A/N: Hello everybody, it's me. I want to give you a heads up, I'll release another chapter tomorrow at the time of the day I plan to post my chapters moving forward, at least for now.
Also I just wanted to add here (because I forgot to do that in the previous chapter's note, mb) that I apologize beforehand by the inconsistencies in certain aspects of the text, like switching between he and it for the Nomu (since idk if a Nomu even considered a person or something more akin to a golem and couldn't find a straightforward answer to this issue while writing) or things like that. I also will be using some of the classical japanese 'translations' in here instead of how I was doing it so far (writing suffixes as "xx-sensei" or "xx-shonen" instead of "teacher xx" or "young xx"). That's all, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights for any of the preexisting characters. This novel is made merely for entertainment purposes.
…
Dodging rays of mass destruction that had a color oddly similar to Kurogiri's Quirk, Damian weaved masterfully the between rolls and attacks, using his ridiculously long katana to land the final hit on Fafdir, the dark dragon and finishing his no-hit 'dev test' run of Obscure Souls 3, feeling satisfied about the quality of the finished product and how it plays out, being even better than his 'inspiration' for it in his not so humble opinion.
[How many times are you planning to 'dev test' the game? Doesn't it get boring after the 5th run?] Asked Eva absentmindedly as she tweaked the main menu of a different game herself.
'I'm testing out the game with different weapons, you never know how different sets of variables can break the program.' Damian said in self defence.
Rolling her eyes at the excuse they both know was half-baked at best, she responded: [As if our code was that flimsy. Just admit you want something to distract yourself.]
'Why ask a question when you know the answer already, dear.,' he said while laughing, though his tone became wistful as he added. 'I just want something to not think so much, being too smart is not as good as some fantasize it to be.'
And as he said that, the memories flooded his mind like clockwork. He knew it was important to leave in order to become stronger. Yet now that he had people waiting back home, he couldn't help but miss his people; Natasha, MJ, Peter… and today he didn't even have his usual green haired punching bag to distract himself.
Today was the last day before the sports festival at U.A. but to him it might as well be any other regular day. He trained, experimented and worked on his personal projects like usual. The only outliers to his usual routine in this world were that he hadn't beat u-trained with Midoriya since he let the boy rest the whole day so he could be at his best for tomorrow.
That and the fact that he had made some good progress on all fronts. Getting up from his couch, he put down the portable device he had created to be launched alongside his first few games, the 'remote deck' as he called it, giving his status sheet a look to check on his progress like he did periodically at this point.
(Quick disclaimer: The long explanations between "*()" are pieces of information that are not actually present in Damian's status sheet as all this information is in his head already, they are for you the reader.)
———————————————————————————————
— STATUS —
———————————————————————————————
Name: Damian Rossi
Age: 18 years old
Race: Homo superior
Threat Level: City Level (Subject to change depending on the environmental conditions) → Province Level *(Calculation based on the amount of damage my best attack can do to the environment)
————————————————————————————————
— BASE STATS —
————————————————————————————————
*(Current iteration doesn't account for external alterations-The rough average score for a human ranges between C-/D+/D) → [Currently the scales don't include any active enhancers–The average score for humans ranges from E- to D- (after data corrections, C being above a top 10% human in the respective category and B being an a top 1% human. A- represents the upper limits for human beings with no artificial enhancements like super soldier serums or the Hercules Method, etc. From here on, each minor increase in category represents an exponential increase in the respective category)]:
*The original score is corrected after a single arrow "→" and the updated score follows after two arrows "→ →":
STR: A → ~S~S+ (*Further data required for proper assessment)
DEX: A → A+
DEF: A → A+~S- (*Further data required for proper assessment)
VIT: A+ → S-~S+ (*Further data required for proper assessment)
INT: S → S
WIS: B+ → A-
WIL: A → A
————————————————————————————————
— PROFICIENCIES—
————————————————————————————————
*(Iteration accounts for mastery independent of race or age. Not enough data to determine the average for humans. Scores based on vague estimates) → [Iteration accounts for mastery over the category irrespective of other factors. For Mystical Arts E- to D- equates to a novice, D to C equates to a disciple, C+ to B+ equates to the average master, A- to A equates to a Sorcerer Supreme candidate, A+ to S to a Sorcerer Supreme and S+ and beyond equates to an elder god (Though from A+ and beyond are mere estimates as there is not enough data). For Martial Arts the categories follow a similar structure, though A and above go beyond conventional martial arts, entering the category of cultivation arts. For mutant abilities, the classification follows a similar pattern]:
Mystical Arts: C+ → B
Martial Arts: A- → A-
Technokinesis: B → ≈S+ (*Further data required for proper assessment)
Telekinesis: - → D
➡…(Click to expand)
————————————————————————————————
—DATA SETS—
————————————————————————————————
*(In this section each data set is divided into the categories; "Assimilated", "Assimilation in Progress" and "To be Assimilated". These are further divided by categories like: Traits, Talents, Abilities, Knowledge, Technique, Mutations(which includes Quirks), etc. It is to note that "(P)" stands for "Partial" as in partially finished absorption and unless specified with a symbol like "(P)" it should be assumed that the assimilation of the specific category was complete.)
Assimilated:
Batman (Trait(s)/Talent(s)/Knowledge(P))
Dirty Deeds Done Dirty Cheap (Ability)
Luther Strode (Talent(s)/Technique/Knowledge(P))
Nightwing (Trait(s)/Talent(s)/Knowledge(P))
Mr. Terrific (Trait/Knowledge(P))
Ichiro Inuyashiki (Trait(s)/Mutation(s))
Instant Teleportation (Technique)
Assimilation in progress:
Shikamaru Nara (Trait): 38%
Tony Stark(Trait/Knowledge(P)): 23%
To be assimilated:
Daredevil (Trait(s)/Talent(s))
Megumin(Talent)
Mr. Fantastic (Trait(s)/Knowledge(P))
Rudeus Greyrat(Talent)
➡…(Click to expand)
————————————————————————————————————
Closing his status sheet, Damian used his recently fully integrated technokinesis to scan the whole country in search for the movements of the "Meta Liberation Army", as they called themselves, slowly and steadily marking each one of them. Phones, cameras, computers, consoles, anything and everything that interacted with Deika City couldn't escape his eyes, though he had to be careful to not trigger any security protocols in the process.
'Soon.' Was all that Damian muttered mentally before teleporting away to a rooftop with a direct view of the Shie Hassaikai HQ. Watching a car with tinted windows leave the compound with Overhaul inside of it.
"Soon…" He repeated to himself while clenching his hands, resisting the urge to burst inside and rescue the poor child being tortured inside, consequences be damned.
[Damian…] Whispered Eva inside his mind.
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he responded while seeing Overhaul drive away into the city. 'I know Eva. I know.'
Then he teleported again, ready to take out his anger on any unsuspecting villain trying to commit a crime.
…
"Ah, I wanted to wear my costume." Muttered Ashido Mina while stretching the fabric of the school P.E uniform in disappointment.
"To keep everything fair, we can't do that." Commented Ojiro at her side in response as he did some last minute stretching.
Opening the door, Iida entered with the same tone as he spoke, intensely. "Everyone! Are you ready? We will be entering soon!"
As some fidgeted in place while others took deep breaths, Damian covered one of his ears as he winced. "Would it hurt you to relax a bit, Iida?"
While Iida looked at Damian like question marks would pop up above his head and Momo chuckled at their exchange, Todoroki walked up to Midoriya in his usual detached, nonchalant persona as he started.
"Midoriya," he said, making the anxious green haired boy turn to look at him.
"Todoroki-kun, what is it?" Midoriya asked back.
"Looking at things objectively, I think I'm stronger than you," he stated in a matter of fact tone, to which Midoriya responded shyly. "Eh… Y-Yeah…"
Looking straight at him, he spoke. "But All Might has his eye on you, doesn't he?" Making Midoriya stutter, yet he did not wait for an answer. "I'm not trying to pry about that. But I'm going to beat you…"
Then, he turned to look at Damian. "Same goes for you, Damian. I'll prove today who is the better of the two."
Everybody gasped in response, caught off guard by the 'declaration of war'. "Oh? Is one of the best in class making a declaration of war?" Quipped Kaminari from his seat.
Getting up from his seat, Kirishima walked up to Todoroki as he put his hand on Todoroki's shoulder. "Hey, hey, hey! Why are you picking a fight all of a sudden? Now is not the time, we're about to start-"
Swatting his hand away, Todoroki turned around as he spoke. "We're not here to play at being friends. So what does it matter?"
"Todoroki-kun, I don't know what you're thinking when you say you'll beat me, but of course you're better than me. I think you're more capable than most people… Looking at it objectively…" Said Midoriya.
Trying to ease the tensions, Kirishima spoke again. "Midoriya, you probably shouldn't talk so negatively…"
"But, everyone-" started Midoriya again, cutting Kirishima off. "The students from the other courses are aiming for the top with everything they've got. I can't afford to fall behind…" Then he raised his head, meeting eye-to-eye with Todoroki. "I'll aim for the top too, with everything I've got."
"Yeah." Was all the half-and-half boy responded.
And as if unable to read the seriousness in the room, another voice chimed in. "Oh, that's more like it, kid. You better beat the arrogance out of him while at it!" Cheered Damian with both hands on the sides of his mouth and a smile on his face.
"Ugh. D-Damian-kun." Groaned Midoriya, embarrassed and at a loss for words.
"And you Shoto," said Damian, now in closer terms with Todoroki after weeks of breaking down the boy's walls with his shameless attitude. "Wanna bet with me if you're so sure about winning?"
Even though he did not respond, Todoroki stared at Damian, waiting for him to continue. And Damian, who now understood him more, caught that as he continued. "Whoever wins the festival wins the bet and the loser must grant one wish to the winner. Easy enough, no?"
"Have it your way, then." Said Todoroki as he turned around to leave, but Damian wasn't about to let him have the last word. "And leave the brooding vigilante roleplay at home, you're barely 15 for god's sake."
Hearing his words, Todoroki almost tripped with his own feet, but he managed to keep his cool as he left, trying his best to ignore some of the boys who were holding back their laughs.
…
"Hey!" Started Present Mic, eliciting mass cheers from the public. "Attention audience! Swarm, mass media! This year's high school rodeo of adolescence that you all love, the U.A. sports festival, is about to begin! Everybody, are you ready?!"
"It's time for the students to enter the first-year stage!"
And on que, the students from class 1-A made their 'dramatic' entrance, walking towards the stage in the middle of the stadium.
"This is the U.A. sports festival. The huge battle where fledgling heroes sharpen their swords once a year! And these are the stars! The miraculous new stars who overcame enemy attacks with their hearts of steel!"
"Hero course, class 1-A, right?!" Here Present Mic ended his entry speech, railing up the audience to a point of mass cheering.
Whoever, seeing so many people scream and cheer for them for the first time made some of the students squirmish and nervous.
"Th-Th-There are so many people…" Muttered Midoriya.
And as per tradition at this point, Damian gave him a good smack on his back, enough to make him wince as Midoriya turned to look at the taller boy. "Relax, Midoriya. You survived a life and death encounter with real life villains, they can't be more intimidating than the Nomu." Said Damian with a smirk, making Midoriya relax the slightest bit as he nodded.
Then Present Mic kept introducing all the classes for first year, hero course B, general studies from C to E, support course from F to H and business course from I to K.
"Time for the player pledge!" Said a feminine but authoritative voice.
Looking up front Damian could see the heroine Midnight in detail for the first time, as he only had seen her briefly during the U.S.J incident, and he had to say he was pleasantly surprised. He didn't know about the manga, but the anime did no justice to how beautiful and curvaceous she truly was.
Her proportions, her face, the long hair, her maturity, Damian had to admit that she was quite his type, a shame that they had met in the wrong circumstances.
[Keep it in your pants, will you? Or your 'little bunny' might get jealous.] Joked Eva with a tone full of sarcasm.
'Haa, don't even remind me of that.' Said Damian while rubbing his eyebrows in mild exasperation.
He prayed Mirko was as uninterested in anything that wasn't hero patrol related as she seemed and didn't watch the festival because she would 100% recognize him, which would be a pain even if he had nothing to be afraid of. After his vitality-bursting teenage body had tasted what sex felt like, he had been having problems controlling his urges–even with a near perfect control over his body–his mind couldn't help but wander and it didn't help that Mirko was extremely his type or that he had used all his time for training and learning, leaving his libido unattended. But he'll be damned if his life was to be controlled by his lust again.
"Quiet, everyone!" Screamed Midnight, silencing the murmurs and reactions to her presence. "Representing the students is Damian Rossi from class 1-A!
Sighing again, Damian slowly made his way to the stage while his classmates murmured right behind him and sadly he heard every one of them due to his enhanced hearing.
"Eh, so it's Damian-kun." Muttered Midoriya.
"Yeah, he did finish first in the entrance exam and by a wide margin at that." Stated Seto.
Hearing his words, Bakugo couldn't help but click his tongue as he stared at Damian with a face full of annoyance. "Tsk. Damn bastard."
"In the hero course. And the arrogant one isn't even first." Quipped a girl from another class with an irritated tone.
Lamenting the soured relationship between courses due to Bakugo's inflammatory words a couple weeks ago, he silenced the background noise as he made his way to the main stage.
Standing in front of the mic, Damian cleared his throat a couple of times before he started: "Ahem. Testing-1, 2-. Testing-1, 2…" His initial words made the audience chuckle and even Midnight smiled at how relaxed he was.
"Hello everybody," He resumed, his voice as casual as it was steady. "I don't wanna bore everyone so let me be brief. I understand that this festival means a lot more than a normal school event to us students. I also know that you can be unlucky or have a bad day, so I hope everyone looks beyond losing or winning… Just give it your all and let your actions speak for you."
Taking a brief moment to let his words sink in, he grabbed the mic and turned to look at the students. "What matters is to give it your all… That's my pledge."
He finished with his trademark smile, leaving the mic in its place and walking down while holding back the inner devil that was whispering in his ear to do a Bakugo at the end and fire the other kids up, but it wasn't his style to pick on kids.
And the first reaction was silence, everybody was a bit surprised at how unhurried and unpretentious he was, no grand words or promises, just sincere encouragement. Then the crowd started to applaud and cheer, class 1-A mirrored this by cheering Damian up too. Though class 1-B was left tongue tied by the contrast between Damian and Bakugo.
"Good job, Damian-kun. Your words were very sincere as always." Said Momo while clasping her hands with a smile on her face.
"He's way too chill! Like, how does he sound that calm in front of everyone?!" Mina Ashido pumped her fist, laughing.
Midoriya and Seto nodded at their words enthusiastically while Kirishima added in a pumped up tone. "Yeah, you were very manly!" Giving Damian a thumbs up.
[Yeah, I'd almost believe you to be a humble man after that speech. Almost.] Joked Eva in his head.
Chuckling at her words, he quipped back. 'Hey I am humble, the 'humblest' some might say. And this is part of the hero training too. I'll win in the end anyways, and no one likes to be under an arrogant winner, so might as well be nice about it.'
Trying to get the situation back on track, Midnight spoke again. "The first game is what you'd call a qualifier! Every year, many drink their tears here! Now, here is the fateful first game!"
As she finished speaking, a giant hologram of a slot machine reel appeared behind her, spinning furiously. "This year is…" she said, and as if hearing her words, the reel stopped on an 'Obstacle Race' image. "This!"
"All 11 classes will participate in this race. The course will be the outer circumference of this stadium–about four kilometers!" After speaking she raised what looked suspiciously similar to a BDSM whip type of tool and she continued while licking her lips. "Our school's selling point is freedom! As long as you stay on the course, it doesn't matter what you do!"
While the people cheered away, she hurried everyone to the starting line. "Now, now, take your places everyone!"
Standing in front of the gate-slash-starting-line, everyone anxiously as the lights above slowly ticked away. And as the last one turned off with a beep, Midnight screamed as the gate opened. "Start!"
And then chaos broke loose. Everyone squeezed each other on the corridor, fighting for being the first to get out. But a sudden gust of ice enveloped the whole corridor and the walls on the exit, after which everybody noticed they were stuck in place, feet freezed to the ground. "Sorry, but…" Whispered Todoroki while getting ahead.
Still, he didn't have much time in the lead as students broke away, Aoyama struck a pose as he flew over with his ray, Yaoyorozu used her Quirk to create an ever-enlarging metal rod like a certain monkey king as she spoke. "Naive, Todoroki-san."
Bakugo blasted forward, the air detonating behind him as he rocketed past the first line of students, snarling like a madman. "I won't let you get away so easily! You half-and-half bastard!"
Midoriya got out by simply jumping, brute forcing his way from the ice in big leaps like a certain ball of rage and gamma muscle.
'Good job, kid.' Thought Damian, using his enhanced vision to look at Midoriya's performance.
"Holy hot mic!" Present Mic's voice thundered over the speakers. "Look at these kids go! It's Bakugo, Todoroki, and that green lightning kid–Midoriya–leading the pack!"
"Their quirks are perfectly suited for this kind of open-ground race," Aizawa's dry voice followed. "Though Midoriya's still new to controlling his power… he's compensating with focus and timing."
The first obstacle loomed ahead, the Zero Pointer Robots, towering like metal skyscrapers. But amidst the storm of movement and explosions, one figure stood perfectly still.
His calm expression reflected the flicker of lightning and ice in the distance–almost like a teacher watching a live demonstration. He might not act like it, but he was fascinated by Midoriya's progress under his guidance, he found it supremely interesting to watch how his actions changed 'the plot'.
Though not everyone shared his enthusiasm for simply observing. Midnight's whip cracked again as she shouted from the sidelines. "Hey! You there, number one from the entrance exam! What are you doing just standing there?"
From the commentary booth, Present Mic's voice spiked. "WHAAAT'S THIS?! Looks like Rossi's not even moving! Hey, is he taking a break already?!"
At his side Aizawa narrowed his eyes, trying to understand Damian's actions.
Midnight jogged up to him, her heels clicking against the floor. "Damian Rossi! The race has started! What are you doing?" she asked, exasperated but curious.
Damian turned to her, his expression that of somebody that had nothing to do with what was happening. "Oh," he said casually, "I was just watching my little pupil's performance and got distracted. Sorry about that."
Midnight blinked. "Your… pupil?"
He gave a small shrug, as if the entire stadium wasn't watching him. "Well," he added, the corners of his mouth lifting into a confident smirk, "it's not like it makes much of a difference."
Thankfully, only Midnight could hear him, but before she could respond the air around him shimmered. Damian's boots lifted from the ground, faint runes glimmering once before disappearing, but nobody noticed as he messed with the light's refraction to hide them away like he always did.
"See you in the finish line, sensei." He said while smiling, then a silent explosion took place, the air booming as he disappeared in a blur, Midnight's hair whipped backward, her hand flying up to shield her face as the air pressure surged.
The entire stadium gasped as his afterimage faded. "WHAT THE-HE'S FLYING!! THE KID'S FLYING!!" Present Mic howled. "DID ANYONE EVEN SEE THAT STARTUP?! HE JUST TOOK OFF LIKE A MISSILE!"
Aizawa groaned softly. "That's Rossi for you… he's making it unfair for the others without even breaking the rules."
Back at the front of the race, the students were stopped on their tracks as they reached the first barrier, as the track broadened to an open field, they were met with the colossal robots from the entrance exam, multiple of them concentrated on the open field.
"Now! Obstacles have shown up suddenly! Starting with… the first barrier! ROBO INFERNO!"
As this was the first time for most students in the competition to see the robots, they couldn't help but murmur about the imposing creations.
"Seriously? The hero course had to fight these?" "-This is what they meant by obstacles?!"
"So this is what they used in the general entrance exam?" Muttered Todoroki to himself.
Getting low enough for his hand to touch the ground, Shoto spoke coldly. "If they went through all this trouble, I wish they would've prepared something better."
"Since my stupid old man is watching." He said while activating his Quirk with a swinging motion, creating an ascending ramp of ice that started to encase the right half of the robot in ice.
At the same time Midoriya, surrounded by green lightning, was preparing to jump ahead of Todoroki to take advantage of his move but that's when a blur bypassed him and everybody, the wild gusts of wind that coattailed him fractured the ice as the blur weaved seamlessly through the gaps in the robot.
"Wh-What was that?" Midoriya gasped in confusion, almost tripping as he was about to jump but got distracted.
Just like so, Damian theatrically weaved through the robots, using them as you would cones when practicing your driving skills, and in the blink of an eye he was gone, as fast as he appeared.
"DID YOU SEE THAT, MUMMY MAN?! He's blowing through the robots like they're traffic cones! The robots can't even keep up!" Present Mic roared.
"Hard to see much at the speed at which he's flying, but dodging through the robots at that speed instead of flying over them shows a great deal of precision." Commented Aizawa, guiding himself by the residual traces of Damian's path to make his assessment.
The crowd erupted in reaction, but by the time they had reacted, Damian was already at the second course. Here nothing changed, the gulf filled by small platforms connected by ropes might as well be a straight road as Damian simply flew through without as much as stopping. The technician controlling the cameras was having an awful time trying to follow Damian through the different camera feeds.
"THIS IS TOO UNFAIR! HE'S IGNORING EVERY OBSTACLE!" Cried Present Mic.
"He's not breaking any rules, technically. Flying Quirks are notoriously a nightmare to keep in mind during these types of events." Grumbled Aizawa as he shaked his bandaged head.
And the situation repeated all over again with the minefield, an obstacle that would delay most had no effect on him as he blazed through it.
Reaching the finish line, Damian de-accelerated as he crossed the threshold.
Then there came silence, the audience didn't have time to adjust, having seen him flying through the first obstacle not even ten seconds ago while the others were barely reaching the second obstacle by now.
Shortly after the audience realized what had just happened, prompting them to cheer in complete awe at the bombastic yet practically unseen display. Even the pro's were looking at each other in wonder.
'26 seconds.' Damian analyzed, ignoring the outside world.
[26.02 seconds to be precise.] Spoke Eva, adjusting non-existent glasses on her face while raising her index finger.
Observing the young man from a stand reserved for professors, a smile tugged at All Might's face as he looked at Damian. 'No arrogance in his words before the race nor in his face after crushing his competition, you are a true hero in the making, Damian-shonen!'
If only he knew Damian had no arrogance only because he knew what real speed looked like or the fact that he did not think anything of beating a group of young kids.
Once Damian finished, he waited for everybody and curiously enough, the rankings ended identical to how they would if he had never intervened, with Midoriya 2nd, Todoroki 3rd and so on. The only exception being Yaoyorozu who ended 5th after Damian taught her how to create a propulsion hoverboard with her Quirk that helped her bypass the obstacles just like him, albeit at a lower pace.
…
"TIME'S UP!" Screamed Present Mic, announcing the end of the second competition.
"Man, I really feel bad for everybody else." Said Damian loud enough so only Yoyorozu, Asui and Shoji could hear him as they descended back to the ground.
"Somehow it feels a bit unfair to win this way." Muttered Yaoyorozu wryly.
"There's nothing wrong about winning using our Quirks, kero." Said Asui in response while Shoji nodded at her side.
Chuckling at their exchange, Damian had to agree that it was unlucky for the rest that he was here for the cavalry battle as he could effortlessly make his team fly around the arena while the others tried and failed to reach them. The only difficulty he had during this trial was that of purposefully getting caught by some attacks so his teammates could have their time to shine by playing defense, but he committed to it nonetheless, treating this 'battle' as another form of training his control over the arts.
"Now, let's take a look at the top four teams right away!" Announced Present Mic.
"IN FIRST PLACE, TEAM ROSSI!"
As he spoke, he deliberately took his team in between announcements to keep the crowd's attention.
"IN SECOND PLACE, TEAM TODOROKI!"
"IN THIRD PLACE, TEAM BAKUGO!"
After hearing that, Damian had to hold back a laugh as Bakugo's face was quite the sight to behold.
"IN FOURTH PLACE, TEAM MIDORIYA!" He said to finalize.
The result was something that Damian found interesting even if things happened in a similar fashion to the original plot's cavalry battle. Though it was a shame that no student from class 1-B made it to the last round due to his existence, but they always had next year, unlike him.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Damian could see Midoriya follow Todoroki, probably to have that talk like in the original timeline.
'Ah, I don't get a face to face rival speech since I didn't force him to use his flames? What a let down.' Damian sarcastically said in his mind.
[Leave the boys be, you would have ruined the serious talk with one of your bad jokes anyways.] Quipped Eva.
'Ah, you hurt my fragile heart, dear.' He said with a mock sad tone, making her roll her eyes.
'Still, I would've loved to be there when Shoto asks if Midoriya is All Might's love child.' He mused jokingly while walking to the cafeteria with his team.
…
"Now that lunch is over, it's finally time to reveal the last game!" Hollered Present Mic from the cabin.
"…When that's over, the sixteen from the four teams that made it to the final round will duke it out tournament style, ONE-ON-ONE!" Exclaimed the hero theatrically as he finished his explanation.
Similarly, Midnight took her time to explain how the participants would choose their pairings for the fights based on drawing lots. Thankfully, things didn't change significantly from how they were meant to happen originally like most things left to 'luck', the only difference is that Damian's team filled the roles of what would be Hitoshi Shinso's team.
For the first round the pairings ended like so:
Izuku Midoriya vs Mezo Shoji
Shoto Todoroki vs Hanta Sero
Denki Kaminari vs Tsuyu Asui
Tenya Iida vs Mei Hatsume
Mashirao Ojiro vs Mina Ashido
Fumikage Tokoyami vs Momo Yaoyorozu
Eijiro Kirishima vs Damian Rossi
Katsuki Bakugo vs Ochako Uraraka
Curiously enough, Ojiro took Yaoyorozu's spot in Todoroki's team since Damian helped the tailed boy break out of Hitoshi Shinso's mind control, that's when Damian took the time to have a small talk with Shinso about using his powers on allies, among other things related to his Quirk–which thankfully the boy didn't take too badly since his teammates didn't seem to be mind control this time around, but he also performed worse than in the original timeline.
Well, not that it would change much as Midoriya still won his match, much more cleanly this time with the use of full cowling. What did change is that Asui and Ojiro made it to the second round instead of Mina and Kaminari. Kirishima was also cut short since he faced Damian, though he still got his time to shine as Damian played along with the spirit of the competition by letting the world see Kirishima's Quirk withstand all manners of earth made projectiles thrown at otherwise lethal speeds for humans before he was sent flying.
As Damian mulled over the butterfly effect product of his existence, he sighed preemptively as he felt All Might's NBA player sized hand on his shoulder, turning to look at him–like all his classmates around him did–the gentle giant with a concerned expression on his face spoke to him.
"Can we speak in private for a bit, Damian-shonen?" Said the man in a tone that lacked the usual boisterous luster.
Midoriya almost choked on his drink. Yaoyorozu blinked in surprise, glancing between them.
Understanding this was the inevitable outcome of his rash actions, Damian put on an understanding smile as he responded before getting up. "Of course, All Might. Lead the way."
Walking down the inner hallway of the stadium behind All Might for a couple minutes, Damian only regretted that he might not be able to watch the fight between Midoriya and Todoroki, but as they entered a room where Nezu was waiting while seeping some tea, he focused back on the present moment.
It was a small lounge. A tea table sat in the center beside a couch and a few chairs. Principal Nezu was already seated atop a cushion, daintily holding a porcelain teacup that seemed comically small in his paw. His bright eyes gleamed with their usual unnerving cheer.
"Ah, Damian-kun!" Nezu said with a delighted tone. "I was hoping All Might would bring you. Please, do sit. Tea?" Offered the little talking menace.
"No, thank you, Principal. I only like a specific kind of herbal infusion and you don't seem to have it." Said Damian, refusing politely as he scanned the room lazily before sitting down on the couch in front of Nezu.
All Might closed the door behind them and with a 'poof', his frame deflated into his thin, frail form. He took the seat beside Nezu, coughing lightly into his hand before settling.
"Ahem. Sorry, old habit," he said, voice raspier now. "We appreciate you agreeing to this, young man."
Damian nodded once. "Of course. Though I'm guessing this isn't about a friendly chat."
Nezu's whiskers twitched, his tone still bright but sharpened by curiosity. "You're perceptive, as I've heard. You see, during the first round of the one-on-one matches, our surveillance team noticed something… peculiar."
He reached for a small remote and tapped a button. A wall-mounted screen flickered to life.
Grainy security footage filled the monitor. The time-stamp read 13:22–roughly when the first matches had been taking place.
In the frame, Endeavor strode down one of the side corridors leading away from the stadium floor, flames simmering faintly around him. Moments later, Damian entered the same corridor from the opposite direction. They crossed paths out of sight of the camera's central view.
A few minutes later, Endeavor reappeared. His gait uneven, his uniform singed and torn in some places. The flames around him were subdued, flickering erratically.
No blood. No visible wounds. But unmistakably shaken… and furious.
The footage froze there. Nezu tilted his head, still smiling, his voice deceptively light. "So… would you like to tell us what exactly happened in that hallway, Damian-kun?"
For a few seconds, Damian simply studied the screen, his expression unreadable. Then he exhaled slowly and leaned back into the couch. "We had a disagreement."
All Might's brows furrowed as he asked. "A disagreement?"
Damian nodded once. "Yes. I didn't lay a finger on him, if that's what you're worried about. It was… words. Mostly." He lied through his teeth without batting an eye.
Nezu's little paw tapped gently on the armrest. "Mostly?"
Damian's gaze flicked to him, his gaze poignant but polite. "I may have made my point… emphatically."
A soft chuckle escaped Nezu. "Oh, I have no doubt of that. Still, I'm curious what prompted Japan's number two hero to walk away looking like he wrestled a dragon.
There was a faint tension in the room now. All Might's sharp blue eyes fixed on Damian's face, reading every subtle twitch.
Damian stared at the black screen for a moment… then sighed. When he spoke, his voice was quiet, almost detached, but something behind it vibrated like a taut string about to snap. "You want to know something funny? Imagine you find out about a man–obsessed in a mad way with something… a goal, an objective, a title."
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. His eyes–calm but ice cold–reflected the dim light. Nezu's ears twitched. All Might tensed slightly, as if sensing where this was going. "And for that title you are willing to do anything, including selling your humanity. You go as far as buying a woman for her Quirk, for selective breeding like humans do with animals. You use and abuse her, forcing her to breed like cattle to pump out children who will become your tools to fulfill the dream you never could."
Briefly stopping, maybe to let his words sink in, maybe so his voice doesn't break, like the story was about him, he stopped for a second. All Might's scrawny frame stiffened. His hands clenched on his thighs, the fabric of his pants creasing under the force.
He stopped, his gaze rising toward the ceiling. For a heartbeat, the mask of calm faltered, revealing something deep and obscure beneath it, but then his tone went cold again. "Imagine you find out this children are abused much in the same way, being deprived of their childhood, their humanity being equated to their utility to this man, forced to train until they throw up and being thrown away if they do not meet the man's delusional standards just for the next sibling to take their place."
He lowered his gaze, looking at Nezu dead in his eyes. "Then you see that man derogatively scolding his favorite tool for not acting like he wanted."
The temperature in the room felt like it dropped ten degrees. Nezu's animal instincts resurfaced for a fragment of a second, screaming that something dangerous was in front of him, but the feeling vanished as fast as it appeared. His eyes then narrowed, the gleam of intelligence behind them briefly giving way to something like sadness. He already knew the implications. But he let Damian finish.
Stopping his staredown with Nezu, Damian turns to the monitor where the footage was shown, looking at something beyond what they could guess. "That same man is the one being idolized by the world for being the most efficient hero in Japan."
He then turned to the Symbol of Peace, whose eyes were shadowed as he clutched his fists, but Damian looked like he couldn't notice this as he continued. His words hitting harder than any Quirk could. "You should be grateful to me that this filth can still walk away in one piece."
The silence that followed was suffocating.
All Might was the first to break it, his voice hoarse, almost trembling. "Damian-shonen… did he attack you first?"
"No."
All Might's eyes widened slightly. "Then-" butDamian cut him off, tone still eerily calm. "He provoked someone else. Someone who didn't deserve it so I stepped in afterwards."
Nezu interjected, clasping his tiny paws together. "So you admit there was a confrontation. Physical?"
Damian gave a single nod. "Briefly."
Nezu's smile dimmed, though not out of disappointment — out of thought. "You understand, Damian-kun, that laying hands on a Pro Hero, especially during a public event, could have… repercussions."
"I understand," Damian said simply.
All Might leaned forward, looking between Nezu and Damian. "Principal Nezu, if I may…"
"Please," Nezu said, sipping his tea again.
All Might's voice softened. "This boy isn't lying. I can see it. I can feel it. I've met Endeavour many times… his… obsession isn't new. I turned a blind eye because he was a capable hero. Maybe we all did."
He turned toward Damian. "But violence isn't the answer, young man. Even when you're right."
Damian held back a disdainful chuckle and the vile darkness behind it, his eyes flickered, with something… not defiance, not guilt, but clarity of heart, ease of mind. "I didn't hit him because I lost control. I did it because he deserved to remember there are consequences for our actions. That working as a hero can't shield you from your sick actions. And sometimes justice doesn't wait for permission."
His words hung in the air for a beat. Cold and resolute, but there was something more there, like he wasn't only talking about Endeavour.
Nezu finally set down his cup and leaned back. "You remind me of someone I once knew," he said softly. "Someone who believed in doing good even when the rules didn't allow it."
He let out a small breath. "Very well. No one outside this room will hear about this incident. As far as U.A. is concerned, Endeavour simply… slipped."
He turned back to Damian, eyes narrowing slightly. "But I will say this: your conviction is admirable. Your methods, however, must evolve. Heroes are not executioners nor judge and jury."
Damian met his gaze evenly. "Understood."
Nezu smiled faintly again, though the warmth in it was genuine this time. "Good. You may go. Enjoy the rest of the Festival, Damian-kun."
Damian stood. For a moment, his expression softened, almost like he wanted to thank them but didn't know how. Then he simply bowed his head lightly for a second before he walked out. Yet before he left he spoke one last time. "Oh… I know it is hypocritical for me to say this, but please keep this information to yourselves… let Shoto resolve this himself, please."
Without waiting for an answer the door closed behind him with a quiet click. All Might exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You believe him too, don't you?"
Nezu poured him another cup of tea. "Of course I do. But more importantly-" He looked toward the door Damian had left through, eyes glinting with quiet intrigue. "I believe the world will not know what to do with someone like him."