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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZhWSM9ixe
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAObgXykjR
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlv7rEt0yPV
Izuku: “Wha-”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs45Z48WV2o
The sky was on fire, the city was under attack, and screams of terror filled the air.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWbVFRIoXk
Uraraka: “Look!”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXs6pihLjF
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJZDDXkWa4
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.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaybMi1VDNW
Izuku: “But-”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJ8VonNTRF
Uraraka: “Trust me, I’ve gotten much stronger. And I have Emory here with me.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwNzhGOCsR
Alice: “R-Right! But don’t worry, we’ll focus on saving people.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkCLitt2C5
Izuku: “Are you sure?”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOOBOTvgH1
Uraraka: “Yeah, so get going!”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnmjWicMWi
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E1DcbBodg
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KqGrXInpz
But that’s not how a hero is supposed to think. So he doesn’t think it.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFcvBuD77g
However, his fears are made real when he finally makes it to the battlefield.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxIcBU9OaW
Hero Killer was seemingly knocked out.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qaCGQGUKY
Some muscular man was burnt to a crisp.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSpkKBR75a
But the most shocking, the most soul-crushing, was the villain standing over Ida. A friend missing a leg…
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVbZhH8ZbJ
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27ZXhhmRsS
Izuku: “GET AWAY FROM HIM!!!”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyCWOs2ZjH
The angel of green glares at the angel of death. An explosion of emerald meets a flash of azure. At last, they meet.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiCnjBnArJ
Azrael: “Midoriya…”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXtyvzHS3k
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIeWj1EN8x
Izuku: “Ida… ”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTerQ43AK5
Ida: “Midoriya… I’m sorry… this is… all my fault… ”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISya9pB8XQ
Izuku: “No! It’s-”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIpp14eTE0
Azrael: “He’s right. None of this would have happened if-”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuW7ch2gVg
The man quickly pulled his head back to dodge a psi-sword swipe.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7bRsdgFFt
Azrael: “Curious, All Might’s successor is so quick to kill? How… villainous.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO4QydZh4V
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfVglVM3zU
The angel simply raises his hand to create a golden air shield that blocks the storm.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKKdqWf6Fm
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN9CwT6KqS
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz03Wyg2IkX
Azrael did a backflip to dodge and then countered with a kick to the back of the head.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVvJxMENEk
So what?
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nBpV0RfFR
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-
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cyKTjOcVx
Izuku: “Heh… hehe… haha…”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2Hm7fQrxo
Catching himself, the boy covered his mouth.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWlafvWe18
Izuku: ‘No! I can’t, not right-’
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZCfWDSFGp
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcsdTz8uNW
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnVLtWlhmy
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡia0B6jBBIq
Azrael: “Yes, laugh, Midoriya. For you were blessed with a powerful quirk.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQW6XKSynq
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3JXtAB5HI
Izuku: “You know nothing about me!”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8H9BiMFfZ
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?”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoTcZe6z5p
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvB60AHUHI
Azrael: “You probably asked him if you could be a hero, didn’t you?”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv04HByj6V
Focus broken, Izuku looks up at the approaching angel.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuC9Phx6Rf
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.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQai1AHD1wG
The implication is clear.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2sLQSkT6u
Izuku: “Y-You’re wrong! All Might would have chosen me regardless! I ran to save Kacchan with no quirk!”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2GcElD1r3
Azrael: “And yet you awakened your quirk because of it. Curious.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXRyIiIqq2
Izuku: “What are you-”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCbuqTYiRy
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?”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SZNY3mY05
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlO3O2xIQ1
Izuku: “GAAAH!”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXru09JN4fk
Ida: “Midoriya!”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrE3YITgzt
Despite the pain, Izuku can feel the flames healing the wound slowly.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA0IMyIGyZ
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.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVWVI3ZWpW
Izuku: “I… don’t care what you say. All I want to do… is save Ida!!”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWau6X3dPR
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9B9wK0P0h
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2uAd2snpy
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN8By1KD0G
Izuku: “Sleep!”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiupN6cYMv
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmU2aZ5Zqmz
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFTS8I8lzV
Each attack rattles Azrael and shakes loose Izuku’s control. His fist steadily glows green as the assault speeds up.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DJM0ETDCN
A hero is one who saves people and does the right thing.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnsAYr2a4m
If so, what is the best way to make sure a villain never hurts anyone again? How do you save the most people?
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWvmSZV1lH
Izuku: “Haaa!”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDovOMb9z5
Instinctively, Izuku focuses on the atoms within the man’s stomach and-
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGJHuFjhvR
Boom!
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7g4r5183d
Punches him, utterly destroying that part of his body, creating a large hole.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0RhVGY3dH
Izuku: “… What?”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcEisiNzTg
Is this the right thing to do?
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7gSjGkCJz
Before the boy can fully grasp the situation, he hears laughter. That’s when he notices the hole closing.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCdNKxlvs8
Azrael: “I knew it.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDkpOa0k9D
The man grabs Izuku’s neck and lifts him up. Focus long broken and overtaxed, the water and fog fall from Azrael’s face.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYE5XmAY10
Azrael: “You are no different than me! The only difference? I don’t lie to myself.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbGkRIfbsI
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5JN5X7hvO
Azrael jumps down onto Izuku, putting his foot on his stomach, grinding it into his wound.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iMCmImIRd
Izuku: “GAAAH!!”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXFAZK2Pkz
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLMhMIcm9j
Azrael: “Save Ida, you said? Lair.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdowND7rL8P
Izuku: “Guh… ”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0mOsB3iyX
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.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBD1oxBl1GU
Izuku doesn’t want to listen; he tries harder to get Azrael’s foot off him.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkCmvSxDR9
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.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDiEnfoZYf
Stomping his foot, Azrael lets loose an electric shock into Izuku’s body.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIN7oLYew2
Azrael: “This is your punishment.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMje68zso8
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA87zbZNuBf
Worst of all, the green flames shrink and the wounds grow.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUO5H5O8U0S
Azrael: “I’ve seen enough. He chooses you not because you’re different, but because you are powerful. No different from the rest.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzD8am9ZsiF
He raises a finger and points at Izuku’s head.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJJ1JgTBXy
Azrael: “Goodbye, Izuku Midoriya.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPuDJWxNEh
Momo: “Izuku! Catch!”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc7hTs2sEb
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdXxpfqKYa
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZC9bRSddW
Izuku: ‘There!’
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaKrPcLMKc
His forehead bulges as the weapon is summoned to his hand. Smiling when he feels the cylinder hilt, he turns it on.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiMy9IS36f
Sensing the danger and seeing the sudden green light, Azrael dodges the blade to his leg.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYe7Wbj62w
Azrael: “No way… ”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr2SV6pLYF
Momo: “I’ll take care of Ida! Don’t give up, Izuku!”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmv9x6Ejd1d
The boy gets up and grasps his weapon with both hands.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo2eHeFDYV
Izuku: “Thank you, Momo.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkD4aUPzXe
Azrael: “Tch. Not only do you avoid the moral problem, but you get to hold something like that.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IAJ6OHY4x
Emerald light emits from Momo’s proudest creation, the lightsaber.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhS5LfQACq
Azrael: “I really do hate you.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtbqs72oCr
Izuku: “The feeling is mutual.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKuHxZfnNw
Azrael: “At least you admit it.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeagrJB0TA
Izuku charges, not caring about anything else but dealing with this living attack on his life. Azrael dodges the rapid but sloppy attacks.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7BmEWRcLn
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jeQhKjeeY
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpbsCB3021
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYZvTcjcwS
Azrael creates another bone spear while whipping around his purple whip. Izuku uses the lightsaber to deflect the beams while closing the distance.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0841pFLJCh
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVnxXvIXwR
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgJZEFSPsg
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgIqH9Pxwk
Azrael: “Enjoying this, I see.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2YADicR3Q
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfCPPiQ9Lp
Izuku: ‘Again? Why!?’
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfbKsEAOZG
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4OZAMazn5
Izuku: “No!”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwycRM3pWAz
Azrael: “I always wanted one of these. Thanks for the gift.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKJS1SUtO1
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwV98RW1MA
Azrael: “… Oh no.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdnSgcBXjE
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.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygt7GVgaQq
Tatsumaki: “Hey.”
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLzU8RdlfO
And just like that, the two of them were pulled into the sky in an explosion of air.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0Ff9kuj9R
He was saved… again.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCS7NZzIry
Was he wrong for repressing his other half? Look what it cost him and others.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIDABKzF3A
Was Azrael right about him? Look at what he has done.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqvIEVlFEW
The adrenaline abates, and complete exhaustion sets in. The young esper, tired of it all, becomes silent and falls.
ns216.73.216.6da2
