"Is this a joke!? Don't make promises you can't keep! Did you forget that I had to watch you at your pathetic school! You're a coward! Nothing more than a pathetic waste of space! All you do is let them lord themselves over you! Stop lying to yourself and just die already!" The more she spoke, the more enraged she sounded, her every word filled with hatred, like she was disgusted by his very existence. She raised her knives up, ready to toss them at this boy and end his pitiful existence.
[BOOST]
This time, she refused to let that voice stop her.
"I'm not lying to myself. Uraraka. Asia. I won't let you hurt them. I won't let you hurt anyone else!"
"-You need to feel it. Emotions are a powerful force, even to us Devils. One's own Sacred Gear is not immune from their effects.
Rias' voice echoed throughout his mind as he felt his power start to grow.
"The stronger your emotions, the more powerful your Sacred Gear can become."
He felt his left hand raise into the air, power swirling around it as the thrown daggers bounced off of them harmlessly.
"Never forget, you're stronger than you may believe."
To the shock of both Ochako and Raynare, his Sacred Gear began to change. While it still resembled a gauntlet, it had grown to cover his entire arm, the ends of each finger and even his thumb now ending in what looked like claws. Two golden spikes had emerged from the back, and the green jewel at the center glowed with a powerful emerald hue.
Izuku noticed none of this.
His goal was simple and straightforward, all the power flowing around him giving him all the focus he needed.
To take Raynare down.
"What? What is…what is this? What is this!?" She screamed in disbelief as she watched his Sacred Gear change.
"Deku?" Ochako was both astonished and worried. What had just happened?
'PROMOTION:KNIGHT!'
Before Raynare could even blink, he had appeared before her, his fist raised high.
And then all she could feel was pain.
Like before, she had been sent flying through a wall, landing outside the church under the moonlight. The pain centered in her stomach screamed at her as she got back to her feet. She had no idea what had just happened.
'How?' She thought to herself. 'He had promoted himself to a Rook before and his punch was nowhere near as powerful as it was now! What did he do? What's going on?!'
As she tried to figure it all out, she watched a figure blur through the hole in the wall that she had made before rushing toward her. Izuku's gauntlet clad hand was raised again, ready to land another blow.
'I can't let him hit me again!'
She sidestepped him before he could his blow, her own experience in combat showing itself as she immediately readied another light weapon. A spear formed in her hand as she rushed to meet him.
Izuku watched as Raynare lunged at him with her spear, evading each attack before they could land. Every time he saw an attack come down, he managed to avoid it with a grace he had never shown before, the speed of the Knight combining with his newfound power to allow him to avoid every blow.
But he still found himself unable to hit her either. She had managed to dodge his attacks even at his boosted speed. Each and every blow he tried to land had been dodged.
'Watch her movements,' He thought to himself as he evaded another swipe of her spear. 'I can't let myself be hit by her weapon. I need to focus!'
When she tried sweeping his legs, he managed to jump over the blow, even flipping himself backwards through the air before landing less than a meter away from her.
[BOOST]
He rushed at her again, charging at her with all the fury of a raging bull. Raynare could do little but try and hold him back once he managed to reach her, only to feel herself being pushed back more and more.
This low-class Devil, this pathetic mongrel was pushing her back!? How!? How was he getting stronger!?
She felt herself pushed back more and more, until she felt her back hit the church wall. She had no more room. Thinking quickly, she formed another light spear in one of the hands holding him back, the length of the spear being long enough to impale his leg.
He cried out in pain, the stinging light permeating every nerve in his leg as he felt his focus waver. Raynare, taking advantage of this, formed several light knives in her hand before slashing them across his chest. She then grabbed hold of his right arm, throwing him over herself and back into the church.
Ochako watched in horror as Deku rolled back into the main hall, his leg and chest now bleeding as he struggled to move. Raynare stepped back into the room, her thin white dress, once immaculate and whole, was now disheveled and torn. She walked over to where he lay, her expression growing rageful.
"I don't know what that was, but it wasn't enough," she said as she watched him struggle to get back up on his feet. The advantage had gone back to her, and she knew it. "You're still nowhere near strong enough to beat me. If you could measure us on a scale from one to ten, you'd be a one while I'd be a twenty. Nothing's going to change that."
Her expression darkened as she watched him stand back up. "When will you get it through that dense skull of yours? You can double your power as much as you want, it won't amount to anything! The weak can never topple the strong! Just accept it!"
As he got back to his feet, she grabbed roughly onto his shoulders, before driving her skull directly into his.
He fell back to the ground, his body reeling from the pain he was feeling. He wouldn't let it stop him. He couldn't. He already told her he wouldn't let her hurt anyone else!
[BOOST]
"You're still trying?" She asked, sounding both exasperated and surprised. "I keep telling you that it's pointless! You can't beat me! You can't stop me! Just watch!" She formed another spear of light in her hand, taking aim at a new target.
She threw her spear at Ochako, the girl unable to move fast enough to get away with how she was tending to the near-dead Asia, and they both knew it.
She closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable as the spear neared her.
Only for it to never come.
When she dared to open her eyes again, they widened in horror.
Izuku had managed to get back up. And moved in front of her to stop the spear.
And it had gone through his other leg.
"DEKU!"
"Why!?" Raynare howled, all composure she once had now lost. "Why are you so willing to throw your life away for them! Is it because they're weak too!? Do you feel like you need to stick together!? Or is it because you still think you can play at being a hero!? What good is there in throwing your life away for them!?"
Izuku said nothing as he stood in place. The flesh surrounding his wounds had begun to char as the light burned at his body. Smoke had begun to flow from his body as the spear in his leg vanished.
"You let yourself suffer from this light, knowing it's poison to you!? Your body's already beginning to break down!" She seethed as she summoned another knife to her hand, walking over to his near prone form as she aimed it at his neck. "JUST STOP STRUGGLING AND ACCEPT YOUR FATE!"
[BOOST]
That voice again!?
"I told you," she heard him wheeze out, his head lifting to stare her right in the eyes, the fire that she had seen before burning as bright as they had before. "I'm going…to stop you!"
She stood in place as she watched him begin to move, staring at him in disbelief. "This…this shouldn't be possible…how are you…is this a quirk? No…it can't be. How are you…?" As he took a single step forward, her rage overtook her again. "No! No more! Just die already!" She aimed the knife down, hoping to pierce his heart.
Izuku backed away, the knife catching the holes in his shirt as it tore open.
"You're not listening," he growled out, his Sacred Gear glowing more intensely than before. "I'm going to stop you. I WON'T LET YOU HURT ANYONE ELSE!"
[EXPLOSION]
The glow from his Sacred Gear began spreading over his entire body, raw power radiating off of him in waves. Even with all the pain he still felt, his legs screaming at him to stay down, he moved forward, approaching the Fallen Angel like a man possessed.
Raynare watched in utter terror as he moved toward her, her entire body trembling as she unconsciously took fearful steps back. "This…this is impossible. You…you're quirkless! Your Sacred Gear is just a Twice Critical! Where did this power come from!? Who…what are you!?"
Newfound power and adrenaline surging through his body, Izuku surged toward her, somehow even faster than he was before.
'PROMOTION:ROOK!'
Her steps backwards were done consciously now, spears of light forming in her hands quickly as she threw them at him. Each one was battered away and shattered as he continued moving, her face paling. Her wings emerged from her back out of pure reflex, her every instinct screaming at her to retreat..
"St-stay away! Get away from me!" As she turned to flee, she felt two different objects wrap around her legs, stopping her ascension. One was the thread from Ochako's Sacred Gear, the girl's teeth bared in rage at the fleeing Fallen Angel, the energy she still had being drained from her, while the other was Izuku's shirt. He had removed what was left of it fast enough to wrap them around her legs, dragging her back down to solid earth. "Stop! No!"
Izuku reared his fist back once more, a primal fury running through his entire body. "No," he growled out. "You don't get to run."
As she gazed into his eyes, she saw something darker. At this moment, he looked more Daemon than Devil.
"After everything you've done, I won't let you get away!"
His Sacred Gear began to explode with energy as he launched his fist forward, landing it once more into the cowering Raynare's unprotected stomach. Ochako's thread had been retracted, and Izuku had released the remnants of his shirt, so there was nothing to stop her body from flying out once more through the hole in the church's wall.
Izuku chased after her again, the remaining power in his Sacred Gear bursting around him like a fire as he caught up to the spiraling Fallen Angel. She had only the time to look at his furious visage before all she could see was his gauntlet covered fist.
"DRAGON SMASH!"
He screamed out his attack with a mighty roar, an instinctual need to stop her from hurting his friends roaring alongside him as she was launched into the horizon. Her body contorted as it went through tree after tree, before finally touching back down, knocked unconscious from his mighty blow.
[BURST]
All at once, he felt all the pain return to him with an intensity that dropped him to his knees. Every blow he had taken, every light weapon he had been struck by, all of them felt like they had been done anew to his body. Much as he wished to, he couldn't get up. He wasn't even able to stop himself from falling, closing his eyes as he waited for the impact of the ground.
Only for it to never come.
"Midoriya?"
His eyes burst wide open in surprise as he realized that he had been caught by Yumi, the blonde girl's taller frame keeping him from hitting the ground. By her side was Koneko. Both girls looked like they had taken some hits, cuts clearly visible on Yumi's face, and even some tears in their uniforms, but otherwise looked fine. He was sure they were better off than he was at the moment.
"K-kiba? Toujou?" He gasped out, the pain from his injuries making him take several gulps of air as he fought to keep himself from screaming in pain. "You're…you're both okay?"
"We're fine." Yumi's words were gentle and reassuring as she helped him stand. Much as he tried to stand with his own power, he ended up having to lean onto the taller girl, a blush forming on his face as he felt her body against his. Koneko walked up to him, reaching up to him and giving him a gentle pat on his shoulder.
"You did well," she told him.
"You were rather remarkable Midoriya," Yumi agreed, not minding the feeling of his body against her own. "The way you fought against that Fallen Angel was quite the spectacle."
"Wait," he said as he looked up at Yumi's face. "You saw that?" She nodded. "Then…why didn't you help?"
"The Prez told us to stay back," Koneko said, her hand now rearing on his shoulder.
"She…Rias…huh?"
"It's because I believed you would succeed Izuku."
Unable to move himself, Yumi spun around with him, Rias standing there with a proud smile. "R-rias? How? Where?"
"The basement," she said with a small sigh. "Once our business was sorted, Akeno and I managed to teleport ourselves there. I'll admit that I was worried. I've never teleported into a church before."
"Himejima's here?"
"This place is quite the mess. You seem to have torn it up quite a bit Midoriya," he heard Akeno's sweet voice as she moved into his view. She had something gripped in her hand that he couldn't make out.
"I knew you'd be able to handle this Izu, well done." Rias approached him, the sight of his injuries making her smile lessen as she got closer to him. His chest had several large cuts on it, the blood flowing at a steady pace, while his legs were still smoking, doubtless because of Raynare's light weapons. "It would be best if we got you to Asia though. These wounds look serious."
His eyes widened once her name was mentioned. He had nearly forgotten. The one person who needed help the most. "ASIA!"
He pushed himself away from the surprised Yumi, managing several steps before he began stumbling over himself. Before hitting the ground, he found himself caught again, this time by Koneko. She placed his arm around her neck as she began moving quickly to the church's main hall, Yumi joined her as his other arm was lifted by her, his Sacred Gear digging slightly into her.
When they arrived through the massive hole in the wall, they saw a sight that shattered his heart.
Ochako was there, her body pale as she cried over Asia's still form. Her Sacred Gear was nowhere in sight, and he couldn't see Asia breathing. Ochako turned to the group, her eyes completely red as the tears rushed out.
"Deku…she…she's…"
He didn't want to hear it. He didn't want to believe it. They saved her, didn't they? They got her out. What happened? Why?
Why did Asia have to die?
Izuku managed to break free from Yumi's and Koneko's grip, lurching forward to his fallen friend. Her body was pale, her skin cold, but somehow, she held a smile on her face.
She looked like she was happy right at the very end.
'thank you'
Her voice. They had reached his mind as he fought against Raynare, but he didn't hear them. Now, they echoed through his skull. Her final words.
Izuku joined Ochako in sobbing, the two leaning against each other, seeking some form of comfort in their grief.
The remaining members of the peerage watched with heavy hearts as the two broke down. Yumi felt her own heart ache as she watched.
She never wanted him, either of them to go through something like this. She knew all too well what it felt like as you watched someone you cared for die as you were powerless to help them. She felt Koneko's hand grip hers, the smaller girl looking just as saddened.
Both Rias and Akeno watched them with hardened faces. The two glanced at each other, an entire conversation passing between them in seconds without words.
"There's still a way to help her."
She found herself floating through a white void. The pain in her chest was gone. She saw a light at the far end of the void.
Asia knew that she had died.
She felt herself dying once she took that blow for Izuku. She held no regrets over it. She cared deeply about him, despite only knowing him for less than a day. He had helped her, talked with her, showed her around his home town, all of that while knowing that they belonged to two different worlds.
It was only natural for her to help him in return.
She only hoped that he and Ochako heard her thought to the two of them. She wanted them to know how much she appreciated everything they did for her. That she cherished them both.
Maybe in her next life, she could be born in the same town as them. Go to school with them. To be friends with them again.
That would be her final wish as she crossed over.
"Where are you going?"
The sound of someone's voice shocked her so much it made her jump.
Who would be talking to her here?
When she turned to face them, she was taken aback. Sitting near her, on what looked like a cloud, was a pale woman, so pale her skin looked as white as bone, dressed in black attire, a studded belt looped around her pants. Around her neck was a silver necklace, adorned with a symbol Asia had never seen before. Her dark hair passed to her shoulders, and her eyes glowed with a pure white light.
And she was smiling at Asia like an old friend.
Her appearance was strangely off-putting, yet at the same time, carried the familiarity of one who had known you for a long time.
"M-me?" Asia asked, pointing at herself in confusion. The pale woman nodded, still smiling at her. "I'm…I'm going away, aren't I? I'm dead."
"For now. Your time on Earth is not yet over."
Asia blinked in confusion at her. Her time wasn't over? But, she was dead. Wasn't she? There was no coming back from that. Right?
"You've got yourself some pretty good friends Asia. Just listen a little. You'll know."
"Wait. How do you know my name?"
The woman's smile grew more gentle, but still as friendly as before. "I've known you from the day you were born Asia. Same with Izuku, Ochako, and even Rias and the rest of her peerage."
"Huh? But I've never even met you before." What was this woman talking about? She knew her when she was born?
Wait. Was she…? Could she have been…?
"I'm not your mother, if that's what you're wondering. I'm there when everyone is born. And I always show up when everyone crosses their threshold," the woman told her. "But we don't have the time to discuss all that. Just listen to everything around you."
She was still weirded out by the woman. Just who was she? But…maybe she knew what she was talking about. If she really knew her, Izuku, Ochako, and those other girls, then maybe she could believe her.
Asia closed her eyes and listened, the silence of the void that once echoed around her being drowned out by voices so familiar.
"What? What do…do you…?"
That was Izuku. He sounded like he had been crying. Was he really that sad that she was gone?
"You…you mean…?"
Ochako. She sounded the same. But what were they talking about?
"Do you two recognize this?"
That was the red-haired woman. Rias Gremory. What was she talking about?
"I had one of these left. The Bishop. The role given to those who would protect and support others in the peerage. I can think of no better piece for someone like Asia."
Bishop? What did she mean? Peerage? Her group? What was…?
Suddenly, she felt an energy grab onto her very soul. It felt dark, yet at the same time comforting. As it gripped her, she heard Rias speak once more.
"I, Rias Gremory, call to thee, Asia Argento! Heed my command! Return thy soul from the shadows of death! Rise once more as my new Bishop! Rejoice! For I shall give you life anew!"
Her eyes opened wide as a light encompassed her entire form. It glowed a deep crimson, before turning into a warm green hue.
Then she felt herself being pulled away from the void.
"I told you," the woman said again, a joy in her eyes as she watched as Asia floated higher. "You have some wonderful friends. And you're going to have a beautiful life. It will have its ups and downs, and you'll eventually see me once more, but it won't happen for a long, long time. Enjoy your life, Asia Argento." The woman sent one last smile as she fiddled with the ankh around her neck.
Izuku and Ochako watched as the Bishop piece sunk into Asia's body. They watched as her body glowed an intense shade of crimson before moving to a soft green. They held their breath, watching as the energy surrounding her subsided.
Asia's eyes began to open.
And they felt tears running down their faces anew.
Only now, they were one's of happiness.
"Wha?" Asia said groggily as she sat up under her own power. Her voice still sounding strained, but healthy. "Where was…?"
"ASIA!"
She felt the embrace of her closest friends, their tears flowing like waterfalls as they held her close to them, as though they feared she would vanish when they let go. "Izuku? Ochako? What happened? I…!" She let out a sudden gasp as her eyes cleared up, the moonlit night now looking like the sun was shining down on them. "You're both hurt!"
Upon her declaration, both teens looked at each other for the first time since Asia's death, horrified by what they saw. Ochako had been bleeding, wounds around her body that Izuku had only now noticed with her skin as pale as it was. Her battle with the priests had not let her escape unscathed.
They paled in comparison to how injured he was. He had already lost a great amount of blood, his skin almost as pale as Ochako's, and he was sweating profusely.
Asia was quick to use her Sacred Gear on both of them, mending their wounds as quickly as she could. She watched as their injuries sealed themselves, and the two even began to take a healthier glow to their skins, but still noticeably pale. Once the two were healed, she let out a sigh of relief.
Then she embraced the two in return.
"Thank you," she said with panting breaths, her chest heaving as she began shedding tears of her own. "Thank you both so much!"
Rias and the others smiled at the sight before them, happy with knowing that these friends could be together again.
There were things they needed to discuss, stuff that was important, but they could save it for later. They did not want to take away from their moment.
"...damn…you…"
But it seemed that not everyone shared in that desire.
The familiar voice grabbed the attention of the three teens, Izuku quickly standing before his friends as his eyes scanned for Raynare again, thankful his Sacred Gear was still summoned.
He didn't have to look far though. Raynare was already there.
And her wings had been in Akeno's firm grip.
He could now see just how injured she was from their fight. Her cheek was swollen, bruises littered her form, and she was bleeding heavily from a broken nose.
Izuku began to blush heavily when he saw that the thin white dress she was wearing had been basically torn apart, being than small strips of fabric that barely connected to each other, leaving very little to protect her modesty.
He didn't think he had hit her that hard.
"It's nice to see you awake, Fallen Angel Raynare. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Rias Gremory, the next head of the house of Gremory. We're long overdue for a talk."
Raynare lifted her head tilted sneer at her, still held firmly in Akeno's grasp. "I'm not…I'm not done yet. There are still the others. They'll be here. And when they do…when they do, they'll…" Her words were cut off as she began coughing heavily, small amounts of blood shooting out of her mouth.
"I'm afraid that will be quite impossible," Rias said as she reached into the pocket on her blazer, pulling out three objects that made Raynare's skin pale.
Held in her hand was three black feathers, each of them varying in length. "You recognize these, do you not? The Fallen Angels known as Dohnaseek, Kalawarner, and Mittlet I believe their names were."
Raynare began to tremble in Akeno's grasp.
""I had guessed that there were several Fallen Angels plotting away in this town once Dohnaseek attacked Izuku. I assumed at the time that you were all working on something collectively, so I chose to ignore it. I am not foolish enough to try and take all of you myself. But after you and your friends attacked my precious servant, Akeno and I decided to have a chat with them. One would think that they wouldn't be dumb enough to talk about their plans where anyone could overhear them, but there are always those that surprise you. We didn't even need to try and talk to them about it. Their whole goal of using this little plan to try and elevate their status in your society. In the end though, they were just like you are. Lowlifes who think that they're far more clever than they actually are." Her hand glowed with power, the same one she had used to execute Vyser before, reducing the feathers to nothing.
'She…she killed them?' Izuku thought to himself.
"Rias is known as an up and coming prodigy back in the Underworld. Gifted in the art of destruction, there are few that can stand up to her powers," Yumi told him, her usual smile looking out of place as she explained that to him.
"There are some who even call her the 'Crimson-Haired Princess of Annihilation'. Akeno said with a small chuckle, her grip on Raynare's wings never once going slack, even as the Fallen Angel began to struggle.
'THAT'S A SCARY NAME!' Izuku, Ochako, and Asia thought to themselves in unison.
"...how though?" Raynare asked as she continued to struggle, another cough of blood falling to the ground. "How did some quirkless nobody beat me with a Twice Critical?"
"Izuku doesn't have a Twice Critical," Rias said as she moved to stand next to him, her eyes scanning his Sacred Gear. "I was confused at first, but the more I looked into it, the more obvious it became. It was dormant before now, but there's no doubt. Izuku holds the Boosted Gear."
Rauanre gasped as another coughing fit took over, a look of shock and horror on her face. "This kid!? This kid…has the power of the Red Dragon Emperor?! One of the Sacred Longinus'? It's said that it can rise above the power of not only the Four Satan's, but even God himself! How does he have such a power!?"
Rias turned to Izuku, a small chuckle at his shocked look. "According to legend, the Boosted Gear can double the power of its user every ten seconds. With it, even the weakest of beings can find themselves surpassing even the strongest of beings, and like the Fallen Angel said, even God himself."
Midoriya Izuku
Sacred Gear:Boosted Gear
The user of this Sacred Gear can double their power every ten seconds for a brief period. It's true potential is unknown.
'I can do that!?/He can do that!?' Izuku and the two girls thought to themselves. He began to stare at the gauntlet on his arm, seeing something on it he'd not seen before. There was an emblem depicting a dragon carved into the gauntlet. He could only stand there in shock at the sight, completely flabbergasted at this new development.
"Of course," Rias continued, "with as powerful as it is, it has a clear weakness. With so much time needed to charge, few would be stupid enough to wait for the wielder to get that strong. How fortunate that there was someone here just that stupid." She looked to Raynare who's face had paled even more than before.
"How? How is that possible!? This little quirkless nobody shouldn't have such a power!" She screamed out before coughing again, hacking up even more blood. Completely missing the dark, threatening look Rias was giving her.
"If you had any sense left, you would be wise not to insult my servants in front of me," her voice came out calm, but everyone could feel the intensity behind it. "I don't know why Izu has the Boosted Gear, but it doesn't matter. For me, that's little more than a bonus." She sent a smile towards him, much to his surprise. Leaving him both blushing and flummoxed, she turned to face Raynare again, her face now filled with scorn for her. "Now, the only thing left is what to do with you."
Raynare began to squirm, trying her hardest to escape, but Akeno's grip held firm. "Honestly, I should purge you from existence here and now, but I feel that that's just too simple." Rias turned her attention to Asia and Izuku. "She's done the worst damage to the two of you. It's only fitting for the two of you to decide her fate."
The two stared at Rias in surprise before turning to the Fallen Angel. Despite everything she had done, when they saw her, weak and near powerless as she sat there in Akeno's grip, they felt only pity.
Asia was the first to speak, all fear she had for the Fallen Angel now all but gone. "I…I can't. I know she has done awful things, but I cannot abide by her dying for them. I believe in forgiveness. That one who has turned their back on the world can find a new life for themselves. Even then, I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me." She thought to mere moments ago, her two friends who were so grievously injured as they fought to rescue her. "Never again."
If Rias was disappointed, or even surprised by her declaration, she didn't let it show before turning her attention to Izuku.
He didn't really know what to say, what to think. Part of him hated her for everything she had done, but…that part of him wasn't sure if he wanted her to die for it. All Might's words tung through his head.
'There are people out there that make the monster you faced last night look like a house cat, but there are still those who would say no. That everyone deserves a second chance, no matter how much they've squandered their first one. I'm not really sure I can give you the answer you need, Young Midoriya, I think the only one who can really do that is you'.
He began to tremble. He wasn't sure if he really knew what the right answer was. He felt a grip on his shoulder, and one on his hand. Ochako and Asia stood by his side. They would support him, whatever he chose.
"I…" he began before Raynare began having another coughing fit, more and more of her blood splattering to the ground. He wasn't certain, but it sounded like she was about to speak up before she began coughing.
"I…I don't want her to die."
Raynare stared up at him in complete surprise.
His decision had been made.
Rias turned back to Raynare, a look of pure disdain on her face. "Consider this a stay of execution. Should I ever see you again, I won't hesitate."
She looked surprised, hopeful, and then terrified all in the span of moments. Not just by what was happening before her, but for everything that could happen to her in the future. Akeno released her grip, the Fallen Angel falling to the ground as her eyes stayed on the three teens who stood side by side. Her expression became more unreadable as she stared at them, before shakily taking to the sky. Like before, there was only black feathers left behind in her wake.
All of them kept their eyes in the air, watching as her form faded into the night sky. Rias let out a tired sigh before turning to face her peerage, a warm smile on her face. "I think it's time we all went home. Well done everyone."
Yumi, Akeno, and Koneko nodded at her, while Izuku, Ochako, and Asia stayed in place. None were really willing to let the others go right now.
"What…?" Asia began, gulping nervously. "What will I do now? Where can I go?"
"My offer's still open you know," Ochako said.
"Asia will be staying with me tonight. There's much we have to discuss now that she's one of us," Rias said as she walked over to the three, offering the young nun a hand.
"One of you?"
"Yes. I was able to revive you, but the only way was to make you like us. You're a Devil now. A member of my peerage. Because of that, you now serve under me for the foreseeable future. You can never truly return to your old life now. I'm sorry," Rias said as gently as she could, her hand still offered to the smaller blonde.
Asia had a look of shock on her face at the news, the entire thing sinking into her mind.
She was a Devil now. One of the damned. Forever disgraced by God and his teachings. She could never return to any church. Never confess her sins. She was like this forever now.
She felt the embrace of both Izuku and Ochako beside her grow tighter, a gentle warmth flowing through her at the contact.
Maybe it would be alright.
She took Rias' hand. All three teens rose at once, still in contact with one another.
"My my Midoriya," Akeno said as she watched him rise, looking impressed and amused. "I never knew you were so muscular. And holding two cute girls so close to you while shirtless? How positively scandalous," she finished with a sly wink.
The three teens froze in place as they looked down to Izuku's chest, their faces erupting into simultaneous blushes. Both Asia and Ochako found themselves staring at his muscled torso with heavy gazes before reality crashed back down to them.
"KYAHHHHHH!"
It was hard to know who screamed loudest as they all backed away from each other, their scarlet faces turning from each other as Izuku began covering himself.
"Here," Rias offered him her blazer, clearly holding back some chuckles of her own. Izuku quickly placed it over his bare chest without thought. The smell of strawberries wafted through the air as he placed it over himself. Was that Rias' shampoo again?
It smelled nice.
"Oh, and Ochako?" Rias said, catching the girl's attention. "You did excellently as well. Your master would be rather pleased."
"I…well,' she said bashfully as she rubbed the back of her head. She didn't think she had done that much. She then became startled as she remembered something important. "Oh no! I totally yelled at her earlier when she told me not to go! I'm gonna be in so much trouble!"
"Worry not," Rias told her, brushing her concerns away. "I know your King well, and she's not really one to hold a grudge. I'm sure she'll forgive you once you two talk about it." She decided not to mention that it didn't mean the other girl couldn't be quite vindictive at times. "Now, we should all really go home. It's been quite the night."
They all agreed, Ofhako still feeling worried, while Asia was still confused, embarrassed, and rather exhausted.
Few words were said as they all began to teleport themselves closer to home, Rias holding onto Izuku so he would travel alongside them.
The entire time, Izuku felt his mind wander. He had heard before, especially from one of his old friends that God had a plan for everyone. He was never too sure how he felt about that, that some near invisible force, real or not, dictated his actions, but he wondered now if God had placed Asia along this path, guiding her to meet them. If this was where she was meant to go. He wasn't certain, but he couldn't help but be curious.
On a whim, he did something he knew to be foolish, but felt was right, just this once.
'God? I don't know if you'd be willing to listen to a Devil, but…if it was your will to bring Asia to us, so that she would never have to be alone again, then thank you.' The headache he got once he finished was something he ultimately considered worth it as the two locked eyes once more, both offering a sincere smile, with Asia's being thankful.
He felt the magic of the arcane circle take hold of him as they began teleporting back to the club room. He had no idea what would be happening in the coming days, but he wouldn't be alone. Not anymore. He had some good people by his side who would fight by his side, as they had proven tonight.
He couldn't wait to tell All Might!
Oh.
Oh…
He was going to have to tell All Might about tonight.
He suddenly dreaded the coming days.
Rias allowed Asia to use her shower as well as a fresh change of clothes as the rest of the peerage went back to their separate ways. After everything the girl had to go through this night, it was the least she could give her, something the others agreed with before they left to their own rooms in the apartment complex. The building being owned by Rias' family, it was easy to get them all good rooms for them to stay in.
Save for Akeno, who was the only one who opted to find a place of her own, which she had been fine with. She may have been their master, but her servants were free to live where they wished.
"Was it truly wise to let her live, Rias?" Akeno asked as she followed her King into the apartment room, having chosen to stay the night in case other Fallen Angels decide to seek vengeance.
"She's no longer a threat to us," Rias answered as she began preparing herself to go to bed, placing a spare blazer for her U.A. uniform on the nearby table. "We should be okay after everything that happened tonight."
"Are you sure?" Akeno asked as she too prepared to go to bed, a spare bedroom made specifically for her for whenever she needed to visit. "We did attack a church tonight. Surely there would be consequences for this."
"I am quite certain," Rias responded as she began meticulously stripping herself bare. As she had told Izuku, she was far more comfortable sleeping without clothes than in them. "That church had been abandoned for some time, and while those Fallen Ones may have made it their base, and we did stage an attack on it, but we never once encroached on their territory. That likely would have caused rather unfortunate results. This should only be seen as a minor scuffle between a single Devil and one Fallen Angel. Nothing more," she said as she removed both her shirt as well as her skirt, leaving her in nothing more than her bra and panties. "Even then, it's likely that Raynare would not try anything soon. She may not be bright, but I doubt she's as foolish as the other three we encountered. If she does try anything, it won't be for some time, which would give us plenty of time to prepare for her."
"Very well, if you're certain," Akeno said, being used to seeing her King in various states of undress. It had inspired her to do the same, sleeping without a shred of clothes on at night, which was why she had already begun disrobing herself. "Although," she said with a bit of a smirk as she stood now only in her underwear. "We may have to be careful around our cute little Pawn, unless he somehow steals our hearts as well ."
"Whatever could you mean?" Rias asked as she removed her bra, her generous bust now exposed to the night air.
"Is it really not obvious?" Akeno asked, now in a similar state of undress as she moved to remove her panties. "It was rather clear that not only our new little Bishop, but also Uraraka care quite deeply for him, whether they're truly aware of it or not. And you know what the other legends say about those who wielded the Boosted Gear, aren't you?"
"Ridiculous," Rias said as her panties joined her bra in her clothes hamper, leaving her as naked as the day she was born, her uniform folded neatly on the table closest to her bed. "I do adore Izu, but my feelings for him are purely platonic. He feels like a younger brother I want to protect from harm. Although," she began to admit with a bit of an impish grin. "He is quite fun to tease."
"Too true," Akeno responded as she finished stripping herself, now as bare to the world as her King as she tossed her own clothes into the spare hamper. "It shouldn't take him much longer to realize it though. We Devils are creatures of sin, lust and desire being chief among them. It's quite likely he may end up charming us along the way without even knowing," she admitted with a bit of a perverted giggle. She sounded like she was looking forward to it.
Rias tossed a pillow at her face.
"He should be happy enough with either Asia or Ochako. Or both of them if that's how it works out. It's unlikely that we would all end up falling for him," she nodded, as though that was the end of the conversation.
Akeno tossed the pillow back at her.
"Deny it if you wish," she said with a small wink. "Oh, and speaking of Uraraka, you're certain she'll be alright? Her King can be quite vindictive when she wants to be."
"Well," Rias thought to how her oldest friend would react once she knew Ochako arrived home.
Ochako let out a sigh as she closed the door behind her as she entered her apartment. It had definitely been an exhausting night.
Meeting that creepy exorcist. She really wished she could've gotten a chance to hit him at least once. The battle against those priests. Trying to stop that Fallen Angel.
Then watching Asia as she…as she…
She didn't think she would ever forget watching as Asia's life slipped away before her eyes. She knew that seeing death was possible, especially since she wanted to be a hero. Try as they might, not every hero was able to save everyone, she knew that, but only now did she truly understand.
She never wanted to see it again.
She wanted to save people, and that want had solidified itself more than ever tonight. She may not have succeeded, but Asia was still here. She was alive. She felt her heartbeat when she hugged her. No matter how much the sight of Asia's final breath may haunt her, that knowledge that she was alive eased her guilt.
She couldn't let something like that get in the way of her dream after all. She would be a hero, just like Deku.
For now though, she felt she should get some rest.
"Hello Ochako."
She jumped at the familiar voice, a shiver running up her spine as she turned slowly to see the speaker, hoping that her mind had been playing tricks on her.
They were not, however. Right there, sitting on her bed, was a girl a year older than her. She was just as tall as Deku, with a slender build, and short dark hair styled into a bob-cut which was held up by a single hair clip on her left side. Her violet eyes appeared to glow a shade of pink in the dim light of her apartment as they stared out behind her red oval glasses. Like Rias, she wore a U.A. uniform, but unlike Rias, who carried herself with a relaxed grace, this girl carried herself with a stern professionalism.
Her name was Sona Sitri. The King of the peerage Ochako belonged to.
And she did not look happy.
"You seem to have had quite the adventure this night, one I specifically told you not to go on," she said sternly as she sat up, her every step forward making Ochako flinch. She sounded just like her parents did whenever she misbehaved as a child. "Which reminds me, when you called me earlier and I told you not to go, just where exactly did you tell me I could 'shove it'?"
Ochako could only laugh nervously as her King drew closer, before an audible gulp could be heard throughout the room.
"She should be fine," Rias said, brushing it off with little worry. "Sona's never been one to be cruel to her servants."
"I suppose you're right," Akeno said as she prepared a new set of clothes for the next day. "Goodnight then." She made her way to the spare room, her backside sashaying in Rias' face the entire time.
She just rolled her eyes with a smile. She had become used to her Queen's antics as they grew to know one another. She made her way to the comfort of her own bed, hoping that she would be able to surrender herself to sleep's embrace.
'I'm already well aware that Izu is going to be discovering that particular part of being a Devil soon,' she thought to herself as she laid down, the soft mattress nearly lulling her to sleep already. 'If he hasn't figured it out already of course. He's rather intelligent, as well as being a quick learner. It would make whoever ended up with him quite happy.'
She was indeed very well aware of the history of those who had been recorded as being the host of The Boosted Gear. How many of them went to bed each night with a partner in both arms, able to woo and seduce whomever they preferred.
'That certainly won't happen to me,' she thought to herself as her thought stunned darker. 'He doesn't even know that I…' She fought to brush the thought away from her mind. She wanted only to focus on the better things now that everyone was safe at home. Not only had she gotten a new addition to her peerage, but Asia had already proven herself to be quite the boon, able to heal all the damage Izuku had taken in his fight with that Fallen Angel.
She nearly growled at the thought of her. She knew that Izuku was strong enough to beat her, he just needed to know it himself, but that didn't mean that she didn't desire to swoop in and rip that oversized crow to shreds for daring to harm one of her own.
But she was back to those more negative thoughts again. She needed to focus on the knowledge that everything was fine now. All that needed to be done now was to let Asia know everything about her new life.
"Um, th-thank you for letting me use your shower Miss Rias. I…! Huh!? Wh-why are you naked?" Asia asked as she stepped out of the bathroom, dressed in a clean pair of clothes.
Oh. Right. She would also need to explain that.
She had no idea just how long she had been flying for. Nearly every part of her was in pain. Her stomach, her face, even her wings stung as she moved as far out of that Devil's territory as quickly as she could.
When she could barely fly anymore, Raynare landed shakily on a rooftop close by. She felt herself shudder in pain as every part of her that still ached screamed at her to just take it easy.
When she moved her hand to her stomach, hoping to at least ease some of the pain away, she felt just how torn her dress was. Her eyes narrowed in anger. Those Devils. They had not only beaten her, humiliated her, but had tossed her aside with basically nothing on her, leaving her all but naked in the night.
And where could she even go now? It was likely that any safe houses they had would be raided soon by either the Devils or human law enforcement. She could never return to the Underworld now. If she were to even try to return to the Grigori, she would be executed on the spot. That would be the punishment for her failures.
She wouldn't even be surprised if they had already placed a bounty on her head. And why wouldn't they? She had gone against her leader's orders when retrieving the nuns' Sacred Gear, and worse, she had all bit gift-wrapped the Red Dragon Emperor to the Devil's side.
Dohnaseek. Kalawarner. Mittlet. They were gone too.
Part of her felt glad. She hated them. She had for a long time. They had always mocked her, both behind her back and to her face. Never once stopping themselves from insulting her for her failures, no matter how small they may have been.
But they were the only thing she had in this world. She had nothing and no one.
Her only other choice would be Kokabiel, and she would rather face the full wrath of God himself than return to that man.
She was all alone now. Just like she had been before.
As she finally began to catch her breath, she noticed something on her leg. A torn shirt was still wrapped around it, the garment having somehow never once fallen off during her flight. As she thought back, she began to fume.
So close. She was so close! She would have finally had the power to stand by her peers! Enough power to simply stop being a piece on the board! To never be tossed aside like garbage ever again!
And it had all been taken away from her by them.
They screwed everything up. They got it her way. Midoriya Izuku. Asia Argento. Rias Gremory, and that girl with the Absorption Sacred Gear, whoever she may have been. They were the reasons she was alone again. Why she was still the same Raynare she was before. They had destroyed her dream before her very eyes, and forced her to live with it. She was scared at the time the Gremory girl had her at her mercy, the thought of death almost enough to make her beg for her life. But now? Death would be preferable to the life she would now be forced to live.
"Damn you," she hissed out, doing everything she could to ignore the tears she knew were falling down her face. "Damn each and every one of you. I swear, I will make each and every one of you pay. You'll all pay!"
"Well. This is interesting."
She was strategic as she turned to see where that voice had come from, her eyes widened as she saw a circle of what looked like pure darkness.
They widened more as a shape walked out of it.
Whatever they were, they held the form of a man, but it looked…off. While he wore what looked to be a bartenders uniform, everything about the rest of him simply looked…wrong.
He didn't seem to have any flesh, just large pools of darkness in the vague shape of limbs. Whatever may have passed for hands just looked like large globs of shadows constantly moving about, as if they were unsure what shape they should be. Jutting out of his shirt collar was a strange metal contraption, whatever it was appeared to be another collar, but for what she couldn't tell. Then there was the head. Or at least, what might have passed for one.
There were no features to speak of. Just like his hands, his entire head was just a larger glob of shadows, constantly pulsing and moving every which way, but still staying in some sort of shape. The worst thing we're the eyes. Or were they eyes? They just appeared to be yellow slits in the middle of what may have been a face. They didn't move at all like the rest of him, they stayed completely still. The sight of whoever they were unnerved her more than she'd truly admit.
She barely stopped herself from shivering at the sight of this…whatever it was as she stood back up. A small light dagger formed in her hand, held before her in case this creature had foul intentions. "Who…what are you? Answer me!"
"I had heard from both the Master and the Doctor that Fallen Ones had been spotted in this area, but I didn't expect to find one," the being said, ignoring her words completely, as though she hadn't even spoken at all.
"I asked you a question!? What are you!?" Raynare screamed as her wings began to twitch. Whatever this…this thing was, they were beginning to make her feel uneasy, and she had long learned to trust her instincts whenever she felt that way.
"So you did. Pardon my rudeness. I am known as Kurogiri," the figure said, their masculine sounding voice echoing over the building as they, he she supposed, placed what may have been his hand to his chest as he gave a slight bow. "I had been sent out to monitor Fallen Angel activity, but I never expected one to all but fall into my lap."
"Is that so?" She asked as her wings began to twitch more and more, her uneasiness beginning to bloom into fear. She wasn't strong enough right now to kill him, this knife was taking up most of her remaining power. "And what are you planning to do with me?"
"Simple," he responded as he stretched his appendage over to her, like he was offering her his hand to take. "My orders were to bring in any Fallen Angels I may find while I search. Both my Master and the Doctor are interested in studying all they can about you," she said to her casually, like he had been offering her a drink at a bar while he stood behind the counter. "I would suggest making this easy on yourself, and come quietly."
"NO!" She screamed as she threw the knife at the shadow man, taking to the sky as she watched the knife Saul to where she thought his heart was.
It never made it. It never even touched him.
Just as it looked like it was about to make contact, the shadow man's body twisting and contorting, before passing through him.
"I asked for you to not make this hard for yourself," he said as his body seemed to expand into a familiar circle of shadows, beginning to fade away as she heard him continue to speak. "Now, it appears that I'll have to use force."
She didn't want to take any chances. She watched as he disappeared into that shadow circle before it too would vanish. She took further in the sky, hoping to escape whatever this Kurogiri was. Her heart hammered in her chest, the heavy thumping echoing in her ears as she soared ever higher, hoping that she would be beyond her reach.
"Now, come with me."
Only for another one of those shadow circles to open right in front of her.
She tried to turn, to escape, to keep this creature from taking her, but she could do nothing as his arm reached out to her, gripping her neck in a vice grip. She gasped for air as she brought her arms up to try and make him release his grip, only for him to grab both of her arms in his free one. She tried to scream, for help, for the sake of her sanity, but all that escaped her throat was a garbled squeak. She couldn't even breathe at this point.
"I believe my Master has several things he would like to discuss with you."
Her vision began to fade as he drew her into his darkness, everything around her fading to black. She felt her consciousness slip away as the grip of her neck never once ceased, the last thing she heard before everything faded away being the sound of this creature's voice.
"Welcome to the League Of Villains."