All he could feel was pain. It was hard to breathe. A shard of broken glass had managed to pierce his side and more than likely got his lung as well.

'What the fuck happened!?' He thought. Trying to make out the blurry image that was his surroundings.

It had been three years since that epic fight that he had with Midoriya. One that had given him the drive to escape Tartarus when it was attacked. He wanted nothing more than to have a rematch with the now pro hero. Unfortunately, Deku had ignored him in favor of putting All For One back behind bars. In his attempt to gain his attention, he went after his partner, Uravity. Which managed to give him the desired result. Something that the villain emperor took as an opportunity and escaped.

A few minutes back:

Izuku laid there embedded in the crater that Muscular had punched him into. The monster had become stronger since they last fought. To the point that Izuku had to use his current max of sixty percent.

"I guess this is all you've got," Muscular said as he pulled back his arm. Preparing to deliver the finishing blow.

"Deku-kun!" Ochako shouted. Charging Muscular with open hands. Ready to negate his weight. She was about to place five fingers on the human lump of muscle when he spun around and backhanded her. Causing her to fly back into one of the buildings.

"Ochako!" Izuku could not help but shout.

"Oh?" Muscular said. Taking note of the horror and worry that was on the hero's face. It was something that he was familiar with. "WAHAHAHAHAHA! You've got to be kiddin' me! Her!? Let me guess you two have a kid that's waiting for you at home."

Izuku looked away. Gritting his teeth. Not willing to give the villain the satisfaction of knowing he was right. Eri was at UA probably watching this with Kota and everyone in the world. He hoped his intern would not do anything reckless, again.

"Oh man, this is like the Waterhose all over again," Muscular said. Taking Izuku's silence as an answer. He cackled as he pulled his arm back. Muscles reforming themselves to enhance his strength to its maximum. Preparing to deal the final blow. "You're girlfriend's next."

He brought down his fist. Fully intending to kill the hero but something had stopped it. His eyes widened as a terrifying sense of deja vu washed over him. A massive surge of killing intent had caused him to try and jump back but the vice grip that was on his hand had held him in place.

Deku was glaring at him. Green lightning danced around his body. His hair shifted from his normal to spiky. Emerald eyes blazing. The dark aura leaking from the new number one hero was so potent that it froze all the other inmates trying to escape. Even knocking some of them out from sheer pressure. Unconsciously, his hand moved.

Muscular had never felt so outclassed as he did now. He knew that there were a few out there that can beat him in a battle of strength. He never expected the boy he once fought to have grown that powerful.

'A twitch!' Muscular thought in frustration. 'I was blown back this far from his hand twitching!'

Though he was enjoying this fight, he was not a complete idiot. Fighting unwinnable battles was not something he wanted to take part in. Reinforcing the muscles around his body. He tried to maneuver in the air. Managing to align his feet to the ground in order to jump back and attack the furious hero the moment he lands. Unfortunately, his feet never got the chance to touch the ground before Deku suddenly appeared in front of him.

"I've had just about enough of you!" Izuku shouted as he kicked Muscular skyward. "You are done! Over!"

For several minutes, Izuku continued his barrage on the muscle augmented villain. Sending him shooting off into the direction of his punches and kicks. With one final punch, he sent Muscular crashing back into Tartarus.

So here Muscular was, staring at the looming figure walking towards him. Green and red lightning dancing around him. Those blazing eyes would forever haunt the muscle clad villain for the rest of his days. That is if the hero did not kill him first. For the first time in his life, he felt fear. He watched in horror as Midoriya pulled his fist back. His life flashing before his eyes.

"Deku-kun! Stop!" Ochako shouted as she wrapped her arms around her lover from behind.

"You know as well as I do that he won't change," Izuku said darkly.

"I know!" Ochako shouted back. "But this isn't you! You're a hero Deku-kun! My hero! And this isn't the hero that I've come to know and love. Please!"

"No! I will protect you! All of you!" Izuku retorted angrily. "Even if that means…"

"Take one step towards the dark side and its pull becomes irresistible," Ochako intentionally interrupted. Repeating the words he had told her when she sought revenge for her parents' murder. The words that stopped her from becoming an unrepentant killer. Her tears staining his hero costume. Her hold tightening as she pleaded to him. "Please! I can't lose you too. You and Eri are all that I have left. You two are my entire world now. Please...come back to me."

Muscular could only hear the sound of glass breaking as he watched the two heroes walk away from him. His only thoughts were how he was utterly defeated and how he was saved by one of the heroes he attempted to kill. The irony.

"Thank you," he said weakly as his world began to fade away.

Author's Notes:

Hi everyone,

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I would love to hear what you thought about it and if there were any mistakes. Everything little thing helps for future chapters.

Cheers,

afreask