"What's the point of killing without conviction?"
Shigaraki walked toward the outskirts of the shopping mall, his figure blending into the crowd, concealed beneath a dark hoodie.
Once again, Stain's famous words echoed in his mind, words that had been haunting him relentlessly these past few days.
To be honest, it pissed him off.
"Belief? Reason? I've had those from the very beginning, Hero Killer..."
"Nothing ever changes."
His steps led him into a narrow alleyway between two towering buildings. The sunlight couldn't reach here, leaving the space shrouded in darkness, a stark contrast to the bright world outside.
In modern cities, places like this were breeding grounds for crime, violence, and despair. Most people instinctively avoided them.
As his footsteps echoed against the walls, the eerie sound seemed to intensify in the silence.
"But from now on, every action I take will be fueled by it.
"I'll create a world without All Might."
"I'll expose how fragile the so-called 'justice' really is.
"And from today onward, I will call that my 'conviction.'"
His breath quickened with excitement. Lifting his head slightly, his crimson eyes gleamed with madness.
"All... All because of All Might!"
Just as his mind spiraled deeper into his obsession, a sudden attack from behind snapped him out of his thoughts.
Instinct took over.
Shigaraki lunged forward, twisting his body mid-motion, and quickly turned to face his assailant, claws poised for combat.
"You... Kaminari Denki!"
A surge of alarm shot through Shigaraki as he identified the person standing before him. His wariness escalated instantly.
When did he start following me?!
Kaminari stood there, Pikachu at his feet, wearing an expression of mild exasperation.
"What were you thinking about? You were so deep in thought that you didn't even hear my footsteps. I've been following you for quite a while now."
Kaminari let out a mocking sigh.
"Are all villains this careless? No wonder heroes have you running around like rats in the streets."
Shigaraki's face twisted with anger, murderous intent flaring in his eyes.
"You bastard..."
"You dare follow me here alone? Do you have a death wish, you little lightning brat?!"
"Ha."
"Crackle!"
Kaminari sneered, and in the next moment, his high-voltage mode activated.
Blinding golden electricity surged around him, illuminating the dark alley.
Shigaraki flinched, his vision momentarily overwhelmed by the sudden burst of light.
"Boom!"
Years of training under All For One had honed his reflexes. Even blinded, he reacted swiftly, darting backward into the depths of the alley, seeking cover.
"Don't move."
Shigaraki froze.
It wasn't just the voice that stopped him, it was the warm hand now firmly gripping the back of his neck.
The exact same way he had grabbed Midoriya earlier in the shopping mall plaza.
"I'd advise you not to move those hands of yours."
Kaminari leaned in, his voice dangerously low, whispering near Shigaraki's ear.
"Believe me, my electricity moves faster than you can reach out."
"Zzt—Zzt—Zzt!"
Golden sparks crackled from Kaminari's hand, sending a numbing current through Shigaraki's body.
The villain gritted his teeth, his muscles stiffening involuntarily, interrupting his next move.
"But do you dare?"
Shigaraki forced down his frustration, his lips curling into a bitter sneer.
"This isn't U.A.," he hissed. "Using your Quirk to attack me here is a crime."
Though he spoke confidently, he remained completely still, allowing Kaminari to maintain his grip.
"If you hurt me, you'll be branded a criminal, just like me. The pro heroes will come after you. You'll be seen as a villain."
Kaminari's eyes narrowed.
"Then let's gamble, on both your life and my future."
"But… do you dare?"
Shigaraki clenched his jaw, his face contorting with rage. It took a moment before he regained control of his emotions.
"You're not here to capture me, are you? What do you want?"
Kaminari arched an eyebrow.
"Oh? And how are you so sure I'm not here to arrest you? You are a wanted criminal, after all. And I'm a hero course student."
Shigaraki scoffed.
"That's exactly it, you're just a student."
He stressed the word deliberately.
"You have neither the right nor the obligation to arrest me. Capturing me won't benefit you. It'll only bring you unnecessary trouble."
Kaminari considered this for a moment, then shrugged.
"Fair point."
A smirk curled on his lips. But...
His golden eyes gleamed with something dark.
A chill ran down Shigaraki's spine.
"But what if I'm not here to arrest you?"
"What if I just want to beat the crap out of you?"
"To injure you? To torture you?"
Kaminari leaned in closer.
"What then? Will you run to the police? Cry to the pro heroes? Tell them I bullied you?"
His voice dropped even lower.
"Let me remind you… there are no security cameras here."
Kaminari's low, amused laughter echoed through the alley.
Shigaraki's expression darkened even further.
"You son of a—!!!"
"Crackle!!!"
Just as Shigaraki snapped, lunging to attack, he was instantly engulfed in a surge of lightning.
"Aghhhhhhh—!"
His screams ripped through the alley.
"Boom!"
Kaminari watched coldly as Shigaraki collapsed to the ground, convulsing from the shock.
"Did you really think I wouldn't strike first?"
His voice was indifferent.
"You underestimate me."
Shigaraki, gritting his teeth through the pain, staggered to his feet.
His eyes burned with unfiltered rage.
"I'll kill you… I'll kill you, Kaminari Denki!!!"
"Zzt—Zzt—Zzt!"
Kaminari's legs crackled with electricity.
Without hesitation, he delivered a swift kick to Shigaraki's stomach, launching him backward into the alley wall.
"Boom!"
Shigaraki slammed into the concrete, crumbling to the ground.
Kaminari stared down at him, expression unreadable.
"I seriously don't understand why that guy in the black hood values you so much."
His tone was laced with disdain.
"You're just some weakling in his twenties."
Shigaraki's physical abilities were above average, and his reaction speed was impressive.
But against Kaminari? He was still lacking.
Maybe it was a matter of Quirk compatibility.
Or maybe it was simply the harsh reality of combat.
"I came here today because I wanted to get a closer look at you."
Kaminari looked down at Shigaraki's battered form.
"Our time together at USJ was too short."
In his past life, Kaminari had seen countless villains in movies and anime.
And he had to admit, Shigaraki intrigued him.
Especially since his own strength was enough to let him get up close and personal.
"That guy in the black hood is probably the real big boss."
"But you… you're just the 'surface boss.'"
Kaminari smirked.
"The leader of the League of Villains, All For One's chosen disciple, the man said to have 'entered this world with distortion.'"
"Sounds impressive, Shigaraki Tomura."
***
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