Flashback 4 years
Izuku was engulfed by the black goo, the world around him quickly fading into nothingness. For a brief moment, it felt as though he was suspended in darkness, the weight of the world vanishing in an instant. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in an infinite void, where nothing but emptiness surrounded him. There was no ground beneath his feet, no sky above, just an endless expanse of black.
Panic began to set in as Izuku looked around, trying to make sense of his surroundings. "Where am I?" he whispered to himself, his voice echoing eerily in the silence. He turned in every direction, hoping to find something—anything—that might offer a clue. But there was nothing. No light, no sound, no life. Just the void.
Suddenly, he felt it—a presence, immense and overwhelming. Someone, or something, was watching him. His heart pounded in his chest as he slowly turned around, his breath catching in his throat when he saw what stood before him.
A gigantic figure loomed over him, its form barely distinguishable in the darkness. The being's eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, and its shadowy silhouette seemed to blend seamlessly with the void itself.
"Who... who are you?" Izuku asked, his voice trembling as he struggled to find the courage to speak.
The being's eyes narrowed, and a deep, resonant voice filled the space around him, vibrating through Izuku's very soul. "I am Solderet, the God of Shadows."
"S-Solderet?" Izuku stammered, the name triggering a faint memory. "Wait... are you that Solderate—?"
Before Izuku could finish, Solderet's voice cut through the void with a commanding presence. "Izuku Yagi," the god intoned, "I propose a contract with you as the God of Shadows. If you accept, you will gain the power to harness shadow energy."
Izuku blinked in disbelief, trying to process what he was hearing. Izuku muttered to himself, "Shadow energy?" as the concept echoed in his mind. He then turned his attention back to the enormous figure before him. "But wait... who are you really, and why do you want to sign a contract with me?" he asked, a mix of curiosity and suspicion in his voice.
Solderet, noticing Izuku's uncertainty, began to shrink in size, his massive form reducing until he stood at eye level with the young boy. Now face-to-face, Solderet's presence still radiated power, but there was an air of familiarity in his gaze.
"I'm not signing a contract with you for no reason," Solderet began, his voice now softer, yet still carrying the weight of his divine authority. "You see, your mother's family and I go way back. Our connection was forged during a time of great strife, when the world was torn apart by a war between people that possessed abilities against people that didn't."
Izuku listened intently, his curiosity piqued. "A war? What does my family have to do with that?"
Solderet nodded. "It was during that time, by pure chance, that your great-grandfather summoned me. Desperate to protect his loved ones from the horrors of that war, he formed a contract with me, granting him the power to safeguard his family. And he succeeded. My next contractor was your grandfather—your mother's father. The bond between your family and the shadows runs deep."
Izuku's mind raced as he absorbed the revelation. His family had a history with this powerful entity, a history he had never known. "So... you're saying my mother's family has been connected to you for generations?" he asked, trying to piece together the implications.
Solderet nodded solemnly. "Yes, Izuku. The power I offer is not one given lightly, nor is it without purpose. It is your legacy, a power passed down through your bloodline, and now, I offer it to you."
Izuku felt a surge of emotions—fear, confusion, and a strange sense of destiny. The weight of his family's past, combined with the possibility of altering his future, pressed down on him. "But why me? Why now?" he questioned, his voice trembling with uncertainty as he looked up at the towering figure of Solderate.
Solderet gazed down at him, his eyes gleaming with an ancient knowledge. "Because you were chosen by the shadow," Solderate replied, his voice deep and resonant.
"Chosen by the shadow?" Izuku repeated, his confusion only deepening. "What does that mean?"
Solderet's form shifted, growing smaller until he stood at Izuku's height, making the conversation feel more personal. "When I formed the original contract with your great-grandfather, I set forth a condition. Only those who were chosen by the shadow energy would be able to harness its power. And those who were chosen would be born without any other abilities."
Izuku's eyes widened in realization. "So, I was born without a quirk because I was meant to wield shadow energy?"
"Precisely," Solderet confirmed, his voice resonating with an otherworldly authority. "Your quirklessness was not a mistake or a misfortune. It was a sign that you were destined to inherit this power, just as your ancestors did before you. Now tell me, Izuku Yagi, will you form a contract with me?"
Izuku stood in silence, the weight of the decision pressing heavily on his shoulders. He hesitated, lost in thought, as he considered the offer before him. Memories began to flood his mind—memories of the harsh words and cruel names that had followed him throughout his life. He remembered how his family had distanced themselves, how his friends had mocked him, how his classmates had branded him as useless, quirkless, and a dead weight. "Deku"—the name they had given him—echoed in his mind, a reminder of all the pain and rejection he had endured.
As the memories surged, Izuku felt a deep resolve begin to take root within him. He had been abandoned, ridiculed, and pushed aside, but now, for the first time, he had the chance to change everything. Slowly, he lifted his gaze and met Solderet's eyes, his expression firm with newfound determination.
"I will form a contract with you," Izuku declared, his voice steady and resolute.
A faint smile appeared on Solderet's face, a rare gesture from the God of Shadows. He raised his hand and gently placed it on Izuku's chest. As he did, a bright light burst forth from the point of contact, illuminating the darkness that surrounded them. Izuku felt a surge of energy course through him, powerful and overwhelming.
"Izuku Yagi," Solderet intoned, his voice echoing through the void. "I shall enjoy watching over you."
The bright light flared intensely, forcing Izuku to close his eyes against the blinding brilliance. The sensation was overwhelming, as if the very essence of the universe was coursing through him. When the light finally faded, and he cautiously opened his eyes, he found himself no longer in the void but back at the familiar surroundings of the schoolyard—the very place where his sister and her friends had left him earlier.
Izuku quickly sat up, his heart pounding in his chest as he looked around, trying to make sense of what had just happened. "Was that a dream?" he asked himself, still dazed and unsure. Everything felt surreal, as if the encounter with Solderet had been nothing more than a figment of his imagination.
But then, a strange sensation in his hand caught his attention. He glanced down and saw something that made his breath catch in his throat. The same dark, shadowy waves he had seen around Solderet in the "dream" were now emanating from his own hand. The energy was swirling, ethereal and powerful, like a living extension of the void he had been in moments ago.
His eyes widened in astonishment as he lifted his hand higher, watching more shadow energy coil and dance around his fingers. The realization hit him—this was real. The power Solderet had spoken of, the shadow energy, was now his.
A rush of excitement surged through Izuku, pushing aside any lingering doubts. He had been powerless for so long, mocked and belittled, but now everything was different. He was different. Clutching his bag tightly, he scrambled to his feet, a newfound confidence filling his heart.
Without wasting another moment, Izuku began to run. The exhilaration of his newfound powers fueled his every step as he sprinted toward home, eager to explore the limits of his shadow energy and to begin a new chapter in his life.
