The BalanceKeeper

Kael stood at the head of the dimly lit command room, his black coat draped around his shoulders like a cloak of intent. Around him stood the ten strongest individuals in his rebellion, each one hand-picked for their loyalty, power, or potential. He looked at them—not just as weapons, but as extensions of his will.

"You're not just strong," Kael said calmly. "You're necessary. Each and every single one of you."

He stepped forward.

Mira stood closest, her eyes sharp.

"Mira. You're my shield and blade, my second-in-command. My second-in-command. You already act as my protector. Now it's official. You have full authority in my absence."

She nodded once. "I'll make sure everyone stays loyal to our cause. You have my word."

Reina, her eyes gleaming under the overhead light, was next in line.

"Reina. You're the Head of Military as you have the most combat experience out of everyone here. So, you'll be in charge of training, coordination, combat drills, etc. These people look weak now, but you'll shape them into something the world fears. Do I have your word that you'll turn them into highly combative individuals?"

Reina smirked, folding her arms. "I've already started doing that anyhow. I'll grind them until they bleed strength. If there's anyone here who knows pain and how to control it to make you stronger, I'm your girl. You have my word."

Kael smirked as he turned to Kai, who was shaking nervously but standing as tall as he could.

"Kai. You aren't up there yet in power with the individuals surrounding you, which is why you'll learn from Reina and Mira until you understand your powers better and until you mature into the man I aspire you to be. You're the future of this world. The very reason I'm doing all this is to help kids like yourself have better futures than those of the people that came before you. One day, you'll carry everything I've built in your hands. I'm counting on you, okay?"

Kai blinked. "You really believe that?"

Kael nodded. "I do."

Kai chuckled, rubbing the back of his head as he looked away in embarrassment.

Next, Bront Sarran, the broad-shouldered Gorilla Quirk user who once led the faction Kael absorbed.

"Bront, I know we sort of got off on the wrong foot, but I can't ignore your strength. You're one of my Generals now who governs over the Heavy assault unit. You've commanded and led before. I want that same leadership to be shown through the group's strength and overall attitude. I'm counting on you."

Bront gave a low grunt and cracked his knuckles. "What happened between us before doesn't matter. What matters is what we do about the injustice in our society, and if I have to follow a man I don't particularly like to achieve that just society, I'll suck up my pride and follow him to the ends of the earth."

"That's what I wanted to hear." Kael said as he walked towards the next person in line.

Rika Vale, a gravity manipulator, stood quiet and composed.

"Rika. You're battlefield support. Positioning, environmental control, rescue paths. You'll move the pieces no one sees coming. Without your help in battle, things could get messy. So if you need any one-on-one training/ help, just ask. That goes for any one of you."

Rika simply said, "Understood." As the rest followed with a head nod.

"Selan Dusk. You're in charge of reconnaissance, intelligence, hiding, and watching in the shadows. I want eyes and ears in every corner of this place. I want you to be like the boogeyman. Can you do that for me?"

Selan's voice was almost a whisper. "Yes."

Kael then turned to Daro Lynx, arms flexing with thick metal vines.

"Daro. You're defensive command. Frontline barrier, protection units. Work with Rika, Reina, and Bront to strategize how to control the battlefield. As you three, you are key to whenever we ever attack as a group.

In the back of Kaels' head, he realized they needed a name.

Daro nodded, a rare smile on his face. "I'll make sure no one ever breaches my walls of vines, no matter how hard they try to knock us down."

Hex Corven, arms crossed with a lazy smirk.

"Hex. Base security and internal suppression. You'll work with Mira to stop any threats before they reach me—or rise from within. If anyone acts out of line, disobey the rules, bring them to me so I can strip them of their Quirk. I don't care how ruthless it sounds. I tried showing you a way to a better future, and you decide to abandon the one man willing to save you and everything you care for? I won't tolerate such disrespect."

Hex raised an eyebrow. "So I'm the bad cop?"

"You're the deadliest one," Kael replied. A smirk rose on Corven's face.

Lastly, Nyra Sen, lightning disruptor, was practically vibrating with energy.

"Nyra. You'll lead our disruptor units—tech sabotage, energy suppression, shock tactics. Make chaos work in our favor."

She grinned wide. "That's the only thing I'm good at."

And then there was Dr. Sato Feen, the mad scientist who had his work stolen by his colleagues who eventually went on to use this finding to become millionaires.

"Dr. Sato. You will be in charge of maintaining everyone's health, Quirk understanding, serums that can safely enhance us using this facility's old data and most importantly, getting the technology down here to work."

Dr. Sato picked his nose, played with the giant booger on his finger, and flicked it away.

"Mm, yes, that seems appropriate. I shall agree with you just this once."

Kael shrugged off his words, backing up and staring at the ten people before him. So many characters, so many uniquely different people, each with their own end goals that aligned with Kael's.

"You are my elite team. The best of the best. The ones I will count on when the world crumbles. And because of that…"

He lifted his hand. The shimmer of Balancekeeper pulsed.

"I'm giving each of you a second/ another Quirk—hand-picked to enhance your roles."

Their eyes widened, some excited, others more or less thinking back to how All for One offered them power, but refused in the end. They knew All for One was an evil man and a tricky one at that. He could implant conditions in Quirks that let him control and manipulate people. For example, if someone he gave a Quirk to decided to go against All for One in any sort of way, the Quirk All for One gave that person would either turn you into a beast. Or worse, kill you on the spot.

In Kaels case, however, they knew his character. A man who risked his life to save people he didn't even know. He chose to use the same exact Quirk All for One had for good instead of evil, and that's all the convincing it took.

He stepped forward, placing a hand on each one of their heads with intent:

Mira received Quick Reflex – Ultra-fast reflexes that let her intercept projectiles or sudden threats instinctively.

Reina received Endless Stride – Prolongs stamina in battle. Exhaustion comes slower.

Kai received Focus Field – Can enhance one sensory function or physical trait for short bursts.

Bront received Shockhide – Absorbs blunt force and minor electricity through dermal resistance.

Rika received Anchor Step – Grounds her body to any surface, making her immune to knockback or gravitational displacement.

Selan received Quietstep – Silences all sounds from her movement and interaction with physical matter.

Daro received Metal Mender – Repairs damage to his vines over time, increasing flexibility and hardness.

Hex received Counter Trigger – Redirects suppressed Quirk energy back to the source at partial strength.

Nyra received Static Vein – Converts environmental electricity into more usable energy, allowing extended discharge use.

Dr. Sato received Neural Sync – Touch-based Quirk compatibility analysis for experimental fusions and recovery paths.

"Use these powers however you see fit. You don't even have to use them at all for all I care. I figured this was the least I could do for you all since you devoted everything to me. Thank you all for following me into a new world."

The ten people looked at Kael, seeing a rare smile displayed on his face. For the first time since meeting him, they didn't see him as the ruthless Vigilante with a semi-good side, but as a sincere person who truly just wanted everyone to be equals.

"Thank you." They all said in unison, surprising Kael just a little.

"Don't thank me just yet. Not until I make everything right."

And with that, Kael had set in motion his plans to become a thriving organization that even All for One would fear attacking without reason and thought.

…

The atrium buzzed with murmuring voices. People gathered under the cracked dome, some sitting, others standing idly. When Kael stepped onto the platform at the center, silence fell instantly.

Mira and the other nine stood behind him.

"I would like you all to meet these ten people standing before you." Kael said, "They are what you should strive to be and what I expect you to become."

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.

"They are the elites of this cause. They will train you, guide you, punish you if needed—and report everything you do and say back to me. Disrespecting them is disrespecting me, so show them the same respect you would me."

He looked out across the crowd—desperate faces, hopeful eyes.

"From this point forward, your role here will be earned. You show progress? You earn more. More trust, more responsibility, more power."

He raised his hand again. The crowd gasped as Balancekeeper flared.

"I'm giving each of you a second Quirk."

Gasps turned to awe as Kael moved through the crowd, handing out Quirks like blessings. Some got minor physical boosts. Some got useful utilities. A few got small supportive effects that helped with stamina, hearing, or coordination.

When it was done, Kael returned to the front.

"You all have a role now. You'll work under your generals. You'll train, you'll defend, you'll give me a status report at the end of every day on your progress, so I can know how to effectively use you in combat, so that I don't place a supporter with the front lines. Every one of you now matters even more to me."

He looked at them—scattered rebels who once had no place.

"You are not strays anymore. You are soldiers. You are family. You are the future."

A beat of silence followed.

Then—cheers.

Multiple voices rising in hope.

Kael's rebellion had stopped surviving and was now on its way to becoming something predators would feel afraid of.

…