Chapter 4: The Symbol Of Peace

In day one. Cole is announced alive throughout the world. People were unfathomably shock and surprised that he lived. Either they cheered him for his return like a saint or growled at him in pure rage of what happened back at the East Coast with the Beast.

Regardless of what the public opinions are, he was approached by All-Might himself in full glory.

The two heroes then silently stood in S.C.D Headquarters. Staring at each other's eyes till the Symbol of Peace extends his right hand to Cole. In return, Cole MacGrath firmly grasp his palm and shook in admiration for each other as both of them become powerful friends. Making a bridge for Conduits and Quirks to work together to make the world a better place. Giving people hope for everyone to see. With that, U.A. fully integrated Conduits into their campus in good graces for All-Might and honoring Cole for his accomplishments. Acknowledging for slaying the Beast that lay waste onto Quirk superheroes where they tried to stop the monster's destructive rampage.

Although in their best efforts to paint Conduits in the good light, half of humanity snarled of what they saw in disgust and the Blood Brotherhood was in an uproar of seeing the Legendary Conduit making peace with All-Might himself.

To those who have Quirks and are open minded about Conduits yelled in glee. Knowing there will be more heroes in the world for people to be saved. But those who still held onto their superstition see it as a mockery to all quirk users. Seeing this stunt as a way for Conduits to take their roles and replacing them to do their immense power they wield. In suspicion, the Quirk Superheroes believe they might overtake their jobs and stealing all the glory for themselves out of pure envy or greed.

Nevertheless, it doesn't deter Cole on becoming friends with All-Might and assisting him on taking down the toughest criminals or saving lives from natural disasters.

The two become close partners as they're frequently being seen in combat. Thereby Cole getting nicknamed by his fellow Conduits as the Symbol of Hope to do his close affiliation with All-Might and the embodiment of aspiration for Conduits to follow on becoming true heroes. Achieving equality they ever dream of if they continue on doing good things in the world and having altruistic motives to those who are around you.

As years went by. New Empire City is fully rebuilt and a sanctuary for Conduits all over the world those who need a home along escaping the discrimination they face. Initially, the Government gave them the ruins of Empire City for them to be contained in with no government backing on rebuilding the destroyed city. But for Delsin and the help of other Conduits who have immense power to bend what's around them. In addition of few Humanitarian quirk users and normal humans assisting them who have brilliant architectural designs or outstanding Engineering skills. Their newly built city outshines the other cities around the world when they finished constructing their safe haven for the globe to witness. Making it a very popular tourist attraction for humans and Quirks who have positive views on Conduits and the envious bane to others who would thought them to be homeless bums living off in the ruins of the Old Empire City.

Today's population, it is considered 70% of the world's people are Quirk users, 20% humans and 10% Conduits. It was estimated there was 400,000 Prime Conduits walk among Earth after the RFI blast at 2011 but now their numbers has been bolstered around 900,000. The Conduit population continues to grow either by making a family or having the potential gene in them for it to be awakened. Strangely enough, their numbers are growing much rapidly by Potential Conduits than newborns in 2020s and nobody knows why or how the cause of it happened. Some suspected it might linked to the RFI accident by the young boy.

There are some rumors of people who have a Quirk and a Conduit gene simultaneously in their DNA by both different parents. But that is an extremely rare sighting and considered best not to reveal to the public of their identity.

For the Blood Brotherhood and their extreme grudge towards Humanity as a whole. They begin to formalize their power, planning to take down Cole and U.A with him for his perceive betrayal of their kind on supporting the sub-humans upon their eyes. The two factions who are thought supposed to be dead are growing more and more powerful each year. With Reapers gurgling in sadistic glee and Dust Men howl in bloodthirsty rage.

Seven years, they planned and waited for the right opportunity to strike at S.C.D and U.A off-guard.

But for Izuku, his journey starts when he attended his class for the Hero Course.

This is a mistake, a huge mistake!

Lowering my head in class on thinking of why I pick this course. What happen if I was force to use my powers in front of my entire classmates and instantly labeled as a Conduit? It would be hell for me and I would probably sent to S.C.D ground instead of Quirk grounds as hatred for each other is all time high despite of Cole's and All-Might's friendship. Becoming an outcast to the Quirks around the school and…hang out with other Conduits. That might not sound so bad at all but what would my parents think of me though?

Mentally rambling to myself that I am the only Conduit user in class as I'm surrounded by Quirk users who don't know I am a Conduit, thinking I am some normal boy. To make things worse, Kacchan is here to ruin my day and his constant picking on me that I am a Quirkless despite not knowing that I am an Electrical type Conduit including on inheriting some skills from Cole's memories. But what would happen if he forced me to use my powers?

For Cole memories, I only got one skill move I learn from my head in the past years. When I was ten years old, Kacchan was outrageously mad at me for protecting a kid from his bullying. Theorizing it might involve me in certain dangerous situation for those memories to be triggered. The said memory I learned from Cole's past life is dodging…lots and lots of dodging.

For dodging, I remember it all replaying in my head.

[4 years ago…]

"Kacchan. Please don't hurt him no more!" Holding my ground and trying not to pee my pants, Kacchan is growing extremely angry each minute I stood in the park. Where I saw literal small explosions going off around him and starting to berate me of my pathetic desires of me being the wannabe hero.

"Move it Deku or I'll blast you to pieces!" Still standing on my ground and seeing Kacchan raising his arm at me to blow me in bits. What should I do?!

Scrambling my brain of what should I do? A sudden memory begins to play in my head and I learn something from Cole's life.

Nice mutant mole man! Please do not attack a friendly neighborhood Conduit-shit!

Standing on the streets of the Red Light district while I was busy clearing out debris that's blocking Wolfe's path. A giant fucking mutated mole pop out from the ground and storm at me like I am the freaking Matador to be gored.

Rolling to my right side when the fucker almost barge at me and backflip when this unholy abomination starting to spit out green acid!

Where in the God's name these fucking Lovecraftian ripoffs are coming from?!

Returning back to reality, I rolled out of the blast when Kacchan made a huge explosion out of his hands by his sweat and starting to dodge all of his attacks within the park we're in. With trees turning into splinters, giant seared crater holes on the ground and smoke starting to rise from the air.

"WHAT THE HELL?! STAND STILL DEKU!" Hearing him shouted in pure rage. I continue to backflip and rolled away of the blast his hands were pointed at. I keep on dodging without breaking a sweat.

Evading all of his explosive attacks, I keep on dodging till someone with authority can show up or wait it out till he gets tired. Fortunately, the former happened. As Superhero officials came in to break up the fight since the park was almost unrecognizable at the point of nearly becoming a smoky crater to do Kacchan's destructive Quirk in destroying everything.

"Alright kid, shows over. Stop of what you're doing or else we'll have to force you. Your parents are going to hear from us of what you did here at the park. Also to black hair kid behind us, please leave or else we'll suspect you're with him." Knowing I got out scot-free from Kacchan's destruction. I ran for it before Kacchan can change his mind and start chasing after me like a dog.

"THIS ISN'T OVER DEKU!" When he said that to me. I immediately know I am a dead man to him if we ever meet up again.

Pretty much are relationship has gotten more strain over that big incident. In which we don't talk to each other much often and most likely he's going to pick on me because of it. You know, It has gotten worse.

Luckily for me, I still take notes of other heroes and make observation on their moves. To translate their skills into my own if I ever get in a fight and also applying them to my Conduit abilities in those hypothetical scenarios to bare minimum without noticing them I have the Conduit gene in me. To improve my tactical assessment on my opponents' strength and weaknesses into account.

My parents don't know of my powers yet since my gene is mostly dormant and locked away which is obviously not sparking out from my body, only it gets noticeable when I get close to water or powering my electric currents enough at a higher voltage. Making the said water, oddly enough, doesn't kill me. Giving my own wild guess that my body isn't producing enough electricity to electrocute myself. But I do shower alone so my parents wouldn't know about the sparks going off from my skin.

Is it a good thing to be here which I can be accepted at U.A academy-?

"Hey Teach! Don't lump me in the same group of all these Quirk rejects. Why would I belong to those losers while I got a better Quirk? My power is way better than those Conduit freaks who think themselves as all high and mighty!" Hearing him of what he said about Conduits, I lowered my head so hard that he wouldn't notice me and not getting picked on again.

My classmates shouted in outrage of his claims and he started to insult them back as he called them extras. Our teacher looks back at his papers, starting to read the U.A High mock test guide and my schoolmates begin to talk about the U.A academy quietly. Whispering to themselves of how things has change over there.

"The National School?"

"Did I hear they integrated those freaks into the campus?"

"Even though those weirdoes walk among the campus, it is still highest rated school."

"Hell, the acceptance rate is probably low because of those Conduit menace taking up space!"

I sink my head harder on the desk, knowing they are not fond of Conduits that's going through my ears. For Kacchan, he is ignorantly boasting that he would be the best than All-Might until our teacher called out my name.

"Oh yeah, Midoriya wanted to go to U.A., too, right?" When our teacher nonchalantly said that, all my classmates turn their heads to me and I slowly raise my head up to them. Laughing, thinking I am some Quirkless kid and still not knowing I am a Conduit.

"Huh? Midoriya? No way!"

"You can't get into the hero course just by studying!"

"That's not true. Th-they got rid of that rule! There's just no precedent-" Defending myself and acting I am merely a quirkless person so they wouldn't suspect me being a Conduit to them. I started to stutter and trying my best to hide my Conduit identity. Getting up from my desk and denying I am Quirkless, I heard a small flick coming behind me and then a explosive blast came raining down on me. Flinging me off from my desk and landed onto my butt.

"Hey, Deku! You're below the rejects and you're Quirkless! How can you even stand in the same ring as me unless you're one of those Conduit freaks?!" When I heard him calling me a Conduit, I instantly panicked and quickly acted if I'm a low Quirkless student who should know his place.

"No, wait, Kacchan! It's not like I'm trying to compete with you or anything! Believe me! I-it's just that it's been my goal ever since I was little and well…I won't know unless I try…" Hesitant of what I said to him and backing up to the wall. His eyes grown in outrage and wrathfully spoke that I can't do squat in the test.

"Whaddya mean, unless you try?! Are you taking the test for fun of it?! What the hell can you do? You're Quirkless and you're not even those Conduit freaks!" That was a close one and I almost had a heart attack from that!

Looking down to myself…can I be a hero even though I am a electric Conduit?

[3:15 PM]

Looking over incidents on the headlines so I can go over there and making observation on their moves. Deducing on what combat style they use on their scenarios and applying them to my Conduit prowess to make my abilities more efficient along subtle. I was about to get out from my seat until Kacchan grabbed my notes out of my hand.

"We're not done talking yet, Deku." Waving my notes in his fingers, his two lackeys came behind him and taunting me.

"Katsuki, what's that?" When one of the lackeys stares at the notes, he reads the title on it out loud humorously.

"Huh? 'Hero Analysis For The Future?' Seriously?" "Midoriya…" While he started to laugh, I got up from my desk and trying to convince Kacchan of letting go of my book!

"I-it's fine, isn't it? Give it back!" Failing to convince him, he seared my book in explosive heat as it's nothing more than a smoky brown book. Losing all my confidence from looking of what he did. To make it worse, he throw my book out of the window!

"What?!" Panicking of why he thrown my own life's worth written book I am still researching on, he looks back at me disdainfully and ridicule me for taking the Hero Course with him.

"Most top first-string heroes have stories about them from their school days. I want to shine of being able to be called the only student to make it into U.A. from this mediocre city junior high. Like come on, I am a perfectionist. I am not some Quirk rejects or Conduit freaks that run around the streets to help petty lives." Still distraught over the loss of my book, one of his friends joke about the Conduits and also right of what happened to me in few years ago.

"You know, he's pretty petty if you ask me. Probably still be saved by one of those sub-Quirk Conduit freaks." Recalling of what he said. I think about Williams who I still remember his brotherly comfort, Amser tiredness and the creepy Blaine guy who follows them back at the bank robbery. Of how heroic they are while holding integrity in them as I felt this undeniable aura of humility surrounding them…making me feel so warm when I get near them.

"So anyway, don't apply to U.A. you freaking nerd!" Looking over to the three and feeling the heat coming out of Kacchan's hand on my left shoulder, tears slowly begin to pour out of my face and reminding me that I cannot be a Hero in any means necessary.

"Come on, you could at least say something back." "Don't say that. He's pathetic. He still can't face reality." Standing on my ground, I felt another dilemma coursing through my head and everything begins to turn grey. Everything around me is slowing down and conflicting decisions starting to wrestle in my head of what should I do.

Kacchan. He burned my book and throws it out at the window. Ostracized me because I am Quirkless…but he doesn't know I am a Conduit yet.

Should I kick his ass right now to teach him a lesson while revealing my electric powers to him? Or let him walk away and take his words like a man. Not to get infuriated by his bullying but it sure does deflate my esteem a lot.

So what do I do?

As everything returning back to normal and time begins to resume, Kacchan walks out of the door and made the biggest insult to me ever.

Hold it Izuku. It's not worth it.

"If you wanna be a hero that badly, there's a quick way to do it."

Control your temper Izuku.

"Believe that you'll be born with a Quirk in the next life and take a last chance dive off the roof!"

DON'T DO IT DEKU!

"What?"

Holding my ground and restraining my temper at him before the electricity from my body starts sparking out to do my anger imploding in me. He left the room with his two pals while I quietly stand here. Thinking of what I did.

Thinking about it, I felt a lot calmer and patient than before. Like I can listen to their insulting tirades while holding my emotions back so I wouldn't make the situation worse. As for my self-worth, I was now thinking about others than myself and how they would react to me if they found out that I use my Conduit powers for my own selfish ways which frightens me!

Feeling this tranquility and peace coursing in my head, is this the side-effect of being a Conduit all about? Besides, of what he said isn't heroic and it would further someone's suicidal thoughts. Which it really saddens me because people simply kill themselves for simple or most common things in life just purely out of despair wouldn't do any good for those who are around you. I wouldn't allow those extreme negative emotions get to me again.

Going down the building and retrieving my remaining notes from the makeshift pond below the school as the fishes are nipping on it. I look back to myself in the pond to see my reflection.

I look cleaner all of the sudden. Felt refresh and pristine. In a flash, I felt this peaceful, warmth vibe going through my body and mind. Comforting me of the adversity I faced. Looking down, I gladly smile to myself that I am not worthless of who I am. Thinking about my aspiration for being a hero, protecting lives of what All-Might did when my mom showed me a video of him. For me to experience on defeating the injustice in society when Cole, Willy and I fight the drug dealing Reapers back at New Marais seven years ago.

[3:30 PM]

Walking over the bridge overpass with a sign say 'Watch your head' to see a dark tunnel while reminiscing of what Williams said to me when we were following Cole's echo trail.

"Hey. Don't be so down simply because you're different. Be proud of what you have to do good things."

To do good things…I will always remember his warm words to me and doing for the good of all Conduits, Quirks and humans as a whole. I'll do my best Willy! Don't let other people think of me and hold my head up in pride! Marching inside the dark tunnel of the overpass and trying my best to mimic All-Might's laugh to show my heroism to the world. I want to laugh heroically in the tunnel but only to be interrupted when my head pulse again to feel another life form's electric currents building up behind me and those said currents are piling up on each other!

Doing a backflip and putting in my fighting stance of rehearsing Cole's memories. I spark electricity out of my arms and my eyes are focused on the slime Villain that formed out of nowhere.

"Well, well kid. You totally don't look quite useless after all and your Quirk looks interesting…unless you are a Conduit that is." Sparking my body up at a higher voltage, I prepared for battle for this slime-what?!

The slime grabbed and-*BZZZZYT!*

Before I can take in of what happened, the slime monster and I started to scream so loud that the pigeons above us starting to fly away. I now know this amount of watery liquid is enough to kill me and the slime itself getting fried. Resulting in my stronger electrical currents that my body is producing when I release a bigger voltage in me.

"What the fuck?! Your body is also electric as well?! You are one of those fucking Conduits isn't it?!" The slime monster straightaway let me go. We were both smoking hot by the high voltage my body produced and I nervously flinch when he figure it out that I am Conduit.

About to leave and escape from my presence, I heard a recognizable laughter coming behind the slime Villain to see All-Might in the flesh! Oh my god! He's really here to fight this baddy!

As my favorite hero started to laugh and getting ready for his battle stance. I raise my arm at him in gratitude. Unluckily, my thoughts went blank and another memory of Cole played out in my head back at New Marais.

Climbing at the highest building her in New Marais. I saw one of Wolfe's pigeons flying around with its ass showing and pooping white stuff out of his butt to piss someone off below the ground. Not today little pigeon, not today.

Looking at the Sunset of the swampy ground of New Marais with the wind bellowing at my face from up here, I focus back at the pigeon and raise my arm at it with my hand coursing out intense electricity to fry this rat.

Carefully aiming at it, I fired a bolt at its head precisely and started to fall down like a fly. Another flying rat is down and time to listen in Wolfe's message.

Now remembering how to fire a bolt and felt something awaken within my electric body. I carefully aim at the monster's back and my right hand starting to accumulate the currents at the tip of my palm. Focusing and…

*ZAP!*

A trace of electric currents burst out of my hand as a bolt went flying and frying the liquid monster down to the ground. Where the electric bolt shocking the villain's bodily fluid so intensely, I calculated this monster is mostly made up of water and it's not insulated proof to withstand an entire electric bolt. Screaming by the immense pain it's going through of almost getting electrocuted again.

I felt good on taking down a villain all by myself…I felt good.

I black out to do the monster liquid form because water like substance and electricity doesn't mix together. Closing my eyes, everything then turns to darkness.

When I open my eyes to see the sky above me, I picked my head up to see-All-Might still here! Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my freaking god! I try to hold down my fanboy spirit of seeing All-Might himself in front of me but I can't contain it! I heard him said something to me while I shaking in glee from witnessing him and he seems to recognize me.

"Oh my goodness gracious! I thought you were dead for a minute kid. But seeing you fry the monster by yourself is a good deed all by itself. But I think I know who you are. Does Williams and Cole ring a bell to you Mr. Midoriya?" Realizing All-Might out of nowhere knows my name and mentioning the two Conduits, I raise my head up high along smiling. Confirming that All-Might really is a friend of Cole than the Media spouting Conduit propaganda about Cole and All-Might are mortal enemies. Still remembering Cole, Williams and I little adventure on fighting Reapers by ourselves.

"Yes All-Might sir! I know those two back at New Marais!" While All-Might holding the villain in soda bottles and looking down at me in curiosity when my arms accidentally bursting out electricity because of my own excitement. He still smiled at me and acknowledging he isn't racist towards Conduits!

"Well it's a thing good you remembered them because Cole keeps talking about of how you revived him and assisting him on fighting the Reapers head on bravely like a true hero would act. So I might be thinking…" Blushing and rubbing my head in embarrassment when All-Might talks about my accomplishment when I was young although the former was an accident including a felony but that doesn't matter. All-Might is here and he knows me!

"Is to send this villain to the police so it wouldn't hurt anyone, you know Pro Heroes don't stand idly!" Wait a second-already?!

Not fully realizing of what he said to me. He started to do squats and doing small stretches. He huffs to himself and crack his back. For he is ready to take off without properly introducing himself to me. Yet, he didn't talk about either Cole or Williams which really upsetting me a lot because he evaded my answer of how they are doing.

"Pros are constantly fighting enemies and time." Hold on a second. "Well then," Grabbing onto his green pants and-"I'm counting on your continued support!"

Flying up in the air and holding down onto All-Might's leg so I wouldn't fall off this high. I know I'm immune to height damage as my body can withstand a simple fall from here but I want to know of how Cole and Williams are doing back at America when I'm away from them for seven years.

"Wait a minute! Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, HEY! Let go of me! I know your fanaticism is high but-!" I interrupted him when he thought I was focusing on his reputation. In truth, I really want to know what happened to Cole and Willy while I'm away at Japan!

"It's not about you All-Might sir! I want know of how Cole and Williams are doing back at America! You didn't answer me of how they are doing!" Yelling through the winds of my actual intentions are than fanboying paparazzi stalking All-Might which is really creepy if you say it out loud. All-Might finally relaxes and stopped pushing my head down for me to let go.

While we're going through the winds and All-Might calms down of when I mention about those two Conduits. He stopped pushing my head as he looks down at me in relief and started talking in his same heroic cheerfulness.

"Oh right. Sorry about that kid, I almost forgot you're acquaintance with the two influential S.C.D members of the organization which is a big relief for me Izuku. And you know what? One of them is here in Japan of where I am going to land at!" So you're saying they are in my home country?

Excited of what he said. We both landed onto a building and l let go of All-Might's leg. Losing my balance completely, I fell down to the ground because of the intense wind speed I went through like a fast Roller Coaster ride with no end. I picked myself up to see three people standing atop of this building.

The first I recognize but hard to tell by the outfit is Cole. Who is wearing an ominous white cloak with a hoodie that covering his entire head, a white scarf wrapped around his neck, white clothes with strange equipment gears on his chest and arms that glowed white blue on those gray metal contraptions. I think to myself of why Cole is wearing the oddest costume getup ever and at the same time masking his identity of who he really is?

The second who is on this building is Zeke Dunbar. He is the best friend of Cole MacGrath and the billionaire company owner himself that made a fortune of doing gears for Conduits along very well known on helping Conduits out in dire need. If I remember him correctly, he was used to be fat but eventually lost weight and workout a lot. Making him lean and buff In order for him to infiltrate the D.U.P headquarters because of the military has protocol standards of allowing fit people into their ranks.

He is wearing a simple black business suit, black shades covering his eyes and has the same Elvis Presley hair style he kept, only some of the sides in his hair turning grey. He has a sleek, high-tech, white pistol that has a light blue dot hue glowing on each side of the chamber on his black holster. Thinking it can shoot lasers or something?

Finally to the third is a girl who appears to be around in her early twenties. She has a long pony-tailed pristine, hazelnut hair and freckles covering her peachy skin face. Her light blue eyes stare at me for a while before her left hand waved at me in greetings.

I nearly thought she might be a stereotypical Rockstar punk for a second to do her clothing. To describe what she wears. She has a simple black shirt that has an obscure band logo name inscribed on her chest and under her shirt is a long white sleeved undershirt. Torn blue jeans that showed her kneecaps and a steeled pyramid belt wrapped around her waist. She has messy, mucked red boot like sneakers on her feet and black fingerless gloves.

Her black eyeliner eyes widen when she saw All-Might. She gasped in joy and runs at him. At first I thought she was a fan girl of All-Might but I heard something from her that made my head spin and my heart dropped.

"Daddy you are back!" D-daddy!? What?! When did All-Might become a father?! I didn't hear any news in the media that he has a biological daughter-wha!

[All-Might]

Remembering Izuku is a well-known acquaintance to the S.C.D organization, I calmed down and learning he isn't a mere fanboy to harass me of who I am…or learning my health condition I am facing. He solely wants to know if Cole and Williams are okay.

For Cole though and the intimidating disguise getup he's wearing. The S.C.D spy agency got a word that the Blood Brotherhood is on the move to either assassinating me or him. So we're both cautious as I am in no better condition on fighting them alone and dependent on Cole's powers on revitalizing my body. If I ever want to battle and fight the Brotherhood face to face, I need to be accompanied by him to maintain my One For All Hero Form a lot longer than before.

Before I landed onto the building of where Cole, his best friend Zeke and my adopted daughter Kiko are standing at. I gave them the thumbs up while I was in the air and some of my blood pouring out of my teeth when I grinned at them.

Getting up to my feet from the dusty white floor and facing forward of the three people I knew. Including the young Midoriya over here on the ground who cleverly grabbed my pants of wanting to know of how his S.C.D friends are doing. I look over to my daughter who shouted in glee and run up to me as she gave me her humongous bear hugs she can give since it's been a month that I haven't meet my daughter personally.

"Daddy you are back!" Wrapping her arms around her my waist and nuzzled on my chest. I wrapped my own arms around her back and snuggled with her. Remembering the day I met her parents.

Thinking about them made my head dropped and scarred into my mind back at America when disaster had stroke. Back when the Beast was alive and got me in the brink of death from that monster's indescribable power that killed so many innocents and heroes alike. Much worse than facing All For One who permanently wounded me.

I remembered so clearly from the day I failed them. The people I should have protected and stopped the madness that's happening among the townies after I recovered.

The day I met her parents…

I taste my own blood on my mouth and the copper taste sipped into my tongue. Coughing and felt the warmth from my body escaping to do a giant puncture hole that went through my stomach and fractured rips on my chest. I can't feel my arms and legs anymore as I lay paralyzed…weak to stop the monster that killed millions of lives. So many people I have failed.

Nearing to the edge of my death, I truly felt what despair is. The feeling I can't do nothing where rubble, ruins and debris scattered across the used to be vibrant State of North Carolina. As I smell dust, ash and smoke in the air which choke my very lungs when I lay waste onto the ground. Seeing the burning sky above me as doom and destruction loom over me. Where I taste of my own defeat, where tears flowing through my cheeks.

I am a failure. A failure to protect the very people that I should be protecting by evacuating their homes and escape the city we are in. But instead I stand my ground. Thinking to myself that nothing could go wrong and I can easily takedown the Beast all by myself.

To my own arrogance, I learn the Beast's true power and everything has been consumed by my very own eyes as millions of bodies poured around me. I just cried of learning that my own recklessness has cost them their lives, millions who are sick by an unknown disease and millions of Quirk superheroes lied dead. Learning I failed to the people who counted on me to protect them and their livelihood died with me. Weak to stand up on seeing my own failures that lied dead on the ground before me as the stench of decay overwhelm my nostrils and soot dirtying my lungs.

I…

Am…

A…

Failure.

As my death almost reaching to its peak and despair consumed my mind as One For All had failed me. I saw a woman walked towards me among the smoky black dust with loud cries of a baby near to her chest while her arms illuminating bright green like nature leaves and green fertile grass sprouting under her feet.

Slowly closing my eyes when death reaching its hand onto my soul. I instead saw the woman reaching her hand into my chest.

Then there was blackness.

I look down to my daughter who is the Elpis of my soul and my desire to continue forward in the face of my many failures back at America. I just smiled warmly at her and stroke her hair gently. Fortunately, I snapped my thoughts out and remembering about young Midoriya below me. Confuse that I have a daughter with me here.

"Al-All-Might?! When did you have a daughter? I didn't know you had a wife or something!" Looking down at young Midoriya who somehow inherited Cole's genes by unconventional means by touching the RFI of how Zeke theorized it. He looked extremely confuse of what I meant and I just laughed halfheartedly of his oblivious question.

"No, no young Midoriya. This is my adopted Conduit daughter Kiko back at United States in 2010 when I was deployed over there to stop the Beast." Tinge of guilt overflow on my throat when I told him of my mission back at America of not knowing of my failure and the suffering I went through. Those terrifying flashbacks always keep coming back nonstop whenever someone says America, Beast, Failure and…lynch mobs to me. I can't let go of them and my burdens will always permanently stick to me down to my very soul in the day I die in my funeral.

"Sup Midoriya. Nice to meet you on this building we are on and learning about your adventures with Cole over there." Facing down to my Kiko who let me go and spoke kindly to Midoriya over there in a respectful yet in a small hint of stoic resolution creeping out from her voice like she might get serious if I wasn't around to greet her. She sometimes does that if I ain't around for her and having a strict personality when it comes to becoming a hero.

"Cool! So you halted the Beast all by yourself and adopted a survivor over there! Man you are so awesome!" Wanting him to stop reminding me on the day I was defeated and reliving those horrible memories. Gladly, Cole's close friend Zeke stopped Midoriya muttering before my mental condition could go worse of each passing word he said to me.

"Izuku. Please don't talk about the tragedy that the Beast had made. There's nothing to romanticize about a Monster whose sole purpose is to take people's lives for the sake of a small group. Don't believe on the Media claims of how he saved millions of lives back at North Caroline. It was actually his defeat and the loss of his true motivation of being a superhero. Just…don't talk about it kid. It was horrible for every U.S citizen to talk about it. Even the Conduits back at S.C.D held their heads in shame that their own kind killed so many people for only a few Conduits to walk unharmed." Holding on my tears as Midoriya wouldn't see a grown man cry before him and especially the popular All-Might himself who could show regret. On how Kiko responds to it, she inaudibly stood there and saw my non-biological daughter's hands clinched tightly when Izuku mentioned of her home country.

About to let lose a stream of tears of remembering the tragedy I had failed to stop. A hand lightly landed over my shoulder in utmost comfort.

"I know you're suffering through your past failures but there are people who need to be saved in the face of adversity. We can go through this together regardless of your defeat back at my country." Turning to the person who touched my right shoulder and knowing who he is because of the aura of heroism he holds in him. I saw my dear friend Cole MacGrath giving me the thumbs up and a supporting smile to cheer me up. Just like me when I give people hope while they are in danger and threat of destruction coming close.

Huh, no wonder why your S.C.D colleagues keep calling you the Symbol of Hope because you are the one who give aspiration to others when their moment of desperation is at a close onto their minds. When they thought everything was at a lost but there is still something within Pandora's Box.

"Thank you for your comfort Cole. I glad you did that for-BELUGH!" Coughing enormous amount of blood out of my throat and not having the strength to hold my Hero form far too long. A puff of smoke overwhelm my entire body as I shrink down to my smaller lanky size and lost all of my muscles in one go.

The wind cleared out the massive amount of smoke to reveal my true form to be shown onto the world. Young Midoriya below me started to panic and the potential vessel to hold One For All which Cole recommended him stuttered in absolute shock of what he saw before him.

"All-all-ALL-MIGHT?! Is that you?!"

Fuck…