A helicopter is taking flight.

Exciton: Pilot, take us to U.A. with no delays!

Pilot: Yes, Exciton, sir!

The helicopter begins flying towards U.A. Also inside are Lust, Impact, and Evergreen.

Exciton: *frustrated grunt* I can’t believe those kids pulled a Coup d’Etat on Ewing!

Lust: I’m sure their hearts are in the right place…

Exciton: Well, they’ll be in the wrong place when Vanguard’s done with them!

Impact: Exciton, calm down.

Exciton takes a deep breath.

Exciton: Sorry… I just can’t believe Aster would do something like this. After all that time I spent training him…

Evergreen: You trained him to be a hero, Exciton, and that’s what he’s trying to be.

Exciton: Huh? What do you mean by that, Evergreen?

Impact: Are you saying you agree with what the kids are doing?

Evergreen: No, I don’t, but I see why they felt compelled to do this… we’re the Top 10. We should have been more proactive in establishing a plan to defeat Vanguard and making it clear to the public that we had confidence that he’d be beaten.

Lust: But… we don’t…

Evergreen: Yes… but we could have given the people a reason to believe in us. Even if it had been a lie… we could have made them feel safe.

Evergreen gets quiet for a moment.

Evergreen: That’s what “he” would have done…

Exciton, Impact, and Lust grow quiet as well.

Evergreen: My point is… those kids didn’t believe in us, but they did have faith in each other. That’s why they’re trying something like this… because they think it’s the only chance they’ll have to save the world.

Exciton: I guess I see what you mean…

Impact: We have to stop this, but… if one thing hasn’t been made crystal clear from these last seven months… The Top 10 needs to be renovated, not in its membership, but in how we handle business.

Lust: I agree…

Exciton: Life must go on without Colossus, but… he gave more to the hero world than his life… he gave us everything. This incident proves that we need to make changes. Otherwise, Iota will get his wish.

Evergreen, Lust, and Exciton nod in agreement.

Evergreen: (Colossus… I’m sorry this is what we’ve become… but I promise to bring us back to where we used to be.)

Justus leaps down from the rooftop.

Justus: So… which power will you face me with? Hmm… may I make a request?

Hayze: No.

Justus: Oh my… where is that fiery attitude you usually have? No snappy one-liner to hit me with?

Hayze: The only thing I’m concerned with is taking you down!

Justus laughs.

Justus: I seem to have hit a nerve.

Justus glances at Silver.

Justus: So maybe I should pinch it further…

Justus walks over to Silver and steps on his head.

Hayze: Hey! Get away from him!

Justus: No… I don’t think I will.

Justus applies pressure with his foot.

Hayze: *frustrated grunt* Stop that!

Justus: Why should I? He lost to me, so I can do with his life whatever I please!

Hayze’s eyes begin to glow again.

Hayze: I SAID QUIT IT!

Calm’s eyes begin glowing; he falls in pain to his hands and knees.

Sydney: What’s wrong with him?

Saige: Calm! Are you alright?

Calm: *under his breath* Power…

Saige: Huh?

Wrath, Impulse, Gale, and Khaos’ eyes also begin glowing.

Wrath: I must…

Impulse: Have more…

Gale: Power… to protect…

Khaos: My friends…

Hayze lets out a frustrated yell and fires a bolt from his crossbow at Justus.

Justus: *nasal grunt* Fine, I’ll pay attention to you.

Justus deflects the bolt with his arm; it flies into a wall and covers it in a gelatinous substance.

Justus: Hm… neat.

Justus kicks Silver aside.

Justus: I’ll tell you what, Hayze. I’ll kill you first, then I’ll finish off Silver. Sounds good?

Hayze’s eyes revert to normal.

Hayze: Yeah… sounds good…

The rest of Hayze’s alter-egos’ eyes revert to normal as well.

Calm: *groans*

Saige: What was that?

Calm: Hayze…

Saige: Hayze, what?

Calm: He’s reaching a point of no return… His anxiety about losing his friends is getting out of control.

Saige: What? What are you talking about?

Calm: Remember how you were able to overpower Chagrin and essentially erase her from your mind?

Saige: Uh… yeah, of course.

Calm: Hayze is subconsciously doing the same thing to us, but instead of erasing us… he’s going to absorb us…

Saige: “Absorb” you? What does that mean?

Calm: It means that if someone close to Hayze dies… he could have an anxiety attack and inadvertently fuse the six of us back into a single being.

Saige: And… I assume that’s a bad thing?

Calm: Yes… because Wrath, Gale, Impulse, Khaos, and I have developed our own traits and personalities since separating from him. If we merge with Hayze… we’d become an entirely different person, and the six of us… would be gone forever.

Saige: What?! We can’t let that happen!

Calm: I know, but we have no idea where Hayze is right now… so all we can do is hope that nobody dies…

Saige: Well, that shouldn’t happen as long as nobody unexpectedly fights Vanguard.

Vanguard cracks his neck.

Vanguard: You know, I’m warming up to this unexpected fight.

Jace and Zach are in pain on the ground, Khaos has fallen to a knee, Karma is tending to Angel, and Gus is still… well, you know.

Karma: Angel, can you hear me?

Angel: *pained grunt* Karma? What happened?

Karma: He… he got your wing, Angel.

Angel glances at his incinerated wing; he grimaces.

Angel: I’ll worry about that later…

Angel pushes through his pain to get to his feet.

Karma: Angel, what are you doing?! You’re in no condition to fight!

Angel: That doesn’t matter, Karma; I have to help the others.

Karma: If you go over there, you’ll die! Just stay here; I’ll go find Aster’s team and-

Angel: Karma, don’t you understand? There is no escape…

Karma: Huh?

Angel: He shot me down so that I wouldn’t be able to get help. If you try to leave, he’ll strike you just as hard as he did to me.

Karma: That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try! It’s Vanguard! We’ll die if we try to face him!

Angel: I know, that’s why I can’t stay down. I have to battle through my injuries to help the others… We may not be able to win, but we can fight for each other… and maybe… maybe a couple of us will live long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

Karma is taken aback.

Angel: I may not be the cream of the crop for our class, but I’m still a fighter. If I’m going down, I’m going down swinging!

Angel limps towards Vanguard and the others.

Karma: (Angel… you’re right!)

Khaos catches his breath.

Khaos: (Silver must have been in lousy shape… Hayze thought he was going to die for a moment; that’s why he triggered the Exodus.)

Khaos looks around at his “teammates.”

Khaos: (I’ve gotta keep these guys alive.)

Vanguard glances at Khaos.

Vanguard: You seem to be the most lively of the group, so I’ll take you on first. Of course, that means I don’t want anyone interfering…

Khaos: (Shit!)

Vanguard points his palm at Jace and Zach.

Vanguard: Goodbye, Jace and Zach! It was nice knowing you!

Jace: Crap!

Zach: Oh no!

Khaos stands up.

Khaos: Vanguard! Don’t do it! You’re going to regret it!

Vanguard: Hm?

Jace and Zach: Huh?

Khaos: Vanguard, if you kill anyone from Class 2-A or B… it’ll be the biggest mistake you ever make!

Vanguard: Is that a threat?

Khaos: No, it’s a fact! This school has a power unlike any you’ve ever seen… and surpasses your own.

Vanguard laughs.

Khaos: That wasn’t a joke!

Vanguard: A power stronger than mine? Of course, you’re joking!

Khaos: What if you had to fight a fused warrior composed of six people. With five dynamic quirks and the ability to heal on top of that! With the logic of a world-class tactician, the vitality of a gladiator, the speed of a rogue, the confidence of a card shark, and the ruthlessness of a murder…

Vanguard: I’d welcome the challenge.

Khaos: *frustrated grunt* You’re a fool then!

Vanguard: It doesn’t matter; what you say is a blatant lie.

Khaos: It isn’t.

Vanguard: Oh really? Then where is this warrior? If he could defeat me, why hasn’t he shown up yet?

Khaos: Because he doesn’t exist yet.

Vanguard, Zach, Gus, and Jace look confused.

Vanguard: What are you on about?

Khaos: I am Khaos, one of Hayze’s five alter-egos. We were born not long after Hayze was injected with the Quirk Serum; it created us… but it can also destroy us.

Vanguard: Go on.

Khaos: Hayze has become more powerful than all five of us… which has unlocked his ability to absorb us and become one person again.

Zach: What?!

Jace: He can do that?

Khaos: Yes, and if he does this, my brothers, Hayze, and I will cease to exist, and the only thing left will be a fused fighter with all of our strength, skills, and intellect in one body.

Vanguard: I see… and why hasn't he done this yet?

Khaos: Because he can’t control it, and none of us want to be erased from existence! I’ve called this fusion Exodus, and it’s triggered when one of Hayze’s close friends dies.

Zach: Wait… really?

Jace: Then why didn’t it activate when Jake died?

Khaos: Two reasons. Hayze wasn’t aware of Jake’s death until three months after the fact, and I was still more powerful than him then. Zach, you saw when Hayze first knocked on the door of this power… back during the prison exercise.

Zach: Huh? Wait… you’re right!

“ Hayze slowly gets to his feet.

Hayze: I’m not going to let you kill everyone… I’m not going to let you kill everyone… I’M NOT!

Suddenly, all the water in the entire network of pipes shoots out of Kevin and Eve’s cells and collects in the air above Hayze.

Fearmonger: Wow… that’s something.

Hayze: DIE!

All of the water comes bursting down toward Fearmonger.

Hayze: TORRENTIAL TRIBUTE!

The water smashes down against the platform where Fearmonger is standing like a giant tree falling against the ground. “ - Chapter 115

Khaos: Again, I was too powerful for him to force the fusion, but he took characteristics from Wrath and myself momentarily.

Jace: Yeah… and he did that against Tobias during the licensing exam too!

Vanguard: Let’s see if you’re telling the truth.

Vanguard uses Justice to verify Khaos’ story.

Khaos: Vanguard, trust me when I say you must leave these five alive. For both of our sakes…

Vanguard thinks for a moment.

Vanguard: Well, I guess I’ll take my chances!

Khaos: Damn you!

Vanguard charges up a death ball.

Jace: Shit…

Zach: I can’t believe this is it…

Khaos fades into the shadows.

Vanguard: Good riddance, you two!

Vanguard launches the death ball.

Jace: It’s been an honor, Zach…

Zach: Right back at you, buddy.

Khaos’ hands emerge and grab Zach and Jace’s ankles; he drags them into the shadows.

Jace and Zach: Huh?

The death ball connects with the ground, disintegrating the area.

Vanguard: That’s two down and two to- HUH?!

Vanguard glances at Gus and spots Zach, Jace, and Khaos with him.

Gus: You guys are alright!

Khaos: For now…

Zach: Nice save, Khaos!

Jace: Yeah, thanks, man!

Khaos: Don’t thank me, fools! Get on your feet and fight!

Zach: You don’t have to tell me twice!

Jace: Me too!

Jace and Zach stand up, and Angel and Karma rejoin the group.

Angel: Are you guys okay?

Zach: Angel?

Jace: Jesus Christ dude, are you really standing right now?

Angel: Yup, and there’s nothing you guys can do to talk me down.

Zach and Jace smile.

Zach: No way, man, we need you!

Jace: Yeah! We’d never tell you to do that!

Angel: Thanks, guys.

Gus: And I’ll help too!

Gus gets to his feet.

Gus: The six of us can fight together!

Khaos: Just keep your distance, pus bag.

Gus: Aw…

Vanguard claps.

Vanguard: Look at you six, all unified. I guess it’s true what they say “Those who stand together fall together.”

Khaos: The only one who’s falling is you.

Zach: Yeah! You tell him, Khaos!

Khaos: Shut up, fool.

Zach: Okay…

Khaos: Look, I don’t care about winning this fight. My only objective is avoiding my own destruction, and unfortunately, that means protecting you five for as long as I can. So just follow my orders, and we can at least try to put a dent in this guy.

Angel: Aster is searching for Vanguard, so it shouldn’t be long until he’s here.

Khaos: Yeah, well, let’s hope.

Blaze’s eyes are fluttering.

Aaron: Blaze, come on, man. Keep those eyes open.

Blair: Impulse will be here with the medicine soon; I know it!

Blaze: I’m… trying.

Aaron continues applying pressure to the wound with his hands.

Aaron: (He doesn’t have long, I have basic medical training, but not enough to keep him alive through a fatal wound. Where are you, Impulse?)

Ivy approaches the trio.

Ivy: Can I assist?

Aaron: Hell no! You stay the hell away from us!

Ivy: Huh?

Aaron: I know who you are, and I don’t want you anywhere near this kid. Got that?

Blair: Aaron, it’s okay.

Aaron: Huh?! Blair, what are you talking about?! She’s-

Blair: Aaron! He’s my son, so I decide who can and can’t help.

Aaron is taken aback.

Aaron: Right, sorry.

Ivy kneels beside Aaron.

Ivy: My hand is cybernetic, so I can apply more pressure without tiring. Can I take your place?

Aaron: *grunts* Fine.

Aaron removes his hands, and Ivy places her hands on the wound.

Blair: Thank you…

Aaron scoffs and glances over at Walker; he hasn’t moved.

Walker: (How could I have done this? Even if I had struck the girl… it still would have been murder. I’ve become what I set out to destroy…)

Alexis: Mr. Walker?

Alexis has walked over to Walker.

Alexis: Are you alright, sir? We should put your arm in a splint.

Walker stares at Alexis for a moment.

Walker: Okay…

Alexis walks over to the nearby tree and finds two small but sturdy branches. She then rips the sleeves off of Alden’s expensive Hawaiian shirt.

Alexis: Sorry if this hurts.

Alexis begins stabilizing Walker’s arm in a splint.

Walker: I’m sorry…

Alexis: Hm?

Walker: I shouldn’t have been acting that way… I’m your teacher, and I just went against many lessons I worked hard to teach you kids.

Alexis: It’s okay, Mr. Walker.

Walker: Huh? How?

Alexis: You’re our teacher, but that doesn’t mean you’re not human. That night in the forest was tough on all of us… and I can understand why you feel she’s synonymous with that. So, it’s alright. Remember one of the first lessons you gave us? It’s okay to fail if you learn something from it.

Walker is quiet; he glances at Ivy as she’s helping Blaze.

Walker: What are your thoughts on her?

Alexis: I’m not sure… All I know is I believe in second chances. She says she’s turned a new leaf… and everything I’ve seen up to this point tells me she’s staying true to her word.

Walker stares at Ivy.

Walker: I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.

Impulse arrives.

Impulse: Alright! Where is he?!

Blair: Impulse!

Aaron: Right over here!

Impulse runs over to Blaze.

Impulse: Alright, buddy, take this.

Impulse pops the pill in Blaze’s mouth and rubs his throat. After a few seconds, his wound heals.

Blair: Oh, thank god!

Aaron: Nice work, Impulse.

Impulse: Hey, I just retrieved the pill, that’s all.

Aaron notices Impulse has a stern expression.

Aaron: Something wrong?

Impulse: Uh… do any of you know where Hayze is?

Ivy: Hm? Hayze?

Aaron: Last I saw him, his team headed to the Vanguard dorm. Why?

Impulse: It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.

Aster: *from afar* Don’t worry about what?

Aster and Yul arrive.

Blair: Aster?

Aster: Is the kid alright?

Aaron: Yeah, he’s fine. What are you two doing here?

Impulse: Yeah, why did you follow me?

Aster: We wanted an update on the situation-

Aster notices Walker.

Aster: Aw crap! Walker’s out!

Aaron: Oh, right… Yeah, that’s a problem.

Aster: Does this mean the Top 10 are on the way?

Walker: They should be.

Everyone turns their attention to Walker.

Walker: I told Adrian to call them in, and when they get here, your plans will be shut down.

Aster: Dammit! Then we’ve gotta accelerate this mission!

Yul: And how do you propose we do that?

Aster: Impulse, you have to find Vanguard!

Impulse: Sorry, boss, I can’t do that…

Aster: What?! Why?!

Blair: Yeah… you’ve been acting weird, Impulse…

Impulse is quiet for a moment.

Impulse: Okay, everyone, listen.

Impulse explains the Hayze situation to the group.

Blair: What?!

Aster: And you’re saying that you’ll all be erased?

Impulse: Yeah… more than likely permanently.

Aaron: Look, I get why you obviously want to prevent this, but if you guys can take down Vanguard… is it really all that bad?

Impulse: Hell yeah, it is! Who knows what our fused form’s personality will be like? He could be an even more powerful version of Khaos!

Yul: Which means he could be an even bigger issue than Vanguard…

Impulse: Hayze is teetering on the edge of disaster. We thought it would only apply to people he has a strong friendship with, like Ash, but now even the thought of one of you dying pushes him close to disaster.

Aster: *frustrated grunt* Dammit!

Aster starts thinking.

Yul: Say Hayze goes past the edge… is there anything we can do to stop him?

Impulse: Well, we’re currently outside his body, so he’d have to find and defeat all of us to complete the absorption. But the tricky part is that the rest of us will also lose control and want to be absorbed.

Yul: Hm… so the best thing we can do is keep all of you separated until Hayze is secured.

Impulse: I’d say so.

Aster: Okay, then you all stay here for now. We’ll return to our team and send Gale back over here. Once he’s here, Impulse, you search for Vanguard.

Impulse: But what about Hayze?!

Aster: Hayze’s team should be done with their operation and sitting on standby. There’s no reason to believe that he’s in danger of seeing someone die. So we’ll be precautious, but we won’t go too overboard.

Impulse: *frustrated grunt* I disagree with that, but… fine.

Aster: Aaron, keep everyone safe here.

Aaron: Got it.

Aster: Come on, Yul!

Aster and Yul depart.

Impulse: (It’s kind of weird… being… worried. I just hope nothing goes wrong… otherwise, my life might be short-lived.)

Hayze is breathing heavily.

Justus: Boy, you seem eager.

Hayze: Eager to take you down!

Justus: Oh really? Well, I hate to inform you, but… you’re going to be disappointed!

Hayze: No, I’m not!

Hayze activates the sound system on his motorcycle and begins driving circles around Justus.

Hayze: Let’s see how you handle the Mega Bass!

The motorcycle begins playing music with a powerful bass that vibrates Justus’ body. Windows and various pieces of glass shatter.

Justus: Fighting me with a bicycle? That’s pathetic!

Hayze: You won’t be saying that after this!

Hayze points the nose of his motorcycle at Justus and then uses its spring system to launch into the air.

Hayze: (The Mega Bass has taken him off-balance, so let’s see him counterattack!)

Hayze loads a bolt and takes aim at Justus.

Hayze: Ice attack!

Hayze launches the bolt.

Justus: As I said… pathetic.

Justus suddenly disappears, and the ice arrow collides with the ground.

Hayze: Huh?!

Hayze’s bike lands on the ground; he looks around for Justus.

Hayze: (He disappeared! Wait…)

“ Silver: Watch… the clock… he can stop… ti- “ - Chapter 193

Hayze looks up at the clock tower.

Hayze: (He couldn’t finish what he was saying, but… it had to have been… time! But if Justus can do that, then-)

Justus: *from afar* I wouldn’t sit still if I were you!

Hayze: Huh?

Hayze looks over his shoulder and sees a car hurling toward him.

Hayze: Oh shit!

Hayze moves out of the way and drives off.

Hayze: (I’ve gotta think of a plan, I can’t take on a quirk as powerful as time stopping without one.)

Justus leaps onto a rooftop and watches Hayze drive through the city.

Justus: (He hasn’t chosen an element yet. Which can only mean one thing…)

Justus smiles.

Justus: (He can’t.)

Hayze looks into his quiver.

Hayze: (Justus may be able to stop time, but he’s still a strength-based fighter, so all I’ve gotta do is incapacitate him. One of these gelatinous bolts ought to do the trick, but if I don’t change up my strategy, he’ll do the same thing he did last time.)

Hayze spots a fire station with a tower.

Hayze: (Hm…)

Justus leaps from building to building.

Justus: (You can roam around this city as much as you like, Hayze, but at the end of the day, you’ll end up going in circles. So all I need to do is wait for you to come back around.)

Justus hears the sound of an engine below him.

Justus: (Speak of the devil!) It’s time for me to send you flying off your little bicycle, Hayze! THE WORLD!

Time stops.

Justus: (All I need to do now is remove him from his motorcycle. His momentum will send him crashing against the pavement!)

Justus leaps off the building and spots Hayze’s motorcycle.

Justus: Let’s have some fun- What?!

Hayze isn’t on the motorcycle; Justus runs over and inspects it.

Justus: AUTOPILOT!

Justus frantically looks around, trying to find Hayze.

Justus: Where?! Where are you?!

Justus looks desperate.

Justus: (Shit! I fell into his trap! And now-)

Time resumes. Hayze takes aim at Justus from the fire tower.

Hayze: It’s showtime!

Hayze shoots a bolt at Justus.

Justus: Where is he! Huh?

Justus spots and deflects the bolt with his arm.

Justus: Nice try!

Suddenly, Justus gets run over from behind by the motorcycle.

Justus: AHHHH!

Hayze smiles.

Hayze: Autopilot Redirection Bolt. Man, Tara thinks of everything.

Justus angrily gets to his feet.

Justus: It came from the fire tower! I’LL DESTROY YOU!

Justus charges towards the fire station.

Hayze: Time to move.

Hayze starts descending the tower via the ladder.

Hayze: (It won’t be long before he-)

Suddenly Justus bursts into the tower, destroying the ladder and sending Hayze falling. He smacks into the bottom floor.

Hayze: *groans* Note to self, never underestimate Justus’ speed again.

Justus leaps down and lands in front of Hayze.

Justus: There’s nowhere to run this time.

Hayze: Who’s running?

Justus: Huh? What are you…

Justus hears a sound from another room.

Hayze: You know what my favorite part of these simulations is? The realism.

Justus opens the door; it’s the staff break room. The microwave is going; inside is a fork covered in ice that’s slowly melting with a nearby gas line leaking.

Justus: Wh- what the hell?! How did you encase that fork in ice so quickly!

Hayze: I’ll give you a hint; it starts with “Ice” and ends with “bolt.”

Justus: *frustrated grunt* You tricked me!

Justus starts running to the exit.

Hayze: First rule of strategy, Justus.

The ice melts enough to expose the fork, creating sparks that ignite the gas.

Hayze: The first move is always a fake.

An explosion goes off, and the fire station crumbles.

Justus: AHHHHHH!

A few minutes after the dust settles, Justus emerges from the rubble, heavily injured, bleeding, and visibly exhausted.

Justus: *pained grunt* Damn, bastard…

Justus looks around at the destroyed building.

Justus: I didn’t take you for the suicidal type, Hayze. But your pointless attempt to defeat me failed.

Hayze emerges from the rubble.

Justus: WHAT?!

Hayze has many bruises and cuts but is relatively unharmed. He also has a strange green substance on various parts of his body.

Justus: How… How?! HOW?!

Hayze: Second rule of strategy… always have an out.

Justus: Explain yourself!

Hayze: Right before the explosion, I stabbed myself with a gelatinous bolt. It created a soft but firm gel coating that surrounded me. It shielded me from the blast and falling debris. It wasn’t a perfect defense, but it was enough to keep me alive with my healing quirk.

Justus: *frustrated grunt*

Justus starts laughing.

Hayze: Hm? What’s so funny?

Justus: Look at you, Hayze… even without your elemental abilities, you’ve put me to shame. I THOUGHT SILVER WAS MY REAL CHALLENGE, BUT YOU! YOU’RE THE ONE I NEED TO DEFEAT!

Hayze looks concerned.

Hayze: Justus, you’ve gotta snap out of this, buddy.

Justus: Snap out of what?! I have a dream! TO BE THE NUMBER ONE HERO THIS WORLD HAS EVER SEEN!

Justus stares at Hayze with bloodlust in his eyes.

Justus: And defeating a tactician of your caliber… will bring me even closer to achieving that dream.

Hayze: You still think you fall under the category of “Hero” anymore? You’re on Vanguard’s side! You just tried to kill Silver!

Justus: Of course, I’m on the Hero’s side! You are the villains defying our new God! Master Vanguard! I am his number one lieutenant, but I’m not the true number one of this planet until I’ve eradicated all of my adversaries… like you.

Hayze grinds his teeth.

Hayze: Look what this madman has done! He’s transformed your dream into a psychotic obsession! Well, don’t worry, Justus… I’m going to save you!

Justus: Funny, Silver said something along those lines… and then I destroyed him. So, I’m sorry to say this, Hayze, but you will suffer the same fate!

Hayze: Oh yeah?

The motorcycle drives onto the debris and over to Hayze.

Hayze: Says who?

Rain begins falling at the track field.

Gus: Yay! I can be clean!

Khaos: Listen up, Lardo, you might be our only hope.

Gus: Huh? Me? Why?

Jace: Yeah… What can Gus do?

Khaos: The Gamma Ring can heal him instantly, but that doesn’t mean it can filter toxins faster than usual.

Zach: Oh, I get it! If Gus can get some of his poisonous gas into Vanguard’s lungs.

Khaos: It won’t kill him, but it should slow him down enough for us to have an easier time fighting him.

Angel: But how are we going to do that? He’s capable of flight, so it won’t be as easy as engulfing him in a gas cloud.

Karma: Leave that to me.

Jace: Hm?

Zach: Karma?

Vanguard yawns.

Vanguard: (They can scheme all they want, it’s only a matter of time before the hopelessness sets in. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m not going to have some fun in the meantime.)

Vanguard activates the Wheel of Fortune.

Angel: Oh no…

Karma: Not this again!

Vanguard: Come one, come all, everyone! It’s time to have some fun!

The Wheel of Fortune starts spinning.

Vanguard: The Wheel has entered this fight, so it can help me determine who I shall smite!

Zach: What is that thing?

Angel: Bad news!

Karma: We have to act now before the wheel stops!

Karma accelerates towards Vanguard.

Khaos: What the hell are you doing?! A frontal assault will never work!

Vanguard: You should listen to the man… he’s right.

Vanguard slugs Karma in the face, sending her flying.

Vanguard: Fool!

Khaos has a glint in his eye.

Khaos: Hello kettle, her name’s pot.

Vanguard: Huh?

Khaos extends his shadow and darts it towards Vanguard.

Vanguard: Don’t think I’m not aware of your limited range!

Vanguard leaps backward.

Vanguard: This should be far enough!

Khaos: Oh, don’t worry, I’m not aiming for you… yet.

Vanguard: What!

Karma rewinds herself three seconds, reverting her injury and placing her close to Vanguard. Khaos’ shadow connects to Karma’s.

Khaos: Shadow Paralysis: Chain of Pain!

Karma’s shadow then extends to Vanguard’s, paralyzing him.

Vanguard: How could I have fallen for such a simple trick?!

Khaos: Alright, loser squad, take him out!

Angel, Jace, Gus, and Zach: Right!

The four boys surround Vanguard, and Khaos releases Karma.

Zach: Tail Talon!

Angel: Quill Cascade!

Jace: Jacking Jackknife!

Karma: Temporal Takedown!

Zach extends his bone tail and stabs it through Vanguard’s lung. Angel fires a barrage of feathers that slice into Vanguard’s face and lower chest. Karma zooms in and kicks Vanguard in the balls, then rewinds to avoid her teammate’s attacks.

Vanguard: AHHHHH!

Jace springs his hands at Vanguard, going for the rings.

Jace: Without these, you’re a goner!

Jace attempts to rip the rings off Vanguard’s fingers but can’t.

Jace: Huh?

Vanguard laughs.

Vanguard: Nice try, but I had these rings melted to my skin to prevent them from ever being removed!

Jace: Ugh… gross.

Khaos: It doesn’t matter. We still have you right where we want you!

Gus takes a deep inhale.

Jace: Everyone back up!

The group backs off, and Vanguard looks worried.

Vanguard: (Dammit! This kid’s poison clouds could actually slow me down…)

Vanguard stops the wheel of fortune.

Gus: G1! Billowing Bane!

Gus exhales a massive cloud of purple gas that engulfs Vanguard.

Zach: Nice, Gus!

Jace: You nailed him!

Gus: Heh… yeah… I did!

Khaos stares at the cloud with a stern expression.

Khaos: (Don’t celebrate yet, idiots.).

Gus cracks a smile.

Gus: That gas is enough to take down an elephant. Vanguard’s still alive, but there’s no way he can take down all six of us now!

Vanguard begins laughing loudly within the poison cloud.

Gus: Wh- what?

Zach: He’s…

Jace: Laughing?

Karma: Shouldn’t he be… struggling to breathe?

Vanguard: *within cloud* THE EMPEROR!

Suddenly the poison gas transforms into air.

Vanguard: You kids are amusing… I’ll give you that.

Angel, Jace, Zach, Karma, and Gus are shocked. Khaos grinds his teeth.

Khaos: *under his breath* Dammit!

Khaos’ shadow paralysis ends, freeing Vanguard. The Gamma Ring has already healed his injuries.

Angel: It’s… it’s like everything we just did was… erased…

Vanguard chuckles.

Vanguard: Speaking of erased… I think it’s about time we dropped a cast member.

Everyone tenses up.

Vanguard: But who shall it be?

Vanguard surveys his six opponents.

Vanguard: I have a nifty idea! Why don’t each of you tell me your birthdate! The person with the middle-most date will be my victim!

Jace: We’re not-

Vanguard: And please don’t say, “We’re not going to play your game,” because anyone who doesn’t participate will automatically be killed on the spot! Keep in mind I can easily kill all of you right now. I’m only choosing to do it one at a time for fun. So, either you play along, or I play your swan song!

Jace grinds his teeth.

Khaos: I don’t have a birthday.

Vanguard: That’s fine; I don’t want to kill you first anyway. Only the other five will play.

Khaos: You idiot! I told you-

Vanguard: And I told you I don’t care! Sit still, Khaos, because if you interfere… then all five of them will die.

Khaos: *frustrated grunt*

Vanguard smiles.

Vanguard: Let’s start from right to left! Zach?

Zach: August 3rd…

Angel: October 12th…

Jace: October 24th…

Karma: February 6th…

Vanguard: Gus?

Gus gulps.

Gus: S- s- September 19th…

Angel: Gus…

Zach: Oh no…

Vanguard turns to Gus.

Vanguard: Looks like we have a winner.

Gus is sweating bullets; Vanguard uses the magician to teleport next to him.

Gus: AHHHH!

Vanguard: I’ve grown tired of using Death to finish my kills. I think I’ll just use good old fashion brute force!

Gus: Pl- pl- pl-

Vanguard: Oh, Gus, don’t beg…

Vanguard gets a big smile on his face.

Vanguard: God isn’t listening.

Gus: AHHHH!

Vanguard winds back a punch.

Zach, Jace, and Angel: GUS!

Vanguard swings, and his fist tears through… Karma’s chest.

Gus: K- Karma?

Vanguard: Huh?

Karma used her quirk to quickly intercept Vanguard’s strike. She pukes up blood.

Vanguard: Well, that kind of ruins the game, but whatever.

Vanguard removes his hand from Karma’s chest, and she keels over. Gus rushes to her side. Angel, Jace, and Zach are in shock.

Gus: Karma! Wh- why did you do that?!

Karma: B- because you were in trouble…

Gus: But… but why me? I’m just… Gus…

Gus starts crying.

Karma: What you said to me… before…

Gus: Huh?

“ Gus: We all have insecurities; the important thing is to remember that they don’t define who we are. For example, I’m not entirely happy that I’m just the lovable dumbass, but I still try to help wherever I can because I don’t let that label bog me down. So, don’t let him get in your head; he’s just trying to prey on your weaknesses! “ - Chapter 193

Karma: You may be the lovable dumbass, Gus… but you’re also my friend. Angel just lost one of his wings and is still willing to fight… because he wants to increase the chance that the rest of us will survive… that’s what I want too… Gus, keep fighting… do it… for me…

Gus: But, Karma, I’m just-

Karma: Don’t doubt yourself, Gus… I was let into this school on recommendation, but I never lived up to my expectations. When you told me not to let my insecurities bog me down… I realized… I allowed my expectations to control me… I could have been so much more… if I had stopped focusing on what I was supposed to be… thank you for letting me see that… I wish I could have done more with it, but you’re our only shot at beating him. You need to live…

Gus: Karma… I-

Karma: Don’t worry about me… I died doing what I love… being a… her… o…

Karma dies.

Gus: KARMA!

Jace: She’s… gone…

Angel: Karma…

Zach falls to his knees in anguish.

Zach: Dammit!

Khaos is trembling.

Khaos: We’re all fucked…

Vanguard claps.

Vanguard: How touching! Too bad it was a waste of time. You’re all going to die anyway, so-

Gus: SHUT THE FUCK UP!

Vanguard: Huh?

Gus stands up and clocks Vanguard in the jaw. Shocking everyone.

Vanguard: *frustrated grunt* Little bastard!

Gus: Karma died because she believed I could take you out, and I WILL PROVE HER RIGHT!

Gus begins inhaling, taking in so much air that his stomach area starts to puff up. Eventually, he looks like an inflated ball.

Vanguard: What the fuck?

Gus: So you can heal any injury, huh? WELL, LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR ENTIRE BODY IS ANNIHILATED!

Gus’ skin turns purple.

Gus: IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO G0: VILE VENOM VANISHMENT!