Sorry this took so long. The whole USJ thing was an absolute bitch to deal with for some reason.
Feel free to join my discord: gg/HARb23DD
Just a heads up, there will probably be a lot of jumping around for the first few pages of this chapter. Also a change in style.
Last thing I want to say before is thank you for the support. It means a lot to me.
"Well, that was embarrassing. So much for 'the finest in the country'. Phooey," Ashido groaned as she slumped down in her seat. For a school filled with soon-to-be heroes and littered with professional heroes, nearly everybody had acted in a reckless craze. As a result, the main hallways had ended up completely jammed as students of all years pushed and shoved to get inches closer to the exit.
"Indeed. Luckily, Iida was capable of shedding a ray of light upon the darkness of chaos. Without him, I fear we would still be trapped in the hell of our own making."
"Not quite how I would have put it, but yeah. First day as class president and he stops an entire riot by himself. Not a bad start, if I do say so myself," Sero added.
"Technically, I did not do it alone. Had it not been for Uraraka's willingness to use her quirk on me, it is not as likely that I would have gotten everybody's attention," Iida declared in response.
"Still, that was an impressive display of professionalism. Really manly, might I add."
"You think everything slightly cool is 'manly'," Kaminari said as he ran his fingers through Ojiro's tail fluff. The teen didn't seem to mind. Or if he did, he failed to show it.
"You really called that one, Handy. I slipped right in with the media and onto the grounds without an issue," Toga gleefully reported as she placed a few papers on the bar counter.
"Hopefully you didn't stab anyone. This was a stealth mission after all. Damn, not much to go after. All this tells us is that a few of those teachers are taking some of the brats to the USJ. As if I didn't already know that."
The papers turned to dust in an instant, which was "cleaned" by being dropped into a warp gate that deposited the remains outside.
"Sorry boss. That's all I got before I thought I heard a teacher running by," Toga offered.
"Whatever, you don't always get new loot in these missions. How many have you recruited for tomorrow?"
"Thirty-odd with maybe a handful more on the way. Too bad Stain's not around. It'd be fun to have him join in."
And there she was going on about Stain again. He hadn't even been on the news recently.
"Master, do you truly believe we can kill All Might?"
The three looked towards a screen, blank except for "Sound Only" in bold purple letters.
"While I do hope so, I would suggest you ask yourself. As time goes, you will slowly rely on me less and less for advice and counselling. For now, simply take what I have given you and assess what we know. There will be errors and faults, but I trust in your judgement, Tomura."
"Very well. Prepare for your last hours alive, All Might."
"You really need to learn to be more rational about these things, Toshinori."
"It's not my fault everything decided to come down on me all at once this morning. The way I see it, I'm lucky to still have fifteen minutes left. But that's for the entire day."
A skeleton of a man wearing a comically oversized suit and tie slumped against the teacher's lounge couch. A dribble of blood leaked through his lips, which he quickly wiped away with a handkerchief.
"So it'll just be Vlad, Thirteen and I for today's heroics class, I suppose?"
"Yes, but I have already informed Vlad and Thirteen. If it would help though, I can show up towards the middle for a little while. It won't be a lot, but it's something."
"I guess it is better than nothing," Aizawa replied as he stood up, readying himself for the twenty students that awaited him.
"Interesting costume, Midoriya. I assume all of those holes are there so you and him can let out the tendrils without poking holes in the material?" Uraraka asked as she stared at his costume.
Said costume was, in essence, a series of light duty armor plates with half-dollar sized holes drilled in a grid-like pattern, all held together by a sturdy jumpsuit.
"Yeah. I've already given it a few tests, with decent results. Oh, and his name's Scarlet now."
"Scarlet? As in, the color?"
"Well, my mom called him 'Red' last night, but when I told Tokoyami, he said that 'Scarlet' or 'Crimson' would, and I quote, 'be a better fit for the demon within.'"
"It fits," Uraraka said in an agreeing tone as two buses pulled up by the sidewalk and opened the doors.
"Well well, we finally get to meet the esteemed 1-A! Hopefully you won't mess up too bad in the rescue training today! It'd be a real shame if-"
A quick Iida-styled karate chop to the back of the neck not only got the frantic blonde to shut up, but straight up knocked him out as well.
"Not exactly the first impression I was looking for," the orange-haired girl that knocked him out complained. "Hello, I'm Itsuka Kendo from 1-B, and this is Neito Monoma. You'll have to excuse him; he already seems to have a certain… distaste for your class. None of us really know why."
"Not the worst we've dealt with," Izuku quietly responded with a glance at Bakugo, who was already gritting his teeth hard enough to break them.
"The hell was that, Deku?"
"Oh, nothing," the boy replied in an innocent, slightly high-pitched voice.
Ochako confusedly turned her head back and forth between the two, until a loud whistle pierced the air.
"Everyone in 1-A! Please form lines by student numbers so we may enter the bus in an orderly fashion!"
Asui hopped over to the bus and peered into the window. "Slight problem with your plan, Iida."
"Hmm?" the class president asked before looking in himself. "Oh."
"Alright everyone, just remember that this is not a contest or competition today; but an actual learning session. It's perfectly fine to want to do better than your classmates, but that doesn't mean it's fine to act irrational or carelessly."
"Yes, sir!" everyone replied in unison. Except Iida. He was a bit preoccupied with stewing in the fact that he hadn't prepared for a bus with varying seating patterns.
Given there was going to be at least a few minutes before the two classes reached their destination, many of the students began holding separate conversations regarding anything from quirks to trends to fashion.
"Hey, Midoriya?"
The teen in question looked over his shoulder to Uraraka and Asui, who were seated in the row behind him.
"What was with that 'Deku' thing? Bakugo's called you that a few times, but what's his reasoning?"
"I would also like to know. Kero."
"It's an old nickname. He's trying to call me useless. It started back when we were kids and he pointed out that my name can be read as 'Deku'."
"Well that's not very nice. Besides, you're clearly not useless, what with your quirk and all," Sato argued from beside the green-haired teen.
"I was a late bloomer. Didn't really appear until about a year ago," Izuku shrugged.
Suddenly, the very same explosive teen started yelling up at the front of the bus, switching focus from Kaminari to Sero with Kirishima trying to break things up.
"You think my personality is bad? Wait 'til you look in a mirror once I'm done with you!"
It would have been disturbing, seeing the high and mighty Bakugo being the focus of teasing, if Midoriya's definition of "disturbing" hadn't been altered after living with a certain red thing inside him for months.
"Shut up and behave. We're here."
Forty students and two teachers walked through the large doors and into the domed facility. As they descended the large staircase and approached the fountain in the middle of the gigantic field, a figure in an all-white suit approached the group, eager to greet them.
"Welcome, children, to the Unforeseen Simulation Joint. Or, as I like to call it, the USJ. But, before we begin, I would like to make a quick speech. I'm sure many of you know my quirk. Black Hole allows me to suck up any rubble or debris and turn it into dust. For years now, I've used it in countless rescue missions in practically every situation imaginable."
Many of the students excitedly nodded or agreed with the opening statement, especially Uraraka, who was nodding up a storm.
"But one thing many of you don't realize is I could all too easily kill all of you right now if I wanted; that's the nature of my quirk. Black holes are nature's most powerful creations, destroying anything unlucky enough to get caught past the event horizon. And truthfully, I'm sure several of you have similar quirks. One wrong step or small accident can turn an easy rescue mission into a tragedy. But do not let that get you down; you have already experienced using your quirks in combat. Now, you can learn to use your same quirks to rescue and save rather than fight. The quirks you use for fighting are the same quirks you can use for saving, like two sides of the same coin. Thank you for listening; I hope you consider what I've told you at least once more during your careers."
Despite the unease that settled over the students when Thirteen declared what she was truly capable of, they were all giving cheers and applause as the hero bowed, like she had just finished giving a Broadway performance.
"Now then, let's begin. As you can see, there are several varying situations, from forest fires, squalls, earthquakes, and more! Just remember… that…"
Only Thirteen, who had been facing everyone else, saw the misty purple distortion open up behind the students and her fellow teachers. For a few brief moments, all of the lights in the building flickered on and off, then finally dimmed as the water fountain shut off.
"What's going… on?" Vlad asked as he looked where Thirteen had been facing. His heart fell down to his stomach, a feeling that only got worse as the void expanded and a horde of intruders stepped through and into the USJ and began circling around the two classes.
At the back of the pack stood a blue-haired man, possibly in his early twenties at a guess, a girl wearing a cardigan and a school-style skirt, and a man made of the same material that formed the portal.
Behind them emerged a monstrosity that rivaled All Might both in size and bulk. Even with its hunched posture, it towered over Aizawa, Thirteen, and even Vlad.
It's skin was almost pitch-black with the exception of red areas where muscle seemed to physically tear through the skin.
But the most disturbing feature was the thing's head. It sported a beak-like mouth with rows of serrated teeth, and the brain was nearly fully exposed through the cracked skull, with the eyes somehow rolling inside the organ.
"Well, there are a lot more of them than I expected. And no All Might. Could the two be related? Or simply coincidences? Nevertheless, the Symbol of Peace will fall today, one way or another."
The three teachers instantly prepared themselves for the inevitable fight. Aizawa had the scarf around his neck grasped in his hands and had placed a pair of yellow, shuttered goggles over his eyes.
Two trails of blood gushed from Vlad King's gauntlets and hardened into blades that he held in a defensive stance.
"Students, this is not part of your training. As your teacher, I give you all permission to use your quirks to protect yourselves and your peers," Aizawa commanded while glancing around. He and Vlad had separated just enough to put themselves in front of and behind the forty students.
"Same goes for you, Class B. Just be careful," Vlad agreed.
"My my, already encouraging violence. Is this truly what the famous UA is teaching children?" the blue-haired man asked in a mocking tone.
"Says the guy who trespassed with clear intentions of hurting said children," Vlad argued, earning a short laugh from the accused. Then he went deathly silent.
"Perhaps All Might can reschedule whatever he's doing right now if we kill some kids."
A wave of fear and unease swept over the children and the teachers as the man looked at the group that had accompanied him. Hollers of excitement came from the villains that had circled around the heroes in training.
"Have at them, everyone."
And then, to put it scientifically, all hell broke loose.
However, it wasn't the villains that had the upper hand; in fact, they were losing quite miserably.
Bakugo made quick work of the "small fry" with his powerful quirk and prowess, Kirishima and a metal-skinned teen from 1-B just tanked any hits sent their way while pushing forward.
A green-skinned, vaguely bug-headed teen from 1-B expertly slashed and sliced at anyone who got too close and was backed up by an all-black peer that hid in the shadows casted by his robes, only popping out when the insectile student didn't notice an approaching intruder.
The blonde boy from earlier, Monoma, stood in the center and frantically shouted about how 1-B was defeating more villains than 1-A, all the while not contributing to the fight at all.
"Man, that guy has serious issues," Kaminari muttered just before slamming an electrified staff into a charging villain's stomach, dropping the attacker like a sack of lead.
"Just focus on the battle. And Yaoyorozu, I might need a new sword soon. That one guy was harder than he looked," Jiro shouted back, ignoring Kaminari's "That's what she said."
"Of course. Just one second please." Multi-colored sparkles erupted from the girl's upper arm, and a new blade was produced.
"Dark Shadow!"
"You got it boss!"
A fleshy tentacle extended towards the boy, who recognized it as one of Shoji's limbs. A slightly squishy sound came from the appendage as it turned into a mouth.
"Uraraka, Iida, myself and a few of the 1-B members are making a go for the door. If we can get Iida outside, he can run for help. Will you assist?" The mouth quickly morphed into an ear that awaited a response.
"Of course. I shall let you lead the way."
"This is not going as planned. Not at all. Why?" Shigaraki complained, his hands scratching the red skin of his neck. He watched as the NPCs dropped two or three at a time at the hands of the little brats. And the teachers were hardly involved.
Yeah, Eraserhead was pulling lots of sick moves and martial arts maneuvers, but that didn't count; he was supposed to be facing all of the NPCs while the children ran.
"Perhaps we should break out our 'secret weapon' earlier than expected," Kurogiri suggested, calm despite the situation.
"Yes, yes. The final boss sometimes makes multiple in-game appearances. Nomu, why don't you take out… eenie meenie miney moe… Eraserhead?"
Something was happening to Scarlet. The moment UA had been infiltrated, Scarlet had begun whispering about fighting the monster that Shigaraki had brought with him. While taking down the lower skilled villains seemed to quench Scarlet's appetite.
But then the sound of thundering footsteps, breaking bones, and anguished screaming cut through the battlefield.
And at the edge of the perimeter laid Eraserhead, blood oozing from a shattered right leg where the Nomu had stomped him.
"Aizawa!" many of the students cried, their high-pitched screams contrasting the cheering from the villains.
"Oh, that looks like it hurts," Shigaraki whispered with a wince. Nomu, still towering over the teacher and pinning him to the ground, turned towards its master for new orders.
No one fully saw what happened next, but the next moment the Nomu was tumbling across the ground, and a new monster stood over the teacher.
"Kurogiri? When did Master send another Nomu?" Shigaraki asked as the red and black being approached Nomu.
"He did not. Whatever that is, it's not a Nomu that I was made aware of," Kurogiri replied with a hint of fright. Shigaraki's eyes widened underneath the hand covering his face.
"Shit."
They couldn't feel any reason to hold back; the thing in front of him had hurt the first teacher they had that hadn't been out to get them from the start. The moment Nomu stood up, they rushed again. Large claws cleanly sliced off the right arm while a bladed tendril from their back lashed at the beaked monster's neck.
All that came out were gurgles. It was almost too easy.
Then the bone in the stump stretched out as new sinews and muscle overlapped it, followed by flesh and skin. Within moments, Nomu's arm was completely regrown, as was the slit in the throat.
"Whatever you are, you can't beat him! He was designed to kill All Might, but I guess you'll make a good beta test!" Shigaraki declared from behind Kurogiri. Not that they were paying attention to him, nor the other students or villains.
They were only focused on the Nomu.
"Stay down,"they grumbled as two more tendrils stabbed into Nomu's chest and pulled apart, even as the creature beat its large fists against their head and shoulders. A grotesque ripping sound was heard as a chunk of meat with three ribs was torn out and tossed aside like trash.
The being that was Izuku and Scarlet stared into Nomu's brain dead eyes. There was no fear or pain in response; just the same blank stare.
Suddenly, Nomu grabbed the tendrils piercing its chest and swung in an arc before releasing its grip, sending them almost halfway across the USJ. A large crater was left in the landing, yet they got up as if nothing had happened.
"Well that didn't work," Izuku shouted inside the creature's head. "It seems they have some kind of regeneration quirk."
"No shit,"Scarlet spat in response. "Any ideas in that oh so powerful mind of yours?"
"I think so. Go for the brain. It's exposed, making it a viable weak spot."
The being rushed again towards the hulking Nomu and shot out three tendrils from its back that wrapped around the creature like constricting snakes. One of the tendrils grew a barb at the end that sliced into the exposed organ and tore out nearly half of the frontal lobe.
Immediately, the Nomu went limp in the tentacles binding it.
"I think that should do it. Just be careful, I don't know if it can regrow its brain," Izuku warned.
"If it can, we can just take it's brain again,"Scarlet hissed before licking its lips and eating the brain still stuck on the barb. "Hmm. Needs salt."
Once the barb had been licked clean, Scarlet's form slowly melted inwards. A handful of seconds later revealed Izuku who, for someone who everyone just witnessed eat a brain, looked perfectly fine.
"Midoriya? Are you…well…you?" Kaminari asked.
"That's cheating! I call hacks!" Shigaraki screamed from behind Kurogiri as he stomped his right foot in a manner that resembled a toddler throwing a tantrum.
"I think we should gather our remaining forces and leave," Kurogiri quietly advised, eyes not leaving the student that was responsible for Nomu's paralysis. "I don't think we have the proper resources to fight that one in particular."
"Fine. I guess you're right," the blue haired man agreed, realizing that all of the NPCs he had hired were either unconscious or had surrendered. "However, don't you think Master would be disappointed if we let such a good quirk get away?"
"Nomu." At his command, the creature, which had somehow regrown the destroyed portion of its brain, lunged forward at blinding speeds and wrapped both of its beefy hands around Midoriya.
"You're really starting to piss me off," Izuku said in Scarlet's voice before his body exploded outwards.
"We need to put it down for good. Otherwise, it'll just keep coming back and potentially hurt others."
"Oh, so now you want to play dirty?"
Shigaraki's laughter from capturing Izuku was cut short as the monster latched its maw onto the Nomu's head and sunk sickle-like fangs into the flesh and bone, then tore off the entire top half of the cranium in one swift motion.
For the second time, Nomu fell. Scarlet slurped up the brain stem like pasta before once again receding into Izuku's body. The teen shivered at the thought of having Nomu's brain somewhere inside of him.
"I don't think it can regenerate from that. Most regeneration quirks require the brain stem to be functional in order to remain active," Izuku stated more to himself than Shigaraki as the two stared at the deceased body.
And moments later, Shigaraki was gone. All that remained was a fading purple mist and the villains that had been captured during the fight.
"I am here!"
And there we go. Not the best, but I like to think I have an excuse. I hope you enjoyed! Leave a review, Follow and Favorite, and I'll see all you...wait, that's my YouTube outro.
Have a good day Y'all!
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