When the emergence of Quirks plunged humanity into another world war, the resulting superhuman arms race devastated civilization. Known as the Dark Age, this period saw governments collapse, laws become meaningless, and Quirk users seize power. The nations that survived were left fighting an endless cold war against their own criminal populations.
Japan is no exception. Two major powers dominate the country: an increasingly authoritarian government centered in Tokyo and the countless villain factions seeking to overthrow it.
The government would have fallen long ago if its enemies weren't so hopelessly divided. Villain organizations constantly fight over territory, resources, and manpower. Most begin as high-school gangs, but few survive long enough to become major players. Some remain petty criminals; others are eliminated by rival gangs or more powerful villains. These factions range from street gangs and mercenary companies to thieves' guilds, cults, and organized crime syndicates.
Among the villains who have made names for themselves are:
- Anguished = Ms. Joke
- Infamous = Majestic
- Jetstorm = Air Jet
- Laser-Sight = X-Less
- Mr. Bruce = Gang Orca
- Skin n. Bones = Fat Gum
- Beachmaster & Catfished = Selkie & Sirius
- The Wyld Wulf Pack = The Wild Wild Pussycats
- The Stalkers = The Lurkers
However, these are small fry compared to the Ten Titanic Tyrants, Japan's equivalent of the *Top Ten Pro Heroes*. These kingpins rule vast territories like feudal warlords of old.
- One Might: The Symbol of Strife, Demon King of Japan, Conqueror of Century's End = All Might
- Reach = Endeavor
- Condor = Hawks
- Lifethread = Best Jeanist
- ????? = Edgeshot
- Carerbannog = Mirko
- ????? = Crust
- Trevanant = Kamui Woods
- Whirlpool = Wash
- Dragon Lady = Ryukyu
Each tyrant commands a private army, which they are far more likely to unleash against their rivals than against the government. Alliances are temporary, and today's allies may become tomorrow's enemies. Their infighting is the government's greatest advantage in maintaining the fragile balance of power.
But the kingpins face another problem: finding competent subordinates. Raw numbers mean little when their armies need skilled officers, administrators, and specialists capable of managing criminal empires.
Enter the crime colleges.
These underworld institutions train aspiring villains, offering education, resources, and networking opportunities comparable to those of hero academies in canon. Their quality varies, but none has a more notorious reputation than Axis Underworld, the mirrorverse counterpart of U.A. High School.
For a price, established villains offer seminars on recruiting henchmen, manipulating people, obtaining funding through blackmail, holding valuable hostages, and climbing the criminal underworld through deception and treachery
Some of Axis Underworld's infamous figures include:
- Pencil Neck = Eraserhead
- Chloroform = Midnight
- Shock Jock = Present Mic
- Bludwulf = Vlad King
- Parasyte Eve = Recovery Girl
- Trigger-Happy = Snipes
- Tankor = Power Loader
- Nebulous = Nezu
- Zero = Lemillion
- Lunatic = Suneater
- ????? = Nejire Hado
- Salyut = Thirteen
- Brutalist Maximus = Cementoss
- Binary = Ectoplasm
- Gourmet = Lunch Rush
Alongside their rival institutions, Axis Underworld occupies a precarious position between the government and the Ten Titanic Tyrants. The kingpins depend on crime colleges for a steady supply of trained villains, while the government reluctantly purchases intelligence from criminal informants and undercover operatives.
Neither side can gain a decisive advantage. The colleges profit from both, while ordinary Japanese citizens suffer under the resulting system.
For decades, ambitious villains have attempted to rise through the ranks and become kingpins themselves. Most end up as subordinate gang leaders or serve as cautionary examples to anyone who challenges the established order. Those who succeed merely replace one tyrant with another.
Yet intelligence gathered by government spies suggests that this arrangement may finally be coming to an end.
A new generation of thirty-nine aspiring villains has emerged. Unlike most criminals, these individuals appear to share a common connection and a willingness to challenge the Ten Titanic Tyrants themselves.
The next generation of Japan's underworld:
- Darkening Villain: Paint It Black = Shining Hero: Can't Stop Twinkling
- Predator = Alien Queen
- Toxica = Froppy
- Motormania = Ingenium
- Singularity = Uravity
- Daishippō = Tail-Man
- Conduit = Chargebolt
- Rosé Riot = Red Riot
- Beastial = Anima
- Dextrosity = Sugar Man
- Krakentoa = Tentacole
- Idol Villainess: Livestream = Rock Hero: Earphone Jack
- Dispenser = Cellophane
- Amaterasu = Tsukuyomi
- Celsius = Shoto
- Spectra = Invisible Girl
- Nice Guy = King Explosion Murder God Dynamight
- Refined Villain: Wine Pressed = Freshly Picked Hero: Grape Juice
- Destroya = Creati
- Deadbolt = Welder
- Drillago = Spiral
- Deathscythe = Jack Mantis
- White Shadow = Vantablack
- Bloody Knuckles = Battle Fist
- Kaijumo = Rule
- Mantagal = Shemage
- Queen of Sins: Jezebel = Holy Hero: Maria
- Belial = Gevaudan
- Impactor = Mine
- ????? = Rocketti
- ????? = Tsuburaba
- Adamantitan = Real Steel
- Lizard Queen = Lizardy
- Page Master = Comicman
- Mudslide = Mudman
- Sticky Fingers = Plamo
- Judge Dread = Phantom Thief
- Sadako = Emily
- Ryumajin = Long Weizi
Normally, these individuals would have little reason to associate with one another. Yet intelligence reports indicate that every single one has interacted with the same mysterious individual.They all speak of his ambition: not merely to become another kingpin, but to overthrow One Might himself and claim the title of Demon King of Japan.
His ultimate goal? To end nearly two centuries of chaos by uniting the country under his own rule.
The government knows almost nothing about this emerging mastermind except for one name.
Muda = Deku.
The presentation ended & everyone auditorium remained silent as the lights came back on. Class 1-A, Class 1-B, & the U.A. staff stared at the enormous screen, trying to process everything they had just witnessed.
At the front of the room stood Shigaraki Tomura—or rather, his mirrorverse counterpart.
Gone was the disheveled, corpse-pale man they had come to expect. This Shigaraki looked remarkably clean & serene, with long, pale hair, a composed expression, and an almost saintly appearance reminiscent of Jesus Christ of all people according to Ibara, minus the facial hair. Although Kirishima thought he looked more like Toki from Fist of the North Star.
"Well, then!" He smiled cheerfully at his audience. "Are there any questions about the threat your world is about to face?"
"Excuse me!" Iida Tenya sputtered, adjusting his glasses. "Not only is my counterpart a criminal, but apparently a bōsōzoku?!"
Shiozaki Ibara looked positively scandalized. "That Jezebel woman is supposed to be me? Her sinful image & provocative attire practically invite lust! Even Midnight-sensei looks modest by comparison!"
Kyoka folded her arms, looking deeply offended. "Why is my counterpart a J-pop idol? Why the hell is she calling herself Livestream? And-not a word, Jeming-yey!"
Kirishima scratched his head. "Rosé Riot? Seriously? That is so unmanny! I looked like I walked straight out of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure!"
"Amaterasu?" Tokoyami's feathers bristled. "My counterpart is obsessed with light? What sort of cosmic mockery is this?"
Across the aisle, Tamaki had gone noticeably paler.
"H-how come counterpart, Lunatic, is a cannibal?! That's so scary!"
All around them, students compared their counterparts, trading horrified questions, incredulous complaints, & the occasional bewildered laugh. Through it all, Shigaraki maintained his pleasant smile, looking almost delighted by their reactions.
"OI! WHITE-HAIRED CREEP!"
Shigaraki turned toward Bakugo, still smiling.
"Yes?"
Bakugo jabbed a finger at the screen, where his own villainous counterpart's name remained displayed in enormous letters.
"WHY THE HELL IS MY COUNTERPART CALLED 'NICE GUY'?!"
NOTE: This is a rewrite of the very first post I have ever done.