(AFO POV – ???)
"Hm… I must say…" I murmur pleasantly, studying my reflection as I tilt my head from side to side. "I've missed this sight."
The mirror reflects a man reborn.
Short white hair. Clear, unclouded white eyes. Smooth skin, unmarred by scars or burns, and a face untouched by time.
'Elegant, even.' I muse internally, a soft chuckle escaping me.
"Indeed." Kyudai says eagerly at my side, rubbing his hands together. "It's extraordinary. To restore such extensive damage in so little time… truly, your excellence knows no bounds."
"Flattery, Kyudai." I sigh lightly, though I don't stop smiling. "You know I expected more."
I turn my head, reveling in the newfound sense of freedom with which my body moves. I no longer feel the same stiffness, pain, or weakness.
"When I obtained New Order, my first instinct was simple." I continue. "I would repair all my injuries from that day"
I click my tongue.
"It failed."
Kyudai's grin sharpens. "And you managed to find a way regardless."
"Exactly. How S&S could use it was limited by her abilities. She couldn't unleash its true potential."
New Order can't create or give power one doesn't already have. A disappointing limitation, until I understood how to harness its power.
"While it can't grant new power," I say calmly. "It can enhance existing abilities."
"Super-Regeneration couldn't heal me on its own, but if enhanced by New Order, a rule making it capable of healing scars…" I smile wider. "It works even better than Hyper-Regeneration."
Kyudai shudders in delight. "Magnificent… simply magnificent. The applications are limitless."
"And that," I add, "is merely the most primitive application."
I turn away from the mirror and walk toward the towering windows, my footsteps echoing softly against polished floors. The city sprawls below. It looks tiny, fragile, and blissfully unaware.
"Still…" Kyudai mutters, irritation creeping into his voice. "I don't understand why we can't replicate it. If only we'd recovered her body, then maybe I could've succeeded."
I wave a dismissive hand.
"That's unnecessary, and likely futile." I reply. "I don't fully understand it myself, but I feel there could only be one copy of this quirk."
I place my hands behind my back, gazing down at the city.
"And one is more than enough."
Now, no one could rival me.
No one could oppose me.
'…Almost no one.' A flicker of annoyance crosses my thoughts, but it fades just as quickly.
'That boy is dangerous, but with a bit of preparation, taking his quirk will be simple. Then, and only then, will I be unbeatable.'
"When do you intend to strike?" Kyudai asks eagerly, his voice trembling with anticipation. "All Might, the heroes… imagine the Nomu I could create from their remains. Having powerful test subjects would push my research even further."
"Patience." I chuckle softly.
The word hangs heavy in the air.
"The Symbol of Peace has waited this long." I say, my smile thinning. "He can wait a little longer."
My reflection stares back at me from the glass.
"But rest assured…" I continue, my voice dropping. "His time will soon come."
I close my eyes.
"For every injury he inflicted upon me… I will repay him tenfold."
Kyudai nods eagerly, eyes gleaming.
"Have you confirmed his location?" I ask.
"Yes." he replies. "He's still at his agency."
"Good."
I turn slightly. "Summon Kurogiri."
Kyudai moves at once.
The air ripples, and black mist spills outward as Kurogiri materializes, bowing deeply as his form stabilizes.
"Master…" He says calmly. "You summoned me."
"There's an old acquaintance I wish to visit." I reply with a menacing grin. "Open a gate."
Kyudai supplies the coordinates, and the mist thickens, twisting into a vast, swirling vortex, spinning silently and ominously.
Kurogiri inclines his head. "The path is ready."
I step forward, my grin returning.
"Excellent."
Without hesitation, I walk into the mist, ready to reveal myself to the world once more.
(Sir NightEye POV – NightEye Hero Office)
I sit at my desk, stamping and signing documents in quick succession. The rhythm is something I've grown used to, and can even be called comforting.
And just as I finish a pile, a knock sounds at the door.
"Enter." I say without looking up.
Bubble Girl peeks her head inside, her expression composed but cautious.
"Sir Nighteye, someone is here to see you."
"I don't have any appointments scheduled." I reply evenly. "Ask them to make one and return another day."
"I already did." She says, stepping fully inside. "They claimed to be… an old acquaintance of yours."
My pen pauses for just a moment, before resuming.
'An old acquaintance?' I run through the possibilities immediately. 'Is it Gran Torino? Everyone else who could come, would have made an appointment or given notice.'
"…Should I still turn them away?" Bubble Girl asks.
After a brief pause, I shake my head. "No. Let them in."
She nods, then leaves.
I resume my work. There's no reason to waste time, and as such, I pursue efficiency.
Moments later, the door opens again, this time without a knock.
"How rude." I begin, lifting my head. "Entering without even knocki—"
The words die in my throat as he steps inside with an easy, unhurried gait, hands behind his back. The air feels suffocating the moment he appears.
"…All for One." I say quietly as my heart begins slamming against my ribs, while adrenaline floods my system.
All Might's lifelong enemy. The person who managed to injure him so severely…
Anger for what he did to my idol. Fear, now that he's here. Determination to stop him as a hero.
All these feelings and more flood my mind simultaneously, but…
'Remain calm.' I tell myself, forcing myself to think clearly. 'Panic will only cloud my judgement.'
I rise from my chair, posture straight, every muscle in my body alert and ready. Without looking, my fingers move behind my back, typing a silent emergency alert into my phone.
"I was originally under the impression you had died." I say evenly. "A few days ago you proved all of us wrong."
He laughs, sounding amused.
"Wouldn't you all have preferred that?" He replies casually. "Sadly, All Might failed to finish the job all those years ago."
He spreads his arms slightly, as if presenting himself.
"And here I am." He continues. "Feeling better than ever before. Isn't that fortunate?"
"I fail to see how that is fortunate." I say, adjusting my glasses. My eyes flick to his hands, his shoulders, the distance between us.
Activating Foresight requires physical contact, and given my foe, it would be too risky to approach him.
"Regardless…" I add. "You're not welcome. Why are you here?"
"To visit an old acquaintance." He smirks, and the air grows heavier.
'There were no signs of fighting elsewhere in the building.' I note. 'Which means everyone else is safe for now.'
It's my oversight that let him stroll in unopposed, but for now, it's for the better.
His gaze drifts around the office, landing on the framed photographs and All Might posters lining the walls.
"You know…" He says after a moment, his smile fading. "I've never cared for these."
He gestures lazily. "So many All Might posters. You should consider redecorating. Something with better taste."
"I wouldn't expect someone like you to recognize good taste." I reply dryly.
His grin widens.
"Oh, I like you." he says. "Even now, you're trying to be funny."
"Humor…" I respond calmly. "Is the hallmark of a great hero. And I will not acknowledge anyone without it."
"How delightful." He hums. "Still… I suppose that means I've overstayed my welcome?"
He raises one hand slowly. So slowly that anyone could mistake it for a casual gesture.
But every instinct in my body screams in warning.
His arm begins to swell, muscle bulging unnaturally, pressure warping the air around it.
'Here it comes.'
I seize my chair and hurl it forward to block his vision as I dive low, sprinting towards him, away from his arm, and—
BOOOM!!!
A thunderous explosion obliterates the wall behind me as a column of compressed wind tears through the office, pulverizing concrete and glass as debris are blasted into the street, accompanied by a deafening roar.
The fight has just begun, but the damage is immense.
(AFO POV – NightEye Hero Office)
"Excellent!" I praise, laughter bubbling up as he twists aside and dashes toward me. "You managed to dodge that."
His movements are sharp and efficient, technique honed through years of experience. It's admirable.
'But still insufficient.'
From the moment I stepped into this office, everything has unfolded exactly as I anticipated. Even the call he made for reinforcements won't save him.
'I don't have much time before other heroes arrive.' I note calmly.
Not that they frighten me.
Their presence would make things more… inconvenient. Especially if Kata were among them.
"I was hoping we could enjoy ourselves a little longer." I sigh theatrically, spreading my arms. "But alas, time waits for no one, even me."
I lift my hand.
"New Order," I say pleasantly.
"The floor shall form spikes that follow the movement of my hand."
The effect is immediate.
The ground beneath us shudders, then screams, splitting, warping, and erupting upward into jagged, spear-like protrusions that twist and coil as though alive.
Nighteye reacts instantly, throwing himself into a roll as the first wave erupts where he stood moments before.
"You truly are impressive." I remark, gently guiding my hand, and the spikes follow.
He dodges again… barely.
The first strike tears through his suit.
The second draws blood.
The third cuts deeper.
By the sixth, a spike punches cleanly through his leg.
His scream is sharp, but restrained. Even in agony, he refuses to show weakness…
'I hate that.' I grin sadistically, waving my hand, making the spikes spread through all his other limbs, grinding painfully within his flesh.
"That's better." I remark as NightEye grinds his teeth in pain, unable to suppress his cries any longer.
Ten seconds.
That's all it takes.
By the time the dust settles, he's pinned to the wall, impaled through multiple limbs as blood soaks into the fractured concrete beneath him. His breathing is ragged, sweat beading on his brow.
"I wouldn't move, if I were you." I advise lightly, adjusting my hand, causing the spikes to shift anyway.
"AAAGH—!"
His cry echoes through the ruined office.
But my warning wasn't meant for him.
"Stop!"
Bubble Girl bursts through the doorway, her face drained of color. She freezes at the sight before her, hands trembling.
Behind her, several sidekicks and support staff hesitate. Some raising weapons, others rooted in horror.
"Please!" She says, voice cracking. "We won't move. Just… just don't hurt him anymore."
I chuckle softly.
"You heroes…" I muse. "Always so predictable. You're all limited by those around you." I click my tongue in mock disappointment. "Threaten one, and the rest freeze like frightened children."
I take measured steps forward, eyes never leaving Nighteye.
'Foresight…' I think. 'It's a powerful, yet troublesome ability.'
For him to end up like this, one of two things must be true: either he has been guiding me into a trap…
Or he can't use it.
'I wonder…' I think, stepping closer. 'Which is it?'
His glare never wavers.
I raise my hand and place my fingers against his forehead.
The moment I make contact, his eyes shift, irises turning violet, and sclera darkening.
'So it requires physical contact.' I note. 'That's quite unfortunate for him.'
I extract the quirk.
His eyes return to their natural yellow, dimming slightly as his body slackens.
"Don't worry." I say sincerely. "I'll put your quirk to good use."
I straighten and turn toward the stunned heroes.
"You may want to call for medical assistance." I suggest kindly. "If you're quick, he might survive."
A portal of dark mist unfurls beside me as Kurogiri appears.
"Well then." I smile. "Until next time."
I step through the vortex without another glance.
The portal snaps shut.
And I am gone.
*********
A/N: Hello Everyone! How are you? If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
Sorry for the long delay in this chapter🫠. I had about 6k words, and kept trying to make it perfect, and ended up in that cycle of it never being enough😭. So, I'll be uploading the remaining 4k words in 2 chapters over the next 2 days, while polishing it up as I go.
So, moving on to the chapter... It was hard😭. Writing AFO is tough, but not impossible. The hardest part is making him seem scary, while elegant at the same time, which I hopefully did successfully. NightEye... I'm ngl, I ain't good at jokes, or his humour, and while I tried, it probably sucked💀, but hopefully you enjoyed fit nonetheless.
So, this is AFO's plan. A quirk that'll let him be 1 step ahead, and if used carefully, will allow him a fighting chance🤣. You'll see in the upcoming chapters. It's not that Kata is incompetent, but AFO is really lucky and genuinely not having his intellect nerfed. Sometimes it feels alike I'm playing chess against myself when writing these 2 and a few others, especially Nezu.
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
But anyway, that's all from me. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and have a wonderful rest of your day/night 😁