Rising Tides (Izuku Midoriya x F!Reader)

Chapter 026

CHAPTER 26: The Turning Point

The alley was filled with the sound of ragged breaths, bloodied bodies, and the oppressive weight of Stain's menacing presence. You struggled to regain control of your body, but Stain's quirk still had its hold on you. The paralysis kept you trapped, your vision blurry as you saw Todoroki and lida fighting desperately, trying to keep the Hero Killer at bay. Midoriya lay nearby, still struggling to move.

Todoroki gritted his teeth, blocking another slash from Stain with a wall of ice, but it was clear he was tiring. His body trembled, both from exhaustion and the strain of using his fire and ice in quick succession. Despite this, his voice was steady, aimed directly at lida.

"Don't forget who you want to be, lida!" Todoroki called, his voice filled with urgency. "You're not doing this for revenge. You're doing this because you want to be a hero, like your brother. Don't let that go!"

lida, still pinned to the ground by the knife in his arm, clenched his fists. His body ached, not just from the pain of his injuries but from the weight of his guilt. His reckless actions had dragged all of you into this mess. Todoroki's words echoed in his mind, and as he looked over at Midoriya, Todoroki, and you-injured and paralyzed because of his actions-shame flooded through him.

Memories of his older brother, Tensei, flashed before his eyes. Tensei, the reason he had wanted to become a hero in the first place, had always been his source of inspiration. The kind of hero who saved people, not for glory, but because it was the right thing to do. And here he was, lying helpless, because he had let anger and revenge blind him.

Stain smirked, his katana glinting in the dim light as he advanced toward Todoroki. "You're all weak. You rely too much on your quirks," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "A real hero doesn't just fight for themselves. They fight for true justice."

As Stain's blade slashed toward Todoroki again, lida's eyes widened. He couldn't let this happen. He couldn't stand by and watch his friends get hurt because of him. Stain was right about one thing- lida wasn't a true hero yet. But if he wanted to live up to Tensei's name, if he wanted to become Ingenium, he had to rise.

With a sudden surge of determination, lida forced himself to move. His legs screamed in protest, but he activated Recipro Burst, the enhanced speed kicking in as he pushed his body to its limit. Just as Stain's katana came down on Todoroki, lida's kick connected with the blade, shattering it into pieces.

"Tenya!" Todoroki gasped, shocked to see lida on his feet.

"I'm sorry," lida said through gritted teeth, his voice shaking. "I got you all involved in this. But I can't stop now. If I give up, the name of Ingenium dies with me!"

lida's voice was filled with emotion as he continued. "I can't let my brother's legacy end here. I can't let you get hurt because of me!"

Just as Stain moved to throw one of his knives toward Todoroki, lida intercepted it, the blade lodging in his shoulder as he threw himself in front of his friend. He winced in pain but refused to fall.

"Todoroki," lida said, panting heavily, "Freeze my radiators!"

Todoroki's eyes widened in understanding and, without hesitation, used his ice to cool down lida's overheated radiators. Steam hissed as the ice made contact, and lida's body shuddered as he prepared for his next move.

"I can't give up," lida said, his resolve stronger than ever. "Recipro Extend!"

With a burst of speed, lida and Midoriya launched themselves at Stain. You watched from the ground, helpless, as they scaled the alley walls, their quirks working in tandem. The two heroes-in-training moved faster than you had ever seen them, striking at Stain from both sides, their combined attack forcing the Hero Killer back for the first time since the battle began.

For a brief moment, it seemed like the tide had turned. lida and Midoriya's coordinated assault pushed Stain into a corner, the Hero Killer's confidence wavering as he struggled to keep up with their relentless barrage of attacks. Todoroki followed up with another blast of ice, creating distance between them and Stain.

But just as lida took a moment to catch his breath, he glanced at you and Midoriya, his face etched with guilt. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely audible. "For dragging you into this..."
Before anyone could respond, the sound of flapping wings echoed through the alley. Everyone looked up as a Nomu, still rampaging from the earlier chaos, swooped down from the sky and snared Midoriya in its grotesque claws.

Midoriya struggled, his arms flailing as the Nomu began to fly away with him. Panic surged through you, your heart racing as you desperately tried to move. But the paralysis still held your body captive.

"No!" Todoroki shouted, firing a blast of ice at the Nomu, but it wasn't enough to stop it.

And then, in a flash, Stain was moving again. Despite his injuries, despite being cornered moments earlier, the Hero Killer darted forward with terrifying speed. His blade flashed as he sliced into the Nomu's flesh, his movements precise and deliberate. Blood sprayed into the air as Stain stabbed the Nomu directly in the brain, causing it to collapse and drop Midoriya back into the alley.

By that time other pro heroes also arrived in the area witnessing what Stain killer did, who were to say the least were lost on why Stain did that...

Stain caught Midoriya before he hit the ground, his grip firm but gentle. For a brief moment, the Hero Killer seemed to change-his expression softening as he saved the very person he had been fighting against moments earlier.

But at it wasn't over yet. Literally everyone froze—at a loss of words at what took place.

Stain stood tall, his chest heaving as blood dripped from his wounds. His eyes, wild with conviction, burned with a fire that sent chills down your spine. He threw the lifeless Nomu aside like it was nothing and turned back toward you, lida, Todoroki, and Midoriya, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of Endeavor among the heros—but not All might—he wasn't around no matter where he looked at.

"This society is corrupt," Stain growled, his voice low and filled with rage. "Fake heroes. Pathetic criminals. All of you-purged, one by one."

The intensity of his words sent a ripple of fear through the alley. You could feel it in the air-this wasn't just a villain you were fighting. Stain truly believed in his twisted sense of justice, and he wouldn't stop until he had cleansed society of everything he saw as impure.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on Stain, but none of you could move. His presence was overwhelming, a malicious aura radiating from him that paralyzed you in place. Even Todoroki, who had faced his father's harsh training, was frozen, unable to act.

Stain glared at each of you, his breaths shallow but filled with purpose. "I am the only one fit to judge this society," he declared, his voice rising. "I'll kill every false hero until this world is cleansed."

His words echoed through the alley, and for a moment, it felt like the weight of his conviction would crush you all. And then, Stain took a step forward, his blade gleaming in the moonlight, ready to strike once more.

Just as he was about to move, however, his body faltered. Stain gasped, his hand clutching his side as blood poured from his wounds. His chest heaved, and his knees buckled slightly as he struggled to stay upright. His lungs, punctured from the earlier battle, couldn't keep up with his movements.

But even as he faltered, Stain refused to fall. His eyes were wild with determination, his body shaking as he took another step forward, the only one still standing amidst the chaos.

For a moment, it seemed like nothing could stop him, but his perforated lungs cause him to lose consciousness.

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A/N: Word Count: ~1430, the battle with Stain reaches its boiling point as lida, Midoriya, Todoroki, and Wavebreaker struggle to keep up with the Hero Killer's relentless attacks. Stain's conviction is terrifying, and even as his body begins to give out, until he finally passes out. What will happen next? Keep a look out for the next chapter.

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