Chapter 44: Rise! Villains!

The news soon spread throughout Japan.

The heroes fell, and villains rose.

The long-standing symbol of peace was beaten and defeated along with his allies against a single foe.

They call him by many different names.

The Iron Tyrant.

A Steel Sovereign.

He was Mechamaru, the Machine Overlord.

The entire Japan was in a state of red alert, the defense forces watched vigilantly for any new attack by the League Of Villains.

But even after a week passed, there was no new attack by the League Of Villains.

At first, they thought it was a plot, a way of making them lower their guard, but as more and more peaceful days passed, a feeling of doubt emerged in their minds.

While they all were going through a variety of emotions, the culprits behind the trouble were relaxing inside a run-down godown, playing video games like a neet.

"Shit! Mechamaru I lost again! What's up with this stupid game!"

Shigaraki threw away the console in his hand, annoyed by the unkillable boss he had tried to beat multiple times.

Mechamaru raised his hand and easily grabbed the flying console, ran some cheats, and threw it back at Shigaraki.

"Wow! It's so easy now! Thanks, Mechamaru!"

Mechamaru turned his gaze back to Ultimate Mechamaru and started repairing it.

But then he felt someone pat his back.

"Mecha-chan! Mecha-chan! do something about the TV, please! it stopped working at the best part! The best part!", Toga said in a pitiful voice, wearing the blood-red pajamas he created under her request.

"Hurry! Hurry! let's go!"

Putting down the wrench in his hand, Mechamaru let Toga pull him towards her room.

After fiddling around with the electronic, it turned back on, but the scene that appeared surprised Mechamaru.

It was a girl and a robot hugging each other...

"Alright! Mecha-chan it's working you can leave now!"

Toga hurriedly pushed Mechamaru back out and closed the door.

Standing outside the door, Mechamaru scratched his head before going back to finish the work.

While he was walking back, Dabi's figure appeared in his vision, leaning against the wall as if waiting for him.

"Yo Mechamaru."

With the usual lazy smile on his face, Dabi waved at him.

Mechamaru walked up to him.

Dabi smiled and said.

"You said we were your friends right?"

Mechamaru replied: "Of course."

Dabi's smile widened.

"Then as a friend, you wouldn't keep your secrets to yourself no?"

Mechamaru tilted his head in confusion, not understanding his meaning.

"Secret...?"

"Yes! A big secret!"

Dabi spread out his hands making an exaggerated gesture, then he suddenly pointed at hi burned face.

"The secret to how you are able to use flames without burning yourself."

Feeling Dabi's hit gaze, Mechamaru understood that he had misunderstood something.

The reason Flames didn't burn him was because he was a cursed energy user with Jogo's powers.

It was not something that could be shared or taught.

But.

It's not like there was no other way, especially with the new cursed technique he received.

Opening his mouth, Mechamaru said.

"Tell me your goal."

Dabi tilted his head slightly, a humorless smirk tugging at his lips.

"My goal?" he echoed, his tone dripping with mockery. "What makes you think I have some grand, noble purpose?"

"You said it yourself didn't you?...that friends shouldn't keep secrets?"

Dabi laughed and said in a crazy voice.

"You want to know my goal? Fine. It's simple. I want to destroy everything my father built. His reputation, his legacy, his lies. I want him to suffer the way I did." His voice grew colder, darker, with each word. "I want the world to see the truth about him—that he's just a monster, a fake."

Mechamaru was silent for a moment, before asking. "And after that?".

"What happens once you've reduced him to ash?"

His green eyes stared straight at him.

The smile vanished from Dabi's face and a solemn look appeared, rubbing his head he sighed and walked past Mechamaru.

"If you don't want to tell me then just say it, why bother with useless talk?"

But as Dabi was walking away, Mechamaru's voice reached his ears.

"Come with me, I will help you find a true goal."

Narrowing his eyes, Dabi saw Mechamaru walking away, after hesitating for a moment he decided to follow him.

After meeting Kurogiri they were sent to a forest with a river and large sky-high trees.

The place seems to remind Dabi of a familiar detestable past.

"Now then."

Mechamaru put some distance between them and faced him.

"Show me your strongest attack."

His mechanical voice reached Dabi's ears.

"What are you trying to do?", Dabi asked with his hands in his pocket.

"I will help you."

Mechamaru continued.

"Fulfill your fake goal."

A ring of fire appeared around them, acting as a cage.

"I will train you to beat Endeavour."

Dabi's eyes widened.

"So come and accept my help."

Mechamaru raised his hand towards Dabi.

"Friend."

Staring at the outstretched hand, Dabi scrunted his brows.

"You should know my body burns up whenever I use my power."

Mechamaru remained motionless.

"Forget beating him, I won't even survive till the training."

Dabi started feeling irritated, seeing Mechamaru show no reaction.

"Are you simply trying to get rid of me? There are easier ways you know..."

"Trust."

Mechamaru's sudden words stopped him.

"Have trust in me, my friend Dabi."

His hand still extended outwards, not swaying in the slightest.

"And I will help you find your true goal."

For a moment the scene fell silent.

Finally, Dabi let out a snort and started walking towards Mechamaru.

"You want to help a living corpse? You know you're crazy right?"

Even though he said that his feet never stopped.

"Fine then."

He stopped in front of Mechamaru and grabbed his outstretched metallic palm with his burned one.

Dabi's eyes glowed with dangerous eyes.

"As long as I can beat him, it's enough."

Their gazes collided in mid-air.

"So now what?...."

"Now? We heal you up."

Before Dabi could react.

Idle Transfiguration was applied to his body.

Under Dabi's incredulous gaze, he saw the burn in his hand vanish.

The pain that constantly haunted his body, caused by the backlash of his power dissapeared.

Feeling the sudden and unbelievable change, Dabi subconsciously took a step back, but Mechamaru held him in place.

"Not only did I help you recover..."

A flame burned in Mechamaru's palm, enveloping Dabi's hand.

But instead of the usual pain, he only felt a small subtle warmth.

"But I also made you more resistant to flame."

Raising his palm, Dabi released his blue flame.

It no longer hurt.

Witnessing the unreal reality.

An indescribable feeling filled his heart.

"Mechamaru....."

His body trembled in excitement.

"My trust or whatever you want, I give it to you."

Dabi stopped for a moment, before saying with a crazy smile on his face.

"Friend."

The green orb like eyes flickered, hiding unknown emotions.