Chapter 7: Dance of the man in the Shadows
Quasar Knight's defiance echoed in the alley as he clashed with Black Eagle, determined to avenge Luna Surge. However, the villain's movements were elusive, a macabre dance that mocked the hero's every attempt. The shadows seemed to respond to Black Eagle's whims, aiding his every evasion.
Black Eagle lunged forward, aiming a deadly swipe at Quasar Knight, who skillfully dodged the attack. In retaliation, the celestial knight swung his sword, hoping to strike down the elusive foe. Black Eagle effortlessly sidestepped, his sinister laughter filling the air.
"You heroes really make me sick, you know that?" Black Eagle taunted, reveling in the chaos he sowed. "You claim to fight evil, bring down villains and all that. But at the end of the day, you change nothing."
Quasar Knight, fueled by righteous anger, barked back, "Ha! You think I believe that bullshit? You're nothing but a villain! One I will gladly kill, seeing how you murdered my friend!"
Black Eagle continued his taunting, deftly evading Quasar Knight's strikes. "Ehehehe... The fact that you are seeking revenge makes it seem like you aren't even a hero. And I mean, I know I'm a monster or whatever... But, well, at least I'm not a hypocrite, huh? Now then, go die, will you?"
Before Quasar Knight could react, his world shattered. Both his arms were severed with surgical precision, blood spraying across the alley. Helpless and defenseless, the hero stared in horror as Black Eagle closed in for the final strike. The rapier pierced through the armor, finding its mark in the hero's brain. A final, agonizing gurgle escaped Quasar Knight's lips as life drained from his eyes.
Black Eagle stood over the fallen hero, his tar-like form absorbing the darkness of the scene. The alley, now painted with the blood of two heroes, bore witness to the villain's twisted victory.
The shadows writhed with an eerie energy as Black Eagle reveled in the triumph of his sinister dance. The city, once guarded by the light of heroes, now plunged deeper into the abyss. The man in the shadows stood unchallenged, a harbinger of darkness that threatened to swallow everything in its path.
As the echoes of Quasar Knight's demise faded, the shadows lingered, casting a chilling pall over the fallen heroes. The Dance of the Man in the Shadows continued, each step echoing the impending chaos that Black Eagle sought to unleash upon the world.
Yuuki Blaze, witnessing the gruesome demise of his comrades, felt a surge of fury coursing through his veins. Luna Surge's lifeless body lay at his feet, a painful reminder of the ruthless power that Black Eagle wielded. Determination etched across his face, Yuuki Blaze summoned the fiery energy within, ready to avenge his fallen allies.
Black Eagle, bathed in the shadows that seemed to obey his every command, turned his attention to the remaining hero. The dark void of his eyes fixated on Yuuki Blaze, an unsettling grin stretching across his tar-covered face.
"Two down, one to go. Your friends put up quite the show, but in the end, they were nothing but fleeting sparks in the dark," Black Eagle sneered, his voice echoing through the desolate alley.
Yuuki Blaze tightened his grip on his flame-imbued staff, flames flickering with increased intensity. "You won't get away with this. I'll make you pay for what you've done."
Without a moment's hesitation, Yuuki Blaze unleashed a torrent of blazing energy towards Black Eagle. The white-hot flames crackled, illuminating the shadows that clung to the villain. Black Eagle, however, merely raised an eyebrow, as if amused by the hero's futile attempts.
The villain moved with an uncanny grace, seamlessly avoiding the fiery onslaught. His form seemed to blur in and out of existence, leaving behind an afterimage that confounded Yuuki Blaze's senses. The shadows seemed to serve as both shield and weapon for Black Eagle, a manifestation of his unholy power.
"You heroes, always thinking you can change the world. It's adorable, really," Black Eagle taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. "But you're all just pawns in a game with no winners."
Fueled by determination, Yuuki Blaze pressed on, attempting to close the distance between himself and Black Eagle. However, the villain's movements were unpredictable, a macabre dance that defied the laws of nature.
In a sudden burst of speed, Black Eagle closed the gap between them, his tar-covered hand reaching out to touch Yuuki Blaze's shoulder. The moment Black Eagle's fingers made contact, Yuuki Blaze felt a searing pain coursing through his body. The villain's Skin Rot quirk had taken effect.
Agony surged through Yuuki Blaze as his skin blackened and decayed at an alarming rate. The once-fiery hero now stood paralyzed, his body succumbing to the insidious effects of Black Eagle's deadly touch.
Black Eagle, relishing in the suffering he inflicted, leaned in close to Yuuki Blaze. "Your flames might burn bright, but in the end, darkness consumes all."
As the shadows embraced the fallen hero, Black Eagle continued his macabre dance, reveling in the chaos he had unleashed upon the city. The Dance of the Man in the Shadows continued, leaving destruction and despair in its wake.
The shadows that enveloped Black Eagle began to crack and fracture, revealing glimpses of an otherworldly radiance beneath. With an unsettling grin, he knew his time in the mortal realm was reaching its end.
White lines etched across his tar-black skin, forming an intricate pattern that seemed to pulse with ethereal energy. Black Eagle's eyes glowed with an intense light, a stark contrast to the abyssal darkness that had defined him.
In the final moments before his departure, he looked back at the chaos he had sown. The fallen heroes, the terrified civilians, the city consumed by shadows – it was a symphony of despair orchestrated by his malevolence.
With a triumphant chuckle, Black Eagle spoke his parting words to the desolate alley. "This dance has been entertaining, but the stage is set for the next act. Until we meet again, little heroes."
As the cracks expanded, swallowing the villain whole, a blinding flash of light consumed the scene. The once-shrouded figure of Black Eagle dissolved into fragments of shadows, leaving behind an ominous echo that lingered in the air.
The world inside Midoriya's mind welcomed back its malevolent resident, the consciousness of Black Eagle seamlessly merging with that of the unsuspecting host. The white cracks closed, concealing the darkness once more.
The alley, now silent and stained with the remnants of the battle, bore witness to the aftermath of Black Eagle's visitation. The Dance of the Man in the Shadows had concluded, but its repercussions would echo through the lives of those touched by its macabre rhythm.