Author Notes:

You know I could make up excuses for this super, super late chapter. But honestly, quarantine has just made me so unproductive. Just this past week I was struggling to finish one page of this story. Can you believe that? To be fair though I wrote most of what I have on the buses and subways to and from school and with this virus going around, I can't really do that now.

Anyways I won't take up too much of your time. I know whoever still reads this story wants to actually read this story. So I'll just leave with this side note that it might take longer to get my chapters out but not nearly as long as this one. A lot of the trouble stemmed from the fighting scenes and trying to figure out Michael's character from like five total panels in God of High School. I probably took some creative liberties with him, so don't expect him to be exactly the same. I'm just going to pin it on his host changing his personality a bit.

PS: To whoever Max is who reviewed my story. You are absolutely right about that Midoriya scene being unnecessary. I took out the irrelevant parts and only left the parts containing Mori. I'm not perfect and I appreciate the feedback.

Enjoy the story,

HailToTheSnail

Chapter 8 - The God of Hero Academia

Rumi stretched her arms as she stepped off the elevator of her complex. It'd been a long day at work and she was ready to just lay down and forget the world.

"Ugh. Damn that, Naomasa. Making me come in to watch over that interrogation," she groaned, searching her jeans for the keys to her penthouse. "That was such a waste of an hour," she sulked, opening the door and letting herself in. "That villain didn't even so much as lift a finger either. What a bitch."

She shook her head. Whatever. It was done with. Move on.

"Mori, I'm home!" She shouted, as she took off her boots and walked into the foyer.

There was no reply, which was odd considering school would've been out already. He was usually home by now, either working out or watching TV. Plus there was no way he'd be out. He hadn't made any friends yet to her knowledge.

She shrugged. Maybe he was just held up by his teacher or something. For needed help or extracurriculars. Detention at worse. Though that seemed a little far fetched. Her son wasn't one to cause people trouble unless it was absolutely necessary.

"Maybe I'll get started on dinner and surprise him when he gets home," Rumi mused, heading over to the kitchen. "I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

She stood in front of the island, a finger to her chin. "What to make, what to make?"

An idea came to mind and she started to rummage within her fridge for the ingredients.

A dulled thud resounded from above, making the rabbit hero pause in her search and lookup curiously. Had Mori just been asleep and that's why he hadn't replied to her calling out? She smiled. "He really likes his sleep, doesn't he?"

Rumi returned to her search for ingredients-

CREAK! CRACK! CRASH!

-And jumped as something fell through the ceiling, lifting up a cloud of dust.

Her fighting instincts kicked in and she dropped down, ready to pounce at a moment's notice. She stood back up though a moment later. "What?" she asked no one in particular.

Because buried halfway in the floor and shaking violently was her son's weapon of choice. His stone staff. Yeoui, she recalled him calling it before.

She glanced up, looking at the hole in the floor the weapon created. Well, not so much a hole, as a gaping chasm in the floor. It'd been laid out on its side when it fell through. Were the floors of such poor quality? Maybe she'd have a word with the property management.

As the rabbit hero went to pick up Yeoui, she soon realized that she couldn't. She, one of the physically strongest pro heroes, couldn't pick up a chunk of stone. "What the hell, Mori?" she asked incredulously. "How heavy is this thing?"

She wrestled with it for a couple more minutes before giving up altogether, breathing heavily from the exertion of trying to lift her son's weapon.

"I'm going to have to have a serious conversation with him about this weapon," she mentioned offhandedly. "That's got to weigh at least a few metric tonnes, probably more."

As she struggled to get her breath back, the stone staff's shaking grew more frantic.

"What is up with this thing?" Rumi asked, curiosity getting the best of her. She stepped around it, searching the weapon for anything out of the ordinary. It didn't seem like-

She jumped back, her reflexes saving her from a nasty bruise. The weapon jerked itself out of the floor and pivoted in the air until it faced towards the terrace. It then zoomed off, shattering the sliding glass doors and flying off into the distance.

Rumi could only stare as it flew off.

What? What the fuck just happened? Why'd she have a bad feeling about this? The only reason Yeoui would fly off like that would be if her son called for it. But why would he do that when he already left it at home for the day. It couldn't have been for something trivial. Which left one conclusion…

Her eyes widened and she dropped a whisk she hadn't known she'd been carrying this entire time. She dashed out the door. Something was wrong and she was sure it was serious. She was staking her pride as a mother on it.

Please be alright, Mori.

Mori tumbled down the mudslide, trying to wrap his head around the situation while not getting skewered by a fuckton of swords. Michael was alive and here. How?

Was it a Charyeok? Or a crude imitation of one? He glanced up at the heavenly form of the god and immediately banished the idea when the god manifested another storm of blades and rained hell on the Monkey King. He narrowly dodged them.

Okay, not a Charyeok. Those were a little- scratch that, a whole lot less powerful. Plus, Michael had referred to him by name. He specifically called him out. No kind of Charyeok had taken over its host. Nor was it supposed to.

But Michael wasn't at his full strength either. A silver lining at best. Otherwise, he'd have straight up killed him by now. It was something else entirely. But what, he didn't know.

He shook his head. He couldn't be wasting his thoughts on pointless hypotheses. He just had to focus on winning this fight. He could brainstorm later. After he came out of this alive.

"Come on, Mori Jin," the archangel called. "This isn't the fight I was waiting for. What happened to all your power? Take me seriously."

The Monkey King was taking Michael seriously. It was the only reason he wasn't getting close to the god. Even if he were to summon Geundoowun, he was sure the god would cut him out of the sky. No, he needed a proper weapon to confront this problem. He needed his own weapon.

"Damn it, Yeoui. Where are you?" he muttered, waiting for his trusty partner while dodging out of the way of a sword that nearly cleaved the entire Landslide Zone in half. He'd been waiting for it to arrive. It shouldn't have been more than a few minutes away.

"Mori!" Todoroki's voice echoed. "What happened? Are you alive? Where are you?" he stepped out from behind his wall of ice. Right into the sights of Michael, the archangel.

The god's eyes closed in on his classmate. "Fine, if you refuse to fight me seriously," he started, materializing a single blade. "I guess your friend will have to die."

The sword sailed towards the scarred student; with him only noticing it when it was too late. Mori growled. Fucking coward. He called Geundoowun and jumped up, landing on the small portion that'd formed. "Geundoowun, go!"

His nimbus cloud obeyed and he surged forwards, narrowly reaching Todoroki. His hand grasped at air but it wrapped around a familiar piece of stone. Yeoui had arrived.

CLANG!

The sound resounded as Yeoui shattered the sword mere feet from his classmate's face. He sighed. That'd been a close one.

"Get out of here, Todoroki," Mori said evenly, standing in front of his classmate protectively. His eyes never left Michael. The man was still that dangerous despite his sudden loss of power just like the Monkey King.

Todoroki looked a little curious about his classmate's new revealed powers, but he didn't ask. He wasn't one to waste time with pointless questions. Instead, he asked only the most necessary ones. "Will you be alright without my help?"

Mori nodded. "This isn't someone you can fight," he admitted seriously. "Get to the plaza. Stop whatever these villains are planning. We have to try and save All Might."

Todoroki nodded, not arguing in the slightest. He seemed to understand that he was no match for Michael from the sword the god threw a moment ago. He hadn't even reacted after all. "Good luck, Mori," he said, running past the archangel and towards the plaza.

He was gone a moment later, Michael not even glancing in his classmate's direction when the boy passed below him. His full attention was on the Monkey King. He wouldn't care about one feeble kid that was beneath him.

"Now that your friend's an adequate distance away," he smirked, an arsenal of blades manifesting behind him. "Let us stop wasting time and get to the fight."

Mori agreed. Now that Todoroki was out of the picture and he had his weapons, he had no reason to hold back. If he did, it'd only gave Michael an excuse to go after his classmates instead. His iris grew red and his pupils turned into golden crosses. Geundoowun rose up, leveling him with the god. It crackled, roaring in its own right.

Though before the fighting could ensue, there was a question Mori had for him. One that probably only the archangel knew as he was in the same boat as him. He was just itching to ask. He caved. "How are you here?" He blurted out.

The former god paused in whatever attack he'd been about to perform. He looked at the brown-haired student with a contemplative gaze. "I suppose you'd like to know, wouldn't you?" He mused. However he shook his head. "Unfortunately, I don't even have an answer for that myself. I was dead by all means. That much I knew for sure. And as odd as it is, I opened my eyes and was stuck in this feeble flesh bag."

Mori frowned. Not because he believed Michael to be lying, but because he knew the god would have no reason. He was telling the truth, which meant he was just as lost as to their arrival as the Monkey King was. Yet it didn't seem like the former god held nearly the same amount of concern. He had no prior attachments to his Earth. To his home.

The Monkey King's eyes tracked Michael. "If I recall it, it was four on one last time. It didn't go down in your favor either," he said, putting on airs. He wasn't sure how he measured up against the archangel now. From what he'd seen of his strength so far, he'd retained most of his godly power, while the brown-haired boy had lost nearly all of his own. It wasn't looking good.

And it seemed Michal knew that himself. "That may have been true before, but from what I'm seeing right now, you've lost your powers, or most of it anyway," he called out. "I might not be in any better of a condition but I've got a better shot now than I did before."

Mori tsked, but readied himself for the fight. It would be difficult no doubt. But he was confident that he'd come out victorious.

Geundoowun lurched back suddenly causing him to lose balance and fall down onto the soft fluff of the nimbus cloud. The telltale whistle of a sword above his head made him realize that his cloud companion had saved him.

"Thanks," he said quietly, realizing the mistake he'd made.

Michael launched a few more swords in his direction, each staggered so that the Monkey King would have a harder time dodging them.

Geundoowun weaved between the blades as Mori shattered the ones that his nimbus cloud couldn't dodge. He grit his teeth as one of them cut into his left arm, but fought through the pain, closing the gap between him and the god.

Michael wouldn't have any of that though, running himself from the Monkey King while continuing to throw sword after sword in his direction. It created distance.

Seeing as he wasn't getting anywhere by brute-forcing it, Mori pulled back so that he'd have an easier time dodging while he formulated a counter-attack.

Right now, as he was, he didn't have the strength or speed to force Michael into a melee. He was sure he was stronger and faster, but the physical gap in their abilities had been reduced which left him with technique. Something he was severely lacking even with the memories Mori Hui granted him as he passed away.

Mori clenched his eyes shut deep in thought, letting his nimbus cloud take control. What had that bastard, Mubong Park said to Mori Hui that one time?

You have the greatest weapon ever in your hands, but you have no idea how to really use it.

The man, in fact, the devil, wasn't wrong. The Monkey King did in fact fail to use Yeoui properly. It wasn't until he acquired Mori Hui's memories did he see the importance. He had never tried to enhance his skills because he always had the strength and speed to overcome technique. Now that he didn't, it was crippling.

His lips curled up slightly. But he hadn't just been sitting around for the past few months, had he? No, he'd been practicing and practicing. Realizing the mistake he had made and trying his utmost to fix it. He'd practiced technique if nothing else.

His grip on Yeoui tightened and he thrust forwards with his stone staff, ignoring the oncoming blades. "Pumba Verse Thirteen," he recalled, the weapon extending and snaking its way between the swords. "Serpent."

Within an instant and before Michael could react, Yeoui made contact with the archangel, knocking him out of the air and crashing into the Landslide Zone beneath.

He didn't let up though, knowing that if he did, the god would make distance again. And something was telling him that Michael wouldn't fall for the same trick twice.

Mori jumped from his nimbus cloud and thrust forwards with his stone staff. "Pumba Verse Gut Stab," he said, his weapon striking against a couple of swords the archangel hastily manifested. The god was sent skidding back a few meters.

Michael stared at the Monkey King indifferently. "You've refined your techniques," he pointed out. "You've changed quite a bit since the last war with us gods."

Mori winced as he closed the distance, not wanting Michael to take flight. A blade cut into his arm. "I did what I had to," Mori answered clearly. "You gods left me no choice when you almost took my family, my friends, and my home away from me. I'm not going to let anyone do that to me again."

Their weapons clashed again and their faces were inches from each other. "That was a mistake on our part," the god admitted. He didn't sound sorry. "We didn't think an existence as strong as yourself dwelled on Earth. Or rather, we didn't think you'd be a problem."

Michael pushed the Monkey King back a bit. "You see, Mori Jin," he started, trying to make distance for himself. "We gods live by a golden rule. Survival of the fittest. Or in layman's terms, the strong rule the weak."

Mori chased the archangel and struck upwards with Yeoui, only to be parried at the last second as Michael summoned yet another pair of blades. "So even gods submit to other beings if they're stronger?" He asked, finding the answer fitting.

The god nodded. "That's right," he agreed, pushing the Monkey King back. "Aren't you curious how 666:Satan became the ruler of the first heavenly realm? He made us other gods submit to his will, as you made what remained of us back on Earth submit to yours," He added.

Mori growled. "And what's changed since then? I'm here now, aren't I?" he asked.

They separated and Michael shot some swords in his direction. Something he easily shattered with a few quick flicks of Yeoui. "You are," Michael admitted.

The student's eyes narrowed. "And?" he asked again.

The archangel smiled. "And," he started, his smile overjoyed. "As I said before, you're no longer that same monster from back then. You've grown weaker. Just as I have," he said, stating the simple truth. "And although you might still retain a little more strength and speed than me. The difference has shrunk considerably."

Mori growled. It was the truth as the god said. The playing fields had been nearly leveled ever since their last fight. He wouldn't have had this much trouble with Michael in the past.

He was weaker as the archangel said but there was a silver lining to that fact. He knew he was weak now and he adapted to compensate for it. Refining his technique to a point that he considered masterful. His previous self would've despised what he'd become. His current self was just glad about how he turned out.

The Monkey King ducked low as a sword sailed over his head before he lashed out and grabbed the hand attached. He broke the wrist and heard the archangel grunt in pain.

Michael ignored the agony that his broken wrist brought, a feat that few could accomplish, and lunged forwards with his other blade seeing an opening on the Monkey King's left side. It was a mistake on the archangel's part. Something that the student had wanted the god to see and try to take advantage of.

When he knew the god had taken the bait, the brown-haired boy closed the opening, putting himself into a better position for a counter-attack.

Michael saw the sudden shift for what it was and tried to stop his momentum. It was too late though. He'd already committed.

With extreme precision, Mori knocked aside Michael's blade with his palm before lunging within the archangel's reach. He'd have a harder time dealing with the Monkey King at this range and the brown-haired boy hoped to draw him into a fist on fist.

Michael did exactly that, dropping his other weapon in favor of his fists. Seeing as he'd have no chance with a sword at that range. It was exactly what Mori wanted.

The god scored a few blows to the student's chest that would no doubt bruise later. He ignored them with a small wince and flicked a leg above his head. Michael drew up his guard.

"Renewal Hoe Grab," Mori muttered, pulling down the archangel's ridged guard with his raised leg. He pivoted on that same leg and brought his other around for a counter. "Renewal Spinning Top Kick!" he shouted, slamming his leg into Michael's head and into the ground.

The god bounced off the ground like a ragdoll, rising slightly above head level. Mori's leg shot up, making contact with the archangel's chin. "Renewal Rising Back Kick," he added, before following up with a series of punches at Michael's vitals. "Renewal Mach Punch," he finished, pulling back his arm for one final blow.

To Michael's credit, he'd bared his fangs at the last moment. Having manifested a sword between the Monkey King's last punch and his chest. It dug into his fist.

He withheld a grunt of pain and followed through with his attack. Having learned long ago to ignore it in the heat of a battle. His fist made contact, pushing through the metal.

Michael tumbled back. Bruised and battered. He struggled to get up, folded over his injuries like an armadillo. The Monkey King had won decisively.

Nonetheless, Mori kept his weapon up at the archangel. He was still wary of the blonde even if he was on both knees. "It's over Michael. You've lost," the student said.

Michael chuckled. "Mori Jin," he began, looking up into his eyes. It made the student's hairs stand on end. "I'm stronger than this. I'm sure even you know that."

He did. As reluctant as he was to admit it. Michael wasn't weak by any stretch. "I don't doubt that," Mori admitted. He looked the blonde up and down. "But right now, you look like you couldn't even fight one of your angel foot soldiers."

Michael snorted at the statement. "Although I know you jest. I find that to be just a bit rude. I could fight an army of angels even an inch from death," he replied, coughing slightly.

Mori shrugged. He didn't know if that was true and they had no way of confirming it. He just had to take the archangel's word for it. It was strange that they could just talk as casually as they were. He didn't hold much hate for Michael. Well, at least not anymore. The Monkey King back in the War of the Heaven's would say otherwise.

He shook his head and focused on Michael. Ready for anything. The archangel just sat there smiling. It frightened him more than he wanted to admit. His hairs still wouldn't go down.

"Were you expecting me to throw up some last-ditch effort to live?" Michael asked, reading Mori's exact thoughts.

The student nodded slowly. He'd honestly expected it. It was every sentient being's natural instincts to try and live. No matter how calm and collected you were.

"Well I'm sorry to disappoint you," Michael apologized. He struggled to his feet. "But I don't believe I'm quite at the point of desperation yet."

He looked up at the domed roof of the U.S.J.. It was barred with metal shutters, having activated once the villains entered the building. "While I'm not quite happy with my situation here on this planet," he said, his eyes still on the roof. "There was one hefty benefit of being brought here to this world," he admitted. ade.

Mori lowered himself to the ground and watched Michael carefully. "And what would that be?" he asked.

The archangel smiled. Materializing a blade. "Quirks. A brand new power that rivals, NAY even surpasses borrowed power in a few cases. It's truly magnificent," he said in absolute awe.

Mori had a bad feeling about this. "And you're telling me this, why?" he asked.

The sword Michael crafted shot upwards. The Monkey King had the strangest impulse to stop it. He didn't though, more focused on the archangel before him.

The blonde didn't answer. Instead, lifting his arms and looking up at the roof. He looked like a man accepting judgment upon himself. The Monkey King took the opportunity for what it was and lunged forwards with Yeoui.

He was just a foot away from striking Michael when the blonde's arm shot out and grabbed his weapon, stopping its momentum and holding it in place.

Mori looked up in shock at the blonde. A thin stream of sunlight pouring down from the barred roof through the tiniest slit that the sword he'd lanced earlier created. It cast the archangel in an ethereal glow, basking the god in its warmth and embrace.

It didn't stop there though. The Monkey King's eyes widened and jaw dropped when he saw the bruises and cuts that Michael suffered from slowly disappearing. Fading into nothingness as if they hadn't even existed.

That feeling of dread resurfaced. He had a Quirk. Michael had a Quirk.

The archangel chuckled, his laughter booming in the eerie quietness that was the Landslide Zone. "I see this surprises you," he said, watching the Monkey King with a bemused expression. "It surprised me as well when I found out."

He admired his healed features. "Essence of the Sun. That's the name of the Quirk," he mentioned off-handedly. "It lets me convert sunlight into photosynthetic energy which I can use to heal my wounds. If I had more sunlight, I could use it to enhance my other parameters," he explained with a shrug. "But this'll do for now I suppose."

Mori grimaced as he heard his own body scream at him. He ignored it and raised Yeoui.

Michael smiled pitifully as two blades materialized in his own hands. Even more hovered over his shoulders, aimed at the Monkey King. It was an indication of the hell to come.

Jiro swung a metal pipe that Yaoyorozu had produced in a wide arc warding off any villain as her eyes darted left and right. They were surrounded.

"Any ideas, guys?" Kaminari asked, a hint of fear reflected in his speech. She couldn't blame him either. She was scared as well. This was her life on the line.

"I'm thinking about it. Give me a moment," Yaoyorozu said, as yet another of the villains grew ambitious and surged forwards from the pack. She dealt with him easily enough.

Jiro bit her bottom lip. They were running out of time and the circle of villains that encircled them was getting smaller and smaller as they closed in on their position. They needed a plan and quick, otherwise, they'd be dead before the heroes could save them.

"Kaminari," Yaoyorozu whispered. "How many volts can you release?"

Kaminari frowned, his eyes glancing in every direction at the villains closing in on them. "I-I don't know," he replied, panic seeping into his voice. "Maybe 1,300,000 volts without frying my brain. Up to 2,000,000 volts if I need too but that'll hospitalize me."

Yaoyorozu nodded. "Good be ready for my signal," she said, gesturing for Jiro to get closer to her. "I'm going to need you to cook these villains."

"Wait! I don't have any control over the electricity I produce," the blonde admitted in a panic. "I might kill one of you."

"Don't worry about us," Yaoyorozu reassured. Jiro stood beside her. "I've got that covered."

And god help her, Jiro hoped her classmate did indeed have it covered. Otherwise they might end up dead because of this plan. Not that she had a better alternative. Her repertoire of attacks wouldn't hold under an attack from all sides.

The villains started to close in quickly, having grown restless and impatient. Yet Yaoyorozu still wasn't calling anything. "Anytime now, Yaoyorozu," the musician said nervously.

The recommended student's face was scrunched up in concentration. "Almost there," she said. "A few more seconds."

A few more seconds that they didn't have. The first of the villains grew restless and surged towards the group.

Jiro gripped the pipe in both hands and swung at the villain, making him jump back to safety. "Come on, Yaoyorozu!" She shouted, her patience growing thin. "Any time now!"

"Got it!" The black-haired girl shouted, a blanket of sorts erupting from her back and falling over both of them. "Now Kaminari!"

Said blonde grinned and electricity crackled along the palms of his hands. "Indiscriminate Discharge One Million Three Hundred Thousand Volts!" He shouted.

Jiro couldn't see what happened underneath the electrically-insulated blanket, but once the screams of the villains had died out, she chanced a peek outside.

To her utter relief, all the villains were down and out. Spazzing out on the floor from the thousands of volts running through their systems. They pulled back the blanket. "Good job, Kaminari," Jiro said, admiring her classmate's handiwork. She turned to him. "Honestly, I didn't think you had it in you to do something like-"

Her words slowly died in her mouth before she stifled a laugh. "W-What?" she managed between her spiels of giggles.

It wasn't her fault either. Because Kaminari, despite how powerful his Quirk was, had one serious drawback-

"Uhhh," he groaned as he walked back and forth. His arms rocking back and forth occasionally. Both hands resting in a thumbs-up position.

-It made him a complete and utter idiot.

Jiro heard Yaoyorozu let out a small giggle herself and turned to the recommended student. She immediately looked away. "Yaoyorozu, your clothes!" she exclaimed.

Yaoyorozu looked down to notice that she was in fact in the nude. She shrugged. "I can make some new clothes," she mentioned off-handedly.

Before Jiro could fuss any further, a villain shot to his feet just past Yaoyorozu. He grabbed ahold of Kaminari from behind, threatening the poor boy lest they make a move.

And Jiro did make a move. She hastily threw her jacket at her female companion before the villain could see her naked body. In hindsight, it would have made more sense to make a move to save her blonde classmate in danger. But her body reacted before her brain could think. Call it a woman's dignity if you will.

"Hands up and don't even think about using your Quirk!" the villain called out. He had a skull mask over his head, hiding his identity. "The second you do, this kid gets it!"

Jiro growled. Shit, they had Kaminari. How could they be so stupid as to think they got all the villains with that attack. Stupid, stupid, stupid. And now their blonde classmate was paying the price for their incompetence. They had to do something. But what?

"You could," Yaoyorozu started, surprising Jiro with her blatant disregard for their classmates' life. It wasn't until the earphone jack girl saw her eyes did she understand that the recommended student was stalling. "But what purpose would that serve?"

Jiro slowly began extending one of her earphone jacks down the length of her back while Yaoyorozu distracted the villain. She just hoped the villain wasn't paying attention to her.

"Even if you did kill him, you won't get away with it," Yaoyorozu continued, buying time for her to knock out the villain. "There's two of us and only one of you. We have the advantage here even if we're just kids."

Jiro watched the villain intensely. She'd have a split second to attack the guy holding Kaminari hostage after she disoriented him. That wasn't much time considering the distance between them. She wasn't even sure they could do anything even with her concussive blast. She'd just have to trust Yaoyorozu to cover her.

"Other than that, do you really think you'll actually get away?" the recommended student added. "This is U.A., the teachers are bound to be here at any moment. Even if you've jammed our signals going in and out of here. They'll know something's up after the period's over and we haven't returned to the school. You'll be caught soon after."

Come on. Almost there. Her earphone jack was nearing the plug of her speaker. She only needed a few more seconds before she could unleash a blast of sound and they could rescue Kaminari.

CRACK! CRACKLE! POP!

Jiro paused and looked up. The villain had taken notice of her.

The villain's hand crackled to life with electricity, startling the stupefied Kaminari. "Nice try, heroes," he said slowly. "But did you think you could distract me that easily?"

Jiro swore but withdrew her earphone jack. She knew when she was defeated and she couldn't risk Kaminari's life. He'd saved them after all. They couldn't let him die.

The villain chuckled condescendingly. "Big mistake, sweetheart. I ain't one of those dumb thugs that got fried here," he said, glancing at his thoroughly cooked teammates. He returned his gaze. "And since you can't seem to follow orders," he drawled, gazing at Kaminari. "I think I'll just have to kill this little guy. I really do hate to kill one of my own, but you've forced my hand," his hand-formed into a spear shape.

"Say goodbye to your friend," the villain laughed as his arm lanced down at their classmate's throat. Electricity crackling off of it menacingly.

Jiro couldn't watch and looked away before Kaminari was heavily toasted.

Yaoyorozu gasped and was barely heard over the sudden loud crash that resounded through the mountainous environment.

When Jiro peeked through her fingers, it was to see Kaminari perfectly fine, if not just a little dumb still, while the villain had been laid out on the ground unconscious.

"How did that villain end up‐" she started.

She was cut off when a literal angel descended before her. Her eyes widened at the bizarre character but widened even further once she saw who'd crashed into the villain that'd held Kaminari hostage. "Mori?" she asked incredulously.

Mori felt terrible. He hadn't felt this bad since the time he'd sparred with his grandpa back when he was ten. His arms hurt. His legs hurt. His everything hurt.

He didn't have time to worry about that though because Michael hovered nearby. A cocky smirk gracing his features as he watched the Monkey King struggle to his feet. Whoever said angels were kind creatures were fucking liars.

"Mori?"

He froze as he looked past Michael. "Jiro?" he asked, recognizing his classmate. He then noticed the others. "Kaminari, Yaoyorozu?"

An urgency to keep them safe was enough of a reason for Mori to jump to his feet and get between them and Michael. The pain was unbearable but he knew it was necessary.

Michael wouldn't harm his classmates as they were beneath him, but if they attacked him first and annoyed the god. He wouldn't hesitate to kill them.

He withheld a grunt of pain. "You guys have to get out of here! Now!" he shouted instead.

His classmates seemed confused at first but the determination that set in their eyes made him groan in annoyance. He admired their ability to stand firm against the villains, but now wasn't the time for them to play the hero.

Yaoyorozu eyed Mori's tattered form and the archangel's own healthy one warily. "You look like you could use our help, Mori," she replied, hefting her metal pipe.

He shook his head vigorously. "Listen," he started seriously. It drew their attention. He'd never taken this tone with them at any point. "You guys need to get out of here. This villain. I've dealt with him before. He's too dangerous for you to handle."

Jiro made to argue with him but he stopped her before she could. He didn't blame her for trying though. He looked horrible and it certainly seemed like an unwinnable fight.

Mori could see the doubt in their eyes and the questions they wanted to ask. There was also the hesitation to just up and leave him. He smiled confidently. As best he could. They didn't look any less worried. It probably wasn't convincing.

He went for another approach. "Kaminari doesn't look like he's in any state to fight right now," he said, looking at their blonde classmate. He was being held up by Jiro. "You guys have to get him out of here and regroup with the rest of the class back at the entrance."

Yaoyorozu still didn't seem convinced. "Jiro can handle that," she suggested, getting a nod in return from the said student. They started down the mountain. "You need my help."

Mori growled at their bullheaded suicidal determination. They just didn't get how strong Michael was. And he was just off to the side watching in bemusement right now. If that changed now, there was no telling what he'd do.

He had to take a different approach to convince Yaoyorozu. She wouldn't leave him on his word alone. Maybe she'd listen to rhyme and reason instead? She did seem like the kind of girl to take in all the facts before coming to a conclusion. It was worth a shot either way.

"Yaoyorozu!" he shouted, startling the girl. He hardly ever raised his voice but he felt it warranted here. It was impactful at least. She was listening. "Are you telling me that you're fine with killing our classmates? Fine with killing Jiro and Kaminari?"

"W-What?" she asked in panic before hastily shaking her head. "No!"

"Then go with them," he instructed. "If they run into a villain now how is Jiro supposed to defend them both by herself? She and Kaminari will be killed. They need you more than I do right now. I have a chance of surviving," he glanced back the way his classmates left. "They have none."

Yaoyorozu hesitated for naught but a moment. She faltered and took a step back. "Promise me, you won't die? I'm trusting you to deal with this villain."

He nodded. He didn't have anything else to say.

She returned it, paused, and ran off in the direction that both Jiro and Kaminari hobbled off in. It left him alone. With Michael. For round two. He winced at the implications.

"Well that was entertaining," Michael admitted. His blades were out, coated in some of the student's blood. It was a reminder that their fight wasn't over. "Are you ready now?"

Mori took a deep breath and glared at the archangel. It was enough of an answer for the blonde god as he dashed nearly ten feet in the span of a second. Closing the distance between the Monkey King and himself near instantaneously.

Where he'd thought Michael had been fighting at his best before. With the archangel's Quirk, Heaven's Sunshine, Mori found himself in a predicament. A very, very bad predicament.

Even though the archangel's speed and strength hadn't increased. The fact that he looked and probably felt like a new man while the Monkey King looked and definitely felt like a deceased body tipped the scale heavily in Michael's favor.

The god's attacks were simple and telegraphed, but the sheer difference in speed and strength behind each strike jarred him, making it unbelievably hard to keep up.

"Come on, Mori Jin," the god mocked. Swinging his blades in a flurry of strikes. Each one aimed with extreme precision for the vital points of the body. "What happened to the Monkey King that struck me down with a single blow?"

The student crumpled under the blows that struck Yeoui. His arms folding under the strength. He rolled out of the way of the follow-up attack. The blade grazing his shoulder. It drew blood.

"Is this all that you amount to now?" Michael asked, continuing to hammer down on Mori's defenses. He wouldn't hold out like this. "How pitiful."

Mori hissed as he shouldered the burden of two vertical sword strikes from above. He grunted as he exerted his strength to push the blades to the side and lashed out blindly.

The archangel jumped back and out of his range, giving him a moment's respite. It gave him time to assess the situation.

He was tired. That was fucking obvious. While Michael was at nearly a hundred percent, he was operating at somewhere in the fifty percent range. He'd gotten pretty good at gauging his own energy level during fights. It helped pace himself better.

The student stepped back as Michael lashed out. He knew it was possible for him to beat down the archangel once more if he threw caution to the wind and threw everything he had into this fight. But there was one little problem that he wasn't sure of. No way to confirm it.

And that came in the form of the blonde god's newfound Quirk. How did it work? Could he heal himself over and over as long as he basked in the sun's rays? Or was there like a cooldown? Were their limits to his Quirk?

Nothing concrete came in the short period of time as Michael lunged once again, keeping the Monkey King preoccupied lest he wished to become little cubes of chopped pig feed.

With no ideas coming forth and his time slowly dwindling, there were only two things he could reasonably rely on. One, he needed to go all out and two, he couldn't let Michael absorb any more sunlight. Those were crucial to his victory.

Their weapons met again, but this time Mori didn't falter. He pushed back, taking the initiative and startling the archangel with his aggression. It only lasted a second though for the blonde god recovered quickly and pushed again, locking them both in a contest of strength. Something which the Monkey King held an advantage in.

Michael seemed to realize this too and disengaged, rolling off the side of Mori's Yeoui and going for his back. Leveling both of his blades at the student's nape.

He rolled forwards and while on his back thrust Yeoui towards the archangel. He was out of range but a quick extension from his trusty stone staff sent Michael tumbling backward.

He didn't let up and pushed forwards, fighting through the signs of distress his body was trying to tell him. It kept yelling at him. He kept ignoring it. Too busy dealing with the psychotic blonde archangel god thing named Michael.

While his opponent was off-balanced and panicked, Mori took the opportunity for what it was and traded blows with the archangel. Those of which went in his favor due to the former.

Michael, in an attempt to gain the momentum in the fight, arrogantly lunged at the Monkey King, overextending to try and throw the student off his game. It didn't work. Instead, Mori took advantage of it, stepping past the jab. "Renewal Fist Strike," he recited as he punched the blonde god in the face, disorienting him.

He did it again. "Renewal Fist Strike II," he repeated, striking the archangel squarely in the chest. He went once more. "Renewal Fist Strike III," he added, pounding him in the face again.

Four, five, six, seven. Mori kept punching Michael until the archangel was aware enough to put up a guard and step back. The Monkey King stepped forward in return, unwilling to give the archangel a single moment to himself.

His body was growing weak quickly but he kept at it tirelessly. Repeatedly slamming his arms, legs, and frankly any part of his body against the god. It was almost ridiculous.

Michael broke free of the combo though and ducked under one of the brown-haired boy's kicks, lashing out with a vertical strike from the student's pelvis to his chin.

Mori fell back onto the floor immediately, the strike grazing the front of his hero apparel before he swept the archangel's legs from beneath him. "Renewal Lowest Hoechook," he started. He then pushed off his back leg and swept down on Michael with his other. "Renewal Spinning Top Kick," he added, slamming the god's face into the ground.

The Monkey King jumped back though when Michael conjured a blade and struck out with it. It nicked his shoulder. The archangel took a few ragged breaths. Long gone was his cocky grin, replaced with a frown.

"This is not ideal," he admitted, spreading his wings. "I think it's time you play to my tune now," he flapped his wings and took off from the Mountain Zone.

Mori swore under his breath. He'd been hoping he could keep the fight to the ground where he'd have the advantage. Seemed Michael realized he wouldn't win like that.

Although reluctant to play into his enemy's home advantage, Mori followed the archangel up. To let him go now would spell death for his teachers and classmates. That was a fact. And something that the Monkey King wouldn't allow.

Michael, living up to the Monkey King's expectations, kept the student back with ease. Sending blade after blade in the brown-haired boy's direction with no end in sight.

Thankfully Geundoowun was doing its part in dodging the swords and was the only reason its master, Mori, wasn't yet a human pin cushion. Though he was coming very close to being one.

There wasn't much he could do though. He was exhausted and had no way to brute force his way through. He'd honestly thought he could deal with Michael before he'd taken to the skies. How stupid that looked now.

With melee combat being farfetched to happen, Mori focused on trying to snipe the archangel with his bo staff. Expanding and thickening Yeoui in an attempt to hit the blonde god.

"Expand!" Mori shouted, thrusting with his stone staff. It missed its mark.

He pushed Yeoui forward again. "Expand!" he repeated. It missed again.

"Expand!"

"Expand!"

"Expand!"

None of his strikes hit its mark and he felt blood drip down the side of his head. Some fell into his eyes. He didn't close them though. To do so would be to commit suicide in a fight.

Michael was looking better himself but still held some serious bruises from the fight on the ground moments ago. It made the Monkey King smile.

It wasn't for the wounds that he was smiling though. The archangel had taken enough damage to warrant the use of his Quirk. And since the blonde god hadn't used it once more, it probably meant that there were limitations to it.

A chance. Victory.

Mori swatted a blade out of the air with the tip of Yeoui, watching Michael carefully for any more underhanded tactics.

He now knew that there were limitations to his healing factor of the Quirk, but he did recall that the archangel had arrogantly stated that he could use the sun to raise his other parameters. Probably the likes of strength, speed, etc.

He needed to be wary of him trying to absorb any more sunlight.

As if knowing his thoughts, Michael did precisely that. Conjuring up a few swords and lancing them sky-bound. In hopes of destroying more of the metal shutters and pouring more sunlight within.

It was quickly dashed with a few quick extensions of his Yeoui, shattering the blades and bringing the archangel's attention back to the Monkey King.

He snarled in annoyance. "You're really starting to bother me," he admitted.

Mori didn't answer. Instead he took the time that Michael wasn't tossing swords left and right to try and engage the archangel in aerial melee. He was almost immediately repelled.

They continued their murderous dance in the air, tagging each other and trading blow for blow. Though in the end, neither could land a decisive strike.

They flew back from each other, both panting harshly from their fruitless bouts.

Growing impatient and knowing that he couldn't keep wasting time, Mori knew he had to take a risk. It was either that or let his classmates slowly be slaughtered. He had faith they could hold their own against the small-time thugs that this so-called villain alliance brought. It was the big black avian thing that made him doubt.

With a metaphorical clock ticking away, Mori made the call to take a risk. He dashed forwards on Geundoowun, pushing his nimbus cloud to the maximum.

As the Monkey King expected, Michael continued his assault of steel. Lancing sword after sword in hopes of staving off Mori once again. He batted most aside with Yeoui and dodged the rest. Of course, there were a few that made it past his defenses and cut into his flesh but he pushed on. The sting of the dozens of cuts he was sporting keeping his head clear and his mind focused as he closed in on the archangel.

Michael realized quickly that Mori wasn't backing off this time and hastily materialized two blades into his hands, swinging wildly in front of him having not expected the attack.

The student took the blow on the end of Yeoui, parrying it with ease before quickly disarming the god with two quick flicks of his bo staff, slapping it into the back of each of Michael's hands with sufficient force to make him drop his two swords. The brown-haired boy dropped Yeoui in return and pushed into the blonde's guard, grabbing a hold of his robes.

With no weapons, no room to swing them, and a firm grasp on each other, the two former gods were forced into a melee. Just as Mori had wanted.

It was a little more difficult in the air but this was what the Monkey King was comfortable with and what Michael was not. And that was all that mattered. Whoever had the advantage and whoever could decisively take advantage of it.

Michael threw a punch at Mori's face as the Monkey King struggled to keep hold of the archangel, shifting his head forward a bit and taking the blow on his forehead.

He retaliated with a punch of his own, aimed squarely for the god's face. He wasn't expecting the blow to land as it was only a lure for the blonde to guard for his follow up attack.

Michael, to Mori's endless curiosity, was too slow to react to the punch. Taking the blow directly to the head. It honestly confused him. The archangel should have been able to dodge that. It made the Monkey King pause. Only for a moment though before he followed up on it. Who was he to look a gift horse in the mouth?

While the archangel was disoriented, the brown-haired boy took advantage of the god's state to weaken his enemy. Taking his index finger of the hand not gripping Michael's robes, the Monkey King quickly located the blonde's pressure points on his dominant arm and thrust once, then twice, then thrice. Crippling Michael's right arm completely and rendering it useless for at least a few minutes. It bought him a few good hits at least.

With only one functional arm, Michael slowly wilted under Mori's barrage of blows. Struggling to get away from the student. The Monkey King cocked his fist back one last time. "Renewal Sonic Punch," he said, slamming his fist into the side of the archangel's face, letting go of the blonde god's robes at the same time.

Michael flew back a dozen meters from the attack. A dark bruise blossoming from the point of impact. The barest hint of a smile could be seen on the archangel's face though.

Mori's eyes narrowed. The god was up to something. But what?

His thoughts were interrupted by raucous laughter. Michael's. Drawing the student's undivided attention. The archangel smile grew. "I'll admit Mori, you've really made me pull out all the stops to beat you here," he said, gazing upwards for an unknown reason. "But alas you failed to see my real intentions during that last exchange of blows."

Mori was about to follow his gaze when sunlight poured down on Michael like a stage light. The god in question glowed and his laughter slowed. He looked the Monkey King in the eyes, recalling a few swords from above. "The things you can do while your opponent thinks they have the advantage," he admitted with a smirk. He raised an arm above his head. "This ends now, Mori Jin," he added in finality.

Before Mori could even digest those words, the very air shook as Michael raised a closed fist. It was only a matter of moments before the hilt of a gargantuan sword, far larger than himself, materialized above it. Followed by the rest of the blade until it reached the domed roof, ripping right through the metal shutters like a knife to butter.

Michael looked down at Mori triumphantly. "Just as you did me and my the mercy," the blonde god acknowledged. "I will end your life quickly," a euphoric smile slowly erupted on his face. "Goodbye, Mori Jin."

He threw his hand down and the titanic sword ripped apart the glass panes and metal supports that made up the U.S.J.'s dome as it came crashing down around the Monkey King. A horrible scraping sound reverberating through the building. Making no doubt everyone within the vicinity cover their ears from just how loud it really was.

Mori did no such thing though. Too focused on his impending doom. Although he just watched as literal tonnes of steel approached him at a speed unbefitting of its size. Ready to kill him in mere seconds if not less.

Where other people would be frozen in fear. Terrified out of their mind. The Monkey King was calm. He was unafraid. He was in control. He knew what he had to do.

He lifted his arm to the side, holding his gaze on the gargantuan blade coming down upon him. It would come to him. It always did.

And as he had faith in it, his hand folded around the shaft of a smooth and familiar surface. He gripped it tight and pointed it up at the colossal weapon. "Expand and thicken, Yeoui," he commanded.

His weapon hummed in obedience.

"And that's why the most recent Quirk laws forbid actions against villains that are lethal. To ensure that the safety that our society entrusts with us is not used to sew chaos," Midnight explained, her voice traversing the lengths of the classroom.

Nejire sighed as her eyes started to droop. She saw her two best friends closer to the front paying attention to every word their teacher said diligently. She didn't know how they could force themselves through this lesson. She wanted nothing more than for this class to be over so that they could focus on their brand new club.

Although they'd just created it, they already had their first adorable junior and she was just so excited to show him around the school campus today. Or at least that was her plan for their newest club member. He'd only been around the school for a few weeks. So there were definitely places he didn't know about that the older years did.

"Nejire? Are you daydreaming again?" Midnight asked from the front of the class.

She paused in her daydream to come back down to reality. It was much less pleasant. She wanted to return to her dream. "No," she lied quickly and easily.

Midnight quirked a brow which made the bluenette giggle nervously. Even Mirio and Tamaki were sending her disappointed looks. What could she say though? Modern Hero Art History bored her. She didn't even know what it was really and they'd been at it for weeks.

"Listen, Nejire," Midnight started. "Although this class may seem useless to heroes. Knowing the politics and history behind heroes and Quirk usage will help you achieve-"

The woman stopped, confusing the poor girl. "Ms. Midnight, is there something wrong?" she asked.

Nejire didn't get an answer as Midnight barged out of the class, bringing a com unit on her wrist closer to her lips. "Principal Nezu, we have an unidentifiable situation at the U.S.J., can you contact the teachers at-" that was all the bluenette heard before their teacher was out of earshot and down the hall at a hurried pace.

The U.S.J.? Nejire furrowed her brows. Wasn't that where the first years were right now?

"What? What is that?" one of Nejire's classmates said. She turned to see him pointing out the window and off into the distance where the U.S.J. building was found.

Except it wasn't just the building Nejire saw. There was a large shaft of metal peeking out of the top of the glass dome of the rescue center. It took her a moment to discern that it was the tip of a titanic blade.

RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

The bluenette felt the rumbling before she even saw the pillar of stone that erupted from the building. It clashed with the blade for a moment, both objects of gargantuan size pushing against each other, before the sword gave in and shattered into a thousand pieces.

Nejire blinked. She had to wonder if she wasn't still daydreaming. And once she did with a quick pinch. She realized she wasn't. Just what was going on over there?

Jagged pieces of metal and glass fell around him as the roof came crashing down.

Mori ignored them, trusting Geundoowun to dodge the pieces for him. Instead, he focused on searching for any signs of Michael through the falling debris.

"Come on, where are you?" he muttered, holding Yeoui at the ready.

He caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye, spun around, and raised his staff just in time to block the attack that would've lopped off his head.

Michael frowned. "Why won't you just die," he said callously, pushing against the Monkey King with all his strength. Geundoowun held strong and Mori didn't budge even an inch.

The brown-haired student still grunted under the archangel's strength though. "Because if I don't stop you here," he countered between gasps of air. "You'll kill those precious to me."

Michael chuckled. "If I heard you say that a thousand years ago. I'd have thought you'd developed a sense of humor," he admitted. He looked up at the sky but continued to push down with his weapons. "If I recall correctly, weren't you the one who devoured your friend, Tang Sanzang, a thousand years ago? Failed to see your brother, Garuda's, insecurities leading to his betrayal? Let his people die so that he could conquer the heavens?"

He frowned. "What was the word for people like you? Ah yes," he glared at the Monkey King with a hatred that rivaled his for the Jade Emperor. "Irredeemable."

Mori closed his eyes at the accusation. He wasn't proud of his past. He'd hurt people. He'd hurt his friends. But the past was the past for a reason and he couldn't change it. All he could do was live in the now. He let go of Yeoui…

…And grabbed both of Michael's blades. They dug into his skin but he held on. "You're right. I was all those things and much, much worse," he admitted shamelessly.

His grip tightened. The metal cracked.

"Garuda, Tang Sanzang, Uma," Mori listed off names. "They all deserved a better friend than me. I let them down in more ways than one. I failed them and failed them. Over and over again. I never learned and I was nothing more than a spoiled brat," he took a deep breath and squeezed his hands into fists.

The metal folded under the pressure he applied. Little pieces of metal scratching up his face. He ignored it and opened his eyes. "But that's all in the past," he pulled the archangel close by the robes, balling one of his hands into a fist in the fabric. It locked him in place. He pulled back his other arm. "I'm looking towards the future."

He struck the archangel in the face with as much strength as he could muster.

Michael fell from the heavens, crashing down into the side of what used to be a building in what used to be the Landslide Zone. It was now nothing more than a few cement walls. He didn't get back up.

Mori landed awkwardly, stumbling as he tried to stand up properly. When he did, he made his way slowly over to the archangel, intent on finishing him off. A god with such little respect and care for humanity couldn't continue to exist. Even if he was striving to be a professional hero. Some evils were just too great to continue to let live. He stopped right in front of the god. "Any last words?" He asked courteously.

Michael was still conscious. He laughed as he coughed up blood. His purple halo slowly flickering in and out of existence. "Five actually," he replied weakly. His eyes were anything but weak right now. "I'm not the only one," he admitted.

This grabbed Mori's attention and it took him a moment to process what he'd just said. He grabbed the archangel by the collar of his robes, pulling his body out of the rubble. He growled at the god. "What do you mean?" he asked, a dreading idea already popping up in his head. He hoped he was wrong.

Michael chuckled. "Oh, I think you know what I mean."

He did. Which made what Michael told him all the more concerning.

The archangel coughed up some more blood. "Frankly I didn't even want to be here," he admitted shamelessly. "Killing children. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

He growled, intent on asking the man more questions. He was interrupted by the sound of an explosion down by the plaza and the sight of copious amounts of ice. A faint cry of pain was heard as well. It sounded like Midoriya.

Michael smirked knowingly. The god knew what he'd choose. "Looks like your friends are in trouble," the archangel said. "What's it going to be? Me or them, Mori Jin?"

Mori growled again. He knew the blonde god would be able to hold him off for a few minutes even when he was on his deathbed, but the real question was could his classmates hold out for that time?

He hesitated but caved when he heard another cry of pain. With an annoyed whine, he bashed the archangel's head into the cement wall behind a few times, putting the god under. It wouldn't last and he would surely getaway. But it did make him feel the tiniest bit better. He stood up shakily and paused. He turned slightly.

"And by the way it isn't Mori Jin anymore," he mentioned. "It's Mori Usagiyama."

With that he started to walk off before it became a full-blown sprint. His body was screaming. His ears were ringing. And his eyes were unfocused. Yet he moved with determined steps. Straight towards the plaza.

So there was someone telling me that I shouldn't keep the Mori Jin Usagiyama and I agree. Took it out of the other chapters too and this just kind of cements it now. No going back. It's probably for the best.

And as for what Michael said, now we're getting into some new canon deviating storyline. I hope you guys are ready for a rollercoaster of mashing up between the two stories because this is where I'm going to be bringing these two stories closer and closer together.

Anyways, thanks for the read. I hope you can drop a comment, like, and follow. It'll really help get my story out there. And I'll be back with the next chapter. Hopefully in a month. Or less. Unlikely though. This quarantine is really screwing with me.