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Bakugo was a proud, proven Hero. His name was already known through half of Greece and he had been acknowledged by the Gods for his heroic actions. He had all the traits any hero should: a patron God that intervened on his behalf, a father of unknown origins he had never met, and a cryptic prophecy he couldn't decipher. 

His fatal flaw was most certainly his explosive temper, which caused him no end of trouble. Bakugo was constantly making things worse for himself by being incapable of controlling his mouth. He cursed and yelled at everything that annoyed him, which meant that despite his status as a hero, he was not a popular person. 

Despite this, he managed to find a village that tolerated his outbursts of anger and build a humble home where he could rest whenever he wasn't adventuring. 

Our hero woke with the sunrise, dutifully starting his day by checking on his small vegetable farm and grabbing eggs from his chickens. He walked to the nearby well to draw his water for the day and managed to not yell at the other women there. Returning to his home, Bakugo ate his humble breakfast and began his daily drills. 

Part of being a hero meant that Bakugo spent most of his day working his body, by going through exercises and weapon practices. He could expertly handle spears, swords, bows, shields, and daggers, which in addition to his above-average strength, stamina and speed, made him one of the strongest humans alive. 

As the sun began to set on his day, Bakugo began to feel the pull of adventure in his heart and wondered if he should set off soon. His last adventure had him fight a golden boar, and he had been rewarded with a spear made of the boar's tooth. Bakugo admired the shimmering golden spear and nodded to himself. The next day he'd set off on an adventure. 

That night, Bakugo dreamt of the prophecy he had received at the Oracle of Delphi. He heard the pretty young woman speak in a strange, ghostly tone, her eyes glowing a soft blue. 

A God of War sleeps
Saved by a kiss of water
Hands full of fire
He shall bear the weight
For the smile of the waif

Bakugo woke up startled. He sat upon his cot, panting and sweating. His dream had been so vivid, he had almost felt as if he had traveled back in time to when he heard the prophecy for the first time. Frowning, Bakugo dwelled on the words again. As all prophecies generally went, it was cryptic and confusing. How would he be saved by a kiss of water, and why would he hold a weight for a waif, Bakugo asked himself. 

Shaking his head, he decided that thinking too hard would get him nowhere. The best thing he could do was follow his routine: eat a hearty meal, take his weapons and set off without a specific destination in mind. 

Bakugo took one last look at his small hut before he stepped foot on the dirt road. His golden spear was strapped to his back, his sword hung at his side, his shield and pack were slung over his shoulder. Bakugo had a feeling that was the last time he'd see that shed. 

Resolutely turning around he began walking away, chastising himself for the strange feelings that had been plaguing him. 

Bakugo set off towards the East, not stopping for anything. He left the village he called home and kept walking, heading away. The sun shined on his blonde hair and his glowing red eyes were glued to the horizon. 

===

Tsuyu sighed softly as she rested in the river, blending with the nearby foliage. Tsuyu was a naiad without a home. Her river had been destroyed by the humans, who had dug out canals that rerouted the river, destroying Tsuyu's connection with it. 

Saddened and weakened, Tsuyu was forced to roam around, trying to find a new river, but all of the pure rivers already had their spirits and naiads. She was now temporarily resting within Selkie's river, but she knew she'd have to leave soon. This stream was not strong enough to sustain two naiads and the water spirit that lived there. 

Tsuyu looked to the sky and prayed to the Gods, hoping they'd show her the way to a new river. Nothing happened and Tsuyu felt the sadness of her situation hit her again when a human walked past the nearby foliage, heading towards the river. 

The shy naiad hid within the water, but she kept watchful eyes on him. After what the humans had done to her river, Tsuyu couldn't help but be wary. This human had blonde hair and red eyes, which was very different from all the other humans she knew. Curious, Tsuyu allowed the current to carry her a bit closer to the human. 

He was removing the weapons he had been carrying, setting them down. After they were carefully laid next to him, he placed his hands in the river, washing them. Tsuyu noticed this human was incredibly well-built. He cupped his hands and drank the water. Tsuyu inched slightly closer, feeling like this human was somehow different. 

After he finished drinking, he turned around to look into his pack, looking at whatever was inside. He took a while on this task, and Tsuyu wondered what kind of treasure had to be inside for him to be so focused on the task. She floated even closer to him, peeking out of the water slightly. 

He turned around as fast as lightning, spear in hand pointed straight at her face, the tip barely touching her nose. He glared at her fiercely with his red eyes and Tsuyu squeaked softly before quickly dipping back into the safety of the waters. 

"Just another stupid water girl." The man grumbled, setting down the spear. Offended, Tsuyu popped back out. 

"I'm not a water girl! I'm a naiad!" She struck out her tongue to the man, but he didn't seem impressed by her presence. Most humans would look shocked or give her tributes, but this one almost seemed disappointed to see her. 

The human didn't even dignify her with an answer, simply sitting back down and pulling a piece of bread from his sack. He ate with a bored look. Tsuyu frowned at him and showed more of herself to him, feeling the need to impress him at least a little. 

Tsuyu wasn't one of the prettiest naiads, the kind that would enchant humans to death by drowning. But she felt that she had her qualities. Her hair was a long and beautiful green, like the lily pads and her domain over the water was enviable. 

Despite her weakness, she still managed to summon enough strength to douse him in water. He sputtered and coughed, surprised by the sudden jet of water. 

"What the heck? Do you want to die?" He growled, taking his spear in hand. Tsuyu crossed her arms at him. 

"I might not have a river, but I can still take on a bully like you!" She said pridefully. 

"What do you mean, you don't have a river? Aren't you standing in one?" The man set his golden spear back down. 

"Ah… This is not my river… I'm borrowing it." Tsuyu decided that this human wasn't as bad as the ones that evicted her and she glided closer to him, leaning outside the river to rest her elbows on the stones that littered the riverbank. 

"And what happened to your river?" The man resumed eating his bread, although it was now wet. 

"Some humans dug out a canal and broke the source of water. I've been looking for a new river, do you know of any?" Tsuyu looked down sadly. 

"No." 

Tsuyu released a long sigh. She snuck another glance at the man, noticing his clothes and weapons. 

"Say… are you a hero?" Tsuyu asked. 

"I'm Katsuki Bakugo." The man nodded. Tsuyu didn't pay too much attention to the gossip circles, but she had heard of him. He was the favorite hero of the God of Wisdom and Crafts, Best Jeanist. 

"Oh! Maybe you can help me find a new river!" Tsuyu smiled. Certainly helping a naiad of her type would be a task for a hero. She was one of the oldest naiads, one of the firstborn of the God of the Sea, Gang Orca. She was a lesser goddess, and in her opinion, she was certainly important enough to recruit a hero. 

"No." The hero began to close his pack and grab his things once more. 

"What do you mean, no? Why not?" Tsuyu asked. 

"I'm going to fight some legendary creature, not help a lost girl." He scoffed. 

For good measure, Tsuyu doused the rude hero with another jet of water. 

===

Bakugo was angry. The silly water creature was following him and slowing him down. She was a wisp of a woman, small, thin, and pale. Sometimes when the light shined on her, he thought he could see through her. He didn't want to get slowed down to help some inconsequential spirit girl, but he couldn't hurt her. 

In the past, he had promised Best Jeanist he wouldn't harm innocent spirits and creatures, and Bakugo would keep his promise. It meant he had no way of discouraging the naiad to leave him alone. He had hoped she’d give up after the first day, but three days later she still followed him.

"Where are you going?" She asked him. The naiad called Tsuyu asked him a lot of questions, about everything and anything. 

"I don't know." Bakugo wondered if she had cast a spell on him because he always found himself answering her questions reflexively. 

"How come? I thought you said you were going to slay a legendary creature! Don't you know where it is?" 

"No."

The naiad continued to follow him, but Bakugo noticed her pace slowing down. He also slowed down and wondered why she was struggling so much. 

"Katsuki, there's water…" She lifted an almost transparent hand towards the northeast and then fell to the floor. 

Startled, Bakugo ran to her. Her eyes were closed and her transparency was high. Concerned that she was about to fade away in front of his eyes, he picked her up in his arms and started running towards the direction she had pointed. After several minutes, Bakugo saw a small beach enclave. 

Jumping down from rock to rock, he deposited her within the ocean waters. Bakugo knew naiads were usually sweet water creatures but he hoped that since she had pointed out this water source, it'd help her. 

The naiad floated in the water, slowly regaining her corporeal form. Bakugo felt relieved, but his relief was short-lived when he felt a familiar feeling in his gut. The seas began to grow tumultuous, however where the naiad rested, they remained resting. After a minute, a figure emerged from the waves, walking towards the sleeping naiad. 

Bakugo had never personally met the God of Seas, Gang Orca, but he'd seen sculptures of the frightening half orca, half-man. 

"I must thank you for saving my daughter, human." His voice was deep like the sea. 

Bakugo nodded, still feeling the weight of being in a divine presence. 

"She mentioned that she lost her river," Bakugo muttered. 

"I am aware. I've told her to come home and live in the sea, but she loves the sweet river waters too much…" Gang Orca shook his head slightly. 

Bakugo didn't know what to say and kept silent. 

"There's not much I can do for you, human, for your fate is not tied to the oceans. However, I suppose I can assist you with your quest. I shall impart upon your wisdom of the sea: when faced with a terrible force, do not fight it. Find your anchor and let the waves wash over you." 

Bakugo crossed his arms. He felt like Gang Orca's advice was ridiculous, but he knew better than to tell him that. Bakugo wished Gods could be less cryptic with their words. The God of Seas dove into the water and disappeared. Bakugo felt his presence vanish and he felt like he could breathe properly. 

Looking at the sleeping naiad, Bakugo resigned himself to spending the night at the beach. Setting down his weapons, he began setting up camp. 

When he woke up the following morning, the naiad was still in the water, speaking to a hippocampus. Bakugo shook his head slightly, wondering why he was saddled with such a strange travel companion. By the time he was ready to head off, the naiad was also ready, standing by his side expectantly. 

"Where are we going?" She asked him eagerly. 

"North."

Bakugo didn't know exactly where he was going, but his gut told him to head north, and he always followed his instincts. 

Under the fresh sun, the naiad looked the most solid Bakugo had ever seen her, and he took a moment to commit her to his memory. She was short, slim, and spindly, with long fingers, big eyes, and long green hair, that reminded him of lily pads. The end of her hair tied itself into a bow, and her clothes were made of a strange fabric, which seemed too thick for silk, but too thin for cotton. 

"You're going to help me find my new river, right?" She smiled at him and Bakugo shrugged. 

"Maybe."

===

Tsuyu walked next to the human, trying her best to keep pace with him. She wasn't built for the same kind of travel that humans were so fond of and walking so much exhausted her. 

At first, she kept quiet, thinking about the message her father had sent her through the hippocampus, but after half a day of walking, Tsuyu began chatting to distract her from the pain of the trip. 

"Did you know that the God of War has retired?" Tsuyu asked the human. If he was a hero, he probably already knew about it, since it was the hottest topic around. 

"He did?!" The human looked surprised and Tsuyu smiled, happily taking the chance to gossip. 

"Oh yeah, he did! I heard he simply didn't appear to one of the Godly meetings called by All Might. Only his helmet was on the throne, imbued with his divine power. The Gods took a vote to decide what to do, but All Might instead threw the helmet to earth!" Tsuyu retold the story she had heard dramatically. Some of her sisters liked visiting Olympus, but Tsuyu didn't see the appeal. She'd been their plenty of times and nothing ever changed in the Eternal Seat of the Gods. 

"Why did he do that?" Bakugo asked. She could tell he was interested, despite how hard he was trying to hide it. 

"Nobody knows. But as far as I know, lots of spirits, creatures, and humans have been searching for it. Rumor has it that whoever can bear the weight of the helmet will become the next God of War!" Tsuyu grinned. 

"Hm." The human's reaction wasn't what she expected. She thought he'd press her for details, but instead, he simply pressed onwards. 

"Is that what you're going after? The Helm of War?" She asked him. 

"Not particularly." 

"What do you mean?!" Before Tsuyu could drill him for more answers, Bakugo stopped her, by suddenly raising his arm. Tsuyu stopped talking, wondering what caused the sudden interruption, but the smell of smoke and the sound of screams began assaulting her senses. 

Tsuyu and Bakugo stood atop a hill overlooking a village on the coast. It was being attacked by pirates, who were setting fire to buildings and slashing at everything that moved. Overwhelmed by the horror, the innocent naiad brought her hands to her mouth, gasping at the scene. Bakugo's face was hardened, and he slowly undid the ties on his pack. 

"Take care of this for me." He handed her the heavy leather sack and Tsuyu almost dropped it due to the unexpected weight. 

Bakugo fixed his shield to his left arm and unstrapped his golden spear from his back, gripping the shaft tightly. 

"What are you doing? There's so many of them and only one of you!" Tsuyu thought he was crazy. 

"I'm a hero." Bakugo threw himself off the top of the hill with a jump, and landing on his feet, he slid downwards towards the village. 

Scared, Tsuyu maintained her position, using the high ground to observe the hero's actions. He threw himself into battle against the pirates with a speed that seemed inhuman. Tsuyu couldn't see the details of the combat, but wherever the hero went, pirates fell. 

It took them a while to regroup, and by the time they did, Bakugo had already cleared out half of them. However, the second half organized themselves against the hero, using their superior numbers to push him towards the burning buildings. 

Tsuyu bit her lips, worrying over the hero. He had saved her life by taking her to the ocean. She felt that to sit back and not do anything would be a terrible affront to his kindness. Tsuyu ran parallel to the village towards the sea, and jumped from the hill straight into the water, sinking into its depths. 

Tsuyu could feel the ocean welcoming her, heeding her status as a daughter of the sea. She called upon its power, asking that it help her. The currents answered and Tsuyu used their power to erect a massive wave. She pushed it towards the village, slamming it towards the coast. The water slammed against the pirate's boat and the houses, washing away the fires and startling the pirates who hadn't seen the wave coming. 

Tsuyu remained in the ocean, watching the coast carefully, hoping for a sign that Bakugo was still alive. Several tense minutes passed and Tsuyu was about to stand up from the water and find him, when she spotted Bakugo, walking slowly towards her. 

He had a couple of scratches and was completely wet, but otherwise looked fine and Tsuyu felt relief flood her. She rose from the waters to greet him with a smile. 

"Katsuki! You're alive!" 

"Of course I'm alive. C'mon, let's get out of here." Bakugo pulled her out of the water and took his pack from her, walking away. 

Tsuyu followed him but couldn't help but wonder why he wanted to leave so suddenly. In the stories, heroes always stayed to reap their rewards from grateful townsfolk. 

"What's going on?" Tsuyu asked, but his grip was unyielding, and he continued to pull her away. They passed several villagers, all of them looking wet and disgruntled. There were broken pots and splintered wood everywhere. Tsuyu’s wave had destroyed several houses.

Whispers began to follow them and Tsuyu realized they would not be welcomed. She followed Bakugo more willingly but was still shocked as to why they were so unhappy. 

"It's them…"

"Their fault."

"Damn hero."

"Stupid spirit." 

Their voices followed them outside the village, the poorly concealed insults clinging to their presence. Tsuyu began to feel worse and worse, and by the time they disappeared into the nearby forest, she was ready to start crying. 

"Why were they so upset? Their houses were on fire! The whole place would have been burnt down!" Tsuyu asked Bakugo tearfully. 

The hero sighed and released the upset naiad, setting down his things. 

"People are angry and looking for somebody to hate. It didn't matter who won, most of the villagers just wanted someone to blame for their misfortunes." Bakugo shrugged. "Your wave was stronger than it needed to be but it helped me. Thanks."

"I… I'm sorry. It was my first time doing anything like that…" Feeling exhausted, Tsuyu sat down by a nearby tree, pulling her legs to her chest. 

"Don't blame yourself, naiad. Humans are just well…" Bakugo looked away. Tsuyu thought of her old river and sighed. The more time she spent among the humans, the more she thought that perhaps her sisters were right. Living among the Gods was preferable to living among the humans and trying to help them. 

===

The naiad was still gloomy the next day and it bothered Bakugo. He didn't know what was worse: the constant chatter when she was happy or the endless sighing when she was sad. 

At that point, he wanted to find her a river just so she'd leave him alone. Unfortunately, no matter where they went, every body of water already had an occupant. 

Besides the naiad, there was another thing weighing on Bakugo's mind. The story of the helm of the God of War. Somehow Bakugo knew his adventure would eventually take him there. After all, his prophecy started by claiming a God of War slept. 

"There's water to our northwest." The naiad told him. Bakugo nodded and adjusted his direction. He looked at the moping naiad and rolled his eyes.

"Oi. Tell me more about that Helm of War thing." Bakugo asked. 

"Oh! Remember that spring we visited yesterday? The naiad told me that the Helm constantly moves around. Whenever someone finds it and tries it on if they're deemed unworthy, they die and it disappears, only to appear somewhere else." The naiad regained some of her energy. Bakugo decided that he preferred the chattiness to the moping. 

"Do you know where it is now?" Bakugo asked. 

"No…" The naiad pouted. "Are you going to try it?" She asked, eyes full of curiosity. 

"Maybe…" Bakugo shrugged. He wasn't particularly interested in being a God. However, he knew that helm likely had something to do with his prophecy.

"You know, if you become a God, you could get me a river. I heard the House of the God of War in Olympus has a beautiful lake that is empty." The naiad spoke. 

"You've been to Olympus?" Bakugo wondered what the home of the Gods looked like. While he had already met a few gods, he had never been to their sacred land. 

"Of course! I'm one of Gang Orca's firstborns! All other firstborn naiads live in Olympus!" Tsuyu smiled proudly. 

"Then why don't you live there? Not cool enough?" Bakugo teased her. He enjoyed seeing how she became more human-like whenever he pushed her buttons. 

"I'll have you know that I choose to live among humans and spread my blessings!" She crossed her arms. 

Bakugo thought the small naiad looked particularly amusing with her puffed-out chest and crossed arms. She was trying her best to look intimidating, but Bakugo ended up chuckling. 

After that, the naiad resumed her chattiness, telling him all about Olympus' beauty. Bakugo listened to her distractedly, keeping an eye out for any danger. 

They eventually reached the river, a large, powerful body of water. 

"Oh, this is…" The naiad looked afraid and before Bakugo could ask her what was the problem, a large man jumped out of the water. He had blue skin and an evil smile. 

"Ah human, you've brought me a lovely sacrifice! I shall give you wealth and power incomparable!" The creature smiled with pointy teeth and Bakugo dropped his pack. 

"This naiad is not a sacrifice. She's my travel companion." Bakugo rested a hand on his sword. It was made of a special bronze, gifted to him by Best Jeanist. His sword could harm gods and demigods. 

"Really…?" The creature looked incredulous. 

"Please, we'll leave…" Tsuyu asked in a small voice, hiding behind Bakugo. 

The creature looked at Bakugo and laughed. 

"I am Okeanus, and I used to be the God of the Sea before that half-human, half-fish bastard dethroned me. Do you think that I will pass on the chance of taking one of his beloved daughters because of a mere human?" The blue-skinned mercreature laughed evilly. 

Bakugo strapped his shield and drew his sword. 

"Tsuyu, step back." He was completely serious. It wasn't the first time he had to fight against a God, but Bakugo knew this God wasn't looking to simply test him. He took a deep breath to steady himself.

Okeanus opened by sending a jet of water towards Bakugo. However, the hero had already seen Tsuyu do it enough times that he could easily dodge it. He ran forwards, slashing towards Okeanus. However, the God was fast and jumped out of his attack. 

The deity summoned a trident out of the water and swung it at Bakugo. He blocked with his shield, but his arm still felt the heavy impact. 

"Will you die for the girl, human? Are you in love with the spirit? You know naiads like her are treacherous leeches, always looking to entrap and seduce humans." Okeanus taunted him. However, his words didn't sway Bakugo. 

Bakugo had seen Tsuyu push herself to walk next to him. He remembered the huge tidal wave she summoned to save him. He still worried over how sometimes she looked transparent under the midday sun. 

Bakugo didn't bother speaking, focusing on his moves. He maneuvered around the superior range of the trident to aim a stab to the deity's side. The tip of Bakugo's sword broke the God's skin, allowing a small trail of ichor, the blood of the gods, to flow. 

Okeanus yelled, enraged. The waters of the river grew turbulent. 

"I was playing nice, human. You shall die, now!" Okeanus screeched and the river sprung to life, growing tall to wash Bakugo away. Before the massive wave crashed, it stopped. 

Bakugo and Okeanus looked down to see Tsuyu facing the wave, arms raised. She was frowning with the exertion. Her legs were practically invisible and her torso was growing transparent. 

"Pesky naiad!" Okeanus aimed his trident at her but Bakugo intercepted the attack, using his shield to deflect it. 

The force of the impact shattered his small shield. Unstrapping what was left, Bakugo took his spear in his left hand. Okeanus summoned his trident back to him, his eyes burning with a cold rage. 

The God yelled as he threw himself at Bakugo, using his superior strength and speed against the human. Bakugo parried and countered the best he could. He patiently waited for Okeanus to grow angrier, opening himself up for an attack. Bakugo was so concentrated on creating the opening that when he saw it, he attacked without thinking twice. 

His sword slid across Okeanus' chest, opening a large gap. Golden ichor burst forward, spilling on the floor and trees. Bakugo smiled victoriously, watching the body of the God fall. 

"No!" Tsuyu screamed behind him. Suddenly his own body grew heavy and he began to fall. Bakugo looked down and noticed Okeanus trident was embedded into him. 

Bakugo fell to the cold floor, looking at the cloudy sky. He felt at peace, for a hero, killing an evil God was an honorable end. He was certain that he'd be granted entry into Elysium.

"Katsuki!" The naiad leaned above him. She pulled out the trident and his blood began flowing out of the wound. She rested her hands atop his stomach, using her powers to try and heal him.

The naiad was crying and soon the sky began to mirror her tears. 

"Hey, I got you your river…" Bakugo smiled. 

"I don't want a river paid for with your life!" The naiad shook her head, long green hair flowing. 

She leaned close to him and he could see her pained black eyes. Bakugo tried to tell her that he wasn't upset but moving his mouth felt difficult. She leaned in closer, and Bakugo could see her long eyelashes. She closed her eyes and parted her lips slightly. Her hair draped around them and she laid her lips against his. 

The kiss was soft, cold, and yet it filled his heart. Bakugo thought it was a nice goodbye before he died, but he suddenly stopped feeling like his energy was leaving him. Instead, he felt his body fill itself with energy and power he didn't have before. 

Bakugo opened his eyes and the naiad was gone. His wound was closed, his strength had returned tenfold, but he was alone. Bakugo felt rage and sorrow fill him as he realized what she had done. Tsuyu had given her life to save him. 

The naiad's body rested next to him, unmoving. For the first time she looked completely solid, but she also looked lifeless. Bakugo yelled at the skies, enraged with her, himself, and the world. In his anger, his hands began to grow warmer and warmer. He released his rage and his hands exploded in fire and heat.

Using his newfound power, Bakugo destroyed the river and its surroundings. The rain obfuscated his tears and grief as he tortured the land with explosions. Exhausted, he sat alone in the middle of the crater he created, letting the rain wash the smoke away. Bakugo felt completely numb inside as he cradled the body of the naiad in his arms. 

In his stupor, he remembered the prophecy once more. 

A God of War sleeps
Saved by a kiss of water
Hands full of fire
He shall bear the weight
For the smile of the waif

Bakugo smiled bitterly. He hated the prophecy. His only friend in the world, his sole companion, a silly naiad who saved him had been taken from him. 

"Katsuki." 

Bakugo turned around and saw his patron God. He briefly considered killing a second God. Bakugo blamed them all for his pain. 

"Go away."

"I can't. There's something you must know now." Best Jeanist fixed a kind stare upon him and Bakugo hated him doubly. He didn't want the God's pity. 

"What? Are you going to tell me that you're my father and I've been a demigod all this time? Are you going to tell me I can't go into Shigaraki’s realm or rescue her?" Bakugo ran a hand through the naiad's hair, moving it away from her face. 

"I am not your father, and I'm not going to tell you that you can't rescue your naiad from Shigaraki." Best Jeanist smiled mischievously. 

"Then why are you here?" Bakugo asked exasperatedly, keeping his eyes on Tsuyu's closed ones. 

"I bear a message from your father, All Might." Best Jeanist spoke. Bakugo froze. All Might was the King of the Gods, the most powerful of them all. 

Bakugo twisted his body slightly, looking back at his patron. He still held on to Tsuyu, despite how cold she was in his arms. 

"He hopes that you do not forget your quest." Best Jeanist looked down at Tsuyu's body. "If you leave the girl with me, I'll be certain to look after her." The God promised. 

Bakugo looked down at Tsuyu. 

"I want her to rest in the prettiest body of water in Olympus. Make sure there's plenty of lily pads." Bakugo picked up Tsuyu's body and stood up, carrying the naiad towards Best Jeanist. 

The God of Wisdom and Crafts carefully took the naiad from Bakugo's arms. 

"I promise." 

"And then when I'm the God of War, I'll go to Hell and take her back." Bakugo looked at his patron seriously. He didn't give a damn about his father. Bakugo would become the God of War for the naiad. He'd give her whatever river she wanted, no matter how many wars he'd have to fight. 

Bakugo didn't bother finding his weapons. He didn't need them anymore. Breaking into a run, Bakugo jumped into the sky, using his explosions to fly forwards. He instinctively knew where the Helm of War was waiting for him. 

===

Best Jeanist walked into Recovery Girl's temple. The old goddess was waiting for him, bent over a small bath of steaming water. 

"Put her in there." The goddess of health pointed towards the water. Best Jeanist carefully laid the girl in the water. 

He watched Recovery Girl work her power on the naiad. As he did, two other presences entered the temple. Gang Orca and All Might rarely were in the same place at the same time. 

"If only you hadn't sealed your whelp's power, my daughter wouldn't have ended up like this." Gang Orca accused the God of the Sky. 

"I'm sorry, but it was needed. He had to become worthy of his strength first." All Might sighed miserably. 

"He will be terrifying. He's already so strong." Recovery Girl shook her head. 

"Katsuki is wise and honorable. I've been watching him since he was born." Best Jeanist had the utmost faith that his protégé would make the best God of War they had ever had.

"The only reason I allowed her this nonsense is because you were the one who vouched for the boy, Best Jeanist." Gang Orca shot a dirty look towards All Might. 

"Let's hope the boy lives up to the expectations. Now leave, all of you! I need to concentrate!" Recovery Girl expelled all the other deities from her temple in Olympus so she could focus on healing the naiad. 

===

Bakugo landed on the clearing where the Helmet was. It was on the ground as if it had been thrown away by a fleeing soldier. Bakugo glared at it distastefully. 

He didn't like Gods, but he was about to go through a trial to become one. Bakugo had no idea what to expect, but armed with his new demigod powers, he didn't doubt he'd succeed. 

Bakugo looked at his hands angrily. He wished All Might, his father, had blessed him with the status of demigod sooner. If he had this power he could have defeated Okeanus and Tsuyu wouldn't have had to sacrifice herself for him. Filled with bitter emotions, Bakugo bent down and grabbed the Helm. Taking a deep breath, he put it on. 

At first, nothing happened, but then the Helm began tightening as if it was trying to crush his head. Bakugo gritted his teeth and groaned at the pain. He tried removing the helm, but he couldn't. It was stuck to his head, slowly crushing it. Bakugo tried pulling it off but the more he pulled, the more it hurt. The Helm began to burn his skin and Bakugo yelled. 

In his moment of pain, he remembered Gang Orca's deep voice: when faced with a terrible force, do not fight it. Find your anchor and let the waves wash over you . 

Bakugo closed his eyes and took a deep breath, remembering Tsuyu's body floating in the ocean. He remembered the next morning, her smiling at him from the water, splashing about happily. He pictured her in Hell, waiting for him. 

Bakugo gritted his teeth and withstood the pain. If the Helm killed him, then at least he could spend the rest of eternity in Shigaraki’s realm with her. Finding inner peace, Bakugo tolerated the trial until eventually, the pain stopped. 

The Helm returned to its original state, and Bakugo took deep breaths, trying to recover from the ordeal. As soon as his legs stopped shaking, he noticed another man standing in the clearing. He had two swords, red eyes, and long black hair. He smiled like a maniac and before Bakugo could properly think, he ran towards Bakugo. 

It was only his years of training that allowed him to react in time, his body dodging the attack before his mind could properly process what was happening. The man in front of him wasn't unfamiliar to Bakugo. He recognized his figure from statues and pictures. He was the retired God of War, Stain. 

Understanding that if he didn't fight, Stain would kill him, Bakugo threw himself into the battle, using his explosive power defensively and offensively. It was hard to fight a God of War using only his hands, but Bakugo wouldn't give up. 

All Might's blessing improved his speed, resilience, and power, allowing Bakugo to contest Stain. He fought the apparition tirelessly, thinking only of Tsuyu and how he'd use his status as a God to save her. Bakugo only had one goal in mind and he kept himself grounded in it. 

Stain taunted him, wanting Bakugo to lose his mind and become bloodlusted. Bakugo struggled with it, but he kept himself sane. To give in to the rage within him would be to lose the battle and Bakugo did not want to taste defeat.

He landed two good explosions and Stain backed away. The former God of War smiled, but his smile lost its manic edge. 

"Being a God of War is a difficult task, young man. You will constantly live with the rage within you, but I see you can control it. You are worthy, son of All Might." Stain faded away into dust. 

Bakugo blinked and he was back in the clearing, the moon high in the sky. However, the world was now different. Bakugo was now a major God, and he now possessed the power and awareness that came with it. He understood that he was the fifth person to possess this power and that after millennia it would consume him and he’d destroy himself as all other Gods of War had done before him.

However, Bakugo didn’t care about his distant fate and focused on his newfound powers. If he wanted, he could go wherever he wanted in a heartbeat. He could feel men fighting each other all across Greece. He stood up, opening and closing his hand. He aimed forwards and released his power. A huge explosion rocked the land, opening a huge cave where there once was a mountain. Rocks and earth fell and shook in response to his overwhelming strength. 

Bakugo looked down and realized that even his clothes changed. He was now dressed like a soldier, with armor, vambraces, and sandals. Bakugo took off the helmet, wondering if he'd lose his divinity, but he didn't. He was now the God of War. 

Bakugo felt a thundering voice call to him from Olympus. As a God, he now knew how to reach it. He closed his eyes and willed himself to be there. When he opened his eyes again he was standing in a large circular room. There was marble everywhere, intricately crafted into several thrones arranged in a circle. 

Most of them were occupied by the Gods, all of them watching the new arrival with curiosity. Bakugo saw the proud Endeavor and his fiery mustache, the beautiful Midnight, Best Jeanist, Gang Orca, and several others he didn't recognize. All Might was the largest of them all, sitting on the biggest throne. 

The God of the Sky left his throne and walked to his son.

"My son, Katsuki, God of War!" He smiled proudly, but Bakugo didn't welcome his father's joy. All Might hadn't been there for him when he needed him. All Might had only cared about him when it was too late. 

"I'm not interested in your praise, father." Bakugo spat out. The rage inside him swirled, yelling at him to start a war against All Might. 

Bakugo turned to Best Jeanist and bowed slightly, acknowledging his patron. Then he turned to Gang Orca, facing the Lord of the Ocean. 

"I'm sorry I couldn't save your daughter. I promise you, I am going to Hell and take her back." Bakugo spoke. The Gods began whispering. 

Gang Orca chuckled softly. 

"Before you do, you might want to visit your home, God of War." The God of Seas spoke. 

Bakugo nodded. He wanted to see the memorial Best Jeanist had built for Tsuyu before making his journey to the underworld. He trusted that the God of Crafts would have made something beautiful. 

Bakugo walked away from the assembly of Gods, not caring to speak with any of them or play nice. He was certain that they'd dislike his insolence, but Bakugo knew they wouldn't dare to speak against him. He was the God of War, a powerful one. Bakugo doubted anyone but All Might could challenge him in a battle. 

"You shouldn't have snubbed your father like that. He does care about you, you know. Your destiny had been decided at birth and All Might did everything he could to help you reach it." Best Jeanist followed Bakugo outside. The pair walked through the white streets of Olympus. Nymphs, naiads, and other lesser gods stared at them as they passed. 

"You were more a father to me than he ever was," Bakugo muttered truthfully. Best Jeanist sighed softly. 

"I wish I could have done more. The others didn't agree with me. They believed that being a son of All Might was more than enough divine interference in your life." Best Jeanist smiled bitterly. 

Bakugo saw the House of War. For a daunting name, it was beautiful. It looked like a traditional greek mansion, with carved marble columns and delicate tiling on the walls. 

Bakugo entered the house and headed straight for the inner courtyard. There was a beautiful lake, with shining, glassy water. Soft hydrangeas littered the sides and delicate lotus flowers and lily pads enchanted the surface of the lake. 

Bakugo smiled softly. Tsuyu would have certainly loved this, he thought. 

"I thought you'd do a statue or something, but this is very nice," Bakugo commented. He looked to the side, but Best Jeanist was no longer there. Bakugo frowned, wondering where the other God had gone. 

Suddenly a jet of water hit him from behind. He turned around, ready to kill whatever naiad had decided to steal Tsuyu's lake but when he saw her he froze. 

Tsuyu smiled at him from the edge of the lake. She glowed, looking healthier and stronger than he had ever seen her. There were flowers in her hair and she was wearing a soft green dress. 

Bakugo's divine senses told him it wasn't an illusion, but he still slowly walked forward. He pulled her into his arms, feeling relief flood him when he realized she was solid and alive in his arms. 

"How are you here? I thought you'd be with Shigaraki… I was going to…" Bakugo buried his face in her hair. 

"I'm a firstborn naiad, silly. We're not mortal. I was very weakened, and if Best Jeanist hadn't taken me to Recovery Girl I might have been asleep forever, but I've been waiting for you." Tsuyu giggled slightly. 

He felt angry that Best Jeanist hadn't told him she was alive, but Bakugo was so happy, he forgave him immediately. 

"Well, I promised you a river, but I hope you won't mind a lake…" Bakugo broke the embrace, looking at her. 

"I love it." Tsuyu smiled. Bakugo knew she wasn't only talking about the lake. 

"I suppose it does mean I'll be stuck with you forever, huh." He smirked. 

"Yep! For all eternity." 

The God of War married the naiad Tsuyu months later, and they sired several lesser gods. Although humans still feared the God of War, believing him to be cold and ruthless, those who could step foot in Olympus knew his home was where the laughter was loudest and happiest.