A bit of a warning: Some hinting of adult being inappropriate with a minor. Nothing massive, but some talks hinting of the sorts.
There was no mistaken. This is Arsenius. In the living flesh.
Standing, right before her eyes.
And out of Tartarus.
The adult had that shit-eating grin he would flash to her mother whenever she was back from work, the hospital or when he would 'allow' her to go see her ailing mother on what ended up being her deathbed. Whenever Joshua, Mikyla and Jeremy would drop by to stay a little while and see him, that smile of his made her siblings feels a bit uncomfortable. Especially Kyla, since he seems to be a bit too friendly towards her when neither of her brothers were around.
Of course, even when she knew that he would hurt her later on, Sierra would pop up out of nowhere and cuddle up to her sister, giving him a glare that showed her fear but also being protective of her siblings.
And, as she expected, as soon as her siblings leave when one of their grandparents came to pick them up, he'd beat her. Sometimes, if he was in a real bad mood after their visit, he'd place a muzzle over her face, bound her hands behind her back with a belt and chain her to the bathtub, filled with cold water and wearing whatever clothing she had on her, keeping her locked in the bathroom for a whole day.
And when she gained her Quirk, he threatened to drag her siblings to wherever the villains area hiding, bash their skulls open with a rusty pipe and put them in the Tank.
She hated the Tank.
The burning. The tightness from lack of oxygen when it enters her lungs.
...The taste and smell of death.
And every time she'd lose consciousness, he would be the last person to see, smirking at her useless struggles to break free.
And before she blacks out, she held great anger towards the man, and all who harmed and hurt her since he sold her.
...And that anger still burns in her chest.
...Yet, along with that anger, the fear she has towards him remains just as strong as if it were yesterday.
Arsenius chuckled at her horrified expression.
"Surprise to see me?" He smirked, holding up both arms out. "Got early parole, thanks to ghost-bitch Kuro for springing me out after a little riot was going on in Tartarus. Though, they sure took their sweet ass time to get me out."
This information was very puzzling to Sierra.
"W-...W-Why?" She stuttered, followed with a low growl when he took a step a step closer. "Why would he-...? A-After you-"
"The hell should I know." Arsenius scoffed, turning to one of his hands and rubbing at his wrists. "But then, if I wasted good loot that I spent five-hundred million yen over and wanted them back, it would make much sense to send out the seller that auctioned the loot and promise them a pardon in exchange to bring it back."
His charcoal-eyes sent angry daggers at the dragon, who let out a low hiss.
"But then, if it hadn't been for you snitching on me, I wouldn't had been sent to Tartarus in the first place, waiting to be put down like fucking Old Yeller."
The fourteen year-old lifted her head and snarled down at the adult, her slit-eyes wide and full of rage.
"You were going to sell me off to another contender, behind All for One's back!" She hissed, slamming her tail against the ground. "And since I was part of his property and he swore to me that my mother would live if I follow his rules, informing him that one of his own is betraying him by selling one of his bought 'loot' is a demandatory rule that they made me follow! Besides, you broken the deal and contract with him, not me! And with the addition to never see my family again, I would rather be trapped with All for One than be sent to one who wouldn't beat me! As such, it's your own fault for being left in Tartarus to rot!"
*Thump!*
Her snarl went silent and she jerked her head back a bit when the forty-five year-old punched a tree to his left, spreading tree-bark and a hole in the trunk.
...His smirk was replaced with a scowl of a frown.
"...Did you just talk back to me?"
His voice went low.
...Sierra instinctively curled her tail over her side, letting out a low growl mixed with a gurgling whimper.
She knew what that tone meant.
"You forgotten your place, you stupid bitch. -He cracked his other knuckle, along with moving his neck a bit to pop it.- Looks like, it's time for me to teach you an old lesson."
Sweetie. Don't back down. He can't hurt you, anymore. You're not that scared, small child. And remember: Your Quirk had improved and can easily overpower him.
Everyone!
Her head shot up, forgetting her fear and ignoring the adult in front of her.
'That's Mandalay's voice! She must be using her Quirk!'
Two villains attacked us! It's possible there are more coming! Everyone, return to camp immediately. We're regrouping. Do not engage any enemies.
'"Us"? Which means, the Pussycats are together.'
Which also means, they won't be able to track the other students, if there are more coming our way.
"Hey! You listening?!" Arsenius yelled, bringing her back to the present.
...
...Then, with quick reflex, launched herself in the air to dodge a bullet from a handgun he pulled out from his pants.
Leave him, Sweetie! You and the Kid have more pressing matters than dealing with this bag of shit! Your friends need your help!
'Right.'
She summoned her wind to give her more of a lift, flapping straight into the sky.
...
...
...Until, something sharp grabbed her by her tail and kept her in midair.
"What did I just say, brat?"
Her eyes grew, and when she turned her head to see what was behind her... She couldn't believe what she's seeing.
Gripping tightly to her tail, is another dragon. five times her size, with scales pitch-black. His fangs, which grip tightly to her tail, are sharp, with some from his jaw hooked up and over his lips. His massive wings appeared shredded and the tips appeared to be claw-like and the horns on top of his head were slightly curved and pulled back, giving the beast almost like a demon-look, with two smaller-horns protruding from his jaw and cheeks on each side. His tail was as thick as five trunks bundled together, which seems it could crush the very stones of the mountain. And his claws are massive, that they can take a person's head off with ease, along with their arms and torso.
But what made her most fearful of the beast, was its hazel-red eyes. So much rage, and hatred. If looks could kill, she'd be set ablaze and be nothing but ash. And perhaps not even ash, itself.
...Confirming her greatest horror that this dragon is Arsenius, himself.
A rumbling snarl left the beast, as he clench tighter to her tail, forcing out a hiss of a rumble.
"You're grounded, young lady." The dragon-morphed male growled. "It's time to return to earth for your annual punishment that I've waited to do for ten years!"
A glowing of red shined from within the gaps of his fangs, indicating that he's readying to let out fire. Indicating that he was the one to blast her with fire, earlier.
Her slit eyes widened and quickly charged up her own fire. As soon as she released her fire, Arsenius released her tail in order to shoot his fire right at her. Then...
BOOOM!
The two fire collided and caused a big explosion of smoke in the air.
Both dragon were forced apart from each other, but Sierra was quick to catch herself before she would crash into a tree and morphed into her wolf-form, landing a bit roughly on the ground and took off sprinting.
'There's no doubt about it. All for One gave him a Quirk to turn into a dragon, and to breathe fire. He's too strong to fight, on my own. I need to get back to Headquarters! Did Izu get Kōta?'
No. He's dealing with a big villain, that almost tried to kill the boy.
Her immediate thought went to ten days ago, when she and Izuku were trying to outrun a Nomu when Shigaraki tried to kidnap them at mall. The vision of seeing her brother fighting a whitish-blonde man with exposed muscles, while protecting a boy that she learned the moment she first saw him to be Kōta.
'...I couldn't prevent it...'
What?
Before Sierra could explain, a snarl came from above her and when she looked up to see what it was, she sees an enraged Arsenius, claws extended down towards her and mouth wide open.
"You're not going to get away from me this time, Bitch!" He roared.
Fire built up in his mouth, ready to release down on her. Her eyes widened in fear, as she try to tap into her wind.
BOOOOOOOOM!
Meanwhile, with Izuku...
He leaned over the ledge, after just barely saving Kōta from falling to his death by grabbing the back of his shirt with his teeth after releasing One for All at full power towards his opponent... Who, in a dark twist of fate, happened to be the very villain that killed Kōta's parents, the Water Hose.
It's been a while since he last used One for All at full power, and the severe pain and damage done to his right-arm brought back memories of when he wouldn't have enough training to control the force of power he would release into his attack and damage his body. Uncontrollable, which would make him more of a liability to society that wouldn't be qualified to be a hero.
He took deep, heavy breathing; the attack he delivered did took a lot out of him, much more than the attack the villain inflicted on him and the blood seeping from his head wound made him a bit dizzy.
Fortunately, Antiphonus is already in the process to try and fix his arm as quickly as possible. But, because of the damage to his arm, the Black-blood couldn't fix up his head injury.
Jesus! The fuck is that prick made of?! Don't use your right-arm, Kid! i need a moment to fix the bones!
Heeding the word of the Black-blood, Izuku used his left-arm to pull the top-half of his body up and get Kōta back onto solid ground.
'I guess from all those time Sis would grab the back of my shirt with her teeth, my first reaction is to grab him the same way she would do so for me.' He thought, as he slowly got to his feet.
He winced from the feeling of damaged bones being forced back to their places, but continued with his breathing.
"Thank you for-"
He heard Kōta cutting off his own words, but the sixteen year-old was more concerned on getting the boy to camp than to hear his gratitude for saving him.
'We can't stay here. I need to get him back to camp.' -He turned to the boy, ignoring that half of his shirt is ripped and that his injured arm is exposed.- "Let's get back to camp. It's not far."
As soon as he finished his words...
BANG!
Rocks were kicked and shot out from the crater where he left the villain in.
Fear cloudy his vision, as he looked over and saw a massive blob of muscles rising.
'No way. It can't be.'
To further prove that it was indeed his opponent, he watches strands of muscle fibers revealing the same hands his opponents has and going back into his body, revealing that he used his own muscles to absorb the shock impact from his attack.
'I was at a hundred percent! The same as All Might's power!'
When all of his muscles returned into his body, scrapes and some bruises can be seen on the villain's persons. But, unlike Izuku, none of his wounds were severe. And when he looked up at the boy, hunched over and closing his artificial eye, he scoffed at the green-haired teenager.
"Heh. A bit too obvious." He mocked, slowly standing at his full height. "But, hey. Not too bad, Midoriya."
As soon as he took one step towards them, Izuku stepped over in front of a frightened Kōta.
"No! Stay away!" Izuku yelled, baring his teeth.
"Naw, attacking sounds more fun!" The adult replied, walking towards the injured teen and scared child.
'It's no good. What am I supposed to do now?' He thought, not knowing what to do. 'I just need some time to think.' "Tell me. Why have you come here? What does the league want from us?"
He knew, earlier, that they were looking for Bakugō, since the villain asked him if he knew him. Yet, it was a bit odd that they wanted Katsuki... And not Sierra, which would make much more sense since she was bought and experimented by them. Or, as the villain stated earlier, himself.
'It doesn't make sense. Something doesn't feel right.'
"Doesn't matter to me, I'm just glad they finally let me off the leash." The adult replied, stomping over towards them. "Long as I get to use my Quirk all I want, I really don't care. -He reach for the left-front of his black-pants pocket, pulling something out of it.- Remember what i told you, earlier. We've just been playing around. Having fun. Until now. -Muscle strands and fibers slowly came out from his skin, as he placed the item onto his face. Where his artificial eye was once located.- Now, I'm serious! Recess is over. I'm coming at you, for real. 'Cause truth be told, you're pretty strong. i see that, now."
Immediately, Izuku kneeled down, triggering his Quirk.
"Quick. Grab on!" He told Kōta, not keeping his eyes off the villain when he watches massive amount of muscles coating all over his body. "Hurry!"
Fortunately, even when scared, the five year-old wrapped his arms around the teen's neck and, before the adult could lay a hit on them, the sixteen year-old dodged the attack. However, unlike his previous attack, he punched the ground so hard, a few craters formed from underneath the ledge and some rocks fell on some trees.
'It's like his Quirk has been supercharged. It's completely insane!' Izuku thought, stunned by what he just witnessed. 'He really was just playing around, toying with me before he killed me.'
The villain got up from where he punched and launched himself towards the boy, aiming his punch for them, again.
Quickly, Izuku landed on some rocks beside him to dodge, but the impact from the rocks and wind pushed him off course in the air and both he and Kōta landed roughly on the ground, with the boy unable to hold on and landing on his side, and the teenager on his back and his injured right-arm.
"Aw, damn. I got too excited!" The villain exclaimed.
His body tensed and sent many sensory of pain throughout his body, as Izuku slowly pushed himself up from his back, ignoring the tensing when he had to use both his arms.
This is bad, Kid!
The teen slowly sit up, getting as far as to kneel, gasping for breath. Either ignoring or, because of adrenaline, doesn't realize his right-arm is bleeding.
'If we can just get back to camp, Aizawa-sensei should be there.' He thought. 'Then, he can erase this guy's Quirk. I need to get him to chase after me, and Kōta. But, despite me having a small rest when watching over Sis, I'm so tired from the training today. It won't work!'
He, also, informed you that his Quirk makes him faster. So, turning your back for a moment, can mean your funeral.
'Which means, I have no choice but to fight him, right here. Right now!'
No way in Hell that you'll be able to take him down, on your own, Kid! Your right-arm is taking more damage, that it's delaying me on having to fix it! And with your phone busted, nobody will know where you are!
'I know. That's why, I need Sis to help me fight this guy, and protect Kōta!'
...Uh... Yeah... About that... She has her own villain to deal with, and his Quirk is preventing her from shaking him off of her tail.
'What?! Sis' fighting?!'
His immediate thought is to grab Kōta, again, and try to head back to camp to search for Sierra. But, again, he knows that that won't work.
Focus on your own battle, Kid. You need to beat this sack of shit, first, and then you can take the boy back to camp and find Sweetie. But, remember our deal. Don't go over more than three full power One for All punches. I can barely fix the cracks and damages in your bones, and your muscles need to be fixed from the tears.
'He's right. Even if I want to go help Sis, Kōta needs me, more.' He thought, clenching his eyes tight. 'I have to remember where I started, how far I've come. I'll stand my ground. And I'll make sure Kōta is safe!'
That's it, Kid! Now, let's send this prick back from whence he came, and hang his eye on the wall, as a trophy! Along with his testicles!
Ignoring that last comment, though knowing it was the Quirk's own way to get him pumped and to focus, Izuku's eyes snapped open, staring at his opponent from the crater he formed within the debris and dust.
"Stay back, Kōta." He grunted to the boy, not looking at the quivering boy. "And then, when it's time, run as fast as you can back to camp."
The five year-old boy couldn't believe what the older-boy is telling him, telling him that he was going to fight the villain that killed his parents.
"You're attacking him, again?" He questioned, as panic sank in for fearing what the adult was going to do to the teen. "You can't do that! Let's just go! Come on!"
The villain pulled his fist out from the rocks, grinning like a madman when he sees his opponent hadn't run off as he expected, as strands of muscle fibers from his back waved in the air.
"Your punch didn't hurt him earlier, remember? Besides, both your arms are busted up."
He knows that the boy was right... Yet, Izuku's mind is made up.
"It's going to be fine." He reassured, as he activated his Quirk.
The villain's muscles circled around his skin, beginning to charge for them, again.
...And, at the moment, Izuku charged up another attack of One for All at a hundred percent... Again, into his right-arm.
The fuck, Kid! Not your right!
'One for All, one-hundred percent!'
"I'm coming for you!" the adult shouted, charging for the boy, as muscles and strands of muscle fibers raised up.
The sixteen year-old stood his ground, clenching his more damaged arm into a tight fist.
'Detroit... -Seeing that he was going to deliver another attack, the villain folded his arms over his chest, along with massive amount of muscles to absorb his attack.- Smash!'
As the two collided, guts of wind and rocks came off of them. The two frozen in place. With green/white-lightning jumping off of Izuku's body, and strands of muscle fibers wrestling and weaving in the wind from the adult.
From behind, Kōta had to use one hand to keep his hat in place, while using the other to prevent the wind from getting into his face, struggling to stand still from the wind trying to blow him away.
The ground beneath Izuku crumbled, as he fight to stand his ground, as he continues to push his attack through the massive wall of muscles. Fighting off the pain building up in his right-arm, which was turning into a dark-purple color.
SHIT! THIS IS BAD, KID! YOU NEED TO STOP!
"Aw! What's wrong?!" From within the massive wall of muscle, the villain mocked.
Tears ran down Izuku's eyes, the pain becoming more and more unbearable. And, with the villain pushing down on him to get him back down, had to use his head to try and push him back.
"That was even weaker than before!" The villain continues to taunt and mock the teen.
...And still, even with tears in his eyes and his right-arm getting more damaged, Izuku said one thing to come back at the taunts... For Kōta to hear.
"...Okay. It'll all be okay!" He snarled, as his skin turned a bit red. "I will not let him get past me! Kōta! Run!"
From behind, Kōta could only gaped in shock, watching the teenager struggle to push the villain back. Frozen in place, and tears of his own forming in his eyes.
"GO! NOW!"
"Still looking after him! Oh, man! You're somethin' else, aren't you?!" The adult roared, and his muscles seemed to have expanded even more and continue to push Izuku closer to the ground.
And, in the process, his right-arm gushed blood, crushing his bones to further damage, resulting him to scream.
SERIOUSLY! IZUKU! FUCKING STOP! THIS IS TOO MUCH! YOUR BODY CAN'T TAKE MUCH MORE, AND YOU'RE ONLY FURTHERING THE DAMAGE TO BECOME PERMANENT IN YOUR RIGHT-ARM!
"SHUT UP, DAMNIT!"
Whether he was telling the villain to shut up, or Arsenius to shut up, the Black-blood Quirk can't tell.
As more energy and wind rose and continue to come off from both of them, the force was enough to rip the villain's pants and the dust to get bigger.
"SHOW ME... YOUR BLOOD!" The villain roared, and more strands of muscle fibers raised in the air.
And the force was enough to have Izuku on his back, and continue to keep pushing him into the ground.
Tears ran down his face, as more blood ran down from his right-arm, going into a black-color.
...He then recalled something that All Might told him.
"A real hero... Will always find a way for justice to be served!"
He closed his eyes, tears raging down.
'...Please, forgive me, Mom. I tried my best. -He sank further into the ground, having to use his left-hand to keep the large-mass of muscles from smothering his face.- I'm sorry... All Might... Sis...!'
"I'M GONNA CRUSH YOU!" The villain screamed.
...And then, he slammed down.
...
...Damaged and from the full-strength of the attack overpowering him, Izuku was pinned down. His right-arm, most definitely shattered, and the pulsing of his Quirk dying away.
...
...
...
...Then...
*Guuuush!* Splash!
A stream of water shot straight at the villain's body and face, seeming to come out of nowhere and distracting him from his down opponent.
"What the-? Is that water?"
He turned to where he felt the water came from... And, with both hands out and extended, dripping with water, found that the water came from the boy that the teenager was protecting... And very boy who was the child of the two Water Hose that he killed two years ago, and took away his left-eye.
He was up on his feet, shaking in fear... But, even with tears in his eyes, his face showed concern for the older-boy.
"Stop." Kōta grunted... Then, yelled as loud as he could. "Let him go!"
Underneath the adult, Izuku heard the boy's cry.
"...Kō... Ta?"
He looked over to the shaking boy, seeing his hands out and shaking where he stood.
...
...
Then, he remembered what Sierra told him... When he tried to kill himself.
"You're my BROTHER, IZUKU MIDORIYA! We promised to prove everyone, EVERYBODY, that they're WRONG!"
His thoughts then went to where they preformed the Blood-Ritual, when fighting that Nomu and made their oaths to each other.
"As I lay claim of my Blood-Bond Kin, all shall know that he's my brother and, as of this life and the next, all that I am will stand by his side. I will always be there for him: To gather his tears, in comfort and of protection. To cherish all of his accomplishments and joyous occasions, that shows his strength and determination. Remain as his loyal friend and pack-member, through all that stands against him. And shall he passes on, my soul will go with him... So we may never part, and continue our hunts and journeys, once again."
...
...
...His teeth clenched together.
"...Siiiissssss...!"
"Hold on there, 'kay?" The adult told the scared five year-old flashing him his crazed smile. "I'll kill you after I'm done with-"
He felt his right-arm slowly being pushed up... And then, felt the hand held within his muscle fibers sparking with light.
"I won't let you hurt Kōta!"
A sudden burst of energy build up, as Izuku slowly began to push the villain off of him and used his left-arm to get off his back.
"Damn it. How are you getting stronger?!" The villain yelled, finding himself unable to push back and coiling his muscle fibers to try and absorb his attack, again.
"YOU WON'T LAY A HAND ON HIM!" Izuku roared, back on his feet and green/white-lightning jumping off his body.
...Guess, if things don't go as plan... FUCK PLANNING AND GO ALL OUT, KID!
A building power deep within him coarse through him, gathering into the palm of his hand.
...
...As if it was being passed on, from one individual to the next... As if All Might is right there, giving him his own strength.
'...One for All... One MILLION PERCENT!'
His green-eyes glowed an even lighter-green, mixed with emerald, as gusts of wind build into his injured fix. His body covered in the red-markings of coursing energy.
'Delaware... -The muscles that coiled around his hand were forced back, revealing the villains face and chest.- Detroit... -He pulled back his severely broken arm.- ...SMAAAAASH!'
DO IT!
He slammed the punch to the villain.
...
...
...The rippling of muscles were forced to part and push up into the sky. Leaving his face exposed and to take on the full blunt of the punch, square in the face.
So stunned from the blow and unprepared from this sudden power, the villain was shot straight to the wall, forming a crater five times greater than the ones he made into the mountain.
...
...
...And, from the full force of the attack, left speechless and body overwhelmed from the force. His muscles forced back into his body, temporarily paralyzed.
As soon as the villain crumbled to the ground, Izuku pulled back his right-arm, mangled and black and bleeding heavily.
...But, still on his feet and standing.
...You did it, Kid... You put that pile of shit in his rightful place... In a hole, and on the ground.
"...Why did you risk your life?"
From behind, Kōta sniffled. A question that he'd hoped to hear from the boy to say, but never expected him to do so.
"Even though... You don't know me at all. Why did you try to save me?!"
Blood seeped from his arm, dripped from his head, as he struggles to stand up straight.
...
...
...In response, as he felt himself losing his balance, he slammed his left-foot in the ground.
...
...
...And, like an animal that took down its greatest foe in combat, let out a victorious scream of a roar... The same roar he made months ago, when he completed his task at the beach and stood on the top of the massive pile of trash.
He didn't know why he roared, but it felt right to let it out. The anger, the fear and pain he kept inside of him, released as soon as he knew that the crisis is over... At least, for him and Kōta.
He panted heavily, feeling the rush of adrenaline slowly dying down... And, with the overwhelming of pain coursing through his body and seeing his opponent isn't getting back up, his body felt like lead and begin to topple over.
From behind, Kōta immediately got to his feet and ran to him.
"Hey!" He cried, ready to try and catch him.
Again, Izuku slammed his left-foot to the ground, fighting to stay standing. Knowing he wouldn't be able to get back up if he allowed himself to fall.
"Everything's okay." He grunted, hunched over and staggering a bit before catching himself by stepping on his right-food. "Gimme a second, and then there's something I have to take care of."
Kōta couldn't help showing how worried he was for the older-boy.
"But you're all beat up! What more could you have to do now?!" He begged.
"...I knew he'd be strong." Izuku growled, grimacing from the aches in his body. "That's why I had to try to defeat him, here. -He winced from the pain in his right-arm, blood dripping off of him. Telling him that Antiphonus must be overwhelmed of the pain coursing through his body to stop the blood loss and focus on getting his bones fix, first.- I thought I'd be able to inflict a lot more damage in the end, though. Turns out, I seriously underestimated how powerful his Quirk was."
His body trembles, from shock, pain and fear, as he looked out towards the forest. Still seeing the trees being covered by purplish-smoke, or burned in blue-fire.
"If every villain attacking us tonight is on the same level, all our lives are at stake. On top of that, it sounds like they're after some of us students. I have to let Aizawa-Sensei and the Pussycats know that's one of the reasons they're here."
He lifted his head up, catching his breath for a moment.
"I may be injured, but I'm not defeated, yet. There are more people I can save." 'Not only that, but I need to find and help Sis. She's probably holding back on using her elements, in fear of damaging the environments and the animals who aren't able to escape.'
Uh. Yeah... NO WAY IN HELL ARE YOU CAPABLE ON DOING SO, AFTER THAT ATTACK! I'm barely able to function on your injuries, and it's taking everything I have to get your bones in place! Get to the camp and find the adults!
'...I ignored your warnings, earlier. Do you really expect me to suddenly listen, when giving it my all to take down my own opponent and thinking all of the villains that are here are just as strong and dangerous as this one? Sorry, Antiphonus, but I must continue to fight. And I didn't forget how you told me that she's having difficulty on shaking off her own opponent, which means she's in serious trouble. And since nobody knows where we are, I'm the only one who can help her.'
Kōta gulped at the thought of other villains who are attacking the forest, being just as strong or even stronger than the murderer of his own parents. But, couldn't find any more reason to argue to the fact that everyone is in danger.
That, and he's worried for the well-being of his aunt... And, the female-student that came to talk to him last night.
Izuku looked towards the down opponent.
"We'll leave this villain here, for the time being." He informed the boy. "With my arms messed up, my smash was probably weaker than it could have been. But, I still think it's taken him down for a while. Even if he wakes up, he won't be getting up anytime soon and would be too weak to fight. -He looked down at the boy, tired and blood covering the left-side of his face and both of his eyes. Yet, giving him a calm, soft smile.- For right now, I just need to make sure you're safe. We're gonna need some help only you can give us. -He looked over towards the trees, where the blue-flames continue to burn part of the forest.- The forest has been set on fire. That means my friends could be trapped by the flames."
Sweetie was going to do so, but her opponent cheap-shot her with a fire blast and is keeping her on the ground.
"But, we have hope." He told the boy, slowly crouching to be eye-level with him the best he could. "Your Water Quirk can put those fires out."
Kōta's response was a gasp of shock, and a bit of fear. But, not because of the villains.
...
...It was being asked to use his Quirk, that he'd denied and detested.
That moment he used it to draw the villain's attention onto himself and demand of him to let Izuku go, it was that one moment that he felt like he had to use it. But, to be asked by the one who saved him from being killed by his parents' killer, it made him scared.
"Kōta? You hear me? We need you."
His voice remained calm and gentle, his face kind and tired... Blood continue to run down his right-arm and drip off his chin from the left-side of his face.
And his eyes, while showing he cares for the boy, looked to be pleading with the boy to help.
...
...
...And knowing that he has to help, that he must help, the boy could no longer hide that he must take this path.
...
...
...Just as Sierra had told him that he must do.
He nodded his head.
Izuku sighed in gratitude.
"Now, get on my back. We need to get you to camp, fast." The sixteen year-old instructed, shifting his body to bare him his back.
"You sure you can carry me? You're all busted up." Kōta replied, but came over to wrap his arms around his neck again.
"No need to worry." Izuku reassured, as he allowed his Quirk to build up in his legs. "That's why I left my legs unbroken. -He looked over his left-shoulder, giving him a serious look.- Hang on tight. It could be rough."
Just as he was about to take off, something caught his attention.
...
...
...BOOOOOOM!
AWWWWWWWOOOOOOOLLLLLLL!
He knew that howl, almost instantly.
"Sis?!" He grunted, slightly sitting up.
Kōta knew the woods, well. Along that, the animals that resides within. Most are herbivore: Deers, squirrels, chipmunks, boars, mountain goats, even a few wild horses when Summer comes around. The few carnivores are the usual mountain lions, bears, owls, ravens and a few wolves. But, the wolves resides on the other-side of the forest.
And, when the older-boy said 'Sis', had him thinking of the girl that turned into a dragon... And, a white-wolf.
"You mean that girl that came to talk to me, was your sister?" He asked, a bit worried when he saw the concern look on Izuku's face. "Is she in trouble?"
...
...
...
"...Heh..."
From behind, the two trembled in fear and slowly looked behind them... And saw the villain still laying on the ground.
...
...But, is awake and chuckling.
"So, that punk found her and is giving her a hell of a punishment. Just as he said he was going to do, as soon as he found her." The villain grunted, then chuckled a bit.
...
...A sudden cold feeling built up in Izuku's chest.
"Is your leader with you?" He asked, slightly shifting his body a bit to halfway face the adult, who continued to chuckle and wince on the ground.
"The one who hired us to come here? No. We never even gotten the chance to see him, face-to-face. But, since I'm beaten, I guess I should tell you another secret." The adult replied, though made no move to sit up and face the two boys. "I'm only going to say this once, so pay attention, brat. That kid, Bakugō. He wasn't the only one on the list nor were you the original target. Apparently, we were also instructed on collecting the boss' stolen goods that escaped him, ten years ago. And that happened to be the girl who, also, won first place in the Sports Festival."
Izuku's eyes widened in fear, confirming his suspicions that Sierra is more likely to be targeted than just Bakugō.
'I knew it! Sis is their main target, too!' He hissed, clenching his teeth together. 'I need to find her, and help get her to safety! Right after we take down her opponent, before more villains show up to grab her!'
...Kid, I know who her opponent is, and who that sack of shit is talking about... And, you're not going to like it, one bit.
And when Antiphonus told him the name of the person, revealing who it was that Sierra is fighting, Izuku's demeanor went from scared to furious. And after warning the down villain that if he'd ever cross paths with him again and give it his all, he shot straight into the woods towards the camp.
...
...And with the pain of his own, feels his sister's own pain and fear within him.
'Hang in there, Sis. I'll save you from that monster!'
With Eraser Head...
He ran into the trees, telling four of his students to get inside the building.
He ran straight towards the direction of the blue-flames, having a feeling that the real villain he fought was there.
...Or, out of concern, his students.
...
...
...Could even be his own daughter. Especially, after he heard that wolf howl.
That fake villain's words made him push on faster, putting more energy into his strides.
"Tell me, Hero: You worried for your students? I wonder if you can save them, in the end... Especially, when one of those students is your own daughter. See you soon."
He shouldn't be distracted by what the villain just told him. The Pussycats are with the majority of both classes, and his students are much more prepared to know what to do in a villain's attack. Even when Mandalay instructed them to not attack, that doesn't mean they won't know how to defend themselves or find a way to escape immediate danger. And, seeing Iida's group had returned and the Class Rep will be able to help guide the others to the building, should help put his worries a bit at ease.
Still, when that villain taunted him on the safety of his students... Including his own child and god-son/nephew, that's when his paternal instincts screams within every fiber of his being to find his daughter.
He was so focused to keep running, that he didn't know that another of his students heading his way until he heard his name being called out.
"Aizawa-Sensei!"
And when he stopped in his tracks and saw his student coming out from the bushes, he was a bit taken back and sneered a bit when he sees Izuku, banged up and having a child to hold tightly to him like a koala.
"Midoriya."
While he was relieved to see him, he was also not please to see, with the evidence of his right-arm, that he used up his Quirk to full power.
"You're here. Thank goodness." Izuku panted, showing to be a bit out of breath. "I need to catch up up on what I've learned about the villains, but we don't have much time."
The boy on his shoulders dropped down from behind.
Aizawa tried to get him to calm down.
"Hey."
"Plus, I need to find Mandalay. There's something I have to tell her."
"Hold on!"
"Please take care of Kōta, while I'm gone!"
Aizawa realizes that the sixteen year-old is talking a bit too fast and isn't stopping.
'This kid is running on pure adrenaline.'
"I'll be back, soon!" Izuku's announcement to leave and began to take off running towards the other direction brought the thirty-one year-old from his analogy.
"Wait, Midoriya! -To the call of his name, Izuku's reflex to stop took over, getting him to stop at the moment.- Those injuries... You went too far, again, didn't you? Have you forgotten about Hosu?"
Now, Shōta knows that there are certain rules and laws that can overrule the Code of Ethics, which includes following under the Law of Zodiacs as Sierra's Blood-Bond Kin. But, even they have to abide to the rules and can't just fight the villains whenever they want. Including, when not giving any permission by their teachers and/or heroes administrators to do so, unless it's a life-or-death situation.
"...No. I haven't." Izuku answered, which reassure Aizawa that he didn't attack, first.
"...Go." The Eraser Hero instructed. "But, tell Mandalay something for me, too."
As soon as he told him what to tell Mandalay, Izuku nodded his head and began to take off running.
As soon as he was gone, Aizawa went to the five year-old, who looked just as worried for Izuku, kneeled down and scooped the trembling boy into his arms. Then, keeping a firm grip on him, Shōta ran back towards the camp.
"Tell me, Hero: You worried for your students? I wonder if you can save them, in the end... Especially, when one of those students is your own daughter."
Again, the villains taunting words came popping into his head, making the chilling feeling to come crawling back up his spine.
'His words made it clear to me that our students are the targets. So, it's unavoidable. They have to protect themselves. And each other.'
He recalled the wolf howl from earlier, believing it to being Sierra's, making his paternal instincts to yell at him to take the boy back to camp and find his daughter.
...
...Unfortunately, because he doesn't know where, exactly she's at and that she there could be students nearby that needed him more than she did, he had to focus on the main task at head. Getting Kōta to safety, and find any injured/wounded students.
'Go ahead, and use your training. I'll take the heat.' He thought, praying that Izuku had reached Mandalay and would find Sierra. 'Future Heroes: Do not let this night be the end of your journey!'
Everyone in Class A and Class B! In the name of the pro hero, Eraser Head, you are granted permission to engage in combat! I repeat: Use your training! You may fight these villains!
Hearing his message be played out in his head, informed the pro hero that Izuku found Mandalay. But, quickly realized he made an error.
'I forgot to tell Midoriya to find Honey and to come back, right away. This is bad.' He thought, recalling the faint sighting of blood from his head and his right-arm still bleeding out. 'The only reason he's still going with those injuries, is because of the endorphins pumping through his body. It's temporary. Once he's accomplished his goals and calm down a little, he won't be able to move at all.'
"Mister. Is he gonna be okay?" From within his hold, Kōta asked, bringing the adult from his concern for his student. "I-... I sort of tried to punch him, before. And still, he got beat to a pulp, just so he could protect me. -The boy tightened his grip onto Eraser's capture weapon, as he sniffled into his shoulder.- I never apologized. Or even thanked him. Please, tell me: He's not gonna get hurt more, right?"
Shōta quickly comforted the boy.
"Don't worry," he comforted. "He sustained those injuries, because he has no intention of dying. Though, as his teacher, when this is over, i'll have to scold him for acting without my permission."
When hearing that Izuku doesn't intend to die, did brought Kōta from sobbing.
"Really?" He asked, hoping that the hero isn't lying to him.
"Anyway. you'll get your chance to talk to him, again. And when you do, put more emphasis on the 'thank you' part."
The boy went quiet for a few seconds, then asked him something that surprised him.
"And his sister, she's gonna be okay, too?"
Shōta stopped in his tracks for a moment, turning to the boy.
"'His sister'?" He repeated, earning a nod from the five year-old. "She's fighting, as well. She'll be find, so long as she has the others to fight alongside with. -He gave him a confused look.- Why? Do you think she's in trouble?"
And, to his surprised, the boy rested his face against Aizawa's left-shoulder, again.
"...The villain... He told us that one of them said that he was going to give her a hell of a punishment, as soon as he found her."
The chilling feeling shot straight up Shōta's back.
"...Who?"
Before Kōta could tell him the name, Mandalay's voice came into his mind.
Listen. We've discovered two of the villains' targets: It's two students named Kaachan, and Sierra. Kaachan, Sierra, you two should try to avoid combat. And stick to a group. I hope you both can hear me!
Hearing the message Mandalay relayed to them, Shōta had to control himself not to drop the boy in the middle of nowhere and run towards the direction where Izuku ran off too. After just learning that Sierra, his daughter, is one of the targets the villains are told to find.
He ran towards the direction of camp, pushing aside his paternal instinct to go off into the woods and look for his child... Not knowing what would be waiting for him.
Back with Sierra...
She's leaning against a tree, gasping for breath. Whimpering from being thrown against a tree and having a part of a branch being stabbed through her right-thigh, with a serious head injury on the left-side of her head and second degree burns on the lower-half of her body.
Though, that was nothing compared to having her tail broken from Arsenius' bite from earlier or swiping at her left-side. And, with Antiphonus doing all that he can to prevent the poison from triggering to go into a seizure, he can't do anything with her other injuries.
Sierra tried to get back up to her feet, wincing from the signals of pain screaming in her body... Only to then have a hard head and thick horns to come down on her and slam her body against the tree.
She let out a yelp, feeling some of her bones break or sprain.
The black-dragon chuckled at her cry, then pulled back from her... Only to grab her by the back of her neck and flung her to the ground, leaving fang-marking at her scruff and some of her fur ripped off of her, with the missing fur caught in his fangs.
"Come on. This is nothing, compared to when I injected you with a special serum that gave you nerve paralysis for two weeks and let Shigaraki to disintegrate your skin and muscles for three days." Antiphonus scoffed, licking his teeth at the taste of her blood and spitting out the furs.
Sierra winced at the pain in her neck, along with the memory of said incident when he injected his own serum to make her have the same symptoms when having a stroke and allowing Shigaraki to use his Quirk on her to almost have her bleeding out until they'd take her to the Tank to fix her up and continue his fun.
She staggered to her feet, wincing at using all-four of her burnt paws and shifting her broken tail to instinctively raise it slightly in the air, showing her defensive stance and baring her fangs at the large-dragon.
Sweetie. The Kid and the boy are safe. He's taking him back to camp, but is running on endorphin and severely injured. No doubt, he's going to find Mandalay and tell her on what he learned on why the villains are here.
The white-wolf was relieved to hear Izuku and Kōta are safe, but growled at the mentioning on why they came.
'It isn't because of me?' She thought, snarling when the dragon slammed his claws into the dirt like an angry bull, as if taunting her that he was going to come after her. 'From the way Arsenius said he'd be given a pardon if he brings me back, I thought for certain this is all because of me.'
...Well, you aren't completely wrong to assume that.
Everyone in Class A and Class B! In the name of the pro hero, Eraser Head, you are granted permission to engage in combat! I repeat: Use your training! You may fight these villains!
She lifted her head to Mandalay's message. Then, as she morphed back to her dragon-form, tapped into her ice, coating the top-half of her scales and fur/like-feather with ice and snow and having the snow cover her limbs to help with the burning to numb it the best she could.
Seeing the ice and snow gathering on her person, Arsenius chuckled.
"You going to take this seriously and, actually, fight me, Brat?" He questioned, as he charged up his fire. "At least you'll make this much more interesting, before I snap your spine in half and drag you to our checkpoint."
Sierra snarled at his words... Then, at the same time, both charged for the other.
As she expected, he flapped his wings to get air distance to release his fire on her. Before the flames could reach her, she shot a blast of snow towards the fire to have most of it die down and reduce to mist. Then, as he shifted to blast another shot of fire down on her, forced herself to snap her tail and sent sharp shards of ice towards his way.
But, not as her choice to attack, but as a diversion.
And as soon as he used his claws to block the attack from hitting his face and snapping his clawed-paw to the side, she switched to her wind and used the wind to give her an added boost of speed to shoot herself straight towards the black-dragon.
...
...She then rammed her head straight for his jaw, forcing him to lift up and damage his mouth.
"Gah! Fuck!" He roared, feeling the pain had went to both side of his jaw and near his voice box, a clever way to prevent him from using his fire breath on her or to burn more trees.
She then pushed herself back by the flap of her wing, shifted to face his back... Then, clamped down on the right-side of his back, where his wing connects to his collarbone. Drawing blood.
ROOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAR!
With her biting down to the bones and muscles, Arsenius collapsed to the ground and began to try and shake her off of him.
Immediately, Sierra dug her claws into his shoulders and part of his back, ignoring the stabbing of his scales digging to her padded-clawed paws as if his scales are shark scales and is rubbing the scale from tail to head.
"Get the fuck of me! Let go, you Bitch!" Arsenius roared, trying to reach as far as he could behind him to grab her, only for his wing to be in the way from how she's biting into the part connected to his collarbone and smaller-body.
When seeing that he wasn't going to be able to grab her, he folded his wings (With his right-wing only being able to fold halfway), charged for the trees and slammed his back to the tree, hoping the impact would get her to let go.
She didn't take any damage, thanks to her using ice to coat her horns, head, neck, back and wing to absorb the attack.
Quick thinking, Sweetie. Now, let's see how much he likes to have his limbs broken.
Sierra snarled in response, pulling her fangs back a bit and clamping it back down on the wound.
Then, to her surprise, Mandalay's voice popped up in her head... And, this time, the message she had was very startling.
Listen. We've discovered two of the villains' targets: It's two students named Kaachan, and Sierra. Kaachan, Sierra, you two should try to avoid combat. And stick to a group. I hope you both can hear me!
Her slit eyes went small, as she dug her claws deeper into Arsenius and tightened her jaw, forcing out another curse.
"Why does All for One want with Bakugō?" She hissed.
The black-dragon turned his head to glare at her, growling lowly.
"The fuck should I know?" He grunted, slamming his tail against the ground. "Honestly, it'll make more sense if it was you and that green-shithead god-brother of yours instead of that explosive sack of shit. Though, really, I was hoping I'd get a chance to get one or two of your female classmates. The frog girl would get a lot of offers, but the one that creates things or even that invisible girl would make great bed partner-"
Sierra coated her fangs in ice and clamped her fangs back into the wound, sending ice into his body and reaching to the bone.
"Fucking hell?!"
"I knew you were inappropriate with younger females; don't think I didn't notice the times you made my sister uncomfortable and tried to be a bit too touchy with her, when I was little." She snarled. "I even knew you were sleeping around, when you were 'with' my mother. Though, I don't know why you would be with a single mother of fours, who was in her early twenties and had nothing to do with your choice of lifestyle."
The black-dragon snorted at her words, which evolved into a crackle when she gave him a confused look to why he was laughing.
"Did you really think I'd be into a whore like that dead slut?" He replied, earning another deep bite into his wing. "Do you really think it was unfortunate fate that I happened to come into her life, stay with her for almost two years and only abuse you, and not your older-siblings or those green-haired shits?"
That gained her attention.
"...What are you getting at?" She growled.
Arsenius flashed her his dragon-grin.
"...How about a little wager? For old time sakes?" He suggested. "Beat me, and I'll let you in on a little secret. Though, I doubt you'll be able to do so. Especially, since you don't know of a little surprise I have for you. Which should be happening, at any moment."
This irritated Sierra.
"What surprise?" She demanded. "What did you do?"
...Sweetie. Something feels wrong. Like, really wrong.
'What is it?' She thought, feeling on edge.
...
...
...Then, her vision began to get blurry.
'What the-...?'
She felt her grip on his back and shoulders starting to shake. Then, she felt a pressure of cough being forced out.
Arsenius crackled at her cough, forced to let go of his wing and her slipping off of his back.
"There it is!" He declared, bucking her off of him. "That's what I've been waiting for! -He then raised a clawed-paw.- And now, for some payback!"
The white-dragon saw the black-dragon looming over her, an extended claw ready to slam down on her. She charged up a breath of fire to shoot back at him.
...
...Only to choke on it when another wave of cough came forth, and a sudden feeling of shaking in her limbs.
Sierra recognizes the trembling feeling.
'...No... It can't be... Not now...! Antiphonus!'
Before Arsenius' claws could make contact, the Black-blood immediately took over and forced her body to lunge to the side. His claws did grazed her left-side a bit, but not too serious.
...
...
...Unfortunately, that was all he could do at the moment, as Sierra's body began to tighten and convulse.
...
...
...Going into a seizure, for the first time since Antiphonus came into her and Izuku's life.
Arsenius watches a few feet away and, surprisingly, was a bit taken back that she dodged his attack and is seizing before his very eyes.
...
...
...Then, he started laughing.
"I knew it!" He proclaimed, stomping his claw against the ground, again. "There's no way you'd be fine, after my little concoction of serums I pumped into your body and back!"
The white-dragon couldn't make any comment, as her body goes through the painful process of her tonic-clonic seizure.
And through the procedure, Antiphonus went quiet... And, surprisingly, Arsenius waited patiently for her to go through the seizure. No doubt, enjoying her going through this painful procedure, like he used to do in the past.
'...I... Zu...'
With Izuku...
'If I remember the order that each student were randomly assigned to, before I stayed with Sis, Kaachan and Todoroki went second in the Test of Courage.' He calculated, running swiftly as holding out both of his arms back. 'If they didn't go back tto camp yet, then they might still be here.'
His darted through the trees, anxious and desperate to find two or more of his fellow classmates and those from Class 1-B.
...
...
...Then, he felt his lungs tense and the air in them get thinner.
He gaped, as his legs froze and stopped him in his tracks, before he felt himself drop and curling himself in a tight ball.
'What's going on?! Why does my body feel like its being controlled by something else, and being set on fire from the inside-out?!'
...
...
...Then, one thought came to him. And his eyes grew wide in horror.
'Sis!' He thought, digging his hand into the dirt. 'She's seizing! Antiphonus, what happen?!'
...I don't know. One moment she's doing fine and gained the upper-hand, then the next... Something is in her body, making the poison stronger and because of the damage she sustained, had overrun her immune system and my healing ability. And now, her seizure is hitting her, at full force.
Panic sets in, as Izuku tries to get back on his feet.
'...What is he doing right now?' He hissed, getting to his hands and knees. Wincing when he has to use both his hands to sit up, but leaned to his left-side to not further the damage to his right.
At the moment... Nothing. He's just sitting there, watching her go through her fits.
Izuku slammed his left-fist against the ground, as he strains to get to his feet.
'Do what you can to protect her. I'll try and be there, as fast as I can!' He thought, slowly raising himself up. 'Hang in there, Sis! I'm coming!'
...When he looked ahead, he noticed a large-shadowy claw coming towards him.
...
...
...The next thing he knows, he's wrapped in a web-like wing, with what feels like a human's hand over his shoulder. Held to somebody's back.
...
...
...Realizing that it was Shōji that caught and saved him from the shadow-claw.
He, also, noticed that one of his ends on his left-side is bleeding.
"Shōji. What happened-?" He started, before the youngest and tallest male in the class cut him off.
"With those injuries... You should be laid up in bed, recovering." He panted. "But, you wanna save your friend, and Sis. No matter what the cost."
Thinking back on what tried to grab/attack him, a cold, unsettling feeling built up in his chest.
"That thing just now... -He went pale, staring out towards the shadows of the trees on where that "thing" shot out from.- Wait. Don't tell me..."
"Yeah." Shōji confirmed, sitting up slightly and staring towards the source. "If we wanna get through here, we'll have to face Dark Shadow, first."
...
...
...There, towards the source, they see Tokoyami, covered and held up by Dark Shadow... Who grew larger and eyes glowed blood-red, and roaring like a mad beast.
"Stay away from me! You'll die!" Tokoyami warned, fearful for his friends' safety, trying to fight with all he had to regain control over his Quirk.
Izuku knew, while he's a First Class Animal Quirk User and that animals share certain behavior and/or elements to actual elements, Dark/Shadow Quirks are one of the most difficult elements to control... That was why, while powerful and strong in their own rights, there are very few Dark/Shadow Quirk Users who can master their powers.
...
...And most of them, who don't... Ended up killed by their own Quirk, itself.
"Tokoyami, no!"
Back with Sierra...
It lasted for over five minutes. A dangerous sign that requires immediate medical attention.
Sierra went through nearly eleven minutes of the seizing, when her body finally slowed down. And when it slowed, she puked up whatever she had in her stomach, digest prey, stomach acid and berries she was able to consume in the midday.
Arsenius had been laying down the whole time, waiting for the seizure to end. He may be two-timer, dirty, sleazy, coldhearted convict, but even he found it to be boring to attack somebody who can't fight back... That, and he'd rather they'd be conscious, while he torments them and make them beg for death.
It was much more fun to hear them scream.
When he sees her body had finally stopped convulsing and laid on the ground, gasping for breath and coughing up what's left of her vomit that didn't leave her mouth, he sits up and stretches.
"Well, Brat, I gotta say: You really surprise me, today." He commented, as he slowly walks towards her fallen form. "In truth, when I saw you compete in the Sports Festival and morphing into animals in prison, I was taken back that you're still alive."
Sierra pants for air, as she glared up through blurred vision at the black-dragon, who began to walk around her in a circle.
"And why-? *Gasp* Would that-? *Gasp* Surprise you?" She gasped, struggling to lift her head a few centimeters off the ground. "Even when you're- *Gasp* Scheduled to die, they- *Gasp* Still try to get the truth out of you- *Gasp* For ten years on what you put- *Gasp* into my body and what's- *Gasp* the antidote to the poison."
Arsenius held a clawed-paw to his jaw, as if thinking, as he stared up at the sky and made a few clicking sounds.
"Let's see..." He pondered. "How about, for a fact that those before you ended up dead within a month or two. One lasted for almost ten months, before he went insane and killed himself. But you? You, actually, kept going, despite how much damage it has done to your body and is worsening as you're closer to dying."
She glared up at the black-dragon.
"'Others'?" She repeated, wincing when another pulse went through her body.
He gave her a raised eyebrow.
"Did you think that you were the only one to make a deal with me, by offering themself as a testing experiment to my concoction of serum and poison?" He asked, then let out a deep sigh and shook his head. "You foolish child... You're not the first, and you sure as hell won't be the last."
...She didn't think she'd ever stop hearing those words. Let alone, who would be the one to tell her those exact words.
"I'd always had a fascination for chemicals and gas, ever since I was very young. And when I gained my Quirk at four, my desire to do my own chemical grew. As such, I ended up with a diploma and a career as a Toxicologist. Of course, during my younger years, I wanted to test out any toxins I can get my hands on and study the results of my greatest projects. The first subject, obvious, was my family's dog. -He chuckled at the thought of his past pet.- It was quite funny; he whimpered in pain when I injected rat poison and onion juice straight into his stomach, and watched the light die in his eyes. The next victim was a stray cat I tricked into eating the class pet rat, covered in some alcohol I took from my parents' liquor cabinet."
The white-dragon snarled at his story, trying to get back up... Only for the adult to slam his paw straight into her back, forcing out a screech of a roar from the attack.
"One of the few experiments that I hold dear in my heart, is the one time I poisoned my best friend and girlfriend, after I found out she cheated on me for him." He continued, smiling dark and cruelly, as he slightly dug his claws into her back, forcing out more whimpers. "I pretended to be fine with the ordeal and offered them some peace offering drinks, drugged in some sleep medication I stolen from the pharmacy. And after they drank it, I dragged them into his father's car, drove it a hill, after setting them up, had them drove off the cliff and crash. -He snickered at the memory, which made Sierra more disturbed by his behavior.- You should've seen the performance I put on at the funeral. Some tried to place the blame on me, but I had a perfect alibi to make them say, otherwise. And when you have parents who don't bother to keep tabs on my whereabouts, makes it even harder for anyone to figure out that I killed them."
He then leaned his head down close to hers, where her ears pulled back and flattened underneath her horns.
"And you wanna know what else? Despite putting on a show, your mother's death was just as satisfying and dear to me as my parents' 'accidental' drug overdose."
Sierra snarled at him and tried to grab at him with her fangs, only to be too slow and still weak from her seizure episode.
"Don't...!" She hissed, trying to get his paw off her back and move her wings to smack him in the face. Again, her attempt was futile.
Arsenius continued to smile down at the girl.
"Why should I stop, there? I mean, even you should know that she was seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses and chose to have a false love over her own children, including the one child who was fatherless and needed her the most... But then, -He chuckled, deeply and lowly.- when someone who's injected themself with a temporary Subconscious Pheromone-like serum on their first night meeting each other that only targeted one, specific target and, secretly, was giving her a dangerous concoction that's similar to cancer and other toxic-substance, from both home and/or at the hospital, that would better explain why she'd easily handed her own child over to her abuser and ignored her cries for help until it was too late."
...Her slit-eyes grew to his not-so easily disguised hint. On what he's trying to tell her.
"...She wasn't your main priority, was she?"
...
...
...And Arsenius removed his clawed-paw and, as if he was human, clapped them together.
"Now, you're getting it." He stated, watching the girl try to get back on wobbly, weak legs. "I can't believe it took you this long to finally figure it out, but then, your memories were suppressed from the trauma. So, I won't be too hard on you."
Sierra was only able to sit up, with her legs half-folded and half-laid out on the ground and needing her wings to steady her a bit.
"But-... Why me?" She gasped, as her head was still low and near the ground, glaring up at the black-dragon. "If not my mom... Why me, when I never-..."
She turned her head and coughed into her one of her clawed-paw... And, when she pulled back, saw it covered in blood. Along with it, felt the thickness of blood in her neck and down her chin, and tasted blood on her tongue.
"Ah, Brat. Out of everything you've just learned about me, there is one more thing you should know. I never was just a Toxicologist..."
...
...
...She found herself hanging in the air.
...
...
...
...Her throat, within Arsenius' grasp... In his fangs.
"I was, also, a hired hit man. And while All for One told me to retrieve you... He didn't tell me on what condition you have to be in."
Her eyes stared into his hazel-red eyes.
...
...
...
...Then, blood rose in the sky.
Back to Izuku...
They've just finished going over on what they need to do and how they need to get Bakugō back to camp, when he felt a tightening constriction at his throat.
He felt like he's choking.
...
...
...Like he's drowning in water.
He let out a gasp, raising his left-hand to his throat, panting for air and shaking his head from side-to-side.
Shōji, Tokoyami, Shōto and Bakugō turned to the injured boy, as he struggled at his neck... And then, tried to pull himself off from Shōji's hold.
"Midoriya? What's wrong?" The youngest-male asked, concerned that he may have internal injuries and may have accidentally caused the damage.
...
...
...Only for one word to be forced out of him.
"S-Sis...!" He hissed, clenching his neck with his hand and eyes wide as dinner-plates.
Immediately, all four of the males came to one conclusion on what's wrong with him.
Sierra is badly injured... And, in the process, may have been captured by the villains.
Panic, fear and rage filled Izuku's eyes.
"S-Sis...!" He hissed, again, trying to get off of Shōji's back, but the youngest-male kept firm to him.
"Calm down, Midoriya! Stop struggling!" Shōji ordered, trying to be careful on keeping him pinned to his back. "We'll save Sis, but we need to get you, Bakugō and the unconscious student of Class 1-B to camp!"
Tokoyami clenched his left-arm to his right, feeling just as worried for the youngest-student as the older-boy but needs to stay in control, after just regaining control over Dark Shadow.
Shōto took a step forward, keeping his grip on the unconscious student from Class 1-B firm and on his back.
"What's wrong? Did something happened to Sierra?" He asked.
...
...Then, to Tokoyami, Shōji and Shōto's surprise, Bakugō came to the tallest-student's side and grabbed for Izuku's head, making him be eye-to-eye with him.
"Did she seized, again, Deku?" He growled, demanding he answers him the best he can.
Izuku grunted, but glared back at him.
"She did, earlier ago." He revealed, panting for breath. "But, this-... It feels like-... Her throat's been slit."
Both boys showed to be worried for the girl they grew up with. And, this time, they couldn't hide the fear and worry they have for her.
Bakugō pulled his hand away from Izuku, then turned to the other males.
"Forget camp!" He barked. "We need to go find Ra Ra, right this second!"
The three males couldn't believe what he just said. Since it wasn't Bakugō to worry over another classmate's well-being. And witnessing the animosity between him and the youngest student in class, given their history and Sierra had him Blacklisted for the indication of causing five friends of hers and Izuku to die, none would ever think he would he would ever care for any of their safety. Let alone Sierra's.
And for them to witness something that wasn't Bakugō... No words can describe just how unprepared and shock they were to see such an event to take place.
Shōto was the first to get his voice back, and argue.
"Don't be stupid. You know that that's not an option, right now." He argued. "You're the main target on why the villains are here-"
"And so is Ra Ra, remember, Icy/Hot Bastard!" Bakugō countered, small-explosions sparking up in his hands. "And in case your brain is turned off and you've all forgotten, she was kidnapped, sold and experimented on by those fucking bastards that are trying to get us! If they have her, then she'll be in a more dangerous situation than I would! And I don't wanna deal with our teacher's drama as a parent, if we don't save her!"
Tokoyami was the next to jump into the conversation, but it was something else that caught his attention.
"'Seized'? What do you meant by that?" He asked. "Did something happen that has you both worried about Sis' safety, when she's just as skilled in combat like the rest of us?"
Both boys grimaced at his question, glaring off to the side.
Their silence made them all nervous and unease.
It wasn't until Izuku turned to them... And told them what was wrong.
"Her health has gotten worse. And back at Hosu, after our encounter with Stain, the doctors found the poison in her back has now reached terminal level. And during our exams, Sis revealed to us, that not only had she been suffering from Tonic-Clonic Seizures, but was given in the news that if they don't find a cure in a few months... She's going to die."
Back to Sierra...
Arsenius stared down at the white-dragon on the ground.
Blood pooling from underneath her head and neck, which he'd caused after digging his fangs into her flesh and slashing them.
He spat out the small-amount of her blood in his mouth down at her face, disgusted.
"I knew it would be a matter of time before that serum I gave you would kill you; putting you out of her misery would've been the sanest thing of me to do." He said, not caring if she could hear him or not. "Perhaps, if I'd only done so, like I was supposed to when given the contract to have you killed, none of this would've happened. I'd still be working with that blind-dickhead, continuing my work and job as a Toxicologist and hit man. Your mother would probably still be alive, moved on after your death and freed of the burden of having a reminder why she was cut off from the family. And that green-shithead of a brother of yours would continue on the road on being a weak-ass hero, only to die like many other heroes before him."
He then let out a bit yawn and stretched his body like a cat, before morphing back to his human-form and pulled out a cellphone from out of his pocket.
"I probably overdid it a bit, by injected myself with a special serum to quicken the progress of the poison after inhaling it within a one mile radius of my person, so he'll probably try to rip me a new one for the state of health I put you in and try to double-cross me on our deal. But, after promising him to give you the antidote and a little trip to the Tank, he'll let me off with a slap on the wrist. -He pressed the quick dial on the phone and brought it to his ear.- You just stay there and continue to bleed out, you Brat. I need to make a quick call to our special client."
After a few rings, the phone clicked and he talked with said special client.
...
...Never knowing that Antiphonus was controlling the blood to slowly return to her body and sealing up the wound to her neck.
And, weakly, Sierra slowly opened her eyes and glared up at him.
'So... That's what happened.' She thought, remaining still and on the ground, as she watches her abuser talk to the phone.
If he hadn't pumped so much of those fucking concoctions into his body, Sweetie, I would've crawled further into his body when he had me in his mouth and give him a taste of his own medicine by forcing his immune system to attack his body from the inside-out. Make him go through the shit he put you, your mom and all those other people who probably didn't do anything wrong, through.
Sierra couldn't make out most of the conversation, but seeing some body movement and his voice raising a bit, told her that he was being scolded and/or arguing over the deal they made.
She let a few deep breath through her nose, feeling and inhaling the slight change that she now knows is the serum he injected that's still making the poison inside of her worse.
...
...
...It was then and there, that she had an idea on how to take Arsenius down.
...
...
...
...A dangerous, stupid, and insane idea.
...Sweetie... You can't-
'Whether he knows about it or not, even he won't be able to stop it. And after hearing what he did to those animals. Those people... My own mother...' She paused for a moment, as she focuses on her breathing. 'Besides, from the way I see it, I'm already one foot in the grave. And if I'm going to die, I might as well bring a guest with me. One who deserves such a trip, that's been long overdo.'
Antiphonus went silent.
...
...Then, she felt her body began to feel a bit lighter. Her limbs still shook, but they seem to be acting on their own occur.
...At least let me help you do this.
She let out a deep sigh, closing her eyes.
'...Thank you. And, Antiphonus? When it happens... Don't let Izu feel me.'
...I understand.
"Calm down, Boss. Just have Kuro head for my coordinates to come pick us up, first, and then I can get started on treating her. And for the record, this is going to cost a bit extra... Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I'll have her ready."
Arsenius closed the phone and shoved it back into his pocket.
"Stupid dickhead. Can't wait to go our separate ways, after I'm done with this." He muttered, grasping his hair a bit.
He then smirked, as he morphed into his dragon-form.
"Whelp. It's been fun playing catch up, Brat. But, it's time to haul your sorry ass back to-"
He turned to face her... Only to find her literally in his face, glaring back at him.
And before he could charge up a fire attack... She clamped his jaw shut with her own, digging her fangs through scale and skin and locking them in place.
...
...
...And then, tapping into her wind, she began to inhale.
Arsenius eyes grew.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!" He roared, trying to shake her off of his face. "How the fuck did you-?! You were bleeding out! I slammed your back so hard, you shouldn't had been able to move!"
Sierra snarled at the large-dragon, as she brought her claws to the back and underneath his lower-jaw and behind the smaller-horns, locking them in place. Ignoring that she had to impale her paws into the small-horns.
"You were always sloppy with your work, Arsenius." She hissed, as she continues to inhale wind into her mouth. "You failed to kill me the first time, and now this is going to cost you, greatly."
Arsenius snarled and roared, shaking his head to shake her off. Her fangs and claws made certain that she wouldn't move an inch.
He then slammed her body to the ground, hoping the impact to her injuries would make her let go. It did little to help him and, instead, made her tightened her hold.
When that made him tired, Arsenius spread his wings and launched the both of them in the air, with her dragging his head down when she spread her wings to cause drag. The higher he flew to the sky, the more energy he had to put into his wings to pull her up with him. And the higher they flew, the more oxygen he had to use and breathe.
...
...
...When they were above the clouds, he found himself breathing much harder and deeper than he thought he would.
...
...
...And when he realizes that Sierra hadn't lost as much oxygen like he did and is still inhaling... Feeling the wind, and air, leaving him. Did he realizes his mistake.
"YOU STUPID BITCH!" He screeched, folding his wings back and diving back down to earth. "YOU'RE CAUSING THIS!"
The white-dragon smirked at him, as she continues to inhale and force the air from all around him and within his body. Including the air in his lungs.
His hazel-red eyes grew at the quickness of the air leaving his body, as panic start to set in and began to flap his wings to reach the ground faster.
"Quit it!" He yelled, seeing his vision is going blurry. "Are you insane?! You're only quickening the process of the poison I gave you! You'll die!"
"I know." She growled through the rushing of the wind.
As they were a forty-feet away from the ground, Arsenius felt warmth building up at his snout.
Realizing that she stopped using her wind and is now charging up her fire.
"I've decided, if I'm going to die, then I might as well drag you with me!"
Violet-purple flames glowed from her mouth and before Arsenius could even try to shake her off and/or even try to charge up a fire attack of his own...
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Back to Izuku...
"Give Kaachan and Tokoyami back to us!" Izuku demanded, slamming both his feet as hard as he could into the villain, as Shōji and Shōto punched the villain and grabbed him by the neck.
As he had hoped, Ochako's float made it possible for the three of them to be light and with Asui's throw, they were quick enough to catch up to the villain that captured Bakugō and Tokoyami and grab him. And, with him being caught off guard, took the opportunity to hit him at full force.
He was too focused on getting their friends back and putting so much force into his legs, he didn't bother to look up and see three other individuals, villains, are before them.
"Wait. I know these kids! Who are they?" One said to another, which sounded like a girl giggling a bit.
"Out of the way, Compress." Another male voice said.
The villain underneath them began to glow, and responded to the name he was called by. Compress.
"Got it." He grunted.
Before the three boys could figure out what was going on, a light-blue glow and immediate rise of heat caught their attention.
"That's cold!"
Immediately, all three tried to pull away from the blast of blue-flames.
Shōji was able to dodge the attack with ease. But Izuku, being on top of the villain and in the middle, thus being in the path of the flames, could only pull back.
...Thus, resulting his severely bad arm to be caught in the flame.
...And, alongside, Shōji's bulky form became a hindrance to dodge and left-arm and extra appendages ended up being burnt.
Izuku let out a yell of a roar.
"My arms are burning!" Shōji yelled, unable to handle the heat like Izuku.
"Midoriya! Shōji!" Todoroki cried out, covering his face with his left-arm from the flames.
Before he could try and do something to help his friends, he noticed a figure coming for him.
"The beat-up little boy and you. You're on Shigaraki's kill list! No, they weren't!" The figure, a villain, declared, pulling something from his wrist.
It was something long and shiny, but Shōto didn't stop to figure out what it was and slammed his foot into the ground. Summoning ice at the villains way.
"So hot!" The villain yelled, pulling back to use his feet to push himself away from the attack.
As Izuku recovered himself from the flame, something shiny shot straight for him and quickly pulled his head aside.
Was that a syringe?!
It came from a blonde-haired girl, seeming to wear a school uniform with something metallic connected to her back.
"Hi, Izuku! My name's Toga!" She cried, running towards him.
Because of the flame that burnt his right-arm and pain coursing through his body, Izuku couldn't move fast enough to dodge and found himself on the ground, pinned by the girl... Who's smiling, and blushing like crazy?
"I've been thinking since I saw you..."
His eyes grew wide, as she pulled out a knife.
"That you'd be so much cuter if you just bled a little more! I can help!"
Fuck! This bitch is a psycho!
She brought down the knife towards his neck... Only to be pulled off and tossed to the side by Shōji.
"Midoriya!" He yelled, crouching beside him and ready to guard his friend, as they watch the girl, without much effort, shift her body and land on her feet, in a crouching position.
"So, that's how it is." She whispered, her cheerful voice gone. "You want to come between us? To be honest, you're not really my type. -Her yellow-eyes went all dark... Ready to murder.- But i'll cut you, anyway."
Izuku sat up, trying to get his body to comply.
"She's crazy." Shōji hissed, keeping his burned left-arm over Izuku.
While that was going on and Todoroki focus on the villain, who was able to dodge and cut at his ice with his choice of weapon, Shōji saw the villain that they'd attacked pop out from the crater and head over to the one that burnt him and Izuku.
And seeing him digging into his pocket, the tallest-student knew that it was time for them to leave.
"Midoriya. Todoroki. We're done!" He announced, glaring at the villain, Compress. "He gave away his best trick. I'm not sure what your Quirk is, but it had to do with those little marbles, right? -He got up to his feet... And, held up two marble-like objects in his hand.- the ones you'd stashed in your pocket. So, I'm guessing these are tokoyami and Bakugō."
Relief spread on Izuku's tired face.
"You rescued them!" He proclaimed, as his friend helped him to his feet and the two began to take off running.
"Good work, Shōji!" Todoroki cried, building an ice-wall to defend himself from his opponent and ran with his friends.
As they ran, something felt rather off to Izuku. Something not right.
Wait a sec, Kid. Why aren't they trying to stop you from taking them? Let alone, attack you from behind? And why did that villain commented Shōji on taking the marbles?
Antiphonus' words quickly came when, as they neared the trees, a figure came walking out from the shadows.
...And, to his horror, saw it to being a Nomu.
"A Nomu!" He told his friends, knowing that they're not in any proper condition to take it on. And in the forest, Shōto can't use his Fire-Quirk.
"Quick, this way!" Todoroki said, taking the lead and having them take an immediate left-turn.
...
...
...Only for all of them to stop in their tracks when a sudden burst of shadows popped out of nowhere.
...
...
...And, seeing it take a familiar form but the same glowing yellow-eyes, the three recognized that it wasn't some any random shadow.
"Not this guy." Shōji hissed.
"He was at the U.S.J." Shōto replied.
"The Warp Villain." Izuku whimpered, paling at his appearance.
"It's been five minutes since the signal." The giant shadow informed the villains, summoning smaller shadow warp-gates to where the four are located. "Let's go, Dabi."
The girl, Toga, was the first to leave.
"Sorry, Izuku. But I'll see you later, 'kay?" She waved goodbye, as she vanished into the warp-gate.
Shōto's opponent didn't make any comment and jumped through his.
"Hold on." The blue-flame villain, Dabi, replied. "We're not leavin' without the kid, and we don't know if Arsenius has the girl ready."
From behind him, Compress stopped in his tracks.
"Don't worry." He told his comrade. "They were so proud of themselves for rooting through my pockets, that I thought I'd let them gloat."
The cold, chilling feeling shot through Izuku's back, as they all turned to the villain.
"But allow me to explain a basic tenant of magic. -He reached for his mask, removing it from his face.- If I'm flaunting something shiny, it's because there's something else I don't want you to see."
And seeing only his eyes and mouth uncovered by a black ski-mask... They saw something, indeed, shiny show up on his tongue... Two shiny somethings, in fact.
Them being the same marbles that Shōji has in his hands... But, unlike Shōji's, these two showed Tokoyami and Bakugō.
Izuku's heart hammered in his chest, seeing that they didn't succeeded at saving their friends.
"He's got them!" He and Todoroki cried out.
And to further prove his point, with a snack of Compress' fingers, the marbles in Shōji's hands glowed... And, to their shock, revealed to being parts of Shōto's ice.
"Is that my ice?" He cried, not knowing how or when he did it.
"That's right." Compress confirmed, smirking at the teens. "During the freezing attack, I prepared dummies and slipped them into my right pocket."
Revealing what occurred earlier in the woods and that time isn't on their side, Izuku forced his body to run.
"Damn it!" He cursed, charging as fast as his injured body would allow him to. Both Shōji and Shōto both followed suit.
So, that's why he's called Compress. His Quirk allows him to compress and hold things. He's going to be difficult to figure out.
'We don't have time to come up with a plan. We have to stop them, before they go through the warp gate!'
"A little bit of misdirection." Compress stated, putting his mask back on his face and slowly backing up into the warp gate. "Forgive me. I do so adore a twist ending."
The three boys tried to run faster, but they all knew that they wouldn't be able to reach them in time.
"You can't do this!" Izuku yelled, trying to tap into his Quirk to put more speed into his stride.
Compress then bowed the top-half of his body.
"One last bow." He said, as he slowly went into the warp gate. "And then the curtain fal-"
Something shiny and blue shot straight at his face, breaking his mask.
...Coming from the bushes.
Izuku, Shōto and Shōji turned to where the beam was coming from and saw, to their shock, it being their classmate: Aoyama.
"Aoyama?" Izuku called out, never noticing that he was there.
Compress was so stunned from the sudden attack, and that some shards of the mask cut into his face, he ended up spatting out the two marbles out of his mouth.
Releasing their trapped friends.
Shōto and Shōji both extended a hand out for the two marbles.
...
...Izuku, however, with both his arms bound and splinted and pushing his injured body to its limit, felt his right-arm pulse in pain and collapsing to the ground.
Shōji was able to grab for one of the marbles.
...
Todoroki had his within range...
...
...Only for it to be snatched away from Dabi.
"Well, isn't that a tragedy." The villain said, grinning proudly as the boy passed him. "...Poor little Shōto Todoroki."
Todoroki couldn't catch himself on time when he heard the last thing the villain just said to him, slamming into the ground.
Seeing that Shōto failed to grab one of the marbles, Izuku tried to get back on his feet, but his body is in so much pain and that he couldn't move.
'Come on! Move, damn it!' He thought, wincing from the pain in his right-arm. 'I gotta help save my friends. I need to go save my sister!'
Rooooooaaaaaaaarrrrrr! *Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech!*
From behind him and coming from the air, Izuku turned his head to look up... And, his eyes widened at the sight.
There, in the air, coming straight down at very high speed, a white-dragon came... It being Sierra, covered in scratch-marks, burns and bleeding.
But very much real... And very much pissed.
Izuku's breathing quivered in his throat.
"Sis...!" He cried, getting on his knees and shifting to face her. "Stop!"
The two villains, also, saw the white-dragon, coming their way and not showing any signs on slowing down.
...
...
...And Dabi smirked up at the creature.
"Confirm it now. release them." He told Compress, who had his hat covering his face.
"That laser ruined my finale." Compress grumbled, backing into the warp gate until only his outstretched hand remained present.
And, like before, with a snap of his fingers, the two marbles glowed.
The one in Shōji's hand glowed and raised in the air, then grew bigger and died down... Revealing to being a stunned Tokoyami.
...
...
...Meaning, as the second marble died down, the one in Dabi's hold is a just as stunned Bakugō.
As soon as he was fully free from his imprisonment, Dabi grabbed for his neck. He smirked at the teens.
"Checkmate. Heh." He smirked, as he started to back into the warp gate. With Bakugō in tow.
He then looked up, seeing the dragon extended her claws out. Ready to either grab Bakugō, or to attack him.
Izuku was filled with rage and terror, watching his friend being pulled into the warp gate... And, to further add on to his fear and turn it into terror, watches as his sister nears the warp gate.
"Kaachan! Sis, no!" He cried, as Bakugō vanishes into the warp gate.
...
...
...And, his sister entering the warp gate.
"SIS!"
...
...
...Before his very eyes, Sierra's dragon-form vanished within the void of the warp gate. And as soon as she went through, the shadow swallowed in on itself.
One sentence popped into his mind. One that would haunt him for the rest of his life, and tell of his failure, as a brother.
'...I'm sorry, Izu...'
...
...
...
...And like that, she disappeared, before his very eyes.
He gaped in horror, as tears formed and spilled from his eyes and trailed down his cheeks.
The terror, the anguish he feels can be seen in his eyes. Not wanting to believe what just happened.
In front of him, Shōto, Shōji and Tokoyami were just as horrified at what they've just witnessed, as the blue-flames continued to consume the trees around them.
The sixteen year-old boy tried to contact her through their bond. Through Antiphonus... Through anything.
'Sis?! Sis! SIS?! SIS!'
All he was met with, was silence.
'SIS! ANSWER ME! SIS!'
...I'm sorry, Kid... They got her...
When the Black-blood apologized to him, confirming that she can't speak to him... That they now have her, along with Bakugō.
...
...
...He let out a mighty scream, that rivaled the roaring flames.
A scream that can make the very stones tremble and split into two, as his own heart seems to be doing right now.
...
...
A roar that many animals from far distances can make out that a Blood-Bond Kin had lost his pack-mate.
...
...
...
A cry that if the other students heard, they would know that it was a signal that the nightmare was real.
...
...
...
...
And as he screamed out the chaos, the sorrow, the wrath and the terror of his very soul, he knew that another would soon learn of his failure as a teacher. A hero... A father.
...
...
...And when Shōta Aizawa, Eraser Head, would find them, all standing over a grieving, wailing, screeching Izuku...
He knew he didn't lose two students... He lost a student.
...
...
...And, his daughter.
TBC
...
...
...What more do you want me to say?
After some thinking and contemplating, I've decided to go with this route. I was going to do where she saved him on time and ended up captured in his place, but this... I think this would have a much bigger impact. Especially, in the next chapter.
...
...
...
...
And, yes, people... It's going to get, even more dark.
R&R
