Chapter 11

Shrouded in Darkness

Izuku stood there in the alley as he looked at the figure known as All Might. As Izuku took a step forward, All Might rotated and went the other direction. "W-Wait!" Izuku exclaimed as he ran after him. Akame then approached the alley that Izuku went to. "Are you done yet, we have to-" She stopped as she didn't see anyone.

Meanwhile Izuku was chasing All Might, while he was chasing him, Izuku had so many questions flooding his mind, 'What's going on, how did All Might get here? Did they find me here?' Izuku thought as All Might stopped in front of what looked to be a chapel. Izuku stopped a few meters away from him, 'Or, could this be a trap,' Izuku readied himself as he distanced himself.

Izuku activated 20% of Full Cowling and remained where he stood. As All Might had a surprised look but then it distorted into a wicked and twisted smile. "Impressive, how did you know it wasn't the person you loved," a voice asked as it wasn't familiar to Izuku.

"Who are you," Izuku asked instead of answering his question. Then the image of All Might disappeared as Izuku now sees a man with an eye looking item on his forehead, the man had gray blonde hair and a grey trench coat on. "You can call me Zank, the Executioner," Zank then protruded hidden blades on both of his arms, forming an X-shape.

Izuku kept looking at his now opponent, 'This is bad I didn't expect to encounter him so soon, I should probably stall until backup arrives,' Izuku thought. "Well then before they arrive here, your head will be on the floor," Zank exclaimed. Izuku widened his eyes, 'W-What? Did he read my mind,' Izuku thought as Zank grinned, "Surprised? This is my teigus ability. Spectator is capable of reading one-" As Zank tried to explain his teigu, Izuku took the opportunity to attack as he dashed towards Zank.

Zank knew this was coming and stepped to the right as Izuku flew by with a straight kick. Izuku then skidded as he turned to see Zank already upon him. Izuku then tried to dodge the blade that was coming on his left, but Zank read his thoughts and moved his right and as Izuku barely had time to dodge. He ducked under both blades as he tried to go in for a punch, only to be met with a kick aimed for his face.

Izuku put up his arms as he felt the impact and was sent back a few feet. Izuku then put his right arm forward and reeled his fingers back as he launched a barrage of Delaware Smashes at Zank.

Zank rushed towards Izuku as he dodged and cut the air bullets. Izuku then planted his left leg on the ground as hard as he could as the ground protruded up, creating a wall. Izuku then jumped up the wall as he then spotted Zank at the bottom of the wall and lunged forward.

Zank looked up as he grinned, Zank was enjoying every moment of this. He stepped to the right as Izuku came crashing down and caused an explosion of dust.

Zank then covered his eyes as the dust was filling the area. Zank then looked around him, Izuku then came up behind him as he reeled his fist back. Zank didn't have enough time to turn around fast enough as Izuku collided his fist into his right cheek, sending Zank back a few meters.

Zank stopped himself from going any further. He then started to laugh, "Splendid, Splendid! Using the wall so I couldn't read your thoughts and movements while crashing down to cover the area with dust to conceal my sight on you, Splendid, Splendid!" Zank exclaimed.

Izuku got ready for his opponent to move, "Why," Izuku muttered. "Huh?" Zank hummed, "Why are you doing this, what are you gaining from all this murder," Izuku asked as Zank stared at him, he then smiled, "Because I enjoy this, seeing the expressions on severed heads, nothing is more entertaining than that! That's why I do this!" Zank shouted in glee.

Izuku had a horrified look but then resolved himself. 'I can't...save you...so I'll…' Izuku thought. "Save me? From what, the only person who needs saving is you!" Zank retorted. Izuku hardened his eyes as he readied himself again, "I'll stop you from hurting other people, right here right now!" Izuku exclaimed with determination.

"Is that so! I wonder what face you'll have once I have your head!" Zank exclaimed.

Akame was walking through the streets as she stopped to feel an eeriness in the air as she looked up, "Izuku…" she muttered.

Izuku swept his right leg as if to kick something. As he did that an air current powerful enough to send someone flying back. The air current was racing towards Zank as he jumped out of the way and dashed towards Izuku. Izuku then charged at him also as he launched Delaware Smashes at him.

Zank kept dodging all of the air bullets as they closed in on each other. Zank then aimed for Izuku's head but Izuku slid under him as he was now behind him. Zank turned around as he tried to attack him but Izuku was nowhere to be seen. Zank then looked up as he spotted Izuku above him.

"Detroit Smash!" Izuku shouted, but Zank knew this was coming so he sidestepped to the left of Izuku. Izuku smashed his fist on the ground but not before receiving a cut on his left shoulder. Izuku jumped back a few meters away from Zank.

Zank smiled, "I must say, you're a quick thinker. But all of that is pointless when I can read your every move," Zank puffed. Izuku was breathing heavily, 'He's reading my thoughts to counter my moves but what I can tell is that he can't keep up with my speed that much, the only way to stop him and knock him out is to exceed what I'm used to,' Izuku thought.

Zank smiled, "By all means struggle to beat me, the end result will be the same," Zank declared, "If you truly want to save me boy, then end me so I don't have to listen to the torments of my victims!" Zank exclaimed. Izuku clenched his fist, "Who's fault is that, taking away people's life for your entertainment, I'll stop you, whatever it takes," Izuku exclaimed.

Izuku got ready as he charged up One for All as he felt the power rushing through his body, 'my body can handle 20% but in order to beat him I need speed to where he can't react fast enough to my attacks,' Izuku thought as the electricity around him danced furiously around him, making him glow ever so brightly.

'Full Cowling 30%!' Izuku shouted in his mind. Zank readied himself, "You think 10% more of your power will help y-" Zank couldn't finish his sentence as Izuku was already upon him. Izuku's foot smashed into Zank's face as he was sent flying back.

"Graagh!" Zank groaned, Izuku skidded as he landed, he felt his bones start to creak, 'my body hurts but I can still move, I can probably last for 3-4 minutes at most,' Izuku estimated. He then looked at his opponent as Zank started to get up, "Thats plenty of time,"

'Such speed and power, this won't be easy,' Zank thought as he then looked at Izuku as his face distorted into annoyance. Zank then proceeded to dash towards Izuku, Zank was faster than before but Izuku was ready for his approach as he smashed the ground again and created a wall again.

Making Zank stop as he jumped above the wall expecting Izuku to jump too but only to be met with Izuku still on the ground but Izuku launched a barrage of Air bullets at him. Zank made contact with the air bullets as Zank received them. It stopped Zank in the air, making Izuku use that chance to jump in the air and lifted his leg above Zank.

Izuku then brought it down on Zank's head. He then came crashing down at the makeshift wall as an explosion of dust and rumble was created. Zank struggled to get up as Izuku landed a few meters away from him.

Zank smiled, "Splendid, Splendid! To inflict this much damage, looks like I'll have to take this seriously," Zank exclaimed. His Teigu then started to shift as the eye lids widened.

Zank stood there as he waited for Izuku to approach him. Izuku dashed forward already upon Zank as he reeled his fist back and slammed it into Zank, but Zank had fully blocked the attack as he grinned, Zank them pushed away Izuku's fist as he sent a flurry of slashes at Izuku.

Izuku widened his eyes as the only thing he could do was to take the flurry of slashes.

Izuku lifted his leg as he slammed it into Zank's blade as he pushed him back, making him stop the flurry of slashes. Izuku was heavily breathing now as his body was riddled with cuts and gashes. Izuku tried to ignore the pain as he took a step forward but then his body stopped working as he fell to the ground.

'Crap! I hit the time limit,' Izuku panicked as he struggled to get up. Zank then proceeded to walk towards Izuku, "Now, time for your head," Zank slowly approached him. 'Get up, GET UP!' Izuku screamed in his mind.

Zank then dashed towards him, "It's over!" Zank shouted. But then a katana fell from the sky landing in between Zank and Izuku as the owner of the blade landed near the blade and grabbed it as she did an upward slash at Zank as he quickly reacted and blocked it with his blades. He skidded back as now in front of him was Akame.

Izuku looked at her surprised, "Akame…" Izuku was relieved to see her. Akame looked back at Izuku, "I'm glad you're still alive, once this is finished, I'll treat those wounds," Akame reassured Izuku. Zank smiled with glee, "Ah, the ill-famed Akame, it's a pleasure to meet you," Zank greeted. Akame looked at him, "It's a pleasure as well, for you are my target,"

"Akame! Watch out, he can read your thoughts and muscle movement," Izuku warned. Akame nodded, "Is that so, well is he fast enough to counter me," Akame then dashed towards Zank as he intercepted her. They both sent a flurry of slashes at each other, each colliding with one another, sparks flying as their movement was faster than the eye can see.

Akame parried one of his attacks as she sent a kick towards him that sent Zank back a few meters, 'Not only she's fast but she has power that matches up with her speed, I can barely keep up from the damages I took from the boy,' Zank thought as Akame readied her blade.

She closed her eyes as she controlled her breathing, Zank widened his eyes, 'Oh, one without thought, but that's useless,' Zank thought as his Teigu started to shift. Akame then pounced towards Zank as she did a downward slash above his head, a normal person couldn't block the attack but Zank was already blocking as he pushed her blade back slammed on the floor where she stood.

Akame bounced back but not after receiving a cut on her thigh. She skidded back as she readied herself again. Zank readied himself too, "Say Akame, what do you do with the voices," Zank asked her. Akame made a perplexed look, "Voices?" She asked.

"You know, the voices of your victims that forever torment you. I constantly hear their scre-,"

''I don't hear them," Akame interrupted Zank. Zank then lowered his blades, "That's a shame, and here I thought we had so much in common," Zank sighed as he widened his eyes and so did his teigu, "Such a disappointment AKAME!" he shouted.

Akame widened her eyes as the appearance of Zank had changed and saw someone else besides her target.

"Kurome…?" Akame muttered

Izuku was looking at Akame as she stopped moving all of a sudden. Her face was filled with grief and surprise. "Akame? What's wrong," Izuku asked but she didn't respond.

Izuku looked at Zank as he was smiling as always. 'She's seeing something that I saw last time, she must be seeing someone dear to her, crap he has an opening now,' Izuku thought.

"Akame, snap out of it, it's just an illusion," Izuku tried to snap Akame out of her trance but it seemed she was paralyzed. "It's pointless, right now she sees someone dear to her, of course she can't attack me now," Zank explained.

He then charged forward, ready to end the battle, "Die while you gaze upon the one you love, Akame!" Zank shouted. As he jumped in the air Izuku took the chance to use every energy in his body and directed it to his right hand. He reeled his finger back, "I won't let you!" Izuku snapped back at him.

Zank was surprised by the sudden movement from the boy. "Delaware Smash Air Force!" Izuku shot an air bullet at him, it raced towards his face as it collided with its cheek. "Gurrgh," Zank groaned. But that didn't stop him as he continued racing towards Akame.

Izuku struggled to get up as he tried using every will in his body to stand. "I...have...to...stop...him," Izuku struggled to get his words out. Izuku wanted to knock him out and retrieve the Teigu, but his body wasn't functioning properly as he was riddled with cuts and gashes, his body was under stress for going over his limit.

Izuku then witnessed Zank already upon Akame as he was about to bring down his blade to her. 'No…' Izuku had an horrified look but that was quickly changed when he felt a cold errieness around Akame. He looked at her face as she had a deadly gaze of a killer that reminded him of Stain.

She quickly did a sideways slash, aiming for Zanks neck. Zank barely reacted in time to block it as he was pushed back. Zank had a look of disbelief, "Why! You were supposed to gaze on the person you love!" Zank exclaimed.

Akame's hair was covering her eyes but she slightly lifted her head as she gave him a death stare at him, "It's because I love her, that I want to kill her as fast as possible," Zank had a shiver in his spine and so did Izuku.

"W-What?" Zank was left in disbelief as the fear in his body rose.

"It looks like it's over," Akame justified, as soon as she said that Zank's blades started to crack. He then panicked as he felt death grabbing him.

"I'll eliminate that blade of yours first," Akame charged at him as she propped her blade forward.

"Like hell I'll let you!" Zank snapped back. They clashed once more as they both exchanged another flurry of blows but Akame was faster as she kept partying her opponent's strikes. Every swing Zank threw was getting parried, he started to panic as he tried to find an opening.

Akame then found an opening to his defenses as she did an upward slash at the bottom of his blades. As she did that Zank's blades shattered. Akame then shifted her blade to the left as she was ready to cut her opponent down, she had one word for her opponent

"Eliminate,"

She then slashed Zank's neck as he coughed up blood. Izuku watched as he felt the cold feeling rushing down his spine, 'Akame is a natural, the amount of battles she's been through is enough evidence that she can adapt to her opponent's moves, she's a natural assassin...but there's something around her, like a shroud of darkness that prevents her from experiencing normal feelings like an ordinary person should,' Izuku thought.

Akame then sheathed her blade as she looked at Zank, "You shouldn't hear those voices anymore," She stated. Zanks muffles on his ears shattered, Zank then realized the voices that were tormenting him were gone, "Ah...they're...gone...Splendid...I thank you...Akame," Zank muttered his final words as his life drifted away.

Izuku stared at the body as he felt guilty, 'I may have not done the final blow but...I didn't want to kill him...there could have been a chance to save him other than ending him,' Izuku solemnly looked at the former Executioner.

Izuku was then snapped back as he still had the pain coursing through his body. "Grrgh," Izuku groaned, Akame rushed to his side as she put her hand in his chest, "Don't move too much, I'll treat those wounds," Akame reassured him as Izuku nodded.

While she carried him to a secluded alley where no one could spot them, she started to place ointments on his wounds and bandages. While she was doing that Izuku was conflicted, "Akame," Izuku called out. "Hm?" Akame hummed, "Was it really necessary...to kill him," Izuku asked, Akame stopped as she looked at him.

She could tell Izuku was bothered by this, after all she didn't forget how he didn't want to kill anyone, "It was my mission Izuku, it had to be done," Akame justified as Izuku looked at his hands, "There...could've...been another way," Izuku meekly said.

"Izuku, why do you not wish to kill people," Akame asked as Izuku looked at her. Akame still had her stoic expression but something in her eyes told him that there was darkness shrouding her happiness, "Where I was from, my mentor saved people with a smile on his face, no matter what situation he was in, he always smiled. So I wanted to be like him, someone who saves everyone with a smile, but after coming here, I'm starting to doubt myself, can I save someone who's being tormented?" Izuku asked as he was desperate to find an answer.

Akame stared at him as she felt sadness coming off of him. Akame then wrapped her arms around Izuku and pulled him to a gentle and warm hug. Izuku then snapped out of his thoughts as he was now a blushing mess. "A-A-Akame?" Izuku stuttered. "Izuku, you bear responsibility that saving everyone can bring happiness, but in order to do that is to first make yourself happy as well," Akame answered him, "I don't know what your country is like but hearing it from you, it seems like a nice place, Izuku if saving people is something you can do then do it, it's your own life," Akame stated.

Izuku widened his eyes as he nodded. "Thank you...Akame," Izuku smiled as he felt warmth from her embrace, "Mm," Akame hummed.

Izuku was still filled with doubt but when Akame was there he felt like it had ease. Akame then let him go, Izuku then felt discomfort from the sudden release but decided to keep it to himself. "We should get going, the rest of the team should be looking for us," Akame suggested as Izuku nodded. She put his arm over her shoulder as she helped him walk.

While they were walking a person was watching them from afar. The man smiled under his mask, "Not yet...there's still so much room to improve, Izuku Midoriya," he then vanished into the shadows.

End