"If you don't want to die slowly and horribly-Then this one suggests two things… Hide… Or die…"
Jaeger and the others couldn't believe the announcement they had just heard as the PA, cut off with a screech. They didn't even know what they should think about the situation at hand. The only thing they did know-Was the threat, had been real.
As the announcement had finished they had found a room that appeared to have been coated with fresh blood as they found five dead bodies inside; plastered with only horrified looks in their eyes.
"Shit-" Wan said, as she brushed her fingers through her hair, "-Shit, shit, shit!"
"I thought I was the crazy one." Riichi said.
"Who-Who are these people?" Kiyo asked with a trembling voice.
"Are-" Nanami said horrified, "-Are these people… Tau's men?"
"... They were." Was all Jaeger had replied.
They soon jumped as the lights had suddenly turned off. They quickly got on their flashlights and lanterns as they had illuminated the very hall they were in.
"What's happening?" Nira asked.
"The lights just went off." Valentine replied as he took Nira's hand.
"Why the hell would they do that?" Kiyo asked.
"To give themselves the advantage." Jaeger quickly concluded, "Whoever these people are, may not know the kind of Quirks we have. They want to attempt to thin out the numbers so they have a chance of taking the young Master."
"Okay, that sounds really bad." Nira said.
Kiyo groaned, "... None of this makes any sense. What the hell could they want with her?"
"That person said she's the key to something." Valentine said, "Does anyone know what that means?"
"I don't know and I don't care." Nanami said, shocking most of them, especially with the cold look she had in her eyes, "Whoever these guys are, they're out to get my little sister. I just got her back and I am NOT letting these bastards take her away and do what they want with her."
"So then what the hell should we do?" Riichi asked.
"I'm gonna go find her!" Nanami said as she went off, "You guys can do whatever the hell you want!"
"Nanami!" Jaeger tried to call out. Though by time he did, she had already rounded the corner. "Damn it!" He cursed.
"Okay Leader, Now what?" Wan asked
Jaeger clicked his tongue as he said, "It can't be helped, huh?" He soon turned to the group, "We stick to our original plan for now. We protect our way to communicate and stay alive till morning comes."
"What about those guys?" Valentine asked, "From the way that girl was talking she could be with those two that attacked us below earlier."
"We'll deal with them when it happens." Jaeger said, before he handed Wan a familiar flare gun, "Here-In case we're separated. Let's find a place to hide the desktop for now."
"Right." She said before she pocketed the flare gun.
With that said, the group had started to move back towards the room they had been sleeping in previously. The moment they turned the corner however, a familiar drone had flown past as it appeared to be searching.
(Second Opening Theme: Beastars Opening 1-Wild Side Performed By ALI)
Izuku and Floyd moved as calmly and quietly as possible as they felt along the walls. They could hear Clover just behind them as he appeared to whistling an eerily tune. It had been hard to keep calm as Clover's voice seemed to have echoed like it did before.
And yet they did not falter, and they did not let fear get the better of them.
The only thing they did to keep themselves calm was keep deep breaths and think of things that would keep them calm, and kept taking deep breaths.
"Alright. I think we can do this." Floyd said in his thoughts as he felt for a set of doors, "No, we can definitely do this. We're going to get out of this, and we're gonna go home with Reina-chan! Together!"
Floyd soon felt a pair of double doors as he had gotten Izuku to stop in his tracks. He started to feel around the door before he found a metal handle just as they could hear Clover again.
"Oh little flies~" He said, "Clover is getting close to finding you~!
Floyd soon gave it a turn as they could hear a soft click from the door.
"Oh my God!" Floyd mouthed with relief before he took a moment to celebrate.
He and Izuku soon went inside as they quickly shut the door behind them. Through the darkness they noticed how big and spacious; they had been in one of the presentation rooms.
Floyd had a somewhat shocked look as he couldn't help but exclaim through sign, "Seriously?! That could have helped us, ya know?!"
"Floyd-san, we'll worry about that later!" Izuku signed, "We have to hurry and get a trap ready!"
"Lay it on me Izu-" Floyd signed, "-What's your plan?!"
Izuku soon looked around the room wondering what they could use, until he spotted a set of curtains. He motioned Floyd towards them as he seemed to have understood. They quickly went to the curtains before they started to tie it together.
Floyd quickly drew up a set of rope as he tossed it over a wooden beam; soon afterwards he started to tie the ropes to the curtains, making a net. They started to lay about the curtains along the floor, before using the debris to hide it until-
"LITTLE FLIES, LITTLE FLIES~WHERE ARE YOU HIDING~?"
Izuku and Floyd flinched before they rushed towards the large podium as they hid behind it. Just as they did, they could hear the door had been broken open as they could hear him giggle.
"Remember-" Izuku soon whispered to Floyd, "-Steady your heartbeat."
Floyd nodded as he started to take slow and deep breaths as Clover started to look around the room. They could hear the sound of his sheers clicking together as he spun them on his finger. The boy's not once didn't lose their nerve, as they had continued to take deep breaths, thinking of the things that made them relax.
Izuku soon started to move from the podium, keeping low as he kept as quiet as possible before he went to get in position. He could hear Clover move in front of them as he let out a sadistic giggle.
He took another deep breath, "One for All-Full Cowling-."
His Quirk started to activate as he readied to flick his fingers. Though for a moment he could feel the scenery change around him to a different part of the inn as it made him jump.
"What?! It's happening again?!" He thought.
"Again!? But how?!"
Izuku jumped slightly at the sound of a familiar voice as he realized what had happened when they looked in a broken mirror; he had been startled when he saw it had been someone familiar. But it seemed like she had been aware of it as well.
"Reina-chan!?" He exclaimed
"Izuku-kun?!" He heard Reina shout.
"FOUND YOU LITTLE FLY!" He soon heard Clover shout.
He was soon tackled by Clover as he was sent to the floor. Clover went to stab him with his shears though Izuku managed to catch his wrist as it was just inches from his.
"Izuku-kun!?" He could hear Reina shout in his head, "Izuku-kun!? What's happening?! How are you in my head right now?!"
"Reina-chan!" Izuku soon spoke aloud as he dodged the shears blades, before he took hold of his wrist again, "I would love to answer your question, really, but I'm kind of busy if you can't tell!"
"You're busy!?" He heard him say, "I'm the one freaking out right now!"
"Wait-You can't see what's-" He started to ask, before he dodged the shears again, but he ended up crying out in pain when he felt the shears go through his shoulder.
"Clover got a hit~!" Clover said with a giggle, "Clover wonders how long this one will last?"
"LET HIM GO!" Floyd shouted as he whipped up a sledgehammer with his paintbrush and began to make shift before he gave Clover a whack causing him to crash into the wall.
"IZUKU!" Floyd exclaimed as he rushed to his aid. "Now bite on to this." He gave him a cloth as he was told.
"Floyd-san, what are you-"
Izuku yelped in pain as Floyd took the shears off him at a fast pace.
"Sorry!" He said as he tossed them aside, "I'll treat you when we survive this!"
"Izuku-kun?" He could hear Reina say in his head, "Izuku-kun what's happening?! Talk to me, please!"
"Reina-chan!" Izuku told her as he had been speaking aloud again, "I know it's scary but you need to calm down! Okay?"
"Reina-chan?" Floyd said shocked, "Wait, are you hearing her right now?! How?!"
"Hey you-" Clover said as he got up with a cut cheek and a bloodied mouth and nose. "You played rough with Clover-So now Clover has to play rough with you!"
As Clover charged at Floyd. The young male pushed Izuki out of the way as he grabbed the shears tossed on the floor and attempted to cut him, lucky he only got a nick on his face, though what he didn't anticipate was Clover giving a surprise kick before stabbing one of his legs as he gave a scream.
"FLOYD-SAN!" Izuku shouted with worry.
Izuku soon activated his quirk again as he started to rush towards him as he sparked with green lighting.
"SMASH!" He shouted before he punched Clover across the face as it had sent him flying. He had crashed into a set of debris as some of it had managed to pierce his skin making him shriek.
"Floyd-san!" Izuku exclaimed as he had gotten him to stand, "We gotta lead him into the trap!"
"I know, I know!" Floyd said as he cringed at the wound, "I'll get his attention, you do your thing!"
Izuku nodded before he went to get in position, just as Floyd had readied his weapon. Clover seemed to have bursted out of the debris as his smile seemed to be more deranged then before.
"SO MUCH FUN! SO MUCH FUN!" Clover shouted as he readied his shears, "IT'S CLOVER'S TURN!"
He soon launched himself in Izuku's direction though he had been quickly blocked by Floyd. His brush was in the form of a Nagatana.
"Hey Buddy! Here's Payback for stabbing my leg!" Floyd shouted as she spun it and gave his knee a gash as he shrieked before he kicked him away from Izuku's direction and the two began to clash.
"Clover sees! Clover knows!" Clover said with a deranged smile. "This one is like her isn't he?!"
"She?" Floyd asked as he blocked the sheers. "Who is she?"
Clover only laughed, "Clover won't be a rat! Clover isn't a snitch! If this one wants to know-Then this one will have to see!"
He soon gave him a kick in the stomach as he let out a gag as he rolled across the floor. "But until this one meets her-Let's play a little longer~!" Clover said as he laughed before charging at Floyd again.
Floyd soon performed a breakdancing like move before he delivered a double kick to his gut causing him to gag and spit out saliva. Floyd quickly uppercutted Clover giving him a noticeable bruise under his jaw as he ended up stumbling.
Floyd quickly drew up a boot just as Clover charged at him once more. Just as he was ready to stab him with his shears, he shoved the boot right in Cloer's face as he broke his nose causing him to cry out in agony.
"No Fair!" Clover exclaimed. "This one is not making this game fair!"
"Dang, I can't believe that worked…" Floyd said genuinely surprised
Clover let out a battle cry as he charged at him again only for Floyd to dodge his attacks as he moved quickly.
"Huh I guess under that scary persona. You lose your cool when the cards are stacked against you." Floyd said as Clover kept attacking with him dodging
Floyd then swiped the boot hard as Clover had blocked it with his hand-Only the boys' heard when they heard a loud snap. Floyd had been quick to realize that he had broken Clover's wrist.
Floyd's jaw dropped slightly as Clover ended up dropping his shears.
"Uh-" Floyd said as he was genuinely trying to process what had just happened, "-I'm so-"
Floyd and Izuku had been even more in shock by what had happened next. The scorpion boy before them started to cry, almost as if he had been that of a child.
"It hurts!" Clover cried as he had gotten into a fetal position, "-It hurts! It hurts Spades! Spades it hurts! Clover is hurting!"
"Floyd-san?" Izuku said, "He's-Actually crying."
Floyd had said as he dropped the boot, "Oookay. It might be possible I didn't plan for this. I might've not actually meant to break his wrist. I was trying to knock him out."
"Might've not?!" Izuku said genuinely shocked, "You were just swinging it around just now!"
Floyd had argued, "Fight or Flight response, Izu!" Floyd had soon been taken back, "Wait a minute-Why are we concerned about this?! He's the bad guy!"
"He's the same age as us!" Izuku said, "For all we know someone could've talked him into doing this! And I'm pretty sure heartless monsters don't genuinely cry on cue!"
"He could be faking it!" He argued, "Villains are known to do that! Take it from someone who's had a crazy lady stalk my dad!"
His sobs had gotten louder as it made the boy's freeze up. They looked to Clover as they could see he had been rocking back and forth as he held his wrist close to his chest. They could swear at any moment he was going to have a panic attack which made them pale up.
"Oh my God, he is NOT faking it…" Floyd said, even more shocked as he turned to Izuku, "... What do we do?"
"Well we can't just leave him alone-" Izuku said, "-We can do something for him."
"And that is-?" Floyd asked.
"-We help him."
Floyd nearly choked on his own spit at this as he looked to Izuku shocked, before asking, "Izuku-are you okay?"
"Floyd-san. I know what you're thinking-" Izuku said before looking at Clover who's whimpering, "-But now that I've gotten a better look… Something about this doesn't add up. I don't know what it is but I get the feeling we're not looking at the whole picture. Maybe Reina-chan realized it too. And-He just looks like he needs help right now."
"But I'm the one that broke his wrist!" Floyd exclaimed.
"I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about a different kind of help."
Floyd flinched before he ended up sighing and slouching after one look in Izuku's eyes.
"Even if I tell you no, you'll still do it anyway, huh?" He said, "Why are you and Reina-chan so much alike?" He soon turned over to Clover as he continued to sob and cry.
"I can't believe I'm doing this but-" Floyd said before he took out his sketchbook "-I'm sure you'll love this toy too. I know my siblings were begging Mom and Dad to get them one. You'll like em a lot more than well-You know hurting other people. Trust me."
Clover looked confused at this as Floyd pulled out the toy he had drawn from the pages before he handed it to him. Clover only looked confused by this sort of thing as he looked at the toy oddly.
"Cl-Clover is confused." Clover said as he started to ponder, but they could see that the look on his face, he looked to be in pain, "No! Shut up! Clover is thinking!"
"We didn't say anything-" Floyd said, trying to stay calm.
"CLOVER ISN'T TALKING TO THIS ONE!" Clover shouted aggressively, scaring them before he looked to be in pain again, though this time he had been holding his head.
"Shut up!" Clover shouted as he had been hitting his head, "Clover knows what's at stake! Clover needs to think! So be quiet!"
"It's-Just like Reina-chan…" Izuku said as his expression softened. It was then he had hatched an idea, "Reina-chan! That's it!" He soon stood, "Floyd-san, keep an eye on him, I've got an idea!"
"WAIT WHAT!?" Floyd shouted before Izuku went off, "HEY WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?! THIS ISN'T LIKE BABYSITTING TWINS YOU KNOW?!"
"For now, just-" Izuku started to say, "-Treat his broken wrist, I need to make a call!"
"... What?" Floyd asked, shocked and perplexed as he didn't quite understand what had happened.
Izuku soon had gotten to the hallway as he took a deep breath. "Okay-" He said before he closed his eyes, "-Reina-chan, are you still there? Can you hear me?"
"Izuku-kun!" He could hear her say in his head, "Oh thank God! What's happening over there? For that matter, how is this even happening?!"
Izuku couldn't help but laugh softly as he had been thankful he wasn't imagining it, "We'll figure it out later I promise, but right now-We need your help! Here's what happened!"
Reina had only sent in a spiral of confusion.
It was one thing when she had seen Izuku in some ghostly form, but the fact she had been hearing him right now. Her own hallucinations she had grown used to seeing since she was a child. In fact they just came naturally to her. She didn't mind it as long as other people weren't around, but this-
-This had been DEFINITELY on a whole other level of crazy for her. Especially with the information Izuku had told her.
"...I see." She thought, "So that's the situation right now." Reina couldn't help but tap her head lightly as she had been trying her best to gather her thoughts, "Okay-I need to have a clear head right now…But-" She could only groan internally, "-How can I after what happened just now!? Now Izuku-kun is my head-Or rather I'm in his head!? Just what the hell is happening!?"
"Reina!"
She flinched at the sound of Katsuki's voice as he pulled her down with him. That's when she heard a familiar hum sound just coming down the hall. She, Katsuki, King, Dabi and Tau backed up against the wall as the humming sound had gotten louder.
That was then they saw a drone fly through the halls, as it looked to have a small gauntlet gun attached to it. They kept quiet as it had passed them by as it had been searching.
"That drone-" Reina said softly, "-It belongs to Diamond."
"So that bastard is here too." Dabi said, "That's terrific…"
"A military grade drone." Tau said, "... So that kid is in control of it?"
Reina nodded, "I think it might be his Quirk. The problem is-I'm not sure what the range of it is."
"In other words we're flying blind with this guy." Katsuki said as he clicked his tongue, "Damn. Any ideas?"
"Ri-Right ideas…" Reina said nervously, "... Okay-Uh-" She could feel her body shaking as she tried to think of a plan. Yet her thoughts raced back to Hosu, as she found herself back in a very familiar place.
Katsuki had noticed this as he took her hand, "Don't panic alright." He said to her as he caressed her cheek with his other hand, "I know you can do this."
Reina took a deep breath as she sighed, completely unaware of the fact her odd eye color had returned the moment she blinked. "Okay-" She said calmly, "-First things first-We need to lead him somewhere that's more open. If we try to fight in these halls, we could hurt each other and be at a disadvantage." She soon turned to Dabi, "We're gonna need a diversion. Buy us time and I'll give you a signal so you can lead him back to us."
Dabi nodded, "You got it kid."
As Dabi cracked his neck, before he went to stand out in the open. He gave a whistle as the drone turned to him.
"Looking for me bitch?" Dabi asked the drone with a smirk.
The drone immediately armed itself before it began to open fire on Dabi, as he had been quick to move out of harm's way as he started to run from the drone.
"Come on!" She told Katsuki, King and Tau before they started to move in the opposite direction.
"So, what exactly is the plan here?!" Tau said as they ran down the hall.
"I'm making it up as I go!" She replied as she felt her leg acting up as she nearly tripped, though she managed to maintain her pace. "Stay calm-Stay calm-" She told herself, "-It's gonna be okay! Everything will be okay! It won't end in disaster-"
"You're only playing yourself for a fool Alice…"
Reina froze at the sound of her own voice as she could hear the chains rattling. Everything seemed to have gone in slow motion as she could see herself floating in front of her as the rattling came from a chain attached to her ankle.
"You've been down this road before… Remember?" She said to her, "In Hosu… You failed to save him… This story is like so many others. You know EXACTLY how this is going to end."
She managed to shake it off as she hit her head as she vanished with a blink, "Damn it, just stay quiet!"
She soon stopped in her tracks as she noticed a sign in particular. "I got it!" She said to Katsuki and Tau, "In here!"
They ran inside as they could hear the gunshots just down the hall. They opened the doors to find they had reached what looked to be an indoor pool with a broken roof having a clear view of the clouded night sky.
"Now what?" Katsuki asked her.
"Now-We set up a trap." She replied, "Find anything we can use to make a net or something!"
"You want to set up a trap for these guys?" Tau asked as he had been amused, "You do know they really plan on killing people. You Miss Witch-Have to kill them before they get the chance."
"No!" She told him firmly, "I'm not a villain like you. Tonight-No one dies. Not even them."
Tau only chuckled at this, "That's an impossible wish. Almost as impossible as what your mother wanted for villains like me, even if they were too far gone."
"If she says no one dies-" Katsuki said as he gave Tau a glare, "-Then no one dies. Sides-She will NEVER be a worthless Villain like you."
Tau had told Katsuki giving him the same look of intensity, "If she doesn't kill them, those things will kill us first. DO you REALLY want that for your beloved, boy?"
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME BASTARD?" Katsuki said with a deadly tone in his voice.
"Guys-" Reina told them as she got in between them, "-We get it-You hate each other! Can we please focus?!" She could feel her head give off a faint ring as her surroundings seemed to have changed around her. She had been quick to shake it off, as she took a deep breath, "Now-Please, help me set up the trap!"
Katsuki growled as Tau only possessed an amused smile. "If you try anything-You'll answer to me!" Katsuki told Tau as he went to go and find materials.
Tau had only said with his hands raised, "Don't worry-I won't try anything."
Reina only groaned before she quickly went to work. Though the others didn't seem to realize, the pool had been filled with a familiar black substance.
Dabi managed to put himself behind the wall as the drone fired on him. He took deep breaths as he collected himself.
"Okay-Now or never-" He told himself.
He soon came around the corner as he fired an intense blast of fire just as the drone started shooting at him again. The bullets melted away in an instant as the flames hit the drone dead on. His flames started to melt before it crashed down in the ground.
The drone started to spark and move but to no avail as Dabi stepped out of hiding as he shook out his hand.
"So what?" Dabi called out, "You got scared of what the kid can do so you sent out your drone here to do it for you? Seems cowardly to me!"
The drone finally stopped moving as Dabi kicked away what had remained of it as it hit the wall nearby hard as it finally broke apart.
"I thought you were supposed to be some sort of sophisticated killer!" He taunted, "Not some kid trying to play the part of a big boy! Why don't you come out from where you're hiding and fight like a man?"
The lights in the hall seemed to have come back but only for a few moments as it had put him on alert. He started to use his flames just as-
"If this one insists."
Dabi had been startled by the sound of Diamonds voice, though he had been quick to block it just as Diamond thrusted his metal fist towards him Emitting his blue flames he fired a burst at the young teen which made him flip back quickly as it only managed to singe a part of his hair.
Diamond was quick to charge at him as he had bared his metal claws towards him. Dabi managed to move at the last second though he felt a scratch open up on his arm. He kept on going at him as Dabi noticed he started to move faster and even attempted to hit harder.
"Damn, looks like this guy is getting serious!" Dabi thought as he blocked his attacks, "It'll be bothersome, not to mention humiliating to me if I had my ass handed to me by a kid. I gotta keep up my rep plus-It'll look bad in front of the Firefly."
Dabi soon grabbed a hold of Diamond's wrist as it took the teen by surprise. He soon kicked him underneath the chin before he blasted back with the help of his flames; Diamond quickly blocked them as it only pushed back down the hall due to its force and only managed to partially melt his metal appendage.
Diamond clicked his tongue, "This one is persistent."
Dabi soon took a deep breath before he used his flames on Diamond again. This time he had been quick enough to move out of harm's way. However it only proved to be a diversion as he suddenly found himself flying back when Dabi kicked him in the chest.
He had been hit into a nearby room as it looked to be the kitchen area; his back ended up hitting the counter as he let out a groan before he was quick to move out of harm's way when Dabi used his flames again, by flipping over the counter and getting to cover.
"So what?" Dabi soon said as the flames died down, "Now that you don't have your drone to back up you're suddenly a scared brat?"
"This one isn't afraid." Diamond said calmly, "This one is used to seeing the horrors out here and grew numb to it all."
Dabi stepped in the room and treaded carefully as he kept his guard up. Diamond with ease, as it nearly caught him off guard though he had been quick to move out of harm's way.
"This one is not bad." Diamond said, "That one's Quirk is handy when it comes to long range."
"Hmph, you did your research." Dabi said. "Sounds like you know your stuff."
"This one has many foes like you when he's out there. Therefore this one listened closely."
"Oh really?" Dabi asked, "Then you should know what they say about the deadmen, at least when it comes to me."
Diamond only chuckled before he noticed what had been all around the room. He had a wicked smile on his face as Dabi had gotten closer to where had been hiding. He didn't realize it-His belt seemed to have moved.
"So you might as well give it up-" Dabi told him, "-Without your drone to help you you're as powerless as everyone else in this equivalent of hell."
Diamond chuckled softly again as he cracked his hand. He soon said something that made Dabi stop in his tracks.
"This one is anything… But powerless."
He had been confused at first until-He felt something slice his cheek. Dabi quickly moved himself out of harm's way just as he saw something small and fast suddenly slice through the webbing and wood it had hit.
"The hell?!" Dabi thought as he managed to collect himself, "A blade?! No, there was nothing metallic. So what was-"
Dabi had been taken back when the lights suddenly turned on, though his eyes widened in horror at what he had seen as Diamond stood up from his hiding place. Everything around the room, particularly the dust had manifested into a blade with a simple movement of his hand.
Dabi had a look of realization from what he had been seeing.
"-A-Another Quirk?!"
"Did that one really think-" Diamond said, "-This one only had one, did he?"
Dabi didn't have time to think on it as Diamond sent the dust blade flying right at him; he quickly moved out of harm's way as the dust blade hit the wall.
"Crap-Not good!" Dabi said just as-
"-Gotcha!" Diamond said before Dabi had been taken back when he saw his belt… Uncurl?
"-A stinger?!" Dabi exclaimed before he felt the stinger hit him right in his neck, making him cry out in agony. Dabi quickly used his quirk to get Diamond to block his flames with the help of a dust shield he had been able to manifest in such a short amount of time.
Dabi quickly stood himself up as he couldn't help but have a smirk.
"Well great…" Dabi said, "... Ain't that just peachy? Who would've thought-A guy like you had multiple Quirks under his belt?"
"This one's drone-Was only just for show." Diamond said as his tail swayed, "This one likes to catch his prey by surprise. He doesn't want his prey to know about the quirks he has."
Dabi stood noticing that he had started to stagger and feel a little woozy almost instantly. "So that stinger has poison huh?" He thought, "That clever bastard-He really caught me off guard with that little trick. This really sucks… Good thing the Firefly isn't here to see this."
"That one is wondering isn't he?" Diamond said as Dabi flinched, "How is this feat even possible? This one knows how the world is. No one in this world has multiple Quirks. It's one of the rare among the rare, and impossible."
"Now that you mention-" Dabi said as he could feel the poison start to affect him, "-I am a bit curious. I've never seen a person possess multiple Quirk, let alone a different type. Stuff like that is crap you hear on the internet or rumors or some shit. How is that even possible?"
Diamond stayed silent as he looked at Dabi. He tilted his head back and forth as if he had been debating about something in his head.
"This one supposes he deserves to hear-" Diamond soon said as Dabi looked a bit surprised, "-Considering he protected Alice the whole time."
"There's that term again." Dabi thought, "If I remember she said it was a nickname. The one thing I can't figure out-What does she have to do with all of this? What could they want with her?"
"This one wonders if he has heard-" Diamond soon said as he flinched again, "-About the four siblings who became number one in Japan for a time?"
Dabi looked confused by this sort of thing though he noticed the change of look on Diamond's face when he said such a thing. Diamond started to pace around him as he continued to speak.
"These ones were young-Ambitious-And had hearts pure of gold as the rumors and stories go." Diamond explained, "They were the ones to ever top the first rank even though they were at a young age. These ones came from UA, the birthplace of Heroes and came out as the youngest ever to reach the top. Nothing or no one could stop them… At least-That's what they used to think."
"... Used to think?" Dabi said, a bit surprised.
Diamond had a pause before he spoke again, "... One day… Their lives came to an end… When they encountered a man who possessed the power of many."
"Power of many?" Dabi thought confused, "I can't tell if the guy is actually insane or trying to make sense."
"Those ones didn't know it then-" Diamond said, "-But the man of many had been unlike anything they had ever encountered. They only realized it upon which he had taken them all out in a single strike like they had been nothing but flies. They had been… So close to death, they had tasted it. Yet-The man of many didn't let them die as a mercy. Instead, he kept them-Used them for all sorts of experiments until he abandoned them when he had made progress. Eventually… They became forgotten when he put them all to sleep, and by the time they woke up… They lost their minds, and they were no longer the same."
Diamond soon looked to his metal hand as it sparked slightly with electricity, "This one vaguely remembers that day… The day his original died and this one was born. But compared to then-This one, never felt more alive."
It was then Dabi had been taken back by the term. "Wait a minute-Did you lose your head or something? Because I'm pretty sure you weren't referring to yourself in that little story."
Diamond soon looked at him before he gave a little smile. It was then Dabi seemed to have put it together, as his own look on his face seemed to have changed.
"That day-" Diamond said, "-It would be… Seventy years ago. Years before the Witch came to be-Years before Alice even existed. The man of many has been around longer then one might think. But this one and others know the truth. He is destruction incarnate. Every man, woman and even child that comes by him have all been lead to the same fate as us. They themselves might not even realize it…" Diamond soon possessed a cold look in his eyes, "... These ones knew that truth from long ago. Hero or Villain, who they are doesn't matter… In the end no one played this little game. No one will come out on top in what is to come-" He chuckled, "-Not even the man of many is aware of that fact. This one thinks, even he is that stupid."
Dabi couldn't help but let out a low growl, "I don't give a damn what this man of many is-What does Reina Nouki have to do with it?!"
""This one has already told him-" Diamond said as he sharpened his claws, "-Alice is the key. She is the key-To everything, even if she doesn't know it herself."
"Well tough luck-" Dabi said as he managed to put himself away from Diamond, "-You're never going to get her! The kid is resilient along with that boyfriend of hers!"
Diamond only chuckled at this, "This one is well aware. Though she has already foreseen it. She was waiting for the right moment to strike. And Alice herself has just given all the moments she needed."
It was then it seemed to have clicked for Dabi as his eyes widened in horror and shock. His thoughts seemed to have raced towards the girl he had sworn to protect. Without even thinking, and forgetting about the poison he managed to stand himself back up before running to where she and the others had gone.
Diamond just stood there as he watched Dabi run back. Though he couldn't help but smile.
"Run along now little rabbit…" He said, "... Though it's not like… It'll matter. After all Spades-Is the strongest out of all of us."
Reina, Katsuki and even Tau had managed to get the trap ready as they had it hidden in plain sight for when Diamond returned. King had placed the last of the debris just as Reina felt her head go fuzzy; she stumbled and fell to the floor as she groaned.
"Reina!" Katsuki called out as he ran to her.
Reina soon gave a reassuring smile despite her flushed face, "I-I'll be okay. I just tripped, that's all."
Katsuki immediately felt her forehead which took her back.
"Damn it, it's like you're on fire-" Katsuki said.
"Don't worry." Reina said, "I'll be just fine."
"Like Hell you are!" Katsuki exclaimed as it made her flinch. He soon took a deep breath to calm himself down, "Reina-I know the last thing you want to do is sit still but you need to take a good look at yourself. You're still recovering from those injuries, you have a cast on your leg and arm and not to mention-Your fever has gotten worse then before and you have a broken hand."
"But I can still fight-" Reina argued.
"I know you can!" He told her, "But-You can't push yourself more then you already have-" He soon hugged her, "-I already lost you once, I don't want to take that chance again."
Reina stayed silent at this as she leaned into his embrace; though she only had a look of fear. Her mind raced back to the night in Hosu, and what had happened. Her body shook in his arms.
"But if I sit still-"
Her mind thought to the weeks that had happened in the Underworlds Hell, how Dabi nearly died saving her. Another image passed her by as it had been unclear, but all she could see was she had been reaching out to someone.
"-Even if it's for a moment… I'll-Lose one of you… Forever…"
She had been taken back as when the moment she had blinked, she found a familiar set of golden eyes staring right at her as they had bared no reflection.
"... It's only a matter of time before you realize it-" She heard her say, "Our power-Is the only thing that can keep him with us. We won't have to live in a world with fear ever again. All we have to do-IS ERASE THEM ALL."
Reina's body seemed to have frozen at the sight of her own reflection. Katsuki noticed how pale she had gotten when he broke up the hug. He looked worried as he noticed she wasn't looking at anything. "Reina-" Katsuki said as he gently snapped her out of it, "-What are you looking at? There's nothing over there."
Reina soon hugged Katsuki again though this time he could feel her shaking. "Reina-?" He started to say.
"N-Not again-" He heard her say, "-She's here again! She's trying to drag me back!"
"What are you two doing?" Tau asked
"I can't go back there! I can't-" She whimpered as Katsuki noticed how she had been ready to burst out with tears, "Please don't let her…"
Katsuki's gaze softened as he realized what she had been talking about. "I won't-" He told her as he caressed her cheek, "-Like I told you, remember?"
Reina leaned in for the touch and found herself calming down just a little. It was almost as though she could feel as though she had been floating, simply from his touch. However that moment soon left when suddenly Reina had been in agony because of a loud ping went off in her head. She let out a cry as she nearly fell to the floor were it not for Katsuki and King.
"What the hell is it now?!" Tau said.
"Reina!" Katsuki said with concern as he noticed the white streak on her bangs returned.
"So-Somethings wrong!" Reina said, "S-Somethings here!"
"What?" Katsuki and Tau said, confused.
Reina soon noticed what had been behind Katsuki as something from the pool formed. "KATSUKI-KUN!" Reina exclaimed before she pulled him away. His eyes widened in horror when he saw what looked like claw-like hands emerge from the pool and launched itself towards her.
"NO!" Katsuki shouted.
"Damn it!" Tau exclaimed as he got his aura ready though it proved useless the moment he hurled an attack. The hand grabbed ahold of Reina as she let out a shriek.
"OH HELL NO!" Katsuki shouted, before he rocketed himself towards her just as she was dragged to the pool. He managed to grab her hand as he quickly thrusted his blade into the floor to keep her there.
"No stop!" Reina told him, "You'll be dragged too!"
"Even so, I won't let go of your hand!" He told her, "I told you I wouldn't before, and I meant it stupid!"
Just as the hand was dragging Reina with Katsuki along, an purple aura blade sliced the hand as it reverted into a form of a liquid. Reina hit the ground before she hurriedly pulled herself into Katsuki's arms. He didn't have any hesitation as he held her tight when she had been on the verge of hyperventilating.
"I don't know who you are-" Tau called out, "-But you have a lot of nerve to try and swipe away my prey! Why don't you stop being a coward and show yourself."
Just as this was said, the liquid in the pool moved again as they jumped. A hand reached out and grabbed the edge of the pool before they pulled themselves out. They had been taken back as they saw-It had been a girl.
Not just any girl, one that had two scorpion tails attached to her body.
Reina looked shocked as she noticed how she looked-Particularly with her eye.
"It's… Ink?" Reina said, shocked and yet confused.
"... So-This one, finally meets little Alice." The girl said metal toe twitched slightly, "It's a pleasure… Though this one wishes the circumstances were better."
"A child?" Tau said, a bit surprised . "hphm, I've seen it all. Here I thought that a wretched woman's family are the only ones who have that kind of quirk."
"... Hearts spoke about the Hunter." The girl said before she walked past him as she shoved him to the side, surprising Tau with the force she possessed, "This one will deal with him later."
Katsuki soon stood in front of Reina as the girl approached. "Who would the tiger be, this one wonders?" She said as she tilted her head, "Someone-Alice values? Someone Alice treasures?"
"BACK OFF YOU CHIMERA!" Katsuki shouted before he used his Quirk. The girl immediately jumped back, and yet she still remained calm; She sniffed the air.
"Nitro is it?" She said, as she tilted her head, "The tiger can make explosions at will. How-interesting."
Reina soon took a moment to collect herself before she stepped forward and regained her composure. "Are-You the one that made that announcement?" She asked the girl, "... Are you Spades?"
"... This one is." The girl said as she cracked her neck, "... Alice is perspective, she'll give her that."
"You're the one that wants Reina?" Katsuki said, a bit shocked before he had a glare his hands started to spark, "If that's the case, you're not laying your damn fingers on her!"
"This one doesn't want to hurt her." Spades said, "So please don't misunderstand."
"Misunderstand?!" Katsuki said, "Are you kidding me with that bullshit!? You threatened her!"
"This one didn't-She only threatened those that would interfere." Spades replied calmly, before she turned to Reina, "-Alice, this one needs to go with Spades."
"Why?" Reina said, "You attacked my friends! You killed people! Why do all of this just to get to me?!"
"... Because this one is the key-" She said.
Reina had been taken back by this, "You guys keep saying that-The key-Or something, the key to what?"
"... The key… To everything." Spades said as Reina and Katsuki were left confused by this. They were soon taken back by a familiar purple blast as Spades was able to dodge it though Reina and Katsuki were taken back by the sudden force as they hit the wall nearly knocking them out.
Tau emerged from the debris as he had a devious smile. "It's considered rude to ignore your elderly-" Tau said as he wiped the blood off his mouth, "-I'm going to have to teach you a thing or two."
"The Hunter is persistent." Spades said as she got ready. "Very well, this one will get serious."
Tau and Spades soon changed at each other with Tau using his Aura hand to grab her only for Spades to jump and use the same ink claw to scratch his shoulder.
Tau in relation formed a blade to get her off as she was grazed on her neck though she didn't seem phased as she charged again as she threw her punches.
Reina and Katsuki had been quick to recover as they had been watching the fight at hand. Both had been shocked as they watched the girl fight.
"That quirk-It's like the damn Half-Breeds…" Katsuki said.
"But how is that possible?" Reina said, "Floyd-kun's family-They're the only ones that can use ink without the risk of ink poisoning!"
"I don't know-" He said before his hands sparked as he stood, "-But maybe we can use that info to our advantage! And I think I know how." He soon turned to her as he held her hand out, "Are you with me-Bright Shadow?"
Reina had a look of worry as she found herself back in a familiar place as she blinked. Her body trembled but she held her composure.
"... I always will be." She said as she took his hand, allowing him to pull her to feet. "It'll be fine." She thought, "... It won't be like before. I-I won't let it happen again. Even if my Quirk is really gone."
"... Have fun believing that little lie…" She heard her
She readied her weapon and scarf, "What's the plan?"
Katsuki smiled, "Follow my lead."
The two of them soon went into the battle just as Tau was punched away. "This one is tired of you now-" Spades said to Tau, "-So stay there and wait to die."
"STUN GRENADE!" Katsuki shouted as Spades suddenly found herself blinded as she let out a cry.
Reina quickly armed the gun before she fired two EMP bullets at her legs; they let out a series of sparks as she fell over on her side when she felt her legs give out suddenly. Reina took a deep breath before she unraveled the scarf just as Spades started to recover and sat herself up.
Spades soon used her tail to hop towards Katsuki in an attempt to knock him down, however Reina tossed the scarf so that it would go around her body before she tugged it hard as it had wrapped around her body, startling her; she ended up hitting the ground again.
"Not bad-" Katsuki said, "-Not bad at all Lollipop Head.'
"Look at that-Literally the first time I've ever done it." Reina said, just shocked before she shook it off. She soon stepped towards Spades as she kept her grip on the scarf.
"This one is impressed." Spades said calmly as she sat herself up, "Despite Alice's Quirk to be otherwise unresponsive… She's still able to fight back."
Tau soon recovered as his arm glowed-He looked utterly mad as he wiped away the blood. "Oh Now you've done it. I'll consider killing you practice when I face off again the Aihara brothers again-" His eyes began to emit the same purple with his aura intensify before he charged at Spades once more
Reina quickly drew her blade and held it to his neck as he froze. He noticed the cold look in her eyes as she looked unphased that the blade had been touching his neck, opening a wound.
"Don't move Tau-" She said he flinched slightly at the tone of her voice, "-You're not in charge here, or did you forget our deal?"
"Reina-" Katsuki said as his look softened.
"What's going on?" Tau thought, "She was a scared little girl not too long ago. Where did this confidence come from?"
Reina tilted her head, "... Do you wish to die after all?"
Tau gave a puzzled look before he ended up replying, "No, This is amusing, You suddenly have the same bloodlust as me-no, Yours is a rather rare kind of bloodlust."
Reina took that as a yes as she took the blade away from Tau; the moment she turned to Spades they noticed she returned to normal.
"Spades-" Reina said to her, "-When you said the key to everything. What did you mean by that?"
Spades stayed silent as she only tilted her head as she had been looking at Reina curiously. "What's your plan?" Reina said, "Does it have anything to do with the Styxs outside?"
Spades soon stayed silent as she only looked at Reina with curious eyes.
"Damn it-She's giving us the silent treatment!" Katsuki said with a click of her tongue, "She was pretty damn talkative before!"
"... Yeah-" Reina said as she had been eyeing her suspicious, not even realizing her second tail hadn't been secured, "-I wonder why that is."
"KID!"
Reina, Tau and Katsuki jumped at the sound of Dabi's voice. He got himself in the room stumbling as he did.
"Dabi-kun?" Reina said, shocked.
"GET AWAY FROM HER NOW!!" Dabi shouted.
Before Reina could react the second tail wrapped around her suddenly as it had made Katsuki and Tau jump. It hadn't been a moment later before her stinger went right into her neck making her shriek.
"REINA!" Katsuki shouted before he charged at Spades along with King. King bit her tail hard as Katsuki caught Reina the moment she had let her go. Though she turned her sights to King as she stuck her stinger into the wolfdog as he let out a pained whimper.
"KING!" Dabi exclaimed before he used his Quirk to grab King the moment she had tossed him aside. She soon turned over to Katsuki as she thrusted her stinger towards him as his back was turned.
Katsuki only noticed it at the last second, "SHIT!"
Katsuki jumped at the sound of what had been a blade tearing into flash. It was then he realized he saw Dabi had been in front of him as it had gotten into his abdomen. The moment Spades had retracted her tail he fell on his side as he looked to be spasming.
"H-Hey!" Katsuki said as he went to keep him still, "Get a grip!"
"What did you do?" Tau said to Spades.
"... All this one did was give them a dose." Spades said as she cracked her neck, "Nothing more, nothing less."
Katsuki could hear Reina let out a groan, as he had immediately rushed to her side. "Reina!" He exclaimed as he took her in his arms. He tried his best to keep himself from panicking.
"Reina! Reina please!" He pleaded as he shook her as he had almost been crying, "Please don't leave me! I just got you back! I can't lose you again!"
Reina's hand twitched as he saw her eyes had started to move.
"Reina?" He said as his voice had been cracking a little as her eyes started to open.
It hadn't been a second later he felt something go right into his stomach as his vision had gone a little fuzzy. He looked down in shock as he noticed what looked to be a glass shard as his hand shook when he took hold of her wrist.
"Rei-Na-?" He managed to say as he started to cough out blood.
His eyes widened slightly as he noticed the change in her eyes. Though her golden eyes were in plain view, a set of black veins could be seen around her eyes along with a black sclerae. His look softened as he could feel his energy leave his body. A set of black veins grew along her neck where she had been stung by Spades' tail.
It was then it clicked what had been happening as he nearly was driven to tears again.
He managed to place his hand on her check as he could feel her twisting the glass shard. His thumb brushed away a stray tear that had escaped from her eye.
"Rei… Na…" He groaned as his consciousness slipped away, "... It's… Okay… This… Isn't your fault… It… Never was…
He leaned forward so that his forehead touched her own. He could feel her body shaking despite her blank expression she gave.
"I'll… Save you… I… Promise…"
She stood as he felt her kick him back as he fell on his back. The moment he hit the floor his vision turned completely black.
(Second Ending Theme: Watership Down 2018 Credits-Fire on Fire TV Size Performed By Sam Smith)