And now, we're at the moment everyone's been waiting for! The battles with Stain and Jamilov are about to begin! Full disclosure, I had a lot of fun writing this part, mainly because I got to give the girls a bit of action.
Hopefully, you all enjoy it, too! And thanks so much for getting this story up to 10,000 views already! Here's hoping to 10,000 more!
"Byahahahaha!" Jamilov cackled, "You girls are in for quite a treat!" he pointed out while typing on the holographic keyboard that had appeared before him, "Ooh, there's lots of stuff I can use...!" he noted excitedly as his grin grew wider. Momo and Homura were ready to attack at any moment, but Rebecca seemed hesitant.
'That Quirk...' she inwardly noted as her eyes shook. At that moment, the revving of nearby car engines caught her attention as she and her classmates looked over to see the headlights turning on of various parked vehicles on the street.
"What's going on?" Momo inquired, looking around in a panic.
"Surely people can't be thinking of escaping in their vehicles at this juncture..." Homura remarked, narrowing her eyes. The villain sneered, pressing one of the keys as it flashed a bright red. All of a sudden, the tires of one of the cars screeched as it shot forward, heading towards both Momo and Homura.
"Watch out!" Rebecca screamed, lunging out and tackling both girls aside as they yelped in surprise. The car zoomed by, crashing into a nearby street lamp.
"Tch," Jamilov scoffed in frustration, "You girls think you can ruin my fun?!" he yelled out angrily, typing on the holographic keys. More cars started driving over towards the trio of Hero Course students.
"His Quirk lets him control machines?!" Momo inquired out of shock before lunging away from a vehicle.
"It's not just that..." Rebecca mentioned, sounding rather panicked as she looked over at the villain, "It's the exact same as Hermit Mio's!" she pointed out.
"What?!" both Homura and Momo gasped in disbelief.
"Byahahahaha!" Jamilov cackled, "That's exactly right, girlies!" he exclaimed, getting their attentions, "This power lets me take control of any machine within a fifty-meter radius!" he noted aloud, "Which means that every car on this street..." he continued ominously, "COULD SEND YOU TO YOUR GRAVES!" he bellowed as one of the cars' headlights flashed brightly, causing the girls to all reflexively shut their eyes and cover them with their arms. However, Homura immediately rushed forward, slashing at the left tires of the vehicle to make it swerve out of the way and crash into a nearby building, avoiding the girls. They opened their eyes and were quick to evade the other cars coming their way. Unlike previously, the villain had the vehicles driving in reverse and forwards, keeping them from crashing.
"That was way too close...!" Rebecca noted as sweat poured down her face, standing back to back with Momo.
"If he's controlling all machines within the radius he described, we need to retreat and find a pro to take him on!" the Creation Quirk user insisted.
"I agree!" Homura called out before slashing another car's tires to make it grind to a halt, "But where should we go?!" she questioned before leaping over a sports car. Rebecca blinked, remembering the rather cryptic message Izuku sent her and Momo.
"I know where!" she yelled, getting the attentions of her classmates as she activated her Quirk, having her blue, wing-like markings appear, "Follow me!" she instructed, dashing off.
"B-Bluegarden!" Momo stuttered out in surprise. Ultimately, she and Homura hurried after the Leaper Quirk user.
"Tch!" Jamilov scoffed in frustration, "You think you can get away from me...?!" he growled out, typing on the holographic keyboard as he took notice of a truck near an alleyway the girls were heading towards, "I'll just crush you girlies without a second thought!" he declared with a wicked grin. However, his expression changed into a perplexed one as the truck he was focused on wasn't moving. Thus, the girls wound up escaping. "What the hell...?!" the villain exclaimed in disbelief.
'That truck should be within the Quirk's radius...!' he noted inwardly, 'In fact, I was controlling things at distances much further than that earlier!' he added to himself, 'Is it... weakening somehow?!' he questioned through his thoughts, gnashing his teeth together. Either way, he wasn't about to let the three girls escape from him. His scythe grew to a monstrous size as it morphed. Meanwhile, the three girls hurried down the streets.
"Where are we going, Bluegarden?" Homura asked as they kept running.
"Well, Momo and I both got a text from Izuku that was just his location," the Leaper Quirk user responded, "We're going there now!" she exclaimed.
"If it was just his location..." Homura started to infer.
"Then he must be in a bad situation himself..." Momo concluded, finishing for the Soul Blade Quirk user.
"Whatever the case, the three of us helping out should make things a lot better!" Rebecca declared confidently. Momo was surprised, while Homura nodded firmly. Together, the three of them would do what they needed to.
When Izuku had arrived to find Tenya lying bleeding on the ground, he was shocked to see the Hero Killer there as well. He knew that he had to protect him and the pro hero that had been attacked. But the Engine Quirk user told him to stay out of it, saying that it had nothing to do with him. Even with those words, and even with the intimidating aura Stain gave off... Izuku was ready to fight.
"Meddling where you don't need to... is the essence of being a hero!" he exclaimed. That very remark seemed to give the villain he faced a somewhat elated expression. The battle began, with Izuku making sure he didn't wind up getting cut by his foe's blades. The way he moved around so fluently was reminiscent of Katsuki, with him landing a 5% Detroit Smash to the back of his foe's head.
However, after he landed down, the Hero Killer licked the blood he had gotten from the knife that grazed his opponent, immobilizing him. The One For All inheritor could only watch as the Hero Killer approached his classmate, saying that he would let Izuku live, while Tenya would die at his hands. But before he could bring down his blade, a stream of fire rushed in, enticing him to jump back to evade it.
"Midoriya..." the voice of Shoto began as he held up his phone in his right hand, "you need to give me more details in times like these," he advised seriously, "I was almost too late to stop this guy," he pointed out. With his arrival, the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user was able to keep Stain at bay with fire and ice, even as he got himself cut by the knives thrown by his foe. During the ordeal, Izuku recovered and jumped back into the fray.
It turned out that the Hero Killer's Quirk worked based upon a person's blood type. From types O to AB, the time in which a person would be immobilized would be low to high. With Izuku being O, he could recover faster. But even with that advantage of knowing, Stain was far too tenacious. He was moving a lot differently, completely changing his fighting style. And once he managed to land another hit on the One For All inheritor, he immobilized him again.
Tenya was desperately trying to get back up, telling his classmates that this was his fight, not theirs. But Shoto made the point that if he was taking on the hero name of Ingenium, then his brother would want him to be the hero he wanted him to be. That left Tenya with a lot to think about as he reflected on his past while tearing up and trembling. He made the mistake of acting selfishly for vengeance, rather than saving the hero who was wounded. So he needed to act... and make things right.
But he still couldn't move. He watched helplessly as Shoto was failing to slow down the villain at all. Even with the ice and fire he unleashed, he couldn't stop him. And Izuku and Tenya watched in horror as he closed in, about to slash through the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user with his katana.
"TODOROKI!" the One For All inheritor screamed. All of a sudden though, a familiar figure dashed in and tackled Shoto aside in the nick of time, as the Hero Killer wound up slashing at nothing but air. He looked over to see that it was Rebecca who had saved his foe. And his distracted state allowed for Homura to suddenly dash in and slash him back in an instant, making him slide back along the ground in a grunt.
"Bluegarden...! Homura!" Shoto exclaimed in surprise.
"What are you two doing here...?" Tenya wondered aloud.
"We received Midoriya's location like Todoroki did!" Momo's voice called out as she jogged in and crouched down beside Tenya, inspecting his wounds, "So..." she continued, looking ahead with a nervous grimace, "that's the Hero Killer, right?" she guessed.
"He looks even scarier in person..." Rebecca noted as she shivered a little. The villain narrowed his eyes, looking over to Homura as she steadied her blade in her right hand, gripping it tightly.
"You will pay for all of the heroes whose blood you've shed!" she declared fiercely, aiming her weapon at him.
"Valkyrie's sword..." he uttered out upon noticing, "Tell me, are you as honorable as she is?" he questioned, causing the Soul Blade Quirk user to glare at him in annoyance, "Whatever the case, I won't let any of you get in my way..." he vowed.
"Kogetsu, don't let that guy get ahold of your blood!" Izuku warned, "If he licks it, he can paralyze you for at least a few minutes!" he pointed out.
"Licks it?!" Rebecca repeated in shock, "Gross!" she exclaimed.
"Do not worry..." Homura said assuredly, "The only blood that will be spilt shall be his..." she vowed in a firm tone. The Hero Killer sneered, rushing forward. She dashed out and clashed her blade against his, meeting him blow for blow to everyone's amazement as they watched on.
"Ergh...!" Tenya grunted as he started to curl his fingers in.
"Can you move again?!" Momo inquired upon noticing.
"I... think so!" the Engine Quirk user answered. Rebecca smiled at the sight, but looked back at the duel happening nearby. Both Homura and Stain found themselves at a deadlock as they clenched their teeth together, trying desperately to push each other back. However, the Bloodcurdle Quirk user grinned as he reached his left hand back quickly to grab a knife, swinging it across to cut Homura's right cheek, drawing blood. He licked the blood off of the blade, causing his foe's movements to cease as she grimaced.
"N...No...!" she grunted out.
"This is what you get... FOR BEING CARELESS!" Stain bellowed, slashing mightily at her with his katana, drawing a spray of blood as she flew back.
"HOMURA!" Shoto screamed, while everyone else had horrified looks upon their faces. Rebecca was especially stunned. But she knew that she had the power to change that fate. She shut her eyes and made the markings at her legs brighten. When she opened them, she saw that Homura had just started her duel against the Hero Killer.
'Okay, I reversed!' she realized, exhaling with relief, 'But now we gotta come up with a plan to help Homura!' she noted inwardly, looking over to Momo and Tenya.
"Momo, be ready to hit that guy with something that'll make it harder for him to move in a sec!" she instructed quickly to the Creation Quirk user, who blinked in surprise, "And Tenya, when you're ready to move, hit him with all you got!" she requested on as the class representative perked up in surprise, "We'll get him with a barrage that even he won't be able to stop!" she decided.
"...Okay then!" Momo responded after a moment, initially somewhat hesitant as she stood up and prepared an item upon her right arm in a flash of multicolored light. In the meantime, Homura found herself at a deadlock with Stain, who grinned as he started to reach back for his knife. "Kogetsu, pivot to your right!" the Creation Quirk user called out quickly, enticing her classmate to turn aside to not only avoid the orange projectile shot her way, but also let it strike the Hero Killer as he found himself entrapped in a sticky pink goo.
"What the hell?!" he gasped out. Momo had created a miniature cannon upon her right arm, having it aimed towards their foe.
"Thank you for the assistance, Yaoyorozu!" Homura yelled in gratitude, "Now Warrior-Maiden Single Sword Attack..." she began, pivoting back around and swinging her blade down ferociously, "DRAGON FLASH!" she exclaimed, slashing down her foe's chest.
"AGH...!" he yelped in agony. He attempted to retaliate by swinging his katana, but without warning...
"RECIPRO... BURRRRRSSSSSSSTTTT!" Tenya bellowed, blasting himself forward as his ability to move had returned. He not only broke Stain's katana with his first kick, but also managed to land a powerful hit to his right side thanks to a second one, making him slide back along the ground.
"You... false-!" Flames washing over him interrupted his remarks as he was left with ashen burns, coughing up blood. They originated from Shoto, who stood up alongside Rebecca. Lastly, Izuku got onto his feet and clenched his teeth and fists determinedly, activating his Full Cowling. He lunged forward mightily at the discombobulated Stain, rearing his right fist back.
"SSSSMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he roared, landing a fierce punch to his target's face to send him flying back as he lost consciousness. Afterwards, Shoto caught him with a wave of ice he had built up. Everyone looked on with exhausted faces, quite stunned that they actually managed to pull off a victory at all.
"Huh..." the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk user exhaled, "We should make sure we tie him up and take away any other weapons he has," he advised of the group.
"Good idea, Todoroki..." Momo agreed, "We don't know if he has any more tricks..." she noted, starting to create something from her navel.
"Hold it right there!" a familiar voice called out, getting the attentions of the Class A students as they turned to see Jamilov at the other end of the alleyway, grinning wickedly, "So I finally found you, girlies..." he noted to the trio of women, who all grimaced.
"Another villain...?!" Tenya gasped out.
"Yeah..." Rebecca answered with a nod, "And he's got Hermit Mio's Quirk!" she mentioned in a panic.
"What?!" Izuku exclaimed upon overhearing.
"You ran away when things were getting good..." Jamilov pointed out as his holographic screen and keyboard appeared in front of himself, "so I'm just gonna go ahead and kill you all right now..." he decided, much to the surprise of the student heroes.
"I doubt that any machines in this immediate area will be of much use to you..." Homura noted as she narrowed her eyes.
"Oh, but you all have your phones like good teenagers do, right?" the villain guessed, causing her and the others to widen their eyes, "All I have to do is press one button and... boom..." he remarked, "BYAHAHAHAHA!" he cackled maniacally, "Say your prayers!" he exclaimed. All of a sudden though, his holographic screen and keyboard started glitching before he could even do anything. "Wh-What?!" he stuttered out, "Wait, no!" he yelped in a panic. Both Rebecca and Izuku blinked in surprise before taking on serious expressions. "Damn it...!" Jamilov cursed, "I was supposed to-!" His shout was interrupted as he was suddenly met with the One For All inheritor's fist striking his face, while the Leaper Quirk user kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying back as he fell onto the ground, immediately knocked out.
"Nicely done, you two!" Momo complimented.
"It's a good thing his Quirk seemed to glitch out when it did..." Shoto noted as he blinked.
"Huh..." Izuku exhaled afterwards, "Let's make sure to get him tied up, too," he insisted of his classmates. Tonight, they had prevailed in ways they had not thought were yet to be possible. But they were moving forward all the same.
And there you have it! Our heroes have prevailed against both Stain and Jamilov! But the battle's not over just yet, you know. You'll see why in the next chapter.
Thanks for reading!