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A Hero Among Us
Chapter 96 "Invasion"

Chapter 96 "Invasion"

Colossus is standing on a rooftop overlooking the city.

Colossus: (Another peaceful day… so far.)

The explosion between Final Amaryllis and Phoenician Impact goes off above U.A.

Colossus: Now they’re making me wish I was there instead of here...

Down in the streets, there is a patrol of three C-Rank Heroes.

Hero 1: I hope something exciting happens at some point today.

Hero 2: Uh… you know that would require a villain attack… right?

Hero 3: I’d be fine with just helping a cat out of a tree….

Hero 1: Oh, come on, guys! We’re heroes! We can handle any villain that comes our way! I hope they attack so we can show everyone that C-Rank heroes are just as good as S-Rank!

Suddenly a warp gate opens in the street. A massive muscular man with entirely white eyes steps out of the gate.

Man: SOMEONE WANT DIE?

Hero 1: Nevermind, I’m okay with just walking.

The man lets out a blood-curdling screech before leaping toward the heroes.

Hero 2: OH GOD!

Hero 3: WHAT IS THAT THING!

The second and third heroes start running.

Hero 1: Guys, It’s a villain! We can’t just run away from-

The man grabs the first hero and literally rips him in half.

Hero 1: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

The man chucks the two pieces of the hero to his sides and leaps after the other two heroes.

Hero 2: He just ripped him in half! WHAT THE FUCK!

Hero 3: HE’S GONNA CATCH UP TO US!

Hero 2: Then we have to fight him!

Hero 3: Okay! Let’s do it! Hit him with everything you’ve got!

The two heroes turn around and prepare to fight.

Hero 2: Bubble Barrage!

Hero 3: High Jump Kick!

Hero 2 fires a bunch of bubbles at the man while the third hero leaps toward him, attempting a spinning kick.

Man: YOU DIE!

The Man coats his skin with silver metal. As the bubbles make contact with him, they explode, but the silver absorbs all damage.

Hero 2: WHAT!

Hero 3: Don’t worry, I’ve got him!

The man grabs Hero 3 by the leg and rips it clean off.

Hero 3: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Hero 3 flops on the ground bleeding profusely from his leg.

Man: DIE!

The man steps on Hero 3’s head and crushes his skull, killing him instantly.

Hero 2: WHAT THE FUCK!

Hero 2 tries running for his life, but the man leaps on top of him and pins him to the ground.

Hero 2: HELP ME!

Man: DIE!

Suddenly Colossus appears and punches the man so hard in the chest that he goes flying multiple blocks away.

Colossus: Sorry, I couldn’t have gotten here sooner, but have no fear, I will defeat this villain.

The man quickly recovers from Colossus’ punch.

Colossus: So you’re a tough guy, huh? Let me teach you why that isn’t a good thing when facing me!

Colossus and the man burst towards each other.

Man: DIE! DIE! DIE!

Colossus: Colossal Impact!

The man and Colossus punch each other directly in the face.

Man: *groans*

Colossus: You pack more of a punch than I was expecting…

The man keels over and dies as his body steams. However, his punch actually left a mark on Colossus’ face.

Colossus: (That was strange… Why would a random lunatic attack like that?)

The bystanders cheer for Colossus.

Bystander 1: We’re saved!

Bystander 2: Colossus would never let us down!

Hero 2 is crying over his dead friends.

Hero 2: Thank you, Colossus! You saved-

Another warp gate opens, and a man that looks identical to the one Colossus just fought steps out and crushes Hero 2’s skull.

Man: DIE!

Colossus is surprised.

Colossus: Wh- what?

He looks back at the body of the man he just killed.

Colossus: (How… No matter! I just defeated him, I can do it aga-)

Nine more warp gates open, and nine more versions of the same man step out.

All ten men: DIE!

Colossus: (Uh oh…)

Back at the stadium, the tension is building. Khaos holds out his right arm a black vortex opens up from its shadow. Rays of darkness begin to emerge from the vortex and form a helix. The helix then creates Khaos’ executioner’s blade. Khaos grabs the hilt and points the sword at Adrian.

Khaos: It’s been a while since I last got to stretch my legs, but it was worth the wait.

“ Khaos: Whenever I appear, someone will die. “ - Chapter 48

Adrian: *choking* (I’ve gotta get him out of here!)

Adrian tries lifting his arm to open a portal, but the shadows bend it backward.

Adrian: AHH!

Khaos: What are you doing, Adrian? The fun hasn’t even started yet.

Madame Mummy launches a barrage of her bandages at Khaos.

Madame Mummy: Stop this right now.

The bandages come to an abrupt stop.

Madame Mummy: What?

Khaos: You shouldn’t pick a fight with someone far superior to you.

Madame Mummy notices that Khaos’ shadow has extended and attached to the shadows of her bandages.

Madame Mummy: (Shadows?)

Madame Mummy attempts to move her body, but she’s completely paralyzed.

Madame Mummy: What’s the meaning of this?

Khaos: Why don’t you just hold still and find out later.

Khaos approaches Adrian.

Khaos: Now then, I may not be able to kill you, but I can do plenty of other things.

Suddenly the ground of the arena shakes as someone has entered the battle cloaked in a cloud of dust from the impact.

Khaos: What’s this? More options?

The dust settles, revealing it’s Fatal.

Fatal: Put him down, you psychopath!

Khaos smiles.

Khaos: Make me.

Fatal boosts her leg muscles and bursts towards Khaos.

Khaos: Shadow Sneak.

Khaos disappears into the ground.

Fatal: What?

Fatal comes to a quick halt.

Fatal: (So this is his ultimate evasive maneuver that Adrian told me about.)

Khaos appears behind Fatal.

Khaos: Boo.

Fatal boosts her arm muscles and attempts to punch Khaos, but he uses his shadow to block her punch and restrain her.

Fatal: *frustrated grunt*

Khaos: As I said to the mummy, you shouldn’t pick a fight with someone far superior to you!

The crowd looks confused over what’s transpiring in the arena.

Zach: Uh… guys… why are the teachers trying to attack Hayze?

Wes: And why aren’t they winning…

Dr. Moore watches with a panicked expression. Ewing has the same exact look on his face.

Dr. Moore: (That’s… Hayze?)

Walker has a stern expression on his face.

Walker: (I’ve seen this before…)

Walker flashes back to the day Fatal lost control at the Sports Festival.

Walker: (And judging from Adrian’s reaction, they know something I don’t.)

Walker clenches his fist for a few seconds before easing his grip.

Walker: (However, there’s a more pressing matter at hand.)

“ Walker: Our students, my students, are the targets of Ivan’s plans far too often. We’re doing this to protect them because I haven’t done a good enough job of that myself. “ - Chapter 90

Walker: (That clearly isn’t Hayze down there anymore, and it’s my job to protect him and everyone in this stadium from whoever that really is. I’ll get my answers later, but my student comes first.)

Blair looks up and sees Khaos restraining Madame Mummy, Fatal and Adrian at once.

Blair: (Hayze?) What’s going on?

Blair looks at Verity, who is frozen in shock.

Verity: (I’ve never seen something like this before… it’s like he’s an entirely different person…)

Blair: (I didn’t think she was capable of emotion… which is probably a bad sign.)

Khaos smiles at Fatal menacingly.

Khaos: You realize you’re responsible for this, right? If you hadn’t agreed to train him, he never would have gotten into U.A., and I wouldn’t be nearly as powerful as I am today.

Fatal: You know that’s not true. If you’re going to lie, make it a good lie.

Khaos’ eyes narrow.

Khaos: Just for that, I’m going to maim you. Tell me, what’s your least favorite limb?

Fatal grinds her teeth.

Fatal: (There’s nothing I can do!)

Khaos: You have five seconds to-

Suddenly a portal opens beneath Fatal dispelling Khaos’ shadow restraints and causing her to fall through it.

Khaos: What! I thought I had him-

Khaos turns to look at Adrian and sees that Walker has joined the battle.

Khaos: Oh… I see.

Walker opens a portal next to himself, and Fatal falls out.

Fatal: Thanks, Damien.

Walker uses a portal to free Adrian as well, who catches his breath desperately.

Walker: So, who are you?

Khaos smiles.

Khaos: Your death.

Walker: Cute name. I’ll be sure to personally engrave it on your tombstone.

Khaos: Oh ho ho, will you be a real challenge?

Walker: If by real you mean impossible, then yes.

Khaos laughs.

Khaos: This should be fun.

Suddenly an alarm sounds.

Lilith: What's that?

Gus: It hurts my ears.

Karma: It’s the evacuation alarm...

Jace: This situation doesn’t seem so bad that we need to evacuate!

Alexis: That alarm isn’t just for the stadium, the system is installed all throughout Nashville, and if it’s going off, then that means something really bad is happening in the city.

Everyone looks at Alexis.

Zach: What do you mean by “really bad”?

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Wes: And how come hardly any of us have ever heard about it?

Alexis and Karma look at each other.

Alexis: Because Nashville has been protected by the greatest hero ever for our entire lifetime. So the system has never needed to be used.

Karma: Which means if it’s going off now…

Alexis: Then Colossus can’t handle whatever is happening on his own.

In the city, Colossus continues killing more than more of the muscular men as sweat drips down his face.

Colossus: (They’re so powerful… I can take them out with just one punch but still...)

Colossus is surrounded by a hundred of the men.

Colossus: (It adds up over time, and I’m not as young as I used to be…)

One of the men leaps towards Colossus.

Colossus: COLOSSAL IMPACT!

Colossus kills the man easily.

Colossus: Bring it on, you white-eyed monsters! I’m the number one hero for a reason!

Colossus continues fighting and killing more and more of the men. However, throughout the city, other versions of the men are wreaking havoc, killing C-Rank and B-Rank heroes and destroying anything they can.

Colossus: (We need help… I need help… I need more heroes!)

Back at the arena, Khaos’ shadow paralysis over Madame Mummy ends. The stadium is in pure pandemonium as everyone is trying to leave at once.

Alden: GET OUT OF MY WAY!

Demetri: I DON’T WANT TO DIE!

Isaiah: FREE ME!

Alden, Demetri, and Isaiah are fighting the crowd to exit the stadium.

Wes: I know they’re cowards, but should we be doing the same?

Angel flies over and grabs Alden, Demetri, and Isaiah.

Angel: Come on, guys, I’ll get you out of here safely.

Demetri and Isaiah: THANK YOU, ANGEL!

Alden: THANKS, BIRD GUY!

Angel drops Alden.

Alden: NOOO!

Angel looks back at his class.

Angel: I’ll do rounds for everyone else. We should stick together and head to the fallout shelter as a group.

Everyone is in agreement. Angel flies off.

Lilith: I’ll help him out!

Lilith extends her wings and grabs Eve.

Lilith: Why did I start with you! You’re so heavy!

Eve: MY TITS DON’T ADD THAT MUCH WEIGHT.

Lilith and Eve also fly off.

Alexis: That should be a fun flight…

Adrian and Fatal get to their feet and stand beside Walker.

Adrian: Thanks for the help there, Damien.

Walker opens a portal and enters the announcing booth with Boom.

Boom: Walker! Bro! What’s going on! Why is a student fighting teachers? This is-

Walker grabs the mic.

Walker: Listen, everyone in the stadium! Begin evacuating to the specialized fallout shelters located throughout the city's outskirts. All Top 10 Heroes, if you haven’t left already, please don’t worry about the crisis here. The faculty of U.A. have this under control. Head to the city and help Colossus with whatever is happening there. Teachers of U.A., assist all audience members in the evacuation and keep everyone safe. Femme Fatal, The Copy Cat and I will handle the clearly possessed student. Madame Mummy, please retrieve the injured students from the battle and bring them to Recovery Girl.

Madame Mummy looks at Alec, Ash, and Kevin’s unconscious bodies. Alongside the heavily injured Aster and exhausted Blair.

Madame Mummy: On it.

Walker drops the mic.

Boom: Good uh… speech, man.

Walker: Either run down and help people evacuate the school or evacuate yourself. I don’t care which.

Walker exits through a portal.

Boom: So stoic…

Walker returns to stand beside Fatal and Adrian.

Walker: Sorry, I just had to deal with that first.

Fatal: It’s okay, Dame. We-

Walker: When we’re done here, I want you two to tell me everything.

Adrian and Fatal pretend to look confused.

Walker: And I mean EVERYTHING.

Khaos laughs.

Khaos: Send everyone away. Once I’m done here, I’ll hunt them down and kill them all.

Adrian: I thought you said you could only kill people Hayze hates?

Khaos: You’d be amazed how liberally that label can be applied when a boy grows up in a world of superheroes being told by everyone he’d never be one himself. And also, dead parents, but semantics.

Madame Mummy uses her bandages to grab Alec, Ash, Kevin, and Aster. Then, she walks over to Blair.

Blair: What’s going on, Madame Mummy? Why did Mr. Walker call Hayze possessed?

Madame Mummy: I honestly have no idea what’s going on, Blair, but we need to leave now.

Madame Mummy hoists Blair into the air using her bandages, but Blair struggles.

Madame Mummy: What are you doing?

Blair: Let me go! I need to talk to Hayze!

Madame Mummy: I’m sorry, but that’s not happening.

Madame Mummy runs towards the tunnel to leave.

Blair: Hayze!

Khaos looks back at Blair. His dark eyes frighten her.

Khaos: (No need to chase, there’s no one in that pile I can kill.)

Khaos turns his attention to Adrian, Fatal, and Walker.

Khaos: So, let’s get this started.

Khaos disappears into the ground.

Adrian: Stay together. He won’t appear near me because he doesn’t want me to copy his quirk.

Adrian flashes back to the beatdown he gave Adonis, Jagger, and Yusuf.

Adrian: He knows how dangerous that can be.

Angel and Lilith return for more of their classmates.

Angel: I’ll take Zach, Gus, and Jace.

Lilith: I can get Karma and Alexis since they’re lighter.

Alexis: By that logic, you should probably take Wes instead. He’s lighter than me.

Wes: Hey!

Alexis: I weigh 145.

Wes stares at Alexis.

Wes: Well, now I don’t want to go out of principle.

Alexis: Suit yourself.

Lilith flies off with Karma and Alexis while Angel flies with Zach, Jace, and Gus, leaving just Silver, Justus, and Wes.

Wes: So… uh… what’s going on with you guys?

Alden comes crawling down the steps, badly beaten from being trampled by the fleeing crowd.

Alden: Help me…

They all stare at Alden.

Wes: I genuinely don’t want to.

Silver: Yeah, I would, but then I remind myself that if you simply knew Angel’s name, you wouldn’t have wound up like this.

Alden: His name is Angel? I thought it was Ultra Chicken.

They all stare at Alden.

Wes: What’s my name?

Alden: Felix von Gaylord.

Wes steps on Alden.

Alden: AHHH!

Wes: How you’re still considered a hero student is beyond me.

Suddenly Khaos appears in Wes’ shadow.

Silver: Wes!

Justus: Behind you!

Khaos shoves Wes to the side and looks down upon Alden.

Khaos: You’ll be a good appetizer.

Khaos raises his sword.

Alden: Help…

Justus grabs Khaos and throws him back into the arena.

Khaos: What the hell!

Justus and Silver leap into the arena.

Justus: Hayze, Mr. Walker said you’ve been possessed.

Silver: So we’re sorry if we hurt you, but it’s for your own good.

Silver secretes liquid silver from his pores and forms it into a wrist blade.

Justus: I’m still weak from the poison, but-

Adrian: Stop!

Adrian, Walker, and Fatal are standing about 15 yards behind Khaos.

Adrian: Silver and Justus evacuate this stadium, NOW!

Silver: We’re just trying to help, sir!

Justus: We can provide assistance.

Adrian: Climb back into the stands right now.

They’re both surprised.

Walker: If you take one step further or attempt to fight in any way, you will be expelled from U.A. immediately.

Silver and Justus look at each other.

Wes: (I’ve never seen them this serious about something… Justus and Silver are powerhouses. If Walker’s rejecting their help must mean whatever’s controlling Hayze is stronger than both of them by a longshot.)

Angel and Lilith have returned.

Lilith: What’s going on?

Walker: Angel, please take Silver and Justus out of the arena.

Angel flies over the two of them.

Angel: Grab my hands, guys.

They both stare Walker in the eyes before reluctantly grabbing Angel’s hand. Angel flies off with them.

Lilith: Wes!

Wes: Huh?

Lilith: You’re the last one left. Let’s go!

Wes grabs Lilith’s hand.

Lilith: Let’s go!

Wes notices Verity is still in the arena.

Wes: *sighs* Lilith…

Lilith: Huh?

Wes: Let’s go help, Verity.

Lilith: Uh… okay? We can do that. She’s not that heavy.

Alden grabs Wes’ ankle.

Alden: Please…

Wes: *sighs louder* Only if you can hang on. If you let go, we’re not stopping.

Alden: Okay…

Lilith takes flight with Wes and Alden. They fly over, and Wes grabs Verity’s hand. The four then take off.

Wes: What happened to you? Why were you just-

Verity looks like she’s in shock.

Wes: Uh… Verity?

Khaos gets to his feet and turns to Walker, Adrian, and Fatal.

Khaos: (That kid Justus shouldn’t have been able to throw me like that, something is up with him. No matter, I can’t kill him anyway.) Now then… let’s get to work.

Khaos’ shadow begins extending towards Fatal’s. Walker opens a portal blocking the shadow’s path.

Walker: Your shadows can’t pass through my portal.

Khaos: That’s fine.

Khaos’ shadow hops over the portal and continues towards Fatal.

Adrian: Rachel!

Fatal boosts her calf muscles and backflips 40 yards.

Walker: Maybe you should copy her quirk instead of mine.

Adrian: Yeah… that sounds good…

Khaos: Shadow Sneak.

Khaos disappears into the ground.

Walker: We played into this hand.

Adrian: Rachel! Watch out!

Khaos appears in front of Fatal and swings his blade at her.

Khaos: Sinister Slash!

Fatal boosts her calves again to get away, but Khaos’ strike slices her right eye open.

Fatal: AHHHH!

Khaos: Told you.

Fatal falls over and covers her eye as the blood seeps between her fingers.

Adrian: RACHEL!

Walker: Adrian, wait!

Adrian opens a portal and runs through it. Another portal opens next to Khaos.

Adrian: STAY AWAY FROM HER!

Khaos: Bye-bye.

Khaos disappears into the ground.

Adrian: What? COME BACK HERE, YOU BASTARD!

Walker sees Khaos disappear and immediately opens a portal beneath himself.

Walker: (We can’t let ourselves get separated!)

Adrian runs over to Fatal.

Adrian: Rachel! Are you okay?

Fatal: I’ll be fine… I think.

Adrian rips off one of the sleeves of his shirt and wraps it around Fatal’s head, covering her eye.

Fatal: Thank you…

A portal opens next to them, and Walker steps out.

Walker: Don’t do that again. He’s trying to get us on our own, so he can attack us.

Adrian: I know, I’m sorry, I just-

Walker: I understand; just don’t do it again. Otherwise, we’ll be losing more than just an eye.

Khaos emerges from the ground in the shadow of the arena.

Khaos: It doesn’t matter how long we fight. You know the rules, Adrian, and they must be followed!

Adrian stands up and faces Khaos.

Walker: You said he can only kill people Hayze hates, correct?

Adrian: Yeah, but like he said, that might be a pretty inclusive group.

Walker: Well, considering he only maimed Rachel, I have to assume none of us are.

Adrian: That’s probably fair.

Walker: Then why is he staying here?

Adrian: Hm?

Walker: Look around. The stadium is mostly evacuated at this point. If he’s looking to kill people and nobody can be, why is he still here? He’s proven he’s not confined to this arena when he went after Alden, so he has some ulterior motive.

Adrian looks at Khaos.

Adrian: (Damien is right… it doesn’t add up. Why would he want to fight us? Maybe we’re just his entertainment while he waits for something… or someone…)

Ivy continues walking down the halls of the stadium. She can hear the evacuation and the screams of people running for their lives.

Ivy: (The assault has begun, and the match should be over. All I have to do now is find him and-)

Ivy stops.

Ivy: You…

Saige is leaning against the wall waiting for Ivy.

Saige: I thought that you seemed suspicious.

Ivy: What are you doing here?

Saige: Oh, little ole me? I’m here to put you down and bring you to justice.

Ivy stares at Saige.

Ivy: Who the hell are you?

Saige: Oh, that’s right, we haven’t been properly acquainted yet.

Saige creates a pink translucent katana in her hand.

Saige: My name is Saige Neidert, Top Student of U.A. Hero Course Class 2-A, and I’m here to get revenge.

Ivy: Revenge for what? The last time we met, you put me in a bubble and laughed.

Saige: Yeah, and you remember what you were doing that day? Your goal, I mean.

Ivy doesn’t respond.

Saige: You tried to kill someone very special to me, and you will pay for that.

Ivy’s eyes widen beneath her mask.

Ivy: (Maybe this one could be useful to me.)

Saige giggles.

Saige: Look at me sounding so stoic. I guess I should loosen up a bit. I mean, look at you, you’re like what? 5’3?

Ivy: What does that mean?

Saige: 5’3? It’s your height.

Ivy: My “height” was last measured at 63 inches.

Saige: That’s 5’3.

Ivy: That sounds stupid.

Saige: Wait, so if you don’t know abbreviations for height, what else don’t you know?

Saige stares at Ivy’s chest.

Ivy: Stop staring at my wounded arm! It won’t impede me in battle!

Saige: I’m not staring at your arm, silly. I’m staring at your titties.

Ivy: What the hell is a “titty”?

Saige gets a big smile on her face.

Saige: I’m going to really enjoy this fight.

On top of the largest skyscraper in the city, a warp gate opens. Iota, Zaire and X step out.

X: Woah… this is high up…

Iota: Yes, and it’s close to the direct center of the city.

Iota looks out at the city and sees many smoke screens coming from fires in the distance. The streets are in pandemonium as the muscular men continue wreaking havoc.

Iota: I see the clones are doing their job. How many have we used?

Zaire: We were able to mass-produce 4,000 of them. About 45% of them have been deployed, and 15% have been killed by our current count.

X: 4,000! Why didn’t you just send ‘em all in?

Iota: That was the original plan.

X: Huh?

Zaire: The clones aren’t copies of another person. They’re creations from DNA samples we acquired during our most recent mission.

Iota: Which means that they’re not as stable and therefore are more prone to… how do I say…

Zaire: Brain melting?

Iota: I was going to say malfunctions to keep it ominous, but what the hell! Today is a great day!

X: But still, why didn’t you send them all?

Iota: Oh right, the DNA samples we acquired were initially supposed to be from the U.A. students Silver and Justus.

Zaire: The perfect defense mixed with the ideal offense to create an unstoppable clone army.

Iota: However, we had to improvise and extract the DNA of their classmate Kevin instead of Justus’.

Zaire: His quirk is also a strength quirk, and it actually makes the clones physically stronger than Justus’.

X: Then why wasn’t he the original target?

Iota: Because Kevin’s adrenaline quirk gives them a time limit.

X: Oh…

Zaire: They’re pumped full of prednisone, a steroid that increases energy to last much longer than Kevin would at the level they’re fighting at.

Iota: Even still, they only get about 10 minutes before they fizzle and die, so we have to send them in waves.

X: Makes sense. Anyway, what are we doing up here?

Iota: Well, X. Remember when we first met, and I asked you how much of the city you could blow up?

“ Iota: Say you were to detonate at full power, how much of this city would be caught in the blast?

X: Maybe a couple of blocks at best?

Iota: With my help, you could take out nearly a fourth. “ - Chapter 42

X gets a smile on his face.

X: Yeah, I do.

Iota: Well, I have good news for you.

X: Hm?

Iota has a sinister smile on his face.

Iota: We’re going to make your range the whole city!