Ouch, the last update received a very lukewarm reception.

While this is to be expected, considering that it was a familiar chapter with only a handful of changes, I was hoping to keep up with somewhat consistent growth between updates. Hopefully, since this is an entirely original chapter that was not found in the previous versions gets a better reception this time. Especially since I aim to be more direct with this version.

Unfortunately, I cannot justify doing the Izuocha collection due to a lack of votes. Sorry, guys, but I did say to let me know, and while I did have a few takers, but it wasn't enough to convince me to go for it.

No review responses this time because there were only two, and they didn't really go into any depth for me to respond to.

Hopefully, things improve with this chapter. Now, with that being said, please enjoy the new chapter.


My Hero Academia Untold: The Knights of Fafnir

Saga I: Dusk

Arc I: Origins

Chapter II: In the Shadow of Lords


"Lies and secrets, Tessa, they are like a cancer in the soul. They eat away what is good and leave only destruction behind."

Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Prince


'Okay, Mom said to check on Dad first, and then I could heat up the katsudon she left me,' Izuku Midoriya mentally checked off as he gingerly entered his home as he returned from elementary school. He did his best to make as little noise as possible so as not to disturb his father, Hisashi Midoriya, who was recovering from a nasty skirmish with a villain a few days ago. Thankfully, his injuries weren't too bad, and Hisashi was more than happy to get some unexpected, but not un-welcomed, time off to spend with his family outside his usual schedule.

As Izuku carefully left his shoes at the entrance way, he heard a muffled voice speaking somewhere in the house. This wasn't uncommon if his father watched something on his bedroom TV or laptop. However, the voices didn't get louder as he went upstairs to stop by his bedroom and drop off his bag, given that his parent's bedroom was only a short walk from his; the young Page should have been able to make out the voices better by now.

"Dad? Are you awake?" Izuku questioned softly as he gingerly opened the door to the master bedroom, only to find it empty while the bed looked undisturbed. Strangely, the voices sounded closer; Izuku took a few steps toward the window and realized that voices were coming from the backyard. Taking a quick peek, Izuku spotted his father sitting on the patio with his phone.

'Better see if Dad's hungry now before I heat up my bowl,' thought Izuku as he made his way back downstairs and headed to the sliding doors that led to the patio. As the boy opened the door, he could instantly hear his father more clearly, but he stopped when what he saw and heard was more than a little unsettling.

"I'm just glad that the agent left before Izuku got here," said Hisashi to his phone after taking a puff from a cigarette, something the boy had never seen his father do. Izuku couldn't hear whoever was on the other line answer, but Hisashi didn't take long to continue.

"Yeah, the HPSC is still hounding me. I told the agent that whatever I said to Mr. Intelli after his wife's funeral was between me and him. I mean, good lord, the man lost the love of his life, and his daughter was almost kidnapped. Thankfully, the girl unharmed, but...I can't imagine how I would be if...Yeah...It took every bit of my willpower not to kick his ass after he got smart with me, broken arm or not."

'The Hero Public Safety Commission?' Izuku wondered, recognizing the common abbreviation in the Pro-Hero community. 'Is Dad in trouble?'

"Yeah, they keep thinking pulling that old card will work on me," Hisashi responded with a long sigh. "Yeah...yeah...that old chestnut. No, Daigo, Inko still doesn't know, and I want to keep it that way. Look if it gets to that point. I'll tell her everything, but...yeah...Exactly!"

'Is he talking to Uncle Daigo?' Izuku pondered as he only knew one person with that name.

Daigo Urashima, his father's former Support Gear Specialist, left Japan a few months ago to take a rather prestigious position on I-Island's science council. A long-time friend of his father since their middle-school days. An oddball of a man, but Izuku always liked reading the man's old research and testing notes, which was likely where he had picked up the habit of writing his Quirk journals.

'What doesn't he want to tell mom about?'

"Thanks for letting me vent, old friend," said Hisashi after taking another drag of his smoke. "So, how are things with the new job?"

Izuku started feeling relieved as his father's tone turned joyful; he even started laughing at whatever Daigo was saying.

"You're kidding? The David Shield? Since when?" Hisashi said with a long, impressed whistle. "You already got his autograph? Nice...and any luck getting your long-time projects set up? Oh, you finally got started on EDWIN? Can't wait to see how that turns out."

Izuku could hear his father nod and hum in response a few times, only to take one last drag of his remaining cigarette. The young dragon considered stepping now while pretending to have just gotten home but stopped when his father lit up another cigarette. Years of repeated education on the dangers of smoking, ironically taught by his father, made the boy hold out for a little longer.

"No shit, they're really thinking about starting the Mithril Project again? Well, with that budget and all of the brain power, you guys should be making headlines in a few years," Hisashi said with a hearty laugh. "Huh? Things here? Well, Ryūko is getting a first-hand crash course in leading the crew while I'm recovering. Tankman is putting her through the wringer. Well, she has mentioned several times wanting to go independent. No, I don't mind! Ryūko going independent will make room for Izuku when he finishes hero school and joins my agency in the future!"

Izuku couldn't help but smile wide as he heard the pride in his father's voice.

"Yep, he's still deadset on being a Pro-Hero," Hisashi continued after taking a drag of his new cigarette. "Yes, I know...he turns seven in July, but he's been doing well with the training we've done so far since he got his Quirk. You should see his Quirk analysis journals...actually, it kind of reminds me of you from back in the day...hahahah!"

Hisashi's mood was sudden turned by something Daigo must have said as the laughter instantly died.

"You sound like Shinya," Hisashi followed with an annoyed sigh. "Yes, yes, we had that discussion as well...Yes, I've heard it over and over again, Daigo. For your information, I've already got it covered with my future plans with Izuku's training."

'Dad's going to adjust my training?' Izuku wondered with excitement.

Ever since he had gotten his Quirk, the two had been practicing during their shared days off. It mainly consisted of using his Quirk to transform each limb until it became second nature, paired with basic exercises and martial arts to build his stamina. However, the young Page was hoping that this meant that either they'd get to practice more advanced techniques or, hopefully, involve Katsuki Bakugou, who had almost been reduced to begging Hisashi to train him since last year.

"Well, I would go into more detail, but I don't want to spoil the surprise for my son," Hisashi suddenly spoke up a little louder, making Izuku freeze. "Daigo, I'll call you back later. Izuku's home from school."

There was a brief awkward silence as Hisashi hung up the phone and took one last puff of the cigarette before putting it out. Izuku didn't dare move, knowing that he had already been caught. Finally, Hisashi turned his head with a smirk and a chuckle as he motion his son to join him. Izuku did as he was silently bid. As he grew closer, the boy noticed while there was no longer any smoke, the acrid smell of the tobacco still clung in the air. Izuku's face twisted slightly from the unpleasant odor as he sat across from his father.

"I guess we'll add how to hide your presence as part of your training, then," Hisashi joked with a chuckle. "That and situational awareness could mean the difference between life and death after all."

"Sorry, Dad..." Izuku breathed out with a guilty look on his face.

"It happens, son," Hisashi shrugged. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't do something similar every now and then when I was a boy. So...how much did you overhear?"

"From when you mentioned that an agent from the HPSC had left before I got home," Izuku answered truthfully, knowing his father was likely trying to gauge his honesty. "Are you in trouble?"

"Oh...that, no, I'm not in trouble son," Hisashi answered with a shake of his head. "It's a complicated subject, that boils down to...office politics."

"I don't get it," Izuku followed with a confused expression.

"You will once you're a Pro-Hero," Hisashi replied with another smirk. There was another moment of silence as father and son both seemed a little lost on how to proceed. Ironically, it was Izuku who would take the next unexpected step.

"I didn't know that you smoked," said Izuku with a frown. "You and mom always made it clear about the dangers of smoking."

"Yeah, you caught me red-handed," Hisashi said with an understanding nod, careful not to sound dismissive of his son's concerns about the rather blatant hypocrisy. "I don't smoke regularly. But every now and then, I do have one or two when things get really...stressful."

"Does it have to do with the secret you're keeping from mom?"

Izuku actually saw his father flinch at the question.

"It's a lot of things, Izuku," Hisashi finally answered after mulling over his son's inquiry.

"I had a lot on my plate before last week's fight. Iida is graduating this year and will be moving from my agency to work for his father. I still have to replace Daigo, and finding someone who comes even remotely to his caliber will be hard. Ryūko's taking the first steps to becoming independent. After my last fight, the office politics with the HPSC aren't helping. So it can feel overwhelming at times, and sometimes smoking or two while venting to a good friend can really help take the edge off."

"It sounds like being an adult is hard," Izuku spoke up, sounding a little discouraged.

"It can be," Hisashi chuckled as he ruffled his son's fluffy hair with his good hand.

"But remember this Izuku. One: while life as an adult can be stressful, it can also be very rewarding if you really make the effort to make things work. Two: I'm not alone in this. I still have a dependable staff and good friends, which includes your mother, to whom I am grateful for everything she does and continues to do for me. Three: In your case, you have us and the Bakugous behind you to make sure that you grow into a proper adult when the time comes."

"Is that what your dad did for you?" Izuku questioned innocently.

"Ah...it was...on and off," Hisashi answered sheepishly as his hand retreated from his son's scalp. "I was blessed to have had the best father I could have ever had, but I wasn't the best son I could have been to him."

"Dad?" Izuku could hear the pain in his father's voice.

"Anyways," Hisashi quickly recovered from his somber tone with a renewed smile. "I'm surprised you haven't asked about the new changes that I'll be making to your training once I've fully recovered. I know you overheard that part for sure."

Izuku was taken aback by the sudden change in the subject between his desire not to hurt his father's mood and his excitement about taking the next step in his training.

"Will be doing weight training now?" Izuku questioned as he had hoped to start using some of the gym's more exciting equipment.

"I'm still not completely comfortable with you doing weight training just yet," Hisashi answered with a closed-eyed smile. "I wanted to discuss the subject with your pediatrician about the long-term effects first before we go that route. That being said...I had a rather long discussion with Masaru and Mitsuki and decided to take Katsuki on for training."

"Really?!" Izuku exclaimed with a massive smile that could light up the darkest rooms.

"Yep," Hisashi replied with a nod. "However, Katsuki will have to accept a few conditions I will lay out for him. I have expectations, and he will have to meet them if he wishes to learn from me. I know that you are good friends, but I also know for a fact that Katsuki's attitude hasn't been the best and I'm not fond of that nickname he gave you recently."

"You mean Deku?" Izuku followed up, knowing full well that's what his father meant. Despite not being a fan of the nickname, he knew that Katsuki wasn't malicious by it. At least, Izuku hoped he wasn't.

"That and several unflattering nicknames I know Katsuki gives to those he believes aren't worth his time, as that is not a proper attitude for a prospective Pro-Hero," Hisashi continued with a frown. "Honestly, given his mother, I should have known this would happen."

"Auntie Miki?"

"Takeyama..." Hisashi paused to correct himself, even years after her marriage to Masaru. He would occasionally fall back to Mitsuki's maiden name because of how long he had known the hot-headed woman. "I mean, Mitsuki...was a lot like her son when she was younger, but she eventually grew out of her immaturity. Even then, it seems like the apple didn't fall far from the tree."

"Did Auntie Miki have a nickname for you growing up, Dad?"

"Yes, she did, and no, I will not repeat what it was," Hisashi said flatly with a bemused shake of his head, knowing that would be his son's follow-up question. "Anyways, you can tell Katsuki tomorrow. I had Mitsuki and Masaru swear that we would let you tell him and that he could come over tomorrow to review all the details."

"Okay...thanks, Dad," said Izuku with a happy smile as he ran around the table to give his father a big hug. "I love you."

"I love you too, son," Hisashi followed up as he carefully embraced his son due to his broken arm. "Now, how about we go back inside and warm up the Katsudon your mom left for us? I can only imagine how hungry you are right now."

"Yes!" Izuku said with a grin.

"That's my boy," Hisashi replied with a proud smile and one last ruffle of his hair.


Over the last century, a shadow has been cast over the globe. It started when the world was at war, and society was splitting at the seams, a time when Quirks were still seen as mysterious and unnatural.

An individual was born with a power beyond all others. This power would ironically help bring the world back into order from the ashes of war. While no longer at the height of his power, his true name was damned and long forgotten, with today's society refusing to even acknowledge that he had ever existed. Yet, his influence remained, carefully woven into the freshly stitched seams of modern society to the ignorance of the many and benefit to a key few. This individual went by many different names and titles. Each title earned through his deeds that some villains could only dream about. No matter which name, no matter which title, they all spoke with the same fearful whispers.

The Quirk Thief, The Dark Lord, the Demon King, The Emperor of Darkness, The Cardinal Emperor, or The King of the Underworld.

Yet, all of these titles were meaningless compared to the one he favored above all.

"How are they all coming along, Doctor?"

"Most of the children are doing excellent, Master. Our latest reports have shown a ninety percent survival rate after their latest round of modifications and the heavy fever that comes with accepting a new Quirk. Between Garaki's research and Villain Factory experiments, we are likely to produce better results than what we got with Number Six and Nine. Those who don't will simply be recycled into furthering the Noumu and Quirk Fusion Projects."

"Excellent," The Dark Regent said with a satisfied grin as his heterochromatic eyes(*1) looked at the various screens showing several children housed in special containment rooms that doubled as their personal bedrooms. Soon, it will be time to introduce the children to their new siblings and see which of them will be worthy of being my heir."

The Dark Lord continued looking at each child with the most wicked of grins as the seeds he had planted many years ago had grown into promising buds ready to start blooming once a bit of pruning was done here and there. While self-blessed with extended longevity, the Master of Darkness knew one day, his time in this world would come to an end. As such, like his younger brother before him, he would find a worthy heir to not only succeed his will but his Empire and continue his conquest of the world. Thankfully, he had found many promising candidates from all walks of a cursed life, those unwanted due to cursed Quirks, those taken when their parents disobeyed, some adopted by proxy with the help of loyal pawns, or in a few rare cases, there were even children who were born and raised from scratch, all sired by one of his most powerful and ambitious subjects.

Yet, the Emperor's eyes stopped to look at his most promising candidate.

An increasingly tall young man, his light blue hair still streaked with his original black. The Demon King watched as the boy continued to practice turning various objects into dust before scratching at his neck and face. This potential heir was just as ironic as the power he had inadvertently created that now opposed him. After all, having someone who could even make All Might hesitate to fight would be the perfect revenge.

"Tenk—I mean, Tomura has been doing much better since his fever broke," the Doctor followed up as she looked at the latest reports on the boy's progress. "He's taken well to his new Quirk, which should help heal the self-inflicted scars once we get him to drop the scratching habit. We've also discovered a wide range of materials that are resistant to Decay, which should make future containment procedures easier if necessary."

The Master of Darkness hummed with approval, however, before he could give any further comment on the boy's progress. There was a sudden distorting in the space nearby as a small black hole grew wider until a tall, skinny figure in a dress shirt and vest with a metal neckpiece appeared. His face was obscured of any features due to the smokey nature of his hybrid Quirk. Still, glowing yellow eyes were visited just behind flame-like shadows.

"Forgive me if I have interrupted you, Master," said the smoky man with a short but formal bow. "Doctor Garaki humbly requests your presence. There has been an unexpected development to the mission you assigned to his charges."

"Is that rogue crew dead, Kurogiri?" The Cardinal Emperor asked as if bored by the summons as he returned to look at the camera feed to Tomura's room.

While his influence may have dimmed with the rise of All Might, his word was still law in the underworld. However, a young crew of enterprising villains would occasionally form up and begin causing havoc without his permission. The first few incidents could be permitted as a test, but when an offer was made to join, they were not allow to decline. Yet, not only did this crew spit on his offer, but they also killed and kidnapped some well-connected people. Which only makes the government crack down hard on all of them.

That could not allowed to go unanswered.

"Yes, Master," Kurogiri answered promptly with reverence.

"Then why does Garaki need me?" The Dark One asked with a half-smile. He was pleased that the fools who had gone against his wishes were dead, yet displeased with this sudden summons. "Reward the children and have Garaki sort the survivors by performance."

"That's just it, Master," Kurogiri followed up hesitantly. "Only one returned alive."

The Cardinal Emperor froze, then slowly turned to face the warping creature with a curious expression that bordered on delight.

"Very well," said the Dark Lord as Kurogiri automatically created a new gate for him to use. "Doctor, I will return shortly."

"Of course, Master."

The man stepped into the black gate and instantly arrived at the grounds of one of many of Doctor Garaki's laboratories that dotted Japan. The dim green light from the empty tubes that lined the sides did little to impede the Quirk Thief's various powers to advance his senses, including seeing clearly in low light. He casually walked forward to greet the Doctor who was busy adjusting the only tube that was occupied. However, before he could speak to his old partner in crime, the man was stopped by the faint scent of something sweet that hung in the air and was mixed with a more familiar metallic smell.

The Master's eyes followed the source and led him to focus on a few tables nearby that had been cleared of everything save for a few new macabre features. Series of severed heads that bloodied the table's surface, with expressions that varied from surprised to filled wrath. Most were of the rogue crew of villains, but a few were of the children he had employed to handle his problem. It wasn't hard for the Master to discerned what had happened. If anything, this outcome was inevitable, albeit significantly ahead of his original schedule.

"What happened?"

"One of the five took your words to heart, Master," Garaki stated while adjusting the tube he was working on. Now that he had gotten his patron's attention, Garaki continued speaking. "While hunting down those petty fools, 4G-9 began systematically eliminating his competition."

"Did you witness this happen, Garaki?"

"No, Master, it was Kurogiri who witnessed the events that transpired and relayed them to me when the two returned," Garaki answered after pausing from his work momentarily to face his patron.

"Why did you not intervene, Kurogiri?" the Master asked in a neutral tone that would typically unnerve all who heard it.

The smokey man answered promptly and without hesitation.

"Per your instructions, Master. You expressly forbade me to intervene in their hunt. 4G-9 used the various skirmishes against the foolish ones to kill his siblings one by one when they were weakened."

"Then what happened?"

"The last man was cornered by 1G-4 and 2G-8. He used his Quirk to gain mental control of 1G-4," Kurogiri continued as his yellow eyes narrowed. "This led to a fight between him and 2G-8."

"And where was 4G-9 in this?" Asked The Cardinal Emperor as he turned away from the smoky man and moved to join Garaki just in time to see the sole survivor of his longest experiment to find the perfect heir. The young, bloodied-up boy was currently unconscious while leaning inside the tube that was slowly filling with a sickly green liquid, with an air mask being his only lifeline. The liquid quickly became clouded in a dark rusty brown that would slowly be filtered out.

"4G-9 had been wounded earlier and played dead, leaving the last two to believe they were the only ones left and throwing their growing suspicions off of him. Once the coast was clear, 4G-9 eliminated the victorious but weakened 1G-4 and the final target."

"Clever boy," said the Dark Lord as he mentally sorted at the finder details on these five. 4G-9 was part of the fourth and final batch born in-house a little over nine years ago and the sole survivor from that generation after the incident with his nursery five years ago. "He's one with the defective version of his father's Quirk, correct?"

"Indeed, but it was sufficient for the job," Garaki commented as he adjusted the tube's settings more.

"I see..."Dark Regent retorted with a chuckle cold enough to chill the hearts of those who heard him. "He's the perfect one to continue honing my ideals by learning the most important lesson. Family, especially siblings, are not to be trusted. A lesson I learned the hard way, but an important one nonetheless."

"You're not angry, Master?" Garaki questioned, not expecting that kind of reaction. Despite knowing the man for decades, the Doctor could still be surprised by him.

"Why should I be?" The Master countered with a smirk.

"He is truly his father's son. Vicious and clever; unyielding and resourceful; ruthless and powerful. The fact he can follow orders and yet knows where to read between the lines is sufficient proof of a natural leader despite his age. He knew that sooner or later, just like the other times. He would have to fight his brothers and sisters to the death again. Given all of the disadvantages, such as his age and the defective nature of his Quirk, he sought every chance to gain an edge. He is truly the definition of a survivor. However, if the lad truly ends up being like his father, and his ambitions go beyond me, he could still prove useful in honing Tomura's development by introducing worthy competition. No matter what, my legacy is assured."

"I see..." said Garaki, breathing a sigh of relief. "So, how should we proceed from here?"

"We will continue as planned, even if it's now ahead of schedule," The Cardinal Emperor answered with a satisfied smile. "It's time to move forward with the next step in my plan. Contact Devilbolt and inform him of the details like we had planned before. He'll know what to do from there."

"I'll arrange for all of the paperwork needed then, Master," Garaki responded with a deep bow, only to pause as a question formed in his head. "What should I do if 4G-9 awakens before Devilbolt arrives?"

The Demon King stopped just before stepping into the dark hole.

"Give the boy his proper name, the one chosen by his father all of those years ago," The Cardinal Emperor decreed with a smirk; even this one wouldn't become his heir. His familial influence would still be beneficial for the forseeable future. "He has earned it and as far as I am concerned, 4G-9 no longer exists. He was and always has been his father's son. "

"Of course, Master."

And so, the Master of Shadows left Doctor Garaki to continue his work while he returned to further his plans to reign in other upstart subordinates. From his throne, the Master would place his newly crafted pieces to keep his foes in check. From these tasks, he would find the one who was ruthless, yet crafty, malicious, yet would not be led by emotions. One who would not repeat his mistakes, such as trusting family or making friends that end would betray you. For in this world, one would only truly rely on oneself and no one else. That is the only way to indeed be worthy of his greatest title and the ultimate power it comes with.

All For One


Author's Commentary

(*1) Heterochromatic eyes: Heterochromia is a medical term for people with eyes of different colors. Canonically, All For One seemed to have had crimson/red eyes before All Might's attempt at amateur lasik eye surgery. However, for this story's theme and narrative, I have decided to make his eyes heterochromatic. In the previous versions of this story, I have noted the importance of noting characters with yellow or red eyes. It will also be a common and repeated highlight in some character descriptions.

The reason for this goes into spoiler territory but will make more sense as we progress and the story unfolds.

I believe I made a small mistake with how I handled Hisashi in the previous versions of this story. While I wanted to save the more three-dimensional version of him in his prequel. I realized that I needed to give my audience a hint of Hisashi with his hair down. In the previous version, I did purposely write him in a way that could be described as rose-tinted. (The first scene of this chapter was previously just something that was told in passing that Izuku recalled in the old version. Now, it's a full scene with a bit more context.)

I am hoping that this will stir more interest for you to read Hisashi's story, My Hero Academia Untold: The Black Dragon Knights, when it premiers at the same time as Chapter IV.

Now, regarding the second scene. Anyone (and you know who you are) who has read the previous versions of both stories should already know who is who. For those who haven't, welcome to how I love to set things up for massive future pay-offs. There isn't much to be said here without worrying about spoiling things, but I feel much more confident as a writer to be able to write these scenes without worrying that I'm giving away too much.

Again, this is related to my new approach to just a little more direct with my story. As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold and I am going to be sticking to it when it comes to key aspects of the story.

I think that covers it for now; I'll see ya'll next week!

With love, ZX