Chapter 2: Temple

"You say you do this for fun, but if you keep having fun, you're going to end up dead!" Yaoyorozu complained as she used her unique Quirk to create bandages that she wrapped around Izuku's injuries after spilling some potion over them.

Yaoyorozu technically wasn't a healer Hero, but her ability to create medical supplies and healing potions that no one else could make from her mana made her a vital asset to any raid she was a part of.

Izuku shrugged, "Sorry."

"Midoriya... the way you fight... it's awful, you put yourself in danger so readily, without any concern for yourself." Yaoyorozu looked directly into his green irises," What is the real reason behind not quitting your job as a Hero?"

Izuku looked down at the small crystal in his hand. The Villain Core was likely the only money he would make off this raid. It was a tiny E-Rank piece, barely enough to keep him afloat.

"I just... wanna be a Hero I guess. Save people and all that," Izuku said as he thought back to that one catchphrase, that one internet clip of a certain Hero rescuing hundreds from Cala island as the S-Rank Gate emerged.

His reasoning wasn't necessarily a lie. Izuku relished the thought of being able to save people from the rampant Villain Gates that appeared without abandon. But of course, that was just a dream, this was reality. And in reality, Izuku was a Hero because it was the fastest way for someone like him to make money, to both take care of himself and his mother's medical bills.

Obviously, Izuku hated handing out that factoid. He was already weak and struggling as it was, he didn't want to bring any more shame upon himself by asking for handouts.

"Hey everyone!" Kaito Otachi, the Raid Leader, shouted out, "Listen up for a moment!" With a jet-black katana resting on his shoulder, he certainly fit the image of a warrior, even with his wrinkled appearance, "Since the Gate hasn't closed yet, it looks like the Boss is down this tunnel. Since none of us are employed by any Hero Agencies, it's up to us if we want to take this thing on." He nodded solemnly at some of the cautious glances he was receiving, "It's going to be dangerous, so we could always just wait for the more skilled Heroes to come in and kill this thing. On the other hand, our profit margin will go way down. So, I have a proposal. The seventeen of us will take a vote, and no matter what the result, no complaining when we're done."

Two of Kaito's old buddies immediately agreed, then two other Heroes voted against continuing. Eventually, the final two votes came down to Izuku and Yaoyorozu.

"I-I don't want to go." Yaoyorozu stuttered out, one hand grasping her arm.

"Hmm," Kaito acknowledged, "Eight to eight. Which just leaves one."

All eyes focused in on Izuku who fidgeted under their gaze for a moment as he looked down the Boss's tunnel. It was claustrophobia-inducing, roughly made from stone, and likely had a deadly Villain at the end that was willing to kill them without hesitation. But, steeling his nerves, Izuku met Kaito's eyes, "I'm going!"

"Just one last time, for my mother, for us."

Izuku wrung out his hands nervously as he stole a glance at Yaoyorozu, "Hey... I'm sorry about forcing you to come by voting yes."

"I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me?" Her eyes were hidden by her bangs and her tone was anything but fine.

"Are you... really okay?"

Yaoyorozu exploded like Izuku had never seen before, "No! Of course not! Are you crazy?! If that stab had been just an inch higher, you would've had a hole in your heart! Not to mention all the other wounds I had to patch up! What even made you say yes?! Did you hit your head too?!"

"Sorry," Izuku mumbled, "Once again, she's right and once again, I'm in her debt."

" Are you sorry?"

"Yes."

Yaoyorozu heaved out a sigh, sufficed with her rant, "Then if you're really sorry, maybe you can pay me back by having some lunch with me."

"...." Izuku was stunned silent for a moment, until Yaoyorozu spun around and locked eyes with him, thankfully missing his blush in the darkness of the cave.

"What? Do you not want to eat with me?!" Yaoyorozu asked with mock offense.

"N-No!" Izuku said a little too forcefully, "That's not it at all! I-"

"Hey!" Kaito yelled out, "I think this is the Boss's door."

It was a tall, two-door entrance, blue with gold trims and detailing. Its handles were the old-fashion type of door knockers. Two simple massive rings to pull the thing open.

Quietly, so that no one else could hear, Kaito's two friends whispered to each other.

"Hey... this feels dangerous." It wasn't a question.

"Yeah," The second man agreed.

"Alright people!" Kaito announced, "This is it! Let's make some money!" Resting his palm against the door, he lightly shoved, opening it with next to no resistance.

A chill settled against Izuku's spine and for a moment he considered stopping, turning around and running away. But the surrounding Heroes convinced him otherwise.

"Mr. Otachi is one of the most skilled C-Ranks out there."

"If he weren't about to turn 60, he could've chosen any Hero Agency he wanted."

"We trusted him this far. It only makes sense to keep going."

Just like that, opinion had shifted in Kaito's favor and before he knew it, Izuku found himself stepping cautiously into the dark room.

About to throw a fireball into the room to light it, Kaito was nearly blinded by the torches that exploded into existence with blue fire.

"Oh ... wow," Izuku breathed out as he gazed upon the massive stone-walled room. It was a good two hundred feet in diameter. The edges of the room were covered with giant stone statues that stood only five feet apart. The real attraction, however, was at the very back of the room. A king's throne occupied by a statue at least three times the size of the others. Its head was adorned by an odd crown and it seemed to be wearing some sort of robes, like the senator's of ancient Greece.

"I've never seen anything like this."

"Are we sure this is still a dungeon?"

"Don't be stupid."

"You think the statues are the enemies? There's nothing else here."

"Do I really have to repeat myself? They're statues, they don't move. Don't be stupid."

Yaoyorozu found herself hugging closer and closer to Izuku, "It... feels like someone's watching us."

"Come on now Miss, don't talk like that, it's only gonna scare the others," Kaito reprimanded.

Izuku could help but find himself agreeing with Yaoyorozu, even if he was the more inexperienced Hero.

"Mr. Otachi! I think I found something! You should come see this!"

What the Hero had found, was by far the most curious thing in the room. Another statue, tucked away besides the massive statue at the back. It was an angel of death, a slab of engraved text held in its bony hands.

"Hey ... isn't that Runic?"

"Anyone know it?"

Yaoyorozu quickly volunteered herself, always happy to show off the skills not related to her Quirk.

"Carthenon Temple's Commandments. First, worship the Lord." Izuku suddenly shuddered, the same chill he had felt earlier tracing its way down his back. Turning around, he was certain he caught the movement of one of the bigger statue's eyes. "Second, praise the Lord." Izuku squinted closely, attempting to discern anything he could from the behemoth carving. "Third, prove your faith. Those who do not follow these commandments, will never return alive."

Izuku and many from the rest of the party, found themselves jumping in shock as a bang echoed through the apparent Temple. Looking over to the source of the sound, Izuku's veins filled with ice, the door had slammed itself shut.

For a few crucial seconds, not a sound could be heard, not even the labored breathing of Yaoyorozu.

Finally, a muscle-bound Hero threw his hands in the air, "That's it! I'm done with this shit! It was a mistake to even come here! Enjoy the Boss's treasure!" Strutting towards the door, he reached out for the ring handles.

"No..." Kaito mumbled at first, his body completely tensing up, "DON'T TOUCH IT!"

The distinctive screeching of stone on stone filled everyone's ears and then... a simple WHOOSHING of air.

Just like that, their party member was dead and in his place, stood one of the stone statues, his mace extended out and covered in crimson blood.

"It... moves...?" Yaoyorozu squeaked out, her legs beginning to shake.

"Wait... if that one moves... then," Izuku's head swiftly whipped around to face the king. He hadn't moved a muscle, but his eyes were glowing bright orange and staring down the helpless teen.

"Oh... god..."

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