Chapter 13: Shadows Among the Blades

(author's note I don't want to do all the talking I'm going to skip straight to the stain indecent if don't like it okay)

The grim alley was silent except for the faint groans of a broken boy. Tenya Iida lay sprawled across the cold concrete, his body paralyzed and blood pooling beneath him. The once vibrant fire of vengeance in his eyes had dimmed, replaced by the stark reality of his defeat. Standing over him was the Hero Killer, Stain, his blade gleaming ominously in the faint moonlight.

"You call yourself a hero?" Stain spat, his voice low and venomous. "You're nothing more than a child playing dress-up, blinded by your own selfish desires."

The tension in the air was suffocating as footsteps echoed from the mouth of the alley. Stain turned, his sharp eyes locking onto the trio approaching him. Izuku Midoriya, Shoto Todoroki, and Jace stepped into the dim light, their expressions a mix of determination and fury.

"Iida!" Izuku shouted, his voice breaking slightly at the sight of his injured friend. He rushed forward but stopped short as Stain brandished his blade.

"You're just in time," Stain said, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "More so-called heroes for me to cleanse."

Jace's golden eyes glinted in the dim light, his shadows already stirring restlessly around him. "He's not dying tonight," Jace said coldly, stepping forward.

The battle began with a ferocity that took even Stain by surprise. Shoto opened with a blast of ice, aiming to immobilize the Hero Killer, but Stain was too fast. He darted around the frozen attack, his movements fluid and precise, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat.

Jace intercepted, a tendril of shadow lashing out to block Stain's blade. The impact sent sparks flying, and Jace followed up with a roundhouse kick, forcing Stain to retreat momentarily.

"Stay focused," Jace barked at Shoto, his voice sharp. "He's not like the others."

Izuku, now fully powered with One For All, charged in from the side, aiming a powerful punch at Stain. The Hero Killer dodged effortlessly, countering with a slash that narrowly missed Izuku's chest.

"You're reckless," Stain sneered, his blade flashing as he deflected another attack. "And unworthy."

But Izuku didn't back down. "I don't care what you think of me!" he shouted, his voice ringing with conviction. "I won't let you hurt anyone else!"

As the fight raged on, it became clear that Stain wasn't just skilled—he was relentless. His movements were unpredictable, his strikes deadly. Each of the trio had their own strengths, but Stain exploited their weaknesses with chilling efficiency.

Jace, however, was a different story. His shadows moved with a mind of their own, forming shields and weapons in the blink of an eye. He fought with a cold, calculated precision, his martial arts training evident in every strike. Even Stain found himself on the defensive, his usual confidence wavering.

"You're no ordinary hero," Stain said, his eyes narrowing as he parried a shadow-formed blade. "But you're still weak."

Jace smirked, his golden eyes blazing. "Weak? Let's see how long you can keep up."

He unleashed a flurry of attacks, his shadows striking from all directions. Stain dodged and blocked as best he could, but the sheer number of attacks began to overwhelm him. Just as it seemed Jace had the upper hand, Stain lunged forward with a desperate strike, his blade aimed directly at Jace's heart.

Time seemed to slow as Jace twisted away, the blade grazing his side. He retaliated with a powerful kick, sending Stain crashing into a wall. But before he could press his advantage, a deafening roar echoed through the alley.

A Nomu appeared, its grotesque form emerging from the shadows like a nightmare. All for One's unmistakable presence loomed in the air, and Jace froze, his expression darkening.

"No…" Jace muttered under his breath. He recognized the Nomu instantly—this wasn't a coincidence. This was a message.

The Nomu charged, its massive fists smashing into the ground where Jace had stood moments before. Shoto and Izuku turned their attention to the new threat, their attacks barely slowing the monstrous creature.

"Jace, help us!" Izuku shouted, his voice tinged with desperation.

But Jace didn't move. Instead, his shadows began to recede, his golden eyes losing their usual fire. He stepped back, his hands clenched into fists.

"Jace!" Shoto called, his ice forming a barrier to protect Iida. "What are you doing?!"

The Nomu roared again, its focus shifting to Jace. And then, to everyone's shock, it attacked him.

The battle that followed was chaotic. Jace fought the Nomu with everything he had, his shadows lashing out with a fury that even Stain couldn't match. But the Nomu was relentless, its brute strength overpowering Jace's defenses.

A sudden explosion shook the alley, and when the dust cleared, Jace's body lay motionless on the ground. The Nomu stood over him, its chest heaving, before it turned and fled into the night.

"No…" Izuku whispered, his knees buckling as he stared at Jace's lifeless form. "This can't be happening…"

Shoto's jaw tightened, his hands trembling as he clenched his fists. "We need to get him out of here. Now."

But Stain wasn't finished. The Hero Killer, bloodied but still standing, stepped forward, his eyes blazing with rage. "You think I'll let you leave? You're all unworthy!"

Izuku and Shoto exchanged a glance, their resolve hardening. They couldn't let Stain win—not after everything that had happened.

Unbeknownst to them, the "body" left behind wasn't Jace's. It was a replica, a meticulously crafted decoy designed by All For One. As the real Jace watched from the shadows, his heart heavy with guilt, he knew this was a turning point. His "death" would solidify his cover, but at what cost?

"All for balance," Jace whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. And with that, he vanished into the night, leaving behind a trail of shadows and questions that would haunt his friends forever.