The ruins of Kamino were once a battleground—charred concrete, half-collapsed buildings, and shattered metal beams littered the streets. But tonight, the old ghosts of that battle had returned, and a new storm was rising.
Sabo launched backward as a searing arc of corrupted flame carved the air where he had just stood. Kael stood at the center of it all—flames pouring from his gauntleted fists like rivers of molten steel, his expression twisted by a mix of pain, rage, and betrayal.
"I searched for you!" Kael shouted, voice rising above the crackling inferno. "When the sky swallowed you, I thought you were dead. We all did!"
Sabo landed in a crouch, breathing hard. "I didn't leave you. I didn't choose to come here!"
"You always had the strongest fire," Kael snarled. "But it was never meant for one alone!"
Todoroki launched a wave of ice toward Kael, but the armored warrior melted it effortlessly with a swipe of his burning hand. His flames weren't like Sabo's—they were darker, unstable, streaked with violet that cracked the stone beneath him.
"His fire is… warped," Midoriya observed from a safe distance, analyzing Kael's movements. "It's like One For All fused with something else."
"We don't know what kind of power he brought with him," Yaoyorozu added as she fashioned a capture cannon. "But it's not just fire—it's corrupted."
Meanwhile, the second figure—the shadowy mist entity—watched from above. Their voice echoed through the ruins like wind through a cavern. "You left Kael behind. You got the freedom. We got the curse."
Sabo turned his gaze toward the figure. "You were there too. You followed me through the flames."
"Not by choice," the mist-shrouded one hissed. "The fire that gave you freedom gave us form. I don't even remember my name anymore."
Sabo's eyes narrowed. "You were part of our crew, weren't you?"
The mist shimmered, revealing glimpses of a face—young, scarred, and filled with pain. "We fought together for the Revolution," they said. "And now we'll burn it all down together."
Suddenly, Kael raised both hands, summoning a massive torrent of corrupted flame that spiraled into the sky.
"Get down!" Aizawa shouted. His eyes flashed red as his Quirk erased Kael's fire just long enough for Sabo and Todoroki to retaliate—one with a pillar of flame, the other with jagged ice spikes.
Kael grunted, stumbling back as the attacks collided against his armor. It cracked slightly at the shoulder but held.
Midoriya dashed in with full-speed One For All at 8%, attempting to land a clean shot to the side. But the mist entity intercepted him, their body wrapping around his leg like smoke and yanking him mid-air.
"Whoa—!" Midoriya shouted as he was thrown into a pile of rubble.
"Deku!" Yaoyorozu shouted, firing a stun cannon at the mist figure. It passed harmlessly through them.
"They're not physical…" she muttered, frustration creeping into her voice.
"Don't worry—I got him!" Kaminari's voice rang out through comms. A jolt of electricity surged from behind a fallen building, forcing the mist figure to retreat temporarily.
Sabo's breathing grew heavier as the flames danced along his arms. He stepped forward, ignoring the heat rising from his skin.
"Kael. Stop this. We fought together for freedom. I remember now."
Kael sneered, his eyes wild. "Freedom? You don't know what I endured! You escaped. I stayed behind. The Revolution fell apart after you vanished. The people we fought for—slaughtered. Because you weren't there."
Sabo winced. Guilt churned inside him.
"I didn't abandon you," he said, his voice quieter. "I was ripped away. I woke up here… confused… lost. But I found purpose again."
"Then let's see how strong that purpose is," Kael spat.
He pounded his fists together—and the ground split beneath him, fire erupting outward like a volcano.
Sabo leapt forward, flame swirling around his pipe as he struck downward with explosive force, meeting Kael head-on. Their flames clashed—amber and crimson against violet and black—filling the battlefield with a blinding flare of heat and fury.
The shockwave cracked the nearby buildings, windows shattered, and the air hissed from the force of it.
Midoriya stumbled to his feet, watching the duel unfold in awe. "That's not just fire… they're fighting with their beliefs."
Aizawa gritted his teeth. "We need to end this before they level the entire ward."
But Sabo wasn't pulling back.
Every strike carried the weight of his regret. Every burst of flame was a scream for forgiveness.
"Kael!" he shouted mid-strike. "I still believe in what we fought for! Don't let hate consume you!"
Kael snarled. "You get to believe. I only get to burn."
Sabo surged forward, ducking under Kael's right hook and slamming his pipe into the side of Kael's armor. It cracked with a metallic groan—and for a moment, Kael's fire flickered.
"Let it go," Sabo pleaded, his hand resting on Kael's chest. "Let me help you."
But Kael hesitated only for a second—then roared and unleashed a burst of corrupted flame that sent Sabo flying backward, crashing through a concrete wall.
"Sabo!" Todoroki shouted, moving to shield him with an ice barrier.
The mist figure descended toward Kael, their voice whispering like wind in a tunnel. "It's not time yet. We've revealed ourselves enough."
Kael scowled but didn't argue.
"We'll be back," the mist said. "When your fire burns brightest—and your world is darkest."
Then, with a pulse of distorted energy, the two figures vanished—leaving behind only scorched earth and the scent of ash.
Silence followed.
Aizawa lowered his capture gear. "Everyone, regroup. Secure the perimeter."
Midoriya helped Sabo sit up. His clothes were singed, but his eyes still burned.
"You okay?" Midoriya asked.
Sabo nodded slowly. "Yeah. But they'll return."
"And next time?" Todoroki asked.
Sabo looked up, determination hardening his features.
"Next time, I'll be ready."