The final legs of the journey are coming to a close... The social distancing/quarantine/lockdown has me speed writing everything and editing real fast, so this chapter and the next are all edited and ready for upload. I'm not sure who's still following this fanfiction, but remember to stay safe! Wash your hands! For anyone who is also reading Breath of the Void, that's coming out today as well.

frostlash: So even if Chiron handed it over to him, Astolfo cant use Achilles' NP to its full extent- only Achilles can. The Apocrypha extra materials explain this I'm pretty sure but it's on the TypeMoon Wiki. I don't think I mentioned this last time, but Chiron can't give Ragdoll her Quirk. Chiron can't give people Quirks. It's not possible since Quirks ≠ Magic. They're not the same. Chiron can give people Noble Phantasms and he can teach people things that they're suddenly able to pick up very quickly because of his Divine Gift skill, but that doesn't extend to taking and giving. That's All for One only. Chiron cannot take Ragdoll's quirk from AfO and give it back to her. Once again, Quirks ≠ Magic, so Chiron couldn't give Ragdoll her Quirk back even if Divine Gift worked that way.


As soon as the Rider had hit the ground, Gran Torino had zipped him to where Gang Orca was collapsed. With any luck, the prone heroes would be kept out of the fight. In the same instance, Gray and Musashi were working on rescuing the woman.

"Hmph," All for One schooled his shock before he readied another blast. Musashi pulled the woman onto her back before leaping up and out of the way, Gray following closely as a second blast was released.

Chiron and All Might dodged, the Archer releasing another rain of arrows— most of which were bat away with a flick of the man's wrist, but some managed to pierce his defenses. All Might, despite his weakened and half transformed state, rushed at the Villain, throwing another super-powered punch that was blocked. All for One tossed All Might aside before raising a hand to blast Chiron. He only ended up getting shot again before the Villain had to turn his attention elsewhere to block arrows from Gray. Musashi grabbed Gray as she ran past, a blast of red-edged black lightning striking the spot where she had been a moment after. Gran Torino rocketed past the two, striking All for One in the face before bouncing off and landing by Chiron. The aged hero continued his assault before the villain smacked him away, effectively ridding himself of the arrows that were headed his way as well.

"A valiant effort," the man said, arms swelling before he snapped his fingers. Gray yelped as metal wrapped around her leg, keeping her in place. In the split second it took for her to look at what was keeping her stuck the villain had already fired a blast at her. Both Musashi and Chiron lunged to intercept the blast but All Might was quicker, rebuffing it with one of his punches and kicking up a cloud of dust and wind. Gran Torino leaped forwards, catching Musashi— who had been the closest— as she flew back. Chiron landed on his side before rolling onto his feet, wincing before he gasped softly when the dust started to settle.

All Might stood there, fist raised but in his true form. Gray had been thrown to the ground behind him from the blast, but was otherwise unharmed.

Her eyes were wide as she gazed up at All Might, though.

"Mister All Might—"

"Are you unharmed, Young Gray?" he asked, spitting blood onto the ground with a painful-sounding cough. She nodded, gripping Add tightly as the metal let go of her. "Yes— but why— I- I—"

"Because," the man said, clenching his fist tightly and his blue eyes burned like flames. "I'm a hero."

"How utterly regretful," All for One sighed, though there wasn't an ounce of regret in his words as he flicked his hand, using metal sheets from the rubble underfoot to block Chiron's arrows.

"But it was only inevitable, I was planning on revealing all of your lies that were built up either way," the villain continued, "Those hollow cheeks! Those sunken eyes! A pitiful excuse of a hero, if I've ever seen one!"

He stretched his arms out before startling a bit as Musashi started to laugh. The woman's grin was more of a snarl as she rushed the villain. Her blades clashed with arms wrapped in metal before she was forced back.

"If sunken eyes and hollow cheeks mean you can't be anything great then you're nothing, you faceless potato fuck!" she snarled. "He lives and breathes, does he not? To have weakness and not be who people assume is what makes a hero!"

Her voice was clear and strong, ringing out into the night as she spoke.

"A woman whose body failed her yet she cried out and begged to return to the battlefield so she could fight along side of her comrades!" she continued as she landed, though if the villain was listening or not was a mystery as he blocked and dodged a barrage of Chiron's arrows again. "A man who stood upon a bridge unwavering even as he was shot full of arrows! A king who stood before the Queen of Monsters without wavering even as his body turned to stone! A knight whose arm was lost and yet he reached the gates of Avalon! It's not the body that creates the hero, but the spirit!"

"If it's the spirit that makes the hero, then I'll crush that as well," All for One snarled, blocking another strike from the Saber before he was forced to leap away from Gray bringing her scythe down on him. Gran Torino rocketed past, nailing the villain in the face before he took off again. In the same instance, Musashi and Gray both ducked and the villain had to quickly dodge both arrows from one side and the sudden appearance of the two-handed greatsword as it swung for his head.

"You're right, Miss Musashi," All Might grunted as he shifted the sword in his hand before it vanished. "Though the body may rot and wither away, the spirit still stands firm!"

The man clenched his fist again as Gray and Musashi landed next to him, All for One having backed up and pulling arrows from his arms.

"I am still the Symbol of Peace, even as I am now," he declared, "Nothing can take that away from me."

"Is that so?" All for One asked, seeming to raise a brow as he held his arms out to his sides. "Then… what about this? Shigaraki Tomura is Nana Shimura's grandson."

All Might instantly stopped, freezing up and gazing at the villain in shock. "You're lying," he grit out after a long moment and Gray glanced to Musashi in confusion. The Saber just shrugged.

"I was wondering how long I would wait to tell you this," All for One said, "And when would be the right time in order to disturb you the most."

"You're lying!" All Might roared before the black-clad man pushed his thumbs up against his cheeks.

"Where's that smile now, All Might?" he asked, tone mocking.

"You… You scum!" he cried, anguish rolling off of him in waves. Musashi grimaced, glancing around for Gran Torino before a flash of pink made her look up.

"All… Might…" Astolfo's voice cut through the night and all eyes turned to the boy who had clawed himself up onto the rubble. The Rider's exhaustion was evident as he leaned on his lance, but held his fist up. His body battered and bruised. "You can't loose… not with… S.. Saber- with Siegfried... with you…" He managed, arm falling back to his side as he tipped backward. "You have to win…"

Threads pulled tight and held Astolfo suspended for a moment, slowing his fall before he hit the ground. Not far from them, Best Jeanist's hands twitched. Chiron knelt over the man, a hand pressed against the gaping hole in his stomach.

"Can… you hear them…. All… M… Might…." the Fiber hero wheezed, blood soaking his high collar where his mouth was. "The... people out there… wa… watching… praying…" His head lolled back as his consciousness left him again. Chiron grimaced before he stood, lifting the man and moving him to a safer spot. All for One gazed down at them all from where he had risen up into the air.

"You're right…" All Might uttered, clenching his fist as power rushed through him. "Astolfo, Tsunagu, I'm sorry for faltering. Miss Musashi and Young Gray… and Gran Torino and Chiron, as well, forgive me. There is so much that us Heroes still have to protect, so that's why… we won't lose."

"Tch…" the villain raised his arm, "Wounded heroes are the most terrifying of all."

"If you think that's the case then you're gonna hate us!" Musashi yelled as she readied her swords. Her eyes widened as a blast of flame raced towards the black-clad villain. He dissipated it with a swing of his hand, but that was all the time they needed as Gray leaped back. Add transformed back into a bow and both she and Chiron let loose arrows. Most were also knocked away, but a number pierced through his defenses again.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WITH THAT WEAK LOOKING FORM OF YOURS!" A voice roared as Endeavor and Edgeshot arrived on the scene.

"AND YOU," the flaming hero thrust a finger in Chiron's direction. "THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE QUICK, HOW MUCH LONGER ARE YOU PLANNING ON STALLING?! YOU'RE LETTING THAT GIRL DO TOO MUCH!" Gray 'eep'd as a finger was pointed in her direction. "YOU PLAN ON GETTING HER INJURED LIKE THAT PINK BRAT?"

His gaze landed on Musashi. "I don't know you."

"You can still yell at me if you want," she said, "I'm not going to step on your style."

"Save the lecturing for later," Edgeshot uttered and Chiron sighed, but his lips twitched upwards in amusement.

All for One seemed a bit put off at the bickering on the battlefield but turned the attention back to him with an interested hum.

"Even though they weren't that strong, for you to have dispatched the Nomu I sent so quickly. As expected of the man who rose to be the Number Two Hero," All for One said.

The Flame Hero only glared, gritting his teeth. "Dammit All Might…" he growled, "In order to surpass you I worked myself to the bone, only to realize how much of a gap there was between us… the stronger you got, the angrier I got… SO STAND UP AND SHOW THEM WHY YOU'RE BETTER! YOU WERE GRANTED THE SAME GIFT AS ME FROM THE SAGE!"

"If the only reason you're here is to cheer him on," All for One sneered as he raised his hand again, red-edged, black lighting sparking at his fingertips. "I'd prefer if you remained silent!"

"Think again, you savage!" Edgeshot said, leaping up and attacking in a burst of speed. "We've arrived to assist!"

From the edges of the rubble came Kamui Woods, wrapping his limbs around Gang Orca, Mt. Lady, and Best Jeanist as he leaped from the fight. "Because that's our job as heroes!"

"Everyone!" Gray gasped softly as Tiger burst from the rubble, holding Ragdoll close to his chest. The man scooped Astolfo up as well.

"If we can just help a little, then we have fulfilled our duty," he said.

"If you guys are rescuin' that means we can get to the fun part!" Musashi said before she leaped up, swords flashing as she joined Edgeshot and Edeavor's assault— Gran Torino not too far behind.

She slashed at his head before she landed, pivoting and leaping back up. Gran Torino slammed into All for One, though it was blocked by his hand and the aged hero was tossed back. She swung at him, though missed as the villain simply leaned back and out of her way. Edgeshot passed her, aiming for the villain with a kick, but he too was dodged. She landed by him, reaching back and pulling one of her other swords out of its secured spot and tossed it to him. He caught it without a word before she took off again.

She slashed at All for One as Edgeshot attacked from the opposite side and the Saber readied her sword to slash at him again. The hero landed on her sword as he was dodged and she grinned, locking eyes with him before she swung her sword. The ninja flew through the air, drawing the blade that the Saber had tossed to him and slashing at the villain's face. Blood splattered the blade and though the cut was shallow, it was still a cut. Both of them landed before Endeavor blasted the man with flames.

All for One countered the flames as he reached up, wiping the blood from his cheek and looking down at it. Without a word, he held his hand out and blasted the ground, sending her, Edgeshot, Gran Torino, and Endeavor flying back. Gray caught Edgeshot by the scarf, digging Add into the ground so she didn't get blasted and Musashi felt Edgeshot wrap around her wrist. A flash of gold made Musashi squint in the direction of Chiron as the Archer managed to keep Endeavor from flying back into a mess of metal piping and concrete slab mesh. She didn't know where Gran Torino was as the dust and smoke cleared.

All Might stood alone as All for One taunted him, one of his arms having transformed into a grotesque fusion of muscle, flesh, and metal.

Edgeshot released her as Gray let go of him, the Assassin panting as she drew Add from the ground.

"He's layered Quirks on top of one another…?" Gray murmured and Musashi and Edgeshot exchanged a glance.

That didn't sound good at all.

Chiron galloped over to them as Endeavor moved to higher ground. All Might and All for One clashed again.

"Edgeshot!" Chiron called, skidding to a halt next to them. "You and Gran Torino need to leave immediately!"

"What!?" Edgeshot asked but stopped as Chiron pointed to the black colored lance that Endeavor had, his flaming beard and mustache subsiding as the normally hotheaded man stood still.

"All Might is out of energy," he said, glancing back to the fight between One for All and All Might. "It's time for us with Noble Phantasms to step up. Endeavor was right, I stalled for far too long. I should have ended this as soon as I sensed Astolfo's signature get weaker. I don't want either of you to get in the middle of this."

The ninja-like hero still seemed conflicted, but nodded. He handed Musashi her sword back before taking off. Gray glanced up to the centaur as she picked her other swords up.

"Gray," he said, "I'm entrusting the most powerful blow to you. We'll give you as much time as you need."

The Assassin seemed hesitant but nodded slowly.

"I will use the aftermath to fire my own," he added. "And I won't miss."


Musashi references Okita and Benki from actual history ("actual") and then Leonidas and Bedivere from the Grand Order. This is the Musashi from Epic of Remnant, but since EoR and Lostbelt Musashi might be different people (let's just say they are for this canon), our Musashi wouldn't know about Ivan or any of the other sacrifices of Lostbelt Servants.

Also I really wanted someone to call AfO a potato fuck. It was gonna be Astolfo but then that happened and you know. someone had to do it. I wanted All Might's true form to be revealed so before anyone asks why Gray didn't just enter spirit form when she was trapped just remember, the blast was very fast. By the time she had looked to see what had grabbed her it was already on its way. Could Gray have withstood it? Yes. Probably. Did All Might want to take that chance? no.

Also rip Best Jeaist. You will be missed.