My Hero Academia: Thunder God

In the Ninja Camp, Kaminari had gone out on patrol, leaving Edgeshot stationed at the base alone.

Thankfully, since the death of his master, Edgeshot had long grown accustomed to solitude. At least, that's what he used to believe, until meeting Kaminari.

Now, for the first time in years, he found himself appreciating the company of someone sharp and inventive. Kaminari's curious mind and constant drive to create something new had, in a way, reminded him of the joys of mentorship.

"Hm?"

Edgeshot's attention was drawn to his laptop as a notification popped up on the screen.

"Last night, after 8 p.m., an arrest was made; the hero-killer was apprehended."

"Stain…" Edgeshot muttered to himself, his sharp eyes narrowing. Of course, he knew of Stain—the infamous villain who had become notorious in recent years. He was equally aware of how dangerous Stain could be.

"Endeavor, huh? Makes sense. If anyone could take down someone like Stain, it'd be him. But…" He paused, puzzled. "Isn't Endeavor's agency in Tokyo? Why was he in Hosu City? Did he go there specifically to capture Stain?"

Edgeshot scrolled further through the article while running through the situation in his mind. That's when the names of three familiar students caught his attention: Izuku Midoriya, Tenya Iida, and Shoto Todoroki.

The news article briefly mentioned their involvement but didn't provide much detail. It only stated that the three Class 1-A students had encountered Stain and were rescued by Endeavor at the critical moment.

"They're Kaminari's classmates, aren't they?"

Still, Edgeshot didn't linger on their mention for long. Of the three, only Shoto Todoroki piqued his interest, and that was primarily because of his background and exceptional talent.

As he continued scrolling, his eyes caught on a video thumbnail. Its view count had already surpassed 5.31 million, and something about it immediately demanded his attention.

Edgeshot clicked play, feeling an odd sense that this video carried significance—that ignoring it might leave him with regrets.

The video began with a narrator speaking in a calm, neutral tone.

"The Hero Killer, Stain.

"Real name: Akaguro Chizome. Inspired by All Might's debut, he resolved to become a hero himself.

"He later enrolled in a private high school but quickly grew disillusioned. In his own words, 'The education system revealed the corruption at the core of what it meant to be a hero.'

"Akaguro dropped out during his first year, and by the time he turned 20, he began advocating for a return to the core ideals of heroism. He gave speeches on the streets, calling for reform.

"But in time, he came to believe that 'words hold no power,' and abandoned this approach. Over the next decade, he taught himself combat skills and honed his techniques, preparing for what he saw as his duty.

"During this period, both of his parents passed away. There are no indications of foul play regarding their deaths.

"Stain's philosophy centers on the belief that heroism should not be driven by greed or personal gain. Only through self-sacrifice does one earn the right to be called a hero.

"He regards modern heroes as fraudulent, empty figures. Through his purges, he seeks to awaken society to the true meaning of heroism."

The video transitioned to footage of Stain himself. On the screen, he staggered forward, his glowing red eyes filled with intensity. He bellowed, his voice hoarse yet commanding:

"Someone has to bathe in blood… Someone has to awaken the true heroes!"

"Come, you impostors!"

"The only one worthy of killing me is a true hero… All Might!"

The video ended abruptly, leaving Edgeshot sitting in silence. His expression had grown tense and serious.

He wasn't moved by Stain's conviction, no first-rate hero would be so easily swayed. To reach their level, every pro hero had already forged their own ideals of heroism.

But the implications of the video left Edgeshot deeply unsettled.

"Who created this?" he muttered.

It couldn't have been the government. Nor did it seem like something Stain himself would produce. So who had the knowledge of Stain's past to compile this footage?

The details presented in the video, some of which went back over thirty years were troubling in and of themselves.

"The Hero Public Safety Commission previously mentioned that Stain had aligned himself with the group that attacked USJ… what were they called? The League of Villains."

Edgeshot frowned. "Could they have produced this?"

The timing of the video's release was suspicious. It had been uploaded immediately after Stain's capture, suggesting it had been prepared in advance. That meant the events in Hosu City were not random, they were planned.

The more Edgeshot thought about it, the more he began to suspect that the League of Villains wasn't as disorganized as they initially seemed. Even their attack on USJ might have been part of a larger strategy.

"If the USJ attack was meant to announce their presence to the world, then what's the purpose of this Stain incident?"

Edgeshot replayed the video, his sharp mind dissecting its contents. When it ended again, a single word escaped his lips.

"Ideology."

"The goal this time is to inject their core beliefs into society… to give their organization a purpose—a soul."

Edgeshot's gaze darkened as his thoughts accelerated.

"Through this incident, the League of Villains has captured public attention once again. And with Stain's ideology broadcast so widely, they're likely to attract followers, many of whom could be dangerous in their own right."

A sense of foreboding swept over Edgeshot. He could feel the storm brewing on the horizon.

"Ring, ring, ring!"

The sudden ringing of his phone jolted him from his thoughts. Glancing at the screen, he saw a message from Kaminari.

"Southwest. A five-meter giant bear."

Edgeshot didn't hesitate. In the next instant, his body blurred, leaving a long afterimage behind as he shot out of the wooden cabin like an arrow. He didn't even bother to open the door, phasing straight through it.

"Kaminari, don't do anything reckless! Protect yourself, but don't kill the bear!"

He remembered Kaminari's devastating move, Raikiri. Though All Might had sealed it at his request, Edgeshot couldn't be certain Kaminari would abide by that restriction. Ultimately, the decision was Kaminari's to make.

***

For every 500 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on patreon to read 45+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.