This title is for the people who feel empty after taking revenge, weirdly enough. Having compassion makes revenge hard to take and near impossible to enjoy. So don't, reject morality and become Monke.
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On top of a looming skyscraper, the chaos of Hosu City stretched out beneath them like a living, breathing organism engulfed in fire and shadows. Tomura Shigaraki stood at the edge, one hand tucked into his pocket, the other absently scratching the decaying, cracked skin on his neck. His crimson eyes scanned the turmoil below, taking in the rampaging Nomu and the desperate efforts of pro heroes scrambling to contain the disaster.
"Tch, the heroes are reacting fast…" he muttered, irritation creasing his already grim expression. "Doesn't matter, though. We've got plenty of Nomu to play with." He said this with the detached tone of someone watching a game he knew he couldn't lose. His fingers dug a little deeper into his neck, almost as if he was trying to scratch away some unseen irritation that wouldn't leave him.
Beside him, his ever-faithful companion, Kurogiri, hovered like a shadow given form. His spectral, mist-like body swirled in the wind, and his piercing yellow eyes glowed with an otherworldly light. "Tomura," Kurogiri began, his deep, echoing voice laced with concern. "Do you feel that this was the best decision?"
Shigaraki turned sharply, glaring at Kurogiri, annoyance etched into every line of his face. "What do you mean? Of course, it is!" he snapped. His voice was sharp, brimming with impatience, but Kurogiri could sense the undercurrent of uncertainty there. It was a flaw that Shigaraki himself probably didn't realize was showing. Or perhaps he did, and it only made him angrier.
Kurogiri wisely said nothing further. This attack had been entirely Shigaraki's idea, a chaotic act born from his insatiable need to prove himself. But what had spurred this sudden aggression? Kurogiri's mind drifted back to the day Shigaraki had met the Hero Killer, Stain. Perhaps he had something to do with it. Or maybe it was the Master's influence, subtly shaping Shigaraki's decisions from afar. Whatever the reason, Kurogiri knew one thing for certain: his loyalty to Shigaraki was unshakable, even if he had doubts.
Meanwhile, deep in the labyrinth of Hosu's alleyways…
A figure moved with relentless determination, his footsteps echoing off the narrow walls as he sprinted through the shadows. It was Tenya Iida, the second Vice President of Class 1-A. His usually composed demeanor was shattered, replaced by an expression of raw, focused resolve. He clenched his fists, his teeth gritted. His breath came in quick, angry bursts. "Where are you?!" he shouted into the night, his voice filled with a desperate, unfulfilled rage.
Iida wasn't here by coincidence. No, he had specifically chosen Hosu for his internship, knowing that the Hero Killer, Stain, was rumored to be active here. The image of his older brother, Tensei Iida, flashed through his mind—paralyzed, forever robbed of the ability to do hero work. The memory burned like a brand, fueling his resolve. This was more than just a hunt; it was a quest for vengeance. Stain had to pay for what he had done, and Iida was determined to make him.
Back on the rooftop, Shigaraki continued observing the unfolding scene, but something unusual began to happen. The Nomu were moving, gradually but undeniably, all heading toward a central point. They flew, stumbled, and lumbered across the city, as if herded by some invisible force.
"What the…?" Shigaraki's red eyes narrowed. "Why are the Nomu all moving in that direction?" he wondered aloud. It didn't make sense. The Nomu were instinct-driven creatures, mindless in many respects. They didn't take orders unless commanded, and with the Master absent, Shigaraki should be the only one able to control them. He scratched his neck harder, the irritation deepening.
"Kurogiri," he commanded, his voice tight with suspicion, "bring us closer. I want to see what's happening."
Kurogiri nodded, a ripple of dark mist expanding outward as he formed a portal. Shigaraki stepped through, and in an instant, they emerged atop another building, this one closer to the epicenter of the disturbance. Shigaraki's gaze swept over the scene below, and his expression twisted into one of annoyance and recognition.
"So, that's it…" he hissed, his voice dripping with contempt.
Down on the street, he could see the telltale hairstyle of Kurokami Tenshin. The bratty Class 1-A president was setting up a series of speakers and technical equipment, moving with a surprising level of competence. Surrounding him were the blazing flames of Endeavor and other pro heroes who had responded to the crisis. It was organized chaos, and at the heart of it, Kurokami was orchestrating something significant.
"Did he figure out a way to control the Nomu?" Shigaraki wondered, his mind racing. But he quickly dismissed the idea. The Nomu lacked the intelligence for mind control or hacking. Then, it hit him—an idea that was so simple, it made his anger boil over.
Sound. The Nomu were reacting to a specific frequency, like wild animals drawn by an instinct they couldn't ignore. "He's using a specific frequency to call them in… like a dog whistle," Shigaraki muttered, glaring daggers at Kurokami. The realization infuriated him. This was a clever tactic, and he despised the idea of being outwitted by a bunch of kids.
"And with him, those two must be nearby as well…" The faces of Bakugo Katsuki and Izuku Midoriya flashed through Shigaraki's mind. Bakugo, with his relentless explosions and aggressive confidence, was one of the few people who had ever pushed him to his limits. And then there was Izuku Midoriya, a boy who, for some inexplicable reason, disgusted Shigaraki on a level he couldn't quite articulate. There was something about Midoriya's determined eyes, that unwavering hope, that made his skin crawl.
Kurogiri, sensing his master's agitation, spoke up. "Do you… wish to deal with them now? At this rate, the Nomu will be surrounded and eliminated quickly," he said, his voice steady but watchful.
Shigaraki fell silent for a long moment, Stain's words echoing in his mind. "You're nothing more than a child crying about life. No goals, no purpose, just a temper tantrum." The memory made his hands clench into fists, trembling with a mixture of anger and doubt. Was that really all he was? A child with no direction, lashing out at the world without purpose? The idea gnawed at him, an accusation he couldn't shake.
"…No," Shigaraki finally said, his voice low and bitter. "We'll leave." His gaze lingered on the chaos below, the realization that he was being outmaneuvered fueling his rage. "This isn't over," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. He had to be more than a tantrum-throwing child. He would find a way to make them all understand that.
Kurogiri, ever loyal, opened another swirling portal of darkness. Together, they stepped through, vanishing into the night, leaving behind only the echo of Shigaraki's unfulfilled rage and the city still teetering on the brink of destruction.
...
Izuku slammed his foot into the exposed brain of another Nomu, the force of the kick cracking its skull and sending the monstrous creature crashing to the ground. Green electricity sparked along his limbs, the residual power of One For All surging in short, sharp bursts. His breathing was ragged, and his heart pounded in his chest. He swallowed hard, trying to keep himself steady. Stay focused, Izuku. Stay focused.
Even if these Nomu were monsters, there was something hauntingly human about them. The sinewy flesh, the shape of their bodies, the grotesque way their features still echoed human forms—it all made the act of bringing them down that much harder to stomach. But he couldn't afford to falter. If he didn't stop them, they would kill innocent people. And that… he thought, steeling himself, that can't happen.
"Hey, kid." A deep, gruff voice broke through his inner turmoil. Izuku spun around to see Endeavor, the No. 2 Hero, striding toward him, flames licking off his broad shoulders and the heat distorting the air around him.
"Ah, yes, sir?" Izuku responded, his nerves instantly flaring up. Endeavor had a fearsome reputation, both as a hero and as a person, and Izuku wasn't entirely sure what to expect.
Endeavor's piercing eyes locked onto him, and he wasted no time. "There are supposed to be five students from UA here. One of them, Tenya Iida, is missing. Go find him," he commanded, his voice gravelly and authoritative. Without another word, Endeavor launched himself into the air, fire erupting beneath his boots as he shot off to deal with another cluster of Nomu.
Izuku watched him go, blinking in surprise. "…That was… rather simple," he murmured, almost taken aback. Endeavor's reputation painted him as harsh and demanding, yet the interaction had been startlingly direct and efficient. But there was no time to dwell on that. Izuku had been given a clear mission: find Iida.
He tried to reassure himself as he sprinted off into the maze-like streets of Hosu City. Iida is probably helping civilians or taking care of stray Nomu. He's always so calm and collected, after all. He'd never do anything rash. But even as he thought this, a pit of unease settled in his stomach.
Contrary to Izuku's hopeful expectations, Tenya Iida was in grave danger.
Pinned to the ground in a shadowy alley, Iida's normally composed demeanor had shattered, replaced by pain and desperation. A sword was embedded in his shoulder, blood seeping into his hero costume. His body refused to respond, and he was paralyzed, unable to move. Towering over him was the Hero Killer, Stain, his eyes burning with a fanatical light.
"So… you're the outlier, huh?" Stain's voice was a low, menacing growl, each word dripping with disdain. His presence was suffocating, a dark and violent aura that seemed to press down on Iida's already immobilized body.
Iida struggled to find his voice, his teeth clenched in agony. "Outlier?! What tricks are you pulling now, villain?" he spat, trying to muster any semblance of strength. But his body remained limp, his muscles frozen.
Stain's gaze was unyielding as he sheathed his sword, moving with an almost animalistic grace. "Simple," he said. "You're from UA, aren't you? Your classmates—especially that explosive one, Bakugo—showed the mentality of true heroes." He paused, and a twisted smirk curled his lips. "Properly."
Iida's eyes widened in disbelief. "Y-you met Bakugo?" he managed to say, confusion swirling in his pain-addled mind. "But why… why should what a villain says define me?" His voice wavered, but his spirit remained defiant.
Stain pulled out a knife, and with a swift motion, he threw it into the shadows. "See that?" he said, his voice cold and unrelenting. Iida turned his head, and his heart sank. There, slumped against a wall, was Native, a pro hero who had tried to fight Stain and lost. His breathing was labored, his body battered.
"That's Native," Stain continued. "A hero who, unfortunately, found me before you did. I gave you a chance," he said, his voice like a dagger of truth. "If you had noticed him, if you had tried to save him, I might have offered you mercy. But you didn't even see him." His words were a harsh, unforgiving mirror, reflecting Iida's failure back at him. "Despite me being the villain, you were the so-called hero who failed to notice someone in need. Funny, isn't it?"
Iida's face went pale, realization striking him like a blow to the gut. He had been so blinded by his thirst for revenge that he had failed to see a fellow hero in peril. Stain was right. He had let his hatred consume him. Native, though weakened, tried to speak, his voice strained. "Hey… don't listen to him, kid… He's just…" But Stain silenced him with a swift blow from the hilt of his sword, knocking the hero unconscious.
Stain turned back to Iida, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Now then… oh, I know who you are," he said, a mockery of recognition crossing his face. "You're Iida Tenya, aren't you? You look just like that fake I so generously put out of commission. What was his name again? Ah, yes… Ingenium." His voice was laced with venom, and he watched with satisfaction as Iida's spirit seemed to crumble.
Iida's head hung low, his heart pounding with a sickening mix of fear and guilt. "No… more resistance?" Stain mocked, leaning closer. "It seems you understand now. You're no real hero. But…" His voice took on a different tone, almost respectful. "You do deserve some praise. Facing the Hero Killer without being prepared—that takes courage." He raised his katana, the blade glinting in the dim light, and positioned it above Iida's neck.
Iida clenched his teeth, bracing himself for the inevitable.
But then, a green blur streaked through the darkness.
With the speed of a lightning bolt, Izuku Midoriya hurtled toward them, his body electrified with One For All. "STAY AWAY FROM HIM!" he roared, channeling all his fear and determination into his sprint. At the last possible moment, he threw himself between Iida and the descending blade, bracing for impact.
Izuku's body collided with Stain's katana, the force of One For All deflecting the strike just enough to save Iida from a fatal blow. The sheer power of his entrance sent a shockwave through the alley, and for a split second, everything was chaos. Dust and debris kicked up, and the three figures were momentarily obscured in a cloud of energy.
Izuku landed, his legs trembling but his resolve unbreakable. He positioned himself protectively in front of Iida, green lightning crackling across his body. His eyes met Stain's, fierce and unwavering.
"I won't let you hurt him," Izuku declared, his voice steady even as his heart thundered in his chest. Iida, I'm here. You're not alone.
Stain's eyes narrowed, a glint of interest flickering in his gaze. "Well, well…" he mused, the thrill of the hunt igniting in his expression. "Another hero to test. Let's see if you're any different."
The battle was far from over, and Izuku knew that the true test of a hero was just beginning.
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[Auther: Yo. I'm tired, so here's a cliffhanger.]