Chapter 14

"R-right, Bellion, I want you and Phobos and Deimos to help Stain. I-I'll try to help as much as possible."

In most times, helping a criminal isn't a wise choice especially given that said criminal happens to be a serial killer who specifically targets a hero but this isn't in most situations.

Nodding at his master's words, Bellion took off toward the fighting duo. He watched as the two Salamanders threw in a couple of fireballs but they didn't do much. Taking a deep breath to gather his thoughts, Izuku Midoriya took a deep breath as he leaped forward. As he soared over the sky, he cast Soul Observation, curious at the strange ability of Stain.

[ Chizome Akaguro, Vassal of Pragmatism]

[Level 99, Rank as a Summon: Captain ]

'Odd,' Izuku thought to himself. The level remained the same and yet the title and Mana level have turned into something else entirely. In addition to that, its rank is an entirely new one. The young Awakened doesn't know whether this is an upgrade or downgrade compare to Vidar's rank.

Getting rid of that thought, Izuku aimed Midnight whilst willing Bellion and the others to move away. As if sensing something amidst, Stain quickly leaped away but not before slashing at the monster, drawing first blood, unlike his named Summons. Unlike most monsters, this drew no life-giving fluid but black tendrils of energy.

Briefly, the young Awakened felt drawn to such substance but shook it away in favor of the enemy at hand. Rage fueled the young man's body as he recalled what the bastard had done, grip on the black armament tightening.

Keras looked confused at the enemies before realization dawned on him. He attempted to move but found his body unable to do so. Not questioning Keras' mobility hafted, Izuku smiled at the prospect of an easy target. Upon getting up close, Izuku relished a surprised look from Keras as a powerful blast of flames extended forth, covering the entire face instantly.

[ Enemy Keras is now suffering ]

A powerful blow came into contact with the young man's stomach, knocking the wind out of him and metallic liquid filling his tongue. Before long, he winds up flying carelessly through the air before feeling something clutching onto him. Glancing upward, Izuku caught the telltale sign of Bellion.

Despite the black flames covering his entire body and the wounds, he'd sustained, Keras looked no worse for wear. A snarl escaped the monstrous King as he squat down, preparing to leap up. Only for the burning building to groan and shake.

"This is not over you hear me, the successor of Ashborn. Today, you didn't win anything! It's a draw!" Keras roared as he swiped at the air, causing a green portal to appear. Knowing full well what is he intending, Izuku and everyone else immediately rushed forward to intercept him.

Bellion's whip sword wrapped itself around the monster, pulling him up into the sky with every strength he had. As the grey monster soared, Keras broke free in an instant and was preparing another Hellscream. However, a small horde of Blue Myrmidons jumped out and swarmed the King.

An angry roar escaped the fierce warrior as he spun in the air, kicking the few that dared to attack him. The ones who weren't dealt had their attacks landed but did little to damage the powerful warrior's thick hide. Just as they were easily dispatched, an array of flames followed up courtesy of the Salamanders.

Raising both hands back, Keras brought them together in a powerful clap. The gesture sent a powerful burst of wind that dispersed all flames. As they were blown away, a red and black figure-Stain and Bellion flew upward and struck a series of quick but powerful slashes. Unable to contain himself, Izuku rushed up, holding the massive weaponry back as he thrust, smashing into the very cracks.

Much to Izuku's delight, the cracks gave way to soft flesh underneath. Activating Ddraig and Midnight's Nox Burst, he attempted to fire the two at point-blank range only for a hand to reach up and covered the greenette by the mouth and another grey clawed hand grabbing the spear, Resulting in the cooling sensation to well up his throat whilst Nox Burst tore through the building underneath them.

"I'll let you in on a secret, Ruler's Chosen, just because you have his power doesn't mean you have his skill. Our second weakest had claimed you'd something to do with the dragon but I don't see shit." Keras snorted. Much like his experience with Yogumunt, Bellion and the others weren't making any dent save for Stain who could only leave little cuts along the Iron Body's King's body, causing little pieces of black liquid to drip out.

However, the grip loosened if only momentarily but it was more than enough for the greenest. Gripping the grey armored digits, Izuku grabbed onto the thumb and index finger, piling them as he kicked the monster's chest as hard as possible. Leaping away, Izuku landed on the ground and fired another Ddraig in the form of a fireball.

[Warning, Keras is using King's Rumble]

Stumbling backward but looking more annoyed than ever, Keras effortlessly weaved through Bellion's and Stain's quick and deadly strikes. In an instant, he appeared before Bellion and wound up having the upper half of the winged warrior destroyed. Keras turned around and caught the bladed arms of Stain.

The red blade groaned and creak before ultimately giving way to the vice-like grip, shattering into pieces. Stain howled like a lunatic as he repeatedly stabbed the monster in the chest with the other arm, each thrust doing little except making more nicks in the tough hide. Growling, Keras raised a hand but found himself unmoving.

"I've killed more scums with hides just as tough as yours. What makes you think you're any different?" Stain laughed, ducking down and stabbing Keras' armpit, drawing out more of the dark wisp. However, Stain's laughter ended abruptly when a fist came onto the man's head, causing the red armor to shatter into pieces. Blood poured effortlessly out of the wounds as the man stumbled forward briefly, wavering only for him to attempt another stab to the exposed spot on the chest,

[Warning, Keras is using King's Body]

The crazed killer's glowing gold eyes widen in shock before a pained cry escaped the man's lips, vibrating strongly against the red armor. Keras on the other hand merely huffed in annoyance as he held the hand that committed the act openly, letting the pieces clatter uselessly to the ground. Before the Monstrous Humanoids' King could deal in the final blow, a chilling sensation crept in.

Startled by the sudden change in temperature, Izuku looked down and found pearly white ice covering the monster's lower body. Much to Izuku's shock, he noted how the Summons themselves were encased in ice. As it continuously crept up, Keras and the other two could make a small trail leading up to his back.

Standing several feet away was a young woman Izuku had often seen in the news, the same age as the young greenette, on one knee several feet away. Her short hair was divided into a vibrant red and a stark white, both colors contrasting one another. On the upper left side of her face was an injury that marred her beauty.

Unlike most, her hero costume consisted of a blue undersuit with light blue armor designed more for mobility instead of defense based on how it only covers the chest and outer thighs, and back.

"Oh, my goo-" Izuku never managed to finish that sentence as Keras hurled him far away. Growing enraged, Izuku hurled a powerful blast at Ddraig. Seizing an opportunity, Stain latched onto the monster's right arm. The ensuing flames swallowed the two, the abyssal black flames hiding them from the greenette's sight.

[Keras' health is now down to 98 percent]

[Chizome's health is now down to 8 percent]

"What!?" Izuku shouted in shock, taken aback by the sheer absurdity of the monster's durability and Stain's lack of one. In an instant, the flames were swept away, leaving an infuriated Keras growling whilst glancing at the injured man. Izuku's heart sank as he saw how Stain's armor had been destroyed-no-decayed. Bits and pieces of armor clung onto random parts of the man but his face was still set into grim determination.

"Enough of this," Keras scowled, swinging the arm down, and sending Stain flying hard into the ground. Opening a second portal, Keras lifted his leg and caused the ice to shatter. Several icicles were formed but Keras took no heed and leaped into the portal.

"H-hey, get back here," Izuku called out, unable to accept it ended in such a fashion. He still hadn't repaid the monster for what he did to his mother. However, the building groaned yet again slowly tilting downward as it did so, reminding Izuku of the current situation. He was about to leave when the woman grabbed him by the arm.

"I-is there something I can help you with?" Izuku asked, idly casting Soul Observation.

[Shouko Todoroki, Fire and Ice ]

[Level 88, Rank as a Summon: Captain ]

"Wow," croaked the young man, slightly feeling threatened by the young woman's level. A simple gesture from her had the young greenette following her. Several steps away, she then leaped down the building. Willing the summons to come back, Izuku carried the injured man and followed after her.

The young man paused at the edge, watching a giant slide of ice made as the young girl slid down on it. By the time she landed, Izuku followed shortly. Whilst sliding the young man noted how it doesn't feel very cold. Snapped out of stupor was the sight of a dozen Pro-Heroes, several of them were recognizable as he had seen them on the news before.

All three landed on the ground. As Izuku got up, people were taking several steps back out of fear, reminding the young man he's currently holding a dangerous criminal in hand.

"Have that killer arrested now!" Kamui shouted. Stain on the other hand wrest free of the greeneries grasp and leaped away. Izuku attempted to follow but found himself unable to move. It felt as if an oppressive force is stopping his very movements. Out of the corner of his eyes, Izuku noted the other heroes including Shouko is suffering from the same problem.

[ Warning, Stain is now using Ruler's Authority]

"I will not be denied my chance at success." Stain yelled, turning to the greenette before pointing at Izuku. "You, fight me this very instance!"

"W-what?" Stammered the young man, confused by the development of the entire scenario. To make the entire situation more confusing, Stain's eyes and wounds were glowing a bright gold, small tiny light particles wafting through the air before dispersing into nothing. A rollercoaster of emotions spiraled through the young Awakened's mind.

"Why? I don't understand why you're doing any of this! He's not a Construct! He's just an innocent civilian, please let him go!" Izuku was pleased, having scanned him for a brief moment. Despite that, the greenett's words caused the Vassal to scoff.

"Then you can watch everyone around you die." Snapped the armored warrior, aiming another hand at a civilian. A simple flick had the civilian levitating upward, confusion and fear well-written on the poor man's face. The civilian's eyes met Izuku's green ones, silently begging the young man to save him. Other nearby Pro Heroes attempted to move but stopped when the civilian's body began to contort violently, the body slowly twisting under an invisible pressure. Hearing how the bones of the poor man slowly turn makes Izuku's skin crawl, wishing for this entire nonsense to stop.

"Stop him!" Izuku commanded, anger boiling. Befuddlement spread throughout the various Pro Heroes when hordes of shadow-like monsters swarmed over the crazed killer. In the ever-consuming darkness, they piled on the madman who swung wildly only for Bellion to restrain the ever-decaying man.

As he approached the restrained criminal, he winced as he saw how much the wounds had spread through the body. Glowing veins across the chest and some pieces of his flesh and armor had fallen but showed no organs whatsoever. Simply having a look already had the skin crawling.

"What is your problem?" Izuku asked blithely. "I...I get your reasoning but that man was innocent. You claim to fight for humanity and yet you pulled off that?!"

What came next was full-blown laughter out of the maniacal killer. Despite that, Izuku couldn't help but notice it felt sad. Stain's laughter fell short as his head fell to the ground, shaggy, uncut black hair shadowing his face. Only for the man to gingerly lift his head, tired blood red eyes meeting Izuku's green ones.

"Then tell me, Successor of Ashborn, what do you think I can do?" Stain asked. "My hands are soaked with the blood of the innocent. I have taken more lives than I can scarcely count. And I highly doubt you would turn me as a Summon of yours."

"W-wait, do you know anything about Ashborn? Is that the owner of this power of mine?" Izuku's question received a chuckle.

"I... Gaah!" The sudden scream took the people nearby by surprise but Stain continued like nothing was wrong. However, Izuku noted the eyes were glowing a bright white light. Curiously, Izuku cast Soul Observation on the man.

[Maestro, Coldest Fragment of Brilliant Light]

"Y-you're not Stain," Izuku muttered, baffled by what he has done. The possibility of this Maestro being a Construct was thrown out the window due to it having a different title.

"Oh, how wonderful, you're not as obtuse as that fool for a warrior." Maestro, as the System had dubbed it, giggled. It was rather disturbing as the voice sounded ancient, inhuman even. Not to mention impossible given that Stain-no, Maestro's jaw had fallen a moment later after Soul Observation showed him the info.

"Hmm, what a pain you are. You know what, let's do it like this." Maestro's words were followed by a single snap of the fingers, causing the world around them to change. There was no one else around anymore. Shouko and the other Pro Heroes and even the civilians. Only Izuku and the unknown entity remained.

[ Warning, User is now within the Gap between Dimensions]

[User is now unable to contact the outside world]

"What did you do?" Izuku asked, tensed and confused at practically everything.

"You want to know something, I never understood that old coot for a brother of mine. Greatest of us all, our father dubbed him. That old geezer deserved nothing more than death." Maestro's words were harsh as they are confusing. He wished to ask for information about Ashborn but these new circumstances of events take precedence.

"A-are you trying to help humanity?

"Why don't you figure it out yourself?" Maestro coyly stated.

Fury greater than the fiercest of flames burns within the young man, causing the greenette's hand to lunge for the throat. Abyssal darkness coated the young man's entire arm in an instant. Rage burn hot within the young Midoriya as his fingers slowly but steadily closed around the man's throat. Despite the terrible amount of pressure latching onto the throat, the man/entity chuckled.

"Listen, I'm not in a good manner so I'll ask again and this time I want you to answer me." Izuku grounded out. "Who are you?"

"Why would I tell you? Do it, kill me. Kill me if you even can." Maestro laughed only for the mocking voice to turn to wheezing sounds. It would be so easy to just simply break the neck. Just a little bit more and it will break.

"No, I'm a Hero," Izuku spoke, letting the man's neck go. This action took Maestro by surprise but chuckles escaped the entity's throat.

"Oh, who would've thought. At least I tried." Maestro's chuckles were cut short as the body of one Chizome Akaguro dissolve into tiny particles.

[ User is now free from the Dimension Between Gaps]

Just as the notifications kicked in, the world around them shatters like glass, revealing the open area where he was moments earlier. Shouko looked positively confused and even baffled. In the Summons, he even shared the same confused expression.

"Where did Stain go? And where did you go?" Shouko asked, donning a slightly confused expression.

"I...I got no clue myself." Izuku plainly stated, utterly tired by the series of events he'd undertaken.

(Linebreak)

'This is awkward.'

Those are Izuku Midoriya's honest opinions of the entire predicament he'd landed himself in. The young man found himself staring at the swirling liquid of the coffee mug instead of his mother. His mother looked no worse and much like himself has a small mug of coffee.

"I hope you weren't harmed by that guy," Izuku stated, hands tightening as he recalled the so-called King of Monstrous Humanoids.

"No, I'm alright." His mother spoke, taking a small sip. Not knowing how to break the awkward silence, Izuku secretly glances around the dining room; a pristine room outfitted with some of the most expensive-looking equipment for a mere dining room. After the mess with Keras, the young man quickly admitted his mother to the hospital. Luckily enough, the doctors found no injuries whatsoever.

Sadly their house and what little money left by his dad were ruined along with their apartment. He'd called Saiko for help with the money thing but the girl instead offered to let them stay at her house.

At first, they were against it but after some time thinking, Izuku relented.

"Your friend is kind. Where is she anyway?"

"O-oh, right, well, she's busy working on something," Izuku replied, idly sipping on the warm glass of cocoa. Saiko hadn't lingered long shortly after telling them which door lead to what room. Instead, her only rebuke was 'work after work'.

"So, you two are dating then?" Inko questioned. This caused Izuku to choke on the drink, coughing up the beverage before glancing at her.

"What? Of course not," Izuku defended. The mere thought of him dating Saiko is just ridiculous on so many levels. Someone as smart, talented, and skilled along getting blessed by a wonderful Quirk with someone like him; a meager nobody? It's just wrong.

"Intelli-san and I are just friends." Weakly defended the boy.

"What kind of friend, much less a girl allows their friend and friends' family to stay at their house?" Returned the older woman, taking another sip.

"A good friend?" Izuku explained uncertainly, throwing a helpless shrug.

"Come now, you don't have to hide it. You must've inherited your father's charisma" Inko tittered.

"Haha, really funny Ka-san," Izuku snarked, grinning despite everything that had occurred. The fact that she was willing to mention dad was proof of that. Although a small part of him still couldn't move away from the words left behind by the one called Maestro. Not only that but there was also his title was completely different from the two Monarchs he'd encountered.

"Anyway, I want to know something, where did you get those black creatures? Those Summon as you called them?" Inko's question had the young man winced, realizing he had revealed his secrets to the public.

"Haha, I was planning to show them at a later date but I guess now is as good as any time." With a thought, the shadows under him extend forward and a figure rose out. Inko gasped as she saw an armored figure standing out, kneeling on one knee as soon as he was fully formed.

"Mom, meet Bellion. He's one of the Summon as others put it. Magical beings that are contracted to magic wielders." Izuku introduced.

"My, he's a big one isn't he?" His mother chuckled. A chuckle escaped the young greenette, raising both arms in a placating manner. The older woman eyed the winged warrior, taking in the details.

"Bellion was it?" Inko asked curiously. The Summon sneaked a glance at his master, receiving a quick nod from the young man. Bellion in turn gave a small nod of affirmation.

"Thank you for helping my son. I hope you two can get along well." Inko bowed, surprising the two people. Hearing those words, Bellion offered a small smile and slowly but gently pull her up.

"Ka-san, you don't have to go that far," Izuku spoke, catching Bellion agreeing with his sentiment.

"Nonsense, you must always express your gratitude toward others. This is basic manners." Admonished Inko to her son to which Izuku only nodded.

"So, what about those insect-like creatures and the giant lizards?" Inko asked. Izuku perked up hearing those, recalling she did get carried to safety by two of them.

"Those guys? You want to meet them too?" Izuku asked. He wasn't looking forward to introducing her to the others as barring Bellion and the two Salamanders, he didn't give them any names nor saw any reason to do so.

"No, I want you to help me find something inside our home. It's a gift from your father." Hearing that perked the young man's attention. A gift supposedly left by dad was something on its own.

"Really? I guess I could do that." Izuku relented to which his mother uttered thankful words. He didn't want to burst her bubble considering their apartment was burnt down to the ground. Whatever it was, there's a chance it might not have survived the fire.

"Great, it's a small velvet red box and has a dragon-shaped image on it. About the size of an orange as well." Inko stated. Izuku arched an eyebrow at the description, surprised to hear the so-called memento is nothing but a box. But then again, he was already planning to help her so he might as well go through with it.

Sending the commands to the several Myrmidons, he could feel them leaving his shadows and dispersing out of the room. Dispatching three Myrmidons should be good enough and he doesn't have any reason to send out more.

"Done, anything else, Ka-san?" Izuku asked.

"Yes, help me prepare a meal for your friend." Inko's words caused the boy to slump down.

(Linebreak)

Saiko Intelli eyed the monster standing several feet away from her. A Blue Myrmidon of slightly above average height and muscle mass with a noticeable longhorn. A terrible shriek rang out as it rushed forward whilst Saiko tapped on one of three buttons on her new weapon.

Soon enough, the baton expanded into a full-length spear, ending with a leaf-shaper blade popping out at the end. The blade itself was a foot and a half long and wide as a foot wide. The weapon itself began to vibrate violently in her hand as she swung it upward, meeting the monster head-on.

The Myrmidon in question brought down its sharp and long horns down onto the spear blade. However, the vibrating blade cut through the horn with relative ease, surprising the insect-like monster. It roared in anger, throwing down a haymaker before Saiko sidestepped it and threw a quick jab at the monster. The weapon shifted yet again, turning into a gauntlet engulfing her entire forearm.

Upon touching the monster's side, the gauntlet began humming. Soon enough, the monster cried out in pain as the torso's carapace shattered followed suit by the flesh underneath to explode. A pained gasp or at least Saiko assumed, escaped the monster.

Despite that, it attempted to strike yet again only for Saiko to bobbed underneath and delivered a second strike to the same spot. Vibration in heavier load resonated throughout the monster's body, causing it to convulse violently before exploding into chunks of meat and carapace. Only its lower half was not destroyed, standing upright with its Essence Stones proudly sitting at the top.

Picking up the small stone, Saiko inspected it as she wiped away the blood using a tissue. once that was done, she pocketed the little stone in her pockets and continued on her merry way. Whilst doing so, she took out her cell phone and dialed her friend's phone number. Three steps in and she heard Izuku's voice.

"Hey, Izuku-Kun, I hope you are settling in.= nicely. How is your mother faring?"

"Quite well actually. Just curious, where are you right now?" Izuku questioned.

"I'm inside a Dungeon, it's a B-rank Gate but nothing beyond my abilities," Saiko stated, pausing slightly when the ground beneath her rumbled. In the distance, she could make out a stillhouse of a group of insect-like creatures. Some were Blue Myrmidons and a couple of Serqet- scorpion-Esque monsters reputed for their sharp claws and the ability to shoot poison out of those gun-like protrusions on their tails' tip-accompanying.

"That's good to hear. Do you want some of my Summons for help?" Izuku asked. The monsters seem to have noticed her as well, growling as they approached her.

"Thank you but that's not necessary. Although I would like you to check out some monsters I'm about to deal with." Saiko sighed as she realized the insects' collective shrieking and chittering had drowned out Izuku's response. Turning off the phone, she leaped into the fray with her weapons turned on.

Author's Note: Hello folks, I have returned. On a side note, can you guys give some legitimate criticisim? Or at least mention anything that's on your mind.