"The sun beats down with a merciless white fire

until the cloudless sky is scarcely blue,

but rather like the blade of a knife

that for days has been grounded by stone."

-Conrad Ritcher

The crash that followed after the explosive kick to the door was the start of everything, one might say.

In that single instant, all of the villains inside the bar grew taunt with alertness with some looking on in astonishment at the figure in the doorway. Still, some others looked at him with indifference, silently drawing out their weapon of choice or quirk. Shigaraki's face, in particular, was alight with ecstasy although there were still hints of confusion here and there. Deku was aware of how powerful he was, how powerful the League was. For him to return meant that he had a plan... Still, Shigaraki was certain he could crush it with absolute power.

He smiled, like a cat that had finally caught the mouse after it had alluded it for so long.

And although this took time to say, it all happened in the blink of an eye.

Of course, it wasn't just the villains that completed their preparations in this short span of time, in fact, there was someone else who prepared even more so than the villains. And this was naturally Deku, of course. He had the reflexes necessary, but even more than that, he had been the one to set the 'ambush', so it was only natural that he was completely and fully prepared. But even if he didn't...

It probably wouldn't have mattered.

That was the degree of power Gray had reached after hunting 11 people, while she was fully aware of the process and could increase its efficiency. 11 people wasn't a small number, but it wasn't exactly big either. The power he had now was the result of Gray holding nothing back in her fervent absorption, abstaining from only the tiniest of portions that had profound resentment for Deku.

So it was understandable that Gray's newest power-ups as well as Deku's meticulous preparations blew everyone away.

Quite literally, in fact.

In that single instant after the last, Deku unleashed lightning of tremendous power. No one could react to the awe-inspiringly quick speed of Gray. The lightning crackled and popped as it surrounded Shigaraki, reversing the previous cat v.s. mouse situation. The sheer shockwave produced from the dancing lightning bolts was enough to physically force away the other members. The members tensely glanced at each other, before coming to a decision; they wouldn't interfere. Shigaraki simply didn't have enough charisma, in the end. To make these hardened criminals defend him was a sky-high task, and not even bribes could force them to confront the man in front of them.

If Shigaraki had soothed and manipulated them with their innermost beliefs, there might have been a chance, but alas.

He was just a tyrant of a king, that moved and shoved his weight around chiefly on his own power.

When that proved to not be enough, he could do nothing.

For the first time, Shigaraki had a look of shock etched deeply within his face, with little dabbles of despair, 'How is this possible?!!' and 'Why me?!' mixing into the crevasses. Deku just continued to watch on with a blank look on his face, as minutes stretched on with Shigaraki's anxiety stretching even further. He had never quite been in a situation before where his life laid at the complete mercy of his opponent, but that was beside the point.

"What are you-... What the hell do you plan on doing to me, Deku!" His words leaned more towards a hiss near the end.

It was as if Deku had just now noticed Shigaraki from the latter's voice. It was a show of complete disdain and utter, sheer power on his part. If he was a lesser being, it might have been seen as arrogance, but his show of utter dominance proved something different. Thus, whereas Shigaraki might have been screeching and howling with rage, now all he felt was a single-minded fear that invaded his very soul.

This was the fear of death, something Shigaraki thought he had left behind in his past, but it had once again resurfaced.

And this new wave of fear would prove to be valid for Shigaraki; to stop Deku was almost impossible at this point.

"Shigaraki," His voice was dull. Somehow that was more frightening than anything Shigaraki could have imagined. "Did you tell that man my true identity, as well as the location of my mother? Do not lie to me, Shigaraki; I will know, I promise you that. I know everything."

He felt a trickle of something slide up his spine, and somehow, he knew that something was watching over him.

Judging his every word.

It didn't make any logical sense, considering what Deku's quirk was, but he knew that if he said anything less than the truth, there would be hell to pay. Actually, if he said the truth as well, there would be hell waiting for him as well. Because he, indeed, was the one who told Yuganda Itoku the location of Midoriya Inko. It was at All for One's bequest - not that he didn't take any pleasure out of the deed - but he doubted that would be enough to save him from the situation he currently found himself trapped in. He could only try to make the others save him.

"All of you, save me now! H-He's only just one person! He can't hold off all of you! As the leader of the League of Villains, I command you-"

His only answer was silence and in-action.

Deku's voice lit up with a casually cruel tone.

"Why, Shigaraki... Do you think they would help you now, if they didn't jump in from the start? You should just face it, save yourself the trouble... You are dying here today. That is absolute. Of course, if you happen to be innocent, you might get out alive. But, to be honest..."

A maddened gleam surfaced in his eyes.

"I don't believe you are. Now, say it. Did you or did you not tell Yuganda Itoku the location of Midoriya Inko?"

Shigaraki responded through gritted teeth.

"...No, I di- AhhAHHHAHAAAAAHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAA-!"

It was an excruciating, agonizing scream that echoed throughout the entire bar. Shigaraki was foaming at the mouth, bent over and flopping around like a dead fish. His eyes were rolled back into his head, leaving only the bare whites of his eyes, that had been exposed with his thrashing, visible. It was several long and torturous minutes later - for the League of Villains, of course - that the hoarse and vaguely insane voice of Shigaraki resurfaced into the world.

"W-WhAt the hElL did you d-do to me, you damn piece of shit?!"

Deku's eyes were decidedly darker now that he had confirmation, but his voice didn't lose its mocking tone in the slightest.

"I do wonder what I did. Was it not obvious enough to you? I punished you for lying, Shigaraki."

Deku's eyes became terrifying crescents.

"Of course, that was an answer all on its own. It seems that you did do what I accused you of. In that case..."

He snapped his finger.

It resounded throughout the room, not through sound, but via fear.

"I'll need to punish you a few more times, yes?"

Loud, resounding screams echoed and resonated throughout the bar, with some of the criminals staring with wide, awe-filled eyes, and others being unable to spectate the gruesome display. Or smell it. Halfway through the terrifying punishment, Shigaraki lost control of his bowels. The stench of electricity and feces were the only things that could be smelt in the bar soon after. Deku did nothing but look onwards coldly, unfeelingly, at the sight before him. It was everything he deserved, and more.

No punishment could possibly make up for Midoriya Inko's death.

But it could satisfy the aching need for vengeance in his chest, if just a little.

(It could fill the void in his chest before the ticking time bomb of his sanity and mental wellbeing exploded.)

He had long grown unconscious, the electrocution severing his consciousness from the waking world in an attempt to not perish to the pain. But still, Deku slowly walked over, ignored the smell, and whispered in Shigaraki's ear. His expression was the very concept of mocking.

"You had potential, Shigaraki, you really did. If you grew out of that pathetic mindset of yours, you really would have been a force to reckon with," His voice turned high, with a hint of madness in it. He hadn't vented ever since the incident, and while he didn't doubt he would feel hollow later, right now it felt euphoric. "It's a pity you chose to cross me, huh? Your life is just going to end here. What a shame."

He nodded slightly in Gray's direction, and she fired off the final, lethal bolt straight to his heart.

His eyes slightly widened at the new information Gray had given him as she returned, before smirking evilly.

"Good night, Shimura Tenko."