18

A man stood upon a water tower overlooking the sprawling city of Hosu. This was his hunting grounds for the time being. The man in question dressed in a vlowing red scarf and a cloth mask across his face was known as the Hero Killer Stain. His body was covered in a multitude of blades from several knives to the sword on his back. His crimson eyes scoured the city looking for the next hero he would purge. Hero that's what they called themselves, but they didn't deserve it. Only one man was worthy of that title everyone else was nothing. Stain drew his sword slicing through the air, but it didn't make contact. He cast his eye to the left seeing a man shaped vortex standing there.

"Calm yourself Hero Killer, my name is Kurogiri and I would like to offer you an invitation on behalf of the League of Villains."

Stain withdrew his sword as he looked at Kurogiri. "Very well then, lead on." Stain said as Kurogiri enveloped him in his mist depositing Stain in the middle of a bar. There was only one other person there, a young man with a hand on his face serving as a mask. Looking around the bar he noticed a destroyed poster of All Might.

"Welcome Hero Killer, I am Tomura Shigaraki Leader of the League of Villains." Tomura stated as recognition dawned in Stain's eyes.

"So you're the ones who attacked UA and were defeated." Stain stated to Tomura's irritation. Seeing the rising tension Kurogiri stepped in before Tomura said something that could ruin things.

"Yes we suffered a setback then and many of our soldiers were taken into custody, but with you on our side we know more will gather." Kurogiri explained as Stain cast an eye to him.

"I see now, you want me to help put the pieces of your shattered league back together." Stain said before looking at Tomura. "As the leader of this league tell me, what is your purpose? What drives you?" Stain asked as Shigaraki shrugged.

"I just want to destroy anything that pisses me off. All Might, and little shits like this especially." Shigaraki said holding up a picture of a green haired boy in an UA gym uniform; Izuku Midoriya." Stain looked at the picture recognizing the person there. They'd only met once and it was very brief, but the green haired boy who'd stood up to stop him from purging those vile criminals had stayed in his thoughts.

"What do you know of that boy?" Stain asked stepping forward as Shigaraki scoffed.

"I know he's the reason our plan failed at USJ, so he has to die!" Stain placed his hands on his knives as he glared at Shigaraki.

"I was a fool to think you had a worthy cause, you're one of the people I hate the most in this world. You kill because something irritates you? That's the logic of a child the only reason to take a life is in pursuit of a worthy cause!" Stain shouted as Kurogiri looked on. This was their master's will after all Shigaraki was a barely sprouted plant with no interest in long term plans only wanton destruction, but the Hero Killer he had purpose and hopefully having him around would push Shigaraki in the right direction, but it looked like things would not go as planned.

"Master should I step in?" Kurogiri asked to the screen in the back of the bar from the speakers a voice spoke.

"Let it happen. This might be the only way he will come to learn and grow. He needs to think about his actions going forward and how they affect his future." The voice said simply as Kurogiri turned from the screen feeling a slice across his arm as the Hero Killer dragged his knife through his flesh and licked the blade supporting himself on the bartop one handed. Immediately Kurogiri felt his body lock up. He couldn't move or even activate his Warp Gate. Stain turned stepping onto Tomura's rightt arm and stabbing into his left shoulder as the two fell to the floor of the bar with Stain's knife in his shoulder and the other dangerously close to his neck.

"No matter what you want to accomplish Conviction and Desire is necessary. Those without it will forever remain weak." Stain said staring down at Shigaraki.

"Oww aren't you being a little rough? Kurogiri get rid of this guy." Kurogiri tried in vain to follow Tomura's request, but still found himself immobile.

"I-I can't move, it must be the Hero Killer's quirk."

"Now that I've seen what you have to offer, I'm not impressed so I will dispose of you here and now." Stain stated as he pulled his knife forward only for Tomura's hand to grasp the blade.

"If you touch this palm I'll kill you!" Shigaraki said as Stain's knife began to crack and crumble turning to dust before Shigaraki swiped his palm at Stain causing the villain to jump back.

"I may not have anything like conviction or whatever, but I do have desire the biggest of which is Killing All Might. I hate the way people flock to garbage like him, like he's some messiah. I want to destroy their pillar of strength and watch as their crushed underneath the rubble of their own hopelessness." Shigaraki said as he gripped his injured shoulder. "The last of my wounds had finally healed and then you went and did this. You should be more considerate it's not like we have a Cleric in our party."

"So that's the extent of your character. It seems we're on opposite sides of the board, but our goals are similar. We agree that the present needs to be destroyed." Stain said sheathing his remaining knife.

"Stop messing around. Fuck off, drop dead. I'm the kind of person you hate the most right?" Shigaraki said looking at the Hero Killer.

"I was testing your mettle. I've learned that people are at their most honest when they're about to die. It's aberrant but you do have a desire, and a twisted sense of conviction inside you. It might not be too late for you, so perhaps I'll let you grow and if you turn out wrong I'll weed you out like all the others."

"You think you can get rid of me as simply as yanking weeds out of a garden?" Shigaraki hissed. At this moment Kurogiri felt his body come back under his control as he stood up straight clutching at the cut on his arm. "Kurogiri I don't want some mad Paladin in my party."

Kurogiri looked at Tomura and tried once more to get things back on track. "Tomura he will be a great ally if he joins us." Stain cut the discussion short.

"Return me to Hosu I have several more heroes to deal with." Looking between the two once more Kurogiri opened a portal as requested. It seemed like the two had come to some kind of arrangement, but only time would tell.

"You're working really hard kid I like that." Izuku opened his eyes and looked around seeing that he was in the familiar dreamscape where he met the previous users of One for All. He saw a man sitting there as orange light bathed the area. He couldn't make out what the man looked like, but he was pretty sure it was the same Aspect he met during his match with Shinso.

"It's you again. How come I still can't see you?" Izuku asked as the silhouette faced him.

"You're still not ready, but you're a hell of a lot closer now. You're a hard worker really, and it's showing. You're almost there. I thought I'd have to wait until another crisis came about to meet you, but if you keep going at this pace we'll be meeting very soon." Izuku looked at the figure before him and decided to see what information he could get about something that had been on his mind for a while.

"So, are you All Might's teacher?" Izuku asked before the figure shook his head.

"No that wasn't me his teacher was a woman and she's in here too. She's excited to meet you even more than the rest of us." He explained as Izuku dipped his head in disappointment. He was hoping to learn more about his mentor, but there was something else he needed to learn about.

"All Might says I will have to fight All for One in the future can you tell me anything about him?" The figure went rigid at the name before sighing and rubbing the back of his head.

"He's a bastard who lies and uses people. He turned my best friend against me and our friends. It was almost too late before he realized how evil All for One was and helped me fight him. He ended up sacrificing himself so I could live and pass on One for All. He's powerful and a genius, you won't ever see him until he's sure he can beat you." Izuku was feeling a weight settle in his chest as the scope of his enemy was revealed to him. The figure could apparently see this and shook his head. "Don't worry kid unlike the rest of us you won't be alone. All of us are with you, and we'll do everything to make sure you're ready. Remember all of our power, and experience is at your hands, believe it!" Izuku smiled as the area he was in began to fade away and he was brought into the waking world.

Melissa looked down into Izuku's green eyes as the boy woke up. "Izuku did you spend all night training?!" Melissa asked with a frown on her face. Izuku sat up slowly realizing that his head had been lying on Melissa's lap.

"No I-I stopped around midnight I think. Is it morning already?" He asked noticing the bags under Melissa's eyes. "Umm Melissa what time did you got to sleep?" Izuku asked as Melissa blushed before sighing.

"Same I think I was working on your sui- I mean I was working on a couple school projects late last night." She said not wanting Izuku to know she was working on his suit until she was done with it. "Anyway I guess congratulations are in order, because of your late night training session you've tripled your evasion score. You're a little over sixty percent now. I didn't think you'd reach this marker so soon, but I should have known better. Come on let's get you a shower and something to eat and I'll explain the next stage of your training." Melissa said as she helped Izuku to his feet the young hero stretching as he did so. He looked at the sea of rubber bullets on the floor before Melissa giggled.

"Don't worry about it." She said once they were outside and pressed a button that caused several ports on the floor to open sucking up the rubber bullets and reloading the turrets in the process. All Izuku could do was shake his head.

"The wonders of I-island will never cease to amaze me." He said as he went up to Melissa's room once more as the girl pushed him into the bathroom telling him she'd go get his clothes.

Once Izuku was bathed and dressed he joined Melissa at the dining table and saw a massive plate of eggs bacon and pancakes. "Uhh Melissa I don't think I can eat all this." Izuku said as Melissa smiled.

"Oh yes you can, I've been monitoring your body and after that all-nighter you pulled you'll have no problem putting down that plate, now eat up while I explain what comes next." Izuku looked at the plate, he was hungry, but he didn't think he was that hungry, still he didn't want to waste Melissa's efforts so he poured syrup on his pancakes and began eating as Melissa put her tablet on the table tapping the glass as a hologram came up between the two of them.

"You expressed two points of concern; one managing your speed, and two increasing your strength. With your raise in evasion I think the first step is well to being completed, which means we can now multitask into the strength portion of your agenda." Melissa clarified as she brought up Izuku's statistics to clarify. Izuku looked at the series of numbers understanding some, but the rest was Greek to him. "The rest of your training will be performed in our Gravity Chamber." Melissa said bringing up the specs on her father's inventions. "This machine is able to increase the gravity in the room up to one hundred times now seeing as you are way stronger than average I say starting you at 40G would be good. At that amount of gravity it would be like carrying a little over three tons."

For his part Izuku sat there his plate of food forgotten as he stared in awe at Melissa. "That's amazing Melissa I can't believe something like that really exists. I-island really is humanity's future." Izuku said gushing at the sheer awesomeness of the place he was in. Melissa smiled at Izuku's excitement she remembered wearing that same expression every time her dad showed off a new invention.

"Yeah, my dad built it to help astronauts train for the possibility of colonizing other planets with vast differences in gravity." Melissa said as Izuku hurriedly cleared his plate. He really wanted to see this Gravity Chamber.

"Guess you were right Melissa I was hungrier than I thought, so can we go?" Izuku asked vibrating with excitement at this new step in his training. Melissa sighed.

"Guess there's no point in trying to slow you down; otherwise you'll just go down there anyway." She said as she stretched and headed out with her tablet to show Izuku the gravity chamber. The two made their way down to the lab and over to a door with a console next to it. "Alright go on in its better if you're already inside when I turn it on." Melissa instructed. "Oh and you might want to take off any unnecessary clothing for now wouldn't want your clothes leaving bruises or tearing off you as you move." Melissa instructed as Izuku took his shirt off showing off those impeccable abs of his. Melissa felt as if the room jumped ten degrees in temperature. Once he kicked off his shoes he looked at Melissa staring at him and felt his own face heat up some.

Seeing that Izuku had noticed her staring she adjusted her glasses to break the moment. "Anyway once inside just do your normal workout routine, and don't worry I'll be right outside monitoring your vitals and everything." She said as Izuku nodded and opened the door stepping inside the large room and looking around. The entire room seemed to be made out of some material not unlike plastic but sturdier. Izuku heard a low hum start up right before it felt as if a boulder was dropped on his entire body. He dropped to his hands and knees before activating his Full Cowl. Taking a deep breath Izuku slowly gained his feet, the weight was still there, but manageable. Alright let's train!

Tenya Iida was walking next to the Normal Hero Manual his internship mentor. "Yeah I was kind of surprised that you chose to come to my agency, not that I'm not happy to have you, but not much really happens here in Hosu." Tenya really wasn't listening to what Manual had to say he was here for one reason and one reason only, to avenge his brother Ingenium by finding and killing Stain. Midoriya had been right about what Iida had wanted, and even though he was going against his friend's wishes he couldn't just stand by and leave his brother unavenged. "Iida!" Manual shouted bringing Tenya back from his violent thoughts.

"…S-sorry Manual what were you saying?" Iida asked as Manual looked the kid over.

"Look I know what happened to your brother, and I'm sorry, but don't let that distract you from what needs to be done." Manual said as he waved his hands to the people walking the streets. "These people need protection and it's our job as heroes to do so. We can't use our positions for personal gain that's not what heroes do." Manual said patting Iida's shoulder. "Remember that." Manual said as he started walking again with Iida' behind him.

Several days later on a rooftop Stain stood looking out at Hosu city. "This is what you brought us here for to kill more heroes? This was the important business you were talking about?" Shigaraki asked looking at Stain.

"Now you will see what conviction means. There are so many undeserving of the title of hero and no one seems to care or take notice, so I will make them notice. These false idols are a cancer, and I am the scalpel to cut it out." Stain said leaping from the rooftop into the darkened streets of Hosu.

"He has a point Tomura wherever the Hero Killer has struck crime rates drop soon after, as if the heroes are working harder to prove themselves." Kurogiri explained as Tomura scratched at his neck.

"Well that's just great the heroes are working hard, how does the Hero Killer breeding more heroes help us Kurogiri? Never mind I don't care after tonight the Hero Killer will be a distant memory." Shigaraki then pulled out a phone dialing the only number within. "Master can have a few Nomu?" Shigaraki asked before hearing his master's voice in his ear.

"…Why?" All for One asked a grin on his face.

"Because it's my right to destroy whatever I don't like, isn't that right master?" Shigaraki responded before hearing All for One's reply.

"Very well Tomura, but I'll only give you three use them wisely." As he said this three portals opened behind Shigaraki producing three different Nomu. One was a hulking brute similar to the first Nomu, but the upper part of its head was nothing but brain with no eyes. The next was a spindly one with long arms walking on all fours eyes seated directly in its brain. The last was also skinny, but walked on two legs its brain and eyes exposed much like its brethren.

"Now go Nomu destroy Hosu city!" Shigaraki commanded as the three beasts rushed out into the city to lay waste. "Let's see if your honor will survive this Hero Killer!" Shigaraki stated laughing into the night.

Tenya who was accompanying Manual once again this night rushed after the Pro Hero as they ran towards the sight and sounds of explosions. Tenya looked at the plume of smoke rising above the skyline wondering what could be the cause, but that flew from his mind as he caught a glimpse of red in an alleyway. He stopped immediately and turned ducking into the alley running full tilt down until he came face to face with the object of his hatred. Stain stood with his knife in the shoulder of the Pro Hero Native.

He turned looking at Iida. "And who are you?" Stain asked pointing his sword at Iida who slowly reached up taking his helmet off to look the Hero Killer in the eye.

"I am the younger brother of a hero you injured. His name is Ingenium and because of you he may never walk again!" Iida shouted his eyes full of anger.

"This is no place for children boy. I'll give you one chance to walk away." Stain said dropping Native to the ground.

"Run kid, get help!" Native shouted as Iida stared at Stain.

"I've been thinking about this moment every waking moment. Thinking of what I'd say to you when I found you, what I'd do." Iida said as Stain stared him down.

"And what have you decided on, if you give me the wrong answer I won't hesitate to purge you along with this filth here." Stain said as Iida pulled his eyes away from Stain to look at Native and smiled.

"I thought when I found you I'd do everything in my power to kill you and avenge my brother, but now that I'm here all I can think about is what a good friend said to me recently. I didn't want to hear it then, but in this moment it's all I can think about and I think I'm going to follow what he said." Stain looked upon Iida in confusion. A moment ago he'd seen nothing but anger and vengeance in this boy's eyes, but now all he could see was cold determination.

"He said to me. 'A hero protects people. It's not about punishing the guilty, but saving the innocent.' And it's because of those words that I can't run. I will save you sir because that's what a hero does!" Iida shouted putting on his helmet before taking a running stance.

Stain looked at Iida and smiled a wide grin. "I see, well then try your luck hero!" Stain said pointing his sword at Iida.