Chapter 21: Sinister Greetings

The next match was against Kacchan.

Izuku swallowed hard, feeling her pulse spike. Last time… last time, she'd almost killed him. A slip, a misstep, and she'd nearly lost control entirely. But she forced herself to shove that memory away.

No more dwelling in the past. Time to prove that she wasn't a monster!

Across from her in the arena, Bakugou stood like he owned the place, fists clenched and crackling with small, barely contained explosions. His gaze narrowed as he locked onto her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Oi, Deku!" he called, his voice carrying through the silence of the stadium. "No holding back!"

Izuku nodded, taking her stance. "You too, Kacchan!"

The crowd was on the edge of their seats, the tension thick and electric. The arena had grown so quiet, the smallest rustle sounded like a roar.

"And…" Midnight's voice rang out over the microphone as she lifted her hand, hanging the moment in the air, "…begi—"

Suddenly, the sky above them went black.

In a split second, the stadium lights disappeared, plunging the entire arena into a suffocating darkness. The air felt colder, and a murmur of confusion rippled through the crowd. Then came the first scream—a high, desperate cry piercing through the silence.

"What's happening?!"

Panic exploded like a spark in dry grass, spreading throughout the stands. People shoved against one another, scrambling for the exits that now looked like black holes.

"Everyone, remain calm!" Present Mic's voice boomed over the speakers, though it shook a little. "There's nothing to worry about. We'll have the lights up in no time!"

Heroes rushed into action. Cementoss began crafting barriers around sections of the crowd to shield them, while Mount Lady lifted her massive form above the panicking audience, waving her arms to draw attention. "Stay calm, please! Everything's under control!" she shouted, though her face said she was just as lost as the rest of them.

From somewhere near the back of the stadium, Powerloader frantically worked on the main generator, muttering, "This shouldn't be happening—nothing should be cutting the power like this." He flipped switches, reset breakers, but nothing responded.

Above the stadium, Endeavour shot up into the air, flames roaring to life around him, casting an orange glow over the shivering mass below. His fire was the only source of light in the blackened sky, flickering eerily across the crowd's wide, terrified faces.

"Hmm…" he muttered, scanning the scene from above, trying to pinpoint the cause. "There—"

"What is that?!" a civilian screamed from the stands, pointing up with a trembling hand.

Endeavour's gaze shifted up, and slowly, the entire crowd's eyes followed. What they saw froze them in place, a horror so deep it seemed to root them to the ground.

Hanging above the stadium was a veil of pure darkness, an impenetrable, pitch-black barrier stretching over the arena like a colossal, suffocating dome.

Without a moment's hesitation, Endeavour narrowed his eyes, took aim, and released a searing stream of fire directly at it. The flames roared out, filling the stadium with a sudden surge of heat and light as they collided with the dark barrier.

But instead of burning it away, the flames simply disappeared, swallowed up as if by an endless void.

"What the…" Endeavour muttered, blinking in disbelief. The barrier hadn't even flickered.

From below, Nezu's mind was racing, calculating and recalculating. His small, dark eyes scanned the stadium, noting every exit, every escape route that was now effectively sealed. "This isn't just a blackout. Somebody is doing this… trapping all the top heroes with thousands of unarmed people to take us hostage… but who could—"

Then he saw Izuku, her expression growing more intense as she watched the veil. Her form was shifting, her frame expanding as her horn grew larger, glowing faintly. She was sensing something, her instincts buzzing with a foreboding she couldn't shake.

All Might noticed her, too, his gaze sharpened, studying her transformation. It was as though she was tuning into something, something they couldn't feel.

"Deku…?" Bakugou looked at his friend with concern, seeing her getting demon…eh… animalistic was scary.

Izuku's eyes narrowed, her pupils contracting into slits as she glared up at the dark shroud. She could see perfectly through it now, her enhanced vision slicing through the blackness. And there, just beyond the edge of the veil, a figure hovered in the sky—a man dressed sharply in a suit, his face hidden behind a black breathing mask.

Her heart plummeted.

"All For One…" she whispered.

At that moment, the speakers crackled to life, a strange, static-laden hum echoing through the eerie silence. Then, a voice filled the stadium, rich, smooth, and chillingly polite, yet laced with a mockery that sent shivers down every spine.

"Greetings, dear citizens of Japan and abroad!" The voice was almost cheerful, a stark contrast to the terror it instilled. "I am… well, think of me as a developer with a vision. I wish to build a better, more advanced society. But for that, I must first remove certain… obstacles."

The audience was deathly silent, clinging to his every word.

"Thus," he continued, "consider this a message—a small token of my commitment to a brighter future."

There was a beat of silence, and then he added, his tone darkening, "Among you, there lies a threat. A powerful force, a young girl who possesses strength that exceeds even your greatest heroes—Endeavour, Star and Stripe, and yes, even All Might himself. But she is… how shall I put it… unstable."

Murmurs broke out among the crowd. People exchanged anxious glances, and scattered whispers rose like a gust of wind.

"Who's he talking about?"

"Could he mean one of the heroes?"

"He said… a girl?"

All For One's voice deepened, his tone almost paternal as he continued, "This girl stands as an obstacle to my noble goals. And, unfortunately, such threats must be… eliminated."

He let that sink in, allowing the crowd's panic to simmer and build. "I do apologize for the inconvenience. But we all understand, do we not? Sacrifices are often necessary for the greater good."

Silence, thick and suffocating, filled the stadium, every heartbeat echoing as the implication set in.

"So," he said, his voice a gentle purr, but cold as ice, "this girl must die. Kill Izuku Midoriya or face the consequences."

~O~

Author's Note:

Hey everyone! So yeah… I know, it's a shorter update than usual and, yep, a bit delayed. I'm genuinely sorry for that—life happened, and let's just say, creativity took an unexpected coffee break.

Truth is, I was getting seriously frustrated. Writing the same old stuff, rehashing the canon… it was getting stale. I needed something fresh, something that breaks the rules a bit, you know?

So, here we are, with my little rebellious streak shining through in the 'Peanut Saga'! This MHA fic is pretty much waving a giant 'see ya' to canon and just carving its own path. And if you haven't read 'An Honored One' yet, it's right on the edge of taking a massive canon detour, and things are about to get wild. Do check these MHA stories in my profile.

But now, about this fic, 'Rewind For All'. Honestly, I almost shelved it, abandoned it, but then I thought, "What if All For One makes his move… at the Sports Festival?" And boom, a new plot unfolded in my head. Just had to get it down, even if it meant a shorter chapter this time around.

If you're liking where this new direction's headed, let me know! I promise the next update's going to be worth the wait, bigger, better, and packed with surprises.

I plan on updating more than ten stories of mine this weekend. Stay tuned for more!

Till next time!