Chapter 20: Chapter 19: Chaos in Hosu – The Hero Killer’s Reckoning
Hosu burned.
The night sky was ablaze with destruction as monstrous figures rampaged through the city. The Nomu attack had begun.
Kenji's heart pounded as he sprinted through the chaotic streets alongside Endeavor and Todoroki. All around them, civilians screamed, heroes struggled, and explosions shattered the urban skyline.
"Damn it!" Kenji muttered, his eyes scanning the battlefield. The attack was too well-coordinated.
Three Nomus were tearing through different districts at once.
Pro heroes were locked in combat, but the creatures were relentless huge, grotesque masses of muscle and Quirks, each seemingly more powerful than the last.
"We need to split up!" Endeavor barked, already engulfed in flames as he launched himself toward the largest Nomu. "Hunt them down and eliminate them before they destroy the city!"
Todoroki nodded and turned to Kenji. "We can handle this. We"
Kenji suddenly froze. A terrible realization hit him like a punch to the gut.
Iida was going after stain.
No.
His mind raced back to the news report earlier. Tensei Iida, Ingenium, had been taken down by Stain.
And now Stain was in Hosu.
"Iida..." Kenji whispered, his chest tightening.
Todoroki's eyes widened as he followed Kenji's line of thought. "He wouldn't"
"Yes, he would," Kenji interrupted. "He's going after Stain."
Without hesitation, they bolted toward the alleyways.
A Fateful Confrontation
Iida stood, trembling with rage, his body tense as he faced the Hero Killer.
Stain loomed over him, blood dripping from his blades, his eyes cold and merciless.
"I see you've come for vengeance," Stain murmured, his tone unreadable. "But vengeance is not the path of a hero."
Iida clenched his fists. "You crippled my brother! You!"
Stain moved. Faster than Iida could react.
The villain appeared behind him in an instant, his blade slashing out
CLANG!
A burst of golden light exploded between them, forcing Stain to leap back.
Kenji landed, his amber eyes glowing with raw power.
"You talk too much," Kenji said, standing protectively between Iida and Stain. "Heroes aren't about revenge but I'm sure as hell not letting you kill my friend."
Todoroki appeared beside him, ice already forming on his palm. "We're not letting you escape."
Stain's gaze flickered between them. Then he smiled.
"Finally," he whispered. "A fight worthy of my blade."
The Battle Begins
Stain moved like a shadow, vanishing from sight before reappearing behind them. His sword slashed at Kenji's back but Kenji twisted, dodging at the last second.
A burst of solar energy erupted from his palm, forcing Stain to evade.
Todoroki launched a wave of ice, trying to freeze the Hero Killer in place, but Stain leaped over it with inhuman agility.
Iida gritted his teeth. He was still paralyzed by Stain's Bloodcurdle Quirk.
Kenji cursed. If Stain licked any of their blood, they'd be immobilized.
I can't let him land a hit.
Kenji darted forward, faking a left hook before unleashing a blinding flash of solar light.
Stain flinched just a second too slow and Todoroki's fire roared forward, engulfing the Hero Killer.
For a moment, it seemed like they had him.
Then
Stain burst through the flames, completely unfazed.
Kenji's breath caught. He tanked that?!
"Your resolve is weak," Stain growled, his blade gleaming under the moonlight. "You fight well—but you lack conviction."
Then, he disappeared.
Kenji's instincts screamed.
Behind you!
Kenji barely twisted in time, blocking Stain's dagger with his forearm guard. But the blade grazed his skin.
Stain smirked. Then licked the blood off his knife.
Kenji's body locked up instantly.
Shit.
He hit the ground, paralyzed, his heart hammering.
Todoroki immediately unleashed a pillar of ice, forcing Stain backward, but the Hero Killer barely seemed fazed.
Stain turned his gaze to Iida.
"Time to cleanse you," he said, raising his sword.
"No!" Kenji's mind screamed, but his body refused to move.
Then
A streak of blue flames erupted from the rooftop.
Endeavor.
And he wasn't alone.
Pro heroes swarmed the area, descending like a storm.
Stain clicked his tongue. "Tch. Annoying."
He moved to retreat but Kenji's paralysis wore off at that moment.
With one last burst of strength, Kenji launched a solar beam straight at Stain's chest.
It hit.
The Hero Killer crashed against the alley wall, stunned.
Kenji forced himself to his feet, chest heaving.
Todoroki restrained Stain in ice, locking him in place.
Iida stood frozen, his hands clenched into fists.
It was over.
The Aftermath
The next morning, Hosu was in ruins.
The Nomus had been defeated, but the city had paid the price. Heroes worked tirelessly to clean up the devastation, rescuing civilians and assessing the damage.
Kenji sat outside the hospital, a fresh bandage wrapped around his arm.
Iida sat beside him, silent.
After a long moment, Kenji spoke.
"You almost died."
Iida flinched but didn't respond.
Kenji sighed. "I get it. I do. But revenge... isn't heroism. If we hadn't arrived in time—"
"I know," Iida whispered. His hands tightened into fists. "I know."
Kenji stared up at the sky. "We can't let emotions control us. We're not just fighting villains—we're fighting for people. And we can't protect them if we're blinded by our own anger."
Iida nodded slowly. His revenge was over. But the weight of his actions would stay with him.
Kenji exhaled. This was what being a hero meant.
Not just fighting villains but fighting to be better than them.
As the sun rose over the broken city, Kenji knew one thing.
The road ahead would only get harder.
Word Count: 2,093
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Wrote this at class and really glad my teacher didn't notice LOL