Chapter 17: Ch 17: USJ Attack:Rising to the Occasion
Midoriya felt the rushing wind on his face and slowly opened his eyes. Pain shot through his midsection, and his body ached all over. Memories of the day's events flooded back. "USJ... everyone... wait, everyone!"
He looked up to see a man he didn't recognize carrying him on his shoulder. Panic surged within him as he began to struggle. "Let go! Let go of me!" His voice trembled, and he winced as a searing pain radiated from his side. He glanced down to see a small portion of his flesh decayed, exposing some of his muscle.
The man showed no sign of acknowledging Izuku's struggles, which only made him fight harder. Midoriya soon realized they were very high in the air. "What do you want from me?" he shouted, desperation creeping into his voice.
The masked man remained silent as he approached the ground.
"Are you with that guy? Kaine?" Izuku demanded, searching for answers.
Still no response.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" He could feel his heart racing, each beat echoing his fear.
The man finally landed, roughly tossing Izuku to the ground. Pain shot through him, causing him to groan. "Ow! What was—"
Before he could finish, he was grabbed by the shirt and slammed against a wall. To his shock, a Diamondhead crystal hand sharpened to his throat as the masked man removed his helmet, revealing a familiar face.
"Billions of beings on this planet, and the Omnitrix falls on the wrist of an over-eager fanboy, so desperate to emulate All Might that his blind admiration clouds his judgment," the mystery man said coldly.
Izuku struggled against the grip, his eyes wide with confusion. "All Might...? Omnitrix? How do you know about the Omnitrix?!"
"It's the most powerful device in the universe, and yet both the Omnitrix and One For All ended up in the hands of a boy whose admiration for All Might blinds him to his own potential and self-worth."
Izuku's eyes widened in realization. "T-The most powerful...?" His breath caught in his throat as he processed the implications.
"How do you know about One For All? You've been watching me! You and your friends!" His voice was a mix of anger and disbelief.
"Astute observation,"/" Tetrax replied, his tone unwavering.
"What the hell do you want from me?! Let go!" Midoriya shouted, his voice cracking with frustration.
"Why? So you can get yourself killed? I've never seen someone so blinded by admiration for another that it clouds their judgment and pushes them to try to be something they're not, nearly costing them their life."
"What are you talking about!? Let go!" Izuku shouted again, desperation leaking into his tone. In a burst of resolve, he attempted to activate his quirk, but Tetrax slammed him into the wall again, cutting him off.
"You have an arsenal of powerful forms at your disposal, the speed to shatter the sound barrier, and abilities that could incinerate an entire forest. With the power of All Might within you, you should have been able to handle those villains with ease."
"Let go! That thing was meant to fight All Might! Of course I didn't stand a chance! I have to go help my classmates anyway! I can't just sit here!" Izuku pleaded, his voice rising in panic.
"What are the Nomu's abilities?" Tetrax asked, his voice low and commanding.
"Let go!"
"What are his abilities?!" he pressed, his grip tightening.
Midoriya winced from the blade approaching his neck. "Sh-Shock absorption and... regeneration." Realization dawned on him, and he stopped struggling, sinking to his knees and clutching his head in despair. "I'm an idiot."
"Yes, you are a fool," Tetrax said bluntly.
"You have impressive analytical skills, capable of breaking down quirks from a distance, yet you chose Tetramand after the villains boasted about how their Nomu was designed to kill All Might—who, I should remind you, has strength and abilities similar to a Tetramand. This foolish choice only highlights how your admiration for him clouds your judgment." His tone was cold and unforgiving.
Izuku remained silent, unable to look him in the eyes, shame washing over him.
"You are not All Might," Tetrax stated bluntly. The words hit Izuku like a dagger, leaving him gasping.
The boy winced, feeling as though he'd been stabbed. "You will never be All Might."
Izuku closed his eyes, biting back tears as he fought against the overwhelming emotion.
Tetrax crouched to meet his gaze, his eyes piercing. "Will you remain a fool, stubbornly chasing after a man you can never become, or will you finally step up and become the hero you were meant to be?"
Izuku's heart raced as he processed Tetrax's words. "All Might didn't choose you to merely replicate his greatness; he chose you because he genuinely believed you had the potential to surpass him and carve your own path as a hero."
Tears welled up in Izuku's eyes as he considered the weight of Tetrax's statement.
"All Might has more faith in you than anyone else, confident that you will rise above him. Just as he surpassed his own master, he expects you to surpass him, but only if you can let go of your idolization."
"He envisioned you as a hero who would not only match him but exceed him, someone everyone could look up to for protection. He believed you could become Izuku Midoriya—the true you, not a mere imitation of him."
Izuku clenched his fists, a sense of understanding washing over him. The shame and despair he felt morphed into determination. Tetrax's words had broken through the fog of idolization, forcing him to confront the uncomfortable truth he had been avoiding. That All Might wasn't some untouchable God.
"He had faith that you would become your own hero—the one who would rise above All Might. Yet, it's clear he was mistaken. All I see before me is a boy who is too afraid to break free from the shadows of his admiration, squandering his own potential by trying to emulate a hero instead of becoming one in his own right."
As Tetrax's words echoed in his mind, a flood of memories washed over Izuku—his fanboy moments, each one now feeling like chains. He stared at the ground, Gran Torino's words ringing in his ears: "Your admiration for All Might are shackles."
Seeing the shift in Izuku, Tetrax stood up, his presence looming large.
"The main campus is under attack right now, and the pros are unlikely to arrive in time. By the time they get there, most of your friends will be lost. They need hope," Tetrax said bluntly, watching as Izuku's heart sank further.
"They're counting on All Might. But he isn't coming. So, what will you do, Izuku Midoriya? Will you remain that pathetic boy who clings to his admiration for All Might, or will you finally become Izuku Midoriya?"
Midoriya stood up, wiping the tears from his face. His head hung low, his hair falling like a curtain around him. After a moment, he raised his head, determination igniting within him. He brought his arm to his face and firmly pressed the button on the Omnitrix. The faceplate popped up, and Tetrax could see the intensity in the boy's eyes. It was a fire he recognized, reminiscent of someone he had seen before.
"The Nomu is a bio-engineered creation; it's neither human nor truly alive."
Izuku widened his eyes, still looking at the Omnitrix, a newfound resolve washing over him.
"Use that information as you see fit."
...
Iida lay helpless on the ground, every muscle in his body straining beneath the crushing weight of Rojo's boot. The cold metal of her blaster pressed harshly against his head, its barrel glowing with deadly intent. Rojo, a woman with wild crimson hair and eyes glinting with malice, sneered down at him.
"Aw, poor Tenya," she cooed mockingly. "Ingenium's little brother, huh? Damn, my lucky day! Your bastard of a brother shut down one of my operations years ago."
Iida's face twisted in rage as he struggled beneath her. "Let go, you heathen! And keep my brother's name out of your mouth!"
Rojo's grin widened, her voice dripping with sadistic glee. "Aw, come on, Tenya. We were just getting to know each other. That bastard's gonna lose his mind when he sees his little brother's corpse."
Iida's heart pounded in his chest as the blaster began to glow a searing red. His pulse thundered in his ears, and time seemed to slow down. His life flashed before his eyes—memories of his family, his friends, his brother who he idolized. Kamakiri, watching nearby, clenched his fists, his jaw tight with helplessness as he turned his face away, unable to witness the impending execution.
Then, without warning—SMASH!
A deafening crack filled the air, and before Rojo could pull the trigger, Fasttrack shot onto the scene like a bullet, his fist slamming into her midsection with enough force to shatter her armor. The impact sent her hurtling backward, gasping in shock as she hit the ground hard. Not stopping for even a second, Fasttrack twisted with lightning speed, landing a brutal kick to her face. The sound of bone crunching filled the air as her head snapped back, her body slamming into the dirt.
Before anyone could react, Fasttrack became a blur once more, darting toward the other three villains. They had barely enough time to register his presence before he tore through them, his fists and feet a whirlwind of blows that left them crumpled on the ground in a matter of seconds.
The three students stood frozen, their expressions wide with disbelief. Fasttrack's speed was inhuman, his body crackling with blue electricity as he darted away, leaving them momentarily stunned.
He reappeared with explosive force, tearing toward the massive doors of the USJ. His fist reeled back, the wind around him warping with the velocity.
BOOM!
"Super Sonic Smash!" Fasttrack roared as his fist collided with the towering metal doors. The sheer power of the punch sent the doors flying off their hinges with a thunderous crash. They shot across the room, tearing through the air like missiles as the entrance to the USJ was blown open. The sound reverberated like an earthquake, dust and debris swirling in a thick cloud that cloaked the battlefield.
The entire room fell into an eerie silence, all eyes drawn to the entrance as the dust settled.
"Wha-What was that?!" Ashido stammered, her voice trembling with shock.
"Only one thing can move that fast..." Bakugou muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
As the dust cleared, Fasttrack's eyes took in the scene, and horror twisted his features. Everything seemed to slow as he absorbed the devastation around him.
Kirishima and Tetsutetsu lay in bloody heaps, their bodies battered and broken. Todoroki was slumped against the wall, his breath ragged, frost clinging to his skin as the effects of his own ice quirk threatened to push him into unconsciousness. Shoji, Sero, and Sato were strewn about, blood seeping from deep gashes on their heads, their forms barely stirring.
His gaze snapped to Kinoko Komori, pinned beneath a sneering villain, her face contorted with fear as she struggled against her attacker. All around, villains had regrouped and were now pressing their advantage against the weakened young heroes, locking them in desperate combat.
Bakugou stood defiantly, blood pouring from his mouth and his left hand hanging limp and broken at his side. His breath came in furious pants, yet even in this state, his eyes still burned with defiance. Tokoyami had Dark Shadow fully unleashed, but it wavered, barely holding its shape as exhaustion bore down on its wielder. Ojiro lay motionless on the ground, his tail twitching weakly.
Monoma, blood dripping from a wound on his forehead, was leaning heavily on Tsubaraba, who was desperately dragging him away from the carnage, both trying to stay conscious.
And amidst the chaos, the sickening sound of Shigaraki's laughter echoed across the battlefield, his voice twisted with manic glee. He stood at the center of the destruction, watching the suffering unfold like it was a personal symphony.
...
As time resumed, Kinoko Komori began to sob uncontrollably, her voice trembling as the snake-like villain loomed over her.
"N-No, p-please don't..." she whimpered, her brown bobbed hair shaking with fear as she felt the villain's scaly hand creep under her skirt. His cold, twisted fingers found her panties, and with a sharp yank, he tore them away. Kinoko gasped in horror, tears streaming down her cheeks, her entire body trembling. She squeezed her eyes shut, praying for it to stop, her friends powerless to help.
The villain leaned in closer, a wicked grin spreading across his reptilian features. "Don't worry, missy. It'll all be—"
CRACK!
Before he could finish his sentence, something moved with blinding speed, a blur of motion too fast for the eye to catch. The villain was violently wrenched away, his body folding in on itself as a knee slammed into his gut with incredible force. The impact was so devastating that he was sent flying, crashing into the ground with a bone-shattering thud, blood pouring from his shattered nose.
Kinoko, still lying on the ground, found herself back in her original spot before she could even process what had happened. She blinked, disoriented, her mind reeling as the world around her spun.
In that same instant, chaos erupted across the battlefield. The villains, who moments ago had been terrorizing the young heroes, were now being struck down one after another. It was impossible to tell what was happening—one second a villain stood ready to attack, and the next they were sent hurtling through the air, their bodies contorted from unseen punches and kicks.
THUD! CRACK! BAM!
The sounds of bones breaking and bodies slamming into the ground filled the air, but none of the students could keep up with the speed of the attacks. It was as if the villains were being jerked around like ragdolls, assaulted by an invisible force.
From his spot, Shigaraki's grin only grew wider as he watched the carnage unfold. "Ah, seems the boss has finally made his entrance," he mused, scratching at his neck with manic delight. His eyes shifted toward the plaza, where the students were suddenly vanishing, whisked away in the blink of an eye.
One moment, the battlefield was filled with struggling heroes; the next, they were simply... gone.
Todoroki blinked in confusion, his breath still coming in cold, visible puffs as he fought against his quirk's dangerous effects. One second he was surrounded by chaos, and the next—he was at the main plaza.
"Woah! How did we get here?!" Sero exclaimed, his head whipping around in shock. He gingerly touched the bandages wrapped around his head, still woozy from the blood loss.
"I-I don't know..." Todoroki muttered, his eyes wide, scanning the area for answers. He was just as bewildered, his injured arm limp at his side, still recovering from the frost that had numbed his body.
Students began to glance around, bewildered. One by one, they realized they had all been moved to the plaza—Tetsutetsu, still battered and bloody, blinked slowly in confusion. Sato, his face covered in blood and sweat, groaned in pain as he stumbled to his feet, looking dazed. Shoji and Sero exchanged looks of disbelief, while Rin and Kaibara, both injured, struggled to make sense of how they had been teleported.
From their perspective, it was as if the world had flickered for a split second. One heartbeat, they were in the midst of battle, and the next, they found themselves safe, pulled from the chaos as though by an unseen hand.
"Did... did we just get teleported?" Rin rasped, clutching his side, his voice weak from his injuries.
"All Might," Todoroki muttered, realization dawning on him. "He moved us... all of us, he's the only who can move this fast."
Bakugou glanced toward the gigantic doors that had been blown off their hinges, his vision blurred slightly from the blood seeping into his eyes. His voice rasped with frustration, "And the only one who's strong enough to blow off those damn doors."
The blur that tore through villain after villain felt almost unreal, a force of nature flinging them like ragdolls, each impact accompanied by a bone-crunching sound that echoed through the plaza. Tension filled the air, a glimmer of hope mingled with the fear they'd been trying to suppress.
Mina's hands trembled as she wiped the tears from her eyes, her voice coming out shaky, "A-All Might?" she whispered, the uncertainty and desperation evident in her tone. She wanted so badly to believe that their savior had arrived, but fear gripped her heart.
Beside her, Toru's form flickered faintly, her outline barely visible. Her voice was laced with fear as she whispered, "Midoriya... where is he?" She wrung her hands, the anxiety building in her chest as the dust continued to obscure the figure.
Mineta, clutching onto his head, echoed in disbelief, "All Might...?" his small form shaking, caught between hope and the sinking dread that maybe it wasn't him after all.
"Ribbit," Tsuyu murmured softly, her heart swelling with a fragile hope. She prayed the man who had saved them time and again would be the one to rescue Izuku too, the fear of what was happening to him gnawing at her heart.
Ochako's chest heaved with emotion, the weight of her fear crashing down on her. She gripped her chest tightly, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes. "All Might... Dekiru... he was taken... I don't know where they took him," she cried out, her voice breaking as the thought of Izuku's suffering hit her like a punch to the gut.
Mina wiped at her tears, struggling to hold herself together. "P-Please, stop these villains and save him..." she begged, her voice barely above a whisper, clinging to the hope that someone could rescue Izuku.
"Damn nerd..." Bakugou muttered bitterly, his voice low and raspy, frustration etched into every word. He hated feeling powerless, hated that they were in this situation.
The tension was shattered by the sound of a slow, condescending clap. Shigaraki's hollow laughter echoed through the chaos. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the final boss, All Might," he sneered, his voice laced with mockery. "We tore through your little student raid party, left them in critical condition. There was a mini-boss here too, but he's probably dead. Shame we couldn't show him your corpse."
But then, through the cloud of dust, a voice cut through the tension, strong and familiar. "Sorry..."
Everyone froze, their hearts racing. As the dust cloud began to settle, the unmistakable figure of Izuku Midoriya appeared, panting heavily, his body battered but still standing. The green glow around him flickered with determination.
Bakugou's eyes widened in rage, while everyone else widened in relief.
"All Might isn't here... will I do instead?" Izuku's voice, though strained, carried the resolve of someone who refused to give up.
The weight of those words crashed over them, and the flood of relief finally hit.
Mina's eyes widened in shock, tears spilling over uncontrollably.
"Midoriya...!"
Her voice cracked as the overwhelming sense of relief washed over her, her body trembling with emotion. Toru, nearly invisible beside her, let out a sob of disbelief.
"M-Midoriya, you're... you're okay..." she whispered, her body shaking as she tried to process the relief that he was still alive.
Ochako's sobs finally broke free, her whole body shaking as the tears flowed uncontrollably.
"D-Dekiru..." she choked out, unable to stop herself from crying at the sight of him, alive and still fighting.
Tsuyu, who had been gripping onto the hoodie she wore, clung to it even tighter, the tears falling silently as she looked at Izuku, her usual calm shattered. "Midoriya..." she whispered, her heart swelling as relief washed over her.
Even Yui, who was usually so composed, felt her tears spill over. She blinked rapidly, her stoic expression cracking as she stared at Izuku in disbelief.
"You're... alive," she whispered.
Kirishima, too injured to open his swollen eyes, let out a faint chuckle, his voice weak but full of pride. "That's..Class rep..." he rasped, his unbreakable spirit flickering through the pain.
Tetsutetsu groaned beside him, equally bloodied, but a grin spread across his face. "Now... That's Manly..." he muttered through labored breaths.
The students' voices, all filled with relief, overlapped as they cried out for Izuku.
"Dekiru!"
"M-Midoriya!"
"Deku..." Bakugou growled out.
Shigaraki, however, remained unimpressed, raising an eyebrow. "The mini-boss returns? How boring," he muttered, though a flicker of curiosity crossed his face as he eyed Izuku.
Izuku turned to his friends, offering a reassuring smile to let them know he was okay. But when he faced the villains, his expression shifted into something sharper—focused, dangerous. Full Cowl crackled to life around him, arcs of green electricity flickering over his body as the air itself seemed to hum with his power.
"Wait, Midoriya—!" Kendo shouted, noticing his injuries as she tried to grab him. But Izuku was already gone, rocketing forward toward the villains with an intensity that left his classmates stunned.
Shigaraki, bored, waved a hand lazily at Nomu. "Nomu, kill those brats."
His brain pulsed from its exposed skull, throbbing with each beat like a living machine, and his beady eyes gleamed with animalistic rage, as it's lifeless eyes shifted to Izuku.
Izuku leapt into the air, pressing the button on his Omnitrix. The faceplate flipped up, and a bright green glow enveloped him. A holographic shot up to life. Izuku's voice rang out across the battlefield.
"If you want to kill my friends, you'll have to go through me!"
He slammed his hand down on the Omnitrix, and a blinding flash of green light erupted, engulfing his body. Shigaraki looked over, intrigued, just as the transformation completed.
"Ampfibian!" Izuku shouted, his voice charged with resolve as his body transformed, electricity snapping around him with an intensity that blistered the air.
At 8% of One For All, Ampfibian's alien body surged with raw, contained power—his dark, slick skin sparked with arcs of blue and green lightning, while translucent fins glowed, shimmering with energy. His tentacle-like limbs pulsed with electricity as he hovered above the ground, the energy scorching the earth beneath him.
The Nomu lunged, an unnatural blur of muscle and metal, its hulking body a twisted collage of scarred tissue and exposed metal grafts. Its clawed arms flexed, preparing to tear through anything in its path. But Ampfibian's glare was cold, his body charging like a coiled storm ready to unleash. With a thunderous snap, a bolt of combined green and blue lightning shot forward, slamming into the Nomu's chest with precision.
Nomu's body seized, muscles locking in agony as the electric strike pulsed through its frame. Its limbs spasmed uncontrollably, the blackened skin around the impact site smoking as it fell to the ground, screeching in unfiltered pain.
Ampfibian's gaze hardened, and he intensified his power, unleashing an electrified maelstrom across the battlefield. Tendrils of lightning whipped through the air, searing the landscape with scorch marks, the very ground trembling from the force.
Nearby, Shigaraki staggered backward, eyes wide as the lightning struck him too, his mouth contorting in a scream that echoed through the area. Beside him, Kurogiri's dark mist flickered, the edges of his form distorting and revealing the faint outline of pale skin beneath as he fought to maintain his shape. Several other villains, previously unconscious, writhed on the ground, their faces twisted in agony as the electrified shockwaves radiated out from Ampfibian.
"Keep pushing back!" Ampfibian's voice boomed, resonating with an electrifying determination. But the Nomu, defying all reason, began to push against the storm. Its exposed brain pulsed with strange resilience, and its heavy, clawed arms twitched and trembled as it struggled to rise, and it's eyes darted wildy
Mineta, shielding his face, peeked through the electrified storm, eyes widening. "Man... this is insane..." he muttered, barely able to tear his gaze away.
Bakugou, though struggling to stay upright, growled, his voice rough with resentment. "Deku... you damn bastard..."
Even Todoroki, usually calm and collected, stood in awe, his focus unbroken as the electrified maelstrom raged around him, lighting up the darkness with each pulse.
As the storm finally subsided, Ampfibian's form hovered above the ground, electricity still crackling faintly along his tentacle-like arms and fins. The Nomu lay twitching, the exposed brain throbbing, with its hulking body struggling to recover, the residual electricity seizing its muscles with aftershocks.
...
As the electric storm faded, Ampfibian descended gracefully, arcs of residual energy crackling over his form, leaving scorch marks etched into the ground beneath him.
The Nomu lay twitching in the aftermath, its massive body jerking as lingering spasms rippled through its limbs, struggling to recover from the sheer intensity of the attack. The creature's exposed brain pulsed erratically, clearly overwhelmed.
Around them, scorch marks seared into the battlefield marked where nearby villains had been caught in the assault, their singed clothes and trembling forms showing the reach of Ampfibian's power.
Lowering himself to the ground, Ampfibian touched the Omnitrix with a glowing tentacle, and in a flash of green light, Izuku returned. Though visibly exhausted, he stood tall, breathing heavily yet resolute.
The battlefield was silent, save for the faint crackling of dissipating energy, as his classmates stared in amazement, awe written across every face.
...
"Dekiru..." Ochako whispered, clutching her chest tightly.
Manga's head shifted, his speech bubble proudly displaying, "Incredible..."
Kinoko's eyes were wide, her face frozen as she watched Izuku. "S-Shroom..."
Manga's bubble morphed again, reading, "I can use my quirk to generate electricity... but nothing like that." His expression changed to awe. "My 'Volta' sounds don't even come close to the power he just unleashed."
"Stay focused," Shoji warned, his eyes still on the recovering Nomu. "That attack took out most of the villains, but that Nomu... it's still standing."
The Nomu twitched erratically, muscles spasming and limbs trembling as it slowly pushed itself off the ground. Burnt, charred skin flaked off in pieces, revealing patches of fresh tissue beneath. Its eyes, unfocused for a moment, refocused on Izuku with an unyielding, hungry glare.
Ochako took a step forward, her eyes wide with worry. "How's Dekiru supposed to beat that thing?"
Monoma, leaning against a wall and breathing heavily, nodded with a grimace. "That thing's no joke. It took down Kirishima and Tetsutetsu with a single punch."
Nearby, both Tetsutetsu and Kirishima lay crumpled, their hardened skin cracked and bloody. Dark bruises marred their bodies, and blood pooled beneath them from where their defenses had shattered on impact.
"It could've killed any one of us whenever it wanted," Juzo muttered, his voice thick with anger.
"The hand villain's been toying with us," Todoroki's tone was cold, his eyes narrowed as frustration flickered in his expression. "He's trying to break us before going for the kill."
"Damn bastard I'm gonna teach him a lesson, no one fucking toys with me." Bakugou said.
"Then how's Midoriya going to beat that thing?" Toru asked, hugging Mina tightly, her invisible body trembling.
"Todoroki!" Izuku's voice rang out sharply. The others turned to see him standing tall, despite the fierce glow radiating from his determined eyes.
"I need you to create a huge ice dome! Encircle me and the Nomu—quick!" Izuku called out, eyes never leaving the towering figure of the Nomu. He raised his arm and pressed the button of the Omnitrix and twisted the dial
Todoroki paused, visibly confused, but nodded, readying himself.
Without hesitation, Izuku slammed his hand onto the Omnitrix, and in an instant, a green flash erupted around him, and in the next, the towering form of Heatblast took his place.
Shigaraki, his body still twitching and jerking uncontrollably, let out a furious, guttural scream. His limbs convulsed, his muscles seizing with residual energy as he staggered, fingers twitching wildly. As he looked at the alien in anger, disbelief and murderous intentm
"Nomu! Kill that mini-boss! Crush him—rip him apart!" His voice rose into a shrill, trembling pitch, his expression filled with manic frustration. "Who is this kid?!" he raged, his face twisting as if he were fighting to keep his limbs under control. "He's cheating! Cheating! He copied master! How can he be like master?! This doesn't make any sense!"
Kurogiri, still flickering from the aftershocks, trembled at Shigaraki's side. Wisps of black mist sparked and dissipated erratically, his form unstable and his usual composure fractured. "How...how can a human possess such Quirks? This is unheard of..." He's yellow eyes stared at Heatblast.
Heatblast took a single step forward, the ground beneath him hissing as his feet left faint scorch marks.
His green flames flickered with an otherworldly brightness as he locked his fiery gaze on the twitching Nomu, the heat radiating from him causing the air to shimmer.
...
Heatblast paused in midair, the green flames coursing across his body, crackling as they flared brighter, more intense.
The air around him shimmered from the heat, distorting the space between him and his enemies. Slowly, he turned toward Shigaraki, his molten gaze narrowing beneath the burning green fire of his head.
"You said this thing was bioengineered, right?" His voice was low, simmering with fury, as the flames around him pulsed with his anger.
Kurogiri widened his eyes in realization. "Wait, Tomura–"
"Yeah, what of it?" Shigaraki spat dismissively, unaware of the trap he'd just sprung.
Heatblast's lips curled into a smirk, the heat from his form growing more oppressive by the second. "Meaning it isn't human, right?"
Shigaraki's eyes flickered with confusion before the weight of his own words hit him. His expression shifted, dread crawling across his face as Heatblast launched forward, fist cocked back and blazing with fiery energy. The ground beneath him cracked and melted from the sheer heat as he shot into the air, the heat trailing behind him like a comet.
"FLASH FIRE FIST!" Heatblast roared, his voice echoing with the fury of a thousand flames.
As he soared above, his flames condensed, burning white-hot at his fist's core. The intensity rivaled Endeavor's infamous technique—fire so hot it seared the air itself, warping it like a furnace. Todoroki could only stare in awe from below, his breath catching in his throat.
He had heard rumors about Midoriya's fire abilities, but witnessing them now, seeing Heatblast in action, was like staring into a living embodiment of his father's signature move.
"He's... he's performing the Flash Fire Fist..." Todoroki muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief. "But how can he...?"
Below, the Nomu screeched in agony, its grotesque body writhing as the ground beneath it liquefied, turning to molten asphalt under the pressure of Heatblast's scorching presence.
The creature's skin blistered and burned, chunks of flesh sloughing off as it tried to drag itself free, but the molten pit only pulled it deeper, trapping it in its fiery grave.
"Kurogiri! Kill that damn cheater!" Shigaraki screamed, clawing at his own neck in frustration, his pale skin beginning to char just from standing too close to the heat.
"I still... can't move, Tomura..." Kurogiri groaned, still incapacitated from the earlier attack by AmFibian.
Heatblast's flames roared as he ceased his attack, hovering above the molten pit, his body a living furnace of destructive heat. He extended his hands, and with a single motion, he began to absorb the surrounding heat, the molten pool below him cooling and hardening, trapping the Nomu in its scalding tomb.
The Nomu, now immobilized, continued to shriek, but the sound grew weaker, the creature's body ravaged by the searing fire.
Heatblast descended slowly, landing in front of the creature, his glowing eyes locking onto its emotionless, hollow gaze. There was nothing behind those eyes—no soul, no remorse.
Just a mindless beast engineered for destruction. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, his flames flickering down before bursting to life once more in a searing explosion of heat that radiated outwards.
"Todoroki! Now!" Heatblast's voice boomed across the battlefield.
Todoroki snapped into action, feeling the oppressive heat closing in. He crouched low, his eyes focused, as he released a massive wave of ice. The frozen coiled around the area, forming towering spikes of frost in an attempt to contain the escalating heat, but even Todoroki's ice began to melt almost instantly under the sheer intensity of Heatblast's flames.
Heatblast took to the skies again, flames exuding from every pore of his body. He spun rapidly in midair, his fiery form becoming a spiraling vortex of emerald flame. The blazing heat intensified, the ground below cracking and splitting under the pressure, turning to molten slag.
A towering tornado of flame coiled upward, twisting and roaring like a vengeful serpent. The heat was unbearable, causing everyone nearby to sweat profusely, their skin tingling as if standing too close to a roaring bonfire.
"Midoriya..." Toru whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of the flames.
"He's amazing..." Yui, typically stoic, murmured in awe, her usual indifferent expression softening as she gazed up at the emerald inferno above.
"Dekiru..." Ochako muttered, her heart pounding as the sight of him filled her with admiration.
"That's the power of the guy who broke All Might's record..." Juzo's eyes were glued to the spectacle, his voice a mix of disbelief and respect.
"H-How can someone use that much firepower and not burn themselves alive? Even Endeavor would be scorched using this much heat," Todoroki stammered, the edges of his ice already evaporating.
Kendo, her gaze unwavering, turned to Todoroki. "He isn't Endeavor," she said simply, watching as Heatblast's flames roared higher.
Monoma, watching from a distance, couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. "Truly outstanding... Someone with that kind of speed and power at his fingertips... I'm a little jealous."
The Nomu's agonized screams echoed louder, its body disintegrating under the relentless onslaught of fire. What little remained of the hardened ground beneath it melted into a bubbling pool of lava, swallowing the creature whole.
Shigaraki's frustration reached its breaking point as he clawed at his neck, stumbling back from the intense heat that lashed out at him.
"Cheating! Cheating! You're cheating!" Shigaraki howled, scratching furiously at his own skin as he was driven back by the unbearable heat. His voice was laced with desperation as he stared up at the inferno. "NO! NO! DAMN IT! YOU'RE CHEATING!"
But Heatblast didn't respond. His only answer was the roar of the flames, consuming everything in their path. The green fire, wild and untamed, blazed higher, and for a moment, it seemed like nothing could stand in his way.
...
The Nomu's agonized scream faded into an unsettling silence as the shadowy figure engulfed in flames disappeared. As the vibrant flames began to subside, Heatblast stood confidently, channeling the remaining fire around him.
With intense concentration, he molded the embers into a radiant orb of heat, its surface crackling and shimmering under the bright daylight.
"It took me two weeks to perfect this," he announced, determination echoing in his voice. "But it should do the job!"
With a powerful thrust of his arm, he launched the fiery sphere high into the azure sky. It soared upward, trailing brilliant sparks that glinted in the sunlight.
Upon reaching its peak, the orb collided with the USJ's structure, shattering the glass with a resonant crash. In a spectacular explosion, it erupted into a kaleidoscope of colors, filling the air with vivid bursts of light.
The flames formed the urgent message "USJ UNDER ATTACK HELP!" in bold, fiery letters, flickering against the clear blue backdrop, a desperate plea for assistance ringing out across the campus.
...
All Might, catching the fist of a giant red robot with sleek black accents, saw an explosion in the distance. His blue eyes widened as green fireworks lit up the sky with a message: USJ UNDER ATTACK HELP."
"Young Midoriya?" All Might muttered recognising the familiar green flames.
Fear gripped him. Before he could react further, another robotic arm lunged at him, but with blinding speed, he smashed through the robot's reinforced red plating, which was designed to shift between closed, transport mode and open attack form, legs and laser guns emerging. All Might darted between the drones, shattering one after another, their glowing red optics dimming as they fell apart.
The campus still swarmed with these menacing droids, each about 15 meters away, their compact forms converting into humanoid attack mode. Their mechanical legs clanked with every step, and the attached laser cannons hummed ominously. Present Mic, nearly crushed by a hovering drone, let out a massive sonic scream, disrupting its balance, only for All Might to obliterate it with a single punch.
Clutching his sides, All Might could feel his time running out. "Dammit... I'm running out of time... I barely managed to beat when I was in my prime ..." His voice trembled with concern.
"And if he's here..." He gritted his teeth in anger and fear.
The robots continued their advance, their red and black designs reflecting in the flickering light. "Is he using these machines to keep us here while he targets Young Midoriya?" All Might's fists tightened as he stared down the approaching drones.
"No," All Might muttered to himself, shaking his head. "He wouldn't resort to distractions. That monster would rather try to kill us all just to reach Midoriya. From our last encounter... He fears no one." Smoke began to rise off All Might's body as he prepared to face the mechanical army head-on, his resolve hardening despite his weakening form.
"I'll be on my way Young Midoriya just hold on."
...
Heatblast hovered in the air, his fiery body flickering, his breaths labored. The emerald flames that had engulfed the Nomu continued to blaze beneath him, their radiant heat bending the air around them. Below, the grotesque creature let out a final, guttural roar, its body convulsing in agony.
The once-impenetrable beast began to crumble, its flesh and bones reduced to ash, carried away by the swirling wind. The power of the flames was too much, and soon there was nothing left but smoldering embers.
The battlefield fell silent for a moment, the only sound being the faint crackling of the dying flames.
"He... he did it," a voice broke the stillness.
"He won," Uraraka whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief. She turned to Ashido, tears welling in both of their eyes.
The tension of the day, the fear, and the relentless dread that had been weighing on them all suddenly lifted. Ochako turned her gaze to Heatblast was like beacon blistering in the air.
Uraraka's breath hitched as she stared up at him. Her wide eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her chest rising and falling rapidly, not just from the aftermath of the battle but from something else.
Her heart pounded against her ribs—wild, uncontrolled. She took a step forward, her gaze never leaving Heatblast. "Dekiru..." Ochako said looking at the boy. She clutched her chest. 'I... I need to push down what I'm feeling... I can't... I was so worried about him... That... He's so focused on being a hero, I have to push these feelings down.'
"Can't believe he won..." Toru said she couldn't turn away from him.
She felt her heart race faster than ever, and her feet shifted nervously in the dirt.
She raised her hands—unseen but trembling slightly—as if wanting to reach out to him.
'He's so strong... so kind.' She bit her lip, feeling heat rise to her cheeks, even though no one could see it.
A smile spread across Ashido's face, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Yeah... he really did."
Her body slumped with exhaustion, her heart still pounding wildly in her chest. The entire day had been a whirlwind of emotions—fear, joy, despair, hope—and now, as she stood watching the remnants of the Nomu disappear into ash, she felt tears of pure relief spilling over.
"I don't think my heart can take any more," she admitted, placing a hand on her chest as she exhaled shakily.
Tsuyu and Kodai, though outwardly composed, were visibly shaken. Tsuyu gripped the edge of Izuku's torn hoodie tightly, her fingers trembling. Even Kodai, always calm and stoic, couldn't hide the tension in her posture.
Uraraka wiped her eyes quickly, her gaze locked on the floating alien form. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, each beat carrying a mixture of relief and something deeper. "Ochako, no need to cry," Tsuyu said softly, patting her friend's shoulder.
Uraraka smiled through her tears, her voice cracking. "N-No, I'm just happy he's okay," she whispered, a wave of relief washing over her.
The tears fell freely now, but she quickly brushed them away. "I need to check on him... I need to make sure he's alright," she said, placing a hand over her chest to calm the frantic beating of her heart.
Her voice carried a quiet determination as she looked up at Heatblast, still hovering in the sky.
Watching from a distance, Kendo stood quietly, her emotions swirling in her chest. "I'm really happy you're okay, but I wish... I wish I could've done more. I want to stand by you, fight with you as an equal," she thought, her brows furrowing with a mix of frustration and relief.
She bit her lip, her heart heavy with unspoken words. 'How can I tell you how I feel when I can't even help you like I want to? When I can't stand by you?' Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt a hand rest gently on her shoulder.
"You okay?" Setsuna asked, her voice gentle yet concerned. She, too, was covered in bruises, her exhaustion evident in her posture.
Kendo forced a small smile, letting out a heavy sigh. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine... I just..." She paused, searching for the right words. "It's been a lot. But I'm okay."
Setsuna chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood. "Your boyfriend is definitely something."
Kendo blushed slightly, letting out a small, amused laugh. "Yeah... he is," she admitted, her cheeks flushing. The tension eased just a little as the two girls shared a quiet moment.
In the distance, an injured Iida limped toward the group, supported by Shishida and Kamakiri.
His glasses were cracked, and he winced with each step, but there was a determined glint in his eyes. "The pros probably saw Midoriya's signal. Hopefully, they'll send help soon," he said, his voice strained but steady.
Uraraka's gaze softened as she saw Iida approach. "Iida..."
"I'm fine," Iida assured her, though his face was pale from the effort of standing. "I just wish I had been able to pass those women... It's my fault, he said, guilt weighing heavily on his voice.
Uraraka shook her head firmly. "No, Iida. The villains are to blame, not you. We did what we could."
Iida nodded, though the self-blame still lingered. "The pros should be on the way... but..." His eyes turned toward Heatblast, the alien hero still floating in the air. The once brilliant flames that had engulfed him were now flickering out, the heat dying as exhaustion began to take its toll.
Heatblast's vision blurred, dizziness overtaking him as the flames flickering around his body began to weaken. Everyone watched in horror as in a massive green flash revealing Izuku Midoriya once more, mid-air and helpless. His body, now human again, plummeted toward the ground at terrifying speed.
The plaza froze in shock. Izuku's body twisted as he fell, the world around him spinning. Shigaraki and Kurogiri, still recovering from the earlier electrical attack, twitched as they slowly regained control of their bodies.
"Kurogiri!" Shigaraki rasped, his voice filled with anger.
Without hesitation, Kurogiri followed his leader's command. He opened a portal mid-air, right where Izuku had been falling. The dark mist twisted and swirled, aiming to catch Midoriya before he could hit the ground.
"Crap!" Sero yelled, shooting out tape from his elbows, but Izuku was too high up. The distance was too great for him to reach in time.
Tsuyu sprang into the air with her powerful legs, her heart racing. Her long tongue lashed out, desperately trying to catch him, but even with her agility, Izuku was too far out of reach. Her fingers stretched toward him in vain as she watched helplessly. 'No, no... not like this!'
"You ruined everything! You cheater! I'm going to kill you!" Shigaraki screamed, his voice venomous as his eyes locked onto the falling boy. His rage boiled over, and he thrust his decaying hand through Kurogiri's portal, aiming straight for Izuku's falling form.
Izuku's head throbbed, pain stabbing through his skull. His eyes shot open, and in a split second, he saw Shigaraki's outstretched hand reaching for him through the portal. Time seemed to slow as Izuku's instincts kicked in.
With a sharp breath, he twisted his body mid-air, dodging Shigaraki's palm just in time. Izuku grabbed Shigaraki's wrist, making sure not to touch the villain's deadly palm. Shigaraki's eyes widened in shock, the unexpected contact throwing him off balance. Izuku gritted his teeth, adrenaline surging through his veins as he yanked himself through the portal.
In one swift, fluid movement, Izuku maneuvered himself behind Shigaraki. With a powerful grip, he slammed the villain's head into the ground, pinning him down with a sharp thud.
The ground cracked beneath the force, dust rising around them. Izuku's breath came in ragged gasps, his arms trembling as he kept Shigaraki restrained, making sure his deadly palms couldn't make contact.
Kurogiri's eyes widened in disbelief, his misty form swirling in agitation. "You insolent boy!" he shouted, the mist crackling with anger.
Before Kurogiri could react, a deafening explosion rocked the plaza. Bakugou rocketed through the air, a trail of smoke and fire behind him, his expression fierce and determined. "I've got you now, you misty bastard!" he growled, his palms glowing with the threat of another explosion.
In a swift tackle, Bakugou slammed into Kurogiri, his explosions lighting up the dark mist as he restrained the villain with a fierce grip. Kurogiri hissed in frustration struggling in vein.
...
"We win." Wheezed out, Bakugou growled.
Bakugou staggered forward, catching his breath as he looked around at the aftermath. Villains lay defeated on the ground, many charred from Amfibian's attacks, while the Nomu had been reduced to ash. He held the portal villain pinned, and the heroes would arrive any second to take over.
"We... we won..." Setsuna murmured, her eyes wide as the reality settled in.
Todoroki let out a cold breath, briefly dropping to one knee before standing again, moving toward Midoriya. "Yeah... he won," he said with a small, relieved smile.
Kendo wiped away her tears, letting out a shaky laugh. "Y-Yeah... he won..."
And then, as the relief hit, they couldn't hold back anymore. Shouts and cheers erupted, a mix of tears and laughter filling the air. The girls embraced each other, faces streaked with tears, while the guys threw fists into the air, a victorious cry of hope.
Todoroki finally reached Midoriya, who was still restraining Shigaraki. "Midoriya," he called softly, and Izuku turned, his face battered and weary, yet filled with determination.
"Is everyone alright?" Izuku managed to ask, his voice rough but steady.
"Relatively," Todoroki replied, folding his arms. "What happened to you? The villain grabbed you—did you escape?"
Izuku took a breath, still winded. "Not exactly... he kinda let me go," he replied, his brows furrowing. "I think he's... actually a good guy."
Todoroki raised an eyebrow, skepticism crossing his face." He just let you go?"
Izuku gave a small nod, almost to himself." Yeah, we didn't even fight."
But before either could say more, Shigaraki's frustrated, almost childlike voice rang out, loud and shrill.
"No!" he yelled, his body shaking with rage as he jerked against Izuku's hold. "No, no, no, NO! This isn't fair! How did a bunch of stupid kids ruin everything?! You're not even real heroes—just some NPCs in my way!"
His hands twitched, clawing at his own neck as he nearly shrieked. "You think you're some big hero?! You burned my Nomu, wrecked all our plans! This was supposed to be my moment! The end of your so-called Symbol of Peace, and... and you CHEATED!"
Izuku felt Shigaraki's trembling fury but held his grip, listening as the villain's tantrum intensified.
Shigaraki's voice cracked, his face contorted in rage. "Who the hell do you think you are, messing up everything?! This was our win! You're just a nobody—some extra in the way of the real story! HOW did we lose to you?!"
Izuku took a steadying breath, his mind flashing back to what Tetrax had told him—that when All Might wasn't here, it would be Izuku's responsibility to take his place.
His grip on Shigaraki tightened, and he raised his voice, unwavering. "I am Izuku Midoriya. And I will be the next Symbol of Peace—the next Number One Hero!"
The words resonated through the USJ, echoing in the silence that followed. This time, he wasn't just saying it for himself. He wanted everyone to hear, to understand his resolve.
Some of the other students had just reached them in time to hear his declaration, stunned. Plenty of people claimed they'd be Number One Heroes, but only a few ever dared to declare they'd carry on the legacy of the Symbol of Peace.
Kendo, teary-eyed but smiling, ran forward with Uraraka, Awase, Tokoyami, Shoji, Rin, and Shoda close behind. They all gathered, their expressions full of awe and pride as they looked at Izuku.
Pinned to the ground, Shigaraki let out a dry, rasping chuckle, looking up with a twisted grin. "Oh, now I get it... I get it. You're not just some NPC we can brush off, huh? No, no, no... should've seen it coming."
"What are you talking about, villain?" Todoroki demanded, watching the crazed look in Shigaraki's eyes.
Shigaraki's smile only widened, amusement flickering in his gaze as he stared at Izuku. "I should've seen it. You're like me. Hehehe, you're not an NPC, no... More like a mini-boss. No, no, no—you're Player Two."
Izuku frowned, still holding Shigaraki's arms down, confused by his cryptic rambling.
"You're his successor." Shigaraki's voice turned almost giddy, his grin never faltering. "And I can tell—you're not the only one. I'm his successor too."
Izuku's confusion deepened. "His?" he echoed, uncertainty in his tone.
Shigaraki's eyes glittered, a malicious smirk spreading across his face. "Who do you think put a hole in your master's stomach?" he taunted, voice low. "Did your beloved master even bother to tell you what he did to mine?"
Izuku's eyes shot wide in pure horror. "H-How do you know about—?" He froze, his mind reeling as he remembered All Might's confession about the villain who'd given him that debilitating injury.
A harsh, mocking laugh escaped Shigaraki. "Oh, he didn't tell you anything? Just what do you actually know about your master?" Shigaraki taunted, letting out a dry chuckle. "Not the stuff anyone could find in the news—what do you know? He's been keeping secrets, hasn't he?"
Izuku's grip tightened, his arms trembling slightly as he forced Shigaraki to the ground with renewed determination. Shigaraki's smile only grew wider, almost deranged, feeding off Izuku's visible shock. "Yeah... I know that feeling," he sneered, sounding like a frustrated child. "My master never tells me anything, either. It's so annoying, like when you're stuck on a glitched level and can't do anything about it!"
He paused, tilting his head with a dark, gleeful smirk. "No wonder All Might wasn't here, huh? Did he know we were coming? Was this all some kind of test, sending you instead? You'd think they'd be more cautious, what with us breaking into your school and all..."
The students approaching chalked up Shigaraki's ramblings to the delusions of a defeated villain, though Izuku's unnerved expression didn't go unnoticed.
Shigaraki chuckled softly, staring up at Izuku with a wicked gleam in his eye. "Izuku Midoriya... Player Two. Oh, I'll remember that name. I'll remember it. All Might isn't my final boss... No it's you."
Todoroki moved closer, placing a steadying hand on Izuku's shoulder.
"Midoriya," he said calmly, though his tone carried a note of urgency, "don't listen to him. He's just trying to get in your head. Your injuries are... obvious. Let someone else handle him."
Izuku swallowed hard, nodding. "Y-Yeah... you're right..."
But before he could move, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
"Izuku Midoriya!" Kaine's voice boomed as he strode forward with a malicious smile, raising his arm like a showman savoring the grand finale.