The Emperor's Dragon

This Is A Message

All For One gasped as he stood on the roof of the building. It was times like this he knew how much he still had to recover. Doctor Garaki had made him a portable life support system but it was not efficient. It was not small, and it was heavy. It didn't bother him, because he was strong but for a lesser man, it would not be portable. It barely gave him enough oxygen, so he was constantly feeling like he was on the verge of suffocation. It was not a pleasant feeling. He could meet with people using it but that was the limit.

The feeling of suffocation only increased anytime he put stress on his body. Like now, when he was gathering several quirks. Even with all the extra drugs the Doctor was using on him, this was just not good enough.

Kurogiri had gotten Tomura and Izuku to the safe house. Garaki had been told not to come, and most evidence of their life here was gone.

The heroes would raid an empty location. But that was not enough.

It was bad enough that Juhin had sold him out but he was not going to give them even an empty victory.

He dragged in as much air as he could. "Air walk," he said the name of the quirk as he took several steps up to stand above the roof. He allowed himself to focus his strength for a few seconds, gathering it into his hand as he formed a fist around a green scale he had asked Izuku for earlier. That done, he punched down, hitting the roof of the building.

There was a loud crash. The concrete shattered, spiderweb cracks radiating from his fist. For a moment there was silence, and then the cracks continued with the noise loudly echoing.

"Kurogiri," All For One gasped the name. A portal appeared beside him. Before he walked through it he opened his fist. He looked at the scale in his hand, even though he couldn't properly see it, he could feel it.

He'd lost the original one Izuku had given him in his fight with All Might. He'd lose this one here. It was symbolic. And he was sure that they'd find it. He didn't know what they'd think of it but he would know, and Izuku would know. that the Heroes owed his son two times.

Two times they had taken away Izuku's sense of safety, and that could not be forgiven.

He let the scale fall before he walked through the portal.

Back at the building, the cracks continued and then the building almost seemed to tremble, before it collapsed. Most of the debris went inwards as the force of All For One's punch created a hole but some collapsed outwards.

Great gouts of dust billowed into the air, obscuring the view from surrounding buildings. The sound of concrete falling continued for several minutes before it settled, though nothing could be seen as dust hung in the air.

Those Heroes who had been preparing to raid the building remained where they were. The more experienced knew what it meant. Others just stared.

All Might emerged from where he had been waiting for the signal. The group that was to raid with him followed.

Through the dust he stared at the remains of the building and he reached both hands back before driving them forward in a resounding clap. He'd aimed it slightly upwards. A gale ensued as the air rushed towards the collapsed building. It took the obscuring dust with it, and the heroes were left staring at the pile of rubble.

All Might trembled.

He knew what it meant.

He knew what the message was.

As usual, All For One was stating it in the most obnoxious way possible.

I am still here.