Heroes Never Die It's Hero Time

by Guardian-Sigil

One would think that in a world where everyday people possess impossible abilities nothing would really be a surprise. Izuku Midoriya, who upon the age of four was diagnosed as quirkless, was denied of his dream of become a hero that can save everyone with a smile. But fate gives him a chance; allowing him access not to one but a universe of powers and abilities.

27. Ch:27 Unleash Your Power Part II

Hey everyone, I'm finally back with Ch.27. Woah it took long enough, huh? Anyway you all waited long enough so let's get to it. Shall we?

---

**********(Opening Theme)**********

*Lyric

*Scene

Oh, woah, ohh Oh, woah, ohh Oh, woah, ohh ohh

Izuku slowly walks up a stage as he fades between his alien forms. Below him students look up in anticipation as the crowd cheers.

Instrumental

Izuku makes it to the top of the stage and looks down at his fellow students who look back up at him challengingly.

Itsuka bokura no ue o suresure ni toorisugiteitta ano hikouki o

Izuku flys through the sky on his hoverboard with a smile before running into turbulence and slipping off it

Fushigi na kurai ni oboeteru imi mo nai no ni naze ka

The teenager ends up crashing through a familiar building. A moment later he runs out as Mr. Baumann chases after him with a broom. Inside the store Nezu and Thirteen laugh as they watch the events unfold.

Fugainakute naita hi no yoru ni tada tsuyokunaritai to negatteta

Izuku walks towards class as he's joined by Ochaco and all his friends. They pass by other students such as Hitoshi, Mei, and the 1-B students and a few megawatts as they continue walking.

Sono tame ni hitsuyou na yuuki o sagashimotometeita

Izuku slows down to see Todoroki standing in front of him with a serious expression. Behind him Endeavor glares.

Zankoku na unmei ga sadamatteru to s***

Ochaco meditates as she allows One For All to flow around her as Toshinori looks on. Suddenly Toshinori turns around to look at Izuku in his middle school uniform on the roof.

Sore ga itsu no hi ka boku no mae ni arawareru to s***

Behind Izuku the shadows of his tormentors including Katsuki appear before fading, leaving just Henzu who gives a mock salute.

Tada isshun

Izuku and Henzu are seen laughing together at something.

kono isshun

The two are now standing back to back, Izuku looks sad while Henzu looks angry.

iki ga dekiru nara

Izuku turns to reach out to Henzu who walks away and slowly turns into his mutated form.

Dou demo ii to Omoeta

Izuku a single tear comes down his face before opening his eyes revealing back on the stage as the other students look up at him.

sono kokoro o Instrumental

Slowly a smile appears on his face as the other students give him challenging looks. He returns the challenge by holding his hand out in a 'come and get me' motion

Mou ichido tooku e ike tooku e ike to boku no naka de dare ka ga utau

Izuku runs across the field ducking and dodging other students as they let loose their quirks, such as Mei gliding by in support gear, Shiozaki creating multiple vines, Kendo shattering the ground with her hands and Shinso walking through it all with a cool expression.

Dou shiyou mo nai hodo netsuretsu ni

Ochaco grins as she roars out, all around her gravity begins to distort. Behind her the shadows of the previous wielders appear.

Itsudatte

me o harashita kimi ga nido to kanashimanai you ni waraeru

Heatblast destroys an oncoming glacier, XLR8 races against a certain speedster, Four Arms fights off Dark Shadow, Diamondhead dodges multiple falling rocks only to be consumed in a powerful explosion.

Sonna hiiroo ni naru tame no uta

Izuku runs out of the fire with a determined expression as he runs at all his waiting opponents.

Saraba kakagero Peace Sign

All across the universe multiple aliens look on their screens at the sports festival

Korogatteiku sutoorii o

Izuku grins as he holds the Omnitrix up.

Instrumental

The scene fades out to reveal Izuku in his Hero costume along with the 1-A students as they all head out into battle.

[Illustrated by Drag0n5on]

**********(End Theme)**********

Ch.27 Unleash Your Power Part II

Finally the smoke begins to clear away as a fresh cool wind comes in to carry it away.

The entire audience, the students, and heroes lean forward trying to be the first to see what had become of these heroic gladiators.

And what they see leaves them in silence, Shoto's body has crashed against the opposite wall of the stadium. His body remains up, but as the smoke clears away a bit more is revealed. The entire left side of his shirt has been burned away to ash and his left arm looks broken like it impacted itself against a train. His body is equally pulled down by gravity and he collapses in a heap of exhaustion.

"There." cries Midnight. "Todoroki is…unconscious!" She throws her whip towards the opposite end of the field. "Midoriya wins!"

The entire stadium erupts into earthshaking cheers as the smoke clears to reveal the fiery Heatblast. He also crashed into the melted cement wall but unlike his opponent his alien DNA gave him a bit more durability than that of a human's. With a groan the morphed Izuku gazes straight ahead at his defeated foe, his mind still processing the clash of their powers.

"Midoriya will advance to the finals!"

That's it…he won.

The audience get even more riled up, screaming from the top of their lungs as they celebrate such an amazing battle.

While the crowd screams into his ears, the flaming Izuku finally settles down. He scans the rest of the field; he's both amazed and terrified by how much destruction the two of them caused. "It's…mind boggling." Despite the flames a cold shiver runs down his spine. "I don't even want to think what would happen if he had more control."

His mind replays the sight, the sight of Shoto being reborn. 'It was…so incredible.'

A few wisps of flames dance across his eyes.

"Huh?"

Heatblast finally takes a moment to examine himself by raising up his hands that are still flaming up with energy.

…

"AHHH!" The flames spurt up as Heatblast begins to panic. "I'm on fire!" He takes off running across the burnt field.

During the heat of the moment, Izuku didn't actually know what had happened to him. He figured he was one of his other aliens and now all that he sees of himself is that somehow his entire body is on fire!

"Ahh! Fire! I'm on fire!"

Someone please save him! At this rate he'll be burned to a crisp! Shoto's flames must have been stronger than he thought, they were so hot they turned his body into a walking inferno.

"Someone put me out! Someone-EEK!"

A spray of fire-retardant foam splashes in his face, dousing the flames and leaving a bare red-rocked skull.

"Ah! It burns!" Heatblast grabs at his face as tiny spurts of flames try to reignite amongst the foam. "Why does it burn?!"

"Oh, suck it up!" snaps a rather irritated Midnight with a fire extinguisher in her hands.

She's really had it with these kids, they've changed the rules, caused tons of destruction, and worst of all they nearly gave her a new tan.

Cementoss curiously eyes the fire extinguisher. "Why do you have that anyway?"

"Oh, I had it in case Todoroki decided to use his flames today…" Midnight briefly examines the melted walls, burned grass, and demolished battlefield. "Obviously, it wouldn't have been enough."

"Ahh!" Heatblast continues to scream while in a panic, his head has reignited but that just means he's still burning alive.

"Oh, be quiet!" snaps Midnight. "Take the pain like a man!" She cracks her whip snapping Izuku out of his panic. "Besides you're not actually burning alive or anything!"

"Huh?" Finally he stops screaming and examines his body again, taking note that even though he can feel the heat it doesn't actually hurt.

But he has to make sure, his head snaps up to the jumbotron where he has the privilege of taking in his newest alien's appearance.

"Is that me…?" With his flaming body on screen, the morphed Izuku waves his arm making sure it's really him. Now that he's calm enough to realize the truth, he takes a moment to admire this new alien's features. "Now this is hot."

Too bad for him, Midnight's really had it and that pun was enough to send her off the edge as she takes aim with the fire extinguisher.

"AHHHH!"

---

Shoto Todoroki begins to stir, his entire body feels overheated, unable to even sweat, after that heated match with his classmate. His head is pounding as he tries to make out where he is. From what he can feel he's on a stretcher being hauled away by a couple of medical bots most likely on their way to the Nurse's Office.

"What happened…?"

His mind flashes back to his recent match with Midoriya. And based on how he's the one being hauled away on a stretcher quickly deduces how the fight ended.

Shoto sighs. "I lost, huh?"

The scarred teen leans his head up so he can take a proper look at his left hand, namely the left side of his Quirk. He really used it back there, and it felt so right, something he didn't expect. And despite his loss, he isn't all that torn up about it. Midoriya won, no need to get hung up about it. But what leaves an uncomfortable pit in his stomach is the feeling of unease and the lack of confidence in himself that he made the right decision. Was it worth using his flames? Can he really become what he wants to be rather than what his father desires him to be?

"What's the matter?"

The medical robots come to a halt as a large imposing figure intercepts their path.

Recognizing the voice, Shoto grunts as he sits up and finds his bastard of a father standing before him.

The Number Two hero smiles down at his spawn. Which is a rather odd sight, Shoto half expected him to be exploding with rage after his loss, but then again Endeavor did get what he wanted in the end.

The Flaming Hero snickers. "Not gonna tell me to get lost?" All while he smiles, he eyes his son's left side, which is now exposed thanks to his uniform being burned away by his own flames; the flames he gave him. "You need to learn to control your left side. It's dangerous to release so much energy like that."

The worst excuse for a father opens his arms as if to embrace Shoto's acceptance of him and his power. "But despite your loss, I'm glad you're finally seeing reason. Now that you've abandoned your childish rebellion, we can get back to what's important." His grin becomes sickeningly menacing as a dark and unheroic like vision plays in his mind. "And you can begin by crushing that Midoriya brat."

Yes, that boy played his part well unlike others, he must understand the value of power. He should almost thank the Midoriya spawn for assisting his creation to see the truth. Because thanks to his efforts, Endeavor's own ambitions will finally come to foriscian.

Endeavor raises his hand out to his injured and dazed creation. "After you graduate, you'll work by my side. I'll lead you down the path of the mighty, Shoto."

Shoto can't even bare to look at this monster, no the truth is that this man is not even worth his time. It took a classmate…a real hero to help him see the error of his way of thinking. But even so he can't or alter how he feels about this bastard.

"I haven't abandoned anything."

"Huh?" That statement delivered calmly and precisely, takes the pro hero completely by surprise.

Shoto raises his left hand, gazing down upon it with a new light. "You're a fool to think my feelings could be so easily reversed."

He thinks back to his final attack with Midoriya how their opposing fires clashed and danced about the stadium.

"Instead…out there…for that one moment." His left-hand clenches as if holding onto this new memory, the memory of Midoriya's words: that it's his Quirk. "I forgot all about you."

Endeavor, surprisingly, let's out a gasp of shock. He was so sure this was it, the start of his uprising.

With a tap of his hand the medical robots wheel themselves around the stunned pro hero. As they pass Shoto continues to spill his feelings. "Whether that's good or bad, whether it's the right thing to do. I don't know. Maybe I don't need you."

Endeavor, the man in All Might's shadow, can only watch in stunned silence as Shoto is carried away, away from him and his goals.

When he can no longer see his son, the son that's rejected him, anger and frustration surge back into his being; fueling his flames and his rage.

"Midoriya." He spits the accused name out like it's an insult. "Just what kind of drivel did you put in my Shoto's head?"

It had to be that boy; he should have known better to demand someone like him to push Shoto's progress on. It was a mistake, a mistake he intends to fix.

---

"Man, why'd she go and spray me like that?" groans Heatblast as the last of the foam is finally burned away.

How did someone like Midnight become a teacher anyway? Like she's the R rated hero…how is that school appropriate?

Heatblast shakes his head as he reenters the viewing box. "Sheesh, she's got to learn to chill out."

"So do you, man." states Hanta Sero upon Heatblast's arrival.

"Oh, hey Sero." Heatblast happily waves his brightly burning hand, his classmates flinch at the slight movement. "What?"

Denki Kaminari scoots back in his seat to try and get away from the heat radiating off the creature. "Dude, you're a walking bonfire! So watch what you're doing."

"Sorry, but I'm not used to this guy yet." The morphed Izuku gazes down at his molten-rock body.

This alien certainly is a unique one, he can only imagine what kind of environment could have produced such a species. Probably a planet that's void of any water. Hell he's lucky he didn't set off the sprinkler system as he made his way over here.

Mina Ashido examines the flaming Izuku. "Well can you at least transform back?"

"No can do, got to let the transformation burn out on its own."

Tsuyu Asui noticeably let's out an exasperated sigh, but she doesn't say anything.

"Speaking of transformations." interrupts Tenya Iida. "Please, explain how you could have gotten two new forms in such a short span? Or were you purposefully withholding them for such an occasion?"

"Trust me, I have no idea where I got either of them." replies Heatblast.

In truth, Izuku really has no idea how he got them or why. Maybe the Omnitrix was holding out on him and finally decided to give him a treat. Or it could be something else entirely. But then again, it is a piece of Level 20 technology; if he spent a hundred years studying and reverse engineering the device, he'll never truly be able to understand it.

Heatblast continues. "Also if I was holding out on them, why wouldn't I have used them during the U.S.J.?"

…

They all have to admit that Izuku's got a point. Both Big Chill and Heatblast would have been really helpful during the attack at the U.S.J. Big Chill could have frozen the villains, especially those in the flood zone, and with his phasing he can avoid attacks from that Nomu. As for Heatblast…well they just saw the guy melt away the stadium; there's no need to imagine what he could have done.

With some cautious maneuvering, Heatblast is able to get to his seat without burning anyone although everyone is giving him a rather wide berth. As he sits down, he takes notice that his fellow space cadet is actually still there within the viewing box even though her opponent seems to have left already. She appears to be mulling something over in her mind, and whatever it is, it must be important because she seems to be the only one that hasn't noticed him yet.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready?"

"Hm?" Ochaco Uraraka snaps out of her thoughts. "Oh, Deku. I would but as you can see." She gestures towards the center of the stadium.

After his…battle, the entire stadium has essentially become a rapid paced construction zone. Mainly involving Cementoss reshaping the melted cement while the other staff members of U.A. see to the damaged equipment and clean up debris. It's so bad Power Loader had to grab some of his Support Course students to help with repairs. Even some of the Business Course are assisting mainly by selling burn-kits to the audience. In all, it's going to be sometime before they begin the next match.

Heatblast slumps in his seat, feeling rather guilty for causing so much trouble. "Ah, right…"

A few moments of silence pass between the two as Ochaco resumes her thoughts.

Heatblast watches on silently wondering about what she could ever be thinking about. His curiosity is itching for him to ask what is on her mind but not wanting to cross a line he withholds his questioning nature.

"You were…really amazing out there."

His head snaps up, he almost didn't hear her, her voice was so soft almost as a whisper.

The morphed Izuku tries to offer up the friendliest smile he can muster even while his entire head is aflame. "Thanks. Although it wasn't easy. Todoroki's so skilled and determined, I actually thought I was going to lose there a few times. Heck if Big Chill, still a dumb name, wasn't so versatile I definitely would be a popsicle right now. Then again if the Omnitrix gave me Diamondhead like I wanted I'm sure I would have had an easier time since I actually know how to use that alien. But I guess I can't really complain both Big Chill and Heatblast are fine additions…"

While Izuku mutters away to himself, Ochaco takes a moment for herself to reflect on Izuku's match against Todoroki. Both of them were so incredibly amazing with their powers under their full control despite all of their devastating strength. Unlike her and One For All, which she just can't seem to get down. Granted she is getting close, but it feels like she's missing something, something important and not so obvious that it's stopping her own progression. She needs to figure out what it is and how it can help her control One For All to the point that she can compete with Deku and Todoroki.

Ochaco releases a heavy sigh figuring that the answer isn't going to just drop into her lap anytime soon.

But then again, Deku always seems to have such good control over his powers. Just take a look at his two newest forms, he figured them both out in twenty minutes while it's taken her months to get this far with All Might's power.

"Hey, Deku can I ask you something?"

Heatblast blinks, assuming he has eyelids, and smiles. "You just did."

Ochaco's cheeks puff out in annoyance. "Come on, be serious."

Heatblast actually appears a bit ashamed. "Sorry, but please, feel free to ask your question."

It takes her a few more moments to speak, giving them a chance to sit there and bath in the comforting warm radiating from Heatblast's flames.

"Deku."

Heatblast sits there quietly allowing her the chance to speak.

"How do you do it?"

"Sorry?"

Ochaco inhales, trying to keep herself calm. "How does it feel…when you're like this? When you're…in one of your transformations?"

She can tell that Deku's at a complete loss here.

"How can you be so good with controlling your powers, even those that you haven't had for very long? What do you feel when you use them? Does it come naturally or is it something else? How can I get stronger?!" There's desperation in her voice which only amplifies the look of fear in her eyes, fear that he may not have the answer that she needs to hear.

Heatblast sits back and ponders, letting her questions sink in and process before he replies. "I wouldn't say it comes naturally." He leans forward, raising his flaming palm up towards his face. "More like…I'm trusting that my body knows what to do."

"You're…body?" Ochaco scans the blazing creature.

"Um, I mean, I trust that each transformation knows what to do when the time comes. Each transformation is unique and adapted to their individual skill sets and abilities. Of course I need to be the one to trigger said abilities, but when it comes to output it's more like the instincts of the transformation kicks in."

Ochaco leans forward, almost excited to hear that there is an answer. "How though? How does it kick in?!"

"Because I let it." Heatblast turns to face her. "I can't just think my powers will work; I have to believe that they will work. I have to let my will flow through my entire being, let my powers flow through my body."

"I'm still lost here."

"Hm… Oh, think of it like a river."

"Like a river?" The brunette's head tilts to the side.

Heatblast nods. "If you try to force the river in the direction you want it to go, you'll only do more harm than good. And often or not you'll find it impossible to even redirect it."

"So what's the best option?"

"This will sound cliché but go with the flow. If one gives up trying to control the river and simply let it flow freely, they will find the water working much better in their favor and they can harvest the gifts the river provides. Basically why force the water to do what you want, when the water already knows what to do and where to go?"

Ochaco blinks, reeling back from Deku's words of wisdom as she leans back in her seat. She doesn't fully understand his metaphor, but she gets the gist. At least she thinks so, but it's still all so confusing.

"Okay, but how-…" Her words fade away after she turns to face Deku and instead finds a rather strange sight.

While she was out of it, several members of Class 1-A gathered around Heatblast, roasting marshmallows from his flaming body. Yaoyorozu kindly provides thin roasting sticks from her Creation Quirk while Sato hands out marshmallows to everybody who wants one. As for Heatblast, he doesn't seem that bothered by it except when Kaminari's marshmallow melts off and lands on his shoulder, but a quick wisp of fire burns it away.

"What are you guys doing?!" cries out the female space cadet.

"What?" Rikido Sato raises up a bag of marshmallows. "I had these on hand. I figure we shouldn't let them go to waste."

He had originally brought them to give his Quirk, Sugar Rush, a quick burst between events.

At the same time, Momo Yaoyorozu creates a few more roasting sticks from her arm before handing them over to a few members of Class 1-B.

While the Hero Course students use Heatblast as a campfire, the alien turns to Sato with his hand raised. "Hand me one will ya?"

Sato drops a marshmallow into his heated palm.

Heatblast proceeds to toss the tasty treat right into his mouth, chewing it for a moment before swallowing it down. "Hm! Wo, I just found another benefit for Heatblast." Sato gives him another. "I'll never need a stove ever again."

Ochaco chuckles awkwardly as Heatblast chews away at his treat. 'I'm still confused though, but I guess that's to be expected. I'm not as bright as Deku is…pun intended.' She chuckles at her own joke, although it comes off as more of a choke.

Knowing she's not going to get any more out of him, she gets up to leave walking past her distracted classmates as they enjoy a mobile bonfire.

The transformed Izuku watches on quietly through the horde of students. He probably could have clarified more with his answer. But it was the best he had with such little time he got. He can tell that she's worried, worried that she's not capable enough. If only there was some other way, he could help her.

He thinks about it for a moment. 'Maybe there is.'

---

Ochaco nervously wrings her hands over the table. She's been sitting around the prep room for a little while now as the repairs finish up around the stadium. Even so it feels like she's been sitting here forever, her nervousness making it all ten times worse, and all for good reason.

Bakugou is going to be her most difficult battle yet. But there's no avoiding it; it was either him, Deku, or Todoroki and none of them would be an easy match. Then again can she even be considered a real challenge to them? Can she really compete on their level?

No…she can't.

One For All is too unreliable and it injures her. And in this fight, she's sure Bakugou's not going to give her an opening to use All Might's power. If she uses it too soon, she'll put herself at a major disadvantage especially considering that Bakugou would probably fend off the attack. So in all she'll only guarantee her own defeat.

Her hands clench tightly together as they shake with fear. 'Come on, Ochaco!' She thinks to herself. 'Stay calm, just…smile. Yeah, that should help calm my nerves. Can't win a battle if I've already given in…'

The door to the waiting room creeks open as a human Izuku pokes his head in. "Hey, Urara- Whao! What's with that face?! Ugh!"

"My face?" With all her thoughts geared towards hyping herself up she was unaware of the creepily determined expression that formed across her features giving her a dark predatory look of someone who is about commit a murder. "Oh, it's nothing. I guess I'm not great at hiding how nervous I am."

"I…understand." Izuku tries to laugh it off but it only makes things more awkward as he steps into the room. "You're up against Bakugou, he's probably going to be your toughest fight."

"Yeah…and we've already seen he won't hold back even against a girl." She shivers, thinking about how Ibara's and Jiro's fights went for them.

"Yeah, you're right."

Ochaco whimpers, even though she knows that is true she was kinda hoping Deku would lie to her, to at least make her feel better.

Izuku continues unknowingly making the situation worse. "Besides, he's fighting for the top spot; there's no way he'd dare to hold back. Not against anyone."

Ochaco slumps forward in her seat. Everything Deku's said is correct, Bakugou is going to go full throttle at her. And she needs to come up with a way to survive his onslaught. But the question is how? How can she possibly defeat him? Bakugou's control over his Quirk is so much greater than hers. And it's versatile, he can maneuver around so much more than she can. In all his speed, power, and skills are on a different level than hers. She needs a plan if she hopes to win.

Even though he doesn't have mindreading capabilities, Izuku can easily sympathize with what Ochaco's feeling. The feeling of being inadequate or like you're not good enough to compete with everyone else. That the situation seems rather hopeless.

And so he gives in. "I know you said you didn't want my help today, but I can't help it." Izuku reaches behind his back and pulls out a black journal. "You've helped me so much. It's my turn to help you." He turns the journal around for her to see. "Maybe I can repay you a little with this."

The journal is rather small in size but with a thick cover, but what's odd about it is that there is a coded lock on the side much like a diary. The only other odd thing about it is the title Izuku decided to give it: Tower of Babel.

"Um, Deku. What is that?" She points to the strangely titled journal.

"Oh!" Izuku becomes incredibly shy, rubbing his messy hair as he tries to explain himself. "Oh, this notebook's different from my other ones. It lists out weaknesses and strategies I've made to help beat all sorts of Quirks, abilities, and even some pro heroes I got to see in action over the years."

It's what actually helped him take down Bakugou back during the Battle Trial, he just happened to memorize Bakugou's page after years and years of observations and analysis. Usually he keeps this thing locked away and hidden, but he decided to bring it out for today just in case. Plus there's all sorts of things he can add to it after today: Tokoyami's weakness to light, Iida's Recipro Burst time limit, and so much more. He can't wait to get home and write it all down!

Ochaco eyes the little journal, surprised to hear what exactly the little item is storing. "Hey, wait! Does that mean you have strategies to take down our classmates?"

Izuku nods his head with vigor. "You bet!"

"Then…you have a strategy to beat me too…right?"

…

The stunned Izuku turns away, tucking the notebook away and out of sight. "You know what. Maybe I'll just keep this to myself."

His brow releases a barrage of nervous sweat, he rather not share with everyone how thoroughly he's taken account of their own shortcomings and limitations. The last thing he wants is for everyone to think of him as some creep.

Ochaco chuckles softly but her laughter falls away to a more somber silence. "Thank you so much for doing that. But, no. Sorry."

Izuku isn't offended, in fact he expected this to an extent. "Yeah, I kinda figured you'd say that. But I still had to try."

Ochaco smiles softly, appreciating Deku's attempt either way. "That's just like you, you always want to help." Even with a smile, one can tell she is anything but happy. Her tone remains somber and soft. "You're wonderful, Deku. I keep seeing that over and over again."

She can't help but compare herself to him: he's accomplished so much and not just in this Sports Festival but ever since they met, he's done nothing but go beyond what's been needed of him. How can she ever compare to him? In comparison Deku is more worthy of One For All then she is…

Maybe…maybe that would be for the best.

Yeah, maybe…in this match…if she loses this match…she'll pass on One For to him. He's so much more of a hero than she is: he's smart, kind, and an inspiration. Deku deserves it, not her.

"Uraraka?"

Ochaco snaps out of her musing, gazing up at Deku's concerned face.

He knows something's up, that something's bothering her, but he has no idea what it could be. Is she that worried about this fight?

If so, then it's his responsibility as her friend to help her. She's always been there to spur him on, and now it's time to return the favor. But how? How can he get across that he believes in her?

Wait, he knows how.

Izuku offers up the best smile that he can with a thumbs up to help demonstrate his support. "Guess I'll see you in the finals."

Ochaco stares at him, like he's some sort of abnormality.

Izuku is unsure whether that helped or not. With nothing else in mind on what he can do to help, he grips the doorknob and opens the door. He hesitates but steps out to give her the space she needs.

"I'll see you there."

He stops in his tracks, he can feel Ochaco smiling from behind him. And that's all he needs to know as he makes his way back to watch the oncoming spectacle.

---

The jumbotrons positioned around the repaired stadium light up with images of the next fighters gathering the crowd's attention.

Admittedly although cheers do ring out in excitement, many of which are rather lackluster mainly because of how nervous they really are for this next match. Namely because after witnessing the other two finalists duke it out, they are scared to think what could result if a gravity wielder goes up against an explosion master.

And Class 1-A are definitely just as wary as the rest of the crowd.

Tsuyu croaks. "Kero. I have a feeling this match might also be a disturbing matchup."

Jiro hugs herself while shivering, trying to hold back the memories of her own battle. "I know. I almost don't wanna watch it."

Ojiro pulls on his collar with worry. "Yeah, it's gravity versus the power of explosions."

Shoji scans the field as if it won't remain in its current repaired state for long. "Just imagine what kind of destruction that will bring."

Sato shivers in his seat. "I rather not."

Izuku shares the same feelings, but unlike the others he keeps his thoughts to himself instead he watches on as Ochaco marches forth through the charred field. Because the U.A. staff wanted to repair the stadium quickly, so the ash was never swept off the field. So here Ochaco is marching through the burned field as ash blows with the wind around her, yet her determined and steadfast expression shines through the dark giving her the look of a warrior about to face off against her greatest opponent.

'Do your best. You got this, Uraraka. Show the world who you are.'

Down below the newest holder of One For All steps atop the remade battlefield as Present Mic begins to hype up the start of the match.

"Alright, this is it. With the repairs complete it's time for the second match of the semi-finals!"

The crowd booms with life as Present Mic continues.

"From the west, we have the combatant with a pension for Explosions. He's a first-rate competitor with a first-rate Quirk, it's Katsuki Bakugou!"

The stadium cheers as Bakugou just glares ahead at him, towards his next victim with a nasty scowl on his face.

"Versus! The one I'm personally rooting for, the girl who can defy gravity and the expectations of others, it's Ochaco Uraraka!"

The cheers scream out throughout the stadium Ochaco inhales and then exhales as to release all her nervousness; it doesn't work.

"Don't hold back."

Her breath hitches as she looks up to meet Bakugou's nasty scowl and glare.

The ash-blonde's red eyes shine with fury. "All those other fights were nothing but a waste of time, so don't waste mine, Roundface."

The brunette glares right back at the scowling blonde. "A waste of time? Is that what you call their hard work and efforts?"

Bakugou clicks his tongue. "Yeah, that's exactly what I call it."

Ochaco growls, her fist clenching on itself. "You jerk."

"Hey!"

Her entire body tenses as Bakugou's gaze pierces through her.

Bakugou scoffs at her reaction. "We'll be ignoring the boundaries too. Got it?!"

"Huh?!"

Midnight is just as shocked as Ochaco is. "No way!" She cracks her whip. "You will follow the rules that are in place you littl-"

"I accept." interrupts Ochaco.

Midnight gasps like she's been stabbed in the back. "What?!"

Ochaco turns to the chief umpire. "Ms. Midnight, even if you call either one of us out of bounds, you can be sure that neither of us are going to listen."

"Excuse me?!"

Ochaco turns so she size up her opponent. "Besides we both have something to prove."

Midnight blinks a few times, she's at a complete loss for words here. With a heavy sigh she has no choice but to accept. "Alright, who am I to hold back such energetic youths." She cracks her whip, whipping herself back to her usual self. "If both parties consent then I see no reason to interfere with a passionate battle between hotblooded youths!"

The crowd cheer ready to see another battle for the ages.

---

"Midoriya."

"Huh?" Izuku's head snaps to Iida.

The Class President throws his hands up, chopping them in the air. "I'm curious, do you think there's any way Uraraka can win this?" He pushes up on his gleaming glasses, as if to emphasize his sentences. "I don't mean to put down her skills, but I do believe Bakugou's own skills and control outmatch hers. And I was wondering if there is some way, she can gain an advantage over him."

Izuku can feel the Tower of Babel journal within his pocket. "Well, I have just one idea but it's nothing that fancy." His mind replays his own fight against Bakugou back during the Battle Training with All Might. "Bakugou's strong, when it comes to close combat, he almost never has any openings. And the more he moves, the more he sweats, which just makes his Quirk more powerful." That's especially true now after all Bakugou's demonstrated from the previous rounds of the tournament. "He's gotten really good at using his Explosions to move around in the air, but there is one major flaw she can exploit."

"What's that?"

"His balance." Izuku states with all seriousness. "Contrary to how it may seem, Bakugou's balance isn't exactly first rate. Any hindrance to his flight paths or movement will throw him off, but only for a brief moment of time. And in that time, he'll quickly readjust himself and simply use his Explosions to right himself. It's not actually a feat of regular acrobatics but just his Explosions providing him a counterbalance."

Bakugou can only slow his own descent as long as he keeps up his Explosions. But the more he does that the less sweat he'll have to work with if he tries to go for one big strike.

"What Uraraka needs to do is get in close so she can use her Quirk to make him float." At least that's the first part of the plan. "Once that occurs, whenever Bakugou tries to use his Explosions he'll throw himself way off course giving Uraraka an opportune moment to unleash her full power onto him."

Iida's hands shoot up, chopping the air. "But why wouldn't she use her Zero-Gravity Field?"

"It's too obvious. The moment she tries to summon it, Bakugou will strike. And it may just be over for her then."

"Ah, I see."

"That's why, it's obvious what Uraraka needs to do to get the upper hand."

"Let the last match of the semi-finals begin!"

With no hesitation or a hint of fear, Ochaco charges right in, her body low, and with her hands at the ready.

"Strike first!" finishes Izuku, his own adrenaline pumping now that it's finally begun.

---

Ochaco sprints forward, glaring up at the mad bomber with fierce courage. "Giving up isn't an option for me!"

Bakugou's clenching hand begins to rise slowly like he's readying a deadly weapon. "And now you die."

As Ochaco charges she recalls what she saw Bakugou do during the Battle Trial against Deku. He started the fight with a big right hook, and from what she saw Deku saw the attack coming from a mile away. Meaning that Bakugou's done that same move for a while and if her hunch is correct then he'll start off with that same move here.

Bakugou's right hand slowly stretches backward.

Ochaco's keen eyes spot the obvious tell. 'There!'

She keeps her eyes trained on his hand as it begins to swing forward.

'Here it comes!' She readies her own attack. 'If I can dodge this move-'

She is interrupted by the resounding Explosion that completely engulfs her, throwing her backwards while a plume of smoke is released onto the field and bits of rubble break off the surface of the battlefield.

---

Iida and Izuku gasp with fear. "Uraraka!"

Jiro is holding the sides of her own face, her hands ready to cover her eyes at a moment's notice.

Mina is just as terrified as her. "He blasted her!

Tsuyu's face is calm but her fidgeting hands suggest otherwise. "Ugh, looks like Bakugou's not planning on showering her any mercy."

Jiro grimaces. "Yeah, already figured that one out." She did lose to the guy after all.

---

The smoke moves away revealing what had occurred to Ochaco after she was blasted away.

"Stupid." Ochaco's relatively fine despite taking the direct hit. "Saw it coming and I still couldn't get out of the way." If only she could properly call upon One For All, then she'd have the power and speed she'd need to take down the ash-blonde.

Smoke continues to bellow as Bakugou realigns himself for another attack. His crimson gaze scans the thick smoke, waiting for his opponent to show herself.

From the corner of his eye he notices something move within the black fog.

"There's no way you can beat me!" he roars as he thrusts his hand into the smoke as he spots the signature U.A. uniform from within.

His palm releases another Explosion, bursting out a plume of smoke and heat.

As the smoke washes away, Bakugou is surprised to find his hand pressed down on an ownerless U.A. gym shirt.

He gasps in surprise as Ochaco leaps out from the smoke directly behind him.

"Whoa!" cries Present Mic. "She flew her jacket over as a decoy! What incredibly quick thinking!"

'This is my chance. I can make him float!' Ochaco lunges for Bakugou while he's distracted with his back turned.

But it's not that simple.

Bakugou swings his arm back with a snarl accompanied by a powerful blast that smashes and throws up debris, smoke, and heat right into her body.

Ochaco yelps as she's flung backwards, she crashes on the ground but rolls with the momentum until she catches herself by planting her feet.

Once she has a stable footing she glares up at her powerful opponent. And even though he is her opponent she's extremely impressed by his speed and power, and so are their classmates.

---

Sero jumps out of his seat. "Look at that reaction time!"

"Seriously, the dude's insane." yelps Kaminari. "You can't get the drop on him. And since Uraraka can't use her Quirk unless she touches him, his lightning-fast reflexes put her at a huge disadvantage."

---

The smoke continues to swirl around the battlefield. Ochaco straightens her stance as she leers at Bakugou's smoky silhouette from within the haze.

The ash-blonde swipes his hand into the air, as if pulling aside the smoke like it's a curtain.

Ochaco charges right in, keeping her body low but ready to strike.

"Too slow!" Bakugou roars as his hand swings down, it glides over the surface firing explosions that tear through the ground before firing up and right into her with a responding boom!

Their classmates watch on with nasty grimaces as a thick layer of smoke accompanies the blast; at this point the smoke has taken up a permanent residence on the battlefield making it difficult to tell what becomes of Ochaco after each attack.

From within the smoke, the gravity wilder springs out from behind. "I've got you!" She shoots out her hand.

Bakugou swings around and lets loose yet another powerful Explosion. This one is bigger and louder; taking up almost half the entire battlefield with ash, rubble, and heat along with an earthshaking shockwave.

---

Tsuyu gasp. "Is she okay?!"

Jiro has finally given in and is covering her face in fear and trauma. "I can't watch this."

Meanwhile, Mineta leans forward in his seat as if contemplating an important problem. "Like I always suspected. Bakugou's a total sadist."

---

Yagi Toshinori is almost tempted to bite at his nails. He had no idea things would escalate to this, it's obvious she can't keep this up for very long and if she does then there's no way it can lead to anything good.

'Young Uraraka, you're really giving this your all. Aren't you? Good, that's what it means to be a hero, to never give up in the face of such devastating odds. I know you can do this, but…you don't have to push yourself so far. You've done more than enough.' He observes as she gets blasted again. 'But if you feel you need to do this, then you have to go beyond.'

---

After taking another blast, Ochaco quickly returns to her feet and lunges at him. "This isn't over yet!"

Boom! Another giant burst of heat and pressure. Thankfully for Ochaco, he missed.

She swerves and continues running forward, her front half low like a lioness stalking its prey at full speed.

But if she is a lioness then Bakugou is a lion that is out to defend his pride and honor. With a swing of his claw a roaring blast bats her away.

This continues on with Ochaco springing right back to her feet and charging in again only for the same results to occur. She is getting completely thrashed around by taking Explosion after Explosion, each one throws her around a doll stuck in a powerful gale. And each powerful blast breaks away into the surface of the battlefield, making the surface even harder to trek as it becomes more and more unstable. Despite all this she keeps at her desperate assault, all she needs is that one hit to land and she can win this!

Present Mic has come to the same conclusion. "Looks like she's not resting between attacks despite being exploded. The poor girl."

Even as he speaks, explosions continue to echo from the battlefield. Ochaco is unrelenting as she charges in again and again, but only to be met with an explosive demise.

There's no telling how much longer she can take this kind of punishment. Any longer and who knows how much damage may be done to her!

---

And many of the onlookers, especially the pro heroes, can't even bear to keep watching for that much longer.

"Her feint earlier didn't work, so now she's getting desperate."

Many of those in earshot are in agreement. It's obvious to many of them that the poor girl has no real plan for success. And the results are dismal and gruesome.

Down below in the viewing box, Neito Monoma is actually able to pick up their chatter, and it makes him chuckle.

"Hm." He smirks up at the so-called pro heroes. "You idiots. Look closer."

Both Class 1-A and Class 1-B eye him with confusion, but their attention is drawn back to the explosions that are consuming the battlefield with Monoma's advice in mind.

As they examine the field more and more pro heroes are becoming a bit rowdier, airing their disapproval down at the officials.

"Hey, shouldn't one of the teachers step in?!"

"Yeah, this is too rough."

Cementoss doesn't even acknowledge them. He's far too focused on the match to even care.

---

The brunt and exhausted Ochaco pants as Bakugou's dark figure looms from within the smoke; his red eyes flare like that of a demon as it remains shrouded in darkness.

The brunette grunts as she shoves herself off the ground and lunges, but like always it ends the same: with a massive Explosion to the face that flings her back with burns and smoke.

---

"This is shameful!" shouts a random hero who's trying way too hard to act "heroic."

The pro hero shoots up from his seat to deliver what he thinks would be the words of a hero. "Listen, kid, you really wanna be a hero? Then stop acting like a bully!"

His words fall on death ears, as Bakugou remains focused on the battle at hand. He refuses to veer away from the smoke for when Uraraka inevitably reappears.

The random pro hero continues with his tirade. "If you're so good, just finish this already!"

The only response he receives is an Explosion that rings out from below.

"Stop toying with the girl and end this match!"

Other pro heroes are getting riled up too. "Yeah, you heard the guy!"

Others join in their fellow hero's stance, standing from their seats and booing the mad bomber. This stirs up the rest of the stadium and all too soon the rest of the audience joins in.

"The crowd is now booing Bakugou!" From within the commentator's box Present Mic nods his head. "And honestly. I kinda agree with what they're sayin-Pht!"

Aizawa's heavily bandaged elbow slams into his face, knocking him aside.

"Hey, whoa! What the crap?!"

Shouta Aizawa ignores him as he growls into the microphone. "Where is the man who started this uproar? Are you a pro?"

That one question stings so much that the entire stadium silences itself in just a split second.

"Because if you're being serious, you can go home and hang up your cape." Aizawa leers down at all of the pro heroes that dared to pass judgement on his students. "I'd suggest looking into another career."

Izuku stares up at the commentator's box with much confusion. "You know what he's talking about?" He's asking anyone in general, because he honestly has no clue.

At the same time, Bakugou is still ignoring the rest of the stadium, keeping his focus on the match.

Aizawa decides to indulge the morons since they obviously don't know how to use their eyes or their brains. "Bakugou's fierceness is an acknowledgement of his opponent's strength. He knows she deserves to have made it this far. So, he's making sure he does whatever it takes to keep her at bay and come out on top."

Bakugou exhales in surprises as Ochaco stands before him: she's exhausted, beaten, and burned, but still standing. 'We're not finished. She's still standing.'

The panting Ochaco glares at him with furious determination. She wipes away the sweat from her permanently rosy cheeks, but somehow not even those can alleviate the fierce look on her face.

'She's not dead yet.'

"I think…it's about time." pants All Might's successor

Bakugou readies himself for her to charge in again.

But this time, she doesn't make a move. "Thank you, Bakugou…" She stands tall with determination and confidence as she brings her hands and fingers together. "…for keeping your eyes focused on me!"

Bakugou's is caught off guard by the sudden declaration. "What?"

---

Izuku is just as lost as his former friend is. "What?"

"Haha!"

Izuku turns in his seat to see Monoma smirking from his seat. "I don't blame Bakugou for not noticing. But it's embarrassing for a pro to boo and not realize what's going on from the stands."

Izuku is still lost here. "What are you…?"

Monoma snickers. "She kept low to the ground as she moved, which meant Bakugou's blasts tore up the floor of the ring; creating weapons for her. And then she kept him focused on her by attacking relentlessly without rest." The Copy Quirk user leans back and gazes up at the sky. "Rendering him oblivious."

Both classes follow the blonde's gaze and they are completely astonished with what they find.

A multitude of boulders, rocks, and rubble are floating high up in the air right above the battlefield. And in that instant, it's clear what is about to happen next.

"YAHHHHH!" Ochaco presses her fingers together, releasing her Zero-Gravity Quirk all at once.

The boulders instantly shoot downward as gravity fires them down like giant bullets. They soon rain down from the sky as if they actually fell from space itself.

"A meteor shower!" shouts Present Mic.

Aizawa sighs. "Now you notice."

Izuku shoots up from his seat. "Hey, she had a plan all along!"

From the teacher's box, Toshinori is just as thrilled. 'I knew you could do it!'

The rubble flies downward like the impossible meteor shower that it is!

Even though he has an entire meteor shower descending down upon him, Bakugou is staying relatively calm. The ash-blonde keeps his gaze on the incoming attack, he takes a firm stance.

With his attention upward, Ochaco charges in with little care about the incoming meteor shower. 'With this much debris, whether he's evading or counterattack, there will definitely be an opening!'

At this point the hail of boulders are nearly atop of them.

'In that moment, I'll finally get close to him!'

Bakugou grips his left wrist and aims his hand upward like he's about to pull off a miracle from thin air.

Ochaco's right arm lights up as One For All courses through her being as she bounds forward. 'This is it! My shot! I'll win and be just like Deku!'

She throws her fist forward, powering it not only with One For All but her desires as well. With this strike she will claim the win and move on to the finals!

Bakugou however shares the same feelings.

Sparks of heat dance upward on his arm before popping away into his raised palm. The moment the sparks reach his hand a massive Explosion thunders into existence blasting straight up into the air and colliding with Ochaco's meteor shower!

The Explosion completely decimates the large chunks of rubble as a powerful shockwave crashes through the arena. The blast whips up such a devastating gale that Ochaco stands no chance against it as she's flung right back, losing all focus of One For All as she's thrown aside by the burning Explosion, she rolls and tumbles off the harsh ground.

The whirlwind and heat sweeps across the entire stadium to the chorus of screams, and yelps of fear and surprise from the audience members.

As the shockwave dies down, tiny pieces of debris, smoke, and ash rain from the sky; the only evidence of the meteor shower ever exciting are now charred and turned to dust.

Ochaco finds herself collapsed on the ground and in a heap of pain. She's burned, exhausted, and aching all over, her arm feels strained too from One For All thankfully it's not injured.

The spent girl whimpers as she shakily pushes herself up, wincing in pain as she peers into the smoky void ahead of her, where Bakugou should lie.

"I figured you'd have some sorta stupid plan to beat me." The smoke washes away revealing the mad bomber; his left arm is still raised in the air with a trail of smoke blooming out from his palm. "You are friends with that damn nerd, after all."

Ochaco gasps with devastating fear. "It took him…one shot…"

He was that powerful? She spent the entire match preparing that attack, she had it all planned out…and he countered it with just one shot!

Present Mic gasps. "Bakugou bangs out a huge demonstration of power! He blasted apart Uraraka's finishing move and remains untouched!"

Quietly, Bakugou exhales a pained pant. "That was close…"

His left wrist, his left wrist is jammed like it was shoved back into his arm's socket making it stiff and painful, it almost looks swollen.

He grips the stiff limb and pulls, resetting it. It still hurts like a son of a bitch but at least he can move it albeit with some pain.

Meanwhile, Ochaco is still reeling in the aftermath of that demonstration of power. 'I put everything I could into that…' Her head falls as she struggles to accept the reality of the situation. 'But I wasn't good enough.'

Not for her parents, not for All Might, or her friends… Is this it? Is this all she's really capable of? If that's the case…then maybe…she shouldn't be the one wielding One For All…

'No.' Ochaco's entire body shakes with agony as she struggles to pick herself back up. 'This can't be it!' After some agonizing moments she is able to get back on her feet. 'I can still stand, though.' So, maybe she can still fight!

Bakugou, after setting his arm, notices the fire in his opponent's eyes. "All right, then." A psychotic grin forms on his face, not of malice but of exhilaration.

He's genuinely excited, this entire Tournament has been a major let down for him. Each match ended far too quickly for his liking, none of them got his blood pumping! But worst of all is that Deku's been showing him up the entire Sports Festival especially during this Tournament. Every match that damned nerd has had has been…badass, they were real challenges…and that pisses him off. But now, now he's got a real fight on his hands.

"Time for us to get serious." The mad bomber is finally the one to make a move, he charges straight ahead, his hands poised to strike. "Uraraka!"

Ochaco can barely turn to face him, all she can do is try and struggle to even breathe right now. But she refuses to look away, because that would mean she's accepted defeat.

But then again, what can she really do now? Her original plan was a double-edged sword and it failed while being successful in draining her own strength. If she hopes to win now, then she just can't rely on her Zero-Gravity alone. If she truly wants to call herself All Might's successor then she needs to wield One For All properly. But how…?

As Bakugou charges, as if in slow motion, her mind flashback to Deku's words from before about how he summons his own powers: "'Go with the flow. If one gives up trying to control the river and simply let it flow freely, they will find the water working much better in their favor and they can harvest the gifts the river provides. Basically why force the water to do what you want, when the water already knows what to do and where to go?"'

Ochaco's breath hitches. 'Like a river…' She gaps as something in her mind clicks. 'I get it now…I've been forcing One For All out rather than just letting it!'

In other words, she's been blocking One For All's flow like one would dam a river. She's been forcing the water to build up behind a dam that's far too weak and as a result the pent-up power breaks its own way out whenever she tries to let out only a small portion of it. What she needs to do is to remove the dam and let the river flow naturally. She needs to let One For All flow through her entire body freely!

Ochaco inhales and exhales slowly despite the raging foe that will be upon her in mere seconds.

"Die, Uraraka!" A grinning Bakugou lunges forward, throwing his palm up to deliver a powerful strike. "It's over for you-" His grin falls away as an intense wave rushes through the air, something is off, very off.

He plants his feet against the ground bringing himself to a complete halt. 'What the?' He gazes down at his feet. 'My legs! They stopped on their own!'

It was like his own survival instincts kicked in, making him stop in his tracks before he runs headfirst into danger. But the only dangerous thing here is-

Bakugou gazes up ahead and finds the source of the intense wave.

Ochaco's glowing, her entire body is glowing with a heavenly pink aura that radiates power and confidence. Her stance and demeanor are completely different from before: her stance is taller, she looks more confident, brimming with energy as if her strength has returned to her in the form of the glow surrounding her entire being.

Ochaco exhales, her muscles are tense, but she can feel One For All coursing through her giving her a much-needed boost of power. "It's not over, Bakugou."

"Huh?"

All Might's successor stands tall as she glares up at the stunned Bakugou with a newfound courage and strength. "We're just getting started. This was all just a warmup."

A menacing grin forms on Bakugou's face as he leers at his glowing opponent. "Alright then."

"Wah!" cries Present Mic. "Just look at that face! Forget that, check out Uraraka! She's standing back up after taking such a beating! And what's with that pink glow?! Is she going super saiyan on us?!"

The grinning Bakugou swings his arm back. "Try this on for size!"

Ochaco braces herself as she brings her fingers together.

"DIE!" Bakugou unleashes a devastating explosion that produces one powerful whirlwind that whips through the stadium as the heat and smoke envelopes his opponent.

"Is he crazy?! We said no lethal blows! Did you already forget?! Is she okay, somebody check?!"

Bakugou's smile drops. "Seriously? After all that she couldn't take it. Dammit!" That pisses him off, he hates people that are all talk and show with no real strength to back it up! "Dammit, Uraraka!" He glares at the smoke trying to spot Ochaco's limp body. "What happened?! I thought you were a fighter!"

The smoke washes away, his eyes widen with shock when he doesn't spot Ochaco anywhere. She completely vanished from sight, she's not on the battlefield or the field below, hell even Midnight and Cementoss look to be at a complete loss unaware of where she could have gone.

"Where is-"

"You thought right, Bakugou."

The ash-blonde freezes up in alertness and ever so slowly his red eyes shift up towards the sky. Hovering above the battlefield is a glowing being of power.

The pink aura Ochaco grins down at Bakugou as One For All courses through her. "I am a fighter."

The crowd and Present Mic share the same question. "How she'd get up there and so quickly?!"

Aizawa leans forward in his seat. "She made herself weightless just before Bakugou's Explosion. She then used the power of said Explosion to propel herself into the air."

"Oh, is that all?"

Bakugou scowls up at Uraraka, offended that she would dare to look down on him. "Uraraka!" He thrusts his hands back and bursts of burning blasts rocket him into the air, with an enraged roar. "Don't you dare look down on me!"

"Wahhh! Bakugou's flying after her! He's so relentless!"

"Uraraka!" Bakugou roars as he soars up into the air.

Even though she's taken to the air, he can practically taste victory. Uraraka may be able to float but that's it, her mobility in the air is nothing like what he's capable of with his Explosion Quirk. If she wants to avoid his attack then all she can do is end her stupid Quirk and fall, but he'll be ready; he'll make sure to take full advantage of her stupid predictability.

"I'll kill you!" He swings his hand up in an uppercut, his palm already begging to glow bursts of Explosions.

The glowing Ochaco doesn't flinch at his threat nor his oncoming attack. All Might's successor let's out a deafening battle cry as she kicks her leg downward, with One For All charging her kick a powerful gust of wind whips down. The wind acts like a springboard and launches Ochaco higher into the air and away from the ash-blonde's Explosion.

Bakugou gasps. "What the hell?!"

"She flew!" shouts a just as surprised Present Mic. "She actually flew! She didn't just float there; she used her own power to kick herself into the air! Now that's one hell of a kickass move!"

As Ochaco is pushed higher into the air, she whips her hand behind her, and the power of the swing generates another gust of wind that propels her downward. "Bakugou!"

The ash-blonde's eyes shimmer with shock as Ochaco dive-bombs him.

The Zero-Gravity wielder swings her opposite hand forward like she's throwing a frisbee and a gust of wind slams into Bakugou propelling him back down to Earth where he crashes onto the battlefield with a resounding bang!

"Grr, damnit…" The ash-blonde groans as he shoves himself off the cracked surface of the battlefield.

Despite his aching pains they only serve to fuel his inner rage and thus in a blink of an eye he's already backed up in the air with an ear-piercing boom courtesy of the powerful Explosion he used to launch himself.

In less than a second, he's already up to the same height as the floating brunette and with a swing of his hand she is blasted away in a bang of heat and smoke.

"Yahh!" Her entire body spiral uncontrollably as she's flung to the side but a nicely timed air kick slowly her spinning and she is able to regain her balance even though she continues to slowly drift towards the stands.

"Get back here!" Bakugou redirects himself and fires himself forward like a fiery bird of prey that's about to snatch up a little sparrow.

She is more than happy to oblige; with a backwards air kick she flies like a bullet through the air. And like a bullet she rams her shoulder right into Bakugou's midsection.

"GAHHH!" Spit flies out of Bakugou's mouth as she hits him and hits him hard with such force that the wind is knocked right out of him.

"What a hit!"

As Bakugou begins to fall back down to Earth, the glowing girl throws a few air kicks to readjust herself and then launches herself right back at him for another air tackle. "You're done, Bakugou!"

He has to be, no way he can bounce back after that hit. Plus she's the one with the advantage in the sky now, gravity literally has no effect on her anymore!

As he falls, a gruesome sneer forms on his face.

Ochaco has no time to redirect herself as she's engulfed by a sudden Explosion. The blast throws her up into the air with a trail of smoke following along from her partially burned uniform, hair, and skin.

With some breathing room, Bakugou redirects his hands downward. He rapidly fires off a succession of Explosions that allow him to hover in place. "Hehaha!" Bakugou bellows out a menacingly laugh. "That actually hurt like a bitch, but…" He sneers up at his worthy opponent. "You're a dumb fuck if you think that's all it will take to take me down."

Despite the inflating ego declaration, Ochaco matches the blonde's own sneer with her own. "I know."

There' no point of talking anymore, Bakugou blasts himself into the air like a cannonball.

Ochaco air kicks herself out of the way, but another Explosion fires Bakugou right back at her. She once again evades with a quick spin, but he's relentless keeping up his charges with a few swipes of his exploding hands to take her out. She in turn evades each one, but each blast is dangerously close. Every Explosion rings in her ears, each blast hits her with a shockwave, and the intense heat threatens to burn her flesh. And it does nothing to deter her from attempting to charge in herself and take a few shots at Bakugou, who evades just as expertly as she had earlier.

With the exchange of midair attacks, the match has quickly developed into a full-on midair dogfight with the two combatants chasing each other through the air with no care of where they are or how close they are to the audience themselves. They race and fly through the air so quickly that the only way people can tell who's who is by the streaks they leave behind. Bakugou's streak is nothing but a trail of smoke and the rapid occasion of bright burning flashes. Whereas Ochaco is moving around like a pink blur propelled across the air by powerful whirlwinds that whip and thrash against the audience and pro heroes.

Despite the wind and smoke flung into their faces the entire stadium is mesmerized by the dogfight. The two hero students are moving so fast and gracefully while still clashing that it's almost like they're watching a midair dance, a dance between mighty warriors of the sky.

The attacks and fast-moving blurs somehow pick up speed and their movements more and more frantic as each of them become more desperate to take out the other.

"These two are incredible!" shouts Present Mic from the commentator's booth. "They're moving so fast; I can't even tell what's happening! They're moving so fast and recklessly it's hard to make out, it's honestly amazing neither of them have crashed into anything. I mean seriously could you imag-AHHH!"

A loud crash of glass being smashed in accompanies Present Mic's high-pitched shriek.

"Ow… Oh, sorry Mr. Mic, Mr. Aizawa!"

"Uraraka?!" asks a stunned Present Mic. "What the hell?!"

"Sorry, can't talk. Have a fight to win!"

A pink blur blasts itself out from within the smashed commentator's booth leaving Present Mic and Aizawa to deal with the broken glass and whipping wind by themselves.

"What the heck just happened?"

Aizawa lets out an exasperated sigh. "She crashed."

After that delay the midair brawl is back at full swing but that was not the last crash. A few times one of the two of them would take a nasty hit from the other that sent them crashing into the stands! Bakugou crashed into the stands, thankfully the pro heroes occupying said seats reacted fast enough to get out of the way.

"Fuck you, Uraraka!" The enraged Bakugou rockets into the air.

He flies so fast that he catches up to her in an instant, he slams his hand down up and over her and an explosion slams her downward. The glowing girl is thrusted down on an angle with such amazing speed that if she doesn't do something soon, she's going to take some massive damage.

"Ahhh!" She shrieks as she tries to right herself.

Right when she's about to crash into the stands, something soft and squishy cushions her landing. "Huh?"

She feels down and finds that the soft mass is…squirming for some reason. Peering down to find out who broke her fall or rather whom. A group of Dittos are piled up under her, each one squirming to break free from the dogpile while also groaning in pain from the impact.

"Deku?!"

Looking around she finds her own classmates staring at her like she's insane. "Uh, sorry!" She blasts off into the air again before anyone could notice the embarrassed blush on her face.

The Dittos untangle themselves and groan about their various aches and pains.

"Ow, that really hurt."

"Oh, my back."

"Whose idea was it to use Ditto to break her fall?"

Three of the Dittos all point to the same clone. "His."

"What?!"

One of the Dittos doesn't bother to indulge his clones' complaining, he's too busy watching the amazing fight before him. 'You can do it, Uraraka.'

Ochaco and Bakugou continue to clash and throw punches as they both compete for dominance.

'He's strong. So, strong.' Thinks Ochaco as she air kicks herself away from the ash-blonde, who is quick to pursue after her. 'I need to put some distance between us.'

Right now her stamina is really starting to drain again, she already went through hell with her first plan now she's starting to run on fumes here. If she can't figure out another plan, and quickly since Bakugou's already hot on her tail. Another problem is that her legs and hands are becoming increasingly more difficult to move, even with 10% or so of One For All coursing through her body she still has a limit. Her muscles are becoming increasingly tense and stiff, if she doesn't break off her connection with One For All soon, she may not be able to move anymore.

She scans the stadium looking for something to assist her and give her a quick break from One For All. She looks up and spots the open roof of the stadium, with very little options she makes a break for it.

As she races up to the roof, she cuts off One For All and her Zero-Gravity Quirk. She rolls across the hard stadium roof before taking off at a full sprint, this way she can take a quick break from her Quirks while also keeping a distance between her and her opponent.

That last part doesn't work.

The ash-blonde doesn't just catch up to her in no time, but completely overtakes her. The mad bomber intercepts her path and forcing her to a stop.

Bakugou smirks at the sight of the thoroughly exhausted Uraraka. "What's the matter, getting tired?"

Ochaco readies her stance for a fight even as she gasps for air. "Don't…get your hopes up."

He snickers, finding her defiance genuinely amusing.

He lunges forward and a large blast swallows her up as heat and smoke rise above the stadium roof.

"What the hell was that?!" cries Present Mic as the blast booms from the roof. "What the hell are those two doing?! I can't see a thing from here! Whatever's going on, I sure hope Uraraka's holding her own."

Ochaco was totally overwhelmed by that attack; she groans as she slowly pushes her head off the roof of the stadium.

"Die!"

That's her only warning, quickly she rolls her entire body over just as Bakugou's exploding hand slams down onto the spot she was just occupying. With the momentum of her roll aiding her, she jumps back onto her feet.

But like a vicious predator Bakugou is already after her. He swipes at her head, but she ducks her head forward and side steps in the other direction in another attempt to get away from him. She doesn't get far as he lets out a wider blast that knocks her off her feet.

She falls onto the roof with a loud thud, she takes a second to try to catch her breath. She groans as her entire body strains and aches with every movement she makes especially as she struggles to get back on her shaky legs.

Bakugou simply stands there, amused by her determination and no giving up attitude. He's got to hand it to her, she's putting up a much better fight then he could have hoped for.

"HA! I gotta say this has been fun." Bakugou's nasty grin widens. "But it was always obvious how this match was going to turn out." His palm pops with a small echoing explosion. "With me winning the whole damn thing!"

With a single swing of his arm a massive Explosion flares up and crashes into the poor girl, launching right off the ledge of the roof.

"Oh, no!" shouts the commentator. "Uraraka's been flung right off the roof! Damn, Bakugou really is tenacious, isn't he?!"

Ochaco's eyes sting as the piercing wind whips at her face as she falls from such a great height. Her head is pounding, and her ears are ringing after taking that last Explosion, making it difficult to take in the screams and gasps of the audience and her classmates.

'You're so strong…Bakugou.' Through the whipping wind and pain she somehow is able to leer up at the mad bomber even as she continues to descend. 'You're unrelenting. You never give up…' Her fists tighten, her fingers dig into her palms that blood is drawn. 'But I'm the same way!'

Imagining the river flowing freely, One For All surrounds her body in the all too familiar heavenly aura. With a clasp of her fingers together, Zero-Gravity takes hold and with a few well aimed air kicks Ochaco manages to redirect herself and land onto the field below without any issues.

Bakugou glares down at her from his towering position and despite the distance between them he can make out her determined stare glaring right back at him.

"What the hell was that, Bakugou?!" Ochaco roars up into the sky ensuring that he can hear her. "I thought you were stronger than that!" The aura around her pulses as if taunting her own power against Bakugou's. "Show me what you got!"

The mad bomber easily takes the hook, if the psychotic killer look on his face is anything to go by. "Ha ha, I'm so going to kill you."

With the intent to kill signaled by an Explosion that breaks away part of the roof, Bakugou rockets down like a missile.

With the power of All Might's Quirk coursing through her, Ochaco flies into the air as a massive boom accompanies her as she nearly breaks the sound barrier.

While descending at a high speed, Bakugou spins his body and fires off consecutive Explosions to build his speed creating a spiraling trail of smoke behind him.

The twister of a missile dives down as Ochaco soars ever higher into the air, she kicks her feet from under her generating continuous gales of whirlwinds to propel up faster and faster. All too soon both combatants are nothing but blurs on a direct course towards each other: a smoking twister and a pink comet.

Ochaco speeds upward as her entire body lights up with One For All. She's moving so fast it feels like her own skin will tear apart from the sheer force. Even so, summoning all of her strength she thrusts her own fist forward to meet Bakugou's. "MERCURY SMASH!" Her entire fist glows blindingly bright as One For All focuses itself within it.

With his momentum reaching its pinnacle, Bakugou's glowing palm extends out as he roars his bloodthirsty battle cry. "HOWITZER IMPACT!"

Present Mic booms into his mic. "And I thought the last two fighters were insane, but this is a whole other level! These two are forces of nature in their own right! And they're both on a direct collision course that'll no doubt be epic!"

Just before they collide, a jolt of pain of something snapping pierces through the mad bomber. It was his wrist, the same wrist that was nearly injured during Ochaco's first plan of attack. It snapped under the pressure.

With his attack interrupted and while moving at such a high speed, nothing stands in the way of what transpires next.

Ochaco's fist collides with Bakugou's face, tanking him like a bullet train. The clash echoes through the stadium as she follows through with her strike. The force of the smash launches Bakugou right back from where he came from. He's smashed away and flies backwards right into the jumbotron, crashing into it so hard that the giant screen shakes and threatens to fall from its perch, the screen cracks away and blinks as it tries to hold the picture.

Speaking of, Present Mic appears on screen, he scans the field before looking down towards the bottom corner of the jumbotron where Bakugou's been smashed into the screen itself. His entire body's embedded into the smashed into screen, his body limp, his left arm clearly broken, and his mouth agape with no hint of consciousness.

From the field below, Midnight cracks her trusty whip. "Bakugou's has been knocked out, Uraraka is the winner!"

As the entire stadium explodes with applause and cheers, Ochaco can only float in place above them all. She floats about limply with no attempt to right herself, instead she just let's One For All wash away and enjoy the cheers that she earned: cheers she had to fight for. She's burned, pummeled, exhausted, bloodied, and broken. Her right handshakes as it begins to swell, the last attack summoning a bit too much of One For All for her to handle. But none of that can take away from this moment, this moment right here.

She scans the audience admiring their smiling and cheering faces. She sees her classmates cheering her on, she sees Deku's Dittos doing some form of a cheer routine in celebration, but she also sees him. She sees All Might, her mentor in all his glory, giving her a standing ovation for her efforts, her well-earned efforts.

A tear accompanied by a pained, yet grateful smile adorns the girl's soft face. "I did, All Might. I proved…that I am a worthy…successor."

As the crowd continues to cheer and applause, Present Mic screams out in a fit of joy. "That's it! I knew she could do it! The last match of the semi-finals is over! Uraraka's moving on to the finals where she'll compete with Izuku Midoriya for the crowning title! Who will win?! Who will lose?! There's only one way to find out listeners! And that's to stay tuned as we prepare for the final match of this glorious Sports Festival!"

---

Hey everyone. Did you enjoy Ch.27? I really tried my best with this one, but I sort of lost motivation here and there, so it was kind of a struggle. That said I'm not going to stop writing, but the next chapter is probably not going to be out for a while (two weeks at most), but who knows maybe the next chapter will be easier to write. Probability not, though.

*So yeah, I know the first half of the Ochaco's fight with Bakugou was the same as the anime/manga but that's because I really enjoyed how Ochaco originally planned to take out Bakugou. So, I just had to include it. To make up for it I'd say the midair dogfight more than made up for it.

*The "Tower of Babel" is a reference to DC Comics where Batman develops a secret set of plans and files that hold the weaknesses of his fellow Justice League members, along with strategies to defeat each and every one of them. These plans are also used in the animated movie "Justice League: Doom" so you can also check it out there.

*Ochaco's "Mercury Smash" is when she's moving at a high velocity with One For All powering her up.

Replies to "Guest" reviewers from Ch.26:

Aztec 13: This chapter is worth the wait, it is incredible with Izuku unlocking not one but two aliens big chill and heatblast take as much time you need for the next chapter with Ochaco match, please continue.

CreateGunner1209: Thanks for the review, I am happy that I made the right choice to include both aliens here. I hope Ochaco's match was worth the wait for you.

---

Atom king: Holy cow this chapter was epic!
I love at the start of the chapter we Izuku meeting endeavor for the first time and calling him out for the horrible things he did to his family I can't wait to see the aftermath of this fight with endeavor reaction to Shoto losing to Izuku.
Now before the match started we again see the villains, ML-E, Mr Baumann watching the festival can't wait to see they're reaction to Izuku winning the match especially Argit losing the bet.
Now the match itself was again epic with Izuku unlocking big chill at the first half of it than when the Omnitrix time out it became a good old fashioned bawl I like it since it Izuku training with thirteen has payoff and also Izuku convincing Shoto to use fire powers, oh one thing I like the part where Izuku discover the big chill can fly the line he say about being surprise too I think it's from the movie sky-high it's while since I saw that movie, nice reference.
Back to fight at hand right when decided to use his fire powers Izuku unlocks a other alien heatblast now that where the fun begins with fire power house I'm surprised that the stadium still standing and also talked about song of fire and ice.
Now I can't wait for the next chapter maybe thirteen will go congratulate Izuku on his win and maybe from there all might finds out that thirteen is Izuku teacher one step closer to the truth, anyway can't wait to see Ochaco match I hope it's as epic as this one and maybe she will unlock a new move with her powers.

CreateGunner1209: I know right! It really was epic, wasn't it? I hope you liked Ch.27 just as much. As for the reactions from other characters we'll see them next time, for sure. Also thank you for getting the Sky-High reference, it's exactly what I was going for. Finally, I can't wait to hear how you took to Ochaco's fight with Bakugou.

---

Shark: I'm glad you're house is fine and please tell me you took the time to play with the shark in the water lol. But this chapter was honestly amazing and I can't wait until the next fight. I hope Ochaco will make Bakugou reevaluate his goals and aspirations

CreateGunner1209: I did play with that shark but only for a second since I was too busy trying to salvage everything that I could. I hope you enjoyed Ochaco vs. Bakugou.

---

Guest: This chapter, no this story, has blown me away. I was expecting deku to unlock heatblast in his mach with shoto but not bigchill. I don't care if it takes a week or a month for an update if next chapter is as good as this one then i'll wait till next year. Hope you take care of that shark if not well rip-jaws.
(Puns intended)

CreateGunner1209: This is one of the best things I could hear from a review. And I hope Izuku gaining both Heatblast and Big Chill was a pleasant surprise for you. And you don't have to worry about waiting a year for a chapter. Also I see what you did there.

---

SuperStar: Awesome chapter I was really surprised about you having Izuku unlock two new aliens in one chapter, sorry about your house getting flooded, let us all know when you get everything fixed

CreateGunner1209: I'm happy you enjoyed the new additions to Izuku's team. And my house is officially cleaned and repaired, thanks.

---

Guest: Gran capítulo amigo!
Hace tiempo dijiste que tienes planes para Six-six y Kraab supongo que serán justo después del festival deportivo verdad?
Y tienes algo en mente con Malware?

CreateGunner1209: Thanks. And yeah, I do have plans for Six-Six, hopefully it will play out soon. And yes, I have something very special in mind for Malware.

---

Guest: I am in shock and awe. That chapter was beautiful.

CreateGunner1209: Thank you, I'm happy you loved it so much, I hope this last battle was able to live up to it.

---

Guest: Awesome chapter! This was very fun and exciting to read. Just curious, will there be a point in the story, like a filler chapter, where Izuku will be stuck as Big Chill during it's reproduction phase like in Alien Force where he hatched baby Necrofriggians?

CreateGunner1209: Honestly I wasn't going to do it but after some pondering I decided to go through with this concept. But it'll probably occur when the kids move into their dorms.

---

BlueRanger-Lyric: That... was... AWESOME! That might be the best fight we've had yet! I would definitely love to see how the Bakugou vs Uraraka fight goes, and that was a quite savage of Deku to call Endeavor out on his crap, still, I wonder how you will handle his path to redemption that he's currently still on, if he survives that is, I still hope to see his redemption done right in this fanfic, and I surprisingly liked how Big Chill and Heatblast got their names in this, how Deku felt about it, and now Shoto doesn't like his puns, but I still can't get enough of them, I also find it rather interesting that there is no more boundaries, and the way this whole thing ended, very epic, I love it! 10/10

CreateGunner1209: I totally agree, truth be told the following matches probably aren't going to match up to the same level. I do hope you still loved the Ochaco vs. Bakugou match. I'll try my best to do Endeavor's redemption right, but it may become more of a background thing because there might not be much for me to change. I have one idea on how but it may not be enough to validate me writing it all out. Anyway I'm happy you enjoyed Ch.26 so much like the naming schemes for the aliens and such.

---

BenTennMHAfan: Midoriya vs Todoroki fight was a lot better than I imagined, to be honest I too thought Bigchill would be a perfect match to go against Shoto's Ice Quirk for Bigchill not only immune to the cold but to phase through as well, if Izuku knew of Bigchill earlier Shoto would definitely be in trouble.

Not only did you add Bigchill to Izuku arsenal but Heatblast as well? I'm not complaining but would be interesting to see Izuku use these forms more in the future (and they are my favorites)

Like how Class 1-A are discussing what form would Izuku would take in order to fight Shoto and already tell each student are starting play favorites on each of Izuku's Aliens.

CreateGunner1209: I agree completely, Big Chill would have won way too easily if Izuku was able to handle the alien right from the start. I am going to try and include these two additions as best as I can, they are some of my favorites too.

---

Divino: The wait for this chapter was VERY worth it, man. You introduced two amazing aliens, wrote a great alternative to the battle as well as captured the emotional stakes maybe even better than the actual show if I'm gonna be honest.

Can't wait to read more!

CreateGunner1209: Glad to hear it. Also I'm so touched that the last chapter had such an emotional impact. I wasn't sure if I could properly get the emotions across so thank you.

---

Guest: Man I can't wait for the next chapter of this great story

CreateGunner1209: Neither can I. And I hope the wait was worth the wait for this chapter.