The cold stream of air hitting my body didn't calm the nervousness I felt in the slightest; quite the contrary. It amplified the idea of reaching that imaginary, no-longer-so-fictitious wall I had in my head.
Often, people tend to give more value to problems than they are really worth, generating insecurities whose end lies in a resounding failure. This in itself can say a lot about the situation, if the circumstances were different.
But All For One is not an overrated problem; rather, he greatly fulfills every expectation one might have of him.
...And the expectations are too high in my head...
(Anyway, I had to do this. Standing by with my arms crossed and following a fictitious line is not possible... The world made that clear to me.) I carefully landed on a fire escape, with my feet resting on the railing that overlooked the big city in front of me.
I couldn't stay still for too long. Someone could discover me, or I would be late for the police raid. Either case was negative from any angle.
That discouraged me noticeably. I thought that being part of the big changes would be incredible, but I was horribly mistaken. Uncertainty hits like a hammer all over the body, and stress comes into play with a terrifying ferocity.
I have made mistakes, practically since I assumed the identity of the technically future number one hero. What assures me that this won't be more of the same? That it won't be about me condemning the world?
One For All acted in consequence to the doubts, flowing firmly to affirm a position of power. A smile pulled at my lips at that. I couldn't help it, considering that that is real energy, obtained through real training and not assumptions or doubts.
(That's the difference, right? This exists, while my doubts are a possibility.) I wasn't any less nervous, but the accompaniment was well-received. (What does it matter... It makes no sense to lose a battle that hasn't even begun.)
Composing my attitude, I launched myself upwards again, shooting two Blackwhips with which I managed to gain more height to move with.
There was something incredible about moving so fast, feeling the vertigo of falling to repeat that cycle over and over again. Gravity pulling the body, fostering heaviness to force you to break that and keep running.
I fall with grace, supporting all my weight on the palm of my left arm. The energy flows in a slight increase to allow me to gain extra strength with which to recover.
Performing a full somersault, my feet return to the solid roof of the structure. Without hesitation, I continue my race against time, reaching the edge and jumping. A simple green streak where I previously was is all that the average spectator can get to observe.
Strength was fundamental, that's true, but nothing compares to what can be obtained with agility and speed.
It was in that important silence that I made a promise. If I continue to see the next sunrise, I would make sure to enjoy this experience, with the daylight at its peak and my presence being allowed without repercussions.
And so, in the next landing, my speed increased, the streak blurred even more, and the resolution increased.
The reflection that the mirror granted him was different from the one he was used to. There was a subtle but key change, unavoidable for him to notice.
Something he thought he would never feel again for years, assuming sacrifices more than valid to have a better future. When the moment presented itself, he gave it his all, battled until his body could not stand up, exceeded emotional and physical limits, contributed every gram of his being...
And yet he was here again, with the same haggard and tired look, with the same values as alive as the first day... with the same uncertainty of that moment.
Was he afraid? He would never feel something like that. He lost that when he discovered that life could cause even greater pains.
Did he doubt he could win? Maybe, but even with that, he trusted that everything would be fine, and not because he was still here.
He could feel the embers, fighting to hold on to his desires, wanting to offer utility for a little longer. Sometimes he had to force them to achieve that goal, feeling them give way to the strong winds of adversity.
But every time he was near that boy, with that powerful flame at its peak, illuminating like a beacon in the greatest storm in history... he felt strong.
Renewed, ready to give one more smile, inspire confidence, guide the rest. All, thanks to a single young man.
...He had been wrong about Izuku Midoriya... Judging his inability to stand out, valuing moments later the true heroic spirit that resided within him.
He had made many mistakes, but today, whatever his destiny... he would accept it with pride.
(It's impossible to ignore this feeling... uncertainty.) Being a hero granted him such an ability, an innate sense to know when things were really wrong. "Whatever the case, everything will be fine..."
Clenching his fists, he forced those embers to expand, begging them for one more battle, to be able to preserve what they had defended for so long.
His muscles grew in size, filling the voids that his flaccid body left in the suit he used so much. His mythical smile reappeared, flashing with a fierceness worthy of the Symbol of Peace.
Two blond tufts of hair rose in grandeur, as if from hair gel but a thousand times better, revealing his purely blue eyes like the sky.
"...Because I am here!"
He was All Might, a unique hero who would undoubtedly face the true evil that lurks in the shadows.
Since, deep down, he knew... his retirement was coming early.
No past mistake goes unpunished. He learned that recently and wouldn't hesitate to correct it.
"All For One, your path of machinations ends today." It was with that determination that he left the rest room where he was, walking through the narrow corridors full of officers. (Naomasa is not skimping on expenses. I'm glad to see that.)
Despite the tension, many stopped briefly to admire him. Approval and pride shone in their eyes, fascinated by the great hero they had so close.
He smiled with more strength for it. With so much support and appreciation, how could he lose?
Approaching the conference room, he could glimpse his master, the man to whom Nana had entrusted him to learn to effectively handle One For All despite his complete mastery.
It seemed funny and sad at the same time, how the destiny of a single person can be so tied to the various wielders for one reason or another.
"Master." Standing beside him, he greeted with a brief nod, very different from the exuberant energy he possessed.
They were alone. After all, there was still time before the start of the final planning. They had a solid plan; they just had to polish it a little more.
Any play that begins with pretending to be a pizza delivery man is infallible. He would prove it as the best.
"All Might." Careful not to use his real name, he returned the greeting. Gran Torino moved his cane from side to side, as if he really needed it. "Are you ready?"
The question weighed heavily. Both knew what was at stake and the consequences of failing in just a few hours.
"I am the Symbol of Peace." He let the title detail the posture he held. Anyone with such a weight could not afford to "not be ready."
"That's true." Tilting his head, the old man supported his answer. "But you're still a man at the end of the day. Powerful or not, you can make mistakes."
"If that's the case, then I will trust in the strength of my companions." He would never allow such a scenario. He would take his nemesis with him if required.
"I see that some of the wisdom that Nana and I imparted to you reached your hollow head. I'm glad for that." Torino smiled, a true smile, without sarcasm or mockery in it. "Now I would like the same for that inept brat. Only he knows what stupidity he'll make our paths cross with."
He let the words settle, thinking about them and the implications they showed. Sorahiko did not speak in vain, much less would he make a joke like that, never considering a life at stake.
Did that mean that Midoriya...?
No! He refused to believe such a thing!
"He wouldn't try it." He crossed his arms, refuting such a hypothetical situation. "Young Midoriya understands the implications. He has no legitimate reason to get involved."
"In fact, it's the complete opposite. He has every reason to be here." Observing him with obviousness, Torino pointed out, the smile already disappearing from his wrinkled face. "And he's very volatile. His personality prevents him from standing by with his arms crossed."
(Damn it, he... he's right.) He may not have helped the boy much, but he knew his attitudes. Such a point was impossible to deny.
"You know... in a way, he reminds me of you, only where you sought true peace, he... allows himself to be selfish." His master remembered past conversations. Each experience with the ninth wielder revealed even more of what he really wanted. "I can see that it excites him to be a hero, but he doesn't fully enjoy it because he's focused on problems beyond his reach, looking for solutions to balance the life he leads."
"Young Midoriya has changed a lot lately. Sometimes I really can't keep up with him. It's as if he has a thousand different thoughts at the same time," he admitted with some shame. The youth of today surpassed his understanding by a lot. "But there is something that remains a constant despite everything..."
"And that is?"
"The brutal improvement he shows with each training session. It's mind-blowing to see how he becomes strong enough to even compete against me, and that in just his first year." Pride, that's what he could feel at that. He had a successor with flaws, but a very powerful one nonetheless.
"Heh... that's a fact. The brat defends himself better than expected," Torino affirmed what he had said, laughing slightly, and patting his back an instant after the fun was over. "Just... stay alert. If the situation escalates too much and we have to get him to safety..."
"Don't doubt it, master."
"I never would, Toshinori."
"Is that... your best punch, you piece of shit?" Bakugo questioned between gasps, blood, and pain, smiling even with the reddish liquid falling from his lip.
"The best? No, I don't even have to hit you to achieve such an effect," Shigaraki wiped his hand, feeling the folds in his wrinkled skin at the touch. "You don't want to be a villain, and I don't want you here."
"Finally, you're thinking with your head, you idiot." The blond spat with contempt, refusing to lower his head in front of the kidnapper. "When I get out, I'm going to destroy you all... None of you will see anything but my boot on your pathetic faces!"
If he didn't have his infamous Quirk inhibited, he would have easily sparked from his hands out of anger. He felt pathetic to be at the mercy of such subjects, weak moral useless people without the ability to stand out.
He didn't have to be surrounded by such trash. People like that only served to form false social pity, and he hated all of that.
"That's admirable. Any hero would sing praises for your iron determination. However..." bringing a stool, Tomura placed himself at his level, coming face to face with the boy. "...We are villains, so be grateful for how little useful your existence is, being so low as to give you the luxury of living."
Shigaraki enjoyed hitting where it hurt the teenager the most. He knew that the punches wouldn't really have an effect; they were just there to complement his image. On the other hand, the psychological damage, that was powerful. It reached places that he could otherwise only imagine.
The fact that in the end, the victim ended up burying himself improved the perception even more. He had to plant the idea... and the rest was a matter of time.
"Should I be scared by that? You're not even good for that, you piece of shit," Katsuki responded defiantly, not at all impressed by the threat said.
"No, of course not. I'm not the one you should fear." The successor to evil found such a question amusing. He was still nothing compared to his master. "Although you'll have to eventually. You're very lucky that our paths crossed now and in these circumstances."
That explanation infuriated the boy. Who did that second-rate villain think he was to label him as "lucky"? He never needed such stupidity!
"You should be the one thinking that way! If it weren't for this shit, I'd kill you all!" he roared in anger, unable to tolerate the insufferable situation he was in.
And to add the cherry on top... Shigaraki began to laugh at the outburst.
His bloodshot eyes opened wide, trembling with the hatred he felt at not being able to hide it.
"Nice threat! It just lacks a pinch of reality!" he eventually stopped laughing, enjoying the monstrous look he was receiving. "You know, you reminded me of Midoriya, just without the intimidation in between."
"Huh?... Deku?..." The mention of his classmate surprised Bakugo. (How involved is that nerd in all this?) He didn't understand it, that importance that everyone assumed of him, as if he were worth something... It was beyond his understanding.
"Are you still talking to the brat? You're very persistent, boss," Dabi interrupted the conversation, entering the room again along with the rest of the League.
"That's what he gets for not letting me cut him. He'd look so good with blood covering his body!" Toga added, slightly blushing at the implications, a knife dancing on the fingers of her right hand.
"I agree with her! Better not, blood is disgusting!" Twice contributed to what was said, being ignored as usual for the madness of his words.
"He's not a real hero. You're just wasting your time doing all this," Spinner didn't even look at them, polishing the swords he used so much in honor of the man he so admires.
Mr. Compress and Magne remained silent, little interested in the kidnapped boy before them. There was really nothing that could be done without torturing the child, but orders are orders.
"Yes, maybe you're right... Maybe it's time to..." Shigaraki's decision was interrupted by the knocking on the metal door they had.
None of them expressed it, yet they were on alert. They rarely used that entrance. Kurogiri usually transported them in portals to avoid possible and dangerous sightings.
"Hello, I brought the pizza you ordered~"
And that... was the heroes' entrance...
The game had begun to change.
It was with a final graceful leap that I landed at the place of the denouement, crouching on the parallel building whose interior awaited dangerous and powerful beasts. However, they would be nothing in the next span of less than a year, something that, as unheard of as it sounds... would happen.
Having moved at such high speeds allowed me to arrive with greater anticipation, allowing me to analyze the environment with more calm and logic. At first glance, nothing was out of place, apart, of course, from the large, multi-story abandoned building.
It wasn't difficult to reach such a conclusion, considering that the vegetation had grown slightly in the surroundings, including the entrance. The windows were covered with moisture and dirt, being a perfect cover for the illicit activities that awaited inside.
It really didn't make sense to dwell on such details for too long. That structure wouldn't survive this night. What was worth analyzing was what was inside.
"And I'm not making a stupid allusion to 'Don't judge a book by its cover'." One For All released intermittent flows, amused by the result of my thoughts. "I don't like to go against horror movies and their teachings, but..."
Sighing, I stood up, walking to the edge in preparation to jump again. The energy crackled around my body, like a faint beacon offering light despite the absorbing darkness.
I didn't know how much I would get from such an expedition, but if I learned anything from playing linearly, it's that there will always be unconsidered variables that may or may not contribute positively.
It was with that in mind that I dropped the backpack from my shoulders, opening it by the zipper and revealing my hero costume.
Things were about to get tense, and... it was better to be prepared.
Something I was grateful for in the present was based on the practicality of these garments, consisting of a simple two-part set. For both the lower, as well as upper and middle areas, the accessories like shoulder pads and so on were linked to the flexible but durable material, saving the need for me to attach them.
And so, in less than three minutes, I was ready for action. I felt like Spider-Man hastily changing to save a life, only this time it wasn't a fantasy based on a boy's fanaticism.
This is real, as terrifying and incredible as that sounds.
"Peter already said it, right?... It's a leap of faith." Said and done, the pressure of the void began to drag me down, but a well-shot Blackwhip allowed me to swing forward.
The fresh night air hit my being again. That emotion returned as if it were the first time. My arms trembled in anticipation, begging to release that cumulative adrenaline.
And yielding slightly to its desire, a minuscule percentage of power was released, hitting a crystal hidden from public view. The crystallization being overshadowed by my boots hitting the structure of the wall, the Blackwhips pierced the cement like claws, allowing my body to remain suspended without fear.
"Adapting Miguel O'Hara's claws was a great idea." Whispering this praise, I made my way into the neglected building, avoiding contact with the fragmented crystals I left behind.
The darkness of the place, accompanied by the silence that the non-existent human use generated, gave a somber atmosphere. They were primordial fears, impossible to remove no matter how powerful you were.
"I want you still where you are, annoying spirits. I don't need to hear your pathetic laments." Speaking out loud distracted the mind. That, along with the faint glow of One For All, contributed more than I would ever admit. "I'm literally a walking candle, definitely cannon fodder for a horror movie... good thing this isn't Silent Hill."
I would never even try to set foot in that town all full of fog. The childhood trauma was enough.
(If I die again and end up in a world like that... to hell with God or whoever. Suicide is first on the list.) I snorted. It really made me laugh to assimilate that somehow I could have another similar next life.
Maybe I wouldn't remember. In fact, that was the most probable... I was sure it was just a too-complex coincidence. Hundreds of factors that for universal reasons aligned so that two completely different souls would reach an assimilation with all memories intact.
And that's another point I refuse to delve into. I'm sure some inactive trauma must be on me, waiting for the ideal moment to make me remember that, indeed, I was dead.
I am a dead person molded in the body of another living boy, whose path was just beginning, with enough knowledge to prepare myself mentally and face the said challenges.
I had time before said union, enough to accept things. I want to think that this is a divine whim.
Because yes, I hope that a superior deity is watching all this. I have many questions that eventually had to be answered.
And someone would, whether the wait for my death is the price or not.
Tired of so much darkness, I forced my sight, sharpening the senses that One For All enhanced until I found some light switch.
If there were scattered bulbs and cables everywhere, there had to be light.
Unfortunately, I didn't find such a specific thing, but I did find a panel very close to the central focus of the place.
(Well... let's see how much I remember those electrical installation classes.) Approaching the pillar where it was located, I pulled off the protective cover with a tug. The rusty metal creaked under the force of the movement. (Many transformers, most are three-phase, nothing surprising for the kind of things that were done here.)
Almost all of them were off. Probably those that were on were keeping the Nomus in development, hence their continued activation.
It was dangerous to activate them all until I found the right one. I could alert unwanted people about a possible intrusion.
But again... this place was about to cease to exist.
So, abandoning the precautions, I turned them on one by one, with the Danger Sense on maximum alert for any dangerous awakening around me. Fortunately, on the fourth lift, the light appeared, making me smile at the small but appreciated paradigm shift.
"Long live Faraday." Of the great influences in electricity, he was my favorite. "Now... what do you have for me, you disgusting laboratory."
The first thing I caught were the Nomus in suspended animation. That greenish liquid similar to the recovery chambers in Dragon Ball Z caught my attention like no other.
Nearby were test benches, arranged with notes and notes full of hastily written scribbles. Scattered numbers and poorly constructed anatomical figures whose meaning was beyond my comprehension.
"This kind of scientific violation is simply horrendous, and I thought that in my previous life, they were already monsters." Just by understanding a part of it was enough for me to repudiate the rest. This Dr. Garaki... didn't deserve forgiveness in any aspect. "I hope to cross paths with him in the future, preferably when the laws are on the ground... He won't see a comfortable cell, that's for sure."
Observing the glass of the greenish chamber, my face was reflected, distorted by the constantly moving liquid. The creature that was inside at some point was a person, and yet, not even a shadow remained of that.
Fantasy world or not, humans could take concepts as innocent as powers to disgusting places.
It was while observing these reports that I noticed that no name was attributed to them, apart from having distant letters between them, making it infinitely complicated to reach a specific person.
If it were as simple as pointing a finger at the person responsible, then the solutions would be right in front of my face, but the complexity surpassed that blessed desire.
Still, I took it all, grabbing every written sheet to put it in the backpack I was carrying. Someone had to have it eventually. In the right hands, a great solution could be born.
"The government definitely won't, but I'll think of someone." Seriously, I looked at the whole place one more time. I knew that only as a warehouse was it useful, so accepting that, I put the backpack back on my shoulders. "I have to get out of here. I'm playing with time."
Activating One For All, I flexed my legs, aiming again at the destroyed window to propel my body towards it. The movement was graceful, without marks that would betray it as a novice's, a testament to the iron mastery I carried.
I took one last look. I was officially leaving everything in the hands of fate for a brief brevity.
(Goodbye, horrifying Nomu factory.)
Shooting a Blackwhip, I moved towards the building that had held me back a while ago, serving as a small base of operations until the titanic confrontation to come.
"Now all that's left is to wait." Sighing, I took a seat on the windowsill of the structure. The instinct to take out my phone died when I remembered it was off. "Even nervous, this is boring."
I distracted myself by looking at the moon and the stars, trying not to let anticipation reign over the actions I felt. It was difficult, very difficult. A nervousness so powerful that it gnawed at me from the inside, begging to get out and act.
The metal face mask I was wearing allowed me to hide the grimace of disgust I had, a representation of the internal battle my instincts had against logic.
That was very annoying. It showed the little internal control I had over myself. Not even all that useful meditation could bear so many fruits. Still, I refused to give in, and it was probably the best decision of all.
Because just an instant later, the gigantic figure of Mount Lady appeared in all her splendor, with yellow and purple shining over the partially dark night. Her blonde hair cascaded down, something impressive when the height she showed was comparable to an average building.
With a single movement, she tore off a large part of the abandoned warehouse, allowing Best Jeanist and a squad of armed forces to cordon off the place. The Nomus, asleep as expected, did not act accordingly, something that threw most of them off balance.
Without hesitation, I stood up, waiting for the ideal moment. It would come, I knew it perfectly well. It was a matter of waiting for it.
My muscles were tense with anticipation, One For All sharing the expectation at its passive increase in energy.
Officially, things had reached their climax.
Author's Note:
Hey.
So... just a week, not bad, right?
Leaving that little detail aside, what did you think of the chapter?
Finally, we are in front of the crossing against All For One. I've been wanting to get to this point like you have no idea, and achieving it is super satisfying.
This arc (which I expected to be short) has become the longest of all. Even its narrative value has increased a lot, the complete opposite of my expectations, to be honest.
I handled several points of view, since in theory, they are situations happening at the same time (or with very slight differences between them). Something that I think turned out quite well.
With this chapter published, I can calmly update my other works, repeating the cycle once I'm done with that.
The "Bakugo Rescue" shouldn't have more than [X] chapters left at most, so it's a matter of time to finish this and get to the prelude arcs to the War between heroes and villains.
Anyway, I'm not going to drag this out too long, as it doesn't make sense to do so.
Take care, see you.