"Ha! I win again!"

Tokoyami folded his handheld console in disgust while Spinner cheered on his virtual victory. For someone with years of gaming experience, the guy sure did take the friendly competition seriously. Tokoyami didn't want to let these developments sour his fun – even if Spinner was reveling in first place a bit too much for a mere child's game.

"You know what? I think I'm done," Tokoyami huffed, leaning his head back into the beanbag chair. Technically, it was supposed to be Toga's, but since it was still in the common space he'd taken a liking to it. She could move it into her room at any time.

Meanwhile, Spinner likewise set his gaming console aside and readjusted himself on the Liberation Front's rather uncomfortable couch with a smug grin. "If you're so mad about it, then just get better."

"Or I could play next time!" Dark Shadow cawed, testing the button configuration with his unwieldy claws.

Tokoyami let the quirk practice on it with the hope that he at least would have the sense to be careful.

His living situation was falling ever deeper into a trap of normality, and he wasn't quite sure how to feel about it. The past few days since receiving his new gear had been a swiftly passing learning experience. For starters, he'd already grown fairly comfortable training with Spinner – the new claws felt like a highly innovative addition to his arsenal, and he proved determined to hone his skills with them. From there, the training sessions had expanded into bouts of gaming, which he'd gleaned unexpected enjoyment from. During this time, he'd also found a few brief opportunities to discuss Dark Shadow with Toga, though to his knowledge she hadn't used his quirk since the day she'd first shown off the newly discovered ability.

"How come that attack didn't work?!" Dark Shadow huffed, puzzling over the game clenched in his claws.

Tokoyami gently coaxed it away from the quirk, taking control with little protest. "Because it's also a dark type, that's why."

"If you don't even know all your advantages, then how do you expect to win?" Spinner teased.

Tokoyami smiled thinly, his beak clenched together. He got the impression that Spinner was having a lot of fun hanging out with him as of late. But that didn't mean he could allow this guy to look down on him. "Don't you have anything better to do, Lieutenant?"

Spinner stiffened. Then he slowly retrieved his phone from the side table to check the time.

"Shit!" he barked, standing bolt upright and thoroughly catching Tokoyami off guard.

As if hearing his dilemma, the main doors opened just wide enough for Twice to stick his head in. "Oh, there you are! What the hell're you doin' making us wait?!"

From right below him, Toga also stuck her head into the room. "You know the meeting was supposed to happen ten minutes ago, right?"

Spinner frantically wrapped his previously discarded scarf around his neck and grabbed his bandana on his way to the door. "Y-yeah, I knew that! I just, uh, got a bit busy is all!"

Busy button-smashing, more like it.

Tokoyami stood up hastily from the beanbag. "If it's a meeting, then, can… can I also attend? If it's anything important, I want to be there!"

Toga and Twice looked at each other, as though considering the pros and cons of having him tag along, before mutually shrugging and flinging the doors open wide.

"Yeah, sure. This probably concerns you anyway," Twice said easily enough. "It's just gonna be boring crap! Opt out while you still can!"

Toga swayed on her feet. "He's right, ya know. Well, about the first part anyway. This meeting is set to solidify the regiment divisions. Since you're a lieutenant –" she used air quotes here to address his title "– you really should be a part of it."

Spinner wrapped his headband securely over his eyes. "Even if we didn't invite you, you'd probably end up listening in on the meeting anyway," he joked.

"You know about that?!" Tokoyami fretted, following after him.

Spinner stopped to look back, and Tokoyami just about stumbled into him. "Um, no…? Wait, are you serious?"

Toga wrapped an arm around each of their shoulders and directed them out the door, much to Tokoyami's chagrin. "Meeting time! Let's not keep everyone waiting!"

Together they walked what was now a familiar path through the halls, ending up in front of the central meeting room. Getting ushered inside, he was immediately made aware of the sets of eyes that focused accusingly on him.

Tokoyami shrugged into the folds of his cloak, making himself look small in Twice's shadow. At the same time, his quirk hovered over him curiously, taking in the sights that were previously barred from him. It didn't do much good to not stand out when his quirk was so hard to miss, though.

Why must I still feel so nervous? Should I not be seen as a peer in this setting? How frustrating. Tokoyami took a steady breath and straightened himself as best as he could. Now was not the time for bad impressions.

"Wonderful! That makes everyone," Re-Destro declared cheerily, waving them over to the table.

Toga, Twice, and Spinner walked off to what he had to assume was their assigned seating arrangements. The room was dimly lit by a single light high overhead that cast a faint glow upon the grand, round table. There were five seats situated on one side for the League and four situated on the MLA side, with one of them being empty. At the head of the table, overlooking both sides of the newly formed PLF, was Shigaraki, who was staring him down evenly.

By now everyone was watching him, waiting for him to… do what, exactly?

Tokoyami cautiously made his way over to where everyone was seated and reached his hand out to grab the empty seat. He wasn't comfortable sitting next to Re-Destro, so he'd have to drag it next to Spinner, on the other side of the table.

Upon taking hold of it, he noticed the way that everyone tensed up. A faint waft of stale perfume rose from the padded chair.

Re-Destro's faulty smile drooped, despite his best efforts to remain the placated second-in-command that Shigaraki had made of him. "That seat… belongs to Miss Curious," he spat between clenched teeth, his cool façade crumbling before the spite he still held.

Tokoyami released the seat quickly and backpedaled before he could cause any more unintentional harm to their already tentative alliance. He couldn't help noticing the way Trumpet continued to stare daggers at him while Re-Destro did his best to settle down into a more business-oriented manner.

The only other person with a different response to the upset was Toga, who was uncharacteristically content on keeping her gaze trained on the floor.

Shigaraki, at least, was quick to take the initiative, rather than let the awkwardness drag between the two villain units. "We don't have a chair for you. Since, you know, we didn't plan on having you here," he growled. "If you're really going to show up like this, then you'd be better off standing next to the wall. This table has no place for you."

Tokoyami gave a dismal nod and shuffled over to the far wall, situating himself in Dabi's shadow. They hadn't actually seen each other since the night of the ceremony. He had to wonder if it was because Dabi had taken that long to get his living situation sorted out or if it was just him being his usual elusive self.

Tokoyami leaned his back against the wall and crossed his arms, readying himself for however long this meeting would last. He had to assume it was worth attending – they all were, to some degree. It mattered less that he didn't feel welcomed here. Such a road block had never stopped him before. He'd always found ways to end up in hostile environments; at least here he didn't feel like his life was being threatened. He just… hadn't known.

Who leaves a perfectly good chair empty like that, anyway? Dark Shadow quietly complained.

No, I get it. They're showing reverence to a fallen ally, and we should likewise respect that. Especially since that blood is…

Dabi turned in his seat to look back at him, if only briefly. He quirked an eyebrow, as though posing a question. Tokoyami gave a flick of his hand, waving aside any silent inquiries, and Dabi turned back to the table with a meaningful shrug.

The thud of a heavy stack of papers hitting the table brought everyone to attention as Re-Destro sat up straighter in his electric wheelchair. Tokoyami tried craning his neck to see what the contents might hold, but it was unlikely he'd make anything out past everyone's heads.

"I've compiled a list of all the soldiers I think would make for good potential advisers to each regiment," Re-Destro began, handing out thick packets held together by a single staple to everyone seated around him. "I want everyone to comb through them in teams, in accordance to what they specialize in, and work together to unify the people they think would be best for the positions. You should all take notes of the members you will be leading and learn to strengthen the bonds of each team in accordance with the terms and conditions."

Shigaraki didn't bother to look through the packet that has passed to him before beginning his own spiel. "You all know what that means. From today onwards, the regiments we've been working to form are now in full swing. The soldiers of the PLF expect leadership, which is why we'll need cooperation if anything is to be done."

Shigaraki turned to each member situated around him in turn. "Mr. Compress and Spinner, you'll be co-commanders for the Brown Regiment and will be in charge of Support. Toga and Skeptic are co-commanders for the Carmen Regiment, which works in Intelligence. Dabi, Geten, you two lead the Violet Regiment, for Guerilla Warfare…"

It seemed like a strange declaration, calling forth someone who wasn't seated with the the shadows behind Re-Destro, a pair of eyes blinked coldly at him. Has Geten been here this whole time?! I had no idea.

Dark Shadow coiled around him. Hey, how come he doesn't get a chair either?

If I had to guess… I don't think "warfare" has a place alongside those politicians. It may be something of value for their army, but the Meta Liberation Army still strikes me as being very particular about who their face is. After all, Curious was their journalist. And he wasn't really a commander for the MLA, from what I understand. Though there could be other underlying reasons as well.

"Tokoyami, you'll need to join as an asset in the Violet Regiment," Shigaraki continued, giving him a start.

Shit. Should've known.

Ooh! I like purple!

Dark Shadow. We're in the warfare regiment. Please take your priorities more seriously and acknowledge the issue at hand here.

If my priorities are to get stronger, then I don't see this as all-too-bad, tho.

"And finally, Twice, you're the sole commander of the Black Regiment, which governs Tactics."

Twice fumbled through the packet set before him as though it might hold an easy step-by-step guide on how to be a leader. "I, uh, what now? How come everyone else gets a co-commander? I totally understand why I'm great enough to – No! What the hell makes this so different?!"

Re-Destro opened his hands before him. "You demonstrated a lot of competency during the fight, so we wanted to extend the honor to you. Usually I'd have one of my right-hand men assisting you, but Trumpet will be preoccupied in other jurisdictions. As such, I've given special attention to the recommended advisors that will be enlisted into your staff. You can look to them if ever you find yourself needing any help. Similarly, if anyone takes issue with their unit, they can always address it with Shigaraki, me, or Trumpet."

"Personally, I'd rather you all figure it out in your own time," Shigaraki grumbled, flipping passively through the pages of the packet. "Don't try coming to me for help. You all know why you need to be able to handle these things for yourself."

Trumpet cleared his throat and stood from his seat. "I want everyone to pay attention to the info handed to you. They detail your specialized meeting locations, Regiment headquarters, and where you can develop goals pertaining to each section of the army. I'm tasked with organizing any advancements, so I expect semi-regular reports – however brief – over the course of the next few months."

They began combing through the contents of the papers, listing out the names and quirks of the advisors that would be getting assigned under them. Tokoyami did his best to pay attention, but there was a lot of info being thrown around all at once. He'd just have to grab the homework from Dabi before he inevitably tossed it into the trash. When it came to the Violet Regiment, he tried to understand the people he'd be working with a bit better, but even that could only bring him so far.

Man, if I knew this would be like class I would've had you take notes, Dark Shadow lamented, drooping over his shoulder.

We'll figure it out just fine, Tokoyami assured. We may have not received the highest marks in class, but this much is something we can learn.

Tokoyami looked out over the table, scanning the rest of the room again. Once more, he settled on Geten on the opposite side of the room. He had yet to budge an inch from his position. It didn't appear as though he had much interest in the information.

Maybe 'cause he already knows it all? This feels like more of an info-dump for the League's sakes, since none of us know these people they're supposed to be leading.

He just looks angry…

"—And that's about all the intel I can give you," Trumpet concluded. "Most of this will need to be learned in the field and on your own time. Remember: this is your new responsibility going forward, and we can not allow for mistakes when working with such a large operation. I'd prefer to hold onto the pamphlets, seeing how I don't want this information spreading too far, but if you feel you need to go over this further, then you may keep them on the condition that it remains confidential. If that is all understood, then we can end it here so that you may all meet with your respective units."

A chorus of assorted agreement met him, all from people eager to end the meeting. Members from the League began to get up from their chairs. All except for Twice, who was flipping nervously through the pamphlet for the umpteenth time.

"In that case, the meeting is adjourned," Shigaraki stated, bringing an official end to the meeting. "You all will start having regularly scheduled meetings going over your progress."

Twice raised a finger while everyone else was already tucking in their seats. "Uh-um, I think I might still have some questions if you could just—"

"Give it a rest, Twice," Dabi huffed. "It's best for everyone if we just learn on the fly. Don't think too much about what's on the paper."

Hm. That's actually not a bad point, coming from him.

Twice let the pages fall back into place with a disheartened sigh. "Yeah. Yeah, I'll just… go do a meet and greet. Then everyone will know how great I am! Commander of tactics, that's me!"

Tokoyami naturally came to stand at Dabi's side. "So then, does that mean that we'll also be meeting with these people today?"

Dabi began crumpling up the papers, already beginning to smoke with the start of a blaze. Tokoyami plucked it from his hands before it could get turned into ashes and glared at him , judging his lack of resourcefulness.

"What's that face for? I'll just have Geten do all the social stuff. I already have it bad enough with the clients I'm dealing with, so why go through the trouble of hearing out these advisors? I don't know who they are and it doesn't really matter anyway."

"It does matter, you inconsiderate burn pile," Geten spat, coming to stand before the two of them. "I don't like this arrangement any more than you do, but no way in hell are you placing the workload on me. It's called being on a team!

"Just because I made it this far with the League doesn't mean I'm a team player," Dabi snarked, pushing past him to get to the door where everyone else was headed.

Tokoyami made to follow, but was stopped when Geten placed a hand on his shoulder.

Cold.

Dark Shadow flashed his claws at their inhibitor, ready to fight if it came down to it. But Tokoyami soothed the quirk, warning him to not engage. He wanted to know what might come of this.

"You two pulled off some impressive moves out there," Geten commended with an underlying layer of disdain. "But does that really make you fit to lead the warfare regiment? We never even got to finish our fight because of those…" Geten's fingers curled, digging into his shoulder and making Tokoyami squirm. "…Interruptions. Nothing's stopping us now, though. Do you dare to show me what makes you such a hotshot? Because it sure didn't feel like there was much to see during that fight."

What easy goading. Dabi's not good with those big, confrontational battles anyway. So why would he even bother –?

"Fine. Where do you wanna take this?"

Tokoyami's greatest battle right then was stifling his disappointment – truly an arduous task.

Why are you like this? There's no stakes and nothing to prove!

Geten released his hold and took the lead in front of them with an air of uncontainable smugness. Perhaps Tokoyami's greatest torment was being caught between two prideful and undeniably powerful quirk-users.

"Well, for starters. It'd only make sense that I introduce you two to the Ballroom. It's this building's grandest designated fighting hall. There's smaller, more specialized training facilities, of course, but when it comes to pure output, our soldiers always contend within this particular space. Come along and I'll show you. And don't get lost."

Tokoyami winced at the targeted comment, but followed him all the same. Exiting the room, he gave one last remorseful look back at what he was leaving behind after his first successful meeting. There was only Twice left, still mulling over his new workload. I feel as though I should help him…

While they walked through the arching halls of the mansion, Tokoyami idly flipped through the packet to see what he could glean from it. Only when he began to fall behind did he fold it up and tuck it away for safekeeping, with only the hope that it didn't get burned to a crisp by a certain pyro.

Dabi glanced back at him, as though sensing the slight against him. Or, more likely, he just didn't want the student to slink away and leave him with the Liberation fanatic.

The further along they traveled through the mansion, the more people they came across. Geten received passing praises and salutes, tokens of his status and the reputation he'd made for himself within their ranks. Just how long has a guy like this been indoctrinated into their cause?

Not only that, but he wasn't used to the influx of people that were materializing. He'd been in this location for a while now, and yet he'd never had much issue with encountering these soldier types. Perhaps because they steered clear of the part the League resided in. Tokoyami assumed this meant that the location Geten was taking them to resided within the more residential part of the mansion that housed many of the soldiers. He'd been mostly oblivious to it before then, but this truly was a full-scale project that provided for an army spanning hundreds, if not thousands, within these walls alone.

Soon enough, they ended up at a set of ornate double doors in a relatively high-traffic area. Every time one of the doors opened to let slip a soldier either battered from fighting or ready to enter, the sounds of combat could be heard from within.

"This is it. Feast your eyes upon the Meta Liberation Army's most promiscuous room, where meta abilities are pitted against each other!" Geten declared, throwing the doors open.

Tokoyami and Dabi entered, both skeptical of the level of grandeur Geten gave the place.

It was big, for sure. Not as big as the facilities U.A. sported for quirk training, but definitely admirable given that it was located inside a residential building. The "Ballroom" was exactly that: a large, circular hall with laminated flooring of what had to be highly damage-resistant material. Supporting columns lined the sides of the room and arched into a high ceiling painted with murals of quirk usage and history that Tokoyami didn't quite understand. Heavy chandeliers bolted to the ceiling trembled with every shudder that racked the room, and velvet curtains lined the walls to absorb sound.

It didn't offer the same variety in training that he'd seen at school, but it didn't have to. It was a large place designated for fighting purposes, and the people gathered here were earnestly taking advantage of that. Quirks flew every which way – projectiles, twisted limbs, and unidentifiable elements clashed against each other.

Tokoyami was already beginning to recognize some of the faces amongst the crowd of fighters; at least one of them was a recommended advisor for their Violet Regiment. The skull-like face – mask? – was off-putting, and he looked armed to the teeth with different weaponry strapped to his side. He looked like a villainous version of Snipe.

Geten went directly up to him, interrupting his training with someone who looked grateful for a break. "Clear a space, unless you wish to get caught up in something unpleasant. I have unfinished business to conclude right here. This is the first step of our new Guerilla Warfare Regiment!"

The man gave a stern nod and began to cut off the fights that were clogging the hall, making room for Geten's grand entrance. All the while, it became noticeably colder inside the room.

So he's already using his quirk? Dark Shadow asked, looking around for whatever ice was coming their way.

He's preparing in advance. Since he can't create ice himself like Todoroki, he has to begin stockpiling before a fight can even begin, I surmise. If that's the case, then drawn-out fights probably suit him better. Meanwhile, Dabi's at a disadvantage if he can't give it his all at the starting gates. It's a contest of quirk stamina over power.

Dark Shadow went quiet. Not in the usual way, but in a more contemplative way, as though trying really hard to think of underlying implications behind the ideas being posed. Whatever he had in mind was kept to himself. Tokoyami had some guesses, though.

Dabi didn't seem bothered as the stage was being set for them, standing aloof in the center of the floor as if this had nothing to do with him. Tokoyami came to stand next to him, watching the space provided to them grow larger as more soldiers turned to sitting along the sidelines to watch the show.

When Geten was satisfied with their battlefield, he approached them, eyes lit with eagerness and fingers twitching, ready to summon the ice that was no doubt waiting in every shadow of the room.

"The preparations are made! This will be our stage for the rematch. So, Blue Flame, are you ready?"

Dabi laughed. Laughed. And Geten was left standing there uncertainly, the wind ripped from his sails. "Okay, first of all, I go by Dabi, you little ice freak."

That's… a bit harsh, but not unfounded.

"And second, I can show you what I can do, but why the hell would I actually fight you?" Dabi sneered. "That just sounds like a chore. And honestly, I don't wanna take responsibility for torching this whole place to the ground while we're still allies."

As if to insinuate that we won't always be on the same side… Tokoyami though, growing progressively more nervous. Why even bother taking up the offer, then?

"But…! But you said you would!" Geten spluttered, starting to act more like a spoiled kid not getting his way. He must've realized how indignant he sounded, because he quickly drew the hood of his parka over his head to hide his embarrassment before continuing in a more neutral tone. "I thought we'd reached an agreement. Do you back down now out of cowardice? You claim you can torch this whole place, and yet I see not ever a lick of flame. Is it possible you haven't recovered from our last spat?"

Tokoyami squinted at Dabi, wondering if he could spot any differences. And yet he looked just as burned out and physically miserable as he usually was.

"I agreed to show you what I can do, but that didn't mean I wanted to fight you. I think your biggest beef is with Tokoyami, since he broke through your ice so easily," Dabi said easily.

"You're volunteering me in your stead?" Tokoyami gawked with the same level of resentment that Geten possessed. "Isn't that awfully irresponsible?"

Dabi shrugged, looking down at him. "I mean… so long as you learn from it, I don't see anything wrong. If anything, our normal quirk training is more dangerous than whatever that ice guy can throw at you."

Tokoyami wasn't sure whether to be comforted or irked by the comment. Was he commending Tokoyami's abilities, stroking his own ego, or taunting Geten's inferiority? For all he knew, it could've been all of the above. It would've made hardly a difference anyway.

Dabi. "C'mon, just think of Geten as a giant frozen punching bag. Show him all those moves you like to pull on me. I hear those names you give 'em, I know how big your list of moves is. Hell, you even added some new stuff to it recently, didn't you?"

Tokoyami shuffled his feet on the ground anxiously. It'd been so long since he'd had an audience of peers watching his quirk's developments. Was this school all over again for him?

Geten was done waiting around by this point. Already, ice was beginning to seep from fountains, bystanders' water bottles, and distant bathrooms, traveling underneath doors and trailing steadily towards him in preparation for a fight.

"You know what?! Fine!" he hissed, raising clumps of ice into his open palms. "I'll fight anyone at this point if it proves whose meta ability is superior. But I won't let you get out of this unscathed, Dabi!"

Tokoyami flicked his wrists, unsheathing the claws from his gauntlets. The movement brought a jolt of excitement through his quirk. Above him, Dark Shadow began to swell with accumulating shadows. "As per usual, we're just hopping right into training, huh?"

I wanna use the claws now! Lemme have them!

Blue flames began to swirl over his arms, a pillar of heat in the now thoroughly chilled room. "I could use a little warm-up, but don't expect me to go all-out if you find yourself in trouble. Other than that, just start from the top: what moves have you been using?"

Tokoyami took a deep breath. "New opponent, same business, huh?" And with that, he allowed his quirk to wrap around him, forming arms over his and letting the inky beak to overlap with his own. "Black Ankh," he breathed, feeling at one with his quirk.

No further time was given for him to prepare. Geten rushed directly towards them with arms encased in heavy fists of ice, each almost the size of him. The frigid weapons bore down upon them, but Tokoyami and Dabi jumped in opposite directions to avoid the onslaught with time to spare.

When they parted ways, Geten made a hard turn and continued his pursuit towards Dabi. His advance was met with a wall of blue flames that melted through a significant chunk of the ice he'd formed. Geten retreated, only to re-chill the water back into a solid.

"I'll just keep chasing you until you burn yourself to a crisp!" Geten seethed, beginning to gather more ice beneath him.

He works fast!

And yet he's slow to think he can turn his back on us.

Tokoyami unlatched the gauntlets from his arm, and cool shadows began coiling around them. From under the steel blades came claws forged from darkness.

Use these to focus on precision. They don't hit hard – they hit true and deep. Think of that when next we attack, and focus in on a weak point that'll break through his ice, rather than using up unnecessary energy in a large attack. We start small, alright?

Aye, aye! The quirk responded cheerily.

Geten was building a fortress of ice around him, beginning his tower and bringing in more ice with every passing moment. On the sidelines, onlookers were opening doorways and emptying water on the ground to aid in the thrashing the lieutenant wished to deliver.

Another wave of fire swept over the ballroom floor to push Geten back, but he retreated swiftly before going in for a counterattack.

"Piercing Twilight Claws," Tokoyami growled, voicing the name aloud with familiarity. He rushed forward, throwing his arms out to either side to direct their path, and made a motion to intercept Geten before he could reach Dabi.

Dark Shadow's claws followed the movement intently, extending the claws outward and raking them through a part of the ice wall that had yet to fully solidify. Blocks of ice fell apart in an instant as steel shattered through the haphazard façade.

Geten stumbled, letting out a frustrated snarl. "Why do you insist on impeding me, you whelp! Have you never learned your place?!"

Dabi let loose a smaller blast of fire while his attention was diverted – to keep him on his toes, no doubt. Either way, it was making Geten increasingly frustrated. Noticing this, Dabi did little to let up. "Look, man, if you didn't want us teaming up on you then you shouldn't have asked for it. If you keep trying to attack me, then you'll just be fighting another losing battle. Do you get it?"

Geten looked between the two of them, angry eyes peering out from under his hood. "Yeah. Yeah, I get it now." More ice formed around him, encasing his legs and building himself stronger. Making up his mind, he switched his attention fully onto Tokoyami. "I'll just take out my vengeance on your little apprentice!"

Geten barreled towards him without further coaxing, fully intending to unleash every move he had.

"Remember your training!" Dabi called out lazily, stepping away from the fray.

Thanks, you traitorous bastard. "Nightfall Spear!" Tokoyami directed, pointing his beak right at the oncoming Geten.

Dark Shadow reared his head and took aim. Gathering shadows at his forefront, Dark Shadow's beak extended, shooting out with startling precision to impale Geten's frigid shields and blow him off balance. He staggered for only a moment, slowing him down just slightly. By now his ice was thick enough to impede even an attack like that, much to Tokoyami's dismay.

Tokoyami went to move out of the way, only to find his feet partially frozen to the ground. How'd you manage that already?! He thought, breaking his boots free from the thin layer that had trapped them and jolting away. But it'd been enough to stall him, and one of Geten's ice-covered arms crashed into him.

Tokoyami careened through the air, the air smashed from his chest. He felt arms wrap around him for a brief moment right before hitting the ground, and then he was left sliding across the iced-over ballroom floor until his body slowed to a stop. He pushed himself up, gasping for breath, and staggered into a dizzy stand.

I c-cushioned some of the hit and tried to soften the landing, but I wasn't expecting him to attack so hard, Dark Shadow explained, voice laden with disappointment.

Tokoyami shook his head stubbornly, ridding the fog from his thoughts. No, you did good. We just need to push back before he can keep getting more ice.

Tokoyami knelt close to the ground, feigning injury. His cloak pooled around him, encasing him in black. He made sure his boots weren't sticking to the floor and readied himself for the next attack. Dark Shadow composed himself around him again, becoming his armor and weapon in preparation for what was to come.

Geten kept up his advancements, closing in on him in earnest. He hurled his ice-encased self at Tokoyami, expecting an easy target. If his intent was to lay waste to the ex-student and lord his success over Dabi, then he'd be sorely mistaken.

Tracking his movements up till the very last second, Tokoyami waited for the giant hand to be right in front of him before springing up into the air. The attack planted itself into the earth where he once stood. He landed back down on top of it, his feet threatening to skid out from under him. But now he had Geten facing him outright, opening him up to close range.

I'll crush you!

"Covert Black Ops Arms!" Tokoyami commanded, willing his quirk to deliver a devastating hit in kind. Dark Shadow's arms grew in size, competing with Geten's icy fists, and they smashed into him before he could bring up another attack. Chunks of ice scattered around him, getting strewn about the floor, and smaller pieces were sent every which way. The hand he'd used to attack with had been obliterated outright, and his column of ice was knocked down a peg. More than that, though, it forced a space between them.

Geten reared back, frustrated by the loss but not deterred, and began gathering the shards of scattered ice around him. "Hailstorm," he breathed into the fur of his parka, lifting his freed hand to summon the fragments created from their previous exchange. With a wave, they were all sent towards him – dozens of icy chips slicing the air and pelting down around him.

Tokoyami gasped in pain as they slipped through Black Ankh's selective armor. In a split second decision, he converged as much of Dark Shadow together as possible and wrapped the enlarged arms around him to use as a shield. With him being put on the defensive, Geten used this opportunity to move in on him again. From the icicles scattered around him, walls began to form, blocking him into one spot and isolating him from the rest of the battlefield. Spears of ice erupted into creation, adding to the already treacherous terrain, and flecks of hail continued to circle around him as if waiting for an easy opening.

Tokoyami drew further within himself, desperate to derive as much protection from Dark Shadow as feasibly possible while his breathing picked up in pace. He felt a cold breath swirl around him and, not wanting to be caught in a moment of weakness, peeked through the shadow-stitched arms to look up.

Geten swept his arms around him like he was conducting an orchestra, bringing in more clumps of ice to continue the monumental construction taking place within the room. The coiling tower he situated himself on began to move in serpentine ways, forming layers of armored scales and spouting claw-like appendages. All the while, columns of ice kept building themselves around him, fastening his feet to the floor and clogging Tokoyami's vision.

"If you don't act soon, my trump card will lay waste to you!" Geten declared.

Tokoyami screwed his eyes shut, trying to block out just how impossible all this ice seemed. But he'd seen it before. He bore witness to Dabi fighting against it in a drawn-out fight. And yet how does one even stand to deal with something that was so damn persistent?

As ice shards continued to find weak points and pelt him, he found he couldn't just stay on the defense like this. Not against such a persistent foe. And not when every wasted second made the ice-user more formidable.

D-Dark Shadow…! I need… what was it? Fire – no! "Ashes of Cremation!" Tokoyami gasped desperately, dispelling every shadow he held at once into a maelstrom of splintering shapes. They wreathed around him like an element, until a sweep of his arm forced them outwards. The black wisps scattered around him, pushing back against everything that had been bearing down upon him. All the hail and frost from before was blasted from their place, and the weaker pillars were blown down onto the floor, where they broke apart upon impact. Only the more resilient walls of ice remained – at least he didn't feel quite so trapped now.

Tokoyami stood shaking, trying to catch his bearings and collect the fractured shadows – both of his quirk and of his thoughts. I still don't… quite understand that move. It feels like I only use it when I panic, but that doesn't make sense. Maybe I should ask…

Oi, we got bigger problems here, Fumikage!

Even with the space around him now cleared, that did little to account for the greatest threat to his existence in that moment.

The shadow of a beast fell upon him, and Tokoyami looked up into the glassy, reflective eyes of a fully formed ice dragon. Frigid mist drifted from its nostrils, and a crown of icicle horns adorned its head. The massive structure moved sluggishly, just waiting for an order. Standing atop its back after having given every bit of ice he could muster to this creation was Geten.

"Bring rain and snow, Koraokami!" Geten cried out, raising the name of his supermove into the heavens. A chorus of cheers and yells from the crowds echoed his announcement, encouraging him to enact a path of destruction.

Dwarfed by the formidable beast, Tokoyami felt his mouth go dry. He no longer shivered from the cold, despite its abundance. Darkness swirled around him, abuzz with life, growing ever stronger in the shadow cast by his opponent. Faced with this monster forged from unconsciousness, he could see no life in its eyes. It was a puppet, slow to move with its path predetermined, bound by chains and enslaved to its creator. How foolish it was to so confidently call it by name and expect it to hear.

Tokoyami could match that.

No. He could do better.

A ragged whisper escaped him – not to declare his power or announce his next move, but for only one other being to hear and comprehend: "Consume it all… Ragnarok."

Understood.

All at once, shadows gathered above him, pooling from the scraps left from the ashes and stripping themselves from his arms, back, and head. Dark Shadow's kind yellow eyes turned red; determined. Set within a chasm of black. The gauntlets he'd been so eager to hold before fell to the frost-laden floor, too small to match the wickedly curved talons that had formed. His flank rippled with interlocking shadows, like a mass of snakes fighting to stay above the rest. Inky pools of darkness dripped from his open maw, only to re-converge in a constant cycle of power seeking power.

"What is that?!" Geten choked, recoiling from the monster crafted from the dregs of nightmares. His ice dragon moved with him, flinching away at the lively rival that stood in their path. "Damn you, Dabi! You tricked me, didn't you?!"

"You're not facing Dabi – you're facing us," Tokoyami and Dark Shadow growled, their voices making the shadows tremble in response.

Without need of further command, the gargantuan quirk rushed forward to meet its opponent. Compared to Gigantomachia, this thing was much easier to move. The snake-like body was easier to hold, and ice fractured beneath every forceful blow dealt to it. Chips of ice hailed down with each barrage, scattered so far they couldn't recollect fast enough.

As the large-scale fight continued and began spreading to every corner of the room, their audience of once eager onlookers began to thin. People fled the scene, not wanting to get flattened by the brawling titans, and cries of fear and adrenaline filled the air.

Each blow that Dark Shadow delivered chipped more and more at the dragon, reducing it to a tattered mockery of what it once was. From within its coils, Geten screeched in anger and confusion, desperate to maintain his hold of the ice and have it fight back. But when the dragon raised its own claws to attack, it didn't have the structure to support itself anymore. The arm broke off, brought down by its own weight, and crumbled into pieces like a demolished building. Geten wasn't even given the time to process the lacking limb when he was hit again by Ragnarok, pushing him and the struggling drake into the far wall.

Tokoyami stepped forward to match his quirk's pace, willing the shadowy force to continue. With every consecutive push, it became harder for him to stand. He could feel clumps of cold in his hands as if he were the one tearing Koraokami asunder. The dragon grinded together painfully as it was ripped piece by piece, but it didn't have a voice to cry out with. Instead, it was Geten's frantic screams that met him. Sounding from some distant place, they rang hollow in his head. Until the dragon was no more, and the ice user was left with nothing but the blocky, scattered remains of his deconstructed supermove.

Bigger. Stronger. Again!

That might be enough for now! We just need…

Air came to his lungs in short bursts, making him gasp for breath. Why was it so dark? Did I make it this way? No I need to focus. Just focus already!

Grrrrowaaaa—!

It feels like I'm being eaten. But if I can just… sustain this!

Tokoyami never got the chance to see what would happen if he continued to push himself. As the gigantified Dark Shadow prowled the room like a dog pulling its leash taut, he felt his mind begin to go fuzzy.

Dark Shadow, I think I'm using too much of my own power. I feel like… I'm going to pass out.

The quirk paused, listening with intense consideration. But he didn't grow smaller or join him by his side. Instead, the shadows began to loosen from the body, as if not sure what to do or where to go. The quirk was still pulsating with energy following the battle, and despite everything desired an outlet for more. More!

Tokoyami crumpled to his hands and knees, wheezing from the exertion. Heart pounding. Feeling utterly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of power he possessed.

All at once, a wave of heat bore down around him, siphoning the last of the oxygen from his desperate lungs. Blue flames licked the walls and ceiling, as if to cover him in its entirety. They burned through layers of wallpaper and left swirling burns on the ballroom floor, flames bigger than anything this room had ever seen before.

Dark Shadow wilted instantly before the scorching blue light, as though grateful to bow his head and retreat, knowing that this was of no danger to Tokoyami. Fraying shadows wreathed around him and dissipated into scraps of darkness before the quirk finally came to rest in his mind, exhausted but content. Tokoyami prodded the quirk internally, worried if they'd gone too far, only to be reassured with a sleepy hum. When Tokoyami turned his attention back to the world around him, he found himself swaying on his knees, vision blurry.

Rubbing the last shreds of darkness from his eyes, he looked up and around at the scene he'd invited. Only to settle on Dabi, who stood directly before him with an oddly sincere smile. Was this… pride?

"I told you I'd show you what I can do, didn't I?" Dabi yelled out to everyone watching in awe. Then he looked down at Tokoyami and lowered his voice. "We can keep working on it. But for now, I think it's fair to say that I win again."