Chapter 8: Chapter 8: A Change Of Plans
At the Todoroki Residence, the scene is one of controlled chaos. A swarm of police cars and ambulances have descended upon the area, their flashing lights painting the night in stark hues of red and blue. Officers, their faces set in grim determination, methodically comb through the scene, collecting evidence and piecing together the puzzle of the attack that had unfolded. Medics, their movements swift and sure, tend to the wounded, their skilled hands offering comfort and care in the wake of violence. The lifeless bodies of the fallen are treated with quiet respect as they are carefully removed from the scene.
Rei, Fuyumi, and Natsuo, the remaining members of the Todoroki family, have already been whisked away to the hospital for thorough check-ups. Their safety is now in the hands of the medical professionals, their well-being a matter of utmost priority. A handful of bodyguards, those who had survived the brutal attack by playing dead, linger at the scene, their faces etched with guilt and regret.
"Do you know the Quirk of the person who launched this attack?" a police officer inquires, his voice steady despite the grim scene before him.
The bodyguard he addresses takes a moment to respond, his gaze sweeping over the devastated house, the remnants of the home he had been tasked to protect. "It was some kind of energy absorption," he begins, his voice barely a whisper, "He could use the absorbed energy to enhance his strength." He swallows hard, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. "And I... I feel useless for not being able to protect my employer."
Suddenly, a powerful figure descends upon the scene. Endeavour, the top hero, lands with such force that the ground beneath his feet melts from the intense heat. His expression is a storm of emotions - worry for his family, anger at the audacity of the attack, and fear for his missing son. He strides purposefully over to the police officer, his fiery aura demanding attention.
"Endeavour-san," the officer greets him respectfully, bowing slightly.
"Is my family safe?" Endeavour demands, his voice sharp with worry.
"Yes, they are. They're at the hospital now," the officer assures him, "A retired hero arrived here in time to intervene. But... your eldest son is missing."
Endeavour's heart skips a beat. "What do you mean by missing?" he probes, his voice strained.
"We couldn't find him," the officer reveals, his voice heavy, "The bodyguards you assigned to him... they were killed. Their heads... were severed."
Endeavour's fists clench at his sides, his knuckles turning white. The flames enveloping his body flare up, their heat intensifying with his rising anger. Sensing his distress, Gran Torino, the retired hero who had intervened, approaches him, patting his back in a comforting gesture.
"You good, fiery brat?" he asks, his voice gruff but not unkind.
Endeavour manages to regain some semblance of composure and turns to Gran Torino. "You saved my wife and children. I can't thank you enough," he says, his voice thick with gratitude. He bows deeply, his respect for the older hero evident.
Gran Torino dismisses the thanks with a wave of his hand. "It's fine. I was on my way to meet my disciple when I saw what was happening. I just did what needed to be done."
Endeavour thanks him once more before leaving for the hospital to see his family. Upon arrival, he is met with a heart-wrenching sight. Rei is hugging Fuyumi, who is visibly shaken by the horrific experience. Their faces are pale, their eyes wide with shock and fear.
"Rei," Endeavour calls out to his wife. He rushes over and pulls her into a comforting embrace, holding her close. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," he whispers into her hair, his voice thick with regret.
A heavy silence hangs in the air until Rei finally speaks, her voice barely above a whisper. "What about Toya? Is he okay?"
Endeavour hesitates, the words sticking in his throat. "He's... missing," he finally manages to say, his voice barely a whisper.
Rei's grip on Endeavour tightens, her hands trembling. "I had a feeling something was wrong," she murmurs, her voice filled with a mother's dread.
Fuyumi stirs from her sleep, her eyes fluttering open. "Okaa-san, Otou-san, where is Onii-chan?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. The guilt that washes over her parents is palpable. They exchange a look, the weight of their son's disappearance heavy in their silence.
Meanwhile, in a starkly different setting, Toya focused on conserving his energy and waiting for the opportune moment to escape from his captors. Across the room, Echo is being treated by Void, whose annoyance is evident in her every move.
"Didn't you promise you wouldn't get beaten up?" Void chides, her hands deftly tending to Echo's wounds.
"Yeah, I was wrong. Don't be mad at me," Echo retorts, wincing as Void presses on a particularly tender wound. "Ouch, ouch, ouch."
"Next time, don't make promises you can't keep," Void warns, her tone stern.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," Echo concedes, his voice tinged with pain.
Toya watches the exchange, disbelief etching his features. 'Is this for real? I'm tied up here while these two are playing house,' he thinks, a sigh escaping him. 'I can't even escape if I tried. Her Quirk would stop me from using my fire. This is just great.' With that thought, he closes his eyes, slipping into a state of half-sleep.
In the back of the room, Phantom stands, his attire discarded leaving his lean, muscular body on display. A single burn scar mars his otherwise flawless skin, a painful reminder of his past. "In a few more hours, my dream will be achieved," Phantom muses, a maniacal laughter echoing in the room. "But first, I want to see Endeavour break apart."
Suddenly, his reflection in the mirror morphs, his left face turning into a shadowy figure with red eyes. "Why are you here again?" Phantom asks, his voice laced with fear.
"To ensure you're not planning something stupid again," the figure replies, its voice unsettling. "But you are doing something stupid, so the plan will change."
"No, this is my plan. I won't let you make decisions for me. This is my body, get out," Phantom retorts, his voice filled with anger.
"You seem to have forgotten, this body is also mine. You separated me from this body, now it's my turn to take control. You've had your fun, now let me have mine," the shadow retorts, its power becoming uncontrollable as it consumes Phantom's entire body, transforming him into a black humanoid figure.
"No, this body and power are mine," Phantom insists.
"Nah, it's ours," the shadow corrects him, taking full control over the body. "I'm glad his mind is already taxed. I'll thank the old man with a little stab."
Shadowy tentacles emerge from his shadow, grabbing his clothes and helping him into his suit. He grabs his mask, donning it with a maniacal smile.
He steps out of his room, heading towards where Toya, Void, and Echo are. Void and Echo notice him, his demeanor noticeably different. "Have you had enough rest?" Void asks, her voice laced with suspicion.
"Yeah, pretty much," Phantom replies, his tone sending a chill down their spines.
"Change of plan, I'm taking the kid elsewhere," Phantom announces, his shadowy tentacles grabbing Toya's body like a piece of luggage.
"Are you betraying us?" Void accuses, her anger simmering just beneath the surface.
"No, this is just a change of plan. And you're not part of it," Phantom clarifies, his voice cold.
Void lunges at Phantom, her fist aimed at his face. But she's met with a shadowy fist, the impact sending her flying back. "Akane!" Echo cries out, his teeth gritting in anger as his hand engulfs in a blue aura.
Echo charges at Phantom, but a barrage of shadowy daggers appear in the air around him. He engulfs his body in a blue aura, deflecting the daggers as they fall harmlessly to the ground.
"This is fun," Phantom muses, his voice filled with amusement. He walks menacingly towards Echo, his body engulfed in a shadow that forms a massive avatar.
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"This is my field, you can't beat me, Echo. Or should I say, Daichi Sato," Phantom taunts, the shadow avatar creating a massive sword and launching a horizontal slash. Echo blocks it with his aura, absorbing the energy of the attack to increase his defense.
The commotion wakes Toya. He looks around to see his teacher unconscious and the two villains locked in combat. He also notices that he's no longer tied to the chair, although his bindings are still intact. A smirk plays on his lips. 'I can escape this time. I can't screw this up,' he thinks, his mind already racing with plans.
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