Quirk doesn't define someone's worth.

_____[POV: Third Person]_____

A distant planet, beyond the boundaries of the known, gleamed under a pale sun that barely warmed its rocky surface. The stone formations stood tall like ancient guardians, sculpted by erosion and winds of a forgotten millennium. The arid soil cracked under the heat of the day, deep fissures cutting through the land like ancient scars. The silence was absolute, a sound filter so deep it seemed to reverberate in anyone who had ears to hear it. But of course, no one did.

The sky, a dull and lifeless blue, maintained its serenity until an explosion of light crossed the atmosphere. The tranquility of the place was brutally interrupted by what appeared to be a ball of fire falling from the sky, tearing through space and transforming the silence into a deafening roar. The fireball hit the ground with a devastating impact, sending a shockwave that shook distant mountains and shattered the larger rocks like glass.

In the center of the crater, surrounded by broken rocks and dust still in the air, stood Lucifer, panting. His appearance was worn, his clothes slightly burned, but his eyes shone with fierce determination. He looked up, seeing Ryuji slowly descending from the sky, enveloped in a golden aura that contrasted with the darkness around.

Ryuji landed gently beside the crater, as if the weight of his body was insignificant to the ground that had just suffered such devastation.

"You weren't too bad for my first organic creation," Ryuji said, crossing his arms and observing Lucifer with an assessing gaze.

Lucifer smiled, even as he struggled to rise from the ground. "I appreciate the compliment, master," he replied, his voice still slightly breathless but full of sincere humility.

Ryuji returned the smile, noticing the loyalty reflected in his creation's eyes. "Well, you passed the first test," he said, approaching Lucifer. "The second test will be when we go to the planet where I've been living. There, I'll give you some tasks to do as soon as we arrive."

With a simple hand gesture, Ryuji traced a circle in the air, as if drawing invisible lines. The golden lines followed the movement of his hand, forming an intricate pattern that pulsed with energy. In an instant, the pattern shone brightly and expanded, creating a shimmering portal with golden edges, similar to Dr. Strange's portals. In the center of the portal, constellations and nebulas spun, a glimpse of infinity between worlds.

"Let's go," Ryuji said, entering the portal without hesitation. Lucifer, with one last glance at the battlefield he barely escaped, followed his master.

_____[POV: Ryuji]_____

The first thing I did after returning to Earth was to brief Lucifer on the tasks he would need to do. Basically, the guy would be my personal spy. A spy with golden wings and a charming smile, but still, my spy. It wasn't that complicated. I explained the tasks, the places to infiltrate, the people to keep an eye on, not to raise suspicions about his existence, and voilà! Lucifer was ready to be my scout. Of course, I made it clear that he couldn't hurt anyone—at least, not without my authorization.

After taking care of business with Lucifer, I returned to my original form. You know, that adorable little kid everyone thinks is so sweet. You'd never guess I can destroy galaxies with a snap of my fingers, right? Well, I prefer it that way. Fewer questions, fewer problems.

I materialized back in the park where I always play with Izuku. I was invisible behind some trees and bushes, and the first thing I did was check if no one was around. You never know, right?

After making sure the coast was clear, I stepped out of my hiding place and started walking home. It's not too far from the park, so it didn't take long to get there.

Arriving home, I gave the usual greeting: "Tadaima!" Of course, this immediately caught my mother Aiko's attention. She was in the living room, probably cooking or tidying up something as usual.

"Oh, Ryuji, welcome back!" She responded with that soft and caring voice only a mother could have. Look, Aiko is a wonderful mom, the kind who wraps you in a tight hug and makes you forget the world can be a pretty messed-up place. She's loving, always worried about my well-being, and does everything to make me happy. But, if I'm being honest, there are some downsides...

She worries too much. Like, way too much. Sometimes it's suffocating. And there's that thing of wanting to protect me from everything and everyone, as if I were a porcelain doll. Little does she know I'm tougher than adamantium.

"How was your day, sweetheart?" She asked as she approached me, probably to give me a hug or something like that.

"It was fun, I played heroes with Izuku," I said, trying to keep things normal. Couldn't exactly tell her how I almost burned a planet while playing God.

"Oh, that's good! Izuku is such a lovely boy, isn't he? Speaking of which, I heard from his mother that they went to the hospital today to confirm his quirk."

That made me raise an eyebrow. I knew I was forgetting something. Looks like I'll have work to do tomorrow...

"Really? Good for him, I hope he gets a really good quirk," I said, trying to sound interested in the topic even though I know he's not going to have any quirk.

Aiko seemed thoughtful for a moment, her expression changing to something more melancholic. "You know, your father and I never had quirks... it makes me wonder if maybe I'm wrong in wanting everyone to have one. If you don't have a quirk, that's okay, right? What matters is who you are on the inside."

Damn... this again? I know my mom and dad are quirkless, but this topic has been coming out of my mom's mouth ever since I turned four. But this shitty world, which defines your social worth based on a stupid power, has been pissing me off.

Without a quirk, you're already at a disadvantage. Society looks at you like you're a piece of trash, something defective, without purpose. And it doesn't stop there. If you have a negative quirk that screws you over instead of helping, it automatically puts you in the villain box. No one gives you a second chance. And what about mutant quirks? Damn, being different here is almost a social death sentence. They call you a monster, isolate you, as if you're not worthy of sharing the same space as them.

All of this disgusts me to no end. What kind of fucked-up society judges someone just by a power they didn't choose? And the worst part is that in the beginning of the anime, this shit isn't even addressed as it should be. The author did a shitty job ignoring it, focusing only on the cute heroes and stereotyped villains when he could have used this in the beginning when Izuku was revealed to be quirkless. It's only in the later arcs that he decided to touch on this sore spot, but it was too late. The damage was already done for those who followed the series.

I'm not going to make the same mistake. I'm going to change this whole damn thing. You're going to—

"Ryuji?" My mother's voice pulls me back to reality. I look at her and see the concern etched on her face. "Are you okay, sweetheart?"

Shit. I must have been making an expression that doesn't match a four-year-old at all. I take a deep breath and try to smile. Calm down, Ryuji, everything's going to be fine. This world still has hope... and I'm going to be the one to make it happen.

Aiko moved slowly, as if she was afraid she had said something to hurt me. Little does she know nothing could be further from the truth. However, I can't stand seeing that worry in her eyes anymore.

I enveloped my body in a golden glow, I think this will be enough for now.

Aiko stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening in surprise.

Then, she rushed over to me and wrapped me in a tight hug, tears streaming down her face.

"Ryuji... you... you have a quirk! I... I always knew you were special!" She cried with joy, not even imagining that all of this is a lie. A lie I created to give her some peace of mind.

"I... I'll support you in everything, Ryuji," she said between sobs. "Throughout your life, I'll always be by your side."

I returned the hug, feeling her warmth enveloping me.

I know, mom. And I'm going to make it worth it. I'm going to make this world a better place, even if I have to crush all this rot with my own hands.

So... don't worry about me.

I'm going to change this world... for you, and for all the people who suffer in it.

_____[POV: Izuku Midoriya]_____

Yesterday... yesterday was a very strange day. Mom took me to the hospital, and the doctor looked at me with those serious eyes and said that I... that I don't have a quirk. He said I won't be able to have one, ever. He explained many things, but all I could understand was that I am different. But different in a bad way, because all the other kids have quirks, except for me.

When I was in the car, going home, I tried not to cry in front of Mom. But... but it was hard. I wanted so much to be like All Might, to be a hero that everyone loves! How can I be a hero without a quirk? Everyone has one, except me! It feels like the whole world is laughing at me, like it's some big joke. I want so much, so much to have a quirk! Why don't I have one? Why me?

Today at kindergarten, the other kids were showing their quirks to each other. They were so happy, bragging, laughing... I wanted to hide. I felt my heart tighten, like there was a knot in my throat. I didn't want to be there, didn't want to hear what they were saying.

The caregivers saw that I was sad. They came over, trying to say that it was okay, that I was special in other ways... but I just wanted to shrink away and disappear. How can I be special without a quirk? All I wanted was to be like the others, but... but it seems like that will never happen.

Why... why is the world like this? Why did I have to be born without a quirk? It's so unfair.

At recess... I was sitting in a corner far away from the other kids. They were all playing, showing their quirks, laughing, and I... I just wanted to disappear. I guess someone like me, who doesn't have a quirk, shouldn't be around them. I'm the only one who is different, the only one who can't do anything special. I don't have an amazing quirk, so I don't have the right to mix with them.

I saw Kacchan in the middle of the playground, always surrounded by other kids. He is so amazing! His quirk is incredible, making those explosions and everyone thinks he's the best. I wanted so much to be like him, to have a cool quirk... If I had one, would the other kids like me too? Would I be as cool as Kacchan?

Suddenly, I heard someone calling me. My thoughts were interrupted, and I looked around, trying to find the voice. It was Ryuji.

"Hi, Izuku," he said, with that serious tone of his. "You're in my reading spot."

I didn't even realize I was in the spot where he always reads. "Oh, sorry, Ryuji... I... I didn't even notice," I murmured weakly. I hadn't even noticed his presence here. Maybe he's right... maybe my place isn't here.

I tried to get up, but before I could leave, Ryuji stopped me. "Where are you going?"

"Oh... I... I don't know..." I answered, still a bit lost. All I wanted was to get away, to hide...

"You're acting strange, Izuku. Normally you wouldn't leave so easily," Ryuji said, with that direct tone of his. He always speaks like that, straightforward.

I looked at him, trying to force a smile, but inside... it felt like my heart was heavy. "I... I'm fine, Ryuji... Just... just don't want to be a bother."

Ryuji looked at me for a while, like he was trying to understand what I was feeling. Then, he sighed and sat down in his reading corner under the tree. "I'm not going to force you to say anything if you don't want to," he said, picking up the manga he always brings.

I stood there, not knowing what to do. He started reading, leaving me there, alone again. For a moment, I thought about leaving, but my legs stopped midway. Why can't I just go? It's like something inside me is screaming to talk to him.

I swallowed hard and gathered the courage to go back to where he was. My hands were trembling, and I could feel my heart beating fast. "Ryuji..." I started, nervous. He looked up from his manga, waiting for me to continue.

"Yesterday... yesterday the doctor said that I don't... I don't have a quirk," I blurted out. The words came out jumbled, but I needed to speak. "He said I'll never have a quirk, Ryuji... never."

Ryuji stared at me for a second, expressionless. I continued, even with my voice trembling. "It's okay if you don't want to be my friend anymore... I understand. Who would want to be friends with someone who doesn't have a quirk?"

Ryuji looked at me, as if he was thinking about something. "Why would I stop being your friend?" he asked, without changing his tone.

I blinked, surprised. He didn't get it? "It's just... I don't have a quirk. I... I'm different from the others..."

He shrugged, like it wasn't important. "What does having a quirk have to do with it? With or without a quirk, you're still my friend."

I stood there, not knowing what to say. Friend? He had never called me that directly. I felt a strange mix of relief and surprise. He really doesn't care if I have a quirk or not?

"So... you're not going to leave me?" I asked, with a timid hope in my voice.

Ryuji shook his head, going back to his manga. "Don't worry about something like that. Come here and read with me."

I stayed there, not knowing whether to sit or not. But after a few seconds, I sat next to him, still trying to process what he had said. He doesn't care... he really doesn't care if I have a quirk or not. Maybe... maybe I still have someone by my side, even if I'm different.

I looked at the manga he was reading. Everything seemed less distant now, as if Ryuji had lit up the path that I had previously seen as dark. Maybe... maybe things weren't so bad after all.

_____[POV: Third Person]_____

In the depths of the dark night over Japan, in one of the cities with the highest rate of villainy, the silhouette of a man in a British red suit and short blonde hair stood out easily. Not only because of his 6 feet tall stature but mainly due to the imposing pair of retracted golden wings on his back.

He walked casually through a dark and poorly lit alley, with an almost serene expression. In a casual movement, he took a cigarette from the inner pocket of his jacket and lit it. After the first drag, the ashes fell to the ground, which was strangely stained with red.

The alley was filled with bodies. Some burned, others sliced, all in grotesque positions. The most striking, however, was the trail of blood leading to a fallen man, who was uselessly trying to drag himself away from the suited stranger. The fallen man was legless, his clothes soaked in blood, and his breath heavy with pure despair.

He turned around, his eyes wide with panic. "No... don't come closer!" he pleaded, his voice trembling with fear. "You're a monster! Stay away!"

The light from one of the few lamps in the alley flickered, plunging the area into darkness for a brief moment. When the light returned, the suited man seemed to have disappeared. For a moment, the fallen man felt a glimmer of hope, believing he might have escaped.

But then, he noticed a large shadow forming over him.

A cold and calm voice echoed above his head. "It's ironic... a villain calling another a monster," the voice said, with a hint of contempt. "I only wanted a little help, to collaborate... but you decided to attack me first. I was merely defending myself."

The fallen man slowly raised his eyes, meeting the impassive gaze of the suited blonde, his golden wings now fully spread, blocking any escape route. Ashes from the blonde's cigarette fell onto the fallen man's bloodied forehead, making him shiver with fear.

"It was nice doing business with you," the suited man concluded, his voice laden with a cutting coldness. The last glimmer of hope faded from the fallen man's eyes as darkness seemed to close in around him.

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(A/N: Hello dear readers! I hope you had a great and refreshing read. Sorry for the delay in the update after my previous notice; I was a bit lost while writing and trying to recall the lost content. After all, it's been 99 days since I last updated the fanfic... Anyway, what matters is that I'm back. I'll do my best to keep the novel active, and for greater stability, I'll aim for updates every 5 days or even weekly as I've been busy with personal work. But I can assure you that I'll focus more on quality than quantity in this fanfic, as I enjoy writing it and believe it has a lot of potential. For now, I'll leave it here; see you in the next update!)