Chapter 32 - The Sludge Villain

Izuku was lying awake in bed. It was fast approaching 3:00 AM and his mind was racing from what Bruce and All Might had told him. All For One, One For All, it was all so much to take in. He was barely a few months into his training at UA and he already made several enemies: an assassin with taste for blood, a maniac with a penchant for hands, and one of the most dangerous criminal masterminds in all of Japanese history. He knew that this was all part of being a hero, but he didn't expect to make such dangerous adversaries so quickly.

He was being dragged into a conspiracy that was not his business. More and more connections were made between him and All Might, but now these connections put his life at risk, and perhaps, those he cared about. He wanted to be brave, but the truth was the fear continued to creep into his heart. He wished he had never met All Might on that rooftop, but deep down he knew that if he hadn't, then it was possible that he would have never met Bruce, and he never would have come close to achieving his dreams.

He turned over in his bed onto his side. His mind drifted back to the video he watched of Jason Todd's murder. Would they be burying him next? Was this the ultimate destiny of those who came under the House of Batman? Perhaps this was the inevitability of every hero, as evident with the sickly and dying All Might. Eventually, no matter how fast you tried to run, death would eventually catch up to you.

He thought of Kacchan. The relationship between them was strange. Kacchan seemed to only keep Izuku around so that he would have someone to inflict his wrath and frustrations upon. Many had questioned him as to why he continued to follow Kacchan despite such abuse. In fact, he often asked himself that. Perhaps that was just his fate, to be a lightning rod for punishment. But the truth was, it was his admiration for Kacchan that kept him there. He was amazing. Confident and competent in everything he did. Everything he was Izuku wanted to be. But even with all his accomplishments, it was still not enough to save him. Even with all his training, would he be strong enough to face the challenges before him?

Izuku felt his a ping from his phone. It was a text message from Bruce. Izuku was curious. Bruce was usually up at this hour, but he rarely contacted Izuku. The message puzzled him at first, as it consisted of only four words:

Warehouse. Now. Found him.

Izuku stared at the message for a full minute before realization finally dawned on him. He sprang up out of bed and threw his clothes on, grabbed his utility belt and escaped out the window of his room.

Bruce had done it. He had found the Sludge Villain.

The elevator door opened, and Izuku stepped into the warehouse. On most nights, the warehouse was quiet. Bruce and Alfred were rarely there, spending most of their time in Gotham. Izuku came here mostly alone to train. On occasion, he would Alfred would communicate with him through the Batcomputer, just to check up on him. But tonight, the warehouse was bustling. Batman and Nightwing were sitting together at the conference table, talking and looking over files and a holographic projection of what looked to be a map. Izuku was surprised to see someone else there as well: the woman in the wheelchair, the one who was with Bruce, Dick and Alfred at the Sports Festival. She was hard at work on the Batcomputer with what looked like several cyber-sniffing and hacking programs.

"Master Midoriya, welcome," Said a familiar voice. Alfred had appeared at his side, offering him a cup of tea. At his words, the rest of the team looked up from their work towards Izuku. Nightwing sprang from his chair immediately and went to greet Izuku, wringing his hand.

"Good to see you again, kid," he said. "Welcome to the party. Hey, Barb!" He called over to the woman in the wheelchair. "Come meet the new kid."

"Nice to meet you, Izuku," She said, shaking his hand. "My name's Barbra Gordon."

"It's nice to meet you," said Izuku. "You're a Pro Hero too?"

"She's Batgirl, kid," Said Nightwing. Izuku's eyes widened in surprise. Batgirl had disappeared from the hero community several years ago. Now, it seemed to make a bit more sense as to why, but he didn't dare ask why she was now wheelchair-bound.

"Well, I used to be," Said Barbra. "These days I try to keep these guys out of trouble, serving as their eyes and ears. You can call me 'Oracle.'"

"I don't know how we got along without her, really," Said Nightwing. "She's more use now than she ever was as Batgirl."

"You're just jealous because you were always in my shadow," said Barbra, smacking Nightwing lightly on the shoulder, who chuckled.

Izuku was enjoying their discourse, but his smile quickly faded when his eyes fell on the projection on the conference table. The map had changed to a different image, one with a large, greenish-brown mass of sludge, with large yellow eyes and jagged rounded teeth protruding into a grotesque smile. Izuku clenched his teeth. It was a face he hadn't seen in over a year, and it still chilled him to his core.

"Where is he?" Said Izuku.

"An abandoned Toei subway station in Tokyo," Said Batman. "He has been scurrying in and out of sewer systems for months, which is why he has been so hard to track."

"How did you find him?" Asked Izuku.

"The money he took from the druglord," Said Nightwing. "The bills were unmarked, but a significant amount was laced with traces of a drug compound that matched with his unique blend."

"We were able to isolate the compound and triangulate his location based on local shops where the money was used," said Batman. "When I last faced him, he escaped into an open sewer grate. By doing a deep scan of the sewer systems, we found they connected with the old subway station. We then tested the water near the system for his genetic signature and cross-referenced it with the local criminal database." Batman pulled up the database as he spoke, revealing a positive match. "No mistake: he's there."

"How has he been able to spend the money if there's a manhunt after him?" Said Izuku.

Oracle wheeled towards the projection of the conference table. "This may be a little hard to see," She said, pulling up another screen on the projection. It was several missing person reports, some of them kids no older than Izuku. "It was another way we were able to find him. Every one of these people disappeared in Tokyo, around secluded spots. We even were able to get a visual glimpse of one of them, due to a security camera."

She pulled up the security footage, showing a man in his early twenties being enveloped by the sludge monster. Once he stopped struggling, the monster opened the man's mouth and entered into his body. After a moment or so, the villain had simply walked away with his new disguise.

Izuku was silent, feeling his stomach drop at the sight. His mind flashed with images of the last time he saw the Sludge Villain. This was exactly what the villain had in mind when he had attacked Izuku. His encounter couldn't have lasted more than ten seconds, but it felt like the longest in his life. No matter how hard he struggled, the fingers tore and slipped through the sludge uselessly. He had never been so scared as he felt his lungs burn from lack of oxygen, everything around him going black.

"You okay, kid?" Said Nightwing, snapping Izuku back to reality. "You don't have to do this. Bruce and I can handle him."

"No," said Izuku. "I'm ready. This monster's been free long enough, and has cost too many lives as it is. He needs to be stopped."

Batman nodded approvingly, pressing a button on the console next to him. The floor opened adjacent to them, and a large cylinder container rose from the opening. Once it finished, the side of the cylinder opened to reveal Izuku's hero costume.

"Fresh upgrades," Said Batman. "Get suited up. We're leaving."

Izuku's stomach churned. He, Batman and Nightwing were travelling travelling through the sewer system in Tokyo. They had taken the Batwing to their location, and had been travelling through the sewers for the last twenty minutes, following the tracker Batman was using. In the back of Izuku's mind, he realized that this was the first time that he had been on a real mission with Batman. He would have normally been excited, but that was the last thing on his mind. When the USJ was attacked and he fought with the Hero Killer he didn't have time to be scared. He just had time to act. But there was plenty of time to feel fear in this situation, as he prepared to run headlong into battle with a creature that almost killed him a year ago.

"How you holding up, kid?" Said Nightwing.

"Fine," Izuku lied.

"We're with you, Izuku," said Oracle over the comm system.

"Lighten up, Oracle. This kid took down one of Ra's flunkies nearly single-handedly," Said Nightwing. "This chump has no chance."

"Lighten up?" Said Oracle. "How about showing a little decorum over the situation, Nightwing."

"Who, me? I practically invented decorum," said Nightwing. "I'm just saying the kid's a natural."

"Everyone be quiet," Said Batman. "The station is just ahead."

They travelled in silence for a few minutes before reaching an old brick wall, which looked to have been knocked down some time ago. Beyond it, Izuku was amazed to see a vast underground station. It was in a state of extreme disrepair, with an old subway car sitting solely on the track. Everything looked to have been abandoned decades ago, but despite this, there were several new things strewn about: old bottles and alcohol cans strewn about carelessly, as well as several empty packages and cans of food. There was a large empty vat that looked to hold chemicals near the old subway car, which Izuku assumed where the villain slept. Stacks and stacks of the stolen money were piled against the walls and in several opened crates filled with various different drugs and narcotics.

But what Izuku saw next disgusted him the most.

Slumped carelessly in a corner of the subway were the bodies of the missing persons, cast aside like pieces of a macabre wardrobe. Izuku did a headcount, and one of them was missing. "He's not here," Said Izuku. "And one of the bodies is missing."

"Probably out shopping," Said Nighwing facetiously.

"He could be back any minute," Said Batman. "Remember the plan. Get into position and attack on my signal." He took his grapple gun from his belt and launched it upward, getting a vantage point in the rafters above. Izuku and Nightwing followed suit. The fact that the villain was out meant they had a unique opportunity to get the drop on him. This may be their only chance to stop him, and Izuku dared not waste it.

Hours passed, and Izuku began to wonder if the villain would return. Izuku heard his comm system chime in. "He's back," he heard Oracle say gravely.

The body of the last missing person lumbered into the station, carrying a small box. It moved like a grotesque puppet on a string. He looked around for a minute, and when he was satisfied he was alone, the mouth of the missing person opened and spewed forth a greenish-brown sludge. Izuku stifled a gag, disgusted by the sight. After a minute, the body crumpled into a heap, and the sludge took shape into a form Izuku recognized all too well.

The creature cackled as he opened the small box he was carrying, revealing to be a cache of jewels and gems. 'Out shopping' was right, Izuku thought. His anger boiled at the sight of the creature, how callously he killed these people and subjected their memory to the humiliation of wearing them as meatsuits. He felt his hatred grow more and more for this creature. He shook his head. He had to steel himself. He couldn't let his emotions overtake him. He looked over at Batman and Nightwing, who were taking items out of their utility belts: ice capsules. Izuku did the same. Their plan was to encase him in ice as quickly as possible to prevent him from escaping. He was slippery and cunning, and they knew they wouldn't get another chance like this.

"NOW!" Shouted Batman. They all jumped from the rafters, throwing the ice capsules towards their quarry. The capsules struck their target and immediately exploded into ice, creeping quickly to encapsulate the monster.

"WHAT THE HELL?" Shouted the sludge monster, breaking off from the piece of himself already encased in ice. He slithered around the station, looking for an escape, but Batman was way ahead of him, sealing the only exit with another ice capsule.

"There's nowhere to run," said Batman.

"You Heros just made the biggest mistake of your life!" Screamed the Sludge Villain, lunging for Batman. He swiftly dodged the attack, simultaneously throwing another ice capsule at the creature. The Sludge Villains Shrieked and separated itself from the ice. This time, Nightwing advanced on him, followed closely by Izuku. They threw their capsules at the villain, but this time he was prepared, slithering out of the way. It then formed an appendage and thrust it towards Izuku and Nightwing, both bounding over it before it struck them. Nightwing stuck his electrified tonfa into the villain, which shrieked as the electric charge permeated throughout its body. The villain recovered from the shock and lunged towards Nightwing, this time managing to entrap him in its sludge.

"Nightwing!" Shouted Izuku in horror.

But Nightwing wasn't finished yet. The creature shrieked again as more electricity shot throughout his body, releasing his captive. Nightwing grappled away to safety, throwing another ice capsule at the villain. The ice began to form around it, and once again it separated itself from the ice and redoubled its efforts on Nightwing and Batman. Izuku's mind was calculating as it fought against his mentors. The creature was able to separate itself and seemed to be able to make more of the sludge. If they weren't careful, they would exhaust their ice capsules before they could capture it. Electricity seemed to be a weakness it had, as evident to Nightwing's attacks. Izuku could use that to his advantage, but he had to act quickly while the villain was otherwise distracted.

"I'll crush you both!!" Shouted the sludge villain to Nightwing and Batman. He was increasing in size, slamming into the walls of the station. The already precarious station began to crumble under the attacks. Any more strain and they would be buried alive. Nightwing and Batman drew more ice capsules, but were caught off guard as the creature shrieked in immense pain. Immense currents of electricity were passing through the creature, causing his size and density to decrease rapidly.

"What is happening to me?!" The Villain screamed in fear. Izuku stood behind him. He was pressing down on a small device. Batman and Nightwing realized that he was the one sending the electric currents through the creature.

"I modified the electric current in this device," Said Izuku to the villain. "Its causing you to lose your viscosity. In a few minutes, you will be reduced to nothing but a puddle on the ground." He approached the villain, who continued to yell in pain, and removed his cowl. "Do you recognize me?"

The villain didn't answer right away. "You!" He said finally. "You're the brat who got me caught by All Might." His bulbous eyes widened, as if in sudden realization. "You're the one who took down the Hero Killer." He added fearfully.

"You murdered my friend," Said Izuku. "Katsuki Bakugou. You murdered him in cold blood to save your own skin."

"So what?!" Said the villain desperately. "Is this about revenge? You don't have to do this! I have money!" The monster shrieked again as Izuku increased the voltage. Nightwing began to step forward, but Batman stopped him. "Please!" The villain continued pleadingly. "I'll do whatever you want, I'll go wherever you want! You'll never see me again! I'll give you anything!" Izuku took a capsule from his utility belt and dropped it into the screaming mess before him. In an instant, ice began to form again around the villain, his screams finally nullified as he was encased in his frozen prison.

"I want justice," said Izuku.

Izuku, Batman and Nightwing stood on the rooftop of a building, overlooking a crowd of police officers hauling the frozen sludge villain into custody. They had put in an anonymous tip, and had been there within minutes of the end of the battle, but Izuku and his mentors had already left the scene.

"I'm proud of you, kid," said Nightwing, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You may well be suited for this business after all."

"How do you feel?" Asked Batman.

In truth, Izuku wasn't sure. As the police hauled away the object of his hatred for the past year, he felt a sense of completion that he never had experienced before. It wasn't a satisfied feeling, or a happy feeling. Rather, it was a feeling of acknowledgement. Despite everything that he had been through the past year, the biggest obstacle that he was facing was not an external one. Rather, it was within himself. There was always that sense of doubt, that nagging feeling that he was only playing hero, a dangerous game of pretend. There was always that feeling that because of the circumstances of his birth, he would never truly be a hero. But today, that feeling was taken away, along with the villain who had killed his friend.

He finally believed it. He could be a hero.

"I feel great," Said Izuku.

"You sure you don't want to go down there?" Said Nightwing. "I'm sure they'll want to interview the hero who took him down."

"No," said Izuku, turning to walk away. "I've gotten enough fame and praise lately. Let's get out of here."

"It's like looking at a smaller version of you," said Nightwing to Batman as Izuku walked away. He couldn't be sure, but Nightwing thought he saw a small smile cross Batman's face.