Shigaraki continued trudging along the endless bloody path, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of activity or change.
(In his mind).
"This sucks."
He thought to himself miserably.
"I see nothing so far. I knew I shouldn't have listened to Lady Nagant and Toga. I could've been playing video games with Spinner instead of being stuck in this creepy place."
(Out of his mind).
He sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping slightly.
(Flashback in the dorm rooms).
Lady Nagant: "Hey Shigaraki, want to come with me to a random place?"
She asked casually.
Shigaraki barely looked up from his book.
Shigaraki: "A random place? Thanks but no thanks. I'm going to play video games with Spinner this weekend."
Suddenly,Toga appeared out of nowhere.
Toga: "Oh come on Shigaraki, it will be a lot of fun!"
She plopped herself onto his lap while he was studying.
Shigaraki: "Tch,fine."
With an annoyed sigh.
(End of flashback).
(In his mind).
"Here I am going to be killed by some unknown creep with no face."
Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice echoing through the darkness.
"That voice..."
(Out of his mind).
He spun around and saw All For One standing right in front of him, looking exactly as he remembered.
All For One: "Well now I see you decided to destroy the world with your little league."
He commented dryly.
Shigaraki blinked in confusion.
Shigaraki: "What are you talking about? I thought we both agreed that I'm going to be a hero?"
In the blink of an eye, Shigaraki found himself attacking college, the very place he's currently attending.
Shigaraki: "So in the future, I'm a villain?"
He whispered in disbelief, looking around at the changed landscape. He spotted Overhaul sitting across from him at a table, engaged in a boring board game.
Shigaraki: "Overhaul...so in the future, he's the Yakuza boss?"
He muttered, his brow furrowing as he noticed his own expression seemed angry and bored whenever he looked at Overhaul.
(In his mind).
"But why do I have a pissed off face when I look at him?" Shigaraki wondered aloud." And why are we playing this stupid board game? Can't we do something more fun like a video game?"
(Out of his mind).
Overhaul looked up from the board.
Overhaul: "Have you ever played shogi?"
He casually asked, moving one of his pieces.
Shigaraki: "A couple times playing with you."
He replied.
Shigaraki: "But I still don't know what's going on."
He admitted sheepishly.
(In his mind).
"This is weird."
He thought to himself, studying Overhaul's expression. It wasn't an annoyance at his poor gameplay; it seemed like Overhaul was trying to coax him into something. Suddenly, Shigaraki noticed Overhaul's members sitting around them, wearing masks that resembled birds—plague doctors.
"Plague doctor? But how is this supposed to help anything? And this doesn't answer the question—how did I become a villain?"
He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.
(Out of his mind).
A note suddenly appeared in front of Shigaraki, its message cryptic: "You're the only one who needs to figure out how you became this way. You and that green-haired boy are connected."
Shigaraki's brow furrowed as he read the note.
Shigaraki: "Connected? What does that mean?"
He wondered aloud. Suddenly, he felt someone shaking his shoulder roughly.
Dabi: "Shigaraki!"
His concerned voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Overhaul was there too, both looking at him with worry etched across their faces.
Dabi: "You okay?"
He asked, concerned about coloring his voice.
Shigaraki looked up at them, his expression haunted.
Shigaraki: "I just saw my future... and apparently I'm a villain. Probably killed thousands of people."
He glanced down at the bloody path beneath their feet.
Overhaul looked genuinely confused.
Overhaul: "But Shigaraki... I thought you wanted to be a hero?"
His confusion was understandable—until now, Shigaraki had always seemed passionate about becoming a hero like All Might.
Overhaul: "Wait... you're a villain?"
He echoed incredulously.
Overhaul: "I thought you were a hero. You cut my hands off, after all."
He paused, then added darkly.
Overhaul: "In a way, I deserve it. I killed a few people, abused a child by cutting her open and killing her over and over..."
He looked around the bloody path thoughtfully.
Overhaul: "Somehow, I think this place is where I'll be here forever."
Shigaraki looked at Overhaul with newfound respect and understanding.
(In his mind).
"That monster didn't show me that part or any other parts,"
He thinks it to himself, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"And why did he say that I was connected? To whom? To what?"
(Out of his mind).
Dabi cut in.
Dabi: "You know what? I've killed a lot of people by burning them to death. But I think there's a way we can change that. We can change what we become."
Shigaraki nodded slowly.
Shigaraki: "The only way to find out is to survive in this place and we must save Deku. Who knows what'll happen if we don't?"
Suddenly, a note appeared on the floor without them noticing it.
Random Note: The real survival begins.
(Meanwhile, at the Nightmare Hospital).
Lady Nagant: "Hmm, where am I?"
She murmured, looking around and finding herself in a prison cell.
Lady Nagant: "Why am I in prison? I'm supposed to be a hero!"
She paced around her cell, confused and frustrated. Suddenly, the prison doors started opening by themselves—some with quirks, others mechanically.
Lady Nagant: "Looks like I'm escaping!"
She ran off with a group of prisoners, their voices echoing through the empty prison corridors. Suddenly, she heard loud banging coming from one of the doors. She immediately went over to open it, only to see someone running out at full speed.
Lady Nagant: "Overhaul?!"
She exclaimed, stopping mid-action to watch him flee. Realizing who it was, she yelled.
Lady Nagant: "Hey wait!"
She took off after him, leaving the other prisoners behind.
Lady Nagant: "Overhaul, why are you here? I thought you wanted to be a doctor!"
She asked, catching up to him and finding him kneeling down, looking broken.
Lady Nagant: "You okay? What's wrong?"
She helped him up, her arm supporting his weight as they started walking together. Overhaul's expression was haunted, his eyes glazed over with unshed tears.
Lady Nagant: "Let's go, friend."
She said gently.
Lady Nagant: "I need to figure out how we both ended up in jail."
She supported Overhaul as they walked together, his steps slow and unsteady. Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from behind her.
All For One: "Lady Nagant, it's a pleasure to meet you."
He greeted her casually.
Lady Nagant turned around slowly.
Lady Nagant: "Uhh yeah, and who are you?"
She asked suspiciously, eyeing the mysterious stranger who seemed to know her name.
(In her mind).
"Something tells me that me and Overhaul are villains! But how? I thought I was supposed to be a hero!"
She shook her head trying to process everything.
"And Overhaul looks hot without his mask on! "Wait, get back to the topic!"
(Out of her mind).
Just then, she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around to find Toga standing behind her.
Toga's eyes widened as she noticed Lady Nagant's flustered expression.
Toga: "You probably saw your future, huh? Or was it a dream?"
She asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
Lady Nagant nodded slowly.
Lady Nagant: "I saw myself in prison... including Overhaul. But he was... broken."
She trailed off, blushing slightly.
Toga raised an eyebrow.
Toga: "And?"
She was prompt, clearly interested in hearing more. Lady Nagant waved her hand dismissively.
Lady Nagant: "N-nothing."
She said quickly, changing the subject.
Toga's expression turned serious.
Toga: "Okay, but we still need to wake up Chrono. He's still out cold."
Both girls looked over at Chrono, who was lying unconscious on the ground.
Lady Nagant bit her lip.
Lady Nagant: "Do you think he saw something too?"
She wondered aloud.
Toga shrugged.
Toga: "Only one way to find out."
She knelt down beside Chrono and gently shook his shoulder.
Toga: "Hey, wake up sleepyhead."
She called out, trying to rouse him from his unconscious state.
Chrono: "Overhaul, why am I wearing this ridiculous mask?"
He muttered groggily as he followed Overhaul into a room. His eyes widened in horror as he saw Eri tied to a chair, looking terrified and helpless.
Chrono: "Overhaul, what's happening?"
He asked urgently, trying to stop Overhaul from approaching the little girl. But his friend just walked right through him, ignoring his pleas.
Chrono: "Kai, stop hurting her!"
He cried out, only to hear himself agreeing to whatever Overhaul said.
Chrono: "Is that me? Why am I agreeing to this?"
He whispered in horror as he walked out of the room, feeling utterly disgusted.
Chrono: "How did this happen? Why would I agree to something like this?"
The slap across his face jolted him awake, and he opened his eyes to find Toga and Lady Nagant looking at him with concerned expressions. Without hesitation, Chrono stood up abruptly.
Chrono: "Let's go. I need to find Kai!"
His voice was urgent, his mind racing with questions and confusion.
Lady Nagant: "Okay, let's go."
She agreed, her expression solemn.
Toga nodded in agreement.
Toga: "Right."
As the three of them started moving, each one was lost in their own thoughts, trying to make sense of the disturbing visions they had just seen. "How did I become this way?" They all wondered silently.
Unnoticed by them, a note suddenly appeared on the floor.
Random Note: The real survival begins now.
(At the city).
(A few minutes later).
Shigaraki: "Man, how long is this path?"
He grumbled, his patience wearing thin as they continued walking along the endless bloody path. Overhaul shot him an annoyed glance over his shoulder.
Overhaul: "How am I supposed to know?"
Dabi suddenly held up a hand, signaling for silence.
Dabi: "Idiots, be quiet."
He whispered harshly, his gaze fixed ahead of them.
Three figures were approaching from a distance.
Shigaraki: "What?"
He was confused, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make out the figures in the distance.
Overhaul nodded towards the group.
Overhaul: Dabi, let's get closer."
He suggested, his voice low and serious.
Shigaraki rolled his eyes internally at Overhaul's sudden seriousness.
Shigaraki: "You mad? Did you suffocate in your own mask?"
He said in annoyance.
Shigaraki: "However it couldn't hurt to know who it is though."
He muttered quietly as they began walking towards the group.
Dabi: "You sure?"
He asked Overhaul quietly, his expression skeptical.
Overhaul nodded confidently.
Overhaul: "Yeah, I'm sure. If I'm wrong... well, we're screwed."
Shigaraki chimed in threateningly.
Shigaraki: "If you're wrong, I'll kill you before the monster does."
Dabi shot Shigaraki a warning look.
Dabi: "Shigaraki, there's no time for threats."
As they grew closer to the group ahead, they moved quietly and carefully, trying not to make a sound.
(A few minutes before).
Chrono: "Man, how long have we been on this path?"
He complained, looking back at Lady Nagant and Toga.
Lady Nagant stopped abruptly, her eyes widening as she noticed a group of people walking right behind them, not too far away.
Lady Nagant: "There's a group of people following us."
She whispered urgently.
Toga's patience ran thin.
Toga: "I'm done being scared. I'm going straight at them!"
She charged forward, running towards the group. To her surprise, they were running towards her as well.
(Now).
Shigaraki: "I'm not scared of you!"
He yelled back defiantly, his hand tightening around the gun in his pocket.
As Toga heard Shigaraki's voice, she immediately changed course and ran straight towards him, her eyes lighting up with recognition.
Toga: "Shigaraki!"
She exclaimed joyfully.
Dabi watched Toga's reaction closely before muttering under his breath.
Dabi: "It's Toga."
The tension in the air shifted slightly as Toga threw herself into Shigaraki's arms.
Overhaul: "So that means the group is back together."
He stated, watching as Toga hugged Shigaraki tightly. Lady Nagant and Chrono approached the group cautiously.
Lady Nagant spoke up.
Lady Nagant: "We're still missing Midoriya though."
Chrono's face darkened with anger as he remembered the dream.
Chrono: "Kai, how could you do that to Eri?"
Shigaraki smirked cruelly.
Shigaraki: Don't worry, in the future I will cut his hands off."
Overhaul nodded calmly.
Overhaul: "Yeah."
Chrono stepped forward, his expression serious as he looked at Overhaul.
Chrono: "If we survive this, you have to promise me not to hurt Eri again."
He demanded, waiting for Overhaul's response. Overhaul nodded solemnly.
Overhaul: "Yeah, I promise."
Toga turned her attention back to Shigaraki.
Toga: "Shigaraki, I thought you were hurt."
She hugged him tightly, her voice filled with concern. Shigaraki wrapped his arms around her reassuringly.
Shigaraki: I'm fine."
He murmured back into her hair.
Dabi: "So that monster let us back together but why?"
He wondered aloud.
Dabi: And why not let us have Midoriya?"
Lady Nagant shrugged.
Lady Nagant: "To find out, I guess we have to keep walking the path."
As she spoke, Overhaul suddenly froze, his eyes widening as he felt something unusual. He looked down at his leg and realized it was no longer injured.
Overhaul: "Dabi."
He called out softly.
Overhaul: "I think you could put me down."
Dabi looked at him skeptically.
Dabi: "You sure?"
Overhaul nodded firmly.
Overhaul: "Yeah."
Lady Nagant: "How is this possible?"
She whispered to herself, remembering the conversations with Dabi about the bear trap.
Lady Nagant: "So that means the monster is near."
She said. As if on cue, a note appeared in front of them, its message catching everyone off guard.
The Note: "I see you all are here now. It's time for the ultimate survival, but the survival is like a video game."
Shigaraki's eyes widened with excitement.
Shigaraki: "A video game!?"
He exclaimed, his earlier concerns forgotten.
Overhaul: "Well, I'm dead."
He muttered sarcastically, sighing and looking down at himself.
Dabi raised an eyebrow.
Dabi: "Already throwing in the towel?"
He asked teasingly.
The note continued to explain the rules.
The Note: "The game or games will be in different categories. You'll be in teams. The teams are people who use the app and they're here waiting for all of you to join."
The atmosphere shifted from serious to competitive as the note revealed the upcoming challenges.
Shigaraki: "This is gonna be fun."
He said with a smirk.
Shigaraki: "Let's start the game already!"
He exclaimed impatiently.
Black smoke swirled around them, transporting them to a massive stadium filled with people. Lady Nagant looked around in horror.
Lady Nagant: "So these people used random?"
She asked, noticing the criminal lineup—rapists, murderers, pedophiles, and supervillains.
Chrono paled.
Chrono: "This is bad."
He whispered urgently.
Dabi held up a hand for silence.
Dabi: "Calm down everyone."
He warned softly.
Dabi: "We don't want to attract attention."
Toga noticed a criminal leering at her and shuddered.
Toga: "I think it's too late for that."
She murmured uneasily.
Shigaraki immediately stepped in front of her protectively.
Shigaraki: "Toga, stay behind me."
A giant note appeared before everyone, writing out the message.
The note: "The games will begin, but first, how about you all see the grand prize?"
With a dramatic flourish, a curtain moved aside to reveal Midoriya tied upside-down on a large cross. The crowd roared with excitement and bloodlust.
Lady Nagant: "Midoriya!"
She cried out, her heart racing at the sight of him terrified and helpless. She overheard some criminals making disgusting comments about how he looked like a child they'd love to rape, making her stomach turn. Toga's expression darkened with determination.
Toga: "We have to win Midoriya."
She declared firmly. Dabi nodded confidently.
Dabi: "Don't worry, we will."
The giant note continued writing ominously.
The Note: "If you die in the game, then you're stuck in Random forever."
The crowd grew eerily silent as they read the giant note's chilling message.
The Note: "The game will start but only two people may enter as a teammate."
It wrote.
The note: "The game is called Gun Battle. Each person has to kill each opposing team. If one of your teammates gets killed, don't worry—they'll respawn until one of you has the diamond blade. Once the diamond blade is obtained, you have to kill a targeted person that I choose. If they die by that blade, they'll die for real—no respawns."
A large screen appeared before everyone, randomly selecting participants for the first game. After a few minutes, the screen displayed Shigaraki's name as one of the chosen players.
Shigaraki: "Oh so cool!"
He exclaimed excitedly.
Shigaraki: "I'm in the game! So who's going to be my partner?"
He desperately hoped his partner would be someone he knew—Dabi, Toga, or even Lady Nagant. However, his hopes were dashed when the screen displayed Overhaul's picture.
Shigaraki: "NOOOOO!"
He screamed loudly, attracting the attention of everyone around them.
Overhaul looked at him, annoyed.
Overhaul: "Hey!"
Shigaraki: "No offense."
He said.
Shigaraki: "But all you play is shogi and that's boring."
He gave Overhaul an annoyed look right back.
Dabi sighed.
Dabi: "Well, I guess good luck, you guys."
Shigaraki scoffed.
Shigaraki: "Yeah, cause Overhaul doesn't play these types of games. He'll play lame games that use his brain."
Overhaul shot back irritably.
Overhaul: "Maybe because you have no brain cells."
Toga giggled nervously while the crowd watched their exchange with amusement.
Shigaraki: "What did you say?"
He snapped, grabbing Overhaul's shirt roughly and pulling him close. His eyes were blazing with fury as he glared at Overhaul.
(In his mind).
"He's glad I can't use my quirk, or he'd be done for."
(Out of his mind).
He snarled.
Shigaraki: "Say that again, I dare you."
The crowd around them gasped and whispered excitedly, loving the drama unfolding before them.
Overhaul just smirked calmly.
Overhaul: "Make me."
Shigaraki took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
Shigaraki: "Whatever."
He muttered gruffly.
Shigaraki: "We need to talk strategy."
Overhaul nodded curtly.
Overhaul: "Right. Strategy."
They both turned away from each other, their faces like thunder. Toga exchanged worried looks with Dabi and Lady Nagant. They could only hope that during the game, these two would learn to work together instead of trying to kill each other.
Overhaul analyzed the situation seriously.
Overhaul: "This game is probably not with controllers. It's likely to be physical, or something like that."
He looked at Shigaraki gravely.
Overhaul: "These people have the upper advantage over us. They know more about killing than we do."
He paused, searching Shigaraki's eyes.
Overhaul: "Are you actually prepared to take someone's life?"
His gaze was intense, trying to prepare Shigaraki for the harsh reality awaiting them. Shigaraki swallowed hard, his expression turning somber.
Shigaraki met Overhaul's gaze steadily.
Shigaraki: "I've taken lives before, and probably you have too—especially with that quirk of yours."
He paused, his voice dropping lower.
Shigaraki: Your quirk and mine are the same but different. Both of us have felt blood on our hands."
Overhaul looked away, jaw tight.
Overhaul: "Tch, fine."
He muttered, clearly annoyed but unable to argue with the truth. The tension between them shifted to uneasy understanding as they both faced the grim reality ahead.
Dabi gave them a nod.
Dabi: "Good luck, guys."
As soon as he finished speaking, the note appeared again. It read.
The note: "Every time you get a kill, a different gun will appear that you could use in battle. The number will go up, but if you get killed by a knife, your kill count will go down by one. You can switch your weapon by pressing a certain button that will appear on your gun."
Shigaraki and Overhaul both looked at each other, their expressions turning serious as they prepared for the brutal game ahead.
Guns appeared in the hands of the participants, including Shigaraki and Overhaul. Shigaraki found himself holding an AK-47, his eyes widening as he noticed that the side of the gun resembled a game controller.
Shigaraki: "An AK-47."
He muttered, handling it carefully. Overhaul picked up his gun—a sniper rifle—and frowned.
Overhaul: "Well this sucks."
He complained, adjusting his grip on the weapon. The other participants also received various guns—some automatic, others semi-automatic or even shotguns.
Shigaraki's eyes lit up with excitement.
Shigaraki: "Woah, so cool."
The note read.
The note: "Teleporting..."
Suddenly, they were teleported to the battlefield—a large arena filled with obstacles and hiding spots designed for combat. A screen appeared for those watching—Dabi, Lady Nagant, Toga—showing live footage of the battle about to commence. The participants looked around warily, guns at the ready. Overhaul adjusted his sniper rifle.
Overhaul: "Let's do this."
He muttered darkly.
The game had officially begun.
To be continue in the next chapter.