Chapter 96: Interlude

[Third Person's PoV] 

On the third day of his internship, a tense meeting took place in a bar.

"I see, so you were the ones responsible for the assault on U.A.," Hero Killer Stain said, his tongue hanging wildly from the corner of his mouth. "And now you want me to join your little ragtag gang?" He scoffed in disdain.

"Yes, because when it comes to being evil… well, you're a pro," Tomura responded, leaning against the bar with a casual smirk.

Stain narrowed his eyes. "Just what are you after?"

Tomura tilted his head, unfazed. "Well, for starters, I want to kill All Might. But I also want to destroy the things I don't like."

Tomura reached into his pocket, pulling out three photos and laying them out on the bar for Stain to see. They showed Tony Stark, Melissa Shield, and Izuku Midoriya. 

Stain studied the images, recognizing Tony and Melissa due to their social media presence but not Midoriya. He glared at Tomura. "It's funny, really. You had my interest for a second… until I realized something." His eyes turned cold. "You're the kind of person I hate the most."

"Huh?" Tomura looked at him in confusion.

Stain reached for his knives, pulling them out slowly. "To think I was seriously considering teaming up with a tantrum-throwing child. Bloodlust without conviction is meaningless."

Kurogiri glanced at a nearby monitor. "Sensei, should I intervene?"

From the monitor, All For One's voice replied, "No, let this play out. There's no point in simply *telling* someone the answer. He must learn through experience. That's the essence of true education."

Meanwhile, across the bar, Taiyo Saiki sat quietly, paying no attention to the drama unfolding around him. He was engrossed in reviewing the extensive notes and data compiled by The Doctor over his long lifespan. His brow furrowed in thought.

'This is too much to handle on my own. I need help… an assistant, maybe. My data storage quirk is useful, but it's overwhelming. What I really need is an A.I. With an A.I., I could expedite my work and plans. It could even assist with my creations. After all, I've already helped modify some of the Nomu with my tech, so I should have enough free time.'

His musings were interrupted by a noise. He looked up to see Kurogiri with a cut on his arm, paralyzed, and Tomura pinned to the ground by Stain. The Hero Killer had a knife pressed against Tomura's neck, with another lodged in his shoulder.

"To accomplish anything worthwhile, you need will and conviction," Stain growled, pressing Tomura deeper into the ground. "The weak will always be weeded out. It's only natural."

Stain drove the knife deeper into Tomura's shoulder. "Which is why you're going to die."

Despite the pain, Tomura laughed, his voice strained. "Ha ha ha… Oww… Kurogiri, send him away."

"I-I can't," Kurogiri stammered. "I can't move because of his quirk…"

Stain, now lecturing, continued. "The word 'hero' has lost its original meaning in this corrupt society, filled with fakes and frauds. Criminals who aimlessly throw their weight around are all targets—"

*Whirrrrrrr*

Stain suddenly heard the hum of electricity charging up behind him. He felt the cold metal of a railgun press against the back of his head.

Slowly turning, he saw Taiyo holding the weapon, blue electricity sparking from its coils. "Careful, Stain. I'd prefer if you didn't kill him. I owe him for rescuing me, and he's agreed to help avenge something of mine. So, I need him in one piece."

Stain chuckled, unfazed. "So you're not just a nobody sitting in the corner. What a rookie mistake…"

"It's alright, Taiyo," Tomura said, drawing Stain's attention back to him. "No need to play hero."

"Are you sure? It doesn't look like you're handling it," Taiyo replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Just sit down."

Taiyo eyed Tomura for a moment, then shrugged. He powered down the railgun, shrinking it back into a handgun, and holstered it. Returning to his seat, he resumed studying, unbothered.

Tomura turned back to Stain. "As for you, Hero Killer…" He sneered. "You're aiming for my favorite arm. I'll kill you for that."

In a swift motion, Tomura disintegrated the knife in his shoulder, the blade turning to dust. Stain recoiled slightly, surprised by his power.

"You talk a lot about will and conviction," Tomura continued, his voice low and menacing. "I don't have anything as grand as conviction. But if I had to name what drives me, it's All Might."

A sinister grin spread across Tomura's face, his eyes gleaming with madness. The intensity of his gaze caused even Stain to shudder.

"That piece of garbage and the society that worships him… I want to crush them all into dust. You can think of that as my conviction."

Stain swiftly leaped back, narrowly avoiding Tomura's swipe, his fingers inches away from decaying him. Tomura rose, scratching irritably around the wound Stain had inflicted. "You've wounded me, Hero Killer, and we don't have a healer in our party just yet. So how about you take responsibility for that?"

Stain grinned, undeterred. "You first. Our goals may be worlds apart, but toppling the status quo? That's where we align."

Tomura sighed, clearly exasperated. "Just go home already. Didn't you say I'm the type you despise?"

"I was testing your sincerity," Stain replied, his voice low and calculated. "People show their true nature in the face of death. You're an odd one, but I can sense something inside you—a twisted conviction, still just a seed. I'm curious to see what it grows into."

Stain smirked, the gleam in his eyes sinister. "I'll deal with you properly once I see that bloom. Maybe it won't be too late by then."

"Deal with me?" Tomura scoffed, rolling his shoulder. "I can't say I want someone as messed up as you in my crew."

Kurogiri interjected smoothly, "Tomura Shigaraki. He adds the firepower we need. I'd say negotiations were successful."

"Ugh, why couldn't we get a cooler swordsman?" Tomura grumbled.

Stain's expression darkened. "We're done here. Send me back to Hosu. I've got unfinished business there."

"Yeah, yeah, hold on," Tomura muttered, glancing over his shoulder. "Taiyo, you coming?"

Taiyo shook his head, gathering his things. "No, I've got something important to handle. It'll be a game-changer for us. Kurogiri, send me to *him*."

With a flick of Kurogiri's hand, a warp gate opened, and Taiyo stepped through, his mind racing. 'This A.I. will be the key to avenging my legacy. It may not have been great, but it was mine. No one understands what it means to me, but I will stop at nothing to obliterate the Stark name. For this avenger… I'll need a name.'

The portal closed behind him, and Taiyo found himself back in the doctor's lab. His lips curled into a cold smirk. 'I'll name it... Ultron.' 

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

+31 advance Chapters on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3