15: Assault on the U.S.J. - 5: A Hero's Origin (The Invisible Girl)

The moment The Prowler lept into the air the Villains acted as one, those with shooting-type Quirks moving up the front lines. The purple and green suit erupted, forming a holographic shield in front of him before the bullets could hit their mark.

The shield slammed into the first Villain as he landed on top of them, flipped up on his hands and spun around using his legs like a windmill to kick the other Villains away from him. Vlad jumped in next as one of the Villains was sent flying by Prowler, and smashed his hardened blood-covered fist into them. "Save some for me!"

"Snooze ya lose, old timer!" Prowler shouted while Eraserhead jumped into the fray right behind him with his Quirk flaring to life, his cloth whipping around and snaring the nearest Villains to smash them either into the ground, each other, or surrounding structures.

"Dad, look out!" Izuku suddenly shouted as a large four-armed Villain came barrelling at him.

Hisashi just grinned under his mask and bent himself backwards to avoid the Villain's fist, "Well, if it isn't ol' Steel Bulwark!" He said laughingly while he caught one of the Villain's arms and rammed his knee up into the elbow joint, the bone snapping with a sickening crunch. Bulwark howled as he held his injured appendage. "I'd have stayed out of this if I were you," the Prowler said jokingly while practically dancing around him, "Especially after we ran into each other last time!"

The Villain glared at him, "It won't be like the last time!" Bulwark roared as he made a grab for the ex-Vigilante with his remaining arms, "This time I'll use that fancy helmet of yours for a tea kettle!"

Prowler chuckled, "Oh, I don't think so," he ducked under another swing, "My kid and grandkid are watching, so I gotta make myself look good!" He took an round object from his belt, "Here, hold this!" He tossed it at Steel Bulwark, the Villain floundering to catch it before realizing that the object was flashing. "Heh, fell for it again." He raised his shield just as the small bomb exploded with massive force.

The Villain was laid twitching on the ground, out cold.

The Doctor raised his brow at the brutal display in front of them, "Hmph, perhaps we should have called in some more powerful allies?" He grumbled to himself with Tomura nodding right alongside him.

"Don't you just hate it when Pros live up to all their hype?" The young man sneered.

"Indeed," Tsubasa sighed, casting his gaze toward the misty Villain, "Kurogiri, my boy, I do believe it's time for phase two." He said, "Are the other forces in the areas as we discussed?"

The misty warp Villain nodded, "They are, Sir. Shall I proceed?"

"Please do," the man nodded before pointing to the little girl that the one he knew as Jiro was holding, "And make sure to keep track of where you send that little girl. Remember that she is vital to my future endeavors."

"And make sure that you don't hurt her," Tomura added, "If we're going to catch something so rare, then it's better to just use a cheat, and take it without damage."

Tsubasa nodded in agreement, "And remind the others of what will happen if any harm comes to her by their hands," he sneered as No.6 snarled at his side, the monster's mandibles dripping with acid.

"Understood."

Aizawa was far too busy fighting to keep his eyes on all the Villains at once, let alone the ones that seemed to be the most dangerous, even though he tried, he had to blink at one point. When he did, the Villain with the Warping Quirk was gone.

"No.13! Protect the students!" He shouted up at her just as the black mist reappeared behind the classes.

Izuku acted right away, "Defensive Quirks to the front!" He shouted, "Long range offensive form a second line behind the first!"

Eijiro and Tetsutetsu were out in front right on command while Juzo and Tsuburaba made up a line behind them. Katsuki blasted himself out in front, "You don't give me orders Webhead!"

"Bakugo!" Eijiro shouted and ran after him with his Quirk activated. Both of them slammed into the Warp Villain full-force, "Man, can't you just give the guy a break for once!?" The faux redhead shouted as Katuski just grinned.

However, their efforts didn't seem to harm the Villain, rather he seemed amused, "Your efforts are worthy of recognition, little ones," the misty Villain intoned. "However, I can't have you impeding the goals of my masters." The shadowy mist spread all around the combined classes, "You will be spread across this facility so that our comrades can torture you all!"

So many things happened at once that Izuku would later have difficulty remembering just what exactly happened. He felt himself being pulled from the ground, despite his ability to stick to any surface. Kyoka screamed next to him as she was also pulled into the void and saw the little girl being lifted from her arms. Eri's scream could have brought down the entirety of U.A. on them as she was taken from her mother's arms.

Suddenly, there was Tōru jumping up to curl around the little girl. Both disappeared in a matter of seconds.

Izuku and Kyoka tried to reach for each other, but were drawn apart and pulled deep into the darkness.

スパイダーマン

Tōru tumbled out of the shadowy portal, her body curled around the little girl protectively. When they finally came to a stop, she felt something wrap around her. "Tōru, are you alright?!" She heard the familiar voice ask frantically.

The girl opened her eyes and saw Kendo Itsuka looking down at them, "Kendo?" She asked dizzily, looking down at Eri for a moment, seeing that the girl was safe: frightened, but safe. "Eri, sweetie, you okay?"

Eri gave a shakily little nod as her big red eyes began to water, "Are mommy and daddy okay?"

Kendo straightened and helped Tōru to her feet, "I haven't seen them," the ginger said as she looked back toward the entrance, "About half of us got taken away by that shadow monster creep and spat out in different areas around the U.S.J.," she frowned as she looked at the surrounding area, "If I had to guess, then I'd say that this is the Landslide Zone on the eastern side."

Tōru scrunched her brow as she soothed the little girl in her arms, "That means we're almost two miles away from the entrance," she grumbled, "Did anyone else get sent to this area besides us?"

"Yeah," Kendo jerked her thumb over her shoulder, "I helped Todoroki and Shiozaki duke it out with some Villains that said that they were looking for...well...her." She pointed to Eri. "I figured that it couldn't be good if they wanted her out of all of us, so we split up and started looking for her." She grinned widely, "Lucky for us it looks like you had her taken care of!"

Tōru frowned in confusion, "No, we just fell out of that portal," she said, "But you guys were already in a fight?"

"Yeah, I figure it's because that Mist Creep was trying to figure out who to drop where," Kendo said as she crossed her arms, "You took the longest because he was probably trying to get Eri away from you, and ended up dropping you out at the last possible second."

Eri sniffled as Tōru rubbed her back, "Then it's a good thing Auntie Tōru wouldn't let you go, huh, Eri?"

"I want my mommy and daddy," the girl sniffled again.

Tōru smiled down at her, "Oh, don't you worry, Sweetie, we'll get you back to them soon," she said and looked at Kendo, "Any idea where Midoriya or Jiro might be?"

Kendo shook her head, "All I really know is that you two, Todoroki, Ibara and I are here," she pointed down at their feet, "The Mountain Zone is just over there," she pointed toward the cliffy area to the South, "And I've heard fighting over in that area, like a lot of fighting." She said, "Pretty sure I heard one of Jiro's sonic screams over there, a lowkey one, but it was definitely one of hers and not a Villain."

Tōru sighed in exasperation, "If there's heavy fighting over there, then that's the last place I wanna take Eri." She said as the little girl whimpered in her arms, "What about the Central Plaza?" She asked just as an explosion went off in that direction, gaining their attention as they saw what could possibly be Aizawa, Kan, and Midoriya's father fighting in the throng the Villains, and dealing serious damage if the crater in the ground was of any significance. "Never mind." She said with a large bead of sweat running down her head.

"What we need to do is - " Kendo began just as another portal opened up in front of the three girls, "Get back!" The ginger shouted as she stepped in front of the two of them, her Big Fist Quirk activating as the sound of heavy...steps?...came from the portal.

Out came first one long mechanical tentacle-like appendage, followed quickly by another, "Well, now," said an elderly voice with a false tone of kindness, "I didn't expect to find you so easily, my little darling." A man dressed in a lab coat stepped out of the portal, revealing four mechanical tentacles in total combined with his actual limbs. He tucked his arms behind his back as he set himself on the ground. "And I see we have a few, hm...rather disappointing specimens, I must say." He said as he looked over at Kendo enlarged hands, and then at Tōru herself. The tentacles rose up, each having three opposable "claws" at the end of each of them, "But I suppose beggars can't be choosers: we are on a bit of a tight schedule." The claws started rotating like sawblades, "And I'm certain that samples from a partial enlargement Quirk like yours will be quite useful," The grin he wore as he stared at the girls was sickening.

"Listen, buddy, I don't know what you're after, but - " Kendo started but yelped a moment later as one of the tentacles whipped toward her, causing her to just barely dive-roll out of the way with Tōru, and Eri. Some of her orange hair drifted down to the ground.

"This will do quite nicely," the man said as one of his tentacles picked it up and placed it into a specimen bottle from his coat while Kendo checked her head for injuries. "But I rather thought that one of you had an Invisibility Quirk?" He said, sounding as though he was talking more to himself than the students. "Rather uncommon: it's something that I would have happily to add it to my lovely collection."

Said Invisible Girl jumped visibly while the man's eyes zeroed in on the movement, "Ah, so it's you, is it?" He grinned impossible wide. "Well, then this is just about perfect, isn't it? I can harvest three Quirks with very little effort." Two of the tentacles near his shoulders rose up, sprouting long spikes from their center, "However, I believe more than just hair samples will be required from you little rascals," he rose from the ground using to of the mechanical appendages as he approached, Kendo rising to her feet in a defensive position, "Blood, bone marrow, brain tissue, spinal fluids," he rambled gleefully while Tōru paled, "You won't mind, will you my dears?" He asked, "I promise you won't feel any pain...for very long!"

Eri screamed as the upper tentacles rocketed toward them. Tōru reached for her belt, becoming invisible almost completely save for the little girl, "Kendo!" She rushed to her side, and pushed Eri into her arms, "Take her and run!"

"But - !" The girl yelped as she was pushed out of harm's way when one of the appendages made a grab for the girl.

"Don't argue with me, just get her outta here!" The Invisible Girl shouted. Kendo didn't attempt to argue again as she turned on her heel and ran toward where she'd left Todoroki and Ibara, intending to bring help.

The man chuckled as he settled himself back on the ground, "A very valiant effort, my dear," he said, "But you don't believe you can actually - Oof!" A sharp blow across his face staggered him as he heard the scampering of feet against the ground. He rubbed his jaw, "Right, then, no more talking." Two of the arms whipped around him, extending well beyond what the girl had figured.

A small shriek left her as she ducked under one of the arms. "My Quirk may sacrifice physical strength for my longevity, but that doesn't mean I am weak, young lady!" He cackled as the other mechanical appendages joined the fray, smashing the ground around him. Tōru just barely managed to dodge before she ducked down low. She cocked her fist back, and just for a moment the girl became visible as a bright light focused on her fist before she delivered a left straight to the man's face.

The impact of the attack sounded like the sharp crack of a whip as the man staggered back, his nose broken and bleeding. Tōru was shocked by the sheer force that she had produced from the blow, but didn't dwell on it as she became invisible again, but not fast enough.

The tentacles smashed into her back, knocking the breath out of her while they coiled around her. She gasped for breath as the appendage squeezed her tighter, her bones creaking in protest, "Your Quirk," the man chuckled, "Is far more interesting that I thought, my dear." He began to cackle as he brought her in close, one tentacle rising up with needles coming from the claw. "But I believe our little game ends here."

Her heart was hammering into her aching ribs as the needles inched closer to her neck. [C'mon!] Her mind screamed at her, [This isn't how you die, girl! Do something!] She strained against the metal, pushing with all her might to get some breathing room.

"What's this?" The man asked in wonder as she felt some of the pressure ease off, "My word! Aren't you a little marvel!" He said with obvious glee.

"!" A wordless gasp escaped her as she inhaled sharply, gulping down as much air as she could manage when she felt the arm loosen more. She looked up and saw that the needle had paused just centimeters from her neck. Then a warm trickling sensation started from her ears and her nose, resulting in a warm coppery taste entering her mouth.

The man was laughing loudly now, "It seems that this form of your Quirk isn't without its risks," he said as her vision began to swim in blurred images, "All the better for me, I'm afraid." The pressure returned, "A truly valiant effort, I assure you, but all in vain," she felt the needle penetrate her neck, "I will get what I want."

"Not while we're here!"

A rush of freezing cold air rushed by her as she felt herself freed from the pressure of the metal appendages, her body collapsing to the ground. She gasped and coughed as she tried to regain her breath. Something then coiled around her body and started dragging her away. "I've got you, Tōru!"

"Sh-Shiozaki?" The girl mumbled, "E-Eri?"

"She's safe." That was Todoroki's voice, "You did an incredible job, Hagakure."

Her vision cleared as she saw the heterochromic boy standing in front of them with a giant ice wall between them, and the mad doctor. She could see him just on the other side, twirling his mustache in thought as though he were picking out a tie to wear while those mechanical arms of his swayed, "Hmm, you're Endeavor's child, aren't you, boy?" His voice held a hint of longing, "Any other day I think I would have tried to take you on and obtain a sample."

Todoroki sneered at him, the left side of his face steaming as it melted the partial ice mask, "Feel free to try, old man."

"Hmhmhm," the man chuckled, "Oh, how tempted I am to take you up on that challenge." The claws on the metal appendages flared open and emitted a loud, high-pitched sound. A moment later Todoroki's ice wall shattered raining pulverized ice down on them. "Because, while I'll readily admit that you are indeed powerful," he chuckled at the boy's face, "Without the other half of your power. You. Are. Nothing."

"Come over here and say that," Shoto's left arm suddenly started to flare up with small tufts of flames, "I don't see you trying to put me on my back!"

"As I said, any other day, my boy," he rose up, and snapped his fingers, a signal, which caused another portal to open up behind him, "Unfortunately we are quite strapped for time," he rambled as he stepped back, "But at least I have a small consolation prize." He stepped through the gate, "Thank you very much for your time, Miss Hagakure." Tōru shivered as he held up a small red vile. Blood...her blood.

Anger bubbled up through her "No," she reached out her hand. "You can't have that!" She ground out, her form wavering between visibility, "I won't let you take it!"

A small bubble formed around the vile, startling the man as it floated away from his fingers, and flew across the space between them into her outstretched hand. The bubble then imploded in her hand, smashing the vile. A small, weak grin spread across her face. "You lose."

"Perhaps," the man growled back angrily, "But the day isn't over, yet, you foolish little girl," he stepped back into the portal, "And by day's end, I will have what I desire, and the Symbol of Peace will weep over the corpses of your classmates." He grinned widely, "And my master will have his day."

He disappeared into the shadow.

Tōru tried to get to her feet with Shiozaki steadying her, "Where's Eri?" She demanded, "We-we have to - !"

"Kendo took her to where she thinks Kyoka might be," Shiozaki said in an attempt to soothe her, "But you're in no condition to follow."

Todoroki nodded as he made his way over to them, "She's right," he pointed at her, "You're bleeding from your nose and ears pretty badly, and I don't know why but you're also flickering in and out of visibility."

"Whatever you did to take that vile away from him," Shiozaki said, "It's still affecting your Quirk, and not in a good way."

Tōru shook her head, "I'm fine," she pushed away from her and staggered to her feet and pressed the dial on her belt to shut off her Quirk, "I just have to find Eri, and get her to - Ugh!" She stumbled, collapsing to her hands and knees.

"Hagakure!" "Tōru!"

Todoroki and Shiozaki were at her shoulders immediately. "The only place you're going right now is wherever we can get medical supplies." Todoroki with as somberly as he could manage.

"He's right, dear," Shiozaki said, "You're of no use to anyone like this." She patted her on the back, "You have to remember: that Villian was also interested in you, so giving him another chance at you would not be in your best interest."

"And you know that Kendo will keep Eri safe," Todoroki said, "I've seen her fight, Hagakure: she's no slouch."

Tōru frowned, praying that they were right.

スパイダーマン

Author's Note: Hakagure's power awakens!

Tune in next time to see what happens! Adios Amigos!