Shizuoka Prefecture
The city of mountain shadows—once a mere destination for travelers bewitched by the sight of mighty Mount Fuji, its sharp peak thrusting into the sky like the spear of a forgotten god. But no gods remain here. And Fuji is no longer sacred. It is the corpse of the old world, a phantom shadow haunting this land in both dream and waking hours.
The coastal land bordering Yamanashi and the Pacific Ocean is no longer a gateway for tourists. It has become a fracture of the world. A metropolis dense with people by day transforms into a radiation of sin when the sun slips beyond the horizon.
At night, rivers of fear flow backward into human hearts. Streets become dark veins pulsing with brutality, and streetlights stand as silent witnesses to punishments with no judges.
Chūzenji Temple — once a refuge for the spirit, now a camp of wickedness. Villains who kidnap young girls with animal-related quirks drag their prey into the shadows of the pagoda, hoping to profit from the sale.
Jogasaki — a viewpoint where no one dares lift their eyes to the stars anymore. Here, the smuggling of drugs from worlds beyond stains the earth with contraband and blood.
Kunosan Tōshōgu Shrine — land of dead gods, where debts are not paid with money, but with fists, bones, and the final breath inside a hidden arena beneath the altar. There are no victors here—only corpses cooling slower than the others.
And the city itself — a hive where people swarm like insects in rotten wood. Every night is a festival of madness. Villains dash through narrow alleys, laughing among the screams. Some heroes take money. Some remain silent. Some vanish into the darkness, never to be spoken of again.
In this city, it isn't just one fish that rots. The entire basket, the harbor, and even the sea itself—everything has decayed since the very first light of dawn.
But now… not anymore.
Now… the sound of soldiers' boots thundered across the streets of Shizuoka, echoing through the alleys that once belonged to villains. The Scout Agents of The Thumb had arrived—emerging from the shadows like eyeless hunters who still saw straight into the bone.
They were not heroes. Not saints. And they carried no illusions of morality.They were merely the hands of something beyond description—hands that judged, hands that never trembled, hands that had carried countless corpses through wars with no name.
The city, rotten to its roots, was swept clean by blade and fire.The roar of machine guns.The snap of breaking bones.The cries of children in the deeper alleys.These were not new sounds to them, but the rhythm of punishment—played over and over again.
And what was most unexpected… was the heroes.Some who once stood motionless like wooden dolls in the dark.Some who once took orders from the highest bidder.Some who once bowed their heads while injustice walked past their very eyes.Now, they rose to stand beside The Thumb.
Not because their hearts had changed.Not because courage suddenly found them.But because now… they could claim.Claim they had been forced.Claim the blood on their hands was not their own, but the condition.Claim they were only following orders.
This world is built on hollow excuses.But The Thumb does not care.They do not listen to apologies.They do not read reports.They do not take orders.
They only cleanse.With water. With fire. With blood.
And tonight… the entire city would be wiped with a single black cloth.A cloth soaked in silence.And the stench of rusted iron.
Night in Shizuoka is no longer silent.It has become a battlefield without borders, without camps, without enemy or ally—only the gunfire, the screams, and the flash of windows erupting into shards.
The narrow alleys once heavy with the scent of food are now soaked in blood.The seaside towers that once stood as luxury hotels have become dens of villains.Some hide.Some fight.Some simply die.
And The Thumb hunts without rest.Like a beast of legend that never knows hunger's end.
Any organization that once stood its ground—whether the old Hero Alliance, the half-criminal syndicates, or the underground networks—faces the same choice: "Cooperate" or "be buried."
They chose the former.And The Thumb repaid them with the only currency of value in a collapsing world:Not gratitude, but money.Not honor, but weapons.Not praise, but the right to hunt.
The alliances forged in the dark were not born of faith—but of fear, and greed.They dragged the corpses of villains into the streets, trading them for iron crates filled with killing tools:Machine guns. Shards of explosives. Silver-edged knives still stained with the blood of their last owners.
No one asked where they came from.No one spoke of justice.There were no heroes here—only those with weapons, choosing who would fall first.
This city is being devoured.Not by fire.But by a system.
A system of violence.A system with a name—The Thumb.
It did not end with Shizuoka.It was not a single city that fell beneath the shadow of fire and explosions—but Yamanashi, Kanagawa, Gifu, and Nagano.
For two weeks, the march of uprising was not a whisper but a scream, carved in gunpowder and fresh blood.
The manpower of The Thumb surged past ten thousand.Thousands who never knew the words "nation" or "justice."They grew up on chipped bowls of leftover rice, on the echoes of fists in narrow alleys—and now, they were an army.
Even foreign organizations like Nera began sending assassins.But not their elites—only disposable pawns, half-powered, barely worth naming.They fell like dry leaves in winter.Nameless. Honorless.
Violence in Japan became routine—until one day the government awoke from its sweet dream.When top-ranked heroes began to fracture into two sides:One secretly supporting The Thumb,the other withdrawing, knowing this was no longer "black and white."
So the government declared.The Thumb: a national terrorist organization.The Self-Defense Forces mobilized.Special police units deployed.Even heroes who once swore never to touch politics were thrown into the field.
And that battlefield—was Nagano.
Green mountains turned into mass graves.The sound of machine guns drowned the wind.Blood of heroes and villains alike flowed into the same river.
The Thumb was not defeated—but its advance was halted.Like a beast, sensing the steel spear aimed at its throat.
Our agents infiltrated every unit.Those captured either bit their own tonguesor pulled the trigger on themselves.They knew—there is no "interrogation."Only silence.
Yet from that collapse—we gained.Enemy hideouts.Abandoned networks.Bunkers, tunnels, weapon caches.All of them became ours.
And we did not stop there.We dug deeper.We built new hidden routes, linking to the empire's core.Our tunnelers are demons beneath the earth—quirks that carve through soil like clay.
Victims of human trafficking—some returned home.But many had no home left.We gave them food, shelter, money—in exchange for service.
Silent slums became training grounds.Children who once cried in cornersnow carry machine guns.
Rookie villains with no place in the worldnow wear the black uniform of The Thumb,marked with number and mission.
We gave them duty.A gift the world had never given them before.
The state watches.But they do not move.Because our "white" businessespour rivers of profit into their hands.
Deals in the dark—win-win.
After Nagano, countless underground heroes began to bend.Not out of ideology.But because their moral compass had shattered long ago.
They walked into our fold.Some to survive.Some as spies.But whatever their reason—we always know.We always screen.
The Thumb is not just a name.It is a grinder of truth.It crushes everything—leaving only utilityand power.
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His main stronghold had expanded beyond measure.Beneath the pitch-black earth lay a network more vast and intricate than any city's sewers in the world.Every layer of the base was built on sweat, blood, and death.And here—was the birthplace of the next plan.
He knew well the state would never leave them alone.Not out of morality.But out of profit.
In silence, he gave the order.His covert units moved.Dozens of his men were dispatched to Pauzhetka—a ghost town buried in the Russian mountains,a land even nature itself had failed to fully tame.
There…a dormant volcano would serve as a shield,snow as the silence of ice,and frozen ground as the cradle for what would grow.
He did not choose it because it was safe.He chose it because it was worthy of being called—"his beginning."
Yet, no matter how far he laid his foundations,he understood this truth:
The most important battlefieldis always the present.
And now…he no longer had the right to look away.
Within the pitch-dark corridor, silence pressed down like it was hiding in the heart of darkness itself. He moved forward, each step echoing as if the underground tunnels stretched endlessly in every direction.
Thoughts swirled relentlessly in his mind.What was about to unfold in the grand meeting room required countless decisions—ranging from base expansion to countering threats from all directions. Every choice had to be precise, for every decision carried tremendous consequences.
At the door of the grand meeting room, he paused.In the shadows, he wore a pitch-black mask, concealing everything left of his face. His black suit and simple black undershirt reflected the darkness within—a darkness unseen but palpable. The mask masked the chill in his gaze, while his purpose burned clear in his mind.
The door opened.He entered the room, silent but heavy with expectation.Everyone knew—obedience to him was compulsory, or they would be consumed by the shadow he had cast. There was no escape.
And now…it was time to decide everything.The darkest forces would determine the fate of them all.
He walked to his seat, under the fluorescent lights that lent the room a cold, oppressive gloom. His eyes scanned every member present, all listening intently. His commands were the most important thing in this moment; each decision needed flawless execution to expand The Thumb's base and solidify its power.
"We have added two more UnderBosses," he said, low and precise. "Sub-units are forming, but financial expansion is our top priority right now." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Our other plans are temporarily on hold. What matters now is strengthening the stability of our financial base."
He picked up the documents before him, emphasizing the future strategies that demanded attention."Even though we can manufacture some weapons, and have purchased armored vehicles through international trade, it is still not enough. We need more—something greater—to face the challenges awaiting us."
He turned to Zerodin and Bora, two operatives whose Quirks could shift situations in an instant."Zerodin… your Shadow Control will be our edge in dominating territory. And Bora, your Analytics ability in predicting movements is a capability we've never had before. This gives us a strength that surpasses the state itself."
His gaze swept over the subordinates in the room. These were the tools to ensure their plans executed with precision."What we are doing grows harder with each day, but nothing can stop us if we manage everything meticulously."
"Now is not the time to take everything. We wait until we are fully prepared, and when that moment comes, we will strike with full force," he declared firmly. "There will be no more wasted time. Every action from now on must be deliberate, precise, as unwavering as the shadows Zerodin commands."
His voice echoed through the room. Everyone understood—they would follow him to the goal he had set, even when it seemed the world itself was falling into darkness.
The meeting room was darker and colder than ever, the faint murmur of voices drifting through its silence like shadows moving slowly with the currents of air. No one dared speak too loudly; every word that slipped from their lips felt like opening a door to an endless darkness.
He began to outline the plans for financial harvesting and business expansion. Though his exterior remained icy, deep within him there was nothing that could shake his resolve. He merely listened and processed.
Bora's words reached him like commands from an unseen source."We cannot allow our rivals to overtake us."
Her voice rose, suggesting strategies for acquiring companies on the stock market and expanding their white-market operations—methods that appeared harmless but allowed their money to hide within a system everyone accepted.
"Open the orphanage…" he murmured, nodding to her proposal. "Do it. It will become part of a condition that cannot be refused." He paused briefly before adding in a low voice, "I don't want the children to encounter this until they are ready."
Rachel didn't wait long for his response.
When she brought up the gold sources in Laos and Myanmar, she said, "The internal wars complicate the situation… but these resources must not slip away."
Her report was cold, offering him the decision as if passing along a blade with no mercy.
He narrowed his eyes at the map laid on the table. The internal conflicts in both countries opened the door for him to act. This time, he decided clearly:"Approved. Anyone who attempts to obstruct us—do not grant them time for reprieve. Eliminate immediately."
His voice could not return from the darkness it had emerged from. This command left endless scars across every corner of the organization.
After the meeting, he walked to the mud chamber hidden deep underground. Darkness crept around him as if he were gazing into a realm of mysteries no one had fully entered. There, he began using his power, transforming everything around him into what he desired—hardening the mud into something stronger.
A new unit was established. The Lieutenant unit was unlike any other: able to choose their own attire, yet bound by strict conditions—they had to possess a Quirk first.
This was a unit directly under his command, capable of blending seamlessly with him. Yet some could not yet stand against the Soldat, lacking certain elements in their abilities.
He paused, thinking. The strengthening of the mud, and the increased capabilities of his subordinates, could not be ignored. Calmly, he commanded each mud figure to acquire two new randomly purchased skills—just two, but enough to make them stronger than ever.
Everything moved forward silently. Everyone performed their duties like emotionless machines. In this world with no surrender, there was only fighting until the very end—until the darkness gradually consumed everything.
He drove back home after finishing his conversation with Toga. Her face lingered in his thoughts, the brightness in her eyes when she saw him warming something deep inside. Though the moment had been brief, it left him with a sense of joy that she had shared so effortlessly.
A faint smile crossed his lips as he drove. Despite the happiness of seeing her, he knew there was still a long stretch of time ahead. He opened the door to his home and stepped inside, leaving all his thoughts behind.
Even though Toga had lifted his spirits, he was fully aware that tomorrow was an important exam, and he couldn't afford to let himself get carried away by emotions. He knew he needed rest before facing the new challenges that awaited him.
He turned off the lights and collapsed onto his bed. His breath slowed as his body gradually relaxed, and his mind began to drift away from his thoughts. He knew tonight would be cloaked in darkness, and he needed to be ready for tomorrow's exam—confident, alert, and not letting fatigue take hold.
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The Next Day
Aizawa: "Everyone, have your pencils ready. The last person in each row, collect the answer sheets here."
The bell rang, and Aizawa's command echoed through the room as students handed in their papers. With the written exams finally over, the week had passed smoothly. Today marked the last day of the written tests. Over the past two weeks, everyone had been busy—especially Momo and Ryujin. The two of us had practically been helping classmates review lessons whenever needed.
On top of that, he had been running back and forth to the base, handling various missions that every guy had to do. It also provided a bit of entertainment for the girls during downtime. But one thing became clear… they weren't little fawns at all—they were hungry, fierce tigers.
Mina: "Thanks, Momo! You too, Ryo!"
Kaminari: "Finally done! Didn't leave a single question blank! I passed!"
He let out a sigh, walking over to his partner and massaging her shoulders. Momo looked at him, raising an eyebrow, and he responded with a subtle smile at the corner of his eyes. She returned the smile, succumbing to his playful teasing. Then Mina came over to help massage Momo's other shoulder while the others chatted about the exams.
Uraraka: "Thanks, Deku-kun! I think this time I might actually get a good score!"
Izuku: "Ahaha! No problem…"
Izuku's face was slightly flushed, while Ochaco smiled at him like a kid receiving candy. He smiled warmly back at both of them.
Ryujin: "With looks like that, Midoriya's totally doomed."
He shouted jokingly, making both of them blush even more. He genuinely liked the couple, but Mina and Momo pinched his cheeks hard as usual.
Kirishima: "Wow! I can't wait to finish this exam and celebrate!"
Toru: "Oh! Oh! Let's celebrate after the exams! What do you all say? Let's go to the Kiyashi Mall!"
Toru shouted excitedly, clearly wanting everyone to go together. Her suggestion was met with enthusiastic agreement; no matter where they went, everyone wanted to eat and hang out. Even Bakugo and Todoroki agreed to join the plan.
They planned to go to the mall for lunch before the practical exams began—after all, they needed to eat well before tackling the more physically demanding tests.
Time passed.
Jirou: "Wow… lots of teachers today…"
Kazuma heard Jirou comment while watching two teachers walking out with Principal Nezu perched on Aizawa's shoulder. Aizawa, with tired eyes, led the way while holding a tablet in his hands.
Aizawa: "We'll begin the practical exams now."
Kaminari: "We get to fight robots again, right?!"
Mina: "Fireworks! Curry! Courage tests?!"
The cheers of Kaminari and Mina rang out excitedly, as Ryujin laughed softly next to Momo, who seemed to find her friends' innocence endearing.
Nezu: "Unfortunately, we've changed the scenario this time."
Everyone (except Ryujin): "Whaaaat?!?!"
A shocked gasp echoed across the training ground at the Principal's announcement. Nezu began to explain further: the school had decided to change the format of this round. Students would no longer be fighting robots. Instead, the focus would be on real-world experience in handling enemies, rather than following a preset program.
To ensure fairness, the teachers would reduce their own power by wearing weighted pendulums at half their usual weight, giving the students a fighting chance.
The result… students were paired up to fight alongside their classmates, with the goal of facing off against a teacher. Kazuma heard Kaminari and Ashido groan in despair, realizing their fate. He raised his hand to ask a question, and Aizawa gave a small nod of approval.
Ryujin: "Everyone's been paired up already, right?"
Aizawa: "Yes. If we didn't do it this way, some of you might breeze through, while others… wouldn't survive a minute."
He said it with a faint, grim smile that made many students shiver.
Mina: "What!? There's no way I'll make it through like this!"
Kaminari: "Oh no, guys! I wanted to be paired with Todoroki or Midoriya instead!"
Aizawa: "No matter what, every opponent and ally has already been assigned. I made the decisions based on many factors—battle styles, skill levels, even personal relationships."
The answer made Kaminari and Mina wail dramatically, like characters straight out of an anime. Deku, being the empathetic one, tried to comfort them, while some others burst out laughing.
Nezu: "This exam will last 30 minutes. Your objective is… to handcuff your teacher, or escape the training area. If you succeed, you win."
Ryujin immediately glanced at Midnight, knowing this rule had to have come from her.
Midnight (Nemuri): "Ooh, don't look at me like that~ Isn't it a hero's job to put villains in handcuffs? And if you keep staring like that… I might get way too excited~ ♥"
Nezu: "Alright! I hope everyone enjoys this test! Give it your all! Hahaha!"
They were all sweating under the sheer madness of the Principal's laughter. So we looked up at the hologram on Aizawa's tablet to find out our pairings.
Practical Exam – Hero Department, Year 1, Class A
Kirishima Eijiro & Sato Kirido VS Cementoss
Kirishima: "Okay, Sato! We've got this!"Sato: "This time, you can trust me!"
Disaster waiting to happen. I knew they wouldn't survive against Cementoss. Even though they looked excited, I didn't want to completely crush their morale either.
Tokoyami Fumikage & Asui Tsuyu VS Ectoplasm
Tsuyu: "Looks like we're paired together again. Let's do this, Keroro! Tokoyami, and you too, Dark Shadow."Dark Shadow: squeak!Tokoyami: "Fun in the darkness."
This pair might survive. Crow and frog… well, it should be entertaining. Their only advantage is that Ectoplasm has no legs. With prosthetics, they might gain some leverage—or break them—but they won't. They're just not that reckless.
Iida Tenya & Ojiro Mashirao VS Power Loader
Iida: "Alright, it's an honor to fight alongside you, Ojiro-kun!"Ojiro: "That's my line, you know. Just make sure I mean it too."
Legs and tail versus a shirtless maniac. Not sure how this fight will go, since the opponent is a support teacher. Might end up digging dirt—who knows.
Momo Yaoyorozu & Shoto Todoroki VS Aizawa
Todoroki: "Oh? Students pairing up, huh?"Momo: "Seems like they want to test just the two of us."
Poor thing… my love. Didn't think she'd be paired against the homeroom teacher. His quirks are complex, and his close-range combat experience surpasses both of them combined. Still, I have faith she'll pull through.
Uraraka Ochako & Aoyama Yuga VS Number 13
Ochako: "Aoyama-kun! Stop staring at the mirrors!"Aoyama: "Oh my~ Seems I can shine even in space~!"
Dead, definitely. How are they supposed to fight a black hole? I have no clue. But maybe the teacher will go easy on them.
Kaminari Denki & Ashido Mina VS Principal Nezu
Kaminari: "We're doomed…"Mina: "Nooo…"
Getting paired with the sadistic mouse… bad luck. Brain and sadism, nobody wants this. Good luck, my love.
Goda Koji & Jirou Kyoka VS Present Mic
Jirou: "Yo, Goda, let's make sure we beat Present Mic. I'm so sick of him yelling every class!"Koji: "Let's do it!"
Eardrums will explode. Sure, the weighted pendulum helps a bit, but I've seen him take down villains just by yelling. Their opponents end up bleeding. Madness.
Shoji Mezo & Toru Hagakure VS Snipe
Hagakure: "Let's take down Snipe!"Shoji: "Glad to fight alongside you, Toru."
I'd love to see a pistol showdown. Should be fun.
Sero Hanta & Mineta Minoru VS Midnight
Mineta: "Back then, I'd let her use her power freely, but now, we'll give it our all. Sero, let's beat her!"Sero: "You got it, Mineta!!"
Purple-haired troublemaker. Didn't expect him to take this seriously. This will be interesting.
Midoriya Izuku & Katsuki Bakugo VS All Might
Bakugo: "Why am I paired with Deku!?"Izuku: "B-but we have to fight All Might…"Bakugo: "Tch! Let's do this, Deku!"
Everyone thought Bakugo's attitude had changed, at least for now. And then… looking at the end, it felt like even God hated me for some reason…
Ryujin Kazuma VS Mirko – Pro Hero No.6
Everyone was stunned at the final pairing. Ryujin had to face Mirko, a pro hero renowned for her close-combat prowess, whose speed ranked among the fastest in Japan.
Mirko stepped forward, completely unburdened—no weighted pendulum to slow her down. That prompted Nezu to speak.
Nezu: "Since Kazuma-kun has quite a bit of experience fighting villains, we reached out to other heroes to participate. But only Mirko agreed. Therefore, Kazuma-kun's practical exam will be to defeat her, evade her, or survive until time runs out. Only then will he be considered the winner. Mirko will not have any weighted gear."
Actually, Aizawa had previously objected, but Principal Nezu insisted. Aizawa couldn't do much to stop him.
Everyone broke into a sweat at the thought of a one-on-one battle. Most of them would have been defeated instantly.
But Ryujin? Did he feel fear?
Ryujin: "Well then… shall we dance?"
He stared straight at Mirko. She stared back, her eyes alight with excitement, and a wide grin spreading across her face.
Mirko: "Fantastic… so this is the strongest first-year student? I've been wanting to test you for a long time."
She wanted to see if his thighs—the ones many men might dream of hugging—were truly as strong as rumored. Not that she particularly wanted to hug them… but she wanted to find out for herself if she was still the better pro hero. The thought thrilled her.