Ren kneeled, gripping his side.
Ren: "Damn… what kind of bullet was that?"
Overhaul held Eri by the arm, dragging her back.
Ren:"Don't you dare touch her. I swear I will hunt you down."
Overhaul smirked: "That bullet… it was a Quirk-Erasing bullet."
For a moment, silence. Rain hit the pavement. Ren lowered his hand, then—
Ren laughed softly as he pushed himself back to his feet.
Ren: "So that's all? I was worried for nothing."
Ren's thoughts:Good. It won't work on me anyway… I'm quirkless
Overhaul's eyes widened, shock breaking through his calm mask.
Overhaul: "That shot hit you. How are you still standing? How are you still using your… abilities?"
Ren dusted off his sleeve slowly, almost bored.
Ren: "I ask myself the same thing sometimes."
Overhaul's confusion twisted into frustration.
Overhaul: "Enough—stop holding back. Use standard rounds!"
His henchmen hesitated, clearly unsure.
Ren stepped forward, voice steady and cold.
Ren: "If you point anything at me or that girl again… you won't like what happens next."
Eri tightened her grip on Overhaul's coat, eyes fearful.
Ren's gaze softened for a moment.
Ren: "Don't worry. I'm here now."
The henchmen exchanged a nervous glance, then—following Overhaul's order—loaded something heavier.
Overhaul: "A high-dose round. If the first didn't stop him, this will."
Ren's expression didn't change.
He stepped slightly in front of Eri, shielding her with his body.
The shots rang out—loud, sharp—but Ren's stance stayed firm. When the noise faded, dust drifted through the air.
Overhaul stared.
Overhaul: "No… this makes no sense."
Ren looked up calmly, eyes locking onto him.
Ren: "Your weapons don't matter. Not against me."
Eri peeked out from behind Ren, eyes wide but hopeful.
Ren (quietly): "I told you. I won't let anyone take you again."
Overhaul clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Overhaul: "Fine. If our erasure rounds can't affect him…
then we'll use something new. A different product. Let's see him stay awake through this."
Before Ren could react, one of Overhaul's men fired a small device — not a bullet, but a syringe-like dart. It struck Ren's shoulder with a soft thnk.
Eri gasped.
Ren staggered slightly, catching himself on one knee.
Ren: "…Anesthesia? Really?"
The world blurred at the edges, his movements slowing. He steadied himself, forcing his eyes open.
Overhaul smirked as he stepped closer.
Overhaul: "No matter how clever you are… your body still has limits."
Ren exhaled slowly, fighting the pull of sleep.
Ren (thinking):
Stay awake. She's watching. She's scared. Don't fall yet.
He pushed one foot forward, refusing to collapse.
Ren: "I told you… I'm not letting you take her."
Even through the haze, his voice stayed firm.
Eri reached toward him, trembling.
Eri: "Please… don't fall…"
Ren gave her the faintest smile.
Ren: "I won't."
The air rippled with heat as Dabi appeared at the edge of the alley, flames simmering around him.
He took one look at Ren swaying on his feet and clicked his tongue.
Dabi: "Tch… he's done for. Retreat."
Toga tugged his sleeve. "But—"
Dabi: "No time. Tell Akiraa this: She led Vega. She'll know what it means."
With that, Dabi vanished into the smoke, leaving only a fading glow behind.
Ren's vision dimmed, the anesthesia finally overwhelming him. He tried to step forward, tried to reach Eri, but his legs gave way.
Eri cried out, reaching toward him—
Eri: "Ren!!"
But Ren couldn't keep his eyes open.
He collapsed.
Overhaul stepped forward calmly, adjusting his gloves.
Overhaul: "Good. He'll be easier to handle like this."
His men lifted Ren carefully — not gently, not cruelly — just business-like, as if he were cargo.
Overhaul picked Eri up with one arm as she struggled weakly.
Overhaul: "Don't bother. You're both coming with me."
Eri's eyes filled with fear as she looked back at the unconscious Ren.
Eri: "Please… s-stop…"
Overhaul didn't respond.
He simply turned away.
Far above, thunder rolled through the clouds.
Two figures — Ren and Eri — disappeared into the shadows of Overhaul's hidden facility, taken for reasons that neither fully understood.
But one thing was certain:
Ren would wake up.
And when he did… Overhaul's entire plan would begin to unravel.
Meanwhile — Midoriya and Mirio
The rain-soaked streets blurred behind them as Midoriya and Mirio sprinted across the rooftops, breathing hard. They had retreated only because Ren told them to.
And neither of them felt good about it.
Midoriya clenched his fist.
Midoriya: "Ren said he'd handle Overhaul… b-but something felt wrong. Why would he make us retreat? Why only us?"
Mirio slowed for a moment, expression unusually serious.
Mirio: "He didn't say run away. He said don't interfere until I give the signal. That's different."
Midoriya looked down, eyes troubled.
Midoriya: "But we never got a signal…"
The wind rushed past them. The city lights glowed beneath their feet.
Mirio's voice dropped.
Mirio: "Deku… Ren wasn't trying to protect himself."
Midoriya blinked. "What do you mean?"
Mirio looked straight ahead, jaw tight with determination.
Mirio:
"He was protecting us.
From something he already predicted."
Midoriya's breath hitched. "Overhaul… or someone worse?"
Mirio didn't answer immediately. His fists trembled.
Mirio: "I think Ren knew Overhaul wasn't working alone tonight. That's why he separated us."
Midoriya's eyes widened with realization and fear.
Midoriya: "So—while we left… Ren stayed behind with no backup?"
Mirio nodded slowly.
Mirio: "He trusted us to follow orders."
A pause.
"And now we trust him to still be alive."
Midoriya swallowed hard, guilt pressing on his chest.
Midoriya:
"Then we find him.
And we bring Eri back. No matter what."
Mirio's smile returned—small, but confident.
Mirio: "That's the spirit. Let's alert Nighteye. Ren didn't want us fighting blindly… but he did want us to move smart."
Together, the two future heroes sprinted toward the agency lights—
completely unaware that Ren had already fallen into Overhaul's hands.
But also unaware of something else:
Ren had predicted their next move too.
Hero Commission Headquarters — Briefing Room
A long, polished table reflected the bright ceiling lights as high-ranking officials took their seats.
Holo-screens displayed the words:
"UA STUDENT MISSING — PRIORITY CASE"
One official adjusted her glasses.
Official 1:
"Status update. The missing student from Class 1-A… Ren. Still no confirmed sighting after his encounter with the Shie Hassaikai."
Another official tapped his tablet.
Official 2:
"According to Midoriya and Mirio, Ren ordered them to retreat. That is unusual for a first-year. Students don't give tactical instructions."
Official 1: "Unusual, yes. But he's still just a student. Probably panicked."
A third official frowned.
Official 3:
"No. Midoriya stated Ren sounded completely calm. Almost… prepared. That concerns me."
They brought up surveillance footage—grainy, unclear views of the Shie Hassaikai fight zone.
Official 2:
"He disappeared right after Overhaul's ambush. Likely captured."
Official 1:
"Then why hasn't Overhaul made demands? Hostage cases usually come with conditions."
Official 3:
"That's exactly the problem. This doesn't look like a typical hostage case.
It looks like a planned extraction."
Murmurs filled the room.
UA Faculty Dial-In
A screen flickered on showing Aizawa and Principal Nezu from UA.
Nezu smiled politely.
Nezu:
"We appreciate your assistance. Ren is a bright student, but he is… unconventional."
Aizawa crossed his arms, tired but focused.
Aizawa:
"He has a habit of moving independently. Still… disappearing without contact? That's not normal for him."
The Commission nodded.
Official 2:
"Do you have any idea why he told Midoriya and Mirio to retreat?"
Aizawa narrowed his eyes.
Aizawa:
"Because Ren doesn't take unnecessary risks. If he told them to fall back… he anticipated something."
Nezu tapped his paws together thoughtfully.
Nezu:
"It's possible Ren acted knowing the situation would escalate beyond what students should face."
Commission members exchanged worried looks.
Official 1:
"In short… we have a student missing in enemy territory.
We will classify Ren as temporarily displaced. Rescue priority will be sent to the Hero Network."
Aizawa looked away, clearly hiding concern.
Aizawa (quiet):
"Just hold on, kid."
But what the Commission didn't know…
Ren was not a simple student.
He had connections.
Plans.
Allies outside the hero system.
And people moving to rescue him.
The Hero Commission believed they were dealing with a missing teenager.
They were actually dealing with the beginning of a power struggle far bigger than they could imagine.