The sun was shining down upon them. The light of the Sun, normally a painful and blinding sight, affected Eros differently. His eyes were designed to process light in an advanced fashion, so he could simply stare at the sun like it was the screen of a phone or a computer. Sure it would bother him eventually, but right now? He relished it.
Today was the day. He had prophecised it like it was the end of days, but today was finally the day that the League of Villains was going to attack UA High.
Armed with his full repertoire of powers once again, Eros was curious to see what kind of challenges, if any, he would face. He knew that he was incredibly powerful, so most of the students would be no problem for him, but he knew that the staff would be specifically trained to deal with individuals like himself and the other Villains.
He thought that it was a shame that All Might had burned himself out, unable to compete at all, much less at his full power, something that All For One made sure of. He would have loved for a chance to test himself against the Symbol of Peace at his greatest. Nobody on this planet hadn't heard of the man and his abilities, even a group as introverted and small as the Ritter.
However, he knew that Izuku Midoriya was All Might's successor. Between his captivity and limited time free of his shackles and even more limited time as a completed being, he couldn't recall how he came across the information, but he had. Surely it was his Angel, Frau Kyoka Jiro. He wondered if she'd be at the school when they attacked it, his own agenda far different from his 'allies'.
As the huge group neared the school, Eros noticed that his partner, the pyromancer that called himself 'Dabi', had fallen to walking next to him. The two of them had an odd bond, but their mutual interest and respect in one another kept them closer than most pairs amongst the League.
"You're really going through with it, aren't you?" he asked, and Eros nodded, his seven colored eyes glancing to the sun once again. He was worried at first that his body wouldn't be able to adjust to his powers at their fullest, but then remembered exactly what his abilities were and that they technically required no adjustment.
Because like some other Quirks, his own allowed him to fuel himself with something outside of the norm. Light itself was fuel for him, so staring at the sun and absorbing it's rays, working with a pyromancer, even eye contact all supplied him with energy to carry out the will of Lord God Almighty.
"I still await your decision, Brother Dabi. Yours is a friendship I would like to keep." he mused, and the pyromancer only chuckled dryly. They had a deal of sorts, that Dabi would consider joining Eros in his deluded quest against the League and his corrupt homeland in return for being told about Eros' Quirk.
He wasn't sure how to feel about the information, because there was so much of it. The short explanation made little sense, but it stumped the patchwork villain even more when Eros elaborated. Could he really work with someone whose limits he couldn't even guess?
For the rest of the students, this was an odd time. They were all calm, relieved to be done with this odd vanguard mission that scattered them all about. They were heading back slowly but surely, expecting to see the smiling faces of their friends and brothers in arms waiting for them.
Perhaps they'd use their days off from school to gather together, or even visit family? It was something that crossed all of their minds, even Izuku Midoriya. He was mostly looking forward to the opportunity to speak to All Might, and to ask him what he knew about the Ritter from his days traveling the world saving everyone far and wide.
For Kyoka Jiro, it was the chance to finally relax, being on edge the entire time that she was on this mission, especially when she was confronted with Psylocke of all creatures. She just wanted to grab her guitar and lock her door for a couple of days.
For Raphael of the Ritter Der Gotter, it was more selfish. He wanted to go out, buy himself some new clothes, get his uniform stitched back up and re-tailored, and to spend more time with Katsuki, who he had taken quite the liking to in comparison to Jebediah or Till.
Eros cast a sad gaze upon UA High.
With a raspy roar from the throat of the hyena like Shigaraki, the League and their odd masked allies went on the attack.
Eros took up the rear of the group, simply watching and waiting for more and more chaos as buildings began to quiver, screams slowly starting to ring out as the villains spread across the grounds, Eros completely numb to the suffering of the innocent in this moment. He had one singular goal.
Flames erupted across the battlefield, shimmering and glistening almost like rays of light, Eros shifting his attention immediately. This was exactly what he was looking for. The one singular person here that he wanted to test himself against.
When he approached, he stepped to the side, watching the burnt carcass of some faceless villain fly past him, his eyes not moving from his target.
"It has been far too long, Captain."
The leader of the Ritter Der Gotter frowned, staring ahead at Eros, who he knew was amongst the enemies' number for some reason. He hated looking at him like an enemy, a sinner to be purged for the greater good, but this was what it had come to.
"Eros… to see you like this brings me great sadness." he said, and Eros sighed, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulder. He had changed his garb from the uniform he wore when he was shackled, his unusual outfit something that Ezekiel isn't used to seeing him wear.
"There is no reason to be saddened. I am finally free, restored to the full extent of my abilities by the death of Psylocke. This is an occasion for joy." he said, and Ezekiel sighed as he raised his blade, leveling it at someone he once considered a son to him.
"For the Lord."
Eros nodded, crossing himself and inhaling.
"Amen."
The trains carrying all of the UA students and estranged staff back towards the school had halted at a nearby stop, something that puzzled all of them. When Gang Orca's phone began to blare, he picked it up immediately, grunting out a greeting hastily.
"WHAT!?"
The loud, awestruck scream from their teacher made the students hesitate, Orca's hands clenched into fists. "We'll be there as fast as we possibly can!" he shouted, looking to the students with a fiery gaze.
"Leave your shit here, we have to move!" he shouted, none of his assigned students bothering to question him or hesitate, following him at top speed through the train station back above ground.
They weren't the farthest away when their train was stopped, but they could still see what brought Gang Orca such intense alarm. They were bolting in the direction of buildings burning and smoking, screaming and blaring sirens. There was some form of terroristic attack, and it was coming from the direction of UA High School.
The 'Vollstandig Quirk' of Ezekiel Brent gave out, his defeated form crumpling to the ground, battered and covered in wounds. Eros simply looked to his Captain before dropping to a knee.
"I beg your forgiveness, Captain. I am indebted to you for giving me this opportunity to see if my Quirk still functioned correctly." he said, and Ezekiel coughed, spitting blood on the ground as he realized that he was going to be of little use for the rest of this conflict. Why, exactly, would Eros specifically target him?
He watched Eros walk away, covered in burns that slowly healed as he walked through the burning buildings and torched trees, sighing as he cast one last glance back to his foster father before the consciousness faded from his being. The Captain of the Ritter had fallen and none of Eros' brothers knew.
As the war raged, the estranged students were slowly making their ways back to the campus grounds, only to be ambushed by the Shie Hassaikai, battered before they could even see the true extent of their friends' suffering. Very few managed to fight through the masked demons that strove to snuff them out before they could become a factor.
Amongst this number was Gang Orca's group, the enraged teacher able to barrel through the meager enemies they faced along the way. They were met up by the other Ritter, who had Bakugo with them as well. Kaminari had fallen behind with Todoroki's group, choosing to aid them instead since the other three didn't seem to need his help.
With the three Ritter reunited, they all exchanged glances, meant to convey many things quickly. The group, now likely large enough to overcome every threat, continued pressing on. They were making for the center of the chaos, wondering what kind of horrors they would find in the center of this diabolical storm.
Sirens blared as ambulances rushed to aid the injured and wounded, police close behind to arrest any incapacitated villains. There were a few local heroes as well, but nothing that could put a dent in the larger force that waited at the heart of the beast.
As they made their way closer, the Ritter veered off, rushing in a different direction that the rest of them, except Gang Orca, followed.
What they found was Ezekiel laid out, battered and defeated on the ground.
"Captain!"
Raphael bolted ahead, using his Quirk to enhance his speed to pick his teacher, his leader, his father figure off of the ground. He stirred, coughing and grimacing at the pain he was in. His eyes barely fluttered open, seeing the Ritter huddling over him.
He chuckled, making himself cough in pain before sighing. His eyes moved to them, and he managed a small smile.
"What happened!?" Raphael shouted, sounding desperate to figure things out, Izuku, Bakugo, Monoma and Jiro unable to understand his foreign shouts and cries.
"I… I failed. He was too powerful."
Raphael grit his teeth, his temper flaring. Who could do this? Captain Ezekiel was one of the most powerful men in all of Germany, if not the entire European continent. There was a very small list of people who could batter him this badly.
"He doesn't look so good." they heard, their gazes darting to the sound of the voice, seeing a pair of villains approaching them, setting them all on edge.
One of them was tall and lean, with odd purple patchwork about his flesh and crystalline eyes. Izuku and Bakugo recognized him, taking an immediate defensive stance at the sight of him.
His ally was a huge man in a white shirt with wild hair and an odd mask about his face, wearing some form of gauntlets about his monstrous hands. He was obviously a trained individual, someone with an exceptional amount of physical capability that they would have a hard time putting down without something like Raphael's light or Bakugo's explosions.
"Did you heretics do this!?"
Jebediah grit his teeth, immediately kicking his 'Vollstandig' into action, azure wings exploding from his back as the sounds of a harp began to ring out, his hands balling into fists as his wings pulsated loudly, making hideous noises along to the sounds of his racing heart and boiling blood.
The huge masked man rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck, chuckling and growling in excitement. "And if it was?"
Jebediah surged forward, using the waves of sound like a physical force, propelling himself faster as his fist connected with the mask of the large man, who stumbled back.
He grit his teeth, throwing a bullet like punch that Jebediah avoided with ease. He clapped his hands, a huge wave of sounds ringing out that force the pyromancer and all of his allies back, stunning his opponent.
Till grabbed Ezekiel from Raphael, looking to his younger brother in arms. "I can handle the Captain. Jebediah needs to be reigned in." he said. Raphael nodded, his wings erupting from his back as he darted forward. He was stopped by the pyromancer, a wall of azure flames preventing him from reaching Jebediah.
Till glanced to Monoma and the rest of the UA students. "Monoma, aid me in getting the Captain to safety. The rest of you, either join the fight or flee with us." he said, the three students glancing between each other and then to the battlefield.
They saw Jebediah suffer a massive blow, using a wave of sound to cushion the impact and reduce the damage he sustained. Raphael wasn't faring much better, watching the pyromancer deflect all of his projectile attacks with his flames, the long ranged fight at a stalemate.
"What should we do?" Kyoka asked, looking to her two strongest classmates. She couldn't be of much assistance in this high caliber of a battle, but seeing Jebediah and Raphael struggle like this made her want to help.
Bakugo grit his teeth, throwing his arms back and leaning forward like a lion ready to pounce.
"We get the fuck in there."
Explosions rang from his palms, sending him flying forward into the fray, allowing Raphael to close in. The attack distracted the pyromancer, Deku inhaling and activating his Full Cowling as he moved to back up Jebediah, Kyoka not far behind.
Raphael swung his sword, his blinding pink cloak of light making Dabi squint, frowning as he spun and coated himself in flames, protecting himself from the attacks before jumping back. He scowled, not liking his odds in this fight. He had two opponents who loved to rush their foes, and he was the type to be content at mid to long range.
He decided that he needed to separate the two, who had oddly good chemistry, forcing him to simply bob and weave about while formulating a plan. He looked to the pink angel, opening both of his hands and inhaling.
A massive torrent of flames barreled from his palms, forcing the angel into a defensive stance, using his wings to protect his skin from being seared off, the distraction allowing Dabi to close in. He could hear the other kid behind him, and just as he planned, he waited until he could feel the heat of Bakugo's palm on the back of his neck before ducking.
The explosion blew the three of them back, Raphael slamming to the ground as his cloak began to fade, his arm completely singed and his bones destroyed. Bakugo was stunned, not expecting his opponent to turn his attack on his friend, his anger beginning to boil as he turned back to the lean villain.
"I'm gonna blow your insides apart for that."
On the other side of the battlefield, the villain known as Kendo 'The Rapper' Rappa was having a much harder time. Dealing with a bunch of annoying kids already aggravated him, but with one of them attacking him from long range, one being too fast for him to catch and the third flying around, he wasn't in the best mood.
He used his behemoth forearms and blocked the fast kid, a glowing little bastard with huge insect like eyes. He rolled his shoulders with the action, his Quirk causing that motion to speed up his attacks, allowing him to knock the boy back with a punch, his focus turning to the girl who was making the ground quiver by plugging her mutant earlobes into the earth.
He made for her, the blue angel flying down to protect the female, something that the large villain anticipated, leaping into the air and balling his fists, clobbering the angel to the ground, his body bouncing into the female and sending them tumbling away. He rolled his shoulders again. This was a little easier than he thought it'd be.
With Raphael out of commission, and Jebediah injured and Ezekiel defeated, it was looking grim for the Ritter, who were relatively useless to their three UA allies. Kyoka managed to get to her feet, gripping one of her ears and wincing at the damage she suffered, only Deku and Bakugo being in good condition for the most part.
Raphael rolled to a sitting position, growling loudly and angrily at the pain in his arm. "Shit!" he screamed, angered further that the pain caused him, a man of God, to swear. He rose back to his feet, ignoring the blinding pain in his arm and looking to Jebediah. The two injured Knights wouldn't give in yet. It would take their deaths to stop these heretics, men who took credit for striking down their Captain.
Deku and Bakugo slowly gained the upper hand as the fight dragged on, Dabi tiring easily and beginning to overheat from his own Quirk, Kendo unable to deal much damage due to his vastly lower speed. The two of them were beginning to get agitated, coming back to back as the Angels limped their way onto the battlefield.
"What do you wanna do Big Guy?" Dabi asked, and Kendo grit his teeth. He was annoyed because of the fact that he was dealing with Quirks that differed from his. Anything that wasn't sheer physical enhancement was a pain for him to deal with, and he'd prefer to beat someone to death in a cage than have to deal with these flippy dippy kids and their fancy Quirks.
"I'm gonna fight until someone's in the ground!" he shouted, rolling his shoulders and lashing out at Bakugo, who stepped back. Deku jumped off his friend's shoulders, his reinforced iron boot whirling in an arc before crashing into Kendo's skull, dazing him and shattering his jaw as he stumbled, the monstrous fighter refusing to fall until his heart or body gave out.
Dabi didn't fare too well either, his body overheating from excessive use of his Quirk, the lone drawback that nagged at him his entire life. He glanced to the heart of the battle, noticing that it was taking Shigaraki much, much longer than anticipated.
Bakugo moved for Dabi, screaming and using his explosions to vault himself at the pyromancer with a flying kick, one with far more acceleration than he was anticipating, his arms coming up to at least protect his sternum from being obliterated.
A fist connected with Bakugo's jaw, sending him crashing to the ground and halting the battle immediately.
A cracking neck was heard, and then a dramatic sigh as a pair of vibrant eyes looked to the explosive student, humming to himself.
"I do wish there would be more weapon baring Heroes, it feels cheap to grind the rust from my blades with someone's flesh." he mused, his eyes looking to the injured angels.
A beaming smile spread across his face, his arms spreading wide as he looked to the duo. "Brothers! It truly has been far too long!"
Jebediah and Raphael were unable to move, shocked to their core at the sight before them.
With Kendo and Dabi retreating behind Eros, the rainbow eyed Villain looked to them. "Join the main force or find someplace to rest. We're not done yet." he said, the two of them nodding silently, aware that this was all going according to the insane Villain's plan.
He looked to the five of them, his injured brothers and the three UA students, including the one he called his 'Angel', Kyoka Jiro. He inhaled, rolling his own shoulders and holding his hand in front of him.
"Do you remember when they stated that my Quirk was 'Fleetwood Mac'? That was not a lie. Fleetwood Mac is a portion of my Quirk." he mused, a shimmering light flashing as a sickening blade took shape.
It looked odd to them, a broad handle like a rapier and a forked blade that came up to a singular broad slap of metal with an axe like beard, the texture all wrong for a weapon, much like the shimmering cerulean eye on the blade. It almost looked like a key, an odd thing that appeared like it was meant to open the gates to Hell itself.
And, much like they anticipated, there was a keychain dangling from the odd handle, in the shape of a flower with a cerulean eye, Eros looking to the blade fondly before inhaling.
"It is rather amusing to me that this is the blade I will defeat you all with." he mused, running his free hand along the blade, the group seeing the sharp edges lightly cut into his fingers, a smile spreading across his face.
The Ritter couldn't recognize this vile creature that delighted in the thought of defeating them and it's own pain. It was truly sickening to see their brother like this, and it lit a fire within their damaged bodies to get back into the fight, their raging emotions forcing their cloaks back about them, Jebediah brandishing a shining club in one hand and a shield in the other and Raphael brandishing his blade.
"This blade is one that I didn't often use because of it's sinful appearance. It is even more amusing to me because this fiendish blade that I will defeat you all with is called 'The End of Pain'."
Seven colored irises locked onto them, the cheshire grin ever present as he dashed forward, signaling the beginning of his battle against these five Angels of UA High.