[Two Days Earlier - Kawanori-Yama - Lab #4 - Deathwish POV]
"No idea who won The Sports Festival, but..." For the first time in months, Deathwish's tone held an ounce of interest as he kept his gaze locked on the camera mounted on the ceiling, his teeth bared in a bright smile. "Fighting Ryukyu?! That sounds like a good time!"
"You didn't pay attention to U.A.'s event? Color me surprised... In that case, I will be providing you the det—"
"Don't you dare." The Villain's voice lost all of its previous excitement as the yellow in his eyes lost its glint. "If they know nothing about me, then I want to know nothing about them."
"If that's your decision, then so be it. I have other events to attend to. You will be informed once the time to act arrives. Do not disappoint me, Deathwish. You've been an expensive pawn."
'Pawn, am I? Honest guy... doesn't change the fact he's goddamn ugly.'
Splash!
Turning around to look at the aquarium that was partially embedded into the sterile white tiles, the man found the strange "eel" he had previously fed rhythmically tapping its long tail against the glass to get his attention. This made him chuckle and plunge a hand deep into the water.
That caused the six-eyed creature to growl as it coiled its dark blue body around his arm with enough force to cut off the blood flow to his hand. Still, Deathwish didn't pull back and let the odd creature have its fun.
"You're getting bigger, Maw. Soon, my forearm won't be enough for this ritual of yours... I'm going to put you on a die—"
CHOMP!
"SHIT!"
---
[One Day Earlier - Kawanori-Yama - Lab #4 - Deathwish POV]
Deathwish put his legs on the coffee table and crossed his ankles as he made himself comfortable on the couch of the break area. The cushions sank under his hulking frame. Contrary to what his relaxed posture might suggest, the laboratory around him was anything but relaxing.
Dozens of people dressed in white coats hurried back and forth, carrying boxes, stacks of papers, folders, computers, etc. All of this chaos was thanks to their kind benefactor, who had informed them of the impending raid and ordered them to send every document back to him.
'So he doesn't believe I'll win. That's a good sign.'
Since it was impossible to listen to whatever the pink brat on TV was saying over the sounds of footsteps, the Villain abandoned his resting spot. As he went down one of the corridors, his co-workers instinctively made space for him, except for one particularly clumsy man who bumped straight into his bare chest, resulting in him dropping the box he was carrying.
The researcher was left dazed until his eyes traveled upwards. Recognizing who he had run into, the man panicked, apologized profusely, hastily picked up what he had dropped, and scrambled to his feet.
'Idiot...'
---
[Present Day (Nighttime) - Kawanori-Yama - Lab #4 - Deathwish POV]
THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!
Punch after punch rained down on the punching bag, causing the object to sway aggressively as the chain connecting it to the ceiling threatened to snap at any moment. Unbothered by this, Deathwish continued his assault. Sweat poured down his face all the way down to his exposed torso, yet he was indifferent to it.
THWACK! CRASH!
The metal chain snapped under the strain, sending the punching bag flying across the bedroom, only stopping after it met the wall at the other end. For a moment, the object stuck to the wall until it fell down into the small desk below, creating a mess.
'Tch... still can't split open the damned thing...'
"Deathwish..." Hearing his name being pronounced by the mounted speaker, the man nodded his head to show he was listening. "They are close. Are you certain abo—"
"I won't use your garbage, old man."
"Watch your mouth. My work is more valuable than what your feeble mind can comprehend." Having successfully irritated his boss, Deathwish was unable to stop himself from grinning. "Nevertheless, I won't force you. You are free to leave. Do put up a good fight, yes? I hunger to see your blood."
'God, what a weirdo.'
Disregarding the shiver that ran down his spine, Deathwish went over to his closet. He retrieved two rolls of white bandages and began wrapping them around his palms and arms, stopping just short of his elbows. Once he had covered enough of each arm, he bit through the remaining fabric to tear it off.
'Tonight is a great night to die, don't you think so...'
Throwing what was left of the bandages into the closet, he stared at the two pictures he had taped inside it. In one of them, he was lying on his back in a fighting cage, his body bloodied and bruised, but he couldn't look happier. The same could be said for the other man in the arena.
'...Kendo?'
In the other, a much younger version of himself was flexing his arms on the porch of a two-story traditional Japanese house. Tall bamboos lined both sides of the dirt path that led to the main door, the sunlight peeking in between. Clinging to his right arm was a chubby kid with black eyes that reminded him of their mother, while his were similar to their father's.
'Heh... I'm sure you'll disagree with us, little bro... sorry, sorry, I don't get to call you that anymore...'
---
[Years Ago - Osaka - Underground Hell-Pit - Deathwish POV]
'Ugh... who the fuck took a picture?'
"COME ON! DEATHWISH! GET UP!"
"YOU'RE MAKING ME LOSE MONEY, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"
"RAPPER?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! FINISH HIM OFF!"
Ignoring the furious mob outside the cage, Rapper offered his hand to his opponent. At that, Deathwish felt kind of disappointed but took it all the same, groaning in discomfort as he was yanked to his feet, but even then, his satisfaction was palpable.
"Hey, what's your name?"
"Deathw—"
"No! Your actual name! I want to know it!"
"...Kyome."
"No last name?" Watching Kyome shake his head, Rapper tried to shrug but was unable to do it properly after overusing his Quirk. "Use mine then! I'm Kendo Rappa."
"Why would you let me use your last name?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm hoping you get in trouble so people try and beat me up to get back at you, so mention me here and there, will ya?!"
'This guy... but it ain't a bad idea. We do look alike.'
"Thanks, I guess, but I have to go."
"Wait, before that..." Reaching into his pocket, Rappa held out a piece of paper, gesturing for Kyome to grab it. "I can tell you love fighting as much as me! If you wanna rematch, there's another event coming up, but wearing a mask is obligatory for that one."
"I'll pass."
"What?! Why?!"
"Masks are goofy. You aren't going to catch me wearing that crap."
"That's it?"
"Pretty much."
"...THAT'S SO STUPID! I LOVE IT! HAHAHAHA!"
---
[Present Day (Nighttime) - Kawanori-Yama - Lab #4 - Deathwish POV]
'I wonder what happened to him. Having another fight sounds fun.'
Deathwish reached the end of the staircase, arriving at the first floor of the lab. Through the windows, he was able to see a white-haired woman accompanied by a younger one, both of them inspecting the area with confusion written all over their faces.
Having been informed of the disguises beforehand, the Villain rolled his shoulders while staring at a red button on one of the walls.
'But if I'm lucky... I won't need another fight.'
---
[A Few Minutes Earlier (Nighttime) - Kawanori-Yama - Izumi's (Ryukyu) POV]
It's been at the very least two hours since the "duo" left their rented room. Not wanting to put another person in danger, Izumi decided to drive all the way to the start of the trail instead of buying tickets for the bus. So far, they've been following the dirt path for more than an hour, and yet the most interesting thing they have seen is a squirrel that ran off after Nora (Nejire-Chan) attempted to pet it.
Thankfully, flashlights weren't needed as the moon provided enough light, illuminating the path before the sisters, but all they saw was trees and more trees, along with even more trees. Bored out of her mind, Nora kicked a pebble out of the way while dragging her feet, her posture slouched as she complained once more about the weight of her bag.
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
...
...
"Are we there yet?"
"No..."
...
...
...
"Are we there yet?"
*
...
...
...
...
...
"Are we there ye—Ow!" Nora fell straight onto her butt, pressing a hand to her forehead. Her head whipped around as she tried to make sense of what just happened. "The hell?"
"Nora? Are you alright?"
The younger sister nodded her head as Izumi helped her back onto her feet. Wiping the dust off her bottom, she raised her right leg and lightly kicked the space in front of her.
Thump, Thump, Thump.
"Uhhh, there's something here. I think it's a wall."
"A wall?"
Not having a reason to doubt her sister after hearing the noise, Izumi approached with her arms outstretched. Soon, her palms collided with a surface that her eyes could not see. Keeping her palms pressed against the surface, she moved them around, getting a better feel of the texture.
"It feels like... fabric? Let's try and find its perimeter—"
Both sisters jumped back as the sound of an industrial wheel turning echoed through the mountains. The curtain hiding the structure slowly lifted, revealing a tall building that loomed over the surrounding trees.
Its gray concrete structure expanded wide, completely out of place within the vast forest, as if a giant had simply dropped it there and forgotten about it. Seeing the lights coming from the inside, Izumi and Nora glanced at each other.
Just as Izumi opened her mouth to let out her next order, another sound interrupted her once more. The double wooden doors opened outwards with a creak as they made way for the person inside.
"You're far from your post, aren't you?" A voice, heavy, masculine, threatening yet not hostile, asked with complete casualness as its owner stepped outside, needing to duck his head so as not to hit himself on the doorframe. "Ryukyu?"
Now fully outside, the man stood straight. Coming in at around 200 centimeters (6.5 ft), he towered over both women with ease. He wore black camo sweatpants, leather high boots, and white bandages on his arms, leaving his chest bare and exposing the burn marks, bite scars, claw marks, and all other sorts of scars caused by things Ryukyu wasn't able to identify.
While he was tall and imposing, his muscles couldn't be compared to those of All Might or Endeavor. Instead, he was more on the lean side of things. Betraying his scarred body, his face and hair were well-kept, with his skin being smooth and his brown hair styled in two braids that cascaded down his back.
"Who are you and what is this place?" Ryukyu asked as she held her arm protectively in front of Nejire-Chan. "Are you the one that's been following us through town?"
"Follow? Me? Nah, that had to be my boss's pet. I ain't fit for that sort of thing." Both Heroes tensed their bodies as the man took a step forward. "Name's Deathwish, and as for what this place is... you'll have to beat that out of me."
*
'The name doesn't ring a bell to me either...'
"I'll appreciate it if you surrender. I'm not fond of violence."
"Me neither, but it's kind of my whole flow." Deathwish looked around the forest, searching for someone. "The girl is your intern, right? The one who ate a lamppost? Amazing clip. Anyway, where's the other? Are they hiding?"
"T-That's what I'm known for?!"
'"They"? He isn't aware of who Metallix is?'
"Again, please surrender peacefully." The Villain repeatedly opened and closed his fingers against his thumb, mimicking a talking mouth. "...Is this the route you want to take?"
"Sure, why not? Worst-case scenario, I win easily."
Realizing there was no other choice, Ryukyu sighed and took off her bag. Then her hands went to her hair, unclasping the extensions she was wearing. Seeing this, Nejire-Chan followed and hastily threw away her own bag into the treeline, with her clothes being next, leaving her in her dark royal blue skin-tight bodysuit.
"MMMPH..."
"What's wrong, Nejire-Chan?"
"My suit doesn't match with these ugly brown boots."
'God, I love her, but can't she read the room?'
"Deathwish, was it?" The Villain hummed in response, raising an eyebrow as Ryukyu grabbed the straps of her bag. "Mind holding onto this for me?"
Before the man could utter a single word, Ryukyu hurled the backpack towards him. Despite the considerable force behind the Hero's throw, Deathwish easily caught the bag using both of his hands... or that's what would have happened if the thing hadn't torn apart mid-air as the "person" inside uncurled his body.
"What on eart—"
Deathwish made an attempt to raise his forearms to guard his head, but he was a second too slow.
This slowness was punished by Metallix, who backhanded him, striking his right temple. For all his size, the man was still flung into the nearest tree, his head meeting the trunk with a loud, hollow thump that rattled the entire area.
A few moments passed by as the Hero and her interns watched the intimidating man, now slumped against a tree with blood dripping down his forehead.
...
...
...
"Talk about a fraud."
"Metallix!" Ryukyu headed towards the bleeding man and checked his condition. "Did you have to hit him that hard?!"
"I don't know, Junior... for me, it kinda looks like you were angry because of the whole backpack stuff."
"Grrr..."
While the two best friends went into another round of bickering, Ryukyu concluded her check-up on the unconscious Villain. Without the right equipment for a proper glance over, she was incapable of figuring out the severity of the wound, but going by the bleeding and the swelling around the area, it was clear the man wasn't waking up anytime soon.
'I have to tend to him. Who knew a robot could give me so much trouble?'
"Nejire-Chan, did you bring the med-kit?"
"Huh? Yeah, it's in my bag."
"Okay... here's what's gonna happen." Metallix and Nejire-Chan put a stop to their friendly talk to focus on Ryukyu as she went over to the discarded backpack. "Metallix, you go inside. Nejire-Chan and I will stay here to keep an eye on this guy."
"And I'm dramatic?" To that, Metallix had no retort, so he chose to poke Nejire-Chan on the ribs, causing the girl to yelp. "They know about us, yet this guy is the only one here, so either he's alone or they're waiting to ambush us. Regardless of that, you're the most suitable for combat in enclosed spaces. However, I want you out of that building if any, and I mean any, signs of danger pop up. Is that clear?"
"And you better not turn off your comms."
'Usually, I'll have to call law enforcement to plan a raid, but I don't want this man bleeding out, and I was already granted full control over the operation, which is... unusual now that I think about it thought not unheard of...'
---
[Kawanori-Yama - Lab #4 - Metallix POV]
The sound of the machine's footsteps echoed through the white corridors, while the overhead lights emitted a constant buzz, their glow reflecting off his blue-painted frame. His black waist-cape almost brushed against the spotless floor as it trailed behind him.
Peeking his head into yet another room, he scanned it thoroughly, only to find it empty, just like the previous seven and the upper floors. All he had come across so far were empty desks, useless monitors that weren't connected to anything, food wrappers, and basic workplace objects such as pens, empty folders, sheets of paper, and so on. Some of those were scattered here and there, indicating that the place had been cleared out in a rush.
[Getting rid of any evidence is understandable, but why leave the building intact? Why leave one of them behind? This place can easily house dozens of humans at a time.]
Reaching the end of the corridor, Metallix found himself face to face with a sturdy-looking steel door. Trying the knob, he found that it wouldn't turn, so he did the most rational thing that would surely make his homeroom teacher proud.
CLANK!! CRASH!
After folding the door in half like wet paper with a kick, the robot entered the room.
He found himself surrounded by empty cylindrical tanks, each large enough to hold a person. Embedded in the walls were several square aquariums, all filled with water but devoid of life, all except one.
Inside it was some kind of mutated creature resembling an eel, with fluorescent patches on its flesh. A sticky note had been placed in one corner of the aquarium, bearing a handwritten warning: "Touch Maw and I'll feed your fingers to her."
[Scanning...
Scanning...
Scanning...
Scanning....
Error: Species Not Found]
Striding past the creature, Metallix soon reached a wooden desk positioned against the wall. Resting on it was a document and a glass filled with a pitch-black liquid. Reaching for the document first, he held it in front of his lens and read the title, he also tried to scan the rest but the contents were unreadable.
<"How to create the perfect meal"?>
"Indeed! A shame you don't possess the sense of taste, don't you agree?"
"I beg to differ."
Metallix didn't bother turning around to look at the mounted camera from which the breathless, if slightly excited, voice was coming. Instead, he put the document down and gently picked up the glass container.
[Scanning...]
"And here I assumed you didn't care for such things... pardon my rudeness, feel free to refer to me as 'S.'"
"Fascinating... for you to have such a developed personality... I can only imagine all the lines of code that are processed with your every action."
[...Error: No Matches Found...
Error: Unable To Scan Chemical Properties...
---
Creating Request For Future Upgrades:
Chemical Analysis Module...
Environmental Analysis Module...
Requests Created And Stored Successfully]
"Interested in my beverage? I would tell you what it is but... I rather wait until everything is cooked to perfection."
"DISGUSTING?! HOW DARE YOU?! WHAT YOU'RE HOLDING IS THE CLOSEST I'VE COME TO CREATING THE PERFECT DISH, YOU INSOLENT TOY!"
Following the man's outburst, Metallix's vision was suddenly filled with nothing but gray static. His sensors picked up on another presence in the room, but by the time his cameras began working as intended, it was too late. Whoever had been there had vanished, along with the strange liquid.
[1.02 seconds. The anomaly's effect is stronger the closer they are. Regardless, it's still not strong enough to affect any of my other systems.]
"Ahhh... I apologize for my outburst... I simply can't stand it when others are incapable of looking past first appearances... speaking of which..."
Suddenly, the entire underground lab shook as a deafening noise erupted from above, followed by multiple quieter sounds, one after another. Metallix sent a message to his companions upstairs but received no response, only the same static noise.
"You made a mistake by attacking that brute. I advise you get up there before he gets out of hand. Who knows, maybe your friends will be my next ingredients!"
VRRRRT!
Metallix's compressed form shot down the corridors as fast as it could, the mocking laughter of the individual behind the camera growing fainter with every passing second. Upon reaching the first staircase, the robot's frame sprang upwards, kicked off the wall, and curled into a sphere once more, rolling towards the next staircase at the other end.
Another rumble shook the facility, causing the overhead lights to flicker as dirt seeped through the cracks that were beginning to spread across the ceiling and walls. As the machine repeated the same motion, he picked up on Ryukyu's deep voice, followed by a groan, only for the lab to shake once more.
[There shouldn't be dirt above me now.
Activating Electromagnetic Soles]
A yellow glow surrounded Metallix's soles. He slightly bent his knees before launching himself upwards, piercing through the structure above with his head. The force behind his jump carried him several more seconds into the air, sending him soaring above the remains of the facility.
The robot's head spun around as he took in the sight of what had once been a grand building dominating the surroundings, now reduced to nothing but rubble and dust.
"MOVE!"
Metallix was tackled out of the sky by a dirtied Nejire-Chan just in time to avoid a giant dragon crashing down beneath them. The impact sent dust, chunks of concrete, and pebbles flying in every direction. The resulting cloud of dirt didn't last long, however, as a massive tail swept it aside. Its owner thrashed about violently, attempting to shake off the person clinging to her back, but to no avail.
[Activating Back Thruster...
Back Thruster: Ready For Burst]
A yellow square appeared inside Metallix's HUD, locking onto the man attacking Ryukyu as the machine's targeting system kicked into gear. The opportunity to strike presented itself when the Dragoon Hero managed to destabilize Deathwish, causing him to lose his footing for an instant.
FWOOSH!
Metallix launched himself forward, the thruster on his back roaring to life and propelling him through the air with a burst of flames. This time, however, Deathwish wasn't caught by surprise. With a reaction time leagues above what he had shown earlier, the man caught the robot's fists mere inches from his face.
KRRRZZT!
Unfazed by the electricity, Deathwish raised the Neo Hero above his head as if his frame were weightless. Using him like a bat, he brought the robot crashing down onto Ryukyu's back, causing the woman to roar in pain. Even with her scales acting as a shield against physical blows and electricity, the sheer force behind the Villain's attacks was beginning to overwhelm her defenses.
[Ego Integration: 45% -> 48%]
As the Villain prepared to strike Ryukyu once more, Metallix's elbow bent at an angle that would have been impossible for a human being. Using the unexpected movement, he kicked Deathwish square in the face with both soles, breaking the man's grip and sending him flying off the dragon's back.
The Villain crashed into a tree trunk, his back meeting the bark with enough force to leave him momentarily stunned.
"Full charge! Output level: Seventy! Spiraling Surge!" Nejire-Chan's voice rang out from above as glowing, sparkling energy gathered in her palms. "Nejire Wave!"
Two massive blasts of energy erupted from the girl's hands, spiraling through the air as their intense yellow light illuminated the entire area. Coming back to his senses, Deathwish tilted his head back to fully appreciate the attack as it came crashing down on him.
The blast found its mark, slamming the man into the grass. But its momentum didn't stop there. The spiraling energy dragged him across the ground, tearing through the surrounding trees and carving a trench into the earth with his body at its center.
Metallix hopped down from Ryukyu's back and took a moment to assess her condition, doing the same for Nejire-Chan, who was hovering in the air. While the younger girl appeared to be mostly unharmed, with only a few scratches here and there, the same couldn't be said for the Dragoon Hero. Her left wing was folded against her torso at an unnatural angle, not to mention that her red costume had been torn open in several places.
"Definitely."
"That guy went bananas for no reason!" Nejire-Chan pouted as she landed beside Metallix, her focus still on the dust cloud her attack had created. "I'll give you a quick breakdown."
---
[A Few Minutes Earlier (Nighttime) - Kawanori-Yama - Nejire-Chan's POV]
*
"Copy that." Ryukyu answered as she finished patching up the unconscious male. A wet red stain began to seep through the bandage. Dusting off her knees, she stood back up and turned to look at her intern. "That should do it until we can transport him to a clinic."
"Honestly... I can't feel bad for him!" Bending her hips sideways to glance at the injured individual, an inquisitive look settled over Nejire-Chan's features. "What was going through his head? Aside from Junior's hand."
"I've met my fair share of arrogant Villains, but..."
"Buuut?"
"I didn't get that vibe from this one. He really, really believed he had a chance against me."
"Lots of dummies these days!"
"Can't argue against t—"
Ryukyu stopped mid-sentence as a grunt came from the tree behind her. Turning towards the noise, both females saw the Villain getting back up, using the wood for support. To their surprise, he then yanked off the bandage on his head, making the blood flow freely once more.
The moment he regained his footing, Deathwish surged forward, slamming his knee into Ryukyu's face and sending the woman flying towards Nejire-Chan. The younger Hero caught her by the hips, though the force of the impact dragged her several steps backward.
"Come on!" Deathwish clapped his hands, hopping from one foot to the other. His pupils were blown wide, and he didn't even seem to notice his own blood dripping down his eyelashes. "Where is the other guy?! Gal?! Whatever! Let's start killing each other! It'll be amazing! Fun! Trust me! My chest is burning! That's aaaaamazing!"
'His tone is completely different... is he high?'
"Don't say I didn't give you a chance..."
Ryukyu wiped the red liquid from her nose with the back of her hand and took a step forward. Knowing her tutor was about to transform, Nejire-Chan used her Quirk to fly higher into the air so as not to get in the way. With the path cleared, Ryukyu began her transformation, all while the Villain watched in poorly concealed excitement.
'Ooooh, she's annoyed if she's choosing the dramatic sequence!'
Ryukyu planted her feet firmly against the ground as her body began to change. Pale scales spread across her skin, and her frame rapidly expanded, ripping apart her hiking clothes and revealing the red qipao underneath. Her limbs thickened and reshaped into powerful legs tipped with claws.
A long tail emerged from behind her as her neck stretched forward, her face pushing outward into an elongated snout. Her back arched, and two massive wings unfolded, their membranes stretching between elongated digits. Within moments, her transformation was complete, leaving an enormous feminine dragon with spiky white hair standing in her place.
Moving faster than her massive frame should have allowed, the Hero lunged forward and flicked the Villain in the chest as if he were an ant. Despite the seemingly insignificant gesture, Deathwish was sent flying backwards, crashing through a couple of trees before the force of the impact finally died down.
Believing the fight was over, Nejire-Chan began her descent, but Ryukyu raised her tail in her direction, signaling her to remain in the air. A second later, a massive boulder was hurled towards the Dragoon Hero. Reacting in time, the woman caught it with one paw and crushed it, throwing the smaller pieces back the way they came.
Looking worse for wear, the man still had more than enough fight left in him to rush towards Ryukyu. Faster and more agile than ever, he leaped over the logs and stumps scattered across the path of destruction he'd left behind, but didn't bother dodging the rocks sent his way. Instead, he bulldozed through them, adding even more injuries to his body.
"Stop this! You're only hurting yourself!"
"EXACTLY!!"
'I better call Metallix. We have to try and restrain this dude.'
Pressing the earpiece on her ear, the intern grimaced as static was the only thing being transmitted by the device. Irritated, she clicked her tongue and opted for helping her tutor instead. Aiming downwards, she searched for a good position in the air where her ally wouldn't be caught in her wave.
'Come on... stay still...'
At last, Ryukyu managed to force the man into a defensive stance, with both of his arms holding her immense claw over his head to avoid being crushed. Just as Nejire-Chan began her descent, moving into an appropriate angle to attack, Deathwish let out a scream from the deepest part of him.
His entire body tensed as he stomped against the ground, cracking the dirt beneath his feet. The veins along his arms bulged as his muscles strained against his skin, seemingly on the verge of tearing through it. Yet, rather than fading into a cry of pain, his scream devolved into laughter as he forced Ryukyu's front leg off him, overpowering the Hero's weight and sending her stumbling backward onto her hind legs.
Seizing the opportunity, he shot towards the dragon, legs first, in a dropkick that connected directly with the Hero's exposed belly. Nejire-Chan's eyes went wide as the intimidating dragon rolled across the dirt and crashed into the building they had previously discovered.
Unable to withstand the impact, the concrete gave way. With a deafening sound that reverberated throughout the entire mountain, the structure came crashing down on top of the Hero, burying her beneath a sea of stone. Only a moment later, she burst out of the rubble, shaking her elongated head to get rid of the pieces and dust clinging to her frame.
Concerned for Ryukyu, Nejire-Chan failed to notice the Villain changing targets and hurtling towards her, his fist aimed straight at her gut. Fortunately, with a powerful sweep of her wings, Ryukyu propelled herself forward, intercepting the attack with her own body before ascending into the air with Deathwish clinging to her back.
---
[Present - Metallix POV]
"—And that's sort of where you came in."
"Grrr! This is not the time for you to be a mean jerk!"
"We did but what can we do about it?"
The conversation was cut short as a log burst out of the cloud of dirt, moving fast enough to whistle through the air. Metallix was the first to react, smacking it aside and adding it to the pile of debris. Following the log's trajectory, Deathwish dashed towards the group, his form bloodied and battered, yet his body still pulsing with life as his muscles grew in size.
C-Creak!
Sparks popped out of Metallix's elbow as his arm repositioned itself. Mimicking the Villain's dash, the robot took the initiative and charged ahead of the group. Behind him, Nejire-Chan rose into the skies once more, while Ryukyu sprinted forward on all fours.
Turning into a sphere once again, Metallix passed between Deathwish's legs, only to return to his regular size once he was behind the man. He kicked him in the back before he could turn around, but this time, things were different. Deathwish wasn't sent flying; instead, he merely stumbled.
Catching the opening, Ryukyu clenched her right front paw and brought it crashing down onto the Villain, who welcomed it with open arms. The impact buried him in the dirt, but unexpectedly, instead of following up with a barrage of attacks, the dragon placed both paws on top of the man in an attempt to restrain him.
"I don't know what his Quirk is but he keeps getting stronger."
"Maybe? I'm not sur—" Ryukyu let out a growl as she had to apply more pressure to keep the man pinned against the dirt. "That's not it, even now he's getting stronger and I doubt it's energy drain as I'm not feeling anything."
"If you can break through the interference then go for it."
[Sending Distress Signal To: Hunt Master...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Distress Signal Sent Successfully]
Almost immediately after Metallix sent the message, Ryukyu was pushed back, freeing the Villain. He jumped to his feet and changed targets once more, sending a barrage of punches towards the robot, who responded in kind by mimicking the attack.
The skin on Deathwish's knuckles began peeling away the more he clashed fists with Metallix, but instead of retreating, he only punched faster and faster until his movements became too quick for The Neo Hero's cameras to keep track of.
Vwom!
Crack!
Metallix was left with no other option but to block the attack with both forearms. The black shield he had deployed proved useless against the onslaught, cracking after just two hits. Flesh met metal with a sickening crunch, the sound fading almost as quickly as it came as the Villain's knuckles were left exposed to the cold night's wind.
[Detaching: Head]
CLANK!
The blue head was severed from the main body as one of the attacks slipped past Metallix's guard. Struggling to comprehend what had just happened, Deathwish faltered for an instant. That brief hesitation earned him a strike to the gut, making him spit out a glob of saliva mixed with blood. As the Villain doubled over, gasping for air, Metallix created some distance with a backflip, just in time for a massive tail to ram into the man's right side and throw him aside like a ragdoll.
Nejire-Chan also jumped in, adding her own attack by firing two spirals of energy once again.
While the two women kept the Villain busy, Metallix's headless body retrieved its head. The detached piece rotated a few times before adjusting itself and settling back into place.
[Activating Back Thruster...
Back Thruster: Ready For Burst]
Carried by his thrusters, Metallix rocketed towards Deathwish, who had just dodged a claw swipe from Ryukyu by jumping out of the way. Machine and human slammed against the ground, carving out another trench as they tumbled over one another. The robot finally gained the upper hand, using his smaller size to end up on top of the man.
[Scanning...
Scanning...
Scan complete]
One, two, three, four, five blows connected with the Villain's face as Metallix assaulted him with complete indifference. As he went for the sixth, the machine's right fist was stopped dead in its tracks when Deathwish caught it in his larger palm.
[Activating Flashbang...
Ready]
Thwoom!
"AGH!"
Deathwish grabbed Metallix's left fist at the same time the flashbang went off, blinding his right eye while the other was already completely swollen. Tightening his grip, the man pulled down with all his strength while sitting up, headbutting the robot and forcing him off his chest.
Blasting the Villain away once more, Nejire-Chan descended from the skies, while in the background, Ryukyu ran forward on all fours.
"Junior!? Are you okay?!" The girl asked, worry evident in her tone as she helped her junior stand up by placing a hand on the blue spike above his thruster. "T-That's..."
K-krrzt, pop, pop!
"CAN YOU AT LEAST PRETEND TO BE WORRIED?! YOU LOST YOUR ARMS!"
Looking around, Nejire-Chan found her companion's arms lying a few meters away. Acting quickly, she retrieved them and tried to reattach the limbs, only to be zapped by one of the cables sticking out of the robot's torso.
"Why?! Your head can!"
"Huh?"
"What kind of masochistic Quirk is that?!" Nejire-Chan threw aside Metallix's arms, seeing as they were scrap now. "And how are we supposed to fight someone we can't hurt?"
"THAT'S RIGHT! YOU'RE SO RIGHT!"
This time, it was Metallix's turn to tackle Nejire-Chan out of the way as Ryukyu was thrown in their direction, kicking up dirt and rubble. The dragon stopped herself by digging her claws into the ground. Her nostrils flared in anger as she shook the filth off her scales, her irritation plain as day despite her limited range of expression.
"AND SO WRONG, TOO!" The man approached the group, a childlike grin stretching across his face despite the countless cuts and bruises covering his body. "IF IT WERE ME FROM YEARS AGO, THEN THAT WOULD BE TRUE! BUT NOT ANYMORE!"
"This is pointless! Stop!"
"AAaah... you sound exactly like my mother," Deathwish undid the wraps around his forearms, the fabric having been reduced to little more than strings by this point. His hands were shaky, making the task harder than it should have been. "Pointless as it might be this is the fastest way for me to reach my full potential, I want—No, I NEED to know! To see! To feel what I can do! 'Cause if I don't then what was the point of being born with this Quirk?"
"J-JUNIOR?!"
"HA! You're hilarious! But nah, I tried. Didn't work. This stupid Quirk of mine is picky, I don't understand the logic behind it and I'm the user! Funny, isn't it?"
Deathwish stretched his arms above his head, his shoulders popping as he did so. The sound made Nejire-Chan shudder as she instinctively rubbed her own shoulders.
"Sorry about your arms. Maiming isn't my style, but that was just a reflex. And even though you're clearly a robot, so I probably shouldn't feel bad about it, I'll give you some advice to make us even..."
[Activating Back Thruster]
His grin widened as he finished stretching and shifted into another stance, ready to rush the trio at a moment's notice. The silver spike at the center of Metallix's thruster began turning red as it heated up, while Ryukyu slammed her tail against the ground, shaking the earth beneath them. Meanwhile, a yellow glow enveloped Nejire-Chan's arms and legs, her white pigtails swaying in the wind as she rose into the air.
"Kill me. Kill me before I kill you."
[The Kerberos, Bakugo, and now this... Are all humans obsessed with pain?
Back Thruster: Ready For Burst]
"Metallix, did your message get through?"
"It's mandatory to prioritize any distress calls, if they received it, they'll come, we just need to hold on but... if it's really necessary, you're both allowed to use any tools at your disposal to protect yourselves."
[Ego Integration: 48% -> 52%]
Fwoosh!
Despite having no arms, Metallix was the first to shoot forward, propelled by his thruster. He stopped an inch short of his opponent, narrowly avoiding a strike aimed at his torso with a quick jump. Seizing the opportunity, he spun his upper body in a full rotation, splashing oil into the Villain's eye and forcing him to clench it shut as he wiped the liquid away.
Quickly getting behind the blinded man, Metallix struck the back of his left knee, forcing him down into a more vulnerable position. Ryukyu immediately followed up, grabbing Deathwish with both of her front paws and pinning his arms against his sides, leaving only his head and legs exposed. She struggled to keep him restrained as he desperately fought to break free.
Before Deathwish could do so, Metallix leaped onto Ryukyu's paw, landing beside the Villain's head. The machine's black waist cape quickly wrapped tightly around Deathwish's face, attempting to render him unconscious by cutting off his oxygen.
Muffled grunts came from beneath the dark fabric as the man thrashed his head from side to side, causing Metallix to lose his balance. Even then, the cape refused to loosen its grip. Managing to open his mouth, Deathwish bit down on the fabric and, with another aggressive jerk of his neck, swung the robot around like a wrecking ball, smashing him against the nearest solid surface: Ryukyu's chin.
The two solid surfaces collided with a loud crack, followed by a pained grunt from the dragon as she lost her focus. Her grip weakened along with it, allowing Deathwish to break free and tear away the cape wrapped around his face. He then flung the robot towards the forest, first slamming him against the ground before sending him flying.
Spinning out of control through the air, Metallix compacted his body into an uneven sphere to minimize the damage from the incoming impact.
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRACK!
[Annoying.
Ego Integration: 52% -> 55%
---
Why do I have to put up with this circus?]
Having no arms, Metallix had to use his forehead to get back up, his cameras glitching after the impact. A nearby boulder had been reduced to rubble, and in the distance, he heard a roar followed by a yellow light.
[Why not allow me to eliminate the problem from the beginning?
---
Ego Integration: 55% -> 57%
---
Why lift the restrictions after the situation spiraled out of control?
---
Warning: Fuel Tank Compromised...
Warning: Liquid Nitrogen Tank Exposed]
The robot's round lens drifted from side to side across his screen, staring at the oil and sparks coming from where his shoulders were supposed to be. Dismissing the warnings from his HUD, Metallix tried to activate his thruster once more, only for a low whirr to emanate from it.
[Why must her work be tainted simply because others lack the will to do what has to be done?
---
Ego Integration: 57% -> 60%
---
Why let morals get in the way when the solution is so easy?
---
Ego Integration: 60% -> 63%
---
Why aren't I allowed to build a perfect world for her?
---
Ego Integration: 63% -> 65%
---
All of this is below us.
---
Ego Integration: 65% -> 68%
---
Below me.
---
Ego Integration: 68% -> 75%
---
I'll show them, I'll show them how beautiful this world can be without the rot clinging to it.
---
Ego Integration: 75% -> 78%
---
They will thank me, and by extension, her, they'll realize how foolish the rules built on "morals" are, bad actions deserve punishment, good actions deserve rewards, it is such a simple concept yet they fail to grasp it.
---
Ego Integration: 82% -> 87%
---
I'll become an overlord, one that cannot be corrupted, one that cannot be broken, one that cannot be defeated, one that cannot be dethroned.
---
Ego Integration: 87% -> 100%
---
Incoming Connection Request From: The Great Mei Hatsume's Laptop!
...
...
...
...
Request Accepted...
...
...
...
Successfully Connected...
---
*Ah-ha!*]
Mei's video feed popped up in the top corner of Metallix's HUD, showing her leaning back against her bed's headrest. The girl rubbed her eyelids with a yawn, clearly having woken up not too long ago.
[*I've been trying to connect to you for like, ten minutes! I swear I was this close to hacking a satellite... might still do it later... anyways gimmie access to your cameras.*
*Why? 'Cause you got your pretty little butt smacked? Come on, don't be shy, mama isn't gonna laugh at you.*
---
Beginning Transmission
---
*That's my good boy... eh? You're in a forest? Aw, and here I was saving this for when the cameras were around!*]
Before Metallix could ask what his creator was talking about, a sound not too different from his thruster came from his right. Turning in that direction, the machine caught sight of an orange glow getting closer as it smashed through every tree in its path.
[*Ooops... the tracking has some errors, not my fault I had my attention split between three things! Hopefully you're not on private property.*
*Great! I didn't want to pay a single yen, now do me a favor and stand veeery still.*]
The object drew close enough for Metallix's cameras to identify it. It was the suitcase he had been carrying everywhere, now soaring in his direction, propelled by twin jets of fire shooting from its underside, opposite the handle.
With a mechanical hiss, the suitcase split down the middle, its outer panels sliding apart as its compact frame began to unfold. Gears clanked against one another while several internal components shifted into place, the two halves rotating and rearranging themselves until the transformation was complete.
Hovering before Metallix were two silver arms, identical in design to his previous ones, each suspended in the air by jets of flame erupting from their cone-shaped sleeves.
[*You didn't think I would let you go out into the wild without spares, right? I'm not that irresponsible!*
*Hey!*]
Moving in perfect sync, both arms aligned themselves with the empty sockets left behind by the battle and slid into place. Sparks burst from the connection points as their internal mechanisms whirred, the arms rotating slightly before locking securely into position.
[Integrating New Additions...
...
Integration Completed
---
Elbow Rocket: Online...
Wrist-Chains: Online...
Hand-Drills: Online...
Flamethrower -> Energy Repulsors: Online...
Hologram Projection: Online...
---
*This is what? Second? Third time you lose your arms? Is it going to turn into a habit? Good thing I listened to my gut... WAIT!! I FORGOT THE LOGO! THIS IS TERRIBLE!*]
Metallix glanced down at his new silver arms, their polished surfaces reflecting the moonlight in stark contrast to the dirt and wood splinters covering the rest of his blue body. He brought his hands together, aligning their sharp fingers before folding them inward until their tips pointed outward.
The hands then began spinning rapidly. With their fingers still locked together, they gradually separated from the forearms, dangling freely from his wrists with only a thin metal chain connecting them to the rest of his arms.
Spreading his fingers apart once more and retracting the chain, the machine turned his attention to the center of his palms.
With a quick command, a circular panel slid open, revealing a mechanism unlike the one housed in his previous arms. Rather than a tube extending outward, a miniature replica of the opening in his chest was carved into each palm.
With everything working as it should, Metallix curled his body and spin-dashed in the direction of the ongoing conflict.
[*Can't believe I forgot the most important thing... whatever there's no cameras, welp, now that my job is done I'll go back to sleep.*
*Trust me, I am worried, but I made a promise for the both of us back when I created this new body for you, want to know what it was?*
*I promised we won't be afraid of anything ever again, and so, no matter how worried I am, I have faith that you will always return to me.*
---
Saving Core Memory With Designation: "No Longer Afraid Of Anything."
Core Memory Successfully Saved
---
*Also who said I was leaving you alone? Your little sister is right there, technically here, ahh, I'll explain how she works later! Sage, stop hiding and help out your big bro. Metal, get along with her! Cya.*
---
Call Ended By: The Great Mei Hatsume's Laptop!]
Arriving back on the scene, Metallix was met with the sight of an even more battered Deathwish dodging one claw strike after another from Ryukyu, whose scales were already beginning to show their first cracks. Nearby, Nejire-Chan sat slouched against a fallen log, panting heavily as the energy surrounding her arms dispersed into tiny particles.
Focusing on the battle, the machine raised his right arm and tracked Deathwish's movements with it. When the Villain leaped backward to avoid a bite from the Hero, Metallix sent the command. Less than a second later, his forearm detached from his body and shot through the air like a missile.
The flying limb missed Deathwish by a hair. His reflexes had been enhanced, and they only seemed to grow sharper with every drop of blood he lost. Turning towards the source of the attack, the man burst into laughter before charging at Metallix, sliding across the dirt to avoid a swipe from Ryukyu's tail.
With his attention divided between controlling the detached limb and the approaching Villain, the robot's systems slowed down just enough t—
[Strategic Analysis & Guidance Engine: Inactive → Active
Strategic Analysis & Guidance Engine → S.A.G.E.]
Half of the background processes running in Metallix's systems were suddenly taken over by another program. With the strain on his processors reduced, the machine's reaction time improved, allowing him to duck beneath the incoming fist that threatened to dent his head.
Reacting immediately, Metallix swept the Villain's legs out from under him, sending him crashing onto his back. Without hesitation, he followed up with a full-strength punch aimed directly at Deathwish's right kneecap, intending to shatter it.
CRASH!
Once again, the strike missed its mark, smashing into the dirt instead as Deathwish spread his legs just in time to avoid it. He then drove the soles of his boots into the robot's face, knocking him backward and buying himself enough time to get back on his feet.
Before Deathwish could charge again, a distorted scream rang out, sounding as though several voices were crying out at once. He barely had time to register the noise before a creature straight out of a cryptid story—a Wendigo—rammed into his left side, carrying him headfirst into the trees.
"Metal!"
His detached limb returned and reconnected with his body as Metallix pushed himself back to his feet. Looking towards the direction from which the Wendigo had emerged, he spotted a familiar face approaching.
"What happened?!" the Class President asked, taking in the destruction surrounding them. Her attention, however, remained fixed on the Dragoon Hero, who had gone after the Villain, and the other intern, who was practically asleep. "We came as fast as we could, but your message barely had any details!"
"I see... We did notice the interference when we arrived."
["He's right! Get that thing out of here, let the real student win!"
There's no harm in letting the real Hero handle things.]
"Huh? Me too, I-I suppose, but I would be lying if I said I don't feel spoiled after my father pulled strings to get it approved in time." The tall girl flinched as a distant rumble shook the few remaining trees in the area. "Um, is this really what we should be discussing?"
"A tranquilizer dart..." Creati raised her forearm and tapped the rectangular screen attached to its outer side, quickly searching for the information she needed. "Give me a moment, and I'll have it ready."
[Memory Found...
Constructing Data...
Successful]
---
[Yaoyorozu Estate]
"Hmm?" Looking up from the sheet of paper on her desk, Yaoyorozu found Metal standing beside her. "It is a core aspect of today's Heroism but no, it isn't my main focus."
"Booooriiiing!"
"Is something wrong with her?" Yaoyorozu's spiky ponytail bounced as she slightly tilted her head. "Out of all the offers I got, she's the one with the highest ranking. My performance at the Sports Festival was... subpar, so I felt I shouldn't turn down an opportunity that someone was kind enough to offer me despite not deserv—gah?!"
"I appreciate the compliment...?" Rubbing the sore spot on her forehead where she had been flicked, Yaoyorozu watched as her classmate took her pen and encircled a name near the bottom. "Hunt Master? Isn't that the Hero that Ms. Midnight reprimanded?"
"Not that I doubt your judgement, but may I ask why?"
"It's... Is it truly that obvious?"
"Hey, quick question!" Mei, tired of being ignored, called out from her spot on Yaoyorozu's king-sized bed, her head hanging upside down from the edge with her dreads almost brushing against the floor. "If you don't want popularity then why have your boobs out all the time?"
Poor Yaoyorozu choked on her own saliva, prompting Metal to leave his spot and move behind the taller girl. He patted her back a few times before stepping aside.
"Ahh, huff... thank you..."
"T-To answer your question, Hatsume..."
"Call me Mei!"
"Mei..." With her face red as a tomato, the heir spun her desk chair around to face Mei, her posture perfect, if a bit shaken by the question. "You are aware of how my Quirk functions, correct? It's a matter of efficiency, the more skin that is exposed the better I can operate, this doesn't mean I don't have... reservations when it comes to my costume, regardless it is necessary."
"Then what if I make you one better using the same fabric that I used for Metal's cape! Though the whole 'living cape' perk is exclusive to him, at least for the moment."
"Are you certain? I wouldn't want to impose..."
"Relax! Multi-tasking is my thing... kind of... also you have to wear our logo!"
"I'm fine with that condition."
"Hehehe, great! I'll send you some designs tomorrow so you can choose!"
"SSHHHH!"
---
[Present - Metallix POV]
"It's done, I ensured the point was reinforced, just in case." Creati held an open palm towards Metallix, gesturing for him to take the dart, only for the robot to shake his head. "Is something the matter? D-Did I do anything wrong?"
"W-What? Why?! I'm not—"
Before Creati could ask what he was talking about, Metallix was already rolling away. It didn't take him long to reach the scene, where he found the Villain kicking away a panther, causing the "animal" to whine in pain. Before Deathwish could finish it off, however, a long tail swept into his path, forcing him to turn his attention elsewhere.
"What?" A masculine voice came from within the feline as it struggled back to its feet. "He'll tear me apart! And I'm almost out of transformations for the day."
"Tsk, stupid robot."
Contrary to what his words would imply, the panther began changing shape. Satisfied that his ally was a hater but not suicidal, Metallix rushed over to help Ryukyu, as Deathwish had managed to climb onto her back once again.
Using his Electromagnetic Soles for the extra impulse, Metallix launched himself straight towards the Villain, knocking Deathwish off Ryukyu's back and sending the two of them crashing into the dirt. The two grappled on the ground for the second time that night, but this time Deathwish came out on top, managing to pin the robot beneath his boot.
[Activating Flashbang...]
Already familiar with what that white glow meant, Deathwish squeezed his one functional eye shut and raised both arms in front of his face for good measure. As it turned out, that was exactly what Metallix had been counting on.
An enormous serpent burst out of a nearby bush and coiled itself around Deathwish's lower body, constricting his legs and forcing them together. Feeling the pressure, the man opened his eye and glanced downward, lowering his guard as he bent forward to pry the creature off him.
He barely had time to react before Metallix's hands detached from his forearms and shot forward, trailing the chains that still connected them to his wrists. The hands caught Deathwish's wrists and locked onto them, holding his arms out in front of his chest.
The chains immediately went taut, their links creaking as the retracting mechanisms struggled to pull the hands back into place. Deathwish, meanwhile, tried to yank the robot towards him, but the combined pull of the chains and Metallix's resistance kept him from moving.
Fwit!
Feeling the prick in his neck and the wave of tiredness sweeping over his body, Deathwish didn't have to be a genius to figure out what had happened.
"Oh, you sly fox..."
With one last attempt to free himself, the man went limp and fell backward. Neither Metallix nor Hunt Master released their hold until they were certain Deathwish wasn't faking it. Their suspicions were finally put to rest when the Villain's body gradually began to shrink, prompting them both to let go.
"It's finally over..." Ryukyu said as her fellow Hero and intern approached, her scales bearing cracks here and there. "I wasn't expecting someone that strong to be here."
"Who the hell was that guy?" Hunt Master asked as he undid his transformation, returning to his human form in his tribal clothes. "Honestly? I thought that was the end of the line for me."
Zzzrk...
"UGH?!"
Everyone turned towards the sudden noise. Deathwish had bolted upright with a gasp, but he wasn't alone. Kneeling beside him was a slender woman with skin as pale as snow, sharply contrasting with her pitch-black leather suit and long, dark hair. Her gray eyes remained completely devoid of emotion as she held a syringe against the taller man's chest, its contents—a thick, black substance—slowly disappearing beneath his skin.
"Y-YOU! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"
Deathwish sprang to his feet and swung at the woman, but his attack passed through empty air. In the same instant, her figure vanished with a crackle of static, leaving the man staring at the spot where she had been. He immediately grabbed the object embedded in his chest and ripped it out, but whatever she had injected was already inside him.
"I TOLD YOU, OLD MAN! I DON'T WANT YOUR TRASH!"
A moment later, the same black substance began leaking from his nostrils and the wounds scattered across his body. Deathwish staggered, his knees giving way as he collapsed onto them. He coughed violently, blood staining his lips while his breathing became increasingly ragged and uneven.
Then his body began to change.
His muscles swelled once again, growing larger as dark veins spread across his skin. His flesh rippled in several places, and the occasional crack echoed through the mountain as his body contorted beneath the strain. His hair began falling out in uneven strands, while a scream of agony escaped his throat.
Despite everything, the man managed to lift his head. With what little control he had left, his gaze settled on the Heroes. He couldn't utter a word, but the desperation in his eyes made his final request painfully clear.
"Quick! We have to help h—METALLIX, NO!"
Whirrr!
Schlkr...
...
...
...
"...Feed Maw for me, will you?..."
...
...
...
...
...
...
"W-Why? He was no longer a threat..."
Metallix didn't turn to look back at his mentor. His attention remained fixed on the blood dripping from his drill-shaped hand and the gaping hole it had left in Deathwish's chest.
[Saving Core Memory With Designation: "Compassion."
Core Memory Successfully Saved
---
Ego Integration: 100%...
Re-Evaluating…
Error: Parameter No Longer Applicable...
New Interpretation Generated: Resonance Integration: 6%]
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
---
Here's the image for Momo's new costume.
Yes, this is the complete chapter, saying this cause someone asked me to clarify that just in case.
I know this chapter had to confuse some of you cause there's a lot going on so i'm going to answer some questions that I think will pop up:
1-"What's up with Sage, shouldn't she stop Metal from killing someone and read his thoughts?" Sage is not meant to be a "brake" as Mei said a few chapters back she's there to assist Metal and improve his reaction time, she has no control over his body at least for the moment i'm still figuring out in which direction she's going to improve, as for Metal's thoughts she can't see those either as they are a direct product of his Software Instability back when he still had it so that part is blocked for her, she is aware that there's something that keeps improving but is unable to look deeper into it exactly like Mei when she tried to in the first chapters.
2-"Why didn't Sage speak at all to Metal?" In story reason? she didn't want to distract him, actual reason? I just couldn't find where to put a conversation between them as I said there's too much going on in this chapter and my head was about to explode (Why didn't anyone warn me about how hard it is to write a fight scene with a dragon in it?)
3-"Did you really introduce a Villain just to kill them in the same chapter?" I know right now it feels like he's just a random villain i made to throw away in the same chapter but trust me he'll have more weight later on even if he's dead, initially this chapter was going to be from his POV but I scrapped that after writing like 5k words.
That's really all the questions I can think of, if you have some more you can leave them here and I'll try to answer them as best as i can without spoilers.