Apotheosis was on cloud nine.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAnmoTtVwbL9
Despite some annoyances and expected glares from classmates, he is making great progress on his big project. There are some issues, but at least one part of it is almost done.
31Please respect copyright.PENANATygP3Cn1nh
But those issues can be solved with more data and blood samples. Thanks to his…
31Please respect copyright.PENANAXJImSGgWe5
Apotheosis: ‘Could I really call them friends? More like co-workers whose company I enjoy. Yeah, that sounds more villain-appropriate.’
31Please respect copyright.PENANA1JkPXuHRo7
Thanks to his coworkers, he got many great quirk templates to work with. It took some convincing and help from Sensei, but they gave him some blood samples for his secret project.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAC6BrnfkLbz
But he needs more, and the sports festival revealed some great candidates.
31Please respect copyright.PENANApvPQCiCWrr
Apotheosis: ‘Ochako Uraraka, Aoi Nogami, and Momo Yaoyorozu will work quite nicely.’
31Please respect copyright.PENANAAbj4NQFgow
Adjusting the bag slung over his shoulder, Theo made his way towards the mechanics building. This was the only school course he enjoyed. An elective where he got to put his talents for inventing things to use.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAq9d5r3J6UP
The teacher was also a man who had a lot of connections in the support companies that design and build gadgets for heroes and sometimes police.
31Please respect copyright.PENANApII6kLIbg2
The boy tried his best to be as friendly as possible to him while making sure he was the best student in the class. He had heard there would be summer internships at certain support companies coming up for only the top students.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAltpqKNI65P
What better way to get inside the hero system than to infiltrate its gadget suppliers?
31Please respect copyright.PENANAbAoKDkxe0b
Kinzoku: “Ah! Kageyama!”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAhQULAJzcSC
Oh yes, the fake name Apotheosis came up with. Soma Kageyama. He almost regrets it, especially that last name, one that seemed significant in his father’s research. He wanted to reclaim some of that… trauma… by taking the name.
31Please respect copyright.PENANA2fgrXwG4FT
But Theo sounds so much better. If he only met Azrael before coming up with it.
31Please respect copyright.PENANABNZBzSjXQh
Soma: “Kinzoku.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAXZpMgX3eeM
He smiled brightly at the tall, blue-haired man. The teacher had a very interesting quirk; he could bond different metals together, combining their various traits. Unfortunately, he was limited to only two metals at most and couldn't bond more than that.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAyMs50KXMlD
Kinzoku: "What are you working on today?"
31Please respect copyright.PENANAzIET8Oo2J9
Soma: “Well, I just finished my portable force field generator."
31Please respect copyright.PENANAWtCfIQ637A
Actually, he made this months ago; it was one of his first gadgets that he created for his work as a villain, but Mr. Kinzoku didn't need to know that. Theo showed him the small metal disk-shaped device with a button in the center.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAIhoeBbszUk
Soma: "Try to hit me."
31Please respect copyright.PENANAdsiAWy0AGf
The teacher did as he was asked and attempted to lightly smack his student. Theo simply pushed the button and activated the barrier, causing the hand to bounce off a light blue barrier.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAmhb3xfMeaQ
Kinzoku: "That's very impressive, Kageyama."
31Please respect copyright.PENANAh6A9zrsrh5
Soma: "Yeah, but it can only take so much punishment before it fries the power source."
31Please respect copyright.PENANAhxEgLCrkWX
Kinzoku: "No, I mean it. For a first-year student to come up with such ingenious designs and inventions is quite an accomplishment. Especially at your age and being quirkle… I’m sorry."
31Please respect copyright.PENANA48Zch8bAfy
The teacher didn’t see Theo’s eyebrows twitch at being reminded of that. It’s absolutely hilarious that villains didn’t seem to mind him the way he was. Even his very much dead father couldn’t look past this… deformity.
31Please respect copyright.PENANArT3xcWqmTD
Still, Theo kept up his facade.
31Please respect copyright.PENANANNs4OEw1vU
Soma: "It's alright, sir, you can say that I'm quirkless. It's not exactly a racial slur.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA2CuIebW0dQ
Theo: ‘It should be, though, especially with how the word is used in this day and age.’
31Please respect copyright.PENANA2jWzBVr00O
Soma: "I've long since accepted that I was born with nothing that makes me special or unique. I'll have to work hard to be recognized by society as more than just another waste of space. That's why I want to work for a support company so I can be a hero by making things that help heroes."
31Please respect copyright.PENANAkEemCyLkYm
The boy lied as easily as he breathed. His… mother always said he had an honest smile; why not use it?
31Please respect copyright.PENANAfs1IhLPYAI
Kinzoku: “That's a very mature thing of you to say. I’m glad you came to the correct conclusion."
31Please respect copyright.PENANAdYO7tH1UnL
It took all he could to not grimace at that last statement.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAH4XIfpxHB5
The rest of the workshop class was mostly uneventful, with only a minor incident being where Mr. Kinzoku accidentally cut his hand on a sharp piece of metal.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAueNCP0rWcI
An accident that no one in the room realized Theo purposely caused. Being the ‘good student’ he was, Theo quickly grabbed the bandages and gauze to help the teacher.
31Please respect copyright.PENANASMA03rFv98
Once he was bandaged up, the boy discreetly placed the blood-covered gauze in a sterile zip-locked bag, which he quickly pocketed.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAoD0LkyL6Df
The potential of Mr. Kinzoku's quirk was too good to pass up.
After class, Theo spent a few hours in the gym before going to the meetup place. All the while making sure he wasn’t followed.
31Please respect copyright.PENANATIvMEVrYvx
When he got to the abandoned alleyway, he texted Kurogiri. After that, a portal appeared for him to walk through. Grabbing his bag again, he made sure he had the D.N.A sample he procured earlier, ready to be brought to the lab later.
31Please respect copyright.PENANADWDkKll7Zj
Secured, Theo stepped through the portal and saw the door to the hideout. In the back of his mind, he noticed how this feels more like a home than his safe house apartments. It’s the only place he can be himself without worry.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAHo0lQGwVZQ
Theo: ‘A den of villains feeling like a home? Truly, this society really is twisted.’
31Please respect copyright.PENANAvPToseo9Io
Setting those thoughts aside, he opened the door and greeted his team.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAUhI94IqO1k
Theo: “Sup. What’s on the agenda today? Another bank run or shady back alley deal for supplies.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA2SXkm4GAFu
Azrael: “Recruitment.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAxJzOH5znEu
The oldest said while seemingly nodding off against the far wall.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAmuCWlxXztl
Theo: “Seriously? The four of us are overkill as is. We don’t need anyone else.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAgc4WICeJmA
Tomura: “Sensei disagrees. Especially with that Tornado looking around for us. We need new people.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA0tpEqi3Io6
The middle villain child said while sitting on the couch, trying to relax.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAgsoNJYcOWQ
Theo: “Ah, I get it. Disposable bodies to throw at my bitch of a sister. Throw her off our trail. But aren’t the quirk beasts doing that already?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAqhWp9w3sAS
Kurogiri: “Valkyrie.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAQakR7XdHqb
The shadow bartender said while already making a drink for Apotheosis.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAOQZaequ2At
Theo: “Oh yeah, that massacre during the sports festival. She really went off the rails, huh?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAjymCKPEMOl
Azrael: “Seemed mad.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAd64YnRvPWB
Theo: “Something to take advantage of. Maybe even convince her to join us, since we’re recruiting now.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAylKQIMJDsd
Kurogiri: “Doubtful. She seems in love with the idea of being a hero. Even if she’s not registered.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA7RwxuOZmQA
Theo: “Shame. Oh, by the way, here.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAzjaKxB0FY5
The boy tosses a small device to Azrael, who catches it despite being sleepy.
31Please respect copyright.PENANANDwWkA797h
Azrael: “What is it?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAKWYnP4N5Jb
Theo: “I shrunk it.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAhDQzzOwfhI
Everyone’s eyes widen at the device. It couldn’t be.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAgi5BpegWO0
Azrael: “The psychic disruptor?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAYEnm7IQpva
Theo: “Yep!”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAAe3Bz7UptZ
Tomura: “You’re saying you shrunk that giant hunk of metal and turned it into a pen?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA9247ngo2Qy
Kurogiri: “Impressive.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAXuHSIj0qQG
Theo: “Hehehe, yes, praise me more.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANABoJUoDRIQn
Azrael: “Well, I guess it’s time to go kill a kid.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAI6Gm0mvjSB
Theo: “Hold it!”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA4YhMQqMBod
Tomura: “What now? You did your part, strategist, let Azrael work.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAh2Xw6ONp0a
Theo: “I will, but I first have to mention that its durability suffered. I couldn’t increase the durability of the normal model by much, so I changed tactics. You can hide this one, but a simple blow will destroy it. Be careful.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAouMV4RVSWU
Azrael: “I will.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAbnefInPOvI
Theo: “Not like that you won’t; get some sleep.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAynxNyKa7u7
Azrael: “But-”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAgxPa6xftfg
Tomura: “If being tired is slowing you down, then just take a nap or something. Kurogiri can deal with warping and managing the quirk beasts.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAdXo9U5pXjw
Kurogiri: “Indeed. Don’t overuse the gift All For One gave you.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANABFhXrRlWuC
Azrael: “… I understand. I’ll-”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA2LmLbGon5v
Tomura: “But only after the meeting with our new recruit.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAbrK9IP0WK9
Azrael: “Damn it.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5KncXrRNd
Theo: “Speaking of, who is this new teammate?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAasm40JPvpF
Tomura: “The hero killer. Whether or not he agrees to join us, I want your analysis of him. Like Sensei said, I’ll handle the negotiations, so keep your mouths shut.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAZSpgh7OOoZ
Theo: “Okay…”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA5HLUCa5anI
The boy agreed and then took a sip of the drink Kurogiri made him. But after a moment, it registered who Tomura was talking about. A fact that caused Theo to spit out his drink.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAk2aup0eupq
Theo: “Wait! The hero killing is coming!? The hero killer Stain is going to be here!? Sensei wants you to recruit the hero killer Stain!?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANATr3GRhJwT9
Azrael: “It is pretty cool.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAHFaTozVzQQ
Theo: “Right!?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAVd3yWr4ksa
Tomura: “What did I just say about keeping your mouths shut?! Ugh, you two fanboying over him makes me sick.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAQx17kT8DhH
Azrael: “He is very good at staying hidden and a talented fighter.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA037ECAwnAd
Theo: “And he kills the worst heroes out there. Like some kind of villain hero. I respect the message his killings are sending.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAGTffEAjFPZ
Tomura: “Tch, what message? He’s not any different from us! Don’t try to make him out to be.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA2nEaY1WJyc
Theo: ‘Ah, that’s why Sensei wants him to meet Stain. Out of the three of us, Tomura still hasn’t developed a driving ideology outside of simple destruction. Even Azrael’s revenge is better than that. And Tomura is supposed to be our leader; his mindset needs to expand.’
31Please respect copyright.PENANArJrODkEnYH
Tomura: “Kurogiri! Is he at the meeting point yet?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAQIwEteEFNX
The shadow checked his messages, and indeed, the killer was there.
31Please respect copyright.PENANA8jGh89cd2j
Kurogiri: “Yes.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAsR0MwPMsrB
The next moment, a portal appeared, and out stepped the hero killer himself.
31Please respect copyright.PENANA3zB8YU54p1
Tomura: “So you’re the Hero Killer.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAcGqiPnLblt
The young leader stood up to greet the guest.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAbm9MIxbtru
Stain: “So you’re the League of Villains. The ones who attacked U.A.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAvLmvIrGi5K
The killer’s eyes went around the room, starting from Kurogiri and ending with Theo. A brief moment of confusion crossed his face, probably a bit surprised by the boy’s age and school uniform.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAlQictVrjGM
After checking his potential allies, or enemies, Stain returned his focus to Tomura.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAdy9vcIsN8L
Tomura: “We’d like for you to join us, Hero Killer.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAJKTeOzyBOo
Stain: “… What is your goal?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAkMUd08mxjq
Tomura: “First of all, we want to kill All Might. Then we’d like to destroy all the things that aren’t to our liking.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAIycqkLheKH
Apotheosis and Azrael couldn’t help but sigh at how Tomura said that. He’s not technically wrong, but he simplified it to a childish degree.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAnqQPuo83k4
Azrael wants vengeance, sure, but his destruction is targeted. Not quite as widespread as Tomura’s.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAgcpwNGVtSq
Apotheosis also wants vengeance, but he also has plans to uplift the quirkless. If he has to tear down a clearly corrupt hero society to do it, he’ll do it with pleasure.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAqYkPLZ1Ttn
Tomura wasn’t done though; he took out a few photos and showed them to Stain. They showed several students, but most notably Izuku.
31Please respect copyright.PENANA6PJgVrqnNC
Tomura: “Like, say… these little brats… all of them.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAT37za9u9H2
The villain didn’t expect Stain to kill them all, especially not Izuku. But it would cull the herd and give Azrael an easy opening to deal with Midoriya.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAatFTf11Wly
But thanks to Tomura’s oversimplification, Stain wasn’t interested.
31Please respect copyright.PENANATmb6uU0x4l
Stain: “I was ill-advised to be interested. You… Hahhhh… you’re the type I despise the most!”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAXfpkGxETlQ
Tomura: “Huhh?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA00PAKHhY5z
Stain: “You want me to rub shoulders with some childish temper tantrum? Hahhh… what sense is there to bloodlust without a cause?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA1eraG51NWp
As Stain readies his blades, Azrael narrows his eyes and Tomura flexes his hands. As for Apotheosis, he can only sigh again.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAuDv5r8rxPG
31Please respect copyright.PENANAWD39urDfPG
Theo: “Are you idiots done messing up the place?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAFjcRjAB7lt
The fight wasn’t too long, but it did a number on the hideout. If it kept going, it might be nothing but rumble. But even Stain couldn’t stand against Tomura and Azrael working together.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAhEt9wAVvV3
Their aim is not to kill Stain, however, so right now they are sitting across from each other. A tense break from the chaos.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAPYOzDZFFQz
Tomura: “… He started it.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANARdy8pBCH31
Azrael: “Tomura… ”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAGsjxJzqIC0
Stain: “I’ll join you, on one condition.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAOV1NVghGCJ
Tomura: “Oh?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA0VyMVBdIvy
Theo: “Name it.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAbjmZcr64oW
Stain first points to Theo.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAcY3g4Z4u4c
Stain: “I see more than simple bloodlust in your eyes. You have conviction, a message, and a goal beyond killing.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAyyiRCntdwg
Theo: “Hehe, well thank-”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA8eeoW7SUxk
Stain: “But it is dim. Your bloodlust takes priority over it; you will fail.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAMPiuaxlI0C
Struck speechless, Theo can only watch as Stain moves to point at Azrael.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAtC08N5wCeW
Stain: “You. You will become my aide.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAoyZCp8G32G
Azrael: “M-Me?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAHCy6UiK6ur
Both Tomura and Theo widen their eyes at this. Azrael’s desire for destruction is not as all-encompassing as Tomura’s, but it’s still simple vengeance. Heck, in terms of pure hatred, he’s worse than Tomura!
31Please respect copyright.PENANAlEZx0M7t5r
Stain: “Your eyes scream of hatred and rage. Yet, there is a spark that shines with a different type of conviction. One unknown to you. I want to know what’s behind those murky eyes of yours. Then cultivate it, if it’s worth anything.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANARQ6wRU1Gx3
The trio looked at each other before a decision was made.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAk1TUhoL39V
Tomura: “Fine, you can have him. Tomorrow, after he rests.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAwOIS9YkCK7
Stain: “…Hm, very well. At least you have the makings of a proper leader.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAQWnFg2q7uf
Tomura: “… Send him away.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA09vw2BlLve
Kurogiri opens a portal, and Stain leaves through it.
31Please respect copyright.PENANArHOhqXQSIY
Azrael: “Are you sure?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAKur2VGx0k9
Tomura: “Yeah. Keep an eye on him and report back if he’s even worth keeping around.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAJYCQ4wT5BO
Azrael: “… Very well. I’ll get some rest before heading out.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA9OKgGj4usW
With that, the eldest opens a mud portal and leaves.
31Please respect copyright.PENANANYLWeiSAVJ
Tomura: “Finally, now with that out of the way, let’s play some gam-”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA3g8KxRxbmY
Theo: “Kurogiri, can you open a portal for me?”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAPCXU7nIe7A
Tomura: “What?! Where are you going?!”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAgk7fmz7IJu
Theo: “To my lab. I’ll see you later.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAqOz4jl0t37
Tomura wanted to yell for him to come back. How dare he leave without his permission! But Theo’s downcast gaze, something uncharacteristic of him, stilled his tongue.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAUKt3WVTZqn
So Theo too left, and the hideout felt a bit colder. A bit more quiet. It’s a contrast Tomura wasn’t used to and didn’t like.
31Please respect copyright.PENANA3rkXx1aqeh
Tomura: “Kurogiri! Give me a glass!”
31Please respect copyright.PENANAEVN88ry5JY
Kurogiri: “Of course.”
31Please respect copyright.PENANA1XlHK6sZms
Back in his lab, a white sterile room filled with all his research, Theo typed furiously on his computer.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAvdQjD6xQd7
Theo: ‘What does he know!? When I send the rest of my family to their graves, then I can help those like me. I need the resources I will obtain in my pursuit to accomplish that goal. I should have known a simple hero killer can’t understand the bigger picture.’
31Please respect copyright.PENANATB5I4Qv66u
Reaffirming his path, Theo continues on his ultimate project. One inspired by stories about real heroes. Ones that would have saved him from that hell his father put him in.
31Please respect copyright.PENANApDQOvmWk3N
The Infinity Gauntlet.
31Please respect copyright.PENANA56YJmUQ2Vl
A/N: This should make it clear that this Apotheosis is his own character.
31Please respect copyright.PENANA4z1p3oIAv7
Now, some of you may be wondering, how can the Phoenix Force exist as an actual entity while the Infinity Saga comic also exists?
31Please respect copyright.PENANACNqhdWPQGd
Simple, a different sort of story with different characters but the same named gauntlet. Basically, the comics of Boku no Hero’s world were unconsciously inspired by the events from Marvel.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAyrDkiZG6wd
After all, that’s how different realities react in a multiverse. Through creative mediums.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAiOa5Ifd4YD
I’m not going to go in depth when it comes to the multiverse and how the Marvel multiverse ended. At least not until way later.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAkyz4Gw2qxR
I want to stay focused, for the most part, on the themes already present in My Hero. I’m just expanding on them and using different tools to explore it31Please respect copyright.PENANALSD95enqJm