The one-hour break time between fights was almost up, and during this time, Izuku decided to visit Recovery Girl for a quick check-up, but it wasn't for physical reasons. The reason he went to her right now was that he knew she would be alone, and he felt like he needed the advice of someone with more experience.
"I was wondering why you'd come to my office, sonny." She said as she looked over some documents. "Normally, you don't need me, since you have Healing Salve."
"Yeah, but I feel like I need advice," Izuku said. "Mirko and the others gave me plenty of advice already, and I am taking it to heart, but I still feel so…"
"Angry?" Recovery Girl guessed. "I wouldn't blame you, sonny. That Michizune kid…I can tell he is a bad apple just from looking at his victims."
"Are they-"
"They will be fine. Fortunately, he didn't drain them too hard." She added, which seemed to draw Izuku's attention. She noticed this and continued. "His Quirk functions on a similar basis as mine. You see, Sonny, when I use my Quirk on someone, I don't magically heal them! My Quirk accelerates their own healing capabilities. But to achieve this, it takes the recipient's own stamina. If I am not careful, I risk killing someone by overdoing it!"
Izuku's eyes widened. "Recovery Girl…Have you-"
"Once. Accidentally. I was young and didn't know how far I could heal someone, so I pushed it. I got a mighty stern scolding for my recklessness, I tell you that!" She said, recalling the old days. "My Quirk is also not a combat-oriented one, as you might have realized. In fact, I managed to get into the Heroics Course through this very event! The Sports Festival. But now, you might want the confirmation. Yes. Judging by their symptoms and how weakened they were, I wholly believe Michizune can kill simply by draining a person until they reach a fatal low."
"Shit…" Izuku swore, a fact that surprised Recovery Girl.
"I didn't think you'd have a potty mouth, sonny. But regardless, I can understand your worry. This makes Michizune far more dangerous than originally believed. The question now is whether he realizes the lethal potential of his Quirk or if he is unaware of how far he can drain a person." Recovery Girl added, but then she continued with words that made Izuku's blood boil. "Even if you defeat him, UA cannot just arrest him. His defeat doesn't automatically incriminate him. After you defeat him, he can just leave, without suffering anything more than humiliation for his loss. Or worse. He might get into a Hero University."
"Impossible! Dean Nezu was clear: He won't get into UA!" Izuku stated strongly.
"You think UA is the only university watching those events?" She retorted sharply. "Other Hero Universities are watching as well. And some of them are less than ideal when it comes to their enforcement of a moral compass."
"There has to be something we can do…" Izuku said softly, and then Recovery Girl went close, grabbing his hand.
"Sonny, I understand your frustration. I truly do. All heroes go through this more often than you know. But we cannot let ourselves sink to the level of scum just to get a sense of actual satisfaction!" Recovery Girl pointed out sternly. "It's a slippery slope, sonny."
"E-Even if I fight him and win, nothing will happen. No official charges, no justice for the ones he attacked and drained without a care for consequences - FUCK! Just like Aldera!" He said loudly, letting his frustration be shown.
"No! Not like Aldera! Do not dare compare our university with that cesspool!" Recovery Girl argued sternly. "This time, he will not be allowed to do as he pleases. This time, he either plays by OUR rules, or he gets in trouble! Think, sonny! What is Michizune likely feeling right now?"
"The fight against Shishida." Izuku realized. "You're right! If there is one thing I can say for certain about Aldera's star students, it is the fact that they hated being told no, especially when it came to asserting themselves over someone else."
"When he woke up after his fight with Shishida, that boy was fuming." Recovery Girl told him. "You want to punish him, but as it stands, he is going to punish himself."
"I don't know if knowing all of this makes me feel that much better, Recovery Girl," Izuku replied. "But, at the very least, it gives me ideas on what to do in my upcoming battle."
"Good luck, Sonny. Oh! And can you please come to me one of those days as Healing Salve? I'd like to speak with him, doctor to doctor."
Izuku chuckled. "Sure thing, Ma'am." Izuku then left, heading to the arena to view the upcoming fight.
"WELCOME TO THE SECOND SET!" Midnight said, the crowd going wild as the next phase of the fights began. "Due to the aforementioned situation, Hitoshi Shinso shall move straight into the Semi-Finals! As such, we will instead move to Round 2! Both of those students are from 1A! Both got into UA via their recommendations, either for their powerful Quirk or impressive intelligence! Give a warm round of applause for one of the 1A aces! Shoto Todoroki!"
Midnight introduced Shoto as he climbed onto the arena, his expression blank as ever. "And now, to my right, we have the heiress herself! Momo Yaoyorozu!" And on cue, Momo climbed onto the stage as well, having recovered from her battle against Yui. The barrier was deployed around the arena, a measure to ensure Shoto's Quirk didn't harm the audience.
"Contestants! The rules are known, correct?" Midnight asked, looking at both of them.
"Yes," Shoto said.
"Clearly, Ma'am," Momo replied.
"Then let us begin! Though I do expect another quick round…" Midnight cleared her throat. "In three!" Both of them got ready. "Two!" Momo's cleavage started to glow. "One!" Ice started to form at Shoto's feet.
"Begin!"
Without missing a beat, the ice erupted from Shoto, launching itself straight toward Momo. The girl moved fast, however, grabbing a gas mask from her cleavage and placing it over her face before the ice covered her.
"Not again!" Midnight whined, then sighed. "Well, I guess this situation is the same as the previous battle. The Winner! Shoto Todo-" A crack was heard, grabbing their attention and making them look to where Momo was. Then, in front of everyone present, the ice cracked and shattered, allowing the girl to climb out, unharmed.
"Forgive me, Professor Midnight, but I am afraid it is not over yet!" She declared through the gas mask.
"What?" Shoto asked, eyes wide as he saw her break his ice apart with minimal effort!
"Ohoho! Now this is getting good!" Midnight said, giddy at the prospect of the fight continuing. "Since Momo Yaoyorozu can still fight, the fight continues!"
"How?" Shoto asked, more ice forming at his feet. "I froze you solid!"
"You did, but I ask you to look closer," Momo said, and Shoto did as told, looking at where she escaped from. He saw water. And in the air, he saw some kind of yellowish gas.
"Gas?" He said, confused at the sight.
"Anti-freezing gas, to be exact." She corrected. "A custom formula I began putting together even before your fight with Uraraka. I figured we might face one another, so I prepared this in advance. The moment you froze me, I began creating it, and it worked perfectly. It melted your ice and allowed me to break free."
"Clever," Shoto said, admitting to her genius. "But your Quirk is limited. I doubt you can create the gas endlessly!" Another wave of ice moved toward Momo, and the girl moved quickly, producing more of the surrounding gas. As the ice reached her, it began to crack and shatter, eventually creating a pocket of unfrozen space around her. Shoto scowled in frustration at this.
"Oh?" Endeavor looked at the fight with an impressed look on his face. "First the round against that Yui Kodai girl, and now this? This girl is quite something."
He couldn't use his Quirk again without risking it. Shoto knew that too well. Two big moves back-to-back were one thing, but three? He was starting to feel cold. As such, he decided to switch tactics. He used his ice to create a pillar beneath him and launched into the air, then put his hand forward. "Icicle shot!" He declared, creating and shooting out a smaller ice-made projectile at Momo.
The icicle was pointy at the tip, forcing Momo to generate a metal shield to block it. However, the gas was still around her, which weakened the projectile enough to make it shatter on impact. Upon landing, Shoto spun around, throwing a curved wave of ice at Momo to try and strike her, but it weakened upon entering the gas cloud and shattered.
This was growing tiresome for him. She had effectively rendered his ice useless, and it was only a matter of time before he grew too cold to continue. But he had to persist. He couldn't lose here! Momo created her Bo staff again, using it to leap into the air, and Shoto looked at her feet. Ice shoes. She created ice shoes! Whether she had those at the start or not, it didn't matter! This was just another proof that she actively prepared to counter every angle of his Quirk!
Upon landing, Momo swung her Bo staff at him, causing him to attempt to dodge at an awkward angle. But this provided her with an opening. She extended her hand and created a stun gun, just like in her fight with Yui. But upon seeing it, Shoto had an idea. It was risky, but it might work. As she pressed the trigger, he created a shield of ice in the way of the cables, making them get stuck on it.
Frustrated, Momo dropped the used-up stun gun, then jumped back to put distance between the two. Then, Shoto acted. He put his hand down and covered the arena in a layer of ice. "Trying to freeze my feet?" She asked, but then she just created more gas to melt the surrounding ice. "Useless angle!"
More.
Momo charged at him, but he raised an ice pillar to block her. The gas returned, melting it and allowing her to shatter it with her Bo staff, with Shoto barely dodging by crouching down. He then rolled away from her, trying to place distance between the two, then jumped back up, creating another pillar of ice to try and slow her down.
The same action was repeated from before. More ice melted, and another desperate evasive maneuver.
"Stubborn boy!" Endeavor said in frustration. "If he just used his fire, this fight would have been done by now! What is he doing, running around like that! Why isn't he fighting?" He had sent Burnin' away since he grew tired of her company. "Shoto…" He growled his name.
More.
Shoto repeated the action of creating ice pillars, making her create more gas, then dodging and running away.
"This is getting obnoxious, Todoroki," Momo said, frustration visible in her voice. "Not to mention this gas is dangerous. Poisonous, even. It is heavier than air, too, so it lingers."
Shoto was feeling it. He was starting to feel off. A trip to Recovery Girl after this was going to be mandatory. However, as things stood, he believed he was ready. He slowed down, letting Momo get close, and on cue, she created another stun gun. This is what Shoto was waiting for. He lunged at her, surprising her, and grabbed the hand she was holding the stun gun with.
He made her shoot at the ground, but that was when she noticed something. The ground below them was covered in water! And her shoes had metallic spikes to prevent her from slipping! She realized Shoto's plan too late!
He made her press the trigger, and the stun gun fired at the water. He had frozen his feet and took his hands off her just in time as the electrical shock reached her, dazing her. It didn't knock her out due to this move causing the shock to weaken, but dazed as she was, Shoto now had an opening. He covered his fist with a heavy block of ice.
"Ice Fist!" Then it was planted right in her stomach, making Momo spit in her mask. The poor girl's feet shook, and she collapsed to her knees, followed by Todoroki removing her mask. "Surrender."
"Not…Yet." She said, then tried one last trick. However, Shoto saw through her and acted. He froze her from the neck down, trapping her in an ice prison. But now his breath was visible, his body shivering from the cold. He had reached his limit. Momo struggled to escape her prison, but she was too weakened. Without her mask or access to a large enough surface of her body to make another, using her gas would be detrimental to her.
She had no choice.
"I surrender."
"Chemical drones!" Midnight called, and the drones came to clear out the gas before they lifted the barrier. "The Winner! Shoto Todoroki!" Midnight declared, and then Shoto began walking away. However, he stumbled and swayed a bit. "Medical!" She called, and some medical drones arrived to take Shoto away to Recovery Girl. Other drones arrived as well to release Momo from her ice prison.
There was a ten-minute break until the next fight, but Endeavor was not feeling at ease. In the next round, Shoto would need to go against Hitoshi Shinso, the kid with a brainwashing Quirk. If he is not careful, he can get snared by his Quirk, but Shinso was not the one on Endeavor's mind right now. No, he was wary of the other threats. Michizune Doumou, Izuku Midoriya, and Katsuki Bakugou. Through the event, they all displayed very versatile and powerful Quirks, Midoriya especially.
This fight proved to Endeavor that Shoto's stubbornness can and will lead to him losing if nothing is done! But what? He cannot go to him now, even as his father. He will deal with him later, after the event. For now, he decided to watch.
He had a strange feeling welling up in his gut. Something was not right. Something was brewing; he could feel it! An instinct honed by the years he spent in the field. But what? A villain attack? This arena was full of UA's staff, all of them pros, not to mention All Might and himself were here. Attacking the Sport Festival with so many pros here either indicated a brain-dead villain or someone either desperate or idiotic.
He learned to trust his instinct a long time ago, even when nothing seemed wrong. Something was going to happen. He just had to watch.
"Now is the moment," Izuku said.
"Notice: The Omnitrix is detecting increased levels of dopamine, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid, adrenaline, cortisol, and glutamate. Those are consistent with a mix of anxiety, anger, and fear. Do you wish correction?"
"No," Izuku said.
"Response has been archived. However, due to the Omnitrix being required to maintain the user's sound mind and health, I must inquire: Why are you feeling this way?"
"You were with me all day. You know why." Izuku replied.
"Michizune Doumou. Accessing public records regarding Aldera High School, looking for the name…Searching…Searching…Found! During the main investigation into Aldera High School, a list of victimized students was created. Michizune Doumou is on this list, following his extensive description of the horrors within the institution. However, psychological analysis reveals this as a manipulative tactic based on observed behavioral patterns and stated facts. Michizune Doumou was never a victim."
"No," Izuku confirmed. "And you are right. I'm afraid, and angry, and anxious. But not because I might lose…"
"Inquiry: Why then?"
"I am afraid I might lose control," Izuku confessed. "Despite what everyone told me, I cannot stand to know that, even here, someone like Michizune might get away without facing any punishment for what he has done! It just makes me so angry!"
The Omnitrix was silent for a bit, then the dial spun around briefly. "Playing Recording."
"Recording? What record-" Suddenly, a hologram appeared in Izuku's vision. Before him stood a young man who looked to be the same age as him, with brown hair and green eyes. He was wearing a black shirt with the letter ten written on it in green and brown cargo pants with white and green sneakers. "What is this?"
"Hello there." He said, surprising Izuku. It sounded so real. "I guess you are wondering who I am and what this is. Well, my name's Ben. Ben Tennyson, first wielder of the Omnitrix." He put his hand up, revealing what Izuku could only assume to be another Omnitrix. "And this is a pre-recorded message. Truth be told, I am not even as young as this image portrays me to be! But I doubt you want to see an old man who can't even get up anymore. This is one of several recordings I made for the future user of the Omnitrix, in case they ever require some advice from someone who bore this burden for longer."
The image flickered for a bit. "I see. Frustration. Anger. The feeling that no matter what you do, the bad guy wins either way, huh? Or at least, you feel like justice is not sufficient. I've been there many times. I don't know what you know or what was told by those around you, but all in all…You just have to bite the bullet. I learned this very early on. You think you might also lose control due to those feelings, right? Well, don't worry. The Omnitrix will stop you in case you are trying something like that."
"Can't say things will end up well for you afterward, however." Ben sounded disappointed, saying that part. "It's a bitch, you know? Being a hero by the books. Sometimes, I do think we need to take a more permanent solution to things, but we need to try. We must be heroes. We need to protect those around us from others or themselves! So while I cannot order you not to do anything stupid, I can at least wish you good luck. It's a hard road, and the easy way? It's often the wrong way, even if it doesn't look like that."
"It's the burden of being a hero. But remember that there are people around you who might care about you. If you want someone to speak with and help you through this, do it. Do not bottle it up. Do not seek advice based solely on professional views. Go to your parents, your special someone, your friends - heck! Even your enemies! Just don't let it eat you from within."
The recording ended, leaving Izuku stunned by what he heard. "He went through this as well. Many times."
"He never broke." The Omnitrix added. "He had the will to push through it all, and so do you. Do not let Michizune corrupt what is there."
"You are right," Izuku said, eyes focused. "I was so focused on the past and him, I lost sight of the present. It doesn't matter what he has done up until now. Even if he gets away with it, even if he gets into another Hero University, I won't let him drag me down. Not anymore. The person I was in Aldera is no more."
"Everyone!" Midnight began her announcement.
"And now it is time to prove it."
"Everyone! We find ourselves at round 3! To my left, we have the underdog, Michizune Doumou!" Michizune took the stage, waving to the crowd despite the jeering he was receiving due to his past at Aldera. But among the jeering was also cheering. Some people were actually cheering him on, wanting him to win in the following battle.
"And to my right, we have the HAP miracle! Mirko's own protégé! Izuku Midoriya!" Izuku took the stage as well, eyes fixed on Michizune as the two faced off against one another. Midnight gave them both careful looks. The barrier was deployed swiftly as well. And then, even she retreated beyond the barrier for her own safety.
She knew this round was going to be rough.
"So, we finally reached this point?" Michizune said, spreading his arms. "You and I against each other, Midoriya! I must say, your Quirk is wicked! But mark my words! At the end of this fight, I will prove that nothing is any different! You are still the prey from Aldera."
"One year is a long time, Michizune." Izuku declared, the Omnitrix ready. "You will find out soon enough how wrong you are." Michizune sneered at being challenged like that.
Then Midnight began her countdown. "Contestants! Three! Two! One!" Michizune's energy shone around him while Izuku was ready to tap the dial on the Omnitrix. "BEGIN!"
"Crimson Hunt!" Michizune activated his Quirk right away, then put his arms forward. "I WIN!" Then he fired a concentrated ray of energy at Izuku. But Izuku had already acted, turning with a flash of green into Bismuth. And he didn't dodge. He let the ray of energy hit him square on, not even putting his arms up to guard.
Why?
Because he just absorbed the ray of energy that Michizune fired, turning it into energy for himself. When Michizune saw this, however, he made a face. "HOW?!" He asked, taking a step back. "I fired at you with at least 20% of my entire reserves! How are you still standing?!"
"This is Bismuth," Izuku replied, standing there with the Omnitrix resting on a belt around his narrow waist. Then, to Michizune's further ire, he began to float. "He can do everything you can, and more."
Michizune growled. "Don't fuck with me!" He launched himself at Izuku, but he put his arm forth, conjuring a barrier that stopped Michizune dead in his tracks. Then, he dropped the barrier once his momentum was broken and focused energy in his horn. The rainbow energy focused itself, and he fired, striking Michizune square in the chest and sending him crashing down into the ground. Recovering quickly, Michizune saw him put an arm forward, and he dashed away using his energy just in time, avoiding a blast that would have spelled bad news for him.
He kept using his energy to leap at impressive heights and with impressive speed, dodging Bismuth's rays. However, Bismuth grew tired of his jumping and focused his energy, creating a sphere around himself first. "HA!" He expanded the barrier, sending it out as a pulse of energy that struck Michizune right on. It was an omnidirectional attack. No use dodging it; it could only be blocked!
And Michizune didn't block. The attack dazed him, which allowed Bismuth to fly at him and land a solid punch to his jaw. "This is for Tokoyami!" He said, then kicked him in the stomach as a follow-up. "This is for Kamakiri!"
Michizune flew high in the air, and Bismuth charged up his horn again. He fired a ray at Michizune, but he recovered in time, covering himself in energy again and conjuring a barrier to block Bismuth's attack. He kept himself hovering in the air, however, standing over Bismuth. But looking at him, he couldn't help but feel his blood boil.
"You shitty Deku…" Michizune growled. "You dare push me this far?!" He crossed his arms, and five spheres of energy broke off from his crimson aura. This surprised Bismuth, as he then put his arms forth and sent the spheres toward him.
Five of them were coming right at him, but instead of attacking him directly - which would have been futile - they attacked the arena below him, breaking it apart in several areas. "What the-!" Bismuth flew up above the cloud of dust that was raised, but Michizune planned this.
"GAH!" He charged right at him and managed to grab him by the shoulders, pushing him back into the arena and starting to drain him.
"I WILL DRAIN YOU DRY! I WILL SEND YOU TO MEET YOUR USELESS ANCESTORS, YOU FUCK!" He shouted.
"Michizune, you are aware of your Quirk's-"
"I know I can kill if I drain someone, you idiot! Of course I do! I tested it."
That chilled Izuku's blood. That was akin to a confession to murder, right there! However, he was not about to let Michizune have his way. He grabbed Michizune's face, then unleashed a blinding blast right into his face.
"MY EYES!" Michizune shouted, grabbing his eyes. He was only temporarily blinded, but blinded nonetheless.
"Take this!" Using the chance, Bismuth blasted him in his stomach, sending him flying off him. He then generated several blasts in his hands, sending them at Michizune. The boy managed to recover his vision in time to create a barrier against those spheres, however. "How long can you maintain your defense, Michizune?!"
"Shut up! I drained a good amount of energy from you already! You are not doing better yourself!" Michizune declared loudly, but that was when Bismuth laughed and stopped his attack, confusing him. "What is so funny?"
"That!" He pointed up at the sun.
"The sun?" Michizune said confused.
"You claim my energy to be finite? Well, you aren't wrong. But unlike you, I can energize myself from a myriad of sources! Even now, I am passively charging up from the sun's rays!" The crowd went wild as he revealed that, with Midnight jumping in to offer commentary.
"Holy shit, everyone!" She said. "Given it is quite sunny today, this means Izuku Midoriya's form, Bismuth, has access to an endless supply of energy! This is a crushing advantage over Michizune Doumou, who is running on a truly limited supply!"
"Or in other words…You are the prey, Michizune." Izuku declared, and in that moment, Michizune felt something snap in him.
"I am…The prey?" He asked, his voice becoming hollow and void of emotion. "Me? Prey?" He chuckled and tried to hold it back. However, he couldn't and eventually broke into a full-blown laugh. But something was not right with the way he was laughing now. "I AM NO PREY!" He suddenly shouted, anger now visible in his eyes. "I AM NEVER PREY! I AM THE PREDATOR! ONE OF ALDERA'S PROUD STUDENTS! AND YOU, DEKU, ARE THE PREY!"
"YOU ARE PREY! YOU EXIST ONLY TO FEED MY QUIRK AND DO AS I SAY! I didn't target you because you were Katsuki's plaything, but this changes NOW!" Michizune said, his energy flaring dangerously high. Arcs of energy were breaking off, striking the surrounding barrier, and causing cracks in it. Midnight noticed this, and the recording devices began to malfunction as well, visible in the screen above, starting to flicker. "You want to know why I came here today?! Because UA is the first stop in my mission!"
"Mission?" Bismuth echoed. "What mission?"
"I am going to recreate Aldera!" He declared openly, sending shocks through the crowd. "I will go and seek out everyone I can! Break them out of prison if I have to! But when I am done, we will rule the city! We are the future! We are the Predators! We deserve to be lords of our own piece of Japan! And in the future…This entire country will be ours! We will make sure prey like you never dare fight back! We will breed you out!"
"Are you even hearing yourself?!" Bismuth shouted back. "You are openly declaring that you will be breaking people out of jail, conquering the city, and even doing something that sounds like fucking eugenics?!"
"You are prey, DEKU! You wouldn't get it. This is our right! As the powerful - as the ones chosen by the Heavens to have the perfect Quirks to do this! Fuck the heroes! They don't see what we see! This entire hero and villain bullshit is irrelevant! All that matters is the Quirk you are born with, and it dictates who is above the law! Above morality! Above God!"
"You're insane…" Izuku realized, looking at Michizune with a wide eye. The crowd was also horrified by the words leaving his mouth, but Michizune was not done.
"I will kill you, Deku!" He declared openly. "Just as I killed Omyo!"
"Omyo-" Izuku gasped, recalling the kid. He was a kid with a weak Quirk by definition. He could only blow small soap bubbles from his mouth. He didn't want to be a hero. He just wanted to get through high school, then graduate, and eventually take over his parents' toy store! But…He was found deceased in a dumpster. The public records indicated no visible physical injuries, neither caused by a Quirk nor otherwise. But now it made sense. "You killed him?!"
"I did! He was prey! He didn't deserve to live in this world! So I took it upon myself to cull him from this world! It was my right!" Michizune declared, then put his hand up, gathering his energy in it. "Just as it is my right to kill you!"
"STOP THE FIGHT!" Midnight shouted, but something was not right.
"The barrier is malfunctioning!" One of the technicians shouted. "The interference from that guy's Quirk is messing with the controls! We cannot turn it off!"
"Michizune!" Bismuth shouted, then Michizune put his arm forward.
"CRIMSON…EXECUTION! 100% OUTPUT!" He shouted, then unleashed a ray of energy, which Bismuth caught with his body, absorbing it. But as he kept taking energy in, he was feeling it. "YOU HAVE AN ENERGY LIMIT! I KNEW IT!"
"Maybe…But also an output!" He declared as he focused the energy into his horn, then angled his head upward. It was hard, both taking in and outputting energy at once, but not impossible! He began to blast energy from his horn, slowly draining more than Michizune was firing at him. And Michizune, upon seeing this, widened his eyes.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" He shouted, trying to output more by using both hands. "THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! HOW ARE YOU SURVIVING THIS?!"
"Because I am not like you!" Bismuth declared, revealing how he alters Izuku's personality. "Michizune…You think the strong and those born with a good Quirk are the only ones allowed to be! You view those weaker as prey and, subsequently, prey on them to feed your own Quirk! And worse…You killed without so much as a shred of remorse and even admitted it like it's some kind of medal of honor!"
"Shut up! YOU ARE PREY! PREY IS SUPPOSED TO OBEY! PREY IS SUPPOSED TO SUBMIT!" He shouted, but he began to buckle under his own weight. His complexion was growing weak again, just as it was at the start of the festival. "I WON'T BE DEFEATED HERE! NOT BY YOU, SHITTY DEKU! NOT BE THE QUIRKLESS LOSER OF ALDERA!"
The crowd gasped upon hearing that Izuku was also part of Aldera High School, but to that, he had a reply.
"Yes, I was the loser of Aldera! The weakest among everyone! Virtually quirkless, until I realized what my quirk was and what it can do!" He admitted. "I suffered at the hands of those like you, Michizune! But not anymore!" He stopped firing through his horn and instead crossed his arms, conjuring a shield of energy that blocked the ray. Michizune kept firing, however, despair growing on his face as Bismuth grew closer and closer.
"Mina and Shishida…They both suffered because of you!" He declared as he got close, and Michizune stared into his one eye. "Omyo…Died because of you…" He pushed his shield forward, making Michizune desperately try to fire more to keep him at bay, but his ray was growing weak. "Yet…" He laughed. "You made things so easy…Your arrogance and stupid pride…Your denial to accept reality has made you shout at everyone for the world to hear! I was angry. Frustrated. Scared even! I feared you would walk away from here without so much as a slap on the wrist!"
The energy wave stopped, and Michizune stared at Bismuth, seeing the horn light up again.
"But not anymore. Mark my words! You and everyone like you from Aldera will never have this world! No…Not just from Aldera! I won't allow anyone like you to rule this city, ever! This country! This world!"
"SHUT UP, YOU STUPID PREY!" Michizune shouted as he tried to lunge at Bismuth again to drain him, but Bismuth's ray was faster. He fired it right at Michizune, not only sending him into the pavement but also causing the very pavement around him to crack from the power of the blast.
And when he was over, Michizune lay there, barely conscious, with a burn mark on his chest from the blast. The equipment came back into function, and the barrier dropped, allowing Midnight to come onto the arena.
"THIS FIGHT IS OVER!" She declared loudly, then looked down at Michizune, eyes narrowed. "Michizune Doumou! You are hereby placed under arrest for the several crimes you have openly declared yourself responsible for during this fight!"
"This…This is not real…" Michizune said, slowly getting up. Midnight got herself on guard, but Bismuth placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Be at ease, Midnight. He is powerless. That last attack drained all of his energy reserves. He is unable to do anything right now." Bismuth said.
"This is impossible…I didn't lose to…To…To fucking Deku of all the fucking prey out there!" He declared, tightening his fists.
"You are about to lose a lot more, young man." Midnight declared, just as two officers were rushing to the arena.
"No…No…" Michizune kept repeating, then lifted his face, staring at the Omnitrix badge on Izuku's waist. "NO!" Then he lunged at it, grabbing it.
"What are you- GAH!" Izuku felt the jolt of pain course through him as a wave of energy pushed everyone else back. A sphere of red energy formed around them as Michizune was draining the Omnitrix directly! "You are…Draining my Quirk!"
"What the fuck?" Michizune asked as he kept draining the Omnitrix. "This thing is bottomless! I can feel it! There is no limit on the amount of energy in this thing!" He kept absorbing as the energy wildly flared around them. "FORGET EVERYONE ELSE! THIS IS THE HORN OF ABUNDANCE!"
"ALERT!" The Omnitrix blared in Izuku's head. "DANGEROUS LEVELS OF ENERGY ABSORPTION DETECTED FROM THE OMNITRIX! ENGAGING ANTI-OSMOSIAN FAILSAFE!"
"Huh?" Michizune looked at his hand, seeing it pushed back from the Omnitrix by a sphere of green energy forming around it to protect it. "What the fuck is this?!"
"I don't know!" Izuku said with honesty. Even he didn't know what the Omnitrix was doing! But in the next moment, he found out, as the Omnitrix released a powerful blast of energy that sent both him and Michizune back, with the latter falling over the edge of the arena. The wild energy was gone now, but Izuku was not doing too well.
"Midoriya!" Midnight rushed to him, just in time, too.
"Damage detected! The Omnitrix will now enter repair/recalibration mode to fix the damage! Transformation will be unavailable during this time!" Izuku turned back to normal, but instead of the green or red glow, it was blue. The Omnitrix on his wrist was blue as well.
"Are you ok?" Midnight asked as he got up slowly.
"I think so." He said, holding his head.
"Your Quirk is blue." Midnight pointed out. "Is that normal?"
"I don't know." Izuku lied. "It might be a reaction to what Michizune did, but- Wait! Michizune!"
"Ahaha…AHAHAHAH!" Michizune laughed as he flew up into the air. That's right. Actually flew! His body was not just surrounded by red energy but looked as if it was downright made of it. "I FEEL IT! This is the most amount of energy I've ever had! I feel downright overcharged!"
"No…" Izuku said, watching in horror.
"This is what I meant!" Michizune said, then glanced at the spectators. "Enough power…TO EXTERMINATE THE WEAK!" And fired a ray of energy right at the audience.
"NO!" Izuku shouted, but to his relief, a thick slab of concrete formed that stopped Michizune's attack.
"Tch!" Michizune turned around and saw who had just stopped him. It was Cementoss, one of UA's teachers, but he was not alone.
"YOUNG MAN!" All Might and other heroes had joined in as well, standing before Michizune. "This is beyond enough! This is unacceptable! Surrender now!"
"Surrender?" Michizune echoed in mockery. "To you? You lot don't get it! Currently, as it stands, I AM A GOD!" He declared loudly, but then, to his shock, something happened. His energy vanished almost instantly, causing him to fall to the ground. "GAH!"
"Some God you are," Erasurehead said as he erased Michizune's Quirk with his. "I made it just in time from the commentators' booth, it seems."
"What the-" Michizune looked at his hands. "No, no, no! Where is my Quirk?! My energy!" He looked at Aizawa. "You! You are Erasurehead! We were told about you - you are among the ones we were supposed to cull first! The Erasure Quirks do not deserve to exist in this world!"
"Keep your radical ideology to yourself, Michizune Doumou. You are arrested."
"NO!" Michizune shouted to high heaven and thrashed around even as he was restrained and cuffed. Given the danger of touching him or letting him touch you, he was given special cuffs that completely covered his hands, and then he was taken away. Izuku was also taken to see Recovery Girl, but in truth, Mirko and Nezu both made their way there as well.
The crowd was utterly shocked by everything that happened today. As a result, Present Mic announced that in light of the incident, they were going to take an indefinite break from the event. They were going to continue, but they don't know for sure when. He announced a possible waiting time of one hour, at worst, for the next battle.
"That…Was a shitshow." Izuku said as Recovery Girl examined him.
"That is a serious understatement, young man!" Nezu said, clearly upset over the entire ordeal. "What the fuck happened there?"
"Isn't it obvious, rat?" Mirko asked back. "That Michizune guy went off the handle! He somehow drained the Omnitrix directly, getting himself a big energy payday! Speaking of which, you can tell us what is really going on with it. Why is it blue?"
"It's a repair mode," Izuku answered. "Whatever it did, it caused the Omnitrix to go into this mode."
"And when will it be back online?" Nezu questioned.
"Let me try something. Omnitrix! Identity check! Rumi Usagiyama!" Mirko said, trying to use her admin privilege. And to their fortune, it worked.
"Voice recognized. Admin Usagiyama recognized."
"Care to explain what the fuck this is and how long you will be blue?" She asked.
"Vulgarities aside, the Omnitrix encountered a direct threat to it. The individual Michizune Doumou drained energy directly from the Omnitrix, triggering the failsafe constructed for the Osmosian race - A race with similar powers as his. That was the green energy explosion you all saw. As for the duration of repair mode, Michizune caused damage that goes deep into the Omnitrix's energy matrix. Estimated repair time is around 30 minutes."
"That isn't so bad," Izuku said. "There is a one-hour pause between sets, right? I should be back in fighting condition by the end of the start of it!"
"Can we focus back on Michizune? This is serious!" Nezu stressed. "Midoriya, did you know he was going to do something so…unhinged?"
"Honestly, I was expecting more of a tantrum. Draining the Omnitrix was unforeseen to me as well, Dean. But there is more…" Izuku said, placing the Omnitrix forth. "Omnitrix, do I still have access to other functions, aside from transformation?"
"Affirmative."
"Thank you." Izuku sighed, relieved to hear that. "I recorded his ranting."
"We have equipment that did that already," Nezu added.
"Take this as a backup, then, or to fill in any blank spots," Izuku said, and Nezu nodded his head, taking out his own phone so the Omnitrix could transfer the audio file to him. "Additional evidence to use against him."
"Thank you for the cooperation, Midoriya, but now I'm afraid that everything that has happened jeopardizes the very event itself," Nezu stated. "We had a competitor attack civilians using their Quirk! Worse yet, his Quirk interfered with the barrier, making it impossible for our technicians to raise it to stop him. The very fact UA has allowed someone like him to participate raises countless questions, which will undoubtedly lead to a PR nightmare where I will be required to give many explanations."
"Such as how that brat slipped through your attentive eye?" Recovery Girl asked as she was wrapping up her examination. "You are good to go, sonny. Can't do anything about the alien tech, though."
"Thank you, Recovery Girl."
"That, too, Chiyo," Nezu added. "I can understand how he got past the investigation that arrested so many at Aldera. As you said, Izuku, he is very manipulative."
"And it was as you said, Mirko. When people like him are out in the light, they lose it." Izuku added further.
"They mostly surrender right away because they know they are caught! Not…This!" Mirko said, unable to find the words to describe what she just witnessed. "This is bad on so many levels."
"If it helps, I didn't know this would happen, either."
"No one here expects you to be clairvoyant, Midoriya. Well, you might have an alien in the Omnitrix that is, but not you. You didn't know Michizune would fly off the handle so violently." Nezu said. "But something else worries me. The way he spoke. He was speaking as if the Aldera staff were preparing for…I don't even know how to describe it."
"Say it as it sounds, Nezu." Recovery Girl chimed in. "That was a variation of Hitler's own Nazi ideology, but dangerously intertwined with Destro's. No, forget the Destro part! This was worse. Even Destro admitted that all Quirks were a blessing, not a curse, and discriminating against them based on power or use was something he'd never do."
"Destro, the founder of the Meta Liberation Army," Izuku said softly.
"And one of the earliest speakers for total freedom of Quirk use," Nezu added. "Yes. Recovery Girl is right, however. The way he spoke - it described the ideology as that of the Nazi regime, but with a modern twist to it. Cullings, eugenics, maybe even Quirk-based slavery. A dystopian future ruled by the most powerful, while the weak are treated as expendable."
"Nezu, such an ideology…"
"We will look into it. I will speak with some friends in the police. This requires its own investigation to ensure there are not…Others." Izuku perked up, a chill running down his spine.
"Others? You mean other institutions like Aldera?" He asked, a clear hint of fear in his voice.
"As much as I want to deny it, I'm afraid they proved how effective it is to affect young, foolish minds," Nezu replied. "It'd be foolish not to spread the method to other places. But at the same time, terrifying as well. Just thinking about the souls who suffered…What if Aldera was not even the origin point of this ideological phenomenon? We need to investigate carefully. Fortunately, the Principal is still in custody, currently serving three back-to-back life sentences for his actions."
"I will make him talk. Or better yet, I will rip out the information from him." Izuku said. "Dean Nezu, I am perhaps one of the people who want to see this ideology burn the most, given how it made me suffer. Not to mention learning how many others paid in blood because of it already."
"I admire your drive and willingness to provide aid, Midoriya. But this is not the same as before. Not only are you unlicensed, but Aldera's former principal could still sue UA and you for violating his mental intimacy. There are laws about that, believe it or not." Nezu said, as much as he loathed to admit it. Using Poltergeist again would make things so easy. "But we will look into it. Rest assured, Midoriya. We WILL get to the bottom of this."
"What of Michizune?" Izuku asked.
"What else? He is being taken to the station as we speak." Mirko replied.
"Michizune Doumou openly admitted to committing a murder. He clearly lied to escape the initial raids. But he cannot escape now. Cameras located further away captured the moment he attempted to fire upon civilians. Combined with audio recordings and witness statements, we can ensure he is put where he belongs."
"And in the end, it is all thanks to you, kid," Mirko added, making Nezu sigh.
"It is clear that Michizune was refusing to believe you, of all people, could be better than he. Your reputation at Aldera must have become something akin to a fact of reality to him. When you not only stood your ground against him but also proved he couldn't win, his calm was replaced with frustration, confusion, rage - essentially, when the view of reality he created around himself was challenged and cracked, he lost all manner of calm and prioritized his victory over you and proving that toxic ideology as right above maintaining his secrets."
"Just like Katsuki," Izuku said bitterly.
"Yes, but I think Bakugou is actually not as corrupted," Nezu said. "Sure, we can see several markers of the favoritism having touched him and having led to his current personality, but even compared to Michizune, he is hardly unhinged or hiding any dark secrets."
"And unlike Michizune, I trust he was investigated properly?" Mirko asked.
"Michizune was labeled a victim. That must have caused a few blind spots. Bakugou was not. He was properly investigated, and the fact that he is not in a prison cell speaks for itself." Nezu said, and then he inhaled deeply. "I will announce the continuation of the Sports Festival."
"Really? Even though he legit had a guy almost blow half the audience?" Mirko asked.
"It is exactly for that reason that we must keep going forward. We cannot and will not surrender to the whims of someone like Michizune. If we stop, we sent a message that the incident spooked us. I admit, however, this will mean we will be unable to allow this format again in the future."
"So, no more aspirants who might win themselves a spot in UA." Recovery Girl added. "Too bad. I liked that Sakura girl. Her Quirk was beautiful."
"We will still consider those who were here," Nezu said. "But Michizune just about proved that UA's security has holes. As I said earlier, PR nightmare."
"We will handle it accordingly." Recovery Girl said. "For now, best go tell Mic to resume the event, Nezu. And make a statement."
"You are correct. Young Midoriya, if you think the Omnitrix will be back in time for your next fight, please head to the lockers and prepare. I have to address the wolves."
A few minutes later, Nezu walked onto the arena, and Midnight handed him the microphone. "Hello? I hope this is working fine. As you might know, I am Dean Nezu of UA, and I am here now to address the most recent incident regarding Michizune Doumou. Firstly, allow me to extend my deepest and most sincere apologies for our oversight regarding him and the potential tragedy he could have caused. Second of all, I am afraid this incident has led us to decide that, aside from this year, we will not allow civilians to partake in our Sport Festival anymore."
"Now, as you all might be wondering, I will address the biggest issue here and the subject you all have on your minds: Aldera. As many of you likely know, the Aldera Incident is still unfolding to this day, a little over one year later. Despite making arrests and providing critical aid to victims, it remains a mark of shame that such an institution came to be in the first place! And even worse…That we failed to see one of its products slithering its way among our own ranks."
"ONE?!" Someone from the crowd shouted. "THREE! There are two more Aldera students among your ranks! Katsuki Bakugou and Izuku Midoriya are also from Aldera!"
"He's right! Why are they part of UA? Expel them!"
"SILENCE!" Nezu shouted, shocking the crowd that the Dean of UA would raise his voice to silence them. "Let me be clear: You don't get to make such demands of UA. Izuku Midoriya was not one of Aldera's rotten apples but a victim. His Quirk came in very late, resulting in him suffering some of the worst treatment within the walls of that place. As for Katsuki Bakugou, it has been established by psychologists and professionals in the field of psychoanalysis, who determined if he was as corrupt as the rest of his peers from Aldera. He was given a chance. And UA has taken it upon itself to attempt to turn this young man into a fine hero someday."
"Fat chance!" Someone else shouted from the crowd. "Once a bad apple, always a bad apple! The Aldera lot should have been KILLED, not arrested!"
"Who said that?!" Nezu said, quickly turning his head to follow the noise, and seeing a guy who quickly ducked his head. "I thought so. You call for such extreme measures, yet duck your head at the slightest bit of challenge? Keep silent if you do not dare to back your words with actions."
"How dare you speak to us this way?!" A woman from the crowd shouted. "You should be bowing your head and apologizing for your negligence!"
"Which is what I have done!" Nezu pointed out. "But you all started shouting your own judgments. Your own opinions! I will not respect people who do not respect me in turn!"
The woman who spoke bit her tongue in frustration, silenced by Nezu's stern reply. "Good." The animal replied. "Now, to get back to the main subject, Michizune has lied. Given his confessions and the size of the investigation, he manipulated the investigators into thinking he was a victim. But not anymore. As we speak, Michizune is on his way to one of Japan's high-security prison facilities, constructed especially for individuals with Quirks as dangerous as his."
"Now, as for the rest of today's events, we will proceed in accordance with our schedule. We won't let this incident stop us from showcasing the promise of those young men and women. So, with those words said, please welcome the participants of round 4! Itsuka Kendo and Katsuki Bakugou!"
The jeering started right away as Bakugou walked onto the stage with Itsuka coming up as well.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen! With our esteemed dean's announcement out of the way, let us proceed now to the fourth round of the second set! To my right, we have Itsuka Keno, 1B's-"
"Actually, Professor Midnight." Itsuka started, interrupting her. "I wish to announce my surrender."
"Surrender?!" Midnight gasped, surprised to hear her surrender. "C-can you say why?"
"As seen already, Katsuki Bakugou is a formidable opponent," Itsuka said. "Despite his…Bad attitude. Still, the fact remains that he defeated Monoma in fair battle, and I doubt I stand much of a better chance."
Katsuki sneered. "So, in other words, you know your place." He said, getting a scowl from Itsuka.
"I will take pleasure in seeing you lose, still." She said, making him narrow his eyes. "After all, you will be facing Midoriya in the semi-finals." Katsuki's eyes shot open upon hearing that. It made perfect sense! Still, he clenched his fists tightly. Frustration and anger were visible on his face.
"W-well, in that case, this is where the second set ends! We will now enter a 30-minute break and resume with the third set! The Semi-Finals!"