ALRIGHT!
Before I start the chapter, I do have one quick thing to say: I'm transferring the twitter account's keys over to the editor.
The reason for this, in a nutshell, is that I just don't enjoy the idea of keeping up with a social media account and just posting on it in general. That's why ever since the hiatus that place has been a desolate wasteland.
But, now that we talked, Xebath is going to be providing updates of chapters and on delays if they happen. He's going to be posting… relatively frequently?
To be honest, I don't know how he's going to manage it, but it SHOULD be more than what I've been doing with the site.
The twitter(or, I guess it's X now) page for this story is: HeroForceFanfic
In either case, without further ado, here comes a lesson in vanity!
"Hero…"
Stain let his chipped sword chafe the ground, letting out an irritating screech.
"You all sicken me."
Those were the first words to escape from the infamous culprit, who had killed 17 of his fellow heroes, and hurt 22 beyond recovery.
Surrounded by the walls of two skyscrapers, the sound of civilian life in the streets, and the stench of urban life filled with exhaust, three figures were at a stand-off.
To say that Ingenium's nerves were shot was a desperate understatement. However Bigshot, the third person currently at the scene who was one of his sidekicks, was lying next to the villain.
His breathing was labored and clearly he was bleeding, but… he was also still alive.
"The feeling is beyond mutual." Ingenium replied with absolute venom, as he eyed up the criminal from head to toe.
Stain, the Hero Killer… He was an intimidating, hunched over, muscular man with black hair and no nose. As for an outfit, the current sights matched the reports one to one. A white cloth for a facemask, blood red scarf, but most importantly armed to the teeth with blades, a sword and all other kinds of sharp objects.
"I've read your reports. Taking apart your victims, injuring them beyond recovery, forcing them to retire, and even…" The pro-hero said, taking his guard.
As his mouth opened, Ingenium got a look at his extraordinarily long tongue too.
"If you've read them, you should know a sidekick is never the end of my excursions."
He raised up his sword and waved it, letting the still not coagulated blood splatter onto the ground.
Ingenium could see his eyes narrow.
"You were fishing for me then?"
The other hand of Stain reached for a dagger next to his torso.
"Anyone who would come running for the glory of defeating me would suffice." Stain responded. "You fakes are all alike…"
"Fakes." Ingenium took note of what he said. The survivors had all hummed the same tunes from their beds.
"He called me a fake."
"One without ideals…"
"I was an offering for a better world."
The pro-hero shook his head, as both of them heard the engines rage in determination, just like the hero himself.
And wordlessly, the battle began, with the swing of a chipped sword.
Ingenium ducked down, before increasing the output, trying to go for a turbo powered body blow.
However, Stain was crafty. He dashed back, and carried the battle into the air. He bounced around the two walls that surrounded him, like a spring!
Ingenium's eyes tried to keep up, but it was a pointless effort.
Even incorporating the fire escape, the killer could hold onto crazy levels of momentum.
Ingenium thought about joining him but refrained. Right now, he needed a solid surface to run on–
Right behind him–!
As his last move got him on top of the fire escape, Stain jumped down, coming down with his katana in both hands!
However, Ingenium increased the output instead, letting the blue fire from his elbows burn the hero killer!
"Ahhhhhh! Hsssssssss…." Stain was tossed back. The second he looked up though, a kick connected with his head!
"Gotta thank Helen." Ingenium remarked. "Fighting against an opponent nimbler than myself… Even though it was twice, it really took the edge off from just chasing petty criminals or knights–"
Stain's red eyes were still wide open. Blood came down from his forehead, but he wasn't done.
Grabbing another dagger, he took a swing.
However, Ingenium didn't back away.
Letting the battle be in close-quarters, Ingenium felt the blade's uneven edge skid across his armor. In return… he landed a punch.
Stain reeled. He landed another one!
And again!
And again!
He had to thank Kevin too, as he was picking up some stuff from his fighting style. Planting yourself to the ground, and using raw strength instead of minor blows. In Kevin's case it was his metal fists, but for him, it was the blows imbued in his overdrive blue fire.
The criminal wasn't done. As he dodged one, Ingenium's response came swift. He gave him another dose of the blue flame from his elbow!
"That's for Bigshot!"
Even with the fire though, Stain was still alive enough. He headbutted Ingenium.
Reaching back, he then grabbed his katana.
"DIE, FAKE!"
Out of options, Ingenium used his arm to block!
The armor dented… and the white of his outfit got dirty with red.
It was Ingenium's turn to hiss. With his engines still roaring though, he quickly abandoned the hand-to-hand strategy and got some distance.
Instantly, he then turned back and sucker-punched Stain's shoulder!
*BOOM!*
Without wasting a second, he retreated. Going around, dashing, he continued the hit-and-run tactics.
However, as Stain threw a blade, the rusty fire escape got unhooked and slammed on his helmet… making him fall and skid across the ground as his engines continued to work.
*Cough!* *Cough!*
Stain drew his katana again… but his ears perked up. He sheated it back and jumped up to the fire escape.
"Oh no…"
Feeling out the wall with one palm and five fingers, Ingenium started to get back up. Stain's eyes watched him, and as the hero got his feet under him, the killer also leaped up to the top of the building.
"The only place you'll be going now, Stain…" Ingenium panted, but both his engines and the fire in his eyes burned bright. "It has three squares a day… and lights out at 8:00!"
Blue fire came out of his engines, as he leaped from one side of the building to the other, getting up on the fire escape, and rocketing to the top of the building from there.
He could see him moving around like a shadow, and Ingenium followed.
He felt himself get light headed, there were a number of times he swerved, but he never lost his target.
How long he traveled Ingenium didn't know.
As he leaped once more though… Stain threw one of his smaller knives, and stabbed Ingenium's foot.
"Ahhh!"
Mid-air, he stopped and fell down.
His helmet cracked as he hit the wall… but thankfully, the trash in the garbage container broke his fall.
"Oww…"
His head spun, as Stain landed next to him.
"This should be far enough." He heard the killer remark. With a surge of energy, Ingenium did a somersault and landed back on the ground, on his feet, hands raised.
"I'm…" Ingenium clutched his arm. "I'm not done yet."
His dad… mom… Tenya…
For the sake of them he wouldn't fall.
Stain seemed impressed. "You are a lively one…"
"I get that. A lot." Ingenium threw another punch, however just like he had done before, Stain kicked him with the iron soles of his shoes, destroying his mask.
"However, it doesn't matter."
*Cough!*
Ingenium clutched his arm, continuing to cough, almost like a broken rotor trying to work again.
*Cough!* *Cough!*
However, Stain raised his dagger… and licked the blood on it.
Instantly, the convulsions and the coughing stopped. He couldn't move from where he had fallen.
"I…"
The dagger was placed back in its sheathe… as the edge of the katana descended in front of his open eyes.
"Whatever that is worth, you fought the best out of any other fake I came across." Stain remarked.
Ingenium wasn't done. Though his body had stopped, his mind continued to try going through every solution.
If only he could reach to his back… maybe the rifle Kevin gave could help… or the badge on his hip. He could use it to call for hel–
"Your allies are searching an empty scene." Stain said. "As soon as I let the sidekick radio for you, I knew whoever arrived would be fighting for time."
He pressed the katana to his chest.
"Now, we are tens of blocks away."
"Damn…" Ingenium gritted his teeth.
Stain grabbed the katana with both hands and lifted it up. "Perish… for a more just world."
Ingenium's breath hitched, but he remained strong. There was only one option now!
As his wounds continued to cost him blood, he looked at the killer who assigned himself to be his grim reaper.
Ingenium looked him in the eye.
"What would a hero killer like you know about justice?"
Stain shook his head. "A cog in the system like you couldn't comprehend it… or rather, you don't need to."
He raised the sword higher.
However, this time, Ingenium solemnly and fearlessly narrowed his eyes.
"Humor me."
Stain perplexedly raised an eyebrow…
There was no fear.
"That word you like to throw around so much…" Ingenium said.
"Fake…" The hero distastefully spat it out. "Why would you use it… for heroes?"
Ben 10: Hero Force
Chapter 29
A Lesson in Vanity
"IT IS TIME FOR THE LAST OF THE PRELIMINARY MATCHES!" It was announced from the commentary booths. Cementoss had created a ring before the whole thing got rolling, and… well, some students were lucky enough to be the ones beating it in.
"ON ONE SIDE, WE HAVE THE CREATION BEFORE DESTRUCTION, MOMO YAOYOROZU!"
With one hand over her elbow, Yaomomo stepped to the tournament arena. Ashido cheered from the ground below, as did many others.
"Good luck, Yaomomo!"
"Take her down!"
"You got this!"
"AND ON THE OTHER, THE GHOSTLY ESPER HERSELF, REIKO YANAGI!"
The cheers of 1-B covered the air this time.
"Yanagi, quirk: poltergeist…" Yaoyorozu took up her battle stance, both arms and legs slightly bent, with the right ones extended towards the front.
"Tokage had told me a little in preparation for the cavalry. If I remain conservative with what I create, she shouldn't have any ammunition. However…"
Her eyes narrowed.
"I can't afford to rely on that, and underestimate her."
"Remember listeners!" Present Mic said. "I'm sure you remember but I'll run through the rules one more time. Going down, having 10 counted, falling out of the ring, OR crying uncle are all grounds for a loss! Of course, ANYTHING life-threatening is crap, so we have our two diligent staff members spectating!"
Midnight winked as she posed, while Cementoss just put on a pleased smile and waved from the chair he made for himself.
"LAST PRELIMINARY!"
Yaoyorozu's body tensed.
"BEGIN!"
Instantly she felt a soft, magenta-like glow surround her, coming from the leg up.
"That strategy, of course!.." Yaomomo lowered her hand, and she stabbed a spear into the stone!
Yanagi's Poltergeist were all over her.
"The very same tactic that Todoroki used to fly…" She thought observedly. "... this time, she's intending to utilize it to make me fly outside of the boundary."
The feeling was akin to having a helium balloon pressing on her chest.
Yanagi bent her fingers into fists, gritting her teeth, as the gaze of Todoroki was on her.
"Ohhhhhhhh, could this be an early pin?!" Present Mic called out. "Will Yanagi move onto the final challenge this early?"
"Too soon to tell!" Midnight called out with one hand on her hip. "For a 10 count, her opponent needs to be completely immobilized–"
Just like that, a grappling hook formed and fell out from Yaoyorozu's elbow.
"And she clearly isn't!"
Yaomomo forced herself to her feet. "Tennyson wouldn't stay put." Instantly she took aim–
With a flick of a finger, the quirk's aura appeared around the gun and threw it from her hand!
"Huh?-" Yaomomo grunted, as the force was now back, now pushing her down!
"If I keep pulling her up, she will just hold onto her staff." Yanagi thought. "Maybe it would be better to go for a 10 count."
However… Yaoyorozu's stomach was still not on the ground.
From the television screen, her squirming was evident.
"Okay, Yaoyorozu, don't force it. Think." Master Hamato Yoshi squeezed his fists in anticipation. "Analyze what you saw–"
He could see her struggling though, putting all of her force forward.
Master Hamato put a hand over his face.
"Tennyson would do something unorthodox." She thought, putting her hands together. "And, if I'm meant to face him… I need to pull together here!"
The glow appeared between her hands. "I've learned your lessons by heart, master." She could finally feel something solid forming.
"Theatricality is a powerful agent." She thought, putting her finger through the pin. "As well as…"
Glow itself stopped with the object's creation and instantly Yanagi went through the motions again. The weight on her disappeared, and the object got pulled out of her hands.
"Deception." Yaomomo got down.
Yanagi side-eyed it–
The object was none other than a flashbang. A blinding light covered the entire arena!
"She took away my sight!.." Yanagi seethed, and stretched out her hand, trying to navigate.
"Not knowing…" She tried to keep her concentration on her quirk. "It's spooky– AH!"
A staff to the gut broke her standing, and with one more shove, she found herself falling back!
Midnight's whip cracked. "Yanagi is out of bounds! Yaoyorozu is the winner!"
The silver haired girl opened her eyes. A distorted sight of the sky flowed back into her. She saw that her head… it was out of the white line designated for the arena.
A hand came in front of her.
"Are you okay?" Yaomomo asked. "Sorry. It was instinctive for me to–"
"I'm fine." Yanagi responded,getting back on her feet and most evidently vexed by the loss.
"However…" She then added. "I guess this *was* informative in seeing some weaknesses."
Yaomomo said. "It *is* a unique opportunity. We should be making the best of–"
"...just wish it wasn't on live tv." Yanagi interrupted her.
"Oh…" Yaomomo sheepishly responded. "Yes, I suppose that makes sense."
The lights then shone upon them, and Present Mic's voice boomed once more.
"The final 16 has now been decided!" Present Mic's voice then stopped their talk right in its tracks! As the spotlight stood on them, the intrigue of the audience was scattered all over.
"Now listeners, rise as my voice does with your name! From Class 1-A!"
One by one the fabled competitors rose to their feet.
It was Tennyson first, as the rest followed one after the other. Midoriya, Bakugo, Jiro, Uraraka, Ashido, and Kirishima.
From his seat with the other general studies students, Shinso scowled at the seven out of the sixteen.
"Aren't you excited Shinso?!" Hagakure grabbed his arm and started tugging at it. "You got to make it to the final challenge! There *is* a future where you win!"
"Only because the green haired one carried his weight at the cavalry battle." The girl with the clown makeup spoke.
One of their classmates had apparently packed their negativity along with them.
"Hey! None of that Piero!" He could see Hagakure's sleeves angrily shaking. "At least he GOT to make it to the cavalry battle!"
The clown complained right back down.
"Don't listen to her–"
"No, give them a little more credit." Shinso crossed his arms, and… could guess that Hagakure's mouth was wide open right now.
"Why?!" She exclaimed. "You said you were going to take their place."
Shinso remained composed though, and just pointed in front of him, and let Present Mic answer in his place.
"And who could forget the new recruits?!" Present Mic shouted. "First winner, Todoroki Shoto!"
Shinso's eyes locked on the kid with the dual hair.
"With overwhelming power, he managed to put his fellow recommended student, Tokage Setsuna's, chances to win on ice!"
"That he did." Shinso gathered his hands. He had made sure to closely watch all the preliminaries.
Tokage had immediately split up as much of herself as possible. About 20 or so pieces managed to avoid the initial iceberg.
"But she lacked range." Shinso thought to himself. "With a body that could freeze anything on contact, there wasn't much of a match."
Todoroki had swiftly picked up one of her frozen pieces after that, and even though the rest of her tried to stop it, he still managed to toss it outside, disqualifying her.
"Second up! Iida Tenya! Unfathomable speed, and rock-solid discipline, all presented in one mechanized package!"
His match was against the frog girl.
"He used his super speed." Shinso said.
As soon as the match began, Asui had wanted to jump into the air, and attack from above using her tongue, however Iida proved to be too fast.
He just stalled for time, continuously dodging.
As soon as she got close enough to the ground, Iida then took the ready position and clocked in his Recipro Burst.
"In one blue flash, that battle was done."
"Third was the battle of spirit!" Present Mic said. "And in the end, the beastly tag team of the dusk couldn't overcome the fury from the sky! Let's hear it for Kaminari Denki!"
The student in question jumped to their feet proudly, taking in the cheering of the crowd, as the girl with the earphone jacks just shook her head.
"Resilience." Shinso thought. "That's what their battle was about."
As soon as the match began, the raven kid's quirk emerged and went for an attack. In response, the blonde kid didn't waste a second in activating his quirk, enveloping the stage in a surge of lightning.
It managed to shrink the beast, as Present Mic called it, down. However, it was still there, just barely protecting the main body from electricity.
Up until whatever happened, happened there.
"INDISCRIMINATE SHOCK! *1.7* MILLION VOLTS!"
The blonde suddenly planted his feet deep, grit his teeth, and went… plus ultra?
Shinso didn't know how else to put it, but that little extra effort did its job. The beast was shredded apart, and soon, the main body also collapsed to the ground.
The kid was acting quite dumb at the end… but it was that perseverance which gave him the win.
"LASTLY, THE CREATION QUEEN..!"
"We know." Shinso closed his eyes. "Yaoyorozu."
The zero hesitancy towards acting she had, spoke for itself in this match.
Shinso closed in on himself. "Anyone that I go up against, they will be tough opponents."
Overwhelming power, lightning-fast moves, iron-clad resistance or an arsenal of techniques.
"Take your pick." he sighed. "If not one, the student will probably have multiple. That seems to be the hero course."
His arms gathered.
"NOW LET'S HEAR IT FOR 1-B!"
Kendo, Tsunotori and Shiozaki rised.
"If I'm going to get anywhere, the mystery of my quirk is going to be key." Shinso's thoughts settled one by one like bricks of a wall. "If I could catch them off-guard–!"
"NOW, LET'S HEAR THE SUPPORT COURSE!"
His eyes, narrowed from exhaustion and a long history of sleeping at 4 am, opened further and further as the matter dawned on him.
Hatsume from the support course ecstatically got to her feet.
From across the stadium, he looked at the stances of the hero students… and saw Midoriya.
Hesitantly, almost frozen, Midoriya returned his look.
"Of course." Shinso gripped the bridge of his nose, collapsing to his seat after all that excitement. Midoriya… He knew–
"NOW, THE SURPRISE GUEST OF THE CENTURY!"
He lifted his hand from his face.
"SHINSO HITOSHI FROM GENERAL STUDIES 1-C!"
Putting one hand on his neck, Shinso stood up.
Stain crouched down to one knee.
"Heroes?" Stain asked. "You mean the very ones who arrive at the scene of the crisis later than the news cameras, the ones who carry one or two people in their arms right before giving their statements, that bask in the size of their own bank accounts?"
There was probably 10 centimeters between him and the killer's face right now. Ingenium could see a future, where he would get up, and punch this absolute lunatic on the back of the neck, sweep his legs, beat him to the ground–
The hero stopped himself… or rather, accepted again that he couldn't exactly move right now.
"He has earned his license." He answered calmly instead. "We all did."
"Dimes in the dozen." Stain curtly answered. "And exactly the point I try to make."
His glare turned back to the ground, as his katana lowered to his chest, poking him. Ingenium was extremely tense.
"What exactly are you laying down, when you attend those exams?"
Ingenium looked back up.
"My life." He stated.
"Pretty words!.." Stain stabbed the katana. Ingenium clamped down, as his insides felt like they burned. "Mind trying again?"
Ingenium breathed through his teeth, holding in a groan.
"A retake." The killer answered in place of him. "In a controlled environment. That's what."
Stain lifted his blade, licking the blood again for good measure.
"With a sea of yes-men and no hardships, did you ever think what kind of people would start to take up this profession?"
His bloodshot red eyes stared down.
"Glory hogs… perverting a benevolent role for their vanity."
He opened his arms.
"That's what this society is facing!.. and remains blind to."
*Yawn!*
Shinso rubbed his closed eyes… as all students finished assembling on the stadium grounds, and the other finalists stepped up to the solid stone of the ring.
They all couldn't help but feel overwhelmed though, as waves upon waves of people were cheering, hero merchandise in hand, going crazy.
And like that wasn't enough, Present Mic was still at peak energy… most probably because of the third coffee cup on his table.
"It's time to continue rolling with the punches everyone! Time to decide these matchups!"
The pro-hero continued to hype up the crowd. "But we won't make things boring! We've even brought in cheerleaders from America to continue your blood pumpin!"
Ben side-eyed them, as the spotlights and attention went over to feature them.
"Oh! Yes! Oh! Yes! Oh!"
He saw them performing their cheering routine, jumping, waving their pom pom's around, all the while wearing the outfits provided.
A two piece orange outfit of a sleeveless top and skirt, featuring dark green and yellow lines as texturing. Not to mention the one big white line going over their chest which had the letters of U.A.
Something nagged at Ben.
As he looked at them, he noticed one was a redhead with blue eyes, the other had orange hair with forest green, there was a blonde amongst them, and a dark skinned one…
All of them had white earrings too.
Ben scratched his head. "Don't I know these girls from somewhere?"
He closed his eyes. It was definitely from a while ago.
Regardless, he didn't want the others to think he was checking them out and kept himself focused.
Shinso didn't even give them that courtesy of looking.
"I'm going to stand on the stage I watched every year on TV…" Among them, Kirishima couldn't help but be the one to speak up first. "How awesome is that?!"
"A million awesome, that's what." Tennyson replied.
"A million awesome?" Shinso rolled his eyes… but noticed the student's attitude stall.
The crowd's favorites started looking around, as did Midoriya.
Shinso crossed his arms and didn't indulge them.
But something was indeed off.
"Huh?" Present Mic leaned forward, as Aizawa's head also curiously went up. "Hey, Midnight, aren't you a couple people short down there?"
As soon as she was prompted, Midnight took a head count.
"Yep." She reached for the communicator. "I only have 12 here."
"Wasn't she with me?" Shinso saw Tennyson walk over to Midoriya. "Did you see where Yaomomo went?"
Midoriya shook his head. "But Uraraka isn't around here either–"
"Neither are Jiro and Ashido!" A tall student with glasses diligently remarked… right next to his ear.
Midnight put a hand on her chin, thinking about where they could be. At that moment, Jurota Shishida of Class 1-B, who had the look of an animal but the heart and mind of a gentleman, had his ears picked up… cackling among the crowd?
"What are they doing?" Aizawa remarked under his breath.
The lights turned to the entrance of the stadium.
5 new 'cheerleaders' got to the tournament grounds, however they weren't quite part of the American crowd.
Tennyson started to blush. He was certainly turning as red as a tomato, just like many others. There were his five female classmates, four of which were the finalists, with Yaomomo leading them and…
"Huh?!" Ben, way too dazzled by the embarrassment, let Present Mic speak for him. "Looks like 1-A's cracked up the fanservice to 11!"
The two masterminds gave each other a very well-deserved thumbs up.
"Mineta! Kaminari!" Yaomomo yelled at the pair. "You tricked us?! How dare you!"
Eraser Head checked one of the monitors he had next to him, and tried to adjust it… despite the bandaged limbs.
"Let me help." Present Mic said, as he took control of the dial.
"Thanks." Eraser Head replied.
With the surveillance footage showing exactly what he wanted, the pro-hero grumbled.
"I knew it…"
On the screen, right as Yaoyorozu had finished her match and was going inside to freshen up before drawing the matches, she was confronted by Mineta and Kaminari.
He thought about raising the volume up to listen, but there was no need to bother.
With the vice class president starting to rush to the stances afterwards, and their current appearance, it wasn't hard to put two and two together.
Yaomomo dropped to her knees. "Why do I have to be the one to fall for Mineta's schemes?
"I even had to use creation to make these outfits." She said, whimpering, as Uraraka patted her on the back, trying to console her.
Ben… felt like he should do something as well–
"Those guys are so…" Jiro grumbled, blushing but still throwing the pom poms onto the ground, angry at herself for falling for it as well too!
Four of them got up on the stage, and Ben… thought it would be most wise if he wasn't in Jiro's earphone jack distance.
"Yeah, I was really surprised." Kaminari added though. "When Mineta suggested it, I was sure you would–"
And all of a sudden, what Ben feared, happened to Kaminari.
"AH!" He jolted up, right before collapsing as Jiro retracted her earphone jack.
"Nevermind." His voice measly came out of his mouth from the ground. "If it's anything, the outfits look really good on y–"
"IT DOESN'T!" They simultaneously shouted.
"Quiet down!" Midnight raised her voice in response. "WE ALL KNOW THESE GIRLS LOOK CUTE IN THEIR OUTFITS!"
That brief remark… did not make the girls feel better.
"But the show must go on! These are your opponents!" Midnight cracked her whip, and the tournament bracket, filled with names, appeared on the big screen.
Round 1: Izuku Midoriya VS Eijiro Kirishima
Round 2: Hitoshi Shinso VS Ibara Shiozaki
Round 3: Shoto Todoroki VS Denki Kaminari
Round 4: Mei Hatsume VS Tsunotori Pony
Round 5: Momo Yaoyorozu VS Itsuka Kendo
Round 6: Tenya Iida VS Kyoka Jiro
Round 7: Mina Ashido VS Ben Tennyson
Round 8: Katsuki Bakugo VS Ochako Uraraka
A roar of cheering rocked the grounds.
"Hello, horns!"
Right from behind Pony, Hatsume appeared in her usual flashy way.
"Uh, I look forward to–"
"Yeah, yeah, we all got that." Mei interrupted her opponent. "So, you're my opponent, huh…"
From behind the steampunk goggles, the inventor eyed her from head to foot.
"You'd do." She said.
Pony cocked her head. "I'd d–?"
"Yeah, listen." Mei brushed off her comment again. "Now that we're set to appear on stage together, could you and I PLEASE have a little private chat?! Trust me you won't be disappointed!"
Pony reluctantly nodded.
"Vice prez." Jiro spoke up, hesitantly and embarrassedly side-eyeing her friend. "It's probably cliche right now but… don't go easy on me."
Yaomomo nodded. "Of course."
She wouldn't. It didn't matter that they were friends, this stage would be where she showcased her entire arsenal, everything she could cultivate!
The hardened redhead instantly approached, holding out his arm. "Let's give them one hell of a show, Midoriya!"
"Y-Yeah! Let's do it, Kirishima." Midoriya, smiling with pride, shook his hand with their brawny biceps taking center stage, even from under the shirt!
Yaoyorozu… didn't seem too affected, but Ben deadpanned at the pair from a distance. "Yep, gym, starting this friday."
However, if it wasn't apparent before, Midoriya wasn't exactly as confident as advertised. "First match of the first round…"
And like that wasn't enough… there was what COULD happen in the future. His eyes cycled back and forth between all matches on his side of the bracket.
"If we both win our matches, I could be the one going against Todoroki."
The pent up feelings from earlier rose up again. He clenched his fist, even letting out a little red lightning.
In the distance, Todoroki crossed his arms.
His eyes went over to Kaminari, and the kid with the electrocution quirk flinched.
"My first match isn't important." he dismissively closed his eyes.
And like that wasn't enough, him and Tennyson wouldn't see each other until the finals. However, that didn't mean the cruise would be particularly boring.
Beating Tennyson was the primary goal, yes, but right now Midoriya, someone who was also recognized by All Might and even possibly trained by him, was his second match.
Clenching his fists, Todoroki stood tall with his chest out.
"You must advance Midoriya." He said. "So that I may show it's possible to dominate with only one hand."
The screen flashed again and was replaced with the words of 'Recreation'.
"Now, we are going to have recreational games." Midnight said. "The contestants may choose whether they want to participate in the games or not. We're sure some of you may want to save your strength."
Yaomomo, though the question wasn't directed to her specifically, nodded in her teacher's direction as well. As soon as she changed, she would try to find a bit more to eat… or maybe even meditate to recharge herself before her battle with Jiro–
She felt a tap on her shoulder.
There was Tokage, and… Hagakure?
"Hey Yaomomo." Tokage said. "So… maybe right before the actual events isn't gonna be the best time but–"
"It's fine." Yaomomo answered rather curiously. "How may I be of assistance?"
Hagakure whispered something into her ear… and she had to admit, this was a very unique request.
"All right!" Present Mic called out. "Let's leave the tournament aside for a momentary interlude! Let's have fun with the recreation!"
"Now, all contestants better prepare themselves. Because this tournament of fledgling heroes will begin!"
As rainbow colored fireworks decorated the sky, Hagakure and Tokage jumped up, now wearing the same cheerleading uniforms!
The other girls of 1-A jumped and posed too…
… except for Jiro and Yaomomo.
"First is the scavenger hunt!"
Everyone who wasn't participating bolted forward to the pile of cards. Sato picked up one.
"Bag." He called out. "Will anyone let me borrow a bag?"
All the while, Sero asked the crowd for a cat and Ojiro asked for a textbook. Cards were being opened and objects were being asked for left and right!
Monoma on the other hand, had one card in his hand.
"Ugh, I can't believe they are getting serious over these recreationals." He flaunted, as participation for himself was mandatory since he didn't make the top 16. "Class 1-A really needs to get a clue on somethings–"
In the distance, he saw Komori and Kuroiro together, crouched on the ground.
"And now if I use my quirk, shroom, you get!" As the yellow mist dispelled from her hand, a batch of mushrooms emerged.
"T-Thank you." Kuroiro shakily said, as he picked one and Monoma saw his card. A mushroom.
He scoffed. "That's just a fluke of 1-B's collective superior mindse–"
"Monoma!"
Now Kendo, their oh so gracious class president had run up next to him.
"If you're not playing, then come with me!"
He rolled his eyes. "For what reason?"
Kendo flashed her card. 'Perverse person'.
Her hands then grew tenfold in size and grabbed him!
"Don't you think you could have gotten it wrong, Kendo?" Monoma tried to laugh arrogantly, as his entire body was literally in Kendo's palms.
"It's fine! It fits!"
As she ran, Jetray flew right past them.
"Anyone got an All Might plushie?" He also asked, hovering above the crowd. "I'll give it back, promise!"
Gwen laughed at his desperation, as the kids seemed a little reluctant to help him out.
"Hey Jiro…" Kaminari took this moment to meet up with… a victim of his prank.
Her earlobes immediately levitated in aggression.
"W-Wait! Truce! Truce!" He waved his hands around. "I'm not here to make fun!"
They levitated back down.
"I…" he put a hand on his neck. "I wanted to apologize to you guys."
The attention of all the cheerleader students gathered on him, even Tokage and Hagakure.
"Mineta sold me on it and… I didn't really think more, when I should have." He said.
Tokage looked at the girls, as one arm of hers split from her elbows.
"Hmm…" it floated up to her chin. "What do you say?"
Jiro was thinking about her response. She grabbed the pom poms from her lap.
"You're gonna have to earn that forgiveness Taser Brain." She stated, still bitter but not merciless. "Big time."
"That's fine." He said with determination. "I will earn it! No more funny business!"
"We will hold you to it, ribbit." Asui said. "Keep that in mind."
"One slip and you're done!" Ashido remarked, raising a finger of hers.
Uraraka nodded, pouting with both of her fists raised. "Uh-huh!"
From where she also sat, just like Jiro, Yaoyorozu chose to involve herself now. She got up.
"I agree with everyone else." She said. "Though *this* was frustrating, I see no reason to refrain from another chance."
She looked away this time. "We believe you're a good person, Kaminari."
Kaminari's eyes glowed. Though his quirk wasn't active, he felt a jolt rush up through him, and relief settled down inside.
"Thanks guys." He told the girl group… before promptly leaving them be.
"You know what though, I think I *am* starting to see the appeal." Uraraka got a conversation going.
"I know, right?" Ashido also relaxed about the whole thing.
She enthusiastically raised the pom poms over her head. "Just dance, and let that energy out!"
The embarrassment they had the first time, earlier, was nothing but dust right now.
"I knew you guys would get it!" Tokage grinned with the sharp teeth, and Yaoyorozu smiled for the sake of her friends.
As the group dispersed further away… and put their focus on Asui and making her jump around more as well, Yaoyorozu didn't follow them.
For herself, the embarrassment still had weight.
"Huff…" She sighed, sitting down and looking at the outfit. The rich girl didn't know about this attire for herself.
Her eyes shifted to the crowd… and more importantly, to the camera's.
"I wonder what my parents' impression of… *this*." She thought, about to hunch ove–
"Did I detect a cry for help?!"
Without warning, Jetray appeared above her, and landed from the skies, promptly turning back to Ben in a green flash.
"Tennyson?!" Momo was rather alarmed, as she… didn't exactly favor being seen like this, without the proper attire and all.
"I'd figured I'd check in." He said, dusting himself off and sitting next to her. "That joke didn't seem to go over well, and… since you helped me earlier, I figured I'd distract you from the cameras in return."
"Oh..." She said. "Thanks for your concern, however it's okay."
Yaomomo looked away, and rested her hands on her shoulders. "Kaminari apologized to all of us."
Tennyson could see her feet cross, and Yaomomo biting her lower lip.
"And not Mineta?" He threw out a question, curiously raising his eyebrow.
In response, her head raised.
"No. Not as of yet." She answered, and then immediately shook her head. "But I… Umm…"
She sighed again. Tennyson had seen her, the whole world has at this point. Why did it matter?
"I suppose it's fine."
Ben wasn't as convinced however.
He looked at the two cards in his hands, and the lightbulb lit up again.
"Yaomomo could you…" He whispered something into her ear.
Eyes widened, she tilted her head. "I don't think that's quite right."
Ben nodded in confidence.
"Trust me." He said. "Plus, it's harmless."
The rich girl curled her lip, as the pink glow came out from her arm again, making a black marker.
As Ben's plan was in full effect, Shinso leaned to the wall, observing everyone.
Even though they were told to have fun… most of those who were in the tournament didn't exactly relax.
"Some are sharpening their strategy." He noted.
Midoriya was sitting down, next to one of the walls, writing furiously into his notebook, as Hatsume was also relentlessly scouring the contents of her war chest.
"Some tried to rest their bodies."
Kaminari had chosen to go inside, leaning behind his chair, looking at his phone, all the while Jiro continued to sit down on the ground… despite Tokage continuing to be persistent by tugging at her arm.
"Some, very wisely, prepped for their fight…"
Iida was another one of those who were inside, with quite the number of cans of orange juices in his arms, fueling up for the battle.
Shiozaki however, was on the outside with just a bottle of water as the sun shined upon her.
"... or focused their senses."
Bakugo, unlike what many would expect, didn't go off using his quirk or got himself fired up loudly. Instead, his face was inches away from the wall.
Todoroki was perched just outside the tournament grounds as well, sitting cross-legged next to some bushes and trees, looking down at the ground… along with company.
"Reiko?" Komori stumbled onto his grounds. "I know you don't wanna participate, but Kaibara can't get his scavenger item and–"
Her brown eyes found Todoroki instead. The ice and fire teen's angry eyes looked up.
"Sorry!" She retreated back, running.
Little did she know, Reiko was sitting behind one of those trees. Just now catching a glimpse of her friend, she shook her head, and proceeded to assemble her hands.
Sitting cross-legged, the silver haired girl took a deep breath, and meditated.
Watching on, Todoroki closed his eyes, and mimicked her.
"And the rest… who are still trying to calm their nerves."
"Backfat?!" His eyes were then directed to a whimpering Mineta, who was desperately looking at his card's kanji. "This is impossible!"
Tennyson was laughing in response, and from next to him, Yaoyorozu also couldn't hold back an amused smile.
"Like I said, harmless." He clicked the marker shut, and Yaomomo let out an audible giggle.
That caught him by surprise, and seeing her face…
He looked up at the bright blue sky.
"You know, even if it was a prank…" Ben said. "...You look nice in that outfit."
Almost instantly, her relieved nature shattered like glass. "Oh."
The word had fallen out of her mouth, and her bare knees timidly tapped against one another.
"T-Thanks." she replied.
Stain, sadistically smiling, licked the blood again.
Ingenium tried to stay strong…
"Come on…" He thought to himself. "Someone please…"
He looked back to Stain. More time that's what he needed. Ingenium couldn't afford to keep his executioner bored.
"What's the right way then?" he asked, still reeling from pain–
"What's the right way..?" Stain repeated the question, disappointed. So extremely disappointed.
"Even when the answer is leaping above your skies, YOU DON'T SEE IT!"
He stopped circling with his hands assembled behind his back, and got close to the hero's face.
"Tell me… who is the greatest hero right now?"
Ingenium looked up, as the killer continued to speak passionately.
"Who has the uncontested number of people saved every day?"
Stain got close, a dagger at the ready.
"Who strikes fear into the hearts of self-obsessed villains, trapping those in the shadows?"
The dagger's edge got even closer to Ingenium. Stain's hand and voice began to shake
"WHO, IN THIS ROTTEN WORLD, HAS THE CONVICTION TO MATCH MY OWN AND BECOME A LEGEND?!"
Ingenium, out of breath, gave his answer…
"All Might…"
Stain seemed accepting of his answer, anticipating he will put the rest of the pieces together.
"Killing… All Might?"
Stain stabbed the stone wall!
Ingenium could feel the blade… touching the edge of his ear.
"No." He spoke with burning rage in his voice, his very own bloodlust materializing into a red and black fog, offended at the very thought that a 'hero' would suggest it.
"It is him… who is the real hero."
Midoriya took a deep breath.
"Alright everyone! After all the games, and preliminaries, it's time for the real matches to begin!" Present Mic was still ever present. "Can you feel the excitement?!"
Before anyone knew it, the games were done and dusted and the real finals had arrived.
"LIKE WE SAID, IT WON'T BE ONLY A MATTER OF STRENGTH. HEART, SKILLS, WISDOM, COURAGE. STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO LAY DOWN ALL THEY HAVE RISE TO THE TOP!"
He was right on the edge of that door. The sight of the grounds were peering in, as it got harder and harder to gather his spirit.
"Hey!"
His closed eyes opened. Wearing a stylish tux that was clearly too baggy for him, his master, All Might, appeared in his skinny form.
"Sorry I couldn't say hi, I've been dealing with a few things." He stated. "A couple of which were about Tennyson."
"I understand." Midoriya nodded.
"But I made sure to watch. You were great." Toshinori gave him a thumbs up. "It's fair to say you've been getting a good handle on One for All, right?"
"No, not really." Midoriya gripped his shirt. "I'm still breaking my bones… even if I repeat everything I've learned."
Rather solemnly, the chosen one looked down.
"I imagine the water in a dam, how it felt when I first hit Water Hazard at the beach… o-or even those voices–"
"Voices?" All Might remarked, putting a hand on his chin.
Midoriya's eyebrows shot up.
"Yeah… the ones I heard when that xeno– I mean squid made me hear." Midoriya caught his own slip, and thankfully All Might didn't.
"Right." He said. "The one you said, which was pretty garbled except for one phrase."
Midoriya nodded, as his view had his master in its center.
"Live up to his power." He thought, before shaking his head. "Even so, there is a feeling behind every punch I throw, like I'm going to be ripped apart if I don't fully focus."
When he wouldn't focus, all of his power would come bursting out, either breaking his limb… or not on the rare instance, depending on something he couldn't know.
And when he did focus…
"...only a little bit of it really comes out." Midoriya pleaded, and lamented to himself. "Even after I got to use it so much, my body is still weak."
"Hmm…" All Might said. "If I had to give it a guess from what I saw, I'd say you can only manage about 5%."
"From what you saw…" Midoriya thought, as there were some major instances his master didn't catch, like his combat against Manny and Helen, not to mention the Highbreed and Knights.
"Then I should be able to manage a little more." He huffed. "But still, I guess I really was getting by only because of luck and support of–"
All Might smacked him in the head.
"Ow!"
"All I want you to hear you say is 'I'll do my best', dammit." Toshinori remarked. "Seriously kid, stop bringing down the mood! There is no way you're gonna be the hero you want, if you keep talking like that."
He put his hands on his hip. "Take it from me, there is no such thing as luck. Whenever you're in a tight spot, just stand tall…"
Steam rose from his body, as the skeleton-like body inflated, and the real number 1 hero appeared!
"... AND DEAL WITH IT, WITH THE LARGEST SMILE ON YOUR FACE."
He gave him a large thumbs up this time.
"REMEMBER, I'M COUNTING ON YOU AND CHEERING ON!"
A half-baked smile appeared on his face, as nervous sweat rolled down his forehead.
Literal fire burst forward in the four corners of the ring.
"Alright audience, let's cut to the good stuff and not delay these matches any longer! Welcome the second set of fighters!"
At the same time, they went up the stairs at opposite ends. Their pictures appeared on the big screen. Whereas Midoriya seemed scared, Kirishima was anything but!
"He sure looks panicky in that picture, doesn't he? But in today's events, he has proved to be anything but! THE UNSTOPPABLE FORCE! IT'S MIDORIYA IZUKU FROM THE HERO COURSE!"
The apprehensive smile that the pupil of All Might had formed into something more concrete, as he planted his feet onto the ring and cracked his fingers.
"Versus…"
"The man of hardened body, mind and spirit! FROM THE HERO COURSE, THE IMMOVABLE OBJECT HIMSELF! IT'S KIRISHIMA EIJIRO! "
Kirishima palmed his fist. "I'm not planning on losing, Midoriya."
The pupil of All Might took a deep breath.
"Keep things at 5%..." The red electricity spread over both of his hands.
"LET'S START THE PASSIONATE FIRST MATCH! BEGIN!"
With his body hardening in an instant, Kirishima engaged with a running fist. "HAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Midoriya braced himself, and riled back his own.
As their faces met, so did their fists!
*Boom!*
A little dust got kicked up, as Midoriya found himself being the one tossed back.
"Come on, Midoriya!" Kirishima said, as he emerged from the kicked up dust.
The greenette shook his head. "Right!"
He took a deep breath, and shook… as more power flowed into his fists.
"Only a little more. 6%!"
For him, even that felt like a high tide. However, Midoriya still quickly got to his feet, and followed Kirishima's example of running with a fist back.
"Smash!" He threw a punch. Kirishima guarded with his forearm.
"That's right!" he said. "Warm up Midoriya! Where's that 100%?!"
"My body can't handle it yet…" Midoriya thought. "But I will continue to do my best!"
"Take this!" Kirishima's punch grazed him, leaving a mark on his freckles.
Midoriya countered with a punch to the gut. However, Kirishima still didn't budge!
"That won't quite work!"
Kirishima put his arms around Midoriya, almost enveloping him in a big hug.
"My moves are a little slow when hardened." He thought. "But it won't matter like this!"
Holding onto his shoulders, he landed a high knee to Midoriya's stomach!
"Ah!"
Kirishima kept the blows coming right after that. As his opponent was dazzled, he held nothing back.
"I can't afford… to take… more hits." Midoriya was gasping for a breath. "7%!"
Right as Kirishima then came in, he countered with an uppercut!
Kirishima actually took a step back.
"Dang–!" He rubbed his chin.
However, Midoriya didn't give him any breathing room!
"Don't let him go!"
He landed a left cross!
"Ah…" Kirishima almost bit his tongue, as he tried to counter.
"Spin left!" Midoriya thought to himself. "You're small and nimble, use it!"
He managed to avoid the fist, Kirishima now swung with his left.
"Spin right!"
He avoided the fist again.
"Now to finish!..." Midoriya aimed a point blank flick to his chest. "One for All! 8%-!"
Something was wrong.
The lighting surging into his finger at that moment. It was far too much!
*BOOM!*
With a shockwave, both fighters went flying in opposite directions!
"WOW! Looks like Midoriya upped the ante!" Present Mic said.
Eraser Head didn't comment. Both fighters now were at the opposite corners of the arena.
"That…" Midoriya whimpered in pain on the ground. His fist had reddened with internal bleeding and lightning retreated.
It wasn't 8%, or 10… He let go for a second and the control totally flew off the handle.
"Dude, you okay?" Kirishima got to his feet from his side of the field.
"Uh-huh!" Midoriya nodded, and got to his feet too.
He had stopped it before it got to 100, but… for now he had to keep it at 7% on both fists. "That was just… over the limit."
"He sacrifices everything, and that's the answer." Stain says. "The path of a hero, the position that they take, it isn't one of self-gain, it's one of sacrifice."
He stood back up, and looked up at the skies, annoyedly.
"And that's what people have forgotten." He gestured to himself. "I'm the reminder."
"All Might became a teacher at U.A…" Ingenium retorted, still attempting to move but his body not letting him.
As scary as the thought was when it appeared in his head, the pro-hero still asked.
"Why didn't *you* choose such civil methods?"
Stain raised an eyebrow.
"You assume I haven't tried?"
There was a genuine surprise behind that mask… as well as a bitter vitriol.
"The society we were raised in are the very same." He replied. "The nets I've cast… Amongst the cheer for the festering fakes, they all fell on deaf ears."
The angry growl intensified.
"Only during this attempt, have people sat down to give a listen." He said. "And I only intend to continue."
His hands opened. "Gang Orca, Hawks, Edgeshot, Best Jeanist, Crust…"
There was a brief pause.
"Endeavor." He said from between his teeth. "You have no idea how much decay these people have caused…"
*CRASH!*
Kurogiri, without prompting, kicked the door down. However, as his misty body settled back into place, he stepped aside, letting the young master through.
"Was it necessary?" Kurogiri asked him.
The young master replied. "I'm not in the mood to sneak around."
Hands in his pockets, Shigaraki walked i–
"Eat lead!"
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
The violet grimdark portal descended as cover again.
"How annoying…" Shigaraki waited with crossed arms and Kurogiri opened the portals from behind the armed troops this time.
The bullets hit their targets and… gave the room some color.
"Anyone else?!" He shouted, with hands in his pocket. Once no one responded, he walked on inside. "That's what I thought."
His red eyes saw something glowing green in the distance, and so Shigaraki just went over to the center of the warehouse… unprompted.
"Young master!" Kurogiri hurried after him. Comparatively, he was a lot more vigilant, more curious.
His yellow slits for eyes scanned the complex. Shelves full of tech, chains hanging from above, holding onto larger miscellaneous… artifacts?
Kurogiri didn't know what to call them. They seemed to be technology, with a more futuristic design however, they were unlike anything he had ever come across, alongside Master.
"Are these the types of equipment the knight has harbored?"
Shigaraki remained annoyed and dismissive. "Yes, the knights truly are worthless, aren't they?"
"Perhaps…" He thought outloud. However, that didn't mean they shouldn't consider the circumstances.
"This line of equipment is what this organization COULD get away with." Kurogiri thought. None of this suggested this equipment represented the full extent of the knights. Some of the devices could have been tampered with. Some of the stuff they stole could have been sold off.
Translation: What they were seeing was only a tampered picture.
"It is curious…" He thought. "What kind of doors will be opened… once this mission becomes a success–"
"Tacky." Shigaraki remarked. Kurogiri shook his head, and looked at what the master pointed towards. There were banners with white skull marks, over black cloth on the walls, while he himself had arrived before a panel–
Shigaraki hit the big red button.
A hatch on the ground opened, steam preceded… the largest device they would see. A pillar, with orange circuit patterns and yellow glass cases surrounding its sides as indigo colored coils on its bottom sunk deep into the ground, out of sight.
Shigaraki squinted his eyes first, as one hand then came out from his pocket. "What the hell?"
Kurogiri tilted his head, and squinted at the yellow glass casings that the young master pointed to.
What he saw… was something he never expected.
"They…" He struggled to put the words together. "...seem to be alive."
What he could see was a little obscured due to the texture of the glass, but inside, there were small yellow and black… creatures with plus and minus signs on their backs, and silver, metallic looking heads.
The young villain put a hand over the casing, but not really decaying it just yet.
*BZZT?* *BZZ! BZZ!*
It hit the glass, banging its small appendages, pleading as its yellow eyes drooped and tiredly closed.
Shigaraki… put his hand on the case. The glass became dust, and Kurogiri observed as the young master grabbed something very foreign…
It wasn't the playing games on them. Shigaraki literally held what seemed like a rat which looked like a battery.
The creature was dazzled, as the hydrogen filled air that surrounded him got replaced by the cold hands of the young villain.
It tried to struggle, squealing in distress.
"Stop squirming." Shigaraki commande–
*ZAP!*
"Ah!" Shigaraki riled back, as the little battery turned into a lightning bolt and slipped out of his grip.
"Considering their electrokinetic powers…" Kurogiri looked back at the shelves, and the chains above. "My guess is that they are creatures made to be extorted as a power source."
"Power source for what?" Shigaraki barked. He was annoyed… and looked to give chase at the little bastard.
Kurogiri looked behind him. The creature hadn't gone far. It was squealing on one of the shelves, pleading to them… making noise.
Kurogiri got in between it and the young master. "I assume it is a factory."
"Hrrrrrrr…"
Shigaraki pushed him aside, the creature scaredly turned into a bolt and flew further up. Things were weird here. Shigaraki didn't understand much now… and he hated that feeling. It made him itch.
Frustratedly, he placed his hand on the whole pillar-like device this time.
Kurogiri assembled his hands behind him to watch–!
Suddenly, a yellow energy beam shot out and captured both of them in some kind of energy bubble!
"I can't warp!" Kurogiri tried to unravel, but couldn't.
Shigaraki gritted his teeth… as the doors of the warehouse opened.
Shigaraki followed his subordinate's gesture, and looked as the door of the warehouse creaked open… and a young, strapping, gravelly tone came out.
"You two better be worth interrupting my workout for, bro."
"However, all of their final days will come by my hand." Stain said. "And when no one plays for the cameras in the face of hardship… my work is going to be done."
"Nice plan!"
That wasn't Ingenium, or himself. Stain sights turned to the end of the alley, to the figure with a military green jacket, blue shades, and a stylish black shirt.
"A little clandestine for the camera's tastes." He stretched his arm. "But what do I know… watching anything but TV nowadays."
"Levin?" Ingenium groaned.
"Good to see you too, Tensei." Kevin said, taking off the shades. "So, this is the punk you've been chasin?"
Stain drew his blade, very confused as the brat grabbed hold of a trash can lid.
"A civilian youngster?" His gaze went back and forth between the newcomer and his prey. "However, he didn't use his hero name… A friend–?!"
His eyebrows went up in realization. If this person was an ally of the fake, then he must have called for help!
"You sly dog…" He seethed under his breath, the blade descending right in front of his neck. "You got me monologuing!"
Ingenium held in that smile. "And *I* can't believe it worked…"
The killer raised his blade, only for Kevin to throw the lid!
Stain, without flinching, changed positions and cut the metal instead.
"Hey! Get a clue!" He yelled. "Your fight is over here!"
Stain eyed him in irritation. His arrival was an annoyance and a mistake, but interference… was enemy action.
"You had better be really sure, child." The killer's hands reached down and grabbed two daggers in a flash.
Kevin couldn't even see when the sword was put away.
"You've already called your help." His murderous black aura was present in its fog-like state once more. "Playing hero now will do you no good."
Kevin grabbed a pipe next to him, connected to the wall.
"Of course not." Kevin nonchalantly gestured with his head, as he grabbed the pipe and the coating of its steel wrapped around his body. "That's his job."
Ingenium, in his condition, whimpered. "Kevin…"
"Relax, Tensei, I'm handling it." The ex-con swiftly said.
However, the killer's side-eye did drop down to the injured hero.
"Shit."
With glowing red eyes, Stain broke his position, targeting another attack towards the hero!
Kevin ripped it from its place, and did a forward roll, landing right in between the pair.
The pipe, and the daggers clashed.
"En garde." Kevin slyly remarked… however, he underestimated Stain.
It only took him another instant to cut the pipe into three pieces, and stomp on him with his iron soles.
With the teenager leaning to the right, the bloodlust in his eyes could finally turn to the cornered but yet unwaveringly trustful fake.
"One more to the cause–!"
Kevin's bare, armored hands grabbed his daggers.
He was barely on his feet, as his metallic hair hid his eyes, but not his smile.
"Hmph." He exhaled through his nose.
This fight… would do.
And that's it! What did you think?
So, first and foremost, the tournament. Sorry for only just barely getting into them with the Midoriya and Kirishima stuff, I promise that the next chapter is gonna put the tournament stuff in full swing.
To be honest, I just didn't want to skip the cheerleading stuff.
Other than that, yeah, that's mostly it. This ended up being a Stain focused chapter, along with a fight against Ingenium. We shall see how he handles himself against Kevin in the future and… Shigaraki seems to be on a familiar adventure.
Lastly, the next chapter is most probably also going to be out in 3 weeks. Right now, that is the release schedule I'm most comfortable with, but I do hope to one day go back to just 2 weeks.
But until the next chapter where the first rounds of the tournament are going to pop off, have a great day, and I will hopefully see you on the next one!
Reply to 'Guest' review
Guest: Such an amazing chapter, can't wait for more
DBZpower197: I'm glad you did! Thanks for the support!