A Hero's Resolve (Part 8)

The building shook slightly as Chris and Void's fists connected. Void kept his smirk, but Chris was serious. He knew that this was a fight to the death, and only one of them would be walking away from this. Chris threw another punch, which Void dodged. He then grabbed onto Chris's arm and threw him over his shoulder. Chris landed on his feet and, with the help of One for All, threw Void towards the edge of the building. While in midair, Void powered up a flick and fired it. Chris was thrown back towards the opposite edge. Both fighters stopped short of falling off the building and quickly got back on their feet, charging towards each other. Chris threw a punch mid-run, but Void rolled underneath and grabbed Chris's leg, using his power to lift Chris up in the air and slam him down on his back. The wind was knocked out of Chris as the roof of the tower broke and both men fell into the room below.

Momo opened the office door and stopped. Kirishima and Mina poked their heads past her to see what she was looking at. The trio had located Twice, who was sitting in a revolving chair, bored out of his mind. The villain finally looked up. "...who are you guys?" The tone of his voice made it clear that Twice knew exactly who they were, but his split personality was lying. Kirishima swore. "We don't have time for this. We need to take him out while we can." Momo put her hand up. "We don't have time to take out Twice. Shigaraki might escape." Mina put her hands up, ready to fight. "But that would mean leaving Twice to his own devices." Momo thought for a moment, trying to come up with a compromise or a plan. Luckily, she wouldn't have to.

"I'll apprehend him. You three get a move on." Mina, Kirishima, and Momo turned their heads. They lit up. Kirishima shouted. "Endgame is back!" Jason walked up to them. "I can't fight Shigaraki head on anymore, but I can buy you time. Get going, and be careful." Momo backed away from the doorway so Jason could enter. "Are you sure about this?" "I'm quirkless, not powerless. I can take Twice." Momo nodded and pulled out a small remote. "Here. After you apprehend him, press that button. That will signal to the police that the cavalry needs to be called in." Jason pocketed the device. "Alright. Be careful with Shigaraki. He's far stronger than you realize." The trio continued down the hallway. Jason entered the room and shut the door behind him. "Alright Twice, it's time to bring you in."

Chris was thrown through the wall into the outside and flew through the windows of a nearby building. Coughing from the dust. he quickly got to his feet just in time to catch Void's punch. Void brought his foot up for a kick, but Chris blocked that too. After a few seconds of trading blows and blocks, Chris landed a powerful punch on Void, causing him to fly out of the building. Chris took a knee to catch his breath. "Dammit… he isn't using his full power… why is he holding back…?" Void held his side as he also caught his breath, keeping his eyes on the building to watch Chris's next move. "...he's gotten stronger… too strong… I have to push beyond my limits…" Chris jumped out the window. Void tackled him to the ground. The combatants rolled along the road before rising to their feet, facing each other. Bystanders panicked and ran away from the battle. Void punched Chris across the face, using a mixture of rage and fear. "Come on! I expect more from someone trying to become the next Symbol of Peace!" Void landed several powerful blows on Chris's body. Chris threw a punch, but Void turned his body to dodge it and delivered an elbow strike against Chris. The hero in training fell to a knee before getting kicked into another building.

Chris got up and froze. The building he had been smashed into had just lost its support columns, and the civilians inside began to panic as the building began to collapse. Chris immediately stood on one of the support beams and used every bit of power he could muster to hold the building in place. Void rushed into the building. Chris shut his eyes, waiting for the punch. It never came. Chris suddenly felt the building become just a little bit lighter. Chris opened his eyes and looked around. Void, surrounded by swirling purple and yellow energy, was underneath one of the other shattered columns, helping Chris keep it up. Both Chris and Void Pushed upwards and the civilians on the upper levels evacuated. As soon as everyone was gone, they sidestepped and sprinted out of the crumbling building.

Denki stopped in his tracks. He was trying to catch up to the others, but was now cut off by a very familiar man in a tan trench coat and a white mask, wielding a cane. Denki activated his electricity, lifting his hand to show it off. "Out of the way. I don't have time for you." Mr. Compress, now with two arms again, raised his hand. "Ah, but you do. I've made sure all your other arrangements have been dealt with. I am your only appointment today." The electricity hero lowered himself into a combat stance. "Fine. I'll fry you first, then I'm going after Shigaraki." Mr. Compress drew his sword from his cane. "Alas, you will never get that far. Without Tsukuyomi here to protect you, you will fall to me. En garde, Chargebolt." Denki smirked as he powered up his electricity. The resulting power surge knocked out power on their level and on the two levels above and below them.

Tokoyami was pushed back by a powerful stream of water. Wake had gotten the upper hand by keeping himself at range. Dark Shadow was too busy protecting Tokoyami to try and stop Wake. The villain laughed. "I can't believe you're considered one of the greatest threats to the League of Villains! Killing you will be a-" The lights all flickered, then became incredibly bright before the light bulbs shattered. Wake stopped his attack. "The hell? A power surge?" "No. That means Denki is nearby, and battling a villain." Wake turned back towards the direction of Tokoyami and tensed up. The hallway was pitch black. "Where the hell are you?" "The night is my domain. Your end has come, Wake." Red eyes flashed in the darkness. Wake took a few steps back, an uncomforting chill running down his spine. A mass of shadow rushed forward, destroying the walls in the process. Wake blasted his water at Tokoyami, but the water did nothing. "Dark Shadow and I grow stronger in the darkness! Your power is useless against me!" Wake ducked underneath the first swipe, but Dark Shadow's other hand smacked Wake into the wall. Wake tried to get up, but Dark Shadow pinned his hands to the wall. Tokoyami grabbed Wake's head and slammed it against the wall, knocking him out. Tokoyami let out a sigh of relief as Wake fell to the ground, unconscious. "...great work, Dark Shadow…" "No problem, boss!"

Chris wiped the sweat away from his brow. "...you… saved me… you saved those people..." Void had his hands on his knees, catching his breath. Chris put a hand on Void's shoulder. "That's proof that you aren't completely gone. At heart, you're still a-" Void slammed his elbow into Chris's gut. "Shut up." Chris stumbled backwards, holding his stomach as he wheezed for air. Void stood up straight. "Those people have nothing to do with our battle. This fight is between you and me. I will kill you before you can become a hero and embarrass One for All any further." Chris stood up straight and got into a fighting stance. Void did the same. "Today's the day you die, Impact."