Hello to you gorgeous readers! . I want to thank you all for your amazing support and all the love you've given my stories all this time. And I hope to continue to give you more stories that keeps you happy as readers.
Hope you enjoy this chapter! Because wow my heart was beating like a thunder storm as I wrote this.
The constantly shifting floors became an increasingly troublesome obstacle. Sakura's impulse was to press forward, demolishing any wall in her way no matter how many there were. But the capricious ground had other plans in mind. Suddenly, the floor gave way beneath them. It wasn't a perilous drop, just enough to send them descending to another level of this perplexing underground world. They found themselves in a dimly lit hall, the air filled with a hushed, eerie tension.
"We're getting further from the goal."
"They want to give Overhaul time to escape from here," said Shouta.
"Hey, hey, hey. Some government authorities have fallen from the sky,"
Out of the dusty gloom emerged three figures, The figures before them were more members of Shie Hassaikai Toya Setsuno, Yu Hojo, and Soramitsu Tabe. With each step they took, they revealed themselves to be members of the Eight Bullets, the loyal protectors of Overhaul. As Fat Gum readied himself for the impending confrontation, Tamaki made a fateful choice.
"Save the strength of pro's for the goal. For the ones stalling for time, I'll be enough!"
'That's surprising,' Sakura noticed the brief struggle etched on Tamaki's face as the walls shifted he had been on the verge of having a breakdown and she wondered how he was a part of this operation to begin with. Still, he belonged to the vaunted Big Three, and that alone warranted trust in his abilities.
"No way! We should work together to take these guys down!" exclaimed Eijro
One of the masked men chuckled, adjusting the katana in his hands, "Yeah work together. I'll kill all of you!"
"It's Setsuno, we can't use our guns against him!"
"Oh? So you figured it out?" When he went in for the attack, Shouta intercepted with his quirk, erasing the other's. Guns were drawn out on both sides, but before any could be released Tamaki used his quirk to create tentacles that immobilized the enemy.
"It won't do any good for all of us to fight against them. With so many pro heroes stopped here we're playing right into their hands!"
'He's right,' Mirio was the only one heading towards their objective, but they also had to ensure that none of the members escaped.
"Fat Gum! If it's me I can completely shut down these guys!" Tamiki exclaimed.
It didn't take long for Fat Gum to direct the rest of the party to a door on the other side of the room. They rushed out but not before Shouta intercepted the three again, erasing quirks and knocking another out. Before exiting through the door with the rest of the group.
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The heroes, driven by unwavering determination, pressed forward, leaving Tamaki to face the three formidable villains. Rock Lock and Eijiro harbored reservations about this decision, doubting whether it was wise to let their friend confront such a dangerous trio alone. It was a crucial moment, and uncertainty hung in the air.
But among these doubts, Fat Gum radiated confidence in Tamaki's abilities. "He's stronger than anyone here. But he's weak emotionally, even so, he still became one of U.A.'s big three. Remember that."
Sakura was quite surprised herself by the sudden gusto he showed, considering that the first impression she got from watching at a distance was he was reserved and withdrawn, full of self-doubt which he voiced when the tunnels started shifting.
'This was the better option,' If they were going to stop along the way constantly to fight someone, then the time would eventually collect to enough for Overhaul to make his escape and they couldn't allow that.
"The mark of a true man is the ability to completely trust someone who's got your back!" Fat Gum declared, his voice resolute.
"In that case, Tamaki is definitely okay!" Eijiro responded, ever the straightforward and simple-minded one.
With their resolve steeled, they found themselves traversing a more stable ground. The chaotic, shifting hallways were now replaced by a sense of stability, but they knew that the labyrinth of this underground world held many more secrets.
As they ventured deeper through the labyrinth, just as they thought they had a few more moments to breathe, the walls suddenly sprang open, as though guided by a malevolent force. They appeared to target Shouta as well as Nemesis, as a single piece of the all shot out to engulf them and force them into another space.
With her reflexes, Sakura was able to easily evade the piece of wall that threatened to engulf her but it kept her distracted from the rest of the group as Shouta was about to fall into the walls.
But with remarkable speed and instinct, Fat Gum and Eijiro leaped to his rescue, pushing him out of harm's way. In the blink of an eye, they vanished into the mysterious depths of the wall.
"He got them!" exclaimed Izuku.
"They weren't the targets," said Shouta. It was clear now this villain was concerned about Shouta's quirk of course it wasn't a loss for him to chip away at more of the heroes. And he had managed to get two for one. He could only guess why Sakura was being aimed for as well. As Nemesis, she had rubbed the Yakuza group the wrong way.
"Should we break through the wall?" asked Rock Lock.
"No," said Shouta. "He wanted me there for a reason, we shouldn't fall into the trap. Let's have faith in Fat Gum and Red Riot. They can take care of themselves,"
Well Eijiro wasn't used to real combat yet, but he was quite tenacious, Sakura could vouch that much at least.
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The heroes and police continued to navigate through the tunnels, and for a few minutes things remained still and quiet but that didn't last. Every footstep echoed through the winding tunnels, their reverberations a ghostly chorus of dread. Then the endless corridors of rough-hewn stone walls, twisted into bizarre, shifting shapes, felt like a world unto itself.
Mimic's malevolence dripped from the very walls.
Amid the chaos, one hero was able to step up against this power. Rock Lock activated his quirk, placing his hand on the wall and canceling out Mimic's. Having enough of the yakuza playing with them like rats in a maze.
The sudden shift in his stance was a clear sign to Sakura that they were inching closer to their elusive destination, closer to their target.
Now, they had a singular goal—reach their destination before Overhaul could vanish from their grasp.
"This way! The area won't move any more!" Though it was cramped, no one had any place for complaints when they were this close to being crushed.
"I can't hold that many spots with this security max deadbolt," said Rock Lock. "This is the limit of my powers,"
Although they were moving again, on uneven ground, Mimic wasn't willing to let it end here. He wasn't going to be able to hold onto this level of power for much longer. The drug that enhanced his quirk would run out in a certain amount of time.
'I can't let them through!'
This time Mimic took a new approach, using the places that Rock Lock hadn't locked down and maneuvering them to block the pathways the heroes were on.
"SOMETHING'S COMING"
As Mimic's assault continued unabated, their path grew increasingly perilous. Twisted walls lurched toward them, hungrily closing in, seeking to crush them under the weight of stone and shadows. But Izuku wasn't willing to stand still. With his quirk, he strengthened his body with full cowling and jumped into action.
Destroying the encroaching structures with precise kicks filled with enough power to shatter stone like glass. Sakura observed that he had been honing his kicking techniques, a wise strategy to spare his arms from unnecessary strain.
'That guy has to be watching us from somewhere to pull this off,' Sakura thought, glancing around. She pressed her palms to the shifting walls, chakra coursing through her fingertips in search of his elusive presence.
Then, it happened. Her senses tingled as she detected the disturbance in the wall. Mimic was here, just beyond the concrete. Swiftly she moved, punching in the wall and watching a large chunk shatter from bottom to top, right where Mimic was revealed.
"Eraser!" She called urgency in her voice. Her call was meant for Shouta, for him to employ his quirk and nullify the villain's own. But before Shouta could turn, the walls surged, a malevolent sea between them.
Sakura moved to avoid getting crushed by the wall and watched as everyone else was separated by multiple partitions. It wasn't long before she heard their voices calling out to one another confirming that they were unharmed. But it posed the question, why such a flimsy attack?
And why separate them?
'Does he have something else planned to delay us further?' Sakura bit her lip. She wanted to put an end to this already.
"Nemesis!" She heard Shouta call out to her, but Sakura paused in responding.
The choice was hers to make. She could easily break through the walls and rejoin her comrades. Yet, here was a chance. The labyrinth would be used to continue to toy with them, throwing obstacles in their way. She feared that if she succumbed to this delay, she might not reach Overhaul in time. The thought of Mirio confronting the formidable villain alone was a gnawing worry. Every move they made would be in vain if the leader eluded them.
Sakura crouched low to the ground, her fingers brushing the uneven stone. She was surrounded, her senses stretched to the limit. She felt the presence of others, beyond the labyrinth walls, lurking in the shadows. But she refused to be deterred. Determination fueled her, her chakra reaching further, extending outward, memorizing the contours of those on the periphery.
In one graceful movement, she rose to her full height. Her voice, carrying a stern warning, cut through the oppressive silence. "Watch out, everyone! There are more villains nearby. They're planning an ambush. Keep your guard up!"
"Nemesis where are you?" Shouta called. "Do not attempt to engage the enemy on your own! Regroup with the rest of us if you can now!"
But again she didn't respond.
She had decided to leave the henchmen for the heroes. Her focus was resolute, her eyes locked firmly on the ultimate prize. Sakura burst through the final barrier that blocked her path, emerging into an empty space. She waited, her senses sharp, anticipating Mimic's next move.
Yet there was none.
"What did you give up?" Sakura called.
No response in turn. It seemed that he was now aware she could somehow catch him out. There was an unmistakable shift in his tactics, a sign that her revelation had instilled caution.
"Suppose he's not a complete fool,"
She raced forward, forward into the winding labyrinth, one goal consumed her: "I'm coming for you, Chisaki."
The unending maze of walls that obscured her path became reassuring signs rather than hindrances. Their purpose, to obstruct, only amplified her confidence. Why block a road unless something valuable lay ahead That was her unspoken creed as she pushed onward, determined to reach her goal.
She broke through every obstacle with a single punch with no further interruptions.
Her pursuit was relentless, and she held onto the hope of catching up to Mirio soon. In this maze of deception, her unwavering determination was her guiding light.
Soon this would all be over, and Eri would be safe to explore the world like she deserved.
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When Mirio took the name Lemillion, it was a reflection of his resolve to save as many people as he could. After overcoming the struggles of training his quirk to be as good as a pro, and with his mentor's tutelage he thought he had been ready to start that number count.
But he failed to realize that reality wasn't something you could prepare for through simulation alone. And he discovered that doing what was right and doing what was best, could oppose each other more strongly than he believed possible. Under Nighteye's tutelage, Mirio had learned to make calculated decisions. It had honed his strength and skill, but it also shackled him with a sense of responsibility for every outcome. It was a double-edged sword, and he couldn't help but think he had made the wrong choice regarding Eri.
Mirio fought a battle within himself, one that raged since the moment he uncovered the truth about Eri. He had sacrificed the chance to save her, believing he was making the right decision for the mission. Though she was now in safe hands, he couldn't help but wonder what might have been if he'd saved her that day. Regret was a heavy burden to bear.
And he wanted to lift it by taking down the monster that had haunted that girl for so long. He didn't know if it would be enough but it had to be a start.
Mirio finally caught up to Kai Chisaki and his men through the underground passages. However, Kai, the orchestrator of this malevolent symphony, had no interest in a direct confrontation with Mirio. His steps echoed with a cold, calculated rhythm as he distanced himself from the tenacious hero. It was clear that the Eight Bullets, his loyal and formidable enforcers, were on hand to shield him from harm. Among them stood Chronostasis, Deidoro Sasaki, and Shin Nemoto, like a trio of shadows concealing their master.
As Mirio closed the distance, an unexpected assault disrupted his pursuit. Deidoro, unleashed his peculiar quirk. Mirio's world tilted, and he found himself entangled in a chaotic ballet. His steps faltered, momentarily leaving him vulnerable. Shin Nemoto, used his quirk Confession to get Mirio to reveal his quirk to the enemy.
Confession, it was aptly named, for it compelled its victims to expose the truth of their hearts. Under its influence, Mirio was coerced to bare his soul, revealing his inner turmoil and torment.
Shin, the puppeteer of this psychological foray, probed Mirio's motivation with a sardonic grin. Why would he fight with such fervor? Why embark on this perilous journey alone? Mirio's words tumbled forth, infused with raw, unadulterated emotion, as if a hidden spring had burst forth. He confessed his guilt and sorrow, the self-reproach that gnawed at his very being for forsaking Eri in the name of the mission.
It might have been the motivation to get Mirio moving again. What caused him to strike out with his ultimate move, striking two of Kai's men instantly.
The battle that ensued was an exquisite clash of quirks and wills. The stage was set in the depths of this underground labyrinth and Mirio's relentless onslaught began. He moved with uncanny grace, like a dance, fusing his phasing ability with unparalleled combat prowess. With the same technique he'd once used to humble his classmates of 1-A, he now engaged the Eight Bullets. In the span of mere heartbeats, he delivered incapacitating blows to his adversaries. They fell like dominos, their resistance crumbling before his unparalleled skill. His body was masterful as he passed through the walls and floors shooting like a projectile aimed with precision locked on their targets.
As the echo of his victory reverberated through the underground labyrinth, Mirio finally closed in on Kai. His adversary was not without defense, though. While Mirio's strikes connected, they lacked the lethal force needed to incapacitate their target, due to the effects of the quirk that had thrown off his equilibrium.
Chronostasis, who had witnessed the ebb and flow of the battle, became the next victim of Mirio's assault. A well-timed kick and the enforcer was sent tumbling.
"How filthy…." Kai hissed, his skin crawling after taking a direct hit.
In this twisted underworld, the stage was set for a final confrontation, and Mirio was prepared to provide it. His eyes locked onto Chisaki, and he readied himself for the ultimate clash.
Then there was a subtle shift in the labyrinth's shadows that caught Mirio's attention. Behind him, a figure emerged from the corridor. It was Nemesis, the enigmatic ally who had broken through walls to rejoin the battle.
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Sakura arrived a step behind Mirio, assessing the damage as she came closer to them. Her gaze swept over the fallen members of the Eight Bullets, evaluating their condition.
A surge of relief washed over Sakura as she spotted Mirio's distinctive red cape in the distance. She felt a renewed determination and pushed her chakra to her legs, propelling her forward.
As she closed the gap between them, her eyes locked onto the figure that stood just ahead of Mirio. A roiling fury ignited within Sakura, fueling her voice as she called out with a fiery intensity, "OVERHAUL!"
Kai's initial shock at seeing Nemesis with the police and heroes was quickly replaced by anger. He had thought that Nemesis would be a valuable addition to his organization, a potent force under his control. However, that possibility had been extinguished, and he had taken away the one thing that he needed to achieve his goals. He had to go through lengths just to grasp at clues to finding Nemesis and here 'he' was.
"Nemesis. It's good to see you,"
"I could say the same, to you Overhaul,"
"Oh? And why's that?"
"Now I can finish what I started," Sakura hissed, punching a fist into her palm.
"That's my line, now I can get some answers," Kai straightened himself. "What have you done with my daughter?"
That mere mention of the word, 'daughter' set Sakura off in a bad way. "Cut the crap, I know the truth! Eri told me. She's not your daughter and you won't be laying a hand on her ever again!" Sakura's response was both resolute and heated. Her clenched fists shook as she spoke, a testament to the anger and frustration bubbling within her.
"The things you've done to that girl…."
"It was for a greater cause," Kai stated calmly but he jolted when a wave of blood lust hit him. Sakura was recalling what Eri had confided in her, revealing the horrors she had endured at Kai's hands. Her urge to kill was like a thick fog.
"I think you're forgetting something Overhaul," Sakura cracked the ground with her step. "You're not talking to a hero,"
Heroes had rules to follow, they had boundaries that couldn't be crossed in the public eye. However, Sakura wanted Kai to be aware of the position she held as Nemesis.
"So you're not the police lapdog?"
"Far from it,"
Kai regarded her with a chilling indifference, "Why go through all this trouble for that girl?"
"The helpless child you were literally tearing apart for your sick experiments?" Sakura hissed back.
"Helpless? That girl is cursed. She can't control the power she was born to, and it's destroyed people. But I can use it to its true potential. With Eri, I can reshape this world,"
This revelation further fueled Sakura's anger. The comparison between Eri's grim reality and the tragic manipulation by Kai was reminiscent of the cruelty she had seen from Orochimaru in her past. People treated like disposable pawns, subject to the whims of a heartless puppeteer.
"You're going to regret ever holding that point of view, I promise," Sakura stated, "Eri is not some tool for you to use!"
In a burst of power, Kai sundered the ground beneath them and reconfigured it with alarming speed. Mirio's mastery of permeation allowed him to avoid harm, and Sakura's agility took her to the ceiling, where she clung by her feet.
As the ceiling crumbled around her, Sakura was sent falling to the ground but she remained vigilant of her surroundings. There was no room for error here. However weak Kai was in comparison to her, his quirk could still be deadly.
"Stay alert Nemesis!" called Mirio.
The labyrinthine surroundings were once more manipulated by Kai, creating deadly spikes of concrete that descended upon her like a deadly rain. Her acrobatic skills and agility proved invaluable as she gracefully avoided the menacing projectiles, her movements resembling a mesmerizing dance.
"You don't have to tell me, watch yourself," Sakura told Mirio after taking safety on the walls of pikes created.
Kai still had his hand on the ground, "Let's see how you handle this,"
"ENOUGH!" Mirio's voice echoed through the chaos as he launched another attack against Kai. He permeated through the ground, emerging behind their adversary, and delivered a powerful blow that sent him skidding across the room. Although the impact was fierce, it wasn't enough to incapacitate Kai. "You won't get away with this Chisaki!"
"Don't call me that,"
Kai was unyielding. With a wave of his hand, he once again shattered the entire environment, reducing it to fragments. Sakura was taken by surprise, her aerial position disrupted as she fell. Her vision was obscured by the looming threat of Kai, and the situation had grown perilous. A wrong move, a fraction of hesitation, could cost her life.
In her moment of vulnerability, an insidious presence loomed. Hari Kurono, known as Chronostasis, concealed himself among the swirling debris. The hostility emanating from him was palpable, and Sakura sensed the impending danger. Yet, in mid-air, her options were limited. Kai had intentionally sealed her in with a forest of menacing spikes. As she struggled to clear her path, Kurono seized the opportunity, a malicious grin tugging at his lips.
A graze across her torso elicited a sharp, searing pain. Blood oozed from the wound, and Sakura's movement became sluggish, her mobility hampered by Kurono's Quirk. Panic gripped her as she realized the perilous situation she now found herself in. Kurono's unique ability to slow the movements of those he pierced with the arrow-like hairs on his head.
'CRAP!'
With a triumphant tone, Kai claimed victory. "I've got you now," said Kai. "You won't be seeing Eri again Nemesis!"
That's all for now! You can check out the full month's schedule on my Tumblr. And EARLY CHAPTERS are available for members.
http://ko-fi.com/katsura369/tiers
Of course here's something to look forward to as well: SNEAK PEAK!
CHAPTER 56
"Nemesis, it seems even you've forgotten your place in the fold. Trying to play hero, let's put an end to that. Truthfully, I'm still very angry at you. At your actions against me, and Shie Hassaikai, and at your ignorance for being unable to see the bigger picture."
"I do not care about your so-called bigger picture. If you actually believe that using Eri, like that will bring you any sense of justification you are completely insane! No one has the right to use another human like that!"
"You are too small-minded Nemesis,"
Kai pulled from his pocket, a red case that held inside the final and perfected product he had sought after for so long. The quirk canceling bullets. Meticulously crafted to permanently erase a person's quirk, leaving an indelible mark on their fate. That was his goal for this whole world and now that he could just see the finish line, he wasn't going to surrender it without a fight.
Determination etched across his face, Kai hurled the case to Kurono, orchestrating a sinister symphony of retribution. "This time, you won't get away," he declared, a venomous promise lingering in the charged air.