AN: I had made a terrible mistake, realising I did not update an edited version of this chapter here on this site. I am sorry. Edit was made on 12/08/2024


Cracked walls marred with chiselled-off stone.

Lanterns made from orange-glowing crystals.

People with tattoos over their arms and legs rather than those born with a quirk unique to their own.

And now this mural before them, showing off what was already apparent.

Hitoshi Shinso ingrained the very image of it into his memory, overwhelmed at the prospect that these ruins showed tell-tale signs of an otherworldly map. "There's no freaking way this is earth after everything we saw. Not when proof is this obvious."

"But," Midoriya fretted. "Those guys. They seemed to be familiar with us. Called us 'Northerners' so which means we're not the only ones who fell in here."

"Yeah, but with that warp gate we fell into? It would make more sense if they were familiar with us because they knew how to enter in and out of this world and into our own world."

Just as the words left his mouth, both him and Midoriya came to a sickening realisation.

"Holy crap," he muttered.

"Then," Midoriya looked at him. "That must mean…. These people have been to our world; and must've taken so many people here. But if that's the case then how long has this warp gate been there in UA?"

Hitoshi shuddered at the thought, just as he felt stupid for not considering the possibility. He turned towards the wall, observing the mural's paintings. Apart from the map, the paintings told a story as it appeared to have foreign glyphs beside its images.

The paintings told a silent tale of a mass of people, possibly a tribe or civilisation, climbing a mountain and falling into an abyss. The people appeared to have followed a lone figure, and somewhere in-between were people bearing wings surrounding the mountain. The crud paintings then followed what looked like people carrying spears, fighting others until a lone figure stood between the two sides. Then said lone figure appeared to have stabbed the ground, causing the ground to crack. From there, Hitoshi saw the next part chiselled out of the mural, and in its place was another set of those strange glyphs.

"I feel like we just stumbled into some kind of ancient prophecy," he scoffed. "Like we're about to find out if either of us would become the chosen one or some kind of crap from a fantasy novel."

"Are you into that kind of stuff, Shinso?"

"What do you take me for?"

Eyeing the refracted lights that lit up the area, Hitoshi decided to try moving his phone light, and to no surprise, the entire room fell dark once more. "Huh, So, its like that mirror trick from some old film I once saw."

"The lights-"

"Don't worry, I'm just trying something out," he pointed the light back to its former position, setting the room alight once more. "…Say Midoriya, if we could grab one of those lanterns from one of the walls outside, is it possible it'll have the same effect? I know you wanna save the theoretical hostage here, but what you said earlier might be worth taking notes. If we can truly return to our world, we're gonna have to get as much evidence of this place as much as possible."

"…I'll get the lamp."

He did as he was requested, being able to retrieve the lamp and place it into position. As soon as their lighting was fixed, Hitoshi quickly took snapshots of the mural before pocketing the device. Just as Midoriya finished taking his photos, the strange creature wearing the rabbit cap scuttled over to the mural wall, staring at it in its blank expression.

Then the thought crossed Hitoshi's mind. "Why do I get the feeling that this is from this side?"

"Even if that's true, then it would make perfect sense," Midoriya then headed to the door. "How far have you wandered around this place?"

"Not as much as I had hoped. Before we bumped into each other, I got caught by one of those tattoo guys." Hitoshi thought back at the memory. "I remembered taking the stairs; the higher I went, the less likely I'd bump into those guys."

"Stairs?"

He nodded. "Then there was a weird scuffle among them. Something about arguing on where to put me before I used my quirk on them. I took the chance to escape when I brainwashed them into freeing me."

"If that's the case," Midoriya began. "It's all possible we'll have to run downstairs, if we're to find the hostage. From what I overheard, they said something about a girl trapped in a cell or something. I'm not quite sure, but by the looks of things, they're keeping her inside for a reason."

"Well, that's a start," Hitoshi raised a brow at the realisation. "You want us to take on a ton of those guys? Head first?"

"It's a start, but I've got to try," Midoriya answered resolutely. "Sorry, Shinso. I know I'm being unreasonable but… I can't ignore what I had just heard, so."

With a grimacing lip, Hitoshi gave out a long sigh. The glories of wanting to be a hero was all he ever knew. Wanting to be a hero to prove others that not every villainous quirk determines one's fate to becoming a villain. He knows that to be in service to society would be for the betterment of all, however.

This is why, out of everyone in the hero course, I've always wanted to beat him.

It wasn't out of malice or inferiority. He had an idea just what kind of guy Midoriya was, and was made aware of his heroic attributes.

I really can't let myself lose to that.

"Alright, let's do this your way," he said. "I don't have my persona cords with me, but for as long as they haven't figured out my quirk, I have an advantage. Now if only I had that binding cloth with me…"

I'd still be able to have a fighting chance.

Apparently noticing his predicament, Midoriya gave a firm nod; "Gotcha. I'll do my best to cover you when the moment arises."

This guy-

He couldn't help but wince at his confidence; "I'll be counting on you then."

Izuku couldn't tell how long they wandered the corridors, but nevertheless, he was determined to find that unnamed captive. It was an easy pill to swallow the truth of how much he didn't know, but if two students of UA are already trapped here, then he wouldn't stoke the possibility of a third student being held captive.

Carrying with him the lantern he collected earlier, Izuku raised it to guide their path, feeling his heart thumping anxiously at the dreaded thought of an encounter. The sackcloth creature, the culprit of all their troubles settled nicely in his blazer pocket with its head sticking out at the opening. Izuku couldn't help but notice Shinso glancing at the pocket passenger once in a while, obviously bothered by its presence.

"You know, you could have left that thing back there," Shinso pointed.

"I mean, I guess I should, but," he glanced at the creature, who only blinked at him. "-I couldn't stand the thought of leaving it in the dark."

"Huh. I can't see how this thing is of any help."

At this Izuku couldn't help but laugh, "I guess so."

Upon descending the stairs, he swallowed hard, aware of the impending villains that might well be standing close by within a blind turn. Looking at the lantern in his hand, he opened the latch and grab the stone within, leaving the lantern behind on one of the steps.

"What are you doing?" Shinso asked.

"If we're gonna walk in the dark, the light's going to give us away," he explained, pocketing the stone. "The stone seems to glow well enough on its own, so if we'll be in need of it, I could always take it out."

"Fair point," Shinso shrugged.

As soon as they reached the end of the stairs, the sound of socked feet padding on dry stones reached their ears. Both students ran towards the darkest corner of the stairs and held their breath as they watched and waited.

"I spied upon the lass," one of the villains spoke. "Her radiance won't do. Too tainted by that starcatcher blood of hers."

There's that word again, 'starcatcher', Izuku thought.

"I say a few paybacks are in order," said another. "She cut down Terawyn and a few others before Korash stole the wind out of her. Literally, if I may say so."

A few laughs followed.

"Nah-ah," yet another one added. "Have you seen the brat? She's one of them shattered souls, that one. The crazy types when provoked too far. Better to rot her in there than risk having her taint the rest of us."

"By my mother's roots, I will not argue you on that. Blighted souls aren't something you lot ought to underestimate. Nothing's worse than having your soul eaten and your body as that demon's plaything."

Blighted souls?

The villains bantering took a turn to climb the steps, overlooking the shaded corner that crossed their paths.

"So Marksmar managed to let yet another Northerner escape. Hamlyn won't be happy," they continued as they walked past.

"Hamlyn's never happy. Not for the likes of the lack of endowed at our disposal."

In that moment, the sackcloth creature pushed itself out of Izuku's pocket and fell to the floor in a silent thud. Both him and Shinso panicked, trying to catch the creature, only for the creature to waddle up towards the bantering villains.

No stop! What are you doing?!

His silent protests were ignored as the creature waddled over to the four villains and what followed astounded him.

"By the way, I- HEEEEEEEEEEEE!" one of the villains jumped at the sight of the sackcloth creature.

"What are you on abo- AAAAAAAAAAAH!" screamed another.

The other villains screamed one after another, frightened before the creature's presence.

"THE HUNT IS HERE?!" they all screeched.

The what now?

"Oh no," one lamented. "We're going to die. No. We're as good as cursed!"

"Shush Terad," another fidgeted. "We can't be too certain yet… oh lord have mercy."

"Get it away from me!"

"Wait a- where's the doll?"

All three villains fell into a painful silence.

"W-where is it?!" the fidgeting one repeated. "Does that mean-"

"Oh no. We're doomed!"

Izuku and Shinso looked at each other, then looked at the doll Shinso held.

"Who'd be stupid enough to accept the curse?!" another one screamed. "I wanna know which idiot accepted it!"

With its lone hand, it gestured behind its back at Izuku and Shinso, pointing towards the closest doorway.

"What is it doing?!" the other hissed in seething panic. "Why's it moving its hand like that?!"

"Maybe… oh no. Is it calling more of them towards us?!"

"Oracle's teeth!" another screeched. "What have we done to deserve this?!"

Taking advantage of the situation, Izuku and Shinso slipped past them and managed to bypass their attention. As the two ran straight towards the closest corridor, Shinso hissed in a whisper; "Why are they so afraid of that thing? Shouldn't we be worried?"

"I don't know," Izuku shook his head. "But we're gonna have to worry about that later."

"Right," Shinso eyed their surroundings for a moment, appearing to have recognised the area. "This way," -he led them down towards a door- "This was the path they were dragging me to, before I escaped. If the person we're looking for is inside a cell, this could be it."

Unbolting the door, the two of them snuck inside and found themselves staring at another dark room.

"No sign of those tattooed guys," Izuku surmised, then brandished the glowing stone from his pocket. Lifting it high to shed light to their path, both saw themselves standing before a narrow corridor. "More doors. I think we're on the right track."

They took their strides forward, wary and ready for all possible enemies to strike at them by surprise. Behind them, they could hear the same scuffling from the other side of the door; panicked voices saying wary words far too muffled for Izuku to hear. The corridor before them wasn't as long as the other halls they've come across, though it was far narrower than the last.

What is this I'm feeling?

He couldn't put it to words. Every step forward, he felt the room growing colder; his legs feeling like they were being weighed down. He was only here to save someone from those villains who locked them inside a cell. So why was there a sudden weight he felt on his back, like anxiety pulling him back from moving? The sounds of their shoes made every stride grow louder in his ears; the shadows they made were long and unnerving.

Shinso kept a tight lip, following the guidance of the dimmed path as he eyed the doors they walked past.

"Shouldn't we try these doors?" he pointed.

Izuku considered his suggestion, eyeing each frame and took note of the lack of bolts on each of them. "Those don't look like the kind of doors people would lock their prisoners with."

"Fair point."

Clinks of a chain then echoed from one of the doors; followed by the sound of metal scraping against hard stone. Izuku and Shinso turned towards the end of the corridor.

"Did you hear that?" he asked.

"Yeah."

The two hurried their steps towards the end of the corridor and found a large, heavily bolted door before them.

"Hello? Is anyone in there?" Izuku asked. The sounds of a chain jangled once more, this time, a heavy crash against the stone followed. "Hello?!"

"…Who…" a feminine voice answered. "Who's there?"

"There's no need to fear," Izuku replied. "We're here to rescue you!"

"…Reinforcements?" she asked.

"We've overheard from those villains that they've held you captive," Izuku answered. "But its alright now. We're gonna save you."

The sounds of a grate scraping against the stone floor echoed once again; scuffling of shoes on the floor. Then a loud clang rang out from the other side of the door, followed by a stifled yelp from the prisoner.

"What was that?" Izuku reacted. "Are you hurt?!"

"…way…" he could barely hear her.

"Huh?"

"…stay… away…" she uttered again.

Shinso was equally perplexed as Izuku at the sudden change in tone. The short, stiflingly cold silence heightened the tension on his nerves.

"…You. You are no mage… are you?" she finally asked.

Mage? Izuku thought.

"…Nor are you one of us…" she added as her voice grew rasp.

"N-no, why?"

A long, heavy sigh followed. "Tch, of all things… they dragged more northerners here… blood sucking bastards…"

Izuku eyed the door before him and considered his options. He could smash the door to release the girl. "How far are you from the door?" he asked.

"…no."

"But-!"

"If you fear for your life, do not free me from my chains," the prisoner barked. "…No one… I cannot… I will not…"

Izuku pressed his lips into a thin line, further perplexed on how to respond to this situation.

"…C-can I at least ask you something?" his mouth moved before he could decide. "Could I ask for your name?"

Shinso gave him a strange look.

"…"

"Uh, I mean, my name is Izuku Midoriya," he doubled down. "This person with me is Hitoshi Shinso. We're students from UA High, uh, from Japan and-"

Where am I going with this? He chided at himself.

"-UA… high?" the captive said slowly. "The UA high?"

Izuku's eyes widened, opened his mouth to speak only for Shinso to interject; "You know UA?"

More sounds of chains clinking against the stone.

"Of all things…" she muttered again. "Why UA students of all things…"

This fortified Izuku's determination and asked; "Where are you from? What world are we in? And how are you familiar with our world?"

"What are you talking about?" she rasped a scoff. "We're still on the same planet- who- what made you think we're not on earth?"

"We're… still on earth...? But. Where? How?"

A loud 'tch' echoed from the other side. "…oh how smart of you. You had to say it didn't you, Reina. You idiotic lout."

"Huh?"

She cleared her throat, "That's beside the point. If you two are UA students, even more reason you must flee… You- ngh-!" The captive grunted; her heavy gasps of air echoed. "You coming here… will only make things harder-"

"How?" Shinso demanded.

"You do not… it is not something any UA student should know."

At this, Shinso gritted his teeth; "Is everyone in this place so fond of half-assed answers? We were dragged in here against our own will, ran around this maze for hours. We could have found a way home by now. But when we heard someone else was held captive-"

Izuku tried to interject, "Shinso wait-"

"-we bet on that possibility and ran all the way here just to find you and this is the kind of crap you're telling us?!" he persisted.

"-I'm sorry to tell you but it is a fruitless endeavour." The captive answered. "You cannot be here. You must not be here… I am… dangerous."

At this Izuku frowned; "Is it… does it have to do with your quirk?"

"-I can barely hold my mind together. This is not a quirk… a curse- a curse I cannot guarantee will end well for those around me. I beg you of you. You must-"

Both students fell silent. Tokoyami's dark shadow quirk had an incontrollable nature. Even Endeavour was privy to his flaws to his own quirk. Even Eri's quirk was something that could have killed him had it not been for Mr Aizawa being there to erase it. Izuku assumed, this captive might be suffering from something similar, but with what little he understood of this strange maze of a world, he could only speculate.

"It's going to be okay," he assured her. "If it's a matter of controlling your quirk-"

"Unlike the Northern realms, this is the land where blessings and curses co-exist," her voice rasped.

"What?"

The echo of her voice sounded more warped, yet retained its rasp. "Spirits exist on this plane. The phenomenon you call the supernatural is as normal as the air you breathe. I am a vessel of a parasite. You must leave!"

It didn't sit right with him. Everything she said and everything he witnessed; he couldn't begin to fully grasp the situation.

But. I only know one thing, he thought.

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to try and free you anyway," he took a step back, and stood into position- "I can't ignore someone who's in trouble. Heroes after all would still save others, even if they don't want it!"

One for All.

"You fool-!" the captive screamed from the other side.

Full Cowling. Smash!

He threw a kick to the door; its impact shook the walls around them. And in his utter shock, his kick made not a single dent on the wooden surface.

What?! He dropped his jaw.

"But- how?!" Shinso gaped.

"-Oh, you've done it now haven't you… ngh- one more pusshh is all it'll-" He could've sworn the echo of her voice sounded warped for a moment. "-I said stop it!"

Izuku threw his fist at the door in a second attempt. No dice nor a scratch on the wood. He swung his fist again until-

A loud crack could be heard from the other side. Followed by the links of chains cascading rang across walls.

"W-what happened there?" he dropped his hands. "Are you okay?!"

"…You truly are a fool," the captive said. "Breaking the seal with sheer force…"

Shinso furrowed his brow before he reached for the bolt on the door and pried at it. Izuku gulped and nodded at him as his friend pulled the bolt to the side and swung the door open. Darkness greeted them at first, then Izuku raised the glowing stone before him to illuminate the room. The two students gasped at the frightening sight.

A long chain trailed towards the backwall. Against it, leaned a girl with long, black locks that fell past her waist. Her body shuddering in her stained blue dress, both arms wrapped in bloodied bandages that showed signs of unravelling. What stood out the most was her illuminating skin, akin to a UV light.

"Holy-!" Shinso covered his own mouth to stop himself from yelping.

Izuku ran to her side, reaching for her shoulder and found her body frighteningly cold.

"You're losing a lot of blood," he took off his blazer to prepare for an emergency bandage. "Where else are you injured?"

She slapped his hand away; her eyes glowed an eerie red as she weakly scuffled away from him. The sight only fuelled his persistence as he assessed her person, letting the search and rescue lessons kick into his head.

"I promise I'm not going to hurt-"

"-You broke the cage, now you should leave," she said coldly. "haven't you done enough?"

"I won't leave you here with this much loss of blood," he insisted.

She winced in pain, her hands immediately began to claw at her own ears. "Stop it," she gritted, squeezing her eyes shut. "Shut it- Stop it! I won't let you!"

The room grew colder; enough to see his breath fog. The weighted anxiety he sensed grew stronger as he watched the girl shudder in fear. He knew that face. He's seen it many times before. Before he could dare to reach out to her-

"So the fish catch themselves in the net."

Izuku instinctively turned and flashed the glowing stone at the entrance to find three men and one woman standing there. All of which bore the same ominous tattoos on their exposed arms.

"Another waste of another blood bag, don't you think?" asked the woman.

"A waste indeed," nodded another.

"Why did you drag us in here?" Izuku asked, switching into a guarded stance. "What do you want from us? And why is this poor girl chained in this prison?"

"You're in no position to demand answers from us boy," one of the men answered. "And if I were you, you best take your own steps away from that girl. She'll slice you in half."

"She is wounded and chained! No one deserves to be in this kind of space! Not while she's stuck here shuddering from the cold!"

In that moment, the girl sluggishly stood up like a horror film zombie; her limbs shaking with every movement. The four tattooed villains flinched as they slowly inched back. Now the tables seemed to turn. Shinso and Izuku gaped as she slowly walked towards the four villains as a terrifying, unearthly sound escaped the girl's lips.

"As NAIIVe as you are, you sShould haAve lisstenNed to the little oNe's WwarnIing. But you have my utmMost gratitude."

And what followed, he sensed a dangerous killing intent from the girl before him.

In that moment, he realised he undermined her warnings. And that she had every right and reason to tell him not to release her. Because what followed was something he never would have anticipated.

The girl turned around, no longer struggling, gave him a killer's eye and sneered. Her hand summoned an ominous light from her hands and sliced through the chain that latched onto her foot. The villains who stood there began to chant in panic as their tattoos glowed, but they were already too late. With the same ominous light in hand, she slew all four of them with one single swing.

"What… did… you…" Izuku was almost too stunned to speak. Shinso fell backwards upon the sight of the merciless slaughter.

"Sseee RreiinAaa…" that chilling voice said from the girl's mouth. "kiLling them wasS noT hard. ThisSSs iS what yOu should havVe dOnE eaRLlier."