The thrumming of my blood roared in my ears as I lashed wildly at Kei, who struggled against my unpredictable movements.

The clash of metal goaded me on and only made it roar even louder as an adrenaline I haven’t felt in a while brought forth a sense of euphoria. It was strange really.

Like I was watching from the sidelines, not at all in control of my movements. Kei was struggling against my heightened strength and speed, along with my instinctual rather than calculated movements.

It’s difficult to fight against a war mongering beast. That’s why Claude wanted children with the Quirk.

What he didn’t expect as much was the amount of emotional control it takes to properly handle it. He was unable to teach us how to wield it since he himself can’t understand human emotions.

Mom wouldn’t tell him either. At least, she never gave him an answer he could accept.

It’s one of his regrets. Something he miscalculated. So instead of listening to her way, he just had us shove it down along with everything else.

It’s an unstable Quirk. But it’s my last resort and this definitely counts as that. The walls and floors broke with every hit it took from me. Kei quickly gained more cuts and bruises, sweat dripping from his brow.

My attacks are fast and relentless, out for blood. Still, it was surreal. My sight was blurry like an old film and tinted red.

It’s easy to lose myself like this. I’ve been in this mode for only a few minutes and I’m already struggling with keeping a grip on reality. I need to keep myself conscious otherwise who knows what I’ll do.

Kei’s one thing, but what about the others? If a police officer, Hero, or even a student runs across me in this mode and I don’t have a grip, I could kill them.

I don’t want to kill anybody. I can’t even kill Kei.

We still need him. “ARG!” A shout tore from me and I lashed out and struck Kei down, making him collapse with a yell. His blood spilled across in an arch before he began to apply pressure.

More.

More.

I went to lash again and he looked up, his own aura expanding and his gray blue eyes glowing a brighter hue. “That’s it!” He let out a war cry and clashed with my blade. I struggled only a bit with his enhanced strength.

Perfect.

While fighting a Kei in Berserker mode will be incredibly difficult, it’ll also be easier.

Afterall, he was trained to never show or act on emotions. He can’t control Berserker.

Just like me. If he does beat me, and he gets out of Berserker, everything will hit him at once and he shouldn’t be able to move for quite some time. Hopefully long enough that when others come they’ll be able to apprehend him.

If I win I’ll use the Quirk Heal Stone hidden to repair the damages on my body.

There’s not the most, it seems most of it’s been drained. But it should be enough.

Kei’s movements are no longer organized nor full of a scary calm. They’re filled with primal rage, his eyes like beasts. His strikes we’re beginning to hit more, but in this state I felt nothing. And when I struck him this time he didn’t waver.

Berserker vs. Berserker.

It’s never been done before. Because Claude couldn’t stand not being able to control it. And having him be the reason for our issues, he never permitted it.

Probably because he knew we’d turn on him.

Back at the training camp, he used it briefly. I’m sure he didn’t use it fully against him, but enough. And he used cheap tricks.

There’s no way Aizawa expected him to use multiple Quirks. He probably thought he was like Nomu.

As long as Aizawa doesn’t look at him, he can fight. That’s the only reason he won.

But it won’t work on me. At least not how he wants it. So we fought. Neither of us is in true control. Only able to watch as our bodies moved viciously, aiming for the kill.

With each passing second my consciousness only slipped deeper and deeper into the abyss. I struggled madly to keep my head above the overcoming darkness that wanted to shut in around me while my body continued its rampage against my brother.

The only thing keeping me from fully giving in was the reason why I’m here. To stop Kei is to stop Claude.

It’ll be to protect my life here. My friends. Her.

If I want to continue to live life this way with Izuku, Katsuki, and the others, it needs to be done. Sooner or later they’ll be dragged down along with me. So a little damage to my body is a small price to pay for their safety.

So I continued to struggle under the weight of the fog. And I can see, deep in his glowing eyes, that he’s doing the same. Just like all those years ago.

The building continued to shake, but it wasn’t just us. Some corner of my mind worried for my friends and comrades, but it’s being overridden by the desire to destroy Kei.

And it’s quite difficult at that.

With each clash I’m reminded of our childhood. Of how Kei and I often spared against one another. How father would watch us. How he’d punish the loser.

I remember how small we were. How we struggled to do the attacks we can do now. How difficult it was to move. How much it stung when our blades clashed. The vibration numbed my hands in the process of it all.

I remember how Kei’s face wasn’t as vicious as it is now. Back then he was merely afraid.

Afraid to lose in front of father and face his wrath.

I understand. Because I was afraid and desperately fought against him for the same reason.

I didn’t want to be punished. Not in that room. Not in the void. It hurt.

Kei and I were always afraid. Not at all like him. Despite it all, he was never truly afraid.

Angry, but he always smiled brightly.

While Kei became exactly what father wanted us to be, he defied him until the end. And I . . . I ran away.

Kei chose to become this way. He only obeys his orders and has no second thoughts on what is wrong or right. That’s where we become different people.

I don’t want to be like that.

But he allowed himself to be. So even if I can understand how he came to be, I cannot condone him.

As the thought crossed, the image of us as children vanished and I’m faced with my angered older brother.

His weapons chipped away each time we clashed before both of our weapons shattered and we resorted to hand to hand.

Kei slammed his knee into my sternum, knocking the wind out of me and flinging me up and through the ceiling. I rolled on the ground and into a crouch.

Kei jumped through the hole he created and I slammed my shoulder into him and drove both of us through a wall into another area.

There is no pain, and I’ll use full advantage of that.

Quickly. Before it runs out. Before Kei can gain an upper hand. I must defeat him here and now.

“Kiri!”

“Kiri-Nee!”

“Nozomi!”

Through the red haze my friends voices sounded cheerfully in my mind. Memories of this year flowed through my mind.

That’s right. This has been the brightest my life has ever been. These idiots are annoying. They’re loud. And I don’t understand them.

But they are the only happiness I have. I won’t let my father, the League, or anyone else snuff that out.

I don’t want to go back!

“AH!” I shouted, grabbing Kei by his shoulder and hair and flung him over my shoulder and slamming him into the ground.

He coughed up some blood and it encouraged me to strike him. Over and over again with no mercy! He moved his legs underneath me and kicked me off, but I managed to land on my feet with ease.

He rushed at me and I brought my leg up and slammed it into him hard enough to fling him back.

While he was still flying back I rushed him and delivered a series of punches continuing his journey. Each hit is as hard as I could and fueled by my desire.

What is it that those fools drill into my brain every day? That stupid saying that my friends repeat so gleefully? Yeah, it’s that, isn’t it?

Go beyond, plus ultra.

The thought brought great comfort in me. So I fought even harder, going beyond my own self. I'm strong. Stronger than most. But I must go beyond that. Like everything else! Even if I use everything in me, I need to surpass it and win!

My fist swung back and I channeled everything I had in it.

Izu, Katsuki, Mina, Kirishima, Ochako, Tetsutetsu, Itsuka, everyone. I could feel their aura’s with the mere memory. Using that strength, I struck the center of his chest, feeling many things crack and he finally fell with a noise of pain I hadn’t heard in a while.

Exhaustion creeped in me. But before it could settle and before he could get up I made two long blades and tore them from my hair before driving them through his arms and pinning him to the floor.

He let out a shout of pain but it was short lived as my knee pressed unforgiving into his chest. My hair moved and a blade formed, pressing against his throat. “Give it up. I won. Now. Where is he?” I demanded, my voice had an animalistic tone to it.

Kei snarled, his eyes blazing with his rage. He moved his arms, but they remained pinned and only worsened the damage to him.

“Tell me!” I screamed, pressing the blade more into him. He stiffened and I could see his mind turning.

Finally, the light in his eyes dimmed, as did his aura. Deactivating Berserker. Seeing the threat gone, I felt myself deactivate mine, leaving the two of us panting.

My body screamed in pain and all I wanted was to lay down and let my broken body heal naturally.

Unfortunately I don’t have that luxury and Kei would strike me down if I gave him the opportunity.

Kei stared into my eyes with cold, unflinching ones. “It doesn’t matter. You don’t get it, no matter what you or any of those . . . Heroes do, it won’t help. You’ll all get wiped out by him. Nothing will ever take him down.”

I dug my knee more into his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe. “We won’t know unless we try.” I mumbled, narrowing my gaze on him.

He stared at me, a storm in his eyes, but one that he fought to push away as much as possible. “It’s pointless. And I’m not going to face his anger for giving you any information!” He shouted and a red light began to glow from his outfit.

What the?!

I tore his shirt off to see a strange device with many stones embedded into it, strapped to his chest. It began to blink rapidly and it was then I knew what it was.

He’d kill the both of us so as not to show him his failure. I went to jump away but noticed that he had made poison shackles on my leg to his.

No! No! “Are you insane?!” I shrieked, working at breaking the shackle with a blade but to no avail. He smirked before shutting his eyes.

“Maybe this is better for the both of us, eh, Kiri?”

He hasn’t called me Kiri in years. And it seems he’s accepted death. But not me.

“Dumbass!” I roared, tearing at the device and ripping it from him. He opened his eyes in surprise and I threw it as far as I could.

The device shined brighter and I only brought my arm to block my face before it exploded, filling the entire floor we were on in brilliant flames.

~

I was awake. I’m not sure if I passed out. If I did it was only for a moment. There’s a searing pain on my arm and across my torso, as well as the wounds from fighting with Kei.

There’s a strange wailing in my ears, the kind that happens when you lose your hearing for a moment. The room was moving, no, it was just my vision. There was fire all around and broken walls all around.

I lay next to my brother, who I was seeing doubles of. His face twisted in pain as he struggled like me.

I tried to speak but didn’t hear anything. It only made me nauseous. So I rolled away from him. I guess the explosion destroyed the restraint. I glanced at my arm where there was severe burns from where I blocked my face.

Damn it. “Kei, you bastard.” I said, although it sounded as if I was underwater.

Kei didn’t look any better, though his burns weren’t nearly as severe. I had lowered myself to brace for the explosion and blocked him from most of it inevitably.

He wasn’t able to escape it fully though. Burns etched into his skin and he sizzled some. The swords that were in him had broken off, but there are still some fragments in his arm. Nasty wounds from where his flesh ripped could be seen. Still. He’s alive and imobile.

He can’t get up.

Better tie him up. I moved over, with much struggle, and pulled out some wire when a knife flew out and stopped me.

The hell? Toga and Twice dropped in front of me, both looking completely fine.

No, Twice had a strange pink handkerchief wrapped partially over one side of his face. Was he injured?

Toga readied a knife in a defensive position as Twice went to my brother. “Kei! We need to get going. Stop sleeping! Are you okay?” He spoke strangely, as if there were two under the mask.

Kei groaned but was unable to make an intelligent sentence. “Really, blowing yourself up?!” Twice continued as he moved the younger man onto his back.

“No.” I began to stand but collapsed, wincing as my right ankle shot sparks of pain all the way up and deep into my thigh.

Not to mention how when I deactivated Berserker, everything that had kept the pain and exhaustion away went with it. Not to mention I’ve used all of my energy on him. I don’t think I can fight them.

Toga moved more, but made no motion to attack me.

She’s making sure the two are safe. Damn it! Who cares if my body wants to shut down. It can’t, it’s mine! I stood, despite my body’s protest and readied a weapon. “Sorry, but that's my prisoner.” I warned.

Toga tightened her hold on her knife. “Stay away from Kei-Chan.”

Kei-Chan? The hell? This isn’t good. “What are you two doing here? Shigaraki said to leave?” Kei spoke, his voice hoarse.

“We’re not going to abandon you! You’re a part of the League!” Twice began obnoxiously loud.

I’m still reeling from that explosion. “We stick together, Kei-Chan. No one left behind.” Toga confirmed, smiling creepily.

Kei’s brows furrowed and he looked at the two carefully with clear confusion and something else. Something that was familiar in my own expressions.

With my friends.

It was strange. I thought my classmates were the strange ones. I didn’t expect Villains to have the sense of comradery. Least of all ones that are with Kei.

We were taught that everyone involved has a purpose. Once it’s used, you’ll be discarded. So this is only confusing to me. I don’t understand.

And neither does Kei.

I shook my head. I can’t let him get away. I need to take him in. This will be my only chance.

I was about to lunge at Toga to take her out when Kei spoke. “I don’t know where he is. But he’s back. He’ll be coming for you soon. He’s run out of patience.”

Huh? He glanced at his companion. “Toga, Twice, let’s go back. The others are waiting.” The two agreed wholeheartedly but I lunged forward, knocking Toga’s knife out of her hand and pinning her arm behind her back, placing my sword to her.

My body is as heavy as lead, but I stayed strong. I can’t afford not to be.

“No! You’re coming in with me! What do you mean go back? Back where? You told me that I’d be going back, but it’s the same with you. You’ll have to go back too. Then where does that leave them?” I moved Toga’s arm and she made a noise of pain.

Kei glared at me, actually glared. Is he bothered by it? “I already told you. I don’t know where he is. And neither of us are in any condition to continue. Bringing me in won’t take him down. I’m only a part of it. His pawn. Once I’ve lost all my effectiveness I’ll be disposed of. Just like you.”

I hesitated, and Toga took that moment to throw her elbow back and knock me away from her.

She twisted and pulled out a few knives, about to throw, only to stop on my brother's next words. “That’s enough Toga. We need to go. The building’s about to collapse, along with the tunnels.”

Oh. He’s right. The buildings have been shaking for a while, and not in a comforting way. It’s all going to collapse. “We all need to leave. Kiriya.”

I turned my attention back to him. “He’s coming for you. And soon. I don’t know when, but it’ll be very soon.”

He paused for a moment before continuing. “Besides. Don’t you want to help Midoriya save that girl? You’ll need to hurry. Chisaki will slaughter him.”

Izuku . . . I need to help him. No. I don’t. Izuku is strong. He’s not weak. And he’ll have the others supporting him. But it didn’t stop my worry completely.

And this place is falling apart. If I don’t take Kei in, our mission would have failed. Then again, the objective is the girl.

Save Eri.

I clenched my hand on my weapon but paused. Even if I could fight the two of them, with the building collapsing there’d be no point. We’d all be crushed to death. I don’t even know if we have enough time to escape. I can’t fight them and escape. I’m too worn down for that.

So despite everything I went with reason and the sword returned to strands of hair.

Toga lowered her weapons and Twice took a couple steps back before taking off, Toga behind them, leaving me alone.

I dropped the strands of hair and fell to my knees, my body shutting down.

Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it! I don’t have time to complain and wallow in pity. I reached into my pocket with shaky hands, pulling out the pink stone. I clenched it tightly and took a deep breath, concentrating.

I could feel the gentle and calming lull. The aura is soft and it pulsed slightly. There’s not a lot left to completely heal me. So I’ll focus on the major injuries. Like the puncture wounds to some of my vitals and the burns on my skin. Only heal until necessary, it doesn’t have to be all the way.

I focused on the power and worked on those parts. It doesn’t have enough to fix my broken ribs or my ankle. But it’s enough to dim the pain.

After a while the stone shattered into dust that drifted in the wind.

Wait, wind? I looked up to see the ceiling shake and start to break.

Pursing my lips I took off down the hall. There must be parts that aren’t collapsing. I need to find a way up and outside. I ran quickly down the halls, taking turns and stairs at random. Following the sounds of people.

I made it outside and skidded to a stop. My eyes widened as my gaze found its way upwards.

In the sky is Chisaki, with . . . I don’t even know what! It’s monstrous, like giant limbs that kept breaking and reforming. It was huge!

And it was after a flash of green. Izuku. On his back is Eri, tied on with something red. I couldn’t tell what because he was moving at incredible speeds, avoiding Chisaki’s attacks and striking him with insane power.

That’s 100%!

But how? He can only do a small percentage of it. Otherwise his bones will shatter.

Yet here he is, going all out and not an injury in sight.

He moved faster than I’d ever seen. He hit stronger then I’d ever seen! Is this really Izuku? I’m not sure.

I dashed onto the street and closer to where they are, far above the ground. I easily spotted Ochako on the ground, holding an injured Nighteye.

She turned away from the fight briefly upon hearing my footsteps. A large hole is ripped from the ground in front of them, probably where they came out from. “Kiri!” Ochako called with relief. I stopped beside them, and took in Nighteye’s fatal wound. That’s a nasty wound. I don’t know how he is conscious, but he’s tough to hang on.

My gaze went back to my childhood friend who seemed to soar in the air. “What’s happening? How is Izuku doing this?” I asked.

She looked back at the sky as well. “I don’t know.” She admitted.

I tried to think of a way to help, but what could I do? I’m too weak to be of any help and while I can launch myself in the air, I can’t fly.

And from the looks of it down here, Izuki is handling it on his own. Chisaki can’t keep up. He’s losing.

Izu moved again and threw a series of hits that tore apart Chisaki’s artificial limbs and another that flung him down.

I jumped in front of the two and blocked the intense wind and debris from them.

When the dust settled, Chisaki was clearly knocked out and Izuku stood true, his body emitting a green glow and sparks dancing on him. Eri clung to his back, the horn on her head glowing.

What in the world? “Nighteye?” Ochako muttered. I tore my gaze from Izu to the injured Hero in Ochako’s arms. “I-I saw it. Chisaki succeeded in his escape and Midoriya lost his life.”

Eh? Izu was supposed to die? My blood ran cold and my heart felt as if it dropped to my stomach. But Nighteye’s shocked expression melted it. His Quirk was wrong.

“That’s . . . the immutable future I saw. I . . . did not see . . . this future!”

I turned back to my friend. “Izuku is different. If anyone can change the future, it’s him.”

A Quirkless boy with no hope of becoming a Hero. He was scrawny, weak, timid, and afraid. But he worked so hard to get where he was. He trained his body. His mind. He earned One For All. He’s inspired our classmates, he’s helped them in their darkest times, he’s saved many despite knowing he would perish.

But he’s never lost.

Izuku isn’t someone that abides by common law. The future, the present, Izuku can change anything he wants. The rules don’t apply to him. That’s something I’ve learned over the years. So my next words held all of that conviction.

“Midoriya Izuku is someone who carves his own future.”