X is impatiently awaiting his signal.
X: What’s the fucking point of this… If I’m going to go boom anyway, then why not do it sooner than later?
X places his hand against his mark of Iota.
X: The thing that’s giving me the power I need to annihilate every inch of this city is the same thing that’s keeping me from detonating when I want to. Goddamn double-edged swords.
X hears footsteps.
X: Hm? Who’s there?
Pause and Edwards are hiding in the stairwell up to the roof.
Pause: You’re aware of the plan, correct?
COL. Edwards: You’re going to use your quirk on him, then I put a bullet between his eyes.
Pause: Correct.
COL. Edwards: If I recall correctly, we’re dealing with some kind of dead man’s trigger here, too, right?
Pause: Yes, we are.
COL. Edwards: So, if I kill him, wouldn’t we just be setting him off anyway?
Pause: Not as long as he’s still frozen by my quirk.
COL. Edwards: But how long can you keep that up?
Pause: For as long as I need to.
Pause hands Edwards his eyedropper and a flare gun.
Pause: Once you’ve ended his life, fire the flare gun. That will be the signal for another helicopter carrying Zero to fly in. Once he’s here, he’ll put the nuke on ice permanently.
COL. Edwards: I see. With no heat, there’s no way for him to detonate.
Pause: Exactly, but it’ll take a few minutes for them to get here, so after you shoot the flare, you’ll need to help keep my eyes saturated. Blinking is not an option. It could mean the end of hundreds of thousands of lives.
COL. Edwards: Got it.
Pause: Ready?
COL. Edwards: Ready.
Pause raises his blindfold and sneaks up the stairs.
Pause: (He heard our steps earlier, so he’s bound to have his guard up, I’ll have to freeze him immediately once I reach the roof.)
Pause and Edwards storm the roof.
X: What the hell-
X is frozen in time by Pause’s quirk.
Pause: He’s down. Take the shot.
Edwards aims his sidearm at X’s head.
COL. Edwards: May god have mercy on your-
Edwards has suddenly stopped talking.
Pause: Colonel Edwards? Is something wrong?
Edwards keels over.
Pause: Colonel Edwards!
Pause notices something strange about Edwards out of the corner of his eye: He has needles all up the side of his body.
Pause: What?
Jagger: You really thought we wouldn’t be prepared for you to try something like this?
Jagger was hiding behind the stairwell.
Pause: What the hell? Our intel said it was just the nuke up here. When did you-
“ X hears footsteps.
X: Hm? Who’s there? “
Pause: (Was it really that little footstep? Did it really give him enough time to call for help?)
Jagger laughs.
Jagger: When you combine telepathic communication with the ability to warp anywhere you want, it’s effortless to call for help in the blink of an eye.
Pause: Damn!
Jagger walks over to Edwards’ body.
Jagger: I guess I should get rid of this.
Pause: Don’t!
Jagger picks up Edwards and throws him over his shoulder.
Jagger: You can stop me if you’d like.
Jagger walks over to the edge of the building.
Jagger: Any objections?
Pause: *grunts*
Jagger: Okay then.
Jagger throws Edwards over the edge.
Jagger: Well, I guess I’ll just hang out now.
Jagger leans against the edge.
Jagger: Your eyes will dry up eventually, and then I’ll let X have the honor of killing you. I’ll just stand watch until then.
Pause’s eyes are already starting to fatigue.
Pause: (Damn… Edwards had the flare gun... I can’t signal Zero now. This isn’t good!)
Khaos reloads his two crossbows.
Khaos: Say hello to the pain in your left arm.
Khaos fires, and once again, Hayze dodges the first but is nailed by the second, this time in his left arm.
Hayze: *grunts*
Khaos: We’re getting close to the end now!
Hayze starts running to his right around Khaos, but he does not get closer to him.
Khaos: (What is he up to? He’s no closer than before.)
Hayze comes to a stop as the pain in his legs is too much to continue running. Khaos turns to his left to continue looking at Hayze.
Hayze: (That’s three.)
Khaos laughs.
Khaos: You’re a fool, you know? That was probably your last chance to change your position in this battle, and you wasted it.
Hayze: I thought I could get behind you if I was fast enough… but I wasn’t.
Khaos loads the two crossbows again.
Khaos: The last arm now.
The process repeats as Hayze’s right arm is shot by the bolt.
Khaos: And here comes the end.
Hayze is lying against the ground, unable to move. Khaos dispels one of his crossbows and loads the other one.
Khaos: I’d say you put up a good fight, but you didn’t.
Khaos takes aim.
Hayze: You sure about that?
Hayze’s shadow darts for the dark bolt Hayze stuck in the ground earlier.
Khaos: Huh?
The shadow reaches the base of the bolt and adjusts its path towards Khaos.
Khaos: I see, so you’re using that bolt as a springboard for your shadow to increase your range. Too bad that won’t work.
Hayze’s shadow comes up just short of Khaos.
Khaos: At the end of the day, that arrow is still the maximum distance away from me. You were able to increase your range, but not the arrow’s range. Of course, you’d only know that if you were experienced with this quirk like I am.
Hayze: *grunts*
Iota watches intently.
Iota: (Dammit! I’m running out of options! If I can’t beat Colossus one on one and I can’t use Khaos to fight alongside me… then I only have one ch-)
Colossus places Ivy against the ground and leaps at Iota, attempting to punch him.
Colossus: Our battle isn’t over yet!
Iota levitates into the air as Colossus punches the part of the coliseum he was standing on, smashing it and sending the debris floating into space.
Iota: (My plan is falling apart as we speak! This is terrible!)
Khaos takes aim at Hayze’s head.
Khaos: Any last words?
All of Hayze’s friends and mentors watch with fear that this is the end.
Adrian: (I had one job to stop Khaos from ever returning, and I fucked it all up… and now Hayze will die because of me!)
Kevin: (Come on, buddy, this isn’t how you’re going to die… right?)
Saige: (Hayze… no!)
Blair: (Please tell me you have something up your sleeve!)
Khaos laughs maniacally.
Khaos: What’s this taste in my mouth… is it… victory? Oh… yes, it is! This is my world now, Hayze, so say goodbye!
Khaos tries to pull the trigger but can’t.
Khaos: Wh- what?
Khaos tries to fire again but can’t.
Khaos: My finger… it won’t move!
Khaos’ eyes widen with realization.
Khaos: No…
Hayze smiles.
Hayze: That’s four.
Khaos’ entire body is paralyzed.
Khaos: Wh- wh- How! I never entered your range!
Hayze slowly gets to his knees.
Hayze: Here, I’ll let you look.
Hayze points behind Khaos. Khaos looks over his shoulder and sees.
Khaos: My- my- my sword!
Hayze’s shadow attached to the base of Khaos’ sword and extended to Khaos’ shadow. Everyone watching breathes a sigh of relief.
Hayze: You probably thought that since your sword doesn’t cast a shadow, it would be safe for you to stab it into the ground.
Khaos: *grunts*
Hayze: You didn’t want to dispel your sword on the off chance someone tried to interfere with our battle again, am I right?
Khaos: Just shut up.
Hayze: Once I realized that you would mirror my movements to maintain the distance between us. I knew that meant I had indirect control of your body to position you however I’d like without you giving it even a second thought. But, that also meant that the only way I could hope to ensnare you in my shadow would be by increasing my range, so I checked if your shadow objects could do that for me, even though they don’t cast a shadow. Once I saw that your bolt could do just that, I knew I had an opportunity to win on my hands. So, I placed it in front of me so that I could slightly increase my range for a future attack, and you took a step back to remove that increase, but you never realized it wasn’t you I was trying to hit with my shadow.
Khaos: You damn bastard!
Hayze laughs.
Hayze: At that point, I knew I was just barely in range to get the base of your sword, but it was too risky to go for an upfront attack like that. So I ran to the right to make you turn your back to the sword. Once I was in position, I faked you out by making it appear that I didn’t understand how the range increase works. You lowered your guard after you saw that, believing there was no way I’d ever catch you, and that’s when I did.
Khaos looks pissed.
Khaos: You think you’ve beaten me? I’m better than you! I’LL KILL YOU!
Hayze slowly limps towards Khaos.
Hayze: You know, I should thank you for giving me time to communicate with the others.
Khaos: Huh?
Hayze: It was my time trapped inside our mind that I realized why I’m the only one capable of being in charge of this body.
Khaos: Ha, like that’s true!
Hayze: Every one of you is a piece of me, but you’re incomplete. You’re built from a personality trait that comes with an inherent weakness that I don’t have because I’m all of you combined. Watching Wrath, Calm, Impulse, and Gale give up on agreeing showed me this because I was the only one that wouldn’t give up. It also made me aware of how I could defeat you. Hate is an emotion of passion, which means you’ll always make decisions based on your love. That’s why you were willing to fall under Iota’s control if it meant saving Ivy. Someone who operates only on passion is, well… predictable.
Khaos: Predictable!
Hayze reaches Khaos.
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Hayze: I knew you’d want my death to be slow and painful, which would give me plenty of time to develop a strategy. You passed up four opportunities to kill me because you wanted to enjoy the moment. That was a predictable move on your part. Next, you’ll say: fuck you.
Khaos: Fuck you!
Khaos’ eyes widen.
Hayze: See, you’re predictable, Khaos, and that’s why you’ve lost. Furthermore, that’s why you should never be in control of this body.
Khaos: I’m not beaten yet! You have only a minute left before I’m freed of this paralysis! What are you going to do! There’s nothing you can-
Hayze grabs the gauntlet attached to Khaos’ arm.
Khaos; Wh- what are you doing?
Hayze presses the yellow button on his gauntlet and takes out one of the shock sabers.
Hayze: You want to fully control this body someday, right?
Hayze holds the sword to Khaos’ neck.
Hayze: Release control of my body, or you die.
Khaos: What the hell are you doing! If you kill me, you’ll die too!
Hayze: That’s okay. As long as you’re dead, I’m fine with that.
Khaos starts to sweat.
Khaos: I know you’re bluffing!
Hayze: Let’s test that theory!
Hayze stabs the sword into Khaos’ foot.
Khaos: AHH!
Hayze: There are 15 seconds before shadow paralysis ends. You have two choices: A, die or B, relinquish control. I don’t care which.
Hayze digs the sword into Khaos’ neck.
Khaos: Damn you!
Hayze: Five seconds. Five… four… three…
Suddenly, the ring fragment glows as Hayze is sucked back inside it. Hayze’s body flops on the ground as Khaos’ crossbow, and sword disappear.
Blair: Wh- what happened?
Hayze opens his eyes. They’re back to normal.
Hayze: Like I said, Khaos… you’re predictable.
Hayze passes out from exhaustion as Iota notices Khaos has been defeated.
Iota: Dammit!
Colossus once again leaps into the air after Iota.
Colossus: Have you come up with a plan other than dodging yet?
Iota panics as Colossus approaches.
Iota: (I- I- I-)
Iota dodges and is sent flying by the air pressure again.
Iota: (He’s right, I have no counter! If I can’t dodge, what can I do? I’m stuck!)
Iota smashes into the ground this time. Colossus lands next to Iota.
Colossus: You could have stopped yourself from impacting the ground. I take it that you’ve accepted defeat. You can’t win, and your only other option has been exhausted.
Iota sits up.
Iota: You’re right… I have accepted defeat.
Iota smiles.
Iota: But if you think I’m out of options… you’re dead wrong.
Colossus: Huh?
Iota starts laughing maniacally.
Iota: Or have you forgotten that I have a nuclear warhead sitting on a skyscraper in the middle of your beloved city!
Colossus’ eyes widen.
Iota: If I can’t beat you! I’ll force you to surrender!
Back on the skyscraper, Pause is trying desperately to keep his eyes open, they’re watering profusely, and the veins are popping out.
Pause: No... I can’t go much longer…
Jagger is whistling while watching Pause struggle.
Jagger: This is quite entertaining to watch.
Everyone in Nashville watches with bated breath.
Iota: You, Colossus, have a choice! Hand over the Omega Ring or watch as your city is vaporized!
Colossus clenches his fist.
Iota: Don’t even think of trying to attack or kill me. If I die, my subordinate Zaire will relay the detonation message to X, and everyone will go boom anyway.
Iota points to Colossus.
Iota: I’ll give you 30 seconds to decide the fate of everyone in Nashville! You claimed that putting on the ring was to protect them! So unless you’re willing to admit you’re a liar, you had better take that ring off and hand it over to me; otherwise, you will have hundreds of thousands of bodies on your conscious!
Colossus stares at Iota.
Colossus: (There’s nothing I can do… nothing anyone can do. He’s set up this plan perfectly so that the only way that nuke doesn’t go off is if he says so. If I hand him the ring, he wins. He’ll kill me and take over as the strongest being on Earth. His reign of terror will officially begin. If I don’t hand him the ring, I’ll kill him, and his conquest will be over, but… everyone in Nashville… my friends, Evergreen and Vulcan will die… my son… Justus will die. The question is simple, would you rather win and lose everything and everyone you’ve ever cared about or lose and put them all at risk alongside likely dying yourself all at the same time. I think most people would choose the former not because they want people to die but because they understand that victory means putting an end to suffering. If I give him the ring, I’m putting billions of lives at risk, and the people I’m trying to protect could die all the same. It all boils down to your ideology: is it worth killing hundreds of thousands of people to safeguard billions? The answer is not simple for most people, but for me… I’m a hero, and a hero only has one answer.)
Colossus reaches for the ring.
Iota: (Yes…)
Adrian, Ewing, and Recovery Girl are all shocked.
Adrian: (If Colossus hands over the Omega Ring, it’s over!)
Ewing: (Ivan will become stronger than anyone on the planet!)
Recovery Girl: (He’ll become the anti-Colossus!)
Colossus removes the ring.
Colossus: Do I have your word?
Iota: Of course, would I really lie to you in front of a crowd of my loyal followers. I can’t break my word to you. Otherwise, they’ll be worried I’ll break my vows with them.
Colossus looks up at the crowd.
Colossus: Fine.
Adrian, Ewing, and Recovery Girl’s eyes widen.
Adrian, Ewing, and Recovery Girl: (DON’T DO IT!)
Colossus tosses Iota the Omega Ring.
Colossus: You have a deal.
Iota holds the Omega Ring up to the sun and admires its beauty.
Iota: I’ve done it…
Iota puts the Omega Ring on his other ring finger.
Iota: I’ve won!
The crowd cheers for Iota.
Crowd: Master Iota is the strongest there is!
Iota: Damn right!
Iota turns his attention to Colossus.
Iota: So what do you say we test out my new power?
Colossus smiles.
Colossus: As long as you keep your word, I don’t care what happens to me.
Iota bursts towards Colossus.
Iota: It’s time for you to die!
Iota slugs Colossus in the stomach and sends him flying into the arena wall.
Iota: I just knocked the mighty Colossus on his ass! I really am the strongest now! HAHAHA!
Colossus pukes up blood as he smacks into the ground.
Colossus: So that’s what it feels like…
Iota begins walking towards Colossus.
Iota: You’ve already sustained plenty of internal injuries, you need to see a doctor, or you’ll die.
Iota steps on Colossus’ back.
Iota: Too bad that isn’t going to happen.
Colossus pukes more blood.
Iota: Kidney punch!
Iota punches Colossus in the kidney, causing him to puke even more blood.
Colossus: AHH!
The crowd is cheering as Iota savagely beats Colossus.
Iota: I’m going to savor these moments.
Everyone in Nashville is watching with horror, but none more than Justus.
Justus: (Father…)
Iota grabs Colossus by the hair and speaks into his ear.
Iota: Was it worth giving up your power to save your beloved city?
Colossus: *coughs* Yes…
Iota: Oh really? How about now?
Colossus: What are you-
Iota: Zaire, free X so he can... you know.
Zaire warps away.
Colossus: You bastard! We had a deal!
Iota: Oh, what are you going to do? I’m the strongest now! I’ve finally reached the point I’ve always wanted to achieve! I’ve beaten you, Colossus, and have become number one! The world is now my plaything, and I’m terrible with my toys!
Colossus tries to get up, but Iota kicks him back down.
Iota: This is happening, Colossus, whether you like it or not.
A warp gate opens on the skyscraper's roof, and Zaire steps out.
Jagger: Hm?
Zaire: It’s time.
Jagger: Wow, so we’re actually going through with this, huh?
Zaire: Master has defeated Colossus. We have won.
Jagger: Really? It’s over? I guess it makes sense that he’d want to make an example out of this city to show them who is now in charge.
Zaire: Go through the warp gate unless you want to die.
Jagger nods and leaves. Zaire walks over to Pause.
Zaire: It’s time to stop. This is futile. Master Iota has decided this city shall be destroyed, so it will happen.
Pause: Over my dead body.
Zaire: That will come soon enough.
Zaire kicks Pause, causing him to release X.
X: hell! W- wait, what? Zaire? What are you doing here?
Pause’s eyes are too exhausted. He can’t use his quirk any longer.
Zaire: I have good news, X.
X’s eyes light up.
X: I get to explode!
Zaire: Yes, yes, you do.
X’s skin starts to brighten.
Zaire: Good luck.
Zaire sets up a camera and leaves through his warp gate.
X: THIS IS THE GREATEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE!
Zaire warps back to the coliseum next to Iota.
Zaire: The process has begun. In a few seconds, Nashville will be no more.
Iota: Good, thank you, Zaire.
Zaire: You’re welcome, Master.
Colossus: I thought you said you wouldn’t break your word in front of your followers!
Iota: I’d never break my word to them, but to you filthy liars, they love seeing you pay.
Iota’s crowd cheers.
Colossus: (Dammit! I can’t do anything!) Justus… I’m sorry!
Everyone in Nashville is in panic as X charges for detonation.
Demetri: I’M TOO YOUNG TO DIE!
Isaiah: WE’RE ALL TOO YOUNG, YOU IDIOT!
Demetri: I’M TOO BEAUTIFUL TO DIE!
Isaiah: FUCK YOU!
Saige hugs Blair.
Saige: Well, Blair, if I’m going to die, I’m glad it’s with my best buddy!
Blair: I fucking hate you!
Saige: Ah… this is nice.
Wes is freaking out.
Wes: WE’RE GOING TO FUCK DIE!
Verity: Unfortunately, yes.
Lilith starts crying.
Lilith: I don’t want to die!
Verity hugs Lilith.
Verity: It’s okay. There is no heaven, so we’ll just be sent to the empty void of nothingness for all eternity.
Lilith sobs louder.
Wes: WHAT IS FUCKING WRONG WITH YOU!
Wes turns to Jake, who is casually eating his chicken nuggets.
Wes: Speaking of which!
Wes walks over to Jake and slaps him.
Wes: How the fuck are you eating when we’re all about to die!
Jake: Don’t worry, you’re not going to die.
Wes: Yes! Yes, we are!
Wes points to the building X is on. His nuclear energy is emitting a powerful glow.
Wes: THAT! That right there is going to kill us!
Jake puts his hand on Wes' shoulder.
Jake: Wes, remember what I told you way back during the exercise against Multi?
“ Jake: Wes, I’m not an expert on this stuff, but it sounds to me like you need to accept that your quirk has a role, and instead of envying the role that other people’s quirks have, maybe you should become the best at what your quirk does best. “ - Chapter 10
Wes: Yeah… why?
Jake: I may be a slacker, but I understand what my quirk is best for. I’m a rescue hero, not a fighter.
Wes: Wh- what are you getting at?
Jake: Never forget what I taught you, okay?
Wes: Jake… what are you getting at?
Jake: When I got into U.A., I was happy because it meant that no matter how good or bad I did, as long as I graduated, I would be able to live a satisfying, peaceful and simple life. I was happy just to have made it, and I know my lack of ambition got on people’s nerves a lot, but I never lost sight of why I came to U.A. in the first place.
Wes: And that was?
Jake: To be a hero.
Jake teleports away.
Wes: JAKE NO!
Pause watches as X grows in power.
Pause: Dammit… I failed.
Pause slams his fist.
X: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I FINALLY GET TO EXACT MY REVENGE ON ALL OF YOU PEOPLE WHO LOCKED ME IN A CAGE! I HATED IT IN THERE, AND YOU’LL REGRET EVER LETTING ME GET OUT!
Tears are falling from X’s eyes.
X: MOM! DAD! I’VE MADE IT! I FINALLY WILL AVENGE YOU! THIS IS THE GREATEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE!
Jake teleports next to X.
X: Wh- who the hell are you!
Everyone is surprised.
Eve, Alexis, Angel, Zach, Jace, Demetri, Isaiah, Kevin, Karma, Gus, Saige, Blair, Fatal (Ash), Lilith, Justus, and Silver: Jake?
Jake places his hand on X’s shoulder.
Jake: Sorry, but you’re not nuking the city today.
X: What are you talking about? I’m at critical levels! I’ll detonate in five seconds! If you can explain how you’re going to disarm me in that time, BE MY GUEST-
Jake teleports himself and X into space.
X: *suffocating* (What the hell!)
X and Jake’s bodies begin to ice over as they float in the empty vacuum of space.
X: *suffocating* (This isn’t how this was supposed to happen!)
Jake smiles.
Jake: He doesn’t look too tough.
X suffocates, and the dead man’s trigger detonates.
[https://i.gyazo.com/7805905db26f354d6542e442b45cdf21.png]
Everyone watches as a deadly silent nuclear blast goes off in the sky.
Wes: Jake…
Iota sees the explosion from the coliseum planet.
Iota: Wh- what happened!
Zaire: I do not know, but X seemingly has detonated in the atmosphere.
Iota: I can see that! *sighs* No matter, destroying Nashville was a luxury, not a necessity.
Iota places more pressure on Colossus’ back.
Iota: Unlike destroying you, that is.
Colossus: You may think you’re number 1, but you’re not.
Iota: Why, because I’m using the rings to do it? What’s different about my methods than yours?
Colossus: Being number 1 isn’t just about strength… it’s about what you represent.
Iota: Haven’t we been over this? What you represented was a lie.
Colossus: No, I was the lie, not what I represented. I was the symbol of peace. I was a beacon of hope, a signal for evil to fear. I kept people safe just by existing. Crime reached its all-time low because of me, and I always smiled in the face of my enemies. I represented a shift in people’s minds. Peace was always just a foreign concept until I arrived. People adored me not because I was strong but because I made them feel safe. I wish I could have achieved that without the ring’s power, but that’s not what this was about. I kept people safe without moving a muscle, which should be every hero’s dream. So to the next generation of heroes, don’t remember me for my strength… remember me for what I represented. Don’t forget that you’re role models and inspire others to be the best they can be by simply being yourself.
Iota cocks back his arm.
Colossus: And to my son, Justus…
Justus’ eyes widen.
Colossus: I’m sorry.
Iota punches his fist through Colossus’ back into his heart, killing him.
Iota: Ah… that’s finally done.
Everyone on Earth watches with sadness as its greatest hero has fallen. Justus falls to his knees as tears fall from his eyes.
Justus: (Father…)
Iota walks to the center of the area, and his eyes start glowing.
Iota: Well, planet Earth. You have a new symbol!
The crowd cheers.
Iota: Bask in my glory!
Iota holds both of his hands above his head to show off the Iota and Omega Rings.
Iota: I have won! Everything has been building to this moment! The moment I become the strongest there is! You will live in fear under my rule! There are no more heroes and villains! This is my world now!
Suddenly, a sword flies by and slices Iota’s hands off.
Crowd: *gasps*
Zaire: Master!
Iota looks at his severed hands lying on the ground before him.
Iota: Wh- wh- wh-
Iota turns in the direction the sword came from and sees Hayze standing, breathing heavily. His wounds have healed.
Hayze: 2nd rule of strategy: always have an out.