As the greatest Villain to ever live, the whole world trembled at my feet. The greatest Heroes and most terrifying Villains shuddered at the mere thought of encountering me.

But there was a single figure. A singularity that had the audacity to dare defy me. One person, one Hero alone stood against me. Facing me time and time again with an unwavering will and strength second to only mine.

But that stops now.

"Today, humanity's greatest hero shall fall."

A declaration to the void-words being carried by the wind. Although none would hear his words, it mattered not. This was an announcement before he executed his plan.

His scheme, which was carefully planned and improved over various battles against the Hero. It remained incomplete until today. With the final piece, the plan could be completed.

He had discovered the Hero's weakness. Their power which, at times, could match even my mine, had a weakness. They could only use their power once they were transformed. Yes, the appearance of the Hero that he's seen countless times wasn't her true face.

Once she reverted to her true self, she would be at her weakest. At that time, humanity's light will be snuffed out.

————————————————————

"But… What is this?"

The teary-eyed appearance of the real Hero left me dumbfounded.

A picture of a mature pink-haired and white wearing magical girl came to my mind.

"This… is the hero?"

His nemesis- The beacon of hope for the despairing humanity. A light that shone like no other.

In their first encounter he had believed the rookie Hero was like a fly, to be swatted away. But when she continuously faced him head-on, with her power growing each time, he had felt something he hadn't for a long time. Excitement. Excitement at the prospect of a Hero who had the potential to face him.

Not only that…

"Go!"

"You can do it!"

"Beat that bastard!"

She gave humans hope. She shone brightly in the depths of the abyss known as humanity, like a singular star in the night sky. Comparing her to other Heroes would be an insult. If humanity were little embers, struggling to stay aflame, she would be the kindle that kept it alive. You can't compare a campfire to the sun.

That light. The light she radiated… It was magnificent and awe-inspiring. Beautiful and hopeful. Even the Heroes I once crushed had been reborn due to her. She picked up the remaining sparks and led it to grow into a flame. She reignited the will I had killed off. She was a hero in the truest sense. Confident, radiant, and never unwilling to help others even at her own expense. It was so…

"Disgusting."

How vile, how putrid, how wretched.

"It makes me want to vomit."

To destroy the light forever I decided to slowly nurture her until she reached the top. His excitement and hate- Two conflicting emotions that should never be felt at once. He would defeat her at her brightest, and drop her into the abyss so that humanity would never rise and no one would dare struggle meaninglessly against him again.

To satisfy his desire for a worthy opponent, then destroy the hopes of the greatest hope herself. That had been his goal.

But the situation he faced now was different from what he had in mind. The face of the woman-no, girl, that he would crush was beyond his expectations. Not because of her looks, but because of how young she was. Her body, once that of a grown woman had also shrunk.

Her face and physique. The hero is…

"A child?"

A child, looking no older than 12 sat before him.

"W-what? D-Do you have a problem with it?"

The girl attempted to speak confidently, but her stuttering and teary-demeanor gave away her true feelings.

"…"

His greatest enemy. The Hero he fought for a year. His nemesis, humanity's hope and brightest light. The battles he had fought, even if he wasn't using his strength, were against this little child.

"D-Don't think you can get away with this! In a fair fight you wouldn't win against me! I-It's all because you threatened those people unless I reverted my transformation!"

With everything he's discovered today, he had much to process. Now begged the question, what would he do now?

"Ah."

It was a long period of silence. He just stood there, lost in thought. None could tell what he was thinking about or what was going through his mind at this moment. After an unknown amount of time had passed, he began to speak.

"Where are your parents? Who's sending their child to fight like this? It's beyond irresponsible."

"U-Um… My p-parents are dead…"

"Oh."

With his question answered and his unknown conviction strengthened, the next words that came out his mouth would change her life forever.

"From now on, I will be raising you."

A moment of silence. The masked man stared at the girl, and she stared back, wide-eyed. She meekly replied to this bombshell.

"What…?"