In his Castle, Diego stood in his grand castle, chanting incantations before the towering statue of the Goddess.
Diego: in frustration "Oh, Goddess, why am I not deemed worthy of Azaria's true power?"
The statue remained silent, offering no response. Diego's frustration grew, his fists clenched.
Diego: muttering to himself "Has she abandoned me, just like Ellen? All I've ever done is protect the divine lineage from being tainted by the Devil's bloodline!"
He paused, deep in thought.
Diego: suspiciously "Eva married Izana, who possesses the powers of an angel, but Ellen... I still have no idea where she's hiding. Could she have discovered that I was the one responsible for Toshinori's death?"
Diego paced back and forth, his mind racing with suspicion.
Diego: grimly "There's no way she could have simply disappeared. If Ellen knows the truth, she would have already come for revenge... unless…"
He paused, narrowing his eyes as the realization began to dawn on him.
Diego: thoughtfully "If she's hiding, it means she's protecting something—something important. But what could be so valuable that she's kept it hidden for 15 years?"
He clenched his fist, the pieces of the puzzle starting to fall into place.
Diego: darkly "I need to find out what it is… and fast."
After a moment of contemplation, Diego's expression darkened as a new plan formed in his mind.
Diego: thinking aloud "If Ellen is hiding something this important, then perhaps the Midoriya family knows more than they're letting on. Izuku… he's close to her, and she's been under his protection for years."
He smirked, the corners of his mouth curling up.
Diego: with resolve "It's time I pay Izuku a visit. If anyone knows Ellen's secret, it's him. And if not… I'll make him talk."
He turned on his heel, his mind set on confronting the No. 1 Hero, determined to uncover Ellen's secret and what she's been protecting for all these years.
Diego arrived at Izuku's office, his expression composed but with an underlying intensity. He stepped forward, extending a hand.
Diego: calmly "Mr. Midoriya, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Izuku, keeping up his facade, responded with a practiced smile.
Izuku: politely "The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Diego. What brings you here today?"
Diego wasted no time, his tone shifting slightly.
Diego: "I'm looking for Ellen. She's been gone for years, and I can't seem to find her. Do you happen to know anything about her whereabouts?"
Izuku's smile remained, but there was a flicker of tension beneath his calm demeanor.
Izuku: feigning ignorance "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. Ellen vanished after my son's death. I haven't heard from her since."
Diego leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharp as he scrutinized Izuku's face.
Diego: with a thin smile "I see... But I find it rather curious that Ellen would disappear for 15 years without leaving a single trace. Surely, the world's No. 1 Hero would have some idea of her whereabouts, wouldn't he?"
Izuku remained composed, keeping his emotions well-guarded.
Izuku: casually "I understand your concern, Mr. Diego. Ellen was devastated after Toshinori's death. Perhaps she needed time to heal and felt distancing herself was the only way."
Diego's smile faded, his eyes narrowing with growing suspicion.
Diego: pressing "Is that so? Fifteen years seems quite excessive for grieving, don't you think? You wouldn't be keeping anything from me, would you?"
Izuku met his gaze head-on, his tone firm but measured.
Izuku: steadily "I can assure you, Mr. Diego, there's nothing I'm hiding. Ellen is family, and if I knew where she was, I would have brought her back already. My priority is to protect those I love, and I don't take that lightly."
Diego's gaze lingered on Izuku, unsatisfied with the response. He was beginning to sense that this conversation wasn't going in his favor.
Diego: softly, with a veiled threat "For your sake, Mr. Midoriya, I trust you're being truthful."
Izuku: "Mr. Diego, what do you mean by 'for your sake'? You and I both know what I'm capable of."
As he spoke, he released an aura that sent a chill down Diego's spine.
Izuku: "Your family is descended from the Goddess, and given Eva and Izana's marriage, we're in-laws. As the No. 1 Hero, it's not appropriate for you to undermine my pride."
Diego: stammering "I apologize, Mr. Midoriya. It's just..."
Izuku: "Don't think I'm unaware of what you've done in the name of preserving your bloodline. You were the one who killed my son, Toshinori, weren't you?"
Diego froze, his eyes widening in shock at the accusation. He quickly regained his composure, but the tension in the room was thick.
Diego: nervously chuckling "Mr. Midoriya, I'm not sure what you're suggesting, but I would never—"
Izuku: interrupting coldly "Don't lie to me, Diego. You believed you could manipulate the situation and hide behind your so-called 'divine purpose,' but I know exactly what you did to Toshinori."
Izuku's aura flared once more, causing Diego to instinctively step back, beads of sweat beginning to form on his brow.
Izuku: with icy resolve "You took my son from me, all in the name of preserving your 'pure' bloodline. But let this be clear—I will not allow you to harm Ellen, Eva, or anyone else in my family. Your obsession with power and lineage ends here."
Diego's expression hardened as he recognized that Izuku was not bluffing.
Diego: gritting his teeth "You think you're invincible just because you hold the title of No. 1 Hero? Don't forget that the gods themselves watch over my family. You may be strong, Izuku, but there are forces at play that you cannot begin to comprehend."
Izuku: calm yet fierce "Perhaps. But there's one thing I do understand—you're not a god, Diego. You're merely a man willing to kill his own kin to protect a legacy that doesn't even belong to you."
Diego clenched his fists, visibly shaken. Though he longed to retaliate, he realized that confronting Izuku now would be a grave mistake.
Diego: with forced politeness "We'll see about that, Mr. Midoriya. But for now... I'll take my leave."
Izuku watched Diego turn and exit the office, his gaze steady and unyielding. As the door clicked shut behind him, Izuku exhaled softly, his thoughts racing. He needed to protect Ellen and Hawk now more than ever.
Izuku: whispering to himself "You won't lay a hand on them, Diego. Not while I'm still standing."
Afterward, Izuku returned home and sat down with his son, Toshinori, to explain the recent encounter.
Izuku: serious and concerned "Diego was here again, asking about Ellen."
Toshinori: frowning, a hint of anger in his voice "I know, Dad. I don't want him to find out about Ellen or Hawk."
Izuku: leaning forward, curious "What's on your mind, son?"
Toshinori: determined, his expression hardening "Ellen is the rightful heir to the Throne of Russia, and I'm going to make sure she gets it."
Izuku: raising an eyebrow, cautious "So, you're planning to expose Diego to the world? Does Ellen know about this?"
Toshinori: shaking his head, worry etched on his face "No, it's better if she doesn't. She's been through so much already, and I don't want to add to her burdens."
After that, the atmosphere in the room grew tense as both father and son contemplated the gravity of the situation.
Izuku: sighing heavily "I understand your intentions, but you have to be careful. Diego won't hesitate to retaliate if he feels threatened."
Toshinori: nodding, a fire igniting in his eyes "I know, Dad. But this isn't just about us anymore. It's about protecting Ellen and Hawk's future. They deserve a life free from his shadow."
Izuku: placing a reassuring hand on Toshinori's shoulder "You're right. But remember, you're not alone in this. We're a family, and we'll face whatever comes together."
Toshinori: meeting his father's gaze, determination solidifying his resolve "Thanks, Dad. I just need to come up with a plan. If we can expose Diego for what he truly is, then maybe we can finally break his hold on our family."
Izuku: smiling slightly "Just promise me you'll think it through. We can't afford any mistakes."
Toshinori: grinning back, feeling bolstered by his father's support "I promise. I'll figure it out. For Ellen and Hawk."
Just then, Ellen's voice echoed from the kitchen, cheerful and inviting.
Ellen: calling out "Dinner's ready, everyone! Come and eat before it gets cold!"
Toshinori and Izuku exchanged glances, the weight of their earlier conversation momentarily lifting.
Toshinori: smiling warmly "Looks like we better not keep her waiting."
Izuku: chuckling "You know how she is about dinner. Let's go."
They both made their way to the dining room, where the aroma of Ellen's cooking filled the air. As they entered, Ellen turned to them with a bright smile, her presence lighting up the room.
Ellen: playfully "There you are! I thought you both got lost in your conversations."
Toshinori: grinning "Just strategizing, that's all."
Ellen: raising an eyebrow, intrigued "Oh? About what?"
Izuku: glancing at Toshinori "Just work related matters. Nothing you need to worry about."
Ellen nodded but sensed the undercurrent of tension. Nevertheless, she busied herself with serving dinner, her nurturing spirit evident.
Ellen: setting the table "Well, no matter what it is, you both need to eat. Family dinner is the best way to unwind."
As they sat down, the warmth of the family gathering enveloped them, allowing them to momentarily forget the looming challenges outside their home.
They began to share stories and laughter, reminding themselves of the strength that came from being together.