Deep in the Mojave Desert, a man dressed in a white cloak and hood approaches a small hut. He stands tall with massive muscles. He has a slight Nigerian accent.

Cloaked Man: I know you’re in there; come on out.

The hut’s door opens, and a muscular man in a tank top steps out.

Cloaked Man: I remember you from long ago. You were the top student of United Academy and had a lot of hype surrounding you when you graduated, then you seemingly disappeared off the face of the Earth. So what was your hero name again? Oh right… Battlin’ Boxer.

Battlin’ Boxer: Why are you here?

Cloaked Man: I think you know that already.

Battlin’ Boxer raises his fists. He’s wearing boxing gloves on each of his hands.

Battlin’ Boxer: I won’t let you take it.

Cloaked Man: That’s unfortunate.

Battlin’ Boxer: I knew when Colossus died that I’d eventually be found by hunters. I just didn’t expect it to only take three months.

The cloaked man smiles.

Cloaked Man: Yes, well… let’s just say I’m a very determined man.

Battlin’ Boxer stares at the cloaked man.

Battlin’ Boxer: What’s your name?

Cloaked Man: Why do you ask?

Battlin’ Boxer: I’m tasked to kill all who visit me uninvited. I prefer not to kill someone I don’t know the name of.

Cloaked Man: My name is not something I’ll give you… however, out of kindness, I’ll provide you with something to call me.

Battlin’ Boxer: Kindness? What’s so kind about giving me your alias?

Cloaked Man: I want you to know what to call your killer.

Battlin’ Boxer’s eyes narrow.

Battlin’ Boxer: And what might that be?

The cloaked man looks up at the sky.

Cloaked Man: I am Vanguard.

Battlin’ Boxer: Vanguard? What kind of moniker is that?

Vanguard: One that carries more weight than you could ever comprehend.

Battlin’ Boxer cracks his neck.

Battlin’ Boxer: Well, Vanguard, I’m afraid you have to die now.

Vanguard: Funny, I was just about to say that same thing to you.

Battlin’ Boxer: *grunts*

Battlin’ Boxer’s forearms become surrounded by the translucent manifestations of a Tiger and a Dragon.

Battlin’ Boxer: It’s been a while since I last fought, but I’m more than ready to defeat you. My quirk, Animal Fist, is beyond powerful. I can channel the power of the strongest animals to invigorate my punches!

Battlin’ Boxer gets in a fighting stance.

Battlin’ Boxer: There’s a reason I was the top student in my class. I gave up my potential as a hero to serve the greater good and protect the world from evildoers like you. You’ll need a powerful quirk to defeat me.

Vanguard holds his hand in the air.

Battlin’ Boxer: (What’s he doing?)

Vanguard: A quirk, you say?

Battlin’ Boxer: Yes, I assume you wouldn’t try to fight me without a strong power in your arsenal. So tell me, what is your quirk?

Vanguard reaches into his cloak and pulls out a deck of cards.

Battlin’ Boxer: Huh?

Vanguard shuffles the deck.

Vanguard: Would you like me to tell you your fortune?

Battlin’ Boxer: My- my fortune? What are you on about?

Vanguard finishes shuffling and draws the top card.

Vanguard: This card will tell me your fate.

Battlin’ Boxer: Wait a second… is that a tarot card? I don’t believe that cards can tell the future.

Vanguard: Really?

Vanguard flips the card over, revealing Death upside down.

Vanguard: You drew Death. How ironic.

Battlin’ Boxer: Death? That’s a pure coincidence!

Vanguard smiles.

Vanguard: No… this is fate. The card is upside down, representing stagnation and decay. Sitting in this hut for so long has softened you up and made you weak.

Battlin’ Boxer: *grunts*

Vanguard: But you’re afraid of change. You like this life you're living even if it’s boring. You took on this responsibility because it was far less daunting than trying to live up to your expectations. You were given an out. Deep down, you know you ran away from being a real hero because you were afraid of failure. Keeping this post makes you a hero, and you don’t have any pressure from your fans, friends, and family. You can just sit here and stand guard. But you’re not willing to admit that this is why you took on this noble job. You’re holding on to the idea that you did this because you’re a good person deep down. That’s nowhere near the case. You’re actually just-

Battlin’ Boxer: SHUT THE HELL UP!

Battlin’ Boxer bursts towards Vanguard.

Battlin’ Boxer: I’m here because I’m a hero!

Vanguard shoots Battlin’ Boxer in the head with a derringer hidden in his sleeve.

Vanguard: You lowered your guard.

Battlin’ Boxer’s body falls limp against the sand.

Vanguard: Big mistake.

Vanguard walks past Battlin’ Boxer’s body and enters his hut.

Vanguard: Now… where did he hide it?

Vanguard feels against the hut's walls until he pauses on a single brick.

Vanguard: (This one… it’s displaced by half a centimeter.)

Vanguard punches the wall and smashes a hole in it. He picks up the brick and examines it.

Vanguard: (It’s here.)

Vanguard cracks the brick in half over his knee. Inside the brick is a ring.

Vanguard: What an interesting hiding spot. I never would have found it if it weren’t for my keen observation skills.

Vanguard picks up the ring. It has a purple gem with the Greek symbol Alpha in the center of it.

Vanguard: It’s time to purify this world.

Vanguard puts the ring on his finger.

Vanguard: One human at a time.

Vargas sips tea while sitting in a rocking chair in front of his cabin. In his other hand is a stopwatch.

Vargas: Ah… delicious.

Suddenly Hayze appears with traces of lightning following his path. Vargas clocks the time.

Hayze: How did I do?

Vargas: 14 seconds. Slightly better than your previous record.

Hayze: I can do better.

Vargas: You’ve already mastered your lightning speed technique. There’s no need to push yourself further.

Hayze: What are you talking about? The whole point of my lightning element is my speed. So, the faster I get, the more powerful this quirk becomes.

Vargas smiles.

Vargas: You passed the test. You should always be trying to improve.

Vargas resets the stopwatch.

Vargas: Run the course again.

Hayze: Yessir.

Hayze speeds off as Vargas starts the clock.

Vargas: (He’s improved so much these last three months. His energy is so potent…)

Hayze returns from the other direction, and Vargas clocks it.

Vargas: Well, well, well… 13 seconds.

Hayze smiles.

Hayze: Let’s do it again.

Vargas stands up.

Vargas: No, we’ll call it a day for today.

Hayze: *grunts* What? But, I-

Vargas: You’ve exerted too much energy. We’ve all but erased your time limit, but that doesn’t mean you're incapable of exhaustion. Come inside and wipe off your sweat. Tomorrow we’ll work on Water again.

Hayze’s eyes revert to normal.

Hayze: Right, yessir.

Hayze and Vargas enter the cabin.

Hayze: Vargas, sir, can I ask a question?

Vargas: You already have, but you may ask another.

Hayze: I know you have a strict policy against telling me how much I’ve improved, but I need to know… do you think I’m stronger than Justus was during the Sports Festival?

Vargas stares at Hayze for a few moments.

Vargas: You’re still hung up on that loss?

Hayze: Of course I am. I wanted to win, and I know I probably wouldn’t have even if my body didn’t give out, but that doesn’t mean I’ve moved on.

Vargas continues staring at Hayze.

Vargas: I cannot say you’re stronger than him because you have not fought in a real battle since our training began. You’re a different fighter than you were back then. You’re not as physically weak. You could outmuscle an opponent using your quirk, something you could not do before. If you want to know the answer to your question, you need to answer it yourself.

Hayze: Right, thank you, sir.

Vargas refills his tea.

Vargas: I notice you didn’t jump on my suggestion.

Hayze: Hm?

Vargas: Do you actually want a rematch with Justus? You didn’t ask if I believe you’re stronger than him now, only in the past. It tells me that you’re uncertain of your future.

Hayze thinks for a few moments.

Hayze: I still haven’t mastered control over any of them; just Calm. I swore I wouldn’t return until I could take this ring fragment off without losing myself. I’ve gotten stronger, that’s for sure, but I’m still at square one in that regard.

Hayze clenches the fragment.

Hayze: If I lose this fragment, Khaos will take over, for good this time. So, I am uncertain of my future… I don’t know when I’ll feel safe to return.

Vargas stares at Hayze for a few moments.

Vargas: You still haven’t communicated with any of them, have you?

Hayze looks away.

Vargas: It’s not healthy for you to exile yourself like this. I may be here, but I am your mentor, not your friend.

Hayze: I remember Khaos mentioning how if he becomes the controlling personality, he'll be free of his “rule” that he can only kill people I hate. If he takes over again, he’ll kill all of them. So it’s better if I stay out of their lives.

Vargas karate chops Hayze’s head.

Hayze: Ow...

Vargas: You know what one of my biggest pet peeves is?

Hayze: What?

Vargas: When someone tries to justify their selfish behavior by saying they're being selfless.

Hayze’s eyes widen.

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Hayze: How am I being selfish for trying to protect the people I care about?

Vargas: *sighs* You really can’t see it?

Hayze: N- no?

Vargas: Think about it while you fill the jerrycans with water from the river. You’re not allowed to use your quirk.

Hayze: But, there’s like 15 of them, and that’s a mile walk!

Vargas: Then you better get moving.

Hayze reluctantly walks to the door.

Vargas: Why are you following my order?

Hayze is confused.

Hayze: B- because you told me to?

Vargas: Yes, but why are you doing what I tell you to?

Hayze: Because you’re training me.

Vargas: And why do you need more training? You’ve already reached a point where only refinement is necessary, and if I haven’t helped you master control of your personalities after three months, what makes you think I will anytime soon?

Hayze doesn’t respond.

Vargas: You’re following my orders because you know that if you don’t, I’ll throw you out of here, and you’ll be forced to go home. You’re about to go kill yourself filling up all those jerrycans because you’re afraid of going home, and the best part is that even though I’ve said all of this, you’re still going to do it.

Hayze is silent for a few moments before leaving to follow Vargas’ orders.

Vargas: (He’s running…, and he doesn’t want to know what happens if he stops.)

In Nashville, Wes stands on a pedestrian bridge, looking out at the water. He’s wearing a backpack.

Wes: (It’s hard to believe the summer is almost over.) *sighs* (But I still haven’t finished processing everything that happened that day.)

Wes flashes back to the moment before Jake teleported away for the final time.

Wes: (I keep needing to remind myself he’s gone. It’s only like I’m going to forget or anything. It just doesn’t feel real.)

Wes walks to the railing of the bridge and looks down.

Wes: (Jake dying made me realize how serious everything is. For some reason, our class has been involved in all of these attacks; it’s like we’re a magnet to this shit. This isn’t fun and games anymore, this is life or death, and unfortunately, it took the latter to remind me of that. Everyone in the class has been training nonstop this summer. Hell, this is the strongest I’ve felt in my whole life, and I can’t imagine what the others will be like. I just hope I can stack up against them.)

Wes looks over the edge.

Wes: (Speaking of which…)

Isaiah, Demetri, and Alden are hanging off the bridge by bungee cords, meditating.

Wes: You guys know this is like… probably illegal?

Demetri: Shut up, Wes! Just do what we told you to!

Wes: *sighs* You could have at least worn harnesses…

Isaiah: And how is that training?

Alden: Harnesses are for the weak!

Their bungee cords are simply tied to their ankles.

Demetri: Now! We’re ready for the first round!

Isaiah and Alden: Yeah!

Wies rolls his eyes.

Wes: Don’t say I didn’t warn you...

Wes uses his grappling hook mechanism on his arm to launch himself on top of the bridge.

Wes: Alright, round 1.

Wes unzips his backpack and pulls out three frisbees. He uses his quirk to turn all of them into mirrors and unholsters his gun.

Wes: Here we go…

Wes throws the three discs and shoots at them, reflecting the bullets towards Alden, Isaiah, and Demetri’s bungee cords.

Isaiah: No way you’re taking me down!

Isaiah uses his laser beam to vaporize his bullet.

Demetri: I’ve been preparing my reflexes for this!

Demetri fires all ten of his strings at his speeding bullet, redirecting its path and causing it to miss his cord.

Alden: I’ve got mine too! Nails extend!

Alden’s nails grow three feet in length.

Alden: It’s time to block this bullet!

The bullet smashes through Alden’s nails, breaking them.

Alden: AHHHH!

The bullet slices through Alden’s cord, causing him to fall below the river.

Alden: NOOOO!

Wes looks down at the river with a disappointed look on his face.

Wes: (Well, at least the other two have been improving…)

After a long day of training, Wes, Isaiah, Demetri, and a waterlogged Alden are walking to the bus station.

Demetri: I feel like I could easily defeat Justus now.

Isaiah: Pfft, Justus? I’m looking to take down Mr. Walker on the first day of school.

Wes: You guys are pretty cocky, aren’t you?

Demetri: We’ve been training all summer for this semester.

Isaiah: No more easy defeats, no more getting laughed at! This year we’re the stars of the show!

Alden: Yeah!

Isaiah and Demetri: Shut up, Alden.

Wes: Well, I guess being cocky is a step above extreme perversion.

Isaiah and Demetri both have sinister smiles.

Isaiah: Nope, we’re still doing that.

Wes: Of course...

Demetri: A zebra can’t change his stripes.

Wes: That’s like comparing apples to rotten oranges…

Isaiah: We did a lot of thinking about why we didn’t succeed the way we hoped during our first year.

Demetri: And we concluded that being perverts was probably the biggest issue.

Wes: Wait… you only figured that out recently?

Demetri: But, we know we can’t go cold turkey.

Isaiah: So we’re now going to be stealth perverts.

Wes: Oh boy… I don’t like the sound of that…

Demetri places his hand on Wes' shoulder.

Demetri: Don’t worry, buddy. You’re a part of the squad too.

Wes: That’s not what I’m worried about.

Isaiah: We even got you a matching shirt like the rest of us!

Wes: Wh- what?

Isaiah pulls out a shirt that says, “Pervert Posey.”

Isaiah: Here you go!

Demetri: Welcome to the team!

Wes stares at them dumbfounded.

Alden: Hey… where’s mine?

Isaiah and Demetri: Shut up, Alden.

Wes: Please burn that…

Isaiah and Demetri: Ahhhh! Maaaaan!

Wes ignores them and continues walking.

Isaiah: Oh, by the way, Wes.

Wes: Hm?

Isaiah: Why aren’t you hanging out with Aaron that much nowadays?

Demetri: Yeah… hasn’t he been back for like a month? I thought you guys were really good friends.

Wes looks away.

Wes: Aaron’s been… different since he got back from his training.

Isaiah: What do you mean by “different?”

Wes: I don’t know what he went through in Colorado… but he’s not the same guy he was when he left… that’s for sure.

Eve is walking down a suburban street with a grocery bag. She walks up to a house and knocks on the door. It opens soon after.

Eve: Hi, Mrs. Maddox!

Blair’s Mom: Eve! 3:30 on the dot again! You are quite the punctual girl!

Eve: Well, this has kind of become my daily routine…

Blair’s Mom: Oh, and I’m so sorry about that! I wish she would listen to me, but you’re a good friend for helping her.

Eve: Don’t worry about it! I’m happy to help.

Blair’s Mom: Please, come inside.

Eve walks in, and Blair’s mom closes the door.

Eve: I think I’m going to try and get her out of the house today.

Blair’s Mom: Oh, really? That’s a big step! Are you sure that’s possible right now?

Eve: Look, Mrs. M, I have a lot of leverage in these negotiations. I’m pretty confident things are going to go our way.

Blair’s Mom smiles.

Blair’s Mom: Good luck in there, Eve!

Eve: Thanks.

Eve walks upstairs and heads toward Blair’s room. She passes by Cari in the hallway.

Eve: Hey, Cari! How are you doing?

Cari stares at Eve.

Cari: You should probably start bringing a change of clothes if you’re going in there. Tiny tits’ smell stains.

Cari leaves.

Eve: (That girl is cold…)

Eve arrives at Blair’s door. She reaches into her bag and puts a clothespin on her nose.

Eve: (Here we go.)

Eve opens the door and walks into the room. Blair is lying in bed with the covers over her head. Her blinds are closed, so it’s completely dark, and her room is a complete mess.

Eve: I brought you breakfast again.

Eve places instant ramen on Blair’s nightstand and sits in a chair beside the bed.

Eve: Don’t pretend to be asleep. We do this every day.

Blair’s stomach growls.

Blair: Fine…

Blair lifts the covers and sits up in her bed. Her hair is extremely greasy and mangled.

Eve: You’re looking as lady-like as ever.

Blair: Shut up…

Blair prepares the ramen and starts eating.

Eve: Blair, this is getting sad.

Blair ignores Eve.

Eve: There’s only a week until we move in, so you’ll have to get out of this bed soon. Unless you plan on dropping out…

Blair continues ignoring Eve.

Eve: *sighs*

Eve reaches into her grocery bag and pulls out a mirror.

Eve: Blair, look at yourself.

Blair doesn’t look in the mirror.

Eve: Blair, if you don’t look in this mirror in the next five seconds, I’m going to tell your mom what you do in here all day.

Blair instantly turns and looks in the mirror.

Eve: Blair, look, your hair looks like rotten hay. You haven’t bathed in a month, so you smell like a men’s locker room! All you do all day is lie naked, sleep, cry, or masturbate. This isn’t healthy, Blair.

Blair’s face turns red.

Eve: Don’t get all embarrassed now. You should have been embarrassed a month ago when you started living like this.

Blair starts crying.

Eve: *sighs* Let it out…

Blair: I’m sorry, I- I- I- I just I really liked him…

Eve: Yes, I’m aware, but that’s no reason to go into depression and stop taking care of yourself.

Blair: I really thought he was going to come back… I really thought he cared about me.

Eve looks at Blair with a concerned look on her face.

Blair: I didn’t think he’d just abandon me like this!

Eve: He abandoned everybody, Blair. I talked to some of the guys yesterday. Nobody has heard a word from him. I don’t know where he is, but it’s safe to say he’s done with all of us.

Blair: You think so…

Eve: It’s been three months, Blair. If he cared, he would have at least called and told us what’s going on. I’m not going to say, “I told you so,” but this is the type of guy Hayze really is. So, it’s time for you to get over him and start living your life again.

There is silence for a few moments.

Blair: I thought he’d always be there for me… I thought we had something special. I grew so much during our first year I got over my insecurities about my strength and appearance, and I couldn’t have done that without him. He inspired me to be the best version of me I could be, so when I realized he wasn’t coming back… I regressed into the worst version of myself. I guess it’s been hard for me to accept that Hayze isn’t the person I thought he was.

Eve places her hand on Blair’s shoulder.

Eve: Well, look at it this way. Now that you know that you can't rely on Hayze, you can start to rely on yourself. You trained hard those first two months of Summer and made good progress. That had nothing to do with Hayze and had everything to do with you. You’ve surpassed me already, Blair and I know you’re capable of getting even stronger. So, how about we spend this next week getting you back into fighting shape so that if that bastard Hayze ever shows up again, you can kick his ass for what he did to you.

Blair thinks for a moment.

Blair: You know what… you’re right. I want to be the number one hero, and I don’t need Hayze! If he thinks he can just play with my emotions like that, he’s got another thing coming! I’m going to get stronger and stronger until I’ve surpassed him, and then I’ll show him that he was wrong for ever abandoning me!

Blair leaps out of bed.

Blair: It’s time for Blair Maddox to finally be treated with respect!

Eve: You might want to shower first… and get a razer…

Blair’s face turns red again.

Blair: R- right…

An express train pulls into a subway station.

Announcer: We have now arrived at Bordeaux station. Please be careful when exiting.

A muscular girl steps off the train.

Muscular Girl: (I’m finally here.)

The girl exits the station to the filled streets of Nashville.

Muscular Girl: (Man, you can hardly even tell that there was a full-scale invasion just a couple of months ago. I was hoping to see some scars, but that doesn’t matter...)

The girl stretches and cracks her knuckles.

Muscular Girl: (I’ve got a week to burn.)

She has a big smile on her face.

Muscular Girl: (So, let’s see if I can find a good fight in that time!)

She spots Ash and Justus heading into a forest together.

Muscular Girl: (Jackpot!)

Hayze reaches the river with two jerrycans. He begins filling one with the flowing water.

“ Vargas: You’re about to go kill yourself filling up all those jerrycans because you’re afraid of going home, and the best part is that even though I’ve said all of this, you’re still going to do it. “

Hayze’s grip tightens.

Hayze: (Of course, I’m afraid of going back…)

Khaos decapitating Dr. Moore flashes through Hayze’s mind.

Hayze: (I've- he’s killed two people in his two appearances. I’m not going to let him kill again.)

Hayze finishes filling the jerrycan. He places it down and reaches for the other one. However, he pauses for a second and stares at his hand.

“ Vargas: If you want to know the answer to your question, you need to answer it yourself. “

Hayze: (I won’t lie, a part of me wants to know how I stack up after all this time I’ve spent training. I’ve fought Aaron, Justus, Kevin, and Silver once each, with varying results. Justus beat me, and my fight with Kevin was interrupted before it had barely begun. I defeated Aaron handily, but I’m not sure he was on top of his game. He passed up fighting in the Showcase because it was so urgent for him to get stronger. I can’t imagine he’s anything like the fighter he was. As for Silver, I beat him, but we both know that it would have been different had he been going all out. I hope after I get my power under control, I can fight them again… someday.)

Hayze picks up and starts filling the second jerrycan.

Hayze: (Maybe Vargas has a point that I could have at least called someone and told them where I was, but…)

“ Hayze: Since when did you two become so competitive?

Jace: We’ve always been competitive. We don’t get much of a chance to show it since guys like Justus and Silver hog the spotlight.

Zach: Yeah… don’t get me wrong… they’re cool guys; I just wish that we could get a little recognition every now and again. “ - Chapter 89

Hayze: (They could have easily lumped me in with them, but they didn’t because they were talking to me. It was then that I realized that the distance I had created between myself and my classmates was far beyond what I had believed it was. If I’m gone, the others can shine, and I know they won’t miss me.)

Hayze finishes filling the second jerrycan and grabs the other one. Then, he starts heading back to Vargas’ cabin.

Hayze: (There are a few of them that I do feel guilty about… like Wes, Jake, Ash, Lilith, Saige, and Blair. Wes and I weren’t super close, but I think he enjoyed that our friendship was low maintenance. I didn’t have much of a friendship with Jake, but I respect his goals in life. I can only hope he shared that same respect for me. Ash and Lilith are super nice girls who cared about me even though I didn’t hand around them much outside of school. And then...)

Hayze shakes his head.

Hayze: (There’s no way Saige and Blair have feelings for me. Saige is always messing with me and Blair… Well, she’s out of my league. Calm and the others had to have been lying or misinterpreting. Those girls are both beautiful and could get any guy they want. So why would they settle for an emotionally distant, mentally unstable, romantically inept idiot like me? It just doesn’t make any sense.)

“ Blair: Well… I’m here because I want to be here with you, okay? “ - Chapter 90

Hayze: (If they do like me like that, then it’s probably for the best that I left. They can do way better than me.)

Hayze reaches Vargas’ cabin and places the last two jerrycans with the rest. Hayze walks through the front door.

Hayze: I finished filling all of the water-

Hayze is speechless.

Saige: You really thought you could just run away?