The night started all so normal for Midoriya, just a long but simple patrol. It was nice to hang out with Uraraka again, catching up on what’s been going on. He didn’t let Alice be a third wheel either; he made sure to keep her in the conversation.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN4hFO8xtR
For a moment, he wanted to call Ida and see if they could meet up. That way he can make sure he’s alright and maybe cheer him up with familiar and new faces.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa1ULzqls4
But that all changed when there were reports of a villain attack nearby. No problem, the three of them could handle it. However, that wasn’t the only thing happening.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3AjURdsSL
Izuku: “Wha-”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9y5Eubqzi
The sky was on fire, the city was under attack, and screams of terror filled the air.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jBINn2CPW
Uraraka: “Look!”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlh4tjwH6m
In the sky, a Nomu, similar but different to the one from the villain attack. It couldn’t be, but there it was. Worse, it was in the opposite direction of the villain. Before Izuku’s mind was torn apart by indecision, Uraraka made the call.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSr2GOTlmV
Uraraka: “You handle the villain, Midoriya! You’re the strongest here, and we don’t know if anyone else knows about it. There will be other heroes fighting the Nomu; we’ll be fine.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGac8OLdkLK
Izuku: “But-”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7sfqwwcNZ
Uraraka: “Trust me, I’ve gotten much stronger. And I have Emory here with me.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ135aKeP78z
Alice: “R-Right! But don’t worry, we’ll focus on saving people.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFjIZk981R
Izuku: “Are you sure?”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt939waBoje
Uraraka: “Yeah, so get going!”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfrhRmmrol
Reluctantly, he listened to her and blasted off in the other direction. He swore to get this over quick and come back. But things kept getting in his way.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTBeiYx9av
Not that he minded; it was simply helping people evacuate, calm down, or escape some rubble. But deep down, he was… angry. Something he refused to fully acknowledge, but it was there. For every second he uses on people he doesn’t know, the more danger Uraraka and Emory will be in.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08Idp4en4Y
But that’s not how a hero is supposed to think. So he doesn’t think it.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2yWS4lbcc
However, his fears are made real when he finally makes it to the battlefield.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1DennnEfM
Hero Killer was seemingly knocked out.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYtanknHLl
Some muscular man was burnt to a crisp.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HEhli8b7p
But the most shocking, the most soul-crushing, was the villain standing over Ida. A friend missing a leg…
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyE7JoDXz4k
A familiar rage erupts from within, but he holds it down in fear of becoming what he’s about to face. Using all the control he can, he uses his quirk to stop the villain’s arm from piercing Ida’s chest.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSNxRPewVZ
Izuku: “GET AWAY FROM HIM!!!”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sLA43HRxE
The angel of green glares at the angel of death. An explosion of emerald meets a flash of azure. At last, they meet.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPHf4uLRcI
Azrael: “Midoriya…”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRREaYMfwlf
Using another hand, Izuku flings Azrael away from Ida. He doesn’t notice Azrael letting it happen and landing safely away. Thinking the threat is buried in a building, the boy teleports to Ida and inspects him.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2457ZF0x5
Izuku: “Ida… ”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tCHbW3U7W
Ida: “Midoriya… I’m sorry… this is… all my fault… ”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7UUoKFul2
Izuku: “No! It’s-”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0G1qEe18X
Azrael: “He’s right. None of this would have happened if-”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBtzpBKvUa
The man quickly pulled his head back to dodge a psi-sword swipe.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfugqzghE5
Azrael: “Curious, All Might’s successor is so quick to kill? How… villainous.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOZJ9F3fYq
Izuku’s eyes widen at what he instinctively tried to do. But he couldn’t dwell on it long, for he had to block a powerful kick with the sword. He’s sent rolling back but swiftly counters by destroying concrete and flinging it at the true villain.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhaIMo2V9k
The angel simply raises his hand to create a golden air shield that blocks the storm.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBPloAJgBx
Righting himself, Izuku’s eyes glow and the ground quakes. Several spikes of earth explode out of the ground and hammer into Azrael’s location.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOW8aJr0pp0
But nothing pierces the shield; in fact, it only glows brighter. A second later, an air cannon erupts from the shield. But Izuku saw this coming and teleported behind Azrael. Making sure to hold back enough to not bisect him, the boy unleashed another swipe.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7Q4pFBTYu
Azrael did a backflip to dodge and then countered with a kick to the back of the head.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWjWBBUobD
So what?
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO1NbSG9GD
A psychic shield blocked the attack, and a glare later, the man’s foot was caught. Using that chance, Izuku threw Azrael into a nearby building. But he didn’t stop at one. He dragged him through multiple buildings, making sure to slam into the ground a few times just for-
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9qYIOA24t
Izuku: “Heh… hehe… haha…”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpW3bNjZcqf
Catching himself, the boy covered his mouth.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mbl49YLzW
Izuku: ‘No! I can’t, not right-’
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41nG1IRqbo
A flash of light and the boy’s body was lit up like a Christmas tree. His body is burned and healed in the span of a second. The downpour of rain only makes it worse. Fighting against the pain, Izuku focused on the lightning striking him.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRge3WNjIQC
His forehead bulges as he takes hold of the natural element, condensing it into his hands. Unable to contain the power long, he unleashed it at where Azrael is. The remains of the building were blown into pieces by the sheer force of the blast.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4w6qaoeVw
Green flame envelops Izuku’s body, healing him from the burns. But that took a lot out of him, enough to force him on one knee.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKk9X1S3kx
Azrael: “Yes, laugh, Midoriya. For you were blessed with a powerful quirk.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2tlK3bJIR
Despite everything, Azrael was hardly damaged. He exited the flaming building and dusted off his suit. As he walks forward, fog slowly covers the area.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewOZW46q2c
Izuku: “You know nothing about me!”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWNgxdknSQ
Azrael: “Apotheosis did his research; I know more than enough. I know that All Might chose you and that you were quirkless until fate seemingly handed you one. I know you, like many of us, admired All Might, am I right?”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjmzNztxOD
Izuku doesn’t answer; instead he focuses on regaining his strength and making a new strategy. The first step of which is sending his location to all his contacts quickly and secretly with his phone. Just in case… he fails… they can save Ida.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRmsQNnuSy
Azrael: “You probably asked him if you could be a hero, didn’t you?”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8J1u4jn5G
Focus broken, Izuku looks up at the approaching angel.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknCXEGA74v
Azrael: “Let me guess, he rejected you in your time of need. When you desperately needed comfort and acknowledgment. Only when you got a quirk did you finally find worth in his eyes.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmF57oYMod
The implication is clear.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j2sCSnGcH
Izuku: “Y-You’re wrong! All Might would have chosen me regardless! I ran to save Kacchan with no quirk!”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6v3jmbTE0
Azrael: “And yet you awakened your quirk because of it. Curious.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHFgQm5LDy
Izuku: “What are you-”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlL3ddjfABv
Azrael: “Do you think they would have praised and accepted you for being so reckless if you didn’t have a quirk? You think yourself special, some pure-of-heart hero? Is that what you tell yourself? But does a hero enjoy inflicting pain or give in to anger so readily? What hero forgets to save the hostage?”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMaEfYBpux
Azrael points a finger at the still-down Ida and fires a purple beam. Izuku teleports in front of it and blocks with a shield. But the beam was powerful enough to pierce the hastily made defense and punched a hole clean through his shoulder.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK1Y0AqMPx
Izuku: “GAAAH!”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf708MbUmM
Ida: “Midoriya!”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVeAcI1bAT
Despite the pain, Izuku can feel the flames healing the wound slowly.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLi6ig1RZb
Azrael: “You sicken me. You are no hero. None of you are. But perhaps… that’s why he chose you instead. You fit in with them better.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5eEfmnX3z
Izuku: “I… don’t care what you say. All I want to do… is save Ida!!”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOYvdUzGEv
For an instant, his hair stands up as green horns. The sight and words makes Azreal smile, and the grin widens when Izuku bursts forward with sword raised.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzccYK7DRPC
Azreal tries to dodge, but his body is drawn to the coming blade. Exerting more strength, he escapes the psychic hold and grabs the blade.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB18PqDAaDR
The two of them use their free hand to punch each other’s faces. The force of the blow was enough to blow away the surrounding rain and fog. With his fist still on Azrael’s face, Izuku focused on a mental command.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLTWSxfDvt
Izuku: “Sleep!”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYztyAe0HG
Azreal’s body limps for a second due to the mental command, but he doesn’t fall. Did he resist it or force his body to wake up through sheer will? Regardless, the opening allowed Izuku to quickly open and close his fist. The result is the fog and water condensing around Azrael’s head.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qUKKiMFV1
Letting the blade go and stumbling back, Izuku saw his chance. Wrapping the tie around his fists, the boy began battering Azrael’s body with realm-shaking blows.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuMGp4Xj6A
Each attack rattles Azrael and shakes loose Izuku’s control. His fist steadily glows green as the assault speeds up.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNQcHafXcz
A hero is one who saves people and does the right thing.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAv1XEgGC6
If so, what is the best way to make sure a villain never hurts anyone again? How do you save the most people?
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBt5xtizeq
Izuku: “Haaa!”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIAbJS0ocS
Instinctively, Izuku focuses on the atoms within the man’s stomach and-
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡov2E0hmCZM
Boom!
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8fzCgzeyT
Punches him, utterly destroying that part of his body, creating a large hole.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4jKekhpLV
Izuku: “… What?”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9ejYRbnyr
Is this the right thing to do?
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RCVopKUV2
Before the boy can fully grasp the situation, he hears laughter. That’s when he notices the hole closing.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJAk2INkOD
Azrael: “I knew it.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJdscAwK1a
The man grabs Izuku’s neck and lifts him up. Focus long broken and overtaxed, the water and fog fall from Azrael’s face.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLM8w719b7
Azrael: “You are no different than me! The only difference? I don’t lie to myself.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BewbB8W68
Holding a hand to Izuku’s stomach, he creates an air shield, and a second later, he unleashes an air cannon. Izuku is blasted back, crashing into one of the buildings. Green flames emerge to heal the heavily damaged stomach area, but not fast enough.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM372e3Y1Ur
Azrael jumps down onto Izuku, putting his foot on his stomach, grinding it into his wound.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxiVVhfTzL
Izuku: “GAAAH!!”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8Ju1E87qt
The boy glares and grunts, commanding the wind to knock Azrael off of him. But the angel doesn’t budge, using his own strength to push back and dig his boots further into the bleeding wound.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKkioUekGJ
Azrael: “Save Ida, you said? Lair.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBl1Y8YyMCz
Izuku: “Guh… ”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnpC09OHpG
Azrael: “If you really wanted to save him, you could have teleported away with him. There are no more civilians here; it would have been the more heroic thing to do.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVeBJ7evgL
Izuku doesn’t want to listen; he tries harder to get Azrael’s foot off him.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfyIVpsNNj
Azrael: “But no, you did what all heroes do: punch the problem. You all think being the hero is beating the villain. That somehow, the world will be made better when they are gone. But all you’re doing is keeping the system that births them alive.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlHZUf4cZ6
Stomping his foot, Azrael lets loose an electric shock into Izuku’s body.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMpJTQut08
Azrael: “This is your punishment.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeghmY9r2HT
The man activates something in his pocket, and then Izuku feels it, a familiar buzzing in his head. He can’t focus, and his quirk is made nearly useless. His eyes stop glowing, and his strength gives out.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjg33pzo10
Worst of all, the green flames shrink and the wounds grow.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzovav7g9a
Azrael: “I’ve seen enough. He chooses you not because you’re different, but because you are powerful. No different from the rest.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbX3Hsa7wnV
He raises a finger and points at Izuku’s head.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5ERb0mZ2R
Azrael: “Goodbye, Izuku Midoriya.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpml2sGMU2N
Momo: “Izuku! Catch!”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0D3ABdyAW
Azrael turns around and fires the beam. Luckily, the fog worked both ways. Momo was able to dodge out of the way and throw the package. Something she has been working on for a while.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQZEAbPUsc
Izuku doesn’t know what it is, but he knows if it’s from Momo, it has to help. He focuses the best he can and feels for the thrown object.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1fLcGv7Sg
Izuku: ‘There!’
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSC4Xjupvws
His forehead bulges as the weapon is summoned to his hand. Smiling when he feels the cylinder hilt, he turns it on.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsmsDT8lpv
Sensing the danger and seeing the sudden green light, Azrael dodges the blade to his leg.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHN2QakWwYk
Azrael: “No way… ”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFppLhigzXp
Momo: “I’ll take care of Ida! Don’t give up, Izuku!”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9g9qDrebK
The boy gets up and grasps his weapon with both hands.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5OZAcJExL
Izuku: “Thank you, Momo.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnl29MueZI
Azrael: “Tch. Not only do you avoid the moral problem, but you get to hold something like that.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTnzQjO2oT
Emerald light emits from Momo’s proudest creation, the lightsaber.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYSLFP9n0m
Azrael: “I really do hate you.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ojDlaKC5f
Izuku: “The feeling is mutual.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwVrGoVuLB
Azrael: “At least you admit it.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsFG5ErRGV
Izuku charges, not caring about anything else but dealing with this living attack on his life. Azrael dodges the rapid but sloppy attacks.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGw257AagC
Just because he has a powerful weapon now doesn’t mean the wounds have gone away. Seeing a chance to have some fun, Azrael uses another one of the quirks given to him.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3P5JkC1cl
A bone spear erupts out of his arm and catches it midair before twirling around for a thrust to Izuku’s face. Dodging out of the way, the boy counters with a downward slice, aiming for the spear itself.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1vAfc4iE3
It works, but Azrael just makes another aimed at Izuku’s chest. Rolling out of the way, the boy rights himself in time to block a purple whip of energy.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjarjzEjQY
Azrael creates another bone spear while whipping around his purple whip. Izuku uses the lightsaber to deflect the beams while closing the distance.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcoOPufFuw
Again, the two clash, and the bone is sliced through. But in return the whip hits Izuku’s side. He doesn’t care; he continues the assault.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMLIE5ZG41
Nothing else mattered now, just this fateful duel. With just swordplay to focus on and Ida’s life not in danger, Izuku can lose himself in the tempo.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmx78rPPyZn
Emerald and magenta lights flash in the fog as the two clash again and again. The sound of lightsaber swings, energy beams, and wind being cut by bone echo throughout the darkness.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMHSQrqQF5
Azrael: “Enjoying this, I see.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9fbGdUH2G
Only then did Izuku notice the growing smile on his face. Every time his blade sunk into Azrael, offering a glimpse at victory, the smile grew.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJnHnyZHy2
Izuku: ‘Again? Why!?’
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFa5kclBZp
A clear opening in conviction was noticed and capitalized on. A simple twitch of the finger and the lightsaber was ripped from Izuku’s grasp.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVms9sYZ0h
Izuku: “No!”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQlSZd3YJQ
Azrael: “I always wanted one of these. Thanks for the gift.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtXxAGBZpq
Powerless and with no weapon, Izuku couldn’t do much to stop the incoming blade. But he didn’t need to, for suddenly the air stilled and Azrael stopped.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5rrHoHX5l
Azrael: “… Oh no.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ClywGn5er
Within the fog, Izuku saw two intense and eerie green eyes behind Azrael. The next moment, the fog is blown away to reveal an angry chibi version of his big sister grasping the shoulder of the villain.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJWwzX7dak
Tatsumaki: “Hey.”
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I9BfRMyxl
And just like that, the two of them were pulled into the sky in an explosion of air.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjYW8Yt7m4
He was saved… again.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuaLVJ54EL
Was he wrong for repressing his other half? Look what it cost him and others.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUu1zT8hAq2
Was Azrael right about him? Look at what he has done.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFNoOjRXNs
The adrenaline abates, and complete exhaustion sets in. The young esper, tired of it all, becomes silent and falls.
ns216.73.216.176da2
