Justice Across Space and Time
Chapter 21
Okay, time for Itsuka to try her hand at fighting a true meta. I'm trying to go with her being a little like a Batwoman or just Batman type of fighter with a dash of Iron Fist for how I've changed her. And that of course comes with a bit of crazy, as anyone who has watched or read enough Batman content can attest. Back on point, some of this will come to showing more of how she will fight. As well as the recklessness she is dipping further into. So on with the show.
(No POV)
While Itsuka was a bit excited to fight the villainous true meta, she also felt a touch uneasy. 'Well I was at the start. Now I'm just scared.' Itsuka thought after getting knocked around and into a rock. She opened the fight with a Storm Fist and then a quick couple of Uneru Nami attacks.
But Felicity evaded all of them easily and got in close to punch Itsuka in the face. She groaned and wiped some of the blood from her nose before throwing a small explosive at the villain. And again, the speedster dodged and went in for an attack. Knocking Itsuka back with a highspeed kick.
She just barely blocks in time and is sent spiraling towards a tree. Coughing hard when she impacted. Not to say Felicity came out 100% okay. "OW! Okay, need to be careful on how hard I throw kicks or punches. Got it. Guess that barrier that lets me breath even at high speed doesn't stop everything," she says while high speed hopping on one foot.
Resolute grumbles as it felt like the speedster was bragging (which she was a little) while trying to consider how to fight this strange foe. All while barely dodging, blocking, or strategically taking a number of near lighting fast punches, tackles, and kicks that the speedster hit her with.
The hero threw not just one smoke grenade but tossed out half a dozen more after getting hit with another strong kick. 'Damnit! I can't get enough time to come up with a plan! I need to slow her down for a little while.' Itsuka thinks before bending and then dropping several of her shuriken as she gets further into the tree line of the island. As well as pulling a few thorns shards and splinters from the wood and glass around her.
"This is just dumb! You know you can't beat me! You might be able to handle a quirk user but I'm a true meta and OWWW!" Felicity taunted while running around to clear the smoke. And when she thought she found Resolute's trail, she wound up running across the improvised caltrops the girl had made.
Her shoes might be able to handle some of the extra friction from her speed, but they weren't ready for her to run across the shear number of spikes and thorns that she ran across. "You have gotta be kidding me! Of all things to slow me down?" the speedster grumbled while taking her shoes off.
Her feet were bleeding slightly, but that was quickly repaired thanks to her accelerated healing. At least once she started focusing on the points of injury. "Well, that's just great. Means I have to take her out in one big hit rather than a bunch of small ones like I've been doing. At least she helped me without realizing it."
Itsuka mused these thoughts aloud while looking at the screen on her newly reactivated gadget gauntlets. Turns out that Felicity's electric attacks had the effect of jumpstarting her more technological gear. "No idea how that works but I'm not complaining. Now, I just need to figure out what to do next," she said while trying to move quietly between the trees.
While she was running, there was suddenly a tense feeling on the back of her neck and quickly hid. Just in time to avoid and see Felicity's lightning trail. 'Okay, so I'm starting to pick up on when she's moving around. Or maybe it's a result of all the training?' Resolute thinks before trying to come up with more of a plan.
Though the first part of that involved something she learned from Izuku. Analyzing and categorizing the powers of her foe. Though not without falling into the pattern of seeing her opponent's power a quirk rather than true meta powers. While scowling slightly she thought back on some of her training in the last few months.
(Flashback)
"Categories?" Sahiraah said while working with Aizawa and a few other instructors on improving Itsuka and several of the close quarters types of heroes. Itsuka was at a break and could relax between spars with the other students. During that time, she chose to ask if there were classifications for true metas like there were for quirk users.
"I mean, I used to be a transform type, Pony is a mutant or heteromorph, Bondo is an emitter. In your old world, did the power types like John's or others fall into something like that?" Itsuka asked while some explosions were going off in the background.
Sahiraah hummed before saying, "yes and no. The no is mostly around a different factor to the quirk categories. Namely the fact that most true metas are kind of all of them at the same time."
When she was given a confused look, the other world scientist explained. Pointing to Izuku first as he was one of the earliest discovered true metas of their world. "He doesn't even realize it, but he has an aspect that is always on. Just like a heteromorph. Izuku is constantly absorbing energy as he moves and walks. Even his heartbeat creates a small amount of energy for him to absorb."
Itsuka was surprised by that description, but still could put together the rest of the aspect that Izuku filled. "He can emit his energy in a variety of ways, and it does seem like it bolsters him a bit as he uses or absorbs more. Not just with that whole lightning aura thing he puts out. He's got those lines of energy, and his muscles seem to bulge a bit as he uses more power. It's minor, but it is still a transformation."
"Exactly. Then there's ones like Luiz Lima who's initial abilities seem more akin to a quirk, with his size variability powers. Though from what some have reported, he's apparently a bit stronger than the average person in base form. Compare that to Padre Pedro who can generate barriers around himself that can hold weight and making a giant barrier of his body."
The martial artist let out a sigh before thinking about each of the true metas that she and others had met during their first year of school. Hoshino Kazuhiko could emit and turn into radio waves and would emit them even when he wasn't trying to attack. Nobasu could shapeshift into almost anyone and even expand his body. The twin villains with the League. With one having powers that could control earth and turn it into lava and the other's let them drain and use the energies of another person. The two true meta psychics she had met with their own impressive scope and variety of abilities. And the boy with gravity control of himself and even other objects.
"Not as many random powers when it comes to true metas I'm noticing. Nothing like Bondo or Mineta's where they seem more geared toward capturing people. Or a few villains I've heard of who need weird things to activate their powers. Like being aroused." Itsuka noted before asking if there was anything else that worked to understand true metas.
Sahiraah hummed for a moment as screams and more explosions were heard in the training area. As well as crashes and various grunts of pain. "Well we tended to focus on powerset/types in a different way. For example, Izuku and John would be defined as Flying Bricks because of how they can get around and how tough and strong they are," she finally said after thinking for a few minutes.
Noting that they were actually dependent on what empowered them to be strong. John's various energy sources, Izuku's kinetic energy, even Marcus's gravity powers were something he absorbed.
"Shapeshifters are more dependent on their physical body, and if you can make them inert in some way, they lose most of their advantages. There is one class of powers though that are both hard and easy to fight. If you know how they work. And those are…."
(Flashback end)
'Speedsters.' Itsuka thought to herself as she listened and watched as Felicity kept running through the woods. Ruminating about how their powers work and issues they have when using their powers. Lead being that they tend to fight in straight lines and have habits when it comes to how they run. "So to speak anyway. If she's learned how to do that whole EMP attack, maybe she's figured out enough of how to really use her powers." Itsuka thought aloud before setting a handful of traps around the woods. As well as something else.
Felicity zig-zagged through the trees and bushes over a dozen times looking for Itsuka. "Didn't expect to fight a ninja girl. What's your quirk? Camouflage or some conditional invisibility?" she asked after finally slowing down. But still maintaining her accelerated reaction speed.
Itsuka smirked slightly before setting off some traps. The explosive ones didn't work because of Felicity's heightened perception. But there were others mixed in with the explosions. "Don't I wish! The truth is, I don't have a quirk anymore. I lost it after the Kamino incident," she called out while checking some details with her guantlets.
"Really? Oh, I think I might have heard of you in some rumors. The hero student who wouldn't quit. Though I'd heard you started using some crazy gear that let you fire energy beams or something." Felicity said while quietly pitying and respecting the young hero. 'No powers, no quirk, and she's still standing up to me and even Volcano. That is some serious moxie,' she thought before dodging another couple of traps.
The young heroine meanwhile was tracking Felicity's patterns and speed as she ran through the woods. Nodding before prodding the woman on her reasons for turning to a villain. "Who did you lose that made you want to go down this path? What pushed you to do this?" Itsuka asked while watching the patterns of how her foe ran.
But the snort and laugh that came next surprised her. "I guess that would make sense. Considering what happened to most of the other true meta villains. They've all lost family and similar because of this boring crapsack world that tells us we have no worth. No value because we weren't born with quirks. But it's not like that for ME!"
As Felicity was saying this she struck at an area she thought Itsuka's voice was coming from. Only to destroy a microspeaker instead. 'Clever girl.' Felicity thought while shaking her hand from the impact.
Itsuka meanwhile was shocked and a bit concerned. "So you're saying you didn't lose anything? You just didn't like being looked down on? Why not become a true meta hero or vigilante? Not like most heroes could catch you."
"True that. Every single "hero" who I've come across has been painfully slow. Not to mention underwhelming when it comes to creativity. They've tried trapping me like you have, but I'm still here and they're in the hospital or in the dirt. As for the hero schtick….. well frankly that's just boring."
The villain's words struck a different cord in Itsuka. Mostly of anger, but now her curiosity was also peeked. "You're kidding right? You're doing all of this because you're bored with this world? What would your parents say?"
The snort from the villain again incised Itsuka as Felicity mentioned she didn't really care anymore. "Not like they were bad or anything, but…. Well no one expected anything of me because I didn't have a quirk. Had a boring, practically redundant job and existence. And then when I got my powers, I wanted to do like just like all of self-centered pieces of shit who were born with quirks: I wanted to play around with my powers! And becoming a hero, sure that would have made me stand out and shown plenty of them. But where's the challenge in that right now?"
Her point of calling everyone who had a quirk self-centered initially angered Resolute. But she realized the woman was right. "We can mess around with them as kids. Get to play and look forward to doing the possible hero thing as we age. And then get to show off or use our powers with reckless abandon if we take that path." Itsuka says while thinking about all the times she goofed around with her own quirk with her friends. Doing intimidating shows of janken, fanning herself and others to cool down in the summer, pretending to fly, etc.
"But me? I'm basically like all those idiots who were told their powers were dangerous or unsavory or things like that. You heroes and the commission celebrate the obviously heroic powers and types. And that just leave those who were stuck with lame, or otherwise ridiculous powers to stew in wanting to use them while others were lucky enough to hit your stupid genetic lottery!"
As Itsuka leaned back against the trunk of the tree she was in, she felt herself starting to laugh. Growing to an almost belly laugh as she gently facepalmed. Felicity smiled while sprinting around the brush before asking, "is it really that funny? And should you really be talking with an enemy like this?"
"Well let's just say I definitely get where you're coming from now. And I also think you're just as idiotic as those you mock. You're doing all of this for fun, a challenge, something to get your blood pumping. But all you'll get in a beatdown!" Resolute says while noting the way her foe preferred to run and dodge. Before launching a few tools with her gauntlets and then throwing more near the base of the tree she was in.
Felicity took notice of the first few rockets that headed her way and sped off. But the barrage of explosions didn't seem to let up and felt herself getting annoyed by the constant "ka-booms!" going off around and behind her.
While letting off a little electricity after another bomb blew up just barely behind her, she shouted, "okay this is just getting annoying! And where were you keeping a AAAHH!" As she had been running and looking for the source of the attacks, she suddenly felt her legs get tangled up. Causing her to roll at high speed.
Right into a new technique of Itsuka's. "Bō fuku: Omoi tsuki!" she says while taking a solid stance and focusing her ki into her outstretched hand. Right as Felicity's stomach is right in front of her, she quickly shifts into a powerful one-inch-punch. Knocking the wind completely out of her foe and sending her spiraling backwards with a ki blast chaser.
As the speedster crashes through a tree, she feels a mixture of frustration and respect for the young heroine. While she's leaning back against the fallen tree next to her, she asks Itsuka for her name. "Call me, Resolute. Because that is what I intend to stay in my goal to be a hero."
"Not really what I wanted to know, but respect. As for me, the name's Felicity Shroud. Or at least that's my name now," the speedster said as Itsuka walked over and cuffed the woman. Sending up a flare to alert the officers on the island. But Felicity smiled as the girl walked away. 'Maybe it'll be worth hanging around Japan after all. But I need to get away from these…. Wait. I think I'll wait to escape. No point if there's no challenge~!'
While Itsuka was taking care of the electrifying true meta, Ojiro had started to wake up. "Damn. Guess I didn't get my chance to jump in. But how did you manage that?" he asked after being helped up by Toru. The girl had been taking care of him after making sure Volcano was secure.
"She may be a true meta, but she's just as vulnerable to a common weakness as any of us: overconfidence. I was able to notice a pattern in the way she ran while tracking her electricity trails. I just used that to lead her into a trap. Now then. There's just one more to deal with."
Back in the ruins the looter villain was getting impatient. "What's taking her so long? You'd think someone who moves as fast as she does would be able to get back quickly," he grumbled while making a few pieces of stone crumble. "Oh she would and could, if there hadn't been other things occupying her time and mind."
The man turned to see Itsuka standing in the corridor with a confident stance. The villain was ready to bring the ceiling down to get away, but Ojiro wouldn't let that happen. A solid blow from his tail, and that put an end to the matter. While Toru was whistling at the sight of the treasure he had been looking for.
"So, what do we do with that treasure?" she asked as they brought the looter out for the police to arrest. Itsuka looked down and admitted that it did belong to the islanders. "Though I do wish I could take a little of it. It won't be cheap replacing all of the explosives I used today," she said with an uneasy chuckle.
As they all met up with the officers who were loading Volcano and Dusty Ash into maidens for transport, Felicity was being dragged in as well. "Gotta admit Resolute. You impressed me with how you fought back. You didn't try to make a big show. You just used your head to win instead. However, you might consider looking for cuffs that can hold me!"
Right as Felicity said this, she electrocuted the officers dragging her to the truck. Increasing the amount in her hands to melt the handcuffs off. Her legs were still bound though, so the police and young heroes thought they could handle her. And she surprised them with high speed hopping towards a few with helmets on before giving them over a dozen hits to the head. Even jumping and standing on her hands to move around and sweep the legs of a few more officers.
And to finally escape, she launched herself at Volcano who was still being loaded. Kicking him in the stomach to unleash an involuntary burst of magma from his hand. Melting the binding on her. "Ah. There we go," she said while stretching a bit and showing off her legs once more. Though her hoodie had been set on fire and her shirt burned so she was left with little more than a sports bra.
With a wink and spark directed Itsuka's way, she said, "looks like I'll get to have some fun after all. See ya later, Resolute!" And with a change of purple black lighting, Felicity took off at high speed for the water. And kept on running for mainland Japan.
"Well that's just great. I thought she was just an emitter," the head officer said. Itsuka let out a sigh and said, "nope. She's a different kind of dangerous. A true meta speedster. Who seems to be a bit of an adrenaline junkie/seeker. Felicity Shroud." Upon hearing that name Toru and a few of the men sputtered.
When asked what surprised them, Toru was the first to get up in her face. Saying, "Felicity Shroud is one of the hottest models in Europe! Since she was quirkless, she could show off styles for most people and made headlines as a proponent of heteromorphic and quirkless tolerance. To think she was a true meta!"
Itsuka's face meanwhile was flat upon hearing what her foe's former occupation was. 'Great. So I'm back to dealing with a crazy model. Well at least this one respects me more as an opponent rather than just how I look,' she thought while thinking of Uwabami.
Who suddenly sneezed in her office. "Ma'am are you catching a cold?" a young man asked. Said young man being Izuku. Who was currently with Melissa and Ochaco in their own hero uniforms. "Oh it's nothing. Probably just one of my admirers talking about me. Now then~!" Uwabami said before looking over the trio of students.
Elsewhere on the mainland, Felicity had made her way up onto a beach and then up a set of hills to overlook the sea. "Hmm… I should have gotten better shoes. Seems these can't keep up with my full speed and power for long periods of time. Let alone those caltrops that Resolute got me with."
"If you need better footwear, I believe we might be able to help with that." Felicity turned to see a young woman a little shorter than her with pink hair, a long skirt, and a stadium jacket and another who was quite a bit shorter, with cropped blue hair and impressive muscles. Natalie Sosaku introduced herself as well as Emma before addressing the former model. "And how would you like to fight more heroes too?" Natalie said with a smirk and a twinkle in her eye.
I know that's probably a bit of a lame type of villain, but I wanted something a bit more out there for a new major villain. And going with a dangerous British model, seemed like a serious deviation from what most would expect. Plus it ties back into the matter with Uwabami and Itsuka's annoyance at her former mentor. Not to mention the next short TUM arc for Izuku and the girls.
Also, it gets me a bit closer to the eventual MVA arc. With some even more serious power on the villain side and danger for the future. Please review! And maybe say if you have a thought about any other villains for their histories. Help get some creativity flowing.