Hello everyone, and welcome to this One-Shot of Mine! Which I may have gone overboard on? Like, the Word Count says it all honestly.
Anyway, I've been driven to write this because I've seen a certain amount of Crossovers between MHA and KNY. However, there was this particular itch I wanted to scratch. A Type of Story I wanted to find.
I didn't find it.
This fic is basically me trying to scratch that itch, and if anyone else wants also something like this Story, then I certainly hope you'll enjoy the idea in itself.
''What if Muzan survived the Sunrise Countdown Arc?'' is the front, but it goes deeper than that.
What if he lived to the Dawn of Quirks? What then does the Demon do in those circumstances? And what if... he desired a certain Quirk because of it...?
Though, I'll admit, this Story really did become a pain at some points.
Word Count alone says a lot. But then, I did a lot of Rewrites throughout all of this.
Seriously, I felt unsatisfied by a lot of what I wrote here, so it was writing. Rewriting and polishing and then adding more. Then repeat until I finally settled with this.
It's actually gone to the point where on the Ao3 side of things, I had to relocate what amounted to Taisho Whispers and Rumors to Intermissions between Sections of this Chapter. There's enough that I reached the word Limit on the author's Note there, so I had to improvise so I could keep the extra info written.
Hence the Intermissions.
This constant need to restructure this whole Story has been a real bother, but I don't regret it anymore. At least now that it's out and published. Especially since all those additions flesh out this AU further while delving into some unknown territory.
And speaking of those unknown territories...
We not only delve into MHA in a time where Chaos and Uncertainty reigned but also the aftermath of Muzan surviving the Sunrise Countdown Arc.
So a warning that some things may not be pretty for some Readers. It's not anything explicit, not graphic, but it's all mentioned.
With that said...
Shall we?
Disclaimer: I do not own Kimetsu No Yaiba nor Boku no Hero Academia. They both belong to Koyoharu Gotouge and Kohei Horikoshi respectively.
Once upon a time, there was a group of Humans who fought against the Demon King and his Army of Demons.
Today, they no longer exist as an Organization. Not since the Taisho Era of Japan. Not since the Final Battle between Human and Demon took place.
Not since the Chosen Demon had been discovered.
In a single night, Humans and Demons fought.
In a single Night, the Victor of the Battle, and arguably the War, had been chosen.
All because the entity who became the personification of ''Life'' was pushed to a corner when Daybreak came and the Sun burned him.
The Embrace of Death he despised so much clinging on closer and closer...
And in a fateful moment, as Muzan formed his Armor of Flesh to withstand the burning Sun for precious more Seconds, he chose to do something differently in the heat of the moment.
And because of it, just like all living beings on the brink of Death, he tapped into strength that would have been unnecessary to him previously. Exhaustion that he previously could not feel pushed him to this point. The Sun, all the closer to claiming him, pushed him ever further.
And so, as the Armor of Flesh formed, Muzan released a Shockwave.
And that action changed History itself.
It launched all of the Four Humans near him away.
Love. Wind. Water. And that Sun Breathing Child.
All were hit. All were sent flying and into Seizures. And none of them could even think about moving in their current states.
And Muzan moved. Shade! He needed Shade!
But while he took Four out from that Shockwave, the remainder of the Demon Slayer Corp, injured and tired as they were, pushed.
They must stop him! They must kill him now!
Yet, it failed.
The Demon King, pulling strength he had never needed previously, completely halted all of their attempts. When it seemed like they had cornered him, he released that Shockwave again even as he burned.
And so, Muzan Kibutsuji, on that Sunrise... had escaped.
The Survivors were fewer than what they had started with. Most of the Kasugai Crows had survived as they were only observers. Most of the Kakushi wound up surviving as well because they had only joined the fight at the end as a stalling attempt. But, they'd lost so many of the Demon Slayers, Ranked Hashira or Lower. Only Two Hashira remained, Giyuu Tomioka and Sanemi Shinazugawa, while only a Squad's worth of Men remained from the forces they'd gathered up when they'd invaded the Infinity Castle.
Yushiro had been among some of those survivors, and the Cat, Chachamaru survived as well due to Muzan not noticing it was a Demon in the heat of Battle.
And, while only having arrived on the Battlefield after having been cured of Muzan's Demon Cells, Nezuko had survived as well because she was late.
No one else made it.
Be it from previous injuries catching up to them, the Mark claiming their toll, the Shockwaves making their Bodies fail on them, the Cell Destruction inflicted onto them, or simply because they were crushed by Muzan's Armor of Flesh, none of them lasted past a quarter of an hour from Sunrise.
And the situation only turned worse for the Demon Slayer Corp.
You would think that with Muzan's Forces at an all-time low, and needing to recuperate his strength after the Potions injected into him, he would have hid away again. Just like he did against the Swordsman who had been previously the closest to killing him.
But he didn't. In fact, Muzan became relentless after that day. He hunted the remainder of his enemies while continuing to seek out the Chosen Demon, unaware that said Chosen One no longer was a Demon.
And the Demon Slayer Corp, no matter how much they had lost, no matter how hopeless the situation was, continued to fight.
But sadly, with the little time Muzan had given them, weaker he may have been at that moment because his Body was recovering from the damage of the Aged and Destroyed Cells, it changed nothing.
They fell.
The Demon Slayers who fought, Hashira or Not. The Kakushi's who tried to join the fight with the best of their capabilities. The Ubuyashiki Children who tried to keep the Corp running like their Father and Ancestors did...
And even Nezuko Kamado. The one who had tried to help, but ultimately, simply could not match or even entertain the idea of catching up to her Elder Brother in such a short amount of time.
They all fell to him.
All but the last Kamado. She'd committed suicide in front of his very eyes when he tried to turn her into a Demon again and restart her Evolution into the Chosen Demon.
It had enraged Muzan when her suicide left nothing behind, unwilling to leave anything behind for him to experiment on. Yet, there was no one to aim that rage at, only himself.
So started and so ended the Legacy of the Demon Slayer Corp. With a Bloodbath that showed their Failure.
Yoriichi, the Human Blessed with Power, had failed.
The Ubuyashiki Clan were now sleeping forevermore with the Dirt on the road, just like any other Corpses.
Their Curse, over.
Tanjiro Kamado had perished alongside his Friends while Muzan had burned. And so, lost.
Tamayo and her Plan ended up not being enough.
He had a complete victory. Or so he'd believed within the first Hour. But then, as he had his Demons run a perimeter check of the surroundings to ensure nothing of those Humans remained, he realized one matter.
Tamayo's Demon. Yushiro.
He lived.
And he wasn't around anymore. With his Blood Demon Art, it made it nearly impossible to find him. Not without some sort of tool that allowed to notice his presence.
Muzan felt his Anger rise when learning of this.
''Tamayo...!''
No matter what he did, that Vixen somehow still bothered him from the Dead! But, with everything that had gone on, it made his next course of action easy.
Hunt him down.
All of his Demons would hunt down that Aberation. For Yushiro was now the only threat to his existence. He held the knowledge, and if he played his tools right, then he could change the tide.
The only question was if he'd make the right decisions or not.
Regardless, while a Hunt began, Yushiro was never seen again within the Taisho Era. In fact, nothing would be heard of him for the next Decades as the Years changed.
By all means, Muzan had achieved Victory.
But it wasn't as absolute as he'd have liked.
Not only was there a Survivor, but the Human who had been the Chosen Demon was dead.
His one way to True Perfection was gone just like that.
He mourned that before moving on.
After all, the Corp was now gone for Good and no Ubuyashiki remained to take the mantle. This Blight was finally removed.
So, no matter how chipped this was, Muzan relished in it for a moment.
He won.
Muzan's Victory lasted for nearly an entire Century. The Calendar moving on from Taishō to Shōwa and finally, to the present Era.
The Heisei Era. The Year, 2014.
And still, no success with the Blue Spider Lily.
No matter what he uses. No matter the People or Tools he sends after it. No matter what Human Disguise he puts on for the Connections or Money, they all come empty.
There never is a single sign of that Flower anywhere.
It's like it just refuses to be found.
Muzan had done extensive research on Flowers for Years now, having decided that he needed to take a step back and just research everything again.
Sometimes, one could miss the obvious and not realize until much later. And the Blue Spider Lily should by all means, still act like any other Flowers. No matter how much more it holds within its vessel.
Which is how he came to realize, after reviewing everything alongside up-to-date Information, that some Flowers close up at Night. The reasons as to why vary, but it's undeniably confirmed to exist.
The opposite is also true, some do open at Night, but when considering that, it suddenly felt obvious as to why the Blue Spider Lily was so elusive to him even after he searched all over Japan. Personally and through his Demons.
''It hides.''
Muzan was not sure if he should slam his head in a wall for only realizing this so many years later, or just feel gleeful that he'd finally discovered a Why it was so hard to find when he'd employed his Demons.
He chose the latter.
And so, Muzan began to employ even more Humans than before to discover it. Never quite outright spelling the Truth.
Always hidden under another layer.
That's what he'd been up to ever since World War II had ended. Before that, searching for it worldwide was hard.
For obvious reasons.
And now, as the Years passed, as he changed how he searched for the Flower... nothing.
Just like when he used his Demons who now were mostly left to do as they pleased, the Humans he employed found not a trace of it. It was like history repeated itself, because even knowing the Blue Spider Lily could simply be hiding at Night...
Empty-handed, to the last.
Honestly, no matter what he did, that Flower would keep eluding him.
But, he never really does get to think of it much further. Never really has the chance to wonder why it seems to be incredibly good at hiding.
Why?
Because it was July 7th. In the Future, that date would be very well known as the day everything changes. But at the present moment, nothing important happened as everyone followed on with their Daily lives.
(Ignoring all signs of something more taking place even before today. Calling them Growths and whatnot)
Until, that same Night, the TV spoke of a Glowing Baby born in Qing Qing.
He didn't even need to act when he was watching the TV with another one of his fake Family, he was just as surprised as them when this came to the News.
''A glowing Baby in China?''
He did not hide his surprise. However, he kept some thoughts to himself. After all, a Glowing Baby?
''Could it be the Blue Spider Lily has been discovered?'' he wondered as his thought spiraled by the implication alone.
''Could it be someone is already using that Flower for their own gain?'' he hid his anger under his surprise. Had some random Human found what he'd sought out for over a millennium?!
The Years of search, the Blood and Money he'd poured out for this, and some Upstart finds it?!
And now a Baby was...
''No...''
Muzan calmed himself down as another thought crossed his mind. All the while he could hear his ''Wife'' and ''Son'' speaking about what the News was telling. Unsure of how serious, or how true this even was.
''This could be a Prime Opportunity to observe. If this even is due to the Blue Spider Lily, then all I need afterward are names...''
Internally, he grinned.
''Perhaps... there lies my key.''
His eyes then narrowed towards the Family. Unseen by them.
''However, I may need to terminate this disguise sooner than anticipated...''
For now, he would have to watch and wait. His Key laid somewhere in there, that much, he truly believed.
And in that sense, Muzan had been right. However, he had been terribly wrong for everything else.
After the Glowing Baby, many more people who weren't all Newborns, entirely unrelated to the Baby or even China in general, began to display Powers. That wasn't accounting that some signs pointed to Superpowered Babies being born even before the Glowing Baby.
Some were rather Basic.
Making Fire. Making Ice. Making Water. Manipulating Wind. Creating Lava. Generating Darkness. Forming Light.
Some others however, outright felt like they were pulled out from Comic Books Muzan had read due to his Disguises.
Shooting out Laser Beams from the Eyes or Hands. Constructing Matter you could shape into what you wanted. Shapeshifting. Flight. Giving out a Cold Breath.
And then, there were the Mutants.
Those changed completely from Human to something else entirely. That was assuming to begin with they could be considered as a part of the same Race. The Definition of Humanity was coming apart at the seams because of it.
But overall, it was clear that this Case came to spread throughout the Entire World.
On July 7th 2014, the Dawn of Quirks began officially. And a New Age began, for the better or for the worse.
No one truly knew what would happen in the Future. All they could do was march forward in those unsure days.
Either by following the tide, or steering it with their own Two hands.
Many did the former. Many could simply not force the tide into their favor, with or without Power. But others?
Well, they certainly tried to steer it for themselves.
Muzan was no different.
He planned to use this new factor to his advantage. But alas, he wasn't the only one who had such plans in mind.
After all, exceptional individuals would rise out of the Years to come. Perhaps because they weren't old enough, or simply not born yet.
And eventually, those Individuals clashed.
[Kimetsu Whispers and Rumors]
The state of Demon Hierarchy
The Twelve Kizuki as Muzan's most Elites no longer exist since the Taisho Era, having been abolished entirely with the deaths of the Upper Moons.
Even today, Muzan has not Reinstated the Kizukis in any shape or form, and any noteworthy Demons who are stronger than the average are being used for other purposes.
A Demon King emerges out of the Chaos that would be later on named ''Dawn of Quirks''.
However, it is not Muzan who is at the root of this event. This Demon King had chosen to lay low and take his time with this unexpected turn of events. Simply waiting and plotting while the Chaos brought to the whole world continued. And it takes over a decade before he emerges.
During that time, some tried to handle the situation as best they could. Never does Society truly fall into a true state of Anarchy, and it shows since Society moves on the best it can.
Some of the Cities handle it better than others. Some can even be said to have returned to a Pre-Paranormal time.
But with Fantasy becoming Reality, it has made some fall into the temptation that is their Meta-Abilities. And so, some others handled it worse and left destruction behind instead of Order. All while giving Muzan and his kind more food to eat much more easily.
And amongst those individuals who tried to handle the situation the best they could, was none other than the Glowing Baby.
Having grown up by now, and deciding they wanted to do good, the First recorded Meta-Human in History gathered followers to speed up the Recovery process of Society. It was so successful, that they eventually reached Ten Million Supporters.
Only for that success to be completely destroyed by him in Cold Blood and everything they had, stolen.
It was around that time that said other Demon King emerged from the Shadows. And it was none other than him.
All For One.
Word spread of his Meta-Ability, what it was. And how powerful it was in this Era.
All for One. The Individual and Ability were both Selfish to a Core. It allowed the man to steal other Meta-Abilities and collect them inside his Body. Then, he could do whatever he desired with them.
Keep it stored. Use them for himself. Gift it to someone else who so desires.
A fearsome ability for any Meta-Human. But, likewise, it was the most advantageous Ability someone could ask for in those trying times when previously established Barriers were broken through. With more than 20% of the Population having Powers while less than 80% were utterly powerless.
And so, when word spread of this Man being capable of such a thing, it created a division in a world that was struggling even after a Decade of trying to adapt. Japan however, would be the only one affected by this.
There were some Humans who wanted those Powers for themselves. It could have been because it assured their livelihoods. Perhaps it was simply because they wanted to be strong, or perhaps to add some spice to their Lives.
But the contrary was also true. There were some Humans who did not wish for those Powers they viewed as Curses. It could be because they wanted their Ordinary lives to return. Perhaps some didn't desire to be strong, or perhaps some simply wanted that comfortable peace they had before.
Regardless of whether some wanted to move on or accept the now they had, it was undeniable that this New Demon Lord, one who dared to use Muzan's own title while he lived, had the Perfect tool to fulfill those wishes.
He didn't hesitate to use it for his own gains. He didn't hesitate to gather power. He didn't hesitate to take, nor to give when it suited him.
He manipulated and used people as he wished.
Muzan wouldn't admit it, but he did respect this individual for gaining so much Power in a short time. He took advantage of the situation and wasted no second of it.
Yes, Demon may be fitting for this individual.
''All For One...''
It is a name, by all means. After all, that is what he has called his Meta-Ability and himself. A name he utters out when he hears of the man's campaign after the Glowing Baby's Death.
He was gathering Followers everywhere, no matter the state one lived in. And by doing so, he was building a New World Order.
Though, even before then, Muzan had already come to his own decision.
He wasn't planning to intervene in this Grand Plan. He'd always been someone who liked it more to stay back and watch while others did his more visible work.
That's how he'd operated for Centuries. And that was still how he mostly operated even today with the Paranormal.
And speaking of which...
''You've served your usefulness.'' coldly, yet in a tone that could be believed for casual, he'd cut through the Wind Pipe of his ''Son''.
The Mother was already dead when this had happened.
Their Bodies were on the Floor, Cold and Lifeless, Blood leaking into a Pool.
All the while Muzan stared without a care, more thinking of what he should do next with all of this.
It was about time he moved on from them.
With the search for his Blue Spider Lily put to a Halt until enough Semblance of Order returned to the whole world, Muzan had no choice but to change Disguises again after trying to salvage this situation.
So, he'd prepared the changes prior to this. From an Apothecary to a Doctor. It would serve him well to use that Identity as a front to run Tests and Diagnoses on those. He wondered how different they were from Humans on a Biological level.
But of course, he would need to make sure his work didn't get him too close to All for One. He didn't need someone to meddle with his New Work now. Especially him of all people.
So prior to killing off this Family, he came to a decision.
He would lay low. Continue with more cautiousness because of Meta-Abilities. Wait a Century or so until this All for One was dead before doing anything drastic.
It would give him more than enough time to study Meta-Abilities and see exactly how they ticked. Take them to his advantage one way or another. Perhaps created stronger Demons out of them with one of them overcoming the Sun itself. Just in case he still didn't discover the Blue Spider Lily during that Century.
Yes, he has it all in mind. Now he just needed to implement it.
However, unforeseen by Muzan, that particular plan would not be able to be implemented.
All because of someone...
[Kimetsu Whispers and Rumors]
The Number of Demons
The Number of Demons has increased since the Taisho Era. In Japan, not much has changed. When Muzan comes across someone that catches his attention, he turns them.
However, Overseas is where a shift is noticeable.
Previously, the amount of Demons outside of Japan was low. Since the Hunt for the Blue Spider Lily took primarly place in Japan, Muzan never saw a True need to spread further.
Since that time however, Muzan has only spread his kind further and further with his overseas trip. Today, the whole world has some form of Demonic Presence. All in Muzan's quest for Perfection.
The Dawn of the Supernatural had come as a surprise to everyone.
And that included the only Demon who refused to bend to Muzan's will. The only Demon Tamayo herself had been able to create. Yushiro himself, who now walked amongst a crowd of Humans in one of the Safer cities.
And he felt uncomfortable walking these Streets during the Night.
This was after all an Era where the Paranormal was running rampant even after Years of trying to control it. But here, all the Humans could be at ease and continue with their Daily Activities as if Meta-Abilities had never emerged.
All because of a Single Man.
Yushiro had to wonder how Meta-Abilities came to be.
It clearly wasn't of Demonic Origin, or else, all individuals with Power would have lusted for Human Flesh and been unable to walk under the Sun. But none of them acted like a Demon.
Indirectly, it meant Muzan was not at fault here.
Even though there were similarities between Meta-Abilities and Blood Demon Arts, that's as far as the similarities went. And now, here they all were, all dealing with this situation as best they could.
Who would have ever imagined this would be how the Future turned out?
No one.
And yet, right now? This also gave an opening.
The Current Days were advanced, giving access to weaponry none had access to 100 Years ago.
Yushiro comes to realize that when World War II happens. Or, more accurately... the Bombs.
The Age where Demons were Nigh-Invincible seemed to be slipping by day by day now.
And with the Supernatural emerging... well, this may be the best time as any to have Muzan killed.
Which is why, he right now took a risk.
Right now, he dared to approach the one Man who could do anything against Muzan. He was present in this very City after all.
All for One himself.
But at the same time, he wasn't blind to what kind of individual All for One was. Yushiro knew that he would be asking something out of another Monster. And, depending on how it went, things could get so much worse if somehow, All for One and Muzan got along.
But from their Personalities, he doubted that.
Still, he was taking a risk, and right now, while he had a plan in mind to perhaps counteract whatever issue All for One could become, this was his only choice.
The only way to now kill Muzan.
If not for Lady Tamayo, then for those Humans he befriended during and after the Corp was annihilated.
He still remembered that important day vividly.
Since that day when Muzan had escaped with his Life, all of those Months ago, things had never truly been the same anymore for the Demon Slayer Corp.
They lacked so many of their Strongest Forces, the Hashira's, that Kiriya wound up forced to recall all of the Retired Hashira's who were in any state to fight.
That included the likes of Tengen Uzui and Sakonji Urokodaki. And truthfully speaking, if recalling just the retired Warriors was the biggest change of them all, perhaps the situation they were all in wouldn't be so bad.
At least, Yushiro believed so.
And yet, it wasn't just stepping back into the past. No, that time was dead since that day.
Because Muzan was not acting the same anymore.
Previously, he was willing to let his Demons do as they pleased, only expecting the Upper Moons to fulfill their Core Tasks.
But the Upper Moons were all dead now, and Muzan was no longer willing to wait.
No, the Monster himself was personally looking for them now. And Yushiro feared that it meant the Demon King had already recovered.
And while he was ready, as he was hunting them down, the Corp was not.
It may never be ready anymore. It had been very few Months since the Battle in the Infinity Castle.
Replenishing their Forces was hard. Finding people to take up the Hashira Positions, even harder.
It didn't help that no Human could stand up against Muzan. No matter if they were a Hashira or not.
So, it's no surprise that Kiriya would end up trying to figure out a plan. Something that could pull them through this situation.
And, he does.
Yushiro is the first to learn of his plan. And when he hears it, he's... unsure of how to feel about it.
''That's really your plan?'' he questioned him then.
But, he received only a nod from someone who he would never admit, he was truly becoming friends with.
''I'm sure.''
And so, Kiriya Ubuyashiki had summoned a Meeting. Not quite just for the Hashira's, but they were the bulk of those present.
Yushiro was amongst them. So were Sanemi, Giyuu, Tengen, Shinjuro, Urokodaki and so on.
All of them were sitting on their legs, knelt down for perhaps the most important Meeting in the Corps History.
''Thank you for all coming.'' Kiriya said upon the start of the Meeting.
''You are all wondering why I called all of you back when you have important business to attend, right?''
There were murmurs with ''Yes'' that came in answer, but at the head of it, was Giyuu.
''Yes. It's... confused us, considering how dire our situation is.''
Yushiro could swear he saw Shinazugawa give a side-eye that acted as an eye roll, but he couldn't be fully certain on the matter either. It's not like he'd paid attention to that.
''It relates to that, actually.'' he reveals, ''Because, after some consideration on multiple fronts, I have a plan now.''
And those single words sparked Hope.
In a situation where the situation grew more and more bleak, someone saying ''I have a Plan!'' would always invigorate some, if not many.
But the next words dampened that hope.
''But... I don't think any of you will like it.''
Yushiro, having already been made aware of the plan in advance, knew that was true. He himself after all did not like it. And yet, when considering everything, this really was their only chance at Victory.
So that one day, they could win.
''And what would that plan be, Master?'' Urokodaki asked.
Kiriya took a Breath, mostly to calm the nerves he was feeling, and then spoke.
''A Part of the Corp must retreat and hide.''
And everyone listened.
''With the state of the Organization, we can't act the same way we did before. When a Demon Slayer ran into an Upper Moon, it was bad luck, horrible even, but it wasn't a common occurrence. But now, it's all too likely that any of the Children will see Muzan and die at his hands.''
Muzan had become active. Too active, in fact. That Battle had deeply affected Muzan. Rattled him to the point where he took no chances anymore.
It's not like it was an assurance he would appear. But his activity rate was too high to be called just ''Bad Luck''.
''So, after considering it... we need to split the Corp. A Part of it will make preparations to completely erase their presence. Disappear from his Reach. Go out of our Nation if they have to. All to prepare for a chance, no matter how distant in the future it may be.''
And that left a particularly bad taste in everyone's Mouth. They had been so close, but it slipped them by. So now, they had to thrust that Mission onto the next generation, all because the previous had failed.
Unable to land the decisive blow when it came to them.
And yet, perhaps that wasn't the worst out of this plan. And Kiriya was very well aware of it as he continued.
''The other part however...'' Kiriya had paled the more he'd spoken of this plan, ''...will have to stay behind with us to keep Muzan's attention. So that he may believe that the Demon Slayer Corp is over and done for.''
And the weight of this other half came to all of them.
Not only was he asking them to hide. A portion of them would need to play the long game to have a chance of victory. But the other half? They'd have to stay and fight a losing battle.
It was tantamount to asking them to commit suicide.
But if not done... would Muzan believe it was over? Would he truly overlook something like that without decisive enough proof the Corp was done?
And so, as Kiriya was finished with his words, everyone in the Room present was left to think of the plan.
Was it the best one? Or were there better ones?
Honestly, they all wished there was an alternative, but when they all tried to figure out alternatives, they either drew blanks or hit roadblocks.
Poisoning was a must. But would it work on the Demon himself again? And could anyone even reproduce it?
Yushiro had lived in the Butterfly Mansion after their Failure, and while he seemed to have made some headway in reproducing the Poison by himself, he couldn't replicate all of them.
That was already an issue. And that wasn't accounting that even if they did have it... did they have the forces?
They had some new Hashira replacements. Inosuke, Zenitsu and Kanao had shown themselves capable and had been promoted. But none of them had unlocked the Mark.
Sanemi and Giyuu on the other hand, had unlocked the Mark. And now, they were on a Time Limit. It didn't help they were both crippled to varying levels.
So the more they thought... the bleaker it was.
And Kiriya's plan... was the only one with any chance of success.
Reluctantly so, all of them had to accept this situation as it was. That without sacrifices, Muzan would never be killed. But now, it left some wondering...
''If I may, Master.'' Kanao spoke up, ''Have you already chosen our fates?''
Kiriya hated that the way Kanao worded it was accurate. The truth. This was their Fate.
Run and Live or Remain and Die.
''I... have. Some ideas at least.'' he was choosing who would live and who would die.
''There's still some time, so changes can still happen. But that time is a few months at best. Any more, and we risk Muzan finding us before the Plan can be done.''
That was the best compromise he could give. Change. And even then, it would be for precious weeks.
''As for who I have in mind...'' he was sweating from the stress of it all. That much was obvious to everyone, himself included. But he pushed on. Especially considering...
''Me and my Sisters will remain.''
No one is sure if they should be surprised at hearing this or not, considering it comes from the Ubuyashiki's. And Kiriya continued on all the while.
''Muzan's main goal is us, the Ubuyashiki's. He wants us dead above all else since he thinks we're the Brains of this operation. But, after today... we won't be.''
But just them wouldn't be enough to convince him. Not close enough.
''But to make him believe he's ending the Corp... everyone who has fought against Muzan personally must remain as well.''
Giyuu and Sanemi were the first ones to come to mind.
Kiriya had thought about it. Out of everyone who'd survived, Giyuu and Sanemi were probably the most remembered.
Their actions in the Infinity Castle, alongside their efforts when they fought Muzan himself, meant that if they did not die, he would continue hunting them down.
But, it wasn't just them.
Kanao. Inosuke. Zenitsu.
They had fought Muzan. They had been seen by him. Struggle.
It could be argued that Kanao may be able to escape. But then, she had fought and killed Upper Moon Two alongside Inosuke. She wouldn't escape his notice either.
Already, they had Five additional people who were doomed no matter what. And they still needed more, to make it believable.
Zenitsu felt like he was panicking at this moment, but still tried to stay calm. Everyone else felt the same, after all.
But, it made him realize something.
''What of Nezuko?'' Agatsuma asked.
She was... she had been the center of Muzan's attention. The whole reason they'd been able to do this whole Training before the Battle at the Infinity Castle was because of her.
''Her situation is complicated, so what are we supposed to do?''
What to do indeed...?
Kiriya tried to answer that.
''She... she can't go with the Group that will leave to hide. Muzan is still looking for her. But we can't have her stay here either. That would mean gifting her to him.''
Only to lead to an issue. What did they do with her?
Yushiro, who had been fine just listening until now, knew that now was the time to tell them about the matter.
It had been kept quiet up until now, but it no longer was something he could keep quiet about.
''She's been considering something.''
And all eyes were on him now.
Now or never.
''...Nezuko has considered Suicide.''
''She has what?!'' So many had said that, that Yushiro was unable to tell who were those people. But, he could make a guess.
''We spoke about it. While her body has built-in Antibodies to Muzan's cells, it's probable that if Muzan really tried, he could turn her into a Demon again. At that point, it's only a matter of her body adapting again, and then...''
Muzan would have his key to Sunlight Immunity again.
''So, she's considered just ending her Life before he can get to her, and also to cremate her body, just in case just having her Cells could cause him to gain Immunity still.''
It's an unpleasant thing to talk about. But considering what their previous topic had been, it must be mentioned.
No stones can be left unturned.
It was bleak, but he truly hoped it meant that a bright future would be ahead of them because of it. That the sacrifices they would have to make would be worth it by the end of it.
Tengen was the only one who voiced his frustration with the situation after that, teeth gritted.
''I can't believe I'm saying this... but that might be the best option we have considering her situation.''
''Tch.'' he heard Sanemi scoff then, ''Even if we did have her die in front of him, how the hell do we make sure he can't eat her?''
The attention went to him then.
''If we want that bastard to actually believe she's dead, then it has to be done in front of him. Or at least, she has to be visible. But that means a Body is left behind, and burning a Body doesn't go quick.''
Surprisingly, it was Giyuu who gave the ensuing idea.
''We can replicate what the previous Master did.'' Giyuu proposed, ''If... if she were to die in the explosion, in front of him, then nothing would remain of her to be eaten...''
The situation was truly bad if they were openly considering such an idea.
And yet, that was the only way this could work in any way. And while it seemed like they had it all handled...
''And what about him?''
The attention went to Shinjuro, who was eying Yushiro.
''Shouldn't he be also staying, considering everything?''
A good point. But Kiriya had to deny that.
''No. We spoke about it earlier, but we can't allow him to die with us. He's too perfect for being with those who will Hide and bind their time.''
Yushiro was a Demon. He would be able to live beyond the Human lifespan, so he would always remember. Alongside that, he's the only one who has any knowledge of the Drugs Tamayo used.
Even though it would make Muzan chase after him, because Yushiro was not present, they could not have him die with them.
''Muzan will chase after him. But if we're taking our bet right, then he'll only think it's Yushiro alone and no one else.''
And while he would have a target on his back for the remainder of the time this Demon Blood in him lasted, a side effect of Tamayo's modifications to it when given to him, it also meant he would fight on and on, always there to help the Future Generations in this Battle.
Yushiro had felt touched by Kiriya's words when he said that to him.
And touch him it did...
Reminiscing about it, Yushiro felt sadness well up inside of him again.
The Plan had been finalized soon after.
From everyone he recognized, only Shinjuro and Urokodaki had been chosen to escape. There were others more, and he even recognized two of the Demon Slayers he'd partnered up with during his time in the Infinity Castle, but out of everyone he knew...
None survived to tell the tale.
This was the consequence of it.
They had fought. They had failed.
Those who had been chosen to flee had descendants. Passed on their Breaths along the way. Cultivators remained, and teach they did for a select few before that Task was passed down as well.
Yushiro knew of the descendants of those he befriended in that time.
And if before, fighting against Muzan hadn't felt personal...
Well, it felt very personal now. More than ever...
And, if killing Muzan wasn't for their sake, then...
Then at least, for the sake of all those who've fought.
He needed to do this.
And so, he would.
The only thing he could hope for was that this was a situation he could manage afterward. He truly hoped telling All for One wouldn't backfire on him.
Because now...
''Hey!''
...there was no more chance to step back.
''What do you want?''
It's a Human with an Ability who speaks those words. But he isn't alone. With other people, Powers or not, they stand guard in front of an Establishment.
A Five Star Restaurant.
It was now or never.
''I wish to speak with All for One.''
Only time would tell if this ended up being the right decision or not. But, at this moment, Yushiro could only hope that his plan wouldn't backfire on him.
Because if he did, then he doesn't doubt for a second he has doomed Humanity.
But, by the time he saw the Consequences of his actions, Good or Bad, he knew he wouldn't be able to look back anymore.
[Kimetsu Whispers and Rumors]
The Will of the Corp
All of the Corp Members who have escaped have either had Offsprings or Trained Students to pass on their Breathing Techniques onto. It's been agreed that the Students must always surpass the Master if they wish to one day hold victory against the Demon King.
The Demon King himself is wholly unaware of their existance and so, has not even looked for them.
To Japan at large, there was a specific date when nothing of particular importance happened. Humans, with Meta Powers or without them, continued with their lives as best they could.
Demons meanwhile hunted, even with this new phenomenon, it changed nothing. Mutants or Meta, they were still Human. Their Nourishment. Very much capable of being eaten.
But, to certain individuals, this Night proved itself to be by far more important.
To Muzan especially, this would change everything.
Of course, he wasn't aware of that when he was in his Living Room in his New Home. A rather simple but comfortable House in a District. He was reviewing something about Up-to-Date Medicine, just to be sure.
It only evolved after all. Medicine would keep growing and growing in today's times. Even with the Emergence of the Supernatural.
And if he wanted his next cover in Japan to stick, then he needed to make sure he had everything down. After all, this particular disguise may be used far more in the Future.
But, in the end, that became something he was forced to shove aside.
Because then, the buzzer of his Entrance Door rang to life.
''Who could it be?'' he wasn't expecting guests, nor any of his Demons tonight. So who?
A Meta-human Gang? No. If it was one of them, they wouldn't bother knocking. All the Gangs had power going in over their heads, they wouldn't bother being subtle.
A Normal Human was even less likely. Unless it was one of those who tried to hunt Meta-Humans and exterminate them?
No, unlikely to. Muzan was, by all means, Quirkless. His Power did not come from this phenomenon.
So then, who or what?
Muzan decided to find out by simply answering, opening the Door.
And so, he was met with a Man in a Suit with a downright creepy Smile.
''Greetings!''
However, what horrified Muzan the most, was not the smile. It was the Identity of the person in question. Namely?
''I am All for One, Kibutsuji Muzan. And I, have come for your Throne.''
And then, from his palm at point-blank range, he went on to Blast him with something.
Muzan can't tell what it even is as he feels his Body being launched out from his House and into the Streets. Colliding with the Contrete Ground that he doesn't move from for a second.
But the next second, he stood up. And then found All for One had already attacked him. What with his Shoulder and chest being pierced with a projectile made out of Light.
His Wound closed just as quickly as it had formed, and All for One clapped as he came out of the burst-open wall.
''Magnificent. Truly, Magnificent!''
He was joyous. All for One's mouth stretched into another Smile.
''When I heard from another Demon that you existed, in the flesh and real, I hardly believed it for a moment. A Real Life Demon? Many of them exist today? Why, it sounds absurd!''
And that smile widened even further.
''But, then again, this whole situation is absurd, is it not? And, I would be lying if this wasn't a Dream come true for me.''
The clapping stopped, but the talking continued.
''The one who refuses his own Demons to say his own name aloud. I can respect that, you know? It gives the impression you are a God when someone else saying your name grants them the punishment of Death. Did you inspire it from Hebrew by chance?''
Not at all.
He just did not want for Human or Demons to casually say his name. For he did not want his name to spread to the rest of the Human population and make him known.
Of course, he doesn't say that. Instead, he said something else.
''It was quite rude of you to blast me like that upon our first greeting.'' he sneered then, ''And now, I hear of a Traitor amongst my midst.''
There was only one Demon who could do that, and be safe from him all the same.
''Let me guess, was it a Child named Yushiro?''
He was the only Demon in existence who still lived that could fight against him without his notice.
''Correct!'' All for One confirmed, ''I have to say, for all this control you have over your Subjects, one of them slipped you by and quite expertly as well.''
The smile he had then dropped, but it was not quite gone.
''But it became a boon to me, as now, I can do something I never thought possible. Dethrone the Demon King!''
Muzan quirked an eyebrow at that choice of word. Dethrone. Not kill. Was this Human implying what he thought?
''So my thanks for existing, Muzan Kibutsuji, for existing! Now, off with your head!''
And All for One went on the offense without another word, firing off a wave of Fire Muzan was forced to dodge by jumping over.
''How arrogant of you to assume I will fall by your Hands!'' his arms morphed into his Whips, and he thrust both of them towards All for One. The Fire was already gone by now.
Only for both arms to be intercepted by, oddly enough, All for One's own whip-like appendages, albeit those ones were clearly made out of Steel and outright looked like they were swords.
''Exactly what I had hoped! The Demon King could not fall against me so easily!'' the Iron Blades retracted inwards before All for One's arms became flesh again. Muzan all the while landed back on the ground.
And so, their Battle started.
The King of Demons, against the Man who could take and give power.
And Muzan's worry was founded in this Battle. All for One, someone who should have been by all means a normal Human, could match him. The King of all Demons.
He was faster. He was physically stronger. He could Regenerate. And yet, this man, with gathered power of other Meta-Humans, was standing up to him.
And even worse? He was winning.
Because All for One had the firepower necessary to well and truly kill him. He wielded Flames that, when concentrated, could destroy all of his Cells it touched. And with all of those other Powers he had in, some that he combined, Muzan's Power which had made him Supreme for Centuries... wasn't enough anymore.
His Body was pierced by several spikes by the end of it, pinning him to a Wall. Arms, Legs, Torso, even his face.
He was unable to talk because of it. And all the while, All for One dared to approach.
''Goodness, you did not go down easily!'' he commented, ''But such a shame. If this was everything you had, then I have to say, you were rather straightforward.''
It wasn't. But in his arrogance, Muzan had not used his Black Blood Techniques. And when he tried to cause Cellular Destruction, this Monster had used a Meta-Ability to purge out his Old Blood and remake a New untainted One.
He hadn't even shapeshifted into his more Battle Oriented Form, as by the time he'd considered using it, it had simply been too late.
And now, he paid the price for it.
''Still, I imagine this would fit the words of Out with the Old and In with the New, no?''
Muzan quirked his single eyebrow at those words, and All for One was all too glad to clarify.
''You know, I fancy myself as a Demon Lord. A King even.'' All for One shamelessly admitted to him.
And honestly, this was in fact a first for Muzan. Hearing someone admit, absolutely serious while they're at it, that they want to be the King of Demons. He'd heard Children say that, but those were with their games.
But someone saying this completely and seriously was new.
''So when I learned from Yushiro that Demons actually existed? I struggled to hide how Giggidy I felt! It turns out, my Dreams are far closer to the truth than I'd ever believed.''
All for One raised his hand as it suddenly shined.
''And all I need to reach it, is kill you. So, go enjoy eternal slumber with the Earth you've walked on for Centuries.''
And Muzan had only one answer to that. Something he had never thought he'd need to use after the Century had passed. And even then, last time, he'd been unable to use it.
In an act of defiance and to perpetuate his existence, Muzan proceeded to split his Flesh just as All for One fired a Wave of Pure Destruction.
It all happened too quickly for All for One to truly follow what was going on, but he saw what Muzan tried. And succeeded in doing so.
Albeit, not entirely.
The Majority of the Flesh that split was caught in the Wave, annihilating them entirely out of existence. The few that did escape...
Well, All for One had to admit, that was unexpected.
He stared at the hole where Muzan had been pinned to, and then looked behind him where the little Flesh had scurried off to.
''Not bad, Demon King. But I wonder what consequences come with so little having escaped...''
On that night, Muzan had brushed with Death yet again.
Once, the perpetrator of that action would have been Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the pinnacle of what a Human once could be. Then, it would have been the last Generation of Demon Slayers, who had him exposed to Sunlight.
Not anymore.
Now, All for One took that place.
And this one was utterly different from all the Humans who had been close to ending his Life. This one had none of the Traits he could recognize on the Humans. This one in fact, wanted to become ''The Demon King''.
He wanted his Throne.
A Pretender. A Human of all things.
What a joke he'd heard. But he had the audacity. He had the true, unbridled belief. Muzan did not doubt for a Second that he was serious.
And he felt nothing, at first. This was a new situation even for him. One that did not truly come to a head until he'd fully recovered.
Muzan was nothing short of stubborn when it came to ensuring his perpetual survival. Until his very last Breath, he would forever deny Death. No matter how close it may reach him.
And so, he lived.
For the weeks to come, he had to devour Humans in a weakened form. He may have been able to recover his form, but to replenish all that was lost to such an extent, he required nutrition. Just like when Yoriichi had scarred him and left him perpetually burned, he repeated this process.
His Full Strength returned to him. But the time it took to reach it was longer than the last time. Muzan had grown stronger since then, and it affected his Recovery.
Nonetheless, after killing one final Human while stealing his Apartment for himself, Muzan felt like he was finally back to his state before his loss against All for One.
And now that he had simply time to think of everything, All for One's audacity returned to him. Only now did Muzan allow to think again of what had pushed him to this state.
''That man...''
He'd discovered his very existence because of Yushiro. The Traitors Demon had told his existence to this Danger, and now, Muzan was forced to deal with a human who fancied himself a Demon King.
That would never happen. Muzan would never give away his Throne so long he was alive. His Blood was the Root of it all, and he refused for something that started with him to be given over to an Insect of all things.
But nonetheless, he was dealing with an issue.
One that he couldn't stop comparing to Yoriichi. But worse simply because of who All for One was.
And so, when thinking about it all, Muzan only felt one thing. The contrary to what he felt around Yoriichi.
''I utterly despise you All for One.''
He felt Hatred.
Fear he may have had did not remain. Unwilling to remain against the Pretender that was All for One. It simply paled in comparison to the Hatred he felt against that Monster.
All For One must die.
This Human was willing to insult him by calling himself such a thing. And so, he made a promise all to himself on that day. If he truly wished to take what was his...
''I will kill you with my own two hands All for One. I will make sure your reign is over, and I will take everything you have.''
...then he would simply take what was his.
He clenched his fist thereafter, his Nails growing into familiar Sharp Blue Nails and his Muscles bulging Red under his Skin for the briefest of moments before it all receded.
''And compared to that Monster, I will make sure Old Age is not what claims you.''
Because now, he would do the one thing he had never entertained to do ages ago even when Yoriichi Tsugikuni was alive. After all, wasn't he supposed to be the closest being the Perfection?
Shouldn't his Weakness to the Sun be the only thing he lacked?
But no. That wasn't the case. Not anymore. He needed to go much deeper with this. Acknowledge that perhaps, in this Age, his status as Near-Perfect would be tested.
So, it was time to do the one thing all of his Demons did. A very Human concept that now applied to him.
It was time for him to Evolve.
It was time to face his Imperfections head-on.
It was time to change.
The Blood Yushiro held was supposed to be unrelated to Muzan. Or at least, that's what Lady Tamayo had told him when he learned of how much control the Demon King had over his Blood.
And by all means, it should still be right. It's something hard to notice, but his Cells weaken. This Demon Blood of his is not Eternal like Muzan's is. Eventually, it will be back to regular Human Cells.
So by all means, this should be a further indication. That his Blood is unrelated to Muzan's.
Yet, it perpetually feels like something terribly wrong is going on. And Yushiro is not sure why his Body feels that way.
Is it because his Cells were -no matter their current state- once upon a time Muzan's? Is it trying to warn him of something so terrible it gives him this feeling?
Or is it because his Instincts are simply weary of All for One?
''-so I have to admit, I was left surprised that he can split his Flesh like that.''
The man that he spoke to currently.
So far, Yushiro has been compliant. Until Muzan was dead, he needed to stay within arms reach. So, when All for One had asked to meet him, he had no choice but to say yes.
After all, he didn't doubt this man was currently judging his usefulness.
So perhaps his Cells were simply reacting in worry against him. After all, Yushiro hadn't exactly told All for One everything. Or, more accurately, couldn't tell him everything because he didn't know.
Lady Tamayo had unfortunately remained tight-lipped about the details of Muzan's capabilities.
Cell Division had been known as a word to him, but the actual shape it took had been entirely unknown.
Only now did he know that Cell Division meant the separation of his Flesh on several smaller scales. Hundreds upon hundreds of pieces supposed to scatter.
Only for a low amount to escape due to All for One blasting them into nothingness.
No matter if he could reform himself once safe or if he needed Flesh to reform himself, Muzan had been pushed into a corner.
So, Yushiro feared that he would need to keep contact with All for One for a long while if he wanted the Demon dead.
''I'm as surprised as you are.'' Yushiro reluctantly admits around the Dinner Table they are sitting.
All for One had decided to meet him in his Penthouse. Over Dinner no less. Granted, Yushiro couldn't eat, so All for One was the only one eating.
''Yes. And it puts your knowledge to question.'' The man himself pointed out, ''How much is still reliable? What says he isn't... different?''
And Yushiro wasn't sure why he felt a chill run down his spine with the word Different being associated with Muzan.
But then, he considers it for a moment.
His Cells. Separated as they were supposed to be... did it mean Muzan was doing something that would have his Body react in that way? Even if he can't see it?
Is he... perhaps reacting with something that Muzan feels at this moment?
Is he feeling Muzan's Wrath?
Or are his Cells telling him of something else?
He doesn't know. And he's unlikely to get the answers anytime soon. Especially now. But it makes him wonder and worry.
Because if his Cells acted this way because of Muzan, even though they were fully his own and not Muzan's...
It led to a question.
What was he doing right now?
That Near-Death Experience had completely changed Muzan.
Once, against Yoriichi, this would have made him cower and run away. Hide until the Monster perished of natural causes. For he was Near-Perfect! And yet such a being existed?! How could he hold up against that kind of Monster?
No more.
Muzan utterly refused to back down this time. To hell with his previous plan! To hell with playing the long game. If this Pretender wanted this Throne, then he'd have to fight for it.
This time, Muzan was going to make this personal.
And so, Muzan set his sight towards an Aspect of Humanity he had long ignored, for the legal routes normally were always enough.
Criminals.
Muzan ignored that side of things even with the rise of issues they caused with the Advent, but today? That changed.
It was time he used what they had to his advantage. The World out of sight, in that sense.
Even All for One's, for he used the Public. And perhaps one day, he would use them as well. But if Muzan could beat him to it, then he wouldn't gain a thing.
And so, the tides began to change. Not that anyone was truly aware of it until it was simply too late.
And even then, that wasn't all Muzan did while hidden.
He observed All for One as closely as he could.
After all, he was not planning on letting that Man live. No, he would die by his Hands. But to do that, he needed to pay attention and stay out of sight so that All for One would not know where to strike.
So, he bided his time. Waited. Analyzed. Like a Predator, he waited for the opportune time to hunt his prey.
Which took a while.
Much longer than he liked, truth be told. But Muzan was a cautious individual, and it greatly paid off by just being patient.
Never too much, as waiting too much would leave your chances to slip by more and more. But never so little either. There was a middle ground to be found. One Muzan is relatively certain, he's found.
All because All for One, no matter the Power, would always have enemies.
That is a universal thing. No matter how powerful the opposition was, there would always be rebels. Always be Humans who think they should fight back. Whatever the reason may be, one day or another, they would rise.
Again and again.
The Ubuyashiki Clan, the Demon Slayer Corp, even the first opposition he ever witnessed so early on ago...
They were proof. Always and always...
Which is practically why Muzan had kept as much of a low profile as he could with all of this, even though he did end up winning by the end of it all. And now, he was witnessing History repeating itself.
Simply against someone else. And that was something he could use to his advantage alongside everything else he had going on.
The Chaos the world was in at the moment was also a Perfect opportunity for him.
''AH!''
Hence why he'd just slashed down one of those Supernatural Humans. A Mutant no less. In fact, it wasn't just one of them. This was a Group of Mutants.
After all, he wanted to test them. See how much worth they had compared to him now.
''They feel as weak as any other Humans so far.'' so far, that's all he really notes.
Certainly, some are tougher. Some had naturally harder skin now. Some have more Limbs. Some even have Poisons to use.
But compared to him? They paled in comparison.
They bled just as any other Humans. Which meant his experiment should be working at this moment.
His Gaze wandered towards a still-alive Mutant, form having crashed into the Wall of a Building. He could not move anymore, which was somewhat ironic since he was a Mutant made out of Stone.
Then again, it probably had to do with the gash on his face. He had cut through with his Sharp Nails. And it confirmed it to him.
Even Mutants made out of Non-Biological Material could be injected with his Blood. Which meant right now?
It was working.
''...you... Bastard...!'' the Mutant cursed at him and found himself unable to move even though he wasn't all that injured.
''Why... do you... attack us?''
Muzan took a step towards the Mutant. The only one left alive. Then he knelt down to meet him at eye level.
''Why? To experiment.''
The mutant's eyes widened, and he could see the anger building up. Muzan did not allow it to settle in.
''Do you know what exactly I did to you?''
The Anger is cut in its tracks, and the Mutant cannot help but feel fearful for a moment. Because yes, what did he do to him?
Muzan gladly answered him.
''I injected my Blood into you. 4 Minutes ago, in fact. And the Clock keeps ticking. Soon, it will be 5.''
It takes less than Five Minutes for the effects to be fatal. For Cell Destruction to take root and kill the Person. At least on a normal Human being. Depending on the size, either faster or slower.
On All for One, it did not work because of that Bloodlet Meta-Ability. Purging him while replenishing him with new and clean Blood.
On a Mutant? It took the effects of a Slower spreading. However, it was taking effect regardless.
So, it would take more than 5 Minutes. But if his estimation was right, less than 6 regardless.
Soon, the Mutant would die before him.
''For... for what...?'' The Mutant asked, but then, he received his answer when he began to cough out Blood.
''That.'' he pointedly said, ''Your Veins are not bursting. Your skin shows no blemishes. And it makes sense, your skin is made out of Rocks now. But, my Blood is in your Bloodstream regardless. And it is killing you. Slowly at first, but now, quicker than ever.''
Muzan knelt back up.
''You have less than a minute to live.''
The Mutant opened his mouth again, but only Blood came out. And so, he coughed. On and on. A Mutant made out of Rocks was dying of Poison, and he could do nothing but die. And cough out his Blood too.
Hmm, it reminded him of his own time when his Body went through Cell Destruction. That damned Vixen really had nearly gotten him on that day with that Potion of hers. It had left him far too open for many other things.
Not that he'd ever allow anyone to ever do this again to him. His Body naturally had developed Resistances to it as well.
Regardless, he watched as the Mutant died of Cell Destruction. Saying nothing as life slipped away from him.
When his head fell limp, that confirmed it.
''Hm, you're not quite viable to study anymore. But the others are still useful.''
Time to take the rest to his Lab. Or, really, the Hospital he owned under another Identity. It was a pain, but he'd been able to form another Cover after nearly dying.
After all, at this time, a great many would not care about people with Meta-Abilities and what befell them. So he could take their corpses and study them. See how they worked differently.
After all, he'd already devoured other people with Meta-Abilities. Mutants or not. And he'd been curious if he could absorb Meta-Abilities into his Biology.
As he learned, that was a Hard no.
He couldn't absorb the Biology of Mutants into him, and he couldn't absorb Meta-Abilities into his being either. Assimilating those into him was impossible, no matter how hard he tried.
And that made Muzan curious. Why?
What was so different about Meta-Abilities and the genes they formed that he couldn't assimilate into his Biology?
Muzan intended to find out. So, he was planning to study as many as he could without raising too many suspicions.
All for One, after all, may catch wind of him. And he could only have this Human learn of his current whereabouts at the right time. Too soon, and he would be forced to do even less than bind his time to hunt his prey.
And by that point, All for One would only grow stronger.
So, he continued on with his research.
And eventually?
The time came.
The Story of One for All doesn't entirely change.
For a time, everything follows the same Lines. The same Script.
All for One passes on a Stockpiling Quirk to his Younger Brother, and is later on rescued by the Future Second and Third Users of said Power.
Then, they plan.
And from here on out, the Script changes entirely.
In one world, All for One would have reached the rescuers of Yoichi and killed his very own Brother, splattering that Brother's blood all over the Second User as the Quirk was passed on unknowingly. And while a close call, they would be able to escape with their Lives.
However, in this one?
The Demon Progenitor took the Spotlight.
The time came in the form of All For One's Younger Brother, Yoichi Shigaraki, running away from his Brother. Where to, Muzan wasn't sure yet. But this came with his Perfect Opportunity.
It sets everything up so Perfectly that Muzan knows this is his chance.
Granted, Muzan can't claim that he knows the Pretender well enough to be absolutely certain of the success of this particular Plan. But somewhere in there, is still a Human. On some level at least.
One Opening is all he needs.
If he wants to eliminate All For One, then he must strike the Youngest of the Two in front of the Eldest. Because if All For One just so happened to witness Yoichi's death in front of his very eyes?
It'd allow him to land that Fatal strike and kill the Pretender himself. Either by lopping off his Head from his neck or piercing his Heart or something devastating enough. Thus, both Brothers would die together in that sense.
But Muzan was no fool. He understood very well there just might be someone out there with Abilities that could bypass Decapitation or even find a way to survive without a Heart. This Era had too many surprises for his liking, as he'd learned with that Bloodlet. And that wasn't accounting that Yoichi's Death may not even affect All For One strongly enough to give that opening.
So, alongside the preparations he'd already gone through for his Revenge to be successful, Muzan added a few backups in case his surprise failed or something else went wrong.
This Era had made it abundantly clear he needed to think outside the box he'd been used to, or else, he would not remain on top as Supreme Lifeform. The one that should have been close to Perfection. Humans were growing. All For One had taught him that the hard way...
So, he grew. In a way he never needed to even consider doing back when those bothersome Demon Slayers existed.
It also certainly helped he had a lot of Inspiration Material lying around to actually think up on additions.
And so, with a Plan and Contingencies in mind just in case, Muzan went to enact the next step. Because Yoichi being his Sacrifice was nice and all, but he needed to find out where Yoichi even went off to, to begin with.
It took time. Precious weeks of chasing lead after lead, using disguise after disguise, but he succeeded in discovering where Yoichi was after nearly 2 Months.
With a Rebel Group. Or, perhaps the more accurate term would be a Vigilante Faction.
And it didn't seem like they'd be about to move away anytime soon, so Muzan found himself rather fortunate right now. Because it meant he could initiate the next phase of his slightly modified Plan.
Namely, have All For One battle against this Group, and while he wasn't looking, kill Yoichi in front of his eyes before striking him down.
And to make it all happen, he simply needed to anonymously send the location of this Group to All For One.
Everything after that fell neatly into place. Although it left behind the still noticeable issue that was Tamayo's Demon. He was the variable in all of this that he needed dead.
The Legacy she had left behind would end as soon as he knew where he was.
But he loathed how much this seemed to mirror the Sengoku Era. Because Muzan could simply not find him. He couldn't tip off All For One that he was up to something, or his Plan may fail before it even started, so it meant his Hunt for Yushiro became limited until he could kill the Pretender.
But that soon no longer would be an issue. Because All For One took his bait and headed to the location.
The Humans would Fight, and then he could strike at the opportune time.
Only, Muzan had underestimated one matter about all of this.
He had neglected to think of how early All For One would be making his way to the Trap. All too eager to reclaim his Brother, his first possession.
This meant that Muzan going earlier as well, causing both Demons to meet yet again.
They both arrived on the same street, yet not close enough. 15 Meters of distance between them when they caught sight of each other in the slightly crowded street on that Night.
They both were surprised.
''You-!''
''You-!''
They both were frozen for a moment before one frowned while the other smiled.
All For One was the one to smile. Muzan was the one to frown.
''Oh, isn't that something! What a fortunate turn of events!'' he could kill the Demon King and then get his Brother back in the same day!
''Let's finish what was started all that time ago.''
And Muzan felt fear upon hearing that. Fear he would have to return to a 1v1 confrontation against him again.
And he loathed it.
Because that fear reminded him of Yoriichi.
He loathes that he even remembers that Monster, but considering his current circumstances, it's fitting.
Because All For One was the only other Human who had kept up with him.
No beings before or after Yoriichi could do that, and even nearly a century ago, the last Demon Slayers were only able to hold on against him because of Tamayo's blasted Poisons.
And now, his plan was already going poorly since he ran into him first. Not those Vigilantes.
So, he was forced to fight first.
All for One's Fingers were enveloped in a type of Aura as Pieces of Buildings and even the Ground all around them floated up and then fired off towards him.
Muzan naturally repelled all of them by simply morphing his arms into sharp Blades and then swinging them just like Whips, destroying the Rubble with ease from a single strike.
For now, he could not show his hand. He had to keep making All For One believe that everything had remained the same.
Then again...
''AH!''
''What's going on?!''
This would be hard, considering the Humans that had been around. Some stability had begun to return in this area, so for the few who'd returned to live here, some dared to go out at Night now.
And those few who dared, which ranged in the double digits, had just witnessed the start of their Battle.
''Quiet!''
Something Muzan did not like, as witnesses meant they'd just seen him in action. They must die.
But as he moved his Whip, All for One fired at that arm and pierced right through it with a Projectile of Fire, severing the limb that regrew in seconds.
''Now, now. I can't have you do that. I have a duty to protect those people.'' he said with a smile that Muzan knew only hid what he truly felt.
Those people he saved were just additional pawns for him.
''Even more reason why I should end them.'' but he moved not. No, his attention was entirely on All for One.
If he desired Victory, then he cannot look anywhere but him.
On the contrary, All for One meanwhile seemed to have his attention on the remainder of the people who had stuck around. Either frozen in fear or morbidly curious as to what was going on.
''Please, Evacuate!''
He Masterfully fakes the worry he displays as he warns all the Humans still around.
''This Evildoer wishes to harm you all, but worry not, I will fight to defend all of you! But you must run!''
They obviously listen, not wanting to stick around for this Carnage.
They run. They all escape, making their location empty save for the two of them. Just as All for One wished.
''There, now they shouldn't bother us all that much anymore.''
It bothers Muzan he cannot get rid of the Eyewitnesses, but that's fine. He'll just have to assume another Form for a time until tales of his existence become simply an Old Wives' Tale.
It's not like Humans believe everything others say.
Seeing was believing, as the saying went.
''But honestly, I can't believe you're trying to get in a direct confrontation against me.'' All for One comments, ''I'd believed you would have been wiser after that first time.''
That was the whole point of his Plan, but encountering him now meant it was null and void. Useless. Muzan truly had no more choice but to directly confront this Monster.
They both stared at each other before moving. But not towards each other.
They instead circled around each other. Just waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
''Last time, you couldn't defeat me. What makes you think you can do it this time?'' the taunt was obvious, and while Muzan answered it, it was with his own.
''This time, you aren't catching me off guard. This time, you are where I want you to be.'' a lie, since they had never reached the Location, but he did not need to know that.
Except, as it turns out, All for One could tell Lies from Truths now.
''Aha, Demon King. Lying?''
And Muzan scoffed when he understood what this meant.
''You Humans and your Meta-Abilities are growing annoying.'' more so than usual at least.
''Glad to hear it.''
He wouldn't soon enough. But until he could rip out that Life of his, he needed to play smart.
So, he gave a wry smile.
''Don't you have a Brother to retrieve?''
And that causes a shift. Exactly what he wished, but not to the level that he needed it.
''Now why would I need to do that?'' the faintest signs of a snarl manifested. And compared to All for One, Muzan's facial expression did not change. Yet, the words he spoke next conveyed it.
''Because he's next.''
And there was a much better reaction. Irrationally, All for One released a large wave of Fire that swallowed whole the Building that had been behind Muzan, vaporizing it alongside the next few blocks.
Only, it had missed him entirely.
''What was that?'' from behind him, Muzan mocked.
He only turned around in time before Muzan's punch nailed All for One's left cheek, reeling back.
And then All for One's body snapped back forward and he propelled his own fist to Muzan.
''What do you expect a punch will-'' only to silently gasp as he saw All for One's right first not only grow in size but in Muscle too as the Veins around it popped.
The ensuing punch hit Muzan entirely as it sent him flying right into one of the buildings, only stopping short once he hit a metal column that bent from the impact power.
He could hear All for One's laugh while he stood back on his knees.
''You've improved, I'll admit. But did you think you were the only one who has changed since then? Think again, Demon King!''
Fine. If that's how he wanted to play...
''Oh, I will enjoy this...''
From his back emerged Bone-like Structures, all elongating with Tubes that ended with Sharp Blades at the end of it. All for One quirked an eyebrow at this new development.
''Well, this is new... or perhaps you simply didn't have the chance to use it last time.'' only to then shrug, ''As if that will help you.''
Muzan said nothing more.
There was no need.
It was now fight or nothing. And with that kept in mind by both of them, they attacked.
Muzan charged ahead, and All for One fired his projectiles.
The Battle between the two Demons continued fiercely.
[Hero Academia Whispers and Rumors]
The Effects of Stronger Blood
Because of the Power increase Muzan has gone through, it directly affects the Demons he produces when Injecting his Blood into Humans.
In current days, the smallest dose of Blood he can give that will successfully turn a Human can turn any of them into Demons of Lower Moon caliber.
It didn't go unnoticed. It was hardly possible for it to be the case.
Especially with how close they were to a certain location. The location that should have changed everything, had everything gone according to plan.
''Someone's fighting?'' Narrowing his eyes, the man looked ahead. Further away, he could see explosions and large bursts of wind taking shape. And while he himself couldn't see the details, he wasn't alone.
''Seems like it Sir.'' one of the Resistance Forces affirmed with the Scope of his Rifle, observing through it, ''But I can't tell what's fighting.''
His eyes barely could follow it to begin with. He was only able to see two male figures, and he only recognized one because he was the one they would have to fight eventually. He said as much to his Commander.
''Curious.'' It made sense All For One could display this amount of Power. But then, who was the other one?
''This complicates things a lot, Bruce.'' the aforementioned Bruce turned his head back to see two of his Companions present.
''Kudo. Yoichi. Here to see what's going on, I imagine?''
He received a nod from Kudo, ''Yes. All For One is our goal, but whatever that other one is complicates things.''
Kudo had just spoken what they all thought.
This did complicate matters. By a lot.
One All for One was bad, but now, there was something else currently facing off against him on seeming equal ground. And they didn't even know who this person was, if they were in any way good, or just as bad as All For One.
So exactly what were they supposed to do?
Well, there was only one answer to that. One that just came to Bruce's mind.
''You know, maybe we can still take advantage of the situation? We were planning to try and expose him.'' Upon his words, Kudo did give it some consideration.
''We could, but how would we do that exactly?''
Their answer came in an unexpected form, but that they really should have expected as well.
''...I have an idea.''
Yoichi took out his Phone.
Chaos and Destruction filled the Streets as Muzan and All for One continued their Battle.
A Battle that continued destroying their surrounding area, but neither of them cared.
After all, they both currently were held by a certain feeling. Foreign to the both of them, truth be told.
It persisted even as the other tried to end it.
A sort of Thrill that they had found perhaps an equal.
Not in the way where one would enjoy a Battle. That's not quite it. But both Monsters understood the more this fight went on, that this was the opponent.
The one who, if they fell, would guarantee their spot at the top.
In a sense, if they defeated the other, they would show their superiority. They would truly become the Ultimate in their goals.
So was it really strange, that both Monsters took joy during this Battle?
Is it odd, that they both ended up expressing their Joy through something akin to a smile? Not quite the Smile normally given, but not quite a Bloodthristy grin either.
Something in between they both displayed as this Battle raged on.
And there were already some notable differences compared to last time.
''He's Faster.''
All for One had been able to follow and keep up with Muzan's sheer speed due to the Meta-Abilities he'd stolen. Amongst them were ones where everything was slowed down, and another where his base speed was augmented.
Combining those with many other Meta's, and it had allowed All for One to constantly follow Muzan's Speed.
Yet now, he was having trouble to follow. Not that All for One would share his surprise and the slightest trace of fear, instead giving a taunt.
''My my...! You became faster! And in such a short amount of time.''
Spearlike Bones, the very same things that had once impaled him and trapped him at the end of their previous battle, grew out of All for One's arm as he swung with heightened strength.
Yet, he missed as Muzan avoided it with an all too quick side step, giving only one answer to the seemingly rhetoric question.
''My entire Body is a weapon I can use as I see fit.''
The Tubes and his Arm from the left side of his Body all thrust that very second and pierced through the Spearlike Bones of All for One, shattering them.
There seemed to be some form of pain (or was it just shock at how effortless he'd made it seem this time?) All for One could feel as his eyes widened for a fraction before he used his other arm and fired off something.
Not quite the Projectiles compressed of so much heat that it could vaporize what it touched, but something bigger and more powerful.
A Beam of Light.
And once fired, it completely erased his left side, From face to Torso. But, just like any other Damage he took, it regenerated. And yet...
''It was bigger...'' Muzan's currently single eye narrowed as his Body quickly reformed itself, not bothering to reform the missing layer of clothing.
''Compared to all of his previous attacks, this one... was it the one he'd planned on using to finish me off last time?''
If it swallowed him whole, it may be able to annihilate everything.
''Not that I would ever allow him to trap me ever again.''
Just as Muzan's Body finished regenerating, he used his intact arm and swung the Sharp Flesh to All for One's left.
Only for his Flesh to hit Scales. Much to his annoyance as both glared at each other before choosing to shift Tactics.
All for One was tricky... but, so was Muzan.
After all, as he'd said previously, his body could be used as he saw fit.
Ever since Muzan had ascended into the first Demon in existence, and then its Progenitor, he had learned to control his Biology more and more.
Once upon a time, his body was more or less just Human. If you ignored all the advantages he already had then. But if someone in Present Time were to do an X-ray on his self in the Heiran Era, they wouldn't be able to tell a difference.
Much as he loathed to admit it, upon comparing it to the Demon Slayers, it could be considered he'd simply unlocked Total Concentration Breathing. Except, he never truly breathed differently.
He took in as much Oxygen as any untrained human.
The Real difference between himself and Humans, was how his physiology worked. Because while on the outside, it looked completely normal. From the inside...
Well, it all revolved around his Blood. Or, more deeply... his Cells.
All of his Power is concentrated in every single Cell in his Body. Then, it spread throughout every inch of his Flesh and Blood.
And those very Cells of his only grew stronger over the Years by devouring Humans, which in turn enhanced his physique.
The him that existed in the Heian Era was weaker than the one that existed in the Sengoku Era. Likewise, the him of that time was weaker than the one in the Taisho Era. And repeating that, the him of then, was weaker than the him of today.
But, compared to all of those times, there was a noticeable difference.
The him of today had not grown stronger from eating humans. It wasn't something he actively did as more time passed since he felt the loss of his sense of taste. All humans tasted the same to him. Normal or Marechi.
Even that particularly potent one he'd found in the Taisho Era had no flavor to his Tongue.
It didn't bother Muzan as much as it probably should have, even though Humans were his only source of Food. He'd gotten used to it. It could almost be said he preferred it.
After all, taste would not get in his way.
His Survivability was even more assured if nothing -no matter the Age or Gender- stopped him from devouring his one source of food.
Still, if he didn't eat Humans unless he was hungry, then he had to find alternatives. Very quick ones as well considering how much of a close call his first bout against All for One was.
Which is why, Muzan had done something he'd very rarely done. In fact, it could be said it went against his Belief of Eternity.
That his Perfection was... imperfect.
He was forced to be innovative. He was forced to be... more.
He Trained. Practiced...
It's not unheard of. It could even be said that Muzan wasn't unfamiliar with the whole concept.
After all, Muzan didn't just snap his fingers and create his Flesh Whips. Or the Tubes on his back. Or Cell Destruction. Or even his Extra Hearts and Brains, alongside the perpetual relocation he can do with them if need be.
Even Shapeshifting had to be trained to the point he used it today.
However, he'd never truly Trained for Battles. Trained to increase his Power. That was such a Human concept...
Shapeshifting had been learned, enhanced and pushed to its limits because he required his appearance to change. And it became quite handy over his long life. Always of great use.
But now... he was lowered to this point...
But, Muzan was not a fool. If doing this meant he could Live on and kill All for One eventually, then he'd take it.
Although, while he certainly Trained, it was not in the Human Term for physical exertion. No, Muzan had other means he wanted to delve into. Other means which could certainly help him.
And it paid off.
His Speed increase?
All because of his Blood Flow. And how much it helped right now!
All for One was having a hard time keeping up against him. Certainly, he'd gotten more power. And those Scales would be an issue since they could handle his Whips.
But he'd lost one advantage, and Muzan certainly had more Cards to play! Something All for One understood all too well.
But that alone would not make him yield. And it seemed to motivate All for One, in that sense.
Because he continued attacking, but now? He added on one issue.
Flight.
Or at least, some kind of Meta-Ability that allows him to levitate. He after all did not get wings. But his feet were off the ground nonetheless.
And he took the next step because of it. Floating on Heigher and Heigher.
Then, he flexed his Fingers as an Aura surrounded them before raising his Hands up, almost like someone leading an Orchestra, and then?
Building Pieces rose up from the ground. Some were small, others, larger pieces. Some even were the whole thing.
It took barely a second before it clicked to Muzan. And then, the Buildings were being thrown at his Direction.
But if All for One believed that would put him at a disadvantage, then he was greatly mistaken. The Tubes on his back alongside the Whips that were his arms assured so. For then, from the Pieces of their surrounding area, Muzan swung.
Cut and Cut. Slice and Smash.
With Unlimited Stamina, Muzan could use his Full Power to completely demolish through anything. It mattered not what it was.
And the Buildings were exactly the same thing.
He moved quickly, shredding through everything that was thrown at him in all Directions while All for One watched.
It was as the last Pieces were thrown his way that All for One changed from one Meta to another. And a Combination at that.
He aimed both of his Hands forward as Spearlike Bones grew out of his arm. Then, with another Meta that allowed them to be launched, he fired them off towards Muzan.
''Spearlike Bones Launchers!''
And Muzan recognized that combination. Which meant he knew that those things weren't simply combining two Meta's. No, there were more in them.
And this time, Muzan would not make the mistake of being caught by its impalement.
Muzan's right arm morphed back to normal as he swung it to the side.
''Acid Barrier!''
An Acid-like Liquid proceeded to emerge out of his arm and formed itself where he'd swung, going on to block the Spikes by extending its watery form into a circle and melting them upon contact as the remainder fell on the Ground with a thud.
And All for One was fascinated by this new development.
''Ho? Isn't that interesting! I didn't know you could create Acid!''
All for One lamented yet again that Muzan's entire Biology wasn't a Meta-Ability by Origin. As he'd learned when he'd tried to steal it. Because this was so perfect.
What better way to complete the transition from a Demon King with such Abilities?
But he'd do without.
''Let's see what else you have!''
Swinging his arm casually, All for One fired off those Heated Projectiles again before propelling himself as well towards that same direction.
Considering how those things guaranteed piercing his Flesh, he did not bother blocking and instead moved to avoid the Projectiles.
And then, All for One decided to catch him by surprise as he went up close and personal upon arrival. One single Arm covered in Scales suddenly grasping it and crushing his windpipe.
''I can't take your Powers. But let's see how you enjoy burning from this range!''
And his hands ignited, burning and burning his Throat. That alone would not be a danger if it wasn't because All for One took it an extra step.
''And let's see how your Blood handles it!''
And then, from the Tips of his fingers, something was injected from inside the neck. Some form of Liquid that immediately burned.
But two can play that game!
''Then enjoy this gift!''
Muzan dug his Nails into the same arm that held him by the throat, gripping it tightly. But All for One did nothing but laugh.
''What do you expect that will do? Your Blood can do nothing against me!''
Only for Muzan himself to smirk as his eyes widened. And following that...
They shined.
''I can't believe I'm copying a Comic Book for this.''
Muzan lamented as he literally shot a Laser Beam out of his eyes. All for One's own eyes widened as he narrowly snapped his neck to the side, avoiding an attack that would have pierced through his head.
Effectively, it would have ended his Life.
He'd... nearly died.
If that thing had landed, he would be dead. No questions asked. If he hadn't reacted by sheer instinct, the Demon King would have killed him. If he hadn't augmented his Speed with those Meta-Abilities...
He wouldn't have been able to avoid the tentacles on Muzan's back moving to his position, forcing him to disengage and avoid the incoming shower of Thrust with a back leap.
They all pierced the ground he'd previously stood.
And then, both Man and Demon glared at each other before immediately rejoining the fray and battling it out, their location changing as they headed away from the Barren waste into Ruins.
Yet, as the intensity continued, something else was about to change it all. And all it took, was for Muzan to notice a Lifeform.
''A Human?''
He inwardly remarked as he deflected one of the Dark Balls All for One sent his way, damaging his arm as it Regenerated.
That New Life was approaching the location. And it wasn't alone. Several others were with the one at the front.
''All for One's Followers?''
Bothersome. Muzan was certain he was beginning to win this Battle, no matter how much longer it took or how much damage either of them were taking.
Muzan was after all practically shirtless now, with only a piece of fabric hanging loose that covered his right side. All for One meanwhile was missing his entire Jacket and his Blouse was damaged.
But now that they were gone this far, he could not have those pests joining in or they would only bring him trouble.
He must rid of them before they can join the Battle.
And so, Muzan, much to All for One's confusion after he deflected and destroyed the Spearlike Bones he'd launched, had swung his Tentacle Whip off to the side and swung into a nearby building.
It confused him even as the top of the Building crumbled down from what had just happened, releasing dust in the process that wasn't even in their way.
''What was that for?'' he questioned.
''Getting rid of bothersome pests. One of your followers, no doubt.''
''You've jumped to conclusions then.'' All for One denied, ''I am here alone. I did not need their assistance.''
''So random Humans then.'' Muzan carelessly corrected.
All for One didn't seem to particularly care either as out of his back grew crystalline appendages that acted almost like wings. The Tips glowed.
By all means, they were ready for their Battle to resume. And if those others dared to intervene, they'd suffer the same fate as that first one.
Which, is actually what happened.
They intervened.
Namely, one of them shot at the two Men. And both acted accordingly to stop the Bullets.
Muzan had raised his left arm to block the Bullet, only that the sheer Velocity behind it allowed it to pierce through not only his arm but right past his head.
All for One had more success meanwhile as he raised a hand to hold the Bullet in place with a Telekinetic Meta before it could collide with him.
And they both observed the Bullet in question. Muzan's wounds closed while the Bullet was crushed by pressure from All For One before both of them turned their heads and stared at where the Bullet was shot from.
All to see a Red-Haired man, covered in blood, holding the Gun in question while his Companion held...
''...Yoichi?'' All for One uttered out in surprise.
Except said Yoichi was bisected. And that if the Blood wasn't covering the Red-Head or the Blue-Head, then his Corpse had just now dried out of all the Blood he'd lost from being cut in half. There probably was a pool of it right under their feet.
And he was very dead. No doubt about it.
Muzan suddenly realized how perfect this almost was. The Brother was Dead. Which meant he had his destabilization.
''Well, isn't that fortunate?''
A Smirk purposely formed itself as Muzan's face twisted back towards All for One, whose only feature of shock was the widening of his completely Red eyes.
''I had always planned for your Brother to die before your very eyes. And look at you.''
A Corner of his Mouth opened up, showing his teeth and one of his Fangs. He was purposefully acting this way now to destabilize the man.
''Completely in shock. Looks like I was right.''
Muzan then took a step back as he had two choices now. Either deal with All For One now or attack the newcomers who were still alive.
He did both.
The Tubes on his back twisted around, almost like when one flexed their fingers as Blood flooded and then flushed out of the Tubes like a Stream colored Black.
''Worry not. You will join him in Death soon enough!''
''Black Blood: Eruption!''
And that Stream flooded out from all Nine of his Tentacles on his back and rushed towards All For One and the disruptors.
If this were any lesser Men, he would have thought this would be enough. But All For One especially, he could not go easy.
So he swung his two Arm Whips to All for One as well.
The Disruptors had absolutely no choice but to try to avoid his attacks, as blocking them was impossible considering this Blood was capable of cutting through Steel and Concrete.
Which they had a firsthand experience considering how the building they had used as cover was sliced through. And not all of them survived this either.
But All For One?
He raised his arm and summoned up a Wall made of Air that blocked his Whips and Techniques.
All while Tears poured down from his Eyes. Yet those eyes told nothing but one tale.
The desire for his Death.
''You...'' he uttered out weakly at first, but Muzan heard him all the same.
And then, he went out to scream.
''I will make sure your Death is painful!''
All For One cared not anymore about Titles or the fact killing Muzan would assure his Supremacy. No, he just wanted Muzan to be dead in the most horrific way possible for ending something that was his!
But while All For One was mad, Muzan was happy.
''Good.''
This is exactly what he wanted out of this Brother. That reaction will cause him to make more mistakes. To fail in his Battle Decisions.
One Slip up, and he's done for.
He had nothing to fear now. And all of his Tubes and Whips moved in answer.
''If you think you can, then go ahead and try!''
And then, Muzan wasted no time as he returned on the offensive, and All For One in kind attacked back. Which had them both completely miss something.
The other Humans that had neared.
While they fought on, they ran away. And they had been forced to abandon the Corpse of Yoichi.
Not that either Demon or Human noticed as their fight continued on.
''Black Blood: Abscission!''
Out of Muzan's arms, Blood that turned Black as Night shot out like Projectiles. Taking the shape of Bullets and all too eager to pierce into All For One's skin.
And it was met with All For One's own attacks, Beams of Light that shot from the Crystalline Wings and spread out like Veins made of Lightning which then exploded upon the contact of a single of his Abscissions, merging together to completely engulf the surrounding viscinity.
It canceled his attack, and Muzan frowned.
''More Meta-Ability Combinations.''
He then went on to smile.
''But, it's taking a toll on him.''
He could see it. His Body was tiring out about this prolonged fight. His Human Limits had taken their time, but it was finally catching up.
Yes, the end was nigh. He simply needed to push him a little bit further...
And then, he could use it.
Muzan continued on his onslaught, switching from Long-Distance to Close Range. Putting quite a bit of risk by getting so close, but choosing to pounce hard now that signs of exhaustion were visible.
His Whips, from his Back and Arms, were normally made for Distance, but using them at close range proved them to be just as deadly from this distance as All For One -who was already having a hard time keeping up with his Speed now- moved to defend himself with all of his Meta-Abilities.
All the more tiring him out.
And this continued on. This Close Range combat furiously went on as neither admitted defeat to the other. All For One, pushed back as he was, fought on against him.
But, all did come to an end.
And it came in the form of a punch. Muzan had created a faint -making him believe he was going for a slash when he'd planned for something more straightforward- as he landed a solid blow with that punch of his right in the Solar Plexus. It took the wind out of All For One, and Muzan wasted no time as he continued his onslaught.
Punching and Punching, each of his fists damaging All For One more and more as his Bones cracked under the pressure his body was now undergoing.
And then, he reeled back his right fist.
''I will make sure this is your last mistake.''
And put his back into that final punch as it collided with All For One's face, sending him flying and crashing into debris.
But of course, Muzan knew that even with the state his body was in, All For One would not go down just like that.
So, his eyes remained as to where he'd sent All For One flying.
''Perfect as well.'' he thinks to himself as he sees the debris stir and then get launched off.
Following that, All For One stood back up on his own two feet as something seemed to happen to his whole Body, although it seemed to all emerge from his Back. In fact, it left Muzan confused because it seemed pieces of his Body were bulging while some others were growing things out.
''Last Mistake?!'' All for One growled out with Venom, ''I'll show you what a Last Mistake is!''
And then, the plan All For One had was unleashed as he released every single Meta-Abilities he had, flesh upon flesh growing from behind him as a Large Mass of flesh that easily towered over a House formed in front of Muzan's eyes. Grotesque in appearance as well because of how many Meta-Abilities were mingled into one, and immense amounts of energy were released because of it.
And it became clear what All For One wanted to do with that...
''By the time I'm done, there will remain nothing of you!''
He was going to propel himself towards him using all of those Meta's and decimate him with the Power behind it.
A Threat like that should have by all means made anyone cower. Especially Muzan, considering total annihilation was one of the few ways to truly end his Life. And this was likely to succeed in destroying everything.
And perhaps, at any other time, he would have feared this could be his end.
But this time around? Another Story entirely was being told. For Muzan remained standing, unflinching even as All For One prepared to propel himself with the Power he believed would end him.
Only then?
As he was about to do the propelling to end the Demon King once and for all, his Body suddenly felt a shock course through all of his Body. That next second, his Body grew weak as all functions seemed to shut down.
Unable to move any further, and with the disconnect he felt at that moment, All For One was unable to control any of his Meta-Abilities anymore as he felt his large mass of flesh cave to Gravity instead of combating it.
''What-?''
''I believe I have already told you this before. But my entire Body is a weapon I can use as I see fit.''
Muzan raised his arm while nearing, opening up his Palm just as all of the Power All For One gathered for the propelling faded away. Never to be used for what it was intended.
''Deprive me of one ability, and I simply will make something else in answer. My Muscles. My Bones. My Blood. My Brains. My Hearts. My Lungs. My Eyes. All of it is of use to me.''
Electricity built up from the tip of his Blue nails before gathering at the Center of his Palm. Muzan stopped in his tracks with 10 meters of distance.
''Cell Destruction was no different. You may have found one way to render it useless, but that only meant I had to figure out alternatives.'' his slitted Plum Red eyes narrowed in a manner that gave the impression he was taunting him now.
''So, instead of your Cells, I targeted your Nerves.''
But when had he...?
The Realization hit All For One nearly as hard as what he'd planned to do mere seconds ago. Muzan had dug his Nails onto his arm back when he'd used a Meta-Ability to make his insides burn while choking him. That far back-?!
''I hope you enjoy how crippling it is.'' the edges of Muzan's mouth tipped up slightly as the Electricity continued building up on his palm. All while dread formed inside All For One. To think, that single moment when he'd choked him...
''After all, such a thing can affect even Meta-Abilities. I've studied them, and they work just like any Muscles would. All it took, was to directly affect your nerves, and it becomes no different from a Limb.''
Granted, it had been a gamble on his part. The All For One Meta-Ability may simply not work the same way, after all. But it seemed like so far, this was a viable strategy against him.
He did not doubt it wouldn't remain so if he were to live. But, it's not like he planned to let him live.
''It does not matter what you take from me, I will recover it all the same.''
And now, his finisher was finished charging.
''For I am Muzan Kibutsuji. The Demon King. The one who shall take all the lives he wants.''
And then, he fired. The large mass of Flesh that emerged from unleashed all of the Meta-Abilities made swallowing it whole impossible, but he didn't need to do that. Because in the end, he'd aimed at where All For One's Torso was located, blasting it out of existence.
Everything else crumpled down now that the man himself was gone, the mass from the Meta-Abilities or All For One's actual Body included, plummeting and landing on the Cold and destroyed pavement.
Muzan approached and stared at the remains.
In his last Moments, All For One's eyes were wide open and Bloodshot, looking like he'd been glaring at him. His Teeth had moved to be gritted, but he died before completing that expression.
''Well, aren't you unhappy.''
How good it was to see that kind of expression on this pathetic human who proclaimed he would become Demon King.
And then, his eyes trailed to the other Corpse next to him. One All For One had simply not noticed because of how angry he'd become. Namely, Yoichi's.
''Just like I said, you Brothers would be together in Death.''
And now, it was time for his reward. He stretched his arm towards All For One and Yoichi. Then? A mouth with Sharp Fangs grew out of his palm.
''You will make fine sustenance.''
And he devoured the Brother's Bodies, allowing him to not only nourish himself but also see their Memories now that they became one with his Cells and obtain the answers he so desired.
(How... utterly messed up you are, All For One. Truly.)
And with both of their knowledge, he knew what to do. There was only one thing to do.
Now...
''It's your Turn.''
This would be the first recorded sighting of Kibutsuji Muzan in a Century since the Destruction of the Demon Slayer Corp.
What he had feared, does end up happening.
And, funnily enough?
This was his Villain Debut to many, unknowing that he may as well be the first Villain in History considering when he was born and when he became the Demon Progenitor.
But all that comes after this particular fight...
One that was both forgotten, yet remembered within History itself...
The fight between the two Villains had never been planned.
The Original Plan was to allow the Vigilantes and All For One to fight it out, then strike the Youngest Brother to destabilize the now Slain Monster to kill him.
Then, dispatch of any survivors so there were no witnesses.
But that plan had never been reached to begin with, and even worse, there were several witnesses.
The Humans from the Streets would not truly be an issue. But the Vigilantes?
They could become a problem.
Especially now that he had accessed Yoichi's Memories.
Granted, because Yoichi was Human, accessing through his Memories was a struggle. But he was still able to gleam through what the Cells were able to show him.
Namely the identities of two important figures within that small Group.
So, he chooses to hunt after them immediately after having devoured the Twins. The Damage on his Clothes disappeared as he reformed the missing Layers, looking as if he hadn't come out of the second toughest Battle in his entire Life.
And casually, he followed the two.
Because he knew where their base was. But that wouldn't have mattered. Those two ran away on that day.
When he reached the Warehouse where their base was located, it was empty.
The only trace being the sewers.
But now, compared to when he had to be careful, Muzan cared not. Because there was no All For One anymore.
Which meant that now, he could finally use his Demons freely again for his work. And now, he could use his alternative assets much more openly.
It took a Month for his Demons to find the Humans, alongside making sure they weren't spotted for a retreat to happen.
But, they were found.
And Muzan wasted no time in chasing after them.
The Location one Kudo died was a Ruined City when the Advent started. In an Apartment complex that Muzan casually entered through, and then had all the men there slaughtered.
They had no time to fire their Guns. They had no time to do anything but give barely finished shouts or cries of pain. A Constant as he headed up to the top floor of the building, all while marveling at how quick he'd become.
And on top, was the Red-Head and a final Squad of Men to fight alongside him.
Needless to say, they didn't last long.
Only the Leader of this Group was alive by the end of it. And he, in turn, was held up by the throat, making it agonizing as Air was hard to Breathe.
Yet, that Man stared at him in defiance.
With those Eyes...!
With that Smile...!
Unwavering. Unflinching. Unwilling to give him ground. Defying him until the very end! That Gleam in those Eyes and the energy behind that Smile...!
It was as if he did not fear him.
''Damn you Kudo!''
And then Muzan blinked to snap himself out of his memories, and he was back in his Privat Quarters.
Since that day, Kudo has kept haunting him for his defiance and actions. Because he hadn't gone out peacefully after that.
No, his last action in Life was to screw him over.
Muzan clutched his own face, feeling that rage return to him all too easily over that.
''He got the last laugh...!''
There was no better way to describe it. Because behind those Eyes, was something Muzan had not seen.
A Storm he would bring forth.
A Storm that he called upon on that day against him.
And Muzan could simply not forget it.
After that show of Defiance, there was only one thing Muzan wished to do above all else.
Snuff out that glare. Snuff out that insolence of his, make him see fear before it all ends. And so, snapping his Neck then and there was absolutely useless to him.
Even though it would have been so easy to crush his throat and leave him to asphyxiate.
He wants to make this Man suffer in the same way he dearly wishes he could have done against Yoriichi.
And if he could get answers out of this Man about where his other companion went while making that defiant glare fade, then all the better.
''I could end your life right now. So easily may I add. But, I noticed your companion is missing.'' he made a point for his nails to dig slightly into his skin now, but never moved them any deeper.
''Where. Is. He?''
He knew very well that an important figure missing meant either escape or that they had a plan that needed to come to fruition.
So, escape or plan? Which was it?
But Kudo remained silent. Instead smiling on. Looking far too pleased considering the situation he was in. Which meant only one thing.
''Something is going according to his Plan. But what?''
Him being here? The escape? Something else entirely?
He needed to know.
But perhaps, he should first take a step back. Go back to the Origins of this all. It may be related to why his Companion is missing.
''So you will keep your mouth shut. Very well, but perhaps you are more willing to tell me what were you doing a Month ago while I battled against All For One?''
Those eyes never lost their gleam, but that smile of his certainly twitched slightly from the mention of that time. Be it a sensitive subject or simply the man not being happy he was beginning to get somewhere...
He'd see.
''You couldn't possibly be there to sightsee. And I know your little resistance goal was to fight against All For One. His Little Brother, after all, made the most perfect of baits.''
Another reaction. Kudo seemed to have a hard time hiding anything when someone was actually right on a matter.
Truthfully though, this wasn't quite guessing. His spying on them had made him aware.
What he wasn't aware of, no matter how much he tried to gleam what he could from Yoichi's Cells, was the purpose of them approaching the Battle to begin with.
They should be people with common sense. When they went into Conflict against All For One, they meticulously planned.
That hadn't been planned.
So, why approach? Were they really so desperate to undo All For One that they were willing to walk on a Battlefield that should have assured their Deaths?
Because if so, then they were simply fools.
''So, do tell... why did you approach? Why do something so stupid?''
Truth be told, he hadn't expected an answer to come. But to his surprise, one did.
''I... don't know who you are.''
Those were Kudo's first words to him, and it was an admittance. He had absolutely no idea who Muzan even was. But he could see it all too clearly.
''But, I can tell from just looking at you. You ooze so much malice it's impossible to miss.''
Saying it leaked out of this being wasn't even a joke. All the wrong feelings seemed to emerge when just looking at him. That's what he saw on that day when Yoichi would meet his end soon after.
''So... I decided to... apply the plan meant for All For One to you.''
If that was a wise decision or not, Kudo did not know. But leaving such a being unseen was dangerous.
To dangerous.
And Muzan's eyes only narrowed as he tightened his grip on Kudo, lowering him slightly to be closer to eye level.
''And that plan was?''
And alongside that glint in his eyes, came that damned smile.
And that smile brought alongside words that changed everything.
''You were asking why I had chosen to approach your Battle, right?'' his strained laugh came out, ''Well... it was so that I could leak your existence on the Internet. With Video Footage of your fight from a month ago.''
Be it for the better, or for the worst.
The Veins around Muzan's head popped from the sheer rage he felt at hearing that, yet his grip remained the same.
''You did what?!''
And in answer, this Bastard of a Human only smiled.
Kudo and Bruce were witnesses. Someone who had seen him at work. And in today's time, no matter how chaotic it is, the spread of information is very possible with a singular person.
How much it spreads then depends on who finds that Info. And how much someone believes it.
Video Evidence is the key here.
And at this moment? Kudo had used exactly what he feared against him.
And now, the whole reason he had tried to keep his existence secret since the creation of his Curse, had gone down the drain.
And that man kept smiling all the while. Not once even worried his Life was going to end. Because in the end?
He got the last laugh.
Just thinking about that again made that barely-contained rage emerge again even as he was in his Home.
He got the last laugh against him even after he'd snapped his Neck.
Because after all of that, all he wished was to erase that damned smile and that gleam in his eyes. But it did not leave that face, remaining present even when the person was dead along with the rest of the Corpses.
So he'd stomped on the Face to completely erase its existence.
Yet that face remained embedded into his mind as the Man who had completely ruined his anonymity. Completely ruined his Victory over the Ubuyashiki, their Corps, and even All For One.
Truly, if Muzan hadn't been so caught on with his Rage, he would have made Kudo's Death as slow as possible.
But, what was done, was done.
Thus had started his first Confrontation with Kudo, and thus had it also become his final Confrontation with the Man.
Changing Society forevermore while at it.
Not that Muzan saw any of that in the moment after Kudo's Death or even now in the present.
The only thing he truly saw, is that he wanted to make Kudo pay in some way. Even if the man could no longer witness it, he'd make sure Consequences came from this decision of his.
Like hunting down Bruce. The only one missing, and who he did not doubt may have been the one to upload the video while Kudo kept him occupied.
That other one must die as well.
But he could wait. Right now, Kudo has his entire attention.
After all, he'd eaten his Corpse just like he did with All For One and Yoichi. And just like with them, he went through his Memories. Although, less because he wanted to find Bruce and more to ensure one thing only.
That no Legacy of his remained.
It did not matter if they were related to him or not. If they loved him or not. If they were simply Friends or Lovers.
He would make sure none of the Women, Men or Children he knew survived.
He would never allow for a situation like the Kamado's to occur ever again.
He would not allow the blasted legacy of a single Man to remain alive just because the Core of it was dead and gone.
He will burn it all down into ashes so nothing related to Kudo remains. So that they suffer for Kudo's actions.
And he will smile while it all happens.
He wonders if any of them will hold that same defiant glare in those eyes of theirs. Unwavering. Unwilling to lie down like many others would.
Oh, he looked forward to when he would do that. When he would break them...
But something else caught his attention while reviewing Kudo's Memories the best he could.
The time this Memory took place was around a week after they escaped from his and All For One's battle.
And what they spoke about...
''Hey, Boss.'' Bruce slowly spoke while his eyes remained on the screen, sounding far more hesitant than Kudo was used to. Which was already a sort of confirmation to him.
''When... when All for One fought that Monster... did he somehow touch you?''
Kudo rubbed his arm tiredly, ''Give it a rest, Bruce. Just gimme the results. Spit it out.'' and even if he did answer that, the answer would have been a complete No. All for One never had a chance to lay a hand on him.
There was a reason he was asking this. He suspected something. But he needed those Results, which Bruce now was willing to give him.
''You mentioned something about your body feeling off since then, and I'm surprised you even noticed.'' Bruce looked at him nervously, ''You've got two factors in you. Your Original one... plus some kinda unformed dud.''
Ah, so that confirmed this suspicion of his.
Kudo stared at his own Hand.
''Right. I thought that might be the case.'' to think that something like that was possible.
To think that this remnant of Yoichi existed within him now. Somehow.
''It's like, within me, Yoichi's Will...''
''...still lives on?''
The Memory ended as Muzan's eyes narrowed then, finishing those last words while disbelief filled his mind.
A Factor had been passed on?
How did such a thing work? How could it have been passed on from Yoichi to Kudo? Had Yoichi even consciously done this? Or had he somehow passed it on because Muzan had struck him down?
Questions after question went to his mind, but no answers came even after trying to cross-section the Shigaraki Brother's Memories.
Only that clearly, the Brothers had been a lot more similar in some regards.
And however such a thing was passed on, it'd be a lie to say it didn't have his attention simply because of how a Factor that could be passed on would work.
Yes... Muzan knows what he'll do to Bruce now. Especially if his hunch is correct.
Now, it was time to keep delving into what Memories remained in those Cells. He needed to figure out where Bruce had gone off to...
The sooner he did that, the better.
After all, he needed to think about his next course of action now.
The existence of Muzan Kibutsuji had been revealed on that Night. And it brought alongside it, the Wrath of the people who wanted to avenge their ''Savior''.
It made hiding all the harder. Downright impossible with his True Form, so he kept up his Disguise while sending his Demons to feist on those foolish Humans.
With a Worldwide revelation, it made it impossible for Muzan to return to this unknown figure. He could certainly bind his time, but no one would forget Muzan existed.
It's almost like he's back to when the Demon Slayer Corp was actively hunting him down. And he loathes it.
And so, Muzan is simply forced to adapt to the situation. Change how he operates because of this Revelation.
So, what did Kudo and Bruce's actions lead to? What did it make Muzan decide to do?
The Subjugation of Mankind.
In a World before the Paranormal, it is something Muzan would not do. But in a world where the Lines of Humanity are a thin thing for Humanity itself, it is easy for Muzan to come to that decision.
Especially with Secrecy no longer an option.
If that Human really wanted him to go Public, then fine. He'd play along. He'll do what he has to do to thrive.
But whatever happened to Humanity because of it... whatever happened to them as he planned ahead to thrive in this World... well, they knew who to blame.
At the end of the day however, the actions of the Second One for All User was pivotal. It may have seemed vain, if not useless at the time. But that couldn't be more wrong.
In the end, to defeat an Entity like Muzan, he must be brought to the Light.
Or else, Victory would never be achieved.
In the end, a Demon King falls, but one remains nonetheless.
It is not the Villain who could take and give Quirks at will. It is not a man born in the same Century where Quirks emerged. It is not a Man who is Biologically still Human.
It is not the Villain who accidentally created One for All.
Instead, it is a Demon whose Blood can create Miracles. It is a man-turned-demon who was born Centuries ago, well before Quirks emerged. It is a Creature who has complete control over his Inhuname Biology.
It is a Living Organism completely unrelated to One for All.
One, who prioritizes his existence above all else.
The Demon King grows stronger than ever after this.
The Beginnings of Hero Society remains the same. Villains emerge. Demons grow. Monsters remain on top...
That never changes.
What does, is who desires One For All for himself.
One For All.
That is the name of a Meta-Ability that can be passed down from individual to individual. One that grows stronger from Inheritor to Inheritor.
A Meta-Ability that he learned existed at all because of the Second User, Kudo. By eating his Corpse and gleaming what he could, he obtained some answers regarding that Meta. And it fascinated him that such a thing existed.
By the Third User's Death however, he grew to desire that Power for himself instead of merely being curious.
For he was a Quirkless Individual. And One For All grew in Power each time it was passed on.
Quirks evolved from Human Generations. They grew more Powerful. More complex.
It's something he realizes with one of his new cover Identities at a Hospital. Initially, it was just to have a reserve of Food for himself as his first Cover relating to the Medical Field was going past its expiration date.
But it grows to become more. It became his most Important cover Identity due to his delving into Quirk Research through it.
After all, Quirks can become the very thing that could end his Life. If one were to exist that could destroy him at a Cellular Level or something emitting UV Lights, he was done for.
So he keeps doing research. Studying. Discovering. Experimenting. And then, he discovers something fascinating...
Meta-Abilities -later known as Quirks- are Superpowers.
But, the Powers themselves aren't tied to their Resistances or Enhancements. In fact, while Meta-Abilities have a distinct otherworldliness to them, the Human Bodies do not.
Whatever the true meaning of it is, Biology has a Role to play as to how Humans can Handle their Powers.
Say for example, that you could Generate Fire.
If you were capable of Generating Fire, then that means you should naturally have ''Resistance'' to Flames and Heat. Your Body should be able to withstand the Temperatures and so on.
Say then, that your Power allows you to augment the Density of your Muscles.
On that one, the only thing you obtained was an ''Enhancement'' to your Muscles so they don't tear themselves from the strain of suddenly augmenting the Muscles.
Or, say you can Fire Laser Beams from your Eyes. Like those Superheroes from Comic Books.
Naturally, your Eyes would then be the Enhanced and Resistant Part. Made so the Eyes remained intact from the usage of said Power and not harm yourself.
So naturally, following all of that...
There should theoretically be a Power that has the Human Body obtain Resistance to Ultra Violet Lights.
Wouldn't that suddenly change everything?
And wouldn't it be even better if, because of this Separation Between Quirks and Resistances, Muzan could Absorb those Resistances into his Biology?
Suddenly, this Era that could have proved his Doom, an Era where Humans could eventually grow into beings with Limitless Potential, also became the Era where Muzan himself could become Unbeatable. Immortal and forever Perfect.
All he needed to do, was find the right individual.
It was convenient for him then, that because of the Hospital his cover worked at and the regulations that came, that eventually, Quirks were registered.
And so, eventually?
He found someone who very well might be able to give him what he desired. All it took, was a couple of decades for the System to be implemented.
And then, the Miracle Quirk was discovered.
It's almost funny how little effort it takes Muzan to get access to what he desires, once he finds its existence.
All it takes is for him to send Men after the individual in question, kidnapping not only him but his family too, and have them brought to him. And then, all of them to be devoured whole by Muzan without a shred of hesitation.
And so, finally, after all of this time... after all of this waiting, all of this plotting...
The Sun no longer is his weakness.
Although, it had its Flaws. While Muzan ate the whole Family, and so, slightly enhancing the Baseline Gene that held the Resistance to Sunlight, it was only that. A Resistance to the Sun, not Immunity to it.
Muzan still felt something when stepping under Sunlight. The proper comparison was likely when one was Sunburned and then received continued exposure to Sunlight. But his Regeneration acted fast enough that it looked like he was truly Immune, and he often felt like it to.
As far as anyone else would be aware, he was well and truly Sunlight Immune.
And it had the upside of also finally, finally allowing the Scars that Yoriichi inflicted on him to Heal properly.
But yet again, the fact he only had a Resistance to Sunlight didn't make the Scars fade away like any other wounds he'd received previously. Even today, his Cells continue to burn from the wounds Yoriichi inflicted on him.
So instead of fully removing the Scars, it had instead thinned out its proportions.
A Majority of the Scars all over his Body became thinner. The size varied, but they barely were the size of half a Centimeter now.
However, some remained the same even after this. Notably, the ones that were where his Hearts and Brains were located. Those ones refused to heal in any way.
But Muzan can't find it in him to be too bothered by it considering how much of a relief it is that the Burning feeling all over his Body has lessened, or the fact he's Healed at all.
But the obtention of Sunlight Resistance is exactly why he cannot stop now.
Not with the current state of the World due to this Era.
Fantasies could very well become Reality. Dreams could suddenly take shape. That was an undeniable fact. And one that Muzan was aware of.
Because if he played his cards right, he would have his Paradise on Earth.
He would have his Eternity.
But for it to work, he needs unmatched Power. Something that even in the Future, no matter what kind of Powers emerged, would make him invincible.
Now that he had a resistance to the Sun, to the Ultra Violet Lights the Sun emitted, he could not be killed.
But Power was important. His Body must have an unmatched Power. If he desired to remain Perfect, then he must continue to evolve.
Change usually meant degradation. Usually, it was nothing good. It was a Human concept.
But, Muzan is very well aware that sometimes, change can be good.
And he knew exactly what could bring it.
One For All.
The Singular Quirk in existence that could be passed on. Which meant even he could obtain it.
But most important, it is a Stockpiling Ability. Passed on from Humans to Humans, it grows. Within Muzan?
It would make him Invincible. Unbeatable. Not even Yoriichi would ever hope to match him ever again with it.
No matter what other Powers came after this. No matter how much more powerful they became...
Sheer Raw Power with his Biology... with his Immortality...!
Ah, Muzan could see it.
His World.
And so, the Story of One for All returned to a similar, yet wholly different track.
[Kimetsu Whispers and Rumors]
Evolution of Human Physiology
Due to the emergence of Quirks, Human Bodies have evolved along the way to handle the abrupt changes Quirks can give. First Generations didn't receive the full effects but by the time of the Second Generation, they received the advantages. Even the Quirkless people have some Advantages over the Pre-Quirk Era Humans.
Eyesight is enhanced. Hearing is better. The Heart is capable of pumping blood quicker, yet smoother. Lungs breathe in more Oxygen. Muscles and Bones are naturally stronger and tougher. Joints are more flexible. Skin is harder.
That's not accounting for other Mutations that come specifically when combined with the Quirks in question. While sometimes, Genetics can fail and give less than optimal Resistances and Enhancements, all of the above are constants.
Humans in the Age of Heroes are not only much more nutritious for Demons because of it, but also stronger if turned.
Muzan's Wrath could be felt throughout all of Japan after his Identity was revealed to the whole World. However, it was never truly ''seen''. Only felt.
The rest of the World remains blissfully unaware while Japan feels the Grip of a Demon at its neck.
The Illusion of Normal Forms...
...All while it is chained down with an Iron Fist. Unwilling to let go of Victory as Crime and Death increase.
It is in this Dark Age where the Second and Third Generations of Meta-Humans live, and some Fourth would be born into that.
It is in this Dark Age where Muzan reigned Supreme.
It is in this Dark Age that Muzan achieves his Resistance to Sunlight.
And it is in this Dark Age that he gains the Moniker and Title of Overlord of the Shadows. All because Humans, eventually do forget about him.
Or at least, they completely forget that ''Muzan Kibutsuji'' and ''The Overlord of the Shadows'' are the same and not separate entities.
He is never seen. He is never heard.
Only his Actions are recognized.
After all, he has become the Ruler of Japan in all but Name. He can do anything and everything he wants.
Why would some of them believe the Demon, the Monster shown some time ago in that Video, could possibly be the one having so much control?
Obviously, not all had forgotten. Not all believed the Demon and Overlord were separate entities. Some suspected something while others remembered still. But Muzan's Grip is ever so present, no matter their existence.
By the time the Children of those First Generation Quirk users were born, by the time the Second Generation took root in their existence, Japan had become a Dystopian Society.
But in answer to that, in answer to his Rule, in answer to the simple fact that Evildoers were rewarded for being Monsters alongside Demons, all because the Overlord of the Shadows dictated it as so, rose Individuals to face off against this Injustice.
Heroes.
Fantasy had become Reality. And just like Villains existed, the Bad guys, so did Heroes, the Good guys.
And ironically?
Even though this was Reality, even though this meant the World was by far Grey... this truly was a black-and-white situation.
No matter how much Grey remained in its way.
However, the Evil that rose from this Dystopian Society was too much for any Heroes to handle at that time. Not even the Inheritors of One For All could pull it off.
The Overlord of the Shadows never gets ousted.
And yet, those first Vigilantes. Those first Heroes... they set in the Pillars for the Future. Ultimately, they keep coming back.
More, and more. Always more.
It's like a Plague, as far as Muzan was concerned. This '' Heroism'' was spreading from people to people. Most of them Superpowered. And they were willing to fight.
And, in answer to that, Japan's Government figures out how to use this to their advantage. How to perhaps make this work.
And maybe, finally, Oust the Overlord of the Shadows too. It's not like they were allies.
It's not like they even truly knew each other. Muzan and the Government were very much two separate entities. They were not allies. It simply was that Muzan's control over the Underworld was vast enough that he corrupted so much...
So when the chance is given to finally fight back against the Overlord of Shadows and his Underworld Forces? They take it.
And so starts Hero Society.
However, it was still a Long Battle. You could almost say it was a Civil War for a time. Especially during the earlier days.
Muzan simply had too much on his Side for them to effectively fight back against what he already had for Decades now. Especially his Demons.
When you had an entirely different Race at your beck and call because they came from your Blood, it made fighting back significantly hard, even in a Superhuman Society.
But still, they fought.
As far as Civilians would see, it was simply ''Hero vs. Villain''. And, it was quite a dreamy thing to consider, was it not?
And that Veil, both truthful yet full of lies remained.
Historically, this was the first time Sanctioned Heroes would come into the Fold. And facing off against Villains to boot. And then, it would start a trend.
Apparently, it was something that had started in America. All other Nations, dealing with their own issues, followed suit, because it worked. Hence why the Officilization of Heroes came to be.
And so, Heroes fought against the Villains.
Much to Muzan's continued consternation.
''Those Insects keep coming...''
From where he currently resided, a luxurious Penthouse on top of a skyscraper, he watched the Headline the TV Showed. The one that was currently promoting those Heroes.
Officializing them even.
How... annoying this was turning out to be. His Sabotage of the aforementioned officialization had failed as well, which meant they had fully expected it.
He was receiving further opposition again. But this time, it wasn't entirely aimed at him.
Instead, it was aimed towards the Japan he had affected. That he had created.
His Dark Age.
All Humans should tremble in fear. All Humans feared that something lurked in the Dark, unsure if it was a predator or simply their own shadow.
Suspicion, Resentment, Exploitation, Prejudice. All was magnified at this time.
Yet, now, they were fighting back...
It shouldn't surprise him. Of course there would always be suicidal Humans who would fight back, no matter how certain their Deaths may be. And that only increased with Quirks now existing.
But that only meant one thing to him.
''I guess... I need to double my own efforts if I will have such opposition. Heroes, yes? Let's see what they do against me.''
And so, time goes on.
[Hero Academia Whispers and Rumors]
Demons and their Effect on Society
The Knowledge of Demons is much more widely known in the Era of Heroes than it was two Centuries ago or anytime before the Taisho Era. Because of this, all Governments have specific Laws and Procedures to Handle Demon Threats, albeit done differently depending on their Country.
The Hero Public Safety Commission, for example, follows some of the baselines but still altered Laws and Procedures. And because of it, it's made some Opinions on the matter rise.
- All Demons are Ranked as B-Class Villains by default due to their only source of Nourishment being Humans, Dead or Alive, and their Near-Immortality that is coupled with Regeneration.
- There are only two Prisons that can accept Demons upon their Capture by Law Enforcement. The Counterquirk Maximum Security Prison ''Tartarus'' and the Anti-Demon Prison ''Naraka''. The former because it was made to keep the most Dangerous Criminals locked, and the latter because it was made specifically to deal with Demons. With or Without Blood Demon Arts.
- Prison Sentences for Demons depend on their Power and sometimes, their Quirks if they have one. Strong Demons are notoriously hard to kill due to the very limited options they have compared to the Weaker and more Common Demons who usually die if they are exposed to Sunlight. Complete Cellular Destruction is an option in ''Naraka'', but it's not Perfect. Strong Demons in answer usually receive a Life Sentence and either remain in ''Naraka'' or are then moved to ''Tartarus''.
- It is still arguable if Demons should have ''Human Rights'' considering how all of them had started as Human beings and not Demons. The Hearts and Mind Party has close eyes on ''Tartarus'' and ''Naraka'' due to that.
In a Society where Powers became everything as time went on, there was a small blindspot for certain types of Individuals.
A Blindspot which Muzan shamelessly took advantage of with his Doctor Identity. One which only grew over the Years of investment.
The Quirkless people.
Those with no Powers. Those utterly normal Humans. Those Ants. Puny. Worthless. They served nothing more in a Society where Quirks were normal and those without... abnormal.
How could Muzan not see an Opportunity in that?
In a World like this, of course those Humans would desire Power to fit in. What did it matter if they became Demons in answer?
At least, they fit in... right?
Well... perhaps. However, making a deal with the Devil was an apt comparison. They lost everything for Power. The only one who truly won was the Devil himself, who continued to make more sacrifices that did his bidding.
And more guinea pigs as well.
It allowed him to see the difference between his Demons before the Phenomenon and after said Phenomenon. Alongside seeing how well their own Resistance to Sunlight worked.
Quite enlightening, all things considered.
Their Defense to the Sun depended on two Factors. How strong they were, and if Quirked, how their Quirks affected said Resistance.
By default, Muzan was the strongest of them all. And so, in turn, he had the mightiest Sunlight Resistance. Coupling in with his Regenerative Faculties, and he may as well be Immune to Sunlight. No matter how long he stayed under the Sun, not once would he burn.
Then, lower and lower, the Resistance dwindled. Those Quirkless Humans he turned were the easiest to figure out. But the Quirked Ones were less obvious.
There had been a case where he'd turned someone into a Demon very recently, but they'd resisted the Sun significantly well. And the reverse had been true as well. One of the strong Demons barely could resist the Sunlight before being forced to the shade.
It all depended on the constitution of the Human in question.
Just like how some could accept his Blood more easily, some had bodies that outright rejected it. Some couldn't even become Demons. And the Resistance to the Sun was no different.
''How fascinating.''
Muzan wrote it all down in a Physical Book. This particular research was best left unseen by Human eyes who would no doubt try to use it against him if they ever learned it.
And so, it remained in his Labs.
Locked forevermore...
[Hero Academia Whispers and Rumors]
The Fate of the Quirkless People
The Percentage of Quirkless individuals is largely nonexistent as of Present times. Muzan has gradually hunted down Quirkless Individuals to turn into Demons by using Sweet Promises of obtaining Powers through his Blood. A Truth with Severe Consequences.
Very few Quirkless people remain as the 5th Generation was reached. Either Muzan simply hasn't found them yet -mostly due to the fact many of them may simply be too Young yet, or they outright refused his Gifts due to having good lives even with the lack of Power.
Izuku Midoriya and Melissa Shield are some of the last known Quirkless Individuals as of Present times.
Project Nomu initially started out of Curiosity. As Muzan secretly advanced his Research on Quirks, he'd discovered a way to Surgically Transfer such things to Human Bodies.
However, an issue did arise from that.
More specifically, the fact that going beyond one Quirk often made some subjects go Braindead. And some of the Quirkless Humans he tested this on actually had them outright die from the implants.
Which didn't surprise him all that much. Quirked Humans had evolved Bodies to handle Strains better.
The Quirkless individuals that came before a Majority of the population being Quirked simply could not adapt well enough to the Transplantation.
It wouldn't be such a shame, if not because his Demons weren't all that better.
Not even because they couldn't handle it. Biologically, Demons were completely superior. The issue was the Recovery Factor. The Regenerative Capabilities, and the option to Decompose any invasive Species, like Poison.
Demon Bodies rejected the Quirk Transplantation, including the Quirked Demons he had.
Meanwhile, some of the Humans simply couldn't even handle one Transplant. Let alone two...
So for a time, Muzan found himself in a roadblock with his Research, not even named Project Nomu as of yet.
But then, a few more Years pass, and as he remembers the Quirk Doomsday Theory that had been proposed when the Supernatural was beyond a Decade Old -how one day, Quirks may simply grow to powerful and to complex to be controlled by the Human Bodies- and an idea slips into his mind.
Surgical Enhancement.
Demons were Biologically Superior to Humans because they were stronger in every single way. So if base Humans couldn't handle it without stronger bodies...
Why not make them stronger?
And so, Project Nomu finally started properly. And with it, a New Force under Muzan's Command.
Though, while he said that, success didn't come easily. While he was making headways, he only gets what he considers a true success around the late 2120s.
Through the Corpse of one Shirakumo Oboro, later to be renamed Kurogiri.
A Servant who obeys him only, even with a Mind of his own.
The High-End Classification starts with him. Prior to that, it was merely a thought. An idea. A Dream, almost.
However, this success came with one issue. Kurogiri was not strong. At all.
Still, this would be his first success. And this would be what paved the way for the rest of the Nomus, no matter their future classification.
Ah, the wonders of Modern Science...
The Conflict between One For All and the Demon King isn't truly a full-on conflict until much later, after the 7th User finds the 8th.
Up until that point, the One For All Quirk itself and its inheritors were simply issues amongst a sea of others that Muzan had because of his Dystopian Society.
Yet, they are an issue that he never seems to be able to get rid of.
A mixture of him wanting the One for All Quirk and the fact they are incredibly stubborn caused that.
But the former was honestly the main reason.
He wants the One For All Quirk. The only transferable Quirk in existence.
It can be passed on to anyone, Quirked or Quirkless. At least if they all followed the Logic with All For One's own Quirk, back when he lived.
After all, the Inheritors did grow stronger. Muzan would be blind if he didn't notice the slowly increased strength they each held.
And it is a Power that, if Muzan's growing theory is correct, will be something he needs, in the Future.
Against other Quirks no less.
He can't ensure his seat on the top of the Foodchain without overwhelming might.
It truly was a wonderful thing that such a Power existed, all things considered. At least compared to the first time he learned the Power could be transferred.
A Quirk that would never truly die off, he thinks. Passed on and on...
Such a pain. And it would have been such an issue if this Quirk, or any other Quirks, had begun to emerge earlier. Like back in the Heian Era, or in the Taisho Era where the Ubuyashiki's ended.
But then, he imagines...
Perhaps he would have found this Quirk magnificent even back then. After all, it can be passed down to anyone.
Anyone.
Himself included.
This certainly was not the root cause of the conflict between One For All and the Demon King... but it does become his Priority as time passes.
Muzan was the Scourge of One For All. In his quest to obtain the only Transferable Quirk in existence, he would stop at nothing to obtain it.
All the Users he'd met could attest to that.
Yoichi Shigaraki, the First, had perished shortly before All For One. In the end, their Corpses had been together when he'd devoured his Body. And because he was the first who did not know of One for All's conception, Muzan's impact on this man was minimal.
Kudo, the Second, had ended with his neck snapped after having exposed his entire existence to Japan.
Bruce, the Third, had fought valiantly against him when Muzan had reached him and then perished with a broken spine upon their confrontation.
Hikage Shinomori, the Fourth, would never actually meet Muzan. He was the only one who remained elusive to the Demon King, simply because he chose to Live in Solidarity, away from Civilization and so, from Muzan's growing grip. He ended up dying peacefully in his bed, even with his Body broken from ''old age''.
Daigoro Banjo, the Fifth, was not as fortunate as his predecessor. He lived in the Dark Age Muzan had created for Humans. His Hold, complete. When Muzan reached him, he had no one who could be suitable to Transfer One For All. Yet, he escaped with his life, albeit with a crushed throat that would end up taking his Life soon after passing on One For All to the only one whom he could trust. A Mark of his refusal even with sweet promises given.
En, the Sixth, likewise had been reached by Muzan and his tempting words. But he to refused him. Unlike Fifth, however, he had an ally who was willing to take the mantle. One who took it, because Muzan had sliced En in half from the Waist, taking an arm along the way. He perished mere minutes after One For All was passed on.
All of them, besides Hikage, had been eaten after their Death. Mostly so Muzan could track down who was the next Wielder, but also, just slightly, hope the Quirk would perhaps transfer to him due to their DNA now inside of him.
Of course, it never worked.
And now, so was the Seventh's turn.
Nana Shimura.
And she learned that the hard way. Just like they all did. Muzan was Ruthless beyond belief when he set his mind to it.
And so, Kotaro Shimura -Seventh's Son- was targeted. Not by Muzan himself, but by some of his men.
If Nana hadn't returned earlier than usual, then he might have just died. But, she wasn't able to save her Husband.
Her Son had survived and in turn, was traumatized by these Events. And knowing how this may well not be the last time it would happen...
She made a hard choice.
One she would hate herself for, considering how it all but meant she'd abandon him. But the alternative...
It may just be worse if that monster tries to kill her Son personally. Because then, even if she's at home... could she stop that Monster?
The answer was obvious.
No.
Not even with Sorahiko. The Two of them stood no chance against that Monster in direct confrontation. She'd seen the end result when En was forced to confront that Monster and ended up missing his entire Lower Half and a whole arm.
That was exactly what could happen to Kotaro or herself, should that Monster end up deciding to do the work personally.
And so, Kotaro Shimura was placed into foster care.
Yet by sheer coincidence, weeks after that, she fell on a stubborn boy while dealing with Villains and who now asked her constantly to become her Pupil.
A Boy who, unknown to her at the time, would bring forth a completely new Era. A New Age that would finally be able to truly push back the Dark Age the Demon King had brought.
One boy, who was simply named Toshinori Yagi then. Age 15 at the time, and future Eight.
And even then, he had a Dream. Or, the more accurate thing would be a Solution.
''I want to make the world a place where everyone can live with a smile. And for that... the world needs a Symbol.''
And Nana, who'd tried to ignore the boy all the while, listened. And by doing so, she asked the natural question.
''A Symbol of what?''
She turned around to look at him. Truly look at him instead of giving him a side glance and leaving it at that as he spoke. All while a devasted landscape met them.
''Of Peace.''
On one side, there was a well upheld City. Nothing was destroyed and everything looked peaceful. But on the other side? It was destruction. Ruins lay around while massive Spear-like structures that were the size of a Tower penetrated the Earth for Kilometers of distance.
All of that was caused by Villains and Demons. To cause Destruction and satiate themselves.
''Even with plenty of new buildings and visible restoration efforts, people have been living in fear for a while now. Their Hearts and Minds are shrouded in Darkness.''
There were Heroes around, Nana thinks. But there was only so much they could do. And hearing his words made Nana look over at her gloved hand. Think about all of this. Of how much she's tried to do good, to change things.
Only, the people are still as scared as ever, no matter how many Villains or Demons she had arrested. Terrified even, as Night may as well invite hell on Earth, and Day wasn't completely safe either.
''So you would put a grand display of power?'' She questioned him.
''Everyone's got a tough enough time with their own three-foot radius. So yes. I would step up.''
And when she looked over at his face, she could see his expression. A Hopeful one. Displaying exactly what he felt.
''A Quirkless guy like me has no role otherwise.''
She looked at him stunned. Because the Ambition of this Boy made her consider something. Perhaps...
''Is that why you want to be a Hero?'' she questions further, ''Even though you're Quirkless?''
And she received a short ''Yes.'' as the answer. But that was enough.
She had made her decision. One that was accompanied by a short laugh she could not quite contain.
''Yagi Toshinori, right?'' Toshinori could note she looked to be much more hopeful now, ''You're really funny.''
In fact, she could call Toshinori crazy. But even then, to become this Pillar for everyone... Nana would be a liar if she said this goal of his didn't sound good, with the times they all lived in now.
''I accept you as my Pupil.''
But this also meant, more than ever, that she needed him to be absolutely sure. Because there was no going out of it.
''But, I have to warn you. If you choose to enter this fight to become this Pillar, then it will be long and hard. You might not even be able to become this Symbol.''
There were a great many risks that came with fighting Criminals, as Toshinori had seen very recently.
Yet, even knowing that he still wanted to become this Symbol.
''I understand. But I'm not backing down.''
And Nana respected him for that.
Which is why she has to tell him all of the things she knows now. Because if Toshinori wanted to become this Pillar, then he would be bound to face against that thing sometime in the future.
''Tell me, Toshinori. Have you ever heard anything about the Overlord of the Shadows?''
''The Overlord of the Shadows?'' Toshinori repeated the Title in confusion. Not because he hadn't heard of it, he actually had, but because this didn't feel like it fully related to the situation.
Why was Nana bringing that up?
Nana for her part didn't seem all that surprised he had no idea what she was talking about, though she did shake her head.
''Not all that surprised. You think it's more something like an old wives tale or just a story to scare children, right?''
Considering what exactly came with the Title of ''Overlord of the Shadows'', Toshinori did think so.
Some said he was an Old God who scorned Humanity. Others believed he was an Alien who wanted to dominate the Earth. Some believed he was a Vampire Lord who got tricked by a Woman into sharing his Power. Some even believed he was just a random boy who got lucky to get into power.
Safe to say, there were a lot of interpretations as to who the Overlord of Shadows is. However, it was largely believed that the individual in question was completely fiction. Just a boogeyman the Villains created to scare them further into submission.
So, Toshinori nodded, ''Yes. But, if you're bringing that up... then it's a lot more important than I believed?''
Nana nodded, ''Yeah... see, there's a reason why he's called the Overlord of the Shadows, and it's not just to make it sound cool.''
A trickle of sweat went down her cheek, something Toshinori noticed. She sounded nervous the more she spoke.
''It's a metaphor, but The Overlord of the Shadows really does Rule the Shadows. Or, more specifically, the Shadows of our Society.''
When saying Shadows of Society, did she mean...?
''The Criminal Underworld?''
''Yes...'' her head fell down slightly, acting like a stiff nod.
From what he understood at the moment, the reason Nana was acting this way was because a single man ruled the Criminal Underworld.
It made Toshinori think that maybe, he was the reason why so many Injustices could be done and be rewarded for instead of condemned. Was he the root cause then? Was he why even with Heroes around, so much Darkness lurked?
Yet, it's not because someone is ruling the Underworld that has Nana act this way. No, it's because of the what Rules the Shadows.
And Toshinori was partially right because of it. He was the reason why this Dark Age had taken place at all.
''And that individual in question, the one who has an Iron Grip on the Underworld, goes by a single name.''
Toshinori listened closely, for he would never forget that name.
''Muzan Kibutsuji.''
That was the name of the being who caused untold amounts of Death. So many Toshinori and Nana were not even aware of, directly or indirectly. Only the Monster himself may be aware of the Numbers, but that was doubtful.
And he'd only made things worse with the Dawn of Quirks.
And the thing is, Toshinori knew that name. How could he not when he'd seen alongside many others the Video that had revealed his existence to begin with?
That name was brought up inside the Video that had recorded footage of a Battle. It was blurry due to the distance the Footage had to be taken, and the name was only even known because it had been posted as the Title of the Video in question.
And, there was a reason why so few people believed Muzan Kibutsuji and the Overlord of the Shadows were one and the same. And it wasn't just because of the passage of time.
''He's... still able to Operate?''
Muzan looked to be someone in his early 20s from the Footage. And from the Recorded Uploading date, that had taken place nearly 50 Years ago.
If they were right for his age, then Muzan should have long since retired by now. At least in some shape.
But there was a fatal mistake.
People knew of Muzan. People knew he existed when the Dawn of Quirks had emerged. But they knew nothing else.
Not even what Race he was.
It didn't surprise Nana he wondered, so she went on to explain.
''Information around Muzan is scarce, but what we found is... worrisome.'' and even then, it had taken Inheritors to Inheritors to get some form of full Picture just so Nana knew.
''What is associated with the name Muzan Kibutsuji... is what he is.''
And now Toshinori was just left confused as he repeated her last few words, ''What... he is...?''
A Nod was given, ''Yes. Because Muzan is associated as a Demon.''
And upon hearing that, Toshinori felt his entire body shake in fear. How could he not, considering what kind of Monsters those things were?
Demons are Monsters. Plain and Simple. They are mostly creatures of the Night with some capable of walking during the day, stalking the Shadows for their only prey. Humans. The Label of Hero or Villain mattered not to them. Only Food.
That's as much as anyone knew in its entirety. Or at least, what Toshinori had been able to learn by overhearing some conversations.
Yet, hearing that a Demon of all things controlled the Underworld... what did that say about them? That Villains and Demons, simultaneously Synonymous and antonym, may be much more allies than enemies?
What did it imply, that a Creature who hunted Humans for Food was capable of this?
Nana could tell some of his thoughts, due to the way her next words sounded. But she had to lay it all down so that Toshinori knew what he was getting into.
''As if being a Demon wasn't bad enough, Muzan...'' she sighed tiredly, ''If the Information I have is accurate, he is the King of all Demons.''
The... King...?
Muzan Kibutsuji was their King? The Demon on top of Demonic Hierarchy was the cause of so much Death and Misery?
He felt scared. Obviously he did. This was a Demon who was the King of all Man-eating Monsters. The mightiest of them all, and one who'd fought when Quirks had first emerged.
But, alongside that, he felt rage. Because that Monster was at the core of everything.
He was the very reason why so much wrong existed in this World of theirs. Why Demons eat Humans, why Villains could do as they pleased.
Because of him...
Toshinori found the next words to come out of his mouth to come easily. Evenly so.
''So, all we know is that the King of all Demons is also the Overlord of Shadows.'' it surprises the both of them how oddly calm he looks even with that Revelation.
The nerves are probably gonna catch up with him afterward, he thinks. But since he's holding up well right now, he's taking advantage of it.
''Yes.'' Nana hates that's it, but it was probably better to know Muzan was a Demon than not.
Those things were nasty things when you don't expect what they can pull.
''Honestly, I wish I could have found more with Sorahiko, but it's hard to find anything about him. No one is willing to get on his bad side.'' and she couldn't really blame them.
Demons and Villains alike refused to answer out of fear. And if it wasn't because of that video, then his true name may have never been known either. Still, she wondered what kept their mouths shut.
Especially the Demons. She genuinely could not figure out why they all badly panicked once she mentioned their King's name.
(Her first mistake was assuming Muzan was merely a ''King'' and nothing more)
But, it meant he covered any tracks of his too well.
It was demoralizing to think they knew so little. That the reason why things were that way today was because of someone they knew so little.
They didn't even know what his Quirk was. Only it seemed to be some form of Manipulation of Flesh, and it seemed to be a shared ability with all Demons instead of just their King.
(There was mistake Number Two. Assuming his Abilities followed the Law of Quirks to begin with)
They didn't even know the Origins of Demons or how they emerged. They couldn't know why Muzan was the King at all.
Still, while a demoralizing thing to perhaps hear, Toshinori found himself not all that bothered.
It just meant they'd need to be more careful. But this world of theirs...
He must become that Symbol of Peace.
''I guess there's a lot of work to do, huh?''
Nana seemed to crack a smile when he said that, and he followed suit with that.
''There sure is.''
And so starts the Time that one Toshinori Yagi looked back on fondly, even though the Dark days were always present then.
Everything is going fine, for a time. Even with Muzan's looming Shadow over all of them, Life feels oddly normal.
''The idea of fishing is amusingly similar to how an Animal would hunt their prey.''
As if he doesn't exist. As if this Scourge was just a bad dream they could all move on from at any point.
''I find it relaxing when seeing it from that lens. Patience is always a key. And always has it paid off.''
But then, Nana and Sorahiko catch wind of something important. So Important, they can't ignore it.
''Now, aim the bait. Then...''
An Oil Platform, built apparently sometime after the Supernatural had calmed down. On the outside, it seems to simply be what it is. But on the inside, it is a Laboratory. For Experiments and Research. All of it Illegal.
''Hook.''
They had a Name of who was in control. Maruta Shiga. Head Scientist.
''Line.''
And they all very likely worked for Muzan.
''Sinker.''
How could they not take it as their chance?
''What Fools.''
It was obvious to both Nana and Sorahiko that the discovery of this Oil Rig and what was going on inside that place couldn't be a coincidence or mere luck.
Considering how they hadn't even been aware of it until they'd intercepted one of the Demon Lord's smuggling Operations, it might lead to other conclusions. And yet, it was... surprisingly easy to get Info out of the Men and Demons present.
Specifically, where were those Drugs, Quirk Boosting or others related to heightening Physical capabilities going?
And so, they'd gotten the Information of the Oil Rig. That this was to be transferred over there.
And that it was used for some sort of Experiment.
Safe to say, while surprised by the News, they couldn't not go. Perhaps it would allow them to learn something more than the vague information they had on Muzan, or perhaps entirely stop one of his operations. But it took them regardless some time to find a way to that Oil Rig-turned-research base.
And when they did, after some consideration, they took Toshinori with them. He was a Third Year at U.A. by then, and it was his time for his Internship, so it worked out all relatively well.
But, they also knew how risky this was to begin with.
This was unknown territory for him. Even the Boat they took was dangerous, as they had to sneak in.
But at the same time, Sorahiko did see this as a chance for the boy to gain further experience. Preparing him all the more for a Battle he may very well have to continue.
Even then though, none of them were truly ready for what they'd see or stumble on.
''Alright. Move the Bodies!'' One of the Goons of this Ship they'd gotten themselves in ordered to the Men.
As for why he was saying that...
Well, the Trio had only one way to get in this without suspicion. They had to get in Body bags. As for some reason, Corpses were transported in this Ship alongside the Drugs they'd stopped the smuggling off.
Frozen Bodies. Which meant someone wanted them preserved.
''Yes Sir!''
The Infiltration became the easy part. However, as they were moved out of the Freezing Chamber -which their Winter Suits helped deal with, they soon realized that the Bodies would soon become the least of their worries.
Because what they had entered in, was something they had never imagined. Never even expected how deep it seemed to be going.
All of them were unsure as to how long it took before the Body Bags they were in went to a halt, but they all put in an approximation of perhaps 30 minutes. Including the Time it took to get to the Facility proper due to the rain they were hearing.
And then, they heard words being spoken.
''Head Scientist Shiga wants the Bodies to be immediately moved to the Labs.''
Which was not good news for any of them. They'd need to get out and move now. Well, after more dialogue was said. Perhaps they could overhear something of use.
''Aw... we can't have a single bite?'' clearly a Demon lamented.
''Oh yeah, go for it if you want to die.'' another one snarked back.
''Or be used as another Lab Rat. Shiga really doesn't care if it's a Human or Demon under his Operation Table.''
Interesting piece of Information to hear.
''Ugh... don't remind me.''
''And Lord Muzan lets him do as he pleases?''
''Yup. He's the Head Scientist for a reason.''
Toshinori had wanted to wait longer to listen and see if they'd say anything else of use. But Nana and Sorahiko thought differently, as he heard their Body Bags burst open.
''What the fu-?!''
''They're alive!?''
Toshinori was a bit delayed when it came to that, as by the time he'd burst out as well, his Master and Torino had moved to knock them all out.
Gran Torino especially was able to knock out the Humans with ease considering the way he could move with his Quirks, but the Demons took a bit more effort.
Not that Nana or Sorahiko were unused to this. And it greatly helped then that Toshinori was also out, and had gone on to hit one of the Demons. Headshots usually worked better than anywhere else in those situations.
Granted, it depended on the Demon. Blunt Force Trauma to the face could either be very effective, or useless.
But these ones?
These Ones fell with ease as Master and Student knocked out the same one, and the other one could do nothing when Torino first pinned him, and then was hit by the Duo again.
And just like that, they were alone in this Room that held Frozen Corpses. All things considered, pretty empty too from what they should have, besides the Humans and Demons they'd knocked unconscious.
Nana gave a breath of relief afterward.
''We're really lucky that none of the Demons in here got a look at us before we got here.''
And even more lucky none of them had really good ears. Nana does remember a Demon who could hear someone's Heartbeats if they were close enough, but those two Present clearly didn't have that.
''We are. But we're in, and no one knows... however long that lasts.''
Sorahiko had a feeling it wouldn't be for too long once they went past that Door. And Nana found herself agreeing with all of this.
After all, if what they suspected was true...
''I wouldn't be surprised if this Maruta Shiga was expecting us in some manner, so be on your guard for the worst.''
While Nana said this to Toshinori specifically, it didn't mean they shouldn't heed those words.
After all, this was more or less the belly of the beast.
Whatever would happen in there, they needed to be weary.
And after a minute of gathering their Breath and composing themselves, they moved out.
And what they found in this whole place, was more or less a vast Research Facility.
Clearly maintained often, as everything looked clean and sanitized. And also populated with Armed Men and Demons alike as Security. So their way to the Facility was filled with Battle after Battles, alongside knowledge that any Demon they did stumble on, wouldn't remain down for long compared to the Humans they did take out.
After all, the sheer Brute Force they had to use to even knock them out, at the bare minimum, would shatter a Human's skull and probably destroy the Brain while they're at it.
But still, they made good progress going through the Facility. Albeit, gradually growing more and more horrible as they learned of what took place in the Facility.
Some of them, they saw in person as they had direct confrontations against it. Some others, they learned through the Data they could find in Computers or Old Logbooks from some Scientists. However that was limited due to the Staff present being unwilling to tell them anything.
They were more scared of what would happen to them if the Information was revealed than what the Heroes would get them through.
Still, they learned as much as they could.
Of Machines commanded through the usage of the Demon King's own Blood.
Of Men who were modified in any way seen fit.
Of Monsters that seemed to be pulled out of Fantasies, yet truly taken life through the Engineering of Biology.
And all of this was created under the Head Director, Maruta Shiga. All for Muzan Kibutsuji.
Honestly, if they lacked any reason to cause an arrest or something, they certainly weren't missing on it now. Especially considering this was Illegal to begin with.
But, it only led to a question.
''What are they even doing?''
Nana had to question this, as the whole purpose of Experimenting was to figure out something. Or reach a certain point, so to speak.
So, what even were they doing here?
Were they just experimenting with a Demon's Blood? Were they branching off from the normal that Demons seemed to have?
What was the point?
Well, Nana could speculate, but she'd get the actual firsthand answers if they got to Maruta Shiga.
So they continued on and on.
And eventually, they learn of where he is located.
''A Central Tower on top of the Oil Rig, huh?'' The man whom she'd pressed against the Wall had all but blurted out in a panic. Then promptly was knocked out.
''So the question is how we can get in that Central Tower, right?'' Toshinori guessed.
''Not exactly.'' Sorahiko denied, ''You're not really wrong, but instead of the where, think of what that Tower would be useful for.''
Because why would there be a Central Tower here to begin with?
''...for sightsee?'' Toshinori knew he sounded stupid by saying that, but in his defense, he really couldn't think why there'd be a Central Tower. They had to keep attention to their surroundings beyond a Tower, right?
Apparently, he may have been somewhat wrong.
Nana snorted and Sorahiko gave him a relatively unamused look, though he didn't sound really mad either.
''It's not entirely inaccurate. But no. Chances are that Tower just might be the Surveillance Room. Or where this Shiga sleeps.'' either of those two seemed to be it as far as he saw.
They'd seen everything else. Rooms to sleep in. A Cafeteria. A Freezer with Human Meat. There had even been an amusement room for Christ's sake. That wasn't including everything else this Facility had by default because of what it was.
Yet, not once did they stumble upon Shiga's Quarters or even someplace to Monitor things.
So that Central Tower had to be one of them. Or perhaps both. But either way, it's where Shiga is...
Maruta Shiga had to already be aware of them by now. They weren't all that subtle anymore, and he'd be even more aware of them if he was truly in the Surveillance Room.
They wasted no time to head there.
And while there is a feint suspicion on how easy it feels as they head there, how little resistance seems to remain as they near the end of this entire Journey, none of them truly think much about it. Because they are so near to success, to finally put a true wrench in the King's machinations, they miss signs.
They reach the Elevator that would lead them to their destination with little to no conflict whatsoever.
Up there... was the man himself.
If they arrested this man, then they could finally gain more information than they ever did before. Finally learn more of Kibutsuji while also putting to a halt whatever was going on here.
''Are you both ready?'' Nana finds herself asking them.
''Of course.'' is Sorahiko's plain answer.
''Absolutely Master!'' in comparison, Toshinori was much more energetic.
They were as ready as they would ever be for whatever they'd face up there. And with that...
They stepped into the Elevator and headed up.
The tension they all felt was oddly palpable. A part of them fully expected things wouldn't be easy, especially considering who they'd face. On the other hand, everything had seemed manageable until now.
So truthfully, how hard could it be?
They were about to find out.
Because once the Elevator had reached the top, the door opened and they rushed in immediately.
After all, they saw this was a closed room. Circular and big because this was indeed a Monitor Room.
With only one person present at the center of a Room that should have many more people present.
''Maruta Shiga! You're under arrest!''
That had to be him.
The One who advanced the research in this Facility for the Demon King himself.
His back faced them while he stared ahead at several monitors in front of him. Standing still even with their entrance.
Upon her bold words, the man didn't say much. Only repeat a specific part of her sentence.
''Under Arrest?''
The Voice sounded Elderly. Yet the tone of voice genuinely could not be mistaken as anything else but kind. Just like a Grandpa would sound to his Grandchildren.
And from where he stood, they could see some of his features clearly. Like slicked back Blond Hair, or the Lab Coat he wore. But more could of a description could not be given to him.
It confused them all at how oddly calm he sounded even with their barging in. Shouldn't he be panicking more that they'd just ruined all of his Operations here, and now, they'd bring him to Justice?
Shouldn't he be scared that they'd gone through everything that had been thrown at them and survived?
And yet, he did none of that.
For instead of showing fear or any signs of panic, he simply gave something they could not see.
A smile.
One that showed his fangs.
And then, from that smile, his mouth opened to speak and a completely different voice came out. One that sounded Younger, yet far more sinister.
''At last... it would seem you all took your sweet time with my bait.''
The Man remained unmoving, his arms remained where they gripped, and his head seemed to be still staring ahead at the Screen.
But then, his Body shifted.
''But finally, One for All is within my grasp again.''
Absolutely none of them expected to see how the Body of this man changed in a manner that felt abnormal, even in an Age where Quirks existed.
His Veins bulged as so much Blood flowed all over, his Muscles seemed to bulge similarly as the posture changed from slightly hunched to straight.
As the Blood continued to flow, the size and hair changed as well while the body structure seemed to finally settle for a well muscles but not overly so man.
One with Black Hair that held Side Bangs.
Black Hair familiar with Nana, as only one description fits.
A description that Toshinori and Sorahiko could both vaguely recognize. They knew enough that Horror dawned on them all just like it did with Nana.
And while Horror dawned, the individual in question meanwhile crossed his arms behind his back.
Then, he spoke in a manner that showed how unperturbed he was by this entire situation.
''You played right into my hands.''
And as those words were spoken, Muzan Kibutsuji finally turned around slowly to look at all three of them.
He did not quite smile, but he looked particularly pleased. In a smug manner as well.
After all, his Bait had worked wonderfully. And now, his foes stood in front of him.
''We meet again, One For All.''
And those words, no matter their purpose, did get them to snap out of their terror, and all of them shifted into a Battle Ready stance.
Considering the Human's continued stubbornness to fight, Muzan wasn't all that surprised. Especially considering how close he was to One For All again.
His arms still crossed behind his back, Muzan had only one thing to comment on after seeing them ready for Battle.
''No, this place is far too restrictive...''
But they didn't care. If anything, this location was perfect for them.
And because of it, Sorahiko was the fastest out of them all at that moment. Launching himself to kick the Demon across the Face. A kick that Nana had seen be capable of cracking a Demon's skull if he tried hard enough.
Only, this wasn't any random Demon, and Muzan didn't even allow this to land as he'd uncrossed his arms and raised his left arm to block the Kick.
Any ordinary Man would have stopped, but because of how Torino's Quirk worked, instead of ending it here, the Hero followed up that kick with an onslaught of additional kicks from all directions. Omnidirectional in fact.
But none of them land.
Muzan, be it because of how sharp his senses had become or simply because he could follow the movements with his eyes alone, blocked each of the kicks with his arms. One after the other without fail.
None landed, and Sorahiko left himself open after his attacks.
Only, Muzan did not go for the kill and instead followed up his final block with a punch that landed right in his Solar Plexus and sent the man flying back down to the Ground. Why he did that, Nana was not entirely sure, but she saw it as a fortunate turn of events.
It not only meant Sorahiko lived but also allowed her to attack. And she took it.
''Ha!'' with a scream, she launched her fist, the body already moving as fast as it could with her Embers as she moved to punch the Demon's face.
It didn't get to land.
Because her fist met his Elbow, his way to counter her. And hitting that particular thing hurt a lot. If her body wasn't so tough because of the blowback from One For All, it'd likely have been broken.
Nana instead had a fist that hurt a lot, and Muzan did not hesitate after that elbow strike to swing that same arm for a Chop.
Only, he was intercepted.
''Smash!''
Toshinori took his chance to attack and defend his Master and moved to strike with a punch. One that was timed well as Muzan could not react properly while halfway through his own attack.
What proceeded to come, was a Headshot. As Toshinori struck the Head, Nana moved to act as well.
Reeling back her fist, Nana's own fist hit the opposite side of Muzan's face, the temples both struck by them. And Sorahiko, seeing this and having recovered from the strike, moved to attack as well.
Just as they both moved back, Sorahiko moved to slam his foot the back of Muzan's head and slammed him facefirst into the ground, cracking it in the process.
Before they could consider doing anything else, Muzan already went back up casually and dusted off what dust may have collected around his Body.
''A Fiercer attempt than the last one, I'll concede.''
He snapped his Body around then, and his Arms were morphed. They clearly were made out of Flesh and Bone, but the shape they took could be described as a Sword so to speak.
Sharp Blades that could do more than at first glance.
''But let's see how much longer you last. Now, let's go outside.''
Then, Muzan raised his Arms and slashed across the Metal that surrounded the Monitor Room with ease. They all were able to duck, but that did not stop him from cutting through the Steel he claimed was in his way.
Forcing open the path they'd taken previously to get to him. And also, of the outside. Of the Tower they'd stood in.
The Rain had stopped while they'd done their Infiltration, and it revealed a clear Night Sky that was void of any Stars.
''No standing around Humans!'' then Muzan swung back, and they truly had no choice but to jump off the building and back to the Oil Rigs surface.
But Muzan was not going to make landing easy for them either, considering flying out from where they'd come out, were Projectiles made out of Blood. They were shaped like Bullets.
Nana's eyes narrowed.
''He's not going easy.''
''Definitely not.'' Sorahiko agreed as his Quirk went to work, ''Hold on tight!''
He grabbed both Nana and Toshinori, propelling himself towards the ground by going off to the side and avoiding the Blood Bullets that would have hit them were they still airborne.
As soon as they were close to the ground, both Toshinori and Nana jumped off and landed on the solid ground. Toshinori's previous internship greatly helped him act as if he were a fully-fledged hero.
All of them stared up at the Tower. Expecting and expecting...
And then, they saw a figure jump.
''Get ready!'' it's all Nana can warn them about before Muzan's figure crashes into the pavement.
And then, the Battle started immediately, as from the dust, came out the Whips made out of his Flesh.
They all moved to avoid it, Nana and Sorahiko having an easier time due to their Quirks giving them an edge to avoid anything even Midair. Toshinori though had to physically evade all of them.
But he pulled it off.
And it was during one of those Jumps that he got a chance to look around more properly.
The Oil Rig was bigger than the expected length. And there were other structures on top of it.
And Muzan's whip just sliced through something that showed him an option.
It probably wouldn't be long-lasting, but when you lacked ranged options, typically, it meant you could throw stuff.
And Toshinori is pretty sure Metal Objects would be really annoying to deal with. So, as he avoided the Flesh Whips, which some didn't even come his way, he headed back to the Buildings that were damaged.
Without hesitation, knowing he didn't need to worry about collateral damage here, he ripped out a piece of the Wall. Slightly harder than he'd expected, but he had it.
Then?
He threw and ripped.
And Muzan noticed. As he swung around, he saw that Boy throwing these pieces. Pillars, walls, and even the Ground.
''Slightly ingenious, but nothing dangerous.''
Muzan swings his Flesh around, bending their shape as to counter this Boy's own Plans. Cutting through the Objects in question with ease, yet allowing for one to go through what they couldn't before.
And Nana took her chance.
She charged ahead and avoided the Whips that weren't even on her, and it allowed her to come close.
So close in fact, Muzan stopped using one of his Whips and allowed it to return as an Arm.
She wondered why he did that, but then, he moved his hand and aimed at her.
''Don't be a pest now.''
Muzan opened up his Palm as a Hole around the comparable size of an Iris opened at the Center of it.
Instinct and overall being able to tell what may happen were the only reasons Nana was able to avoid the Spike that shot out of the Hole, much to her dawning Horror and confusion.
Said Spike embedded itself into one of the Damaged buildings behind it. Nana lept back and undid any of her progress as another one was fired and hit where she'd been previously.
''How?'' Nana questioned in a manner that conveyed how badly she was trying to keep her frustration in check, ''How does he do any of this?''
Demons were supposed to only have one Blood Demon Art. If they were Quirked previously, either they then obtained a Second Ability, or the Blood Demon Art complimented their Quirk.
Yet the Demon King was breaking what is supposed to be set Rules.
His Shapeshifting could be maybe excused if he'd Mastered said Skill. His Blood Bullet used previously made sense if it were to be his Blood Demon Art.
But at this rate, she really wasn't sure if this could be just a Shapeshifting thing. Could Shapeshift really allow you to fire Spikes and have those things even detach from your body to begin with?
Sorahiko meanwhile had a theory in mind.
''I might have an idea.'' he said as Muzan changed that arm back from whatever this was to his Whips of Flesh.
''But if I'm right, then this complicates everything.''
''Then spill it!'' Nana practically shouted as Muzan specifically Targeted Toshinori before he could throw anything again.
''If my Theory is right, then we're facing someone who's able to weaponize everything in his Body to the Extreme.'' Sorahiko answered her as he moved, slamming his leg into one of the Whips to deflect it.
It helped Toshinori for a moment to actually move easier.
''Everything he's used so far is something his Body has.''
The Blood Bullets were obviously from his Blood. His Flesh Whips, well, from his Flesh. What he fired at Nana may just be made from his Bones. And if his Theory was right, then it only meant one thing.
''It all depends on his creativity!'' because whatever he believed he could do, would be something he was likely to be able to do.
But if this were true...
Was there a chance Muzan didn't even have a Blood Demon Art? Did it mean Blood Demon Arts could only come to be because it was a Reactionary answer between the Progenitor's Blood and a Humans?
Or was Sorahiko simply jumping to conclusions here?
Whether there was any truth to it or simply pure speculation, Sorahiko would think on it further later. Once they were out of here.
Which was needed to be done soon, as this?
This wasn't sustainable. Eventually, they'd lose. So they needed an out.
But exactly how to do that? Without Muzan suspecting a thing?
And a plan does come to mind, as there's only one way out of this. But he can't tell Nana or Toshinori, not without Muzan overhearing them. Not without him trying something.
So how?
The only way he can think of is if he fakes something that brings him down. Something believable enough the Demon King won't put too much thought into it.
But how to deceive this Monster?
There is only one thing he can think of that works and wouldn't knock him out. A punch from Muzan.
Which, he never thought he'd ever think like that, but it was unlikely to come considering his Whips of Flesh.
It'd be so much easier if he could relay his intent without needing to voice it, but Nana wouldn't notice even if they did have one, especially considering the battle at hand.
So he needed to fake being out of the fight. Even thrown away may work, thinking about it now.
And Torino's chance to make this work did appear for him eventually.
After all, Muzan wanted the One For All Quirk. But while his Enhanced Senses were capable of distinguishing who had what type of Quirk, and who even had one to begin with, it wasn't exactly something that made him able to tell what was One For All and what wasn't.
Especially if their Original Quirk was the same Quirk Type as One For All. An Emitter.
For example, he could not tell if the boy was an Inheritor of the Quirk, simply a typical Successor who happened to also have an Emitter Type, or a decoy for the Woman who also happened to have an Emitter Type Quirk.
It could just be float, but considering the brute force she displayed, he doubted it was just that.
But then, was it just a coincidence the Boy hit harder than Shimura?
No, he needed to figure this out. And he knew exactly what to use to make this work without risking killing whichever was the current Holder.
And to make it work... he paused.
Completely stopping from moving, Muzan's Whips of Flesh retracted, and he didn't seem to be staring at them at all. Almost like he was in a sort of trance as far as they saw.
So, Nana and Sorahiko, being the closest and the ones not wanting to miss a chance, moved to attack. At least do something substantial.
Only to fall for his Trap...
Because what he did next completely messed with them.
Ripping through his Clothes out of absolutely nowhere, a Gaping Jaw with sharp teeth grew from his chest diagonally. But instead of bitting, as you'd expect a Jaw to do, it generated electricity.
Electricity that was then promptly released as an EMP.
It hit both Nana and Sorahiko at Point-Blank range and caused both of them to be sent flying back a short distance. Yet, the force behind it was not what made what Muzan used dangerous.
If it were, he wouldn't even have used it on them.
It was how their bodies reacted to being hit by that Blast.
Because both of them were on the Ground, currently going through extreme levels of Seizures and Convulsions.
''He- What-?!'' Nana could not even think clearly at this moment, instead trying to Breathe and Breathe and Breathe because she was having trouble getting in air at all from this attack.
And it was hard to do in current circumstances.
Sorahiko was not faring any better. And while this certainly would have given him the chance to do what he had in mind...
Currently? It was impossible to leave.
And they weren't even sure if this would dissipate eventually or not. And even if it did eventually dissipate...
At this moment? It left Toshinori completely on his own.
Exactly what Muzan was hoping for.
''Now, I can finally judge you properly.''
His Whips reformed into his normal Arms. And then, he decided to test out something in the Heat of Battle.
It had taken him time to gather up all the Memories related to that particular matter, alongside unearthing any other knowledge he had, so he did want to use it now since he had an opponent who should be able to handle it well enough.
It would also help him judge if this boy had One For All or not.
So, he opened his mouth and then...
Breathed.
Internally, Muzan relished in the idea of the horror the Demon Slayer Corp, those pests, or perhaps even Yoriichi, may have felt had they seen him use their Esoteric Art. But they were all dead, so no use in thinking about Ifs or how things may have gone.
He simply followed the Motions. Took in as much Oxygen as possible, then released it all and repeated the process with the ease of someone who'd practiced this.
''Let's see if you are the next Inheritor or not.''
And without wasting any more time, he attacked Toshinori with his fists, lunging at the Boy who defended himself as best as he could
But Muzan had gotten faster now. Toshinori wasn't even sure how he did it, but those movements were more fluid than previously. As he learned the hard way when Muzan made it seem so effortless when he side-stepped his Punch and landed an Uppercut.
And yet... for how much faster he'd gotten, Toshinori found himself able to follow the movements to a certain extent. Most of the time, he was the one hit instead of the other way around.
But a few times? He was able to strike back against those Fists with his own.
And Muzan notices this. Especially as Toshinori, after being hit once, immediately retaliated with a right Hook. Muzan had already moved his own arm for a right hook of his own, so both of them ended up simultaneously hitting each other on the side of the Face.
Red met Blue. Blue met Red.
And both glared at each other. Truly looked at the other at this moment as well, as a single thought crossed their minds.
''So he's the source of all Demons...''
''So he is the one who has One For All...''
And then they both disengaged by reeling back their Fists and continued their Battle. And both of them were unaware that while all of this was going on, while Muzan toyed around with Toshinori, that Nana and Sorahiko were trying to move.
And it was working.
Whatever Muzan had done to them was fading away. And they'd survived the Breathing Issues as well.
So Mobility came back to them with a struggle, but they could slowly but surely move.
Which is why Sorahiko, being close to her, began to whisper to the best of his capabilities.
''I have... a plan.''
And Nana listened, making it clear with the smallest of Nods she could muster. But while that was good to hear...
''Whatever you have in mind... do it quick.''
And Nana was right.
While Toshinori was able to hold on, he was losing this Battle.
It didn't help every blow he landed made his Muscles constantly feel sore and Bones feel closer and closer to breaking. That and his Head hurt from when he was hit on the head.
It was only a matter of time. And that time would be there soon. Nana would need to jump in to help.
''I will.''
It's all he says as he moves to the best of his capabilities. Which, thankfully, was fast enough that Muzan did not notice.
Especially since he deflected Toshinori's next punch by slamming his arm against his wrist and immediately went for this throat. Gripping at it hard as he struggled to Breathe.
''I will give it to you, you've given me the most trouble... One For All...'' There was no more doubt to Muzan.
This boy was the next Inheritor. The 8th, if he counted and remembered them all right. And this one had given the most fight than all of them.
Granted, the 7th was a close one as well.
Toshinori gripped Muzan's arm, trying to break free somehow, but he could not.
''Worry not Child. I will not kill you. After all, you have the Quirk I desire. In fact... make it easy for the both of us and pass it on to me.''
Both Muzan and Toshinori glared at each other.
One saw Defiance. A person unwilling to back down even in this situation. Which wasn't an unfamiliar thing with Muzan by now. He fully expected the One For All Holders to keep this defiance going until the bitter end.
But another saw something off. Giving a sense of dissonance considering the tone he'd given. After all, the tone he gave made it sound like he badly wanted the Quirk. Yet when glaring at him, all he saw was disinterest.
But Toshinori didn't think about it further, instead trying to defy him.
''I...'' he tried to grip Muzan's arm harder, but hardly could in his current state, ''...will...'' and he wound up gritting his Teeth from the effort he tried to exert, ''...not...!''
Then, Muzan gripped harder, and Toshinori could not speak anymore. Instead, he began choking.
''Oh, excuse me if you believed you had a choice to begin with. But you don't. All I require is that you willingly give it to me. But how you are by the end of it does not matter.''
Then, he paused as his eyes drifted away from the choking boy and off to the side. Not able to truly see, but feel he certainly did.
''Ah, up already?''
Then, he fully turned his head to see Nana Shimura, having taken a step to approach, but stopping short now that he truly saw her.
''It seems my Blast has faded away by now. Only the smallest traces remain, and that won't stop you.''
And Muzan's eyes drifted to the side. Wondering about the Third One. But before he could even lay his eyes on anything, Nana moved.
Charging straight at him, Muzan decided to pay attention to her for now.
So what better to deal with her than throwing something? That something being someone, and that someone being Toshinori himself.
He threw the choking boy at her, deciding this would be the first step to make this boy give him One For All.
Break his Spirit.
Give him a fighting chance, and destroy it all in front of his eyes. Then? Take it a step further and further until he broke.
Because eventually, no matter the will... something would break. Eventually, Despair would take hold.
So, he moved. He lunged to attack while Nana caught her Student.
She held his shoulder and waist due to the way he was thrown, and his back faced her. It made looking ahead harder, so she utterly failed to notice in time the Demon moving.
And only felt it once something had punched Toshinori. Hard enough she hadn't just felt the Impact which pushed her back and made her Boots skid across the floor, but also felt some form of a punch hit her.
Toshinori was meanwhile worse off considering he'd taken a point-blank attack from Muzan without any chance to defend himself.
Nana immediately let him go, and Toshinori nearly fell to the ground due to how his legs shook. He didn't at the end, but it was close.
Not that he'd allow himself to fall in front of the Demon who waited for a few seconds. Letting him stand up, just so he could see more clearly.
And it allowed him to voice something he'd noticed from that particular punch.
''He... He stopped breathing.'' Toshinori's words made Nana look at him in confusion.
He what?
''He's...'' Nana's eyes narrowed. She could still see Muzan's chest rise and fall. So he was still Breathing in Oxygen. Her Student clearly saw something different though.
''No... He's... the way he did it changed. It's not the same...''
He changed his way of Breathing? How did that even work?
No. She couldn't question this now. If her student noticed something, then she had to trust his words.
''Alright then... maybe it'll help us then.'' and she received a nod.
It's all the time they received, because Muzan lunged at them then, ending any strategizing they may have had.
Nana just barely raised her tired arms in time to block the kick of the Demon King, and she wasn't fast enough to retaliate in any way against him.
The kick hit the pavement, and Muzan used it as a foothold to then twist his body, properly placing his Foot down to successfully spin with that leg and raising the other one to land a heeled strike.
It hit, and it stunned Nana since he'd aimed for her head. Working far too well as she fell down and hard.
But he didn't follow up with her immediately, instead having his eyes land on Toshinori.
And the boy in his current state couldn't truly hope to match this Monster anymore. So while it didn't surprise him when this Monster slammed his fist into his gut yet again and hard enough he spat out his Saliva, it still bothered him he couldn't do more.
Then again, that was a general frustration both Master and Student shared. They were completely unprepared to deal with the Demon King himself.
And now, they paid the price for it.
Toshinori felt his body go limp, the only thing stopping him from collapsing entirely being the fist in his gut. And Muzan wasn't doing this out of kindness.
''I will break every bone in your body if I need to.''
And then, from that fist still in his gut, he simply pushed.
And Toshinori's body fell back, just like that. He grunted in pain and had trouble moving anything at all. Wincing in the process, he blinked once, and Muzan had moved during that point.
''But I think what may hurt you more, is a dear ones Death, yes?''
He stood next to him while looking off to the side. When Toshinori looked where he was gazing, it hit him that Nana had only now gotten her bearings back.
''Yes... would her dying make you give in? Or are you going to be stubborn like the rest of them?''
Muzan hadn't even looked at him when he said that, but it made Toshinori all the more willing to push his body to stop this Monster as much as he could. Which did only amount to grabbing one of his legs with his hand.
Muzan snapped his head to look down at him and what he was doing. But all that caused was him shaking off his arm.
Only it didn't end there, as he raised his leg.
''Stay put Boy.''
And then he slammed the sole of his shoe on Toshinori's face. Hard.
His Nose broke from the power behind the Blow, he could hear as much, but it did not knock him out.
Although, it was unlikely he would get his bearings back from the pain immediately. And down for the count now meant Muzan could deal with Shimura as he saw fit.
By the time he stands up... well, a Corpse is what Muzan planned to present the boy.
And now, returning his attention to Shimura, he could see her anger.
Oh, she was hiding it well. But she was mad at what he'd just done against her Student. And it made her not hesitate for a second to attack him, even though she should be well aware by now her Fists cannot do a thing against him.
Still, she tried.
And still, he fought back with his punches that were stronger than her own. It didn't even take a minute before he nailed one final punch that hit her Jaw and made her fall to her knees.
''This is getting awfully repetitive. You try to fight me, I push you back, you fall and then get back up. Rinse and repeat. How much more stubborn can you be in this losing battle?''
His hand immediately went back to her throat which he clutched while she choked, but he didn't actually lift her up. Not yet at least.
Instead, his eyes drifted back to where Toshinori was.
And how fortunate was he? The Boy had his bearings back, clutching his broken nose, yes, but he'd leaned up in an effort to move.
So he could see.
So, he could kill Shimura in front of a Student who could do nothing to stop him. Only stare while trying to get his bearings back.
Perfect.
''Now then... it's time to finish this.''
Muzan looked back at Nana, who he finally lifted up higher than himself. Making sure all the while she choked from his grip.
''I have been certain since I fought your Student that you do not hold One For All anymore. But this embarrassing attempt at fighting me just confirmed it further. And since I don't need you alive anymore, allow me to send you to the others. I'm sure your Student will appreciate seeing your Death.''
Just as he said that, he raised a Finger and aimed it at Nana's Head. Then, electricity gathered from the tip of said finger's sharp nail, just ready to end her life the moment it was fired.
''Master!''
Toshinori, still dazed from only now getting his bearings back and still trying to stand back up, could do nothing but cry out for his Master as her end approached.
Except, Muzan found himself interrupted just as he was about to do that.
Why?
Because the Oil Rig then had an announcement ring through the whole place.
''Self Destruct Sequence Activated. Please Evacuate immediately! Repeat, Self Destruct Sequence Activated! Please Evacuate immediately!''
Holding Nana by the throat, there was only one thing Muzan said.
''The Self-Destruction Mechanism has been activated?!'' he bellowed out in confusion.
He'd planned to turn that on after this Altercation, yet it was turned on already? By whom?!
Muzan's eyes then narrowed in realization once his eyes drifted to Nana and Toshinori again and again, realizing that there was supposed to be a Third member in this Group who was still missing.
''So, Him...''
Well then, he has to speed this up. Muzan was confident he could handle the Oil Rigs Self Destruction if he didn't escape in time, but why risk it?
''Well then, I simply need to speed this up.''
He stopped charging the electricity and instead formed his Blade of Flesh from that arm, ready to pierce her through and end her Life. But, the Self-Destruction had distracted him enough he'd missed something.
Or rather, someone.
''Smash!''
With a cry, Toshinori had charged ahead and proceeded to land a right Hook into Muzan's face, landing a powerful enough blow on the Progenitor that destabilized him enough to drop Nana.
Once Nana had her footing, she immediately took her steps back, followed by her Puppil while Muzan glared at the both of them.
''Why that brat...!''
He only needed him alive. Not that Woman or that other man who served him nothing. So, he had to knock out that boy and kill the others before the Self Destruct Mechanism ended.
5 Minutes is all they had.
However, he wasn't the only one who needed to speed things up. As he noticed when he heard the sound of the Third One's Quirk.
Immediately, he diverted his attention and swung his only Whip of Flesh towards the Human who'd been propelling to his direction, and he avoided it, flipping over it and successfully nearing him to land a kick.
That Man had a surprising amount of force behind his legs, but besides briefly making his head hunch to the side, he took no damage. Just like those other two's punches.
Yet, it allowed him to get near the Master and Student who'd seen better days.
''It's all ready.'' and Nana knows what he means.
Toshinori doesn't though.
''What's ready...?''
''Our escape.'' because at this point, Muzan overhearing them or not didn't matter. He'd put two and two together eventually.
And it made sense when just saying it.
Of course they'd need a way out. That's why Torino wasn't with them. He was preparing for it and now, they had their way out.
The thing is, they're all aware Muzan isn't just going to let them go. And they can even see it, as his other arm morphs into that Whip.
So Toshinori assumes they have to stand and fight until they can do something to get away.
He was wrong.
Because Nana and Sorahiko had once spoken of a situation like this potentially happening. Of course, neither of them wanted it to happen but they had to consider it as a real possibility.
And right now? It was time to apply it.
So both Adults knew what they had to do.
Nana turned towards her Student and smiled.
''Toshinori. You're one amazing Kid.'' and a red flag immediately flared to Life in Toshinori's mind.
''I don't think I've ever told you that enough times, but you've amazed me when we first met. So continue to reach your Dream, Toshinori!''
And Muzan moved to attack. The little time they had to speak was by all means over, but everything else was not even close to ending.
And Nana's goal was simple.
Save his Power.
And to do that?
She pushed him away, helping him avoid Muzan's attack while she barely did the same in time.
She could feel he cut into her leg, but it was still usable and connected at least. So, she wasn't out of the count yet.
''Master!''
Toshinori cried out while Sorahiko flew after him, catching him before propelling himself away. Towards the Boat he'd secured. Away from the danger.
''I'm leaving the rest to you!'' she shouted while never looking away from Muzan who moved and bent his Flesh to chase after the two feeling Heroes.
''Sorahiko, make sure his dream comes true.''
It was a thought to herself, but she didn't need to voice it. Her friend already knew what she wanted.
Nana moved to intercept his Whips of Flesh, slamming her body into both and pushing them off course into the pavement, stopping them in their tracks before they could reach for her Friend and Student. And after doing so, she dared to look away and towards them.
She only had one thing to say to her Student, whether he heard it or not.
''All Might.'' she smiled during all of it, ''I'm counting on you.''
And Toshinori could do nothing but cry out after his Master, unwilling to leave her behind. Yet, taken away he was by the Friend who held back his tears with gritted teeth.
And then, the Flesh retracted itself back towards Muzan, whose eyes bore right into her.
She could tell he was furious by her constant interference. And she could tell that he stopped giving chase.
Especially considering how his arms reformed to normal. Or the fact he addressed her to begin with.
''Well, isn't that a tearful situation?'' The situation may be so, but it was the absolute opposite of Muzan's tone which was entirely dry.
''You forcing your Student and only Ally away just so he may have a chance another time. You humans keep pulling this so many times...'' he sounded genuinely exhausted when saying this, ''What part of your Brains don't understand sending away your Allies weakens you?''
She could see his veins bursting slightly in some areas of his face.
''Fight another time? Is that the whole point? Or do you all that badly want the One For All Quirk away from my grasp?''
Then, he gave a pause once the Oil Rig's Loudspeaker rang out a reminder.
''4 Minutes left before completion of Self Destruct Sequence! Repeat, 4 Minutes left!''
Or was she...?
''Do you perhaps believe this Auto-Destruction will kill me?'' he wonders.
She denied it, ''Not really. It would be nice, but it's more likely to get me killed than you. Still, I'll fight you 'til the bitter end. I'll defy you until I can't Breathe anymore.''
And she meant it. Every single word.
So, Muzan had only one answer when hearing words that were used against him. When hearing and seeing the Will of another Human at work.
''By all means...'' Muzan's features twisted to give a sinister grin, that impassiveness he usually displayed gone for a brief moment to show something hidden, ''Do try.''
And in answer, Nana charged in with her fist. And Muzan, in answer, countered her fist with his own.
They collided for but a brief moment before they picked up the speed, disengaging as Nana swung her leg up.
Her kick landed, and she wasn't done either. With the momentum, she used that same leg to kick into the ground so she could regain footing there before using her other leg to go for a kick right to his gut this time.
It pushed him back for too much of a short time to have mattered, as Muzan charged at her and attacked her with his own punches.
Punches which she tried to counter.
But, he was faster and stronger than her. No matter how much she tried to fight back, he had the advantage.
And even when she tried to go beyond her limits, it never made the Demon King worry. If anything, it made him all the happier.
Simply because it meant she would fall harder.
And as she moved for another punch, Muzan caught it. When she moved her other arm to try and free it, it was also caught by his other limb. Effectively, she was rooted in place and Muzan knew it.
Which is why his Eyes began to shine red.
''Oh no you don't!''
She immediately knew he was going to pull something out of his eyes, and at this proximity, if it was landed, she was as good as dead.
So, she knew she needed to stop him before he could land it.
She raised her leg to Uppercut kick him, snapping his entire face up as the Beam fired off into the Sky. Only for his Head to then snap back into place as his eyes bore into her with a Glare.
''Why you little-!'' Nana had raised her leg again for a kick. But Muzan had caught it.
Which now meant her left arm was free to be used, something she did not hesitate on as with the Embers, she punched Muzan's arm.
She's ashamed to say her punch did far less than she'd hoped. It had landed. Whatever damage there was, however, simply didn't register to Muzan.
So she really had no choice but to get creative here.
She shifted her grip on the caught arm so she held onto his hand, and her other one grabbed the wrist of his arm.
It's only after she moves that he understands what she wants to do. Do another kick with all of her might, but this time, to rip off his arms and free her from the force that would push him.
Muzan only watched as the kick landed and her plan functioned.
The force she used, alongside her pulling his arms, actually made his Limbs snap away from his Body. She tore off both of his arms before leaping back just in time to avoid his Sharp Whip, having formed at the same time he'd regrown his arms, instead cutting right into the Concrete Floor of the Artificial Island.
Nana threw the decomposing arms of the Demon King to the side while the Whip of flesh retracted into the general length of an Arm. And while she thought she'd dodged it unscathed, the feeling of something wet going down her arm proved her wrong.
Glancing at it briefly, she could see a cut there.
''Those Whips shape and form keep changing...'' and it was annoying to deal with in turn. Nana could never fully predict how those things would be moving.
Because, as hard as it was to keep remembering in the heat of battle, those weren't exactly Whips. Instead, it was Flesh that moved just like a Limb while as flexible as the aftermentioned Object.
And that's exactly what had done in her own Master.
Muzan's other arm shifted into a Whip just then.
''I recall your predecessor was sliced in half by this while he made his escape. It makes me wonder if you will do better at avoiding it or not.''
She knew for a fact that was a taunt even though it didn't look nor sound like one. He was outright baiting her to try and do better than En did.
Whether she actually took the bait or not, he did not care. Muzan swung regardless, and his flesh moved to cut through her.
Nana naturally moved to dodge, but she kept being reminded as she moved that those things didn't entirely follow nature, as when she usually avoided one, that same one could always twist back if needed. And that wasn't accounting for the other Whip of Flesh.
Which, if it wasn't for her first and original Quirk, Float, would have been something impossible for her to dodge. Even then, Sorahiko had already shown he'd been more adept in midair dodging than she'd ever been.
But dodge she did nonetheless, and Muzan did not leave her a single chance to counter but dodge. Again and again and again.
She could not fight back in any way. Or at least, not at first.
But he noticed it.
She tried to approach him closer and closer while she dodged. Something she previously should not have been able to do.
Which only meant one thing, as his eyes remained on her.
''Are her Embers growing stronger?''
Was what remained of One For All somehow increasing in terms of power? Was it why she could follow the movements of his Arms and how she could react so well?
He couldn't exactly deny it was a possibility. After all, it was only because of En, Nana's predecessor, that he was even aware something like that was possible.
But why would they grow stronger...? If his Theory had been right, there was only a certain amount of Power they could draw, and it eventually ran out.
Or at least, it's what's supposed to happen following a certain line of Logic.
But now, Nana was somehow growing stronger.
It's as she flipped over one of his Whips and kicked the other one that came his way, that Muzan suddenly realized what may be at play here. Especially considering how she was moving in ways she hadn't previously.
As if she was tapping into something she didn't need before.
''No... it's just a Living Creatures survival instinct at work. Her Body is tapping into Senses and Strength it didn't need previously to survive this.''
So the question now was how long would it last? And how much would it affect the Embers?
This should be a problem. Something really bothersome to Muzan considering how it meant delaying the inevitable.
But no.
This was a learning Opportunity.
How much could he push those Embers as of the 7th Inheritor?
After all, he was holding back. Going all out would have meant to end of this already, but why do that when he could take full advantage of this situation?
Experimenting.
Let's see what else those Embers could pull...
Let's see how much further Nana could go before being inadvertently pushed to the brink.
So, he augmented the swinging Speed and how much his Flesh bent. Forcing her to push further and further.
But, she actually pulled it off.
She jumped and dived through all of his attacks. Float truly was one of the reasons she succeeded that way, and she continued to move.
Though, sometimes, she was cut still.
Truly, she is lucky Muzan doesn't want to end it yet, or he'd have already injected his Blood and initiated Cell Destruction.
But an end is eventually reached.
She neared, and she was able to duck under one of his final swings considering the distance between them. By the time his Flesh twisted around to attack her again, Nana had already lunged right at him.
''RAGH!''
She threw her fist, putting everything that remained of One For All into it. And her fist collided with Muzan's face.
Muzan's Head reeled back from the impact, bobbing to the left and then stopping still while his flesh retracted and returned to normal.
Nana truly had hoped that if she were able to push the Embers of One For All, she would be able to land a critical Blow or something against this being.
''...so this is it, huh?'' only the Embers clearly were not enough. She certainly hurt him. Bruised his cheek even as it healed over shortly after. But that was it.
A shame, he thinks. The effort she put into this even knowing she was doomed to die was almost admirable. Almost.
''This is everything the 7th user of One For All can muster?'' his right hand went to clutch her wrist, ''How... pathethic.''
His grip tightened, and he felt her Bones crack.
Her eyes widened and her Pupils dilated and as a moment of self-preservation, she threw her other first to his face.
Even though she should have known it wouldn't work. That punch didn't do any damage.
Perhaps it's why Muzan frees her wrist regardless of the failure. Why he allows her to take a few steps back due to her doomed situation.
Or perhaps, he simply wants to make the situation she was in even worse, because he speaks.
''The Power of One For All is supposed to be a Power you Humans cultivate to grow stronger. From each Inheritor, it grows and the more someone uses it to grow, the more it Stockpiles power. Yet, even after 7 Users, it still pales in comparison to me.''
He mocks all of the Inheritors of One For All while crossing his arms behind his back, his expression not showing much of any glee. But his eyes do display some form of pleasure, no matter how small it is.
''My own Power has grown exponentially in recent Years. Over a Millennia Ago, I never needed to delve so deep into my own Biology the way I did. But since Quirks emerged, I was forced to delve much, much deeper. And so, I have developed in ways you cannot imagine.''
Nana truly wished that Muzan was just gloating to her, but she understood the implication he gave, was that he was much stronger than she could imagine.
(She wouldn't process the remainder of his words until much, much later)
And if that was true... then how big was the gap between them?
Her attacks were shrugged off with ease by Muzan. Not even worth any form of Healing to take place, even though she's seen plenty of other Demons need to use their Regeneration against her. His Body was quite literally too hard for anything she did to force Regeneration to kick in.
Perhaps, if she didn't have the dwindling Embers left, she could have truly put up a better fight.
But, Nana thinks, it doesn't entirely matter either. She's only buying Toshinori and Sorahiko time to escape before Muzan tries to give chase.
So what if the gap was big? She'd stand and fight until the bitter end.
Only... she had underestimated exactly which direction Muzan was going with this. Because while this was gloating, it was also more than that.
''So then... witness, Human.''
And then, to Nana Shimura's Horror, Muzan's appearance shifted yet again.
Or perhaps, it was more accurate to say that his Humanoid Form grew to be covered in layers upon layers of Flesh. And emerging out of it, was something she wouldn't have been able to recognize as Muzan due to how utterly different he looked.
Even his Voice didn't quite sound the same. It was Distorted and with a deeper tone, like an Echo. An Echo which magnified his words due to what the words came out from.
''Now Die.''
[Kimetsu Whispers and Rumors]
What about the Blue Spider Lily?
The Hunt for the Blue Spider Lily has become a sort of Side Project to Muzan ever since he achieved Resistance to Sunlight.
In today's time, the Blue Spider Lily is not a high priority anymore. But that doesn't mean he's completely abandoned it.
While he had found an Alternative, he still wished to find that Flower to Study it and discover why it was such an Important Component for his Medicine. However, save for searching its whereabouts, Muzan trusts none of his Demons or Human Underlings of the finer details. And so, there is no mention of Studying said Flower in the Research Facility disguised as an Oil Rig.
What is there to say, honestly?
Nana had fully known she wouldn't win this. Yet, a part of her, vain it may have been, had still hoped she could maybe pull it off somehow.
Maybe, finally put an end to this scourge.
But, it simply was not meant to be.
Reality would not concede to such a Fantasy that easily.
And so, she lost against this Armor of Flesh Muzan surrounded himself with, slashed across the left side of her face and cutting in deeply enough that she lost the Eye.
While she didn't instantly die, the wound was deep enough that she wouldn't make it. And she could tell that was Muzan's intent, as after that, he removed himself from his Armored Flesh.
Just as she fell on her knees.
Casually walking out of it as his Construct decomposed itself, he looked as if he had not even fought her to begin with. Clean and Pristine were his Clothes. Unblemished in any way as he approached her exhausted and kneeling figure.
His expression remained even. His exterior was completely unfeeling. She wondered if he ever did find joy in this, or if it was simply another day for him.
Another Human to kill for his goals of Eternity.
It's only now Nana truly thinks a bit deeper about the Demon King, now that she actually has seen him in action.
That wonder of hers won't last though. Because the Demon King speaks.
''In the end, you weren't strong enough to push me to my limits either. Nonetheless, you were quite a useful test subject.''
At least compared to the previous others. Only the Third User put up a noteworthy fight against him, and Bruce was badly outmatched even with how much Kinetic force he'd tried Fa-Jin to take in.
He stopped right in front of her and then, for a moment, stared in consideration.
Nana didn't get a chance to ask what he was thinking before his arm shot towards her neck.
She choked as he lifted her from said chokehold.
''You Humans... all of you inheritors... you all keep defying me. Again and again and again and again...! What kind of madness do you all keep clinging to?''
It didn't matter what he did against them. They always rebelled against him.
Be it that he made them suffer like he tried with Bruce and prematurely ended with Kudo, or tried to give them their deepest desires with Banjo and En... always, they refused him.
''But this time, you can't even defy me. And compared to your dear Mentor En, you will not even get a chance to run away.''
And by all means, he had her.
But, he underestimated one thing. Insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but it was that when nearing their Deaths, sometimes, Heroes would act in defiance still.
And so, even in this utterly hopeless situation, Nana Shimura gave that damned smile. One that reminded him of Kudo. She decided to go out defying this Demon in front of her.
''Muzan... you will fall to All Might without a doubt.'' he tightened his Chokehold on her, but she continued on even injured the way she was, ''Because Toshinori is even more unhinged than you could ever imagine.''
That damned smile remained...
Muzan went on to scoff before throwing Nana into the ground. As Nana recovered from the Impact with a cough, the Demon went on to do something she considered off.
He clapped.
''What a Comedy I am witnessing.'' the contempt in his voice was filled with amusement, the opposite of the contempt his eyes held, ''I can't help but applaud for the faith you have in your Student. How... Selflfess you are to buy him time.''
Nana forced herself back up, even with how broken and battered her body was. If she could defy him in any way, she'd go for it.
But then, Muzan stopped clapping and his eyes turned from contempt to hate.
''Now drop dead.''
In the next seconds, Nana Shimura was cut in half cleanly from head to toe. She did not have a single chance to try anything.
She was dead just like that as her two pieces fell on opposite sides with a thud while his Flesh Whip retracted back into arm's length.
He'd honestly hoped that doing that would have made it feel more satisfactory, but it didn't. Instead, it left more of a void.
Yet again, One For All escapes him. Yet again, they get away with it while upholding their Ideals tightly.
But at the same time, it just meant he had to repeat the process. And this time, he would be unrelenting.
''All Might.'' he said the name of the next inheritor. Or, more probably, his Hero name. From the name alone, it made figuring out who that boy was hard. But if he based it on his physical appearance...
Now, where had he seen this All Might before?
Ah, right.
On TV. He was watching the Sports Festival.
He was a UA Student.
Breaking through UA would be too much trouble. It was a Hero School, and a Majority of the more competent Heroes were present there.
And not forgetting that he could not risk revealing too much.
But, the thing is... it's a School.
Students do not remain there forever. Eventually, they graduate.
And Heroes can die in the line of Duty. What was one amongst many? And so fresh as well?
He just needed to wait for that Boy to graduate and then move out. Keeping track of him until then should be easy.
Let him lower his guard as he goes on to graduate, and then pounce.
''And I do believe I just have the right corpse for all that information.'' Muzan stared at Nana's halved Corpse.
It was time to eat and learn.
Then, he needed to be patient.
But the thing is, out of the remaining two, one of them was very aware of that particular possibility.
Something made clear by the Eldest some days later after this loss, who were at UA. It was Raining on that Evening. The Thunder did not wish to cease.
''No matter the City, that guy has eyes everywhere.''
Toshinori and Sorahiko were training, which meant that it was a one-sided beatdown. It did not help that Nana had perished, and Muzan knew of who the 8th Inheritor was now.
''And at the rate this is going, he may be able to force you to give him One For All. You have to keep up if you don't want to die as well!''
He kicked hard on and on. Even more relentless than usual.
And Toshinori, who was lost more than ever now, couldn't do anything but lash out once he found an opening of sorts.
''Then what am I supposed to do?!'' He reeled back his fist and moved for a punch as his counterattack, ''I have to become the Symbol of Peace-!''
He was interrupted by a kick from Torino, sending him reeling back from the Blow. And nothing he tried to do afterward worked either.
In the end, he was defeated. His Body was stuck against the Floor of the Training Room they'd been using, and Torino sitting on his back to keep him down while eating a Taiyaki.
''Your enemy is a monster who's been alive for at least as long as the Dawn of Quirks. It's impossible.''
And perhaps it was the truth. Or perhaps it wasn't.
But regardless of if it was or wasn't. Toshinori could not accept defeat. Could not accept lying down like this.
Clenching his fist, his frustration clear, he spoke. Perhaps he was trying to convince Torino, or perhaps his mourning made him blab.
''Master gave up everything just so she could raise One For All. She was a True Hero!''
But his rage only left way for one thing that became all too obvious.
Tears and Sadness.
''I thought of her as my own Mother!''
Yagi Toshinori and Torino Sorahiko were both still mourning Shimura Nana. And both displayed it differently.
Toshinori wished to speed up becoming this Symbol of Peace. Wished to defeat Kibutsuji Muzan the soonest. All so that Nana's sacrifice meant something! Not just another Inheritor who had to pass on One For All and die moments later.
And hearing those words Toshinori spoke, in his own grief yet all the same, wishing to make this sacrifice not be in vain, Torino came to a spontaneous (but slightly considered earlier) decision.
''Toshinori...''
Sorahiko had gotten off his back, his left hand going after the Collar of his U.A. Tracksuit so that they now saw each other face to face. They looked at each other in the eyes.
''What you lack right now, is experience.''
And, for as much as Toshinori was still crying, he still listened to his other and now only Mentor's words.
''You've shown then that you have the Power. Enough to fight that Monster to some level. But you aren't experienced enough. Kibutsuji has had a century's worth of time to gather experience and be the way he is now.''
While Torino knew he may be making assumptions here, it didn't diminish that simple fact. Muzan had time on his side to do whatever he wanted.
''Accumulate as much as you can in order to defeat the Devil who has more than 100 Years' worth of experience. While you attend School, I will train you to the absolute limit. And when you graduate, go across the Ocean.''
Toshinori reacted more than he thought at that moment.
''You want me to cross the Ocean? I can't just-!''
But Torino cut him off.
''I know how deeply you feel about this!'' that shout makes Toshinori go quiet, but it wasn't just because of that.
The Young Man could feel Sorahiki's arm shake. Not because his arm was tiring, but because of the grief he couldn't hide any longer.
''But if you stay within his immediate reach in Japan... if he can get his hands on you personally... you won't stand a chance...!''
Toshinori could see the grief all over Torino's face even as he tried to hide it.
''Toshinori... do you know why Shimura let you escape? Do you know why!?''
And, he knew. He understood very well why.
So, the words were not a surprise to him. Merely a reminder of everything that he would need to do.
''Save your Power.''
That Following Spring, Toshinori graduated from U.A. He had been a third Year, after all. And so, he prepared for his leave. To go across the Ocean.
They'd chosen for him to go to America, at the end of the day.
What better place to gain Experience from than the Land of the Free. The Home of Heroes?
As All Might finished his final preparations for his Journey across the Ocean, he was slicking back the front of his blond hair into two distinct tufts, he was reminded of his Master's words.
''No matter how scary it can get, you have to smile and say you're okay.''
Remembering that, he stretched his mouth to smile, using his Fingers to help facilitate the process.
''Those who keep smiling are the strongest, after all.''
And as his Plane flew away, he made a promise to himself.
One day, he would return.
One Day, All Might, the Symbol of Peace, would arrive back in Japan and bring peace. And when he did, he would finally be able to say those words.
''I am here!''
[Hero Academia Whispers and Rumors]
All Might's Technique Upgrade
During his time in America, All Might has enhanced one of his Named Techniques, ''Detroit Smash'', with a variant of it to be able to deal with Demons and their Regenerative Capabilities due to their different Tolerance to Pain from a Human.
''Detroit Smash: Anti-Demon'' is exactly that.
Concentrating the Full Might of his 100% into a single Point but not allowing it to release into a Shockwave, All Might releases an attack so Condensed it annihilates whatever it hits. Even Cells cannot survive that.
Typically, however, All Might uses this against only Demons and acts as a Headshot, as barely any Demon can remain conscious when hit by this Anti-Demon variant of his Detroit Smash.
Like any sort of Villain, Muzan had developed a Master Plan over the Years. Or at least, over the years since the Dawn of Quirks.
It had only started because his existence had been leaked to the Humans in the whole world. And while Information was still scarce -as overall knowledge had to be learned the hard way, the fact a ''Demon King'' was known at all was already making his desire for an uninterrupted existence, one that allowed him to live in peace, hard to achieve.
Even more so that all of Humanity, or those who bothered to watch the Video, knew his name and could utter it out carelessly in comparison to his Demons who had to carefully use his name when properly needed.
Kudo and Bruce had ruined his Victory over the Ubuyashiki's. And it had in turn forced him to adapt to being known at all.
It forced him to change how he'd deal with things.
And now, with this Master Plan constructed over the years, it could finally bring him back the 99 Years of prosperity he had obtained after his Victory. And this time, he planned for it to be for all Eternity.
But to make it Eternal, he needed to take big steps in the World. Previously, Muzan had wanted to operate in Anonymity so that no one knew who he was. It was something he could have gone through with entirely after Conquering the Sun and disposing of all his Demons through his Curse. No one would know Demons were even a thing once he'd gone through with it.
But Anonymity was hard to fully achieve if people would still look for you. Certainly, it could be said he simply needed to stay hidden and not raise suspicion for several decades and centuries... Eventually, more and more people would say the Footage was fake. An Edit made to spook people.
But why should he do that now?
If Muzan has learned anything, is that there will always be someone who will rekindle what is believed to be Embers into an Inferno. Something will always get in his way, no matter how assured his Victory should be.
Perhaps he had been wrong there when he'd told Ubuyashiki about Heaven never acting against him. Perhaps the Gods or Buddhas had chosen to act against him after all by making sure his desires were never achieved. Or perhaps, if those Entities existed, which couldn't be entirely discarded with how many things he'd seen that indicated so in some shape or form, they had a hand to play in the emergence of Quirks.
Because Quirks had complicated everything.
They're exactly why he had to discard Anonymity. Why he has this new Plan now. But, likewise, they were also one of the reasons why he could pull off this Master Plan of his.
To become the Law itself. To become the one who upholds the Order of the World. To Rule the Whole World.
How could Humans ever dare to fight the most important piece of the Machine that made the Cogs work at all? How could they fight the Structure, the Pillar, of World Order?
The Very Society they lived in, everything they knew since they were born, if they were to fight back, would collapse and fade away into dust.
And all he needed to do to make them dependent on him, to become so Important that fighting against him would be Lunacy, was to Conquer the whole Planet and Monopolize everything.
(Easier said than done, he realizes that, but depending on how he went with it, he had options)
Of course, he didn't immediately think of Conquering the whole World. He didn't even start thinking of becoming the Law itself until much later during his time as the Overlord of the Shadows.
Initially, Muzan had wondered if Ruling this way may just work. If this Dark Age of his would make the Humans compliant through fear of the Dark. If using the Criminal Underworld and Corrupting everything to be within his Palm would be a sustaining thing.
He had a strong grip on Japan, and it meant he could live as he wished due to the low opposition he had after dispatching the All For One loyalists, so he was not planning on letting go.
Except, the opposition did eventually start, and even worse, it gave rise to the Era of Heroes to counter the Villains and Criminality that could go unpunished from his Corruption.
And so, everything went downhill to Muzan again, and he understood as he fought back against the opposition that this would not be sustainable.
(It could be argued that the alternative didn't change anything, except it did in quite a few aspects)
Hero Society formed as time passed, and Muzan found he could not stop the rise of it. Not for a lack of trying, but it seemed the Government had done a recent purge of Corruption as his grip slipped and was now fighting back against him as well.
Initially, he'd thought he could regain control. Thinking over what to change to make this sustainable. But the more he thought about it, the more he understood he needed to change his plans.
It was around the time the Government had fought back that he'd considered his new Master Plan. But it wouldn't be until several years later that this new Plan would be fully thought out into something that could work.
Coincidentally, it was around that point in time he'd eliminated the Sixth User of One for All.
The Quirk was gone yet again and passed on to someone else. Although this time around, he'd seen the next Inheritor in person compared to the several times when he needed to see through the Memories.
Still, it had slipped his grasp again. And at this point, he knew he needed alternatives in case One For All continued to slip him by for the next Decades while Quirks grew stronger.
If only his Biology allowed for the Absorption of Quirks into his Body. It'd make things significantly easier and he wouldn't need to be so obsessed with One For All. Nor would he even need to look for alternatives at all.
But, with the way Quirks reacted against his Blood, it seemed to be impossible.
He himself couldn't harness Quirks in any way, and that wasn't for the lack of trying. His Biology rejected the absorption of Quirks because of how utterly differently his Blood seemed to react to Quirks.
And while turning a Quirked Human into a Demon was possible after some effort on his part, the opposite was not possible. Rejection after Rejection took place, no matter how he tried to control his Cells in other Demons.
It was as if Quirks were made to oppose him in every single way.
Because even Quirked Demons, who had a mixture of Quirk and Blood Demon Arts, would simply not let him absorb their Quirk.
And that wasn't for the lack of trying in that regard either. He'd tried to absorb the Quirks of several Quirked Demons into his Biology, but all attempts failed. The only thing he gained was either Enhancements or Resistances he may not have had previously.
For some reason, Quirks were simply incompatible with him in every way they weren't intended for. Grafting or Absorption. Which meant that One For All was truly his only hope for a Quirk. One that would even assure his Power, as by Nature, it was transferable.
But knowing how much of a gamble this could turn out to be considering the finicky nature of Quirks, he knew he needed those other plans.
Safety Nets, so to speak. Just in case.
If Muzan had learned anything, it was that Plan B's would always be welcomed.
That was how Project Nomu became much more important than simply Muzan playing Mad Scientist. Because that was the Project meant to see how far Human Biology could be pushed when tempered.
A Project that later on, would be synonymous with the word Control.
And the Results he found as he delved deeper were magnificent.
That had happened Months before the Seventh User was baited into the Oil Rig he'd used to advance his Research for years. But now, its use was running out. He'd relocated all of it under another name and another site before using his old research lab as said bait.
That of ''Kyudai Garaki''. After all, he had been the founder of Jaku General Hospital, so his control over the place was flawless. And it had made for more Test Subjects as well, considering the Orphanages and Nursing Homes he had Nationwide.
It was a boon as well, that the Oil Rig was gone. Everything he'd left behind was gone without a trace, never to be seen by anyone else. Nothing could be traced back to him, and it allowed him to work in relative peace in Jaku General Hospital's underground Facility.
And with the hints he'd found in the Oil Rig, his further work here opened a new path. One that could have risen him to greater heights.
Truly, when he'd started Project Nomu, he hadn't expected that very Project would be the path that would give him a chance to augment his Power further without Quirks.
Except, a single issue arose upon studying and testing out this path. One he only notices after he tries something.
Nomu Bodies are artificial in Nature. There was nothing natural about them, as tampering with their Flesh had to be done to allow more optimal transferring of Quirks.
The Tampering eventually went to increase the strength of their bodies to make useful soldiers.
And eventually, the thought did cross his mind.
''Could I not absorb the Biological Enhancements into my own flesh?''
It should have been possible. His Kind ate Humans not only to nourish themselves but to become stronger as well. Depending on the Humans they eat, the Constitution of said Body can allow for Demons to grow even stronger than a normal meal. Marechi Blood, for example, were Meals that made Demons grow stronger at a faster rate.
Muzan followed those same Rules, but as the Progenitor and with the Biological control he has, he can also absorb in specific traits completely if he so wishes. It doesn't matter if they're Humans or Demons, if there's something he wants to take in and assimilate into his Biology, then he can do so.
Like his Sunlight Resistance from that Human Family he'd eaten. Or the Sunlight Immunity of that stupid girl, had she not taken Tamayo's damned Drug.
So by all means, so long it physically existed, it should have been possible.
And yet, Muzan discovered another Flaw in his Biology. As if being unable to absorb in Quirks was bad enough, he could not absorb in the Artificial Augmentations either.
He understood why that was the case after doing some additional research on the matter. Irked as he was then to learn his Perfection came and slipped his fingers again.
(At the very least, one mistake should be corrected upon obtaining One For All)
The Body was too much for the Brain to work, and because the Body never matched with the ''Template'' the Brain gave, the Physical and Metaphysical, it was too foreign to accept as ''Natural''.
If he wished to Absorb in the Augmentations that mattered, then he required someone who could withstand the Augmentations. Someone with a strong enough willpower, that they would be themselves even after the Surgery.
Easier said than done. and yet...
He remembered some words that kept sticking to his mind at times when seeing Human stubbornness.
''Eternity is Human Feeling. Only Human Feelings last forever and are undying.''
Ubuyashiki's words on that Night truly would not leave him in peace. Yet, he had seen those Human Feelings in action so many times that he could not deny it.
It almost touched him. Almost.
Yet, it still made him think. Made him wonder... was there someone with those strong enough feelings?
And, if so...
Where could he find that?
During that time, some other things Muzan hadn't noticed yet took place. Namely, that Yushiro had acted.
In what way, some may ask?
In the form of his application as a Teacher at U.A. An odd thing to hear if anyone knew Yushiro, as he didn't seem to fit the idea of being a Teacher. Yet, he became one nonetheless in that time.
During the infancy days of Hero Society where Pro Heroes had only been around for less than a decade, you didn't quite necessarily need to be a Hero to apply to Hero Schools as a Teacher. And while in the Future, it would be heavily required, some subjects were willing to ignore the applicant being a Hero.
Granted, Yushiro would still be required to take a Test to show if he was fit for the Role of a Teacher in General or not. But thanks to not only knowing the Youthful Heroine: Recovery Girl, Chiyo Shuzenji, but also bringing in a New Subject that he'd fully discovered, his acceptance to the Hero School went smoothly.
As for why his New Subject was accepted? That was easy.
Because Total Concentration Breathing was being rediscovered over time. Be it because of Heroes and Villains alike who acted on the Field and sometimes felt stronger with the way they breathed, or because Doctors theorized why some with Quirks that had their Breathing changed made them feel stronger than normal, there was no doubt that signs could be seen.
So, Yushiro decided to introduce a ''Theory'' to the Medical Community.
What if, depending on how one Breathes, it could allow for overall enhancements?
The rest made itself. Eventually reaching the Higher-ups who practically demanded to have ''Total Concentration Breathing'', as Yushiro had been the one to be given the chance to name it, be taught in all Hero Schools due to the non-neglectful advantages it gave.
It made even those with Quirks that weren't fit for Battles useful for the front lines.
As for why Yushiro did that? It was simple.
He did not believe keeping Total Concentration Breathing a secret was a wise idea.
Make no mistake, Yushiro didn't believe that it would be purely used by the Good people. There would always be rotten Humans in this. Villains existed after all, and he knew for a fact that this would be brought over to their Ears. Many would try to Master the Art for their own gain, but only a few would succeed.
Still, the pros that came out of this reveal outweighed the cons in his eyes.
Because the Heroes, the Humans who fought against the Evil that had remained in this World, needed this to hold on even better against foes they had to deal with daily.
Or else, it would allow for Muzan to regain the control that had continued to slip him by.
But then, why become a Teacher at all?
He'd already gotten Total Concentration Breathing to be known, so why would he later on apply to Teach at U.A. High School? Shouldn't what he had done already be enough?
Anything more risked his exposure as a Demon to others, or of his location to Muzan.
So why would Yushiro Yamamoto risk even more by applying to be a Teacher?
And the answer to that was simple.
It was because of the Era they all lived in today.
Muzan rules Japan from the Shadows, but he doesn't have complete control anymore. It isn't nearly as strong as how it used to be. Heroes are fighting back, and Heroes are, by all means, the future of this Country. Of the whole World even.
They were the ones with the best chances of defeating Muzan once and for All.
So Yushiro wanted to see it for himself. Selfish it may be, he wanted to see those Human Generations grow and eventually win this millennia-old conflict against the Demon King. And if he could help them along the way, then all the better, right?
Especially since it correlated rather well with how some of his Friends's Descendants or Students of Students had grown an interest in Heroics. Some of them were Quirked after all, so the chance to freely use their Quirks was tempting too.
And if it meant some of them could do further good than stay hidden and train on and on in hopes they would become strong enough to take on the Demon Progenitor one day, then why would they refuse?
Granted, not all thought that way either. But it was clear Heroics was becoming a prominent topic.
So, Yushiro did his Job with that in mind.
He taught. He nurtured. Did everything a Teacher did and spread Total Concentration Breathing so the Heroes would have better chances of winning this conflict. And also continued painting Lady Tamayo when he had free time. He couldn't forget that!
What Blasphemy would it be if he ever stopped?!
Granted, sometimes his temper got the better of him... but he succeeded in his goals.
He taught. And Total Concentration Breathing began to spread like wildfire for years to come. Before All Might made his return, everyone at least knew the Breathing Art existed. Whether they could use it or not entirely depended on them.
But it made him feel proud.
It's an odd feeling for him. To realize he was proud of someone else who wasn't Lady Tamayo or named Chachamaru. To realize he was truly happy to see those Students reach great heights upon their Graduation,
(And saddened when they didn't, or even worse, perished)
It shouldn't have surprised him. Had he not been able to befriend all of those who'd run away to fight another day? Did he not feel proud of their Descendants who proved to be worthy?
Perhaps it's why he doesn't entirely mind when he is given the position of Principal at U.A. It hadn't been planned, Yushiro had only planned to teach for two decades or three, and then leave since he would noticeably not age. But he's not entirely against it either.
If only because it meant he'd see firsthand what he wanted.
To see the Growth of the Future Generations who would one day bring down Muzan. Or at least, however long his Cells lasted before Mortality hit him again.
(He didn't dare think of the situation as if, only when)
He'd noticed that his Cells slowly but surely degraded back into Human, showing that while Lady Tamayo had miraculously been able to turn Yushiro into a Demon, the process did have its flaws.
Perhaps because they were severely altered before their usage in him, it meant that it would always be a more washed-down version. Never to have True Immortality in it and instead weakening over time.
And it made a part of Yushiro anxious.
Because Muzan would not go down quietly. That had become far too obvious to him after witnessing his Battle against All For One through the Video.
Yet, that did not demoralize Yushiro. Certainly, it only worried him more, but this? It showed that at the end of the day, nothing had changed.
That Muzan was more stubborn, that he was stronger, that he was smarter or whatever... it changed nothing.
Yushiro would personally make sure to drag Muzan to hell even if that's the last thing he did.
And so, Principal Yushiro Yamamoto watched on as the Humans of Old and New grew. All while knowing one day, they would fight against the Oldest Villain of them all...
[Kimetsu Whispers and Rumors]
The re-emergence of Total Concentration Breathing
While Quirks are Predominant in Hero Society, alternatives have always been sought out as Villains and Demons only grow more dangerous over time.
Hence, the rediscovery of Total Concentration Breathing as an additional force that anyone could use.
Some have the concept and idea in mind, while others can use it themselves. Most Hero Schools in today's time have Classes to teach this and make it usable, as it's an invaluable skill to have on the Field considering how it evens things out, no matter what your Quirk is.
Breathing Techniques, however, have been left completely forgotten and are only remembered by the Descendants and Students of those who escaped into the Shadows.
The Eight One For All user who had escaped to America, where his reach was much more limited, would return to Japan around the time he was in his 30s.
Not that Muzan even knew his exact age considering he never bothered to remind himself the ages of any of the Wielders.
They were all Human and with Adult bodies. That's all that mattered to him.
However, he absolutely hated to admit it, but when the Eight User returned...
He changed everything.
All Users before him could not hope to match him in any way, shape, or form. Perhaps if they had fought the him prior to the Dawn of Quirks, they would have had a better chance. But past that, it was downright impossible.
And yet, that boy? The one whose Hero name was All Might?
The Cells in his Body screamed with fear.
Just from looking at him on a Screen, he could downright feel One For All within him. Radiating with so much Power he felt like cowering. And if his sheer power wasn't what made him fear him, then it certainly was the systematic dismantling of his whole Underworld Operations.
Because this single man was successfully dismantling what he had built over the Years. Every minute he'd wasted in the Underworld since All For One had corned him similarly to Yoriichi, fading away into ash.
No Demons or Quirked Humans he had could hold against him. They all fell to his fist.
And all because that man had somehow gotten One For All to be this strong during his Years out of reach.
Muzan had noticed that the Quirk in question seemed to have grown noticeably stronger after its Third Inheritor. But since then, the Augmentations were nothing noteworthy.
Up until this one.
Up until All Might.
And suddenly, the One For All Quirk had become so much stronger that Muzan truly feared he might not be able to face off against the Eight Inheritor.
Even worse, All Might's presence had emboldened the Heroes as a whole since they'd gotten bolder. No longer did it seem like they were fighting an endless wave of Monsters, but something with an end in sight.
And it forced Muzan to act quickly.
Because this was the Foundation he still needed even with the Formation of his new Plan. The Underworld's Power was something he needed to achieve his Eternity, and he couldn't allow those pesky humans to undo it all prematurely.
Nonetheless, it became increasingly harder due to how unbeatable All Might feels. And Muzan was forced to entertain the idea he may need to directly confront this colossus of might.
But then, during that time, a surprise comes to him.
One that fits in rather nicely with his Safety Net. And adds new layers to it as well. Because this suddenly decreased the danger that All Might poses. And all of that because of the feelings he would certainly feel, should he lay his eyes on him.
And that?
That's Tenko Shimura.
Coincidences can happen. In fact, it will always happen.
Not everything is predetermined. Not everything has a purpose. Sometimes, things just happen because they do.
Muzan knows that very well.
A Majority if not all of the Demons he created during his first Millennia of Life were turned into Demons by coincidence. He never particularly sought out any of them and simply turned those he deemed useful. All of his Upper Moons had been discovered by chance. Meeting Tamayo or Nakime had been by chance as well. Even stumbling on Yoriichi was pure coincidence.
There was a real chance that, had he not met Yoriichi then, he'd never have even met that Monster. It would have spared him quite the pain, but he'd fallen onto him and bore the consequences.
Likewise for that boy in Asakusa. It just so happened that Kamado was in that City when he was as well. If he hadn't, then that boy would have never seen him.
And now, here it happens again. But this time, it is so much more important. Coincidence it may be, it unlocked a path Muzan struggled to take previously.
In the form of Tenko Shimura.
All it took for Muzan to find that boy, were his Senses that allowed him to Detect Lifeforms around him. Augmented over the Years since the Dawn of Quirks, it now helped him distinguish each Lifeform in more detail due to the variety they held.
Like how now, he could tell if a Human was still a Child or an Adult. Or be able to sense certain types of Quirks, so he was particularly aware that this Lifeform was a Child with an Emitter-Type Quirk.
One that currently was located under the Bridge he just took to cross.
It was a coincidence he was crossing that bridge on that day. Because on that day, Muzan had decided to take the long way to a Meeting with a Company. Which meant going by foot instead of a Car. Support Gear was getting increasingly better and advanced over the years, so he needed to keep a closer eye on them.
And find a way to smuggle those enhanced support gear for himself. He never could have too much of anything.
But it's exactly what makes him notice this lonely child right under the bridge, and a simple thought crosses Muzan's mind.
''Ah. A Quick Meal.''
Perfect, right? He'd be able to fill himself up slightly and then continue for a while longer without needing to hunt and waste precious time he could use to further his goal.
So he deviated from the Trajectory and headed under the bridge.
The moment his eyes could see the whole area, he spotted the child instantly. Sitting against the Wall, looking down at the ground in utter hopelessness. Not knowing what to do.
(He didn't notice the composition of the Flesh and what the Blood Contained immediately. He wouldn't notice who this boy was related to until later)
His overall appearance also told a story. Of something going wrong and causing his hands to be covered with dried Blood.
Perhaps a Quirk Accident.
And when he saw the Child in that state, an idea came to mind.
Because in the end, a Child's past could shape them. Was it not why he'd set himself as this ''Well-Intentioned'' man who wanted to take care of those Orphaned Children with his Nurseries?
So that they would be willing to listen to him? Their Savior?
Someone with a strong Will or Emotion was bound to emerge. And if it was a Child that grew alongside him, then it would ensure a certain amount of safety. Or at least enough delay for a Backstab to emerge.
And right now, what he had hoped didn't come from his Nursery, but from the Streets itself.
And so, he spoke. Faking all the emotions he would use to make this work. Years of Experience with his Disguises and faking every trace of Emotions to those ''Families'', ''Colleagues'' and ''Coworkers'' served him wonderfully.
''What are you doing here alone?''
The Child stirred slightly, showing signs he was startled to hear someone's voice at all. Muzan took steps forward.
''In your state, someone should have come to help you. But... they haven't?''
The fact a Child was utterly alone, sitting under a Bridge as his only shelter... well, it said enough, did it not?
''It must have hurt. To have no one come to your aid.'' granted, this was more of a guess than the truth here.
Muzan could only assume this was the turn of events that took place.
That the Effect Hero Society had on the Humans showed themselves to that boy. That everyone said a Hero would do it. A Hero would help.
Only, decidedly none came.
Because Heroes were busy. They had emergencies to deal with, Villains, Demons, and overall Criminals to deal with while rescuing those they did notice.
And this child ended as merely a blip compared to those.
But who was Muzan to complain about obtaining another useful asset because of those Flaws? It just meant he had another chance of success.
He gave Sympathy now while approaching the Child further.
''You looked for help, right? Hurting and Alone. Hoping on and on for someone to lend you a helping hand, and none gave it, am I right?''
And the boy? He looked at him. In awe, almost. As if he couldn't believe that now, he was receiving what he wanted. That now, finally, someone was lending him a hand.
''You've suffered... how awful for you.'' the boy had moved up, slightly forward, and Muzan knelt in front of him. It allowed him to see the melancholic expression on the man's face alongside the sad smile.
An odd thing to see, were anyone else to see it. Especially since those eyes weren't disguised in the slightest, but completely in the slitted state they were known to be.
''Let me guess. They all passed you by, haven't they? All saying a Hero would save the day. Hoping it, as well. Never to take action...'' he sorrowfully spoke, only magnifying everything his expression gave.
''Oh, how sad that this is the state of things.''
Muzan extended his arms and wrapped them around the boy, giving him a comforting hug. One that caused the boy to cry, his tears falling unrestrained because finally, someone had come to help him.
''It's alright now. Why? Because I am here.''
Only, it wasn't by a Hero's hands.
No, the boy had quite literally fallen into the Hands of the Devil himself. The worst Villain of them all.
And he didn't know. He wouldn't know it for a while.
The opposite of Muzan, who had learned the identity of this boy the next day due to the familiarity of the Flesh and Blood Composition. It all became even better.
Nana Shimura's Grandchild! Utterly perfect! And even better, he'd killed his entire Family!
That Orphan was completely and utterly alone, with no one he knew around anymore.
He could get a Perfect tool if used properly.
And if he did it right, then he could kill two birds with one stone. Cause Chaos in Society with the Grandchild of a Hero, Mentor to All Might himself, while having him develop to eventually accept his Surgery.
The one that would bring the Perfect Physique. The strongest Physical Body possible. The strongest one could obtain through Procedures without Breaking their Mind.
Yes, this boy would become simultaneously his Greatest Work and his Strongest Meal. The one that would bring him the Physique needed, in case he couldn't obtain the One For All Quirk within this Generation.
But if he absorbed then the Augmentation and added on top of it the One For All Quirk... well, Muzan is certain he will be Invincible in every meaning of the word.
And so, said Villain took this Child in as his Ward.
The Boy was brought to his Home. A Mansion of all places where he was cleaned up before being given his Room.
''Since I live in a Mansion, I'll give you access to a bigger Room than you previously had. It'll even give you more place to decorate.'' he knew very well that Children like to fill up their Rooms with lots of stuff.
Muzan laid an arm on Tenko's shoulder in a comforting manner, ''I certainly hope you will enjoy your new room. Starting today, this is all yours. However, you will have to call me Master.''
Tenko knew that the word Master could mean two things. So, even in his current state, he questions about it.
''Master...? What... will you teach me?''
''Good question.'' Muzan nodded along as he removed his hand and headed for the Door.
''The answer to that is tied with a Gift I have for you.'' he opened it and headed out for a moment. Shortly after, he came back with a Cart. On top of it?
Several Hands.
''This is what remains of your Family.''
Rather surprising all things considered. When Muzan came to check on the location, the Police Force was already there. It was easy to impersonate one and look around the ravaged Home, especially since this wasn't his first time doing it.
The Hands were the most intact things that remained of the Family, surprisingly enough. But, it also had given him a display of what Tenko's Destructive Quirk may have been about.
''A Rare Variant Quirk manifested within you, one we've never seen before.''
He had researched afterward the Family Tree. On the Paternal side, Nana and Kotaro shared a similar Quirk. They both could float. On the Maternal side, it seemed they all had Quirks that allowed them to repair objects.
By all means, Tenko Shimura should not have developed his Destructive Quirk. Yet, he did. Because at times, Quirk Genetics went on to form a completely new Power.
How fascinating, is it not?
''You murdered your entire Family with your own hands.''
Just as expected, bringing that up alongside the only remains of his Family, Tenko's mind flashed him the Memories of that Night.
He scratched and scratched and even went on to vomit what Food Muzan had given him.
It would seem then, that Tenko's mind had locked away those Memories. Not all that surprising. A Child was unlikely to be able to handle those kinds of memories.
''It's returned to you, hasn't it? Or at least, pieces of it.'' if he truly did want to know, he'd have to scour his mind. But that's not something Muzan was planning on doing.
But, he was right. Snippets of those moments crashing right into Tenko's brain. And he felt an inexplicable frustration, to the point it made him feel nauseous.
What he did next however, was exactly why Muzan had chosen to retrieve those Hands and modify them the way they are now.
Because he leaned to the hands, and held on to as many of them as he could, grasping them tightly around his arm as if doing a hug.
Giving him Comfort.
Yes... he's sure the remains will come in quite handy.
But now, it was time to take the next step. An Important one as well. Without waiting, he spoke on.
''As your Master. As your Teacher, I will teach you something Important. Vital for all living beings, dare I say. Those Feelings you have... That Frustration... I will give you a purpose.''
A sense of Purpose helped many. A purpose made them focus their attention on it. And one that Tenko especially would need.
''You have within you an Impulse to Destroy that even you can't control. It's bursting out of you, and the Itching you always scratch is your Body letting you know.'' he leaned over the Table.
''You don't have to endure it. Your Impulses aren't necessarily a bad thing. However, you need to aim it somewhere.''
And Muzan gave a thin smile that was barely going up, knowing very well where his Pupil would need to aim it at. All he needed to do, was give a small push.
So, he did.
Sometime later, after Tenko had acclimatized slightly to this Life, Muzan sent him out to get some fresh air and get used to doing it alone already.
Into a Territory of Thugs.
As he'd hoped, something must have happened with the Thugs, because when he returned home, like any Child would, he cried.
Frustrated, absolutely itching and itching to do something against those thugs, all while he flailed on the Ground. In front of Muzan no less, who was currently seated on his Bed.
He hadn't changed at all during the time between then and now.
''Now what has you act this way Tenko? What has happened that has you act so pitifully? A Bad Encounter, perhaps? The Streets are filled with Thugs. Utter wastes. They act as they see fit... so then, shouldn't you to?''
Although he didn't quite give the impression, what with his flailing and constant scratching, he was listening. And that was all that mattered right now.
''The Current structure of the World was ultimately created by People. Human beings. People who desired a World like this. Centuries Ago, some of the Conscience, Morals or Ethics considered normal, were abnormal long ago, not thought out until much later. Fabrications invented by others... so then, why don't you fabricate your own Rules?''
Hearing that, it made Tenko go still. He listened and repeated the words carefully in his mind, but one was noteworthy to him.
Create... his own Rules...?
''What is it you want to do now, Tenko?''
And when meeting that question, there was only one thing he had in mind.
''Those two guys who hurt me back there... I wanna kill them.''
And with each word he spoke, Tenko crawled towards one of the Hands on the Table.
''I dunno how to explain it, but it's like this bad feeling is filling me up, and I can't stop it. I can't hold it back!''
And upon touching it, he decayed that hand entirely.
And when seeing this, when hearing what he felt, Muzan smiled. And with it, encouragement.
''Then, I only have one thing to tell you. Do your best.''
And so, Tenko headed off to kill the Thugs. The Time of the Day or Weather did not matter to that boy.
Only to Destroy.
And from the Shadows, up a Rooftop, Muzan watched. Holding an Umbrella to keep himself dry on that Rainy Night.
He watched Tenko kill those Fools without a shred of hesitation. And for it, he smiled.
''Good. Very well done, Tenko.''
He couldn't be any more pleased. Tenko was going down the Path he wanted him to. The Path that would be the being of Destruction.
And just now, he's taken that first Major step!
He had to admit, he was proud of Tenko. And what an odd feeling it was, to experience such a thing firsthand.
And those hands were proving themselves all the more useful.
Those Hands restrained him, in a sense. They were his Limiters, but also a constant source of comfort. It's why he'd modified them to be able to latch onto anything and why he told Tenko to wear them.
The Emotions he had would be his weapon. Those very emotions and the will that formed would be what allowed him to prevail, the day he fully remembered. The day he finally was worthy to evolve.
Until then, he would cultivate him.
But for today, he deserved a reward.
And reward Tenko he shall. The next day, Muzan returned with the Cart.
''I have to congratulate you Tenko. You've just taken your first step at a new life by killing those Thugs. So, I decided to give you some gifts. Just like your Family, now, you shall receive their hands, as they helped you unknowingly cause this new life.''
But, if Tenko counted right, then why was there an extra one?
''There were only two of them. So why five?''
''A replacement for the one you destroyed. If you want to have a full set, then you'll need it.''
And there was only one more thing to do now.
To see his Project as he fully would be. To see his Rebirth.
A New Name alongside the hands that made him feel Ill, yet soothed him at the same time.
So, Tenko wore the Hands again. Muzan didn't watch yet, he waited until he put them all on. And then...
''Now, show me your New Self...'' Muzan turned around to see the Boy covered with the Hands. His New Identity.
And considering the First and Last name he had in mind, it would fit this Child Perfectly.
''Tomura Tsugikuni.''
Tomura repeated the name with his Mouth, confusion and wonder forming at what these two words meant.
''Tomura... Tsugikuni...?''
And Muzan gladly answered.
''Tomura comes from the Verb [Tomurau], meaning To Mourn... Look it up in a Dictionary or Google it, and you will learn it is used when one Grieves and says goodbye to the Dead. And that's your case, is it not? Tenko Shimura is no more. You have been reborn and now shall become the one who beckons acts of mourning into this world of ours.''
That answered one part of it, but Tomura still wanted to know.
''What about Tsugikuni?''
And for it, his Master grinned. Truly gave one instead of acting. He was very well aware of what that name meant.
After all, it pertained to the Man he so loathed and once feared, but also his Strongest and most Loyal Subordinate.
The Sun and the Moon.
The Pinnacle of what a Human could get at the time, and the strongest Demon he had.
Yet, the significance of that name was more of an Inside Joke now, considering he was the only one aware of it.
''Well, let's just say that particular name is meaningful to me.''
Out of Spite and Respect, he gave this Child, perhaps to be his greatest masterpiece, the Last Name of those dead Men.
And so, from that day onward, Tomura Tsugikuni was born.
A Year prior to obtaining Tomura Tsugikuni, a certain turn of events took place. Though at the time, he had never expected it would ever happen.
Especially since Muzan was finalizing one of his Projects during this. One that only really becomes Important because of the rising popularity of Quirk Boosting Drugs or just overall any Boosting Drugs.
All Might's arrival and the Heroes increased pushing back against Criminality in General was clearly making a great many Villains and even his own Demons worry.
(So was he, but Muzan would never admit it)
But this did give rise to an opportunity Muzan decided not to waste.
And this Project killed Two Birds with one Stone.
In the form of an Underground Fighting Arena named The Underground Masquerades. Plural, assuming this one worked well. He couldn't quite limit himself to only Japan if this was successful.
This would not only allow him to observe any promising candidates who participated, but he could then either have them join him, harvest their Quirk Factors, or be used as Laboratory Material.
But, most prominently so far. It would allow him to test out the Quirk Boosting Drugs that he created. See how it works, improve them, and then sell them to all the Villains who are desperate for a chance to fight back against All Might and the Heroes.
And just like that, it'd give him Human Shields to delay the Heroes while he continued his work, and subsequently, reached his goal.
Desperation truly was quite a weapon when used properly.
And as this entity who required no sleep, it meant Muzan could oversee the Construction of the Masquerade the whole Night.
And it's while he's doing that, taking advantage of no requirement for sleep, that he receives a Phone Call.
Nothing odd there, as it was expected. Many of his Pawns were Humans. And when they had to report to him something, even if it was Night now, they called him.
So when he excused himself to another room for some privacy, he moved to answer.
''What is it?''
''Sir. Pardon me for calling you at this time, but I believe this is information that you may find useful.''
Ah. One of his Informants. And if they called...
''What is this Information you speak of?''
''The President of the Safety Commission has been killed.''
Oh? Truly now? That pest was dead?
The Hero Public Safety Commission, or HPSC for short, were perpetual thorns at Muzan's side. Especially their President, who made it a point to always thwart him.
If it wasn't because it reminded him of the Ubuyashiki's, he may have begrudgingly respected the man for trying that badly.
The most notable one to him was when he'd corrupted one of their Heroes. Tempting him to his side, and wanting to use him as an insider.
Somehow, he was discovered. And the President decided to have him killed shortly after.
Corruption was unacceptable to them. Or perhaps it was only him.
Regardless, he was genuinely surprised to hear that the President of the Safety Commission was truly dead. Especially since Muzan had tried to get him killed several times through his Pawns, but failed.
''Do you by chance know who killed him?''
''Yes. The one who killed the President is none other than the Hero, Lady Nagant.''
Well, that was another surprise. A Hero had done it. A Hero had killed the President. But why?
He asked that much to his Informant while an idea formed in his mind.
''Do you know why she did that?''
Maybe he could use this to his advantage. Because depending on Lady Nagant's reasons for killing the man, he may just be able to utilize it.
''Negative.''
This slightly complicated things, but he could run along with it.
He went on to ask an important question.
''And I presume she is being transported to Tartarus very soon? Or will she be executed for her treason?''
''I heard that she'll be transported to Tartarus. In fact, I think it'll begin soon.''
Well then, this proved to be a wonderful opportunity.
Because Lady Nagant was known to be the best Marksman in all of Japan. Probably the whole world too.
She had killed so many of his Men with those skills of hers. And while Muzan did not fear her, it'd be a lie if he said he wasn't annoyed by how many of his Tools she'd snuffed out.
Yet now... she up and does this?
How could he not see an opportunity out of this?
''Very well. Keep close attention to the situation and inform me of what else happens.''
Then, he hung up, following with him scrolling through his Contacts on his Phone, and when he arrived at the one he wished to speak to, he pressed the call Button.
''Hello, Sir?''
The moment he received an answer, he went straight to the point.
''I have a mission for you. Can you prepare your Men to act within the Hour?''
It wasn't a question. And the one he called knew that very well. When he called, there was a Mission they had to fulfill.
''Of course Sir! But, what is the Mission about?''
''Simple. I want you to intercept an Escort.''
He wanted this Woman brought to him.
Then, if he succeeded in converting her to his side or not, would she get to live or encounter her demise.
Though he only told his Contact about bringing Lady Nagant to his Home.
And so, the call ended swiftly after the necessary was done, and Muzan headed off to his home earlier.
Considering how often Muzan had shifted Locations, the fact this had become a more permanent residence was a nice change of pace for him. If it'd remain that way remained to be seen, but assuming it all went as it should, he did not need to worry.
He patiently waited, going over and reviewing some of his other projects while waiting. And a few hours later, they arrived.
Their Mission, a success.
They brought her where he'd asked them to, and while that was going on, Lady Nagant -or just Kaina now- was reminiscing about the events that took place in the past few hours. Or at least, she was doing so while regaining consciousness due to what had ended up happening.
Specifically what had happened when the Escort that would have taken her to Tartarus was assaulted.
She barely saw anything, and the little she heard painted the expected picture of ramming Cars and killing those in their Path.
Probably all of them to considering how the Armored Truck had stopped moving at some point. So, she was utterly alone and left to what this fate led her to.
And then, they broke through the back of the Truck and the one at the front had a grin on his face she did not like.
''You're in luck hero! Lord Muzan wants to meet you!''
Those had been the last words she'd heard before being dragged into another vehicle and then promptly knocked out cold by a drug. Hence why she was now regaining consciousness and why she remembered it all while doing so.
While that Man said it was luck, she saw it as otherwise.
A Death Sentence.
Because why else would the Demon King himself want to meet her but end her Life with his own hands?
She had been a particular thorn in his side due to how many of his Allies she'd killed.
So imagine her surprise when she doesn't find herself a corpse but instead finds herself seated on a Kitchen Table once she opens her eyes, her hands cuffed on the table and effectively making her Quirk useless.
Everything screamed luxurious, but it was overshadowed by this Malicious presence that kept oozing all over.
Mostly because the Demon King was seated at the opposite end of the Table. She had quite literally the Devil himself in front of her.
If Kaina wasn't so used to dealing with Demons, she'd have been surprised by how Human the Demon King looked. He matched the Physical appearance from that Video at least.
Yet she felt like something utterly foreign as well. As if he just... didn't fit.
But those thoughts quickly got squashed as the Demon King addressed her.
''Lady Nagant.''
And her worry increased as his words came. For it could signify a very quick sentence.
''The Top Marksman in all of Japan. A Hero who the Hero Public Safety Commission use often to clean up after issues that others cannot handle as easily.''
She shouldn't be surprised he knows that. Of course he'd have looked over all the Info about her that he could gather. He wouldn't have had her transported wherever this was if he didn't know enough about her.
But, she still is.
Though it's not entirely because he knows. It's what he does next.
''Welcome to my Home.''
He greeted her politely.
Kaina hadn't expected that. At all. She'd truly thought she'd be offed right about now. Unless this was to lower her guard.
But when someone bothered to greet you -granted, while she was restrained- it meant they wanted to talk. And if the Demon King wanted to talk, then she wasn't about to refuse the chance given to find a way out of this situation.
Not that talking to said Demon would be easy considering what he gave off. Nor would escape be easy, if the rumors were holding any truth to them.
''Hello...'' she starts slowly, all while staring at the restraints attached to the Table that have her arms locked.
''Don't bother.'' and worry immediately shoots all over her, ''You're not going to get out of those restraints unless I say so. So stay compliant, hm?''
Immediately following that, not letting her speak, he followed up.
''After what you've done, you have my attention. The now-deceased President of the Safety Commission has been a thorn in my side, just as you have been. Yet you disposed of both with one fell swoop. I'm impressed.''
Yet what sounded like a compliment felt more like an insult, and she only felt more nervous as his eyes continued to pierce right through her. He wasn't done talking either.
''You've branded yourself a Criminal with your actions. For a Hero, you've truly just turned the situation in my favor. But I have to question, why do that to begin with? Why turn?''
Why was he asking her that? Just for the sake of curiosity? Kaina hid her confusion as best she could, but the worry that kept its presence throughout all of this became stronger at this moment.
Because she had no idea what the whole point of this was.
But she's done for either way, isn't she?
Tell him, and she probably dies. Don't tell him, and she's even more likely to die.
So it all depended on whether she wanted to be stubborn or not. And honestly? Kaina didn't have the will to try and fight back against this.
Still, if she was going to tell, then she might as well try to see if she can get answers herself.
''Why are you even asking me that?''
There was a moment's pause where nothing else was said, and Kaina worried she may have already overstepped her boundaries.
''For my own curiosity.'' but in the end, he did answer her, ''What made you crack? What exactly made you decide to turn now was a good thing?''
If she didn't know any better (and did she truly?), she'd almost think he was admonishing her.
But, she had her answer. He was curious, apparently. If that was the truth or not, she did not know.
But, she caved in and answered.
''Because it's all a phony sham.''
Muzan quirked an eyebrow but let her continue.
''I've killed so many. Thinking it would make things better, improve things around if I got rid of anyone who tried to do harm. And I kept thinking that way for Years and Years. But it's never changed a thing... I kill, and I keep those rose-colored glasses on. Then, I repeat it all under the belief it makes things better.''
And while Kaina said that, Muzan internally smiled that he finally had the answers he sought out.
The Desilusioned one. That's what she was.
Well and truly tired of how things were handled. Muzan felt like mocking her just because of what she believed.
''I keep this superpowered society in its gilded daydream. I let them see the Bright and Shiny Side while the Dark Truth gnaws at me... it's all a Paper-thin Illusion.''
Because if he understood her right, then what she truly wished... was Reality.
Let the Truth be out for everyone. Let them all see without anything hidden. But then what?
What happens to Heroes, if their credibility gets constantly squashed? When faith in them is lowered because they fail or are shown signs of corruption?
Well, Muzan knows very well.
It would be back to the Dark Age he'd manufactured. Back in those days when safety and trust were not so easily obtained. Or perhaps even further back, even towards the Dawn of Quirks.
He wonders if Nagant realizes this in any shape or form, or perhaps, she simply doesn't care.
Perhaps she sees this as the better option regardless?
This gives him the opportunity he wanted. Now, it was time to see if he could convert her to his side or simply dispose of her.
''And what if I told you I planned to remake Society as a whole?''
And that caught her attention for the briefest of moments, wondering what he meant by that, before she immediately threw the thought aside.
''Oh yeah, and what is it going to be? Make a Living Hell on Earth or a Paradise for Demons?''
She certainly hated how Hero Society had turned out, how all of her actions were for a sham, but like hell she'd go along with what Muzan had planned. It may as well be even worse.
But Muzan shook his head.
''Make no mistake. I do not plan to make the world into a Living Hell or Paradise for Demons. I care not for that. I quite like the structure the World held before the Dawn of Quirks in fact.''
Kaina had a feeling that she was quite literally hearing something Heroes and Villains alike would have wished to hear for one reason or another.
Because this was insight into the Demon King that no one had ever heard before. A deeper look into his mind none have received previously.
''And that's exactly what I will do. Once I rule the World, I will abolish the Hero System, but nor would I allow Villains to remain. I desire to rule a World that actually can keep its everyday Life as is. Where one needs not to fear tomorrow. Where one can live a simple life without troubles.''
That... sounded good. Nagant would not lie in that regard. However, she did not forget who said those words.
''You know... that sounds nice and all... but I'm not an idiot.''
Muzan raised a brow at the bluntness of it, ''Oh?''
''Your actions have said the absolute opposite. How many of your Men did I kill because they were about to do something horrible? How many of your Demons have eaten people? How much Blood do you have on your hands?''
Muzan went on to scoff at her words, looking visibly annoyed now.
''Are you really playing the moral high ground on me?''
She knew that made her a Hypocrite. But how could she trust someone so much worse? How could she believe anything this Devil said?
''I am. Because what makes you believe I should trust you in any way?''
The brief annoyance he displayed faded away quickly after her question, as he chose to answer her.
''Because in the end, I will end up undoing Hero Society as a whole. Ultimately, I will make a World that does not need those rose-tinted glasses...''
And she listened all the way. And once he was over, his eyes bore into her yet again.
''So, knowing what I wish to achieve... will you join me?''
Honestly? The answer to that was simple. Because as she said... she was no fool.
''I refuse.''
Muzan's eyes narrowed with a dangerous gleam in them. And she knew what that meant. Still, she dared to finish.
''You're not going to bring what I really want... so why should I accept?''
Kaina truly believed this was the end of it. She'd refused the Demon King. The Demon who ruled the Underworld for a reason.
Yet, it was not.
''Then, why don't you build that world for yourself?''
That question is met with surprise by Nagant. Having not expected those words out of the Demon in front of her.
''You want a clear world. One where nothing is hidden under the rug. No lies. No deceit.''
Muzan moved next to his counter.
''You can either join me to help me form my world. Straightforward as I do not plan to hide anything. All you will see, is what I will do.''
He extended his hand towards the Fruit Basket that was on it.
''Or you can simply try to make the world you desire yourself.''
He grabbed an apple.
''But of course, to make that possible, you will need power. A way to topple the current system.''
Then, he looked at it for a moment before walking to her.
''So, I propose you this. Work for me until the current world is toppled. Then, once Victory has been achieved, either you choose to remain by my side... or try to usurp me.''
And when hearing that, Kaina actually looked right at Muzan in the eyes. Not believing what she was hearing.
''You... you would be fine with me trying to kill you?''
Muzan did not look bothered at all by that while he removed her restraints.
''I am Immortal. Eternal. I do not fear someone being capable of ending me. And even then, in your case, I'd encourage it. After all, if it means your better cooperation, then you can try.''
So, he was using her.
Kaina was not surprised in the least.
''So then, tell me of your decision. Will you cooperate with me, or will you turn your back on this opportunity?''
He extended the apple towards her. And Kaina stared at it in turn.
She had a choice to make, and she didn't have long to choose.
Either, she joined hands with the Demon King to perhaps have a single chance at having a more honest world that maybe could truly make a change, or she presumably died. Or was eaten by the Demon.
In the end, the choice, when given to her in that way, was easy to make.
She grabbed the apple with her now-freed hands and then stared at it.
''But, really?'' she looked unimpressed at the Fruit, which she took a bite off, ''You took a page out of the Bible?''
Luckily, Muzan looked more amused that he was called out of this than anything else.
''I did. Although, the apple was more of a substitute, as the actual fruit is never mentioned. But it's the popular choice when thinking of the Forbidden Fruit.''
It had always been hogwash to him, when he'd found a copy to read. And he truly doubted any of it was the truth. But, it had still given him some inspirational materials if nothing else. Like now.
Kaina nodded along.
Because this was ultimately something that fit the idea in there.
She was tempted into the idea. And she took it. Now, this left her to play a very dangerous game.
One that, if she wasn't careful, would make her the loser...
After all, she was above all else, stepping into Muzan's playing Field. A playing field he had prepared for ages.
So now, there was a simple question in her mind.
How does one kill the Demon King?
[Hero Academia Whispers and Rumors]
The Status of the Demon King in the Hero Network
Muzan as the Overlord of the Shadows and Progenitor of All Demons, is an SS Ranked Villain.
Information about him however is nearly non-existent.
A Great many things happened as time passed for the next 15 Years. Some were Important while some others were trivial.
Like the many times Tomura decayed an object Muzan had to buy again. Trivial, annoying even, but not really noteworthy besides having the Child learn to never use all of his fingers.
Or a bit more noteworthy, that Decay didn't really work against Muzan. They'd both learned that the hard way when it once activated on him, but he Regenerated too fast for it to spread beyond the point where the fingers had touched.
Trivial, at the end of the day.
But then, some of the more important matters would have been All Might's continued effort to diminish his Power.
And it was working.
Muzan absolutely loathed that, but his Power overseas meanwhile only grew while in Japan, Organized Crime was being pressured into extinction.
All things considered, that could have helped him remove any competition as the Sole Villain with Power, but All Might couldn't be controlled that way. Not in any way.
He quite literally was an Unstoppable Force.
Hence, Muzan does not dare go into direct confrontation with him. He does not dare face the boy who somehow developed the One For All quirk to such heights.
Even though it makes him desire that Quirk all the more.
(And he does develop another plan in mind relating to One For All. A way he may be able to obtain it, should he get close enough...)
Meanwhile, in America, there was another Hero. Stars and Stripes. Her rise that would come years later, catching his attention because of what he'd been able to Gather.
Perhaps a Quirk in the Realm of the Gods? At least, if New Order's sighting were anything to go by.
The U.S.A. Government made particularly sure that besides what they see, nothing else is revealed about it. But in itself, what they see already puts quite the image.
It's something Muzan needs to be warry off once his Plan goes into full swing.
Star and Stripe will need to be dealt with the soonest.
But until he was ready, he must wait.
It did however cause him to pass on to Tomura something he initially had not planned. A Type of Safety net, just in case something unforeseen did happen.
Muzan knew he could never be too sure.
''Total Concentration Breathing?''
Tomura repeated what he was just told in confusion. He hadn't looked forward to this considering his Master had told him to wear something for workout.
Which amounted to him wearing a Red Tracksuit.
His Master had also decided to wear something more fitting for the situation, even though Tomura had never actually seen his Master sweat.
So he wore a Dark Red T-shirt, short-sleeved, and sports pants.
''Yes. Total Concentration Breathing was an Esoteric Art that an Organization called the Demon Slayer Corp once used against me. They've since been destroyed, but it allowed Humans in an age where Quirks did not exist, to fight against my Demons.''
And while Tomura was really bothered he needed to work out when he could be doing other things, it'd be a lie if he said he wasn't slightly fascinated by what his Master was telling him.
''It's an Art that Hero Society clearly has discovered again, and considering the times ahead, I decided I should teach you it as well.''
Tomura decided to question this slightly, ''But, wouldn't my Decay Quirk be enough?''
It was less he didn't see the point, and more along the lines of wondering why this should be taught to him.
''For most, certainly.'' Muzan nodded, ''But you need to touch your adversaries. And loath as I am to give credit to those Dead Humans who were a pain for a Millennia of my Life, it is a useful tool when mixing it with your Quirk.''
And his Master added something that surprised him.
''I use it myself, after all.''
Tomura blurted out his surprise, ''You use it?''
''I do. I believe I've already told you how the Dawn of Quirks had forced me to finally be more innovative, haven't I?''
A Nod from Tomura.
''Amongst those Innovations, I decided further down the line to learn Total Concentration Breathing. An ace up my sleeve, so to speak. Just in case I ever did need it. However, you will be taught something slightly differently.''
Muzan crossed his arms.
''Total Concentration: Constant.''
Tomura stared at his Master for a good few seconds before giving out a, ''What?'' in confusion.
''To make it short, what I mentioned to you previously was supposed to be used in bursts. When one wants to attack. Constant, however, is the perpetual usage of that Esoteric Art. Day and Night, constantly breathing in more Oxygen than average.''
Wait, that thing could be done even when sleeping? That sounds like a Permanent Buff. In fact, he voices that line of thinking.
''So, if I learned this... I'd get a permanent buff?''
It took a moment for Muzan to realize the words he'd just used. But, he went along with Tomura's flow there. So, it was time to talk like someone who played Video Games.
''Indeed. You will be permanently buffed, and it will even increase your HP and Stamina bar. Maybe even your MP, actually.''
His MP to? Would it actually affect his Quirk?
Well, no matter if it did or not, Tomura was way too curious about the effects of Total Concentration Breathing.
''So how do I learn that Skill?''
Best to still follow that Gamer talk for now.
''Because of how inherently different our Biologies are, you will need to go through a Quest. A Long quest that will make you gain plenty of XP.'' Muzan walked off to the side to grab something out of his jacket he'd left to the side.
''Namely...'' and out of it, he took a notebook, ''Grinding.''
Tomura knew at this very moment he was going to hate this. Muzan meanwhile tapped the back of his hand on top of said notebook.
''I have prepared you a Minor Training Schedule. Not much, since you're still Young, but enough it should help you perform Total Concentration Breathing easier. Once you can use it properly, we'll get to Total Concentration: Constant.''
He handed him over the Notebook with a Bold title on it. Which Tomura read over once it was in his hands.
''How to Become a Perfect Practitioner of Total Concentration Breathing Constant 101?''
Tomura grimaced.
''That's a lot of words.''
''It is indeed a Mouthful, but it is accurate.'' it had been a ridiculous title, but it's not like this was official in any way. Just for Tomura's eyes alone.
His eyes then snapped at the Entrance of this Room, at which point, he snapped his Fingers.
Without hesitation, in came Kurogiri. His first successful Nomu with a functioning mind. Tomura looked away from the Notebook to Kurogiri.
''What's he doing here?''
Tomura had only seen Kurogiri a few times, since his creation. So he was quite weary of the newcomer. Especially since after two years, he'd gotten used to this life where it was just him and his Master.
''Kurogiri here will serve as your caretaker during your time practicing. While I will be there sometimes, especially today and once you achieve Total Concentration Breathing, I am a busy man. I have work to do that demands my attention.''
Especially because of All Might. He remained a consistent thorn at his side.
''Both of you can consider it a test of mine. For you Tomura, it's to see if you will keep up with the Plans in there. For Kurogiri, it's his test run. See if he can keep up or not.''
Tomura could read between the lines as well. Kurogiri was to be tested here, and see if he could function to Muzan's standards or not.
Because if not... well, the Nomu would be scrapped for Parts or something like that.
Maybe to be used with Master's experiment on Quirked Animals. He did mention he was working on it as of late, the last he heard of it.
Not that he cares what happens to Kurogiri.
''Understood?'' upon that final inquiry, he received his answer.
''Yes, Master!''
''Understood, Lord Muzan.''
And the Demon King gave a pleased smile.
''Good. Now, Tomura. Listen closely.''
And so, the boy's training started. And alongside it, Kurogiri's own test.
To see if he could call his Creation ''Perfect'' or not.
As he would learn as time passed, as Tomura grew with this small addition to his life, the answer was a yes. In fact, he grew to be quite handy to have when Tomura was involved.
But he couldn't always do that. Kurogiri was above all else, his Assistant.
Still, he watched. And he reported to him whenever he wasn't present.
Total Concentration Breathing was something the boy was able to get a grip on. And then, Constant was added on top.
And it worked.
Tomura was stronger for it, and his Quirk became all the deadlier with this combination. And it pleased Muzan further as it prepared him more for the Surgery that would be given to him down the line.
And while his Meal was growing to be all the more appetizing, his work continued.
Even as more Heroes emerged. Even as things became harder, Muzan's plan advanced without an issue.
Villains and Demons continued to spread just as much as Heroes. Albeit, smarter. They couldn't be nearly so open anymore due to All Might and overall increased Heroes to fight off.
And while Japan was facing those issues, the world beyond the Island did not.
His presence throughout the remainder of the World continued to grow. His Puppets made out of his very own Flesh took the vital positions he'd left them in. And allies were formed all the while.
(Enemies to. But they were of little importance)
All was running as smoothly as it could.
And eventually, 15 Years would pass...
[Kimetsu Whispers and Rumors]
The innovations of Muzan's Power
Muzan's Abilities have evolved severely ever since his first battle against All For One. Even past that point, the Demon King has only improved himself further, using everything he possessed to increase his Power while going after One For All and ensuring he remains on top.
Some of those Abilities have been utilized by the Demon King, but a few others have not. Either because they could not be seen, or because he didn't utilize them.
- Increase of Black Blood Techniques in his Possession. Only one was seen used against Gyoemi Himejima.
- Mental Link with his demons has increased. Muzan can see, hear and initiate the Curse on his Demons worldwide now instead of just in Japan.
- Reverse Engineering of his Shockwave used against Tanjiro Kamado and Obanai Iguro to cause Seizures. Additional modifications with the Iron in his Blood have allowed for the Generation of Electricity at Will.
- Generation of Acidic Liquids by utilizing Stomach Acids as its base and his Blood for malleability, creating a See-Through Liquid for new means of Defense.
-Utilization of Body Heat to weaponize it into a Laser Beam from the Eyes.Creation of the Holes in his Palm to fire Arrow-like Bone Projectile. Also serves as a condensing point for his Electricity attacks.
-Increase of Blood Flow to allow for an increase in Regeneration, Speed and Strength. Muzan is capable of enhancing this by utilizing Total Concentration Breathing.
- Utilization of certain aspects of the Demon Slayer Corps Breathing Forms that Muzan has seen personally or through his Demons. Like Maximization of the Legs output similar to the base of Thunder Breathing, or the Final Form of Flower Breathing: Equinoctial Vermillion Eye that allows for Maximum Kinetic Vision.
- Fortification of the Hearts and Brains Durability. Noticeably tougher than the remainder of his Body's own higher defense.
- Sharpening of Lifeform Detection. Muzan is capable of distinguishing each Quirk Category, Emitter, Transformation, and Mutant, without needing to see the individuals properly.
- Enhancement of the Combat Form Muzan undertook upon his Battle against the Corp's Hashira's. The Inhalation Mouths have stronger suction force and the Red Mass coating the Body is tougher than back then.
- Weaponized the Armor of Flesh used originally to Shield himself from the Sun in the Sunrise Countdown Arc. A Description is yet to be found...
The Nomu Experimentations never stopped even after he'd chosen Tomura to become ''The One'' as some would say.
Muzan continued with his work. With the gathering of Power.
More Quirks were harvested. More were Replicated and then combined to make something else out of it.
More Humans were caught and used as his Test Subjects. More Demons were born. More Death and Destruction, even in a World where All Might reigned Supreme.
Even Animals weren't spared in his Experiments.
In fact, he finds success in that field too.
It was hard to Transplant a Quirk Factor at all, and even harder to make said Animal obedient. But eventually, with great effort on his part, he succeeds.
And with it, he gets an Obedient Animal on his Side who also becomes his Backup in Teleportation.
Gloop Warp may be slightly weaker when it comes to Kurogiri's Warp Gate, but it certainly has its uses still.
Now, he just needed to figure out a name for his Pet Salamander who had become bigger than usual due to the Experiments... But that could come later. There was no rush with this one.
Especially when it was around that time that he discovered someone else.
Someone who became, intriguing, so to speak.
Willing Humans weren't a common sight. But for Power, so many would do anything to obtain it. Centuries Ago or Today, that has not changed.
Be it by becoming Demons, or willingly being experimented on.
Just like him.
When an offer for power as a Lab Rat came to the Underworld's Ear, no matter how damaged from All Might's purge, many were showing interest.
After all, the Overlord of the Shadows, the Demon King himself, was offering to give them something that could push their careers higher than ever.
But of course, many decided to wisely not push through with the idea. After all, you would be at his Operation Table.
He could do to you whatever he wanted.
So many grew to back out. All but a few.
And one of them? That was the Human he spoke to currently.
Muzan didn't bother hiding his appearance when they met face to face. His natural form was used, though he wore a Black Sweater under the Lab Coat instead of his typical Vest. He was seated in his Office Chair.
''So you're stricken by a Mutation that causes Cellular Damage. Cause, assumed to be related to your Quirk.'' Muzan's slitted eyes showed nothing as they landed on the person in question, ''Quite a wonder as to how you've survived as long as you have under the Radar all this time.''
Nine.
''As stated before, you will receive Quirk Strengthening and Bodily Enhancement. But before we begin...''
Both of his arms lay on the Armrests as he went straight to the point.
''Tell me, why did you even agree to this?''
''To gain Power.'' Nine said with disinterest in the ongoing conversation.
''Hm. And not fixing your Body?''
''Do I need to answer that?'' Nine sounded bothered now that he even needed to answer those questions.
''Oh, absolutely. I must know why you agreed to such a dubious proposal to begin with. Anyone sane-minded wouldn't have even entertained the idea, yet you did. So come now, spill.''
Nine certainly did. By pointing upwards with the index finger of his right hand.
''I control the Skies.'' he began with that. To show his point, as by all means, saying that explained his whole Quirk to begin with.
''The end result was a powerful Quirk, no?'' and one that Muzan could easily compare to a Natural Disaster. The very thing that Men, even in Today's age, had trouble dealing with.
By all means, it made Nine unaccountable for his own actions.
Nine nodded as he continued on, ''But here I am, stuck crawling about on the Ground. The Moment one is born into this world, everything is already decided.''
Nine began to close his fist. The Family you are born in. The Quirk -or lack thereof for the unfortunate- you obtain at Four. Your Social Situation.
Upon Birth, it's already decided for you.
''Regardless of the power one may be blessed with, our circumstances keep us down. Suppress us. I've seen with my own eyes so many who don't get what they deserve.''
He thought of his companions when saying this. The oppression they went through because of this world...
''It's just wrong.''
''Wrong, you say?''
''Think about it, Demon King. Take Lions and Apes for instance. Which of those Creatures is stronger?''
Muzan chose to play along.
''Neither in today's time. They are merely Animals, inconsequential in the grand scheme of things when Quirked Humans and Demons exist.''
''Perhaps.'' Nine acknowledged, ''But that is exactly the issue. In this World, the strong are dominated by the weak. I intend to return the World to how it ought to be.''
From that pointed-up finger which he had clenched during his tale, it now became a fist.
''To do that, I need power. Enough power to reign over all and stand at the pinnacle of Strength.''
By the end of it, Muzan's gaze which had remained impassive bore right into Nine's eyes. And he wondered if this man was aware that this, by all means, was a challenge to him. The King of all Demons.
Because if one wished to become the Pinnacle of Strength, then one must defeat him to ever dare claim such a thing.
But at the same time, it wasn't quite every day someone could find an individual like Nine.
So, Muzan easily came to a decision.
''So you're the type to believe Might makes right.'' Muzan swiped to the Table he'd left on the Table near him and grabbed it. His sight changed directions as he opened up the screen.
''Well... assuming all goes well, I will have an offer for you once you emerge.''
He typed something on the Tablet, something Nine would never actually get to see. But he assumed it was to write something. Perhaps a reminder of this Offer he now mentioned.
''I don't imagine you will tell me what that offer is now?''
''Absolutely not.'' Muzan denied, ''However, I will admit that your Will is something I hadn't quite figured out until now.''
He laid down the Tablet back to the side and finally stood up from his Chair.
''But perhaps there is more to you than what I had expected. Anyhow, you need to get changed.''
As Nine did so, he wondered where this Experiment would lead him. He knew what he would obtain, but even as the Subject, he wasn't told the details. And now, there was another offer to the Table after this was done.
Nine would not be surprised if that additional offer was Demonification. Muzan was the Progenitor of all Demons, so it would make sense. But never once had he mentioned he would turn him.
As the Gear was put on and Nine sat on the Pod that was prepared for him, he decided not to dwell on such questions.
He was well aware he was a convenient Lab Rat for Muzan, but he would have what he desired by the end of it.
And so, as the Pod closed, he knew that it would be worth it.
All for his- No, their idea world. For it to happen, all must be destroyed.
Unknown to Nine however, as his consciousness faded, Tomura Tsugikuni was walking past the Room where the Pod was.
He allowed himself to stare past the Glass Windows, to see his Master, and Nine.
At the time, he wouldn't think much of it. It was a random NPC as far as he cared. Another one of his Master's little experiments.
But, that would change. Eventually.
Of course, by the time Tomura would become aware of that, Nine would have to make a choice.
But that was a Story for another time...
Time passes. Time eventually reached the Year 2137.
And Muzan thinks he's planned enough. Prepared more than enough, with everything he's had.
He has everything he needs.
So, it was about time that he finally returned the favor. Those Humans, no matter the time, never seemed to move on. They were incapable of simply continuing with their lives, knowing how lucky they were to have survived.
Mourning? Why should he care? He killed to Live after all.
But, by Society's standards, that was unacceptable. He was the Villain. He was to be chased down.
In a World where Heroes and Villains exist, he is seen as nothing but the latter.
So, it was about time he repaid them for their incessant nagging.
Reap what you sow.
They dared to keep struggling and hunt him down. Why should he leave the Human Race to their own device then?
World Domination was never something he had truly desired or planned all those Centuries ago. But, if it meant he could live the way he wanted, then so be it.
He would rule over all of those pathetic insects. And the Bodies that dropped on that path? Well, he would not care. Just one more pathetic Human on the Pile of Corpses he stood on.
So, it was about time he began acting.
''Now, Tomura, let's begin.''
And with that, this One-Shot is over!
What a long one it's been this time. Honestly, the word count says more than enough. And while I sure hadn't planned to make it as long as it eventually became, this was a Story idea that grew to my mind as I kept reading other Crossover Fanfictions between MHA and KNY. There was this particular itch I couldn't quite scratch because I wasn't finding what I wanted.
So, I created it myself.
The AU Idea where Muzan wins, and he lives to become the Main Villain of MHA. Of course, with it, comes consequences.
After all, this AU is in the end what I wanted to read.
Namely, that Muzan's continued existence ends up causing more ''Supernatural'' to emerge. Initially, during his first Century, nothing happened. Then, as more time passed, people with remarkable skills began to be born. The likes with Zenitsu's or Tengen's Hearing. The likes with Tanjiro's nose. The likes with Inosuke's Skin Sensitivity. The likes with Genya's digestive system and Jaw. The likes with Kanao's eyesight. The Ubuyashiki's Foresight. Skillsets that shouldn't exist if everything was normal.
Then, more time passes, and suddenly, Yoriichi is born. With him -and besides his Godly Strength, the Breathing Techniques and Total Concentration Breathing. The See-Through World. The Selfless State. The Demon Slayer Mark.
Be it Godly intervention or simply the Earth or even the Universe itself considering him something like a disease that needed to be purged, Muzan continuing to live has caused Antibodies to be created.
After all, his Blood was capable of having other Demons create Blood Demon Arts. Quite literally, ''Supernatural'' Abilities.
And then, when the Demon Slayer Corp failed and Muzan lived to reach the 2000s, well... Quirks emerged as another means to try and have him killed. The rest is History as they say.
Of course, it's never mentioned in the Story, but I really liked the idea and implemented it here to explain why Quirks emerged in this AU. Muzan's continued existence has affected the World, and it's also why he can't assimilate Quirks into his Biology.
And, speaking of him... it's time to speak of the Demon himself.
The idea with Muzan here was simple. ''How would he handle being in MHA, and how would he remain in Power?''
Because Quirks would eventually overwhelm him if he stayed the way he was. And if I wanted him to become the Villain of this story, and without the All For One Quirk, then he needed to become stronger. One way or another.
But how to make it last?
I gave him as much as possible. Maxed the hell out of what he had, gave him more and even gave him Sunlight Resistance. But... doesn't that still give rise to issues where eventually he wouldn't be strong enough to keep up?
So, what else could he do? How far would Muzan go to keep his perpetual existence secured?
And so, I realized what would secure it while also tying it all up.
One For All.
He wants the Power of that Quirk, and in turn, that would be the unifying Factor to its History.
And so... we'll, we've got this.
This has been a long One-Shot. Especially since this is technically a Prologue. Not that I plan to continue this anytime soon, or at all to begin with, even though I have ideas.
And also some questions on how this should go since there are ways this can continue.
This will likely follow Canon as closely as possible when it comes to most things, besides the Divergences already shown here. Like All Might being still in his Prime for example. Nagant being free and so on.
But, there are also other ways this could go.
Like say, the Dead Demon Slayer Characters being Reborn and taking the positions of known Characters. Or them being reborn separately from the MHA's cast.
Or maybe give Yoriichi his chance and let him be the one Reborn. After all, he's not Almighty anymore. If he were to be in this AU, he'd need more than his Sheer Power considering how far Muzan has gone this time. Maybe a Quirk?
Safe to say, there are a lot of ways this could go.
Now, there is a final Rumors and Whispers. Mostly because it doesn't feel right to have a Fanfic involving Demon Slayer and not have that towards the end. Though I'll make it short with how long this is.
So all I really have to say now is that I hope you've all enjoyed this long Story of Mine. And I'll see you all next time in another of my Stories.
See ya!
[Villain Rumors and Whispers]
Apparently, all Villain Organizations unaffiliated with Muzan have a ''Kill the Devil'' written up in their ''To-do lists'' when it involves what Plans they have. One apparently even has it outright written as ''Kill Satan''
