About

the infected still retain their quirks, but only in instinctive or corrupted ways rather than with full conscious control. Because quirks are biological abilities tied to the body and nervous system, infection does not completely erase them. Instead, the virus gradually damages higher thinking and self-control, causing quirks to manifest through aggression, reflexes, panic responses, or muscle memory. Newly infected victims may still show fragments of their personalities and can sometimes activate their quirks intentionally, but as the infection progresses, their speech, reasoning, and coordination deteriorate until their powers become erratic and animalistic. This creates a middle ground between powerless zombies and fully intelligent superpowered infected. Some infected become especially terrifying depending on their quirk type: Mutant-type quirk users are often the most dangerous because their abilities are permanently integrated into their bodies, allowing them to adapt to infection more effectively. For example, an infected Eijiro Kirishima may harden reflexively when attacked, making him extremely difficult to kill, while someone like Katsuki Bakugo could produce explosive sweat during violent outbursts without fully understanding what he is doing. More examples of how infection effects individuals; Denki Kaminari (if infected) may discharge electricity uncontrollably whenever agitated, Shoto Todorok (if infected) could freeze entire areas around himself through unconscious defensive reactions, and Tenya Iida (if infected) Iida might sprint at unnatural speeds driven purely by predatory instinct. (This timeline takes place eight years after class 1-A and 1-B Graduate. Meaning everyone is grown up. Shiketsu students, UA students, Ketsubetsu students. Everyone is either a pro hero now—or younger kids like Eri and Kota are in their teens.)