The Deity Entertainment Network

Chapter 222 – Burning Issues

Hosu City

Rumi slammed her heel into the head of the beast, finally knocking it out. She heaved a deep sigh of relief, wincing in pain as she wiped sweat from her brow.  Her ears were both burned from having her head slammed into a burning vehicle by the beast; the smell of her burnt fur was still lingering despite the crazy amount they had moved around the square during their fight. She didn't really care about that; she won the most difficult battle she had ever fought to this point in her life.

Sparring with Stars did not count.

She looked around her, trying to assess the current state of the battle. She had lost track of her three charges earlier, having to focus on fighting two of these beasts while the other heroes had dealt with the regular villains. If it wasn't for Endevour showing up and engaging that flying beast, she wasn't sure she would have been able to go on the offensive and defeat the one that was on the ground. 

Speaking of Endevour, she didn't see him nearby, though there was a path of scorch marks along the buildings leading away from the square, along with trails of ice for some reason. The other heroes were fighting the villains, though they seemed to be doing fine for the moment. What she didn't see were her three shadows. The only thing left was the fire hose she had Momo set up, which was now anchored to the road with half a dozen nozzles spraying water all over the square. 

"Where in the hell did those kids go?" She said, then turned back to help deal with the remaining villains. She was somewhat concerned for them, but the fact that Momo had set the hose up to do work while she was gone led her to believe they weren't actually in danger.

They are probably dealing with the casualties wherever they set up the evacuation point. I hope they called 119 already to get emergency services there. Now, where did that bow go?

"That is the pair of them! Go, go, go! *Ribbit*"

"I got them. You two get out of here!"

"We are covering your retreat, Creati. Stop arguing and get them to safety!" Ochaco shouted, turning back towards the villain who attacked Tenya and a pro hero named Native. The pair of them were lying on a floating metal slab that Momo created, and she levitated, allowing Momo to run away with the two casualties. She chucked another hunk of metal into the air, also made courtesy of Momo, sending it flying towards the Hero Killer.

For whatever reason, he had not pressed his attack once Tsui pulled the pair of injured away, seemingly amused at the sight of them trying to rescue the wounded. He casually batted the weights she was tossing at him away with his bloody sword, slowly advancing on them. 

"Heh, you three, while misguided, at least know to protect the weak and injured; you at least have potential to become mediocre heroes. Too bad I cannot let you get away with taking that false hero and pretender. " He said, then licked his wicked-looking blade.

"Good luck, girls." Momo reluctantly said, then activated the jet shoes Mei had created for her. They were smaller than the massive boots Mei would use, but nearly had as much thrust. They had only a short fuel supply, but they were intended for escaping a fight, not for sustained combat. With her two passengers in tow, she rocketed down the alley away from the scene of the battle.

Ochaco turned back towards the hero killer, and with a strength she did not feel, assumed a fighting stance and spoke, "They are no longer your concern. We are your opponents. I am Uravity, a hero in training."

"And I am Froppy, also a hero in training *Ribbit*. I'd rather not be poked by that frog sticker of yours, but to protect those two, I will also stand against you." Tsui said as she crouched beside her, ready to spring.

They were both wearing their new hero suits, but neither of them was under any illusion that they could turn that blade. Tenya had stab wounds directly through the armoured suit he was wearing. The fact that it was an aluminum alloy and not steel didn't really matter; it was still tougher than the fabrics they were wearing. 

If Tsui can distract him for a moment, I can get in and touch him. One touch, and it's over. Rumi had us practicing fighting her over the last few days, and that was the only way we could even compete against that crazy woman. Still, I'm happy I chose her over joining Nejire at the Dragoon Hero Ryukyu's agency. Rumi has been hands-on the entire time, while Nejire said they would have only a few hours at most with Ryukyu before she would leave them to their own devices for the rest of the day. That, and I can hang out with Midoriya, too.

Still, the plan was to buy more time for Momo to get away with the injured, then go and find Rumi. She was literally wearing a suit Momo's family had designed just to fight this one villain. 

"Remember, don't let him cut you. That is what Rumi told us, though that might be easier said than done." Tsui muttered quietly, similar thoughts going through her mind as well. 

"Introductions? Heroes in training? I will admit that you both had the good sense to pull out the injured first before confronting me. That is much more hero-like than many of these pretenders. Still, you are not All Might, as he is the only man who truly deserves the title of hero. Even so, for your attempt, I will give you this one chance to walk away. I do not wish to harm mere students, just the pretenders of the title." Stain announced, even holding his sword off to the side, trying to appear less threatening.

Well, less threatening for a man who is wearing ragged, dirty rags for a shirt, black combat pants, and spiked boots. Not to mention, he had at least six different knives on him. His entire persona seems to be emitting hostility and an imminent threat.  

Ochaco contemplated the offer for a few moments, buying as much time as she could, before responding. "Just like that? You will let us go?"

"Yes. Though I expect you to end this farce of becoming a pro hero. Try as you might, you are not one; you will never be one. Only All Might is a hero. The rest of you are... chaff, to be used and discarded. Renounce any claim of becoming a hero, and you can go free. Do not, and I will taste your blood." He replied, sounding even more unhinged.

"That sounds seriously messed up. *Ribbit* Are you okay? Do you need to talk to a therapist or someone? If you come with us peacefully, I can introduce you to a guy. He might be able to help you work through your issues." Tsui said, her gravelly voice sounding conversational and friendly.

"Froppy, what are you doing?" She hissed, not understanding what her friend was doing.

"What? I'm seriously concerned about this guy's sanity. Who just walks around threatening girls, saying they want to taste your blood. Count Dracula? *Ribbit* Villain or not, he needs some help." Tsui replied, sounding genuinely concerned for him. However, her expression, which was normally a vacant stare, was laser-focused on the man in front of them.

"It's my Quirk, silly girl. Or didn't you know? Did you seriously decide to confront me, Stain, The Hero Killer, without knowing how I defeat my opponents?"

"Right now, all I can see is you stabbing people. That usually slows down anyone, Quirk or not. *Ribbit* Still, you need some help, dude. Have you tried Yoga? Or maybe going on vacation for a bit? See some of the world?"

"I... ah... what? What are you talking about?" He asked, seeming genuinely confused at the question. Even his voice changed slightly, becoming less unhinged.

"A vacation? Or see the world? Actually, you could head down to Africa for a bit, maybe help some NGO out with displaced refugees. See how the truly unfortunate live. I don't know why you are out hunting heroes, but if you left for a bit and gained a different perspective, you would see that you actually have it pretty good here in Japan. *Ribbit* In fact..."

The man looked baffled as Tsui continued to prattle on about the good he could accomplish by helping the unfortunate refugees in Africa. Ochaco was as well, until she realized what the frog girl was actually doing. Buying more time for Momo to escape and find Rumi. 

This man looks more suited for a horror-movie villain than someone who would be handing out water bottles and bowls of rice to the hungry. Though he seems to be willing to listen to her nonsense, which is good for us. He even sheathed his sword.

"You know, you remind me of another girl I know around your age. Other than she is blonde and doesn't ribbit every ten words, you could be sisters. She talks entirely too much too. Well, Toga is a bit more sadistic and a touch crazy, but there is a resemblance there." He stated, seemingly content with talking for the moment.

"Well, it takes a special kind of crazy to want to be a hero or a villain. Now, what do you think? Some time helping the less fortunate might do you some good. And you need to talk to someone about wanting to suck a teenage girl's blood. That is one of the weirdest sexual kinks I have ever heard of, and I have heard of a few... the walls are thin at home, and my parents have an interesting... adult time. Probably why I have so many siblings. You would think after ten, they would stop, but apparently, they want to spawn like frogs, not just look like them."

"No! It isn't sexual! That is just weird. Why did you have to make it weird?"

"Have you seen me. Weird might as well be my hero name. *Ribbit* It was actually my second choice." Tsui replied, then tilted her head to the side and stuck her tongue out a bit.

"Argh!" He shouted, then drew his sword from his back. "Enough of this jabbering. You have two choices. Stay and fight me, or renounce the chance to become heroes and walk away. Choose!"

Crap, she had him. I guess she could only go on for so long about helping NGOs in Africa. 

"Someone sounds hangry. I don't want to give you my blood, but I'm sure I have a chocolate bar here somewhere. You know you're not you when you're hangry." Tsui said, patting her pockets down on her hero suit like she was actually looking for a chocolate bar. 

"I cannot give up my dream of becoming a hero. It's the best way I know how to pull my family out of poverty!" Ochaco said, blurting something else out, trying to buy them a few more seconds before actually fighting him.

She hadn't really told many people why she wanted to be a hero, but after hearing many of the other students' reasons, she felt a little embarrassed about hers. She was in it for the money and so she could put smiles on people's faces. While she wasn't Momo or Mei, she was nearly as smart as they were, placing third in the U.A. entrance exam. She had her pick of career fields that she could have chosen instead, but being a hero would make her money the fastest, allowing her to help her parents out.

"Ahh, I see. So while your earlier actions showed signs of heroism, your motives are the same as those of many others. You fail."

"Crap. Well, I was hoping to get out of this unscathed, but apparently you can't help yourself from sucking the blood of a teenage girl." Tsui said, assuming a fighting stance again.

"I. Don't. Suck. Blood!" Stain shouted, then launched himself at Tsui.

*Ribbit!*

She croaked a little as she flung herself to the side at the last moment, forcing Stain to swing his sword after her.

He is open!

Ochacu dived towards the villain, not thinking she would get a better chance to touch him than right now, while he was agitated and focused on Tsui. 

Sadly, life had a way of disregarding even the best intentions.