The Raid Was a "Success." That's what Mount Lady proudly exclaimed, oblivious to the complete paradigm shift that was about to happen.
Beast Jeanist was in charge of helping the armed forces, removing debris with his resistant threads to scan the entire area. A myriad of orders were shouted, trying to coordinate a perimeter and establish priorities.
Everything as a whole seemed perfect, complete, and functional. In fact, a part of me was tempted to get carried away by the image.
But it was only a part of the final result. It wouldn't last long, and knowing that brought me completely back to reality.
(Breathe... just breathe and...) Inhaling and exhalationg, I felt the Danger Sense in my head. A feeling of dread flooded my body, followed by the biggest chill I had ever felt. (...Here it comes...)
Opening my eyes, I knew instantly that "He" had arrived. All my instincts, including One For All, were immediately alerted. Not even the Nomus exerted such pressure.
And it seems... only I was aware of it.
Inside the partially destroyed warehouse, the air contracted, like a tear that slightly fragments reality. Within that empty space, a black mist appeared, expanding in a circular shape to allow an average person to pass through.
The officers and average heroes continued to work, oblivious to what was happening, with several lawmen calming the curious people who were approaching due to the disturbances, even celebrating the success of things.
It was Beast Jeanist who first noticed that things were wrong, a natural instinct that only years of work had granted him. His gaze remained neutral despite how cautious he really was.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the hollow place, increasing the bad omen that was already installed in the formal hero. The calls for attention that Tiger was giving to his unconscious partner Ragdoll ceased, now aware that something was out of place.
"I'm sorry, Tiger. I had been thinking for a while that she had an interesting Quirk, so when I saw the opportunity... I took it." The voice of the powerful man predominated in the tense silence, alluding in turn to the unconscious girl.
Despite the difficulty, I was able to hear his words. One For All, by sharpening my senses, was a blessing.
(Ragdoll wasn't in the lab when I infiltrated. That means he transported her with his arrival.) Guiding myself purely by sounds was complicated. I tried to compare them with the scenes I remembered from before.
"Stay there! Don't move!" Gang Orca also heard what was said, raising a hand to order stillness. "Another member of the League, huh?"
"Since my body has been like this, I've run out of stock." Behind all the structural damage and broken pipes, the voice continued.
And as soon as the silhouette of his foot was visible in the light... the pressure multiplied like never before.
"I'd prefer if you all disappeared. Would you do me that favor?" The words, as raw as they came out, were accompanied by a simple movement of his hands.
And everything went to hell.
(Holy shit! I could barely catch it!) The Blackwhips had shot out from each finger, adhering my body to the building almost affected by the area attack. (That level... that technique... how terrifying.)
I clenched my fists to stop the trembling that was invading me. I had only felt such a power when I faced the Symbol of Peace in the practical exam, and that didn't even involve the pressure!
"Just as I expected from Jeanist! The incredible number four!" He began to applaud, slowly but steadily, resonating with the cold sarcasm in his voice. "I was going to kill them all, and yet...! You moved them out of the range of my attack, an action worthy of a hero like you."
Mt. Lady, Gang Orca, and Tiger were collapsed, with Ragdoll being protected by the latter's body. The top hero was in no better shape, with his eyes wide with shock and fear.
No one should have such power.
(Damn it... Just hold on a little longer. Revealing myself now would be counterproductive.) Impatience reigned over me. My body was begging to move into battle, all amplified by the state of One For All.
The steps wouldn't stop succumbing under the steel grip I had, creaking and crumbling into simple material under the pressure. Just breathing became difficult with each passing second. It was a terrifying oppression exerted on every part of my body.
...No one should feel such a thing...
Beast Jeanist tried to stand up, releasing threads to fight once more. His gaze abandoned fear and became determination, but unfortunately...
"That strength you possess is the result of diligent training and practical experience... That gives me the cue to decide that... your Quirk is not necessary." And with a movement of his finger, as if it were an imaginary weapon... Jeanist was out of commission.
I didn't have time to process the fact, as a second later, the League began to suddenly fall onto the destroyed ground, coughing and spitting as soon as their feet touched the ground.
(Perfect! All that's left is you, All Might!) Moments, slight moments were all that was needed for the nightmare to reach its final point.
"Tomura." All For One addressed his student, with the metal of his mask creaking slightly.
"Sensei." Shigaraki nodded at the man, with his hand on his face preventing his expression from being seen. "I see everything got worse."
He analyzed the environment, seeing the heroes out of combat and the general damage that surrounded him.
"Not necessarily." He extended both arms, ignoring everything his presence caused. "This is just one more step, one of many paths that has developed as I expected. All so that in the end, you will succeed, my boy."
The Symbol of Evil maintained that characteristic coldness. Around him, the dust mixed with the wind. However, no particle of it stuck to the formal suit he was wearing.
"...Well, what a complex path..." Shigaraki muttered under his breath, little interested in that fact really. "What will become of the rest now?"
"You will all leave. You have much to do in this society." I could feel it, he was coming. (...All Might...)
His gaze lingered briefly on the discovered space that was now around him, an action his student caught, not understanding the message completely but knowing that something was about to happen.
"I understand. This is all for my growth, right?" All For One just remained silent. "Anyway... we are ready, Sensei."
Bakugo, for his part, remained on the sidelines, refusing to move because of the pressure the man in the suit imposed. He had never felt such danger coming from someone.
It was only when I saw the Symbol of Evil extend his fingers that I knew it. He was about to use the forced activation of Quirks on Kurogiri, and worst of all... without All Might present yet.
I had to act.
"I guess... this is it." Forcing One For All, I moved. The classic green streak was left behind by my movement.
The world blurred for a second, only until my sight adapted to the new rhythm and everything made sense. During that journey, I could make out things even more clearly, like how around the large crater, no one was a spectator.
No police forces, much less civilians, which was good. I would take full advantage of that.
And in an instant, I was in front of Shigaraki's side, with my fist extended to give him the biggest punch possible.
If I killed him... that would just be an extra.
(Smash!) I kept the shout in my head. I wouldn't lose the surprise position by exclaiming like an idiot.
The attack connected, the shockwave resonated, and my smile grew...
But not as I expected it to...
"Hmm? Look what a curious guest we have here." All For One's open palm had easily caught the movement. "Mentor and student, what fun connections."
His distorted voice penetrated my head, along with the surprised Shigaraki for almost being attacked at point-blank range. Processing everything wasn't easy. I had the two most dangerous individuals in this world in front of me. Maybe not at their best moments, but they still represented a threat.
(No! Focus, Midoriya!) The energy channeled in my body allowed me to put things in order, matching the villain's gaze with my own. "Your mask is the worst Darth Vader reference I've ever seen."
Forcing the joke, I managed to jump back, internally grateful for the fact that I had no restraints to do so. Once my feet touched the cracked cement, I sighed in relief. I was just one step away from losing One For All.
And if that happened, if All For One simply... performed such a maneuver as forcing his Quirk to take the one I wielded... that would have been tragic.
"Midoriya?"
"Deku?"
Bakugo and Shigaraki asked in unison, with the same amount of confusion and astonishment in their tones. Each for different reasons, but a little the same at the core.
(Curious, to a greater or lesser extent, they don't like me.) I couldn't even laugh at the internal joke, suddenly overwhelmed by the new presence that joined the battlefield. "Well, it seems that... he is here."
I smiled, purely relieved to know that Toshinori was just moments away from making his entrance. I had never missed the man so much and in such a short period of time.
"Yes, it was about time." The dangerous villain turned to the right, waiting for the right moment as his sworn enemy approached him like a bullet.
And just a moment later...
The shockwave pushed most of them back, with me being forced to shoot Blackwhips to keep my body fixed a few meters from the collision.
The members of the League of Villains didn't have that luck, rolling until they collided with various debris or simply holding on to anything to avoid falling. Bakugo, for his part, took advantage of the recoil of his Quirk to counteract the hurricane-force winds with explosions.
"You took 30 seconds. You're getting old, All Might," he mocked, trying to irritate the hero, which he succeeded in doing considering his previous actions.
Both canceled the pressure they were exerting on each other, taking a slight distance to analyze each other.
"Look who's talking! What's the problem with that industrial mask you're wearing?!" Standing up, All Might questioned, his ever-present smile now a little darker. "Tell me... don't you think you're trying too hard?"
It was the Symbol of Peace who took the momentum against the King of Villains, pulling back his right arm to strike the sworn enemy he had in front of him.
"This time, I won't make the same mistake as five years ago! I will save Young Bakugo! And you will be locked up for good!"
All For One didn't even mock that. He simply raised the arm opposite to his rival.
"That won't work. We have a lot to do... how difficult..." That limb was covered by the fusion of several Quirks. "...for both of us."
The shot hit All Might squarely in the chest, causing him to crash into several buildings in the area due to the force used in the union of each power.
The resulting trail of dust made me briefly close my eyes due to all the flying debris, again amazed by the magnitude of each revealed movement. An annoying ringing echoed in my ears. I felt incredibly disoriented by it.
I had to stop and take a deep breath to avoid the oncoming nausea, internally grateful for the great attention All Might was drawing.
"Now, while he's busy recovering, I want to talk to you, Izuku Midoriya." Unfortunately, I was again the focus of everything. "Your appearance here was a considerable path. However, the probabilities did not reach the average standard."
I thought about the way All For One works, how he formulates different situations that eventually lead to the same result, all engineered in his head to happen.
He was a villain through and through, not denying the nature of his actions and mocking it by portraying himself as a "Savior" just to irritate others.
He knows he's not one, and he loves to play with that fact.
"Well... what can I tell you, I'm unpredictable." The words struggled to come out, being cliché dialogues that my mind put together so as not to leave me in silence. "Can I know why the Symbol of Evil wants to start a conversation?"
I knew the answer. I just wanted to see if he would be able to reveal it in front of so many.
To see if the secret of One For All was worth anything to him.
"Of course you can. After all..." his dialogue was abruptly cut off, with the return of All Might to trade blows with him.
"Young Midoriya, get out of here now!" Shouting, he ordered the retreat, without ever taking his eyes off the rival in front of him. (Damn it! Gran Torino was right! That's why his phone was off!)
Seeing that the words would not reach any port, I focused my attention on another point, specifically on...
"Shigaraki..." I allowed One For All to come to life over my body, releasing excessive green lightning that crackled among themselves, all to sell a more dangerous image.
I had a score to settle with him. I still hadn't forgotten the way I practically lost at the camp. His strategy surpassed what was expected, and I couldn't perform efficiently.
"Midoriya..." He nodded in response, calming his voice so as not to filter any kind of astonishment.
"Do you remember our last encounter? The ease with which you retreated without lifting a single finger? Because I didn't...." I took a step, then two. The dust rose as a consequence of that.
"Motivating words... for someone who lost again," he smiled mockingly. Behind him, a portal extended for his retreat. "You lose your companion and allow me to recover my pawn. You're a disgrace, Midoriya."
"...And I've wanted to rectify that mistake." I shot a Blackwhip at his face, fiercely removing the hand he had there.
He didn't like that. His eyes narrowed into slits out of anger at my move.
"If that's what you want... you'll get it." He approached me, extending his right palm to try to turn me to dust.
"Of course, but first..." Imitating his movement, I waited until we were face to face, with the Danger Sense practically screaming at me to act accordingly.
However, it wasn't time yet.
Breathing deeply, I waited. The adrenaline of the moment slowed my perception of the surroundings and allowed me to react as I wished.
"I have to get my companion out of here!" Tilting my face, I could see his hand pass just centimeters away, avoiding death in the most literal way possible.
I put all my weight on my left foot, doing a one hundred and eighty-degree turn to end up kicking Shigaraki in the chest. The force of that movement was enough to make him roll hard on the ground until he was rescued by Kurogiri.
However, I frowned. That kick should have done more than just knock him down... a lot of force was used in that movement.
(Has he already started receiving separate gifts?) The thought itself was worrying, but I wasn't in the right moment to reflect.
Positioning myself in front of Bakugo, I took off my backpack, extending the item for him to take. At first, he didn't understand what I was doing, but after a severe look, he received it with doubt.
"Listen, I need you to get out of here. Although it may not seem like it, there is important information you must protect," I held his shoulders. The situation warranted forgetting every quarrel between us.
"What? This shit isn't...!" He was briefly agitated, but the emotion was short-lived. Although he didn't seem it... he was really tired. "I'm not understanding anything, Deku."
It would probably be the only time I could see Katsuki Bakugo openly showing confusion and defeat. In other instances, even jokes would have come out of it.
"And I understand, but..." Of all the League, only Dabi was fully oriented, shooting a blast of blue fire at me as soon as he could.
Automatically, I performed an Air Force in his direction, raising the power in the necessary fingers and splitting the flame in two. A trail of fire and soot was left on our sides because of it.
The smell of burning reigned over the war zone, causing me to wrinkle my nose annoyingly.
"...We have to act one way or another. It's either that or death. You choose." He looked at me, really neutrally for the first time, without hatred or malice. "Please, Bakugo, I'm not asking you to be friends or anything similar. I simply... need you as an ally."
My grip on his remaining shoulder tightened. I hated begging for things I considered obvious, but this had to happen now.
"Fine... but I'll need an explanation later! And don't think about running away from it!" Accepting, he adjusted the straps of the backpack. His hands were already sparking from the activation of the infamous Quirk.
"I can help you with that." Smiling, I raised One For All, forming a mallet with my hands for him to jump on. "You can thank me later."
I winked at him in mockery. I knew he hated that.
"I'll never do it!" That made me laugh. I expected such a reaction. "Tch! You bastard!" Muttering curses, he prepared for the boost I would give him, his gaze fully focused on the sky.
"...Hey, Deku."
"What's wrong?"
"Don't die."
"Well... I'll think about it."
"Hey! Are you forgetting about us?!" Surprised, Toga and the rest of the gang mobilized towards us. Curiously, only Dabi remained on the sidelines.
(There's no point in trying. That brat surpasses us in power.) He was a logical man. He knew when to battle and when not to.
"No one forgets anyone!" Mt. Lady made an appearance again, cutting off the path with a solid giant foot.
(Good thing she didn't crush anyone... that would have been brutal.) I couldn't stop thinking about how dangerous that woman could be just because of that fact.
"And even less such pathetic villains!" To add to the formula, Gang Orca produced a sonic wave, destroying the rising clones of Twice and leaving the rest paralyzed.
So caught up in the battle was I... that I forgot about the explosive boy.
"Damn it, Deku! Do something, for crying out loud!" Of course, that wasn't his case.
"H-huh? Right! Sorry!" Laughing to hide the embarrassment, I sent him like a rocket into the sky, a great paradigm considering the Sports Festival. "Fly away, you flaming firecracker!"
"I hate you, Deku!" The mockery was answered with another shout from above.
That... was fun. How ironic, considering the situation.
"Me too, Bakugo... me too." Wiping the dust from my hands, I felt like I was forgetting something, a really annoying feeling that was soon clarified. "I forgot to tell him to look for Shoto and the rest! What an idiot!"
"You're not only looking for trouble, you also drag the rest with you. You're a giant magnet, brat." Gran Torino landed beside me, shaking his head at the stupidity. "You shouldn't be here either, but you already know that."
His angry look was not pleasant. However, I expected to receive that for my actions.
"As you already knew I would come, right?" Not seeing surprise on his face said everything I needed to know.
"A teacher knows his student's actions."
"Wise words. Where did you learn that?"
"Having to tolerate your actions, you insufferable brat."
"Ha! But you love me for it!" I pointed at him in mockery, for a moment forgetting that I was in a huge battle zone.
...Until All Might fell in front of us. Just like Mt. Lady who went through the same thing, apparently being hit by a pressure attack from the dangerous villain.
"Oh, God!" The few remaining buildings wouldn't survive such a body. "Have the people already evacuated?!"
Now I was scared. Innocent lives at stake is not a pretty thing for anyone.
"Was there even a warning about that? This was supposed to be discreet," Gran Torino began to float, signaling me to follow him. "If you're going to be here, you're going to be useful, hero Flashkicker!"
And you know things are bad when that man mentions you formally.
"I'll help!" All Might tried to imitate our actions, but All For One prevented him, sending debris to hold him back.
"You will die here," the villain calmly replied, forming a pressure ball between his hands.
(That was a reference to Broly!) The thought remained as that, a simple curious thought to cut the tension of it all.
The good thing about a giant being is how gravity works on it. The bad thing... it's super heavy.
I shot a Blackwhip for each finger, stretching each one as much as possible to form a net that would cover its vital points. I thought it would be simple, just empowering One For All to match the weight... but I was wrong.
It hurt like hell!
"Just hold on a little longer!" Gran Torino shouted to me in the distance, with a wounded Tiger entering the building to examine him as soon as possible.
(I'm trying... damn it!) I gritted my teeth in pain. Not even all the training I had done forced me to hold so much dead weight at once. (I'll raise One For All to 50%. That should be enough.)
I had managed lower powers than 40% throughout the night, wanting to avoid unnecessary tension in my body until it was necessary.
And now it was very necessary...
The warmth of the energy flowing through every muscle was a unique blessing, almost to the point of numbing my mind because of it.
Maybe in numbers, you can't really appreciate it, but once you reach the threshold referred to as half the total power, things change, and a lot.
It's simply like overcoming a huge gap in a single leap. That's how unique and fascinating it is. Said detail fed the idea that a percentage was not correct as a measure. The numbers were too square for a power like One For All.
"Alright! You can let her fall now!" Torino's exclamation was enough for me to deactivate the employed Whips, feeling the tingling in my fingers from the tension suffered.
The heroine ended up landing, crushing two more buildings on the way and... returning to her normal height upon completely touching the ground.
"Is this some kind of revenge for my comments?" I asked no one in particular with frustration. Even One For All was amused by it.
Still, it was when I observed the ruins of the demolished apartments that the speech died. I expected to see more destruction, and in fact, there was.
But I didn't want to see civilians crying for having open wounds or for the simple terror they felt. No... that did hurt me to the soul.
The true suffering of others... the uncertainty and empathy it brings with it. I had never seen it firsthand. Now I wish I had never done so.
For the first time, being a hero felt heavy.
Because no one should suffer in that way. In my simple thought, I thought I understood that... but I didn't.
And for the first time... I felt legitimate anger against someone from here, not one born from experiences linked to me.
No... it was anger born from impotence.
Author's Note:
Hey.
How was the chapter?
I wrote it a bit hastily, because the exam week began, and I wanted to publish this to disappear in peace. So, let me know of any spelling errors.
Pray for my soul in that regard. The real challenges are coming for your humble author.
Many things happened in the chapter, and I'm proud not to have collapsed because of them. I hated having so many characters on the battlefield; I simply couldn't imagine everyone acting at once.
On the other hand, writing the great All For One is great. I love the villain, and facing him against the good Midoriya excites me quite a bit.
At the same time, having the MC interact with Bakugo after so long was nice to write. The next in the list of developments is the explosive blond, so preparing the foundations helps a lot.
And in the process, I gave him a true reason to detest All For One, not born from the manga itself or his need to live. He just needed to see the true misfortune for that.
A good price, I think.
Anyway, now it's time to update the other stories when I have time. It's been three weeks of only updating this work.
Take care, see you.