Several months had passed since his takeover of the other gangs. The turf war to take Lady Fortress' territory ended only in a couple of days as her men were no match for his forces. Indeed, he already had a small army, but that was it, it was small. He needed much more than that to take over all of Japan. Nevertheless, he still expanded his territory and also left a few men in the ones he took over, so they could rule in his name. After all, he couldn't be everywhere at once, especially since he was unavailable during the day.
While the numerical advantage he gained from these takeovers was interesting and useful, the individuals who joined him were even better. Some of them had quite useful quirks.
First, from the Steel Wolves, the former second in command, Arsenal; also called Tanaka Haruto. He had chosen to remain in Izuku's main base after bringing the rest of the gang under the dragon boy's rule. He was still in charge of any operation happening in the territory of their former gang, but he needed Izuku's approval for everything now. His quirk was called Weapon Forge: Allows the user to transform any part of their body into various weapons at will. They can switch between different types of weapons, such as swords, shields, guns, and more, adapting to different combat scenarios as needed.
The man was committed to pleasing Izuku's whims, making him the perfect boot licker. Of course, cheap flattery wasn't enough to assure Izuku of his usefulness, but he was doing a good job for now.
Then, there was Shade Wielder. Real name: Suzuki Yuto. His quirk was useful for infiltration, and he could also use it to fight. While it had been useless against Izuku, the young man was aware that he was a special case, and that Shade Wielder wouldn't lose so easily against other opponents. Since he was the former leader of Dark Sentinels, Izuku allowed him to remain in his former base to keep taking care of his operations from there. Of course, he also needed to be sure Shade wouldn't try anything stupid. Thus, he needed to send regular reports once a week, which he'd have to deliver himself in Izuku's hands. The horned boy also sent one of his subordinates on surprise visits to see how everything was going. Most of the time, Arsenal volunteered for that job. For now, he was faced with no issues concerning him.
Tremor, whose real name was Saito Takumi, was one of the bodyguards of the late Avian King. His quirk, Concussive Blast, allowed the user to release powerful, concussive sound waves from their voice. A loud enough shout could destabilize or knock down enemies, shatter objects, and even disorient those with enhanced senses. It was good enough he supposed, and he was in a similar situation as Shade Wielder, except with less surveillance. He was only a pawn before, so he could hardly scheme against Izuku when he knew the horned man was his best bet at a successful criminal life. Moreover, he actually spent more time in the Legion's main base, than his former gang's.
His colleague was much more interesting, though. Vortex, whose real name was Inoue Daiki, was in the main base at all times because of his quirk. Dimensional Drift: Allows the user to create a unique symbol that they can imprint on any surface, object, or even living being. Once the symbol is marked, the user can open a portal to that specific location at will, enabling instantaneous travel between points.
That symbol was a circle with a large plus sign over it. You could also draw the symbol yourself, and as long as Vortex knew of its existence, then he could open a portal to it. Of course, the symbol needed to be perfect, otherwise, the portal would be unstable. Moreover, the ones he created from his quirk couldn't be wiped off unless he wished them to be unlike one that would be drawn. Nonetheless, despite these limitations, a teleportation quirk was rare, and one of the most useful abilities you could obtain in this world. If he'd prove himself, Izuku would be tempted to make Vortex one of his lieutenants. Avian King actually had a symbol on his back, which made for a quick escape since Vortex would just make a portal behind him in an instant. Of course, Izuku proved that this wasn't infallible… After he turned Avian King into a bloody paste.
The former leader of the Ravagers, Lifebane, remained in the main base. Lifebane, whose real name was Nakamura Kaito, was a good tactician and leader. You couldn't say Izuku needed him, per se, but he was useful enough that the horned boy would sometimes delegate some tasks to him as he would with Zhong Liu. He still trusted Liu more than Lifebane, but the latter gained a lot of points with Izuku as he had efficiently incorporated his gang into his new leader's group. He also made it clear to his former subordinates that Haō was their new master. They were quick to adjust their plans and organization to match Haō's so that their operations would run just as well under his rule. His bodyguard, Gravito, was still by his side, but he understood that Haō's orders were a priority over his former leader's.
The last ones were interesting too. Tangleweaver; real name: Kanzaki Isobara. While the man had a strange obsession with plants, he held no hesitation in giving up his pride to save his life and serve Haō. Moreover, he was a sadist, one who loved playing with his food. Naturally, anytime they would need to interrogate someone or extract information, Tangleweaver was the first to volunteer… Not that he needed to considering one of his former henchmen's abilities. He had surprisingly good administrative skills and was pretty good with numbers. He was apparently an accountant as well as a God-fearing man before he tasted the joy of hurting others and adopted a life of crime.
He worked well in tandem with Powerplant, whose quirk, Verdant Surge, allowed him to accelerate the growth of plants at an extraordinary rate, enabling him to manipulate them if needed.
The last one's quirk was perhaps nearly as strong and useful as Vortex's. Leech, also known as Kirigaya Koga, had a quirk called Fungi Dominion.
Fungi Dominion: Turns the user's body into root-like tendrils that can infiltrate another person's body. Once inside, the user can travel to the host's brain and exert influence over their thoughts and actions like a parasite. When the user takes full control, a distinctive mushroom grows on the host's head, marking their complete domination.
Leech had no proper body to speak of. From what he said, when he was one or two, his body permanently turned into a mass of root-like tendrils. Because he lost his parents early, he didn't even know if he was a man or a woman, though he always chose to inhabit a man's body. Even out of their bodies, he would speak with the vocal chords he stole from them. He could either enter someone's body through their skin by piercing a hole in them… Or go through a hole already there. All he'd have to do next would be to reach the brain and plant his roots inside it. From there, he could communicate with the person with some kind of telepathy as if he were their own thoughts; he could influence their actions and opinions, but that was only if he wished to remain hidden. If he wanted to take full control of the body, then he'd need to grow further until a mushroom grew out of the victim's head. It wasn't sneaky. Not that Leech cared about that since he would usually lobotomize the victim's body to make sure they could never take back control, and he sustained himself by absorbing the victim's nutrients directly. Truly, like a parasite.
Of course, he could use the victim's quirk as well, and since he had access to their thoughts, learning to use it efficiently was as easy as pie. Haō would keep that one close, knowing all the damage he could do if used well. Of course, he also needed to make sure he wouldn't get any funny ideas and attempt to steal Haō's body. They were all quite surprised to see Zhong Liu was alive and well when they came here.
Apart from their new recruits, they expanded their base too. The strip club was much bigger now, yet, it was only a small part of their underground facility. They had dug deeper and made another floor under it, one even wider than the floor above it. It was even easier thanks to Tangleweaver, Powerplant, and Tremor, who helped the people Zhong previously recruited for this job.
While the strip club was a place for leisure for them all, it didn't offer much room for them to discuss and organize their operations, especially since they also had customers there. Now they had living quarters for the subordinates without homes, a training room for anyone who might need it, and even a dining area and a kitchen. It wasn't just a base where plans would be discussed as it was also also made so that people would live in it. Of course, Izuku had his own private room, as did Himiko. He allowed that privilege to Zhon Liu too since the man had helped Izuku a lot. He was a good asset.
The bull-man even made a throne for him! It may have seemed egotistical, but Izuku didn't ask him to do that in the first place, though he didn't refuse the gift. A throne, specifically made for his size too, was fitting for him. Apart from those rooms, there was also an infirmary, though they didn't have medical experts, only a couple of people with some medical training. It was better than nothing.
They established an armory to store various weapons and a vault to secure their money and other stolen valuables. A few empty rooms remained, still awaiting designated purposes.
Izuku couldn't be prouder of what they had accomplished until now, of what they built. Yet, this was only the start; oh, it was far from over. While that base was good, it was nothing compared to what he would have in the future.
Soon, he would join U.A. Before that, they had one last major operation to take care of. That was why Haō was in the throne room, sitting on Zhong Liu's gift while Himiko, from her codename Ace, sat on his shoulder. The dancers, Isami and Mio, who he had fun with mere minutes ago, were lying on his lap while he spoke to his subordinates.
Zhong Liu knelt in front of him while the former gang leaders, and Leech, Vortex, Powerplant, and Arsenal were doing the same only a couple of feet behind him. Several men were also stationed around the room.
"Do you remember what I told you around 10 months ago, Zhong Liu? I said that my plans would truly start around this time," Haō reminded his subordinate.
"I remember, Master," Zhong nodded in confirmation.
"It is finally time. The U.A entrance exam will start in a couple of weeks. Once I enter U.A, I will be closer than ever to the pro heroes, an ideal spy. Most of all, I am planning on finding potential recruits for us," Haō revealed, much to everyone's shock, except for Himiko's.
"Master… No offense, but I don't think U.A would hire you as a teacher if you have no experience as a pro hero," Zhong mumbled, making Izuku arch an eyebrow.
"Huh? What the hell are you talking about? I'm not looking to be a teacher, dumbass! I'm going as a student!" Izuku retorted with a shout, making Zhong's composure nearly fall while the others seemed just as confused.
"But… How are you going to pretend to be a kid? Even if you have fake papers, they'll see right through you," Zhong argued, which only made his leader fume even more.
"Now, you're starting to piss me off. Are you doing this on purpose?! Are you all so blind that you can't even see I'm a kid?! I'm starting high school soon, and I chose U.A to be the school I enter! Did you connect the dots yet?!" Izuku loudly revealed.
Everyone froze on the spot, eyes wide, while Himiko giggled. The women lying on his lap nearly fell on their butts.
"WHAT?!" Everyone screamed in unison, nearly blowing Izuku's eardrums.
"Does… Does that mean you're in middle school, Master?" Zhong Liu stammered.
"No, I'm not. I just told you I graduated, didn't I?" Izuku grumbled in response, getting fed up by all of this.
"I… I was defeated by a middle schooler?" Zhong Liu muttered to himself, unable to process the information.
"My gang was taken over by a middle schooler…" The former gang leaders uttered in shock.
"I got fucked in the ass by a middle schooler…" Mio voiced with her throat tight. "Am I going to jail?" She quickly turned to Isami, who looked just as shocked at the realization.
"I'm… Pretty sure we would have gone to jail either way considering everything we've done here," Isami replied, still not over the discovery.
"Oh, right… I mean, the damage's already done, so… what's the point of stopping now?" Mio nervously chuckled before trying to snuggle up closer to Haō.
"The age explains the mood swings…" Lifebane whispered.
Useless chatter began flooding the room as they all discussed their leader's age with baffled expressions, surprised that they weren't in a dream they would soon wake up from. Suddenly, Haō slightly shifted his body.
"Got a problem with that?" He asked, glaring holes into their skulls. His eyes alone were enough to freeze them all in the spot as they were reminded of the fights he led, and won. Meanwhile, Himiko simply giggled in her sleeve at the spectacle. "Whether I'm 80 or 3 doesn't change anything. You lost, and now your lives belong to me. I could kill all of you in a heartbeat if I wanted to," He reminded them.
They stayed silent, knowing he was right. Even if everyone in this room teamed up against him, they would lose. He got even more powerful since they fought him last. Of course, they had some improvements as well, but it was nothing that could put them on his level.
"O-Of course, glorious Master! You are perfectly right! Pardon our rude comments, we were just surprised by your age, that's all!" Arsenal apologized, lowering his head until his forehead touched the floor.
"Shut it! I don't need your ass kissing!" Haō retorted in annoyance, making Arsenal yelp in fear. Zhong Liu suddenly slammed his fists into the floor and lowered his head in the same manner.
"Master… I'm sorry. My pride got the best of me again. I felt my ego wounded because I lost to a child, but… If anything, it should have humbled me even further. For you to reach such a level at that young age is awe-inspiring. In the world of villainy, there is no speaking of age!" He shouted. "I will still serve you to the best of my abilities," He assured his leader.
The others stared in silence, waiting for Haō's next words.
"Good. I expected nothing less, Zhong Liu. See? That's why I like you," Izuku grinned as Zhong nodded. "That is why I want you to lead our final operation before I enter U.A,"
"I am ready for anything, Master,"
"It's time for you to get your revenge. Lei Xue and the Chinese mafia had their uses, but they'll be troublesome when our legion grows even stronger. We don't need them anymore, which is why their end has come," Izuku revealed, shocking quite a few people. Nevertheless, some seemed to have been expecting such a decision. Shade Wielder, Lifebane, and Himiko obviously knew about it. "We have the locations of every one of their hideouts, including the main one. Lifebane will tell you about the plan in more detail, but we'll attack all of them at the same time, swiftly and efficiently, before they can share any information about the attack. The mafia will cease to exist in a single day," He partly explained the plan before turning to look at Arsenal. "Arsenal will accompany you to their main base, the others will split up between different hideouts,"
"You can count on me, Haō-sama!" Arsenal grinned as he turned his hands into guns.
"Master, I thank you for this opportunity," Zhong Liu bowed his head.
"It's alright. I can see it in your eyes… The deep hatred you have for them. You've been waiting to get back at them for so long, didn't you?" Izuku softly asked.
"Yes. Ever since the day I was kicked out. There hasn't been a day where I didn't wish to kill them with my own two hands," Zhong confirmed with a hate-filled glare. It was a story that happened years ago, one that would always remain in his heart as long as he lived.
***
12 years ago
Zhong Liu exhaled a puff of smoke as he removed the cigar from his mouth. He was dressed in a formal black tuxedo suit that looked quite strange in his hulking figure, leaning on a lampost as he watched the quiet night of Nagoya. Even after living in Japan for two years, he wasn't quite used to it. It had beauty, for sure, but it didn't feel like home like China would. At least, he didn't have his old master annoying him with the daily lessons of the Hikisaku Ken. He knew one or two things, and that should have been enough. His body was already strong enough, after all.
Suddenly, his phone rang. Zhong remained still and relaxed, exhaling another puff of smoke before calmly pulling the phone out of his pocket.
"Boss," He greeted the man on the other side.
"How is the hunt going, Zhong? Are you close?" Lei Xue's voice asked from the other end.
"Yeah, I am. Don't worry, boss. I'm close to cornering the little mouse. Just saw the informant pass by," Zhong responded calmly.
"You better not let him escape. That traitor, whoever he is, could bring the end of our family. You better not disappoint me! Once you find him, bring him to me alive," Lei ordered with rage.
"I know. He won't escape me., I can assure you. I'll make that rat pay," Zhong affirmed to his boss.
"You better or else!" Lei Xue replied before hanging up. Zhong had worked for him for around 10 years now, and yet, his boss had never warmed up to him. It was alright, he could accept that. He was a nobody when Lei found and recruited him, so he had to painfully and slowly rise up the ranks. It was harsh, but worth it in the end.
"You guys stay here, I can take care of it myself," Zhong said to two men.
They were twins, Saiko and Raiko, born with the same quirk, which allowed them to turn their right arm into a blade capable of cutting even steel. He had known them even before joining the Chinese Mafia, and even if having friends in the world of villainy was something some would consider dangerous, he couldn't deny the bond they formed. Not too far from them were other subordinates of his, a little over a dozen of them.
He dropped his cigar on the ground and stepped on it before walking toward his target. He had been on the trail of a traitor, someone who was feeding other groups information on the mafia's operations and secret storage houses. It took him some time, but he eventually got a lead on an informant who may have been buying the information from that traitor. He followed him for a few days, hoping he would meet the traitor at some point, which seemed to be tonight as the informant slipped into an alleyway.
Zhong moved slowly, and as sneakily as he could, which wasn't his forte because of his size. Despite that, he still managed to sneak up on the current meeting. He hid behind a wall to listen in to the conversation first.
"Yes, he doesn't suspect anything. Still, this is getting riskier and riskier for me. It's my life that's on the line. I do hope the payment I will receive at the end of this will be doubled," The informant said worriedly.
Zhong Liu approached closer.
"Yeah, yeah, we'll pay you triple if you want to. As long as you keep your end of the deal, we can all come out as winners," The traitor's feminine voice replied.
Zhong Liu froze. That voice… No, it was impossible… He immediately stepped out of the shadows, unable to stay hidden any longer than that.
"Mei!" Zhong yelled, making the informant yelp as he turned around in surprise. However, Zhong's eyes weren't on him, but rather on the woman he was talking to, who seemed just as shocked.
Lin Mei. She was a woman with long black hair and orange eyes with an hourglass figure. Of course, he knew her… She was just like him. An orphaned street rat who grew up in the slums of Hong Kong. They grew up together and survived together, then they met the twins and became a little stronger; surviving was made easier… Until they were all recruited by the Chinese Mafia. They owed the mafia so much… And yet, she would betray them? She would… Betray him? After she told him… That she loved him?
"I can't… I can't believe this! You… You're the traitor!" He snapped at her, clenching his fists while tears threatened to spill from his eyes.
"N-No! I promise this isn't what it looks like, Liu!" Mei rushed to grab his hand, and he was almost tempted to backhand her then and there! However… He couldn't. Even after a betrayal, he couldn't.
"You'll try to tell me you're not selling information to the enemy?!" Zhong screamed. To the girl's credit, she didn't even flinch.
"I'm not! Seriously, Liu, do you think I would ever betray you?!" Mei snapped, making the tall man flinch as she rarely ever raised her voice at him. "After everything we've been through, everything we've suffered through… Do you think I'd stab you in the back like that?! You know… You know I love you," She blushed and looked away, lowering her voice. She always had a hard time admitting her real feelings, after all.
"I-I know, but… You can't deny this looks compromising!" Zhong replied.
"Look…" Mei sighed as she glanced over at the trembling informant. "There's a reason for all this. I've been working to lure the traitor into a trap by paying off his informant," She revealed, much to Zhong Liu's surprise.
"But the boss only gave that mission to me!" He retorted.
"I know! And it's not like I wanted to do this! I started planning that literally a few days ago. I didn't even tell anyone in case I got the traitor wrong, so…" Mei suddenly froze mid-explanation, a look of terror etched on her face. "Liu… How did you know about the informant?" She asked in a shaky voice.
"Huh? What do you mean, how did I know? I told you, I've been looking for the traitor, and my leads got me to this guy," Zhong gestured at the informant, who was still there and shaking against the wall. "I'm pretty sure he's the one in contact with our little traitor," He explained, only for Mei to shake her head.
"No. No, Liu, that's not possible. The only reason I even learned about this informant is because I happened to overhear the traitor by mistake once when he was in the base… So, how did you know, Liu? Tell me! How did you know about the informant?!" She screamed, clutching his arm fearfully.
"I… found some burner phones back home, hidden under the living quarters' floorboards… There were some names, and locations on them. I just… I just squeezed some information out of some people, brutally… Until they spilled this guy's name," He gestured to the nearby informant.
"No. No," Mei shook her head frantically. "You shouldn't have… You shouldn't have known Liu! Don't you get it? It's too easy!" She screamed until a shot suddenly rang out. They both snapped their heads toward the loud bang, just in time to see the informant's corpse collapse to the ground.
"This pawn was useful, a shame I had to get rid of him, now," Someone chuckled before putting their gun back in their belt.
It was a man of average height. His hair was short and white, slowly flowing in the cold breeze of the night. While he wasn't overly muscular, they were aware he had a toned body. After all, it was someone they knew well. He was a man who was recruited only a year ago by the mafia: Ishida Sora.
"That's him…" Mei gulped, biting her lower lip. "I knew it, it was a trap all along, and we fell for it!"
"He's the traitor?" Zhong Liu muttered in incomprehension. He didn't talk much with him, so he wasn't too familiar with the guy. He didn't even know if he had it in him to betray the family. "What the hell are you doing, you bastard? Why would you betray the family?" He demanded an answer even though he knew he should have taken him out then and there before bringing him to the boss.
"Oh, you'll have to forgive me, but it's not like I meant to destroy the family. I only wanted to make the boss scared a little. Would make my promotion all the likelier when I take care of my scapegoats," Sora snickered.
"Scapegoats? You don't mean…" Zhong Liu muttered in realization. He was planning to put the blame on them?!
"Yep! Sorry, but I can't stand the wait for being a right-hand man! I'd rather rush to it! Catching a couple of traitors will be easy as pie!" Sora exclaimed pridefully.
"As if we'd let you do that," Zhong Liu amusedly scoffed. There was no way that lanky bastard would defeat them.
"You said it!" Mei shouted before pulling out her gun and aiming it at Ishida's head.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Ishida smirked, only for Mei to fire. The man immediately put a hand in front of him. In any other case, the bullet should have gone straight through his hand and killed him, yet… It stopped. It was as if it lost all momentum. "Counter," Sora simply said before the bullet exploded.
Zhong Liu widened his eyes as drops of blood hit his suit, making him look down. Mei's gun had exploded as if a bullet were shot through its chamber, then… Went through the woman's head. Her right eye along with the upper part of her head had been blown apart, spewing her brains out in the air before she collapsed to the concrete floor. Her death had been instant.
"M-Mei?" Liu whispered in disbelief. He slowly fell to his knees before reaching out for her. Her remaining eye was wide open and frozen, lifeless. "Mei… This… This can't be happening…" He muttered, his breathing quickening to the point his lungs were being emptied, turning his breathing ragged and painful. No… This must have been a nightmare! It couldn't be real! Mei had always been there for as long as he could remember! To be gone… Was inconceivable!
"Tssk, I warned her," Sora clicked his tongue while shaking his head. Immediately, Zhong Liu turned to him with hate-filled eyes.
"You… You fucking bastard! DIE!" He roared and charged forward, not caring about Lei Xue's orders to bring him alive. No, he would crush him like a bug! And he wouldn't do it quickly either! He'd make sure he'd suffer a slow and painful death! He threw a punch forward, ready to splatter Sora's intestines out of his body, only for the man to easily block his punch with his palm.
"Counter," He simply spoke.
Zhong Liu's fist broke, spewing blood in every direction.
"Gah!" He squealed as he grabbed his broken hand and took a few steps back, still clutching his broken limb in pain. "What… What was that?" He muttered to himself, clenching his teeth. Usually… Usually, his brute strength alone would have been enough. This man should have been sent flying with that hit! Blown apart even! Liu winced again as his arm cracked. So, it wasn't just the fist… The arm was broken too. It was… It was as if he got hit by his own punch. Frankly, he didn't even want to figure out what happened. All he wanted was to kill him!
"Charging at me like an angry bull isn't gonna work, Zhong Liu-kun. Honestly, seeing someone fight so stupidly almost makes me sad," Sora chuckled amusedly. "Very well, since it would be a boring battle otherwise… I'll only use two fingers to fight you," He declared as he showed his two pointer fingers with a mocking grin.
"You… Don't you dare mock me!" Zhong Liu charged forward again. Since that bastard wanted the bull-man to fight with something other than brute strength, then he'd show him the martial arts he learned before coming to Japan! He ignored the searing pain in his arm, raising both arms above his head and shaping his hands into a claw-like formation. He moved them in random directions, so fast it would be hard to follow to the naked eye. It was a technique that was supposed to prevent the enemy from seeing where the attack would come from. "Chi o Waru Ken! (Earth-Splitting Fist)" He declared as he slammed his hands down, ready to tear Ishida into three pieces.
However, just like the man said, he stopped Zhong Liu's technique with his fingers alone, simply by touching Zhong Liu's palms with them.
"Counter," Sora grinned.
A second later, the back of Zhong's hands exploded, blood and bones bursting out of them.
"G-GRRAAAAH!" He screamed before falling to his knees, holding his shaking hands out while his red life juice sputtered everywhere. His hands… He couldn't use them anymore. There was no way he could fight with them in this condition. Zhong clenched his teeth, trying to hold down the immeasurable pain, to avoid showing weakness to the enemy. How could he not, though? He was reduced to such a pathetic sight… He had been sloppy and knew this attempt was half-assed anyway. He hadn't trained once since coming here because he thought that his quirk would be enough… Such a rookie mistake!
"Did you try to use martial arts? This was awful, you must be quite rusty, Zhong Liu-kun," Sora chuckled mockingly. "Oh, well, even if you weren't, it wouldn't have amounted to much. I know a bit of martial arts myself. I needed to, after all. Only now, I can use the full extent of my quirk," He spoke as he moved his hands with graceful precision, tracing a circle in the air. Though his movements were slow, they left behind an ethereal trace, as if his hands had multiplied. But no, that wasn't it—he was simply moving them with incredible speed. "If only all quirks were physical, I would be the strongest man in the world,"
Zhong Liu didn't care for his blabbering. As long as he was still alive, he wouldn't know peace! So what if he couldn't use his hands?! He still had his left arm! So he roared again, and swung his arm at the man, ready to take his head clean of his shoulders.
"My God, you're stupid," Sora shook his head before blocking the arm with his finger again. "Counter,"
Zhong Liu's arm bent the other way, breaking one of his bones and forcing it to poke out of his flesh. The bull-man released another pained scream as he remained on his knees, panting and bleeding, barely conscious.
"Don't you get it, yet? Physical attacks don't work on me. I can repel all of them and inflict you with the injury instead. I'm invincible," He bragged, pointing at himself. "No one who fights in close quarters can defeat me! Not even All Might!" Ishida declared arrogantly. "But I guess it's finally time to end your pain," He snorted. Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes and held out his hands to his sides, stopping two blades from skewering him. Saiko and Raiko had come, and both of their arm blades were stopped by Sora's palms, which weren't even pierced.
"Liu, run!" Saiko shouted as several other subordinates came running and grabbed their leader, helping him to his feet.
"Counter," Sora spoke boredly. The twins' blades split in half, as did their shoulders and thus their arms.
"Grah!" They cried in unison before falling to their knees.
"G-Guys…" Zhong Liu muttered in pain while he was carried away. Since he was still too heavy, he also needed to walk so that his men wouldn't have to hold all his weight. Despite that, he didn't wish to leave the twins to their fate…
"Go, boss! We'll hold him back!" One of his subordinates yelled as the others surrounded the traitor.
Zhong didn't reply. He couldn't. He knew why. It was because he was a coward. If he stayed and fought by their side, he would die, unable to avenge Mei. He would die in vain. He would give up on his pride, fleeing in such a way. So, he simply watched the battle unfold as he was carried further and further away. He watched as Ishida finished off Saiko by breaking his neck with a kick. He watched as he decapitated Raiko with that quirk of his. He watched as Sora repelled the bullets his men shot, blowing their brains out like he did with Mei. Zhong Liu watched, as he was thrown into a car, Ishida killing the last man standing.
Zhong Liu could only watch from the backseat as Ishida Sora became a dot on the road.
You would think that he could heal his injuries and call Lei Xue for help, tell him who the traitor was so that they could avenge Mei and the brothers he lost. That was one of the most foolish mistakes he had made, trusting the boss of the mafia. Trusting the debt they owed him when he took them in that day.
"You damn traitor! I should have known it was you!" Lei Xue screamed on the other end of the phone.
"No, you have… Ugh… To believe me! I would never betray the family!" Zhong Liu defended himself between moans of pain as both his arms were in casts.
"Don't try to bullshit your way out of this! Ishida already gave me all the proof I need! You have been conspiring behind my back all these years! Even after I took you in, you ungrateful bastard?!" The mafia leader retorted.
"It's a setup! I've been set up, boss! You have to believe me! He… He killed Mei!"
"Of course, he did! You and that bitch betrayed the family! You think I'm going to forgive that?!"
"Please, father… Please, Xue," Zhong Liu pleaded, on the verge of tears.
"Don't you dare use my first name, traitor! Just know that you've signed your death warrant! No matter how long it takes me, I'll have you killed!" Lei Xue shouted before hanging up, not allowing Liu to explain himself any further.
The bull-man quivered as he dropped his phone to the floor. So that was it? It had been that easy? Ishida had ruined his life that easily? Zhong Liu growled and stomped the phone with his hoof. They were going to pay for this. All of them. No matter how long it took, he'd become strong enough to kill them all.
***
Present day
Lei Xue sighed as he rubbed his forehead, checking over some papers.
"Are you sure those numbers are right?" The father asked worriedly.
"Unfortunately, they are. We've had 30% less profit than last month, and it was already lower than usual the previous month, too," Shuren answered with a nervous expression.
"This can't be right… We're losing our usual customers, and nobody can tell me why!" Lei punched the table in anger, making all of his men flinch.
"Could it be the Beastlords Legion? Haō's little band has grown exponentially since your first meeting with him. Uniting those gangs is an impressive feat. He's a good business partner, but I can't help thinking he may have a hand in all of this…" Shuren suggested.
"He's in a whole other city, how and why would they affect our business here?" Lei Xue questioned. Nevertheless, he knew there was no simple answer, and he shouldn't reject that idea. All other groups were rivals to them, after all.
"I suggest sending Ishida-san. He's our best asset; sneaking his way in should be easy for him," Shuren said as Lei leaned back in his chair.
"Maybe you're right. It's better if we take them out first before they have the chance to attack. I wanted to avoid a turf war, especially with another city, but they leave me no choice," Lei Xue finally decided, then turned to look at the rest of his subordinates. "A small group of you should accompany Ishida to that place, and provide additional protection if need be," He instructed when Shuren's phone suddenly rang.
"Oh, I'm sorry, father," The man apologized as he quickly pulled out his phone, only for it to stop ringing. "Hm… That was strange," He whispered.
"Who was it?" Lei inquired.
"Kusagi, but he only ever calls in case of emergencies," Shuren replied before his phone rang again. Just as he was about to pick up, it stopped. "Now, this was someone else. Nanami, he's from our lab," He muttered worriedly. Something weird was going on, especially since the phone rang again. This time, he managed to pick up the call, only for the caller to hang up on him. Realization suddenly dawned on him. "Father… We're-" He began shouting as hundreds of bullets were suddenly shot through the windows and walls, bursting out of every man standing inside. Shuren wasn't spared either as he was riddled with bullets, some even flying through his head, and splattering his brain matter all over the floor.
The air hummed with the relentless sound of gunfire while the bullets tore through flesh as they did with the walls, each bullet slicing through with deadly precision, ricocheting off metal surfaces, and embedding into furniture. It was a blood bath but after a couple of minutes… It stopped.
Miraculously, Lei Xue survived. He lay on the floor, riddled with bullet holes as he pissed blood. Of course, he could barely breathe, let alone move, so he couldn't even writhe in agony on the floor. Was this how he died? Was this how he was going to go out? It was impossible. Not like this. He gurgled on blood as he desperately tried to turn on his side, ignoring the slow footsteps approaching him. At least, he should pull out his gun… Fight to the end. He'd show his enemies that even on the brink of death, he wasn't to be trifled with!
Eventually, the footsteps stopped, prompting Lei Xue to weakly look at his aggressor.
"Y… You…" He uttered his words with hate. "Dead… Dead…" He repeated, trying to say that the one who stood over him shouldn't be alive anymore.
"Yep, you're dead, boss," Zhong Liu sneered. Without any further words, he stomped on the mafia boss' head, crushing it to a pulp, and ending his life.
The bull-man looked around, eyes going over every dead body in the room while his colleagues came in, led by Arsenal.
"So? Everyone dead yet?" Arsenal chuckled as he kicked a random corpse.
"Yeah. One rat is missing, though. You can call Vortex and tell him to take you guys away," Zhong Liu instructed, only throwing a glance their way. "I still have someone to take care of," He stated before walking away.
"If you say so," Arsenal shrugged before taking his phone. "Hehe, besides if this guy screws up, I'll be the Master's new favorite," He snickered to himself.
Whether Zhong didn't hear him or simply didn't care, he didn't show it. Instead, he burst through a random wall, searching for his target. That building was small since the mafia split their operation up efficiently, which meant that they already murdered pretty much everyone in there. However, Zhong Liu knew that something simple wouldn't take down the man he had hated for so long. Thus, he burst through another wall, entering a spacious room resembling a dojo. There stood the man he had hated for over 10 years, and he had barely changed since the last time.
"Ah, so the traitor lives. I was wondering what those sounds were," Ishida Sora spoke calmly with his hands behind his back. "Am I right to assume Lei Xue is dead?" He frowned.
"You can find pieces of his brain under my hoof," Zhong replied casually, making Ishida sigh.
"And here he went through the trouble of building this dojo for me. I was this close to taking out Shuren and stealing his place… But you just had to ruin it," Ishida shook his head. "You never had the guts to pick a fight with us before, so be honest… Who are you working for?" He questioned coldly.
Zhong snorted as he assumed a combat stance, one arm bent with his hand raised, while the other extended toward Ishida.
"You don't need to know that. I found someone worth giving my life to!" Zhong Liu answered.
"I see… Then, it's time I send you to the otherworld. After I do that, I'm sure your new owner will be glad to have me as his right-hand man," Sora chuckled, letting his arms fall to his sides. He didn't even bother taking a fighting pose.
"You're the only one who'll be going to the other side, Ishida!" Zhong Liu charged forward as Sora's stance remained the same.
"You fight as stupidly as ever," The other man chuckled as he caught both of Liu's oncoming fists effortlessly. "Counter," He calmly stated as the bull-man winced in pain. To Ishida's surprise, the man's arms didn't break. Wait… Before Sora could fully realize Zhong's strategy, he was headbutted and sent flying back. He skidded across the floor before coming to a stop to hold his bleeding forehead. "You… You miserable dumb brute!" He raged as he looked at the blood in his hand.
"That was for Saiko and Raiko. The next one will be the killing blow. For Mei," Zhong Liu said with determined eyes.
"Don't think this bullshit will work again!" Ishida barked as he stood up. "I already told you, didn't I? No one who fights in close quarters can defeat me!" He declared arrogantly.
"Hmpf," Zhong smirked. "A worm like you could never defeat my Master," He proudly stated. "I have improved my martial arts since the last time we fought,"
"As if that matters," Ishida huffed while Zhong charged at him again, his hands moving for a technique. "I can see your every move, Zhong Liu!" He shouted.
The bull-man shot a palm forward, then followed with a fist before delivering a roundhouse kick. Of course, he didn't stop there; the martial arts master followed up every blow with another, a palm strike with a punch, a roundhouse kick with an uppercut, an arm swing with a kick.
"Shi no Odori! (Dance of Death)" Zhong shouted while executing his technique.
Nevertheless, Ishida fluttered like paper, dodging every single hit like it was nothing. No, he wasn't simply dodging… His hands met every blow perfectly until the bull-man's technique stopped.
"I can read you like a book," Ishida crossed his arms as he ended up behind Zhong Liu. "Unlimited Counter," He said as blood suddenly burst out from all over the other man's body, staining the floor with red as even his skin was peeled off across various spots. However, he did not fall to his knees.
Instead, Zhong clenched his teeth and pushed the pain down, refusing to let it consume him. Those injuries were nothing! He had endured much worse! So, he turned around and pressed his wrists against one another, placing his hands in a claw-like gesture as he turned around and shot forward.
"Retsuga Ken! (Tearing Fang Fist)"
"So easy," Sora stopped the hit with a finger. "Counter,"
Zhong's chest nearly burst open as he felt his own technique reflected on him. Even if it didn't kill him, blood still spilled out of his mouth, and where the injury suddenly appeared.
"Taki Nobori Ken! (Waterfall Rising Fist)" Zhong didn't let the wounds deter him as he used one of his hands like a claw again, this time in a rising vertical attack.
"Hmpf," Sora snorted as he stepped aside and slapped the bull-man's hand in the process. "Counter,"
The result was expected, yet the pain still came as a surprise as the wound that should have been on Sora's chest appeared on Zhong's, peeling his skin right off his body. This time, the man collapsed to the floor, panting in exhaustion and pain.
"Damn it…" He spat out blood, ashamed that he would fail his master… Fail Mei.
"Poor Zong Liu! No matter what you do, you just can't win, can you?" Ishida laughed. "How pathetic! You struggle in vain! Why can't you see that? Are you hoping to overwhelm my counter?! It's useless! I could repel a meteor if I wanted to!" He mocked the downed man.
Absolute Counter: Allows the user to perfectly reflect any physical attack back to its source, but only if they block it with their hands. Upon contact, the exact force and damage of the attack are instantly transferred to the attacker, regardless of its strength.
"Shut… Up!" Zhong Liu yelled back at him, slowly getting back to his feet while Ishida didn't even bother to stop him.
"You're right. No point in talking anymore, is there? Can you hear her, Zhong Liu? Your girlfriend, Lin, is calling for you! I'll send you to the same hell I sent her to!"
Zhong Liu panted as Sora launched his attack, thrusting his hands forward. He couldn't fall here, not now. He couldn't fail Mei after a decade of making her wait to be avenged. He couldn't… He couldn't fail his master!
"Hikisaku Ken no Ogi: Hyaku Netsu no Shinken! (Tearing Fist Secret Move: Hundred Burning Divine Fist)" Zhong Liu delivered a flurry of fists as if his hands multiplied the moment he got back to his feet.
"Useless, Zhong Liu!" Sora's hands followed the bull-man's example, meeting every single one of his fists. "This time, I'm done playing around! I'll send you back double the damage! Unlimited Overcounter!" He loudly declared. After ten seconds of continuous punching, they stepped away from each other.
"G-GAH!" Zhong squealed as his muscles twitched. A second later, he was covered in his own blood as it burst out from every spot on his body.
"It's over," Sora mused mockingly, crossing his arms… Only to widen his eyes as Zhong Liu simply collapsed to his knees, but didn't die. "Why are you still alive?! You received double the damage! You should have been blown to bits!"
"Because those hits were… ah… Fakeouts… haha… ha… So much for seeing my every move," Zhong Liu chuckled between pained breaths. "You missed the main one," He smirked, just as Ishida's stomach exploded open, spilling his insides to the floor as he gasped for breath.
"Im… Impossible!" Sora screamed while desperately holding his organs in his arms as he lay on the floor, bleeding out.
"I already… Ah… Faced death against my master once… Ah… I saw a wall… That I can't surmount… I got much stronger… Than the last time we fought… You are nothing…" Zhong groaned, painfully standing up. "That last hit was for Mei…" He declared before walking away from the man who ruined his life, letting him experience agony. Oh, he wouldn't end his pain so easily. He would die slowly and alone.
"Z-ZHONG LIU!" Sora screamed as loud as he could while blood streamed down his chin, trying to reach out to the bull-man.
"I'll see you in hell," Zhong Liu simply replied as he took out his phone and sent Vortex a text.
Ishida watched as a portal opened in front of Zhong Liu. He watched as the bull-man stepped through. He watched as his killer disappeared, and left him alone. Ishida gurgled on his own blood while darkness slowly crept up to him, surrounding him. Cold. It was getting cold…
***
In the Beastlords Legion's base
A few hours later
"What a grand success!" Tangleweaver raised his glass of rhum victoriously.
"A bit too easy, which got me worried at the start," Lifebane said as he sipped on his glass of wine.
The former gang leaders and some other subordinates, along with Izuku and Himiko, were all in a private room, drinking to their hearts' content as they celebrated their victory over the Chinese Mafia.
They were scattered across the room on various seats, with several of them enjoying a dance from strippers. They danced in lingerie with notes in the straps of their panties as tips. While some kept a certain distance from the men, others had no issues sitting on their laps, twerking on their crotches while they looked into their eyes with lustful gazes.
Izuku sat in an armchair that fit his size while Himiko was on his back, her arms wrapped around his neck as she sipped on a drink of her own. Mio and Isami were on his lap, leaning on his sides and enjoying the comfort of his tough body. Finally, as proof he didn't have an ounce of shame, Himiko's mother, now named Bicchi, was sucking on his cock in front of everyone. Now that her injuries had closed, she didn't need a blindfold anymore, revealing thick scars instead of eyes.
"Enjoy this as much as you can! We'll probably get only more enemies from now on!" He grinned as he casually drank from a bottle of whiskey. "Still, glad we got rid of that pain in the ass!" He laughed, which elicited more laughter from his new underlings. While some's laughs were wholehearted, that couldn't be said for everyone as Shade Wielder looked distant. "She really got better at this, didn't she?" Izuku suddenly praised Bicchi as he patted her on the head.
"Of course, we trained her ourselves, after all," Isami replied while looking at the woman, a small smirk gracing her lips.
"She's taking my cock a lot better than before. Did you use Zhong to train her?" Izuku inquired curiously. He hadn't cared much about her in the last months since she had been here, but she seemed to be well-liked by the customers. Her blindness gave her a certain… Exotic flair.
"Nope. He said something about not fucking the crazy ones," Mio shrugged as Himiko snickered at the response. "Don't know what he means. Look at how docile she is," She complimented the other woman.
"Am… Am I doing well, Master?" Bicchi pulled his dick out of her mouth, seemingly fishing for praise.
"Yeah, very well, now get back to it," The horned boy responded dismissively.
"Speaking of Liu, where is he?" Himiko asked, not giving a shit about her mother's state.
"In the infirmary. He looked like he fell in a shredder or something. He'll live, but it'll take some time for him to get better," Izuku explained. "I did ask him if he wanted a dancer anyway, but considering he can barely move…" He shrugged.
"Oh, well! Too bad he can't enjoy this!" Himiko whistled while her eyes wandered over the room, sometimes landing on the butt of one of the various dancers and following it.
"We should enjoy this twice as much in his honor then!" Izuku loudly exclaimed, gaining several cheers in return.
"Fuck yeah!" Tangleweaver yelled as he groped the dancer closest to him without a care in the world. "Never thought I'd take out Lei Xue and his whole group! I was right to follow you, Haō-sama!"
"Hail Haō!" Arsenal suddenly shouted, springing up from his seat, hoping the others would follow. Unfortunately, he was only met with ambient music as the others stared at him. The weapon master grumbled something under his breath, then sat back down.
"Yeah, it sure is… Exciting…" Vortex gulped, nervously looking at the breasts of the stripper dancing near him. "That's… Wow… A lot of scantily clad women…" He mumbled as one of them suddenly caressed his chin, nearly making him spill his drink.
"Why so nervous?" She purred.
While mostly everyone enjoyed their time, Himiko softly exhaled, snuggling up even closer to Izuku's neck. She had never thought she'd have that much fun nor that she would know such happiness. By all means, this was already an ideal life for her. She had companions, and freedom, and was by the side of the boy she loved. Despite all that, she thought of the world Izuku would make and the endless possibilities it brought. The more she thought about it, the more that life seemed to be lacking compared to what they could have. It gave her strength. She wanted to give all her power to him, to spread that ideal life of hers on a wider scale.
"You look pathetic like that, Vortex! Hahaha!" Arsenal laughed with a perverted grin. "It's like you've never seen a woman from up close before!"
"S-Shut up, you-!" Vortex yelled back, stopping himself mid-sentence to yelp in surprise when a dancer sat on his lap.
"Come on, Ace! You haven't even finished your first glass! Drink away! This is a party, after all!" Izuku exclaimed to the blonde on his back, handing her an entire bottle of champagne. "Don't tell me you're getting shy in front of mommy, now?" He snickered.
"As if!" She giggled in response before taking the bottle. "Not like she can see me drinking, either way," Himiko added before taking a swing of the champagne.
"I do hope we'll get even more excitement, boss! I only got to kill small fries in my attack today!" Tangleweaver shouted from his spot, his cheeks red from the alcohol in his blood.
"Of course! This was only a glimpse! Once the final phase of my plan begins, the whole world will be our enemy!" Izuku casually replied a confident smile etched on his face.
"The entire world," Lifebane whispered as he watched his drink, taking his focus off the woman dancing around him.
"That's Haō-sama for you!" Arsenal declared, pumping up his fist.
"Still, the next part of the plan seems… risky. Infiltrating U.A is one thing… But find recruits among them?" Shade Wielder questioned the feasibility of it all. However, Haō simply laughed in response.
"Oh, Shade, you don't get it," Izuku shook his head amusedly. "Do you actually think these future students will be beacons of hope, innocence, and justice? Everyone has a monster they hide inside, some simply tame them better than others, and some just do not have the strength to give themselves to it…"
The day of the entrance exam finally came, welcoming hundreds of different participants, all filled with the prospect of reaching a bright future. Some confidently marched on, others stepped up with shaking legs, and a few advanced as if they were fulfilling a duty.
[Do you think there will be no sharks among them? No matter what each of them may say, they share different ideals and goals. Not all of them hope to accomplish the same thing by becoming heroes. In truth, they are out to get something. It could be something as simple as money, the drive to keep a roof above your head and your close ones.]
A short, slender girl with auburn hair stood outside, breathing deeply. Her hands were clenched at her sides, and her face was partly hidden behind her scarf as she nervously stared at the building where U.A. welcomed the exam takers. A nagging thought in the back of her mind tempted her to turn and flee, whispering that she had no chance of success. But another thought quickly surged forward, silencing the doubt as the faces of her father and mother flashed vividly in her mind.
[As reasonable as it sounds, many would consider such aspirations selfish, wouldn't you say? Of course, someone else could seek fame instead. A need to be seen by others or even to control the masses.]
A midget of a boy with grape-looking hair excitedly watched the passing girls walking to the exam site, already drooling at the thought of possibly attending the same classes as them or even having them as fans, one day.
[Perhaps, they simply wish to live a comfortable life, and that they might as well help other people while they are at it. Maybe, they have no powerful drives at all, simply following childhood dreams.]
A girl with long dark green hair, large hands, and frog-like features looked ahead impassively, quietly admiring the building where her dreams would possibly come true. Everything hung on this day, and while she wasn't a nervous wreck, she couldn't say she was serene either. Despite that, she decided to stroll forward, willing to meet her destiny.
Another girl, petite with fair skin, and earphone jacks hanging from her earlobes, followed closely behind. She looked around her with a grimace, impressed by the sheer number of examinees surrounding her. She had that much competition?! The girl gulped nervously, then shook her head. No, she wouldn't let that deter her!
[Or maybe, they want to change the world. They think it's unfair, and that there is no justice anymore, so they believe they'll bring what's missing. They believe that they'll be the ones to start a new era, one with justice.]
Floating clothes marched forward, taking in the sight of the place that would hopefully help her reach her dreams. Just as she was about to go through the entrance, a horned pink girl suddenly ran into her, nearly throwing her to the floor. Miraculously, the other girl grabbed her by the back of the shirt, keeping her from falling down. She sheepishly apologized as she helped the invisible woman to her feet and wished her good luck before taking her first step toward changing the world.
A tall, muscular, and masked boy with multiple arms confidently strolled forward, seemingly not bound by any nervous feeling.
[What about the ones who were pressured into this? The ones whose fate lies in someone else's hands?]
A blonde boy with an unusual belt looked down, the terrified faces of his parents flashing before his eyes. He clenched his hands, a spiteful expression on his face, which quickly turned into a smile. He stepped forward, burying his fears deep inside him.
[Don't you think some of them would do anything to reach their goals if given the chance? They only ever had one option because it was the only one ever given to them. An option that didn't guarantee success. What if they met the Devil? What if he gave them another option? What if he gave them a choice that would ensure they reach their wildest dreams no matter the cost? Of course, some will outright refuse, either because they already hold generations of heroics on their backs.]
A tall boy with engines in his calves and glasses on his nose robotically walked forward, standing surprisingly upright.
[Or because they have too much pride to take a helping hand, even if it comes from the Devil himself.]
Bakugou snarled as he made his way to the entrance exam, sparks already flying out of his palms. He was the best. He needed to be the best. He needed to show everyone that no one held a candle to him! He needed to. He needed to prove he was the strongest.
[No matter what they pick… The Devil will come, and he will give them a choice.]
Izuku stood in front of U.A.'s gates, calmly watching the examinees going in as the wind slowly blew into his hair. After a few seconds, the horned boy smirked and stepped forward.