"Aren't you a Hero? Aren't you the 'Symbol of Peace'? Then I'll take everything you've protected and everything you care about!"
All For One's voice was merciless as he compressed the air in his arms to the extreme and fired it through his outstretched palms.
Faced with such a brutal attack, All Might raised his arms in front of himself, forming the strongest shield he could muster to take the blow head-on.
Boom!
The pale, high-pressure shockwave tore through the air, earth, steel, and stone in its path before slamming into the towering figure.
"First, I'll take away the dignity you've held onto even while injured."
All For One lowered his right arm, now returned to normal, and spoke calmly, as though the fury he had just unleashed was entirely vented in that one blast.
"I want the whole world to see your pathetic form."
"The Symbol of Peace."
As the camera slowly adjusted, All Might's emaciated, skeletal form was finally revealed to the public for the first time. And at that moment, the world collectively fell silent.
"Huh? What?!"
"What's with that skeleton guy?"
"Hey, hey, what happened?!"
In Aichi Prefecture, on the top floor of the central tower belonging to the Ability Daily Products Company, within a secret conference room at the headquarters.
Three men and one woman sat around a table. All of them were high-ranking members of the Paranormal Liberation Front operating in the shadows.
As a major power in Japan, they too were closely watching the events in Kamino City through satellite feeds.
But unlike the general public, their job was to collect and assess data related to All Might and All For One.
What confused them was that, after compiling decades of data, they found both individuals to be significantly weaker than before.
Sitting at the head seat, Rikiya Yotsubashi—known as Re-Destro—analyzed the data on his tablet. He believed that, at his current level, he was capable of joining this war himself.
While the others were debating whether to take this opportunity to act in Kamino, All Might's weakened form appeared on the big screen.
Their reactions mirrored those of ordinary citizens—shocked and silent. Only Rikiya raised an eyebrow, as if a realization had clicked into place.
"I see…"
When he had first seen All For One's face, he had suspected the man had sustained injuries. And now, after seeing All Might like this, he finally understood that both of them had been seriously injured.
That made sense—and to him, it was fantastic news.
What frustrated Re-Destro most was that these two monsters had been at their peak before he even had a chance to compete.
But now… now he might have a trump card.
Rikiya shifted his gaze away from the screen. "How's the progress on the Quirk Amplification Device? Is it ready to replicate and mass-produce?"
He was asking the man beside him, codenamed Skeptic. Wearing black sunglasses and with long, straight black hair like a woman's, Skeptic was the CEO of Feel Good Inc., a renowned Japanese tech company, and his Quirk was Puppeteer.
"Researchers are working around the clock to fully understand the specs. But since we have complete blueprints and a prototype, they say replication won't be difficult."
"Good. Tell them to speed it up. Once this device is mass-produced, many of our plans will become much simpler," Re-Destro said with a smile.
He believed that with the device equipped, he wouldn't be any weaker than Kamino's All Might or All For One.
Suddenly, the expression of the only woman in the room changed drastically.
"Boss, something's happened at the Geten's location!"
Chitose Kizuki, codenamed Curiosity, wore an off-shoulder outfit with a mix of sensuality, intellect, and style. She was an editor at a major publishing group and possessed the Quirk Landmine.
"What is it?"
"He just took the Quirk Amplifier by force!"
A well-dressed man with a sleek suit, resembling a polished politician, immediately asked, "Do we know his motive?"
"I don't believe he would betray us, so he must have a reason."
This man was Koku Hanabata, head of the Heart Party, responsible for the Paranormal Liberation Front's political cover. His Quirk was Incite.
"...No," Chitose shook her head, indicating uncertainty. But Re-Destro, watching the screen, sighed softly.
"I think I know where that boy went."
"Huh?" The other three turned toward him.
"Ever since he lost to All For One, he's been obsessed with it. He trained his Quirk harder than ever and kept asking me if we found a way."
Hanabata nodded in understanding. "Now that All For One's appeared, he took the amplifier because he knows he's still not strong enough!"
"What should we do? Should we call him back? If you gave him a direct order, he would obey no matter how reluctant he is," Chitose asked. Meanwhile, Skeptic sat silently, seemingly indifferent.
Re-Destro thought for a moment, then shook his head with a smile.
"If his goal is All For One, the boss of the villains, let him try."
"Isn't that exactly what our Liberation Front believes in—ordinary citizens standing against villains?"
"Use this opportunity to make a public statement. Raise questions about the Pro Hero system, but don't expose the Paranormal Liberation Front just yet."
"Also, make sure he's not captured alive. Relay that instruction to our contacts in Kamino."
Both Chitose and Hanabata nodded in agreement. What they didn't realize was.
Re-Destro wasn't just thinking about strategy. He also wanted to observe exactly how effective the Quirk Amplifier device really was. This act by the Geten would serve as a valuable demonstration.
Meanwhile, All Might's true form was now fully revealed to the world. While Kaminari and the others had already seen it back on I-Island, this was the first time the public saw it in full.
"Sunken cheeks, hollow eyes… what a pitiful image for a top Hero. But don't be ashamed. This is your true self."
"The Symbol of Peace, All Might."
(To be continued.)