UA Multiverse Peek
Chapter 31
A Heroic Thief
To suliganagongorova, all of these stories aside from Heroic Thief, Dragon Deku, and Assassin Deku are stories I've come up with myself. I often use this story to see what some think of my various story ideas like Jaegers In Mustafa or Azur Heroes before writing a full story. Let alone hoping that some others will try reading my various other stories.
But that isn't the focus for now. Now it's time for the big reveal of the fourth member of the Fiendish Five and someone who will have a role down the line. Not to mention how it will reflect the rest of the story of this group of characters. So, on with the show.
(No POV)
With the screen counting down till the next mission, the students were questioning who this Panda King character could be. "Maybe it's that fire villain. What's his name? Dabi?" Momo postulates while sitting down in an easy chair. The others who encountered said villain thought he might be, while some of the heroes weren't as sure.
All Might for one had an unsettling feeling in the back of his mind on who this could be. Though he wasn't entirely sure if that was due to investigating said person more and finding some darker details. But before he could really focus on those thoughts, the screen lit up once more.
The Cooper van goes through the streets as some music plays in the background. Sly narrowed his eyes at his next target. "The road trip gave me the time I needed to study up on, the Panda King. Also known as Enji in private."
Spit takes were launched from the heroes, Izuku, and Shoto upon hearing that private name of the villain. "Wait! WHAT?!" Shoto shouted while coughing and rubbing his eyes. Only to recognize some of that gaze in the Panda King's eyes.
Their classmates looked at them in confusion before Izuku could clarify. "Enji is the real name of Endeavor. In this situation, Endeavor is the villain." Hearing that shocked the students and they all wondered what could have changed to this version of the number two, now number one hero.
The screen showed a young Enji staring up at the sky. Enthralled by the glittering lights created by the fireworks above. "Born penniless, he was fascinated by the fireworks rich noblemen would set off every New Years."
And older Enji was shown holding a rocket and adjusting the gunpowder within. "He spent a decade learning the art. But when he tried to offer his works to the noblemen." Illustrated by a flair and Enji lighting up one of his rockets that burst in the sky.
"They couldn't see past his shabby clothes and chased him away." And this is demonstrated first with the noblemen aggressively dismissing them. Or in one case the guards of the nobleman roughly throwing the young panda out and breaking his works.
Eyes were wide and then slightly teary at what the panda had endured. Even Shoto was angered at how they treated another version of his father. And some of the words likely said to him. "I guess it's not that much of a surprise that he would want payback." Kaminari said a bit sadly.
Even the heroes could understand the hurt the man likely felt. 'But it wouldn't make it go away Endeavor. It just perpetuates the pain.' All Might thinks sadly as he remembers the frustrated tone his rival had upon seeing his true form. As well as talking with him and how it aggravated him to only be the number one based on a technicality.
The next image showed an enraged Panda King, a new fire burning in his eyes. One for revenge. "Humiliated, the Panda King took his revenge on those who shunned him. By using the very tools of his art for crime." Behind the moving image of the Panda King, the noble's house was blown up and burned by his fireworks.
"That's not really that surprising." Bakugo says with a sigh. Most the teens agreed and felt a mix of pity and anger for everyone involved. But mostly directed at the noblemen. "If they had at least respected or acknowledged his works, the Panda King might not have attacked them." Mina said with a sad look to the screen. Yui though noted that there was a chance the Panda King might be no different from those who shunned him. "He took the name King after all," she said before sipping on her soda.
"The Fiendish Five recruited him as their demolition's expert. And from then on, his explosive touch became feared worldwide. He's rumored to be perfecting a new "firework technique", high in the unstable Kunlun Mountains of western China." Sly notes as the image pans of the Panda King's fists ablaze.
The screen starts black before a fire lights up. Then a few more and large flame lights in a panda like form. As the title drops. "Sly Cooper in: Fire in the Sky!" As more flames dance around the shadowed form of the Panda King.
"Oh boy." Awase says with a slight gulp. A few other students agree as they see the flames rise behind the figure of the Panda King. Momo lets out a strained chuckle before reminding everyone that they didn't have quirks in that world. "So it could just be that he's incorporating fireworks into his martial arts."
"Not a bad idea. But I'd be willing to bet the Panda King will actually have fire abilities Yaoyorozu. After all, things we deem illogical or irrational exist in abundance in that world. Let alone the others we've seen." Aizawa says while remembering the warrior from the world of Souls. Nezu meanwhile chuckles and notes that Aizawa was learning.
Riki makes his way up the mountain and flips the van around to let Izuku out. The raccoon makes his way through a temple like ground and past a few of the guards the Panda King had. Including some odd ones who launched snowball goons at the thief.
A few snorted at how the big guards would launch the smaller guards to attack Sly. "That…. Seems a bit inefficient. And unnecessary. Hey, Todoroki. Can you make snowballs with your quirk? Unfortunately no, my sister can though."
After moving along a way, Sly spots a massive panda like statue in the distance. Taking out his binocucom as a rocket is launched from the top. "Would you look at that? A fireworks show!" Tenya says in slight excitement.
Only to be horrified moments later as the rocket impacted on the top of a mountain. And caused an avalanche to bury a village below it. "Oh my gosh, that's awful! That poor village just got buried in freezing snow!"
Upon seeing the avalanche, all eyes were wide and hearts were dropped. None more so than the pro heroes and even Todoroki himself. "How could he…" Ochaco said with her mouth covered and some tears in her eyes. Izuku is in much the same frame of mind. Until he feels a new urge building inside of him. One he's certain his counterpart is feeling.
Sly snarls a bit before looking back to the top of the statue and saying, "the rocket came from that giant statue. And you can bet the Panda King lit the fuse! I've gotta find my way up there fast before that lunatic squashes another town!"
Izuku nods and agrees with his raccoon self. "We can't let that man continue," Izuku says with a fire burning in his eyes. And his fellow hero students agreed. Some activating their quirks to show their determination. Though Shoto himself seemed conflicted. 'Even with all he's done, I can't really imagine….. that he'd cross this kind of line.'
Sly makes his way up the mountain as fast as he can. Sliding along the edge of a mountain and timing his movement to avoid getting speared by massive falling icicles. He then uses some of the Panda King's own fireworks against him and causes a gate to collapse. Giving him a way up to the next section.
Most in the audience feel uneasy seeing the large icicles falling, but their spirits rise a bit seeing Sly using the Panda King's own explosives to get to his goal. "Hm. Maybe I should consider a few more storage like devices for my sweat." Bakugo thinks while seeing the fireworks fly.
Izuku then has to sneak along the side of a building, and under the shadow of some awnings, to avoid the guards watching from above. Then taking them all out with a few of the rockets that were sitting nearby. As well as opening a way to a safe and the gate towards the main complex.
A few laughs are had at how Cooper took out the guards by using their boss's handiwork. "Blew them away like it was no big deal." Mirio says with a chuckle. While the more stealth and evasion minded students complimented the thief on his patience and timing. "Just a little more." Shihai says while watching Sly stick to the shadows.
Tenya warns that Sly would need one of the Panda King's treasure keys to move forward. "There's one over there. But it's heavily guarded!" Tenya notes as half a dozen guards with torches and swords wander around the premise. But Sly isn't worried as he says, "one key, coming up."
The raccoon makes his way behind and past the guards and even taking a few out with some of the skills he'd picked up during his previous adventures. Upon finally acquiring the key, Izuku makes his way back to the entrance to the compound. And then one of the Panda King's safes.
"He turned his hat into a bomb. What about that decoy trick? The dive and electric roll thing though was cool. I still think it's cheap that he can turn invisible just by standing still." These are the thoughts and statements tossed around by the students as they watch the thief make his way through the complex.
Upon opening the safe, Izuku was happy to learn about a technique from another ancestor. "I'd always heard that one of your Southern ancestors, Huckleberry Cooper, developed a technique to move while invisible. Just clear your mind and focus on the shadows, and you'll be able to turn invisible. And now you can move while doing it!"
Toru grumbles again at how Sly could just clear his mind and turn invisible. 'And then he can become visible later. It's not that easy for me,' she thinks bitterly. Only to be surprised by Ojiro asking if she was okay. "Yeah. Just uh…. Just thinking about something," she says while turning to the side.
After making his way up to the roof of the factory, Sly got a call from Tenya. "Nice job breaking into the Panda King's compound. I think I've figured out a way to get to the top of that statue….. but unfortunately it's obstructed by this reinforced ceiling hatch."
"No problem. They seem to have plenty of firepower around here. I'll just have to find a few more treasure keys to get at it," Sly says before looking for the holomarkers of where to go.
Ida nodded and said, "move swiftly Cooper-san. You may be one of the only ones who can stop him." Bakugo scoffed a bit but agreed before making a different point. "And your other self will always have his back. Better than I could hope to do." All of class 1-A was surprised by Bakugo's admission, but no one commented. Rather, they were still trying to process how the explosive maniac could say anything constructive in this situation.
But before he could focus on that, the Panda King called out over the intercoms. Noting how a village refused to pay the avalanche protection fee. And that his guards should be on the lookout for any survivors looking for revenge.
"Okay! Time to nuke this asshole!" Bakugo says after hearing the announcement. "Okay he's back now!" Mineta says with a chuckle. With he and the rest agreeing on what the Panda King deserved. Todoroki himself was causing an imbalance of temperatures from both of his sides fluctuating.
Izuku made his way toward one of the pagodas and found a few low conveyor belts. With Tenya noting, "this looks like a good place to practice the invisibility. While invisible, nothing can see you. Not spotlights, not lasers, not guards. Oh and if the guards already see you, then the invisibility won't work on them."
Toru pouts again as she didn't have that perk to her invisibility. "He can be seen when he wants to be and can't be caught by any other lights! Meanwhile, while I can bend light around me, I can be spotted by other things." Izuku and the others can't really come up with a counter argument or disagreement.
After all, Cooper's did seem like a superior version of invisibility. At least as far as stealth went. But Ochaco had a different point. "Yeah his might be better for a single person. But yours works best with all of us. Your teammates and friends." This (likely) makes Toru light up and hug Ochaco for the positive way of comparing.
Sly makes his way though the temple structures. Sometimes timing how and when he was turn invisible to avoid the guards. As well as a set of spotlights and a fast moving set of lasers. Before spire jumping from firework jet to jet. And catching another guard not paying attention.
Toru again shakes her head and says, "yeah I might be able to bend those lasers around. But it would be dangerous for me to get spotted by the lights." Aoyama then brought up that he or someone else with speed would have to blast ahead to disable the security. "Wait, why are we thinking about how to break into this place?" Tsuyu asks with a tilt of her head.
Even as a conveyor belt was turning counter to his steps, Sly would time his invisibility to avoid being spotted and getting close. Before bashing a guard over the head. After rail sliding along atop some lanterns, the thief made his way up another pagoda. And then back to the main building and past a variety of laser defenses. Properly timing his invisibility to avoid the dangers.
Mirio hums before noting, "it's almost like how I would have had to use my quirk. Properly predicting the moments to become permeable. Before becoming solid to lay the hurt on the villains." His fellow big three members agree and wonder if this Cooper would be a comparable hero to them.
"I mean his skills and techniques might not be approved or well liked due to the thiefy nature of them. But I could imagine Cooper or any of his ancestors being ones who'd take down criminals with us." Tamaki postulates while snacking on Takoyaki.
Once at the top of the pagoda that had the treasure key in it, Sly was ready to make his way down. And through all the laser security. As he nimbly jumps from safe spaces, Tenya reports something he found.
"Sly this pagoda is some kind of huge gunpowder production plant. Judging by the scale, the Panda King must be making tons of explosives!" This doesn't worry the raccoon and instead pushes him to finish faster a put a stop to the villain as he collects the key.
While a few of the students and teachers were worried about the matter of the security, Kamakiri had a different thought he voiced. "No SHIT! Wasn't it blatantly obvious that this guy would be making all kinds of explosives?!" Jiro winced at the shouting but did agree with him to a point. Aizawa agrees that turtle Tenya bringing the matter up was a bit redundant.
As Izuku made his way back to the center, Tenya had an unsettling report to give. "Sly! Riki's gone! He left the van to go for a key that I wasn't sure you'd be able to get to!" The thief curses under his breath before asking for the way he went. Finding a blasting station near his point to cover the hippo.
"Let's do it Izuku!" Riki announces before making his run up the mountain and avoiding the nunchaku wielding monkeys and some of the explosions going off around him. Sly could tell he was scared, but Riki wasn't letting that stop him.
All Might nodded and buffed up to compliment Sato's counterpart. "He's scared of what is guarding the key, but he won't let that stop him!" Aizawa jumps in though with, "it's still reckless and possibly unnecessary. Evidenced by Cooper having to cover him." Sato beamed and then winced at the thoughts the two hero teachers voiced.
Riki finally makes it to the top near a palace like area, but alarms start ringing in earnest as guards start to swarm. But Sly takes aim and keeps blasting them away until the alert stops and Riki can get the key.
Once they met up, Riki apologized to Sly. "It's just. I saw an easier way for me to get to it. And….. I wanted to be like you. Even if it was in my own way." Izuku gave his old friend a smile and thanked him. "But you need to let me handle this for now. I can get around a lot easier than you can."
Izuku and Sato both respect the points their counterparts made. "I know that feeling. Of wanting to be like someone you respect or admire. So I get what that was about." Sato nods to Izuku and says, "I definitely feel it when it comes to comparing our strength. I only get a temporary strength boost that makes my thoughts muddled. Meanwhile you have crazy amounts of power, speed and the like. And your biggest drawback is too much power and you hurt yourself."
"That's something all of us deal with in this world of quirks. And its often a thought used to breed distrust, envy, and the like. A sad part of what is normal for our world." Aizawa says while thinking about the various villains, heroes, and others in their world.
The hippo nods and makes his way back to the van. While Sly finds his next section to steal from. The Flaming Temple of Flame as it was apparently called. "Well that's redundant." Sly says with a flat look as he makes his way to it.
And the flat looks are common, as all of the audience has one upon hearing the name of the temple. Well except for Eri.
Tenya notes that the temple was in fact a training ground. Evidence by the variety of monkeys practicing their techniques. Or the group that were constantly swinging their nunchaku around.
Izuku swung, slid, climbed, and snuck his way past all of the traps and defenses to finally make it to the top and find the key. Making the traversal look easy and like he was truly becoming a master of his craft.
And while Sly was seeming like a master, it didn't stop the audience from feeling terrified every time he leapt from hook to hook or slid over a massive pitfall that would probably kill him. "Okay this is a little nerve wracking!" Ochaco said while feeling uneasy about some of the pits the raccoon Izuku was hanging over. "Yeah too bad he doesn't have a quirk like yours or mine Pink Cheeks." Bakugo said while feeling uneasy about all of the explosives the raccoon might have to face down.
Upon opening a safe right before getting the key though, Sly and Tenya were shocked by what he found. "Incredible! I never would have thought this was possible! Sir Augustine of Cooper's Technique to briefly defy gravity! You shouldn't have to worry about falling into bottomless pits anymore!"
Spit takes were fired from half of the audience with Bakugo and Ochaco facepalming. "Okay. How exactly does that equate to stealing things?!" Sen commented loudly. Ida, Jurota, and Momo seemed to be confused as well and threw their hands up before moving on.
Izuku isn't so sure, and he doesn't feel like testing it. So, he leaves a calling card and collects the next key. And upon returning to the center, he unlocks he rockets and sets them off to blast his way into the main facility. And in front of a bigger bunch of locked rockets.
"I've calculated the trajectory of those rockets and…. I'm 99% sure you'll be able to ride them all the way up to the top of that statue before they explode." Tenya reports. Sly hums before asking, "what about that other 1%?" The turtle just shrugs and says, "well in that case Sly, you'll be blown to bits. But the experience will no doubt be spectacular!"
"I think you're a bit too flippant on the thought of me dying Ida." Izuku says with a raised eyebrow. And the engine legged teen agrees. Stating, "while I don't doubt my counterpart's calculations, I feel like he should be a bit more concerned for the life of his friend."
Izuku lets out a sarcastic "nice" before going to look for the rest of the keys. But the first section he goes to, he spies Riki with the van on a makeshift track. "Riki! What are you doing down there!?" Sly asked in worry.
"Well I was minding my post when I noticed this snow-cone stand and I think to myself, "he Rikido, you gotta keep your energy up." So I hurry over here and then all of the sudden, monkeys are everywhere! Bugging me to race them 3 times around this track for a key."
A few snorts of laughter are let out before noting the same pattern as Muggshot's compound. "Think that was intentional? Maybe? I mean the hippo had to race and then run for a key before. Though I have to question why they'd offer it to him. Maybe they don't think they'd lose. That or there was no way anyone could get the rest."
As the students were voicing these thoughts, Aizawa was facepalming at the game like structure of the video. While Mic seemed to be hyping himself up to describe the race action in detail. With Midnight and All Might asking that he refrain.
Sly groans a bit before saying, "we could use the key. Think you can take them?" Riki just gives him a look and says, "c'mon Sly they're a pack of monkeys. How can I lose?" The hippo's confidence is enough for Sly, and he warns Riki about the ice patches. "Thanks for the advice but trust me! I've got this under control!"
Riki narrows his eyes while watching the starting light. Watching it blink red a few times before switching to green. And then quickly shifted the van into gear. Taking fourth place and quickly closing in on third.
"And he's off and the plucky hippo catches up in a rapi-gumpf!" Mic starts before he is silenced by his old friend with his scarf. "We heard you announcing races before. We don't need to hear it now," he says with a deadpan look.
He swings the van a bit wide to knock the third-place racer onto some ice. And right into the fifth-place racer. Riki slides a bit on a different ice patch, but he keeps it in control so as to not lose the two just ahead of him. "Just need my moment," he thinks aloud while quickly steering the van.
The moment comes when he gets a nitro boost and quickly uses it to catch up to and push the second and first place racers. With the second crashing a bit into the first as they both skid on the ice. While Riki slides around it to keep his lead.
Nezu and All Might applaud with the students at Riki's reactions and skills as a driver. "We may no approve of his illegal actions, but I can respect how he handles himself." Aizawa notes while keeping Mic silent. With Sato beaming in pride at his counterpart.
But the monkeys aren't making it quite that easy as they keep trying to catch up and knock Riki around as well. But the hippo doesn't flinch and keeps first for two laps and wins the key. "Great job Riki!" Sly says as his friend delivers the key.
Izuku high fives Sato as their counterparts do. Complimenting the hippo on his skill as a driver. "Maybe I will look into learning how to drive myself." Sato says while still smiling wide. Nezu then notes he could set something up in a few of the battlegrounds. "And I can actually teach you some defensive driving young Sato." All Might says with his own thumbs up.
Once back to the center, Izuku makes his way to another section. One that had a vehicle just like the one he found in Mz Ruby's lair. Tenya noting that this wasn't a coincidence. "Someone with some serious high-tech skills must be providing these guys with hardware. The fifth member of the Fiendish Five perhaps?"
Upon hearing that though, All Might tenses up and feels his wound. While Izuku has a shiver go down his back. Remembering the look in his owl enemy's eyes as he attacked Cooper's home. Meanwhile, the rest of the students were questioning who the mysterious benefactor could be.
Sly blasts his way through the facility and guards to get to the key hidden at the end of an icy canyon. While ignoring Panda King's final acknowledgement of him being on the premise and sabotaging his operation.
Shoto shivers a bit hearing the panda version of his father talking and threatening his friend. 'Or at least his counterpart. I wonder how much me or any of my possible other siblings have had to suffer under that man.' Shoto thinks while tightening the grip of his fist.
The raccoon makes his way toward a massive dragon statue to recover the last key. Riding some firework platforms as elevators to the top of a building. Only to see Carmalita Melissa Fox glaring at him over the top of her pistol. "Freeze Cooper!"
"How can I freeze when my heart warms at the very sight of you?" Sly says with the charm turned up. Carmalita blushes before saying, "shut up Ringtail! I don't know what you're doing here in China, but I'm sure it can't be good for whoever owns this place!"
A few laugh at how Sly turned Carmalita's words against her. Others were feeling jealous of the tension and clear attraction between the pair. All Might though was internally questioning if he should invite Melissa herself. "I think that would be fun! And it would be great to have her helping with support gear as well!"
All Might turns to the side and sees Ochaco and Izuku smiling. Both having spoken their minds to match the former pro. "I thought that out loud didn't I?" he said with a light smile. The students and teachers nodded. And Nezu approved if Melissa would come, suggesting she could stay in the dorms if needed.
Izuku shakes his head before saying, "you must only have eyes for me if you're too blind to see what's going on around here." Melissa snarls a bit before calling Sly a pathetic thief who escaped justice for too long.
"I'm proud to be a thief. Especially when I'm stealing from a vicious extortionist like the Panda King. Open your eyes "detective"! These quaint temples are a front for an illegal explosives factory."
"That seems similar to her "uncle". To focused on a single moment, incident, villain, or duty." Aizawa says with a flat look toward All Might. Who just rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled.
Carmalita seems to consider this for a moment but shakes it off to focus on Sly. "Don't try to confuse the issue! You criminals are all the same and none of you can escape justice!" Sly can see this is going nowhere and quickly evades a shot from the shock pistol. Sliding down to a different section of the temple.
All Might facepalms while sweating a bit. Hoping Cooper can keep away long enough to stop the real threat. "And help Melissa put away another criminal," he says quietly. While feeling a bit bad about the criminal in question being a former colleague.
Izuku is in much the same mind. Mostly about getting away to save the other villages around the mountain. "Though… I can't exactly blame my other self for being attracted to her. I've felt it too," he says quietly. But not quiet enough that Jiro, Ochaco, and a few others don't notice.
The raccoon has to backtrack a bit at times to open up the pathways to keep ahead of Carmalita. "Glad that thing has some serious recoil! Otherwise, I'd be in big trouble!" Sly says as he avoids a few more shots while running across rooftops and between destroyed screens.
"Oh so that's why her aim seems off at times!" Kaminari says while watching the thief try to get away. Bakugo nods and acknowledges it was something he had to work on with his quirk. "Sure it lets me fly with the recoil. But too much or improperly aimed and I'll blast myself in the wrong direction," he notes while watching Sly dodge the shock shots.
After evading a few more shots, Sly uses the rockets to make a set of icicles fall to act as platforms to get closer to the key. Only for Carmalita to shoot a few of them. "Not making it that….. easy. Oh, come on!" she shouts as another icicle falls from the reverberating shockwave of her destroying the original.
Most of the audience has a laugh at the fox cop's attempt to keep Izuku from getting away. And failing due to the veritable luck the raccoon has in keeping his path forward.
She leaps ahead as Izuku jumps across the icicles and lands before a safe. And while he has all the codes, Tenya reports, "unfortunately this vault code has been written in Owl dialect. I won't be able to crack the code until we meet and defeat the bird who created it."
Hearing turtle Tenya say that makes Izuku, Bakugo, and All Might's hair stand on end. Each remembering their encounters with the major symbols of evil in their time. "Wonder who that owl is?" Nirengeki asks while sipping from his drink. Tetsutetsu guesses Overhaul, and Kaminari suspects that it would be Shigaraki. But those thoughts get sidelined for focusing on the rest of the mission.
Sly groans but takes his moment to leap onto the dragon's tail and launch all the rockets sitting there. And having them strike the head of the dragon. Where Carmalita happened to be standing as it collapsed. "Watch your back Cooper! When you least expect it, I'LL BE THERE!" she shouts as the statue head falls. And the key sitting atop it is blasted toward Izuku.
"She is obsessed with you~!" Mineta jokes. While normally he'd be more upset about the luck Izuku or his counterpart had, in this case it's more comedic. Especially given she wants to lock him away. "Though I have to wonder if they could have some fun with it~. It's rather enticing~!" Midnight says next while licking her lips. Imagining the various ways Carmalita's gear could be fun. Only for her and Mineta to bot be reprimanded. Or sprayed with a water bottle in her case.
With all the keys gathered, Sly unlocks the rockets and uses them to take him up to the top of the statue. Though he almost misses and gets the top of his ears singed from the explosion. But he shakes that off and faces off with the Panda King.
As Sly lit the rockets everyone in the audience was on the edge of their seats. Worried for the possible fiery end that could befall the raccoon. With Ochaco and Mina grabbing Izuku's hands as his counterpart flew up to face his fiery foe. Only for all three to blush when they let out breaths of relief and realized what they were doing.
"I see you carry the cane of the notorious Cooper thief clan. Have you come here for revenge? To steal back the Thievius Raccoonus?" Enji asks while building himself up for the fight to come. Izuku narrows his eyes at the large man and says, "that was my plan at first. But now I'm more interested in putting an end to your avalanche extortion racket."
Shoto nods and hopes that Cooper could put an end to the Panda King's evil. 'Too bad it can't be done quite the same here. Then again, at least my father is trying to make some amends.'
While Todoroki was thinking this, the heroes were narrowing their eyes at the panda. Each wondering how Sly would handle his foe. 'And how does this firework technique fit into the association of Endeavor to him?' Nezu thought while watching the video.
Enji raises an eyebrow at this and says, "why should you care if I bury a few worthless villages in snow. You are a thief, just like me." Sly vehemently denies this with, "no that's only half right. I am a thief, from a long line of master thieves. While you, you're just a frustrated firework artist turned homicidal pyromaniac!"
"Ohh. Making a burn joke in this situation would be redundant." Sero says with a chuckle. The rest agree but also wonder if this will make the fight worse or harder. All Might being the main one.
You can see the rage burning in the Panda King's eyes as Izuku says that. "Insolent child! You shall pay dearly for your disrespect! Still….. to honor your Cooper ancestry, I will send to your doom with the beauty of my new firework technique: Flame-Fu!"
And thus the battle begins. Izuku takes a stance, as the Panda King builds up flames in his hands and throws them at the thief. Sly dives out of the way before hiding behind some statues and other materials. 'Gotta get closer!' he thinks while waiting for the next fireball to be thrown.
This all led to the answer of what the technique was and how Izuku Cooper would fair against it. "So rather than a quirk, he just taught himself how to conjure fire and chuck it at his enemies?" Juzo asks while scratching his head. The rest of the teens think the same and have issues with the idea that a power could be learned. Similar to Toru's issues with the Cooper invisibility.
Izuku though is intrigued by this. 'I guess in other worlds and the like, a power isn't something you're born with. In many cases, it really is something you earn…huh. Maybe quirks have made all of us…..' He doesn't complete his thought and focuses in on the fight between his counterpart and the Panda King.
Once it destroys his cover, Sly leaps out and tries to rush the Panda King. But the old fighter has another fireball built up and tosses it at Sly again. Who curses a bit before leaping over the fireball hurtling his way. The Panda King growls a bit too as Sly is close enough to strike him.
Those in class 1-A were on the edge of their seats as Cooper got closer to his enemy. With Shoto feeling a few stabs of secondhand guilt at his father's counterpart attacking his friend. All Might was no better and he was tightly gripping his armrest and drink in worry for the raccoon.
And strike him the raccoon does. But similar to Muggshot, the Panda King can take the hits well and lashes out with a few other fiery techniques. First using Fiery Wheel while spinning on his head to create a ring of flames. Izuku jumps over this while still attacking, before having to hurriedly dodge a Palms of Thunder attack. And then gets belly bounced away.
Kirishima and Tamaki have a moment where they are reminded of Fat Gum in the Panda King's way of fighting. "Think we should tell him about these? Not sure," the two share back and forth while watching how the two criminals fought each other.
Sly shakes his head before dodging another fireball and making his way up to the Panda King once more. Striking as fast and as accurately as he can with his cane. And dodging the attacks the Panda King threw at him. Including the Booming Chop which created an almost blade of fire that singed the tip of Izuku's tail.
Ochaco once again grips Izuku's hand tight as she watches his counterpart dodge the fire. And Izuku barely notices because he also was worried about how the thief would defeat or just survive this fight with the fire commanding panda.
After a few more blows and a crippling strike the knees and head once more, the Panda King falls. "*Cough, cough!* Your skill with that cane, is….. unparalleled. *groan*" Enji says while collapsed on the ground.
"Sly! I did a cross analysis of the metal used in that high tech blasting vehicle. And it turns out, it can only be found in one place: the Krack-Karow volcano in Russia! That's got to be where we'll find the fifth member of the Fiendish Five. So get what you came for and lets get out of here!" Tenya announces as the fight finishes.
Upon seeing how Sly countered and timed his strikes to finally cripple the mad firework artist, cheers were let out. Though some were subdued at the fact of who the counterpart of the Panda King was. With Shoto nodding slightly and hoping this would be the end of the villainous version of his father.
Turtle Tenya's announcement, however, makes more of the teens nervous. Wondering what kind of villain Sly Cooper would be facing in this volcano in his world. While Izuku had shivers of worry still going down his spine.
Sly found the pages not far from the Panda King and looked them over. Monologuing as the screen showed the events. "Retrieving the Panda King's section of the Thievius Raccoonus, gave me a chance to learn about my technically minded ancestor Otto Van Cooper."
The image then showed the mustachioed aviator thief and some of the machines he made. "Not known for his physical dexterity, Otto relied on vehicles to aid him in his criminal endeavors. Armed with his designs, I was sure Riki would be able to make some cool modifications to the team van." This is illustrated by an image of the satellite on the top of said van retracting and being replaced with a turret maned by Sly.
"Hm. Impressive gear and a way to really make the most of what hippo Sato can do." Ida analyzed while wondering what was on the horizon for his counterpart and friends. All Might meanwhile was thinking back on his car, Hercules. And questioning if he should ask Power Loader to add new parts or other possible defensive options to it.
The screen shows Izuku slipping past Melissa down the mountain before carting off the Panda King. "A frustrated Inspector Fox, having missed me coming down the mountain, threw the Panda King in jail. Thus, putting an end to his avalanche protection services, and ensuring the safety of mountain villages throughout China."
A newspaper shows Carmalita with the Panda King behind her. And a headline that reads, "Hot Latin Spitfire, puts Fiery Panda on Ice." Though not without a stab at the fact she still couldn't catch Sly below that.
This time, the girls didn't get upset about the headline referencing Inspector Fox. Instead, they and the rest were glad that Cooper put an end to the dangerous panda's operation. And had a laugh at how Melissa couldn't catch Sly and the papers were taking note of it.
"My gang and I took a little time off and did some shopping in Hong Kong. Thoroughly relaxed we headed home to plan our next move." Sly finishes while thinking about how they stole a rickshaw and a few fruits and vegetables from vendors along the streets of Hong Kong. With Riki pulling the cart, Sly stealing things with his cane, and Tenya sitting in the center looking panicked. Before cutting to the train car once more and then to black.
Snickers were had at how the group decided to spend their time after the mission but they were glad to see the heroic thieves had gotten away and were about to set off on their next mission. "Wonder who that owl is going to be?" Bondo asks while standing to relieve himself.
Monoma makes a comment that it would be someone that 1-A has faced. "After all, we barely fit into this situation. I doubt we will have any real role." And while some were annoyed by how scathing his looks and statements were, most couldn't deny it was probably accurate. For Izuku and All Might though, they each felt an uneasy tingle in their minds about who this final foe would be.
Finally. I'll admit, I've been stuck on a lot of writers block and drained for the last week or two. But I could finally get this finished and out. Next chapter will be the climax and the end of the third day watching these for the students. And thus I'll be able to move onto some new ideas and some possible story introductions. Please review!