All For Myself Chapter 41

The smell of sulphur that accompanied a warp gate clouded Izuku's senses as he arrived at a warehouse in a location that he wasn't sure of, and didn't really desire to be sure of his location either, he was here because he was called. If he wasn't then he'd still be in Musutafu, training and keeping the streets safe. Rarely is he ever call upon like by his leader, they still keep in touch and check in with each other regularly. They also have meetings as members of Paragon once a month, but those are usually brief, and they had one last week. So, what is an emergency meeting needed for?

Truth be told Izuku never had done much for the organisation. He's essentially just been a hero so far, only rarely is he ever given tasks to complete- and even then those don't involve anything underhanded or morally dubious- such as rescuing Eri. Izuku isn't blind, he's perfectly aware that Ryoto has done some very... morally questionable things. He's never been afraid to be honest about them though, Izuku can at least give him points for that. 

He has the idea that what he'd be doing from then on wouldn't be all sunshine and rainbows. It could very well be a nightmare. He was prepared for it though, physically at least. He's powerful now, very powerful. Powerful enough to bring down an A-rank Villain as though they were nothing but a child throwing a tantrum. He owes that to Ryoto who gifted him with these amazing abilities.

When he joined Ryoto he was expecting to get a Quirk, and he did. But, that's not all he got. How many Quirks does he have? Two? Three? Four?

The answer is nine. He has nine different Quirks. The ridiculousness of it all still leaves him in a daze. 

First he has 'Cell Activation'. At the cost of stamina, he can increase the activity of his cells to improve his body's condition. This ability is what lets him withstand the strain of holding so many Quirks inside him. Well that, and Ryoto said the Quirk helped his body get used to the strain of holding multiple Quirks by strengthening his brains neurones. The sheer usefulness of this Quirk is literally insane, at least in Izuku's opinion. His body literally improves every type of cell in his body to superhuman degrees, and the change is permanent. That means his brains neurones will work faster, increasing his intelligence and reaction time, his lungs alveoli have been strengthened to allow for more efficient respiration, his bones have been strengthened to increase his natural durability, and his muscles density has shot up to increase his natural strength. At first he was disappointed by the ability, now that line of thought just seems stupid.

Second there's 'Power'. This Quirk can be used in conjunction with other Quirks to multiply their power. It can also act as a strength enhancer, but that part is determined by his base strength.

Third he has his speed Quirk. 'Accelerate' stimulates the brain, and speeds up his perception and thoughts relative to everything else, this allows him to move at speeds that just shouldn't be possible. The world looks as though it's frozen when he uses this Quirk. Even bullets are easily dodge able when used at it's maximum capability. Yellow sparks seem to fly off him when it's used, he has no idea why though. But, this Quirk has a heavy reliance on oxygen, if he goes overboard then he starts gasping for air and the Quirk times out. Even with his enhanced lungs, the Quirks drawbacks are heavy. It should also be noted that thinking too much will cause this Quirk to time out quicker.

Fourth there's 'Bio-electricity'. He create biological electricity that can be used in a number of ways. He can even fire beams with this Quirk. But, because this Quirk relies on his stamina, this power is more like an ultimate move than anything. He can't use it too frequently.

For number five he has 'Scanning'. He can look at someone and get information on them. He can even get some sparce details on their Quirks. It's a useful ability that has no drawbacks, a perfect addition to his analytical mind.

Sixth he has 'Blackwhip'. Ryoto gave him this Quirk because of it's versatility and he thought that Izuku could make better use of it than him. The Quirk lets him extend dark energy tendrils from anywhere on his body.

Number seven would be 'Airwalk'. He can levitate in the air by stepping on it as though it were the ground, he needs to gain momentum if he wishes to fly though. This Quirk grants him a massive increase in mobility.

Then there's his eighth Quirk. 'Hyper Sense' gives the user heightened reflexes that almost seem to react ahead of time.

Finally there's his ninth Quirk, 'Radio Waves'. With this he can give and receive electromagnetic pulse that can disrupt electronic devices. Ryoto has multiple copies of this Quirk that he's given to a few people, users of this Quirk can remain in contact via a unique and nearly untraceable way of communication. He gave Izuku this Quirk to communicate with him whenever possible.

Izuku is grateful for all of these incredible abilities. But, he refuses to lose sight of his goal. He wants to help those who society has neglected and left behind. He wants to put an end to the prejudice which the world focuses on the Quirkless. He doesn't want someone else to go through what he went through, nobody should feel what he's felt.

Truth be told not everyone who he's ever met looked at him like he was worth less than the dirt under their feet, but there's another part of being Quirkless that hurts just as much as being looked at like trash, at least to him. 

It's the pity in their eyes. Never had he ever met someone before he met Ryoto who didn't look at him like that. As though he were the saddest, most pitiful, and the most pathetic boy in the world. Like he was unlucky, like he was inferior, like he was unevolved. Even those who weren't making fun of him, he just knew that, in the back of their minds, they didn't see him as their equal. They saw him as worthless.

Something has to change in this society. It wasn't until he met Ryoto and they began to talk when he finally put the pieces together. This system in place literally encourages discrimination. Be it the media who never even mention the Quirkless population, the lack of speaking on behalf of the heavy discrimination in society, or the fact that the public is practically brainwashed into idolising Heroes through heavy amounts of propaganda and advertising. Now that he knows he can't even walk down a street without every corner in the city being full of obvious subliminal messages that he didn't even notice before.

To put it simply, it's easy for them if a minority group is discriminated against. Humans hate, they hate with a passion that can't be burned out. It's a sad human fact that humans are only fully working together in general when they have something to hate together. So, this governments solution was to single out a few groups that make up a minority of the population and push the burden of that hatred onto them. Because, it's convenient to have one group shoulder the burden for the rest of them.

He won't stand for that. This needs to end, if not now then when? The answer is simple. It won't end. Not on it's own. Frankly this should have happened decades ago, the people will understand eventually. Afterwards they'll be grateful even. Because, they can do a better job than the 'Heroes' Ever could. It's time for a change, a much needed change.

"Hey Mr Vigilante, sorry to interrupt but we need to talk." He heard a very familiar voice and turned around to see the face of his leader, along with several other members of Paragon who were undoubtedly also here to discuss their next course of action. They were finally going to move again.

Izuku can only wonder what they have in store.

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Sadou Intelli felt a deep feeling of dread build up in his guts as he pulled out his phone and he froze from fear as he read who it was from. Sadou is forty years old, and for as long as he could remember he was raised from an early age by his father to run the Intelli company. He took great pride in his family and their company, they were amongst some of the most influential and powerful people in the world, only those such as Yaoyorozu could be considered higher on the totem than them. They are nearly invincible in the political world.

But, even invincibility can have its loopholes. Afterall, nobody is safe from him. They are no exceptions, a being like him simply doesn't abide by regular rules. He is truly a monster in human skin.

A monster who has him under their thumb. Though his father may be dead, that won't stop his mistakes from being passed onto his descendants.

His father, Saku Intelli, was born in a time when the Intelli family was nowhere near as powerful as they were today. They were originally poor, but they climbed the totem pole of society through nothing but hard work and raw intelligence to exploit the stock market and  form a communication and technology company under the name 'The Intelli Company'. They would then eventually branch out into the support item industry. They earned everything they have today through pure effort, the luxury they enjoy came at the cost of decades of hard work.

...is what people believe. The truth is much more sinister.

His father Saku was actually struggling greatly for many years. This was around four decades ago, Intelli was in a tough spot and on the brink of destitution. Their company was hanging by a proverbial thread. Their competitors at the time had formed a partnership in order to buy them out of their own company, they were scarily close too. His father was desperate to hold on though. He had visions he wanted to come true, he didn't want his life to just end before it even begun. He wasn't going to let them win, no matter what.

And so, when he stepped in, he accepted the offer. Slowly, but surely, all of his competitors were torn apart and absorbed into the Intelli company. Within just years his father was amongst the highest ranking people in the country. He was on top of the world, he had achieved his dreams, he had everything he could ever want.

But, it came with a price.

The man who he'd made a deal with was apparently a strangely normal looking individual. Well dressed, polite in speech, always smiling as though he were laughing at everything around him. Apparently a number of people would even say he was handsome. But, he held a presence that made those around him feel like death was just a single twitch away. Like he could them all just by twitching his finger. He likely could have as well. He was a man who could have destroyed a city in mere minutes if he so chose. The Demon King of Japan.

All For One. The man ruled over their country until just years ago. Nobody could refuse him, the Hero Public Safety Commission is believed to have just been so scared of him that he wasn't even acknowledged by them. Because, they knew that they couldn't stop him, he was their ruler. All of this was because of his utterly terrifying ability, what he'd named himself after.

A Quirk that lets the user take Quirks, from then on he could have kept them for himself or passed them onto others. The very concept of such an ability was earth-shattering. In a world where Quirks are determined by how you are born, this ability would make someone a literal god of Quirks. Calling him a god wasn't even that much of a stretch, if he wanted to then Sadou doesn't doubt that he could have ruled the entire world. He kind of already did to be completely honest. He took everything he wanted, constantly indulging himself, satisfying his need for power, and coming back for more once he was hungry again. He was invulnerable.

The day his father died, was also the day he learned about the debt they owed that man. He's only met him a few times in person, but Sadou can honestly say that he nearly soiled himself with every sudden move that man made. He couldn't help but just meekly nod his head at whatever he demanded. He hated that he had to demean himself like that, but his life is worth more to him than his pride. The life of his family was also worth more to him than anything.

He honestly hated that he couldn't do anything to appease the devil who was never done with them. He didn't want to pass the problem onto his Saiko when the time came, he didn't want his beautiful little girl going anywhere near that thing. She shouldn't have to deal with the devil like this. But alas, even with his intelligence boosting Quirk he was unable to come up with a solution. His fate was completely out of his hands. There was no stopping him, he could do whatever he wanted to them. He could use them for his own gain to his hearts content.

He sighed with resignation as he accessed the buildings security system from his computer and with just a few clicks and types their room was completely cut off. It was a request from the man himself, whenever they met the room must be completely cloaked from the outside world, so no cameras, no microphones, no nothing. When they meet they need to be completely hidden, if Sadou doesn't then, well... he doesn't want to think about it.

The room turned dark and the windows of his office shut, this left just artificial light to illuminate his office. He felt his nerves stand on end as he stood up from his chair and removed his glasses to wipe his brow, then ran his fingers through his blue locks.He knows that he's repeating himself, but he loathes this.

A small wisp of purple fog came to life in the middle of his office, he swallowed down his saliva as the mist started to spread, grow, and form a portal that stretched out for a few moments until a well-dressed white haired man walked through the mist, in an almost painfully slow manner, and stepped into his office as though own the place. Sadou felt a flare of indignation when he felt the arrogance and power his presence seemed to emit, but that feeble spark was instantly snuffed out just by locking eyes with the demon in front of him. Those red pools seemed to bare into his mind, as though with just a glance he knew everything about him, and after a moment he openly let out a random smirk of satisfaction. As though he loved the meekness such a powerful man was displaying merely by locking eyes with him.

Sadou could do nothing but take it though, any time he tries to deny him in only result in the situation worsening. It's better to just give him what he wants.

When the suited man finally spoke Sadou couldn't hold back the shudders of fear that resonated through his spine." Mr Intelli, I'm so sorry for dropping by so suddenly, but you are the CEO of one of Japan's most profound companies when it comes to Quirk research and technology, you're the perfect person to reproduce a magnificent piece of technology that I happened to procure. Though, I may be powerful, I am not an expert scientist like you, and this device is an important part of my plans. Would you be so kind as to replicate and gift me some copies of this device?" His voice gave off a cheerful tone, but Sadou was no fool. He had no choice in the matter.

Sadou was curious though, he'll admit that. He's never been asked to do something like this before by the monster who stands before him. He's been asked to create hundreds of Hero costumes, he's been asked for money, he's been asked for access to their company's satellite. Yet, he's never been asked to replicate something. 

He's scared to find out what though. The fact he even came to him specifically meant that whatever he was going to be asked to do was most likely very illegal, and very forbidden to the point where this technology needed to be produced under the table.

He swallowed his nerves, doing his best to force down his stutter, and spoke to the man before him, with sweat building on his forehead." What devi-ice do need me to re-reproduce?" He internally cursed his stutter for giving away his weakness.

In response to that question the man, who could kill him by lifting a finger, seemed to allow his smile to stretch into an evil smirk that only increased Sadou's uneasiness. He spoke with a grin." I'm glad you asked."

He reached out his hand in a sudden but leisurely manner that made Sadou flinch, but instead of killing him a faint white glow suddenly appeared around his palm where a suitcase suddenly appeared, with him holding it by the handle. Sadou was unsure of what Quirk he'd just used, likely one that could store objects, but he wasn't given time to debate on the topic as the intimidating man walked up to his desk and placed to suitcase down on top of it.

Ryoto smirked in that same eerie way as he took a step back and gestured for Sadou to open it." Just see for yourself, and try to guess what it does. I think that you'll find it quite fascinating." He seemed to put emphasis on that last word, in a way that made his spine stiffen up.

Sadou found his body moving on its own as he robotically stalked up towards his desk, trying not to think about how close he was to death, and slowly opened the suitcase. He hated to think about what might come of his decision to do exactly what Ryoto says. He could very well be lending a hand to the one who will destroy the world, the thought made his feel slimy. He was aiding a devil, he was too much of a coward to refuse.

At least he could admit that to himself.

Opening the suitcase he found that he was staring at... a helmet?

He analysed the device contained within for a few moments. It was shaped in a manner that suggested that it would latch onto the head of someone and do... something. He noticed two cartridges layed besides the device, along with a container of blue liquid. He wasn't sure what the device did, but it looked as though it did something to the holders brain. He was scared to ask what though.

But, apparently he didn't need to. The man spoke at an uncomfortably close distance, which was just a few meters away." This, Mr Intelli, is a piece of technology known as the Q.A.D. Short for Quirk Amplifying Device. Someone who wears this little thing will have their Quirk boosted whilst negating Quirk drawbacks. I could do with a few more of these, this is just a fragile prototype made for testing. I want something more... practical. What do you say? Are you up for the challenge?"

Sadou felt his blood turn to ice. His ears started to ring and block out the outside world, whilst simultaneously his face became a shade paler.

A device that powers up a Quirk. The idea on it's own isn't actually new, but the idea is always ruthlessly cut down by a government whenever they catch wind of it. It's believed that such a device would shake the very foundation of superhuman society, that if used in the hands of villains the technology would bring about Armageddon. They aren't wrong for thinking that either, humans have a history of destruction and such things aren't believed to bring good.

Because of that, anyone who tries to commit this taboo will be thrown in prison to rot without hesitation. Perhaps they'd even simply be murdered, it depended on which country got their hands on them. Luckily most people decided to avoid technology that directly affected Quirks, it was better for everyone.

But, somehow a device that can do such a thing really exists. A device that can destroy society.

"No." He quickly placed his hands over his lips. They just moved on their own.

After he said that, the air in the room seemed to still and go ice cold as fear built up in the back of Sadou's mind. His heart started to pound and the rate at which sweat was pouring out of his forehead intensified. He was entering fight or flight and even without turning he could tell that the Quirk god behind him wasn't looking so amused anymore. Just being near him was enough to make his breath catch in his throat.

Ryoto spoke again with a laugh as he took a step closer, but this one was clearly forced and even without facing him he just knew that his expression was likely much less friendly than before.

He instantly tried to correct himself, though his voice came out a stuttered mess." W-well uhh-um, what I-I what I mean is-"

Ryoto interrupted him by moving faster than Sadou could track and before he could even register what was happening, a strong hand with a black hole in it was lifting his flailing form up into the air with absolute ease, a dark look on his face. A look that an abusive parent would give their child.

Sadou struggled to breathe as the white haired man sighed in annoyance, as though he were talking to a child who wouldn't learn his lesson." I thought that we'd been over this Sadou, why is it that you continue to disobey me? You don't need me to teach you what happens to those who deny me, do you?" His grip tightened ever so slightly as he continued to speak, not really caring about the blue haired man's answer." You know, for someone who has an intelligence Quirk, you are surprisingly slow on the uptake. Maybe it's the fact you've lived such a pampered life, but you're terrible at taking orders and just doing them. I told you last time that whatever I say, you take it as an order. Because I own your life, and if you want to get it back then you'll do what I say. And if you even think of denying me again, I'll make you wish that all I'd do is take your Quirk. Do you understand?" 

Sadou felt the grip on his neck finally loosen and he was dropped very abruptly to the ground, the stone being hell on his body, he'd probably be feeling that for a while. He groaned as he tried to pick himself up, panting heavily as he desperately tried to get air back into his lungs. He was a hair away from shitting himself from pure terror, he was shaking slightly and couldn't will himself to stand.

Just to drive the point home, Ryoto squatted down so that he was right next to Sadou's ear and asked once more, in that same emotionless tone." I said, do you understand? When I give you a question you answer me, it's a simple concept." He added that last bit at the end just to rub salt in the older man's wounds.

Mr Intelli felt his dignity being trampled upon, yet he could do nothing more than watch as his pride was crushed into dust right in front of him. He was doomed, he was going to die, he was trapped between a rock and an invincible place. He cursed his father for not solving this problem, he cursed himself that he couldn't solve this problem either, and he cursed the world that his daughter would likely end up just like him when she takes over the company. There's nothing he can do now, he's resigned himself to that fact.

"Yes, sir." He answered in a pitiful tone that most definitely looked pathetic in that moment, but he didn't care. He was done for anyway.

Ryoto seemed to back off at his words before saying." Good, you can make your foolishness up to me by having at least a dozen support items that can enhance a person's Quirk finished up in three weeks. I already have some concepts that you can get ready for them." Purple mist seemed to gather around his hand as a portal formed in front of him.

He was finally going to leave, expecting him to be done with such a tight deadline. Ryoto turned just before he walked through and spoke." I hope you learned something from this conversation, I sure haven't." With those insulting words he walked through the portal of mist. Leaving Satou in partial shock on the ground.

Satou needed a drink, really bad.