THE FEARED HERO

CHAPTER TWO

Chapter 2: A Taste Of My Power

The morning sun bathed Musutafu in a warm glow, illuminating the bustling streets as students made their way to U.A. High School for the entrance exams. Excitement buzzed in the air, mingled with the scent of fresh coffee from nearby shops. Izumi Midoriya stood outside the grand entrance of the school, her heart racing with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

She adjusted her grip on her bag, filled with her notebooks and a water bottle. Today was crucial—not just for her, but for the family legacy. The thought of finally stepping into U.A. and proving herself felt surreal. Yet, as she gazed at the imposing building, her mind drifted to her brother, Izuku.

He was already a third-year student, a prodigy who had risen to fame, but not without consequences. She remembered the boy who had once idolized heroes, filled with dreams and hopes. Now, it felt like he had transformed into someone unrecognizable, consumed by his power and ambition.

"Focus, Izumi," she whispered to herself, shaking off the melancholy thoughts. Today was about her, not Izuku. She had to channel her energy into the exams ahead.

As she entered the bustling auditorium filled with eager candidates, the energy was infectious. Students buzzed with nervous chatter, sharing stories and strategies. Izumi took a deep breath, forcing herself to smile. She had worked hard for this moment; her ability to manipulate plants had evolved into something extraordinary. She could summon vines that danced to her command, able to ensnare and protect.

The announcement from the head instructor cut through the chatter, bringing everyone to attention. "Welcome to the U.A. entrance exams! You will face a series of tests designed to assess your abilities in combat and strategy. Remember, this is not just about how powerful you are, but how you can work under pressure."

Izumi's heart pounded. Memories of her brother flooded back—how he had fought through challenges, driven by an unwavering determination. Yet now, she feared that his overwhelming ambition had twisted his view of the world. He was a figure of reverence, yes, but also of fear, and that scared her.

"Hey!" a voice called out, breaking her reverie. It was Mina Ashido, her classmate from middle school, the pink skinned girl's bright smile reassuring. "Are you ready for this? I'm so excited!"

"Yeah, I'm ready!" Izumi replied, forcing her smile to widen. "Just have to keep my focus."

As they lined up for the first test, Izumi scanned the crowd for familiar faces. She spotted Katsuki Bakugo, his usual intensity radiating off him as he prepared for the challenges ahead. Izumi couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness—Bakugo had always been competitive, and she knew he would be gunning for the top spot.

The first test commenced: a simulated battle against robotic villains. Izumi felt adrenaline surge through her as the countdown began. "Three, two, one—GO!"

As the examinees rushed into the fray, high above them, standing on one of the tallest buildings was a figure clad in sleek, green fabric hugged his form, providing a perfect blend of mobility and protection. Reinforced padding at his shoulders and elbows promised durability in battle, while the long sleeves lent an air of professionalism.

He had on tactical pants, equipped with pockets for gear, offered practicality, while sturdy boots anchored him firmly to the ground, ready for action. Finally a red cape flower freely with the wind along with his messy green hair as he fazed down on the people below.

'Just look at them. Like ants beneath my feet.'

Homelander stood atop a sleek observation deck, the sun casting an imposing silhouette against his form. Below, the chaotic energy of UA's Entrance Exams unfolded like a battleground. Thousands of eager students swarmed the arena, their hearts racing with a mixture of anticipation and dread. To him, this was merely an opportunity to display his superiority.

As the first wave of exam challenges began, Homelander's gaze swept across the crowd, his smirk growing as he took in the diversity of quirks. "They think they can become heroes," he mused, his voice a low rumble only he could hear, "but look at them—most are hopelessly inept."

There were hardly anyone that caught his interest. Insignificant little people running around thinking they were actually shit. Like that Bakugo brat from his sister's class. He had recognized him when he was scanning the students when they were before the start of the exams. Oh he would enjoy putting the kid in his place soon.

Speaking of his sister, he spotted her easily with his enhanced vision. She was doing pretty well, he'd give her that. He shifted his attention to other examinees to see if any other one would catch his eye but there didn't seem to be any.

What a let down.

As he continued to watch, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. He had seen countless hopefuls before, all brimming with dreams and aspirations, yet they all shared one fatal flaw: they lacked true power.

Back below, Izumi was up against a couple of two and three pointer robots. She focused her energy, feeling the connection to the plants around her. With a flick of her wrist, vibrant vines sprang to life, twisting and curling as they surged forward to ensnare the approaching robots. The mechanical monstrosities, lumbering forward with a relentless clang, found themselves tangled in her green tendrils. Lila smiled, her confidence blossoming as the vines constricted around the robots' legs, tripping them and causing them to topple like dominoes.

As the dust settled, Lila quickly directed her plants to sprout sharp thorns, using them to pierce through the metal exteriors of the downed robots. The ground became a battlefield of nature versus machine, with flowers blooming amidst the wreckage, their colors vibrant against the dull gray of the robots. Her heart raced with exhilaration as she dispatched each foe, her mind racing with strategies for the next wave.

"I wonder how Katsuki and Mina are doing?" She thought loudly to herself. "Hmm, I'm sure they'll be fine."

She then continued to dismantle robots with ease, using her quirk and strategy to gain more points. Suddenly a loud crash and rumbling caught her attention. She looked up as buildings began to collapse and from the ground erupted an enormous robot that caused her eyes to bulge out in shock.

The Zero Pointer.

'That thing is huge!' She thought as she took a step back watching as it looked dangerously over everyone. 'I gotta get out of here.' She thought knowing she was nowhere near powerful enough to take on the robot.

As the Zero Pointer rampaged, students scrambled to evade its grasp. Homelander chuckled softly to himself, watching as many fell into panic. "Is this really the best they can do?" he thought, feeling a sense of superiority wash over him. The spectacle was amusing, a circus of failures beneath him.

As the chaos reached its peak, Homelander decided it was time to intervene—not out of heroism, but to assert his dominance. With a confident stride, he descended from the observation deck, cratering the ground with his hard landing, his presence commanding immediate attention. The students looked up in awe, hope flickering in their eyes as they realized a true hero was among them.

Izumi's eyes widened as she saw who it was. "Izuku?" She muttered. She hadn't seen him in over a year now. He seemed different.

"Well, what do we have here?" Homelander said as she stared at the approaching Zero Pointer. "You're quite the large bucket of bolts aren't ya?"

Homelander then pulled his right arm back, clenching it tightly into a fist. Time to show this amateurs what real power was like. With a powerful swing, he unleashed a devastating and powerful shockwave that slammed hard against the massive mechanical beast.

The Zero Pointer crumpled like paper under the force of his strike, its massive frame collapsing with a thunderous roar. Orion stood amidst the wreckage, chest heaving with triumph. "This is how heroes operate," he proclaimed, his voice echoing throughout the arena. "Watch and learn."

'What the hell?' Izumi thought, wide eyed at the display of power before her. The other students were just as shocked and filled with awe as they stared at the hero before them.

The students stared in awe, some faces painted with fear, others with a flicker of admiration. Homelander reveled in it. "They will never be me," he thought, a cold smile playing on his lips. "I am the standard against which all must measure themselves."

He then turned his gaze to Izumi, feeling happy at her expression before he smirked darkly at her. 'That's the look I've been looking for from you little sis.'

He felt a sense of satisfaction. They would remember today—not just as a test of their abilities, but as a lesson in hierarchy. In a world where the weak were always striving for recognition, he was the immovable force, the unchallenged king.

With a final glance at the chaos he had quelled, the green haired hero turned and blasted off into the sky, leaving behind a field of aspiring heroes who would forever be reminded of their place beneath him. "Let them try," he thought, "they will always fall short."

As Izumi stood amidst the wreckage, her heart raced with a mix of admiration and dread. The transformation she witnessed in Izuku was staggering; the boy she had once known was gone, replaced by a figure who wielded power with an unsettling ease. "This isn't the Izuku I remember," she thought, grappling with the realization that his strength had come at a cost. Yet, rather than succumb to despair, a fierce determination ignited within her. If he had become this formidable, she vowed to push herself harder than ever, to train relentlessly and hone her own abilities until she could stand beside him, not as a subordinate, but as an equal. "I won't let him face the darkness alone," she resolved, her eyes narrowing with resolve. "I'll reach his level—whatever it takes."

That's it for this chapter. Hope you liked it, I feel I kinda rushed this but I wanted to get straight into the main story line. The events of the story will be a bit similar to that of the anime but with serious changes. Also for those wondering, Izuku's hero costume is the same as his Costume Gamma from the anime but with a red cape. Also Izuku is almost as tall as All Might. Well till next time.

Read and Review.

Peace.