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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjohkIzTKA
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt9DYBoqis
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKRHRKd8qa
Izuku: “Wha-”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe0BZi6OI1
The sky was on fire, the city was under attack, and screams of terror filled the air.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXYxkrLU5m
Uraraka: “Look!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBldb5tslDW
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiucMbVyT6
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.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCiyRyRf80
Izuku: “But-”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNuozzU795
Uraraka: “Trust me, I’ve gotten much stronger. And I have Emory here with me.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDojEw7Pai
Alice: “R-Right! But don’t worry, we’ll focus on saving people.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tppojwQQ5
Izuku: “Are you sure?”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwApkHzoStt
Uraraka: “Yeah, so get going!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKS9Z5Sdu7
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtiWbJnoq3
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjaQ2pksVu
But that’s not how a hero is supposed to think. So he doesn’t think it.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5H2bz6oeM
However, his fears are made real when he finally makes it to the battlefield.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLsjVYplzY
Hero Killer was seemingly knocked out.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwDVL1T6tB
Some muscular man was burnt to a crisp.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVToVJzcuS
But the most shocking, the most soul-crushing, was the villain standing over Ida. A friend missing a leg…
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TlhLZe70t
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOrRXPuBIi
Izuku: “GET AWAY FROM HIM!!!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9I8jWOlJk
The angel of green glares at the angel of death. An explosion of emerald meets a flash of azure. At last, they meet.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLSQDl5QpS
Azrael: “Midoriya…”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYk6jDo3rSA
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0EfO2CJ7g
Izuku: “Ida… ”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXizMSMsI72
Ida: “Midoriya… I’m sorry… this is… all my fault… ”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwLrLpqi8H
Izuku: “No! It’s-”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pL4B2N8HU
Azrael: “He’s right. None of this would have happened if-”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHRBYLylMH
The man quickly pulled his head back to dodge a psi-sword swipe.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP0yun7fTM
Azrael: “Curious, All Might’s successor is so quick to kill? How… villainous.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXRTkCWnXg
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9kZTR8RPk
The angel simply raises his hand to create a golden air shield that blocks the storm.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw4bv3VJwY
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaDseUUGbF
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifLsYCG40J
Azrael did a backflip to dodge and then countered with a kick to the back of the head.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B2v1Au2FP
So what?
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFGIwe3mWX
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-
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPeVq6t1OS
Izuku: “Heh… hehe… haha…”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzp1VZHR7HX
Catching himself, the boy covered his mouth.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oS8J8w2jB
Izuku: ‘No! I can’t, not right-’
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGwnrUcrnm
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1DuuFsBmI
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmDjsTmm0c
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7MNSr0yU3
Azrael: “Yes, laugh, Midoriya. For you were blessed with a powerful quirk.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKSUDt7efg
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jw3dBUL8Y
Izuku: “You know nothing about me!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcavRl012c
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?”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcOeM4rWRT
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGmuvMeVwW
Azrael: “You probably asked him if you could be a hero, didn’t you?”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHFRSSRukn
Focus broken, Izuku looks up at the approaching angel.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuRPNRi33J
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.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOpOOMHQLH
The implication is clear.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIVPh43kgr
Izuku: “Y-You’re wrong! All Might would have chosen me regardless! I ran to save Kacchan with no quirk!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiERnUpqZ2y
Azrael: “And yet you awakened your quirk because of it. Curious.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2zrCpIDZe
Izuku: “What are you-”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtciVzMvMqj
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?”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsJ5N0qUmS
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFn1zY8AdOs
Izuku: “GAAAH!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFkxdmmR4C
Ida: “Midoriya!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1uNdS1Ejr
Despite the pain, Izuku can feel the flames healing the wound slowly.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1CfJTfI0o
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.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0bk8E2AkE
Izuku: “I… don’t care what you say. All I want to do… is save Ida!!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1TlkZe3ZS
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlykKIkPn3
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8Hx4Uvmmi
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpkvQVqdaQ
Izuku: “Sleep!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bLrhwr88w
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLvwkd6E5t
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoj7EqjpicM
Each attack rattles Azrael and shakes loose Izuku’s control. His fist steadily glows green as the assault speeds up.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZulXZTr8v
A hero is one who saves people and does the right thing.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBoil9TQ2i
If so, what is the best way to make sure a villain never hurts anyone again? How do you save the most people?
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OzX3eqVQf
Izuku: “Haaa!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqEfsyxECL
Instinctively, Izuku focuses on the atoms within the man’s stomach and-
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lNLrzZII8
Boom!
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uYKFZwgK0
Punches him, utterly destroying that part of his body, creating a large hole.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUc383Xeqv
Izuku: “… What?”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7fBOCiMTo
Is this the right thing to do?
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxugjRsKke
Before the boy can fully grasp the situation, he hears laughter. That’s when he notices the hole closing.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYbOyNGOCp
Azrael: “I knew it.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGnvuKycNP
The man grabs Izuku’s neck and lifts him up. Focus long broken and overtaxed, the water and fog fall from Azrael’s face.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVM6X6k7i1
Azrael: “You are no different than me! The only difference? I don’t lie to myself.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Kc8Tjvkt2
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVXMPaBsGw
Azrael jumps down onto Izuku, putting his foot on his stomach, grinding it into his wound.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUn9HXYRay
Izuku: “GAAAH!!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pbkl2Mz5h
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilMcszYHxV
Azrael: “Save Ida, you said? Lair.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIXfA2M2R6
Izuku: “Guh… ”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLxQnU7eVh
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.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9t5Z6FOUJ
Izuku doesn’t want to listen; he tries harder to get Azrael’s foot off him.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kTJoGiQ7o
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.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HLU21hkLO
Stomping his foot, Azrael lets loose an electric shock into Izuku’s body.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQMOCLpdEq
Azrael: “This is your punishment.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV0ofX0CDH
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡockwxv565q
Worst of all, the green flames shrink and the wounds grow.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZT8IYdDBI
Azrael: “I’ve seen enough. He chooses you not because you’re different, but because you are powerful. No different from the rest.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtg5ciuGcwJ
He raises a finger and points at Izuku’s head.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSg0IWPWD7s
Azrael: “Goodbye, Izuku Midoriya.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIRCanz1Bp
Momo: “Izuku! Catch!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVsANJiyPn
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNLKv2GQeV
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchKtWYbSHm
Izuku: ‘There!’
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32vkNIEOZL
His forehead bulges as the weapon is summoned to his hand. Smiling when he feels the cylinder hilt, he turns it on.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcktwFnr4B
Sensing the danger and seeing the sudden green light, Azrael dodges the blade to his leg.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxL6weNIcDW
Azrael: “No way… ”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXvgLCWrk4
Momo: “I’ll take care of Ida! Don’t give up, Izuku!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi5pZQFdlP
The boy gets up and grasps his weapon with both hands.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWZ5mxlPB9
Izuku: “Thank you, Momo.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHTs0tpNAC
Azrael: “Tch. Not only do you avoid the moral problem, but you get to hold something like that.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSLra3Nb00
Emerald light emits from Momo’s proudest creation, the lightsaber.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxV0vKAQwhx
Azrael: “I really do hate you.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOEhGOghaf
Izuku: “The feeling is mutual.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DSOlf53UN
Azrael: “At least you admit it.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxvqDMCky5
Izuku charges, not caring about anything else but dealing with this living attack on his life. Azrael dodges the rapid but sloppy attacks.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFSd9WLezK
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbULvNR3IO
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vOs7mugfq
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DuFCsuJLQ
Azrael creates another bone spear while whipping around his purple whip. Izuku uses the lightsaber to deflect the beams while closing the distance.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoCgxa9db4
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiGj9fAbr4
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaAoiw4T51
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡod45j8Xozf
Azrael: “Enjoying this, I see.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwfnegeVOt
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBunJvF6HI
Izuku: ‘Again? Why!?’
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm01JDqOlb
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLjXhcC2j9
Izuku: “No!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56FKTbdP3J
Azrael: “I always wanted one of these. Thanks for the gift.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bnPKVC9AH
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJdST4PbvK
Azrael: “… Oh no.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTyHX1itFX
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTqKHwYCYG
Tatsumaki: “Hey.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBNNrb67BZ
And just like that, the two of them were pulled into the sky in an explosion of air.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAWDY5v16p
He was saved… again.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHCPxlCv8K
Was he wrong for repressing his other half? Look what it cost him and others.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Xcm5EqOGI
Was Azrael right about him? Look at what he has done.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3npcvWePu
The adrenaline abates, and complete exhaustion sets in. The young esper, tired of it all, becomes silent and falls.
ns216.73.216.176da2
