Ch. 27

If the news reporters' helicopter had not been brought down by Endeavor, they would most certainly be able to see the continued carnage the possessed #1 Hero was causing not far from where his son had tried to remove the obstacles for ascension.

Down below, civilians and Heroes alike were in a state of chaos, as they watched from above how huge pillars of red, white, and yellow flame set everything down below it on fire. Though it primarily targeted the streets and those on it trying to flee or help others, the flames were no stranger to kindling nearby buildings, incinerating the contents within.

The alternatives were not any better, for if the flames had not yet kindled someone's vicinity, the ice would grab a hold of civilians, trapping them in columns or spheres or whatever shape the tormenting noble servant had in mind. If the frigid temperatures did not peacefully send their souls away, the flames that would soon trap their captives in a sauna would certainly have taken care of that. Or one would be even more unlucky with a quick release if the streets or "ice container" was filled to the top with saltwater, or became an immovable hourglass filled with sand.

Other parts of the city were lucky in that there was enough attention put elsewhere to allow for limited-risk evacuation. Aerial Heroes and vehicles managed to quickly and covertly rush civilians out of the city. But for the areas directly under assault by Endeavor, Shoto, Dabi, Snatch, and Manual, survival was a lottery game of low chances.

From a comfortable distance, a figure stood on the rooftop of a high-rise apartment building, binoculars squarely covering his eyes. His purple robe and white locks gently moved with the evening/early morning breeze, before the occasional violent wind from the chaos he was watching caught up to him.

Pucci put the binoculars down as he opened his mouth to remove a cherry stem, with the piths still attached. Those stems collected in a bowl with cherries still yet to be eaten, as he picked up another one and placed that in his mouth.

He then turned to another figure standing behind him, whom one would not expect to be a renowned public figure given his simple business attire. His suit, as opposed to pure gray, now was a shiny white, with a yellow polka-dotted tie comfortably underneath. His yellow business shoes would normally have made him stand out in a sea of professional black and brown shoes, but that is a detail not all-too relevant to him at this moment, so long as he remains well-kempt. His eyes, glasses, and parts of his hair maintained their bright yellow color, but the normally primarily green strands of hair on his head now also were a bright white.

The figure stared out into the distant carnage and chaos without the need of binoculars like Pucci had required, but his irises became a bright purple as the rest of his sclera darkened to a deep black. His vision though that altered ocular "lens" worked like a security camera, rapidly flashing to different scenes of the view below the possessed Heroes.

That lady gets trapped in ice…That building and street over there burns up… that street gets covered with sand… the one over there gets a massive tidal wave…and there goes the iced lady with the water…

"All is going according to plan thus far, Father Pucci," the figure stated bluntly.

Another cherry stem was removed from his mouth as he returned the praise towards the figure: "Excellent work…Sir Nighteye."

"Jotaro, Hawks, and Izuku Midoriya are all making their way to meet up with the UA Students who tried and failed to defeat Shoto." Nighteye continued.

"And Jotaro's Corpse Part?" Pucci asked.

"Currently undetectable. However, the student group seems to be trying their luck at imitating a Corpse Part?"

"And their chance of success?"

"I can't tell right now," Sir Nighteye surprisingly said, "Because it appears we will be having a visitor shortly."

Just as he finished speaking, the door to the rooftop loudly and quickly creaked as it was flung right open. From the doorframe appeared Shigaraki, who was taking off the hand which covered his face as walked onto the windy rooftop. Nighteye turned around to greet him, but Pucci's eyes stayed glued to the action ahead of him.

"Were you or DIO ever going to tell me what the rest of your plan was?" he questioned, clearly irritated.

"We figured it would be better for the plan's success not to tell you much more than was necessary." Pucci responded, his voice slightly muffled from his mouth's work on the cherry.

"Last I checked," Shigaraki said back, "he and I had a partnership. Player 1 and Player 2. It's not a nice thing when you find out your co-op partner has disconnected your controller without telling you."

"Hmm, an interesting analogy," Pucci retorted, taking the cherry stem out of his mouth and putting it in the bowl. "But this might be a better one:

The ancient city-state of Sparta had two kings: one from the Agiad Dynasty, and the other from the Eurypontid Dynasty. While both kings were in charge and could lead armies to battle, only one could do so at a time. Right now, DIO is leading the army to battle, while you're staying behind to protect your jointly-ruled city-state."

"Enough with all the history jabber!" Shigaraki exclaimed back at the priest. "Anyway, what is Sir Nighteye doing here? Last I recall, he kicked the bucket after the Shie Hassaikai raid."

"That is true yes," the "Hero" who looked like an office worker responded, "But thanks to the powers of the Noble One, I have been given a new chance at life, this time doing right according to the vision he has put out."

"So, in other words," Shigaraki pondered, "You're on our side?"

"That is a short-sighted way of looking at things," said Nighteye, "But yes. Any animosity I may have harbored towards you before is forgiven. Now, both of us work toward the same goal."

"It's as the Gospel of Matthew commands:" Pucci spoke, finally turning around to see Shigaraki, but only briefly, as he continued, "to turn the other cheek." Having said this, both he and Nighteye turned back to focus on the destruction playing out in front of their eyes.

"Right now," he continued, "the best way you can help is to head back down and continue patrolling the streets." He slowly lifted the binoculars back up to his eyes as he continued, "And if you see any sinners on the streets,...be sure to send them the Noble One's way."

For a short period of time, Shigaraki simply stood still. Right now, a part of him felt the need to scratch the proverbial itch provoked by this entire interaction. Send a bit of Decay Pucci's way, and this problem would be resolved. He lunged his arm forth a slight bit!...

"Sir Nighteye," Pucci quietly inquired, "Does your Future Sight hold that Shigaraki will attack us?"

Before Shigaraki realized that such energy would only be wasted. A former Pro Hero and a priest with an ability that could withstand Dabi's intense flames? Such a fight would do nothing but sow more strife. He knew he would get his chance. But tonight would not be that time.

He lifted his arm up and towards his neck to scratch it, as he began to walk back toward the door.

"It does not," Nighteye responded as the door closed as swiftly as Shigaraki had opened it. But that did not last long as the door soon disintegrated, the naked doorframe showing ragged villain walking down the stairs, ready (for now) to fulfill his duty to the utmost.


Author's Notes:

A shorter chapter this time around, but one that shows I'm not dead nor done with this. Hopefully I should be able to get more chapters done and wrap up the part over the summer, but I cannot promise anything. For now at lest, enjoy this latest chapter!