2024, April 4th.
It has been a day since Zen arrived in America. The atmosphere around this nation was different at first sight.
It felt more corrupt and more free, with local gangs running recklessly everywhere.
A place where Zen felt surprisingly comfortable.
'April 12 is the birthday of Zen Shigaraki of this world. It would be a perfect day to complete Jeromino's quest and join the Chameleon troupe. They haven't given a time limit, so they won't mind waiting a week?'
Zen looked around the populated street and thought to himself. Keilene followed behind him with cautious demeanour.
The new place made her wary, it felt as if enemies might jump at them any moment.
'Quite a paranoid young girl...' Zen thought looking at her, he even gave her a useful gift like [Danger sense]. But that didn't put Keilene's mind at ease in any way.
'I have experienced enough of this so-called America, I guess. It's time to move into the underground arena.' Zen felt his curiosity diminish after just one day.
Zen turned to Keilene and spoke slowly: "Inform Baek Yeon-jin and Byran to come to the location of the artificial dungeon's entrance."
Zen Shigaraki hailed a cab for himself too. Watching Keilene's face beside him, he shook his head slightly.
"If you are going to be on the look out, then try to hide your intent at the least." Zen could read her like an open book after all.
Keilene's expression grew blank for a second, before she apologized weakly.
"I will keep that in mind, Master."
The cab led them before a huge building, with the logo of a guild. It was big in its own right, however with all the skyscrapers around it, the building lost its highlight.
[Dark horse guild] - it was a mid range guild in America with many connections. Even with the.....underworld.
There are many organisations in the open, working in cooperation with the government.
The Guild was the main focus point. However there were organizations like the temple of justice which had connections with the Association's Heroes Executive too.
A car stopped a little away from Zen as he got off the cab. His two subordinates walked out seriously, they walked towards Zen like dogs the moment they saw him.
"Perfect timing." Zen Shigaraki nodded towards them with a smile. He had decided to bring only these three pawns, ignoring the other grunts.
Byran had brown hair with a thin smile plastered on his face. His real name had already left Zen's mind, hence he just called him Byran - the pseudonym he used as the boss of a local gang.
'They should do, I guess. These two should have some experience in controlling small organisations.' Zen walked into the guild building briskly.
Receptionist women greeted him with a professional smile: "How may I help you, sir?"
"I have a reservation, it should go by the name of - All for one." Zen smiled at the receptionist.
Going through her computer, the receptionist smiled back gently too.
"Yes, your reservation has been noted, Sir All for one. Please let me call an associate to lead you to the destination."
Zen nodded his head and waited calmly on the sofa in the middle of the huge hall.
This guild was not the only place where the entrance of the underground arena was present.
Zen Shigaraki had been given four locations in total, that he could use to enter the underground arena.
'Not a very cautious approach, but I can think why they would do so.'
The artificial dungeons or even normal dungeons have special rules within them.
The one who created this artificial dungeon possessed almost unmatched control within it. Any enemy who entered the artificial dungeon as an enemy would just have a very bad ending waiting for them.
Towers, which can be considered as the higher form of dungeon, have more complete rules of their own.
Soon, a man with formal clothes arrived and led Zen and the others to the entrance.
Discretely located in the room beside the guild's personal portal centre.
The guide bowed his head and left silently after reaching the destination.
Zen Shigaraki didn't hesitate, staring at the dark blue portal for a second, he marched into it with a smile.
What greeted Zen on the other side was another pristine white reception. With just a few people walking by, almost everyone had a mask.
"Master, the mask." Keilene presented Zen's mask respectfully.
"Uh...good work." Zen placed the mask on his face leisurely.
At this point, Zen felt the mask didn't really have much use. He only wore it since he liked it.
The hero association had most definitely linked Zen's identity with the one making a mess out of the gangs. Destroying the red light district and killing a family in cold blood was not hidden either.
'I don't possess any movement type or teleportation ability, There was going to be a slip up from the start. They must be embarrassed to even announce it seeing their actions....'
Due to the destruction in the red light district, the hero association were suspicious of Zen's connection with the 'Demolition incident' again. They had taken in such a person with open arms, it would be noted as a foolish action by the world.
After Zen took a few steps forward, the system notification appeared before his vision.
[You have entered an artificial dungeon!]
[The following mission must be completed to exit the dungeon.]
[Quest: Win 10 consecutive matches in the single player arena.]
[Completion: 0/10]
'I don't plan on leaving at all....' Zen ignored the notification and moved before the masked receptionist.
"Please set your player name." The receptionist spoke in a mechanical voice.
"All for one."
The mask of the receptionist glowed as if scanning Zen's face and nodded its head.
"The registration has been completed. You can register for the upcoming 1vs1 or battle royal."
"Then register me for 1vs1." Zen spoke without hesitation.
Turning back, Zen addressed his three subordinates: "You should register too, once you get used to this place."
They nodded in unison, Keilene seemed eager to register right away.
The receptionist spoke up: "Understood. The match will only end when the opponent dies or isn't able to continue fighting. There isn't an option to give up once matched."
"No problem." Another notification appeared before Zen's eyes.
[Ding! You have an upcoming match in the 4S arena in 48 minutes.]
[Your current player rank is bronze. You don't have the authority to reject the match up.]
'....This is a perfect opportunity to train my [gifts] and gain a standing in this underground arena.'
Seeing his subordinates staring at him, seriously, Zen Shigaraki couldn't hide his excitement.
He wondered if this was how the All for one in MHA felt like. This feeling must have been the reason All for One spent much of his time in the underground arena.
Zen beckoned Keilene and the others to follow - he spoke in a fervent and resolute tone.
"Witness my rise, see as I crush everyone in my way. This impending void era will give rise to a more perfect demon lord. This will be the story of how I became the greatest demon lord of all!"