Hey guys thanks for waiting but Ch.4 is here. I hope you like it.
Ch.4 Mutant Mayhem
A week has passed since the robot attack, but no mention of the robots ever made it onto the news. As it turns out, Thirteen wasn't lying about the giant hologram around the warehouse. Nobody noticed a thing, plus as a bonus the robot actually turned invisible to escape Thirteen before using its legs as helicopter blades to go after Izuku. So, no one witnessed it flying over the buildings.
Training picked right back up with Izuku's strength training combined with some practice as Ditto. According to Thirteen, his physical capabilities should transfer over to his alien forms and vice versa. So, with an army of Dittos, Izuku took to clearing the trashed beach. Unfortunately, he was ten times more exhausted by the end of each workout when compared to before. It also doesn't help that Ditto is half his own size.
Saturday eventually rolled around, early that morning Izuku set off for Mr. Baumann's store only for the old man to kick him out. According to Mr. Baumann, he literally can't afford to have Izuku anywhere near his store claiming that he's the reason for ruining his store and scaring his customers. Of course, that isn't completely true but in Mr. Baumann's eyes it might as well be.
So, with nothing else to do Izuku decides to text Henzu Uuichi, figuring it's been awhile since they've hung out, while treading off away from the warehouse district. Henzu gets back to him rather quickly, complaining about how early it is, but suggests that they should head over to the Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall. There's a new arcade there that he's been wanting to scout out.
Smiling happily Izuku heads for the train station.
Somewhere in Kiyashi Ward a man dressed in a brown business suit slams his fist onto the door of a rundown and shabby apartment building. The windows are cracked and boarded up, the sides of the outer wall are falling apart, and the cement walkway is cracked.
"Yo, Animo! I know you're in there! Open up!"
Getting no reply, the man pulls out a key, unlocks the door, and steps inside.
The apartment is cluttered with filthy tanks and cages strewn about with various animals from fish, lizards, birds, and rodents. The TV appears to be left on in the corner of the large room.
The man holds his nose. "Smells like a zoo in here."
He walks through the apartment, steeping over the smaller cages, looking for the only human resident. Entering the farthest end of the living room, the man curiously watches a large frog hop about its terrarium, oblivious to the figure approaching him from behind.
The man turns around and yelps in surprise.
"How did you get in?" Demands a scratchy voiced old man.
The withered old man has greenish skin, long white hair that clearly hasn't been washed in weeks, and crooked teeth. The man's clothes are dark and ragged they too have not been washed or mended to seen as his shirt is torn up in places.
The man composes himself, fixing his tie. "The key, I am still your landlord, remember? Maybe not because your rent is 6 months past due."
Animo stares at the man as if he's crazy before shrugging him off. "All my funds go into my research." He says it in a way that sounds like that should have been obvious. "Now get out! You're disturbing me." Animo turns away and fiddles with something on his desk.
The landlord gazes at the state of the apartment noting the smells, grime, and animals. "Looks like you were disturbed long before I got here, pal. Listen doc. You and your furry friends are out on the street unless you pony up the green."
Animo smirks. "Pony up?" He turns opening the terrarium and reaches in for the large frog. "Interesting choice of phrases." He places the frog on the floor before reaching for something from his desk. "You must be an animal lover. Then you're gonna love this."
Animo equips himself with a very strange device that looks like it was put together with various pieces of kitchen utensils, pieces of household appliances, and other small electronic devices. The helmet part of the device is literally a bowl strainer with two long antennas attached to it. Strapped to his chest is a circular disk with red lights and various dials.
Staring at the device the landlord bends over holding his gut in a fit of laughing.
Ignoring the laughter Animo continues. "This is my transmodulator. Tell me, do you know what my quirk does?"
The landlord wipes away his tears standing back up. "Why would I care?"
"You should. My quirk allows me to alter the DNA of animals as long as I understand the physiology of the species. Admittedly, my quirk is not all that powerful the most I can do is give these creatures longer lifespans and make them a bit bigger, maybe even change their pigmentations. However, this device will change all that. It will accelerate the mutation process at a genetic level. Observe." Pressing a few buttons and rotating a dial the circular chest piece and the ends of the antennas spark red.
The red sparks form into thin beams that fire out and begin to surge into the bullfrog.
The frog starts to grow larger and larger as its warts begin to expand on its back, horns burst from its head, and its muscles convulse.
The landlord falls back screaming in horror as a giant mutant frog with bull-like horns and four red-eyes stares down at his cowering form.
Smiling like the maniac he is, Animo explains the other function of his invention. "Oh, I should also mention that this device gives me complete control over my creatures." Animo begins to laugh hysterically to himself as the extra-large amphibian leans towards the horrified landlord.
Like the monster it is, it gulps up the landlord before he can even blink. Panicking, the landlord desperately tries to free himself. From outside the frog one can see the desperate attempts for freedom of flailing about in its enlarged throat.
"Hahaha, I'm sorry I can't hear you. Sounds like you got a frog in your throat. Hahaha! Or is that the other way around?" Animo nearly falls over in laughter as the thrashing begins to diminish.
Animo eventually stops laughing, sighing he rubs his eyes. "My work is truly brilliant, but how am I, Dr. Aloysius J. Animo, supposed to show the world my genius?"
Leaning against his abomination Dr. Animo wonders what to do next. He doesn't have a lot of options considering he's seen as a mockery by the science community. He has no connections, no allies, and no money. All because no one can see the potential in his quirk or in his mind. He can evolve animals, give them power that quirked individuals would be envious of. They would upstage heroes and bring a new order into this world. Yet they deny him of his rightful glory.
That's when out of corner of his eyes he notices the TV flash to a commercial advertising the Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall.
Dr. Animo grins a plan hatching within his mind. "Ah, just what the doctor ordered."
The Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall is huge with stores that sell nearly everything you can think of. The mall is so large that other companies rent out their own parts of the buildings. For example, one part of the mall is used to house a radio tower.
Izuku, however, is outside the mall wandering around through the expansive parking lot. 'Where is he?' He turns here and there searching for Henzu.
Henzu texted him saying that he's near the eastside of the parking lot, but this place is overcrowded with people and cars.
A heavy hand made of red steel grips the lost teen's shoulder from behind making Izuku freeze up.
"Give me your cash if you know what's good for ya."
Izuku visibly relaxes. "Does it even matter? I mean, you're probably going to make me pay for everything today anyway." He turns smiling at his best friend.
Henzu grins, shrugging his shoulders. "Fair point." He releases his quirk turning his skin from a red metallic color back into flesh. "Good to see ya, buddy. It's been a while since we did something like this."
"Yeah." Izuku can't help but feel bothered by the fact that Henzu was red, because when that occurs it's because of when he absorbs something, he also gains the pigment of said object. "Did you break into something." Henzu doesn't even flinch at Izuku's bluntness, at this point both of them are used to this sort of interaction.
Instead of looking embarrassed Henzu looks almost proud. "I may or may not have broken into a car or two, besides it's not like you got any proof."
Izuku internally deadpans. 'He's too much sometimes!'
With hearty laughs the two head for the mall passing by a red car with a busted window.
Izuku has a great time at the mall. They window shopped on their way to the arcade with a few stores catching their attention. The greenette was practically drooling at the sight of the hero merchandise store his eyes mesmerized by all the posters, figurines, and other collectables. So much so that Henzu had to drag him away. Even though Henzu was annoyed by the sight of the store he did find Izuku's reaction a bit amusing.
They eventually get to their destination, a brand new and expansive arcade with all the latest gaming technologies and games of all genres: shooting, dancing, racing, and even pinball. Henzu dominates most of the competitive games such as the racing game, Street Fighters, and air hockey. That said, Izuku does prove himself at the co-op shooting games, ski ball, and most solo player games. At one-point Henzu got into an argument with a group of delinquent high schoolers, Izuku tried to break them up before a fight broke out, but Henzu got an idea. A few minutes later, Henzu is walking away a little bit richer after defeating the punks at Street Fighters. Although, Izuku is pretty sure he cheated by absorbing some electricity to shock his opponents in order to throw them off. Deciding that it was enough the duo decide to head down to the cafeteria for some lunch.
Izuku folds his arms feeling very disappointed while also trying to avoid bumping into other shoppers. "Why did you have to do that?"
"What?"
"You know…"
Realizing what he meant, Henzu rolls his eyes. "Come on Izuku, they were asking for it. Someone had to put them in their place."
Izuku mutters under his breath. "You didn't even win fairly."
Henzu suddenly stops becoming serious, he turns so he can face his friend face-to-face. "You've got to stop thinking like that."
Stopping, Izuku's eyes widen. "Like what?"
"That playing by the rules is going to lead you to success. News flash the concept of fair-and-square is total bullshit! Those rules are only in place to stop those that are superior from outshining their inferiors." Henzu folds his arms, his eyes soften slightly, but he holds his serious expression. "This is something that you oughta know by now."
Izuku's head droops. "That doesn't make it right though."
"What's right and what's wrong are totally subjective."
Izuku is not entirely sure what his friend is talking about.
Realizing this Henzu continues. "Okay for example stealing is wrong, right?"
"Of course."
"Okay, but what if someone stole so they could provide for their family? Is it wrong then?"
That's a tricky question. "Um, well, if they had the time, I'm sure they could find another way…"
Henzu shakes his head in disapproval. "Time isn't the problem. It's society, it's the rules that govern it, that can lead people to break the rules, to not play fairly." Izuku is still not sold on this idea. "Ultimately life ain't fair, so why should you play fair? If you have the skills to survive and provide for yourself, even if it breaks the law, then you should be able to do it."
Henzu notices a girl strolling towards them, Izuku hasn't noticed her. She has shoulder-length chestnut-hair with two longer clumps curving towards her round face. She is completely oblivious to the two of them within the bustling crowd.
She passes them by without so much as a glance.
As she walks away Henzu turns back to Izuku. "So, if I need cash for some new game system then I should be completely justified to take it, because I have the ability to do so without anyone noticing." Henzu holds up a little pink wallet that clearly isn't his.
Instantly Izuku understands the situation; he pickpocketed the poor girl. "Henzu! Stop! You can't do that!"
"Relax she didn't even notice." Henzu smirks feeling very cocky as he waves the wallet around. 'Besides it's not like you'd rat me out.'
"Hey! That's mine!" A feminine voice with a crossed tone yells back at them.
Henzu twists around as Izuku silently begins to panic. Behind them stands the same girl that Henzu just pickpocketed.
She is a short girl of slender yet feminine build. She is fair-skinned with a perpetual blush on her cheeks. Her eyes are large and round, their irises a warm brown. She's wearing a dark pink t-shirt and black gym shorts that extend to her knees, and white shoes.
She holds her hand out trying her best to look firm. "Give it back." She demands with as much conviction as she can muster.
Henzu gives Izuku a look, smirking mischievously, seeing an opportunity to have a teaching moment for his friend.
Henzu gives the girl a nasty grin. "Aw, you want it? Then you're going to have to take it back." Henzu touches the ground, absorbing the tile thus changing his skin to the hardened substance.
The round-faced girl tries her best to stay composed, but it's clear that she's not so sure about this anymore. But that's all the money she has, she literally can't afford for this thug to take it from her.
Henzu is able to pick up on her hesitation. After years of taunting and picking fights you pick up on people's mannerisms, especially when it comes to confrontations. Clearly this girl would like to run, but she won't for whatever reason. It's an opportunity to show Izuku that if she's capable of taking the wallet back then she earned it, but if she has to use her quirk thus break the law to do so the better. Even if she doesn't Henzu will still get his point across by using his quirk. That if you want something, you need to have the will to break the rules to get it.
Izuku, not quite sure what's going on, doesn't want a fight to break out. Last thing he needs is for the authorities to arrest them for thievery and illegal quirk usage.
With one swift motion Izuku swipes the wallet from the taller teen's hand.
He falls onto his knees bowing for forgiveness, holding up the wallet like an offering. "I'm so sorry! Please forgive my friend, he didn't mean it!"
The girl's eyes pop out for a minute staring at the begging greenette. "N-no, I'm pretty sure he did."
Even Henzu has to agree. "Yeah, I did."
She scowls at him while he smirks in response.
"I'm really really sorry! Please, I'm begging you don't report us!" A fountain of tears gushes out from the greenette's eyes so much so that it begins to soak through their shoes. Other customers notice and begin to move away.
The girl steps back avoiding the growing puddle. "Ahh, okay, okay." She takes back her wallet.
Izuku sniffs, regaining himself. "Thank you!"
Henzu rubs his ear. "You're too loud."
The girl firmly grips her wallet. "That said I don't appreciate being robbed."
Henzu opens his mouth readying a smartass remark but Izuku jumps back up onto his feet "Here I'll make it up to you! We were just heading to the cafeteria I can pay for your lunch; you can get whatever you want, it'll be my treat!"
Henzu isn't so sure it'll be that easy. 'Nice try Izuku, but there is no way she'll accept.'
Her reaction is not what he's expecting. Her eyes are glazed over, glowing with excitement, as drool drips from her gaping mouth as if imagining all the tasty treats she can have.
'You gotta be kidding.'
As the girl happily accepts the offer, the three teens don't notice a smelly man with a large box walking past them. Dr. Animo gazes up at the pet shop a floor above them. He smiles putting his crooked teeth on display.
The round-faced girl holds her cheek, tongue sticking out, enjoying the delicious jumbo sundae that she ordered. "Hm, it's so good."
Henzu is sitting across from her with a plate of cheese fries. He's taken slightly aback by the result of his thievery. 'I wasn't expecting this.'
Izuku is sitting between the two, tears streaming down his eyes, all he has is a cup of water. 'My poor wallet, it's empty.' Deciding not to feel down, Izuku attempts to distract himself. "So, can we assume that all is forgiven."
The cute girl nods her head, dipping her spoon in for another scoop. "Oh, heck yeah!" After taking a bite, she puts down the spoon. "Oh, I guess I should introduce myself my name is Ochaco Uraraka."
"H-hi, I'm I-Izuku Midoriya a-and t-this is Henzu Uuichi." Izuku becomes very nervous now that he realizes that he's actually having a conversation with a girl!
"It's nice to meet you Midoriya." Her smile turns mischievous as she shifts her attention to the black-haired thug. "And it's nice to know the name of the person who robbed me. Now I can properly file a report to the police."
Henzu growls. "Huh, where was that confidence earlier?"
That immediately shuts her up, she pouts making her cheeks puff out in annoyance.
Izuku immediately jumps in trying to mediate the situation. "So, Uraraka what brings you here today?"
The distraction works. "Oh, I'm just browsing for today, you know trying to get the lay of the land." She becomes embarrassed, rubbing her head. "I actually don't have enough money to buy anything too big."
Henzu sits up straight, deadpanning. 'Then why did you stand up to me?!'
"Lay of the land? Did you just move here?"
"No, not yet. Well, maybe, it depends on if I pass the U.A. Entrance Exam."
The freckled face boy immediately lights up. "You're going to take the exam too?!"
"Yeah! Wait, so you're taking it too? This is so great! I'll know somebody maybe we can help each other out."
"Y-yeah."
Henzu throws his head back in exasperation. "Ah, not another one."
Ochaco looks to Izuku for clarification.
"He doesn't like heroes all too much."
"What?!" Ochaco can't help but stare. "How could you not like heroes?"
"What is there to like in the first place?"
Ochaco looks ready to argue but from the corner of her eye she can see Izuku gesturing and shaking his head. Understanding that he's saying not to drag out an argument, she shuts her mouth and sits back.
Izuku gives her a grateful smile.
"I don't get something."
"What's that?"
"How are you two friends?" She points at them. "I mean you're so nice while he's so mean. You like heroes and he doesn't. You follow the rules and he's a delinquent."
Henzu grins and gives her a thumbs up, taking the insult as a compliment. "I can answer that question." Said delinquents leans onto his friend. "This guy, despite his hero obsession, is one of the most honest and loyal people I know. No matter what bad shit I pull or drag him into I know he'll have my back, and I have his. Right buddy?"
"R-right."
Truth be told, Izuku is not sold with his own answer. Of course, he'll always have Henzu's back but as for the honesty part… He's going to have to disagree with that statement. After all he still hasn't told Henzu about his watch, or at least that he has a "quirk". Sure, he promised Thirteen that he'd keep it a secret, but he did consider telling his best friend about it. Maybe he should say something now? If he gets into U.A. then he's going to find out anyway, plus Thirteen and him have already come up with a cover story.
"H-hey Henzu there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
Before Izuku can tell him, a loud rumble and an eruption of screams resonate throughout the shopping mall. A cloud of dust and smoke emerge from the opposite end of the mall from the cafeteria. Some patrons, mostly those with small children, make their way to the exits as fast as they can while most of the bystanders stand and watch.
"What was that?!"
"Is it a villain?"
"I wonder which hero is going to show up."
Ochaco is freaking out. "Oh my god! What are we going to do?!"
Henzu replies, he's really annoyed by how dumb some people can be. "Leave obviously."
Henzu grabs Izuku by the shoulder and begins leading him away. Ochaco fearfully follows them, unsure about what to do.
While being led away, Izuku can't help but wonder what's happening. Force of habit is nagging at him to get his Hero Analysis notebook out, but there's no way Henzu is going to let him stay and watch.
Ochaco glances back at the smoke, fear and surprise spread across her face at what she sees. Without a second to waste she throws herself at the two boys. "Get down!" She shoves them to the ground with her just as something big and screeching whooshes past their heads.
Henzu, flipping himself over, snarls. "What was that…for?" The teen's voice softens, staring wide eyed at the monster flying above them.
Izuku, rubbing his head, looks up and begins shaking in fear. Flying above the open roof of the mall is a monster of a bird. It looks like a giant 6 foot-tall cockatiel with grey sharp-feathers, a jagged beak, and piercing red eyes. The mutant bird gives a terrifying and rattling cry before swooping down on the shocked crowd. People finally realize the situation and begin to panic, throwing the entire mall into chaos. The bird tries to snatch up a few customers only to grab their bags or miss them completely amongst the chaos, although it does manage to knock some poor people over.
Izuku is shaking watching the chaos ensue. "What is that thing?!"
Henzu picks himself up. "Whatever it is, I'm not staying to find out!" Henzu gestures to a nearby emergency exit; it's gone unnoticed by the fleeing patrons mainly because it's in a narrow hallway between two food stalls.
The three rush over with Henzu flinging the door open only to stop dead in his tracks with Izuku and Ochaco slamming into his back.
Izuku's nerves are really getting to him. "Why'd you stop?!" Looking up he gets his answer.
A giant monster frog with horns is staring down at them with four red eyes.
The four individuals hold their gaze, unable to look away.
"Nevermind."
And with that, the three kids scramble back through the emergency exit just as the frog lashes its disgusting green tongue at them. Luckily, Henzu is able to slam the door shut before it can reach them.
Catching their breath, they check up on the situation within the rest of the mall. It's a complete disaster although there are clearly less people around there are still a few that are unable to escape the onslaught for the entire mall appears to have been taken over by giant mutated animals. There are not only more mutated frogs and birds, but giant hamsters with spider-like eyes, mutated goldfish that have grown legs that look like a combination of fins and reptile feet, and saber-tooth like cats with spikes protruding from their backs.
Ochacko is nearly in tears. "What the heck is happening right now?! There are monsters everywhere!"
Henzu is not able to come up with a reply, even he finds the scene disturbing.
Izuku's heart beats faster, his breath stiffens, as he watches innocent people being attacked. Their screams and cries of fear fills his ears, they're begging for help, for someone to save them, for a hero.
"We have to help them."
It takes the other two a minute to realize what he just said.
Henzu spins around so fast that Izuku thinks that his head would have flung off. "Are you crazy?!"
Ochacko speaks up as well, although she looks a bit hesitant as if she wants to agree with Izuku instead. "The heroes should be here soon. There's no need to put ourselves in danger."
"No, they won't be. If they were then they'd be here already."
"What do you mean?"
"That frog was guarding the exit. Not just to keep us in, but to keep anyone from getting in."
Ochaco puts two and two together. "As in keep in the heroes out?"
Izuku nods, his eyes turning serious with worry. "Yeah."
Henzu throws his head back, really annoyed by the news. "Phft, typical, heroes are all talk and no bite."
There's something else bothering Ochaco. "Wait, if that thing and others like it are on guard and other monsters are attacking. Then that means this attack was planned."
"Yeah, there must be a villain running around turning pets into monsters and is able to organize them. Probably with some kind of mind control." The greenette begins to ramble on into a storm of muttering.
The muttering weirds out the chestnut-haired girl. "He's really good at figuring these kinds of things out, isn't he?"
Henzu deadpans. "You have no idea."
Izuku looks out again, he spots a TV across from them. The TV is on the news channel and is broadcasting the attack on the mall. From what he can tell several heroes have arrived on the scene, but as he thought frogs are guarding the entrance, mutant birds are blockading the sky, and even monster fish are patrolling the sewers. Help is clearly not coming anytime soon.
"We're wasting time. We need to save these people!"
Henzu smacks Izuku over the head before hoisting him up by the collar. "Don't be stupid! How are you supposed to help them? You're quirkless, after all!"
Ochaco's eyes widen in surprise, she had honestly thought that there weren't any quirkless people left in Japan, at least those that are around her age. Yet he wants to be a hero, that's crazy, but also kind of inspiring and noble.
Izuku's eyes shift downwards. "Even if I'm quirkless, even if I'm crippled, even if there is no hope…I can't just stand by and do nothing. I have to do something. It's a hero's job to save everybody!" He locks eyes with his friend, daring him to try and stop him, his soul burning for action and to carry out his words.
Henzu glares back feeling very frustrated right now.
Izuku's words ring throughout Ochaco's head. 'Save everybody…'
Henzu looks away, his hair blocking the view of his eyes. "That's very admirable, it is, but you… Are. Quirkless!" Henzu shoves Izuku against the wall. "What do you expect to do?! Go out there and run around like a tasty treat for all those things?!"
"No, I'm going to run out there and save them!" Abandoning his reservations about his "quirk" Izuku activates his watch.
Henzu raises an eyebrow and Ochaco stares in awe at the alien green glow emanating from the strange device. Izuku rotates the dial, finding the correct transformation, and slams the dial down.
In a flash of light Izuku disappears and is replaced by a blue raptor like creature.
"You can stay here if you want, I won't force you to help."
Henzu's mouth drops in pure shock, and Ochaco's eyes expand in surprise.
"Oh, um, I'm not quirkless by the way." XLR8 stats a matter of factually, he then notices a mutant hamster approaching a fallen girl. "Look, I'll explain later, but for now." A visor covers XLR8's face before he zooms away, leaving the other two in a very stunned and confused state.
Henzu continues to stare as the morphed Izuku zips around grabbing victims before they can be harmed and getting them to safety outside. Henzu notices the TV broadcasting the news from it he can actually see a blue blur moving in and out of the mall leaving behind surprised and dazed people.
His shock however turns into frustration. How could Izuku do this?! How could he lie to him?! Has he been lying the entire time?! Was he just playing everyone?! He'd be impressed if he wasn't one of the people being conned.
Ochacko is amazed at what she's seeing. Her new friend just shapeshifted into a dinosaur that can run at lighting fast speed. It's incredible he's doing exactly what he said he would! He's saving everybody, but she thought that Uuichi said that he was quirkless.
Meanwhile, XLR8 is dashing across the mall snatching up people left and right before taking them outside and away from danger. He considered grabbing a hero or two and taking them into the mall, but they are too busy preventing any mutants form harming the people he just saved or the crowd of spectators that has formed around the entire mall.
As he reenters the mall a well-timed tongue lash from a giant frog trips the speedster sending him crashing into a few tables in the cafeteria.
Luckily his helmet is strong enough to prevent a concussion, but his body aches in pain. "Ouch."
The frog croaks just before it lunges itself forward its mouth wide open to scoop up and chomp down on the blue reptile.
XLR8 flinches his arms raised to protect himself, but nothing happens other than the sound of croaking moving away from him. Opening his eyes, he stares as the giant frog floats skyward into the air while it struggles to regain its balance.
That's when XLR8 notices Ochaco standing there with her hands raised forward. She couldn't stand by and do nothing. Izuku is out here and giving it his all, she can't standby and watch as he gets eaten by a monster.
With confidence she presses her hands together. "Release!"
The mutant begins to plummet crash landing onto a small kiosk.
XLR8 dashes over to Ochaco. "Uraraka that was amazing?! Was that your quirk? Is it gravity based? Is it an emitter or a mutation? Can you use it on me?!"
Ochaco can't possible answer the barrage of questions, especially since XLR8 is throwing them out a mile a minute. "I, uh, um, it's my quirk. It's called Zero Gravity. I can make anything that I touch weightless." She furiously rubs the back of head feeling very bashful.
"Wow, so cool!"
The frog begins to stir. It corrects its orientation and lashes out its tongue. Acting fast XLR8 grabs Ochaco and runs away allowing the tongue to smash into a table. The frog continues its attack with XLR8 just barely managing to avoid the tongue lashes. XLR8 makes a mad dash for the nearby escalator, it should take them up to the second floor and away from the amphibian.
Before they can make it, one of the mutated cats pounces out from above, blocking their path. Unable to stop XLR8 slides past the feral cat slamming into the wall, he uses his body to cushion the blow for Ochaco.
The frog joins the saber cat, the two beasts growling as they prepare to maul the downed teens. The monster feline goes first, pouncing with its sharp black claws out and ready to slash them to ribbons.
XLR8 instinctively moves to cover Ochaco, while she herself cowers in fear.
"Get away from them!" The sound of clanging metal bashes into the large cat's head redirecting it and sending it crashing through the store window.
A metalized Henzu, having absorbed the matter from a metal pipe, couldn't let those two idiots get into trouble without him. He's the ultimate troublemaker! It's an insult if he stays back and misses the opportunity to break those stupid quirk regulation laws. Plus, the prospect of fighting giant monsters is way too awesome to pass up.
Henzu turns to the other two who are staring at him in complete surprise. "Don't gawk at me! We have some heads to bash." He back hands the frog's tongue away before it can hit him. "Also, Izuku, we're going to have a long talk after all this."
Ochaco and Izuku look to each other, they nod in agreement before getting up. XLR8 begins spinning around the frog distracting it, it works as the frog tries to lash out at him but misses every time. Ochaco presses her hands onto Henzu's back pushing him up into the air. When he rises above the frog, she releases her Zero Gravity effect and he plummets downward. He piledrives into the frog's skull smashing it into the ground and knocking it unconscious.
Henzu raises his fists into the air. "I gotta admit, that was pretty cool!" He proclaims, grinning like an idiot all the while.
Ochaco gives a big thumbs up. "Yeah, it was!"
XLR8 smiles as well but a distant scream startles him. "We're not done. There may still be some people left!"
Ochacko frowns. "You're right, we need to do something."
"We scour the mall and save whomever we can. Are you with me?"
"Yeah!"
Henzu jokingly postures himself to look like he's thinking. "Hmmm, fine."
XLR8 smiles in appreciation. "Then let's be heroes!"
The three unlicensed heroes make their way through the mall. Luckily most of the mutants have migrated outside the mall to help prevent pro heroes from entering. That said there are still quite a bit of them within the mall itself. With their speed, strength, and support they are able to fend off or at least distract the mutants allowing XLR8 to speed any victims away. Fortunately, there are not many people left behind.
Each of them gets a moment to shine throughout the next few minutes. Within a clothes store, XLR8 took a frog for a spin by using its own tongue to tie it up by running around it. In a video game store, Henzu punches a mutant hamster so hard in the face that he shattered its giant teeth; he also may have taken a game or two with him as he left. In a furniture store, Ochaco uses her quirk to move a large couch that she uses to pin down a mutated goldfish with piranha-like teeth.
Later, inside a bookstore, Ochaco levitates a fallen shelf that landed on an unconscious woman, XLR8 picks the woman up and speeds away. Ochaco immediately barfs up what looks like rainbow glitter, the side effect of her quirk has finally caught up with her.
Henzu fends off another mutant hamster. "You alright!?"
Ochaco coughs. "Y-yeah…I just…need a minute."
XLR8 returns, tackling the hamster and knocking it away. "I checked the rest of the mall. We can make a run for it now."
Henzu reverts his skin back to normal. "Was that a pun?"
"Yeah, I thought it would be funny."
Between breaths, Ochaco chirps in. "It needs work."
"Noted. Anyway, we'll do this one at a time. I'll get you guys outside, and we can leave the rest to the heroes."
Ochaco nods, if she tries to talk there's a good chance that her breakfast will join her lunch on the floor. Meanwhile, Henzu walks over to a broken cash register, grinning like a Cheshire cat, he immedialty snatches up any loose bucks.
XLR8 bends down to pick up the round-faced girl who's covering her mouth. "Good job, hero." He picks her up bridal style.
Ochaco looks away blushing. "Yeah, you too…hero."
XLR8 grins but his delightfulness is cut short by the sound of beeping and a flash of red light.
Izuku immediately falls over, with Ochaco landing on top of him, as he returns to normal. Izuku has a hard time breathing with Ochaco sitting on his chest. Ochaco is too dumbfounded to move.
Henzu finally notices, Izuku struggling underneath the confused girl. "What the hell happened?!"
Ochaco finally scrambles away as Izuku sits up. "It's my wat-Quirk! It's my quirk. I can transform but only for ten minutes."
"Cool, so just transform back."
"I can't it takes another ten minutes for my…quirk to recharge."
"We really need to have a talk."
Before Izuku can respond, more rumbling and animalistic cries shake the mall.
Ochaco chokes out in confusion. "What was that?"
They sneakily peer out the store window seeing even more mutant pet animals patrolling the mall: large dinosaur-like turtles, horrifying lizards, and nightmarish rabbits.
"There's even more of them." Ochaco whispers harshly as the three of them sneak back towards the end of the store to avoid detection. "What's even causing this?"
A fixated look crosses Izuku's eyes. "The villain."
Henzu immediately recognizes that stupid look. "No way! You can't be serious."
Ochaco is rightly puzzled. "What is it?"
"He wants to go after the villain."
"What?!"
Izuku has the decency to look embarrassed. "The heroes are still stuck outside, and there are even more mutants, if they get out, they can cause a disaster." Not to mention haunt people's dreams for years to come. "We have to at least slow down the villain's plan until a pro hero can get here."
Henzu can't help but be frustrated. "GAH! Do you have a death wish or something?"
Ochaco doesn't agree with that statement, but even she has to agree with him. "He's kind of right, Midoriya… You don't even know where the villain is."
That's true, for all he knows this may be a horrible accident caused by radiation or a secret government experiment that's gotten loose somehow. Izuku's mind fills with every possible detail, explanation, and question. What do they want? What are they after? What is their quirk? Where are they? Izuku's mind spins these questions around his head. Until it all clicks together.
"The cell tower."
Ochaco tilts her head. "What?"
"The cell tower. That's what the villain is after."
"Why do you say that?"
"Nothing is being taken, not even the money."
Henzu's eyes dart to the cash register that he stole from. It's true, the mutant hamster didn't even glance at the money.
"And even their assault. They weren't trying to keep people in they were trying to chase them out."
Izuku's reasoning begins to make sense in Ochaco's mind.
"And look where the monsters are coming from."
Ochaco glances over the shelves noticing that the monsters are all headed away from the same direction. "From the same direction as the cell tower."
"Yup."
Henzu folds his arms. "But why would the bastard want the cell tower for?"
"Control." He clearly lost Henzu and Ochaco. "If they can control these things, what's to say they can't control other animals, or make even more of them."
Ochaco considers the possibility. As she thinks about it, Izuku's logic makes more and more sense. What if this is only the first wave, the calm before the storm? What would happen if more monsters appear or even if everyday pets go wild? The damage could be too great.
The brunette nods, her hair bouncing slightly. "Okay, let's go get that villain."
Izuku is a bit surprised, he really thought that they'd be unwilling. "Really?! You sure? You don't have to do this if you don't want to."
Ochaco shakes her head. "It doesn't matter if I want to or not. I have to do this; I can't stand the thought of people getting hurt by these things. I'm with you, Midoriya."
Izuku gives her a grateful smile, one she is happy to return.
Izuku glances at Henzu, he doesn't have to ask but he does. "What about you?"
Henzu looks away feeling very annoyed and upset.
"You with me or not?" Izuku hesitates before continuing. "Or was all that talk about having my back a lie?"
Anger flashes in Henzu's eyes and Izuku immediately regrets saying anything.
Henzu ultimately gives in. "I've got your back." He gives the shorter teen a small smirk. "You know I'm kinda proud. That was a really dirty trick you just pulled."
"I learned from the best." Izuku turns gazing out at the ever-increasing threat as his companions join his side. "Let's do this guys." His eyes fixate onto the distant cell tower and their goal. "It's hero time!"
I know, boo boo! A cliff hanger, boo! But it had to be done. I decided to split Ch.4 into 2 parts because it ended up being 50 pages long! I'm also hoping it will allow me time to work on Ch.6 since this is the case. That said please expect Ch.5 to be up sooner rather than later, I'll probably post it either on Monday or Tuesday.
Please leave a review, I absolutely adore hearing from you guys.
*That's right I have officially incorporated Ochaco Uraraka into the narrative so get used to seeing her around, obviously.
*I loved writing for Dr. Animo mainly because his character is so cartoonish and over the top. Do you guys like the inclusion of this character?
*Also get ready for a new alien next chapter. Any guesses which one it is?