"How many of your loved ones have I killed now?" All for One asked.
Izuku's head fell on the ground and Toshinori fell on his knees. All for One kicked Izuku's head and it rolled before Toshinori. Izuku looked so… shocked. Confused. Betrayed. Betrayed that his mentor… hero had failed him. All for One started laughing. It wasn't the evil cackle of a demon, but the warm laugh of a confident man who had won. All for One always won. Always. Toshinori had been a fool for thinking otherwise.
There were always those moment that no amount of training or lectures from professionals could prepare you for. Those moments of such utter human evil that left you numbed and dazed. Unable to move. Toshinori was looking at one of those. So, were Gran Torino and Sir Nighteye.
"… you… you killed him." Toshinori whispered.
"I did him a kindness. Now he doesn't have to see what I'm going to do to you three." All for One said.
Gran Torino got over the shock first and attacked. All for One's smile revealed the monster beneath the facade and he stepped up to meet Gran Torino. Gran Torino was powerful, skilled and experienced, but it wasn't enough. It was never enough. How could they beat someone like All for One? They had decades of experience. He had a century. They had power, but it was only power All for One had allowed them to have.
Sir Nighteye placed his hand on Toshinori's shoulder.
"All Might. We need to…"
Toshinori never found out what they had to do. All for One struck Gran Torino down. He tried to get up and failed.
"Die. You need to die." All for One said and smiled to Sir Nighteye: "Isn't that right, prophet?"
Sir Nighteye removed his glasses. The look on his face was beyond courage. Sir Nighteye knew he was going to die and had decided to face his death head on. How could Toshinori be any worse? He tried to get up… and found he no longer had the strength. He had failed. He'd failed Nana, Gran Torino, Sir Nighteye, Inko… and Izuku.
Sir Nighteye pulled out small steel balls under his suit and threw them. All for One slapped them aside like they were flies. Then he swatted aside Sir Nighteye . When Toshinori looked up he saw All for One looking down on him. All for One's smile was the most horrifying thing he had ever seen.
"It was worth it. The five years of pain were all worth it for this moment. You have nothing I can't take from you. There is no one you love that I can't kill. I…"
All for One fell silent and he looked… confused.
Toshinori glanced down. Izuku's head was… melting? Whatever was going on All for One had a better idea than he did. Confusion was replaced by cold fury.
"Twice!"
A man in black and white mask peeked out of the mansion.
"Yes?"
"You double-crossing fucker!" All for One snarled.
"I did no such thing!" Twice yelled back sounding offended. Then he thought about it for a moment: "Wait. Wait. Wait. Yes! Yes, I did. Screw you, All for One! You evil bastard!"
Rage had always been All for One's weakness and made him forget about everything else. He leaped at Twice and grabbed him. There was an explosion that turned the yard red, but even that melted away quickly. All for One screamed like a petulant child and stomped the ground.
The loudspeakers stopped blasting music at them and was replaced by a refined voice.
"Master? Can you hear me?"
"Kurogiri?! What the hell is going on?!" All for One shouted.
"Master… there is no easy way to tell this, so I'll just tell it to you straight. I, along with the rest of the League, have decided that you are no longer fit to lead us. It pains me to say this, but this is where we part ways. We wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors. You'll need it since we are taking your assets with us. There is also one last thing you need to hear." Kurogiri said through the loudspeaker.
Kurogiri cleared his throat.
"Suck my hairy balls, All for One!" Kurogiri shouted and the loudspeaker carried his shout through out the neighborhood.
The loudspeakers went mute and perfect silence fell in the courtyard. All for One looked like his world had just ended.
A wave of rage washed over Toshinori and with it new strength. He got up. It wasn't over yet. One moment of weakness had almost been the end of him, but it wasn't over yet. While All for One was distracted Toshinori punched him as hard as he could. Rare thing for him to do, but All for One might have been the only man tough enough to take it. And if he wasn't… Well, Toshinori could live with that.
All for One went straight through the mansion wall. Gran Torino dragged himself back to his feet and stood next to Toshinori. Sir Nighteye limped to take his place at their side.
"I'm sorry… for hesitating." Toshinori said.
"Even you are only human." Sir Nighteye said.
"Let's finish this." Gran Torino said.
All for One stepped out of the wreckage. His black suit was torn, but he was unscathed. How could one look fit so much hate?
"Noumu! Kill them!" All for One yelled.
The mansion tore itself to pieces when the Noumu rushed to answer their master's call. A sweat drop rolled down Toshinori's face. All for One was bad enough, but all these Noumu…
He felt a tremor beneath his feet. All for One felt it too.
"No!" All for One screamed.
"Yes." Toshinori whispered.
Mount Lady was approaching them tall as a building and she wasn't alone. Dozens of pro-heroes were riding on her shoulders. When the Noumu attacked the heroes were ready to meet them. The battle began. All for One roared like a demon and lunged at Toshinori. Toshinori grinned and welcomed him with a punch.
Izuku floated in darkness. If he concentrated, he could put together a thought or two, but he'd quickly loose it and fall back into dreamless slumber. Was this death? Sometimes he could hear voices. Was there someone else here?
There was a burst of light and suddenly the world grew back around him. He fell on a hard floor too dazed to say or even think about anything.
"Izuku-Izuku."
Toga had knelled next to him and there was an explosion of rage. Toga had fooled him. Used him. Lied to him. Left him! She'd hurt him! He should…!
Then he noticed the empty space were Toga's arm should have been and none of that mattered anymore. Izuku reached out to touch the stump.
"… who… who did this?" Izuku said.
"Is it that noticeable? Hope it's not too much of a turn-off."
"Who did this?"
"A dick called Overhaul." Toga said.
"... why?"
"He was torturing Eri. I didn't approve and he didn't approve that I didn't approve so... Bye bye hand. Hello stumpy."
"... you tried to...?"
"Stab him. Funny how many problems that fixes. Ya should try it sometimes." Toga said.
Izuku touched the stump.
"... does it hurt?"
"I've had worse."
Izuku bared his teeth and clenched his fist until he heard his knuckles crack. Overhaul. How dare he? How fucking dare he?! Izuku would have never guessed it was possible to hate someone you'd never met so much. The bastard had better pray there was someone to stop him when Izuku got his hands on him.
Wait. No. Toga was no longer his problem. She was a… a villain. Izuku got up and backed away slowly never taking his eyes off Toga.
"… are you going to kill me?" Izuku said.
Toga grinned.
"Ya scared? Of lil ol' me?"
"… yes."
"Clever boy, but shouldn't I be scared of ya? Since ya are going to kill me." Toga said.
"… that… it will never happen." Izuku said.
"Don't be such a killjoy, Izuku-Izuku."
"You… you're crazy." Izuku said.
"Why does everyone think that? Besides, that's no way to talk to yer savior."
"… my…?" Izuku said and then he remembered: "The camp! Everybody is…"
"Safe. More or less. Ya should have seen Tsu. She beat the shit out of my clone."
"… you have clones?"
"Sorry, but I have none to lend ya. Had to borrow Twice's Quirk so I could pull off a few roles at the same time. I actually made All for One think I was ya. They better have my Oscar in the mail." Toga said.
"… you… betrayed All for One?"
"What can I say? Dude's a dick. No one murders my archenemy."
Izuku pulled Toga into a hug and whispered into her ear.
"Come with me. We… we'll say he forced. We can…"
"No can do. The League is continuing without All for One and I like it here." Toga said.
"… All for One… where is he?" Izuku said.
"Getting his face punched in by All Might. We knew he'd call out All Might if he had ya."
Fear gored Izuku's chest.
"What?! I… I have to get to him!" Izuku shouted and ran out of the room.
When he opened the door, he found himself in a large living room and was greeted by The League of Villains. Mr. Compress was sitting on a couch with a man in a black and white outfit that Izuku guessed was Twice. Between them sat a white-haired girl whose forehead was sprouting a horn. In the corner an old man was sleeping on a hospital bed. Kurogiri stepped out of the kitchen carrying drinks.
"Mr. Midoriya. So good to see you back in the land of the living." Kurogiri said and offered him the platter: "A drink? Ms. Toga said you like coke."
Toga took a milkshake off the platter. Without knowing what else to do, Izuku took the coke.
"Ya should try these. Kurogiri makes the best milkshakes." Toga said.
"Thank you, Ms. Toga." Kurogiri said.
"You better have been generous with the vodka." Mr. Compress said and removed his white mask.
Beneath it was a black ski mask that showed his eyes and mouth. Mr. Compress had large, sharp eyes and even sharper smile.
"I was sure All for One was going to kill me." Mr. Compress said.
"All for One likes to kill people. Bloody Mary for Mr. Compress with extra vodka. Cognac for Twice and hot cocoa for our youngest member." Kurogiri said.
"Eri. Come say hi to Izuku-Izuku." Toga said.
The girl… Eri approached them slowly before losing her nerve and hiding behind Toga.
"Come on now. He won't bite." Toga said.
"Stain might agree. I mean disagree!" Twice said and held his head: "I like you! I don't like you!"
"Twice, chill." Toga said.
"Yes. Chill." Mr. Compress said and clinked Twice's glass with his own: "Have another drink."
"… what… what the hell is going on?" Izuku said.
"Mr. Midoriya. Please don't cuss in front of children." Kurogiri said.
"Yeah. We're are yer manners?" Toga said.
"… are you going to fight?" Eri said.
"Lord, I hope not. I'm still tired from saving you from the mad scientists and cleaning that yakuza mansion." Mr. Compress said and drowned his drink: "And then there was All for One. Fucking All for One."
"Mr. Mr. Compress. What did I say about cursing in front of children?" Kurogiri said.
"I think I've earned the right. I've survived performing at children's birthday parties and All for One came still close to making me wet myself." Mr. Compress said.
"Besides, Izuku-Izuku would never fight in front of a kid. He's the hero Agro." Toga said.
"Didn't stop him from going to town on Muscular." Mr. Compress said.
"… who's Muscular?" Eri said.
"A very bad man, who's now a very dead man." Mr. Compress said.
"Wow. Way to go, Izuku-Izuku. Never thought ya would actually do it." Toga said.
These people are insane, Izuku thought and glanced at the old man in the hospital bed.
"… who's that?" Izuku said.
"The former capo of Shi Hassaikai. We promised Ms. Eri to save him and I'm a man of my word." Kurogiri said.
There was no time for this. He was getting side-tracked. He had to act fast while he was still on their good side.
"I need to get to All Might." Izuku said.
"Do you now? Mr. Twice. Would you go play with Eri in another room?" Kurogiri said.
"No. I mean… sure. Eri. Come with uncle Twice." Twice said.
Eri clutched Toga's shirt tighter.
"… are you angry?" Eri said.
Kurogiri chuckled.
"Tomura has taught me a lot about patience. Go along now, child." Kurogiri said.
Eri followed Twice reluctantly. When the door had been closed, Kurogiri sipped his drink.
"Tell me, Mr. Midoriya. What could you possibly do that All Might can't?"
"… All Might… he…"
All Might was growing weaker, but… how could he ever tell that to villains? They would…
"All Might is growing weak." Toga said.
"Toga!"
"What? It's not like everyone won't find out soon enough, but who cares? All for One doesn't even have a face anymore. After All Might is done with him, he'll be shitting in a bag." Toga said.
Kurogiri and Mr. Compress looked at each other. The mask couldn't hide Mr. Compress's panic.
"What?" Toga said.
"We… may have a problem." Kurogiri said.
"He has a face again. And Overhaul's Quirk." Mr. Compress said.
"Oh? Oh… shit." Toga said.
"You have to get me there!" Izuku said.
Toga grabbed his arm.
"Ya'll die."
"… I have a plan." Izuku said.
"You better. It's our lives on the line here." Mr. Compress said.
"Ya can't let him. We had a deal." Toga said to Kurogiri.
"Yes. To save him and I have saved him. If he wishes to return to the fray I have no reason to stop him." Kurogiri said.
"Then… I'm going too. And so are ya sorry lot." Toga said.
"Yeah, no. I'm not going back there." Mr. Compress said.
"Did ya forget yer balls while packing, Ms. Compress? That's yer new name by the way. Ms. Compress." Toga said.
"That's Mrs. Compress to you, Toga." Mr. Compress said.
"Mr. Mr. Compress is right. We'd have every hero breathing down on our necks. And our former master would have more targets. If Mr. Midoriya has a plan, we should put our faith in him. He is a hero after all." Kurogiri said.
"…Eri is coming with me." Izuku said.
All worry in Toga was replaced with fury.
"Like hell she is. She's a villain's kid. They'd send her… there." Toga said.
"Why don't we ask Ms. Eri? Ms. Eri! Could you come here?"
Eri peeked in.
"... yes?"
"Mr. Midoriya will be taking his leave now. If you want, you can go with him." Kurogiri said.
Eri ran to hug Toga.
"I want to stay here!"
"That means so much for me to hear, Ms. Eri." Kurogiri said and smiled at Izuku: "A hero wouldn't coerce a little girl, would he? We might have to get a bit… rough in that case."
Izuku began grinding his teeth. There were too many and he had no time to spare.
"… you win. This time." Izuku said.
"Glad to see we understand each other. Shall we?"
Toga took Izuku's hand. He should have brushed it off… but he… he didn't want to frighten a child. Yeah. That was it. When they were alone, he'd push Toga off. Black mist coated him and Toga, and they fell through darkness together. When Izuku could see again, he was standing in an underground lab.
Where a man in a bird mask was filling a suitcase with money, notes and samples.
"Mr. Overhaul. Glad to see you're safe. Hope you don't mind us passing through." Kurogiri said and patted Izuku in the back: "Mr. Overhaul is my way of thanking you. Do with him as you may. Then, make All for One suffer like he made Tomura suffer."
Even after Kurogiri disappeared, Izuku could only stare at Overhaul who had frozen in place.
"Izuku-Izuku, ya are crushing my only hand." Toga said.
Izuku let go of Toga's hand and took a fighting stance. Overhaul started backing away slowly.
"What's wrong, Overhaul? Didn't ya say Izuku-Izuku is a bitch?" Toga said.
Izuku ran at Overhaul. Overhaul tried to throw a punch, but it looked like he had never worn boxing gloves in his life. Izuku hit him like Mr. Oguro had taught him. No. Harder. He didn't hit Overhaul like he owed him money. He hit him like Overhaul owed Toga a hand. He felt ribs crack and Overhaul stumbled backwards. The next punch knocked off Overhaul's mask and a number of teeth.
"No! No! I'm not breathing the same air as you!" Overhaul howled while holding his broken nose.
Izuku crushed the bird mask under his foot. Few more punches made sure that Overhaul stayed down. Toga whistled.
"That's how ya do it, Izuku-Izuku." Toga said and pulled out a knife: "Somebody owes me an arm. Ya wanna guess what happens next, Dickhaul? Do ya mind, Izuku-Izuku?"
"… no."
"Glad we agree." Toga said.
"… no. I mean yes. I do mind. You're not cutting off his hand." Izuku said.
"I was gonna cut off both." Toga said and then put away her knife: "Fine."
Overhaul didn't fight back when Izuku threw him into one of the holding cells.
"Ya gonna lock me up next?" Toga said.
"… I…"
Toga just laughed and then kissed him. He should have pushed her away and spat, but… instead he pulled her closer. Toga's teeth left scratches on his tongue and filled his mouth with the taste of blood.
"… I've missed you." Izuku said.
"For what it's worth. I've missed ya too. Ya think All Might can wait while we have a quickie?"
Izuku swallowed.
"… no… and Overhaul…"
"Could have watched. Too bad. Well, let's go see the damage."
They ran upstairs and saw a scene from hell. Heroes were facing off with Noumu amidst the flames. In the middle of it all The Devil was facing off with All Might.
Toshinori had grown weak. Too weak. Whereas All for One was stronger than ever. The worst part was that he had grown more skilled too. All for One didn't just throw around powerful Quirks like the last time. The monster actually put some thought into how get the most out of them. Then there was his latest toy. Whatever All for One touched became whatever he wanted it to be. The ground could turn to spikes under Toshinori without warning and he had been too slow already.
And All for One wouldn't stop aiming at the wound in his stomach. Every blow in the old scar felt like he took a hit in his true form. The time limit on his power dropped with every blow and would give out any…
All for One hit him in the stomach and Toshinori felt something give out.
The last embers of One for All burned out. The battle came to a halt when everyone saw Toshinori laying on the ground in his true shriveled form. Suddenly All for One was next to him and lifted him up for all to see. The look on the faces of his fellow heroes was… hopeless.
"Did you think that this could beat me?! Did you?!" All for One howled and then pulled Toshinori closer: "Remember what I promised to you five years ago? That I'd strangle you with your own entrails. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Plus Ultra, motherfucker!"
Izuku leaped at All for One and nailed him right in the face. The blow sent All for One crashing through the fence and Izuku followed… then another Izuku took hold of Toshinori and pulled him to cover.
"All Might. Toga can't hold him off for long. You have to beat him." Izuku said so fast Toshinori could barely make out his words.
Toshinori pulled Izuku into a hug.
"… I… thought I lost you." Toshinori said.
"… you have to fight. You're the only one strong enough." Izuku said.
"… I have no power left. I… used it all. You… you have to run." Toshinori said.
"… you… just need more time." Izuku said and pulled out a hair: "Eat this."
"… huh?"
Then Toshinori understood. He took the hair and the full power of One for All made his blood boil. He had forgotten… how good it felt. How much he had missed it. New strength filled him and filled out his muscles. He got up.
"Worry not for now I'm here!" All Might roared.
The hope of his fellow heroes was restored and the tide of battle began to slowly turn.
All for One stepped through the fence holding the other Izuku… Toga by the throat. Villain or not she was still a girl in All for One's clutches. No one, no matter how evil, deserved that. Before All for One had time do anything worse, All Might was on him.
"No!" All for One shouted.
"Yes." All Might said.
For a moment fear and doubt made All for One waver but that didn't last long. All for One dropped Toga and got ready to continue.
Even with the full power of One for All, All Might was still outmatched. All for One wasn't any less powerful or skilled. The wound in All Might's stomach wasn't any less painful. Still, he had to fight. Even if it meant his death, he had to fight and make sure All for One didn't walk away.
"You hurt her!"
The remnants of One for All carried Izuku to All for One and he slapped the monster in the back. There was pain that was so terrible that the body had to short-circuit itself for a moment just to give itself time to prepare for what was to come. Then All for One's back split open and he screamed. He screamed like All Might had never heard anyone scream before. That alone made the drive here worth it.
Izuku's next slap struck All for One in the face and his eyes went out in an explosion of blood. All for One screamed again. Louder. All for One changed strategies and hit the ground. A cage of spikes rose around him and drove All Might and Izuku away. It wasn't All Might anymore that All for One was looking out for. A seventeen-year boy had scared a century old demon like no other successor before him.
All Might crushed his way through the spikes and opened up a path to All for One. All for One tried to grab him, but All Might saw now through his tactics. That new Quirk was powerful, but it required hands to be activated. All Might took hold of All for One's hands and kicked him in the chest. All for One was sent flying but his hands remained with All Might.
All for One didn't let the loss of his hands slow him down and a regeneration Quirk had already begun to close off his wounds. All for One's kicks send out razor-sharp blades made of wind, but that was just another chance for Izuku to get close. One of the spikes had gone through his leg, but Izuku didn't notice or care.
Still, they slowed Izuku down enough that All for One could defend. His counter-attack was filled with panic. The pain from Izuku's strikes still haunted him and just driving the boy away was more important than causing actual damage. Izuku rolled in the ground. All Might jumped between All for One and Izuku.
New wind blades almost skewered All Might, but All for One's aim had deteriorated. It was the monster's turn to be afraid.
"… kill you. Kill everyone…" All for One gasped.
"Dodge!" Izuku yelled.
Rock shards thrown with super strength hit All for One in the stomach. This time he couldn't even scream. Then Izuku was next to him.
All for One's face had healed enough that All Might could make out the fear when he understood what was coming.
"… no." All for One whispered.
"Fuck you." Izuku growled.
The first slap tore open All for One's knees and struck him in the ground.
But it wasn't enough.
All for One was proud. Proud enough to think that he was a god among men and the pain from his wounded pride was powerful enough to over-power his injuries. When Izuku tried to strike him again, All for One kicked the boy in the ground and tried to crush his skull with a kick.
"No!" All Might shouted.
He'd failed Nana. He wouldn't fail Izuku. One blow from him was enough to make All for One lose his grip on Izuku and the boy was sent flying. All for One spat out a tooth and their battle from five years ago resumed in earnest. The pro-heroes moved out of their way as fast as they could when two of the most powerful Quirks in Japan and perhaps the world clashed. The poor Noumu didn't have enough survival instincts to run away and were torn apart in the maelstrom. Or perhaps they welcomed death that would put an end to their torturous life.
All for One was stronger than ever, but when All Might met his old limits and surpassed them, he realized that so was he. Izuku had honed One for All and made it more powerful and now that extra power was All Might's to wield. All for One must have realized it too. As the battle raged on All for One's attacks became sloppier and more desperate.
When All for One's defenses faltered, All Might borrowed one of Izuku's tricks and slapped him. The first slap made All for One scream. The second smacked him in the ground. The next slap made sure he stayed there. All Might was on him in an instant. All for One was in too much pain to fight but could still glare at him.
"… go ahead… brother. Do it. Put… an end to it."
"Gladly, brother." One for All said.
Every horrible thing that All for One had ever done flashed in All Might's head. All the people he had killed and the lives he had ruined. How much pain had the bastard caused? He would have killed Izuku if he could. Just like he had killed Nana. He would have tortured Izuku first. Just like Nana. The monster had even defiled Nana's legacy. Death was the least he deserved.
"… All Might?"
Izuku was looking at him. And he looked… scared? What did All Might look like now? The boy who looked up to him… was scared of him. The boy who wanted to be like him. How many others like him were looking right now? What would they think if he killed a beaten enemy? What would happen if The Symbol of Peace acted like a savage?
"Do it, you coward!" One for All screamed.
"… do it… you coward." All for One echoed.
Too powerful. He was far too powerful to ignore the rules that held their world together. Too many people looked at him for guidance that he could let them down. And even if no one blamed him or judged, All for One would know. That for one moment they had been the same. They had used their powers to put themselves above the laws of men. How could he give the monster the satisfaction? It was the hardest thing he had ever done but All Might was able to open his fist.
"All for One… you're under arrest." Toshinori said.
Izuku sighed in relief before starting to look frantically for Toga amongst the wounded. Toshinori kept vigil over All for One until he was chained like the animal he was and taken away. Only then Toshinori allowed himself to join Izuku who had given up finding Toga. The girl was too slippery to stay behind.
Izuku looked at him. His face was covered in blood and ash.
"... is it over?"
"Yes. It's over." Toshinori said.
Even with the painkillers Kurogiri had given her, Toga's throat hurt like a motherfucker. All for One had no idea how to treat a lady. Still, it had all been worth it. Toga looked at the small vial filled with blood. The only part of All for One worth having.
All for One had been planning to make her his heir? Give her his power? She would have laughed if didn't hurt so much. Fool. The first thing you learned in Mrs. Ikari's orphanage. No one gave you anything. If you wanted something, you took it.
Toga smiled.
