Here it is, the 142nd full chapter of Miraculous Quirks released on time as always. Dabi has finally made his move and revealed his true identity but that is just the tip of the iceberg that is Dabi. Now that he has the attention of both the heroes at Jaku and the nation as a whole it is time for him to dance as he has the nation in the palm of his hand ready to tell all the sordid details of the secrets hidden within the Todoroki family. That is all the administrative stuff that I have for you, however, and there are no guest reviews to respond to or questions to answer so I will end this note here. Do keep the reviews coming as I enjoy hearing from y'all. That is all I have for this pre chapter note so that means that it is time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the 142nd full chapter of Miraculous Quirks.
Disclaimer: I do not own either of these great works of fiction.
Chapter 142: Flames Hotter than Hell
Marinette and Adrien had been running towards the epicenter of the conflict when the monster villain that Momo had dropped on the battlefield finally moved. They were still a good bit away from the central battle, two aerial Nomus had tried to divebomb them that they had to deal with which they did while Ida and Hado appeared and aided Todoroki following whatever had happened to Midoriya, but they still felt the air from the villain's hand as it grabbed Shigaraki out of the air so they were keenly aware of the giant villain's power.
To avoid any issues, the pair hit the deck and hugged the ground which prevented them from being blown back by the air pressure. Only when it was done did they get up and resume their rush to the scene.
However, as they neared where Endeavor and Todoroki were standing over a downed and clearly injured Deku while Ida carried a nearly as badly injured Bakugo nearby and a slightly battered Hado floated in the air, they heard Endeavor call out the name 'Dabi'. That brought the pair up short as they looked up in time to see the villain pour some liquid over his head that removed the black hair dye, they didn't even realized the man's hair was dyed, and revealed its natural color was white, the same shade of white as right side of Todoroki's hair.
That shocked the French couple but what they heard next shocked them even more as they pulled up just within earshot of the villain though still a fair distance behind where Midoriya, Todoroki, and Endeavor were. What they heard, if true, would upend the hero world as they knew it and it was just the tip of the iceberg that Dabi was about to slam into the nation.
"What kind of a way is that to great your long lost, supposed dead, son? Well, from now on call me by the name you and mom gave me. Call me Toya."
"Did, did I just hear that right?" Marinette asked Adrien as they stared up at the villain on the back of the monstrosity who was now smirking down at Endeavor and Todoroki below him, Marinette and Adrien close enough to hear his words but unable to move as they gapped at the news while Dabi gave some signal up where he was that they didn't see that was the sign to Skeptic to start broadcasting his message. "Did he just call Endeavor dad?"
"He did." Adrien said as he gulped. "I knew that Shoto had a bad past because of his father but to have a brother he thought dead, and one who's now a murderous villain, that I didn't expect. He never mentioned it to me though Midoriya and Bakugo might know as they did a work study with him but I don't think any of us would have made the connection between Dabi and the Todorokis."
"No one would, a supposedly dead older brother isn't exactly something you bring up in normal conversation." Marinette said. "Plus flame based Quirks are pretty common but blue ones aren't so you'd never associate them with other fire Quirks. Endeavor's are hot sure but they're not blue and Todoroki's flames are supposed to be about as hot as his father's so no one would put two and two together."
"Especially if those blue flames are some kind of evolution." Adrien said. "I believe that Mage speculated that it could be due to puberty naturally changing his body which could explain it. If I had to guess, Dabi's flames were always hotter than Endeavor's and as he grew they got hotter to the point they turned blue so between the color, the hair dye, the commonality of fire Quirks, and all those burn scars you wouldn't instinctively assume that Dabi was related to Endeavor."
"Trust me, those flames are hot." Marinette said recalling her one interaction with them. "I…"
"You seem surprised dad, I can understand seeing as I'm supposed to be dead an all." Dabi called out interrupting Marinette and Adrien's conversation as they focused on Dabi though his clear target Endeavor despite the fact that anyone in the immediate area around Gigantomachia could hear him. "And as we speak a special broadcast is going out with my message so that all know the truth but you won't see it so I'll share the highlights with you now to make sure you know what the rest of the nation is learning about you, dad. I see your doubt but it really is me, Toya Todoroki, the eldest child of Endeavor, the number 1 hero and I'm very much alive."
Dabi seemed to pause for a moment as they watched him. Neither Adrien nor Marinette could make out too many details other than the hair and the purple scars that covered most of Dabi's body, those seeing the recordings could see even more scars on his chest as well as his arms, neck and face, but the result was clear. Endeavor was in utter shock where he stood and that was clearly what Dabi wanted as he continued his ramblings, his moment was now and he wasn't going to waste a second of it.
"I know that my face is horribly scarred now but it amazed me that even my own family didn't recognize me when I reappeared during that attack on U.A.'s summer camp all those months ago." Dabi said. "It's pretty depressing that you didn't but really I shouldn't be surprised all things considered, you were such a great father that you barely noticed me once you cast me aside, especially after Shoto was born and proven to be your dream creation. You should know that I've killed at least 30 innocent people, at least at the time I made the recording that the nation is currently watching thanks to one of the MLA chumps we got to know."
"30?" Marinette asked her eyes wide. "That's…"
"Yeah, if he made that claim along with stating his familial name then that's really not good." Adrien said. "He may be a murderous villain, that can't be denied given the results of his Quirk, but if he can prove his claim then this will shake the nation more than the events here today."
"I bet your wondering how your first attempt to surpass All Might turned out this hideously." Dabi continued from his perch above them. "Well I'll oblige and this way those around can learn as well just in case they want to turn on you for what you did."
That seemed unlikely but already Dabi was making enough noise that he could get even heroes to turn on Endeavor if it was that bad. Such was the nature of airing out dirty family secrets and it would turn out that the Todoroki family had some serious secrets in their closet that would now see the light of day.
"See, your yearning for power, Endeavor, led you to seeking my mother out and forcing her into a Quirk Marriage with you so that you could create the perfect Quirk in your heir, one who'd continue your legacy and do what you could not, usurp All Might as the number 1 hero." Dabi said which both Adrien and Marinette knew as they knew Todoroki well enough, and had the same Quirk Marriage cover story, to know the nature of his parent's marriage. "I was the first product bred from that dream, a failure who's flames burned hotter than his father's but who's body was designed for the colds of his mother's Quirk. As such I was tossed away and forgotten as soon as it was clear I'd never achieve my father's goal."
"An enhanced constitution for cold but a fire Quirk so hot its blue." Adrien said his eyes wide. "Now I get why no one really questioned our constitutions, the who Quirk Marriage system caused stuff like this and because of how genetics and Quirks work it's an utter crapshoot as to how you turn out. For every attempt to get a Quirk like Shoto's you can just as likely end up with a situation like Dabi's. All that heat but a backlash that would prevent him from ever being a hero. Add in how Endeavor used to be and that's just a recipe for disaster."
"I am sure that Mage wouldn't have known about this villain being the product of a Quirk Marriage, especially because a cold resistant constitution isn't something often tested." Marinette said. "But the whole Todoroki family is a product of Quirk Marriages so it's no wonder that people like us exist without artificial aid. Still, as you said, that combo with that family, no wonder there were issues."
"Don't worry, dad, I didn't forget about our family even if you did forget about me after I supposedly died." Dabi said interrupting Marinette and Adrien again as he continued his ramblings though Endeavor had never actually forgotten about Toya, he still had a shrine for his son and had searched for him but there was no way that Dabi would have known, or cared, about that. "I've been watching you and your career from the shadows ever since I woke up following my little accident as you continued for your goal and finally reached it and become the number 1 hero."
Everyone knew that Endeavor hadn't truly earned the spot that he'd been aiming for, he'd gotten it by default with All Might's sudden retirement but since then he'd truly earned it in the wake of Kyushu. Now he was the number 1 and being that had certain responsibilities which Dabi was more than keen to exploit in his rant as he took down his father.
"For decades All Might showed us how to be the number 1 hero." Dabi continued, he was in full swing now and no one was going to interrupt him, not with all the juicy secrets that he was spilling over the nation. "You have to be a hero who is not only without but reproach and that applies to you too, Endeavor. That is why I made the recording of my life story and had it streamed to every device in the country so that this nation can truly understand what their current number 1 hero is really like."
That was a very fair point, All Might had seemed to be beyond reproach and the contrast between him and Endeavor had always been clear, something that was made more so when Endeavor replaced him as number 1. Now all the nation, or at least everyone who could see a device, was going to see it and learn about Endeavor's past which wasn't good because something like this would destroy the reputation of the top hero and lose all the trust he'd built up.
"Man, I really did not expect this." Dabi said his hands moving as he spoke and drew their attention again. "I'm starting to really have fun now that my moment is at last here, it's even better than I could have imagined when I planned this out. See, ever since I set off on this path I wondered how I could make you suffer, dad, how I could ruin your life. All the way back to when I burned up thanks to my own flames and you thought I died, this desire to ruin your life has all I've been thinking about and now at long last it's here."
As Dabi spoke he was moving around Gigantomachia's back, arms thrust into the air and grinning like the madman that he was as he ranted there. It was a true villain monologue worthy of the pre advent comic that no longer existed and Dabi knew that he had all the heroes who were around hooked on his every word just as he had the whole nation hooked with his message. There was no way that he'd stop now as he continued his ravings, moving the entire time he spoke.
"Thanks to you I had no idea why I even existed." Dabi was saying as he pontificated on Gigantomachia's back. "I'd cry to my younger brother Natsu as he'd already been cast out for having mom's Quirk and thus not worthy but there was no way that you'd realize that, especially when you completed your little puppet Shoto. Now that was an avenue I could go down, I could kill him and destroy your hopes there and then, that was until All Might was forced to retire after Kamino and you suddenly became the number 1 hero like you always wanted. The moment that came I became invested in your happiness, I was even afraid that you'd die in Kyushu, me, who wants you to suffer more than anyone else for what you did didn't want you to die."
Dabi was in full swing now as he moved, his hand over his face letting out all that he'd had stored up for years, the burning hatred that had kept him alive years past when he should have died following what happened on Sekoto Peak. This was the moment he'd lived for; he'd not known it would be something like this until his father became the number 1 hero but he did and that was when Dabi had begun the final stages of his plan which meant that it was time to reveal all to his dear old dad. The man had to know everything because it would all truly break him right before Dabi ended it all the way it should be ended.
"Did you ever wonder who led Starservant and Ending to your doorstep? Why it was me of course." Dabi continued as he laughed at that. "Did beating them make you feel big old man? That heavy burden on you now that you've achieved your dream after chasing it for so long, must have been tough? Or it would have been had you not been soothed by public admiration thanks to Kyushu where you showed Japan what you had, my doing as well I might add. Is that why you finally decided to do what you'd failed to do ever since I was born, bond with your children? Huh? Just look towards the future where you could be a better man than the scumbag father that you were in the past. Well? Got anything to say to me Endeavor?"
Dabi once again paused as they all watched the deranged, but true, ramblings of Endeavor's oldest son and that fact was proven. He'd get to that proof in time, it was on the recording but he was sure that Endeavor would question it if he found his voice so he was holding onto that nugget until the right time before he revealed it. It would make the great conflagration that was about to come and consume himself, his father, and his youngest brother all the sweeter when he dashed any hope they had that he wasn't Toya Todoroki.
"Then allow me to answer my own questions; the past never dies." Dabi said as he looked down at his father and brother, the others around were now immaterial to him as he reached the crescendo of his ramblings and finally came to a stop on Gigantomachia's back and patted his chest while glaring at his father. "You will now reap all that you've sown, Endeavor. Enji Todoroki, let us fall together like a family should, like the family you made and cast aside should. Come and burn up in my flames that exceed yours for tonight we dance in hell! Well? What do you say? Speak up, dad."
There was a pause as Dabi waited for an answer. Back on the ground Marinette and Adrien just stared up in shock at what was unfolding and the revelations that had been spewed forth from Dabi's mouth unable to discuss them as they processed what was being revealed. It was almost too much to take in and they didn't know what to say to it, they couldn't really, all they could do was wait for what happened next and act if need be. Thankfully Lucky Charm was good at that and Marinette had already experienced Blueflame so she had just the thing designed to counter that Quirk in particular.
The person who really needed to speak though was Endeavor and he was still processing it as he thought back on when Toya had died, though Endeavor hadn't accepted it and had looked for is son in the aftermath, and all his failures there that had pushed Toya to that point. As such Endeavor finally found his voice to call up to Dabi to call him out for his lies as it was all that he had left to call upon because Enji Todoroki could not believe that this monster was Toya.
"My son died many years ago." Endeavor said defiantly so that all could hear him. "These are nothing than the insane ramblings of a villain who knows more about my past than he should."
"I thought you'd say something like that but I am very much alive, dad." Dabi called back as he came down from his peak, it would be but a lull before the try climax of the moment, that was something that no one would miss as anything else but the climax. "You're just a broken man who can't accept the truth staring him in the face, a man who can't even recognize his eldest child, the eldest child that his own ambition and actions turned into a mass murderer. Perhaps it's because of the commonness of fire Quirks so there's nothing special about someone with one, even if my Blueflame Quirk is pretty unique for a fire Quirk, or perhaps it's simple denial that I was your son until this very moment."
While Mr. Compress and Spinner were stunned by the news of what Dabi had hidden from them, same for Skeptic who despite making the edits hadn't realized what the recording was, they were too busy trying to help Shigaraki so they had to leave Dabi to his moment. They needed the boss awake so that he could give Gigantomachia an order, preferable one to get their asses out of here. Still, Mr. Compress was impressed as their little group now had a second one with a dramatic lineage just like he had.
"However, if you're going to be stubborn and doubt me, I'd expected as much anyway, then I'd be more than happy to give a bit of blood or a chunk of skin to do a DNA test with and prove my claim." Dabi said as he smiled as this was the little nugget he'd been saving just in case he'd need it, which he did. "Naturally, I've already done one with the blood that you left in Kyushu as my sample for an official paternity test. There's a 99.99% chance that you're my father, Endeavor, and I've already taken the liberty of releasing it to the public in my little recording that should still be airing as we speak. They may doubt it as a fabrication but I'm speaking the truth and I'm sure many will ask for another one after this to confirm it."
That really surprised Adrien and Marinette. Until now the claims might be brushed off as an insane villain who knew more than he should and had a fire Quirk who thought he could rile up the nation with this but if Dabi really did have a paternity test as proof, well that would change things. Even if it was a fabrication the public would demand one in the wake of this incident regardless of what happened as things had gotten too sensational not to put it to rest one way or another, which a paternity test would do.
Of course Dabi wasn't done and he continued as he made it clear to Endeavor and a now trembling with rage Shoto what he was telling the public. They may die before the day was up but to truly break Endeavor, Dabi knew that he had to be face to face with the fact that the truth was out there for all to see thanks to the recording.
"Don't worry, I've also named Shoto as the hybrid you wanted after you forced mom to have more kids in your thirst for that perfect Quick, which she didn't mind as she wanted a family and the more failures meant the larger the family." Dabi said. "But all that was lost on you once you had your precious masterpiece, not that it stopped you from abusing Shoto and don't worry I've made that clear in the recording as well."
Adrien looked to Shoto in front of him and knew that the boy was barely holding it in. Yes, Shoto could confirm the abuse but Endeavor had actually been trying recently and slowly things were recovering but alas this was bringing it all to the front again and Dabi was still going on.
"I was there so I saw your actions over and over again, both to me and Shoto and I'm making it clear to the nation that you are not a man who cares about other people or their wellbeing." Dabi continued. "No, they'll know that you're a self-righteous and weak willed man who has been consumed by his ego. The nation will know that you are a person who doesn't have a right to call himself a hero."
"This will destroy the faith that society has in heroes." Marinette whispered as Dabi paused his latest ramblings. "No matter what, society has been changed today and not in a good way."
"And yet somehow I don't think its over just yet." Adrien said as he looked up at Dabi. "There's more to come, he's not done yet."
Adrien was right as it was now time for Dabi to reveal the little bit of selective editing that he'd had Skeptic do thanks to what his cameras caught. After all, he may be able to really damage society with his rant against his father but until recently his father wasn't really that well liked publicly so it wouldn't have a large an impact as Dabi would like. However, if Dabi could take down another high profile hero along with Endeavor, one beloved by the public and nearly as highly ranked, well that would really be in keeping with Stain's goals about false heroes and now it was time to reveal that to his dad.
"Don't worry, I've made it clear that those working with you are seen for what they are seeing as they are just as bad and a fortuitous moment earlier today ensured it." Dabi continued getting Adrien and Marinette's attention again as this was what Adrien had expected though the angle it took was unexpected. "Earlier today, the number 2 pro, Hawks, stabbed a despondent and defeated villain in the back right in front of me. If you don't believe me then know that it was all caught on camera so the whole nation will see the image of Hawks driving his blade through Twice's back and killing my friend."
"It was a hasty job but I edited it into the recording." Skeptic said to Dabi as he finished his latest reveal and let it sink in. "It will get that part of your message out as well so the people will see Hawks crime."
"You do great work and those cameras of yours got just the right shots I needed to drive this home." Dabi said to Skeptic though now he was speaking low enough that the heroes below him couldn't hear him. "I'm glad the nation got to see them and I've got more on Hawks for later."
"Anything to take him down for what he did give it to me and I'll make sure the public knows." Skeptic said. "He'll pay for what he did."
"Good, but you won't need it as its already in my recording as I found it out, or had Hawks do it, months ago back when he first reached out about joining the League." Dabi said before stepping forward and raising his voice again so his father could hear him. "The time is coming Endeavor so allow me to give you a gift, a bit of knowledge on that friend of yours who spied on us for you so that you truly know the kind of man he really is."
"Hawks." Endeavor said, Dabi had already spoken about the man but clearly there was more than a sanctioned kill on an S-Rank villain, one that Endeavor was sure was legit. "What are you talking about?"
"In addition to his cold blooded murder of Twice he did something else for us so as to get us to trust him back when he was trying to infiltrate us." Dabi said. "How do you think we let him into the fold in the first place, not that I trusted him at all? Why we asked him to murder one of his peers and you know what, he did so and brought the corpse to me for proof. The nation will know that Hawks killed the number 3 hero, your pal Best Jeanist. He is dead, murdered by Hawks's hand but then again someone like Hawks is no stranger to blood and violence given how his father was a serial robber and murderer. He hid his past and real name but it's ironic, dad, you put away Hawks's old man in the end."
"I don't recall that." Endeavor said, it was all he could say to the latest set of revelations from Dabi.
"Of course you wouldn't, you've arrested many in your time but they were always for your own self-serving ways." Dabi called back. "Perhaps it's fate or perhaps it's just the fact that you only attract damaged people to your side that you arrested Hawk's father but whatever the case, I know this, dad, you and all other heroes must be stopped. Don't worry, I've let the whole nation know how I truly feel about you and all heroes in my recording. They will see how bad you lot really are and they will turn on you. Stain may have started this but I will finish it as I tear down this whole corrupt hero society starting with you, Endeavor, and your buddy Hawks."
"Merde." Adrien said. "We've seen him first hand, what is this madman going to be like on a recording when he gets zealous like this. The biggest issue with all this is that that recording is already out there so there's no evidence to contradict it yet. Dabi's got the narrative out first and in this day and age, hell even back in our time, the person who got out first has a significant advantage even if it is partially or entirely false. Also the whole Stain stuff will only add to this, clearly Dabi's drawn some inspiration from that madman as well."
"Yeah this really isn't good." Marinette said. "And if Dabi has proof of his claims about Hawks, and I don't doubt that he does, then that will really get to the people and stick with them. Enough will believe Dabi that there's going to be a crisis after this, one that will be made worse by the destruction here as it will only reinforce his point I feel. I don't think Momo knows just how much worst it could have been had she not sent that disaster right here."
"I agree." Adrien said. "We don't know the precise details of why she decided to use Voyage to send it here but, I shudder to think of the impact this will have had if that thing had hit a city or two before it got here. It's already bad enough as is but that would have made it infinitely worse."
"We'll let her know when this is done after she tells us the details of what happened at the rear guard." Marinette said. "For now, we've got to be ready to act because this is coming to a head, I know it."
Adrien nodded. Marinette was right, whatever Dabi's endgame was, which knowing him was almost certainly an attempt to kill Endeavor and Shoto, they had to be ready to stop it as it came to its climactic end.
That was made more evident by how Dabi was smiling as he paused following his latest statement, his hands to his ears where he stood as if he knew that what he said was getting to people, that even though he was a villain they were going to believe him because of his proof and the damage that the heroes had done in recent months. He'd done it and now it was time to end it just as he wanted as he stopped listening and looked down at his old man for what he was certain would be the final time.
"So I want to thank you, dad, for living long enough to see this day because now we can die together in the fires of hell that you created!" Dabi shouted as he suddenly ran to the edge of Gigantomachia and leapt off it. "Endeavor!"
"He's fast, be ready dad." Todoroki said as he was the first to act, his left arm igniting and that got Marinette and Adrien's attention and they too rushed forward to lend their aid though Endeavor was still in shock as he processed everything that Dabi was telling him because he'd always believed that Toya was alive but this was something else entirely. "Protect Midoriya and Bakugo, Hado and I will hold him off while he does. You need to snap out of this and protect them!"
"Shoto, I'll aid as well, you'll need it." Marinette yelled from behind them running forward her katana already changing to a special suit that covered her and would counter Dabi's flames, a specific variant of One Woman Army for such a villain. "If there's one power that can withstand his fire right now it's Lucky Charm. Cat Noir will aid Endeavor. Now, One Woman Army – Firefighter Mode!"
"Don't worry Shoto, I've got this." Adrien called out as Marinette leapt into the air her body now encased in a special, sleek, ladybug print mech suit complete with thrusters for flight, a full helmet to protect from smoke, and a large tank on the back that had two tubes connecting to her gauntlets to send out the special fire retardant able to snuff out flames in excess of 4,000 degrees Celsius that was the core of the item. "Deal with this family shit later."
"Right, thanks you two." Todoroki said he'd forgotten the pair were in Jaku but right now he was more than glad for it because having their aid as well could end this given what they could do and then he and his father would deal with this situation when they had a moment. "Ok, Ladybug, get ready…"
"Flashfire Fist." Dabi yelled as he fell towards them his whole body alight with blue flames now, the use of his father's Ultimate Move really getting to them and it only got brighter and hotter as he added. "Prominence…"
However before he could reach them and right as Marinette was tracking her gauntlets up to intercept Dabi with a special flame retardant that would end his attack there and then, a series of specially made fabric cables shot down at them from above. A new force had entered the fray, one that had come here on a plane and so none had seen him coming until he acted and the special fibers grabbed Dabi, Gigantomachia, Skeptic, Spinner, Mr. Compress, and even Shigaraki doing so in such a way that the monstrosity was contained and the latter two couldn't use their had based Quirks to escape.
All the heroes and students could do was stare up in shock as a figure dressed head to toe in blue denim that went up to and past his mouth fell from the sky to as several special spools containing the fiber cables were held in the air by one end being driven into the ground and pulled taught under the power of his Quirk were all around him. It really showed the extent of the man's power and why he was ranked so highly in the charts. It was especially prudent as the man had just been declared murdered by Dabi but that was clearly not the case and as he arrived he made a declaration for all to hear to confirm it.
"Sorry I'm late, it appears that I have gotten here just in time, even if it looked like Ladybug might have it but I had to act right away, for that I am sorry miss." The man said as he managed to make his hair perfect as he fell towards a taught fiber cable that he clearly intended to land on. "Plus I needed a big entrance to make my return and disprove the recent rumor of my demise because as of this moment, Best Jeanist is back."
Not as big of a cliffhanger as usual but one nonetheless, such is the nature of this arc there are just too many good ones. The war is reaching its conclusion and with Best Jeanist making his return the final exchange is now underway. So much has happened that will change Japan forever in the wake of this and the battle isn't over yet. Stay tuned though because we're reaching that crescendo as the Paranormal Liberation War draws to a close. That is all that I have for this chapter, though, so I will leave it off here. As always, if you like it or have any questions please let me know in reviews or PMs, I will try to answer them as best I could and post any questions asked between uploads at the start of the next chapter and do follow and favorite this, so you are alerted to future uploads. Do keep the reviews coming as I like hearing from y'all as you enjoy my work, it motivates me to keep producing the best work I can for y'all to enjoy. Until next time.
Stringdog