The streets of Musutafu buzzed with the usual afternoon chaos—schoolkids laughing, vendors shouting, and the distant hum of hero patrols keeping the city's pulse steady. I was Izuku Midoriya, fifteen years old, reborn into this world with a Gacha System and a quirk called Dimensional Pocket. My heart still raced from the past few weeks of training, dodging Bakugo's taunts, and testing my Enhanced Reflexes. I'd been grinding XP, inching closer to System Level 2, but nothing prepared me for what was about to happen.
I was walking home from Aldera Junior High, my backpack slung over one shoulder, muttering to myself about quirk combinations. Dimensional Pocket was versatile—storing objects like weights or a metal pole for quick use—but I needed something flashier for U.A.'s entrance exam. My 50 Gacha Points burned a hole in my virtual pocket. Should I roll for a Rare pull now or save for a Legendary? The system's neon interface hovered in my mind, tempting me.
A scream snapped me out of my thoughts. It came from a narrow alley just ahead, followed by a wet, gurgling sound that sent a chill down my spine. I knew that sound. I'd seen it in the anime. The Sludge Villain. My stomach dropped. In the original story, this was the moment Izuku met All Might, the moment that changed everything. But I wasn't just Izuku—I was me, with a system and a quirk. And I was about to walk straight into danger.
I sprinted toward the alley, my Enhanced Reflexes sharpening my movements. The scene was worse than I'd imagined: a writhing mass of green sludge, its eyes bulging like rotten fruit, had pinned a delivery worker against a wall. The man's face was turning blue, his arms flailing as the sludge oozed over him. Civilians stood frozen at the alley's mouth, too scared to act. No heroes were in sight—not yet.
"Hey!" I shouted, my voice cracking. "Let him go!"
The Sludge Villain's eyes swiveled toward me, its voice a wet rasp. "Another brat? Perfect. I need a new body to hide in." It lunged, a wave of slime shooting toward me like a tidal wave.
I dove to the side, my Enhanced Reflexes kicking in. The sludge splattered against the wall, missing me by inches. My heart pounded, but I couldn't run—not when someone was in danger. I activated Dimensional Pocket, summoning the metal pole I'd stored during training. The rift shimmered, and the pole appeared in my hand, cold and solid. I swung it at the sludge, aiming for its eyes.
The pole passed through like it was hitting water, the slime reforming instantly. "Nice try, kid!" the villain gurgled, sending another tendril my way. I dodged again, but the sludge was fast, wrapping around my ankle. It yanked me off my feet, dragging me toward its gaping maw. Panic surged. I was quirkless in the eyes of this world, and Dimensional Pocket wasn't built for combat. I needed something else.
The system chimed, its neon text flashing urgently.
Emergency Gacha Pull Available! Spend 50 Gacha Points for a Rare Pull? [Y/N]
No time to think. I mentally slammed the "Y" button. The interface spun, silver light flaring as I struggled against the sludge. The text materialized.
Congratulations! You have unlocked: Item – Flash Grenade (A-Tier)
Description: Emits a blinding light and concussive blast, disorienting enemies for 10 seconds. One-time use.
Remaining Gacha Points: 0
I didn't hesitate. I summoned the grenade from Dimensional Pocket, the small, metallic sphere appearing in my palm. The sludge was pulling me closer, its stench overwhelming. I yanked the pin and tossed the grenade into its core. "Eat this!" I yelled.
The explosion was deafening, a burst of white light that seared my eyes even through closed lids. The sludge screeched, its grip loosening as it recoiled. I scrambled free, grabbing the delivery worker and dragging him out of the alley. The civilians cheered, but the villain wasn't done. It reformed, angrier now, its eyes glowing with malice.
Before it could attack again, a gust of wind roared through the alley. A towering figure landed with a thud, his blond hair gleaming under the afternoon sun. All Might. His grin was as wide as I remembered, his voice booming with confidence.
"Fear not, citizens! I am here!"
The Sludge Villain didn't stand a chance. All Might delivered a single punch—a Texas Smash—that scattered the sludge into droplets, splattering across the alley walls. He scooped the remains into a soda bottle, sealing it with a practiced flick. The crowd erupted in applause, but I stood frozen, staring at my idol. This was real. All Might was real.
He turned to me, his blue eyes piercing. "Young man, that was reckless! But your bravery saved that citizen." His voice softened, and I saw the faintest hint of curiosity. "What's your quirk, kid?"
My throat tightened. I couldn't tell him about the Gacha System, and Dimensional Pocket wasn't exactly flashy. "I… uh… just used a tool," I stammered, holding up the now-empty grenade casing. "I'm kind of quirkless."
All Might's smile faltered, just like in the anime. "Quirkless, huh?" He clapped a hand on my shoulder, nearly knocking me over. "Well, you've got a hero's heart. But leave the villain-fighting to the pros, okay?"
I nodded, my mind racing. This was the moment. In the original story, Izuku chased All Might, begging to know if a quirkless kid could be a hero. But I wasn't quirkless anymore, and I had the system. Should I follow him? Before I could decide, All Might leapt into the sky, vanishing with a sonic boom. The crowd dispersed, and I was left standing there, the delivery worker thanking me profusely before stumbling away.
The system chimed again.
+100 XP for assisting in a villain takedown
+50 XP for saving a civilian
Current System Level: 1 (270/1000 XP)
Hidden Quest Unlocked: "Face the Sludge" – Survive an encounter with the Sludge Villain and save at least one civilian. Reward pending…
Hidden quest? My heart skipped. I hadn't even known I was on a quest, but the system was tracking my actions. I headed home, my legs shaky from adrenaline, wondering what the reward would be.
___________
Hours later, I was back in Musutafu's shopping district, replaying the encounter in my head. I'd met All Might. I'd fought a villain. But I'd also burned my last Gacha Points, and the entrance exam was still months away. I needed to grind more XP, maybe find smaller missions to—
An explosion rocked the street. Screams filled the air as smoke billowed from a nearby intersection. I sprinted toward it, my Enhanced Reflexes pushing my speed to the limit. The scene was chaos: flames licking at storefronts, people running, and in the center, the Sludge Villain. It had escaped, probably when All Might dropped the bottle during his leap. And this time, it had a new victim.
Katsuki Bakugo.
His crimson eyes were wide with fury, his explosions blasting chunks of sludge away, but the villain had him trapped, oozing over his face and arms. Heroes—Death Arms, Kamui Woods, Backdraft—stood at the perimeter, unable to act without hurting Bakugo.
The crowd was panicking, and I saw All Might in his skinny form, Toshinori Yagi, watching helplessly from the sidelines. His time limit. He'd already used up his hero form for the day.
Izuku's memories surged—years of Bakugo's bullying, his taunts, his superiority. But I also saw the kid who'd been his friend, the kid who was fighting for his life. I couldn't let him die. Not like this.
Without thinking, I ran forward, shoving past the crowd. "Deku, you idiot!" Bakugo roared, his voice muffled by sludge. "Get out of here!"
I didn't have a grenade this time, but I had Dimensional Pocket and Enhanced Reflexes. I summoned every object I'd stored—rocks, a metal pole, even a spare backpack—and hurled them at the sludge's eyes, aiming to distract it.
The villain screeched, loosening its grip just enough for Bakugo to fire off a massive explosion. I dove in, grabbing his arm and pulling with all my strength. My Enhanced Reflexes let me dodge a retaliatory tendril, but the sludge was closing in again.
Then, a gust of wind. All Might appeared, his emaciated form gone, his hero form blazing despite his limits. "Detroit Smash!" he roared, the shockwave obliterating the sludge and sending it splattering across the street. The crowd cheered, but I barely noticed, my chest heaving as I helped Bakugo to his feet.
He shoved me away, his face twisted with rage and shame. "I didn't need your help, Deku!" he spat, storming off before the heroes could question him.
All Might turned to me, his expression unreadable. "You again," he said, his voice low. "You ran in without a quirk, knowing you could die. Why?"
I swallowed, Izuku's emotions mixing with my own. "Because… a hero saves people, no matter what."
He stared at me for a long moment, then nodded. "You've got potential, kid. Keep at it." He leapt away again, leaving me in the chaos of the aftermath.
The system chimed, louder than ever.
Hidden Quest Completed: "Face the Sludge"
Reward: Quirk – One For All (S-Tier)
Description: A legendary quirk passed down through generations, granting immense strength, speed, and durability. All secondary quirks are locked until system level requirements are met.
+500 XP for completing Hidden Quest
System Level Up! Current Level: 2 (770/2000 XP)
New Feature Unlocked: Daily Mission Log – Complete daily tasks to earn XP and Gacha Points.
I staggered, my mind reeling. One For All. The quirk of All Might, the Symbol of Peace. It was mine now, gifted not by All Might but by the Gacha System.
My body didn't feel different yet—no surge of power, no glowing aura. The system's note about locked secondary quirks made sense; I'd need to level up to access its full potential. But even its base form was a game-changer.
As I walked home, the Daily Mission Log popped up.
Daily Missions Available:
Run 5km: +10 XP, +5 Gacha Points
Analyze a hero's quirk: +15 XP, +10 Gacha Points
Perform a heroic act: +50 XP, +20 Gacha Points
I grinned. The system was giving me a way to grind. But as I glanced back at the smoldering street, Bakugo's furious face flashed in my mind. He'd seen me act, seen me stand up to a villain.
And All Might had noticed me twice. The path to U.A. was clearer now, but it was also more dangerous. The Sludge Villain was just the beginning. Somewhere out there, bigger threats were waiting—All For One, the League of Villains.
I clenched my fists, feeling the weight of One For All dormant inside me. I was Izuku Midoriya, reborn with a system and a legacy. And I was going to be a hero.