Having emerged from the building and threatened to kill two villains, Izuku forcibly made Gentle and La Brava work for him. Experiencing the pain from the anger he felt, Izuku resisted his desires to kill the two villains, no matter how much they mocked him.
Only flights and gentle spring breezes calmed Izuku. The dark sky and tall glass buildings reflected himself and the moonlight that hit them. Clinging to the edge of a high-rise glass building, Izuku adhered to it thanks to his tentacles. Gazing at his reflection, he saw himself.
His eyebrows were furrowed, and the lenses looked much more menacing than before. Examining every detail, Izuku saw how his face transformed in the moonlight. The mouth area began to open, revealing sharp teeth, and seeing himself in such a guise, he was horrified.
"Is this really me?" Feeling his face, he didn't feel any sharp teeth, but Venom inside began to stir, causing pain throughout his body. Izuku clutched his stomach, breathing heavily; overuse of power had depleted his calories.
"You used more power than last time. If you don't find food, you'll lose control not only over your body but also over your mind," he remembered his words about hunger. Izuku always used his power in moderation to avoid overburdening himself, but due to the battle with a strong opponent, he had to neglect his own rules.
"I shouldn't have crossed the line, but I had to, otherwise I would have lost or, worse, died," Izuku countered. Not wanting to be in the grip of his own hunger, he jumped from the building, gracefully performing a somersault and catching the building with a tentacle.
"You are too agitated, you need to calm down before you lose control," with every cell of his body he felt how the rage and anger inside the host boiled, poisoning his consciousness. Once analytical and calm, the host now resembled nothing more than an aggressive body filled with desires.
"..." Izuku remained silent, trying not to listen to him, but his friend was right about him in this situation; Andy spoke only facts.
Annoyed by his host's silence, Venom took control of Izuku's body, moving him to one of the rooftops. To Izuku's bewilderment, he grumbled and tried to take control of the body, but because of his anger, he completely forgot about his will, which restrained the symbiote.
"What are you doing?" Izuku roared. In response, he heard the symbiote's growl. Tentacles burst from his back, gluing him to the water tower, not allowing him to resist. Due to his weakened will, Izuku could not take control of his body.
"You need to calm down, take a deep breath and exhale," Izuku couldn't hear him and continued trying to regain control of his body until he felt the pain of a broken finger.
"Ahhhh, it hurts!" Screaming in pain, he stopped his efforts, listening to his voice of reason rather than his emotions and desires.
"We won't leave until you do as I say," a growl escaped from Venom's voice, and out of desperation, Izuku had to listen to him.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Deep breath.
Deep exhale.
His mind began to calm down, and the oxygenated brain started to come to its senses, driving away intrusive thoughts. The tentacle from his back began to detach, releasing Izuku to the ground, giving him control over his body.
"That's better," Venom grunted contentedly, healing the broken finger, causing pain throughout his body.
"Sorry, I got a bit carried away," taking control of his body, Izuku, without hesitation, jumped from the rooftop, still feeling hungry but with better control over his needs.
"Don't apologize. Not everyone can resist their desires and emotions. It's important when to let your emotions explode," the tentacle grabbed onto buildings, and the wind blew against his face, feeling serenity and calmness amidst the city's numerous noises. The city lived its nightlife, filled with underground heroes coming out on patrol, taking the baton from day heroes.
"Brrrrrrrr," the phone vibrated, causing the flight to be interrupted. Landing on the next rooftop, Izuku demonstratively coughed before looking at the caller ID.
"Iguchi?" He looked around in surprise, searching for witnesses but found none except for a couple of pigeons.
"What does he want? We need to eat," Venom voiced his annoyance with an irritated voice but continued to watch the phone on his hand vibrating.
"Should answer," swiping his finger across the phone sensor, Izuku heard the gecko's worried voice.
"Hello, is that you?" Iguchi's worried voice tried to identify who was on the other end of the line.
"Yes, it's me. The code word is lizard," hearing the sarcasm about himself, Iguchi had to exhale from the unfunny joke.
"It's not funny. I hope you're okay; the builders called me and said you stopped the intruders," sitting at his desk and sorting through numerous papers, he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I had to intervene. I saw people armed with baseball bats in front of your property, so I had to beat them," on the other line, an awkward silence hung before Iguchi came to his senses.
"Are you alive?" With a stern voice, Izuku stood on the edge of the building, hearing the surrounding city noise. It seemed he hadn't damaged anything during the fight with the robbers.
"Sorry. I was looking for the necessary document, yes, you can continue."
"Well, during the interrogation, I found out they are breaking this company's construction equipment. Interrogating the main perpetrator, I learned the name Moloch. Does this name mean anything to you?" Looking at the phone with confusion, Iguchi instantly replied without hesitation.
"No, I've never heard that name. Tell me, what do you know about Moloch?" Turning on the speakerphone, Iguchi leaned back in his chair from the approaching headache.
"The intruders were ordered to break construction equipment. I'm not a detective, but I suspect you've crossed someone or refused someone's request," making characteristic sounds for a gecko, Iguchi exhaled, recalling all the partners he is currently working with.
"I'm not sure, but it's a theory that can't be ignored. When I was looking for a contractor to build this shelter, I was considering the total cost of construction. The strangest thing is that a day before the announcement for contractor search, a construction company approached me." Izuku frowned, hearing the silence from Iguchi. There were many construction companies in the city, from small to large. Although rumors circulate in society about a free market and competition, in the contractor and construction firm market, there were several major players who ruled the labor market. All from the oligopoly trio absorbed small firms or destroyed them so they wouldn't lower the price for construction services and bring imbalance to the established business order. Only three firms dictated their terms throughout the construction market in Japan.
Uraraka Construction Group — UCG
Yaoyorozu Industries — YI
TNAF Transnational Corporation — TNAF
All three companies were engaged in the construction market. For UCG companies, construction was the main income source. YI and TNAF companies, although not specializing in construction, thanks to the absorbed companies, had influence in this market. All had inflated prices since monopolists dictate their rules, standards, and prices for all their services, and no one could outdo them, not even government agencies fighting market monopolies.
"Tell me what the theory is, maybe it'll be the key to catching Moloch," the conversation was extremely monotonous and uniform, making Venom very bored, and from annoyance, he grumbled, trying to entertain himself. Andy's behavior distracted Izuku from their dialogue, causing some concerns for Iguchi, although he's unaware of the entire Phantom secret.
"The day before the contractor search, a person knocked on my office door. He was an official representative of Uraraka Construction Group. The strangest thing is that no one knew about my contractor search. And this company, without my knowledge, knocked on my door and offered to build the shelter," frowning, Izuku scratched his temple, analyzing this information. The theory seemed plausible, but there were some holes in the narrative preventing him from fully asserting it.
"I assume you refused them. Judging by the company I saw during the shelter's construction, I have no doubt that it could have been competing firms or the UCG firm," Iguchi was slightly nervous that his choice affected the timelines and future safety of the entire institution.
"Did you refuse them, and is there any explanation or justification for it?" Fidgeting with the edge of his T-shirt from nervousness, Iguchi decided to tell him the whole truth.
"You see, when this person came to my office, he began talking about regulations, safety, cooperation, and benefits for their services if I signed a contract with them to build the shelter. I was, of course, intrigued by their offer, but reading the contract they brought me, I was, to put it mildly, dissatisfied," Iguchi paused, unable to hide his curiosity, Izuku jumped off the water tower.
"What happened next?" Venom was also interested in this whole Iguchi story, as it meant new intrigues, connections, and many adventures and heroism they strive for.
"The contract stated that lighting, water, and heating were not included in the construction price and needed to be paid separately for installation. Furthermore, when I saw the construction price, all the scales on my skin stood on end," Iguchi began to raise his tone from his indignation. He couldn't complain about his grandmother's goal and desire, but he wasn't a foolish person to squander the wealth and inheritance in vain.
"How much did they ask for construction?" Not hiding his curiosity, Izuku brought his ear closer to the phone, wanting to hear the full amount.
"200 million ¥ = $1,328,000. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!!!" Iguchi burst into a shout, causing Izuku to pull his ear away from his phone.
"They're asking for a lot," accepting the information from the gecko with calmness. Hearing Phantom's calm demeanor, he had to calm down.
"Sorry for shouting, this figure still doesn't leave my mind. Let's move on, to connect heating, water, and electricity to their sources, they asked for 125 million ¥ = $830,000. It's very expensive, I can't scatter money left and right. Besides construction, I need money for hiring staff, furnishing rooms, insurance, food, etc.," Iguchi reported, to which Venom had a quite logical question.
"Why strive for others? If he can use this money for himself and never have financial problems again."
"I assume you refused them?" Knowing the answer to this question, Izuku wanted to enjoy the gecko's reaction even more, as adolescent age makes itself known.
"Exactly, I politely refused them, saying I'd get back to them. But in the end, I didn't contact them. I found a starting construction firm that is new to this market. They asked for not as much as UCG, so I fit into the budget," understanding all the risks, Izuku walked zigzag on the roof to avoid standing in one place. Venom was extremely bored with this conversation, albeit with interesting details.
"I think UCG is trying to force you to accept their offer," Iguchi straightened his shoulders, not understanding what was being discussed.
"If all points are connected, then UCG, through robbers, is trying to disrupt your shelter's construction so that the firm you're cooperating with finally withdraws from losses. And you have no choice but to make concessions to UCG or other major companies. I fear to imagine the price tag after this," Iguchi thought over Izuku's words. If Phantom is right, this is not just someone's petty revenge or random acts of vandalism it's a planned pressure aimed at making him comply.
"Are you sure?" The gecko's voice sounded tense. Listening to his reason and analytical mind, Izuku wasn't entirely sure this theory was correct.
"Not entirely. Maybe it's other people or those who want to settle scores with you. Knowing you're a getemorph, people might not perceive you in the best way. There are many 'buts' and 'ifs.' I won't confirm this theory," exhaling, Iguchi calculated his expenses and income, realizing that the inheritance won't last long without a source of income.
"How do you plan to maintain the entire shelter if, as I understand it, you don't have an unlimited supply of money?"
"Yes, there's enough money to build the shelter and maintain it for three or four months without financial investments. That's why I opened a fund for those who genuinely want to do a good deed. It would be foolish if I relied on just one income source, so I decided to turn to the government for help," taking the necessary document with the state seal in his hand, he smiled, realizing not everything is hopeless. They approved funding for the shelter's maintenance thanks to local tenders and grants he won.
"Are you sure they won't throw you to the curb?" Iguchi looked at the phone with misunderstanding before smiling.
"I understand your concern, but this agreement is secured by several qualified and independent lawyers. And legally, it's signed by both parties. I had to go through a bureaucratic hell, and it took 7 damn months," not hiding his delight, Iguchi smiled, and taking his pen, he began signing important documents. On the other end of the line, Izuku didn't suspect that all this time someone was watching them.
"Someone is watching us. I can't see him, but I feel his gaze on us," with irritation in his voice, he looked in different directions, trying to find the spy, and understanding his friend's intentions, Izuku also prepared for the worst.
"I'll call you later. If there are news or details for the investigation, send me a message. I have to go," Izuku's voice and intention were immediately understood by Iguchi, and laying down his pen, he focused on the conversation.
"Be careful," the phone was hung up, leaving Iguchi alone in silence to ponder what happened with his actual business partner.
"I know you're here. I'll find you anyway," the spy, who was watching from an elevation, finally revealed himself, landing fifteen meters from Izuku.
Izuku's eyes caught several knives below the waist. A blindfold on the eyes, knee and elbow pads, and something resembling a chest plate. A disfigured face and muscular appearance looked intimidating to Izuku. The cherry on top was the long and tattered sword on the back.
"Did you decide to hunt me?" Stain grinned, seeing Phantom with his own eyes. He looked just as people described him.
"My name is Stain," he introduced himself with a proud tone, but Izuku didn't care. Most importantly, he didn't see and didn't know what his quirk was and what he could do.
"I don't care," Izuku dismissed his name with disdain. Stain, in turn, frowned, hearing how his enemy and target treated him without respect.
"You have a sharp tongue. I'll gladly cut it off," sadistically grinning, Stain drew his sword from its sheath, pointing it at Izuku.
"Come on, attack!" Stain shouted, attacking Izuku first. His speed was overwhelming, and Izuku barely dodged the blade of his sword. Jumping back, Izuku landed on his feet, taking a deep breath.
"Not everyone can dodge my sword. Well, let's see how you handle yourself next!" Shouting, he ran at Izuku. Hunger still tormented him from within, hindering his concentration. Stain tried to cut him in half, but Izuku dodged, not falling under the blade of the sword.
A tentacle from his hand instantly grabbed his waist, which Stain didn't expect to see. Pulling him close, Izuku struck the chest armor with all his might. Creating a dent in it, Izuku breathed heavily, consumed by hunger. The desire whispered to him to leave, but he refused to listen to them. He had to stay focused on the battle.
"And you're smart compared to the enemies I've fought. Your hand will make a great trophy in my collection," Stain grinned evilly, sheathing his sword again. Cracking his fingers, Stain grabbed the knives attached to the sides of his gear, not taking his eyes off Phantom.
"..." Izuku remained silent, ready to dodge his attack. Clenching his fists tighter, he used [Symbiote:Slam] to grab him, but Stain skillfully dodged, throwing several knives at his head. Tentacles burst from his body, catching the knives inches from his eyes. For Izuku, this fight dragged on for a long time, as hunger began to strike his mind. Throwing the knives off the roof, Izuku assumed a stance, ready to take his attack. But he didn't attack, instead breaking into villainous laughter.
"You're strong and smart, having taken my attacks without a scratch. I've seen how you fought against heroes and villains. I'm sorry you have to fight both," Izuku gritted his teeth in anger, realizing he was trying to distract him from the fight. Venom inside him also pulsated, unwilling to listen to his nonsense regarding them. Using [Symbiote:Yank], Izuku tried to grab his head and slam it into the ground, but he missed. Skillfully dodging, Stain attempted to close in and slash with one of the knives but was counter-attacked thanks to [Counter]. An explosion erupted from his stomach, throwing Stain several meters back. Not wanting to succumb to his desires to kill him, Izuku tried to restrain his anger to avoid seeing his monstrous form again.
"I don't need your pity. You're just a psycho," Izuku assumed a stance, ready to take his attack and counter-attack but was met with verbal nonsense from Stain, who didn't cease his chatter.
"I've killed not only heroes but villains too, and what was the result? I'm a serial killer for them, feared and despised. Once, I was also driven by noble intentions, and now look at me. This is what awaits anyone who dares to cross societal norms," Izuku thought for a moment but didn't allow his words to affect him. Venom convinced him otherwise, saying he was just a crazy psycho who lost the boundaries of humanity, which is inherent to him.
"I don't care about your backstory. Tell me why you were watching me and why I became your target," not hiding the bile in his voice, Izuku spat towards Stain, not hiding his disgust for this man. He was a killer, and showing mercy to him meant forgiving the murderer of his mother. The tentacle on his hand stirred with anger, but thanks to his will, he restrained his urges not to pounce on him like a primal beast.
"You know, for me, there's no such thing as morality. I've killed women, the elderly, even children. Don't think I'll babysit you," drawing his sword from its sheath, he pointed it at Izuku, who maintained his composure, listening to what he did to his victims. With a rusty sword, he closed the distance, trying to decapitate him but was met with resistance from symbiotic tentacles that didn't allow him to do so. With all his might, Izuku clenched his fist and used [Uppercut], striking Stain under the chin. He flew into the air from the force of the blow, dropping the sword from his grip and hitting the ground with his back.
Izuku kicked the sword, tossing it aside. While Stain was recovering, Izuku didn't let the injured opponent catch his breath. Grabbing his waist with a tentacle, he sharply pulled him close, using [Symbiote:Charge], breaking the chest armor and striking his face. He didn't spare him; people like Stain in Izuku's eyes didn't deserve mercy. He admitted it himself, and now he must answer for all his actions.
"Not bad," Stain's voice sounded. His goal was to close in with the opponent for a sneaky attack. Grabbing powder from his small bag, Stain skillfully blew the powder into his face. Even through the mask, Izuku felt his eyes sting from the powder's composition, and his breathing became erratic. Izuku released Stain, unclenching his fists, taking steps back and waving his arms. Stain sadistically smiled, rising to his full height.
"It's a hallucinogen. Hold on for five minutes while I expel it from your body," Venom hissed, increasing blood circulation throughout the body and oxygenating the lungs to allow the host to breathe and let the brain function at its usual pace.
"We're not so different. Both pursued noble intentions, though faced with people's hatred. I've been doing this for four years, and you just started recently," slowly stepping, Stain approached his sword, lifting it while his opponent tried to recover from the powder's effects.
"I started killing villains because I thought I was making society better. Then it began to irritate me when the praised heroes, instead of saving people and altruism, started turning heroism into a brand and business," while Izuku suffered, he perfectly heard how Stain led his monologue, trying to sway him to his side. Their perspectives were similar, and even Izuku thought about his words but quickly dismissed them, realizing their methods differed. He wants to become a true hero, not a killer or vigilante. He would never kill an innocent person like Stain.
"You'll argue you're not like that. But people, like fate, will still break you, and don't tell me you haven't killed. I saw how you killed two villains on that bridge," listening to Stain's words, Izuku's blood boiled, remembering how due to his weakness, he couldn't prevent Kota's death. He had no idea what Izuku felt on that ill-fated day. He's not like him. He never will be.
"SHUT UP!" With a shout, tentacles from his body began to strike randomly in all directions. Izuku still couldn't see, but he didn't let Stain approach him. In turn, Stain proudly grinned, watching his opponent begin to lose control over his emotions.
"You're vulnerable to emotions. I expected more from you than this wretch." Climbing the water tower, Stain shielded himself from the tentacles that randomly struck in various directions, trying to hit him. He saw how Phantom suffered from disorientation. Not prolonging time, Stain jumped at him, raising the sword to his neck. Time seemed to slow around them; the blade almost met Izuku's neck, but Venom directed the blade to Izuku's shoulder to prevent death by his sword.
"AHHHHHHH!!!" With all the pain, Izuku screamed. Unable to see his opponent, Izuku used [Symbiote:Blast]. A hundred tentacles erupted from his body, creating a sort of shield from Stain's attacks. Stain was thrown aside, also receiving considerable damage from Phantom, but he accomplished what he intended, namely getting his blood.
Regaining his vision, Izuku looked at Stain with a gaze of anger and disgust. Tentacles stirred throughout his body, intending to tear him into small pieces. Stain grinned viciously, seeing Izuku's fury and anger.
"In your gaze, I see contempt and hatred," unwilling to endure his verbal nonsense, Izuku roared at him.
"I said, shut up!" The words turned into a growl; at the moment of attack, Izuku's body went completely numb. Falling face-first to the ground, Izuku couldn't move a single muscle or limb.
"Why are you lying down? Now's not the time to rest," Venom growled angrily at the approaching enemy.
"I can't move. Maybe it's his quirk. His quirk is related to blood," the discussion and reasoning with Andy were interrupted by Stain. He looked at Phantom and, in shock, stared at him.
"Kid?" He asked Izuku. Hearing this, Izuku was shocked, but he didn't give it much significance. He was trying to get rid of the paralysis but couldn't move anything other than his eyes.
"I know this taste of blood out of hundreds of thousands. Young blood. All this time, villains and heroes feared a child?!!!" Stain dashed forward, trying to stab Izuku again, but Venom stood in his defense, not allowing him to kill the host.
"Alright, I'll do it myself," during the paralysis, Venom took full control over Izuku's body. Moving his hands and feet, he assumed a stance while Izuku observed everything happening.
"Are you sure you can beat him?" Panic engulfed Izuku's mind, and Venom's words didn't instill confidence in him.
"I constantly see and analyze how you fight against villains and heroes. If you managed to defeat them, I can certainly do it."
"Hey, kid, you never cease to amaze me. Your will is stronger than most adults I've had to kill. Now your head is worth more than the money they've offered me." Venom frowned, hearing him. Four tentacles burst from his body, trying to catch him, but he skillfully dodged, not letting himself be caught. Tired of his agility, Venom rushed into close combat, knocking the sword from his hands. Venom grabbed his weapon and, taking four steps back, examined the weapon before breaking it over his knee.
"You won't need this anymore," Venom tossed the sword's hilt off the roof, growling at Stain. In response to his action, Stain grinned, cracking his knuckles and hitting his fist against his palm.
"Swords and knives are just tools in a master's hands," pointing to his hands, Stain clenched his fists, wanting to meet Phantom with all his might. Venom, tired of all Stain's chatter, couldn't stand another word.
"This is the real weapon."
"🖕" Showing the middle finger, Venom grinned, watching Stain's smile fade.
"You're bold, kid," Stain lunged at Venom. Making a big leap, Stain attempted a quick slicing kick to Izuku's head, which he managed to dodge. Venom caught his leg, flipping him over his shoulder, slamming him to the ground. Resisting, Stain broke free from Venom's grip and quickly evaded the line of attacks from several tentacles.
Stain performed a mid-air trip, knocking Venom off his feet. Venom tried to stand, but Stain, sitting on his stomach, attempted to stab one of the hidden knives into his eye. Venom grabbed his hand, preventing him from blinding himself, and pressed harder on his own knife, trying to pierce the cornea.
"Even if I don't beat you, I'll leave a scar for life," Izuku began to feel he could move his limbs, and taking full control of his body, he extended a tentacle, grabbing Stain's neck. Trying to escape the strong grip, Stain struggled to break free from the black tentacles, but the more he resisted, the tighter the tentacles choked him. The grip on the neck increased, and having no other option, he bit into the black tentacle, causing pain to both Izuku and Venom. The tentacle loosened its grip, and a more aggressive Izuku began attacking Stain with tentacles.
"That bastard is starting to annoy me even more," Venom said with displeasure as he relinquished control of the body to Izuku. The host was much better at defending against him.
"Let's finish this!" With a rough voice, Izuku charged at Stain, who in turn also rushed at Izuku with a knife in hand.
"Ahhh!!" Blasting [Symbiote:Blast], he knocked Stain to the edge of the roof. The blow was so strong that Stain lost his balance and almost fell off the building. Quickly getting up, Stain put the knife in his pocket before clapping his hands and snorting.
"Well, you showed me a good fight, kid. Now let's see how well you can run." Jumping off the roof, Stain used his parkour and acrobatic skills, leaping from one roof to another, trying to escape the pursuit. Not wanting to fall behind, Izuku chased after him, hoping to punish him for his words and the pain he had caused. Stain was extremely fast and agile, not only in combat but also in movement. In a normal state, Izuku couldn't keep up with him. Using [Symbiote:Dash] at 15% without letting it affect his hunger, Izuku was already just a few steps behind Stain.
"Damn, kid, you're doing pretty well for your age. It's a shame you're still naive." Leaping forward, Stain landed on his hands and delivered a roundhouse kick to Izuku's face, knocking him off his feet. It took Izuku just a second to recover from the unexpected attack, but Stain grabbed his leg and threw him off the roof.
Tentacles instantly burst from Izuku's back, preventing him from falling to the ground. The tentacles grabbed the edge of the building, clinging to a ledge. Stain was breathing heavily from the fight; he needed to retreat. Without proper preparation and equipment, he would hardly be able to oppose the cocky kid.
Izuku returned to the battlefield even angrier than before, now seeing Stain wounded and slightly limping. Internally, he smiled, anticipating victory over him.
"Why do you fight, kid? You know that defeating me won't change people's opinions about you." Fed up with his words, Izuku ignored him and remained silent, clenching his fists even tighter. Stain jumped off the roof, landing in a red-light district filled with girls and women of easy virtue. The streets were full of women of various calibers and ages, from young to mature, selling their bodies.
Crimson lanterns filled the streets, and in the windows, strippers danced, showcasing their assets to clients. Lustfully licking his lips, Stain lunged at the nearest courtesan, licking her cheek with his long tongue.
"Help, I'm being raped!!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, drawing Izuku's attention. Hearing his enemy's approach, Stain picked her up and pulled out a knife, pressing it against the girl's throat. Izuku stopped, seeing how Stain held an attractive girl hostage. The blood in Izuku's veins boiled, knowing what Stain might do to her if he acted incorrectly.
"Kid, have you ever used their services?" Stain sneered, looking at Izuku, who was boiling with rage but couldn't do anything in this situation. The girl's life depended solely on how he answered the psychopath and killer correctly. Fear was evident in the girl's eyes, and the knife's blade grazed her smooth skin.
"No." Stain smirked and burst into laughter, glancing between him and the woman.
"Answer my question, little rebel. What's the point of saving such trash? You should respect them when they don't respect themselves by selling themselves as goods." Izuku contemplated his question for a moment but didn't allow himself to think too long and answered briefly.
"You shouldn't give a fuck." Izuku's response did not satisfy him. Blood began to trickle down the girl's neck. She cried, trying to evoke pity from her captor, but he didn't care about her at all.
"Please, let me go. My children are waiting for me at home." Crying in despair, she unknowingly activated her quirk of dizziness, which acted like alcohol for a short time, but the effect was extremely slow. Stain shook his head, as his thoughts started to blur and prevented him from focusing on what was happening.
"Shut up, whore. Someone like you shouldn't have children." He shook her, and Stain began to press the knife closer to her throat, tightening Izuku's dilemma.
"If you answer like that again, her death will be on your conscience, brat." Izuku clenched his fists, his body trembling with rage. Venom inside him also hissed, feeling their shared anger. The tentacles quivered, ready to pierce Stain on the spot, but the knife pressed against the girl's throat held them back from reckless actions.
"You have no right to decide who deserves to live," Izuku hissed, slowly approaching. Stain squinted his eyes, threatening the girl with death once more. Due to the effects of her quirk, Stain's hands trembled slightly, but he still firmly held the handle of the knife.
"You think you're cleansing society, but you're just a pathetic killer hiding behind your own illusions!" Stain merely smirked. The kid was expressing all his ideals, while for him, morality was just a toy that he tossed around like any knife from his collection.
"You're too soft, kid. You're not ready to go all the way. If you were, you'd have attacked me already," he tightened the knife's grip, and a thin stream of blood trickled down the girl's neck.
"Make your choice. Or her death will be on your conscience." The girl's cries grew louder, and the effects of the quirk began to influence Stain even more, but he still tried to maintain his composure in such a critical moment. Venom inside Izuku growled in anger.
"I can grab him faster than he can cut her throat."
"But if we make a mistake, she will die..." Izuku gritted his teeth. He recalled everything that had happened in the last few days—the hatred of the crowd, the disdain of society, the betrayal of heroes. All of it stirred only one feeling within him—fury.
"Fine..." Izuku whispered, not believing his own words. Venom's tentacles began to tremble, as if retreating. Izuku took a step back, raising his hands as if surrendering to his opponent.
"You won." Stain squinted in surprise, not believing what he had just heard. Finally, he understood what Stain meant, but he still couldn't believe it.
"What?"
"You're right," Izuku continued, his voice cold and calm.
"They don't deserve saving. None of them." Stain stared at him intently, not expecting such a response. He slightly loosened his grip on the knife against the girl's neck, studying Izuku's face.
"And what do you intend to do?"
"Leave," Izuku replied and turned away. Stain narrowed his eyes, not believing what was happening.
"You're lying." But at that moment, Venom suddenly released two thin tentacles from behind himself. One struck Stain's wrist, knocking the knife away, while the other wrapped around the girl and yanked her sharply to the side, freeing her from the criminal's grasp.
"WHAT?!" Stain exclaimed, but in the next second, he was engulfed by three powerful tentacles, throwing him towards a brick wall. He managed to brace himself, but immediately felt several tentacles rushing towards him. Making a sudden lunge, he dodged but was severely injured due to Phantom's attacks. Annoyed by his naivety, Stain disappeared into an alley, but he didn't expect it to be a dead end. Like a cornered victim, he awaited his predator, who emerged from the shadows of the alley. Before him stood Izuku, whose eyes gleamed with a predatory glint. His eyes took on a more feral hue, pulsing like veins from his mood.
"You talk too much," Izuku growled as he landed on top of a trash container. Enraged, Stain, left without weapons, decided to fight to his last breath.
"I will never be caught. Death awaits me, not prison, and I won't lose to a kid like you!!" He threw smoke bombs to the ground, enveloping the alley in a smoke screen. It took just a few seconds for the alley to look like a smoke party.
"Stop running, coward!" Izuku shouted at the top of his lungs, continuing the chase after Stain. He led him into a construction site where work was in full swing. Places with obstacles were most effective for Stain's fighting style.
"Try to catch me!" Not wanting to play cat and mouse anymore, Izuku used [Symbiote:Punch] to knock him off his feet. He fell to the ground, unable to get up. Izuku approached him, looking down at him with disgust and anger. The tentacles from Izuku's arm burst forth, grabbing his body. Using [Symbiote:Slam], he threw him over himself, tossing him off the roof and onto the construction site below. Stain was already limping; he didn't expect the kid to be his equal or even stronger and smarter in some situations. He underestimated his opponent, and now he had to pay for his arrogance.
There was no one else on the construction site. Limping, Stain tried to use the steel beams as cover from Phantom's unexpected attacks. Climbing higher and higher, Stain wanted to use the terrain to his advantage, but Phantom did not yield to him in agility, sometimes even surpassing him. As they climbed to the top, they locked eyes. Izuku wanted to end this fight once and for all.
"I underestimated you, kid. Who would have thought you could give me a fair fight?" Ignoring him further, Izuku grabbed him tightly and refused to let go. Stain intentionally allowed himself to be caught before he grabbed a flashbang from his belt, throwing it at Phantom's feet.
Boom. Boom.
Several loud explosions detonated beneath Izuku, and as he covered his ears, his body began to vibrate. Some parts of his suit and mask began to pulse as if they were alive. Venom, like Izuku, felt excruciating pain from the grenades. Regaining his senses from the disorientation, Izuku looked around for his enemy, crouching low and moving slowly, listening to the surrounding sounds. Izuku heard only silence, and there were no sounds of footsteps or breathing from Stain.
"I know you're here. I'll find you anyway." With a threatening tone, Izuku detected sound waves and directed his tentacles in that direction. When the tentacles reached the target, it was only a decoy. The real Stain attacked from behind, throwing him from the fifth floor. Venom released tentacles from Izuku's back, grabbing onto the steel beams.
"I've had enough of these games."
****
While Izuku and Stain were fighting, passersby and witnesses who heard the animalistic roars and screams coming from the construction site were genuinely frightened in the middle of the night. Residents, fearing for their safety, called the police and heroes to put an end to it.
"Emergency dispatcher, we're listening." A woman in her mid-forties responded from the other end of the line. Hearing the concerned tone of the man, she tensed.
"Sir, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I live next to the construction site, and there's a battle between villains happening. They might attack us." Trembling, he looked at the territory fenced off and the two people fighting each other.
"Sir, are you safe?"
"Yes, I'm safe, but there's a brutal fight between two villains happening." He replied in a trembling voice, not hiding his fear.
"Okay, sir, stay on the line with me. If anything happens, let me know. Heroes and police are already on their way."
"Okay. Thank you."
****
In one of the bars in the city center, a group of good friends and comrades, having just sat down at a table, decided to celebrate and take a break from hero work. While Mandalay was happy that her friends had come today for her and were sitting together like in the good old days, carefree and without thinking about work.
Pixie Bob was playing as usual, playfully waving her arms until cold drinks and alcohol arrived. It's hard to blame them; they are human, and sometimes people need to take a break from the dreary routine. Ragdoll was studying the bar menu, looking at the prices and everything else. Tiger, for his part, was glued to his phone, checking the news.
Mandalay, quietly sitting in one place, looked at everyone else with reverence. Now she was far from hero work, but her conscience wouldn't allow her to sever ties with her friends. While they were sitting, her work phone rang, distracting their attention.
Ragdoll sighed heavily and reached for the phone. Mandalay sighed, knowing they would leave her alone again, as always.
"Yes, Ragdoll here," she quickly answered the urgent call, stepping away from the table to hear the caller better.
"Urgent situation," the voice on the other end was tense.
"There's a battle going on at the construction site on Sakamoto Street. Witnesses report two warring villains. One of them seems to be the Hero Killer, Stain." Mandalay frowned, having good hearing; she asked about the second villain out loud. Although she was a retired hero, the spirit of heroism was still in her blood.
"And the second one?"
"Unknown; witnesses can't identify him." Her blood ran cold as she realized that the evening was ruined, and there wouldn't be that cozy atmosphere they had before heading to the bar.
"How much time do we have?"
"The police are already on their way, but they need backup. Can you send someone?" Mandalay glanced at her comrades. Tiger had already lifted his head, catching the worried tone of her voice. Pixie Bob and Ragdoll were also watching her intently.
"We're on our way," Mandalay said firmly, expressing her intention as she looked at the sad Mandalay, who felt the most lonely.
"It's time to work, kitties." Purring, Pixie Bob dashed out of the establishment first.
"Ugh, and I just ordered a cocktail..." Ragdoll sighed, but immediately jumped to her feet. Seeing Mandalay's reaction, they regretted leaving her alone in the bar.
"At least we'll have some excitement," Tiger grinned predatorily.
"I hope you won't be late." The three of them rushed out of the establishment, and in an effort to soothe her loneliness, she ordered one strong drink after another, ignoring the surrounding crowd. Death Cat, despite the therapy, tormented her, and all she could do was drown her sorrows in solitude without her friends and loved ones.
"Your 'Manhattan' and 'Tequila Sunrise,' ma'am." Approaching her, a young waiter saw how she downed the drink without caring about her health. Her face was flushed from alcohol, and the hiccups betrayed her level of inebriation.
****
"Is that enough for you?" Izuku towered over Stain, who lay on the ground, breathing heavily from his defeat. His face was bloodied from a broken nose, and his body was adorned with bruises and various contusions.
"This is impossible. No hero has ever beaten me, and even villains couldn't oppose me." Venom smirked inside Izuku, relishing how Stain's self-esteem had plummeted compared to their first encounter. The proud killer was now on his knees, unable to fight any longer.
"And now let's finish him." As Izuku got closer to deliver a final blow to Stain's head, a stone was thrown at his back, knocking him down from the fifth floor to the third. Izuku rose from the ground, confused about what was happening. He growled angrily, feeling pain in his back, and the most irritating part was that his enemy could escape. Moaning in pain, Izuku stood fully upright, meeting Tiger's gaze from the Wild Wild Pussy Cats squad.
"And Pixie Bob made a strike!!" Hearing other sounds, Izuku frowned, realizing he was not alone. The air was filled with the scent of sand and cement, and before him stood a huge muscular transvestite clad in a skirt and women's top.
"This looks disgusting," Venom commented, looking at it with disdain.
"Get out of my way," Izuku whispered. The response did not satisfy the professional hero, and, taking a fighting stance, the hero challenged him.
"To get through him, you must go through me." Heroic bravado escaped his lips. Izuku groaned, realizing he had to fight yet another hero. Remembering that the Wild Wild Pussy Cats squad never worked alone, Izuku decided to finish Stain off much sooner than he would escape.
"..." Remaining silent, Izuku jumped onto the metal structure, trying to grab Stain first. Tiger grabbed him by the leg and hurled him out of the construction site into the ground. Izuku crashed to the ground, where he was already waiting.
"Look at this disobedient little black kitten. You deserve to be punished." Placing her hand on the ground, Pixie Bob used her quirk to bury Izuku in the soil.
"Shit, they're going to bury me alive!" Thanks to the tentacles, he managed to escape from the artificial landslide. Before he could catch his breath, seven muddy monsters created from Pixie Bob's quirk attacked him. They weren't that strong, but they were enough to distract him.
"If I keep getting distracted, Stain will escape." The muddy monsters attacked simultaneously, surrounding Izuku from all sides. He dodged their attacks, but due to their mass and numbers, they overwhelmed him.
[Symbiote Blast] A multitude of sharp tentacles erupted from the body, destroying the nearest monsters. Ignoring Pixie Bob and Rag Doll, he ran past them, trying to climb higher.
"Oh no, kitten, you're not going anywhere!" Placing her hand on the ground, Pixie Bob shattered the earth beneath Izuku's feet, burying him in an improvised pit. He was being buried alive as he struggled to escape this trap. Using the tentacles and climbing along the wall, he was ambushed by the mud monsters from Pixie Bob, who immediately attacked him.
"GRRRRR!" Izuku growled, looking at them, and the tentacles that burst forth pierced the heads of the monsters. They instantly crumbled, and Pixie Bob reached her limit. Jumping onto a steel beam, Izuku landed on the third floor, but Tiger was already waiting for him. Attacking from below, he grabbed his waist with his elastic quirk. Using his momentum, Tiger threw Izuku with all his strength into the steel beam. Hitting with his back, Izuku lost focus for a second, and when he opened his eyes, he received an uppercut to the chin. The blow struck his head, and the force of the hit sent him flying into the air. Hitting the back of his head against the ceiling, Izuku wanted to get up but was met with a flurry of punches from Tiger, who beat him like a punching bag.
Grabbing him by the head, he threw the stunned Izuku to the ground. As he fell from the third floor, Izuku looked at the starry sky, which calmed and mesmerized him with its beauty, but remembering where he was, he stretched out his hand, grabbing a beam and landing on the first floor.
"I can't lose to these idiots!" Tiger skillfully maneuvered and landed on the first floor, and feeling pain in his chest and abdomen, Izuku tried to hold back his transformation into a monstrous form. This distracted him from the fight, and Tiger took advantage of it to attack him. A blow struck the unprotected Izuku's head, and the other members of the cat squad joined Tiger. They attacked him from three sides: Pixie Bob threw mud attacks while creating mud monsters, and Tiger dominated in hand-to-hand combat.
Rag Doll activated her quirk to determine the opponent's weaknesses. Her eyes sparkled with light, and looking towards Phantom, she was surprised more than ever. Rag Doll's quirk allows her to observe hundreds of people simultaneously, as well as see their location and weaknesses along with their quirks and vulnerabilities.
"Quirkless?" she mentally questioned herself. Users with all types of quirks had different glows, but quirkless individuals had no light at all, making their location difficult to determine. Phantom had no glow, and seeing the tired and beaten enemy, she exhaled.
Not sparing any effort, Tiger used all his combat skills against Izuku, beating him and attacking his weak points. While Izuku blocked and dodged Tiger's attacks, mud balls were thrown at his back, causing pain throughout his body. Collapsing to the ground, Izuku looked at the sky, completely exhausted from the fight with Stain and the wild cats.
"Faster, put on the handcuffs while he's weak!" Tiger quickly obeyed the command, and pulling out the handcuffs, he wanted to put them on Izuku when he heard the sound of a slimy mass and something pulsing from Izuku's direction.
Recalling himself at four years old when he was beaten by Katsuki and his friends, Izuku wanted to close his eyes, but something inside him wouldn't let that scenario repeat itself again. His nature and soul wouldn't allow another beating to happen, and when Tiger raised his hand to cuff him, he heard a whisper from Phantom.
"Not now and not today!" Tiger paused for a second, and as he cuffed his hand, he heard a beastly growl before being thrown aside.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!" [Symbiote Blast] The sharp tentacles threw Tiger away and destroyed the mud monsters surrounding him. Seeing the handcuffs in his hand, suppressing quirks, Izuku growled before grabbing them with his left hand and breaking them in an instant. Pixie Bob, shocked at how easily he dealt with the handcuffs, was stunned by his strength.
[Rage mode]
"Rrrrrrhh!" A growl erupted from Izuku's lips, and taking a few steps, he closed the 15-meter distance in one leap so swiftly that the human eye could barely catch his movement. Izuku dashed up the wall, racing through each floor at full speed. Finally, he reached the fifth floor, but his target was gone. Stain had escaped and concealed himself during the battle with the wild cats.
"AAAAAAAAAA!!" A roar escaped from Izuku as he approached the edge and saw the squad of wild cats helping Tiger rise from the ground.
"They interfered with us."
"They must pay the full price."
"You couldn't do it."
Voices whispered in Izuku's head, and vulnerable to emotions, he looked at the other members of the wild cat squad with hatred. Looking up, steel beams were suspended by cables above him. Using [Symbiote Punch], he tore down 8 steel beams, allowing them to fall on the heads of the heroes.
On the ground, the stunned Tiger was in the hands of his teammates who were helping him up, but looking down, he saw a rapidly approaching shadow. Raising his head, he saw the steel beams about to fall on Pixie Bob and Rag Doll.
"Look out!!!" Grabbing both with his quirk, he pushed them away, but didn't manage to save himself as the massive steel beams crushed him.
"Tigerrr!!!" both shouted as they rushed to their comrade. Tiger was alive but severely injured, groaning in pain. He tried to get up on his own, but nothing worked. Pixie Bob and Rag Doll struggled to lift the heavy beams, but their combined efforts weren't enough to move the steel beam.
With a crash, Izuku landed from the fifth floor to the first, looking at them with eyes full of rage and hunched over like a beast. Pixie Bob and Rag Doll were ready to fight him, but Tiger's weak gasp drew their attention.
"Get out of here," he whispered, but they did not listen and continued to stand guard over him, not taking their eyes off Phantom.
"You disappoint me,"
Izuku whispered as he charged towards them at full speed, crashing into Rag Doll using [Symbiote: Dash] at 55%. She fell to the ground, collecting dust and dirt with her uniform. Grabbing Pixie Bob with a tentacle, he tightly squeezed her waist, not releasing her under any circumstances. The tentacles burst from Izuku's hands, grabbing Rag Doll this time and pulling her closer. He used [Uppercut], striking her in the chin with such force that she broke through the ceiling. With a crash, she fell to the ground, the strength of the blow so intense that the air left her lungs, and a crushing pain coursed through her body. She tried to get up, but her body protested, and unable to endure any longer, she collapsed to the ground.
"You will pay for this. You will be caught, you monster!" she yelled at the top of her lungs, trying to escape the grip of the tentacles, but nothing worked. Drawing her closer, Izuku used [Symbiote Charge], hitting her in the head and chest, finishing the series with an elbow strike to the jaw. The tentacles returned, and she fell to the ground, no longer able to resist. With her last strength, she summoned the mud monsters to defend her. Three mud monsters surrounded Izuku from different sides. Breaking free like a beast, he destroyed them with his devastating blows, not allowing them to hit him. They shattered like glass as soon as his fist touched them. The first was eliminated very quickly, and feeling no resistance, Izuku directed the symbiotic tentacle at the second, piercing its head, and it disintegrated into dust. Turning his head, he faced the third, which crumbled before him like sand.
Exhausted, Pixie Bob could no longer create mud monsters. Her body lay next to her teammate, kneeling and breathing heavily. Squinting his eyes, he extended a tentacle from his body, grabbing a steel beam. Grabbing it and feeling its strength and lightness, Izuku swung it down at Pixie Bob, sending her flying back 15 meters.
From the impact and the attacks, she had broken a couple of ribs and a cracked bone in her jaw area. With her last strength, she stood up, taking a fighting stance. Izuku grinned maliciously, amazed by her willpower, but her heroism and perseverance played a cruel joke on her. She tried to attack his face with her claws, but Izuku didn't bother with her and used [Symbiote: Punch], which sent her flying to the edge of a cliff. Breathing heavily, she tried to rise, but Izuku grabbed her by the neck, holding her over the edge. She gasped, scratching his hand, her legs flailing as she searched for a surface to stand on. Izuku slightly loosened his grip, and she took the opportunity to scratch his face with her claws.
"You will be arrested sooner or later." Gasping from lack of air, Pixie Bob weakened, and Izuku released her, setting her on the ground. She was surprised by his gesture, and as she desperately gasped for air, she wanted to touch the ground, but Izuku anticipated her, grabbing her fingers and hand with small tentacles. Shocked, she stared at his white lenses, and in horror looking at him, Tsuchikawa Ryuko was horrified to see his gaze fixed on her hands. Izuku grabbed her hands and, not wasting any time, broke her fingers and wrist so forcefully that her screams were heard beyond the confines of the construction site.
"I swear you will pay for this!!!!" Izuku released her, and taking one last look at her, he didn't bother with her and struck her in the face with a powerful punch, breaking her nose and lip. In shock, she lost consciousness, and blood flowed down her face, staining her bright heroic suit red. Her bright outfit was now dirty with dust and grime, and her glasses were shattered to pieces. Having dealt with her, he turned toward Tiger, who didn't let him finish the job with Stain.
Izuku stood over the fallen members of the Wild Cats, his chest rising and falling from heavy breathing. The symbiotic mass on his body pulsed, as if responding to his rage. Tiger, despite the terrible pain and broken bones, continued to fight, trying to free himself from the heavy steel beams. His hands trembled, his muscles refused to obey, but he did not give up.
Izuku slowly approached him, his steps heavy and ominous. Tiger raised his head, looking at him through pain and half-closed eyelids.
"You… You won't win, we will stop you," he rasped, trying to rise. Phantom froze for a moment, then bent low, grasping the steel beams. Straining the power of the symbiote, he flung them aside, allowing the hero to fully feel his helplessness.
"You interfered with me, you and your team," his voice sounded dull and ominous. He suddenly grabbed Tiger by the head, lifting him off the ground like a puppet. The hero's eyes widened as his body hung helplessly in the air.
Izuku turned Tiger around and slammed him back onto the concrete floor. A dull crack echoed throughout the area, but Phantom did not stop. He lifted him again and again slammed him to the ground. Again. And again.
The hero screamed in pain, his limbs weakly twitching, but Phantom only tightened his grip on his body.
"You… don't… understand…" Tiger managed to choke out, feeling blood fill his mouth.
"No, it's you who doesn't understand," Izuku roared, and with all his strength, he struck Tiger's spine with his knee.
A nauseating crunch sounded. Tiger screamed; it was a cry of pain, suffering, and realization. He collapsed face down, his fingers weakly clawing at the concrete, but he no longer felt his legs.
Izuku slowly straightened up, looking at the motionless body of the hero.
"Live with it. This is what happens to those who stand in my way." Tiger did not respond. He only breathed heavily, lying face down. Phantom leaned closer and whispered:
"Remember this moment. This is the price of your foolishness." Turning away, he vanished into the darkness, leaving behind destruction, pain… and a hero forever broken.
****
After a solitary session of self-flagellation with alcohol, Mandalay walked home alone, drunk and swaying from side to side, constantly hiccuping and making strange gestures with her hands. She was wearing a provocatively short skirt just above her knees and a top along with a red cardigan and a handbag. A strange smile was on her face, and her face was as red as a lobster. As she continued down the streets, she paid no attention to her surroundings while drunk. Her friends had left her alone, and no one had even told her to stop drinking the fiery water. It was far from her home to the bar, and realizing the heaviness of her legs, she trudged home. Mandalay staggered through the dark streets, breathing heavily and trying to keep her balance. Red streetlights painted her silhouette in crimson hues, and the wet asphalt reflected neon signs, creating a shimmering kaleidoscope of light around her. She stumbled and faltered but kept walking, waving off the rare passersby who cast glances at her — some with disdain, some with concern.
"Well… damn…" she exhaled, smirking at her thoughts. Her head was spinning, and her throat still burned from the alcohol she had consumed. She didn't notice the cold, didn't feel the pain in her legs, only the weight of something unbearable was compressing her chest. A burden that could not be shaken off by either alcohol or loneliness.
Kota — that name was a ghost that followed her like a shadow wherever she went. In dark nooks, in noisy bars, in an empty apartment. Everywhere.
"I… I could have… could have done something…" she mumbled, her voice trembling, but her drunken mind immediately drowned out this surge of pain with another hiccup.
Images of the past flashed before her eyes, causing her to freeze right on the sidewalk. Blood. His lifeless body filled with horror.
"N-no… no… no…" Mandalay shut her eyes, feeling tears well up. She ran her palm over her face, as if trying to wipe away reality, but the memories clung to her like leeches, not letting go. A couple of people on the other side of the street said something, laughing. One of them cast a glance at the swaying woman but quickly turned away, deciding it was none of his business.
She kept walking, stumbling until she wandered into one of the dark alleys, sitting down on the dirty, damp asphalt.
"Just… just let me sit…" she mumbled, lowering herself to the ground. Inside, everything burned — from pain, from memories, from alcohol, and from loneliness. Her heroic work, while profitable, had taken away her time and the nephew she promised to protect by any means.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered, pressing her hands to her temples. But there was no response. Only silence, in which her own broken voice echoed. While she lowered her head, several people emerged from a hidden door in the alley.
Looking at the exit from the alley, they saw a beautiful woman sitting alone, hugging her knees. Two of them shrugged before noticing the lustful look on the face of the third.
"Let's take her with us. Do you smell that? She smells of alcohol from a mile away." Licking his lips, he took a step toward her, then glanced back at his companions.
"Are you not coming?" he asked desperately, turning to them in confusion.
"We're not doing that. If you want to, do it yourself; we don't want any trouble." Sensing the danger and consequences of sexual violence, they made no effort to intervene.
"I've been working for three months without a day off. I at least deserve a consolation. If you don't want to sit down, you can go home, fags." Spitting in their direction, he walked slowly toward her, anticipating the pleasure of the whole process. Imagining her moaning and screaming his name as he pounced on her, he noticed her short red skirt and black top, his excitement surged as he prepared to have sex with her right there in the alley.
"Do what you want; it's not our problem. Don't complain later that you got beaten up." They left the alley, leaving him and her alone. It was night outside, and almost all the residents were home, sleeping for the next workday.
"Well, the seduction operation begins." Caressing his hands, he approached the woman sitting alone, deeply saddened. Her eyes were teary, and her hands trembled as she recalled that fateful day on the bridge and her sworn enemy.
"Ahem, may I approach?" She looked up and saw a man around 23-26 years old. He wore ordinary street clothes and had black hair in a braid. He smiled at her, showing his friendliness, and extended his hand.
"What do you want?" she stammered with a trembling voice. The smell of alcohol wafted from her, and her disheveled appearance made the friendly smile on the man's face fade, giving way to a smirk. He sat down next to her, leaning back against the wall. She looked at him in confusion, but due to the ethanol in her blood, she suspected nothing.
"Do you mind if I sit down with you?" She didn't respond and continued to look away, not making eye contact with the man. He tried various ways to attract her attention, but nothing worked. The scent of her cherry perfume drove him crazy, and not having sex with her tonight with such a body would be a crime.
"Is something bothering you?" With tenderness, he tried to breach all conceivable barriers, and when a drunk person tries to think about something, they lose all moral guidelines and obstacles, giving in to emotions.
"Yeah, to be honest, my friends left me *hic* alone in the bar *hic*." Hiccuping, she sank deeper into her thoughts, unable to articulate anything coherently. The man was not concerned at all, as by allowing her to speak, he was earning her trust, navigating through her doubts.
"It's terrible to leave such a beautiful woman as you alone." Taking a breath, he concocted a lie that resembled her situation.
"My friends left me too, saying they had work and all sorts of excuses. I just wanted to find a decent companion to sit and chat with." Mandalay shook her head, staring blankly at the dirty asphalt in front of her. She didn't know why this guy was here, but her mind was too clouded to ask unnecessary questions.
Noticing her silence, the man chuckled softly, moved a little closer, and extended his hand as if in a friendly gesture. His voice became softer, enveloping her, as if promising comfort and understanding.
"You look so tired… Let me help you up? This isn't the best place for a girl like you." Mandalay hesitated. Something inside her screamed, warning her, but the alcohol drowned out the voice of reason, leaving only feelings of apathy and fatigue. The man, noticing her hesitation, gently ran his hand over her shoulder, slowly, unobtrusively, as if testing the boundaries.
"You're cold, aren't you?" he squeezed her shoulder a little harder, leaning closer. Her skin was so smooth, like a child's; she had groomed herself, and looking at her size 3 breasts and juicy peach-like ass turned him on even more as he rubbed his lustful fingers together.
"Let's go to my place; it's warm there. You can rest." She tried to say something, but her tongue was tangled. It seemed that words were stuck in her throat, turning into a quiet gasp. She squinted, focusing on the man's face. There was something predatory in his eyes, something that made her insides clench.
"I… I need to… go home…" — she mumbled, trying to stand on her feet. But he held her by the shoulder, a bit tighter than necessary. With the tips of his fingers, he explored her skin, and his arousal began to grow, creating a bulge in his pants as hormones started to take over.
"Home? In such a state? Let me escort you…" he smiled, but this smile wasn't warm or friendly.
"No friends around, right?" Mandalay swallowed hard. She could feel something sticky and unpleasant hanging in the air between them. The man leaned even closer, his hand slowly sliding down her back. Her breath hitched at his touch, and her smooth back arched as she tried to avoid his touch. The heat in her body built and intensified as he began to move lower, probing the sensitive areas. He brought his hand closer to her face, meeting her brown eyes, and couldn't stand it any longer; he put his hand into her panties, rubbing her sensitive areas. Her cheeks began to flush even brighter, and every touch of his fingers on her clit made her body tingle.
"Ahh…" a moan escaped her lips. The man smiled, realizing that she was still an untouched girl, and it would be an honor to take her virginity. But expectations were not destined to come true; as he lost his vigilance, he received a slap to the face from the inside of her palm.
"Get your filthy hands off me, rapist!" Coming to her senses, he hit her back with all his strength, knocking her to the ground. A mark from his blow was visible on her face, and seeing her defenseless look made him smirk even wider.
"I tried to be gentle with you. So, you like it rough. I like that, baby." He knelt down, trying to remove her skirt. Mandalay struggled to protect herself from his advances, but he brought his face closer, trying to kiss her, but with her right hand, she covered his lips, not allowing him to touch her with his disgusting tongue.
"Fucking slut." He hit her again, this time in the stomach. She groaned in pain, and standing up, he grabbed her ankle, dragging her deeper into the alley.
"Nobody will find out what we did." Suddenly he felt a sticky touch on his back, and turning around, he saw a dark figure in a mask with white lenses.
"What the?" escaped his lips before his feet were lifted off the ground, flying toward him. With one precise punch to the face, Izuku knocked him out. His unconscious body fell to the ground. On his way here, running across rooftops, Izuku heard the sound of a slap to the face and decided to check it out, seeing the rapist trying to do something dirty with the girl he hadn't had time to finish.
Raising her head, Mandalay saw him — the one she hated with all her heart. The one responsible for her nephew's death, horror in her eyes.
As he turned his back to her, her sober part of the brain kicked in. Standing up straight, she ran toward him with her fists, but her plans were not destined to succeed as a tentacle from his back grabbed her arm and threw her against the nearest wall. Izuku turned his head, meeting her gaze, and Venom inside him was displeased with her behavior.
"We're saving her, and she dares to attack us?" Izuku released the criminal and approached her to see if he had hurt her too much.
As soon as he got closer to her, she threw herself at him with renewed strength.
"Damn murderer, you bastard, I hope you die!" Izuku pinned her hands against the wall, holding her as if she were a schoolgirl. His gaze fell on her attractive body with good curves and assets that stood out to the naked eye.
"She's hot."
"Milf."
"Let's have some fun with her, Izuku. We've been angry all day, Gentle, Stain, Wild pussy cats. They made us experience stress all day. Come on, Izuku, don't hide your desires." Under his hands, she trembled, her knees shook, and her face was redder than before. Her figure was ideal for a 30-year-old woman. The desire to go down a sinful path intensified geometrically.
"She's melting in our hands. We deserve fun, and we demand pleasure. Izuku, don't deceive yourself." Izuku remained silent, unable to open his mouth. Mandalay tried to break free from his grasp, but all her efforts were futile against him. He was physically stronger than her, and she surrendered under his hold, becoming a victim of his gaze.
"I'm not a rapist, and I never will be. I'm not Stain; I'm stronger than lust." Izuku released her, and she fell onto her back, unable to endure any longer, her eyes beginning to tear up from the overwhelming emotions.
Taking out his phone, Izuku called the police, not taking his eyes off her. He recognized her; she was Kota's aunt, who had accused both Izuku and Silent Phantom.
Hearing the police sirens, Izuku took one last look at her before disappearing into the darkness, leaving them alone for the police to handle.