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Nagoya Sublimation II: Disastrous Horizon

The Shapeless Isle
A Long, Long Time Ago…

It was a lonely island, an abode of soulless stone.

Upon this lonely isle, lived a single boy.

The boy, who had no name to call his own, was born from the corpse of a great monster. He was never a baby or a child, having emerged already at the cusp of adulthood.

The boy, of course, had no way of knowing his birth was remarkable. There was no one on this island to tell him anything. There was no other living thing on the Shapeless Isle, and not even sea birds deigned to rest upon its shores. The stone statues that littered it could not speak to him, and the corpse of his mother had done nothing but rot away.

The only companion the boy knew was a large clump of golden crystalline blood, a solidified remnant of his mother. It was the only remnant of her that had not decayed over the years.

But one day, when the crashing waves of the isle were strangely calm, the boy encountered a god.

"So… the Gorgon had a child after all?"

The god was tan and tall, towering above the doric-style columns that dotted the island. His head was covered with long locks of aquamarine hair, wild and uncombed. His face was covered with a voluminous beard, and it was braided with seashells and barnacles. The god's torso, rising from the sea itself, was a mix of skin and scales. He wore a crown of sea coral, and in his hand was a bronze trident.

Although the boy did not know this at the time, the god before him was the Olympian God Poseidon— Second Son of Kronos and Lord of Horses, Earthquakes, and the Sea.

Having never encountered anyone, much less a god, the boy did not know how to react. He did not even know how to talk, something Poseidon took notice of.

"Hmmm, could it be that you don't know how to speak?"

The boy somehow knew what was being said, although he could not properly answer. Instead, he chose to nod.

"Ah, so you can communicate, in a sense. It is better than nothing. Very well then, boy, I will get to my point. You are to leave this island."

The boy tilted his head in confusion.

Poseidon sighed, "You will be going to a new home, understand?"

Seeing the boy did not understand, the Sea God gave another deep sigh before waving his hand at the water. Appearing from the seafoam, a simple raft materialized at the shoreline.

Although it would seem shoddy to anyone who knew what a real ship was, the craft was deceptively effective. It was a special sort of raft, one that would be later employed by the Gods on the island of Ogygia. Its enchantments would ensure any passenger would always make it to a safe shoreline.

"It may not look like much, but, on my pride as God of the Sea, I guarantee it will get you to land. Now, you must leave."

The Shapeless Isle, which had originally been home to the Gorgon, Medusa, had no longer been needed after her death. With Perseus's quest already complete, the Olympians had decided the island's existence was no longer necessary. Some among them feared the potential continuation of Gorgon's legacy, but thankfully, her blood was weak within the boy. Poseidon had been prepared to eliminate the child, but he showed no signs of his mother's true power.

The boy, with no other options, climbed aboard the raft, still clutching his treasured golden crystal. As soon as he had sat down, a small wave swept the vessel out to sea. As the raft moved further and further away, the boy watched as storms consumed the Shapeless Isle. With a swing of his trident, the ocean heaved around the island. In mere moments, the island he had known all his life had sunk beneath the waves.

Over the days that followed, the raft and the boy drifted upon the sea. Thanks to its enchantments, the stormy wrath of Poseidon's daughter, Kymopoleia, never reached the boy. It took much time, but the raft drifted to an island.

As soon as he was close enough to safely disembark, the vessel dissolved back into seafoam. Staggering up the shore, the boy was filled with fear. This land was a strange one that he did not understand. It was green and lush, and there were no stone warriors anywhere in sight. It was a land far from mainland Greece, a distant land of Titans and nymphs; The Hesperides.

Wandering through the coastal forest, the boy stopped frequently to absorb the strange new land he had drifted to. As he reached the end of the woods, he found himself in a grassy pasture. Filling the hills were tons of brown-colored cattle. They were a beast the boy had never seen before, and so he wandered close to one with cautious curiosity.

Just as he reached out to touch it, a fireball descended from the sky. The boy did not understand the nature of deities, but he could feel the power of the being within the flames.

If Poseidon embodied the sea, this man was like the Sun. His entire outfit consisted of yellows and browns, and his bronze-colored hair glowed like fire. He was so bright that the boy could not look at him directly.

Seeing the boy's clenched eyes, the man laughed and reigned in his splendor.

"Ahahaha! Sorry about that, child of Gorgon, I'm just so brilliant, after all!"

Although the boy had never met the man before, the splendiferous man seemed intimately familiar with him. The man's identity was Helios, the Titan of the Sun. Even though the boy did not know him, the Titan had seen the child since his birth, watching from above in his sun chariot.

Seeing the boy's silence, the Titan recalled the boy's lack of linguistic knowledge, "Hmmm, that's right, you still have much to learn about the world. Well, fear not, you have earned the interest of Helios, my crystal-wielding child!"

Although the boy was understandably confused, he ultimately followed Helios deeper into the pastures. As soon as he arrived at the palace proper, he was ferried away by Helios's servants, who bathed and dressed him. From that point forward, having been adopted by the Titan, he was raised as one of the Titan's own. From Helios's consort Rhodes, he learned to read, write, and speak with eloquence. From her and Helios's daughters, he learned about geography and the arts. From their sons, he learned the sciences, swordsmanship, and Pankration. But one part of the boy's past remained: the golden crystal. From his adoptive brother, Tenages, he learned of its true nature as a phantasmal material. With the boy unsure what to do with it, Tenages suggested he seek out the fire nymph Thalia. A daughter of fiery Adranus, Thalia forged the crystal into a brilliant golden sword she dubbed "Kapros". Impressed by his adopted son's growth, Helios assigned him the vital task of watching the Titan's sacred herds.

Although the task was not particularly exciting, for few tried to provoke the ire of the Sun God by attacking the island of Erytheia, it was pleasant for the young man. It reminded him of the quiet days of his youth upon the Shapeless Isle. Life in the Hesperides was bountiful, and the nights were often busy thanks to the Sun God's lavish parties. Thanks to these celebrations, the young man befriended numerous demigods and deities.

It was on one of those nights that he met her.

It was a particularly crowded party, for Helios had not only invited his aunt Tethys and uncle Oceanus, but their thousands of Oceanid daughters and Potamoi sons. The halls of Helios's palace were packed, and the smell of Ambrosia and Nectar lingered everywhere.

In the corner of the hall, the young man leaned awkwardly against a wall, sipping a goblet of diluted Nectar. Even after attending hundreds of parties, the young man still was not the best with large crowds. Numerous Oceanids had approached him wanting to dance, but he politely declined. Despite their beauty, his heart did not stir for them. The beauty of women had never brought the young man much interest. Whether it was Helios's daughters or the daughters of the guests, none had drawn his eye. That was, at least, until a particular Oceanid approached.

Compared to her sisters, this particular sea nymph was not incredibly remarkable. She did not possess a supernatural beauty or an enticing and voluptuous body. She was neither tall nor dressed in the finest of silk. But, as he saw her light blue hair and teal eyes, he was reminded of home. It was like the waves of the Shapeless Isle had taken a human form, and the sight of her made his heart skip a beat. He was so drawn in that he never noticed the nymph move forward. As her sisters and brothers watched with intrigue, she approached the young man with hesitant steps.

As she opened her mouth to speak, the young man was drawn to her voice, which had a youthful innocence to it, "H-hello sir, my name is Callirhoe! Might I ask your name?"

As her siblings chuckled, the girl clutched at her dress as the young man knelt. He grabbed the Oceanid's hand, and she yelped in surprise. As she blushed golden, the young man kissed her hand, before stepping back and bowing.

"Greetings, Lady Callirhoe. My name is Chrysaor."

Callirhoe, unaware of her own voice, muttered softly, "Chrysaor…"

To the young man, it was a wonderful sound. Although he did not previously understand the concept of love, he was sure this was the feeling Selene had spoken of to him at length. That so-called "love at first sight".

Giving the Oceanid a dazzlingly warm smile, he took her hand once more.

"Perhaps this is forward of me, Lady Callirhoe, but may I request a dance with you?"

As Callirhoe's eyes met Chrysaor's own, the Oceanid wanted to evaporate with joy. Although Chrysaor did not know it, the Oceanid held similar thoughts of that wondrous "love at first sight". Building up her courage, Callirhoe nodded.

"I accept, Sir Chrysaor! I accept your offer!"

At the head table, Tethys and Oceanus watched with pride as their daughter danced with the violet-haired swordsman. Helios and Rhodes watched with a similar feeling of joy for the young man.

He was a far cry from the silent boy who had come ashore to Erytheia all those years ago. His heart had softened, at last finding the other half of his lonely soul.

And so they danced the night away, the child of the Sea and the child of Gorgon. When the morning came, and the party ended, the young man and the nymph did not part. With her father's blessing, Callirhoe stayed in Erytheia, close to the man she had come to love so quickly. The wedding in the months to follow had been a simple affair, nothing to the likes of an Olympian marriage. But Chrysaor and Callirhoe did not mind. They had each other, and that was enough.


Higashi Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning

Since birth, Sigma was trained to be emotionless. A child soldier like him didn't need to have joys or regrets. He was to kill and be killed in service of a conflict that most could care less about. No one would remember him, not that they knew about him in the first place.

Even after Francesca saved him from that life, Sigma's demeanor did not change. It was not that he was still denied from expressing emotion. Rather, he no longer knew how to express himself as a normal person would. While he still had wants and desires, they were muted and untended. He was unimportant to the world, and any dreams he might have were unnecessary. He was a tool to be wielded; once a human weapon of a certain country, now an ally of Francesca.

Even when she dragged him with her to this other world, he had simply gone along with it. There was no point in being surprised. It was just another chapter in his pointless, emotionless life.

But as he stood in the streets of Nagoya's commercial district, his story was being turned on its head. As the black-haired young man gazed up at the cloud of dust coming from Francesca's penthouse, he clutched the bag full of snacks and candy to his chest. From the dust, a reddish stormcloud expanded outwards. A dark wind filled the air, and Sigma felt his muscles constrict in a strange sensation. It was a foreign feeling, the first true emotion he had felt since he was a newborn.

Fear.

Like the others who stared up at the penthouse, his heart beat faster as glass and concrete rained downwards. His body felt frozen, devoid of courage, as a strange shape moved within the dust. As the people around him muttered in shock and a few tried to document the sight, Sigma saw it.

A serpent, colossal in size, with red scales that seemed to swallow the few rays of sunlight. It was a true monster, one that reminded him of the Kaiju of post-war Japanese cinema. It was a humbling sight. As his brain tried to control the fear coursing through him, Sigma felt small.

For a long moment, neither Sigma nor the crowd moved. But then, like snow, a strange red sand fell upon the streets of Nagoya. Slowly, the sand coalesced into several small piles; from them, came an army.

The Noble Phantasm Apophis has unleashed, Chaos Storm Isfet, was one capable of damaging the world itself. It attacked the very boundary between creation and destruction, life and death. Through Apophis, the storm had torn open pathways to the deepest levels of the Duat. Carried by the black winds of Bakhu, the souls of the damned had been released into the living realm. Their bodies had long become dust, and from dust, they would return.

Crawling forth from the piles, came the Sekhem, skeletal constructs of sand and hate. They were the lowest of demons, the dredges of the Duat. But called forth en masse by the Serpent of Chaos, they would be a swarm of evil. The humans before them were not the same humans who had rejected them, but the Sekhem were not so particular. They were humans…and they would suffer.

As the first line of Sekhem approached, the crowds around the penthouse began to move. Although Sigma had magic circuits and could have fought back, he did not. Joining the fleeing crowd of citizens, he scrambled to escape.

As Sigma ran from the murderous skeletal horde, he caught sight of a violet-haired man moving through the crowds. He was dressed in a sports jacket and black jeans, but something was different about him.

Just as it seemed the Sekhem would catch up to a group of fleeing schoolboys, the man jumped forward, his hand suddenly holding a shining golden blade. His attire was now the garb of a Grecian warrior. Like a crashing wave, the man reduced the Sekhem to dust with a single slash of his sword. As the boys scrambled to safety, Sigma spared one last glance at the violet-haired man.

Despite the dozens of Sekhem closing in on him, the man showed no fear. He was a golden whirlwind of death, undaunted by the hordes ahead. But the storm continued to churn, and all around Saber the Sekhem began to reform. The dust of those he defeated simply returned to the spawning pools and were born anew. While he had given the citizens some distance, Saber's fight was far from over.

'Not even death keeps them down. How interesting.'

Ultimately, the Sekhem were only foot soldiers. If he could bring down the Serpent, the city of Nagoya would be saved. It would not be easy to do so; the forces of the Duat only continued to grow in number. But still, Saber's heart held no fear.

Pushing off the ground, the force shattering the concrete below him, the Heroic Spirit Chrysaor shot forward into the fray. He would not be deterred by the immortal horde. He was the Golden Sword of Erytheia, the Cursed Child of Gorgon, and the Champion of Helios. It was time to showcase what he was capable of.

FALSE SABER: CHRYSAOR


Mustafu-Hamamatsu Highway, Mustafu
Day 3, Morning

Speeding down the highway, Shota Aizawa's foot remained firmly pressed on the gas pedal of the Hercules.

A state-of-the-art support vehicle, Power Loader's Heracles was the latest innovation towards the ultimate heroics car. Capable of driving on land or sea, the armored sports car was eventually to feature support item caches and an onboard AI. Since the latter features were still in development, the Hercules was presently just a top-quality amphibious car. However, given the need for a high-speed all-terrain vessel to Aichi, it was just the thing Eraserhead and All Might needed. Moving down the exit ramp, Aizawa sped through the streets of Mustafu. Despite the area normally being busy, the way leading to Dagobah Beach was clear, giving the heroes a straight shot to the ocean. Aizawa suspected this was the work of the Hero Public Safety Commission. While the HPSC was quite flawed, they did have their moments of competency. Nezu could have achieved a similar feat given time, this was too quick and large-scale to be his doing.

'Still… for the HPSC to clear the roads this fast. It must mean the situation is more dire than I imagined.'

Rushing over the sands of Dagobah Beach, the Hercules accelerated into the waters of the Pacific Ocean. While the sea route to Nagoya was less direct than the land route, there were only so many resources the HPSC could spare, and clearing a land path all the way to Aichi would be difficult. By taking the sea route, the Hercules could avoid the traffic from the ongoing evacuation.

As the car sped across the water, Aizawa turned to his co-worker, Toshinori Yagi. "Yagi. Do you think this could be the work of All For One?"

The skeletal-looking Yagi grimaced. His sunken appearance was a far cry from his buffer form as the Symbol of Peace, All Might.

"I don't know for sure, Aizawa… but I doubt it. Even if All For One is alive, this storm seems too flashy for him."

"Flashy? If what I've heard about that man is true, he didn't mind reducing whole cities to rubble."

All Might knew Aizawa wasn't completely wrong. When All For One fought, destruction always followed in his wake. The villain's battle against Nana Shimura had seen the entirety of Didyma Island razed. When All Might finally defeated his archenemy, the Bheriz Ward had been left in utter ruin. But he also knew there was more to the Symbol of Evil than mindless destruction.

"When All For One fought, he was certainly destructive, but he did fight tactically. He wouldn't start with such a big play. This is too chaotic of an entrance for it to be my old enemy. Not to mention, we still have no definitive proof that he is even alive."

Aizawa nodded, "I'm merely considering possibilities. But I'll trust your judgment for now."

Glancing at his skeletal coworker, "Regardless of what we are driving into, will you be alright? Aren't you down to only three hours these days?"

Yagi nodded, "I'll likely be cutting it close. But I cannot just stand idle as Nagoya suffers. The Symbol of Peace must be there to do his job. Even if I reach my limit, I'll just have to go beyond it."

Aizawa nodded, "Plus Ultra, huh?"

Yagi nodded, "Yes, Plus Ultra, I suppose."

"Then… I have a suggestion."

Aizawa gestured to the storm in the distance, "When we make landfall, you get out and shift. I'll meet up with the Heroes on the ground. You take the fight right to this snake villain."

"Alright. But… snake?"

Aizawa sighed, "I thought you'd be checking your information feed. At the source of the storm is a gigantic snake."

Taking the moment to analyze the footage, Toshinori's brow furrowed.

"This is almost too much for a single villain. Could it be Trigger?"

"Now you are starting to see why I thought it could be All For One. This destruction is just at an abnormal level. Trigger could certainly be a factor. Although…"

"Although?"

Aizawa's eyebrows furrowed, "...in all likelihood, there are at least two masterminds at work, the snake villain and another who has this storm Quirk. Potentially a third who could be the source of the red sand monsters."

"A group of villains… this would be quite a grand scale for announcing themselves. But it has happened before."

"Not in the last five years or so, but you aren't wrong. This could be like the Black Shoals Incident."

"The Black Shoals Incident… that's something I haven't heard about in a long time."

"Not surprising. Ever since their leader hung himself in his cell, they faded into relative obscurity. Anyway, let's leave the speculation to Nezu. Right now, our job is to save lives."

Toshinori nodded, "Of course. Let's hurry."

With the conversation over, Toshinori gazed ahead at the approaching coastline of the Aichi Prefecture. Thanks to the Hercules' speed, they were making good time. They would be there in less than forty-five minutes. All Might wanted to buff up in his anticipation, but he knew every second of his time limit would count today. With only a few hours of fighting power, he could not waste his transformation. Clenching his fist, the Pro Hero's face remained in a frown.

'Into the fire, as they say…'


Minato Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning

From the streets of Nagoya, Kugo Sakamata shouted to his subordinates.

"FORM UP! Another wave, incoming!"

Sakamata, also known as the Killer Whale Hero: Gang Orca, was an imposing man. Due to his mutation Quirk, Orcinus, he was not only abnormally tall but had the features and abilities of an orca whale. Amongst all heroes in Japan, he was considered one of the "most villainous-looking". Yet, despite his appearance, he was an incredibly popular hero. Through strength and charisma, he frequently remained in the Top Twenty of Japan's Pro Heroes. His agency, which doubled as an aquarium, brought millions of visitors to Okuto Island each year. He had hundreds of sidekicks, many of which could have been high-ranked Pro Heroes if they had gone solo.

At their boss's orders, the Okuto Island Agency unleashed a mix of ranged Quirks and support weapons against the encroaching Sekhem. As the skeletal demons were pushed back, a pair of Pro Heroes watched carefully.

The first Hero was muscular, with pale mint-green hair. His bare chest was covered by a padded combat vest, and he wore large brown cargo pants on his lower body. On his arms were two massive barrel-like support tools, and covering his face was a mask with four small gun barrel-like holes. He was the Battle Hero: Gunhead.

The second Hero was a younger man dressed in dark green ninja-like clothing. His hair was the color of sand, and his face had a light mustache and goatee. On his back were a pair of crossed bamboo stalks, and he also had half-cut stalks over each of his ears. His name was Takato Takeshita, also known as the Bamboo Hero: Khao Lam. As he looked at the front line, his face became set into a frown.

"Orca, it's no good, they'll just keep coming."

The other two heroes knew he was not wrong. Although individually these monsters were not powerful, they were numerous. Combined with the Sekhem's ability to reform, the battle was becoming a war of attrition— or worse, a close-range brawl. That was something the Heroes sorely wished to avoid, as the enemy had an advantage in a close-range battle. Their secondary ability to transform their sand-like bodies into bladed weaponry had already claimed the lives of numerous civilians and even a few heroes.

However, retreat was not an option. Orca, although his face was grim, shook his head, "It doesn't matter, Khao Lam. We can't afford to lose our position and leave civilians in danger."

Gunhead spoke solemnly, "We'll continue doing a rotation of sidekicks to avoid exhaustion. It's the only way we can avoid losses."

The other heroes looked at the Battle Hero with concern. Before Gang Orca's agency had finished mobilizing, the Minato Ward had been defended solely by Gunhead's agency. Due to the lack of knowledge of the enemy's abilities and the chaos of evacuation, many of the agency's sidekicks lost their lives. By now, heroes across the city had begun to set up a proper perimeter, but it wouldn't bring back the dead. For a man like Gunhead, who cared deeply for his sidekicks, the losses were undoubtedly agonizing.

As Orca's sidekicks continued mowing down the Sekhem with ranged attacks, all three heroes suddenly caught sight of a colorful blur above them. The surprised sidekicks ceased their firing as the horde in front of them was annihilated by the blur.

One of the sidekicks, a female heroine with pink anemone-like hair and a fish skeleton hat exclaimed in surprise, "Was that…?"

Hearing the whirring of screeching tires, the heroes and resting sidekicks turned to see an armored car pull to a stop behind them. Several sidekicks switched their blasters to cement mode, ready to detain the driver. But as they stepped out, Gang Orca stopped his sidekicks from firing. It was a hero Khao Lam did not recognize, but his fellow Pro Heroes did.

"Eraserhead! They sent you?"

The shabby-looking hero nodded, closing the door of the Hercules behind him, "Yeah. All Might and I are here to lend a hand."

Underneath his mask, Gunhead raised his eyebrow, "So, that was All Might seconds ago? Well, his help is certainly appreciated."

Seeing his sidekicks reenergized by knowledge of All Might's presence, Gang Orca smiled, "That man does have a way of turning the tide of any situation. Is he headed for the Higashi Ward?"

The Erasure Hero nodded, "That's right. He and I agreed it was best that I split off to get a live update on the state of the front lines. What's the situation here?"

Gang Orca gestured in several different directions, "Preliminary evacuation is mostly complete. We've set up a four-pronged perimeter. My agency is holding things down here in the south. Shishido has set up a perimeter in the north, Oogami's in the west, and Rodeo's agency is holding down the eastern front. We've also got Ryukyu and a few others watching the air."

Aizawa nodded, "I see we're not understaffed. I'm surprised Oogami and Shishido are both here though, usually, those two don't even like to be in the same city."

"They were arguing earlier today, but they know to put their quarrel aside during a crisis."

"But, still, why were so many heroes here today? This level of mobilization isn't normal, even for a disaster like this."

"We got lucky on that front. There was a conference today focusing on animal-themed heroes, so a lot of heroes and some of their agencies were in the city."

"A drop of fortune in this crazy situation. We certainly need the numbers. It's strange these villains did this on the day of the conference but I'm not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Do we have the authority to go all out?"

"Yes. With the evacuation in its secondary phase, we are all clear to go all out."

Aizawa preemptively applied some eye drops as he responded, "Perfect. So do we have any idea what these things are anyways?"

It was Gunhead who responded, "Not a clue. They appear to be sand constructs of some sort, but they are unusually intelligent. They also seem capable of transforming their limbs into a variety of blades. These things can take a person down quickly if a fight moves into close range."

Aizawa nodded, "So, we need to keep our distance? That should not be too much of a problem. Have we identified where they are forming from?"

"It's the storm, but the sand it's producing coagulates whether we like it or not. Kicking apart the piles just means it forms somewhere else."

Gunhead turned to look Aizawa in the eyes, "Do you think we could use your Erasure on them?"

Aizawa shook his head, "If these are byproducts of the Quirk, I won't be able to nullify their existence. I'd have to get a solid look at their creator to stop them."

Khao Lam looked at Aizawa confused, "Then, why didn't you stay with All Might?"

"That's my intent, but I wanted to make contact here first. A proper understanding of the current situation was critical. The information network is good, but a first-hand account is better."

Gang Orca nodded in agreement, "Understandable. Now, let us clear a path for you to get through. Bone-T, Nesslock! Get over here!"

Gang Orca turned to see two of his sidekicks run over. One was the girl who had reacted to All Might minutes earlier. Her name was Tekka Maki, codename Bone-T, one of Gang Orca's younger sidekicks. The other, Nesslock, was a male sidekick with the head and skin of a moray eel.

Nesslock saluted, "Sir! What are our orders?"

Gang Orca gestured to Aizawa, "You'll join Eraserhead at the Higashi Ward. Both of your Quirks are good in close combat, so I want you to ensure he gets there safely."

Bone-T gave an enthusiastic salute, "Yessir!"

Turning to another set of sidekicks, Gang Orca called out to the group's leader, "Eastsound! What's the status of the back alleys?"

The sidekick, whose costume resembled a copper hat diving suit, saluted, "They are relatively clear, sir! The main streets seem to be where the enemy is congregating!"

"Good. Then they'll have a path. Khao Lam, can I count on you to help clear a path?"

The bamboo-themed hero smiled confidently, "You got it. I'll clear out those monsters faster than you can say 'bamboo'!"

At his corny words, Maki grimaced, "Takato… are you still using that awful catchphrase?"

"Tekka… is this really the time to criticize me? Listen, I know we broke up on bad terms but…"

"But nothing! If you're gonna dump me with an email, you better expect an attitude from me in person!"

As the two bickered, Gang Orca put his hand to the bridge of his nose. Frustrated, he shouted, putting his sharp teeth on full display.

"ENOUGH! WE ARE IN A DISASTER!"

Breathing in, Gang Orca continued, "Khao Lam, Bone-T, you may have history, but that stays behind when you put on your hero costumes. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"

The hero and sidekick paled and glanced down nervously.

"Sorry, Orca."

"Sorry, Boss."

"Better. Now, Khao Lam, can you clear a path?"

The man nodded, "Yes, I can."

"Then do so. When the chance is made, Aizawa, I want you going with Bone-T and Nesslock."

Eraserhead nodded, "Understood."

"Now… where is Captain Sparta? He should have reported on the status of the backline a while ago. Did you see him on your way here, Eraser?"

"No, we avoided the evacuees, so we might have missed him."

"I see. Well, let's focus on getting you to Higashi for n–"

Gang Orca's words were interrupted by a distant shout of pain. To the shock of the gathered heroes, a body came flying at them from somewhere behind the Hercules. As the individual landed with a sickening crunch, Gang Orcs recognized them as the man he had just spoken about.

The Bronze Age Hero, Captain Sparta. The red-haired man was bleeding and bruised, and his signature armor was dented in numerous places. Most interestingly, his bronze spear, which he almost never parted with, was nowhere to be seen.

Gang Orca cursed under his breath, 'Damn it, that came from behind our line! Did they flank us?'

Khao Lam rushed over in worry, "Ikkaku! What happened?"

Weakly standing, the Pro Hero looked at the Bamboo Hero with terror-filled eyes. Spitting out a glob of blood, the hero reached out and spoke. His voice was pained and raspy.

"R…un…"

Coughing up another large glob, the famously brave hero had a defeated look to his eyes.

"It's.. it's… too strong…"

Before anyone could inquire what "it" was, a whistling sound filled the air. Squinting, Khao Lam panicked as he realized what was headed their way. It was Captain Sparta's spear, coated in some sort of dark miasma.

As he rushed backward, Takeshita yelled in alarm.

"INCOMING! TAKE COVER!"

Not questioning Khao Lam's order, the heroes dove behind the barricades. Second later, the spear arced downwards and struck the Hercules. Despite the plated armor, the spear ran through the hood like a piece of glass. Seconds later, a massive fireball filled the area as the engine of Power Loader's supercar exploded.

Bone-T, who hadn't fully gotten clear, cried out in agony as superheated shrapnel stuck into her back. She was fortunate enough to not be struck in her vitals, but instantly passed out from the pain. Thinking quickly, Aizawa pulled the pink-haired sidekick behind the barrier. Her wound was grievous; Bone-T needed medical treatment, and quickly.

As Gang Orca's ears recovered from the boom, he looked over at the panicking Khao Lam, "Orca! Maki's injured! We have to get her out of here!"

Although Orca knew reducing their numbers would be bad, he wouldn't see one of his own dead if he could help it. Making his decision, Orca looked to Nesslock. The eel-man sidekick was one of his strongest. He could make it, especially with a little help.

"Nesslock! Moran! Get Bone-T to the medical camp. Stick to the alleyways and stay away from any constructs you see!"

Moran, another of Orca's sidekicks, nodded as he ran over, "On it, Sir!"

Picking up Maki gently, Nesslock moved into one of the side alleys, Moran behind him. With luck, they would make it to the encampment in the southwest.

After glancing once more at his injured ex-girlfriend, Khao Lam peered out over the barricade. Near the wreckage of the Hercules, Takeshita could see the burnt body of Ikkaku Seidoki; the man was certainly dead. Unlike Bone-T, Captain Sparta had gotten hit by the explosion at point-blank range, there was no way he could have survived.

Although it was hard to see through the dust and flame, Takeshita could also see a distinct shape moving toward them through the wreckage. Despite the heat, they did not slow down at all.

As they moved closer, the Bamboo Hero got a proper look at their foe. The towering figure in the flames was fully covered in medieval armor. The armor was a purplish black and surrounded by a strange smokey miasma.

Khao Lam muttered slightly, practically unaware of his own voice, "What the hell is that?"

The monster didn't answer. With a growl, Berserker grabbed the charred body of Captain Sparta flinging it into a nearby building. Lancelot knew the heroes weren't his intended prey. He had come to hunt down Avenger and its Master due to the loss he had sustained in Deika City. But Berserker's rage was indiscriminate, and these heroes were standing in its way. If that was their choice, so be it. They would have to die as well.

Berserker's blood boiled in its veins as he roared. The disgraced Knight of the Round Table hungered for battle, and these foolish Heroes would be his first opponents.

FALSE BERSERKER: LANCELOT


A Certain Island
A Long, Long Time Ago…

In an isolated chamber on an island in the Aegean Sea, an aging craftsman looked away from his workbench.

His skin was pale, and his hands had thick calluses from years of work. He had dark, messy long hair that was beginning to gray at the ends and a spindly goatee on his chin. His bright blue eyes had a light-hearted aura to them, and combined with his smirk, it seemed as if he might be about to crack a joke. As he looked down at a young girl in front of him, the man stroked his goatee absentmindedly.

"Princess, are you trying to go into the maze again?"

In front of him, stood a young girl with green eyes and tied-back brown hair. She wore a yellow peplos dress and armlets made of silver. Her hands were behind her back, as she unsuccessfully tried to hide whatever she was holding.

With a pout, the young girl responded with a haughty tone. "I'm the princess! I can go wherever I want!"

"Now-now, Princess, you know your father doesn't like it when you go to the maze. Even if you take my thread, it isn't safe for you to be there."

The girl, who gave up trying to hide the small ball of golden thread, exclaimed in disagreement, "But then I won't get to see Brother! No one else goes to see him anymore because of Daddy's order! He'll be so lonely without me!"

"I understand you want to see your brother, but he's dangerous, my dear. It's dangerous."

"My brother's not an it, you stupid old man!"

"Now Princess, you can't just call people stupid like that. The gods and your mother would want you to be a proper lady. And more importantly, it wasn't your brother I was talking about at the end."

"Huh?"

"I was referring to the maze itself. Per your father's orders, I imparted within it a terrible mind. It will trick your senses, and lead you astray. It is no place for anyone, let alone a young girl."

The girl held up the ball of golden thread, a defiant look on her face, "But I have my thread."

The craftsman stared at her flatly as he plucked the ball out of her hands, "You mean my thread."

The little girl kicked the man in the leg, "Hey! Give it back!"

"Ow! Why would I give back what belongs to me? That doesn't— OW! Princess, I must insist, your mother and father both want you to stay up here in the palace, where we all know you are safe. Now, please, stop kicking me!"

Ceasing her kicks, the princess relented with a final pout, "Fine… you're still a big meanie, though."

"I'll settle for being a meanie. Now, Princess, it's time for you to head back to your bedchambers. We wouldn't want any of the servants to catch you out of bed, would we?"

The girl nodded meekly before scampering off.

As she departed, the aging man sighed, "She'll be back soon enough, she always is. I should build a container for this magic tool, but if she were to wander off without it…"

The man shook his head, "No, no. I shouldn't think of such things. I have to hope the Queen teaches her to have a better sense of safety before it's too late."

The old man turned towards a diagram of an intricate maze, his eyes darkening at the groundwork of his most twisted creation.

"After all, my maze doesn't like its prey to escape its grasp forever…"


Naka Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning

On an office building rooftop, the Heroic Spirit Caster gazed out at the Higashi Ward in the distance. The sky was dark, shrouded by the red storm clouds Avenger unleashed. For a Servant as magically attuned as Caster, the feeling in the air was sickening.

'This is the source of the evil aura? It feels even more vile than the maze was in my brother's final years.'

The air was charged with mana, and Caster's surveillance strings struggled to form. The oppressive power of an Anti-World Noble Phantasm made the results of her Item Creation skill degrade faster than normal.

The strands that were part of one of her Noble Phantasms were thankfully unaffected, but the restriction to Item Construction was still unpleasant.

'Whoever controls this storm may have some secondary objective. If this Noble Phantasm had been unleashed at its full potential, I am not sure it would be possible to counteract it with my second Noble Phantasm. But, at its current degree of activation, I should be able to stop it.'

Although there were no Sekhem visible from her position, she could still hear the distant sounds of battle. That "Oogami" hero and his agency were holding their ground elsewhere in the Naka Ward.

'I may not be able to face the enemy head-on like the others, but I can still lend the Pro Heroes and my fellow Servants a hand.'

Caster turned her head to the left, "Which means… I can't have you two preventing me from doing so."

Scaling the side of the building, two Pro Heroes locked eyes with Caster.

The first hero was dressed in a dark blue bodysuit, and his entire body seemed to be made of wood. His name was Shinji Nishiya, also known as the Pro Hero, Kamui Woods.

The second Hero, Native, had dark-brown hair and a cinnamon-colored jumpsuit with a large "N" on it. His accessories gave him a Native American vibe befitting his hero name.

It was Kamui Woods who spoke first.

"Listen up! You are suspected of villainous or vigilante activity! Please surrender yourself immediately!"

Native nodded in agreement, "That's right, Miss. Please surrender yourself peacefully and you won't have to be punished!"

Caster sighed, "Well, clearly only one of you has manners. Kamui Woods and Native, I believe? I am afraid I must refuse your offer. This situation is being caused by forces beyond your understanding. I cannot let you detain me."

As she expected, her answers were not what the two heroes had wanted to hear. Having denied her chance for a peaceful arrest, Caster knew a battle was imminent. Unfortunately for these two, Caster had done extensive research into Pro Heroes and already knew about both of the Heroes' Quirks and combat styles. Kamui was a restraining type, while Native was more of the opportunistic sort.

'Kamui Woods will almost certainly start with his Lacquered Chains Prison, and Native will follow up with a probing attack. Native's Quirk is more problematic for me if he gets the chance to glide. I'll deal with him first.'

Caster tilted her head down in resignation, "Seems we have not reached an accord. I must apologize in advance then, for stringing you two up."

Native looked at her quizzically, "String? Huh— AHH!"

Kamui looked over in surprise at his now-restrained ally, "You villainess! How dare you!"

Jumping forward, Kamui gathered a mass of wood in his arm before releasing it in a torrent of branches.

"FINISHING MOVE: LACQUERED CHAINS PRISON!"

Caster smiled. 'Just as anticipated.'

"Finishing Move? I couldn't agree more."

In an instant, Kamui's attack was shredded by a series of rapidly moving strings. As the hero recoiled, Caster launched several tendrils of string at the Pro Hero.

Glancing to confirm Native was still in his bindings, Caster gave Kamui Woods an almost apologetic look.

"While I'm sure you are an impressive Pro Hero, I won't be able to play around with you. I need all the energy I can spare. So please forgive me."

Strings fluttered around Caster, twisting into imitations of Kamui's own branches, "So let's make this quick, shall we?"


Nakamura Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning

On the top of a skyscraper in northwest Nagoya, a blackish-purple fog began to manifest. For a moment it was stagnant. Then, out from the fog, stepped a woman with sienna skin and golden hair. She had a draconic tail sweeping behind her, the same color as her fancy black dress. Following behind the woman, Lancer, was a man in a butler's outfit. His identity was Kurogiri, the lieutenant of the League of Villains. As the portal receded, only the material making up the villain's face remained.

As Lancer looked out at the destruction in Nagoya, Kurogiri grappled with a sudden headache.

'I shouldn't be able to feel such things… did using my portals in such rapid succession destabilize my body?'

With the headaches came flashes of memory, which Kurogiri never appreciated. Shaking his head, he decided to try to ignore the pain. He turned to the draconic woman at his side, who was… sniffing the air?

The Servant of the Spear mused to herself, putting a finger on her lip-piercing. "Hmmm… the source of all this is to the east, as is another presence. I sense nothing to the north, but it seems there are some presences in the south… oh?"

Kurogiri questioned, "Lancer?"

Smirking, she pointed in the direction of the Naka Ward, "Seems another Servant is setting up southeast of here. Perhaps I'll give them a welcome."

"Are you not going after the source of the storm?"

"And ruin my chance to have some battles beforehand? This isn't a one-course meal, Kurogiri. This is a banquet of combat!"

"A banquet of combat?"

Lancer reached her arms outward, her face filled with energy and eagerness, "Ah~ so much destruction. Whoever made this storm certainly has no love for humanity. But, then again, neither do I."

"So, where are you headed, Lancer?"

"To the southeast, of course. The storm will draw in the Servants, and I will hunt them down. Starting with whoever is in the southeast."

"Very well. I will be returning to our base."

Kurogiri vanished as his fog swallowed him up. After he departed, Lancer took a deep breath. Walking to the edge of the skyscraper, she slammed her feet down, pushing through the gravel on the roof.

Then, with an explosive force, the draconic Servant launched herself into the air, rushing toward the Naka Ward. As she zipped through the air, she caught wind of something else. It had been too faint to notice earlier, but now she could smell the scent of draconic power. It was usually diluted, smelling more human than anything else, but Lancer's interest had been piqued.

'What kind of dragon would I be, if I didn't go investigate another fellow dragon?'

Careening off her initial route, Lancer grinned.

The hunt was about to begin.


Chikusa Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning

On another rooftop, Assassin surveyed the city of Nagoya.

He had arrived a while ago and had watched with glee as monsters rampaged across the city. Sadly, the Pro Heroes had begun to take control of the situation. The death and agony that filled the air had lessened severely. Now, the rather bored Heroic Spirit passed the time with a telepathic conversation with his Master. Although they were in a whole other prefecture, his rough intent could still be conveyed through their link.

"Are you watching, my Master? This grand performance, with eight main actors and a vast supporting cast, has begun to move!"

Assassin set his eyes on the distant shape of a writhing serpent, "We seven Servants have gathered here as one, to witness as the eighth tears the worlds asunder. Will Avenger fail, and humanity become victorious? Or shall Avenger succeed, and usher in the next act of this wonderful war?"

Spreading out his gloved hands, False Assassin let out a cackle, "The curtain has risen! Shall the city of Nagoya fall to ruin? Or shall it be saved by the heroes of Japan and the Throne? O' Master, Let us enjoy the show!"


Showa Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning

Bounding towards the Higashi Ward, Toshinori Yagi kept his eyes on the storm on the horizon. Landing on a rooftop, he took a moment to breathe. Although he had limited time in his buffed-up form, he did not want to over-exert himself just by getting to the Higashi Ward a little faster.

As he caught his breath, he turned in surprise at the sound of feet crunching against gravel. As he gazed at the stranger, he raised his guard and prepared to attack.

Standing across from him was a man whose physique easily matched his own. The stranger did not wear a shirt, his only clothing being the lower half of a chiton which obscured his waist, fur-lined leather armguards, and a pair of leather sandals. The man's skin was the color of antique bronze, and his hair was a wild mane of black strands. If All Might had to make a comparison, the man's appearance reminded him of a lion. Yet, the expression on the man's face held no hostility. This was no villain, All Might could feel it.

As the man spoke, Toshinori found the stranger's voice was softer than he expected, "All Might. I apologize for startling you."

The hero waved his arms in reassurance, "It's quite alright. Might I ask your name?"

The man's expression remained stoic, "Just call me Archer. Now, I have an offer for you."

All Might looked at this "Archer" quizzically, "An offer?"

"I have no doubt we are both heading to vanquish the source of this evil storm. So… how about we join forces?"


Joie de Vivre, Monaco
Present Day

Shiro Emiya fiddled with his tie as he observed the bustling crowds aboard the great casino boat, Joie de Vivre. Although he had been here before, the opulence and pleasure-seeking environment was overwhelming. On the other side of their table, Rin Tohsaka watched her boyfriend struggle with exasperation.

"Shiro, please stop fiddling with your tie."

Pulling his hand away, defeated, Shiro took another sip of his drink. It was a strange cocktail, even for taste buds as refined as his own.

'Is this what expensive tastes like?'

As with all things on the casino boat, the prices of their meal had been atrociously high. Van-Fem may not suck the blood out of people as much anymore, but he certainly did enjoy draining them of all their cash.

The two had dressed up in a way that befitted the environment of the great casino boat. Shiro was dressed in a light gray suit with an orange collared shirt below his vest. As for Rin, she had opted for a red qipao embroidered with golden patterns. She looked even more stunning than usual and had to shoo off more than a few suitors tonight. However, Shiro had been no less harassed, and she narrowed her eyes at the black-haired woman tending the bar. She had caught the woman repeatedly sneaking eyes at her man.

Rin distracted herself by eating a bit of her meal. The lobster pasta she was enjoying was worth the euros, she had to give Van-Fem's chefs that.

As the two wrapped up their meal, Rin noticed it was not their server who was approaching their table.

"Shiro."

"Hmmm, what is it, Rin?"

"I think our liaison is here."

"Correct, Signora Tohsaka. I am your liaison, sent by my father."

The speaker was a beautiful woman in a black and purple single-sleeved dress. Her hair was blonde, and her eyes were a pale blue. She, like Chiaroscuro, was one of Van-Fem's "daughters", a Demonic Castle Dead Apostle made by the Fourteenth Ancestor's golemancy.

"I am Cupola, eldest daughter of Lord Vandelstam. I have been told to guide you to your VIP Accommodations, Signor Emiya. Your Signora may join you as well. Worry not about your bill, it has been covered by Lord Vandelstam's generosity."

Shiro was confused, "Accommodations, but…"

The brown-haired Magus nodded, "I understand. Come along, Shiro."

As Rin dragged him after her, Cupola guided the two into the main casino of the boat, Van-Fem's very own L'Empire du Jeu. As the group moved through the building, they witnessed billions of euros being won and lost in minutes. Shiro remembered gambling against Van-Fem in this room. It had been a very stressful experience, one he preferred not to repeat. Moving past the main hall, Cupola led them into the private rooms of the vessel. The two Magi could feel themselves passing through multiple bounded fields, which no doubt would have been quite difficult to cross without Cupola to accompany them. As they reached a large golden doorway, she bowed.

"Thank you for coming without questioning. It would be ill-suited for my father if prying ears learned too much."

Rin and Shiro nodded. As Cupola departed back to the main hall, the two Magi surveyed the door.

"Well, Shiro, shall we head inside?"

"Yes, let's go."

As he reached for the handle, the double doors suddenly swung open. The room was relatively small, about half the size of a classroom. There were tufted velvet sofas with three large aquariums behind each of them. Within the water, Shiro could see numerous small fish swimming around. The room's ceiling had a fourth aquarium, where a shark could be seen swimming. The center feature of the room was a large table made from ebony wood with tufted velvet chairs. What was most interesting, though, was the single occupant in the top-right seat of the table's eight chairs.

He was a priest, his black cassock and visible cross made that much clear. But his eyepatch and complete focus on his flip phone gave him a very different aura than the Church operatives either had encountered before.

As they sat themselves down next to the eyepatched priest, Shiro whispered to Rin, "Is that…?"

"A member of the Church? Looks like it. I could have sworn that Zelretch does not concern himself with the Holy Church though…"

"Ah, I suppose I forgot to tell you. Mr. Cervantes will be accompanying you as the War's Overseer, Ms. Tohsaka!"

The booming voice had rung out from the direction of the doorway, startling the two Magi. Glancing up to see Van-Fem and Zelretch had arrived, Hansa Cervantes finally shut his phone as he let out a whistle. Van-Fem smirked at the sight as he produced a glass from his jacket, which inexplicably was already filled to the brim with wine.

The two Dead Apostle Ancestors each took a seat on the other side of the table, each selecting one of the corner chairs. Having settled himself, Zelretch turned to the Magi and priest with a smile. His eyes twinkled in a mix of apprehension and excitement. "I see everyone arrived on time. Now, shall we get this secret meeting started?"


To be continued in Chapter 8: Lonesome Princess

Lunar Files: Heroes of Nagoya
I am introducing several Pro Heroes in the Nagoya Arc, expanding on canon MHA heroes or creating original ones. Here's a compilation of information about them.

Khao Lam (Expansion on canon MHA Character)
Real Name: Takato Takeshita
Occupation: Pro Hero
Quirk: Bamboo
Takato can sprout Bamboo-like structures from the ground at will. He can only do this in a certain radius around him, and producing too much will dehydrate him.

Oogami (Character from Oumagadoki Zoo)
Real Name: Ouma Takeru
Occupation: Pro Hero, Leader of the Red Wolf Agency
Quirk: No Data Provided

Rodeo (Character from Oumagadoki Zoo)
Real Name: Brian Keiba
Occupation: Pro Hero, Leader of the Rodeo Agency
Quirk: No Data Provided

Bone-T (Character from Oumagadoki Zoo)
Real Name: Tekka Maki
Occupation: Pro Hero, Sidekick at the Okuto Island Agency
Quirk: Fishbone
Tekka has a fishbone-like structure growing out of her head which she can length and control with her mind. The "ribs" on the structure are individually retractable.

Nesslock
Real Name: Kiba Urashima
Occupation: Pro Hero, Sidekick at the Okuto Island Agency
Quirk: No Data Provided

Eastsound
Real Name: Shachi Senin
Occupation: Pro Hero, Sidekick at the Okuto Island Agency
Quirk: No Data Provided

Captain Sparta
Real Name: Ikkaku Seidoki
Occupation: Pro Hero
Quirk: Bronze Age
As long as Ikkaku is in physical contact with bronze, he possesses superhuman physical abilities. He also seems unaffected by how hot or cold that bronze may become.

Moran
Real Name: Haruto Akamanbo
Occupation: Pro Hero, Sidekick at the Okuto Island Agency
Quirk: No Data Provided