THE SWIRLING SPHERE OF WATER raged like a hurricane given form, its rapid spinning tearing through All For One's flesh as though the ocean itself had declared war. His regenerating limbs shredded under the sheer pressure, muscles and sinew unraveling as the torrent battered him relentlessly. His once-mighty body was breaking apart, his essence crumbling before the might of his own bloodline.

The man who had bent generations to his will, who had stolen countless quirks and crushed hope wherever it dared to rise, was finally cornered. And who stood before him, wielding the very power to bring him to his knees? His own daughter.

The riptide grew so powerful that even All For One's formidable regeneration began to fail. His body contorted and shrank, each wave of water stripping him of years until he was no more than a child—a fragile, trembling shadow of the monster he once was.

The sphere of water burst, cascading in every direction, its sparkling droplets returning to the Pacific. The ocean roared in the distance, as though celebrating its return, and the battlefield fell eerily silent.

You stood at the center of it all, your knees shaking but your spirit unbroken. Rain dripped from your bloodied hair, matting it to your face, and your chest heaved as you stared at the pitiful form before you. All For One was barely a fraction of what he had been, a pathetic child glaring up at you with hateful, defiant eyes.

Tears streamed freely down your face, mixing with the rain. Your voice trembled with anguish and anger, a tidal wave of emotions threatening to crash over you. "You could've been better. You could've been a good brother. A good father. But you weren't. You were selfish, cruel, and monstrous. You stole lives, tore families apart, and destroyed so many futures. You cared about me? No, you cared about power. About control. You ruined everything you touched."

The faint glow of victory reflected on your tear-streaked face, but it brought no comfort. You had won, but the cost was written in every scar, every drop of blood staining the earth around you.

For a fleeting moment, something passed through the childlike form of All For One. Was it regret? Pain? No, it wasn't that. It was pride. Twisted and incomprehensible, it flickered in his eyes. His daughter had defeated him. For all his disdain for emotions, for human weakness, he couldn't deny it: you had inherited his strength and surpassed him.

But even in his final moments, All For One was relentless. His small body surged forward, one last desperate attempt to strike you down. A faint spark of energy gathered in his hand, but before it could reach you—

Boom.

The sharp sound of an explosion tore through the air. A blast of searing heat disintegrated the remains of your birth father in an instant, scattering the last vestiges of his presence into the storm.

When the smoke cleared, you saw him.

Bakugo Katsuki.

He stood battered and bruised, his body scarred and bloodied, but he was alive. His tattered uniform clung to him, and his familiar, defiant grin lit up his face. His crimson eyes met yours, burning with fierce determination despite the pain etched into every line of his body.

Your knees buckled as relief flooded through you. "Katsuki..." His name fell from your lips, barely a whisper, but it carried all the emotions you'd been holding back—the fear, the pain, the overwhelming love.

His grin softened, his gaze never leaving yours. "I saw it," he said, his voice rough but steady. "You were so fucking incredible."

You choked on a sob and stumbled toward him. His arms opened just enough to catch you as you threw yourself against his chest, clinging to him like your life depended on it. His heartbeat was steady beneath your ear, grounding you in a way nothing else could.

"I thought I lost you," you whispered, your voice breaking. "You're never dying on me again, you hear me? Never again."

Bakugo's arms tightened around you, his grip firm yet gentle as though he was afraid you might shatter. "I'm not going anywhere, idiot," he murmured, his breath warm against your hair.

You pulled back just enough to look at him, your blue eyes meeting his crimson ones. The rain was still falling, but you didn't care. You raised a hand, and with a small flick of your fingers, the rain above him stopped, the droplets veering away to keep him dry.

He blinked, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before a smirk tugged at his lips. "Why'd you do that?" he asked, his voice quieter now, his tone teasing.

Your lips curved into a faint smile, your chest tightening with how much you loved him. "Because you hate the rain."

For a moment, neither of you said anything. The space between you felt electric, charged with the weight of everything unspoken. His hand lifted slowly, his rough fingers brushing a strand of wet hair away from your face.

Your heart pounded as his forehead touched yours, his breath mingling with yours. The world around you faded—the chaos, the rain, the blood—and all that existed was him. His eyes flicked down to your lips, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Just as his lips were about to meet yours—

The sound of a helicopter broke the spell, its spotlight slicing through the rain. Both of you froze, your heads snapping toward the source of the interruption. The blaring voice of a news reporter echoed over the scene, capturing the moment for all of Japan to see.

"Look! It's the young heroes who defeated All For One!" a news reporter's voice echoed from a speaker, their words amplified for the entire nation to hear.

The spell shattered, and reality crashed back in.

Bakugo's knees gave out, and he fell forward, catching himself with trembling arms before collapsing to the ground. His breathing was ragged, his body broken and bloodied. You immediately knelt beside him, your hand hovering near his shoulder.

"Katsuki—"

"Go," he rasped, his voice barely audible over the rain. He coughed, spitting blood, but still managed to lift his head to meet your gaze. "Go to Izuku."

You hesitated, your hands trembling. "But—"

"Go help him. Along with the others." His voice cracked, but his resolve didn't waver. "This isn't over yet. All For One might be gone, but... Shigaraki's still fighting."

The weight of his words pressed against your chest. You knew he was right. Even though you had fought with everything you had to defeat All For One, the battle wasn't truly over. Izuku was still out there, fighting to save Shigaraki—Tenko—from the darkness consuming him.

You swallowed hard and nodded, your throat tightening. "I'll see you later, Katsuki."

He didn't say anything, but as you stood and spread your water wings, preparing to fly, you saw his fist weakly raise into the air.

Go for it, Izuku, he thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Your chest tightened, torn between the desperation to stay and the undeniable truth of his words. The fight wasn't over. All For One might have been defeated, but his vestige still lingered in Shigaraki's mind, poisoning him. Izuku was still out there, fighting to save what remained of Tenko's humanity, and he couldn't do it alone.

And then you took off, soaring into the storm, the rain stinging your skin as you pushed forward toward the epicenter of the battle.

The sky grew darker, the air heavier with the lingering malice of All For One's power. You closed your eyes, focusing inward as you whispered into the void, "Uncle Yoichi... I know you're busy with Izuku, but please... I need to speak with you."

The moment the words left your lips, your vision blurred, and the world around you dissolved into nothingness.

When your eyes opened again, you were standing in the Vestige World. The sky above was an endless void of black, and the ground beneath your feet felt cold and lifeless. The air was thick, heavy with the remnants of malice and despair.

Yoichi stood before you, his expression soft but tinged with sorrow. He took a step toward you, placing a gentle hand on your head. "You've done so well, Umiko," he said, his voice filled with quiet pride. "You've come so far."

Despite his words, your heart felt heavy, and tears stung your eyes. "Uncle," you choked out, your voice trembling. "How... how do I create a future where Tenko is saved, and Izuku still has One For All? There has to be a way."

Yoichi's face fell, his shoulders sagging under the weight of your question. He looked away, his brow furrowed in deep thought. "Your father's vestige... it will continue to exist as long as the All For One quirk does," he said grimly. "That's the truth of it. As long as the quirk lives on, so will he. And if the quirk is transferred..." His voice faltered. "His essence will follow."

Your breath hitched, and your hands curled into fists at your sides. The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place in your mind, forming a plan that made your stomach churn.

"Does that... does that apply to blood?" you asked slowly, your voice barely above a whisper.

Yoichi's eyes widened, and he immediately shook his head, stepping forward to grasp your shoulders. "No. No, Umiko, you can't—"

"But does it?" you pressed, your voice growing stronger, more resolute.

Yoichi's grip on your shoulders tightened, his hands trembling. He closed his eyes, and his voice was barely audible as he answered, "Yes. Your blood... allows the quirk to be transferred instantly if the vestiges agree to it."

You exhaled shakily, the weight of his words settling over you like a crushing tide. The plan in your mind solidified, and though it terrified you, you forced yourself to smile weakly. "It's okay," you said, your voice wavering but determined. "I've handled him before. I know he'll transfer the quirk to me. He won't be able to resist. He's always looking for the next vessel, the next pawn."

Yoichi's hands trembled as he gripped your shoulders tighter. "Umiko, you don't have to do this. There has to be another way—"

"There isn't," you said firmly, your voice cracking with emotion. "This is the only way to end this. To save Tenko. To save Izuku. To save everyone. I'll chain myself to Tartarus if I have to. But I won't let him win. Not when I know the truth."

Tears streamed down Yoichi's face as he pulled you into a tight embrace, his voice breaking. "You're so much stronger than I ever was," he whispered. "I'm so proud of you."

You clung to Yoichi for a moment longer, his warmth a fleeting solace in the cold storm of what lay ahead. His words echoed in your ears, a bittersweet blend of pride and grief. When you stepped back, you met his tearful gaze with your own, wiping your face even as determination burned fiercely within you.

"Thank you, Uncle," you said, your voice steady despite the tremor in your hands. "For everything."

The Vestige World began to dissolve, the black void fracturing and fading until you felt the weight of your body once more. The biting wind, the acrid scent of smoke, and the sting of rain against your skin all came rushing back, grounding you in the reality of what had to be done.

It was settled. You would take the burden of the All For One quirk into yourself. It was almost poetic, you thought bitterly—All For One's power was rooted in manipulation, in preying on fear and trauma to shatter his victims and bend them to his will. But he hadn't counted on someone like you, someone who had been loved so deeply, so unconditionally, that even his twisted malice couldn't take hold.

Good luck controlling someone raised by Aizawa Shota, you thought grimly. Your father—your real father—had made sure you had the strength to face even this.

Though the path ahead was bleak—eternal monitoring, isolation, and perhaps even a cell in Tartarus—you forced yourself to focus on the brighter side. Midoriya would keep One For All. Tenko could still be saved. And hey, maybe the League would make for some half-decent company during your lifetime of imprisonment.

With that grim humor bolstering you, you descended onto the battlefield, your water wings evaporating into mist as your feet touched the blood-soaked ground.

The scene before you was a catastrophe—a living nightmare.

Midoriya knelt in the dirt, his arms brutally severed at the elbows, blood pouring from the wounds in thick, glistening streams. His breathing was shallow, each rasp a testament to his determination to stay conscious. Your heart clenched painfully at the sight, but you held onto the one shred of comfort that kept you steady: Eri's horn. Her horn would be here soon, and her miraculous power would heal him. It had to.

But you couldn't focus on him. Not now.

Your eyes darted to Tenko.

He stood amidst the wreckage like a ghost, his frame trembling under the weight of what was left of his quirk and his mind. His white hair glowed faintly, strands burning like embers in the stormy air, and his hand covered his face as though trying to shield himself from the world. He swayed where he stood, his posture unsteady, but his presence still radiated danger.

The sight of him—raw, broken, teetering on the edge of humanity—pierced your heart. This is why you're here.

You landed squarely between Tenko and Midoriya, placing yourself as a barrier between them. The chaos of the battlefield fell silent in your ears, your focus narrowing to the trembling figure before you.

"[Name]," Midoriya rasped behind you, his voice cracking with relief despite his exhaustion. "You're here... you're safe..." His dull, tired eyes brightened just enough to remind you why you couldn't let him down.

Your hands clenched into fists at your sides. "I'm here, Izuku," you replied without turning, forcing your voice to stay calm even as your chest ached at the state he was in. "I'll handle this. Just hold on a little longer."

Then, Tenko's head tilted, and his hand slipped from his face. His red-rimmed eyes met yours, raw and haunted. He took an unsteady step forward, his body trembling like it might collapse at any moment.

"[Name]..." he murmured, his voice barely audible over the rain. "You defeated him. I can feel it... He's gone."

You swallowed hard, your throat tightening at the sight of him like this—so vulnerable, so utterly lost. His words confirmed what you already knew: the battle had taken everything from him. The weight of it all—the pain, the destruction, the betrayal—was etched into every line of his face.

The urge to run to him, to comfort him, was almost overwhelming. But you couldn't. Not yet.

Instead, you raised your hands, summoning a shimmering sphere dome-like-barrier of water between Tenko and Midoriya. The translucent wall rippled, catching the dim light of the storm, and separated the three of you into two worlds: the broken boy you needed to save, and the bleeding boy who needed saving.

The barrier left you and Tenko alone.

His gaze flicked to the shimmering barrier, then back to you. His lips parted as though to speak, but no words came. Instead, Tenko stood frozen, staring at you with a raw, vulnerable expression—a mixture of confusion and longing, like he was desperately trying to hold onto something he thought he'd already lost.

Even now, with his body battered and his soul fractured, Tenko yearned for you in a way no one else ever had. You were his anchor, his constant. Through the chaos, through the destruction, you had always seen him—not Shigaraki, not the monster, but Tenko.

And that was why he let you come closer.

Your boots sank into the wet sand as you moved forward, hesitant with every step. Who wouldn't be? This wasn't just a decision—it was a sacrifice, a life sentence. You were about to carry the weight of something no one should ever have to bear, but that was fine. If it meant saving him, if it meant ending this cycle of pain, you would live up to the name the world had already given you. Villainess. Savior. Martyr.

The entire world was watching. Every move you made was being broadcast live—the battered battlefield, the tattered remains of heroes, and you, the girl walking toward her doom.

When you finally stood before him, Tenko didn't move. He let you reach out, your trembling hands cupping his face. His skin was cold beneath your touch, and yet the contact sent warmth flooding through your chest. His eyes, so filled with pain and regret, softened as you leaned closer.

"Tenko," you whispered, your voice breaking under the weight of everything unsaid.

Then, the world around you shattered.

Everything went black.

When you opened your eyes, you were in the Vestige World again. This time, Tenko was there with you, his body chained to the jagged, desolate ground. His arms trembled as he struggled against the bonds, his face twisted in agony. Tears streamed down his cheeks, silent and endless, and behind him stood him.

Your father.

All For One, in his younger form, loomed over Tenko like a shadow. His hand rested on Tenko's head, his touch possessive, almost mocking.

"We meet again, Umiko," he said, his voice smooth and dripping with condescension.

You rolled your eyes, folding your arms across your chest even as your heart clenched. "I'm ecstatic," you muttered, sarcasm thick in your voice. But then you sighed, letting the weight of the situation settle over you. "Let's make a deal, old man. A win-win situation."

Tenko's wide, terrified eyes darted between you and All For One. His lips trembled as he tried to speak, but no words came out. You could see it—the fear in his gaze wasn't for himself. It was for you.

If there was one person Tenko would save, it was you.

It had always been you.

"Give me All For One," you said firmly, your voice steady despite the storm raging inside you.

All For One's laughter echoed around the vestige space, cold and cruel. "Oh, so now you want to be the perfect daughter?" He stepped toward you, his smirk sharp enough to cut.

"Let's face it," you continued, ignoring his taunts, "you and I both know you can transfer your quirk much easier to a blood relative. You don't need to 'prep' my body or anything like you did with Tenko. I can handle it." You inhaled sharply, steadying your resolve. "Tenko is useless to you now. He's battered, broken. He's going to die by Izuku's hands, and that means you die with him."

Your words were a knife, slicing through your own heart as much as his. Tenko flinched, his chains rattling as he struggled against them.

All For One's smirk