Chapter 38: The battle - final part

"Sorry Deku" Uraraka said knowing he was shocked that she was here. She'd been so supportive before this exercise just for it to turn out that he'd have to fight her. Not just her either he was against his entire class except from Jiro, Kirishima and Iida who had been on his team and had been knocked unconscious which meant they had been killed in accordance to the rules of this exercise. Deku couldn't get over the fact that she'd clearly known that they might have to fight at some point and she hadn't said anything to him.

It's fine she couldn't it's just a part of the exercise. Right now I need to focus. This is all too familiar. Me against 16. It's just like when I was captured. Except this time I'm not going to take them all on in a blind rage. I'm calm and collected so I can think about this more and not risk my health again. I know I can take them but I need time to plan out my attacks. I need to get them to start talking and lower their guard a little.

"Hey Ochako. I hope you're not going to hold anything back?" he asked a small smile showing on his face to reassure her he was ok this was happening. For a brief moment she was a little taken aback but she quickly collected herself.

"I won't if you don't" she said grinning a little.

"Deal" he said nodding at her. She returned his nod before getting into her fighting stance.

"So. How did this work? Did you all know you would be fighting the 4 of us? Or were you told last minute?" Deku asked trying to create himself an opening.

"Half of us were told we'd be providing support for Kaminari, Todoroki and-" Hagakure began to explain but as she did her body moved slightly as she began to relax which is exactly what Deku had been looking for. The moment he saw it he'd launched himself at her landing a kick to her stomach.

"Detroit smash!" He screamed as he followed his kick up slamming her into the ground with the power behind his punch causing the concrete to smash as Hagakure hit the ground with such force. She was out cold.

"What the-" Ashido began in complete shock at what just happened as she made a wild swing at Deku's head. He simply blocked her attack by grabbing her wrist and then countering it by throwing her over his shoulder and into the wall of rubble behind him before kicking her through it. She was still conscious but barely.

"What the hell Midoriya!? You trying to kill us or something?" Ashido asked furious with his brutal attacks. He was trying to knock them out in one go. Everybody was still stood frozen in shock watching the speed and the ferocity of his movements.

"No I'm not Ashido just enough to knock you unconcious. Seems you're hanging in there though" he said his fists raised and ready for any incoming attack but everyone was still staring at him in awe.

*Back in the observation room*

"All Might what's Midoriya thinking he's gonna kill someone!" Kirishima protested.

"No he won't he knows what he's doing" the Symbol of Peace replied.

"But the force that he hit Hagakure with and the way he kicked Ashido through a wall...he's gonna hurt someone" Jiro said.

"Isn't that the idea?" All Might asked taking the 3 students by surprise.

"Sir what are you-" Iida began but All Might cut him off.

"He's supposed to be fighting against villains that are trying to kill him is he not?" All Might asked.

"Yes but-" Jiro began.

"So when it's a matter of life or death would you pull your punches?" All Might asked.

"Of course not but that still-" Iida started.

"All of you listen to me. Young Midoriya is teaching the rest of your class a very important lesson that they need to learn whether he knows it or not" All Might said turning to look at them.

"And what's that sir?" Kirishima asked.

"He's teaching them that just because you have an opponent surrounded it doesn't mean that you've won. They still need to finish him off. If the roles were reversed and young Midoriya was the villain then in a real life battle like this young Hagakure and young Ashido would be dead because they dropped their guard for that one brief moment. That's all it takes. One moment. Not even a second and it could cost you your life in battle" All Might explained.

"Sir I get that but Hagakure was in the middle of talking and he just dropped her like a bad habit and I can't even begin to imagine the injuries she has" Jiro protested.

"Yes well that was also a very intelligent move from young Midoriya. He asked a question to get them talking so that for that split second someone dropped their guard. Unfortunately for Hagakure it was her and he took full advantage. The shock of it allowed him to quickly attack young Ashido too but she managed to stay conscious. The other benefit is that because of her quirk Hagakure was someone he needed to take down before she removed her clothes to be completely undetectable. He needed to take her out while he could still see her"

"Sir you make good points but the way he attacked them was brutal" Iida said.

"Do you want to win or not?" All Might asked.

"Sir?" They asked not sure they'd heard him right.

"I SAID DO YOU WANT TO WIN OR NOT!?" he bellowed down at them.

"Y-yes sir!" They all replied in unison.

"Well this is what it takes!" he screamed pointing at the screen displaying the battle. It was true. If they wanted to be heroes they had to be ruthless. A villain wouldn't pull their punches or wait for them to be done talking before they tried to kill them. 

"He's right" Kirishima said.

"What?" Jiro and Iida questioned.

"He's right. That's the reason we're here and Midoriya is still in there fighting like he's the one that ambushed them" Kirishima said admiring his classmates tenacity.

"Yeah you're right. We dropped our guard and it cost us. In a real battle we'd be dead" Iida agreed.

"I suppose. Why does Midoriya know all this anyway?" Jiro asked.

"Isn't it obvious? After what he went through that boy is as tough as they come. You've all seen villains face to face and fought them on more than one occasion and you all triumphed. You all learned that you can't hesitate and just how evil villains are. However you all did that with your fellow classmates when you had strength in numbers and a lot of the villains you fought were D-Listers at best with the odd exception. Young Midoriya on the other hand was all alone for 3 days and still managed to defeat all 16 of his captors and not one of them was weak. They were all extremely strong and powerful villains that even I have struggled against in the past and that was when they were alone. He took them all out like they were just target practice. They probably underestimated him. Which is exactly what your classmates have done right now. You should never underestimate your opponent or assume you're safe because you have the numbers. Trust me when I say this students...young Midoriya is about to defeat every single one of your classmates. He's going to pick them off one by one. Knock out after knock out until there's nobody left. Now...watch a pro at work" All Might beamed with pride turning back to the screen.

"Did he just say pro?" Kirishima asked Iida whispering.

"He's not wrong. Midoriya is fighting like a pro hero. He's making this look easy" Iida replied.

"He still has a lot to learn students but don't get me wrong...young Midoriya is already up there with the strongest pro heroes before he's even completed his time at UA. A little bit like Mirio although even he wouldn't be able to fight with this level of brutality" All Might said proud of his protégé.

"As much as I don't like it you're all right. We have to be brutal and ruthless to defeat villains" Jiro admitted.

"Yes yes now shutup and enjoy the show" All Might said getting all of them to turn their attention to the screen.

*Back in the arena*

"Come on guys. What's wrong?" Deku asked smiling at them all. Asui was stood frozen right next to him.

"Midoriya why are you smiling you could've killed the-" Asui began but again Deku took the opportunity to attack while everyone was still in shock. The fear factor is what was allowing him to win this so far nobody dared moved because they couldn't believe how brutally he'd took down their classmates. He lunged at her attempting to kick her but she leaped into the air just in time. Problem was once she was up there she had no way to maneuver in the air.

Perfect she did exactly what I hoped she'd do. Now I can take her out without her being able to counter.

He leapt up after her the moment she'd left the ground leaving his usual green energy trail behind. The second his feet had left the floor he was by Asui's side in the air. Before she could react he performed a kick straight down with his heel being the part of his foot that connected with her stomach sending her flying back down to the ground. Deku followed her descent and after she hit the ground he landed a punch to her stomach. The force of the strike along with the pain made her pass out.

"Midoriya enough you're going to hurt someone!" Ojiro protested. The moment he said it Deku suddenly appeared behind him jumping over him but as he did he grabbed his tail. To Ojiro everything seemed to be moving in slow motion as he watched helplessly at Deku mid front flip with his tail in both hands. All of the sudden he was pulled up into the air as Deku continued his flip spinning his classmate around before slamming him into the ground face first knocking him clean out.

"Yeah that's kind of the point" Deku said. Not that Ojiro could hear him he was talking more to the rest of his classmates that were still conscious and still somehow in shock. Deku decided to try and give them a chance at fighting back since everyone was paralysed in fear watching him completely annihilate 4 of his classmates in quick succession only needing one attack on each of them to get the job done. Ashido had managed to climb back onto her feet at this point.

They're all hesitating. If this was a real fight they would have lost by now because I wouldn't be waiting for them to move. Even now when I'm stood still and not doing anything nobody is daring to make an attack. They've got to fight.

"Guys come on already! Are you all just gonna watch me fight or are you actually going to do some for yourself!? It's still 13 against 1 you have the advantage so use it!" Deku screamed at them wanting his classmates to fight. Not because he wanted to hurt them but because he knew that if they couldn't do it hear in a safe environment they'd never be able to do it in battle. They'd all be killed. Villains don't wait. Still none of them moved. He looked at Todoroki who was looking at him terrified of what he was watching his friend do to their classmates. Then he looked at Bakugo who looked dumbfounded that someone was attacking more viciously than he ever had. Finally he looked to Uraraka. She had a blank expression on her face at first almost like she didn't know what to think of the situation. Then she did something Deku didn't see coming.

Is she... smiling?

"Guys come on he's right!" she screamed getting all of her classmates attention.

"If this was a real battle Deku would've beaten us already! Our enemies wouldn't give us the luxury of taking a moment to find our courage to fight! So all of you let's give him everything we've got! Work as a team and let's give our all!" she continued to scream and order them to start fighting. It seemed to work they were all looking around at one another and getting into their fighting stance. Finally they were ready to challenge Deku. Uraraka looked back at him a big smile on her face. She nodded at him.

I never knew she was such a good leader. She's gotten everyone riled up and ready to fight finally.

He nodded back at her before returning his attention to the fight before him. Slowly he started powering up One for All throughout his body to give them all an opportunity to attack him. Nobody did.

Damn they're ready to fight but they're all waiting on me to make the first move. I'll have to make them pay for that mistake so they learn from it.

"We've got you beaten Midoriya! There's no way you can beat all 13 of us!" Sero shouted suddenly feeling brave and full of confidence.

"Oh really?" Deku asked a huge smile showing on his face as he looked straight at Sero. All of the confidence he'd felt a few moments ago completely drained from his body as he realised he was Deku's next target. Deku suddenly bolted towards him and almost to the second he'd moved he was right on top of Sero ready to strike. Sero couldn't move he knew it was too late he wasn't going to get out of the way in time. He was saved however by Todoroki launching a wall of ice between him and his attacker. The problem was Deku had been anticipating someone would react and save him so he dodged it easily and went for Mineta who was stood right next to him. Mineta tried to move but it was too late Deku had grabbed his cape and he spun round a full 360 degrees before hurling the tiny boy through the ice wall Todoroki had made and into Sero.

"Damn he's too fast" Todoroki said realising he was going to have to catch him off guard or wait for him to make a mistake so he could land a decent shot on him.

"Then we're just going to have to surround him" Uraraka said.

"We did surround him and he's kicking our asses" Todoroki snarled.

"Yes but we gave him so much space we were all stood really far away from him in a big circle. We're practically lined up for him to take us out one by one we need to close the distance and box him in. We're spread out too much" Uraraka explained.

"She's right. Everyone close the gap we're too thinly spread out so group up and close in!" Todoroki ordered. They did as he said everybody grouping up with the nearest people to them as they began to run towards Deku. Even Bakugo was being a team player for once. He had joined Todoroki and Uraraka as they charged towards the green haired boy. Deku simply smiled.

"Finally" he said under his breath sliding his right foot back and raising his fists into a fighting stance. He suddenly burst towards where Sero and Mineta had landed grabbing Mineta by the cape again.

"Not again" he whined before Deku swung him around and smashed his head into Sero's knocking both of them unconscious.

2 more down. 11 to go.

Next he went for Ashido. She was already weakened from his earlier attack so he targeted her knowing she'd be easier to knock out and that would mean less enemies to worry about. The speed he was moving at was unheard of not even All Might moved that fast. His classmates had next to no time at all to react to his movements. Ashido tried to be one step ahead and used an acid veil hoping he'd run straight into it since he was going so fast but he simply jumped over it.

"Oh for fuc-" she never finished her sentence as Deku simply placed his hand over her face and slammed her into the ground sliding a meter or so along the rubble from the sheer force of the impact. Ashido was out cold. Anyone would be after that hard of a hit to the head. Deku was being incredibly precise though making sure he was doing enough to knock his classmates unconcious but not enough to kill them.

"Damn this isn't going to work. We need a different strategy he's picking us off one by one like this and most of us haven't even gotten close to him yet" Todoroki said.

"Then we all group up. Make one big group for him to target and give him as little room as possible to maneuver. Instead of him being on the inside of us all we'll push him to the outside" Uraraka suggested.

"It could work. He can only attack one of us at a time so if we're all stood together we can counter and protect each other until he gives us an opening or he starts to tire and slow down" Todoroki said agreeing with her plan.

"That won't work half 'n' half" Bakugo said.

"Why not?" he asked.

"He's not going to get tired any time soon. We could be here all day waiting for him to tire out or get even a little bit slower. Not only that but you're relying on the remaining 10 of us to be competent enough and quick enough to counter his attacks and even if we could guarantee that we manage to do that who says we won't tire out before he does? So do you still want to wait for him to get tired? Or give us an opening?" Bakugo asked.

"Then what do you suggest?" Todoroki asked.

"He's on the front foot at the moment. I think we should go through with round face's plan but instead of waiting for an opening or for him to tire out the moment we counter we need to push him back. Put him on the back foot. If we all give him attack after attack after attack to worry about he won't bother trying to counter he'll just keep dodging and eventually he'll make a mistake or one of us will actually get a decent hit in" Bakugo suggested.

"Sounds like a plan let's do it" Todoroki said.

"Bakugo when were you so calm and calculated?" Uraraka asked surprised at the blonde's coolness in the heat of battle for once.

"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!? I'M ALWAYS CALM BITCH!" Bakugo yelled. Almost as soon as he'd said that last word though Deku appeared by his side.

"Kacchan I really hope you didn't just call Ochako a bitch" he said before kicking him in the back of the head with a roundhouse kick sending him face first into the floor. His foot looked like it stuck to the back of his head as he kicked it and then followed through to stomp Bakugo's head into the ground. He was out cold. Just like that.

"Bakugo!" Todoroki screamed. Uraraka quickly tried to touch Deku with her hand. If she could make him float that was it it would be game over for him. He saw it coming and dodged it with ease before running away and giving himself some space between him and his classmates.

"Everyone on me!" Uraraka ordered. They did as she said forming one unit around her for Deku to fight. Already there were only 9 of them left.

"Did he seriously take Bakugo down that easily?" Yaoyorozu asked still in shock. She wasn't the only one they all watched how easily he'd dispatched Bakugo who was arguably the strongest in their class and Deku had taken him out like he was nothing. Yet again they were in a state of shock unsure of what to do or how he was capable of picking them off this easily.

"Yeah he did but don't lose focus. If we all freeze again we'll never win this" Uraraka said not taking her eyes off of Deku.

He didn't attack me. He didn't even try to. He dodged it so easily he clearly saw it coming a mile away. So why didn't he counter? Could it be that he doesn't want to hurt me? No he told me he wasn't going to hold back. He's got something planned. But what?

"What do we do?" Kaminari asked.

"We stick together. If he goes for one of us we counter and force him onto the back foot and then keep the pressure up" Todoroki explained.

"What so we just sit and wait for him to make a move? You guys have seen how fast he's moving there's no way any of us will react in time" Yaoyorozu protested.

"Got a better idea?" Uraraka asked.

"No" she admitted.

"Then shutup and fight" Uraraka said.

"You still haven't learnt have you?" Deku said catching them all off guard. His body was still emitting green energy as One for All coursed through his body.

"What are you talking about?" Yaoyorozu asked.

"You're hesitating. Too paralysed by your shock and fear to do anything. You have to believe in your abilities. That no matter what you can win. You all thought you'd won because you had me surrounded and that was your biggest mistake. All of you underestimated me and now it's cost you what would have been a well earned victory" Deku said staring them all down knowing he was going to win at this point. He wasn't underestimating them or getting cocky. It's just none of them could stop him from what he was about to do next.

"It's not over yet Midoriya!" Kaminari protested refusing to give in. Deku simply smiled.

"Why are you smiling?" Todoroki asked.

"No reason. It's just that I've already won" Deku said.

"Weren't you just saying not to underestimate your opponent?" Kaminari asked.

"Oh I'm not underestimating any of you. All of you are strong and powerful in your own way but there's nothing you can do to stop this...United...states...of..." Deku said transferring all of the energy coursing through his body into just one of his arms.

"What's he-" Kaminari began but Uraraka cut him off realising what was about to happen.

"Everybody move!" She screamed but it was too late.

"SMAAAAAAASH!" Deku screamed as he slammed his fist into the rubble in front of him the force cracked the ground beneath his classmates feet and sent them flying into the air.  Aoyama, Kaminari, Koda, Sato, Shoji and Tokoyami were all knocked out by either multiple pieces of rubble hitting them or by the sheer force of the blast that had came from Deku's punch. The only 3 remaining conscious were Todoroki, Yaoyorozu and Uraraka.

"So you three are still in this" Deku said.

"You haven't won yet... Midoriya" Todoroki said as he struggled to get up from his injuries. He was on his hands on knees. That's when he saw a burst of green energy before feeling a kick in his stomach that sent him a couple of feet off of the ground and flipped him over onto his back. He locked eyes with Deku who followed his kick with a punch to the stomach slamming him straight back into the ground and knocking him unconscious as his head hit the floor.

"Todoroki!" Yaoyorozu screamed now back on her feet. She charged Deku in a blind fury. In one motion he sweeped her legs before following it up with a kick straight down on her stomach sending her crashing into the floor knocking her unconcious too now.

Only one left...

"Deku. I won't let you beat me" Uraraka said on her feet barely able to stand. Deku turned around to look at her. Her costume was ripped and damaged and she had cuts and bruises everywhere from where the rubble had hit her.

"Sorry Ochako. I already have" Deku said feeling guilty.

"What are you talking about?" she asked. The moment she said it Deku was stood next to her and she was cuffed to him.

"I believe that counts as a capture" Deku said a little disheartened that he'd done this to her. She just smiled at him though proud of how strong he'd become.

"This easily makes you the strongest in our class" she said complimenting him.

"Thank you" he said a little embarrassed.

"Now come on. Extract your targets and win this exercise already" she said admitting defeat.

"Yeah about that..." Deku trailed off.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I forfeit" he said uncuffing her.

"What!? Deku what are you doing?" she asked confused.

"Training exercise complete. The villain team wins!" All Might's voice beamed over the speakers.

"Why would you do that Deku?" Uraraka asked.

"Ochako I don't need to win this training exercise or need to prove anything. I'd already won. I don't need to humiliate my classmates any further. I told you what I need..." he said placing his hands on her hips and looking into her eyes.

"Deku?" Uraraka asked staring back into his eyes suddenly feeling warm and charmed by him. She slowly wrapped her arms over his shoulders and around his neck.

"Back in the hospital 3 months ago. I told you. All I need is you" he said kissing her slowly and romantically. They both stood there kissing each other enjoying every wonderfully romantic second of it.

"I love you" Deku said pulling back.

"I love you too you big dummy" she said smiling at him tears forming in her eyes at how romantic and sweet he was being.

"If you two love birds are quite done help us get these guys to Recovery Girl's office" All Might ordered suddenly appearing by their side.

"Yessir"