Chapter 78 - The Awakening

Deku, Bakugo, and Shoto sat around a table in a cozy café, laughter and chatter filling the air. The weight of their responsibilities felt lighter in the warmth of friendship.

Deku: smiling "Can you believe how far we've come? From those days at U.A. to now, being grandpas! It feels surreal."

Bakugo: smirking "Yeah, yeah, but let's not forget who taught these kids how to be strong. They didn't get it from just watching us."

Shoto: nodding "True. Our grandkids are a reflection of our legacies. Hawk, Izek, Kaisen, and Shingen are all exceptional in their own ways."

Deku's eyes sparkled with pride as he thought of his grandsons.

Deku: "Hawk is growing up to be just like his dad. He has that same determination and heart. And Izek… he's so clever and resourceful, even without his Powers!"

Bakugo: grinning "Kaisen's got my temper and my drive. He's reckless but strong. If he learns to control it, he'll be unstoppable."

Shoto: thoughtfully "Shingen has a good balance of both worlds—powerful yet calm. He knows when to unleash his potential and when to think strategically. It's impressive to see."

Deku chuckled, remembering their antics.

Deku: "You remember the last family gathering? Hawk and Kaisen were at each other's throats over who could defeat a giant monster in the training simulator!"

Bakugo: laughing "I do! And Shingen just stood there, shaking his head while Izek was trying to play peacemaker. Those kids have a spark in them."

Shoto: smiling softly "It's nice to see our legacy continue. They've learned so much from us, but they're also carving their own paths. It's exciting to think about what they'll accomplish."

Deku: "Exactly! And we'll be right there cheering them on, just like our friends and mentors did for us."

Bakugo: "Let's just make sure they know we were the best heroes. They can't forget who paved the way for them!"

As the laughter between them died down, Deku's expression shifted to something more serious.

Deku: sighing "Speaking of legacies… I had a meeting with Diego recently."

Both Bakugo and Shoto immediately straightened up, their faces hardening at the mention of Diego.

Bakugo: gruffly "That guy's still hanging around? What does he want now?"

Shoto: calmly but with a serious undertone "I'm guessing it wasn't a friendly chat."

Deku: nodding "You guessed right. He came to my office, looking for Ellen. He's been digging around, trying to find out where she disappeared to all these years. I had to act like I didn't know anything, but he's suspicious. He brought up Toshinori's death too."

Bakugo clenched his fists, his temper rising.

Bakugo: "That damn Diego… He's the reason Toshinori was gone, isn't he? Now he's sniffing around Ellen. We can't let him anywhere near her or Hawk."

Shoto: thoughtfully "Diego's dangerous. He has his own agenda, and if he's looking for Ellen, he must suspect something. But why now? After 15 years, what's changed?"

Deku: grimly "I think he's starting to realize Ellen didn't just vanish out of grief. He might even know more than he's letting on. But one thing is clear—he's not going to stop until he gets what he wants. And that puts Hawk and the others at risk."

Bakugo: with determination "If Diego wants trouble, we'll give him more than he can handle. He might think he's smart, but he's messing with the wrong family."

Shoto: calm but intense "We'll need to keep an eye on him. If he makes any moves, we have to be ready. Protecting Hawk, Izek, and the others is our priority."

Deku nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. He knew that Diego wasn't someone they could take lightly.

Deku: "I'm not going to let him hurt my family again. Not this time."

Just as Deku, Bakugo, and Shoto were finishing their conversation, alarms suddenly blared throughout the facility.

In the distance, a crackling energy resonated from two massive portals that had appeared—one in Japan and another in Paris.

Deku: looking at the monitor "What's going on?!"

A security officer rushed in, urgency in his voice.

Officer: "Two portals, sir! One just opened up in Japan, and the other in Paris! Massive energy readings off the charts!"

Bakugo: gritting his teeth "What now?! We don't get a moment's rest."

Shoto: calmly "We need to investigate. Who's near the Japan portal?"

Deku: checking the location feed "Ken and Shoya. They're already heading to the Japan portal to check it out."

At the portal site in Japan, Ken and Shoya stood in front of the swirling vortex of energy, feeling the power surging from within.

Ken: eyes narrowed "This energy… it's not like anything we've seen before."

Shoya: cautiously "It's different from the usual portals we've encountered. Something is wrong here."

As they approached the portal, the air around it crackled with energy, the ground shaking beneath their feet.

The portal shimmered, revealing figures moving within—an army, advancing through the rift.

Ken: gripping his weapon "We need to figure out where this portal leads and what they're sending through."

Shoya: nodding "Let's move. We don't have much time."

As Ken and Shoya prepared for battle, a dark energy filled the air. A portal suddenly opened, and devils poured out, surrounding them, the atmosphere thick with malice.

Ken: gritting his teeth "Looks like this won't be as peaceful as we thought."

Shoya: cracking his knuckles "Let's deal with these pests quickly."

Without hesitation, they leaped into action. Ken shifted into his massive dragon form, his body covered in gleaming, molten steel-like scales. Shoya followed, transforming into his towering Titan form, exuding raw, destructive power.

The devils attacked relentlessly, but Ken and Shoya held their ground. Ken's dragon breath scorched the battlefield, while Shoya's colossal fists sent shockwaves through the enemy ranks, obliterating the lesser devils.

Then, a figure emerged from the chaos—one of All For One's generals. Clad in dark armor and radiating malice, he stepped forward.

Trak: with a chilling voice"You two are strong... but not strong enough to stop what's coming."

Before they could react, Trak struck, stabbing both Ken and Shoya with ethereal blades of dark energy. They collapsed, their life force fading.

Ken: gritting his teeth "This can't be the end!"

Shoya: gasping "No... not like this..."

As they lay on the brink of death, something miraculous occurred. Their souls didn't fade; instead, they drifted into a realm beyond—the Eternal Rest, a vast expanse filled with blinding light.

Ken: looking around in awe "Where are we?"

Shoya: confused "What is this place?"

Suddenly, two towering figures materialized before them, radiating immense power. One, draped in dark energy, stepped forward.

Anatres: in a deep, resonating voice "I am Anatres, the first Dragon King, Monarch of Destruction, created by the gods."

The second figure, just as imposing, followed.

Godzilla: voice rumbling like an earthquake "I am Godzilla, the first Titan, Monarch of Creation, also created by the gods."

Ken and Shoya exchanged confused glances, realizing the immense power these beings represented.

Shoya: cautiously "Who are you both?"

Anatres: gesturing around "This is the Eternal Rest, where we've waited for millennia."

Godzilla: nodding "We disappeared after battling the strongest being who rebelled against the gods."

The air grew heavy as Anatres continued.

Anatres: "In that battle, nearly all existence was destroyed. To protect what remained, we sacrificed ourselves to restore the world, but our bodies faded. We waited, our powers dormant, for those worthy of carrying them."

Godzilla: looking at Shoya "You are the chosen ones. You carry our essence, though only a fraction of our full strength."

Ken: furrowing his brow "But weren't you accompanied by others?"

Anatres: nodding "Yes. Alongside us were Sparda, the Dark Knight—the strongest devil—and Michael, the mightiest Archangel."

Godzilla: interjecting "Sparda chose Toshinori, and Michael chose Izana. Their powers also await their successors."

The ancient beings explained that the recent portal in Paris signaled Sparda and Michael's awakening, soon to pass their remaining powers to their chosen successors.

Ken, still grappling with their limitations, asked the burning question.

Ken: serious "If we possess your powers, how could All For One have limited our powers? Why weren't we at full strength?"

Godzilla: his gaze darkening "You only held one percent of our power. The rest remained dormant, waiting for the right moment."

Anatres: nodding "Now, that moment has come. The battle ahead will test you, but you are no longer alone. You carry the legacies of creation and destruction."

The weight of their words settled over Ken and Shoya. They had barely scratched the surface of their abilities, but now, they would embrace their full potential to face the looming threat.

Shoya: with renewed resolve "Then we'll end this."

Ken: grinning with determination "Let's show them what true power looks like."

The ancient monarchs watched as Ken and Shoya prepared for the coming storm, their fates now intertwined with the forces of the universe.

Trak: staggering back, wide-eyed "Impossible... what's happening?"

Ken and Shoya returned to their human forms, but the aura surrounding them radiated a newfound, overwhelming power.

Trak: in disbelief "No... This can't be. They've returned to their full strength?!"

As Trak tried to comprehend the shift, two portals opened behind Ken and Shoya. From the glowing rifts stepped Karta and Adrean, their own power fully restored. They moved forward with reverence, bowing deeply before Ken and Shoya.

Karta: with respect "Master Ken, Master Shoya, we have regained our full strength, just as you have."

Adrean: nodding "We are ready to serve, as always, my lords."

Ken and Shoya exchanged a glance, their confidence palpable, as the tides of the battle had now turned completely in their favor.

Ken: smirking "Looks like we're not the only ones getting a power boost today."

Shoya: cracking his neck "Well, Trak, you were right about one thing... you're not strong enough to stop what's coming."

Ken stared at Trak, his expression cold and unyielding.

Ken: demanding "Trak, tell me what All For One is plotting, and why he's been hiding for so long."

Shoya: with a dangerous edge "Tell us, or our Marshals will ensure you regret it."

Trak stood defiant, refusing to speak. Ken's gaze hardened, and he glanced at Karta.

Ken: calmly, but with menace "He stabbed me in the chest with that dark blade... and ruined this shirt. The one gifted by my wife."

Karta: furious, bowing "He dared to do that to you, my lord? I'll make sure he spills everything we need to know."

Shoya, eyes burning with determination, turned to Adrean.

Shoya: commanding "Adrean, stop wasting time on the portal to the demon world. Prepare all the Titans for war. With our powers fully restored, opening those portals will be child's play."

Adrean: bowing deeply "As you command, my lord. The Titans will rise again."

The air around them crackled with power, as Ken and Shoya stood ready to lead their forces into the heart of the demon world, with Trak's fate now in the hands of their merciless Marshals. The time for games was over—war was coming.