The room was dimly lit, as though the walls themselves mourned the loss of the fallen. Silence hung in the air, so thick and heavy it felt suffocating. Every face in the room bore the weight of what had happened in the last two days.
Lines etched into brows, grim determination coiled behind tired eyes. Principal Nezu sat at the head of the table, his paws clasped together, eyes glinting with an unreadable expression. The screen behind him displayed a somber scene: Crust, the Shield hero frozen in time.
"We owe Crust a huge debt we can never repay," Nezu began, his voice soft yet commanding. "He gave everything to shield our students. Without him, I'm sure their walks would have been more treacherous."
The words settled heavily in the room. Beside him, All Might lowered his head. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"He was a true hero." murmured Midnight, her usual vibrance extinguished. "Always the first to step forward and last to retreat."
Across the table, Vlad King sat stiffly, his crimson eyes glassy. The room seemed to hold it's breath as he cleared his throat. "And yet... one of mine fell." His voice cracked. "Yui Kodai. Quiet, steady and a bright future all snuffed away. She didn't deserve this."
The silence deepened, as though the very air sought to absorb the pain emanating from the man. Vlad's hands shook as he gripped the edge of the table, the veins on his arms standing out like fault lines.
"I have to call her parents," he choked out. "I have to tell them that their daughter..." he swallowed hard. "That their daughter isn't coming home."
Midnight reached out a hand, but he waved her off, his grief too raw to be soothed. Tears slipped down his face, unbidden and unashamed.
Nezu gave him a moment before speaking again. "Ms. Kodai's loss will not be in vein. Nor Crust's. But we also must address other matters."
The shift in tone sent a ripple down the entire table. Nezu's eyes, sharp as ever, scanned the table. A new image appeared on the screen, behind him Kobe Arakawa, his eyes blinking tears away as he floated over the destruction he had just caused. The sight was chilling, even for the battle-hardened heroes present.
"Soryu," Nezu started, his tone inscrutable. "A boy who is rapidly becoming more than we bargained for."
"He killed Abyss, and Overhaul before him." Aizawa said, his voice low and gravelly. "Brutally, and catastrophically. Without hesitation." His eyes, hidden beneath the messy black hair that seemed darker than usual.
"But in some cases, like this one. I have to say that it was necessary." Many eyes widened, and brows creased hearing the sentence from their very own number 1 hero. "Abyss was a monster that many high ranking heroes would have died to if they fought him while still trying to preserve his life. I'm not a fan of it, but in that situation they are all in. It may have been what was necessary."
"Necessary, perhaps," Nezu conceded. "But the manner in which he did it, that's what's concerning. And it's not just Abyss. Look at his actions. He did not fight to protect, he fought to destroy."
"He's angry," All Might argued. "Wouldn't you be, in his shoes?"
"He's just a boy." Midnight cooed.
"A boy with an incredibly dangerous quirk and sharp mind." Aizawa shot back, "With the way this 'Game' is going, do any of you think that people like him will even stop killing? Or will he find new targets for his rage? He was already off acting alone before all of this happened."
All Might opened his mouth to retort, but Nezu cut in. "Enough." His voice, though quiet, carried an undeniable authority. "This is not a debate of emotion. It's a matter of facts. And the fact is, Kobe Arakawa's action's may set a precedent. One that could redefine what it means to be a hero, for better or for worse."
The room fell silent once more. Nezu's gaze lingered on the image of Kobe, his expression unreadable. "We must watch him closely. Guide him, if we can. But if we cant..."
He didn't finish what he was saying. All Might pointed back to the feed.
"Look!"
Everyone's eyes spun to the screen and they could all see people being carried in the air, away from the attack that Kobe had fired off to kill Abyss. They were being saved.
Dozens of people being carried to safety by someone who they had believed to be leading a cold heart.
That new image alone, was enough to allow their hearts to settle, even if only for a moment.
____
The darkness is suffocating, a never-ending void that wraps itself around my mind. I can't move, I can't breathe properly, can't even feel the weight of my own body. My limbs are stiff, locked in place, bound to this chair. I can't remember how I got here—no, I don't need to. All I know is the sting that shoots through my nerves. The shocks don't end, jolting me awake and pulling me under at random. A throb of electricity burns through me, gnawing at my consciousness, but it's not just physical pain that torments me.
A ting, a sharp and high-pitched, slices through the haze of my thoughts. It's familiar, though I don't know why. That sound. The triangle. The signal. The moment my brain registers it, I feel myself falling back—sinking into something colder, something easier.
Then, a voice. Smooth. Soothing. It's not haunting—it's... calm. Precise. Almost reassuring. It cuts through the static of my mind, cutting through the disorienting buzz of the drugs and shock. A gentle hum in my ears, the voice lowering everything, pulling me into a singular focus. It's always been here, in the background of my thoughts.
"The world is not kind to those who hesitate. Only the relentless move forward."
The words settle over me like a weight, it pulls my fragmented mind together. There's no more room for weakness, no more room for confusion.
I remember the shock. The sting. I fight to focus on it. My body trembles, and the burn in my chest feels like it could split me open. But the voice... the voice is my anchor. It doesn't care. It needs me focused.
A quick breath. A sharp inhale. The world doesn't matter right now. Not the pain. Not the weight. Not even Yui's face, her empty eyes. They all fall away.
The voice is right. Only the relentless move forward.
I snap my eyes open again, but there's nothing there. No vision, clarity. Move forward. The words press down on me like a truth too big for my chest. But it is the only thing I can hold on to. The only things that matters.
The triangle ting rings again, a soft ping, as the shock rattles my bones. But I don't feel it anymore. I don't care.
I'll keep going.
Forward.
____
Midoriya's breathing was sharp and laboured, his body a blur as he narrowly evaded Stain's blade. Each swing came faster, wilder, but the Hero Killer's precision never wavered. The metallic hiss of his katana slicing through the air scraped against Midoriya's ears.
His mind raced, aided by One For All's honed power. Each step backward was deliberate, but every dodge left him closer to the edge of losing control. Stain was relentless.
"What's wrong Champion?" Stain sneered, his crimson streaked face twisted into a manic grin. "Are you scared? Or angry? You've changed since we last met."
Midoriya didn't respond. His emerald eyes flicked between Stain's weapon and his feet, analyzing the rhythm of his strikes. He sidestepped a vertical slash, feeling the blade graze the fabric of his clothing, then he ducked under a follow-up thrust that would have torn into his ribs.
A sudden feint caught Midoriya off-guard. The top of the katana nicked his cheek, drawing a line of blood. He hissed through gritted teeth and leaped backwards. The line of blood hadn't spilled onto the katana which he was grateful for.
"You're faster now." Stain acknowledged, resting his blade on his shoulder. "A little more ruthless too." he tilted his head, and gave a look that showed he was curious. "Are you still a hero?"
Midoriya charged forward instead of answering, his body low and swift. The sudden aggression forced Stain to retreat a step. Green lightning crackled around Midoriya as he launched into a spinning kick, his leg glowing with power. Stain raised his blade just in time to block, but the sheer force sent him skidding across the ground, boots scraping against stone.
"Where is that purpose that was behind your ego?" Stain questioned. "Like your friend that day. It looks like you're just clinging to an illusion of justice. Where's your conviction?"
Midoriya stopped, standing tall, his chest rising and falling. His silence was unnerving. He glared at Stain, his gaze sharp enough to cut through the tension between them.
Stain licked his lips, his tongue darting across his jagged teeth. "It's better they die. Every last one. The undeserving money grubber, the one's chasing prestige and selfish revenge... I'll go back and find that speedster friend of yours. Ingenium..."
Something inside Midoriya's mind snapped. He surged forward with blinding speed, his fist connecting with Stain's jaw before the villain could react. The hero killer's head snapped back, blood spraying from his mouth. Midoriya didn't stop. His next punch buried itself in Stain's ribs, the sickening crunch of bones shattering echoing throughout the area they were in.
Stain's Katana clattered to the ground as he fell to his knees, coughing up crimson droplets.
"You don't decide who's worthy," Midoriya said, his voice low and trembling with suppressed rage. "And you don't get to take them from me."
Stain coughed, his eyes struggling to focus on Midoriya. He let out a weak laugh. "You... you're different. Maybe you're crossing the threshold... but not in a good way."
Midoriya didn't answer. His glowing fist hovered in the air, trembling. He wanted to hit Stain again. It was the first time he ever thought on murder, he wanted to erase the threat that Stain posed. But something stopped him. Slowly, he lowered his hand. The Hero Killer slumped forward, unconscious.
The tension hung in the air, heavy and oppressive. Midoriya's chest burned with exertion and fury. The sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence.
"Midoriya!" Iida's voice rang out, filled with relief and worry. He arrived with Todoroki close behind, followed by Uraraka, Tokoyami, and the rest of their gathered group plus some. Itsuka Kendo was here, her face was pale as she scanned the scene.
"You found Stain?!" Todoroki said. His gaze lingered on Stain's battered form.
"He found me." Midoriya replied just in time for Fat Gum to question him.
"Is he dead?"
Midoriya didn't even have it in him to give a surprised look at the question, he shook his head. "No, just unconscious."
Kendo's expression twisted into something darker. "Kodai..." she started, her voice breaking. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at her leaderboard. Beside Kodai's name was a skull icon, meaning she was...
"She didn't make it," Kendo whispered, her voice cracking.
The group fell silent. The weight of the game pressed down on them all, suffocating and relentless. Nirengeki Shoda broke the stillness, stepping forward with a grim expression. "There's something you need to know." he said.
"Shishida and I were near a hotel before that big explosion two days ago. Some people described someone matching Kodai's description... with someone else. A boy, average height, probably in high school, short dreads and piercings, and dark-skinned."
Kendo clenched her fists. "Go on."
"More people later on said that, that same description was near the explosion site," Shoda continued. "And he... survived. They think he caused it. And he's been seen going after villains with the intent to kill."
Uraraka's eyes widened. "A killing spree?"
Shoda nodded. "I think it's the name Kobe Arakawa, who's also Soryu. The leaderboard shows all that... he's on 45 points now. That's at least four kills. Don't know what he was at before the explosion though."
Todoroki's brows furrowed, he remembers fighting alongside Soryu and he doesn't know if this new violent personality matches. "He didn't seem like the type to kill, especially not without reason. Especially not with his skills. He could just trade points to survive the four-day rule."
The group exchanged uneasy glances. Midoriya's jaw tightened, his fists trembling at his sides. With the information he had just heard, that was definitely Kobe. He couldn't say he didn't kill, he doesn't really know.
But if Kobe was with Kodai and she died, maybe that would be the reason. But then why?
"Is there a chance Kobe and Kodai knew each other from before?" He asked.
Kendo shook her head. "No, we all met in the games."
So no. Well the chance of them becoming close in the games wouldn't be super farfetched, he thinks.
"{New rule...}" Midoriya jumped at the sound of the Bug's. They all materialized in front of everyone to announce the rule. "{If a player kills another, they gain half of all their points after death.}"
Why would it only be half? Most of them were thinking.
"Probably just as a last option for bargaining." Fat Gum seemed to be able to read their thoughts. "Just in case someone doesn't want to give off all their points then that would leave the aggressor with one last option-"
He was cut off by the Bug again.
"{New Rule...}" there wasn't anyone jumping, but there was still surprise at a second rule being added in such quick succession. "{Bounties can now be appointed.}"
Even without reading ahead, Midoriya knew that this could only be a bad thing. The details were as followed:
To place a bounty, a player must have at least the number of points they are offering. Whoever claims the bounty will gain the full reward, (half from the target and half from the issuer) If the issuer dies or their points drop below the threshold, the bounty disappears.
"Great, now that's even more incentive to hunt each other." Kendo's eyes narrowed.
The Bug never disappeared, another announcement came from it's mouth.
"{Bounty placed on player Kobe Arakawa. Reward: 120 points.}"
Eyes went wide. The group stood still not knowing what to do. 120 points was a lot of points, that would be at least two new rules added. And Kobe, none of them knew where he was or if he were on his own or with people he could fight alongside.
And why? Who would put such a high amount on him. The leaderboard never shown who, but beside Kobe's name was a skull mark that was coloured in red. Midoriya remained silent.
He noticed a dark look settle in Kendo's eye but he couldn't tell why. And he didn't think it would be wise to ask. His eyes then went to the unconscious Stain.
"Let's keep him close." he said. "He has 100 points, we can use that for our advantage somehow, let's just wait till he wakes up."
Midoriya's tone was resolute, no one argued with him as he went to pick up the villain and sling him over his shoulder.
The group then left to find somewhere to sit in peace that wasn't the outside.
Things have gotten a lot more dangerous.