Stain taped his fists before he continued beating on the punching bag in front of him. A sneer etched on his face as his fists cracked against hard leather. The feeling of that night, of losing all feeling in his body, kept playing in the back of his head.
The short crackle of electricity, the feeling of being tazed a thousand times over.
The heat and sting in his eyes and ears.
He swung a right hook and snapped the bag right off its cable.
He heard a door open and someone walk in. "Sir, are you feeling better?" someone asked. Stain turned to the source of the voice, looking at a gecko man with purple hair. "No Spinner, not yet." Stain answered as he began taping his fists. "Ah, well sir. Some of the guys were wondering if you'd feel better by hunting another fake. Maybe Mount Lady or Blow Torch?" Spinner asked.
Ah, yes, the men.
The so-called disciples of Stain. A collection of young men with mutant quirks following his rhetoric to a T. His actual philosophy, not the foolish garbage slung by the media and other villains. The push for a proper hero, one willing to aid others even in the face of their own demise. The need to cleanse the unnecessary filth and horrid fools from the good and nobel.
"Fine tell them to get ready. We're striking the hero group Fox Fields soon. We have enough men to take on such a large group in a single night." Stain said. Spinner nodded and ran out. Stain just sighed as he followed after him.
In just a small space was seven other young men alongside Spinner. All were dressed in an imitation of his own gear, all armed with weapons of varying styles. As Stain walked into the room they quieted down and turned to him.
"Men, tonight we go on a hunt." he said as they began to cheer.
Izuku sighed as Eri held his hand. His phone was in the other, the A.I. inside it found something strange and wanted to check it out. Eri was busy looking at all the inventions with stars in her eyes. Izuku had seen them all, but he wasn't one to deny his little sister.
"Ni chan, what's that one?" She asked as Izuku looked over. He could see her pointing at a stall with a rapidly rotating wheel connected to forge. "Oh, that's an automated forge, it let's you shape the metal with little physical effort." he answered. Eri just nodded as they continued walking.
Izuku felt his phone vibrate as he turned back to it. The A.I. had accessed I-Island's entire system within a few minutes. Izuku blinked for a second, a slow look of realization on his face. 'Why? How? Has technology fallen this low? Or is my A.I. just that good?' Izuku thought it over as he stared at his phone.
"Ni chan?" Eri asked. "Sorry, something just came up from the warehouse, another big order that I'll have to organize when I get back." Izuku responds as he pocketed his phone. Eri nodded before her eyes traveled to another stall.
She pulled him onward, her finger pointing at a stall with a robot in it. "There're like yours." She said. "Yeah, a lot like mine." Izuku replied as Eri began pulling him to another one.
He would leave the issue for later. Eri was already dragging him to the next stall.
Nedzu watched as the last of the newest staff filed through the wall. Many had their costumes changed to match their new hero identities. There had been a few 'incidents' all ready, nothing major, just a few students pushing their boundaries. Cipher and Gentle were busy keeping them from getting too crazy, Eraserhead and Present Mic were occupied with showing the others the ropes.
"Sir, I have finished filing your latest documents." Delta chimed in as Nedzu smiled. He loves this A.I., the sheer convenience and loyalty it showed had already impressed him. "Thank you Delta, have you been running those sinulations yet?" Nedzu asked. "Not yet, still fine tuning some unknown variables." Delta replied. "Good, our tests will need them to push our students." Nedzu said.
"Speaking of tests?" Delta said. "Yes?" Nedzu inquired. "Why do your tests seem to break into life threatening areas?" Delta asked. "Because peril can be a good test in of itself. A good hero can not hesitate in their actions, even when the world around them is shaking." Nedzu answered. "Still, one thing going wrong could lead to harm, if not fatal injury." Delta countered.
Nedzu frowned, this wasn't the first time he's had this conversation.
"I know what you mean, but heroism is not a job that can be done with half measures. Holding back in the controlled environment means they won't know what to do in an uncontrolled environment. Its why I tolerate certain radical actions. I'd rather a student learn from their mistakes than read their hero name on a casualty list." Nedzu answered with full honesty. "Still, a young man lossing their limb and mever becoming a hero in the first place is a rather costly loss." Delta countered.
"I know, that's why we have contingencies in place." Nedzu said. Delta seemed to nod its head on screen as he leaned back. "Just understand, there are those who will do far worse without any remorse for their actions." Nedzu said. "The HPSC." Delta said. Nedzu nodded in response before he heard a ding.
His tea was ready.
Izuku watched as a less than stellar hack attempt broke through I-Island's firewall. He sighed deeply before slapping the top of his head with his palm. "How could it have fallen so low." he lamented at the state of technology.
He sent a command and his A.I. got to work. "Nobody hacks into this place but me." he muttered in a low voice. The break in was stopped in its tracks and security was already converging on the hacker's location. "Now, for step two." he said as he had his A.I. start upgrading I-Island's firewall, while leaving a small opening for him.
"Izuku," he heard his mother call him. "Yeah." he responded. "Your father and I are heading out, Eri's still asleep right now." Inko said as she popped her head out. Izuku nodded as he pocketed his phone. "I'll keep an eye on her, you two enjoy yourselfs." he said as Inko nodded.
As she walked away he could feel Eri poking his back. "Movie Night?" she asked. "Yep." Izuku nodded as he turned on the tv. He took one last glance at his phone before leaving it on the night table. He felt Eri cuddle into his side as he flipped through the options. "That one." She said while pointing at WALL-E. Izuku nodded and started the movie, leaning back as Eri just watched with wonder.
Stain gripped his sword tightly as he ran it through the neck of the nearest hero. The Fox Field hero group, a collection of heroes using their group as a front for money laundering scemes and insurance scams. A once powerful group of heroes, counting at least thrity amoung them, was now only four.
The 'Disciples' were holding their own, each using their Quirks in tandem with an intense training regiment. The heroes had been overconfident, sloppy even. They hadn't even realized they were under attack until half their numbers had been cut down. Steady bow fire and brutal attacks cutting off their attempts at defending themselves.
One ran for the door, barely dodging arrow fire as his legs carried him in desperation.
"None leave the slaughter house, not alive." one of the Disciples shouted as he threw a tomahawk into the heroes back. The blade but into the hero's spine, sending him to the floor in a pained haze. The Disciple walked over to retrieve his weapon before a loud banging was heard on the other side.
Everyone froze.
Stain held his sword to the door. Spinner and two other disciples held the last three living ones on their knees. Weapons from the others were drawn while the one in the back drew an arrow from their quiver. The door banged again, cracking this time.
"ANYONE HOME!!!?" A loud and violent shouted echoed from the other side. Stain's eyes widened; "Everyone back." he instructed as the door was reduced to splinters with a single blow.
The Disciples fell back as a large figure entered the room with loud footsteps. "Oh, late to the party." Muscular frowned as he looked at the scene in front of him. "Why are you interrupting our crusade?" Stain asked with brandishing his sword. "A guy can't have some fun. I got bored, why else would I be here." Muscular retorted as he flexed his arms.
"So, Hero Killer has some fresh meat. Wonder how you'll do?" he muttered as Stain put himself between Muscular and the Disciples. "Take another step and I will cut out your good eye." Stain threatened. Muscular laughed in response; "Ha, cut me?! With that butter knife." he shouted while flaring up his Quirk.
An arrow flew past them and struck Muscular in the shoulder. "Ha, try harder." Muscular shouted as he rushed forward. Stain side stepped his strike as the Disciples threw the three heroes into Muscular's path. A fountain of blood decorated the room as Muscular's form splattered the three of them.
The Disciples fled through the ceiling as Stain threw one of his knives at Muscular. The knife bounced off the muscle fibres as Muscular turned to him. "You know Stain, I felt like the two of us could have been friends." Muscular started. "Never." Stain retorted.
"Why not, we both kill heroes and get famous for it?" Muscular asked as he grabbed a large table and chucked it at Stain. Stain ducked out of the way and slashed Muscular's chest. "You are a rabid dog, attacking whatever you see in front of you. I only target heroes who abuse their power and refuse to act when needed." Stain retorts as he ducks away from Muscular's left hook.
"Ah, hero this, Hero that. Shut up and fight!!" Muscular shouted as his muscles grew. Stain hardly gave him a second as several knives were thrown. Muscular barreled through them, his arms raised in front of his head. Stain slid under him and slashed at his thighs, only to be blocked by more muscles.
Muscular just laughed as his fists flew at Stain with increasing speed. Stain ducked and weaved through the flury of blows, occasionally aiming a knife for Muscular's exposed face. Muscular just continued laughing as Stain was pushed back by the offensive.
An arrow struck Muscluar's back, forcing him to turn around. The Disciples had returned with small balls in hand. Before Muscular could charge them he felt a striking pain in his knee. He screamed before sprouting muscles across his body as armor.
Stain jumped out from behind him and joined the rest of his men. He smiled at Muscular, confusing him for a second. "What, can't fight me alone?" Muscular quipped. "No, just stalling." Stain responded with an unimpressed tone. Muscular raised a brow before he felt something in his chest.
"Those arrows?!" he shouted. Muscular tried to charge once again, only to be struck with a stabbing pain in his chest. "Now, they won't kill you. Not someone as large and stubborn as you. But I made a promise." Stain said as he approached Muscular. Muscular tried to get up, blood seeping from his mouth as his muscles receeded.
Stain raised his sword and swung with little care.
Muscular screamed as both his artificial and real eye were sliced. Blood seeping from the large gash that had once been his upper face. Any attempt to scream was cut off by the toxins flowing through his veins thanks to the arrows.
Stain shook his head as he walked away. "Return to the hideout, heroes and police will be here soon." he commanded. The Disciples nodded before fleeing once again. Stain took one last moment to look at Muscular. "Rabid dog indeed." He muttered before leaving as sirens drew closer.
Izuku cracked his neck as Eri followed him. They were back home, back at Japan. Nedzu gave him a quick nod as they passed him. "I still find it hard to believe that you turned down I-Island." Inko commented. "I know, but here needs me more." Izuku replies as Inko shrugged as Eri hugged him.
They got in the escort car as Inko looked back at them and smiled. Izuku smiled back as Eri clutched his hand. The hero, Present Mic, just smiled at the family before starting the car. Streets passed them as Izuku considered what he had missed.
Several buildings seemed to be half buried, telling him all he needed to know.
He had a lot to catch up on.