Chapter Text
Arc 1: Fresh Faced Fools
xxXXxx xxXXxx xxXXxx
Down in the central plaza, Vlad gripped a villain by the chest, his quirk manifesting as tendrils of blood that wrapped tightly around his victim. The blood hardened, forming an unbreakable grip that lifted the villain off the ground.
With a swift, brutal motion, Vlad used the villain as a weapon, slamming him into another attacker. Both foes crumpled to the ground in a heap of pain and confusion.
"Bastard!" came a bellowing cry.
Vlad turned, his eyes narrowing at the sight of a large mutant-type villain charging toward him. This new adversary had four muscular arms, each one coiled and ready to strike. As the villain closed the distance, he pulled back his two left arms, aiming to deliver a powerful blow.
Vlad reacted swiftly, forming a shield with his hardened blood. The fists collided with the shield, producing a resonant clang. Undeterred, Vlad pushed the mutant's arms away and wrapped his own hands in layers of hardened blood.
With a forceful slam, he brought both hands down on the sides of the villain's head, disorienting him. The mutant staggered, and Vlad seized the opportunity, delivering a powerful kick to his chest that sent the villain flying backward.
Shigaraki watched Vlad effortlessly taking down the lesser villains, his face twisting in irritation. He glanced at the hulking Nomu beside him, the grotesque creature standing silently, awaiting orders.
"Nomu... attack," Shigaraki commanded, his voice cold and decisive.
With blinding speed, the Nomu vanished from its spot and reappeared right in front of Vlad. The hero's eyes widened in shock at the creature's inhuman swiftness.
The Nomu pulled its fist back and thrust it forward with incredible force. Vlad instinctively ducked beneath the blow, his experience and reflexes saving him from a potentially lethal hit. He countered with a powerful punch to the Nomu's gut, but the beast remained unfazed, showing no sign of pain or reaction.
The Nomu attempted to grab Vlad, but he quickly formed a blade out of his own blood and slashed through the creature's hand, severing it cleanly. He backed up, creating some distance between himself and the monstrosity.
As he observed the creature, Vlad's eyes narrowed in horror. The Nomu didn't seem to register the pain or the loss of its hand. Within moments, the severed limb regenerated, the new hand forming seamlessly as if nothing had happened. The Nomu turned its vacant, malevolent gaze back to Vlad.
Vlad grimaced, his mind racing. 'There's no way that thing is human... it didn't react to the pain at all,' he thought. 'This isn't just another fodder villain, it's powerful, fast, and relentless... meaning I don't need to worry about holding back,'
Summoning his blood into his hands, Vlad clasped them together before pointing and aiming at the Nomu. He took a deep breath, centering himself, and then exhaled slowly. Within a fraction of a second, he unleashed a hardened blood arrow with blinding speed, the projectile tearing through the air toward the Nomu.
The arrow struck the Nomu's chest with a thunderous impact, piercing through its tough exterior. For a moment, the creature staggered, a low growl escaping its throat. But then, to Vlad's dismay, the wound began to heal almost instantly, the flesh knitting itself back together.
"Impossible," Vlad muttered, his eyes narrowing. "What is this thing?"
The Nomu, undeterred by the barrage of attacks, lunged forward again. Vlad dodged its swipes with agility and skill, moving with the grace and precision of a seasoned hero. However, he knew he couldn't avoid the relentless creature forever.
Finally, the Nomu managed to grab Vlad by the waist with one powerful hand before clenching him with both, starting to squeeze slowly. Vlad yelled in pain, feeling his bones beginning to crack under the immense pressure. As the Nomu's grip tightened, Vlad's ribs finally buckled and broke, causing him to spit out blood.
Through the agony, Vlad glared at the Nomu with fierce determination. Summoning his remaining strength, he concentrated his quirk into the palm of his hand, forming a dense ball of blood the size of a tennis ball above the Nomu's head.
With a wicked smile and blood leaking from his mouth, Vlad cried out, "Let's see if you can survive this! SUPERNOVA!"
The ball of blood exploded with the force of a grenade, scattering hardened shards of blood like a deadly buckshot. The shrapnel tore through the Nomu's exposed brain, while some fragments flew upward into the air and a few struck Vlad in the side, causing minor injuries but nothing fatal.
The Nomu's grip on Vlad ceased as it let go, staggering backward before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
Shigaraki stared in shock, absolutely stunned that the creature they had created to kill All Might was taken down so quickly by a lesser-known hero. "CHEATER!" Shigaraki seethed, his voice filled with rage and disbelief.
Up in the rafters, Inko watched the scene unfold with a mix of disappointment and detachment. She had expected the result, knowing that an exposed brain was an obvious weakness. But she remained unfazed, her mind already working on how to rectify this flaw in future creations. Only a fool would let such a failure cloud their judgment, and Inko was anything but a fool.
Vlad collapsed to the ground, the pain from his broken ribs rendering him immobile. Each labored breath sent waves of agony through his chest, but a grim satisfaction washed over him as he saw the Nomu lying lifeless, showing no signs of regeneration. He had done it. He had found the creature's major weakness and exploited it.
However, his victory was short-lived. Despite the Nomu's defeat, Vlad found himself in an even more precarious situation. The surrounding villains, previously cowed by his display of power, began to regain their nerve. Realizing their monster had fallen, they saw an opportunity to strike at the now-vulnerable hero.
One villain, a burly man with spiked knuckles, stepped forward with a sneer. "Well, well, looks like the big hero is down for the count," he jeered, cracking his knuckles. "Let's finish him off, boys,"
A chorus of malicious laughter echoed around the central plaza as the villains closed in. Vlad struggled to move, his vision blurring from the pain and exhaustion. He tried to summon his quirk, but the exertion of the earlier battle had drained him significantly.
Vlad's mind raced, considering his options. He knew he couldn't fight them all off in his current state. He needed a plan, something to buy him time.
Thankfully, the Pro Hero didn't need to strategize any further, as rescue arrived in the form of a pair of large fists that punched several villains away with incredible force.
Vlad's eyes widened as he saw Itsuka, Monoma, and Setsuna coming to his aid.
Itsuka leaped toward another mutant-type villain with large muscles, enlarging both of her fists. She clasped them together, raised them high, and brought them crashing down on the villain's head, cracking the ground beneath her.
Monoma ran toward a villain with spiked knuckles, swiftly ducking under a jab and touching the villain's waist. Activating their quirk, Monoma gained spikes on his own knuckles. He maneuvered behind the villain and delivered a right jab to their side, causing them to cry out in pain and fall to their knees. Monoma followed up with a kick to the back, sending the villain sprawling to the ground.
Setsuna detached her fist and sent it flying toward the gut of one villain. As the first villain doubled over, she retracted her fist and launched the other, hitting the villain square in the face, breaking their nose and sending them backward.
More villains charged in, but from one shadow, Shihai emerged, delivering a high kick to the back of a villain's head, knocking them out. He melted back into the shadows, then reappeared in front of another villain, delivering a swift kick to their crotch before disappearing again.
Togaru and Juzo quickly joined the fray. Juzo swam through the ground, causing several villains to sink halfway into the earth, immobilizing them. Togaru grew multiple small blades from his arms, slashing at the villains and inflicting shallow but painful cuts.
The combined efforts of the students began to turn the tide of the battle. The villains, who had moments ago seemed on the verge of victory, now found themselves overwhelmed by the coordinated assault of the determined heroes-in-training.
Shigaraki glared in frustration as he watched the tides turn in the students' favor. He backed away, pulling out a small earpiece to radio Kurogiri, addressing him by his codename. "Blackmist... it's time to retreat... The Nomu has been defeated," he said, his voice filled with bitter annoyance.
"Of course, young Tomura," Kurogiri replied. "The fight here is over... the student up here is dead, as well as the Nomu provided by the good doctor,"
Shigaraki groaned, his hatred evident. "I hate cheaters..."
A portal then materialized behind Shigaraki. He slowly backed into it, his eyes never leaving the scene of the students' victory. His hateful glare hardened as he took in the sight of his plan falling apart.
"Next time... I'll kill them all," Shigaraki seethed before disappearing into the swirling darkness.
With the young villain gone and most of the villains defeated, the students' spirits lifted, their combined efforts having triumphed over the villainous assault. As the last of the villains were subdued, Itsuka and Monoma rushed over to Vlad, who lay on the ground, battered but alive.
"Sensei, are you alright?" Itsuka asked, her voice filled with concern as she knelt beside him.
Vlad managed a weak smile, wincing in pain. "I'm... I'm hanging in there... You all did great," he replied, his voice strained but proud.
Monoma, still vigilant, scanned the area for any remaining threats. "We need to get you medical attention, Sensei, you took quite a beating," he said, his tone resolute.
Shihai emerged from the shadows, his eyes sharp and focused. "We've got to move quickly, who knows if they have any reinforcements coming," he warned.
Setsuna, her limbs reattached, nodded in agreement. "Let's regroup with the others and get to a safer location, we can't let our guard down just yet."
However, before they could take a breath, a desperate cry for help echoed through the plaza. It was Pony.
They all turned to see Pony, Kinoko, Manga, Bando, and Reiko rushing toward them, with 13 being carried by Reiko and Bando. Panic set in when they noticed blood smeared on Pony's face, prompting Itsuka to sprint over to her.
Itsuka knelt down, eyes wide with concern. "Pony, are you okay!? Where are you hurt?" she asked urgently.
Pony, tears streaming down her cheeks, shook her head. "I-It's not my blood..." she sobbed. "M-M-Midoriya! H-He needs help!" she cried out, her voice breaking.
"Midoriya's in trouble!?" Setsuna gasped, her face pale with worry.
"Where is he?" Juzo demanded.
"Up on the steps!" Kinoko pointed frantically. "Please, hurry! He's hurt badly!"
Without wasting a second, Setsuna and Juzo bolted toward the steps, their determination evident in their every stride. Itsuka and Shihai followed closely, hearts pounding with fear and hope.
xxXXxx xxXXxx xxXXxx
"Come on, you monster," Izuku taunted, his voice hoarse but defiant. "Let's see what you've got."
The Nomu charged, and Izuku met it head-on, a lone hero standing against an unstoppable force.
Izuku pulled back his remaining hand and swung a punch straight for the creature's face, but the Nomu deftly moved its head out of the way, evading the attack and shocking Izuku. With lightning speed, the Nomu drove one of its claws into the side of Izuku's forearm. Izuku screamed in pain as his fist faltered and his hand opened.
Desperate to free himself, Izuku tried to pull his arm away, but the Nomu's jagged mouth clamped down on his fingers, sending a new wave of agony through his body.
Despite the excruciating pain, Izuku refused to give up. He pulled his leg back and thrust his knee upward, striking the Nomu under the chin. The force of the blow jarred the creature, causing it to release its grip on Izuku's hand and withdraw its claw from his arm as it staggered backward.
Izuku collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. He glanced at his right hand and saw that the tops of his fingers were torn off, blood pouring from the wounds. His arm was also bleeding profusely from where the Nomu had stabbed him.
Gritting his teeth, Izuku tried to get up, but the Nomu quickly recovered and turned back to him with a guttural screech. The creature lunged forward, stabbing another claw into Izuku's shoulder and lifting him off the ground.
"AAAHHH!" Izuku cried out in sheer agony.
The Nomu then pulled Izuku back, before thrusting its claw and Izuku forward, launching him off its claw and sending him flying toward Kurogiri. The warping villain swiftly moved out of the way, watching as Izuku continued to hurtle through the air before crashing against a door with such force that a cloud of dust erupted around him.
Izuku lay on the ground, dazed and in pain, struggling to comprehend the extent of his injuries. Blood dripped from his mangled fingers and his shoulder wound, creating a pool around him. He knew he had to move, to get back up and continue fighting, but his body felt heavy and unresponsive.
Kurogiri regarded the fallen boy with an unimpressed look. "What a foolish boy, sending his friend away... but the arrogant always fall the hardest,"
As Izuku slumped against the doors, a flood of memories and words echoed in his mind... Memories of his childhood flashed before his eyes – the taunts and jeers from classmates, the pitying looks from teachers, the overwhelming sense of inadequacy.
The countless times he had been told he couldn't be a hero, that he would never measure up...
"You're a good kid, Izuku... You're strong, so help people,"
"It's fine if all you do is reach out a hand..."
"Just help people whenever you can... even if you're lost, or they're ungrateful, help them anyway..."
'Oguro-san...'
"Die being surrounded by people... Don't end up like me..."
"Can you... promise me, Izuku?"
'Oguro-san... I... I...'
"What can a Quirkless kid do!? What can they achieve as a hero!? Nothing!"
"I know you can do it, Izuku-kun." Komari said with a smile.
"How can someone with no quirk become a hero!? It's impossible!"
"Hey! Don't give up now! Sensei is gonna be mad if you do!" Koichi told him through ragged breaths.
"It's a good dream kid... but that's all it will be..."
"Help people Izuku..."
"If you're gonna be a foolish brat who thinks they can be a hero without a quirk! Then have fun dying!"
Izuku looked down at the ground, his expression blank and his mind a whirlwind of doubt. 'Was... I always this weak...?' he thought. The words stung, burrowing deep into the insecurities he had battled his entire life.
Finally, the reality of everything set in... The reality that Izuku had been trying to ignore since the fight started.
He was going to die.
"I was so full of myself..." Izuku muttered to himself, the words barely audible. "I thought I was strong... I thought I was at least strong enough to choose when I die... But I was wrong..." His voice, steady at first, finally broke under the weight of his despair.
The Nomu observed him with a twisted curiosity, and Kurogiri's eyes glinted with intrigue, both wondering where the boy's rambling might lead or if his mind had simply shattered under the pressure.
Izuku stared at his trembling right hand, and the tears he'd been holding back finally began to fall. "I'm weak! I'm far too weak!" he cried out, the admission tearing through him.
With a desperate resolve, Izuku stood up, covering his eyes with his right hand and the left stump, the tears flowing freely now.
"AUGH! I DON'T WANT TO DIE! NO WAY! NO WAY! BUT... I am going to die...!" His sobs echoed in the silence of the battlefield, each one a raw, anguished plea for a miracle that would never come.
Kurogiri hummed thoughtfully. "How pathetic... however, I'll ensure you a swift death, simply because you put up a good fight, young man," he said, his tone a twisted blend of condescension and respect. He then turned to the Nomu. "Make it quick," he ordered.
The Nomu roared with glee, its monstrous form quivering in anticipation. It lunged forward, claws poised and ready to deliver the fatal blow.
Izuku's tears continued to fall, but he slowly wiped them away with his sleeve. 'I'm sorry, Oguro-san, Komori-chan, Koichi-san... I couldn't make it as a hero, but...' His thoughts were a whirlwind of regret and determination as he looked at the charging Nomu with a fierce glare. 'I'M NOT GOING DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT!' Izuku declared to himself.
As the Nomu closed in, Izuku pulled back his right hand, channeling all his remaining strength into an open-palm strike aimed directly at the monster's brain. Every fiber of his being screamed in protest, but his resolve was unyielding. If he was going to die, he would do so fighting with every last ounce of his strength.
A true hero to the very end...
Finally, the Nomu was right in front of Izuku, and with a guttural roar, it thrust its claws forward. Simultaneously, Izuku launched his open palm at the Nomu's exposed brain. The claws pierced through Izuku's stomach, stabbing him so deeply that their tips emerged from his back. The excruciating pain threatened to overwhelm him, but Izuku didn't falter; his strike landed true.
His palm struck the Nomu's brain with such force that the entire organ was crushed, blood gushing from it. The Nomu let out a final, agonized scream before going completely silent and limp. Izuku coughed up blood as he watched the creature collapse, its claws slipping out of his body.
Finally, it was dead.
And soon, so would he be...
More blood flowed from Izuku's mouth as he glared at Kurogiri. The villain returned the look with a small, impressed nod. But before Kurogiri could say or do anything, Shigaraki's call to retreat echoed through the chaos. Knowing the boy was already doomed, Kurogiri complied, disappearing into the shadows.
Izuku breathed deeply, fighting to push past the searing pain as he staggered forward, desperate to see if everyone was okay. With each step, he felt himself slipping away, his vision blurring and his strength waning. But he pressed on, driven by the hope that he could at least ensure his friends were safe before his time ran out.
"IZUKU!"
Hearing his name, Izuku looked up to see Setsuna and Juzo emerging from the chaos, with Itsuka and Shihai right behind them. A weak smile formed on his blood-stained lips as he saw his friends rushing towards him.
"Hey... guys..." he managed to say.
Seeing the dire state he was in, Setsuna sprinted faster than she ever had before. As she saw Izuku about to collapse, she launched her hands forward, catching him just in time to prevent him from hitting the ground hard. She gently lowered him to his knees, her hands trembling with urgency.
Finally, Setsuna reached him, with Juzo close behind. She knelt in front of Izuku, her eyes wide with horror and tears streaming down her face.
"Is... everyone alright?" Izuku asked, his voice barely a whisper, but his smile still soft and genuine.
"Yeah! E-Everyone's alright!" Setsuna cried, her voice breaking. "Just hang on, Midoriya! J-Just stay with us!"
"Setsuna... Juzo... Thank you for being my friends," Izuku said, his voice growing weaker. "I enjoyed our time together, I liked hanging out with you guys, playing games... watching movies... I... I-I wanted to keep doing that..."
"We can! We still can! We can do all that!" Setsuna sobbed, her tears falling onto Izuku's bloodied face. "Just please...! D-Don't die!"
Izuku could feel himself finally slipping away but continued to smile at Setsuna. "I don't need to worry about you guys, right...?" he asked, his voice growing fainter. "Live long... and become amazing heroes, will you...?"
"Don't say that!" Setsuna cried, her voice breaking with desperation. "Don't die! Come on! Stay with us! Please! Don't—!"
Suddenly, Izuku's entire body went limp against her.
Setsuna's eyes widened in shock as she looked at her friend's lifeless form, his head resting heavily on her shoulder. "Izu... ku?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
No answer.
"Hey! C-Come on! Answer me!" Setsuna cried, shaking him gently, hoping for any sign of life.
But Izuku's body fell to the side, his expression blank and his eyes lifeless. Setsuna's heart shattered as she realized the devastating truth.
"Izuku... no, please... no..." she sobbed, clutching his lifeless body. Juzo, Itsuka, and Shihai stood around her, their own faces etched with grief and disbelief.
Juzo stood in shock, unable to accept the harsh reality before him. "This... can't be happening!" he sobbed, tears streaming down his face as he looked at his fallen friend.
Shihai stared in horror, his heart aching with a desperate wish that it wasn't true. He prayed silently to any god that might be listening, hoping against hope that this was all just a terrible nightmare.
Itsuka covered her mouth with her hands, her sobs uncontrollable as the tears poured down her face. The realization that their classmate was truly gone hit her like a tidal wave.
Izuku Midoriya was dead.
Above them, hidden in the rafters, Inko watched the scene unfold with a wicked smile. "Oh my... It seems it's time to enact stage 2," she murmured with a sinister tone. Her expression suddenly shifted to one of surprise as a distant memory surfaced. "Ah! That's right... We named him Izuku," she said, a twisted amusement dancing in her eyes.
The friends below were oblivious to her presence, their grief consuming them. Juzo fell to his knees, clutching the ground as sobs wracked his body. "Why... Why did it have to be him?" he cried out, his voice filled with anguish.
Shihai's fists clenched in helpless rage. "We were supposed to protect each other... How did we let this happen?" he muttered, his voice trembling with anger and sorrow.
Finally, they got ahold of the other heroes as the rest of the class regrouped with most of the villains incapacitated or tied up or half trapped in the ground, however, when learning about their fallen classmate, their victory... seemed empty.