Two months after the chaos in Saitama, the city had settled back into its usual rhythm—but the hero world had not. Rumors, speculation, and theories swirled like storm clouds ever since the mysterious young sidekick, White Knight, made his name known. People wanted answers. Fans wanted rankings. And the media? They wanted headlines.
One publication moved faster than all the rest.
The Daily Hero, a magazine with circulation numbers rivaling national newspapers, launched a special survey. Their reporters scattered across Japan with one provocative question — a question meant to stir the pot:
"Who do you believe is the strongest Hero next to All Might?"
Endeavor, Japan's immovable Number Two Hero, didn't pause his stride for the cameras. Flames flickered off his shoulders as he stormed down the sidewalk, practically melting the frost in the winter air. "Obviously it's me," he growled, not even glancing at the microphone shoved toward him. "I'm Number Two for a reason."
The reporter jogged after him. "Sir-?"
"No." Endeavor's voice hit like a slammed door. "Next question."
Far above the streets, Hawks crouched casually on the corner of a rooftop, wings half unfurled as the breeze toyed with their feathers. With a lazy smile, he rested his chin on his fist.
"I mean... Endeavor's not wrong," he admitted, amusement curling through his voice. "Guy's a walking wildfire with the stats to prove it. Hard to argue with raw destruction."
He plucked out a feather and rolled it between his fingers.
"But if I had to choose someone other than him...?" Hawks grinned, eyes narrowing with sly interest. "I'd bet on All-Might's sidekick. White Knight. The kid's potential is insane. Wouldn't surprise me if he leaps past all of us one day."
The reporter blinked. "Is that a prediction?"
Hawks laughed. "Nah. More like a warning."
In her apartment, feet up, ears flicking with irritation, was Miruko sprawled across her couch like she owned the whole room. She popped open a sports drink, took a swig, and smirked.
"Strongest after All Might?" she repeated, flexing one leg with a crack that vibrated the coffee table. "If we're talking pure power? Yeah, Endeavor. That overcooked torch is pretty stacked."
She tossed the bottle aside and jabbed a thumb at her chest, grin widening.
"But if we're talking physical strength? Me, baby. I could kick a skyscraper in half if I felt like it! I don't need fire blasting out my back to hit harder."
The reporter started to ask something else, but Miruko cut them off, rolling her eyes.
"That said..." she grumbled, grinding the words out as if they offended her. "When it comes to the perfect mix of strength and skill? Ugh. Fine. White Knight wins. There. Happy?"
"Bleh. Saying it out loud tasted worse than protein powder left in a hot shaker."
Edge Shot finished the last sip of broth from his ramen bowl, setting his chopsticks down with quiet precision. Steam curled around his masked face as he tugged the fabric back into place, his eyes sharp and contemplative. "I've always believed no one could ever truly match All Might," he said, voice low and measured. "Power, presence, sheer overwhelming force... he embodies all of it. He's Number One for a reason."
He adjusted the plates of his hero costume, expression turning more somber.
"But... After Saitama, I'm not so certain anymore. That incident showed us something new. Someone who didn't just survive that level of destruction... but stood his ground," His gaze narrowed, as if recalling something heavy. "Someone who might actually stand beside All Might on equal footing."
Kamui Woods didn't even hesitate. The moment the question left the reporter's mouth, his answer came rapid-fire. "White Knight," he said firmly, branches rustling around his shoulders as he straightened. "No doubt. If he hadn't been there during Saitama, I wouldn't be alive today."
He exhaled, a shiver of memory running through him as he folded his arms.
"I was there. Front row. I saw what that man did." His voice dropped to a more reverent tone. "His power... it wasn't just overwhelming. It was precise. Controlled. It felt like watching someone who had already accepted the responsibility that comes with strength."
Kamui looked away for a moment, then nodded again, more quietly.
"If anyone has the heart, the resolve, and the sheer might to follow after All Might... I believe it's him."
In her office, Ryukyu rested back in her chair, wings shifting as she folded her hands in her lap. Her golden eyes softened with deep thought before she finally spoke.
"A hero who can stand next to All Might? If you had asked me that question before everything that happened in Saitama, my answer would've been clear. Lemillion. That boy from Nighteye's agency." A small, proud smile tugged at her lips. "His Quirk is exceptional, and his spirit shines even brighter. He's already a symbol in the community."
Her expression darkened slightly as she recalled the battle that had changed her opinion.
"But things are different now," Ryukyu continued, her tone quieter. "The villain we faced in Saitama... I couldn't beat him. None of us could. He overpowered me in minutes."
She paused, fingers tightening slightly on the armrests.
"And yet... White Knight stood back up. He didn't hesitate. He didn't falter. He fought when every one of us had already hit our limit." A breath left her, half admiration, half disbelief. "So yes, Lemillion is brilliant, but White Knight... he proved something that day. Something rare. He proved he's unbreakable. And that's the kind of strength All Might carried."
Gang Orca stood by the wide glass window of his office, his tall, imposing silhouette framed against the shimmering horizon. The late afternoon sun cast streaks of gold across the ocean, waves rolling in slow, steady breaths. He watched them for a long moment before speaking, his voice a low, resonant rumble.
"I find myself agreeing with Edge Shot," he said, not looking away from the water. "For the longest time, I believed no one could truly compare to All Might... neither in raw strength nor in that unwavering spirit of his." The orca-hero's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, memories flickering behind them.
"But Saitama proved me wrong."
He turned slightly, crossing his arms as he recalled the moment with surprising clarity.
"That young man in armor... White Knight," he continued. "He stood back up when no one else could. Unfazed. Unbroken. Not a mark on him. He swung that sword like the destruction around him was nothing more than a stiff breeze. If anyone is closest to standing on that pedestal All Might occupies, if anyone has the potential to surpass it someday, it's him." A deep, approving growl vibrated in his throat.
The reporter, who had been scrambling to keep up with his pacing thoughts, raised a hand hesitantly. "But what about Endeavor?" she asked. "He's the Number Two Hero. Based on the rankings, he's the person closest to becoming the next Number One. Wouldn't that make him the one nearest to All Might's level?"
Gang Orca paused, considering the question carefully. Then he let out a slow hum, his fins shifting behind him.
"Endeavor is strong," he acknowledged. "Stronger than most. And it's true, he's closed more cases than even All Might. The man's relentless. He earned that Number Two spot with blood and fire." His eyes softened, but only slightly. "But power alone isn't what makes a hero worthy of standing beside All Might."
He turned fully toward the reporter now, voice gaining weight, conviction settling into every syllable.
"All Might didn't just win fights. He inspired people. Just seeing him made civilians feel safe. Made heroes fight harder. Made villains think twice." Gang Orca shook his head. "Endeavor... hasn't always done that. Not in the way All Might did."
Then, with a small, almost imperceptible smile, Gang Orca continued.
"But White Knight? He didn't just survive the impossible; he fought it head-on. And the moment people saw him do it, they believed they could endure it too. He gave them hope."
His gaze drifted back to the breaking waves.
"That's what makes someone a true successor. Not their ranking. Not their fame. Not even their strength." He exhaled deeply. "It's the ability to stand against impossible odds... and inspire everyone watching to rise with you."
In the end, after dozens of interviews, countless expert opinions, and a flood of testimonies from civilians and heroes alike, a quiet consensus formed—one that spread through the hero community like a whispered prophecy.
Almost every voice, whether hesitant or bold, pointed toward the same name.
The rising star. The armored prodigy. The young man who had stood unshaken amidst the ruins of Saitama when legends faltered.
To many, he was the closest anyone had ever come to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with All Might himself. His strength, his poise, his sheer presence in battle, each carried that same impossible spark people had once believed belonged only to the Symbol of Peace.
But even as fans celebrated, even as the media buzzed with speculation and awe, an unspoken question lingered in the air:
"Was he truly the strongest?"
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