"All For One," Toshinori growled, his voice low and rough.
The villain stepped into the cell, his polished shoes clicking softly on the cold floor. His presence seemed to fill the confined space, oppressive and unyielding. The twisted grin on his scarred face widened as he regarded the fallen hero before him.
"All might," All For One said, his voice mockingly warm. "Or should I call you 'The Symbol of Peace'? No, that title doesn't suit you anymore, does it? The symbol is shattered. All that's left is a broken man."
Toshinori's fists clenched, his knuckles whitening, but he refused to rise to the bait.
"No witty comeback?" All For One continued, stepping closer. "How disappointing. I expected more from you. But I suppose that's what happens when a man loses everything—his power, his legacy... his purpose."
"Get to the point," Toshinori snapped, his voice strained.
"All in good time," All For One said smoothly, beginning to pace the small cell. "You see, I've been thinking a great deal about the state of the world. About the chaos that has taken root since your... departure. A vacuum of power, wouldn't you agree? But there's one figure who has risen above it all. A shadow in the shape of a man. A god walking among mortals. Ashborn."
The name hung in the air like a thunderclap. Toshinori's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
"I see the recognition in your eyes," All For One said, his grin widening. "You've seen him, haven't you? You've witnessed his power. He is unlike anything we've encountered—a force beyond heroes and villains. And yet, so elusive. No name, no face, no past. Just whispers of his deeds."
Toshinori's silence spoke volumes, but he knew better than to reveal anything.
"All of my attempts to learn more have led to dead ends," All For One admitted, his tone darkening. "But one thing is clear: Ashborn is a threat. He acts with impunity, dismantling both sides of the chessboard as though we're all pawns in his game."
"What do you want from me?" Toshinori asked coldly.
All For One stopped pacing and turned to face him, his expression unreadable. "Simple. I want to stop him. And you, Toshinori, are going to help me."
Toshinori barked out a bitter laugh. "You expect me to believe that? After everything you've done, you suddenly want to play the hero?"
"Hardly," All For One replied, his tone light but laced with menace. "This isn't about heroism. This is about survival. Ashborn is a storm, and if we don't act, he will sweep everything away—heroes, villains, society itself. I'll be damned if I let that happen."
Toshinori hesitated, his thoughts racing. He didn't trust All For One, but the fear gnawing at the edges of his mind was impossible to ignore. Izuku—or Ashborn—was a force unlike any other. Could he truly rise unchecked?
"And if I refuse?" Toshinori asked, his voice steely, his gaze unwavering despite the dread coiling in his gut.
All For One's grin widened, cold and predatory. "Then you'll rot here while the world burns. But we both know you're not that selfish. You'll do what needs to be done. For the greater good, of course."
Toshinori's fists trembled at his sides, every fiber of his being resisting the trap he knew All For One was setting. He could feel the weight of the manipulations, the way the villain preyed on his sense of responsibility, his fear of inaction.
But the alternative—doing nothing—was unthinkable.
"Fine," he said finally, his voice laced with reluctant resolve. "But know this: the moment you betray me, I will end you."
