Apotheosis was on cloud nine.
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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.
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But those issues can be solved with more data and blood samples. Thanks to his…
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Apotheosis: ‘Could I really call them friends? More like co-workers whose company I enjoy. Yeah, that sounds more villain-appropriate.’
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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.
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But he needs more, and the sports festival revealed some great candidates.
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Apotheosis: ‘Ochako Uraraka, Aoi Nogami, and Momo Yaoyorozu will work quite nicely.’
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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.
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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.
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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.
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What better way to get inside the hero system than to infiltrate its gadget suppliers?
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Kinzoku: “Ah! Kageyama!”
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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.
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But Theo sounds so much better. If he only met Azrael before coming up with it.
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Soma: “Kinzoku.”
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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.
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Kinzoku: "What are you working on today?"
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Soma: “Well, I just finished my portable force field generator."
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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.
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Soma: "Try to hit me."
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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.
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Kinzoku: "That's very impressive, Kageyama."
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Soma: "Yeah, but it can only take so much punishment before it fries the power source."
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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."
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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.
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Still, Theo kept up his facade.
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Soma: "It's alright, sir, you can say that I'm quirkless. It's not exactly a racial slur.”
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Theo: ‘It should be, though, especially with how the word is used in this day and age.’
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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."
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The boy lied as easily as he breathed. His… mother always said he had an honest smile; why not use it?
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Kinzoku: “That's a very mature thing of you to say. I’m glad you came to the correct conclusion."
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It took all he could to not grimace at that last statement.
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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.
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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.
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Once he was bandaged up, the boy discreetly placed the blood-covered gauze in a sterile zip-locked bag, which he quickly pocketed.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Theo: ‘A den of villains feeling like a home? Truly, this society really is twisted.’
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Setting those thoughts aside, he opened the door and greeted his team.
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Theo: “Sup. What’s on the agenda today? Another bank run or shady back alley deal for supplies.”
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Azrael: “Recruitment.”
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The oldest said while seemingly nodding off against the far wall.
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Theo: “Seriously? The four of us are overkill as is. We don’t need anyone else.”
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Tomura: “Sensei disagrees. Especially with that Tornado looking around for us. We need new people.”
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The middle villain child said while sitting on the couch, trying to relax.
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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?”
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Kurogiri: “Valkyrie.”
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The shadow bartender said while already making a drink for Apotheosis.
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Theo: “Oh yeah, that massacre during the sports festival. She really went off the rails, huh?”
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Azrael: “Seemed mad.”
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Theo: “Something to take advantage of. Maybe even convince her to join us, since we’re recruiting now.”
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Kurogiri: “Doubtful. She seems in love with the idea of being a hero. Even if she’s not registered.”
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Theo: “Shame. Oh, by the way, here.”
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The boy tosses a small device to Azrael, who catches it despite being sleepy.
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Azrael: “What is it?”
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Theo: “I shrunk it.”
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Everyone’s eyes widen at the device. It couldn’t be.
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Azrael: “The psychic disruptor?”
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Theo: “Yep!”
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Tomura: “You’re saying you shrunk that giant hunk of metal and turned it into a pen?”
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Kurogiri: “Impressive.”
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Theo: “Hehehe, yes, praise me more.”
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Azrael: “Well, I guess it’s time to go kill a kid.”
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Theo: “Hold it!”
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Tomura: “What now? You did your part, strategist, let Azrael work.”
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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.”
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Azrael: “I will.”
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Theo: “Not like that you won’t; get some sleep.”
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Azrael: “But-”
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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.”
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Kurogiri: “Indeed. Don’t overuse the gift All For One gave you.”
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Azrael: “… I understand. I’ll-”
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Tomura: “But only after the meeting with our new recruit.”
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Azrael: “Damn it.”
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Theo: “Speaking of, who is this new teammate?”
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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.”
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Theo: “Okay…”
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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.
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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!?”
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Azrael: “It is pretty cool.”
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Theo: “Right!?”
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Tomura: “What did I just say about keeping your mouths shut?! Ugh, you two fanboying over him makes me sick.”
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Azrael: “He is very good at staying hidden and a talented fighter.”
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Theo: “And he kills the worst heroes out there. Like some kind of villain hero. I respect the message his killings are sending.”
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Tomura: “Tch, what message? He’s not any different from us! Don’t try to make him out to be.”
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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.’
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Tomura: “Kurogiri! Is he at the meeting point yet?”
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The shadow checked his messages, and indeed, the killer was there.
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Kurogiri: “Yes.”
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The next moment, a portal appeared, and out stepped the hero killer himself.
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Tomura: “So you’re the Hero Killer.”
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The young leader stood up to greet the guest.
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Stain: “So you’re the League of Villains. The ones who attacked U.A.”
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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.
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After checking his potential allies, or enemies, Stain returned his focus to Tomura.
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Tomura: “We’d like for you to join us, Hero Killer.”
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Stain: “… What is your goal?”
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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.”
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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.
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Azrael wants vengeance, sure, but his destruction is targeted. Not quite as widespread as Tomura’s.
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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.
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Tomura wasn’t done though; he took out a few photos and showed them to Stain. They showed several students, but most notably Izuku.
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Tomura: “Like, say… these little brats… all of them.”
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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.
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But thanks to Tomura’s oversimplification, Stain wasn’t interested.
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Stain: “I was ill-advised to be interested. You… Hahhhh… you’re the type I despise the most!”
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Tomura: “Huhh?”
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Stain: “You want me to rub shoulders with some childish temper tantrum? Hahhh… what sense is there to bloodlust without a cause?”
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As Stain readies his blades, Azrael narrows his eyes and Tomura flexes his hands. As for Apotheosis, he can only sigh again.
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Theo: “Are you idiots done messing up the place?”
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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.
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Their aim is not to kill Stain, however, so right now they are sitting across from each other. A tense break from the chaos.
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Tomura: “… He started it.”
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Azrael: “Tomura… ”
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Stain: “I’ll join you, on one condition.”
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Tomura: “Oh?”
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Theo: “Name it.”
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Stain first points to Theo.
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Stain: “I see more than simple bloodlust in your eyes. You have conviction, a message, and a goal beyond killing.”
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Theo: “Hehe, well thank-”
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Stain: “But it is dim. Your bloodlust takes priority over it; you will fail.”
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Struck speechless, Theo can only watch as Stain moves to point at Azrael.
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Stain: “You. You will become my aide.”
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Azrael: “M-Me?”
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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!
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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.”
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The trio looked at each other before a decision was made.
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Tomura: “Fine, you can have him. Tomorrow, after he rests.”
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Stain: “…Hm, very well. At least you have the makings of a proper leader.”
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Tomura: “… Send him away.”
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Kurogiri opens a portal, and Stain leaves through it.
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Azrael: “Are you sure?”
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Tomura: “Yeah. Keep an eye on him and report back if he’s even worth keeping around.”
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Azrael: “… Very well. I’ll get some rest before heading out.”
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With that, the eldest opens a mud portal and leaves.
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Tomura: “Finally, now with that out of the way, let’s play some gam-”
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Theo: “Kurogiri, can you open a portal for me?”
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Tomura: “What?! Where are you going?!”
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Theo: “To my lab. I’ll see you later.”
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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.
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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.
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Tomura: “Kurogiri! Give me a glass!”
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Kurogiri: “Of course.”
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Back in his lab, a white sterile room filled with all his research, Theo typed furiously on his computer.
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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.’
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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.
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The Infinity Gauntlet.
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A/N: This should make it clear that this Apotheosis is his own character.
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Now, some of you may be wondering, how can the Phoenix Force exist as an actual entity while the Infinity Saga comic also exists?
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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.
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After all, that’s how different realities react in a multiverse. Through creative mediums.
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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.
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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 it73Please respect copyright.PENANAie1D4Xbtyw