The pressure of his Lord, the derisive voices, His spiritual toil disappeared. A white, pure, and completely empty space... or so it seemed. The Golden Throne was in front of him, and sitting on it was a muscur young man, so perfect in proportion that the ancient Greek canons seemed disproportionate in comparison. His olive skin and the white tunic that covers him seem to give off a light golden light. The long hair is ebony bck. His serious eyes shine with a golden light. Izuku doesn't know that man, yet, deep down in his soul, he has always known Him; he has always felt Him close.

  Stretching his hand toward the man, he noticed that he was different... his whole body was. It was the same body as when he was 6 years old, the age he came to this universe.

  ?You met my expectations.? The man's voice was as masculine as it was deep ?No, I dare say you've exceeded them, young man.?

  ?My Lord?? Izuku stated hesitantly

  ?This is not an illusion.? the man said after nodding ?This space is... a limbo, we might say.?

  ?A limbo, my Emperor??

  ?There is no time to expin.? the Emperor stated, rising from the throne. ?And even if I expined it to you, you would not be able to understand.?

  The Emperor of Mankind walked into that space barefoot and calmly.

  ?You had no reason to serve me? the Emperor stated, getting closer and closer. ?Yet, you have decided to serve me, and in doing so, you have done far more than I thought. A little fearless and reckless, but you kept your vows.?

  ?I just did my duty.?

  ?You had only done your duty, now you would not be here, young man.? the Emperor stated with a smile ?If you had only done that, you would not be so different from the other Custodians. You didn't simply do your duty: you served me by following your ideals, many of which were lost, and I had forgotten.?

  ?D-did you w-watch me??

  ?My duty is to watch over humanity, young man. You should know that by now.? the Lord of Mankind said amusedly ?And I'm sorry to have to let go of a servant like you. However, a pact is a pact.?

  A blinding light was generated in the Emperor's hands, and when it dissipated, two objects materialised: a golden urel wreath where the point of union of the crown is held by the body of the imperial double-headed eagle and a vial with a chain containing a golden liquid. The Emperor took the urel wreath and pced it on Izuku's head. His body shone before dissipating.

  ?The Crown Honoris.? stated solemnly the Emperor ?Symbol of your honoured service and my blessing to leave this universe. Also, bring your regalia and weapons. They're yours.?

  ?My Emperor... thank you.?

  ?Take this with you too.? he said, giving him the vial ?This is the element the Archmagos needs to allow you to go home.?

  Izuku nodded his head and gently and reverently took the vial. He heard the Emperor's robes rustle and noticed that he was returning to the throne.

  ?Now you can go, Izuku Midoriya. I'm releasing you from my service. You can go home.?

  ?My Lord.? Izuku snapped ?Please allow me to express my selfishness and tell you one st thing before I go.?

  ?Speak.?

  ?My Emperor, I have served her for 2,543 years...? Izuku began ?I have served You without hesitation and by putting everything I own to rest, so please. Do not exempt me from my role as Your Custodian. Even if a universe separates us, let me serve you in mine as well. Allow me to continue fulfilling my duties.?

  The Emperor stared at him, his eyes slightly open in surprise, but ter a smile appeared, accompanied by a small ugh.

  ?So be it, Izuku Midoriya Valorian, Prefect Shield-Captain of the Aquilian Shield? the Emperor said amusedly ?You will be my eyes in your universe. Protect humanity from those who threaten it, and remember that you will always be welcome in these halls. Now, this is your home too.?

  *****

  Date: 999 M41

  Location: Terra, Imperial Pace, underground workshop.

  In front of Izuku is a white arch construct at least 4 meters high. The white material is very smooth, and upon seeing it, Izuku realised that it was not just any material.

  ?Wraithbone?? asked Izuku.

  ?Affirmative.? spoke the Archmagos Cawl. ?When I was given that piece of metal, I questioned at length what was left of the Machine Spirit. It wasn't easy, but I managed to get a more suitable object.?

  You managed... I don't want to know what you did to get it. Izuku thought as he gave Cawl the vial the Emperor had given him. Noticing it, Cawl appeared to sing in binary and worked to install it on what appeared to be a console.

  ?Captain-General.? Izuku called respectfully. ?As soon as I cross the threshold, please entrust the construct to our brothers and sisters of the Shadowkeepers' Shield Host. I'm sure they'll be able to keep it safe.?

  ?Don't worry. I was already pnning to do that.?

  ?Thank you for everything...? Izuku said, extending his hand to Valoris ?brother.?

  ?...Be sure to come back.? Valoris said, shaking hands

  The device appeared to activate, and energy accumuted until a dimensional sphere formed between the Wraithbone arcs. But, instead of being bck like the one who brought him here, this time it shone with golden energies.

  ?Custodian.? called Bellissarius Cawl ?Thanks to the benevolence of the Omnissiah, the portal is stable and ready. When you want-?

  Suddenly, the Archamagos seemed to shout in binary, and turning around, Izuku noticed that the vial materialised in front of him, its contents still bright and warm. Without hesitation and smiling, he took the vial, put it around his neck, put on his helmet, and sealed it. His hand was firm on the Paragon Spear, giving him a sense of security. He went to the portal without hesitation.

  ?Be sure to let me find the Imperial Pace as I'm leaving it, young Valoris.? Izuku jokingly stated

  ?Hurry up and leave, crazy old man.? Valoris replied in the same tone

  He turned his gaze towards the Archmagos and nodded, to which the ancient priest of Mars responded with equal courtesy.

  Entering the sphere, the portal closed behind him. The vial around his neck shone with a blinding golden light and suddenly dissipated. When he opened his eyes again, he noticed that he was... falling?

  ?Hey, are you kidding me?!!!? he excimed in surprise.

  But luckily for him, it was a short fall and nothing unbearable. The sound of the metal as it nded was somewhat reassuring. He analysed its surroundings. He was on his knees in a boat, with a high probability that his role was transport, located in the middle of a small artificial ke whose water level was maintained by what looked like a water slide.

  Where the hell did that crazy old Archmagos make me pop up?

  The Machine Spirit of his armour did not report any structural damage, but warned that there was no vox connection to the imperial canals and that the current topography did not correspond to any imperial world. But the proximity sensors reported numerous contacts to him, probably about twenty, two of which were just over a meter away on his left side.

  ?And where do you come from, ribbit?? asked a female voice.

  Turning around, he saw two peculiar people. The first is a short girl of retively slender build, with remarkably rge hands. Its appearance is rather frog-like, with a wide mouth, oval eyes with rge bck irises, and visibly pronounced lower eyeshes. Her hair is a dark sea-green that reaches her hips, with the ends tied together at the bottom into a rge bow. He wears a bright green turtleneck jumpsuit, beige gloves with rge green buckles, and green webbed fins resembling frog toes on his feet. He also wears a band of colour corresponding to that of his gloves and gsses with dark-green lenses, attached on both sides.

  The other is a short teenager, with a rge, round head and puffy cheeks. His nose is small, stocky, and points slightly upward; his eyes are oval in shape, with rge, bck pupils, and his eyebrows are remarkably thin. He has short, dark purple hair with four rge, ball-shaped tufts resembling a mohawk. His clothing consists only of a purple jumpsuit, a yellow cape, and a mask and boots and gloves. His trousers are white, with lighter purple trim and balls, which protrude quite a bit around the waist.

  While the former looked at him with an expression, if you can call it that, of surprise and caution, the tter was literally terrified, almost on the verge of fainting on the spot.

  ?Is this Japan?? asked Izuku

  ?Ribbit?? the girl croaked confusedly. ?Um... yes.? she replied, bringing her index finger to her chin.

  She isn't liying ?Where exactly are we??

  ?We are located at the USJ located within the UA Campus.?

  USJ... no, wait, UA? The School for Heroes of Musutafu. This means...

  Without realising it, he began to giggle amusedly and relievedly. Knowing that he had returned to his world, somehow, lifted a weight off his shoulders. Suddenly, he felt the need to run home just to hug his mother.

  ?Hey, what are you ughing at-? spoke a hoarse male voice over the railing of the boat. ?And where did that come from?!?