Koichi Haimawari, Iwao Oguro & Soga Kugisaki vs. Chizome Akaguro is a battle between the vigilantes The Crawler and Knuckleduster against Stendhal to protect the former Instant Villain Soga Kugisaki.
Prologue#
In an alley, Soga meets to Kuin Hachisuka. Kuin ask for his friends, to which Soga tells Kuin to leave them alone. Kuin informs Soga about a dangerous killer who recently murdered a powerful yakuza group. Kuin tries convincing Soga to let him and his friends take Trigger again if they want to stand a chance against the vicious criminal. He still refuses her help and will take on the criminal himself.
Stendhal himself announces his presence, tired of hearing Kuin and Soga's nonsense, deciding to cut down Soga and move on to his next target. Kuin gives him the offer to inject Trigger to be able to fight against the murderous vigilante, but Soga rejects it, breaking the drugs and declaring that he will defeat him with his own abilities and without any kind of help.
Disappointed with his decision, Kuin frees a swarm of bees carrying Trigger and injects the drug into Soga by force, enhancing his Spike Quirk to turn is body to spikes to face Stendhal. She leaves the alley with a grin on her face. Seeing that Soga has shown his true colors, Stendhal prepares to strike down the villain.[1]
Battle#
While performing his patrol, The Crawler hears Soga's screams of rage. When approaching the place, he is surprised to see Stendhal and Soga, whom he can barely recognize due to his transformation. Stendhal tells the Crawler to step aside, but The Crawler would like to talk things out. To his shock, the two begin to fight.
In his new form, Soga fires numerous spikes from one of his arms, but Stendhal manages to repel each projectile with his katana. Then Stendhal draws his sword and cuts Soga several times. At that moment, The Crawler realizes that Stendhal truly intends on killing Soga.
Stendhal charges against Soga, but The Crawler uses his quirk to tripping him. Then, he manages to pick up the transformed Soga while Stendhal makes a quick recovery. Stendhal throws a knife into The Crawler's leg, causing him to fall down. Stendhal approaches the Crawler and warns him not to get in his way as there is no value in saving Soga's life. However, The Crawler manages to activate his Quirk and slides away from Stendhal.
Stendhal praises Koichi's innate act of goodness but still considers him evil since those who side with evil have evil within themselves. Stendhal strokes his finger on Koichi's blood and licks it, activating his Quirk, Bloodcurdle, paralyzing The Crawler. Stendhal approaches Koichi and Soga, and tells them they are sinners and because of that, no one will save them.
Suddenly, Knuckleduster arrives just in time to save The Crawler and Soga, telling Stendhal that he is wrong.[1]
Stendhal recognizes Knuckleduster and has no intention of fighting him because he views him as someone who is forging the path of righteousness in this crooked society and as a result, they share similar ambitions. However, Knuckleduster disagreed totally with his opinion, views himself completely different to Stendhal: he is a badass champion of justice while Stendhal is just an insane street murderer.
Disappointed by the fact they cannot reach a mutual understanding, Stendhal decides to face Knuckleduster. Knuckleduster tells Stendhal that he lost the chance to launch a surprise attack after noticing Stendhal gauge the distance between them. Being a nice guy, Knuckleduster lays down a line of wire to help Stendhal easily gauge it. Knuckleduster gives Stendhal the option to withdraw but if he chooses to cross the line to fight him, he will drive his fist into his face.
Despite Knuckleduster's warning, Stendhal steps back and charges, with the clear intention of crossing the line and strike down Knuckleduster. When Stendhal gets close, Knuckleduster steps over the line and slams his fist into Stendhal's mask which sends Stendhal flying back and badly injuring his face. The Crawler is surprised, because he thought that his master would only attack if Stendhal crossed the line. Knuckleduster points out that he never said that he wouldn't cross the line himself.
Knuckleduster picks up Stendhal's mask and comments that people like the killer put on some sort of disguise and become convinced that they are a completely different person, believing that they are invincible. Knuckleduster comments that these people can be troublesome to deal with since they lack regard for their well-being but conversely stepping into their territory makes them fragile. Knuckleduster comments that people who forget this fact, like Stendhal, lack resolve.
Lying on the ground with blood all over his badly injured face, Stendhal feels enlightened by Knuckleduster's statement. Stendhal suddenly charges at Knuckleduster with great speed and attacks him with knives, cutting him in the process. Stendhal retreats and licks his bloodied knife and activates his Quirk, which immobilizes Knuckleduster. He heeds Knuckleduster's words and resolved to target the false heroes he despised, whose sins he considers are even greater than that of villains.
Stendhal thanks Knuckleduster for his teachings, before jumps towards a building and disappears.[2]
Aftermath#
Pop☆Step arrives with a first aid kit and begins applying bandages to The Crawler, Knuckleduster and Soga. As he heals The Crawler's wounds, Knuckleduster asks her to tend to Soga's injuries, which she begrudgingly does. With everything that happened, The Crawler is glad to have made it out of this incident alive.
Back at his run-down apartment, Stendhal realizes that he lacks many things such as power, speed, and tactics but most importantly: resolve. Kuin Hachisuka mocks him for his statement, for which he strikes her in the face with a knife, apparently killing her. As proof of his new resolve, he saws off his own nose with a trench knife. He walks away and notes that he can finally see the truth of the world with his own eyes.
Kuin gets up and takes the knife out of his eye socket, completely unharmed. Kuin decided not to retaliate, considering he will makes things all the more interesting.[2]