Converging Paths

(A/N: The stuff here was originally supposed to be in the last chapter, but opted to instead separate them and expand on them, rather than combine the two. Anyhow, sit back, relax, and enjoy the chapter!)

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[1 Day Later]

[Narrator's POV]

In a secluded warehouse, on the outskirts of Musutafu, a singular, lambent light bulb swayed gently from the ceiling, casting a muted, yellowish glow over the cluttered space below. Rusted metal scraps were piled haphazardly in one corner, remnants of old tools and machinery now coated in a thin layer of dust. 

The air was thick, laden with the musty scent of damp wood and forgotten projects. Old wooden crates, now brittle and splintered, stood stacked against walls lined with PVC piping, their once tidy arrangement now formed a labyrinth of sorts.

A slow, rhythmic drip of water echoed through the silence, each drop sending ripples through a small puddle that had formed near the center of the room. The only sign of life came from a large, battered workbench beneath the weak light, its surface cluttered with papers, blueprints, scattered tools, and an odd-looking helmet of sorts that covered the mouth which sat at the far edge of the workbench. 

John Kramer, rather Okazaki Yuudai, towered over the workbench like a giant, scanning the blueprints lying before him. Two designs dominated the papers, each blueprint marked with a different name. The first was 'Ingenium,' while the second was 'Uwabami.'

Photos of the two heroes, along with their respective notes and observations, were jotted down on some scrap paper and pinned to their respective trap designs. Ingenium's photo showed a headshot of a man in a white suit of armour, with the note reading as follows:

'Increasingly reckless, overuse of force, collateral damage — needs to be tested'

Uwabami's photo, in contrast, captured her in a glamorous pose, more suited for a magazine cover than a photo next to a death machine. Her note read as follows:

'Prioritizes modelling over hero work — needs to be tested'

Reaching for the device that sat at the edge of the workbench to do some quick adjustments, Kramer spoke to himself, letting his thoughts spill into the stale air.

"They can change," he started. "Even the worst among them can be redeemed, given the circumstances. If they're true heroes, they will survive…"

The warehouse door creaked open behind the Jigsaw as a shadow slipped into the room. Dawned in his vigilante attire, Stendhal approached the workbench, dragging with him a man bound and gagged, thrashing like a snake. The man's eyes were wide with terror, his body trembling as he struggled against the restraints, muffled cries escaping his taped mouth. 

Stendhal took a glance at the man before looking back at Kramer. "Another one," he said, his voice a low growl, though his irritation was apparent. "He used his quirk to attack someone — sunk those snake fangs of his into an innocent child, poisoning her and fleeing…"

"He deserves death."

Kramer didn't look up immediately, his attention still on the trap. He nodded slowly, acknowledging Stendhal's words. "Perhaps," he replied evenly, "but death isn't always the answer, Stendhal. Some people just need to be shown what their actions truly mean…"

Stendhal's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene before him — the blueprints, the reverse bear trap, and the photos of heroes nest to the blueprints. He stepped closer, his boots echoing off the cold, concrete floor. "And this..." he said, pointing to the trap Kramer had in his hands, "this is how you show them?"

Kramer finally turned to face him, his expression calm, almost peaceful. "Not just this," he said, gesturing to the entire workbench. "Every trap is a lesson. A chance to atone, to make amends, or to face the consequences. Not everyone will survive, but those who do… they'll be better for it. They'll change."

Stendhal's gaze drifted back to the trembling man at his feet. "Or they'll be dead! It's quicker, more efficient," he argued. His tone was hard, resolute — Stendhal believed in what he did. "These people — they don't change. They just keep doing the same thing until their head is off their shoulders. They're like animals, and I'll slaughter them like animals!"

Kramer's eyes hardened, his voice taking on a quiet intensity. "That's where you're wrong. People can change. Take Shinohara Yuki, for example," he spoke with nostalgia. "He survived — and since then, he's kept clean. Found himself a job a couple of days ago and lives humbly. He's proof that redemption is possible."

Stendhal's expression faltered slightly, a faint trace of uncertainty crossing his face. "One man," he muttered. "That's all you've got?" Kramer quickly countered, "One man is enough to prove that it's possible."

"Imagine how many more could be saved if they're given the chance. You kill a man, and his story ends. But if you give him the choice — to live or die by his actions — that's when true change can happen. But I can't blame you for why you believe in what you do. You haven't seen this change with your own eyes, not yet anyway…"

The warehouse fell into silence as Stendhal stared at the blueprints on the table, the gears in his mind turning like cogs. His gaze lingered on the photos of Ingenium and Uwabami, his lips pressing into a thin line. "But heroes?" he finally asked, his voice laced with doubt. "They're not like these criminals. They don't sink their teeth into children like this one."

Kramer's gaze followed Stendhal's, settling on the photos as well. "Heroes are human, just like everyone else," he said quietly. "They're not immune to corruption, to losing sight of what's right. Ingenium… he's been slipping. Too much force, too much collateral damage. And Uwabami… she's more interested in fame than in saving lives. They need to be reminded of what it truly means to be a hero." 

"Perhaps you should join me in watching them when the trap is complete. Maybe then you'll be fully convinced."

Stendhal was silent, his mind wrestling with the idea. Slowly, he nodded, though the reluctance was still there. "Maybe you're right," he admitted, "I'll take you up on your offer and see it play out. If they fail your test, then maybe you're right."

"And if they pass?" Kramer asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Then maybe there's hope for them after all," Stendhal replied, though his tone suggested he was far from certain. He took a step back, eyes narrowing as he studied the trembling criminal once more. "But this one," he added darkly, "this one better be worth the effort."

Kramer nodded, his expression unreadable as he turned back to his work. "He will be," he murmured as he eyed his iconic contraption. 

"They all will be…"

[Scene Change]

[2 Days Later]

"This is Hinaro Mika from Channel 6 News, reporting to you live from the outskirts of Musutafu from a warehouse turned crime scene," the female news anchor spoke with measured professionalism, though the way she spoke hinted at the severity of the situation.

Behind her, police officers swarmed the area, cordoning off the building with bright yellow tape as forensic teams moved in and out of the old warehouse.

"The scene behind me has shaken the city to its core," Mika continued, her gaze unwavering as she addressed the camera. "A gruesome discovery was made here earlier this morning, and we are just beginning to understand the full extent of what transpired. According to police sources, the victim was found in a horrific state, wearing what can only be described as a twisted mechanical device strapped to his head."

She turned slightly, gesturing to a man standing just off-camera. "We're joined now by Kuroda Kenji, the individual who discovered the body. Mr. Kenji, can you tell us what you saw?" she asked as she moved her microphone towards Kenji.

The camera panned to a middle-aged man with dishevelled hair and a face drained of colour. His hands trembled as he held the microphone Mika passed to him.

"I- I still can't believe what I saw," Kenji stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I- I come here every morning, you know? To collect scrap metal, old parts… stuff nobody wants. It's quiet here, and nobody bothers you. But today… today was different."

Mika nodded, her expression sympathetic yet focused. "And what exactly did you find, Mr. Kenji?" Kenji swallowed hard, his eyes glazing over as he recounted the scene. 

"I was just going about my usual routine when I noticed the door to the warehouse was open. That's unusual because it's usually locked up tight. So, I figured someone had already been there, but when I went inside…"

He paused, his hands shaking even more violently. "I saw… I saw a man, just lying there on the floor. His head… there was this thing on his head, like a helmet, but with all these metal parts sticking out. It was… it was covered in blood…"

The camera zoomed in slightly, capturing the raw fear and disbelief in Kenji's eyes. Mika gently prompted him to continue. "Did you approach the body?"

Kenji nodded slowly, his voice cracking as he spoke. "Yeah… yeah, I did. I- I wanted to help him, but… but it was too late. The device… it was all smashed in like it had clamped down on him. And his face… Oh God, his face…"

Mika took a small step closer, lowering her voice as she asked the next question. "Did you see anything else? Any signs of who might have done this?"

Kenji shook his head, a shudder running through his body. "Uhm… no, nothing. The place was empty, just him and that... thing. I've never seen anything like it before. It was like something out of a nightmare. T- There was one detail though, there was a small section of f-flesh cut out of him… in the shape of a puzzle piece no less. Whoever did this… they're not human. They can't be…"

Mika nodded, giving Kenji a moment to compose himself before she returned to the camera. "Thank you, Mr. Kenji. The authorities are still investigating this horrific incident, but what is clear is that this is no ordinary crime. The device found on the victim, still yet to be identified, resembles the contraptions created by the works of the recent yet infamous Jigsaw Killer, the person involved in the death of Pro Hero Manual." 

She paused, her expression sombre as she addressed the viewers directly. "Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the police immediately. This is an ongoing investigation, and we will continue to bring you updates as more information becomes available. For now, this is Hinaro Mika, reporting live from the scene for Channel 6 News."

The man turned off the TV screen and was greeted by his reflection.

For a man who appeared to be easily in his early forties, he clearly took care of himself. His towering height, coupled with his muscular physique gave the man a domineering form compared to the average Japanese citizen. 

In addition to the dark suit he wore, which contrasted with his short white hair and ruby-red eyes, the man commanded a sense of fear and respect to those he talked to.

"Jigsaw, Jigsaw, Jigsaw," he said slyly. "How fascinating…" his voice was a low, velvety purr as he leaned back on his luxurious leather chair. 

"To manipulate and terrify, not through brute strength, but through the fragility of the human mind…" a twisted smile found its way on his face as he spoke to himself. He gave a soft chuckle, the sound reverberating across the room. "You've caught my attention, but where will this puzzle of yours lead?"

"And more importantly, what do you want?"

All For One's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing within them as he leaned forward, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. "Perhaps it's time for us to meet soon, Jigsaw. Let's see if you truly understand the depths of this world… or if you're just another pawn waiting to be swept off the board…" He paused, his smile widening into something more sinister as he considered his next move. 

"After all, even the most complex puzzles have their solutions. And I'm quite fond of breaking things apart…"

(A/N: I will say it here, Ingenium's and Uwabami's traps are connected together! Don't we love it when heroes team up? 

By the way, I don't know who, but someone wanted more blood in the next trap. I'm going to go all out for Ingenium and Uwabami next chapter! 

Otherwise, how was the chapter? Let me know with a comment and a review! Don't forget to Don't forget to vote for the chapter (Wattpad), or drop some power stones (Webnovel) as those are always appreciated!)