An- Artwork by Aenn.
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The unsettling darkness within the room was only partially lit by a yellow light source from her direction. Shining directly onto the figure before her vision. Stunned at the sight of another face outside of the tube she's trapped in, Koyuki practically gasped in water due to her shock. Cringing at the rancid taste of substance she just inhaled. In an instant, Koyuki smashed through the glass tube into pieces. Collapsing onto the cold concrete ground beneath, coughing out the yellow substance in her lungs in disgust. Spitting out the vile taste of chemicals and other substance. Wretching in disgust that she inhaled such liquids. Panting, calming her breathing.
Her body becoming rigid at the boot before her vision, snapping up to the person above. Narrowing at their smug smirk that's clearly directed down towards her pitiful form. "Ah~ The young premature fetus has stepped into the world, yet incomplete." Sighing in deep discontent, even though they shook their head, oh so, sadly at the failed experiment. "How disappointing." Glaring harshly at their playful, yet smug, words. Not quite liking to the blatant smugness the man held. Even with the attitude they held, she was lost what stranger's wording. What did he mean?
What ever he meant, she couldn't excuse the fact this man is part of the dark guild, Helios. Swiping at them and only for the strange figure to leap back from her swift attack. Standing now, the silverette felt irked at their continuous smug look they still hold on their lips. Hardening her will to fight against this wizard, she knew she must fight them herself. There was a certain feel of magic this person held that she and Shira felt back when they first entered the underground entrance. Hands freezing over with her Ice Dragon Slayer magic, "Why you--" A sudden sharp pain shot through her chest and as well the tighten sensation on her face. Like the sensation of veins pulsing on her cheeks. And indeed, dark veins pulsated like a heartbeat.
Seeing the dark veins, or the vines from the experiment, the man smirked darkly. So their efforts weren't for naught. Wagging his finger's towards the Dragneel like she were a foolish child, "Ah, ah, ah!" The man's curled lips revealed sharp fangs, almost menacing, "Don't wanna strain your new feet-- well, crippled, I'd say. You're not quite failed but neither a successful experiment either. How is it that it is expected?" Koyuki could practically hear the laughter in their voice, shakenly gazing up with heat in her eyes. Glaring in annoyance to their laughter at her pain, but bits of confusion was in her azures. However, she became noticed his sudden muttering; it's as if he quickly neglected her presence or found her not much of a threat, "Lady Sunny would be very disappointed at the results, although not much of a fail. But she wouldn't be to fond, indeed." Exhaling out a chuckle, "Haah...bummer." Until their lips curled into a much diabolic grin, "Maybe the others would have faired better in this experiment..."
Grasping her chest, the twisting sensation burned in her chest. Trembling under the great influence of pain. But even with the pain, Koyuki's glare darkened menacingly at their statement. That trap was clearly meant for her, but if she avoided it would have faired worse for the others--specifically if Mirio fell into their trap. What would've happened to him? Would he suffer this pain too?
The pulsating dark roots on her face slowly calmed, which the pain ceased as well. Moreover, even if the pain passed, Koyuki couldn't see how it affected her. Her nostril slowly bleed black substance. Quickly noticing the smell of metallic, she wiped it off behind her hand and saw the liquid. Freezing to see that the black substance was none other than her own blood. Snapping up in panic towards the man once he spoke up once more, "Amazing, isn't it. The demons roots can convert normal human blood into that of a demon." Keeping their dark grin on the moment the silverette's face paled in horror, "Imagine those affects or reactions on a Quirk user. What are the outcomes?"
'This couldn't be any more worse...!' Of all things that she could've face, this was not one of them. Demonization. Helios was planning to test any of their naïve victims and demonize them; successful or a failure. And she was the perfect pawn to fall into their bait. But why? Why would they need to convert her into a demon? For what purpose should they need to turn her into a demon--?
"In honesty, that little girl intrigued Lady Sunny very much." Azures dilated into terror at the man's nonchalance. Although she never met Eri, she could imagine a small figure trembling under the glares of the dark guild, quivering in fear and terror for what these people are about to do to her. Enjoying the splash of terror on the Dragon Slayer's pale complexion, "I wonder if I took her out of those fool's sight, will it please my Lady in having a young specimen?" The youngest Dragneel's body trembled, bubbling rage building till her dilated orbs seemed to burn at the boiling show of her rage. Becoming her reptilian slits when enraged. Even with the knowledge of these vines coursing through body, her magic became repent with her anger.
Almost giggling out in his persistence to enrage the mage before him; he delivered the final blow, "We are in need of different ages and powers~"
"Lay a hand on that child..." Unleashing a wrathful flow of her magic: both water and ice. Freezing her left with replicated scales of ice, while the right glossed over and reflected thrums of waters. A powerful sense of protectiveness fell over the girl. A maternal instinct that was once buried over the few years here on Earth and due to not seeing Asuka for some time has now reawaken. And the one threatening the child is right before her eyes. Grinding her teeth, as she bit out harshly, "And you'll regret it!"
"Is that so?" Liking the challenge, flicking both wrists and revealing rows of cards. "Then let us gamble." Flipping them over and revealing everyone's faces: police officers, the heroes, and the mafia with few of the villains faces on the deck of cards.
The demonized man, his name is Azazel. He and Koyuki will fight to the death. The burden of everyone's lives lied on Koyuki's shoulders, failing is not an option. Pushing two cards up specifically up, it held Eri's and Izuku's face; further enraging the mage. "Everyone's lives as the chipping bets~"
---
'Koyuki...' Izuku, while he and the rest of the remaining group rushed down the tunnels of the underground complex, thought to himself. Worried for the Dragneel and her wellbeing.
Noticing the greenette's nervous frown and the worried gaze in Midoriya's emeralds, "You worried about Dragneel?"
"I can't help it..." Jaw clenching in utter concern and fear for Koyuki. Knowing his mage friend and partner, the many hijinks and trouble she faces. But this wasn't another of her nose dive into trouble, this was the very dark guild- Helios- that's after her. "It's the same group that wants her dead. I...I can't help but worry." His dark green hair shadowing over his eyes, yet Eijirou could clearly see Midoriya's worried jades under the shadows of fear.
Hearing Izuku's voice, Fatgum snapped back at the two teens behind, "What about the words ya preached? Don't preach what you can't follow, you'll only go against her words, kiddo." A bit miffed that the boys would now doubt the girl's wellbeing. Yeah, they're all worried about the silverette; but they couldn't just start losing faith in her too. Not with the situation they're facing right.
"Ri-Right!" Peeping out in surprise that they upsetted the man. 'But still...' Izuku's thoughts continuing to frett over the captured Fairy Tail mage. How the memory of her shrills of pain filled his mind; and yet, he couldn't do anything. Now the mage is somewhere in this facility, may not able to use her magic unless she wanted to face the excruciating pain. Sadly clenching his jaw in worry over the Dragon Slayer. Praying to himself the girl was safe, 'Koyuki, please be okay!'
"A way back up." Shifting to the front upon hearing Nighteye's voice of surprise at the sight of the stairs.
"Yeah, the stairs." The pudgy hero voiced his agreement.
"Odd..." Glancing behind to Eraser, wondering what their homeroom teacher meant, 'odd.' Noticing their dark orbs under the darkness of Aizawa's goggles seem to shift around, as if on edge. "Isn't it strange that we've seen nothing from the guy shifting the basement around?"
At this, both Izuku and Eijirou were astounded at this realization. They haven't thought of that, after everything that's happened how have they not noticed this great detail. Kirishima also shifted his gaze around, "You're right, the halls aren't all twisty anymore."
"That he's allowed us to come this far without interfering must mean that he doesn't have complete awareness or control of the basement." Theorizing these possibilities and although not concrete it was their best bets. "Suneater and Ishtar back there, and the officers are above. Perhaps our villain is focusing his attention on them?"
"Is there a limit to how much he can monitor at once?" Rock Lock pitched in his question, if these hunches were plausible.
"This is just a theory, but I think he literally dove into the basement to control it. He hasn't become the facility itself. Rather, he's sneaking through the walls, watching and listening. So when he shifts things around to slow us down, there's a chance his real body is nearby. He must stick his real eyes or ears out to observe." Unexpectedly, the walls by Shota shot out at him in waves. the two heroes panicked at the sight of the walls targeting the Erasing Quirk user, and the raging walls seemed more like a strange claw about to plunge Aizawa into the abyss that suddenly opened.
The one to react quick was Fatgum, lunging and pushing the hero out of the enemy's clutches, "Eraser!!"
"Fat!" Many voices cried out to the pudgy hero in panic. Aizawa whipped his bindings at the hero in midair, attempting to also pull the hero out of the plunging walls clutches, "Thanks!" However, his attempts was for naught, "Don't mention it!" Plunging Fatgum, and also Red Riot who also attempted to rescue his homeroom teacher from harms way, into the open hole and shutting it closed.
There wasn't even time to worry about the two, not when the walls morphed once again. "Here it comes again! Does this guy ever let up?!" Their problems worsened when everything morphed out, such as the ceiling, the walls, and the floors beneath warped. "He's trying to crush us to death! We're gonna get ground into hamburgers!!"
Nighteye quickly ordered out the African-American hero beside him, "Rock Lock."
"Some leader you are, getting us into this mess!" Though miffed, the man rushed to the warping walls and quickly palmed the walls, "You really screwed up, here!" Turning his hand as if it were a key and locking something into place, "Deadbolt!!" Calling out to the others to crowd into the boxed space, "Over here! He ain't shifting this part for now!" The rest obeyed and swiftly rushed into the space, crowding inside. "And don't complain about the tight quarters. At maximum security level, my Lock Down can't cover too many spots at once. This is the limit of my range!" Rock Lock froze at the sight of the warped concrete rushing their way, "He's coming from the spots I can't pin down! Watch out!!"
In an instant, Izuku's body pulsating green energy and swiftly struck the plunging walls into shattering pieces. Stunning the police at the student's quick prowess. Furthermore, their biggest problem was them in this cramped space where the unknown enemy could continuously strike and they only have Deku to fight Irinaka's attacks, "He's like some sort of whacked-out mole."
Seeing this, Rock Lock clicked his tongue in frustration, "Things would be going smoother if team Fat was here! Eraser!"
"I know!" Responded the Eraser Quirk user, still searching for Irinaka's body to cease the man's attacks on them. But to his discontent, he still couldn't find any peeping spots of the man. At this, the hero keeping the walls in place sweat nervously and irked, "We ain't making any headway, here! We just keep getting cornered."
Rock Lock could see Izuku continuous attempts to keep back and destroying the walls from lunging at them. Smashing into concrete, the greenette stood back and begun to huff at the barrage of attacks the walls continuing strikes on them, "We're not getting anywhere!" Even with the growing dread of being trapped in Irinaka's clutches, they couldn't stop here. Especially not when Ryukyu and the girls, the heroes, the police officers, here; Kirishima and Fatgum, and the wizards have brought them all this far. Then, a certain silverette also came to mind. Hardening his will to continue to fight and protect these people from harm. Emeralds narrowed in their determined will to fight, "No way you're stopping us!!"
Unexpectedly, the area around them suddenly receded back and leaving the area open. Both the officer and Izuku gazed around in surprise at the open space around. At least the officer voiced what many thought, "It opened up...? Now what?"
"Wahhh!!" Cried out Rock Lock, evading the lightening speed concrete.
"Deku!" And in lightening speed, the greenette was whisked from his spot; and yet, thanks to Aizawa's quick thinking from being crushed under the warped walls wrath. Hearing more crashes and the earth beneath them shuttered at the disturbance Irinaka inflicted in the tunnels.
A bit shaken, Izuku threw a quick "Thanks..." to the man behind, crouched readily for what ever may come. And received a nonchalant response from the hero, "Don't mention it." Emerald eyes roaming their surroundings,"We got split up?" Clicking his tongue in discontent at their enemy easily splitting the groups apart, "Not again..."
At least they were able to hear from the others, sounding very much well and safe, thankfully. That is till they heard Rock Lock's voice sound as if he was engaging with someone. But the instant they heard his voice, it quickly became silent. Shota not taking this worrisome sign unwell, "Rock! What's going on?!"
Midoriya quickly thinking on his feet, "Eraser! Stand aside!" Swiftly knocking the wall separating them and Rock Lock down. "Rock Lock!" Calling out to the hear within the dust of smoke and surprisingly seeing the hero beside a replica of the man.
The African-American hero shifting his nervous gaze to them, "This imposter just showed up and came at me. Watch out. There could be more reinforcements somewhere!" Yet the two were unaware at the man's sudden eyes widening at the sight of Izuku. Leaving the fallen body's side and to the boy, which allowed Eraserhead to investigate the body himself. "You okay, Midoriya?"
Seemingly unaware the strangeness of the situation nor questioning Rock Lock's sudden formality towards the greenette, "Yeah! Let's hurry up and get Chisaki--" Izuku froze rigidly when the man sudden grinned an open smile, feeling the sudden chills of danger. Even more when the man pulled out a knife behind them and aimed to stab him from above. A frightened cry left his lungs and alerted Aizawa at the danger behind them. Activating his Quirk and to their shock, Rock Lock's skin melted away in pile of goop and revealed a grinning and flushed face that belonged to-- "Toga Himiko?!"
Excited, the girl jabbered off excitedly, "Toga! Yes, it's me, Toga! You remembered! I'm so very glad to see you again!!" Pulling their knife back and still aiming to stab Izuku, "I could not be happier, Izuku-kun!! So, so thrilled!!" Thankfully, Shota wasn't going to allow this insane girl harm his student and whipped his binding around Toga's naked body, due to his Eraser Quirk, her replicated body left her bare. Yet he didn't predict her quick thinking and snapping onto the binding for leverage to control direction. Instantly stabbing into the Aizawa's behind his shoulder, but quickly leapt away from the swipe of Shota's own knife. Rolling out of the bindings grasp and throwing away the bloodied knife.
"Sensee!!"
"I'm fine. Stay back!" Snapping behind where the League of Villain member ran, clicking his tongue in frustration when the walls suddenly blocked their way to the deranged villain. Even with the disappointment of not capturing the villain, they had other greater things to worry, "We need to stop Rock Lock's bleeding. And get that knife. Toga's uses blood, apparently."
Although shaken from the encounter, that wasn't what shook Izuku to his very core. It was the fact Toga held the same Quirk ability as a certain beige haired brunette during the provisional exams. Camie. There was no doubt about it, the League of Villains had infiltrated the exams as well, and so easily too. 'The League of Villains, what're they thinking?!'
Tensing upon hearing what must be another scuttle against the villains. Yet, unlike Rock Lock, it seemed Nighteye handled his side very well. As quick it started, it also ended flawlessly. However, a voice suddenly filled the walls and screeched the top of their lungs, "GAHHHH!!!" The walls and concrete beneath them warped around, becoming a swirling whirlpool. Intending to crush them all in the peak of its chaos, "I'M GONNA PULVERIZE EVERY LAST ONE OF YA!!!"
"A voice!" Hearing what must be Irinaka's voice screaming through these walls. Snapping to his student, hoping he, too, heard the screeches, "Did you hear it?!"
Nodding in confirmation, but the problem lied with these warping concrete. 'That scream always comes with major movements. It must be Irinaka's voice!' Shifting his gaze around, still on a search for the man, 'It's hard to pin down all the echoing in here!' Leaping away from the plunging concrete, evading each of their barrage of attacks. Suddenly, another intangible shrill filled the space, sounding almost animalist in their blind rage. Snapping to where it came, Izuku shot off, bouncing from warped floorings and smashed the conveniently formed hole. Smashing the small space and creating a wider opening, revealing their hidden enemy from beneath the concrete. Giving Eraserhead the perfect chance to cease their problems this man has caused. Causing the man in the walls to fall midair, not without shrilling angrily, "You twooooo--!!" Yet the man couldn't predict the stamp zooming his way and knocking into his side, quite enough to knock the man out cold. With Izuku's speed, he was able to catch the troublesome man and zoom off the falling debris and bring Irinaka to the waiting heroes.
"It seemed he was simply used." Nighteye quickly assumed, seeing the unconscious man was blinded by sudden rage, yet no provoked him. Assuming the members of the league doing such job. Even with all of this, it didn't leave the fact they finally stopped one of their dangerous adversary, "But now his labyrinth is finished."
Agreeing with his mentor, it was another step closer for them to hunting Chisaki. However, the walls around them remained strange and morphed in odd places, worried for both his senior and the child the blonde rushed off to rescue, 'Eri...Senpai...' Flinching, he thought the ground shook. That is till he and the others felt it too. Many gasping or almost tripping from the earth quaking so suddenly. The strange thing about it is that the s-waves were very odd. The earth shook once more and that's when it instantly hit Izuku. Eyes gradually widening in awe, yet held hope and glee, "Koyuki?!" It was only small, but enough for him to feel it-- her magic.
Also sensing the familiar chilling cold that belonged to his destructive student, nodding to himself in exhaustion, "That girl...always making it obvious." Yet Aizawa smirked to himself, relieved to know the Dragneel was still out there and fighting like hell.
Nighteye, pushing his lenses back, also held a smirk, "It would seem so..."
Lips blooming into a deeply relieved smile, emeralds seeming to glaze a bit in his relief, knowing his wizard friend and partner was well and out there fighting. "Koyuki...Thank goodness..." Gazing out to the warped rubble, while the earth shook slightly from each tremor. 'Koyuki...keep fighting and wait for me! This time...I'm coming to help you!'
---
Back in the surface with Ryukyu and the God Slayers, Tsuyu evaded Ochako's knife. Gliding back, the amphibian Quirk user huffed tiredly, all her energy used to dodge Uraraka's swipes. The twins continued to deal with the masked wizard, attempting defeat the dark mage and revert the brunette back to normal. But the biggest problem was this: with both Tsuyu and Hado focusing in stopping Ochako from harming or even killing the officers, Ryukyu and her sidekick are having great difficulty with the giant of a man.
If the wizards don't figure out how to revert the girl back to normal, things will only hinder them all from keeping the enemies at bay.