Author's Note: Warning, this is the chapter to skip if you don't want to know what the villains are up to, and the world building around it.
"Thirty four. Thirty five... Thir...ty... six."
Too much. It was all too much. He snapped the mask back over his face, and took a deep breath of the purified and oxygen rich air.
He was getting better, for minuscule degrees of 'better'. He had barely survived the battle five years ago. His collection of Quirks had kept him alive just long enough for his allies to find them. The regeneration and transformation Quirks he had been able to loot since had kept him from dying, but they burned out too fast to restore him. Incremental improvements at most. It wasn't enough. He had to get better. There were things he needed to do. His plans and pawns were moving forward, but he worried it wouldn't be enough. So he pushed his body. Tried to stand. To breath without the mask. There was pain, but it was better than the alternative...
The temperature in the room dropped. His breath caught in his throat. Not because of his health. Pain wracked his entire body, like a million fishhooks piercing every nerve ending. His muscles locked up in primal fear, only making it worse.
"Shigaraki Endo."
Their was no sound. The Quirks he used in place of the ruined stubs of his ears would have detected it. And the other Quirks, that prevented telepathy and mind control should have blocked direct contact with his mind. Despite that, he heard the empty, hollow rasp speak that name he had long since discarded.
"Master," All for One said respectfully, trying to keep the fear from his voice.
"I am patient, by your limited standards," the emptiness around him said, "one hundred orbits of this planet around its star are nothing to me. Even five hundred would be only a tiny fraction of my existence. And yet, it seems you have done so very little to fulfill our bargain."
His mind raced, trying to find the right words to say.
"All of those years ago, I responded to your pleas. You lamented your gift, cursed it as useless. And so, I gave you what you wanted. I took what power I had left, and transformed your gift. The ability to sense and identify the gifts of others, became the power to steal the gifts of others. To keep them for yourself, or grant them to others. In return, I only asked two small favors. That you find me a new vessel..."
"And it is almost ready master," All of One declared quickly, "It is empty, and we have given it powers. We need only wait a few more months for the powers to develop the vessel. And then we will test it against the Symbol of Peace. It would not do for your new form to be weaker than a mere human Hero."
As the words left his mouth, All for One knew it was a mistake. The pain intensified. Now it felt like fingers digging into his skin. Blood began to trickle out of his temples, cheeks, and jawline.
"How foolish of you to remind me," the voice said, "That you have not only failed your second task, you have made it worse. You were to guide Humanity to evil. To have them exploit and indulge in their gifts. To give into them and grow them. To abandon compassion and justice. Instead you created your own worst enemy, and a light to help keep darkness at bay. A mirror, against which Humans reflect themselves. Find themselves wanting. Try to do better."
"But I have also moved against them," All for One pleaded, "Even now, I am building a new league of followers. Pawns that will strike at the institutions of the world. Make the rabble doubt their Heroes, and show them how much better they can be if they reject the restrictions placed upon them. But we must make sure we are strong enough, because if we fail, things will only get worse. I only need a little more time. A few months."
He was lying, and he knew it. He would need a year, preferably two. But as his master implied, time was fluid to the disembodied evil. Sometimes he thought a week was a year, until reminded. Others, a decade would pass, and the master thought it was barely a month. All for One crossed his mental fingers. And then the pain withdrew.
"You may have more time, Shigaraki Endo," it said, "But not much. The damaged spell is starting to fail. It will only last half again as along as it has. Already, a sliver of Grid energy is leaking in. And not so long ago, something escaped the barrier. It was not meant to stop anything from leaving, but the passage created another hole. It is repairing itself, but it may not fully close. And the result is a further weakening of the spell. I am sensing something on Earth, that should not be."
"What is it Master Demonus?" All for One asked, "Is there something my pawns can do about it?"
"Perhaps," the living soul mused, "Once I can determine what this is. And where. But more importantly, complete your work. I must have my new body. I must have my new army. Before the spell fails. Before the other Rangers can return."
Then the presence was gone. Using a telekinetic Quirk, All for One collected the blood from his body and disintegrated it. In this moment, he was almost thankful for his injuries, for they kept Demonus from wanting to claim his body. Almost.
Presentable, he triggered the intercom.
"Kyudai, status on the prototype Nomu?" All for One stated.
"Muscle mass has increased four percent," the doctor answered, "Initial programming following the mind wipe has failed. I believe it may be related to the stacked Quirks."
"How long until it is ready?" Shigaraki demanded, anger hiding his worry.
"It is hard to predict," Garaki admitted, "If I can find a better steroid to enhance the muscle growth, and a solution to the programming issue, maybe three months. But if I am being honest and conservative, more like twelve."
"Do it right, but hurry. It seems there are other things in motion, and my partner is anxious."
All for One disconnected. And then he called up the video feed, and watched his 'successor'.
"You will succeed, Tomura," All for One said to himself, "Or I may just have to offer you to the master."
All for One returned to his plotting, making adjustments for what he would do with or without his protege.