The Hero Public Safety Commission Headquarters in Washington D.C. stood as a gleaming monolith under the cold dawn light, its glass and steel facade masking the calculated machinations within. The conference room buzzed with a quiet, suffocating tension, the air heavy with the weight of decisions that could reshape entire cities.
Holographic screens lined a long table, casting flickering images of Carthis—its streets choked with rubble, buildings reduced to jagged silhouettes, and thousands of citizens streaming through glowing evacuation portals. The name "Equinox" pulsed red in the top corner of every screen, a relentless reminder of a rebellion slipping beyond the Commission's grasp.
Director Marlene Helmsley, a silver-haired woman with sharp features and eyes like polished steel, steepled her fingers, her gaze locked on the chaotic images. Her tailored suit was immaculate, but the lines etched into her face betrayed sleepless nights and unrelenting pressure.
"Carthis was meant to be a containment zone," a commissioner muttered, his voice low and bitter, his hands clenched on the table. "A forgotten city, left to rot for political convenience. We let Varn run it as a buffer, and now it's a damn uprising."
Helmsley's lips twitched into a faint, humorless smile. "It's more than an uprising. Carthis is a symbol of rebellion—a symbol we didn't authorize and can't let spread." Her voice was calm but carried a razor's edge, silencing the room. "This 'Equinox'—Kael Ishiro—has turned a backwater into a rallying cry. He's not just a vigilante; he's a movement, and movements are dangerous."
A burly commissioner with a scarred jaw leaned forward, his voice gruff. "Then we crush it. Send in a task force, neutralize him, and bury this before it infects other cities. Quick, clean, and easy."
Helmsley shook her head, her eyes narrowing. "No. Crushing it makes him a martyr. The people of Carthis see him as their savior. We need to reclaim the narrative—publicly, decisively." She tapped the holographic table, pulling up a file that materialized in the air. The name *Zeke Cross* glowed alongside a profile image: a broad-shouldered man with a chiseled jaw, short-cropped black hair, and eyes burning with quiet intensity. "Pro Hero Name: Citadel. Quirk: Core Furnace. A molten reactor in his chest grants enhanced strength, thermal propulsion, and a superheated defense. In melee, he fights like a walking blast furnace—unstoppable, unrelenting, and charismatic enough to win hearts."
A younger commissioner, her glasses reflecting the holographic glow, adjusted them nervously. "You're sending one Hero? To a city that's already rejected our authority? Equinox has an army, Marlene."
"Not just any Hero," Helmsley replied, her voice cold and precise. "Zeke is loyal to the Commission, controllable, and he knows how to play the part. He'll be the face of compassion Carthis needs—someone they'll believe in, someone who can pull their loyalty away from Equinox. He'll rebuild the city under our banner, restore order, and remind them who's really in charge."
The scarred commissioner frowned, his fingers drumming on the table. "And if Equinox sees through the act? If he resists? He's got power, strategy, and followers who'd die for him. Citadel's good, but is he that good?"
Helmsley's smile was sharp, almost predatory. "Then Citadel will do what he's trained for. He'll neutralize the threat—quietly, efficiently, and with the public cheering his name. Deploy him to Carthis.
From this day forward, he's their new Hero." She paused, her gaze sweeping the room, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "And tell him to tread carefully. Equinox isn't just a man—he's a storm. We need to harness it or break it."
---
Deep within Zone Blackridge, in a private chamber tucked away from the fortress's bustling heart, Kael Ishiro stood before Mira and Reina, the dim light casting long shadows across the blackened concrete walls. The room was small and utilitarian, with a single steel table and a few chairs, its stark design emphasizing the intimacy of the moment.
Kael's long black coat hung open, its frayed hem brushing the floor, his black eyes glinting with a quiet intensity that seemed to absorb the light around him. Mira leaned against the wall, her violet eyes sharp and probing. Reina sat on the edge of the table, one boot dangling, her wild grin tempered by a rare seriousness.
Mira tilted her head, her voice low but pointed, cutting through the silence. "You've given us a lot, Kael—Quick Reflex for me, Endless Stride for Reina, powers for the others. We know you've got a ton of Quirks, but we've seen you in action, pulling moves that don't quite match what you've told us. You sure you're not holding a few in reserve?"
Reina's grin sharpened, her eyes narrowing as she leaned forward, her crimson mist coiling into a dagger she twirled idly. "Yeah, boss. You've made us stronger, and we're grateful, but you're too damn slippery in a fight. Those tricks in Carthis—knowing where Varn's men were before they moved. That's not just what you've described. What's the deal? You don't trust us with the full picture?"
Kael's black eyes met theirs, steady and unflinching, a flicker of amusement crossing his face. He exhaled slowly, his voice calm and deliberate, carrying a weight that filled the room. "I'm not holding out on you. I've shared Quirks with you, with the others, because I trust you to use them right. The moves you're seeing? That's me combining what I've got, pushing their limits to keep us alive. If we're going to take down All for One, you need to know every detail—every strength, every drawback. No secrets. You're my strength, part of the reason I keep fighting. So, I'll walk you through them. Every Quirk I've got."
Mira's brow furrowed, her skepticism softening but not disappearing.Kael stepped to the center of the room, his coat swaying slightly, his voice taking on a teacher's patience. "Let's start with the core. Balancekeeper." He held up a hand, his fingers flexing slightly.
"It lets me steal, store, and grant Quirks with a touch. I can take a Quirk from one person, hold it in reserve, or give it to someone else—permanently, if I choose. That's how I gave you Quick Reflex, Mira, and Endless Stride, Reina, along with the others obviously. It's the foundation of my arsenal, but every transfer pulls at my emotions—anger, guilt, whatever's in me. It's like carrying their pain, and it can leave me drained or unsteady."
Mira nodded, "That's why you're so careful about who you give Quirks to. It's not just about power—it's about what it costs you."
"Exactly," Kael said. "Now, combat Quirks. DarkBind creates blue tendrils with a violet shimmer—good for binding or striking, but they're weak against bright light and struggle with multiple targets."
He gestured, and faint tendrils flickered briefly before dissolving. "Flashstep's a short-range speed burst, lets me dodge or reposition, but it strains my joints if I overuse it."
Reina tilted her head, her movements fluid, her grin fading slightly. "That's how you keep slipping out of my nets. Flashstep's a pain in the ass, especially now that I'm faster too."
Kael gave a slight nod. "It's saved me more times than I can count. Thoughtography records and replays what I see and hear, great for planning, but too much gives me migraines. Shadeveil can sense body heat through walls, has a five-meter radius, but too many signatures overwhelm it. That's what you saw in Carthis, Reina, when I knew where Varn's men were. Silent Sole cancels my footsteps' sound, perfect for sneaking but only for my movements."
Mira leaned forward, her voice probing. "That's how you always know the layout of a place before we go in, isn't it? You're replaying it in your head using Thoughtography."
"Exactly," Kael said as he continued to name and discuss the rest of his quirks. After a few minutes, Kael sighed while scratching the back of his head.
"I went through every Quirk with you just now—combat, stealth, utility, mobility, sensory. Every one, strengths and drawbacks. I'm not hiding anything. I combine them to stay ahead, and that's what keeps us alive."
Mira studied him for a long moment, then nodded, her expression softening. "Alright. You've given us power, Kael, made us stronger than we ever thought possible. But you're evolving fast, and we need to know how so we can match you."
Kael's voice softened, a rare hint of vulnerability breaking through. "I'm pushing myself because I have to. All for One has more Quirks, more experience. If I don't evolve, we don't stand a chance. But I need you two with me—stronger, sharper. Do what you need to achieve that. Hell, you can travel the world for all I care, gaining more battle and leadership experience in the process, if you need to."
Reina's grin softened, her voice quieter. "You really do need our strength, huh? That's a lot to live up to, boss. But we'll do whatever it takes for you. Just don't expect us to go easy on you next time, alright?"
Mira smirked, a spark of warmth in her eyes. "Speak for yourself, Reina. I'm aiming to make him bleed a little next time."
Kael's lips curved into a faint smile. "I'd be disappointed if you didn't. Now let's move. We've got work to do."
…
In the lab sector, Dr. Sato adjusted the dials on a reinforced console. "From Varn's gear, I extracted a physical modifier compound," he said, holding up a syringe filled with a shimmering liquid. "Permanent muscle reinforcement, no genetic backlash. It's not a Quirk, but it'll enhance your overall physical abilities By 8 times its current power."
Kael rolled up his sleeve, his expression unyielding. "Inject it."
Sato hesitated, his frown deepening. "You sure? It's permanent, and it's untested on someone with your… extensive Quirks."
"Do it," Kael said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The needle pierced his arm, and a surge of heat flooded his body—not destructive, but powerful, like a fire forging his muscles anew. His frame seemed to solidify, his senses sharpening as the compound took hold, locking into his physiology. Sato pointed at a collapsed structural beam nearby, its twisted metal a relic of BlackRidges' fall. "Let's see if it worked."
Kael approached the beam, his boots echoing on the concrete. He placed both hands beneath it, his fingers curling around the cold steel, and lifted. The beam groaned, its weight immense, but it rose effortlessly, the compound amplifying his strength beyond human limits. He held it one-handed for a moment, his arm steady, before setting it down with a controlled thud, the floor trembling beneath him.
Mira stepped forward, her arms crossed, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and concern. "You just lifted over 2 tons, Kael. That's… insane. And it's permanent?"
Kael flexed his hand, feeling the newfound power settle into his bones. "Good," he said, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. "The stronger I get physically, the more Quirks I can take and use. Now I should be able to wield 80, no, at least 100 Quirks without my body destroying itself."
He turned to Mira and Reina, his black eyes intense, his words carrying the weight of a vow. "This is the next phase. All for One's most likely coming out of the shadows soon, and he won't stop until he's crushed us. We need to be ready—not just to fight, but to win. To build a society that outlives his evil reign."
Reina's grin was fierce, her eyes alight with defiance. "Then let's get to work, boss. We've got a world to save."
Mira nodded, her expression resolute, her voice steady. "We're with you, Kael. All the way. You've given us power, made us more than we were. We've got your back."
Kael's gaze softened for a moment, a rare flicker of warmth breaking through his stoic facade. "I know. And I'm counting on it."
As they left the lab, the weight of their mission settled over them, a storm gathering on the horizon. Kael's Quirks, his followers, his vision—they were pieces of a larger fight, one that would test them all. But in the quiet of Blackridge, with the echoes of hope and resolve surrounding them, they knew they were ready to face it together.
…