-65-

Red Riot's Gambit.

The rest of the raid party was making the most out of the time afforded to them by Suneater's decision to fight the Hassaikai enforcers alone. Fatgum was concerned. He didn't want to leave his protege behind, but he knew that time was of the essence. However, one of the young sidekicks of the Green Arrow, Speedy, seemed to be unable to stomach this and had doubled back to help him. Izuku wanted to follow, but Oliver had told him that Speedy had faced more villains in a month than many did in their entire careers, and that he had utmost confidence in her abilities. Besides, Izuku's number one priority was finding Eri, and taking her out of the hands of that madman Chisaki.

As they continued down the hall, Eraserhead began to grow wary. He felt as if they were being watched, and kept vigilant for any surprise attacks. No sooner had he thought this when a large piece of the wall next to him seemed to spring to life and lunge out at him. He realized that it was the Hassaikai villain they encountered when they first entered the compound, the one who was able to control the cement walls around them. His range was greater than they expected, and was obviously trying to take Eraser out of the fight. His Eraser quirk was too much of a liability for them.

Before the moving wall could envelop him, he felt something push him hard out of the way, glancing back to see Fatgum had taken the attack for him. The rotund hero was forced through the opposing wall and out of sight.

"Fatgum!" Shouted Izuku. "Kirishima, let's –" He turned to face his friend so they could help their fallen comrade, but he was gone. Before Izuku could ascertain where he was, the walls and floors began to morph and change all around them. He felt something grab him by the scruff of his costume, pulling him hard as a new wall was formed where he was previously standing. He looked up to see Eraserhead standing over him, pulling him to safety.

"Not this time, Midoriya," he said. "You're staying where I can see you."

Fatgum rolled at alarming speed down a dark, slanted corridor, coming to an abrupt stop as he tumbled onto the level floor beneath him. He was unharmed, his fat having absorbed the shock of the attack, but to say he wasn't stunned a little would be lying.

He was glad he was able to push Eraserhead out of the way of the attack. He was the cornerstone to their plan. If his quirk was compromised, it would make the rescue ten times more complicated for them, maybe even preventing them from succeeding. But now he had to figure out where he was and how to find his way back. He was shaken from his thoughts when he suddenly heard a muffled cry coming from under him. Standing up, he was shocked to see that Kirishima had somehow accompanied him in his descent.

"What the –" he said. "What are you doing here, kid?"

"I tried to jump out in front of Aizawa," said Kirishima. "But I kinda got stuck in your fat."

"Oh," said Fatgum. "Well, nothin' we can do about it now." His head snapped suddenly to the left as he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. "Get ready, we're not alone."

A large figure came running at them from the shadows. Kirishima barely had time to put up his defense before a large, metal-gauntleted fist collided with his body. He was thrown back at tremendous speed, crashing into the wall behind him. Fatgum was immediately accosted next, his assailant hitting him with several devastating blows. Normally, his fat would absorb the attacks, but to his surprise, he was able to feel every one of them.

This guy was strong. Very strong.

Rallying himself, he looked back at his fallen intern. "You okay, kid?" He shouted. The dust around Kirishima cleared. He was trembling in a large pile of debris, his hardened forearms cracked and flaking. The assailant managed to break through his hardening quirk in one blow.

"I'm glad to see that you're not using weapons," said the attacker. Getting a good look at him, he was large and imposing, wearing a simple white brawler's shirt and pointed beak-mask that covered his entire face. "Anyone can win when using a weapon. It's a coward's way. Only real fighters use their fists. Are you a real fighter?"

"Stay still and find out!" Shouted Fatgum, throwing a punch at the interloper. His fist never reached its target, as a yellow wall of energy formed around the attacker. A second individual appeared from the shadows behind the larger man. He was wearing a gray kimono and beak-mask, but his eyes were exposed. He was rubbing his head, as if he had a headache, as he approached them.

"Fatgum and a kid with a hardening quirk," said the smaller man. "Both are better suited for defense. Disappointing, isn't it, Rappa?"

Rappa continued his attack on Fatgum, launching powerful blows at lightning speed. Fatgum's hero suit had already taken significant damage, exposing his midsection. These two weren't on the quirk's list that they had researched on the Hassaikai, but they didn't look like outside help.

"We are spear and shield," said the man in the kimono. "Whereas you two are only shields. Although I don't think that one over there even qualifies as even a shield." He added to Kirishima, who was struggling to get to his feet.

Kirishima was shocked. After fighting the titan creature a few weeks ago, he thought he had gotten stronger, but compared to this monster he was still weak. He wasn't able to withstand a single blow from him. Another attack like that and he would be done for.

"Don't let him break your spirit, kid!" Shouted Fatgum, as if reading his mind. "The minute you lose your will to fight, they win. Let's take these two down and get outta here!"

"I like the way the fat one thinks," said Rappa. "Take this damn thing down, Tengai. I don't need your stupid bubble to protect me."

"Remember what Master Overhaul said," Tengai warned his comrade. "Our skills complement each other. He wanted us to work together to ensure our victory."

"I don't care what Overhaul says," said Rappa, growling in frustration. "I just want a good deathmatch!"

"Very well," said Tengai, dropping the shield over Rappa but keeping it over himself. "If you think you can take them, be my guest."

"Now we're talkin'!" Shouted Rappa. Without missing a beat, he charged Fatgum and resumed his onslaught. Fatgum was at a loss. He couldn't risk Rappa attacking the kid again, so he had to take most of the punishment from Rappa's attacks. The problem was, he was too quick to dodge the attacks in close range, and if he continued his attacks, he would soon be worn down to nothing. He had to play this smart. He glanced at Tengai. His eyes were shut tight, but it was obvious that he didn't need them open to see what was going on. Fatgum knew his chances were slim, but even slimmer if he didn't do something about Tengai. However, it was clear these two were an odd couple. They didn't want to work together.

He could use that.

"So, Rappa, is it?" Said Fatgum. "It's been a while since I've been hit this hard. But I've been at this a long time, and I think we both know what this boils down to - either my body fails, or you get too tired to continue. Which is stronger, the spear or the shield?"

Kirishima watched in horror as his mentor continued to take the punishing barrage of punches. He knew that Fatgum was protecting him, and Kirishima cursed silently to himself. He was so sure he had gotten stronger, but he was just as useless as he ever was. His mind trailed back to his time in middle school. He always tried to be the hero to stand up against those who couldn't help themselves, but he usually ended up getting the crap kicked out of him. His hardening quirk barely protected him, and it rarely ever won him any fights. As much as he tried to emulate his hero, the Crimson Riot, he just wasn't strong enough to help anyone.

Then there was his classmate, Mina Ashido. A positivity bubbled around her wherever she went. She had an innate ability to assess the situation and resolve it, without ever throwing a punch. He knew that she was applying for UA, and she had all the charisma and strength of any hero, even without using her quirk. Her pink skin, vibrant personality, and skillful ability made her perfect hero material.

She was everything he wanted to be. And everything he was not.

His quirk wasn't very strong, neither was it very flashy. He couldn't hold it for very long, and couldn't take much punishment when he did. He knew he had no chance to stand against other applicants to UA High. But that didn't deter him. Ashido and Crimson Riot inspired him to become more than he was. He would play the words of his hero in his head every day as he trained his body and quirk past its breaking point:

If you have a chivalrous heart, it doesn't matter what your quirk is.

So he continued to train. Continued to push himself to go beyond his limits. And he saw he gradually became stronger. His quirk was easier to maintain, and he could take more punishment than before. He truly felt as if he was finally becoming the worthy potential hero he sought to be.

Or so he thought.

He remembered that day vividly. He was walking home from school when he saw two girls cornered by what he could only describe as a gigantic man in a hooded cloak. He was asking for directions to a local hero agency, but the two middle-school girls were too frightened to speak. The more times he asked, the more frustrated the man got. His hand, which was resting on the building behind them, began to crush and break the wall, showering the girls with debris. Kirishima looked around. There were no heroes or police around to help. Someone had to step in. This was his chance to prove his mettle, to prove that his warrior spirit was enough to carry him past his weaknesses. But try as he might, he couldn't get his feet to move.

Come on! He shouted internally. Go help them! Be a man! But his feet continued to stay planted where they were. His heart was beating rapidly, his hands were trembling and he was sweating profusely. He had to do something, but he was too scared, he was too weak.

Suddenly, a pink flash came dashing between the giant man and the two frightened girls. It was Ashido. With a fire in her eyes, she quickly gave him directions to the hero agency he was looking for. The man simply thanked her and continued on his way. After he disappeared from sight, Ashido's strength failed her, and she sank to her knees, admitting how frightened she was.

Kirishima continued his walk home, his heart heavy with shame. Ashido was just as scared as he was, but she still found the will to act when her friends needed her the most. All he could do was stand frozen in place like a coward. The ability to act without thought for one's safety, to rush to other's aid without caving to the fear, was the essence of being a hero.

He wasn't a hero. He wasn't even a man.

He took his picture of the Crimson Riot and threw it against his bookshelf. In doing so, he had inadvertently knocked off a holodisc of an interview with the same hero, causing it to spring to life, startling him slightly.

"You have a reputation, even among other heroes, as being a bit reckless," said the reporter in the holovideo. "You often run headlong into dangerous situations without thought for your own safety. Do you ever get scared doing that?"

"What kind of question is that?" Said Crimson Riot incredulously. "Of course I get afraid!" Kirishima paused, turning to the holovideo in surprise. Did he hear that right? Did the Crimson Riot just admit to being afraid?

"Show me a person who isn't afraid to look death in the face," the Crimson Riot continued. "And I'll show you an idiot! The reason behind my reckless behavior, for running headlong into dangerous situations, is because when I was a sidekick, I failed to save someone in peril."

"I heard about that," said the reporter. "But it wasn't your fault."

"You don't understand," the Hero said with a dismissive wave. "The day I hesitated, someone lost their life because my spirit was weak. I could have done something to save them, and I froze. I will always carry that on my shoulders. Of course I'm afraid to face any villain, knowing very well it could be my last moment on Earth. But I'm more afraid to look someone in the eyes as they die. That's far, far worse to me than any villain. Being a hero doesn't mean being fearless. It means pushing through the fear and doing what needs to be done."

Kirishima felt his heart swell at the words of his hero, tears dripping from his eyes. All this time, he thought that the Crimson Riot wasn't afraid of anything, that he was able to face any situation without fear, but the truth was that he was just as afraid as Kirishima was, and even he had a moment where he failed to come to someone's aid because of that fear. But he didn't let that stop him. He used that as a lesson to drive him, to push him forward, into the hero that he had become.

He vowed to himself that day he would never let himself freeze again, no matter the fear he felt. He would never let it stop him from doing what needs to be done. Since then he had faced dozens of scary situations: the League of Villains, the Incident at Kamino Ward, the Titan Monster, and he never froze in those situations.

And he wasn't about to freeze again now.

In a flash of speed, he rushed between his mentor and his attacker, taking every last punch the man could throw at him, surprising them both. Despite the pain he felt, he continued to hold his position, taking every blow. Finally, he saw his opening, and launched a counterattack. Putting every amount of force he had left into a haymaker, he lunged at his target, but it never connected, stopping suddenly as another barrier came between them. Tengai had put his shield back up. With Kirishima's last amount of energy spent, he fell.

"What did you do that for?!" Shouted Rappa angrily to his comrade.

"Don't be a fool," said Tengai. "The boy's attack was pointless because of my shield. Now quickly finish them off before -"

"It wasn't pointless," said Fatgum in a low voice. He was hunched over and trembling, but was able to grasp Kirishima before he hit the floor. "The kinetic energy from every punch you've thrown has been building in my body all this time. You've just given me the instrument to your own defeat."

"Tengai, drop the shield!" Shouted Rappa.

"He's bluffing," said Tengai. "He can't penetrate my shields."

"Don't be so sure!" Shouted Fatgum. His rotund body had shrunk to that of a lean, muscular man, and his right fist began to glow a golden hue. "You made two fatal mistakes: along with underestimating me, you also underestimated the true might of the Unbreakable Red Riot!"

Fatgum lunged towards the enemy, his golden fist connecting with the shield. Tengai gasped in shock and reeled backwards, as if in pain, as his enemy's fist pierced the shield wall, shattering it completely. The force of the kinetic blast from the destruction of his shield sent the spear and shield careening backwards, crashing against the wall. Fatgum paused as both of his adversaries lay motionless before him.

"Kid! Red Riot, can you hear me?!"

As Kirishima slowly began to regain consciousness, he realized someone was calling his name. His eyes began to open slowly, and someone he didn't recognize was standing over him. He was a muscular, blonde man with a domino mask. His clothes were torn and shredded, and he was covered in marks and bruises.

"Who are you?" Kirishima asked weakly.

"It's me, Fatgum!" Said his mentor incredulously. "I had to shed some weight to end that fight."

"I'm sorry," said Kirishima, his eyes closing as he began to drift into unconsciousness again. "I tried to protect you. I'm sorry."

"You've done more than enough, kid," said Fatgum. "I'm proud of you."

"It's not over. . ."

Fatgum turned sharply as he heard the voice behind him. Rappa was back on his feet. "This is a fight to the death," he said. "And I'm not dead yet."

Damn it, Fatgum thought. How is he still standing?! Did the blast somehow cushion the blow? He expended all his energy with that final attack, and Kirishima was down for the count. He was completely depleted of his fat reserves, so his defense was limited. He readied himself for another attack, but Rappa stopped short.

"There's a room down the hall where we can get patched up," he said. "Bring that kid - that man - with you."

Fatgum was speechless. "Nice try," he said. "Do you think I'm gonna fall for that?"

"Do I look like a guy who tricks people?" Rappa shot back.

"Rappa, no!" Shouted Tengai, struggling to get to his feet. "Think about what you're doing! They put you down here because you're a bloodthirsty beast who thrives on violence! That's why they put you in my charge. Now do as I say and –" Rappa kicked Tengai hard in the head, knocking him out completely. Fatgum was taken aback at this sudden attack against his comrade.

"Shut up," he said simply before turning back to Fatgum. "Honestly, with my arms broken like this I can't even put up a proper fight anyway. Let's go, I'll show you the way." He began walking down the hall, with Fatgum warily following behind him.

"What do you want from us, Rappa?" Asked Fatgum.

"I want to fight to the death," Rappa replied without turning. "I come from the world of MMA, and used to fight in the Underground." Fatgum had heard of the Underground, an illegal fighting ring somewhere in Kamino where people could use their quirks against each other uninhibitedly. Most of the fights were regulated and would stop when one of them stopped moving, but he heard that there was a higher-level class of fighting where the combatants didn't stop until one of them stopped breathing.

"Most of my opponents were taken down with a single punch," Rappa continued. "You don't know the thrill that comes with a true challenge, when your life's on the line. I like your style, you and the redhead. I want you guys to heal up so we can fight again. I'll kill you for sure next time."

"Don't you get it?" Said Fatgum. "There isn't going to be a next time. You and your buddies are just gonna get arrested after this."

"Who cares?" Said Rappa. "We're both still alive so the fight's a draw."

Fatgum was still pondering this enemy when they finally reached the medical room. Rappa was very straightforward and single-minded. He didn't sense any ulterior motive from this man. He only wanted to fight. He didn't have much of a luxury to question it right now. Kirishima needed immediate medical attention. He sat the boy on the table and began patching him up. He was really proud of his protege. Tamaki must have seen what he was capable of when he brought him in to see him, and the boy didn't disappoint.

"Why did you end up here?" Fatgum asked Rappa.

"Because I lost," said Rappa.

"What do you mean?"

"Overhaul is the only person I've ever lost to," Rappa explained. "That man is. . . not normal. He came out of nowhere and asked me to join his crew. He was real pushy about it as well. I told him I'd fight him for it. Once the match began…" he paused. "One minute I was dead, the next, I was back to normal. I've never felt anything like it."

Fatgum was shocked. It took both him and Kirishima everything that they had just to stand toe to toe with this guy, and Chisaki was able to kill him and bring him back without much effort?

"I've challenged him five times since I got here," Rappa continued. "I've lost each time. I'm here until I can beat him. I'll only be free once I kill him."

Fatgum was silent as he processed this information, looking at the bandaged and unconscious Kirishima. If Overhaul was truly as powerful as Rappa made him out to be, then their assault just got a lot more complicated. He only hoped that the others were up to the task.

Chisaki was walking down one of the halls in the base of the compound, his right-hand man Kurono carrying Eri behind him. He could hear the battle raging above them as explosions caused the hallways to shake with small tremors. "So noisy," Chisaki said. "I hope those fools are doing their jobs."

"I hate to say it, but this may be the end of the Hassaikai," Said Kurono.

"As long as the boss and I live, the Hassaikai will too," said Chisaki, staring at the red container in his hand. "Now that we have a finished product, we can finally get the financing that we need. A weapon even the heroes will be afraid of. Investors will be coming in droves." He turned to face the two people trailing behind them. "It's time you temps started making yourselves useful. Start pulling your weight."

"Okay!" said Himiko Toga cheerfully.

"You can count on us, Overhaul," replied Twice.