I inhaled and exhaled, suddenly breathless at the terrifying gaze All Might was giving. A general oppression emanated in the area, causing me to instinctively step back, ceding the place to the one who rightfully belongs there by hierarchy.
In the animal kingdom, that translates into two simple words: "pack leader." The damn king had decided to act accordingly, and no one could respond against it.
A villain without limits is dangerous, but they don't take one thing into account. When they anger a hero, when they force them to cross their own ethics and morals... when they release those metaphorical shackles.
That's when things get resolved. There are no longer intangible disadvantages, only a longing to see the sworn enemy succumb.
And then, of course... there's us... the ones who end up in the crossfire.
"All Mi-Might..." I tried to get his attention, fearful of the man I had so many times dismissed as a "clueless idiot." I was afraid, more so than with All For One himself.
That pressure... feeling it without the typical justice in between... I could imagine what the King of Evil would do, but not Toshinori Yagi.
"Repeat that, All For One," ignoring the call, he continued to face the villain, his deep voice accentuating the implicit threat.
"Shigaraki Tomura is the grandson of your dear master," the villain replied with no trace of anything, confident in the classic routine between them. "Oh well... Tenko Shimura, if you wish to be close to him. More than that woman offered, of course."
(Shit! Shit! Shit!) I could only exchange glances, praying for silence. I would have preferred physical blows a thousand times over any emotional damage. "...Master..."
I looked at Gran Torino, hoping to see him be the voice of reason. It had been that way since I met him. Only he could...
"Be quiet, Young Midoriya," All Might cut off my words, without even offering a look of recognition.
But the authority released with simplicity, avoiding raising his voice, like a dangerous absolute control...
"Yes, for this once, do just that." The fact that even Torino agreed reaffirmed the point. I had nothing to do there. He used the same tone to express it, flat and powerful.
Those moments made it clear that they were student and teacher, not two different heroes in methodologies and rank.
"Still... you know, All Might... that I loathe you, as much as you do me?" The King of Evil, agile as always, continued the verbal attack. He knew that everything led to this point, and he would exploit that more than ever. "That's why I do this. I created the perfect opportunity for you to meet, and you beat him until he gave up, always smiling in triumph."
Toshinori's fists clenched tighter and tighter, simmering in silence. Time, that was the last thing needed for the conflict to erupt.
"Now tell me... where did your smile go?" In a crude imitation, he used his fingers to force a smile, knowing how horrifying it looked among so much scar tissue. "It's strange to see you without it."
He breathed deeply, feigning a fleeting calm in the face of all that was revealed. Every muscle abandoned the accumulated tension, even seeming to lose shape for an instant.
But those of us surrounding the man could see the reality. It was a premonition, like a small wave that anticipated the large one.
And without a buried civilian screaming for help, saving that morality that so heroically characterized Toshinori Yagi...
Only anger was left exposed.
All Might disappeared, swift at terrifying levels. Everything around him sank under the pressure of the movement, like a concentrated earthquake.
I lost my balance, falling to the ground at the released power. My eyes were wide open, witnessing the broken limits of the strongest man. None of this happened originally, and I was pained to admit that of all things... I had never considered an enraged Symbol of Peace.
All For One had no chance. Before he could even do anything, he was hit. His face was buried in the hard rock, followed by Toshinori's enraged shout.
"Scum! Disgusting scum! I lost my master because of you!..." Another blow followed the previous one, increasing the depth of the attack. "I lost friends because of you! Hours and hours as a hero! You have no one's forgiveness!"
His blue eyes, dark but kind pools, were different. They no longer offered comfort, only powerful and dangerous anger at the mercy of an enraged man.
"We have to do something!" I shouted to Gran Torino over the strong winds generated. Even breathing was becoming difficult. There was no logical sense to what was happening.
From each finger, a Blackwhip was extended, keeping each of us firmly on the ground. Otherwise, we would already be buried in some unfortunate pile of rubble.
The veteran hero remained silent, his gaze as impassive as ever. That annoyed me greatly. Everything was going to hell!
"Hey...!"
"Wait a moment, boy!"
The shout stopped me, and I was surprised by it. If there was a hidden plan to win... I wasn't seeing it.
The hurricane-force winds ceased, allowing us to catch our breath... ironically. Each Blackwhip disappeared, revealing several cuts in the resistant fabric of the suit I was wearing.
The vibrant red had become a more opaque one, almost matching the dark parts. It was a shame. If I survived, I would give the design a change.
"What kind of idea do you have?! Aren't you the one who always forces me to think logically?!" Walking carefully among the scattered debris, I confronted Gran Torino, hiding the fear I felt with annoyance. "All Might doesn't have much time! And you...!"
He didn't let himself be intimidated and, using his Quirk, hit my face, causing me to fall to the ground. Stunned by that, I didn't react. I really... didn't understand anything.
"If Shigaraki were to kill your mother and then throw it in your face, what kind of answer would you give?" Holding the collar of my suit, he questioned, his voice flat despite everything, hiding the hatred he felt within himself. "I'm aware of how bad this is, and as a hero, I recognize that I must act..."
He released his grip, allowing me to lower my gaze in contemplation of what was questioned. What right did I have to demand when I was the most receptive to these things? Tomura himself had threatened with it once, and I had acted in consequence. All Might was not very different from me in that aspect.
"...But as a teacher, I am looking out for Toshinori, who at this very moment is venting years of anxiety and pain," he continued to explain, oblivious to the internal thought I had. His eyes never left the one-sided battle that All Might was waging. "If I allow him to continue to hold back those emotions, then I will have failed completely."
I understood the feeling a little. Gran Torino was tied in many ways to the situation, both past and present. I couldn't help but remember Izuku, asking me to be a good hero. Maybe the exact situations weren't the same, but they made us part of something bigger. And in the process, we ended up forming bonds, ending up completely anchored.
Maybe it's something inevitable, or we just need to be a little more insensitive, but... what's the fun in living like a cold idiot who only seeks to please himself? Feelings exist for a reason.
"I understand... at least I think so," I replied in a low voice, raising my gaze to face the man. "However, I refuse to allow All Might to battle alone."
I activated One For All, feeling again the warmth of the power running through my body. Green lightning crackled in agreement, begging to give one last round to release the energy they still held.
"Sounds perfect to me. It's your turn, after all." He patted my shoulder, offering a hand so I could stand up. "The relief arrived earlier than expected, but I think you're ready."
I looked at him with doubt, not accepting the meaning that I presumed those words brought. I had tried to hear that so many times that... it seemed unreal.
"'He who is incapable of leading his own battles has no business being on the field in the first place'," he recited without any problem, completely remembering the phrase he had heard that same afternoon. "You told me that, so I congratulate you, boy... you're fit for the big battles."
I smiled, grateful for the vote of confidence. It meant a lot coming from the man who rectified the path for me to follow.
"I won't fail you." Nor did I want to or could I. Victory was mandatory.
With that thought in mind, I moved across the battlefield. It wasn't hard to locate the Symbol of Peace, who was in a totally aggressive hand-to-hand combat with All For One.
Neither of them was holding anything back, and that could be noticed. From the hero's side, steam was coming out, a result of the little time he had left. The villain, on the other hand, had his most powerful Quirks active, allowing him to counter the swift attacks.
All Might tilted his head slightly, avoiding a terrifying punch and returning it with one of his own, which connected squarely with All For One's face.
The King of Villains stepped back, which I took advantage of without hesitation to connect my own kick on the affected area.
"Shot Style: St. Louis Smash!" I didn't hold anything back in it, and the effects were noticeable, causing the Symbol of Evil to end up falling on himself. (I owed him that for the beginning.)
Satisfied, I shot an air bullet at the ground, using it as a boost to spin and land gracefully.
"Young Midoriya! This is...!" He tried to explain himself, but I instantly rejected any argument. I walked until I was by his side and pointed to the steam surrounding him.
"Look at your state, and then you can complain!" I raised my gaze, matching in fierceness the blue eyes that were observing in response. "You have little time left, and you haven't finished the fight. I understand your actions, but... this must end now."
I didn't let myself be intimidated by the silence. I knew he understood the consequences. Unlike many, he didn't end up completely trapped in the anger that surrounded his feelings.
He just needed a grounding wire to be able to concentrate on what was important, as in another time and story, it was that woman trapped in the rubble.
"This is your retirement, Symbol of Peace. Don't stain it because of a genocidal maniac." He averted his gaze, analyzing the recovering villain. That dangerous aura he emanated was no longer so strong.
"I'm sorry, Young Midoriya. It seems I'm a terrible teacher," he conceded, smiling sadly at the weight of his actions and those he didn't get to cause.
"Don't say such nonsense. I've had enough with Gran Torino and his speech. Now, how about we win as we should?" Toshinori let out a laugh in response, nodding in my direction.
The proud smile he always wore had returned, a faithful witness that despite everything, even in the worst of endings, one must still fight for what is right.
"Great words! Let's see how much effect they really have!" All For One rose, allowing me to see firsthand how disgusting it is to wield so many powers at once.
It was threatening, without a doubt, but...
"That's the real 'Wanker'," I let out the comment, incredulously, something unconscious that was born naturally. It wasn't until moments later that I registered what I had said.
One For All reacted before everyone else, releasing erratic flows of energy. I supposed it was laughing.
All Might followed, not holding back in the slightest to hide his amusement.
And... what could I do? Other than laugh nervously for having casually mocked a villain whose record knew no end.
"I-I'm sorry! I really didn't mean to say that!"
I really didn't. Doing it was worth it now that I heard everyone laughing.
"You... are pathetic." However, he maintained his calm facade, raising the mutated arm he had. "Now, die once and for all."
He descended abruptly, aiming for the head of the closest to strike, and as it happens... that was me.
The Danger Sense exploded completely, making me act instantly. With a single jump, I avoided the blow, waiting for the involuntary descent.
And that didn't come either.
(And this?!) I admired what was happening, trying and failing to maintain control. My body was gravitating on its own, making me spin on my own axis. (I'm getting dizzy.)
I was upside down, observing All Might's astonished gaze, whose laughter had long since ended due to the shock. The King of Evil just levitated from the very hole he had formed, not at all impressed by what he felt.
"So Shimura makes an appearance. How ironic," from his hand, deformed black whips with red lines shot out. The target was clear. "One For All is getting more and more curious, almost as much as its wielder."
I sent my own Blackwhips, keeping each one stuck to the ground. With them, I began to maneuver. My body was heavy, a product of the gravity I was facing.
"All Might! A little help over here!" Avoiding the friction, I managed to shout, forcing the hero to act and offer a hand. (Why now? What do you gain with this? You're putting us at risk!)
He didn't answer. The energy continued to flow without problems. His silence didn't please me. Whenever he did that, it was in the service of something much greater.
Toshinori came out of his stupor, moving quickly to hit the villain, although the attack ended up not arriving, being avoided and responded to with a greater one.
That was unproductive, but it freed me from the annoying Whips, allowing me to try to regain control again.
However, before I could even make the effort... I fell unceremoniously to the ground, hitting my head to make everything worse.
"Ouch! That... hurt." It was during the complaint that I discovered the culprit for that. Rather, his absence.
One For All, in just an instant... had completely disappeared.
It didn't deactivate, nor did it diminish... It simply wasn't there.
I felt empty, lacking something vital, as if an arm had been amputated, or worse. The curious thing was that, being a transmigrant, knowing what "normality" is in a human... worsened the feeling.
(How did I live so long like this?) It seemed that they had hit where it hurt the most, knocking the wind out of me brutally.
"Uh?... What does this mean?" All For One stopped, genuine interest shining in his voice at the unknown.
I looked at the villain, terrified. Now I really had no chance to battle. I was destined to die from any angle.
Did One For All no longer exist? Did my... very existence cause that? Was being here a mistake?
Before I could start having the clear panic attack I was having... it returned.
Like a beacon of bright light, incredibly warm and powerful, completing that missing part that I had taken for granted.
The whole situation didn't last more than a few seconds, but they were certainly eternal... and horrible.
"It-it's back," I clenched my hands, raising as much energy as possible. I wanted to make sure it was still there. "Thank God, I was shitting my pants."
I raised my gaze again, facing the villain with seriousness. No one could do such a thing, except who by chance can take away Quirks at will.
...Or Aizawa for that matter, but I'm not taking him into account right now.
"How did you do that? Can you nullify others' powers too?" I wouldn't be surprised. I was in front of the guy with more Gifts than years lived.
He didn't answer anything, too absorbed in whatever thought was circling in his head.
"...No, it was internal," he confirmed after hesitating, retracting the deformed dark Whips. "Tell me something..."
I arched both eyebrows, allowing all of One For All to flow to its maximum bearable capacity. I had no interest in answering any question he had.
"Why should I answer you?" I separated my legs slightly, flexing each arm to get a comfortable combat stance.
I was tired, both physically and mentally. I just wanted to sleep and take it one day at a time.
God... the things one does to be a hero.
"You are not Izuku Midoriya." And with those words... all fatigue left my body. "Nothing adds up. The way you move, speak... act in general. You are another person leading a life that is not yours."
I breathed, once and again, seeking to calm any nerve before it even appeared. My posture faltered for an instant, but without hesitation, I corrected that.
"...But One For All does not lie, and that displeases me. You have become unpredictable, whoever you are," he stretched his arms, a clear warning that he would attack soon. "I have foreseen many outcomes. I had one that I considered suitable for winning... It's a shame. I will have to take a different path."
The warning didn't lie. He moved at high speeds towards me, raising his right arm to connect the biggest possible punch. So, without hesitation, I responded, increasing the established power to match the punch.
Both of us connected attacks, and the place was destroyed even more because of it. The sleeves of my suit were practically nonexistent, yielding to the raw pressure.
I gritted my teeth in pain. I was starting to lose ground.
(Just... a little more!) The energy flowed like a waterfall, so much so that it overflowed every part of my being. My body released ever-larger bolts of lightning, illuminating the meeting area a little.
"Impressive, no doubt. You've surpassed the Symbol of Peace." His praise was hollow. He seemed entertained by the combat being waged. "It will be a great challenge for Tomura."
He smiled with cynical approval, easily winning the exchange of forces. I screamed as I felt my body being harshly sent rolling on the hard rock of the place.
Bleeding cuts opened up, one in particular causing the vision in my left eye to be obstructed. It didn't even matter; I could barely breathe.
With effort, I managed to get on my back. The dust-covered sky greeted what was left. In the distance, the glare of the helicopter was visible. They were still trying to enter the war zone.
I heard screams behind me, blows and falls, each one further away than the last.
(I hate this... but... it could have been worse... I guess.) I closed my eyes to rest. A big mistake. My eyelids were too heavy. (And what if... I stop trying?... What value does all this have? It will end up exactly the same.)
In retrospect, I hadn't achieved any change. It was pathetic, quite a bit, to be honest. I was never made to be a hero or anything similar for that matter.
I'm a failure. I just had to get extremely hurt to discover it. Worthy of an idiot.
And then they say that...
"Become the next Symbol of Peace and make everyone proud!"
Huh... is this...?
"...Be a great hero, Izuku Midoriya, and... be happy."
A memory, wow... it seems like it was yesterday when...
"Hey Mom, I... am I a hero?"
...
"You don't have to answer anyway. I found my old notebooks about heroes, and I still can't get the idea out of my head."
"Izuku... of course you're a hero."
...
"...Why do you believe that with such certainty?"
"I don't need reasons to believe it. I just know it, and nothing and no one can change that. Besides, you're my son. No matter the reason or circumstance, my number one priority is you."
Inko... how could I have forgotten her? I had been trying to survive for her in the first place.
"Sometimes we just need a friend to change our present, allowing us to stop thinking about the future to improve our 'now'."
That was... reflective, definitely.
"Wow... I... you really won this time, Shoto."
"The future depends on the present, Izuku. So master your present, and you will have won the future."
He's right! Damn it! What the hell am I doing?!
I started to cough, trying to release the pressure I felt in my lungs. Dirt and blood filtered out equally at that, disgusting but necessary.
Belatedly, I noticed that my right arm was broken. It was extremely swollen, and that dark purple color didn't complement it in the slightest.
It hurt... yes... but the adrenaline was doing its job well.
(It was you... wasn't it? Those memories were lucid and specific, too much for someone in my state.) One For All gave a positive response, distributing warm and protective energy. (Thanks... and I'm sorry. I won't give up like that again.)
I walked slowly across the battlefield, trying to get closer to the epicenter of it all. Observing my surroundings, I couldn't see Gran Torino. Worried, I quickened my pace, limping on a rather nasty wound on my left leg.
The annoying ringing I had been feeling from the beginning didn't go away either, buzzing like a constant to remind me of the tense situation.
Dust dispersed slightly, allowing me to observe the worn and defeated form of All Might, who, like me... was at his last.
I was glad to see that All For One wasn't in a better state due to the attrition.
That caused me to quicken my pace... a grave mistake... the lack of balance caused me to fall to the ground, attracting the attention of the rest.
"Young Midoriya!" Instantly, Toshinori came to my aid, under the attentive and bored gaze of his nemesis.
Carefully, he managed to sit me among the rubble, acting as a defense against the little he could do.
"All Might... finish the fight. You can concentrate on helping me later." He didn't answer, but his doubtful gaze spoke for itself. "Please, Symbol of Peace, close this cycle and... allow the next generations to pass."
I smiled, an action contaminated by the wounds and blood that was filtering.
"Not just me... even the rest of the wielders are supporting you..." I offered my fist, green lightning surrounding it to highlight the message I was trying to convey. All Might took his time, but... in the end, he returned the gesture.
And to everyone's pleasant surprise... green and golden lightning danced in sync on the body of the now-muscular man.
"All Might, you are the number one!"
Powerful was his ascent, facing the last villain he would face to seal his retirement. He had returned to his best moments, those he once thought he had forgotten.
"All For One! This ends now!" Like a rocket, he shot off, faster and more confident than ever.
"...I've seen enough. Everything is in others' hands now." Shaking his head, the villain expressed, equaling the punch directed at his face and trembling with the effort.
He was going to use his remaining arm, but Blackwhips wrapped firmly around it, preventing its use. The same extended, trapping each leg and making him fall.
It was there that... everything culminated.
All Might took advantage of the offered advantage, winning the clash of forces and burying his fist in the face of the one who... caused so much damage.
"United States of... Smash!"
The surrounding debris and rocks were lifted without any problem, completely submerged in the shocking flow of power released.
The surrounding whirlwind of dust amazed me to the core. I never thought I would see something so glorious and so closely.
Only a battered but still conscious Gran Torino managed to get me out of there, avoiding being caught in that madness.
My eyes never left what was happening, allowing me to be a witness to how everything slowly calmed down, letting out a general sigh of relief.
"We won," were the only words Gran Torino expressed, too exhausted to add anything else.
He collapsed without strength, smiling in victory and breathing heavily.
"Yes... we did," I shared the emotion, more than anyone, I dared to say.
I took careful steps, wanting to be the first to discover the victorious figure of All Might. Far away were the remains of the metal mask that All For One wore, destroyed to unsalvageable points.
Around, calm quickly reigned, a event that was confirmed by the hurried reporters in search of understanding completely what had happened.
Flashes of cameras illuminated the devastated area, and soon... the dust settled enough to reveal Toshinori Yagi, in his civilian state, but standing.
His suit was destroyed, his gaze was tired but airy, his disheveled hair moving in the cold wind that accompanies the night.
He was a hero.
Slowly, he raised his hand, his index finger fully extended. Without looking, he pronounced what would probably be era-defining words.
"Now... it's your turn."
And it was with the sudden attention of everyone in the place that I knew.
From this point on... nothing would be the same.
Victory had been conceived. Only the consequences remained.
Author's Note:
Hey.
What did you think of this ending?
Don't you think it's ironic how everything was resolved specifically in the 40th chapter of this story?
Because I think so. There's no number more representative than that, and everything closes now. It's perfect.
Writing this was quite relaxing. I was able to finish something I had been working on for a few months now, and that takes a great weight off my shoulders.
The following interlude is important, quite so, in fact. There are consequences to explore and new paths to develop.
But each thing in its due time. There are other stories I must deal with first.
So it remains for me to say thank you. For having come this far and for continuing until the end. It's great to have such a dear community.
I hope you have a good new year.
Take care... see you.