Chapter 122: The Doctor

[Third Person's PoV] 

The doctor finished wrapping Tony's bandages, tucking the last piece of blood-soaked cotton into his bag. After closing it up, he nodded.

"Thank you for letting me repay my debt."

Star shook her head. "I should be the one thanking you. I don't know how long it would've taken for another doctor to arrive if you hadn't been here. Their injuries were severe, and immediate care was essential."

"I only did what I thought was right... Now that my job is done, I shouldn't disturb you any longer. The young heroes need proper rest."

"I'll escort you out." Star nodded, leading the doctor to the door.

The doctor gave her one final wave before stepping into the elevator and pressing the button for the lobby. As the doors closed, his friendly smile faded, replaced by an apathetic expression. He leaned against the wall, eyes cold. When he reached the ground floor, the smile returned as he stepped out, blending seamlessly with the bustle of the hotel.

Outside, law enforcement officers were busy detaining unconscious villains. The doctor turned toward them, offering a slight bow as he spoke in Russian, "Thank you for your service."

The officers, appreciating the rare acknowledgment, tipped their hats. But as the doctor walked away, he scoffed under his breath in Japanese, "I wasn't talking about you idiots."

After walking a few blocks, he found a sleek black SUV parked on the side of the road. He climbed into the passenger seat, where a man with black hair and green eyes sat behind the wheel, glasses perched on the tip of his nose.

"Did you find out what you needed?" the man asked.

The doctor opened a compartment beside him, pulling out a small case. He slid his fingers along the edge, revealing a pair of gloves that blended perfectly with his skin. Placing the glowing item back into the case, he nodded. "Yes," he said, adjusting his glasses. "And they are truly fascinating test subjects, I must admit."

"I still don't understand why the master set this up," the man replied. "Now that they're weakened, it's the perfect chance to take them out."

"Patience, young Saiki. Do not underestimate the master's ways. He was curious about their abilities—whether they were truly quirkless, or if that was just a front to keep their real powers hidden. If it were the latter, the master would have gladly taken Stark's quirk for himself."

"But that's not the case, Is it?" Saiki said flatly.

"It is not. Stark's inhuman genius is entirely authentic. What we've seen is the full potential of the human mind—no quirks involved."

"Stop praising him," Saiki muttered, his expression unreadable. "He doesn't deserve it."

The doctor opened his large bag, revealing a compartment filled with empty vials. "Oh, but quite the contrary. Stark has reached the peak of what any human could achieve, quirk or no quirk. Drive" he ordered. 

Saiki sighed as he started the car, driving off while the doctor carefully secured the blood soaked cottons inside the vials.

"You're missing the point," the doctor continued, examining the vials. "I'm not just talking about Stark's mind—his body is stronger than any normal human's, even stronger than those with minor physical enhancement quirks. His body borders on superhuman. It's as if he was made to be the perfect human."

Saiki rolled his eyes, already tired of the doctor's constant praise of Tony. He was ready to tune him out and focus on the road, until the doctor's next words caught his attention.

"I initially thought Stark was born with it—a random genetic mutation that explains his intellect and physical prowess. But he's not the only one. His little girlfriend shows the same signs. A genetic mutation in one person? Not unheard of. But the same mutation in two unrelated people, who just happen to be very close? That's more than coincidence."

"What exactly are you implying?" Saiki asked, narrowing his eyes.

The doctor chuckled, his mustache twitching as he spoke. "Given Stark's known intelligence, it's not far-fetched to think he created something—a chemical enhancement, perhaps—that pushed his body to its peak potential. It must have been safe enough for him to share with his girlfriend. From the scan I performed, his body is flawless—he's the epitome of health."

Saiki's grip tightened on the steering wheel as he asked, "Doctor... what exactly are you planning?"

The doctor smiled darkly. "I plan to study their blood, isolate the components that enhanced them, and replicate it. Stark may have unknowingly solved a problem humanity wasn't even aware of… but that's not all."

Saiki raised an eyebrow, trying to keep his tone casual. "What problem are you talking about?"

The doctor sighed. "Haven't you read the notes I gave you?"

"I haven't finished them," Saiki admitted.

"I'm referring to the Quirk Singularity problem," the doctor explained, his voice growing more serious. "As quirks evolve, they grow stronger with each generation. The human body struggles to keep up with this evolutionary process, and quirks become unstable—harder to control."

Saiki frowned as he listened, trying to process the information. "And you think Stark's formula could fix that?"

"Precisely," the doctor nodded. "If I can reverse-engineer Stark's formula, it could strengthen the human body to the point where it adapts to any quirk it possesses, stabilizing even the most volatile abilities."

He paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully before adding, "But that's only one part of my plan. The other... involves using Stark's and Shields' blood to create the perfect clone. The ultimate vessel for the Master. By transferring the Master's quirk into this vessel, we would eliminate any struggle for dominance. A quirkless body that adapts itself perfectly to the Master's quirks. We wouldn't even need Shigaraki anymore."

Saiki's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"

The doctor's expression turned cold. "I've already said too much."

Leaning back against the window frame, the doctor gave Saiki an apathetic smile. "You'll keep this between us, won't you?"

Saiki knew it wasn't a question—it was a threat. He glanced at the doctor, then back at the road, nodding quietly. For his own safety, there was no other option.

The doctor then began chuckling darkly to himself, "We should really be thanking Stark here, he has helped the Master in ways even I couldn't…" 

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