[Time: 05:00 PM][Location: Outside Shie Hassaikai Compound – Medical Tent]
The sunset was blood red, casting long, jagged shadows across the ruins of the Yakuza estate.
Reiji sat on the back bumper of an ambulance, a paramedic wrapping a bandage around his cracked ribs. He hissed as the tape tightened.
[HP: 350/1200.][Status: Exhausted. Multiple Fractures (Healing).]
"You're lucky, kid," the paramedic muttered. "That impact should have turned your organs into soup. Whatever quirk you have, it's durable."
Reiji didn't answer. He was watching the stretcher being loaded into the ambulance next to him.
Mirio Togata lay on the gurney. His leg was encased in a heavy cast, elevated and immobilized. His face was pale, but he was awake.
"Don't make that face, Kurobane!" Mirio called out weakly, forcing a thumbs up. "We won! Eri is safe! Sir... Sir is going to make it!"
Reiji looked at the smiling hero. Even with a shattered femur that might end his career, Mirio was smiling.
"You're an idiot," Reiji said, though there was no bite in his voice. "But you're a tough idiot."
"I'll take that as a compliment!"
The ambulance doors closed, and the siren wailed, fading into the distance.
Reiji pulled out his phone. He needed to check the transport route. Overhaul was being moved to Tartarus via the coastal highway.
"Officer," Reiji grabbed a passing policeman. "Who is escorting the transport?"
"The Sand Hero: Snatch, and three armored units," the officer replied. "Top security. Don't worry, that monster isn't going anywhere."
Reiji frowned. 'Snatch. He's strong. But against blue flames... sand turns to glass.'
[System Alert: Anomaly Detected.][Location: Kanto Highway – Route 4.]
Reiji's phone buzzed. A breaking news notification popped up on the screen.
"URGENT: EXPLOSION REPORTED ON ROUTE 4. POLICE CONVOY UNDER ATTACK."
Reiji stood up, ripping the IV drip from his arm.
"Wait! You can't move!" the paramedic shouted.
"Turn on the radio!" Reiji barked at the police officer.
The officer, startled by Reiji's killing intent, fumbled with his walkie-talkie.
"...Mayday! Mayday! We are under attack! Blue flames! It's the League! Repeat, it's the League of Villains!"
Static followed. Then, a chilling silence.
Reiji crushed his phone in his hand.
"They didn't leave," he whispered. "They were waiting."
[Location: Kanto Highway – Route 4]
The road was an inferno.
Police cars were overturned, melting into slag under the intensity of the blue fire. The Sand Hero, Snatch, lay half-buried in glass, motionless.
In the center of the chaos, the armored transport van lay on its side.
Shigaraki Tomura sat on top of the van, scratching his neck. His red eyes peered through the fingers of the disembodied hand on his face.
"So annoying," Shigaraki rasped. "Heroes are so loud."
Dabi stood nearby, his hands smoking. "We got the goods. The bullets are in the case."
Mr. Compress bowed theatrically, holding a small marble. "And the Sand Hero has been compressed. A tragic end."
Shigaraki looked down at the hole they had cut in the van.
Inside, strapped to a gurney, lay Overhaul. He was conscious. He stared up at Shigaraki with hatred burning in his eyes.
"You..." Overhaul spat. "You planned this. You let us do the work... and you came to steal the result."
"Steal?" Shigaraki laughed. It was a dry, scratching sound. "No. I'm just playing the game better than you."
Shigaraki jumped down into the van. He loomed over the immobilized Yakuza boss.
"You talked about destroying quirks," Shigaraki whispered, reaching out. "You talked about 'curing' us. You looked down on me."
Overhaul's eyes widened. "Don't... touch me!"
"I hate you," Shigaraki said simply.
He placed four fingers on Overhaul's right arm. Then the fifth.
CRUMBLE.
"GAAAAAAH!"
Overhaul screamed as his arm disintegrated into dust.
"And just to make sure you never use that quirk again..."
Shigaraki grabbed the left arm.
CRUMBLE.
"AAAAHHHHHHHH!"
Overhaul writhed in agony, armless, helpless.
"Now," Shigaraki smiled, stepping back. "You have no quirk. You have no bullets. You have nothing."
He looked at the burning wreckage around them.
"The Yakuza is finished. The League of Villains... is just getting started."
[Location: Medical Tent]
Reiji stared at the smoking horizon. He didn't need to see the scene to know what happened.
The System pinged.
[World Event Updated: The Rise of Shigaraki.][Villain Faction 'League of Villains' has acquired: Quirk-Erasing Bullets.][Threat Level: CATASTROPHIC.]
Reiji sank back down onto the bumper.
They had saved Eri. They had saved Mirio from losing his quirk. They had destroyed the Hassaikai base.
But they had handed the gun to the maniac.
"Reiji?" Uraraka walked over, looking concerned. "What's wrong? You look like you saw a ghost."
Reiji looked at his hands. They were clean of blood, but they felt filthy.
"We didn't win, Uraraka," Reiji said, his voice hollow.
He looked up at the darkening sky, where the first stars were beginning to appear.
"We just survived the prologue."
Reiji closed his eyes. The exhaustion finally took over.
'Enjoy your victory, Shigaraki,' Reiji thought as consciousness faded. 'Because next time... I'm not bringing the police. I'm bringing hell.'
End of Chapter 122.
_________________________________________________________________________
🔥 Hey legends! Quick updates! 🔥
💥 Can't wait for the next chapter? Good news—ALL advance chapters are available on Patreon for just $5! No more waiting, just pure binge-reading goodness! 🚀
👉 patreon.com/cyci07
✨ Power Stone Challenge! ✨
If we hit 100 power stones, I'll drop 2 bonus chapters! Let's see if you guys can make me suffer! 😂
💬 Enjoying the story? Leave a review and let me know your favorite moment so far! It helps the novel grow and reach more readers!
Thanks for all your support—you guys are awesome! ❤️