The Boy Who Wont Forget

All Might charged again, his muscles flexing as he prepared another blow. Ren's mind raced. He knew this punch could be the one that ended it. If All For One went down now, Ren's efforts to help him earlier might not be enough to register as significant influence. He needed to squeeze out just one more action—one more little push to make sure his contributions weren't overlooked.

His gaze darted across the battlefield until he spotted a steel rod half-buried in the dirt nearby. Without hesitating, he grabbed it and aimed for a small generator unit buzzing against the side of a wall. With a sharp throw, the rod hit its mark, causing the generator to sputter and spark violently.

The resulting noise and flash of light weren't much, but it was just enough to make All Might pause mid-charge, his eyes flicking briefly toward the distraction. All For One capitalized on the moment, delivering a quick, brutal punch to All Might's side that sent the hero stumbling backward.

Ren grinned, adrenaline coursing through his veins. That has to count. Come on, system, don't leave me hanging.

The ground shook as All Might steadied himself, his hand pressed against his ribs where the punch had landed. For a second, Ren thought All For One might actually turn the fight around, but then All Might lifted his head, determination burning in his eyes.

"No more tricks," All Might growled, his voice rough but unwavering.

He charged forward with the kind of speed that made the air hum. All For One raised his arm to block, but he was too slow. All Might's fist slammed into his jaw with enough force to send shockwaves rippling through the area. Ren's ears popped, and the sound of the impact reverberated like a bomb had gone off.

All For One hit the ground hard, skidding several feet before coming to a stop near the base of a crumbling building. For a moment, everything was still. Even the dust in the air seemed to freeze mid-fall.

Then, All For One groaned, struggling to lift himself off the ground. His arms shook, his breath ragged, but he didn't get far. All Might was already standing over him, his shadow stretching long under the dim lights.

"It's over," All Might said again, but this time, it wasn't a declaration—it was a fact.

Kurogiri appeared out of thin air, his swirling mist wrapping around All For One like a protective cocoon. "That's enough," Kurogiri said, his tone calm but firm. The mist expanded, dark tendrils reaching out as the teleportation process began.

Ren exhaled slowly, his pulse still racing. He watched as Kurogiri's mist consumed the defeated villain, warping him away from the battlefield. The air felt lighter once they were gone, but Ren knew the fight wasn't over for him. Not yet.

All Might stood in the middle of the destruction, breathing heavily. His eyes scanned the area, and Ren ducked further into the shadows, hoping to avoid being seen. But luck wasn't on his side. All Might's gaze locked onto him.

Ren's heart skipped a beat. Great. The last thing I need is a face-to-face with the guy who could bench press a bus.

All Might took a step toward him, his expression unreadable. "Kid," he said, his voice softer now, but no less authoritative. "Why are you here?"

Ren forced himself to stay calm. "Field trip?" he said, trying to keep his tone light.

All Might didn't smile. His eyes narrowed slightly, and Ren felt the weight of that gaze like a boulder on his chest. "He's using you," All Might continued. "You don't have to stay with him."

Ren scratched the back of his neck, pretending to think it over. "Eh, I don't think anyone's ever really free when it comes to people like him, right?"

All Might's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he nodded once, as if silently making a decision. "I'll come back for you," he said quietly. "You don't belong here."

Ren gave a half-smile. "We'll see."

Without another word, All Might turned and walked toward the exit, his silhouette fading into the dust-filled night. Ren let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

He touched the earpiece still in his ear and heard the faint sound of Kurogiri's voice. "Come back to the hideout. You've done enough."

Ren stood up slowly, brushing the dirt off his pants. His legs were sore, and his head throbbed from all the noise, but a small part of him felt satisfied. He hadn't gotten crushed, and more importantly, he had done just enough to matter.

As he walked back toward the pickup point, he couldn't help but smirk. Influence points? Definitely. Let's hope the system agrees.

The door creaked as Ren stumbled into his room, kicking it shut with the heel of his shoe. His legs ached, his arms felt like they were made of lead, and his clothes were covered in dust and debris from the battle. He flopped face-first onto the mattress, letting out a muffled groan into the scratchy fabric.

Come on, he thought. I earned something for that mess. Don't hold out on me now, system.

Right on cue, the familiar chime rang in his head.

Influence Achieved: Significant impact on major event.

+ Influence Points Gained

Level Up Achieved: Level 2 Unlocked. Current Ability Slots: 2

Ren flipped onto his back, exhaling sharply as he stared at the cracked ceiling. A slow grin spread across his face. "Finally."

The system prompt flickered in his vision briefly, confirming what he already knew: He had unlocked a second ability slot. Now, all he had to do was fill it. But that was easier said than done. Copying abilities wasn't just a matter of snapping his fingers—he needed direct physical contact, and the stronger the ability, the higher the level required to absorb it.

"Too bad I didn't touch anyone useful tonight," he muttered. "Guess I'm stuck with an empty slot until I find someone worth grabbing."

Still, the progress wasn't nothing. Two slots meant he could plan ahead, pick abilities that complemented each other, and slowly start building a real advantage. The idea of eventually mixing and matching abilities—once he hit Level 3—was already tempting him, but he forced himself to focus on the present.

He sat up, running a hand through his messy hair. His muscles still ached, but the thrill of leveling up helped take the edge off. Gotta be patient, he reminded himself. There's plenty of time to find something good.

A faint knock interrupted his thoughts, followed by Kurogiri's familiar swirl of mist seeping through the door. The man stepped inside, his calm gaze settling on Ren.

"The boss wanted me to check in on you," Kurogiri said. "He's satisfied with how you handled things tonight."

Ren stretched his arms behind his head, leaning back against the wall. "Good to know. Tell him I appreciate the vote of confidence. I'll add it to my nonexistent trophy shelf."

Kurogiri's lips twitched—almost a smile. "Get some rest. Tonight was only the beginning."

As Kurogiri vanished back into the mist, Ren lay back down and closed his eyes, letting the quiet of the room settle over him. His mind, however, was far from quiet. He couldn't stop thinking about how much faster he could progress with the right abilities. He had Blood Manipulation already, but what would come next?

Something useful, he thought, smirking faintly. Something flashy wouldn't hurt, either.

The second slot was open. Now, he just had to find the right opportunity to fill it.