Chapter 79 - The Rescue

—Cole POV, Next Morning—

Getting up before dawn, I helped tear down the Refugee Camp and evacuated the families into the Dining Room of the Conference Site. Wanting them to be safely out of harm's way, I didn't want a stray magic spell or arrow striking one of them down. Once all of them were comfortably settled in, I returned to my campsite to find the Four Heroes taking down their camps as well.

"...early mornings suck ass.", Motoyusa grumbled still half asleep, "Are you sure they are going to attack at dawn? Why can't enemies attack in the afternoon or dusk? It would be a lot more convenient for the Good Guys!"

"You answered your own question.", I retorted stowing my gear in storage, "Stop complaining, and get some food in your belly. If you wait too long you may puke on the battlefield."

Stowing their camping equipment in magic bags, the parties hurriedly got their food cooking to avoid that possibility. Opening a portal to UA, I poked my head out to confirm the students and staff were there. Greeting me with sleepy faces, the students stumbled through the portal while the staff walked through normally. Noticing that they had cups of coffee with them, I asked why the students didn't have any.

"They didn't listen.", Eraserhead said sipping his coffee, "Kids these days think that energy drinks are the way to go. They have already chugged two cans of Energy Drinks and still can't function right."

"Shut up old man, it's too early for your crap.", Bakugo spat.

"Jeez, someone woke up on the wrong side of pissed off this morning.", I snickered, "Best make sure you don't blow your gasket this morning, lives are at stake you know."

"I know damn it!", he huffed as he and the other students took a seat on the ground.

Offering them some snacks, the students graciously accepted the jerky and cheese I offered them. Using magic to pinpoint the location of the cult, my estimation was that they were more or less thirty minutes out. Giving the students a few minutes to mentally prepare themselves, I had them relocate to the tunnels beneath our feet so they could coordinate themselves.

"Wait for my signal before moving towards the entrances. I will let you know once you are clear.", I advised as they headed inside, "Remember all of the training we have done up till now, you will need all of it to bring those kids to safety."

"Roger that!", Izuku and Ida replied.

Purposefully leaving everyone in the dark, I wanted them to treat this like it was real life or death. Even though the children were no longer in danger, the students needed to believe that for this training to be successful. I had been teaching them for a while now, and this was the time to show themselves they had what it took to be Pro Heroes. Once they had that confidence, I knew they'd start going places.

"You will ensure that the students are unharmed, right?", Nezu asked drinking his tea, "I don't want to see any of our bright students dying here today. Not only that, the parents will crucify us if anything serious happens to them as well. We were in some hot water with the All For One incident, this will be the end of the school if we lose one of them."

"As long as the staff does their due diligence, there won't be enough people to spare to fight the students.", I remarked with a grin, "If any of them are placed in a life or death situation, I give you my word that I will have them swap places with you."

"I am glad to hear that you thought ahead for…", Nezu started to say before his mind processed what I said, "Wait a moment, don't do that! I am just a defenseless mouse!"

"I am kidding.", I replied as a few of the staff started snickering, "If you died, no one would be around to sign my paychecks at UA anymore."

Giving me a shocked expression, I started laughing and told him that was a joke too. Having him head onto the ramparts to watch the fighting, the Four Hero parties and Pros took up positions in the meadow. Patiently waiting for the cultists to arrive, we didn't have to wait long as the sounds of marching footsteps approached the meadow.

Watching several hundred armed soldiers lead the group into the meadow, I sent a signal to the students below us to begin making their way to the tunnel exits in the forest. Spotting the Pope in the center of his flock, he held the golden specter in his hands tightly. Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, it was clear he was barely awake at this point and wasn't fully aware of his surroundings.

"Bring out those abominations!", the Archbishop shouted, "We are here to cleanse their kind from our world! Our God has ordained that on this day, we will begin reclaiming our lands from the Demihumans!"

Cheering him on, the flock of fanatics cultists that followed them here truly believed in what he was saying. It was uncomfortable to think that people could be so easily swayed into committing such despicable acts. Once this was over, I'd have the civilians pay for inciting such violence on the nonhumans.

"Go fuck yourself, and the horse you rode in on.", I harassed the Archbishop, "Your father was a weasel and your mother smelt of skunk weed. All of you cunts are disgraces, you blame all your problems on a group of people that are suffering just like you. The only ones dying here today are you and your idiotic cult!"

Keeping a close eye on where the students were in the tunnels, I needed to stall for time till they were near the entrances. Shouting insults back at one another for a few minutes, the Archbishop finally snapped after I said he was uglier than a Troll. Ordering their forces to advance on the building, our Forward Forces leaped into action and met them head-on.

—3rd Person POV—

Hearing the fighting begin overhead, the students picked up the pace and headed for the tunnel exits. Using Miro's Quirk to their advantage, Izuku and Bakugo help toss him up toward the ceiling so he could faze through. Poking his head out briefly, he confirmed each exit for the groups was clear before they dared to step out into the forest. Quickly exiting the tunnels, the students took up positions near the rear of the enemy forces and began visually looking for the children. Finding several wagons at the back of the enemy group, a few of the students believed one had to hold the children.

"It's got to be one of those.", Ochaco said.

"I don't think so, there are too few guards around them. If it was me, I would want the hostages to be a bit better guarded.", Shoto remarked, "Those must be Supply Wagons or something."

"Well there is only one way to find out!", Bakugo stated as he cautiously approached the closest wagon.

Following his lead, the students kept their heads down and quietly approached the wagon. Hearing the groans of people inside, Miro poked his head in for a moment to check it out. Finding several injured soldiers resting in hammocks, he quickly confirmed that none of the children were present. Going wagon to wagon after that, they quickly narrowed down the search area to directly behind the group of civilian's group.

Using the forest for cover, Tsuyu spotted the cart full of children first. Having Itsuka confirm what she was seeing, the students quickly discussed how to get them to safety. Going back and forth with plans, Izuku knew that they couldn't stay here and argue over a plan. Getting everyone's attention, he began giving them his plan.

"There are eight guards watching them and we don't know if they can use magic.", Izuku stated, "We need to isolate them from the rest of the group before rushing them. Shoto, can you create an ice wall between the cart and the main group?"

"Yes, that won't be a problem.", Shoto acknowledged.

"Once they are isolated, we may have only a minute or so before they get through the wall. While Kachan blows the door or lock open, Hanta and Ibara will restrain the guards with their Quirks. In the event they can use magic or are too strong to be restrained, Jurota and Rikido can buy us time to grab the children and retreat.", Izuku suggested looking at his classmates for input.

Seeing no issue with his cautious plan, everyone agreed to follow along with it. Giving Shoto a few moments to get into position, he gave them a signal once he was ready. Watching the giant wall of ice appear behind the guards, the students ran forward toward the cart. Realizing that they had been cut off from their allies, the guards immediately closed ranks and started chanting spells.

Hulking out, both Jurota and Rikido quickly launched themselves ahead of the group to stop their attacks. Realizing that they weren't going to close the gap in time, Ida used his Engine Burst ability to launch himself into the guards who weren't prepared for his sudden burst of speed. Stopping their chanting to raise their shields, Ida slammed into the group at high speed causing them to be knocked backward and break their formation.

Having bought them enough time to get in range, the two hulked-out students knocked the guards straight into the wall of ice. Quickly restraining them with their Quirks, Hanta and Ibara told the others to hurry as people were already attacking the ice wall. Running up to the locked door, Bakugo tried to blast the door of the cart but it didn't budge an inch.

"Son of…the cart's enchanted!", Bakugo shouted trying his quirk on the lock next, "I can't get it open! We need another plan!"

"Let me try.", Momo said generating a lockpicking kit, "Jiro, can you help me here?"

"Sure thing!", Jiro replied using her Quirk to help speed up the process.

Hurriedly trying to pick the lock, the ice wall began to buckle under the onslaught of magic spells. Trying to reinforce his ice wall, Shoto was fighting a losing battle as there were too many damaged areas to repair.

Realizing that the students were still stuck at the Slave Cart, Cole relayed this information along to the Forward Team and told them to apply more pressure on the Cult group.

"The students are having problems getting the cart open, buy them some more time.", Cole ordered, "Shoto can't keep the wall up much longer."

"On it!", Motoyusa said as he spun his spear and threw it into the air, "Spear Rain!"

Using one of the skills that Cole taught him, Motoyusa used magic to create several dozen magical spears using his own as the anchor point. Raising their shields to block the incoming attack, the knights were caught completely off guard when the magical copies violently exploded on impact causing their shields and armor to be torn apart.

Using their momentary lapse of concentration to his advantage, Itsuki started picking off the now defenseless knights. Telling Ren to advance, as he and the mages had him covered, Ren and two of his followers rushed headlong at the enemy. Bombarding the front lines with magic Ren and company quickly got behind enemy lines and began quickly cutting troops down.

"While I don't condone killing people, I am not going to lecture you about it.", All Might said a bit uncomfortable watching people die, "Detroit Smash!"

Blasting people away, he hoped that he could incapacitate the soldiers and capture them relatively unharmed. While the Forward Group applied additional pressure on the cultist, the student's luck was improving.

"Got it!", Momo proclaimed as the lock quickly came undone.

Opening the cage door, the students quickly ran in and started carrying the children out. Quickly fleeing the area as the wall finally came tumbling down, the Pope saw that his power sources were being stolen from him.

"Since I can't have their lives, neither can you!", he roared, "For helping those abominations of nature, you will die with them!"

Using their own magic to help fuel it, his flock of believers quickly powered the relic up to full allowing him to rain destruction down on the students. Begin to start chanting his spell, the Forward Group realized they only had a few moments to react.

"Stop him before he casts his spell!", one of Motoyusa's party members commanded, "He's going to vaporize them!"

"Go Motoyusa!", Noafumi shouted motioning at him, "Air Shield!"

Creating a foothold for Motoyusa, the Spear Hero quickly jumped on just as Naofumi hit the shield with a Shield Bash. Launching the Spear Hero high into the sky, he took aim straight at the Pope.

"Protect our leader!", the Archbishop shouted as their mages tried to create a series of barriers to protect the Pope.

"No you don't, Lightning Shot!", Motoyusa yelled as he charged his spear with lightning and launched it at the Pope with every ounce of strength he had.

Clashing with the barrier, the spear easily broke through the first several layers but quickly lost momentum around the eighth layer. Realizing that he hadn't given it enough power to break through, Motoyusa watched in horror as the Pope finished his chanting.

"Taste God's Judgment and Fury, Divine Smite!", the Pope laughed as he activated the spell.