The moment Shigaraki stepped forward, the world snapped into motion.
Bakugo moved first, launching himself forward with a concussive blast. "Like hell you are!" he shouted, flinging an explosion toward Shigaraki's face. The villain raised his arm, the blast hitting his shoulder and singeing part of his coat—but he didn't flinch. Undeterred, Bakugo zigzagged across the rubble-strewn street, hurling blast after blast with relentless intensity. "You're not laying a hand on him... not while I'm breathing," he muttered, each explosion a desperate vow.
Reiji's shadows lashed out next, forming tendrils that wrapped around Shigaraki's limbs. The ground cracked beneath them as Reiji anchored his stance, trying to bind him in place. "Now! Hit him with everything you've got!" he yelled, eyes narrowing as he channeled all his strength into keeping the monstrous figure still. The strain in his voice betrayed how much energy he was pouring into holding the villain.
Todoroki responded immediately, unleashing a wide burst of ice to freeze the road under Shigaraki's feet. The temperature plummeted around them. Frost crept up debris and lampposts. Midoriya followed with a burst of Blackwhip, the tendrils snapping out and latching onto Shigaraki's other arm. His breath came in short gasps. He could feel the pressure mounting. He wasn't just fighting for survival anymore—he was protecting everyone.
For a second, it seemed to work. Shigaraki was frozen mid-motion, one leg encased in ice, both arms restrained.
Then the Decay flared.
Everything the energy touched began to crumble—Reiji's shadows hissed and dissolved, Todoroki's ice splintered into dust, and the ground beneath them split apart. Cracks webbed outward in every direction, carving through the street like lightning. Streetlamps collapsed, and nearby buildings began to crumble under the spreading destruction. Todoroki flinched as the ice broke beneath him. Reiji's breath caught, the sheer scope of decay sending a chill down his spine., Todoroki's ice splintered into dust, and the ground beneath them split apart. Cracks webbed outward in every direction, carving through the street like lightning. Streetlamps collapsed, and nearby buildings began to crumble under the spreading destruction.
"He's still too strong!" Todoroki shouted, pulling Midoriya back as the decay surged forward.
Shigaraki's eyes remained fixed. "One For All… I can feel it. You're what he feared most." His voice was cold and composed, like a man remembering a grudge. There was a venomous calm in his tone—a predator savoring the moment before the kill.
Midoriya's breath caught. He wanted to run. He wanted to fight. His body shook from indecision, the weight of legacy pressing down on his shoulders. A flash of All Might's voice echoed in his mind—"Protect the future." He remembered Gran Torino's last look, the fear in his eyes. The voices of the vestiges whispered in the background, urging him to move.. His body shook from indecision, the weight of legacy pressing down on his shoulders. Images of All Might's warning, Gran Torino's urgency, and the weight of past users swirled in his head.
Then Shigaraki leapt.
Midoriya's heart stopped.
A blur of orange and black intercepted the attack.
Bakugo.
The explosion that followed cracked the air like thunder. Shigaraki's hand struck Bakugo in the side, cutting through his uniform and sending him spiraling midair. Blood splattered across the pavement as his body hit the ground hard.
"BAKUGO!" Midoriya screamed, his voice raw. The sound echoed louder than the explosion itself.
Reiji's eyes widened. Without a second thought, he surged forward, shadows erupting around him. He caught Bakugo mid-fall with tendrils of darkness, cushioning the blow and dragging him back toward the group. "Hold on!" he shouted, desperately reinforcing the shadows around Bakugo's broken body. Reiji's heartbeat thundered in his ears as he willed the shadows to keep the bleeding at bay.
Todoroki laid down a wall of ice between them and Shigaraki, sealing the opening with fire. The intense heat and cold created a foggy burst of steam, momentarily obscuring their retreat. The hiss of steam filled the air as shadows moved like soldiers in Reiji's command.
Bakugo coughed, blood seeping from his side. His eyes fluttered. "Dumbass… didn't tell you to cry…" he muttered, a weak smirk twitching at his lips. Midoriya's face contorted with anguish, eyes glistening with tears. Todoroki's jaw clenched as he pressed harder on the wound, desperately trying to stop the bleeding.. His eyes fluttered. "Dumbass… didn't tell you to cry…" he muttered, a weak smirk twitching at his lips. His fingers clenched slightly around Midoriya's sleeve.
Midoriya gritted his teeth. Something inside him snapped.
One For All flared wildly, Blackwhip swirling like a storm around him, Float activating instinctively. His feet rose from the ground. The air shimmered around him as energy pulsed through every limb. His eyes glowed faintly, the presence of the vestiges looming in the back of his mind.
"I'm not letting you take anyone else!" he shouted, fury mixing with resolve.
Reiji stepped beside him, panting, bruises lining his arms. "We do this together."
Midoriya nodded. Their eyes met—an unspoken understanding passed between them. Together, they launched forward.
Reiji's shadows struck first, binding Shigaraki's arm while Midoriya smashed into him with a full-powered St. Louis Smash. The impact sent shockwaves through the air, shattering nearby windows. Shigaraki was thrown back, tumbling through rubble, skidding to a stop near a fallen wall. Smoke and dust clouded the battlefield.
But he stood again.
Flesh reknit. Bones cracked and reset. His body was recovering faster now. A smirk curled his lips. The ground hissed where his fingers brushed against it—everything he touched seemed tainted.
"He won't stay down," Reiji growled. He prepared another strike, shadows sharpening around him like blades. "He's not human anymore."
Before they could move again, the ground rumbled.
A massive shadow loomed over the skyline.
Gigantomachia.
With a thunderous roar, the beast crashed into the battlefield, flattening abandoned vehicles and sending shockwaves across the area. Chunks of earth lifted into the air. The shockwave knocked over trees, shattered windows, and sent lesser villains fleeing in every direction.
On his back stood Dabi, Spinner, Mr. Compress, and Toga—each wearing grim expressions. Dabi's flames flickered hungrily. Spinner raised his weapon. Toga licked her blade, eyes gleaming.
The League had arrived. Across the battlefield, the remaining heroes froze. A new wave of dread settled in the air. Every exhausted fighter knew—they were outnumbered and overwhelmed.
Aizawa's voice came over the comms. "We're out of time! All units, fall back! Regroup immediately!" There was urgency in his voice, and fatigue. He had been watching too many fall.
Endeavor and Ryukyu dropped from the air, their faces grim. Ryukyu's wing was still torn. Endeavor was limping from a burn across his side. The number one hero clenched his fists, preparing to ignite.
Reiji glanced at the others. Midoriya was barely staying afloat, body twitching with strain. Bakugo was unconscious in Todoroki's arms, blood still leaking from his wound. The remaining pro heroes formed a defensive wall, preparing to hold the line.
"This fight's over," Reiji muttered. "But the war isn't." His eyes narrowed as he looked at Shigaraki and the approaching League. "It's only just begun."
Shigaraki stood amidst the dust, smiling faintly.
And Midoriya passed out, power flickering as he fell from the sky. Reiji caught him before he hit the ground.
The battlefield dimmed as chaos spread. Sirens wailed in the distance.
To be continued…
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