Yaoyorozu was drying both Eri's hair after getting out of the shower when she noticed a substantial lack of Miruko. She was usually so boisterous and always took part in something active, especially something like the pool.

"Kojin?"

"Yes my Lady?" The Lich King rose from her Shadow, one hand over his chest as he answered her call. More recently, the Shadows had become accustomed to the ones they were attached to, or the ones Izuku deemed important. As such, they began assigning said persons their own titles of respect.

"Where did Miruko go?"

"She left to discuss business with the Hero called Siddharth. Pektra attached two Prime Draconians to her as bodyguards. They are currently meeting at a bar in the southern city district."

"Isn't it a little early for a drink," She asked as she walked into the main living space of their hotel room. Sakura was munching on a bag of chips pulled from the mini bar, watching television and earning a disapproving look from her mother, "Do you know how much they charge for those things?"

Sakura sheepishly apologized, but continued munching nonetheless.

Hisashi sat on the couch beside them and Nejire was nestled into her seat on one of the many plush chairs. The former seemed to be reassuring her about something. Nejire seemed to be reacting with happiness.

"Ya know, there's nothing wrong with a woman who needs her physical needs fulfilled."

"Honey, stop trying to set Izuku up with girls," Inko said with a smile, "Let it happen naturally."

Hisashi chuckled and wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulder, "I've been gone for a while, I gotta do something to make up for those lost years."

"So you've decided to become his wingman?"

"The Ultimate Wingman!" Hisashi declared with faux dramatics.

Eri found her way to Nejire's side, climbing onto the chair with her and cuddling up.

"So what's the plan for today?" Inko asked as she noticed Yaoyorozu, turning the conversation away from what one might consider uncomfortable.

"Well, the International Conference, the more official event, is tonight, but other than that, there's nothing really planned."

Melissa stepped out of one of the rooms, yawning as she wiped at her eyes. Apparently, she was a bit of a late sleeper. She was staying with the family just to make sure nothing got lost in translation for them.

"It's nothing too exciting," She remarked, "It's more like a bunch of reports and the occasional human Villain who they debate about. How to handle them and the likes."

"I just won-" Yaoyorozu was cut off as the entire hotel rumbled, as if struck by an earthquake. "That's impossible… we're on a floating island, we wouldn't feel anything… right?"

Looking over to Melissa, she confirmed her assessment. The blonde was looking around in fear and confusion.

Kojin, Pektra, and the other eight Prime Draconians rushed forwards, "Everyone up! It's time to leave!"

"What?!"

"What's going on?!"

Yaoyorozu ran to one of the windows and materialized a pair of extremely advanced binoculars that could zoom in for miles. They were what allowed her to spot a burning crater ten miles away. It was at least an hour away from the Island's Central Tower by car. Stellian, the Monarch of the Iron Body and Baran, the Monarch of White Flames stood in that crater, spreading destruction all around them.

Kojin prepared his magics in the event that the Monarch headed this way. He would not be able to stop them, but he could slow them to save Izuku's family. But things didn't stop there, "I've lost contact with the Shadows hidden in Miruko… they've been destroyed. There are more than two Monarchs on this Island."


"Do you have a safe room here?" Izuku asked as he pulled the Corrupted Blade from his Inventory. David nodded, still unsure as to what was happening. "Then I'd take everyone here and hunker down. They may just leave you alone." He felt two separate Mana signatures drop down the elevator shaft at the end of the containment room. A faint third accompanied them. "Go… I'll kill them."

David gestured to the rest of the workers, "Code Omega! Get to the safe room!"

They began sprinting away as the massive metal doors were peeled open by muscled dark arms, revealing a flattened face, surrounded by its black skin, reminiscent of a hood. Izuku immediately recognized him. He was the Nomu Monarch from Ashborn's memory, shrunk down to size. Accompanying him was Quaresha, in an insect body much like Beru's.

Izuku was about to make a joke about Beru having a sister before tearing the disgusting creature to pieces, but the woman she held in her right hand stopped him.

Miruko, bloodied and beaten, hung limply by her neck in the Monarch's grasp. Her bones were shattered and her heartbeat was faint. It heavily contrasted the angry beating of Izuku's two hearts.

He took shallow, raging breaths as Shadows rose around him like a wall of death. There were no words to be spoken, his only purpose now was the complete destruction of the insect bitch.

[Skill: Domain of the Monarch has begun activation. Five Minutes until activated.]

[Skill: Quicksilver has activated.]

Izuku's perception went into overdrive as he sprinted over to Quaresha. Her turning head looked like it was moving through molasses, but the Monarch accompanying her was not so slow.

The Nomu shot forwards as if there were rocket boosters in its back. He moved so fast that Izuku couldn't fend him off. He got too close too fast for him to be dealt with by a sword.

"Let's take this outside!" His voice was akin to a growling lion, just barely comprehensible. That's when Izuku remembered the Monarch did have some sort of shape on his back that looked like boosters.

Hyper-compressed air exploded from the Nomu's back, lifting them straight up through several dozen layers of concrete and metal reinforcements. Izuku's armor kept him from feeling much of it, but the Monarch's hand wrapped around his throat was tightening by the second. His armor could only resist that for so long.

Thankfully, before the metal could bend inwards, they emerged into the spacious courtyard, freeing Izuku's arms enough to take a slash with his sword. The Nomu let go and Izuku flew backwards, his armor's wings lifting him up and away just in time to sense the third Monarch behind him.

Izuku crossed his arms above his head just in time for a massive stony fist to slam down on them. Using Infinite Strength, he was able to just barely hold them up, but was helpless as the Nomu flew forwards, driving his fist into Izuku's stomach and launching him away from the tower. With the wind knocked from his lungs, Izuku heaved out the command, "Dra...gons."

[Skill: Draconic Fusion has been activated, Dragon God of Darkness, Shruikan, Dragon God of Water, Saphira, Dragon God of Earth, Glaedr, Dragon God of Light, Uramoth, Dragon God of Fire, Thorn, and Dragon God of Air, Firnen have fused to create the Dragon Monarch, Apophis Grand-Marshal Grade.]

A massive western Dragon, big enough to rival the hundred-foot tall Giant in front of them, appeared beside Izuku. He seemed to combine elements from all the other Dragon Gods. Like Uramoth, he had two massive arms emerging from his back, they were where the wing membranes were attached. Like Shruikan, a dark cloak of mist encircled his body, threatening to dissolve anything it came into contact with. On its shoulders, there were two of the massive railguns that Thorn carried on his back, now appearing tiny on Apophis's body. On the end of its tail was a massive spiked wrecking ball.

Izuku finally got to his feet, taking a look at the third Monarch. It perfectly matched the appearance of the Villain that had escaped containment only a week ago. But while the everyday Hero would refer to him as Gigantomachia, Izuku was one of the few who knew his current identity… Legia.


Beru clicked his mandibles, "You are alone. Do you think you can handle the entire Shadow Army?"

Tatsuya floated next to the Ant, wielding a long white spear with two separate prongs curving towards each other, forming a single twisting point. The Lance of Longinus.

"Surrender yourself to us and the death of your flesh will be quick and painless," Igris declared, his attention focused on Miruko. Hinata was right behind him, and her powers would be sufficient to save the rabbit girl.

Quaresha cackled, her new ant body's shoulders heaving with laughter. "My previous body was weak, a human husk with no physical power. All so I could corrupt that Giant fool… but now… I have taken the body of a true warrior. I am alone, but I am sufficient."

"Take her!" Beru commanded.

[Aurum is using Skill: Tachyon Acceleration.]

Miruko disappeared from Quaresha's grip as Igris, Tatsuya, and Beru rushed forwards.

Igris swung the Genesis Blade, creating a cover of white flames, duplicating the strategy Izuku used to hide himself from Thomas's vision. Quaresha slashed through the flames her claws meeting Beru's as he used his new status as a Marshal to reach her first.

"It disgusts me to see one of my children turned to the Shadows."

"And you simply disgust us." Tatsuya calmly spoke as he jabbed the Lance over Beru's shoulder, grazing Quaresha's cheek with its point. A white line appeared on her dark exoskeleton, but the damage closed up a few moments later.

Igris was the last to come in, swiping his sword at the Monarch's midsection. She growled and used her wings to leap back, narrowly avoiding the blade. "The weapons of the Ruler Marshals?!" Then, she smiled, "Perhaps you have given me a new opportunity here."

The three Shadows readied themselves, unsure as to what she meant. Behind them, the remaining Commander Grades stood, ready to back them up. Though for the moment, they were covering Hinata, who was using her powers to heal the recovered Miruko.

Beru's claws hung at his side as he lowered his stance. Suddenly, his size began increasing, his arms and legs growing bulkier. It was the same Skill he had used during his first fight with Izuku in order to increase his speed, only in reverse.

[Beru is using Skill: Stance Change.]

[Tatsuya is using Skill: Holy Essence.]

[Igris is using Skill: Master Swordsman.]

The three, now prepared with their boosts, were about to take on the Monarch once more, but before any of them could move, Igris's sword flew out of his hands. It rocketed down the hall, stopping right in front of the S-Rank Villain that was supposed to still be in some form of stasis. His soaring Aura told the Shadows everything they needed to know. It wasn't just his Mana either. Every single Angel in the facility began waking from their stasis, punching through their containment with ease.

[Lucifer, The Strongest Seraph. Marshal of Razar's Holy Army.]

The Angel's hand burst from his containment, snatching up the Genesis Blade as he did so. The sword reacted to his touch, growing larger until it fit in his grip. Then, in his entirety, he erupted from the prison cell, his six wings keeping him hovering just above the floor as he floated into the center of the hallway.

"Quaresha… Has our deal been broken." The Angel and his minions ignored the Shadows.

Quaresha smiled, "It has not."

"Then… they are our enemy," He turned his attention to the Shadow Army, hauling back his arm, prepared to swing the Genesis Blade.

"Argentum!" Igris shouted.

The Space Spirit created a portal that sucked in all the combatants, leaving the secret basement quiet.


Legia roared and charged forwards, his fists swinging for Apophis. The two massive wing-arms on the dragon's back caught the punches, however, holding him back with a fair amount of effort. After all, Legia was one of the strongest Monarchs.

"Legia!" Izuku shouted, rising into the sky to meet the Giant at eye level, "It's me! The Shadow Monarch! You don- UGH!" The Nomu Monarch slammed into him, carrying him off into the sky.

"Fine!" Izuku roared, "I'll kill you first!" His gauntlets wrapped around the Nomu's arms, the bones creaking under the intense pressure. He pried the arms away from him and kicked the Monarch in the chest, knocking him back a few feet.

[Skill: Gauntlet Barrage has activated.]

[Skill: Infinite Strength has activated.]

Izuku's fists blurred and slammed into the Nomu, putting several dents into his body and sending him flying back into the ground. Izuku landed right on top of him, stomping the Monarch deeper into the ground just as a portal opened next to them, dumping the entirety of the underground space to the surface just as Lucifer finished swinging his sword.

[Domain of the Monarch has activated.]

[Tusk is using Hymn of Protection.]

The blue shield of energy spread wide, deflecting the powerful flames. It seemed that in the hands of Lucifer, the Genesis Blade had become more powerful.

"What happened?" Izuku asked as he picked up the Nomu by the neck and punched him right in the face, sending him flying back.

"The traitorous army of the Ruler has awoken. It is as you expected my Liege. One of the Rulers has made a deal with the Monarchs!"

The Nomu stood once more, "You dare ignore me?! I am the Monarch of Beastly Fangs! I am Waruk and you will fear me as your predecessor did!"

[Skill: Shadow Pulse has activated.]

[The targets are too powerful to lower their Stats.]

Even though the System said that, the Skill still pushed out the intense feeling of fear and gave Izuku a Shadowy Aura as he called back the Corrupted Blade to his hand with Ruler's Authority. "Who said Ashborn ever feared you?"


As Yaoyorozu ran out of the hotel, she realized just how big the scope of the attack was. They were ten miles from the Monarchs and yet, there were still Demon Villains running through the streets around them. She manifested two handguns and shot away half a dozen of the Monarch's servants before she could even walk five feet out the door.

Nejire and Kojin swiftly joined her, flinging spiral energy and cold magics at the nearby Demons.

"It is too crowded to evacuate the non-combatants," Kojin said as a Demon took a swipe at him, the claws passing straight through his body. He grabbed the Demon by the neck and snapped it like a twig. "The Draconians will need more space to safely take off with passengers." The eight Dragon Knights were still inside the building, encircling Hisashi, Inko, Sakura, and Eri. "I require a moment to provide that space." Kojin stepped back as he let his Fear Skill spread forth, stumbling some of the Demons. Unfortunately, it was rather ineffective against their kind. But it wasn't much of a problem, Yaoyorozu and Nejire provided plenty of cover.

[Kojin is using Skill: Call of the King.]

Within seconds, the streets surrounding their hotel were filled with ten-thousand Elite-Knight Grade Death Knights. Before the Demons could even realize what was happening, they were trampled by the sudden mass of Shadows.

Kojin nodded, "Go! Now!"

Four of the Draconians scooped up one family member each and shot into the sky, pulling away at a rapid pace. The other four flanked them as bodyguards.

"They'll retreat a mile or so away from the Island and wait until it is either safe, or until they have to fly back to the mainland."

"Good! Now let's-" Yaoyorozu felt a presence pass over head and looked up just in time to see Thomas Andre leaping buildings.

"That's the direction of the Monarchs!" Nejire exclaimed.

"He's gonna die," Yaoyorozu realized as she threw aside her weapons, "Kojin! Keep the city safe!"

"My army can maintain that order, but my directive is to keep you safe. I do not think it is a wise decision to engage the Monarchs in a two-on-one."

Yaoyorozu's legs began glowing as she built something entirely new, "I won't be alone, I'll have Andre backing me up."

"And I'm coming too!" Nejire declared.

Kojin sighed, "As I stated, it is not wise to fight them in a two-on-one. The rude human may have been augmented with a Fragment of the Rulers, but he is still not on par with a Monarch." Nejire noticed that he said nothing about her.

"Well, I'm the only other host here. If Izuku has his hands full, I've got no choice but to fight them." Yaoyorozu finished creating the mechanism on her feet, "Let's see what we can do Correnic."

Blue lines of energy traced their way down Yaoyorozu's neck, reaching down to the metal boots now on her feet. The dull grey metal became a brilliant white and began humming with magical power.

Yaoyorozu smiled and with a single push, she launched off the ground, soaring over the buildings much like Thomas, Nejire following close behind her. She wasn't sure if they could stop or even slow Baran or Stellian, but they were gonna try.


"Bastard!" Waruk roared as he picked himself up off the ground and charged Izuku, but Beru flew forwards, tackling him to the ground.

"I'll kill you later," Izuku said as he turned around and turned his attention to Quaresha, "Shadows! Hold back the Ruler's Army!"

Aurum, Argentum, Hinata, and Tatsuya backed away from Quaresha and rushed to the back of the army, where Tusk was just barely holding back the sweeping attacks of Lucifer's Genesis Blade. Those four were General Grade and a fair amount weaker than Lucifer, but with the Domain of the Monarch active, they could hold him while the other forces fought on even levels of strength, but uneven numbers. Currently, Izuku held the advantage when it came to the sheer amount of combatants.

With Apophis holding back Legia, Beru keeping Waruk busy, and the other Shadows holding back the "Holy" Army, Izuku and Quaresha were completely alone to fight their own battle.

Izuku made the first move, slashing through the air with his sword, creating a dark projectile. Quaresha side-stepped it, her wings sprouting out to give her the movement speed needed to close the distance between them.

Not wanting to make the same mistake, Izuku cast his sword into his Inventory and raised his gauntleted fists.

Apparently, Quaresha had been hiding her true speed until now and she decided now was as good a time as any to show her hand. Her form blurred and her claws shot forwards, their points burying through the air to dig into Izuku's side. However…

"What made you think there was going to be a different outcome than last time?" Izuku asked as he held Quaresha's wrist with an iron-clad grip.

"Wha-" A shock wave spread out from the side of her head as Izuku drove his fist into her exoskeleton, cracking the material.

Izuku didn't let go of her arm either, dragging her back. While she was still stunned, Izuku stomped down with all of his strength, driving his heel straight into her left kneecap, snapping it with a loud CRACK as it bent the wrong way. Quaresha shrieked with pain as she tried to escape his grasp.

"You corrupted the only decent Higher Being in the universe!" Another punch cracked her body, which was doing its best to heal the damage. "And you turned him into a raging beast." Izuku's claws shone with heat as they dug into her side and tore out a chunk of her torso, "That alone is disgusting," His hand wrapped around her throat and lifted her into the air, crushing her windpipe, "But then… you had to attack my family." Quaresha scrabbled at her neck as Izuku reared back his fist, "This time, you won't escape to another body!"

With all the force he could put into it, Izuku threw his Skill-enhanced punch, decimating the entirety of Quaresha's upper half, splattering it like a bug.

Before her bottom half could begin regenerating, Quaresha cut her losses and ejected her Spiritual form from the body. Unfortunately for her, she was still under the assumption that Izuku was still unable to kill said form.

[Skill: Spiritual Combat has activated.]

Izuku's body covered itself in an imitation of the Ruler hosts' golden aura, the only difference was that his was an all-consuming void of darkness. Now, he looked indistinguishable from a Shadow.

He flew into the air, wrapping his hands around Quaresha's Spiritual body, stopping the fleeing cloud of golden dust before it could get any farther.

"I told you!" Izuku shouted, exerting his focus as his Aura spread out, covering Quaresha in the darkness, "You won't escape this time!"

The Monarch struggled valiantly, but against the Shadow Monarch… she stood no chance. Within mere seconds, the entirety of her Spiritual Being was consumed by Izuku's Aura and for the first time in existence, a Higher Being knew Death.

[You have killed one of the Nine Monarchs, The Monarch of Insects, Quaresha.]

[You have Leveled-Up!]

[You have Leveled-Up!]

[You have Leveled-Up!]

[You have Leveled-Up!]

[You have Leveled-Up!]

[You have Leveled-Up!]


As Quaresha died, she released a massive amount of energy. A primordial power that dwelled within all Spiritual bodies. Izuku was not used to that power, so he could not sense it as it escaped from I-Island at the speed of light, flying around the world until it reached an abandoned bar, occupied by only one man in his twenties.

He scratched at the dry and cracking skin on his neck as the energy pooled in the palm of his free hand.

"One down… fourteen more to go." And like that, the energy burrowed into his skin, filling him with new strength.


Thanks for reading! I'm currently live on Twitch at Project_Armament with some friends if you wanna come check out the stream! Speaking of the stream, we recently hit our donation goal for a special one-shot chapter, voted on by the viewers and my discord server! The one-shot that won the poll just happened to be a crossover between Shadow Monarch… and the SCP Universe! (Just thought I should mention that this one-shot will be non-canon in regards to this fic, so SCPs aren't actually canon in the Shadow Monarch Universe.) Now because I-Island still has some troubles on its hands, I'm going to hold off on writing that one-shot until I've at least dealt with the I-Island arc, which should be resolved in the next chapter or so. With any luck, I should have the one-shot out within a week or so, but no promises! Hope you enjoyed!