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Days had turned to weeks since the USJ incident, and Shin had since embarked on his rigorous training to become the strongest—to protect those precious to him.
Doflamingo, who had been staying with them, was the one overseeing Shin's training, as he was uniquely suited for the task. He was determined to forge Shin into a beast within the limited time he had—before the truth about him surfaced across the world. Until then, he hoped to fulfill his duty, molding his student into a refined warrior.
Drenched in sweat, Shin's vision blurred as he continued running, his legs burning from the relentless pace. He had been sprinting nonstop for over an hour, pushing his body to its absolute limit.
Each day, Shin repeated the same grueling routine, only recently realizing how much weight he had lost since Doflamingo had taken over his training. Though he hadn't yet focused on honing his Quirk, the intense physical regimen was designed to enhance his body's balance and durability, ensuring he could wield his power at maximum efficiency.
Now, Shin understood—this was the perfect opportunity to shed excess weight, to tighten his physique. While being chubby wasn't inherently bad, it posed disadvantages in combat, particularly against faster opponents. His current form was undeniably weak, yet he had given everything during the USJ incident and the previous class test.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Shin exhaled sharply, bracing his hands on his knees as he fought to steady his breathing. His heart pounded violently, threatening to burst from exertion.
"This is hell on earth."
Despite his labored gasps, Shin's expression remained stoic, betraying no frustration. He knew he had to train harder than his classmates, to shatter his limits daily.
After completing several laps, Shin immediately dropped to the ground, launching into a brutal set of 100 push-ups, sit-ups, and squats. His muscles screamed in protest, his body slick with sweat before he finally collapsed, trembling. Doflamingo observed with detached calm.
"Weak."
The word stung. Gritting his teeth, Shin forced himself up, refusing to yield until he finished the last rep.
"That's it for today. Rest—tomorrow's training won't be easier."
"Alright," Shin growled before his arms gave out, sending him crashing back to the ground. His vision darkened at the edges as he dragged himself toward his backpack, fumbling for his water bottle. Gulping it down in one desperate swig, he summoned just enough strength to stagger home.
Meanwhile, Doflamingo's phone buzzed sharply. Retrieving it from his pocket, he glanced at the screen—then froze. The latest news headline glared back at him:
"Another Hero Slain in Hosu City by the Infamous Hero Killer: Stain."
Doflamingo couldn't suppress the dark chuckle that spilled from his lips. "Hero Killer, huh?"
Still sprawled on the floor, Shin glanced up. "Is something the matter, Uncle Doffy?"
"Don't concern yourself with me, Shin. I've merely stumbled upon something… intriguing."
"Won't ask what it is."
Gritting his teeth, Shin hauled himself upright, his head spinning violently. Yet, through sheer will, he steadied himself and trudged home, leaving Doflamingo behind.
The villain's gaze lingered on the news—another report of heroes slaughtered in Hosu City, one after another, all by the same man: Stain.
"Is this the League of Villains' doing?" Doflamingo mused, his voice deceptively calm yet laced with menace. "No… I doubt he serves them." A twisted grin curled across his face. "Don't die on me, Stain. Let's make this entertaining."
As if on cue, the sky darkened abruptly, clouds swallowing the sun before the rain descended in a torrential downpour.
"Tsk."
—--
In the living room, Shin sat with his parents, their eyes fixed on the news broadcast detailing the latest tragedy in Hosu City.
Another hero had fallen—another life claimed by the infamous Hero Killer, Stain.
The reporter emphasized that Stain's whereabouts remained unknown, urging citizens to report any suspicious activity in Hosu immediately.
"Hero Killer, Stain. What a monster, Nakamura muttered, shaking his head.
"Why haven't the heroes captured him yet?" Sakura, Shin's mother, fretted. "Leaving a villain like him unchecked will only bring more suffering."
"This makes four heroes he's killed," Shin murmured, clenching his fist. "Who's next?"
"A fair point, Shin. If this continues, no hero in Hosu will be safe."
"Shin, promise me you'll be careful."
"Speaking of which…" Nakamura lowered his voice. "Where the hell is Doflamingo? I swear, if that bastard stirs up trouble…"
"Shin," his mother interjected, "If you're free tomorrow, come with me to pick up supplies for Rika. She starts school next semester."
"Really? I'd love to."
Shin smiled faintly, shifting his gaze to his little sister. Soon, she'd begin her own journey—no longer just a kid, but a child stepping into the world.
"I'm glad to be your big brother," he whispered to himself, warmth flickering in his chest.
*Buzz.*
His phone erupted with noise—Kirishima's face flashed on the screen, demanding a video call.
"What's up, man?" Shin answered, forcing cheer into his voice.
Kirishima, ever energetic, grinned back. "All good here! You see the news?"
"Yeah. The Hero Killer, right?"
"Exactly! Think it's the League of Villains?"
"Hmm…" Shin's mind flashed back to the USJ incident. "Doubt it."
"Man, these villains are out of control. First, it was All Might Shigaraki wanted to kill, now this? Heroes dropping like flies—it's messed up!"
"Yeah. Let's just stay sharp and hope the pros handle Stain before another victim turns up."
"Agreed. Gonna check on Bakugo next—see how he's holding up."
"Good call. Thanks for checking in."
"Anytime, dude."
The call ended, but the weight of Kirishima's words lingered. Villains, unchecked, were carving their dominance into the country—and the thought gnawed at Shin relentlessly.
"Only the strong heroes prevail—the weak die."
Gritting his teeth in frustration, Shin exhaled sharply before retreating to his bedroom.
Morning arrived in a flash, sunlight spilling across the horizon as the rhythmic *whoosh* of fists cutting through air echoed through the training grounds. Sweat cascaded down Shin's body, his muscles burning with exertion.
Relentless in his pursuit of strength, his focus was razor-sharp—unyielding, unbroken. There was no room for doubt, no thought of surrender.
This was his path to power. His body needed refinement, and so he turned to the iron—gripping weights, pushing limits.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, he steadied himself before approaching Doflamingo.
The villain observed him with a scrutinizing gaze, noting the dramatic transformation—Shin's frame had shed its softness, honed into something leaner, harder.
"Now, I'll have you fight for real."
"Huh?" Shin blinked, stunned.
With a flick of his fingers, Doflamingo unleashed a torrent of razor strings, weaving them into a flawless, motion-perfect clone of himself.
"Holy crap." Shin's jaw slackened at the effortless display of power—no strain, no hesitation.
"So… I'm fighting your clone?"
"Precisely. Treat it as if it were Shigaraki from the USJ—"
Before the sentence finished, Shin lunged forward, fist driving toward the clone with all his might.
BOOM!
"Hehehahaha!"
Doflamingo's laughter boomed as Shin's punch was effortlessly caught in the clone's palm, the impact dissipating into nothing.
"Are you serious?!"
Shin backpedaled, putting distance between himself and the unnervingly still duplicate.
"Fight like your life depends on it—or you will get hurt," Doflamingo warned, fingers twitching.
The clone surged forward, leg whipping toward Shin's ribs. Shin pivoted just in time, eyes locked onto his opponent.
His fingers twitched—his Quirk activated—and a barrage of string bullets erupted from his fingertips. Yet the clone weaved through them effortlessly, untouched.
Doflamingo watched, lips curling in dark amusement as Shin struggled. With a horizontal slash, Shin cleaved the clone in two—only for the trees behind it to splinter violently from the residual force.
The clone dissolved, reappeared, and struck from behind. Shin's reflexes barely saved him, his body twisting aside at the last second.
A snap of Doflamingo's fingers—the clone flared, its presence intensifying as it advanced.
"Pathetic. My clone could've killed you a dozen times over. You're full of openings."
"Damn it!" Shin cursed, frustration boiling over. "How weak am I? This is… humiliating."
Doflamingo smirked. "Yes. You are weak. Pathetic, even." A pause. "But that's why I'm here. My mission is to forge you into something stronger."
Those words ignited a spark—faint, but undeniable—in Shin's chest. His fists clenched.
Doflamingo exhaled, tilting his head. "Tell me… have you ever heard of 'Awakening'?"
...
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