Chapter 2: Lessons and Questions

Me: "I don't know who to do for the main pairing?"

Godofevery: "Maybe Ibara?"

Me: "Alright, you've convinced me."

Yes, the main pairing is going to be Izuku x Ibara simply because one guy suggested it. Both because I like types of interactions I can come up with and because it's a rare ship, win-win in my book. Other than that, sorry for how wordy this chapter is. It's mostly just an exposition to get Izuku introduced into the Ultrakill world and kickstart his training. I promise the next chapter will be a lot more action packed to show Izuku getting ready for the entrance exam.

Other than that, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Izuku woke up from his sleep feeling great, which was somewhat of a shock considering how he usually felt. Normally he was sluggish with slight bags under his eyes, trucking through his morning routine with slow movements. However, today the middle schooler felt oddly refreshed, the sensation was similar to when he was struck by that golden flash. Getting out of bed Izuku let out a joyful hum as he made his way over to his closet.

With noticeably more energy in his actions, Izuku opened the closet door and pulled out his school uniform. He quickly threw on the clothes before grabbing his backpack and making his way out into the kitchen where his mom was already working over the stove. Izuku took a seat at the table, unzipping his bag to do a quick check that he had all his supplies for the door. When all was accounted for the middle schooler rezipped the backpack, just in time for his mom to notice that he was there.

"Oh Izuku, you're up early." Inko said with a bit of surprise. After the initial shock wore off her brow creased with worry. "Did you sleep ok?"

"Yeah, really good actually." Izuku replied with complete honesty.

"That's good sweetie." The green haired woman answered back with a smile. "Breakfast should be ready soon."

"Actually, I'm not really hungry." Izuku plainly stated, getting up from his seat and throwing the straps of his backpack over his shoulders.

"Oh…are you ok Izu?" The worried tone reappeared within the matriarch's words once more.

"Mhm, like I said I'm feeling great today." The middle schooler nodded resolutely with a bright smile.

"Mm ok, if you're sure honey." Inko relented, unable to resist the persuasion of her son's glowing grin. It was a sight she sorely missed, seeing her son smiling with clear happiness in his eyes.

"Bye mom, have a good day." Izuku walked over and gave the woman a quick side hug before making his way out the front door. "Love you!" He shouted back as he stepped into the cool April air.

"Love you too, Izu. Have a good day!" The woman called back before her son shut the door behind himself.

The trek to Aldera was rather uneventful compared to the usual stream of bad luck Izuku was often plagued with. He managed to make it to the front gates of the school without incident, a cheery hum replacing his usual quiet self. However, the tune along with Izuku's overall joyful aura disappeared upon stepping through the entrance. Almost immediately he was faced with the familiar hushed whispers and laughs as he passed by. Izuku responded to the insults as he always did, bowing his head low and hunching his shoulders so that he appeared as small as possible.

Despite the new 'quirk' he discovered he had yesterday, which remained concealed at the moment. Izuku could not stop the effect the whispers had. His cheery disposition reverted to a more submissive, downtrodden aura. The reaction was ingrained into the greenette at this point, a natural reaction from decade's worth of bullying. Even if Izuku knew deep down that those words didn't mean anything anymore, they still cut deep as they always did.

"Hey look, it's Deku."

"You know sometimes I forget he still goes here."

"I'm kinda impressed that he made it this far."

"Yeah, for a quirkless he's really persistent."

"I heard he applied for U.A."

"Ha! As if they'd even consider it. I mean come on."

"Heh yeah, especially after what happened yesterday."

"I heard Bakugo took on a real villain. Like nearly managed to take them down himself."

"Now with a quirk like his I can see U.A accepting him on the spot."

The murmurs eventually faded into a dull white noise, despite Izuku wanting to learn more about the villain attack. From the snippets he picked up on, Bakugo fought the slime villain before needing to be rescued by All Might. At first the greenette thought of approaching the explosive blonde, but upon stepping into his homeroom he thought better against it. Sitting at his usual desk was Katsuki, his usual scowl mixed with clear annoyance. Surrounding him was a cluster of other students, all bombarding him with various questions.

Seeing as how the blonde was but a moment away from exploding, literally and figuratively, Izuku decided to quietly take his own seat. The attention on Bakugo allowed for the 'quirkless' boy to avoid the usual bout of jeers he got. It also helped that once class had begun Izuku's homeroom teacher spent a good five minutes praising Bakugo for being a real 'hero'. Weirdly enough Bakugo seemed to scoff at the praise, for what reason Izuku could not say. However, the speech managed to indirectly shift the attention away from Izuku for the remainder of the period.

Classes came and went along with lunch, which Izuku did not take part in, he still didn't feel hungry for some strange reason. Before the fourteen-year-old knew it, the day had come to an end without a single incident. Sure, there was the occasional remark here or there, but other than that Izuku was pretty much left alone for the day. Maybe picking on the quirkless kid had finally worn itself out or perhaps the recent villain incident was just that much of a hot topic. Regardless, the peace that the greenette had was a welcome change, Izuku managed to get a lot of hero notes done today because of it.

Upon hearing the final bell, Izuku waited for the rush of his classmates to settle before placing all of his belongings into his backpack. Throwing the straps over his shoulders the teen made his way out of the classroom, the teacher not even bothering to acknowledge him. Walking through the mostly empty halls and courtyard, Izuku was treated to far fewer whispers than this morning.

*Thump*

"Out of the fucking way, shitty Deku." Katsuki growled after roughly bumping into the green haired boy's shoulder.

"A-ah s-s-sor-sorry Kacchan." Izuku mumbled submissively.

"Tch." The blonde bombshell grunted before stalking off, his hands firmly shoved into his pockets.

That went better than the smaller boy expected, Katsuki, and not giving Izuku a verbal, or sometimes physical, beatdown was a rarity. Apparently Izuku's luck was finally turning around for the better. A general lack of attention, his classmates leaving him alone, and now Bakugo not even giving him the time of day? Izuku would've said it was divine intervention if not for the fact he quite literally was an angel.

With nothing more to do the greenette began his trek back to his apartment, humming a tune to fill the silence. Throughout the journey Izuku's thoughts remained firmly centered around Gabriel and his words before departing. In the heat of the moment the armored warrior's words were easily accepted, though now that he thought about them Izuku couldn't wrap his head around the absurdity. Having ethereal wings and halo seemed rather tame compared to the other brief comments Gabriel made.

Suddenly appearing on the moon and finding out that Heaven and Hell are very real. Not only that but Izuku was supposedly chosen by God himself to be an angel for some unknown reason, despite his attempt to end his own life. Oh, and apparently there were two Earths which meant that either Izuku time traveled or crossed into a different universe. His attempts to make sense of it all only left him more confused than anything else. Izuku felt as though he was going in circles, with more questions popping up with each potential answer.

'I hope Gabriel doesn't mind all the questions I have for him.' Izuku massaged his temple as he attempted to calm his raging mind. 'Wait…how am I supposed to see him again?'

Now that Izuku was on the subject of yesterday's events he recalled Gabriel saying how they will meet again very soon. In his stupefied state the teen essentially just nodded and accepted the words without so much as a second thought. He also might have gotten a tiny, ok a lot, bit sidetracked with his new wings. However, now with a new day Izuku could not help but wonder just how he would see Gabriel again. The middle schooler figured it would have to do with the golden energy and warm feeling that he felt yesterday.

'I wonder what that was. Maybe it was some kind of teleportation.' The greenette thought, his analysis side peeking through. 'I wonder what's the functionality of it. Can all angels do it? What are the activations required? Does it have any limitations regarding distance?' Izuku mentally took notes, silently reminding himself to ask Gabriel about it. 'It managed to transport me from the Moon back to the Earth…hmm. Maybe–'

Before Izuku could think about it further he was suddenly afflicted with the familiar warm sensation that he experienced yesterday. Taking a step back in surprise the middle schooler's wings sprung out from the abrupt feeling. Glancing down at himself, Izuku managed to catch a brief glimpse of the same golden aura that surrounded Gabriel. The quick look was all the greenette got before his vision blurred into a thin line.

And just like that Midoriya Izuku disappeared from the world once more without so much as a trace.

Earth's Moon: Ruined Temple

With a beam of golden majestic light, Izuku reappeared once more next to the dilapidated temple. Blinking with sheer confusion, the green haired teen quickly glanced around his surroundings, finding himself in the middle of the campsite. Green orbs eventually landed onto the unforgettable, shining armor of Gabriel who remained seated on a broken column. The angel lifted his head, as though he knew Izuku would arrive at that very moment.

"Good you're here, we shall get started immediately." Gabriel said matter of factly. The armored man stood from his seated position.

"Uh wha–" Izuku blinked dumbly, still processing the sudden shift in scenery.

"Your training, we begin today." The angel answered despite not even getting a question from the smaller boy. Attaching both of his swords to his right hip, Gabriel began walking toward the ruined temple, giving a gesture for Izuku to follow. "Come, ask your questions as we walk."

"Ah r-right." Izuku stuttered before stumbling over to walk beside the much larger angel. "Mr. Gabriel um how exactly did I get here. I was just walking home then I just ended up here."

"I apologize for the suddenness, until you learn how to warp yourself I must do it for you." Gabriel explained briefly as the two continued their walk. Passing into the temple the two angels made their way down a very spacious hallway "We shall develop a time frame so you will expect it from now on."

"Warp?" The middle schooler repeated the word with a confused voice.

"One of the many abilities we possess as angels. Do not worry, I shall teach you how to utilize these powers." Gabriel stated clearly. The angel bent down to pick up and move a large chunk of marble column that stood in their path. With clear ease he placed the debris off the side.

"Woah." Izuku stared in awe at the sheer strength displayed by his fellow angel. He took a glance at his hands, wondering if he could achieve the same level of brawn.

"Do not be so surprised, by tomorrow I'll be having you do the same." The Archangel chuckled lightly from Izuku's wide eyed stare.

"Isn't that a bit much? I mean I just found out I was an angel yesterday." The nervousness of the greenette was palpable in his words.

"You doubt your abilities. We shall rectify that now." Gabriel plainly noted his helmet hiding his frown. Stepping to the side the angel motioned toward a smaller chunk of debris. "Go and remove it from our path." The angel ordered, crossing his arms and waiting expectantly.

With an anxious gulp, Izuku hesitantly made his way over to the pile of rubble, his palms sweating profusely. An unsure glance was sent back toward the elder angel, seeking some kind of sign on what to do. A firm, confident nod was sent his way, signaling for the teen to follow Gabriel's instructions. Swallowing thickly, Izuku bent down, hooking his hands underneath the column. Izuku expected to be met with the heavy resistance that would be expected from a column of such a size. He expected to fail considerably, struggling vainly in an attempt to get even the most minuscule of movement.

What Izuku did not expect was to, with a bit of effort, lift the piece of debris into the air.

The absolute gob smacked expression the teen wore would have made anyone from how comical he looked. If his jaw could extend further it probably would've hit the floor with a loud thud. That is if his eyes didn't bulge out their sockets before then with how wide they were at the moment.

"Now, place it to the side." Gabriel reminded Izuku with a parental tone. The armored angel may have had an amused smile as he observed his apprentice's expression, but he would never admit it.

"Ah r-right!" The greenette stuttered, snapping out of his stupor. With carefulness as though he was handling porcelain, Izuku gently placed the debris against the wall of the hallway. 'It kinda feels like I'm lifting cardboard.' Izuku noted in amazement, not expecting it to be that easy.

"That should be more than enough evidence to prove your strength." The Archangel said plainly, continuing to walk down the corridor.

"Yeah…it's–it's amazing." Izuku agreed, a large smile blossoming across his freckled face. "What else can I do?" The question was asked with obvious excitement despite an attempt to conceal it.

"You will learn as we progress through your training regimen." Gabriel answered with a casual wave of his hand.

The two traveled in silence down the hallway for a brief moment before eventually coming to a low archway. Following Gabriel through the opening, Izuku was immediately met with the sight of a large room. Several rows of decrepit pews lined both sides of the room, leading to an equally ancient looking altar. Broken stained glass showed fractured images of what the palace used to be. A sanctuary that has long since been abandoned by both the congregation and those that they prayed to.

Izuku may not have been very religious, but even he could feel the lingering sanctity that once blessed this temple. The feeling reminded him of the sensation of warping, except the warmness was absent. The greenette was reminded of embers of a dying fire from how the lingering warmth seemed to flicker. Walking further through the nave, Izuku took in the details of the room with rapt attention. Gabriel for his part appeared far less interested in the scenery, walking towards the altar in a straight line.

"What–what is this place?" Izuku asked quietly, continuing to look around the room in awe.

"It was once a safe haven for those seeking refuge or guidance." Gabriel answered solemnly, fondly tracing the wood of a bench.

"What happened to it?" The middle schooler hesitantly inquired after hearing the tone of his fellow angel.

"Machines." The word was said with unfiltered loathing. "They will stop at nothing to get their precious 'fuel' even if it means traveling here to hunt down the rest of humanity."

"Rest of humanity?" Izuku repeated, his youthful features becoming tinged with anxiousness.

"Humanity is dead, wiped out by the Machines." Gabriel bluntly revealed, ignoring the shocked gasp that Izuku let out. "Sit Izuku, today's lesson will be that of history."

Wordlessly the fourteen-year-old took a seat in the front pew while Gabriel took a seat on the steps of the altar.

"The humanity of this world is not so different from your own in some ways. There are simply some people who can not resist their sinful ways. War, greed, and hatred are unfortunate side effects that came with the Father's gift of free will. Their progress was exponential, creating a technological age unlike anything else." Gabriel began sounding much older than Izuku had heard from him. "Eventually though their hubris became insurmountable, creating the Machines to explore both Heaven and Hell when their own world had been researched to its limit. They could not foresee that their own creations would turn on them, erasing them from existence." The Archangel continued his explanation.

"No matter where they went the Machines would follow, slaughtering everything in their sights in order to acquire their fuel." Gabriel said, pausing for a moment to allow Izuku to speak his mind.

"Fuel? What kind of fuel do they need that requires so much death?" The middle schooler asked in a low tone.

"Blood." The armored warrior revealed. "Anything that could bleed was murdered."

"No… that means…" Izuku muttered, feeling his eyes become misty.

"Yes…no one was off limits for the Machines. Men, women, and children alike were all slaughtered. Humanity fought back valiantly…but they could not fight forever." Gabriel placed a comforting hand on the teen's shoulder. "Many of them met a heroic end if it is any consolation."

"What's left if everyone is gone now?" The boy asked in a quiet voice. The somber aura emitting from him was palpable.

"Very little and soon nothing." Gabriel answered honestly, feeling a pang of sympathy when he saw Izuku slouch in hopelessness. "The Machines are relentless constructs; at the moment they are on track to wipe out the rest of all life on Earth. Despite my and our fellow brothers in arms effort, it shall happen sooner rather than later."

"And then what? What else could they possibly destroy after everything is gone?" Izuku raised another question.

"While not confirmed we fear that they might find a way into the layers of Heaven and Hell." The Archangel said with a sigh, now taking a seat beside his pupil.

"They couldn't do that…right?" Izuku's voice was shaky as he looked at his fellow angel.

"Humanity underestimated the Machines, we will not. We shall prepare for every outcome." The hardened steel in Gabriel's voice alleviated some of the worry that infected Izuku's mind.

The two sat in silence for a moment, both for their own reasons. Gabriel knew his pupil was likely experiencing a wave of confusing thoughts and emotions. The angel figured the best way to handle it was to allow Izuku to figure it out himself. If the small, green haired boy needed him then he would be more than ready to lend his assistance.

The Archangel's assumptions were not too far off, Izuku currently had a million things racing through his mind at ludicrous speeds. Finding out that humanity has become instinct was the last thing he expected to learn today. Izuku's empathetic nature would not allow him to process such information without feeling a torrent of sadness for the loss of life. He may not have known a single person, but Izuku's heart still ached for every life lost. The core tenet of being a hero was saving every possible person you can.

But what if he couldn't save anyone? What if, despite having the power of an angel, Izuku was destined to repeat the mistakes of this Earth? Would he too be forced to watch as his own home is rendered to ashes and cinders?

'No, I won't let that happen!' Izuku clenched the fabric of pants tightly, a sudden fire igniting in his eyes. 'I'll protect everyone, just like a real hero should. I'll make sure of it!'

Though no words were spoken, Gabriel could practically feel the indomitable resolve radiating off Izuku in waves. The Archangel couldn't help but let out a prideful smirk behind his exotic helmet. He knew he made the right choice in taking up the middle schooler as his pupil, but it felt really good to have his decision validated.

'This kid…I tell him humanity is gone and yet the fire in his eyes only seemed to grow stronger.' Gabriel mentally chuckled. 'I wonder what else you have hiding under all that self-doubt, Izuku.'

"Mr. Gabriel, I have a question." The greenette suddenly spoke up.

"Speak your mind, Izuku." Gabriel replied straightforwardly.

"Yesterday you said this Earth is not my own…what did you mean by that?" Izuku asked, remembering the angel's words from yesterday.

"Ah, that. You worry that your Earth might be linked to this one." The angel gave a contemplative hum before continuing. "Do not fret, for the two are exclusive from one another, the fate of this Earth does not dictate yours."

"Yeah–yeah ok. That's good." The teen visibly sagged with relief from the answer. 'Alright I guess that means time travel is off the table. So, I guess this is a different dimension.'

"You are taking this information far better than I expected." Gabriel admitted.

"Ha yeah, honestly I'm kinda just going along with it because I know if I don't I'll freak out like I normally do." Izuku chuckled while giving the armored man a shaky grin. "And trust me you don't want to see that at all."

"Indeed." Gabriel agreed, his armor clinking as he stood up from the bench. "Now then, I believe it is time to discuss your training regimen."

"Alright, I'm ready." Izuku nodded while giving his new mentor his full attention.

"Expect to be brought here around the same time as today from now on. You'll also be brought here every day unless I've told you otherwise." The angel explained with a strictness like that of a drill sergeant.

"Every day, won't I need some days to rest so I don't over strain myself?" The regiment laid out before him made the teen feel a bit intimidated if he was being honest. However, despite his apprehension Izuku remained committed to learning under Gabriel.

"For mortals yes, but we do not function in the same capacity. Our visage might be similar, however angelic physiology differs greatly from that of humans." Gabriel's answer was quick and informative. "Have you not noticed the changes to yourself?"

"I–uh…uh–hmm." Now that Izuku remembered he hasn't eaten so much as a crumb today and yet he still doesn't feel the least bit hungry. "Yeah, I haven't eaten a single thing today."

"Angels do not require food nor sleep like mortals do, however if you wish to do it for pleasure then by all means do so." The armored angel nodded as he continued his explanation. "Our stamina and durability are also significantly higher. Believe it or not but you're getting less time than what is required of normal trainees."

"I'm scared to ask what could be worse than an all week training course." The middle schooler nervously chuckled.

"Seven days with each one consisting of twelve hours of physical training, eight hours of academics, and fours of leisure time." The older angel offhandedly revealed.

"Y–yeah, I think I'll stick with your plan." Izuku sweat dropped, feeling extremely grateful that he doesn't have to go through that.

"Make no mistake, I will be pushing you to your absolute limit to make up for the lack of time we have together." Gabriel firmly told the greenette. "I will not be going easy on you."

"R-right!" Izuku stuttered before giving a resolute nod. He had a feeling Gabriel would say something like that.

"Excellent, now that we have that out of the way, follow." Gabriel motioned, walking towards the entrance that they had come in from. "I need an understanding of where you stand physically, you shall perform a few tests so I can best judge your capabilities."

Test 1: Agility

"So, you just want me to jump?" Izuku said, confused as he stared at his mentor. The two had their way back outside the temple where Gabriel had Izuku stand next to the most structurally stable wall he could find.

"In simple terms yes, but the goal is to reach up there." Gabriel pointed toward the edge of the roof with an armored finger. The distance was roughly sixty feet high from where he had positioned Izuku.

"Alright, here goes."

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, the teen bent his legs as he stared up at his objective with a calculated gaze. His calves' tensed as he focused all of his energy into his legs, when Izuku felt he was ready he jumped. The ground beneath him cracked under the immense pressure generated by Izuku's leap. After picking up the column the greenette figured he would go a lot higher than expected. Though apparently it wasn't enough to reach the roof as Izuku was only about half of the way up.

Two sizable craters formed in the moon rock as the green haired boy plummeted back down to the ground. Feeling like he could do better, Izuku repeated the jump once more, putting a bit more power into his legs this time. He managed to make three fourths of the way before falling back to the ground once more. A few more tries were attempted but he could never quite break the three fourths mark.

"Alright, that is enough." Gabriel commanded with a firm tone. "I have acquired what I needed; we move on now."

Test 2: Speed

"This one is fairly simple; you will run toward the outskirts of the forest then back here." Gabriel explained with crossed arms. Both angels stood at the entrance to the temple, Gabriel leaning against a pillar while Izuku finished up his stretches.

"How will I know where to go if I get lost?" Izuku asked loosening up the last of his muscles.

"Do not get lost." Gabriel answered simply.

"Ah–right." The greenette sweat dropped, not expecting such a blunt answer.

"Good, glad you understand. Now, begin."

Caught off guard by the suddenness, Izuku stumbled a few steps as he clumsily began running toward the luminescent forest. After regaining his balance Izuku broke into a steady run, feeling the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. With superhuman speed and reflexes, Izuku weaved through the glowing flora with ease. The green haired teen almost wished he was back on Earth so he could feel the wind flowing through his hair. If anyone else were to be watching, they'd see a blue and green blur rushing through the forest at breakneck speeds.

In less than a minute he found himself at the edge of the forest, stopping briefly to stare at the horizon. The vast, open landscape of the Moon was breathtaking to say the least, if not for the time sensitivity of his test Izuku might've spent a bit more time admiring the view. However, the greenette managed to tear his gaze away, turning around and speeding back into the forest. It may have been skewed in his eyes, but Izuku could swear he was traversing through the woods faster than before. In no time at all he could see the pile of columns and the dilapidated temple growing ever closer. Skidding his red shoes against the ground, Izuku came to a stop before Gabriel with a trail of dust in his wake.

"One minute and twenty three seconds, impressive Izuku." Gabriel praised with a nod of his armored head. "The average is around two minutes, do you run professionally?" The angel asked curiously.

"Not really, I just–" Izuku paused, remembering all the times he's had to run away from his many, many bullies. "Just had a lot of practice is all." The middle schooler shuffled nervously on his feet, unable to make eye contact with his mentor.

"Hmm, yes of course." The Archangel hummed thoughtfully, picking up the evasive aura almost immediately. Though he said nothing, Gabriel made a mental note to address the topic again at a later date. "Regardless, well done, I am impressed by your display. Let us continue."

Test 3: Strength

"Didn't you already show me that I can do this?" Izuku grunted, lifting up a column that was a bit bigger than the one he moved earlier.

"Yes, but I need to see what exactly your limit is at the moment." Gabriel answered while observing the teen off to the side. "Though you have the strength of an angel, your powers are still relatively new. Compared to someone like myself you have barely scratched the surface of what divine beings such as ourselves are capable of."

"Then how do I get strong like you? You said our physiology is different from a regular person's, so I doubt the answer lies in a gym." The middle schooler gave a huff of exertion as he picked up another piece of debris. It was bigger than the last but still significantly smaller than the one Gabriel managed to move.

"Ah, an attentive student. If only I had you as a classmate back in the academy." Gabriel chuckled good-naturedly. "But you are right, the process of increasing our strength is different from that of mortals. A combination of learning to harness the Light within you and age are the main factors in determining an angel's power."

"You're saying as I get older I'll just naturally get stronger?" Izuku asked before attempting to pick up another fallen column. He noticeably struggled to lift the piece of marble off the ground.

"Indeed, though that will not be an excuse to slack off on your training." The armored angel confirmed before continuing with a steely tone.

"Wouldn't dream of it–mmph!" The greenette let out a loud grunt as he tried with all his might to lift up the next piece of debris. Though he managed to get it off the ground he could not hold it for more than a few seconds before dropping it. "I'm sorry sir, I don't think I can do it."

"Apologies are unnecessary, I told you this test is to gauge your abilities." Gabriel reminded in a firm voice. The angel observed the size of the column, finding it to be a bit shorter than the one he moved. 'For a scrawny kid he isn't too bad.' The angel thought, impressed by his student's display. "Come there is one more test before I send you home for the day."

Test 4: Flight

"Shouldn't I–you know…be given a few lessons before trying this?" Despite the other tests proving his superhuman abilities Izuku was still hesitant.

Gabriel had grabbed him by the back of his collar, like one would to a kitten, and leapt onto the roof of the temple. Now roughly sixty feet off the ground, Izuku felt a pit in his stomach form when his fellow angel explained the last test. The greenette would have laughed and told the armored man he was really good at jokes if not for the usual seriousness that plagued Gabriel's words. Now here he was, shuffling nervously as he stared over the edge with clear uncertainty.

"This is usually the easiest one." Gabriel said casually.

"Wait, really?" Izuku looked back at his teacher with an incredulous look.

"No." The angel deadpanned. "I simply said it in hopes that it would calm your mind."

"I think it would've worked if you didn't tell me otherwise." The green haired teen mumbled.

"Eh, probably but we're angels so honesty is basically ingrained in our blood." Gabriel shrugged.

"Do you have any kind of tips that can help me out?" The middle schooler couldn't hide the desperation in his voice.

"Do not think, simply let your wings carry you." Gabriel offered his help in his own cryptic way. "I'm sure you have noticed by now; your wings operate independently. They will aid you should you need them. No action is required on your part, simply have faith, Izuku."

"Right–yeah, just trust in my wings. Got it." Izuku repeated, feeling his nerves ease somewhat. 'Just have faith, trust in my wings. Ok–ok I can do this–just have faith.'

Taking one final deep breath, Izuku took careful steps until the tips of his shoes were off of the edge. Closing his eyes, the greenette allowed himself to lean forward, feeling the roof underneath his feet disappear. For what felt like the longest time Izuku kept his green orbs shut, bracing for the feeling of his face colliding with the ground. However, when the impact never came the teen took the chance to hesitantly open his eyes. Said orbs grew wide with shock and awe when he saw that he was still relatively high.

Straightening himself up, Izuku glanced around himself to see that he was suspended in the air. His ethereal wings flapped occasionally, allowing Izuku to hover, very shakily but hover all the same. A large, energetic grin stretched across the boy's freckled cheeks followed shortly by a quick cheer. Slowly and still somewhat wobbly, Izuku began to float upward, he was surprised by how light the whole thing felt. He expected some kind resistance but was met with none, so many possibilities ran through the greenette's head with this newfound information.

"Look Mr. Gabriel I'm flying! Ha ha ha!" Izuku let out a childish laugh as he ascended upward to meet the gaze of his mentor.

"A little unstable but flying all the same." Gabriel noted though he still offered some praise toward the teen. "Well done, Izuku. It usually takes a few tries before one is able to hover like you are."

"Y–yeah, it's a little scary but kinda fun." Izuku carefully descended back onto the roof, his legs trembling once he touched solid ground once more.

"We shall hone your skills so that you can do so with ease." The Archangel gave a low, contemplative hum. "I suppose test five will have to wait till later." He mumbled to himself though Izuku was able to hear it.

"Test five?" The middle schooler repeated, confused. Gabriel himself flying was the final one, so how could there possibly be five.

"Durability." The armored angel answered bluntly.

"Oh…oh!" Izuku blanched, suddenly understanding just what his mentor was getting at.

"Relax kid, just making a little joke." Gabriel chuckled lightly upon seeing Izuku's pale face. "You did good today, I am proud." A quick tussle of green locks were given with an armored gauntlet.

"T–thank you sir!" The teen beamed, doing his absolute best not to cry from the heartwarming praise.

"It appears our time together must come to an end; we shall resume your training tomorrow." The angel removed his hand from his pupil's head, stepping away to float into the air. "Be prepared for a vigorous exercise."

"Ye-yes sir!" Izuku nodded resolutely, standing tall and confident.

"Then I look forward to it, my student." The golden helmet hid the prideful smile Gabriel wore. Golden energy began to surround both angels. "May your woes be few and your days many."

The warm sensation that engulfed Izuku came and went as it had the last two times, leaving the teen on the same sidewalk he was taken from. Glancing up at the sky, he could see that the sun had already begun setting, meaning that his mom was probably minutes away from panic calling him. With his newfound speed Izuku began jogging toward his home, already constructing an excuse for why he would be out this late again. With each step the wind blew through his hair with a comfortable intensity.

Today was a strange day, but Izuku couldn't lie and say it wasn't a good one. For the first time in a long time Izuku felt great. His school life is improving, if ever so slightly and for the wrong reasons. He found out he has way more powers than simply having a cool set of wings and a halo. And best of all he managed to learn how to put those wings to use, even if it was something as simple as hovering. Yeah, after today Izuku couldn't wait for tomorrow to come and what his new mentor would bring.

"Izuku, what does poggers mean?"

"Mr. Gabriel what is in your recommended?"

Next chapter: The Cyber Grind