The cold sea wind howled across the concrete walls of Tartarus. Deep beneath the surface, reinforced steel groaned as something stirred. Red lights flashed through the corridors, and the sirens blared on every floor. Prisoners screamed, some with laughter, others in panic. The digital lockdown warning blinked over and over: "Quirk Suppression Field Failure."
A single figure walked calmly through the chaos.
Shigaraki—or rather, something wearing his skin, animated by the insidious will of All For One—strode down the hallway as steel doors burst open ahead of him. With each step, his presence crushed the air. The guards who hadn't fled were slammed against walls by unseen force. He said nothing. The prison trembled in response, as though even the structure recognized the return of its true master.
Within moments, known threats were freed: Muscular grinned with wild delight as he snapped his shackles, flexing his grotesque arms with glee. "Been waiting to crack some skulls again!" he shouted. Moonfish's mouth restraints cracked and fell away, clattering to the floor with a metallic clang. His serrated teeth glinted in the emergency lights, and a guttural hiss escaped him, sending a ripple of dread through nearby inmates who instinctively stepped away. A monstrous shriek echoed as another villain awakened, leaping from his cell like an animal uncaged. Prisoners cheered and rioted. Others emerged like beasts from a cage, hungry for vengeance. And among them, a lone figure sat silently—Stain—still unmoved, staring straight ahead, his expression calm and unshaken.
From the control room, a horrified technician whispered, "He wasn't on the registry. Who is he?"
The screens distorted. A new voice echoed through the speaker system, low and calm: "Let the age of control end." The lights flickered once more, then failed entirely. The feed went black.
At the UA dormitory, silence lingered over Class 1-A. Most students sat gathered in the lounge, eyes glued to the news, though none of them dared speak. Kaminari scrolled through frantic updates on his phone, refreshing every second. Sero paced the room with stiff, anxious movements. Jiro had her earjacks plugged into the radio, scanning channels for any government response. A cup of tea in Tsuyu's hands had gone cold, untouched for nearly an hour.
"I just don't get it," Kirishima said, gripping the armrest tightly. "How did everything fall apart so fast?"
"No warning. No backup. Just… collapse," Yaoyorozu added quietly, hugging her knees to her chest.
Ochaco stared at her hands. "And Deku… Bakugo…" Her voice trembled. She tightened her grip, as if trying to keep herself grounded, eyes wet with worry.
"They're fighting for us," Mina said, forcing a smile through her tears. "They'll pull through."
Aizawa entered quietly, bandaged but standing. His face was haggard, his movements slow but composed. He paused briefly at the doorway, observing the room before speaking.
"Midoriya is stable. Bakugo's surgery is complete. He's not out of the woods yet, but he's fighting."
Relief flooded the room. Some students cried quietly. Others finally allowed themselves to breathe, if only for a moment. Kaminari slumped in his seat, eyes glossy. Sero stopped pacing, shoulders easing slightly.
But the next news flash silenced everything.
"Tartarus has fallen."
The image shifted to flames erupting around the prison's perimeter, guards overwhelmed, escapees rampaging across the shore. Not even the sea seemed like a barrier anymore. Escapees surged toward the coast, seizing abandoned patrol boats, diving into the frigid waves, and disappearing beneath the fog. It was no longer a prison break—it was an exodus. Villains leaped from boats, commandeered coast guard vessels, and vanished into the fog of war.
On the rooftop of the hospital, Reiji stood against the wind. His coat flapped behind him, shadows flickering around his feet like restless snakes. The city skyline looked broken—fires in the distance, smoke curling into the starless night. Helicopters buzzed faintly above, sweeping spotlights over burning rooftops. The smell of smoke and distant sirens filled the air, mingling with the tension of collapse.
The system pulsed in his mind.
[System Notification: Emergency protocol engaged. Due to your performance and synchronization, you are now eligible for full integration with two Mortal Kombat templates. Proceeding...]
[Template Integration: SCORPION – COMPLETE. Abilities unlocked: Hellfire Manipulation, Chain Spear Summon, Enhanced Reflexes.] [Template Integration: NOOB SAIBOT – COMPLETE. Abilities unlocked: Shadow Clones, Teleportation, Total Darkness Mode.]
A blast of cold and fire surged through Reiji's veins. He staggered slightly as flames ignited around his arm, only to be extinguished by tendrils of black shadow. Two conflicting energies settled within him—Scorpion's fury and Noob Saibot's precision. A flash of scorched landscapes and inky voids filled his mind's eye. His limbs buzzed with unnatural strength, like his body was learning to move all over again—only faster, sharper, deadlier. His muscles tensed, instinctively recognizing movements that felt both foreign and natural.
He clenched his fists, letting the power course through him. "This… This changes everything."
He closed his eyes. "This power… it's not for glory. It's for protection."
Footsteps approached. It was Mirko, arm in a sling, gaze sharp despite her injuries.
"You're not planning to act alone, are you?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.
Reiji didn't look at her. "If I have to."
Mirko snorted. "That's cute. But don't forget—we're heroes too. We bleed, but we don't break."
She left him with that, stepping back inside, her voice lingering like a reminder.
He looked back at the horizon, shadows dancing along the edge of the rooftop. For the first time, he felt both fire and void in his veins. His enemies wouldn't know what hit them.
All screens flickered simultaneously across Japan. From phones to stadium monitors, every broadcast was hijacked. Families eating dinner froze mid-bite. Shoppers in malls stared at the ceiling screens. Soldiers in barracks dropped their gear. A chill spread across the nation as the signal took hold. The voice that emerged was unmistakable.
"People of Japan… You've been abandoned."
All For One's face filled the screen, his expression calm, detached, and chilling.
"The heroes you relied upon have failed. But do not fear. A new world is rising. And I… will lead it."
Citizens across the country froze. Some screamed. Others dropped to their knees. Police stations scrambled to respond. Even civilians who once idolized heroes now questioned everything. Social media exploded. Panic surged.
At the hospital rooftop, Reiji clenched his fist. The shadows around him pulsed.
"Then let it begin."
To be continued…
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