Mastermind: Strategist For Hire

Mastermind vs. Stain

Iida shielded his head as a katana came out of nowhere, blocking his kick, removing off his helmet, and knocking him to the ground.

"This is no place for a child."

Iida stood and let Stain see the rage in his eyes, "Blood red scarf, knives all over your body. You're Stain, the hero killer! I've been looking for you, but I didn't think I'd find you so soon."

Stain leveled his katana at Iida's face, "Your eyes are searing with vengeance. Be careful what you say next, for even someone your age could be my target."

Iida clenched his fists as rage and hatred clenched his heart, "Are you saying I'm not even a threat to you?" He met Stain's eyes. "My brother is a hero who you attacked! He was the best older brother anyone could ask for. I have come to stop you because he can't anymore. I'm going to make sure you remember my name for as long as you live. I am Ingenium and I will defeat you!"

"Then so be it," Stain said, "die."

Iida leveled a kick at the hero killer, who dodged and returned with a kick of his own, knocking Iida to the ground. Before he could even think to move again Stain's katana was buried in his arm.

"So you're Ingenium's brother. You don't deserve to call yourselves heroes. You're fakes, the both of you."

Iida grit his teeth, "My brother was someone people looked up to! Now he'll never work as a pro hero again. You had no right to take that away from him! I won't forgive you. I'll kill you !"

"Shouldn't you be worried about saving that guy?" Stain pointed and Iida followed his finger to see pro hero Native slumped against the wall of the alley. Iida's stomach sunk. He hadn't even realized Native was there!

"So busy with your grudge, you forgot all about him, right? You planned on using your quirk only for your own selfish desire for revenge. You're about as far from being a hero as I can imagine." Stain slid his katana from Iida's shoulder and licked it, "And that's why you'll die tonight."

Iida couldn't move, he couldn't think. What would his parents think? What would Tensei think? They'd be so disappointed and he wouldn't even be able to apologize. Hot tears fell on the concrete, how could he have been so stupid?

"Goodbye, child. May your death bring about a better world."

Iida closed his eyes and waited for the sharp bite of the katana, but it didn't come.

"Hello again, hero killer. Fancy seeing you here."

"Mastermind." Stain pointed his Katana at the newcomer. Iida tried to look, but could just barely see a dark red boots standing behind Stain, "So nice of you to come. My blade hungers for the blood of the bastard that killed All Might."

"Did you know that the girl who taught me how to fight loves you?" Mastermind asked idly, "When I told her I was killing you tonight, she was so excited. Told me to bring her a vial of your blood." Mastermind fixed Stain with a green eyed stare, "I don't intend to break my promise."

Iida didn't think that was how love worked at all, but he figured that whoever taught Mastermind to fight must be as crazy as he was, so it was best not to question it. He tried to move his fingers but couldn't. Was this how Tensei had felt when he woke up and couldn't move his legs?

Mastermind launched himself at Stain, a long knife in each hand. Stain sliced down with his katana, intending to lodge it in his opponent's shoulder, but Mastermind twisted out of the way at the last second, slashing Stain across the ribs.

Stain hissed as the blade snuck between the metal plating on his suit and left a long gash, "You have excellent aim, Mastermind." He smiled. "Unfortunately I have been at this much longer than you have." He ran forward again with his katana. This time, when Mastermind dodged, he kneed him in the stomach then used a knife he had hidden in his other hand to slash at Mastermind's arm. He brought the blade to his mouth, only to look at the clean metal with confusion.