{12} - Izumi Midoriya: Means to an End
Legally, Izumi Midoriya was no longer allowed to return to Japan. Her citizenship had been revoked after her stunt, and the government had placed agents all across the country if she happened to return.
Sadly, their efforts would be for naught.
After a good day of sleep, Izumi finally took off to the skies, her new Iron Suit fit snugly over her body. The design was sleeker than any of her previous Iron Suits—it isn't a surprise, considering it was formed entirely from nanobots. The suit was a clean silver, decorated only by glowing lines of blue that stretched from the Arc Reactor over her chest.
She flew through the skies at hyperspeeds, surpassing the speed of sound nearly a dozenfold. It wasn't a speed normal humans would've been able to handle normally, but both her Endurance and her -Extremis Infusion- made the flight comfortable.
As she began to approach the coasts of Japan, she activated her Suit's cloaking device. A glimmer of light shone from her suit, before the nanobots deployed cellular mirrors all across her Suit. A moment later, she vanished from sight.
But it wouldn't be enough. Their radars would still detect her when she came close. So she activated her Suit's jamming function, and just like that she became invisible to all forms of radar.
It still wouldn't be enough. She hadn't disappeared from reality. Those with especially keen senses could still catch her.
But she was fine with that. She wasn't running from the Heroes. She just wanted to hide from the government.
But if Heroes did go after her?
Well, the newly-enhanced Arc Reactor over her chest would be her answer.
After just minutes of flying, she made it into Japan. She gazed at the civilians below as she soared above the buildings. They looked wary. Businessmen were running to their workplaces. Parents ushered their children away from the roads. It was as if they wanted to spend as little time as they could outside.
Crime rates has surged. The Villains have gotten more bold. Heroes are losing Quirks. Houses are being destroyed. More homeless roam the streets than ever. The people are losing faith in the government-
"I already know that." She bit out. "I'm trying to fix things." She added. -Absolute Insight- went silent after that.
Soon enough, she came across a series of business buildings, built in an unassuming residential district. She descended, and as her feet touched down onto the carved stone paths, she let her cellular mirrors fade.
She reappeared, and her Suit immediately picked up on panicked steps down below.
But she didn't move. She wasn't here as a Hero. She wasn't here to bring the Yakuza to justice. At least, not yet.
They were more useful at the moment.
The door to the main building opened, and a man came out. Dark hair and sharp yellow eyes, adorned by a leather beak worn over his mouth. He stalked towards her, wary but not hostile.
"Chisaki Kai." She called out. He froze. "Or is Overhaul now?"
"Call me Overhaul." He said. He narrowed his eyes. "You're the one who did the Purge."
She nodded. "I am." She let her mask fall, melding back into the rest of her Suit. "I am Midoriya Izumi. But do call me Legion." She smiled, listening to the whispers -Absolute Insight- was giving her. "I am Quirkless, as you may have known."
"I know." He said, a little calmer than before. "What are you doing here?"
She glanced away for a moment. "Can we talk inside?" She frowned. "I'm afraid my request isn't fit for the prying ears."
He nodded, and he led her into the compound. It looked normal enough—an office decorated as a traditional Japanese lodging. But they came across a vase, and Overhaul flicked the level hidden beneath it to reveal a set of hidden staircases built into the wall.
They walked into the dark, and came into a labyrinth. It was massive, spanning far beyond the office compound above. Built with twisting walls and blocked paths, it was designed to confuse any enemy that happened to reach here.
Of course, it was meaningless against her. Her Suit had already mapped out the entire place as they walked down the stairs.
Before long, they came into what seemed to be a meeting room. There was nothing more than a pair of couches, separated by a small coffee table. She sat down, and he did as well.
But she couldn't help but smile as she glanced at the wall. "There's no need to hide." She said. "I mean no harm."
Overhaul stared at her, and then sighed as he waved his hand. The wall to her right suddenly warped, and a large group of people came into the room. They all stood behind Overhaul, their faces covered by different masks.
She grinned. "That's better."
Overhaul stared at her.
Is wary of you. Doesn't know the capabilities of your suit. Wants to study your suit. Wants to study you. Is holding himself back in fear. Knows that you most likely know everything about him. Knows that he will lose in combat.
She wasn't surprised. Kai Chisaki was no fool. He'd built the Shie Hassaikai from the crumbling ruins of the Yakuza.
She took a breath. "How far have you gone with that Quirk-destroying drug of yours?"
He blinked. "That's it? Is that what you're asking for?"
She smiled. The Arc Reactor on her chest shone menacingly. "Answer the question."
The people behind him were about to attack, but he raised his hand to stop them. "It is working well enough." He said. "Surely you've seen the news."
"I have." She closed her eyes. "But can it destroy multiple Quirks?"
"...you speak of the Nomu."
"I do." She held out a palm, and from her repulsor came a hologram of All for One in all his disgusting glory. "They were made by All for One, a Villain with the power to take and give Quirks as he sees fit." The hologram faded, and she smiled. "It's why there've been so many Villains as of late." She huffed. "I'm sure you see the issue."
He does. He had his suspicions. It has been confirmed. Is wondering whether his formula would work against-
She forced her eyes shut. "He needs to go down. That thing deserves to die, lest he bring about the [End]." She shivered slightly. "I-, we need to strike. And fast."
Overhaul was quiet, but the man might as well have been screaming in his mind. Every little glance she made caused her -Absolute Insight- to spew his thoughts into her mind. She didn't have a way of blocking it at the moment. Not yet. Her Skill's Level was still far too low.
Eventually, Overhaul asked, "How many Quirks does he have?"
"Hundreds." She said severely.
The man stared, and then sighed. "I'm not prideful enough to claim that the drug will work."
And at that, Izumi did her best not to smile. "Even so, we have to try." She said instead, putting forth a desperate smile. "If we do nothing, All for One will have access to all Quirks. By then, he'll be unstoppable."
"...that's true." Overhaul waved to one of his men to come closer. "Bring her a case."
He nodded and left. Overhaul turned back to her. "Why not leave him to All Might?"
She returned a bland smile. "Ever wonder why All Might doesn't show himself as much as he used to?"
"...I see." He stared. "And how do you know that?"
She maintained her smile.
He didn't ask further.
The man soon returned with a briefcase in his hands. He gave it to her, and her -Absolute Insight- immediately filled her mind with the complexities of the drug inside the briefcase, and ways she could improve on it using both her Extremis and her nanites.
A grin threatened to break onto her face. She barely managed to force it away.
"Thank you." She sent a solemn smile instead. "I have much to prepare for now. I'll be off." Her smile became somewhat amused as she winked. "Oh, and don't worry. I won't be reporting you to the authorities." Or at least, she wouldn't if they stayed quiet.
She left soon after, with a spring in her steps and ideas running through her head.
She sent a silent apology to Smith-sensei. It seemed she would be skipping sleep for a few more days.
...…........
The Shie Hassaikai was struck silent. Not one of them moved—they were still befuddled by the 'Hero' that'd just paid them a visit.
Then, after minutes of silence, Overhaul laughed.
"B-Boss?" One of them asked.
"Chronostasis." He called, a wide grin stretching past his mask. "Where's the nearest Coco Ichibanya?"
"...eh?"
Overhaul's grin remained, even as he read the thinly-veiled threat Legion had somehow sent to his phone. A phone that had no connection.
[Also, stop torturing Eri, you sick bastard. You have her DNA already. Stop being a pervert. Don't force me to nuke your base.] Was her first message. She'd swiftly followed it up with, [Oh, and get some curry for the girl. She needs some good food in her life.]
"How terrifying." He whispered, his grin still wide.
His arm hadn't stopped shaking for minutes.