The Next Generation

C33: Hit the Ground

The next day, Aizawa had a better plan for how to train Optimus. He spent the better part of his day walking on Todoroki's ice path, tripping, mostly, but eventually Mr. Aizawa took pity on him and taught him how to do it. He got much better.

Additionally, they figured out that Optimus couldn't hear a word Mandalay said over her telepath quirk. He finally realized this after his classmates responded to the quiet, unintelligible muttering in his helm with shouts of affirmation. Ojiro suggested it was related to how Shinso's brainwashing quirk didn't work on Optimus either.

After dinner, they had a class competition, but those who failed the exams were excluded. They drew papers to get teammates and Optimus was paired with Midoriya, and the two of them were going to be the last pair out. Class 1B spread themselves out along the forest and waited for the pairs to come through to scare them.

"I'm terrified," Midoriya admitted. "Class B has some scary quirks, and combined with their imagination, we don't know what's possible."

Optimus patted his shoulder reassuringly, but he didn't share the sentiment. If class B actually managed to scare him, his battle instincts could kick in and get someone hurt. Detective Tsukauchi warned him about that before he left to join UA. Thankfully, Optimus was going to see this coming. There was little chance they could scare him.

"You've been in a few villain attacks now, Midoriya," Optimus pointed out. "Do you really think they could beat that?"

"A jump scare will always hold a special place in my fears," Midoriya answered. "So, yes."

Optimus smiled. "If it's any consolation, I'll—"

Pixie-Bob, who was standing next to two of her comrades, suddenly cried out as she was pulled across the clearing by an invisible force. At first, Optimus thought it was Yanagi from 1B and her poltergeist quirk, but as he turned his helm, Pixie-Bob slammed into a giant magnetic, perhaps, wielded by a muscular man. At his side stood a reptilian heteromorph holding a massive sword made of numerous swords strapped together.

"Villains!" the remaining two pussy cats yelled.

"We're under attack?!" Midoriya looked around. "No!"

"I'll alert the others!" Mandalay yelled. "Kids, regroup with Eraserhead, Vlad King and your other classmates back at the camp! Do not engage!"

"I know where Kota is!" Midoriya told Mandalay as the remaining students ran off. Optimus stayed with him.

Optimus stepped. "Then let's go. He could be in danger."

Midoriya nodded and ran away from the fight. Optimus didn't like it, but he followed him. He wasn't going to let Midoriya run through the forest without any support, especially if there were criminals attacking.

"So far, there isn't any sign that this is the League of Villains, right?" Optimus questioned as they ran.

"It doesn't seem likely," Midoriya considered it. "All Might isn't here... but then again, besides them, how many villain groups actually attack the most prestigious school in Japan out of nowhere? And location was top secret."

Optimus pursed his derma. There was one villain he didn't want to see today.

"Maybe it's a chain reaction," Optimus suggested. "A villain group trying to follow in the League of Villain's footsteps. That doesn't explain the information leak though."

"Maybe," Midoriya frowned. "But there's no way of knowing. Not yet."

Optimus couldn't agree more. The two of them approached a cliffside and Midoriya started running up the trail along the edge. Optimus wanted to ask him how he knew of this location, but he had a rough idea of the answer. This wasn't the time either.  They had bigger things to worry about.