Stuck Between Realities-Remastered

Part 45~Monsters

Momo was on her feet, standing protectively in front of Jiro as Muscular charged at them. Momo slid under his arm, making a weak punch to his side as he laughed. "What are you going to do now? Gonna punch me with that weak arm of yours."

Momo gulped, glancing back. "Kyoka, get Koda away."

"I'm not leaving you."

"Go." Momo jumped away and let out a pained cry as she tried to stand on her leg. "It's not a matter of whether or not I can do it! A hero's job is to risk their life to make lip service into reality. I will save Kyoka and Koda." Momo brought back her arm, punching Muscular as he blocked.

Momo grinned before she dropped the flash bomb, receiving a string of curses from Muscular.

Jiro pulled herself up, biting her lip as she grabbed Koda, running off.

"You're leaving?" Koda stared at Jiro in horror as she lowered her head.

"Momo can't fight if she's worried about us." Jiro gave the boy a smile. "She'll be okay."

Momo was not okay.

"It's just a shame I can't kill you, but that child and girl should do once I've knocked you out!" Muscular grinned as he looked past Momo in the direction Jiro and Koda had run.

"What are you trying to do? What's the League of Villains after?"

"How should I know? I just want to fight. As long as I can stretch my wings and unleash my Quirk, I don't care. Do you remember? Up until now, we were just playing." Muscles grew from every part of Muscular's body as he reached into his pocket, pulling at some item and putting it over his eye. "Now, I'm gonna take you seriously."

Muscular charged at Momo as she jumped over him. Muscular moved faster. He was stronger. Far, far outmatched for Momo to handle. He turned around, grabbed Momo's ankle, and slammed her into the ground.

"Aw, damn it, I got too excited."

Momo's mind worked hard to find a way out. Her skin glowered as Muscular reached forward, ripping the odd cylinder out.

"What's this?" He blinked in surprise as a flare shot out, bursting into the sky above them. "You think signalling to the others will save you?"

"No. But it will stop you. If you stay and kill me, the heroes will gather around you, and you'll go to jail."

Muscular hummed. "The others are taking care of the heroes." Muscular charged forward, punching Momo as she held up her arm, trying to match the power as it pushed her further into the mountain. "Show me your blood."

Momo felt tears in her eyes as she hoped Jiro would get far enough away.

"I'm going to crush you-" Muscular stopped when something collided with his cheek throwing him to the side. Momo carefully opened her eyes, almost not believing what was in front of her.

Izuku shifted back into a human as Iida rushed to her side. "We came as fast as we could."

"Where's Koda?" Izuku didn't take his eyes off Muscular as Momo sighed, slumping against Iida.

"Kyoka got him away."

"Good. Iida, get her out of here. She needs medical attention."

Iida did not look convinced as Muscular stood up. "Who are you?"

Izuku glared at the man, his form shifting. "I'm Izuku. You hurt my friend." Izuku shot forward, shifting into a sphinx, launching up and digging his claws into Muscular's muscles.

"You think you can beat me-" Muscular paused before he let out a scream as Izuku ripped off each muscle, one fibre at a time. Muscular tried to grab him, but he moved fast, crawling around Muscular's body and throwing the lumps of muscle to the floor.

"Right, up we go." Iida picked Momo up before he ran down the mountain. Momo watched Izuku until she couldn't anymore.

"Enough!" Muscular punched the ground, making a small shock wave and forcing Izuku to jump up, staying in the air rather than touching the ground. "I don't care what though assholes say, I'm going to kill you." Muscular charged at Izuku, getting his fingers around Izuku's face and slamming him into the ground. He continued to push down, shoving Izuku into the solid rock.

Izuku gritted his teeth, pressing his palms into the rock he was being pushed into. Muscular didn't realise what had happened until the earth pierced his stomach, the three sharp spikes going through his body.

The air shifted around Izuku, throwing Muscular off him and into the cliff as he fell down. "No, how can this be?"

Izuku stood up, completely human, brushing dust off his shoulders. "That's a simple question. It's because no matter how big a monster you think you are, you're nothing compared to the real beasts I've faced." Izuku watched the man fall down, blood still pouring out as Izuku sighed. He bent the earth around the wounds, stopping Muscular from dying and keeping him locked in close to 5 feet of stone.

~~~

Iida panted, leaning against the tree as Aizawa wrapped Momo in bandages. "This isn't good," Aizawa muttered as Iida nodded.

"Even with my running, I can't get her to a hospital in time."

"She needs a helicopter." Momo blinked, trying to stay away as Aizawa finished.

"I shouldn't have left," Jiro whispered, hunched next to Iida with Koda attached to her, refusing to let go.

"It's too late for that. Did he say what he wanted?"

Jiro nodded weakly. "He asked about Midoriya and Bakugo, but I don't know why?"

"Probably wants to take us."

The group let out a shout as Izuku appeared through the trees. He was covered in blood but seemed unharmed. "Izuku, what happened?" Aizawa rushed over as Izuku grinned.

"It's fine. It's not my blood."

"That is much worse."

Iida shook his head, choosing to ignore Izuku's condition. "What do you mean they want to take you?"

"Muscular works with the League of Villains, which in turn works for someone who really really doesn't like me."

"You know All For One," Momo asked quietly as Izuku gave her a look.

"Yes. It is why I didn't trust you. I assume you know him too."

"I know of him."

Iida once again shook his head, which was starting to hurt. "Who All For One?"

"A big bad," Momo answered, staring off into the distance. "He is a massive underground villain that has shaped villainy for who knows how long. Last time he was seen, he was fighting All Might in a battle that nearly killed them both."

"He's also an asshole who kidnapped Kacchan and me when we were kids," Izuku scoffed. "It's why he doesn't like us. We have to find Kacchan."

Aizawa did not look convinced. "If he is looking for you, too, I cannot let you go."

"You also can't stop me. Katsuki is my friend, and I won't let those people take him again." Izuku paused. "But just in case we both get kidnapped, contact Charlie first. If she finds out through the news, that won't end well." Izuku shifted, becoming a griffin. "I'm going to find Katsuki. Iida finds Mandalay and tells her what is going on. Aizawa, Jiro, you both look after Momo and Koda." And Izuku took off as Aizawa glared at him.

"You're not allowed to boss me around." Regardless of what he said, he followed Izuku's orders.