Arch 1: 「Act 3」
Izuku floated high above the city, his body a silhouette against the dimming sky.
His expression were icy, betraying none of the turmoil churning inside him. As he looked down at the building below, his teeth clenched, and a low snarl escaped his lips. The structure seemed to be ominous, a foreboding monolith amidst the bustling city below.
"They're starting already," Izuku muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the distant hum of the city.
His anger and frustration were very visible as he began bracing himself for the confrontation ahead. The stakes were high, yes, and there was no room for error. He can't make one.
His fingers moving with efficiency as he reached for the dark green mask resting at the back of his neck. With a swift motion, he began pulling it over his face, covering half of it. His breath now came in steady puffs, each one were amplified slightly by the rusty metal respirator that now masked the rest of his visage.
The boy adjusted the respirator carefully, making sure it would fit snugly against his face, concealing his identity further. In this timeline, without a license and operating as a vigilante, he had to keep his face hidden—only Eri was allowed to see who he really was once he sees her.
Nana appeared silently behind Izuku, her eyes narrowing as she gazed at the building below with clear disgust. "I never honestly liked this organization mafia," the woman muttered, her voice laced with contempt. "Just a bunch of heartless psychopaths, every single one of them." Her expression darkened.
He began his descent, his cold gaze hardening slightly as he approached the empty ground below. "This won't end the way they want," Izuku said, his voice steady and resolute. "It'll be different—something that'll crush them for good." His eyes glinted with an unyielding resolve as he prepared to face the challenges ahead.
The boy touched down silently, his eyes narrowing as he faced the building. With a cold, and unflinching tone, he declared, "They'll find out what happens when you cross the line. It'll be a lesson that they won't be forgetting. I'll make sure of it."
He approached the building's wall with deliberate steps, his expression set in grim focus. He raised his left hand, slowly flexing the glove as green lightning was crackling around it, slithering like a serpent. So, with a swift thrust, he pierced a small hole through the wall. As the sparks faded, he muttered, "Especially when I'm here now."
His hand, now inside the hole, opened his palm wide. A small swirl of purple smoke began to form at the center, barely the size of a cannonball. For a moment, it spun quietly, but then it erupted, expanding in an instant and spreading out like the aftermath of an explosion, filling the area with thick, dense smoke.
As the smoke billowed out, shrouding the surroundings, Izuku watched with an icy calm. He muttered to himself, "A fight is inevitable, so I'll just make sure it plays out in my favor."
He walked into the purple cloud of smoke, the sensation of sharp stings hitting his head repeatedly, like needles poking his mind. Each jolt was brief and sharp but didn't faze him. As Izuku advanced deeper into the smoke, the increasing murmur of the people around him had grew louder, their alarm signaling the presence of an intruder.
He pressed on through the thick smoke, the cacophony of panicked voices and hurried footsteps were growing louder. From the darkness, he heard the telltale clicks of guns being readied, followed by sporadic gunfire as the confused and flustered individuals aimed blindly into the haze, their bullets slicing through the smoke but missing their target.
Izuku moved methodically through the smoke, his head was swiveling left and right as bullets zipped past him, missing by mere inches. Each of the shot was dodged with precise, almost effortless movements, the smoke providing him ample cover. He could hear the frustrated clicks of the empty magazines, signaling the attackers' desperation.
With a swift crouch, he leaped forward, soaring through the dense smoke. The boy landed squarely on one of the disoriented figures, his sudden appearance and forceful impact sending the man crashing to the ground.
The boy then charged forward, appearing in front of two startled men. They raised their weapons, aiming at his face, but Izuku was way faster. With a swift motion, he snatched the pistol from the man on the right, disarmed the other, and swung the gun into their faces. The force of the blow both sent them crashing a few meters back, groaning as they collapsed to the ground.
Three men rushed at Izuku. The first swung a knife, but Izuku effortlessly disarmed him with a quick twist and elbowed him in the jaw. The second aimed a punch, but Izuku blocked it, countering with a swift kick to the ribs that had sent the man crashing into a wall. The last man tried to tackle him, but Izuku sidestepped and delivered a sharp knee to his gut, dropping him instantly.
The last man gasped heavily, clutching his gut in pain as he stared at Izuku with rising panic. Fear gripped him—the boy's effortless defeat of his comrades made them seem insignificant. His eyes, the only part visible behind the mask, were cold and unyielding. With a shaky voice, he croaked, "Why–Why are you here?"
Izuku gripped the man tightly by the collar, yanking him close with a force that only made him flinch. The green lightning was crackling all around Izuku's hand added a menacing edge to his already cold demeanor. He stared into the man's eyes, the green of his own eyes reflecting an unwavering intensity. "Tell me where Eri is now," Izuku said, his voice icy.
The man remained silent for a moment, then, gritting his teeth, he swiftly drew a knife and lunged at Izuku with a fierce grin. But his confidence vanished instantly when Izuku's hand snaked out and clamped down on his wrist with this unyielding strength. The man winced, his eyes was widening in fear as he met Izuku's cold, unflinching gaze.
Izuku tightening his grip, his gaze never wavering. "You have one chance to talk," Izuku said, his voice as cold as steel. "Tell me where Eri is." The man's resolve crumbled under the pressure, his fear so evident as he struggled to break free but found no escape.
The man, his face was slowly contorted with anger and fear, he spat out a string of curses. "You think you're so damn tough? Fucking hell, I'm not telling you anything!" The man was struggled against Izuku's grip, his curses growing more frantic.
He let out a sigh, considering that he could always find another source for the information. Just as he moved to knock out the man, a searing pain had jolted through his head. Reacting swiftly, he hurled the man to the ground, knocking him unconscious. In on the same heartbeat, a massive impact shattered the concrete where he had been standing, debris scattering violently as a powerful punch landed.
Izuku quickly spun around, eyes narrowing as he heard the laughter cutting through the dense purple smoke. A deep voice echoed, laced with amusement. "Hey! Don't just dodge it! These punks aren't giving you a real fight! I'm the one you want to face, not these guns and knives! You've got strength, I can see that!"
From the shadows, a tall, muscular figure emerged, his face obscured by a plague mask. It was Rappa, his voice brimming with confidence and challenge.
The boy's eyes were nothing but icy as he addressed the big newcomer. "Rappa, who's also better known as 'The Rapper'. Your Quirk, Strongarm, allows you to rotate your shoulders at a blinding speeds, giving you the ability to unleash a relentless barrage of punches. I'm not here for some games or distractions. I need to find Eri now, and I won't let you stand in my way."
Rappa's grin widened beneath his plague mask, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Heh, you've really done your homework. But don't think you're the only one with tricks up his sleeve. I've been itching for a real damn fight, and you just made my day." Rappa cracked his knuckles, his muscles tensing as he prepared for action.
The man barreled forward, his shoulders spinning like a turbine, unleashing a relentless barrage. Each fist came at Izuku with blistering speed, but Izuku danced through the onslaught, sidestepping and ducking with uncanny agility. Rappa's laughter echoed through the smoke, his voice tinged with excitement. "Come on, keep up! This is what I've been waiting for!"
As Rappa's assault showed no sign of slowing, Izuku's focus quickly sharpened. He suddenly ducked under a particularly fierce punch, slipping behind Rappa. Without a moment's hesitation, he unleashed a powerful kick to Rappa's midsection part. The force of the blow had sent Rappa staggering back, momentarily stunned.
Izuku waited for the right moment, then reeled his right hand back and struck Rappa with a powerful, twisting punch to the midsection. The impact generated a small tornado-like force that launched Rappa across the room. He collided with the concrete wall, which shattered upon impact, debris scattering everywhere.
Rappa groaned as he struggled to his feet, shaking off the impact. Despite the pain, a wild grin spread across his face. He began chuckling, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he cracked his knuckles again. "Not bad at all! Let's see if you can handle more!" He taunted, his voice dripping with anticipation as the man prepared to charge forward once more.
But the boy remained unfazed by Rappa's taunt, his cold demeanor unbroken. Without a word, he raised his left hand, and in an instant, black tendrils sprouted from his knuckles, shooting forward like vipers. Rappa barely had time to react before the tendrils wrapped tightly around him, binding him in place. His eyes widened in shock as he struggled against the unyielding whips. "What the—? You've got more than one Quirk?!"
He began walking toward Rappa, his green eyes locked onto the man that was only struggling against the black tendrils. Rappa grunted, trying to tear all the whips off, frustration clear in his voice. "This ain't a real fight! We should be going at it with our fists, mano a mano!" He groaned, his muscles straining as he fought against the tight grip of the whips.
Izuku stopped walking, his cold gaze fixed on Rappa as he spoke with a tone that left no room for an argument. "Like I said," Izuku began, his voice steady and devoid of emotion, "I'm not here for some games or distractions. I'm here for Eri." He leaned in slightly, the intensity in his eyes growing sharper. "And you're going to tell me where she is, right now."
Rappa grunted, straining against the Blackwhip binding his body, his muscles bulging as he tried to break free. "You're a man, no doubt about it," he spat, his voice filled with begrudging respect. "But if you think I'm just gonna hand over the location without a real, man-to-man fight, then you're dead wrong. Show me what you have got, or you ain't gettin' a damn thing!" The man snarled through clenched teeth.
Izuku stared coldly at Rappa for a moment, then shook his head and sighed. Without warning, the black tendrils began to dissipate like mist, leaving Rappa free. Izuku's fists were clenched, his right foot slightly back, ready for the next big move. Rappa's grin widened as he shouted, "Now that's more like it! Okay, let's see what you've really got!" He braced himself, eager for the real fight to begin.
The man reeled his right arm back, but before he could react, Izuku vanished from sight. In an instant, he was right in front of Rappa, his left arm drawn back. Rappa's eyes widened in shock as Izuku's fist shot forward. He ducked the punch just in time, but the air exploded with a thunderous pressure. He glanced back, seeing the wall and the surrounding area crumbling under the immense force of the blow.
Rappa staggered back, struggling to regain his footing as dust settled around him. He let out a low whistle, his gaze fixed intently on Izuku.
Rappa, still catching his breath, looking at the boy with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. "So, what's got you so worked up over this kid? Why are you so hell-bent on finding Eri? She's just another pawn in this mess, and yet here you are, risking your own neck just for that little kid. What's your angle?"
His left eye twitched slightly at the mention of the word pawn. Izuku planted his left foot firmly, causing a small crack in the concrete ground as the boy began taking a deliberate step toward Rappa. Green lightning crackled around him, his gaze unwavering as he spoke coldly. "Eri is not a pawn. She's just a kid, and I won't stand by while she's used and hurt."
He charged at Rappa with speed and precision, grabbing his right hand and lifting him effortlessly. Rappa grunted as he was hoisted up, his eyes widening in shock. With a swift motion, Izuku flipped the man down to the ground. The man hit the floor hard, coughing out his saliva as he lay sprawled, the impact leaving him gasping for breath.
Rappa struggled to push himself up, but the boy swiftly placed his left foot on Rappa's stomach, pressing down firmly. Rappa winced from the pressure but managed a chuckle. "Looks like I was damn right after all," he said, his voice strained but amused. "You're definitely a ma–"
「Clap clap clap」
The sound of slow, deliberate clapping echoed through the room. It made Izuku and Rappa turned their heads simultaneously, searching for the source. Rappa, visibly annoyed, scowled as he glanced around. Izuku raised a brow beneath his mask, his eyes was scanning the room with heightened suspicion.
The faint sound of footsteps grew louder until a lanky figure emerged from the dense purple smoke. He had a frizzy brown hair and the man was dressed in an outfit resembling a sleeveless, open white jacket with a high collar, paired with black shorts and knee-high boots. His appearance was almost bare, save for a few bandages wrapped around his wrists and ankles.
Rappa growled, his frustration evident. "Ah! Dammit, not now, Hakuro! This is a one-on-one fight, mano a mano! I don't need some exhibitionist jerk barging in!" He glared at the lanky man, clearly irritated by the interruption.
Hakuro chuckled, his grin widened up. "This isn't even a fight! Not with you getting beaten up by some loser." He looked at Rappa with a mix of amusement and disdain, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
Rappa's face twisted with frustration as he shouted at Hakuro, "Shut up, Hakuro! This guy isn't some loser—he fights like a real man! Unlike a certain exhibitionist who parades around half-naked!" His anger was visible, and clearly annoyed by Hakuro's interruption.
Hakuro chuckled dismissively at Rappa, then turned his gaze to the boy. "You're a real buffoon for coming here," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Let me show you what a real fight should look like. I'll make this a quick work of this clown." He grinned, clearly relishing the opportunity to take over the fight. "Then give you to the boss!"
His grin widened as his body began to radiate a brilliant yellow light. The glow intensified for five seconds before it suddenly faded, revealing his transformed outfit. He now wore a strikingly minimalistic ensemble: a barely-there top that left his chest exposed, paired with a short, flowing skirt that barely covered his waist. His belt was adorned with a black two-star badge.
Hakuro twirled his spear with a flourish, his nearly naked form flexing with each movement. And with a confident smirk, he declared to Izuku, "I'll make sure to deliver you to Overhaul in pieces. Well, actually, not all of the pieces, obviously." His eyes glints with a challenging light as he continued to spin the spear, his bare skin was gleaming.
Izuku can only watched Hakuro twirling his long spear, his confusion evident in the furrow of his own brow. He blinked, trying to process the sight of the man spinning around like a lunatic. Hakuro? The name didn't ring any bells, and Izuku certainly hadn't encountered him during the previous infiltration. Could Overhaul have killed him in this timeline? And, why does the man looked so proud at being barely naked?
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a sharp sting in his head, instinctively causing him to sidestep to his left. His eyes narrowed as he refocused, just in time to see Hakuro's spear quickly striking the spot where he'd been standing moments before. Hakuro glanced at him, an overconfident smirk on his face, clearly pleased with his near hit.
His speed, while not as fast as Izuku initially anticipated, still surpassed what he'd seen from Iida back when they trained in the forest. Hakuro quickly redirected his spear towards Izuku's chest, but Izuku swatted it away with a swift motion like a fly. While the force of the spear was undeniable—and strong enough to make Izuku grunt—it wasn't enough to cause him harm.
The boy noted the power behind Hakuro's attack, though it didn't seem like something he couldn't handle.
Hakuro lunged again at Izuku with his spear repeatedly, laughter echoing through the room as he tried to land a hit. Although Izuku just effortlessly dodged each thrust, his movements precise and controlled. As the barrages continued, Izuku sighed, clearly unimpressed. "I'm not really here for games," he said, his tone cold. "And this one is the most unnecessary of all."
Hakuro's grin faltered for a second as his words sank in, but the man regained his bravado, twirled the spear with a renewed vigor. "Unnecessary?" He sneered. "You will regret underestimating me!" He lunged again, aiming for Izuku's head, but Izuku just sidestepped effortlessly, his patience wearing thin. Without a word, Izuku's hand shot out, grabbing the spear mid-thrust.
His eyes widened further in shock as the grip tightened up, halting the spear's momentum completely. He tried pulling it back, but the spear wouldn't budge, remaining firmly in Izuku's grasp. His expression had shifted from confidence to frustration as he struggled to break free, his previous bravado fading rapidly.
His grip remained unyielding, his gaze cold and focused. He gave a firm tug, wrenching the spear from Hakuro's hands with ease. The weapon clattered to the ground as Hakuro stumbled back, visibly rattled.
Izuku seized Hakuro by the collar, pulling him close. "I've made it clear," Izuku spoke, his voice icy, "I'm not here to play games. I have asked the same question repeatedly, and I'm tired of interruptions. Tell me where Eri is, or the first thing that you'll see is the ground up close." His grip tightened, emphasizing the seriousness of his threat.
Hakuro's smirk faltered when he stared into Izuku's cold, unyielding gaze. He can feel the strength in Izuku's grip and knew the boy wasn't bluffing. For a moment, Hakuro was hesitating, his bravado was wavering. But then, with a sneer, he spat it out, "You think you can scare me into talking? You'll have to do a lot worse than that, you little—"
Before he could even finish, Izuku abruptly shoved him downward, smashing his face into the concrete floor with a loud thud. Hakuro let out a pained groan, dazed and disoriented from the impact. "I warned you," Izuku said flatly, keeping Hakuro pinned to the ground. "Now, tell me where she is."
Hakuro groaned, his voice muffling against the cracked concrete. "You just have to messed up my face, huh? At least my hot body is still in one piece." He tried to lift his head, wincing as pain radiated through his skull. Despite his bravado, it was clear that the blow had rattled him.
Izuku, unimpressed by it, pressed down harder, cutting off Hakuro's half-hearted attempt to regain his swagger. "You've got one last chance to answer me. Where's Eri?" Hakuro gritted his teeth, the pressure from Izuku's foot was making it hard to breathe, let alone think.
His eyes started darting nervously, his previous bravado now replaced with a desperation. "Alright, alright! I'll tell you!" He gasped. "Eri's being kept in the basement of the eastern wing, okay? There's a secured room down there. I didn't know that you'd be this much trouble—so just get off me! I told you, so get off!"
Izuku released his foot and stepped back, his was gaze cold but softened as the boy processed the information. "Thank you for cooperating. Now, you better stay out of my way." Izuku began walking away, his focus set on his next objective.
Rappa, still on the ground, grunted and called out, "Hey, don't think you're just walking away now! We still need to finish this mano a mano fight!" His voice echoed with frustration and challenge, the big man was unwilling to let the confrontation end so abruptly.
Izuku stopped walking and turned his cold gaze toward Rappa. "You'd already got your fight. I'm not giving you another." Without another word, he turned around and began generating a dense smoke around him. The thick cloud made it difficult for Rappa and Hakuro to see him, obscuring his escape as he disappeared into the murky haze.
Rappa growled out in frustration as the smoke still hung heavily in the air. Rappa glared at Hakuro with a fierce intensity. "Damn it, Hakuro! You really had to show up and screw things up!" Rappa's voice echoed through the smoke, his anger palpable. "This fight was supposed to be mine, not some circus act with you strutting around!"
Hakuro grunted in pain, wincing as he flexed his jaw and tried to adjust his stance. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered, still feeling the sting from Izuku's earlier blow. "Just get over it, Rappa. It isn't like you had him in the bag anyway." His tone was laced with irritation as he tried to shake off the discomfort.
Rappa clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed. As much as he hated to admit it, Hakuro wasn't wrong about it. Izuku had been holding back, and even then, Rappa knew that he wouldn't even stood a chance against him. "Tch," he muttered, while slowly clenching his fists. "He wasn't here to win or lose—just to get what he wanted." Still, at least they'd fought like men, even if it wasn't the ending he'd hoped for.
Then something hit him.
Wait, dammit! I didn't ask the man's name! Damn it!
As Izuku dashed through the dense purple smoke, his voice was low but was still urgent. "Nana," he muttered, "something feels off. I've never heard of anyone named Hakuro being here before. He wasn't around when we infiltrated this place." His eyes scanned the path ahead.
Nana appeared beside Izuku, her form materializing in a swirl of rosy smoke. Her expression was tense, her eyes was scanning their surroundings with full caution. "Keep your eyes open, kid," she spoke quietly to the boy. "I feel it too. Something's not right here."
Izuku narrowed his eyes as he ran, his mind racing. This is the past, maybe Hakuro was here before then? But that didn't add up to him. He remembered reading Nighteye's reports carefully. Every detail about Overhaul's operation was accounted for. There was no mention of anyone like Hakuro. A lunatic like him would be there.
What the heck is going on here?He thought, I'm getting a bad feeling about this. He gritted his teeth before he ran, either way, he has no more time to waste, he'll just think about it later.Just wait for a moment, Eri. I'm coming.
TO BE CONTINUED