Most people were oblivious to the commotion in Ebusa, their connection to the city lost with the shut down of essential infrastructure like electrical grid and internet services. Aside from LAN ( Local Access Network), the cory was plunged into the same situation as that of town in the Middle Ages, their mouth and rumors remained the only reliable means to communicate about everything that was happening.
All in all, most of the District of Ebusa was attacked with most public buildings and hero agencys demolished through massive sink holes and other tumbling structures. The over-the-top game of urban dominoes striked the system at the worst time possible. Countless civilians requiring medical care and help versus the dwindling number of available hands. Now the heroes and police were one and the same, everyone used their quirks to the very best to save as many lives as possible.
" Push!"
"Aye!"
The signal sparked a scream of pure determination from the group. The one leading, a macho man with natural muscles bulging and flexing from all the hardwork, and his teams of strength-enhanced heroes and police officers, worked together to open the way for ambulances to get through, it had been their action to save more people. Five residential buildings were demolished in the process to give aemough space for the heavy fragment. Putting aside their differences in regulations and public perspective, everyone joined in the effort.
" How many did we help?"
" More than a hundred. Others have taken them to the basic medical camp in a safe area. One good thing that finally comes out is that no villains jump out. "
" True... Let's contact Centipede. Man knows how to plan and do logistic. "
What they were saying regarding the lack of villainous activities was actucally quite common. Against the common misconception that chaotic environment would be the best opportunity for the lawless to take over, the truth was that there would always be the calm before the storm for quite a long time. Marred under the hand of sombody strong and well-connected, the landscape would deter any thinking villain from doing their work out in open daylight. They would often wait for another power structure to form among or against them to utilized the cracks in the order created through the governong body's laws to make their living.
Enough about the lack of villains, Centipede was about to pull his antenas out from the stress. The initial attacl was, ironically enough, the peace before the storm for him. Then, countless civillians and calls for help reached him. He began to send out requests for team ups for the task of setting up a safe region for the injured, corpses could only be left as human resource was severely lacking.
He had sent Bubble Girl to join the medical team for her quirk's ability to disinfect and coagulate wounds. Now he was using his long-reaching arms to wrestle civilians out of debris qnd guiding them to safety. The smell of bursting pipes of gas, the humid and dirty scent of sewage and many others entered his noses after the things had gotten used to the dust. No one knew when the supporting beams would give way for this restaurant he was helping to escort out but Centipede wished the probability had been naught.
" Thank you Centipede! You save us!"
A family of four approached him and gave their thanks. He was responsible for wrestling a piece of concrete floor off the roof of their home and now he was guiding them back the camp. He was about to reply when the smell of gas suddenly got more potent. He wordlessly used his long arms and yanked the four out of the area before he got away for a few tens of meters. He was not going to risk an explosion for the safety of people putting their faith in him.
" Is there anyone else, any survivors?"
"... No, most people were going to a party held elsewhere so this corner has been left desolate for yesterday night and this morning."
Whew, Centipede's antena dropped in relief. He was getting more and more exhausted from overusing his strength and was desperate for a break. Keeping a smile on his face, he accompanied the four people back to a safe area. The four began to inquire about the tremendous noise in the early morning and what had happened to the whole city. They had been sleeping when the whole family was shooked by the noise and earthquake following the collapse. Deciding to hide the fact that the villains( plural) had launched a city-wide attack against the elocal government with such ferocity that overwhelmed every recipients, Centipede told them that a particularly dangerous cillain was captured and the heroes had managed to captured him but could not prevent the damage. For that Centipede apologized and ensured that the insurance for their house's reconstruction would be applicable and the HSPC would ensure they were fully reimbursed for this inconvenience.
Looking around on the journey back, Centipede could not count how many times he had thought that the construction companies would be salivating upon noticing this incident. One of his many friends who had entered the construction field had already gotten a house and a family of his own. Centipede often thought about whether or not he should have followed his parents' recommendation.
Stopping at the self-depriciating joke, Centipede entered the basic camp, countless bodies arranged neatly along the pathways separating the main area for medical aid. He was about to go inside the improvised tent when another person asked for him. Sighing, he quickly stepped up to save more people. Now with the telecommunication system in kaputt, the people inside the city were stranded from the outside world. They had no ways of knowing what was happening outside the city.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HSPCHeadquarter
" Director, urgent news! We have lost contact with our personel in Ebusa city. "
At the highest floor of the HSPC Headquarter located the pffice of the Director leading the organization. She was checking some of the files from the earlier morning explaining in details the reimbursement of Endeavour's work damage and all the other volatile heroes' accident. Aside from that, the the daily report of the operations of various merchandise companies selling toys and specialized products for fans was laid on the table. She had already took a glance through it, the faith in the hero system was still high and people were still buying the toys to fund their heros' heroic deeds. Another folder containing documenta related to foreign influence through the Japanese border. As she was reaching for a folder containing secret projects going on around the branches, the head of communication barged into her office, his breath heavy with tiredness and worry. Not leting any second wasted, the Director quickly asked for the details.
" We have lost contact with our Ebusa branch 20 minutes ago. And further investigation using satelite imaging provides a settling evemt. The whole city was attacked leaving the entire urban area to shutdown. The emergency level is level 5 accordingly to our judgement. Request for heroes is a must. "
" Give me the images, and contact the nearby agencies together with some of the more persuasible top heroes. Remember to inform the remaining ones but do not expect immediate response from those like Endeavor who is too focused in his region. Telling them that a major catastrophe has occured and that rescue work is needed. This is not something you can hide so utilizing it is the best course of action. "
" Yes right away!"
The man darted out of the room in record speed. The Director accessed the database of the HSPC and began seaeching for any villain groups in Ebusa. Her morning that day was not as busy as usual so she could take matter into her own hands. The incident this time covered a wide area with no possibility of hiding so she would need help from that rat and the other hero schools' principals despite hating dealing with those stubborn donkeys.
" ... toot ... toot ... toot ... Why are you calling me?"
" Ebusa city has collapsed. I need you lot help, a lot of help. I will send over the satelite image to you first. Civilians' lives are on the line and our game of power struggle should be put aside. "
" ... hmmm. I digress with the part about power struggle. The distance from UA does not allow adequately fast support. Asked the military guys and Tanya-san near there, they will ask for more funding but comply with your demands. That militaristic place is perfect for this scenario. Of course I will send intern heroes from UA near there but I need that."
" ... they will be allowed to use their quirks. "
" Wonderful cooperation! I will give my recommendation."
The call ended there with both sides partially satisfied with the outcome. The Director knew it took time for the other side to come back. The demand from her side was aligned with their belief and the advantages with siding with them outweigh the reputation cost from slow responses and inadequate compensation. As she finished her fourth call to send in trained medical professionals from local hospital the HSPC had connection with, a message was sent to her phone.
" She is informed and ready to hear the mission."
She knew who the rat was referring to. Checking the surveilance system, she noticed that the line connected to the leader of the Japan branch of the hero academy Zama was on. She quickly dialed the number, her mind trying to finish assigning the work fast.
" Miss Degureschaff, I have a job for you. "
The Director spoke in perfect English with no hint of the local accent.
" No need for English, my Japanese is good enough. The students need experience in rescuing missions so we are more than happy to help. But quirk usage... that may be an issue."
" An issue indeed. I have opened an exemption clause this time."
" Good, we will arrive there in 5 minutes."
The call ended there. Sly demon, the Director thought as the Zama military academy had already on the way before asking her approval. She hated dealing with this kind of individual: private, efficiency-seeking and ruthless with foes and allies alike. The voice coming from the phone was no doibt that of a young girl yet behind that facade was a hero obsessed with achievements and villain huntings, the kind of hunting them like rabbits in hunting seasons. The previous Director had opposed the plan of letting that academy even set foot onto Japan's soil but as anyone could see, it was still there.
She knew it was time for her team to be deployed. She had hoped that the need for power-checking would not reach the boiling point that forced her to deploy her own team of sponsored heroes. Typing away a message to inform the National Diet, she took a glance at the time. Five minutes had passed and another call came in.
" Director, we have reached Ebusa. We will send regular reports and complete the mission."
" Good. Keep up the pace."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Most people who woke up early was surprised to see a regional news channel on the TV being hijacked. With Ebusa's cable network joining with others, this event could be easily traced back to the city. Different from the usual cheefulness of the weathersman and the news reporters, the news channel showed a set indulged in darkness with only some overhead lighting showcasing five people with their arms and legs removed neatly and their back hunched and bloated. Nearby, a large and furry sihoulete stood with the back facing the camera.
Then, the being turned back. The eerie atmosphere caused by the dark raven mask, the emotionless gazes of irradiated yellow, and the shadow on the facial features of the now-identified woman scared anyone watching.
Then she began talking in a husky and deep voice.
" Ebusa has been my home for most of my life. The Hassakai has been my family. But these mongrels have destroyed that, which leads to this situation now. "
Then she walked up to one of the hunched man and lofted his chin up. The man's eyes were filled with fear and desperation, his voice sounded so feeble and weak.
" Please spare me! I ...I will do anythi...UHM!"
" Noisy pigs... your force have ruined my family. Your plans and schemes, driving by self-interest and personal vendetta, drive my family to the brink of destruction. But now... consider this revenge. "
After muting the man using her quirk, Overhaul grabbed his neck and lifted him up. Her enhanced muscles considered lifting such mass like a small weight for warming up. Then the man's body began to distort, his skin bulging and sinking randomly, the plastic material trying to hide what was happening inside. His eyes rolling back into the head as the excrutiating pain overloaded every senses. The body then shook on its own when a bone, most likely belonging to the ribcage, tore through the fat and skin tissues.
Everything was wrong, the man knew it as his organs were not in the correct place nor were they entirely undamaged. Bit and pieces of different parts mixed together and escaped through the man's nostrils and mouth as a concoction of slightly-acid-burn meat, bile, and blood. The meat was the left-over after rearranging, leaving only the necessary parts in the final ball.
She did the same for the remaining except for Nighteye. For him, Overhaul, despite haboring resentment, could not help but to admit begrudgingly that the man was capable. With non-combative quirk, he had managed to become one of the pro heroes with his meager strength and even opened an agency under his name. For that Overhaul had already changed the state he was in, reverting him back to a normal human form and restraining him with rope made from the clothing in the backstage.
The man had already woken up, his eyes scanning around since the very beginning of this public execution. Nighteye saw the other politicans, all powerful but now ruled under the absolute strength of Overhaul. Knowing his life was heading to a deadend, Nighteye promised with himself that he would use it to save others from such monstrosity. Luckily, his inner shirt and pants were not removed. Rubbing the chest area against the binding ropes, he was able to check that the locating chip was on and running. The entire shirt was layered with a web of conductive metal both for protection and the chip's heating power.
Nighteye's head began to run through the field of numbers and finally reached a conclusion. His friend, if informed of his previous sidekick and also good friend being captured, would rush all the way to Nighteye's location. However, the timing would be too late but now ... he could try to do something. All the politicians seemed to die with a bullet hole through the head but judging from the preferal treatment he was getting, Nighteye would be dying under the hands of the mad doctor over there. She had already finished rearranging four out of six of the people, all with a. Now she was getting to the bald man Nighteye had utilized. He knew where to look, at the spot he had foreseen was a man with white hair in a bun, his clothing casual and consists of a white T-shirt and a pair of jeans.
The sound of soles hitting the wooden floor mixed in with final gruntings approached Nighteye. He raised his eyes to meet the yellow of Overhaul. They both had a stare-off for half a minute before Overhaul lowered her height to match Nighteye's eye level.
" Do it then... Remember my words, heroes will win at the end of all."
" True... but the story has not reached its end. I look up to you a bit, Nighteye, for achieving your standing without relying on powerful quirk. A simple look through the future, prepping you up, but nonetheless you's still here."
" Not expecting a compliment from a villain...Urgh"
In the time, Overhaul had taken a white glove of one of her slender hands. She had respected the man and this was her way of showing that. Knowing the brain's composition an parts like the back of her hands, Overhaul knew where to shoot to grant the quickest mercy. Not leaving him dying in agony was already good enough.
She took out an old pistol from the Boss's collection of antique guns. A G18, using 9mm Luger bullet, was pressed to his head from behind. The cold barrel touched his skin, making Nighteye aware of the coming bullet. He had put all his hope onto his sidekicks, other heroes, and onto All Might to avenge him by capturing Overhaul and her gang of villains.
Just as sudden as the citywide attacks in Ebusa, Nighteye met his end on live television in front of civilians who knew nothing of the hero.