Part 3
Ah, by the way, while we're talking now, she's creating simple traps here and there. She's moving her hands properly while talking.
"But it's not that easy to win just by defending, right? Both have Quirks that allow three-dimensional movement... They'll probably identify and break through the traps. Setting up complex traps in this short time is impossible... Well, unless Yaoyorozu can 'Create' them"
"It's not that I can't make them, but my Quirk consumes more time and lipids the more complex and larger the created objects are... So yes, it would be difficult"
...Hmm?
"In that case, could you quickly create large quantities of simple structures? For example..."
Along with the strategy that just occurred to me, I proposed what I wanted her to create.
"...Yes, in that case, since I'm familiar with the structure too, even with some modifications, I could probably make a reasonable amount within the remaining preparation time. But... since they would be quite large in size, the energy required as material would be very..."
"I see... Alright, then there's no problem. I have an idea"
"...? An idea... you say?"
Five minutes after Fumiko and Yaoyorozu entered, the hero team of Asui and Tokoyami began moving.
Immediately after starting, Asui stuck to the wall attempting to infiltrate from outside while Tokoyami advanced from inside.
However, Asui could tell even from outside that every usable window had traps installed, making it difficult to find an infiltration route.
While keeping an eye on the time, she contacted Tokoyami inside.
"Yaoyorozu-chan is really thorough... She's properly prepared against infiltration from outside. We can't just enter recklessly... Tokoyami-chan, what's the situation inside?"
"Inside, there are Capture Tape traps set up everywhere... in large quantities."
"Large quantities... I see, she replicated them with her Quirk."
"That appears to be the case. In such a short time... I don't think they're complex mechanisms, but... Ugh!"
"? Tokoyami-chan, what's..."
Boom!
"!? Tokoyami-chan, what happened? What's the situation?"
"Ugh, enemy team... encountered Fumiko! Sorry, I don't have any breathing room!"
"Understood... I'll hurry too, be careful!"
Around the time Asui started moving hurriedly (though it was hard to tell from her expression), the battle between Fumiko and Tokoyami had already begun inside.
Against Fumiko who engaged in simple close combat by approaching and punching, Tokoyami fought back by deploying his Quirk 'Dark Shadow'. While his Quirk was excellent in both speed and attack power, in close combat, its combat performance was slightly inferior to Fumiko's.
"Energy Charge, entire body 300%...!"
Spreading energy evenly throughout her entire body, she charged forward with enough force to potentially shatter the floor. With a single hook punch delivered head-on, she not only deflected Dark Shadow's attack but also sent its body reeling.
'Oww! What ridiculous Power does this woman have!'
"Ugh... facing her head-on is indeed disadvantageous!"
"Sorry, but I don't intend to lose in a fight! That's precisely why I'd be in trouble if you used indirect methods, so I'll finish this quickly!"
"That's logical... but to reveal your strategy and weaknesses yourself... that's careless."
"Don't worry, it's fine... because I don't plan on letting you escape anymore!"
From there began Fumiko's furious rush. Fists and kicks assaulted Tokoyami and Dark Shadow with unbelievable pressure and wind force.
Moreover, she was fast as well as powerful. Even when trying to create distance, she immediately closed in, instead moving freely to try and get to their sides or backs.
She moved dynamically, using not just her feet but sometimes landing cat-like with her hands, running on walls, kicking off ceilings, using her entire body like a spring to bounce around.
Despite such reckless movements, there was no sign of her breathing becoming ragged.
(Bottomless stamina... I'd heard about it, but I didn't realize how troublesome it would be to face someone who can move at full power continuously.)
While fighting defensively, with Dark Shadow occasionally protecting Tokoyami, they couldn't block everything. Little by little, damage accumulated and their movements slowed.
(...Dark Shadow becomes stronger in darkness... in this dimly lit building, Dark Shadow's combat ability should indeed be enhanced. And yet we're completely on the defensive! Her Power and speed are on another level... and that gakuran...!)
At that moment, Tokoyami noticed something pink like a whip flexing behind Fumiko and gasped.
Whether she noticed the change in Tokoyami's expression or heard some sound separately was unclear... but Fumiko, who had been about to begin a charging motion, quickly twisted her body and dodged sideways.
Asui's frog-like tongue swept through the space where her body had been just a moment before.
"Kero, sorry I'm late, Tokoyami-chan."
"...Thank you, you saved me."
"Tch... so you've joined up."
Fumiko clicked her tongue, apparently having intended to decide the match before this situation arose.
However, she showed not a hint of fear. Facing two opponents, while maintaining distance, she stood blocking their way with no intention of retreating. Since she had her back to the stairs, she probably didn't intend to let them pass beyond this point.
"...We're running out of time. If we retreat and search for a detour, we'll time out... We cannot avoid combat. Be careful Asui, his close combat ability is extraordinary, both Power and speed, reaction time... and stamina too."
"I know. But with two of us, we should manage... Both me and Dark Shadow-chan have long reach, so if we keep our distance and attack carefully, we should be able to handle it."
"Yes... but still, be careful. Especially that gakuran is troublesome."
"? Gakuran? Why, is there something hidden in it?"
"Other than having high defensive capability, it's just a regular gakuran. But... because it flutters dramatically like a cape matching Fumiko's movements, it hides limb movements making initial motions hard to read. Perhaps because it's thick, it also conceals subtle arm and leg movements, muscle tension... we tend to react too late."