'Clang!'

"You'll have to do better than that!"

'Clang!'

"I'll accept that challenge!"

'Clang!'

"You already lost, you just can't see it!"

'Clang!'

"I don't accept defeat that easily!"

'Clang!'

'Clang!'

'Clang!'

Oh crap.

He only loses his balance for a moment, but that's all it takes for Loki to find himself being hurtled into a tree. "Oof!" He hits the trunk hard and crumples to the grass of the forest floor beneath him, panting.

He is a boy now, if he were to travel to Midgard, they would think he was no older than fifteen. The same went for his brother Thor, his sparring partner.

Speaking of Thor, a dreadfully familiar weight on his back reminds him of the bout he just lost. "Okay, Thor, I yield. I do not require Mjöllnir on my back every time."

"If it's such a problem, just lift it off you."

Loki rolls his eyes at his brother's teasing. "Thor, I will turn you into a fish so I can properly gut you if you don't let me up this instant."

The ancient weapon is taken off him and Thor grabs his arm, easily pulling his brother off the ground. "Good bout as always, brother. I can feel you getting a little closer to beating me every time." Thor pats his back sympathetically.

Smacking his hand away, Loki tries for a quick stab but Thor dodges laughing. "Stabbing from the front this time, brother? Truly, your greatest trick."

Loki scoffs, wiping the dirt and leaves off him. "You make it sound as if all I do is stab people in the back." Thor gives him a look. "What? I wouldn't! That's such a boring form of betrayal!" Thor repeats the look. "…Well, okay, I'd never do it again. It got old."

The two begin their walk home together, trekking through the woods they both knew like the back of their hands. "You know what never gets old? Me kicking your ass."

"Your taunts are predictable and boring," Loki drawls.

"Maybe so. But your unpredictability is what makes you predictable."

Not that he tries very hard to stop it, but Loki snorts. "Please, I beg you. For the good of my sanity and all of Asgard, please stop trying to sound all wise and sage-like."

Thor sticks his tongue out at him. "You're just jealous of my sageyness!"

His stare couldn't be flatter. "Sageyness? Really? I didn't think I could be more embarrassed about losing to you."

"Oh, you could!" Thor lifts Mjöllnir close to his face. Very close.

"Thor, please. Not aga-"

"How you doing?" Thor asks his hammer and Loki wants nothing more than to die. Wait, he lied. Thor is now slowly rubbing the hammer, now he wants to die more than anything. "Do you like it when I rub you that way?"

"Please, stop!" Loki begs while Thor bursts out laughing. "I am sufficiently embarrassed, please do not violate your weapon anymore."

"Victory is mine once again!" Thor declares to nobody because Loki couldn't care less.

"Let's just get to the palace already." The two walk for some time more before familiar sights start to greet them, such as the stables. And Loki finds a way to even the score.

He points at two horses in particular as they pass. "Brenda, Ingrid. Your coats are looking marvelous today!"

"Loki…" Thor warns, his voice already dreading what he knows is coming.

"My my." He makes a big show of leaning over to look. "And your legs are stunning today. How would you feel about-" Loki yelps as Thor yanks him away from the stables.

"Stop flirting with the horses!" Thor is the one to beg now. "I get it! I'm sorry!"

Loki laughs earnestly. "I should hope so. We should hurry up or we might be late for the dinner."

"What's the rush?" Thor picks up his pace to match his. "It's just some stuffy dinner with a bunch of old people. I don't even know why we still have to go with mother and father being away."

"It's important for several reasons. We will represent the royal family of Asgard. Be able to familiarize ourselves with some of the more wealthy families," Loki lists off. "And the connections we make could-"

"You wanna get there early to set up a prank, don't you?"

Loki chuckles looking down. "You know me too well, brother."

Eventually, the two future gods make it to the base of a large golden staircase that leads to two towering doors. A dozen guards wait at the top. "Race you!" Thor challenges when he is conveniently already a few steps up.

The trickster runs after him, mainly to see if he can land a quick stab at his brother's side before the event begins. Thor runs past the guards toward the doors and Loki moves to follow but is stopped when one of the captains of the guard blocks him with his spear.

Thinking it was just a mistake, Loki tries to get around him on his other side but the man blocks him again. "Is there a problem?"

"I'm afraid there is." The captain addresses him. "You see, as made into law by Asgard's kings of the past, events in the palace may only be attended to by Asgardians."

Loki swallows, trying to shake away the cold doubt that is always threatening him. "I…I'm afraid I still don't see the issue."

The man's gaze bores into him. "As I said. Only Asgardians may attend."

"Loki!" Thor runs back outside looking between the man and his brother. "What are you doing? C'mon let's go."

"He says I can't go," Loki answers harshly.

"What are you talking about?" Thor questions the man. "Loki has attended as many of these parties as I have."

"I apologize, your highness." The captain gives Thor a bow. "But while the king and queen are away, I am sworn to abide by Asgard's laws, and they clearly state that those not of Asgard may not enter the palace."

"But he is Asgar-" Thor stops, his mouth forming an O shape. "Okay, this is stupid and father has never enforced that law. I order you to let Loki in."

"I do so wish I could obey." He puts a fist to his chest. "But alas, the words of past kings hold more authority than a prince. I cannot allow it to enter."

"Allow…what?" Thor repeats angrily. Mjöllnir slips in his grasp a little so Thor can reposition his hold on it.

The captain sighs. "How I do wish her majesty, Hela, was still here."

"Thor!" He grabs his brother's attention. "It's alright. Go on. He's saving me from an evening of boredom anyway."

To say the blond looks uncomfortable would be an understatement. "This isn't right."

"I'll meet you later and you can tell me all about it if you wish." Loki waves him back. "I'll see you later."

Thor still looks hesitant but nods at him and runs back inside. With him gone, the captain turns back to him. "I am, unfortunately, barred from locking you in the pen with the rest of the animals, so if you no longer require assistance." The man takes his leave along with the rest of the guards, leaving Loki alone.

Alone. Just like Odin had found him as a baby. And with the way things were going, how he would end up.

Loki opens his eyes, the audience around him unaware of his plight. All of them are just a blur in his periphery. He needs to talk to Izuku after his match.

His son was always going to experience pain in his life. But it would be controlled and contained, just as all aspects of life. But the power from them was not in his plans and neither was the strain that came with it. He would put a stop to it.

IT'S TIIIIIIIIIIME!! YEAAAAAAAAAH!"

"YEAHH!!"

"That's what I like to hear!! It's time for what you've all been waiting for!! The final match to decide it all! I'm hyped! You're hyped! What about you Aizawa?!"

"…It feels like it's taken months to get here and I never want to do this again."

"Not many people get your sense of humor but don't worry, I'll always be here for you buddy!"

"Maybe next time I nap, I'll be lucky and won't wake up."

"Make sure to save that nap until after the finals because folks, this'll be a match you won't want to miss!! First up! It was shocking how easily he's breezed through this tournament!"

"Don't insult the other students."

"If he was watching, I bet even the Norse god Thor would be jealous of what this kid can do, it's Denki Kaminari! And his opponent! Looking to steal Kaminari's thunder, he's been full of surprises all day and we can't wait to see what he pulls here, Izuku Midoriya!!"

Chizome roughly pulls the zipper of his duffel bag, closing it. They weren't meant to be gone long. He had more work to do in the city after Ingenium, and the public would notice if the hero killer was absent for long periods of time. But Stain was a man of his word.

He looks up at the small tv in the dirty apartment as the children, Midoriya and Kaminari, walk out to disgusting fanfare. How any modern person could cheer such a barbaric event is beyond him.

His partner watches silently from next to him, studying the program. "So those are the children of the gods you spoke about," Chizome states more as a confirmation than a question.

"It is."

"And will they meet the same fate as their parents?"

It's daytime, with the sun's rays streaming through the window, and yet, somehow, the room grows darker. "The gods showed no mercy to my child." They are somehow plunged into even greater darkness.

"Why should I show mercy to theirs?"

The crowd had never been louder as Izuku stepped into the ring. Thousands of faces cheering for him. Even with that, it's still laughably easy to find his mom and dad in the crowd. Whether that's from his own eyes, or the space they had made for themselves from Inko's tears, he's unsure.

But he is sure his dad is still looking at him, that same disappointment on his face. And Izuku hates it. He wants to be someone who makes everyone around him smile and laugh, and his dad was pretty high on that list.

To know he's made him this upset…he almost doesn't want to use his cryokinesis anymore. But that would be unfair to his classmates and especially Todoroki. The thought of not using one of his powers fades almost as quickly as Izuku thinks it.

It'll be fine. Yeah, there have been some hiccups today with doing things the way dad taught him, but what other way was there for him? Besides, his dad knew what was best, he was a god after all. Izuku can trust his judgment, can't he? Why was he feeling unsure again?

Moving on to something else to help his mood, he's also unsure of how his class still manages to get themselves heard over the clamor of the rest of the audience. Izuku blushes a little at how hard Uraraka is cheering for him.

"Put on a good show boys," Midnight purrs, raising her whip for the last time. Izuku and Denki both nod. "Midoriya, ready?"

Loki and Thor lean forward.

"Kaminari, ready?"

Class 1-A climb over themselves to get as good of a view as possible.

Midnight looks at them one last time. "Begin!!"

"And they're off!! And to start its-wait, what?"

Present Mic has every right to be confused. Considering neither Denki nor Izuku had moved, both boys standing comfortably on their respective sides.

"Hey hey!! Did you guys not hear?! The fight started! Go go go!"

He's right, Izuku should start. And he does what he planned. Izuku sits down, leaning back on his hands. Darn, the concrete was uncomfortable. Izuku conjures a pillow and puts it underneath him.

"That's not fair!" Denki whines, marching over. "Why the hell do you have a pillow?!"

"Um, excuse me?"

"Just in case I ever need it? Duh." Izuku makes sure it sounds insulting to the boy standing over him with his arms crossed. "I have a ton of stuff in my pocket dimension. Pillow, blanket, first aid kit, flare gun, candy, money, notebooks, both of my cell phones, tv, computer, video games console and-well I got a ton of stuff."

Izuku conjures a second pillow and throws it at Denki, who catches it. "Stop whining and sit. I put something in there before the festival I think you'll be interested in." His look is a little suspicious but Denki sits in front of him anyway.

"So what do ya got?"

"HELLO!!" Izuku almost forgot they were in the middle of their final match. "What are you doing?!! Midnight, help, please!"

Shaking her head, the rated R hero walks over to them. "Did you know Mt. Lady considers her a rival?" Denki whispers.

Izuku rolls his eyes. "Yeah, and that she thinks Midnight is past her prime and should retire. Do you really think I didn't get the volleyball spread?"

"Sorry."

"So, boys," Midnight starts, her voice echoing through the silent stadium through her mic. "What seems to be the problem?"

"No problem." Denki shrugs. Midnight's mic picks up his voice so everyone can hear.

"Then, may I ask why you're not participating?" Midnight questions, her tone a little harsher.

"We're waiting." Denki smiles up at her. "Izuku hasn't fully healed from his last match, and I want a good fight, so we're waiting for his regen to finish up."

"I see…" Midnight is speaking to them through gritted teeth now. "And you didn't feel like you could bring this up before the match because?…"

"We didn't think you'd wait, and that it'd be funnier this way," Izuku responds. "If you don't like it…" he shares a look with Denki.

"Then you can disqualify us both," they say at the same time.

There's a snort heard around the stadium, but it wasn't from anyone on the ring. They all look up at the announcer's booth. "Really, Shota?!"

"This is the best final match I've ever seen."

Sighing once again, Midnight turns off her mic and taps a comm in her ear. "Hey, it's Nemuri. What does Nezu think about this?… What do you mean he's still laughing?!"

The hologram screen comes to life behind their teacher, who whirls around, surprised. "I didn't do that!" The screen glitches before it displays a video game loading screen. Heroes vs Capcom.

"So, Denki. It's simple. We play best two out of three and if you win, I'll let you use this during the match." Denki's eyes widen when Izuku conjures Thunderstrike from his pocket dimension.

"Excuse me!" Midnight looks back and forth between them and the wayward screen. "What did you do to my event selector, and weapons have to be approved before the festival."

"Actually," Izuku corrects her with one of his favorite words. "The rules say they only have to be approved to be brought into the match. They don't say anything about obtaining them during a match." Midnight's eye twitches. "As for the screen…"

Izuku knows this is a bad idea, but it was his only option! He had to get this done before getting to his waiting room. "So do we have a deal? And remember, you can't tell Power Loader."

Hatsume's hands shake as she slowly picks up the plasma rifle from the table between them. The same one he had taken from the USJ. She examines the weapon closely, slowly spinning it around in her hands before looking up.

"We are going to make so many babies together."

Yup. Bad idea.

Denki chuckles. "Nice, I'm down. But how are we going to play? We need-"

Izuku answers him by conjuring two controllers. "It's like Tenko said, you never know when you'll need them."

"Awesome!" Denki grabs a controller. "Now who should I be…"

"Fighter selected! Thor!"

Denki's head creaks as he gives Izuku the side-eye. The verdant only smiled innocently at him. "I'm sorry. Did you want to pick him?"

"…At least we're getting some sort of fight…"

Hirona really didn't want a fight right now. And she never expected to get one! She figured they would just kind of lay over for her? Not put up this much of a damn fight. They're rescue heroes after all!

Her multiple energy discs rip apart Pixie-Bob's earth beast but all she can do is destroy monster after monster. It looks like the hero can make them as fast as she can obliterate them and it's taking all of her concentration.

Having to use all of her discs to destroy the monsters, she had none left to shield herself, meaning the successor for All for One is stuck constantly dodging attacks from Tiger. The hero's stretchy quirk didn't care about their forest landscape at all, because if Hirona tried to hide behind a tree, the attack could literally go around it.

Kurogiri was doing his job, at least. Keeping the other two members from escaping or getting help. She thought about having him teleport the three she didn't need to some random area of the forest, but Hirona didn't know if they had other ways to call the outside world set up in the area or not. Best to confine them here where she can keep an eye on them.

She could also use them as hostages or bait later. It depends on how the day goes.

Using one of her discs as a platform, Hirona jumps over an earth beast, letting Tiger's punch shatter it. With the spare disc, she cuts Tiger's arm, removing a sizable chunk and creating a deep gash. The hero roars, staggering but not down.

Two more earth beasts jump her from behind, but a portal intercepts them and they end up attacking Ragdoll and Mandalay instead by accident.

Yes, the heroes are putting up a better fight than she had expected. But compared to All for One? She's not worried.

"You can't do that!"

"Says who?!"

"Says me!"

"Not my fault you lost to Tenko before I could destroy you last time!"

"At least I had a chance! Did you even get a hit on Uraraka's character?!"

"I got two!"

Izuku is so into the game, he has no idea when the crowd started, but he hears the cheers grow and grow as Denki's character, Blanka, begins his combo. "No, no! Crap!"

"K.O!!"

"Eat it!" Denki cheers, the crowd matching his enthusiasm as if he had just won the whole match.

"Yeah, yeah." Izuku hands over Thunderstrike. "You're gonna need all the help you can get. But I'm feeling ready, so let's do this!"

"You're sure you're ready? Because I don't mind waiting."

Izuku jumps in place a few times, punching the air. "Yeah, yeah, I'm good! Let's go!" No sooner are the words out of Izuku's mouth than the sun disappears. He looks up to see the sky that had been clear moments ago now filled with dark clouds.

"What now?! This wasn't in the weather report!… Meh, whatever! Heroes gotta roll with the punches ya dig? So bad weather or not, it looks like we're finally getting our real fight! And a quick reminder - our business students have ponchos for sale in the gift shops!"

"You're gonna regret letting me have this." Denki smirks, shaking Thunderstrike. Izuku feels a few droplets of rain hit his head. "You know, your dad has never beaten mine in a fight."

The rain starts to pick up but Izuku returns Denki's smirk. "So I've heard." He conjures a pair of daggers, flipping them in his hands so he is holding them in a reverse grip. "In case you haven't noticed, we're not our dads."

Thunder bellows, eliciting screams from the crowd. It's dark inside the stadium. The rain is pouring down now. Wind and water whip their faces but neither boy seems to notice. Lightning from the sky illuminates them both, and Denki's blue eyes almost seem to glow the same color. "You sure about that?"

Izuku has no time to contemplate the question before, in a bright flash, Denki is on him, swinging Thunderstrike. Izuku raises both daggers and blocks the attack.

'Clang!'

There's only a second to take in the reverberating sound before lightning covers Denki's body and he moves. Over and over he presses his attack on Izuku and all the greenette can do is back up as he's barely able to block the onslaught.

'Clang!'

'Clang!'

'Clang!'

Denki swings high and Izuku turns himself into a snake, dodging the blow. He lunges and bites Denki's leg. "Agh!" The blonde grabs the offending reptile and tears him off his leg.

The Thunder Prince raises him to throw but Izuku turns back into himself. "Surprise!" Taking advantage of Denki being momentarily stunned, Izuku stabs him in the side.

His opponent shouts in pain but it's Izuku's turn to not let up. He slashes Denki's arm, and after he's dropped, slashes his cousin's leg, dropping him to one knee onto the wet cement.

Before Izuku can finish it, Denki raises a hand into the air and lightning strikes him. It does nothing to Denki; but to Izuku, who's standing next to him? The verdant cries out in surprise as he's sent halfway across the ring, rolling across the ground.

Both boys rise back up to their feet, already starting to feel wary. "Sorry, Izuku." He's in pain but Denki still smiles. "But with this storm, this fight's in my domain."

Izuku considers him before vanishing one of his daggers. "You're right." Green lines start to flash across his body at a dizzying pace, all of them congregating on his hand, which begins to glow brighter and brighter. It's as if Izuku is holding a powerful ball of green fire.

Unbeknownst to him, in the stands, Uraraka swipes her wet hair out of her widened eyes. She hadn't seen him do that since the entrance exam.

"Let's even that a bit." Denki raises his hands to strike him with lightning, but it's too late. Izuku slaps the ground and green light bathes the ground of the stadium.

The rain vanishes but the sky stays dark and Denki sucks in a breath as he finds himself standing in the remains of a destroyed city. "What-"

"There you are!" Denki jumps, seeing Snipe pointing his guns at him. "Take him down." He yelps, jumping out of the way of the bullets being fired at him. But there's no time to relax before Denki has to jump back again from Aizawa's capture tape.

"SURRENDER, VILLAIN!"

"That's terrifying, but awesome!" Denki backflips away from All Might's punch before he takes a startled breath, moving back the way he came. "They're all driving me one way! You're gonna have to try harder than that to get me out of bounds!"

Izuku appears from thin air, and Denki sidesteps his dagger slash…only to step in the path of the real Izuku, who stabs him again on the same side as before.

Denki lands a solid kick on his cousin and follows up by hurling Thunderstrike at him, but yells in frustration when his weapon goes through a clone instead. His yell is cut abruptly by a roar of something else. Something not human.

Turning around, Denki shouts in surprise when he finds himself in the main plaza of the USJ, downed villains lay unconscious around him. And the Kurse screeches at him before charging.

"Nice try, Izuku! But I know none of this is real." To prove his point, Denki does nothing as the Kurse charges him and raises his fist. Which makes his surprise even better when the Dark Elf's fist connects with his face.

"Ah!" Denki hits the ground hard and looks up, his free hand feeling his bloody nose.

The Kurse gives him a wave before Izuku transforms back into himself. "You don't know what's real!"

Izuku disappears and Kurogiri appears in his place from the shadows, the mist around him slowly growing. Denki tries to steady his breath. "It's not real. It's not real. It's not real!!"

"Begone and die!!" Kurogiri envelopes Denki in shadow, and he covers himself in lightning, providing warmth and light.

And defiance.

"NO!" The Prince of Thunder lives up to his title, punching the ground and sending a wave of lightning across the ring. Izuku is blasted out of his invisibility and he lands on his side, sliding across the soaked ground.

When he opens his eyes, Denki is standing over him, and Izuku rolls out of the way of his punch just in time. He couldn't dodge the kick Denki drives into his gut, however, causing him to spiral across the ground again.

With some distance between them, Izuku is allowed to get on his feet. The rain is worse than ever now, with the water in the ring now reaching his ankles. It is even darker now. With him barely able to see Denki. An occasional lightning strike would provide them light but that was all.

"It's over, Izuku!" Denki yells, recalling Thunderstrike to his hand. "I'm on to your illusions and decoys! And dad told me you can't make ice for yourself! Unless you have another power to pull out of your ass!"

Despite everything, Izuku laughs. Green lines cover the ring once more until Denki and Izuku find themselves standing on the rainbow bridge to Asgard. The light from the bridge now illuminating them, while the dark clouds above them still pelt them with rain.

"You're right! I can't freeze the moisture in the air! But you know what's really easy to freeze?! Water!" Denki's smirk vanishes as Izuku looks around him. "And you've given me all I need!"

Izuku stomps the ground and the water underneath them freezes, with several large spikes launching themselves at Denki. The blond is able to protect himself with Thunderstrike, but Izuku knew he would, he just needed time to get close.

"And you don't know all my moves! Dad wasn't my only teacher!" Izuku lunges, his hands clenched into fists and from each of his knuckles, three claws made of ice protrude.

With an animalistic yell, Izuku swipes and stabs with no break, not giving Denki any time to think. He's quick to form an ice wall next to them and he uses it to wall jump on Denki, landing a solid stab on his shoulder before he's knocked away.

"That enhanced durability really is something, huh?" Izuku comments.

"It's gotta be with how Plus Ultra you're going!" Denki laughs.

"You know me…" Izuku forms two ice katanas in his hands. "Always putting in maximum effort!" Izuku vanishes and reappears behind Denki a few seconds later. The blue-eyed boy raises to block but Izuku disappears again.

Over and over, Izuku vanishes and reappears around Denki, feinting attacks, occasionally throwing a real cut in there to damage his opponent, making his attacks seem random.

"That's cool, but I got something better!" Covering himself in lightning, Denki's speed increases and he easily dodges Izuku's attacks.

Yes, he is still salty he doesn't have enhanced speed.

Denki blocks his arm and grabs it before he can disappear again. He punches Izuku squarely in the chest, with the verdant skidding back on his feet a few meters. His cousin raising his arms is the only warning Izuku has, and he uses it to dive to the ground before Denki can hit him with a bolt of lightning.

Izuku rolls away just as Denki strikes the ground where he was with Thunderstrike. He stands and tries to bring his dagger on top of his cousin, but Denki kicks his feet out from under him, bringing Izuku to the ground once more.

Denki gets up and stands over him, but Izuku kicks him to give him time to rise once more. Izuku tries the physical offensive this time, going for three quick strikes with his knives.

'Clang! Clang! Clang!'

With all of them blocked, Izuku still lands an elbow strike to Denki's face, turning him around. In response, Denki tries to backhand Izuku with Thunderstrike, but he leans back, the weapon traveling only centimeters above his face.

They clash weapons again.

'Clang! Clang! Clang!'

Denki gets in close and grabs Izuku, throwing him across the bridge.

Okay, he's not sure this will work, but what the heck at this point? Izuku puts a hand on himself and on the ground and next to him, an ice clone forms.

"Bring it!" Denki commands, spinning Thunderstrike in his hand. "I can take on two of you!"

Izuku shifts his head and Denki makes a face of confusion, before looking around himself and realizing he was surrounded by a dozen ice clones.

"Normally, no one could ever control this many, but…" all the clones shift, forming daggers out of their ice. "I'm used to my mind being split, if you know what I mean!"

The ice clones shift their stance and charge. "This is the greatest day of my existence!" Two yells excitedly, trying to stab Denki.

"Box him in!" Twelve yells.

"I'll go up front!" Eleven volunteers.

"Are my new powers cool or what?!" Izuku puns, readying himself to jump in and finish the match while his clones shove Denki to the edge of the bridge. But a small spark catches his attention.

In an explosion of electricity, Denki flies up into the air, his body covered in more lightning than ever. He seems to almost float there while lightning from the clouds strikes the bridge, sending concrete and water flying. His ice clones are destroyed and the thunder is so loud, Izuku can't hear anything.

Finally, Denki points Thunderstrike right at him, and the boy streaks downward toward Izuku at high speeds.

'Here it comes. The end of the match.'

Izuku runs, using ice to create a staircase that gets him higher and higher into the air until finally, when he's at the right height, Izuku jumps to meet Denki mid-air, dagger drawn back. Both cousins give each other victorious smiles, and Denki's lightning detonates in power, covering everything in white.

"It's…it's over…" Hirona gasps for air, stretching her arms above her head before wiping the dirt and blood off her face. The trees around them had been destroyed, littering their makeshift clearing in wood. All four of the Wild, Wild Pussycats lay on the ground bleeding.

Tiger and Mandalay are unconscious. Pixie-Bob groans, trying to rise to her feet and continue. Hirona isn't having any of that, especially after having to deal with her very annoying quirk for the entirety of the fight.

Hirona staggers over and glowers down at the hero. "Bitch." She stomps on the hero's head, finally knocking her out. That left one more. The hero she came here for.

Ragdoll. Or more specifically. Her quirk. Search.

The last member of the rescue team glares at her defiantly from the ground, in spite of her numerous injuries. "I'll make this really easy for you," Hirona says in an icy tone while she reaches into her belt pouch and pulls out the paper she printed out earlier. "Give me coordinates on them, and I'll leave."

She unfolds the paper and drops it to the ground. Ragdoll only gives herself a brief moment to glance down at the paper, before her jaw falls open in surprise. Still, she resumes her glare at the villain.

"Never."

"Why are you all-" A twig snaps behind a nearby tree and instantly, Hirona chops the tree in half with one of her energy discs. It drops to the ground hard and loud, and Hirona sees someone new behind it. They were lucky, is the one thing she thinks. A little more to the right and the disc would've sliced them too.

It's a boy. He has boots, shorts, a collared shirt, and black hair hidden under a red cap with two golden spikes on it. And he couldn't have looked more terrified.

"Kota! Run!" Ragdoll cries but it's too late. Hirona makes a gesture to Kurogiri who drops the kid into a portal right next to her. "Leave him alone!"

"You misunderstand." Hirona raises her hands in a defensive stance. "I'm just trying to protect him too, see?" She creates an energy barrier around Kota as the boy looks on in horror.

"Now nothing can get through and hurt him. Quirks. Weapons. That barrier will stop anything." Ragdoll's eyes follow her hands as she twists them. "Including air."

Kota gasps, dropping to his knees and clutching his throat. Over and over the child tries to breathe, but no oxygen reaches his lungs.

"Kota? Kota!!" With newfound strength, Ragdoll limps over to the barrier and starts pounding on it as hard as she can. "Kota! It's okay! It's gonna be okay!" The hero looks back at her, anger and grief painfully mixed on her face. "He has nothing to do with this!! Stop! Please!"

In response, Hirona takes a pen from her belt and drops it onto the ground with her paper. "I will when you give me what I want."

Ragdoll nods, crawling over to the paper and concentrating before jotting down coordinates and throwing it back at her. "It's done, now let him go!"

Hirona waves her hand causally, dispelling the barrier, and bends down to pick up the paper. Kota takes a deep breath of air before coughing up a lung and falling into Ragdoll's arms, where the hero can hold him close.

The hero tries to get back up to continue the fight, but Hirona has seen enough. With their business complete, she turns around and walks back to Kurogiri. "I got the coordinates. Let's do this before Ragdoll can call for help and the heroes figure out what we're doing."

"One moment, Shigaraki." Kurogiri stops her and she represses a groan. No reason to waste what little time they have arguing, "I believe you are being presented with an opportunity."

Kurogiri gestures at the group of downed heroes. "I suggest you take them all back to Master. Their quirks, especially Search, may prove useful."

Hirona feels conflicted. Looking back at the family. "And after he takes their quirks?" Mandalay shakes herself awake a little before going over to check and hug Kota as well.

"You know just as well as I that they will be disposed of or sent to become Nomu," Kurogiri replies. "After what you did to the boy, I don't see how this could be a problem."

She still hadn't taken her eyes off the heroes, watching Mandalay and Ragdoll hug Kota close and shoving down a twinge of jealousy threatening to rise up. "Yeah, but I only did it because I knew the hero would…would…"

The black-haired girl shakes her head in frustration. "Doesn't matter. I made them a promise."

"I'm cheering you on, Tenko! Let's keep it secret from Dad and become sibling heroes!"

Hirona looks at the ground, distant memories playing in her head. "The last time I broke a promise, it didn't end well." She looks back up at Kurogiri, expression hardening. "I said we're done here."

Silently, her comrade creates a portal, and with one last look behind her, Hirona steps through.

The plan is surprisingly simple. Like his dad always wanted him to, continue doing what he was taught and everything would go his way.

So, Izuku used his old favorite that had helped him a lot today. An astral projection. Izuku turned invisible and made it seem like the projection was gonna meet Denki head-on in the air. He knows from the USJ that Denki has trouble controlling his flight, so the classic 'use your opponent's power against them' trick was the play.

The projection gets ready, drawing the dagger back mid-air. But then something happens. Denki lets go of Thunderstrike and blasts two lightning bolts from his hands to stop his momentum before, in an incredible display, summons Thunderstrike back to his hand. All the while still in the air.

He never even attempted to hit Izuku. He was supposed to fly through the projection and take himself out of bounds!

The real Izuku on the ground isn't ready. He's not ready for Denki's shift. And he's not ready when his cousin slams Thunderstrike on the ground, sending his most powerful surge of electricity across the bridge.

Izuku can't see when it hits him. He can't hear. He can't think. All he can do is feel. And all he feels is his back smack the wall of the stadium. "Oof!" Izuku hits hard before he crumples to the grass beneath him, panting.

"IZUKU MIDORIYA IS OUT!! DENKI KAMINARI IS YOUR CHAMPION!!"

He…lost.

He listened to his dad. And lost.

The illusion dispels and the black clouds part. The roar of the rain is replaced by the roar of the crowd, cheering their approval.

Hiding his injuries from Uraraka. Trying to work alone. Keeping himself invisible. Using tricks and being unpredictable. Keeping people at a distance. Every time he did what his dad told him, it didn't work or backfired. And now…

Was his dad…was he not right about everything?

"Hey man." Izuku looks up at Denki smiling brightly, the sun only seeming to make his hair glow. "Good one. I'm looking forward to the rematch." He holds his hand out to him.

"How did you know I was trying to trick you at the end?" Izuku can't help himself but ask.

Denki chuckles. "My dad told me. He said you guys are always trying to be unpredictable. And, in the end, that's what makes you predictable."

Izuku looks down, finding a small patch of ice starting to melt on the grass. Ice he had created. Something Loki couldn't do. Maybe it was time he stopped relying on how his dad said to do things and try something new.

The greenette smiles back at Denki, taking his hand and allowing himself to be lifted up with the crowd cheering at the sportsmanship.

"A human? Here? Surely you jest?"

"I'm afraid not, wise one."

"…BAHAHAHAHA! What fun! Bring him! Bring him out, I want to see him."

"Right away."

Zeus, God of Lightning, stands from where he was speaking with one of his guardsmen. His armor creaks as it holds his overweight frame. The chatter in the hall silences as he does. He never tires of that. In past meetings, he's been known to stand just to silence all for fun.

"It seems!" He announces to the large arena-like hall. Circular stadium seats surrounded a round arena. Everything is anointed with gold and white trimmings with gold statues of different gods placed throughout. A few of himself he'd like to add. "That a human from that ball of dirt, Earth, has found himself here! In Omnipotence City!"

The large crowd laughs alongside him while guards drag the creature to the center stage, bound at his wrists. When they reached the middle, the sun from the large windows around them illuminate him.

Nothing special, as he imagined. "Before you are tried and, let's face it, found guilty, how is it you found yourself in the floating city of gods?"

The human looks around him, no doubt in wonder. As he should; not many of his kind have been able to experience their grandeur. "He was right. Like the heroes of my world, you gods only care for advancing your own lives, while leaving the rest to rot."

Zeus studies the man before breaking out into laughter once more, the rest of the room joining him. "We are gods. Without us, the universe could no longer function. We deserve it." He snaps his fingers. "Do not worry. You may take solace in knowing you will die for our entertainment."

The human must be confused because he's smiling, an abnormally long tongue licking his lips. "I did not come here to die, I came as a distraction."

He scoffs at the tiny man. "A distraction for what, pray tell?" Appearing as an answer, a large shadow descends on the room from one of the windows, covering a good portion of it. It is in the shape of a man holding a weapon, a sword he guesses.

The god turns and halts in his tracks. He is right, a man stands in front of the window. His skin is the color of gray, and he wears white robes, but it's none of those that made him stop. It's the all black sword he holds in his hand. The Necrosword.

Zeus knows exactly who this is. A boogeyman of sorts. One that was said to have perished long ago. But it seemed the tales of his demise had been exaggerated.

"For me." The hall darkens more. Creatures, no, monsters made of the dark itself begin to crawl out of every shadow. "Heed this, for we are here to spread this vow."

"Enjoy it while it lasts!" Izuku laughs while he and Denki help themselves back into the tunnel. "You won't get so lucky next time."

"Speak for yourself!" Denki giggles, waving to the crowd as they disappear into the dark tunnel. "I feel like I can take on anything right now!"

"Wow, what one Sports Festival win can do to someone's ego," Izuku teases, the dark tunnel now blocking the sound of the rest of the stadium, leaving them alone in the darkness.

"Shut it! How about this? We can take on anything?" Denki holds out his fist.

Izuku smiles, pressing his fist against Denki's. "Anything."

Screams of terror, the sounds of battle, and destruction begin to fill Omnipotence City. Gorr the God Butcher's stare is somehow more oppressive than the darkness he spreads as he paralyzes everyone with fear.

"All gods will die."