"Hey, hey! Kid, step aside for a moment."
A bright, easygoing voice suddenly rang out behind Izuku Midoriya.
At the same instant—
A massive cloud of black mist materialized out of thin air.
Two figures stepped out from within it.
One wore a bartender's uniform, his head and hands shrouded in swirling black fog.
The other—
A black-haired youth clad in a cold, military-style black uniform, draped in an enormous black cape (think Lelouch), his face concealed behind a unique black mask that covered the right eye and lower half of his face (reminiscent of Kaneki Ken), leaving only his left eye visible.
These two were none other than Shigaraki Tomura—already changed into his disguise—and his "caretaker," Kurogiri.
Their sudden appearance made All Might, who had been about to charge forward, freeze mid-step. Confusion filled his face.
The Heroes stationed around the perimeter wore identical expressions.
Who are those two?
What is that black mist?
Amid the stunned silence—
Shigaraki casually hooked three fingers under Midoriya's collar and gently pulled him away from Bakugo.
"…Sigh. Kid, that won't work. Let me handle this."
Midoriya stumbled backward and fell onto the ground, staring blankly at the strange man who had just called him "kid."
Black hair.
Black uniform.
Massive black cape.
Against the backdrop of raging flames, the dark silhouette radiated overwhelming pressure.
Shock gave way to an instinctive sense of awe.
Because of the angle, Midoriya couldn't clearly see his face.
But from the side, he could vaguely make out—
A black mask.
Shigaraki noticed Midoriya staring at him but didn't pay it much attention. Instead, he shifted his gaze toward the Sludge Villain and casually greeted the prospective "recruit."
"Hello there, Mr. Sludge."
"You bastard—get lost!"
Clearly, the Sludge Villain didn't appreciate the courtesy. He roared and immediately launched an attack at Shigaraki.
Well.
That reaction was fully within Shigaraki's expectations.
After all—
Villains gonna Villain.
"Watch out!"
Though they had no idea who Shigaraki was, the Heroes instinctively shouted warnings when they saw the incoming attack.
"Stay back! Watch the explosions!"
BOOM!
Too late.
An explosion erupted directly in front of Shigaraki.
The Sludge Villain was using Bakugo's Quirk against him.
That was the defining trait of the Sludge Villain—
He could seize control of another's body and Quirk.
Shigaraki narrowed his eye slightly.
Truthfully—
If not for the fact that the Sludge Villain's Quirk was genuinely useful, and his crimes weren't entirely unforgivable, Shigaraki wouldn't even consider recruiting someone like this.
After all—
According to his grand plan, the organization he intended to build shouldn't just be powerful.
Even if not filled with breathtaking beauties or handsome elites—
At the very least, the members should be… visually tolerable.
If he had to stare at a group of grotesque creatures all day, how could his mood possibly stay pleasant?
Unfortunately—
At this stage, he didn't have the luxury of choice.
Powerful Quirks paired with good looks were rare.
So for now—
He'd have to pick the best candidate available among the Villains.
But judging by the current situation—
This prospective underling was rather disobedient.
Daring to attack him?
Clearly lacking proper "social discipline."
Guess he needed a little correction.
With that thought—
Shigaraki slowly raised his right hand.
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