RunOnSentences: Cheap and overdone is how I like my meat and stories! In all seriousness though, I am thankful for you taking time to write a review and will take it into account!

dark-feel: It is not cheap! It is bargain-price!

Saint-Leiker: Good with children? Hell no. But assholes like Bakugou? Just what the doctor ordered.

Mr ChubbySnorlax619: Inspiration and other DC heroes? You should share some ideas with me!

EquinoXX: Shame, really. But oh well, that's your tastes and I am glad you were honest with me!

Bastion Lightz: Hopefully, indeed. And yeah, Bakugou didn't simply lose a Quirk. It's even worse. He still has it but it is so weakened that it is basically a mockery of his power. A painful and humiliating reminder of what he lost.

roger9481: Fate and Trenchcoat Brigade? Well, doesn't that sound amazing?

DragonFang1917: Thanks a lot! I didn't want to portray All Might as a jackass, that's all!

SentinalSlice: THE ROARING 20S! We all have 2020 vision now! And boy does it suck, huh? And yeah, Izuku ia different from Billy in that he is more cautious and awkward as himself so it translates into his Shazamsona!

erasenpai946: True about Bakugou. Counterpoint though, he is being trained by Constantine. You know that the guy won't put up with blonde's bullshit for long and will teach him a thing or two about humility.

Amalgum: Constantine? Just chilling. Kicking the shit out of Bakugou's head and pissing all over his ego.

genaralraam: Really? Honestly, compliments like this mean a lot. I am serious, knowing that people didn't expect to like it and then actually liked it always makes me feel good and warm!

mastercheif1229: I am looking forward to your review for this chapter!

hunkogeez: Meh? Oh shoot, and here I hoped you would love it! No worries, just joking. Many men and many minds, am I right?

Airchampion: HAve you wanted long? Ready to see this chapter? Hope you are!

acosta perez jose ramiro: I will keep up the good writing if you keep up your awesome reviews!

LawKaynn: Constantine is really the damn fine bloody block, innit?

mastergamer14: Not bad, Sherlock. You get a cookie!

TheSmilingMask: Thanks, man! No worries, I know how badass Shazam powerset is and try not to forget about it! As for other magic heroes and villains, only time will tell I guess.

Icedev: 'Wanker' is Constantine's "I am Batman."

Fanguy59: Wish granted, my good man!

D3lph0xL0v3r: Oh come on, he is not that bad! Actually, he is worse but yeah! He did get what he deserved, I guess.

Yohnos: Because it is a fun game for people of all ages, genders and religion!

PasiveNox: Thanks!

"Sensei... I... I am so sorry."

Nana Shimura was the woman who inspired him to smile. Who helped him become who he was today. A Quirkless nobody with a dream but no power to accomplish it. A fool who was too powerless to do anything to help her. She had so much more to live for. She still had so much to accomplish and do. She didn't deserve to die. Why...

"Why did you sacrifice yourself for me?"

He was a nobody. The gift of One For All was wasted on him. If he died, it would go back to her. She would be strongest. Strong enough to take down All For One. Instead she saved him. Told Gran Torino-san to take him and run. If she were still alive... If only he had been a better student...

"I promise to you, sensei... Once I am back from America... I will find All For One."

He wiped away the bitter angry tears, crying out until his voice got hoarse.

"And he will never take another life again!"

He made that promise on her grave, bowing down to the lifeless stone. He promised her that All For One's reign ended with her. No more crime syndicates doing his bidding. No more villains throwing their lot with him. No more innocent lives twisted and corrupted by him into loyal minions.

"In the end... I see that I failed to make good on my promise."

He looked at the man before him, still surprised by the power he had. It has been so long since he was pushed back, let alone sent flying like that. It wasn't just the brute strength, however. When he was struck, he could feel the air itself shift and move around the vigilante's fist. And when he was sent into the air, he swore he could feel the currents grow solid and continue to strike him.

Did All For One grant him several Quirks without him turning into another monstrosity?

The original villain never was able to grant a person more than one Quirk. Not without rendering them mindless animals with slowly rotting bodies. He wasn't able to perfect the process in the time of his Master. But if what he felt was real, then that only added more to the worry he had concerning Shazam. If he was truly the product of All For One, then their situation was dire. Very dire indeed.

"I thought you'd run away by now."

"... I punched you."

Yes. Yes, he did.

"I... punched you." he gripped his hand in... worry? Shock, perhaps? Yagi watched the young man's motions carefully. "Oh my God, I did it!"

He was losing it. Perhaps the process that gave birth to him wasn't perfect. It was clear that this man was going through some sort of 'glitch' so to speak. What triggered it though? He very much doubted that All For One would be angry with his creation successfully attacking him. Unless... Unless his objective was never to kill him.

All For One has always loved theatrics.

And having one of his puppets kill him would simply not be dramatic enough. Most likely, he wanted Shazam to defeat him and send the message to those that lurked in the shadows. That he was still alive. And if not, still powerful enough that his legacy would be able to crush the Peace that he had created. Yagi gritted his teeth in frustration and anger.

If All For One wanted to send the message so badly.

Then he would be the one to kill the messenger.

"Why are you so loyal to him?" Yagi looked at the man before him. If he indeed had enough mind to talk and act, then perhaps there was still hope of helping this poor soul. "Why are you ready to follow the orders given to you by him?"

Shazam looked back, eyes heavy. Doubtful. But still full of that loyalty to the monster.

"Because he believed in me when others didn't," he said. "He was a jerk about it too. But in the end, he trusted me enough with this power. Trusted me to carry on his legacy and make sure that the world is safe. And, as much as I may argue with some of his outdated views, I agree with the necessity of his actions. I am not quitting. Even for you, All Might."

Then there was nothing more that he could do.

"I am sorry for hitting you that hard. But I really gotta go-"

His hand was on the young man's hand, smashing the vigilante into the ground before he could finish his sentence. He hated doing this. He hated it even more when the man looked at him with those wide eyes of his, the sheer pain and shock in them reflecting how betrayed he felt. But what more did he expect? What else could he do now that his worst suspicions were confirmed?

All For One was back.

And if he was willing to let Shazam run free like that, then that meant the vigilante was simply the bottom of the barrel.

"Sorry, son."

He lifted the man by his collar.

"I am taking you in."

S

"Did you see it, guys?" Kacchan looked at the screen, his eyes sparking with awe. The same expression the other kids shared as they watched their hero fight. "These guys thought they could ambush, All Might but no! Just like that. with one punch, he took them all out!"

"All Might is awesome!"

"He is invincible!"

"Like I always say, guys," Kacchan grinned. "All Might always wins!"

All Might always wins.

It was the pattern that repeated so often that people took it as a fact. Just like the object that went up would inevitably go down, any villain that faced All Might would be defeated. This fact made the life what it was today for the people of Japan. It was because of All Might's believed invincibility that men and women could live their lives in peace and calm.

It was one of the many reasons why Izuku looked up to the man so much.

All Might always won.

Which made his situation infinitely worse.

"I am taking you in," the man stared him down. The sheer power in his eyes almost made Izuku want to surrender there and then. "Do not make this any harder than it has to be."

The crowd around them cheered and jeered. No prize for guessing whom they supported and whom they yelled insults at. Izuku didn't put puch weight into what people thought of him thought. Besides the criticism that helped him improve, he didn't pay much attention to what people said about him. Not when he started. And especially now when he was fighting a freaking All Might.

"Sorry, All Might," he said, careful not to alert the man of his next move. "But I don't feel like meeting the police at this hour."

And he just couldn't risk it. The Pantheon said he would be able to remain in his form for as long as he wished. That, however, didn't rule out the possibility of one of the detectives or heroes having a Quirk that would reveal his true identity. Not to mention the fact that magic was real and the dark forces were coming back. He thought about telling it people straight. Until Anahit convinced them not to.

The world was chaotic enough as it is. Telling people that all the monsters and demons and Gods and magic were real wouldn't help them. Not unless he could somehow convince them to trust it all to a fifteen year old kid.

"... Then you leave me no choice."

All Might drew his fist back. Izuku exploded with lightning. He didn't blast All Might with lightning. Or throw a fist charged with the magical energy. Instead, he used the power in his hands to blind the hero with a bright lightning strike. The hero cried out, the sudden magic analogue of flashbang catching him by surprise. Using this moment, Izuku tried to take off to the sky. He had no idea why All Might suddenly wanted him captured but he had no time or opportunity to find out. He needed to get out of here as fast as possible.

In his rush to get away from All Might, however, Izuku forgot one of the greatest weaknesses every hero had struggled with since the very dawn of the heroic age.

Capes.

"Not so fast!"

He choked, the white fabric around his cutting into his throat as he was dragged back to the ground. Eyes still closed, All Might didn't lose any power or determination in his stance or strength as he swung Izuku around like a ragdoll. With a mighty roar, he slammed the boy down onto the road before stepping down on his chest.

"He is capable of hurting us more than normal mortals," Horus spoke in amusement. "Impressive."

"There is something more to his power," Amaterasu whispered, observing the aura that surrounded the man. "Something that transcends the world of the living. But is neither our blessing nor the demon's power."

"Any advice how to handle him, guys?" Izuku thought back desperately, struggling with the weight of his idol's foot on his ribcage. "Before I get taken in and interrogated would be great."

"Allow me."

Zeus' voice was the last thing he heard before his mind went blank. As if his body and mind were pulled apart, he became a silent observer to the world before him. The skies cried out in fury, the vicious winds began to tear through the streets. People held onto the lamp posts and walls and whatever else their hands had found. It was quite clear the air currents were strong enough to pick them up and throw them away like paper dolls.

And only the fact that these winds were focused on All Might saved them from such fate.

The man fought and struggled. And he would have won if it were not for a poor soul that got caught in the attack, All Might would have ended it all. But as a hero, he took off after the girl and held her tight. Whispering the comforting words and praising her bravery. Just as the sudden storm began, it ended. And all the eyes were now on Izuku. Anger. Fear. Hate.

"W-What the hell was that?" Izuku cried in his head as he took a look around. His mind was still foggy. Messy and confused. "What have you done, Zeus?"

"Display of my power, as limited as it is in the modern world. And your chance to leave the area and end the fight," Izuku's eyes widened in surprise. So the Gods could act through him? Though judging by how tired Zeus sounded, it wasn't something they could do easily. "Foolish child, you should have left. No people were in real danger. The Hero would take care of that."

Would he though? So what if All Might was here to save that child, it didn't give them the right to just cause the panic and... And leave all these people to suffer from what he had caused! Shit, the more he looked, the worse it looked.

"To think that you would endanger all these people just to shake me off," All Might whispered. "You brought this on yourself!"

They moved at the same time, the sheer power behind their step shaking the air. Where he stood was now a giant hole, the Speed of Savitr saving him last moment. He never tried moving that fast in a fight before. But he knew that All Might wasn't like the Terror Trio or anyone he had faced these past few months. The Trio were vicious and well-coordinated criminals. All Might was ten times more than that on his sick days.

He had power that was recognized by the world. The power that had him compared against the other top heroes of the world. The power that allowed him to end battles simply by appearing on the scene.

He had the skills honed over the years of work. The experience All Might had accumulated over the years of hero work in both Japan and the United States was vast enough for the whole generation of heroes.

Izuku had the power of Gods he still had to get full mastership over. Without a doubt, impressive powerset that could put even All Might to shame. But Izuku didn't have his experience or memories of hard battles.

He, however, had three entire notebooks on All Might alone.

"Minnesota Smash!"

All Might moved with his fist drawn up, ready to punch him all the way into the sky. Then he would use that hand to grab him and knee him in the stomach. Disoriented and breathless, he would be dragged down and into the ground. An obscure move he came up with on the spot way back in America, something he hadn't used as often as Texas or Carolina Smashes.

"What?"

His notebooks covered everything. The maximum weight he lifted and for how long. The fastest he could run or highest he could jump. Every single battle All Might fought in his career. Every tactic and move he had utilized even once. All of it was recorded, analyzed and categorized in Izuku's notebook. And with the memory granted to him by Anahit, he could call back any piece of information he needed.

So no matter how obscure the move was, as long as it was something All Might had, Izuku would know it.

Which is why he didn't fall for the feint and moved under All Might. His flight was the advantage he needed to make more use of. All Might relied on fast and explosive motion. The tactic that allowed to put extra pressure on his opponents. With enough distance between them, even his more powerful attacks would become telegraphed.

"New Hampshire Smash!"

Another attack that made perfect sense. When airborne, All Might had several moves he would use. New Hampshire Smash was one of two that cut the distance between him and a retreating opponent while also delivering the necessary damage. Izuku twisted his body around, staring at the mountain of muscles rushing at him at top speeds.

He boosted himself forth, catching All Might by surprise. Not enough for him not to land a vicious punch to his face though. He bit his lips in pain, drawing blood. No time to cry or nurse his jaw. He pushed through the pain, grabbing All Might by his wrist. It was a given that the top hero drew back after the punch. He fought monsters in human bodies that surpassed him in strength.

But most of the time he fought villains so much weaker than him that he always held back. Always instinctively made sure to check if he struck them too hard. Always careful. Always afraid. How long has it been since All Might had to fight with all his power? How long has it been since he dedicated every bit of strength to take his enemy down? Too long, it seemed.

So long that he seemingly forgot how to deliver the attack to take the enemy down once and for all.

And Izuku used it for all it was worth.

A kick to the chin disorientated the hero. His vice grip on his wrist still strong, Izuku twisted his body around to throw his idol up and further into the night sky. He hated doing this. Hated every second they fought. Hated every punch he delivered to the man's back. It would be over soon, he promised himself. And it was. Grabbing onto the man's sides, Izuku stilled himself in the air.

Along with All Might in the night sky, away from people and street lights, Izuku channeled the power through his flesh and mind.

"Please, Zeus, nothing more than a stun. Nothing more than that."

With his silent pray to the God. With his eyes ablaze with lightning. With the words on his tongue heavier than ever before.

He whispered.

"SHAZAM!"

The lightning struck down,

Away from the crowd, up in the night sky, Izuku held the man he admired. The man that was there for him during the darkest of times. Izuku coughed, noticing that there was a lot of smoke. On a second thought, too much smoke for his liking. And the man felt much lighter in his hands too. As if he lost all his muscles... Just what did ha- Oh no...

"Oh my God!" he cried out, his real voice - that of a nervous wreck of a teen - breaking through. "What have I done?"

All Might...

The Titan of Truth.

The Juggernaut of Justice.

The Symbol of Peace.

He was gone! The shining hero was gone! And in his place laid a creepy wrinkled husk of a man. His muscles were gone, his suddenly pale skin now stretched across the skeleton like an old leather glove. His face that inspired so many works of art and shone with confidence and power was now a weird triangle, reminiscent of a goat skull. Even his eyes looked sunken and creepy!

Did...

Did he do this? Of course he did.

He turned All Might into a fucking mummy!

"I am so sorry! I didn't mean to!" He thought he had that lightning under control. It was supposed to stun the man. Stun! Stop him just enough for Izuku to fly back home and pretend nothing happened. But this... This was more than stunning someone. He evaporated all his muscles! "I swear, I will find a way to undo this horrible curse I put on you! What kind of dark magic is this even?"

Seriously, he heard about the Gods turning people into monsters as punishment. But this was crossing the line! Turning a man like All Might into this hideous thing!

"Y-You..."

All Might?

All Might!

"You are alive!"

"Y-You... sound happy..." he coughed. There was blood dripping from his mouth. "That afraid your Master will punish you for killing me?"

"You are hurt, All Might," Izuku reached for his wound. With a quick wave of his hand, the water from the air manifested and wrapped around his hands like gloves. He had practiced this spell enough to help. "Please, let me he-"

"I don't need anything from one of All For One's creations! Your Master has caused countless deaths and destruction. His sole reason for existing is poisoning the world until it is as dark and twisted as he is," He hissed, slapping his hand away. He spat, eyes ablaze. "Go and tell your Master and whatever allies he has gathered that your actions tonight were in vain. The Era of Peace will continue to live on, even if I die. The sacrifice of my Master was not in vain and her legacy will continue to live on in the heroes of tomorrow!"

All Might glared at him. Challenging him to do something about his words.

"Or better yet, bring me to him so that I can curse his name to his own face!"

His body might have changed but it was indeed All Might. His voice commanded respect. His eyes burnt with desire for justice. This was all so awesome! He just heard one of All Might's speeches on his heroism. In real life, to boot! If he had a recorder, it would become his family's treasure! And Izuku would be already holding out his notebook for the man to sign.

If only he wasn't so confused.

"Wait... Who is All For One?"

S

There was silence. Uncomfortable and awkward silence.

The two men stared at each other, each one trying to come up with the way to break it.

All Might was the first.

"You are fucking with me, right?"

Not the best way, but it was the only thing his brain could come up with. The only thing that made sense right now. Yes, that was it. Shazam was definitely another one of All For One's minions and just making fun of him for the hell of it. Except that he didn't sound mocking or condescending or anything of that sort, instead looking at him confused and worried. No, there was no way.

"Oh my God, you are serious, aren't you?"

The man nodded. He did so carefully and cautiously, as if afraid that the wrong answer would earn him another punch. Yagi groaned, noting that it wasn't that far from the expectations he already created. His mind now much clearer, he thought back to how the fight started by his hand. How the fight continued by his hand. And how the fight came to its end only by Shazam's decision.

All of this... People endangered and blood spilled... Over the misunderstanding he could have cleared up by asking a simple question. Do you work for All For One? A simple question and none of the mess would happen. And they almost killed each other because of it.

"...Fucking hell."

All Might was the Symbol of Peace. The golden standard that heroes and civilians alike were trying to live up to. He never made mistakes that couldn't be made up for. He didn't drink or smoke or even acted rude unless against villains. He never swore or cursed.

But Toshinori Yagi was the man who made countless mistakes and still lived with them. He was the man who felt like even his best was never enough. A man so haunted his failures and mistakes he attacked an innocent man and almost brought him to the police. That is, if in his anger, he wouldn't have done something to the man something worse than knocking him out.

"H-Hey, it's okay!" Shazam said, showing his face to him. To show that he was alright. "I am not hurt that much, you know."

Yagi looked at the man in shock. The wounds were healing. Slowly but they were. The bruises were fading. And so were the cuts. The momentary relief of seeing the man alright was almost enough to make the top hero smile. He squashed that feeling instantly. Shazam might have been alright, through whatever miracle his power granted him. But if it didn't?

What if all the bruises and cuts and broken bones he gave him were still there? Each wound that faded away meant nothing. None of them changed the fact that he rushed into action too soon and was willing to injure the man without any actual evidence.

"He appeared out of nowhere, suddenly taking the country's attention by storm," Mon-san said when they met. "He, however, is not registered as a hero. We have no records on his civilian identity either. And, most of all, he has several Quirks. Tell me this mystery doesn't have 'All For One' written all over itself."

It did. And it still had. For all he knew, this could still be some twisted scheme by All For One.

"I can heal you, you know?"

But then he looked at the man before him. Into his wide green eyes that looked so young and bright they might have belonged to a child. Was it really someone capable of such deception? He continued to stare into the man's eyes, desperately searching for an answer.

"Why do you want to heal me?"

He watched for the reaction. In years that worked as a hero, he witnesses countless times how one small glance could give the true nature of a person away. With Shazam, there was no shift. No mask slipped. No clue was given away. His expression still just as puzzled, he answered.

"You look like you could use some help."

There was nothing but the genuine desire to help.

Without another word, he let the man heal him. His palms, still coated in water, reached for his exposed flesh. His suit has been torn with that lightning strike, revealing his scar.

"This scar of yours... It has some bad history, huh."

"How did you know?"

Shazam removed his hands. Yagi breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the pain and fatigue gone from his whole body. In fact, it was the healthiest he had felt in years since that fateful night.

"My Quirk, uh, a part of it, I mean, is healing. But I can't heal people properly yet," Shazam spoke, carefully choosing his words. "I can heal almost any wound or damage done to someone's body... But only as long as they themselves want it. As long as they are willing to fight that damage themselves."

With the new knowledge, Yagi took another look at his scar. So it seemed that wound was staying, huh. The scar that was one of the many reminders of how little he could do against All For One. Reminder of how weak he was, even as the Symbol of Peace. He liked to think that it was one of the many things that kept him on his toes. Kept him humble and grounded.

But he would never lie and say that the same scar did not fill him with shame and self-hatred.

"I failed to protect the person most precious to me," he confessed, fingers tracing the tissue. It hurt every day. But not as much as did the memories of that night. "I got this scar when I tried to avenge said person. I thought that this scar and the damage I received were a small price to pay if the man I fought stayed in the grave."

But turns out, it was all for nothing.

"I am sorry for attacking you."

"Yeah, that was pretty stupid," Shazam chuckled. A second later, he broke into an awkward stutter. "I am not saying that you are stupid though, sir. I meant the whole situation and- Wow, I mean... We fought each other. Then I struck you with lightning and now... You look like this. I promise you I will find a way to undo this and give you back your normal self even if-"

"Kid," for some reason, the word felt fitting. "This is my normal self. That's how I always look."

Another moment of silence. Awkward and uncomfortable.

"... I am so sorry."

"Don't be," not many knew of his true form. And the contrast between it and his buff self was as big as day and night. "I guess I am not ready to lose that scar then."

He wondered if he ever would be.

"I-uhm... All Might, sir?" Shazam asked, once again sounding like a child rather than an adult. Perhaps he was afraid of causing another fight. Yagi made a mental note to officially apologize later. "So are you still going to try and take me to the police?"

"Sadly, I am."

He would. Or rather, he should. Even if he didn't suspect him of being one of All For One's creations, he was still a vigilante operating without a license. If not him, then he had little doubt someone else would be tasked with bringing him to the law. It was unfortunate, but something that you simply couldn't ignore. The society of today relied on the accountability of superpowered individuals.

"I just want you to understand, this is not something heroes like me take pride in. After all, if it were not for vigilantes, I doubt the world would be what it is today," He didn't like this part of their system. Arresting vigilantes like Shazam was basically spitting on the very concept that shaped the current hero society. But it was the way the world worked. The way it was meant to be. "But if we let vigilantes run free, what sort of message shall we send? That it's alright to operate on your own, answering to no one but yourself? That, as long as you have the power, you can decide who is guilty and not?"

Heroes reacted to danger. Heroes conducted investigation along with the police. And every crime they stopped, every villain they fought, every time they acted on the behalf of justice and truth? All of those things were checked and analyzed.

Did the hero properly identify the crime in process?

Did the villain captured require the amount of force used?

Did the hero have any personal bias against the person apprehended?

Some heroes complained that questions like that showed distrust towards them. That all these interviews and committees were just a waste of time and tax money. But Yagi disagreed. They lived in the society of people blessed with phenomenal powers. And as heroes, they were supposed to show that no matter the power, you were never above the law. Never too powerful to be held accountable.

"Not all vigilantes are like you, Shazam. I am glad you don't abuse your power. And from what I heard, you also make sure to clearn up your messes. That is something that not even all heroes do, trust me," Too many tried to argue against paying the damages. Some got away. Some slandered those that sued them, using their fame and protection to put pressure on the people. Something that the upper echelons of the Department was still working on. "But vigilantes, in general, are the people of chaos. Self-appointed executioners operating with only their agenda in mind."

In the States, there was even an underground society of vigilantes calling themselves The Outcasts. They were one of the biggest examples of how twisted the vigilantism could go. They were the people that despised the system of Quirk Regulation and Alpha Abilities Act. They went after villains on their own, often interfering in the police and pro hero affairs in the process. But worst of all, they were not above fighting the heroes. To prove that their ways were more effective somehow.

"If I refuse to come with you, you will come to take me in later, won't you?" Shazam asked nervously. "Can't say I am looking forward to it."

"Or you could get the license," Yagi suggested. Before the man could protest, he added, "I don't know why you haven't got one yet. And I am sure there's a reason for that. Let me guess, you don't want your family endangered."

Shazam's eyes grew heavy. He nodded solemnly.

"It is the problem many in our line of work face. But it's not like the moment you register, your name and personal information will become public knowledge."

For the license itself, you would need to provide your real name and personal data. But once you received the official license and established the agency, you could negotiate the terms of your confidentiality with the government officials. It was thanks to an arrangement such as this that Yagi was able to live a double life as the hero and his own secretary manager.

Many heroes had the similar arrangements in one form or another.

"Even if I was a vigilante?"

"That will draw some criticism, of course," Yagi didn't wish to lie. The media would be all over this. He was operating on his own for months now. And now coming back to get his license would seem as either surrendering to pressure or using the entire affair as a publicity stunt. "But after you pass the license exam, it will be only a matter of time before the hero community accepts you as one of our own. Much better than running away from the police all the time, don't you think so?"

The man was hesitating. Perhaps, there was something more than simply guarding his family?

His communicator came to life. Huh, he thought it would be fried in that lightning. It was from the other heroes. One of the officers at the scene must have informed them of the fight.

"You probably should go. The other heroes will be here soon."

"You are letting me go?"

"You wanna stay and come to the police station?"

"No," the man chuckled. "Not yet, anyway."

Not yet. Well, wasn't that promising?

"Thank you, All Might. I promise to think about your offer."

And with that, the man in red and gold disappeared into the night.

S

Nobody liked to be the subject of rumors. Like a game of broken phone, the original message would always be lost as the news passed from one person to another. And just like any rumor circle, people involved were always more interested in their personal amusement rather than the truth.

"Have you seen the video? The fight was crazy!"

"I know, right? Holy shit, my man Shazam fucking rocks!"

"Your man almost killed All Might, you moron. Shoul've known the guy was a psycho. Hope they lock him up soon."

Izuku walked through the halls, trying to shrink into himself. They were talking about him. All of them. Did he look suspicious? He hoped he didn't. How do you even look un-suspicious? Was that even a thing? Okay, he needed to calm down. Plus, it's not like there was any bad blood between them. They peacefully talked it out and resolved the miscommunication issues.

"Heard All Might will be hunting him down now personally."

"Will he be able to win though? The video cut off just when it got juicy!"

"It's All Might, dude. Shazam is dead meat."

Rumors. That was all there was. Clickbait articles claiming things that didn't happen. He read so many in the morning alone he wasn't quite sure why some reporters even bothered posting links to the video. Articles like the ones from We Were One The Scene were the prime example of it. The author briefly mentioned that he and All Might fought. And then proceeded to write three paragraphs about how he - Shazam - was planning to overthrow the government.

In the official statement, his idol announced that the fight was the mistake on his part. He never revealed the misunderstanding being the cause but said there was no ill will between them. However, he didn't fully support him either. As soft and polite his words were, the top hero of the country still expressed the desire to see Shazam surrender to the authorities and get his license.

Wonder if that would be the best thing...

His magic allowed his to change into whatever form he desired. He could always change his appearance and pose as an actual adult. The problem was creating a fake identity around it. He couldn't just show up with fake ID and hope it would work. He needed his name in the system and citizen registry. He needed a history behind the man too. His family, his school and his life up until he appeared at the doors of the Department.

All of that would cost money. More than he had or could earn as a part-timer.

Guess I am staying a vigilante until I win a lottery or rob a bank.

"Hey, here comes Katsuki!"

"Oi, Bakagou, how are your hands?"

"Yo, Bakatsuki, still aiming for UA?"

The sudden change of topic caught Izuku's attention. Just as his former friend entered the classroom. His face had some fresh bruises and cuts, his arms still bearing the scars left from when he got possessed. It was stark contrast to Mizuhana and the other classmates. When he separated them from their demons, they sustained minor injuries or even none at all. Their Quirks were also intact.

Unlike Kacchan's.

"Hey, Katsuki, did you get into another fight?" it was Encho-kun. The boy with the detaching Quirk. Or the Eye Guy, as his friends called him. "Do you need me to beat someone up for you? I can do that if you agree to become my errand boy!"

When Kacchan returned to class, everyone treated him like a ticking bomb. God only knew how frustrated and angry he would be after two months of hospital stay. Somehow, however, he seemed different. Angrier but never voicing it. He didn't even pick on him a single time, something that caught everyone's attention. A week of rumors and theories came to an abrupt end when one of the guys from parallel class revealed the true reason behind his sudden change.

His aunt, apparently, worked in the same clinic that Kacchan was treated. Izuku wasn't sure why she told her nephew about the blonde's condition. Was she just a bored woman who liked sharing people's private information over a cup of tea? Did she want her nephew to look out for Kacchan and help him through such horrible thing? In the end, it didn't matter why she did. All that mattered was that Orudera Junior High's top dog was defanged and declawed in the eyes of its student body.

Suddenly, Kacchan became the main target for bullying. Nobody feared him anymore. And thus, nobody respected him anymore. Because in all the years that he attended the school, the blonde never tried forming relationships not based on him being the leader of the pack. And now that he no longer had the power to be one, he was the arget for revenge by all those that he wronged.

And there were many that wanted to get even with now powerless blonde.

"Aaaaah, my eye!" the boy cried in pain as Kacchan squished the eyeball of the bald kid in his fist. The whole class was silent. "Please, stop! You are going to crush it! Ah, you are crushing it!"

Or rather, seemingly powerless blonde.

"Can't believe shitstain that can only pull out his fucking eyeballs talks down to me," with a sneer, Kacchan released the boy's eye and let him nurse it. To everyone's surprise, he didn't follow that up with a threat or an insult and instead got back into his seat.

"Fucking asshole!"

"Leave him be. Not like he can be an actual hero now."

"I always thought he was trash, anyway."

That little display of force did nothing to stop the hushed insults and sneers thrown his way though. Izuku didn't doubt that Kacchan would also be getting a detention. Now that he was no longer the top candidate for UA spot, the teachers saw no reason to excuse his behavior like they did before. If anything, some were even looking for an excuse to punish him now in revenge for all the times he disrespected them.

"You don't feel happy," Savitr noted. "Considering your history, I am surprised you didn't join in on the bullying."

"I don't see why I should be happy about another person's misery," Izuku looked at his former childhood friend. He hated him. Ever since he encountered the fake Sins conjured by the Wizard, he was slowly working on accepting his less than positive traits. Not embrace them, of course. But accept and work on them. "He made my life a living hell. And I would lie if I said I didn't wish he went through the same as I did but-"

But even he didn't deserve this. He also couldn't help but feel it was his fault. The others were alright. So what was different about him?

"Bad luck and nothing more," Magni's voice boomed in his ear. "The demon you fought back then was different from the ones that possessed your classmates. Not stronger or anything. Just more of an asshole. Some demons focus on the task and change bodies like suits. The one that took over the blonde was a petty parasite and decided to damage his body before leaving it."

The Norse God scoffed.

"Though that might be a blessing in disguise," Izuku could practically feel the son of Thor stare at Kacchan for some unknown reason. "Or another nasty gift, depending on how he grows."

Grows? What did that mean? He tried asking but the Gods again were silent. Great. First, they say All Might was touched by one of the escaped Sins. Now there is something going on with Kacchan? And of course, he was not getting any answers yet. Well, whatever. He would figure out what was happening later. For now, he had other things to focus on.

He had been keeping tabs on any supernatural activities around the world. For now, to his great luck, the only places where demons seemed to spawn were in Japan.

"The Seals across the world are weakened. But for as long as you are here and getting stronger, most of the magic threats will focus on this city. They want to eliminate you first before setting their true plans into motion," Anahit said. Izuku circled another area on his miniature map. Another location they have successfully reinforced the Seal in. "The monsters have yet to try and attack you. Though that might be due to their own conflict with demons in the Void World."

Ah, the Void World... The place where the Gods sealed away all the magic. Good and Bad, all the mythical creatures were hidden on another realm, parallel and unseen to that of the mortals. Demons, monsters, fae and the like. They all were separate races and served their own goals and agendas. Horus said that it was highly unlikely they all wished to breach the barrier. And he had little doubt the other side suffered from its own infighting.

Not that it meant his life would be easier.

"The Sins are still hiding. Right now, they are our most important target," Zeus said. His voice cautious. Taught by the experience. "The demons of the Void World may jump through breaches and holes in the veil. Some of the stronger ones may even create them, as few of them as there are."

"But the Seven Deadly Sins are the ones who may damage the world of mortals the most," Horus whispered as Izuku circled the name of the group around. "Unlike the other demons, they do not weaken with time spent in human realm. They grow stronger. With every sin committed by every human, they are growing more powerful."

"Ages ago, when the humanity was still small and developing, one Champion was enough to handle them," Amaterasu added. "But now there are billions of you. And the modern life is so complicated no human is without a sin."

Him included. Izuku looked at his notebook. His new one that he kept separate from others. Spells and potions and details on magic he deemed important. All written in the ink only he could perceive. To anyone else who read it, it would look like miscellaneous stuff. Various recipes. Half-finished poems. Notes on heroes. Just a big and growing pile of nothing.

"NO FUCKING WAY!"

The sudden shout caught everyone's attention as all eyes turned to Hakatto. The sharp-toothed boy didn't seem bothered by it at all even as their teacher gave him a detention. Instead the boy said excitedly, "Everyone, check the news! Shazam is fighting the heroes live!"

What? Even the teacher pulled out his phone, all searching for the news on the battle. Izuku's hands shook as he found the link. As the video began, he grew numb and could only watch with baited breath. He was deaf to the words of the reporter, his eyes focused on the battle. On the one side, seven heroes stood, all bearing the marks of brutal beating. On the other, the man in red and gold.

With the glowing lightning on his chest.

"Oh, getting tired already?" Even his voice sounded like his, except more sinister and mocking. "Some heroes you are. And you were supposed to arrest me? What a joke!"

One of the heroes - Izuku recognized him as Recoil - rushed his copy with his fist charged full of energy. The other heroes followed the suit. But the brief look the camera caught of the Shazam showed him unimpressed. Bored even. He moved like him. Fast and efficient, utilizing the combination of strength and speed to take down heroes one by one.

He kneed Recoil on his stomach before brutally slamming his face into the ground.

He tore through the wooden chains and locks of Kamui Woods tried to capture him with.

He took on the powered fists of Recoil and Blazebreaker, breaking their hands without a second of hesitation.

Mt. Lady grabbed him by the cape and began to squeeze the breathe out of him. There was no pain or struggle from his copy. If anything, it looked like she was trying to squeeze the water out of stone. Eventually, the man, with a sadistic grin, called down the lightning to give a giantess a nasty dose of electricity.

The attack that two remaining heroes used to absorb. Thunder and Strike - twins with the Quirk to absorb electrical energy, store it and release it. Locking their hands together, the duo proceeded to attack pseudo-Shazam with his own lightning. And it worked. The man doubled down in pain and fell to his knees screaming and begging for mercy.

They stopped.

And the man took them down a second later.

In the end, all seven heroes laid defeated. And the man wearing his face and the suit stood without a single scratch.

"Idiots, to fall for this trick..."

The man looked at him. At everyone watching through the camera. The man behind it and the report screamed as the false champion appeared in front of them, his very presence commanding fear and obedience. Izuku felt his insides twist into a knot as he looked at the man. Something was wrong with him. Somewthing was very very wrong with him.

"Hello, citizens of Musutafu! My name is Shazam." the man spoke, his voice now silky and soft. As if he didn't just brutalize the bunch of heroes in front of them. "Apologies for such an... unsightly display. But please understand, I simply had no other choice other in this situation. As you might be aware, last night, I fought All Might. The man refuses to tell you why but I don't. It is because I am tired of today's system. Because I refuse to obey the rules of the system that needs to ba taken down."

The whispers began spreading across the classroom. And Izuku sat silent, forced to watch as the man posing as him continued on.

"All Might and the society of heroes he stands on the top of wants me collared and leashed just like everyone else. He says that my vigilantism is evil simply because it is not what the society defines as a 'pro heroism'. But I say that this way of thinking is outdated and broken. The piece of plastic doesn't make you a hero. Your actions do. But the society as it is today would rather lock us all in these stupid mentality of needing permission to do good in the world."

He smirked.

"The heroes I fought and defeated are just another part of the system," the man spat. "Greedy. Vain. Lazy. They are not what the world needs. Can you trust people who care about their sponsorship deals and costume designs more than they care about your lives? Aren't heroes supposed to act without an incentive of a paycheck and some merchandise deals? This is the Age of False Heroes that we are suffering in. And it is time to end it once and for all."

The man spread his arms and smiled at him, the briefest flash of violet flickering in his eyes.

"I will be the one to end it."

With that, the man fried the camera and ended the broadcast.

The entire class sat in absolute silence, unsure what to think.

Izuku continued to stare at his phone.

"...Guys?" That brief flash of color in the man's eyes... He could feel the Gods' distress and worry. "Was that one of the-"

"Yes, Champion," Horus spoke. "One of the Seven Deadly Sins."

As Izuku continued to stare at the screen before him, the still image of his doppelganger stared back at him mockingly. In unison, the voices of the Pantheon spoke the name of the Sin:

"Pride."

And there you have it, folks! The first encounter with the Sin. Now, I understand that Pride as the Sin is not something you expect to encounter in the first chapters. After all, Pride is usually considered one of the biggest and most powerful Sins. In works portraying personifications of the Sin, Pride is usually the Leader, right?

Let's just say, I have a lot in the store for you with regards to the Sins.

The name of the chapter "Zugzwang" is the situation when whichever action you take, it leads to the worsening of your position. In this case, Izuku finds himself in such a situation because he can 1) ignore it and let the man ruin his reputation further OR 2) join the side of pro heroes entirely because him remaining a vigilante would keep him as a figure of suspicion.

The next two chapters will be the end of the first arc of the story.

Anyway, I really liked all of your reviews and hope for more! Reviews keep me updating faster and bigger chapters!