Chapter 12 - One For All

As Soren made his way home, his sharp senses caught the sight of thick black smoke billowing in the distance. The acrid smell of burning debris filled the air, and the faint cries of panic reached his ears even from blocks away.

A moment later, the murmurs of a gathering crowd grew louder, their voices a mix of fear and helplessness.

He smirked.

'Right on schedule.'

He had deliberately allowed the Slime Villain to escape earlier, creating the perfect opportunity for him to swoop in as the hero.

Not only would he secure the public's attention, but more importantly—he would force All Might's hand.

'After today, he'll have no choice but to see me as his successor.'

With that thought in mind, Soren blurred forward, his movements so fast they left afterimages in his wake. He crossed the distance within seconds, the wind whipping past him as he closed in on the chaos.

The scene before him was pandemonium.

The Slime Villain had grown larger than before, its massive, grotesque form twisting and writhing like a living tidal wave of sludge. It loomed over the street, its gelatinous body pulsating as it held a struggling girl within its clutches.

Her brown eyes were wide with terror, her body thrashing weakly as the sludge tightened around her, threatening to suffocate her.

A nearby pro hero, Backdraft, shouted.

"Damn it! We can't get close—one wrong move, and the girl—!"

Soren's eyes flicked to the girl's face.

'Camie Utsushimi...'

His smirk widened slightly.

Interesting.

Meanwhile, the heroes stood frozen—paralyzed by indecision—as the villain cackled and tightened its grip around Camie, her muffled cries barely escaping the sludge.

Soren's keen gaze shifted slightly—

—and that's when he saw him.

All Might.

Only... not in his usual towering, muscular form.

Instead, he was hunched over, frail and thin, hidden in the crowd.

The No. 1 Hero's hands were clenched into fists, his body trembling slightly.

'He's panicking,' Soren realized.

'His time limit is up, and now he's helpless to do anything but watch.'

He almost laughed.

'Pathetic.'

This was supposed to be the Symbol of Peace? The pillar holding society together?

Soren felt nothing but contempt.

'You're weak. You're not fit to rule.'

And that's why I will take your power.

Then—he moved.

In an instant, Soren was gone.

A sonic boom ripped through the air as he exploded forward, his body blurring past the frozen heroes like a bullet. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he launched himself toward the Slime Villain, his crimson eyes blazing with intensity.

The crowd barely had time to react before—

BOOM!

Soren slammed into the Slime Villain with bonecrushing force, his fist driving deep into its gelatinous body. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the street, shattering windows and sending debris flying.

"GAHHHHH—!"

The villain's form violently twisted, its grip on Camie loosening just enough for her to fall.

Before she could hit the ground—

Soren caught her effortlessly, cradling her in his arms.

"Gotcha." he murmured, his voice calm and steady despite the chaos around them.

Camie, still panting, stared up at him in shock.

"Wha—?"

"Hold on tight," he said smoothly—before vanishing again.

All Might watched—stunned.

'That speed—!'

It was like seeing a blur. One second, Soren was charging in—the next, he was gone with the hostage safely in his arms.

And now—

The Slime Villain was vulnerable.

Soren landed softly a few meters away, gently setting Camie down. He finally got a good look at her.

She had a slender yet curvy figure, her black bodysuit accentuating her toned physique. The suit hugged her form tightly, highlighting her ample chest, narrow waist, and long, shapely legs.

Her light brown hair was cut into a stylish bob, framing her youthful face with soft yet mischievous features. Her golden brown eyes carried a playful glint, even after such a terrifying experience.

Right now, she was panting slightly, her chest rising and falling as she tried to process what had just happened.

"That was, like… totally badass, yo," she murmured, her voice husky, dripping with natural charm.

Soren smirked but didn't respond.

Instead, he turned back to the shrieking Slime Villain, his crimson eyes burning with power.

'Now then… let's finish this.'

The Slime Villain roared, its form surging forward like a tidal wave. Soren didn't flinch.

His eyes glowed a fiery red as he activated his heat vision, twin beams of searing energy erupting from his pupils. The beams sliced through the villain's body with surgical precision, evaporating the sludge on contact.

The villain screamed as its form began to disintegrate, its gelatinous body turning to steam under the intense heat.

But Soren held back.

He adjusted the intensity of his heat vision, ensuring the beams only weakened the villain without completely destroying it.

'I can't kill it,' he thought, his smirk returning.

'Not if I want to keep up this heroic act.'

The Slime Villain collapsed into a bubbling puddle, its form barely holding together as it whimpered in pain.

The crowd erupted into cheers, their fear replaced by awe and admiration.

"Did you see that?!" someone shouted.

"He took it down in seconds!"

"Who is that guy?!"

Soren stood tall, his expression unreadable as he surveyed the scene.

The pro heroes finally sprang into action, rushing forward to contain the weakened Slime Villain.

Backdraft glanced at Soren, his expression a mix of gratitude and disbelief.

"You… you saved her. And you stopped the villain without killing it. That's incredible control."

Soren shrugged, his tone casual. "Just doing my part."

All Might, still hidden in the crowd, clenched his fists tighter.

'This boy…'

Soren's smirk returned as he glanced in All Might's direction.

'Your move, Symbol of Peace.'

With the situation handled, the police secured the area, managing the collateral damage and dispersing the gathered crowd. The pro heroes—Death Arms, Backdraft, and Kamui Woods—turned their attention to Soren, their expressions a mix of frustration and reluctant admiration.

"You shouldn't have interfered, kid," Death Arms scolded, crossing his arms.

"This was dangerous—"

"Dangerous?" Soren smirked, cutting him off.

"I handled it faster than all of you combined."

Kamui Woods sighed but couldn't argue. Backdraft nodded hesitantly. The other heroes, seeing the sheer power and confidence radiating from Soren, began shifting their stance. Instead of scolding him, some began praising him.

"A kid this strong," one of them murmured.

"He might really become a top hero one day…"

Mt. Lady, who had been watching from the sidelines, suddenly stepped forward, her lips curling into a sultry grin.

"Well, well," she purred, flicking her long blonde hair over her shoulder, her ample figure swaying as she approached.

"I gotta say, that was pretty impressive."

She placed a hand on Soren's shoulder, leaning in slightly, her violet eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Ever thought about joining my agency when you go pro?" she teased, her voice sultry, her fingers tracing small circles on his shoulder.

"I could… personally mentor you."

Soren chuckled, not missing the suggestive undertone.

"That depends," he mused, meeting her gaze with a smirk.

"Would the 'mentoring' come with special benefits?"

Mt. Lady laughed, her cheeks slightly tinged with pink, but she didn't back down.

"Maybe… if you're good enough."

The other heroes stared, some whispering among themselves. They had never seen Mt. Lady act like this with some random student before.

Before the flirting could escalate further, a soft voice chimed in from behind.

"Yo, big guy," Camie waltzed over, her usual languid smile in place, eyes gleaming with amusement.

She tilted her head, twirling a strand of her short brown hair between her fingers.

"You, like, totally saved my life back there. That was, like, super hot."

Soren raised an eyebrow. "Hot?"

Camie grinned, stepping closer.

"Uh-huh. The way you handled that villain? The confidence? Mmm," she hummed playfully, licking her lips.

"Mega stud vibes, yo."

Mt. Lady let out a small, mock-offended gasp.

"Excuse me, young lady, I was here first."

Camie waved her off lazily, her focus locked onto Soren.

"Anyways," she continued, pulling out her phone.

"How 'bout ya gimme your number, handsome?"

Soren smirked, taking her phone and entering his number before handing it back.

"Try not to get too obsessed," he teased.

Camie giggled, winking.

"No promises, babe."

Mt. Lady clicked her tongue, pouting.

"Hmph. Guess I'll just have to fight for your attention later, then."

Soren simply chuckled, before excusing himself and walking away, leaving behind a flustered yet intrigued Mt. Lady and a very interested Camie.

After parting ways with Camie and the other heroes, Soren walked alone, enjoying the brief moment of peace. The sky above was bathed in the warm glow of sunset, the cool evening air brushing against his skin.

Suddenly—BOOM!

A powerful gust of wind blasted through the alleyway as a towering figure landed before him.

ALL MIGHT.

"YOUNG Soren!" All Might's booming voice echoed, his cape billowing dramatically. His iconic grin stretched across his face as he pointed at Soren with determination.

Soren blinked in surprise. "All Might?! What are you—"

Before he could finish, All Might's entire body twitched violently—

PFFFT!

With an almost cartoonish POOF, his massive frame deflated like a balloon, steam hissing from his body. In an instant, the mighty No.1 hero had transformed into a frail, sickly-looking man.

"Blegh—!" All Might spewed blood from his mouth, staggering forward.

Soren took a step back, his eyes widening in shock.

"W-What the hell?! What happened to you?!"

All Might wiped his mouth, regaining his balance.

"Ah… I suppose I owe you an explanation…" He let out a tired sigh before lifting his shirt slightly, revealing a horrific scar across his torso.

"This… is the price I paid in battle. Years ago, I suffered a fatal wound that left me with severe internal damage. As a result, my body can no longer maintain its muscular form indefinitely."

Soren feigned concern, his gaze lingering on the scar.

"So… that means you have a time limit?"

All Might nodded grimly.

"Yes. At my peak, I could stay in my hero form all day… but now, I can only manage about three hours." He clenched his fists.

"Each passing day, that time grows shorter."

Soren pretended to process the information, his expression unreadable.

"So that's why you disappeared earlier… you ran out of time."

All Might smiled faintly.

"That's right. And that's exactly why I need to find a worthy successor. Someone who can carry the torch when my time is up."

He locked eyes with Soren, his expression one of deep resolve.

"I want you to inherit my Quirk—One For All."

Silence.

Soren tilted his head. "Huh?"

All Might nodded firmly. "One For All! It is a Quirk passed down from generation to generation—"

Soren raised a hand. "Wait. Back up. Did you just say you want to give me your Quirk?"

All Might smiled. "Yes! You see—"

"Like, as in a gift? Just like that?"

"Er, well, it's more of a—"

Soren crossed his arms, pretending to be skeptical.

"So, you're saying one of the most powerful Quirks in existence is just… a hand-me-down?"

All Might blinked, caught off guard. "W-Well, when you put it like that—"

Soren sighed dramatically, rubbing his temples.

"I dunno, man. Sounds kinda suspicious. You're not about to die and dump this on me as your last wish, are you?"

All Might chuckled nervously.

"I swear, it's not that dire!" He then coughed up more blood.

"Okay, maybe slightly dire—BUT I'm still alive!"

Soren, pretending to be conflicted, let out a deep breath before nodding.

"Alright, alright. Keep talking."

All Might composed himself before smiling.

"One For All is a power that stockpiles strength, passed down through generations. It carries the will of its predecessors, and in the right hands, it can be used to create a true Symbol of Peace."

He stepped forward, his serious expression returning.

"I believe you are the right person to carry it forward, young Soren."

Soren stared into his eyes, pretending to process the weight of the offer. Internally, he smirked.

'Perfect. Just as planned.'