Swordkil snarled when Izuku and Melissa turned to keep running up the stairs. "Oh no you don't!"
He took a step to go after him but Momo quickly moved to block him. Kicking her feet out of her heels, a small knife formed out of the palm of her hand, which she stuck into her dress and cut down, opening up a large slit and freeing up her legs to easily move around. Tossing the small thing away, she twirled her staff while Kyouka held up her dented bat, ready to bash the villain's unprotected head in.
She definitely wasn't sneaking peeks at Momo's now exposed leg. Nope, it didn't matter to her that Momo had cut that slit right at the start of her hip.
Swordkil growled. "I'm not about to let some bitch and her butch tag along get in my way."
Momo's eyes narrowed. "Just for that, I'm going to make sure my foot and your posterior become well acquainted."
…
…
"What?"
"Translation," Kyouka explained as she pointed the bat at Swordkil, overdramatically. "She's going to kick your ass."
Melissa bounded up the stairs while behind her, Izuku introduced another gun toting, randomly spray and pray shooting henchman to his support item enhanced fist, his body making such a nice sound as it ricocheted off the walls. As she turned around the corner to keep going up, her eyes noticed the floor they were now on. She paused to blink at that. Unfortunately one of the villains used the opportunity to wrap an arm around Melissa's neck, pushing the end of his assault rifle into her back. "Got you!"
Melissa had to physically bite back a groan, and was about to pull out her best 'damsel in distress' routine when her eyes caught sight of something. The camera in this corner of the stairwell had been shot when the small group had opened fire on them.
"Ha! You got separated from your little friend, huh? Now you're going to tell him to stand down or else."
No cameras in this little corner. Yeah, Melissa could work with this. And after everything else that had happened so far, she needed to let off a little steam.
"Oh no! I've been captured by a horrible villain. Whatever will I do?" The whimpering mewl was so over the top, Melissa was pretty sure most soap directors would tell her to tone it down.
"I just told you, you're going to URK—!"
There was a loud, disturbing crack as Melissa very quickly drove her elbow into the man's chest, the sound either coming from his body armor shattering, or his ribs. Then, Melissa snapped her hand back, twisting at the elbow so she backhanded the man in the face with the back of her hand, sending him flying back and cratering the concrete wall behind them.
Melissa coldly looked down at the crumpled man. Just because she was holding her smaller form, didn't mean her rule giving her super strength wasn't in effect. When she turned away, she saw Izuku had rushed around the corner to come to her aid, and was looking at the man. "Ummm."
"I've been holding myself back for the whole evening. I deserved that."
"…Isn't he going to remember this though?"
Melissa snorted. "With the crunch I just heard? No chance he's remembering anything from this week, let alone just now."
"Wait, was that sound the concrete cracking or his skull?"
"Yes."
"…Why are all the girls I know scary?"
Melissa looked at Izuku evenly. "You want me to tell Uraraka you said that?"
Izuku was not fazed at all. "Please, she already knows I think she's scary."
Melissa hummed approvingly. "Atta girl." Her good mood soured when she heard the distinct sound of more security bots dropping down the stairs ahead of them. "Midoriya, we need to get off the stairwell. If we keep going like this, we're going to get overrun by security bots."
"But the hallways are going to be locked down, right?"
"We aren't going to be using the halls either,." Melissa replied cryptically.
"Eh?"
Melissa went up the rest of the flight they were on, and motioned at the exit door. She frowned when she tried to open it, finding it locked. "Looks like they went ahead and locked down everything. Do you mind punching through here?"
With a swift punch, Izuku punched a large hole through the locked door, and the pair quickly left through it. Immediately, Izuku was hit by a rush of wind as to his great confusion, he and Melissa were now outside. He briefly made the mistake of looking out towards the horizon and when he saw that they were now higher than all the buildings around them, it made him just a little dizzy. So, he refocused back on Melissa and the 'room' they were in now.
"What is this place?" Izuku asked as he looked up.
"This part of the tower is where wind energy is captured and stored for the building," Melissa explained. "From here… it's a straight shot to the two hundredth floor. There's an emergency hatch we can use to get into the control room." Melissa pointed up to the uppermost walkways.
Izuku looked up and hundreds of feet above him, past the large circular wind turbines, built up and around a strong central pillar at the center of the building, were some walkways that connected to the top floor of the building. It was even higher than the ones he had helped everyone scale back in the plant room. Not only that, there was a wicked breeze blowing around them, which he was sure would get worse once they got in front of those turbines, since there wouldn't be anything blocking it there.
"Okay…" Izuku took a breath. It was really really high, but Izuku wasn't going to let that deter him. He'd been up in the air before. His first time flying, he was sure he and Ochako had gone as high as a skyscraper. Sure, she was floating him and he had been having too much fun to really notice just how high he was, but. "Okay, I can get us…"
Izuku trailed off when Melissa knelt down so she could wrap her arms around his chest and pull him in close. "Me-melissa? Um…" Izuku had a girlfriend now, so he most definitely wasn't thinking about how nice it felt to have Melissa suddenly hold him. "I'll probably have better control if I lift us one at a time…"
Melissa smirked at the little blush on his face. "Can you make us glow? Like you're using your Quirk on us?"
"'Like' I'm using my Quirk?" Izuku repeated back.
"Can you?" Melissa asked again, her face and coy smirk leaning in and making Izuku gulp, then nod. Quickly, both he and Melissa were glowing green. "Good. Now wrap your arms around me too." Izuku was just a bit too flustered to argue and did as she said. "Hold on tight, I'm going to get us up there."
Once Izuku had locked his arms around Melissa's back, he had a brief second to think out a quick, Eh?
That was all he could get out before Melissa kicked off the ground and she and Izuku rocketed upward into the air. It brought back memories of when Izuku had latched onto All Might's leg when he had jumped off into the sky. Izuku barely had time to register what had just happened before Melissa landed on the walkway and gently put Izuku down, and ruffled his hair with a smirk. "There, that wasn't so bad."
Izuku, after regaining his composure, weakly slapped away at Melissa's hands. "Hey! Just because you're a little taller than me," about one foot in her shrunken form, "doesn't mean you get to treat me like I'm a little kid! I'm fifteen you know!" Izuku didn't like the coy look Melissa got then.
"Sixteen."
"Eh? But we're in the same grade!?"
"July fourth is my birthday, so only a few days ago."
"…" Izuku sulked. "July fifteenth."
"You're baby."
"It's only a few days!"
"Baby boy!"
Swordkil's attacks were wild, and frenzied. Momo quickly realized that while the man might be able to turn his arms into swords, he clearly hadn't spent any time actually training himself to use them competently. He was relying on brute strength and intimidation to try and win.
Momo spun the staff, knocking one of his blades out of the way and jamming the end of her staff into his gut. Swordkil hacked out a cough before he swung wildly at Momo's head, though she stepped back to dodge. Twisting the staff up, Momo held it up like a spear, jabbing it at Swordkil's face while she backed away.
He brought a bladed arm up and deflected the staff, and tried to charge forward, but Kyouka was there, swinging her bat like she was trying to hit a home run. Swordkil barley had a chance to dodge that. "Fucking bitch!"
WACK!
Momo brought the end of the staff down on his shoulder. "Language!"
"Fucking!" Swordkil reached up and grabbed the staff with both hands, trying to yank it out of Momo's hands. "Die!"
Momo wasn't letting go, but gave out a yelp as her feet skid across the floor and the distance between the two closed. Yanked within reach, Swordkil changed tactics and let go with one hand, his sword Quirk activating on the freed hand. Sword raised, he stabbed at Momo, who was now forced to let go of her staff to try and dodge. The blade sliced against her shoulder. A grazing hit, but enough to draw blood.
Hitting the ground, Momo found Swordkil standing over her. He tossed her staff away, and now had both his arms armed and raised to impale Momo to the floor. He didn't get the chance, as Kyouka stepped in and swung her bat right into his side. The crunch heard in the hall was most definitely some ribs getting crushed. While he screamed out some blood, a glowing sparkle danced over Momo's stomach before a new staff ripped through the front of her dress and drilled Swordkil right underneath the chin, flipping him backwards, ankles over elbows
While Swordkil gurgled on some blood, Kyouka was busy fretting over the cut on Momo's shoulder. Creating some gauze and pads, Momo handed them to Kyouka to help bandage her up.
"G-gonna kill you."
Kyouka frowned. "Dude, stay down or I'm bashing your head in."
Swordkil hacked up another mouthful of blood before he reached into his vest. When he pulled his hand free, Momo was alarmed to see him holding some kind of auto-injector hypodermic needle. "Wait? What are you doing?!"
Kyouka hurried to stop him, her bat scraping along the floor as she hurried to swing it.
Swordkil didn't hesitate to jam the needle into his neck, just as Kyouka got to him. But by then it was too late.
Reaching the top floor, Izuku and Melissa carefully made their way through the halls. Unlike the rest of the building, there were no shutters to block their way. Melissa explained that the whole floor was cut off from the rest of the building, so there wasn't a point.
"They aren't sending any more robots after us?" Izuku asked as he peered around a corner. "Or anymore of their men?"
"They might not know we made it this far up because of the skip we took. Some of the cameras were damaged in the stairwell because of all the gunfire."
"That'd be lucky."
"Also…" Melissa hummed to herself as she gave it some thought. "They only sent a couple of people at us at a time. They were being extremely careful not to divide their forces too much. It's possible that the villains only consist of a handful of men. The ones in the reception hall, the two in the plant study room, the few in the stairwell…They'd have to have someone in the control room to make sure things are operating, but… they just might not have anyone left to come look for us."
Izuku nodded as the pair continued on. "Okay, then lets—!" Izuku quickly put an arm out, halting Melissa and himself before they rounded another corner. "There's someone in that room."
Melissa frowned. "That's the tower's storage room. It's where I-Island keeps its classified and potentially dangerous inventions."
"Potentially dangerous?"
"It's sort of the boogeyman for anyone working here. Sometimes a scientist's project might take a turn and become too dangerous to continue under certain circumstances. So the project is 'frozen' and everything is stored here." Melissa gave the room a cold look, not hostile but as someone whose dream was to become an inventor and scientist like her father, the idea that such a place existed went against her very being. "If there are villains inside there, they're out of luck. Nothing can get stolen from that room. Even if you have control of the security, you still can't just—"
"Melissa…" Izuku looked closer and almost gasped, "isn't that your father?!"
"Papa?" Melissa's eyes went wide, as her attention was brought directly to the two individuals inside the room. "It is! It's Papa and Sam! What are they doing all the way up here?"
"Maybe the villains brought them up? We still don't know what they want. Maybe it's something in there?" Izuku glanced over and saw the conflict in Melissa's eyes. She was up here to restore control of security back to I-Island. They had all assumed that he was being held with everyone else down in the reception hall. So now seeing her father was being held separately, for some reason, and he was right in front of her…
Izuku knew, if someone had taken his mother, what would be the first thing he'd do. "Let's save him. We can grab them both on our way to the control room. They might not even know what's going on with all the villains missing from the floor."
Relief washed over Melissa's face. "Thank you, Midoriya."
As the two rushed for the room, they started to hear the two adults' voices carry down the hall. The more they heard, the more a twisted coldness clutched at them.
"…to unlock it. …block 1147."
"Okay. I'm... opening it… Everything… here…"
"…have finally gotten it back. …device and research data are the… never give to anyone. I'll never give it up."
Each step Izuku and Melissa took, slowed. The words they heard slowing them.
"…Going… to plan, isn't it? … the villains are doing well…"
"Thank you… All because you arranged everything… Sam." David breathed a sigh of relief as he looked up at Sam, holding the case open for him to see inside. Walking up the steps, so he could hold it himself, he felt that at least finally, things were going to be alright.
"Pa…Papa?"
At least until he heard her voice. When David turned around, his heart sank. In the doorway to the storage room, Melissa and Izuku stood in complete shock. Melissa's hands clenched together over her mouth, fighting back tears as everything she had just heard rocked her to her core.
"Me-Melissa? You… what are you doing here?"
"Papa, what did you mean by 'arranged?' Please, tell me you're not behind this. Tell me you didn't… do all this just to get whatever that thing is." Melissa's voice was strained, so many emotions threatening to tear out of her. The hope that she had just misunderstood what she had heard, was acting as a last line of defense against a full on breakdown. "My Papa would never do this!"
David turned away. "I did."
Melissa almost collapsed then and there. Her voice failing her, it was Izuku who asked the next question. "But why? Why do all this? You're one of I-Island's greatest inventors. You're All Might's friend. Why would you—"
"I'm doing this for All Might." David's fists clenched. His shame was still on his face, but so was his determination. "Neither of you two understand, you couldn't… the reason why I would go to these lengths to get back what was stolen from me. This device is something I've been working on for so long. I had to get it back."
"But… What does this have to do with All Might?" Izuku was confused. Nothing about what was happening made any sense.
"This device, was something I made to mechanically amplify Quirks." David caught the pair's looks. Shock but also the beginnings of them coming to the wrong conclusions. "It's not like the drugs. Trigger robs the person using it of their reason, and it can become addictive. My device won't affect the body at all. That's why it's perfect for All Might. With this… the world won't lose its symbol of peace. With this I can reverse…" David trailed off, catching himself before he went too far.
Izuku's eyes went wide, as things started to make sense. All Might had told him that David knew about his condition, his injured body and that he wasn't going to be able to be a hero for much longer. But David didn't know the why of things, didn't know about One for All. He must assume that the injuries are affecting All Might's Quirk too.
Melissa recalled the lab results she had seen the day before and closed her eyes. The desperation made sense, but not the rest.
"The governing board confiscated my invention, all my data… everything. Even the research itself was frozen and locked away. They were pressured by multiple governments to lock it all away. They were afraid that if my work became known to the world… the structure of our world would change drastically." Anger dripped from David's words. "Even before I came to the governing board's hearing to plead my case, they had already decided the outcome. What's more, they warned me that any attempts to leave and begin my project somewhere else… would mean I wouldn't be protected by I-Island's sovereignty and the governments that pressured them to shut me down would be free to lock me away too." The man looked lost as he stood before everyone. Deflated and alone. "The system had decided, and nothing I could do would change their minds… So if we couldn't work with the system, we'd just go around it."
We? Izuku frowned.
David motioned towards Sam. "Sam was able to get in contact with a group of individuals who would be able to cause a distraction, pretending to be villains. With our clearance code, they would be able to temporarily take over the island and hold it so Sam and I could take back my research and invention. With us pulling the strings, no one will get hurt. And I'll be able to save All Might." Melissa took another step back, and David hurried after her. "Melissa, listen to me, I have to get this device to All Might. The number one hero… The Symbol of Peace… can get his light back again, and save many people once more. After he gets it, I don't care what kind of punishment I receive. The only thing that matters is making sure the world doesn't lose him."
Izuku recalled the look in All Might's eye when he spoke to him back before the sports festival, about how soon he was going to have to step down. All Might had spoken about how some villains might react to it, but not how friends and allies might. This desperation to have him stay, to keep him as he was in his glory. David had been one of All Might's closest friends, and he couldn't let him go. In the back of his mind, Izuku wondered, if All Might had told David the whole truth, would that have helped prevent this?
Still, there would be time to wonder 'what-ifs' later. He had to try and talk some sense into this man. "Mr. Shield… All Might knows that he'll have to retire one day. He's told me this himself. It's why he chose to become a teacher. So that he could help the next generation be ready for that day."
The sneer that crossed David's face was not what Izuku had expected his words to invoke. The absolute rejection of the idea was clear, but it's what he said next that devastated one of them. "Tell me, could you name a single person, a single hero that could ever replace All Might? That could achieve even a fraction of his accomplishments?" His eyes went from Izuku, then Melissa, "None. They're all pale imitations. There isn't one that could ever hope to inspire the world like he has!"
David stood before the two now, hands spread out, as he tried to get them to see why he had to do this. Because without All Might, the world was doomed. Not realizing just how much his words had hurt one of them. Cutting her to her core.
Melissa was still in shock, her eyes never leaving her father's as her whole world seemed to be coming down around her. Everything, every word she heard, just made her mind go numb. But while Melissa's mind stalled, Izuku's was racing. Something was screaming at the back of his mind, trying to yell over everything that was threatening to shut him down like Melissa.
The explanation, the story, something about it rang false. Izuku had to pry his thoughts away from everything else, just to even attempt to think this through, and given the whole mess that this was, it was an almost herculean task.
What is it? Izuku's knuckles popped as he focused. He replayed everything he had heard over the last few minutes, from what they heard in the hall, to everything just now. And then…
"They're hurting people. My friends…are fighting against these villains." David looked over at Izuku. "Fighting against villains that were trying to kill us."
He said… he thought the villains were fake… But he's behind this whole thing. So he'd… Wait, it was Mr. Abraham that was supposed to…!
Izuku, for the first time for anyone in the room, glanced over at Sam. Just in time for him to see the man reach into his jacket, pull out a gun and start to take aim. Green sparks exploded around Izuku's body as he acted. He was only barely aware of the sudden sounds of alarm that came from Melissa and David. He lunged for David, wincing at the sudden cry behind him as Melissa begged him not to hurt her father. Izuku tackled David to the ground, the two skidding across the floor from the force of the impact, just as Sam pulled the trigger and unloaded the gun into the spot David had once been.
"Papa!"
"Damn you!" Sam bellowed, swinging the gun to try again, only for it to get ripped from his hand as Izuku telekinetically chucked it to the other side of the room.
David rolled off the ground and looked up at Sam in shock. Melissa was also dumbstruck. Izuku looked over at the gun, then at Sam. "You said the villains were supposed to be fake. But they're not. Then you said it was Mr. Abraham that got in contact with the group."
"Sam? What… what's the meaning of this? What did you do?"
Sam looked down at David, and it was like a mask had fallen off his face. His eyes burned with contempt and hate. "Don't you dare think you have the right to question me." The bile and rage in his voice made everyone flinch. "A man who would betray his own kind, to create a weapon that would endanger the last few true humans in this world. That you would choose those freaks, even when you were blessed with a pure-blooded wife and daughter!"
"The heck?" Suddenly Izuku had no idea what was going on. "His own kind? True humans? What does that even mean?"
"Samuel, that's enough." The doors to the room opened as Wolfram and the hacker, what remained of the control room team, followed after him. "Words are wasted here. Though I don't blame you for wishing to speak, there aren't many that could stand to be around a race traitor like him for as long as you did. But, the less said the better."
Sam, still seething, turned away, clutching the case with the Quirk enhancing device under his arm. "I have the weapon, Wolfram."
"Good, then all that's left is to clean up the trash."
Izuku frowned. This was clearly the leader of the villains. Things were about to get bad, so he needed to act fast. "Melissa! The security controls!"
Izuku's yell acted like a starting pistol. Everything happened all at once. Melissa snapped out of her shock, and realizing she still had a job to do, took off for the control room down the hall. The hacker took off after her, but he was suddenly body checked by Izuku, bouncing off a wall and knocked the fuck out.
"Mr. Shield, stay behind me!" Maybe David had been responsible for what was going on, but it was also clear to Izuku that there was something else, much more sinister, at play, and that David had been dragged into it. But besides any of that, this was Melissa's father, and All Might's friend. So of course he was going to make sure he was safe.
Izuku turned just in time to see Wolfram put his hand against the metal door frame and multiple tendrils of metal shoot out at him like pissed off snakes. Izuku reached out to grab them with his Quirk, pausing them in midair for a second, but was startled when they wrenched free. Izuku quickly put up a barrier before he was hit, but the metal suddenly changed directions to go around and slammed into him, wrapping him up in metal bindings. Izuku was then yanked back and slammed into the far side of the wall and anchored in place.
Izuku hissed, his mind racing as he took stock of who he was fighting. The man had some kind of Metal Manipulation Quirk, though Izuku wasn't sure if it was by touch or if he could use his Quirk mentally. Seeing it only once was not enough to have a clear idea of its ability, which meant Izuku was going to be limited in what he could use his own Quirk on since pretty much everything in the room was metal. So that just left fire and…
The sound of the metal holding him snapping and shearing got the room's attention as Izuku ripped and tore at his bindings. Wolfram frowned before glancing back towards Sam. "Take the device and head for the roof. We have to assume that the girl is about to give the island control of the security. We'll have a brief window before it fully reboots."
Sam nodded. "Of course!" Clutching the case to his chest, Sam turned and ran for the exit. Which by itself was bad, but Izuku had to deal with the present threat, which was Wolfram.
"SAM! GET BACK HERE!"
Or not. Izuku's head snapped around as David rushed after the other man, making a beeline for him and not at all paying attention to where that put him. "Mr. Shield! Wait your—!"
David crossed right into Wolfram's path, and the villain capitalized. Hand on the floor, the metal handrails around the room writhed before ensnaring the scientist. Wolfram smirked past his mask as he kicked David in the back of the head, knocking him out before he picked David up. "You've committed too many crimes against humanity. It's only right you come with us to work off your sins."
"Let him go!" Ripping himself free, Izuku kicked off the wall, and shot across the room, his gauntlet-covered arm pulled back as he got ready to drive his fist into the villain's face.
Wolfram's hand slammed into the floor, and between himself and Izuku, the floor crumpled, then was pushed up, creating a wall of metal separating the two. Izuku didn't have time to be surprised by the sudden change in strength Wolfram was putting on. Clearly he had more power if he could manipulate so much metal. But Izuku wasn't worried about that, instead, he pumped up the amount of One for All he was using and threw his punch into the wall, cratering the metal and sending massive cracks throughout the barrier.
I used all that power and didn't break through?! Melissa was right, this place is built like a bomb shelter!
Landing on his feet, Izuku got ready to throw another punch, when he heard more metal getting twisted and rearranged. Suddenly pillars rocketed from the walls and ceiling, slamming into Izuku as he put up his arms to defend himself. Clearly Wolfram had intended to crush Izuku with that attack, but Izuku was able to hold the metal back, if only just. If Wolfram was startled that his attack hadn't killed Izuku, the man didn't show it. Instead, he simply redoubled his attack, driving pillar after pillar into the spot Izuku was standing, until he couldn't see him anymore.
A soft hum then echoed throughout the room, making Wolfram turn away from the fight and look up at the walls. He could hear the security systems in the building shutting down, the soft echo of multiple shutters opening back up and he was sure all the security bots would be standing down as well. That also meant all the restrained heroes down below would soon be freed, if they weren't already in the middle of a counter-attack.
"Damned brat moves fast…" Wolfram glanced over at the downed hacker before he made sure David was secured over his shoulder, and ran out of the room, making his way to the roof of the building.
For a few minutes, nothing stirred in the room. Then, the silence was broken as the metal pillars began to glow green, before shattering, with Izuku falling to the floor. Bruised, frayed and a little bloodied, but uncrushed. Hissing as he picked himself off the floor, Izuku casually rubbed his brow, feeling a dull throb from having to push back against Wolframs onslaught and keep those pillars from smashing him like a bug and turning him into red paste.
"Need to get to… the roof," Izuku huffed and hurried out into the hall. He couldn't let those villains get away. Not with Melissa's father.
With a soft hum, the glaring red light emanating from the tops of the endless stream of security bots rushing into the hall began to fade away, followed quickly with the robots then retracting into themselves, returning to their normal, non-combative state.
Standing in a hissing puddle as her acid chewed through the concrete floor, Mina huffed and puffed as she shook her arms, soaked and dripping, around to try and dry them off while also not putting even more holes into her dress. Eyeing all the scrap metal, she asked, "Did… did we… win?"
Shouto stepped away from the burning wreckage he had made to check their surroundings. "They must have gotten to the control room."
Mina groaned at the remains of her dress, picking at one of the acid burn holes. "So, what do we do now? With the security back online… the day's saved, right?"
Shouto frowned and walked over to the motionless security bots, waving a hand in front of their cameras, then tapping one. "It seems like they're not functioning."
"Maybe… they're rebooting? Takes my computer a little bit when I have to turn it off and on again."
"Then that means that the security system might not be able to react to the threat right away," Shouto said, now glancing towards the opened halls. "Plus all the heroes are on the ground floor. They'll take care of the villains down there, but the rest that were in the control room…"
"Let's head up then. Make sure everyones alright," Mina said, already reading Shouto's intentions.
"Yes."
When all the screens around the reception all stopped displaying the red lockdown warnings was the first warning the remaining villains in the reception had that something had gone horribly wrong. The next was when all the bindings holding the heroes suddenly came apart, freeing them.
"Wh-what the hell?!"
The villains, panicking as they realized what was going on, brought their guns up, ready to unload them into the room at anyone they perceived as a threat. Which in their state of mind, was everyone. "N-No one move! Or els—"
The heroes acted faster than the villains could react. In the blink of an eye, two had their bells rung as the heroes clobbered them hard. The remaining two stumbled back, realizing that running was their best bet to get away.
Boom!
From the kitchen doors, fire and smoke exploded as the doors were flung open and an angry Katsuki rode the explosion and launched himself into the room, right at the villains. "FUCKING FINALLY! DIE!"
A villain only had enough time to wonder why he was about to get killed by a yappy dog wearing a large toque blanche, before Katsuki threw an explosion into his face, sending him sailing across the room and into the far wall.
The last villain grabbed a woman, trying to pull her towards himself as a human shield. "Nobody else moves! Or else the woman d—"
Suddenly, a glob of yellowish green fire splashed into his face. Instantly, his head was engulfed in fire and all threats died in his throat. Instead the only sounds he made were pained horrific screams as he rushed for the neatest punch bowl to put his head out, letting the woman go free and unharmed.
Katsuki blinked and turned, as a young woman, maybe a year or so older than him, stomped over, her eyes crazed as she pulled another handful of fire out from her flaming hair. "You fucking jack-asses!" The unfortunate villain had only just put his head out when the woman fast ball'd the fire right into his chest, hitting him and exploding. The man somersaulted over the table and landed on the floor. "You shitheads pull this crap, and now I gotta find Endeavor's kid."
"Half and Half?" Katsuki grunted and pointed up. "He's up there somewhere with the rest of these shitstain villains for sure."
Moe's eyes twitched. "I swear to god if I lose my internship because that little brat ran into trouble I'm going to kill him… Fuck me if Eiko and Hitomi hear about this shit."
Katsuki sneered. "If you're so fucking worried about him, I'll send him down after I rip them apart for taking too fucking long."
"Kid, you should just stay here while the adults go and rescue the rest of your friends," Moe said, eyeing Katsuki with annoyance.
"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU CALLING A KID?!"
Free of the bindings, and with the other villains quickly, and in some cases brutally, dealt with, All Might was up and rushing out of the room. Silently he praised the work his students had accomplished. He was already out into the main hallway when he heard his phone go off. Quickly grabbing it, he saw Melissa's name flashing on the screen. "Melissa? We just took out the villains down here. Great job." He was tempted to ask a few more questions, but he had a pretty good idea what some of the answers would be. After all, earlier today, Star and Stripe had to completely leave the tower to get changed for the event. The central tower was one of the most secure places after all.
"Uncle Might, listen!" Melissa on the other end of the call was furiously typing away at the control system, trying to find everyone after her initial check showed the storage room completely wrecked and empty. "The villains attacked to steal some sort of quirk enhancing device Papa made. Sam is working with them." She heard All Might take in a sharp breath. "And…so was Papa."
"What?!"
"Papa was… tricked. I don't… I don't have the whole story. Something bad happened but this wasn't what he wanted. Sam tricked him." Melissa ground her teeth. Maybe saying this was all Sam's fault wasn't true, but it was all that she could process right now. The rest would have to come later. "I'm looking for the villains now on the cameras. Security is rebooting so if they escape now we won't be able to stop them in time. Ah!" On one of the screens she found Izuku. "I found Midoriya!"
"Is he alright?!"
"He's a little beat up, he must have fought the leader of the villains in the storage room and is now chasing after them…"
"No no no! Get in contact with him now! The heroes are all freed, I don't want him taking any more risks."
Melissa frowned as she got a good look at his face. She was sure he was chasing after the leader, but the look he had wasn't heroic determination. He looked desperate, and scared. "Why does he look like that?" And where's Papa?
"Look like what? Melissa?"
Melissa pulled up a few more screens. "There's… a helicopter landing on the roof. That must be how Wolfram and Sam plan on escaping. Then they have to be in this hallwa—" Her voice died in her throat, eyes going wide as she saw why Izuku must have been chasing after them so desperately. "THEY HAVE PAPA!"
Not thinking, Melissa bolted from the control room, not waiting long enough to hear All Might promising he would be right there to save them.
Whatever Nobu had been when their fight had started, he wasn't anymore. The top of his head now had large curved horns that paired with his goat face. But it was what was below his face that was the most drastic. His jaw was split down the middle, the opening running down his throat and only ending at his waist. His chest and stomach were spread open, becoming one giant black void of a mouth. Along the edges, clawed webbed fingers jutted out from the void, replacing the clawed hands the now armless villain once had.
Tenya wasn't sure just what was going on, but what he did know was that standing still was going to get him killed. He immediately took off, just as the most horrific crunch reverberated from Nobu's 'mouth' and a straight line was gouged out of reality.
This is bad! Tenya didn't have time to wonder how the villain had undergone such a drastic transformation. He just had to keep moving and avoid the new devastating attack the man possessed.
At least— Tenya skid to a stop, just avoiding another attack from in front of himself, the ground suddenly having another carved-out line. —I was about to say at least he's stationary but if all he has to do is turn to attack me, that's not the biggest help.
Tenya started running in a zigzag pattern, trying to make sure he didn't offer up an easy target by just going in a straight line, but even doing this, he was having to keep an eye on Nobu to gauge where the next attack was coming. And trying to run but not watch where you're going is not a great combination. Tenya hadn't fallen, but there were a few close tripping calls.
He knew he had to come up with something soon, otherwise—
Tenya shook his head. That wasn't something to dwell on. So instead, as he sped around, he tried to think of everything he knew about this new form the villain had. It had changed his Quirk so that instead of scooping out, it was punching holes as it displaced. The attacks, while bigger, did seem slower, since unlike the previous times, he wasn't able to use his Quirk instantaneously like he had with his claws. And, he was stationary.
So what can I do with all this? I need to do something drastic to end this now… Drastic… Maybe I should try thinking like Midoriya. How would he handle this?
Thinking about that seriously, he was sure Izuku would do something completely reckless and just run straight at the villain.
…Oh.
Tenya came to a sudden stop, his shoes skidding across the ground to the point that the soles started to smoke.
One shot, I'll just have to hope I can dodge in time!
Tenya's engines roared, just as Nobu fully turned to face him.
"Recipro Burst!"
CRUNCH!
Tenya boosted forward, twisting and rocketing as he closed the gap between himself and the villain. Another line was gouged out, with Tenya shifting his body so it only just grazed him, shredding his coat and shirt. Swinging his leg out, Tenya drove his heel into the back of Nobu's head, and smashed him face first into the ground.
Landing on his feet, Tenya turned and stood proud as he looked down at the twitching, but knocked out villain.
"Now… Where is Uraraka?"
Blood splattered the walls when in a flash of silver, Swordkil attacked. Kyouka was thrown to the floor, looking up in horror as Momo had pulled her back and put herself between Kyoka and the villain. She had started to create a shield for herself, but it was only half formed and hadn't offered perfect protection. The metal hit the ground in cut-up chunks as Swordkil's attack had gone right though.
Momo stumbled back, gasping in pain while new cuts along her arms and legs bled profusely. Swordkil laughed, a manic unhinged laugh, chanting like a mad man. "Slice and cut, slice and cut."
"Yaoyorozu! Get away from him!" Kyouka scrambled to get her bearings while trying to understand what the hell just happened.
Swordkil wasn't just acting differently now. His body was different. Sprouting out from his shoulders, ripping through his clothing, were four new arms, each one armed with the same swords as his original set. Swordkil scraped the six swords together, grinning insanely as they sparked, the scraping making Kyouka wince.
"He used Trigger," Momo hissed as she took a step back. "That must be it."
"Slice and cut, slice and cut," Swordkil kept chanting as he charged forward, all his arms swinging widely at Momo and Kyouka.
Kyouka was still on the ground, so Momo couldn't move out of the way, or else she would be cut into bloody chunks. Her back sparkled as a large pole pushed out from her back, and slammed into Kyouka, driving her backwards. At the same time, Momo quickly started making shields to protect herself but like the others, Swordkil was slicing through them before they could be fully completed. They were only just keeping her from getting diced apart, but Momo knew she couldn't just keep making the same thing over and over again. Sooner rather than later, she was going to hit her creation limit.
So she thought back to everything she learned from Fat Gum, and instead of trying anything overcomplicated, she went with her gut and ran with it. She skipped backwards, giving herself just enough room to work, and quickly created two objects. The one from her back was expelled backwards, while the other came out from her hand.
"Stupid staff! Stupid staff!" Swordkil screamed at the object, getting ready to cut it up. Even crazed, he still felt the damage to his pride after getting whacked with that damned thing. His swords swung and—
Clang!
Momo caught them with the blade of her naginata. The curved, slim katana blade was able to catch the attack, while Momo used the long staff portion to then deflect it away. The blade sliced through Swordkil's vest as he stumbled back.
Momo twirled her new weapon before she leveled it at the opponent, the blade pointed directly at his chest. "En garde, fustilarian."
Swordkil, even if he wasn't roided out of his mind, wouldn't have known what that meant. And even in his roided out state of mind, he knew that. So roided out Swordkil did what any roided out person would do when confused and angry. They screamed and attacked. was lucky that with the Trigger drug affecting his mind, Swordkil was swinging his arms without any real thought behind it. It was mostly left and right and he wasn't taking full advantage of the fact he had multiple potential combos with six different points of damage. That, and the fact that Momo had a weapon that could cut him up too also had the villain not doing all that he could. Self-preservation wasn't something that could get buried too easily.
Just need to hold out a little longer!
Keeping the blade always pointed towards Swordkil, Momo pivoted and spun the end as she fought off the oncoming attacks. She was holding him off, but she was losing ground fast. That, and her wounds were beginning to affect her more than she wanted to admit. Her arms felt rubbery and her legs quaked with every step.
"READY!"
The sudden call was instant relief to Momo. With Swordkil's next attack, Momo brought her naginata in, so that Swordkil's blades got right up close, but at the last moment she twisted it, so his arms crossed over. In that moment, the two were locked together. Motionless. "Take the shot!"
Thump
Thump
Thump
Three soft impacts were the only clue at first that anything had happened. Swordkil blinked, and turned to look over at Kyouka, the tranq pistol Momo had created and thrown to her raised and held in her hands. He looked at her, then stumbled backwards on wobbly legs. The blades around his arms retracted and each hand searched his body, finding a dart in his leg, gut and then the last in his neck.
Thump
Thump
Thump
Momo quickly created a tranq gun of her own and fired three darts into the villains chest. His eyes rolled up and he fell onto his back, knocked out cold. Momo glanced down at the gun in her hand and puffed out an annoyed sigh. "So uncivilized."
Then she remembered that she wasn't in the best of shape, and let herself slide down on the nearest wall and sat on the ground. Kyouka was quickly by her side, ready to help her in any way she could.
Ochako tumbled down, trying not to get flattened by the huge chunks of concrete. Peering through the dust cloud, Ochako realized that like the floor she had been on, this one underneath it was big, and very tall, two or three floors high, which meant she needed to slow herself down before she became a roadkill pancake.
At the last possible second, Ochako floated herself. Around her, rubble and other scrap slammed into the floor. It was still crashing down as her feet touched the ground and she released her Quirk's hold. To her side, the remains of the pillar, which had been floating down still under the effect of her Quirk, crashed down beside her, making Ochako wince.
Though she winced harder as something else slammed into the ground out in front of her. Whatever it had been, sounded big.
"Okay… Okay let's just see where we are." Ochako scanned the room. It seemed like some kind of convention floor, similar to the pavilion Melissa had taken her and Izuku to the other day. Inventions and gadgets were arranged inside the large room, some propped up for people to have a go. There was also a raised stage with something Ochako had seen before. The—
SQUEEEEE!
The horrific squeal brought Ochako's attention back to the center of the dust and rubble. Everything that had fallen was getting moved as something began to rise out of it. Ochako wasn't sure what she expected, but it sure wasn't what emerged.
Daigo, somehow, had taken the form of a giant demonic boar. Large ivory tusks jutted out from his snout, and his neck was draped in a dark black mane while his body was covered in purple fur. His front arms now resembled something closer to legs, but with clawed hands, while his back legs ended with twin cleft hooves.
The monster's eyes, red and burning with hate, zeroed in on Ochako, who gulped. "Oh fuck… You aren't still mad about the beer gut dig, are you?"
Daigo's roar was his answer as he charged, tusks and face smashing through metal and concrete as he moved to rip Ochako apart. Ochako, acting quickly, found the remains of the pillar and hefted it up, quickly swinging it around to smash the raging giant boar in the face. Instead, Daigo smashed through it, and Ochako was sent flying backwards, flying through stalls and displays until she hit the ground with a sickening thud.
"Oh ow… ow ow…" Ochako struggled to get back up, her bell significantly rung. But even with the ringing in her head, she could hear that monster charging after her. And not wanting to get run the fuck down was a very good motivator to get the fuck up and get the fuck out of the way.
Ochako took off running just as Daigo crashed through the spot where she had landed. "Look! I get it. You're a fat ugly piece of shit villain. But I'm sure there's someone out there with standards low enough to give you five minutes of her time. One to hump away and then four to sob in her pillow!"
SQUEEEEE!
…Why am I still goading him?!
Daigo raised his arm out and swatted, kicking up displays and gear and sending it out in a crashing wave. Ochako leapt up, trying to float out of the strike zone, but got swept away all the same.
"Shit! Fuck! Damn it!" Ochako cursed and screamed as she tumbled uncontrollably through the air, until—
BANG!
She slammed into something solid and she almost wrapped around it. Hitting the ground, Ochako rubbed her side, decently sure something was cracked. Reaching up, Ochako tried to grab something to help get her back up on her feet. Without really looking, her hand found something to grab a hold of, and she pulled herself up. "Okay… Okay, I need to figure something out or I'm… fuck?"
Ochako blinked as she looked at where she was and what she was holding onto. She was up on the raised platform in the center of the room, and what she was holding… "Is this that test of strength thing they were going to have All Might and Star and Stripe use?"
It was indeed that. Ochako was holding onto the giant hammer for the game, a mallet so big and heavy that only the strongest of the strong, real number ones, could lift it.
Diago roared as he charged at her, ready to leave her a red smear on his hooves and tusks.
Ochako, not really having a lot of options, pressed her pinky into the handle so all five pads made contact and floated the hammer. Immediately, the kickback made her want to puke. The damned thing was so heavy, it was brushing against her weight limit. No wonder people couldn't lift the damned thing. But Ochako didn't have time to think about any of that. Gripping the hammer's long handle in both hands, Ochako turned and raised it up, just as Daigo's head started ripping through the platform.
"FUCK OFF!"
She brought the hammer down, and the whole platform exploded into splinters.
As the dust cleared, Ochako stumbled out of the rubble, taking the briefest of moments to make sure the twitching villain with his head smashed through the floor wasn't going to suddenly get back up.
A soft ringing made her look back at the platform, and she saw the bell from the test of strength game had been rung from her swing. She smirked and hefted the weapon onto her shoulder. "Yeah, I'm keeping this."
Ochako glanced down at herself and saw that her dress, the horror and bane of her existence, was also thoroughly trashed. "Thank you merciful god." Glancing around, Ochako started looking for a way out of the room, so she could start making her way up the tower to follow after Izuku.
"Sir, what about everyone else?" Sam asked as he hurried behind Wolfram onto the landing pad, where their helicopter was waiting.
"The mission was for the weapon. If we don't leave now before the security system is reactivated, we won't be able to escape at all." With his free hand, Wolfram motioned for the pilot to start up the engines. The blades of the copter whirled to life as Sam rushed to get onboard, clutching the case with the device. Wolfram grunted as he felt David start to stir, and struggle. Frowning, Wolfram held onto him tighter, trying to make sure he didn't get loose.
While he was able to keep hold of his hostage, his pace had slowed. He was only halfway to the copter when Izuku burst out of the door to the roof. "Hold it!"
Izuku walked out onto the landing pad, eyes narrowed as he zeroed in on Wolfram. "Give Melissa's father back!"
Wolfram laughed. "I see. So you came all this way, just to make sure you could bring this traitor to justice." Wolfram let David fall to his feet. He was still bound up, so Wolfram didn't have to worry about him escaping. Plus, he wasn't going to be able to fight with him on his shoulder.
"I don't care about anything that's happened. Right now, the only thing I care about is saving the Professor!"
"Hmph, since when do people like you care for people like him?" Wolfram motioned towards David with disdain. Though there was something in his voice, that if Izuku had time to think about it, he'd guess there was a different meaning to that question besides the obvious.
"I'm going to become a hero! And a hero's job is to save anyone who's in trouble!" Green sparks crackled as Izuku took off running.
Wolfram immediately reached down, and from the roof, drove another pillar of twisted metal right towards Izuku. Izuku leapt up, sneakers skidding as he kicked his feet to run over the twisted metal. Wolfram immediately sent out more, the ends of which were twisted and jagged so as to skewer Izuku if they hit.
Izuku leapt off the pillar he was on, dodging the first one, but up in the air, he wouldn't be able to dodge the next. Switching from One for All to his Psychokinesis, Izuku quickly reached out and stopped the pillar from hitting him. Unfortunately the pillar he had jumped from twisted and slammed into him from underneath, knocking Izuku back so that he tumbled across the roof.
The pillar that he had been holding back was now free and rocketing towards him. Izuku righted himself just in time to pull his fist back and punch it with his right hand, the full gauntlet protecting his hand while he shattered the metal, showering the landing pad with scrap.
"Papa! Midoriya!" Melissa rushed out from the door behind Izuku and knelt beside him, helping him up.
"Don't worry, they haven't left yet, Melissa. We'll get…" Izuku noticed the white steam. It reminded him of when All Might was forced to go past his time limit. At this point Izuku didn't know if Melissa was at her limit because of time, or because of the whole situation. What he did know is that if he wanted to help make sure she didn't have to give up part of her life here and now, he had to get her father back. All the dust from Wolfram's attack was doing a decent job hiding the white steam, but if she transformed in front of these villains, there would be no explaining it away.
Don't waste time telling her it's going to be okay. Make it okay now!
Izuku racked his brain, trying to think of something that would give him the opportunity to save David. The issue was making sure Wolfram couldn't use his Quirk to pull David back, or worse, make those metal bindings lethal.
Gotta throw him off balance.
Izuku recalled the move All Might had used during his term finals. How, with a single punch, All Might had thrown Izuku and Katsuki off their feet. He'd also destroyed a good chunk of the test field, but Izuku was pretty sure he could do that. As long as he didn't use too much power.
Out of the corner of his eye, he swore he saw Melissa's body start to bulk up. So he snapped to it. Rearing back, he pumped One for All up, past the limits he'd ever used safely. He saw the red streaks of energy crossing over himself, his body letting him know he was going way past the limits he'd be able to handle safely. But he had to trust that Melissa's gift would keep him from hurting himself.
Izuku threw his punch, and the air cracked and shook as a sonic boom ripped forward. The roof underneath the shockwave cracked as it followed after the blow.
Wolfram didn't have time to react as the shockwave slammed into him, hurting him backwards. But Izuku didn't take the time to celebrate. He immediately switched to Psychokinesis, grabbed David, and yanked him back towards himself.
David slammed into Izuku as he grabbed him and the two fell to the ground. Not the most graceful rescue. But he had done it.
There, that should at least help keep Melissa from transforming right now. Sure enough, it seemed like Melissa was more concerned at the moment about checking on her father. There was still a little steam, but it looked like she wasn't about to blow now.
Okay, now to figure out what to do about the villa—!
The roof writhed under their feet as Wolfram, after quickly recovering and losing a potential asset for his cause, decided that if he couldn't be used, then he had to die. The roof twisted and then shattered, flinging Izuku, Melissa and David up into the air and over the ledge. As they tumbled, Wolfram bolted and jumped into the helicopter, yelling for the pilot to take off.
Izuku, suddenly seeing the city underneath him and the huge fall to the ground, did his best not to panic. He immediately reached out with his Quirk and enveloped each of them in green light. With no time to finesse things, he yanked the trio and large chunks of debris back, trying to pull them back to the roof and safety. Their fall stalled, just as they started to dip below the roofs ledge. Teeth grinding together, Izuku willed them backwards. He just needed to move them a short ways and—
Melissa moved, immediately breaking free of Izuku's hold. Putting her hands on Izuku's chest and her father, she smiled, and gave the two a *little* push. Easily flinging them up and over the ledge, while she started to fall.
As Izuku watched her plummet, he saw the steam billowing around her. Then, just before she vanished from sight, casually kicking off some debris to launch herself down, he saw her face. First, a reassuring wink. Then…
Landing on his butt with a huff, and making sure David was safe, Izuku turned to watch the helicopter rise higher and higher up into the sky, though he made no move to try and get them. Because even if he wanted to try and pull a helicopter down with his Quirk, he knew full well it was time to sit down, and enjoy the show. Because after waiting so freaking long, Melissa's gonna really mess those guys up.
And Izuku did not want to get between her and them.
A second passed, and Izuku swore he felt the building shake as a blue streak shot up into the air.
"Worry not, Young Midoriya! You've rescued the hostage, so smile! These villains won't escape! Everything will be alright!" All Might somersaulted upright after blowing past the ascending helicopter, making sure to put on a good flex, to really drive home just how screwed they were. "Why? Because I am her—"
CRASH!
All Might's victory speech was suddenly cut short as another streak shot up from the other side of the building, except this one didn't fly past the helicopter. Instead, Star and Stripe blasted right through it, shattering the helicopter's tail and sending it spiraling back down to the landing pad in flames.
All Might blinked, as he quickly caught up and dealt with his thunder getting stolen. He was about to caution Star and Stripe that suddenly cutting in like that could have been dangerous, but then he got a good look at her face. And wisely decided to not say a word.
That's the same look her mother gets when she's about to kick my ass… Leave it alone All Might. Leave. It. Alone.
As the two fell back to the roof, All Might chose not to listen to his own advice. "…You know, it's usually a good idea to make sure that you'll be able to capture the villains after, um… wrecking their escape. I was going to rip them out of the helicopter when I smashed through it… So how are," the helicopter crashed onto the platform, making a loud explosive boom, "errr, how are you making sure they aren't dead?"
Star and Stripe crossed her arms. "Trusting that the people who made that military helicopter designed it to keep its passengers alive in a crash."
Both landed and All Might looked at the burning wreckage. "You're trusting because of your knowledge as an inventor, right?"
Star and Stripe turned away from the crash, cape billowing in the wind.
"You're trusting because of your knowledge as an inventor, right?" All Might asked again, a little more desperately.
By the time the two walked over to Izuku, he had been able to undo the metal bindings around David. Izuku knew that he probably shouldn't be doing this, given how David was connected to everything, but the man just looked so defeated Izuku was certain there was no risk of him trying to flee.
All Might nodded at Izuku with a proud smile on his face. "You did good tonight. Catch your breath, and then we'll start making our way down to find everyone else."
"They stayed behind to hold off some of the villains," Izuku said, some worry creeping into his voice. He was starting to get antsy now.
Star and Stripe quickly moved to calm his nerves. "When the system was switched back, there were no alarms for any registered guests being hurt or worse. And now that the system is rebooted, even if they were still fighting, the security will have captured the villains. They're fine, Midoriya."
Izuku relaxed, but still said, "I need to go find her."
Star and Stripe knelt down, and put a hand on his shoulder. "I know. I'll take you down there. Don't worry,"
Izuku sighed, letting out a long breath that felt like he had been holding it the whole night. Finally starting to come down and lose the high from his adrenaline, and seeing that All Might was turning his attention towards David, he gave Star and Stripe a lopsided smile. "Looks like you got to let off some steam, huh?"
Star and Stripe's reassuring smile soured. "…Really? I take back every nice thing I've said and thought about you."
Izuku just grinned super innocently.
"That cuteness is only going to protect you for so long. Remember that," Star and Stripe said. Ending with a finger flick to Izuku's forehead.
The levity of the scene ended all too soon as All Might knelt next to David and asked the burning question. "Why David? Melissa told me that… this was you? Surely she misunderstood or…"
David shook his head. "I had to do it. They took my invention away… so I had… It wasn't supposed to be like this. Sam was…" David covered his face with his hands. "It wasn't supposed to be real. Just actors playing the part so I could get my device back."
"But why? Everything you've built. Your life, your family, why would—"
"Your Quirk is fading, Toshinori!" David looked up at All Might, his desperation plain to see. "I had to try and stop it, had to figure out a way to save you!" All Might flinched hard, while Izuku looked away.
"David… I can't… I can't be worth everything you're at risk of losing."
"If the world loses you, then things will go back to how they were. No one wants to think about it, but the world… We haven't had peace for as long as everyone wants to think we have. It was peace you brought us. Your influence spread over the whole world. We can't lose you, the world can't lose you!"
David's fists slammed into the roof. "There's no future for us if you're not still the pillar of peace. You're the only one who can keep us all safe! My invention, it would have given your Quirk its strength back, enhanced it without risking your body. You would have been your old self again. But… I won't have time to make another one before your Quirk fades completely… and when that happens… there won't be any hope left."
"THAT'S NOT TRUE!"
Everyone's heads snapped around as Izuku jumped to his feet, his emerald eyes blazing as his face twisted. Every word he heard seemed to just strike the worst possible cords within his heart. Because he knew those words David kept saying, were cutting deeping into someone's heart. Growling, Izuku stormed up to David, and grabbed him by his collar, wrenching him up so that they were eye to eye.
"Y-young Midoriya!" All Might reached out to try and get the situation under control.
"How can you sit there and say those horrible things?! How can you not see that everything you want is right in front of you!?" Izuku shook from his anger, though he held back from shaking David himself, even though he really wanted to. "You're terrified because you don't know what will happen when All Might retires?! Are you really that stupid!? The answer is right in front of you! Every freaking thing you said drove you to do this stupid freaking thing was answered already! You want to know who'd be going to keep the peace All Might helped bring to the world, well, open your eyes!"
All Might wasn't sure he had ever seen Izuku like this. Sure, he'd seen the boy do some crazy things when pushed, but this felt different. This wasn't like when he was mad for himself. This was closer to when he saw him stand up for someone else.
"What are you talking about," David asked, his own anger starting to rise up. "What answer?!"
"HER!" Izuku swung a hand out, and pointed. Right at Star and Stripe. "Do you. Have any idea. What everything you've said could be making her feel?!"
David turned, and blinked. It took a second, but then his eyes met Star and Stripe's, and the man's body language, his face, changed. Recognition, understanding, and shame overcame him as he saw the hurt in her eyes.
"Oh, god…" Tears started to well up as Izuku put the man back down and stepped away. "Melissa, I—"
CRASH!
Suddenly a giant pillar of metal ripped itself free off the roof from where the helicopter crashed. Larger than any other before, it shot out and slammed into Star and Stripe, launching her off the roof and into the distance, her body disappearing from view instantly. No one had time to react as tendrils of metal cables ensnared David, yanking him backwards away from All Might and Izuku.
The two whirled around, and were shocked at the sight before them. The top of the building was now ablaze as the roof was torn apart. Metal beams, pipes and cables writhed and shrieked as they converged around the crashed helicopter. David was pulled into the mass of metal and disappeared from view.
From the top, Wolfram emerged, being lifted high into the air by the metal he controlled, his metal mask discarded, but now atop his head, was the Quirk enhancing device. "What an incredible weapon. With this, humanity would truly be doomed." His voice began to change, darkening as more and more power was pumped through his body. "My mission may have failed, but I can use this horror to rip down the great pillar holding up this damned world."
"He's using the professor's device? That's… an insane power boost!" Izuku didn't even want to think about the horrific strain he'd be feeling trying to move around that much metal, and yet Wolfram didn't seem to be having any trouble at all. In fact, he was dragging up more and more around him by the second. "All Might, this is…"
Izuku's eyes widened when he looked at All Might, and the white steam starting to come off of his body. Thinking back, given how long it had taken them to get up to the control room since the attack began… "Oh no. Your time!"
All Might chuckled darkly. "Not to worry, Young Midoriya. The game's not over, it's just the bottom of the ninth. This is when the good stuff happens."
Bravado. All Might could feel the strain on his body just from standing. It was almost like being back at the USJ after fighting that damned monster. But only almost. Back then, he wasn't able to move. Right now? He still could.
"Step back, Young Midoriya! These kinds of villains that don't know when to give up, are the most annoying to fight!" Launching himself right at Wolfram, All Might knew he had to end the fight right away. "TEXAS SMASH!"
All Might's fist didn't connect with Wolfram though, instead a wall of metal intercepted the attack, and before All Might could regroup, the metal arms punched out of it, slamming into All Might and knocking him back down. Wolfram scoffed. "Pathetic."
By now, almost the whole top of the building was under Wolfram's control, encircling him and giving him the visage of a demon clawing up from the underworld. Wolfram laughed, his voice like the cries of the damned. The power flowing through him was overwhelming, and alluring. His Quirk was empowered beyond anything he could have ever feared possible. He was a damned man, but if he was going to hell, then he'd drag everyone with him.
Ochako growled at the closed door, and with a swing of her new hammer, busted it down, exiting the stairwell and running out onto the suddenly open floor. She frowned as a blast of chilly night air hit her as she ran out. "Wait, is this the roof? I thought it was two hundred floors." Ochako looked around.
Following behind her, Momo and Kyouka pulled up to the rear, looking around with her. "Pretty sure we took a wrong turn," Kyouka grumbled. A little after they had defeated Swordkil, Ochako had stumbled upon them. Now they were all heading up, hoping to find the rest of their group.
This floor had no walls and was exposed to the elements. Above were multiple fans, which she guessed were for wind power. "Damn. Alright, guess I'm still going—"
"The fuck happened to you Round Face?"
From the other side of the floor, a group had rushed out into the open. Katsuki, Eijirou and Mezou rushed out, all three looking a little startled at the sight of Ochako. Behind them was someone Ochako didn't recognize. She had green fiery hair and a look on her face that was disturbingly similar to Katsuki's. "You fucking kids! I told you not to go any further!"
Katsuki snarled back, "AND I TOLD YOU TO STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!"
Eijirou rushed over to Momo and Kyouka. "Oh man, you got some nasty cuts on you."
Kyouka smirked. "You should see the other guy."
Katsuki turned his attention back to the others. "You all get your asses kicked?"
Ochako glared and rested the hammer on her shoulder. "I wouldn't be here if I hadn't won, you idiot. What are you doing here?"
"This is where the villain's supposed to be, right? Where the hell are the rest of the extras?" Katsuki narrowed his eyes. "Where the fuck is Deku?"
"And where's Todoroki?! You guys said he'd be with his friends!" Burnin growled in annoyance.
"We were forced to separate multiple times," Momo explained. "The villains were trying to stop us from getting to the control room."
"Iida, Todoroki and Ashido are all probably on their way to the control room. I'm sure if we get there too, we'll all be fine," Kyouka finished.
"I'm sure once we all reach the control room, we'll all be reunited and—"
Suddenly the building shook. The group watched as metal started to get torn away from the walls and floor. The giant fans were ripped apart and sucked upward. They might not be able to see it, but they could hear the groan and strain of metal getting twisted and reformed all the way up on the roof.
Katsuki sneered. "Who wants to bet that's the fucking boss of these shit villains, and that's where—"
"OH URARAKA WAIT!" Ejirou shouted as Ochako took off for the fastest way up to the roof.
"Young Midoriya, move!"
Izuku and All Might jumped out of the way just as multiple metal pillars ripped into the ground where they had been standing. Izuku scrambled as the ground under his feet seemed to come alive as Wolfram pulled more and more metal into himself, turning the whole top of the building into a weapon to use against All Might.
Behind him, Izuku heard multiple crashes and booms, as All Might went on the offensive, punching the metal pillars and shattering them as he worked his way closer towards Wolfram.
"Coward! Your fight is with me! Leave the boy out of this!"
"Ha ha ha ha! The Quirk weed must be ripped out, root and stem!" Wolfram's grip on his sanity seemed to be slipping. Lost as he was, there was little else he could do, but laugh. "Die! Die you sub-human monsters! The fires of hell await all of us, and I'll drag you down with me!"
"What the heck is he going on about?!" Izuku screamed as he leapt out of the way of another attack, pivoted and smashed the metal for good measure. "Mr. Abrahams was the same. Talking about Quirks like they were evil."