Worry ate at Izuku’s heart.
141Please respect copyright.PENANACEvYOSoScg
What if he is too late?
141Please respect copyright.PENANAbwKggReEJm
What if someone gets hurt?
141Please respect copyright.PENANAgqevJqCIx7
What if he can’t turn off the security system?
141Please respect copyright.PENANASQKCkYsxe7
Regardless of this multitude of worries, he flies through calmly. Because panic will only make things worse. He can’t afford to make mistakes now.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAGtmx80eE8q
Thanks to this, he was able to escape outside, fly past the turbines, and reenter the top of the central tower through another door. Ascending the last few floors was a bit harder due to the guards. But each one was easily knocked out by slamming them against a wall.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAjVjFSHb8Ah
Eventually, he made it to the top and what seemed like a vault. To his surprise, within the vault were David Shields and his assistant.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAfAnfXJ35vF
Izuku: ‘Great! Maybe they can tell me how to properly shut everything down. I just need to save him from whatever villain brought him here.’
141Please respect copyright.PENANAPXWy1Gyzdl
As Izuku goes to sneak into the vault, he hears David speak.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA5fd1exocCJ
David: “I’ve unlocked it, block 1147.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAcDuHp47iRx
“Wonderful!”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAQuEp0lPt5I
The assistant nods and goes to unlock the hi-tech safe. Doing so reveals a briefcase. The man takes it out and shows the contents to David.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAdDYwFT27Oj
“You did it, professor, look. Everything is here!”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAQbDV5IYJsm
David: “Finally, I’ve gotten it back.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAGJFOXLsBxH
Izuku: ‘Wait… doesn’t that mean… ’
141Please respect copyright.PENANA83Fwp56wMI
David: “All my research, and they just took my device away from me. But now it’s mine.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAeIDbalUMAD
“Just like we planned. And it looks like the villains are holding things down.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA1reZ8YGOJ1
David: “Thank you; I couldn’t have done any of this without your help, Sam.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAnixmQy7GK6
Izuku: “What’s going on here?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZI7wC0p8t
The two men look toward a less than pleased Midoriya.
141Please respect copyright.PENANACxzawFj9gP
David: “Who are you? Wait… aren’t you the kid All Might was telling me about?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2QaTiG9Xh
Izuku: “I asked you a question.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAwvbJxyV4Y3
He says while taking a heavy step forward.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAHeu6E7K6bK
David looks away from the glare of the child.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAQLNLHJ1rYK
Izuku: “Are you behind this whole crisis? Just so you can steal something.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA79OC2bS4Qm
Sam: “The professor is only trying to get back what was stolen. The invention inside this briefcase can amplify someone’s quirk.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAqOwph7euWV
Izuku: “Is that… even possible?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAloj7TbxHKv
Sam: “Yes, it’s still being tested, of course. But unlike with drugs, this can amplify anyone’s quirk without damaging the body or brain. Yet despite that, the sponsors confiscated this prototype and the research data. They demanded the project be abandoned.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA4H9uqJ8G26
Izuku: “Why?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAAnRYR66b44
Sam: “Because they were afraid this could uproot the current structure of hero society. But we all know it’s because it would make heroes too hard to control.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAdfmeRtuXxN
David: “Fearing that, they put pressure on me. Even foreign nations wanted this buried. I couldn’t stand by and let that happen, not when this device can save All Might.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAxV6VW1VNbd
Izuku: “W-What are you saying?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAnQsTZCzjpo
David: “You may not know this, but All Might’s quirk is disappearing. But with this device, he’ll be his old self. No, he’ll be even stronger. The number one hero, the symbol of peace, can get his strength and light back again. He can keep saving people, like he always has!”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA2LQG8ZBT0i
Shadows pass over Izuku’s face as he comes to terms with what he just heard.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAsHzXdC2FU1
Izuku: ‘So he doesn’t know that All Might passed One For All to Momo. That even with the device, he won’t return to normal.’
141Please respect copyright.PENANAtjM7zH5eOq
David: “So you understand, right? So please, let me hand this over to All Might! I don’t care about what punishment I receive, as long as-”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAmVZQDFF3aH
Wolfram: “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANABL8uuyOXZ2
Metal spikes are launched at David’s head, but they’re stopped by a green glow.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAA6s7fLwZkL
David: “What the-”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAK9v49fXZAf
Wolfram: “I finally get to meet the psychic quirk boy everyone has been talking about. You don’t look so tough.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAANXyE6bIsP
Izuku turns to see the mastermind of this whole night. But he wasn’t alone. There was a ninja woman sporting a blue-haired ponytail. At her waist were two longswords with a moon emblazoned on their scabbards. But the real standout was her dead eyes and pale white skin.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA1RFHbAf1iD
David: “What are you doing?!”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAlRiUwPd89I
Wolfram: “What? Are you still under the delusion that we’re fake villains?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAEMZKbif1Vj
David: “But aren’t you-”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAMwoG0jmHef
Sam tries to grab the suitcase, but he’s lifted up into the air before he can do anything.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA4coZsSGuPB
David: “Sam you-”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAxhdibhPexw
Izuku: “He did it for money. I think I understand everything now.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAunKq11RkZY
His eyes flash green as he looks toward the two villains. But for some reason… his quirk was not working on them.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAAtTEykk8zm
Wolfram: “Impressed, right? I paid a great deal to hire this girl. For whatever reason, psychic quirks don’t really work on them, or those around them, well.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA4J2VgwkxiT
Izuku: “What?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANArvOV8R7tPn
Wolfram: “Sick’em, Pariah.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANADgpt6cyWPn
The girl burst forward toward Izuku, and he quickly dropped everything to focus on defense. The boy has trained and gotten much better at close quarters combat.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA8O1szIYSFM
But it pales in comparison.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAMq615Bn85Q
They exchanged several dozen blows in a second; not a single one from Izuku landed. The throat thrust, liver punch, and elbow to the face told a story; he was being overwhelmed.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAEz32hYXzXn
Izuku: ‘I can’t even read her mind. What is she?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAjhBQKPvB8E
Well, if he can’t affect her directly, he can still control everything else. With more effort than usual, Izuku unleashes an explosion of wind that pushes Pariah back.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAM0uwBMcjAU
Now with breathing room, the boy rips metal from the room and sends it after the woman. But she simply unsheathes her swords and cuts apart the metal rods.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA7GiE1ASpQr
Removing his red tie, Izuku turns it into his signature psi-blade before bursting forward.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAYKHlPoRdjT
Being so close to Pariah makes controlling the continuing metal onslaught while attacking difficult. The green light of his psi-blade even flickers occasionally.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA9yqAGFkT42
But he doesn’t stop; he uses his cultivated superhuman body to overpower the woman. Even though she may be skilled, each parry nearly breaks her guard.
141Please respect copyright.PENANABB6mPd59x5
Before long, a metal rod hits her head. Dazed, Pariah was unable to stop Izuku from tripping her and knocking her to the ground with the broad side of his sword.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAmpCKd9JzRn
Thinking she’s done, he goes to help David but-
141Please respect copyright.PENANARU168JdmV5
Wolfram: “I’m impressed; you managed to defeat Pariah. Even your friends managed to subdue Scoria for a moment. You kids are good, but you’re still just kids.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA2bgWAZUTa4
He says while holding the briefcase and a gun to David’s head. Worse, Sam was on the ground with a fatal bullet wound.
141Please respect copyright.PENANATeawApa3p8
Izuku: “No… “
141Please respect copyright.PENANAPlixQq31Ih
Wolfram: “Yes, and if you don’t surrender, I’m pulling the trigger.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAUoMrYdk1Uu
Izuku: “I…”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA44UPauresT
A part of him wants to refuse. How could he bow to this coward? But a larger part remembers the priority.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAJu0jSBUjK6
Izuku: ‘Save lives. I’m not a villain.’
141Please respect copyright.PENANAKSGDERVpd1
Izuku: “O-Okay.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAz8ZkvLP1Pg
Wolfram: “Good boy, now let’s-”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA5fVE2cUMWT
Suddenly, the room goes red and alarms start blaring.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAvfi0DhfpaJ
Wolfram: “Damn it, Scoria, that damn-”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAnmnnm1m3yd
Midoriya reacted quickly, saving David and ripping the briefcase from Wolfram.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAo9Zgt27IWf
Wolfram: “NO!”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAWgWB0aEiua
The boy flung the man and his precious device out of the vault and-
141Please respect copyright.PENANAbcvcC0vryB
Izuku: “Escape and shut down the security!”
141Please respect copyright.PENANArYhDiC95N6
Closed the door. Whether David listens, only time will tell. Right now, the boy has bigger problems.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAKEyMKoFoI2
Wolfram: “You made the biggest mistake of your short life.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANARTysKt2eU7
The man lifts several bent rods and aims them at Izuku. Meanwhile, the woman has gotten up and is none the worse for wear. Surrounded, Izuku can only tighten the grip on his sword and prepare for the worst.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAF9lc1WhGW8
141Please respect copyright.PENANAOs4oQEwJy6
It’s happening again, the screams of panic and widespread violence.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAvHtzYiHiHD
Alice already dealt with this once, and she had enough. But she was a hero; she couldn’t say no when asked to help.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA5iH1YCAaDr
But what can she do?
141Please respect copyright.PENANAs90IiF31BI
She throws seeds into the cracks of concrete to make tree barriers. Yes, they work better against mindless and chaotic robots. But the stress doesn’t leave just because of that.
141Please respect copyright.PENANArJZ35rjnRy
Especially when she hears explosions echo across the island. She’s not Kaoru or Uraraka; she can’t save everyone.
141Please respect copyright.PENANABj0WHjxfX7
Alice: “This way!”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAK80nwXFd7P
But she does try. She leads those outside and surrounded indoors while covering for them with trees.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAyDQuMNo9Xg
However, it was only a matter of time before she got hit by-
141Please respect copyright.PENANAEHlMqhY0t3
Alice: “Aaah!”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA94WAPHhpWD
Each robot is equipped with a net gun and some sort of energy weapon. Right now, nearly every one of them is firing near-lethal blasts.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAeCe3ur3cok
Alice falls to the ground as she grasps her bleeding shoulder. She watches those she saved run away, not giving her much of a glance. After all, this is a hero’s job, to fight and die for them.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAWpzOpg3quY
She turns to see the robots coming closer, weapons primed and ready to fire. Was this it? Was this her reward for trying to be a hero with a quirk like hers?
141Please respect copyright.PENANAwfkKxtoKIO
Alice: ‘Miss Fubuki… I’m sorry.’
141Please respect copyright.PENANAHtluUife0X
Before she becomes another in a long list of fallen heroes, a powerful kick knocks away all the robots.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAPg6E6D09EV
Arriving on the scene, like a hero he so desperately wants to be, is Ida. He takes a breath and rubs his fake leg. It’s getting hot; it won’t last long, but he won’t stop.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAb9Ki9x0e3U
His brother wouldn’t, so he won’t.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAC6lCPQNGwz
He turns to Alice and gives her a comforting smile.
141Please respect copyright.PENANANFN6zxPhiG
Ida: “You did well, Emory. Leave the rest to me.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAPjsEebFn9K
Alice: “But your leg… ”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAhSn7u849su
Ida: “I can keep going; don’t worry about me. We all have a role to fulfill; yours is making walls and leading people to safety. Can you do that?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAWbucX6ghsJ
Alice: “I… don’t know anymore.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAP2xCvn5Eko
Ida looks at the girl and sees familiar eyes, ones without hope or confidence.
141Please respect copyright.PENANArp29Of7kr1
Ida: “If you can’t do it alone, then we’ll do it together. Hand me some seeds.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAnzCvbts0B0
Alice: “O-Okay.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAxLTJkcsGpw
She does so, and Ida takes off, albeit slower than normal. He kicks aside more chaotic robots and throws seeds inside others.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAkF0J8VgZEz
Ida: “Now, Emory!”
141Please respect copyright.PENANADrRU3gUK7J
Alice: “R-Right.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA040Gf41IMJ
Using her quirk, she makes the robots explode from the inside due to the sudden plants growing out of them.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAjdNFmnnsxO
Ida: “See? You can do it.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAAsrFcUIfvd
She still isn’t sure, but maybe-
141Please respect copyright.PENANAqVcVYKhLC9
Suddenly, all the robots stopped in their tracks and collapsed.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAmwwzyBwJlE
Alice: “What’s happening?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA4nSa28l0mR
Ida: “Midoriya must have done it. The security is-”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA2Xu7L47NDy
No, it was more than that. All the lights of the city followed suit, sending the entire city into darkness.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAHIZ3yWlOEH
Ida: “Must have had to completely shut down the power across the island. But at least All Might is freed.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAtNUKnxNgzQ
Alice: “Yeah… it’s over.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAiLkc3LEJNC
Ida: “It is.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAGqP9IP4ELl
Just then, the fake leg finally gave out. But Ida didn’t fall; Alice caught him and kept him standing.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA8Cbq6Y1OM5
Ida: “T-Thank you.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAqRi4NIJO4B
She shakes her head.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAEwygstjX6G
Alice: “No, thank you. For helping me to stand for a bit longer.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA2aBtj93q2m
A trembling, a cold sensation, a silent scream in the distance.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA5HITtEP7Xe
Ida: “What is it now?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA4nmCXMdrOt
Alice: “I don’t know, but I would feel better if we were back with everyone else.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA1Im41ojY5v
Ida: “Agreed.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAATxrF9vVMx
They walk off in search of the others, not noticing the chaos occurring at the top of the tower.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAMr45Pp66SQ
141Please respect copyright.PENANAouq4sMNvd4
Izuku is blown to the ceiling of the tower, battered and bruised. He falls to the hard metal with a thud. His shirt is in ribbons, but at least his wounds are healing thanks to the fire. Still, he’s exhausted.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAtUVIN2AFoC
Out from the hole his body made came Wolfram and Pariah. They don’t look that damaged and even had the energy to taunt.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAe1zkO0R812
Pariah: “I’m a bit disappointed. I heard much about this boy.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANARbLWgubA5o
Wolfram: “Don’t be; he’s just a kid who thought being a hero was going to be all fun and games.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANATYBuX2WxTC
Pariah: “Was that why he was laughing?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAWGWKWW7VcP
Wolfram: “Who knows?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAJsd26eSDAQ
The man looks over the ledge and sees the city. It was in chaos, but he knows it won’t be long before David Shields fixes everything.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAWfs9GIov0G
Wolfram: “This mission was a bust. Call the helicopter and let’s get out of here. I want to be gone before All Might gets here. Weakened or not, we can’t take him.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANARo5KhOIt0y
Pariah: “Acknowledged.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANADd1cxnaiQo
As she speaks on the phone, Wolfram kicks Izuku over and clicks his teeth.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA2048P7ZKjz
Wolfram: “At least one of us is getting what we want. Your organization really wants this boy?”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAyRQ6LlBdmA
Pariah: “Yes, so don’t damage the merchandise too much.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAmMKaRqtqqW
Wolfram: “Whatever.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAMLHhHcF7lj
Before Izuku could attempt to get up and fight once more, a fist came down and turned his world dark.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAwAkup1IrSM
141Please respect copyright.PENANA5cOoov8usv
He’s falling.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAcfZO42se3o
Falling into the black of his mind.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAF7H9kvfouF
Izuku: ‘Why?’
141Please respect copyright.PENANAuj9Rjf2x4i
Izuku: ‘Why am I so much weaker?’
141Please respect copyright.PENANADP14OvQ5qj
He knows why. He knows what he’s rejecting.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA28afeepwxA
Izuku: ‘No, I can’t… I’m not like that.’
141Please respect copyright.PENANAL8gFLuPnLb
A monster that breaks and remakes people? A villain that likes fighting and indulges in their quirk? One that… that kills?
141Please respect copyright.PENANA8ea3er7o70
Izuku: ‘Yes… I can’t do it… not again.’
141Please respect copyright.PENANAwK8tsZLnZ6
But he tried to compensate, to ignore and repress. But where has that gotten him? Failure after failure, weaker and weaker.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAS7fSltSZOk
Discordant voices peek out from the shadows, familiar sounds that whisper in his ear. Not for him to give in, but to accept.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZzXi2Dppg
To become whole.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAAB1Axkl0lI
Izuku: “It’s yours! It’s your power!! Use it!!”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAaVukG4EQIb
Were these not his words to Todoroki?
141Please respect copyright.PENANARXLE8YPk9M
Izuku: “This way, you won’t have to rely on mind control or any other power society deems as evil. See? You can be a hero.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAhl6b5haefJ
Were these not his words to Shinso?
141Please respect copyright.PENANAQZMAZRZAWi
Izuku: ‘I’m… scared… but if I don’t… I’ll fail. My friends will get hurt or worse… I have to save them… ’
141Please respect copyright.PENANAfp4mwDjS0o
Those incomplete can’t save anyone.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAWvEmqsuqrR
They can’t be heroes.
141Please respect copyright.PENANABnJG1fADBu
Izuku: ‘Then… what am I?’
141Please respect copyright.PENANA4D4puBFSbl
“OUR PRINCE.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAuQCmHNIBv9
Fear bubbles in his veins as the tight control breaks. He pushes back against the collapsing door. But it will open one way or another.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAMGB4WuWi5z
The signs have been there, the cracks in the facade.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAq5vzJ06lEa
The question is, who will be in the control?
141Please respect copyright.PENANAd6RdO2K6zF
Izuku: ‘What should I do?’
141Please respect copyright.PENANAG5YDfXx7Fm
Before he loses himself completely, words from the past echo in the deep.
141Please respect copyright.PENANALGksspOp0F
Kiri: “I told you, I won’t leave your side again. Knowing this doesn’t change that.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANAzZnUUs18CH
Momo: “No. You’re not a villain or some monster. You’re Izuku Midoriya, the boy I fell in love with. You helped me when I didn’t see much worth in myself. Let me do the same for you. It’s your quirk; no matter what’s in it, you are the master of it.”
141Please respect copyright.PENANA7nYWMcIHgD
Izuku: ‘If they can accept me… if Momo’s words are true… then… ’
141Please respect copyright.PENANAA3dLu3vnlc
Sink or swim, Izuku Midoriya.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAEVGRrsKanW
Only one will save him now and others in the future.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAG98YOr0pVd
He makes his choice; instead of letting the darkness overrun him, he opens the door and flows with it.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA0entP5wA7H
All the repressed feelings, desires, and power. It all converges in on him and swells before settling within his vessel.
141Please respect copyright.PENANADLa5DqpobD
When all is said and done, he is back where he started, in that golden desert.
141Please respect copyright.PENANALanyfKztwW
But now, the suns no longer burns his skin. He breathes out a sigh of exaltation.
141Please respect copyright.PENANAdYOEE1qd9z
All that has been repressed has been given wings to fly.
141Please respect copyright.PENANA6pAyfiSfnw
It is time.
ns216.73.216.241da2

