As Luke came back after having talk with Midoriya, Mirko smacked the back of his head, a whack resounding across the burning forest.
Before she could do the same to Todoroki and Monoma, though, she winced, pain shooting from her mutilated left arm.
"Reckless!" The Pro chided, despite her face holding a wide grin. "Erasure gonna expel you three… Mark my words!"
Shoji and Fumikage, who were injured, panted not far from them, disbelieving that Luke had indeed attacked a teacher to come here.
But if he hadn't…
"You can scold us later," Luke said, activating Spot Heal. "Let us heal you first. We don't have much time."
Even if Monoma could copy Delay repeatedly, Erasure would still disappear after a few minutes.
So, getting a clue, a red-eyed Monoma hurriedly scuttled forward and copied Spot Heal from Nyx before the two began healing Mirko.
In only moments, the bloody hand that looked beyond saving began healing.
Simultaneously, as the healing used one's own stamina, Mirko's eyes began drooping, a heaviness settling on her mind.
"This is bad," Monoma said, looking at the Hero's shoulder. "This spot is not healing at all."
Todoroki nodded. "She needs immediate help," he said. "Let's… take her back."
Even saying those words felt odd, as going back meant they wouldn't be able to continue their rebellious escapade, making it all pointless.
"Just leave…" Mirko drawled, smiling. "I have… survived worse…"
Luke's eyes narrowed. "Wait!" he said. "Monoma, get back!"
Faking that he was activating another Quirk, as he didn't want Todoroki and others to know that it wasn't a Quirk at all, Luke put one hand on Nyx and the other hand on Mirko's shoulder.
Then, slowly, he swiped, taking the hideous wound to her back... to a very particular spot.
Monoma, Todoroki, Shoji, and Fumikage's jaws dropped. Simultaneously, Mirko let out a painful grunt, her eyes almost rolling back into her head because of a monstrous surge in pain.
"Incredible!" Monoma mumbled, forgetting his rivalry with Class 1-A. "This Quirk is so awesome…"
"I got a new fan!" Luke quipped, winking at Todoroki. "Now, come on. Let's heal this one as well…"
The same wound that was impossible to heal on Mirko's shoulder was mostly healed on her back in a matter of seconds, making the Hero almost moan in relief.
"Shoji, Fumikage," Luke said, wiping the sweat off his head. "Go straight back to the campsite. I have already checked from above. There's no Villain in that direction. Take Mirko with you. She has lost too much blood."
Todoroki and Monoma shared a glance.
None of them had even remembered to do the same when they were riding Nyx.
On the other side, Shoji and Fumikage, who were about to suggest that they should all go ahead together, stopped as Luke mentioned Mirko.
The Pro was obviously trying to remain awake, but her eyes were already closed.
Sharing a nod between themselves, and as Nyx became a huge bird in the background, Luke, Todoroki, and Monoma turned around, Shoji lifting Mirko behind them.
However, before Luke could take another step, his hand jerked.
He looked over his shoulder and found Mirko's fingers gripping his wrist like ropes of steel.
"… I…" The Pro said, her eyes barely flickering. "… give you three... permission to act under my command…"
The three boys' eyes widened.
Together, as Mirko let go of her deathly grip, they bowed toward her and jumped over Nyx's back, smiling ear to ear.
There was one oddity in all this merry and teary moment, though.
As Nyx reached the sky, and as Shoji and Fumikage ran toward the campsite, Luke looked down, his eyes landing on a thin, black line that hung midair.
That blackness kept becoming big, splitting space up and down.
In the next moment, two figures stepped out from the blackness — a 12-ft-tall cyborg with a mushroom-like head and a small figure wearing a white lab coat and a black, clownish mask.
Hang on… Luke looked away, confirming that things were going exactly as planned. Momo…
…
Momo dragged her body on the ground, blood dripping down her chin.
One move.
One back-handed slap.
That was what the Nomu needed to take her down.
The whistle was still in her mouth, but because of the wetness, it was barely letting out a sound.
Not to mention, she had created so many grenades that if she created one more thing, it might make her pass out in the next second.
I… Momo realized, looking at the monstrosity walking toward her. I must have gone in the wrong direction…
Otherwise, there was no way she wouldn't have reached the return path by now.
Loud thuds echoed, along with the jarring sound of chainsaws, as the Nomu towered over her, growling.
Momo dragged her away one more time before the Nomu put its massive leg over her body.
Her scream was louder than any whistle.
"Atomic—"
"What?! No! We need it alive!"
"…? We haven't named more moves…"
"Seriously?! Then think of one!"
"… We need time… It's private…"
"Oh my god!"
"… Alright… Can We name the moves after Coffee?"
"…? Sigh… Alright…"
Momo looked over her shoulder.
She hadn't thought that things could turn any worse for her.
However, as she saw the two horrors taking shape in her blurry vision, she almost smiled at her fate.
The Nomu's thoughts were much simpler.
Dabi had given it the command to kill anyone who came between it and Momo.
So, letting out a growling roar, it brandished its massive chainsaws, drills, and sledgehammers, and boomed toward the enemy.
On the other side, the lanky, tall abomination's cyan-colored eyes turned red. "We will name them after roasts," it declared.
"Hey!" The small figure let out an excited, robotic noise. It was clear that the mask was masking not only the face, but the voice as well. "That's a good idea!"
Opposite them, the Chainsaw Nomu lifted its tool-wielding arms and hacked, splitting air.
A weird mechanical-fleshy sound rang in response as the tall figure blurred, appearing right under the Nomu.
"Medium Roast—"
Momo's eyes shook as the small fist, covered in tiny, glowing mushrooms, landed neatly on the Nomu's chest and…
… passed right through it, a CRACK echoing across the forest.
"—First Crack!"
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