CHAPTER 14 mount lady’s injury

With a flick of his wrist, the blood dripping from her wounds lifted off the ground and swirled around her like a living snake. The tendrils wrapped around her arms and legs, constricting her movements as she struggled to break free. Her eyes widened in panic as the blood formed a bubble, enclosing her in a suffocating prison of crimson liquid.

Mount Lady thrashed, her fists slamming against the interior of the bubble, but it only made things worse. Ren narrowed his eyes, the blood responding to his will as it tightened around her body, making her movements sluggish. She gasped, her breath fogging the inside of the bubble as she clawed at the walls, trying to break free. Her attempt to enlarge failed—every time her body tried to grow, the blood constricted further, keeping her trapped.

Ren didn't stop there.

He raised his arm, summoning a thin, precise blade of hardened blood from the cut on his palm. With a flick of his fingers, the blade sliced through the bubble, cutting shallow gashes along her arms and legs. She let out a choked cry, her body jerking as the wounds multiplied, each one leaking more blood into the bubble and making it harder for her to breathe.

"I thought heroes were supposed to be tough," Ren said coldly, watching as her strength faded. Her movements slowed, her eyes fluttering as her oxygen ran out.

He should've been satisfied. This was enough. But the blood in his veins roared, begging for more. His body ached with the urge to finish what he'd started, to take everything she had left. His fingers twitched, and for a moment, he considered giving in.

Then the heavy footsteps of heroes approaching snapped him out of it.

Ren released his control over the blood, the bubble bursting as Mount Lady collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. Blood soaked her clothes, and her body trembled as she tried to push herself up. Her voice was barely a whisper. "You—could've killed me."

He stepped back, watching her with an unreadable expression. I didn't need to.

The sound of All Might's voice echoed down the hallway, and Ren's pulse quickened. Good. They'll find her like this, and they'll see me for exactly what I want them to see.

Mount Lady glared at him weakly, her breathing ragged. "You really are a monster."

Ren gave her a faint smile, his voice low. "That's what they'll say, right?"

Without waiting for her response, he turned and sprinted toward the nearest exit, his enhanced speed making it easy to slip away. He wanted to be caught, he wanted to experience life around class 1a, so he needed to be recognized as strong by the heroes, and making them think he was a murderous killing machine was just kinda funny. He wasn't actually going to kill mount lady.

As he disappeared into the shadows, he could still feel the hum of her blood inside him, fueling his quirk and leaving a bitter, intoxicating taste on his tongue.

Ren sprinted down the smoke-filled corridor, the faint scent of Mount Lady's blood still lingering on his tongue. His body hummed with power, the boost from the blood pushing him further than he thought possible. Blood Manipulation pulsed within him, each step feeling lighter, faster, as his veins carried the strength of his stolen power.

Behind him, the sound of footsteps grew louder—heroes closing in. All Might. He didn't need to look to know that the number-one hero wasn't far behind. The compound was in chaos, walls crumbling as explosions rocked the facility, sending debris raining down like confetti at a festival.

Ren skidded around a corner, slicing his palm open with a small dagger. Blood pooled and snaked down his arm before solidifying into a whip. He flicked it toward a support beam, using it to swing himself over a large pile of rubble before landing smoothly on the other side. His breathing was steady, his body fueled by both adrenaline and the blood boost.

Ahead, he spotted Endeavor, his flames lighting up the corridor as he blasted a pair of grunts who were foolish enough to charge him. Ren ducked behind a pillar, keeping out of sight as Endeavor's flames scorched the walls.

I'm not ready to fight him yet. I need more time.

Ren exhaled through his nose and took another route, his mind racing. Every move he made had to serve two purposes: survive long enough to get captured and make the heroes think he was dangerous enough to be a future threat. If they believed that, the influence points would flow in. He was already imagining the system's chime when he reached Level 4.

As he darted down another corridor, a blast of wind knocked him off balance, sending him tumbling across the ground. His hands scraped against the rough concrete before he quickly rolled to his feet, blood dripping from his fingertips.

When he looked up, All Might stood at the other end of the hallway, his massive frame cutting through the smoke like a beacon of power. His eyes locked onto Ren, no smile on his face—just pure determination.

"Kid," All Might said, his voice low but firm. "Stop this. You don't have to fight us."

Ren's fingers twitched as he flexed his blood whip. His breathing slowed, and for a second, he considered how much he could get out of this. He wasn't supposed to win—just make it look like he was willing to go down swinging. The heroes needed to see him as a threat they couldn't ignore.

"I don't need your help," Ren said coldly, tightening his grip on the whip. "I've made it this far without you."

He lashed out, the blood whip cracking through the air toward All Might's head. The hero dodged effortlessly, closing the distance between them in an instant. Ren stepped back, slicing his other palm and summoning a second weapon—a curved blade of hardened blood that pulsed with energy. He slashed at All Might's side, but the hero caught his wrist mid-swing.

"You're strong," All Might said, his grip firm but controlled. "But this isn't who you are."

Ren's eyes narrowed. "What do you know about me?"

"I know you're still a kid." All Might's voice softened, but he didn't let go. "And I know you don't want to hurt anyone."

Ren gritted his teeth and yanked his arm free, stumbling back a few steps. "Then you don't know anything."

He charged forward again, this time enhancing his speed by manipulating the blood flow in his legs. The ground blurred beneath him as he aimed a strike at All Might's chest. But before his blade could connect, All Might's fist met his side with a thunderous impact, sending Ren flying across the room and crashing into a pile of debris.

He groaned, clutching his ribs as the pain radiated through him. Minor Regeneration kicked in immediately, repairing the damage, but it wasn't fast enough to fully counter the blow. His breathing was ragged, and his vision blurred for a moment before he forced himself to sit up.

All Might stepped closer, his shadow falling over Ren. "It's over."

Ren wiped the blood from his mouth, his golden eyes flickering as he tried to push himself up. He wasn't done yet. Not until they captured him. Not until the heroes truly feared what he could become.

"You think it's that easy?" Ren spat, summoning the last of his strength to create another blood weapon. But before he could strike, All Might's hand was on his shoulder, pinning him down gently but firmly.

"You've already fought enough," All Might said quietly. "Let it end here."

Ren's fingers trembled, but the weapon dissolved as exhaustion overtook him. His head fell back against the rubble, and for a brief moment, he let his body go limp. He had done enough. The system's chime was practically ringing in his mind, even if it wasn't real yet.

As his vision dimmed, he smirked faintly.