My Hero Academia Perfected Chapter 148: The Perfected Hero, Aksis!, a my hero academia/僕のヒーローアカデミア fanfic

Chapter 148 - The Perfected Hero, Aksis!

A/N: Next Sunday will mark the end of My Hero Academia Perfected. So to all my readers, thank you and enjoy. (*^_^*)

In the dark, a dampness hung in the air, dripping from still pipes as threads of red came to life, burrowing into a long stasis pod suspended from the floor. A small console sat off to the side, a pile of rubble stacked behind it as a voice came through.

-PRE-RECORDED MESSAGE BEGINS...-

~All criteria have been met. In the event of collapse, this message shall be played. Soon, my final project...~ Kovik's tone was cold and apathetic for a time.

The glass on the front of the pod split at a palm's touch, releasing the cryogenic cloud in the process as a large body fell to the ground, gasping and heaving for a new breath. A dark orange cape fluttering against its back.

~The Kell Slayer, Follower of Sekris. When you awaken, hunt down the False Kell of House Devils~

Dug into the sockets of the marron helmet, several orange eyes blared to life with a growl.

~Kill Her~

-PRE-RECORDED MESSAGE ENDS...-

[Several Months Prior]

"That's everything!" Hatsume grinned as she dusted off her hands, stains from her own work peppering her face. "Anything you need Power Loader can provide!"

Yuki smiled back at Hatsume. "Thank you so much for helping me get set-up, I know you're often busy and-"

Hatsume was already watching away briskly with a grin, "Nothing some elbow grease can't solve in an hour! Just leave it to me and my babies!"

"Eh... sure, thanks again," Yuki sweat dropped as the girl practically disappeared from view. Closing the door behind her, Yuki turned with the camera in her hands. "No time like the present then."

After a few adjustments, she hit 'Record'.

"Okay, this is Log Zero-Zero-Zero," Yuki stared at the camera before her, patting her hips before waving. "Hi, ahem, my name is Yuki Hiroshi Azuru, I'm part of Class 2A of UA's Hero Course, and this will be my logs of my various tests involving the last active cluster of SIVA, my quirk before it was destroyed," Her eyes flashed with sorrow for a time. "With that in mind, I won't be keeping a video record of my findings for confidential reasons but rather the tests that follow. So for now, Yuki Azuru, signing off."

She hit the button, sighing to herself in the empty room. It was a medium-sized workshop for her and her alone. Power Loader had built it for her to safely experiment with the SIVA cluster in private, only the Principle and those given both his and Yuki's consent were allowed inside at any time. It was loaded with everything from tools, machinery, equipment, materials, and even scraped projects from Support Study students, Hatsume being Yuki's biggest donor.

"This is it, Siva," Yuki stared at the cluster glowing in its vice, the centerpiece set behind the camera she put away. She had her training under Silvis, the memories of Aksis, now, she only needed to start from the ground up. "Let's get this started..." She picked up a notebook, found her chair, and quickly got to jotting down everything she could think of. One step at a time, she'd bring SIVA back from nothing.

"Test Zero-Zero-One, here goes nothing," Shrugging, Yuki set the clapperboard as she pressed a button located on the gauntlet she used in conjunction with Izuku's to once merge. Now, it had become her primary way to connect to SIVA until she could bond to it again. "In order to integrate SIVA back into my body, I need the nanomachines to reach to me as a source, so, to do that, my blood's been introduced to the cluster, just as it was when first bonded to me," She then patted her chest. "Since dormant nanites exist in my body that also helps as a catalyst, with that said..."

The cluster pulsed, and she smiled before an ear-piercing tone shot through the lab, causing her to clutch her ears in shock. "Ow-ow-ow! Okay, offline, offline!" She pressed both the button again and something off camera, and the recording stopped soon after.

"Test Zero-Zero-Seven," It was night-time when Yuki sat back on her chair as the cluster glowed brighter.

The camera flickered, and in seconds she was forced to duck behind her chair to avoid several stray plasma shots that ricochet off the walls, knocking down a monitor and scattering tools across the ground as she frantically ran to the cluster.

"Turn off~!" She screamed, slapping something before she fell to the ground, smoke rising from several sources of the blasts. "Ugh... typical, heat radiators are still active... noted..."

One night, Izuku arrived back in his room to find the desk light was still on. When he walked further he saw why and smiled. Yuki was completely passed out at the desk, snoring softly with her notebooks scattered around with homework and assignments. He pulled the one out from under her cheek to scan her work. His brow shot up, "She's completed all of it in one sitting...?" It was one in the morning on a Saturday, and he said they'd go out on a date later that day. His chest filled with warmth as he set the book aside. "Yuki..."

"Mm..." She was muttering something as he leaned down to hear. "...build you... I'll fix... it... siva..." If Izuku was upset he didn't show it. Yuki had been working tirelessly to rebuild SIVA, but... he wasn't sure what she was expecting to find when she did. Maybe a fragment of the Archon was still there, dormant like the nanites inside her. Maybe, he truly was gone forever. But Izuku couldn't bring himself to ask her that, not until she was ready.

Picking her up bridal style, he carefully set her down on his bed, pulling the sheet over her as she squirmed into a better posture, smiling to herself. Leaning down, he kissed her forehead, combing a hand through her hair before getting up to get himself ready for bed too.

"Test Zero-Two-Zero," Yuki shook off the lack of caffeine in her body, slapping her cheeks before starting up the program again. There was a humming sound, and slowly, her once tired state shook it off for a wide smile. "Ah-hah! Yes, it's working, I knew it!"

The metal offered on a desk was devoured, causing red wires to suddenly strike into the ceiling as a node began to form without any sign of nanites. This made her panic, pressing the button on the gauntlet in time to shut everything down, and she grunted. "Well... at least it's duplicating, guess you were hungry after two months, eh, Siva?" She smirked slightly, then looked around at the now consumed metal leaving only a dead node and wires strewn above her head. "I think Power Loader's gonna kill me this time..."

"This is test, uh... Zero-Three-Three..." Tossing the board aside, Yuki just started up her experiment. Only this time the lights in the lab and beyond shut off, bathing her and others in darkness.

A few seconds later, she procured a flashlight, looking around until she found the camera and cluster. With a heavy sigh, she tapped her forehead. "I'm not done yet... hear me? This will work, Siva, it has to..." Shaking her head, she fiddled with something out of view. "Back to it then,"

Several Months Later...

Early into third year, Yuki sat spinning on her office chair while on the phone. "You said an 'unknown transmission'?" She pulled a weird face as her caller exhaled something under his breath.

~We're not sure, Burnin' has us scoping out the area for the source, but... it's the same signal for the others~ Izuku replied, as confused as she was. ~Kirishima, Uraraka, Kyoka, all of them are saying the same thing, but no one can locate the source~

There was something brewing in Yuki's stomach, even if she had bags under her eyes and felt like she could sleep for a week, she found herself tapping her mask anxiously. "Are you sure you don't need my help? I get it, I can't do Work Studies in my current state, I know," She rolled her eyes, knowing this was an argument they've had a few times. "But I can help, I think you and I both know a quirk isn't needed in that regard,"

~Yuki, I don't - you should focus on completing SIVA, right now, that's your mission~ He reassured her, then spoke softer. ~But Yuki? What if... nothing changes? If you find out Siva isn't... there anymore?~

Her lips pursed, she didn't want to answer that. She knew he was right, Izuku wouldn't hate her for feeling this way, in fact, he never argued with her and only wanted her to be prepared for the worst. But a piece of Yuki couldn't agree to that, it refused to believe Siva wasn't still in there. She had to know the truth, what kind of Kell did that make her if she didn't explore every avenue?

"I'll be okay," She lied, he knew she was lying. "And say, you mentioned before you were gonna ask me something once I got SIVA back up and running, care to give your awesome girlfriend a tip?"

~You know I can't do that, you'll see through me instantly~ She scoffed at his honest answer. He had a point. Merging constantly when she had SIVA left more than a few impressions on both of them, and as much as Yuki loved Izuku, he was awful at trying to hide anything, mostly if it were for a good cause, his tells were far too obvious compared to everyone else. ~But I promise I'll tell you as soon as-~

"As soon as I rebuild SIVA, yadda-yadda-yadda; stop being adorable and go see your adoring fans," Yuki cheekily laughed after hearing him sigh dramatically. Izuku's fame was only continuing to grow, and he found it a little overbearing at times. "You be careful anyhow, I swear, you end up in hospital more often than me,"

Izuku chuckled at that, ~I promise, and good luck, let us know if anything changes, okay? And I'll see you later~

"Of course, love," She giggled, "Love you,"

~Love you too, Yuki~ With a cheesy send off that left both partners flustered and happy, Yuki sat her phone down and spun around to the cluster before her. The lab was in shambles now, notes, diagrams, scars from failed test runs, and dead nanomachines and nodes piled in one corner.

The whole of Second Year passed Yuki in a blur, if she wasn't training to complete her Hero Course, despite the overwhelming popularity of herself, Izuku, and many of her friends, and working on the development of SIVA, she would assume her head might spin off her shoulders. It took so much time and effort that Yuki was worried if she'd ever complete SIVA before graduation at the end of the school year... but she held firm and didn't let a moment slip by.

"Hatsume, Izuku, Power Loader, thank you for your support," She gave a soft prayer to them, then tapped her mask twice. "I hope you're watching, Dren, Tekres."

Flicking on the camera, Yuki sighed as she picked up her clapperboard scribbled with several crossed out number in chalk. "Test One-Zero-Three-" Sher irked, glancing at the board. "-One-Zero-Four, let's get this over with..." Setting the board aside she started up the new program. Unlike with the one Aksis first initiated, this one was what saved her, and awakened Siva's soul buried inside SIVA. One that worked for Yuki, and Yuki alone. "Ahem... Confirm Command; Adapt. Enhance. Protect!"

The cluster for the millionth time resounded at her words, the gauntlet no longer needed as Yuki closed her eyes, expecting another explosion, a blackout, perhaps some fire? Nothing, the buzz of nanites in the air was starting to grow. She felt sweat crawl down her face, listening before she opened her eyes. What she saw... it made her heartbeat echo. "I... I can see it..." The waves of red flowing out from the blue cluster's form, it brought life to the wiring suspended above, it resonated with the node tucked in the corner as small specks of red bubbled to life from the holes in the black shell. Life born from code and steel ebbed and flowed all around her... straight into her fingertips. "I... I did it... haha... ahahahahaha! I-I actually did it! Yes! Whooohooo~!"

She threw her fist high, doing a stupid twirl and dance. "I'm a freakin' Splicer through and through! Let's goooo!" Clapping to herself, Yuki stopped the recording entirely, feeling her veins fill with a warmth she never realized she missed. That sensation in her blood and straight through to her bones as an old faint HUD came into view on her right eye. It was one-thirty in the afternoon, and it was a mildly cloudy day with a humidity suitable for Spring.

But before she could issue a command, she ran to the edge of the table stationed for the cluster with the biggest smile and widest eyes. "Siva!?" She gave a pregnant pause, but nothing came through. "Come on, just wake up..." Nothing. Only the sensation of her nanomachines weaving through the air and her body. By now, her fingers were taut at the edges of the desk, and her lip started to tremble with an awful lump in her throat. "C-Come on! Say something already!? ...please..."

Nothing.

The last of her strength gave in, and Yuki fell to her knees, staring hopelessly at the cluster she now held in her hands, bringing it close to her chest. "Please... please Siva..." She croaked. "...I can't do this without you..."

Her tears were starting to form before light fizzled into the room, a faint, flickering image standing before her. Yuki gasped, her eyes wide at the very form of the Archon who she fought with for so many years. Siva stood there, but... he wasn't there, and his words made her heart clench with more pain than she could imagine. ~If this message has been seen... then... you've done it, you've recreated SIVA from this one living spark~ He sounded proud as he spoke. ~I knew if any human could accomplish this, it would be you, Yuki~

"..." She bowed her head, sniffing to hold back her tears. She felt like such an idiot, the biggest one in the world. Izuku tried to warn her, tried to ease her into a reality that was a pitfall... but she didn't listen, she refused to accept that Siva was truly gone, she was alone in her head again with only her thoughts.

~If you're seeing this, then I am gone, a situation I know you'd do everything to deny, I sometimes forget you are still a hatchling despite your accomplishments~ Siva replied as if he knew what she was thinking, he did always like to imagine the scenarios she had written in her spare time to clear her head. She no longer did that but Siva did all the time. ~If there was ever a moment for you to listen, please, let that be now while I have this chance~

Resisting the urge to curl up and forget everything, Yuki raised her head, eyes reddened by her tears. ~I doubt I will have the time to properly give you these words at the time of my death, so, I shall conclude my thoughts here~ He took a breath, then looked straight at Yuki with those blue eyes. ~When I came into this world, I was just a collection of memories and a consciousness that was infused to SIVA, I was a drone, my identity supressed... and then I met you, the human I had accidently contaminated, and later, chose to be my host, logically out of preservation~

~But with you, my personality slowly took form, I began to feel emotion again, to make memories, to be more than the monster I had become to my own people, more than the machine I am now. All because I saw your heart, I saw myself in you~ Siva explained. ~I watched as you wandered the country, lost and afraid. I watched as you bonded with Akame and All Might, then you met Izuku; your friendship as it became more, the people you connected with, friend and foe alike. I saw your struggles, your highs and lows as you stumbled in search of who you are, to be worthy of something~

He knelt down to her as tears rolled down her face, shivering as she hiccupped slightly, ~You are worthy of my name, of the title of Kell of House Devils in this realm, I know that Silviskel would accept you, that my brothers and sisters would accept you. You are more than some lucky or blessed human, you are the woman that I have had the honour to raise into the hero you are now. Don't feel regret that I am gone, don't feel this is your doing. Every story has its end... this is mine~

His holographic hand moved to brush her cheek, but he couldn't touch it nor her tears, but Yuki brought her hand up to hover just above its projection. "Siva..." She murmured, sniffling his name. "Siva..."

~Remember, control your heart-" Two fingers pressed toward her heart, "-and temper your mind," Then those digits raised to her head. "Yuki Hiroshi Azuru, Kell of House Devils, rise up and fight on~ Siva bowed his head to her. ~I will watch over you in whatever lies beyond this world, beyond this string of code~

The recording flickered and buzzed in a greater frequency. ~Thank you, for giving me a family again... goodbye~

His image disappeared in a light burst of red specks of light, leaving Yuki to curl forward with the cluster now dead in her arms, the very reason it still remained, its purpose had been fulfilled. Yuki sobbed quietly, tears dripping down to the floor as she squeezed her eyes shut.

Yuki wasn't sure how long she sat on the floor, crying to herself, by her eye's count it was just after two in the afternoon. With a ghostly amount of energy, she picked herself up, placing the dead cluster on the desk as she wandered around like a shell, cleaning up her tools and stacking her notes together for safe keeping. But her eyes were devoid of colour, she just felt herself going through the motions. She'd stop and feel a sob escape her lips but soon after she would move again. It was as if she lost her parents again... but now she lost a big brother...

Her fingers caught the edges of a picture frame. She stared at it with misty eyes, it was of her, Nana, and Siva taken during her day of rest after returning to UA with Izuku and the others. Since he could manifest fully, she found it appropriate to get a photo together.

"|I fail to see the reason for this|" Siva protested, being dragged by his cloak by Nana, though with his size it was rather comical to see her try. "|I rather not|"

"Stop being picky! It's one photo!" Nana pouted.

"He doesn't like having his picture taken, that's why," Yuki giggled, rolling her eyes at the Archon, "The big, tough, scary Splicer is camera shy,"

"|...that is a low blow|" He grumbled, and reluctantly followed Nana.

Before long, Nana had her arms around Siva's shoulders, her head poking up above his right while he cocked his head slightly, eyes narrowed slightly with bemusement and awkwardness. Yuki stood to his left hip, arm around his waist with a cheesy grin. "Okay, fire when ready, Shoto!"

"|Please...|," Siva sighed.

"Alright," He lined up the shot of the trio, "On 'Three'. One... Two... Three."

Yuki felt a tiny laugh escape her at the memory, she had dozens of photos of Siva. Now, it was all that was left. Her heart was aching and her body felt so exhausted despite the rejuvenation SIVA gave her. Those were his last words, the final time she'd hear anything new from his voice, now... he really was gone. Yuki sat down, hanging her head as she stared at the picture frame in her hand. He called her a 'Kell', a title that was given to the Eliksni that were truly strong, intelligent, courageous, and fair.

Often Houses' Kells were ruthless but Silvis was the one that Yuki had met who lived up to the identity left imprinted by Siva, and to be called something so proud and noble... Yuki felt so small. How can she be someone that lives up to that name? Like Aksis? Someone that great, that fearless, that... selfless...

She stared at the photo, feeling her fingers crease at her own stupid reflection. Her eyes were still reddened, and streaks lined her cheeks. Sniffing, she stood up to place the photo back where it belonged. "I guess... I can only try," She felt that was the right answer. It stung more than she could imagine... but she can't let this be how his memory ends. Siva gave everything for her and her friends to live another day. To that end, she would live for his memory.

As she slowly started to gather herself, the TV hung from the wall to her left had flicked to a new channel, SIVA's resurgence had caused it to power on, and now, it was detailing a villain attack somewhere in Japan. What Yuki saw made her skin ice cold, and her heart stop with a sharp gasp. ~-heroes on the scene are struggling against this unknown threat. It... It looks much like a Fallen?~

The rest of the report became distant, Yuki turned away, and her eyes hardened as her mask slipped over her face, the optics sharpened as she took off running, leaving her private workshop behind.

On site of the villain attack, Izuku dove back as he threshed two blackwhips to grab the edges of the buildings either side of him. With them taut, he flung himself forward into the wide courtyard, "St. Louis Smash!" His leg swung and struck against the large scorch cannon in the villain's hands only for one of the lower arms to snake up and grab his ankle, flinging him aside and into the line of fire from the weapon. Two burning blasts tore through the air, with a flick from his fingers, Delaware Smash blasted the orbs into cinders, Izuku feet skidding across the tarmac of the wide plaza.

"I've got him distracted, how's the evacuation going!?" He called, diving into the air to float and evade the blasts that followed.

~Nearly complete, most nearby buildings have been evacuated~ Shoto relayed.

~Move it, Deku!~ Katsuki growled and in a split second, he shifted his posture as Katsuki blasted past, bringing both hands around to fling a wide wall of thermal energy in the villain's face. But one burst of white vapour and it easily evaded the attack.

"This guy's smarter than he looks!" Izuku glared down, compressing kinetic energy into his legs.

"No shit he is!" Katsuki snapped, propelling himself away as the energy within the scorch cannon turned electric blue. From the muzzle, three mines shot forth, creating a net just under Katsuki's feet as he narrowly avoided the cage of lightning as it exploded soon after. Another winding charge, and the core was now a deep purple. "His cannon can switch between ammo types too, what the hell is he!?" Katsuki had seen a scorch cannon plenty of times, but this was beyond a simple rocket launcher.

Stepping through his own destruction, the figure none thought they'd ever live long enough to see again emerged like a dark omen of their recent past. Layered in carbon black barding with maroon plating. His tower was as large as Kovik's, with four cybernetic arms, two of which clutched his cannon. His cloak was red with strange orange circles of a banner none have seen before, a sash wrapped around his groin bearing the same colours. His helmet was rounded from the sides of his head and another against his crown, prongs, and tubing feeding into his mask which lit up with two sets of four orange eyes. A Fallen stood before them.

" #?&% $£ "*; £(^ !" He bellowed in his native tongue, a laugh escaping him as his taunt drew Katsuki back in for more, only this time Izuku rushed in and yanked the blonde away with a whip, saving him from the lilac beam of light that broke down any matter in its path, leaving a burning streak of purple flames in its wake across the street and up the side of a building.

"We need a better plan, Dynamight!" He tried to persuade Katsuki who landed next to him, scoffing at the idea... but what other choice was there?

"Then figure out a way to beat this freak and destroy his core! If he's like the others, he's got one buried under all that metal!" With his piece said, Katsuki continued his frontal assault, avoiding the deadly beams while blasting the Fallen's blindspots, but much like with NARA, those burns and injuries were slowly closing up. Not at the same proficiency as NARA but it was still a problem given how tactically adept this Fallen was.

"He's not just a mindless copy, he's already picked apart Kacchan's attack patterns, mine too!" What Izuku needed was another variable to help even the odds and overwhelm the Fallen. "Todoroki's busy with evacuations, and we're forced to reduce using any big attacks..." Izuku spared the cornered off streets beyond barriers of ice erected by Shoto. No sign of Burnin' or her team, but people were watching, something that caught Izuku's attention the most.

In the front of the crowd there were two kids. They looked like friends by how they were shadowing Izuku's and Katsuki's attacks, they were yelling something he couldn't hear properly, but Izuku knew this feeling well. The sight of this Fallen has stirred most than its fair share of horrible memories with many they saved during the battle that felt more like a distraction. But that wasn't what Izuku thought of, instead, he just watched how in this fight, they were cheering them on, and they weren't alone. People were watching with bated breaths, they were suspending judgement, some more vocal than others...

"This feeling..." Izuku held a hand close to his heart, then, stood up, smiling back at the two kids whose faces brightened up beyond measure. That's right... he... was fighting for them, for those smiles to stay forevermore. Turning toward the Fallen, it swung its arm, launching arc blasts that erected a wall of blue lightning to corner off Katsuki's approach, forcing him to rise over it. The core of the scorch cannon turned orange, he wanted Katsuki to do so! His eyes burned cyan, white, and purple briefly.

With a burst of speed that left only a gust of wind behind, Izuku slid down onto his knees, releasing a long trail of black smoke as he slid between the Fallen's legs, causing it to growl in annoyance as its sight was blotted out momentarily. It fired into the sky randomly, providing Katsuki a better chance to blast his way through, avoiding the scorch blasts with ease before spinning himself into a flip, his right arm outstretched as it met the edge of the smoke. "Point Blank Stun Grenade!"

The smoke was banished by a bright yellow glow in his palm, then came a large blast directly after, throwing the Fallen backward as his legs were tangled by two blackwhips. He warped to recover but was forced to block with the body of his cannon as Izuku's slammed his right fist from below, nearly disarming the maroon Fallen but his lower right arm caught the cannon, swinging it to smack Izuku across the forearm, but his breastplate and part of the helmet were fractured by the combined attack the two teens put up.

"We need to keep attacking together!" Izuku declared.

"Like I need you to tell me that!" Katsuki barked.

Both faced the approaching Fallen, the energy changed to purple again as it stomped through the smoke, chuckling to himself. "#~[*$"%,# ;*^!" He roared, drawing his scorch cannon forward as the pair dropped into a stance, prepared to evade and counter before more of the street was destroyed.

The sky flashed deep vermillion, casting a burning ray of light across the street as the beam split through the lower right arm. A second followed, but was intercepted by an equally strong blast from the cannon, leaving a small plume of purple and red smoke between the pair. The air was still, only a faint murmur from the crowd as the new arrival stepped forward, lowering their hand.

Katsuki's eyes grew impossibly wide, almost bewildered by what he saw. Izuku felt his heart pound in his chest, the person leaving him speechless as they stepped before both the heroes, the Fallen, and those watching from the live broadcast at the debut well overdue. "This nightmare's over... right now," Yuki opened her eyes, the malice and focus going hand in hand as her eyes caught the sunlight. "Taniks."

"|Kell of Devils, finally you come to me!|" She understood his language well, eyes narrowed as he taunted her to come closer. "|Will enjoy peeling the skin off another Kell!|"

"I won't let you hurt anyone else," She withdrew both Quickfangs, and the air around her grew hotter, a red blur of nanomachines surrounding her form again like a breath of fresh air. "Nothing will hold be back. I know who I am!"

"|And what is that?|" He demanded, keeping his grip on the cannon tight.

"A Kell," Without another moment wasted on small talk, Yuki charged straight at Taniks as he opened fire, releasing shorter streams of Void energy. They tore up the ground where Yuki once stood, all missing their mark as she warped side to side. Once halfway, her body underwent a staggering transformation before their eyes. Her armour gathered from the legs to her waist, across her arms to her shoulder, shielding her torso and slipping her mask down as it opened two narrow slits for eyes, horns growing from the temple while the twin tails of her red scarf whipped behind her. "Whirlwind Blades!"

She spun twice, unleashing two cyclones of lilac to carve deep lines over Taniks' stomach. He stomped the ground, missing her as debris was flung in every direction. Yuki swept the debris with her blades, same for the Solar blasts that followed as smoke gathered around her. Taniks rushed the smoke, stomping down on air as Yuki lifted into the sky, the metal from a destroyed car swirling around her as they formed a pair of silver wings, bellowing red energy as she swung wide and around into a nose-dive.

"Valorgod - Faux Ruby Star!" With a jarring boost to her velocity, Yuki slammed the tips of her blades into Taniks only to meet two blasts of Solar energy, forcing her backward from the halos of orange and red between them. "Now!"

Taniks had taken all his attention off the two behind him as several blackwhips tugged on his arms and legs, dragging him down slightly to be bombarded by several smaller blasts from above, the ground took a beating but so did the mercenary as he roared his frustrations, planting his cannon into the earth to blast it to pieces, the shockwave dispelled the whips binding his legs. He yanked his shoulders forward, reaching out to grab Izuku only for a sharp slash from above to sever the hand in a reddish-purple arc of light, a whip then pulled Yuki back and into Izuku's arms.

They floated backward while Katsuki laid out suppressing fire. "Yuki! You... you.." He hadn't the words.

"Yeah... it worked..." She sounded mournful, expression hidden due to her mask's narrowed eyes, but he could hear it in her tone. Her hands on his arm and shoulder gripped tighter. "I'm just glad I could help when I had the chance."

"I'm sorry..." He whispered as they landed near the crowd, but she shook her head, staring toward Taniks.

"Siva... let's finish what he started," Her fist held onto her sword, but Izuku accepted the gesture, knuckling her back.

"Okay, for Siva!" Hearing him say it with such pride made her heart skip. Together, they stood side by side.

Yuki launched into the fray by hopping in front of Izuku, he dove back, kicking his feet against hers to send her flying forward as he landed on all fours, charging straight after her. Taniks swung his cannon, knocking Katsuki against the side of a building as he grunted, glaring down with a sharp grin. Taniks raised his weapon only to swivel around and unleash a flying net of Arc in the form of a electrical cage. "SIVA. Full-Body Augment-" In a haze of red, the netting shattered as a cannon swung through the red and black. "-VOSIK!"

The arm-cannon fired its own payloads, blasting apart the solar blasts that connected in the air. Yuki swung it wide, striking Taniks' side while jabbing him with a right cross over the cheek. Taniks returned his own jabs, warping to grab the cannon by the shoulder and elbow, snapping and tearing the weapon from Yuki's arm before spinning to smash it across her arachnid mask. Yuki flinched but recovered in time to leap back, throwing the shell toward Taniks to explode outward, pushing into Izuku's screaming fist.

"Wyoming Smash!" He spiked the top of Taniks' head, splitting it down the middle while grabbing the base of the helmet and twirling himself over the wide swing of the cannon that spewed a line of void plasma across the street. Katsuki grabbed Izuku's leg, flinging him up and over his head with two precise blasts, launching the greenette down on Taniks' body with a sharp heel kick, two blackwhips extended beyond the Fallen. "Faux 100% Manchester Smash!" The blow fissured the earth and left a crackle of lightning in the air. "Smokescreen - Burst!" The lilac plume released from his open palm shrouded Taniks' face, leaving him wide open to a burning glare from both of Yuki's hands.

"Devils Ruin!" The beams scorched through the Fallen's abdomen, tossing him toward the junction for all to see his battered, crumbling body. Yuki gasped, seeing him level his weapon at the civilians. "Dynamight! Deku!"

The pair closed the gap in time, kicking two blasts skyward simultaneously before pointing their right arms forward. "Delaware Air Force!/AP Shot!" Two more solar blast were reduced to embers before their eyes.

"Perfected Burst!" Yuki battered Taniks' electrical barrier as it nearly caught her legs, drawing the mercenary toward her as she shook off a few injuries from the trap set for her. The glow on parts of her body replacing what was lost. She wasn't about to fall, not after coming so far! Not after falling behind for months, she had so much left to catch up on, so much she had to prove as Siva's... no... as Aksis's successor, to the world who she was!

"|You command a dead thing's legacy, a false Devil|" Despite his state, Taniks found the strength to taunt and prod at her wounded heart, making her freeze stiff. "|Without it, you are weak, a puny little thing between my claws|" He chuckled, aiming his cannon as it infused all elements into one awful mesh that bled from the wounds in his scorch cannon. "|Who are you without Aksis to haunt you now, lonely Kell?|"

Yuki stood still, almost as if the world would open up and swallow her whole. But, two ghostly hands grabbed her shoulders, reassuring her to take that step with a light pat. Her breath hitched, glancing back behind her mask only to find nothing there. But she smiled, bringing her head forward with Quickfangs drawn down at her sides. "Time to find out," She shook off her thoughts and ran forward without looking back.

From the depths of the augmented scorch cannon, a horrendous amalgamation of colours and elements merged and vomited from the weapon, bleeding a tidal wave of explosive mortars that on contact with the ground exploded like arc mines, small stray beams of void flinging in every direction like shrapnel. Yuki didn't halt once, slashing through the beams and ignoring the ones that dug into her body, she kept running forward. Releasing a war cry that even put Taniks on edge, his shots became frantic, trying to halt her approach but she simply refused to hesitate, carving her path through the hellfire, two lasers refracting as they tore diagonal lines across her mask, shattering it to reveal her penetrating gaze, the likes that dug deep into the soul of whomever she stared toward.

"Stone Slash!" She swung her left arm backward, then flung her blade like a spear, piercing the muzzle of the scorch cannon, causing the energy to implode and eventually tear through itself, stripping away Taniks' remaining arms with ease, leaving them as shredded stumps. He stumbled, cursing wildly before bounding toward Yuki to crush her with his foot. A flurry of red nanites flickered by, and the long shaft of Quickfang was plunged through his face and out the scalp.

Yuki dove onto his head, dragging the blade up and toward the top of his head with a scream, she twisted her grip, dropping down to the ground as she unleashed a final Whirlwind Blade, causing the energy stored within her blade to released, carving a massive crescent through the rest of his head and toward the sky, splitting Taniks' head in two as the lingering NARA nanites were consumed by SIVA, the rest left to crumble with the corpse behind her as Yuki stood slowly, panting madly.

She picked up her missing Quickfang, and with a small twirl, sheathed them on her back with a satisfied 'click'. "Mission Accomplished." Brushing her bangs back with a small smile, a new mask materialized across her right temple. "Good riddance, Taniks the Scarred." Brushing off the former surviving member of the House of Scar, she wandered over to both Katsuki and Izuku, as well as the roaring crowd not far away.

Tugging on her scarf, Yuki's smile became solemn, raising her left fist to bump the air beside her, even though there was nothing there, she could imagine a large knuckle glide against her own, the towering stature of a Splicer walking the other way, the weight of Yuki's mantle passing on permanently to her shoulders. It felt.. .right. "I can walk now, Siva, you can rest, I'll... I'll be fine," She found great comfort in that thought. Maybe... she would be okay without him now. "...thank you,"

By the time Burnin's squad had shown up after following their own transmission, which, after checking with all other false signals, turned out to be blanks in the middle of nowhere as a diversion to bring Yuki straight to Taniks with little support, hoping she would be powerless, unfortunately, the mercenary had underestimated both her and the Work Studies he had attacked. Yuki sat atop one of the buildings to escape the constant barrage of questions both civilians and media hounded her, Izuku, Shoto, and Katsuki with, the latter still down there yelling with Burnin' giving the Hero Duo time to chat alone.

Yuki swung her legs off the side as she watched the scene below with playful eyes. "Now then, Zuzu," He sat up straight at his nickname and the curious look she gave him with that all-knowing smile. "Seems I've held up my end of the bargain, soooo..." Trailing as she played with a small swarm of red nanites in one hand, furrowly enjoying this feeling again.

With a sigh, Izuku nodded. "Right, that's fair I guess... it's not really anything big - well it is - more-so a... future development," He muttered, and by now, he had her complete attention.

"Izuku? Is this about, um... you know...?" Her finger subconsciously rubbed her promise ring, causing him to notice and panic with a furious red blush.

"No-no! N-not that I wouldn't! T-This is different, I swear!" He quickly assured her, neither felt like that was needed when they were still in high school, or even after the fact. Hearing this both elevated Yuki's heart, and gave her a moment to exhale again.

"Sorry, jumping to conclusions," She apologized but he just shook his head, the blood leaving his cheeks again.

"I-It's okay, I know what you mean," Back to his point, he cleared his throat. "What I was going to ask is about our future after we graduate, I mean, we've wanted to create our own agency, but this is before that... after I come back,"

Now it was Yuki's turn to look bewildered, staring at him the longest time. "What... do you mean?"

"I'm thinking of going to work overseas, All Might said it would be a massive opportunity, not just to broaden my skills but my connections too," He explained, playing with his hands anxiously without meeting her gaze. This was a hard choice to make, but Yuki had every right to know, this was not just about his career but their relationship, one he didn't want to strain or even break because of it. "He said it would be for roughly two to three years, depending on if I travel to other countries aside from the likes of the UK or the US like he did in his early career,"

"I... see," Yuki had to find her voice, hands pressed to her lap say for one that tapped her mask out of habit. "I mean, wow, that's... that's a huge opportunity. The amount of heroes and new environments you'd work under, not to mention your name would skyrocket in the US after essentially avenging their Symbol, to at the very least earn the respect of Ms. Star's old team," Yuki surprised him with a supportive smile, catching his left hand to squeeze. "Izuku, I'm always going to support you. This dream is as much mine as it is yours, no one said it was an easy road, we certainly have enough evidence to back up that claim."

"Yuki..." How did he even come close to being with someone like her? It must've been a dream, there was no way she was real... and yet, here she was, magnified by the sunlight as the wind caught her hair. "...there's something else," Now, it was his turn to smile supportively. "If you want... All Might said you were more than welcome to come with us, he wanted to extend the offer once he knew you had rebuilt SIVA,"

"I... what?" She blinked, leaning forward as if she didn't hear that correctly. "You... and me?"

He nodded, "Of course, this dream is as much mine as it is yours, right?" Izuku chuckled.

How on earth did she manage to meet someone like him? Not a day goes by where Yuki didn't think of that to some degree, but frankly, who cares how? He was hers, and she was his. They were partners, and that's all that mattered to her. Leaning forward, she stole his lips, forgoing any worry that some nosy reporter might see them to simply enjoy the tender feeling spreading throughout her body. Izuku closed his eyes, accepting her bold action and wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to be enveloped in the moment longer.

When they let go for air, Izuku's hand cupped her left cheek, caressing it as her hand moved over his with a glow like no other in her eyes. "Yuki, please come with me,"

She giggled, leaning forward to nuzzle his nose. "With you? I'd travel the realms to do so," She did and she would do so again and again.

"Me too," He laughed gently, resting his forehead to hers. They still had some time to themselves, and... that future was still months away, they had all the time in the world. "Across the realms,"

"Now who's being corny?"

"Hey, y-you started it...!"

"Pah hahaha! Oh Izuku..." Her eyes closed, tilting her head to one side, causing his heart to race further. "I love you,"

Many photos sat in a pile, one by one their contents were revealed for the one who flicked between them. The first couple were of the various students of Class 3A being congratulated on their graduation by Principle Nezu and all other staff members of UA, with a final picture of them tossing up their hats with laughter frozen in time.

It's so easy to look around you at the talents of others and feel inadequate, like you don't contribute to their level, to feel as though your everyday life is wasted because you can't forge a legacy as large as the people who seem extraordinary. It can be corrosive to your heart.

The next photo was of Yuki looking utterly shell-shocked as some others nearby looked surprised. Akame wore a smile bigger than any she had previously worn, blushing slightly as she held up her hand with a beautiful golden engagement ring on it, her free hand locked with Aizawa's, the man looked the complete opposite to Akame, but a small smile was present in the process.

But those people are just as ordinary, they simply are willing to make the lives of others around them extraordinary in little ways. Some do so without ever realizing it.

Another was of Ochaco's and Katsuki's parents chatting away, Mitsuki laughing with Ochaco's mother while their fathers were clearly more pleasant in their speaking while Katsuki awkwardly stood by, clearly something about the conversation bothering him while Ochaco smiled, blushing lightly beside him. The next photo was of Katsuki with his brows shot upward at the camera man, that of Yuki as the next one showed hers and Ashido's panicked faces as they ran with a frenzied Katsuki after them.

There are people who will lash out at others, their hearts having been eroded away into a figment of what it once was. Others simply lose their way. But no one is beyond saving, it only takes one hand to lift a single spirit, it all depends on how much you're willing to go for that person.

Another was Izuku standing beside Yuki, holding her hand to comfort her as she nervously introduced herself to Izuku's father. He was very similar to his son, only his hair was curly and black with dark brown eyes and freckles on his cheeks too, he wore a somewhat casual business suit as he smiled pleasantly at the young girl offering her hand to his. This was the first time they've met in person, judging by the image.

Life is a strange thing, but your journey's your own. Your actions, your interests and contributions are yours to fulfil. Instead of focusing on what you don't have look around at what you've got. It might be hard to see it at first, but there's always something spectacular about the person you are. I know, I've been searching a long time for the person I am, and I've gone through many trials to see that clearly.

This photo showed Kyoka facepalming with Akio sharing a weird smile that mirrored Mika's as Kyoka's father was clearly singing something loud and embarrassing. Judging by the next image, her jacks had found their way into the blonde man's ears, knocking him out cold as the purplette's face was redder in colour and Akio sweat dropped while Mika rolled her eyes.

I'm still learning, and I know there will be wicked people who will try to ruin my path and others', but that's why I'm moving forward, to reach out my hand to those who have fallen, who feel they are worthless and unimportant. Everyone has something special about them, and I want the world to see that too.

Another was of Jura and Yuki raising their fists with their documentation of their graduation in their off hands. To either side of them, Nana waved her fists with a cheeky grin while Reiko smiled gently, holding her own fist up with them. Another quickly showed that Ashido dragged Kirishima, Yaoyorozu, Hagakure, and Tsu into the image too. And the third was of Kendo being pulled in with Tetsutetsu, Monoma, Shiozaki, and Pony. With how many that joined, several of them laughed at the crowded frame.

That, is the hero I've wanted to be. And you certainly don't need a quirk to do that.

The next was surprising. Izuku was smiling bashfully next to Katsuki who smirked at the camera while Yuki held an arm around their shoulders with a wink, Ochaco to the blonde's side. Kyoka smirked also, leaning an elbow against Akio's shoulder as he held up a peace sign with her. Rayla then squeezed into frame in the second image from the left, showing that she was the camera man as Solaire bobbed in over her shoulder while Rayla also pulled Shoto into view too, himself copying the others and putting his own peace sign up, curiosity written on his face.

I'm Yuki Hiroshi Azuru, a hero who's technically quirkless. Kell and Splicer of the House Devils in this world.

The final image was of all the members of Class 3A with Aizawa. They all gave various degrees of smiles, but none caught the person's attention more than the two at the front, of the upbeat bluette with the shimmer of white in her hair and the scar running down her right eye, and the blemish across her left cheek, her hand interlocked with the giddy greenette with a similar thin scar down his left eye and diamond pattern freckles on his cheeks. The two had their eyes closed, smiling with a laugh to each other for the camera. All of them were now bright, strong heroes.

All Might lowered the final photo, among others, and sat back in his plane seat facing the two passengers with him, the sunlight moving across their faces, but it didn't stir them from their slumber.

Izuku was fast asleep, his cheek against Yuki's head as she too slept soundly against his shoulder, a hand hung by his chest while he had both wrapped around her torso, pulling her close to him. All Might took a photo himself of them both, the first in their international careers as he once committed to, but he was proud to see they weren't alone. "My students... how you will continue to grow," His hand brushed against his old stomach scar, feeling no discomfort. "I look forward to what becomes of you now, Young Midoriya, Young Azuru."

This one story of mine may be over, but there's so much more left for me to see.

And I can't wait to see what comes next in my life.

To Be Continued...

At long last, here we are. Siva is truly gone, and now, SIVA is left to Yuki and her future alongside Izuku. A final trial, a farewell to the shadow cast by Kovik and NARA against the infamous Taniks the Scarred (Perfected, Nightmare, Abomination). We have one more chapter to finish this story. To all of you, I sincerely hope you enjoyed, I wholeheartedly appreciate your support; seeya in the final chapter, Heroes!

Final Chapter Intermission: A New Journey

Yuki stood there alone for a time, hands behind her back as she swung herself back and forth on her toes. "Well, this is it, our final intermission..." Her face was sad but held onto a joyous smile. "Thank you for supporting me as I went through some rocky development at the start, hehehe..." She scratched her head bashfully. "Don't even get me started on Siva,"

"Hehehahaha! It was so much fun, right?" Halimaka snaked in, wrapping an arm around Yuki's shoulders with a toothy grin. "Oooh the fights and bloodshed together, you loved it to, Yuyu, didn't you?"

"No denial here," She shrugged.

"I'm gonna miss our adventures, and I was just some split-second addition for crying out loud!" Akio walked into view, laughing nervously. "Can't believe I was nearly just shoved off to the side never to be remembered, all alone... forever..."

"I'm stuck with you, idiot," Viral pinched the bridge of his nose. Then he shrugged. "To be included so furrowly was... a pleasure to be certain,"

"He loved it too!" Nana perked up behind him, startling the Nightmare

"Grah - how did you do that!?" He demanded but Nana tapped her lips with a finger.

"Hehehe, ninja vanish!" With a tug of her blue cloak, she vanished without a trace and appeared next to Kairi who wasn't even bothered by her sudden appearance. "Hello~!"

"Hi, Nana," The shark girl smiled. "Is this everyone? I thought we had others coming?"

"Pretty sure they were behind us..." Mitsuki wondered, looking back over her wings, then to her friends. "Hey, we made it too!"

"Fashionably late," Sho shrugged, moving in beside the bat girl, Nana, and Kairi, "Sharky, Demon Girl."

"I'm going to drown you next time you call me that," Kairi growled while Nana laughed sheepishly, patting her girlfriend's shoulders.

"We're here, sorry!" Jura clapped his hands together apologetically. "Go turned around again helping these guys!" He pointed to the left where Kovik and Dren emerged.

"To be fair I was lost in time... or still am... I'm not sure my internal clock functions anymore," Dren muttered.

"This is true, this realm between realms is perplexing, I haven't the foggiest idea how we arrive here," Kovik sighed, eyeing Yuki. "Do you know, Thief?"

"Not a clue, and hey, you're dead to this 'thief' so hah," She snarked back with a triumphant smirk.

"Don't forget us, little flower~!" Akame then landed behind her daughters, ejecting red dragon element from her wings with a salute using her tail. "Never fear, Valstrax and Jin are here!"

"Where?" Akio and Viral asked only for the latter to jump into his Nightmare's arms as the marital arts hero appeared next to them. "Okay, I'm scared now!"

"Apologizes, I was told to make haste here with my students," She bowed her head as frost trickled down from above, and soon, Velk landed next to Viral with a sweet smile, and from her chest, Hana emerged.

"Hello again, everyone," Hana and Velk waved.

"And the other Nightmares, Infernal?" Kovik addressed, causing a his shadow to lurch as the obsidian-skinned Nightmare appeared with a sharp salute.

"All accounted for, Boss!" With a clap of his hands, several other shades emerged. The infamous Harbinger though with Harrow in control. Magnar who eyed up Dren with respect, and Scourge who tipped his hat to them all, then the trio were nearly sent flying as Ravage burrowed up from below. "Done!" Infernal grinned.

"Ahahaha... whoops," Ravage shrunk back at the dirt he had tossed onto Harrow, Scourge, and Magnar, dusting them off gingerly.

"Oi-Oi-Oi, don't forget us!" With a sharp tremor beside Hana, she held out her arm to stop Kaneko from flying through the crowd. "Ah, thanks for the save, Hana!"

"Anytime," She nodded, lips formed into her inverted 'V' again while Velk smiled at the blonde behind Kaneko.

"You made it, welcome, Draco," Velk greeted.

"Ah, a pleasure," He smiled back.

"Guess we're the last batch to arrive, huh?" Rayla peeked her head in from the right, then pushed Tekres in much to his chagrin. "You may be dead but atleast make an appearance you shut-in!"

"I am not a 'Shut In' I prefer the company of my own thoughts," Tekres detested but Rayla deadpanned.

"That's just a fancy way of calling yourself a shut-in, dude," Rayla then stared hopefully at Solaire. "Back me up here, bud?"

"I'd rather not cause any strife between us," Solaire floated a little further toward a towering figure standing silently behind Viral and Akio.

"Conflict between, allies is unhealthy, do not squabble," Red Dragon announced his presence, visibly startling several of them.

"When the heck did he show up? How did we miss him he's freakin' over six feet tall!?" Nana gawked.

"I'm as lost as you are, kid," Halimaka whistled.

"Doryu isn't one for big entrances," Kovik explained curtly.

"Well, we're all here anyway, so, from the top," Yuki rallied them all before each gave a bow or wave of some variation in between.

"THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING PERFECTED!"

"Thank you for everything. In our final intermission, the Epilogue, A New Journey," Yuki wiped something from her eye as she slipped her mask on, causing the eyes to flash and curve upward. "From all of us, both original characters, supporting ones from the Destiny media, and the My Hero Academia media, I hope you all enjoy the final chapter of our story!"

"GO BEYOND/RISE UP!"

"PLUS ULTRA/AND FIGHT ON!"