Someone said they wanted chaos, so...
Anyways, I'm probably gonna start scheduling posts, so every Friday or Saturday there will be one and you'll be getting two chapters this week.
This chapter and the next will be a bit longer (Upwards 4,000 words, I try and keep the chapters at least at 1K because I personally don't like reading fanfic where the chapters are as long as college essays). It longest chapter we have I think is the next one with 6k. Anyways! Stain! Stain! Stain!
Frostlash: I could have, but Stain... doesn't care. Astolfo is just another kid involved where he shouldn't be.
Ultima-Owner: Add's actually pretty chill. He's modeled after Sir Kay, after all, so he does have more patience and won't provoke too many others into a fight. Plus, Bakugou or Endeavor would look really stupid trying to pick a fight with a sentient cube. I portray him more like Gray's annoying older brother who likes to cause trouble when he can, but he certainly does know when he can speak out or not. He's not dumb, just cranky and gets bored easily.
Explosions shaking the ground were the first and only clue that Chiron needed to realize there was something wrong in Hosu.
Astolfo had told him that he had seen Iida with Pro Hero Manual on the streets, and knowing what had happened to Tensei, there was no doubt that there was something going on with the blue-haired boy. Chasing down the Hero Killer was a risk in and of itself, for a student to be doing it was stupid.
Chiron left the hospital as soon as the first tremor that shook the building subsided. He stopped in his tracks, eyes widening as the hulking creature in the street turned to him. Part of a car's hood was still clamped in its hands as the archer took in its appearance.
"Of course you'd be back," He uttered, leaping out of the way as the hood was thrown at him. With bulging eyes and an exposed brain, there was no doubt that this was another Nomu.
"Astolfo, Gray, I'm giving you permission to enter combat!" Chiron ordered through the telepathic link that connected the three servants.
"Right!"
"Of course!"
Both of the other Servants responded almost immediately and he felt a burst of magical energy. No doubt that Astolfo had summoned Hippogriff and the two were already entering combat.
Chiron dodged another hit from the Nomu, materializing his bow and firing at the Nomu's exposed brain. The nomu bat his arrows to the side before lunging at him with a roar. He dropped his bow, smacking the outstretched hand with his full strength— throwing the nomu off balance. He kicked its legs out from under it before slamming his palm into its chest as it toppled over. The force from the hit sent the nomu flying, but it lumbered back to its feet mere seconds after crashing to the asphalt.
"Get down!" A voice barked from behind him and the Servant dove to the ground as a blaze of flame coursed overhead. He turned after he rolled back onto his feet, seeing the hulking form of the number two hero.
"I don't recognize you," the man said, eyes narrowed as he looked at the street. A second nomu was lumbering over as the first rose back to its feet with a screech.
Chiron stood, cracking his neck before he shifted into his usual Pankration stance. "I think that can wait for now," he said and the other man grunted, readying his flames.
"Fine," the Flame Hero said, "Just try and keep up with me."
"I think it's the other way around," He said before he leaped forwards, planting his foot into the nomu's chest and sending it flying back. Endeavor sneered.
"We'll see, don't underestimate me, newcomer!"
(x)
"Gray!" Astolfo yelled as he grabbed the outstretched hand of the gray-haired girl. As soon as the explosions started, he and Gray had started getting citizens moving and to what they hoped was a safer area. When Chiron had given them permission to fight, Astolfo instantly had his lance in one hand and summoned Hippogriff to him, Gray with Add in his Grim Reaper Scythe form.
A nomu had appeared and instantly started targeting citizens. There was no way in hell Astolfo would allow that!
"Gihihihi! Let's eat, let's eat, let's eat!" Add cheered as Gray swung up and onto Hippogriff.
"That nomu's not human right?" Gray asked and Astolfo nodded.
"Not anymore. You've got the ability to sense if it's alive or not, right? Go for it, I say!" the Rider said and Gray nodded, leaping off of the winged beast. Add glowed before transforming into a scythe.
"Right! Go make sure the citizens are alright, Rider!" She called over her shoulder. Astolfo nodded before he took off, hearing Gray and the Nomu clash behind him.
He didn't get very far away before something slammed into him and Hippogriff. Astolfo was knocked off of the winged beast, the familiar screeching as its master fell before it vanished. He landed on a building, grimacing and rolling to his feet and readying his lance.
Just in time for a nomu to drop down in front of him.
"Okay, so looks like there's more than one of you," He said, shifting his footing. "So uncool to drop out of the air like that."
The nomu just twitched before rushing the rider. He dodged the first hit but was slammed aside by the second one. He rolled into his landing before crying out as a punch nailed him in the stomach.
"Agh!"
He flew back before he hit the back of the roof's rail guard. Astolfo grimaced, panting as the nomu tilted its body to the side, eyes staring at him in an unfocused manner.
It was fast, faster than he anticipated. This was bad. He was fast too, but this one caught him off guard. It was like fighting Mordred, but if Mordred was even more of a brute than she had been.
He took a breath before he steadied his breathing and focused. Just act on instinct. He could do this.
He ducked under a punch that was thrown at him, rolling under the Nomu's legs before he struck them with his lance. The nomu screeched, blood spattering the roof as Astolfo twisted. He slashed at its back as it regenerated and healed the first injury. It looked as if the paralysis wouldn't work on this thing.
He dodged another swipe at him before his ankle was grabbed. Astolfo yelped as he was pulled back and then yelped again as he was thrown towards the Hosu train tracks. He briefly caught a glimpse of the Nomu following him before he crashed through the train barrier, then the wall of the train.
The Rider spat blood as he landed. His ribs and leg hurt. His leg was probably popped out of its socket and ribs probably a bit bruised, if not cracked.
"Fuck- ooww…" he grunted as he sat up, grasping his lance again as the nomu landed, peering into the train.
"Astolfo!?" a voice cried and he turned, seeing Midoriya dressed in his hero costume standing next to an old man in what looked like a vintage hero costume— it was yellow and white with a yellow cape. Oh yeah. Definitely vintage.
He could only process that for a moment longer before the Nomu grabbed him by the head and slammed his face down.
The weight of the Nomu was suddenly lifted and Astolfo glanced up as the old man rocketed into the Nomu. The force from the kick was enough to send it and the old man flying. Midoriya rushed over and out of the train as Astolfo got up.
"Gran Torino!" The green-haired boy yelled before Astolfo grabbed him. The Rider ignored the voice of the conductor as he pulled Midoriya after him.
"Hang on, Mido!" he called as he leaped over the barrier. The boy's cries of surprise were cut off as Hippogriff appeared under Astolfo. He pulled Midoriya on as the familiar took off.
"We have to find Iida! He's in Hosu and even if he's with another hero he's gonna do something stupid if Manual's preoccupied!" He called over the wind.
Midoriya nodded. "He's probably going to go after the Hero Killer or something!" He called up and Astolfo nodded a bit in agreement. Fires and explosions were going all over the city. He could feel Chiron to the east, Gray still where he had left her, though she seemed to be fighting another nomu. Chiron was fighting as well, he could feel the bursts of prana that the Archer was giving out as he created arrows to fire.
"Wh-What happened here, Astolfo?" Midoriya asked as they flew over the city.
"No idea," he said, shaking his head. "All I know is that there are nomu around. Chiron-Sensei's here too, he's an international hero, so he has the authority to instate me and the other one with me into legal combat. She's already taken care of one, I think, and Chiron's probably got another one covered too."
"Another student's with you?" the boy asked, "I didn't know that Archer-sensei had an agency."
"He doesn't!" Astolfo responded, swinging his lance and slashing at a nomu on the roof as he flew by. It screeched, swiping at them, but was distracted as golden arrows pierced it— Chiron sniping at it from where ever he was. The Greek servant was terrifyingly good at sniping and multi-tasking.
"We found another one of us in the special classification, Gray Velvet, known as Grave Keeper but her legend is actually King Arthur," he continued, internally wincing at the lie. He felt bad lying to Midoriya.
"Whoa…" the green-haired boy breathed before startling. "Wait! Now's not the time to geek out over that! We need to find Iida!"
"I know, sorry!" Astolfo said, turning his eyes back to the city below. A flash of silver made him turn Hippogriff towards the direction it came from. "Found them!" he called before he startled as Midoriya leaped off of Hippogriff.
"W-wait-! What are you doing, Mido!" he cried, watching the boy drop to the ground.
"Saving Iida!" He called back before he landed, taking off into an alleyway.
"Idiot!" Astolfo uttered as he circled around above. Another nomu was nearby and he cracked Hippogriff's reins, flying past it and slashing it with his lance. It toppled to the ground, startling a few heroes below before they began to fight it. The Rider circled the area again, eyes drifting back to the alleyway before he groaned, running a hand through his hair.
Screw it.
He flew towards it before he leaped from Hippogriff's back. The beast vanished at his order as he hit the ground. He landed by Todoroki, who startled, but nodded when they locked eyes and started towards the alleyway. The white and red haired boy sparked before firing a jet of flame into the dark space, firing it over Iida who was collapsed on the ground. The flames forced a bandaged man to leap away from the engine quirk boy, sword glinting in the alleyway light.
"Sorry we're late!" Astolfo said, lance glinting as well.
"Todoroki!" Midoriya gasped, seemingly frozen where he stood. Astolfo grimaced. So he had been affected by Stain as well. That meant that instead of protecting just Iida, he also had to protect Midoriya and Todoroki. Three bodies to protect, no four. Native was laying on the ground nearby as well.
"You sent your location out en-masse to everyone in your contacts," Todoroki said, snapping Astolfo from his thoughts. "You're not normally the type, so it took me a few seconds to realize what it meant. Charlemagne must have realized it too, though. 'Call for back up, I'm in a pinch'!"
"Well, no Midoriya left me in the air, but it's close enough," Astolfo said under his breath, but adjusted his lance as Stain shifted. Todorki didn't give the man a chance, slamming his foot down and coating the alleyway in ice. He shot forward again with his flames and the ice tossed Midoriya, Iida, and Native behind Astolfo.
"Too bad though," The Rider sighed, his tone almost taunting as he shook his head. "If we make this much noise, the Pros will get here soon. Those nomu released around the city will get picked off one by one." He shifted his footing before he shot forwards, leaving Todoroki to protect the three behind them.
"Astolfo! Don't let him cut you! If he consumes your blood you'll be robbed of all movement!" Midoriya yelled and Astolfo grinned. Stain wasn't that special. He could paralyze someone too, after all.
"Right!" he called back with a nod, easily blocking a slash from the hero killer with his lance. He drew his sword with his other hand, blocking another strike before he kicked Stain back. Stain scowled, flinging a blade at Astolfo, who ducked under it before he leaped out of the way of another blast of flames. Stain did as well, but his scarf was singed.
"Chiron! Gray! I found the Hero Killer! Todoroki, Iida, and Midoriya are with me, but two of them can't move, Pro Hero Native too! I think I can handle the situation, stay alert!" He reported as he dodged another strike from Stain.
"Be careful! I'm a bit busy with crowd control since Endeavor doesn't know the word 'control' it seems," Chiron responded as Astolfo spun out of the way of another strike.
He didn't get a verbal response from Gray but he felt it. She probably had simply nodded before she continued fighting. He was impressed, she was holding her own pretty well alone. Though then again, she wasn't aiming to capture any of them alive.
The hero killer flung a knife at Astolfo, who ducked out of the way again but a hiss of pain from behind him made him turn. The knife had torn into Todoroki's shoulder. In the same instant, Stain leaped over Astolfo, heading towards Todoroki. The boy blocked a slash with a burst of ice but did get his face licked by the hero killer, which was a bit gross, but luckily the boy had burst into flames to keep his blood from the Hero Killer's grasp. Or tongue? He didn't get his blood licked.
He really should stop trying to make sense of things with a full moon on the rise, the Rider realized before he slammed into Stain with his lance, sending the hero killer back.
"Why…" Iida grunted, gazing up at them from his spot on the ground, "Why… why… you three… please stop… I inherited my brother's name… I'm the one who has to do it!"
"You inherited your brother's name?" Astolfo asked as he shifted his footing, gazing at Stain as he got up and started towards them. "Must be nice… but still... if you're now Ingenium, then you must also now be a fake! Because Iida Tenya— the Ingenium I knew— would never make a face like that!"
He twisted, slashing the hero killer with his own sword.
"The Ingenium I knew wouldn't let himself become consumed with revenge!"
He tossed his lance to the side, slamming Stain in the face with another kick as the villain twisted out of the way of his sword. The rider hissed in pain as his katana tore into his arm, but he carried through, dropping his sword and grabbing the katana. He pulled, yanking it out of the hero killer's grasp.
He tossed the blade away from Stain, his eyes blazing.
"Those afar, listen to my words! Those nearby, look at my visage!" He yelled, drawing more mana from his reserves. The electrical wiring and lights in the alleyway started to spark and flicker on. Todoroki shifted his stance as Midoriya started to get to his feet. Iida forced himself up as well, grimacing as he overcame Stain's Quirk.
His battle attire changed as he picked his sword back up, ignoring the blood that dripped down his arm as he held it out in front of him. His armor melted away and changed into a top remnant of a butler's uniform and jacket. His cape doing the same and transforming into arm cuffs and gloves, black rabbit ears appearing as well as his boots became similar black and gold Mary Janes. His hair unbraided itself before separating into twin-tails.
"I am Astolfo! Son of King Otto and one of Charlemagne's Twelve Paladin Knights! A Servant brought back by the Holy Grail in order to fight!"
He lunged at the hero killer, clashing blades with him before he leaped away. The once Rider now Saber brought his sword back, swinging downwards and the blade separated into segments. They ripped through the two knives the man brought up to block the strike and Stain leaped away from the attack as Astolfo continued his offense. He swung his blade like a whip before he brought the segments back together, rushing Stain and slashing. He backed up faster than Stain could counter, his sword clanging against Stain's knives before the pink-haired boy leaped away from the Hero Killer, landing back in front of the three boys and Native— he, Midoriya, and Iida back up on their feet and ready to battle.
Astolfo didn't give them the chance as his sword glowed as Stain got to his feet as well. He held the blade relaxed, facing downwards.
"For the rabbit that looks up to the moon, there are times they lose their reason," he chanted as Stain brandished his knife, charging at them. He kept his gaze and stance steady, even as he heard the crackling of Midoriya's quirk and felt the heat from Todoroki's. He pivoted on his foot suddenly, swinging his sword up and around him from behind. The blade split apart again and flew towards Stain.
"Catch the rampaging giant! The mettlesome match! Let's go! Vulcano Caligorante!" He cried as Stain got caught in the trap of blade segments, the blade seeming to move on its own as Astolfo rushed through them and past Stain. He jerked his hand up, the segments connecting at once. Stain, covered in wounds, turned as Astolfo landed. The Hero Killer rushed at him with a crazed look in his eyes and Astolfo only grinned, not bothering to bring his sword up to block. He didn't need to as Midoriya and Iida both appeared in his line of sight, slamming into Stain with an overpowered punch and a strong kick from each respectively.
As the Hero Killer was slammed to the ground, ice formed around him as Todoroki slammed his right foot onto the pavement. The Hero Killer was trapped.
There was a pause in time after Midoriya and Iida landed, silence falling over the alleyway. Astolfo dropped his sword, pitching forwards as he felt his consciousness waver. The class change to Saber had drained him of his energy.
An armored arm caught him and pulled him back to his feet.
"Careful there, Astolfo," Iida said and Astolfo's Saber form melted back to his normal, Rider attire.
"Are you alright?" Midoriya asked, walking over as Todoroki and Native tied up Stain tightly.
He nodded, standing with Iida's help. "Yeah… just a bit wobbly. Between Hippogriff and becoming a Saber… I really need to regain energy…"
He closed his eyes for a moment before he turned to Iida. "What you did was reckless. You're training to become a hero, right? Then you need to remember to stomp down those feelings of revenge and hate. Heroes can hate and burn with anger, but if you let your revenge get the best of you, you're no different than Stain." Iida's eyes widened before he looked down.
"You speak with a lot of experience."
"Because I've seen it happen, people let their anger get the better of them and they no longer can become a hero," he said softly, "They lived with that rage for so long, long enough to become the villain."
He gazed at the other three in the alleyway with them. "I want all of you to remember that too, even you, Mister Native."
The Pro Hero simply nodded, seemingly dumbfounded before Astolfo's legs finally gave out under him. Iida caught him again before hefting him up and putting him on his back.
"Chiron-sensei and Gray should be close. Most likely, that old guy too," he said. Midoriya perked and nodded as they walked out of the alleyway.
A shout made Astolfo look over and he blinked as he saw the old man from before turning around a corner. Gray was behind him, Add in his scythe form.
"What the hell are you doing here boy!?" The old man shouted.
"Astolfo!" Gray cried at the same time, her eyes laying on his limp form on Iida's back.
She ran across the street towards him, worry written across her face. She didn't blink as the old man rocketed past her and planted a foot in Midoriya's face.
"Is that the hero killer? Astolfo okay? What happened to him, he's exhausted!" She asked Iida.
"Astolfo's fine, he just used up more energy than expected—" Iida said before he was cut off by Todoroki's confused question.
"Wait, 'he'?"
Astolfo raised his head. "I thought it was obvious, I still used the guys' dressing room…" he said and the red and white haired boy only gave him a bewildered look. Midoriya wasn't that different, eyes wide and jaw hanging open in surprise. The old man leaped up and kicked the boy as Gray blinked before she giggled.
"I'm assuming you already guessed, then, Iida?" she asked. The bespectacled boy only shrugged a bit as Astolfo pat his head.
"I had a feeling, but it was not my place to ask," he said simply before serval other heroes came rushing over to them.
"Kids?"
"Call an ambulance, they've got awful wounds!"
"Hey is that the Hero Killer? He's so banged up!"
Astolfo rested his head down on Gray's shoulder after she took him from Iida, resting him on her back like the Engine Quirk user had. He sighed, feeling his consciousness slipping again. Even with the mana that Seig gave him over their bond, it wasn't really enough to sustain a and spontaneous full class change. He hadn't done it in a long time, so it was exhausting.
He really just wanted to nap.
Gray shot him a sympathetic look over her shoulder.
"The three of you," Iida said and Astolfo shifted, glancing at him as he bowed to him, Midoriya, and Todoroki. "You all sustained wounds because of me, I'm truly sorry. My anger… my rage… It made me so blind that I couldn't see anything…!
Midoriya was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry too, man," he said softly, "You were brooding so much, but I completely overlooked that even though we're friends."
"Pull yourself together, you're the class president," Todoroki added, making Iida straighten back up from his bow. At least Todoroki tried.
"Don't worry about it, Iida," Astolfo said, raising his head. "I've gotten worse injuries before."
"That's hardly reassuring, Astolfo," Gray told him and he laughed.
"Where's Sensei, Gray?" he asked and she sighed, shrugging a bit.
"He's still out there, last I heard he and Endeavor teamed up to take care of the remaining nomu," she told him, making Todoroki blink and look over. Astolfo nodded a bit.
"Thought so, I guess I'll have to tell him that our cover is blown," he sighed, "I had to change classes to protect these three kids and I don't think a quirk can keep that covered."
Gray shook her head. "No, probably not."
He shrugged a bit. "Well, they're not the first ones to know," he said with a hum. "There are a few other students who figured it out. I think only around six or seven haven't."
Gray nodded again, about to respond before the old man (Midiorya had called him Gran Torino) yelled at them all. "Duck!"
Faster than any of them could move, a winged nomu came out of nowhere, snatching Midoriya off the street.
"Midoriya!" Iida cried and Astolfo found himself on the ground.
Gray took off down the street, running up the wall of a building and leaping at the nomu, hand outstretched. She grasped at Midoriya's arm, but missed by a couple of inches, plummeting back down towards the ground. A red blur shot passed Astolfo as Gray landed on her feet. Stain had cut through his ropes, leaping up towards the Nomu with a blade that had been hidden on his person. He stabbed the Nomu in the exposed brain, forcing it to drop Midoriya. Gray caught him with one arm before he hit the ground, letting out a soft sigh as she set Add down next to her on the sidewalk.
"The fakes that have overrun society and the criminals who so aimlessly sprinkle around their 'power', those are the targets of my purge!" Stain snarled, driving his knife further into the Nomu's head. "This is all for the sake of the world!"
Astolfo hauled himself to his feet, summoning his lance with the last of his strength.
"Why are you all just standing around!" Endeavor roared as he rounded the corner. Astolfo didn't pay him and mind as Stain moved to Gray and Midoriya, gazing down at them.
"So that's the Hero Killer," Endeavor snarled and Astolfo glanced back, seeing him ready a blast of flame.
"Wait, Todoroki!" Gran Torino yelled and Endeavor stopped short as Stain turned, bandage falling from his face. The crazed look in his eyes was intensified by tenfold as his eyes fell to Endeavor.
A sudden burst of bloodlust made the Rider gasp softly.
"Another phony," Stain hissed, "The fake must be rectified…. someone…. someone must stain himself in blood!"
Stain took a step forwards and Astolfo felt Endeavor's heat shift back. Gran Torino, Iida, Todoroki, and the other heroes, had frozen in fear and he could tell that Midoriya and Gray were the same.
"The word "hero" must be restored," Stain continued, brandishing his knife as he took another step forward. "Just try it you pretend—!" Astolfo felt the bloodlust recede as an arrow flew through the air and embedded itself in Stain's shoulder.
Stain stumbled back, eyes wild before they stopped, gazing at the roof of a building. Astolfo followed his gaze and he felt himself relax, seeing Chiron perched on the roof with his bow raised, green eyes glowing.
Stain's jaw clenched before an insane cackle left him and he tossed his arms out to his sides, continuing to laugh. "Yes! Yes! Yes! I can feel it! The true heroism exuding from you!" he exclaimed and at once the wave of overwhelming bloodlust was back at full force. "So come at me, you fakers and you, Archer! Come! Only All Might and the Archer are worthy of killing me!"
Stain stopped moving suddenly, eyes rolling back into his head and the bloodlust receded. There was a beat of silence before Gray stood slowly, picking Add up and holding it in a defensive position.
"Hey, girl," Endeavor barked and Gray jumped but moved to inspect Stain. She turned back, nodding a bit.
"He's lost conciseness!" she confirmed and Endeavor nodded.
Astolfo let out a breath and he watched as Chiron leaped down from the building, walking over to them. Gray helped Midoriya to his feet.
Now the real hard part started— reports and questioning.
Who Astolfo mentions is specifically Akamusa. Amakusa was a hero, but his need for revenge— I mean the salvation of mankind drove him to uh, unspeakable things. This man did kill the other Masters of Red, after all.
Anywho, next chapter is longer, and has a lot of exposition so hooo boy. If you're here for the story, feel free to just skim over it, or whatever, it won't hurt my feelings. In later chapters, I'm just not gonna go into the whole explaining shit because that's a lot of repetition an s. On another note, thank you all for your input for AFO! The choice will be made when I finalize the chapter and stuff, but the draft is mostly done and im just refining it. If you haven't noticed, I have drafts and outlines mostly done and I do refine and change stuff like all writers do. Some of y'all's input has actually changed the story quite a bit, so ye!
Keep rockin', I'll see y'all later.