Ashes of Love and War - TodoMomo

||Chapter 35 ~ Part 3||

The back of Shouto's chiton was damp, sticking to his skin. The melted snow dusted the forest floor, leaving the ground soggy and uneven. And the air smelt of baked mud.

Shouto readjusted his hands along Endeavor's hilt. His palms were moist, and mud clung to his sandals and squished between his toes. Gray ash caught in the air as flames crawled over blackened piles of dirt.

A golem dashed toward him. Pivoting, Shouto slid his sword across the throat of the attacker. The golem stumbled. He grabbed its head and hissed between his teeth as the magic in his veins pinched like a torn muscle. Shouto pushed the discomfort away as he called upon his power.

Embers ignited along his arm. He incinerated the mud carcass before stepping back and casting a powerful ice spell. The ground rumbled. A wall of spikes shot from it, forcing back the advancing attackers.

This must be how Hercules felt fighting hydra, Shouto thought, wiping the sweat from his face. Every time he killed one, two more golems took its place. There were too many. And despite how many he'd killed, their numbers kept increasing. There were now close to fifty mud soldiers surrounding him. He'd drain his magic if he continued.

Drawing in a short breath of heated air, Shouto glanced up and staggered as deja vu slammed into him. For a moment, his recurring nightmares flashed through his mind, and he saw Yaoyorozu's pale, dying face wearing an accusing stare as Endeavor embedded itself in her chest.

This was the same scene from his dream, the point when he leapt over the flames and killed Yaoyorozu, Shouto realized. He shook his head, heart pounding in his ears. No. His jaw tightened as he focused.

Behind the mud golems, the magi and merchant stood by Shigaraki's side, watching. Their expressions twisted in giddy anticipation as though this was a sport and they were only spectators.

This whole charade was because of the magi's magic, Shouto reminded himself. Yaoyorozu wasn't there. She wouldn't be coming. However, even knowing that, Shouto felt his throat tighten. His hands gripped Endeavor's hilt until his fingers turned white.

He couldn't afford to hesitate. The magi already confirmed that his dreams were fabricated — an invention of his and Shigaraki's interference. The nightmare was likely used as a distraction to stop him from taking action.

Even if there was truth in the nightmares, the storyline had already deviated. In his dreams, there had only been one villain, but now Shouto faced multiple opponents, including a god. There was no reason to believe the last part of his dream would stay the same, no grounds to suspect he'd harm Yaoyorozu.

There was a cracking sound behind him. Shouto spun. The ice splintered and chipped as the golems slipped through the spikes. Their dirt bodies slid through the gaps around the spikes like sludge before reforming.

Shouto's stomach twisted.

Shigaraki and his followers likely didn't expect him to attack. They had made those nightmares specifically to unsettle him. If Shouto was going to catch them off guard, he had to use this moment, when they thought they had him cornered, to launch a counter-offensive.

Shouto swallowed over the rock that had stuck in his throat. He had to act now. This was his chance to end this.

He couldn't doubt.

He couldn't hesitate.

The strong live; the weak die.

Frost accumulated along his skin. Shouto's breath turned frigid. The temperature dropped. Ice shrieked out from underneath Shouto's feet, and Shouto was propelled over the flames and the soulless puppets.

This time, Shouto would be prepared.

The magi stumbled backwards. Jin's eyes widened in alarm.

Shouto flew forward. This time, he'd do it right. He'd change his nightmare. He'd save Yaoyorozu and kill the ones manipulating his dreams.

Ash and smoke gusted up, creating a haze. The three villains' silhouettes flickered through the dirt.

He'd end this in one shot, Shouto swore. He was strong. He could do it.

His feet hit the ground. A pulling sensation flooded his gut as Shouto forced his body temperature to dip lower. Magic coursed through Shouto's blood, and he unleashed a tundra of frost and ice.

The mountain rumbled. Power rushed over the ground, extinguishing the fire and blowing away the smoke.

Shouto let out a frigid breath. Slowly, he straightened. His muscles quivered, weakened from the sharp change in temperature. Ignoring the ache, Shouto turned towards the frosted plateau and froze.

The clearing was covered in ice. Glaciers climbed over the overturned cart, and golems stuck in various angles through the clear crystals, but Shouto couldn't spot the god or his followers.

Where were they?

The sound of clapping echoed across the plateau followed by a soft pop, like a bubble bursting.

Shouto jumped back as a bright light flashed across the ice, and Atsuhiro's voice became clear.

"Marvelous, Shouto Todoroki!"

The air in Shouto's lungs froze as he stared at the villains standing upon the ice. Unharmed.

"How?" Shouto whispered, not quite believing his eyes. How did they dodge? Shouto was sure his magic would have caught them. They couldn't have known what he was going to do.

"So weak!" Jin shouted. "Dabi was right! You are Ares' lesser son."

Shouto's fingers trembled around Endeavor's hilt. The binding cut into his palms.

"I don't like to brag, but I'm quite proud of my vanishing acts," Atsuhiro said; his voice dripped with smug satisfaction.

"I don't know what you did, but I won't let you get away next time," Shouto hissed. He flipped Endeavor and slid into an offensive stance. His muscles ached. "I'll defeat you."

Atsuhiro chuckled. "Defeat us? Why, hero, we are only getting started." He held out his arms as if on display. "That was only act one."