Kael sat alone in the old control room, the weak overhead light humming softly above him, casting a pale, flickering glow across the cracked concrete walls. The air was stale, thick with the scent of rust and dust, remnants of a facility long abandoned before Kael and his followers had claimed it as their base.
The desk before him was a cluttered mess of filled-out files—each one a snapshot of a soul who had chosen to follow him, a life willing to risk everything for a new future. Each page was a testament to their defiance, their hope, their desperation. And, more often than not, their inadequacy.
He read silently, his dark eyes scanning file after file, his jaw tight with focus. Most were disappointing. Of the nearly forty people who had sworn themselves to his cause, only about ten had Quirks that were useful in battle or logistics. The rest? A patchwork of oddities, quirks so niche they bordered on absurd.
One woman could make flowers bloom instantly… but only in full sunlight. Another had the ability to sneeze exactly once a day with explosive force, a power as unpredictable as it was impractical. One man could alter the taste of liquids—completely useless in combat, though Kael made a mental note to assign him to the mess hall, if only to keep morale up with flavored water.
A girl claimed her Quirk allowed her to never get lost… but only on Tuesdays. Kael narrowed his eyes at that one, pinching the bridge of his nose with a quiet sigh. "Fantastic," he muttered under his breath, his voice low and edged with dry sarcasm. "A squad of walking novelties."
He placed another stack of files into the 'non-combat' pile, his expression tight. Not worthless—no one who chose to fight for his cause was—but they would take time, training, and tactical creativity to mold into something effective.
Time they didn't have. The world outside these walls was crumbling under the weight of All For One's influence, a shadow stretching longer with every passing day. Kael's rebellion was a flickering ember in that darkness, and he couldn't afford to waste a single spark.
His fingers brushed the last file in the pile, and he paused, spotting a familiar name: *Kai Soryu*. Kael's brow lifted slightly, a rare flicker of curiosity breaking through his stoic mask.
He remembered the red-eyed boy well—too eager, too clumsy, like a puppy tripping over its own enthusiasm. Back in the training grounds, Kai had practically vibrated with excitement, throwing punches at a sandbag with all the finesse of a drunken brawler. Kael had watched him from the shadows, half-expecting the kid to trip and knock himself out. He'd figured Kai for a basic physical enhancement Quirk, something average, maybe a touch above the rest if he was lucky.
But as Kael opened the file and began to read, his eyes froze.
**Quirks listed:**
- Superhuman Strength
- Superhuman Speed
- Enhanced Durability
- Heat Vision
- X-Ray Vision
- Flight
- Minor Regeneration
Kael blinked. He read it again, slower this time, as if the words might rearrange themselves into something less staggering. "…No way," he muttered, his voice barely audible in the quiet room. He leaned forward, elbows resting on the desk, and skimmed down to the next section, where Kai's own words were scrawled in a messy, earnest hand.
*"Most of these haven't awakened yet. I can only use Heat Vision and Minor Regeneration for now. The rest will come with time—either through age or intense emotional growth."*
*"All For One found out about me. He sent someone—a subordinate who said I was going to be his perfect soldier. I tried saying no, but then they threatened to kill people I cared about if I refused, so I had no choice."*
*"I was ready to give him everything… until you stepped in."*
*"You didn't even know me, but you stood up to them. You fought for me. That's the moment I realized if there was someone fighting for me, then I could do the same. Everyone who followed you here… they're my friends. They're my family. Thank you for giving them hope."*
*"I owe you everything."*
Kael stared at the words longer than he meant to, his calloused fingers tracing the edge of the paper. A small, rare smile tugged at the corner of his lips, softening the hard lines of his face for just a moment. "…You really could've been something else, Kai," he said softly, almost to himself. He set the file down carefully, separate from the rest—alongside the elite, the ten who had true battle potential. The ones who could actually tip the scales.
"You would've made an incredible Hero," Kael said under his breath, his voice tinged with something close to regret. "If the world were fair… I'd have liked to see you become that person."
Then his smile faded, replaced by the cold, resolute mask he wore so well. "But this world isn't fair. And I need that strength. Until this is over, I'll use every ounce of your potential to tear down the old order." He tapped the folder once with his fingertips, his mind already racing with possibilities.
"Out of everyone here… he has the highest ceiling. If he awakens fully… even All For One might flinch." If nurtured right, Kai wouldn't just be a weapon—he'd be a symbol. Kael's trump card.
The thought lingered, heavy and electric, until the door burst open with a sharp creak. Mira stepped in, her eyes sharp with concern, her short-cropped hair slightly disheveled as if she'd run the whole way. "Kael. There's a fight breaking out."
Kael's head jerked up, his expression instantly hardening. "What?" His voice was low, dangerous, like the first rumble of a storm.
"West wing. Two guys," Mira said quickly, her words clipped and urgent. "One of them is dating some girl. The other was jealous. Started hurling insults. It turned physical fast."
Kael stood so fast his chair scraped harshly against the floor, the sound echoing in the room. His expression darkened, sharp and ice-cold, his earlier warmth buried beneath a tide of controlled fury. "I just told them," he growled, his voice low and venomous. "I quite literally just told them what happens if anyone fights in here."
Mira nodded grimly, her hands clenched at her sides. "That's why I came to you first."
Kael stepped past her, pulling on his coat with a swift, practiced motion. The black fabric settled over his broad shoulders like armor, his presence shifting from contemplative leader to enforcer in an instant.
"Good," he said, his voice flat but laced with a quiet menace. "This is the perfect moment. Time to show them what it means to break my rules."
Mira fell into step behind him as they moved through the narrow, dimly lit corridors of the base. The walls were lined with exposed pipes and faded graffiti, remnants of the facility's past as a government outpost before it had been abandoned to rot. Now, it was their sanctuary, their fortress—a fragile haven for those who had nowhere else to go.
But that fragility demanded discipline, unity, and absolute loyalty. Kael had made that clear from the start. No infighting. No chaos. They couldn't afford it, not when All For One's forces were roaming, waiting for any crack to exploit.
The sounds of the fight reached them before they reached the west wing—a cacophony of shouts, the dull thud of fists, and the sharp clatter of something metal hitting the ground. Kael's pace quickened, his boots echoing against the concrete.
Mira kept up, her expression tense but resolute. She was one of the few Kael trusted implicitly—her Quirks, Enhanced Strength and Durability, A barrier that can protect against any attack and a healing quirk that lets her heal herself back into her prime strength.
She was good at noticing things even Kael couldn't such as behavior and intent. But this? This was already past what even she sense. It happened so fast that she couldn't stop it once it started.
'Kael shouldn't have to worry about things like this. From here on out, I'll make sure everyone stays in line.'
They rounded the corner into a wide, open room that had once been a storage bay. Now, it served as a common area, scattered with mismatched chairs and tables where recruits gathered to eat, talk, or train.
A small crowd had formed a loose circle around two figures grappling in the center. The air was thick with tension, the onlookers' faces a mix of excitement, fear, and uncertainty.
Kael's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene. One of the fighters was broad-shouldered, his fists crackling with faint sparks—a Quirk that generated weak electric pulses, Kael recalled from the files. Not lethal, but painful.
The other was leaner, faster, his hands glowing with a faint orange light as he swung wildly. A heat-based Quirk, maybe low-grade pyrokinesis. Both were shouting, their voices overlapping in a mess of curses and accusations.
"You think you can just waltz in with her kissing all on you?!" the lean one snarled, dodging a sparking punch and retaliating with a sloppy jab.
"We're dating, you jealous prick!" the broader one roared, grabbing his opponent by the collar and slamming him against a table.
The crowd flinched but didn't intervene. Kael's presence went unnoticed for a moment, his shadow blending into the dim light. Then he stepped forward, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.
"Enough."
The single word was quiet, but it carried the weight of absolute authority. The room stilled instantly, the two fighters freezing mid-struggle. The broader one let go of his opponent, stumbling back, while the leaner one straightened, his glowing hands dimming as he registered Kael's presence. The crowd parted, heads bowing or turning away, as if avoiding his gaze could shield them from his wrath.
Kael's eyes swept over the room, cold and unyielding, before settling on the two culprits. "You," he said, pointing at the broader one, then shifting to the leaner one. "And you. Step forward."
They hesitated, exchanging a glance that was equal parts fear and defiance. But they obeyed, stepping into the center of the circle, their earlier bravado evaporating under Kael's stare. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the faint hum of the overhead lights.
"What was rule number 2," Kael said, his voice low and deliberate. "No fighting among ourselves. We're not a gang. We're not a mob. We're a unit, and we survive because we trust each other. You break that trust, you break us." His gaze flicked to the crowd, ensuring they felt the weight of his words. "And you two decided to throw punches over what? A girl?"
The broader one opened his mouth, his face flushing. "She—"
"I don't care," Kael snapped, cutting him off. "You think your personal drama matters when All For One's out there, waiting for us to slip? You think your feelings justify risking everything we're building here?" He stepped closer, his presence looming despite his average height. "You're not just fighting each other. You're fighting our future."
The leaner one shifted uncomfortably, his eyes dropping to the floor. "It won't happen again," he muttered.
Kael's smile was thin, humorless. "Oh, I know it won't." He turned to Mira, who stood at the edge of the circle, her expression unreadable. "Get their files. They're on probation. One more slip, and they're out."
Mira nodded and slipped away, her footsteps silent. The crowd murmured, a mix of relief and unease. Kael's punishments were never cruel, but they were ironclad. He didn't believe in second chances—not when the stakes were this high.
He turned back to the two fighters, his voice softening but no less firm. "You're here because you chose to be. Because you believe in something bigger than yourselves. Don't make me regret letting you stay." He paused, letting the words sink in, then added, "Clean this mess up. Now."
The two nodded, their faces pale, and began righting the overturned table and chairs. The crowd dispersed slowly, some casting wary glances at Kael as they left. He didn't care. Respect born of fear was better than no respect at all.
Mira returned moments later, holding two thin folders. "Their files," she said, handing them over. "You want me to monitor them?"
Kael took the folders, his eyes still on the retreating crowd. "Yeah. And keep an eye on the girl they were fighting over. If she's causing this kind of chaos, we need to know if she's worth keeping around."
Mira nodded, then hesitated. "Kael… you're pushing them hard. They're scared, but they're loyal. Most of them, anyway."
"They should be scared," Kael said, his voice low. "Fear keeps them sharp. Loyalty keeps them alive." He glanced at her, his expression softening just a fraction. "You did good, Mira. Keep me posted."
She gave a small nod and left, leaving Kael alone in the now-quiet room. He looked down at the folders in his hand, then back at the Ascending the throne of the old order, Kael's rebellion was still young, fragile, and teetering on the edge of survival. Every decision he made, every rule he enforced, was a step toward ensuring they'd be ready when the time came to face All For One. And with Mira, Reina, and Kai by his side, there was hope that he could succeed.
…