We arrived at the U.S.J.
Thirteen appeared and greeted us all cordially.
She explained how dangerous our Quirks could be if we didn't know how to handle them, and then she walked away with Aizawa and Gran Torino.
I activated One For All at 2% to enhance my senses without being noticed so I could hear their conversation.
"Where is All Might?" That's Aizawa's voice, but it doesn't make sense. Gran Torino told Toshinori to be here on time.
"Apparently, he exceeded his limit." Exceeded his limit? Just like in the anime? Then Gran Torino's words were in vain. Damn it!
"That idiot Toshinori told me he couldn't just stand by and let crimes happen as if it were nothing." He's not the only hero in the city, or the world, and yet he overdoes it. Now we're in deep shit.
"Does the U.S.J. have fake villains?" Kirishima asked, pointing towards a portal that was slowly opening.
Upon seeing this, Aizawa went on high alert, along with Gran Torino and Thirteen.
The portal finished opening, and out came Shigaraki and his entourage.
The Nomu looks terrifying. It's one thing in the anime, but seeing it realistically? I want to vomit just looking at it.
It's like seeing multiple tissues joined together in an unorthodox way, and the fact that its brain is exposed doesn't help lighten the mix.
"Thirteen, evacuate the students. Gran Torino..."
"Don't tell me what to do, Eraserhead. I may be an old man, but I'm not senile." After saying that, Gran Torino turned to look at us. "As for you brats, don't do anything stupid and evacuate."
And so, Aizawa and Gran Torino jumped into battle.
(Now is when Kurogiri separates us all. If I can prevent him from separating us and we evacuate, I can make sure everyone gets out alive.) Kurogiri couldn't separate us; that's something I decided when I started planning my moves.
I know his weakness: I just have to hit the metal on his neck, and that's it.
I'll have to hit him the very instant he shows his face.
I activate One For All at 8% throughout my body and feel the power flooding it.
My perspective slows down.
And suddenly, everything seems much clearer.
What was uncertainty a moment ago is now only fear... and excitement.
This is my test.
If I survive and save them in the process, I will have proven myself worthy of this power and all that it entails.
I will have proven that God, or whoever put me here, did not make a mistake with me.
Because I have never been a coward who leaves things half-done.
Not in this new life, and certainly not in the previous one.
I just need a moment.
A moment to win.
A moment to turn the tide of this battle in my favor from minute one.
And that moment is...
NOW!
"We are the League of Villains and..." And my ass. You lost the moment I transmigrated into this body.
Without letting him finish, I rushed at full speed and hit the metal on his neck. Exerting pressure with my fingers, enhanced by One For All, I began to dig them in.
I can feel the surprised looks the others are giving me, but that's not what I need right now.
Right now, I need useful people!
"Uraraka, take away this guy's gravity! Bakugo, come and take my place here! Thirteen, destroy the exit with your Quirk!" Despite my shouts, no one reacted, not even Thirteen. "What are you waiting for?! Act!"
As I shouted that last part, everyone came to their senses and, surprisingly, did as I asked without complaining.
Kurogiri was disoriented by the damage I caused him, and that allowed me to switch places with Bakugo without too much trouble.
"Alright, now Iida! You have a clear path! Go and get help from UA! And no complaints!"
Iida is clearly about to argue with me about my plans, but Thirteen speaks before things get worse.
"Iida, your classmate is right. You have to go. You're the fastest among us." Fastest? I could beat him in a heartbeat if I wanted to, but I have to be here right now.
Iida ended up accepting Thirteen's words and left the area, promising to return with help.
"Midoriya, what you did was stupid... but still, it was your quick action that saved us. So, good job." Half scolding and half praise, I'm not complaining.
"Thanks, but this isn't over yet." I can see Gran Torino fighting the Nomu in the distance while Aizawa holds off Shigaraki and the rest of the villains.
The only reason Gran Torino hasn't been hit is because of his incredible speed combined with his reflexes.
The same could be said for Aizawa.
"No! For all of you, this is over. Get out of here and find some way to communicate while your classmate is gone." Thirteen ordered us firmly, although those words were specifically directed at me.
"I must say, I'm duly impressed. You are definitely UA students, and under other circumstances, you would have won." What is Kurogiri talking about? He's subdued; this is our victory. "But I am a very important asset to the master. So, nice try, kids." I don't get it. Is there something I'm not seeing?
In a sudden burst of speed, the Nomu positioned itself in front of us.
And as if we were nuisances, it pushed us all aside.
It grabbed Bakugo and brutally slammed him into the ground, knocking him out instantly.
Thirteen tried to use her Quirk on the beast, but Kurogiri, who was now free, opened a portal behind her, causing her to take the hit from her own Quirk.
Todoroki launched his ice, trying to freeze the beast, but all it took was a clap from the latter, and the ice shattered to pieces.
(All my plans were in vain! All Might didn't come! Gran Torino is down there, and the Nomu is up here!) I immediately launched myself at the beast. Forcing One For All in my body to 15%, I managed to land a solid kick to its face that made it step back a few inches.
It wasn't much... but it was what I wanted.
Taking advantage of the momentum from my own kick and the fact that I was still in the air, I did a full body spin and landed on Kurogiri again.
I amplified my vocal cords with One For All and shouted with all my might.
"Gran Torino!! The beast is here!!" I knew Gran Torino was already on his way, but at least this way, I'd make sure he hurried.
Kurogiri, seeing that I was an annoying nuisance, opened a portal through which we both crossed.
We arrived at the center of the U.S.J., where Aizawa was facing the rest of the villains.
This was not what I wanted to happen.
I never thought All For One would have a backup plan in case Kurogiri was immobilized, but looking back, it was obvious.
An asset as valuable as Kurogiri couldn't be lost so stupidly.
Kurogiri is as or more valuable than Shigaraki at this moment.
But it doesn't matter anymore.
It's impossible for All For One not to know of my existence after this. Kurogiri will give him details, and he'll put the pieces together.
So if I can no longer hide, I only have one option left.
To fight.
Once I managed to get my bearings completely, I didn't hesitate.
I activated One For All again at a solid 12%.
It hurt, but not as much as using 15%.
Kurogiri had long since returned to Shigaraki's side. Which means that right now, those two are untouchable, so I have to get Shigaraki's attention to get him away from Kurogiri.
Once I do that, I can face him.
I launched myself at the rest of the villains who were around us.
I could see the fear in Aizawa's eyes, but I don't care.
The first idiot I came across could lengthen and sharpen his fingers, nothing out of this world.
He didn't even see me coming. A green blur later, and he was out of commission from a well-placed blow to his face.
The next one had a mutant-type Quirk, a mix between a reptile and a bear. He was tall, easily two meters. This one did notice me. He tried to crush me with his giant hands, but I simply moved to the left and dodged. I kicked his calf, forcing him to kneel, and then punched him in the face in the same way as the previous idiot.
Except I didn't let this one go so easily. I grabbed his reptile tail and started spinning with him.
When I noticed I had enough momentum, I let him go. He flew towards a group of misfits who were trying to attack Aizawa.
Without wasting any more time, I launched myself at the third villain I could find.
This one had a simpler Quirk, generating flames in his hands and covering them with said hands.
He tried to punch me in the face, but my senses, enhanced by One For All, allowed me to see the punch even before it was thrown.
He clearly has no training or fighting style.
Not that I care; it's better for me.
I landed a punch on his right kidney. I know I hit it right because the way he hunched over tells me everything. I punched again, but this time it was his trachea. I saw his eyes widen from the lack of air. I finished by giving him one last punch to his face. I felt his nose break from it, not that I care anyway.
Adrenaline kept pumping through my system.
The pain I should be feeling from forcing more power than I can handle isn't even there.
I was smiling, and I knew it.
Because...
This is exciting!
"Come on! Who's next?!" My words caused an idiot to come running towards me. "I hope you can give me a good dance!" Without another word, I also launched myself directly at him. It seems he has a Quirk that allows him to generate friction in his legs, if the way they're shaking is any indication. I just have to avoid his kicks, and I've won.
I'm right. He tried to kick me in the face with his right leg, and when he saw that he missed, he repeated the same thing with his left.
Too weak.
I charged 20% into my fingers and hit him with my Air Force right in the chest. He coughed up blood and fell near Shigaraki.
My fingers feel numb, but it's nothing that won't pass in a few moments.
"Hey, crazy hands! Don't stay in the background! Come and face me!" Aizawa is giving me a worried look, but he doesn't understand. If All For One is going to know about my existence, then at least I won't look weak in the process. If he thinks I'm weak, he won't hesitate to attack me beforehand, but if he thinks I'm strong, he'll think twice and be more cautious.
And that buys me time.
Time I need to get strong.
Time I'm going to have one way or another.
"Kurogiri, it seems an NPC is stronger than he should be." He's getting closer, perfect. "I'm going to kill you, brat," Shigaraki growled with hatred.
"Come and try it, underworld trash," I replied, smiling. "I hope you can give me a good dance."
...
Author's Note:
Hey.
What did you think of this chapter?
The MC may have made plans and strategies, but that doesn't mean they'll work.
Everything got out of hand because he didn't speculate that AFO would also have contingency plans.
This is because the MC is not a Gary Stu; he's not perfect and will often fail.
What's the fun in writing a story where the protagonist always comes out on top?
It would be boring.
The next chapter will probably conclude this arc.
See you.