The faint hum of the jet's engines was the only sound as Killua stared out the window, the sprawling skyline of Tokyo coming into view beneath him. The city shimmered with life, its lights cutting through the encroaching twilight. Killua's silver hair caught the faint glow of the setting sun, but his expression remained impassive. Phantom Blade sat across from him, silent as always, his sharp blue eyes scanning through a tablet filled with mission updates.
"You ready for this?" Phantom Blade finally asked, breaking the silence.
Killua's gaze didn't waver from the window. "It's just another mission." His tone was calm, but a flicker of unease betrayed his words.
Phantom Blade smirked faintly. "Right. And that's why you've been bouncing your leg since we took off."
Killua scowled, forcibly stilling his restless movement. He turned away from the window and crossed his arms. "I'm fine."
"Right," Phantom Blade drawled, setting the tablet down. "It's okay to admit you're a little on edge. This isn't just any mission. All for One isn't exactly your run-of-the-mill target. He's Japan's most dangerous criminal for a reason."
Killua rolled his eyes. "We're not fighting him. We're investigating. There's a difference."
"Investigations aren't always straightforward," Phantom Blade countered. "Plans go wrong. Things escalate. And when you're dealing with someone like All for One? Trust me, it can get dangerous fast."
Killua leaned back in his seat, his expression hardening. "I'm used to danger."
"Doesn't mean you're immune to it," Phantom Blade said evenly. "It's human instinct to be nervous in situations like this."
Killua tilted his head, a small smirk creeping onto his face. "If anything, I'm more excited than nervous."
Phantom Blade let out a short laugh. "Yeah, that tracks. You're at that age when you think you've got the whole world figured out. Just don't let that excitement turn into overconfidence, or it'll burn you."
Killua's smirk faded, and his voice softened. "I know. I'll be careful."
"Good," Phantom Blade said, leaning back and picking up the tablet again. "Because careful is the only way we're walking out of this one in one piece."
The plane landed smoothly at Narita International Airport, where a black sedan was already waiting on the tarmac. As Killua descended the steps, the figure leaning casually against the car came into focus. Shouta stood with his usual slouch, his black scarf loosely draped around his shoulders. His unkempt hair shifted slightly in the breeze, but his sharp, tired eyes fixed on Killua immediately.
"Took you long enough," Shoutasaid gruffly. Despite his tone, his expression showed a subtle warmth—a warmth that only those who knew him well would recognize.
Killua's lips twitched into a small smirk. "Good to see you too, Dad."
Shouta's gaze shifted to Phantom Blade, his posture tensing slightly. "So, you're the one who's been training him."
Phantom Blade's expression remained unreadable. "And you're the one who raised him. I'd say he's turned out fine."
Killua sighed, stepping between them. "Can we skip the posturing? I'm starving."
Shouta's lips quirked slightly before he gestured toward the car. "Get in. We'll talk on the way."
The ride into the city was quiet at first, and the tension between Shoutaand Phantom Blade was palpable. Killua sat in the backseat, watching the familiar streets blur past the window. Memories of his time at U.A. surfaced his time with the class and the sports festival. Yet, his week of training with Phantom Blade felt like an entirely different world.
"Things have gotten worse since you left," Shouta said finally, his tone heavy. "The Hero Killer has been sighted near Hosu. We're working to track him down before things escalate."
"And the League?" Killua asked, his voice calm but his eyes sharp.
"Still active," Shouta replied. "But this Hero Killer's drawing a lot of attention. He's a wildcard, and we can't afford to ignore him."
Phantom Blade leaned back in his seat, his arms crossed. "Sounds like a powder keg waiting to blow."
Shouta's lips thinned. "It is. That's why we're being proactive." He glanced at Killua through the rearview mirror. "I expect you to stay focused. This isn't a training exercise."
Killua rolled his eyes. "I know, Dad. You've said it a million times."
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Killua perched on the edge of a skyscraper, his hero costume a sleek silhouette against the city lights. The dark grey spandex jumpsuit, nearly black in the darkness, hugged his athletic frame. Blue lightning patterns traced up from his gloved middle fingers, racing along his arms in electric streaks that met at the bold lightning bolt symbol on his chest. His black sports shorts, marked with twin blue lightning bolts along the sides, shifted slightly in the wind as he adjusted his position. At his utility belt, his yo-yos hung ready for action, their familiar weight a comfort.
"Remember," Phantom Blade said, his voice barely above a whisper, "heroics isn't about strength and fighting. It's about—"
"Saving lives. I know," Killua finished, flexing his fingers in his black and blue gloves. The blue material on his palms and fingertips crackled with barely contained electricity. After years of being an assassin, the transition to hero work still felt strange, but Shouta's guidance had given him a new purpose.
A distant explosion shattered the night's relative calm. His shoes, marked with the same electric blue as his lightning patterns and accented with white details, scraped against the concrete as both heroes snapped to attention. Smoke began rising from several locations across the city. Through their earpieces came Eraserhead's tense voice, "Multiple incidents reported. Large hostile creatures were sighted, possibly Nomus. All available heroes respond."
The attack was unexpected. Pro-heroes scrambled to respond as reports flooded in, fires raging, civilians in danger, and Nomus wreaking havoc in the streets.
Killua caught sight of something massive moving through the streets below – a hulking figure with an exposed brain and multiple limbs. "Nomu," he breathed, remembering the one he killed at USJ.
"Go," Phantom Blade ordered, already plotting his own route down. "But Killua—" He fixed him with a stern look. "You're not just any hero, you are a Shikari. If you have to kill do it and be careful"
He nodded, electricity already coursing through him, the blue patterns beginning to glow with his power. "I know." He whispered and with that, he launched himself off the building, using Godspeed to race down its side. The familiar rush of power coursed through him.
"Right now, our priority is the civilians. We'll deal with the Hero Killer if we encounter him, but we can't risk more lives." Shouta's voice broke through his earpiece again.
The streets had erupted into chaos. Civilians ran screaming as a Nomu crashed through a storefront. Killua's training kicked in – civilian evacuation first, then containment. He darted through the crowd, using his enhanced speed to take people to safety, occasionally throwing out controlled electric shocks or kicking and punching in order to deflect debris.
Through the chaos, he caught glimpses of Erasherhead in action. Shouta moved with practiced efficiency, his capture weapon flying out to secure civilians. Their eyes met briefly across the battlefield, and Killua saw the slight nod of approval.
A child's scream cut through the night. Killua spun to see a young girl trapped beneath some fallen signage, a Nomu lumbering toward her. Time seemed to slow as his assassin's instincts screamed to go for a killing blow – but he could harm the girl.
Instead, he channeled his lightning into his palms, running into the Nomu and temporarily paralyzing it. In the same fluid motion, he slid under the creature, scooped up the child, and used his momentum to kick the signage away. "You're safe now," he assured her, depositing her with a group of evacuating civilians.
As Killua's strike disabled the Nomu, Phantom Blade finished it with a well-placed slash. They didn't stop to celebrate, moving on to the next threat without hesitation.
"Raijin!" Phantom Blade's voice cut through his earpiece. "Three more incoming from the east. We need crowd control!"
Killua took a deep breath, centering himself. The night was far from over, but for the first time in his life, he felt truly fulfilled. He was to protect. With another crack of electricity, he launched himself back into the fray, ready to prove that even someone with his dark past could become a true hero.
As he raced threw the city Killua's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a message from Midoriya who just sent his location along with the text "I'm in Hosu".
Killua's heart clenched. He glanced at Shouta, who seemed to notice his hesitation.
"Stay focused," Shouta said firmly glancing at him as he helped an old man. "If you abandon your post, more people will die."
Killua nodded, his jaw tight. "Got it."
The chaos in Hosu was overwhelming. Fires lit up the night sky as Nomus rampaged through the streets. Killua moved with practiced efficiency, his Godspeed allowing him to reach trapped civilians before the flames could claim them. Phantom Blade stayed close, their movements coordinated as they carved a path through the destruction.
Killua's mind raced as he fought. Midoriya was somewhere in this chaos, facing who knows what. He wanted to help, but every second spent thinking about it was a second he couldn't use to save lives.
As he pulled a dog from a collapsed building, the roar of a Nomu caught his attention. The massive creature barreled toward him, its grotesque form illuminated by the flames. Killua turned to Phantom Blade to signal a coordinated attack, but a sudden explosion separated them. The force sent Killua hurtling into a nearby alleyway, debris blocking the path back to his mentor.
"Tch," Killua muttered, pushing himself to his feet. The Nomu's guttural roar echoed, and its heavy footsteps grew closer. He cracked his knuckles, his sapphire eyes narrowing, and a faint glow emitted from his eyes. "Guess it's just you and me now."
The Nomu lunged, its claws slicing through the air with lethal precision. Killua activated Godspeed, his form blurring as he dodged to the side. Electricity crackled around him as he darted forward, delivering a lightning-infused punch to the Nomu's torso. The impact sent a shockwave through the creature, but it barely flinched.
"Figures," Killua muttered, leaping back to avoid a counterattack. The Nomu's regeneration was already repairing the damage. He needed to find a way to neutralize it completely.
The Nomu charged again, its sheer size and strength making it a relentless opponent. Killua stayed on the move, using his speed to stay out of its reach while analyzing its patterns. He noticed the way its movements slowed slightly after each attack—a small window of vulnerability.
"Gotcha," Killua said under his breath. He waited for the Nomu to swing, dodging at the last possible moment before vaulting onto its arm. His electricity surged as he climbed up its body, aiming for the base of its skull.
With a fierce cry, Killua slammed his electrified palm onto the Nomu's neck, channeling a concentrated burst of energy. The Nomu convulsed, its movements growing erratic as the electricity disrupted its neural signals. Killua didn't stop, pouring more power into the attack until the Nomu collapsed to its knees.
But it wasn't over. The creature's regeneration once again kicked in, and it began to rise again. Killua jumped back. "Stubborn, huh?"
He focused, his aura intensifying. Sparks danced around him as he prepared for a final strike. The Nomu roared and charged, but this time, Killua met it head-on. Using Godspeed enhancing both his speed and strength to their limits, he ducked under its swing and delivered a devastating uppercut to its jaw. The force lifted the Nomu off its feet, and Killua followed up with a spinning kick, sending it crashing into a burning building.
Before the Nomu could recover, Killua dashed forward, electricity surging through his entire body. "This ends now!" He struck the Nomu's chest with both palms, unleashing a massive electrical discharge. The creature let out a final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing, its body smoking and motionless as it was burned to a crisp.
Killua staggered back, his breathing ragged. He wiped the sweat from his brow, glancing at the fallen Nomu to ensure it wouldn't get up again. When he was satisfied, he turned toward the blocked path, his determination renewed. "Time to find Midoriya."
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The night air was heavy with smoke and the scent of scorched metal as Killua darted through the crumbling streets of Hosu. His phone buzzed incessantly in his pocket, a reminder of the message Midoriya had sent earlier.
Killua's teeth clenched as he leaped over a collapsed streetlamp, his Godspeed carrying him faster than the flames licking at the debris. He was closing in on the coordinates Midoriya had shared. The earlier chaos was now gone, replaced by shadows and faint cries.
As he approached the pinned location, a loud crash echoed overhead. Killua skidded to a halt and looked up just in time to see two Nomus descending like grotesque shadows from the burning skyline. One Nomu's claws extended, snatching Midoriya off the ground in a swift, brutal motion.
"Deku!" Killua shouted, lightning crackling around him as he prepared to move.
Before he could act, the Hero Killer's blade flashed. Stain leaped toward the Nomu, severing its claws with surgical precision and freeing Midoriya. The young hero tumbled to the ground, groaning but conscious.
Killua barely had time to register the moment when the second Nomu lunged, its massive claws aiming directly for Shoto. Shoto raised his hands, ice, and fire bursting forth in an attempt to counter, but the Nomu's speed outmatched his reaction. Its claws raked across his side, before digging it's claws to his arm, crimson streaking through the air as Shoto was lifted off his feet.
"Not on my watch!" Killua growled, his Godspeed activating in a flash of blue electricity. The world seemed to slow as Killua surged forward, his body a blur of motion.
The Nomu's claws dug deeper into Shoto's arm, eliciting a pained gasp. Killua's eyes locked onto the creature's claws. He leaped upward, electricity sparking from his fingertips as he delivered a lightning-infused slash with his sharpened nails to the Nomu's winged forearm, severing the tendons and forcing the creature to release Shoto and sending it crashing down.
Shoto fell, but Killua was already beneath him. He caught his friend with ease, the static charge in his body dissipating to avoid shocking him. Killua placed Shoto gently on the ground, his sharp eyes scanning the injured hero.
"Stay down," Killua ordered. "I'll handle this."
Shoto coughed, blood staining his lips. "Killua, don't…"
Killua didn't respond. He turned back to the Nomu, his expression cold with the promise of pain, unconsciously unleashing waves of murdering intent freezing the Pros in their place, Shoto just looked at his friend with a sad expression. He wasn't scared, he knew Killua, he was an asshole who would do anything for the people he cared about. The Nomu didn't have the brain capacity to understand fear, and while it was like a beast it didn't have their instincts, and even if it did it couldn't disobey orders after all a puppet has to do what the wielder of its strings order it.
The creature roared, its grotesque frame twisting as it charged. Killua dashed forward, electricity crackling around him. He ducked beneath the Nomu's outstretched arm, delivering a lightning-infused kick to its knee. The joint buckled under the force, but the Nomu's regeneration kicked in almost instantly.
"You're tougher than the last one," Killua muttered, sidestepping another claw swipe. His eyes scanned the Nomu's body, searching for a weakness.
The Nomu lunged again, its claws slicing through a nearby wall as Killua evaded with ease. He countered with a burst of speed, appearing behind the creature and delivering a flurry of electrified punches to its spine. Sparks flew as each strike landed, but the Nomu twisted unnaturally, swiping at Killua with its massive arm.
Killua barely dodged, flipping backward and landing gracefully on the rubble. "Fine," he muttered. "Let's step it up."
Killua's aura intensified, blue lightning crackling wildly around him. He darted forward, faster than before, and unleashing his yo-yos with deadly precision. The electrified wires wrapped around the Nomu's neck, tightening with lethal force. Killua pulled sharply, severing the creature's head in a single, decisive motion. Sparks flew as the decapitated Nomu collapsed to the ground.
"Regenerate that," Killua said, smirking.
But the Nomu's resilience proved formidable, as its head was already starting to regenerate. It let out an earsplitting roar, its muscles bulging grotesquely as it swung both arms in a frenzy. Killua weaved through the attacks, his mind racing. He needed to end this quickly before more civilians or his friends were put in danger.
"Focus," he whispered to himself, channeling all his energy into a single point. Lightning surged through his entire body, condensing in his hands. The air around him hummed with power as he prepared his final move.
The Nomu charged, its claws poised to strike. Killua stood his ground, his glowing blue eyes locked onto the creature. At the last possible moment, he sidestepped, thrusting his electrified palm directly into the Nomu's chest.
"Godspeed… Thunderclap!" Killua shouted.
The resulting explosion of electricity illuminated the street, arcs of lightning tearing through the air, as Killua's attack fried the Nomu from the inside out, neutralizing its nervous system and its regeneration. The Nomu convulsed violently, its grotesque body smoking as it collapsed to the ground.
This time, it didn't get back up.
Killua staggered slightly, his breathing ragged. He turned back to Shoto, who was watching with wide eyes despite his injuries.
"You okay?" Killua asked, extending a hand.
Shoto managed a weak smile. "Knew… you would save me."
"Yeah, yeah," Killua said, helping him to his feet. "Don't get all sentimental on me."
Midoriya stumbled closer to them, his eyes wide but he quickly snapped his attention to the man standing across his two classmates. The Hero Killer glanced at Killua, his gaze appraising but unreadable.
Blood dripped from Stain's many wounds, yet he stood tall, his voice cutting through the tense silence. "True heroes… protect the weak at all costs. They fight for justice, not glory." He turned his sharp gaze to Midoriya. "You… you have the potential to be a real hero. But the rest of this society… is rotting."
Stain staggered, his breath labored but his conviction unshaken. "If more heroes were like All Might… this world wouldn't need people like me. Remember that."
With that, his knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground. The Pros were finally able to move as the sound of approaching sirens filled the air as Stain lay motionless, finally subdued. Killua stepped forward, glancing at the fallen Hero Killer before looking at his injured friends.
"We need to get you three into the hospital," Killua said, his tone steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. "Now."
Shouta learned that night that lightning could strike with surgical precision and that sometimes the most dangerous predator could become the most dedicated protector.