WHEEZE.
That was the first thing Izuku heard from the... creature.
Following this it fell to its knees and clutched its chest in seeming pain. It let out another pained wheeze as Izuku stood up and approached it. It twitched and spasmed in pain as it continued its strained breathing.
Now that he was closer to... it. He could see that the creature was rather disfigured. Its limbs were long and thin, its legs far too misshapen to function properly. Izuku could see that it had no nose, just a mouth that was barely capable of breathing. As Izuku reached out his hand a tail suddenly sprang out and attempted to strike him.
As Izuku jumped back he let out a shout full of anger; "ENTIERS?!" echoed through the lair. The robotic Units approached and began inspecting the creature. "Analysis, Project Cell is at fifty percent completion. Due to premature awakening Cell is underformed and imperfect." One of the Entiers informed him. "Suggestions?" Izuku asked. "Construct a breathing apparatus for Cell, the nano machines in his system will slowly fuse it to his body. Consumption of Biomass and steady doses of additional nano machines will steadily result in one hundred percent completion or Perfection." Another Entier explained.
Izuku looked at his machines, then glanced at the creature created by them. Cell, it was named Cell, they named it Cell. They made Cell, they made Cell for... something related to him. As he stared into Cell's eye, he could see it clawing to life with great fury. "Please... Master..." It croaked it as Izuku took an involuntary step back. He stared down at Cell, letting his shoulders lighten as he took in every detail.
Izuku walked at a brisk pace, grabbing on of the old prototypes for his helmet. He quickly separated several of the parts, leaving only a way to cover Cell's mouth and the upper parts of his head. He returned to the struggling creature and attached the helmet to it as the Entiers guided R and B Units into action.
He stepped back as numerous others pieces of metal were attached to Cell's body. Deep and steady breathes could be heard as the Entiers began to administer needles to Cell's blood stream. Slowly Cell stood up, its legs shaky as metal supported its weight rather than muscle.
As Cell stood tall, taller than him, its eyes looked down at him. Deep breathes continued as Cell leaned down into a bow. "It is a pleasure, my Master." he croaked out through an electronic speaker in his new head piece. "How do you know I am your master?" Izuku asked. "The things, what you called nano machines, flow by the command of the metal beings, the metal beings follow your command. As such, you are their master, so you are my master." Cell answered.
"Entiers, keep watch over him. He has just awakened, so he will need a check up." Izuku commanded. "What of me, Master?" Cell asked. "Cell, rest, you are not well and need to feed." Izuku said. Cell nodded before sitting down on the floor. As the Entiers rolled around him Izuku stepped back.
He walked away, slowly gaining speed before he reached the elevator.
"Shockwave?" he asked into his wrist. "Cell is premature, imperfect even. It will take time and daily feedings to improve its genetic stability. Suggested course of action is too let him rest tonight and send it hunting tomorrow." Shockwave responded. "Is that from the Entiers?" Izuku asked. "Both their own data and mine." Shockwave responded.
"Understood, what is his current status?" Izuku asked. "Cell is at fifty two percent completion. Entiers believe he will metamorphose at seventy five and one hundred percent completion." Shockwave estimated. "Great, oh how did I get into this?" Izuku murmured. "You entrusted them to act independently. They took what they believed to be the best action for your safety." Shockwave replied.
Izuku huffed and dismissed Shockwave. He ran his hand along his helmet's faceplate and sighed deeply. "So well, this day started so well. If anyone found out about Cell..." he trailed off. His mind already hard at work imagining scenarios of his newly updated list of crimes, now including crimes against nature.
He really is no better than All For One.
Izuku took one last glance over where Cell remained. He was just sitting there, calm and obediently resting.
Quickly he called back Shockwave. "Did we feed him all our requisitioned Noumus?" Izuku asked. "Most of them, what remains is in the feeding paste." Shockwave answered. "How long will that last?" Izuku asked. "At current rate of consumption, three too four days." Shockwave answered.
Izuku stood silent for a moment.
"Possible substitutes?" Izuku asked. "Standard proteins and enzymes required for an omnivorous diet. Consumption of additional Noumus and... other such prey items will aid his development greatly." Shockwave advised. "Let's put eating people on the back burner. Prepare the Squadrons for some heists. We need to keep him fed." Izuku commanded.
"Understood." Shockwave replied as Izuku saw the Brick, Head, and Echo Units start up.
"In worse news, numerous shipments of food have been stolen right from their dock warehouses. People are unsure of who would commit such acts, some say the Mole has moved onto new targets, other suggest a rise in Black Market dealings." The news reporter said as Tomura sighed. The rest of the League had gathered at the bar and were waiting for Afo to arrive.
"So, that draft brute got caught and murdered." One of the League members commented. Tomura wasn't sure who had said it, nor did he care. "That noob fucked up by himself, if you can't do one simple thing then you get left behind." Tomura commented. "Still, the cops shot him dead in a Van. They were probably looking for revenge." Another member commented.
"No idiot, he got into a fight with Stainy and his followers. I tried to join them earlier but they said stupid things, like I'm not worthy, that I don't understand his method, that you're just looking for an excuse to kill people and get off from it." Toga said rather quickly.
"Stain, that name, those followers of his. Leave them be, they thin out those extras." Tomura commented. "Yeah, shame those cultist that follow him don't get out more." Dabi chimed in. "Still, they'd be useful." Another member responded. Tomura turned in an instant; "We, will, never, work with, Stain. He is too naive about heroes, too blind by his own rhetoric. His followers are just like him." Tomura said calmly while approaching the offender League member.
He was about to rest his hand on the member's face when Afo entered the room.
"Men, we need to think about our next target." Stain said as he pulled out a large sheet of paper on the table. The Disciples gathered around it and leaned forward. "Who will we strike next?" Spinner asked. "There are several heroes we could strike, but I have three different ones in mind. Nearish the Great Maw Hero, who has been extorting funds from local business in the form of 'protection'. Solar Flare, the Shining Hero who has extensive counts of property damage and reckless endangerment. Then there's Maximum, the Brave Hero, who has been accepting bribes from local gangs and yakuza." Stain explained.
"Who will we strike first?" One of the Disciples asked. "First we aim for Solar Flare, unlike the other two he has a body count and a far more destructive quirk. We take him out while he is unaware, during a brief break in his patrol route" Stain explained. "When, and where?" another asked. "In two days we will strike him during his night patrol. Viper and Quill Strike will hit him before he notices while Nightmare keeps watch. Do. Not. Let. Him. Notice you, or you will be killed." Stain warned.
"What poison are we using today?" Viper chimed in. "Concoction three, we need a quick death that won't be noticed." Stain instructed. Viper nodded to Quill Strike across the table.
"Within the same hour we will hit Nearish. His quirk is extremely dangerous at far range, Berserker will tush him down while Reaper keeps watch. I have full confidence in your abilities." Stain instructed. "Quick question, why is he called Nearish if his quirk is related to ranged combat?" Berserker asked. "He calls himself that for his accuracy, the hint to his Quirk is in the other half of the title, The Great Maw." Stain answered. Berseker nodded and leaned back into his chair.
"Last of all, Maximum. What makes him most dangerous is his abiltiy to boost his own physical abilties by a factor due to his adrenaline. Because of this and his yakuza connections we will be striking him the very day after the other two. Thanks to Willow we know that he has a meeting with the Shie Hisaki in three days. We will strike against him and his yakuza allies while they are in the middle of the meeting." Stain explained.
"Any other questions?" he asked the Disciples. They all shook their heads in response. "Good, we will spend tonight gathering reconnaissance on the three. Do not strike before then." Stain said as they all nodded.
Izuku laid back in his seat. He had spent the last few days just watching Cell. The creation had been content simply eating and resting. Every few hours the Entiers would inspect him for any signs of degradation, but that was about it.
What had shocked him the most was the sheer quantity of food Cell required. When eating the paste the Entiers had made he only needed a gallon every twenty four hours, now he needs several thousand calories every six hours just to remain stable.
Then his computer beeped.
He turned to it and raided an eyebrow. "What did you find Shockwave?" he asked. "I have located a being of interest." Shockwave replied as the image of a large compound came into view. The screen displaying a simple front on the street level while a massive underground compount lay beneath. "Why would a bunch of Yakuza interest me?" Izuku asked. "These." Shockwave said as Izuku saw several files fly by him.
Files on Eri.
"Those... Bastards. There're the ones.." Izuku didn't finish his sentence before he clenched his fist in rage. The police and heroes had been useless in finding the bastards who had tormented his younger sister. Little progress had been made, even with her own testimony.
He read over the files from the leader. One Chisaki Kai, an Anti Quirk Yakuza famously known as Overhaul. He read about his quirk, about what it could do, and put several pieces together. "I'm going to kill him." Izuku said with a raging inferno in his eyes.
Cell approached, curious about what Izuku was saying. "Master, who do you wish to kill, how can I be of assistance?" Cell asked. Izuku looked at the... biodroid, he'll call him a biodroid. "I wish to kill this man, and all who follow him." Izuku said as he turned to Cell.
"Master, I wish to kill them in your name. I know you do not wish to bloody your own hands." Cell said. Izuku stared at him in silence; 'How did he hear this? When did he hear this?' he pondered. "The Care takers have been giving me a rundown of my abilities. I may be imperfect right now, but a test run of my capabilities may be in order." Cell responded. Izuku raised an eyebrow, then sighed.
"Shockwave?" he asked. "Cell is currently at fifty five percent complete. The apparatus have been fused to his body by the nano machines, he is more than capable of such a mission." Shockwave surmised. "Anything else?" Izuku and Cell asked at the same time. "The feeding he would gain would increase his completion from Fifty Five percent complete too sixty percent complete. He would be capable of fighting against heroes ranking as high as the thirties." Shockwave added in.
Izuku turned to Cell, looking him over with analyzing eyes. "Prepare a squad of Issue Units to follow him. Cell be cautious and don't be seen unless there is no alternative. You can feed on any of the others, but I want Overhaul's head." Izuku said with great intensity.
Cell stood tall and nodded, then moved so fast he seemed to disappear.
Izuku turned back, staring at the monitor as it fed him more information.
Stain looked down from the rooftop as his Disciples stormed Maximum's meeting with the Yakuza. He had to see that they were ready. The run in with Muscular reminded him just how worse supervillains can be than Pro Heroes.
Had it not been for Viper and Quill Strike's quick thinking with that first arrow, he'd probably be dead.
He leaned forward, almost brooding over the ledge as he watched the battle through the windows. Berseker battled against Maximum with his twin short swords while Reaper and Nightmare aided him with axe and spear. Spinner, Quill Strike, and Viper had taken out the yakuza goons while Willow was already busy interrogating their leader.
Then he saw someone emerge from the floor, their stance panicked and terrified.
Just not from what was in front of him.
Against his better judgement Stain jumped down and burst through the nearest window.
His interruption allowed Berserker to drive his swords through Maximum's neck, killing the false hero. The other goons followed suit as only the new arrival and the upper Yakuza were spared. The Disciples taking his presence as a message that they were taking too long.
The new arrival barely got a chance to beg for mercy as Nightmare tackled him to the ground. His sputtering of nonsense silenced by the spear lightly jabbed into his neck, not hard enough to hurt him, just hard enough for him to know it's there.
The room fell silent as the new arrival and the upper goon were bound. Steady breathing was all that could be heard between them. It was Stain who interrupted this peace.
"Why did you run out of these tunnels?" he asked the new arrival. The new arrival began to sputter again as the upper goon glared at him. "Monster, fast, killed them all. Nothing left." The new arrival sputtered out. The upper goon raised a brow at this claim, equally confused as Stain and his Disciples.
Stain turned to the other Yakuza and raised his sword to his neck. "Where do these tunnels lead?" he asked. The goon looked at the blade, then glared at Stain without saying a word. Stain turned to the new arrival and asked the same question. "No, not back, not back with that monster." the other one begged.
"Sir, should we go down there?" Spinner asked from behind him. "We have to know, we might even reach their headquarters." Stain replied before he drove his sword through the upper goon's neck, killing him instantly. The new arrival shrieked in fear as Stain turned to him. "You're going to guide us, now." he commanded.
The goon could do nothing but nod in fear.
The tunnels themselves were quiet as the group traveled down them. Stain took point with the lone goon held by Spinner. To Spinner's flanks stood Bersker and Reaper, ready with their weapons. Behind them Viper, Quill Strike, and Willow stood behind them with weapons draw. Nightmare kept his eyes draw behind them, spear ready for anything.
There was nothing in there with them.
No people, no security, not even a slight noise other than their own footsteps.
Finally they reached a large metal door that had been broken open. The entire frame was warped while the door was violently bent forwards. Stain stepped through first, giving cautious signals to his followers.
Venturing forward, they found the base to be just as barren as the tunnel leading to it.
All they found were discarded clothing.
Some of it seemed a bit torn, but most of it seemed to be intact.
"What happened here?" Spinner asked the goon. "The Monster, too fast too see. It killed them, ate them." The goob murmured out as he tried to cover his eyes. Stain paused at this; "It ate them?" he asked. "Yes, pointed tail, only a glance and it drank them with it." the goon cried out as he tried to get away.
They ignored his crying, trekking onwards through a base filled with nothing but discarded clothing.
Then they found another door, broken just like the first one.
Entering they found a large chamber and an actual body.
Laid on the floor with both arms torn off and missing a head. the body's left arm tore off at the shoulder and resting several feet away. The right arm only missing at the elbow, yet no where to be seen. They had no idea who it was as the head had been torn violently from his neck.
"Boss." The goon whispered as Stain inspected the body. "One thing, did all this?" he asked as the goon nodded in fear. Stain was about to command them when they heard footsteps.
Another door opened and they saw something horrific.
A large green colored humanoid with fleshy/metal armor. Its face covered by a strange apparatus and its limbs ending in three clawed appendages. In it's right hand was the dead man's head, in its left was a still alive goon.
Stain looked back, only to gasp in shock as their goon was gone. The other disciples were shocked as well, their prisoner now held in the strangers left claw.
"Did you do this?" Stain demanded while pointing his sword at the thing. It shared at them for a moment, then hissed. "Yes, my master instructed me too. You are not with them, he is all that is left." The creature said while holding up the crying goon.
"What business does your master have with them?" Willow asked. "They have hurt someone close to the Master, he told me to kill them all, but bring me the leader's head." The creature answered while holding up the head in it's right hand.
They didn't speak anymore, Stain held his hand with the palm facing them as a message to stay quiet. "How did you kill them all?" Stain asked. "I was made from the foundation of something meant to fight All Might, And I require nourishment." The creature said before revealing a large tail with a syringe like growth on the end.
"Nourishment?" Stain raised a brow at this. The creature didn't answer, simply staring them all in the eyes as it dropped the goon. He began crawling away, crying and apologizing to his mother the whole time, before the creature's tail stabbed him in the back.
It just stared them all in the eyes, neither blinking nor shifting, as it drank the goon. The poor man slowly melting as his muscles became liquid and his bones powdered. His skin slinking into a thin flab that was sucked up with the rest. Only the goon's clothes remain.
The creature never breaking its stare down the entire time it did so.
"I mist take my leave, I have completed my mission and am in no mood to disappoint my Master. Just know, that you will be next if you get in my way." The creature said as it began a slow walk past them. Berserker and Reaper moved to intercept, only to stop them as Stain raised his hand and made them stop.
They all watched as the monster left, turning it's back to them all.