Chapter One: The Encounter with All For One
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Crow stood at the edge of the crumbled city, gazing at the ruins of what was once a vibrant, thriving metropolis. The sun had just begun to set, casting an eerie orange glow over the wreckage. It was the first world he'd entered since the mysterious entity had chosen him and bestowed upon him the title of "Shadow Monarch." He wasn't sure what to expect from this new power or the multiverse itself, but the weight of his new reality was beginning to set in.
The feeling of something... wrong lingered in the air, like an unseen hand tightening around his chest. This world, unlike any he'd experienced, was different. There was a palpable sense of oppression, and the once-proud heroes who had roamed these streets seemed absent, defeated. It was as if something or someone had drained the very essence of this place, leaving it hollow.
His thoughts were interrupted by a voice—low, malevolent, and impossibly familiar, like a whisper in the back of his mind.
"You're lost, aren't you, boy?" the voice echoed, sending a chill down Crow's spine.
Turning around, Crow saw the source of the voice. A figure stood in the shadows, his features obscured by the dark cloak he wore, though Crow could feel the immense presence emanating from him. The figure's eyes gleamed red, and something about him felt both wrong and undeniably powerful.
"Who are you?" Crow asked, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of the sword at his side, his senses heightened.
The figure stepped forward, his movements graceful, almost predatory. "I am All For One," he said, his voice dripping with an unnatural calmness. "And you, boy, are exactly what I've been searching for."
Crow blinked. He had heard of All For One before, of course. In the many worlds he'd visited, the name had cropped up occasionally in whispers, always tied to rumors of power beyond comprehension. But never had he expected to encounter the man himself.
"You're… All For One? The villain of this world?" Crow's voice betrayed his surprise, though he kept his posture steady, ready for anything.
All For One smiled, an eerie expression that barely touched his eyes. "I'm far more than that, child. I am the one who controls and collects, the one who gives power. You may have heard my name, but I am the force that shapes the very foundation of this world. And I believe you have something I want."
Crow's heart skipped a beat as the man's words hit him like a thunderclap. The class he'd been given, the Shadow Monarch title, the power to traverse dimensions—was this part of some plan? But what did All For One mean by "something I want"?
Before Crow could ask, All For One stretched out his hand, and for the briefest of moments, the air around them seemed to warp. The ground trembled, and the very shadows themselves seemed to move, crawling toward the dark figure.
"I see you carry the Shadow Monarch class," All For One mused, studying Crow with an unsettling gaze. "And you wield the power of All For One as well. How… fascinating. I can sense the potential within you—such raw, untapped power."
Crow's heart raced, an overwhelming sensation of both awe and dread building inside him. This man, this villain, knew about his class, knew about his power. How? Was it possible he had encountered others like him? And if so, what did that mean for Crow?
"What do you want with me?" Crow demanded, narrowing his eyes.
"I want to help you," All For One said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "You are about to embark on a journey, a journey that will make you stronger than you could ever imagine. But to truly unlock your potential, you will need guidance. You will need someone who understands power."
Crow hesitated. Every instinct screamed at him to attack, to destroy this man before he could do anything further. But something about All For One's presence, his overwhelming aura, made it clear that this would be no simple confrontation.
"You want me to be your puppet," Crow said flatly, his grip tightening on the sword. "I won't be anyone's pawn."
All For One chuckled darkly. "No, child. You misunderstand. I do not want a puppet. I want a partner. Someone who can stand by my side and help shape the fate of this multiverse. With your power, and mine, we could change everything. Think of the possibilities, boy—every quirk, every ability, at your fingertips. You could have everything. All you need to do is accept it."
Crow's mind raced. The idea was tempting—more power, more abilities, more control. The Shadow Monarch class and All For One's quirk together could give him the means to dominate any world he entered. But he wasn't naive. Crow had been given this power for a reason, and he was beginning to understand that it came with a cost.
"You're not offering me a partnership," Crow said, stepping back. "You're offering to consume me, to absorb me into your world. I can see it in your eyes. You don't want a partner—you want someone to feed your insatiable hunger for power."
All For One's smile widened, his eyes narrowing in amusement. "Perhaps… but you see, I've been searching for someone like you. Someone with the potential to grow. I will give you the tools you need, Crow. The only thing you must decide is whether you'll let fear rule you, or whether you'll embrace your destiny."
The world seemed to hold its breath as the two figures stood across from each other—one radiating power, the other uncertain but brimming with potential. Crow's heart raced, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. On one hand, the promise of ultimate power was too tempting to ignore. On the other, the consequences of aligning with All For One were beyond what he could yet comprehend.
"Think carefully, Crow," All For One said softly, as if sensing the conflict within him. "The multiverse awaits you, and I will be here… when you're ready to make your decision."
With those final words, the figure of All For One faded into the shadows, leaving Crow standing alone in the middle of the ruined city, the weight of his choices pressing down on him.
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End of Chapter One.
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