Chapter 39: And He Shall Appear
Tenya doesn't understand a lot of what's going on right now. He doesn't know why Tenko came for him. He doesn't know why Midoriya would come either. It wasn't their brother who was attacked and maimed. This doesn't have anything to do with them!
And now, because of their foolish and reckless actions, they were getting hurt! Tenko was paralyzed just like he and Native, lying on the ground helpless…helpless. Like he had been to stop Tensei's attack! And like how he is right now!
He tries and tries but no matter what he does, no part of his body will obey his command. Tenya looks up in desperation as Midoriya is pinned to the wall with black tendrils. 'No!' Someone else he cares about can't get hurt. They won't get hurt!
The blue-haired boy sees his new sword lying a ways away from him. There's a dull ringing in his ears as he stares at the weapon. It's as if every part of him is screaming at him to do everything in his power to grab the sword and finish what he started with Stain. And Tenya wants to obey so bad! But he can't!
"How about logic?" he hears Midoriya say to this 'Gorr' person. "You're the God Butcher, but I'm only half-god so technically…not a god."
Tenya's head swims. What is everyone talking about? Midoriya and Gorr are talking about gods and Stain said his sword wasn't from Earth? What does that-
His new sword vibrates nearby.
No! None of that matters! He can figure it out later. All that matters now is slaying Stain and avenging Tensei! He can figure everything else out later!
Gorr wheezes and begins to laugh heartily, looking like he's enjoying himself. "Oh, I like you! This is gonna be fun." Gorr grabs Midoriya's hair again roughly and jerks his friend's head to make the boy look at him. "Do try not to die too quickly, won't you?"
The sound of trudging boots steals Tenya's attention away from the two as he looks up to see Stain above him. With his body still not responding, all he can do is give the Hero Killer the best glare he can.
Stain is unfazed. "No amount of children can save you, Ingenium." And that's when Tenya hears it: screams.
Multiple screams of pain vibrate through the air as fire erupts around them, burning all the shadow monsters that surround them.
It had come from nowhere. So bright and intense, it is as if they had all been transported to hell itself for a moment, with the flames even driving Stain away from him, as if they are alive.
The fire dies down, though the air around them is still hot. Tenya looks behind him as the smoke slowly clears to reveal someone new standing before them.
Finally, the flames cease and the smoke clears, allowing them to see who it was, and Tenya's world stops. It's as if there's nothing else around him. No alley, no Stain, even the ringing from the sword is dulled.
"You?!"
Stain's cry of disbelief barely registers at all with Tenya because, to put it simply, it doesn't matter. His mouth drops and he feels tears begin to fall down his face.
A part of him questions what he is seeing as his glasses had long been broken tonight. And Tenya has the feeling that even if he wasn't paralyzed, he'd be frozen right now.
Because the figure at the end of the alley glaring at Stain and Gorr…
The person who had saved them…
The man who is standing…
Is Tensei Iida.
"It really is quite the sight, isn't it?"
Tensei finally wills himself to tear his eyes away from the tv screen at Dr. Reiwaru's repeated words. He had forgotten for a moment the man was even in the hospital room with him. In another futile attempt, Tensei hits his leg, hoping for some miracle to make them work again. But alas, he still can't feel it.
"Not exactly how I'd describe it," Tensei remarks, still looking for any sign of his little brother on the news feed. "I just wish I could be out there doing something! Anything! To help in some-"
"Well, Ingenium can't be everywhere, especially now." Tensei loses his train of thought for a moment, unprepared for the man to cut him off. "Oh, my apologies? Mr. Iida, I didn't mean to sound as if I was targeting you. No hero can be everywhere."
Tensei supposes he has a point. But still, something is beginning to chill his insides. It's unnerving how calm the medic is being. Everyone else in the building is in crisis mode, but his doctor was having a conversation with him like it was any other day.
"It truly is a shame," Reiwaru sighs dreamily, still watching the tv. "Because they could really use your help out there. Especially your brother."
The chill inside Tensei begins to creep from his gut to his chest. Keeping his breathing and voice under control, Tensei asks, "what do you mean, especially Tenya?"
Reiwaru turns to face him, an excited smile on his face as he walks to Tensei's side of the bed. The older Iida wonders if this is how prey feels when being cornered by a predator. "Let me show you something, lad."
With a wave of his hand, an image manifests itself in front of Tensei, showing him someone in all too familiar armor running through Hosu. "Tenya…" He gasps.
"He goes to confront the Hero Killer in an act of vengeance," Reiwaru narrates. As he does, Tensei watches as, to his horror, Tenya really does find Stain in an alley, the hero Native about to die. His little brother flies at the Hero Killer, but Stain knocks him out of the air easily.
"Your brother and his friends, Izuku Lokison and Tenko Shimura, will fight valiantly…but between the Hero Killer and God Butcher, they will not be enough, I'm afraid," Reiwaru tells him somberly. The screen flickers. "Witness, the end result."
The picture focuses again, and Tensei indeed sees Midoriya (Lokison?) pinned to the wall by black tendrils, and Shimura, with Native and Tenya, paralyzed on the ground.
"I'm sorry to say, but…" Tensei screws his eyes shut as Reiwaru continues. When Stain brings his sword down on Tenya, the sound of metal breaking bone racks his ears. "Tenya Iida will die tonight."
"This…" Tensei rasps, his throat dry. "This can't be happening…"
"It's not!" The former hero whips his head at the doctor so fast, he should've gotten whiplash. Reiwaru only laughs at his response. "Look at you, so desperate! No, Mr. Iida, you heard correctly. What you saw wasn't real…not yet at least."
Tensei's head swims at the confusing answer, so Reiwaru takes pity on him and clarifies, "you see, my boy, I have the ability to see both the past and future of any reality of my choosing. The future you witnessed of your brother's death is what will come to pass should nothing be done."
"Then do something!" Tensei yells, his face contorted in pain and sorrow, with only one thing on his mind. Save Tenya. "You saw all of this happen, so you can stop it! Please!"
"Why?" It feels like the wind has been knocked out of Tensei's lungs with the unimpressed way Reiwaru asked him that. "It ultimately doesn't matter to me whether the boy lives or dies. No no. You know the old saying, if you're good at something, never do it for free. And believe me, I have my price."
"I'll pay it," Tensei replies instantaneously, no doubt in his voice. "Whatever it is, no matter how much, I'll pay it. Just please save my little brother."
"And eager as well." Rewaru's grin becomes a little more sinister. "Now wait a moment, Mr. Iida. You might want to hear what I have to say before agreeing. My gifts come with a steep price. I mean, just look at what I gave your brother."
Tensei screws up his face in thought, looking back at the paused image in front of him. Tenya received a gift? But what…he studies his brother, thankful it had been rewound to before he dies, and notices a sheath strapped to his side. And lying close to him is-
"A sword? You gave him a-" Tensei's mouth snaps close when he turns to look back at Reiwaru, but instead of the doctor, a short old woman with curly white hair stands where he stood.
"I sure did!" The woman happily confirms for him. "And it was so easy to get him to accept. One look at this poor, defenseless antique shop owner, and little Iida would've taken anything I'd have given him!"
When Tensei blinks, the woman is gone, replaced by Reiwaru once more. "What your brother holds is no ordinary sword, mind you. But an ancient weapon known as the Ebony Blade."
The image next to him zooms in on the black sword as Reiwaru speaks. "The sword is typically wielded by those who carry the moniker of the Black Knight, and it holds great power. It is said it can cut through almost anything, and deflect nearly all magic!"
Reiwaru grows more animated as he talks. "Its wielder can summon the blade back to themselves, it can discharge energy pulses, and even block psychic attacks!
"But…" the medic's grin grows more malicious. "As I said, all this power isn't free. And the price is a curse the sword places upon its wielder."
Tensei's eyes widen, looking back at the sword, Reiwaru's words sickening him more and more. "To grow in power, the sword exacerbates and feeds on the negative emotions of its handler, slowly corrupting them over time. It draws out their antagonism and desires, causing them to lust for bloodshed more and more…the reward for using the Ebony Blade… is death."
A million thoughts run through Tensei's head all at once. And that's not even counting all the different emotions he feels. Anger, worry, and fear just to start as he tries to wrap his mind around all the new information he has just received. Through it all, one simple question escapes him. "Why him?"
It frustrates Tensei to no end at how nonchalantly the man shrugs. "Several reasons, really. First, I know he's friends with the son of the God of Mischief, and I have a score to settle with Loki. Second, It's fun to mess with you humans honestly. And lastly, to ensure Tenya would end up right where I want him before our talk."
He doesn't know why he hasn't asked this already. "Who are you?"
"Ah! There we go! I was wondering when you'd ask!" Reiwaru laughs. "I'm surprised no one in this dimension has figured it out yet. I wasn't exactly subtle."
The doctor snaps his fingers and the image by Tensei flickers to show Reiwaru when he first entered the room.
"Be careful now, Mr. Iida, an idle mind is the devil's workshop."
Another flicker and Tensei witnesses the old woman call out to Tenya and Manual.
"And make sure all those nasty villains know…" She smiles wide, tilting her head to the side slightly. "The devil always gets what's due."
The image changes again.
"And Katsuki Bakugo!" Reiwaru gestures toward him. "Great to meet you! I hope you learn a lot from Best Jeanist here. I was afraid if you kept going down your original path, you and I would be seeing a lot more of each other in the future."
"Eh?" Bakugo challenges. "I'm the one who puts villains in the hospital! Not the one who ends up there!"
"Sure. That's what I meant." The man laughs. "Just remember." He points the needle at Bakugo. "Keep working on being the best hero you can be, or there will be the devil to pay."
A flicker and yet another scene.
"Hey!" Reiwaru calls out to the lazy janitors, marching toward them. "What do you think you're doing?! The devil makes work for idle hands, you know!" The cleaners are quickly back on their feet and scrubbing the surface near them.
A slight buzz accommodates every shift of the image.
Hirona Shigaraki begins to dump various bottles of pills and other medicine into her bag, while Lady Nagant picks out a few and reads their labels. "You guys are seriously anal about what's in these things."
"The formulas f-for many of them are quite similar," Reiwaru says nervously, stretching his collar out a bit. "Slight differences can make for vastly different effects. The devil's in the details, as they say."
One final flicker.
"Dr. Akama Reiwaru to the burn ward. I repeat, Dr. Akama Reiwaru to the burn ward," a voice drones over the PA system.
"Speak of the devil," Reiwaru shakes his head.
And at last, the image dissipates. Reiwaru watches him carefully, his grin even wider and more sinister than before. "I've gone by many names. Evil Incarnate, The Great Corrupter, Beelzebub," the man snickers. "Jack Scratch is a favorite. No? Lucifer? Satan?"
Tensei begins to hyperventilate as Reiwaru stares him down, practically vibrating in his delighted games with the human. "There's no need to be afraid, Mr. Iida. This is only fulfilling an old mortal saying. Because after all, speak of the devil…"
Reiwaru's flesh suddenly ignites itself, letting the smell of sulfur and charred skin into the air. Tensei's vision blurs and when it refocuses, Reiwaru is gone. Replaced by a figure clad in crimson, down to its own skin. It wears clothing fit for royalty and its soulless, predatory eyes lock onto Tensei.
"And he shall appear."
Millions of years of evolutionary instincts scream at Tensei all at once. They urge him to flee and get away from this being as fast as possible. To run and never look back. To hide and pray it cannot find him. But it's too late. He's already been found.
"I…" the entity starts with a much more jovial tone than it had as a man, "am Mephisto. Prince of Darkness, Lord of Pain, and Master of the Underworld. A pleasure to officially make your acquaintance."
"This…this can't be real…" Tensei whispers.
"Oh, but it is!" Mephisto rubs his claws together in anticipation. "It all is. Your brother's cursed sword. The existence of demons and gods. Your city under attack by that silly child, Gorr. And…what fate awaits little Tenya."
That seems to snap Tensei from his spiraling. "There we are. I mean you no harm," Mephisto attempts to reassure the former hero. It doesn't work. "I am here to help! I am willing to give you what you humans call a three-in-one deal. Working legs, your career, and the ability to save your brother. I only ask for one small thing in return…"
Tensei stares down at his broken legs, processing the words of the demon while Mephisto slowly leans closer. "Perhaps you require a hint?"
"My soul." Tensei looks up. "You're the devil, right? And that's how these things usually go down? My soul for what I want?"
"Nailed it, my boy. With one easy payment of your soul, I will give you a gift that will solve all of your problems-"
"Okay." Mephisto doesn't seem angry about Tensei cutting him off. If anything, he seems enthusiastic. "I'll do it," Tensei says, using every ounce of willpower to keep his eyes on the demon. "For Tenya, I'll do anything."
"Ha!" Mephisto claps, standing up straight. "I know I chose right! Oh, you are a bold one, aren't you Tensei Iida? But as you so insist…" the demon holds his claw out to Tensei, igniting itself with a blue flame.
His primal instincts yell in protest as Tensei leans forward, ignoring them. He knows deep down this is a bad idea, and he should be doing anything to get away. But Tensei had meant what he said. He'd do anything for Tenya. And that included making a deal with the devil.
Tensei grasps the claw, giving the demon a firm handshake, and immediately he feels a heat like no other begin to course through his body. It's like every cell in his body has been lit on fire and all at once Tensei feels something new…hunger. A type of hunger he doesn't think he could ever satisfy.
A bright light encompasses them as Mephisto laughs in joy.
"T-T-Tens…" Tenya can't even finish his words, his mind won't let him as he witnesses his brother walk forward, not even registering the jeans, black shirt, gloves, and leather jacket he now wears.
"Tenya." The younger Iida chokes down a sob as his brother says his name, kneeling down to put a hand on his head. "It's gonna be alright now." Tensei smiles at him before standing and glaring at the two villains ahead of him.
"What trickery is this?!" Stain roars, pointing his sword at Tensei. "You were crippled! Meant to pass my message to all other heroes!"
"Chizome Akaguro." Stain's arm drops as he looks at Tensei in shock at his words. Is that the Hero Killer's real name? "Your murder spree ends tonight." Tenya gasps when Tensei's shoes catch fire all on their own, but his brother doesn't seem to notice or care.
"Stain," Gorr calls out to him seriously. He recalls his tendrils, letting Midoriya drop down to the ground and forms a sword that looks like it's made out of the shadows themselves. "This is a problem."
All Tensei can hear are Mephisto's laughs as the light, heat, and hunger overwhelm him, swallowing his senses. He can barely hear the demon's words.
"Με τη θέλησή μου, θα τιμωρήσετε τους ένοχους της καρδιάς!"
Tenya can't believe his eyes as more parts of Tensei's body light themselves in flame while his brother walks forward, never taking his eyes off the villains.
"Anima una pro altera; ut salvet unum fratrem carissimum!"
Fire seems to be erupting from inside Tensei as he speaks to Tenya without turning around, surprising the boy. "I know what you came here for Tenya, but I'm not going to let it happen."
Tensei screams as flames finally engulf him, and from the fire, chains shoot out, wrapping themselves around a surprised Midoriya who yelps as he's tossed behind Tenya and Tenko.
"Tonight, vengeance is mine!"
"Go, my Ghost Rider, unleash Hell into the night!"
The fire dies down and where Tensei once was, a figure clad in his clothing stands, but where his head should be, there is only a flaming skull to light the darkness.
"The Ghost Rider…" Gorr whispers.
The skull opens its mouth and screeches at Gorr and Stain. "Feel the wrath of Hellfire!" Fire erupts from the skull's mouth, chasing both villains as they try to jump away.
Even when it's not directed toward them, Tenya can feel the intense heat from the flames, prickling and threatening to blister his skin.
"What the fuck is happening?!" Tenko yells in disbelief next to him.
"Later…" A tired mumble answers behind them. Midoriya enters his vision, crying in pain as he drags Native to be with the rest of them. "Later…I gotta…I gotta get you guys out of…" the green-haired boy finishes bringing Native to them, but falls to the ground, gasping for air.
"I'm sorry…" he whimpers. "I'm trying, I'm sorry. It's just so hot…"
Stain uses a wall jump to get over some flames and throws several knives at the Rider while flipping mid-air, but they bounce harmlessly off him. "Not a bad idea." The supernatural being conjures a few knives made from his own Hellfire and throws them back at Stain, who is only barely able to dodge.
At the same time, Gorr attempts to slink into the shadows but several walls of flame stop him. "There will be no shadows for you to hide in, God Butcher!" Chains fire at Gorr's neck to drag his writhing body to Ghost Rider, but Stain moves and blocks the chains with his sword before they can reach their destination.
The skull roars in frustration as the Hero Killer tries to drive his sword into him, but Ghost Rider grabs his hands and wretches the sword away, knocking Stain back with a backhand.
Imbuing the blade with his flames just in time to block Gorr's sword, the two stand, pushing their blades against one another. "Out of all nights, this is when the Ghost Rider chooses to appear once again?!"
"I live when the sins of this world become too much. And your sins, Gorr, must be punished!" The Rider headbutts Gorr and he staggers back, only to see a sawed-off shotgun made from Hellfire pointed at his chest.
A loud bang! hurts Tenya's ears as Gorr screams in pain as he's launched back.
Tenya bites back a scream as his heated skin comes into contact with something freezing cold. What-
'Ice!'
All four people on the ground are pulled back out of the alley into the street, and Tenya realizes he's never been happier to see Shoto Todoroki in his life.
"Todo…" Midoriya croaks out before the scarred boy places more ice under Midoriya, letting the greenette cool off as he sighs in relief.
"You should put more information in your texts, Tenko," Todoroki says simply, not taking his eyes off the battle in the alley. "Can any of you stand?"
"My bad," Tenko laughs incredulously. "Next time, I'll just hit pause on the serial killer so I can finish my text."
"I-I can stand…" Midoriya gets onto his wobbly feet while Todoroki grabs his arm to help him, applying more ice to help chill his friend, to which Midoriya gives him a grateful look.
"Glad you're feeling better, Midoriya," Tenko says. "But now that you are, can we all properly freak out now?! Is real life glitching?!"
"What happened to my brother…" Tenya wonders, watching the Ghost Rider hurl a fireball at Stain, before Gorr wraps him up in black tendrils, only for the Rider to burn them off.
"I believe he has been given the Spirit of Vengeance." Everyone, especially Midoriya's, head whirls to Todoroki.
"How…how do you know that?" Midoriya asks, looking almost fully healed.
"I did tell you I was researching demons before our internship, did I not?" Todoroki raises an eyebrow at all of them. "I believe Ingenium has been bound to the demon, Zarathos, whose mission is to punish all those who commit evil acts."
Silence fills the group, the sounds of the nearby battle fading into the background as Tenko finally sighs. "When I once said I wanted my life to be like a video game…I didn't mean Doom…"
"Oh?" Todoroki inclines his head curiously. "Was there someone in this game who could conjure unbreakable chains that cut through most things, manipulate mystical fire that he can make constructs and weapons with or imbue into existing weapons and vehicles, and read the sins of anybody?"
"…not exactly…"
"So this demon is controlling my brother?!" Tenya yells, worried, trying in vain once again to move and feeling renewed purpose when his fist slowly starts to clench.
"No," Todoroki corrects him. "Your brother is in control. Apparently, the human acts as a safety, because if the demon takes control…well the article just said that would be really bad. But most importantly…"
Todoroki's head swivels to Midoriya. "I believe the existence of demons all but confirms your alien nature to me."
"Is that really important right now?!"
"It is to me."
"Alien? You told that Gorr guy you're a god, or half-god I guess, whatever." Tenko does not help Midoriya's situation.
"It's a lot to explain! And why are you not freaking out anymore?!"
"I don't know," Tenko says honestly. "I think the combination of adrenaline and shock are keeping me going. Also, a part of me thinks I'm dead or dreaming. Either way, I'll freak out later."
"Midoriya…Todoroki…" the called-out boys look down to where Tenya's fist shakes from his position on the ground, gritting his teeth. "Take Tenko and Native and get out of here. Once Stain's quirk wears off…" he looks to where his sword lies in the alley, faint whisperings in the back of his head. "I'm gonna finish what I started."
"Bold words."
All the boys realize none of them said those words and look up to see Stain staring them down from across the road, having exiting the alley himself.
Behind him, Ghost Rider launches a wave of Hellfire at Gorr, who uses his symbiote to create wings on his back and fly above the fire and out of the alley, but he can't get far before two chains wrap around his ankle and midsection.
With a hard tug, the Rider brings Gorr back down to Earth, but not before creating a Javelin out of Hellfire that pierces the God Butcher as he comes back down. Gorr roars in pain, lifting himself off the weapon, and fires more black tendrils at his opponent, slamming him into a wall before he can burn them off.
Ghost Rider conjures more chains and fires them continuously at Gorr, who deflects each one with his Necrosword, before finding a spot of shadows to vanish in. The Rider looks around and turns just in time to see Gorr stab him through the chest with his blade.
The skeleton howls, but Gorr isn't done yet. Power flows through the sword and an energy pulse blasts the Rider away but Gorr wraps him in more tendrils and pulls him back to repeat the attack. But the Ghost Rider ignites himself and floods the area in fire once more.
When the smoke clears, Gorr is revealed to have used All-Black to create armor to protect himself. "HA! You'll have to do a lot better than-" he looks up, only to find a Hellfire bazooka in his face. "Oh sh-" Ghost Rider pulls the trigger and the area explodes.
Stain stumbles on his feet but keeps his eyes on the boys. "While those two keep each other busy," he raises his sword. "How about I finish what I started?"
Midoriya and Todoroki share a look, before standing in front of their friends. "You want them?! You'll have to go through us!"
"THEN DIE!" Katsuki flips over the shadow fuck, blasting its partner behind it before hitting the first in the back, destroying both. He lands back hard on the hospital floor, panting. It looks like he's in the clear for now.
"Bakugo! Are you back at the lobby?"
"I got one more room to check, keep your jacket on!" Katsuki yells back to his mentor, before kicking the door to a room open. "Anyone-"
'Smack!'
He feels something hard hit his face and on instinct, grabs it with his hand to move it out of the way, while aiming his other hand at his target-
Before stopping and realizing he was looking at a little girl. The same little girl he had visited a few days ago with demon wings and a tail. Yoshinaga. And he also just realized she had hit him with her IV pole.
"What the fu- the shit was that for?!" Katsuki rubs his head in annoyance.
"I thought you were one of those things!" she yells back, dropping the poll. "Where's everyone else?"
"Outta here, I'm all you got. So quit your whining small-fry, we're getting out of here!"
"You're nothing like the heroes on tv…" the girl pouts a little, before slowly following him out of the room.
"That's because I'm better! So-" Katsuki is cut off by the roar of more monsters coming down the hall. He moves the girl behind him, only to realize, they're coming from both ways.
"Fu- shit! Get on my back and hang on!" Yoshinaga obeys, wrapping her arms around his neck, and legs around his waist tightly. And not a moment too soon as Katsuki points his hands to the ground and launches himself out of the way of the berserkers, weaving through them and around the hospital, until finally getting on the other side of them all.
"Hands over your ears!" Katsuki barks, dropping Yoshinaga to the ground behind him. She does what he says as he removes the pin from his gauntlet. "SUCK ON THIS." He pulls the trigger and fires, evaporating all the monsters with dangerous ease.
Things settle down and Katsuki drops to his knees, wiping the sweat from his eyes.
"Bakugo, what-" Best Jeanist runs around the corner but stops at the sight of the devastated hospital. "What happened here…"
"He saved me!" Yoshinaga happily answers. Part of the ceiling gives way behind her, crashing to the ground while the girl smiles sweetly at Jeanist.
The veteran hero lets out a long, tired sigh, before looking at Katsuki. "I commend you for doing everything in your power to save Ms. Yoshinaga here. But perhaps we should have a lesson on the importance of preventing collateral damage after this."
"I saved her, didn't I?!" Katsuki gestures to the girl. "I even ran like a pus- like a chicken shit until she was safe when I found her instead of fighting! What do you think about that, Denim?!"
A new roar catches their attention. Jeanist looks off in the distance, before back down to his student. "I believe…we should talk more about this later. But I may not have as much work to do as I feared."
"This isn't exactly what I had in mind when I talked about us spending more time together!" Hirona screams from her side of the building roof, separating her energy disc into a dozen smaller ones to cut up more shadow monsters below.
"Really? It's exactly what I had in mind?" Nagant loads a bullet into her rifle and fires. The projectile streaks through the air and hits a berserker in the middle of the pack, which explodes in a ball of fire, lighting up all the monsters around it, and burning them to death. "Incendiary Bullet," Nagant answers Hirona before she can ask.
"You can make those too?!" Nejire floats down, blasting a berserker back over the edge. "How many types of bullets can you make?! Do you even know?! Can you put anything inside them?!" She dodges another monster and blasts it. "Is it only your hair or can you use anyone's-"
"Hey!" Hirona is at her limit. "We're not getting interrogated by a hero fishing for information! Do your job!"
"If I did, you'd be in handcuffs!" Nejire sticks her tongue at the villain, going back to blast more of the creatures.
'Is this girl serious?"
Whatever, she just needs her until-
A scream halts all of Hirona's thoughts, and she spins back around to see that while the blue-haired girl was holding back one monster, another snuck up on her and stabbed her through the thigh.
Without a second thought, the villain sends two energy discs at the monsters, destroying them, before splitting them up and destroying any nearby ones. Nejire falls to the ground, bleeding with her face screwed up in pain.
The hero student holds onto her side and looks up at Hirona, confusion and curiosity peeking through her strain. "What?!" the villain screams at her. "Now we're even!"
She wants to both scream and hug Kurogiri when he appears before them. "Apologies for the delay."
"How is a guy who can teleport late?" Nagant asks in annoyance, destroying a berserker and loading another bullet. "Looks like we only got one last thing to do." She repositions her sniper and places the barrel against Nejire's head, much to the girl's horror. "Your call, kid."
Hirona gapes in surprise, not expecting that. She looks back and forth between everyone on the roof. Nejire, Nagant, and Kurogiri. That's right. She's supposed to be a leader. It's her job to make these decisions. And with those things still coming, she doesn't have much time.
The black-haired girl looks back at Nejire, the girl staring right back at her. She was doing a good job of putting on a brave face, but Hirona can see how scared she is.
The decision should be easy. One less hero to fight in the future. One less person to oppose her!…
Hirona stares at Nejire a few seconds longer, before exhaling. "Kurogiri."
The mist user startles, not expecting to be called upon. "Yes?"
Hirona doesn't take her eyes off Nejire. "Transport her to a hospital. Preferably one outside of the city."
Kurogiri doesn't have facial expressions, but Hirona knows when he's looking at her in surprise. "As you wish." Nagant gives nothing away other than a head tilt.
As the portal begins to form under Nejire, the hero student looks up at Hirona. "Thank you…" in the next moment, she's gone.
Hirona sighs, while Nagant retracts her rifle. Running a hand through her hair, she says, "whatever, Kurogiri, take us home."
The butler raises a hand. "Actually, if I may make a suggestion, Shigaraki…"
"Todoroki, go!" Stain braces to dodge the ice he knows is coming, but Izuku won't let him know from where. The trickster creates a dozen clones of his friend, all sending waves of ice at the Hero Killer.
Not knowing who to dodge, Stain is encased in ice, and Izuku tightens the villain's prison and flattens him to the ground before the man can react. "Okay! Let's get-"
"Midoriya! Watch out!" Todoroki shoves Izuku out of the way and lets off a torrent of fire as a new wave of berserker monsters descends upon them from all sides. "We're boxed in!"
"I'm gonna borrow your ice!" Izuku stomps his foot, creating rows of spiked ice that impale many of the creatures. Just then, a monster jumps them from behind. The boys scream but a repulsor blast destroys it before it can reach them.
Tenko stands, covering their back and tweaking his equipment. "I'm joining this raid!" He fires numerous strands of Blackwhip that ensnare several monsters and forces them onto the spiked ice. "No way I'm passing up this kind of XP!"
"Good!" Todoroki agrees, blasting out more fire. "We could use you, and the experience you'll gain from a fight like this will be invaluable."
"That's what I said!"
"You should all leave…" the three boys turn back to a struggling Iida. "Take Native and go! None of you should be here, getting hurt for me!"
"Shut up already!" Tenko wraps Blackwhip around a piece of loose concrete and throws it into the crowd of monsters. "We're not leaving you behind to die, no matter how stupid you're being! I can't cuss you out if you're dead! Now start mashing buttons and stand up!"
"He's right!" Todoroki fires ice into the air above a hoard of berserkers, before using his fire to melt it. Izuku then freezes the water into hundreds of spikes that rain down on their enemies. "If you want to stop us, then you're gonna have to get up. Get up Ingenium, and fight!"
"Your brother made a literal deal with the devil to stand up and fight for you!" Thunder begins to roar overhead as Izuku's ice beam levels several creatures. "He does all of that to overcome paralysis and you're gonna let a silly quirk stop you! C'mon Ingenium!"
The three hero course students continue to fight back the monsters as Tenya watches, tears pooling in his eyes. Rain begins to fall, but it does nothing to stop the shadow creature's approach.
'Huh, it wasn't supposed to rain tonight.'
Back in the alley, Gorr catches Ghost Rider's chain and whirls around, throwing the other being over his shoulder. The God Butcher jumps at the Rider, attempting to drive his sword into him while he's down, but he rolls out of the way before Gorr can.
The two combatants rise, staring each other down as the rain begins to pelt them harder. "What's the plan here, Rider?" Gorr smirks. "Two immortal beings fighting a pointless battle until the end of time? At least let me finish my work first."
"Hell will wait as long as it takes for you." The rain does nothing to the new wave of Hellfire launched at Gorr, but the alien dodges and weaves as chains attempt to snare him. "What's wrong little Hellion? Run out of new tricks already?!"
"I'm just getting started!" The chain breaks apart mid-air as the individual links soar through the air, pelting and cutting Gorr as if they're ninja stars. The God Butcher creates a set of armor to protect himself once again but the Rider is on top of him immediately, bringing down a Hellfire chainsaw onto his head.
Gorr is able to spin away and reforms his sword from All-Black, but as he does, he fails to notice the links of the chain reforming and wrapping around his neck and lifting him up into the air. Gorr makes a choking sound, instinctively clawing at his neck, while his feet thrash below him.
"While you're just hanging around, how about I scorch your soul?!" As Ghost Rider reals his head back, Gorr's symbiote gets under the chain and gives him just enough room to pull the chain off him and fall.
Forming wings, Gorr speeds to the unaware Ghost Rider, grabbing the spirit and hauling him high into the air. Once there, Gorr forms new tendrils and throws the Rider across the city. "Keep him busy!" Gorr bellows as hundreds of berserkers move to meet his command and converge on the Rider's position. The God Butcher reforms his wings and flies to his real target.
Izuku strains against Stain's blade, the Hero Killer having long freed himself, before using an ice wall to push the man back. "You guys remember when our lives were simple?!"
Both Todoroki and Tenko take a moment before answering at the same time. "No!"
"Me neither! It's awesome right?!"
"Maybe Iida isn't the only person who needs an intervention!" Tenko suggests, taking down a few more monsters.
"Let's be honest!" Izuku ducks an attack. "We all kinda need one!"
Again, Tenko and Todoroki take a moment before answering. "Yeah."
Something smashes in front of the group, and fighting stops as Gorr rises to his feet, sneering at the group of heroes. "Lokison!" He points the Necrosword at them all, baring his teeth. "One chance. Come to me willingly, or watch me kill all these humans one at a time." Stain moves next to Gorr, watching the group carefully.
Izuku can only take a single step before Tenko and Todoroki grab each of his arms tightly, their message loud and clear.
"Very well," Gorr accepts. "You'll be easy pickings once, with a simple cut, Stain immobilizes you anyway."
"Then how about he fights someone he can't paralyze!"
Eyes widening, Izuku can't believe what he's hearing. He knows that voice! And as if to confirm, he catches a glimpse of a red cape before-
"POWERRRRRRRRRR!"
Stain has no chance to dodge before Mirio Togata's fist collides with his face, knocking him back off his feet.
"Mind if we cut in?!" Denki lands next to them, sliding across the ground, a black cape with four white lightning bolts down it flaps behind him. He thrusts Thunderstrike forward, and a powerful lightning bolt strikes Gorr in the chest, causing the Butcher to also yell out in pain as he's thrown back.
"Denki! But-" Realization hits Izuku like a truck. "This rain! I knew it was weird! It's you!"
"Yup!" His cousin turns around to reveal his full Asgardian armor. If Izuku could compare it to anything, he'd say it looks like gladiator armor, colored black around the top half of his body. Chain mail covered his arms and legs, and he had white shoulder pads with red knee guards. Finally, a gold belt around his midsection completed the look. "Like the drip?"
Izuku rolls his eyes. "Just for the record, we had this covered."
Denki eyes the burning alley. "Is that why everything's on fire?" He laughs at Izuku's glare. "Sorry I took so long. Sir wouldn't let me come without a chaperone."
"Oh, man!" Mirio lands next to him, his ever present smile going strong. "I thought we were closer than that! Oh, and it's not just us."
With suspiciously good timing, several monsters howl in pain as the group turns to see the hero Gunhead, a bag slung over his shoulder, knock half a dozen monsters back with his glowing fist, while another group of berserkers are sent flying by Uraraka using the pillar of a fallen building as a bat.
"Guys!" Uraraka rushes over, checking over everyone's injuries. "Iida! Are you okay?!" She bends down to check on her friend and Native.
"I'll be okay…Stain paralyzes his foes by ingesting their blood." Iida informs the new arrivals.
Uraraka nods. "Okay. And we came as soon as we got Todoroki's message."
Everyone turns to the son of Endeavor, who shrugs. "I told Tenko he needed to put more information in his messages, so I sent a follow to our group chat." He turns to Tenko, raising his eyebrow as if to say 'see?'
For his part, the decay user crosses his arms and looks away in defeat.
"Welcome, Thorson!" Gorr walks casually back in front of his berserkers, who await his command, looking ecstatic. "Oh, what a happy day this is! So much blood to be spilled! But if you wish to die together…who am I to deny you?" He raises his finger. "Kill them all."
Stain waits until the group of heroes are fully engaged with the shadow monsters, before jumping in himself, going after Todoroki. But Denki catches on and the Hero Killer grunts as Thunderstrike plows him in the stomach, sending him flying once more.
Chizome shrugs off the pain as he stands, Kaminari's attack having sent him across the battlefield to the top of a building. He wants to get back there, but he's not alone here.
"Damn, that look like it hurt." Hirona Shigaraki says with the sympathy of a child squishing an ant. Kurogiri and Lady Nagant, who Stain immediately zeroes in on, stand next to her, a portal behind them. "Anyway," she continues in a bored tone, "hey. I'm Hirona from the League of Villains, wanna join?"
It's like a child being forced to apologize when they don't think they did anything wrong.
The Hero Killer idly notes one of the news helicopters hovering above the city is over them now, but has to quickly turn away when berserkers begin to target it.
"No?" The girl answers for him. "Too bad." She looks around at the mist man. "Happy? I asked and he didn't want to. Now you can tell Sensei I tried." She shakes her head. "I need a shower and to think about some things."
The young girl prepares to walk through the portal, and Nagant shrugs at Kurogiri, moving to follow, but Chizome stops hers. "Hold it right there." The assassin turns back at him, a small smirk on her face. "Lady Nagant," he spits. "Hero or not anymore, you proudly wore that title while murdering who knows how many."
Stain unsheathes a second blade. "I know no matter what lies they tell the people, a quirk like yours would have been used for so much more, and for that, you will be purged tonight."
"Nice speech," Nagant drawls. "But if you wanted me to put a bullet in between your eyes, all you had to do was ask."
"Are you sure about this?" Hirona asks worriedly.
"We take care of him now, he can't stand in our way in the future. And I can use your platforms." Nagant brushes her wet hair from her eyes. "Besides, I'm willing to bet I can do what the heroes can't."
"You may be, but I am not, scoundrels!"
With a 'boing!' Gentle Hero and La Brava land on the building as well. "It's been rumored for weeks that the HPSC has been hiding devastating news." He says, eyeing Nagant. "It would appear your escape would be the answer."
Chizome isn't sure how much more his blood can rise. "All the fakes are out tonight, aren't they?! And you! 'Gentle Hero!'" he says in a mocking tone. "Are one of the worst! Pretending to be a hero while bringing your own camera to crime scenes to fill your ego! Meanwhile, you rob the people of their time and money without them even noticing! Hero? You should change your name to Gentle Criminal!"
For his part, Gentle merely hums. "I wish I could deny your words Hero Killer, but they ring true."
"Gentle!" La Brava shouts.
"I do wish to be remembered," Gentle continues. "To be spoken about in good repute long after I'm gone. After all, who desires to be forgotten? But it's how I'm remembered that will separate me! For my heroic deeds!" His eyes burn with confidence through the rain. "And I shall start by bringing you both to justice!"
"Your story ends tonight!" Stain lowers into a fighting stance. "All of you will be culled!"
"Looks like none of you will come quietly." Nagant readies with Hirona next to her. "I'd suggest not getting attached to any of your limbs."
Thunder and lightning scream in the sky once more as Stain, Lady Nagant, and Gentle Hero keep their eyes focused on each other.
Gorr laughs at Todorki's attempt to capture him with ice, simply destroying the attack with an energy blast that knocks the boy down. Mirio brings both his fists down on the villain's head, but he doesn't even seem to feel it. The third year student permeates through the Necrosword as Denki rushes in to attack.
But Gorr has a few Berserkers intercept him. Raising his sword to strike the boy, Gorr is stopped when Tenko pulls Denki back with Blackwhip while at the same time, wrapping the Butcher up. "You're funny." He mocks before lashing out with his own black tendrils that ensnare Tenko and throw him into Denki, both boys crying out in pain.
The tendrils move and twist around an Uraraka who was trying to sneak up on him and he throws her at an advancing Mirio. When the blond is forced to make himself solid to catch her, Gorr hits them both with another energy blast, laughing hysterically as he does so.
"Oh, you humans are fun but my work is not done." He creates his wings and flies through the battlefield, grabbing an unprepared Midoriya. Gorr swiftly turns and heads straight for Denki but as he reaches out, Midoriya conjures a dagger and slices Gorr's arm.
Shrieking in pain, the villain flies high up into the air with his prey. "Midoriya!" several voices cry out. Tenko attempts to grab his friend back with Blackwhip, but Gorr rolls away.
"As soon as I clear enough of these things, I'm going after him!" Denki yells, destroying Berserkers with prejudice.
"I'm coming with you!" Uraraka smashes a few monsters with a car. Her tone made it clear that it is not up for debate.
"Uravity!" Gunhead stops by her, dropping his duffle bag. "Take this with you, something in it might help you!"
Meanwhile, Tenya's legs begin to bend and move as his attention turns to the sword lying on the ground in the alley.
They were right. They were all right. How could he call himself a hero while he lies here on the ground, letting the people around him potentially die? He won't- he can't allow that! Tenya will prove his right to the Ingenium name.
His foot slides across the ground, almost ready to let him stand as he keeps his eyes on the sword.
He will prove it. He will save his friends! No matter the cost.
Just as the bottom of his foot touches the ground, the roar of an engine sounds over the battle as something streaks toward them in the distance.
Tenko tears his eyes away from the sky to down the street. "…Is that a flaming motorcycle?"
Izuku grunts in pain as he's tossed like a sack of potatoes onto the hard roof of the building.
"Finally. I was afraid you and I would never get some alone time together, little lord."
Standing up, he immediately notes that Gorr hadn't taken them far at all. Izuku could still see the battle on the ground below, the sound of engines piercing the air.
"Well, you got me." Izuku turns his eyes back to Gorr, a plan forming in his head. He knows all about the God Butcher. His history. How he came to be. The madman's story has been well documented in many historical texts.
Ignoring the protests of almost all of his clones in his head on what he's planning to use, Izuku straightens, letting the wind and rain blow his cloak behind him.
"Yes, yes! Stand, fight! Come at me with the belief you can win!" The Necrosword appears at Gorr's side. "Ignore that you are alone with the God Butcher! Come at me and meet your fate!"
"You're right about me standing and fighting, Gorr. But you're wrong about something else." A green glow appears in his hands, and Izuku exhales as a familiar but foreboding power begins to surge through his veins.
He knows this is a bad decision. He knows he shouldn't. He knows he isn't ready! But what other choice does he have?!
Gorr hurting the people he cares about flash through Izuku's mind, strengthing his resolve to do this. The God Butcher is too powerful. Izuku has no choice! He's going to be a hero who saves everyone, who makes them laugh in their worst times, no matter the cost!
"'I'm not alone with you…" The Prince of Mischief twirls his scepter in his hands, its red glow reflecting off his green eyes. "You're alone with me!"
AN: I know there's a lot going on so long notes to explain.
And there it is! And just to confirm a few things, Akama Reiwaru was indeed, Mephisto! Or to put it simply, the devil of the Marvel universe. The title of the chapter he first appears is Chapter 33's "Speak of the Devil" which connects to the title of this chapter: "And He Shall Appear." Oh, by the way:
赤 = Aka = red
悪 = Waru = evil
魔 = Ma = devil
霊 = Rei = spirit
Thanks to MisterComplex for helping me with the name as well as other parts of this arc. I wanted Mephisto's name to be a hint (noticing a pattern?) but I also didn't want you guys to be able to just google it and figure it out cuz when we hint at Mephisto in this fic, he actually appears!
…Can you guys tell yet that most of this fic runs off spite?
Also confirmed that Tenya's sword is the Ebony Blade. Pretty much explained everything I wanted to say about it for now.
And finally, yes, Tensei is the Ghost Rider now. He's most closely related to the Johnny Blaze version since that's where most of my inspiration came from. As with the blade, I'm trying to make sure these marvel things are explained for those who aren't as familiar, thanks to my editor for helping me with that.
The title of last chapter, Engines of Vengeance, was a reference to Tenya and Tensei's quirk and how wrapped up they both are on vengeance. It's also the name of a Ghost Rider comic for an extra layer of hinting.
Oh yea, the different languages that Mephisto speaks. The first one is Greek and he says: By my will, you will punish the guilty of heart! The second one is Latin and he says: One soul for another; to save one dear brother!
I think that's all I have to say? I usually forget something so we'll see but I hope you all liked the chapter! I know I don't usually talk this much on ffn but felt like I needed to this time lol. Anyway, I have a discord linked at the end of the ao3 version of this story if any of you ever want to talk more. Until next time!