The factory was a fucking inferno, Scorch's flames licking the walls, casting jagged shadows as Zion and Toru faced him and his henchmen—claws, smoke, static, tail, stone—in the dark.
The air choked with ash, the pros—Kido, Sidekick, Onima—gone silent, their comms dead, leaving Zion and Toru cut off.
Zion gripped a crafted spear, Creation Quirk humming, his All for One itching to steal, Lightspeed and Ironclad primed.
Toru's invisible presence was a whisper beside him, her gloves trembling but her voice steady. "Zion, we got this, right?" Her usual giggle was gone, replaced by a spark that matched his own.
"Fuck yeah," he growled, crude grin flashing. "You sneak, I smash. Let's end these assholes."
Her laugh was sharp, a blade in the dark. "Deal! I'm your ghost."
Their vibe clicked, her stealth a perfect counter to his raw power, like they'd been fighting together for years.
Scorch sneered, his scarred face glowing red, flames coiling in his hands.
"Kids playing hero? Burn." He hurled a fireball, big as a car, the henchmen fanning out, Quirks sparking.
Zion dove, Lightspeed blurring, the fireball scorching the floor where he'd stood.
Toru vanished, her gloves, her presence, completely gone. "Left!" she hissed, her voice a guide.
Zion spun, Ironclad hardening his arm, blocking a stone-fist henchman's punch, the impact jarring his bones.
He countered, blade Quirk slashing the guy's thigh, blood spraying, the henchman stumbling.
Toru's giggle hit—behind the static henchman, her invisible kick landing, his electric hair fizzing out as he hit the ground, groaning.
"Nice one!" Zion called, crafting a steel net with Creation, flinging it at the claw henchman, trapping his arms, claws scraping uselessly.
Toru's voice zipped right, "Smoke guy's mine!"
A crate tipped, smoke-henchman cursing as Toru tripped him, his fog Quirk sputtering, Zion finishing with a crafted blade, piercing him on the spot.
Their rhythm was tight, her stealth setting up his strikes, his power covering her moves, a fucking dance in the firelight.
Scorch roared, flames surging, a wave of heat slamming Zion back, his jacket singed. The tail henchman lashed out, his whip-like appendage cracking, grazing Zion's ribs, pain flaring.
"Zion, duck!" Toru yelled, her invisible tackle shoving the tail guy, his tail tangling in a pipe, Zion's Ironclad fist smashing his jaw, teeth flying.
Four down, two left—Scorch and the acid-drip henchman, his hands oozing, floor sizzling.
Toru's voice hissed, "Acid's circling!"
Zion crafted a rubber shield, acid splashing harmlessly, his Lightspeed lunging, blade Quirk slicing the henchman's arm, the guy howling, dropping.
Scorch's flames exploded, a ring of fire trapping them, metal groaning. "You're done!" Scorch bellowed, his Quirk flaring, a firestorm spiraling, Zion's skin blistering, Toru's gasp close but unseen.
"Toru, flank him!" Zion shouted, crafting a water hose with Creation, spraying a path through the flames, his Ironclad holding against the heat.
Her laugh cut through, "On it!"
Scorch spun, confused, as Toru's invisible punch landed, his head snapping back.
Zion charged, Lightspeed a blur, crafting a steel chain, wrapping Scorch's legs, yanking him down, concrete cracking.
Scorch's flames flared, burning the chain, his fist swinging, catching Zion's shoulder, pain searing, his All for One screaming to steal the fire Quirk, but he held back—not in the presence of Toru.
"Zion, now!" Toru's voice was a beacon, her kick hitting Scorch's ribs, a crack sounding.
Zion crafted a spiked mace, Ironclad powering his swing, smashing Scorch's chest, blood spraying, the villain's flames flickering, his roar fading to a wheeze.
Toru's gloves appeared, tossing a pipe, Zion catching it, slamming it across Scorch's skull, his body slumping, flames dying, the factory dimming.
They stood, panting, Scorch out cold, the air thick with smoke.
Zion's ribs throbbed, burns stinging, but his grin was wild, Toru's laugh a bright echo.
"We did it!" she cheered, her invisible arm bumping his, their vibe electric, like partners forged in blood.
"You're a goddamn ninja," he said, crude respect raw, crafting a bandage for his cuts, her giggle warm.
"And you're a tank! We're unstoppable, Zion!" Her cheer was back, but it felt earned, their synergy a weapon he'd bank on.
The factory was a wreck, crates ash, walls charred, the pros nowhere.
Zion tied the henchmen with crafted ropes, Toru scouting, her voice guiding.
"No sign of Kido," she said, worry creeping in.
"Think they're okay?" Zion shrugged. "They're pros, they'll crawl out. We did the heavy lifting."
A system ping hit:
<
System Update –
Villain Takedown Achieved
Reward: +20 Stat Points
>
Zion shared his points while Toru's gloves were dancing, her voice bright. "We're gonna be legends, Zion!"
He smirked,. "Damn right."
<
Name: Zion
Age: 16
Quirk: All for One
Special Ability: All-Seeing eye, Quirk Echo, (locked)
Energy: 65
Endurance: 60
Strength: 60
Appeal: ∞
>
*****