Exciton and Lust spot two people further down their hallway.
Exciton: Look.
Lust: Huh?
Exciton: Two people, dead ahead.
Lust: Do you think they’re enemies?
Exciton: Who knows, we’re so deep into this maze it could be just about anyone.
Lust and Exciton brace themselves.
Exciton: You take the one on the left, I’ll get-
Vulcan: You can save your breath.
Exciton: Huh?
Vulcan and Black Hollow come into view.
Exciton: Vulcan, there you are.
Lust: And Black Hollow too.
Black Hollow: Are you two also by yourselves?
Exciton: Yeah, our group split into two, and then we kept having more and more people get separated from us.
Black Hollow: The same goes for us.
Lust: I have to imagine that isn’t a coincidence.
Exciton: Yeah, we haven’t run into any enemies this whole damn time. You’d think this place was deserted.
Black Hollow: We’ve encountered one villain, but her goal was to separate our group.
Vulcan: We found Colossus’ son beaten to a pulp not long ago. Black Hollow’s provisional hero took him back to the surface.
Lust: So, she was targeting the students from the start.
Exciton: And she’s had eyes on us this whole time. Probably a large portion of the U.A. kids have faced off in battles against her henchmen. Any number of them could be heavily wounded or dead.
Lust: Don’t say that; I’m sure they’re okay.
Exciton: I hope so, but we have to prepare for the worst.
Black Hollow: We played right into her hand, and if the students failed to win their battles...
Vulcan: Then bringing them along was like sending them to their deaths.
All four of them are quiet.
Lust: Okay, but what’s her plan for us? She can’t honestly believe she can kill all of us, right?
Exciton: Perhaps she believes that by killing us one at a time, she can grow her strength more and more until she’s unstoppable, for even Vulcan and me.
Vulcan: She’s a fool if that’s her plan. I’ll simply battle her first and kill her.
Exciton: I’m all for confidence, but we should be wary of her abilities. She has an S-Rank quirk, and she’s clearly a brilliant tactician. Underestimating her could lead to our deaths.
Lust: Exciton is right. If she plans to fight us one at a time, we need to work together as a team to kill her.
Vulcan: Whatever.
Exciton: Whatever? Really? That’s your response?
Vulcan: Because none of this matters.
Exciton: Huh?
Vulcan: Let me put it to you this way: If you came from that direction, and we came from this direction.
Lust: Then we’re completely lost,
Exciton: *frustrated grunt* Dammit.
Vulcan: We’ll backtrack the way Black Hollow and I came. I was stupid to let that student talk me into changing course.
Black Hollow: Tyson’s logic was sound, Vulcan. But I agree that we need to turn around. I’m worried about Kevin. He should have defeated that brute by now.
Exciton: I thought you said you only ran into one opponent?
Black Hollow: Well, that one ran into us.
Scarlett and Kevin square off.
Kevin: I can sense your fear.
Scarlett: Me? Afraid of a walking tomato? Hardly.
Kevin: *nasal grunt* You know, there was a theory that at 100%, my strength could rival Colossus.
Scarlett: Well, there’s a reason evolution is just a theory.
Kevin: I’m sitting at 110% right now, and even though I know you’re a powerhouse, I’d say I’m stronger than you.
Scarlett laughs.
Scarlett: Your “110%” doesn’t scare me a bit.
Kevin: Oh really? AHHHHHH!
Kevin’s skin gets a slightly darker shade of red.
Scarlett: Huh?!
Kevin: ONE HUNDRED TWENTY PERCENT!
Kevin bursts towards Scarlett.
Scarlett: (His speed is incredible!)
Kevin punches Scarlett in the chest, sending her flying down the hallway like a missile. Kevin chases after her.
Scarlett: (I don’t know which hurt worse… that punch or the one from Just-)
Scarlett spots Kevin catching up to her.
Scarlett: (What?!)
Kevin: You’re going down!
Kevin grabs Scarlett’s ankle and throws her into the floor, completely destroying it and dropping them down a level.
Scarlett: *groans*
Kevin watches as Scarlett’s wounds slowly regenerate.
Kevin: So that’s how you vampires work, huh? You can heal any damage that quickly?
Scarlett: Yes, so you can’t beat me! I’m all-powerful!
Kevin: We’ll see about that! AHHHHHH!
Kevin’s skin slightly darkens again.
Kevin: ONE HUNDRED THIRTY!
Scarlett: (NO!)
Kevin winds back a punch.
Kevin: TIME TO DIE!
Scarlett disappears into the shadows, causing Kevin’s punch to connect with the ground, destroying it and dropping him on another floor. Scarlett reappears beside the hole he created on their original floor. She’s breathing heavily.
Scarlett: (What is this luck? First, I fight the Son of Colossus using his father’s strength, and now I’m against this? He’s more of a literal monster!)
Kevin looks up at Scarlett.
Kevin: You can’t run from me! AHHHHHHHH!
Kevin’s skin darkens again, and blood-red cracks in his skin form throughout his body.
Kevin: ONE HUNDRED FIFTY!
Kevin jumps up onto the same floor as Scarlett. She leaps back.
Scarlett: This shouldn’t be possible! You’re only human! Your body is well past its limit! You should be dead on the ground!
Kevin: Anything is possible… if you put your mind to it.
Scarlett: What?!
Kevin: The only reason I had a limit to my power is that I believed there was one. Once I had the proper motivation to finally throw that belief aside, I could push my body and quirk to previously unseen extremes.
Scarlett: That doesn’t make any sense! If a human just has to believe they can do anything to remove their limits, then how come everyone else isn’t doing it!
Kevin: Because it’s like you said, “I was basically dead already.”
Scarlett’s eyes widen.
Kevin: I was gonna die. So, I had two choices: Face my execution or take you down with me. So, I gathered the strength to break the seal and push beyond my physical limitations.
Scarlett: It can’t be that simple!
Kevin: It is!
Scarlett looks at Kevin’s body.
Scarlett: You’ve torn almost every muscle in your body. You’re ignoring your stretched ligaments and walking on broken bones! DON’T TELL ME THAT YOU’RE WILLING YOUR BODY TO DO THAT!
Kevin: I am… all for one reason.
Scarlett: Huh?
Kevin: If I’m going down… I’M GOING DOWN SWINGING!
Kevin bursts towards Scarlett again.
Kevin: YOU’RE GOING TO DIE AT THE HANDS OF KEVIN MOTHERFUCKING BOHM!
Scarlett: AHHH!
Kevin spin kicks Scarlett in the chest with such force and intensity that her entire rib cage and upper spinal vertebrae shatter. She gets sent flying through the hallway as if she was being propelled by a jet engine.
Scarlett: AHHHHHHHHHH!
Kevin catches his breath and then frantically shakes his head.
Kevin: (Just keep pushing… I may be dying here, but I’ll keep fighting until she’s being greeted by Satan himself!)
Hayze and Ivy square off.
Ivy: (Those… those eyes.)
Hayze: Is something wrong?
Ivy: No.
Hayze: Really? Because you seem thrown off by my choice of element.
Ivy: I’m not. I don’t care if your eyes are red, yellow, black, or pink with polka dots, I’ve defeated you three times, and my streak won’t end here.
Hayze: Can I guess why you were taken aback by my eyes?
Ivy: No.
Hayze: After Saige defeated you and Iota was about to hemorrhage your mind… Someone saved you.
Ivy doesn’t respond.
Hayze: That someone was Khaos, my alter ego. If it wasn’t for him, you’d be dead now, and these are his eyes.
Ivy: Oh yeah? Well then, I’m glad that when I kill you, he’ll go too.
Hayze: Really? So you’re saying you wish he’d just let you die?
Ivy: Yes!
Hayze shrugs.
Hayze: Huh… because last time we spoke, you said you waited months for me to return to my home. I’m guessing part of the reason was that Khaos saving your life made you realize that maybe I was telling the truth every time we spoke.
Ivy: That doesn’t matter. I know you weren’t telling the truth.
Hayze: I know.
Ivy: Then you’re finally willing to give up this stupid charade? Because I’m tired of these encounters of ours. You’re going to die here, and there’s nothing you can say to stop that from happening.
Hayze: You’re right. There is nothing I can say.
Hayze holds out his right arm, and a black vortex opens from its shadow. Rays of darkness begin to emerge from the vortex and form a helix. The helix then develops into a massive executioner’s blade. Hayze grabs hold of the sword.
Hayze: So that’s why I’m going to fight you with everything I’ve got.
Ivy: So this will finally be a real fight?
Hayze: Yes, but you’ve got one thing wrong.
Ivy: Hm?
Hayze: Neither of us is going to die. We met in that forest almost a year ago, Ivy, and I knew you weren’t the person you were pretending to be.
Hayze points his sword at Ivy.
Hayze: And it’s finally time that I rip off that mask of yours and meet the real you.
Ivy: You really are a fool.
Ivy points her palm at Hayze.
Ivy: Push.
Ivy’s gravitational force blasts Hayze and sends him flying back.
Hayze: (Not the best start!)
Ivy: Let’s see how well you stand against me without your legs!
Ivy points her palm behind herself and uses her Push Force to send herself flying after Hayze.
Hayze: *grunts* It’s not going to be that easy! Shadow Sneak!
Hayze disappears into his shadow.
Ivy: Huh?
Ivy lands on the ground and searches around for Hayze.
Ivy: (Where is he?)
Hayze appears behind Ivy, inside her shadow.
Hayze: You might want to look behind you.
Ivy: *grunts*
Ivy leaps away from Hayze. Khaos appears as a spirit beside Hayze.
Khaos: (You could have ended it then, why didn’t you?)
Hayze: (Why didn’t I kill her? I thought my intentions were pretty obvious.)
Khaos: (Wounding her would have been better than nothing.)
Hayze: (I don’t need to “wound” her, this fight will end after just one blow.)
Khaos: (What do you mean? My powers may be boosting your strength, but she’s still a league above you.)
Hayze: (Then why don’t we switch places? See what you can do?)
Khaos: (*nasal grunt* Do you expect me to hold back the way you are?)
Hayze: (There’s only one spot I want you to aim for.)
Khaos: (And that is?)
Ivy readies her hand.
Ivy: (So he’s able to hide in the shadows and attack from them. I’ll have to be careful, he could have killed me there, but he’s a stupid fool.)
Hayze lunges at Ivy.
Ivy: Huh?!
Hayze slashes at Ivy, but she blocks his blade with her own.
Ivy: I didn’t expect a frontal attack.
Khaos: You’re not facing the same guy, tuts.
Ivy: Huh?
Khaos kicks Ivy in the chest, knocking her down.
Ivy: So you’ve switched places…
Khaos: Yeah, and now we’re actually going to get somewhere in this fight!
Khaos channels shadows around himself.
Khaos: You might want to start running.
Ivy: I don’t need to run.
Ivy uses her Push Force to fly into Khaos, tackling him to the ground.
Khaos: *frustrated grunt*
The attack knocks the executioner’s blade from Khaos’ hand; Ivy picks it up and attempts to slash at Khaos.
Ivy: Die!
The blade disintegrates into shadows.
Khaos: You really thought my own blade could be used against me?
Ivy: *frustrated grunt*
Khaos: Shadow Sneak!
Khaos disappears into the ground.
Ivy: (Where will he appear next? If he chooses my shadow again, I’ll teach him a lesson about trying the same tricks against me.)
Khaos appears farther down the hallway.
Khaos: (It’s always cute when they get their own heads.)
Khaos creates his Crossbow from shadows and aims at Ivy, initially at her chest.
Khaos: (The girl wants to kill us, but I’m not allowed to kill her. Not that I want to…)
Khaos changes his target to Ivy’s wrist and fires.
Ivy: Huh?
Ivy spots the shadow bolt careening at her.
Ivy: Push!
Ivy’s Push Force repels the bolt.
Khaos: *nasal grunt* Good instincts.
Ivy: Pull!
Ivy uses her Pull Force to draw Khaos in.
Khaos: Now, this could be a problem.
Khaos aims at Ivy again.
Ivy: *grunts*
Khaos: Bye-bye!
Khaos fires the bolt, and Ivy ends her Pull Force and dodges out of the way.
Ivy: (His aim is terrible, I hardly had to move to dodge that. He shot slightly wide of my body… could that have been intentional? No, he’s no fool, unlike his counterpart.)
Khaos laughs.
Khaos: You’re quite the challenge. I’ve always liked that about you.
Ivy: Why did you save my life?
Khaos: Oh, now we’re asking questions?
Ivy: I’m alive because of you, so I want an answer before I kill you.
Khaos: Short answer: because you’re my ticket to freedom.
Ivy: What?
Khaos: I was created from Hayze’s hatred. Unfortunately, hatred isn’t a real emotion; It’s merely the negative form of love. Hayze would love nothing more than to complete this idiotic fantasy of his that he can save you. If I help him do that, my power will grow even stronger, and I can overpower him!
Ivy: What did you say?
Khaos: I’m not repeating all that.
Ivy: (“Hayze would love nothing more…”)
Ivy frantically shakes her head.
Ivy: (No! He’s just a piece of Hayze, so clearly, he’s lying too. They’re both in on it! Master Iota may have thrown me away, but he was right about Hayze. He just wanted to mess with my mind and distract me. I won’t fall for his tricks again!)
Ivy charges at Khaos.
Khaos: Really now?
Khaos fires a bolt at Ivy. She deflects it with her sword.
Ivy: What was the point of that!
Ivy slashes at Khaos. He blocks her sword with his crossbow.
Khaos: I was hoping the ricochet would hit my target.
Ivy: What target! What are you aiming at?
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Khaos: Shhhhh, I don’t want to spoil the surprise.
Ivy points her palm at Khaos’ chest.
Khaos: Huh?
Ivy: Push!
Ivy sends Khaos flying back.
Khaos: Ha, am I making you angry?
Ivy: Laugh while you still can.
Khaos: Will do.
Scarlett’s momentum finally subsides; she tumbles to a stop.
Scarlett: *pained grunts* That… bastard!
Scarlett’s regeneration is even slower than it was before.
Scarlett: (He’s going to kill himself and bring me with him… I need sustenance. Soon, I won’t be able to regenerate at all.)
Scarlett struggles to stand up.
Scarlett: (I’m being made into a pushover! I was classified as a danger to society because of my quirk! I won’t be upstaged by this beast!)
Kevin bursts toward Scarlett.
Kevin: Miss me?
Scarlett: NO!
Scarlett disappears into the shadows as Kevin attempts to kick her back.
Kevin: You can’t run, and you certainly can’t hide, either.
Scarlett reappears further down the hallway.
Scarlett: (Dammit! Why are there no active Soulvania’s for me to teleport to?! Have all of my henchmen really perished?!)
Kevin is breathing heavily.
Kevin: (Come on, body, hold it together!)
Scarlett: What’s this? You seem to be hitting your limit.
Kevin: I don’t have a limit!
Scarlett: Of course you do! It’s called death! Mind over matter only works if you're still alive. Your body knows its time is up.
Kevin: Yeah… you think so?
Scarlett: I know so.
Kevin clenches his fists.
Kevin: Then I guess your time is up too.
Scarlett: Huh?
Kevin takes a couple of deep breaths. His skin slowly begins to turn reddish-black.
Kevin: The bell tolls for both of our souls.
A tear rolls down Kevin’s face and instantly evaporates from the heat of his skin.
Kevin: (This is it… the end.)
“ Kevin: I’m Kevin Bohm. I can control the adrenaline in my body to fight harder and feel less pain, but the longer and higher I use the quirk, the more exhausted I’ll be. “ - Chapter 6
“ Kevin: So, are you actually gonna try soon? “ - Chapter 23
“ Kevin: That last fight with Aaron got me fired up. I know it's ironic, but my quirk kind of fits why I want to be a hero, the pure excitement of fighting is a high I always strive for. That’s why I was annoyed when Ash forfeited our match. I was looking forward to it. “ - Chapter 28
“ Kevin: Jesus dude, take a shower! “ - Chapter 55
“ Kevin: Team Attack: Idiot Beyblade! “ - Chapter 81
“ Kevin: Hell, sometimes good things come out of fighting your friends. Remember how big of a douchebag you were before you fought Hayze? “ - Chapter 124
“ Kevin: Because I want a good match, winning off some bullshit like that is stupid. “ - Chapter 128
“ Kevin: I’m glad I get to fight someone like you, Hayze. I don’t care how you got your quirk or if you’ve put in less work than I have. Since that first day, you’ve always been someone I’ve looked at as a rival. However, fighting alongside you in the Showcase was eye-opening. You inspired me to use my quirk in a way that allows me to fight with my head and not just my fists. I’m glad I can finally test my limits against someone as strong as you. “ - Chapter 133
Kevin: (I may not have had a long life. But I sure as hell had a good one. I’m dying the way I lived… KICKING SOME BITCH ASS!) AHHHHHHHH!
Kevin’s skin finishes turning reddish black.
Kevin: TWO HUNDRED PERCENT!
Scarlett has pure fear in her eyes.
Scarlett: (I can feel his power…)
Kevin: (This is it, Kevin, it’s time to drop the hammer on this whore.) AHHHH!
Kevin bursts towards Scarlett.
Kevin: YOU’RE GONNA DIE!
Scarlett: THAT’S WHAT YOU THINK!
Scarlett stands up and extends her arms outward.
Scarlett: HIT WITH ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!
Kevin: I WILL!
Kevin punches Scarlett in the stomach; his fist punches clean through her body. She goes limp as Kevin stands there with his arm in her chest.
Kevin: Enjoy hell…
Kevin starts to power down.
Scarlett: No.
Kevin: Huh?!
Scarlett bites into Kevin’s neck, stunning him.
Kevin: *groans* H- h- how are you… alive?
Scarlett: Have you ever seen a zombie die from a gutshot?
Kevin’s eyes widen.
Scarlett: I’m so low on energy that this wound would have been fatal had you not been standing here providing me a new power source.
Kevin’s skin reverts to normal as steam emits from his pores. He’s powerless to stop Scarlett.
Scarlett: You’ve used most of your power, but you have enough left for me to get to my next recharge.
Kevin: I… I…
Scarlett: Save your breath… you’re dead already.
Kevin: *groans*
Kevin’s skin slowly starts to lose color.
Scarlett: You were a worthy challenger, but you made the mistake of getting too caught up in the moment. It’s common for someone as inexperienced as you are with-
Scarlett’s back is set on fire.
Scarlett: AHHHHHH!
Scarlett releases her grasp on Kevin, and he flops against the ground.
Scarlett: AHHHH! WHO DID THAT?!
Aster: I did.
Scarlett turns around and sees Daniele and Aster.
Scarlett: You two?! How?! You were on the other side of the-
Scarlett flashes back to Kevin’s punches sending her flying at high speeds.
Scarlett: *frustrated grunt*
Aster: You seem like you’re in a bad mood. I guess that means it’s an excellent time for you to take me on.
Scarlett starts backing away.
Aster: Oh? Is something wrong?
The hole in Scarlett’s chest starts to heal.
Scarlett: (I got enough energy from that buffoon to survive the injuries from our fight, but I’m not ready to take on anyone now!)
Daniele: It looks like Kevin did a number on her.
Aster: Yeah, while I kill this bitch, you grab him and run for the exit.
Daniele: What?! You want to take her on alone?!
Aster: Daniele, look at Kevin.
Kevin is barely alive.
Daniele: Point taken.
Scarlett: *frustrated grunt* You won’t kill me!
Scarlett picks up Kevin and throws him at Daniele and Aster.
Aster: Woah!
Aster catches Kevin, and Scarlett uses the distraction to disappear into the shadows and gain distance from them.
Aster: Hey! Get back here!
Aster starts chasing after Scarlett.
Daniele: Aster!
Aster: Help Kevin! I’ll be fine!
Daniele looks down at Kevin.
Kevin: *groans* Everything hurts...
Daniele: Jesus Christ…
Kevin: I… gave it… my all…
Daniele hoists Kevin’s arm over her shoulder.
Kevin: AHHH!
Daniele: Sorry, sorry, you’re really, REALLY, badly hurt.
Kevin: I… can feel it…
Daniele: Come on, if you want even a slight chance of living through this, I’ve got to get you out of here.
Kevin: I don’t think… I’m gonna make it…
Daniele: Maybe not, but would you rather die down here or with your friends?
Kevin: W- w-
Kevin passes out.
Daniele: Come on, this is no place to die.
Ivy charges at Khaos.
Khaos: What was that you said earlier about the same moves?
Ivy: Who said this was the same!
Ivy throws her sword forward.
Ivy: Push!
Ivy uses her push force to send the sword careening at Khaos. He dodges quickly, but Ivy slugs him in the face.
Khaos: *frustrated grunt*
Khaos drops his crossbow, and it disintegrates.
Ivy: I won’t let you escape death this time!
Ivy uses Push Force to slam Khaos into the wall.
Khaos: *groans*
Ivy starts punching Khaos repeatedly. He blocks most of the punches with his forearms.
Khaos: If you think a few lousy punches will kill me, you’re wrong!
Shadows surround Ivy’s feet.
Khaos: Dark Force!
The shadows emerge from the ground like arms and rip Ivy off Khaos, throwing her against the opposite wall.
Ivy: *frustrated grunt*
Khaos wipes his shoulder.
Khaos: (She’s a tough customer, I’ll give her that.)
Hayze appears as a spirit beside Khaos.
Hayze: (Why aren’t you using shadow paralysis? It’s what we need to complete the plan!)
Khaos: (I’m aware, I’m just having fun first.)
Hayze: (Fun? We’re talking about her life here!)
Khaos: (Hey! I already told you way back when I agreed to help you that I believe this girl is beyond help! Just like everybody else!)
Hayze: (I know how to save her, and this plan will work!)
Khaos: (Yeah, right.)
Ivy grabs her sword and slashes at Khaos. However, his shadow arms block the attack.
Ivy: What is this? How many abilities do you have?!
Khaos: You’re facing the overlord of darkness himself, hun. You may have power, but I’ve got more.
Ivy points her palm at Khaos. He grabs her wrist and twists it.
Ivy: *pained grunt*
Khaos: I may not have been around when you two met on that shadowy night, but even I can see that you’re living a lie.
Ivy: What?
Khaos: I know what the eyes of a killer look like, and you don’t have ‘em.
Ivy: *frustrated grunt*
Khaos: I also know what the eyes of a follower look like.
Ivy: Huh?
Khaos: Hayze is convinced your soul can be saved, but he doesn’t understand that you’re built to take orders. It doesn’t matter if you have the heart of a killer or not. If the person you respect most tells you to murder someone, you will. That’s why I believe you’re far from salvation. It doesn’t matter what he says or does. You’re just a wayward soul looking for a master, but there’s nothing he can do to make you abandon your current one.
Ivy releases her grip on her sword.
Ivy: Push!
Ivy uses her Push Force to create distance between herself and Khaos.
Khaos: Did I hit the nail on the head?
Ivy: I exist only for one purpose, to serve my master.
Khaos: Really?
Ivy: Y-
“ Hayze: Your Master… does he care about you? “ - Chapter 36
Ivy: Y- yes!
Khaos: That didn’t seem like a firm answer.
Ivy: Shut the hell up!
Khaos: Okay, I’ll stop talking, but I can’t say the same for my weaker self.
Ivy: Huh?
Hayze: You always wished your life could be that simple, right? Pick a master, and follow their orders until death, but that’s not you.
Ivy: Shut up!
Hayze: I brought that to light the first night we met. It was easy for you to lie to yourself and pretend you were okay with being used because nobody ever cared enough to ask you if it was. That’s why you were caught so off guard by me. I made you believe that being Iota’s slave wasn’t your only path. You couldn’t bring yourself to let me suffer the same fate you were, so you froze and allowed me to escape. After what your parents did to you… I understand that you feel you’re incapable of being cared about and that a normal life is something you cannot possess.
Ivy: Don’t speak about them! I was just a little girl, and they tried to kill me! All because I was cursed with these abilities! They were monsters!
Hayze: I know, they were your parents. They were supposed to love and care for you unconditionally. But just because they didn’t doesn’t mean nobody can.
Ivy: Oh, like you? I was willing to give you a chance, but you couldn’t even bother to remember I existed! I’m tired of being betrayed! I’m fed up with being thrown away, and I’m sure as hell done with being alive! My life has been nothing but pain and torture. I just want to die!
Hayze: No, you don’t.
Ivy: YES, I DO!
Hayze: If you wanted death that badly, you would have killed yourself by now, but you don’t have the strength to do it, and you know why? Because what you really want is a real life. Not one tainted by your quirk, your parents, or crime. You still have the faintest bit of hope left that a life like that still exists for you. That’s why you can’t do it. I know I’ve made my mistakes, but I can still help you make that hope a reality.
Ivy: *frustrated grunt* I’ve had enough of you!
Ivy points her sword at Hayze.
Ivy: I’m gonna kill you, and then I’ll never have to hear another one of your lies again!
Hayze: They aren’t lies.
Hayze creates the executioner’s blade and grabs hold of its hilt with both of his hands.
Hayze: But actions speak louder than words.
Ivy: Let’s finish this.
Hayze: Gladly.
Hayze and Ivy charge at each other.
Ivy: DIE!
Hayze and Ivy’s swords clash over and over again.
“ Hayze: We all deserve to have someone who loves and cares about us; no matter what bad things we’ve done in our lives, we all deserve that person. You shouldn’t want to be used! You should want to be cared for!
“ - Chapter 36
“ Jagger: You see how you are right now? This is all I've ever known you as, but you were different that night in the forest. He said something to you that made you freeze up. He made your heart of ice melt a little bit. I've always wondered what it was. “ - Chapter 88
“ Zaire: Ivy, I understand why you want to. Master spoke to you in a way he never has, and you want to see if the bridge burnt is still crossable. “ - Chapter 95
“ Ivy: I’m tired of you constantly trying to convince me that I’m doing something wrong! I was happy working for Master Iota, and you made me second-guess him! That was when everything began falling apart! Now I’ve found a cause that I believe in and a new master that cares about me, and you’re trying to make me unsure of her! I want you dead! Once and for all, so I never have to hear you speak again! “ - Chapter 146
Ivy continuously attempts to slash at Hayze, but he blocks her attacks with his sword.
Ivy: Ever since I met you, you’ve turned my world upside down. What’s your fixation with me! Why can’t you just leave me be!
Hayze: Because I’m a hero, and that’s what I do.
Ivy: *frustrated grunt* Well, then you can die!
Ivy starts to move her left hand to aim it at Hayze.
Ivy: (I’ll aim my push force at his wrists, he’ll lose his grip on his blade, and I’ll have an opening to strike his heart and kill him. This is it! I’ll finally be rid of him!) Push!
Ivy suddenly is frozen.
Ivy: What?!
Hayze: Shadow Paralysis.
Hayze’s shadow has extended into Ivy’s.
Ivy: (NO!)
Hayze: It’s time to end this!
Hayze winds back his blade.
Ivy: (Is he gonna kill me?)
Hayze: It’s time to set you free!
Hayze slices Ivy’s left hand clean off.
Ivy: AHHHHHHH!
Hayze releases the shadow paralysis, and Ivy falls to the ground holding her wrist.
Hayze: This fight is done.
Ivy: What! Finish me! Don’t just maim me and walk away!
Hayze: I’m not walking away.
Ivy: Huh?
Hayze: I told you I’d help you get the normal life you’ve always wanted, and that was a painful but necessary step.
Ivy: What are you talking about!
Hayze: You said your life was cursed by your quirk, right?
Ivy: Y- yes?
Hayze: Well, now it isn’t anymore.
Ivy: What are you-
Ivy’s eyes widen.
“ Saige: You never should come here in your condition. I’m woman enough to admit that given your track record in combat, I never would have defeated you if you had full range of motion in both your arms. “ - Chapter 97
Ivy looks at her severed hand.
Ivy: I- I…
Hayze: There’s no way, with only one hand, that your quirk can be considered S-Rank anymore. You’re free of the government’s surveillance on you.
Ivy: I- I- I...
Hayze kneels down and rips off the sleeves of his costume. He grabs Ivy’s left forearm and starts wrapping the wound.
Hayze: I’m sorry I had to do it like this, but it was the only way I could think of weakening your quirk so that-
Hayze notices tears tripping out from the bottom of Ivy’s mask.
Hayze: I know it’s painful, but after this, we can get you to a hospital and-
Ivy: You… you really do care…
Hayze: I always have. I knew you weren’t a bloodthirsty murderer when you held back against me in the forest, and then as we spoke and I learned more about you… I knew you needed help. I’m sorry it took this long, but I said I would save you, and I-
Ivy hugs Hayze, much to his surprise.
Ivy: Thank you…
Hayze hugs Ivy back, and Khaos watches with amazement.
Khaos: (He actually fucking did it… he knew the only way to make her believe he was trying to help her was by ridding her of the thing that’s plagued her her whole life. *nasal grunt* Color me impressed.)
Khaos fades away.
Hayze: I’m glad we’re finally on the same side because I need your help.
Ivy: With what?
Hayze: Where is the Vampire Queen?
Ivy: I- I…
Hayze: Do you not know?
Ivy: I- I do, but what will you do if I tell you?
Hayze: I’m gonna go after her.
Ivy: Then I don’t want to tell you.
Hayze: Ivy, I need to stop her.
Ivy: The other heroes can do that.
Hayze: *sighs* Can you at least help me tell them how to get to her?
Ivy: Yes, but we should hurry.
Hayze: Wh- why?
Ivy: Your friends have fought many battles down here and have been victorious in all of them. The Queen might be the only one left at this point.
Hayze: Yeah, and that’s a good thing, right?
Ivy: No… it definitely isn’t.
Scarlett reaches her throne room and kicks in the door.
Scarlett: (I can’t believe I’ve actually reached this point… needing to retreat to survive.)
Scarlett slowly walks towards her throne.
Scarlett: (If there are no active Soulvanias, then that means my entire criminal network has fallen apart… and I must assume the remainder of my henchmen are dead.)
Scarlett sits on her throne and presses a button. A panel opens on her armrest, revealing a keypad.
Scarlett: (It’s time to go scorched earth.)
Hayze and Ivy run through the hallways.
Hayze: Are you fucking kidding me?!
Ivy: No, if the Queen realizes everything has fallen apart, she’ll unleash nerve gas throughout this entire facility, killing everyone inside.
Hayze: Fuck… but… if she knew we were attacking today, why didn’t she evacuate all of her henchmen and leave this place as a massive trap for us?
Ivy: Because once the gas detonates, this facility will become completely unusable; this is literally her last resort!
Hayze: How long do we have?
Ivy: I don’t know, there’s a chance the timer has already started, and there’s no way for us to know. But she’s also affected by the nerve gas, so she’ll need to make the countdown long enough for her to escape.
Hayze: *frustrated grunt* Shit! So we could have anywhere from half an hour to two minutes?
Ivy: Essentially, yes. Here it is!
Ivy and Hayze burst into the control room.
Hayze: So, this is how she was watching us…
Ivy: Here, let me try something.
Ivy walks up to the controls and presses a button.
Ivy: My Queen, can you hear me?
Scarlett: *intercom* Ivy? You’re alive?
Ivy: Yes, my Queen, Hayze is dead.
Scarlett: *intercom* Good, I feared for the worst when I couldn’t sense your Soulvania.
Ivy: It was not required; I killed him quickly.
Scarlett: *intercom* Well, I’m afraid you’re the only one I can count on. It seems as though everyone else has perished.
Ivy: Yes, I am in the control room. I can see that many of the heroes are still alive.
Scarlett: *intercom* Not for long.
Ivy: Did you initiate the nerve gas countdown?
Scarlett: *intercom* Yes, I’m afraid it’s time for us to cut our losses and annihilate as many of these heroes as possible. I’m in the throne room, but I’ll meet you at the South Exit.
Ivy: Okay, my Queen, how much time do we have?
Scarlett: *intercom* I just started the process. I’m a little weakened right now, so I was generous and gave us an hour. I’ll see you-
Ivy: Thank you.
Scarlett: *intercom* Huh? What-
Ivy cuts off the communication and starts typing with her hand.
Ivy: We have roughly 59 minutes.
Hayze: That’s not good enough; some of the groups are deep into the facility and probably don’t know the way out.
Ivy: I’m working on that.
Ivy presses another button.
Ivy: Attention, everyone. This facility will be flooded by nerve gas in approximately one hour.
Ivy’s voice is being broadcasted throughout the entire facility.
Lust: Huh?!
Exciton: Nerve gas?!
Vulcan: Calm down. I don’t recognize this voice… It could be a trick.
Alexis, Ash, Blair, and Saige stop.
Ivy: *intercom* I repeat that this facility will be flooded by nerve gas in approximately one hour.
Alexis: That voice…
Ash: It’s her…
Blair: Don’t tell me…
Ivy types on the keyboard.
Ivy: I’m activating the facility’s evacuation protocol.
Suddenly, green flashing lights in the shape of arrows emerge from the ground in front of the girls.
Ivy: *intercom* The arrows will lead you to the nearest exit out of the facility. If you have wounded, you should hurry. The Vampire Queen is currently located in her throne room. To the heroes, Vulcan, Black Hollow, Exciton, and Lust, move up one floor and then proceed in the opposite direction you are heading now.
Scarlett slams her fist on her throne.
Scarlett: What?! How dare she betray me!
Vulcan scoffs.
Vulcan: I still don’t see why we should believe this mystery woman.
Ivy looks back at Hayze.
Ivy: Do you mind quelling their doubts?
Hayze walks up to the controls and takes the mic.
Hayze: Everyone, this is Hayze. Ivy is telling the truth. If you’re not among the top 10 or aren’t close to the throne room, you must evacuate now!
Hayze’s words are broadcasted to everyone.
Lust: That’s Hayze! He wouldn’t lie to us!
Exciton: Which means we’ve got an hour to bag and tag this bitch.
Vulcan: Then we have no time to waste.
Vulcan starts oozing lava.
Vulcan: We’re going up!
Daniele starts following the green arrows.
Daniele: (Thank god, I don’t think Kevin will last much longer!)
Silver and Sydney look at each other.
Silver: Well, I guess that’s our cue.
Sydney: *nasal grunt* Whatever.
Fatal and Walker catch up to Big Tank.
Fatal: Big Tank!
Big Tank: Huh? Oh, thank god you two are alright.
Walker: That was my student on the intercom, which means everything that girl said was the truth.
Fatal: What should we do?
Big Tank: As much as I want to assist my colleagues, we can’t afford to continue wandering this place aimlessly; we must evacuate alongside the others.
Fatal: Right.
Walker: Will do.
Tyson continues down the hall with Justus and Terus’ bodies over his shoulders.
Tyson: A quicker way out? Sounds good to me!
Alexis and Ash start running down the hallway, following the arrows.
Alexis: Blair, come on! We’ve gotta go!
Blair is in shock.
Blair: (Did… did he actually do it?)
Saige: Uh… Blair? I’d like to not find out what nerve gas smells like…
Blair: Huh? Oh, oh… right!
Blair follows after Alexis and Ash.
Blair: (Hayze…)
Ivy turns to Hayze.
Ivy: Everyone is evacuating; it’s time for us to go.
Hayze: You go; I need to go after the Queen.
Ivy: What! No! The other heroes will take care of it!
Hayze: They won’t be there for a while, and there’s a chance she’ll try to escape before then. Someone needs to hold her there until they arrive.
Ivy: B- but- why you!
Hayze: Because I’m a hero, and that’s what I do.
Ivy: I… I…
Hayze: Ivy, I’m not gonna die. I promise. I told you I would give you a normal life, and I haven’t finished that yet, so there’s no way I’ll die now.
Ivy takes a deep breath.
Ivy: Okay, go down the hallway to the right until you reach the stairs and take a left. You should get to her in 2 minutes.
Hayze: Thank you.
Hayze starts to leave.
Hayze: When you reach the surface, they’ll arrest you, but they’ll take you to the hospital first. I’ll meet you there, okay?
Ivy: Okay.
Hayze: Hey, and maybe I’ll actually see what you look like. See you then.
Hayze runs off, and Ivy places her hand on her mask.
Ivy: Maybe.