Silver: I thought you said you didn’t know this guy!

Hayze: I said we’re not friends…

Luke: That’s not very nice, Hayze. I was expecting a much warmer reception.

Hayze stares at Luke sternly.

Hayze: Cut the crap.

Hayze’s tone change surprises his allies.

Hayze: What do you want, Luke? Because I don’t have time to waste on you.

Luke laughs.

Luke: Look at you! So confident! I never thought I’d see the day.

Hayze: You have 10 seconds to answer me, or you die.

Luke: Oh, really?

Hayze summons his executioner’s blade.

Hayze: 10… 9… 8…

Silver: (I haven’t seen Hayze like this in a long time…)

Hayze: 7… 6… 5… 4…

Hayze’s grip on his sword hilt tightens.

Hayze: 3… 2… 1!

Hayze charges toward Luke, but his blade disappears, and the shadows are absorbed into Luke’s back.

Hayze: Wh- what the?

Luke smiles.

Luke: Looks like you’re not the only one with a new trick.

Silver: (What’s going on? If Hayze knows this guy, shouldn’t he have known about his quirk?)

Hayze: Guys, go on ahead. This is between him and me.

Silver: No way!

Fang: We’re not going anywhere!

Ivy: We won’t let you battle him alone!

Hayze: I said-

Luke: Actually, I agree with them, Hayze.

Everyone: Huh?

Luke presses a button on his motorcycle, firing a grappling hook that wraps around Lara.

Lara: *grunts*

Hayze: Lara!

The rope reels Lara in, and Luke takes hold of her.

Luke: I want an audience for your destruction!

Luke gets on his motorcycle and drives away with Lara, laughing maniacally.

Hayze: Luke!

Hayze chases after Luke and Lara.

Silver: Hayze! Wait!

Fang: We have to follow them, Silver!

Ivy: Yeah, we can’t navigate this place without Lara.

A warp gate opens in the hallway in front of Luke; he tosses Lara’s laptop into it and continues driving. The computer appears in Iota’s control room, and Zaire catches it.

Iota: Good, Luke did his job.

Zaire: Yes, but you didn’t give me any other instructions for him. So, what will he do now?

Iota: Whatever he likes.

Zaire: That’s not typically your style, Master.

Iota: What can I say…

Iota looks at his mechanical hands.

Iota: I have a grudge.

Back at the Heroes Headquarters, Impulse returns.

Impulse: Message delivered, sir.

Gundam: Good. We’re still waiting on Zulu Team to send the signal, so standby.

Impulse: Roger.

Daniele: Uh… Gundam, you’re gonna want to see this…

Gundam: Hm?

On Daniele’s monitor, a message is displayed.

Daniele: It’s blank; I don’t know what to make of this.

Impulse: I thought we couldn’t receive messages.

Verity: Lara could have figured out how.

Gundam: Daniele, turn up the volume on your computer.

Daniele: Yessir.

Daniele turns up the volume, and a seemingly random array of beeps plays.

Impulse: What’s that?

Gundam: Morse code.

Gundam listens to the message.

Gundam: It’s Lara; she says that Dasher is dead and the group was separated, but they’ve captured Zaire.

Gundam thinks for a moment.

Gundam: Impulse, take the flare gun, and begin the assault.

Kevin: Woah, wait! Gundam, what if this is a trick by Iota?

Gundam: We have to take that risk, but I’m 90% sure this is from Lara and Zulu Team.

Kevin: How?

Gundam: Iota is intelligent, but perfectly predicting our plan to infiltrate and capture Zaire before sending in the rest of our troops is too much even for him. He’d have to know we’re coming.

Lilith: That’s true… but… What if he does?

Calm: If Iota knows we’re coming, he discovered Daisuke’s tracker. However, that’s unlikely; if he had found the device, that would have been a month ago. In that case, he would have had plenty of time to relocate his empire to a new location. That’s the optimal play for him.

Daniele: Calm’s right. Iota’s not the scorched earth type. Sure, he could take out a number of us by making a stand, but… it would be the Iota Movement’s final one. Even if he wins the battle… He won’t acquire any rings.

Calm: The risk far outweighs the reward.

Gundam: I agree with that logic. This is a safe bet for us.

Gundam hands Impulse the flare gun.

Gundam: Alert the troops.

Impulse: Yessir!

Impulse speeds away.

Gundam: (Iota would have to be 10 steps ahead of us for this to be a trap.)

A bat watches Gundam from the shadows of the room. Scarlett smiles in her cell while Mara and Jagger stand on the other side of the bars.

Scarlett: The rest of their teams are about to move in.

Jagger: Good, I’ll inform Master.

Jagger exits the room.

Scarlett: (Everything is going according to plan…)

Jagger’s eyes narrow as he approaches the control room.

Jagger: (Why is she helping him? She’s supposed to be on my side!)

Impulse reaches a dune and fires the flare into the air. All five teams see its light.

Houston: There’s the signal, Big Tank.

Aaron: Yes! It’s go time!

Big Tank: Don’t get overzealous, Howitzer. *yelling* Alright, troops, move out!

Alpha Team drives up the road in a convoy of Humvees. They roll up to the front gate of Iota’s hideout.

Big Tank: Iota! Come out with your hands up, or we’ll be forced to open fire!

Big Tank aims his back cannon at the front gate to Iota’s compound while Aaron transforms his arms into a howitzer cannon.

Big Tank: You have five seconds!

Lady Liberty: This is strange…

Metallus: What is?

Lady Liberty: I would have expected Iota to have guards at the front entrance.

Grace: Yeah… that’s a good point.

Wrath: Maybe he’s just an idiot.

Big Tank: They probably have surveillance cameras so their guards won’t be at risk of snipers. It’s strange, but there is nothing to be concerned about.

The other four teams approach the compound from their respective directions. Iota watches from his control room.

Iota: How right you are, Big Tank… How right you are…

Big Tank charges up his cannon.

Big Tank: 5… 4… 3…

Suddenly, Metallus is shot in the head by a sniper bullet.

Blader: Metallus!

Boulderfist: Sniper to the South West! Everyone, take cover!

Alpha Team hides behind their humvees in the opposite direction of the sniper’s fire.

Iota: That won’t save you…

Suddenly, Boudlerfist is shot in the head from the other direction.

Wrath: *frustrated grunt* There’s another sniper to the South East!

Blader: Where do we take cover then?!

Aaron: Behind this!

Aaron transforms his arms into a grenade launcher and blasts a barrage of smoke grenades around the group, creating a thick screen.

Big Tank: Nice thinking, Howitzer! Everyone, push into the compound! There’s cover around the facility!

Lady Liberty and Bruno hammer their way through the front gate, and the 10 members of the Alpha Team take cover inside the compound.

Big Tank: Nobody move! We have to think of a plan!

Sydney: Why are there snipers?

Wrath: And why did they let us get so close before firing at us?!

Bruno: Because this is a trap…

Aaron: What?! But how did they know we were coming?

Big Tank: We can’t worry about that now! AssAss’n, give us some extra cover!

Gavin: On it!

Gavin runs to the front gate and starts spinning on his head.

Gavin: ASS GAS NEVER ENDING EMBRACE!

Gavin farts out a thick cloud that overcasts and shields the group from sniper fire.

Aaron: It’s a good thing hot air rises!

Big Tank: Good work, AssAss’n. Iota! You can’t stop us!

Iota laughs.

Iota: Oh… can’t I?

Suddenly, the front doors to Iota’s facility start to open.

Grace: Someone’s coming out!

Big Tank: Get ready to blast them!

A wave of 10 Kevin Clones burst out, snarling and growling at Alpha Team.

Houston: He still has those?

Blader: I guess so!

Big Tank: There’s no time for talk! We need to get to safety and send a message back to Headquarters! Everyone else is in danger!

Silencer is running 40 yards ahead of the rest of Bravo Team.

Boom: Man, he has no interest in us.

Aster: As long as he doesn’t interfere with the rest of us. I’m okay with it.

Evergreen: We’re closing in on the compound. Everyone-

The group hears gunfire from the south.

Boom: Uh… should we be worried about that?

Gunslinger: Nah, I’m sure everything’s fine. Let’s just keep-

Gunslinger is shot in the head.

Evergreen: Gunslinger!

Aster: Everyone, stay calm! Get down!

Saige: Don’t worry, I’ve got this!

Saige creates a dome shield around the entire group, excluding Silencer.

Silencer: *grunts*

Silencer stops and glances at her team, then at Iota’s fortress.

Silencer: *sighs*

Silencer takes cover behind a large rock nearby.

Silencer: (I wouldn’t be much of a hero if I left them.)

Charlie Team climbs a dune.

Exciton: Keep moving, guys! We’ll be there soon!

Wes and Tobias are walking with a hero with many CDs taped to his body.

Wes: So… what’s your quirk exactly?

Disk Commander: I can play any CD using my fingertips.

Wes: So, you’re a walking DVD player?

Disk Commander: Well, I wouldn’t be that blunt about it.

Tobias: But he is correct, isn’t he?

Disk Commander: Okay, and you could say his quirk makes him into a walking mirror!

Wes and Tobias: Yeah…

Disk Commander stares at Wes and Tobias.

Disk Commander: Fine, I’m a walking DVD player! Are you happy?!

Wes: I don’t mean to be rude, but how will that help us on this mission?

Disk Commander: What if there’s a DVD you need played?

Wes: We’ll find a computer?

Tobias: There are a lot of those at base camp.

Disk Commander: Okay, but what if it’s urgent?!

Wes: We use our flare to call Impulse?

Tobias: Do you at least lift weights?

Disk Commander: Okay, fuck this! I’m a proud C-Rank hero! I get to visit the Center of Hero Operations once a year to hand in my tax forms!

Fatal: *from afar* You could just mail those!

Disk Commander: I will not be disrespected further! I’m going ahead!

Exciton hears something.

Exciton: Did I just hear something?

Disk Commander: Yeah, it’s the sound of my dick dragging against the sand-

A bullet blasts through Disk Commander’s skull.

Wes: AHH!

Tobias: We’re under attack!

Exciton: Everyone down!

Another bullet is fired, this time at Wes, but Alec intercepts with his shoulder.

Alec: *pained grunt*

Wes: JESUS, FUCK!

Alec: Listen to the man!

Wes: Right!

Exciton creates a crystal wall to protect Charlie Team.

Adrian: Need some help?

Exciton: If you’re offering.

Adrian taps Exciton’s shoulder and helps him build a massive wall.

Fearmonger: Nice work, Bloody Fury.

Alec: Yeah, well, tell your former intern he needs to listen better.

Alec rips the bullet from his arm as his wound heals.

Wes: Sorry…

Fearmonger: Don’t worry, Wes. There wasn’t much time for any of us to react. Just focus on what happens next.

Wes: Right!

Exciton and Adrian catch their breaths.

Adrian: What do we do now?

Exciton: We stay put and devise a plan to prevent any more deaths.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Killian: Didn’t Gundam give us something to help in a situation like this?

Fatal: You mean this?

Fatal holds out a DVD with the words “What to do if you’re intercepted before entering the compound” written on it.

Wes: Ah, fuck…

Delta Team is running through the desert when suddenly they’re surrounded by a thick mist.

Ash: What the heck?

Eve: Can fog even appear in the desert?

Lionel: Yes, but it’s uncommon.

Alexis: Wait a second… Ash, remember what Fang told us about that girl she fought during prom?

Ash: You think…

Alexis: Yeah, this isn’t any ordinary fog!

Suddenly, a knife slices into Vulcan’s back.

Vulcan: AHHH!

Alexis: It’s a trap!

Vulcan: Whoever you are, you’re gonna pay for that!

Flash: Don’t worry, guys! I’ve got this!

Ozzie: Wait, mate, no!

Flash powers up his light bulbs, illuminating the area.

Flash: Do you see her?

Justus: No, but she sees you!

Eve: You just made yourself into a human lighthouse!

Flash: Wait, wh-

A knife slashes into Flash’s head, killing him.

Vulcan: This is why you never bring a C-Rank hero on a critical mission!

Bubbleman: Hey!

Ozzie: Everyone, just stay calm and keep your wits about you. We can get through this together.

As Echo team crosses the desert, Zach looks into the sky.

Zach: Uh… Daisuke, is that normal?

Daisuke: Hm?

Daisuke looks up to see an aurora in the sky.

Daisuke: No… Ms. Lust, I believe we’re under attack!

Lust: Huh?

Lust looks into the sky and sees the aurora.

Lust: Meltman, Yul, and Double Dude protect the provisional heroes!

Lust, Meltman, Yul, and Double Dude create a square around Daisuke, Zach, Demetri, Gus, and Isaiah.

Lust: Keep your guard up!

A maniacal laughter echoes from all directions.

Johan: *from all directions* You can defend, but you can’t survive!

Demetri: I don’t think I like this…

Isaiah: Yeah… this is creepy.

Lust sees Johan for a brief moment.

Johan: Peekaboo!

Lust: There he is! Smile Cannon!

Lust fires a smile cannon, but Johan morphs into Double Dude.

Lust: What?!

Double Dude cums himself.

Double Dude: Ms. Lust! Why?!

Lust: I- I- I thought you were-

Lust notices she turned around at some point.

Lust: But I never moved! I saw our attacker and-

Yul: It seems we’re dealing with a trickster, which means we can’t even trust our own eyes.

Gundam and the other support team members watch from a satellite camera.

Daniele: What the hell?!

Kevin: They had a perfect defense ready! I knew it! It was a trap!

Calm: But that doesn’t make sense? Why would Iota want a large-scale battle?!

Gundam: I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter right now. We have to adjust our strategy, or a lot more heroes will die.

Everyone looks worried.

Gundam: Give me a moment… I have to think.

Luke drives onto the roof, bursting through the access door.

Luke: This will be the perfect spot for Hayze’s destruction!

Lara: *grunts* Let me go!

Luke: Sure!

Luke tosses Lara across the roof.

Lara: *pained grunt*

Hayze, Silver, Fang, and Ivy run onto the roof.

Hayze: Lara!

Hayze and company run to Lara’s aid.

Hayze: Are you alright?

Lara: I’ll be okay…

Luke: No, no, you won’t.

Hayze grinds his teeth.

Hayze: Luke! This is between you and me!

Luke: You’re right, but I want to see you in pain, and your friends are perfect for that.

Silver: I don’t know what happened between you two, but I don’t care.

Silver creates his wrist blades.

Silver: We’re on a mission, and I’ll defeat anyone in our way.

Luke laughs loudly.

Luke: You don’t care, eh? Well, you should.

Silver: And why is that?

Luke: Because your friend, “Hayze,” has been lying to you for a long time!

Hayze looks away.

Silver: He lied about a lot, but we’ve forgiven him.

Hayze: Thanks, Silver…

Luke: I’m not talking about his quirk serum crap. He’s told you plenty of times about his origin story and how he became the man he is today, but that was a lie! He was nothing like he claims! He’s tried to make it seem like his crappy quirk was the reason he was ostracized growing up, but he was a little shit that everyone hated!

Silver: But his quirk still was an issue, correct?

Luke: Well… it didn’t do him any favors!

Silver: Hayze?

Hayze hesitates.

Hayze: Like you and Justus, Silver, my parents were top-rated heroes. They died when I was 7 years old, so I spent the first few years of my childhood as a kid who thought the world revolved around me. I thought I was destined to be this incredible hero who would carry on their legacies. I think the other kids thought that way, too, so they tolerated me to stay in my favor, hoping that being friends with a future big-shot hero prospect would catapult their own status. However… all of that came crumbling down at once.

Hayze flashes back to the day Lionel told him his parents had died.

Hayze: It wasn’t long after their deaths that I was told the exact parameters of my quirk. I couldn’t hide my fate from my classmates for long, and suddenly… I was alone. An orphan with no friends. That’s when I realized I was a brat that nobody wanted to be around. I changed and learned from it… but it was too late for anyone to care about me.

Ivy: Hayze…

Fang: I’m so sorry…

Luke scowls.

Luke: You’re sorry?! He brought the pain upon himself! Had he been a kinder kid, he would have been fine!

Hayze: He’s right…

Silver: No, he’s not.

Hayze: Huh?

Silver: For one, you were a kid, so I don’t really care. We were all different when we were younger. Hell, I was a piece of shit just two years ago. Second, those other kids would have abandoned you regardless of your actions. They just wanted to use you to benefit themselves. You could have been the nicest kid on the planet, but they still would have left you hanging once they found out you couldn’t help them become heroes.

Luke: No, they wouldn’t have! You don’t know the kids we grew up with! Why are you predicting they were all assholes?!

Silver: Because I’ve got an example right in front of me.

Luke: *frustrated grunt*

Silver: You came barking up the wrong tree, pal. Our class is filled with enough people who know the hardships of growing up with a weak quirk or none at all. I don’t care who the people you grew up with were. I know enough about the world to predict their actions.

Luke grinds his teeth.

Ivy: Yeah, this world is a dark place… our quirks are everything.

Fang: It doesn’t matter how nice you are… people will always look down on you for being different.

Silver: Like I said, Hayze was a much better person than I was when we first met. I wouldn’t be who I am today without him. So, who am I to judge him for learning from his mistakes without anyone’s help? Hayze is our friend, and we’ll stand behind him regardless of what you say.

Hayze smiles.

Hayze: Thanks, guys.

Luke screams at the top of his lungs.

Luke: ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!

Silver: Someone’s mad.

Luke: You can call Hayze your friend, but he’s nothing more than a backstabber… if he’s your friend, I’d hate to meet your enemies. Oh, wait… I am one.

Luke’s back starts to squirm.

Silver: What the hell?

Fang: Hayze, what’s his quirk?

Hayze watches Luke in shock.

Fang: Hayze!

Hayze: He… he doesn’t have one…

Fang, Ivy, and Silver: Huh?

Suddenly, three mechanical dragon heads emerge from Luke’s back. Vince smiles while watching from the control room.

Vince: Meet Mechanical Quirk: Hydrus, heroes.

Each dragon head lets out a roar.

Hayze: Luke… What did they do to you?!

Luke: They made me better…

Luke rips off his hoodie, revealing his entire torso has been mechanically augmented. His chest has a circular saw blade in it.

Silver: So, this is what a mechanical quirk looks like…

Fang: It’s creepy…

Hayze: Luke…

Luke laughs maniacally.

Luke: Your friends are annoying me, Hayze, so I think I’ll have some fun and remove them! Then, I’ll destroy you!

Hayze: I’ll never let you hurt them!

Luke: You don’t have a choice!

The dragons’ mouths open and begin charging purple energy blasts.

Luke: Death Trident!

Luke’s dragon heads don’t fire.

Luke: Wh- huh?

Lara: Target cannons disabled.

Silver: Nice work, Lara.

Luke: H- HOW DID YOU JAM MY CANNONS?!

Lara: I can control all electronics in my line of sight, including your cybernetics.

Luke: WHAT?!

Luke’s body goes limp. Lara has deactivated his torso.

Luke: NO! THIS IS BULLSHIT!

Luke has a glint in his eye.

Luke: Hehe, just kidding.

One of Luke’s dragon heads quickly fires an energy blast at Lara.

Lara, Silver, Fang, and Ivy: HUH?!

Lara’s life flashes before her eyes.

Lara: AH!

Hayze leaps in front of Lara, intercepting the blast.

Silver, Fang, and Ivy: HAYZE!

The shot pierces a hole through Hayze’s lower right abdomen.

Hayze: *groans*

Luke: *frustrated grunt* YOU COWARD!

Silver: You bastard! Lara deactivated your cybernetics!

Luke: WHY DO YOU THINK I BROUGHT YOU UP ON THE ROOF, DUMBASS?! WE HAVE BACKUP SOLAR ENERGY CELLS!

Silver clenches his fist.

Silver: Damn you!

Fang: Silver, Ivy, hold him back! I can help Hayze!

Ivy: Okay!

Silver: On it!

As Lara and Fang rush to Hayze’s side, Silver and Ivy charge toward Luke, but he drifts across the roof on his motorcycle to avoid them.

Silver: Silver Tsunami!

Silver unleashes a wave of silver dust from three of his canisters.

Luke: Ferocious Fortification!

Luke’s Dragon Heads open their mouths and begin absorbing Silver’s attack.

Silver: Are you serious?!

Vince turns to Wyatt.

Vince: Are there any issues to report?

Wyatt: No, Ferocious Fortification is working as expected. The silver dust is being converted into energy, allowing for an immediate counterattack.

Vince: Perfect.

Iota: I’m impressed, Vince. You’ve outdone yourself.

Vince: Hydrus is the perfect blend of offense and defense. Its dragon cannons can destroy all who stand before it.

Zaire: Not all.

Fang grows her second pair of arms and covers her face with her forearms.

Fang: Asura Form: Face of Joy!

Fang laughs loudly and starts dancing strangely.

Fang: Wonderful Waltz!

Hayze’s wound begins healing slowly.

Lara: How are you doing that?

Fang: My Wonderful Waltz accelerates the healing of anyone within 15 meters of me! It usually couldn’t save anyone with a fatal wound like this, but Hayze has a healing quirk himself, so their combined efforts should keep him alive!

Hayze: *grunts* Thanks, Fang…

Lara: Wh- why?

Hayze: Why, what?

Lara: Why did you do that?! You nearly died!

Hayze: Yeah… I did.

Lara: Don’t be so casual about it! You have people who care about you! Why would you do this?!

Hayze smiles.

Hayze: Because you’re my friend, Lara…

Lara: Huh?

Hayze: We’re a lot alike… you and me. I know what it’s like to isolate yourself… Most of the time, it’s because you think you deserve to be that way.

Lara’s eyes widen.

“ Amour: I let terrible men do horrible things to me because I felt like I deserved it deep down. So, let me ask you this, girl. What do you think you deserve? “ - Chapter 227

Hayze: I don’t know much about you, Lara, but I’d like for that to change. Nobody deserves to be alone, trust me.

Lara: (Trust…) But… you must have known you could have died just now!

Hayze laughs and then grimaces in pain.

Hayze: I’ve done it once before… It's not so bad.

Lara: This isn’t a joke!

Hayze: Honestly, I didn’t think. I just knew I couldn’t let you or anyone else die. That’s just what I do, and maybe someday it will bite me in the ass, but it doesn’t look like today is that day.

Out on the facility’s perimeter, Evergreen kneels down.

Evergreen: Alright, here’s the plan. I’ll create a vine barricade. Boom and I will stay behind while Flirtatious Floozy uses her psychic shields to navigate everyone else inside. Phoenix, you’ll take charge of the infiltration team.

Aster: Right.

Saige: Are you sure the groups shouldn’t be switched around?

Evergreen: No, staying out here is too dangerous for you all. Boom and I can protect ourselves and defeat the sniper much faster. We’ll join you once that task has been completed.

Saige: Okay.

Blaze: What about Silencer?

Gale: Uh… he’s not even here?

They look around and don’t see Silencer.

Evergreen: We can’t think about him; he’s not acting as a part of this team.

Evergreen creates a vine wall to protect the team. Saige then lowers her bubble shield.

Saige: Let’s go, guys!

Saige makes five shields and hands them to Aster, Blair, Blaze, and Gale.

Aster: Let’s move! Stay behind me!

The group of five crosses the desert towards Iota’s compound, led by Aster.

Evergreen: Good luck, and stay safe.

Vulcan cracks his knuckles.

Vulcan: Flash was a moron, but he had a good idea.

Vulcan begins oozing lava from his hands.

Vulcan: I’ll suppress the mist; the rest of you move forward.

Lionel: But, Vulcan! We-

Vulcan: I am the commander of this unit and have given a direct order. Follow it.

Lionel: Yessir.

Vulcan: Once you’re inside, Lionel will take over leadership in my absence, but don’t get used to it. I won’t be far behind.

Vulcan creates two lava dragons, igniting light throughout the mist and allowing the group to see.

Nola: (Dammit!)

Lionel: Everyone, follow me! Move quickly.

The rest of Delta Team follows behind Lionel, leaving Vulcan alone in the mist.

Vulcan: Whoever you are… you should be very afraid.

Exciton turns to his unit.

Exciton: Alright, The Copycat will create a crystal divider that will allow all of you to enter the facility together. I’ll stay behind and take care of the attacker. I don’t want him to interfere with any other units.

Fatal: I’ll stay with you and watch your back.

Adrian: What?! Rachel!

Exciton: I don’t need your help, Femme Fatal. You should-

Fatal: That was a statement, Exciton. Remember, Ivan has told his men not to kill Adrian or me. So, I’m the best human shield you could ask for.

Exciton thinks for a moment.

Adrian: Rachel…

Exciton: Alright, fine. Femme Fatal stays with me. The rest of you follow The Copycat inside.

Everyone: Right!

Adrian looks at Fatal.

Fatal: I’ll be fine.

Adrian nods.

Adrian: Everyone, follow me!

Adrian uses Exction’s crystal quirk to create a wall, allowing the group to run to the facility.

Exciton: Let’s take this bastard out.

Fatal: Right!

Johan’s laughter echoes throughout the aurora.

Lust: I can take this menace, Meltman are you with me?

Meltman: You know it!

Lust: Okay, Yul, lead everyone inside.

Yul: But how do you plan on getting us to safety?

Lust: Does anyone have a suggestion?

Isaiah and Demetri: We’re on it!

Isaiah activates his visor and changes to thermal vision.

Isaiah: I can see plenty of heat signatures in that direction!

Demetri: Got it!

Demetri uses his strings to sling Yul, Daisuke, Zach, Gus, and Double Dude across the desert, allowing them to escape the aurora.

Lust: Nice work, you two!

Demetri and Isaiah cry tears of joy.

Demetri and Isaiah: We never thought we’d see the day!

Ivy points her palm at Luke.

Ivy: Push!

Luke drives out of the way of Ivy’s gravitational blast.

Ivy: I can’t say I’m used to fighting someone on a motorcycle.

Silver: As long as we buy Fang enough time to heal Hayze, I don’t care if we hit him at all.

Luke drifts to a stop.

Luke: You think you’re buying time? I’m happy you’re saving his life! I want revenge, and that requires much more suffering!

Silver: Alright, that’s it! What exactly did Hayze do to you?

Luke’s grip on his motorcycle tightens.

Luke: He ruined my life… I was going to be the first quirkless pro hero ever, but he destroyed that opportunity!

Silver: How were you supposed to be a quirkless hero?

Luke: Because I’m smart, talented, and, best of all, inspiring.

Hayze: Now you’re the one lying, Luke.

Hayze’s wound heals, and he gets to his feet.

Fang: Hayze! Don’t stand up so quickly!

Hayze: Luke, you can play the martyr all you like, but deep down, you know that the only person responsible for your downfall is you.

Luke: Shut the hell up!

Hayze: You said we were friends, but that was a lie. You only saw me as your chance to validate yourself, but I didn’t react the way you expected.

Luke: Is that how you justify yourself? We were friends, Hayze. I trusted you, and you trusted me.

Hayze: Well, I guess we both broke each other’s trust then, didn’t we?

Luke: I didn’t do shit!

Hayze: And there’s your problem.

Silver: Hayze… start from the beginning. What happened?

Hayze: *nasal grunt* A lot…

A flashback begins. Hayze is sitting on a bench behind his elementary school by himself. He’s watching all the other kids play and laugh as he sits in somber silence.

Hayze (Naratting): Like I said, after losing my parents and my hopes of a powerful quirk… everyone abandoned me. I was alone and had nobody, well… except Luke.

Luke approaches Hayze.

Luke: You’re Adam, right?

Hayze grimaces.

Hayze: Y- yeah…

Luke: I guess you know who I am since you’re not asking then, huh?

Hayze: Of course, you’re the most popular kid at school.

Luke: Wow, really? I didn’t know that!

Hayze: Yeah… uh, what do you want?

Luke: I wanted to know why you’re by yourself.

Hayze goes quiet.

Hayze: Don’t you know? Nobody likes me…

Luke: Why is that?

Hayze: Because I suck…

Luke: You don’t suck! You seem cool!

Hayze: R- really?

Luke: Yeah! Of course!

Hayze: H- how?

Luke: Well, your last name is cool!

Hayze: Th- thanks?

Luke: How about I call you that from now on?

Hayze: You want to call me Hayze?

Luke: Yeah, like I said, it’s cool!

Hayze: Oh, okay! Honestly… I don’t really like my name anymore, so that’s fine with me!

Luke: Awesome! Say, why don’t you and I hang out after school?

Hayze: Y- are you sure?

Luke: Yeah, I mean, we’ve gotta stick together!

Hayze: We do?

Luke: Mhm, I hear you want to be a big-shot hero someday, right?

Hayze: Yup!

Luke: Well, so do I, but I don’t have a quirk. And I know the other kids have been making fun of you for yours, so we gotta stick together!

Hayze: O- Okay!

Hayze (Naratting): Luke was kind to me when nobody else was. He brought up some good points, but he wasn’t treated differently for being quirkless. You see, Luke’s popularity came from his kind personality and intelligence, but most of all… he just had a knack for being the hero.

As the young students work on a spelling test, a girl’s chair breaks, and she starts falling.

Girl: AHHHH!

Luke: I’ve got you!

Luke lunges toward the girl and catches her.

Luke: Are you okay?

Girl: Y- yeah!

Teacher: *breathes a sigh of relief* Good catch, Luke!

The whole class cheers for Luke.

Hayze (Naratting): Whether it was a broken chair, an errant kickball, or a student accidentally running in front of a car. Luke was there to protect them. This is what made everyone love and respect him. He just… was a hero. That’s why we all believed he would be the first quirkless pro hero. He had that aura about him. And I was lucky enough to be his “friend.”

At Luke’s house, he hands Hayze a book.

Hayze: What’s this?

Luke: It’s called the Art of War. It teaches you about strategy.

Hayze: Strategy?

Luke: Yeah, that’s how heroes like us have to win all our battles!

Hayze: Heroes like us?

Luke: Mhm… we can’t rely on our quirks, so we need our brains to do all the work.

Hayze: You really think I could be a hero?

Luke: Of course, look at me! I will be a hero, and I don’t have a quirk like you!

Hayze smiles.

Hayze: Thanks, Luke. I’ve been so scared of not being able to become a hero since my parents died. I don’t want to disappoint them.

Luke: You won’t, Hayze. We’re gonna spend all of our time training to be heroes! Read that book, and we can come up with a whole bunch of strategies together!

The flashback ends with Luke slamming his fist on his motorcycle.

Luke: Cut it with all this cutesy crap! They get the point! I was the only person willing to be friends with you! Now, tell them what you did to ruin my life!

Hayze hesitates.

Hayze: Let’s just say… Luke wasn’t the person he was pretending to be.