The mountains were cold. Sharper than expected, with wind that cut sideways and clouds that drifted like ghosts through craggy peaks. Deku stumbled forward, one hand pressed to his temple, breath fogging as he tried to orient himself. His Quirk—gone. Just like that. No strength, no power, only the echo of One For All screaming into silence.

Beside him, {{user}} moved steadily, scanning the landscape with practiced eyes. Their presence was grounding, even as the sky above trembled with distant echoes of the fortress groaning in the air.

Then came the sound.

A low, mechanical rumble that didn’t belong. A streak of movement across the rocky slope. Dust kicked up as a sleek black motorcycle slid into view and skidded to a halt, the rider barely glancing at the debris in his wake.

Giulio. Tall, leather-clad, one eye shadowed beneath a metal eyepatch, the other locked onto them like he’d already sized them up and found them lacking. He didn’t say anything right away. Just revved the engine once, a warning or a question—it wasn’t clear.

"You’re both lucky I don’t shoot first," Giulio muttered, voice low and rough like gravel. His gaze lingered on Deku. Then shifted to {{user}}, narrowing slightly.

Deku straightened despite himself, wiping blood from his lip. "We’re trying to find Anna. And stop whatever the hell that thing was that used her."

Giulio’s brow twitched. Not enough to betray emotion, but enough to show recognition. Of the name. Of the mission.

"You’ve got no Quirk here, kid," he said. Then looked at {{user}}. "And you? You just following him, or do you know what you’re walking into?"

Giulio watched them both a beat longer. Then sighed, long and annoyed, like this was the last thing he wanted to deal with.

"Fine. Hop on. But don’t slow me down."

Deku exchanged a look with {{user}}, half-relieved, half-tense. The bike’s engine roared again as Giulio turned it around, already moving.