Chapter Nineteen

Final Term Exams

He was still up when the sun had risen, having spent the previous day in the forest.

According to Shizukana, the book also mentioned that two of the Hogwarts relics — one they already knew was Godric Gryffindor's sword, the other being Salazar Slytherin's locket — were buried in the Sepulcra Mountains as well, though there was no explanation as to how they were there in the first place. Despite this, Austerus didn't mind; Morana would end up loving the locket, even if she wasn't a descendant of one of the four Hogwarts Founders.

Satisfied with the information, Austerus made his way to U.A., glad that the internships were over and that they could focus on other things, like doing for their finals, which they had quite awhile to prepare for.

A few hours later, the students gathered at the Central Plaza in their Hero costumes after taking the written exam. It had been said that the practical exam would be about fighting the same robots that were in the Entrance Exam, but Austerus knew it was more than that.

If not, he'd really wouldn't be disappointed.

And he knew why there so many Pro Heroes present, as Aizawa was accompanied by Present Mic, Snipe, Midnight, Thirteen, Cementoss, Ectoplasm, and Power Loader.

"Now, we'll begin the practical exam," Aizawa announced with fake enthusiasm. "Of course, it's possible to fail this exam. If you want to go to the training camp, then don't many any mistakes. Anyway, I expect that you all have gathered information ahead of time and have some idea of what you'll be doing."

"We're fighting robots warriors like the Entrance Exam, right?" cheered Kaminari, obviously confident.

Mina started cheering along. Austerus, however, noticed, along with a few others, that their teacher's scarf was . . . moving?

A white figure suddenly sprung from the scarf. "For various reasons, the exam will be different this time!"

"P-Principal Nezu!" gasped the students.

This should be interesting.

"Different . . . ?"

"From now on, we want to focus on person-to-person combat and Hero work, and teaching that is closer to actual fighting," explained Nezu, jumping onto the ground. "So . . . we'll be having you form teams of two to fight against one teacher!"

His face impassive, Austerus saw most of his classmates stiffen. Fighting against the teachers? If so, failing the exam would depend on whether or not they managed to win against the teacher they were facing.

Against Pro Heroes?

That's completely insane! thought most of 1-A.

"In addition," continued Aizawa, "the pairs and who they will be up against have already been decided. These were determined at my discretion based on various factors, including fighting styles, grades, and interpersonal relationships, so here they are. Listen carefully."

This is going to be nothing but a waste of time, Austerus thought to himself, though he really didn't bother with any other thoughts on the matter.

"The first team will be Yaoyorozu and Todoroki, and they'll fighting me," Aizawa said, a lazy, somewhat scary-looking (to the others students, at least) smirk spread on his lips as his eyes landed on Austerus. "Additionally, since there are twenty-one of you, Austerus, you'll be teaming up with Yaoyorozu and Todoroki."

He really wasn't impressed.

"Midoriya and Bakugo will be a team, and their opponent will be . . ."

A figure dropped from the sky, landing perfectly before the group of shell-shocked students. Rising from the ground, the man than grinned at the two.

"I'll be doing it!"

"A-All Might?"

"Work together to beat me, you two!" warned the Symbol of Peace.

"Now, as for the rest of the teams . . ." Nezu gained back the students' attention. "The teams will be Kirishima and Sato versus Cementoss, Tokoyami and Asui versus Ectoplasm, Iida and Ojiro versus Power Loader, Aoyama and Uraraka versus Thirteen, Kaminari and Ashido versus myself, Jiro and Koji versus Present Mic, Hagakure and Shoji versus Snipe and finally, Mineta and Sero versus Midnight. Now, the time limit for the exam is thirty minutes. Your objective is either to put these handcuffs on the teacher, or have one of you escape from the stage."

Capture or escape.

"Is it really okay to run away?" inquired Mina.

"Of course!" Nezu said, giving them a thumbs up.

"But it'll be different from the combat training!" warned Present Mic, apparently pumped up. "You'll be up against someone way out of your league!"

"Out of our league?" echoed Jiro. "I really can't imagine it, though . . ."

Austerus had no doubt that the teachers had to hold back if they wanted the exam to work.

"This time, your exam will be very similar to a real battle," Thirteen informed. "Please think of us as Villains."

"Assuming you come across the enemy, if you think you can win a fight against them, that's fine," added Snipe. "However . . ."

"In cases where there's too big a difference in your abilities, it would be smarter to run away and get help," pursued Aizawa. "Todoroki, Iida, Midoriya. I'm sure you three understand this well."

The three students could only nod at that. While fighting the Hero Killer had been honestly exhilarating, they would have all died if he actually fought seriously.

"With those options, you're probably all thinking about running away, huh?" mused All Might. "That's why we had the Support Course make these for us," he said pulling out some weights. "These are compressed weights!" He and the other teachers started putting them on. "We'll put on about half of our body weight. These are used mainly to give you a handicap to exploit. It's old-fashioned, sure, but it makes it hard to move and eats up stamina!"

"To allow us to consider fighting you, huh?" said Bakugo, annoyed. "You're underestimating us."

"They are not underestimating us, Bakugo," said Austerus, barely turning to look at the blond. "They are simply seeing how far we can go with our powers."

"Whatever, Greasy Hair!" snapped Bakugo, sending him a fiery glare.

"Alright, each team will take the practical exam in order on the prepared stage," announced Aizawa. "Sato, Kirishima, get ready. Those waiting their turn can watch the exams or think of strategies as a team. Do what you want. That's all."

On that note, all of the teachers headed inside. After a moment of wonder, the black-haired wizard turned to face both Yaoyorozu and Todoroki, who didn't look pleased that he was teamed up with one of his rivals.

"Are there any strategies you have, Yaoyorozu?" he asked.

"No," responded Yaoyorozu. "We should come up with one. Any suggestions, Austerus, Todoroki?" she asked, looking at the two males.

After a few moments of silence, Austerus said, "I may have an idea."

Team Kirishima and Sato had failed their exam, while Team Asui and Tokoyami managed to passed with time to kill, thus comforting the rest of the students a little. The exams weren't impossible after all, which was a good thing. Following them was Team Iida and Ojiro, who also passed very quickly thanks to their quick thinking.

Now, it was his, Todoroki's and Yaoyorozu's turn.

They were in the residential area, the one with all the houses around. This particular stage seemed to annoy Todoroki a little, considering that he wouldn't be able to use his fire that much without the risk of setting everything ablaze.

"So, you know what you have to do, correct?" Austerus said, the three of them walking down a street.

"Yes," said Yaoyorozu. Todoroki merely nodded.

"Don't forget, Yaoyorozu," he said. "Focus on getting making those weapons. Todoroki and I, meanwhile, will be looking for Aizawa. Remember: do not lose your focus or your confidence. Do you understand?"

Before the black-haired girl could answer, there was a loud noise, signaling the beginning of the test.

"Team Austerus, Todoroki, and Yaoyorozu, practical exam. Ready . . . start!"

"Let's go!"

The three of them started running, Yaoyorozu instantly using her Quirk. As she kept on creating small dolls, Austerus kept a firm grip on his wand, and Todoroki prepared himself in case there was a surprise attack.

They only had thirty minutes. They needed to find the gate.

"Aizawa is going to move in as soon as one of your Quirks are erased," said Austerus, looking at the other two. "Be careful and be ready if you find your Quirk stops working."

"R-Right . . ." Yaoyorozu stuttered. "I shouldn't have expected anything less from you, Austerus. Coming up with a plan so quickly . . . as well as keeping your cool so easily . . ."

"It is nothing that amazing. I have done things like this before."

"Nothing . . . that amazing . . . ?" echoed Yaoyorozu, stopping in her tracks, forcing Austerus and Todoroki to stop as well, both turning to look at her. "Austerus, you might not see it, but many of us in the class look up to you. You're hard-working, strong, and smart . . . Given the powers you have, I know I would be surprised if you would have refused to enter U.A. through recommendations unlike myself or Todoroki if others saw what you could do, and you managed to land in first place without even seeming to realize how exceptional that is. Even though we basically started at the same school, I'm still trying to catch up to you when it comes to the practical part of being a Pro Hero. I-I haven't done anything that stands out. I . . . I . . ."

"Yaoyorozu, enough," said Austerus. Before he even knew what he was doing, he placed both of his hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes. "Do not, I repeat, do not degrade yourself like this. You should not be ashamed of yourself for something that you are not able to exceed. Do things at your own pace. Even if you have lost your confidence, it is not nearly as worse as not exceeding everything else that you have done in the first place. Remember this: Not everyone is the same. Do not feel like a burden for something you can't control. Do you understand me?"

The black-haired girl, her eyes brimming with tears, nodded. It only took a second to realize what was going on, however, and Austerus instantly pulled out his wand.

"He's here! Run!" Todoroki ordered. "I'll handle him. Just go!"

"You should act instead of loosing your time."

Todoroki's flames flared up, forcing the man to drop from the electric lines. Shocked, Yaoyorozu then obeyed the order given to her, running to another part of the area with Austerus as Todoroki faced their teacher. He already knew he had erased his Quirk, but before he could do anything, Todoroki tried to attack him with a swipe of his fist. Aizawa was forced to skid back to escape the attacks, before his scarf-bandages suddenly wrapped around the dual-haired boy's middle, immobilizing him. Aizawa wasted no time, tying his bandages around him. The next moment, he was dangling from the electric lines, too tied up to manage even a slight movement.

"Needless to say, you've made this very easy for me," grunted the man, attaching the loose ends to a lamp post to keep him in place. "Since you're one of the defenses, I was planning on getting one of you first."

"Or I just burn my way out as soon as you look away," Todoroki snorted, unimpressed.

"Or not." He threw something and, a second later, the whole ground was covered with sharp black spikes. "Don't even think about landing on those," he warned. "You might not care about getting hurt, but that's something I've been expecting from you. Those spikes are coated with a somniferous substance. You'll drop like a fly as soon as it enters your system. Think on that while I go grab your partners."

And on that joyful note, he vanished in a flash, going after the other two students. Biting his lower lip, Todoroki thought over what had just been said.

"This way," said Austerus, taking Yaoyorozu's hand and turning a corner, trying to keep out of sight, even if it was difficult. "Stay here," he said, and, without hesitation, stepped behind a wall. Yaoyorozu, confused, waited, looking around anxiously. Aizawa could find them at any moment.

A few seconds later, Austerus stepped out from behind the wall, gesturing for her to follow him again.

"Austerus," she started, "what did you —"

"No time to explain," he said, glancing left and right. "We don't got much time left."

"You're right about that."

Yaoyorozu let out a small shriek as one of the scarfs restrained both her arms. She desperately tried to free herself, but to no avail.

"It's no use," Aizawa said, gripping his scars tightly. "And with your Quirk erased, I can —"

"Stupefy!"

Aizawa moved out of the way as a streak of red light flew past him. He looked and Austerus waving his wand, shouting out spell after spell; some of them almost hit him as he avoided them.

"You shouldn't be so forward with your attacks, Austerus," said Aizawa, using another one of his scarfs to try and capture the black-eyes teen, who easily — but still exhaustedly — avoided his attacks. "If you do, then things like this," he said, managing to wrap an arm around the student's torso and another around the arm holding his wand, "will happen."

He's too powerful, he thought to himself. I can't last any longer.

"Perhaps, Aizawa," began Austerus calmly, letting his wand drop the wand, the object disappearing as he did so, "you should be the one who isn't forward, because if you do," he said, looking at them with his black eyes, "then you will occur the unexpected."

Before Aizawa's and Yaoyorozu's eyes, the two scarfs retracted from Austerus — and parts of his body seemed to completely rip away from his body, as if it had been cut by a knife. Both of them, along with the others watching, stated at Austerus as he spoke.

"I am not that idiotic, after all. Do not forget that the next time something like this happens."

The body then melted onto the floor like ink, the features seeming to turn to stone as the body crumbled like dust.

It was only when Aizawa felt a loss of weight from his scarfs did he realize that Yaoyorozu had managed to escape. He didn't even realize he had blinked after what he saw Austerus do.

It had been nothing but a distraction.

"Todoroki!"

Startled by the shout, Todoroki looked down as Yaoyorozu and Austerus suddenly showed up, both out of breath and Yaoyorozu obviously in panic.

"I-I'm sorry!" she apologized. "I don't. I can't do this, I don't know! I-I can't . . . come up with anything . . ." She now seemed close to tears. She turned to her teammate. "You're the one who's always right, Austerus . . . You're the one who always does the right thing . . ."

What a complete and utter lie that was — she just didn't know it.

"Yes, you can, Yaoyorozu! We need to pass this exam, the three of us!" he said. "And I've told you before, Yaoyorozu: One mistake doesn't, and shouldn't, make you believe you are not able to make it, even if you both give it everything you have! Do not let this control you."

The black-haired girl gaped at him for a few seconds. Then, quickly wiping away her frustrated tears, she ran to the lamppost to untie the bandages holding Todoroki, carefully avoiding the black spikes still lying around.

As soon as she was freed, Todoroki propelled himself to the side so as to avoid landing on them, and then smiled at Yaoyorozu.

"Okay, what do we — he's back! Yaoyorozu, what is your plan?"

"I-I know what we can do!" exclaimed Yaoyorozu, the words rolling out of her mouth before she could stop them. "I-I mean, I think —"

"That's great!" assured Todoroki, genuine. "One idea is better than none. Watch out!"

"Give up, are we?" said Aizawa, preparing to use his scarf on them.

"Not yet!" exclaimed Yaoyorozu. "Austerus, Todoroki, hurry! Close your eyes!"

"What?"

Trust her, Austerus told himself. Even if you dislike it, you have to trust her.

So both of them closed their eyes. There was a detonation, and light shone even through their closed eyelids. Once the light died down, Austerus felt himself being pulled away. Surprised, he glanced at his teammates, one who smiled back, the other keeping his impassive face.

"Flash grenades?" said Austerus and Todoroki, eyes lingering on the dolls still hanging on the girl's belt.

"Because of the attack at U.S.J., Aizawa's Quirk has been damaged, somewhat. He can't use it for as long, and the time between each use has increased," informed the girl as they run to find a place to hide. "It'll give us some time, but we need to find a way to escape his field of vision for a while longer! Keep trying to create your fire. There will be a single moment where he'll blink… and that's when you need to raise a wall of fire so dense he won't be able to see you through it."

They kept on running, the Pro Hero getting closer and closer. As he sent his bandages to catch the brunette again, though, sparks flew from Todoroki's fingers.

Now!

Stopping in his tracks, he created the biggest wall of fire he could manage in such a small street, being careful to not touch the fences on both sides of the road, making it large enough so that the teacher couldn't see through it. Using the opportunity, Yaoyorozu instantly started using her Quirk.

All of it happened in a brief instant.

Todoroki stopped producing his fire, going to hide under a cloth, just like the other two. Their opponent instantly moved to restrain them, but caught mannequins instead. In his surprise, he failed to see the danger in time. Yaoyorozu managed to fire her catapult and, at the given signal, Todoroki aimed her fire at the make-shift restraining bandages their partner had created earlier.

Heated up, it instantly returned to its original shape, effectively trapping Aizawa. Austerus instantly tackled him to the ground and, without hesitation, put the shackles around his wrists.

There was a moment of silence, only filled the ragged breaths of the three students, who still couldn't really understand what they had just done.

"Team, Austerus, Yaoyorozu, and Todoroki have passed!"

They had done it.

"You two did well," Austerus said, glancing at Yaoyorozu and Todoroki before turning to walk away. The black-haired girl stuttered to find her words, blushing at the small compliment, but a small smile lingered on her lips. Todoroki only nodded, not saying anything.

They passed, and that was all that mattered.

The skies were dark today.

Austerus and Shizukana cast fleeting looks over their shoulders as they strode through the slim opening of the forest (or 'the Walls of Darkness,' as Austerus liked to call it). Branches and rocks seemed to decay as they walked by, the other healthy-looking parts cleaving a smooth path that led straight into the heart of the forest. All around them, there laid an unnerving silence, though at the present time, Austerus was feeling quite satisfied with himself.

"Satsujin," Shizukana called, glancing up at the overcast sky.

The eagle was there a moment later, brown wings fluttering restlessly in the air beside them. With a careless flick of his fingers, and a large amount of black smoke surrounding the creature, the eagle became a human with black-and-white hair and blue eyes to match.

"Yes, Shizukana?" said Satsujin, smiling at his boyfriend.

"Ah, there you are," Shizukana said, smiling, looking slightly drained. "I wondered if you'd flown off after what happened."

"Of course not," he answered at once, though his eyes strayed sideways, glancing at Austerus to decipher his mood. "Though I did cause quite a . . ."

"Spectacle?" Austerus said, an eyebrow raised. "Well, yes, that was my intention. The look on Morana's face . . . I shall treasure it forever." Vivid black eyes flashing with mischief, he batted aside low-hanging tree limbs, his velvet black robes sweeping against the earth at every step.

"I'm sure she won't forget this, Austerus. She's a vengeful woman," Shizukana said carefully, him and Satsujin picking their way through thorns and tangled moss. The forest's foliage didn't move out of the way like somehow it did for their leader.

"I see the truth in this," Austerus admitted, gazing again at the dark sky. "But, nevertheless, the deed is done. Her own life is forfeit."

Satsujin frowned as they crested a large hill, the one overlooking the Black Manor. "Aren't you worried the League of Villains will find a way to protect her? Or, better yet, find someone who will —"

"Protection?" Austerus interrupted, looking dismissive. "Shizukana, Satsujin, there's no such thing as protection when it comes to her." He paused atop the hill, his eyes absorbing the massive, twisted branches of the trees. "Don't you see? That's why I will be bribing her with the locket."

Shizukana and Satsujin were more chilled than they'd like to admit, but still, they dutifully followed Austerus down the hill and across the horrid-looking lake that surrounded a large area of the forest. Everything here was dark, so utterly and terrifyingly ominous, that even they tended to stay away. Austerus usually sent them or any member of the Death Court on tireless errands throughout Musutafu, mostly so that the four of them wouldn't spend a large length of time with him in a place that they wouldn't want to be in.

Austerus himself was rarely near this area of the forest, despite it being a safe haven. For the past several years, he'd been intent on creating chaos and spreading it throughout the manor, along with saving his father. And all of it was currently in the process. He would never give Morana a moment's rest, both Shizukana and Satsujin knew, not until she herself was dead. That was the price she must pay for not only killing Everett, but for also torturing his father for several years.

"What do you think it will do?" Shizukana asked.

Austerus turned, his long black cloak swirling around him, and gracefully sat down on our of the rocks near the riverbank. He still kept his wand in his right hand, unwilling to relinquish it even for a second. "About the curse?" he asked, looking over the riverbank. "Try to kill me, I imagine."

Satsujin shook his head and leaned against the trunk of a particularly large tree. "No, with your lover."

Aipuster sighed. "Aoyama will remain where he currently is, though he will know that he will not be able to escape the curse. It will find the both of us, one way or the other."

Satsujin and Shizukana nodded, watching their leader's face carefully. "And if the curse does try to hunt him and you down before you're able to take care of it?"

His brilliant black eyes flicked around the quiet forest before settling on them, the grip on his wand making the message clear.

"Why, that is impossible. Though this curse can hunt anyone or anything to obtain what it desires, it truly does not have the hunting capability. It is the prey, and I am the predator." Pulling up the sleeve of his left arm, he gently caressed the Dark Mark, something that he would have never done before. "It has always been like this — and it won't change."

Both Satsujin and Shizukana nodded again and stepped back, succumbing to the gloomy night, even as they both worriedly thought, But what about your life? This curse will try to take him from you with such hideous force. This curse is more dangerous than you think.

But they didn't dare speak these doubts aloud.