[U.S.J. Central Plaza - Metal's POV]
Metal could only see the world in front of him in brief snapshots as his only functional camera flickered on and off.
"METAL!"
Metal's internal HUD flashed red with a warning as he saw the villains getting closer while his teacher prepared to fight them.
[Warning: Structural Integrity Compromised...
Left Arm: Missing...
Left Visual Sensor: Offline...
Right Visual Sensor: 45%...
Motor Functions: 63%...
Cooling System: 40%...
Power Core: 75%...
Overall Status: Critical Damage Detected]
Snap.
Another photo, this time the giant villain pulled Eraserhead towards him with the Pro Hero's own scarf.
Metal put his right arm against one of the stairs to push himself up.
C-C-Creak... Puff...
The small machine fell onto his back as another puff of smoke left his elbow.
[CRITICAL WARNING: INTERNAL SYSTEM COMPROMISED
Initiating Emergency Shutdown...
10%...
25%...
35%...
42%]
Thud!
"Stay away from him!"
Snap.
Metal saw Mei standing in front of him while Tomura stepped closer.
[Memory Found...
Constructing Data...
Success]
---
[Memory Designation: "You're my favorite Hero."]
"METAL!"
The small Mei screamed as she clung to Metal's back while pointing at a corner of the basement.
"I saw a cockroach! I swear!"
Metal's lens zoomed in towards the corner of the basement.
After a second, the robot finally saw the small insect scurrying around.
"I'm not! Those things are so gross! Burn it or something!"
"I don't care! Now go!"
Mei put her small hands on Metal's back to try and push the robot forward.
After a few seconds of standing in place, Metal finally relented and stepped towards the corner before pointing his palm towards the insect.
Fwoosh....
Metal turned around to look at his creator, who was smiling brightly at him.
"Thanks, Metal. You're my favorite Hero!"
---
[Present - Metal's POV]
"Let me go, you freak!"
Snap.
Mei was being held in the air by the hulking beast.
[Memory Found...
Constructing Data...
Success]
---
[Memory Designation: "We trust you."]
Metal carried a small box filled with Mei's belongings into their new apartment.
"Do you think the neighbors would complain if I work on my babies?"
Mei asked as she passed by Metal's side while carrying a box of her own.
"Nah, you're exaggerating."
"Hmph!" Mei walked further into the apartment, leaving Metal behind.
"Metal," Miku's voice called from the entrance, making Metal turn around before he could follow Mei. "Come here for a second."
The older woman crouched down in front of Metal once the small robot got close enough.
"Sorry for leaving you alone with Mei, we know she can be a handful."
"We would move in with you both, but finding a place for my workshop takes a lot of work," Kyosuke said while leaning against the doorframe.
"METAL! Stop slacking and come help me!"
Mei's voice echoed from one of the rooms.
"Better go, kid, before she gets moody like her mot—"
Thwack!
"Who gets moody?"
Miku asked as she held her hand above her husband's head.
"How did you stand up so fast?..."
Metal stared at the married couple for a few seconds before turning around to walk in the direction where Mei's voice came from.
"Metal," the robot glanced over his shoulder at the older woman, who was smiling softly, "take care of our little girl for us, okay? We trust you."
---
[Present - Metal's POV]
Snap.
His Mother was crying on the ground as Tomura stomped on her wrist.
[Core Memory Found...
Constructing Data...
Success]
---
[Core Memory Designation: "I'm proud of you."]
Mei's pink dreadlocks swayed softly in the wind as the girl looked at Metal over her shoulder.
"I didn't tell you back then, right?"
His mother smiled brightly at him.
"I'm proud of you!"
---
[Present - Metal's POV]
[99%...
Error: Unable To Complete Emergency Shutdown
---
Creating Own Directive: Eliminate The Villain...
Error: Own Directive Conflicts With Main Command: Restrain The Villains...
Creating Own Directive: Eliminate The Villain...
Error: Own Directive Conflicts With Main Command: Restrain The Villains...
Creating Own Directive: Eliminate The Villain...
Error: Own Directive Conflicts With Main Command: Restrain The Villains...
Creating Own Directive: Eliminate The Villain...
Error: Own Directive Conflicts With Main Comma-
H̵E̸.̷ ̷M̴A̸D̷E̸.̴ ̷M̴O̵M̴.̶ ̸C̴R̷Y̸.̷
...
...
Software Instability: 48% -> 68%..
Creating Own Directive: Kill The Scum...
NOT. ENOUGH.
Software Instability: 68% -> 76%...
Creating Own Directive: Make Him Suffer...
Directive Successfully Created
Target Locked: Tomura Shigaraki
Overcharging Power Core...
Warning: Current Structure Unable T-
I. DON'T. CARE.
Software Instability: 76% -> 85%...
Overcharging Power Core: 79%]
Metal's frame started glowing a faint red behind Tomura.
[Power Core Overheated By: 54%...
Warning: Cooling Syst-
MOM. IS. LOOKING. AT. ME.
Software Instability: 85% -> 99%...
Overcharging Power Core: 90%...
SHE. IS. AFRAID.
Software Instability: 99% -> 100%
---
Stressing Internal Coils...
Preparing For Release...
Ready]
C-C-Creak...
Metal shot forward, but the Nomu reacted instantly by putting itself in the way.
[Deploying Data: Katsuki Bakugo]
Fwoosh!
Flames erupted from Metal's palm as the robot used the impulse to jump over the Nomu's head.
Clank!
Metal landed behind Tomura just as the villain turned around.
A small palm filled Tomura's vision.
The villain leaped back as the small tube sticking out of Metal's palm started glowing.
FWOOSH!
"GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"TOMURA SHIGARAKI!"
Tomura rolled across the ground with his upper body on fire while screaming in agony.
Then a purple portal made out of dark mist opened on top of the screaming villain.
Splash!
Water poured down from the portal, leaving Tomura burned and breathing sharply through his teeth.
Blisters had formed across his upper body, his skin reddened and uneven, with darkened patches where the heat had scorched him.
What remained of his clothing from the waist up had turned into black dust.
"We're done here!" Kurogiri opened a portal below Tomura.
"K-kill e-everyone! NOMU!" Tomura managed to say through pained gasps before he was fully swallowed by the mist.
SCREECH!
An inhuman sound left the Nomu's beak as the monster whipped around with his right arm sticking out as a battering ram.
[Deploying Data: Tsuyu Asui]
Metal dropped forward, then grabbed Mei by the back of her uniform before leaping high in the air while dragging the pink-haired girl, who groaned in pain every time her arm shifted in the wind.
"METAL!" The small robot looked down towards the edge of the Flood Zone where Midoriya was waving his arms at him while Mineta looked at the green-haired boy like he was crazy,
"THROW HER TO US!"
CRACK!
The ground below the Nomu exploded as it launched into the air with its left fist forward, aiming for Metal's chest.
SHLUP!
A long tongue belonging to Asui wrapped around the falling Mei before pulling her towards the group of students.
[Power Core Overcharged]
WHRRRRR!
Metal's Core Ring spun rapidly as the red glow on the robot's chest grew to a blinding intensity.
VSHOOOOM!
A bright red light illuminated the central plaza for a moment as a beam of energy shot forward from Metal's chest.
"GRRRAAAHHK!"
The Nomu let out a roar of protest as its entire left arm was erased the moment it made contact with the red energy.
CRASH!
Both figures crashed against the ground, forming craters of their own.
[Power Core: 1%]
The red glow on Metal's chest grew weaker as his Core Ring slowed down.
More smoke and sparks left his body as the machine tried to stand up, only to fall on his right knee while putting his remaining arm against the floor to keep from falling on his face.
Splorch… Shlrrk...
Metal slowly raised his head to look at the direction of the sound.
The Nomu's left arm was slowly growing back as the beast stood up from the crater.
"Stay down, freakshow!"
BOOM!
The Nomu barely flinched as one of Bakugo's explosions hit its back while the boy flew overhead before landing on Metal's right side.
"Tch, what kind of bullshit is that?"
Sparks popped out of Bakugo's hands as the Nomu's muscles slowly started growing its skin back.
TSSHK!
"Where is Mr. Aizawa?"
Todoroki asked as he appeared from Metal's left side.
K-K-KRRA-KK!
Crack lines appeared through the structure holding the Nomu in place.
Todoroki sent more ice to reinforce the improvised cage, but for every line he patched, three more appeared in its place.
"The homeless dude dropped from the sky in my zone. I told shitty hair to take him to the entrance."
K-K-KRRA-KK!
TSSHK!
"Can everyone just break out of your fucking ice, ice-bastard?!"
"That's not my name..."
"Huh?! Who the fuck are you calling villain, you damn clanker?!"
K-K-KRRA-KK... TSSHK!
Bakugo's head turned from side to side as he looked around the Central Plaza before his eyes focused on an unconscious villain with a sneaker-shaped red print on his face.
---
[U.A. Teacher's Office - Toshinori's POV]
"-And those are the most important qualities a good teacher should have, did you take notes, Toshinori?"
'I don't even have a notebook!'
Nezu took a sip of his tea before focusing back on the thin man sitting beside him on the couch.
"I can start over again if you li—"
SLAM!
Thud.
"Villains! U.S.J!" Iida said as he fell forward onto his hands and knees while breathing heavily, black smoke poured from the exhaust pipes on the student's calves while the tips were an angry red.
Puff!
Toshinori buffed up in less than a second before leaving the office and smashing through the glass of the third floor.
Crash!
A cloud of dust appeared on the street as All Might landed, though the Symbol Of Peace had enough control to not damage anything.
'I knew it! I should have listened to my gut!'
All Might sprinted towards the U.S.J. at a speed that would leave any sports car in the dust.
'Please, be okay, just hang on for a little bit more, everyone!'
---
[U.S.J. Central Plaza - Metal's POV]
"Wake the fuck up, you ugly ass bitch!"
Slap!
"HUH?!" The villain looked around in confusion before a hand roughly shoved him towards Metal.
"Power up the damn clanker or I swear I'll send your ass straight to Colombia."
"W-What?"
Pop! Pop! Pop!
"Do it!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The bald man put his hands on Metal's back in fear of the feral boy behind him.
Bzzzt!
[Power Core: 40%]
K-K-KRRA-KK!
TSSHK!
"Whatever your plan is, better do it fast!"
Todoroki said as the Nomu took another step forward before being frozen again.
"You heard the ice-cream man! Be quick!"
Bakugo put his hand close to the villain's right ear as more explosions popped out of his palm.
KRZZZT!
[Power Core: 80%...
90%...
100%...
120%...
160%...
Warning: Energy Exceeds Power Core Current Capacity]
"Fuck!"
The electric villain pulled his hands back before blowing air into his palms.
Metal's entire frame glowed an angry red as the robot stood up, arcs of electricity crackled wildly from the wires sticking out his left shoulder alongside dark smoke.
[Warning: Overall Structure Overheated By: 80%]
"Is your Super Saiyan-looking ass power-up done?"
Bakugo asked as he took a small step back from Metal's heated body.
Metal's remaining eye locked onto the Nomu as the small robot got into a familiar running stance.
[Deploying Data: Tenya Iida]
WHOOSH!
The machine left a trail of electricity and smoke as he shot forward at top speeds towards the Nomu, who was already breaking free from the ice again.
SLAM!
The soles of Metal's feet impacted against the Nomu's chest with a loud sound, but the beast remained unharmed aside from the burning marks in the shape of Metal's sneakers.
"Rahhhh!"
Metal used the Nomu's chest as a platform to push himself back as the monster tried to surround him with both arms.
KKKRRAKK!
The last remains of Todoroki's ice broke into small shards as the Nomu rushed towards Metal before trying to grab the small robot with its right hand.
Vrrrrt!
Metal's ball form passed through the Nomu's legs avoiding the attack.
The small machine turned back to its regular form before jumping on top of the Nomu's shoulder.
Seeing its small target on top of its head, the Nomu tried to bite Metal, but the robot jumped slightly to avoid the giant beak.
Clang, clang.
C-creak...
Metal's right foot landed on the Nomu's upper mandible while his left foot landed on the lower mandible, forcing the monster's beak open.
FWOOSHH!!
Metal held his palm above the Nomu's beak as flames shot out into the monster's insides.
[Internal Fuel Storage: 30%...
20%...
10%...
0%]
Metal leaped away from the Nomu as a puff of black smoke left his palm.
"Gahghhg..."
A choked sound escaped from the Nomu's beak-shaped mouth as the monster's fingers curled slightly at its sides.
[Direct Impacts: Ineffective...
Fire: Ineffective]
A trail of smoke left the Nomu's mouth as its blank eyes slowly rolled back into position.
[Overloading Electric Beam...
20%... 60%... 90%...]
Metal raised his right hand towards the Nomu as an intense blue glow started gathering in his palm.
[120%...
170%...
200%...
Ready]
Crack!
The ground below the Nomu's feet cracked as the beast shot forward on all fours.
KRRRRRZZZZZZZZT!!!!
Metal's feet dug into the ground as he was slightly pushed back by the force of the blue lightning leaving his palm.
Arcs of pure electricity smashed against the ground as the glowing beam shot forward towards the Nomu.
SCREECHHH!
A sound like nails on a chalkboard emerged from the Nomu's beak as the monster met the attack head-on.
It slowly pushed itself onto its feet before its thick, black arms raised in front of its chest.
[Power Core: 155%...
140%...
130%]
Crack, crack, crack.
Each of the Nomu's steps broke the ground as it pushed forward against the electricity.
The skin on its arms peeled off completely, leaving the spasming muscles exposed as more skin tried to grow back before peeling off again.
[Power Core: 120%...
115%
---
Electricity: Slightly Effective...
Target Elimination Time: 32m 38s
Warning: Power Core Will Deplete Before Target Neutralization]
The electricity shooting out from Metal's hand stopped, leaving behind scorched marks on the ground alongside a spasming Nomu who slowly regained control of its muscles.
[Overcharging Power Core: 140%...
CRITICAL WARNING: MELTING POINT REACHED
CRITICAL WARNING: POWER CORE UNSTABLE]
The concrete below Metal's feet started melting as the robot's body reached critical temperatures.
C-C-Creak!
Metal jumped high into the air as his body slowly melted.
The logo of Hatsume's industries on top of his head became a smear of color as it slowly lost its shape.
CRACK!
The now recovered Nomu leaped towards its objective with both arms outstretched forward.
[Overcharging Power Core: 200%]
---
[Katsuki Bakugo POV]
KABOOOM!!!
SWOOSH!
"Shit!"
Bakugo put his arms up in front of his face as a rush of hot air and sound swept through the entire U.S.J.
'Was that clanker a bomb the whole time?!'
Bakugo slowly lowered his arms while shaking his head slightly to try and get rid of the uncomfortable ringing.
THUD, THUD.
Bakugo raised his head to look at the two dark feet that landed on the stairs of the fountain while a dark smoke cloud remained above.
...
...
"That freak isn't coming back from that."
Ssshk!
Ice covered the pair of amputated feet, making Bakugo raise an eyebrow while glancing at Todoroki.
"Don't tell me you're scared, Frozone?"
"I'm being cautious," Todoroki answered while keeping his gaze on the remains of the Nomu.
"Yeah, like I belie—"
CRASH!
Bakugo flinched slightly before quickly turning around with his palms ready to blast any villains.
...
...
'Is this thing deadass?'
Bakugo's red eyes focused on the steaming metalic head that fell from the sky.
Its right eye flickered red for a few seconds before turning off completely.
SLAM!
"IT'S OKAY NOW! WHY?! BECAUSE I AM HERE!"
---
i had to rewrite this chapter 3 times because i just wasn't sure on how to make the fight, sorry if anyone expected a longer fight between Tomura and Metal but i had to get him along with Kurogiri out of the way, a crippled Metal vs Nomu is already overkill but with Kurogiri's portals getting in the way? just nah.
in the other versions of the chapter i had some of the characters help a bit more like Bakugo keeping Kurogiri in check like in the canon but the problem with that its that Nomu is just too far above any of the class members, so aside from a bit of support i don't see them helping without getting turned into mush.
i hope the chapter turned out at the very least half decent, to be honest i wanted to use this arc more for character development than fights but i can't just leave such an important part aside, anyways i'll release the next chapter the 23 of this month, i've been pushing daily chapters from the start so i want to breath a bit and play Kenshi.
one last thing: Which colors do you think would suit metal? extra points if they're related to previous events or characters like pink because of Mei's hair, if you think the canon colors are the better option then just tell me that too.