While the Pro Heroes inside the shopping district struggled to mount a proper rescue due to the relentless explosions, the civilians who had been evacuated outside did not leave.
Instead, they stood anxiously, staring at Katsuki Bakugo—trapped within the Sludge Villain's body, still struggling with all his might.
"Coward! If you've got guts, let go of that boy! The Heroes will beat you to death!"
"What kind of scum bullies a kid?!"
"Where are the fire trucks? The fires are getting worse! Backdraft alone can't save all these buildings!"
"Someone save that child!"
…
"It's my fault… I'm sorry!"
Amid the crowd, a gaunt, frail-looking man with drooping blond bangs and hollow, shadowed eyes clenched his fists so tightly that veins bulged across his face. His brows stood upright in fury—anger at his own helplessness, guilt over his mistake.
If he hadn't accidentally dropped the soda bottle containing the Sludge Villain earlier—
None of this would have happened.
The more he thought about it, the heavier the guilt became.
That man was All Might.
Japan's Number One Hero.
The Symbol of Peace.
Since his debut as a Pro Hero, the nation's crime rate had plummeted, earning him boundless love and admiration from the public.
But what people didn't know—
Was that years ago, in his battle against All For One, he had suffered devastating injuries.
Now, at most, he could maintain his Hero form for three hours per day.
And when the explosion occurred—
He had already used up that time.
Transforming again would be extremely difficult.
Even though he desperately wanted to save Bakugo—
He simply couldn't.
At first, he had placed his hopes on the other Heroes.
But after witnessing the situation inside Tendouin Shopping Street, he realized just how dire things truly were.
The combination of sludge physiology and Bakugo's explosive Quirk neutralized a large portion of the Heroes' abilities.
And the narrow terrain completely restricted Mt. Lady—their strongest immediate option.
Everything—
Was terrible.
Then—
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a small figure with green hair shove through the crowd without hesitation, charging straight toward the Sludge Villain.
It was Izuku Midoriya.
The earnest young fan he had only just met.
"Kacchan!!"
Midoriya roared.
Even though terror filled his heart.
Even though fear, helplessness, and vulnerability were written all over his face—
His steps did not falter.
He sprinted forward, schoolbag clutched in hand.
Because Katsuki Bakugo was his friend.
Seeing someone rush in, the Sludge Villain casually lashed out with a tendril.
"Midoriya, look out!" All Might shouted in alarm.
He knew—
Izuku Midoriya was Quirkless.
Just a normal boy.
One solid hit from that sludge attack could split his body in half.
How could he not worry?
"Let him go!!!"
As the tendril hurtled toward him, Midoriya's mind instinctively recalled the countless Hero analyses he had written over the years—his observations of sludge-type Quirks and possible countermeasures.
Relying purely on intuition and subconscious prediction—
He ducked low and surged forward.
At the exact moment he bent down—
Several tendrils swept over his head.
They missed him completely.
A perfect dodge.
Even All Might, consumed with anxiety, couldn't stop himself from shouting in amazement.
He alone understood how extraordinary that prediction was—for an untrained, Quirkless teenager.
But he also knew—
That was the limit.
Even if Midoriya closed the distance—
Without a Quirk, he posed no real threat.
And reality proved him right.
Midoriya desperately clawed at the sludge enveloping Bakugo, but all he could grab were slippery globs that slid through his fingers.
He couldn't affect the Villain at all.
"Deku…"
A flicker of emotion flashed across Bakugo's eyes.
Then he forced his mouth free from the sludge long enough to shout:
"What the hell are you doing here, idiot?! Why would you—"
"My legs just moved on their own! I don't even know why!" Midoriya shouted back, voice trembling, tears threatening to spill.
Yet his hands never stopped moving.
"You looked like you needed help!"
"Shut up…!!!"
…
"Midoriya…"
All Might was deeply shaken.
In that moment—
The Quirkless boy standing before him looked more like a Hero than anyone else present.
"It seems I underestimated your resolve…"
"It's alright now—because I… cough—!"
He tried to force a transformation.
But the moment he attempted it, the old wound inside him flared violently, as if tearing open again.
He coughed up blood.
"Damn it…"
"Hey! Are you okay? Do you need an ambulance?" someone nearby asked in alarm.
"I'm fine. Don't worry."
All Might covered his mouth, determination flashing in his eyes.
Even if his injuries worsened—
He would save those two boys.
But just as he prepared to transform—
The situation on the battlefield changed yet again.
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