Chapter 1: The Last Villain Standing
Year 2126 AD
YGGDRASIL Launch Day - Global Server Population: 0
11:59:58... 11:59:59... 12:00:00
SERVERS ONLINE
The digital floodgates burst.
Ten million players. All at once. The servers didn't just buckle—they screamed.
I was there, finger hovering over the login button like a gunslinger at high noon. Mariano di Martino. Twenty-four years old, corporate drone by day, digital god by night. At least, that was the plan.
Connection established. Welcome to YGGDRASIL.
The moment I materialized in that starting plaza—surrounded by the chaos of millions of avatars spawning simultaneously—I knew this wasn't just another game.
[YGGDRASIL Official Forums - Launch Day Thread]
Thread: "HOLY SHIT THE FREEDOM IS REAL"
MagicMike2126: "Guys, I just spent 6 hours designing ONE NPC and I'm not even done with her backstory."
DragonSlayer99: "The skill trees don't have limits. I repeat: NO LIMITS. I just learned necromancy AND holy magic on the same character."
NoobHunter: "This is it. This is the game that kills all other games."
MarianoDiMartino: "You sweet summer children have no idea what's coming. 😈"
While others rushed to claim territory or grind levels, I sat in that cramped starter inn for three days straight. Not sleeping. Barely eating. Just... researching.
The NPC creation system wasn't some shallow character builder. It was digital alchemy. Pure, terrifying potential wrapped in deceptively simple menus.
"Appearance... Race... Equipment... Abilities... Personality Matrix... Backstory Integration..."
Each option branched into dozens more. Hundreds. Thousands. You could craft beings so detailed, so perfectly realized, that the line between AI and art dissolved completely.
But what made my hands shake with excitement wasn't the power.
It was the memory.
My Hero Academia.
[Personal Log - Day 3]
"They don't understand. None of them do.
I was seven when I first watched Deku cry. Twelve, when I realized All Might's smile was a lie. Sixteen, when I understood that heroes and villains were just two sides of the same broken coin.
The manga ended in 2023. The anime finished two years later. By 2050, it was 'retro.' By 2100, it was forgotten.
But I remember every panel. Every scene. Every moment where Midoriya Izuku proved that even the powerless could change the world.
And now... now I can bring it all back."
The first person to mock my vision was GuildMaster_Brutus in the general chat.
GuildMaster_Brutus: "LMAO someone's making a superhero guild? What is this, 2020? Go play City of Heroes, weeb."
MarianoDiMartino: "Oh, sweet child. You think I'm making heroes?"
GuildMaster_Brutus: "???"
MarianoDiMartino: "I'm making villains."
The chat went silent for exactly seventeen seconds. I counted.
MarianoDiMartino: "Welcome to the Paranormal Liberation Front. We're recruiting. Requirements are... specific."
[YGGDRASIL Official Forums - Guild Recruitment]
Thread: "[PLF] The Paranormal Liberation Front - Villain Recruitment Drive"
MarianoDiMartino [Guild Leader]: "Listen carefully, because I'll only say this once.
We are not heroes. We are not anti-heroes. We are not misunderstood protagonists with tragic backstories.
We are villains. Pure, unrepentant, magnificent villains.
Requirements:
1. Human avatar only. No exceptions. We're Quirkless in a world of magic.
2. Complete knowledge of My Hero Academia (manga AND anime, all seasons, all movies, yes even the bad ones).
3. Patience to see this project through to the end.
4. Thick skin, because we will be hated.
Do NOT apply if:
- You think Bakugo did nothing wrong
- You want to 'redeem' the League of Villains
- You're here for easy power or flashy spells
- You can't handle being the bad guy
We are recreating the single greatest villain organization in manga history. Every Quirk. Every technique. Every beautiful, terrible moment.
The heroes had their time.
Now it's our turn.
-Grand Commander Re-Destro"
Replies: 1,247
Applications: 3,891
Accepted: 30
KiraYoshikage2126: "This is the stupidest idea I've ever seen. MHA is dead for a reason."
MarianoDiMartino: "And yet here you are, commenting on our 'stupid' recruitment thread. Rent free, baby. Rent. Free. 💀"
OP_Superman: "You realize everyone's just going to counter-build against you once they figure out your gimmick?"
MarianoDiMartino: "Counter-build against what? We haven't shown our hand yet. But please, keep theorycrafting. Your tears will season our victory beautifully."
MagicSupremacist: "Why would you handicap yourselves by avoiding magic? This is YGGDRASIL, not some hero simulator."
MarianoDiMartino: "Oh, sweet summer child. You think magic makes you powerful? Magic is a crutch. Magic is predictable. When everyone expects fireballs and healing spells, who's ready for Decay? For Compress? For Overhaul, breaking you down molecule by molecule? But don't worry—you'll understand soon enough. From the respawn screen. 😈"
The recruitment process was... educational.
Day one: Twelve applicants claimed to know MHA "inside and out." Eleven couldn't tell me Shigaraki's real name.
"Tomura Shigaraki," said DarkEdgeLord47.
"Wrong." I smiled at my webcam during our interview. "That's his villain name. I asked for his real name."
"Uh... Tenko?"
"Tenko, what, genius?"
Long pause. "...Shimura?"
Click. Application denied.
The thirteenth applicant was different.
VillainAcademia22: "Tenko Shimura. Grandson of Nana Shimura, the Seventh wielder of One For All. Born with a Decay Quirk that manifested during a moment of emotional distress, killing his family. Taken in by All For One, groomed to become the ultimate weapon against hero society. Real question is—are we talking pre-awakening Shigaraki or post-Star and Stripe evolution?"
I leaned back in my chair.
"Welcome to the PLF."
[Private PLF Discord - Member Count: 30]
#general-chat
MarianoDiMartino: "Alright, psychopaths. Team assignments.
Team Alpha - League of Villains (Classic): Shigaraki, Dabi, Toga, Twice, Spinner. You know the drill.
Team Bravo - Meta Liberation Army: Re-Destro, Curious, Trumpet, Geten. The suits are with the cause.
Team Charlie - Eight Precepts of Death: Overhaul, Chronostasis, the expendable minions who die for character development.
Team Delta - Nomu Development: All the beautiful, terrible High-End monsters.
Team Echo - Wild Cards: Stain, Gentle Criminal, anyone else worth our time?
Team Foxtrot - Special Projects. You'll know when you need to know."
VillainAcademia22: "Dibs on Shigaraki. I've been practicing the hand gestures."
OverhaulPerfection: "If anyone screws up Kai's perfectionist personality, I'm griefing them personally."
TogaSimp2126: "Why do I feel like I'm going to regret asking to be Himiko..."
MarianoDiMartino: "Because you absolutely will. But you'll love every second of it. 😈"
For three months, we worked in secret.
While other guilds focused on raid strategies and PvP rankings, we turned ourselves into digital archaeologists. Every manga panel became a blueprint. Every anime scene became a reference video. We studied frame rates, analyzed facial expressions, and memorized speech patterns.
"Shigaraki doesn't just scratch his neck," I explained during one of our voice calls. "He claws at it. The motion starts from anxiety, becomes compulsive, and turns into a tic. It's not random—it's trauma made manifest. Get it right or get out."
The breakthrough came when TechnoMancer_Dave joined our cause.
Not as a player. As a developer.
[Private Message - Developer Channel]
TechnoMancer_Dave: "Saw your guild recruitment post. MHA fan since day one. Wanted to reach out."
MarianoDiMartino: "...Are you about to ban us for something?"
TechnoMancer_Dave: "Opposite. I want to help. What you're trying to do... recreating Quirks in a magic-based system... It's impossible with current game mechanics."
MarianoDiMartino: "I'm listening."
TechnoMancer_Dave: "What if it wasn't impossible?"
What followed was six months of the most intensive collaboration in gaming history.
Dave coded. We tested. The system broke. Dave fixed it. We broke it again. Dave rebuilt it better.
"Quirk Factor Integration... Biological Override Protocols... Mutation Tracking Systems..."
The Quirk race was born from pure obsession.
Unlike magic, which drew from external mana pools, Quirks were biological. Part of your character's DNA. They could strengthen through use, weaken from overuse, or mutate under stress. Each one was unique, just like the source material.
But the best part?
They were completely incompatible with traditional magic systems.
No mana regeneration potions for us. No spell scrolls. No magical equipment synergies. Just raw, biological evolution in its purest form.
"It's not balanced," Dave warned us during the final testing phase. "Against pure mages, you'll struggle early game. Against physical builds, you'll dominate the late game. The power curve is completely asymmetrical."
I grinned at my screen.
"Perfect."
[YGGDRASIL Official Forums - New Race Announcement]
Thread: "[OFFICIAL] Quirk Race Now Available - Biological Evolution System"
YGGDRASILDev_Team: "After extensive testing with select guild partners, we're pleased to announce the Quirk race is now publicly available. This experimental race focuses on biological adaptation rather than magical enhancement. Please note: Quirk users cannot access traditional magic systems."
First Reply - 0.3 seconds later
MagicSupremacist: "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS BULLSHIT?"
MarianoDiMartino: "It's called evolution, sweetheart. Try to keep up. 😘"
The outrage was delicious.
Thread: "PLF Guild is Ruining PvP Balance - NERF NEEDED"
GuildMaster_Brutus: "These assholes just 5v1'd our entire raid team. FIVE PEOPLE. Their 'Decay' user touched our tank, and he just... dissolved. How is that fair?"
MarianoDiMartino: "Skill issue. Have you tried getting good? I hear it works wonders. 🤡"
ArchMageSupreme: "This is broken. I hit their speedster with a Tier 10 Lightning Spell, and he just... redirected it? With his bare hands?"
MarianoDiMartino: "Imagine losing to someone with no magic. Couldn't be me. Oh, wait—it literally was you. Yesterday. On livestream. 💀"
HolyPaladin2126: "They're griefing newbies in starter zones with some kind of mind control power!"
MarianoDiMartino: "It's called Brainwashing, honey. Read a manga sometime. And those weren't newbies—they were your alt accounts. We checked the IP logs. Nice try though! 😂"
But the real chaos began when other guilds tried to copy us.
Thread: "Anyone Know How to Make Proper Zombies? Asking for a Friend"
DeathKnight_Edgelord: "Made a whole undead army, but they're just walking around bumping into walls. The PLF's Nomu actually fights with strategy. What am I doing wrong?"
MarianoDiMartino: "Oh darling, you sweet summer child. You think you can just copy our homework and get the same grade?
Here's a free tip: Nomu aren't zombies. They're engineered. Each one is custom-built for specific combat scenarios. Their apparent mindlessness is actually perfect tactical programming.
But sure, keep spawning generic skeleton warriors. I'm sure that'll work out great for you. 😈
P.S. - Saw your guild war stream last night. Your 'undead army' got bodied by a single AoE spell. Maybe stick to what you know best: losing. 💀"
[PLF Private Discord - Victory Celebration Channel]
#guild-wars-highlights
MarianoDiMartino: "Did everyone see that Beautiful Death Guild try to 'improve' our Overhaul design?"
OverhaulPerfection: "They gave him wings. WINGS. Kai would rather die than be that aesthetically offensive."
VillainAcademia22: "The best part was when their 'Shigaraki' kept trying to cast fireball spells."
MarianoDiMartino: "I almost felt bad. Almost. Then I remembered they called us 'derivative' in global chat."
TogaSimp2126: "Are we terrible people for enjoying this so much?"
MarianoDiMartino: "Honey, we're villains. Being terrible people is literally our brand. Embrace it. 😈"
Years passed like pages in a manga.
Our guild base grew from a simple hideout into a sprawling underground complex. The first floor: a seemingly abandoned warehouse. Deeper levels revealed the truth—medical laboratories, training facilities, holding cells for "test subjects" (captured NPCs), and at the very bottom, the Nomu production facility.
"Welcome to Jaku Hospital," I would whisper into voice chat whenever we had visitors. "We hope your stay is... educational."
The infiltration attempts were always the same. Overconfident guild alliances, convinced they'd found our weakness. They'd breach the first level easily—too easily—only to discover that every step deeper brought fresh horrors.
Nomu in the corridors. Twice's clones in the vents. Toga's blood puppets are behind every door.
"Warning: Specimen breach detected in Sublevel 3," our PA system would announce. "All personnel, please remain calm. This is not a drill."
From our command center, we'd watch their health bars drain like wine from a broken glass. The lucky ones made it to the respawn point. The unlucky ones logged out permanently.
But only one guild ever made it to the final floor.
Ainz Ooal Gown.
[YGGDRASIL Official Forums - Epic Guild War Compilation]
Thread: "PLF vs AOG - The War of the Century"
BattlefieldObserver: "Holy shit, guys, they're actually doing it. Both guilds have deployed their full rosters."
MarianoDiMartino: "Momonga-kun wants to play? How delightful. I hope he's prepared for what comes next. 💀"
Touch_Me_If_You_Can: "Bring it on, villain scum. Justice will prevail!"
MarianoDiMartino: "Justice? Oh, sweetie, this isn't a hero story. This is a villain's origin arc. And guess what? We always win those. 😈"
The first clash lasted eighteen hours.
Ainz Ooal Gown came prepared for everything—except us. Their holy magic crashed against our Nomu like waves against a seawall. Their strategic positioning crumbled when Twice flooded the battlefield with perfect duplicates. Their trump cards faded when Overhaul simply... unmade their legendary weapons.
"This is impossible," Momonga typed in private chat after his guild's third strategic retreat. "Your NPCs are fighting like they're actually thinking."
I smiled at my screen.
"That's because they are. We didn't just create characters, Momonga-kun. We created souls. Every personality quirk, every tactical preference, every emotional trigger—it's all there. They're not following AI scripts. They're following their hearts."
"...How?"
"Love. We built them with love."
A long pause.
"That's the most terrifying thing you've ever said."
"Good. Fear me."
But even gods fall.
One by one, my guild members found other games. Real life called. College. Jobs. Relationships. The usual suspects who murder digital dreams.
"Sorry, Mariano. Got that promotion. Won't have time for raids anymore."
"My girlfriend says I spend too much time online. Maybe she's right."
"It's been fun, but I think I'm done with gaming for a while."
Thirty became twenty. Twenty became ten. Ten became five.
Five became two.
Two became...
"Hey man, I'm really sorry, but—"
"Let me guess. Real life?"
"Yeah. My dad's sick, and I need to move back home. Take care of yourself, okay? And... take care of them."
The connection ended.
I stared at the empty guild roster. Forty-nine offline members. One online.
Me.
[PLF Private Discord - #general-chat]
Last Message: 3 months ago
MarianoDiMartino: "Anyone still out there?"
No replies.
MarianoDiMartino: "Guess not."
No replies.
MarianoDiMartino: "Well... It's been real, everyone. Thanks for the memories."
No replies.
Now, as I sit in our command center for the final time, the weight of silence presses against my chest like a physical thing. The monitors still glow. The systems still hum. The NPCs still wait in their designated positions, perfect and terrible and mine.
But the voices are gone. The laughter. The heated strategy debates at 3 AM. The triumph after successful raids. The bonds forged in digital fire.
YGGDRASIL ends in six hours. The servers will go dark. The Paranormal Liberation Front will die with them.
I am the last villain standing.
The last keeper of our digital rebellion.
The last one to remember that heroes aren't born—they're made.
By villains like us.
"All For One... this is for you."
Five hours and fifty-nine minutes remaining.
Time to see if legends can survive the apocalypse.
[YGGDRASIL Official Forums - Final Hours Thread]
Thread: "Last Words Before Server Shutdown"
MarianoDiMartino: "To everyone who called us broken, unbalanced, unfair—
You were right.
We were all of those things.
We were also magnificent.
Thanks for the hate mail. Thanks for the forum rage threads. Thanks for making us infamous.
It was... plus ultra.
-Grand Commander Re-Destro
Leader of the Paranormal Liberation Front
The Last Villain Standing"
Thread Locked - Server Shutdown Imminent
<><><>
The stage is set. The players are chosen.
Now... who should stand beside me when the world ends?
Suggest your NPCs, and let's see if we can make this new world a little more... villainous.