Chapter Text
"What about Eri?"
The way all eyes turned to him, made him want to shrink into his cloak. The tired gaze of Shinsou made him feel that maybe, he should have kept his mouth shut. But what they made him feel, and what was right were two different things.
"He has Eri ."
It felt almost like desperation, trying to will his once adoptive brother to hear what it is he's saying.
"The Princess?" A rough, unfamiliar voice cut through him, and he met the piercing red gaze of the man who followed Shinsou like a shadow. A big, loud, angry shadow - but a shadow none the less.
Izuku had never actually spoken to the man - Katsuki. Few people wanted to speak with Izuku as it was. And, from what he had pieced together, Katsuki and his people were Barbarians. Not the kind of people who usually wanted to associate with Izuku, Shinsou, or any kind of 'kneeler'.
"Yes." Izuku shuffled his feet, ever so slightly. "You know her?"
It was odd. The way Katsuki had called her Princess . In the few days that Izuku had been there, not a single Barbaian had used a title. In fact, they even called Shinsou Hitoshi . Formalities did not exist here.
"What's it to you?"
"What's it to me?" Izuku felt affronted. "Until just a moon ago I thought she was dead ." Tears burned at his eyes. He had mourned her, thought her lost to him. Just like his mother. Like his father.
Like Mirio .
"She is my sister. And if you have met her, all I wanted to know is that she was well when you met her. That someone was looking after her - being kind to her ."
"She was fine." The Barbarian huffed. Arms folded over his chest, lip curling slightly. "A fucking brat, always telling dumb stories about her Deku . But she was with some blond dumbass wannabe Knight . Apparently he was Deku's 'best friend'."
The confusion over the term Deku faded for a moment. "Denki?"
"Sounds about right."
Denki was with Eri at some point. Eri had been with someone who would have been caring for her when Izuku, and Mirio, and Shinsou could not.
"No one has seen Kaminari since Chisaki took Eri." Shinsou stated. "There's a good chance-"
Izuku met his eyes. "I know. Everyone else is dead, I naturally assumed he was too."
Shinsou swallowed, nodding slowly. "Right, well.. back to planning."
"A plan which will include Eri coming out of this alive?"
It was, almost unsurprisingly, Lord Monoma who dramatically sighed. "Our job, Midoriya , is to take back Yūei. Our priority is seeing the heir take his rightful place on the throne, securing our independence. The Princess will hardly be anywhere near the battle, and its not like we can ensure her safety within the holds walls while we're out here."
Izuku wanted to scream.
Chisaki would absolutely use Eri as leverage. Why no one else seemed to realise this, was beyond him. Or maybe they didn't actually care.
This whole plan came down to installing Shinsou as King.
Izuku understood it from their point of view. When Mirio died, everyone thought Eri was dead. And Izuku? Izuku was in Kamino, held hostage, and betrothed to Toga Himko. No one in their right mind would think that Mirio would pass the inheritance on to Izuku.
The only people close enough to Mirio left, was their adoptive brother. Hitoshi. Or his sworn shield, Ser Amajiki.
But Mirio's dying wish had not been to pass the burden of Kingship to Hitoshi. Or Amajiki.
Even after all the time that had passed, Izuku could still feel the chill that seeped through his bones. Could still feel the weight that began to press into his soul. When he had opened his eyes, Mirio had been stood before him, looking as young as he had the last time Izuku saw him. Yet tears dripped down his cheeks, despite the smile on his face.
I'll always be with you, 'Zu.
Always with him. Always a part of him.
But no one would believe Izuku if he said as much. They wanted it to be Shinsou, and until the opportunity to prove them wrong came, Izuku would just have to live with it.
It had been only a fortnight since Izuku had returned to his homeland of Musutafu. And it had been only four days since he had reunited with Shinsou. The plan to take back Yūei had existed before he got there, and it would have happened whether he was there or not. It did not help that his health was rather poor.
Almost two years in Kamino would do that to anyone though, he assumed.
Travelling the length of a continent, and through four different Kingdoms, would not help anyone in such a poor state.
"What?" He asked Ser Takami once the council was over.
Ser Takami 'Hawks' Keigo, and his half brother Ser Tokoyami Fumikage were two men that Izuku owed his very soul to. They had saved him - even from himself. He would never have survived without them. Takami had been a spy in Kamino, working for King Todoroki, when he took it upon himself to save Izuku. Defying not only the Emperor, but also King Todoroki in order to help Izuku get home. It almost cost him his life, if not for Tokoyami appearing just in time.
Tokoyami had been born in Yūei, and until his perfectly timed appearance in Kamino, had been assumed dead by his elder brother.
Their reunion had warmed Izuku's heart, as much as it shattered it. All he wanted was to be reunited with his own family - yet, at the time, all that remained was Shinsou.
"I have known you for how long now, kid?" The Knight was slouched against an icy wall. "I'm sure not stupid. You have your own plan."
"They would sacrifice her in an instant to take back Yūei."
The blond just nodded solemnly. "Most people would."
"I would not ."
Takami's eyes were closed, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I know that. What I don't know, is what your very stupid plan is going to be."
Izuku huffed, turning to walk away. "My plan is not stupid . Reckless? Yes. Will it save my sister? Absolutely. Will it ensure Mirios dying wish is recognised by all the Lords of Musutafu? Hopefully."
Maybe, they just don't want Izuku on the throne. He spent so long in Kamino- how could they ever trust him?
"Again-" Takami fell into step with him. "I still do-"
"The Barbarians."
"What about them?"
"They know her. At least some of them do. Enough that their clan leader referred to her by her title, on at least three occasions."
"It's unheard of for a Barbarian to do that." Takami mused.
"Yes!" Izuku exclaimed, happy in the knowledge his knight was on the same page. Though Takami was far, far more intelligent than he ever let on. Perhaps due to his training in the fiery lands of Endeavor. "Exactly. And, if my tutor, Aizawa was correct, the Barbarians refuse to accept the ways of the kneeler due to what happened to King-"
"Brutal that. What they did to him. And for what? Because he wanted to bring peace and prosperity in a way that ensured real peace."
"But it's not just that. People want to control that which they do not understand. Which was why they built Ground Beta. Chisaki has kept it sealed, to give himself an advantage. I need it opened. I need it destroyed . And I need someone from one of the Barbarian clans to do it."
"You will be recognised as Mirio's heir if you do that, alright." Takami said slowly, carefully. "But many of those Lords might just try and kill you for it. They have done it before."
"They have. But they do not get to chose the next monarch of Mustafu. I do." Izuku stopped walking, and turned to meet Takami's eyes. "And I think they may prefer to keep me alive as long as possible, than live through my choice."
It is the job of a good monarch to keep their people happy. It is also the job of a good monarch to ensure peace. To help make the world a better place than it was when they were chosen.
That is what his father had said. Toshinori had always dreamed of fulfilling the goals of his ancient predecessor. But the pressures of society had stopped him from doing so for much of his younger years, and war had consumed the rest of his reign, ultimately leading to him breaking tradition and making his eldest son his heir.
Peace was not won, Izuku had long since decided. It was forged like a blade. Forced upon the nobility the way war was forced upon the common people.
Izuku had faced too much war, too much loss, for him to care about the demands of power from other nobles. He would force peace upon them.
"I assume by that statement, it's not someone people would think of as close to you."
The Monarchy of Mustafu was chosen by the current monarch. Handed to someone they deemed worthy - generally it was someone they were close to, someone they inevitably ended up training for the role. Someone that everyone knew, and expected to step into the role.
Mirio had broken expectations by handing it to Izuku.
Izuku would break expectations too.
"I do not know them at all."
The unwavering determination, the natural loyalty, and the absolute devotion to his people - to those he cared about whether they were his people or not - was all that mattered to Izuku.
Peace would be restored to their two peoples. If Izuku had to die, and pass the Monarchy to the red eyed Barbarian Chief to do so, then that was exactly what he would do.
Chapter Text
Izuku was what his old tutor used to call 'an over-thinker'. Sometimes he thought Aizawa was right. Other times, he thought it was ridiculous. He thought things over the perfect amount. Just enough to make himself anxious and second guess himself.
If Denki was with him, it would have made his life easier. His friend's natural charisma helped in most social - and political - situations. But Denki was not there. The strong likelihood was, that Denki would never be there with him again.
Going straight to Katsuki was a bad idea. He did not need Takami telling him this (over and over and over again). Katsuki liked Shinsou. Katsuki was incredibly loyal to those he liked. If Izuku waltzed up to the Barbarian Chief and said 'hello, I am actually the real Chosen Monarch can you please betray my once adoptive brother by not showing up to battle. Help me send Pidgeons to the Wetlands and the Northern Ingenium Holdfast. Break me into the Keep, then leave me and run off to Ground Beta, destroy it, and raise the One For All Flag over Yūei while I rescue my sister.. ' He was absolutely positive he would be killed on the spot.
However, the dark eyed, pink haired, smiley Barbarian who was obsessed with Dragons, was absolutely someone Izuku could consider. She did not refer to Eri as a Princess. However she had , on six different occasions, interjected to ask about whether or not the Lords were positive the girl would not be harmed. She spoke fondly of Eri. She did not seem enthused with Monoma and Tetsutetsu's battle plan - it was going to get everyone killed, she had said. Izuku had silently agreed.
Denki would adore her, he just knew it. She seemed like the kind of woman Denki would be best friends with. The kind of woman he would become instant best friends with. Something that would have benefitted Izuku immensely.
He wondered if the two had become instant friends, when Denki and Eri had stayed in the Mountains with them.
"Denki would have adored you." He stated, somewhat boldly, one evening. Only a matter of days before the battle was supposed to begin.
"Sparky?" Her head rolled to the side, a grin on her face. "He was fun. A little depressing at times, but good fun."
Depressing was not a word he had ever heard used to describe Denki, and he felt his face fall a little.
"I don't think I have ever heard him being called depressing, before."
"He thought he had lost everyone except the little girl." She said simply. "I think that would make most people depressing. I mean, just look at you."
Izuku blinked in shock, feeling his shoulders pull in slightly. "I'm sor-"
"Nah. Don't be. You lost everyone, didn't you? And now you might lose your sister for real."
So maybe coming to her was a bad idea too. The bluntness of the Barbarians maybe - definitely - was not something he needed to deal with at that moment.
"I've written some letters." He said, almost defeatedly. "I made some friends, on my travels. Ones who might be willing to help. I just don't know where to find any carrier pidgeons."
There was a moment of silence, the Barbarian woman clearly thinking. "You never said this at any of the meetings."
"They do not want me at the war council, far less talking there. I do not think they trust me."
"Hmm, they don't trust us either. It pisses Kats off, though he doesn't trust any of you either."
"Because we steal and enslave Dragons? Kidnap any Kitsune we come across? Bind and hoard magical artefacts? Killed the last Barbarian King because he wanted to abolish the privatisation of magic?" Sighing, he dropped his head, eyes focusing on the stone floor. "I guess it is why he agreed to help though. Chisaki isn't privatising magic, he's culling it. Trying to drive it into extinction."
"Something like that." She shuffled in her chair, and he could feel her gaze burning into him. "You know a lot about it?"
"I agree with him."
"Chisaki?"
" Katsuki." He met her surprised gaze. "I want to set it free. The way it's supposed to be. And this battle, it might be the only chance I have to do it - but I have to make a choice. Risk my sister being used as leverage and then killed, while I destroy Ground Beta. Or rescue Eri, and hope that the next Monarch is willing to destroy Ground Beta."
"Hitoshi understands what Magic is and why freeing it is important."
"Shinsou needs to pander to the Lords in order to maintain his position, lest they depose him." Swallowing, he tried not to let the anxiety tightening in his lungs show on his face. "And Shinsou is not Mirio's successor. So he does not have the power to break the bonds of the Wyrms, or Chisaki's Fire Drake, held in Ground Beta."
"How do you know?" She leaned in close to him, searching for something in his face. "How do you know that it is a Fire Drake that is being held by Chisaki?" It was, perhaps the first time, that he could not find a trace of amusement anywhere on her face. "Who told you?"
" Mirio ."
Pulling back, she stood up, staring at him with wide eyes. The chair screeched against the stone.
"That Dragon was taken only-"
"During the sacking of Shie Hassaikai." Izuku felt his eyes burn. "Where my brother and his forces went against Chisaki, and ultimately lost. There had been rumours that Eri had actually been held captive there, and was not dead. But in the end, Chisaki and his inventions were able to drain Mirio of his strength before ultima-"
He knew. He knew every. painful. detail. Knew not just because Mirio had told him. But because he could see it as though it was his own memory at times. It haunted his nightmares.
"The Fire Drake, and three Barbarian clans aided in the Sacking. Not because they cared for my brother, or my sister. But because they believed it was the only chance they had to stop Chisaki before he did too much damage to the magical world. They were right of course. The same inventions used to drain my brother, were used on the crimson Fire Drake. Mirio tried to defend the beast, against the advice of his sworn shield, and of Katsuki, and Chief Yo."
He was crying, and it took a moment to realise that so was she .
"He chose you."
"He chose me."
"But the Lords do not want you. They definitely won't want you, if you free Eij. Or any of the others. They slaughtered the last King who tried."
"That's why it cannot be me who frees them." In his satchel, he had a map. One he had drawn out with Takami. He pulled it out, to show her. "Ser Takami, and Ser Tokoyami have agreed to assist me into the Keep during the battle. But neither of them will have the power to open Ground Beta. I need the help of someone who does ."
"Katsuki would kill me if he thought I was helping a kneeler like this."
"He likes you too much to actually kill you. And does freeing his mount not help him more than it helps me ?" Izuku huffed out a laugh. "And anyway, he better get used to helping kneelers. If the Lords kill me for what I want to do, it is Katsuki who will inherit the throne. I knew he would be right for it the moment I saw him in Mirios memories. I am surprised my brother did not choose him."
The Barbarian woman stared at him. She did not blink, eyes wide and lips parted. The silence stretched. One second. The two. Then seven.
"You're being honest. You are telling me the truth." Slowly she nodded, a determination dripping into her features. "I will trust you this once Izuku Midoriya. If I find out you are lying to me, if you betray me it will not be those other kneelers you need to worry about."
Izuku nodded. Pulling a dagger out of his belt, as she took the map from him.
He knew how Barbarians made promises. Made oaths.
They did not get down on a knee and swear over their sword their undying loyalty - the way Takami, Tokoyami, and Denki had all done for him. No, words were just that. Words.
Actions meant everything to the Barbarians. If Izuku was to bring peace, he would have to use both the customs of the Kneelers, and the customs of the Barbarians.
And so wrapping his fingers around the blade, he felt the bite of the edges dig into his flesh.
A healer once told him the palms were filled with too many nerves - that Barbarians sliced their palms when making oaths because it would hurt more than slicing any other part of their body. It's how they knew someone was serious when making a vow - very few people would put themselves through that kind of pain for a lie.
Izuku met the woman's dark eyes, and swallowed down his nerves.
"I have no intention of betraying you. I have no intention of backing out of my plan. Too much war has plagued this Kingdom. We have seen too much loss, and too much death. All I want is to help . To serve all our peoples the way they deserve, and to ensure we all have a peaceful and prosperous future ahead of us. I swear to you, on the memory of my family, on my own blood, that I just want to help our peoples ." And his eyes burned as the blade stung. The horrible feeling of flesh tearing as he felt the blood run down his palm, down the blade, and onto the floor.
"I cannot break a structure like Ground Beta on my own." She said in response. "But I am sure I can convince Hanta to help. The ability to brag to Kats about being the one to rescue Eij will be more than enough to convince him, I'm sure of it."
And through the pain, and his tears, Izuku felt a little flutter of hope.
Chapter Text
Of course, he wasn't entirely surprised when it turned out he was right. Chisaki was going to win. He was more than prepared for the battle - Izuku just hoped Shinsou and Katsuki survived.
He hoped his pidgeons had gotten to where they needed to be on time.
" There is no way into the Keep, how do you even expect us to do this ?" Hanta had been all for Izuku's plan, when Mina had brought the Barbarian to him the night before. Despite the fact he fully believed it was impossible.
Which had surprised Izuku. But Mina had been right. The dark haired man was just desperate to be able to brag about rescuing Katsuki's mount to the Chief.
" I grew up in that Keep ." Izuku had stated, trying to keep the surprise out of his voice. " I know every inch of it. Including all the secret passageways ."
Hanta had stared at him, unblinking for four whole moments.
" Secret passageways are a real thing?"
The joy on his and Mina's faces at the mere prospect of a secret passageway had Izuku thinking that maybe, telling them about it was a bad idea . But it was hardly as if he had many alternate options.
And so leading them through the underground passageway into the Keep, he could feel the excitement radiating off of the two Barbarians.
"There are so many pathways." Mina had breathed out after they hit the Keep. Of course, they were still under the Keep. Relatively deep underground. It was practically its own Keep. With the different winding paths and stairways, leading to different places. One lead straight to Izuku's old, childhood bedroom. One lead straight to Mirio's old room as well. A pathway Izuku used to walk each time he suffered from horrid nightmares.
It was no surprise to Izuku that there were people. Those who had fled from Chisaki's takeover. How they had found the passageways, he could not be sure. But he was glad some people had found safety away from the usurper.
It was as they hit the stairwell that would lead them up and under the main Castle that a painfully familiar voice filled the thick air.
"Midoriya?"
The breath ripped out of him, and his foot almost missed a step. Hand reaching to grasp the rotting railing as he turned to look at the source of the voice.
His hair was filthy. A raggedy cloak worn over damaged clothes. Face coated in dirt and blood, and yet- yet his golden eyes were still bright. Almost glowing in the darkness of the tunnels.
"Kaminari?" His voice felt like a whisper, like something being ripped from his throat.
And his eyes burned. They burned painfully, as he looked at his oldest friend.
"You're alive." He wasn't sure which of them had even said it. Maybe it was both of them.
And his body moved without his brain thinking.
Moving back down the few steps he had taken, and passed his sworn shields and Barbarian accomplices. He all but ran at the young man, who was running at him.
His breath came fast and hard as tears ran down his cheeks. How long had it been? When had he last seen Denki in the flesh?
His friend was shaking as his wrapped around Izuku. And Izuku buried his own head into the curve of Denki's neck as he let out a sob.
He was alive.
He was alive and safe under the Keep.
Had he been trying to find a way to save Eri? Had he still been trying to protect her?
"I heard an army was coming to try and take Yūei. For some reason I was not expecting to see you sneaking in to try and take the Keep from the inside." Denki pulled back, tear tracks making his dirty face look even worse.
"I mean, technically, that was not the plan. But-" But the people hiding in the under city were not soldiers. They were not knights. They were just people who had their home stolen from them. "But that is a good idea. I am to rescue Eri. Ser Takami and Ser Tokoyami are taking Mina and Hanta to Ground Beta." He didn't have to say more, Denki understood perfectly well what Izuku had planned.
"I can take them there. You can go get Eri. Chisaki keeps her locked in the old morticians." There was something about the way Denki said the last part, that made Izuku feel cold all of a sudden.
"After Ground Beta is destroyed, come back down here. The battle will still be ongoing, it is the perfect opportunity to pull everyone here back up into the Keep. Raise the flags. Lock the gates. Claiming Victory before the battle is not even over will anger Chisaki. Maybe we can risk figuring out whether or not he will lose focus if overcome by his emotions."
"It could kill anyone who has magic in their veins if it goes wrong." Denki looked so grim, that it made Izuku want to bawl all over again. "But if you are right- then it should be a chance we take."
Separating from the others felt almost like a bad idea. He was thankful to discover Tokoyami had disregarded the part of the plan that had him escorting Mina and Hanta.
"Kaminari is with them now, he will be of more use than I will. You are the heir to Musutafu, someone should be watching your back."
And what better person could be watching his back in a situation like this? Tokoyami's dark features, and his favoured dark clothing meant he blended in with the shadows perfectly. Izuku could stay just ahead, and if anyone caught him, Tokoyami would be there. A silent shadow, catching them off guard.
*****
Eri was not in the Morticians.
Eri was not in the dungeon or anywhere Izuku could see. At least not until he glanced out a window, and saw her being carried up the side of the Keep. Hands bound. Mouth gagged.
His sisters hair looked as though it was white. She seemed so small for her age, and Izuku could feel the start of something akin to rage burning through his veins.
In the end, he had been right. Chisaki was going to use her as leverage.
And Izuku did not have much time.
The plan was rushed, and reckless. Perhaps the most ridiculously rushed and reckless thing he had ever thought up in his life, but he trusted Tokoyami. Trusted the man with every fiber of his being.
Getting out of an enclosed Keep is far easier than breaking out of it. And while Izuku did not have access to everything the rightful Musutafu Monarch should, his physical attributes had been enhanced to an extent. And that's all he really needed. The ability to make it in time .
Tokoyami remained inside the Keep, a dark shadow keeping out of sight.
Izuku trusted him.
Trusted that this would work.
A fraying white rope sailed over the wall, not too far from where Chisaki stood with Eri. But far enough away that the masked man would not see it.
This had to work .
He was right, in the end.
It was better to have split up. To have one on each side of the wall.
Because Chisaki let Eri go. Dropping her over the side of the Keep.
And Izuku.
Izuku ran. Feeling the little energy passed onto him burn through his body as he ran, leaping up, pushing one foot up against the wall with a burst just powerful enough to crack the stone.
He felt the pull in the rope at the same time. Hauling him up. Pulling him ever closer.
And angling himself just right, he was able to catch, and wrap himself around his little sister. Protecting her from the crushing, bruising landing-
Back on the top of the Keep's wall.
She was still gagged. Still bound.
And the rage burned in Izuku's blood, like the tears burned in his eyes.
Maneuvering himself, he settled Eri in front of him. Pulling the gag on each side of her face, the rope burst apart.
Unfortunately he did not have time to undo the binding around her wrists. Was not able to completely free her from the prison Chisaki had made of her body.
Because he could feel the swing of a sword in the air behind him.
It tool only a second for him to spin. To pull the sword he had stolen from Hitoshi's room, from the sheath. The sword that Mirio had wielded against Chisaki. The sword their father had wielded against King Shigaraki. The sword Queen Nana had wielded- the sword forged by the very first King of Musutafu. The sword only the rightful Monarch of Musutafu can wield.
And when Chisaki's sword clashed against the metal, he stumbled backwards. Surprise blooming across what little of his face Izuku could see.
"He chose you ?"
Izuku felt as though he was watching his body stand, rather than feel it. The weight of the moment something he struggled to stay in. He could scarcely feel the weight of the sword in his hands. Could barely feel the pounding of his heart in his chest.
"You sound surprised." His voice sounded too calm, unrecognisable to his own ears. "I am his brother."
"I guess I should thank him. Wiping out the entire bloodline makes my life a lot easier."
"You have to be able to kill both Eri and I. And you will not be killing Eri."
Not today.
Not ever .
The only issue he had was that he wasn't the best swordsman, and he had very little magic left. Using the majority of it to survive the journey from Kamino, and well, in making it to Eri on time.
What he was good at. Was winning fights when he gave in to the rage that bubbled under his skin at times. When Eri or Mirio, or Denki, or Yaoyorozu had ever been threatened. Defending someone that was right there in front of him was what he was, perhaps, best at.
It was how he was able to meet Chisaki blow for blow. Able to push the man back- away from his sister.
Did he sustain injuries? Naturally. He was barely healed from his journey from Kamino. There was good reason why Shinsou had told him to sit the battle out. He was not fit for it. The pain that burned through his knees and hips reminded him of that. The wheeze in his lungs as he dodged under Chisaki's blade, spinning so the masked man had his back to Eri.
So that Tokoyami could slip out from the shadows and cut free the Princess from the ropes. So she could be pulled away from the battle, by a man Izuku knew could defend her.
It was one of his great flaws, however. Knowing that the person he was defending was suddenly safe.
And Chisaki was able to knock him onto his back.
And yet, it was in that fateful moment that a pigeon flew overhead.
Not just one pigeon.
Three.
And suddenly the sound of horns filled the air. And tears burned at Izuku's eyes as Chisaki glanced out towards the battlefield. It gave Izuku the opportunity to use his legs to kick the man back, hard, causing him to stumble and fall; while Izuku got back to his feet.
Glancing out, over the battlefield himself. The Ingenium flag flew high in the wind. Along with the Flag of the Wetlands.
His heart felt like it might shatter, as the flag of Lord Amajiki, a small number of men marching East, caught Izuku's eye.
Who had contacted Tamaki and his family, he was not sure, but knowing they had travelled to help - to avenge Mirio - had Izuku's chest clenching in heartache.
It was as Chisaki began to rise, that an almighty Crack filled the air. Shaking the very foundation of the Keep.
Before Izuku could even breathe, a roar unlike anything he had ever heard before, filled the air. Followed by a storm of fire.
The Fire Drake - Eij, as Mina and Hanta called him - took to the Sky.
And Chisaki screamed.
Running at Izuku, who could feel nothing but the pounding of his own heart.
Who could hear nothing but the pounding of his own heart.
Who could see nothing but the beat beat beat of his own heart.
Izuku .
Nine different voices seemed to float past his ears. Nine whispers. Nine ghosts brushing past him. Touching his very soul, as his heart pounded in his chest.
As the world pounded in rhythm with each beat of his heart.
Finish it .
He did not recognise the voice.
All the could feel was blood rushing behind his ears. Each breath slipping in and out of his body, slowly. Steadily.
He could feel the blade coming at him, and he slid to the side. Feeling the air crackle along his skin like electricity. His own arm came up, blade singing against the breeze. He swung, following motions that suddenly felt ancient.
It felt as natural as breathing. A movement performed so many times, over so many generations. Yet one he had never done himself.
Not until that moment.
Not until then; as Chisaki's body dropped away from the head that was still held in what had been Izuku's free hand.
Izuku had never killed anyone before.
But he felt as if he had killed hundreds of people before.
The battle is not over yet , kid.
The voice floated somewhere to his left.
Five .
The word sat in his head. A thought of his own. Yet a knowledge that was not.
The voice was right.
Despite Chisaki's demise, the battle still raged for a while. And Izuku had killed another four people by the time it was done.
And once it was finally over, Izuku had a promise to uphold. Starting with the giant, looming, crimson Fire Drake.