Chapter 54 – Silent Interception
It was cold.
Stain's bloodlust and murderous intent were cold and terrifying, scaring Melissa to the point that her instincts shouted at her to run away. She felt her life in danger, her instincts crying out to her to run away, but her conscience wouldn't let her leave that place.
"Never look away from your opponent, Shield-san. The moment you do that is the moment you will be dead."
The first thing Izuku taught her. His words echoed in her head at that very moment because she knew it was a situation she couldn't do otherwise. Melissa couldn't have done otherwise, but her survival instinct was pounding her, insisting on the selfish decision to leave everyone there and run away.
I'm scared! I can't leave. I'm shaking! I can't abandon Ida-san and the wounded hero. I want to live! I have to fight and resist. I want-
A memory came back to her. Suddenly, without warning.
The sports festival was a couple of days away. Izuku had put Melissa through some pretty demanding psycho-physical training. During one of those workouts, Izuku had forced Melissa to resist a small portion of his bloodlust, but to no avail. Wanting to accustom her to the murderous thirst of others, Izuku subjected her to that training several times, so that that oppressive sensation would not paralyse her body.
But the words he offered when Melissa recovered after the last projection of that death shadow reverberated in her head.
“Fighting death is idiotic. Welcoming it is cowardly. When fear grips you, don't give it up, but don't fight it either, because it is a precious and necessary feeling for your survival. But if you're facing a situation or someone who threatens your life, and you can't turn your back on them, rely on your determination and sense of duty. Remember-"
«Only in death does duty end.» Melissa stated with renewed calm, despite trembling with fear «And a hero's duty is to put himself or herself on the line if anyone has to be saved.»
Stain had a shiver. His serious, sharp expression changed. His eyes lit up as if he had just found a treasure while his lips twisted into a thirty-two-toothed smile. Melissa's words had genuinely touched the Hero Killer, as she had just stated, with a clear mind, what the ideal of a hero should be. The girl in front of him had just earned Stain’s fullest respect and felt the need to respond to the determination she had just shown.
Melissa charged. She lunged at the Hero Killer, focusing on the One For All to use only 8% of the Quirk inherited from All Might. Unfortunately, she didn't have much time to study support gadgets that would allow her to use One For All at a higher rate. But it's on the to-do list.
To avoid disadvantages in the fight, Melissa entered Stain's guard to prevent him from using the greater range of his weapons, unaware that Melissa had gained the approval of the Hero Killer as he drew a dagger. For just three seconds, breaking her promise, she used Conservai, and in those seconds Melissa saw every single move her opponent was most likely to make. The brain screamed in pain for those seconds of effort, but executed the plan anyway.
She slid under Stain's spread legs, reaching behind him. But Stain had foreseen it and rotated the katana. Melissa's movement was rapid and unpredictable. Because of her speed, the blade not only outran Melissa, but she used the moment to aggressively strike Stain, who had his guard down. A punch to the stomach, a punch to the jaw, and a push kick to pull him back and momentarily lose his balance. Melissa disappeared from his sight again, only to reappear with a sweep of his legs to knock him over, but at the next moment, Melissa's uppercut sent him circling in flight. The sound is dry and defined.
Somehow, though unstable, Stain had managed to fall crouched. Despite the blows, a faint smile appeared on the lips of the Hero Killer, who licked the blade of a blood-stained dagger. The dagger that had wounded his opponent using the last rotation.
Melissa felt something in her body. A strange feeling, almost of oppression but different from that murderous thirst emanating from Stain a little while ago.
«!!! What the...»
C-can't I move? She wondered, looking up Did he hurt me without noticing? Wait, was that on the dagger my blood? Damn! Move!
Frustration worked its way through. Melissa wanted to move at all costs, but she couldn't. No matter how much she urged it to move, her body didn't respond.
«No use trying, you couldn't react to my blows.» Stain said, calmly passing Melissa. «You're good, I admit it. Using your speed to hit me from behind and finish it quickly. Your combat bases aren't bad either. My compliments.»
The Hero Killer was genuinely praising Melissa for her fighting prowess, practically stopping in front of her to do so.
«Impostors have to pay.» Stain continued «While you deserve to live, these two don't.»
«No! Don't touch him!!!» Melissa screamed in fear.
Stain stood in front of Tenya and rotated his katana, the tip of the blade ready to lower to penetrate the boy's eye in search of revenge. Melissa couldn't move. Despite screaming at her body to move, in a state of helplessness, she felt her eyes sting and water. The blade fell.
*Ting*
A crystalline sound of metal hitting metal was generated. The flat part of a spear blade, with what looked like a firearm integrated, seemed to materialise out of nowhere just for that moment.
«Midoriya...san?» Melissa spoke doubtfully
Only then did Stain notice. The noise of combat and destruction was gone. A strange and disturbing silence reigned. He looked up and saw a giant, protected by heavy golden armour that, despite being stained with dark blood, exuded majesty. A second later, he regretted having set his gaze on the red eyes of that figure: a heavy thirst for blood hit him like a raging river, so powerful that Stain not only saw the illusion of an angry and ferocious lion, but had visions of his death at the hands of the giant over and over again.
As soon as he jumped back away, that bloodlust disappeared. The giant relaxed his pose and lowered himself onto the young man who, just a moment ago, would die.
*****
«You were reckless, Ida-san.» Izuku stated, his voice vocalised by the helmet «I think you realise you were going to die if I hadn't intervened, right?»
«It's none of your business, Midoriya-san.» Tenya said, annoyed «I had to make sure my brother's attacker got what he deserved.»
Izuku felt Stain step back, and he released his bloodlust again. When he laid eyes on the Hero Killer, he noticed that Stain was sweating coldly, but his eyes were fixed on him. After all, Izuku's bloodlust was a warning to him: move or you're dead. Izuku's eyes fell on the serrated katana, and under his helmet, a slight sympathetic smile appeared.
Ah, now I understand. The blade to break.
«You're such an idiot, Ida-san. If your brother knew, I'm sure he'd get out of the hospital bed just to come here and kick your ass.» Izuku stated, turning his attention completely to Stain and ignoring Ida's indignant gaze «Besides, now this is my business too.»
Izuku stood up and began walking towards Melissa, who was not far from Stain. His gaze fixed on the Hero Killer, ready to move in case he tried to play some tricks.
Arriving next to his pupil, he lowered himself. Melissa's blue eyes had begun to water with desperate happiness. Izuku sighed and then gave her a slight blow to the forehead with his index finger.
«You broke your promise not to use Conservai fully. How many times do I have to tell you not to be rash, Shield-san?»
«H-how do you know?» she asked with one eye half closed, intent on chasing away the pain caused by Izuku's tap.
«Given the situation you were in, it was obvious that you wanted to end it quickly so you could get the injured to safety. And since your opponent was Stain, you certainly couldn't help yourself.»
«T-true, I used it. But-»
Melissa couldn't finish the sentence when Izuku's armoured hand began stroking her head, leaving her in disbelief and surprise. If Izuku hadn't worn the helmet, Melissa might have noticed Izuku's approving smile.
«Good job, my student.» he said, then picked her up «But now rest. I'll take care of the rest now.»