'We'll pass Hosu City,' Izuku thought while looking at his phone. 'I wonder how Ida's doing there.' He looked out the window, thinking about the last time he saw his friend.
A hero then crashed through the train, Izuku and Gran Torino looked up wide-eyed. Passengers started screaming as the attacker moved away a part of the wall...to reveal himself as one of the Nomu Shigaraki sent out. And in the same hair color as the twins.
"Nomu!" Izuku exclaimed in alarm, wondering what they were doing in Hosu.
"I want you to stay back, you hear me?" Gran Torino ordered the boy, jumping up into the air. He zipped over to the Nomu and then pushed the Nomu out of the train, causing them both to fly out.
"Gran Torino!" Izuku shouted with concern as both disappeared and crashed into a building.
"Everyone, please! Remain calm!" The train conductor instructed the terrified passengers. The train was no longer moving, smoke coming from where the hero crashed in. "Return to your seats! The villain is no longer here! More heroes will arrive soon, I'm sure!" He was tending to the hero that crashed.
"Keep them calm," Izuku instructed, confusing the man. "I'm going after him!" He then jumped out and ran off.
"Hey, are you nuts?!" The train conductor shouted after him. "It's way too dangerous out there!"
He gritted his teeth, thinking about the Nomu he saw. He looked different, but there can't be that many people with wild eyes and brains spilling out. He then recalled what the Nomu from the USJ looked like. Maybe Nomu's brother? What is he doing in the city? All he knew was that after the USJ, it couldn't be a good thing. And people were in serious danger. No time for detours or stairs. Gotta put my training to the test. He started to glow as he focused his power. One for All...Full Cowling! He then jumped off the building at a great height, grinning proudly of himself. I've totally got this. He landed on another rooftop, rolling to a stop as he looked up ahead. Gran Torino. Please be okay!
Another crash occurred, revealing a Nomu. Several citizens ran away from it. "A villain! Run! A man shouted while the woman next to him tripped. He helped her while glancing back in both confusion and fear. "Where are all the pros?" He yelped as the Nomu stepped forward and let out a loud howl. The two braced themselves, screaming before Gran Torino came swooping to kick the creature away from them. He then jumped up, looking behind him.
"I haven't fought this earnestly in years," He then landed behind the Nomu. "Picked a fine time to patrol. That's right! Bring it on, ugly!"
The Nomu screeched and came flying in with his fist outstretched. Gran Torino jumped, soaring over the creature's head. He's fast. But not faster than me.
"No, stay away!" The man screamed as he and the woman backed away from the Nomu getting closer. Gran Torino used his feet to give himself a boost.
He's attacking at random. He then held out his hand. "Stop it, you stupid beast!" He yelled before flames appeared around the Nomu. Gran Torino gave a sound of shock, using his shoes to stop himself in place. He landed while looking up ahead at the Nomu covered in flames; this definitely wasn't his doing, nor was it the Nomu's because they hadn't displayed a Quirk relating to fire. If they did, the train would've been way worse off.
"I was looking for the elusive Hero Killer," A familiar voice spoke up. "But this thing will have to do. Thanks, old timer. I'm afraid I don't know you..." The man turned with wide-eyes to see Endeavor approaching. "But I can handle this from here on out."
"It's you..." He murmured in shock to see the number-two hero here.
"Whoa, look!" The male citizen's eyes widened at Endeavor's appearance.
"Why's he in Hosu?" The woman behind him wondered.
"Hmph," Endeavor just gave a small smirk. "Isn't it obvious? I came because I'm a hero."
People were running down the street, panicking from the attack. Izuku was running past all of them, though, confusing some people who wondered where he was going. They're probably at the center of this craziness. I don't get it. Why did that guy look like Nomu? If he's got insane power like the one All Might fought at the USJ, this could be really bad. It won't just be Gran Torino in trouble, but the entire city! That includes Ida. He's interning here! Crap, what do I do? Come on, think! How do I be the best possible hero right now?
"TENYA!" Manual screamed for him and Izuku gasped, freezing in place. "Where are you, Tenya?" Izuku ran towards the source, and then heard a crash. He looked up ahead as a truck got thrown and then exploded! He braced himself from the impact, an arm in front of his face as a hero landed right in front of him. The fire continued as another Nomu was attacking some pro heroes. Another one was flying in the sky, having grabbed a hero. Izuku looked on in horror as they were causing chaos.
Oh, no. What are these things?
A hero ripped out a fire extinguisher so that water would gush out of it. "Manual! Stop the fire!"
"Yeah. Got it!" He ran over and Izuku recognized him.
That's Manual. The Normal Hero! Ida's at his agency! He then ran towards the hero to find out why Tenya wasn't with him.
"Why'd you run off by yourself?" He glanced over his shoulder, though he had a feeling on why. "Where the hell are you, Tenya? Dammit!" He then pointed his fingers at the water, which then moved on its own towards the fire. Izuku gave a wide-eyed look; Tenya wouldn't go off on his own unless he was ordered to do so, just like with Thirteen at the USJ.
Wait, he went off alone? Despite what's happening? That doesn't sound like something he'd do.
A female pro hero stood in front of him protectively. "You're in the way, kid. Get out of here," She ordered, getting his attention.
"Right. I'm so sorry!"
"We can hold these things back on our own. Evacuate with everyone else," She stated as the Nomu were relentless on them.
"I could've used the extra hands!" Manual continued putting out the fire.
I can't believe Tenya would run off with such a huge disaster right in front of him. He then gasped in realization, looking up ahead at the flames. Hosu City...guys who look like Nomu...Ida...Hosu...where the Hero Killer attacked. Don't tell me!
He then turned around and ran off. "Dammit. What are these things?!" The female hero wondered while not even noticing Izuku's absence.
"They're...way too powerful!" Another hero gritted his teeth as one was holding onto him. He pushed the Nomu away, only to be thrown at a great distance. "Watch out, Fly!" Fly looked up, only to be hit by a falling car door. Another explosion occurred and everyone braced themselves for it.
"Crap! What do we do now?!"
The Nomu looked up to the sky with a loud howl, basking in the chaos they were causing. "Are these really men? Or are they actual monsters?!"
Shigaraki stared from the distance at the smoke and fire of the chaos. "The Nomu make such great play things," He said to Kurogiri, pleased with what was going on.
"Are you not going to participate in the fight?" Kurogiri wondered to his boss.
"Don't be stupid," Shigaraki sneered while holding his shoulder. "I'm still injured. That's why I brought those pets with us..."
Shigaraki stood in front of the television at the abandoned bar. "Master, how many Nomu are completed?"
"I've finished adjusting the behavior of six of them. We've used the DNA we've acquired," The master revealed to him. "Though, they are not as strong as the one from the USJ attack."
"Give them to me," Shigaraki demanded to his master, and there was a pause.
"...Why?"
"Because I don't like that arrogant Hero Killer you brought in," Shigaraki whined almost exactly like a child. "And it's my right to destroy anything that I don't like, right...Master?" His eyes shook at the thought of seeing Stain dead.
"Very well. However, you may only have three," His master told him. "Try to use this as a learning experience."
Shigaraki then lifted up his head and laughed manically at the thought of taking down Stain personally. "Once this night is over, the world will have forgotten you ever existed, Hero Killer..."
Stain was still in the alleyway, pointing his blade at Tenya. "A child wearing a suit. Who are you?"
"I am the brother of an incredible hero who you attacked," Tenya slowly got onto his feet as he spoke with vengeance. "He's the best older brother that anyone could hope for. I have come to stop you. Because he can't anymore!"
" I want you to take the name. For me, Tenya."
Tenya gritted his teeth in anger. "You're going to remember my name for as long as you live." He then looked up, gritting his teeth. "I am Ingenium, and I will defeat you. That I promise!"
"Then so be it," Stain narrowed his eyes as he didn't think he'd have to kill a child. In fact, he outright avoided doing so because they had nothing to do with his vendetta. But if this boy was going to make it his goal to defeat him... "Then so be it. Die."
Tenya then boosted himself forward using his engines. "For Tensei!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, no longer caring what happened to him. Stain then jumped, flying in front of him as he now recognized the name.
"Ingenium. So you're brothers," He was floating right behind the boy. "I let him live so he could spread the good word. Word of me!" He then used his spiked boot to kick Tenya in the shoulder. He grunted as blood spurted from his arm, and then landed right on his face. The boy gave a furious look as he glanced up to see Stain pinning him down with his foot. "You're a weakling. Just like he was," He spun his blade so that it was looming over Tenya, and then stabbed the boy in the shoulder. He grunted in pain from the stab wound. "You aren't heroes. You have no right to be called that. Both of you are nothing but fakes."
"Shut up, villain," Tenya growled at the man, panting while trying to keep himself alive. "You damaged his spin and paralyzed him from the waist down. He's never gonna be able to work as a pro hero again..." He then thought of his brother fighting with some pro heroes that he saw in person once. "My brother was incredible. A caring person who saved many lives. Someone people looked up to." He was front and center as a kid when he saw this rescue that his brother and his team pulled off. "You had no right to take that all away from him!"
Stain just stared at him fighting for his life, and he thought about how his brother was the best role model he could ask for.
" Tensei. I'm so proud of you," Mr. Ida spoke as Tenya watched nearby, eating. "You've been independent at a very young age, with many sidekicks following you. That's no easy feat in these times," The little boy then looked up at Tensei, who just gave a humbled smile.
"Nah, they're not followers. It's the opposite, Dad. They support me cause I'm not great on my own. They're just looking out for me. I honestly couldn't do anything without them," He explained, and Tenya gave him a look of awe for his words. "I need their support." He then looked towards their father, wondering what he had to say about all of this. "Of course, I'm working hard so I can return the favor. I'm not super talented or anything...but if I'm gonna call myself a hero, then I have to live up to that title and help people."
Tenya gave a proud smile of his own, happy that people had someone like his brother to help them.
"He is my hero," Tenya grunted out to Stain, tears in his eyes. "My older brother inspired my dream...that one day I could be a pro too!" His hand was shaking as he wanted to get up, so bad, and he couldn't. Because it was one thing he wanted to do...to get up and defeat Stain to justify his actions. But he couldn't move at all. "I won't forgive you. I'll kill you!"
"Shouldn't you be worried about saving that guy?" Stain pointed right at the hero he attacked before Tenya stopped him. And he didn't look great either as he was shaking. Tenya gasped as he had almost forgotten...that someone was in need of help. It was just like Manual had warned him about not too long ago. "So busy with your grudge you forgot about him. You plan on using your Quirk only for yourself. You're completely blinded by a selfish desire for revenge. You're about as far away from being a hero as I can imagine." He then pulled out his blade, Tenya giving a sound of pain. Stain gave a satisfied sound as he held his weapon up to his lips. "And that's why you'll die tonight," He then took a taste of Tenya's blood, and it was like he was completely paralyzed. Which, he was before, but now it was a genuine feeling of being stuck in place.
My body...won't move!
Stain spun his clean blade into his hand, raising it above Tenya and about to kill him. "Goodbye, child. May your death bring about a better world."
"No, please!" Tenya begged for his life; he didn't wanna die without getting his brother's honor back...and not full of hatred and sorrow for what had happened. "Not like this!" He then thought of his brother's smile.
" Knowing you look up to me makes me better! I have to be sure I make you proud!" He then laughed happily.
"Say whatever you want to about me!" Tenya cried out in despair, wanting to say this before his life was ended. "You're still just a criminal who hurt my brother!"
Stain then felt something coming, turning around as someone jumped using the walls. And that person was revealed to be Izuku as he lunged himself forward with his fist outstretched. Once he was close enough, he punched Stain right in the face. "SMASH!" He gritted his teeth as he got the villain away from his friend. Izuku then landed in front of Tenya, his body sparking with green energy just like when he unlocked his new ability.
Tenya blinked in shock that suddenly, someone had rushed in to stop Stain. He couldn't imagine who, since no one even knew where he was, not even his mentor. "Who's there...?" He asked quietly while looking up at his savior. He didn't recognize the costume, but he did recognize the hair. "Midoriya?! How...?"
Izuku stopped sparking and then glanced back, not even facing the boy. "Don't you worry, Ida. I'm gonna save you!" He narrowed his eyes towards Stain. Even if he was not in full control...that wasn't gonna stop him from saving his friend's life.
'I might be overthinking things' Izuku thought while he was running. 'I don't exactly have any proof. But I can't just stand by. I have to do something!' He then thought of the Nomu he saw earlier. 'Guys like Nomu are running wild. The same place the Hero Killer appeared. I don't want to even imagine it...but I'm afraid I might be right. The League of Villains and the Hero Killer are connected somehow! That means...'
He then jumped up to a wall, and then wall jumped between two buildings to reach the sky. 'The Hero Killer is probably somewhere in the city this very moment! Since Ida wasn't at the fight earlier...he may've stumbled upon the guy who hurt his brother himself!' He zipped though a passageway, glancing to the side and gasping as his eyes widened. He then went over to punch Stain in the face.
"Guess I was right!" Izuku exclaimed at his correct deduction, glad that he found his friend before things got worse.
Stain slid backwards to a stop, looking up at the boy. He then glared as he recognized Izuku immediately as well. It's him. The one from Shigaraki's picture. No sister in sight, though. It's likely she doesn't even know he's here.
Tenya stared at him in disbelief; he didn't even know Izuku was in Hosu, let alone looking for him. Like with Izuka, he hadn't replied to her text. All she had said was Izuku tried to reach out to the boy, and wondered how he was doing. All he knew was that Izuku would pass by, so there shouldn't have been a chance that his friend would find him... "You found him too? But how...?" Tenya gritted his teeth in a bit of pain.
"I saw it on TV," Izuku confessed to his classmate. "They had some stats about the Hero Killer. Most of his victims were found where there weren't many people. So...in order to find you...I needed to search far away from the panic. In the back alleys of Hosu City." Stain stepped towards him and he flinched. "Let's go. Back toward the street. We have to get help from the pros." Not only that, it might get Stain to back off if he was confronted by people, since apparently he liked to do things in private.
"Ugh..." Tenya squeezed his eyes shut, willing his muscles to do something, but it wasn't working. "I can't move my body," He confessed, confusing Izuku. "It must be his Quirk...since he cut me, I've been paralyzed."
Izuku gasped in realization. "That's the kind of Quirk people on TV said the Hero Killer might have. So cutting somehow activates his power, huh?" He gasped as he saw that the pro hero, Native, was also injured. There's someone else! He gritted his teeth as this just got a lot harder to be able to just leave. If it had been just Ida, I could've picked him up and carried him away myself. Although now that there were two people, trying to get them both would probably end up with him being killed.
"Midoriya, please!" Tenya begged him from the ground. "Don't get involved..." Izuku gasped while turning to him, wondering why he was being told this. "This doesn't have anything to do with you!"
"Ida...what are you saying?" Izuku murmured in a bit of worry.
"You showed up to save your friend's life," Stain spoke up to the boy. "You even made a big entrance. But I have a duty to kill him and this so-called pro. When your friend chose to fight me...it guaranteed that the weaker of us would be culled." Izuku gave a look of terror, as he had never dealt with anyone this intense with their convictions. Not even Shigaraki or Katsuki, and neither of them could stand Izuku. "So...what will you do?"
" Criminals like you," All Might gritted his teeth at the USJ. "You always try and make your actions sound noble."
He's different from the villains who attacked us before. Those are the eyes...of a fanatic. He gritted his teeth while hiding his phone behind him. Little taps were heard as he was sending out his current location. He then hit sent, looking back to Stain, hoping that the Hero Killer didn't catch on to what he just did. Even though it was just a guess, and I didn't have any proof, I should've made sure that a pro came with me to find him. I'll just have to protect these two who can't move and stall for time...all by myself.
He was too far away from anyone right now for them to stumble upon, so the chance of another pro hero guessing their location was low. Maybe I can even force the Hero Killer to run.
"Listen to me!" Tenya pleaded from the ground. "Stand down. Run away. I told you, this has nothing to do with you!" The last thing he needed was Izuku to get caught up in his vendetta. This was personal between him and Stain.
"If you really believe that, then why are you trying to become a hero in the first place?!" Izuku snapped back at him, clenching a fist. "There are plenty of things I'd like to say...but they'll have to wait. All Might was right, though," He clenched his fists in front of his face. "Meddling when you don't need to is the essence of being a hero!"
Stain looked up in surprise that the boy mentioned his prime target. Tenya could only stare as he knew that Izuku was nervous as hell. He could die, or become paralyzed like his friend...but that didn't matter as long as he was able to protect them. And Tenya himself was in shock that Izuku was even willing to go through all of this for him...
"Heh," Stain gave an impressed laugh, and Izuku rushed towards him. "Good!" Izuku lunged forward just as the villain swung his blade.
Gotta get past the sword!
Stain caught on quickly to what he was trying to do, though. Trying to get in close so I can't strike him. Smart move.
"No!" Tenya shouted as he could only keep watching. And if he could move, he would stop this. "If you get cut!"
Izuku froze for a few seconds. Watch the blades! He ducked and slid right past Stain thankfully. The man swung his blade, only to find that Izuku wasn't near him.
He's gone? No... He glanced back as Izuku was actually over his head, sparking with green energy again.
"A 5 percent...Detroit...Smash!" He struck down Stain hard from behind, to the shock of Tenya since it was the first time he was seeing this move in action. Although technically not, because it reminded him exactly of another classmate.
What...? These movements...he's flying around, like Bakugo does. It was a move that Katsuki had used against Izuku in combat class, actually.
Izuku landed on his hands, his hair covering his eyes. Did I get him? Did Full Cowling work? He then glanced behind him; he would feel proud, but now was definitely not the time for it. Yes, I really can fight!
Stain held up his blade in front of his mouth and licked it. This caused Izuku to freeze in place just like Tenya was. He shook as he tried to fight it, and was unsuccessful. My body! While he did get Stain...unfortunately, the villain returned the favor as there was a small cut in the left arm of his costume. Did he cut me and I didn't even notice? One graze is all it took? He let out a gasp while looking up at Stain getting onto his feet. The boy then noticed a trickle of blood on the blade, and realized that he didn't feel this way until after Stain tasted his blood. No. It's...the blood!
"You're not powerful enough," Stain stated plain and simple, getting Izuku's attention. "It's not that you predicted my movements. You just left my field of vision, and maneuvered so that you'd be able to get in a clean shot. But I saw through your plan," He walked right past Izuku as he continued speaking. "There are countless false heroes around here who are all talk...but I think you're worthy of staying alive," He was heading right for Tenya, sweat dropping from the boy's face. "You're different from these two."
"Wait, don't," Izuku pleaded, although Stain was not going to listen. "Stop it!" Stain held his blade right in front of Tenya's face, striking fear within him. Stain then raised his blade, about to pull the final blow once again. "GET AWAY!"
As soon as he said that, a shooting star came flying in, followed by flames. The three looked back in shock as Stain had jumped out of the way. He then moved his head to the side when the shooting star zipped past his face and he held up his blade. The projectile ricochetted off into the night sky.
"Someone else to get in my way. Today's been full of distractions," Stain said in irritation as up ahead were two people, one of them half covered in flames.
"Midoriya," A familiar voice spoke as he held up his phone. "You need to give more details in times like this. I was almost too late to stop this guy," It was revealed to be Shoto!
"And maybe give me a heads up if you're gonna be fighting villains on your own," Izuka narrowed her eyes while reloading herself, slowly reaching up her arms to prepare her aim. She held back the string from her moon bow. "If you lay another hand on any of them, I will shoot," She threatened while glaring at Stain.
"You too, Todoroki, Mido...?" Tenya murmured in shock to see the duo.
"How'd you get here? Hold on!" Izuku then realized that Shoto was using his fire. "You're using your left side?"
"How'd we get here? Good question," Shoto spoke up, his eyes narrowed. "Your message took me a while to figure out. Next time, try to send more than just your specific location," He then doused his flames. "But from what I know from Mido, you're not really one to send cryptic messages without a reason, are you?"
"And you wouldn't be in an alley unless something had came up. I know you weren't supposed to be in Hosu," Izuka glanced at Tenya nearby. "You wouldn't have chosen it if you didn't have a reason."
"B-But you were all the way in the middle of Tokyo! How did you get here so fast...?" Tenya's eyes shook at the girl. Genius Office and Hosu weren't in walking distance at all, so it would've taken her longer to get here. "Don't tell me you saw it on TV too..."
She kept her eyes on Stain, not saying a word.
Izuka was walking around with Katsuki and Best Jeanist, giving a small frown. They were all on patrol together. ' It's been three days, and Mr. Best Jeanist is still trying to mold Bakugo-San into someone like him. It hasn't been that drastic, but it's still something I can't agree with. But I've caused both of them enough trouble as it is, so what do I do?'
Her phone buzzed shortly after. She stopped in confusion, looking down at her pocket. The girl then picked up her phone to read a message from Shoto. "Huh? Todoroki-San?" The girl blinked in shock. Katsuki flinched and then gritted his teeth hearing the name.
'Why the hell is icy-hot texting her? I didn't even know they exchanged numbers...'
She herself wondered how he got her number for a few seconds as she read his message. The girl then gasped sharply, her eyes shaking. Best Jeanist stared at her curiously.
"Oi, you can check your damn phone later," Katsuki grunted in annoyance that she wasn't paying attention, and because it was Shoto of all people.
"I'm sorry, but...I've gotta go!" She ran off, to their shock.
"What the hell?! You're bailing on us?!" The angry blond boy shouted after her.
"Where are you going?" Best Jeanist called out after the girl and she looked over her shoulder.
"I'm going to save my brother! He's in danger," Izuka responded without hesitation and then gritted her teeth. ' Damn it, there's no way I'm gonna make it all the way to Hosu on foot. And taking any other kind of transportation will take just as long. But why do I have this strange feeling inside of me...?' As she thought this, her hands were sparkling. She looked down at them and then straight ahead. ' This is just a hunch, but I feel like it's the right choice. My brother needs me!'
"Get back here and explain yourself, short stack!" Katsuki yelled at her, but she ignored him. Instead she jumped up into the air, moving her hands to her waist. Suddenly a big yellow star appeared underneath for her to land on. She sat on her knees and touched the star with her hands, flying off into the sky to their shock.
"Did you know she could do that?" Best Jeanist glanced at Katsuki, who gritted his teeth.
'What's going on here? That half and half bastard messages her, and then she takes off? If she's lying, I'll kill them.' He clenched a fist, hoping that it wasn't a lie, and that she wasn't bailing them for Shoto. And whatever she meant by her brother in trouble, he didn't know.
As she flew, she wasn't even registering the fact that she was now flying. She was just worried about everyone's safety, and her brother. She narrowed her eyes while recalling the text she got. ' Mido...I thought it'd be best if you heard this from me. Your brother is located in Hosu, and...honestly, I have a feeling something is off. Come here to this location as fast as you can. He could be in serious danger.'
'I really hope Izuku's okay...and that I'm not too late!' She then picked up speed with her flying star, zipping around the corner of a building.
From then on, it wasn't hard to fly over to the city. Though she hoped that she didn't worry Katsuki and Best Jeanist too much, but it was an emergency. She'd deal with the consequences later, what was important was the task in front of her. The Hero Killer...I should've known Ida-San picked Hosu to do his internship just to seek him out for what he did to his brother. I know the feeling, I would've done the same if it was Izuku instead of Ingenium. But Ida-San is way over his head...he's too blinded by revenge to see that he just can't do this on his own.
Shoto sent ice towards Stain using his right foot. The Hero Killer jumped right over it, and Izuka fired off another shooting star at the villain. He sliced it in half and she grunted in annoyance. "So I figured you were in trouble and asking for help," He used his ice to lift Izuku and Native off the ground. "Then I got Mido's number after asking my father to get it from All Might and contacted her."
She blinked in a bit of surprise that he was willing to ask Endeavor to do a favor for him. Then again, people were in danger, including her brother, so it was probably because of the emergency that he did so. Izuka glared as she didn't have time to dwell on that and raced forward with Shoto.
"I ditched my patrol with Bakugo-San and Mr. Best Jeanist to come here as soon as I got his message, but I don't have time to go into how I got here right now!" She called out by Shoto's left side.
"Everything's okay. The pro heroes will be here any minute!" Shoto thrusted his left arm to fire off flames at the same time that Izuka jumped up into the air.
"Comet Punch!" Her right arm covered itself in flames as she lunged forward with her attack. Stain jumped backwards from both attacks, Izuku and Native sliding down the ice that Shoto had put up. Stain kept his distance while staring at the two teenagers. He watched as Izuka landed on her feet, the flames from her arm slowly going out.
The time will be up for one of them soon.
"You're just what they said you were," Shoto spoke up, getting the man's attention. His own left arm was covered in flames while Izuka turned around, bending to the others in concern. "But you won't be taking any more lives, Hero Killer."
"Are you okay?" She asked the three of them.
"We can't move," Izuku grunted out, looking up at his sister. "Todoroki! Izuka! You can't let that guy get your blood. I...I think he controls his enemy's actions by swallowing it. That's how he got us! If that happens to you-"
"Exactly. If," Izuka narrowed her eyes and stood up, shocking her brother. She glanced over her shoulder at the man intensely. None of them had faced a villain like this, and it was much different from when she was almost killed by Shigaraki. This time, she felt much more confident here than she felt in the USJ. Maybe it was because of the Sports Festival, or because her classmates had given her so much drive in her life, but...she knew that despite all odds, they'd prevail.
I will push myself to survive...unfortunately, I can't get them out without Stain noticing me. They need medical attention right away, though...he's really got us cornered, huh? She could imagine that he'd throw his blade to stab her if she tried. So the only option she had was to defeat him with Shoto.
"He ingests blood to keep people from moving," Shoto deduced while looking at him. "That explains the blades."
"And considering your Quirk, Ida-San, his reaction time is really fast, huh?" Izuka guessed, earning a gasp from Tenya. "It's nothing we haven't seen before. The only difference is that it's from a murderer," She clenched a fist. Landing a hit on him isn't going to be easy, if Bakugo-San is any indication. The only way I'm gonna be able to pull that off here is by doing what I did in the Sports Festival against Bakugo-San.
"All we've gotta do is keep our distance," Shoto glanced behind him and then flinched, pushing Izuka onto the ground with him. "Watch out!" The small knife grazed his cheek to cut him just as the two landed on the ground. Izuka panted while looking up at Stain, not even registering Shoto's rescue.
"Ya have good friends, Ingenium," Stain leaped above the two, Tenya gasping sharply. "Or you did!" Shoto quickly got up to create an ice barrier, stopping him from attacking. Izuka got onto her feet as well, both her and Shoto looking up at the spinning sword above their heads.
His sword! He threw it at the same time as the knife! Before he could react, Stain grabbed him by the collar and pulled him over. He gave a wide-eyed look as Stain reached out his tongue, about to lick his cheek.
"TODOROKI-SAN!" Izuka shouted as she spun upwards, kicking Stain in the chin and causing him to let go of Shoto. She continued to spin while noticing the look on Shoto's face. She glanced down as he summoned his flames, creating even more distance between them and the villain. The girl landed right next to him, clenching an angry fist. "That was close, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," He stated before sending an ice attack. "He's strong!"
Izuka swung her arm to fire a shooting star, and Stain once again sliced it. She gritted her teeth as it faded away into nothing. Stain spun his blade into his hand to cut at the ice, and the boy summoned more of it. Tenya felt like he couldn't watch this anymore.
"Just stop it...Why are you doing this? His fight is with me!" His eyes shook as he watched the two classmates fighting for their lives all because of him. And he felt like he shouldn't be putting this burden on him. "I inherited my brother's name. I'm the one who should stop him. The Hero Killer is mine!"
"That's enough, Ida-San," Izuka spoke up and he blinked in disbelief.
"You're Ingenium now? Strange!" Shoto slammed down his hand after giving off a fire attack. He created a large ice barrier. Stain jumped around quickly to avoid getting hit. Izuka summoned her bow to fire off into the sky to try and locate Stain that way. "The Ingenium I knew before never had a look like that on his face." Tenya froze at what Shoto told him. "You've got a dark side. Guess my family isn't the only one."
"Just because you feel like it's your right to defeat Stain, doesn't mean it's something you can pull off. And is this really what your brother would've wanted?" Izuka glanced over her shoulder briefly at her brother. "Because the Ida-San I know wouldn't let revenge cloud his judgment, or influence his decision to seek out someone who's hurt over 30 people on his own." Her shooting star missed Stain as he jumped away from it, and it caused some of the ice to explode into little pieces. "Damn it...!"
Izuku grunted while holding his arm. "Careful, you two!" He then opened his eyes in realization...that his fingers were starting to twitch.
Stain moved swiftly and cut the ice off, revealing himself in the middle of it. "Ya blocked your own field of vision against an opponent who's faster than both of you combined," He mocked the two teenagers. "Rookie mistake."
"So was revealing yourself to people who have long-range attacks," Izuka retorted back, reaching out to the string of her bow.
"Come get us then!" Shoto challenged while his arm was on fire. However, he got stabbed with two knives in the arm. Before Izuka could fire again, a knife went through her hand and she groaned in pain. She held her wrist as she dropped her bow, stumbling a bit. Her injured hand was shaking as blood dripped from it. "MIDO!"
"Izuka, no!" Izuku shouted as she gritted her teeth from the pain in her hand.
"You're good, kids. Unlike him," He had his blade raised while falling towards Native.
"Watch out!" Shoto screamed before Izuku dashed in, pushing him away from the pro hero. He then dragged Stain along the wall. "MIDORIYA!" He shouted while holding his arm. Izuka blinked in shock at seeing her brother's power for the first time.
"I'm not sure why, but I'm able to move now!" Izuku called out, alerting the two.
"So he has a time limit."
"That doesn't seem likely..." Izuka frowned a little; if he did have a time limit, it would be an obvious weakness that pros could exploit. Considering how Stain operated, it wasn't like him to give something like that away. Even villains have a limit to their power, but what is it?
"No," Native spoke up weakly from behind. "That kid shoulda been the last one to be freed. I still can't move a muscle." And neither could Tenya as he was shaking, but his limbs weren't moving at all.
He must be type O. And so would his sister. Stain then pushed Izuku off him, and the boy landed roughly on the ground. Stain steadied himself right behind the boy.
"Midoriya, dodge!"
Izuku jumped out of the way as more ice appeared. He kneeled nearby Shoto and his sister, coughing to catch his breath. He then looked over his shoulder. "He swallows a person's blood to freeze them, but I was the one freed first. I've got three different guesses why. His Quirk could be less effective the more people he uses it on. The amount ingested could play into how long it works. Or there could even be a difference based on a person's blood type."
"If you ask me, my bet's on that last guess," Izuka narrowed her eyes as Stain stared at all of them, the girl holding her wrist tight.
"If it's the last one, my blood type is B," Native spoke up to them.
"I'm type A," Tenya grunted out a little.
"It has to be that O-type blood doesn't have much effect," Izuka glanced at her brother. "So even if he ends up being able to ingest mine, I won't be paralyzed for too long."
"So you figured it out. Bravo," Stain gave them a mocking smile. "Very impressive."
Hero Killer Stain! His Quirk, Bloodcurdle! By tasting someone's blood, he can freeze them for up to eight minutes, depending on their blood type! From shortest to longest time, it's O, A, AB, and B!
"It doesn't really help us that much to know how his Quirk works, though," Izuku spoke up to his sister and Shoto.
"I thought we could hurry and carry those two out of here, but it's no good. He's too fast. He can avoid ice, fire, and Mido's stars. We'd have to leave ourselves unguarded. Our best option is to hold until the pros arrive and avoid close combat."
Izuku narrowed his eyes a bit, glancing up at his classmate. "No, you know you've both already lost way too much blood. I'll distract him while you two support me from behind," His body glowed with red veins before turning into the green energy. "Sound like a plan?"
The two stared at him, Izuka especially as she wondered where this power came from. He must've learned that ability from his internship. Both of us were advancing pretty fast in the span of just a week...but will that help us here?
Shoto seemed to be thinking the same thing she was as he looked back up ahead. "You want us to take a pretty big risk. Okay. We can protect them!"
"Let's work together!" Izuka nodded in agreement while clenching her uninjured fist. She gritted her teeth while fighting off the pain from her injured hand. "So that when the pro heroes come, we can get them out of here safely!"
"Izuka, your hand," Izuku spoke up and without looking at her, knowing that it wasn't easy dealing with it.
"It hurts like hell..." She grabbed the knife and pulled it out quickly. "But I'm not down yet," She then summoned a new bow, holding it up while her injured hand was shaking. There was a small hole where it was punctured.
"Three against one, huh? This fight won't be easy," He stared the trio down.
'Ida...I've been worried about you ever since your brother was attacked.' When Ida had walked away from his friends at the train station, it wasn't unnoticed by Shoto. 'I recognize the face of someone who's drowning in resentment.' This was because...he had a similar face when he was confronted by his father at the Sports Festival.
Izuku then dashed forward while his sister eyed his movements closely. She then fired off her shooting star once she got down the speed he was going at. And I know just how narrow your field of vision can get...when you long for justice. Shoto sent more ice attacks towards Stain...and then thought of when he visited his mother for the first time.
That day, I told her about my life with father, and about who I have become. She cried and apologized. She forgave me. Faster than I ever imagined. She told me to move forward. That nothing was holding me back...and that doing so would be her salvation. I also told her about how Mido reminds me so much of her through her kindness, her ability to see at least one good thing in people she doesn't like if given the right amount of time. Just like with Bakugo, and with me during the Sports Festival. If I hadn't spoken to her and if Mido hadn't sought me out, I would never have been able to choose my old man's agency for my internship. I couldn't bare being near him. I haven't forgiven him. I doubt I ever truly will. But I chose him, so I could learn what it takes to be the number 2 hero with my own eyes and ears.
As Shoto was thinking this, Izuku was zipping around Stain just like Gran Torino was. Izuka's star was following his movements. He lunged towards Stain for a punch at the same time Izuka's shooting star came up, only for the villain to jump backwards from both attempts. Before he could swing his blade, Shoto sent another ice attack Stain's way. As soon as Stain landed, Shoto sent a large burst of flames from his arm. I had to know.
"Get ready," Endeavor turned to his son. "We're going out."
"Yeah, okay. Where to?" He followed after his father reluctantly.
"If the Hero Killer is following his pattern, we know where he'll show up next, and we'll be there to stop him," He then opened the door to the hallway. "We're taking a work trip to Hosu!" He announced to all of his sidekicks.
"Yes, sir!" They all shouted in unison and he stepped out. Shoto gave him a small frown.
'My old man is a scumbag. But a scumbag with the judgment and instincts of a number two hero. And I can acknowledge that,' He walked off after his father, as this was another reason why he chose his father's agency.
Shoto gritted his teeth while sending more fire. It's so simple. But I still needed someone to show me.
"IT'S YOURS!" Izuku shouted at the top of his lungs during the Sports Festival. "Your Quirk, not his!"
"I'm sorry if my brother got too involved in your business during your fight with him," Izuka confessed to Shoto as she rubbed her arm. "He meant well, and...while I did agree with him, I didn't want to push the issue."
Just simple words. Four sentences in total.
Tenya continued to stare at his classmates, thinking about what Stain said earlier when he was about to die. " Shouldn't you be worried about saving that guy?"
"Don't you worry, Ida. I'm gonna save you!" Izuku assured without looking back.
"We can protect them!" Shoto declared to the twins.
"Let's work together!" Izuka clenched her uninjured fist. "So that when the pro heroes come, we can get them out of here safely!"
"I'll kill you!" Tenya had declared to Stain, but now...he was feeling helpless while his classmates were fighting for their lives.
Stain then cut Izuku's leg, causing him to fall to the ground. Stain landed right in front of Izuka to cut at her forehead. She fell to the side with a grunt. No good. His fighting style has completely changed! Before he could further harm Izuku, Shoto knocked him away with a fire blast.
"Midoriya! Mido!" He yelled at the both of them in worry.
"You have to run," Tenya spoke up with tears prickling his eyes. Shoto looked back at him. "I can't...watch this..."
"You wanna make your brother proud?!" Shoto shouted, causing Tenya's eyes to shake. Stain gave a quick lick at his blade, causing both twins to be paralyzed. Shoto then sent even more ice. "Then stand up and be Ingenium!" Stain cut at the ice with a manic look on his face, flying in front of Shoto. "Become the hero he wanted you to be!" He clenched his fists while his left side was aglow with flames.
Tenya's eyes slowly widened as he gritted his teeth. "Ida-San...I understand why you did it," He glanced towards Izuka holding her side. She was shaking a little from the feeling of not being able to move, even though it wouldn't last very long. "I really do, I would've thought about doing the same thing if I were you. But there's a difference between using your Quirk for revenge...and using it to be a hero you've strived to be for your brother."
" I am Ingenium, and I will defeat you. That I promise!"
He gritted his teeth while his hand started to twitch. Izuka looked back encouragingly.
I know you can do this, Ida-San. Your brother is already proud of you from what I can see...so overcome this for him!