The echo of the final bell was still fading when ALL MIGHT summoned young Izuku Midoriya to his office. A familiar wisp of steam laterand ALL MIGHT, the world's greatest hero, now in his frail form, sat opposite the wide-eyed student. Praises for Izuku's unique use of his powers combined with One For All were quickly followed by a grim revelation: the origins of their shared power, and the looming threat of its evil twin.

One For All, it turned out, was not simply a quirk passed down, but born from tragedy. Shigaraki Yoichi, a powerless young man tormented by his villainous brother, All For One, was the unwilling catalyst. All For One's attempt to control Yoichi backfired, inadvertently creating the very power meant to oppose him. Generations later, that power found its way to ALL MIGHT, and now Izuku.

It's a history steeped in both sacrifice and the enduring struggle against evil. But it was a detail about ALL MIGHT's past victory over All For One that made Izuku's blood run cold. "It may sound ironic coming from me, Young Midoriya," ALL MIGHT had confessed, his gaze lingering on his scarred body, "but regardless of one's strength, being too predictable leaves openings for others to exploit." All For One's capture of a powerful Weretiger to create a Nomu was a chilling testament to this truth.

The revelation planted a seed in Izuku's mind, a stark reminder of the dangers of complacency. Yet, it only strengthened his resolve. He would not let ALL MIGHT down, nor the legacy of those who came before. Facing All For One on top of his destiny was daunting, but it was a burden he willingly accepted, intertwined with the powers he now wielded. And in the heart of this young hero, a new mantra began to echo: never underestimate, never grow predictable, and always, always be prepared.

Wanting to end the conversation on a lighter note, ALL MIGHT let out a hearty laugh. "Well then, you should get going. I imagine your lovely ladies are eagerly awaiting you."

A light blush crept onto Izuku's cheeks at the remark. He chuckled, bidding ALL MIGHT farewell before heading directly to the school dorms where most of the girls, except for Momo and Tsuyu, were gathered.

Of course, he had already resolved to tell the truth with Kinoko, but he also intended to include Kyouka and Toru in on it. Judging by the rumors circulating, they would inevitably learn the truth sooner or later. This way, they would have more time to prepare. He debated whether to inform Tsuyu or other male classmates, but decided to approach that later, wishing to gauge their initial reactions first.

"Midoriya-kun!" Toru called out as the rest of the girls turned their heads towards him. Though, as always, he could only guess Toru's interest by her body language.

Izuku took a deep breath and addressed the group. "Hey, everyone! Ochaco, Mina, I think you already know about this, but we should meet tomorrow," he said, turning to Kyouka and Toru. "I have something important to share with you two."

Kyouka regarded him with a perplexed expression, while Toru's body language seemed to convey piqued curiosity.

"Okay..." "Alright!" They replied in unison.

"What's this meeting about?" Kyouka inquired as he took a seat beside her.

Izuku shook his head, replying, "Not now. Tomorrow, okay? And please, don't mention it to the others. Just us, alright?"

Though puzzled by his request, Kyouka and Toru nodded. After chatting for a while, they parted ways, making plans for the following day. As Izuku walked back to his room, the weight of the impending revelation hung over him, but so did a renewed determination.

THE NEXT DAY

The afternoon bell chimed, signaling the end of the school day. Izuku headed towards the Development Studio, a place filled with the hum of machinery and the scent of invention.

Upon entering, he found Mei hunched over her workbench, her goggles reflecting the warm glow of her latest invention. "Hey, Mei," he greeted with a hint of a smile.

Mei looked up, her eyes lighting up like a child on Christmas morning. "Izuku!" she exclaimed, leaping from her stool to throw her arms around his neck. He chuckled, returning her embrace, the familiar scent of oil and metal filling his senses.

A chuckle escaped his lips as he savored the feel of her soft body pressed against his muscular frame. "Sorry about that, I was delayed in class."

Mei pulled away, her smile undeterred. "No worries! Are you here for the babies, or were you hoping for an 'examination'? Or both?" Her eyes twinkled with playful mischief.

Izuku had been frequenting the Development Studio to test Mei's latest gadgets, hoping to find tools that would work in Elsewhere's harsh environment.

Although none of her ideas had succeeded in the testing phase, Mei never ran out of fresh concepts and genuinely relished the challenge.

These visits sometimes resulted in Izuku undergoing an 'examination' with her, which was precisely what it sounded like. This was something he was more than happy to oblige, usually.

Izuku raked his fingers through his tousled hair, a hint of regret in his emerald eyes. "Not today, Mei. Busy day. Just the 'babies' this time."

Mei pouted briefly but quickly replaced it with her characteristic enthusiasm. "Aww, but next time you're working twice as hard, okay?"

He nodded, a small smile returning to his face.

"Here, take these!" Mei handed him a small box containing an open breadboard and another encasing a material that gleamed like polished silver yet felt remarkably light. "It's a new alloy. Power Loader-sensei put me in touch with ALL MIGHT's niece on I-Island. We're collaborating on this!"

'Niece? ALL MIGHT has a niece? Huh,' he thought as examined the casing, intrigued by its unique properties. "What is it?"

"Yep!" Mei exclaimed, her hands dancing in the air. "It's not the material itself, but the finish—a special mixture of lead and zinc. If this doesn't work, we have another idea in the works... with Stars and Stripe!" A wild grin adorned her features, her body language as lively as ever. "Izuku, I've said it before, but this challenge you've presented me with is frustratingly amazing!"

Izuku chuckled at her antics while his brain processed her words internally. 'Stars and Stripe? THE Stars and Stripe? Mei found a way to communicate with the strongest heroine in the world?'

"Whoa," he breathed, awestruck.

Mei nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "Yep! But it's not ready yet. Now go, before I give in to temptation and pounce on you." Her gaze traced the contours of Izuku's body. "Those broad shoulders...those powerful arms...those sculpted abs..." Her voice dropped to a husky whisper, "And that...impressive stamina..." She unconsciously bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushing with a delicious warmth. "You're getting more irresistible by the minute, darnit."

He let a chuckle. "Next time. Thanks for this, Mei," he said with a roguish grin while pulling her into one final embrace, flustering the inventor even further, before departing the Development Studio.

He then made his way to the school building, where Kinoko, Kyouka, and Toru awaited him. The rest of the girls were either already gathered at The Glade or running fashionably late.

After greeting the three girls, Izuku walked with them towards The Crowley. Along the way, he attempted to brief them on the fundamentals of magic, the dangers and wonders of Elsewhere, and where his particular powers came from.

What they heard filled their eyes with wonder until he explained about his destiny and what he's born to fight. This revelation shook Kyouka, and if his interpretation of Toru's limited body language was accurate, her as well, though to a lesser degree. Surprisingly, Kinoko wore a determined expression. If the world-redefining information affected her, she did not outwardly show it.

Upon arriving at The Crowley, Izuku and the girls were surprised when Mina leapt onto him, enveloping him in an enthusiastic embrace.

"Daddy!"

"Hello, Mina. Ready for our session?" Izuku responded, catching her with ease.

"For you, Daddy, I'm ready for anything. Anything...at all," she purred sultrily.

"I've been wondering about this for a while now, but why does Ashido call you 'Daddy'? I thought it was just her flirting with you, but after hearing what you told us, I'm not so sure anymore," Kyouka inquired, her brow furrowed in confusion.

Before Izuku could respond, Mina interjected, "Oh, it's Daddy's idea. He told me to call him that when I surrendered my everything to him."

Kyouka, Toru, and Kinoko were rendered speechless by Mina's brazen words.

"I gave myself to him totally," Mina added, tightening her embrace around his neck.

"Ah...well then," Kyouka stammered awkwardly, averting her gaze from Mina's smoldering eyes, trying to avoid glimpsing the way she clung tightly to his muscular form.

'Must resist the urge to join in...' Kinoko thought, her cheeks flushed pink as she witnessed the scene unfold.

After regaining her composure, Toru teased, "So you're into that, huh? Would you like me to call you Daddy too?"

'Oh crap! Wait, what am I saying? What if he agrees?!' Toru panicked inwardly. 'Though thinking about it, it's not such a bad idea. Or maybe...he'll agree to call me 'Mommy' sometimes too, just to mix things up?'

Toru was grateful that no one could see her blush at that moment. It was still a secret for most of the class, but she was recently learning how to become visible with the help of Midnight. On the plus side, it also lets her reinforce her control over quirk, making the 'blushing incident' as she calls it on her mind, not happen as much.

Izuku shook his head at Mina, then turned to Toru. "Not important right now. But when the time comes, we'll cross that bridge. For now, let's go inside and meet the rest of the group."

"And stop doing that, shroom," Kinoko muttered under her breath.

Mina laughed softly as she gently tugged at the hem of Izuku's shirt. "She's jealous of me~."

"Well, yeah. Wouldn't you be too in her situation?" he whispered back.

"Not really~. I think it's hot to see Daddy take another girl. Sometimes I fantasize about you with other girls too," she admitted shamelessly.

Izuku chuckled lightly at her candid admission before Midnight approached them.

"I'm coming with you, Izuku," she declared.

Taken aback, he asked, "Why, though?"

"Because what happens today will echo through the world. And I have no intention of being left out of this," she stated firmly.

After considering for a few moments, he let out a smile. "You know what? It's good to have you along. Let's go."

He then began descending the stairs, the rest following closely behind.

They're now at the basement, in front of The Portal. "Make sure not to bring any tech over there or support items. So cells, or headphones, or basically anything that runs on 1s and 0s, just leave them at the table," he said, addressing the three newcomers, as he's pointing at the tall wooden table near the bean bag.

They were confused at first, but did it anyway, trusting Izuku has a reason for it.

"Do you want to gear up, Daddy?" Mina inquired.

"Nah, I'm good. What about you, Midnight-sensei?" Izuku asked. He didn't bother asking the rest, as he intended to protect them. 'Besides, it's just a few minutes' walk.'

"Hardly. I'll just let the handsome Evoker deal with that, instead," she replied with a coy smile.

"I'm somewhat unsurprised," he said with a light sarcastic tone as he stepped through the portal.

The others followed, standing in awe at the ever-changing, verdant scenery of Elsewhere that greeted them.

"So beautiful," Kinoko breathed.

"Wow..." Toru mumbled, enraptured.

"This is like another world straight out of a fantasy game," Kyouka commented, her eyes wide with wonder.

Izuku chuckled. "Well, it is another world, alright. Not sure about it being a game, though."

Kyouka then asked him, "Why did you tell us to leave our phones and headsets?"

"For some reason, this place will fry them if you did. It was a headache to explain to my Mom when I accidentally forgot to leave them and fried mine."

"Heh~" she said, going back to appreciating the view.

As he allowed them to soak in the breathtaking vista, Midnight placed a hand on his shoulder. "Have you given any thought to what you will do?"

"Get strong, then beat the crap out of Thor?" he replied, a hint of mischief in his tone.

"Sounds like you need some green paint to go with your delusions. Thor is a god of War. I doubt he even exerted much effort swatting you and Nana aside."

"Well, I didn't say we'd hunt him down this week. But whether it's Thor or this prophecy, we need to grow stronger. I need to master Excalibur, we need to find Nana, and we need a plan to bring everyone else in it, as well."

"Everyone else?"

"The Heroes. The Courts. The Pantheons, however many are left. Both world's combined military."

"Is that why you brought these girls?"

"If whatever is coming is half as cataclysmic as everyone's making it out to be, I'll need allies, not just in the magical side of the world, but in the other side, too. It's a problem for everyone, so they have the right to know. At the very least, those trying to protect the people need to know what they're working with. Ignorance can be much more fatal to everyone."

With a smirk, Midnight said, "Now you're almost talking like a leader."

"Thanks, I guess," he said, before X activated Eternal Pause.

"Minotaur Lord. 10 o'clock," X voice rang out.

"Thanks, X," Izuku replied, manifesting the sword Excalibur, its blade pointing downwards, as he turned to face the direction the Minotaur Lord was indicated.

Watching Izuku conjure a sword from thin air, Kyouka asked nervously, "What's going on?"

"One of the monsters from Elsewhere is here," he replied, his voice grim.

As they started to prepare for a fight, Izuku held up his hand, stopping them. "Don't. You're not ready yet. I'll handle this."

Suddenly, the creature appeared before them. The massive beast, standing twelve feet tall, loomed over them. Its glowing red eyes contrasted sharply with the lush green surroundings, adding to its menacing presence. Like others of its kind, it wielded two enormous war axes, each nearly as tall as an average person. The air filled with the pungent smell of iron and wet fur.

'The third one,' Izuku thought. 'I don't get why these creatures are so far from where they usually live.'

"Holy crap," Kyouka muttered under her breath.

"These are called 'Minotaur Lords.' Don't try to fight them. They're as strong as ALL MIGHT," Izuku warned the girls seriously.

"Wait, what?!" The trio exclaimed together, shocked. If Izuku was right, they were facing a creature of unbelievable strength. Each of them felt the urge to run, but they looked to Izuku for guidance, seeing him as calm as ever.

In a flash, moving faster than they could follow, Izuku rushed towards the beast and swung his blade. The next thing they knew, the creature's head was flying through the air like a soccer ball before hitting the ground with a heavy thud. The massive body crashed down soon after with a thunderous boom, signaling its demise.

Izuku put Excalibur back into his Spark and turned to face the girls, smiling. They stared at him, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, like fish out of water.

Kinoko felt her breath catch. One moment there had been a hulking monster, straight out of myths and nightmares. The next, there was just Izuku, standing calmly as if he'd just swatted a fly. A shiver ran down her spine, a mix of fear and awe. 'This is the power he has,' she thought, her resolve growing stronger. 'The power we need to face what's coming.'

Kyouka's eyes were wide, her mind struggling to process what she'd just seen. It was like something out of a comic book, too unbelievable to be real. But the Minotaur Lord's severed head, lying yards away, was a stark reminder of their new reality. A nervous laugh escaped her. "Did he just... one-shot it?"

Toru, invisible to everyone, felt a strange warmth spread through her. It wasn't just the adrenaline; it was a deeper feeling. A sense of safety, of trust in the man before them. She wanted to reach out, to touch him, to make sure he was real, that he was theirs. 'Daddy,' she thought, blushing furiously even though no one could see.

Midnight watched with a mix of amusement and pride. Izuku had handled the situation efficiently, showing both his power and control. He was growing into his role well. Though she felt a bit sorry for what she'd have to do to him soon, based on the vague hints from The Voices yesterday about acquiring it. And that could only mean one thing, really.

"Well, girls," she said smoothly, breaking the stunned silence. "Welcome to Elsewhere. Things are about to get a lot more interesting."

The ground shook as they followed Izuku through the strange landscapes of Elsewhere. Vines wrapped around ancient trees, glowing mushrooms dotted the forest floor, and weird, ghostly creatures flitted through the air. It was like walking into a beautiful and terrifying dream.

Kinoko, her heart still racing, couldn't help but admire the scenery. "It's amazing," she whispered. But her mind was already on the future. 'We have to get stronger,' she told herself, her determination growing with each step. 'We can't let him face this alone.'

Kyouka, still a bit shaken by the Minotaur Lord encounter, caught herself and tried to summon her courage. 'He's still the same guy,' she thought. 'So what if Cthulhu's cousins or whatever are coming? We're already working on becoming stronger heroes. The goal's just moved further, but it's still there. Besides...' her eyes fell on Izuku. 'I can't even imagine how Midoriya feels about all this. I can't complain!'

'His sword just took out that monster in one hit! At least I think so. It happened so fast I didn't even see him swing,' Toru thought, amazed. But more than awe, she felt incredibly grateful for Izuku's protection. Part of her wanted to hold onto him and never let go.

They kept following him until they reached the Gate. The massive structure with walls stretching up beyond sight.

"Open up, Gate," he commanded the Construct.

The ground rumbled as it responded, "Yes, Promised One." The door opens, revealing the beautiful Glade and the Lake at the center of it.

"See, would it have killed you to let her through last time?" Izuku remarked.

"Give up, Izuku. It's a Construct. It does what it's programmed to do," she chided gently.

"Yeah. But I'd rather my own front door at least attempted to follow instructions," he countered before addressing the Gate once more. "Right, Gate?" When it remained unresponsive, he let out a resigned sigh. "Let's go find the rest."

"Master! Good to see you!" Itsuka, emboldened by her new relationship with Izuku, called out, rushing towards him before halting abruptly, her eyes widening at the sight of Kinoko and the other girls. "Wait. What's going on?"

"Good to see you too. I told them about magic. At least the essential parts. They'll make great allies when the time comes," Izuku explained.

This reasoning, now revealed to them for the first time, left the trio, along with Itsuka, in a state of shock. On one hand, they were flattered that Izuku trusted them enough to confide in them. On the other, they had just witnessed a creature Izuku claimed to be as powerful as ALL MIGHT, only for him to dispatch it with seeming ease. While undoubtedly impressive, the fact that he desired additional allies despite wielding such immense power left them feeling uneasy.

"Battle Healer, reporting for duty," Yui deadpanned as she approached the group.

"Good to have you here too, Yui," Izuku acknowledged.

Suddenly, they all heard a voice emanating from the ground. "Izu-kun! I'm here too~" Himiko announced, transforming from a caterpillar back to her regular size.

"That's dangerous! What if I accidentally stepped on you?" Izuku admonished the dhampir, though she merely smirked in response.

"That's even better!" Himiko exclaimed gleefully.

"What if someone else accidentally stepped on you?"

"I'll cut their legs off!" Himiko instantly retorted, her words causing the trio's faces to drain of color in horror.

"You won't ever harm any of them, no matter what. Understood?" Izuku reprimanded her sternly.

"Aww~" she pouted but nodded, despite the sulk.

"Where's Ochaco, by the way?" Izuku inquired.

"I'm here, My Heart," Ochaco announced, planting a tender kiss upon his lips while clad in her plate armor. The other girls, save for Midnight, regarded her with unmistakable envy.

Before the situation could escalate into a bloodbath, Izuku cleared his throat and turned his attention to Itsuka. "Itsuka, did you find Nana?"

He had been hoping for good news, but Itsuka shook her head solemnly. "She's missing. I asked around. Nobody's seen her in the territory, and Eindridi's gone, too. I'll keep looking. I also hired some Hunters I know to aid the search."

The mere mention of 'Hunters' caused Himiko's aura to darken ominously as she remarked with biting sarcasm, "Make sure those Hunters aren't there to kill her."

"None of them are Were. Even if they tried, they're not enough to take down even a weakened granddaughter of Thor," Itsuka stated confidently.

"You'd think that, wouldn't you? In truth, they are scum that-" Himiko began, but Izuku silenced her with nothing but his gaze. He locked eyes with Himiko, his gaze steely. "Calm down."

After ensuring Himiko wouldn't instigate further conflicts, Izuku addressed Itsuka once more. "Okay. Itsuka. Your task is to find her ASAP. We need her back. Apart from that, it looks like we're all here."

X's synthetic voice interrupted him, activating Eternal Pause. "Actually, Boss. There are two others at the Gate."

"The heck is this? An Open House party?"

"Some kind of Demon. A fox, I think. And a human that felt familiar. One of your classmates, I think. She doesn't have a Spark, but if she's traveling with a demon, I doubt she's a mere Normie."

"Yaoyorozu and Kitsune. What are they doing here?" Izuku murmured as X deactivated Eternal Pause. He began walking towards the Gate alone, the girls regarding him with curious gazes as he did so.

Sure enough, Momo stood waiting there alongside Kitsune. "Greetings, Midoriya-san. I was expecting to see you here."

Momo stood tall in a resplendent emerald-green kimono, the silk shimmering with golden accents and embroidered with delicate white cranes. A wide golden obi accentuated her graceful figure, and her raven hair was styled in an elegant updo, held in place by ornate silver pins.

Meanwhile, Kitsune is wearing a thin-strap black shirt and ripped jeans.

"Whereas I did not expect to see you here, Yaoyorozu," he replied evenly before turning his gaze to the demon fox. "Nor especially you, Foxy."

"In this, as in all things, I am my Mistress' servant. Mongrel," Foxy stated imperiously.

"Charmed," Izuku deadpanned. "So, Yaoyorozu, what brings you here?"

"I told you before. I must aid you in whatever happens. And what is about to unfold beyond these gates, it echoes through possible futures," she explained, her tone solemn.

Seeing no viable alternative, Izuku gave in with a nod. "Okay, you girls better join us, then."

Thank you for accepting us," Momo said graciously. As they rejoined the group, she addressed those she recognized, "Greetings, Lady Sorceress. Princess. Ashido-san. Jiro-san. Hagakure-san." Turning to the others, she continued, "You two must be Kendo-san, Kodai-san, and Komori-san, yes? The last one of our group is unknown to me, as yet."

"I'm Toga Himiko!" Himiko introduced herself enthusiastically.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Yaoyorozu Momo, a Seer from the Yaoyorozu Family."

"Um, how did you know about me?" Kinoko queried, her brow furrowed.

"As I mentioned, I'm a Seer. I've come to know about you through my visions," Momo explained.

"They're all girls," Kitsune observed with a displeased sniff before fixing Izuku with a stern glare. "I. Am. Not. Joining. Your. Harem."

"No one's asking you to," Izuku replied evenly, before turning to Momo "Are you signing up for..."

"For the Knights of The Lake? I have heard that name whispered in my dreams. Now, I understand what it means," Momo said, her gaze sweeping the surroundings. Her eyes settled upon the assembled group. "The potential gathered here. Today may be remembered. In fame, or infamy."

Izuku let out a deep, resigned sigh. "Just once I'd like a prophecy that goes 'everything will be fine, you're totally getting laid tonight.'"

Before he could react, Ochaco had slipped to his side, whispering sultrily, "It is all going to be fine. And you are getting...laid. On Friday."

A wide, mischievous smirk spread across Izuku's features. "Close enough."

"So...what do we do?" Itsuka prompted.

"Well, first of all, we need to rescue Nana. We've been drawing blanks, but with a Yaoyorozu Seer's help, we may be able to find her."

"Nana-dono? Likely. She is not...hard...to pick out from the Stream. Where did you last see her?" Momo inquired.

"Right before Thor tried to kill me. And broke my link to magic," Izuku revealed.

Yui didn't seem surprised, so Izuku assumed either Mina or Itsuka had informed her. However, Kinoko, Toru, and Kyouka wore expressions of shock at this revelation. 'So that's what he meant when he said he got his ass kicked?' Kyouka and Toru thought simultaneously.

"I...see. But...nevermind," Momo murmured, shaking her head slightly.

"So, Nana?" Izuku pressed.

Momo took a deep, steadying breath as she gathered her power to See, her eyes glowing an ethereal amethyst hue. "I...I see her. She's quite far. Way up north. Akita prefecture, I think. She is unharmed. Angry, but unharmed."

"Well, angry could just be the pub being out of booze," Izuku quipped. "Itsuka, does it ring any bells?"

"Aye. The Farm is out north, in Kazuno. It's the Shimura family seat," she confirmed.

"Could they be holding her?"

Then, realization struck Itsuka like a bolt of lightning. "Oh, shit! The Icebox!"

"Icebox?"

"After that bloodline upgrade they got from Thor, they'll need a way to contain an Evoker with anger management issues. The Shimuras were already a bloodline with lots of that even before the upgrade. Add in an Evoker's disposition and impatience to that...well..."

"Wait, they've got prisons specifically for Evokers?" Izuku asked, baffled.

"That's what I heard anyway," Itsuka affirmed with a solemn nod. "A containment room enhanced by an Enchanter that was already old by the time Oda Nobunaga learned to crawl."

"Goddamnit. We need to get her back. Any ideas?"

Itsuka was about to respond when her gaze fell upon Ochaco, reminding her of the strained, if not outright hostile, relationship between the Shimuras and The Pendragons. "I think I know someone that can help. I'll send you a text later."

Izuku, not missing her subtle expression, let out a weary sigh. "Okay. But I also know we should gear you up. Right now, you have the tools to kill defilers. We need you to have the tools to kill gods."

Itsuka's eyes widened in shock. "And how the hell do you plan to get those, Izuku? Even the best Support items could barely, and I mean barely, damage most creatures from Elsewhere. There's no way they have god-killing weapons."

"No idea. I was hoping someone else had something?" Izuku said, his gaze sweeping across the rest of the girls, seeking any potential leads.

Ochaco spoke up first, "There are weapons capable of killing Gods, of course. But they are rare. And most of them are wielded by Gods themselves. Excalibur is such. Mjolnir and Gungnir are another. A' chiad. And Zeus' Master Bolt. As far as finding equipment for Itsuka...aside from ripping one from a God, I would not know where to start."

"Anyone else? Yaoyorozu?"

Momo shook her head regretfully. "The question is too vague, I'm afraid. I can see things. But only if I know what to look out for."

"Damn. How about you girls? Mina? Nemuri?"

"Nothing suitable for a Werewolf, Izuku. Sorry," Midnight told him frankly.

"Damn. Mina?"

Izuku turned his gaze to Mina, only to find her seemingly lost in thought. "Hmm? Oh...sorry, Daddy. I was thinking about something. I don't know anything, no. I really wish I could help you now, but I can't."

"It's okay, Mina," he reassured her. "Itsuka, we'll keep looking."

"Izuku, I told you this before. Werewolves are grunts. Even now, I'm not sure what I'm doing here, in the presence of Evokers, Seers, and Sorceresses. Not to mention the Princess," Itsuka said, her self-doubt evident.

"You're here because we value you. Because I value you. We'll work something out. Trust me."

After a few contemplative moments, Itsuka nodded slowly. "I believe you, Izuku. At least, I believe you'll do your best."

"I will," he affirmed.

Izuku then turned his attention to Yui. "Yui. We're relying on you to keep us all fighting fit. Is there anything we can do to make you better at that?"

Yui shook her head. "I've been through every library in UA and the rest of the surrounding city twice. Every credible journal on the internet. Even the ones labelled 'for kids.' There's nothing about the kind of techniques we'll need."

"So we need some kind of instruction manual or something?"

"I guess?" She tilted her head contemplatively. "There are books and studies designed for hospitals and operating theaters. But that's not what we want. We need something that can do things fast. And properly."

"So we're looking for a special book of some kind? Well, I have some ideas," Izuku said, recalling a certain book merchant he'd encountered when he first began his relationship with Ibara.

'Speaking of which, I haven't visited her in a while. Maybe I should, soon.'

"The Royal Library of Camelot is only third in size in comparison to Thot's Library as well as Merlin's Tower. I may be able to find you those books. Just tell me which kind, and I will try my best to locate them," Ochaco offered helpfully.

"Really? Thanks, Ochaco!" Izuku expressed his gratitude before turning to Yui. "There you have it. Talk to Ochaco about the details later on."

He then turned to Midnight. "Nemuri, I need a teacher for Mina. She needs to understand how to harness the voices, not be controlled by them."

"Yes. Yes, she does," Midnight agreed soberly.

"Excellent. So you'll take on that role!"

"No," she stated flatly.

"Oh, for the love of...why not?" Izuku asked, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.

"Can you remember the first thing I told you?" Midnight countered.

"Something about Sorcerers are impossible to teach, hard to con..."

"...and tend to walk away with the silverware when they find out you tried, yes." she finished. "So what makes you think I'm signing up for that role?"

"I'm not expecting a full degree program. Though it would certainly be more useful than what she received from Sarah before," Izuku reasoned. "But can you at least provide her with some guidance? Teach her how to need the right things?"

"What she needs is a hard spanking and a weekend in bed. Which you should totally give her," Midnight quipped with a wink. "But I suppose I can share some of the insights I've acquired..."

"...in your many, many years as a Sorceress," Izuku concluded, earning a withering glare from Midnight that could melt tungsten.

"Okay, forget I said anything. I'm glad you've agreed to help her," he told her, hastily changing the subject as he turned to Momo. "Yaoyorozu, is there anything specific you can help with?"

"I...maybe. It's difficult to say. The future is always clouded when the Seer is too close to...events," she said, a crimson blush tinting her cheeks. "Could we meet here, next Tuesday? Just you, me, and...Princess Pendragon?"

"We're all here right now, you know?" Izuku pointed out.

"Which is, I fear, the crux of the problem. We are all present. Would it be okay if the three of us convened again next week?"

"I'm okay with that, I guess," Izuku agreed as he turned to his girlfriend. "Ochaco?"

"Of course, My Heart. Then we shall see you here, Tuesday evening, Yaomomo," Ochaco affirmed.

He then turned his attention to Himiko. "Himi, I need you to do something for me," he said, leaning in to whisper his request. After hearing it, she beamed with a grin stretching from ear to ear.

"No problem. But I want something in return," Himiko purred, now leaning closer to Izuku to murmur her demand.

After considering her words, Izuku nodded his head. "Sure. So long as I'm not too preoccupied that day."

Itsuka observed the exchange intently. She knew precisely what they had whispered, her enhanced senses picking up every syllable effortlessly. And from her expression, it seemed the Fox had heard their exchange as well, regarding them with an impressed glint in her eye. 'I can only hope she doesn't spill it to her mistress,' Itsuka thought apprehensively.

"That's pretty much all," Izuku announced. He then turned to the three newcomers to the magical world. "Sorry, you didn't get to participate much in this. But I wanted you three to be present here. I'll send you some things you could find useful later on."

"Thanks," Kinoko said graciously.

Toru nodded silently, unsure what else to say or do, while Kyouka fixed Izuku with a penetrating stare. "This isn't the whole story, is it?"

Izuku took a deep breath as he turned his attention to her. "No, it's not."

"Figured as much. Let me guess. The world's ending and we have to stop it?" she deadpanned.

"Pretty much," Izuku let out a nervous chuckle. "And the thing is, we need help," he said earnestly. "I hate to put all this on you, but it's something I want you girls to know. Plus, I can tell you girls want...more than just friendship with me. If that's the case, then it wouldn't be fair if I kept this a secret, right?"

The trio blushed, but none denied his words. Instead, they looked at each other before slowly nodding in acceptance.

"What do you need from us?" Kinoko asked softly.

"For now, not much different than what you're already doing. Keep training at UA. I'm trying to find ways to make sure even regular people won't be defenseless against what's coming, even if they can't fight it directly. There's no guarantee yet, but if I find something, at least I'll know you girls are safe."

"I'm guessing it's a huge secret, right? Who else knows about magic and stuff?" Kyouka asked.

"The top heroes. The principal and faculty at UA. The top government officials too, I'd guess," he answered.

"Some underground heroes know as well," Midnight added.

"What about the students?"

"Aside from the ones here, there's one other. Plus, I'm dropping hints for Iida to look into it."

"Why not just tell him?"

Izuku shook his head, "I don't think he would've believed me if I did. From what I can tell, he's the type to take things into his own hands and look into stuff himself than taking people at their word for it."

"Yeah, I can see that," Kyouka acknowledged with a nod.

"He's too dumb to look things up for himself though," Himiko muttered under her breath.

"And you, Himi," he said with a gaze like admonishing a kid, "Don't think I've forgotten what you did. You're getting punished, believe me."

"Looking forward to it~" she said, looking forward to whatever 'punishment' Izuku would think of.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Ochaco asked him.

"Which part? The 'planning payback against a god' part or the 'slowly letting our year know about magic' part?" he asked wryly.

"The former. Even my Father is worried about Thor. He tries not to show it, but you can tell...he's afraid."

"Well, Thor is the God of War."

"A God of War. And my Father is the Lord of the Wild Hunt, which also includes other Gods of War, mind you. The Heir to Arthur. The Protector of Excalibur..."

"If it's any consolation, Excalibur itself is perfectly safe," he said, trying to lighten the mood.

But Ochaco only looked sad, "It is hard, Izuku, for a child to lose the last illusions about a father they once adored. He is not the man who carried me on his shoulders anymore. Not the man who charmed my mother away from Tír na nÓg. Without her, he had become weak and afraid."

"I'm sorry, Ochaco."

Ochaco nodded solemnly and put a hand on his cheek, "Do not be, My Heart. As long as I have you, I need nothing else. And through you, it seems, I have acquired a new family."

"Weird and wonderful though that it is."

"I will settle for wonderful," she said before addressing the rest. "Thank you, Mina. Kendo and Kodai. Momo and Kitsune. Midnight. Komori, Hagakure, and Jiro. For being here. With us. For standing against this tide that sometimes feels like the end of everything."

"Don't worry, my love. With Companions like this, even gods can't stop us," Izuku said.

"Totally, Izuku. To the Knights of the Lake!" Ochaco cheered.

"To Daddy and the Knights of the Lake!" Mina echoed excitedly.

"To the Knights of the Lake. May we grow strong, lest the world end in Ice and Fire," Momo said, her eyes glowing amethyst once more.

"And on that cheerful note..." Izuku said with a rueful smile.

"To us. We may not be the fanciest or strongest right now. But on our side we've got prophecy, sorcery, and a magic sword," Itsuka began, then smiled at Izuku, "But most of all, we've got you."

"To the Knights of the Lake, to flooding Elsewhere with Æsir blood!" Himiko cheered loudly.

"Whoa, hold up! I'm not sure I want to go that far...Eindridi can die screaming, but I'm not sold on the rest," Izuku cautioned.

"We should still definitely mess them up first," Himiko said, sounding like she was taking mental notes.

"No, we shouldn't, unless they were involved with what he did," Izuku stated firmly. "Anyway, that's all, right? Let's meet up here again next time. Itsuka, let me know about that help, okay?"

"Will do."

They then walked back to the portal at The Crowley. Once back inside the pub, Izuku turned to Himiko, "Himi. Remember what I said. And be careful. They're crafty enough to..."

"I got it. Don't worry, Izu-kun. It's not my first rodeo with those types," she replied confidently.

"Alright. I'll give you a reward when you get back," he whispered to her, earning an excited squeal before the dhampir rushed out of The Crowley.

As she left, Izuku turned to Ochaco and said, "Love, would you mind taking care of Eri tonight? I'm planning on working late," he said, piquing Midnight's interest.

"Sure, I am happy to spend time with Eri-chan! But why, though?" Ochaco asked. She knew money wasn't the reason - hunting monsters and selling their parts would be way more lucrative than bouncing.

"Well, since Midnight-sensei is going to teach Mina about sorcery," he told her. "Running the bar is the least I can do to help out."

Hearing this, Midnight said, "How considerate~. But yes, that will help."

"Alright. See you later?" Ochaco asked.

"Yes. Soon," he said, leaning in for a kiss.

After their lips parted, Ochaco spoke first. "Until then."

With a knowing smile and wink at her boyfriend, Ochaco turned and left The Crowley. After that, Itsuka and her group followed, leaving just Izuku and Midnight in the building. Mina would return later after changing her outfit.

"You sure that's okay? What Toga's going to do?" Midnight asked with concern.

"Probably not. But we can't leave that problem alone to bite us later at the worst time," he answered, though he couldn't shake a feeling of worry about the dhampir. Still, he intended to trust her on this, at least.

Thanks for reading this chapter!

It's mostly a setup chapter, with a few of the next ongoing themes and hints for other characters scattered here and there. Though I also included the trio's introduction to magic. They won't be actual Mages, as that would require an actual bloodline of magic, but they'll get access to their own upgrades, especially once Mei figured out how to circumvent Elsewhere's AOE affecting modern tech.

As always, if something isn't clear or you have feedback, don't hesitate to let me know. 😁

Next up: Evoker Lessons?