Chapter 12: ——~(10)~——

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"Better to fight for something

Than to live for nothing."

-George S. Patton

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'It would have been preferable if I could have killed him then, but this is fine. That would have been too easy of a death, anyway.'

When he came to, he was in a cradle of death. Blood splatters blossomed like that of a water lily opening its' petals at the first morning light. The ever-present tang of iron overbearingly announced its' presence to any that dared to draw near. Myriad varieties of villains lay fallen and vanquished on the ground. Twisted limbs and unconscious bodies - some were dead; it's impossible to go up against a horde and win without death joining in on the game - welcomed their visitors with their blood and skin.

It was the plaza of a place that was supposed to raise heroes: the people who were supposed to represent good, hope, and justice itself... Well, it was now infested with evil. Even though this new temple was primarily built on the blood of their side. There was something that just felt wrong, like something had infested the very air itself and changed it. Deku was broken out of his somewhat nonsensical pondering by Shigaraki.

"Well? What happened?"

He lightly fiddled with his rabbit mask (one can never have too many masks) in order to fill Shigaraki with suspense. It was petty: he knew it, Shigaraki knew it, even the imaginary dog knew it. Well, Deku never claimed to not be petty. Shame was for the weak.

"Deku..!"

"Well, I stopped this kid from going to call back-up, and captured him as a hostage. Kurogiri should have brought him over here," Shigaraki unconsciously turned to look at the navy haired kid now locked up in a cocoon of rope. He couldn't help but feel irritated at his surprising competence. "I was in the middle of a fight between the potential number one in the class, but you called me back over here before I could finish the job. So, what's the important thing you want me to do?"

Shigaraki just glared at him in irritation while making some threatening motions with his hands.

"This organization's not going to get far if you threaten me when I do my job, you know."

Kurogiri heaved a silent sigh before creating a tiny portal between the two.

"Deku, I just finished calling All Might, and he's going to come any minute now. By the sound of it, he's going full on rage mode. It would be best if you saved your squabble for another time."

Shigaraki immediately forgot all about Deku, as he started to spew some customary insults that he reserved for only the number 1 hero. On the other hand, instead of reacting with fear or excitement, Deku just continued to look at Kurogiri weirdly. As much as hearing that All Might was coming to get himself killed was nice, something far more otherworldly had just happened.

"...What is it, Deku?"

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"Shigaraki's infected you with his gaming terminology, Kurogiri."

At that revelation, Kurogiri looked as if he had lost his soul. The mist that has been energetically soaring into the air instead clumped around his body in depression. His body crumpled down to the ground as if he was asking, 'What is life?'. The light slits that were his eyes had even dimmed down to a pale yellow.

In the center of the plaza, surrounded by villains of every shape and size, Aizawa couldn't help but think to himself,

'What is with these freaks... But maybe with this, I could distract them!'

He could see Bakugo, Kirishima, and Todoroki coming. As long as he stalled those villains for long enough, he could deactivate their quirks, and the rest of them could rescue Iida. Then All Might would come and defeat all of them... No, what was he saying?! It was his job as a teacher to keep the kids safe, not to involve them in danger! He caught a glance of Iida out of the corner of his eye again, and came to a revelation.

'I... I already failed my job! ...I know I failed, but right now I need to not screw it up further! I've used my quirk up too much, and my physical strength is going down. I'm not suited to long, drawn out battles. I have no choice... The least I can provide them is a good distraction!'

"...You people think that you can kill All Might? Ha, don't make me laugh. You-"

As Aizawa continued his little speech, Deku looked over Shigaraki carefully. He wouldn't put it past the man to go berserk, and try to kill everything. He took personal offense to anyone who dared to say that he couldn't take down the 'final boss'. Normally, it'd be fine just to let him go at anyone like the charging bull that he was, but this was clearly a taunt from the latter.

"Shigaraki, calm down."

"...What did you sa-!"

"He's taunting you, Shigaraki. You didn't come this far only to be beaten by the final boss' sidekick, did you? I know that All Might is coming soon, and you're excited, but you need to calm down."

As Aizawa looked at the almost raging leader, only barely being pacified by a fellow villain wearing a black rabbit mask, he knew that he had won his gamble. As an added bonus, the few remaining flunkies surrounding him had all been distracted by the back and forth between the upper echelon of their little gang. It allowed him to regain some much needed physical stamina, and to take out the rest of them all at once.

Furthermore, the three students were closing in more and more. They could seize the opportunity, he was sure of it. Of course, then the worst happened. He knew he was being too optimistic. This was definitely above his pay grade... It was also above his tolerance for idiocy. Bakugo's brain seemed to have turned to mush. As soon as he was neared the dangerous villains, he started to sprint in a frontal assault, with no planning whatsoever. He didn't even get the opportunity to yell out his plan.

"Goddammit... Kids, I've disabled the white ones quirk! Go get them! This is all I can do for you now!"