I do NOT own type-moon or My hero academia. All credit belong to their rightful owners. This is for strictly entertainment purposes only.
Hey yo, Author here. So, this is my first work and I was so shy when sharing this. I was laughing maddly when I noticed I had two followers already in just an hour, and, due to the positive reviews, I'm gonna continue it. (Was gonna continue it anyway.)
So hint for the chapter. One for All is a stockpiling quirk.
And also, I'm gonna pull this chapter down after like three days and divide it into 5 chapters. So early readers, enjoy! (Also, English might get wanky, so sorry in advance.)
Thanks for reading.
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In the darkness of a starry night, the lights of the town below sparkled like a constellation of their own. From high above, the moon watched over the world, its ethereal glow casting a silvery sheen upon the landscape.
Sounds of jolly laughter filled the night.
The adults danced and sang, alcohols of all kind spread amongst them as they drank themselves to unrecognizable states.
The bonfire lit up the night, fireflies dancing with them, filling the small place in a soft green glow. It was a jovial mood and happiness was contagious. It didn't matter if you knew what was being celebrated.
Simply being here would lighten up your mood.
"Ah, I'm all out! Hand me some more booze, young lady!"
"Coming right up!"
People of all ages and gender, whether man, woman or child, couldn't help but sing out in joy to the world.
"Take it easy while roasting that pig, Jeff!"
The man, Jeff, simply laughed at his words before waving them off, "You worry too much, Chief! Ain't going to ruin a good feast like this!"
"Says the man known for his inedible scraps." The chief simply scoffed at his words but left it at that.
He turned and moved towards a secluded part of the party, dropping down roughly on his ass on a wide stone bench and simply watched the expression on the villagers faces.
They looked so…, "Happy bunch, aren't they?"
His eyes snapped to the side at the voice, frame tense, only relaxing once he saw the speaker, "Alex..."
Alex, a man in his mid-forties and the chief's brother with brown coloured hair. Like his brother, he wore a black coloured shirt that clung tightly to his body and a dirty brown heavy long sleeve coat with white furs at the neck and wrist, draped on top, while wearing pitch black trousers and brown leather boots.
He settled down beside his elder brother, gaze set at the party,.yet it was like he wasn't seeing it. As though the events currently happening were unknown to him.
In the end, the older man broke the silence, "It worked."
"Told you it would". Alex said.
"I know, I know," Max, the chief simply sighed, "it's just….I'm the chief and I have to think of the safety of–"
"–Everyone, I know. You've said it a thousand times already," Alex rolled his eyes and turned to face him, a deep look in his eyes, " But I told you it would all work out. Now look–"
He gestured at the lively atmosphere, "–the people are happy right now. I'm happy. Aren't you, brother?"
Only silence answered him. When it seemed like the older man wasn't going to answer he opened his mouth but was cut off before he could, "I'm happy."
Max continued, "I'd be the devil not to. Everyone's more joyful than they've been in a year. There's enough food to last a week, money now to improve on the town. It's just…" He sighed.
"Just what?" Alex pressed, not seeing the problem.
"Did we do the right thing, Alex. I mean, we committed theft and stole state secrets."
"And I'm saying you worry too much. Plus, we aren't subservient to any country."
"Yet we betrayed their trust! They believed in us, helped us and–
"Help?" Alex cut him off there, his temper rising, "Did they help when our people died of hunger and sickness? We begged them, Max! Yet they laughed at our suffering! Mocked us! They knew what we went through, had the money to help us, yet didn't!"
Max could do nothing but watch as his brother stood tall, body shaking violently as he clenched his hands into fist in visible anger, "And you speak of betrayal! Know this brother, we were never one of them."
Alex was panting heavily, and it took everything in his power not to fall. He took deep breaths to calm bimself and settled down beside his chief once more.
The silence stretched long again, with Max staring at Alex in surprise before he sighed, "What about the item? And has Dave left yet?"
"No. They should be leaving now, with the item of course. Atlas wouldn't speak and follow our demand without it, after all," Alex stared at him suspiciously, "What? Are you changing your mind?"
Max shook his head, "Of course not. My main concern is the well being of my village and my people alone. I'll do anything to protect them."
Alex smiled, smacking his brother's back in visible happiness, "Now that's the brother I know. You finally get it!"
Max looked away and simply gave the man a wry smile. He knew, deep down, that Alex was simply worried about the town. He must have been scared that he wouldn't accept the proposal he had brought on so many weeks ago.
The chief sighed internally. It must have been hard for him to follow such a cowardly chief. Max knew, because he wouldn't want to follow himself if given the chance. If only he had just a bit of his brother's bravery, or if he wasn't born first, then maybe…
Though…
"You would make a splendid Chief, Alex." He said, finally putting forth what he had held back all those years ago, when he was made chief.
He could say this much, at least.
Alex froze, form still as he turned to stare at him in visible surprise.
"I'm not the only one who thinks that. Most of the elders would rather follow you than me, and I know the reason they do is simply because you wished them to. I would be a fool not to realize that.
"I took something that should have rightfully been yours. But I want you to know that I would gladly follow you if you were made Chief."
Alex blinked owlishly before breaking out of his suprised state. He chuckled to himself as he stood, "What's with the cheesey words, brother?," He said, placing his hands roughly on the chief's shoulder, "there's no need for that between us. Even without saying it, I know how you feel".
"I should still say it, even then."
Alex almost gagged, "Stop already, stupid old man," Max sputtered at his words but Alex ignored him, "it's a night of celebration. No need to get all sentimental!"
"Now come on, before these beasts finish all the booze!" He left with those words, Max staring at his brother's back as it grew farther away from him for a second, before he broke out laughing, breaking the silence.
'Old man', huh? He thought, wiping tears from his eyes.
He drowned himself in melancholy for a while, staring at the full moon above as he thought back to the past.
Well, he's not wrong.
…
"You done yet, Dave!?" A deep voice called from the front.
"Yeah! Everything's-," He yelled back, hands pulling on the rope holding their luggages to the carriage, "-tight! We're ready to head out!"
"Then get over here! The chief's here to see us out!"
Giving a satisfied smile at another job well done, Dave –a young man in his mid twenties with black hair combed back and sharp brown eyes dressed in an all black with a light brown coat over it –wiped his hands clean on an ash-colored towel before moving away.
Taking a left after walking for a few seconds, he was greeted by a strange sight.
"You better take good care of my boy, George!"
"Haha, don't worry, Max! I'll make sure he doesn't lose his head at least!" George said, grinning widely.
"Why you–"
Dave noticed three things in that instant. His father –the chief–, holding George, the carriage driver in a lose deadlock.
His father, the most law abiding prick he knew, was drunk and laughing playfully. And–
Max turned to him and his face lit up like a Christmas tree, "Dave, you're finally here!"
–he was giving him the warmest grin he hadn't seen in decades.
They talked for what felt like hours but was no more than a few minutes. He would get distracted every few seconds, just staring at his clearly excited and happy father as if seeing a ghost.
Was this really his father? This man, that he hadn't seen smile in decades, was clearly happy about something. Something that involved him, no less.
To say he was surprised would be an understatement.
Dave wished he could stay for a little while longer. To bask in his father's praises and heartfelt words. But he couldn't, he had a mission.
He hefted himself up, George giving him a quiet look as he sat beside him. Dave simply kept quiet as he watched the man reach for the reigns, not stopping him.
A jolt ran through him and he hurriedly check his sides. Where did I keep–
"Dave," he halted at his father's voice. He turned to stare at him with a questioning gaze, only to freeze as what he saw in the man's hands left him breathless, "take this."
In the chief's hand was a sword half drawn. The steel was clear and carefully taken care of, with not a single sign of rust or wear.
All in all, it was beautiful, but that didn't matter to him. What mattered was the former wielder of it, "This is mother's…."
"Indeed," Max nodded, "it's been with me for years now and has protected me through tough battles." He stared at him with a deep look and something seemed to pass through his eye that made him sigh. His father proceeded to to sheath the sword before handing it to him, hilt first, "It's your's now."
Unknowingly, his hands went for the blade and his fingers wrapped around it. He placed it on his lap, his mind running miles a minute in confusion.
Dave wondered if this was how his father forgave him. Or was he forgiven? For that grave mistake he made years ago?
Ten years ago, he had made a mistake. Approaching an area unrestricted to him and his friends, -no, to even adults- they had crossed over, embarking on an adventure they thought was safe. Led by him, no less.
When help, brought by his mother had arrived, it was too late. Three among his group of friends had lost their lives to the wilderness, and the dangers within had claimed his mother's life.
A life used to take a blow meant for him.
Dave knew his father loved him even after that event. If he didn't, he would be dead by now. Not only for the severe repercussions his actions had, but for the consequences for the lives lost. Of his friends' lives.
Children of the elders.
It was only due to his father he still had his head. After all, a life for a life is fair, no? But the chief's reputation had taken irreparable damage due to him protecting him, and he lost his place as the next in line. 'He was too dumb', they said.
But the chief never looked at him the same again and Dave never blamed him. Why would he, when he was the reason his wife was killed? So, by the rules of the village, as he was already an adult, he was promptly kicked out from the home he lived in for fifteen years, to fend for himself.
But now…
To receive this, it meant that he was given a chance. And he would take it.
Dave swept his gaze around, staring into the crowd of villagers that had arrived to send them off. He stared into each and everyone of the eyes, before he focused once more on his father with a determined glint in his eyes
Resting the small blade on his chest, he nodded at the chief.
Max grinned broadly before nodding back.
Dave felt the tension leaving his shoulders at the reciprocated action, and he let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"Okay," He turned towards George, signalling for him to move, "let's g—"
Any words he tried saying was washed away as he stared at the space several meters away from him.
Was it his imagination? No, Dave felt, no….is still feeling something from that very spot.
And it wasn't just him. Dave swept his gaze around, the crowd murmuring as they all stared ahead. Something existed in that place. He just wasn't sure what.
Then it happened.
The clouds above, with none realizing had converged, deep sounds of barely contained thunder rumbling within them.
Dave felt cold all of sudden and he found it hard to breathe.
The air! With a jolt, he watched in growing dread as the air was sucked into the space his gaze wouldn't move from. The space twisted as if some godly being was about to descend upon them. To destroy them.
Dave wished he wasn't so right.
The murmurs were cut short as the space expanded, warning bells ringing loudly in his head. Yet they couldn't run, could never hide so they all watched.
A crack of green lighting and in a flash of blue light, he was there.
Dave jumped down from the carriage, walking forward until he stood beside his father. He reached for the blade just given to him, hands shaking in fear as he tried desperately to ignore the growing dread he felt.
It wasn't working. At all.
A hand landed on his shoulder that made him jump, and he almost ran the blade through the person before realizing it was the chief, "Calm yourself, Dave," he said and something about his words brought a small sense of calm into him. Satisfied his words were effective, Max turned to the stranger and his voice resounded within the dead silence, "Excuse me, Sir! is there anything we could possibly help you with!?"
Silence was the only answer. Dave let out a breath and leveled his blade at the man, the moon reflecting off the clean steel. He couldn't make out his features due to the darkness, but the man appeared to be someone around his age. So around his mid-twenties? Dave wasn't sure, since the man had white hair.
A yellow cloth was wrapped around his neck, one large enough to cover the entirety of his shoulder width, with parts of his skin visible a slightly tan colour.
The man stared intently at the earth, as if seeing something interesting. Something only visible to him. Around him, he noticed the hunters all bearing weapons at the strange man yet he made no reaction that Dave noticed.
Was he simply scared? Thinking that, he called out in the most calm voice he could manage at the moment, "Hey, do you need—"
His words were cut short as the mans head snapped forward, locking onto his position. The man's emerald coloured eyes glowed brightly in the darkness, and he couldn't help but freeze in fear at what he saw. At what he suddenly remembered from that night.
The man's eye showed nothing, as if all emotion were unknown to him. He stared at him, but Dave wasn't sure if he really saw him. The thought sent him flashing back to that night, that moment when the king of the forest stood before him in all his glory, eyes watching him yet not quite as if he were nothing before his presence.
And like back then, he felt the same fear.
Thunder flashed from above and in an instant, he could make out large metal bands around the things wrist. They reminded Dave of shackles but these were wider, and thicker.
"Threat, locked on," it intoned emotionlessly, gaze still on Dave's figure.
"The hell is this nonsense!" His father growled out as he stepped forward, his back to Dave front as he stood protectively before his son. Dave felt touched by the man's action, but he knew it was pointless. They couldn't understand. That the thing before them was unavoidable. It was their imminent death, for even now, he could still feel the things gaze locked entirely on him.
Dave knew with absurd surety that it was over, for he remembered. None of the adults that came to him that day ten years ago survived that beast.
"Eliminating threat." The words sent a chill through his spine that settled a deep fear within his flesh and bone. The feeling came with acceptance. He was going to die here, he knew.
Slowly, black tentacle like things came from his form, each one coiling and moving like snakes around him, almost protectively.
They numbered the hundreds.
Dave watched in fear as the snake-like things seemed to twist on itself. Or more accurately their tip twisted and somehow sharpened, all of them did, until they were reminiscent of spears.
With a jolt, he realized that he was being pulled. The others pulled him as they ran, but it was pointless.
A boy, no older than 15 ran beside him, fear in his brown coloured eyes. He watched in almost slow motion as the snake-like spear pierced through his chest –his heart, spilling blood over from the fatal wound. It splashed on the ground and his clothes, and he watched in small motion as the light drained from his eyes, before he went limp.
Someone kept pulling him.
Again he watched, as a man so old the entirety of his hair had turned white was carried by an older man. Presumably his son. A tendril pierced through them both, killing them in an instant.
He was still running.
A woman pulled her child as they dashed, hope and fear fueling them both as they ran. The child tripped and she dove for him, catching the boy before he fell. Two tendrils came from behind and pierced them both, the child's face in a mask of true fear while the woman's was one in acceptance, tears trailing down her cheeks.
Why was he still running?
A group of villagers, all crowded together as they ran slowly, losing speed. They numbered hundreds, and they had finally realized how inevitable their death would be. The snake-like things came, their form now similar to a scythe's, as if the world was showing them that truly, this was their death. There were dozens of them, and no sooner had they appeared did they descend on the group, blurring and slashing at barely conceived speed.
A line of red appeared on their body, their bodies halting midstep, limbs and head sliding off before with a spray of blood their body parts were sent flying, leaving a chunk of gory horror where they once stood.
It went on for what felt like an eternity but were only mere minutes. Now, he was the last. Any echoes that once filled the town are now gone, leaving behind a chilling silence. His father, who had been pulling him for what felt like forever, lay on the ground like minced meat. Everyone he knew was now dead and gone, while only he remained.
He tripped on something and fell, hitting the red ground in a loud splash, similar to how one would be if they dived into water. The blood, coming from more than a thousand people, was just that much and it pooled on the ground.
They dyed him in blood red.
Dave turned back slowly. He didn't yelp in fright, or shift away, or jump when he noticed the tall man standing there. That was too tiresome. He had long since accepted his death here, so he had no fear left.
Dave simply brought his gaze up and stared at emerald coloured eyes that showed no light. No compassion. No pity. And no remorse for his actions. It was even worse than the king of the beast, he realized almost uselessly.
A tendril, now spear shape shot forward at him, piercing his skull in an instant. Lightning flashed above followed by dull pain and he knew no more.
…
In time's long since past.
MIDORIYA slowly withdrew blackwhip from the now dead man, its spear like tip dripping with blood even as he dismissed it.
There lived a boy who made an oath. An oath to be the greatest hero there ever was to the world.
He flexed his hands and turned his body, checking that he could finally move again. He hated it when Alaya controlled him since it brought up bad memories.
The boy accepted a power. One so great that he promised; he swore, that he would use it to protect.
The man spared not a glance at the now cold body beneath him, ignoring the blood that covered his boots.
He had no desire for fame. No desire for money or any other worldly needs. He simply wished to save people. To save everyone that needed saving.
He ignored the diced body parts of a youth no older than twenty that bled, the eyes once filled with so much life now empty and unseeing as they gazed at him.
The boy could not keep his promise. Due to his greed and selfishness to save everyone, he damned himself, opening a path to hell.
He walked over the split body of a child. The remains of a woman, man, elderly all dead and bleeding out, plain terror painfully visible in their eyes.
And now, hands once made to protect now only brought death.
He ignored them all.
The man had gotten too used to such a sight; such massacre, to pay it any mind. So he walked over their bleeding bodies, willing his mind to forget how they had once begged him to stop. How alive they once were, until he arrived. Some may say he was evil. Lacked compassion. How could he not feel anything after committing such vile acts!
But he did, once upon a time. He had felt it, lived it and almost died for it. Now it was numb.
The thing was, you can't keep doing something you know is wrong. It applied to his situation. If a killer murders and feels remorse for his actions, then why not stop? Not stopping is just plain wrong and makes you even worse than most serial killers.
That person has the right; the mind and control to end it, if they so choose to. So not stopping when they know it's morally wrong makes them even worse monsters. They would be no less than scum, really.
But that was the difference between them, wasn't it? They could stop if they so choose to, but him? He was cursed to this for an eternity. Not a century. Not a millennium. An eternity. Basically forever. He can't continue with such feelings, it would leave him even more of a monster since what he did was wrong.
It would no doubt lead him to madness.
It was why he lost that feeling of remorse. Of regret and pain. No, it wasn't that he lost it, but simply that it grew numb. So numb that he no longer felt anything when doing such acts. Could someone understand, now? What he meant? His life was not his own anymore. The actions he did were no longer his, but he will forever still carry such sins. Because forced or not, it was through his hands that so many had died.
MIDORIYA stopped before a carriage. It looked like any other carriage one would find in this time. Of course, if you ignored the splashes of red around it. Not paying attention to any of that, he held the door by it's handle and pulled, literally ripping the door off it. He stared at it for no more than a second before he tossed it behind him like crap. His interest lies elsewhere.
There, laid on the seats of the vehicle was a wooden box of expert making wrapped in chains. He pulled it towards him, swiping the cool wood over his gloved palms. Even with his palms covered up he could tell how smooth it was.
Gripping on the lock, he squeezed lightly and heard more than watched as it broke, letting the pieces of metal fall down his opened palm while he got to unwrapping.
Opening the box, he blinked slowly as he took in the sight of the cloth inside, neatly folded.
Meaningless lives.
All these deaths; the tears of pain, the cries of terror, the lost lives and looks of utter terror as the died. All that, just for a piece of fabric? He sighed while reaching for it. It felt warm and was soft to the touch. Probably comfortable to wear, too. It was red with black accents, with gold ornaments sewn to it.
Applying Structural Grasp, added with the information from Alaya, he knew what he held.
Mantle of Atlantis. A sacred relic similar to an B-ranked noble phantasm, granting it's user control of any element. Of course that was within an amateur's hands.
Its true power could only be drawn out by the King of Atlantis. Or one who had the royal blood of all atlanteans, while giving it's user complete control over the skies and seas.
Meaningless massacres.
He understood the dangers of the fabric, of course, and the reason for the destruction. If the information and mantle held by this town's people reached King Atlas, it would no doubt start a war that would wage on for years. A war that would end at least a hundred thousand lives. Compared to that, what was a meager thousand?
Still….
Meaningless deaths.
He turned around and stared at the once lively town. All these deaths were meaningless. Pointless, even, and a complete waste of energy and resources. It was easier to simply retrieve the item and kill those in the know of the information. Why kill so many, if he could handle it as easily as that?
MIDORIYA knew the reason, so it wasn't hard to figure out. The man was used to Alaya and it wasn't how it worked. It wouldn't hesitate to kill thousands to save more lives, like now.
Adults, innocents, even children. It didn't matter. If someone was even remotely close to a Counter Guardian's –a dog of Alaya, just like him– area of deployment, you would be immediately determined as guilty and would be hunted down.
Just like now.
His thoughts were broken when he felt a pull in his entire being, urging him to get it over with. Frowning for no more than a second, he clenched the fabric tightly within his grasp. A spark of green lightning danced around the limb and the next second the mantle was burning.
It burning in red fire, shifting until the flames were now a dark blue. Yet it still wasn't turning to ashes. But he wasn't surprised. If an object like this comparable to an B-rank noble phantasm burned from mere flames then it was no more than scraps.
So he pushed more, and only when the flame turned a bright green did it immediately start releasing signs of burning and smell of burnt fabric.
Meaningless happiness.
The last piece of fabric burned away, releasing a heavy and large gust of mana infused wind. It blew the ashes away, leaving him hollow and lost as ever. Was this what he wished for? Is this all that he could do now? Was all that he had achieved, all that he had strived for, everything he had done, meaningless?
The smiles he had seemed to protect, the joy he wished to bring, was it all for nothing?
Staring at the quiet town, MIDORIYA had never felt so lost before. That a time would come where he would kill; massacre thousands, all for a piece of cloth. It's said the path to hell is made with good intentions, so maybe this was his punishment. His punishment for trying to do what great men of ages past had never done.
And the wosrt part was he couldn't feel anything. He killed, killed and killed. So much life was taken by his very own hands that he ceased to care. It was the only thing he did; the only thing he had been doing for what felt like millions of years. He guessed it was to be expected that he would feel nothing after so long.
He was standing on the lives of millions he killed.
Lightning struck from above, and in the next moment, it was raining. As if the very world itself was crying at such a loss. The rain fell, wetting his clothes as he stood, as if trying to wash away his very sins.
The spirit dusted his hands, getting rid of any remnants of ash that remained. He stared once more at the lives he had ended, a blank look in his eyes.
In the end, he wasn't sure what to feel, and simply let himself be pulled back to where he had spent an eternity in.
…
A burst of blue light, signifying teleportation, and he found himself sitting on the familiar stone throne. He sighed slowly, almost sinking into the warm (how was stone warm, though?) chair. He watch dispassionately as his combat clothes dissipated into dust of blue particles.
This place hasn't changed even after all these years. The spirit thought while his gaze swept the room. There were 8 more stone thrones, all placed in a wide circle, with a stone table placed at the middle. Outside was, as always an expanse of pitch black nothingness.
The world within One for All.
It was his ending point; the last thing he inherited from when he was alive. The world that belonged to only users of the quirk passed on to him. If he had to put in magus words though, it would be similar to the peak of all bounded fields. A Reality Marble.
The world belonged to him, and, while it had taken some time he had learnt how to fully materialize it into the real world. Thought it was pointless, since It lacked any offensive power and defensive power.
MIDORIYA looked up, watching again as the space above the eight thrones all twisted and squeezed, before with a powerful pull each seat was occupied with different beings.
"Oh, you're back already, Midoriya?" The seventh holder, Nana, asked in surprise.
"Hmm," The ninth hummed in reply before continuing, "Yeah. Though it was a bit of surprise when I came and no one was here."
While he said that he wasn't surprised. Alaya claiming someone meant the entirety of that person. Whatever you had, achieved, or recieved belonged to Alaya at your death. So it wasn't a suprise when it also claimed the remnants living within his quirk as it's property. So just like him, they were sent out on missions to 'protect' the world.
"Well, we can't help it, can we? We have no say with what we do anymore." The second snapped back, but it lacked the heat it used to all those years ago.
"Now, now. There's no need to fight, is there?" The first –Yoichi– said, ever the peacekeeper , "So, what was your mission this time?" He questioned everyone.
"Extermination." Was the simply reply that came from all eight that almost made him chuckle. It was all they did, after all.
From there they talked, questions and small talk bouncing back and forth. Yet he didn't partake, same with most of them. He thought, just as he always did.
He wondered how long he would keep doing this. Always fighting, always killing. He killed so much that the blood on his hands alone was enough to make a river filled with blood.
Everyone here felt the same, even if they said nothing. They killed and slaughtered, all for the supposed good of humanity. Humanity, who's conflict is said to be unending. No matter what time period he was summoned in, no matter where he was, there was always conflict. No, it could be said that Counter Guardian's killed because of their need to always stop such conflicts. So could it not be said that humanity is to be blamed for the lives a guardian took?
Humans exist who kill thousands for greed, humans exist who kill million all for power. People exist who end millons of lives, millions of wishes, just for stupid research.
These were the people he sought to protect? People who would start a war for a stupid reason like a bucket?
Humanity could end for all he cared.
But he couldn't blame all those death on Alaya, since half of them were caused on his own will. A long time ago, he had wiped out an entire town filled with at least five thousand people. He was sent there with full control and a deadline of one day. The town was cursed, inflicted with a terrible disease that, had it spread, would be catastrophic. Yet no matter how much he thought, he couldn't save anyone. The tools necessary to save them were unknown; unavailable during that time period, and he couldn't call for help
So he wiped them out, ignoring the pleas and cries for mercy as he cut them down, before setting the whole town on fire. Was it back then, that he broke?
He felt it had happened much sooner than that.
How could he claim himself a protector of humanity if he did such vile acts? He killed his own kind like cattle and people dared expect him to say he was a 'hero'.
Disgusting. The word made him sick. His existence sickened him. The world sickened him.
His memories were a blurred mess; he could barely get anything from it. He remembered the day he accepted this power as his and the day he made that accursed deal, but that was it. Three decades worth of memories, gone just like that. But you can't compare such a flimsy amount to the thousands upon thousands – millions even – he had spent here. He was bound to forget something.
Back then, things were easier, weren't they? How he wished he could go back to those times, yet he knew it was impossible. Even if he could, would he reject the contract back then?
The spirit would like to say he would, but he couldn't. His being, the thing which made him MIDORIYA, that was stuck within his very core and spirit would resist such a thing. Even if he could no longer remember his reasons for accepting it.
Even if he had forgott—, no he remembered. It was to save people dear to him, wasn't it? But who? No matter how hard he racked his brain he couldn't figure who it was, so he stopped. A pity, he would've liked to remember who he made that deal for.
Midoriya wouldn't bother himself with trying to remember. He was over the frustration of forgetting things like that. Of course it was only when he had almost broken down that he left it as it was.
Not everything could be overcome with effort.
He felt a familiar pull from his core that snapped him out of his musings. No it wasn't only him, the chatter going on had also stopped and they were all focusing inward, on that pull, just like he was.
They must've felt it too.
The man's first thought was ALAYA but he discarded it. It never pulled and from this feeling, he could decline if he so wished. Let it be known if Alaya needed something done and needed you, you're getting used with or without your consent.
No, this was different and familiar, at the same time. He closed his eyes and focused, tracing that line trying to make a connection with him. He followed that pull back to its source, and he furrowed his brow when he felt the massive amounts of mana at the other end.
This familiar call. It was….
"A Holy Grail..?" The fourth, Hikage, questioned a bit hesitantly, his voice deep and low.
"Yeah, but the energy it's sending out is massive. It feels stronger, like a––" The third replied but was interrupted by yoichi.
—larger war," Yoichi continued as he hummed in amusement, "It must be different from the normal seven servant battle,then. More dangerous, too."
Yoichi was right. MIDORIYA had participated in a few holy grail wars as a servant yet he never felt mana as large as this. This…was a bigger one. It honestly reminded him of the grand order, but at a smaller scale, of course.
Still…
"In the end, none of that matters," The eight, Toshinori Yagi, spoke out, his voice loud yet calm. His blue eyes turned to the ninth, gaze questioning, "What does, is if we answer its call. Young Midoriya, it's up to you if we accept or not."
"I'm all up for it. Tired of all this shit here."
"Language, Daigoro," Nana reprimanded as she sighed, but she had long since lost hope in the fifth stopping, "But I agree with him. We need some time off."
"No rejection from me." Yoichi said, smiling.
What went on the next dozen seconds was the ninth turning to every remnant and recieving positive replies at each turn. He did this every time a grail war pulled up since they all had a say in what they did.
He had made that mistake of accepting that deal all those years ago without their input. Now look at them. All suffering due to his selfishness. That's why he took this hell as his punishment.
MIDORIYA would never make that mistake again. He owed it to them.
"Then…." Not wasting a second longer, he stopped resisting the pull from the grail. He shuddered slightly when he felt a piece of himself and his quirk get pulled out. It was pitiful, minuscule, really, and only held a mere one percent of One for All.
Not that it surprised him. The quirk had grown so powerful that no normal vessel could hold the entirety of it. Even now, unless under normal circumstances, one for all was locked tightly. There were only few situations where he needed more power from the quirk.
He smiled hollowly, feeling the grail presence disappear from his senses. He could still feel that piece of One for All so he wasn't afraid. The spirit closed his eyes, wishing the copy a happy vacation. He would recieve the memories when it came back.
With everything figured out, he closed his eyes and relaxed into the stone throne. The man got back to what he had pushed out due to current happenings, what he tried ignoring but couldn't for the life of him. Could I incorporate the Mantle of Atlantis into my fighting style?
No matter how long passed, in the end, he was still somewhat of a nerd.
…
The first thing Midoriya realized was that he was falling. He opened his eyes slowly, ignoring the wind against his ears and how his coat and clothes rustled at the wind.
He looked over his shoulder just as he burst through the clouds. He was dangerously high, well, dangerous for anyone but him, probably.
The spirit looked over his shoulder, gazing at the stillness of the starry night, the lights of the city below sparkling like a constellation of their own. From high above, the moon watched over the world, its ethereal glow casting a silvery sheen upon the landscape. The cityscape stretched out before the night sky, a tapestry of twinkling lights that seemed to dance in harmony with the celestial heavens.
From his vantage point above, one could feel the energy of the city, an energy that pulsed like a living, breathing entity. Each light that flickers on and off represents a life, a story, and a dream. The city was a symphony of aspirations, where individuals pursued their hopes, and ambitions lit up the dark alleys of uncertainty.
He searched within himself, feeling the energy he was deeply attuned with. Ignoring it, he reached towards one the seven glowing lights, each large in their own ways and pulled.
The effect was immediate as his body stopped picking speed, turning slower and slower until he was simply floating within the wide expanse of the night sky.
MIDORIYA turned in confusion, ignoring the breathtaking scenery below him as he tried but failed to wonder how he ended up like this. His musings about the situation was broken as he recieved information sent directly by the grail.
He shot forward as he astralised, eyes surveying the world around him as he sorted through the inflow of information that suddenly appeared within his head.
I see. MIDORIYA mused thoughtly. His guess was spot on that it wasn't a normal war that he was summoned to. Still, a seven against seven war? It wasn't as big as the one he remembered fighting in (though that one was a special situation).
It would also explain why he was summoned in this particular class and why he had no master. Still, it was better to head to where the grail told him of.
Which was what he was currently doing, though at a leisurely pace. There was no need to rush since they had no idea he was showing up in the first place. So he took his time, enjoying the sights while at the same time mapping out the city.
Which was why when he was doing the latter he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of deja Vu. Like he'd been here before, and the more time passed the stronger the feeling got.
He passed a street with a convenience store at the side, and he got a funny feeling.
A street was destroyed thoroughly, as if it went through a battlefield. The feeling grew.
Just as he furrowed his brows and frowned heavily, wondering what the hell was going on, did he see it.
A man with reptile wings at his back.
He paused mid flight, shock running through his being as the information provided by the grail explained to him what he just saw. There was no need, though, for the moment he those things the answer was suddenly in his mind.
Quirks, just great.
He schooled his features and continued his flight, this time faster as any and all joy he got from soaring the skies disappeared.
Him being here had its own implications.
His feet touched the ground after what felt like hours of flying and he found himself before a large, seemingly desolate building which he identified as a church.
Leaping over the old, rusted gates, he walked closer towards the building, hands within his black coat pockets while portraying an air of carelessness. He came off unguarded and reckless, which was the point. Though he was ready to move at the signs of an ambush.
The Counter Guardian wasn't about to trust some guy who he had never met, since he wouldn't have lasted this long by being so trustful.
(Somewhere deep within his mind, he thought that he learnt that lesson too late)
He meant to reach for the door handles only for it to swing open with a loud creak, an almost chilling wind blowing past him as fog settled on the area.
MIDORIYA narrowed his eyes, frame tense as he stepped through the door, taking in the dark room room. He went deeper, danger sense buzzing just below his skin to alert him of any incoming danger.
He wished it warned about this
His senses spread forth, picking up two different signature. One of which he recognized as somewhat similar to a servant, but the last felt so familiar and different–
The darkroom suddenly ignited in light, almost blinding as it illuminated the room. Any further thoughts was lost to him as he finally took in the sights of the supposedly church.
It was furnished. Well kept and clean, red carpets placed about with the woods around all shining. It was almost blinding, in fact.
But he saw none of that. His gaze was locked unto two residents. One who was unknown to him, while the other so familiar that he almost jolted in place. He knew her. That familiar black hair, the aquamarine eyes that held barely contained mischievousness. Midoriya thought he barely remembered anything from his life, but he would never forget someone like her
His gaze turned to it's second occupant. The woman had white hair and pale skin that appeared completely unnatural. She wore a while coloured maids outfit and black shoes. She held a tray in her hands as she placed two cups of steaming tea on a table to the side, its only occupant thanking her. She bowed her head, before leaving to return the tray.
An homunculus. Midoriya realised.
The sitting woman turned, aqua blue eyes locking onto his own as they stared at one another.
"Rin-senpai…." The name, which he thought lost to him rolled easily off his tongue.
Tohsaka Rin smirked, before gesturing him over to the table and without thinking too much about it, he moved towards it, his combat gear fading in a mist of blue smoke. When he emerge he was wearing a simple green long sleeve shirt with black trousers, with only his airforce gauntlets remaining.
"It's been a while, Midoriya-kun."
He settled down on the comfy wooden chair, staring at the cup of tea placed before him. He watched Rin as she drank hers, releasing a content sigh as she did. Shrugging, he reached for his, taking a sip before he cherished the sweet yet somehow bittery taste.
"Never once took you for a church dog, senpai." Midoriya said, breaking the silence.
"Of course not. Did you really think I would do this willing? Someone put me up to it." She huffed, slightly pissed off.
"And you listened? Can't really see that happening."
"What do you mean by that? I could simply choose to come here, you know!?"
"..."
"..."
"You lost a bet, didn't you?" Midoriya sighed at the obviousness of the situation.
(Without even realizing it, he was falling back into familiar yet somehow foreign mannerisms.)
She turned to the side and whistles innocently, neither denying nor confirming his words. Yet that was all the answer he needed
He sighed again.
"W-what's with that sigh that seems to show your utter disappointment! I did nothing wrong!"
"You got tricked into being the overseer of a war. I think that speaks for how disappointed I am."
"I'm not at fault! It was either this or losing something important!"
Midoriya stared at her with a raised eyebrow. "Oh, and what could possibly be so important?"
"...els."
"Hmm? What was that?"
"He asked for my jewels, you idiot!"
At her admittance, a deep laughter resounded in the silent church. It was deep and so care free, as if any and all problems were lifted off the beings shoulder.
Midoriya realized that he was laughing only when his voice cracked slightly. His throat felt like it wasn't used to such an action; it strained, yet he pushed on. God knows it's been ages since he laughed.
Only a few people could make him feel free like this.
"W-what the hell are you laughing at!?" She all but yelled in between his laugh, though Midoriya noticed the barely contained sigh of relief.
"You can't blame me, can you? You probably have more than a thousand jewel stones, yet you can't even give some away. You're as greedy as I remember." Midoriya bit out after finally calming down.
"Hmph, if you say I'm so greedy then hand me some of yours. I'll take those and give it to them. Maybe quit my post while I'm at it." She said, almost nonchalantly, but he could see the slight greed.
Midoriya scoffed. "I wasn't born yesterday, Rin. Giving you their gems is me basically say 'here, have this'. Besides, I'm not trusting any magus with them, they have too much mana stored in."
"Oh~, 'any magus'," she sang in a sweet voice, sending chills down his spine, "I wonder, does that also apply to me?"
"Of course."
"Tch, so stingy."
"...you do realize the irony of that statement, right?"
And so they talked, the conversation branching off more and more, and the more they talked, the more the tension seemed to drain off him. Memories long thought forgotten came flowing in, times where everything was so simple. When the only thing on his mind was 'how many people would he save today' or 'what cam I eat later'.
Not things like how many would he kill today.
Midoriya was glad he came for the Grail War. Even if this was the only happy moment he would get.
"Oh yeah. Zelretch also asked me to come here."
And that feeling of happiness promptly died.
Midoriya rubbed his eyes tiredly as he groaned in deep exhaustion. He knew a vacation was too much to ask, but really? Did he really deserve this shit? Midoriya knew it was too much to ask for.
"No cussing!"
Ah, sorry, Nana. Seems the remnants were finally back online
"There goes my vacation, I guess. It was short while it lasted."
Rin chuckled, as if finding his suffering amusing. Which she probably did, the devil. "Stop exaggerating. It's not that bad."
Midoriya stared at her with a halfhearted glare. "Are we talking about the same Old man, Rin? No, ignore that. Area 12- fifty five."
(His memories were clearer than before. He could draw things easier. Was it due to the grail?)
At Midoriya's words here smirk vanished and she had a blank look on her face. She sighed, one so deep that it almost touched his soul. Almost.
"I see your point, but supposedly this time's different."
"Hmm, how so?"
"Hell if I know."
"I think you should explain that in-depth, Rin." Midoriya said, almost chuckling.
She sighed before gazing at him. Midoriya felt the room get heavy as an air of seriousness washed over them.
"The old man used his magic, and, from what he was willing to disclose, said that something dangerous was about to happen here." She started.
"Something dangerous?" Midoriya questioned, frowning, "I don't remember anything like that ever happening. Hell, I don't remember a grail occurring here, either."
Tohsaka nodded, "From what I gathered, it seems the three families never made the grail war all those years ago in fuyuki, my home town. Instead, it's based here at this time, here in—"
—musutafu, my own." Midoriya finished for her, understanding dawning on him. "Which would make this a different reality from ours, then. Since the grail war you fought in was abolished more than three hundred years ago in our time.
"Is it simply a case of events being pushed towards this time or is it their descendants handling things, now?" He asked.
Tohsaka was silent for a moment, as if pondering on something. In the end, her lips thinned out as she clicked her teeth. "I should've gotten more than basic information. I've relied too much on the second magic."
"You haven't read this time with the kaleidoscope?" He questioned, suprised.
"Only zelretch can access this place, and, from what he told me it was only due to effort from his part. Some parts of the timeline are still blurred out to him, while I can't even access anything from it.
"It's like the timeline's covered in a tight encryption."
Silence rang out, the heavy as they were lost in thought. He thought if this was reason he was summoned in this class. Maybe something was here that needed eliminating? Midoriya sighed internally. He only hoped that it wasn't too large and involved many deaths.
Not matter how used to killing he was, it wasn't something he wanted to do willinglybid he has the choice
"Still…," Tohsaka broke the silence, Midoriya staring into her eyes as something unrecognizable flashed within them, "the Old Man said we have two months or so before everything turns to shit. So…."
Midoriya stared warily at her, previous thoughts lost to him as he shifted slightly on his sit. " So, what?"
She grinned before jumping, slamming the table between them with both her palms. The now empty tea cups rattled, the table shaking from the force used.
"We go on a vacation, of course!" Rin said with eyes sparkling.
"Don't you have your responsibilities as an overseer!" Midoriya almost yelled, sweatdropping.
"Who cares about something like that! Oh that's right. What's your class anyway?" She rested her hands on her hips, thinking deeply.
"Ruler. Which means I can't just leave that easily."
"Bullshit, just split yourself up."
"I doubt anyone wants to stay."
"I'll stay."
Midoriya almost raised a questioning brow at that, suprised. Are you sure, Yoichi? I could simpl–
"Don't worry and go. I can handle myself."
Midoriya sighed internally. You know that's not what I'm saying. I don't want to give anyone my responsibilities.
"Don't worry about that. We're almost basically the same person. You taking on the role of overseer means we have no choice but to follow. At least this way, some of us can stay if we wish."
You mean—
"Yes, the first and second are staying with me."
…I see. What if you're found out by 'him'? He should be here, in this time.
Yoichi laughed,."Any of us can handle that idiot easily. We aren't as weak as before.
Midoriya closed his eyes and let out a sigh of resignation. He had already decided to let the first go when he spoke up.
Tohsaka seemed to have noticed his resignation and was visibly excited.
"Fine, let's go."
Maybe it wasn't so bad that he accepted the invite?
True Name: MIDORIYA
Type: Heroic Spirit. Counter Guardian
Alignment: True Neutral
Class: Ruler
Master: None
Noble Phantasm: ???
Strength: ???
Endurance: ???
Agility: ???
Mana: —
Luck: D
Noble phantasm: ???
Class skills;
Magic resistance: ???
True Name discernment: B
Personal skills;
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