Probably My Longest Chapter In This Fic.
_
Tsukauchi sat in the conference room, looking a bit lost.
'Dammit.' He pulled out his phone and dialed All Might's number.
The line connected on the first ring. "Naomasa?" Toshinori spoke. "What did they say?"
Tsukauchi closed his eyes. "They said no."
Silence followed on the other end.
"The President authorized proceeding as planned," Tsukauchi replied while running his head"Breach at 0100 hours. Endeavor has operational command."
"They're..." Toshinori's voice cracked. "They're really going through with it."
"Toshinori ..."
"She knows, doesn't she?" All Might interrupted.
Tsukauchi didn't respond. There was no response needed for this.
"Gran Torino is authorized to call immediate retreat if things go wrong,"
"It'll be too late if something goes wrong." All Might uttered grimly.
"I know. I'll keep you updated, on the following developments. It's unfortunate, but we can't stop this Toshinori. For now .."
He looked up. "We can only hope they succeed cleanly and you look like a fool when you land."
The line went dead.
_
KAMINO WARD – STAGING AREA – 12:48 AM]
The warehouse was silent now, tension thick in the air. Officers stood in full gear, performing final equipment checks for those who needed it
"Final status check," Endeavor called out. "Team Alpha."
"Ready," Best Jeanist confirmed, adjusting his collar. "Front entrance approach confirmed. Breach equipment tested."
"Team Bravo."
"Ready," Gang Orca replied. "Rear entrance secured. Breach charges armed."
"Mt. Lady, Kamui Woods."
"Ready," they said in unison.
"Perimeter teams."
Five confirmations came through radio in rapid succession.
"Edgeshot, final thermal read." From his position on the rooftop across the street, compressed to thread-width and invisible, Edgeshot's reported.
"Four heat signatures confirmed. Ground floor: two targets. One mobile, one stationary in corner. Upper floor: one target, sleeping position. Basement: one target, sleeping position. No changes in the last fifteen minutes. They're unaware."
Endeavor nodded, studying the tactical display one final time.
Everything was perfect. Civilians evacuated. Perimeter secured. Surveillance confirmed.
This was it. The moment that would prove Japan didn't need All Might holding its hand through every crisis.
"Listen up," Endeavor addressed the assembled heroes.
"In Ten minutes, we breach that building simultaneously from four points. We capture the League of Villains. And we show the entire country that hero society doesn't need to wait for one man to feel safe."
Several heroes nodded, while most stayed silent. After all, majority of these heroes had risen to prominence under All Might's era.
While they agreed with Endeavors words, harbouring any offence against All Might like Endeavor clearly did wasn't something they were capable of.
"Gear check complete. Move to final positions. Silent approach. No mistakes."
The heroes dispersed, moving to their assigned breach points with practiced efficiency.
Gran Torino remained in the corner, watching with an expression that made Endeavor's flames flicker with irritation.
The old hero hadn't said another word since the conference ended, but his presence was a constant reminder of All Might's warning.
It irritated him to no end. Endeavor moved toward the warehouse exit, flames shining brighter as he walked away.
Behind him, Gran Torino closed his eyes.
'Toshinori... please be wrong. Please, just this once, be wrong.'
Once everyone was in place, Endeavor gave the order.
"Begin."
[KAMINO WARD – FIFTH AND KIRIN STREET – 12:58 AM]
The bar was dark and quiet. Kurogiri stood by a chair near the destroyed counter, red light of the communication console reflecting in his yellow mist-eyes.
"Master, are you sure of this?" Kurogiri asked, his voice low. "A prison break of this magnitude... in the current climate... it seems reckless."
"Reckless, Kurogiri?" All For One's voice came through the speaker box, sounding amused. "Do you see something wrong with a student finally showing initiative?"
"The plan itself is sound," Kurogiri replied, polishing a glass that needed no dusting. "But the heroes are searching for us with a ferocity we haven't seen. Should we not be more cautious? Wait for the perfect moment?"
"There is no better 'perfect moment' than the one you create for yourself," the voice mused, drifting into a philosophical drawl. "Tomura is maturing with each lesson, faster than my expectations. This setback from the Yamanote Line... it has broadened his horizons. He is beginning to think about what he truly wants. His convictions, his methods... they are finally aligning."
Giran's call had brought a qualitative effect to Tomura's personality. In barely three months, from his original reckless planning of attacking U.A, now he displayed a level of thought truly befitting for a future symbol of evil.
Experience truly was the best teacher.
"A prison break at this time is exactly the nail needed for the coffin of Hero Society. Though true that Tomura still lacks the innate patience I require of him, now is not one of those times. Besides... I have always loved a bit more chaos and panic. It reminds people of how fragile their peace really is."
"Master—"
"It doesn't matter, Kurogiri." The voice was final now, absolute. "It's all within my plans. I will always be here for Tomura, guiding him toward becoming the next Symbol of Evil. As his master, it's my duty to give him a helping hand whenever necessary. To let him grow. To let him want."
His voice paused. "We mustn't stifle his desires now that he's finally beginning to think for himself. That would be poor teaching indeed."
Kurogiri's mist form settled slightly. "I see, Master. In that case—"
The wall exploded inward. Concrete, brick, and rebar disintegrated in a wave of superheated air and flame. The shockwave threw bottles from shelves, shattered the mirror behind the bar, and sent furniture tumbling.
'What the ..' Endeavor barreled through the debris like a meteor, his eyes locking onto the warp-gate villain instantly.
"DON'T MOVE, VILLAINS!"
'We've been found ..' Kurogiri reacted on instinct, mist-form expanding to create a warp portal.
Endeavor shot forward, flames erupting from his legs in a burst of propulsion that sent him across the room.
His fist connected with Kurogiri's core before the portal could form.
The impact was catastrophic. Kurogiri's mist-body condensed under the force, the metal brace around his neck heating instantly as Endeavor's flames poured into him. He was driven backward, smashing through the bar, destroying bottles and furniture, slamming into the wall with enough force to crack the plaster.
The TV mounted on the wall exploded in a shower of sparks.
Kurogiri collapsed, mist form flickering weakly, the metal brace around his neck glowing red-hot.
He could barely even handle the pain when force was applied to his body, holding him down in place. "I said don't move."
In the sleeping quarters, Tomura Shigaraki jerked awake at the rumble.
His hand went immediately to Father's mask on the nightstand, fingers curling around it when the wall exploded inward. A giant hand reached through the debris, fingers large enough to wrap around a car.
'What in the ..'
The massive hand closed around Shigaraki before he could process what was happening, lifting him off the bed like a child grabbing a doll.
"Got him!" Mt. Lady shouted into her comm.
'Dammit!'
The boy tried to decay her ... Only to find his finger pads pressed against his own body rather than hers. Using decay to escape was impossible. The hand pulled him through the shattered wall into the open air where police and heroes surrounded the building.
"Let me GO!" he screamed, realizing what was happening. "I'll kill you! I'll kill all of you! I'll—"
"Save it," Mt. Lady said. "You're done for."
"Why you little ..." Across the hall, Best Jeanist had already woven a cocoon of high-tensile carbon fibers around Rappa. The brawler roared, straining against the threads, but Gang Orca stood over him, his sonic emitters humming in warning.
"Clear," Jeanist said calmly into his comms. "Fugitive is apprehended."
Kamui Woods on the other hand, stood over Deidoro Sakaki with an expression of mild confusion.
He had unleashed a binding Lacquered prison ready to take down the villain. However, the man hadn't even woken up when the wall exploded. He just kept snoring, reeking of alcohol, slumped in the corner exactly where he'd passed out hours ago.
"Um..." Kamui Woods wrapped him in binding branches anyway, lifting the unconscious drunk carefully. "Secure. I guess." He said, watching as police flooded the building like a rising tide. "Clear!" "Clear!" "No additional hostiles!"
Endeavor stood over the weakly-stirring Kurogiri, flames still burning steady. He listened on the channel, waiting for any sudden turn of events.
Nothing happened. Only the sound of rain and the clicking of handcuffs.
"Hmph," Endeavor scoffed, the tension leaving his shoulders. "Just like I thought. All Might's warnings were nothing but rubbish."
"Hmm. All Might?"
The sudden voice startled the number two hero as he snapped his head in the direction of the speaker box on the wall, still active despite the destruction.
"Huh?"
"Well," All For One mused from the speaker. "It would seem your worries weren't unfounded after all, Kurogiri."
Kurogiri struggled to raise his head against Endeavor's grip. "Master..."
"Don't even think about moving, Warpgate," Endeavor threatened, his palm glowing white-hot near Kurogiri's head. "I still owe you for the last stunt you pulled in Hosu. Unless you want to be burned to a crisp, stay still. I won't get any repercussions even if all of you die here tonight."
He turned his cold, gold-eyed gaze to the speaker. "Hmph. So that bastard was on to something after all. Figures. To call you 'Master,' you're probably the so-called threat All Might wanted to warn about."
"Warned?" All For One mused. "How Interesting. The fact that you speak that way ... Is All Might not with you?"
Endeavor's face darkened. "I'm the one asking questions. This whole place is surrounded. Surrender and we might just let you live."
"I see. So he really isn't here," the voice dismissed Endeavor entirely, focusing only on the absence of his rival.
"Odd. How odd indeed. This doesn't make sense. If he suspected I was involved, then there is no way he would have allowed you all to come here on your own. That suggests he isn't anywhere close by... or he's unable to be here. Or perhaps this is a trap to fish me out?" All for one mused.
All For One mused on the last idea, then quickly dismissed it. With everything that had happened these few years... the last one was somewhat unlikely.
At that point, multiple officers rushed into the room with guns drawn, flashlights cutting through the smoke and destruction.
"Endeavor, what's going on?" Best Jeanist's voice came through the comm. "Who are you talking to?"
Endeavor kept his eyes on the speaker box, flames crackling with barely contained fury. "There's someone else involved. For the looks of it, he seems to be the leader of the League of Villains. He's communicating through this speaker."
Everyone realized. "Interesting. How interesting. What kind of game are you playing All Might? This isn't really like you." Zen Shigaraki pondered. "Is there anyway we can trace it?" In the comms line, Gang Orca voice came through.
"Already on it," an HPSC tech officer said, pulling out equipment. "Give us some time."
"No? Still no appearance?" All For One uttered. "I see. I see. Quite the game."
"This isn't a game." Endeavor said darkly. "Since you're behind the League Of Villains, then that makes things easier. Want your people back? Then show yourself. Or are you too much of a coward to face us directly?" Silence.
Then All For One laughed.
"You think this is funny huh?" Endeavor uttered coldly. "Well I hope you can keep laughing. You've lost."
"Is that so?"
"Regardless of whether you are hiding here or not, when we find you, you and your people are going to pay for what you have done. There is no escape."
"Oh?" All For One's voice was light, almost conversational. "How righteous of you. Though I suppose you are right. With Kurogiri captured and my personal project not quite ready yet, my student cannot escape. It is troubling indeed."
Endeavor frowned. Was he .. agreeing?
"Though I don't feel I've lost. No, Endeavor. I believe the word you are looking for is 'exposed.' And I'm afraid it isn't me who is vulnerable."
Then, with a final, chilling chuckle, the line went dead. The red light on the console flickered once and extinguished into a deep black.
Endeavor stood tense, his flames burning and eyes darting around the ruins for a sudden explosion, a hidden trap, or Nomu. For a full minute, the only sound was the crackle of his own fire and the heavy breathing of the tactical teams.
Nothing happened.
After a few more seconds of suffocating silence, Endeavor straightened his posture and let out an irritated breath. "Hmph. He ran away. A coward hiding behind a screen, just as I suspected."
"Endeavor? Report status!" Best Jeanist's voice came through the comms.
"I'm fine," Endeavor said, his voice dripping with arrogance as he turned away from the speaker. "Round them all up. Get me the proper restraints for this one. And call the President. Tell her the 'threat' was nothing but a voice on a speaker."
Five minutes later, the League of Villains were lined up in the street under the floodlights of police cruisers. Shigaraki, held down by two officers and Best Jeanist's threads, glared at Endeavor through the rain with eyes filled with pure, unadulterated venom.
"So this is the great League of Villains?" Endeavor looked down at them. "Not so great now, are you?"
"...It's all Stain's fault," Shigaraki rasped, spittle flying from his lips. "If that bastard had been half a second faster in Hosu, you would be six feet under by now!"
Endeavor's face darkened at the memory of that disgraceful day. "Stain is in a cell. And you're about to join him. Be grateful I'm a professional, boy, or I'd burn that memory out of you."
In the Yokohama Command Center, Tsukauchi watched the live drone feed, his shoulders finally dropping from his ears. He let out a long breath of relief as he leaned back in his chair.
'There is no sign of him,' he thought, reaching for his phone to send the 'All Clear' text to Toshinori. 'Thankfully... you were wrong, Toshinori.'
Meanwhile, in the outermost perimeter, two B-rank heroes stood near a roadblock, leaning against their patrol car and watching the distant lights of the raid.
"That was it?" one shook her head. "All that hype for a bunch of kids in a bar? Endeavor didn't even break a sweat."
"Yeah, to think they caused The 716." the second replied, reaching for a thermos. "I thought this was gonna be a lot harder."
"Yeah, all that searching and deployment for this. It almost feels unsatisfactory." One mutteeed with a cigarette in his mouth. "And here I thought we'd have to get in on the action and fight a little. There's little chance our names are making it into the headlines for this one."
He barely finished when the female hero punched him in the shoulder. "Ow. What was that for?"
"Don't jinx it. Unlike you, I just wanna go home and get a nice nap."
"I'm on her side. I honestly feel signing up for this was a waste of time."
"A waste of time, huh?" the cigarette-smoking hero muttered, leaning back against the hood of the car. "At least the pay is—"
He stopped. The rain, which had been a steady drizzle, seemed to grow heavier by the minute. And in that rain, a black silhouette made itself known, turning from the corner of an alley in the distance.
'Huh?' The cigarette smoking hero was stunned.
"What's that?" the female hero whispered, her hand going to the hilt of her support weapon.
Down the dark, evacuated street, a figure was walking toward them. Male build for sure. The man wore a pristine black suit, with a cultured gait of a gentleman, an umbrella over his head and all the leisure of a man taking a stroll.
Of course that's what they would have thought of not for the fact that they couldn't see his face obscured by something dark.
"Who is that?" the third hero asked, straightening up. "Hey! Sir! Please turn back! This area is officially restricted for Hero business! Civilians should clear the area!"
The man didn't stop. He didn't even slow down. The closer he came, the clearer the features became. What was once thought to be a hat turned to be some sort of industrial mask.
"It's a villain." The female hero said, readying herself as she reached for her radio. "Dispatch, we have an unidentified ..."
The man in the suit raised his hand. Suddenly, the limb distorted. Veins bulged like thick cables under the fabric of his sleeve, and dark red lightning began to arc between his fingers.
The next moment, a localized vacuum forming in the center of the street.
"Holy shit ..." All For One didn't even look at them. He simply fired.
[AIR CANNON + SPRINGLIKE LIMBS + KINETIC BOOSTER X4 + STRENGTH ENHANCEMENT X3]
A massive, invisible lance of pressurized air tore through the street with the force of a hurricane. The three heroes were blown without resistance, gashes appearing avross their skin as the force sent them flying into the air.
Along with them went the vans, cars, and the rubble of the earth itself. It demolished the building ahead, and the one after that, and the one after that with a crash akin to an earthquake, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
The trail of total destruction roared straight toward the bar, a kilometer away, clearing the path for the King of Villains.
_
Enjoying the story? Want to read ahead?
Support the novel and unlock early access to unreleased chapters by joining my Patreon!
💧 WATER TIER (5$) – Read 3 chapters ahead of public releases
🌍 EARTH TIER ($7) – Read 5 chapters ahead, with bonus lore, author notes, and behind-the-scenes content
🔥 FIRE TIER ($10) – Read 8 chapters ahead, get full access to all extras, and vote in exclusive polls for bonus content
📎 Patreon.com/Future805
Even a small pledge makes a huge difference — thank you for reading.