CHRONOMANCY

Festooned with golden robes, clock-themed ornaments, and a staff ending in an hourglass, the Time King cackled as he flung golden rays about him. "Quake in fear, mortal fools, for your time has come!"

The golden light passed over a baby in a cradle, making him sprout facial hair, a three-piece suit, and a business degree. A car rusted away, the street grew potholes, and even the chewing gum stuck to trash cans turned to dust.

"Stop right there, criminal scum!" Mineta shouted triumphantly.

With a gold flash, Mineta shriveled like a raisin. He licked his toothless chops and rasped, "Aww man, how am I supposed to get any chicks now?"

"You say that like you ever had any chance."

"For one, ouch, and two, ouch, my hip."

Kirishima rushed forward. "Take cover, I'll protect you all!"

The Time King struck him down. At first, Kirishima looked unchanged, but his hair dye withered away, leaving wispy white locks.

"Ha! Joke's on you, even as an old man, I can still get hard!" As everyone in the background booed or retched, Kirishima tried to move. "Uh, guys? A little help?"

"Don't worry!" Hagakure called out. "He can't make me older if his light can't touch me!"

Time King aimed his staff where Hagakure spoke from. The light passed around her and aged the building behind her. As Hagakure reached for the staff, a building fell on top of her, conveniently landing window-first on her but inconveniently trapping her away from the Time King.

"What now, puny heroes?" Time King crowed. "Time's not on your side!"

"Well you're time's up!" Bakugo blasted forward. "Eat this!"

Time King hit him in the nick of time, reducing Bakugo to a shriveled old man.

"Just a second too slow!"

"What was that?" Bakugo hollered.

"I said-"

"Speak up! My ears aren't what they used to be."

Time King leaned forward. "I said!"

Bakugo blasted with his feet and socked the villain's jaw. "Hah! Got you, you-" He froze, hand over his chest. "Pacemaker. Damn you, robots."

While Shoji tried resuscitating Bakugo, Time King dusted himself off and said, "Well, that was an unpleasant time. Who's next?"

Izuku strode forward. Time King used his Quirk on him, but Izuku kept walking unaffected.

"Nothing? Let's see how you handle a thousand years."

The ground around Izuku crumbled, but the hero student kept walking.

"Quite a lifespan you have on you. Ten thousand!"

Izuku froze, stiffened around his joints. Time King sighed in relief, then flinched when Izuku stepped again.

"Seriously? What are you made of? One million years!"

A sheet of rust covered Izuku. Time King panted, watching Izuku warily. His staff trembled as he reached out and tapped Izuku on the head.

"Ha… hahaha! Yes! No one can stop me! Now surrender, or you'll get the same!"

The rust crumbled where the staff had touched Izuku. Underneath, fresh metal gleamed. Izuku's eyes lit up, and he shook himself free of the rust.

"That's not fair!"

499

Good thing Izuku has Eri for an adopted sister or we might be stuck with old man Bakugo.