Webjack didn't move, his fractured mask glinting in the low light. His breathing was shallow. His muscles were shot. But his fists were still clenched.
"You… you don't get it," Shigaraki muttered, his voice quiet but sharp with sadistic pride. "Nomu wasn't made to fight you. Or the teachers. He was made to kill All Might. He has more than one Quirk. He's stronger. Faster. He heals. He's unstoppable."
The silence that followed was taut.
Then Webjack straightened his posture.
And despite the pain, the damage, the tremor in his legs, he laughed.
It was ragged. Dry. But unmistakably a laugh.
"You know," He said, voice still distorted through his voice modulator, "Thank you for the exposition, Handy-Man. Really helpful."
He rolled his shoulders, cracked his neck.
"Because now I know I don't have to hold back."
Webjack stood tall, or as tall as his battered frame allowed.
From the torn sections of his forearms, where skin peeked through the burned and slashed costume, light spilled out—glowing the unnatural green that pulsed with psionic intensity. But instead of forming more webbing, he pulled it together, concentrating and sculpting it.
The shape hardened in the air—a long blade, jagged and uneven in its design, but undeniably reminiscent of a katana. It hummed with unstable energy, as though it had been willed into existence by pure force of will.
Shigaraki stared.
"Nice knife," He sneered. "What are you gonna do, carve pumpkins with it?"
Webjack exhaled slowly, giving the weapon a few short test swings. The air shimmered in its wake.
"Not a knife," He said, voice distorted but steady. "And I'm not a fan of blades. Too messy."
He paused, eyeing the blade like it was an old friend.
"But I did teach myself a little kenjutsu. Thought it'd be fun. Never expected I'd need it, but… y'know. Life's full of surprises."
Shigaraki's lips curled.
"Nomu. Kill him."
The hulking beast didn't roar this time. It simply moved fast with a blur of black, red, and muscle surged forward. Webjack's Spider-Sense shrieked—and he moved. He twisted, letting Nomu's massive fist sail past his head by inches—and then he struck.
"Jackpot!" The Vigilante screamed as the blade sang. A streak of green light sliced across Nomu's shoulder, and his right arm fell.
"W-What…?" Shigaraki's expression crumbled.
The severed limb hit the ground with a wet thud. Nomu staggered, but showed no pain—just regrew the arm instantly, as though nothing had happened, and did not waste time in coming at Webjack again.
'Okay,' Webjack thought grimly. 'Guess we're doing this.'
He ducked another swipe, spun on his heel, and brought the blade across Nomu's left arm, severing it just as cleanly. Before the limb could regenerate, Webjack acted fast. He raised his hand and fired a burst of psi-webbing straight at the raw end—the stump—coating it in dense, crackling energy.
Nomu's regeneration flickered. The new limb pushed against the webbing… and failed, incapable of breaking through.
"NO!" Shigaraki's voice cracked in panic.
Nomu continued fighting, mindlessly and mechanically. It launched a kick toward Webjack's chest. Webjack pivoted low and brought the blade up, and cleaved through Nomu's right leg. Another spray of flesh. Another webbing seal to the fresh stump.
"This is… morbid," Thirteen whispered and looked away.
"It's necessary," Lockdown said flatly. "That thing doesn't feel pain. He's doing what we can't."
The Vigilante moved with mechanical precision now. Cold. Focused. Disgusted with himself, but unwilling to stop. Nomu lunged again, now dragging itself forward on its last limb. Webjack winced—not from pain, but from the feeling in his chest as he brought down the final strike.
Nomu's last leg fell, and with it, the beast collapsed, twitching, unable to rise. Its body, still trying to regenerate, spasmed beneath the layers of glowing webbing.
"I feel like a butcher…" Webjack muttered.
He turned to face Shigaraki. The villain was shaking, teeth bared, lips stretched thin in rage—then he charged all sloppy, unthinking, and pure emotion. Webjack met him with a calm sidestep and planted his foot in Shigaraki's gut. The air whooshed from the villain's lungs as he crumpled backward, landing hard.
"And that's why you don't run into combat crying," Webjack said, dusting off his hands. "Come on, that was amateur hour. Learn to take the L, dust-boy."
Shigaraki didn't move at first. Then his fingers twitched. He slowly reached up toward his face.
'Father…?'
The prosthetic hand that normally covered his face had been knocked loose in the fall. It lay beside him, forgotten. Shigaraki touched his bare cheek. His eyes went unfocused. His mouth parted.
"Father…?" He whispered, voice hollow. "Where… where are you?"
His fingers trembled against his skin like they weren't his own. Webjack stepped back, the weight of that single word settling over the field like ash.
'Who the hell is this guy?'
"The Fog Villain ran away!" Thirteen panicked, looking around them, but saw no trace of Kurogiri. "He abandoned his comrades?"
"No! He probably went to regroup with the other villains," Lockdown corrected. "He'll come back for these two."
The ground started to shake, making the three of them almost lose their footing.
"—And with a vengeance," Lockdown added as he noticed some of the trembling being at its strongest in the Conflagration Zone located to the southwest of the USJ. The one that simulates an urban environment that is constantly on fire.
"That's the place where you do your barbecues, right?" Webjack asked nervously.
"Please be quiet, and run!" Lockdown warned, having a good idea of what Kurogiri had in mind.
Without warning, except for Spidey, who was warned by the force in his head that a massive warp gate manifested above them, and from it, two buildings that were on fire came out like meteors that threatened to consume everything down below.
"Now, who's cheating?" Webjack cried as he and the Pros had to run, but all three halted as they also heard the familiar sounds of cries. Several Class 1-A students, the first to emerge from the Gate, also came out of the portal.
"Oh, my God!" Now, more than ever, Thirteen starts to panic from the horrid sight.
That is almost half the students, including the ones who should've escaped from the USJ, were recaptured, plus more students who were in the Conflagration Zone and the Mountain Zone.
Most of them should be skilled enough to survive such a predicament and land safely but it is doubtful that they can also evade the falling buildings, and judging by the panic on their faces, the majority don't believe they can escape this ordeal, and neither did the shocked spectators of this violent onslaught, such as the remaining students who were spared from this fate and could only watch with hopelessness as their classmates meet their demises.
Time slowed down. A thousand possible scenarios started to run through the heads of the Pros and Vigilante on how to prevent the deaths of the students. Thirteen could use Black Hole to pull the students closer and quicker to the ground, allowing Webjack and Lockdown to catch them, but the recoil of such a strategy could be just as fatal to some, if not all of them.
Seven innocents have bright futures ahead of them that they have to catch, and the burning buildings are closing in just as quickly.
Another thing to consider was their synergy. Webjack may have come to aid them and had proven himself both noble and valorous, compassionate, and fierce, but just by being a vigilante, trust was always going to be lacking.
There was no time to discuss a proper plan. No time to even nod to one another in acknowledgment that they would save them. At worst, they would rush in to help, only to get in each other's way and die along with the frightened children.
There was no best-case scenario. Not by themselves.
Growing up, it was common to hear about moments like this. Watching from the sidelines, or on a TV, about great calamities occurring, people running and screaming from the sudden danger, how every precious second wasted meant life would be snuffed out and claimed by Death's cold embrace. I never took the time to question it. Tried to understand just how scary such things really were and what it really meant to be in such a predicament. Perhaps worse, what those burdened with rescuing those in danger truly felt, and what it would mean if they failed. All I could think about was how good it would feel to be a Hero and rescue someone.
But then I donned this mask, and I finally understood. Nothing is more painful, more heart-wrenching, more unbearable than failing to save someone, and Heroes have to put everything on the line. Their lives and more for the sake of those who need us.
When I started my crusade, I managed to avoid feeling the agony of failing to protect someone, but when I saw those who, maybe in another life, could've been my classmates, I thought that perhaps this was it. This was the moment when I would know the agony of being a false hero who can't protect everyone, and I would start believing that the Spider was a mistake.
Instead, I was spared once again, and by the first person who ever saved my life.
A great sound, more overwhelming than a sonic boom and more ferocious than a dying star, bursts open the entrance to the USJ. Thundering shockwaves spread all across the facility, shattering most of the lights and windows, but did not harm any living being, even though it was also aimed right at them. Those struck also felt a surge of raw emotion. Wrath in a pure state that could only be described as righteous and honest.
None of them needed to turn around to know who it was that arrived, yet they held their breaths with expectations of how the true Savior could pull off the rescue.
Another sonic boom was felt, one that propelled him forward to the center, and before anyone could even blink, the seven students falling to their deaths vanished from sight as though they were never there, nor ever in danger.
As for the burning buildings, they were no more than pebbles; what looked like divine strikes from the hammer of God that struck them were simple flicks on his wrists. Multiple pieces of debris began to rain down all across, but hitting no one, innocent or otherwise.
The crisis was averted, but still, the spectators held their breath until they saw the Savior on his knees, beside the students he rescued, also catching their breath from the shock, while he remained close to comfort them.
"I am sorry, young ones. I should've been here from the start. Teaching you how to be better heroes and keep all kinds of Villainy from getting their filthy claws on you, but lately, I've been anxious and unfocused. Going everywhere but still nowhere at once," The Man apologized with bitter regret. "I have no excuse. But you have nothing to fear now."
He rose from the ground, showing them his almighty figure.
A massive man with an equally muscular and well-defined physique, his design resembling a typical Western comic book superhero. Fitting since, despite being Japanese, he adores America.
He has chiseled features on his face with a strong jawline, pronounced cheekbones, and bushy eyebrows. He has short blond hair, swept backward, with two distinct tufts sticking above his head, leaning slightly to each side. His robust features regularly cast a dark shadow over his face, hiding everything but his bright blue eyes. Even the yellow tuxedo he's wearing is imposing and a show of true strength.
"BECAUSE I AM HERE!" He declared, and normally, when he says his famous catchphrase, he has a benevolent and fearless smile, but it's gone now, replaced with one of rage and vindictiveness brought upon by the vile actions of the Villains.
And yet in spite of his anger, the students still found themselves at ease in his presence.
"All Might…" The Lightning Lad of Class 1-A, Denki Kaminari, muttered in awe, being rescued by the World's Symbol of Peace always lifts the spirit.
"We're safe," Sero sighed in relief.
"You're a lousy excuse for a teacher," Lockdown reprimanded him for his slow and exaggerated arrival.
'He really did come. What a relief,' Webjack thought, feeling relaxed as though the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders.
"So, the Symbol of Peace arrives at last," Kurogiri's voice echoes through them, but none can see him, putting them all back on high alert.
'Where is he?!' Lockdown cursed, his Quirk in use again, and searched everywhere for the Villain to nullify his power, but he was hidden well. What's worse, so focused were they on the students that they never noticed that Tomura and Nomu had vanished. Kurogiri rescued them while they were distracted.
"Surrender, Villain! Whatever your intentions, they have failed," All Might warned him. "Come quietly, and you can still be given leniency."
"Our fates are not for you to decide, All Might," Kurogiri declined. "The whole point of this party was to get to you, but everything went wrong so poorly. No matter. There will come another time to kill you. In the meantime, we will take our leave and reevaluate our options. Your poor arrival at least gives us some confirmation of your steady decline."
"Decline? I can't prove you wrong if you don't come out and face me," All Might countered, now sounding arrogant, but Webjack knew he was faking it and grew concerned.
'They know,' He again panicked. 'But how? I never told anyone about our first encounter. Was someone spying? Then why now and like this when there are a thousand better ways to get the drop on him?'
"Prove me wrong? Very well. Pop Quiz, children." Kurogiri turned his attention to the students he had previously captured. "Excluding the Speedster, how many of you managed to escape this facility before you were caught by me?"
The question brought a cold chill down everyone's spine by the obvious implications of what he could be referring to. The students searched among themselves for the answer, and it was as sudden as it was dreadful.
"Ashido! Where's Ashido?!" Mezo Shoji was the one to break the news of the missing classmate.
'He kept one of them as insurance in case his first attack was a bust,' Webjack gritted his teeth.
"You Bastard!" All Might nearly exploded with his anger reaching critical max.
"Don't lose heart, Heroes. I have no intention of keeping the girl hostage. You can have her back. Provided you can catch her in time."
Three more portals opened up, each one on top of a zone. The Ruin, the Landslide and Downpour Zones, each one unpacking more burning buildings about to fall on them but unlike before, no student came out first, meaning that Mina must be inside one of them, even if she somehow survives the fall, she won't be able to endure being crushed under so much debris and while not all that close to the ground the portal was placed close enough that they'll be lucky to reach one before they crash land.
"Choose wisely," Kurogiri advised and chuckled maliciously, enjoying the defeated looks on all of them, convinced that even All Might lacks the speed to reach all three locations.
In truth, in his current power level, All Might could accomplish this, but exploring all of them and rescuing Mina was another matter. His speed was sublime once, but not anymore. He had to pick only one and pray to God Almighty that he picked the right one; otherwise, he'd live in further torment for the rest of his life.
Webjack also feels lost at this moment, not sure what to do. His sixth sense that has helped him overcome many trials like those of today, the Spider-Sense as he likes to call it, can't help with this. It may grant him the ability to see the world omnidirectionally to evade incoming danger and swing across a city without seeing where he shoots his web, but pinpointing someone's exact location is a task he's never tried before, so he's just as stumped as the Symbol of Peace.
"SHE'S RIGHT THERE!" Shoji advised with haste. His Quirk, Dupli-Arms, grants him a set of tentacles alongside his six arms. He can transform the tips of these tentacles to replicate other parts of his body (ex, mouth, ears, eyes). The duplicated body parts are more efficient than the originals; as a result, Mezo can hear better, see through more angles at a time, and they grant him much higher degrees of strength.
With the extra ears, he was able to hear Mina's cries for help and deduce that she was in the building about to crash into the Ruins Zone. Knowing how his Quirk works, All Might instantly believes him and, just like that, knows where to go for the save.
"Wait! I also hear someone else. These voices… Koda and Tokoyami!" Shoji gasped, hearing more cries of help from the building about to crash into the Landslide Zone.
Turns out Kurogiri captured two more students, Koji Koda and Fumikage Tokoyami, and locked them in as a morbid surprise, making doubly sure that even though the League of Villains failed in their mission to kill All Might, they would still get a win by crushing the Symbol of Peace's heart and UA University's reputation by killing at least one student under his care.
This revelation gave All Might pause, again left without words on what to do, but for a split second, he noticed Webjack's resolve, how his feet seemed to have subconsciously moved to help even though he was badly hurt. He could tell that his arms were in no condition to be moved, and yet his sheer willpower and adrenaline helped him to ignore the pain to go in for the safe.
And so, he knew now what needed to be done, and the Ultimate Hero reached for the notorious Vigilante, grabbed him by the back of his suit, and hurled him towards Mina with all his might.
"SAVE HER!" His roaring command was all it took to snap Webjack out of his initial shock at what had just happened, and determination consumed him, knowing what he needed to do.
Webjack twisted and turned mid-air, his body moving with the grace and precision that only a spider-themed hero possessed. The terrifying scene of the falling building approached rapidly, its windows shattered and flames licking the edges. His eyes scanned for an entry point, a fracture in the structure that would grant him access.
With a flick of his wrist, Webjack shot a webline toward a nearby ledge, swinging in a wide arc to gain momentum. The acrobatic display was a dance between silk and steel, his body contorting as he gracefully evaded debris and obstacles in his path.
Spotting an opening in the building's crumbling exterior, Webjack released his webline and flipped through the air. He somersaulted through the gap, entering the building with a precision that defied the chaos around him.
Once inside, Webjack forced his enhanced senses to work, focusing on Mina's cries for help. The echoes of her voice guided him through the disorienting structure, leading him toward the imminent danger that awaited.
As the building groaned and swayed, and they grew closer to the ground, Webjack utilized his superhuman agility to traverse the collapsing floors. He leaped over fallen beams, swung between dangling wires, and danced through the chaos with a grace that defied the laws of physics.
The cries of Mina became more distinct, her voice a lifeline in the cacophony of destruction. Webjack zeroed in on the source, leaping from wall to wall, narrowly avoiding collapsing ceilings and crumbling walls.
Reaching the correct floor, at last, he found her, the pink-skinned and haired teen, holding on to dear life on the railings of some stairs. Webjack sprinted his movements in a blur to the panicked student who wanted to faint at the moment but pushed herself to stay awake. With each step, he felt the strain on his battered body, but the adrenaline-fueled determination pushed him forward.
Finally reaching Mina, Webjack grabbed her as gently as he could, despite the circumstances that justified using hysterical strength. A common fear he harbored since gaining his incredible powers is unintentionally killing someone by not restraining himself enough. He can crush bones and bend steel so easily that people and buildings might as well be made of cardboard. He can't help but applaud himself for managing to be so soft around the girl.
His hands moved quickly, aided by the mysterious webbing that shot from his wrists, and he made one last swing that carried him and Mina out of the collapsing building just in the nick of time.
"He did it," Lockdown managed to utter those words, still not able to believe seeing the vigilante swing away to safety with one of his students as the falling building crashed into more ruinous buildings, causing more devastation in its wake.
At the same time, All Might was successful in rescuing the other two captured students. The Landslide Zone looked like an even bigger sorry state than it was meant to be.
The Erasure Hero was tired, perhaps more so than he had ever been since he became an official Pro-Hero. The cheers of the other students, happier than ever to see that they all survived this ordeal, became deaf to their ever-negative teacher.
He's had many close calls with death, saved innocence, watched innocence die, young and old alike, but something he can say he has no experience in is watching students under his care perish.
That's something he was not prepared for, a feeling that made him want to quit his teaching career so many times to avoid such a responsibility but kept pushing forward regardless, all for the sake of forging new generations of Heroes that with luck would be so much better than the ones of old, and maybe, just maybe they could be the ones to fix this world that he has come to despise.
Webjack swung through the Ruin Zone, careful to land Mina safely. The streets of this zone are clunky and messy, but anything is better than what they just escaped from.
"Are you okay?" He asked her when he was sure that she was able to stand on her feet without holding her. His voice again changes; the device he used to disguise his voice finally gave out, exposing the Vigilante's true voice, which is a far cry from the one Japan is more familiar with, now sounding meek and plain despite still having an edge of maturity. Not a voice that those solely focused on flashier Quirks would be impressed by.
"Wow… that was… just… wow," Mina muttered, trying to find the words while she composed herself.
"Yeah. Wow. Craziest thing I've done since… ever. But you know, crazy is the main point of being a Hero. If you don't deal with crazy, then—"
His words are shut when Mina spontaneously wraps him in a bear hug, crying loudly again, her tears soaking his left shoulder.
"That was so scary!" She sobbed uncontrollably. "I know I came to UA to become a hero, but that was just too much. I'm not a Pro yet. I can't deal with this."
I should've seen this coming. I was just as scared as her. I've never been forced to rescue someone from a building that was collapsing because of something unnatural. A bulldozer or an earthquake, I could maybe handle, but this was different. What if I had been the one to rescue more than one? What I did for her was sheer luck. I had no idea what I was doing. My body could've given out then and there, and that would be it.
But listen to me, feeling sorry for myself. Sweet Mina was the one in despair because her life hung by a thread. A crisis like this was always going to happen in this world, and that's why Heroes are needed. That's why I donned the mask. Mina lived to be a true heroine because of me. I did that for her, as she, in return, will do for others.
Despite that, I didn't know what to say to ease her nerves back then. I was not brave enough to encourage her when she was the one becoming a hero the right way, on the side of the Law, while I was against it. I had no right. All I could do was hold her tight as she cried until all the sadness was gone.
An explosion erupted from a torn shop near them, with three of the remaining villains in this area being blown away, their bodies covered head to toe with severe burns.
Or at least I tried to…
"FUCKING BORING! Why bother committing the crime if you losers don't have the strength to pull it off!" Snapped a boy with an attitude suited for villainy rather than heroism, and one Webjack knew all too well.
Katsuki Bakugo, the most violent and explosive hero hopeful to ever grace the halls of UA University. He even looks like a walking disaster because of his choice of style of a costume that screamed, "I'm going to hurt you," rather than "I'll protect you."
Not a single scratch on him. The Villains he faced must've been inferior to the rest, or he was the strongest in his class to have avoided taking any damage. Either way, the Vigilante was not surprised to see him undamaged, and what he is wearing is everything he envisioned he would look like when he started wearing a Costume.
"Don't answer, I already know why. You freaks were destined to be losers. Street rats with no potential. Target practice for heroes like myself, so in that regard, I can say you've served your purpose well."
"Kacchan," Webjack whispered, caught off by the sight of him and slightly shaking, enough that Mina stopped letting out her emotions when Bakugo's tantrums didn't deter her, and now is slightly concerned for her savior's sudden change.
"Huh," Bakugo sneered, turning around to look for more victims, only to find a peculiar sight that left him briefly lost for words. One of his classmates is hugging a masked vigilante, one who's been stirring up trouble in Japan. At least that's what the Commission has been whining about on the news.
He doesn't care much for what the pansies in the Commission think, since they're little more than freaks in suits in his eyes who think they can boss Heroes around just because they own the rights to the Licenses needed to become official Pros.
"What kind of freaky shit is going on around here?" He sounded demanding, but that's just how he talks.
"Oh. Ah…" Webjack only now realizes how bad this looks, and almost hastily, he lets go of Mina, hoping to dispel any bad rumors before they occur and focus more on Katsuki's well-being. "Good. I was worried that the other students were hurt, but judging by your appearance, there was nothing to worry about. To be expected of someone worthy of joining UA."
Being praised by a Vigilante already left a sour taste in Katsuki's mouth, but there was more to it than that. His voice was so familiar, irritably so that it caused his arms to shake with the urge to blow up someone's face off.
"What the hell! Deku?" He blurted out, surprised himself that he even said it.
The Spider-Sense did not need to activate at that time for Webjack's mind to go into overdrive.
Of course, he would figure it out. Who else besides his mother would recognize him with his voice alone?
Luckily for him, the "former" bully immediately brushed off his accusation. In denial of the truth to the point that he conjured his own, as usual, to prevent his sad perception of reality from crumbling.
'What am I thinking? All the time I spent with those piss poor excuses for classmates that I've been stuck with since coming to UA made me dumber,' He reprimanded himself for coming up with such a thing. Izuku Midoriya. A Spider-themed Vigilante? A powerful one at that. Never in a million years.
He hasn't seen his former friend turned victim since they graduated from Alder Middle School and went to different High Schools, but based on what he's heard from his mother, who is still friends with Izuku's, he hasn't changed a bit aside from being smart enough to be accepted into another prestigious university.
Besides, he's seen Webjack in action when his mother forced him to visit one of his cousins in Hosu City. The place was attacked by a group of villains called the Hellbeast Pack, and it took Webjack and the Dragoon Hero: Ryukyu, who has been chasing those Villains across four cities, working together to take them down.
The battle was epic. Made Katsuki wish he were a Pro already so that he could join the fight. The way Webjack moved. The strength he possessed as a reject of Hero Society.
'There's no way it's him. That worthless Deku is just a Quirkless freak. Nothing more, nothing less. Not worth remembering. And yet… even after three years of being freed from him, why can't I get him out of my head?'Bakugo's anger was quickly making him unhinged.
Before, he was euphoric to be able to fight real villains, so much so that the devastation happening elsewhere, the cries of his classmates became deafening to him. Not the slightest bit concerned as to why Mina looked like she just stared Death in the eye.
"Hey, are you okay? That's an unhealthy amount of veins popping out of you," Webjack said worriedly, secretly knowing what was coming.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Katsuki finally let his built-up rage erupt as his hands ignited with a lethal explosion, aimed at no one, but still had the desired effect of invoking dread on his new prey that he would take great pleasure in crushing.
'Not again,' Both Webjack and Mina thought at once. There's no way to describe Katsuki Bakugo other than unhinged.
"What the hell is a loser like you doing in a place meant only for true heroes? You Vigilantes are nothing but rejects who were deemed too worthless to be one of us. You have no potential. YOU'RE NOTHING! So what gives you the right to be here?"
"Jeez, you need to go back to the fireworks factory to get fixed up," Webjack lamented. The time he spent away from Katsuki was more of a blessing than he was willing to admit. "I was just hunting some bad guys, and the search brought me here."
Bakugo's explosive temper only flared further. "Enough with the games, freak! You think you can waltz in here and play hero?"
"So… being friends is out of the question?"
Mina, caught in the tension, attempted to mediate. "Bakugo, calm down. We just survived a crazy situation. Let's not fight."
But Bakugo was having none of it. "This masked clown doesn't know what he's doing. I can't stand by and watch this nonsense. If he won't talk, I'll make him."
Webjack, maintaining his composure, tried to reason with Bakugo. "Look, I'm not here to pick a fight. Just help some students, that's all."
Bakugo's confrontational nature took over. "I don't care. You're in my way, and someone needs to teach you a lesson. And if the current Pros are too weak and pathetic to put you in your place, then I'LL DO IT!"
Bakugo pointed his arms behind him and unleashed his explosive Quirk to propel himself forward, ready to strike down the Vigilante for good.
And there it is. The moment I've dreaded ever since I put the mask on. All the heartless Villains I've fought. All the stuck-up Pro-Heroes trying to arrest me because they didn't want me to outshine them any further. The close calls with death. Always hiding my wounds from my mom to keep her in the dark about my activities. I would endure them all a thousand times over so that I could avoid this. It finally happened.
One of the reasons why I wanted to be a Hero so badly growing up, and I didn't fully grasp this at the time, was because I wanted Kacchan to take me back as his friend again. I thought we'd be inseparable forever when we were young, but when it turned out that he was the only one with powers and I was powerless, everything crumbled away. From then on, all he could see was a freak standing in his way to greatness, and he never stopped trying to beat me down.
I kept telling myself that things would get better one day, but they never did, and one day I just gave up. Gave up on him, almost everything. I hate having to call him Kacchan as much as he does, but that's a habit I needed more time to grow out of. And it sure did come back to bite me later on.
Even still. I can't bring myself to hate him. I've never hated anyone, not even my own powerlessness. All I ever did was pray for things to be better; I never took action, not really. But then my prayers were answered, and now I am what I am. Pain never went away, but I can manage it now. Fear, on the other hand. Fear is a tougher opponent, but I don't always run away when it takes root. I just lose control and act on impulse.
And Bakugo is so predictable.
Webjack agilely dodged the attack aimed at him, his movements a dance of evasion. Then, with a well-timed webbing maneuver, Webjack disarmed Bakugo, tossing him to the harsh street, leaving the angry child momentarily stunned.
He moved so fast. Faster than anyone has before. Bakugo could do nothing but let himself be tossed aside as if he were nothing. Now he was the powerless one.
The Spider stood on top, looking at him with narrowed eyes that describe only one emotion: Pity.
He was looking down on him. Bakugo knew he was. The one thing he hates more than anything in the world is when people don't acknowledge his greatness and only see him as inferior. Such a crime would normally make his rage reach unholy levels of madness, but this time was different.
He couldn't move or say anything. The Spider's gaze paralyzed him as though he had injected him with venom, and the worst part was that he didn't do anything else; he just stared.
The silence was broken when the Vigilante sighed and crouched down to speak closely.
"If you want to be a hero. A true hero. I suggest getting your priorities straight, kid. Otherwise, the only thing you'll accomplish is being Ground Zero for failures. You want first-place experience, try to catch Endeavor's eye in the Sports Festival so he can teach you what I mean?"
With his peace said, he got on his feet and turned away.
"Take good care of yourselves," He said, referring mainly to Mina. "And I hope to see you all become great Heroes."
He swung away before anyone could say anything, and just at the nick of time, since All Might arrived to inspect the students and was so hyper focused on them that he never bothered to find the Spider.
The Vigilante escaped through one of the broken windows of the facility and started running until he leaped above the walls that separated UA from the rest of the world and kept going until he vanished from sight, quite literally.
Farther away from UA in Kamino Ward, within an abandoned bar, a swirling black portal emerged within a deserted bar as a pissed-off Tomura walked out of the portal. Kurogiri came back for Tomura after the bold stunt he pulled, escaping with the young master and Nomu.
His ''mask'' was back in his possession, but instead of putting it back, he slammed it on the counter.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! That damn bug! He had to ruin everything!" Tomura yelled as his grip disintegrated a barstool into dust.
"Young Master, please remain calm. We cannot afford you destroying our hideout," Kurogiri said as he reformed in an elegant-looking suit with his metal brace freely and safely exposed. "This was not what we had expected, but there's no reason for you to throw a tantrum."
"Shut it!" Tomura snapped his gaze to the living mist. "That insect cheated! All Might would've been minced meat if he hadn't pulled out that cheat code! You didn't try hard enough with that game you pulled. You should have—"
"That's enough, Tomura…" A dark and menacing voice suddenly spoke from the monitor as both of them turned their gaze to the screen. "Kurogiri and your Nomu did the best they could, given the circumstances. Like it or not, the Vigilante fought back within our parameters, though even I underestimated his psionic abilities."
"You make it sound as though you were spectating throughout the whole show, Master," Tomura said with a bit more respect in his tone.
"That's because I was watching everything. A last-minute addition born from a growing curiosity, so I had the Doctor recruit someone for me with a Quirk suited for recording videos, who was sitting on the sidelines, monitoring the events in the USJ for me to observe. I apologize for not telling you about her," The Master explained. "I warned you not to take this child lightly whenever you or any of us were to face him in combat."
"Master, did you have reason to believe that Webjack would be there to help UA?" Kurogiri asked.
"I had a hunch that I didn't have time to consider. He was here in Kamino three days ago. It was worrying, a coincidence, I was sure, but then I learned too late that of the recruits we gathered for the attack, two of them went missing not long after their appearance. They just disappeared and are likely lying low, no doubt out of fear of being found by us."
"Those rats!" Tomura seethed at the news that could only mean they've been betrayed.
"Or most likely they've been interrogated by the Spider, which would surprise me given his naive and good nature,"
"And yet he did not warn anyone about the attack, and he didn't seem all that prepared himself when he arrived," Kurogiri noted.
"Likely the two he captured held out for as long as they could before they finally gave in, and he swung over to UA with great haste. It doesn't matter now," The Master shrugged. "Today's event only proves my suspicions correct. It's not just All Might anymore, but Webjack is also another threat to our plans to cleanse the world. Being able to defeat the Nomu is too serious to ignore."
"And most intriguing," A second voice spoke from the same monitor as the Master. "Out of all the Spider Quirks I've studied, this Vigilante seems to have the rarest I've ever seen. Spiders are fascinating specimens with numerous traits that make them deadly vermin, and when those abilities are passed on to a man, you have a true apex predator. None more so than this boy."
"What even are those green energy webbings? Since when can spiders do something like that?" Tomura questioned.
"They can't. Though he claims it to be some kind of psychokinetic trick, I think it's more in line with electrokinesis. The way a Spider can wallcrawl is different from that of a lizard or a frog. They rely on using tiny hair-like structures called setae on their legs. These setae generate electrostatic forces, allowing spiders to adhere to surfaces. The electrostatic forces are the result of Bioelectricity. Combine that with human biology, and there's a strong possibility that a human spider can harness and weaponize the electricity inside them. This is just a theory, and maybe the Vigilante really is just a perfect blend of animal and psychic from his parents," The Doctor explained thoroughly. "We must also consider the possibility that he is capable of developing, or is already able to camouflage and generate poison. Two more rare but known abilities of a spider."
"How the hell is one Quirk able to have so many traits?" Tomura questioned, but received no answer since there was currently none.
"The real question is how he was able to slice and dice the Nomu so easily," The Master questioned.
"The best I can come up with is that Webjack can produce powerful vibrations with his unique energy. If used correctly, a blade that vibrates at a high frequency can weaken and destabilize a target's molecular bonds, forcefully slicing through anything. If I'm correct, we might see the Vigilante cause earthquakes and mimic Tomura's Decay to some capacity in the future," The Doctor continued.
"The fuck he can!" Tomura sneered, feeling insulted by the mere thought that Webjack might copy him.
"We know nothing about the Vigilante, so we can only assume the worst and prepare," Kurogiri insisted.
"You're right, for even I find him concerning. Still, the Nomu was recovered, so it can be further modified later. That said, if the Nomu can't help against Webjack, then we'll just have to rely on top-tier villains to handle him. Or better yet, let the Heroes destroy themselves trying to catch him."
"I would much rather kill him myself," Tomura sneered.
"As you are now, I forbid going near the Spider, Tomura. You'll only get yourself bested again, thus destroying our future," The Master reprimanded, making the young man seethe even further, but he did not have the nerve to talk back.
"Vigilantes are curious subjects. Many see them as a disease that threatens to tear apart Hero Society. But the truth is, Tomura Shigaraki, Vigilantes are the cure. They're the ones who usually understand that the Law is responsible for creating us villains and enabling fake heroes. Fakes who save lives for fame and glory, not to safeguard Life itself. True Heroes are supposed to be thankless fools, wasting their lives away for a world that will never reward them for their sacrifices, and yet they keep on doing so, igniting the Fires of Rebellion against those who would rather see the world drown in crime than give up what petty control they think they have over the world as it is. That's why the Commission is so hellbent on capturing the boy, to keep the world stagnant in the ice of despair, and why for every Pro that fails, the Fires grow hotter, and the people's faith slips away."
"I take it this means that you plan to leak the recording of the USJ Attack to the public, showing only Webjack's successes, while further downplaying the efforts of the Pros, and All Might," The Doctor assumed.
"You know me so well, Doctor," The Master chuckled. And while still angry over his humiliating defeat, Tomura couldn't help but share in his master's joy.
What comes next might be worthwhile after all.
"By the way, Kurogiri. You surprised me today. I did not foresee you capable of using your Quirk on such a large scale," The Doctor noted, amazed and proud. "Could it be that you have at last Awakened?"
"I have no answer to this sudden augmentation. It was a spur-of-the-moment situation. We were bested, the young master was in peril, and I ran the risk of being rendered powerless continuously. So I pushed myself higher than I ever thought possible," Kurogiri said, still shaken by what he did.
He feels no remorse for trying to kill young heroes, but the fact that he was oblivious to his true strength left him feeling haunted, like he doesn't know who he is anymore.
"Further prove that you are a masterpiece, Kurogiri. Don't look so glum. You're an invaluable comrade, and we'll need you more than ever for the battles to come,"The Master praised.
"Thank you, Master,"
"So now that we're all here, let us begin," The Dean of UA University, the Chimera Hero: Nezu, said to his staff and teachers.
UA's Pro-Hero staff had gathered in the meeting room to discuss the horrific event that transpired yesterday. The Conference Room is a spacious room with light blue paint, large pane glass windows, and some potted plants. In the center of the room is a large conference table, comprised of three desks, with several chairs.
Among the staff members are Lockdown and Thirteen, Hound Dog, Present Mic, Midnight, Vlad King, Cementoss, Ectoplasm, Snipe, and Power Loader.
"Jeez, that was a disaster of epic proportions if I ever heard of one," Present Mic said, still agitated that they couldn't make it to the climax after Tenya Iida ran back to the university in desperation, calling to anyone who could hear him for help.
By the time they arrived. All Might had rounded up all the remaining villains who were more pissed that they were left behind by their leader than being thrown in prison.
"That's an understatement. I still can't believe we managed to pull it off and that the Class 1-A students all survived," Thirteen said bitterly about not doing enough.
"Everything was dumb luck at best, but that would be downplaying the potentials of my students," Lockdown added, still miffed. "The worst part is that damn Tomura Shigaraki got away."
"You described him as a man-child who acted all high and mighty, but when things didn't go his way, he blew one tantrum after the other. Typical characteristics of a spoiled brat used to getting what he wants, but I get the feeling that he is a special case," Nezu surmised.
"The police have so far come out empty-handed with no one matching the description of Shigaraki and Kurogiri. Their Quirks are something else by the sounds of it, too," Vlad King said.
"We'd better catch them quick, otherwise I'm sure that they'll pull another stunt like this," Ectoplasm warned.
"That much is doubtless. Villains have become more erratic as of late. The more ground we Heroes cover, the more like corner animals they feel. It was easy for them to rally behind any cause, regardless of the leader's questionable mentality," Hound Dog said.
"If they intend to attack again, they're gonna come in with more brutality since it's a no-brainer that we're going to upgrade our security," Power Loader said.
"Something I'm sure they're expecting and will push through regardless," Midnight lamented, somehow unsure of how little they can manage to fortify their defenses against such callous foes.
"What about you, All Might? What's your take on all of this?" Nezu asked the one Hero in the room who had remained quiet still. Though he doesn't look like himself anymore.
Now a far cry from the tall, bulky, mightier than that man the world is used to seeing, All Might is now a very skinny man with sharp, angular features and long limbs, his neck extended and his eyebrows absent. His hair is wavy, with two long strands coming down from his hairline and framing his face.
If his true appearance wasn't enough to discourage those around him, the negative thoughts he's having at the moment would do it and more.
"I think before we can discuss our next course of action and what to do for the sake of the students, we need to address the real elephant in the room. That being me," All Might said, downcast. "This League of Villains attacked us because they wanted me, but instead they went after the children in our care, and I was almost too late to save them."
"Oh, c'mon, man. Don't be like that again, now of all times," Present Mic begged, so not in the mood for this.
'He's getting worse,' Nezu thought, noticing that for a while, All Might, or rather Toshinori Yagi, has been feeling more and more crestfallen, his smiles more forced when they are usually sincere, no matter how dire the situation. The reason for this behavior was known only to him, and Recovery Girl knew among UA.
"We all knew the risk of you semi-retiring to become a teacher in this institute. We weren't prepared as we should have been, but the fact remains that each of us knew this would occur. As such, we all share the blame for the near loss of such promising futures," Vlad King said sagely.
"Nothing will be achieved by pointing the blame on one of us. No one in this room is unfamiliar with the burden of having the lives of others on our shoulders. This is just another occupational hazard," Cementoss added, with the rest nodding in agreement. Well, except for one who only partially disagrees.
"I know that all too well, but still—" Toshinori tried to argue.
"—That said. When we all came into an agreement of letting you teach at this university, it was under the condition that you would put the well-being of every student first and foremost," Lockdown interrupted and practically has a vendetta to settle. "The whole point of semi-retirement is to take time away from your occupation and settle for new matters that were deemed more important, and yet you seem to think you're still the almighty ''symbol of peace'' who can do everything by himself, but as Recovery Girl has affirmed for us, the scar you have proves otherwise is never going away."
His words were like a cold lake frozen solid, causing Toshinori to have a sudden surge of phantom pain, subconsciously reaching for the left portion of his chest that is covered by a gruesome scar that he tries to hide away from everyone, especially the public, so they don't lose hope in their Symbol.
"Seriously, man," Present Mic reprimanded. Now, everyone was feeling uncomfortable.
"Harsh, but ultimately true. Like I was trying to tell you before. Musutafu has far too many heroes to protect it. They may not be as strong as you, and likely never will, but that doesn't mean they aren't reliable, like Death Arms, Kamui Woods, and Mount Lady, who have been steadily improving ever since they made it their top priority to capture Webjack. It's why we focus all our efforts on our students and not the city," Nezu said, conveying Aizawa's words more gently. "Hence why you should do the same."
"I understand," Toshinori said with a bit more life in his tone, but not enough to sound convincing that he gets the point.
'You'd feel a lot better if you had talked to Mirio Togata already and considered making him your successor. So why the hesitation?' Nezu bemused.
"Of course, how could we forget the other elephant. Everyone's favorite Wallcrawler," Midnight noted, trying to lighten up the mood with another topic they've been ignoring until now.
"Indeed! How could I forget?" Nezu cheered, quickly reaching for some folders that he'd kept for a while but at last took the time to open. Within it are files that the police have gathered about the most recent and famous vigilante, Webjack, that he shared with his staff members to examine.
It also came with some pictures of his activities, such as stopping crime, running away from the police and Pro-Heroes, and even helping citizens with their woes, no matter how minor, like pulling cats off of trees and returning them to their owners, and helping the elderly cross the streets.
"There never seems to be a pattern with this boy, and the police and I are certain that he's a boy, as old as our first-year students. He goes after every case whenever he can. Neither picky nor reluctant to do anything as long as it helps someone, except for criminals."
"I know a certain giantess who may or may not be pleased to learn about his true age," Midnight snickered.
"Well, for someone who should be one of our first years, he sure graduated quickly, and moves about wherever he pleases," Ectoplasm noted. "Three Pros in Hosu, whom I went to university with, have reported him catching six of the most elusive villains in that city by himself in a matter of days. And this was during his second month of activity, when his inexperience with crime-fighting was still unbearably noticeable, but now there seems to be no trace of a child anymore."
"Indeed. More impressively, in his first week of vigilantism, he busted the biggest case of Trigger distribution I had ever seen by just attacking one abandoned warehouse where the dealers were stashed. The police did their best to cover this up to avoid the backlash, but it got out quickly due to a hostage that was in that warehouse that Webjack rescued and screamed to the world what she endured," Nezu continued to report.
"He also caught the Villain that managed to rob six banks within the short span of seven nights, no doubt by following the patterns of the first heists before the police could and correctly deduced where he would strike next," Cementoss added.
"So not only is he powerful, but he also has exceptional deductive skills," Vlad King said while rubbing his chin, unable to hide how impressed he was, much less how badly he wished at least one of his students was that gifted.
"His speed is commendable as well. At first, everyone was sure that his top speed was only 200 miles per hour, but lately rumors have spread that he is actually faster than any vehicle in Japan. No one has actually seen him run that fast, but it would explain how he can move about from city to city after a full day. The way he moves in the sky is his bread and butter. He only needs two seconds to swing past a whole street, even less if he's in a hurry," Midnight replied. "You'd think it would be easy to spot someone swinging around town with a web, but unless you're like him or Kamui Woods, you'll lose sight of him in no time."
"He's also really strong. I mean, I know that Spiders have impressive proportional strength, able to lift fifty times their weight, but this is ridiculous," Present Mic said. "Death Arms can lift over thirty tons and cause tremors with his huge fists, and yet in every encounter between them, Webjack effortlessly caught his arms with his barehands, and even when he managed to land a hit, he quickly got back up as though he was actually being pushed by a spontaneous gust of wind."
"That's nothing. Nearing the end of last summer, Webjack saved a private jet from crashing down. The plane's landing gear wasn't responding, so he forced it open and supported the weight of the entire plane on his back," Nezu said, now more giddy. "Judging by the type of plane it was, it weighed over seventy-five thousand pounds, and since it was full of fuel, add another thirty to forty thousand. Combined with thrust, Webjack's current known strength thus far is estimated to be able to support over one hundred and fifteen thousand pounds. That's fifty-seven and a half tons. Judging by his height, he's not only able to hold more than seven to eight hundred times his weight, but it's the equivalent of supporting eight African Elephants at once. The largest natural land animal on Earth. It's no wonder he also managed to defeat the Villain, Muscular."
"I'm more interested in this. Almost every criminal arrest that was made due to the kid giving anonymous calls was made by using the phones of the thugs he hit. A logical and easy plan to avoid being tracked, however, recently Villains have managed to create their own private line to communicate with one another without cops or heroes tracking them down. It usually takes someone of my level to hack that, and at least twenty-four of the thugs he's caught use this line. Meaning he must also be a good hacker, and one suited for messing with support items," Power Loader said next, and it sounded more like a complaint.
"Thus far, this kid has proven to be capable of the impossible. An advanced growth rate that makes him more and more capable of hero work within less than a year, along with many insane levels of power," Toshinori said with just as much interest as Nezu. "Add to all of this, my good friend in the Police Force, Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi, who's been working the Webjack case since the third month because all the other detectives dropped out, hypothesizes that not only are his five senses as superhuman as his physical prowess but that he also has a sixth sense that alerts him to incoming danger, and it's not just danger to himself. He's rarely been harmed in any of his fights against Heroes and Villains."
"It certainly looked like he could predict the movements of his opponents based on what I saw," Aizawa almost groaned, recalling the fight between Webjack and Nomu. "That beast was incredible, but nearly all his blows were reflexively dodged, as though Webjack knew how and when he was going to strike, and it was only because his opponent had the physical advantage that he was eventually hit. I'm confident in saying that he also has a Healing Factor like most Arachnid Quirks tend to have."
"Even if he didn't, it's obvious that he can take a lot of beating, getting back up from blows that would kill almost anyone in this room. His true weapon is that green energy that he can make constructs with," Thirteen groaned. "Are we sure they are of a psionic nature?"
"Well, he calls them "Psi-Webs," so why doubt it?" Hound Dog replied. "Telekinesis is all about moving things with your mind, and something like that requires energy, which for most Espers goes largely unseen."
"But Webjack's psychic energy is visible, and he can make more than just web constructs with it. The webs are either just an aesthetic for his theme or instinctual if his Quirk does really make him like a spider," Cementoss added.
"Anyone else getting Singularity vibes from this kid?" Mic questioned, now with concern.
"No need to get superstitious. That said, while I believe that unsettling theory has merit, I am certain that Webjack represents something else," Nezu insisted.
"Given your friendship with the best detective in Japan and the Commission becoming steadily unhinged, how come you never tried to lend a hand with his capture?" Hound Dog asked Toshinori.
"I offered to help three times, but Naomasa insisted I don't waste my time. And just between all of us. I never had faith in the Commission. I'm more about following the spirit of the law rather than the paper."
On that, none of them could disagree. The Hero Public Safety Commission is a sore subject for all of them. They may be the de facto leaders of Hero Society in Japan, but since no one in that law enforcement agency is a hero themselves, many of the real heroes are wary of them. They follow along with them to keep the peace and assure the public that they have a united front against Villainy, but that's all it is. A show, and they have discovered many shady things about them that the Symbol of Peace himself feels ashamed to comply with their wishes.
"We all know and have seen the damage vigilantes can cause, and since they answer to no one, there is little accountability, which invites more chaos. That said, even Pro-Heroes can also cause more harm than good, and from everything I've gathered, Webjack is more concerned with preventing casualties and collateral damage than capturing criminals," Toshinori noted.
"Right you are. There is way too much evidence that shows our dear Web-Slinger having a soft heart with little avarice in his veins, fully accepting how thankless being a vigilante is," Nezu smiled. "What's more, eyewitnesses claimed to see him sitting on the sidelines when a Hero was the first to answer the call to action against a Villain, only jumping in when it's clear the Heroes need backup; otherwise, he just observes and studies. More than once has he been seen with a notebook, writing down how Heroes and Villains fight, analyzing the strength of their Quirks, and no doubt theorizing their weaknesses that he can exploit."
"So it's like he's having an internship with more than one Hero Agency. Experience trumps training every time, but that has its downsides, and he knows it. So he compensates by watching Pros in action and tries to absorb their fighting styles into his own," Aizawa concluded, growing more agitated by the minute. "And we can't identify him through his voice because he has a modulator placed within his mask to disguise even that. It was damaged during the fight, but I bet he has a spare."
"This is just ridiculous. Why the hell is a kid with this much potential wasting his life like this when he should be attending my class!" Vlad protested with indignation. His shout made Aizawa give him a dirty look, not because he was raising his voice but because he insinuated that attending his lessons was the right choice for Webjack.
"It's vexing, but I doubt there's anything we can do about it. I mean, even if we unanimously agree to try and convince him to quit while he's still breathing, what then? The Commission is never going to let him have an easier time once they see the boy behind the mask," Snipe countered.
"That's the real predicament we have here. Vigilante or not, the boy is more of an asset to us than a problem. He's not responsible for a single civilian life being endangered, and when the day comes that he must bear that responsibility, it would be in his best interest to become one of us immediately," Nezu folded his arms in contemplation.
"And it's not just the Commission, some of the Pros won't be any happier if that does happen. He's earned the ire of the likes of Endeavor and Mirko, who want his head as a trophy," Power Loader reminded. "And as mentioned before, Death Arms, Kamui Woods, and Mount Lady just won't let up with him."
"Not all of us. Hawks, Edgeshot, Ryukyu, Wash, Crust, Fat Gum, and Ingenium seem to respect him quite a bit," Present Mic replied. "We all know that a Vigilante can be pardoned for their ''crimes'' and be accepted as a Pro. The Commission would just rather dump them in Tartarus and call it a day."
"Public opinion on the boy started pretty bad, as expected, but like with his skillset, it has gradually turned more favorable. Lots of people online, including members of the Police, are calling for him to receive a pardon and be registered as a licensed Pro," Ectoplasm revealed based on information he gathered before this meeting.
"That's the main issue. If I get the chance to capture this boy, it won't be to stop him from causing harm but to keep the Commission from getting their hands on him," Toshinori said, now more optimistic. "Not like we can do anything while we still don't know who he truly is. He's also good at covering his tracks since the blood samples that were collected can't reveal his identity, since he's not recorded in the Quirk Registration. Nothing to do yet but wait for the golden opportunity to come when the time is right."
(Yesterday, Three Hours after the USJ battle)
Far from UA, Webjack reaches his destination, a block with five-story-tall danchis. He made it to the third floor unseen and, after struggling to lift his arms again as he was unable to swing and had to run all the way here, used his keys to open the door to his apartment after making sure there was no one looking and entered.
The apartment has a table and chairs in the dining area and a cabinet where plates, cups, and bowls are stored. No one seems to be currently inside, as he expected.
Finally feeling safe, he turned off his invisibility, possessing the ability like the evil Doctor speculated, and peeled off the ruined mask, followed by the small, detachable red module covering his lower face—the voice modulator he called the Spider-Cord. Its edges were scorched from Nomu's grip, one side sparking slightly. It wouldn't survive another mission.
His true face has a round frame by a short mop of fluffy dark-green hair which curls up at odd angles around his head, casting noticeably dark shadows onto itself. His eyes are large and somewhat circular, and his irises are the same shade of green as his hair, which at times is very watery and is usually stretched quite wide, giving him an innocent, energized appearance. He has a set of four symmetrical freckles in diamond formations, one on each cheek.
He sighed, turning it over in his hand.
"You held up better than expected," He muttered, tossing it gently onto his desk. "Good thing the Sanctuary has spares."
The battered young man staring back in the hallway mirror looked nothing like the vibrant force who had fought a monster toe-to-toe. No cape. No flair. No spotlight.
Just Izuku Midoriya.
Bruised. Plain. Forgettable.
His face, as always, was a gift and a curse. The kind that passed through crowds unnoticed. Even after his body had grown strong—defined with the strength he'd earned through blood and fire—his face still told people to look away.
To forget him.
It used to hurt. That sense of invisibility. That cold distance between him and the rest of the world. But now? It was a blessing. A perfect disguise. No one suspected a thing. And no one ever would.
He walked to his bedroom—a room that might've belonged to a stranger. Clean, but stripped of identity. No posters, no clutter, no sign of hobbies or passion. Just sterile decor, utilitarian shelves, and a silence that bit deeper than solitude.
It wasn't always like this. But he'd swallowed that regret a long time ago.
With aching fingers, he began peeling off the suit, each movement making him wince as pain finally caught up to him—the toll of surviving long enough to escape adrenaline's grip. His body ached with every twitch, his skin screamed beneath the bruises, but he kept going until he was down to his boxers.
He folded the torn costume carefully and tucked it into a briefcase hidden beneath his bed.
It wasn't a perfect hiding place. But tonight, he lacked the strength to care.
He turned again to the mirror and froze.
His breath hitched.
The damage was worse than expected. Livid bruises crawled across his ribs and shoulders. Dried blood clung to the corner of his mouth. His knuckles were torn raw. His body looked like it had been put through a war. And yet—
He was still standing.
'I shouldn't even be moving,' He thought.
But Izuku Midoriya wasn't like other people. He closed his eyes and placed a hand over his chest.
The glow returned—faint, then rising—as shimmering green psi-web lines laced across his bare skin like a second circulatory system. His entire body began to vibrate subtly, his molecular structure humming with energy.
The air grew hazy. His form blurred.
And beneath the rapid molecular friction, his wounds began to vanish.
Torn muscle mended. Bone realigned. Skin reknit itself as if rewinding time. It wasn't painless—the process left a burn in his veins, like lightning trying to cauterize the damage—but it was effective.
Within minutes, he was whole again.
Unbroken. Restored. Strong.
But tired. So very tired.
He collapsed back onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. His breath was ragged, and his limbs trembled with leftover fatigue. The healing was complete, but the exhaustion lingered like a shadow over his soul.
"I swear," He muttered, voice rough, "I'd kill to not have Mach-speed metabolism right now…"
A growl from his stomach cut the silence.
"Case in point." He groaned.
Dragging himself upright, he shuffled toward the small counter near his room where his phone lay—the one he'd left behind in his rush to reach USJ. He feared the worst. If anything had happened to his mother, if she had called and—
One notification. One message.
Inko Midoriya: Sorry, sweety, gonna be running late to the hospital. There was an accident with a bus and everyone inside got hurt badly, so I'll be working overtime. Left dinner in the refrigerator. Love you.
Izuku stared at the message for a long time. Then sank into the chair. A breathless chuckle escaped him—part laugh, part relief, part something unspoken.
"If God exists, this proves it… and that he actually likes me."
His shoulders slumped as he exhaled again. Another day survived. Another secret kept.
The battle may be over, but guilt lingered in his chest. Every lie he told, every truth he hid — it was a choice. He'd made it. And he would carry it.
But for now… he could be her son again. Just for one more night.
He rose and walked to the fridge. It was time for a hot meal. And a very, very long sleep.
Okay, let's take this right from the top. My name is Izuku Midoriya, and for the past ten and a half months, I have been Japan's one and only Spider Hero: Webjack. But I wasn't born with this great power.
Here's the sad truth: All men are not created equally. When I was four years old, I learned that some kids have more power than others.
The first incident was in Qingqing City, China, over a century ago. An extraordinary child was born who radiated light from his whole body. After that, reports of people with superpowers popped up across the globe. To this day, no one knows what caused this spontaneous evolution, and eventually, the supernatural became the totally normal. Dreams became reality. All of mankind became a superhuman society. And as a consequence, the never-ending struggle between Heroes and Villains became the most common occurrence.
Growing up, this was so natural to me; I loved every second of it and wanted this to be my life forever. Still do, but when I was old enough, I learned the ugly truth about humanity.
When the Age of Quirks began, there were no celebrations or prayers offered to God as thanks. Only confusion, heartache, fear, despair, hatred, and alienation. The abrupt change created only worldwide chaos. People across the planet had to find peaceful ways to adapt to this reality.
Those with Quirks were labeled monsters that needed to be destroyed for humanity to survive. The deaths of thousands, maybe more, were the only results of this ignorance. The real tragedy is that now the number of Metahumans dominates 80% of the population, while the normal humans have drastically decreased, and in time, they became the freaks of nature. The Quirkless. Like me.
Yeah. I was born Quirkless, unlike my dad, who could breathe fire, and my mom, who could levitate objects to her side. I was born defective, and thus, everyone around me except my parents saw me as a mistake that should've never been born. Especially who I thought was my best friend.
"You'll never be a hero!"
That was the roar of Katsuki Bakugo as he used his quirk on Izuku's stomach. The teen cried out at this, followed by a fist slamming into his face. He yelped as he hit the floor, tears pouring out of his eyes as two other boys started kicking the downed student.
"Yeah! You heard Bakugo, you useless Deku!"
"Loser! Loser!"
Katsuki leaned down in front of Izuku's face, growling at the teen, "You hear that, you quirkless freak? I told you not to apply to UA! You're looking down on me, aren't you?!"
"I never looked down on you, Kacchan, I—"
"Shut up! You're just a worthless pebble!" Katsuki then kicked Izuku in the stomach, making the teen squirm, only to reach down and grab a certain notebook that Izuku was clinging to.
"Hey! Give that—" Izuku cried as Katsuki kicked him in the face.
"Shut up, loser." He spat before opening it up, "What's this? Blueprints for… heroics?!" He quickly closed the book and glared at Izuku, "Seriously?! I just told you that you can't be a hero, you useless Deku!"
"Kacchan… I…" Izuku wheezed out, trying to say more, but was denied the chance to plead his case.
"You quirkless loser! No one is going to UA in this dump except me!" Katsuki growled before lighting his quirk up, the book instantly exploding.
"NO!" Izuku screamed, only for Katsuki to kick him in the face again.
"I said, shut up!" Katsuki roared before opening a nearby window and throwing the notebook's charred remains out of it. He then leaned down and grabbed Izuku's collar, a huge grin on his face, "Listen here, loser, if you really wanna be a hero…" His grin grew wider as he said these next words, "Go take a swan dive off the roof and pray for a quirk in the next life."
"You… Kacchan…" Izuku squirmed out, only for Katsuki to punch him in the face.
"Don't you dare call me that, Deku!" Katsuki spat as Izuku lay on the floor, squirming as tears poured out of his eyes, "See?! You're just a worthless wimp. You'll never be a hero, so give up already and stay out of my origin story!"
With that, Katsuki spun around and left, the two boys that were always with him taking a second to kick Izuku again before running after the teen. And as Izuku lay on the floor, he let out a wheeze of pain before a pair of shoes appeared in his line of sight. Looking up, he saw it was his homeroom teacher, a snarl on his face.
"Midoriya… how many times do I have to tell you to stop lying on the hallway floor?! Get to class already!"
"Yes… sir…" Izuku coughed out, slowly getting up as the teacher walked away. He let out a sniff at this, another batch of tears going down his face, "Why… why me?"
I refused to let my disability or anyone control my destiny. I tried to fight back, or at least I thought I was fighting my fate. But I was just escaping from reality, not changing it. I couldn't change anything.
"I'm so sorry, Izuku. I just don't know what to do."
My mother's words were so hollow to me when I first heard them. All because I was born with one defect that made me different, the way my life ran was already decided, and so I was to waste away and suffer alone and forgotten in Darkness!
Little did I realize that my fate was not going to be such a thing.
In the silence of the night, Izuku Midoriya lay peacefully in his room, wrapped in the serenity of his dreams about becoming a Hero and fighting the forces of evil alongside his idol, All Might. His room, dimly lit by the soft glow of the moon through his window, held an air of tranquility.
Suddenly, a disturbance echoed through the stillness as a rift tore through the fabric of reality on Izuku's ceiling. It pulsed with an otherworldly, multicolored radiance, distorting the air around it. An ethereal hum filled the room as the portal's edges shimmered with a mesmerizing display of hues, ranging from deep blues to vibrant reds.
The room rippled with energy, causing everything within it to levitate in mid-air. Izuku and his collection of posters, toys, and books dedicated to All Might are suspended, defying gravity.
From this dazzling portal emerged an enigmatic visitor—a small, crimson spider with black tendrils around it. Its body seemed to defy the laws of this dimension, exhibiting an otherworldly grace. As the portal completed its purpose, it vanished into the night, leaving a lingering sense of unreality.
The room, released from the portal's mysterious grasp, succumbed to the pull of gravity. Every object suspended in mid-air descended with a clatter, startling Izuku from his slumber. Bewildered, he surveyed the chaos, contemplating the possibility of an earthquake that had seemingly come and gone.
"Is it over?" He murmured to himself, the room's residual vibrations hinting at a disturbance that had come and gone. Unaware of the tiny intruder that had slipped through the portal, the tiny red spider raised its head at the boy, glaring its glowing white eyes upon its prey.
"Mom is not going to be happy when she sees this. And I'm too tired to clean it now," Izuku sighed, lamenting the state of his now-messy room, so much so that he remained oblivious still as the spider started to move into the bed and onto him.
Swift and unnoticed, it crawled into Izuku's left hand and, with silent precision, delivered a bite that would forever alter his destiny, sinking its fangs into the boy's flesh, releasing a venom that flowed undeterred into his bloodstream. Both the bite and invasion, invisible and painless, carried with them a power that would soon awaken within him.
If only I had realized sooner what had happened to me. If only that Spider Creature had come into my life sooner. I thought the whole thing was one bizarre and creepy dream. But it was real, and with it, I gained real power. Why did it happen, and why me? I didn't care. That was a mistake, but I got what I always wanted, so I didn't think it through. The only thing I could think of was how badly I wished this had happened so much sooner because the next day, I met my idol, the #1 Hero, All Might. The man who made me believe in heroes and that accomplishing my dreams was possible.
He had saved me from a Villain made of sludge who tried to use me to escape from him. My powers helped me survive, but at the time, I thought I was running on pure adrenaline and hysterical strength; I could not have known during such turmoil. Or so I kept telling myself.
When I encountered All Might, I jumped at the chance to ask him if it was possible for someone as Quirkless as me to be a hero. The answer was one I didn't want to hear.
"This job isn't easy. Pro-Heroes are always having to risk their lives. Some villains can't be beaten without powers, so no, I honestly don't think you can be a hero without a Quirk."
I don't know what I expected. Especially with what I know now of him and his severe wound. How could I have expected him to be different from everyone else?
Still, I don't hate All Might for basically rejecting me. He said what he said to save me from a possible demise, and knowing now that he continues to do his Hero work despite the risk that any day now his powers would give out on him and he could die in the line of duty made me admire him even more. All the same, like with Katsuki, I had to let him go and be my own man.
I couldn't tell my mother what had become of me. She would never understand and would try to stop me.
That said, deep down I still hesitated, not just because of fear but because I still felt Quirkless, like I hadn't really become like everyone else. I became something new. I knew it from the start, I just didn't know how to describe it until now. And so a freak I remained. One who had no real reason to become a Hero. Until the Spider.
The world hurt me, so I won't let it hurt anyone else. That's why I want to be a Hero. But I can't protect anyone with a smile because I bear a face no one wants to see, so I will help with a mask, and in time, my true face can stay where it belongs. In our memories. This is my Curse. My Jackpot. Who am I? I'm Webjack.