A.N. This chapter may be a bit shorter than the rest, but I simply wanted to draw a line between the events of the first and second seasons. Foreshadow of what's coming and conclude a couple of loose ends.

Somewhere around midnight, in one particular town in Illinois, the people of one particular district were woken up by a loud screeching noise. The otherworldly creature, with a rough, stereotypical ghostly shape, was the one that interrupted the good people's sleep. The glow of its red, beady eyes, was only rivalled by the luminescence of its pearly white skin. And it screeched due to the pain it endured after receiving a blast into the face, hitting the nearest wall.

Somewhere by its side, a girl helped her friend get up to his feet. Both were teenagers. The former had pale skin, raven hair tied in a high bun, and striking lilac eyes, also dressed in a dark gothic outfit. On her wrist she had a miniature blaster, whose silvery build and green markings indicated its Fenton origins. Her friend was an African American in a yellow sweater, who quickly scooped up his scarlet beret as he got up. He had been rendered weaponless by the rampant ghost, that had pushed the blaster out of his reach. Luckily, the two of them had some assistance.

"Thanks for the save, Val," said the boy, Tucker.

The gratitude was addressed towards the figure that floated above them, rising a flying board. Clad in a scarlet high-tech armour, Valerie held a smoking bazooka-like weapon. It has hit the spectre hard.

"Have to keep you rookies alive," the girl smirked under her helmet.

"Who are you calling rookies?" Asked Tucker in dismay, as everyone heard the ghost roar once more.

"Geez, it just won't go down," muttered Sam and fired from her wrist blaster.

This time, with its supernatural speed, the ghost dodged and lunged towards the two. Sam and Tucker barely managed to dodge, and Valerie's barrage of emerald-green shots kept it distracted enough to let the two take a breather. Tucker dug in his small bag and unfolded a metal rod that turned into a staff. With a weak exclamation the teen boy hit the spectre on the head, but to no effect. The ghost turned towards him and growled, salivating.

"Oh, crud."

But then, Valerie switched the mode of her gun and fired a glowing green net that covered the ghost in an instant, pinning it to the ground.

"Danny made it look so easy!" Tucker exclaimed.

"You forgot to turn it on!" Responded Sam.

"Ah!" Tucker saw a small switch and flipped it, before the staff sparkled with otherworldly electricity. The next second he hit the downed enemy and zapped it, earning another chilling scream. The hit drained a large amount of the beast's power.

The next second Sam took out the famed Fenton thermos and turned it on, sucking the spectre inside. And once the lid was put back on, the girl could finally sigh in relief as the threat to their life was kept deep inside a reliable contraption. It was the third one they had caught that night, and it was probably the high time they went to their homes.

"Well, that does it," Tucker smirked and pulled out his PDA. Tapping with his stylus a couple of times, he checked out another district.

"Shouldn't you two be asleep right now?" Asked Valerie as she stepped on the ground and took off the helmet, revealing a chocolate-skinned girl their age.

"Same goes for you," Sam huffed. "Does your Dad know you snuck out?"

"What he doesn't know won't harm him. We could always use the extra money."

"As long as your consciousness is clear after working for Masters," the goth girl rebutted and shrugged.

The notorious mayor of Amity Park was a person that many people couldn't remember why they voted for. Still, many chose to flow with it, for the man was rich, not shy of investing into the town himself and thus granting many jobs, and also quite charismatic and charming. However, Danny and his friends knew who in reality that man was and how much danger he posed to everyone's wellbeing. Valerie, however, remained oblivious to the truth, with Sam and Tucker being unable to change her views without revealing things that could endanger them in return.

"He pays me for keeping it all together. Danny is hell knows where, and someone has to do this."

"He left because he needed a break. You were a part of the problem."

Two girls glared daggers at each other, and Tucker sensed that he needed to ease the tension somehow.

"He said he forgave me," Valerie mumbled. "And I didn't hunt him anymore."

"Hey, girls, let's not argue right now. We all are tired, it's getting too late."

"Shut up, Tucker," Valerie and Sam both directed their anger at the boy.

"Of course, hate the messenger of peace," Tucker shrugged, looking at the place where the ghost used to lie. "Sheesh, at least those aren't as tough."

"Come to think of it," Sam mumbled. "Ever since Danny left, we haven't had any ghosts stronger than the third level."

"So... Wulf was right?" Asked Tucker.

"Right about what?" Valerie raised an eyebrow.

"He suspected that the high-level ghosts are coming after Danny only. It's been over a month and we never saw any."

"But why would they do that?" Asked the curly-haired girl in worry. For everything that had been between them, the ghost boy was still someone who had a special place in her heart.

"Wouldn't you like to know," retorted Sam, who held no liking for the huntress in red, also due to everything that had been between her and Fenton. "Ghosts live by the right of the strongest. And try to guess who is the one after the Ghost King was beaten."

Valerie's eyes widened. "But... doesn't that mean that wherever Danny is, they are going to track him down?"

Sam and Tucker exchanged glances. "We hope not, he hid well enough."

"You could just tell me where he is... Is this because of Vlad again?" Valerie suddenly realised.

"Well..."

"We know Masters is after him just as everyone else," Tucker explained. "The last person Danny needs to see now is that frootloop. And he is your boss, so it ain't happening. We are sorry, Val. We could ask him to call you, but don't expect much."

The huntress smiled. "This will do for now...you know I'm not asking this because of my boss. I care about him as much as both of you."

"Whatever," Sam rolled her eyes. "But... thanks for the help, I suppose."

"I'm always there to assist," the huntress smirked and flew off on her board. Sam felt Tucker tapping her on the shoulder, and the two of them turned to leave.

The night was serene and quiet on that day. The two friends didn't talk for the large part of the way, each consumed by the pressing thoughts. It... was not the same without the half ghost. In a way, Danny was the cheerful glue that held Sam and Tucker, the two polar opposites together. They were still best friends, no doubt, but they both felt like something had been missing. Yet, they knew they couldn't exploit their friend like this, keep him bound to them against his will and perhaps his best interests. From the calls they received, he was happy living in that new world, and either was happy for him.

It wouldn't hurt for them to meet in flesh some time.

-Linebreak-

It didn't take long for the students and some teachers to gather together after the fight. And albeit the newly arrived staff was dying to get some answers as to what had transpired, there were admittedly far more important issues at hand. With how many villains there were, someone had to call the police to detain that small army. The students that had gathered outside were eagerly discussing each of their respective fights. Danny himself stood by them, sitting on the body of the downed purple beast. He didn't know why he had carried Nomu there, but it would be difficult to transport anyhow and someone had to do that. Let it be the very slayer. Furthermore, if it woke up, someone had to keep watch just in case.

"Keeping it together, kid?"

The surprised halfa looked to his side, and saw his guardian clad in his coat standing there. Tsukauchi blinked in shock at seeing the dry blood on the teen's face, but Danny didn't seem to be at all bothered by it. He would have to take a shower first, though.

"Hey, old man!" Fenton greeted him with a grin. "What are you doing here?"

Realising what he had meant, the detective responded. "I am often called on such cases. Even if there is nothing to be uncovered yet," the man winked. "With how many villains there were, we needed every officer and car in close vicinity. You haven't answered, though."

"I'm fine. Those idiots didn't know who they were dealing with," Danny shrugged.

"As confident as ever, I see," Tsukacuhi mumbled.

"Hey, I took down the Frankenstein that was supposed to kill All Might, give me some credit, grandpa."

The detective stared first at his charge, then at the monster underneath him. He would question the teen later, but at the moment there were other things to do.

"Everyone, please gather round. I need to check if everyone is alright," he said and fished out the list.

The man quickly did the headcount, before nodding.

"Hm... everyone seems to have gotten away with only a couple of minor injuries. Those are good news."

"Fenton-san had his arm bitten off," Midoriya blurted out.

Tsukauchi glanced back and saw how Danny wriggled his fingers with a grin.

"That's some amazing healing he had!" The green-haired teen continued with excitement. "How far can you take it?"

"Got run over by a rollercoaster once. Recovered from being a pile of goo," Phantom shrugged again. "So I'd say pretty far as long as I am a ghost."

And again the whole class, and even Tsukauchi turned pale.

"What kind of life have you had, man?!" Asked Kirishima.

"It's been one wild year."

In fact, it entailed a slain god, multiple nigh-death experiences, time and space travels and the all-country race against a maniac with a reality bending gauntlet.

"You are just full of shit, spook," Bakugo exclaimed. "You just come up with this stuff on the go."

"Careful there, Goldilocks," Danny's eyes flashed as he smirked. "Or I will possess you, too."

Bakugo instinctively took half a step back. And then Danny got a light slap across the back of his head.

"Don't threaten your classmates, Danny," Tsukauchi said nonchalantly. "But... did you say 'possess'?"

"He took over this monster's body, kero," Tsu commented. "It was scary and off-putting."

"Come on, guys, it was a joke," Danny moaned. "I don't possess people close to me."

"I sense a lie, Daniel," The detective said sternly, still coming to terms with his charge having yet another terrifying power. Losing control of your fortress - your own body, was always a chilling thought.

"I don't anymore," Danny clarified. "It was harmless back then, too."

This time he spoke the truth.

"You didn't tell me you could do that."

"I said I have the powers of a ghost. It's even in my registry," Phantom shrugged. "Why shouldn't I be able to take over someone's body?"

Tsukauchi sighed. That kid kept stunning him more and more with each passing day. But, if he really hadn't done anything with the power more suited for a villain, he had the detective's trust still.

"In any case," Tsukauchi said. "If everyone is alright, I believe you should return to your classrooms. We don't intend to interrogate you."

"Yeah," Kirishima cackled, "You've got plenty of people to ask."

Danny looked at the line of villains embarking on the less than pleasant buses with iron bars. He recalled the words one of them had said. They knew who he was under the guise, and it took only one out of a hundred to spill the beans. The halfa could only hope that they had more pressing issues than uncovering someone who might as well have been a double agent all along.

"Isn't every teacher currently in there, though?" Phantom asked, not diverting his eyes from the soon-to-be prisoners.

"They are? Well, I should go and see them, then," the detective took off his felt hat. "And Danny, you should go and take shower."

"Oh, brother, I wanted to keep the smelly blood in my hair," the halfa responded sarcastically. "Don't worry about this guy," he tapped on Nomu's head. "Been in his head, absolutely empty. He won't resist without being given command by his boss."

Tsukauchi nodded to his subordinate to confirm if the latter he had heard everything correctly. Then, as the students went for the bus, eagerly chatting about how everything transpired, the detective went towards the building. He made a glance towards the class and smiled lightly. Danny seemed to be the centre of attention, and in a good way, too. As his guardian, Tsukauchi couldn't help but be pleased with the development. He had been immensely surprised by the fact that Danny of all people had been elected a class rep, proud, yet baffled. But seeing how popular he was among his peers, it didn't seem that out of place. Tsukauchi merely wished to see that side of his charge more often. The side that was evidently there.

He made his way inside, instantly bearing witness to the destruction of the place. Though not critical, it wasn't subtle at all. No attempts to remove the debris were made just yet, but some heroes were busy looking for the remaining criminals. Near the entrance several heroes had grouped together, accompanied by the principal himself. The small mouse creature noticed the newcomer and smiled.

"Ah, detective Tsukauchi. You are quick as always."

"Thank you," Tsukauchi smiled, before his look turned serious. "Have you found anything of note yet?"

"There wasn't much to find," responded Midnight.

"But the defence systems are clearly in need of certain improvements," added Nezu.

Tsukauchi nodded. "It will be the most logical step. I'd like to ask for your permission to investigate every corner of the school to be on the safe side."

"Of course!" The principal said cheerfully. "You in the police are certainly better at this. Well, I will leave it to you, then. If you need me, I'll always be in my office."

At that, the heroes slowly took their leave. All but one. Tsukauchi started looking for his close friend, only to find the gargantuan and usually flamboyant man sitting on one of the benches, with thin layers of smoke coming off his body. Somewhat confused, the detective chose to approach All Might, who immediately noticed his presence.

"Taukauchi-san!" The hero greeted. "It's good to see you!"

"Likewise, Toshinori-san," the detective nodded, before with a big puff the giant was reduced to the gaunt and skeleton-thin shape. "There seems to be something on your mind. Is something wrong?"

Toshinori stared at his friend. Perhaps it was for the better that it was Tsukauchi who came to talk.

"It's about your kid."

"Oh?" The detective raised an eyebrow and sat near him. "What about Danny?"

"Can you be confident about young Fenton's backstory?"

"I asked him direct questions. Where he is from, what's his family like, I witnessed him calling his sister," Tsukauchi counted. "All in all, I don't really have any doubts about it. But why do you ask?"

"When I looked at him just now, I... only saw him."

At first Tsukauchi hadn't grasped what the hero meant, but he wouldn't have been a detective if he hadn't been able to understand what All Might meant.

"And his choice of words...this 'farce'. I've had this whole phrase itched at the back of my brain. He said it just before Nana was murdered. And now this boy comes, looking like his splitting image, minus the eyes, saying such things. I am ashamed that I even suspect a probably innocent child of this, but I cannot help it."

"It's just a phrase, Toshinori-san."

"That is why it pains me to even consider this. But there is more. Tsukauchi-san," All Might looked up. "He stole a villain's Quirk."

Tsukauchi's eyes widened in shock.

"Are you sure of that?"

"Aizawa told me. During the fight, he harnessed the power of one of the villains' leaders and used it against the beast. He didn't take it completely, the criminal still had it in the end, but now young Fenton possesses it, too. I wanted to ask you for something, my friend."

At Tsukauchi's nod, All Might continued. "I don't wish to come off as too prying. Could you, perhaps, ask for the principles behind this ability? It could just be a similar one, not something deriving from it."

"You are now willing to assume their relation," Tsukauchi concluded. "I don't think this is the case. Danny is a kind soul, and he spent his life away from Japan."

"Have you ever asked him how he knows Japanese?"

Tsukauchi froze for a moment. Come to think of it, he had never asked about the boy's impeccable language skills.

"I never have, actually," he mumbled thoughtfully. "But at this point, I won't be surprised that it is another ability of his Quirk. I wouldn't jump to conclusions," the detective stood up. "A simple conversation even with someone like him should suffice."

"That's easy to say for someone with a lie-detecting Quirk," All Might chuckled. "You are most certainly correct."

"And what would you do if your suspicions prove to be correct?"

All Might's look became confident. "Then we will have all the more stimulus to guide him on the right path. I have seen young Fenton in action and I have seen him near his classmates. He gets carried away when given free reign, but as long as there is someone else nearby he is always watchful and protective of his friends. I can sense the kind heart. But as I said, I also sense too many parallels and occasionally something malicious breaks through. All for One has been defeated, but I saw his brief reflection within young Fenton. If this child truly is his, we can't allow his heritage to take hold over such a promising hero."

"I see what you mean. That's what I am here for," Tsukauchi smiled. "I'm sure that as long as he has someone to rely on, Danny won't stray from the hero path. But when left to his devices, he got tangled up with the wrong company and was not afraid to challenge the law and bend it. That's the problem."

"You may be correct, my friend. But I don't think you should deny your charge the agency like this. He is a stubborn child."

"I would certainly know," sighed Tsukauchi. "There's also the reaction of others if Danny is All for One's son."

"I'm certain his friends will realise that young Fenton is his own person. And besides, they don't know who he is."

"I don't mean them," the detective responded slowly.

"The HPSC," the blonde hero mumbled grimly. "I see where you are coming from. The Safety commission always tries to keep tabs on the strongest heroes."

"And especially dangerous cases," added Tsukauchi. "A son of the most dangerous villain in Japan's history, already defeating a monster that was supposed to kill you. But to be honest, the greatest concern to me is the backlash. Danny doesn't take kindly to restrictions, and I fear that he may react too brazenly to even more of them being imposed on him."

"Do you fear he will go rogue?"

"I suspect so. And I just know Danny is not going to listen to me when it comes to that. So he is, to an extent, a ticking bomb. I can only hope that his new duties will rid him of those selfish ideas."

"Selfish, huh?" All Might mumbled.

That's what his friend's unshakable stance was, it appeared. That condescension is not going to lead to anything good.

-Linebreak-

"You know what I want to know, Danny-kun?" Asked Mina as they rode back to the school.

The halfa raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"How did you learn to make portals like that?" The girl inquired excitedly.

As everyone turned into ears, the halfa looked at his palm, before the purple fog came back.

"You heard what I told the guy. He uses the same energy I do. And this means I can absorb and utilise it. This already happened before. I used to control the weather," Danny grinned. "But it worked very haphazardly, as they for some reason attached to my emotions. Each time I got angry, everyone would see thunder and lighting. It would rain when I am sad, and so on. In the end, I returned it, not on my own accord, but I was still glad to get rid of this dangerous stuff. I wonder what limits I have this time..."

Phantom's friends of ghostly kind, especially those knowledgeable in the subject had explained the situation to him pretty simply. Each unique power of a ghost was dictated by their obsessions. Danny's, however, meant protecting others, it was so general and unspecific that his core had interpreted it as the need to acquire as much power as possible to survive and aid others. It adapted and absorbed unique ghostly energies when they came into contact. However, that entailed being hit by those, something Danny wasn't happy to try.

"That's amazing!" Danny could swear he was seeing stars in Midoriya's eyes as he wrote that stuff down. "This means that your adaptability is hardly matched by anyone. And each fight will just make you stronger..."

Fenton looked away. He still felt uncomfortable at getting such praises.

"Not every fight. Only against someone like our little fog machine. I can't learn yours or, say, Kirishima's," Danny pointed at his friend.

"That's more than enough, man," Kirishima rolled his eyes. "I'm more surprised by the tools you had."

"Which reminds me," Danny made a grubby gesture. Begrudgingly, his friends returned the headphones.

Once they were back in his bag, the halfa chuckled. "Not gonna take the credit. The design ain't mine. I just copied them from what my parents had made."

"And what about that thing the hand-villain destroyed?" Asked Mineta.

"Shigaraki is his name, I think," Danny pretended to be in thought. "It is a modification of what my parents came up with and dumped it because the thing refused to work. It's supposed to absorb the ectoplasmic energy and store it inside. I came up with a brilliant idea...alright, it was totally by accident, that I can fuel the device with my own energy. What I had back then is a more comfortable device. Doesn't take as much space, doesn't dangle on your belt. Now I'll have to make another one," the halfa sighed dramatically. "My allowance isn't that big, damn it."

"But how did you know to bring it now, kero?" Tsu tilted her head.

Danny kept smiling, but on the inside he was rapidly trying to come up with an excuse.

"I don't leave my house without my gadgets. Something I was taught since my childhood and what I advice you guys to do as well."

"Ha! Like I would need any of that shit!" Bakugo barked a laugh. "You run around with your toys, spook."

"I wouldn't underestimate old Fentons," Danny spoke. He sounded sincere, albeit any warmth was nonexistent in his words. "They once made a suit that I...borrowed. It increased my power by ten times, but came with a downside of slowly killing me through the destruction of my nervous system. Later that downside was removed and my sister almost killed me. And she is Quirkless."

"Why would you and your sister even fight?" Kirishima asked.

"We had an argument back then. I don't think she was trying to kill, rather venting some frustration with me. But man... that ectoskeleton is something else. She probably didn't even realise the strength she was putting into her hits."

"Uhm... Danny-kun?" Asked Mina. "Detective Tsukauchi is your guardian, right?"

"What?!" Asked Midoriya. "Oh, that's cool!"

"Midoriya," Iida hissed into his ear. "You know what that means, don't you?"

A look of realisation crossed the boy's features, as he visibly panicked.

"I-I didn't mean to..."

The tension vanished as Danny let out a laugh.

"That's fine, pal. Each member of my family is still very much alive, if that's what you are asking, Mina. But they kicked me out of our home, so here I am," he shrugged.

A heavy silence hung around their part of the bus. Few could actually believe that Danny's own parents chose to get rid of someone like him. To most of them, the halfa was a friendly guy, someone who could act responsible when need be and whose tremendous power hadn't gone to his head. They saw absolutely no reason for someone to just cast him aside like that.

"How are you so calm about this?!" Exclaimed Kirishima.

"I felt like shit, there was a lot of shouting, and my parents used the entirety of their vocabulary, composed entirely of diminutive synonyms of the word 'scum'. But it happened months ago, no point in bitching about it. But I will definitely punch my father into the face next time we meet for what he said about me 'not being a child of theirs'."

His experience and knowledge of what damage grief could could cause both to a person, and the world around them, rid him of the desire to wallow in his misery. He had to be stronger than that. It would be a lie to say that it wasn't causing him any pain still, but he was not going to let it overtake him and dictate his actions.

"You have one insane family, Fenton-san," Kaminari mumbled. "Just don't cause an armageddon because of that," he cackled.

Danny's expression, however, turned perhaps too serious, which surprised everyone.

"Don't joke like that," he spoke. "There's no way I'm going to do that."

"Uhm... we know, Danny-kun," Mina scratched her temple. "Why are you getting so anxious about it all of a sudden?"

Danny looked away. "It's nothing," he was quick to dismiss the question.

Talking about his grim, supposedly predestined fate was not something he wished to divulge. He hadn't even told them about his past as a hero, for reasons he himself wasn't sure of. Perhaps it was merely an atavism from his life built on lies that still lingered within him. But by refusing to share his life-story with the people he had grown close to, wasn't he stepping on the same rake again? Danny pushed that depressing and pointless pondering, as always focusing on the present, and letting a smile on his face overtake him. There was no sense in looking inside himself when there were things that demanded his attention elsewhere.

Like a particular blonde "hero trainee".

The halfa knew for certain that Aoyama was to blame for the attack just as much as the people who were currently in less accommodating buses. He had a rectifying circumstance, certainly, but Danny couldn't simply let it slide. Aoyama had been caught red-handed, stealing the documents the villains openly admitted to have used. The blonde knew the class rep was not stupid, and Danny now had a solid way of accusing him without giving away his own espionage effort.

And the halfa was quick to act.

Once back at the school, when the students were taking their costumes off, putting them back into the cases, Aoyama didn't wait for the rest, opting to return to the classroom alone. Unfortunately, the second he had stepped out of the changing room, he heard a loud cough behind him. And the blonde narcissist knew exactly who would have been waiting.

"Fenton-san," Aoyama said nervously. "Is there something you need?"

Danny raised an eyebrow, before smirking. "Going somewhere, good pal?"

"Uhm, yeah? To the classroom," the teen pointed down the corridor.

"Nobody would notice our little detour. Come with me," Danny stopped leaning against the wall.

"I'm sorry, but I..."

"It was not a suggestion, Aoyama," Danny's eyes flashed green. "You. Me. The janitor's."

The blonde gulped. Mere seconds later he found himself in the small locked room, phased inside by one half ghost that meant business.

"So," Phantom spoke, his glowing eyes being the only source of light. "Mind explaining yourself, Aoyama-kun?"

"I don't understand what you are talking about."

Danny sighed. "I catch you red-handed, stealing the timetable. Fast forward a couple of days and by coincidence the villains happen to have the knowledge of where a teacher should be. Couldn't help but see the pattern."

"Are...are you suspecting me of working for them?"

Danny leaned closer, and the radiance of the halfa's glowing green orbs was sending shivers down the blonde's spine.

"I KNOW you are, Aoyama. Do you think I didn't tail you to that cafe on that day?" He dropped a metaphorical bomb.

Invisibly in the dark room, the hero trainee paled. There was no running away. Phantom had him cornered, both literally and figuratively.

"Please...Fenton-san, you can't tell anyone," Aoyama begged.

"Your actions threatened your classmates, you dapper clown. They could have died if not for me stopping the Nomu. Luckily I came prepared, knowing full well about your plans in advance. Is that why I never saw you fight, Aoyama? Were you hiding somewhere all this time?"

"I...I...I had no choice," Aoyama's voice shook, turning downright hysterical at points. "Do you think I like it? Like stabbing everyone in the back?"

"I know. Your family is being threatened," Danny sighed. "Can't hope to fully understand your position."

"Of course you don't," the blonde suddenly snapped and pointed his finger at him. "Yours threw you out!"

Phantom's eyes narrowed, and Aoyama initially thought that he had made a grave mistake. He had seen what Fenton could do, he could even squash his head like a tomato if he wanted. But then Danny spoke up. "Because they thought me to be a freak of nature. After I spent so much time protecting them and all others with the very power they hated me for. So yes, my experience is different from yours. That's why I want you to tell me your situation."

"Fenton-san," Aoyama once again became meek. "You don't want to get tangled in this, he is merciless and extremely powerful."

"I killed a god, blondie. Whoever this guy is, I at least want to know."

"You already know everything you may need...I don't want to get in trouble. He is too secretive."

"I don't wish to resort to threats, Aoyama," Danny said slowly and menacingly.

"I have nothing to say! I don't even know his name, but he has the power to take and give Quirks. That's all I know, they only order me, I never get told any secrets."

"Take and give Quirks, huh?" Danny mumbled. That very concept spelled enormous power in a world such as that. There wasn't enough information to come by.

And with the villains uncovering his identity, he couldn't hope to spy on them himself. All that effort to his it thrown right out the window. Who knew that the locals were smarter than the entire population of Amity Park?

"Yes...my family is indebted to that man. And if I don't do what he says or if I'm found out, he is going to do horrible things to them," Aoyama whispered.

Phantom sighed once more and rubbed his temples. "Then I hope you listen to this plan. I'm not telling anyone about your involvement with them. But I want something from you, too."

"Oh, goodness... are you suggesting..."

"I want you to tell me everything you come to learn."

"This is madness! If I'm found out..."

"Then make sure you aren't. Cliche response aside, you have to understand that this leech is not coming off even when everyone in this building is dead. Your only hope of saving your family from debt is helping to bring down that menace."

"And who is going to save them, you?" Aoyama asked.

"If need be. I know the adults ain't gonna do shit until we put the case before them on a silver platter. Aizawa ignored my warnings and we got into this mess."

"Is this supposed to convince me? Fenton, you aren't even a hero yet!"

"This license thing is a joke. I already am a hero. Since we are uncovering secrets here, I used to be a vigilante, and I alone kept order in my danger-infested home. So if anyone can help you, Aoyama, it is me. The guy who is not afraid to...overstep some laws and act according to the situation. Taking the blame in the process."

Aoyama turned away. "You are going to tell Aizawa-sensei if I don't agree?"

Danny's look turned heavy. "Yours is one family, Aoyama. I don't want the entirety of our class to die because of your actions, so I will have to. It is my duty as a class representative that you people have chosen and a friend. This attack shows that the bad guys aren't afraid of heroes. That they will only continue if something isn't done."

Aoyama let out a small and miserable laugh. "I voted for you."

Danny couldn't resist a small sad smile. "Because  you people were not allowed to vote for yourselves. I promised to do my best, and I plan on following this promise through. This includes you as much as everyone else at the moment. But again, if you refuse, you become a threat yourself."

The blonde considered what had been said, but each train of thought always hit a brick wall. He simply had no choice on the matter. At least by doing as the class rep instructed, he stood some chance. Other choices would inevitably lead to him losing everything. It surprised Aoyama how caring and at the same time ruinous Fenton appeared at the same time. His most powerful classmate could be either the saving grace or his death sentence.

"I...I'll try, Fenton-san. Just please, not a word to anyone."

Danny smiled. "I appreciate your trust, man. You secret is safe with me. Just act the way you always do, but when the villains tell you to do something, inform me during the school time. You are the only spy here, right?"

"Yes...I think."

"Then we will be discussing the course of action here. It will be safer this way. No phone calls or extra meetings in person. We shouldn't cross paths more than we absolutely have to. You follow?"

"I got it," Aoyama shakily nodded.

In the toxic green light, the human boy saw an outstretched hand and a boastful smile.

"You didn't have to do this, Fenton-san."

"I know. But that's something I choose to do. We'll show that bastard not to mess with us, heroes."

And Aoyama, albeit hesitantly, took it.

-Linebreak-

In an unknown location, in a typical villainous fashion, lurked an entire underground facility. Only a select number of individuals had knowledge of that place. Kurogiri was no stranger to the facility. That was where he came to be, after all. It was where many of his kin were being created. Kurogiri passed many tubes that contained the grotesque flesh mounds that were going to be given shape, like a piece of wet clay they were waiting for a master to work on them. Once again, the sentient fog paid no heed to the sights that would cause a normal person to think twice about proceeding further.

There was a reason he was traversing normally, instead of simply teleporting to his destination. His Master, despite being the one to bless him with his Quirk, did not take kindly to him appearing out of nowhere by his side. The former valued his privacy, and accepted visitors only when he himself willed it. Kurogiri could only obey, and, once summoned, he patiently traversed the facility by feet. Once he approached a seemingly inconspicuous door, Kurogiri knocked on it.

"Come in," a welcoming voice came from the inside, and Kurogiri entered.

The room was dim, with the only source of light being a multitude of screens located at the far end. There was a chair, occupied by the owner of the whole facility, and the mastermind behind all operations.

"You wanted to see me, Master?" Asked Kurogiri.

"I did," the man responded with a cheerful voice, without turning away from the screens and towards his subordinate. "Tomura isn't reaching out. How is he doing?"

"He is... disheartened by the catastrophic failure."

"Is he? Well, it's just no good," the man chuckled. "A single mishap is no reason for refusing my calls. And I won't tolerate it, too, make sure to relay this."

"I will, Master."

"Still, you know I am all for an eye to eye conversation," the villain laughed, ironising at his own physical condition. "I want to know more about what happened back there. Did All Might actually surpass Garaki's little creation?"

"No..." Kurogiri shamefully looked at the ground. "He was slain by a student before All Might made his appearance."

His master hummed. There was no anger that could be sensed by the sentient fog, and it indeed was a rare occurrence, if ever present. All for One was always collected, rational and two steps ahead any of his adversaries. There was never a reason for him to feel anger.

"Is that so?" He chuckled. "Now that's a surprise. What can you tell me about that person?"

"He tricked us. That boy is the very one you've laid your eyes on in the Masquerade, Master. All this time Pariah has been a double agent and a U.A. student."

"Then I was right in accessing the child's potential. I don't think he is a double agent. Heroes are never going to lower themselves to send a child into the lion's den," All for One mocked. "But to think he will have the gall to cross us all on his own. That's something we won't forgive easily. And if he is smart, he won't return to the arena. You were saying he's as strong as All Might already?"

"No, Master. Nomu was defeated not by brute force. His attempts failed over and over, until he subjugated Nomu by taking control over its mind."

The room was filled by a loud laughter. "I did tell Giraki about this vulnerability. He assured me this won't be an issue. But wasn't the boy all about energy manipulation? Where did mind control come from?"

"That's why I have a question for you, Master. If you are willing to indulge it..."

"I am listening."

"Could you... by any chance... have sired a child all those years ago?"

There was an uncomfortable pause. Slowly, the villain turned on his chair. The man was dressed in a usual formal suit, however his face was anything but, covered in one whole scar tissue that hid his eyes and his mouth. It was difficult to make out his expression, but it had to have been something between curiosity and surprise at the sudden question.

"What has brought this up? Are you insinuating that that boy has a relation to me?"

"This was merely a foolish suggestion on my part, Master. I've seen his mannerisms and actions, he, just as you said, has set the whole operation and sabotaged ours all on his own. And he is also your mirror image, appearance-wise."

"Hm...curious...but have you got anything more sufficient to make such claims?"

"Master... he nearly stole my Quirk."

After this neither dropped a word for some time, but then All for One laughed again.

"And from this point onward I want all the details you can give."

"For several hours I couldn't use my Quirk. The last drop of energy I had was used to escape. But that boy used my portal against Nomu with little care. He tried to entrap me within a device he had created specifically against me, but I managed to escape before the process was finished, and Shogaraki destroyed the contraption. What he had stored within, the boy absorbed."

"Most curious," the villain mastermind mumbled. "I was looking for an explanation as to how our arena champion possesses so many abilities. If he has an All for One as well, it would explain everything."

"It would even be more potent than yours, Master. To him, even an unfinished process can grant him a new Quirk. And if he wishes, the original user can probably still hold on to theirs."

"An astute observation, Kurogiri. How I envy the young..." the kingpin scratched his chin. "I see why you are so eager to accept the notion. I must admit, the desires of the flesh are not foreign even to me. However, I've always believed myself to be incapable of siring a child. This changes quite a lot, if our speculation is correct. Does Tomura share your belief?"

"He is... too livid to consider this possibility, shall I say. A lot of furniture was destroyed during a fit of rage. The boy spoiled his entire plan, and Shigaraki feels nothing but hatred towards him."

"So any attempt to approach the child will meet his opposition," All for One concluded. "But. All in due time," he grinned. "We have to know more, and I know just the person for that."

"If I recall correctly, they are classmates," Kurogiri nodded. "Shall I task him to uncover the information?"

"That will be most useful. I shall patiently await the result. It's a shame we didn't get the chance to see Nomu fare against All Might. Speaking of which, what's become of it?"

"The news report that it was detained. Nomu cannot act on its own volition, so they had no difficulty taking it under watch."

"I sense worry in your words, Kurogiri. Don't fret. Even if the heroes discover what Nomu actually is, this hardly puts a strain on our plans."

"You knew this when you allowed Shigaraki to take one?" Kurogiri asked in surprise.

"Certainly. As I said, he is free to try as much as his heart desires. However, it shouldn't endanger the grander scheme of things. We have to be prepared for unforeseen difficulties such as the current one. That boy displays a plethora of abilities, which means he has taken them from someone at some point," the villain smirked. "Do his friends know of this, I wonder?"

"What will you do with the information you already have? The boy still frequented the arena. Perhaps you may find use of that knowledge."

"Hm...we aren't the only ones to discover this part, are we?"

"Many of the foot soldiers we've hired must have realised the identity of 'Pariah'."

"And since the boy acts all on his own, he has no indulgence. How unbecomingly inconsiderate of him. Did he actually think a mask is going to fool anyone?" All for One laughed. "After how he tricked us all I'd expect him to be smarter than that."

"A single leak may be ruinous to his whole life," Kurogiri concluded.

"That's why such a powerful leverage against him must be used in moderation. But there's no telling who might just spoil all the fun, unfortunately...I wish to wield this trump card alone, Kurogiri. Do whatever you can to minimise the impact. I'll provide the money for the expenses, be sure to pass down a word that this leak won't be tolerated."

"You know that they will interpret everything as your patronage over him."

"Maybe that's precisely what I want," All for One smirked, turning back to the monitors. "One door was shut before us yesterday. But so many lie open now. By the way, what about that wolf creature we found?"