Hello everyone, UltimateDemonBeast65 is here again to grace you with the new chapter of MVA: Symbiote's Justice! I do apologize for the wait, but my co-writer is back at school again and so the next chapter might also take a little while, but we will try to get it done as soon as possible. We also were struggling with what to do in certain parts, but we've figured stuff out. But now's let's look at reviews!
Trux-Killer: Interesting thought, let's see how it plays out
For'Sleep 3rd: Let's see if they survive, friend, but it will take everything to fight off Knull
AjBudang2005: Fair assessment, dear viewer
Maximum Rhapsody: Well talking about that would give away the story, though in terms of the filler or movie Villains they won't be making an appearance, but elements from the movies might, just wait and see.
Austin: Thank you, Austin, for probably one of the best reviews so far. Yes, the big leagues is happening now that Knull is a factor, but only time will tell how this plays out. Hopefully the humans of MHA can see the bigger picture and band together for this cosmic war essentially. And yeah, the MHA universe's technology is lacking due to most of them being tailored to accommodate Quirks or Pro Heroes, and so they essentially abandon other fields of science. It's very similar to the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist continuity where they explain that their world is a timeline where scientists pursued Alchemy over industrial sciences like we did.
Azatot2006: Thank you, man, and sure go ahead! (¡Gracias, amigo, y seguro que adelante!)
With that out of the way, enjoy the chapter!
Speeding across the roads of the Chiba Prefecture and driving back to fill their warehouse with more riches, the Volcano Thieves were pumped up, if not confused and finding some of the things their new employer said to be outlandish.
"So…are we going to talk about it…?" Gust Boy asked his companions.
"I…I'm still just trying to process what he had told us…" Dusty Ash replied, taking one hand off the wheel to take off her respirator before putting it back. "That Vigilante creature showing up is one thing, but this is just something else entirely…"
"Sounds like the plot of a tabletop game…and yet it's true…" Volcano remarked before letting out a sigh.
"Apparently so. But it does sound like it would make for a great campaign. At the end of the day, however, we'll get paid a very sweet amount of cash after completing this job~" Dusty Ash chuckled as she briefly licked in between her lips, then steered towards the street that would head to their warehouse. "We should start prepping for this as soon as possible, don't you agree, you two?"
"Definitely." Gust Boy said with a grin.
"Agreed, the sooner, the better." Volcano replied.
"Good to hear. Let's plan this shit out once we get back." Dusty Ash said before pressing her foot harder on the gas pedal, speeding towards their destination.
"Giran's probably going to want to hear about this one." Gust Boy said, shaking his head.
"Unless he's already found out, he introduced those two newbies to the League after all." Volcano remarked.
"I'm sure that he already did." Dusty Ash commented.
"Maybe you're right, and by the way, have I ever said how good your rack looks in that sports bra?" Gust Boy said with a smirk.
"You probably have." Dusty Ash answered before reaching over to put her hand under Gust Boy's chin, slightly turning her body to face him while smiling back. "But I think you also want to know how good it feels to fondle them~"
"W-W-W-What?!" Gust Boy exclaimed, his cheeks turning red.
"Oh come on, Gust Boy." Dusty Ash giggled as she glanced at the road before turning back to face him, her smile widening. "Don't act like you've never had these vices ever since we met~"
Volcano whistled playfully after taking off his respirator.
"Am I interrupting something?" Volcano asked.
"No, not really. Unless you want in too, Volcano." Dusty Ash replied.
"Let's just get ready for this job." Volcano said, dismissing it as they arrived back at the warehouse.
Two hours ago…
"The job that I have for you three is of the utmost importance to me and my new benefactor, one that, should you succeed, will tip the scales of the very state of this world and perhaps even beyond it…" All For One explained to the Volcano Thieves.
"Yeah, I've heard clients say those sorts of things before, so I'm guessing it's a weapon we're being hired to find." Volcano deduced.
"But wait…what do you mean by tipping the scales beyond this world?" Dusty Ash asked.
All For One then snapped his fingers, which created a holographic screen in front of him, and on that screen were what looked like old scriptures and writings, with one of them having an illustration of something resembling a black dragon.
"Somewhere on this planet is a mountain, and inside of that mountain slumbers a creature, an ancient beast that my benefactor wishes to awaken. In order to find its location, I need you to retrieve these manuscripts, which contain not only the documentation of this beast's story but the location of the mountain."
Volcano looked at the manuscript with a skeptical gaze.
"Ancient beast slumbering inside a mountain? Is this a joke? We're mercenaries, not LARPers!" Gust Boy exclaimed.
"I assure you, Gust Boy, all of this is quite real. That new Vigilante from Hosu who went viral a few months ago? They're the host of a symbiotic alien that is connected to this beast and my benefactor." All For One explained.
"So where exactly are these manuscripts going to be located?" Dusty Ash asked as she looked at the hologram. "In a museum? A cave? Anything like that?"
"The manuscript has been a closely guarded secret for centuries, but I believe that if my benefactor's information is correct then they will be somewhere in the Nordic countries of Europe." All For One replied.
"Nordic? Like Norway? Like the Vikings?" Gust Boy asked curiously.
"They weren't actually called Vikings, you idiot." Volcano said with a groan. "So then how do we know which Nordic country to search in?"
"By tracking down a certain sigil." All For One replied as he then showed them a specific sigil onscreen, looking like a circular object vaguely resembling a sun with a black center in it.
"Any specific area where we can begin our search? Because there are eight different counties we have to go through." Dusty Ash questioned.
"My dear, it's all in the symbolism. Do you know what this sigil represents?' All For One asked.
"I can't say that I do." Dusty Ash replied as she placed a hand on her hip.
"Might have skipped that history class." Gust Boy answered.
"It's the Black Sun." Volcano replied, looking at the sigil. "What we now know as a solar eclipse was seen as a sign of the end for some cultures though some see it as a form of union, such as in Norse mythology where it represents the sun goddess Sol reuniting with her brother, the moon god Mani."
"Which means what exactly?" Gust Boy asked, confused.
"The sigil is used by a Norse cult that is in worship to Sol and Mani, however my benefactor believes that they were also hiding something, specifically the manuscript containing the location of this ancient beast." All For One explained.
"So I guess we should start in Norway then?" Dusty Ash asked.
"That would be the most likely place the cult might still be active in." Volcano replied with a shrug. "Most people associated Norway with the Vikings."
"Then that is where you shall go. I take it you do not need assistance getting to Norway?" All For One asked.
"No, we can get in touch with our contacts and find a way to travel there. As well as getting to the other countries in case we don't find it in our first search." Dusty Ash replied. "Giran might have mentioned that this is not our first international job."
"Then I will leave this job in your skillful hands." All For One said before creating another portal. "Find the manuscript, then I shall reward you handsomely. After that, you will lead me and my benefactor to the location of the slumbering beast."
"One more question, All For One. Exactly how much money are you going to be giving us?" Dusty Ash asked.
"I have the financial means to pay your group almost any price." All For One replied as he went through the portal. "I suggest you come up with one before we meet again."
Dusty Ash was left stunned after hearing what All For One had said. The Volcano Thieves had named their price after a successful job before, but coming from All For One was practically a dream come true, despite the rather strange task that they were given. The white-haired Villainess only left out a small gasp as she slowly rubbed her hand against her leg. All For One disappeared completely as the portal closed, leaving the Volcano Thieves to process what the Symbol of Evil told them.
"Wait, hold on a second…" Eddie said, finally speaking up and addressing Sleeper and the others. "Are you saying that the symbiotes-"
"Were created by Knull? Yes, that is correct." Sleeper replied bluntly.
"If that's the case, if this Knull created your kind, then how do we know we can trust you, and that you're not here to invade our planet for your so-called creator?" A dark-skinned woman with long white hair and bunny ears challenged, with the crowd murmuring their distrust of Sleeper as well.
"Because it was our kind who imprisoned Knull, locked him away inside of a cage made from the first symbiotes, what we would come to know as Klyntar Prime, where all Klyntarians originate from." Sleeper explained.
"Why would you betray your own creator? Were you not made for a purpose?" One of the board members asked.
"To wipe out all life, to return the Multiverse to the dark and empty abyss it was before the Big Bang? Yes, but then our kind would die too, not that the King in Black cared, for he saw us as weapons and not living creatures who could strive for more than destruction and death." Sleeper replied.
"As much as that sounds touching, I'm not convinced." One of the Pro Heroes said. "Where's your proof that you are Knights of the Cosmos and not invaders?"
"We have documented our activities across the various galaxies within our universe into the Symbiote Hive Mind, memories that cannot be altered or tampered with, for how can one fabricate billions of years worth of knowledge across the Multiverse?" Sleeper responded.
"Then by all means, show us." The President of the Commission said.
"If you think I'm going to just connect you to the Hive Mind, then you are mistaken. The human consciousness is feeble and cannot handle that much knowledge and information, your brain would be incinerated." Sleeper said before bringing up his HUD. "Though I can broadcast the information on my HUD and show you visuals from our exploits, unless you believe that isn't sufficient evidence either?"
"Go ahead." The President said.
"Ma'am, I would highly recommend you reconsider." One of the board members said.
"He could show anything and claim that it was the truth just to make us drop our guard." Another board member added.
Eddie, who was in the audience, just groaned in annoyance.
"Will these self-righteous dumbasses listen for once in their lives?"
Sleeper created a holographic screen and began to buffer up what looked to be a video which started to materialize onto the screen. The video started to show a sky, one that was green much to the surprise of those who viewed it and eventually in view came the surrounding landscape which had red grass, brown rock formations and various trees and plants which only vaguely resemble something from Earth.
"Woah…no way…" One Hero that appeared to have three black snakes on his back said.
"Is that….another planet…?" Another Hero asked.
As they looked at the footage of the alien planet, they then saw several aircraft in the sky which fired energy based projectiles down at the surface of the planet as screams and cries echoed across the land, shocking some of the people watching it.
"Holy shit…" One of the Heroes gasped.
"That planet…it's Sakaar!" Venom said as he protruded out of Eddie's back.
"You've been there?" Eddie asked.
"No, it was a targeted world for my universe's symbiotes. But it looks a little different…" Venom replied.
"Different universes, man, not everything's the same after all." Eddie remarked.
They then saw a large group of blue skinned humanoids wearing turquoise and navy blue army, opening fire on the native species of Sakaar, who were pale skinned with black tribal markings on their bodies.
"What in the hell…are these aliens…?" One of the board members mumbled.
"And they are at war…" Another member right next to them said.
"Before you is Sakaar, which has slowly begun to prosper and grow into a more civilized world." Sleeper explained. "However, they were invaded by the Kree Empire."
"Kree?" One of the Pro Heroes asked.
"A technologically advanced race that upon reaching what they considered to be their final evolution decided to conquer other planets, dominating and even destroying species that defied them. Think of them as the Third Reich from this planet's second World War." Sleeper replied.
Some of the Pro Heroes and board members mumbled and talked among themselves as they were still watching the events unfolding on the holographic screen. They then saw as the Kree prepared to execute a group of Sakaarans, one of them was hit by a black spear, hurling them to the ground. The Kree soldiers turned in that direction as they saw a humanoid figure covered in black and white organic mass, rushing towards them and proceeded to form blades on their arms. The audience could tell that this was a symbiote, who started to combat the Kree soldiers with swift and powerful movements. The symbiote dodged their gunfire before using one of their arm blades to slice through one of their firearms and then landed a strong kick to their torso which knocked them into a nearby rock. The other Kree soldiers started to fire once more, but the symbiote created tendrils that allowed them to zip-line out of their rate of fire before landing behind the Kree and stabbed two of them through the back with their arm blades.
"Damn, those are some swift moves." Venom commented.
"Yeah, I guess they are…" Eddie remarked.
"Soldiers of the Kree Empire, the planet Sakaar is under the protection of the Knights of the Cosmos." The symbiote explained as they turned their attention to the other Kree soldiers. "Any attempts to continue your assault will be met with lethal force. Leave now or be eliminated…"
The Kree soldiers didn't back off however as they kept firing their weapons at the symbiote, who kept dodging each of their shots before quickly disarming two of the soldiers and decapitating them.
"They're sssso fasssst…" The snake Hero thought as he and the others continued to watch the hologram.
"Is this meant to make us trust them? That creature just cut off the heads of two aliens." One of the board members said.
"Have you ever fought in a war, human?" Sleeper asked, addressing the board member directly. "Have you ever had to take a life in order to save countless others? Heroes and Villains are a narrative, a conflict between moralistic ideologies under the guise of committing crimes. But war is not about good and evil, it's about ending conflicts or further prolonging it. There are no winners in war, human…only survivors…"
They continued watching the footage, and saw the symbiote had successfully taken out the platoon of Kree soldiers, then approached the surviving Sakaarans and offered one a helping hand.
"We need to move, I will take you to a stronghold where we've been gathering your people in an effort to prevent the Kree from further slaughtering more." The symbiote said before the Sakaaran, a young girl to be exact, took the symbiote's hand and was pulled up on her feet.
The symbiote then led the small group of Sakaarans away from the battlefield, heading towards the stronghold it mentioned before, where other symbiotes were holding the line and using their abilities to shield the fortified building from Kree projectiles.
"Get these Sakaarans inside!" The black and white symbiote ordered, to which a pair of symbiotes nodded and began to escort them inside the stronghold.
Sleeper then ended the footage to give his audience time to process what they had watched. Suffice to say, most of the Pro Heroes and board members were conflicted on how they should be feeling.
"So from the looks of the footage, their claims of being peacekeepers who protect other planets seems to be true…" A board member said.
"Peacekeepers who cut people's heads off and intervene in another race's war." One of the Pro Heroes commented
"If what he said about the Kree was true, then they would have attacked other planets, including this one, Einstein!" Another Pro Hero exclaimed.
"We can't exactly condemn them for their actions in war, given our planet's long history of engaging in it. We've done some horrible things as human beings." An older member of the board said.
"Even so, why couldn't they have just incapacitated them and sent them off-world?" A younger Pro Hero asked.
"You realise how dumb that sounds, right? I don't think they would have done the same for them! They were massacring children and families and yet you think they should spare them?" A gruff sounding Pro Hero replied.
"We're not at war, moron!" The younger Pro argued.
"Not yet, but we could be, so we need to stop arguing and take this seriously!" A different Pro Hero interjected.
"Enough!" The President of the Commission said, silencing the people in the room.
"You cannot demonize my kind using lethal force when your species' history was defined by violence and bloodshed. Humanity rose from their position as prey through their intellectual development and used it to not only survive but to kill." Sleeper explained. "You wish to pursue a pacifistic way of eliminating criminal activity and conflicts despite evolutionary contradictions. But I am not asking you to kill Villains and human criminals, I'm asking you to understand that when it comes to Knull and all those enthralled by his power, you cannot show mercy. If he has created a cult or gained fanatics, then they need to be dealt with permanently to ensure the King in Black cannot be freed."
"So you're asking us Pro Heroes to kill? To break the laws we spent hundreds of years establishing to better manage a world of superhumans?" One of the Pro Heroes asked.
"You're still only concerned with yourselves, how this will affect you, not how it affects other worlds and their species." Sleeper said with a sigh. "I just showed you a world that was plagued by war, where innocent Sakaarans were butchered simply for refusing to accept Kree rule. Imagine what it would be like if this was Knull's invasion. Look at the bigger picture, surrender and realise the truth."
"And what is the truth?" The President asked.
"That you are not the center of the universe." Sleeper replied bluntly.
Most of the people listening were taken aback by Sleeper's words, as though the existence of aliens being revealed to them was overwhelming, it had not dawned on them that this revelation meant. The President and her board members began to talk, to which everyone waited for the final verdict. After a few minutes, the Commission stopped talking and their President began to speak once more while Sleeper's superiors re-appeared on his HUD's holographic projection.
"The Commission has come to an agreement." The President spoke. "Upon hearing the symbiote Sleeper's statement and viewing evidence that would suggest the Knights of the Cosmos are ultimately benign…"
Sleeper, Eddie, Venom and the Pro Heroes present waiting for the President to finish her sentence, dreading the possibility that the Commission might declare them enemies of Earth.
"...The Hero Public Safety Commission has elected to establish relations with the Klyntarian Collective." The President finished, surprising a few of the people in the conference room.
"Wait what?! We're really agreeing to this?!" The younger Pro Hero from before exclaimed.
"No one forced you to be here today, so don't complain when your opinion is ignored." The gruff Pro Hero from before retorted.
"So we're teaming up to take out this Knull asshole?" Venom asked.
"Sounds like it." Eddie replied.
"The Klyntarian Collective thanks you for listening to reason and our knight's argument." One of the symbiote leaders said with a bow.
"We are looking forward to developing relations with your planet and hope to protect it from our nihilistic creator. Sleeper will establish a communication system between our planets to better plan and converse with our new allies." Another symbiote leader said.
"The United Nations and World Hero Association will need to be brought up to speed on our alliance." The President said. "But as of now, the Pro Heroes of Japan and the Knights of the Cosmos will be working together to ensure Knull remains imprisoned."
"Thank you for understanding the gravity of this situation, Madam President." Sleeper said, bowing as well.
"This conference has come to a close, thank you everyone for being here today in spite of recent events." The President explained. "You are dismissed."
With that, the board members and Pro Heroes either left the conference room or mingled with one another. Eddie and Venom were at a loss for words, given that they didn't think the Commission would agree to the alliance.
"You know, I expected the Commission wouldn't go along with it, but I guess they're not as dumb as I thought." Eddie remarked.
"Maybe Sleeper reminding them of how insignificant they are in the grand scheme of things got their brains ticking." Venom said with a chuckle.
"But then what about us? Are we off the hook or do they still want to put us behind bars?" Eddie wondered.
Meanwhile, the President and her board members were standing near the conference room windows, away from peering eyes.
"You're letting Brock go, ma'am?" One of the board members asked.
"In the grander scheme of things, Brock is one Vigilante, hardly a threat given the symbiotes' weaknesses." The President explained. "If we were to refuse their alliance, then we'd have even more enemies on our hands, so why not work with Klyntar instead of against it?"
"But this could lead to quite the cataclysm, ma'am, hundreds maybe thousands of lives might be lost." Another board member commented.
"And I'm willing to risk that if it means saving billions." The President said with a sigh. "And given the nature of this incoming threat, we're going to need to resort to less than savory tactics."
"What do you mean by that?" One of the board members asked.
"Contact Tartarus, have them release Prisoner #656698." The President ordered, causing the board members to react with shock and horror.
"With all due respect, ma'am, but surely you can't be serious about this!" One of the board members exclaimed.
"Aligning with aliens is one thing, but releasing such a dangerous killer is another!" Another board member argued.
"Most of the Pro Heroes registered with the Commission are under contracts that cannot allow them to take lives, especially in public. And while there are exceptions like Takami, I doubt we'll have other Heroes rushing in to eagerly fight in a war with some god." The President explained.
"And what makes you think Tsutsumi will agree to fight on our behalf anyway given her stances on Heroes and us." An older board member asked.
"Simple: we make an offer she can't refuse…" The President answered.
A few days after the grim and anticlimactic battle with All-Might and All For One, U.A High had decided that the best course of action for protecting their students from further Villain attacks would be to have a dormitory system established on school grounds. Aizawa and a recovering All-Might were tasked with convincing the parents of Class 1-A to allow their children to not only continue to attend school but also move into the dorms. However, some of the parents were unsure of their child's safety after seeing All-Might's failure to defeat All For One, to which Aizawa and his fellow teacher had to convince them even further by appealing to U.A. High's positive aspects.
"We understand your concerns and hesitance in wanting to send your child back to U.A., but it is still one of the best schools in the country, the curriculum and facilities are second to none unless of course it's a school on I-Island." All-Might said, trying to sound positive and convincing to the parents.
"And how is my daughter supposed to learn anything if the school can't even protect their students from Villains?" Jiro's father argued.
"Every time U.A. attempts to teach our children, something comes along to screw it up and nearly kills them!" Ashido's mother added.
"It's not like we're intentionally endangering our students, not to mention they've proven time and time again that they are strong and resourceful when the situation calls for it." Aizawa explained.
"So you're saying that our children are better off because of the Villain attacks?" Sero's mother asked, raising her voice slightly.
"And let's not forget that despite all of your efforts, the one responsible for most of the attacks on the school are still out there, free to do whatever they like." Asui's father remarked in a timid but strict tone.
"We can't keep sending our kids, let alone allowing them to be in dorms on the grounds of such a dangerous environment!" Hagakure's father argued as he crossed his arms.
"U.A. is working on increasing the amount of security on school grounds and will be hiring Pro Heroes for extra faculty and contingency plans put in place by Principal Nezu. I know that we've screwed up, that I screwed up and now because of my mistake, those Villains are still out there while I no longer have the power to hunt them down again." All-Might explained with a solemn but earnest tone.
"You've done this country and the rest of the world a great service, All-Might, helped save so many lives and put away some of the most dangerous criminals alive." Iida's father said with a sincere demeanour.
"But because of your retirement and loss of power and rankings, we're not entirely sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing." Sato's mother sighed while her eyes looked down at the table.
"Is your presence at the school painting a target on you now that you have no power anymore? Will you ensure that they are safe by staying there? Are you even qualified to be a teacher? Because from what I heard, you acted quite rough and reckless during the Final Exams." Kaminari's father challenged.
"It's true that All-Might is not exactly the most conventional teacher and is far too lenient on some of his students' actions and behaviour." Aizawa started to speak. "But All-Might hasn't been a teacher as long as I have, and Vlad King is overall an even better teacher than I am. Yes, your children have been through a lot and it's unfair to always be putting them at risk, but they won't always be children and you won't always be there to protect them, they will grow and get stronger and become Heroes. So please, consider the dormitory system one more time and give them a chance to reach their goals."
"Well, even if you did lose in that fight, you still were able to save Katsuki. So I think U.A. can be trusted for now." Bakugo's mother, Mitsuki Bakugo, responded with an earnest and grateful tone.
"Alright…but if one more incident occurs, then I'm taking my child out of U.A. and the Hero Course." Shoji's mother stated.
"I'll consider sending my kid back, but you have to do better, All-Might, you and the teachers need to do a better job, because this country is starting to lose faith in you." Mineta's father said with a stern look.
All-Might sighed in relief as most of the students' parents had reluctantly agreed to send their children back to U.A., knowing that he and the faculty had to do better by them. However, when Aizawa and All-Might decided to split up to save time, the former Symbol of Peace had stumbled upon his greatest challenge yet: Convincing Inko Midoriya to let Izuku come back.
"You have some nerve showing up to my apartment and expecting me to allow Izuku to return to U.A. after everything he's been through!" Inko exclaimed with a mix of anger and sadness. "Broken bones, snapped tendons, three incidents of Villains in proximity from my son! This is not what a kid should be expected to deal with on a daily basis, All-Might!"
"And I agree with you one hundred percent, Mrs. Midoriya, it was never mine nor Aizawa or anyone's intention to have these children fight and encounter real life Villains in their first years of training." All-Might explained with a hint of nervousness.
"It doesn't matter what your intentions were, these attacks still happened and because of them, my son runs the risk of losing the use of his arms! The doctors showed me the X-rays and his nerve endings look like what you'd expect from a middle-aged metalworker, let alone a teenage boy!" Inko yelled.
"But Mom, I put myself in those situations, All-Might and the teachers-" Midoriya tried to say only for his mother to silence him by putting her hand up.
"When I was watching your fight with that powerful Villain on TV the other night, I thought that you would pull through for us, that even when your true self was exposed that you will still fight on, and defeat that Villain and make sure that he could never harm anyone ever again…" Inko explained before clenching her fists. "...but I was wrong…we were all wrong. You failed, All-Might, and you lost what little strength you had left. Now our country is divided on what to do or think, especially because of your retirement."
All-Might could do nothing but stare at the table, a feeling of shame and guilt racing through his body, especially with Inko's words. Midoriya sat next to his mother, and though he wanted to defend his mentor, to try and convince his mother to give him another chance, the damage had already been done and All-Might's failure to take down All For One had consequences. All-Might took a deep breath before looking at Inko.
"Mrs. Midoriya, there's something I need to tell you." All-Might said, causing Midoriya to look at his mentor with surprise. "Your son and I haven't been fully honest with you, and looking back at it now I realise that we should have never kept it from you."
"Kept what from me? Izuku, what is he talking about?" Inko asked her son with a look of concern and disappointment.
Midoriya's eyes dilated slightly, realizing what he had to do. He looked at All-Might, who nodded as a sign of confirmation, and then took a deep breath before looking at his mother.
"Mom, the truth is that the doctors were right, I was born Quirkless."
"What? But Izuku, you do have a Quirk, how else would you explain that strength and speed that you have?" Inko asked, confused but focused on her son's words.
"That's because, Mrs. Midoriya, I gave Izuku my Quirk." All-Might responded, causing Inko to lean back in surprise and disbelief.
"You…gave my son your Quirk…?" Inko asked, skeptically though with a hint of curiosity.
"Normally when people asked about my Quirk in interviews and in public, I would change the subject or give vague answers. I did these things in order to guard the secret of my power, of my Quirk." All-Might explained. "Like your son, I was born Quirkless too, but I always wanted to be a Hero people could look up to, one that would bring peace and justice to our country. Most people thought I was just a hopeless fool or a dreamer, but someone saw potential in me, and that person was my master, the previous holder of this Quirk, the Quirk she gave to me which in turn I gave to Izuku. And that Quirk is One For All."
"One For All…" Inko said, repeating the words in her mind as she processed what All-Might had told her. "...and this One For All as you call it, it can be given, passed on…?"
All-Might simply nodded.
"The first person cultivates the power, and then passes it on to another. The next refines it and passes it on again. In return, it grants the holder immense levels of strength, speed and reflexes that when used on an unsuitable body can damage it severely. So in the ten months leading up to the U.A. Entrance Exam, I trained your son, gave him dietary and exercise regimens to help prepare his body for One For All's power."
"That's why I was exercising so much, Mom, and why I asked if you could cook meals that were high in fiber and protein for dinner." Midoriya said, chiming into the explanation. "All-Might had me clean up all of the garbage scattered across Takoba Beach, including all those thrown out refrigerators and washing machines. It was difficult, but when ten months had passed, I finished my training and the beach was clean of all its trash."
Inko was silent at first, taking in the new information All-Might and her son had given her. She looked at her hands before letting out a sigh.
"I didn't want to believe it…I was born with a Quirk that allowed me to make small objects float around my body, which I got from my father who had a telekinesis Quirk. Meanwhile, your father, Izuku, his Quirk allowed him to breathe fire, he came from a family of fire Quirk users, your great-grandfather even performed fire dancing in his youth. This would mean that in most instances, our child would be either born with one of our Quirks, one of our families' Quirks or a combination of both. But then that day we visited the doctors who told us that you would never develop a Quirk of your own, and you were so devastated and upset."
Inko took a few tissues from her tissue box and started to wipe away the tears from her eyes before continuing to speak.
"I could only apologize to you over and over again for not being born with a Quirk, and then with your father always being away on business trips, I just lost a part of myself…I let myself go, I ate and ate a lot of my problems away and just felt so miserable and useless. But then one day you came back and told how your Quirk had miraculously awakened, that you were just a late bloomer. I was so excited and happy that I didn't even question how and why this had happened. The doctor, he explicitly said that your pinky toes were not double-jointed, which anatomically speaking is how you identify whether or not someone will develop a Quirk or not, and yet you somehow out of nowhere awakened a Quirk…"
Midoriya averted his gaze from Inko, thinking that he played his mother for a fool and essentially exploited what he believed about her lack of knowledge about Quirks.
"I saw your Quirk in action at the Sports Festival, where you showed off this impressive level of strength, so much so your arms, your fingers, they broke from the sheer amount of force you wielded." Inko continued. "And in that moment, a thought had sparked in my mind. There is no way that you could have been born with that Quirk…your lineage would have made it impossible for you to be born with a Quirk of that nature…and yet I never questioned it afterwards, I never asked you about it…I wanted it to be true, I wanted the story that you gave me about being a late bloomer to be reality, because I wanted you to be able to achieve your dream…"
Midoriya fought the urge to start crying upon hearing his mother's words. He needed to be strong for her if he was going to convince her to let him return to U.A., but also needed to acknowledge and respect Inko's feelings.
"Mom…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you the day I got One For All...there were so many times I wanted to just come clean and tell you that my Quirk was given to me, especially knowing my family and knowing how unlikely it was for me to be born with that kind of Quirk. But All-Might wanted to keep the nature of One For All a secret from the public, to protect himself and me."
"So you're telling me that you gave my son this Quirk knowing full well it would make him a target?!" Inko exclaimed, causing Midoriya to become more nervous, realizing how shady this was starting to sound.
"Yes, ma'am." All-Might replied sheepishly before composing himself again. "One For All and the history surrounding it spans nearly 2 centuries, years of conflict and bloodshed over the ideals of the ones who created this legacy in the first place. That Villain that got away before I could use the last embers of my power to defeat? He is All For One, the one who created One For All in the first place for his sickly but morally righteous brother, who passed on the Quirk throughout the generations, eventually being passed on to my master, who gave the Quirk to me."
"What are you trying to say, All-Might? That my Izuku is now part of some ongoing war with that monster? That you intended for him to fight All For One one day?!" Inko accused as her anger rose.
"No! No, never, All For One is an adversary from my past that I never wanted your son to ever face! That is why I tried so hard to defeat him that night, so that young Midoriya wouldn't inherit my past mistakes and burdens." All-Might retorted, bowing his head in a submissive manner.
"But he wasn't defeated, he got away and now that you're retired, how can I expect you to protect my son, especially from such a monster? And don't say that the school will protect him, because we both know how good of a job they've been doing recently both in protection and discipline!" Inko asked as her tranquil fury was starting to bleed out.
"Mom, please calm down." Midoriya pleaded to his mother.
"NO, I WILL NOT CALM DOWN, IZUKU! You lied to me, both of you have lied to me! About your Quirk, about your relationship, about everything! All this time I thought you were just going to school to learn how to be a Hero, but now it seems that All-Might had been grooming you to take his place this entire time, to insert you into some century old feud where you'll be hunted down and targeted for that Quirk he gave you!" Inko roared, finally losing her temper before glaring at All-Might. "How could you do something like this? He's just a kid, he shouldn't be expected to fight a war! He shouldn't be expected to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders!"
All-Might and Midoriya remained silent, realizing just how much they had upset Inko and how much of a burden the former Symbol of Peace truly was placing on his protege.
"There were plenty of Pro Heroes you could have gone to, or even older students of U.A. who had experience working alongside Agencies and had already gotten their Provisional Licenses…people who had Quirks…" Inko said as tears ran down her face. "...so why….WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GIVE MY SON ONE FOR ALL, ALL-MIGHT?! Why did you choose Izuku?!"
Midoriya gritted his teeth as tears started to flow down his eyes as well, the pressure, stress, sadness and frustration taking his hold on him and his mother. The gravity of the situation enveloped the ninth holder of One For All, and though he wanted to reach out and embrace his mother who was now a sobbing mess, he retracted his arm, feeling like he didn't deserve to comfort her in her emotional meltdown. All-Might however did something unexpected, as he got out of his chair and began to kneel on the floor before finally bending his back downwards and planting his head on the floor to create the traditional Japanese bowing style known as Dogeza, which is used to show gratitude, vulnerability and desperation.
"Mrs. Midoriya…Inko…your words hold nothing but truth to them…you are right to be angry with me, to hate me for all of the pain and stress I've put you and your son through in my endeavors to ensure that the legacy of One For All remains intact….I could have chosen someone else, a young Pro Hero fresh out of school or even a third year student who I could train as a teacher of U.A….I even had plans before meeting your son to give my Quirk to someone who one of my associates believed to show promise and had arguably the greatest potential in succeeding me as a paragon or symbol…"
Inko and Izuku Midoriya both listened to All-Might's words, in which the young Hero in-training was surprised to hear how All-Might considered giving One For All to someone else prior to their meeting. Inko was skeptical given everything she was told, but still listened, awaiting an answer for her question.
"...But the day I met your son changed everything….when we first met and accidentally exposed my true form to him, I told him that he couldn't be a Hero, that regardless of one's determination that you still needed a Quirk to be a Pro…I know, that's rich coming from the guy who also was born Quirkless and still wanted to be a Hero…but then the incident with the Sludge Villain taking young Bakugo hostage happened...I was in the crowd when it started and tried to use One For All to save him, but my usage of the Quirk previously when I met Midoriya had left me fatigued and unable to focus…the other Pro Heroes tried to do their best but the Villain had a hostage which limited their approach, not wanting a child's blood on their hands...and then it happened…"
"My Izuku rushed in to try and save Katsuki…" Inko said, wiping away her tears though remained upset. "...the police came to our house that day, and told us how reckless and dangerous it was that my son attempted to save someone without a Quirk. Mitsuki Bakugo's bully of a son makes it on the news just because he was taken hostage by the Villain and had a Quirk, but when my son tried to do right thing, even without a Quirk when all the other Pro Heroes were staring at a deer in the headlights, he gets a scolding a visit from the police…not that it matters, given that you did defeat the Sludge Villain anyway…"
"...Except the reason why I was able to summon my strength again and save young Bakugo…was because of your son's actions…" All-Might admitted, surprising Inko. "...I had just told young Midoriya half an hour ago that he couldn't become a Hero due to not having a Quirk which must have struck at his very core to hear those words from his favorite Hero…and yet here he was, rushing in to save the boy that had made his social life a living hell for years…and in that moment I realized my mistake, realized that I was dishonoring myself and everyone that came before him who held One For All with such words…true Heroes aren't what they are because of their Quirks, but rather their will and sense of justice…and your son, Mrs. Midoriya, has a will stronger than any of the children and students who were born with Quirks…so I looked back on my own past, and like my master before me, I decided to grant your son his wish, to allow him to become a Hero, for had your son not taken action and motivated me to push past my limits, then I would have failed to save another life…failed to save young Bakugo just like how I failed to save my master…I owe your son a life debt for that…"
Inko's anger had mainly dissolved upon hearing more of All-Might's words. While she was indeed upset and felt betrayed by her son and his teacher's secrets, she couldn't help but be touched and amazed by how much her son had apparently inspired and motivated the former Symbol of Peace to stay strong and not give up. She took another tissue and wiped away the rest of her tears before she decided to speak again.
"You can stand up, All-Might…" Inko said, to which All-Might slowly got back on his feet and looked at the mother of his protégé. "...Izuku has spent most of his life idolizing you, admiring how powerful and compassionate you were, and always watching the same video of you pulling people out of a burning wreckage, always smiling in the face of danger even when others were scared. But to hear that my son has had that much of an effect on you, that he was able to help you grow as a person and to give you a reason to keep going…"
Inko then finally let out a warm and pleasant smile.
"...I can't be more proud of him for doing so…thank you, All-Might…thank you for believing in my son when no one else did…"
"Please, I should be the one thanking you, for bringing such a wonderful and amazing child into this world..." All-Might said, smiling back.
"Oh, you're too kind." Inko said with a giggle.
Midoriya's worries began to be lifted as a smile started to form on his face, seeing how All-Might and Inko had appeared to have come to an understanding.
"So, Mom...would you allow me to return to U.A., to not only continue working towards my dream to become a Hero, but also to succeed All-Might as the holder of One For All and possibly the next Symbol of Peace?"
Inko let out a sigh before continuing to smile.
"Alright, Izuku, I will allow you to go back to U.A., but promise me that you will listen to the teachers from now on…"
"I promise, Mom. I won't let you down again." Midoriya said, bowing to his mother.
"And All-Might, I want you to promise that you'll take care of my son, to protect him and make sure that he becomes the greatest Hero this world has ever seen. Do we have an understanding?" Inko asked.
"I promise that I will protect your son with my life, and make sure that when the time comes, he'll be ready to be worthy of One For All and become a true Hero." All-Might said before bowing too. "You have my word, Mrs. Midoriya."
Midoriya let out a sigh of relief, like a weight had been taken off his shoulders by revealing the truth to his mother. His thoughts then changed from his situation to a certain San Franciscan and his alien companion.
"Eddie…Venom…I hope they're both okay. I wasn't exactly being fair to them when we last spoke…they had their secrets but I also had mine, so I can't judge them, especially given their situation…when I see him again, I hope we can talk and come to an understanding…"
Of the many places within this universe's version of Earth, Eddie Brock and his symbiote companion Venom did not expect to find themselves inside of a heavily fortified facility owned by the Commission and put inside of an observation room with nothing but a table and chairs with several surveillance cameras installed on the corners of the room. The human half of the Lethal Protector scratched his head before looking at each of the cameras and letting out a sigh.
"I think I actually miss being in an interrogation room…"
"They're going through a lot of trouble to keep us here, Eddie, even though they should be focusing on stopping All For One and Knull." Venom remarked with a dry tone.
"All For One was one thing, but no one was expecting to be dealing with an ancient evil god that predates the Multiverse." Eddie said before crossing his legs as he sat on his chair. "Where the hell is Tsukauchi? I thought he said that he would be here in five minutes, yet it's been nearly 20 minutes!"
"Maybe he changed his mind and thought we should be locked up like the rest of those dickheads!" Venom commented.
"Nah, he isn't the kind of guy to just change his opinion on the fly. Just be patient, he'll be here." Eddie said
"You better be right, or I will riot like it's Oktoberfest in Germany!" Venom exclaimed.
A few minutes passed and Detective Tsukauchi had arrived outside of the observation room with another individual in tow. After exchanging words with the person, Tsukauchi entered inside the observation room with a binder of paperwork and took a seat in front of Eddie.
"You're late." Eddie said.
"Cut me some slack, Eddie, it wasn't easy to convince the people upstairs to let me represent you in this weird paradoxical case." Tsukauchi said before opening the binder. "Venom is Klyntarian, so legally speaking what happens to him is up to the Collective, but you're human, Eddie, and so you fall under our jurisdiction."
"But I'm not even from this universe!" Eddie argued.
"I know, and I asked Sleeper about that, and unfortunately there doesn't exist an organization or faction that deals with the legal ramifications of an interloper from other universes. So I'm sorry, Eddie, but until you find a way home, this Earth's legal system is in charge of whether or not you remain free." Tsukauchi said.
"Fantastic." Eddie said sarcastically.
"So they're going to take Eddie from me?! Over my dead body, Inspector Gadget!" Venom roared, sprouting from Eddie's body and giving the detective a snarl.
"Hey, easy, that's not what I said." Tsukauchi said, putting his hands up. "This is why I call this case paradoxical, because it's true that legally speaking my government could get Eddie thrown in prison, but the thing is Eddie is Venom's host, he relies on him for things like sustenance and tapping into his full power. Without a host, Venom is not only weaker, but would eventually starve and die."
"Yeah, no shit Sherlock, we know that already!" Venom yelled.
"Yes, but what I mean is this is how you stay out of prison." Tsukauchi said. "Klyntarian law as explained to me by Sleeper dictates that if one of their kind has found a host that has achieved full symbiosis between partners, then the symbiosis must remain connected to ensure both organisms' survival and growth."
"So even if they could arrest me, they can't remove Venom otherwise it jeopardizes his well being?" Eddie asked.
"Think of yourself as his service dog or animal basically." Tsukauchi awkwardly, realizing how demeaning that sounded.
"Service dog?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA! Suck on that one, Eddie! If I'm a parasite, then you're my bitch! AAAHAHAHAHAHAAA!" Venom roared as he laughed hysterically, much to Eddie's anger and embarrassment.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, you oversized liquorice." Eddie said with a groan. "But you're basically saying that they can't put me in prison while bonded to Venom."
"Correct, so because of conflicting laws between our planets, both of you are technically free men." Tsukauchi clarified.
"Technically?" Eddie asked, raising a brow.
"Yes, well the Commission may have agreed to stop badgering you and trying to put you in jail, but they still wanted you to have consequences for your actions, given that you have murder charges against you." Tsukauchi explained.
"No one would have missed those two assholes, especially that musclebound freak!" Venom yelled before being reeled back by Eddie.
"Bear with me, will you?" Tsukauchi asked, frustrated.
"So we're going back to U.A.?" Eddie asked.
"No, they don't want you on school grounds anymore. Instead, the Commission has assigned a Pro Hero to you to be your handler. They'll be watching and monitoring your activities and intend to stop you from doing anything that goes outside of what you're allowed to do under the Klyntarian and Hero alliance." Tsukauchi explained.
"Great, and what about Sleeper and Knull? Should we be fighting that war too?" Eddie asked.
"The Collective have asked Sleeper to take you under his wing, and so when you're not with your handler, you're with him helping to thwart Knull's return." Tsukauchi replied.
"Well, guess we get to be a big hero after all, Eddie!" Venom remarked.
"And who is my handler then?" Eddie asked.
"That would be me." A male voice said, catching the attention of Tsukauchi and Eddie.
The source of the voice that was walking into the observation room appeared to be a tall slender man with a grey suit, red tie with white polka dots, had green hair with yellow highlights that were combed back and yellow framed glasses. Pro Hero fans would recognise this gentleman as Sir Nighteye, the former Sidekick of All-Might and now a Pro Hero in his own right that runs his own Agency. Sir Nighteye took a seat before observing Eddie and Venom.
"This is our handler? Looks like some pencil-pushing office worker with hair streaks!" Venom commented, much to Nighteye's visual annoyance.
"This is Mirai Sasaki, otherwise known as Sir Nighteye, one of Japan's most seasoned Pro Heroes and arguably one of the planet's greatest tacticians." Tsukauchi explained.
"So you're the major annoyance in the Commission's rear end, and judging from your symbiotic companion's smart mouth, I can see why." Nighteye said before adjusting his eyes.
"Whatever you say, Mr. Verbose." Eddie said with a shrug.
"You fancy yourself a comedian, do you? I, for one, believe that there is no point in a society that is deprived of humour and energy, so the next time you feel like making jokes, it better be a good one." Nighteye said, glaring at Eddie with an intense stare.
"How the hell can this guy talk about humour while looking so menacing at the same time?!" Eddie thought as sweat ran down his face from Nighteye's gaze.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Tsukauchi said, trying to defuse the situation. "Eddie, starting tomorrow, you and Venom will be entrusted to the Nighteye Agency where Sir Nighteye will monitor and keep track of your activities and movements when not in Sleeper's custody. I probably don't have to tell you what happens if you try to break any laws."
"Pencil-pusher here will take away our lunch breaks?" Venom retorted with a chuckle.
"You'll be forcibly restrained and placed in solitary confinement with heat and sound-based Support Items for the rest of your time with my agency." Nighteye replied, adjusting his glasses again. "That joke was atrocious by the way."
"Wasn't meant for you, poindexter." Venom snarled, glaring at All-Might's former Sidekick.
"Ah yes, because wearing glasses and dressing like what you think is a whitecollar salaryman qualifies me being classified under a derogatory term for nerds." Nighteye said, his glare intensifying.
"Don't explain the joke, that makes it less fun!" Venom roared.
"Fellas, fellas! Can we cut the bullshit and focus on the task at hand?!" Eddie exclaimed, getting the symbiote and Pro Hero's attention. "Thank you…Tsukauchi, anything else I should know about this arrangement?"
"Well, Sir Nighteye does have the authority to grant you use of Venom's abilities if he deems it necessary for the situation or as a last resort." Tsukauchi replied.
"So we can fight alongside the Pros?" Eddie asked.
"Only if my predictions or data determine that it would be the best course of action, so don't expect me to just call on you for each and every battle." Nighteye clarified.
"Predictions?" Eddie asked.
"Sir Nighteye's Quirk is called Foresight, it allows him to predict and see the future actions and movements of anyone he touches and gives eye contact to for an hour." Tsukauchi explained.
"So he's a psychic." Venom commented.
"Oh please, I'm not some charlatan with a crystal ball and tarot cards, my Quirk is true precognition in action, and has allowed me to formulate thousands of different strategies throughout my career as both a Sidekick and a Pro Hero." Nighteye stated as he adjusted his tie. "Including any strategies that may or may not involve your symbiotic powers."
"Look, I don't expect to fight every battle, just the ones that will help in stopping Knull and get us home." Eddie said, crossing his arms.
"Yes, the King in Black, the creator of the symbiotes, the same creations who imprisoned their master to prevent him from destroying the Multiverse. I was also in attendance at the conference too, Mr. Brock, I am well aware of what must be done." Nighteye said with a sigh before standing up. "Anyway, I suggest we get going before the Commission changes their mind. Follow me please."
Eddie sighed before standing up and followed Nighteye as Venom retracted into his body.
"Catch ya later, Tsukauchi, hope we don't meet again like last time, like when I broke the law…yeah, too soon…okay, bye!"
Eddie exited the observation room while Tsukauchi just let out an amused grunt as he closed the binder.
"Good luck, my friend, hopefully you'll make it back sooner or later…"
Team Reservoir Dogs, a small Villain group who you could say were the opposite spectrum of the Volcano Thieves, who were considered to be the best mercenaries in the country. This team was mainly a petty group of thugs, who had just stolen a cash register from a nearby store and took on a local Pro Hero and escaped. But they were not prepared for what they went through next, for while they attempted to escape the crime scene, they were chased down by another group, one that was more relentless, brutal and efficient in nature. They were remnants of the once powerful Yakuza crime syndicates that used to be the undisputed rulers of the criminal underworld in Japan, that is until All For One usurped them and made the Yakuza near-obsolete in terms of the authority and power they commanded, which led to most Pro Heroes and Villains seeing the Japanese mafia as a joke. There were four individuals, each of them wearing what looked to be plague doctor masks as they watched the burning wreckage of what one could only describe as something from a horror or disaster film, with the flayed body parts of Team Reservoir Dogs scattered around the scene.
"A bunch of capable adults got together and all they stole was a convenience store register?" The one standing closest to the wreckage wondered before letting out a small chuckle. "With this big a gang, they should have shot for a loftier goal…"
He then scratched his mask as he addressed the group of thugs, three of them appearing to be infused with parts of the totaled truck while one was in the street.
"You guys aren't well. What you need is a cure."
"We got the money. We should skedaddle before any Heroes get here, yeah?" A member of the group who was sitting on a nearby traffic light asked. "Overhaul?"
"They're all sick. Every last one of them." The one now known as Overhaul stated.
"Yes, I guess you could say that this society is sick, sick with the disease known as Hero Syndrome…" A male voice spoke behind the four masked criminals, causing them to turn around.
"The fuck?! Who's there?" Said the one with the hat and cloak.
"Easy there, Shin Nemoto, I come in peace and mean you no harm…" The voice said, as someone came into the masked group's field of vision, with the first thing they noticed being the bald and scarred head with a spiral etched into the forehead.
"So it was true, you did escape All-Might's final blow to fight another day. To what do I owe the pleasure of your arrival, All For One?" Overhaul asked, his gaze fixed on the Symbol of Evil's presence.
Did you enjoy the chapter? If so, please favourite and follow the story and give me your feedback! Now I will go over some of the decisions I made in the chapter.
And yes for those who asked in the past, the Shie Hassaikai Arc is happening! While we are doing the overarching story with All For One and Knull, there are aspects or story arcs in canon that will fit into the grand design of things. There will be a lot of differences, but I will for you viewers confirm that the raid on their base is still going to happen, so look forward to our version of events coming up.
So rather than go back to U.A., I decided it makes more sense that Eddie and Venom should have a handler to keep them out of trouble, as I don't think the Commission would allow him back at the school given that he broke his parole, and you wouldn't exactly trust them to go back. I chose Sir Nighteye because not only does it make sense to have someone who can predict your movements be your handler, it also gives Eddie and Venom an excuse to be at the Shie Hassaikai raid later.
Okay, now it's time to talk about what I like to consider the best part of this chapter: The confession to Inko. This was something me and my co-writer discussed with another writer friend of ours and we came to the conclusion that this needed to happen. The trust built with U.A. and the Pro Heroes has been damaged and so it wasn't easy for them to convince the parents to let their children come back to school, but the MVP of this movement was of course Inko, especially in this setting. Again, if All-Might had won against All For One then the world would still have respect for me and would be immortalized as arguably the greatest Hero alive, but that didn't happen and so Inko is even more distrustful. And so we decided that Inko needed to know the truth, that honesty is what would change her mind, even if she is upset and angry for the secrets kept from her. Inko isn't one hundred percent onboard with this, but because of her son's dream and because All-Might chose to believe in him when no one, not even Inko herself believed in him.
Also, to get a grasp of exactly what the antagonist situation is, here is a little diagram which explains their roles in terms used on TV Tropes, so go on the website for more details:
All For One: Big Bad and The Dragon to Knull
Knull: Greater-Scope Villain and Overarching Villain
League of Villains: The Heavy and Co-Dragons to All For One
Volcano Thieves: Psychos For Hire in service to All For One
Overhaul: Arc Villain (Of the Shie Hassaikai Arc)
If that is all, then I will see you guys next chapter! MVA: Symbiote's Justice, Lethal Protectors away!