Vega vs Heroes — A Stand-Still
Riptide stepped forward, blocking the hall calmly.
Riptide:
"Heroes. Turn around.
This isn't your fight yet."
Aizawa's scarf tensed.
Aizawa: "We're not leaving. Ren is my student."
Stain stepped beside Riptide.
Stain:
"We are not your enemies.
But you will not reach Overhaul today."
Toga grinned, twirling a small non-lethal device.
Toga:
"Sorry, heroes! Ren said we should keep this clean~!"
Edgeshot bowed politely.
Edgeshot:
"We ask you to retreat. For their safety."
The heroes braced themselves.
The two sides stood ready —
not to destroy each other,
but to stop each other.
A rare stand-off where no one truly wanted to fight…
…but they had no choice.
Meanwhile — Dabi Nears Overhaul
The hall lit up blue for a moment as Dabi approached the final door.
Dabi:
"Hang on, kid. I'll handle this part."
Overhaul had no idea he was coming.
Red sirens flash, filling the corridor with pulsing shadows.
Water begins sliding across the floor…
then upward.
Gravity twists.
Riptide steps forward, calm, composed.
His Waterbody Quirk activates—
Water coats his arms like translucent armor.
Mist curls around his shoulders.
Blue light reflects off every drop.
He looks like a warrior forged from a river.
Midoriya clenches his fists.
Green lightning bursts across his body—bright, sharp, fast.
Midoriya:
"Move, Riptide! We're here to save a missing UA student!"
Riptide's expression remains unreadable.
Riptide:
"I can't let you go any further."
Midoriya's breath wavers.
Midoriya:
"Why? Don't you care what happens to him?!"
Riptide lowers his gaze slightly.
Not revealing.
Not denying.
Completely neutral.
Riptide:
"I have my orders."
Not Ren's orders.
Not Vega's truth.
Just enough to mislead the heroes.
Midoriya leaps, wind exploding around him.
Riptide sweeps his arm—
Water arcs out like a crescent moon,
glowing, swirling, leaving shimmering trails like a Demon Slayer water technique.
The wave hits Midoriya's dash—
redirecting
not hurting.
The floor cracks beneath the pressure.
Everything slows.
Water ribbons twist through the air in perfect spirals, cinematic and smooth.
Midoriya (thinking):
His movements… they're like a river flowing around obstacles. No wasted motion…
Riptide steps through the mist, footwork fluid.
Riptide:
"You heroes should not be here.
This path isn't for yo
He raises his hand.
Water flows upward, shaping into a towering form behind him—
not a monster, but a massive tidal silhouette, shimmering with light.
The water figure mimics his stance.
Riptide:
"Wave Body • Cascade Guard."
Midoriya braces as the wave crashes forward—
again, not hitting,
but pushing him back
with overwhelming pressure.
Electricity explodes from his feet.
Midoriya:
"I won't stop!
Eri is here! And Ren is—!"
Riptide interrupts sharply.
Riptide:
"Missing.
Nothing more."
His voice turns colder.
Riptide:
"And your team won't find him by running blindly."
The wording is intentionally misleading.
Riptide gives no hint Ren is with Vega.
A distant explosion shakes the base.
Toga's voice echoes faintly:
Toga (far away):
"Riptide! Stealll time, hurryyy~!"
Riptide glances backward—
Midoriya tries to break through.
Midoriya:
"Don't run!"
Riptide dissolves into a pillar of water, sliding across the floor like a river.
Riptide:
"Find your own path, hero."
He vanishes around a corner—
water splashing in his wake, glowing blue under the alarms.
Midoriya stands alone, lightning cracking around him, chest heaving.
Midoriya (thinking):
Why… why would villains protect a UA student?
None of this makes sense…
He doesn't know—
Because he must never know.
The hallway ahead bursts open as the heroes advance—
Aizawa, Rock Lock, and several pro heroes rush forward, boots striking the tiles