"RARGH!" Hisashi swung with all his might. Correnic's power manifested a massive warhammer for him to wield, Arturk coated it in an impenetrable shield so that Antares could not destroy it and Serenia gave Hisashi all her power at once, turning him into a god to surpass gods.

For the first time since taking a new host, Antares felt pain as the warhammer slammed into his side, fracturing one of the bones in his arm. But even still, it was nothing close to fatal.

Antares shoved the hammer's head away from his, quickly clearing the distance between him and Hisashi. The hammer was not built for such close range combat, allowing Antares to press his hand up against Hisashi's side and growl out, "Game over."

But instead, Hisashi merely conjured a shortsword as he let go of the hammer, slashing at Antares' neck. It just barely dug it, shocking the Monarch long enough for Hisashi to deliver a vicious right hook into the Monarch's mouth. It sent him stumbling backwards as the Dragon Army witnessnessing the fight moved to step in.

Hisashi slashed his sword, creating hundreds of blades of light, tearing completely through the army and even severing the throat of the Dragon Primordial Antares had brought with.

Three Rulers working together with individual hosts were strong, but three Rulers inhabiting the same body stacked their powers on top of each other, making them far and away more powerful than even a Primordial. Unfortunately, Antares was using this same principle as the power of a dozen Higher Beings filled his veins.

Hisashi's side, the part Antares touched, crumbled, then regenerated, becoming replaced with more golden light. "I won't fall so easily." Hisashi spat as he conjured dozens of weapons to float behind him, all controlled by Ruler's Authority.

"You're a… Shadow Soldier?" Izuku asked as he gazed upon the humanoid face of Ashborn.

"When I perished protecting the Absolute Being, he was the owner of the Shadow Monarch abilities. By turning me into a Shadow, he passed on the title and it's true powers."

"So… you're going to bring me back the same way?"

"Do not fear this existence. With it… comes a strength you've never known."

"But… will it really be enough? We're just one Higher Being and he's twelve."

Ashborn chuckled, "A Shadow Monarch's power was not determined by how they used their life, but by what they could do in death. You have a million beings who stand behind you, their strength is our strength. Igris, Bellion, all of them. Just as they have drawn on you for power, you may draw upon them."

Izuku let out a heavy breath, "Then… what do I do? After I beat him? After I beat Antares? What do I do?"

Ashborn smiled, "There's the true Izuku I knew. It's never a question of if you can beat someone, just what comes after." He shrugged, "There are a million ways the future will play out, but I don't know which you will choose, and I will not influence them, because this is my end. I shall pass the power to you and allow myself to drift into a peaceful oblivion."

Izuku pursed his lips, nodding. "Then… thank you. For giving me what I had. And for giving me a second… and third… chance."

"It was my pleasure watching you grow to be worthy. Now, I shall give you your final gift and you shall hear your final words as a mortal… Arise."

Hisashi and Antares chipped away at one another, neither able to make wounds deeper than surface level. Of course, being far and away more powerful, Antares' strikes carried plenty of pain behind them.

He could not disintegrate Hisashi's body as he had done to the others, but his blows could decimate bone and rend flesh even better than his Destruction Energy.

Shortly, Hisashi was once again on the receiving end of the Monarch's rage, being thrown around as parts of him were sheared away and torn apart. Light filled those gaps, much like they had filled the gap in Mirio's chest. There was just one difference. This time, the three Rulers would not sacrifice themselves for his well being, they would sacrifice themselves for humanity's last hope.

Knowing that there was a last hope, Hisashi couldn't help but smile, even as more and more of his body was destroyed. He was perfectly happy getting in a few shots of his own, dealing back just a fraction of the pain that Antares had afflicted on the world.

"Pathetic human!" Antares raged, grabbing Hisashi by the skull and slamming him into the ground, completely ignoring the dozen or so daggers that just barely broke his skin. "You deserve to die bit by bit! Decayed to the bone so that you can feel it all!" He was screaming now, his plans so close to fruition. Any interruption was painfully slow to pass. So, he cast aside all reservations.

Grey flames erupted from his body as he triggered his Spiritual Manifestation. But unlike those before him, he did not allow his host to be the one to take upon these changes. Instead, he cast aside his host entirely.

A completely new, physical body made from Mana was ejected from Shigaraki's body, becoming Antares true form. He was a man with pitch black hair, a single streak of white running through it. His features were sharp and cruel, with golden eyes to match. Red and black armor decorated his body. It was covered in sharp edges and rough overlapping armor plates

His hand, now holding Hisashi by the neck, pulsed with energy, eating through the light of the Rulers, ejecting them one by one into the air. His rage made him foolish, as he paid the three no mind, continuing to dissolve Hisashi. But something stuck out to him, something that made him incomprehensibly mad.

"WHY?! WHY DO YOU STILL SMILE?!"

"Because…" Hisashi replied weakly, "I trust my son… to kick your ass."

"WHAT?!" Antares spun around, eyes widening as they gazed upon a blob of Shadows, rising from the ground.

"Made you… look," Hisashi got in one last jab before Antares exerted his full effort, turning the man to dust in an instant.

The Dragon Emperor, Monarch of Destruction, charged with all his might, all his speed, to the blob, turning up his Destruction Energy to eleven and throwing a punch with the strength of 12 gods behind it.

It connected… with a perfectly black fist. But instead of Antares' energy wearing away at the Shadows, Antares felt his own strength being sapped.

Slowly, but surely, the Shadow blob continued to take shape, green light running up the frame and six wings jutting from its back. When the green light finally reached the head, two eyes, filled with powerful hate, opened.

"You picked the wrong planet," Izuku growled out.

[Shadow Monarch's Final Gift: Absolute Null: The Shadow Monarch's body had become the perfect conduit for energy and can absorb any energy no matter how potent.]

Izuku's and Ashborn's minds merged into one, their powers, their memories, their drives, it all became one and through that, they birthed their strongest ability yet.

Becoming a Shadow, Izuku no longer had any limits on his body or mind. Still clutching Antares' fist, he threw a punch of his own into the Monarch's face, collapsing him to the floor, stealing even more of his energy through the brief contact.

Antares, gaining his bearings, was shocked to feel how much he had lost. He was growing weaker by the second. Meanwhile, above him, Izuku only grew stronger. His hand stretched out and Shadow tendrils lashed out, wrapping up the three Rulers and their Spiritual Bodies, consuming them in an instant.

"No… NO! It wasn't supposed to be like this!" Antares bashed his fists against Izuku's hand, but his Destruction Energy only fed the Shadow Monarch more power. "Please! I'll leave this planet forever! You're obviously too strong for me! I promise I'll never come near you again!"

Izuku looked around at the dust littering the air, "It's too late for negotiations. The only thing left for you is death." His free hand snatched Antares by the neck, lifting him up and letting go of his hand.

As Izuku's Absolute Null stole from Antares, it didn't just take his energy, his lifeforce, but his very being. His memories, his emotions, everything was Izuku's for the viewing. Infinite destruction, endless killing, and enslavement for the Monarch's cause.

"You took my family… you took millions of families. You snuffed out billions upon billions of lives. Hopes, dreams… you took their futures." Izuku tightened his grip on Antares neck, "You will never rob anyone of anything… ever again."

"NOOOO!" Izuku's fingers dug deep, a cracking sound emanating as he pierced the Spiritual Manifestation, the darkness sucking in the combined Essence of 12 Higher Beings.

Antares attempted to let out one last cry of rebellion, but he never got the chance. All at once, his body folded in on itself and was sucked away into Izuku, shredded by Absolute Null. With his death, all of the Monarchs and all of the Rulers… resided in one being. Sixteen gods condensed into a single Shadow.

But Izuku did not wield their compounded powers. No, that would've taken a perfect unity between all sixteen. Instead of becoming the Absolute Being like Anatres dreamed of, he simply had enormous energy and because of that, he was no God, just a man…

Perhaps, if he had become the Absolute Being, he might've been able to bring back those he lost, but no, Izuku had not become the Absolute Being. So… he just had to watch, as the dust settled.

Izuku desperately wanted to collapse to his knees, but he couldn't. He couldn't, because the immense rage flowing through his body kept him upright.

His six wings brought him up into the air. The new vantage point brought him to face the remainders of Antares' army.

"RARGH!" Izuku's right hand slashed the air, using Absolute Null alongside Shadow Monarch's Supremacy to create a black-hole in the center of the dragon army. Everything, including the Primordial's body, was sucked into it and converted to energy inside Izuku's body.

It took less than a second to kill them all. Millions, dead in an instant. But Izuku didn't stop there.

Maybe it was just the memories of Ashborn, or the extreme power inside of him, but Izuku now felt that it was immensely easier to teleport around the world. And as he appeared before each and every Gate, a pattern repeated.

The monsters and Shadows, along with plenty of humans, noticed his presence. But he couldn't just black-hole the armies since they were so close to humanity. So instead, he used the World of Darkness Skill to target all the Chaos World Inhabitants above it. Then, Absolute Null kicked into effect alongside Shadow Monarch's Supremacy.

Spears of Shadow shot up, piercing every single monster in one swift motion. Millions died in one second, all of their Essence drained away into Izuku. Then, he teleported.

Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Germany, America, and China.

With each teleportation and each massacre, his Shadows reached out to him telepathically, praising his grand displays of power.

All of their praise felt hollow.

Humanity cheered as he massacred the monsters by the millions. They were so happy to see them all dead. In a way, Izuku was too, but should he have? They were all supposed to be Heroes, yet here they were… cheering at genocide.

In the end, that was what the Monarchs and Rulers had brought them. Death. Humans, and Chaos World Inhabitants alike.

The monsters seemed to have a violent streak, but Legia's warriors were not at all cruel. It made Izuku wonder what would've happened if neither Monarchs nor Rulers ever existed. Would humanity have ever found out about the Chaos World or the incomprehensible forces behind the universe? It was unlikely. Perhaps both sides would've lived out their days in peace.

Izuku briefly considered something as those thoughts flitted through his mind. He already had the power of many gods inside him. If he went around the universe, killing every being he found, Primordials and such… would it be enough power to turn back time? To before the Monarchs or Rulers? If he killed both sides then… maybe?

But no. He couldn't. It was entirely likely that path would lead to no positive outcome. He would simply become a monster along the way, abandoning the people he had left in life.

"My Liege?" Bellion directed at him, sensing the incredibly potent bloodlust pouring off him.

Izuku didn't answer and instead finished off the monsters in China. It was almost pathetic how easy it was to end them all. It felt anti-climatic to end the last of the Monarch's forces so quickly, but that was reality.

It took just five minutes, teleporting around and stealing the Spiritual Essence of all those monsters. And when he was done, he teleported once more, ending up back in Canada, the ashes of his family settled by then.

Now… he finally let himself fall to his knees. Humanity was saved, but he had lost almost everyone important to him. The face of his adopted daughter blinked through his head, "How can I face her? She's already been through so much… and… now I have to tell her that I failed… that I let the only other people she's known as family down… that I let them die?"

His vision drifted over to the dust. He could still see remnants of their Spiritual Essence above the dust. It was only hanging there because of his presence, the call that the Shadow Monarch demanded of all the dead.

If he just said one word… he could bring them back. He could… make them look human right? There had to have been some sort of magic for that.

"Ari…" He slammed his fist into the ground, stopping himself short.

Izuku was ashamed he had even let a single syllable escape his mouth. Rumi had specifically told him that herself, nor any of the other girls wanted to be brought back as Shadows.

"No…" he muttered to himself, "It's not supposed to end like this!" Izuku lifted his head to the skies and roared, "MANIA!"

"Oh?" A voice said behind him, "Are you ready to accept my deal?"

Izuku spun around, the human manifestation of Mania, the Primordial of Death, floated behind him. "Take the power of the Monarchs and Rulers! Bring back my family!"

"I must say, that display… killing all the Monarchs' forces, quite impress-" Izuku was holding her by the throat now, a Shadow-made broadsword in his hands. "Hehe," She giggled, "You may be stronger than when you first met me, but even that ultimate power of yours can't absorb Death herself." Her body became intangible and drifted away from Izuku's fingers. "But I am still willing to fulfill my deal. Now, which ones did you want resurrected."

"All of them!"

Mania tilted her head, "Ah, I suppose we never got to finish our talk. I informed you that bringing a soul back to its body, reconnecting the two, was a godlike task that both myself and my husband are not inherently capable of. The energy you have gathered in your body… well, it may be enough for three lives."

Izuku's eyes widened, "No… then… take the Shadow Soldiers! And what about the Monarch's minions! I took all of their energy as well!"

"Hmm, the minions will provide some sustenance, but your soldiers are worthless. Their souls have already been tainted by your reanimation of them. They will provide me with no power for such an action."

"T-Then what if I fed you more energy over time? I could find other sources of ene-"

"You misunderstand Shadow Monarch," Mania said with a smile, "This deal is a limited time offer. If you chose to hold onto the energies of the Monarchs and Rulers until some time later, then perhaps I would still accept them, as such souls are quite tasty. But by that time, my power will be restored and I'll have no need for any other energy."

"S-So then… even with all this… only three…"

Mania nodded

Izuku shook his head, "I… No! I won't pick and choose who in my family gets to live!" He thought back to Ryukyu, Tsukauchi, "I want more than just them to live!"

Mania shrugged, "Sorry, but life simply isn't that easy."

Izuku cast his gaze at the ground, dust filling his vision, "My soul…"

"Hmm?"

"My energy… what if you took that as well?"

Mania smiled, "Such a tempting offer. A live Spiritual Essence like yours is far more substantial than a dead one like the fifteen inside of you. Hundreds of times more so in fact. It may just suffice to bring back all of those that you wish. But… it would not be a deal you'd be willing to take."

"Why not?!" Izuku shouted, "Just take what you need from me! Leave me just enough to survive and bring everyone back!"

"I'm afraid it's not so simple. Once my Essence touches another to feast upon it, I cannot stop. If you offer me your Essence, I shall consume it until there is nothing left. You will die. Is that a deal you'd be willing to take?"

Izuku took just a moment to utter, "Yes."

Mania's eyes went wide, "Truly? You'd sacrifice godhood… just to bring back a few people?" She truly seemed shocked

Izuku shrugged half-heartedly, "I don't like it… I want to live… but… my life for my entire family? The math is simple."

She chuckled, "Shrouding this choice in logic so that you don't have time for your baser instincts to refuse the deal?"

"No," Izuku shook his head, "I accept the deal…"

Mania became truly serious, "Then, you will have your full pick of people to resurrect. But… I must be certain. I cannot do this without a Being's express permission, a restriction placed upon me by the Absolute Being… This process will be painful, irreversible… and no soul that I've touched has ever lived. Once this begins, it will end. Are you certain that it is smart to leave this world undefended? Rulers and Monarchs and their forces. Those are not the only threats in the universe."

Izuku nodded, "The Shadows. They won't have their regeneration if they don't have my Mana… but, they're strong. And I have plenty of my own Primordials now, Earth will be safe."

Mania nodded, "Then, I shall begin and trade your life, for the lives of your family."

"W-Wait… There's one last thing I have to do." Mania must've seen the determination in his eyes. She acquiesced and he blinked out of existence.

Izuku emerged in the Bastion, where Eri hid in the corner. "Eri…"

She gasped, recognizing the voice, spinning around, her pale face regaining some color. "Daddy!" She leapt into his arms, carrying not for the Shadow flesh he was made out of. "H-He came here… he took them!"

"I know… I know…" He soothed, "It's okay. Everyone's going to be okay." They remained like that for a moment, Eri crying as Izuku held back his own emotions. "Everyone's going to be okay," Izuku repeated, "But… I need to make sure of it. And… I'm not sure when I'll be back. So, I need to say goodbye… Eri."

"W-Where do you need to go?!"

"Where mom, and Nejire, and Aunt Rumi, and everyone else is… to make sure they come back here… to you."

"B-But you will come back… right?"

"I…" Izuku steeled himself, "I don't know. Your dad's pretty strong, but even he doesn't know if he can get outta this one."

"T-Then don't go!"

"I have to," Izuku apologized, "For our family. But don't worry… everyone else will always be here for you. Even if I'm not."

"I don't want you to go!"

"Me neither…" Izuku thought as he looked down at her. "I love you, Eri."

"I love you too!" Tears were now pouring again, but Izuku was afraid that if he stayed any longer… he'd lose his will.

"I'm so sorry." He teleported back to Canada, where Mania waited.

"You're… certain you need my Essence?" His expression was completely blank.

"I cannot subside it with the energy I have remaining in my weak vessel. You must give up your living Spiritual Body for it."

"W-Will there be a period before it kills me? So I can… say goodbye?"

Mania said nothing for a moment, "There will be a brief moment."

Izuku let out a heavy sigh and crouched down where the dust rested, "Do it."

"Goodbye Ashborn, your existence was frustrating… and incredibly interesting." Mania blinked out of existence, making Izuku wonder if anything was happening at all. But before the thought could even finish, a lance of pain pierced his mind.

He roared, every injury up till now merely just a scratch compared to this agony. This was what it was like to have some eat away at your Spiritual Essence while it still lived. "Gah…" Izuku gasped out a sob as his wings were eaten away, dissolving into a fine mist of light.

At first, all he had to show for it was pain. But mercifully, the light rested on the dust, building it back up to the body it once was. When his wings were gone, Momo and Rumi's bodies were recovered, but they stood with blank faces, their souls not yet implanted.

The burning moved onto his legs, dissolving them from the toes up. He tried not to scream out. He wasn't sure when they'd regain their consciousness, but he didn't want to let them know the pain he was in. It was so painful, that by the time it reached his knees, he didn't even realize that all three of the girls were screaming his name.

He finally looked up, Nejire, Rumi, and Momo, crouched down and asked him what was wrong.

He let out a relieved laugh, fighting off the pain as his hands came up to caress their faces, "Ahh… I'm so glad… You're all… alive…"

"What did you do?!" Rumi asked in a panic as his body continued to disintegrate, building up the bodies of Sakura, Inko, and Hisashi.

"So-Sorry. I-I knew you'd be… upset with me," He grunted out, "But I just couldn't… I couldn't live without you guys."

"Whatever this is… stop it!" Momo cried, seemingly at no one.

"Could she… know about Mania?" Izuku wondered in a haze. He'd never told anyone about her. But he brushed off the thought. "Th-The Gates are closed… and everything's… g-gone. You don't have to worry… Th-The Shadows will always be here to protect you."

"STOP IT!" Momo shouted again.

Izuku groaned as the virus-like spread reached his torso, "I… can't." Using the last of his strength, he lurched forwards, wrapping all three in his arms, "Look after them all for me. Tell them I'm sorry… and that I love them." He gestured to Sakura, Hisashi, and Inko. Their souls were implanted, but they wouldn't wake. Izuku wasn't sure why, but he had a feeling that Mania had used up some of her own energy just to make sure the girls would be awake and there wasn't enough to wake the others.

It simultaneously felt like one last gift and one last jab at him. But he didn't complain. He just held the girls tighter. Nejire and Momo wouldn't stop crying. Rumi just stared off blankly into the distance, "You gotta… live without me," He said to her, "I couldn't do it… but I know you're stronger than me… all of you… have overcome so much more than I have. So please… try to live as best as you can."

His arms were taken, then his neck, "I'm so happy, that I got to save you all. I love you so much." Then, his mouth was taken, and all he could do was show them a smile in his eyes before his Essence was completely dissolved and Izuku Midoriya… ceased to be.