A/N: If you want to read chapters early check out the subscribestar:
https://subscribestar.adult/anonymous_person
Chapters ahead: 8
———————
Kendo awoke to a throbbing headache and the metallic tang of blood in her mouth. She was lying on the cold, hard floor of the pharmacy's back room, her limbs bound tightly with some kind of fibrous material. Momo, Tetsutetsu, and Tokoyami were also captured, their faces pale and drawn.
Hana, thankfully, was nowhere to be seen.
Panic surged through Kendo, a cold knot tightening in her stomach. They had been tricked. The boy, Izuku, wasn't a survivor. He was… something else.
As her vision cleared, she saw him standing near the doorway, his small frame silhouetted against the dim light filtering in from the main room. But something was… different. His eyes glowed with an unnatural red light, and a sinister smile twisted his lips. He no longer looked like the scared, innocent child they had encountered just moments ago.
"You… you tricked us," Kendo croaked, her voice hoarse.
The boy giggled, a high-pitched, unsettling sound. "Silly heroes," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Did you really think I was helpless?"
He stepped closer, the red glow in his eyes intensifying. "My Quirk… it's special. I can… mimic other Quirks. And right now… I'm mimicking Midnight's."
Kendo's blood ran cold. Midnight's Quirk, the ability to emit a sleep-inducing pheromone, was potent and dangerous, especially in a confined space. They had walked right into a trap.
"Where's Hana?" Momo demanded, her voice trembling with fear.
The boy shrugged. "She's safe… for now. She'll make a fine… offering."
Offering? Kendo's mind reeled. Offering to whom? What was this boy?
Suddenly, a deep, rumbling voice echoed from the shadows. "Excellent work, Izuku. You have proven yourself a valuable asset."
A figure emerged from the darkness, its form shrouded in shadow. As it stepped into the dim light, Kendo gasped. It was All For One, his face scarred and twisted, his eyes burning with a malevolent gleam.
"All For One," Kendo whispered, her voice barely audible. The Symbol of Evil, the mastermind behind countless villainous schemes, the man who had nearly destroyed the hero society. He was supposed to be imprisoned, incapacitated. But here he was, standing before them, alive and well.
"You seem surprised to see me, little hero," All For One said, his voice laced with amusement. "Did you think you could defeat me so easily?"
He gestured towards Izuku. "This boy… he is a gift. A vessel for my power. With his Quirk, I can once again wield the Quirks of others, reclaim my former glory."
Kendo's heart sank. This was a nightmare beyond anything she could have imagined. All For One was back, and he had a new weapon, a child twisted into a monstrous parody of a hero.
"What are you going to do with us?" Tetsutetsu demanded, his voice strained.
All For One chuckled, a low, guttural sound. "You? You are merely… ingredients. The Quirkfall Virus… it is a fascinating phenomenon. It twists and amplifies Quirks, creating… unique mutations. I intend to study it, to harness its power, to create an army of unstoppable monsters."
He stepped closer to Kendo, his eyes burning into hers. "Your Quirk… it is intriguing. I wonder… how it will mutate under the influence of the virus."
He reached out, his hand hovering over Kendo's face. A surge of terror coursed through her veins. She thrashed against her bonds, but it was no use. She was trapped, helpless.
Just as All For One's fingers brushed against her skin, a piercing scream echoed from the main room. It was Hana.
All For One turned, his eyes narrowing. "What is the meaning of this?"
Before he could react, a figure burst through the doorway, its form shrouded in darkness. Tokoyami's Dark Shadow, fueled by his rage and desperation, had grown to an enormous size, its eyes burning with a fierce, protective light.
Dark Shadow slammed into All For One, sending him flying across the room. The force of the impact shattered the shelves, sending medicines and debris raining down.
"Now!" Tokoyami yelled, his voice strained.
Kendo, seizing the opportunity, focused all her strength on her Quirk, her hands swelling to an enormous size. With a mighty roar, she shattered her bonds, the fibrous material tearing like paper.
Tetsutetsu, also freed, transformed his skin into steel, charging towards the dazed All For One. Momo, despite her weakened state, managed to create a powerful tranquilizer dart, aiming it at Izuku.
The fight was chaotic and desperate. Dark Shadow battled All For One, its shadowy form swirling and striking with incredible speed and power. Tetsutetsu hammered away at the villain, his steel fists connecting with bone-jarring force. Momo, her aim true, fired the tranquilizer dart, hitting Izuku in the neck. The boy stumbled, his eyes losing their red glow, his sinister smile fading.
Kendo, her hands still enlarged, grabbed the unconscious Izuku, holding him tight. She had to get him out of here, away from All For One, away from this nightmare.
They retreated, leaving the pharmacy, leaving All For One buried under the rubble. They didn't know if he was dead or merely incapacitated, but they couldn't risk staying to find out.
As they emerged into the night, Hana ran towards them, her face streaked with tears, but her eyes filled with relief. She clung to Momo, burying her face in her uninjured arm.
They were alive. They had escaped. But the city was still a death trap, and the mountains seemed further away than ever.
They had won this battle, but the war was far from over. The Quirkfall had just begun.