The Emperor's Dragon II

Ambush!

Izuku was glad Twice had told him about the Search quirk. He had used it several times to check where his father was. The fact that they could communicate with Radio Waves was a bonus but just knowing where his father was...

I am on the fourth level now, his father sent with the quirk.

Second level for me, Izuku replied.

They couldn't actually talk. Not exactly. Radio Waves was what it said. They could send messages but had to be listening to receive them and they could talk over each other and that just scrambled the signal. But it was useful and Izuku could feel his father sending out a general scrambling pulse. It was comforting to him.

I have Toxic Chainsaw with me.

Izuku blinked at that message. And then he grinned. He couldn't help it. His father... Even in the middle of Tartarus his father thought about him. His good mood translated itself to the Nomu around him. They seemed more energised, and Hood rushed at one of the blast doors.

It was closed. That wasn't as a result of their assault. Tartarus kept the blast doors closed at all times but between Hood, the other two High End Nomu, the Near High Ends, Gigantomachia and himself, the blast doors were mere annoyances. They weren't going to hinder their passage out.

He didn't even have to order the Nomu to get the doors now. They knew. They were clearing the guards too. "Clear the next couple of doors," Izuku ordered them as he looked around.

This level of the prison looked very much like how he'd imagine a prison was. They were in one underground wing, and the corridors were steel lined. The corridor was wide enough for the guards to walk without being harassed by the prisoners. About the only thing that was missing from his stereotypical view was an atrium. But given they were underground, an atrium would simply provide access to the lower levels, with was an unnecessary security risk.

Izuku didn't recognise any of the prisoners but... maybe one of the others did. "You can release people if you want," he told Himiko, Whisper and Mr Compress. The three of them were travelling with him.

"Why would I want to do that?" Himiko asked.

He shrugged. The suggestion was mostly for Whisper and Mr Compress. They were more likely to have former companions here. He tilted his head slightly. "Just so long as they don't stab us in the back now," Izuku added, making it clear who the statement was directed to.

Mr Compress made a show of looking around. The prisoners were shouting at them, and it was noisy but Izuku was ignoring it. So were the others. "I imagine releasing them on the way out would provide a suitable distraction for any authorities who have gathered," he observed.

That was true. Izuku nodded. "There's no one you want to come with us?" Izuku was aware that he had a limited set of companions.

Whisper actually chuckled. "Only to gloat," she told him.

"Okay," Izuku giggled. "We will release them on the way out but if you see someone you think is interesting then-" he left it open. They understood.

They moved as a group through the door the Nomu had forced open. Gigantomachia was with them. He was bringing up the rear. There was always a chance the Nomu would miss some guards, and while Izuku was fairly sure he could throw off an attack but he knew the others were vulnerable. Gigantomachia's armoured back would wither any attack.

They made their way to the third level and ... it was interesting. Physically it was similar to the other levels but... it was quiet. Even the prisoners were subdued. What could be causing that?

Either his father was here or... Are you on the third level?

Not yet, came the immediate response.