"We gather today to honor the girl dearest to our hearts. The life, the beauty, and the memory of Himiko Toga." Twice dramatically spoke next to a picture of her, he's literally leaking tears of grief for crying out loud.
"I'm right here asshole." She deadpanned, covered in bandages from the last fight. She had to get a freakin' eyepatch for all her troubles too. Not that she couldn't rock the sexy pirate look, but she'd rather rest than hear her own 'funeral'.
"She grew up so fast, it was like watching Icarus fly close to the sun." She let Twice do it a little because Clones were important to him. The fact he still thought they were people even after murdering an infinite army of himself scared the League like nothing else. But Magne here was just being an asshole. "The greatest things in life vanish so young."
"Such is how life works." And of course Kirio was all for it. "Born in absolute agony for the sole purpose of dying so another can live. She experienced the summary of life for all creatures in just a few minutes."
"There is a difference between making me feel despair and making me feel pissed." She deadpanned with a hint of malice.
"She could've had her own dreams to live for, but they were cut off before she even had the chance to form them." Really Compress!? Toga expected him to call them out on the tastelessness.
"Just like a flame, a true spark of beauty never meant to last, only existing in a single moment burned into the minds of all living things." Dabi, now was not a time to test out poetry and be an emo!
"I swear, someone is going to get it." She growled.
"In a way, she was like me. Not having a purpose, yet still finding a way to help those she cared about." Spinner bowed. "A shame we couldn't have spent more time together." She finally snapped, throwing a knife straight at Spinner, who dodged. "Ah … son of a bastard, I won!" What? "Pay up assholes, she threw the knife at me."
"Haha, so this is why there's so many betting pools at Babyls now." Kirio laughed. "If only I could enter one of them myself."
"I must say, that was truly entertaining." Compress spoke, turning to her pissed off look. "Oh relax darling, just a bit of fun. We have money now you know. We can eat Tuna!" She could feel the smile on his face. "I could die happy just from this meal."
"I'm not exactly a fan of fish. The smell." Dabi pushed away his plate of sushi. "I'm much more in the mood for chicken … like a certain lying bastard." He spoke with a pissed off look.
"Oh yeah, we can finally kill someone in the top ten." Magne dipped her plate in soy sauce. "Now that we have an army, there's really nothing stopping us from taking out whoever we want now."
"Speaking of, the latest name, Grand Wave of Disaster." Spinner asked the group.
"Ugh, this is what I meant. Villains come up with terrible names." Kirio rolled his eyes.
"Well what's the best name your most dangerous villain group has?" Dabi asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Six Fingers."
"Oh, so it's a pot calling kettle black kind of situation." Toga smirked.
"Hey, it's at least not on the nose, constantly spelling out what our whole deal is." The demon defended.
"Six demons dipping their fingers into chaos and despair?" Twice asked with a head tilt.
"....Oh devi, we've been villains this entire time." Huh, Kirio was right, seeing his face distorted like that was a great sight to see. "But speaking of …. I'm adding them anyway."
"Adding them?" Magne asked.
"My friends are going to join in on this whole army." Kirio snickered. "An entire planet where they're free to do as they please without border control or the crowns butting in? Why wouldn't they join?"
"Why are you so helpful all of a sudden?" Dabi asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Because I saw something even more amazing than a world full of despair." The demon was practically drooling. "I saw the genesis of the man who will return BOTH worlds back to their origins, and I want to be a part of it as much as possible." Well that wasn't cryptic as fuck at all. "If you all think I'm lying it's fine, just know that this sentence is true. I'll follow Tomura's goal to the ends of the worlds."
"So I need to combine League of Villains, Meta Liberation Army, AND Six Fingers … back to square one!" Spinner shouted out in frustration, working on his notepad.
==
Bakugo watched as Dodger flew into the same spot on the same wall for the seventh time. It was starting to form a human shaped indent. "Still can't get the turning speed down …" The fact he hasn't stopped a single moment to rest was slightly impressive.
"Duh idiot, you're charging in at full force with a power you barely control."
"But you do it at full force when you fly to." He argued back.
"No, Bakugo can adjust himself mid air and change his momentum on the fly." Tape Arms explained. "You don't have that luxury, meaning we need to get you taught the same way Kamui Woods taught me, with Pendulum Physics and practice."
"I have to learn math to use Black Licorice? Damn it." Dodger slapped his forehead. "Alright, let's start all over." The boy got up, readying his stance.
Bakugo sighed, moving to sit down with All Might. "So we've narrowed it down to him definitely using past quirks, right?"
"Three of them so far at this point, with three more on the way if what his visions told him were true." All Might clarified. "I completely looked over Danger Sense because of how well he's been able to evade danger so far."
Bakugo himself looked over the list. "Why the hell does the First through Fourth have so much information crossed out?" Dodger already had the third and fourth users quirk, there wasn't a reason to black out information.
"Lack of information from a chaotic time." The man explained.
"That would have only covered a certain time period, fourth should have been easy to gather information from." He looked over the name, age, and death. "He didn't die by All For One, did he?"
"Bakugo…"
"All the past users die fighting that fucker, except you because you're All Might." Bakugo looked at the hero accusedly. "What did you figure out? If it's something about how One For All works, you can't keep quiet about it."
The hero was uncharacteristically silent and solemn for a few seconds, looking until Dodger hit a ceiling far away enough. "The fourth was a stoic hermit, he lived a quiet life due to his quirk and constantly avoided danger within the woods, keeping contact small and moving when necessary."
"So a coward then?"
"Times were different, nobody could take on All For One without losing their quirk, and One For All didn't have enough of a stockpile to rival his might. So Shinomori chose to build up his strength and figure out the full mechanics of the Quirk, so information may be passed down from generation to generation."
"Flinging a torch for someone else to land a blow." He'd still call it cowardly, but the pro had a point, All For One was too strong back then. "So what was the problem?"
"He died at the age of thirty five." Bakugo's eyes widened. "He wasn't reported to have any illness or health issues, but…."
"You gave Suzuki a cursed power." Bakugo accused.
"I don't know how it happened, which is why I haven't said anything." All Might reaffirmed with a stern gaze. "All the past users died at young ages. I'm the only one who's lived past forty."
"That's still a shitty thing to hide from a kid that literally has the weight of the whole world on his shoulders." Bakugo looked at Dodger, trying to get a grip on the ceiling.
"You want to tell him that every past user died for no particular reason at a young age other than me? Right when he's in this state of vulnerability of both physical and mental health?" The man accused.
"It's stuff like this that I understand why Dodger hates heroes nowadays." Bakugo growled. "Half the time he stumbles into everything half assed, and the other half he charges in head first using nothing but guts and determination." He hated how he admired that.
"He reminds you of your old friend, right?" Bakugo gripped his hands.
"Unlike Dodger, Izuku wanted to be a hero from day one, even when he was quirkless." He couldn't get that day in the creek out of his head. "When he reached out his hand to help me, it made me realize that without my quirk, I wouldn't even have bothered to imagine being a hero." He groaned. "I just thought back then he was pitying me, that somehow I was weak. Heroes don't need help."
"... I really hope Young Suzuki has taught you that's not the case." All Might watched as the boy crashed through a window. "We need to get these things reinforced at some point."
"Yeah, heroes need someone to tell them how hopeless they are in certain categories." Like teamwork. "So I'm just gonna have to be the brains to his stupid muscles." He looked at the man. "You're going to have to tell him at some point."
"I know." All Might sighed. "For now, let him keep growing at his own pace. The world's not going to be destroyed anytime soon."
==
"We shall soon destroy the world!" He, a simple member of the great Meta Liberation Army, watched as their Grand Commander preached. He was worried, being told they lost the war and that their commander gave up, but he seemed to be in good spirits. "Now some of you may have heard rumors, and I am here to clear them up."
"Did we lose the war!?"
"Did we take out any villains!?"
"Is Curious really dead!?"
"The truth is … we lost the battle, but not the war!" He shouted, much to their confusion. "I have been so thoroughly and utterly beaten by Tomura Shigaraki, I have seen the way he fought me, I have debated with him, and I have come to one single conclusion." The room tensed. "He is more worthy than any of us have any right to be!"
"WHAAAAAAAT!?" How the fuck did a small group of complete nobodies suddenly become worthy?!
Footsteps echoed through the halls, Tomura Shigaraki standing there, wearing a fur coat, covered once more in hands. Only this time they looked more … plastic like. He sat on a throne as the man they once called the Grand Commander continued to speak. "He is the one who has surpassed us completely, he is more free than any member of our army. He is bound by nothing on this planet, even by his own past!"
The army stood silent as the man sat there silently, a cold but somehow warm gaze looking over them all. "I have proudly held myself to the teachings of our founder, Destro! As his descendant, I saw it as my birthright to bring liberation of all Meta Abilities to the world. But that in of itself was a cage! I was a prisoner of my own blood, of my family! Of the very will I preached!"
"Anyone here can leave." Shigiraki's sudden sentence sent shock down the spine of every man, woman, and child standing there. "What we are becoming is a group of absolute freedom, there are no chains to anyone or anything. If you seek to leave due to the fact we're no longer following your minor philosophy, feel free." The man stood, hands raised. "But if you wish to liberate this world that uses its society to chain every human down, I ask you to join me as we rip it apart and build it back from the ashes with complete and utter freedom."
Everyone paused. Those words were so rational, so calming, and so inspirational. A far cry from the mindless destruction they once associated with the villain. "Freedom is an ideal that's exactly that! Free!" Re-Destro roared. "Liberation for all! Strong, Weak, Quirk, Quirkless, we shouldn't seek to rule anyone, to be beholden by any standard of life other than what we choose!"
Trumpet walked forth. "We are beyond the Meta Liberation Army, we have evolved into something far greater. So those that want to leave may, but those that stay will revel in the glory and absolute freedom of …" The man raised his arms. "The Paranormal Liberation Front!" The two former bosses of their respective organizations blinked, turning at the man. "It was the best Spinner and Skeptic could come up with on short notice."
"It does fit." Shigiraki nodded with approval. "We're not heroes, we're not villains, we are seekers of complete freedom. We'll do whatever we want, whenever we want. Human, Demon, Nomu, we shall set the world ablaze to fix it." This was a philosophy he could get behind.
"SHIGARAKI!" They changed. "SHIGARAKI! SHIGARAKI!" This would be a glorious revolution of pure freedom. Let them chant and celebrate this glorious occasion!
==
Dabi tapped his finger, glaring at the pro in front of him. Slidin' Go standing on one side, Skeptic on the other. "... So Paranormal Liberation Front … catchy name." Hawks spoke casually.
"Yeah, much more catching than Hero Public Safety Commision." Dabi rolled his eyes. "So you've been a member of the Meta Liberation Army for how long?" He turned to Skeptic.
"Two years now." The man spoke, looking curious.
"Two years, fascinating." Dabi spoke. "And tell me, what has he accomplished for your army?"
"His job is to keep the eyes of other Pros off our radar during big missions, not too dissimilar to my job." Slidin' Go answered.
"And how effective has he been?" He asked, glaring at the feathery bastard. "Because he has been known to need to 'keep his cover' and hasn't been as helpful within the past two months."
"It's fifty-fifty for the most part, although failure shouldn't occur at all with someone in his position." Skeptic caught on to what he was getting at, and snapped his fingers, alerting the puppets around him to surround the pro.
"Fifty Fifty rate? For the number two hero? It almost sounds like you do it on purpose." He let some fire form. "Sure it may not be noticeable for a big group such as this, but in a little one here every member counts …"
"Hey, hey, I've been doing everything I can. You think you're the only one's seeking to break free of their chains?" Hawks flew himself just a little off the ground. "It's a miracle I haven't been turned into a mindless drone by the commission."
"I get it, they keep a watchful eye on you and you want to be free." He shrugged. "The problem is someone has to be the rational one that keeps the hyper obsessed philosophist at bay … meaning unless you start changing soon, very soon, I'm going to have to question if fried chicken is a valuable meal."
"I'm prepared to do anything." So that's how it worked. He's the one the commission could send to do the dirty work. "In fact I would have told you guys about the Meta Liberation Army's schemes and quirks if you let me in ahead of time we were going to war."
"You just admitted to selling us out." Skeptic deadpanned.
"If you change sides so easily, who's to say you won't do it again?" He smiled wickedly. "So you want to prove your worth? Kill someone in the top ten. Any of them, except Endeavor."
"Oh, wait, are you telling him to kill a pro!?" Toga leaned in.
"... Yeah, top ten." He glared, waiting to see if she disagreed.
"Miruko is off limits, she became Iruma-kins' adopted mom." Oh, that would have had multiple members gunning for him. Bullet dodged.
"It's true, I saw her at a christmas shop for the brat." The pro shrugged. "Are you planning on getting him a secret Santa gift?" He asked the psychopath.
"As secret as a kiss on the lips can get."
"We're getting off topic." He waved at the group. "So kill a top hero other than the ones we just mentioned, and you can stay. Otherwise? We off you."
"Deal." Oh, no hesitation either.
"Just know, we'll check thoroughly if the body's real." If he really was fully committed to the act, then he'd have had to at least kill someone. Something that'll make his magma opus all the more grand.
==
Garaki watched through the screen as Tomura stumbled into the room, plopping onto the group. "A power nap … wasn't enough … fuck life."
"All For One said the exact same words when he recovered from his injuries." Garaki was practically giddy. "A quirk awakening, an army at your beck and call, and Gigantomachia submitted himself under you." This was beyond the best outcome he could've asked for.
"Yeah … who knew Mondays were this … hectic?" The man asked.
"Garfield." The occupants of the room except Garaki looked at Compress, confused. "I read the newspapers, unlike the rest of you unsophisticated swine." A man of culture.
"Either way, you've achieved your task and then some. I'll provide you with all the nomu you can ask for, as well as more power…if you want it."
Tomura stayed silent. "It's not enough to free the world … too many heroes and villains … what power can you offer?"
"The Power that allowed your master to control both sides of society from the shadows. The same power that'll truly do whatever you want. The Quirk of All For One himself." Everyone stood silent. "You reached the minimum potential physically and mentally. You're ready to survive the surgery that will let you accept this power without any problems."
"That's why he called me his successor. He was preparing me to take his place…" Tomura looked at his hands. "I will take this power, but when I do, it will be mine, and mine alone."
"Wonderful." It may not be, if their Vestige theory was correct, but that was just going to be Tomura's problem. "Anything else? I heard you're getting a few demons." He looked over at Kirio. "I can increase your magical reserves, give you a couple of bloodlines?"
"We'll be alright for the moment." Kirio snickered. "Although I'll take you up on that offer at a later date. Deku-kun shouldn't be the only one playing with other's bloodlines."
"Yes, one more thing." Tomura looked at him. "What exactly is One For All?"
He sat in silence for a second, before clearing his throat, explaining to the entirety of the League. "One For All is a mix of two quirks. A bio energy stockpiler given to All For One's brother, and a transfer quirk from All For One's brother. It passes down and grows with every user, and due to its inherent property of only being transferred with the will of its user, there is no way to steal it naturally. Part of the modifications should theoretically allow you to capture it, if it pleases your fancy."
"I'd hate to take Iruma's quirk from him…but it was master's greatest obstacle. I won't underestimate anybody." Tomura grinned. "All For One trapped himself in a war against his brother. I'll break free of it, no matter what." The once man child, now near demon lord, laughed. "We'll both be free of our chains, Iruma." Garaki hadn't felt this excited in a long while. Supporting a new master was gonna be fun.