11.09.2023
It is I, the Absolute Madman and even though I have no comments to respond to, there's something I gotta address.
Those of you that follow both of my ongoing fanfics surely noticed that there was no Stranded last Friday. I have written a part of it already, but I decided to attend a company-sponsored teambuilding event that was meant to be a big thank you from the plant manager for all the effort we put in in the last year and a bit. Not to bore you with miniute details I did some drinking, some dancing, some more drinking, drove 60km home in the dead of fucking night and spent most of the weekend dying from the hangover. I most likely could've rushed out the chapter, but I didn't really know what direction to take it in and coupling the lack of ideas with a hangover would surely result in a chapter that was even more below average than the rest of the story. You can rest assured though that we're coming back this Friday with your weekly dose of Stranded!
Dang, what a paragraph. Enough talking about Stranded, let's talk about Evil Within! Or read about it at least!:
The viewing room was silent. Like, the air in the room stopped moving, kind of silent. Some real shit. Even the natural urge to blink was suppressed for those few moments following Bakugo unleashing the payload of his grenade bracer. They thought that Bakugo might actually freeze once All Might started yelling, but no such thing happened. The blonde literally blasted their classmates - two of which were completely oblivious to the danger - and the mock civilians in the back of the room, though those were currently forgotten in favor of more pressing issues.
All Might - being the musclehead idiot of a veteran that he was - was the first one to get his head out of his ass and regain control over his body, swiftly turning around and dashing out of the room, heading straight for the battlezone that was now but a pile of rocks.
The students started shaking out of their torpor one by one, looking around and noticing all of the shocked expressions that reassured them that what they'd just seen happened for real. It was understandably not the most peaceful of realizations.
"What just happened?" A light headed Uraraka asked.
For a few moments nobody responded, as if scared that their words might alter the reality in some malicious way, but eventually Iida fixed the glasses that almost fell off of his face and coughed into his fist to get his voice to even out.
"I believe Bakugo just severely injured our classmates." The speedster stated.
"Severely injured my ass!" Mineta refuted immediately. "Have you seen the size of that fireball?! They're dead for sure!"
While the man himself was small, the impact of his words was anything but. The word 'dead' was especially heavy as the possibility of one of their friends being unalived during a training exercise was something that they desperately tried to push to the furthest corners of their minds. Now that Mineta brought it directly to the front however, nobody could ignore it and the horrifying realization that he was most likely right in his assumption made their skin crawl.
"T-There's no way, right?" Kirishima tried to offer some hope. "Bakugo doesn't strike me as the friendly type, but he wouldn't intentionally hurt someone, right?" Even though his intentions were noble, the audible lack of conviction behind them caused his words to have no effect on the others.
"Even the cameras were knocked out so we can't even see what's going on…" Hagakure whispered out, the centermost screens were pitch black and some of them had no signal at all.
Despair filled the room like air and threatened to suffocate all the students, all except one that is, for there was a person among them that already experienced this horrendous feeling all the way back at the USJ.
"This… This dark aura. It's exactly like last time but somehow more intense. We're so far away from them and separated by concrete walls and yet I can still feel something tugging at my mind." Jirou thought to herself, her eyes glued to the main screen in the center.
She was currently rubbing her arms but not because of the cold or sorrow at losing her friend and two classmates. It was as if the skin on her arms was alive and she was desperately trying to stop it from moving.
"Look!" Kaminari suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the screens and bringing everyone's attention to the big one.
It seemed as dead as the surrounding ones and just as people were about to turn around and tear Kaminari to pieces for joking at such a serious moment, the screen flickered. It was subtle, it was quick, but it definitely happened. Silence returned to reign over the room as everyone watched the big screen with bated breath. Then it flickered again. And again. And it was then that they suddenly realized that the screen wasn't truly flickering. The feed from the camera was just fine, but the room it showed was simply filled with smoke and what they thought to be flickering was simply traces of light punching through the dissipating cloud. And it wasn't just any light for it was the all-too-familiar golden hue of their Class Rep's quirk.
"Did he do it?" Ashido voiced the question that plagued everyone's minds.
They could vaguely recognize the golden glow that they've come to associate with Midoriya's quirk, but the smoke made it really hard to assess the situation properly. It was too early to draw a concrete conclusion, but some semblance of hope was restored at the very least.
As the smoke began to dissipate more and more - most likely being vented out of the room via all the walls that Bakugo destroyed - more and more hope was restored to the students gathered in the viewing room. With every golden shimmer that broke through the darkness it was as if the Lord himself shun his light onto Earth.
And yet, as euphoric as the students wanted to be, it was evident that something was out of the ordinary, the golden barrier being the first piece of evidence that they could notice.
"Is that-?" Ojiro gasped at the sight.
"No way!" Kirishima exclaimed, his quirk activating on reflex. "That's so awesome! I had no idea he could use it like that!"
Once the majority of the smoke cleared out of the room and stopped obscuring the camera footage, they could finally see what's going on. At first they thought that Midoriya simply created a barrier in front of himself to take the brunt of Bakugo's reckless attack and that's where the golden shimmer came from. They didn't expect the barrier to stretch from one end of the room to the other.
"Wait…" Iida said as he spotted something, adjusting his glasses just to make sure he wasn't seeing things in the heat of the moment. "Do any of you see a single crack in Midoriya's shield?" He asked, prompting those standing closer to the screen to scan the golden wall in search of any damage.
No matter how hard they looked however, none of them could find even a single imperfection in the barrier, resulting in a triumphant cheer.
"Dude, that's crazy!" Kaminari exclaimed, though his lips were curved in a slight grin.
"I know, right?!" Kirishima agreed. "Midoribro is on a whole different level! When did he even get a chance to perfect this move?!"
As both Yaoyorozu and Sero were spotted in the background, coughing violently but ultimately unharmed, a celebration was in order. Unfortunately the situation was not yet concluded even if it looked like it.
As the smoke cleared and the golden shimmer of Midoriya's barrier started poking through the darkness, the manic grin on Bakugo's face dropped slowly, before eventually turning to that trademarked scowl of his. He fully expected to see everything in front of him be reduced to rubble along with those useless extras and dumb bots, so why was that giant nuisance still standing?
"Is this fucking thing faulty or something?" He wondered out loud as he started examining the spent bracer. Everything seemed to be in order, but he'll make sure to give that weird pink-haired mechanic some choice words the next time he sees her. "Fuck this, I have a backup anyways."
Bakugo raised his other bracer and aimed it directly at Midoriya who had yet to move a muscle. As he grasped the second pin, a grin split Bakugo's face in two.
"What's the matter high and mighty?" The blonde taunted. "Are you so in awe of my power that you can't even move? Or are you simply scared shitless?!" And yet, with all the venom being thrown his way, Midoriya refused to move or even acknowledge the words. As the silence dragged on without a response, Bakugo's grin fell once again and was replaced by a snarky scowl. "Have it your way, I was going to reduce you to ash either way High and Mighty." As he said that, Bakugo pulled on the second pin.
Or tried to at the very least. At first he believed the pin to be simply stuck and so he tugged on it harder and harder, but with nothing to show for his efforts.
"The pink bitch can't even set a pin right!" Bakugo exclaimed as he tried to wrestle the pin out of its place. "I'll have to put her in her place once this is over, but first I'll blow you to kingdom come!" He pulled on the pin with every ounce of strength he could muster, but to no avail.
Just as he was about to abandon his original course of action and get shit done with his bare hands, he noticed something shimmering around the pin. Upon closer inspection he recognized the golden hue, the very same that was somehow able to stop his attack just a moment ago. He wasn't being delusional however, it was obvious that if his bracer wasn't faulty then his attack would easily overpower anything that that holier-than-thou could do to protect himself.
"Put her in her place? Blow me to kingdom come?" Bakugo heard and finally looked up to see Midoriya staring back at him with blazing golden eyes. "You'll do no such thing." The voice was coming from Midoriya, but it was not Midoriya speaking, that much was clear. Clear to anyone that wasn't Bakugo of course.
"Oh yeah, and what are you gonna do, stop me?!" Bakugo taunted with a grin.
The grin was quickly wiped from his face however when the golden glow started spreading from the pin and jumped onto his arms, taking control over his extremities and locking them in place.
"That's exactly what I'm about to do." Midoriya stated, his unblinking eyes staring a hole right through Bakugo's chest. "I'll stop you, for good." And with that he's taken a step towards Bakugo.
And then another. And another. The pace was leisurely and casual, though the hulking mass of metal added to the intimidation factor and the golden power practically pouring out of Midoriya's body only multiplied the effect. It was in the face of something this ethereal that Bakugo finally felt something that he refused to feel all his life - fear.
Bakugo started mirroring Midoriya's stride by backing up, yet the golden glow continued spreading all over his body, forcing all of his muscles to seize and eventually immobilizing him completely. It's not like he had anywhere to run either. Had he taken two or three more steps his back would've hit a wall and he'd be just as trapped as he was now.
Now, frozen in place like a stone statue, Bakugo could only observe Midoriya's deliberately slow advance. The expressionless face coupled with his ethereal appearance and the ghostly manner in which he spoke moments before made for a terrifying combination, one that was greatly improved when Midoriya channeled his power into his Lightning Claw, causing the claws themselves to extend fully. Now this was something to be afraid of.
As this battle was close to being over however, another one was being fought, away from prying eyes and curious glances, for Midoriya's mind was the battlefield.
"Antwyr… what a pleasant surprise." The cloaked and hooded figure greeted the daemon.
"Faceless." The daemon spat back, venom and disdain evident in its voice.
"You wound me Antwyr. I'm not faceless for I have many of them." The new arrival stated before lowering the hood, revealing a face that was identical to that of Antwyr. "Yours included." The fake Antwyr said with a sick grin.
"Why are you here?" Antwyr demanded as he started circling the robed daemon.
"Is that not obvious? Are the simplest machinations of my Lord still too complex for the great daemon of the Black Blade?" The daemon taunted, its body still but the head turning to follow Antwyr in his stride.
"My patience is running out Changeling." Antwyr warned with a scowl.
"I come for HIM." The now named Changeling stated as he pointed his staff off to the side.
Antwyr didn't need to look to realize what this was all about and his scowl deepened in response.
"Why do you care?" Antwyr questioned further.
"As soon as the boy reached into the Warp of his own volition, his presence spread like a wildfire. This oh-so-familiar presence that had yet to blossom was something that the Changer of Ways himself couldn't simply overlook and so he sent his most trusted servant - that is me - to… fetch this specimen." The Changeling explained, entertaining Antwyr's demands for his own amusement.
"You're out of luck, this one is mine." Antwyr stated his claim, though it was obvious from the beginning that this wasn't something they could simply resolve with their words.
"A shame to be sure." The Changeling stated as he pulled the hood over his head once again. "Unfortunately, I don't plan on returning to the Weaver of Fate empty-handed." And with that the Changeling dashed forward, bolts of pure change-fire leading the way.
Antwyr was not caught off-guard in the slightest, his Black Blade at the ready and prepared to receive the Trickster's surprise attack. As potent at scheming as Changeling was, Antwyr was simply born for combat. And yet, a steady connection to the Warp that was forcefully torn open by Antwyr's host powered the Changeling and allowed him to stay in the fight, going toe-to-toe with the Black Blade daemon.
"You're out of your time Antwyr!" The Changeling exclaimed as he swung his staff, torrents of change-fire following his every swing. "I'm sure that the Great Conspirator would appreciate the initiative, but not when you're interfering with His plans!"
"You and your fucking titles." Antwyr spat back, annoyed by the banter but weary of the Changeling traitorous nature. "If you're such a trusted servant, then how come you don't call your Master by his true name?!" Antwyr shouted as he swung the Black Blade, nearly decapitating the Changeling with a single slash.
"You'll never understand what it's like to serve a higher being!" The enraged Changeling responded, bolts of warp energy materializing around him. "You'll eventually tire yourself out while I receive my Master's full support. Your resistance is futile!"
"We'll see about that." Antwyr simply stated before once again engaging the Tzeentchian daemon.
While the two Warp-born beings were locked in their fight to the death, their prize was forced to watch their bout from the sidelines.
Izuku didn't know how it happened, but he already felt something similar to this once, all the way back in the Fujikuma Monastery.
"Is… is this the Warp?" He wondered idly as he floated in space, his soul bombarded from all sides by invisible energies. "I remember reaching for the power to protect Yaoyorozu and Sero, but everything after that is a blur."
Izuku could easily recognize the empty expanse of his mind even as it was being altered by the Warp forcing its way inside through the breach that he himself created. The daemon would often complain about its connection to the Warp being muted and limited, but now it seemed completely unrestrained and unopposed, free to do as it pleased.
Izuku watched on as Antwyr - the daemon that he swore to guard - battled another daemon, one that came directly from the Warp. The winner was clear at first, but the longer the fight continued the more the tables started to turn. Antwyr was an excellent swordsman, yet the other daemon employed a plethora of dirty tricks like summoning torrents of flames and bolts of pure chaotic energy to distract the daemon of the Black Blade.
And as Antwyr was losing ground, being pushed back by the other daemon's foul tricks, Izuku could notice his mindscape being altered bit by bit, the Warps corruption spreading without Antwyr's protective influence. As malicious as he was, Izuku had to agree that Antwyr was very useful when it came to containing the Warp present in his mind.
He couldn't focus on blocking the Warp and matching the other daemon in combat however and so the Warp continued to spread like a wildfire, threatening to reduce all that it touched to dust.
"Is there nothing I can do? Am I once again forced to watch things happen around me, powerless to step in?!" Izuku cried out yet no sound was made. "Back in the USJ or even when fighting Stain, I wouldn't be able to do anything if it wasn't for the daemon. Is this how it's always going to be?" As he recalled all the times where he'd have fallen if it wasn't for Antwyr lending him his powers, rage boiled within Izuku and he tightened his fists 'till his knuckles turned white. "No! I refuse to let things continue like this!" He stated and focused on the energies flooding his mind. "You answered my call once already and so you'll obey my will again!" Izuku yelled out with determination and a faint golden hue appeared in his eyes.
The hue kept glowing brighter and brighter before eventually exploding, Izuku's power once again flowing out of his body and pushing the tainted energies of the Warp back, creating a pure zone around him.
The exhausted Antwyr and triumphant Changeling froze in their duel to look in Izuku's direction, bearing witness to an awakening of a powerful Psyker. Antwyr smirked at the sight, already feeling the Warp's presence start to dissipate and the Changeling simply stared at the boy, his expression unreadable due to the impenetrable shadow cast onto his face by the hood of his robe.
"I'll come back to deal with you in a moment." The Changeling spat as he looked briefly at Antwyr before charging straight towards Izuku, bolts of change-fire leading his assault.
The bolts never reached their intended target however as they were absorbed by a wall of golden light, summoned into existence by a mere flick of Izuku's finger. The Changeling was undeterred by a mere barrier however and continued his charge. Izuku paid the rushing daemon little mind however as the Warp energies around him bent to his will and coiled around his right arm, quickly forming a core around which a blade suddenly appeared. As pure flames set the sword ablaze, the Changeling was forced to dodge out of the way of the slash that would surely end his existence if it made contact with his physical form.
"Impossible!" The Changeling cried out. "How is this weakened form able to conjure up such vast amounts of power?!" He demanded, outraged by the sight.
"He was exposed to the Warp's influence by Yours Truly." Antwyr responded as he stood up proudly and prepared for a fight once again. "It seems that your Weaver of Fate left a few loose strands in his rug." The daemon of the blade mocked with a smirk.
"This won't be the last time we meet." The Changeling stated before retreating into the breach and ultimately escaping back to the Warp.
Izuku still paid no mind to the daemons bickering in the background, his attention focused on the unwelcome presence that continued invading his mindscape. He wasn't about to let such foul energies corrupt him any longer and so he once again forced the Warp to do his bidding and pushed the waves of chaos back into the breach that he created.
The energies, having nowhere else to go, were being contorted as they mashed together, the flow stalling out before being completely reversed. As the presence of the Warp grew weaker and weaker, Izuku's power was also diminishing - his sword no longer ablaze and the blade itself slowly fading out of existence.
Running on fumes already, Izuku was too weak to completely seal the tear like the last time it happened. With his power source being separated from him, his golden glow began to leave him and the Warp threatened to once again spill into his mind. It was at this point however that Antwyr stepped up to his warden and summoned some of his own power.
"Don't slack off, kid. We have things to do." Antwyr commanded and the two joined forces, ultimately sealing the tear in Izuku's mind, though the seam was filled with imperfection.
The scar in his mindscape was still there, but it was miniscule enough for Antwyr to contain it all on his own. Even as the Warp banged on the freshly sealed entrance, it was powerless against the might of the bound daemon.
When All Might finally arrived at the site of the battle that came to an abrupt stop due to Bakugo disregarding his orders, he expected to find the building partially reduced to rubble. That was not the case however. Sure, one of the walls was blown open and the gaping hole made for a perfect entrance for the Number One Hero, but that seemed to be the extent of the damage so far.
He wasted no time and immediately jumped inside, having notified Recovery Girl about an 'accident' upon leaving the viewing room, and wanting to check on his students' injuries.
When he reached the students he was greeted by both Yaoyorozu and Sero kneeling over Midoriya's unconscious form, the bulky armor making it extremely hard to check his vital signs, and an unresponsive, but conscious, Bakugo that was curled up with his back against the wall, his eyes unfocused and his body perfectly still save for the even rising and falling of his chest as he drew breath.
It was clear that something that All Might wasn't aware of had happened during the time it took for him to get here, yet he felt that no matter how hard he might try, he won't be able to get to the bottom of this. Not until both Midoriya and Bakugo are able to explain their sides of the story.
Even though he was blissfully unaware of what exactly had transpired during his absence, he was ultimately thankful that all the students were alive, though most likely injured.
Beware the Changeling! Surprised to see him? I'm too! I already knew that I wanted Midoriya to have some sort of an awakening during all of this, but the idea to include yet another 40k daemon came to me out of the blue. I'm sure that the interaction between the two daemons is probably as far from canon Warhammer as it can get, but I did my best to play into their respective characters while making the entire scene explain a few things and set some other things up.
I guess the only thing I have to do now is to wait for your outrage or your approval!
And I'm going to do just that so have a great day and I'll catch y'all in the next update!
