Meg Thomas knew this version of Dwight and Feng were new. They didn't act like the ones at their campfire, and it showed. Dwight hid... the wrong action against Doc. Feng did as well, which was uncharacteristic of her present attitude. She was always first in, first out kind of girl. Where Meg exercised caution, she did not. So seeing Feng Min act cautious would have been hilarious under different circumstances. Unfortunately for them, this trial had an experienced Doc... and that was showing. Feng and Dwight were hooked close to each other. Izuku, she had noted, hadn't been hurt yet, even during the chase. Probably because he gave up the chase in favor for the other two.

And now, he didn't have to do anything but wait. This killer was smart. They'd have to come for the save eventually. They couldn't stall for 5 gens, not with his power. So, the doctor had waited in the main room, sitting on the central chair. She watched him as the killer, in turn, watched Dwight struggle against the Entity. He laughed before his baritone voice traveled out. Certain consonants were accentuated with a more electrified sound, mimicking the sparks that shot out from the wires in his body. "Such a shame that nobody will rescue you. You might as well give up, and save us both the time. Unless you'd like to stay here, of course." The headgear bolted onto him didn't allow the Doctor to change his expression, but he'd probably be smirking if he could.

It was then that the Entity finally claimed Dwight, and stabbed him with its claws. Raising him up, the Doctor stood back to full height. Confident that Feng would soon die, he lowered his left hand. Electricity gathered as Meg ran, realizing what he was doing. He'll find me with that static blast! I hope Izuku can survive, because I know it's unlikely I will!

As Izuku finished the generator in the office, he saw that Dwight and Feng were killed. Shit.

Meg went down soon after. That is even worse. She was dragged onto a hook, and he seemed to be actively searching now. When he heard the static build up, the only thing he could think of was to hide in a locker... and it worked. The electricity ran around the outside of the wooden structure, and didn't penetrate inside. It worked perfectly. Confident that he was safe, he exited the locker. Fortunately, Doc didn't run Iron Maiden this time, meaning that his exit was safe. But his relief was short lived as Meg was now being carried away by the Entity. She's dying so I can live... God DAMN IT!

The Terror Radius was loud, and stationary. That alone was worrying. Izuku had left the vicinity of the gen he had worked on, but now that Meg was sacrificed as well, it meant the hatch was open. Walking back towards the office, he heard the electric beats pound his eardrums, using his heart as the tempo... and peeking around the corner, he realized that he was fucked.

The Doctor sat on the comfortable chair, reading a book from the library. He couldn't make out the title, but that didn't matter. What did was the hatch, right next to him. He could close it without moving. So, Izuku considered what his options were. Complete gens while hiding, or attempt to get to the hatch without being noticed. There were three entrances into the office. The door the killer was facing, the window to the Doctor's right, and the door behind him. There was also a receptionist desk as well, with a vault, but he would hear that coming. So, as he was about to walk away, the doctor called to him. "You can stop hiding, you know. I know you've been there for the past 2 minutes, if the hallucination in front of you is anything to go by."

Izuku looked in front of him to see a hallucination of the very man himself, poised to attack.

"It's pointless to resist. You might as well make yourself comfortable. I do have some curiosities about you, and I might let you go."

He sighed, before walking around the corner. The Doctor could track him through hallucinations. That was new information.
"Good, at least you can listen to sense..." He closed the book. Setting it down on the table, he looked over at the boy. He was young, but determined, at his core. "I have watched your other trials with great interest, boy. I am curious about several factors. What do you mean by... you wish to be a hero?"

Izuku wasn't sure how to respond.

"Perhaps I was not quite clear... Why did you say you wanted to be a hero in your trial with Julie Kostenko?"

Ah, that was it. "It's a long story."

He laughed, not his deranged laugh, when chasing a survivor down, but one of levity. "By all means. Take all the time you need."

After Izuku told his story, The Doctor nodded. "That seems like quite the tale. These quirks... they sound similar to myself and my power... But, as you didn't have one to begin with, I can't really experiment with you... so... my curiosity is sated. You may go."

"R-Really?"
"Hm? Yes. It was far more amusing and informative than the alternative... unless you want that?"

"No, sir!"
"Polite, too. I appreciate that." As Izuku walked closer to the hatch, he kicked it closed, and the ground burned with lines. "Go to a gate. That's your exit this time."

He bowed, "Thank you for your generosity.""No, thank you, Young Midoriya." He smiled under that headpiece. If he caught a survivor from that boy's world, the boy wouldn't think himself a hero after what he'd do to them. Oh, the fun to be had! A little restraint often leads to larger rewards later... That foolish child... he doesn't realize that I've distilled trials into a science! Not even the Alchemist's work could compare to my own, and now I've got something new to research... When your world falls, Midoriya, my experiments will be glorious!

Izuku ran through the halls, letting the music of the terror radius fade. A sign hung in the hallway indicating an exit. Thank goodness! When he arrived, he found that the gate waiting for him. He had 2 minutes. More than enough time. Approaching the gate, he reached out to it, and the Entity blocked the gate controls. NO WAY OUT?! HE'S GOT AN ENDGAME BUILD! All he could do was wait as everything ticked down. He heard another gong as the time ticked down. Only three of us were hooked, meaning that it can only go for 48 seconds. That's still a long time. At the third gong, the spikes retracted. It was then that Izuku slammed the gate down, hearing a satisfying spark instead of the Doctor's sparks of madness. It was then that he heard the TR return. Getting louder and louder. The gate was almost open, when he saw him. The doctor walked onto the snow, his fine leather shoes crunching the powder beneath his feet. "I admit, I had forgotten about the fact that you were the random obsession given to me by the Entity. So Frederick Kreuger's perk does not work against you. I was going to turn your hope into food. But... it seems like it won't be the case." He hefted his weapon. It was a stick made from metal, with spikes equidistant distance around it and tapering in a point. "It seems you have a knack of disrupting the plans of every killer you meet. Whether that be through your unusual strength, or your decision making capabilities. You are formidable. And it seems you've found something..." It was then that the embers glowed brightly as he approached the exit. The gate opened, slow as it does. It was as Izuku bolted in there that the Doctor lashed out. NOED activated. Izuku fell to the ground, unable to get up. Trying to crawl to the gate, he could almost feel the last 15 seconds tick down.

"What to do with you... hm... your unnatural strength makes me believe you may have one of your described quirks, but only experimentation..." It was then that he paused. It was as if he was listening to someone... or something. "Well, what I want is not necessary this time. Be thankful it has chosen mercy on you." He stepped back away from Izuku, as he still continued to crawl. He was so close. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

He made it. As soon as he passed the threshold, he was able to crawl to safety. To the campfire. But as he was healed by the cleansing flame's warmth... something incredible happened. Everyone watched him as the embers encircling him moved into an area in front of him swirling like snowflakes in a gentle breeze, forming into a shape... the scroll he had reached for in the trial, and a mask. It was reminiscent of Allmight, with the two hair tufts, similar to rabbit ears, poking from the top. It was ornate, with golden flourish designs intricately swirling around, separating blue and green patches from each other. It wasn't symmetrical, but the coloration wasn't random. The middle parts were green, while the outside parts were blue.

When it was completely solid, Izuku asked, "What is this?"

David whistled, "'Guess it's that time of 'ear, eh? Time sure flies."

"What do you mean?"
Ace spoke up, surprising the greenette, "Kid, you've been invited to the Entity's Birthday party. Looks like it's going to be a Vegas-style masquerade..."
Felix interrupted, "It's a Venetian Masquerade."

The gambler rolled his eyes. "Whatever, architect."

"A birthday party? For this..." He gestured around him. "Thing?"
Elodie responded, in a cheerful voice, "Yes, it's an honor. The one time of year where people don't die here. So you should be happy you found one. You'll have to tell us how later."

Hope renewed, he looked at her with determination. "I'll tell you all about it later."