The rest of the week turned out to be far better than its beginning. Rumi and Percy turned out to be a well-oiled machine. They had their stumbles to be sure. Their moments where they didn't communicate properly and they ended up butting heads, but the good heavily outnumbered the bad. For his part, Percy had learned far more from Rumi about the true job of pro-heroes than he'd expected. As it turned out, he'd vastly underestimated exactly what pro-heroes did. More often than not, they spent more time working publicity for the public than they did stopping crime. Not that there was much crime to worry about.

Apparently, the home of the most prominent hero academy in the country was a bit of a deterrent to a life of crime, who knew?

According to Rumi, it was almost more important to have a large public image than actually stopping crime. People just felt more safe when heroes were visible to the public. Percy had always chalked up the large public life of heroes to vanity, and for the most part he didn't feel as though that opinion was unwarranted. But he had to agree with Rumi to an extent, people seemed to brighten immensely when the saw the pair of them together, and citizens would adopt an aura of calm confidence that seemed otherwise lacking. It was a good feeling, Percy decided.

In addition to hero work, they spent a large portion of their time drilling. Percy was still a little too eager to act without thinking, a trait that Rumi for the most part encouraged, but he was getting better at snap decisions. Whereas before, he would simply barrel through an obstacle, he was steadily getting better at analyzing a situation and rapidly determining the best route to take. It was difficult, because those decisions often had to be made in a span of milliseconds, but he was getting better at it.

Apart from that, Percy had also been making greater strides in his own personal training. He'd gotten his form, which he was tentatively calling Ascendancy, to a point where he could fight in that state for almost ten minutes, before his body started breaking apart. He resolved to continue training it, but was pleased all the same. In his experience, most fights didn't last nearly long enough to worry about a tentative time limit.

Finally, Rumi and him had started sparring more regularly. Percy was barred from using his divine abilities, or to her his quirk, which according to Rumi was basically cheating. When Percy had protested, she'd explained it a bit more. While Percy was likely more capable of using his abilities than even the most seasoned of veterans, his abilities were better utilized where property damage could be limited. His powers were simply too devastating to use to their full capabilities when around large numbers of civilians, and so Percy needed to learn how to fight hand to hand. While Percy had taken up some boxing in his free time, and had learned some wrestling techniques in his years at camp, for the most part, his hand-to-hand combat left a lot to be desired. Thankfully, Rumi proved to be possibly the best possible teacher for him. Given that she was exclusively a close-range fighter.

It was the morning of the first day of the weekend, they were in the process of finishing their breakfast when Rumi gave him a little surprise.

"All right," She said, pushing her finished plate forward, "Go upstairs and pack your shit,"

Percy arched an eyebrow, and lazed back in his chair, one arm resting on the back as he causally munched on a slice of bacon,

"Throwing me out? You know you're stuck with me for two more days right? I suppose if you're really serious though I could always see what Endeavor's up to,"

One of her feet thumped against the floor in agitation as she hurled her knife at him, which he caught as it sailed past the side of his head,

"You'd spend all of thirty seconds at his agency before you put him in the dirt, don't even give me that crap," She huffed, as she crossed her arms, "We're going to Hosu." Percy, who had been playing with the knife, lost his concentration, and the utensil clattered to the floor.

"What?" He asked,

"You heard me," She said back, a smug smirk on her face,

"We're going after the Hero Killer, aren't we?" He asked,

"Damn right we are!" She said defiantly, "I got a tip from one of my people, that he's still in the city. We're going to find the son of a bitch, and put him out for good!" She slammed one fist into the other for emphasis.

"We're going to kill him?" Percy asked, somewhat incredulous.

Rumi shrugged, "If it comes to that."

Percy just stared at her,

"What?" She demanded,

"There aren't, like, rules against that?" He asked, his head swimming slightly. It wasn't that Percy was against killing. He had his fair share of blood on his hands, and he wasn't, in his opinion, naive enough to believe that everyone was redeemable; but he had been working under the assumption that Heroes couldn't kill.

Rumi just looked at him oddly, "Of course not. Well," She amended, scratching at one of her ears, "The Association isn't ever thrilled about it, and you can't just kill people willy nilly, but even they understand that things happen, and some people can't be brought in alive. Hell, even All Might has had to put some people down for good."

"Huh," Percy said,

"Why are you looking like that?" She asked, "Come on, don't tell me you're one of those, 'any one can be redeemed people?' You're an idiot, but you're not that dumb,"

"No, it's not that. I've had to spill blood in my time." Percy explained, and then grew slightly embarrassed. How did he explain that he was basing his assumptions on old Batman cartoons he'd watched as a kid,

"I guess it's just growing up, heroes in the comics didn't really ever kill, or if they did, it was always like a really big deal."

She just stared at him, then groaned in exasperation, "We're going to fix you one of these days Jackson." She sighed, "Whatever, just get upstairs, put on your suit, and pack your shit."

Percy snorted, but did as he was told. His mind wandered as he reached his room. For the last week, he'd been paying close attention to the news, and to the Hero Broadband Network, listening to see if there had been any sign of trouble from Iida. He'd also been checking his phone regularly, in the vain hope that his words had gotten through to the boy. Thankfully, no news had been coming out of Hosu with respect to another villain attack. Percy supposed that in this instance, no news was indeed good news.

He grinned viciously as he began packing up some of his things, and prepared for the journey. Things were working themselves out far better than he had hoped. If he and Rumi could find the bastard, and put him out of commission for good, then he wouldn't need to worry about Iida needlessly putting himself in harms way. Sure, the boy might hate Percy for the rest of his life, might declare Percy had stolen his vengeance, but that was a small price to pay if it meant that Iida got to live long enough to see tomorrow.

As he zipped up the contents of his duffel bag, and threw it over his shoulder, Percy resolved that he wouldn't be heading back to U.A. until the Hero Killer was behind bars.

Or in the ground.

BREAK

The week had gone from bad, to worse. Not only had Iida not seen hide nor hair of the Hero Killer, but there hadn't been any sort of a lead on the bastard's whereabouts. To make matters worse, he was heading back to school in only a few days, and then his chance would be lost forever. He'd been paying special attention that evening during the daily patrol. But it had been a quiet night. Right up to the point where something enormous exploded somewhere near the city-center. Manual received a radio call that there was some kind of a villain attack, and Iida joined his mentor as they raced toward the sound of the fighting.

However, Iida had just been passing an alleyway, when something caught his attention. There was a struggle, a glint of silvery steel, and a gasp of pain. He turned his head to the noise, and his eyes widened in horror. There, in the shadows, at the far end of the darkened alleyway, was a figure that Iida recognized. Rage, unlike anything he'd ever felt before, washed over him. His eyes bugled behind his helmet, and his breathing came in short and shallow pants. Without even thinking, he turned on the spot and dashed down the alleyway. Pulling his phone out of his pocket as he did so. It was an unconscious decision. One he wasn't even aware he was making. His body was simply acting. He sent a message out to three individuals. There was no text to the message. Only a location.

As he stowed his phone away, back into his utility belt, Iida activated his quirk.

And made to avenge his brother.

BREAK

Every time Izuku passed through the countryside, he was captivated by its majesty. There was a soft and subtle beauty to farmland. To the endless rows of wheat and rice. It was beautiful in its simplicity.

Izuku had boarded the bullet train ten minutes prior, as the sky was beginning to darken, and the sun sank low over the horizon. His mentor, and older Hero by the name of Gran Torino, who had been All Might's former teacher, was taking him to Shibuya, a district in Tokyo, to give Izuku practice at fighting against actual villains. The train would be taking them straight through the terminal at Hosu, and Izuku's thoughts were overwhelmed with worry for his friend Iida. He had noticed the change in his friend after the Sports Festival. Had heard about what had happened to his brother. Izuku had been plucking up the courage to talk to his friend, when he'd seen Percy pull the tall boy aside. Izuku wasn't certain what Percy had said to him, but it was clear that whatever they'd been talking about, had not been to Iida's liking. However, Iida had apparently agreed to whatever it was Percy was trying to get into his head, and Izuku's worries had somewhat ceased.

His class president had a knack for breaking the students of 1-A out of their shells. Of knowing exactly what to say, and how to help them. It was something of a gift, one that Izuku was secretly rather jealous of.

The lights of Hosu were upon them, and Izuku swiveled in his seat to stare out into the city. Somewhere, in that sprawl of urban industrialization, was Iida. Hurting, and alone.

Izuku was jolted from his thoughts by the sound of gasps from the aisle of seats across from him.

"Look!" Someone shouted, pointing out of the window, "That building just exploded!"

Izuku and Gran Torino both swiveled in their seats to try and get a look at what was going on, but their views were blocked, and it was impossible to see out of the opposing windows.

"What do you think is going on?" Izuku asked,

"Could be just a fire," Said Gran Torino, they were both then distracted again, as a woman came over the train intercom,

"Passengers, please return to your seats, and buckle in we are going to-"

Her voice was cut off, and Izuku almost flew out of his seat, as the train came to a sudden and abrupt stop. Then the wall to the train compartment they were sitting, exploded in a mess of twisted steel and debris, as a white-haired hero was thrown unceremoniously into the train. Passengers began screaming, and Gran Torino was already in the process of leaving his seat, when Izuku saw it.

One large, green hand wrapped around the folded metal of the hole in the side of the train. Followed by a large green foot. The hero tried to get up, but a second hand shot out, and wrapped around the hero's face, and slammed him into the floor of the compartment. The Hero's body shuddered for a moment, before falling still. The hand around the corner of the hole gripped the metal tighter, and pulled it away, revealing the creature.

Izuku bit back a scream, as he took in the familiar sight before him. Where a normal human head should have been, was instead an exposed pink brain, and four unblinking, and dead eyes.

It was a Nomu.

There was no other explanation. No other creature that looked the way the Nomu had, and it wasn't something Izuku would ever forget in his entire life. He would forget the way it had tossed Percy around like a rag doll. The crunch of Percy's back, as the monster had shattered it.

"Kid, get back in your seat, and stay in the train," Gran Torino shouted, before he jetted across the compartment. Using the overhead compartments as a springboard, the small elder smashed one overly large, potted foot into the jaw of the Nomu. It howled in pain, as it released its grip on the fallen hero, and started to lose its balance. Gran Torino followed up his attack, jetting off of another compartment, and wrapping his diminutive hands around the middle of the creature, and blasting away from the train. Izuku jumped out of his seat, and ran to the hole in the wall, just in time to see Gran Torino slam the Nomu through a building half a mile away. There was another explosion, but not near where Gran Torino had been. Tearing his eyes away, Izuku watched in horror as the center of the city appeared to be on fire. Large flames were licking the sky, as the darkness of the evening was bathed in a hideous orange glow. He could hear the screams of the crowds of people coming from the city. He couldn't just sit in the train and wait, even if that was what Gran Torino had ordered. Not when there were people in danger, not when there were Nomu in the city. He had seen first hand what those things were capable of.

Another thought struck him.

Iida.

Iida was somewhere in that city. His friend was about to be in the middle of another fight with those creatures. Izuku knew he couldn't just stay where he was, he refused to be sidelined while his friend and innocents were in danger.

Ignoring the pleas of a conductor, who was begging Izuku to return to his seat, Izuku began channeling his Full Cowling and leapt from the train. The familiar power of One for All coursing through his veins as he leapt through the city. Jumping from building to building as he leapt, bounced, and ran his way closer to the sounds of the chaos.

He landed in the street with a small thud, and pushed his way through the throngs of fleeing civilians. He turned the corner down a side street when he heard a voice call out,

"Tenya! Tenya, where are you?!" Izuku came to a screeching halt, turned, and took off as fast as he could down the alleyway. He burst into a small thoroughfare, just as a bus was sent careening through the air. It collided with a parked car, and the resulting explosion nearly threw him off of his feet. Looking up, he saw that the thoroughfare was bathed in flames, but through the cinders and the fire he could see two forms, and his blood ran colder still. One was enormous, a hulking Goliath that had to be even taller than All Might, though still smaller than the Nomu at the USJ. It's skin was same shade of purple as its predecessor. A group of heroes surrounded the creature, which let out a roar, and swiped out with one enormous arm. Three heroes were sent soaring through the air, crashing to the ground in a shattered heap. There was another scream of pain and terror, and the nightmare grew worse. There, flying in the air, flapping giant wings like a pterodactyl, was a third, green-skinned Nomu. A strange gas-mask like filter covering its maw. Clutched in one clawed foot, was a struggling hero in purple.

The large Nomu swiveled its head around, coming to rest on Izuku, it let out a blood curdling howl and began stalking forward. However, before anyone could react, the fire hydrant near Izuku suddenly blew apart, and the water soared through the air. It washed across the streets, extinguishing the fires. Izuku felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, indicating a text, but ignored it for the moment.

A hero with horns coming out the side of his head turned and addressed a blue clad hero near the hydrant,

"Good work Manual!" He said,

"It wasn't me!" Manual shouted back, confused. "Then who-?"

"Luna Fall!" Roared an unfamiliar voice. A large, booted foot suddenly materialized over the larger Nomu, slamming directly into the brain of the creature. It howled in misery as it crashed forward, face planting harshly into the ground in a tremendous crash. Izuku followed the foot, and gaped, as he saw the Number Seven Hero, Miruko, twirl gracefully through the air. She didn't even hesitate, as she followed up her attack,

"Luna Arc!" Repositioning in the air, she used the momentum of her fall to increase her strength as she slammed her foot into the brain of the Nomu. There was a sickening, crunching sound, as the brain exploded in blood and viscera, and the Nomu went limp. More movement drew Izuku's attention away, as the flying Nomu, with the hero still clutched in its grasp, made to try and get away.

There was a flash, and a spear of water soared through the air. It tore through the Nomu's leg clutching the wounded hero, and it screamed in pain as the foot was severed. Foot and hero fell free from the Nomu. Several heroes made to try and intercept their falling comrade, but it was ultimately unnecessary, as suddenly Percy materialized, soaring through the air. With his human arm, he grabbed the falling hero, safely securing him in Percy's arm. Twisting as he fell, Percy came to a sliding halt on the concrete, only a few yards away from Izuku. He raised his metallic hand, and three large arrows of water materialized and shot like missiles towards the shrieking Nomu. Two of the arrows pierced each wing, pinning it to a nearby building, while the third pierced it where its heart ought to have been.

The Nomu howled in fury and pain, and thrashed uselessly against the watery constructs, but to no avail. Percy rose to his feet, the fallen hero still clutched under one arm. Cocking his right arm back, Percy took a step forward, and chopped through the air, like he was wielding a sword. A blade of water materialized above the howling Nomu, before it sliced through the air. There was sickening squelching sound, as the construct tore through bone, flesh, muscle, and tissue. The shrieking stopped, as the Nomu stopped moving, and its head fell from its shoulders.

Percy placed the fallen hero on the ground, checking his pulse. Nodding in satisfaction, he waved over a couple of paramedics, who carted the fallen man away.

"Deku," He called out, and Izuku started slightly at being so suddenly addressed. He was still slightly stunned by what he had just witnessed. "What are you doing here?"

"I-I'm looking for Iida!" Izuku said, "He's somewhere in the city." There was another explosion from a few blocks over and the flash of fire washed over the tops of the buildings. Percy turned his attention to the explosion, his expression tense, before he turned back to Izuku. "Find him, get him, and get out of town!"

"Y-yes sir!" Izuku said, and turned tail and took off in search of Iida. His phone buzzed again in his pocket. Reaching into his utility belt, he pulled the device out, and saw that it was a text from Iida. All it was, was an address. An address that was only a few blocks away. His blood running cold, Izuku channeled One for All again, and made off as fast as his legs could carry him.

Izuku had a bad feeling about what he was about to find.

BREAK

Percy watched as Midoriya disappeared around the corner, and turned his attention back to the source of the new explosions.

"Got a bad feeling about this," He muttered under his breath, as he stepped up and stood next to Rumi. There was a sudden roar, as he and Rumi leapt out of the way, just in time to avoid the massive purple fist of the Nomu that Rumi had supposedly just killed.

"Gods damnit!" Percy cursed under his breath, as they watched the large creature pull itself free of the crater Rumi had created. Its head and brain were flattened somewhat from the impact, and blood was seeping down the left side of its body.

"Fucking hell," Rumi grumbled, "What's it take to kill one of these stupid things?"

As the creature rose back to its full height, rage swam through Percy, as memories of the USJ coursed through his mind. His pride had taken a pretty tremendous blow at the thrashing the Nomu there had given him. Sure he had been down an arm, was bleeding out, and the creature had been designed to kill the strongest hero on the planet, but Percy was still bitter. He wanted payback, and while the purple Nomu before him lacked the strength, size and beak of the USJ Nomu, he supposed he could vent his frustrations easily enough.

"Hey Argonaut," Rumi called out from across the road, "Isn't that one of the things that broke your back a while ago?" Percy just growled in response, summoning water to him as he did so,

"Yeah I thought so," Rumi said with a shake of her head. Then she looked up, a blood-thirsty grin on her face, and pointed a finger at the creature, "Sick 'em!"

That had been all the incentive Percy needed. Slamming a palm to the ground, a spear of water erupted from the ground beneath the Nomu, intent on impaling the purple creature. But it dodged out of the way just in time. Channeling his divine abilities, a small ball of divine winds collected in the palm of Percy's hand, he threw it at the Nomu, as the purple monster flew through the air. The ball of condensed wind caught the Nomu square in the chest. There was a brief moment where nothing happened, before the ball exploded, sending the Nomu end over end across the street.

The Nomu screeched in pain, as the wind, which Percy had commanded to cut like a thousand knives, tore through the chest of the large creature. The Nomu didn't get a reprieve though, as Rumi intercepted it. As it slowed to a stop, Rumi appeared on its other side. Rearing back one her large feet, it slammed into the back of the Nomu seemingly shattering its spine. It let out an unearthly wail, as it was once more sent careening across the street. Percy caught the Nomu mid-air in a tackle, repositioned himself so the Nomu was facing the street and attempted to send another blast of wind into the creature so as to blow it harshly into the concrete. But Nomu was not to be deterred. It recovered, wrapped its large arms around Percy as it lowered its legs to the ground and stopped its descent, and kept caught balance. It then repositioned its arms, grabbed Percy by the front of his suit, and slammed him roughly into the ground. Percy gasped, as the wind was knocked out of him, and something fell out of his belt, clattering along the street.

Percy recovered quickly. And caught the Nomu's arms as they tried to slam down onto his chest. He tightened his grip along the wrists of the Nomu, and commanded the blood vessels in the creatures arms and body to explode. The Nomu's arms turned black as all at once, all of the blood in the monster's body began to contort and explode violently. It howled and screeched in misery, its eyes suddenly bursting and blood spouting from its nose and mouth. Percy scrambled to his feet, reached out and clasped both of his hands around the brain of the shrieking creature. Tightening his grip, cerebrospinal fluid squirted over his fingertips, and Percy concentrated. Building up the pressure of the water inside the creature's brain; the mounting pressure became too much, and the brain exploded violently, covering Percy in blood and brain matter. The Nomu's body shook violently, before falling lifeless to the street.

Percy panted slightly, as he let his arms fall to his sides, staring down at the fallen Nomu before him.

"Damn," Rumi said as she stepped up to Percy's side. "Nice going," Percy just grunted, "Dropped this," Rumi said, as she passed something under Percy nose. He let out a groan as he saw the shattered remnants of his cell phone. Which had fallen out of his utility belt during the tussle.

"I just got that thing," He ruminated, as he grabbed the destroyed tech from Rumi, staring at the shattered, blackened screen in annoyance. "That's going to be annoying,"

"Suck it up," Rumi teased and he just turned to glare at her, but as he did, he froze in place. They were standing beside a new bout of flames, brought on by the attack. The light was illuminating the windows in the building at Rumi's side, and through the window, Percy could see up at a large water tower, some distance behind them. He could make out two figures, standing atop the tower. One was tall, and even at a distance, Percy could see the trails of smoke from the man's head, as it wisped into the night sky. Percy recognized him as Kurogiri, the man with the warp quirk from the USJ. But it was the figure beside Kurogiri that gave Percy pause.

The second figure was shorter than Kurogiri, made even smaller by his slightly hunched appearance. His light blue hair was reflecting off of the moon, illuminating the man, and Percy could see what looked like severed hands, covering the mans torso, face and arms.

Shigaraki.

The man who'd taken his hand. The man who'd tried to kill Tsu. The man who'd brought an army to kill his classmates, his friends. Percy's blood went cold, as a rage threatened to overcome him. It was as though the rest of the world faded away, and all he could focus on was the small slip of a man. He should have known. Percy should have put the pieces together himself. It was Shigaraki after all that had first introduced Nomu to the world. Who else would have access to the experimental monstrosities?

"What's gotten into you?" Rumi asked, who had been watching Percy as he stared, shaking slightly into the windows of the abandoned building.

"Don't turn, and don't be obvious." Percy instructed, "Look at the reflection. You see that water tower? The one by the big billboard overlooking the city."

Rumi looked, then nodded, "Yeah, I see the guys on it too. They look kind of familiar…" She trailed off and then squinted, before she too, went rigid, "Shit," She hissed, "That's the fucker who took your arm, isn't it?"

Percy couldn't verbalize a response, so he just nodded. Rumi looked at him out of the corner of her eyes, "You're going after him, aren't you?"

Percy nodded again,

"Good," Rumi grunted, cracking her knuckles.

Suddenly, the glass of the large building in front of them shattered, as another figure appeared through the shattered glass, illuminated by the shadows and flames. Like the other Nomu, it had an exposed brain, and sightless bulging eyes. It had deep green skin, and eight arms. Two of its arms were proportional to a normal humans, and were attached at the shoulders. But on its back were an additional six arms, only where hands ought to have been on the creature, there were instead glistening steel weapons, most of which were chainsaws. There was a whirring noise as four of the chainsaws roared to life.

"Of-fucking-course," Rumi grumbled under her breath, before looking back at Percy, "I'll deal with this," Her gaze hardened, "Do what you need to do, I'll back you up no matter what," Percy didn't need any more convincing. Channeling his wind, Percy chose his moment.

Then he jumped.

BREAK

"No…" Shigaraki hissed as he surveyed the damage to the city below, "No, no, no, no, no. This isn't right at all." He watched in mounting fury as the number two hero burned the four-eyed Nomu to cinders. This was meant to be his moment to show the world that there were threats greater than the Hero Killer. That the man's ideals were flawed, and incorrect. It was supposed to be his moment to finally show the world that their heroes were little more than frauds. But now three of the mighty Nomu were dead. His master had warned him that these Nomu would not be as strong as the one he'd used at the USJ, but Shigaraki had paid it no mind. All Might was weak, and miles away, they were not supposed to have any need for a monster of that size or ability. But how was Shigaraki supposed to know that Endeavor was going to be in town. Or the number seven. Or….him.

Of course it would be him. He was supposed to have been dead, killed by the Nomu, but somehow he'd survived. The bastard that had ruined his plans to kill All Might. The one who had brutalized him. Humiliated him. Had called him out and claimed he would be the one to hunt him down and kill him.

Shigaraki's hand clenched in rage, as he scratched ferociously at the side of his neck. Had he known that the bastard would be in Hosu, he would have requested a larger Nomu. Something with the strength to deal with the bastard.

He watched in aggravation, as Jackson and Miruko discussed something, the shattered ruins of one of the stronger Nomu laying at their feet. They seemed to be discussing something rather important. Whatever it was, it was of no consequence to Shigaraki. He made a note to speak at length with his master about Jackson. He was getting stronger. He had taken out two of their Nomu with barely any difficulty. If left unchecked for much longer, Jackson would become a disruption to their plans, he could even pose a threat before too long, that would make even Shigaraki's master cautious. There was an explosion of glass, as the Chainsaw Nomu broke through a building and landed in the thoroughfare. Shigaraki watched as Miruko seemed more annoyed by the intrusion than anything, but then Shigaraki started paying more attention to Jackson. He hadn't even moved when the Nomu broke onto the street. Hadn't even spared a glance in the creature's direction. Was he mocking Shigaraki? Was he mocking Shigaraki's master's creations? Did he think so lowly of the Nomu that they barely qualified as a threat any more.

His hands itched to wrap themselves around the bastards throat, and finish what he'd started at the USJ. Miruko took off in the direction of the Nomu, but still Jackson didn't move. He was staring intently into the building, but Shigaraki couldn't figure out what he was doing. Then, Jackson moved. He turned, and leapt. Leapt directly at them. Shigaraki's eyes widened in terror, as panic seized him. He was no fool, he knew that in a straight fight, he had no shot at defeating the likes of someone like that. They needed to leave.

"Kurogiri!" He snapped in panic, "Get us out of here!" His companion was already ahead of him, the familiar purple and black portal appearing right behind them. Jackson was too close, he was nearly on top of them. He turned, and started to run through the portal. Just before he walked through, he chanced a look behind him, just in time to see Jackson stretch out an arm and scream something. As the safe house materialized in front of him, Shigaraki could only hope that they had made it in time.

BREAK

Kurogiri had opened a portal, and Shigaraki was dashing through the doorway. He was going to miss his chance, but Percy refused to let the bastard get away. He whipped up another gust of wind, and blasted himself even faster.

Percy was only yards away.

Kurogiri was running through the portal.

Percy was only a few feet away.

The portal started to close, and Percy outstretched his arm as far as it would go, willing his fingers to grow just a few inches more and touch the portal.

The portal had shrunk so small that it was close to disappearing completely, with a final burst of divine wind, Percy launched himself forward, and just managed to slip through the portal. He felt a cold, creeping sensation wash over him, before the feeling evaporated, and he suddenly found himself warm, and comfortable. He landed in a roll, and barely caught sight of what looked like an old-fashioned bar room. Kurogiri and Shigaraki were staring at him; Shigaraki's eyes were wide in surprise, and Kurogiri took an abrupt step back.

Percy didn't give either a chance to act; he came out of his roll in a crouch and thrust his hands out. From his palms, two jets of water shot forward. The first slammed into Kurogiri, hitting him in the metal plate around his neck. He was propelled into the wall opposite of the bar, as the water wrapped around the plate pinning him to the oak wall. The second jet slammed into Shigaraki, he was thrown into the wall at the far side of the room, the water froze, encasing the villain's torso completely. Percy launched two additional tendrils from his fingertips, which snaked around Shigaraki's wrists like ropes. Percy raised his wrist and Shigaraki's arms were yanked upwards and pinned to the wall above him.

Percy shivered in barely suppressed rage. Standing on slightly shaking legs, he stalked forward,

Percy registered that Shigaraki was saying something, but his blood was pounding so loudly in his ears that he wasn't hearing it. He looked over at where Kurogiri was phasing in and out of existence, trying to break free of Percy's binds. Raising an open hand, Percy felt the water around Kurogiri's neck, and focused on it. The weight of his domain was heavy in the palm of Percy's hand, as he met Kurogiri's eyes, and he closed his fist. The water reacted instantly, heeding its masters command. Kurogiri's yellow eyes widened as much as possible, before he yelled out in surprise, horror, and pain, as the water began squeezing around his neck-brace. The metal plates creaked and groaned, and Kurogiri thrashed violently as he tried to extricate himself, but it was no use, the metal plate shattered, as the water compressed. The one vital part of Kurogiri, the one part of his body not protected by the shadowy mist, was crushed, and Kurogiri slumped to the floor, lifeless.

Shigaraki watched in muted horror, as his companion and personal protector was brutally executed. Percy turned his gaze on the second man. Percy paid no heed to the potential consequences of what he'd just done. These two men had tried to hurt his friends. Had tried to kill children. Had tried to take the only people Percy had left away from him. And if they were the ones behind the Nomu attacks, then they were a danger to the safety of everyone in the damn country. Percy had made his choice before he had even leapt after them. He knew what he'd be doing, the consequences of his actions be damned.

"What are you doing?!" Shigaraki shrieked, as he tried to fight against his restraints. Percy stepped forward, a sword of ice forming in his hand. Shigaraki watched the weapon form, and his thrashing grew more intense. The hand covering his face fell to the floor, as he fought in vain, and Percy saw the sad, scarred face of a delusional man.

"Master!" He cried out, "Master where are you! He's going to kill me! Please! Have I not served you faithfully, have I not been good for you, have I not done as I was asked? Please! Help me! Help me-gah!" He was suddenly silenced as one more tendril of water wrapped around his mouth, muffling his pleas.

Percy approached, coming to a stop in front of the villain. He felt like he should say something. This was the part of the story where he waxes poetic about the villain's reign of terror coming to an end or some bullshit. But he didn't have it in him. He just hated the coward before him. What kind of person can call themselves a man when they take out their rage on children? It didn't matter what happened to him, what drove him to become what he was. In Percy's eyes, Shigaraki had forfeited his life the minute he decided others had to suffer for whatever tragedies he'd suffered.

Percy raised his sword. Shigaraki's eyes were wide in terror, and he fought more violently.

There was a flash of ice.

Blade met skin.

Blood spurt high in the air.

And there was a soft thud.

Percy let out a slow breath, as the rushing sound of his own blood finally calmed down, and his vision began to clear. He waved his hand, and the ice and water all vanished, as Shigaraki's headless corpse fell to the ground, blood pooling on the ground. Percy stepped away, he briefly entertained the idea of maybe stealing his hand back. He could see what he was pretty sure was his disfigured right hand on Shigaraki's right knee. But he doubted that they could reattach it at this point. He didn't even blink at the cold-blooded murder he'd just committed. These two had been too much of a danger to society to be left alive. There was no reforming them. No rehabilitation back into society. They had made it clear that they reveled in the pain and misery of others. That they wanted to harm people simply for the sake of petty revenge.

Maybe he should have kept the man alive, kept him talking. Clearly he was working for someone else, someone far more powerful. Someone he had called master. Percy maybe could have gotten useful information out of him, but he highly doubted it. A man with highly extremist views such as that would be far too devoted to his master to ever divulge anything worthwhile. They likely wouldn't have gotten anything useful out of him, and Percy was guessing that he was correct. Any attempt to arrest him, would likely result in his escape from whatever dark hole he was thrown into.

He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. Regardless of what Rumi had told him, he was certain that there was going to be backlash to what just happed, he'd just executed two men. Regardless of their misdeeds, they hadn't posed much of a threat to him, and he could hardly argue that they'd died as a result of a fight. Someone, somewhere, would have something to say. But Percy couldn't bring himself to care. He doubted very much that there was really anyone on the island strong enough to bring him in if he didn't want to be brought in. If worst came to worst, he'd go into hiding, but he hoped it didn't come to that. Besides, Rumi would vouch for him. She'd said she'd have his back no matter what.

With his resolve set, he made to vapor travel out of the bar. He didn't even know what city he was in, he could have been halfway across the country for all he knew, and he needed to figure out where he was, and get back to Hosu. But before he could leave, a computer terminal at the far side of the room beeped. Percy turned, and eyed the terminal.

It beeped again, a message flashing on the screen indicating an incoming call was trying to get through. Curious, Percy approached the terminal, and hit the enter key. The beeping stopped, and there was a click, indicating a secure connection. "Mr. Jackson," spoke a low voice, coming through slightly synthesized, as though speaking through a voice modulator of some kind. Percy stiffened, and took a small step back as he dropped into his guard, his eyes darting around the room looking for any sign of a sudden attack.

"You're alone, Mr. Jackson, I assure you," Said the low voice, "I've been wanting to speak to you for some time now. It's not every day that a man of your…caliber, appears. Let alone someone from the time before."

"Who are you?" Percy demanded, not dropping his guard, and the voice chuckled,

"The man behind the curtain, Mr. Jackson. I suppose this means that young Shigaraki is dead then?" Percy didn't answer, and the voice hummed in thought, "A shame, he had such potential. But alas, these things do happen." He spoke of the death of his subordinate with such a dispassionate air, that Percy felt his stomach curdle,

"You…are an enigma, Mr. Jackson," The voice continued, "I remember all who came during the appearance. I remember all. But I do not remember you. And I would have remembered you. I would have tracked you down, found you. But I do not remember you. Tell me, Mr. Jackson, who are you?"

"Someone getting real sick of your shit," Percy snapped, and the voice chuckled again,

"You do have a tenacity to you. I believe I'd like to meet you Mr. Jackson. Come, let us…talk." And before Percy could do or say anything, a portal appeared. It looked exactly like the kind of portal that Shigaraki created; it appeared right under Percy's feet, and before he could do anything he fell. The portal closed behind him.

And he was gone.

AN: And just like that, canon is out the window! Yes, yes I did that. Yes I just basically ruined the entirety of canon. Why? Because reasons. Because I have some very, very fun plans. Plans that don't subscribe to the canon of MHA. This is Percy's story, and just watching him curbstomp his way through the main canon wouldn't be very fun. That being said, I'm not completely abandoning certain canonical plot points. There are some events and characters I think are fun, and will make for a good story, so they'll be included. But Percy isn't going to subscribe the main plot, because I think that's boring and unoriginal. I think you all are really going to like where this goes. And I'm sorry to all of you who wanted an interaction between Percy and the Hero Killer, but I didn't want to go that route. Strictly plot-wise, Percy would thrash someone like that with relative ease honestly, and it wouldn't be all that interesting. Aside from plot, I also didn't want Percy always swooping in and solving 1-A's problems for them, that's no fun either. With that out of the way, let me know what you think, hope you enjoyed the story, and see you next week for the finale.