❛ 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐎 | s. ᴛᴏᴅᴏʀᴏᴋɪ

❙ 𝐀𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 ❙

chapter twenty-six
a r s o n

Screams of fear echoed loudly around the once-busy street. Citizens were running around, some fully panicking as they bumped each other and others even screaming in pain as they kept getting stepped on while trying to get back on their feet.

"Now why don't you all start watching where you're going!"

A giant blast erupted, sending very few of the bystanders flying off.

"I gotcha!" Ojiro caught the little boy before he hit the ground. The little boy cried, hugging Ojiro tightly due to fear.

"Mama! I want my mama!" The boy cried.

Ojiro placed a hand on top of his head, "Sorry, but right now we need to take you to safety. I promise we'll find your mom." He looked over to his partner. "Koda, take him to the evacuation center. I'll meet up with Kyoka and Shoji."

Koda nodded and took the kid by the hand, making sure to let a baby squirrel ease the boy's nerves.

In a different part of the hospital, Jaxon and Deku reached the roof, where they saw Dabi and Shigaraki standing on the edge, looking down at the city in chaos.

"Hey, assholes!" Jaxon shouted, his hand sparking with electricity.

Dabi and Shigaraki turned around and smirked. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the lightning hero and the green-haired brat. What a surprise. We didn't expect you to follow us here." Dabi said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"We're here to stop you. You've caused enough damage and pain. You have to pay for your crimes." Deku said, his voice filled with determination and courage, but nervously side-eyeing the scowling Armani.

"We don't care about your justice or your morals. We're here to destroy this rotten society and create a new world order. A world where only the strong survive and the weak perish. A world where we are free to use our Quirks as we please. A world where we are the rulers." Shigaraki said, filled with madness and ambition.

"You're delusional and hurting innocent people. You're going against everything that heroes stand for." Jaxon spat disgustingly. "Acting like a pathetic brat, trying to get rid of my kids and their friends because they're trying to put a stop to you."

"Heroes? Don't make us laugh. Heroes are nothing but puppets and tools. They pretend to protect the people, but they only protect themselves. They abuse their power and authority, and oppress those who are different from them. They are the ones who are delusional." Dabi laughed maniacally, hatred and resentment in his voice.

"You don't know what you're talking about. Heroes are the ones who save the people, who inspire them, who give them hope. They are the ones who are realistic." said Deku. "A lot of them fight for what is right, contrary to you and your beliefs!"

"Enough talk. Let's end this." Shigaraki launched himself at Jaxon and Deku.

Jaxon and Deku activated their Quirks and prepared to fight. Jaxon unleashed a barrage of lightning bolts at Shigaraki, while Deku used his Detroit Smash to punch Dabi.

"Watch out" Both Jaxon and Deku had shouted towards each other, but it was too late. Dabi's flames burned Deku's skin, while Shigaraki's decay crumbled Jaxon's bones.

"Shit!" Jaxon gritted his teeth in pain, gripping his right hand. He looked down at his hand that was turning gray and cracking. The man acted quickly, his left hand ignited with his lightning in a bladed shape.

Deku's eyes widened, "Wait, what are you—" before he could even finish his sentence, Jaxon struck his hand, severing his hand from his arm— his decayed hand now on the ground. Jaxon sucked in a deep breath, tearing off the sleeve of his shirt and wrapped it around his bloody stump.

"Wow, that was impressive. You sacrificed your hand to save your life. How noble of you. But you know what? It won't matter. You're still going to die. I'm going to kill you and everyone else in this hospital. And then I'm going to destroy this whole city. And then this whole world. Nothing will stop me. Nothing will stop my decay." snickered Shigaraki, a twisted smile on his face.

Jaxon felt a surge of anger and hatred. He hated Shigaraki. He hated his Quirk. He hated his madness. He hated his malice.

He glared at Shigaraki and activated his Quirk. He felt a surge of electricity and life energy coursing through his veins. He knew he had to fight. He had to stop Shigaraki.

He charged at Shigaraki, his left hand crackling with lightning. He was not going to give up. He was not going to let Shigaraki win. He wasn't a hero no more, so whatever he did, wouldn't matter anymore.

While Jaxon was busy fighting the LOV's leader, Deku proceeded with his own fight against the blue-flamed villain.

Deku used One For All to enhance his speed and strength, and tried to land a punch on Dabi, but the villain was too fast and agile, and dodged his attack. He retaliated with a blast of blue flames, aiming at Deku's face.

Deku barely avoided the flames, but felt the heat scorching his skin. He was fast to leap back, now back-to-back with Jaxon, "Hey, whatever you do—" Jaxon looked at him over his shoulder. "Don't go off dying on me, hear me? I promised you-know-who I was gonna take care of ya."

The greenette nodded fiercely, "Same goes to you." The two heroes headed back towards their fight, the two taunting villains with their malicious grins as they continued to hear the panicked screams of the civilians below.

"Why are you doing this? Why are you hurting innocent people?" Deku asked angrily, he was a hero in training who needed to know a villain's motive. Nothing made sense to him. How can someone hate humanity so much?

Dabi snorted and glared at Deku. He hated his questions, and his naive attitude. He hated his heroism, and his optimism.

"I'm doing this because I want to. Because I enjoy it. Because I hate this society and everyone in it. Because I hate you and your precious All Might. Because I hate fake heroism. Because I hate myself and my cursed Quirk." Dabi said, his voice filled with bitterness. "I just want to make everyone suffer! Have everyone else realize what a bunch of fakes you all are!"

"We will put a stop to you!" Deku launched his Delaware Smash, knocking back Dabi. "No real hero will allow you to do such things!"

Dabi cackled crazily, "I'm a monster, I can't be stopped!" Both his hands grew his hot flames. "Just you watch! I'm going to kill you."

He unleashed a massive wave of flames, engulfing the whole roof. He aimed at Deku, hoping to burn him alive. Deku saw the flames coming at him, and his eyes widened. They were moving too fast toward him, he had no time to avoid or stop the attack.

Just as the heat started to scorch his face, an immense wall of water was formed in front of the young hero, vapor now starting to surround the entire roof. 

The villain grew angry, an annoyed grunt leaving the back of his throat as he glared at the hero in front of him.