It had been a week since the U.A. Sports Festival, and Izuku stood in the workshop, staring at the prototype of Cerebro, a device he had envisioned for months. With the help of Mei Hatsume and Power Loader, the prototype had finally come to life. The device resembled a helmet covered with cables, which snaked outward, connecting to a power supply and a large parabolic antenna mounted on the roof of the Hero Support Department.
Izuku stood at the center of the room, adjusting the fit of the helmet on his head. Mei, ever excited about her "babies," was grinning from ear to ear, bouncing slightly on her feet. Power Loader stood nearby with a calm but interested expression, monitoring the equipment, while Principal Nezu, the ever-curious headmaster, watched from the side, his sharp eyes assessing everything.
"Alright, Izuku," Power Loader said, stepping closer to the control panel. "Everything's set. You ready for the first test?"
Izuku nodded, though he felt a slight nervousness creeping up. This was the moment of truth. The idea of extending his telepathic range to cover a 200 km radius was exciting, but there were so many unknowns. What if the device overloaded his brain? What if it didn't work at all?
"Okay, starting now," Power Loader announced, flipping a switch. The hum of the equipment powering up filled the room.
The moment the Cerebro prototype activated, Izuku felt an immediate surge of mental energy. His mind expanded, reaching out far beyond the workshop. He closed his eyes, focusing as his consciousness stretched outwards like an invisible net. At first, it was overwhelming—the flood of thoughts and presences from thousands of people within the massive 200 km radius bombarded his senses.
Izuku clenched his fists, steadying himself as Mei leaned closer, her voice filled with curiosity. "How is it? Can you feel anything?"
"I... I can sense them," Izuku murmured, his voice strained. "Thousands of people... all around Musutafu and beyond. Their presence is clear, but controlling or focusing on individual minds at this range is difficult. It's like trying to listen to every conversation in a crowded stadium at once."
Nezu, who had been silently observing, tilted his head. "Can you pinpoint specific individuals, Izuku?"
Izuku took a deep breath and attempted to narrow his focus, searching for familiar minds. The room fell silent as he concentrated, filtering through the sea of consciousness. Slowly, he began to sense the minds of people he knew—his classmates, the teachers, the citizens scattered across the city.
"I can find people I recognize," Izuku replied, his voice steadying. "It's just... it's hard to control. I can feel them, but it takes a lot of mental effort to lock onto just one person."
Power Loader raised an eyebrow, glancing at Nezu. "And beyond 200 km?"
Izuku pushed his mind further, testing the limits of the device. As his mental reach expanded past the 200 km mark, the individual thoughts began to blur. At around 220 km, he could still detect the faint presence of people, but he could no longer hear their thoughts or control them.
"I can feel the presence of people beyond 200 km," Izuku explained, "but I can't influence them or read their minds. Past 250 km, there's nothing—like hitting a mental wall."
Mei, looking impressed, punched the air. "That's amazing! But... there's gotta be a way to push it even further. Maybe we could increase the power supply? Or tweak the antenna?" Her mind was already racing with ideas for improvements.
Nezu stepped forward, his small paws clasped behind his back. "Izuku, this is remarkable progress. However, you must also consider the strain on your mind. Using this device at full capacity for extended periods could pose serious risks."
Izuku nodded, already feeling a slight mental fatigue from the test. "You're right. I can feel it already... the strain. I think this will need a lot more refinement before it's fully usable."
Nezu smiled warmly. "That's why we're here. U.A. will provide you with the resources and guidance you need to perfect this device. But remember—control is more important than power."
Izuku glanced over at the equipment again, taking a deep breath. "I understand. I'll work on improving the mental filtering. I don't want to endanger myself or anyone else by pushing too far too quickly."
Power Loader patted him on the shoulder. "Take it one step at a time, kid. You've already done something impressive here."
Meanwhile at Hosu city, iida, filled with rage and desperation, charged at Stain, determined to avenge his brother. However, Stain moved with terrifying precision, easily dodging Iida's attacks. The Hero Killer sidestepped Iida's blows and landed a swift kick to his head, knocking Iida's helmet off in the process.
Blinded by anger, Iida activated his quirk, Engine, and rushed at Stain again. His speed was remarkable, but Stain anticipated every move, his reflexes sharp as he evaded the frenzied onslaught. With a calculated strike, Stain slashed Iida's face, drawing blood.
Before Iida could react, Stain's tongue flicked out, tasting Iida's blood. In an instant, Iida's body froze, his muscles locking up. He stood paralyzed, helpless before the Hero Killer.
Stain, now with Iida immobilized, turned his attention to Manual, the pro hero who had already been subdued earlier. Manual lay battered on the ground, barely conscious, but alive. Stain approached him, his deadly intent clear as he raised his sword, ready to finish the job.
As Stain prepares to finish off Manual, Shoto Todoroki and Nara arrive at the scene. Shoto immediately unleashes a burst of ice to block Stain's path, while Nara swiftly uses his shadow quirk to extend his shadow towards the villain.
"You're not getting away with this!" Shoto declares, as his ice spreads, creating barriers to protect the fallen heroes.
Nara's shadow snakes across the ground, aiming to immobilize Stain, but the Hero Killer is quick. With a swift movement, he leaps away, narrowly avoiding the grasp of Nara's shadow.
"Stay focused, Nara!" Shoto shouts, his left side beginning to heat up as flames flicker from his hand, ready to launch another attack.
Nara nods, concentrating as his shadow expands again. "I've got him this time," he mutters. The two of them prepare to face Stain together, determined to stop the Hero Killer and save Iida and the others.
Due to night time and in the alleyway, there is no direct light, Nara's shadow quirk struggles to be fully effective. The lack of light limits how far his shadow can extend, and Stain quickly takes advantage of this.
"You rely on your shadows," Stain sneers, "but in the darkness, you're weak."
Nara grits his teeth, frustrated by the limitations. "Damn, the shadows aren't long enough," he mutters under his breath. Despite the dim surroundings, he tries to manipulate what little shadows there are, but the reduced range leaves him vulnerable.
Shoto, noticing Nara's difficulty, quickly switches tactics. He raises his hand, and instead of attacking Stain directly, he creates a wall of ice behind him and lights it up with fire, illuminating the area around them. "Use this!" he shouts, providing the light Nara needs.
Nara's shadow quirk surges forward with renewed strength, the light from Shoto's flames extending the reach of his shadow. With precision, Nara directs his shadow to grab hold of Stain, trying to immobilize the villain before he can make another move.
Stain, with his unmatched agility, swiftly dodges Nara's shadows. His movements are precise, slipping between the gaps of the creeping darkness with ease. "Your tricks won't work on me," he taunts, his eyes sharp and focused on the battlefield.
Nara grits his teeth, trying to adjust his strategy, but Stain's reflexes are too quick. Every time Nara's shadows reach out to grab him, Stain is already one step ahead, moving like a shadow himself. "He's too fast," Nara mutters, frustration mounting.
Meanwhile, Shoto keeps his distance, watching Stain's movements carefully. He knows they need to work together to find an opening. "We need to corner him," Shoto calls to Nara, preparing another attack.
Stain, sensing the shift in their coordination, narrows his eyes. "Let's see how long you two can keep up." He readies his blades, prepared for whatever they throw at him next.
Shoto quickly unleashes a barrage of ice attacks, sharp pillars of frost racing toward Stain. The Hero Killer continues to dodge, narrowly avoiding the freezing blasts, but the cold forces him to move more cautiously as the ground beneath him becomes slippery with ice.
"Iida, are you okay?" Shoto shouts while keeping his focus on Stain, hoping to slow him down enough to give Nara a chance with his shadows.
Iida, still paralyzed from Stain's quirk, manages to call out in warning. "Be careful! Stain's quirk activates when he tastes your blood! If he cuts you and licks it, you'll be frozen like I am!"
Nara, hearing Iida's words, glances at Shoto. "We can't let him get close enough to land a hit!" Nara calls out. He adjusts his approach, trying to maneuver his shadows to trap Stain without risking direct confrontation.
Shoto nods, understanding the danger. "We'll keep him at a distance then." He sends another wave of ice, this time aiming to box Stain in, forcing him toward a corner where Nara's shadows can reach him. The cold night air amplifies the freezing effect, making Stain's movements slower as frost begins to form on his boots.
But Stain remains unfazed. With a fierce grin, he slices through a pillar of ice, his blade glinting in the moonlight. "You think distance will save you?" he snarls. "You're only delaying the inevitable!"
As Iida suddenly feels his body respond again, the effects of Stain's quirk wearing off, he springs into action with a burst of speed from his engines. The sound of the roaring engines echoes through the alley as he charges at full force toward Stain.
Stain, caught off guard by Iida's sudden recovery, attempts to dodge, but Iida's swift movement is too fast for him to evade entirely. With a powerful kick, Iida slams his leg into Stain's face, sending him reeling back. Blood sprays from Stain's nose and mouth as the force of the blow leaves a deep cut across his cheek.
Stain stumbles, momentarily dazed, his hand instinctively reaching up to touch the blood dripping from his face. His eyes widen, not in fear, but in surprise. "You..." he mutters, glaring at Iida with newfound fury. The Hero Killer tightens his grip on his blade, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand.
"That was for my brother!" Iida yells, his eyes filled with determination as he lands back on his feet, ready for another strike. This time, the tables have turned—Stain is wounded, and Iida is filled with the drive to avenge Ingenium.
Shoto and Nara take the opportunity to close in on Stain, both recognizing that he's been weakened. Stain looks between the three of them, wiping more blood from his face, his expression filled with a dangerous mix of anger and admiration.
"You all... fight with purpose," Stain growls. "But purpose alone isn't enough to defeat me!" He prepares for another attack, but now, it's three against one.
Shoto, Iida, and Nara coordinate their attacks, steadily pushing Stain into a corner. The Hero Killer, though agile, starts showing signs of being overwhelmed by their teamwork. But just as it seems like they might have him trapped, Stain suddenly darts forward, quicker than they expect, and manages to get close to Nara. In a swift motion, his blade grazes Nara's face, drawing blood.
With a sinister grin, Stain leaps back, avoiding Nara's shadows with a practiced ease. As he licks the blood from his blade, expecting to paralyze Nara, his smirk grows even wider.
But then something strange happens. Stain's body seizes up. His limbs lock in place, and he finds himself unable to move. His eyes widen in confusion as he frantically searches for the cause. There's no shadow binding him, no sign that Nara's quirk is at work.
"What... what's happening?" Stain growls, struggling to regain control of his body.
Nara, who had been standing still, wipes what appears to be blood from his face. He looks at Stain, a small smile on his lips. "You think you cut me? You didn't."
Stain's confusion deepens. "What do you mean?" he snarls.
Nara continues, his voice calm and composed. "That wasn't my blood you licked. It was yours."
Stain's eyes flicker with realization and shock. Nara explains, "When Iida struck you earlier, I used my shadows to take a bit of your blood without you noticing. When you thought you cut me just now, I used that moment to smear your own blood on your blade and tricked you into thinking you'd paralyzed me."
Stain's face contorts with fury as the full weight of the trick hits him. He had been outsmarted. He had paralyzed himself by licking his own blood, believing it was Nara's.
Nara steps forward, his shadow quirk swirling around him as he speaks. "You never even hit me. I made it look like you did. But in reality, you were the one who fell into the trap."
Shoto seizes the moment, sending a blast of ice to freeze Stain's feet to the ground, ensuring he can't escape. Iida, seeing the opening, rushes forward with his engines flaring and delivers a powerful kick to Stain's torso, sending him crashing against the wall, his sword flying out of his hand.
Stain, now completely immobilized and defeated, glares up at the trio. His face twists into a mixture of rage and disbelief.
"You... damn... heroes..." he mutters, his voice filled with venom, yet tinged with a grudging respect for being outplayed.
Iida, standing tall with his friends beside him, looks down at the once-feared Hero Killer. "This is the end for you, Stain."
With Stain defeated, Shoto, Iida, and Nara take a moment to catch their breath, their teamwork and quick thinking having brought down one of the most dangerous villains they'd ever faced.
Endeavor arrived first, followed closely by other pro heroes, their expressions serious as they observed the aftermath of the fight. They found Stain immobilized, thanks to Nara's quick thinking, and the students—Shoto, Iida, and Nara—worn out but standing strong. Despite their victory, the pro heroes exchanged silent glances and agreed not to let word spread that Stain had been taken down by a group of interning students.
As they prepared to escort Stain out of the alley, a sudden disturbance erupted from above. The night sky was filled with the ominous flapping of wings, and before they could react, numerous Nomu descended upon the city, causing havoc. The chaos was instantaneous—people screamed, buildings shook, and the air buzzed with panic.
One of the Nomu, quicker than the others, lunged at Shoto. It grabbed him, pulling him into the sky, before Endeavor could act. With a roar of fury, Endeavor launched a fiery blast, managing to strike the Nomu and send it crashing down, releasing Shoto just in time. Shoto landed safely, but the damage was done. The other Nomu began spreading chaos, attacking civilians and causing widespread destruction.
Endeavor, alongside the other heroes, braced themselves to respond. The situation was growing dire, and the civilians were in danger. But just as they were about to move, something unexpected happened.
Suddenly, all the Nomu in the sky stopped mid-flight. One by one, they began plummeting to the ground, their bodies going limp as if some invisible force had seized control of them. The heroes froze in disbelief, watching as the chaos seemingly came to an abrupt halt.
A telepathic message echoed in their minds. The voice, calm yet urgent, instructed them to act quickly. "I've temporarily subdued the Nomu. You must secure them immediately. I cannot hold them for long. If I release them, they will resume their rampage. These Nomu are programmed with commands to cause destruction, and I can't alter that command from this distance."
The heroes exchanged bewildered looks but didn't hesitate. They moved swiftly, securing the immobilized Nomu before they could become a threat again. Each hero worked in unison, binding and restraining the creatures as best as they could, while civilians were evacuated from the area.
Once the last of the Nomu were secured, another telepathic message rang in their minds. "Thank you. The Nomu are now contained."
The heroes, still dazed from the sudden turn of events, scanned the skies and the streets, trying to figure out the source of the telepathic intervention. But there was no sign of anyone nearby. Whoever had just saved the city from further destruction had remained hidden, leaving only a lingering sense of mystery in the minds of every hero present.
At U.A., Nezu, Power Loader, and Mei watched anxiously as Izuku conducted the first trial of the Cerebro prototype. Izuku wore the helmet, its thick cables connected to the surrounding machinery, and the large antenna on the roof of the support department workshop provided extra range. The room was tense, filled with anticipation as the experiment began.
Suddenly, Izuku spoke, his voice tense but focused. "There's an anomaly in Hosu City... multiple Nomu have appeared."
Nezu, normally composed, immediately perked up. Izuku explained that he could detect the Nomu because their minds were different from regular people's—simple-minded, driven by one purpose: destruction. "Because of that," he continued, "I can easily tell which ones are Nomu."
Hosu City was quite far from U.A., and Izuku hadn't fully developed his telepathic abilities to pinpoint and control individuals at such distances. But due to the unique nature of the Nomu's minds, Izuku was able to seize control of them, stopping the dozens of Nomu attacking Hosu City. "I can hold them... but not for long," Izuku said quietly, his eyes closed from the strain. "I... can't override their core commands from this distance."
Nezu and Power Loader exchanged glances and quickly turned on a live news broadcast. On the screen, they could see the chaos in Hosu City—Nomu littered the streets, motionless, having suddenly stopped their rampage. The heroes on-site appeared confused but swiftly moved to secure the incapacitated Nomu, one by one.
"I've already sent a telepathic message to the heroes in Hosu City," Izuku said, his voice strained but steady. "I told them to secure the Nomu as quickly as possible."
Nezu and Power Loader turned to him, surprised.
"I still can't fully differentiate who's a hero and who isn't from this distance," Izuku explained, wiping the sweat from his brow. "But I focused on the people who weren't panicking. Most experienced heroes won't lose their composure like the others, so I'm hoping I targeted the right ones."
Nezu nodded in approval, impressed by Izuku's quick thinking.
As the situation in Hosu stabilized, Izuku let out a deep breath, removed the Cerebro helmet, and immediately collapsed, unconscious. Mei gasped, "Izuku!" while Power Loader caught him before he hit the ground.
"He overexerted himself," Nezu muttered. "Cerebro isn't perfected yet, and controlling so many Nomu at once must have put an immense strain on him."
Without hesitation, they rushed Izuku to the infirmary, where Recovery Girl began treating him. As Izuku lay unconscious, Nezu, Mei, and Power Loader stood outside the room, exchanging worried glances. They knew Izuku had made tremendous progress in understanding and controlling his quirk, but this event proved that Cerebro needed further refinement—otherwise, the risk to Izuku's life could be catastrophic.