Was Dr. Blessed a Villain?
Todoroki couldn't put his finger on the answer, no matter how much he'd thought about it.
If Dr. Villain was indeed a Villain, then why had there been no case of him acting like a Villain? Every time he appeared, there was always a mystery around his actions, covering his tracks under a thick fog.
However, even if Dr. Blessed's villainous nature could be questioned, Todoroki knew this man wasn't a Hero.
From the Jaku Incident, where he had almost burned many people, to the USJ Incident. From the Hosu Incident, where he had wreaked havoc, adding confusion to the chaos, to now, on I-Island.
Kidnapping.
Taking hostages.
Threatening to kill people.
Random appearances with unfathomable power.
These weren't the signs of a Hero, Todoroki confirmed. Sadly, neither were they true signs of a Villain.
And that's why Todoroki asked Dr. Blessed for help at this moment.
He didn't know why this man had come at the most opportune time to save them. Perhaps, he didn't even want to save them. They just survived as a consequence… Still, it couldn't be denied that if they were alive now, it was because of Dr. Blessed's intervention.
So, Todoroki couldn't help but ask him for help.
All Might had been gravely injured. By the time help arrived, it might be too late.
Moreover, Todoroki had already seen Dr. Blessed do extraordinary things. So, perhaps, he would have a method to make sure that…
"… That's quite a request…" Dr. Blessed asked, pausing behind Todoroki. "What happened to the mightiest Symbol of Peace?"
Luke had no idea that Dabi had burned a hole right through All Might, where he was already injured.
All he had heard was students shouting All Might's name.
But that could have meant anything, and not necessarily the worst.
So, when Todoroki, hesitatingly, told Dr. Blessed about All Might's state, Luke's eyes widened.
"Haha…" Dr. Blessed laughed, a chilling breath escaping his mouth. "Hahahaha…"
For now, the frozen appearance prevented anyone from relating his face to Luke, in case someone chanced upon it. So, he had decided against using fire to melt the patches of ice off him.
Still, as Luke heard what happened to All Might, he just couldn't stop laughing, shivering all the while.
On the other hand, hearing him laugh so coarsely, Todoroki's heart skipped a beat. "… You…"
"Endeavor's son…" Dr. Blessed said, putting his hand on the boy's shoulder again. "How dumb you… can be? What made you think that… I wouldn't finish off All Might after hearing you…"
Here it is… Todoroki clenched his teeth. If I don't give him a good enough reason, then…
"Alright," Dr. Blessed said. "A friend in need is a friend indeed, right?"
"…?!!!" Todoroki's jaw dropped as if he had skipped a step on the stairs. WHAT?!
And then, suddenly, Todoroki remembered Midoriya once mentioning Dr. Blessed.
"He would do anything—" Midoriya had said, "— that he finds amusing… You can't think logically when it comes to him…"
Midoriya was right, Todoroki gulped. Villain or not, this man is the most dangerous… It could've gone so wrong — at his mere whim…
"Turn around," Dr. Blessed said. "Keep a constant output of flames on your left side."
As Todoroki dutifully followed the instructions, carrying a frozen Nyx, Luke walked up to the ice block representing All Might.
Not far away from him, David Shield was lying as well, groaning low in pain.
I totally forgot about him… Luke realized.
[Hurry. You are already running low on Spirituality, Luke.]
Back to back use of his Beyonder abilities, combined with Plus Ultra Quirk, had left Luke exhausted spiritually, mentally, and physically.
That's why he had decided against using extreme methods to follow Dabi.
Now that he had already come in contact with the Villain, he could use Divination to pinpoint his exact location, anyway.
So, heeding Miss Justice's words, Luke again used Flame Control to melt the ice around All Might.
Soon, All Might's weak form revealed itself to him — and the man was staring right back at Luke.
Luke's heart jumped.
Still, using Clown's abilities, he kept a cool head, maintaining an aloof expression.
With his current, frozen appearance, no one would be able to tell that he was Luke. Moreover, he had already cast little illusions on his face, making him look older than he was.
"… You sure are something…" Dr. Blessed said, grinning like a clown at All Might. "To keep a hold on your senses even now… Had you decided to sacrifice yourself… if I hadn't intervened?"
Hearing Dr. Blessed's words, Todoroki's eyes shook, daring not to look back.
All Might couldn't speak anything as mumbles entered his mind, barely comprehensible. He couldn't see anything, either, other than a face, smiling at him — mocking him.
Dr. Blessed looked at the hole on All Might's waist and put his hand on the mangled flesh, making the Hero wince.
"Do you regret it, All Might?" Dr. Blessed hissed slowly. "Do you regret… passing on the torch too soon? How long can you maintain… your peak now? 90 minutes? After today… It would be even less, no?"
"… as long as…" All Might grunted, his blue gaze hardening, "… people need me…"
In his mind, Dr. Blessed was here to finish the job. So, as a dying defiance, with sheer willpower, he lifted his left hand and grabbed the wrist of Dr. Blessed's hand, which was placed on his wound.
For the first time, the smile on Luke's face vanished.
"… People only need the strong ones," he said, transferring the wound to All Might's foot. "Unless… you plan to stare Villains to death… Haha!"
Even though Luke laughed, jerking his hand away from All Might's grasp, he couldn't help but realize something.
I can't push it back any longer, Luke thought, eying a distant, frozen Midoriya. One day or another, I will not be around to counter the danger brought by the change in fate.
He didn't want to make Midoriya stronger, as the boy could stand against him one day.
Still, with his special nature, Midoriya was least likely to be influenced by Conformity or Singularity — just like All Might.
So, when Luke used Flaming Jump to run away, leaving behind a shocked Todoroki and All Might, he had already decided.
It was time — to let Midoriya learn about Vestiges.
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