Chapter 16:
The television was on in the villains' secret hideout/bar in Camino Ward, in the Kanagawa Prefecture. Zach was watching it with nervous thoughts filling his head as he stood next to a stool at the bar. The news was running nonstop about the villain attack, and Zach had seen his own face several times in the past hour alone. Shigaraki Tomura sat on a stool not far away from him, and the villain turned his head from the tv to the other student with them who was still locked up tightly to a chair.
"I'll ask you once again, aspiring hero, Katsuki Bakugo," Shigaraki began.
There's no point, Zach thought, though he turned his head as did the other villains to watch.
"Will you join me?" Shigaraki asked, staring over with one eye between the fingers of the hand attached to his face.
"If you're gonna talk in your sleep, then you should just go to sleep and die," Bakugo taunted.
What does that even mean? Zach wondered, though he got a nervous feeling by the way Shigaraki started looking at Bakugo after hearing it. He's running out of patience here. Bakugo's not budging an inch.
"What's the matter?" Mr. Compress began from across the room where he was leaning on a wall. "You're comrade has already accepted it, and so willingly I might add."
Bakugo's gaze shifted from the masked magician towards his fellow classmate standing behind Shigaraki. The kid standing there with messy black hair had on an all black outfit, having changed when Kurogiri popped back in that morning and brought him a change in clothes. He ate better than Bakugo too, and right in front of the boy still wearing his same dirty clothes, chained up and furious. Zach could tell Bakugo wanted him dead, or at least that's what the look in Bakugo's eyes was telling him.
"Hey, turn it up," Magne said, grinning and pointing towards the tv which made all the villains and students in the bar turn to see staff from U.A. at a press conference. At the bar, Shigaraki lifted up his remote and pointed it at the tv that Zach moved out of the way of so the leader could see it. He stepped back and they all stared at the screen as the person telling the news narrated what was happening.
"…a clip from U.A. High School's apology press conference that just occurred."
"Aizawa sensei," Zach muttered. "He hates being on tv," he whispered.
Shigaraki started smirking, as did the other villains around the room. Zach could not find it in him to even fake a smile though as he stared at the three staff members on the screen. So Vlad sensei was alright. That's good. I didn't hear about any fatalities, but I was worried about his condition. Zach stared blankly at the screen even as he thought in relief. The homeroom teachers and the principal. They have to do this, but what's an apology going to do? There's nothing they can say…
"We deeply apologize for this incident," Aizawa began. His hair was slicked back over his head and he was wearing a suit, and Zach could hardly believe it but he was clean shaven as well. Aizawa continued, "That allowed harm to come to 36 first years because of our unpreparedness. We apologize for causing unease in society due to our negligence in properly defending ourselves in a place of learning…" All three of the staff up there bowed and flash photography went off as the reporters took pictures. "We are truly sorry."
"Hehehe…"
"Ha… ha ha, haaa…"
"And the society starts to crumble," Spinner said, the green-skinned villain smirking wide. "All from Stain," he said, his mouth curling up even more at the idea of following Stain's legacy.
"This is where it begins," Kurogiri said from behind the bar. "The faith was already shaken, but multiple events, and one of this magnitude," he did not finish but there was no need to. The reporters at the press conference were doing their job for them, asking what the teachers were planning to do about this, even though everyone knew there was nothing the staff could say that would ease the people's concerns.
Principal Nezu started talking about how they would deal with the families and increases in security, but the answers were unsatisfactory, and Zach could only imagine how restless everyone watching this must be getting. They're looking for answers from the U.A. staff, but they don't have them! Faith in the top hero institution is shaken, almost broken…
"…Yes, I'm with Extra-Insider tv," the next reporter to speak up said. "One of the students who has gone missing, presumed abducted by the heroes, is none other than Sazaki Zach correct?" The man continued without pausing to allow that question to be answered, as everyone knew the answer to it already. "That same student was responsible for a death on school grounds earlier this year. This is troubling enough, considering the same student who should have been watched with more care than any other was taken by the villains, but what is more troubling is a rumor that I would like to hear your statement on."
Zach's breath caught in his throat and everything around him dulled to a low hum. All the noise of the villains in the bar with him, his own breathing, it all drowned out as he heard the reporter say, "That Sazaki Zach chose to follow the villains of his own free will."
The entire press conference got loud and everyone started shouting at the same time. Zach's bottom lip lowered, and he whispered, "How did they- who would-"
"Oh," Shigaraki began, and Zach's eyes opened even wider as he slowly turned his head to the right. "Did you want that to be kept a secret?" He questioned, smirking from behind the hand. "You should have said something."
"You- why would you?" Zach whispered, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Because, that was the whole point," Shigaraki said. "Getting you two on our side is important, because I want more allies. But at the same time it's important for breaking down this false society. You want to do the same, right?" He lifted his head and grinned, looking into Zach's eyes as the boy stared back at him, still in shock.
"I just," Zach began, lowering his gaze while turning back to the tv behind him. "I have a family," he whispered. In his head he could see them: Jenny, both of her parents, sitting at the dinner table and staring at the screen right now with wide, disbelieving eyes. "Would have liked for them, to believe, it was a different story," he said. But I did go with them. I chose to be a spy, without telling anyone else my real reasons. Who could back me up if I ever tried convincing people? No one. That's right. No one would ever believe me. Zach stared at the screen, and he saw the teachers on it both look towards the principal. He had seen Aizawa open his mouth as if to respond right away, but he also saw Vlad King lower his gaze with an angry look on it. I was, too convincing, Zach thought, as the villains smirked at him, as Dabi mentioned to him that his family would have figured out anyway, as Mr. Compress told him he was sorry it had to be that way.
"U.A. currently does not have a statement to respond to that," Principal Nezu began.
That's it, Zach thought, his wide eyes going back to normal size. Should I just, be a villain? He wondered. The thought crossed his mind and he did not even scold himself over it. He lifted up his right hand and stared at it while turning to look over the bar, where there was a mirror he could see his reflection in. That was, the nail in my coffin. I can't go back. Not answering a question that simple, "no comment," is like the same thing as saying I've totally turned into a villain. They didn't just seal my fate, they destroyed their own reputation. Shigaraki Tomura started laughing at the outrage at the press conference at that response, then he turned off the tv and turned back around.
Bakugo started yelling at Zach's side, screaming at him angrily over what just happened, but Zach was drowning him out while staring at his black glove. What am I… doing here? He wondered, staring at his hand and opening it up in confusion.
Kurogiri hummed from behind the counter of the bar. It seems he has finally realized, he can never go back now.
Zach was not even trying to hide it. If he thought for a second, he would realize that the way he was acting was giving away that a part of him still thought he could go back to the hero side if he was given the chance. Dabi smirked though as he saw the realization on the kid's face. Even Toga smiled where she was standing, laughing to herself while her cheeks turned red at the sight of the boy's eyes shadowed by his messy bangs.
Did I just, destroy hero society? Zach wondered. I always thought, even with my Quirk, that I was trying to do right. As long as I put effort in and tried, I believed that it was the right thing to do. I came here to save Bakugo, to take down the leader of this organization on my own, but did I think about what that would do to the world? No, I've been here for two days, and it's going to fall apart now. Even if I take them down, more villains will… unless, those villains realize it was all a ruse. If, even U.A. staff were in on it and they just had to say that stuff at a press conference in order to keep the villains tricked into believing my ploy. Hold on, that could even be why they helped me out, maybe?! Anything's possible! If Aizawa or Vlad sensei thinks that maybe I chose to join to be a spy, they could be helping… me… Hold on, tricking the villains, into complacency, by having a press conference, that's a really, good idea…
Zach turned towards Bakugo and his eyes narrowed down, his expression darkened and his right fist that he had clenched in front of him lowered to his side. Bakugo leaned back at the look in Zach's eyes, determined and set with conviction now like he had not seen since the darker haired boy had walked through the portal. "Bakugo," Zach started. "It's over, Shigaraki's right. You should join us." Bakugo! Listen to my screaming thoughts if you can hear me you idiot! We're about to get out of here! "The hero society is broken at its core, don't you agree? Come on, I know you. We're friends. You've never agreed with the current methods, they're too restricted for you."
"Once heroes receive compensation to save people," Spinner began while leaning on the wall. "They aren't heroes anymore," he finished. "That is Stain's teaching."
Shigaraki leaned to the side and started to the kid tied up and darting his gaze around the room at them all, "The strange system of transforming people's lives into money or glory. The society that sticks tight to those rules. The citizens who blame the losers rather than encourage them… Our fight is to question: What is a hero? What is justice?"
I'm so fucked. Thinking for a second that the heroes would call me a villain, or even imply it by not responding, that's not a plan on their part. Even if they do have something planned, I'm not a part of it! Because I'm not what they think of as a hero! This society has always rejected me. I've broken the rules. I joined with the villains. I didn't run away, and I threatened my classmates, I even attacked Midoriya! I'm standing here telling Bakugo to turn into a villain, while thinking that he can hear me thoughts?! How could anyone just assume what I'm thinking? Even I don't know what I'm thinking half the time!
"Is this society really just? We'll have everyone thinking about it," Shigaraki said. Then he leaned forward and continued with a grin, "We're planning on winning. You like winning too, right?"
Katsuki Bakugo's expression narrowed but it no longer looked afraid. "Dabi, release his restraints," Shigaraki said.
Zach spun to the leader in surprise, then to Dabi who said that Bakugo was going to attack them. Holy crap, this is a terrible idea. I can't tell him that he's misreading Bakugo though. If I do, then what if he just decides to kill Bakugo? And what if, if he releases Bakugo, then I have my chance? Is that my opportunity? As soon as Bakugo sets off his first explosion, I take off my glove and kill Shigaraki. I'll be shunned by hero society. People will look at me funny for it, and I might get arrested, but if they find out that the U.A. student really was just infiltrating to try and stop the League of Villains, it will restore faith. In fact, it will restore more than what's already been lost if I can end this, right here, right now!
"It's fine!" Shigaraki threw his arms out to the sides after Dabi's complaint. "We need to treat him like an equal too, since we're scouting him. Besides," Shigaraki's arms lowered back down. "You can tell if you'll win or not if you fight in this situation right, U.A. student?"
No, that's not it, Zach thought while looking at Bakugo's expression. You can't expect him to react like other people would. He heard Dabi telling Twice to go release him, and he took a step back while looking at Bakugo's face. Alright, if Bakugo does what I think. I'll have my opportunity- Zach spotted Dabi after Dabi ordered Twice to release Bakugo instead. He stared at the villain with spiky black hair, as the man looked back towards him and stared straight into his eyes. What does he know? Is he still suspicious, or is he just looking at me? Zach stared back for a second, before turning to follow Twice towards Bakugo's chair with his eyes. He stopped looking already. Was that just a random look, or is he really watching me? Is anyone else in the room keeping an eye on my hand? How fast are they? If I reach for Shigaraki, how long will it take Kurogiri to open a portal and make my hand miss. What if, what if he makes the second portal appear next to my head… Zach's eyes opened wide and he started breathing faster, though he forced it out his nose while narrowing his eyes again, focusing on Bakugo's hands as Twice started to release them.
Whatever I do, the decision is right now. Compress is behind me to my right. He could hear the man talking to Bakugo to apologize for being rough back in the woods. He's the most troublesome, because if he gets me there's nothing I can do. So I should get him first, but at the same time that will give all these experienced villains time to prepare for me and not let my hand touch. Bakugo's cuffs came off, and Zach knew what was coming. Spinner to my right. Dabi in front of me to the right, possibly already suspicious. Kurogiro left behind the bar, but his range is everywhere. Toga leaning over bar, close, and dangerously insane. Twice will get hit by Bakugo. Magne to back-right, and she's fast and strong. One hit from her and I'm done, I think. So many strong guys.
Shigaraki was walking forward and talking about how they and Bakugo were the same, then Bakugo jumped up with a knee right in Twice's face, and he slammed a palm forward and made an explosion hit Shigaraki at point blank.
He barely stumbled back, Zach thought with wide eyes, his left hand down at the base of his right glove on his wrist. He did not dart his eyes to the side, but he saw Dabi's eyes shoot towards him, so he stayed put while holding his glove like he was just preparing for combat and nothing more. The gray hand fell off of Shigaraki Tomura's face, and Bakugo stood up while saying in a low, cocky voice, "I listened to you go on and on. Idiots can't get to the point, so they're always talking for a long time…"
Bakugo, Zach thought as he looked towards the boy lifting his head. He knew he would be able to tell when he looked into his eyes, now that Bakugo was freed and they could work together. When Bakugo's gaze lifted though, he did not even glance back towards Zach. He, doesn't realize-
"…'We wanna harass people, so please join us,' right? Don't bother," his voice came out as a hiss this time, and his eyes glared over at Zach this time.
Is it too late for me? Zach wondered, his left hand loosening on his glove. Why am I still doing this? Why am I, trying?
Bakugo lifted his right hand, his fingers curled up and a smile across his face as he said in a threatening voice, "I want to win like All Might. No matter what anyone says, that will never change!"
No one believes in me anymore, Zach thought, looking towards Bakugo with dark eyes and without the sweat the other villains had on their faces after Bakugo's attack and declaration. Everyone else will have given up on me, because of that press conference. I don't have a phone to tell them otherwise. I can't show my face or the police or heroes will get me. The last shred of hope I held onto, was that I could save Bakugo. That I could destroy the League of Villains. But what's… If I do it, will Bakugo forgive me? Will the others welcome me back? Could I rejoin society? And if I could, would I want to? Look at how easily they gave up on me. Each and every last one of them. I know I'm convincing, but come on Bakugo, I called us "friends" a minute ago, couldn't you tell I was trying to send you a message, considering we've barely talked to each other?! I guess, he didn't know me well enough to figure even that much out. I guess, no one really knew me well enough.
I went with the villains to save my friends. I went with them to save Bakugo. I went with them to save hero society. But, even if I did save a few people. Even if I did, make a difference in some people's lives. Kirishima's face appeared in his mind, then the others he left behind back at the camp. He thought about Midoriya who he stopped from going through the portal, and Aoyama who he prevented Dabi from going after, which wound up saving Tokoyami as well. Even if I did, make a small difference, he thought. Two faces appeared in his mind, Mom. Dad... This is the point of no return. I'm no longer able, to save people like you did. I can't save enough, to ever make up for all the ones you couldn't because of me. Not in that method. Not, as a hero.
Bakugo shouted at all the villains that he was going to kick their asses since he was still permitted to fight, and they all responded to him while moving towards him to get ready. Only Zach, and Shigaraki who kept staring at the hand that fell off his face, still weren't moving. "Father," Shigaraki said in a quiet, insane voice, his left hand twitching and lifting at his side.
"Don't! Shigaraki Tomura," Kurogiri called out from behind the bar as he heard that.
Zach lifted his head and the entire top half of his face was shadowed over. His left hand slid his glove more off as Kurogiri yelled, "Calm down!"
The hand Shigaraki was raising moved to the side and pointed back, making every person in the room stare at him in surprise. Zach's head lifted a little and his darkened expression got a bit confused, as he thought Shigaraki was about to try and kill Bakugo for sure. Zach noticed it but did not turn his head, but Dabi was staring over at him with wider eyes than usual at the expression shift on his face. "Don't touch him, any of you," Shigaraki said. He reached down and grabbed the hand Bakugo blew off his face, and he stood and reattached that to cover his face up again. "This guy, is a valuable piece."
He's being smart, Zach thought, glaring at the back of Shigaraki's head. He's not letting his emotions get the better of him. He's not as childish as I thought, and he's making rational decisions. With a guy like Kurogiri supporting him, he really could do all this on his own-
"…Sensei, lend me your power."
Zach's dark eyed started to widen, and then he heard the voice behind him and he slowly turned his head. He looked back at the television behind him where a voice came out of, but only the word 'SOUND' was written in purple on the black screen. "That was a good decision, Shigaraki Tomura." The voice came out of the screen low and in a proud way like the man was glad Shigaraki held back.
"You're not the boss around here?" Bakugo asked with a bead of sweat coming down his face but still a big smirk on it as he prepared to attack them all. "That's not funny!"
"Kurogiri, Compress, make him go to sleep again," Shigaraki ordered.
There is a big boss. Which means, Zach's dark look started to disappear. I, I really couldn't end things in one night. No matter what I do, I can't destroy the League of Villains, and I can't save my name. I can help save Bakugo, and that's it. What happens after that, I'll just have to accept! I can't just kill them all, I can't even try. It wouldn't change the game, it would only pile up more bodies! Even if those bodies save other lives though? When does killing one hero, and killing several villains, even it out? How can I hope to catch my parents by only counting it when I save people one at a time? I have to look at the big picture the opposite way too, don't I? It wouldn't be heroic, but it wouldn't be villainous either. Well, it would from our society's standpoint. But I think, it would be like an, anti-hero. Zach's lips curled up, while his body was shaking and his eyes darting to the sides.
Here we go. Kurogiri and Compress, the most difficult two. They're going to try and knock out Bakugo, but it won't be easy. He'll fight back, and then I kill the rest of them. It doesn't matter that it won't destroy the League. It doesn't even matter that I'll be killing people. I can save Bakugo! I can stop these guys from killing innocent people in the future! So I'll do it! Right here! RIGHT NOW!
Compress started walking past Zach on his right side, Zach's left hand tightened back over his right glove, Dabi saw him and started moving, while Kurogiri moved for Bakugo as well though only using his Quirk. Knock Knock. Everyone in the room turned to the front door where two knocks just came through.
"Hello! This is Pizza-La, Camino Store."
A pizzeria? The chances- are none! Zach pulled back and crossed his arms in front of him.
CRASH! "SMASH!"
The wall on the side of the room behind where Spinner had just leaned off exploded inwards. Zach turned while lowering his crossed arms, looking into the center of the debris breaking inwards where he saw All Might in all his glory, punching a hole through the building. He stared at All Might like all the others, in shock. And, Zach thought, while dropping his crossed arms. Shigaraki shouted for a Gate from Kurogiri, but Kamui Woods dropped in from the top of the hole and swung an arm forward, extending wood from it in branches that bound up every single villain in the room. It's over, Zach thought, as he closed his eyes and prepared for the wood about to wrap around him.
He waited, then he opened his eyes in confusion. He spun towards Dabi who tried using his flames to burn out of the wooden binding, only for an old hero who Zach recognized to shoot in and slam a foot into the back of Dabi's head so hard that the villain got knocked out and he could not use his Quirk. Gran, Torino, Zach thought, before looking around again in confusion at the scene around him.
"Just what I'd expect from one of the most competent new heroes around, Kamui Woods! And the veteran faster than the eye can see, Gran Torino!" All Might shouted out. The muscular hero in blue and red and yellow, the Symbol of Peace, the number one hero lifted his head and looked in the room with a smile on his face. "You can't run anymore, League of Villains. Why? Because we are here!"
"All Might," Zach whispered while staring straight ahead at the hero in front of him.
"Right after the press conference," Compress began, leaning up while being held down by Kamui Woods. He sounded like he was struggling for air, but he managed to get out, "Don't tell me this was pre-aranged?"
"Ahh, no," Toga squirmed in pain.
"Tree man! Stop pulling me! Push!" Twice yelled.
"When one is on the offensive is when one neglects defense the most," a voice came from the door.
Zach turned his head and looked over to see a hero he recognized sliding into view through the door. Edgeshot, he thought at the sight of such a famous and top tier hero.
"We're not the only ones from Pizza-La Camino Store," the number 5 ranked hero added, opening the door and allowing the dozens of armed police to start rushing in. Edgeshot then continued with, "Outside you're surrounded by skilled heroes like Endeavor, and the police."
"I'm sure you were scared," All Might stood up fully and looked towards Bakugo. "You did good bearing it." He looked back towards Zach and he added, "You as well. It's fine now, young men."
"I wasn't scared!" Bakugo shouted, then he snapped his gaze down and glared towards the center of the room. "And what are you talking about?" He continued, while Zach turned away from All Might towards the other boy. Zach still looked shocked that he did not have trees wrapping him up, but his shocked look straightened out as he faced Bakugo and saw the furious look in his eyes.
So I wasn't just imagining it, Zach thought, glad he was not going crazy. He opened his mouth to say something, but Shigaraki started speaking first.
"After I went through all the trouble to prepare this, why are you coming to me, you last boss?"
Zach lowered his gaze from Bakugo to a man between the two of them. Shigaraki was on the floor wrapped up in Kamui Woods' Quirk right in front of the stools. Bakugo saw where Zach was looking and he stepped forward, "Don't you even think-"
"It can't be helped," Shigaraki said, while All Might was turning to Bakugo to tell him to calm down for a moment. Bakugo stopped though as Shigaraki continued, "'We're not the only ones here?' That goes for us too. Kurogiri! Bring as many of them as you can here!"
"Nomus I presume?!" All Might shouted back.
Bakugo went wide-eyed, while Zach clenched his fists and prepared for them to appear all over the room. The boy still confused at what his role in this room was thought, Nomus aren't people, not really. I'll kill them without-
It was taking too long, and Shigaraki spun to the bar, "What's the matter, Kurogiri?"
The man hidden in the shadows of his warp powers had sweat on his seemingly gaseous face. "I'm sorry, Shigaraki Tomura. The Nomus that were supposed to be in a fixed location, are not there!"
Zach watched as All Might started laughing, calling Shigaraki green and claiming that they had won on every front. The boy with messy black hair looked over to Bakugo and saw him watching All Might, then they both looked back over as Shigaraki started a rant about justice and heroes. It's not over though, Zach thought. They may have stopped the Nomus with another team. And this group here. But that voice I heard… He's gotta be the mastermind. Behind Stain, behind USJ, behind Shigaraki. "Sensei." Shigaraki's following this guy's lead! But, with the heroes as impressive as they are, can he do anything with his army all captured? With the police, and the heroes… they even figured out who all these guys really are?!
The boys listened in as Gran Torino listed off each of the villains by their real names, saying it only took the police a night to figure it all out. Gran Torino stood before the shocked villains who thought they hid their identities well, and he called out, "Do you understand? There is nowhere left for you to run." Then the old man looked towards the villain with wavy gray hair. "Hey Shigaraki, can I ask you where your boss is?"
Zach spun towards Gran Torino. They already know about that too? There's nothing, nothing I got out of this that the heroes wouldn't have been able to do on their own! Zach turned back, and he looked towards Shigaraki with a growing grin. Even if I did nothing, it seems like they really were just playing the villains with- Zach saw Shigaraki's eye twitching behind his hand, and the boy felt chills down his spine he had not felt for a while when he looked at that man.
"This… This is… unsatisfying," Shigaraki's voice came out shaky and deranged, and even Bakugo stared at him in silence and a little nervously. Even wrapped up in wood, unable to move, Shigaraki sounded like he was still going to try and kill them all. "Don't be ridiculous… Don't be ridiculous…" Gran Torino got some sweat on the side of his face too, while Zach's open hands slowly started to tighten at his sides again.
In this situation, with All Might and all these pro heroes, the best idea is to just side with them and fight against the villains. Pretending to be on their side doesn't help me anymore. Zach clenched his fists and glared at Shigaraki, while All Might spoke on his right side, "Where is he right now?"
"Go away," Shigaraki whispered in a raspy voice. "Disappear…"
"Shigaraki!" All Might yelled.
"I HATE YOU!" Shigaraki screamed.
Gray explosions of some liquid or gaseous substance blew apart the air on the sides of Shigaraki Tomura. Every person in the room spun towards them, including Shigaraki himself, in shock at their appearances. Screeching and growling noises came from inside the splashing pools of silver-gray Quirk-substance, and then their heads pushed through. Zach's fists stayed clenched, even as the Nomus pushed through the holes. Their monstrous appearances terrified him as usual, but All Might was at his side, heroes were all around him.
"Nomus? They came out of nowhere!" Kamui Woods exclaimed.
"Edgeshot, what about Kurogiri?!" Gran Torino called out.
No, that's not his power, Zach thought, but when he opened his mouth to say something, he froze instead. Do it! Yell out! Just help the heroes like a hero would-
"He's still unconscious," Edgeshot said after checking, and Zach clenched his teeth that he hesitated too long. "He didn't do it!"
More strange portals were appearing all over the bar, with Nomus coming out of all of them. The monsters were different sizes, most of them gray or black, and they all had their brains sticking out of their heads while they screeched in terrifying voices.
"Kamui Woods! Do not let them go under any circumstances!"
They're everywhere! Zach thought as one was appearing right above him, and he stepped forward to get out of the way. As he took the step though, he felt a strange sensation inside him.
Zach coughed and out from his mouth came a huge mass of the liquid-y substance that was so gross he thought he would puke if his entire mouth was not full of it. It splashed out of his mouth and surrounded his face and body faster than he could step forward. He heard All Might shout his name, followed by Bakugo's, and he clenched his eyes shut as the liquid hit him in the eyes. I'm being teleported, but it's so much grosser than Kurogiri- "Ack agh," he was finally able to breath and he dropped to his knees, coughing up the strange substance and then wiping his tongue at the lingering taste that made him want to puke.
His eyes squinted open while he faced the floor between his hands. He stopped coughing and he focused on what he was looking at, wondering if it was a street or something, then he lifted his head to see Bakugo standing and coughing on his right side, and a man standing in front of him while he stood there coughing. The figure Zach looked at made his body tense up in terror, his mind reeling and his heart speeding up. "Bakugo," Zach whispered, barely able to get the word out to try and warn the boy of who was standing next to him.
"I'm sorry Bakugo," the man said, and Bakugo stopped coughing while lifting his head and exclaiming, 'Huh?!'
Zach heard the splashes behind him, and in the corners of his vision he saw them falling at his sides. Everyone escaped. They all got out of there.
Bakugo spun around and looked at all the villains grabbing at their mouths and complaining about the tastes, and then his eyes focused on the person closest to him who was on his hands and knees and looking up in his eyes. Bakugo, still doesn't trust me! Zach thought in panic as he saw Bakugo's face. What's going on? Weren't the heroes there? Weren't the Nomus taken care of? It felt like, the heroes had won the day. But this guy, his voice is… and he was the only thing I… Zach started standing up as the others did the same behind him. Heroes, aren't going to win?
The thought terrified him, but at the same time, Zach realized where he was. Bakugo doesn't seem to realize it yet, Zach thought, as his eyes darted around. These are destroyed buildings. There are heroes, lying around- Best Jeanist too? Even, the number 4 hero, can't stand up to this monster. All Might and that Gran Torino guy, who was teaching Midoriya, they know him. He's, the last boss. Like Shigaraki said about All Might. This, is my last boss!
"Sensei," Shigaraki said, on his knees in the middle of his conscious subordinate villains. Kurogiri and Dabi were still unconscious, but they had been saved too and were laying on the ground of this destroyed area right behind where Spinner was crouched.
"You failed again, huh, Tomura?" the dark man said. He wore all black, including a mask over most of his face that also had some strange metal contraption attached to it. He started walking forward, calmly stepping towards them while everyone stared his way. None of the other villains still standing had seen this man either, and Zach could see them all looking tense as they stared at him. "But do not be discouraged. Just try again. I have brought your associates back as well. Even this boy." He added it as he neared Bakugo.
Why doesn't he mention me? Is it because Bakugo was still fighting back, and I wasn't? But if he was watching, then he should have seen that the heroes were going to let me get away- The man turned to him next, "And this, thing," he added. Zach's eyes shot open huge while the figure kept walking, continuing to Shigaraki, "Because you judged that they were important pieces."
"Thing?" Zach thought. What is he talking about? Is he just… being an asshole?
The man walked right past him and Bakugo, then he held a hand out for Shigaraki to take. Zach stared at his back and he reached for his right hand, only to feel the most intense fear he had ever felt in his life at the pressure exuding from that man's back. His hands trembled, and he lost all ability to breathe. He beat the number 4 hero. All Might thinks he's a big threat. Just because I have a strong Quirk, doesn't mean I can do a thing! Even if killing him meant saving the world, that doesn't mean I'm any stronger!
"Do it over as many times as you need to," the figure said, while standing in the middle of a desolate area littered in unconscious bodies and toppled structures. "That is why I am here. It's all for you."
Bakugo trembled and ground his teeth because he could feel himself shaking. He looked over to see what Zach was thinking at a time like this, only to see Zach's arms trembling themselves as he held his left hand on his right wrist. Why didn't the heroes… Bakugo thought, but he turned back as the scariest villain started talking again. "You're here, after all, aren't you?"
Huh? Zach thought, then he spun his head and snapped his gaze to the sky. Bakugo saw his movement and picked his head up too, as did all the villains ahead of them. They only saw it for a second, before the thing flying towards them crashed down into the man in black, and All Might yelled, "I'll have you return everything! All For One!"
"Will you kill me again, All Might?" All For One questioned, sounding like he was smiling behind that mask from his tone.
The collision of these too was too intense for Zach to watch. He crossed his arms to protect himself, but the wind was still too intense and knocked him backwards. The ground beneath the collision broke apart and Zach found himself being thrown backwards along with rocks and debris.
All Might and All For One faced off, with All For One saying that All Might had taken too long to get there. Bakugo lay on his side trying to hold himself on a piece of ground without falling off since everything was at different levels around there, and he barely heard their conversation as he was too busy thinking, He held back All Might, with his bare hands!
Bakugo felt a hand grab him by the shoulder and he turned his head, only for his eyes to grow huge at the sight of the boy behind him tugging on his arm. Zach's face was full of sheer panic. Now's the only chance! While the dust is still in the air! While I'm the closest one to him! 'Run,' he mouthed the words to Bakugo then he staggered backwards and he fell to the floor grabbing at his own chin.
Bakugo stood up and looked down with wide eyes at the boy who just fell away from him, but who was looking up while grabbing at his face like he just got punched, a desperate look in his eyes. "What are you doing?" Bakugo growled at the boy whose eyes widened even more. "What do you think, you're telling me-"
You idiot! Just leave me behind! What if All Might needs help? What if he injures the bad guy but lets him get away with these others, with me? What if I can finish him off when he's wounded? There's too much I can do here with my Quirk! I want to just grab you and run, but this guy is killing top heroes! He's created a villain society, and he's absolutely mad! He's giving the reigns to Shigaraki Tomura for what reason? All I can think of is he finds it amusing, but there must be a deeper reason. For now though, I know for sure that he is the most dangerous man in the world, and I might actually be able to kill him right here. The one person, I can't hesitate to kill. All For One! He's going to destroy the world! Zach stared into Bakugo's eyes as he thought all that, and for the first time since Zach walked through the portal into the bar, he saw a look on Bakugo's face that looked maybe something like understanding.
"We're going!" Bakugo shouted, and Zach's bottom lip dropped as he was obviously wrong. "You're going to-"
"I will get those young men back, and this time I'm going to throw you into prison for sure!" All Might yelled, pulling his elbows in to the sides and making his muscles bulk up while his feet cracked down on the floor. "And all of the League of Villains you control with you!" He roared, before shooting off the ground towards All For One like a missile.
The boys had barely started talking, they had barely started turning to All Might and his opponent, and they would have had no idea what had happened if All For One did not slow down All Might with his power. He had lifted one hand and out from it released such a force that it became visible in the air, just the force alone. It was so powerful that the floor beneath All Might shredded, and All Might's punch was cancelled in mid-throw, while the hero was thrown backwards so hard that he smashed through a line of buildings far away from them. Building after building fell, the entire city falling apart around them, Zach could only stare in silence as the dust cleared and the damage became clear to him.
Zach stared back towards All For One as he heard him talking. What are those things he's listing? Quirks? All those, are his Quirks? That's insane!
"All Might!" Bakugo yelled.
"Even without your worry, he won't die from something like that," All For One said, turning back to Bakugo again.
Zach leaned away and took a terrified step backwards as the man looked their direction, then he spotted another figure on his right that made him stop and dart his gaze over. His eyes widened as the dark leader of the League of Villain spoke to that wavy haired man, "So run away from here, Tomura, and take those children with you." All For One lifted his hand and out from his fingers shot black protrusions with glowing red lines on them. The thin black lines shot up in the air and cut at sharp angles over towards Kurogiri whose back they shoved straight into. "Kurogiri, get everyone out of here."
What is he doing? Zach thought while spinning around.
Magne ran forward at the same time and called out that Kurogiri was unconscious and could not use his power. She shouted at the man who brought them there to just warp them away himself, but the dark man replied in a calm voice, "I just got mine, Magne. On top of only being able to transport short distances, unlike his coordinate transport, I can only bring people to me or away from me." Kurogiri's body started twitching and everyone looked towards it as he finished, "And I can only send them away to someone I am very familiar with. So I'll have Kurogiri do it!" A huge black portal with purple on the edges of the circle exploded out of Kurogiri's body as All For One called out, "Forcible Quirk Activation!"
He has too many powers. But, he told Shigaraki to get us out of here. That must mean he's staying to fight All Might. In that case, I don't have to worry about him. Zach turned to Bakugo who started looking around as he realized how the situation was looking.
"What about you sensei?" Shigaraki asked, concern in his tone.
A crash sounded in the distance and the villains all spun to see something flying out of a collapsed building. All Might rose high in the air and swung his arms behind him to propel him down at All For One like a missile. The villain started flying up in the air himself, showing off another of his amazing Quirks. "Think constantly, Tomura," All For One said. "You still have much more room to grow!"
"I won't let you run!" All Might slammed a fist forward and the wind blasted off the collision of the two men in the air, but since they were farther away now it did not throw everyone off their feet this time.
All Might and All For One were about to start their battle, and the villains knew it was their time to go. The portal was open, and Mr. Compress walked over to Dabi and bent down next to him, transforming him into a marble while calling out, "Let's go Shigaraki! While the pipe mask guy is holding All Might back! Get your piece," he added, and Bakugo turned his head and glared back towards the entertainer.
Zach stood in between Bakugo and the villains behind him. Shigaraki stood behind on his left, and he saw Toga on his right and back a little. He was facing Bakugo like the rest of them, watching as Bakugo's eyes darted around at all the villains in front of him, including his classmate. "Oi, bastard," Bakugo began in a low growl as his gaze shifted past Zach. He spoke in a low voice not meant for the other villains to hear, and he continued while looking towards Shigaraki who was about to move from what he could see. "What are you, really doing?"
All Might's eyes darted over as he pushed a fist into All For One, to see the two boys facing off with a ten foot gap between them, and all the other villains looking their way. A bead of sweat formed on his face and he pushed away from All For One to try and rush them, but the black lines shot out of All For One's fingertips and tried to pierce All Might, making him jump back to avoid them.
All Might's blocked, Zach thought. He saw Toga running up on his right, and Twice behind him took out his weapon and slashed it forward. He stood still though as the wire blade shot past his right arm towards Bakugo who leaned out of the way to dodge it. Toga ran at Bakugo and started slashing her knife, and Zach could see the desperation on Bakugo's face, even as he swept his hand at the floor in front of him, blowing it apart and forcing her back.
I don't have a Quirk to use against them. I don't have one to use against Bakugo either, since Shigaraki wants to save him. If I take off my glove, he'll know I'm trying to fight them, because I've talked about caring about my classmates. Zach's eyes were huge as Compress ran at Bakugo's back, but the blond boy noticed first and pointed a hand down, using an explosion to blast him up over Compress' arm and body. He flipped and landed even farther from All Might who tried rushing back, only to be caught by the black lines sticking out of All For One's fingers and thrown back halfway across the city.What can I do?!
The villains all moved up around him, until they had Bakugo circled. It felt like they must have been cornering him like this on purpose, even though Zach had thought Bakugo was managing to dodge them well. Himiko Toga, Magne, Twice, Mr. Compress, Spinner, and Shigaraki stood around him, and then one figure walked up on Zach's right side. His body grew larger again, and Zach's breathing sped up as Ganeshi's huge form emerged next to him. They're not trying to get him to come along anymore. They're going to drag him by force. They'll hurt him- They'll hurt him!
"Are you holding back your strength?" All For One asked as he and All Might clenched their hands together. They were grappling for the stronger position, the ground beneath them cracking down and lowering in elevation, but the villain could still tell All Might was far weaker than he should have been. "To keep those boys from getting caught up in this?" All For One pushed back harder and All Might had to leap away as the man got too strong for him to push back on anymore. "It's rough isn't it?" All For One called to him in a taunting way. "To be these things called heroes!" He laughed and then added, his voice lower while his arms that he lifted at his sides lowered down, "Too hard for some to handle. For one on the edge, of hero and villain, what kind of thing could they become?"
All Might's gaze darted over, and he shouted, "Young Sazaki! Don't do it!"
Zach froze and his eyes opened wide. Two of the villains near him instantly looked back, while most continued attacking Bakugo to try and get him by force. Toga threw knives at Bakugo he was desperately dodging back and forth in midair with his explosions. Spinner leapt up at him to try getting at his back, only for Bakugo to bounce up with another blast and avoid him as well.
Attention of the villains around him turned back to Zach. The boy lifting his right hand, the glove that was ripped on the middle finger that he used his thumb to tear without removing it. He lifted his left hand first while stepping towards Bakugo in a fighting stance, but his right arm was lifting to his side towards Ganeshi's thick back left leg. The dark man turned his large head and his thick trunk swung to the side as he glared down at Zach, who stared forward with wide eyes as Bakugo landed. All Might, why? Zach thought, while lifting his right hand the rest of the way and standing in a fighting stance while facing Bakugo who looked his way, wondering why All Might called out to him to stop. And when Bakugo looked Zach's way, Zach smirked, and then he heard the crash behind him and he turned his head, darting his gaze over.
They're here, he thought, his bottom lip dropping. The wall shattered outwards, the other villains started turning too, and then the ice shot out from the breaking wall and created a massive spike rising over the entire battlefield and high into the air. Three figures went flying up that spike, sliding up all the way into the sky and flying off the top of it in a second. It didn't make sense, Zach thought as he saw who it was rising off the ice. All of my plans, and predictions, they were all logical and made sense to me. But I didn't even need to think about it, which is why I didn't consider it a secret, when I said to Shigaraki that he would come. It just sounded like something he'd do. I had no idea how he'd find us, how he'd come, how he'd do what he's doing right now! Zach started to grin, then he turned his head back to Bakugo whose eyes were wide as he stared into the sky.
"COME!" Kirishima yelled down, holding his hand out. Midoriya and Iida were carrying him through the sky off the top of the ice spike that had come out of nowhere.
Zach knew Todoroki must have been behind him somewhere too. They came, he thought, then his relieved smile vanished in an instant as Bakugo's head lowered and their eyes met. Zach's eyes grew huge, then he twisted a snarl in a second and he screamed, "RUN!"
BOOM!
Shigaraki sped forward and reached, but Bakugo's hands opened up and he fired huge explosions out of his palms, blasting him high into the sky. He reached a hand up as he neared the red-haired boy reaching down, and the two of them clasped each other's arms. Bakugo grinned as he snapped his head up, "What are-" Kirishima had a worried look on his face, looking past the boy he had just caught and back to the ground where another boy stood. Bakugo frowned and turned his head back, and then he stared down towards the area with wide eyes too. They looked down there, at the kid looking right back up, smiling wide in relief.
"He's-" Bakugo began, frowning deeper as he started.
"What?!" Spinner shouted.
Shigaraki's hands were shaking as his eyes locked onto Midoriya. "You- you show up everywhere!" He screamed in fury.
The other villains recovered fast and started running forward before the boys got too far. "Don't let them get away!" Compress called out. "Where are the long distance fighters?!"
"Kurogiri and Dabi," Spinner hissed as he stepped forward nervously, frustration over his face as he added, "They're both down!"
"You two, get close," Magne said, and the two turned to her to see her doing something with her Quirk. She held her hands out in front of her body pointed in at each other, blue light sparking between them as she showed off her Quirk, Magnetism.
Spinner and Compress got in front of Magne, the blue light surrounded their bodies, and they each started pushing back against Magne as the magnetism she put on them pulled harder and harder towards her, getting ready for a release towards the escaping teens. When facing an enemy larger and stronger, Zach thought, while sprinting at Magne. He leaned his head to the left and dodged a knife, but only barely so it still slashed across his right cheek and drew blood. He saw Toga in the corner of his vision seeing where he was running, but now that he saw her he was able to dodge the second knife, this time by sliding forward on the floor while Magne's back leg bent down under the pressure of the two in front of him. NOW! He thought, as he knew there was no time otherwise. Zach grabbed the front leg of the very masculine woman whose body was shaking hard enough as it was with all the pressure.
Disrupt their balance! Zach yanked Magne's left foot off the ground, and Magne started falling back right as she pushed forward, sending Spinner and Compress flying straight up in the air instead of towards the escaping children. The two villains screamed as they were sent soaring straight up, high into the sky. Magne fell backwards, her eyes opening wide behind her sunglasses as she turned towards the boy using all his strength to lift up, as well as he could in the position he was lifting in.
Zach had his left arm wrapped around Magne's leg. His feet were pressed hard on the ground below and behind him, but his left hand was grabbing his right arm as he pushed up, his right arm that was extended straight out instead of grabbing Magne, since he had already ripped a hole in one of the glove's fingers. "I won't let you!" Zach yelled. Then he jumped away as Magne hit the ground, as Shigaraki was running towards him. He jumped backwards, then he snapped his head to the side in midair as a knife flew towards it again.
"Don't kill him Toga," Shigaraki said as Zach was coming down. "This traitor can still be useful," his voice sounded furious. Zach could not keep himself calm, stumbling backwards after he landed only to feel one of the worst pains in his life as he was hit in the back. Zach hit the floor and the crushing feeling he felt in his spine got even stronger and made him scream. "Don't Ganeshi," Shigaraki said.
"As you… say, Shigaraki," Ganeshi said, while stomping down on Zach's back with less force than a second ago.
All Might shouted towards Zach, his gaze coming down from the ones who just flew off. All For One saw how distracted All Might was, and he shoved the black lines coming out of his fingers into All Might's chest. The hero spun around and yelled out in fury, but he was lifted high into the air and then slammed down a hundred meters away into the top of an already-fallen building. "Go Shigaraki, while you still have a piece-"
Shigaraki's head snapped forward, but a foot still grazed him and made his body spin around, then slam into the ground hard. "SHIGA-RAKI!" Ganeshi shouted, then he pulled back as something slammed into the front of his chest so hard that even his thick body could not help it. He pulled back, and after already lessening the weight he had put on the boy's back, his left hand which acted as a foot while he was on all fours like this came off of Zach's back.
"Let's go," Gran Torino said, grabbing the boy out from beneath the foot and racing to get out of there.
"Shimura's friend," All For One said as he saw Gran Torino. The short old man raced through the air with Zach in his arms, being careful of the boy's right hand even though he saw a glove on it. "That is Shigaraki's," All For One continued, and he held his hand up.
"I won't let you!" All Might roared, coming down for All For One with his fist pulled back.
"Warp," All For One said with his hand raised.
A pool of the silver substance surrounded Gran Torino and Zach, and the hero pushed Zach away as it had all poured out of his own mouth. Zach fell away from Gran Torino, turning back towards All For One while his face was covered in pain from the hit in his back. All Might slammed his fist forward, right as the old man appeared floating there between All Might and All For One. The fist collided hard even as All Might tried pulling back, and the force alone still pushed All For One skidding backwards. The villain in all black said as he skid backwards, as something bounced off his arm and shot away in the wind, "A shame. I had meant to use Shock Inversion too, but you were too fast All Might. Did you decide not to hold back, to give him time to get the child away?"
Zach hit the ground and he let out a gasp of pain, his chest aching as the fall was farther than he thought even though his eyes had time to bulge as All Might smashed Gran Torino's face. All Might pulled his arm back, but the number one hero was still staring out towards where Gran Torino's body went bouncing off with a horrified look on his face. It was, for me? Zach thought, his head turning back to All Might. The pressure that pushed down on him made Zach fear for his life. He had never seen All Might look so furious. All For One continued, "Can you really not hold back here though? Even if he had gone-"
"Get him and let's go," Zach heard a closer voice behind him. He tried moving, but his whole body screamed out in pain. Despite it though, he saw something moving towards him. He heard Shigaraki tell Magne to 'catch them,' right as screams were getting louder and approaching. Spinner and Compress slowed down as Magne put the same magnetic attraction on them as with Shigaraki while he stood below, and then she released it right as they slowed to near stops above them.
Zach heard the stomps approaching, and he put his hands down on the floor at his sides. His eyes clenched shut and he could hear the monster moving his way. I should have found a way to get out with Bakugo. He needed both hands to blast himself into the air with balance, but I could have ran towards him and jumped on his back, or something! Anything, better than… Todoroki, he thought, his eyes shooting open and filling with hope. That hope vanished though, as he saw a small elderly figure laying motionless up ahead of him, partially covered in some debris. Zach's fingers curled up in the ground beneath him.
"Stay away, from the child!" A woman's voice yelled out, and Zach turned his head to see a hand growing massive and reaching towards him. It did not grab him, but the huge elephant-like villain behind him who spun to see Mt. Lady rising to her feet. Mt. Lady lifted up her hand, then she screamed and had to unclench the fist she was making. Zach's eyes opened wide, at the sight of two of Mt. Lady's fingers bent the wrong way. Ganeshi dropped thirty feet to the floor, and the ground around him broke down and cracked on his sides.
What am I thinking? Zach thought as he stared back at the woman who screamed, only to clench her other fist and punch it down. "Run!" She yelled towards him. I can't run! He thought, while he struggled to get up to his knees. Toga and Shigaraki, Spinner, Twice, Magne, and Compress, they were all moving towards him, while Ganeshi turned his head and then swung back, stretching his trunk up to meet Mt. Lady's fist straight-on. They collided and the wind was so forceful that Zach felt it pushing against him as much as one of the collisions between All Might and the enemy leader. All Might's still holding back because I'm here. Ganeshi is too strong- and they're going to take me through the portal! The others can't fight! But, but despite knowing that… They're going to!
Zach did not know who else was still hiding over behind that wall, or if they had run off right after sending the other three into the sky for the first extraction. But, if they're still there, Zach thought, looking past the small body ahead of him towards the shattered wall that had standing parts on either side of the hole. "You've caused us a lot of trouble," Shigaraki started as he neared Zach's back. "But you just wanted to save your friend, right? You wanted to be the special only student to come with us, right? Right? Right?!" His voice was getting higher pitched and more insane, and Zach pulled himself harder to his hands and knees.
He stared at the floor between his hands, and the pain in his spine started shifting to the back of his mind. His body started pumping with adrenaline, as the world around him got fuzzy. Todoroki, is a hero. Whoever else came with them, wouldn't have left, just because they saved Bakugo. The villains know that, and are expecting them to jump out. They'll kill my classmates when my friends think they have a moment where the villains have left their guards down. All Might can't fight at full power even in his rage over that old hero, because I'm still here. All Might has a time limit. My classmates can't come out here! They'll come out even if I agree with Shigaraki and go with him, because they won't want me to follow this path just to protect All Might which is what Todoroki will think I'm doing. I can't run or my classmates die. I can't stay or All Might dies. There's only one thing I can do! Zach started standing up, reaching to his right hand as he did and ripping his glove fully off. He spun around while lifting his right hand, a smirk spreading over his face as he dropped his glove to the floor and held his hand between him and Shigaraki Tomura. I have to make All Might stop holding back, while I'm still here… I need to be- I need to really become… "I'm not a hero," Zach said, but the smirk stayed plastered over his face. He started laughing and Shigaraki grinned back at him as Zach's arm pulled back towards his own body a little.
Zach held his arm back, so his right hand was right in front of his body instead of extended to keep Shigaraki away. The pain in his back and from the bloody slash on his cheek had faded into his mind, and his smirk lowered down a little while his eyebrows narrowed in. Shigaraki started while Zach looked at him like that, "Then let's go. We need to escape from here, before All Might gets us."
Shigaraki's fingers were twitching at his sides, and Zach continued to smirk at the villain whose face was mostly hidden behind his mask-hand. All the other villains behind Shigaraki had smiles on their faces too, but Zach could see how they really felt, see how their hands were twitching. None of them believed him anymore. They all thought he was just saying another lie, and as soon as he turned his back he could tell the Compress guy was going to take him out.
Zach's mouth lowered down into a flat lip, and he asked the man in front of him while tilting his head a bit to the side, "Why do we continue to play this game, when we all know, it has moved on to the next level?" Zach's mouth twisted back up into a mad smirk, and he clenched his right fist in front of his chest. Shigaraki's half smile dropped down, and then the other villains all started moving towards Zach. "Don't do it," Zach warned, raising his right hand in a threatening way. "I'll snap my fingers and you'll all be-"
"That's not how it works though, is it?" Shigaraki asked, taking a step forward while the smirk rose back on his face again.
Zach's smile lowered and then he started frowning while taking a step back, spinning his arm to point at each person who was starting to encircle him as they ran around. They were very close to the portal sticking out of Kurogiri's chest, and they were all in a hurry to get him through it. Zach was in a hurry too though, as he did not know how much longer All Might had. Yet when Shigaraki started speaking again, all the thoughts of the villains around him and the situation faded from his mind. "I didn't believe you when you told me what your Quirk did, so I had Kurogiri find out for me."
How? Zach thought, while darting his eyes around, then spinning and pointing his hand at Magne who stepped towards him with a furious look from what Zach did before. Magne leaned back, then the other villains held their positions too, to listen as Shigaraki explained his Quirk so they would be able to capture him without getting killed. "A touch of your right hand, will kill anything. It's not stopping a heart, but Death." Shigaraki grinned at the sound of it, and he started laughing at Zach's expression. "The halt of all brain functions, blood circulation cutting off, the heart stopping cold. Instant death, with no chance of revival."
The short boy with messy black hair could hardly keep himself from charging at Shigaraki, and then Zach saw something behind the man with wavy gray hair that made him gasp in horror. The already injured Mt. Lady had not been able to stop her opponent, and Zach stared out in terror as Ganeshi stood there, sixteen feet tall, his trunk wrapped around Mt. Lady's neck while she was in her smaller form. Shigaraki continued while Zach was staring that way in terror, "We won't let you touch us with that hand, and we're taking you along. The world already thinks you've come on your own, so we can't have you going back now."
Shigaraki ran forward. At the same time Zach saw Toga pulling out a knife and running towards him on his left and Twice sprinting at him from the right. Magne moved in at his back left, and Spinner at his back on the other side. Compress ran straight for the back of his head though, reaching out to use his Quirk and make Zach an easy prisoner to transfer. All Might looked over to shout something, only for the black lines to slam him in the chest and knock him backwards, blood splashing out of his mouth as he dragged a trench through the ground away from All For One. And then Zach heard the crack. Over the entire battlefield, he heard the crack of a neck.
Ganeshi. I, I could have killed him. All Might… you stopped me. You alerted them, and you stopped me! And now, Mt. Lady… Zach's lips rose up at the corner. Shigaraki slammed on the breaks. Twice froze and let out a yelp of surprise, and Toga's eyes shot open huge as she skid on her heels and hopped backwards. Spinner and Magne only caught glimpses of the side of his face, but they leapt backwards as well right before Zach did a full spin while slamming his right arm out and ducking. He crouched and spun his whole body with his right arm extended, and his hand smacked across the front of Compress as the man turned his head right in confusion as to why Spinner else just leapt back.
Compress fell forward and flat on his face. He did not move a muscle. He did not twitch. Compress just lay there and Zach stood back up straight, looking down at the villain in front of him. "Ha, hahaha," Zach brought his left hand up to the side of his head and he started laughing. "I totally forgot," Zach said, his laughter dying down as he lowered his hand from his head. The villains were staring at him with sweaty looks, while All Might who just came out of some rubble looked over with wide eyes at the figure lying at Zach's feet. All For One looked over too, while Zach turned and looked straight at Shigaraki, "With Bakugo gone, the main goal I came here to accomplish was completed, but I totally forgot about the other reason!" I have to truly become, a villain! He tilted his head back and smirked madly, and he shouted, "All of you, dead!"
A/N Thanks for reading. It was after watching the start of the Bakugo rescue arc that I had the idea for this story three Saturdays ago, so I really wanted the story to be able to reach this point. For anyone who thought this story followed to closely to the show up until now, well, I'm no manga reader so from here on we split. Hope you enjoyed this chapter...