Paradise, the Quirkless Protagonist

Chapter 6

POV Kyudai (Doctor Kyudai Garaki)

Working with All For One had been a great pleasure but in the end I found out that I was nothing more than a pawn to him…less than a pawn. He valued only himself and his power. His corrupted and savage goal to take over this world and pinpoint himself as the symbol of Evil and Power.

To him, I was nothing but a method to increase his lifespan.

Perhaps the scariest thing was the I found myself being slowly indoctrinated by his plans and words. The more I listened to him, the more I found myself agreeing and finding himself worthy of becoming who he wished to be. I would find myself supporting him and coming up with creations, far from my original goal, to help him create his army.

Who saved me from that dark dark hole was Ms. Charlotte. The moment she hit me on the head with that strange quirk-breaking black hand, it was as if I could think clearly again for the first time in years. As if I had been brainwashed. Knowing Mr. All-For-One, it wasn't too far of a thought.

I brought Ms. Charlotte back to my base of operations to show her everything I had worked on and exactly why I simply couldn't leave them behind. Even if they were not my initial goal…the passion I felt when creating my high-ends…I simply could not bear to leave them behind.

Ms. Charlotte solved all of that with a laugh as she somehow transported everything into something she called an 'Inventory' before she moved me to a far far place. Somewhere very safe and across the world from that man.

Things got crazier and better from there as Ms. Charlotte only supported me and my goal in searching for the secrets of Quirks and their evolution, origins, and more. She came up with the idea of passing on Quirks by mutating genes through something edible. An idea in which I had initially scoffed at until she took out the literal proof that such a fruit truly did exist.

Seeing the potential and majesty of something so beautiful, I dedicated my (almost) everything into finding out more about these 'Devil Fruits' as Ms. Charlotte had called them.

It took a while but in the end nothing could get past this genius me. Breaking the code of the SMILES, I figured out how to easily mass produce these defective quirks. Unfortunately, it seemed as if their greatest flaw of water could not be erased as if blocked by some unseen force.

Other Devil Fruit needed more time and studying. Eventually, I gave up on creating the Devil Fruits themselves but rather recreating them from scratch. The Logias were the easiest yet most labor intensive as we focused unbelievable amounts of energy and life into a fruit. Creating a single fruit would be equivalent to creating more than three dozen SMILES.

For Zoans and Paramecias…the solution was rather simple but also brutal. Unlike Logias, Zoans and Paramecias weren't so straightforward most of the time. So, we came up with the idea of quirk-stealing…and it worked.

Ms. Charlotte has taken out the corpses of the villains she had killed. From their dead bodies we successfully extracted the heart of the quirk. Unfortunately the quirk was already dead by the time and thus we couldn't create a fruit out of it. That was when Ms. Charlotte showed her genius.

Syrup: Can we grow this though?

From then on came the process of seedifying (to turn the heart of the quirks into seeds) and then growing these seeds to harvest the fully grown and matured Devil Fruits. Testing them on the common captured thugs from the streets, we came to know that each seed can grow up to 10 fruits where 2-3 were successful. The rest were burned before used as fertilizer which mysteriously sped up the growth of the plants. Soon, we came to know how to tell apart which ones were good and which ones were defective.

Time passed and the GrandLine was set up and we had industrialized the process. By taking over the entire medical field, we had access to countless bodies and corpses in which most held quirks.

(Most) Villains did not have rights to funerals or where their body went to after their death and thus the centers sent the bodies directly to one of the 27 underground factories all over Europe where the bodies were processed before turned into seeds. Documented carefully of which seed held what quirk, the seeds were then sent to the herbal side of the industry where plant-related quirk holders would speed up the growth of these plants exponentially before harvesting, sorting, packaging, and finally being sent to the correct GrandLine building where the customer would come to collect and consume on spot. (The fruit is not allowed to leave the building).

Now that things have become industrialized and controlled, there wasn't much need for myself or Ms. Charlotte. I was still the main face and head for GrandLine but that was more of a puppet thing than anything else. I only showed my face once every couple of months just so the media does not grow suspicious of whatever was happening.

Lots of things were happening and my great nomus were still waiting for me. Perhaps I should continue on with the project? Yes…Ms. Charlotte deserves an army. This was something I was doing out of my own will out of true loyalty for someone who understands me and supported me when I was at my lowest. When I didn't even know that I was at my lowest.

I wonder where Ms. Charlotte would be doing next. I knew she was still doing her secret Vigilante work-though she didn't like to be called that- behind the scenes whenever she felt like it but what else?

GrandLine had pretty much already taken over Europe with it's influence stronger than any one or two governments. What next, the World?

POV Izuku Midoriya. Age 7

Stating that I admired heroes would be an understatement. From the moment I laid eyes on that legendary video of my idol, All Might, saving everyone with that smile on his face…I knew what I wanted to become.

I remember years of waiting for my quirk to manifest; just waiting for that time when I could finally begin training and reaching to become a hero like him.

… …

Fate is cruel.

A single meeting with a doctor confirmed my worst fears as he stated that I was quirkless. That was all I needed to know that my dreams were pretty much impossible…after all, which hero fought with no quirk?

Heroes were many in number and just as diverse. Their specialties, attitudes, and so much more that made every hero unique. Despite this, there was a single unspoken rule among all heroes. All Heroes had a quirk. Some more useful than others and some more powerful in nature.

In this unforgiving and cruel world, the fact of possessing and not possessing a quirk made all the difference.

That night when I replayed the video of All Might over and over again, my mother confirmed my fears as she apologized again and again for what was not her fault. It was simply bad luck after all…but the fact that she needed to apologize for the way I was born pointed to the fact that she believed that the quirkless, myself, are inferior…inadequate to become a hero.

Then came hope from across the world. GrandLine. The GrandLine was a mega corporation that rose from nowhere with technology (especially in the medical field) unheard of but undoubtedly effective. While all of that was amazing, their true golden egg lied in the fact that they sold quirks. Through creating a fruit, they were able to give quirks to the quirkless (and a second one to the ones with a quirk should they choose to invest that much).

My mother immediately began searching for information before slouching down and giving me a close hug.

Inko: Izuku…we're going to Switzerland.

Through my own research, I knew what this meant. I felt both elated and guilty at the choice my mother had to make. My mother, bless her heart, had chosen the best path to support me into becoming a hero by purchasing a quirk but…quirks were astronomically expensive…even the defective cheap ones called SMILES.

Buying even a normal quirk would put our family in years worth of debt. Despite this, mother never mentioned a single word about the price as she simply smiled. To her, this was her way of finding forgiveness for a sin she did not commit.

POV Dr. Constantine

Consulting and offering the quirkless an option to live in this world free of discrimination through quirkism was something I truly enjoyed and loved doing. One of the main reason of why I left my job at a big hospital before transferring to GrandLine…like countless other medical experts and medical related quirk holders. It was GrandLine who truly appreciated our value as those who saved lives instead of being blind and dazzled by those brutes who fight and kill out on the streets. It was also GrandLine who saw the value in people who were Quirkless and the first and only to offer them an option. An Pandora's Apple to give them a rebirth…essentially.

After the former Pro-Hero O'Clock left I enjoyed my short break before entering the office again to consult the next customer.

Izuku Midoriya, Japanese, Age 7

Quirkless

Background Check: Completed

That was all I needed to know for now as there was a knock on the door.

Inko: Hello?

A head poked through the gap of the door as I beckoned the two to sit. As the two sat, I couldn't help but notice the little kid (with crazy hair) looking so excited as if he just met his hero.

Me: Did you meet O'Clock on the way out? I couldn't think of another reason of why you would be so excited.

Izuku: Yes! I couldn't believe that O'Clock would be here! I heard that he retired after an accident and was not doing so well…so I was worried but when I asked for his signature he was smiling as if all his problems were solved and you kn—

Inko: Alright Izuku, that's enough for now.

I chuckled at the little boy's enthusiasm. It was nice to see a young boy still so pure in heart even when he was quirkless. A good thing he came here while he was still young before he began seeing how truly corrupted and unforgiving the world was to the quirkless…especially in Japan.

Me: I do believe he is having a great day. Then why don't we make it your great day as well? You are here to receive a quirk, no?

I took out his folder containing the information from his physical examination before showing it to him.

Me: You possess the talent and potential to become very physically strong even without a quirk, but right now? Your body's not really ready to receive a forced power enhancement quirk or anything of the equivalent.

I took out the same Pandora's Fruit category sheet and rolled it out in front of the family.

Me: Personally, I would recommend a Zoan type to naturally enhance all of your senses through an animal or a logia…though I do believe that your document stated something about your financial situation so a logia is out of question.

Ms. Inko looked down in shame as I quickly caught my mistake

Me: No no! Ms. Inko! I am so terribly sorry! I did not mean to insult you in any way regarding your financial situation! Besides, there are very few people who can even afford logia type fruits to begin with! Their starting prices are at a 100 million Euros!

Inko: But I want the best for my son and a Logia is the best…isn't it?

Me: Well…a Logia would be the best in most cases as it comes with its invulnerability. Most Logia users are immune to physical attacks which is what makes Logia users seem so powerful; however, in the end strength is determined by the user.

I gestured at the Paramecia type fruit.

Me: We have a fruit in the Paramecia type that turns the user's body into rubber or rubber like elasticity and components. Initially management thought it to be a useless fruit and sold it off like a SMILE fruit to later only realize how the user became one of the greatest Heroes today in the United Kingdom.

I smiled at the little boy as I continued my little talk

Me: So in the end, it all depends on how much you are willing to train and improve yourself. Of course, that doesn't mean you should choose any quirk. Might as well make the process easier for yourself. Do you have any ideas young Izuku?

Izuku: Ummm…personally I would like a quirk like All Might…

All Might's ability huh. Unlike most Pro Heroes, All Might's quirk was still hidden behind shades as nobody was able to confirm exactly what it was. We knew what it basically did as All Might's strength was unbelievably enchanted to inhuman levels.

Me: We have no fruit that can give that sort of power right away. We have a few that could reach such potential but the price…

I let the silence answer the question as the two understood. Of course, from the company's perspective I was supposed to sell the highest priced fruit but the consultant and doctor inside me wanted to help them as much as possible. To give them the best possible option with their current situation.

Me: If I may suggest…how about a rabbit or hare zoan type fruit?

Inko & Izuku: Ehh?

Me: I know the animals themselves are looked down upon but please hear me out. Rabbits and Hares are by no account weak. Rabbits are among some of the most amazing animals out there.

I turned to my computer before searching up rabbits and turning to screen to show them the potential such a Zoan type fruit could give.

Me: To begin with, Rabbits have amazing hind leg muscles that allow them to jump multiple times their own size…easily! Not to mention their amazing perception and reaction speed along with their danger sensing ability evolved from hiding from predators.

Izuku began to look a little excited as I continued.

Me: To add on, rabbits have a 360 degree vision, which is pretty much a full view! You'll have essentially no blind spots except for the tiny tiny portion of your back which almost no one can exploit. But what is even better than their eyes are their sense of smell. In fact, their sense of smell is so good that rabbits smell their predators or anything they are searching for before they see it. All in all, it's a pretty amazing animal and thus fruit for something that is not a predator or the sort. What do you think?

Inko: And how much will this cost…?

Me: It's 200,000 Euros but with your single-mother status and other benefits…it comes down to 150,000; however, if you have medical insurance from a contracted company, which you do, then it comes does to 55,000 Euros. That's really the best we can offer for the Rabbit-Rabbit Fruit.

Inko: What do you think Izuku?

Me: Young lad, you are aware of the new rising Heroine Mirko aren't you? While she may not be All Might, she is also an amazing hero capable of representing Japan and she too holds a Rabbit Quirk.

Inko: That's true…

Izuku: … I would like that fruit. Yes.

Me: Wonderful! Though I would like to warn you that the fruit will taste disgusting…what is that compared to a new life and opportunity, huh?

POV Syrup

The creation of the GrandLine was no easy task. It took months of planning, a full year's worth of assassination of the right people and bribery to even get it off the paper. Afterwards, putting in the hands of a capable and trustworthy individual to lead to marketing segment was crucial.

It was hard…but it was a success. Utilizing the overwhelming amount of gold stored inside of my inventory, the funds were never an issue. There was once a minor problem regarding the origins of the gold but an answer similar to 'ahh, we have a gold creation quirk user' was all it needed for the investigations to cease.

After the discovery of the most efficient way to create the Devil Fruits (or as Pandora's Apples as we call them now) I continued my spree across Europe and sometimes beyond. While I was really just letting loose some stress and exercising, sometimes Ace or Dr. Kyudai gave me some specific targets that would benefit the growth of the company. With all the money, spare time, and Ace's encouragement, there was no real reason to disagree.

Overall, life in this world was different. Too different.

Sure I killed a couple of thugs or officials every other day but it was too peaceful for my tastes. There were no bloodthirsty or zealous Marines right out of our territory. There were no civilians shitting or hiding on/from me if I went out of Totta Land. It was refreshing to have nobody recognize me simply by lowering my mask.

Still, there were downsides to such a world. At least in the One Piece world power was everything. Truly everything. Law was already a debatable factor and economy was isolated for every island so it was only individual and organizational power that made the difference. Marines through their combined ideal for justice and Mama through her status as a yonko.

This world was different. In terms of unity, it fell behind the World Government but the technology, morals, and people's belief in their safety through oppression more than made up for the choking leash I felt everywhere. This was why I thought it was necessary to create an organization that could ignore all the layers of traps the governments laid; a mega-corporation that the people desperately need. By holding the monopoly on the artificial quirks and a large share on the medical industry, we would become an indispensable part of society while being free of the political drama. Should anyone try to involve us in that tycoon, we would have our economic and societal leverage to help us legally and there was always the option of going myself to take out the issue completely.

I looked through my schedule. There was nothing on it. Wonderful…well, at least not for this month.

Me: Japan huh?

I remembered Dr. Kyudai saying something about his former master gaining allies and quirks through his own version of Mimic but quirk centric. We were planning on expanding to Japan soon as well; we couldn't really let an uncontrolled underworld flourish while we were there, could we?

I dialed Kyudai's number as he picked up on the first ring.

Me: Tell me everything you remember about this All For One…

AN: Reviews are love. Sorry for the late update. Busy, had too much fun, etc