vantage point up here, turns out there's two of the unlisted ones are here too." The man said amused. The way he said it scared both kids and they couldn't even utter a word. They're about to cry until this point. The man is so scary for them.
The big man takes a few steps and eyed both kids as if a predator watching his pray. They're literally a toothpick compared to the huge man. "W.. what do... you.. want?" Eri' small voice said in hopes that the man is not here to hurt them. They wanted to believe that. If not how are they gonna survive. It won't even take a hit to obliterate both of them at once. That's how much strong the man his. His aura is.
"Umm... I want many things. First of all..." The big man said and took off the mask still not showing his face. "... let's trade your nice hat with my stupid mask. It's not cool at all." The big man said in a sickening deathly tone.
Kota shook his head and grabbed Eri' hand and ran towards the only path that will allow them get off the hill. Muscular groaned mockingly and just did a small jump and he's already landed in front of them, blocking their escape completely. Muscular already dropped his mask and he exposed his hand out of the hooded clothing, revealing the red tissue of his muscle meat. It wasn't covered with skin at all and it was moving as well.
"Doesn't matter. Just start with the beautiful red, warm blood." Muscular said as bunch fleshy muscles bulked up his right hand and when he stretched it backwards, the hood moved out of the way of his face, revealing his identity. Kota saw this and his whole colour drained and eyes widened. He recognise the man. The man he saw in a news channel. The man, who's a murderer. The man who massacred many. The man who took everything from him. The man who robbed his life. The man who killed his parents. Now he's here, building up power in his hand for a punch, that could wipe out anything on the way. Muscular was already moving towards them with speed.
But for Kota everything slowed down. He didn't even noticed Eri was trying to drag him away and out of harms way. Kota was focused on the man's face and didn't even aware of the incoming punch. He didn't noticed Eri screaming his name. He's only see the man.
"Y..you." he mumbled. But was too late. His eyes widened in horror. It wasn't because he saw the punch coming. But he was shocked to see something else. He saw back of Eri' head. She's already in front of him, in hopes of protecting him from the impact. Things was going even slower for him. Why is this girl... trying to help him? Save him? Protecting from death? Why is she so..kind even after he wasn't so nice to her? Why?
That's when Kota realised, why Eri was in front of him. He saw the fist coming. And Eri' willing to die to save him? "N..no." he mumbled in realisation.
It was too late. The fist was few centimetres away from obliterating them. He couldn't even move to help her the same way she's trying to help him. But before the first rip apart their bodies, Kota felt something warm and friendly came out of their right side and took a hold of both of them and the force alone caused them to move out of the powerful punch. But before they landed, the fist came in contact with the ground. Then there was a shockwave. Rubble got thrown all the direction because of the force and the shockwave hit the three of them midway and knocked them out of each others grasp. The next second they felt themselves land god knows how much distance away so painfully and the impact made them roll few distance and skid to a stop. Kota' fall got cushioned while he was on top of whoever came for the rescue. Rubble and debris was on top of them.
Izumi groaned and cried out in pain. It hurts a lot and the flying debris hit her and cut few part of her body. It felt like forever before she turned her head painfully towards Kota who was laying there crying loudly. He's hurt. She told herself. She has to get up hold both of the kids closer.
And that's when her heart almost stopped. "E.Eri?" Izumi' called in cracking voice. Eri wasn't in her eyesight at first. But...
Izumi gasped and groaned as she got on her elbows and knees and again looks around. "E..Eri.." she called again and Kota heard it. His voice hitched and he also sat up, as if her name triggered a switch in him.
Soon their eyes landed on a pile of dust and rubble. "E..Eri?" Izumi' heart numbed and all the pain of her body died down as a rush of andranelin kicked in. Izumi struggled to get back on her knees and everything around her was forgotten as she stumbled towards the dirt pile, except it's not a pile of nothing.
"Eri?" Izumi mumbled and she moved as fast as she could a fell down multiple times but she ignored the pain and fell on her knees when reaching the spot. Eri' right side was visible and Izumi cried out loud as she moved the rubble and dirt off the poor child, who' not moving the slightest. "Eri?" Izumi called out and tears fell. Lot of tears.
Izumi picked up Eri shakily and held the little girl closer. "ERI??" Izumi screamed as she hugged Eri. But then... reality came crashing down on her. Izumi felt something worm yet wet while she hugged the little girl. Izumi' breathing hitched. Heart pounded faster and tears poured and she lifted Eri' upper body to look at the girl. What Izumi saw caused to sob soundly. Even though she's crying, her eyes are fixated on something.
Eri' body covered in dirt and grime. Her hair lost its shine. Sweat on her body is mixing with the dirt on her body. Bruises everywhere but what made Izumi cry out is non of them. Blood was flowing down her torso. A horrifying sight. Eri' neck was slit open because of a sharp rubble sliced her neck, which caused the blood loss even more unstoppable. "EERRIIIII.." Izumi screamed at the top her lungs.
Eri wasn't moving even when Izumi' eyes staring at her widely. Izumi wanted it all go to be a nightmare. Eri can't go. She won't. Eri will come back, right?
"I love that music. Come on. WE'LL LISTEN MORE OF IT." Muscular screamed in joy. Izumi flinched and all she could do is hug both kids closer and cry. She can't believe it. Eri? Is she? No...she can't.
Izumi sobbed and tried to keep both kids safely tucked into her, except one of them is already hurt.
Izumi stared as she sobbed and saw Mascular running towards them for another strike. Except this time, Izumi don't know what to do.
"SCREEEAAAMM. HAAHHA." Muscular shouted menacingly. Few monre seconds and their dead. But...
SWWIIIIIIZSSHHH...
The familiar sound hit her ears and her eyes picked up the sight of a green portal appearing to Muscular' left side. Muscular looks at the way and couldn't dodge as the fire bike comes out and hit his side so violently with a shockwave that sends the muscle man across the cliff and on to the wall creating a huge hole where he hit.
Izumi was already in shock and her sobs still haven't ceased yet. First she was eyeing Muscular under the rubble and when she looks at the Rider on the bike, he was already looking at..Eri.
Two green looks at Eri and even though she's crying and tearing up. She could see the pain in those green orbs.
"E..Eri." the rider called the unmoving girl. His voice was so low as if it doesn't belong to a murderer at all. Izumi however held Eri closer and her sobbing never stopped.