"So, so—if it isn't the Symbol of Peace," Shigaraki Tomura laughed as he looked up at All Might's towering figure. "Why so angry?"
Now!! SMASH!!
With a thunderous splash, Izuku Midoriya burst out of the water. His fist rose high as he launched himself toward the man whose body was covered in grasping hands.
"Nomu~"
BOOM!
Izuku felt it instantly—the impact. His punch slammed into something impossibly hard. Worse still, it felt as if his entire attack had been swallowed whole.
"Ohhh, what a beautiful spike!" Shigaraki mocked, turning his blood-red eyes toward Izuku. "Hey, All Might, is this one of your fans? He copied your finishing move almost perfectly."
Those crimson eyes sent a chill straight down Izuku's spine. He leapt backward without hesitation, widening the distance between himself and the two monsters before him.
"Tch. Looks like a coward to me."
All Might tore off his tie and charged into the enemy-filled training field. He moved faster than the naked eye could follow. In just seconds, every villain in the area was crushed beneath his blows. He reached Aizawa Shota, who lay unconscious on the ground.
"Sorry, Aizawa," All Might said quietly as he lifted him.Facial injuries… and his elbows too…
"Saving people while throwing punches—truly living up to your reputation as state-sanctioned violence," Shigaraki sneered. "Sure, your speed's impressive… but it's not as overwhelming as the rumors claimed. So the whispers are true after all?"
"You've grown weaker, haven't you?"
How do they know that? Izuku continued retreating, barely daring to breathe.
"Oh? Trying to sneak away, kid?" Shigaraki said lazily. "Nomu~"
Nomu suddenly appeared right behind Izuku.
Izuku reacted instantly—rolling across the ground just in time. The massive shockwave from Nomu's punch blasted a crater into the floor.
"Cough—cough… So strong."
"Lucky brat… but I don't have time for you right now," Shigaraki muttered. "Let's finish off the Symbol of Peace first. Nomu~"
"Then try it!!" All Might gently set Aizawa down and charged straight at Nomu. The two giants clashed, their battle raging as if no one else existed.
"It's completely ineffective!!" All Might roared as his punch slammed into Nomu's stomach—yet Nomu didn't even flinch.
"Impact Nullification," Shigaraki explained smugly, like a child showing off a toy. "If you want to hurt Nomu, tearing flesh away bit by bit works wonderfully—assuming you can actually pull it off."
"Thanks for the explanation!" All Might shouted. "In that case—this will be easy!!"
He vanished behind Nomu and wrapped his arms around its torso, preparing a devastating German suplex.
"All Might! Watch out—warp gate!" Izuku shouted.
Only then did All Might notice the black shadow forming beneath his feet.
"Seriously—you're getting annoying," Shigaraki growled, glaring at Izuku as he rushed toward him.
"Hey! Shigaraki Tomura! Don't run off!"
"I'll kill you—kill you!" Shigaraki screamed, charging again and again as Izuku retreated.
"Come on, you oversized toddler," Izuku said with a grin. "Is that all you've got?"
His hand brushed the final pouch on his belt—the one containing his hidden stash.
"Die, you little brat!"
Izuku dodged desperately. Then, in one swift motion, he pulled out two black metal plates and slapped them onto his neck.
"No one's ever called me a 'brat' before," Izuku said calmly. "Congratulations. You're the first."
"DIE!!"
"DIE!!"
Izuku's voice suddenly perfectly mimicked Shigaraki's.
Shigaraki froze in shock.
"Voice sample complete," Izuku said—no, Shigaraki's voice came from Izuku's mouth."Nomu~ stop."
"Grrr…"Nomu halted instantly, allowing All Might to pummel it freely.
"Nomu! Don't you dare stop!"
"Nomu~ stand still. Don't move."
Conflicting commands locked Nomu in place, its mind utterly confused.
"Nomu~ walk into the forest," Izuku ordered calmly, keeping his distance from Shigaraki. "Sit down there and stay put. Ignore all further commands."
"Grrr~!"
Nomu turned and charged into the woods.
"Well done, Young Midoriya!" All Might shouted. "Now it's time to settle this!"
Breaking free from the warp gate, All Might surged toward Shigaraki at incredible speed.
"Careful!!"Kurogiri instantly warped in front of Shigaraki, shielding him.
"Did you forget about me?" Izuku said—again using Shigaraki's voice.
Before Kurogiri could react, Izuku smashed the metal plate embedded in Kurogiri's neck.
"Tch—this is bad," Kurogiri said urgently. "Shigaraki, we need to retreat."
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!!!"
"Leaving already?" Izuku asked. "Why not take a souvenir?"
He pulled out a grenade from his pouch—one he'd secretly stolen from Bakugo Katsuki during their combat training.
Pulling the pin, Izuku tossed it into a weak point above the swirling black mist surrounding Shigaraki.
"Damn—!"
Kurogiri immediately warped Shigaraki away.
"I'll remember you!" Shigaraki's voice rang out, almost delighted, before they vanished.
"You're welcome back anytime," Izuku muttered, peeling the metal plates from his neck.Great tool… but single-use only. That's annoying.
"Excellent work, Young Midoriya," All Might said, giving him a thumbs-up. Without Izuku, survival would've been impossible.
"Thank you, All Might…" Izuku said—then collapsed.
All Might caught him just in time. Blood poured from Izuku's back—he'd been grabbed earlier while dodging Shigaraki.
"What a tough kid," All Might murmured, carrying both Izuku and Aizawa toward the assembling Class 1-A.
"How are the casualties?" All Might asked.
"Only minor injuries among the students. Two teachers wounded. Overall, the class is safe," Iida Tenya reported seriously.
"…I see," All Might said. "I'll take the injured for treatment. You all wait here for the police and the other Pro Heroes."
"Is Midoriya okay?" someone asked.
"I don't know," All Might replied. "But he's the most quick-thinking sixteen-year-old I've ever seen."