The shopping district was in chaos.
I could hear the commotion three blocks away—screaming civilians, emergency sirens, and what sounded like someone having a very explosive tantrum. As I got closer, the smoke got thicker and the crowd got denser. People were running away from something, which was generally a good sign that I should be running in the same direction.
Instead, I kept walking forward.
I wasn't the only one.
In life, there were no shortage of idiots willing to risk their lives to get a look at the deadly action that would endanger them if it got out of hand.
Just like me, several people who apparently weren't at the heart of the incident when it happened headed in the same direction just to see what's up. It was even more so in a world where people expected heroes to protect them and hence, they could safely sit on the sidelines and watch with little to no sense of danger.
Then again, who was I to judge.
"Move back! Everyone stay behind the line!"
Upon getting there, it was quite the sight. Pro heroes were trying to establish a perimeter, but they looked... frustrated. Not the confident, in-control vibe you'd expect from professional superhumans. More like they were dealing with a problem they couldn't solve and trying to pretend otherwise.
I squeezed through the crowd until I could see what had everyone so worked up.
In the middle of the street, a massive blob of green sludge had engulfed what looked like a teenager. The kid was struggling, hands sparking with small explosions, but the villain just absorbed the blasts and kept trying to force itself down the victim's throat.
"His quirk is too strong!" one of the heroes shouted. "We can't get close without making it worse!"
"Where's a hero with a compatible quirk when you need one?" another muttered.
"Look, It's the new Hero Mount Lady, she'll stop him."
"Ah! My only weakness."
The gigantified lady with purple horns and a humongous ass hidden inside a skin tight uniform exclaimed dramatically as she tried to step into she street but could only get one leg through. Don't look at me wrong. She was practically causing everyone to look up and imagine what she had under as she crossed a leg over us.
"I need at least a two leg route if I'm gonna make my way through here."
Another hero saving several civilians with his wooden tentacles ran and avoided the fires at all costs.
"Fire and Wood don't exactly make a good combination. I'll let someone else stop this guy!"
"Don't look at me. I have my hands full here."
"Damn! If I just had some more strength I could blow this guy away!"
The sludge villain was laughing, a wet, disgusting sound. "Perfect! This kid's explosions are exactly what I need! Once I've got his body, I'll be able to defeat All Might with one punch —"
Classic villain monologuing. In reality, the actual result would be the other way around.
These guys never knew when to just call it quits and surrender, while hoping their compliance would get them a lighter sentence. But that was just my internal ranting.
Moving to a more important discussion, I recognized this scene.
Street on fire, sludge based Villain, engulfing a blond kid with an explosion quirk, how could I not know what scene this was?
'So this is the beginning of the anime huh?'
That's right, I was at the sludge villain scene in Season 1 Episode 2 of MHA. Currently, the sludge villain had escaped, and was attempting to engulf the body of the Main Character, Katsuki Baku ... Cough! Ehem!
I mean, supporting Character, Katsuki Bakugo. With Midoriya Izuku, the real protagonist hidden somewhere in the crowd watching alongside all Might, the strongest Hero at the current point in the timeline.
I took a look.
'Found Em.'
It honestly wasn't hard. One was a thin kid in a black uniform with striking green hair and a look of horror, while the other was a thin man wearing oversized clothes and had blonde two tuft hair that seemed it would cover his head.
Even in a small crowd of people with quirks, they were quite easy to spot if you knew what to look for. Plus, All Might was right behind me.
Both were in opposite directions, and both probably didn't know the other was here at the moment.
'It shouldn't be long now. Deku should showcase the heroically idiotic act of risking his life to save ... Ah, there he goes right now.'
My thoughts were interrupted as I saw the green haired boy dash out of the crowd into the heat of the action.
"Hey Kid! What are you doing?" the Hero Death Arms shouted in disbelief.
"Damn! Not this brat again!"
The sludge villain roared with irritation as Deku charged towards him.
Meanwhile, I examined the surroundings and began planning my next course of action.
'This should be a good scene for my Debut right? I mean, there's attention, powerless heroes, a high level Villain, the Two future Protagonists, and All Might to boot. It can't get any better than this, can it?"
It was good.
Too good in fact. I literally couldn't pray for a better situation to do my debut. It had all the right people, and none of the wrong ones. People who were valuable either immediately, or would be later on.
Alright then,
Time to start selling out the powerful but systematically helpless street kid dismissed by the bureaucratic system but carrying the heart of a Hero Facade, inspire some pity and public indignation for sale and have these people buy it all.
Preferably quickly before All Might behind me got juiced up on Heroism and determination, becoming his enormously buffed self and overcoming his time limit issue that had been used up.
'Alright K-Dog. You've got this. Remember your chosen character profile to display. Strong, confident, supremely arrogant. Gojo style. You've already got Infinity. You may be lacking the glasses, blindfold, white hair and dark purple fit, but you just have to look cool enough to pull it off without em. Your masters in the aura arts are Satoru Gojo, and Sung Jin Woo. Beat The Villain, knock out the ladies, amaze the crowd, and most importantly, don't die. It is Time To Aura Farm!!!'
That's right, If I was gonna go, I was gonna go high. Public profile Template, The Honored One.
"Poor Kid. No hero can stop that guy huh?"
I turned around and asked the buffing all Might. The Hero Juice fueling him up immediately halted upon realizing a civilian would be watching him Transform.
'Sorry dude. I'll make it up later. But this is my time to shine. I'm sure you won't mind.'
My words had drawn everyone's attention around us. Even Mount Lady looked down.
"Oh well,"
I faked as light a nonchalant shrug as I could make before raising my hand. Instantly, a pitch black rod emerged from my hand, growing longer to the length of a Javelin. The weapon looked pitch black, and radiated an otherworldly energy all around it that caused even me goosebumps.
"Guess I'll do it myself."
'Cool? Check. Now aim well. Don't mess up, don't mess up, don't kill anyone!!'
Important things needed to be emphasized thrice.
Then under All Might and everyone's stunned faces, I raised the Black Javelin Rod, turned to see the sludge villain about to strike Deku, tensed my now enhanced superhuman muscles, and fired.
The weapon flew through the air at blinding speed, arriving before the sludge monster in an instant before piercing into its body.
Just a few centimeters away from Katsuki's face.
The struggling boy froze instantly, his forehead producing much more sweat in one second than it did throughout his entire struggle.
'Did I almost get ...'.
Deku was frightened out of his wits, falling to the floor in fright, eyes closed waiting for the inevitable strike from the sludge Villain. But if never came.
In fact, aside from the heat and the crackling fire nearby, it was incredibly quiet. The boy opened his eyes, only to see the hand of the sludge monster stuck in the air like it was in suspended animation.
Not just the hand. The villain himself wasn't moving a muscle anymore.
Everyone watched.
"Oh my God!"
"Did that kid just throw a ...
"Hey .. why ... Why isn't it moving?" Someone asked, bringing everyone's attention to the scene.
True enough, the sludge monster had stopped moving entirely.
'Phew! That was close.'
I thought, almost sweating profusely. My aim, among other things, had improved drastically after my second power kicked in. Superhuman Physical Prowess. Though I should really practice more on moving targets next time.
More on that later.
Now, I had a performance to get done.
"Hmm, that turned out well." My voice echoed through the crowd. A faked calm, confident smile on my face as I began moving forward.
The crowd automatically gave way for reasons even they probably didn't understand.
Thankfully. This was the effect that I wanted. How awkward would it be if I bumped into someone who didn't move it. It would interrupt the aura farming experience.
And so as I approached the sludge monster with my hands in my pockets, I breathed a deep, internal sigh, keeping as much composure as I could at the moment. To take my mind off my nervousness, I mulled over the use of the black rod and the effect I was seeing before me.
'Works pretty well so far.' I thought, before putting that aside and focusing on my performance next.
"For someone who claims to want to beat all might with a single punch, you're pretty weak ... Don't you think?"
In my path was burning rubble set on Fire.
People were recording this. I had to make it as Iconic as possible if I wanted it to go viral. So with only slight hesitation and a quick crosscheck that I had added Temperatures above certain degrees to my blacklist, I didn't correct my path at all.
'Alright Infinity, Don't Fail Me Now.'
The crowd watched as I walked into the Fire, stepped on the rubble, and walked right past it. Not a single lick of flame entangling my clothing.
'Yes!!!'
I sincerely hope there were no mind readers in the area.
I arrived before the villain with my bag slung over my shoulder. With Infinity active, and with my parameters, I could breath just fine without inhaling any of the smoke from the fire.
The Heroes didn't attempt to stop me. Like the others they took just watched as I walked past them.
"Hmm?" I said putting my hand on my chin as I stared at the immobile monster.
"Silent already? That can't be. That attack wasn't supposed to kill you." A pensive expression appeared on my face as I utilized my acting skills to the best of my abilities.
I bent a little, bringing my face extremely close to the sludge villain "Nah. I can still feel your vitals. You aren't dead. So what's up?"
"Um ... Hey kid. You shouldn't ...". The Hero, Death Arms tried to warn me in his usual deep voice. But I interrupted. "Ah! That's right. Rookie mistake on my part," I cut in. "You can't talk, can you? I shut down your motor pathways." I said, taking a step back before snapping my finger dramatically with a grin.
I sincerely hope this isn't cringe.
"There. That should do it."
It worked.
"My ... My body! Why Can't I Move!" The sludge villain yelled immediately I granted him permission to speak. "Why can't I control My Body! What Have You Done To Me!"
His frightened, Panicked, Miserable Roar resounded throughout the street. Everyone watching was stunned at the dynamics. Hopefully in the way I was hoping for.
"Huh? Isn't it obvious you Idiot?" I said tilting my head before coming closer and touching the black rod, nearly embedded completely through his body.
"It's this Null rod that's embedded into your body. My quirk if you will. Once it lands a hit, it shuts everything down — quirks, nerves, movement, all of it. Like yanking the power cord out of your body."
The villain screamed at the touch. I let him. It sold the performance.
I said stretching my arms. A grin appearing on my face.
"That my friend, is why you can't move. Hehe, Pretty handy right?"
The monster didn't respond, trying to muster up some form of strength to resist what was happening. He failed spectacularly.
"Damn!" someone muttered behind me. A hero with a bird like face which I couldn't differentiate if it was a mutant quirk effect or a Mask.
"Did he just say... his quirk shuts off quirks?"
"And paralyzes people too?"
"One rod... that's it? That's insane!"
"Is there a Quirk that shuts off other quirks?"
His words immediately sparked the murmurs of the crowd, that was soon becoming a chorus.
"Damn! Is that it?"
"I can't believe it. A kid solved the final villain by himself that stumped several Pro Heroes?"
"His quirk must be pretty strong"
"No shit genius. He immobilized the sludge villain with a single move."
I could feel the gazes of Multiple people behind me, the gaze of Bakugo from the left, and Deku from the right.
"Though I'll say, I'm kinda disappointed."
"What? What Do You Mean By That?"
How cooperative.
This villain was truly a godsend. Guess my luck was turning around.
"Oh! I mean I was expecting you to put up more of a fight." I said putting my hands back in my pockets.
"Everyone I've used it on so far hasn't been able to break out. So I've always wanted to test the limits of my powers. Hence, when I heard you bragging about defeating All Might, I thought you could help me with some feedback."
My hands reached out as I spoke. Into the sludge monster as I got a grip on Bakugo Katsuki.
"It was not enlightening. The Null Rod feedback says you aren't even putting up any resistance at all. Hell, if I didn't hold back the Quirk suppression effect, you'll probably be a roadside mess by now."
I yanked with my superhuman physical prowess. The blond kid was pulled out easily.
"Can't say I'm not disappointed. Though considering you're not even human anymore but literally .... Well, a walking puddle of goo, I guess I'm to blame for expecting too much. You truly are just that weak."
"Why You Little!"
Snap!
I snapped my Fingers. It's mouth was immobilized again just the rest of its body.
"I've enjoyed our little conversation now. But I think I'll be on my way." I said moving towards Deku. The boy was stunned as I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up easily as well.
"Have fun rotting in Jail. Or a plastic bottle. Whichever comes first."
Then I turned around and began walking. My heart hammering in my heart.
Never before had I experienced such stage fright. I was pretty sure I would mess up if I kept this going much longer. But that should be good enough.
Upon passing the heroes, I stopped and gestured.
"You can focus on putting out the fires. Don't worry about that guy. He's not going anywhere."
I said as I resumed walking.
"Just don't touch the black rod. Trust me, the experience will not be pleasant."