The huge explosion left behind a bittersweet feeling. Heroes were littered all around, buildings had collapsed, and there seemed to be no human life in any close proximity. The whole area was smokey, covering the destruction left. The city had been completely obliterated. Just behind the chunk of a destroyed building were the few brave members of class 1A. They each were lined up against what remained of the wall. There were only the sounds of harsh breathing heard.
Each were frozen, hearts beating loud enough that it could be heard in the silence they were surrounded by. It was suffocating.
Who is he? What happened?
Everything, blown away...In an instant!
We have to run...I know that, but...
This fear, it's...My body won't...
My body... won't move.
Their thoughts were scrambled as they fought the paralyzing fear. There was no other experience that compared, nothing close to the amount of fear that was placed in them from one man. And that was terrifying.
"Koff! This stuff stinks..." Izuku interrupted the silence that had been present.
Suddenly in the direction of the villain noises were heard.
A familiar voice rang out, "What was that?"
The group was broken out of their trance by Bakugou's voice. It had brought some life back to the situation at hand. Hope that they might actually achieve what they had gone there to do.
"My apologies, Bakugou." the villain responded. Bakugou and the villain were the only ones in the area, leaving another pang of fear with his classmates.
Bakugou made a sound of confusion as more noise suddenly surrounded the area. Grunts of people were heard as the area began to clear of the smoke and leave a barren wasteland.
"You have failed me again, Tomura." All for One said staring Tomura down. "But you mustn't lose heart. There will be more chances to set things right. That's why I've brought along your little band."
He turned to look at Bakugou, who was scowling.
"And the boy... Because you have deemed that he is an important pawn. So try again. That's what I'm here to help you do."
He reached his hand out to a kneeling Tomura, the world around them looking as if it had faded away for a moment; that it was just the two of them alone, together.
"It's... All for you..."
The students had become more tense as they heard what All for One was saying, specifically Izuku. Sweat dripped down his face, his eyes stuck on the ground as thoughts flew around in his head.
My body wouldn't move back then. That's why I couldn't save you.
But now I'm frozen out of fear! While you're right over there.
He must not realize we're here, or he wouldn't be talking so freely.
It's about six or seven meters to Kacchan from here! I could use full cowling and reach him in under a second...!
But what then...? Could we really get away...?! Where to...?! And everyone else would be in big trouble! We need to plan here... for everyone!
Izuku broke through the impossible barrier of fear, shaking as he stood up.
Either way... I have to do something!
He turned his head in the direction of Bakugou and All for One.
If... If I don't act now... Then...
Before he could move another step, his shirt was grabbed. Izuku whipped his head around to the perpetrator and was met with the determined face of Iida. The others had their own expressions of shock and fear. The silence was deadly, a tense atmosphere present. Iida's hand still grasping Izuku's shirt, like if he let go Izuku would become another hero tossed aside. There was a clear thought that Iida had shown through his actions:
I will protect you.
All for One's voice was once again heard in the distance. "I knew you'd come..."
Suddenly a figure almost to fast to be seen was rushing straight towards All for One, the only thing visible was the colors of blue, yellow, and red.