Chapter 13 BIG CHANGES

The walls of the compound trembled, dust and debris falling from the ceiling as another explosion rocked the building. Ren stood calmly in the training room, the faint hum of alarms blaring in the background as red emergency lights flashed in intervals. Grunts scrambled past the doorway, shouting orders and directions, their voices muffled by the chaos outside.

Ren stretched his arms over his head, rolling his shoulders lazily as he watched the dust settle. His golden eyes glowed faintly under the flickering lights, the eerie combination of his pale skin and sharpened canines giving him the appearance of something between human and predator.

All Might's finally here, he thought, not with panic but with quiet observation. He could feel the ground vibrating beneath him from the sheer force of battle outside. Heroes were swarming the compound—Endeavor, Mount Lady, and probably a dozen others. The grunts didn't stand a chance, and Ren wasn't surprised. They weren't much to begin with.

He adjusted the sleeves of his shirt and walked to the door, peeking around the corner before stepping into the corridor. Smoke clung to the air, making it harder to see, but Ren's senses were sharper than most thanks to Blood Manipulation's residual effects. The coppery scent of blood hit his nose, making him inhale deeply before shaking off the slight craving.

He'd come a long way since that first taste of blood two years ago. With Minor Regeneration keeping him fresh, small injuries barely registered anymore, and he could cut himself freely to fuel his attacks without worrying about exhaustion. Tonight, though, wasn't just about survival. It was about farming influence points.

The more dramatic, the better.

He casually stepped over a fallen beam and turned down another hallway, heading toward the exit. The faint sound of battle drew closer as he moved through the compound, dodging small groups of grunts and heroes locked in combat. When he rounded the next corner, the sheer presence of Endeavor's flames lit up the corridor like daylight. Ren ducked back quickly, his heart racing—not from fear, but from excitement.

Okay, maybe avoid the giant flaming guy for now.

He took a different route, slipping past a pair of unconscious grunts lying on the ground. Their bodies were twisted awkwardly, likely the work of a hero with some strength-based quirk. He didn't care who had done it—his focus was on maximizing the chaos to his advantage. Act like the kid ruined by villains, and the heroes will eat it up. But first, he needed to find the right target.

A blast of wind sent him stumbling back slightly as a nearby wall crumbled, debris flying everywhere. Ren shielded his face and cursed under his breath. When the dust cleared, the silhouette of a massive figure emerged from the rubble.

All Might. His iconic smile wasn't there—just a determined glare as he scanned the hallway for enemies. His footsteps echoed like thunder as he moved forward, effortlessly lifting chunks of debris out of his way.

Ren pressed himself against the wall, his breath steady despite the proximity of the number-one hero. Not yet, he thought, turning and jogging down the adjacent hallway. He wasn't ready to confront All Might just yet—not until he'd stacked the odds slightly more in his favor.

His opportunity would come soon enough.

The sounds of a woman's voice shouting caught his attention. Ren followed it, his footsteps quick but silent, until he reached another section of the compound where Mount Lady, in her normal size, was fighting off several grunts.

Ren smirked. Perfect.

The compound trembled again as another explosion rocked the walls, but Ren didn't flinch. He was already locked onto his target. Mount Lady, standing in her normal form, wiped her forehead and adjusted her gloves as she surveyed the hallway littered with grunts. Her breathing was steady, but she was still on guard, her eyes flicking toward any potential threats.

Ren crept closer, silent and calculating. She didn't know he was there. Good. He wasn't looking for a fair fight—he wanted her blood, her strength, and the chaos that would follow when the heroes found her like this. He needed the fear, the points, the drama. If they believed he was spiraling toward villainy, he'd hit Level 4 in no time.

In one fluid motion, he launched himself at her.

His legs wrapped around her waist, arms locking around her shoulders as she staggered forward with a grunt. "What the—?!" Mount Lady twisted, but his grip was like steel. She tried to shake him off, but he was already leaning in, his sharp canines sinking into the warm skin of her neck.

The first rush of blood hit him like lightning. His body shivered as the power surged through him, his muscles tightening, his senses sharpening. The fatigue he'd felt earlier vanished, replaced by a euphoric high that made it hard to think. Each drop of her blood made him stronger. His grip tightened, and for a moment, he didn't want to stop—he couldn't stop.

Her body tensed against him, her breath hitching as she struggled. "Get off me!" she yelled, reaching for his arms. Her gloves slipped against his skin as she tried to pull him away, but Ren didn't budge. His breathing deepened, and the taste of her blood on his tongue made him groan softly.

I should've kept going. She tasted fucking great.

Mount Lady's elbow smashed into his ribs, and Ren hissed, releasing her neck briefly. But he didn't let go completely. She stumbled forward, her hand flying to her neck to stop the bleeding, her fingers trembling as blood stained her gloves.

"You bite hard," she panted, staggering backward. "Too bad i'm not into kids!."

Ren smirked, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His golden eyes glowed brighter now, his body thrumming with power. "You'll wish I was just a kid."

Her eyes narrowed, and her body tensed as she prepared to activate her quirk. Ren saw the shift immediately—the way her muscles coiled, the telltale glow around her form signaling that she was about to enlarge.

"Too late," he muttered.