Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned here.
This story was made with the sole purpose of entertainment and is not intended to be taken seriously in any social, political or religious context under any circumstances.
As such, the actions and/or viewpoints expressed by the characters in this story do not automatically reflect the opinions of the author.
This purely fictional tale is not meant to neither educate nor serve as any kind of moral example to follow by whomever consumes this type of content willingly.
"My Hero Academia" and its characters created by Kōhei Horikoshi.
"Superman" and its characters belong to "DC Comics".
My Hero Academia: Heroes Fall
II
One For All, All For Nothing
The sun dangled at the peak of the blue sky, blanketing the Earth with its silky warmth. Vast, pristine clouds strolled the firmament, carried along by a soft breeze brushing the verdant shrubbery.
A faint, briny scent permeated the air. Birds chirped merrily around the trees as Izuku jogged uphill across the mountain trail.
Smiling, he took in the peaceful scenery, since his task was rather simple.
On this bright day, Katsuma got separated from his sister and lost his way. An all-too familiar occurrence that evoked a déjà-vu sensation within him.
Could this be another ruse of the kids being cheeky? Another 'test' of his capabilities?
Whatever the case, his goal remained the same.
'Find Katsuma and Mahoro, then bring them back safely. Like a hero well should…'
Also, he really dreaded a second scolding from the young but fearsome Mahoro.
Moments later, Izuku slowed his pace, stopping once he reached the summit.
Pensive, he observed the dense forest surrounding him, extending far and wide throughout the horizon line. Sprinkled across the prairie, dusty bricks marked the spots for ancient ruins which were long gone, remnants of a different time.
Yet, Katsuma's whereabouts continued being a mystery…
He gazed again at the wooded terrain, huffing.
Due to the amount of bushes populating the area, it truly felt like searching for a needle inside a haystack.
Rubbing his chin with his index and thumb, he looked down, thoughtful.
'Plenty of places to hide, this will be difficult. But who said a hero's duty was easy?'
However, something in his peripheral vision piqued his interest.
Izuku took a few steps, then crouched before various marks on the soil beneath him.
Among the faded traces from bicycle tires and paw-prints left by the local fauna, two pairs of shoeprints caught his attention.
Each impression wasn't bigger than his hand. Plus, given their noticeable depth, unlike the other markings, these ones seemed fresh, new, meaning that the Shimano siblings may have crossed through this road.
'Shoeprints! They can't be far from here-'
Suddenly, his whole world went dark.
Izuku's body immediately tensed, preparing for battle.
But just as quickly, he relaxed after feeling the warm softness sheltering his sight.
He wasn't worried anymore, or even mildly annoyed. Quite the contrary…
Sighing delighted, he raised his hands, and gently lowered the tender palms covering his eyes.
Glancing behind himself eagerly, he found she who lives in his heart. She who became his reason to live.
"Kyoka…"
"You know you don't have to do everything on your own, right?" Jiro sported her distinctive, earnest look which always frightened and mesmerized him.
"I'm just trying to be self-reliant, that's all."
"Cute, but there's nothing wrong with asking for help from time to time," she withdrew slightly, kneeling beside him. "What did you find?"
"These shoeprints," Izuku pointed to the markings on the ground, his white-gloved finger delineating the meandering trail in front of them. "I'm sure they belong to Katsuma and Mahoro. They must have passed through here recently."
Jiro didn't reply. She merely tilted her head, pursing her lips while staring quietly at the imprints.
"Um… Isn't this place is a hot spot for tourists, too? What makes you think those kids left them?"
"First, the size, and how they're arranged. Can you see how uneven they are? It seems like one of them was leading the other, probably Mahoro guiding Katsuma before they became separated. You can also tell by the depth and the shape of the prints. If you look closely-"
"Alright, I get it! Geez, it's hard to talk to you when you go on full mumbling-mode."
"S-Sorry…"
"I'll make you regret it later… But it's amazing, you know?"
Blinking, Izuku perked up and averted his attention from the soil, instead focusing on Kyoka as she gazed away, a fierce blush tinting her cheeks.
"How you pick up on the little details, and come up with complex deductions… It's cool…"
Upon finishing that sentence, she leaned onto his shoulder, keeping her blank, albeit serene expression.
Izuku still couldn't get used to this openness, this emotional vulnerability with someone else.
It scared him, and enticed him at unison.
For his own good, he truthfully sought bravery, confidence.
Nevertheless, the old insecurities unfailingly found their way back…
"I-… I think you're cool, too…" he whispered sweetly, almost inaudibly, but he knew she could hear him loud and clear. "I lov-…"
Therefore, he bit his tongue on the last part, being too afraid of crossing that line.
Taking that leap would seal his fate. A fate he would embrace willingly.
If only he considered himself worthy of her affection…
"Ky-Kyoka?"
"Hmm…?"
"We're still going to see the fireworks tonight, right?"
"I don't recall saying otherwise. Do you?"
"I guess not…"
The couple lingered in this way for several minutes. Unmoving, united, enjoying the tranquility and the faint zephyr enveloping them until the ticking of the clock lost all relevancy…
"Ahem…"
Izuku's eyes widened, the abrupt call triggering the fight-or-flight response in his system.
Though this time, the rude awakening wasn't quelled by the comforting presence of his girlfriend.
Spinning, rising from the ground, he met Uraraka giving him a small smile.
"I-I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" she said, awkwardly rubbing the back of her neck.
"U-Uraraka! I-I'm so sorry!" Izuku lifted his hands and waved them to the sides, feigning innocence. "I-I didn't mean t-to get distracted! J-Jiro and I-I were just-t- I w-was just s-showing her how t-to-"
"It's alright, Izuku," Jiro spoke calmly, also standing up. "My fault, I shouldn't have distracted you. Let's find those kids before you get scolded agai-"
Out of the blue, she fell silent as a grave, and somber as a gravedigger…
"J-Jiro?"
"Kyoka, is everything alrig-"
"Someone's coming this way," Jiro crouched again, her earphone jacks extended, plugging into the soil. "Through that cave!"
She pointed to the hilltop, where an enormous gate crowned the base of the mountain. Moss clamped across its fissured, crumbling threshold. Inside, a bottomless, lightless void greeted them, invited them…
Dismissing their uncertainty, the trio swiftly headed for the baleful cave.
Once there, they were received by never-ending darkness inundating the entrails of Mount Shiroyama. There is no movement, no sound beyond the umbral. Just an eerie mustiness, damp coldness, and unfathomable echoes.
"I can't see a thing," Izuku mumbled. "And I don't have a lantern with me."
Uraraka approached from behind. "I think my phone has a flashl-"
"Deku!"
After the ear-piercing cry, the group remained speechless, startled, frozen in place.
'That voice…'
He instantly recognized that voice…
The shadows withdrew, unveiling the sight of young Katsuma emerging from the cavern, running posthaste.
"Ka-Katsuma?" visibly worried, Izuku kneeled to welcome the frightened child rushing towards him.
"Deku!"
Without a sliver of restraint or care, Katsuma threw himself against Izuku upon reaching his side.
Soon, Jiro and Uraraka joined them.
Izuku wrapped his arms around Katsuma, providing what little comfort he could.
"You have to h-help her!" Katsuma exclaimed between sobs, pulling out slightly from the hug. "Please save her!"
Hence, Izuku was able to see Katsuma's state more clearly.
Trails of dry tears traced his cheeks. Dirt stained his worn clothes and his disheveled, brown hair. Numerous cuts, as well as bruises, covered his limbs, among which a grotesque scrape on his knee stood out the most.
"Katsuma, what happened!? Who did this to you!? Who-"
Sharply, unrelentingly, the ground shook with a thunder…
The trees wobbled, causing the birds to flood the sky and disappear amidst the clouds, ensuing the noise of a thousand wings fluttering in the atmosphere.
"W-Was that an earthquake!?" Uraraka asked.
Then, the soil unstoppably trembled anew…
So they all fell… The entire prairie pulsated, blistered before sinking into its original shape a second later.
"That doesn't seem like an earthquake…" Jiro said while she rose.
"It's him…" Katsuma whispered, earning the trio's attention.
"Who is-"
And unbelievably, the hill shattered, splitting open.
A storm of rocks propelled upwards. The Earth waved following the eruption, sending everyone to fly in different directions throughout the freshly-formed canyon.
Being catapulted off the ground, Izuku lost sight of Kyoka and Uraraka during his flight.
However, even in mid-air, he continued holding onto Katsuma, despite the overwhelming force of the cataclysm.
'Do not let go of him! Don't fail him!'
A short time passed, and Izuku gracelessly landed on his back with a loud 'thud'.
Lying motionless over the grass, he stared loosely at the heavens, wincing. When the pain lessened, he gazed to the small kid cuddled in his chest.
"Katsuma… Are you okay?"
The boy nodded silently, giving him a hopeful look.
"G-Good…" Izuku sighed, smiling feebly. "Don't worry, everything's gonna' be-"
There was another quake, stronger, sounding closer.
The sun unexpectedly obscured.
Lifting his vision, Izuku encountered a lofty figure in front of him.
A hulking, human-like creature with ample limbs, hidden underneath a full-body green costume resembling an anti-radiation suit.
Oddly, the newcomer appeared to be restrained by some kind of thick, lustrous steel wires encompassing his torso in a straight-jacket fashion, save for his left arm which remained unbound.
"De-Deku?…"
Growling, the stranger glared at them through blood-red goggles reflecting their distressed faces.
"It's okay," Izuku frowned. "I'll keep you safe-"
Not granting him a chance to do anything else, the creature rose his massive foot, and brusquely brought it down against them…
Izuku tightened his embrace surrounding Katsuma, then rolled sidewise in the last moment, successfully avoiding the stomp.
Nevertheless, the attack carried enough might to fracture the soil where they previously laid, also eliciting a gust of wind that launched them several meters away from their original position.
Again, Izuku made a crash landing over the pasture once his brief instant airborne concluded. Yet, he kept Katsuma above him, so he wouldn't suffer any injury after the impact.
"K-Katsuma… Are you alright?"
"I-I… Ah!" glancing backwards, the kid shrieked frightened, growing pale.
Alarmed, Izuku looked past him, meeting the harrowing picture of the stranger rapidly lunging at them with his fist held high.
He tried to collect himself, he needed to move quickly! But this monster was faster, already too near for an evasive maneuver.
As such, he did the only feasible thing in his mind.
Izuku spun, curling into a ball atop Katsuma, willing to protect him, no matter what…
Gritting his teeth, he anxiously awaited the strike coming his way…
Which never arrived…
Instead, a deafening rumble drilled his skull, the ground reverberating at a steady pace.
Bewildered, Izuku released Katsuma and turned, sitting on the grass, witnessing a baffling event.
The villain ahead of them recoiling, attempting to cover his ears with his free hand while a distorting vortex enveloped him, subdued him.
"Stay back, we got this!"
In the distance, Izuku spotted Jiro casting a concentrated soundwave from her stereo boots.
Seizing the opportunity, he stood, placing Katsuma behind him as he did.
"W-Wait, 'we'?"
By surprise, the hostile stranger disappeared below a colossal boulder plummeting upon him, elevating a large smokescreen into the firmament.
"Re-… Release…"
Swiftly, the fog of dust engulfing the prairie grew thinner, and Uraraka came through, panting, pressing her fingertips together.
Thus, the environment became peaceful…
"Katsuma, are you hurt?" easing his erratic breathing, Izuku glanced to the little boy beside him.
Looking up, Katsuma shook his head, pouting.
"G-Good… I'm glad…"
"Izuku!"
"Eh?" before he could turn completely, Kyoka pounced him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Are you okay!? Le-Let me look at you, how many bones you put through the blender this time?"
"I-I'm fine. S-Sorry if I worried you," Izuku laughed nervously. "Thanks for the help, though. But what about you?"
"I'm good… We're good…" she replied, withdrawing from the embrace. "But what the hell just happened!? Where did that guy come from?"
"He's the one who attacked us!"
The three students simultaneously focused on the weeping kid accompanying them, who gave them a sorrowful look in return.
"Katsuma," Izuku crouched to level with Katsuma. "What happened in that cave? Do you know who that villain is?"
"I… I…" the child stammered, his sight dropping when tears filled his eyes. "Ma-Mahoro and I went inside the ancient ruins after we called you. I fell on a hole-e… And when Mahoro came looking for me, we found a spaceship, and that monster came out of it… I told her not to go… I'm-I'm sorry, Deku. This is all our fault… I-I…"
After that, Katsuma broke into sobs and hugged Izuku.
"It's okay, Katsuma. We'll find Mahoro. Everything is going to be okay…"
"A spaceship?" Uraraka joined the conversation. "In the ancient ruins? That sounds strange."
"Whoever that villain is, he seems to be some kind of prisoner, or test subject." Izuku let go of Katsuma and got up, facing the girls.
"A prisoner?" Jiro furrowed her brows. "What makes you say that?"
"His costume doesn't look like it was designed for combat. It looks more like a contention suit. And those wires, all that machinery appeared to be restraining him, since he had one arm tied behind his back."
"Hmm… We should check again for more clues. Uraraka, can you move that rock?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, s-sure. I'll just-"
Suddenly, the boulder started shaking, quivering…
"Uraraka?"
"Tha-That's not me…"
And the villain re-emerged, lifting the gargantuan rock with only one hand.
The group collectively stepped back, gawking awestruck as the green goliath bent his arm, then threw the boulder forward…
"Watch out!"
In the nick of time, Izuku grabbed Katsuma and jumped, evading the gigantic projectile carving a lengthened path across the prairie.
"Katsuma, get to safety, quickly!" alighting far from imminent danger, he put the young boy on the ground safely.
"Bu-But that villain-"
"I'll be fine," Izuku flashed a beaming smile, hoping it was convincing enough. "Go find Uraraka and Kyoka."
Katsuma's face formed a downhearted grimace. However, he still obeyed, and ran away until his silhouette disappeared amongst the nearby bushes.
'Katsuma will be safer with Kyoka or Uraraka, but I can't see them anywhe-'
An overwhelming tremor interrupted his train of thought. Spinning, he found the villain stomping towards him, undoubtedly ready for battle.
But he's also prepared…
Izuku inhaled deeply, tensing his muscles. Emerald lightning-threads covered his limbs when he summoned his greater power, the strength of many flowing through him.
No more defensive play, now's his turn to attack.
He crouched, placing his hands on the grass, with one leg folded against his chest, and the other supporting his weight upon the soil.
'One For All, Full Cowl!'
Steeling his nerves, he catapulted himself onwards, flying slightly above the land while he neared the villain at top speed.
During the split-second they came face to face, the monster swung first.
Nonetheless, Izuku had anticipated this, and ducked under the stranger's fist as it crossed over his head, effectively dodging the strike.
Finding an opening, he dug his feet into the ground, stopping his advance so he could pivot.
With the villain opportunely turning his back on him, Izuku leaped forth, swinging his leg, fiercely hitting the monster's side in a roundhouse-kick
The kinetic energy from the bash pushed Izuku rearwards, helping him create space between him and his foe. He stumbled, his shoes brusquely slipping over the dirt, but once his being lost all momentum, he quickly recovered his footing.
Catching his breath at a safe distance, he waited for the stranger to either falter or fall, remaining confident about having dealt a fatal blow.
Although, something wasn't right…
He realized something wasn't right when his leg began pulsating, throbbing achingly.
An acute, excruciating pain devouring his muscles, rapidly spreading to the rest of his body.
Izuku hissed loudly, wincing. The agony forcing him onto one knee while he clutched his injured leg.
In that moment, a faint sting on his palm piqued his curiosity. Looking down, he discovered a wide crack around his heavily-dented shin guard, causing his blood to freeze.
'This is not good…'
Then, he turned his gaze ahead, falling prey of dread…
Because the villain still stood, unscathed, undaunted by his strike.
Izuku's eyes grew wide as plates, cold-sweat forming on his nape.
'That kick carried the 20% of One For All, and it didn't even scratch him? Just how strong is he?'
Shortly later, the stranger charged against him anew, growling like a ravenous beast.
Alas, Izuku was wholly paralyzed…
He couldn't move, the pain crippled him greatly, he definitely has broken through concrete softer than that monster.
So there he lingered, resembling a deer caught in the headlights while the creature approached him, going for the kill…
'G-Get up, Izuku!… Move!'
Until the monster came to a grinding halt, swiveling, adverting his attention from him.
Izuku let out a shaky gasp, startled, mystified, relieved. A motley amalgam of conflicting thoughts assaulted his mind.
After that, a sudden blur struck the villain, a fast-traveling rock bouncing off his head. A sonorous whistle ensued, echoing across the breeze.
"Over here!"
Both green-clad warriors glanced at the source of the call, which resulted to be Uraraka's distant figure, gracefully floating above the treetops populating the prairie.
The stranger snarled deafeningly and jumped towards her with tremendous might, fracturing the soil below him in the process.
"Uraraka!" despite the profound soreness plaguing him, Izuku's first impulse compelled him to chase the creature.
Unfortunately, a mysterious, tight grasp around his wrist anchored him to the spot and yanked him down. Yelping, he clumsily landed behind a shrub, the unknown grip enveloping his forearm unexpectedly vanished.
Driven by adrenaline, he raised a closed fist, decided to throw a punch.
"Shhh!"
He almost didn't hear the quiet hiss. Following the initial commotion, he relaxed his stiff posture, encountering Jiro in front of him with little Katsuma beside her.
"Ky-Kyoka?" Izuku narrowed his eyes. "What are you-"
"Hold that thought, I'm calling for reinforcements," she interrupted him, gluing her phone to her ear. "Pick up the damned phone, Mina… Mina! It's Jiro! Listen, we need backup at the old ruins, there's a villain here… Yes, a villain! He's not playing around and we have a kid with us… You're a lifesaver, Mina. Thank you."
"You spoke with Ashido? What did she say?"
"Good news is that help's coming," Kyoka replied, saving the device within the pocket of her pants. "Bad news is that we have to keep our new friend busy until then."
Izuku said nothing in response, his vision fell on the grass as he silently pondered.
"That villain is very strong, and resilient," he muttered to himself. "Took a direct blow from One For All at 20% capacity without even flinching. So we're at a clear disadvantage in terms of raw strength-"
"Izuku…"
"He also seems capable of jumping long distances and great heights, but that could mean he lacks any kind of flying capabilities. If we could find a way to keep him in the air, we would be able to attack more freely without worrying about-"
"Izuku!"
Taken off guard, Izuku hopped on his stance when the sound of Jiro's snapping fingers reached him.
"You're mumbling again," she said exasperated. "If you have a plan, I'd like to hear it."
"I-I don't have one yet. All I can think of is that we stay on the side of his bound arm to avoid getting hit."
"Ugh, great. What are we supposed to do now!?"
At that instant, Izuku quietly contemplated Kyoka as she started to bite one of her nails, her signature frown growing less subtle than usual.
It was out of character for her to be this tense, he thought, because she normally remained serene during the most challenging trials.
Later, his attention drifted towards Katsuma awkwardly sitting between them, hugging his legs against his chest, his saddened stare lost in the horizon.
Even if they kept him relatively safe, Izuku could tell that the young boy suffered great distress inside. His clothes were battered, much like his body and probably his spirit too.
Lastly, he peeked over the bush concealing them, concentrating on the remote performance of Uraraka in the air. Meanwhile, the emerald goliath hunted her down through herculean leaps, flailing his free arm to catch her, getting dangerously closer each attempt…
The ill omens broke his soul, tested his resolve.
'What would All Might do?…'
The situation surpassed any exercise, school assignment or internship. Innocent lives hung by a thread. The people of the Nabu Island counted on them, trusted them.
Students or otherwise, they are their heroes, and this is their land to protect.
'What would All Might do?' the answer, at least for him, was perfectly clear.
"Kyoka, go with Uraraka and get Katsuma to safety," Izuku spoke solemnly, swiftly standing up.
"W-What!?" Jiro blurted out, blinking in disbelief.
"I'll buy you time, but you have to hurry, Uraraka needs your help."
"Wait!"
Another grasp stopped him. A tender, more pleading hold on his wrist.
Turning, the sight of a scowling, flustered Kyoka welcomed him.
"There's no way I'm letting you fight that freak on your own!" she exclaimed, still clinging onto him.
"I won't fight him, I'm just stalling him until help arrives."
"We'll do it together! You just saw him punch his way out of the ground and lift a rock the size of a truck. With one hand literally tied behind his back, mind you!"
Anew, Izuku maintained silence while the realization dawned upon him.
'She's really worried. D-Does she really care this much?…'
Since his earliest years, Izuku dreamt of becoming an inspiring hero who always saved the day. A dependable hero which nobody should worry about, for they would forever be unharmed under his care, whatever the circumstances.
So he chose to comfort her in the only way he knew how…
Kneeling again, Izuku smiled, placing his palms on Jiro's shoulders.
"It's alright, Kyoka…" he cooed, bringing her closer to him, gently patting her back in a reassuring manner. "I only want everyone to be safe. I want you to be safe. Just remember… No matter what happens… I'll always lo-… love you. Always…"
Izuku's heart began racing. It felt like a liberation from heavy shackles.
Was it joy? Happiness? Relief? He wasn't certain. He simply relished the warmth of Kyoka's embrace tightening lightly around him.
Afterwards, he withdrew to face her, their gazes locking…
Jiro's expression endured blank, impassive. She moved her jaw as if to speak, but no words came out. A lone tear falling from her chin into the soil.
"I-… I can't be mad at you, nerd…" she eventually found her voice, albeit feebly, hoarse. "I'll be back with the cavalry. I promise…"
Without warning, Jiro leaned forth, closing her eyes, and planted a soft kiss on Izuku's freckled cheek.
He gasped sharply, goosebumps appearing throughout his whole being.
This wouldn't be the first time they had kissed, nor was it the most daring sign of passion they had shared with each other.
Nevertheless, receiving someone else's affection remained uncharted territory for him, the mental scars from his quirkless age baring themselves all the same.
"Let's go, Katsuma…" just as quickly, she pulled away, rising.
Yet, Izuku smirked once more, his fingertips lingering over the skin that Kyoka's lips touched.
"Be safe, Deku…" getting up, Katsuma approached him, still crestfallen.
"I'll be fine. And I will find your sister, I promise."
Speechless, the child nodded faintly, retracing a few steps prior to joining Jiro's side.
The two of them waited a bit longer, giving Izuku a melancholic look before they sprinted in the opposite direction.
When Kyoka and Katsuma faded amidst the shrubbery, Izuku jumped out of the bushes, the numbness on his legs finally receding.
Nothing had changed, Uraraka continued maneuvering airborne to escape the monster's grasp, who was conveniently dropping down from an additional failed try.
'This is the moment!'
Izuku lifted his fist, holding his middle finger with his thumb, aiming it at the villain as soon as he landed onto firm ground.
'Delaware Smash… Air Force!'
He flicked his digits, and a powerful burst of pressurized wind released. An intangible projectile traveling across the prairie, exploding in a gusty cyclone upon impacting the monster.
Immediately, the stranger turned, unfazed by his attack, making Izuku's heart skip a beat.
'So far I haven't managed to hurt him. I need to strike harder!'
"Deku!" halting mid-flight, Uraraka called from afar.
"Uraraka, go with Jiro and Katsuma!" noticing her, Izuku yelled back, cupping his hands around his mouth. "I'll keep him busy until help-"
A thunderous bellow unexpectedly cut him off. He barely could react while the monster viciously pounced towards him.
Instinctively, Izuku leaped out of the way.
Subsequently, the villain plummeted into the track of soil he formerly stood on, fissuring it with a quaking punch, dust and dirt splashing the vicinity.
Retrieving his foothold, Izuku glanced beyond his enemy for a mere second.
'No sign of Kyoka or Uraraka, they must be out of danger by now.'
"Where's Katsuma's sister!?" he looked anew at the monster emerging from the newly-formed crater beneath him. "What have you done with her!?"
Izuku got his answer, an inhuman, ear-splitting roar of pure rage that shook him to the core.
'I have to keep my distance. I can't do anything until I see the full extent of his quirk.'
Huffing, he tensed his body, exhaustion started taking a toll on his system.
This stranger is not an ordinary villain.
There is no banter, no bravado, and no apparent goal to his actions.
Among the memories from his previous battles, the encounter against Muscular stole the spotlight in his mind. Fighting a towering behemoth whose abilities diminished the best virtues of One For All.
'I just need to buy them enough time…'
"If you won't talk, then listen!" Izuku shouted. "I don't know who you are or where you come from, but if you think I will let you harm anyone else, then you're- Huh?"
Ignoring his speech, the villain wrapped his free palm around a tree beside him.
And with a seemingly-effortless pull, he uprooted the entire trunk from the grass.
Then, the emerald goliath mightily threw the ripped-out tree against him.
Izuku crouched to avoid the strike. The trunk went above his head, swift as an arrow, closely followed by a strong breeze.
He blinked repeatedly, attempting to focus his senses, for the wave of air that accompanied the tree had stunned him deeply.
Horror possessed Izuku, because once his blurry sight cleared, the first image he met was the villain rapidly lunging at him, already swinging his fist forth.
His survival instinct kicked in again.
With little forethought, he leaped rearward, unconsciously crossing his arms in front of himself while the green-gloved fist of the monster flew on his direction.
He almost evaded the blow. Almost…
Izuku heard the crack before he felt it. The tip of the stranger's knuckle brushing his forearm ever-so slightly during his jump.
However, such feathery, nearly-imperceptible contact destroyed his limb and sent him to fly at neck-breaking speed.
He couldn't help the yelp leaving his lips as he was unwittingly propelled backwards, piercing through the dense undergrowth, rolling over the land like a ragdoll until the force from the impact fully dissipated.
Breathing heavily, lying supine on the ground, Izuku's vision found the sunlit sky.
'He-… He barely touched me! And yet…'
Gazing sidewise, the view of his left, wholly-bruised arm made him wince, a purplish coloration seizing his skin. A view he knew very well, but the pain never became any less unbearable.
'I-I can still fight! I just have to-'
Suddenly, a bone-crushing grip enveloped his calf.
The monster's massive hand clutched his leg and lifted him, flailing him as if he was mere cloth.
Only to abruptly smash him down with enough strength to bounce off of it.
The world around him turned into motley smudges. He couldn't even process the suffering when the stranger casually tossed him away in a short-lived flight.
Violently colliding with a nearby tree, he landed, sitting on the grass, his back resting against its trunk.
It took a moment for his brain to analyze the past sequence of events, and the immense ache that ensued.
Remembering his name, along his purpose, Izuku raised his gaze, every fiber of his being burning excruciatingly.
'Damn… My arm… I can barely stay conscious… But I have to keep fighting…'
As his hazy sight steadily focused, the voluminous silhouette of the villain appeared, walking towards him at a snail's pace.
Izuku sighed, frowning.
His next choices would spell victory or death for everyone he couldn't save if he didn't stop this creature here and now.
'This is not the time to worry about my well-being. If I want to stop him, I have to attack with the same ferocity as he does!'
"This is… not over yet!" he snarled, weakly picking himself up.
The monster kept approaching, paying no mind to his words.
"Whatever you're planning to do… I won't let it happen! If you want to hurt innocent people, or my friends, you'll have to kill me first!"
'Whoever he is, he's out for blood. I cannot let him leave unscathed…'
Clenching his right fist, Izuku anew called upon the gift of One For All, renewing his energies.
'One blow… I need to finish this with one blow… I have to make it count…'
"Your rampage ends with me!"
Thus, gathering all the strength he could muster in his legs, he leaped forward, launching himself like a missile.
The stranger responded accordingly, and charged against him, roaring.
'Delaware… Detroit… Smash!'
Outpacing his opponent, Izuku planted the punch on the monster's expressionless, shrouded face. The might of a thousand men shaking the surrounding shrubbery through an enormous shockwave.
'One For All! 1,000,000%!'
Howling loudly, painfully, the villain was forcefully pushed backwards, sending him to crash into a couple of trees in the distance, shattering them.
Meanwhile, Izuku dropped to his knees, completely exhausted, both arms now broken, dragging him as an anchor would sink a defeated warship.
Yet, despite the insurmountable odds, he had triumphed.
"I… I did it…" he whispered, smiling, proudly looking at his beaten foe lying on a bed of accumulated dirt and stacked logs.
With the battle finished, he loosened his stance, relaxing.
'I just hope… the others don't take… too long…'
Just to be interrupted once more by the sound of creaking wood reaching his ears…
He sucked in a sharp breath, catching a glimpse of the stranger slowly recollecting from the pile of rubble where he had put him a few seconds ago.
Thereby, the monster rose, shaking his head as if to alleviate an insignificant malaise.
"H-How?… It cannot be… It's impossible…"
That could've been the strongest blow Izuku has delivered so far. A strike that easily would have put his former enemies on the ground.
And this villain simply shrugged it off like a trivial inconvenience.
This wasn't over, though…
Ferric noises of iron grinding against iron filled the air.
Perplexed, Izuku continued staring at the stranger who, puzzlingly, remained rooted to the spot, squirming strenuously.
A heartbeat later, severed wires and steel plates scattered everywhere when the monster freed his tied arm from the shackles around him.
Regardless of the truest fear settling in his gut, Izuku lifted one leg, intending to stand, but an immeasurable tiredness froze his quivering muscles.
No matter how hard he tried, his body refused to obey.
'I have to keep fighting…'
It was too late…
Since the monster had jumped across the field, quickly landing before him.
The brief tremor elicited from his alighting made Izuku fall. Hopelessly looking up, the villain's obscured figure casted a wide shadow above him.
'N-No… Not like this…'
Incapable of fighting back, he clamped his eyes tightly shut, praying for his end to be fast.
Glaring at him with ravenous hatred, the emerald goliath clasped his hands together, moving them upwards, and then brought his joint fist down upon him.
'Mom… All Might… Kyoka… Everyone… I'm sorry… I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough…'
The pain, indescribable at first, soon turned to peace. Nothingness became his world as the Earth's sounds muted, leaving darkness alone.
In this day, Izuku Midoriya, ninth wielder of One For All, met his doom…