All Might vs. Nomu

A translucent blue screen unfolded in Yuto's mind before the battle reached its worst point.

[System]

Gura Gura no Mi Mastery: Breakthrough Achieved
Skill Unlocked: Tremor Drive - Gear Second

Note: Tremor Drive - Gear Second forces tremor energy through the body at a dangerous rhythm, boosting strength, reflexes, vision, and physical output. Current time limit: five minutes. Severe exhaustion follows after use.

Meanwhile, inside the USJ, Shigaraki was close to losing control.

"Tomura Shigaraki," Kurogiri said. "Please calm down."

"Ah..."

Shigaraki clawed at his neck until bloody marks appeared.

Yuto again. Again and again, it was Yuto.

"If dozens of Pro Heroes arrive, we can't win," Shigaraki muttered. "We've already been here too long. U.A. has probably noticed by now. If we don't leave, things will get dangerous. Game over. We go back."

Nomu stopped moving, and the students tensed.

Mineta burst into tears. "Go back? Did he just say they're going back?"

Tsuyu nodded. "I heard it too."

"We're saved!" Mineta cried.

Midoriya frowned, thinking too fast to relax. "They came this far and they're retreating so easily? They came to kill All Might. If they leave now, U.A. will only strengthen its security."

Shigaraki's face twisted again.

"Right. Before that..."

His eyes drifted toward the students.

"I'll crush just a little of the Symbol of Peace's pride before I go. And Yuto Kanzaki makes me sick. If not for him, my plan would not have failed this badly."

Without warning, he lunged toward Ochaco. His hand reached for her.

A shockwave cut through the air.

Air Shockwave.

Yuto condensed air into a blast and fired it at Shigaraki.

Boom. Dust rose as Shigaraki was forced to stop. The impact drove him back several steps.

He looked toward the source of the attack. Yuto stood there. Again.

Excitement crawled across Shigaraki's face.

"The game isn't over. I've been waiting for you, Yuto Kanzaki."

Ochaco and the others lit up when they saw him.

Without realizing it, the class had begun treating Yuto as their anchor in the crisis. Seeing him made them feel safer.

Tsuyu said, "Yuto-chan is here."

Bakugo rounded on him. "You damn bastard, was that tidal wave yours? You almost drowned me!"

"Yes," Yuto said. "You're still alive, aren't you?"

The students stared. So the tidal wave really had been Yuto.

Shigaraki's irritation sharpened into hatred. "Yuto, why are you just like All Might? Why do you disgust me so much? Nomu, go."

"Raaah!"

Nomu roared, shaking the USJ.

Yuto's chest tightened. He knew what Nomu was.

In raw physical strength, this monster could rival All Might.

Boom. Nomu charged, fast enough that Yuto could barely follow him with his eyes.

A fist smashed toward him, dragging a wall of force behind it.

Yuto crossed both arms as a white spherical halo wrapped around them.

"Air Shatter."

He barely blocked. The force still sent him sliding back dozens of meters before he stopped.

So strong. That was the only clear thought in his head.

What now?

Boom. The USJ entrance exploded open, and dust rolled inward.

When it cleared, a huge figure stood in the doorway.

All Might.

"I had a bad feeling, so I came to check," he said. "On the way here, I felt the ground shake violently and saw water spilling from the USJ. I knew something had happened."

His voice deepened. "I'm furious with myself. These young heroes were afraid, yet they still fought with all they had. That's why I must stand tall and say this."

He looked toward Yuto. "Young Kanzaki, I know you have done everything you can. Leave the rest to me."

Then he faced the villains.

"Everything is all right now. Why? Because I am here!"

"All Might!"

"We're saved!"

Several students nearly cried from relief.

But Yuto's expression did not relax.

All Might was different today. He was not smiling.

Yuto knew why. All Might's transformation time had already been used up for the day. That was why he had not come to this lesson.

For him to arrive transformed now meant he was forcing his damaged body beyond its limit. The cost would be serious.

And he was not at full strength. Nomu roared again.

All Might and Nomu collided.

The entire USJ shook. Their fists crashed together again and again.

Texas Smash. Detroit Smash. Missouri Smash.

All Might's blows hammered into Nomu, but the monster remained unharmed. It traded punches with him head-on, and neither side could break the other.

The battle was violent enough to make the students step back in fear.

Yaoyorozu, Kirishima, and the others understood instantly that they could not interfere. To jump into a fight at that level would be suicide.

"What's that monster?"

"All Might can't hurt him?"

"What are we supposed to do?"

Shigaraki laughed coldly. "All Might, this monster was created to deal with you. Your attacks won't work because Nomu has Shock Absorption. No impact-based attack can damage him."

All Might grinned. "Thank you for the explanation."

He changed tactics, grabbed Nomu, and threw him over his shoulder.

If Nomu absorbed impact, then All Might would drive him into the ground and pin him there.

Boom. The back throw shook the floor and raised a huge cloud of dust. The students cheered.

"Yes! That's what he gets!"

"They underestimated All Might!"

"Why does a back throw sound like an explosion? That was so cool!"

"All Might really is overwhelming!"

Yuto's eyes narrowed. No. Something was wrong.

When the dust cleared, his suspicion proved correct.

Nomu had caught All Might on the ground. One of its hands had found the old wound below the hero's ribs, the injury he had received years ago.

Blood ran from the scar.

All Might was pinned. Silence fell, and Shigaraki smiled.

"As expected, All Might. You've gotten weaker."

Yuto watched every movement, thoughts racing.

Nomu was too strong. How could they win?

Against an opponent on All Might's level, a careless attack would only get him killed. With the No. 1 Hero weakened and trapped, relying on him alone would not be enough.

Ordinary methods would fail. Then there was only one thing left to try.

The new skill. Five minutes. That was all he had.

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