Chapter Text
The Secluded Valley, Safi'Jiiva's lair.
The fate of the New World rested upon these four hunters. They could not allow the dragon to roam free.
Four legendary hunters, each with an extremely high Hunter Rank and experience to match.
Miles, Hunter Rank 700. He was raised a hundred ranks several months back, when he not only survived, but had also slain a Nergigante, Teostra and Lunastra on the same day. The three dragons were at their prime, posing as Master Rank threats and Miles was the one to accomplish the feat of slaying three Elder Dragons in such a short span of time.
He proudly wore the equipment crafted from the materials of a Ruiner Nergigante as he struck true with his hammer.
Ryu, Hunter Rank 750. In his time in the New World, he had slain a Kirin, a Velkhana and even a Namielle. All of them were Master Rank threats that had strayed too close to the Research Base and Seliana and had to be put down.
He donned the armor made from Velkhana’s hide and sliced away at Safi’Jiiva with his longsword.
Safi, Hunter Rank 800. The Sapphire Star of the new world and despite being the youngest among the group, she had the second highest Hunter Rank. The Guild had given her a hefty amount of contribution points after slaying Xeno’Jiiva and Sharah Ishvalda. She was also the one who led a group of hunters into the Caverns of El Dorado to repel the illustrious Kulve Taroth.
It was her name that they used to name the Elder Dragon, as she was the New World’s pride and saviour and it felt appropriate to name Safi’Jiiva so.
These three hunters were the New World’s strongest, having their stories spread even among the Old World. They were also present to repel Zorah Magdaros.
The fourth hunter however was a different case.
Hunter Rank 999, the highest possible rank given by the guild, with only a dozen or less hunters bearing such rank at any given moment in the entire guild. It was the proof of surpassing normal hunters and being among the pillars of monster hunting.
Izuku Midoriya, age 38, twenty years of service and five years under the tutelage of another veteran hunter. Twenty-five years of experience in the field. A name talked about in great reverence in the Old World, and perhaps also in the New World.
Arriving two years ago on the fifth fleet, he became sort of a trainer for B-listers who needed pointers regarding their weapon of choice. Izuku, being proficient in every guild-approved weapon type, was able to show them the ropes.
His time in the New World was treated as his long deserved break, after that fateful day another year back.
The day he and three other pillars of the guild faced off the Black Dragon, Fatalis. While not the one from the legends, it was more than strong enough to be considered a G-Rank threat and had to be dealt with quickly, or it would be Schrade Kingdom all over again.
Slaying the Fatalis proved to be more than enough for his rank to skyrocket and brought up to what it was today. Only when Master Rank monsters made their appearance did he go back to the field to do what he did best.
Monster hunting.
His most notable feat in the New World had to be when he had personally dealt with a Raging Brachydios and a Furious Rajang before they caused too much damage to the environment. Izuku also had a history in the New World for slaying tough Old World monsters that showed up in the New World.
But even if one were to compliment him about it, all he’d say was that he was just there at the right time and that any other Master or G-Rank hunter could do the same.
Now fighting against a monster that could prove to be powerful enough to be classified as a Black Dragon, Izuku had pulled all stops and donned his strongest yet at the same time most dangerous equipment.
Fatalis armor.
His mental fortitude was strong enough to ignore the whispers that urged him to betray his humanity, but he was not one to take big risks, this moment being only the second time he had worn this armor.
Having the highest Hunter Rank among the group, he felt obligated as a senior to look after his juniors, so he went into the battle with a Heavy Bowgun to attack from a range while at the same time bring support to his teammates with Recovery Ammo.
The battle had been going on for a little over ten minutes, with plenty of stamina and energy to spare from the hunters. It seemed like the fight was about to be over…
“Ow!”
Izuku’s eyes immediately locked on to Safi, who was cradling her leg with a wince.
Broken limb. Not good. If my observations are correct, she’s already consumed all of her max and ancient potions and had yet to find time to make more.
Miles and Ryu jumped into action, with the hammer-user taunting the dragon for its attention while the other hunter rushed to the huntress. Izuku checked his ammunition bag for his Recovery Ammo only to freeze at a revelation.
He had run out.
And that wasn’t the only misfortune that happened right then and there. Because Ryu was attacking Safi’Jiiva’s tail and Safi herself had been immobilized beside the dragon, the distance to close was too great and all three hunters were pushed back by a large gust of wind made by the flap of Jiiva’s wings.
And the Elder Dragon left the ground.
Just when they were about to lament about its escape, Safi’Jiiva breathed sapphire haze downwards, encompassing the ground and bringing great worry to everyone present.
Then instincts took action, Miles and Ryu running behind the conveniently fallen crags. The same thing happened for Izuku.
Except instead of running away, he ran straight to Safi.
Of all the times to disregard my self-preservation… he thought bitterly.
Acting fast, Izuku pulled up a max potion and a mega potion from his bag before crushing the pill containing the contents of a max potion and mixed it with the mega potion.
For some reason, applying potions directly to the wound was very inefficient compared to simply consuming it, but with a max potion in the mix, it should be enough to recover even a broken leg.
Miles and Ryu realized they had left a comrade out in the open in a vulnerable state and inwardly cursed themselves for it. But just before they could help Izuku in moving Safi out of the way, they got a good look at the dragon that was spewing more and more blue mist to the ground and they were locked in place.
Of all the times to regard my self-preservation… they thought bitterly.
Izuku poured the mixture onto Safi’s leg and lifted her up by the arm to drag her away. The coldness of the blue fog did nothing but supply more panic to his erratically beating heart, but he did not falter.
There was someone who needed to be saved.
“Senior hunter, please save yourself!” Izuku heard Safi shout beside him. They both knew whatever came next… there was no chance of surviving it.
Even still, his grasp was firm. “We’ve hunted side by side with each other before. I would like you to refer to me by my first name, Izuku.”
He smiled, a certain zeal in his eyes. His years hunting Elder Dragons and other monsters of the Old World had tempered Izuku to the man he was now.
Occasionally soft-spoken, quite selfless, wise beyond his years and a bit mysterious in a way. He would never speak of his origin, other than the fact that he was an orphan, but Safi had a feeling that wasn’t all.
The concoction that was poured on her leg slowly took effect and she regained more strength to her legs, allowing both of them to move forward faster to the closest crag on the ground to take cover.
Then it became quiet.
Too quiet.
Both heads turned, eyes slowly widening at the sight.
It was as if a star had fallen from the sky.
A sapphire star.
Shrunken as it may have been, it shone with such majesty that one couldn’t help but revere it.
And it was going to hit the ground.
As if the star had stilled every particle in the air, Izuku couldn’t hear anything. Not his heartbeat, not his comrades that were urgently shouting at him from behind the crags, and not the girl beside him.
A hand squeezed his shoulder. Izuku turned his head to lock eyes with Safi.
Even without hearing anything, he knew what she said from reading her lips.
“Leave me and save yourself, Izuku.”
…
How could he allow that?
Safi, the sapphire star, the enthusiastic girl that he had befriended on board the fifth fleet before they arrived in the New World. In the span of two years, he watched her grow over time, contributing more and more for Astera than she could ever comprehend. In less than two years, she had attained the rank of Master. A feat perhaps only achieved by fewer people than there were fingers on one hand in the history of the Guild’s founding.
The only thing he could find in her eyes were grief, guilt… and acceptance.
The girl who couldn’t hide the excitement in her eyes as she went hunts with her ‘legendary senior hunter’. The girl who shone as bright as the sapphire star in the sky.
Izuku couldn’t help but think.
She’s so young…
As a senior, Izuku felt obligated.
Obligated to protect the lives of his juniors.
Even if it might cost him his own.
It felt as if time slowed down, and everything was moving in slow motion. There was one more thing he could do.
Which was to abandon his humanity.
Fatalis… you want my body? Then take it.
As quickly as the voices ceased, the pain began. The scales in the interior parts of his armor dug into his flesh and Izuku felt something crawling beneath his skin. An unbearable headache overtook his senses and he stumbled, Safi almost tripping down herself.
As painful as it was, he still received what he was hoping for.
A drastic boost in strength.
Before the will of Fatalis could cloud his mind, he heaved Safi up from the ground and practically tossed her to the crag Ryu was occupying, which the hunter reacted fast and softened her fall the best he could before pulling her behind the rock.
Honestly speaking, that was probably the least painful experience Safi had to endure since the battle began.
As scales began to grow from his skin, teeth sharpening to an excessive degree and two sharp somethings were trying to protrude from the top of his head and back, Izuku watched as Safi desperately tried to run out of her cover to get him, but Ryu held her back, shouting words that could not be heard.
Izuku’s eyes drifted to Miles, who raised his hand to form a salute. His eyes conveyed sorrow… and his utmost respect.
Then the star touched the ground.
Within it, a supernova.
The sapphire mist rushed towards him, not affecting the ground at all… then it finally came in contact with Izuku.
The Fatalis in him roared in agony, and so did Izuku. It didn’t matter that his armor was made from the parts of a Fatalis. Any weak points in his hardened skin were instantly pierced open by the stardust, his insides being torn apart by Safi’Jiiva’s most powerful attack.
…
Even after all that…
Izuku looked into the eyes of the descending Elder Dragon and smiled in the face of death.
Well… I do have some regrets… but not nearly enough to not consider giving my life for another.
Izuku’s group would find themselves facing a weakened Safi’Jiiva that was not willing to flee, even if it resulted in its demise. Reinforcements would arrive and slay the menace of the New World with no more casualties.
Izuku’s corpse would be taken back to the Old World, the returning fleet having the company of over half of every Master Rank hunter from the New World. He would be buried in his hometown, a town turned into a flourishing city due to Izuku’s influence.
The news would spread from the Guild and many mourned the tragic fall of one of the most well-known pillars of the Guild. Legends would soon spread about his rise from a mere orphan to a G-Rank monster hunter. His feats would be known by many, and the moment that marked his fall was dubbed the:
Proof of a True Hero.
Beep.
…
Beep.
…
Beep.
“... Mm.”
Beep.
A hospital bed. In a hospital room.
A small body. Lying on the hospital bed.
Disheveled green hair. Freckled cheeks.
Midoriya Izuku. In a coma for a whole year. If he was still in school, he would be beginning middle school.
The boy lifted his eyelids, and sapphire eyes gazed at the hospital room ceiling.
Despite the long time he had spent in the room, his face looked oddly rejuvenated.
Izuku took slow glances at his surroundings, seeing familiar pieces of technology from twenty-five years ago.
He never forgot his true origin.
“... I’m back.”
He mumbled to himself, then being pleasantly surprised that his throat didn’t feel uncomfortable despite having not spoken for a long time. At least he thought it was a long time.
Izuku sat up and breathed in, his lungs almost as clear as when he was a hunter and he thought it strange.
My body seems… quite healthy.
A warm feeling made itself known from the center of his chest. Pulling up the shirt the hospital fitted him into, Izuku took note of his rather fit body before glancing at the anomaly on his chest.
In its center, a star-like mark or scar was there. It glowed a faint blue, and Izuku was filled with wonder. Rubbing the mark with his thumb, he said softly, “Did you bring me back, Jiiva?”
Thinking back, the dragon seemed to have an interest over him, his eyes making contact with Jiiva’s own quite a lot of times. Did it know?
Truth be told, he held no contempt over the monster. Despite its violent behaviors, Izuku respected Safi’Jiiva all the same. Unfortunately, because its existence was a threat to the entirety of the New World, the hunters could not sit back and watch it from afar.
He quite admired the Elder Dragon.
But the same couldn’t quite be said for every monster.
If there was one thing he loathed more than-
Izuku took a deep breath. He noticed in his anger that the star on his chest glowed slightly brighter, increasing in temperature. He frowned in puzzlement.
The blue… felt familiar. It might carry the same shade of sapphire as the haze that had killed him, but there was something different about it.
The mark seemed to pulse with energy.
“Bioenergy.” Izuku came to a realization. The reason his body looked as fit as he was.
“... But wouldn’t that make me an Elder Dragon?” He pondered to himself.
And now that he was home after so long… what came next?
Izuku glanced at the ‘call for doctor’ button beside his bed and pressed it. A little under a minute passed and there was a click from the door before it opened slowly.
A nurse peeked her head in the room in confusion, quite sure that there were no visitors for this patient today and froze at the sight of Izuku sitting up and smiling at her.
He also did a little wave with his hand.
She immediately shut the door and went off to alert the other doctors.
Izuku chuckled a bit before lying back down on the hospital bed.
One of his regrets before his death as a monster hunter was that he could never face off the monsters of the Frontier. The creatures depicted in their bestiaries were just so far fetched that Izuku couldn’t help but want to encounter them for the first time.
Of course, he had other woes from his previous life, but for now…
It felt good to be back.