Chapter 307 - 17-21

Chapter 17: Climax

Stain glared at Phantom, also recognizing him from the photo that Shigaraki showed him. "Another friend coming to save all of you. Pathetic."

"Danny!" Izuku shouted. "Don't let him cut you! If he ingests your blood, you'll be paralyzed!"

Phantom chuckled, "Sounds like a gross Quirk to have. But interesting. Now, Tenya, are you ready to get out of this mess?"

Tenya cried, "I'm sorry. I just wanted to take down the monster that hurt my brother. But now I am Ingenium. And I will defeat you, Hero Killer." He started to move a little as Stain charged in, but Phantom blasted him with another ecto blast. Stain's arm got slightly burned because of it. Shoto sent more fire at Stain to keep him away.

Tenya felt worthless. His friends all came to help him, and he was the immature one. He was so blinded by revenge that he forgot what really mattered.

Shoto sent both ice and fire at Stain, "Just try and dodge this, villain!"

Stain dodged all of Shoto's attacks, "Hasn't anyone ever told you you rely on your Quirk too much? Makes you a careless fighter."

Phantom got in front of Shoto and blocked Stain's sword from cutting Shoto. He held the sword with both hands, trying to hold off Stain. Stain chuckled, "You're fast, kid. But I'm faster!" He sliced his sword through Phantom's hands, causing the ghost boy to hiss in pain.

Stain looked at his sword, and he was surprised to see not blood, but a green substance instead. Phantom was bleeding ectoplasm, not blood. Izuku, Shoto, and Tenya were shocked at what they saw. Stain gave the ectoplasm a cautious lick, then spit it out, although he ingested some of it, "This isn't blood. What are you, kid?"

Phantom sent some ecto energy to his hands to heal them, "You don't want to know." He then blasted Stain backwards several feet, and since Stain ingested his ectoplasm instead of blood, Phantom wasn't paralyzed.

Tenya struggled to stand, "If I don't stand up right now, I'll never be able to be as good as them. I'll never live up to my brother's name!"

Stain charged in again, and he noticed Tenya standing up, realizing that his Quirk timed out. He also felt off since ingesting some of Phantom's ectoplasm.

Tenya shouted, "Recipro blast!" He shot towards Stain, using his leg to break his sword from hitting either Phantom or Shoto, knocking him back.

Izuku cried, "Iida!"

Shoto asked, "You're free, too? Guess his Quirk isn't as great as I thought it was. He even couldn't affect Fenton."

Phantom looked over at Tenya, "Are you alright?"

Tenya stood tall, "Midoriya, Todoroki, Fenton, this has nothing to do with you. I apologize. I'm OK. I won't let the three of you shed any more blood for me!"

Phantom replied, "Dude, that's what friends are for. We protect each other. Although you guys have been holding well on your own. Now, let's finish this!"

Stain glared at the four boys, "It's no use trying to pretend to be a hero now. A person's true nature doesn't change in just a few minutes. You'll never be anything but a fraud who prioritizes his own desires. You're the sickness that's infected society and ruined the name 'hero'. Someone must teach you a lesson."

Phantom glared at Stain, "You sound like a lunatic, a fruit loop even. Sure, there are plenty of heroes in this world that have selfish desires to become heroes. Fame, money. But there are heroes that want to help others. Heroes that put the lives of others before themselves. Yes, people need to learn that. But not through what you are doing. Killing isn't the answer. That won't make society better. Tenya, don't listen to what he's saying. You know what it takes to become a true hero. Don't let revenge guide you."

Tenya sighed, "No. He's completely correct. I have no right to call myself a hero at all. Even so, there's no way I can back down. If I give up now, then the name Ingenium will die!"

Stain growled, "Pathetic!" He charged in at Tenya, but Shoto blocked him with fire. Phantom sent ice towards Stain for good measure.

Native shouted from the ground, "Idiots! The hero killer is only after me and that kid in the white armor. Stop fighting back! Get out of here!"

Phantom looked back at Native, "Dude, we don't back down from a fight like this. He's not going to let up."

Shoto added, "I don't think he'd let me run even if I wanted to. Something clearly changed in him just now. He seems rattled. His Quirk alone isn't especially powerful. The issue of blood type makes it unpredictable and it doesn't last long. Plus, he has to get in close if he wants to use it. It must be difficult for him to take on multiple opponents at once."

Phantom kept sending ecto blasts at Stain, who kept dodging, "He keeps going after Tenya and this other pro before any of the other pros show up."

Tenya noticed that his engines were shot. He looked at Shoto. "Hey, Todoroki. Can you regulate your temperatures?"

Shoto answered, "Not well with my left, but yes, I can."

Tenya said, "You gotta freeze my leg for me, without plugging the exhaust."

Phantom replied, "I'll do it." He coated Tenya's leg with ice, leaving the exhaust clear.

Stain shouted, "You two are in my way." He threw a knife that Tenya blocked with his arm. "Why won't you stay down?"

Izuku realized that he could move again, even though his leg was injured. Phantom yanked the knife out of Tenya's arm.

Tenya shouted, "Recipro Extend!" He shot towards Stain.

Izuku shouted, "One For All Full Cowling!" He charged towards Stain.

Phantom looked over at Shoto, "Hold on, I'm going to fly us above Stain!"

Tenya and Izuku charged in and hit Stain hard. Phantom and Shoto flew right above the villain and blasted him towards the ground.

Back with Endeavor and Gran Torino, the Nomu was starting to get back up. Endevor noted, "That was only a low temperature warning shot. But still, it always KO's my opponent."

Gran Torino said, "Something's not right. This guy is.."

Suddenly the Nomu released all the fire energy that Endeavor blasted at him. Endeavor chuckled, "Your Quirk's absorption and release, but you still took damage from my flame, didn't you? Not a very impressive power."

Gran Torino said, "What's he doing? Watch it, Todoroki. I think this guy's got multiple Quirks."

The Nomu jumped into the air towards Endeavor, who said, "I see. So that's how it is." He charged up a flame attack, but Gran Torino jetted in and hit the Nomu right in the chest, slamming the Nomu into the street.

Gran Torino sighed, "I didn't mean to damage the road. I might be more outta practice than I thought." The Nomu was down for good.

Endeavor chuckled, "Huh. Nice work. You're not bad, old man." He heard an explosion in the distance. "That must be where the rest of the heroes are gathered, including that Fenton boy. It's been two to three minutes. They should've taken care of things by now."

Gran Torino replied, "We need to tie this guy up. The cops will take care of him from there. Then we can help out."

"Leave him to my sidekicks," Endeavor said. "They'll make sure the cops take him. There's an address that I need you to investigate for me. I am Endeavor. I can take care of the rest of this myself." He was referring to when he saw Shoto run off after getting Izuku's text. Shoto shouted the address to his father and to send help.

Back in the alley, Tenya and Izuku were injured after their attack on Stain. Shoto created an ice slide for the two boys to land safely. Phantom created ghost ice to hold Stain in place. Stain was knocked out cold.

Izuku stood up, "He's gotta be knocked out after all that, right?"

Shoto sighed, "Then, let's restrain him and get him to the street. Maybe we can find some rope."

"Actually," Phantom said as his hands glowed. "I have something better." He floated up and tied Stain up with ecto goo. He also removed all the weapons from Stain.

Back with the giant Nomu and flying Nomu, the other pro heroes were having a hard time fighting off the giant Nomu, especially after Phantom was whisked away. Suddenly Endeavor came charging in and punched the giant Nomu far away. The Nomu regenerated his arm that was punched off.

Endeavor grunted, "So, you can regenerate. Well then, let's see you come back from this." He rushed up to the Nomu and incinerated the Nomu's head until there was nothing left. "Incinerated cells can't regenerate." He saw the other Nomu flying away. "Any hero whose Quirk isn't suited for this, go help on Ekou Street in District Four."

"Another villain?" a pro hero asked.

"I don't know," Endeavor answered. "Just do it." He ran after the flying Nomu and launched a fire arrow into one of its eyes, making it release its hostage. Endeavor grabbed the hostage before he hit the ground. "You won't get away."

Back in the alley, Phantom, Shoto, and Tenya took all of Stain's weapons away. Native walked over to Izuku, who asked, "Native, can you move?"

Native nodded, "Yeah. I think I'm as good as new now."

"You sure?" Izuku asked.

Native picked Izuku up piggy back style, "I saw you hurt your leg back there. At least let me do this for you."

Izuku sighed, "Thank you very much."

Native smiled, "I should be thanking you."

Phantom said, "Alright. All of his weapons are off him and my ecto goo should hold him in place."

Tenya spoke up, "I can drag him from here."

Shoto replied, "Are you forgetting your arms are messed up?" Tenya sighed at that.

Phantom said, "I'll drag him. Shoto, you and Tenya can walk behind him to keep an eye on him."

As everyone walked toward the street, Native said, "I have to apologize. I'm supposed to be a pro, but I was useless back there."

Izuku sighed, "No. I don't think any one person could take the Hero Killer on. Not with that weird Quirk of his. He's too strong."

Shoto added, "The four of us barely won against him, and even then, it was because of his own mistakes. He was getting riled up and desperate and forgot all about Midoriya's quick recovery time. Then he wasn't able to block Iida's last Reciproburst or Midoriya's assault. Not to mention Fenton blasting him to kingdom come along with my attacks. But I think the turning point was when he ingested that green stuff that came from you, Fenton. He seemed off ever since he ingested it. What is that green goo?"

Phantom looked over at Shoto, "Don't worry about it. Part of my Quirk."

Shoto didn't fully buy Phantom's explanation, but kept quiet for now.

They made it to the street. Native said, "Right, let's get him to the police as fast as we can."

Suddenly Gran Torino showed up, "What are you doing here, boys?" He jetted over and kicked Izuku in the face. "I thought I told you to stay on the bullet train. And you, ghost boy, you ran ahead of me when you shouldn't have. You can't go into battle fighting by yourself without a license!"

Phantom shrugged, "Sorry, old man. But people needed help."

Native asked, "Who's this."

Izuku answered, "Gran Torino, the hero Danny and I are interning with. I don't get it. How did you find us?"

Gran Torino answered, "I was told to come here by someone else. I have no idea what's going on, but I'm glad you two boys aren't dead, at least."

Izuku sighed, "Me too. And I'm sorry."

A bunch of pro heroes came around the corner and saw the group standing next to the alley. They were shocked that children were standing there, and that the Hero Killer was on the ground, tied up. They immediately called the police and an ambulance for those who were injured.

Tenya bowed to Phantom, Izuku, and Shoto, "You guys. You were both hurt because of me. I'm truly sorry. I was just so angry. I couldn't see anything else."

Izuku sighed, "I'm sorry too, Iida. You were going through so much by yourself. But I couldn't tell anything was wrong. Even though I'm your friend."

"I did," Phantom added. "I know vengeance when I see it. I've felt it before. I understand wanting to get back at the person who hurt people close to me. But revenge isn't the answer. Stain will get justice for what he did to your brother and all those other pro heroes."

Shoto nodded, "So pull yourself together. You're the co class rep, behind Fenton and Yaoyorozi."

Tenya wiped away his tears.

Suddenly, the flying Nomu came charging in and grabbed Izuku with its feet. Some of its blood landed on one of the pro heroes' faces.

"I'll get Izuku!" Phantom shouted as he flew as fast as he could after the Nomu.

Suddenly, Stain pulled out a hidden blade and licked the blood that fell on the pro hero's cheek. The Nomu became paralyzed and started to fall towards the ground.

Just as Phantom grabbed Izuku from the Nomu's grasp, Stain came running in and jumped on top of the Nomu, killing it with his knife. "The word 'hero' has lost all meaning in this society. The world is overrun with fakes and criminals like you who chase petty dreams. You must all be purged."

The Nomu fell to the ground and Phantom landed nearby with Izuku. Everyone was shocked at Stain, who was still standing over the Nomu's dead body.

He grinned maliciously, "Everything that I do is to create a stronger society."

Shigaraki was watching this from a rooftop nearby next to Kurogiri. He was pissed, "Hey, hey, hey, what the hell? This is no fair! Why'd he have to go and kill that Nomu? And why are those two brats here? I'm so mad, I don't even know what to say. This is a mess! Why do things never go the way I want them to?"

All the pro heroes readied themselves for a fight against Stain, when Endeavor walked up, "Why are you all standing around like fools? The villain must have flown this way, right?"

"You took care of the rest?" A pro hero asked.

Endeavor nodded, "Mostly, things got a little rough at the end. Hold on, don't tell me that man is…."

Phantom stood between Stain and Izuku, and the Hero Killer looked over at Endeavor. Stain shouted as his mask fell to the ground, "You false hero! I'll make this right. These streets must run with the blood of hypocrites. Hero! I will reclaim that word! Come on! Just try and stop me, you fakes!"

Everyone was too scared to move. Phantom whispered to Izuku, "Are you OK?" Izuku nodded and Phantom whispered, "Then stay here." He silently started to creep up on Stain to capture him again.

Stain shouted, "There is only one man I'll let kill me. He is a true hero. All Might is worthy!"

Just as Phantom was in reaching distance, Stain suddenly turned around and grabbed Phantom by the wrist, "And you, ghost child, I don't know what you are, what kind of blood runs through your veins, but you aren't meant for this wretched world. Are you worthy like All Might? Or are you meant for something greater?"

Phantom's eyes glowed green with anger, "I am Phantom, and I want to change this world for the better, but not in the way you want to. I can promise you that."

Stain started to hold up his knife, but then he suddenly dropped it and stopped moving. Phantom pulled his wrist away from Stain's grasp, looking at the dead look in Stain's eyes.

Endeavor said, "I think he's out cold."

What happened was a combo of his broken ribs piercing his lungs and Phantom's ectoplasm poisoning his organs. No one, except Phantom, stood against him. Everyone was still in shock. Gran Torino looked over at Phantom and muttered, "Who is this boy?"

Chapter 18: The Aftermath of Hero Killer: Stain

Shigaraki scratched his neck and used his Quirk: Decay to destroy the binoculars he was holding, "We're leaving."

Kurogiri asked, "Are you satisfied with the results, Tomura Shigaraki?"

Shigaraki answered, "Depends on tomorrow's headlines, moron." Kurogiri opened a portal and the two villains disappeared.

The next day, Izuku, Tenya, and Shoto were at the hospital being treated for their injuries. Danny was sitting nearby but in regular clothes as he had healed himself.

Shoto asked, "Did you sleep, Midoriya?"

Izuku shook his head, "No, not really."

Shoto replied, "I figured. Me neither. How about you, Fenton?"

Danny shrugged, "Somewhat. At least you guys got beds to sleep in. Izuku, you sent messages to our classmates saying you're OK? As you sent your location to everyone."

Izuku said, "Yes, I did, don't worry. I still have to call Uraraka though. But, thinking about that fight now, we did something pretty amazing."

Danny nodded, "Yeah, I agree."

Izuku continued, "After everything that happened back there, it kinda feels like a miracle we're even alive. With my leg messed up, I was an easy target. He probably could've killed me if he really wanted to."

"Yeah," Shoto agreed. "Seems to me he let us live on purpose. Especially Fenton. He seemed particularly fixated on you at the end. Even since he ingested whatever green stuff you bled out. What was that stuff?"

Danny sighed, "It's just part of my Quirk. I can still bleed." He picked up a pencil and stabbed himself in the finger, and his finger bled red blood. "See?"

Shoto wasn't fully convinced, but dropped it for now. "I'm impressed by you though, Iida. He was actually trying to murder you, but you stood tall."

Tenya sighed, "That's not true. I was…."

Suddenly the door opened and Gran Torino and Manuel walked in. Gran Torino said, "Oh, so the injured youngins are awake. Along with their watcher."

Izuku smiled, "Gran Torino!"

Tenya sighed, "And Manuel too."

Gran Torino walked over to Izuku, "Idiot. I could yell at you for hours right now."

Izuku sighed, "Yeah, I'm sorry."

Gran Torino looked over at Danny, "And I could yell at you, too, but before I do, all of you have a visitor."

A man with a dog face walked in. Gran Torino said, "This is Hosu's chief of police. Kenji Tsuragamae."

Shoto and Tenya stood up in respect, Danny did after seeing Shoto and Tenya do it. Izuku tried to stand, but Kenji said, "No, please, stay seated, woof."

Danny chuckled silently at the chief woofing, but kept his composure.

Kenji said, "So, you're the UA students who brought down the Hero Killer, huh?"

"We are," Shoto answered.

Kenji continued, "Stain has some serious injuries. Severe burns and several broken bones. Along with several of his organs being burned from what looks like some kind of acidic substance that completely dissolved before we could analyze it. Right now he's in the hospital under strict guard, woof. Here's a lesson you should have already learned. When Quirks became the norm, the police force sought to maintain the status quo. They decided we wouldn't use Quirks as weapons. That's when heroes came in. They could do what we couldn't, if they were licensed, of course, woof. It would be impossible for the police to condone the use of deadly Quirks. After all, we're here to stop such harm from being done. The only reason pros can use their powers now is because of the strict code of ethics that the early heroes chose to abide by. That's why it's against the law for uncertified people to use their Quirks to cause injury. Whether you were up against the Hero Killer or not, none of you had the authority to harm the villain. That means the four of you, and your supervisors, Endeavor, Manuel, and Gran Torino, should receive harsh punishments for this gross abuse of your powers."

Danny spoke up, "With all due respect, if Tenya hadn't stepped in, Native would've been murdered. And if not for the rest of us, Tenya would have been murdered too. The other pros were busy with those monsters that were unleashed in the city. So you think it's OK for us just to stand by and do nothing?"

"Calm down, Danny," Izuku said.

Kenji looked right at Danny, "So it's OK to break the law as long as it goes your way?"

"That's not what I'm saying," Danny answered. "It's a hero's job to save people. This was an emergency."

Kenji sighed, "This is why you're not a full-fledged pro yet. It's obvious UA hasn't been teaching you near enough."

Danny's eyes glowed green, "They've taught me enough. And I've learned enough all on my own."

Tenya tried to get Danny to back down, and Shoto just glared at Kenji as he agreed with Danny.

Gran Torino held up his hand, "Hold on, kid. You'll wanna hear him out till the end."

Kenji continued, "What I've said is the official stance of the police department. But any punishment would only be necessary if this went public. If it did, you'd probably be applauded by citizens everywhere. But there's no way you could escape from being reprimanded. On the other hand, we could say Endeavor saved the day. Stain's burns would support this story completely, and we could pretend you weren't involved, woof. Thankfully, there were very few witnesses. This could be the last you heard of any punishments. It would mean no one would know about you, though. You'd receive no acclaim at all. The choice is yours. Personally, I know where I stand. I don't wanna damage any promising young careers. Not for a mistake like this."

Manuel said, "Either way, we'll need to take responsibility for being negligent as supervisors."

Tenya got up and bowed to Manuel, "I'm sorry. I should've listened."

Manuel replied, "Yeah. You caused us a lot of trouble. Remember that, and don't do it again."

Izuku bowed his head, "And I apologize as well."

Shoto bowed as well, "Me, too. We'll leave it to you. Right, Fenton?"

Danny sighed, "Fine, I hate the publicity anyway."

Kenji sighed, "I know it's not fair. You won't enjoy any of the fame or praise you probably would've received otherwise. But at least, allow me, as the chief of police, to thank you."

He bowed to the four boys. Danny chuckled, "You know, you could've started with that." Shoto nodded in agreement.

Reports about the Hero Killer: Stain were everywhere. Shigaraki was listening to the news report on the TV in his hideout, "Now, our continuing coverage. Three villains were captured in the Hosu riots. Their identities and motives are yet unknown. Based on their distinctive appearance, however, and the presence of two people our reporters filmed nearby, many are speculating that they're connected to the League of Villains that attacked UA High last month. The Hero Killer Stain claimed many lives. In fact, he has had more victims than any other criminal since All Might burst into the scene. With his arrest, everyone in the country can rest a little easier tonight. The seriously wounded Hero Killer is currently receiving treatment at a hospital under heavy police guard. Officials are waiting for the recovery of several of his victims before further investigating the villain's motives. As our reporters have said, last night, just after 8 PM, the Hero Killer Stain was arrested by Endeavor…."

Kurogiri turned off the TV as Shigaraki said, "He's all they're talking about. What about my Nomus? Not only have they not forgotten, but we didn't even make the front page."

Over at Best Jeanist's agency, the pro hero was talking with Bakugo and his sidekicks, "Let's take a moment to talk about the incident last night in Hosu. The Hero Killer Stain was arrested. There were also incidents with villains who resembled Nomu from the UA attack. You're likely worried how this all stitches together. Well, I, too, am concerned. People tend to come apart at the seams in times like this. That's why we heroes must remain calm despite our fears. Don't let chaos tempt you into thoughtless overreaction. Remember, we're here to protect others, not seek out vengeance. It'll be business as usual today. Standard material. May your minds and bodies be as sharp as your jeans."

"Thank you, Best Jeanist!" his sidekicks shouted.

Bakugo was wearing jeans and his hair was slicked back. He felt very out of place.

Over at Fourth Kind's agency, Kirishima said to Tetsutetsu, "Uh! Midoriya wrote me back! That location he sent me in the middle of the action in Hosu. That's why he messaged us. Man am I glad I reported it."

Tetsutetsu said, "Hey! Put that down before Fourth Kind sees you. We're gonna be late."

"Wait, I wanna reply," Kirishima replied.

But then he and Tetsutetsu were hit on their heads by Fourth Kind, "What did I say about punctuality?"

"Right, sorry, sir!" Kirishima and Tetsutetsu replied.

Meanwhile, Momo and Kendo were watching a commercial they filmed with Uwabami, who said, "They sure put that together fast. This is just the first cut, so it'll be another month before it airs. It needs lots of CGI."

Kendo whispered to Momo, "So weird. We'll be on TV."

Momo felt embarrassed but said, "We're heroes. This is just what it takes to be a pro."

Uwabami then asked, "So, how about we go on patrol?" Both girls got excited.

Meanwhile, Ochaco was on the phone with Izuku, "Oh my gosh! That's so scary! Well, I'm just glad you guys are OK. I got really nervous when the only thing you sent was your location."

Izuku replied, "Yeah, sorry about that. But that's all I really had time to send."

Ochaco said, "Don't worry, sounds like you went through a lot. You get some rest. I wanna hear everything later."

"Thanks," Izuku replied.

Gunhead walked over to Ochaco, "Uravity. We're about to start."

"Oh, sorry," Ochaco told Gunhead before talking to Izuku, "I'll see you back at school. I hope I didn't bother you much. Bye!"

She hung up the phone and Gunhead asked, "Was that a boy?"

Ochaco replied, "Uh, yeah, but it's not like that."

Over at the hospital, Izuku was freaking out because he talked to a girl on the phone. Danny was standing next to him and noticed the look on his face. He chuckled, "Izuku's got a secret crush."

Izuku shushed Danny. They walked back to the room where Tenya and Shoto were. Tenya had his head down. Danny asked, "What's wrong?"

Shoto answered, "Iida just got his test results back."

Tenya said, "My left hand might have damage that's permanent. Both my arms are pretty torn up. But the injury to my left arm was especially severe. There was damage to my brachial plexus. Which just means I'll have trouble moving my fingers. And my hand might have some numbness. Apparently, there's a chance it could be healed with nerve transplant surgery. When I came across the Hero Killer, I stopped thinking rationally. The first thing I should've done was call Manuel. But I got lost in my own anger. I hate him so much, but I can't deny he spoke the truth. That's why, until I'm able to call myself a real hero, I'll leave my left hand as it is."

"Are you sure?" Shoto asked. Tenya nodded.

Izuku added, "Iida, I feel the same way. My hand is a reminder, too. Let's get stronger. Together."

Danny then said, "Tenya, I feel the same also. When my parents were killed, I fought the fruit loop who killed them right in front of me. I could have ended his life right there and then. But it was my sister who stopped me in time. I realized that revenge and vengeance isn't the answer. It will only make you like them."

Tenya looked up at Danny and smiled, "Thank you."

Shoto then said, "I feel kind of bad. Whenever I'm involved, someone's hand gets all messed up. Is something wrong with me? Am I cursed?"

Danny chuckled then said, "Dude, you need to chill. You are not cursed. It's just a weird coincidence." Izuku and Tenya started to chuckle as well.

Over at UA High, All Might got a phone call, and the ringtone was his own voice. Aizawa and Present Mic were shocked that that was the ringtone of All Might.

All Might stood up, "Ah, hi sir!"

Gran Torino was on the other end, "You could have warned me about Izuku Midoriya and Danny Fenton. I know it probably couldn't be helped, but thanks to the both of them, I'm getting a pay cut and my teaching license has been suspended for six months. Their tendency to jump into situations without thinking is just like yours, Tosinori."

All Might walked out of the teaching lounge and said, "I humbly apologize, sir. It's because of my insufficient teaching, although Fenton has always had that tendency, even before I started teaching him. I can't believe my protege caused you so much trouble. Oh, man, this is bad."

Gran Torino replied, "Well, I don't care about my teaching license anymore. You're the only reason I got it. And that was so I could keep my promise to your predecessor, Shimura."

All Might said, "And I truly appreciate all you did for me. It's only because of your wisdom and guidance that I'm the number one hero today."

Gran Torino replied, "If that's true, then why don't you ever visit me?"

All Might said, "Well, it's just that my new life as a teacher keeps me so busy."

Gran Torino then said, "I actually called to talk about the Hero Killer. I saw him only briefly in person, but in that short amount of time, he shook me to my very core. There is such hatred inside of that man."

All Might replied, "I can't believe he was able to frighten someone like you, Gran Torino. He must have already been tied up, so what scared you?"

Gran Torino answered, "It probably stemmed from his fanatic ideology. There was something very intimidating about his obsession. I'm not trying to praise him or anything, but he's got that same determination as you when it comes to your Symbol of Peace thing. There's similarities."

"What do you mean?" All Might asked.

Gran Torino answered, "To put it simply, you've both got charisma. As the investigation continues, his ideology and opinions will be all over the media. Everyone will wanna know his motives. The age we live in, for better or for worse, is one of suppression. There will be people across the globe who are influenced by these new ideas."

All Might replied, "If that's true, and he inspires copycat villains, they'll probably strike out on their own. Heroes will be able to stop them, just like they did this time."

Gran Torino said, "That's where the League of Villains comes in. The Hosu incidents suggests that Stain and the League are connected somehow. That means the League will go from being thought of as a bunch of juvenile delinquents that attacked UA to being recognized as a group with an ideology. In other words, these new converts will seek them out. Even if each individual is insignificant, if that evil gathers under one banner, it'll swell to unstoppable proportions. If the villain in charge knew this would happen from the beginning, then he is a brilliant strategist. He's steadily getting rid of any obstacles one by one, trying to create conditions that will favor his own purpose."

All Might replied, "When I heard from Tsukauchi that Nomu had multiple Quirks, I had a bad feeling. What if he's back?"

Gran Torino said, "You're concerned it could be the man who killed Shimura, my sworn friend, your master, and the previous holder of One For All. The man who opened that hole in your stomach. You're afraid the villain named All For One is on the rise again."

All Might replied, "For him to have survived such injuries, though, I don't wanna imagine it's possible."

Gran Torino said, "Tosinori. Midoriya admires you so wholly and fiercely. You should find the time to tell him everything concerning you and One For All. Be honest. He deserves to know the truth. Along with the ghost boy, as I suspect he knows more than he should. Also, I am curious about Fenton. Stain seemed particularly focused on that ghost boy. Especially since Fenton wasn't frozen in fear like the rest of us were with Stain. Fenton's Quirk seems almost too good to be true. His Quirk is a lot like One For All. And I figured out like Midoriya and you, he wasn't born with it. We need to keep an eye on him. He will either be this world's salvation along with Midoriya or something worse. I fear All For One will be very interested in him once he learns of the ghost boy's existence."

All over Japan, villains were watching the news and reports on Hero Killer Stain and becoming inspired to come out of the shadows. Many of these villains are now looking for the League of Villains to join them. The peaceful days with the Symbol of Peace are looking like they are coming to an end.

Chapter 19: Everyone's Internships, Ghostly Meeting

Two days after the Hosu incident, Izuku was still in the hospital due to his injuries. Tenya went home so his mother could take care of him. Shoto went back to his father's agency to continue his internship. He still wanted to learn everything he could from his father, but he also wanted to see if his father had any shame on his face due to the fact that his own son was the one who defeated Stain, and not himself, as the police told the public. Danny laughed at that, saying Endeavor is definitely a fruit loop, which made Shoto chuckle.

Danny returned with Gran Torino to continue his internship. He promised Izuku that he would visit him everyday until he's healed. Izuku wondered what everyone else was doing during their internships.

Tsuyu was with the hero Selkie and his sidekick Sirius. She spent most of her internship cleaning the ship she was on, but she did have one exciting mission. Selkie received word from the Coast Guard that criminals stole cargo from a boat. Tsuyu encountered the villain hiding the cargo and she, along with Selkie and Sirius fought the villain behind it and got the cargo back, along with arresting all who were responsible.

Jiro helped Death Arms rescue hostages using her Quirk. She felt proud when people thanked her for rescuing them.

Kirishima and Tetsutetsu were getting put through the ringer with Fourth Kind, even having to clean outside the agency.

Momo and Kendo really didn't get to do as much patrol because Uwabami kept getting caught up with her fans. Momo wasn't pleased and Kendo felt that Uwabami was a little out of touch with reality.

Ochaco did weapons training with Gunhead, further continuing her combat training so she would be tougher as a hero.

Bakugo was still forced to have his hair combed back and wear jeans. He went on patrol with Best Jeanist and while Best Jeanist was a calm and collected hero, Bakugo was still intense and scared some kids when they went up to the two heroes. Best Jeanist knew he had his work cut out for him.

Gran Torino was still a little upset with Danny for going off on his own and him being part of the reason that he got a pay cut. Danny apologized but said, "I would do it again. People were in trouble and needed to be saved. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. License or no license."

Gran Torino chuckled, "You definitely have a hero complex, kid."

Danny shrugged, "It's my nature."

Gran Torino then said, "I did want to talk with you about what happened with the Hero Killer. You still went up to stop him even though everyone else was frozen with fear. And Stain said something very interesting to you. That has me more curious about you, ghost boy. Even All Might is more curious about you."

Danny sighed, "I don't know what to tell you, Gran Torino. What do you expect of me?"

Gran Torino looked straight into Danny's eyes, "All I'll say is that Stain was right about one thing. You are meant for so much more than what this world can give you. You have the potential to become a great hero, or become something worse. Do I have to worry about you?"

Danny shook his head, "No, sir. I want to save people who need help. I am not a villain. I never will be."

Gran Torino noticed the determination in Danny's eyes, but also sensed that Danny encountered something in his past that made him this determined. He sighed, "If you say so. But I am going to be keeping a close eye on you, ghost boy. Now tomorrow we will be going on patrol in the city we originally were going to before the incident in Hosu. For now, get some sleep."

Gran Torino fell asleep fast. Danny was about to, but then his ghost sense went off. He quickly transformed into Phantom and phased out of the building to see where the ghost was.

He suddenly heard, "Hello, whelp." Phantom turned around to see Skulker standing there.

Phantom was surprised, "Skulker? What are you doing here?"

Skulker grinned, "Why, I'm here for you, ghost child."

Phantom readied for an attack, "If you think you're going to start a fight with me, think again." Skulker readied his weapons.

Suddenly they heard, "Skulker, chill out." Ember flew down and landed next to Skulker, who put his weapons away.

"Sorry," Skulker said. "Old habits."

Phantom asked, "You too, Ember? What's going on?"

Ember answered, "Chill, baby pop. We're here on business from Clockwork. And to check in and see how you and your sister are doing. Maybe even give you an update on Amity Park."

Phantom calmed down, "OK, so talk."

Skulker spoke first, "Clockwork wishes to inform you that the Observants are soon going to start a trial on Plasmius. You will be required to come and testify against him. Are you up for it?"

Phantom was surprised, "I thought he was already sentenced by the Observants."

"Not entirely," Skulker answered. "He's just locked up in the Observants' prison for right now. He is to have a proper trial."

Phantom sighed, "Fine, I'll testify. What else?"

Ember then asked, "How are you and Jazz holding up?"

Phantom answered, "We're both fine. I'm in a high school that trains upcoming heroes. I'm on an internship right now. Just stopped a hero killer."

Ember chuckled, "Not surprised, baby pop. You always like to be the hero. Oh, before I forget, the nerd and goth chick say hello. And they want to tell you that Amity Park is fine. We ghosts haven't bothered to haunt the city, mostly. Some minor ghosts like Box Ghost still like to cause mischief now and then."

Phantom sighed, "Thanks. I do miss Amity Park and my friends there, but I know that I was brought here for a reason. This world may have plenty of heroes, but this world needs a true hero, like All Might. And I think his time is coming soon for his retirement. I just know it."

Ember chuckled, "Whatever you say, baby pop. Just remember that the Ghost Zone is always open to you."

Phantom smiled, "Thanks. Now I better get some sleep. I have patrol duty tomorrow." He flew off back to Gran Torino's agency."

Ember asked Skulker, "So when should baby pop now about his big day?"

Skulker answered, "Clockwork was specific on when the ghost child should be told about his new role in the Ghost Zone. We aren't the ones who have to tell him. Let the ghost child have his fun here for now. Now, let's get back."

Skulker pressed a button on his suit and a ghost portal opened. He and Ember went through it and disappeared, along with the ghost portal.

What no one saw was Gran Torino hiding behind a trash can, having seen and heard the whole interaction. He mumbled, "This ghost kid is becoming more and more interesting. I wonder what that was all about. I also wonder if Tosinori knows about this."

Chapter 20: Listen Up! A Tale From the Past

The end of the internship had arrived. Izuku had healed and was out of the hospital. He and Danny were standing outside of Gran Torino's agency saying goodbye.

Izuku said, "I know I wasn't here long, but thanks for everything."

Gran Torino yawned, then replied, "I don't think there's any reason for you to thank me. I wasn't around when the really big stuff happened."

Izuku retorted, "Sure, but the only reason I was able to stand up against Stain at all was because of our sparring and your wise instructions."

Gran Torino whacked Izuku with his cane, "You survived, yes, but only because the Hero Killer let you. And some thanks to your friends like ghost boy, here. Well, at least you learned to channel your power instead of relying on one monster smash. Even though you did manage to get a stress fracture in your arm. I know what happened. You went well over your limit. I thought we agreed you were only supposed to use five percent. You're too impatient, and when you lose focus, you lose control, too! You must always be calm and alert. I'm sure you know this, but, if you're really aiming to become the greatest hero like All Might, then you've still got a heck of a lot to learn, boy, so keep at it."

Izuku nodded, "Yes, sir!"

Gran Torino looked over at Danny, "And you, ghost boy. You've definitely got experience and talent, I'll give you that. But you need to be careful before you rush into danger. You don't have your license yet so you could get into legal trouble. Luckily, this time you didn't. And I'll be keeping my eye on you."

Danny nodded, "Yes, sir."

Gran Torino turned around, "See you around, boys."

Izuku stopped him, "Wait! I've got a question. Please, just one more. I've been wondering for a while, but never found a good time to ask. I mean, now's not the best time either, but here I am…."

Danny whacked Izuku on the head, "Just ask it. I'm sure Gran Torino has pastries he wants to eat."

Gran Torino chuckled, "Indeed I do."

Izuku asked, "Even though you're really strong and you trained the number one hero in the world yourself, no one knows you. You should be super famous. But you're not. Is there a specific reason for that, or what?"

Gran Torino answered, "Oh, that's an easy one. I was just never interested in working as a pro hero. There was a point in my past when I needed to be able to use my Quirk freely, without limits. That's the only reason I got my license. It might be better to hear this from Toshi. All Might, I mean. He can explain everything better than me."

Izuku replied, "Yeah, OK."

Danny chuckled, "I didn't know All Might's real name was Toshi."

Gran Torino said, "That's it, you two. Keep working hard."

Izuku bowed, "Yes, sir. Thank you very much again."

Danny added, "Thank you, Gran Torino."

Izuku started to walk again, but Gran Torino stopped him, "Hey, boy. Who are you?"

Izuku was confused, "I'm Izuku Midoriya."

"That's not right," Gran Torino retorted.

Izuku understood, "I'm Deku."

Gran Torino turned to Danny, "And you?"

Danny smiled, "I'm Phantom."

Danny ran up to catch up to Izuku and they walked to the train station. Gran Torino said, "Those two are the future of this world. Deku, the new holder of One For All. We'll watch him together, Tosinori. As for Phantom, I should call and tell Tosinori what I saw that night. He would be very interested in this development."

Back at UA, everyone had made it back from their internships. Sero and Kirishima were laughing at Bakugo's hair, as it was still smoothed out.

Bakugo growled, "Stop laughing! My hair's gotten used to this and I can't get it back the right way. Did you not hear me? I'll kill both of you!"

Sero laughed, "I'd like to see you try, pretty boy."

Bakugo growled, "What did you call me?" His hair then went back to normal.

Kirishima laughed, "Hey, there it goes."

Mina said to Jiro, "Awesome! You got to face actual villains? I'm super jealous!"

Jiro replied, "Well, I didn't fight. All I did was help people evacuate and provide logistical support."

Mina said, "But it still sounds like so much fun."

Tsuyu added, "I basically spent the whole time training and cleaning the ship deck. Though, there was this one day we caught a bunch of drug smugglers."

Both Mina and Jiro said, "OK, that's cool."

Tsuyu turned to Ochaco, "What about you, Ochaco? How was your week?"

Ochaco had a serious look on her face, "I'd say it was very enlightening."

Tsuyu commented, "I think she found her fighting spirit."

Jiro added, "Yeah, that battle hero must've been something else."

Kaminari commented, "After one week, she's like a totally different person. But the ones who really changed were those four." He pointed to Izuku, Danny, Tenya, and Shoto.

Sero said, "Oh, yeah. The Hero Killer!"

Kirishima added, "Glad you guys made it back alive. Seriously. Although you, Fenton, it probably was a walk in the park for you."

Danny shrugged, "Maybe, maybe not."

Momo walked up to Danny, "I worried about you, too."

Sato added, "You were lucky Endeavor showed up and saved you guys."

Toru said, "So cool. Just what I'd expect from the number two hero."

Danny shrugged while Shoto mumbled, "Yeah, that's right. He saved us."

Oijiro asked, "Did you guys hear the news about the Hero Killer? Everyone's been saying that he was somehow connected to the League of Villains. Can you imagine how frightening it would've been if that creep had been there when they attacked the USJ?"

Kaminari said, "He's scary, yeah, but did you see him in the weird video? It's all over the internet."

Oijiro replied, "I didn't even know there was a video of him."

Kaminari nodded, "Yeah. Stain's a pretty evil villain, but, like, super tenacious. He's almost kinda cool, don't you guys think?"

Danny walked over and whacked Kaminari on the head, "Dude, not the time and place." He pointed at Tenya.

Kaminari quickly apologized but Tenya said, "No, it's OK. You're fine. It is true that he's quite a tenacious villain. I understand why people might think he was cool. But instead of helping the world, his beliefs led him to cold blooded murder. No matter his motives, killing cannot be condoned. To keep anyone else from suffering like me, well, I promise that I will strive to be the perfect hero."

Izuku nodded, "Yeah, let's do it!"

Tenya looked over at Danny, "Can I say it?"

Danny knew what he was asking, "Go ahead, co class rep."

Tenya shouted, "It's time for class to begin! Everyone, please take your seats."

Tokoyami sighed, "He's back."

Jiro glared at Kaminari, "This is your fault for talking about weird stuff."

Kaminari sighed, "Sorry, I'm gonna keep my mouth shut."

Later that day in hero basic training, All Might shouted, "I am here! Hope you're ready to return to our lessons. Today it's Hero Basic Training. Feels like I haven't seen you in a while. Welcome back. Now then. Listen carefully for what's in store. We're going to be conducting a little race. Take everything you've learned from your internships and apply it to this rescue training."

Tenya raised his hand, "If this is rescue training, then shouldn't we be at the USJ instead?"

All Might answered, "Ah, that facility specializes in disasters. As I said before, this is a race. So prepare. You're about to step in Field Gamma! Inside is an area full of factories that form an intricate labyrinth, so good luck finding your way around. You'll be competing in groups of five. Each person starts from a different location on the outskirts of the model city. I'll send a distress signal, and you do what you must to rescue me. Whoever finds me first wins! But try to keep the property damage to a bare minimum, please."

He pointed right at Bakugo, who asked, "Why're you pointing at me?"

All Might got to his hiding place then reported, "All right. First group, get to your places."

The first group consisted of Izuku, Tenya, Oijrio, Sero, and Mina. Kaminari noted, "Iida hasn't completely recovered yet, right? He should sit this out."

Danny, already transformed into Phantom, said, "He's healed enough. He said that he wants to become a perfect hero. So he's testing himself."

Kirishima added,"Man, everyone in this group has really good mobility."

Momo commented, "Huh. I'd say Midoriya is at a heavy disadvantage against those four."

"'That's what I think," Jiro agreed. "Moving around quickly isn't really one of his strong suits, that's for sure."

Momo continued, "And whenever he uses his powers he always gets badly injured."

Phantom smirked and Momo noticed, "You think differently? I mean, you two were on the same internship together."

Phantom put a finger to his lips, "Just watch and see."

Kirishima asked, "Who's your pick? I'm betting on Sero."

Kaminari commented, "Oh, yeah? I got odds on Oijiro."

Bakugo added, "I know Deku will be last." Phantom shook his head.

Ochaco said, "Even if he's still recovering, I think Iida's got this one." Tsuyu nodded in agreement.

All Might reported, "Is everyone ready? Begin!" Sero immediately used his tape to swing across the battlefield. Mina used her acid to slide on pipes. Oijiro used his tail to jump towards the goal. Tenya used his leg engines to run as fast as he could.

All the other Class 1-A students watched all of this on the monitors. Kirishima commented, "Look at Sero go. In a maze like this, it makes sense to be above everything else."

Shoji said, "So that means Sero's at an advantage because he can take to the sky."

Back on the course, Sero said, "It's like this course was built with me in mind."

Suddenly Izuku blew past Sero using One For All thanks to his training from Gran Torino. "With my new training, I can win!"

All Might and Class 1-A, minus Phantom, were shocked at Izuku. Momo looked over at Phantom, who was smirking. "You knew this would happen?"

Phantom nodded, "Yeah, Gran Torino was a good teacher."

While everyone else was shocked by Izuku's improvement, Bakugo was pissed. He felt like Izuku's new movements were based on his own. And he felt useless as he didn't grow during his internship while Izuku did.

Izuku kept focus and was almost at the goal, but at the last second, he tripped on a pipe, giving Sero the win. Izuku realized that in an area with unstable footing, he has to be careful where he lands. Phantom chuckled at Izuku's predicament.

All Might said, "Young Sero may have come in first, but compared to the start of the year, you all showed some incredible improvements. Keep working and preparing for your upcoming final exams! Group One, leave the field. You're up, Group Two!"

All Might walked over to Izuku as the rest of Group One left the field and whispered, "You surprised me. That was incredible. Find me after class. Bring Fenton with you. We need to talk. The time has come for me to tell you the whole truth. About me and One For All." Izuku nodded in understanding.

Phantom was part of Group Two, along with Tsuyu, Kirishima, Sato, and Yuga. The race began and Phantom zoomed past everyone and won pretty quickly. The other four sighed, "There's no way we can keep up with him. He's in a league of his own."

Later, Class 1-A were in the locker rooms changing back into their uniforms. Sato commented, "Ah, that was some tough training, huh?"

Yuga added, "It's the first class in a while that had me glistening. I couldn't keep up with Fenton."

Danny rolled his eyes, "Dude, being a hero means you have to break a sweat. You'll get there."

Kirishima said, "Man, I gotta work on my mobility. Just to keep up with you, Fenton."

Danny groaned, "I get it. But you will get there. Man, stop making me feel bad."

Tokoyami added, "You could also compensate by improving other skills."

Kaminari said, "Still wish I could use my Quirk for speed. I'm jealous of guys like Fenton, Sero, and you, Tokoyami."

Danny looked over at Izuku, who had a worried look on his face. "He must be worried about why All Might wanted to meet both of us. It did sound serious based on how Izuku told me."

Later, Izuku and Danny made their way to the private teacher lounge and Izuku knocked on the door, "It's me and Danny, All Might." Izuku opened the door and he and Danny noticed that All Might was in his normal form and his head was down.

All Might looked over to the boys, "Come have a seat, you two."

Izuku and Danny took a seat as All Might continued, "You two went through a lot recently. I'm sorry I wasn't around to help you two out."

Izuku shook his head, "Oh, no. You don't need to apologize for that."

Danny added, "Besides, we were able to handle everything ourselves."

Izuku continued, "More importantly, you mentioned One For All earlier."

All Might replied, "I heard that the Hero Killer swallowed your blood in the attack."

Izuku nodded, "Yeah. His Quirk made him able to paralyze someone after tasting their blood. Is that what this is about?"

All Might replied, "Do you remember how I gave my power to you? What I said that day? I said that the key was in my DNA. That's why you had to swallow my hair."

Danny stuttered, "Yeah, that was gross."

But Izuku started to freak out, "Holy crap! Don't tell me that the Hero Killer has One For All now!"

All Might shook his head, "No, he doesn't. I just thought you'd be worried about that, but I see it didn't cross your mind. One For All can only be given to another person if you, the bearer, intend to pass it along. It's not something that can just be taken by force. Although it can be transferred by force. The Quirk you now have is unique, and you should know its origin. Both of you. One For All was derived from another odd Quirk, a power that's very old."

Izuku asked, "It used to be something different?"

All Might nodded, "The name of the Quirk is All For One. It allowed its user to take Quirks from others. Then the user could keep the Quirks for himself or give them to someone else."

Danny realized that this must be a theory that both All Might and Gran Torino might have about how Danny got his powers. "No wonder they are wary about me."

Izuku asked, "What? You mean he could steal powers?"

All Might explained, "This was back when Quirks were just starting to show up. Before society had figured out how to deal with the newly powered among them. When Quirks first appeared, suddenly, it was impossible to say what it meant to be a normal person. Laws and human rights were hotly debated. Civilization's progress stalled. Society decayed."

Izuku then said, "If superpowers had never appeared, then humans would be taking interstellar holidays by this point. I remember hearing that from someone famous."

Danny whistled, "Damn."

All Might continued, "During that chaotic period of change, there was one person who managed to rally many people together. He went by the name of his power, All For One. He stole Quirks from others. And then, with his overwhelming abilities, he spread his influence across the country. He manipulated people to serve his purpose, and committed evil acts with little resistance. In the blink of an eye, he became the leader of villains and ruled over Japan."

Danny was shocked, "That's mental."

Izuku added, "I've seen plenty of rumors about this online, sure, but isn't that all just all made up? It's not mentioned in our textbooks."

All Might answered, "Because it's the kind of shameful history people would rather ignore. Anyway, when a person gains true power, they enjoy showing it off to others."

Izuku asked, "How does this all tie together, though? And what about One For All?"

All Might answered, "I said that All For One could give Quirks to others, remember? He made people trust in him or submit to his will by altering their abilities. But apparently, there were many poor souls who couldn't bear the burden of the Quirks they were given. They became like mindless living dolls, incapable of speaking. Just like the Nomus are. Meanwhile, some Quirks actually evolved as they were passed on. Some even combined with other power sets. This evil man had a Quirkless younger brother. He was small and sickly, but he had a strong sense of justice. They couldn't have been more different. It pained the brother to see All For One's deeds, so he kept resisting him. And then, All For One transferred a Quirk to his sibling, one that would allow him to stockpile power. We don't know if it was a gift he was giving his brother, or if he just wanted to force him to submit."

Izuku realized, "Don't tell me…."

All Might nodded, "Yes. Even though everyone thought he was Quirkless, turns out, the brother did have a Quirk. Though even he hadn't realized this to be the case. He had a useless power that only allowed him to pass on Quirks. And so, the stockpiling ability merged with the younger brother's power, and that is how One For All came to be. I've always found it ironic that justice so often spawns from evil."

Danny nodded in agreement, "That's true."

Izuku then said, "Wait, hold on. I understand how One For All came about, but this bad guy must be long dead by this point. So why are you bringing him up?"

Danny noticed the somber look in All Might's eyes, "He's not dead, is he?"

All Might nodded, "One who steals Quirks has no limit. Anything's possible. There are Quirks that halt aging. He probably has something like that. The Symbol of Evil seemed pretty much immortal. With the state of the world at the time and the huge difference in their combat abilities, the younger brother decided to entrust this new Quirk to future generations. Even though he couldn't defeat All For One, he hoped One For All would continue to grow in power, until it was strong enough to stop his older brother. Eventually, it was my turn, and I managed to defeat All For One! At least, that's what I thought. But he survived and is now back in action as the brain behind the League of Villains. So, now you know. The entire purpose of One For All is to defeat All For One. As its holder, Izuku, you may one day have to fight against this great evil yourself. Because I failed. I know you didn't expect this, but…"

"I'll do my best!" Izuku interrupted. "I'll do whatever you ask. No matter what it takes. As long as you're with me, I can do anything. I know you'll have my back."

Danny stood up, "I'll also back him up. This All For One won't know what hit him."

But then Danny noticed a look in All Might's eyes, like he was still hiding something. But All Might just said, "Thank you. Izuku, you can go now. I need to talk with Fenton alone for a second."

Izuku looked over at Danny, who shrugged, "I don't know. Go on ahead. I'll meet you back in class."

Izuku nodded then left. Danny turned to All Might, "What did you want to talk with me about?"

All Might sighed, "First, I think you know that I won't be with Young Midoriya when he eventually faces All For One."

Danny nodded, "I do. The look on your face said it all. Plus, I have a feeling that you got that injury facing All For One, and that your days as a hero are limited. Your retirement is coming soon, isn't it?"

All Might nodded, "Yes, you are correct. I know you will be by Young Midoriya's side when the time comes. Please look after him when I'm gone."

Danny nodded, "Yes, sir."

All Might continued, "The other reason I wanted to speak to you privately, is that Gran Torino called me. He told me some interesting things that happened during your internship with him. What the Hero Killer said about you. And the meeting you had in secret. I believe he heard the names Skulker and Ember, along with the name Clockwork. There was also the Ghost Zone, if I remember correctly."

Danny was shocked, "He saw that? But he was fast asleep. And I wasn't expecting those two to pop out of nowhere. Damn it."

All Might looked at Danny, "I was concerned that you originally got your powers from All For One, but after Gran Torino told me that, my theory has changed. Just who are you, Danny Fenton? You're not even of this world, are you?"

Danny sighed, "You really are clever. Yes, I am not of this world. Just a different Earth. And I got my powers by accident after I went into a portal my parents made to the Ghost Zone. I was given the opportunity to start fresh after my parents were killed by a lunatic named Vlad Plasmius, who has the same powers as me. I am here to become a hero, just like everyone else in my class. One day, I'll tell you everything. But like you did with me and Izuku, I want Izuku to know as well. I have noticed he has started to suspect some things. Like during our fight with the Hero Killer, my blood was green instead of red. That's because it was ectoplasm, the blood of ghosts. Again, story for a later time. Just please keep what you have heard between you and me for now. Plus Gran Torino."

All Might sighed, "I will keep it for now. But we will have a sit down later with Young Midoriya."

Danny nodded, "Fine. I should probably catch up with Izuku."

But All Might stopped him before he walked out the door, "Do you think you can stop All For One? Once he finds out about you, your life could be in great danger."

Danny looked back, "I've defeated a king in the past. I think All For One will be no problem for me."

Danny left, All Might was shocked by Danny's answer.

Danny made it back to class. Izuku was worried, but Danny whispered, "Everything's OK. All Might just wanted to double check that I had your back in the future fight."

He sat down just as class began. Aizawa said, "Well, it's almost time for summer vacation. Don't get too excited. You can't just relax for an entire month. You'll be training while you're camping in the woods."

Class 1-A cheered.

Momo commented, "We've been training in cities, so these will be very different conditions for most of us.a'

Tokoyami added, "No matter what the environment, we must always remain vigilant. Yes. Very wise."

Aizawa continued, "However, those of you who don't pass the final exam before the semester is over will have summer school."

Danny chuckled, "Figures."

Kirishima said, "Everyone, do your best."

Bakugo groaned, "This is so stupid."

Elsewhere, Shigaraki's master, All For One, said to the doctor, "The Hero Killer Stain. I didn't think he would get caught, but everything else went pretty much as expected. Now that he's viral, those who want to wreck havoc or who simply sympathize with him will seek out the League of Villains as a way to satisfy their urges. Tomura Shigaraki will be put in a position where he must unify several new recruits."

The doctor said, "I believe things would move faster if you were to talk to them yourself, though, Master."

All For One chuckled, "Then you had better hurry and fix my body, Doctor."

The doctor said, "If only we'd gotten our hands on the super regeneration Quirk five years earlier. Now that your wounds are all healed, it can't really do anything to help you. So he's to unite the League of Villains. I wonder if the child can pull it off. How much has he really grown?"

All For One said, "He'll do well. Even if I have to work him to the bone. It's the only way he'll be able to take my place. He was born with the twisted mind needed to become the next me. I hope you're celebrating while you can, All Might. Because very soon, this temporary peace will come to a violent end."

Chapter 21: Gear Up For Final Exams

The final exams were just one week away. At the end of class, Aizawa said, "All right. That's it for class today. There's only one week left before your final exams begin. I'm sure you're all studying constantly, right? Don't forget to keep training. The written exam is only one element. There's also the practical portion to worry about. Good luck." He then left the classroom.

Both Mina and Kaminari were freaking out, "I've barely even taken notes this semester! And with the sports festival and internship, I didn't have time to read my textbook." They did the worst on the mid terms.

Tokoyami said, "It's true that we haven't had much free time lately." He ranked 14th out of 20.

Sato told Koda, "We barely learned anything when we took our midterms so they didn't seem that hard, but I'm kinda worried about these. We've been through a lot, and they probably won't pull any punches when it comes to testing us." They were ranked 12th and 11th, respectively.

Danny shrugged, "Studying isn't that bad. Although my sister makes sure that my grades are up to par." He ranked 9th in the mid terms. "At least my grades are better than they used to be."

Izuku walked over to Mina and Kaminari, "Ashido, Kaminari, we still have time to study. That way, we'll all get to go to the training camp together. Right?" He ranked 4th.

Tenya interrupted, "Yes! As co class rep, I have high hopes that we'll make UA proud."

Shoto commented, "It's pretty hard to fail if you just pay attention in class, isn't it?" He ranked 5th.

Kaminari cried, "Why you gotta cut me down like that?"

Momo said, "Hey, don't worry about it, you two, I can catch you up to speed on the important topics, if you want." She ranked 1st, which didn't surprise Danny at all.

Both Mina and Kaminari shouted, "You're the best, Yao-momo!"

Momo then sighed, "I'm afraid I won't be any help when it comes to the practical, though."

Danny looked over at Momo, "You'll do great no matter what. Nothing to be afraid of." Momo gave him a soft smile.

Jiro walked over to Momo, "I've been studying, but, could you help me out, too? I'm having trouble understanding quadratic functions." She ranked 7th.

"Really?" Momo asked.

Sero came over, "Tutor me, please! Classical Japanese is killing me." He ranked 17th.

Oijiro walked over, "Is there room for one more? I'm afraid I'm falling behind a little." He ranked 8th.

Momo was happy by all the people who asked for her help, "This is wonderful! Yes, let's do it."

The group in front of her cheered, "All right!"

Momo said, "Ok, then. We can hold a study session at my residence over the weekend."

Mina gushed, "Seriously? I can't wait to see your fancy digs!"

Momo continued, "Oh, I must call Mother and have her prepare the great hall for us to set up; it'll be the perfect spot. What kind of tea does everyone like? I'll have her make sure we're stocked. In my family, we always drink Harrods or Wedgwood, so if you have any other preference, let me know! When we're finished, you'll all be model students! I'll make it my personal duty to push you forward." The group in front of her didn't know what to think.

Momo then turned to Danny, "You can come, too. I know you are the best at English, so we can be co tutors. It's our job as class reps to make sure our class passes."

Danny thought for a moment, "OK, I'll join. Sounds like fun." Momo blushed a little.

Kirishima looked over at Bakugo, "Sounds like I should be studying with her." He ranked 15th.

Bakugo growled, "You think I don't know enough? Maybe I should beat the lessons into your skull!" He ranked 3rd.

"Counting on it," Kirishima replied.

Aoyama said, "Hah. Everyone's panicking right now, but it won't do them any good to cram this late into the game." He actually ranked 18th.

Shoji asked, "Shouldn't you be more concerned? You didn't do very well in the mid terms." Shoji ranked 10th.

Aoyama glared at Shoji, "Are you talking about moi? I did just fine, thank you."

At lunch, Izuku said, "I'm kinda scared about the practical. I have no idea what it's going to be."

Danny replied, "It's OK to be a little scared. We have been given enough experience to do well."

Tenya added, "Hard to believe they'd give us anything too crazy."

Izuku said, "The written exam questions will all be stuff from class so at least I should be able to do those."

Ochaco started to freak out a little, "Do you really think it's going to be that simple?" She ranked 13th.

Izuku replied, "It's driving me nuts. I just wanna know what they'll have us doing."

Toru said, "It's a comprehensive test of everything we learned this year."

Tsuyu agreed, "Yup, and that's about all we could get Mr. Aizawa to tell us."

Momo said, "We've done both combat and rescue training, along with basic training. But it's still a mystery what the practical exam will be."

Izuku said, "We can't just study, we have to stay in great physical shape…."

Suddenly Izuku got whacked in the head by Monama's arm, "Oh, sorry. Your head's so big that it's hard to miss."

"You're from Class 1-B," Izuku noted. "Um, Monama, right? That kinda hurt…."

Monama interrupted, "I heard you guys stumbled across the Hero Killer. Just like in the sports festival, Class 1-A isn't happy unless they're the center of attention. But you do realize you're not in the spotlight because people think you're good heroes right? It's just that you keep getting into so much trouble. Here's food for thought: Someday, the rest of us might get caught up in your mess, and then we'll all become unwitting victims as well. What kind of horrible villains will you bring down upon us? What demon…"

Suddenly Kendo whacked Monama on the side of the head and he slumped. Kendo said, "That's not funny, Monama. You heard what happened to Iida. Chill out. I apologize for him. I'm pretty sure there's a hole where his heart should be."

"A fruit loop," Danny replied. Shoto nodded in agreement.

Kendo continued, "So I was listening. I know you're all worried about what's going to be on the big final practical. I heard it's gonna be combat against robots, like the entrance exam."

Everyone was shocked. Izuku asked, "How do you know that?"

Kendo answered, "One of my friends who's a few grades up filled me in. I know. Cheating. But oh well."

Izuku wasn't so sure and started to go into nerd mode. Danny whispered, "Izuku, chill out, dude."

Monama muttered, "What kind of idiot are you, Kendo? You just gave away our whole strategic advantage. This was our chance to finally pull ahead of that class full of idiots."

Kendo whacked him again, "They're not the idiots." She dragged Monama away.

Izuku didn't know what to think, "She's like their class's big sister, huh?"

Danny chuckled, "That guy is definitely a fruit loop."

Later in class, everyone else found out what Kendo said. Kaminari said, "This'll be super easy if it's just robots."

Mina agreed, "Such awesome news."

Shoji asked, "Why do you sound so happy? You both have a hard time controlling your Quirks."

Kaminari replied, "Yeah, but I can let loose with robots!"

Mina agreed, "And melting them will be a cinch for me."

Sero added, "Now you just need Yaoyorozu to help you study and you'll be all set for the finals."

Mina and Kaminari both said, "We'll definitely be able to go to the training camp now!"

Izuku was thinking about what All Might told him and Danny about All For One. He knew that he would have to face him one day, so he had to make everything count for now.

Bakugo said, "It shouldn't matter if it's robots or actual people. Why are you morons so excited?"

Kaminari was pissed, "Hey, who are you calling a moron?"

Bakugo shouted, "Shut up! You need to learn how to control your Quirk! You got it?"

"And someone needs to learn to control their temper," Danny chuckled.

Bakugo glared at Danny, "Shut it, Fenton!" He then looked at Izuku, "Hey, Deku. I don't know what's going on with your power, but I saw the way you're using it now, and I want you to know, it's seriously pissing me off."

Ochaco whispered, "Uh oh. He must mean how Deku was flying around like him the other day." Mina nodded in agreement.

Bakugo continued, "I won't lose like I did at the sports festival. We'll be getting individual scores in the upcoming finals, new rankings. So we'll all know exactly where we're standing! I'll show you how much better I am." He then looked back at Danny, "And Fenton. I'll kill you too. And show you that I'm better than you. I won't come in second again to you. Ever!" He then stormed out of the classroom.

Kirishima said, "It's been a while since I've seen him that worked up."

Tokoyami added, "Think it's impatience? Or hatred?"

Danny sighed, "He really needs to work out his anger issues. Holding all that in isn't good. Believe me."

What Bakugo didn't know was that Aizawa was just around the corner and overheard what Bakugo said. "Bakugo, you're getting worse than I thought."

A couple days later, Danny found himself in front of a nice gated house. "OK, I am definitely getting Manson vibes from this place. Sam's parents would feel right at home."

He heard footsteps behind him, and he turned to see Mina, Kaminari, Oijiro, Sero, and Jiro.

Kaminari was in shock, "I knew her family had cash, but I didn't know she was this rich!"

Jiro rang the gate doorbell, and Momo's voice rang out, "I've been waiting for you, everyone! Please, come in!"

The gate opened and everyone walked up to the front door. A butler met them there and showed them to the great hall. They all sat down.

Ojiro said, "I could not feel any more out of place right now."

"Yeah, me too," Sero agreed.

Danny said, "One of my friends back in America is rich too. So I've gotten used to places like this.

Momo walked in with a tray full of tea and treats, "Is something wrong?"

Everyone except Danny said, "No, everything's perfect!"

Danny said, "Thank you, Momo, for inviting all of us here today."

Momo replied, "You're quite welcome."

Danny then whispered, "You look nice as well." That made Momo blush.

They got to studying. Danny was very helpful with English and he and Momo made a great team as tutors.

Later on, Danny returned home and did a study session with both Izuku, who used his hand grips as he studied, and Jazz, who wanted to make sure he did well.

One week later, the written part of finals occurred and everyone was focused on their tests. Eventually, Aizawa said, "All right, put your pencils down. The last person in each row, bring the answer sheets to me."

Mina and Kaminari told Momo and Danny, "Thanks so much for all your help!"

The night before the practical exam, the teachers of UA sat down for a meeting to discuss how the exam should happen. Nezu said, "With the connection between the Hero Killer Stain and the League of Villains, it's possible criminals everywhere will become much bolder."

Snipe added, "It'd be best if we could start preparing for that before it happens. As a school, we should be taking every precaution. If fights against villains are gonna continue to intensify in the future, then having the kids train against robots ain't practical. Originally, we used them to avoid complaints about people getting injured in the entrance exams, but they're just not challenging enough."

Aizawa commented, "We can ignore the complaints. Let people say whatever they want."

Midnight said, "It sounds like it could be problematic."

Cementoss added, "I understand why you want to change the exam, but having students fight us? Even if they are in teams, is that a good idea?"

Thirteen agreed, "Yeah, I think it's a bit unfair."

Present Mic added, "If we win too easily, we won't be able to give them actual grades, yo."

Snipe said, "Of course, we could take that into consideration and give the students an advantage."

Aizawa turned to Nezu, "Principal, what are you thinking?"

Nezu answered, "I believe I agree. We need to change the practical exam to reflect the current times. How do we ensure the students aren't put in lift threatening situations? The answer is simple. We must push them. We make sure that they're as strong as possible."

Midnight said, "That makes sense." Thirteen nodded in agreement.

Aizawa then said, "Right, then let's talk about the teams. First, Todoroki. He's doing quite well, generally speaking, but relies too much on brute force. And Yaoyorozu is an all-arounder, but lacks the ability to make spur of the moment decisions and apply them. Therefore, I'll erase their Quirks and take advantage of their weaknesses." The teachers nodded in agreement.

Aizawa continued, "Next, for Bakugo and Midoriya, I'm leaving them to you, All Might. In this case, I didn't pair the two of them up based on ability or class work. I went with relationships. I know you have a soft spot for Midoriya. Please ensure that they learn something."

All Might thought, "You've really been paying attention, huh Aizawa?"

Aizawa continued, "Before we go further, there is one student we need to discuss. Danny Fenton. If I'm being honest, based on his actions during the USJ incident, and the rumors from the Hosu incident, he can take any one of us down with ease."

Midnight added, "And even if he couldn't take us down, he could phase right through us towards the exit and win that way."

Thirteen commented, "I remember he asked me permission to go all out during the USJ incident. And from what I heard, he really is in a league of his own."

All Might said, "He's been holding back in hero training. He told me during the fight with the Nomu that possession is one ability that he only uses as a last resort. Along with another ability that he's kept to himself. He was able to keep up with me and hold against the Nomu before I arrived."

Nezu commented, "Yes, this boy is interesting. Then the answer to this problem is obviously simple."

The next day, all the teachers met with Class 1-A, who were all in their hero costumes, outside where the practical exam was going to be held.

Aizawa said, "Now then. Let's begin the last test. Remember, it's possible to fail this final. If you wanna go to camp, then don't make any stupid mistakes."

Jiro was confused, "Uh, why are all the teachers here?"

Aizawa answered, "I expect many of you have gathered information and believe you had some idea of what you'll be faced with today."

Kaminari shouted, "We're fighting those big old robots!"

Mina cheered, "Fireworks! S'mores! Here we come, camp!"

Nezu came out of Aizawa's scarf and said, "Actually, this year's tests will be completely different, for various reasons."

Class 1-A was shocked that the principal was here, and Phantom was surprised that a talking animal was the principal.

Nezu continued, "The tests will now have a new focus. There will be Hero work, of course. But also teamwork and combat between actual people. So what does that mean for you? You students will be working together in teams and your opponents will be one of our esteemed teachers! Isn't that fabulous?"

Everyone was in shock, even Phantom. Ochaco asked, "We're fighting the teachers?"

Aizawa said, "Additionally, your teams and your opponents have already been chosen. They were determined at my discretion based on various factors, including fighting style, grades, and interpersonal relationships. First, Yaoyorozu and Todoroki are a team. Against me. Then we have Midoriya paired with Bakugo." Both Izuku and Bakugo were shocked. "And their opponent is…."

All Might jumped down in front of them, "I am here to fight!"

Both Izuku and Bakugo were shocked, "We're up against All Might?"

All Might said, "You're going to have to work together, boys, if you want to win."

Nezu said, "And here are the rest of the teams and opponents. Sato and Kirishima will fight Cementoss. Tsuyu and Tokoyami will fight Ectoplasm. Tenya and Oijiro will fight Power Loader. Ochaco and Aoyama will fight Thirteen. Jiro and Koda will fight Present Mic. Toru and Shoji will fight Snipe. And Mina, Kaminari, and Sero will fight me. To complete the exam, you'll have thirty minutes. In order to win, your objective is to put these handcuffs on your teacher. Or you can win if one of you manages to escape from the combat stage."

Kaminari commented, "So we've either got to capture the teacher or run away. It's basically like combat training."

Mina raised her hand, "Yeah, but is it really OK to just jet?"

"Yep," Nezu answered.

Present Mic added, "It's gonna be much different than that combat training you all went through earlier. After all, you're up against people way better than you."

Jiro was confused, "Better, really? Wait, aren't you just the announcer?"

Present Mic was offended, "Hey, watch your mouth, girl, have some respect!"

Thirteen said, "This time, your exam will be very similar to a real battle. As strange as it is, please think of us as villains."

Snipe added, "Assuming you come across your enemy. If you think you can win against them, then fight. However…."

Aizawa took over, "In instances where you're outmatched, it would be smarter to run away and find help. Todoroki, Iida, Midoriya, Fenton. I'm sure the four of you understand."

Tenya whispered, "I won't make that mistake again. I will pass this test and prove that I'm a hero."

Izuku said, "So we fight to win, or run to win."

"That's right," All Might replied. "It's a test of your decision making skills. But with these rules, you're probably thinking your only real choice is to flee. That's why the support course made these super clever accessories for us."

Present Mic shouted, "Behold! Ultra compressed weights!" All the teachers put them on.

All Might continued, "These babies will add about half our body weight to our physiques. It's not much, but they will eat up our stamina and make it harder for us to move around. We had a contest to come up with these designs, and young Hatsume ended up winning it."

Bakugo growled, "You think we need a handicap to win against you? Well, think again."

All Might laughed, then said in a menacing voice, "This'll be fun."

Phantom stood there in silence the whole time. He finally raised his hand, "Um, my name wasn't called for any team. So what's up with that?"

Tsuyu added, "Yeah, I found that odd."

Midnight stepped forward, "You were the most difficult student to pair with. We decided that because you are at a different level than your classmates, you will be fighting alone, against all of us."

Class 1-A was shocked, "What?!"

Midnight smirked, "And we will not be wearing the weights. We've seen you have experience fighting villains one on one, given the USJ incident. But your challenge is to fight all ten of the teachers. And you have to either defeat us or capture us. No escape option for you."

Bakugo was pissed, "That's not fair! Why can't I get the same option as Fenton? I can easily fight all of you and beat you all to a pulp!"

Aizawa answered, "We just said that Fenton is at a completely different level fighting wise than all of you. If he was doing the same type of exam as all of you, he would pass with flying colors by either capturing us quickly or just phasing through us to escape. We want to challenge him like all of you. Unless you would rather have him fight all of you at the same time. Do you want a repeat of the sports festival, Bakugo?"

Some students shook with fear as they did not want to fight Phantom. Bakugo growled, but stood down.

Nezu said, "Excellent. Fenton will fight all of us after the rest of the other exams."

Aizawa said, "Let's begin. The teams will take the practical exam in a predetermined order. We have a stage prepared for you. Sato, Kirishima, you're up first."

Both boys said, "Yes, sir!"

Aizawa continued, "Those waiting their turn to fight can either watch the exams or try to strategize together with your teams. It's your choice. Fenton, you are not allowed to give any advice to your classmates. You can only watch. That's all."

The teachers left. Tenya turned to Oijiro, "I'd like to discuss how we might be able to coordinate the use of our Quirks."

"Great," Oijiro replied.

Tsuyu turned to Tokoyami, "Let's go come up with a plan."

"Agreed," Tokoyami replied.

Izuku looked at Phantom, "How do you feel about this?"

Phantom sighed, "Honestly, I'm surprised. I thought I would have been paired with you and Bakugo to fight All Might. But I guess I haven't been seen fighting multiple people at once. Mr. Aizawa said that the teachers wanted to challenge me. This is what they came up with."

Izuku then said, "We should go watch the matches. I doubt Kacchan will want to come up with a plan with me."

In the watch room, Recovery Girl was there, "Well, looks like I have my work cut out for me today."

Ochaco walked in, "Hey, Deku, Danny. You're watching too?"

Izuku nodded, "Yeah. It's not like we get many chances to watch students in combat with teachers, right? And besides, I don't think Kacchan really wants to talk strategy with me."

"I can see that," Ochaco replied. "And, uh, my partner is a little preoccupied with himself."

"Figures," Phantom muttered.

Ochaco continued, "That's why I thought I'd try and get inspiration from everyone else's battles. Danny, I assume you're here to watch as well."

Phantom nodded, "Yeah. That's all I can do."

They heard an announcer say, "Team Sato and Kirishima. Practical exam. Ready? Go."

Sato and Kirishima were in a mock city and they were running towards the center. Kirishima asked, "So what do ya think? We'll definitely get a higher score for capturing instead of running, you agree?"

Sato nodded while running, "Yeah, that makes sense."

Suddenly a giant cement wall blocked their path. They jumped out of the way. Several feet away, Cementoss was kneeling to the ground, ready to attack again.

Kirishima noted, "Mr. Cementoss can't move around very fast. Let's break through from the front and shoot for a high score!" He activated his Quirk: Hardening.

Sato agreed while downing a lot of sugar to activate his Quirk. Both boys started to run straight for Cementoss.

The teacher chuckled, "So you've decided on a direct frontal assault." He then put up several cement walls to stop the boys from progressing.

"This is it, Sato!" Kirishima shouted.

"Let's go!" Sato shouted back as both boys punched one of the cement walls. Then they just kept punching away at all the walls.

But Cementoss was smart, "Not so fast, kids." He kept making more and more cement walls.

In the watch room, Ochaco was cheering, "Come on, you guys! You've totally got him!"

Phantom sighed, "They're not going to win it like this."

Ochaco was confused, so Izuku said, "I'll explain what Danny means. Their Quirks are amazing, but there's a limit to how long they can use them. They won't last forever. I don't think Mr. Cementoss has that kind of limit, though. The more time that passes by, the more of a disadvantage they're at."

Phantom nodded in agreement, "Basically what he said."

Ochaco sighed, "That's not good."

Izuku continued, "It's no coincidence that they were matched up. Mr. Aizawa's pitting students against teachers they'll have a hard time against. To pass, we'll have to recognize our weaknesses and overcome them."

Recovery Girl nodded, "Exactly right. So before it's time for your own final, you should think carefully about your compatibility with the teacher you're fighting. And don't you even think about saying anything about this, Mr. Fenton. I know you want to give advice, but you are forbidden from doing so, remember? You can only sit and watch. Plus, you should be strategizing for your own fight, since you're up against all the teachers."

Phantom sighed, "Fine, you win. I know Mr. Aizawa really wants to challenge me. Because if I was in this fight, I would just phase through the cement walls and immediately capture Mr. Cementoss. It wouldn't be a fair fight."

Back at the fight, Kirishima shouted, "Man, this is never ending! No matter how many walls we break, he keeps making more of them."

Sato groaned, "I'm tired, so sleepy."

"Now's not the time!" Kirishima shouted. He punched another wall, but nothing happened. "I'm running out of steam."

Suddenly the cement captured both boys. Cementoss said, "You're both weak when it comes to long term battles. Listen well. When your life's on the line, you need to know exactly how far you can push your powers."

The buzzer rang and the announcer said, "Sato and Kirishima have been knocked out. Exam over."

Several Class 1-A students heard that and were shocked that the fight was over that fast.

Recovery Girl got out of her seat, "It's only the first match and I'm already needed." She then left the room.

Ochaco was in shock, "No way, it was that one sided?"

Izuku noted, "Their Quirks were too ineffective against his." He started to freak out internally, especially since he was up against the number one hero. Phantom noticed the panicked look on Izuku's face, but knew that he couldn't say anything to help him.

Over with Tokoyami and Tsuyu, they were at their battle site. Tokoyami said, "I see. They're starting us in the middle of the stage."

Tsuyu added, "In order to escape, we have to pass through the designated gate, right? Which means that the teacher's probably there waiting for us."

The buzzer sounded and the announcer said, "Team Asui and Tokoyami. Practical exam. Ready? Go!"

Suddenly several clones of Ectoplasm appeared in front of Tsuyu and Tokoyami and they heard Ectoplasm's voice, "Maybe you didn't understand, but we teachers are trying to crush you with everything we've got. No holding back." Several more clones appeared behind Tsuyu and Tokoyami. "Steel your nerves and show me your resolve."