Hayze presses a button on his gauntlet, materializing one of his Shock Sabers. The TV Screen showing Blair adds a countdown clock from 1 hour and starts ticking down.
Killian: Are they actually gonna do this? I don’t like either of these guys, but that doesn’t mean I want them dead!
Ivy: This is insane! What psychopath came up with this scheme?!
Bruno: We have to put a stop to this!
Killian: Alec! Let’s get down there!
Alec: Hell yeah!
Killian and Alec start to stand up.
Tobias: Sit down, you idiots.
Killian: Huh?
Alec: What did you say?!
Tobias: If you go down there, they’ll kill Blair, and that blood would be on your hands.
Killian: *grunts* I know you’re right, but what else should we do? Just sit here and watch?
Tobias: Unfortunately, yes. We’re all powerless in this situation. As long as Blair remains their captive, we must do as they say, which means we must stay here and spectate.
Bruno: What will Hayze do? Is he willing to kill Jace?
Ivy: No.
Bruno: Hm?
Ivy: Hayze won’t do it; I know it. This will end only if someone else stops it or that timer hits 0.
Bruno: *grunts* That’s not promising…
Ivy: I know, but that’s how Hayze operates; he won’t kill Jace.
Jace laughs.
Jace: Well? Hayze, the timer has begun ticking down; maybe you should start attacking me?
Hayze kneels down and places his finger against the scanner of the lockbox.
Jace: (What?!)
The box opens, revealing Jace’s key.
Jace: What are you doing! That’s against the rules!
Hayze: Jace, I want you to know that you’re not dying here no matter what happens.
Jace: I don’t care!
Hayze: I’m not talking to you; I’m speaking to the real Jace. The one that I know doesn’t want to die.
Jace: I AM THE REAL JACE!
Hayze: Uh-huh, right. Jace, I wouldn’t exactly call us “great” friends, but we definitely were at least friends. I know you don’t actually want to kill me. You’re just listening to whatever your “Master” says. But here’s a news flash, the bastard that ordered you to do this is trying to kill you AND me.
Jace: You lie! They want YOU dead, and this is the perfect way to do it! I’m willing to risk my life to make that happen.
Hayze: Don’t you see, Jace? They’re just trying to cover their own ass! You’re the only one who knows their identity! Which makes you dangerous! If they lost control of you, their entire plan would fall apart! So they set this battle up to kill us both. They know I won’t kill you, and you don’t stand a chance of killing me. So, they’re banking on this anchor dropping and killing us both, but I won’t let that happen! No matter what, Jace, you must take this key before the hour ends! Don’t let them win!
Jace: *frustrated grunt* SHUT THE HELL UP! I’m the new Jace; the old one is dead! Just like your little girlfriend! I told you those boxes could only be opened when one of us was killed! You broke the rules, so it’s time to face the consequences!
Hayze doesn’t react at all.
Jace: I’m not joking!
Hayze: Then go ahead. Make the order.
Jace: *grunts* Don’t test me!
Ivy, Killian, Bruno, and Alec look worried.
Killian: What’s that moron doing?!
Alec: He just got that girl killed!
Bruno: Hayze! What are you doing?!
Tobias: Calm down, everyone, and look.
Bruno: Huh?
Jace is hesitating.
Jace: (If I do this, Blair will die! And Hayze is right… I don’t want to die or kill him! What am I doing? Why am I doing this?!)
Jace shakes his head frantically.
Jace: You just got Blair killed, you fool! TALON, KILL H-
Jace forces himself to stop by biting down on his tongue.
Hayze: It looks like the real Jace isn’t dead after all.
Jace: No, I’m just being smart. The goal is to kill you, not Blair, and if I do that now, you can break all of my rules freely. So, I’ll let this infraction slide, but next time, she’s gone!
Hayze: (That’s probably a bluff, but I’m not willing to play with Blair’s life again.) Okay, so is this fight still on?
Jace: Of course!
Jace springs toward Hayze and attempts to punch him, but Hayze blocks him with his sword.
Jace: You think I can’t kill you, huh? Well, I’ll show you!
Hayze: Jace, even without my quirk, I can kick your ass, but I’m not willing to kill my friend. So, unless you put a stop to this, that anchor’s gonna drop.
Jace: Never!
Jace grabs Hayze and springs them both into the air.
Jace: Time to die!
Jace chucks Hayze down to the ground and lands on top of him.
Hayze: *pained grunt*
Jace: I’m the best version of Jace to ever exist! Nobody can stop me!
Hayze pushes Jace off of himself and slashes at him, but Jace dodges.
Tobias: (This match will have no winner; that timer is the only thing that matters. Our only hope is that someone else will intervene, but nobody knows what’s happening here, so it feels rather hopeless.)
Alexis wakes up with a splitting headache.
Alexis: *groans* What the hell? Where am I? Why am I just lying here? The last thing I remember is Blair and I left for dinner, but… how did I end up here?
Alexis stands up and looks around.
Alexis: (Where’s Blair?)
Justus, Zach, Gus, Aaron, and Silver finish their card game. Gus is down to just his underwear.
Zach: Man, Gus, you suck at cards.
Gus: *sobs*
Aaron: Yeah, you folded once.
Silver: And it was the last hand. What did you even have?
Gus: *sighs* I had a pair of ones…
Gus holds up a pair of aces, and Aaron bursts out laughing.
Gus: Yeah… I know… pretty unlucky, right?
Silver: Gus, those are aces, not ones; that’s literally the best hand you could have been dealt.
Gus: Wait… what…
Gus bursts into tears and runs upstairs, past Saige, Ash, and Eve sitting at the dining table.
Eve: PUT SOME DAMN CLOTHES ON!
Gus: *sobs*
Saige: That was amusing…
Ash: Yeah… but he was also supposed to cook us dinner…
Saige: Shit…
Eve: Speaking of dinner, where the hell are Blair and Alexis?
Saige: Yeah, actually, now that you mention it, they have been gone for a long time.
Wes enters the dorm.
Wes: Hey, guys.
Nobody responds.
Wes: *sighs* I hate it here…
Ash: Maybe we should send someone to go check on them?
Aaron: Nah, there’s no need; Alexis is fine.
Alexis enters the dorm.
Aaron: See?
Alexis: Hey, guys!
Everyone: Alexis!
Wes: Oh, fuck you guys!
Saige: Where’s Blair?
Alexis: Wait… she’s not here?
Eve: N- no?
Alexis: I just woke up passed out somewhere, and all I remember is leaving here with her, nothing else.
Aaron, Justus, and Silver all stand up.
Silver: I’ll take the front half of the campus.
Justus: I’ll take the back.
Aaron: And I’ll go straight to their dorm.
Wes: Uh, don’t you guys think that’s a little extreme?
Zach: Aw… man, if I knew you guys were gonna be badass, I would have joined in…
Justus, Silver, and Aaron walk to the doors.
Silver: With how everything has been, we need to ensure Blair is safe. The Vanguard could have kidnapped her for a plan they’re concocting.
Justus: Let’s meet back here in an hour; if one of us doesn’t show up, we’ll know where to look.
Aaron: Right, and be sure to kick any Vanguard but on the way!
Silver, Justus, and Aaron: Break!
The three run out of the dorm in different directions.
Eve: And what are we, chopped liver?
Saige: What? I’m sure Blair’s okay; she probably just wanted to masturbate, so she knocked Alexis out.
Wes, Alexis, Ash, Zach, and Eve stare at Saige.
Saige: What am I wrong?
Eve: Moving on.
Wes: I mean, I guess I wouldn’t put it past her.
Eve: I SAID MOVING ON!
Zach: Should we go look too? I’m pretty concerned too.
Alexis: Yeah, let’s-
Romeo bursts through the doors.
Romeo: You guys! You need to help!
Wes: Oh hey, it’s Alden 2.
Alexis: Uh… Romeo, right? What are you doing here?
Romeo: Hayze and Jace are fighting!
Everyone gasps.
Eve: As in right now?
Zach: We can’t miss that!
Ash: Hayze really went and challenged Jace?
Romeo: No! Jace challenged him… but not as a tournament match. It sounds like he had something horrible planned!
Saige: Why do you say that?
Romeo: Cause he forced Hayze to accept his challenge by threatening to kill Blair.
Eve: What?!
Saige: Are you serious?!
Romeo: Yeah… I think they have her captive. He said she'd get hurt if Hayze didn’t follow his orders.
Alexis: Where are they fighting?!
Romeo: At U.A. Stadium. I followed them there, but Angel and Karma were standing guard, so I don’t know what happened after that.
Ash, Saige, Zach, Wes, and Eve walk to the door.
Saige: Okay, we need to head over there now.
Romeo: Wait! Before you guys go… Can I get a reward?
They all stare at Romeo.
Romeo: Oh, come on! It was difficult listening to everything while I was taking a dump in a nearby bush!
Zach: Wait, why can’t you use the bathroom inside?
Romeo: They won’t let me… but that’s beside the point. Please give me a reward!
Eve: Like what?
Romeo: A kiss-
Eve knocks Romeo out.
Saige: Okay, Zach, you go search for Blair with Justus, Silver, and Aaron; if you see one of them, get them up to speed.
Zach: Right.
Saige: Wes, you go fetch Demetri and Gus.
Wes: Wh- why!? They suck!
Saige: They could still be useful, and this might be an all-hands-on-deck situation, which means you need to bring Romeo too.
Wes: *sighs* Goddammit…
Saige: Ash, Alexis, Eve, and I will go to the stadium and see what’s happening.
Ash: Right!
Alexis: Mhm.
Eve: Got it.
Saige: Let’s move everyone. There might not be a lot of time!
Everyone disperses, leaving just Wes with Romeo’s unconscious body.
Wes: *sighs* Why me… come on, casanova.
Lust and Exciton are walking to the main campus building.
Lust: It was nice seeing Daniele, Saige, and Sydney. Strange that Hayze wasn’t around, though.
Exciton: Anyone else you need to visit?
Lust: No, unless we run by Blair or Hayze, I don’t think we need to make any more stops.
Exciton: Okay, cool…
Lust notices Exciton’s demeanor.
Lust: Is something wrong, Exciton? Do you need a smile cannon?
Exciton: No, no, I do not need a smile cannon.
Lust: Then what’s up?
Exciton: Don’t you think it’s a little weird that the number 2 and 5 heroes are walking around the campus of the most prestigious hero school in the country, and nobody has come up to us?
Lust: Oh, I guess now that you mention it…
Exciton: I’m not saying I want to get crowded by a bunch of kids, but it’s just… strange…
Lust: Yeah, and I’ve hardly seen anyone walking around.
Exciton: Something’s off here…
Lust: Oh! Look!
Exciton: Huh?
Lust spots Ewing and Madame Mummy standing in front of the campus building by an ambulance.
Lust: Oh no, did something happen?
Exciton: Let’s check it out.
A paramedic approaches Ewing as Recovery Girl is lifted into the ambulance on a stretcher.
Paramedic: Would you like to accompany her to the hospital, sir?
Ewing: I can’t; I must stay here and attend to an issue.
Madame Mummy: I’ll go, sir.
Ewing: Thank you, Madame Mummy.
The paramedic and Madame Mummy get in the back of the ambulance and ride off.
Ewing: *sighs* How could this happen?
Lust: Principal Ewing!
Ewing: Oh, Lust and Exciton, what brings you here?
Exciton: Just a visit to update you on the progress of the work studies and to catch up with you, of course.
Ewing: Ah, well, it’s great to see both of you, but I must deal with an unfortunate matter.
Lust: What’s going on?
Exciton: I assume it has something to do with that ambulance? I haven’t seen one of those here… ever.
Ewing: Yes, that’s because it was for Recovery Girl.
Exciton: What?!
Lust: Oh no! What happened?
Ewing: By the looks of things, she tried to kill herself.
Exciton: Attempted suicide? Are you serious?
Lust: I can’t believe it… but she’s always so cheery.
Ewing: I know… I’m deeply distraught.
Exciton takes note of Ewing’s mannerisms.
Exciton: Is something wrong, Ewing? She’ll be okay, you know that, right?
Ewing: I know, I’m just… worried about something…
Lust: Hm, like what?
Ewing: It’s nothing for you two to be concerned with. I just have to look into something. I’m sorry you took time out of your day to come here. I can’t stand around chatting.
Exciton: It’s okay. You’ve got an important job; go handle it.
Ewing: Thank you for understanding.
Ewing heads inside.
Lust: Well, what do you want to do then?
Exciton: I’ll call us a ride.
Ewing walks down the halls of U.A. with a concerned look.
Ewing: (If she tried to kill herself… Why is the Gamma Ring missing? Perhaps she removed it?) *grunts* (I don’t like this, I need to know what happened, now!)
Ewing turns the corner of a hallway and bumps into Vanguard.
Vanguard: Oh, I’m sorry, Principal Ewing!
Ewing: It’s okay, Mr. Butler. I wasn’t paying attention. My apologies.
Vanguard: Is Recovery Girl going to be alright? It’s a shame that happened.
Ewing: The paramedics said she’ll be fine.
Vanguard: Oh, that’s great to hear.
Ewing: I’m just distraught… we’re both in our old age… So we’ve been friends for a long time. I don’t want to know what life would be like without her.
Vanguard: Yes, well, I’m glad it was only an attempt.
Awkward silence.
Ewing: Well, I need to attend to something; I’ll be seeing you.
Vanguard: Before you go, I have a question to ask.
Ewing: Hm?
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
Vanguard: *sighs* How do I put this… about a week ago, I went into Adrian’s office, and he was holding this... ring.
Ewing’s eyes widen.
Vanguard: And it had this green gem with a symbol in it…, and it was very similar to the one Iota and Colossus h-
Ewing: Hush.
Vanguard: Huh?
Ewing: Let’s discuss this somewhere more private. Follow me.
Ewing starts walking down the hallway; Vanguard gets a sinister smile on his face before following behind him.
Vanguard: Is something wrong, Ewing?
Ewing: No, but this is something serious that I don’t want anyone overhearing.
Ewing and Vanguard head into U.A.’s basement.
Vanguard: This is a little creepy, sir.
Ewing: Don’t worry, everything is alright. Now, why please tell me precisely what you-
Vanguard slugs Ewing in the chest.
Ewing: *pained grunt* Mr. Butler… Why did you do that?
Vanguard laughs.
Vanguard: I think it’s time for me to drop the charade. My name is not Lewis Butler. You can call me Vanguard.
Ewing’s eyes widen.
Ewing: It’s been you all along!
Vanguard tosses Ewing aside like a rag doll.
Ewing: How… how did I not see it before?
Vanguard: Let me give you a hint.
Vanguard removes his glove, revealing the Alpha and Gamma rings.
Ewing: No!
Vanguard: Yes.
Ewing: I knew something was wrong when Recovery Girl didn’t have the Gamma Ring on her person! How did you know?!
Vanguard: Once you know that the Gamma Ring exists, it’s pretty evident that only one person could have it.
Ewing: Wait… you’re saying you knew what the Gamma Ring was before taking it from her?
Vanguard: Of course, why wouldn’t I?
Ewing: Because the only people that should have that information are her and me!
Vanguard: Oh boy… poor Ewing…
Ewing: Huh?
Vanguard: I hate to be the one to break this to you, but there’s more than one way to skin a cat.
Ewing: What are you saying?
Vanguard: Oh, do you need me to be more direct? Then here, let me do it: I know about all 10 rings, their names, and their powers.
Ewing: HOW?! I’m the only one who knows that!
Vanguard: Well, then it looks like you’ve been lied to.
Ewing: *frustrated yell*
Ewing fires a quartet of chains through Vanguard’s brain, heart, and lungs.
Ewing: The Gamma Ring may have unfathomable healing capabilities, but it can’t replace what has been lost!
Ewing pulls back on the chains, ripping the organs out of Vanguard’s body.
Ewing: You were a fool to think I’d be willing to sit around and chat over something so sensitive.
Vanguard: Are you so sure of that?
A look of terror appears across Ewing’s face; Vanguard stands up, perfectly healthy.
Ewing: H- h- h- h- h-
Vanguard: How? As I said, it looks like you’ve been lied to.
Ash, Saige, Alexis, and Eve reach U.A. Stadium, they spot Angel and Karma standing guard at the front entrance, so they hide behind a nearby set of bushes.
Saige: Yeah… it looks like something’s going down in there.
Alexis: Why are they standing guard, though? If they have Blair captive, they shouldn’t worry about us interfering.
Ash: Maybe there’s something else going on that Romeo didn’t know about? He said he could only follow them to this point.
Alexis: That’s true; there could be a piece of the puzzle we’re missing.
Eve cracks her knuckles.
Eve: Maybe I should go up there and find out for us.
Alexis: Woah, Eve, let’s be careful. We don’t want to do anything that could get Blair hurt.
Saige: Yeah… let’s get some more information first. Ash? Mind doing some scouting?
Ash: Okay, I’ll be right back.
Ash enters her astral form and travels inside the stadium.
Ash: (If Hayze is fighting Jace, then I can’t take him over… I hope a couple people are watching the fight that I can talk to…)
Hayze and Jace exchange punches with one another.
Jace: You don’t stand a chance against me!
Jace springs toward Hayze with incredible speed and punches him in the gut.
Hayze: *pained grunt*
Jace: Ha! How do you like that?!
Hayze headbutts Jace hard.
Jace: AHHHH!
Jace and Hayze both stagger backward with open gashes where their heads collided.
Jace: What, are you trying to give yourself a concuss-
Jace notices Hayze’s wound healing rapidly.
Jace: (Dammit! I forgot about that!)
Hayze: I can’t turn this one off, so you’ll have to live with it.
Jace: *frustrated grunt* Whatever!
Jace uses his springs to leap up a level on the building.
Hayze: (What’s he up to now?)
Jace: Let’s see how you handle some distance! Jacking Jackknife!
Jace fires his fists at Hayze by extending his springs, and Hayze dodges.
Hayze: (Did he seriously think that would work?)
Jace smiles.
Jace: (What is it you like to say? “The first move is always a fake?”)
A dark-gray pulsating goo slithers out of Jace’s pant leg and begins sliding away from him.
Jace: (Let’s see what you can do if luck is on my side!)
Jace’s springs recoil. Hayze looks up at him.
Hayze: What are you doing up there? Waiting for me?
Jace: Ha, since you opened the box containing my key, time is on my side, Hayze! You can sit there and wait for my move, but it’s to your own dismay.
Hayze: *grunts* Right.
The goo creeps behind Hayze and crawls up his pant leg, seeping into his skin and leaving a dark gray three-leaved clover symbol.
Jace: (Good…)
Jace hops back down to the same level as Hayze.
Hayze: Changed your mind?
Jace: Yes, the tide of this battle has changed.
Hayze: You changed my luck, right?
Jace is taken aback.
Jace: Wh- how?
Hayze: I’ve always found it funny that you’ve been in the Vanguard the longest, and you’re the only one whose new “quirk” hasn’t been revealed. I happened to run into Yul just before you arrived at our dorm, and he told me about how Tyson was caught “off guard by a quirk.” Then I remembered something...
“ Eve notices something.
Eve: Since when did you have a birthmark?
Blair: Huh?
This catches Jace’s attention.
Eve: There’s a little symbol on your thigh; let me see it.
Blair: No!
Blair backs up.
Blair: That’s uh, yeah, that’s my birthmark, yup yup yup. Always been there!
Eve: Weird, I’ve never noticed it before.
Blair: Yeah, it runs in the family. My mom and sister both have it too, don’t worry about it. “ - Chapter 121
Hayze: Blair was just lying because she’s a perverted weirdo that wasn’t wearing any underwear.
Ivy: (Isn’t that the girl he likes…)
Hayze: So, let’s see…
Hayze lifts up his pant leg, revealing the Fool’s mark.
Hayze: Well, wouldn’t you know?
Jace: *frustrated grunt*
Hayze: That was around the same time Blair had a lot of bad luck… almost too much. And maybe I’m just making assumptions, but I’d guess that an elite gambler would be caught off guard by a streak of rotten luck.
Jace is silent for a few moments.
Jace: It doesn’t matter! Just because you know what the mark does, doesn’t mean you can stop its powers!
Hayze: Oh, really?
Jace: Huh?
Hayze: Let’s test that theory.
Hayze materializes one of his tornado daggers and holds it against the Fool’s mark; Jace starts sweating.
Hayze: The power comes from the mark, right? So, what happens if I do this?
Hayze begins slicing the skin covered by the Fool’s mark off.
Hayze: *pained grunt*
Jace: AHHHHHHHHH!
Jace feels horrible pain throughout his entire body.
Jace: STOP IT!
Hayze finishes cutting off the skin and tosses it away; the wound immediately begins healing. Jace is breathing heavily and shaking.
Hayze: So, do you want to try that again… Fool?
Jace: *frustrated yell*
Jace springs toward Hayze and attempts to punch him, but Hayze blocks with the broad side of his sword.
Wrath: (Boy! You are really pissing him off, I like it!)
Calm: (Great strategy, Hayze.)
Impulse: (This battle is awesome!)
Gale: (Kick him in the nuts!)
Hayze kicks Jace in the nuts.
Jace: *high-pitched* AHHHHH!
Gale: (YEAHHHHH!)
Ivy and the 2-B students are watching intently.
Killian: Well, this is intense.
Alec: Yeah, that loser Jace is getting his ass kicked by Hayze without his quirk! HAHAHA!
Tobias: Wasn’t Jace the one that knocked you out of the Licensing Exam.
Alec: No, he didn’t-
Alec shuts up.
Bruno: Now isn’t the time to bring up Alec’s shortcomings; we must devise a plan.
Tobias: I’ve already been over this, Bruno. We can’t do anything.
Bruno: That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try!
Tobias: Considering that someone will literally die if we do, yes, it does.
Bruno: *frustrated grunt*
Ash’s astral form phases into their section of the bleachers.
Ash: There! But… who should I take over? Hm… I guess I’ll do this girl I’ve never met.
Ash enters Ivy’s body.
Ivy (Ash): Guys! What’s going on?!
Alec: Huh?
Killian: Uh… what?
Ivy (Ash): It’s me, Ash; I’ve taken over this girl’s body to communicate with you. Saige, Alexis, Eve, and I are outside the stadium right now, but we can’t proceed without knowing what’s happening.
Killian: Well, you see-
Tobias: The Vanguard has Blair captive, as you can see on the screen.
Ivy (Ash): Oh no! So, Romeo was telling the truth!
Tobias: Jace and Hayze are locked in combat and with Blair’s life on the line. Jace is forcing this to be a battle to the death.
Ivy (Ash): Why are they wearing those chains?
Bruno: In about 50 minutes, the anchor they’re attached to will drop, sending them both to their deaths. The only way to free themselves is by killing the other.
Ivy (Ash): What?!
Tobias: Hayze can’t use his quirk, and we can’t move from these seats, or Blair will be killed. So, it’s up to you girls to stop this.
Ivy (Ash): *grunts* That’s tough… maybe we should try to get one of the pros?
Tobias: If you do that, Jace and his comrades will be charged with kidnapping and attempted murder. It doesn’t matter if they’re being controlled.
Ivy (Ash): You’re right… so it really is all on us.
Tobias: Ash, you must save Blair and stop this simulation.
Ivy (Ash): Aaron, Justus, Silver, and Zach are already searching for her. I’m sure they’ll find her.
Tobias: Good. Then you must enter this stadium undetected and get to the control room immediately.
Ivy (Ash): Okay, we will.
Bruno: Good luck, Ash.
Ash leaves.
Ivy: Woah… did I just blackout for a minute?
Tobias: (Good… at least we have a chance at stopping this madness.)
Ash updates the girls on the situation.
Alexis: 50 minutes, huh?
Eve: That’s it?
Ash: That’s what Tobias said.
Eve: Are we even sure we can trust that guy? He’s been a real piece of shit in the past.
Saige: Eve, he doesn’t want anyone to die. He’s an asshole, but he’s still a hero.
Eve: *grunts* Right.
Saige stands up.
Saige: Okay, you guys sneak in while I distract them.
Ash: Woah! W- what are you going to do?
Saige: I’ll challenge them both to a match. Even if they’ve been ordered to not let anyone in, I don’t think they’ll pass up the opportunity to assimilate me into their ranks.
Eve: Wait, you’re gonna take them both on at once?!
Saige: Yeah… is there a problem?
Eve: Angel and Karma may not be as strong as you, but they’re not pushovers! Plus, they’re enhanced with Vanguard quirks; you might not be able to take them!
Saige: That’s a risk I’m willing to take.
The girls are caught off guard by Saige’s answer.
Saige: Look, I’m not arguing this with you; we’re on a tight schedule, so either do what I say or walk away.
Alexis: (This is the most serious I’ve ever seen Saige. But I guess when you consider, Hayze and Blair are like Saige’s two favorite people, it makes sense.) Come on, Eve and Ash, let’s go.
Saige, Alexis, and Eve start moving toward the entrance.
Ash: Wait!
Saige: What is it, Ash?
Ash: I’m not trying to stop you, Saige, but I think I have an idea to make this easier.
Angel yawns.
Karma: What are you tired for? You haven’t done anything yet.
Angel: Oh, come on! The Fool has me flying all over the place! Do you know how exhausting flying is?
Karma: No, and I don’t care.
Angel: Fuck you!
Angel gasps for a moment.
Karma: Just shut up and stay alert, you idi-
Angel punches Karma in the face, knocking her to the ground.
Karma: What the hell was that for?!
Angel climbs on top of Karma and pushes his thumbs into her eyes.
Karma: AHHH!
Alexis and Eve run inside the stadium while they’re fighting.
Angel: (Good, they’re in.)
Angel flies off of Karma.
Karma: What is wrong with y-
Saige: Fore!
Saige hits Karma in the face with a pink translucent golf club.
Karma: AHHHH! THAT’S NOT HOW THAT WORKS!
Saige: I know, but I had a feeling it would piss you off.
Angel: You got this, Saige?
Karma: Huh?!
Saige: Yup, you go have fun with Angel, Ash.
Karma: Ash?!
Angel (Ash): I’ll see you later!
Angel (Ash) flies off.
Karma: So, you heard about our plan… how?!
Saige: That’s none of your business.
Karma: Like hell it is!
Saige: You know, Karma, I heard you were once looked at as the strongest girl in this class… for like 2 seconds.
Karma: *frustrated grunt*
Saige: As our class's definitive most powerful heroine, I’m appalled you set the bar so low.
Karma: Shut the hell up!
Saige: Make me… for 2 points and your spot in the Vanguard.
Karma: Deal, and when I defeat you, you’ll join the Vanguard and become my personal assistant!
Saige: Oh my, Karma! I didn’t know you were into that!
Karma: WHY IS EVERYTHING SO SEXUAL WITH YOU PEOPLE! JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!
Saige: Teehee.
Karma: *frustrated scream*
Angel (Ash) lands by Ash’s body, and her astral form renters it.
Angel: Wh- what the hell?! Where am I?!
Ash: Fighting me!
Ash kicks Angel in the dick.
Angel: *high pitched scream*
Ash: THAT’S FOR MAKING JUSTUS KISS EVE, YOU LITTLE BASTARD! Oh and… I guess setting my friends up in a death game too. I should have said that first...
Angel: *high pitched* Ow…
Eve and Alexis navigate the halls of the stadium carefully.
Alexis: Okay, we need to get to the control room and stop the simulation. Someone will be guarding it, so we’ll have to work together to take them out.
Eve: Right…
Alexis: Is something wrong, Eve?
Eve: No… it’s just that… What happens if we can’t beat them?
Alexis: Let’s not think about that, okay? If we let the pressure of the situation get the better of us, we’ll let everyone down.
Eve: R- right!
Alexis: Now, come on, we need to move fast.
Vanguard slowly steps toward Ewing.
Vanguard: I always had a sinking suspicion you were lying to everyone about the extent of your knowledge of the rings. I’m glad I was right.
Ewing: I want answers, not vague remarks!
Vanguard: Oh, poor Ewing, you don’t realize what’s happening here, do you? You’re not the one looking for answers; I am.
Ewing: The Gamma Ring isn’t capable of regeneration! I know for sure!
Vanguard: Well, unless I’m a ghost, you’ll have to reassess that opinion.
Ewing: *frustrated grunt*
Vanguard: Colossus, Battlin’ Boxer, Adrian, Iota, and Recovery Girl, all guardians of the rings and all heavily associated with this school. You’re going to tell me who and where the other 5 guardians are, and don’t lie and say that you don’t know. I’m no fool.
Ewing: (5? So, he doesn’t know about the Zeta Ring… that’s good to know.) What makes you think I would tell you any of that information.
Vanguard smiles.
Vanguard: What makes you think you have a choice?
Ewing: What?
Vanguard: I’ve got a little Hermit to help me out.
Verity emerges from the shadows of the basement.
Ewing: Ms. Larson? So… he got you too…
Vanguard: Once I’ve thoroughly beaten you into submission, I’ll have the Hermit search every inch of your mind for the location of the rings. Obviously, the Iota and Omega rings are with Iota, so I’ll have to go for those last. And, of course, I’ll need to do this again with Adrian to acquire the Theta Ring, but that’s alright.
Ewing: Even if you defeat me, my former students will never let you collect those rings.
Vanguard: Maybe… too bad they’ll have no idea I’m doing it.
Ewing: Huh?
Vanguard: The Hermit Quirk I’ve granted Verity allows her to wipe memories as far back as 24 hours. After I have all the information I need, she’ll make you forget, and I’ll use the Gamma Ring to heal your wounds. To you and everyone else, none of this will have ever happened, and I’ll be able to collect the rings uncontested. My plan is flawless.
Vanguard laughs.
Ewing: (I have to kill him… I can’t afford to let him defeat me in battle. He won’t let me escape, so I must fight. He’s already used the Alpha Ring on me once, so it’s useless to him for now. The Gamma Ring is the much bigger issue. Apparently, it has powers that even I wasn’t aware of… which is dangerously concerning. I can’t focus on that now, though. I need to get that ring off his finger so my chain strikes can finish him off. The easiest way is the best, rip his entire damn arm off.)
Vanguard: Scheming over there?
Ewing: Of course.
Vanguard: You only have one viable strategy, so stop wasting time.
Ewing: You’re right! I should!
Ewing fires his chains at Vanguard and wraps them around his arms.
Ewing: So, let’s rip these arms of yours clean off!
Vanguard: I don’t think you should do that.
Ewing: Why wouldn’t I-
Ewing releases the grip of his chains.
Ewing: Wh- wh- why did I do that!
Vanguard: I haven’t released the Alpha Ring’s hold on you. One of the parameters of the command I gave you was always agreeing with me. So, if I don’t think you should rip my arms off, neither do you.
Ewing: *frustrated grunt*
Vanguard: Now then…
Vanguard removes his suit jacket and undershirt.
Vanguard: It’s time for me to have some fun!
Vanguard rushes Ewing and knees him in the chest.
Ewing: *pained grunt*
Vanguard: Let’s fight, old man!
Vanguard chucks Ewing into the basement’s cement wall and then elbows him in the diaphragm.
Ewing: AHHHHHH!
Vanguard: You’re lucky that killing you would make this much more difficult for me. Otherwise, I’d already have you digging your own grave. So, to make up for it, I’ll give you the beating of your life!
Ewing: I may be old… BUT I’M NO PUSHOVER!
Ewing repels Vanguard with a barrage of chain strikes.
Vanguard: Hm, so you have some real fight in you after all?
Ewing: I was once an A-Rank hero on the cusps of becoming S-Rank; if you came down here thinking this would be an execution… you were dead wrong.
Vanguard smiles.
Vanguard: Good, then I’ll tell you what. To make this more interesting, I won’t use the Alpha Ring’s power on you for anything except protecting my arms.
Ewing: Then you’re a fool.
Ewing wraps his own arms in chains.
Ewing: I’m about to show you why they once called me The Iron Overlord.
Vanguard: Good.
Adrian and Walker arrive at Battlin’ Boxer’s desert home.
Walker: So, is this how you lived for 7 years?
Adrian: No, my house was bigger and nicer. I guess Battlin’ Boxer was a minimalist.
Walker: *grunts* I guess so.
They enter the home; Adrian places Weaver’s unconscious body on the bed. Walker stares at a picture of Battlin’ Boxer with his graduating class at U.A.
Walker: He had a whole career ahead of him, and he gave it up for a life like this.
Adrian: It’s the hardest thing a hero can do.
Walker: I’m sorry I spent all those years resenting you.
Adrian: It’s okay; I would have felt the same way if the shoe was on the other foot.
Walker: Still, I could only imagine what it must have been like to make that choice.
Adrian snickers.
Walker: What’s so funny?
Adrian: Well, you were there.
Walker: I- what?
Adrian: The offer was made to all 5 of us at once. Only Ivan and I accepted; your memories were wiped to protect the rings.
Walker: Why didn’t you ever tell me this?
Adrian: You never asked.
Walker: Wh- how would I know to ask-
Walker stares at Adrian.
Adrian: You see how annoying that is?
Walker: Touche.
Adrian: So, you ready to call the evac chopper and get you two to a hospital?
Walker: Shouldn’t we look around a little more? Maybe the ring is still here.
Adrian: The massive hole in the wall is enough evidence for me.
Walker: Better safe than sorry.
Adrian: *sighs* Fine, I’ll look out back.
Adrian walks out of the house and heads to the “backyard.” He pauses immediately.
Adrian: *grunts*
There’s a small wooden makeshift cross in the sand.
Adrian: So, whoever did this had the decency to give Battlin’ Boxer a proper grave.
Adrian kneels and places his hand on the sand before the cross.
Adrian: We may have never met, but I’m sorry this happened to you. To give so many years of your life protecting the Alpha Ring just to die alone like this… I’ll get revenge for you. As a fellow Guardian, I know your pain, and I won’t let it have been for nothing.
Walker can hear Adrian from inside the house.
Walker: (Battlin’ Boxer and him, they made the hardest choice anyone could make… I don’t give Adrian enough credit for that.)
Hayze slices at Jace with his sword.
Hayze: So, they taught you how to dodge in the Vanguard. About time.
Jace: Shut the hell up! That was one time against Kevin!
Hayze: Made you talk.
Jace: Wh- huh?
Hayze throws a tornado dagger into Jace’s shoulder.
Jace: AHHH! DAMMIT!
Hayze: I gotta say, it’s fun fighting someone weak for a change.
Jace: *frustrated growl*
Hayze laughs.
Hayze: I guess you are a different version of Jace; the old one would never have gotten this riled up.
Jace: Is this a joke to you?!
Hayze: No, you are.
Jace: You’re going to die here, you know that! Why are you laughing and having fun! This is supposed to be A DEATHMATCH!
Hayze smiles.
Hayze: I’ve already died once; it’s underrated; maybe this time I’ll see my parents.
Jace stares at Hayze.
Jace: What is wrong with you?
Hayze: Nothing.
Jace: How can anyone stare at a timer that is LITERALLY counting down to their death and be this calm?
Hayze: I don’t know… maybe it’s insanity, maybe it’s the fact that we’re doing this in the middle of a school for literal superheroes. But I’ve got a strange feeling my friends will get me out of this.
Jace: They don’t even know you’re here.
Hayze: Maybe, but what if they do?
Jace: Then they’ll fail.
Hayze: Just like you, Jace!
Jace: Quit mocking me!
Hayze: Why? You make it so easy.
Jace: Because this was supposed to be my moment! The moment I triumph over you and establish myself as the strongest hero among us!
Hayze: That would have been hard for you to do even if you told me I couldn’t use my arms or legs.
Jace: And why is that?
Hayze’s eyes narrow.
Hayze: Because you quit being a hero.
Jace: N- no, I didn’t, I wanted to, but then I saw the light.
Hayze: You mean you were brainwashed? Yeah, I guess that could change anyone’s mind.
Jace: I only lost my way for a moment! I just needed to get a little stronger! That’s all!
Hayze: No, you were going to give up because of what happened in the Prison. That exercise let us know what we would do in a situation like that… and you gave up.
Jace: The old Jace gave up, not me!
Hayze: Whatever helps you sleep at night, buddy. I don’t disrespect your choice; I just wish you would have learned from it rather than quitting in the real world as well.
Jace: Shut the hell up! I’m not listening to you anymore! I’m going to kill you!
Hayze: Cool, let me help.
Hayze tosses Jace his sword.
Jace: Wh…
Hayze: Since your punches weren’t really cutting it.
Jace: I’m not joking! I’ll defeat you!
Hayze: No, Jace, no, you won’t. That’s never gonna happen.
Jace: Why not?!
Hayze: Because, until you deal with your trauma from the Prison Exercise, you’re a quitter, a guy who gives up when the going gets tough. And that’s the difference between you and me… I never give up.