Chapter 66: Stain and [Spoiler]

"A DNA analysis on nomu?"

"Don't worry, I'm not asking for your help with the investigation. This is technically leaking information, but...I figured you had to know. We're on the ringleader's trail. After defrosting the ice, we saw the nomu merge back together like slime, and we've been trying all sorts of tests since then. It's not just that he can't speak. He doesn't react to anything...there's not a thought in his head. So we just ran a DNA test to find out what we could about his origins."

Tsukauchi Naomasa and All Might were talking to each other in a secluded room, empty of people.

Showing a picture of a man with huge lips to All Might, Naomasa continued,"Turns out he's just some petty criminal - assault, extortion...a whole rap sheet. But we also learned that he's got at least four completely different people in him."

All Might didn't look very surprised. He just felt pissed at the ones who experimented on him.

"Is he even still human...?"

"It seems that his whole body has been altered by drugs and chemicals. Put simply, he's been bioengineered to tolerate multiple quirks. His extraordinarily low brain activity is a result of that burden. Well, the real issue is that the different DNA...somehow led to multiple quirks."

Staring at All Might seriously, he said,"Taking in additional DNA alone wouldn't result in extra quirks...unless there were some other transference factor at play. One for All has made you quite familiar with that concept. It could be a quirk...that bestows quirk."

"So Shido was right, he's back in play."

"Shido? He made that deduction before?"

"No. It said that as a statement. As if it was a sure and guaranteed fact. There wasn't any doubt in his voice. Anyways, about the Tomura..."

Seeing that All Might didn't continue on about Shido, he left it at that and said,"I was just getting there. We did a DNA check on him as well, and he's real name is..."

"Shimura Tenko."

Naomasa was surprised that his old friend knew about it. Before he was about to ask how, All Might continued talking,"Yes. Shido told us as well."

"Seriously though, where does he get his information from?"

"That's what I want to know as well..."

Both of them looked at each other with a wry smile before bursting into laughter.

"Well, at least he's on our side. Otherwise...."

Naomasa didn't complete his sentence, but All Might knew what he was going to say.

Both of them sipped on their coffee before moving on to another topic.

"Have you heard about the recent increase in mummifying incidents?" Naomasa asked.

"You mean the ones whose entire body became shrivelled and withered? Yes, I've heard of it."

"Who do you think it's responsible for it?"

"Do you still need to ask? It's obviously either a new villain, or a 'replacement' for the one we captured. But I'm leaning to the latter since no evidence was left behind. Not a single photo, video or camera surveillance was left behind, and the only thing that could do that is someone with a teleportation quirk, Kurogiri."

"I see..."

Writing something down in his notebook, Naomasa finished his coffee and stood up.

"Well, thank you for your time, Toshinori. I really appreciate it."

All Might stood up as well and shook his hand,"No problem. Stay safe on your way."

*****************

"I get it...you're the ones who assaulted UA...and you want me...to join your little gang."An intimidating, muscular man with a distinct hunch spoke. He had a flat, somewhat-triangular face without a nose and an extraordinarily long tongue, tainted with numerous small papillae.

He also had rather long, black hair, which he wore in a messy fashion, a mask and small red eyes with tiny irises.

Stain.

"Yeah, exactly. When it comes to being evil, you're a pro. But please do not compare me to that little unstable brat. I'm not like him who got himself captured due to improper planning." A lean man with eyes slanted inwards spoke. His dirty red hair grew like wild grass on his head, and multiple piercings could be seen on his right ear.

He wore a very simple attire - black long-sleeved shirt coupled with matching black pants and shoes.

Stain didn't seem interested in the second part of his sentence and continued asking,"And what're you after?"

"Well, we want to kill All Might, eventually. But I also want to destroy everything I don't like." Leaning against the countertop, the lean man replied while swirling his drink in the little glass in his hands.

"It's ridiculous that you really had my interest for a second, there....you're...hahh...the type I hate the most."

"Huh?"

"As if I'd team up with some temper-tantrum-throwing child. Ha...hahh. You say you want to destroy everything you don't like, what's the difference between you and your preceder? You're just a replacement after he failed. And after you fail, another one will just come take your place again."

"Huh?" His eyes opened wide. Suddenly, he threw the glass in his hands at Stain and at the same time, dashed towards him in an attempt to use his quirk on him. Stain also had his hand on his blade, ready to slice the incoming attack together with the attacker, but before either one could do anything, a black portal suddenly appeared in the middle of them, teleporting them away from each other.

"Please, you are in the presence of Sensei. Stop disrespecting him."

Kurogiri spoke with his usual monotonous voice which, this time, was laced with respect when the word 'sensei' was spoken.

""Tch..."" Both of them clicked their tongues at the same time, but neither made another move.

"Anyways, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted by a child, bloodlust without conviction is meaningless." Sliding his blades out of their sheath, he sneered at the lean man.

"To truly accomplish anything...one needs will...and conviction. Those without it...the weak ones...they'll be weeded out. It's only natural."

This time, without any warning, Stain dashed towards the lean man. Kurogiri tried to stop him but was instantly grazed by a blade. He wanted to move but he realised that he couldn't.

Without any pauses between his actions, he continued his dash towards the lean man and managed to pin him down. One of his blades were lodged in his shoulder, while the other was aimed at his neck.

"Ha ha ha ha...owwww! So strong. Kurogiri! Quickly, send him away!" The lean man laughed and complained, as if it was just a casual matter.

"I can't move! It's probably the hero killer's quirk..." Kurogiri remained in his place, his white suit stained with blood. He wasn't in a serious condition, but he could not move or do anything to help.

"The word 'hero' has lost its original meaning...in this corrupt society, rife with fakers and shams. Criminals who aimlessly throw their weight around too. They're all targets of my purge...hahh..."

As Stain continued inching his blade towards the man's neck, the man suddenly grabbed the blade with his bare hands.

"Whoa, whoa, hold on...not my neck...I can't die yet. I'll kill you."

The moment his hands touched the blade, the metal seemed to have melted. it turned into molten liquid before completely disappearing.

"You sure talk a lot...conviction, huh? Nah, I've got nothing so grand as convictions. But if I have to say what drives me...I'd say it's All Might. That piece of garbage. And the society that worships him." His face broke into a wild smile as the entire blade disappeared into thin air.

"I wanna crush them all into dust...that's my conviction."

Just as the man suddenly got up and tried grabbing on to Stain, Stain immediately jumped back away from the man.

My wounds from my previous trials had just healed...we don't have a healer in our party, you see. So how about you take some responsibility for what you've done?"

Seemingly decided on something, Stain spoke after a moment of silence,"You first..."

"Huh?"

"Our respective goals couldn't be further apart...but...destroying the status quo. That's the one ambition we have in common."

The man didn't seem very happy, and snapped at Stain,"Get lose! Just go home and die! I'm the type you hate the most...or whatever."

"You really are just like a child..."

"Don't...call...me...a...child!!" The man roared.

Ignoring his roars, Stain continued talking,"I was just testing your sincerity. People show their true colours when death is staring them in the face. You are an odd one, but...your will...I can see the seed of some warped conviction within you."

After pausing for a moment, he said,"I wonder what that seed will yield..."

Keeping the rest of the intact blades in their respective sheaths, he continued,"I'll deal with you properly once I've seen that through. It might not be too late..."

"To deal with me...? Can't say I really want this crazy guy as a member of our party..."

"Himura Shigaraki. He'll add some much-needed firepower to our efforts. Our negotiations were successful!" Kurogiri immediately refuted his claims.

"Even your names are similar...really...a mere copy and replacement..."

"SHUT UP!!!"

"So we're done here! Send me back to Hosu. There's still something I've got to take care of there." Ignoring Himura, he turned towards Kurogiri and spoke.

"Very well."

The television, seeing that all three had left, automatically turned itself off.

*****************

"Is it really fine?"

In a dark room, two shadows could be seen conversing. One of them was seated on a chair with various tubes connected to him, while the other was standing up.

"No, this is fine! Himura might be mentally stabler than Tomura, but both are equally reckless. There's no sense in simply telling someone an answer. He must be taught to reach those conclusions himself! We must help him mature!" The man who was seated replied.

"Yes, Sensei."

"One more thing, tell me more about the gang."

"Yes. It seemed that they managed to find a 'replacement' for something I do not know, but it seems that whatever that they were planning on making, the 'replacement' is something that they need. They also mentioned that they have narrowed down where the 'original' is, but did not specially mention where."

"I see...continue looking out for more news." As soon as his words were delivered, the man who was standing was dismissed.

After a few minutes have passed since the man left, the man seated spoke again.

"Doctor, keep an eye on him. I don't trust him."

"Why?" The doctor asked as he continued fiddling around with the various medical equipment, as if preparing for something,"From what I see, he's been doing everything exactly as you asked. Killing heroes, collecting information, reliable ones, I might add, training new 'successors' and so on."

"My instincts...and they are always almost accurate."

"So do you want me to get rid of him?" Doctor said with no hesitation whatsoever. As though the feat of killing him was just as normal as eating lunch.

The seated man thought for a while before replying,"Not for now. When his usefulness runs out, then it'll be your job."

"Yes, All for One. I'll do the preparations beforehand, so the procedure can happen anytime you wish." The doctor bowed and, after receiving the signal to leave, he left the dark room, leaving the seated man alone in the darkness.

*****************

Hosu City

On top of a high-rise water tank, a black portal appeared out of nowhere and from it, two humanoid figures came out.

"So this is Hosu...livelier than I thought." Himura, the red haired man spoke as he observed the town with interest.

Stain just looked at the scenery and said,"I will reform this town. But for that...more sacrifices are needed."

"The necessary task that you mentioned earlier, perhaps..."

"Now you're someone who I can actually get through to."

"Always picking on me, man..." Himura complained as he quickly patched up the arm which Stain had cut through.

"'Hero' is a title reserved for those who perform truly great feats! Too many are undeserving...just money worshippers playing hero!"

As he jumped off the water tank and left for his business, he shouted,"Until this society wakes up and corrects itself...I will continue my work!"

*****************

Full Title: Stain and Himura

A/N: I know my naming sense sucks, so don't complain too much about the replacement. The replacement is a lot stronger, saner, but still as mad as the original. Sounds contradicting? Not my problem. Won't affect the story much since Shido is just too OP,

I'll tell you more about his quirk in the next few chapters. It's similar, but much more powerful. Any guesses?

Oh, and new title would be 'Advent of Spirits'. How would that sound? Nice? If not, please do suggest more titles.

If you want to support me or/and want 14+ chapters in advance, link:

https://www.patr eon.com/spirits_everywhere