Chapter 23: Demons and Hope

[12k+ words]

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A pure beige room.

Hawks sat on the chair, tied by rope and bound in iron.

His only companion was a giant troll-like creature with skin hard as stone, standing by the only door, wooden mahogany, his only path to freedom… and a growing army waiting on the other side, ready to do Garou's bidding.

His only food was the nutrient slurry they kept injecting into his veins, not letting the gag remove from his mouth. His wings regrew, but they still bound his wings in iron.

A shell of iron immobilized him. He could not fly out even if he wanted to with all his feathers.

He had lost count of the time already… there was nothing he could do other than ponder his fate and the consequences.

He imagined the Bureau firing him for his epic failure.

He imagined every citizen that looked up to him staring at him with complete disappointment, shamed and shunned by society and mocked by the villains.

He imagined… everything that could go wrong.

The possibilities of what Garou could do to him were limitless. Right now, Garou held the ax that could execute the current society if he wanted.

The turning of the doorknob broke the silence. Hawks looked up, his dreary eyes losing their gloom, when he saw the Demon of Hosu himself walking in.

He was dragging a chair behind him, and following the Hero Hunter was a small coterie of what looked like bodyguards. The Golden Spider and Chisaki were behind him.

Garou was no longer wearing the mask, his single blood-red eye staring at him as he pulled the chair forward until it faced Hawks.

Hawks stared at Garou as he sat down, now staring at him in the eyes.

"...Are you here to torture me? Haven't I suffered enough?" Hawks quipped.

"I don't know. Have you?" Garou asked back. "I'm actually here to tell you something. My… new subordinates. Hmm. 'Subordinates'. It is a word I never thought I'd say… This place has a way of bending people's perspective."

Hawks stared at Garou stoically. He was too tired to think at the moment.

"I am going to cut to the chase. My most trusted people want to pry every little secret you're hiding behind that head of yours, every dirty little secret your Hero Association has in their skeleton closets."

Hawks narrowed his eyes at Garou with defiance.

"So you fall so low to torture Heroes willingly… Not that I'm surprised given your cruel streak."

"I'm not gonna use that kind of torture on you." Garou shot his accusation down. "No, I have someone with a special Quirk that will make you tell the truth whether you like it or not. I may not look like it, but I know how to use Quirks better than most of you Heroes. You just need the sense for it."

Hawks' eyes widened.

"And if you have the bright idea of killing yourself, I can just dangle your corpse in front of Hosu or whatever city that likes you the most. I will ensure that everyone in Hosu knows you're a coward in the end, taking the easy way out. And I'm pretty sure you don't have some kind of secret Quirk that lets you fake death through hibernation or something. If so, surprise me if you can."

Hawks was rattled, shaken as anxiety forced sweat to trickle down his pores. No words could properly describe his situation other than complete checkmate.

"I'm curious to learn your Hero Society's dark side. The sheer good publicity out there looks more like a desperate door to hide what's on the other side… so I'm going to make you an offer."

Hawks remained silent as he swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Answer the questions I have truthfully, or one of my people will chew up every little secret you have in your mind until you're… empty. Or have no flavor. Hmmm, I can't seem to find the right words."

"What the hell is the difference between the two options?" Hawks asked.

"I'm giving you a chance to satisfy my curiosity and leave your darkest, most personal secrets alone. You have a choice, Hero. No good choice and you're alone. You deserve this for not bringing in an army, or have you heroes lost all hope to believe that numbers can no longer save you? Heh, well, it doesn't matter how many there are anyways."

Hawks grit his teeth.

"If you continue this path, other heroes will rise against you. Not only Japan but also the world-"

"Will do nothing. They won't lay a hand on us. On me." Garou smirked. "Though I will give them a chance in my arena. That is IF there is a hero worth my time in this world other than All Might."

"And you think they will just let you do as you please?"

"Because I crushed All Might. You heroes will do anything to preserve this… poisonous peace. This peace is built on the evil of ordinary men, the kind of evil you cannot, or will not, bother to solve."

Not wanting to look at him, Hawks averted his eyes. His gaze accidentally landed on the ringleader of the Eight Precepts of Death, Overhaul, and a few of his henchmen wearing their trademark plague masks.

A few were independents; one of them was wearing a dark brown duster and a full-body mask covering all of his face, one with a breathing apparatus and red lens peering back at Hawks. The man was armed with modern weapons, a heavily customized pistol at his hips while a two-handed rifle slung on his back.

"...What happened to you?" Hawks asked. "You… this isn't your modus operandi. Until now, you were a literal lone wolf."

It was an unusual shift of mindset. Even experts of criminal psychology depicted Garou as a criminal with a penchant for violence, but…

He watched Garou staring at his eyes unflinching, stoically, his mien unreadable.

Garou inhaled.

"When I resumed my work out in your streets, a stranger in an even stranger land… I was driven by a belief that I can solve all the world's problems with violence."

"...What changed your mind?" Hawks asked.

"Since I crushed All Might and… crushed every form of meaningful resistance, everything I believed in is being challenged. This place doesn't follow the same rules where I am from. The… fragility of it all is what deters me from finishing the blow. Then I watched and observed the news, how you heroes operate, the unnatural coordination and response time… there is a professionality there, cooperation that I'm pretty sure I didn't see back where I'm from. Though it's especially because you're all so, goddamn weak…"

Hawks almost hissed at him for his insult.

"But in the process, I admit that you all have ingenuity when dealing with vermin that like to hide behind the innocent and save lives from disasters. death is all too common where I'm from. You have no idea how many people usually die from certain disasters that the usual heroes could not overcome. It took a while for me to realize how inured and ignorant I am to it all."

"...And where are you from, exactly?" Hawks asked.

He couldn't imagine hearing something involving a lot of death, like where he was from.

"If you think I'll spoil it, think again. It is more fun to let you all guess. I will give you a hint. Every location that comes to mind on every continent is wrong."

What kind of hint was that? It didn't leave much room for imagination, and the cryptic vagueness was irritating.

"So, what made you decide to lead an army?"

"I spent the last few months having a discussion on topics with my associate. Originally, I wanted… eyes and ears to hunt down All Might since he is too elusive for my liking. And I wanted to prepare a surprise for him, something I cannot give with these hands." Garou raised his hands, showing Hawks his calloused palms.

"What did you discuss?"

"What it means to change the world - what it takes to change the world. And… I realized something when I talked. It is strange to find someone with a similar mindset here, I'll have you know. It is even more surprising that I can gather this many people under me. Honestly, I didn't expect to have so many followers. Do you know that even more people at our door want to join us after we threw you in here? There are so many that a part of me thinks it's a dream."

Hawks could imagine the feeling, but not the number of new followers. He was afraid to.

"And what I realized is that… I am sending the wrong message with my actions. Just like how All Might is doing it with his."

"And what is that wrong message you are sending?"

"That violence solves everything… unhinged chaos is not strength. It is a poison, a weakness." Garou said.

A sense of surprise blossomed in Hawks as he stared at Garou, perplexed.

"That's…"

Hawks didn't expect to hear something like that from Garou. Or from anyone.

"It took me a while to realize that if I continued hunting heroes down like when I started, it would only spread suffering. It will not… let's just say that I was under a very wrong impression the longer I observed the news. The vermin and trash living among us, I do not want to follow me. They can rot in hell for all I care."

"...Aren't you gathering the same vermin and trash?"

"I am filtering them out. Some still received the wrong message and impression of what I stand for. But that is enough about me… now, choose. Tell me your secrets willingly until I'm satisfied… or lose everything you have inside your head."

---------

Toshinori Yagi gawped at Hawks.

All Might sat beside the bed that was holding Hawks atop a mattress under white sheets, in his more anonymous skeletal form. He was shaking in his chair, unable to compose himself from the horror.

Tsukauchi was standing beside All Might.

Hawks, on the other hand, was a different story.

He had been tarred and feathered, every part of his skin covered with red-painted feathers, literally. He looked more like the bastard love-child of a swamp monster and a down pillow than the Hawks they knew.

As for how Hawks had been delivered, a trio of men wearing Garou's demon masks drove an ambulance through the front door of the HPSC and tossed a large crate out on the flatbed. Once the container had been opened, the occupant was revealed to be Hawks himself, with the flatbed returning from whence it had come.

Since then, Hawks was on a bed in a long, arduous road to recovery.

"...After that, his thugs… tarred and feathered me. Everyone that followed him cheered as they stuffed me into that metal case."

"...What did you tell him?" Yagi asked, mortified.

"...I didn't know about your secret identity until now. He asked, but I managed to evade a bullet."

"Then… What did he ask?"

"He asked… for all of the standard hero rescue tactics and strategies we use."

Yagi and Tsukauchi were caught off guard, evident by their confusion.

"He asked for what?"

"He wanted to know how the heroes operate, our guidelines, how to… connect with the public. I was initially surprised when he asked that, so I told him the abbreviated version of all I knew. Next was funding. He wanted to know how the heroes receive their wages and where they get their funding from. In summary, he wanted to know how the hero system operates in detail."

"...Why is he interested in that?" Tsukauchi asked with intrigue.

"I don't know. I don't remember any villain I fought that was interested in our curriculums like that." Hawks admitted. "I can no longer predict what he is thinking anymore. I don't want to after what he made me go through… and then he moved on to what I don't want to disclose. He asked me if there are records of any false heroes… incidents where heroes committed fraud, corruption, and… there was nothing I could do. Not even death was a good alternative. He has everything he needs to blackmail The Public Safety Bureau."

Yagi grimaced, scrunching his skeletal features.

"...I don't know how long we can endure this, All Might." Hawks turned to All Might. "It scares me, seeing such an individually powerful man like him deciding to spread his roots. The loyalty he has already instilled in his men is terrifying… they idolize him like many look up to you, All Might. I don't know how we can handle this without involving the world anymore…"

Toshinori agreed.

"What is Garou planning now?" Toshinori asked.

" . . . I shudder to even contemplate," the No.3 Hero shuddered, a bit of down coming loose. "But I should ask the same. What are you going to do? Do you have a plan?"

"I…" Toshinori hung his head.

"...At this rate, we might have to break our code and-"

"That is out of the question." Toshinori snapped at Hawks for the insinuation.

Regardless of what Garou was planning… Toshinori could not bring himself to do anything like that, taking the life of a man that did not take the life of a Hero, a man that was raising a child with his adoptive mother.

All Might was a symbol of heroism, not terror for the innocent. He would not be a villain against the Quirkless and shatter a child's dream.

The man can be saved… Toshinori just had no idea how.

"...What are we going to do? I can imagine one of the government officials hiring an assassin to kill him but… I don't know if anyone in the world is capable of that."

"...Just give me time. Let me ask Garou what he is planning before I make a decision."

"...And if he is planning something sinister?"

Toshinori remained silent as he clenched his fist. He prayed that he did not have to resort to that. Otherwise… it would haunt his soul for eternity.

---------

Garou stared at the child before him and then at the man who had brought her before him. 'The Boss' was an old man in a black yukata with slicked-back gray hair, his hand protectively on the girl's shoulder.

The girl in question had light blue hair, messy and unkempt, parted in the middle of her forehead, almost reaching down to her waist. Her eyes were bright red, innocence exuding from them like two setting suns. A small, brown horn poked out of the right side of her forehead as she gazed back up at him. At the moment, fear clouded those innocent eyes, but a childlike curiosity was with it.

"...Garou. I would like to thank you." The Boss bowed slightly before Garou.

"And what am I to be thanked for, exactly? This is the second time we met." Garou asked.

"...My son, Kai. Thank you for bringing him out of the darkness." The Boss looked up. "I am sure that he didn't tell you but… before you arrived, he was desperate. Very desperate to bring our organization out of our recession enough to… I want to say that no matter what, please do not attempt any harm to him. Right now, you are his role model. It has been so long since he found someone to look up to other than me."

Garou understood for now.

"I will not guarantee it if he steps out of line," Garou warned.

"...Then that is enough." He gestured to the girl. "This is my granddaughter. Her name is Eri. I would… I would like to request that you look after her in my stead."

Garou stared at the girl, that was full of fear. She was afraid of him, especially since his mask was worn on the side of his face.

"Why?"

"I am still the Boss of the Shie Hassekai. I still have resources at my disposal. I am aware that you are looking after a child."

Garou narrowed his eyes.

"And I saw how you raised him. You brought a child out of depression and into high spirits. My granddaughter, she cannot be raised under my care any longer."

"...And what about her parents?" He asked.

"...I heard you have an astounding resistance to Quirks." The Boss noted.

"It is an inherent trait I am developing."

"So I've heard. Her Quirk… she cannot control it. Her power erased her father from existence. Her mother abandoned her after that and left her to me. I had Kai try to discern what her Quirk was… and it is dangerous."

"Say it."

"...It is not easy to explain. Her power is to rewind the state of living beings. Rewind as if, able to rewind the time of someone. Like returning them back to nonexistence, their age… we don't know how much influence her Quirk has. And she cannot control how or when she could rewind."

Garou widened his eyes as he looked at the girl in a new light.

"There is little we can do to shut down her Quirk humanely. I will not tell you what Kai has to do to disable her Quirk's rampage… It is unpleasant but necessary. I want you to make me a promise. Would you-"

Garou raised his hand.

The Boss remained silent as Garou took off the mask from the side of his face and knelt, lowering himself until he was at eye level with the girl.

"...What is your name?" Garou asked.

"I already told you her name," the Boss hummed.

"I know. But I want to hear it from her mouth," Garou said, keeping his eyes on the child.

"...I… I am Eri."

Garou smiled lightly.

"It is a beautiful name," Garou said with genuine truth. He offered his hand to Eri as the girl flinched.

Eri stared at the offered hand for a moment… she looked back at the stranger and his smile.

"...My name is Garou." Garou introduced himself. "If you want, I can take you away from here. I know someone that might be able to help you. But I'll respect your wishes if you don't want to come with me. If you are willing, I can give you a normal life."

Eri perked up at the offer.

"...R-Really?" She asked.

"What is it you're afraid of the most? Tell me, and I'll make it go away."

Eri looked at a man with a rough mix of hope and slight suspicion.

"...I… am…" She hesitated. She looked down on herself as she fidgeted.

Garou smiled as he ruffled her hair. Eri blushed as she felt something she hadn't felt since her father was still around.

"Take your time. I won't force you to make that choice." Garou said as he rose, placing his mask back on.

"U-Um…" Eri looked up to him, fidgeting. "...Will I see you again?"

Garou looked back at her.

"You will. You have my word." He walked out of the Boss' office, leaving the elder stunned by his affinity with children.

"And you." Garou stopped and glanced at the old man through his mask. His voice was distorted through the mask, altered to hide his appearance. "If you dare pry in my private life without permission again…"

"...You have my word that I'll defend your secret." The Boss humbly bowed to the man about to change the world.

Garou stared at the man for a moment before he looked forward.

As he walked down the halls and pushed through the double doors, he was greeted by the presence of many.

Lined up on the walls facing each other with profound discipline, men and women of all shapes and forms stood front and center, raising their shoulders and straightening their spines in response to the Hero Hunter's presence.

Soon a couple of Kai's subordinates followed him.

More and more followed him, his pack growing almost without end until he entered the room - a massive room with a large throne-like seat on a dais.

Kai stood beside the throne, the other Yakuza bosses standing behind the throne, and many of the new initiates waiting as Garou walked to the throne and took his seat.

Everyone waited and looked up to Garou.

"Garou. What is your first order as the master?" Kai asked.

Garou's gaze took in the people that looked up to him, those that rejected society in their own way and followed him because of his actions.

"...To break the redundant cycle, we devised a plan to start something new. But first, I must announce. Those of you that joined will have your skills assessed. Unfortunately for those of you that failed the dice, we will take your Quirks into account. However, if you have the will, I will raise you all into the warriors you dream of becoming or kill you trying. Everything that you are will all be tested, your hopes, your dreams, your soul."

Everyone stifled the lump in their throats, trying not to let their eager anticipation explode.

"Second, your ranks will be determined through trial and assessment into five levels. From the weakest, there is Disaster Level Wolf, Tiger, Demon, Dragon, and finally, God. Wolf is the level that the average human can beat. Tiger is a foe that will take special humans to defeat in a group. Demon… well, if you want an example, Demon is where All Might currently stand."

There were gasps among the initiates. Even Kai was surprised by Garou's custom evaluation of All Might, that the number one hero only placed in the middle of his custom rankings.

"Dragon is where I stand. God is what I will achieve. The ranking system I announced evaluates your level of power and abilities in combat. As for hierarchies based on other skill sets, we will have commanders and lieutenants, the generalized labels commonly used by many. There will be others that will have just as important roles that you don't need labels to know. Ask questions now or forever hold your tongue."

Many hands launched in response.

"You." Garou pointed at the man that was dressed as a magician.

"What exactly does this training entail?" The man asked.

"It's not something words can describe easily, but I will impart my martial skills to anyone I deem worthy."

There was a clamor of excitement among them, many looking forward to learning the skills of the man who held the Hero Society's throat at his mercy.

"Know that the training will be harsh. Do not expect something like a magical power-up. You will earn your skills through blood, sweat, and suffering. Anything less will lead you out the door. You will know when we begin."

Everyone tacitly accepted his words.

"What are your plans for us?! Are we going to destroy the Heroes!?"

"No." Garou denied.

"...What? What do you mean, 'no'?" The girl asked.

"We're not going to destroy the Heroes," Garou said. "We will destroy what the modern Heroes represent. We will show the world why we fight by exposing their weakness. Their failures."

Everyone was stunned.

"The Villains only served as an excuse for their existence, sustaining the diseased cycle. We are not proving to the world that we are part of the disease; we are proving that we are more than just… violent mobs driven by destructive impulses. This is the next step I want to take. I want to see you all take the step forward."

The crowd was moved by his speech, unable to retort against his logic, his moving motivation.

"...And what do you plan to do with this many resources?" The magician asked.

"I'm going to do something no one that went against society has done," Garou said.

"I've never done it before, but it might just work given the world's current situation. I talked with my associate and learned that everyone here has something in common. They all need a place to call their own… so I came up with this idea."

Garou snapped his fingers.

Overhaul nodded and gestured to one person.

The man looked like he was covered in light, like a holographic projector of yellow color.

He stood before Garou's throne as he spread his arm apart.

Light shone from his body like a spotlight, showing a holographic projection of a city.

"I learned that the world created an artificial island for the sole purpose of Quirk research."

The hologram showed a replica of a perfectly round island in a body of water with which the initiates could compare.

Atop the round island were three circles connected via pathways within the circumference.

"...Isn't that the infamous I-Island?" The man in a gas mask and guns asked.

"The infamous island holds thousands of scientists created for the sole research of Quirks. I want to visit and explore this place when I have the time."

"To raid and plunder?" Another asked.

"No. I want to see what kind of world lives on that island. I've never been to a city built just for men of science. I want to see a new world for myself and the potential, but that's enough about that place…" Garou waved off. The living projector turned itself off.

"What I want… is to build something similar. Something bigger. But I can't do it with these hands." Garou lifted his hands, showing them the flat of his gloved palms. "So I will gather and invest in the search for others that can."

"...What are you trying to build?" The man with the burn scars asked.

Garou looked at him.

"...You look like you're in need of a proper repair. Are those scars for decoration?" Garou asked back.

The man ran his hands down on the purple discolored skin on his face.

"...What is done to me cannot be undone."

"What is your name?" Garou asked.

"...Dabi," Dabi answered, the black-haired man looking up with a perpetual gaze of weariness.

"For all of those that are in need of severe medical attention, please turn to my associate. I don't know what your condition is, but with his medical expertise, he can repair anyone. Even if you're a puddle of organic goo."

Everyone turned to Overhaul.

"It is as he says. My Quirk allows me to deconstruct and construct any form of matter. However, with my medical expertise, I can fuse bodies into trash cans and make them part of the architecture for minutes. And I can separate them, restore them as good as new, breathing and alive."

Everyone elicited voices of awe at his ability. Some of them even clapped at that.

"...I see." Even Dabi sounded impressed.

"As for what I intend to build… it is a surprise," Garou answered. "Hosu will be a blueprint for what I have in store. When I unveil my end-game goals, I want to see All Might's face, the world's face. I promise that it will be worth it."

The fires of anticipation were lit in their guts. They could feel it churning inside them, kindling their spirits.

"But I didn't gather an army without putting them to work." Garou chuckled. "Honestly, it is a new feeling, commanding people. I cannot describe it other than an addictive empowering sensation in some moments."

Everyone snickered, able to sympathize with that.

"We will first conquer Japan's underworld. There are untapped resources that we can make use of. I plan to tame the darkness festering in Japan and make it grovel beneath my feet. If the Heroes plan to interfere, you have permission to crush them. However, there will be rules."

Everyone straightened their backs.

"I will not tolerate anyone that involves civilians. For children and mothers, the punishment will be worse than death. We will not be 'Villains'. We will be something more than that."

"But what about using other Heroes as hostages?" A mutant eel-faced woman asked.

The same woman flinched when she felt a piercing glare from the Hero Hunter.

"...I will acknowledge that I have no power over your choices in emergencies. However, let this be my first and final warning. Do not bring me shame. Your actions now reflect mine. I will not tolerate any unforgivable forms of cowardice. Do not attempt to worm your way out with sophism, or I will throw your bodies into a ditch myself."

Everyone shuddered as an aura of dread consumed the atmosphere. They immediately understood the consequences, all reflexively straightening their backs.

"Good. This will be our motto."

Banishing his intimidating aura, Garou relaxed.

"We will defy the norm. Labels will not chain us. We are not villains. We are something more."

Overhaul silently watched from the side. He did not anticipate this, especially that empowering phrase. The crowd implicitly liked that phrase. Very inspiring.

"...I was wondering for a while." The lizardman called Spinner raised his hand. "What will be the name of this organization?"

Garou remained silent.

Various names ran through his head.

Demonic legion, wolf pack…

"...Hunters' Guild," Garou answered. "We are the Hunters' Guild. The world shall know our name and learn to fear it."

---------

It was a foreboding day for the citizens of Hosu.

Everyone could sense that this day was coming, but they didn't think the Hero Hunter would do it after living amongst them for so long.

Some people were planning to move away; some that already did the moment the mayor declared that he would give up the government position to the Demon of Hosu, now officially the Demon Lord of Hosu.

A third of the police force applied to resign and even more requested to transfer from Hosu.

Many heroes in Hosu also applied for a transfer, and fewer wanted to quit and find another job to avoid the impending apocalypse that was the Hero Hunter.

Tourists and news reporters filled the streets to the brim. However, all were waiting for the grand march, for the man to take residence as the new owner of the city.

Several Heroes were watching the result of the chaos.

Endeavor, Eraserhead, Best Jeanist, and Mirko were there alongside the lesser heroes that were brave enough to enter these lands.

The lesser heroes and sidekicks were amongst the crowd in case a fight was about to break out, while the main heroes were standing atop the roof to keep the masses in their sights.

Sitting at the edge of a commercial building, Mirko lazily stared at her phone, switching from channel to channel, listening to the commentators on the site. Live streamers were also on-site, waiting to see the rise of the Demon Lord claiming his seat out of fear, curiosity, or excitement.

[Protests are exploding all over Japan, demanding the heroes to take action!]

Mirko scowled as she tuned to another channel.

[Small riots are happening all over Tokyo! It's like people are treating Garou's rise to power as the end of the world!]

"Weaklings." She muttered as she tapped out of the channel and entered another.

"Shouldn't you be more vigilant?" Best Jeanist asked.

"For what? Doubt there'd be anyone dumb enough to start any trouble here in the Hero Hunter's turf." The dark-skinned bunny scoffed as she looked down.

The glass of the skyscrapers perfectly refracted the noon sun, glaring into the eyes below. Spectating civilians lined on both sides of the sidewalk. Armed riot police wielding glass shields and batons lined the streets, ready to protect or suppress the civilians should trouble to arise.

"Feh. We're not even allowed to ambush him when he arrives, so I don't see any point."

"You're serious about rechallenging him?" Best Jeanist was stunned by the rabbit's tenacity.

"Yeah. I am. I'm going to be the first Hero to kill his win streak. Then maybe I'll be the number one hero while I'm at it."

"No."

For once, Endeavor's voice joined the conversation.

Jeanine and Mirko turned to the number two hero. The man's eyes were more focused on the streets below than the heroes behind him.

"Got something to say, Nuts?" Mirko jabbed.

Endeavor's perpetual frown turned into a scowl, his genitals feeling a phantom prick.

"If anyone is going to be the Number one, it will be me." Endeavor rebuked.

"You too? Garou is now the kind of man that will threaten the means of making the next generation for the sake of comedy now. Especially…"

"Then I will repay the debt twofold." Endeavor almost snapped.

Best Jeanist remained bewildered.

"...I don't get it. Why do you…"

"...Losing the way I did the first time against him… it felt like I awoke from a bad dream. A sense of clarity and… enlightenment comes when he shatters your world. There is loss, confusion… then a loss of weight on your shoulders as if you noticed a burden you didn't know was there until you looked for it. And all I found was all of my mistakes and past sins when I returned home, seeing my children turned against me. It was then I realized what kind of man I was, and I don't have any excuse to overlook myself anymore."

The two heroes stared at Endeavor, caught off guard by his statement.

"...Huh, more than half of what you said happened to me. All I felt is a need to repay the other half." Mirko admitted.

"I can feel some of what you said, but I just don't want to fight him again. At least not alone… for now. I admit that losing to him feels like losing a sense of self-worth."

"And because of that, I cannot live with myself until I reclaim it." Endeavor nodded.

"...So I'm not the only one." Best Jeanist sighed. "Losing to Garou felt less like… losing to a great villain. I lost something that day as well. I don't feel as assured and confident as I'm used to anymore."

"So you're a pussy. You're lucky he didn't embarrass you live." Mirko snorted.

"Hmph." Endeavor nodded.

Best Jeanist did not comment. He agreed that he was lucky that he did not suffer public humiliation.

Jeanist paused when he heard the border patrol messaging him through the earpiece.

"...Garou has arrived at Hosu."

Mirko and Endeavor perked at the mention.

On the streets at the edge of Hosu, they could see it.

Marching through the streets of Hosu, Garou was… there was no palanquin.

From the horizon, the shadow of Garou barely entered their vision.

Everyone held their breaths when they saw the new demon lord of Hosu leading a legion of followers.

They were all wearing masks, all demonic as they walked behind him, many shapes and sizes in different clothes, following the Hero Hunter.

Garou's mask was different compared to before.

With more detail than the previous, the black and red mask outlined the face of a raging Demon with two dark brown bladed horns protruding forward then skyward.

Endeavour grimaced.

The man's presence was exuding dominating authority, drowning everyone around him with it.

He clenched his fists as he tried his best to suppress the phantom pain in his crotch and the shame and humiliation that followed.

They walked undeterred to Hosu's central building. Waiting outside the mayoral office was the mayor, former mayor of Hosu, holding the keys to the city.

He was a short, kindly old man in appearance. He was no taller than a child, yet his age was displayed through his face and facial hair, his fluffy mustache covering half of his face and most of his chin.

Standing beside the mayor was his secretary, a very tall woman with red hair flowing down to her shoulders and two times more towering than the average human, wearing a knee-length pencil skirt.

In contrast with the others, the mayor looked… calm. He was not afraid when his eyes met with the Hero Hunter's mask.

Mirko flashed a wild grin. Her rabbit instincts were screaming danger warnings at her.

"Heh. The bastard got stronger."

Endeavor and Best Jeanist stared at Mirko as if she uttered a sick joke.

"...Are you serious?" Best Jeanist pleaded to hear 'no.'

"Rabbit instincts don't lie. I can almost smell it."

Best Jeanist hoped not, or Garou would soon grow too strong for anyone to handle.

To everyone's shock, an incident occurred.

Windows shattered from the buildings around them.

"Buster Union, chaaarge!"

The heroes looked up, seeing…

Heroes in hero costumes descending from above, some flying or falling.

A group of the heroes on the ground recognized was the Buster Union, a group of five heroes with powerful offensive Quirks. They were all standing on flat aerial four-rotor drones.

"Defeat the Hero Hunter and capture his minions! We can't let the Demon get away with this!"

Endeavor, Best Jeanist, and Mirko were shocked.

"What is the meaning of this?! Why are there unassigned heroes there?!"

Within the police station in Hosu, Kenji Tsuragamae, the beagle-dog-headed police chief, shouted.

He was in the monitoring room, staring at the big screen on the wall displaying many heroes that broke decorum.

Toshinori Yagi's jaw dropped to the metaphorical floor amongst the spectators.

"Buster Union, chaaaaaaaarge up!" The leader of the Buster Union shouted.

The man had a bulky build with broad shoulders. His eyes were sharp, and he had a pointy nose above his sizeable square jaw and no eyebrows. Short hair with sideburns tipped with a pompadour atop his head while a goatee dripped down his chin.

A dark, sleeveless tank top, white lines separating his chest area into different colors, dark trousers with knee pads, and fingerless gloves with forearm guards were his uniform.

The man's name was Sensoji, grinning while his eyes wore shades.

Two women were amongst three men, all in hero costumes in the so-called Buster Union, as Garou looked up.

"What?" Garou looked up just when they unleashed their quintuple beam attacks at him.

Everyone watched as the beams collided against Garou's form, jaws dropped, and voices yelped from surprise as the heroes landed before the parade, blocking the path of Garou and his subordinates.

"We got him!"

The heroes cheered.

"What is this?! Is this a secret Hero Operation to take down the Demon of Hosu, THE Hero Hunter?!" One of the reporters, a young, spirited-looking woman of rasin-color hair tied in a ponytail in a standard dark-blue uniform, shouted with a microphone in her hand.

However, when the smoke faded, Garou remained undeterred.

Surrounding him were cracks and craters while the demon remained untouched.

"Tsk, damn, we wasted our best shot." The leader of the Buster Union uttered.

"H-Hey, hey, hey."

"Isn't this dangerous?"

The civilians on the scene muttered at the sight of the explosions. They realized that a great battle was about to go down.

"...Endeavor, are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Best Jeanist asked.

Endeavor nodded but still could not believe it.

Some of the Heroes disobeyed their orders not to attack the Hero Hunters.

"Hero Hunter!"

Garou recognized the Hero at the vanguard, that one Ox-Hero he first defeated and used as a lure to bait many heroes for his first debut in this world.

"You may have scared the heroes and Japan, but we will not let you do as you please! If anyone listening still has sense, don't just stand there and support us! If he gains power, everything will end!"

The short mayor and his secretary were shocked to see an illegal operation. The police were confused, standing there baffled as they were forced into a crossroads.

"Oi oi oi, is this happening?" Dabi asked, wholly shocked like the rest of Garou's followers.

"Are we doing this? Are we really doing this?!" Spinner shouted as he eagerly took out his bo staff.

Usually, they would put the safety of the citizens firsthand. Were they that terrified of him to break their moral conduct? He watched and read how the heroes operated in situations of crisis so far. He knew how they function, even more so after interrogating Hawks.

Kai was stunned as he looked up at the rooftops around him, seeing the many heroes equally stunned as him.

It was apparent what was happening; a group of heroes decided to rebel against their orders not to touch the Hero Hunter lest he resumes his hunt undeterred. Everyone was too shocked to feel the surge of adrenaline from the prospect of showing their combined might against the Heroes.

"...Orders?" The man in the duster and gas mask asked as he drew his revolver, a black Damascus pattern make with a long barrel, six cylinders with a wooden grip.

"Don't act until I say otherwise," Garou ordered as he took a deep breath.

"...HEROES! PROTECTORS OF PEACE! THOSE OF YOU STILL FOLLOWING THE LAW!"

Garou shouted. His voice was warped and distorted to mask his identity and further shield him from prying eyes. His voice now sounded deep, much more masculine.

"You have four choices! You can help the people evacuate the area from the violent Heroes that broke their sacred oaths! You can join the heroes standing before me and face all the consequences that will entail!"

The heroes watching from the roofs heard him but still couldn't believe the scene. However, their professional training banished their confusion-induced paralysis as they gave the Hero Hunter their attention, Mirko mainly as she listened with curiosity.

She was surprised that Garou changed his voice with that new mask more than anything.

"You can do nothing and stand there, useless as that one said. Or… you can arrest them here and now. Know that none of these choices are easy."

The hero rebels flinched at the mention of a possible arrest.

"...This isn't good." Best Jeanist muttered.

They were looking at a possible civil war between the Heroes. The fear Garou had instilled in Japan had reached the stage where conflict among heroes was seeded.

"Oi, what should we do? I kinda want to jump down and fight him… but this doesn't seem right." Even the battle-hungry Mirko had enough sense to notice the dilemma.

"...Order the Heroes that will still listen to evacuate the civilians." Endeavor decided.

"What will we do if some of the high-ranking heroes here join the rebels?" Best Jeanist asked an excellent question.

Endeavor didn't want to answer that.

The greatest asset amongst heroes was cooperation and teamwork. The only other creed just as sacred was protecting civilians and innocents.

"As for you lot." Garou pointed at them. "I have no stomach for poor leftovers. Step aside. None of you are a match for me."

Above, the Buster Union Heroes remained stalwart, some clenching their fists, others preparing support items ranging from canons to high-tech gloves to engines strapped on their persons.

"...Or do you think you're protecting Japan by doing this? Or do you think I would do to the rest of Japan what I did to you?" Garou asked.

"It is obvious what you would intend to do, Garou! I don't know why you hide behind a mask, but we will not let you rise to power!"

"And what is it that I intend to do?" Garou quirked a brow behind his demon mask.

"To destroy Japan! No, the world with your evil!" The ox-man shouted.

Garou remained silent. He remained still like a statue trying to digest the man's accusations.

"...PFfff, BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

Kai and the others did not expect Garou to laugh like that.

"Ahahahahahahaha! Ohhhhh, my god, is this happening?" Snickers remained on Garou's lips.

"You do not know me. Suppose I wanted to destroy the world like some cliché third-rate nobody. In that case, I could've done it right now, throwing every civilian, Hero, villain, and everyone else in between into the greatest body pile in history. Tell me, how will owning a city let me destroy Japan with efficiency when I can do it easier?" Garou asked, gesturing to the area he was about to rule.

The heroes remained silent as they glared at Garou, all on guard against his logic.

"You are all pathetic to let your fear overwhelm your sense of duty. Look around us!" Garou spread his arms wide. "You intend to do battle against me while civilians are around me! CIVILIANS! Even in my wilder months, I have never touched a bystander! Not one! And you!"

Garou pointed at the ox-man.

"All of you! Intend to fight with my army! Do you expect to create an incident where the rest of the world has to join, thinking the media would simply slander every problem on my face!? While ignoring your hypocrisy on live television!?"

There was a power in the air infused with Garou's voice.

The Heroes that decided to join forces for the sole purpose of fighting the hero hunter, to instigate all of Japan into action, and the world, to stop the Demon of Hosu once and for all.

They planned to drag out All Might once the chaos reached a certain point and force him out of hiding, refusing to trust Sir Nighteye's statement.

Yet…

"...Who are you?" The ox-man asked.

"I am Garou."

"...You can't be Garou." The ox-man refuted. "The Garou I met was a bloodthirsty maniac that thirsts only for our misery. He… You can't be him! Show your true-Ack!?"

A hand grabbed the ox-man's throat, Garou standing before him without warning as he lifted the Hero, his fingers vice-tight.

The rebel heroes braced themselves as Garou punched the ox-man's stomach, the burly man dropping to his knees as he clenched his gut, immediately vomiting onto the concrete.

"I don't need to show my face. If you don't believe me, I can simply replay your trauma. How do you all want me to display your broken bodies?"

Most of the rebels immediately flinched at the familiar chill in their spines, the sensation of fear that threatened to bite into their skin and chew on their bones. The courage that they managed to muster immediately dwindled as if a sudden blizzard arrived to snuff their flames in the deadly cold.

"Garou!"

However, the man that arrived at the scene was the most unexpected.

Something landed from the sky between Garou and the rebelling heroes.

Garou stared at the arrival of the symbol of peace.

"...Hahahahahahaha." Garou burst into sudden laughter at the sight of All Might, in all of his blue, white, and red-accented spandex glory.

Toshinori had no choice but to slip from the spectators and intervene.

This was what Sir Nighteye feared the most, and it was happening live.

"Ohhh, now you show up. Tell me…" Garou's face angled slightly downward.

All Might knew where he was looking at, his accursed scar.

"...Honestly, I have this… long-term sadistic plan that involves throwing vague statements to make you shiver in your boots. Don't think it will work now. Take your worthless dregs with you and stand aside. I have an announcement to make."

Garou shooed All Might away as if he was a bothersome pest.

"All Might, don't just stand there! Apprehend him!"

"We didn't risk our lives just to let him win!"

The heroes shouted at All Might.

All Might grimaced as he and Garou locked gazes. Nervous lumps of air traveled down throats, all eyes on the confrontation of the most significant yet mysterious rivalry of this time.

Endeavor, Mirko, and Best Jeanist noticed something awry. Mirko sniffed the air, smelling something she couldn't believe was coming from the strongest man in Japan.

"...All Might's afraid." Mirko grimaced.

Endeavor and Best Jeanist threw their heads at Mirko.

"What?" It was the only word that came out of their mouths.

All Might clenched his fists tightly as he and Garou continued their silent showdown.

"...I know what you're thinking. The me you're facing is too strong for you." Garou did not want to face the current All Might.

Even he knew the current position all Might was facing.

The Hero was at checkmate.

Either he fights him and loses, showing his weakness to the world, or does nothing and shames himself and his image. Garou could've won like this, but this isn't the victory he wanted. Defeating All Might like this would not lead to the result he wished, only more discord between the petty and worthless.

'Ahhhhh… I've done it now.'

Toshinori acted without thinking.

His smile was nothing more than a mask at this point. He jumped in at the first sign of serious trouble just when he promised Izuku and the others he wouldn't intervene… ahhh, Sir Nighteye's worst fears came true. He could only imagine the kind of words that would come out of him when they met again.

If they meet again.

Now… What should he do? He was facing a Garou that trained for months in preparation against his prime form, one that somehow copied his techniques.

If he did nothing, he would lose the trust of the heroes behind him.

If he acted, the world would know his weakness.

Leaving the scene is the worst of the three options.

The heroes behind him were shouting at him for action while the civilians were cheering for his name.

'Ahhhh, stop it. Don't you know that your Hero is in deep trouble? Spare me…'

All Might really didn't want to face Garou now. He saw how Garou trained Izuku without mercy and what he did to Hawks.

However, interrupting his thoughts was a sudden unfamiliar pain through his groin.

Endeavor, Mirko, and Best Jeanist dropped their jaws.

The rebel heroes dropped their jaws aghast.

His subordinates were amazed that their leader had done it again to another hero.

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! He did it! He actually did iiiiiiit! THE LEGEEEEND!" Spinner shouted at the top of his lungs when Garou suddenly kicked All Might right between the loins, his feet momentarily leaving the ground.

Most of the followers cheered, including Kai, as they roared at All Might's defeat.

The way All Might retained his iconic smile was either admirable or worrisome.

"T-The Hero Hunter! He has done it again! He has inflicted severe, critical damage to All Might~!" The same female reporter shouted into the microphone with as much shock in her voice as she could muster.

All Might, however, was experiencing the greatest crisis in his life.

'Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!'

All Might was stoic without but within, he was screaming his heart out.

All Might dropped to his knees. He was comically quivering in his position as if struggling to endure the critical damage while resisting the urge to hold his crotch.

"Ohhhh~!" The heroes and Garou's subordinates cried out at All Might's collapse.

Garou walked next to All Might, standing close to his side.

"Just so you know…" Garou whispered to the Hero in pain. "I dragged you out of checkmate. You should've stayed by the sidelines but since you're here… I have something for you."

Garou spoke softly to All Might.

"I was saving this for later since I had a grand plan to strike fear into you with my cryptic threats of hunting you down with my new army for fun, only to destroy your expectations at the last moment. But the world refuses to let me do what I want as always."

All Might was elated to hear that he wasn't going to hunt him to prop his body up for display.

"If you want to return to your prime, wait in Hosu's main hospital for heroes for my subordinate tonight. I found someone that can heal you and make you better than before."

All Might widened his eyes and grunted. There was a stage of abject disbelief at first. Next came confusion, unable to parse the complex swirl of emotions when hearing Garou's plan to heal him.

"Like I said." Garou chuckled. "My real plan was to hunt you down to deliver a proposal while having a little fun. But it seems this world refuses to follow my plans by threatening to break itself in two. For now, play along with the script and leave while you still can. I need to play the role of a despicable villain." Garou leaped into the air.

All Might just turned to Garou in time when Garou's hand chopped his nape.

The impact struck, traveling through All Might's spine to the earth, breaking the stone concrete and escaping to the air as a blast of shockwave caressing everyone in the vicinity. All Might stood on his knees for a moment… until the man toppled over and fell to the side.

Most of the civilian crowd was too stunned to react. Some were awestruck by the Hero Hunter's flawless victory, shaming the Number One Hero on live television. Others were outraged by the sequence of events.

"A-All Might is down!" The reporter shouted at the sight of the defeated Number One Hero. "The Hero Hunter downed All Might through a massive cheap shot! I can imagine the faces of many hardcore All Might fans out there, alright! I can definitely see the angry faces!"

The rebel heroes gawped at All Might's swift defeat.

And All Might's body flew, kicked into the air and arcing between glass skyscrapers, spinning like a soccer ball with arms and legs. Garou tapped his toe into the street a little as he looked at everyone's expressions, shock, horror, awe; everything was there.

Everyone watching the screen showed the same level of disbelief, seeing All Might defeated on live television.

Even the villain responsible for All Might's current condition was dumbfounded.

All Might landed somewhere, bouncing across the hard stone street until he crashed into the wall of an apartment.

He coughed, kicked out of unconsciousness, as he rubbed his neck. He looked up, seeing that he traveled quite a distance.

"...Did you really do that… for me?"

All Might couldn't believe it but also could at the same time. Not only that, Garou bothered to salvage his situation by taking the fire.

A way to restore him to his prime… All Might couldn't believe it. Sir Nighteye and the others tried to repair the damage for so long that he lost all hope of returning to his old self. Yet, Garou found a way just like that…

Now the real question was, should he take this chance?

Elsewhere, Garou walked towards the rebel Heroes as they stood there stunned. They no longer stood with courage, fear replacing their fragile resolve when All Might left the scene in disgrace.

The rebel heroes immediately stepped aside, their resolve shattered with no more will to fight back, silently staring at Garou as he walked towards the mayor and his secretary.

Garou's subordinates immediately followed, not wanting to fall behind their leader. With tentative steps, the media tailed the group at a cautious distance.

"T-The Rebel Heroes decided to let Garou be. I-It seems… no, they have definitely lost all hope after seeing All Might lose. As a reporter, it is unbecoming to assume, but I think they were betting on him to appear, not lose." The same female reporter spoke while facing the back of Garou's army.

Meanwhile, All Might landed where Sir Nighteye was stationed, rubbing his neck as he opened the door to the building his agency rented.

"What were you thinking heading in there?" Sir Nighteye was behind the door, waiting for All Might with his arms crossed.

"...I know." All Might understood his former sidekick's frustrated tone and expression. "...But I have something I need to talk to you about. Garou…"

Garou and the mayor stood face to face. The mayor was looking up at the man about to be mayor.

"...Sorry for the display. I was hoping things would be more peaceful." Garou apologized to the mayor at a volume that no one but them could hear.

"Didn't you… promise not to do anything drastic?" The mayor asked.

"I know All Might better than anyone. Believe me; I'm doing him a favor by playing the villain." Garou said as he held out his hand.

The mayor looked at him in silence.

The small, chubby mayor handed the key.

Garou took the golden key as he turned to his subordinates. Far behind his forces was a small army of reporters.

They were hesitant, their distance reflecting their apprehension in approaching the official Demon Lord of Hosu.

The rebel heroes were no longer standing in their way, their spirits crushed.

"Make way for the media. I have an announcement to make." Garou ordered.

Immediately, his subordinates parted in two, leaving a path for the reporters and cameraman to face him.

They were confused by the action until they saw the Hero Hunter beckoning them with his hand.

The cameramen and reporters gulped.

It was their first interview with the infamous Demon of Hosu, the man that planted the seed of fear in Japan's Hero World, responsible for the retirement of many lesser heroes, the one that proved that the rumor he defeated All Might in combat was true, realizing their worst fears.

If All Might could not take down this demon, no one could.

Even so… they held a sliver of hope as they slowly trekked the path. The reporters and camerapersons glanced left and right.

They were all standing with straight shoulders. The sheer silence and discipline were… unnerving. Those with their own masks were staring at them with unflinching gazes, their eyes full of focus.

The sheer loyalty Garou garnered was astounding to them.

They approached the new Lord of Hosu.

"U-U-"

"Am I live?" Garou's distorted voice asked.

They all nodded in silence as they held their breath.

"If I were what you believe I am, you would expect me to say that now that I have claimed a seat of power, I shall build a massive grave to dump all of your sorry bodies and bury you all under a massive nameless gravestone for giggles. Or that I shall drink the blood of babies and chew on children's bones. Or hunt down every Hero in the world and beat the living soul out of them until they're a broken mess… but I'm not going to." Garou started with joking ridicule.

Whatever the listeners expected to hear did not greet their ears, Garou's unexpected casual attempt at humor confusing them, even All For One.

"First, let me get this out of the way. I believe that I now hold the right to strip the Heroes attempting to… obstruct a political figure of power. And sue them for breaking several laws since I am now the lord of Hosu."

Midoriya was stunned by the declaration as he and his mother gulped.

Tensed and Tenya Iida were on the edge of their seats, clenching their fists out of desperate hope.

"My first act as lord of Hosu… is to pardon said heroes for illegal obstruction. They shall leave with licenses, costumes intact, and all."

"Eh?" The reporters blinked stupidly.

Of all things, mercy wasn't what they expected to come out of his mouth.

"But they must leave the premises in… ten minutes before I decide to mount their bodies on a wall for display. Starting now." Garou glared at the heroes in question.

There was the Hero Hunter they all knew.

The cameras turned to the rebel heroes behind them, seeing the confusion and fear of the heroes that rebelled.

Then they immediately scrambled, running and flying away from the scene like flies and cockroaches.

"Good. Now, my next announcement, Hosu shall collect all sales and wage tax solely for my government and me. Not for the Prime Minister of Japan, but we will pay tax for legal importation of goods outside the border."

Bakugo leaned forward with a Quirked brow, staring at the screen in confusion.

"Next, all Heroes will not be hunted for sport, all but False Heroes. To make the term less vague, let's use a Hero that extorts and slanders an innocent Villain-looking civilian as an example, betraying the mass moral code of conduct for publicity and glory. A list will be posted citing the conditions to designate a Hero as a False Hero soon."

The reporters were now more curious than apprehensive the more they listened.

"There will be a major reconstruction of many unowned properties. All rent shall be free for the first five years for any residents who decide to move in. Once rent resumes, the price for residents will be a fraction of the standard rent fees depending on the property value, which will increase in increments until they have to pay in full from then on. If you have questions, contact my representatives for details on the available listings."

All Might and Sir Nighteye did not expect a sales pitch on real estate, a remarkably good one.

"Heroes and law enforcement are free to operate in my territory as they were. We will follow the standard laws of Japan for now, minus some alterations. Life would be only a little different than before."

That was also unexpected since everyone expected Garou to kick out the Heroes and police.

"As for my goals…" Garou stared at the lens of the camera. "Those who wish to end my reign are free to challenge me in my arena. However, know that improper or dishonorable conduct will garner severe consequences. You will not come out unscathed. Heroes of Japan, of the World, come if you wish to end my reign as Demon Lord. I will tame Japan's Underworld beneath my heel, and the rest of the world's darkness will grovel before me."

Now there was one declaration that fell within expectations.

All For One rubbed his chin. He was already fully healed. He decided to bide his time until the UA examinations took place when he would search for the next user of One For All without wasting his resources.

"Interesting." All For One decided to reach out to the Lord of Hosu. He should meet the man that defeated All Might, even if he crushed the Symbol of Peace via humiliation and cheap exploitation.

"Those who follow me are protected, but you're welcome to challenge them if you believe they are breaching your laws. However, in my land, I hold sovereignty. Any authority cannot dispute that. Those who wish to join my fold must know that I do not represent the Villains; I represent all those betrayed by society, the good that fell to the unfairness of the many. Not those that succumbed to their impulses, not those that murder out of whims, any vermin I deem unworthy will be weeded out. Know this as the rise of the Hunter's Guild. We are here to stay."

Lumps of phantom air were swallowed down many throats.

The Hero Hunter's announcement destroyed many expectations. No declaration to end the status quo of Japan, no promises of the destruction of government authority, no excessively belligerent vows, nothing except the annexation of Hosu.

"Those who truly understand my ideals and are willing to follow them, surpass yourselves, are welcome. Those who do not, do not bother. I do not tolerate treachery. Now, if you excuse me…"

Garou turned around.

The news crew of various channels watched as Garou walked silently toward the building. Everyone stared at them as he went through the automatic sliding doors of the prominent government skyscraper as the doors closed behind him.

They waited for a moment.

Then Garou's followers slowly followed Garou, leaving the stupored media behind as they also entered the building.

"...Well, dear me. I think he is done with his announcement." The mayor chortled. "Come along now, Stella. We need to help him adapt to his seat." The mayor said as he shuffled towards the building with his secretary behind him while the news crew slowly processed his words.

"...Wait, he stood us up before we could throw our questions!" The female reporter realized.

"""EHHH?!"""

The media crews clamored at the missed chance to delve into the thoughts of the Hero Hunter.

"Should we barge in?!"

"No, you idiot, this isn't a Hero Agency! It's the fucking Hero Hunter! We don't know if he'll beat us up for that!"

"But… ugggghhhhh!" The rasin-haired reporter ground her teeth with frustration.

The opportunity to bombard him with questions just literally walked away in front of them.

All Might and Sir Nighteye stared at the screen in Sir Nighteye's office as the commercial commenced.

"...Can you trust him?" Sir Nighteye asked All Might, pushing up his glasses.

All Might sat on the couch as he slowly deflated to his true form, Toshinori Yagi.

"Ahhhh." Yagi recalled the number of times Garou told him how he would crush him and put him on display. "...I can guarantee that we can. If he wanted to, he would have destroyed me the moment he won."

Sir Nighteye walked towards the couch and sat beside his idol.

"...I still cannot believe it." Sir Nighteye admitted.

"Neither do I. I know how hard everyone worked to help me… cope with my condition." Toshinori nodded.

"...What scares me the most isn't the possibility. Garou doesn't have a Quirk… I have an approximate conjecture of who Garou might employ. It is not someone that would do it without hidden motives."

Sir Nighteye handed All Might a piece of paper.

Toshinori stared at the paper, seeing a man with a plague mask.

"Kai Chisaki. Out of everyone that joined him, he is the one that can most likely heal you. And make you better."

Toshinori grimaced when he read his files.

"Ahhh. I see it now."

The man was from an organization from a bygone era. All Might helped cull the criminal elements to the point of near-extinction. He couldn't imagine the man known as Kai Chisaki healing him without holding a lot of resentment…

"I can trust Garou when he decides to keep his word. I read your reports. I believe them." Sir Nighteye nodded. "However, the credentials of his followers are another story… Garou is now truly unpredictable. He declared his motives, but who knows how he will act on them."

All Might inhaled as his eyes stared into the picture of Kai Chisaki, the heir of the Eight Precepts of Death.

"Are you still going?" Sir Nighteye asked.

"I have to."

"...Then let me accompany you. I think I have an idea which hospital Garou is referring to." Sir Nighteye stood up. "Besides, I won't let him touch a single hair without ensuring that your future is secure."

All Might smiled.

"Alright… I think he can spare a guest."

---------

The moon was eerily beautiful, a glorious pale blue painting the rays of the midnight sky.

"You're just in time."

All Might, in his muscle form, and Sir Nighteye stared at Kai Chisaki.

The man was not wearing a plague mask. He was holding a box of takoyaki, casually eating the octopus balls with a toothpick, his mouth chewing.

"Ah ha ha ha! I hope you don't mind me bringing a friend!" All Might laughed heartily with his iconic smile.

Kai looked at Sir Nighteye.

"Heh," Kai smirked at him. "I once asked Garou why he spared you."

Kai Chisaki looked back at All Might in his blue eyes.

"I asked again why he let the Rebel Heroes go… Do you know what he said?"

All Might and Sir Nighteye remained silent.

"There is greater victory in mercy than violence. Sometimes. Much more so in the case of Heroes. The Hero rebels that tried that stunt? Their popularity ratings plummeted despite their desperate attempt to draw you out… It saves us a lot of trouble wasting our resources to track you down. Though half of them quit after your humiliation. Hope is an expensive resource these days. I wonder how many more will lose their faith in your precious system from now on if we keep this up."

Sir Nighteye decided that he had enough, "What are your terms?"

"Perceptive. I know about your Quirk. One touch is all you need to know my intentions. I will not lie to you. I intend to keep my word and more. However, Garou permitted me to… milk this situation to our benefit. First, you give us monetary compensation for restoring the Symbol of Peace. Not the market value, what you as one of All Might's greatest fans consider the worthy price of giving All Might his power." Kai pointed his toothpick at Sir Nighteye.

Sir Nighteye grimaced.

"Ah ha ha ha ha!" All Might laughed. "I'll pay it! After all… I need to pay something back for his mercy."

Throughout the years, All Might did accumulate a vast amount of wealth. A very, very vast amount which he mostly funneled to his medical bills after his injuries.

"Second, the Yakuza, especially the Shie Hassakai, is recognized as a sovereign entity in the political sphere. We will discuss details on how to handle it enough to appeal to your sense of justice."

Sir Nighteye expected it, but it was an affordable gamble. He nodded.

"Third… we want every form of rights accessible to us, especially trade with the rest of Japan and the world. We want freedoms usually reserved for the corporations that run the economy without question. Details are negotiable. We will send a representative to your agency for further discussion."

Sir Nighteye nodded solemnly.

"Good. There is a fourth one but… honestly, we never expected to make it this far. We will let you know at a later date."

Sir Nighteye glared at him for leaving a vague statement.

Chisaki stabbed a takoyaki ball and threw it into his mouth.

"...You are a lot more casual than your profile suggested." Sir Nighteye stated.

Kai stopped chewing for a moment. He swallowed.

"...I guess I am," Kai muttered as he smirked a little. "Follow me. The hospital here is offering everything I need to fix you, whatever your condition is, without charge. Their price is to see the Symbol of Peace restored and to be the first witnesses to your prime."

Turning to the building, Chisaki walked through the sliding glass doors.

Sir Nighteye and All Might followed him as they entered the sterile hospital lounge.

There were no patients in wait.

Only a group of doctors and nurses were waiting in the lobby, stethoscopes and white doctor uniforms and all.

"It really is All Might."

"He came as he said."

"Oh my God, All Might…"

The staff was audible, their astonishment relatable.

"Quit gawking. Lead us to the operating table." Chisaki gestured as the staff nodded.

All Might silently followed the staff.

He looked stoically jolly on the exterior, but inside, his heart was pounding inside his chest with… great anticipation.

They walked down the halls silently, not a word spoken, while All Might could finally live free of his nemesis' curse.

"When I was adopted…" Chisaki said as the double doors leading to the surgery room were in sight.

"I never knew what it was like to grow up adoring heroes. I only adore people that know how to show greatness without needing a podium to stand above the others, like you, because of how everyone was twisted by the light you shine." Chisaki said as All Might listened in silence.

"My father, The Boss, is a victim of your crusade and efforts. He may be Yakuza… but he is a good man. A great man. An honorable man… he showed me how to live with honor and distinction. However, these days, I am starting to understand how everyone feels when they encounter a figure they idolize on a podium."

Chisaki said as they entered the doors. The doctors surrounded one large operating table they prepared, which was meant for All Might's size under a spotlight. There were organs here, kidneys, a rare stomach, a lung, all contained within jars of preservative liquid, artificial plastic organs, and more, many jars of blood stacked into a large pile behind the table, blood types labeled hastily organized since they do not know All Might's medical history.

There were even spare bones in preservatives, whatever they could muster.

"I once thought I could use him… but then, I realized I could never exploit a man with this much potential. I would only hold us back. I cheered when I saw his victory over you today, like a man that found his idol. His… Well, let's say I found a hero worth looking up to. This is why I decided to go beyond and do more than just your prime. I have faith that no matter what you do, you cannot defeat Garou." Chisaki said as he stepped aside.

All Might stared at the table, and all the eager eyes looked at him.

"...AH HA HAH!" All Might laughed.

"Well, then. I will have to surpass your expectations and go beyond myself!" All Might laughed.

"Also… Garou has a message for you." Chisaki said as he offered Sir Nighteye his hand. Sir Nighteye immediately accepted it as he activated Foresight.

"One day, when all his preparations are done, he will call for you to face him in a final showdown. You will answer it without question. Those are his terms for restoring you."

Sir Nighteye released his hand.

"...All Might. Are you ready?" Sir Nighteye turned to his idol, his friend.

So Chisaki was going through with it.

"More than ever." All Might laid upon the operating table.

"Now then." Chisaki finished his last takoyaki ball and threw the box to the floor. He took off his gloves as he asked, "Tell me about your condition."