(Author note: A around 6k chapter! What? Exams? Sleeping? Never heard of them.
Sorry, but I just had A LOT of fun writing this chapter, especially All For One - who since this is an AU, I had some creative liberties.
Since honestly - the abilities he had were pretty weak for one who lived over a century and can combine Quirks. So....
Also, what happens in the fight... Just read, and all will become clear, even though some things may possibly be confusing in the beginning.
Well, enjoy!)
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The world seemed to slow as Thragg stood between All Might and All For One, the energy blast dissipating harmlessly against his immovable form.
"That's enough," he stated, his voice carrying across the devastated battlefield with calm authority.
As the smoke cleared, revealing his partially destroyed suit, Thragg methodically tore away the remaining burned fabric, leaving his torso bare.
"Worry not," he declared, his massive frame silhouetted against the destruction behind him. "For now, I am here."
All For One paused, his featureless head tilting slightly as he studied this unexpected development. "Well, well," he said, his mechanical voice somehow conveying amusement. "The famous Detective Thragg Grayson. I've been looking forward to meeting you in person."
Behind Thragg, All Might struggled to his feet, blood trickling from his mouth. "Detective... you shouldn't be here. This isn't a police matter."
"On the contrary," Thragg replied without turning, his eyes fixed on All For One. "When a civilian signals distress, response is mandatory regardless of jurisdiction."
All For One laughed, the sound distorted by his breathing apparatus. "How wonderfully bureaucratic. But I'm afraid you're interrupting a private reunion between old friends."
With casual ease, the villain raised his hand again, this time directing a blast of compressed air that could level buildings directly at Thragg. The detective didn't move, didn't flinch.
The attack struck him full force, creating a shockwave that shattered nearby windows - but Thragg remained unmoved, as if rooted to the earth itself - his body protecting Toshinori behind him.
"Interesting," All For One observed. "A strength-enhancement quirk with remarkable durability. Not unlike All Might's, though clearly with different... parameters."
Thragg took a single step forward. Just one. But something in that movement - its precision, its controlled power - made All For One instinctively take a step back.
"You will surrender," Thragg stated, not as a demand but as a simple fact.
All For One's laughter echoed through his respirator. "My dear detective, I've been playing this game since before your grandfather was born. Do you really think-"
His words cut off as Thragg suddenly appeared before him - not running or jumping, but simply there, as if the space between them had momentarily ceased to exist.
All For One barely had time to activate a defensive quirk before Thragg's fist connected with his chest, sending him crashing through three buildings.
-------------------------
In living rooms across Japan, families watched in stunned silence as the live broadcast showed Detective Thragg Grayson - a name few had known until the Endeavor scandal - facing off against the most powerful villain the country had ever seen.
"Who is that?" a father asked, leaning forward in his recliner, eyes fixed on the screen.
His teenage daughter, a UA student herself, whispered in awe: "That's Eva's dad... the detective who arrested Endeavor."
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On another screen, in a bar in downtown Tokyo, patrons watched as camera drones captured All For One emerging from the rubble, his suit torn but his body seemingly unharmed.
"Did you see that?" one man exclaimed. "He just... appeared! Like teleportation!"
"That's not teleportation," another patron corrected, his eyes never leaving the screen. "That was pure speed. He's faster than the cameras can track."
--------------------------
In the Prime Minister's office, government officials gathered around multiple screens, their faces grim.
"Who authorized police intervention?" the Minister of Defense demanded. "This was supposed to be a hero operation!"
All For One will have his hide for this matter - this was supposed to be All Might's execution!
"No one," his aide replied, checking reports frantically. "Detective Grayson appears to be acting independently."
The Prime Minister leaned forward, studying the footage. "Can he win? Against... that?"
No one had an answer.
--------------------------
All For One rose from the rubble, dust cascading from his shoulders. With a gesture, his torn suit repaired itself, fibers reconnecting seamlessly.
"Regeneration," he explained conversationally. "Combined with molecular reconstruction. Quite useful for maintaining appearances."
He stretched his neck, the vertebrae audibly cracking back into place. "I must say, Detective, you're even more impressive than my sources suggested. And they were quite effusive in their praise."
Thragg remained silent, his expression unchanged as he assessed his opponent.
"Not much for banter, are you?" All For One sighed dramatically. "Pity. I do so enjoy a good conversation during these encounters. All Might, for all his faults, at least had a certain theatrical flair."
Behind them, pro heroes were evacuating civilians from the battle zone, while others formed a perimeter to prevent villain escape.
All Might himself was being supported by Endeavor and Best Jeanist, his emaciated form barely able to stand.
"You should leave," Thragg told them without turning. "This area is no longer safe for heroes or civilians."
"We can't just-" Endeavor began.
"You can and will," Thragg cut him off. "Your priority is civilian evacuation and All Might's medical treatment. I will handle this."
Something in his tone - absolute certainty without a trace of doubt - made even Endeavor hesitate before nodding grudgingly. "Come on," he told the others. "Let's move!"
As they retreated, All For One chuckled. "So commanding. So... imperial. You remind me of someone I knew long ago from a movie I watched. Before quirks, if you can imagine such a primitive time."
He spread his arms, the ground around him beginning to crack and shift. "But enough reminiscing. Let me show you what true power looks like."
The concrete beneath Thragg's feet suddenly liquefied, becoming quicksand that sought to drag him down.
Simultaneously, metal beams from the destroyed buildings twisted into spears that launched themselves at him from all directions.
Thragg didn't seem concerned. With a slight adjustment of his molecular structure he vibrated the atoms of his body at precisely the right frequency.
The metal spears passed through him as if he were a ghost, embedding themselves in the ground beyond.
As for the quicksand, he simply rose above it, hovering several feet in the air.
"Flight as well?" All For One observed. "My, you are full of surprises."
"Your assessment is incomplete," Thragg replied, finally breaking his silence. "As is your understanding of this situation."
All For One tilted his head. "Oh? Do enlighten me, Detective."
"You believe yourself to be in control," Thragg stated. "You are not."
With that, he moved again - not with the blinding speed of before, but with deliberate, measured steps through the air, advancing toward All For One like an inevitable force of nature.
All For One responded by raising both hands, combining multiple quirks into a devastating attack.
The air between them distorted as gravity intensified a thousandfold, enough to crush buildings to dust.
Lightning arced from his fingertips, while the very oxygen around Thragg ignited in a explosion hot enough to melt steel.
Through this attack, Thragg continued walking forward, unimpeded.
"Impossible," All For One muttered, genuine surprise in his voice.
Thragg reached him in three more steps, his massive hand closing around All For One's throat. "You have no idea what is possible," he stated calmly, lifting the villain off the ground. "Your quirks are impressive but fundamentally limited by your understanding of molecular structure."
All For One's response was to activate another quirk - one that caused his body to emit radiation at levels that would kill any human instantly. Thragg merely tightened his grip.
"Radiation manipulation," Thragg noted. "Ineffective against my cellular composition."
With a casual motion, he threw All For One through another building, the impact reducing the structure to rubble.
--------------------------
In the UA teachers' lounge, the faculty watched the battle unfold with expressions ranging from shock to awe - having been ones who didn't go to the saving of Bakugo on All Might's orders.
Him instinctively having felt that there would be too great a danger that they would be liabilities.
"Is this really happening?" Present Mic whispered, uncharacteristically subdued. "A detective going toe-to-toe with... whatever that monster is?"
"His quirk," Midnight murmured. "I've never seen anything like it. Multiple abilities that seem to work in perfect harmony."
Aizawa's eyes narrowed as he studied the footage. "It's not just his quirk. Look at his movements, his positioning. That's decades of combat experience. Military training at the highest level."
"But against All For One..." Principal Nezu's voice trailed off, his intelligent eyes analyzing every moment of the fight. "Even All Might couldn't defeat him without nearly dying."
On screen, All For One emerged from the rubble once more, this time visibly damaged despite his regeneration.
Part of his mask had cracked, revealing glimpsed flesh beneath - scarred and twisted almost beyond recognition.
"We should be there," Vlad King growled, fists clenching. "Heroes shouldn't be sitting back while a police officer fights our battles."
"This isn't our battle anymore," Aizawa replied quietly. "Look at them. They're operating on a level beyond what most pros can handle. We'd just be in the way."
No one argued with his assessment.
-----------------------
All For One stood amidst the devastation, his breathing more heavy now.
The crack in his mask widened as he reached up and deliberately removed the damaged section, revealing part of his ruined face - eye socket empty, skin puckered and scarred from old wounds.
"Well played, Detective," he said, his natural voice now mixing with the mechanical one in a disturbing harmony. "It's been quite some time since anyone has damaged this body so effectively."
He straightened, rolling his shoulders. "I believe it's time to take this encounter more... seriously."
The ground beneath him began to transform, not just liquefying but reshaping itself.
Concrete, metal, and debris flowed like water, forming a rapidly expanding platform that lifted All For One high above the battlefield.
The material continued to shift, creating a massive arena suspended in the air - a floating colosseum with All For One at its center.
"Let's have some proper space for our dance, shall we?" he called down. "Unless heights trouble you, Detective?"
Thragg ascended without hurry, landing on the edge of the floating arena. The platform was nearly a hundred meters across, its surface constantly shifting and reforming.
"Much better," All For One approved, spreading his arms. "Now, shall we continue our discussion about possibility and limitation?"
The air around him shimmered as he activated multiple quirks simultaneously. The temperature plummeted, ice crystals forming across the arena's surface.
Then, with a gesture that seemed almost theatrical, he thrust his hand forward.
A barrage of elemental attacks erupted toward Thragg - fire, lightning, pressurized water, shards of metal, all moving at speeds that would have been invisible to normal human perception.
Thragg responded with ease. His hand moved in a circular pattern, the air around it superheating from the friction of his accelerated molecules.
The resulting thermal barrier vaporized the water and melted the metal shards, while his other hand created a counter-current that dispersed the fire and lightning.
"Thermal manipulation," All For One observed, genuine interest in his voice. "Generated through molecular vibration rather than a specific quirk. Fascinating."
"Your analysis continues to be incomplete," Thragg replied, advancing steadily across the arena.
All For One's response was to change tactics entirely. The floating platform beneath them suddenly sprouted massive spikes that shot upward towards Thragg.
Simultaneously, the air itself seemed to solidify into crystalline blades that slashed from multiple angles.
Thragg didn't dodge - he simply adjusted the density of his body, allowing the attacks to pass through him harmlessly.
Where physical avoidance was necessary, his movements were minimal, precise, wasting no energy.
"You know," All For One commented, continuing his assault without pause, "you remind me of a character from an old pre-quirk story. A man of focus, commitment, sheer will. They called him Baba Yaga."
"No," he corrected himself, "he wasn't the Baba Yaga. He was the one you sent to kill the Baba Yaga."
Thragg's expression remained impassive as he closed the distance between them. Though internally he was surprised.
'John Wick?' Thragg thought to himself almost amused.
"Your references are irrelevant."
"Perhaps," All For One conceded, "but one does miss cultural touchstones when they've been lost to time. The pre-quirk era had such delightful entertainment. Star Wars, Hellsing, One Piece, Solo Leveling... ah, but you wouldn't know these, would you? Such a shame."
As he spoke, the arena beneath them transformed again. The solid surface became a maze of shifting platforms, forcing Thragg to adjust his footing constantly.
All For One used this distraction to launch another combination attack - gravity manipulation to increase Thragg's weight a hundredfold, followed by a disintegration wave aimed at the platform beneath him - where he expected Thragg to fall because of the pressure.
Thragg simply accelerated his molecules, phasing partially through the disintegrating platform while negating the gravity effect through flight.
"You continue to impress," All For One acknowledged. "But let's see how you handle this."
He raised both hands, and the debris from the destroyed buildings below rose into the air, swirling around them like a metallic hurricane.
With precise control, All For One compressed and reshaped the material, forming two gleaming swords that floated to his hands.
The blades ignited with energy, glowing with intense heat that distorted the air around them.
"I've always wanted to try this," All For One admitted, taking a classical fencing stance. "Ever since I saw it in an old movie. 'Star Wars,' they called it. Lightsabers, elegant weapons from a more civilized age."
He twirled the energy blades with surprising grace. "Shall we?"
----------------
In a place far away - having ran away despite much protest, Izuku Midoriya sat with his classmates, watching the battle on a wall-mounted screen.
His hands were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.
"This is insane," Kirishima whispered. "That detective is fighting like... like..."
"Like it's nothing," Todoroki finished for him. "Like he's done this a thousand times before."
Iida adjusted his glasses nervously. "The structural damage alone is catastrophic. Half of Kamino Ward is already destroyed."
On screen, they watched as All For One created two energy swords and took a fighting stance.
The camera drones circled cautiously, capturing the surreal scene of a villain and detective preparing for what looked like a duel on a floating platform high above the city.
"Is that... a lightsaber?" Kaminari blurted, earning confused looks from his classmates. "You know, from Star Wars?"
"From what?" Ashido asked.
"It's this really old pre-quirk movie series my grandpa was obsessed with," Kaminari explained. "He had like, collector's editions and everything."
Their conversation died as Thragg made his move.
-------------------------
Thragg regarded the glowing blades with mild interest. "Energy containment fields shaped into blades. Inefficient but functional."
"Come now, Detective," All For One chided, advancing with his swords at the ready. "Where's your sense of drama? Of theater?"
"Unnecessary," Thragg replied simply.
All For One attacked with surprising skill, the dual blades moving in complex patterns that would have overwhelmed most opponents.
Thragg evaded the first series of strikes with minimal movement, studying his opponent's technique.
"You've had training," he observed, continuing to dodge without counterattacking.
"I've had more than a century to learn," All For One replied, pressing his assault. "One accumulates many skills over such a lifespan."
A horizontal slash came dangerously close to Thragg's throat. Instead of retreating, he stepped into the attack, his hand moving to catch All For One's wrist.
With a twist that looked almost gentle but contained enough force to shatter most things in the world, he disarmed the villain of one blade.
The energy sword spun through the air. Thragg caught it by the hilt, the glowing red blade humming as he adjusted his grip.
"Centuries are relative," he stated, examining the weapon briefly before settling into a stance that spoke of mastery. "As is skill."
All For One's mask couldn't show expression, but his body language suggested surprise. "Well, well. The detective knows bladework. Another surprise in a day full of them."
They circled each other, energy blades casting eerie shadows across the floating arena. All For One struck first, his remaining sword arcing toward Thragg's side.
The detective parried with the least amount of movement, then countered with a thrust that All For One barely evaded.
"Classical form," All For One noted, recovering quickly. "Interesting choice."
Thragg didn't respond verbally. Instead, he launched into a sequence of attacks that forced All For One into a purely defensive posture.
Each strike was calculated, precise, testing the villain's guard from different angles.
All For One matched him initially, his century-plus of experience evident in his technique. But as the exchange continued, the difference in their skill became apparent.
Thragg's bladework wasn't just practiced - it was perfected, honed through thousands of years of combat across countless worlds - having learned to use any and all forms of weaponry to be able to counter them in case there was such a thing needed.
A particularly complex sequence ended with Thragg's blade slicing through All For One's guard, scoring a burning line across his chest.
The villain staggered back, regeneration already healing the wound, but the message was clear.
"I am a master of all forms of weaponry and combat," Thragg stated, his voice unchanged despite the exertion. "Your skills, while considerable, are inadequate."
All For One's response was to suddenly multiply his attacks, creating four additional arms that sprouted from his torso, each wielding a newly formed energy blade. "Then perhaps quantity will offset quality!"
The six blades moved in various ways, attacking from all angles simultaneously.
It should have been overwhelming, impossible to defend against - yet Thragg moved with ease, his single blade intercepting each attack at exactly the right moment.
With a move too fast for the cameras to properly capture, Thragg disarmed two of the extra arms in a single sweep, then severed the limbs entirely with his return stroke.
All For One hissed in pain but regenerated immediately, the stumps reforming into functional arms.
"Impressive, maybe instead of Wick, you're a Dooku, or a Yoda for that matter." All For One acknowledged, retreating to create space. "But let's see how you handle a different sort of challenge."
He deactivated his remaining energy blades, letting them dissipate into particles of light.
Then, placing both hands on the platform beneath them, he activated a quirk that sent tremors through the entire structure.
The floating arena began to break apart, sections of it crumbling away. But instead of falling, the fragments remained suspended in the air, orbiting around them like planetary debris.
"I've always been fascinated by the concept of necromancy," All For One remarked conversationally. "The ability to command the dead. While no quirk has manifested that exact power, I've found that combining certain abilities produces... similar results."
The debris around them began to glow with an eerie light.
From each fragment, shadowy forms emerged - humanoid shapes that solidified into what appeared to be people. Hundreds of them, then thousands, filling the air around the disintegrating arena.
"Behold," All For One declared, spreading his arms wide. "The accumulated power of every strong quirk user I've... acquired over the decades. Their bodies may be gone, but their quirks, their essence - those I preserved. Now, Arise my soldiers! Arise for your Monarch!"
The shadow army surrounded them, each figure distinct yet clearly not human - more like echoes of people who once existed.
"I am the No-Life King," All For One proclaimed as he bowed, the theatrical reference lost on everyone except himself - referring to Alucard. "Now, Detective, what will you do against an army of the dead?"
------------------------
In the Musutafu Police Department headquarters, officers crowded around screens displaying the battle.
Captain Morita watched with a mixture of pride and concern as his detective faced off against what appeared to be an army of shadow creatures.
"I knew Grayson was good," he muttered, "but this is beyond anything I imagined."
Detective Tanaka nodded, his expression grim. "Sir, should we be deploying backup? The special response unit, at least?"
Morita shook his head slowly. "Look at what they're doing, Tanaka. Look at the level they're operating on. What would our response unit do except get in the way?"
On screen, the shadow army surged toward Thragg, who stood calmly in their midst, the energy blade still humming in his hand.
"Besides," Morita added quietly, "I think Detective Grayson has this under control."
------------------------
Thragg assessed the shadow army with clinical detachment. Each construct appeared to possess quirks - different ones, based on their varying manifestations.
Some emitted energy, others displayed physical transformations, still others manipulated the environment around them.
"You seem severely disadvantaged, Detective," All For One observed from behind his army.
"You see, the reason I always had trouble with that abominable All Might was One For All's resistance to various abilities."
"It's essentially a quirk that turns the wielder into a force of nature - one of pure physicality, while granting them immunity to forms of manipulation, like control of their body, or poison, or mind control."
He tilted his head, studying Thragg with renewed interest. "Though, what's surprising is that you seem to have a similar quirk. I've been trying to, shall we say, 'Jedi mind trick' you this entire time, but it just isn't working."
The first wave of shadow constructs reached Thragg, their attacks coordinated despite their spectral nature.
Energy blasts, physical strikes, environmental manipulations - all converged on him simultaneously.
Thragg responded by accelerating his molecules to their maximum speed in this limited world.
The air around him superheated instantly, creating a barrier of plasma that incinerated the first wave of attackers.
His movements became a blur as he systematically dismantled each shadow that approached, the energy blade cutting through them with surgical precision.
But for each construct he destroyed, two more took its place. The army was endless, drawing on All For One's vast collection of stolen quirks.
"You can't win through attrition, Detective," All For One called out, his voice carrying easily despite the chaos. "Even with your remarkable abilities, there are simply too many. Eventually, you'll tire. Eventually, you'll make a mistake."
Thragg didn't respond immediately.
He continued his methodical destruction of the shadow army, his movements economical yet devastating. After dispatching another wave, he paused, the energy blade held casually at his side.
"Your strategy is flawed," he stated. "These constructs possess the quirks but not the skill or intelligence of their original owners. They attack with power but without purpose."
To demonstrate his point, Thragg suddenly accelerated again, this time moving through the shadow army rather than engaging it directly. His target was clear: All For One himself.
The villain barely had time to raise his defenses before Thragg was upon him, the energy blade slashing towards him.
All For One blocked with a hastily formed shield quirk, the impact sending him sliding backward across what remained of the floating platform.
"Direct confrontation," All For One noted, recovering quickly. "Bold, but predictable."
"Effectiveness supersedes surprise," Thragg replied, pressing his attack.
All For One activated multiple defensive quirks simultaneously - force fields, hardening, impact redirection. Even so, Thragg's strikes forced him to continuously retreat.
"I must say," All For One managed between defensive maneuvers, "you're quite remarkable. In all my years, I've rarely encountered someone who could match me so completely."
The shadow army regrouped, swarming toward their master's defense. Thragg found himself fighting on multiple fronts, his attention divided between All For One and the endless constructs.
For the first time since the battle began, the detective showed signs of exertion.
Not fatigue - his Viltrumite physiology, even limited by this world, was far beyond such human weaknesses - but a slight adjustment in his strategy, a reassessment of the situation.
All For One noticed. "Ah, there it is. The first hint of concern. You're beginning to realize the futility of your position, aren't you, Detective?"
Instead of answering, Thragg drove his energy blade into the platform beneath them.
The superheated weapon sank to its hilt in the material, and then Thragg channeled his molecular acceleration through it.
The effect was immediate and catastrophic: the entire floating arena began to vibrate at a molecular level - having learned to control his smart atoms enough to have them connect to things besides him, remotely - its structure destabilizing.
"What are you-" All For One began, but his question was answered as the platform disintegrated beneath them, not into chunks but into its component atoms.
The shadow army, tied to the material All For One had used to create them, began to dissipate as their anchoring point dissolved.
Both combatants remained airborne as the arena collapsed around them, raining harmless particles down on the devastated city below.
"Impressive improvisation," All For One acknowledged, floating opposite Thragg. "But ultimately futile. I can create more constructs from any material. The city below provides endless resources."
As if to demonstrate, he gestured toward the ground. Debris began to rise once more, forming a new platform beneath them.
Before the process could complete, however, a new development caught both their attention.
Two figures were approaching rapidly from the direction of UA - Marcus and Evelyn Grayson, moving at speeds that blurred their forms.
They landed on what remained of a nearby building, immediately assessing the situation.
"Father," Evelyn called out, "we've secured All Might. He's being transported to emergency medical facilities."
"The evacuation is complete," Marcus added. "No civilian casualties reported."
Thragg nodded once, acknowledging their report without taking his eyes off All For One.
"How touching," the villain commented. "A family affair. Your children are quite impressive, Detective. Almost as impressive as your... other daughter."
Something in his tone caused Thragg to narrow his eyes slightly - the first clear emotional response he'd shown during the entire confrontation.
"Oh? Did I touch a nerve?" All For One's voice carried mock concern. "I was merely complimenting young Samantha's abilities. Such remarkable molecular manipulation, combined with her father's strategic mind. A formidable combination."
Marcus and Evelyn exchanged confused glances, appearing to clearly not understand the reference.
"Your information is incomplete," Thragg stated, his voice unchanged despite the subtle tension now visible in his posture.
"Is it?" All For One tilted his head. "I think not, Detective."
Before Thragg could respond, All For One made a sweeping gesture. The air beside him distorted, forming a portal similar to the one Kurogiri had used to teleport the League of Villains.
From this portal stepped a familiar figure - Samantha, clad in her War outfit, her masked face betraying no emotion.
"Dad," she said simply, her voice carrying across the battlefield.
-------------------------
In the UA dorms, the students of Class 1-A watched in stunned silence as the scene unfolded on their common room television.
"Did she just say dad?" Uraraka whispered, her eyes wide.
"And who's Samantha?" Tsuyu added, finger to her chin in confusion.
Kaminari leaned forward, squinting at the screen. "That outfit... I've seen it before. In the news reports about that new villain group taking over the drug trade. The one with the scary woman in black."
"War," Jirou confirmed, her expression grim. "They call her War."
"But why did she call Detective Grayson 'Dad'?" Hagakure asked, her floating uniform shifting nervously.
No one had an answer as they continued watching, the broadcast now focusing on Thragg's face as he regarded the masked woman who had emerged from the portal.
---------------------
"Unexpected development," All For One commented, his mechanical voice somehow conveying smugness. "Allow me to introduce War - though it seems you're already acquainted."
Thragg remained absolutely still, his expression unreadable as he assessed the situation.
"You see, Detective," All For One continued, placing a hand on Samantha's shoulder, "your prodigious daughter thought - without your knowledge - that she could infiltrate my organization. Thought she could play the long game, gathering intelligence for her dear papa."
He chuckled, the sound distorted by his respirator. "Such dedication. Such family loyalty. It was almost touching."
All For One's hand moved to Samantha's head, patting it in a grotesque parody of affection. "Unfortunately for her, mind control quirks are among my specialties. She's been under my influence for months now, creating the necessary drugs to increase my power and abilities with no side effects."
His voice took on a note of genuine appreciation. "Truly, the manipulation of molecules is an unmatched power, one I cannot wait to recreate for myself eventually. Her body is uniquely suited for her quirk."
Samantha remained motionless under his touch, her masked face directed toward Thragg.
"Now, Detective," All For One continued, his tone hardening, "you face a choice. Will you attack me at the risk of your victim daughter? Or will you die in her stead?"
To emphasize his point, he wrapped an arm around Samantha's throat, positioning her as a human shield between himself and Thragg.
--------------------
Across Japan, viewers watched in horror as the villain revealed his hostage - the daughter of the detective who had been fighting him to a standstill.
In living rooms, bars, offices, and public squares, people held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
"That bastard," a construction worker muttered, his fists clenched as he watched the broadcast on his phone during his break.
"How could he use someone's child against them?" an elderly woman whispered, tears in her eyes as she watched from her apartment.
In the Prime Minister's office, officials exchanged grim looks. "This just got complicated," the Minister of Justice observed quietly. "If Detective Grayson prioritizes his daughter's safety..."
"Then All For One escapes," the Prime Minister finished for him. "And we lose both our Symbol of Peace and our best chance at capturing this villain."
-----------------------
Thragg's face betrayed nothing as he regarded All For One and Samantha. His posture remained relaxed, his energy blade held loosely at his side.
"Your assessment of the situation is flawed," he stated finally.
All For One tightened his grip on Samantha's throat. "Oh? Please, enlighten me, Detective. How exactly am I misreading this touching family drama?"
"You assume leverage where none exists," Thragg replied. "You assume knowledge you do not possess."
"I know enough," All For One insisted. "I know she's your eldest daughter. I know her molecular manipulation abilities are unparalleled. And I know you won't risk her life, no matter how great the threat I pose."
To demonstrate his point, he activated a cutting quirk, creating a visible blade of energy at his fingertip which he held against Samantha's throat.
"Now, throw down your weapon and surrender," All For One demanded. "Or watch your daughter die before your eyes."
For the first time since the battle began, Thragg hesitated. The energy blade in his hand lowered slightly, his gaze fixed on Samantha's masked face.
All For One's shadow army regrouped around them, thousands of spectral figures filling the air, ready to attack at their master's command.
"That's right," the villain encouraged. "The choice is simple. Your life for hers."
The shadow constructs surged forward, engulfing Thragg in a maelstrom of attacks. This time, he made no move to defend himself, allowing the shadow army to strike him repeatedly.
Marcus and Evelyn started forward, clearly intending to intervene, but Thragg's voice cut through the chaos: "Stand down. This is my battle."
The shadow attacks continued, each one connecting with devastating force. Thragg remained upright despite the onslaught, his eyes never leaving Samantha's mask.
"Dad," Samantha's voice carried across the battlefield, suddenly sounding strained. "I'm... sorry."
All For One chuckled. "Yes, apologize to your father for your failure. For being weak enough to fall under my control."
But something was changing in Samantha's posture - a subtle tension, a gathering of will. "I'm sorry," she repeated, her hand moving to her stomach. "I wasn't... strong enough..."
"What are you-" All For One began, suddenly sensing something amiss.
Pink energy erupted from Samantha's hand, blasting through her own body and into All For One's chest behind her.
The villain's grip loosened in shock as the energy tore through him, creating a perfect circular hole where vital organs should have been.
"Impossible," he gasped, staggering backward. "The mind control-"
"Was never real," Samantha finished for him, her voice so soft inaudible besides to those present - her face downward, collapsing to her knees, blood pooling beneath her. "You were... the one being played... all along."
In that moment of distraction, Thragg moved - not with the speed of before, but with his true one.
One instant he was surrounded by the shadow army, the next he was directly before All For One, his fist already in motion.
The punch connected with All For One's head with the full force of Thragg's strength. The villain's skull couldn't withstand the impact - it exploded outward in a spray of blood, bone fragments, and brain matter, his body crumpling like a discarded puppet.
Before All For One's headless corpse could hit the ground, Thragg was already catching Samantha as she fell, cradling her with unexpected gentleness.
"Dad," she whispered, her mask now cracked from the force of her own attack. "Did I... do well?"
"Yes," Thragg replied - making sure none saw their lip movement or heard them, his voice softening for the first time. "You performed your role perfectly."
Now, the people have seen a more heroic and compassionate side to their future Emperor - and this with a bit of acting, while his daughter didn't even suffer a bit of pain, having controlled her pain receptors.
Without wasting another moment, he placed his hand over the wound in her abdomen. His palm began to glow as he accelerated the molecules in his hand, generating enough heat to cauterize the injury.
Samantha didn't scream, didn't flinch - further evidence that this had been planned, that she wasn't experiencing the pain a normal person would feel from such a wound.
"We need to get her to a hospital," Thragg announced, his voice carrying to where Marcus and Evelyn waited. "This is over."
With Samantha secure in his arms, Thragg rose into the air, leaving behind the headless corpse of All For One and the rapidly dissipating shadow army.
Marcus and Evelyn followed immediately, their expressions grim but determined.
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(Author note: And done!
I hope you all liked the All For One vs Thragg fight - I had a lot of fun writing it. Especially the refrences.
All For One to me was quite the boring villain from what we've been shown - though who he logically is and could have done off screen to me though, make him very interesting.
So yeah, I hope you all enjoyed it, do tell me how you found the climax, and I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)