A/N: Edit finished 16 August 2018. Beta provided by Kylekatarn77.

Chapter 10

The three students – heroes-in-training – swam to the edge of the Flood Zone, looking to rest on the concrete barrier. "I took an amazing dump this morning. They'll be stuck together all day," Mineta bragged, relying on Tsuyu to reach shore. A few trickles of blood marred his face.

"Uh…that's something I'd rather not know," Izuku said. "Hopefully that doesn't make arresting them harder on the police. Anyways, we got lucky with how well the plan turned out. They weren't smart, sticking together along the surface. Although, they probably didn't expect us to pose a serious threat to them."

They reached the shallows and walked over to the concrete barrier keeping the pool's water contained. There they were able to see Aizawa, locked in an ongoing fight with a large group of villains. I feel terrible about being worried about him, about doubting his skills. I'll have to ask him to tell me the full story of this fighting style and how he goes about taking on large groups. It's hard to get him talking about his experiences in the field, but the few times I got him rambling were worth it. I wonder if anyone else has ever got him talking like that…

"What do we do now?" Tsuyu asked.

"Right now? Find a way to call for help from the outside," Izuku said. He leaned against the short wall, eyes tracing the area before them. "Following the shoreline should keep us away from the plaza fight until we have to get out of the water. As long as we remain out of Aizawa-sensei's fight and don't draw too many villains from it, we should be fine. Once we reach the stairs, we head for the exit, where we were earlier. If we could get, say, Iida out the door, he can race to U.A., alert the school, and bring the cavalry to mop up the remaining villains and bring all of us home, safe and whole."

"Maybe even All Might will come!" Mineta added, his legs splashing.

"Maybe," Izuku said, distracted. He watched the villains attempt to swarm Aizawa. He slipped around their attacks and countered, always three steps ahead of their attacks. Yet even as he took them down, those defeated earlier rose, weary, injured, and looking to get their pound of flesh. "But there's something else we'll should…no, must do." He turned to Tsuyu and Mineta. "We need to help Aizawa-sensei. The villains he's already defeated are starting to get back to their feet, and he hasn't reached the ringleaders." When he said that, he glanced at the man with the hand on his face and the massive birdman standing next to him, its brain exposed and showing a muscular form that could rival All Might.

"You can't be serious, Midoriya!" Mineta all but screamed. Izuku was tempted to ask the boy why he wanted to be a hero. "We just got away from those water villains and you want to take on more?"

"I'm with Mineta on this one, Midoriya," Tsuyu said. "We got to safety. We should regroup with the others. Then, I would be behind you for helping Aizawa-sensei. There is safety in numbers."

Izuku frowned, but he admitted internally that Tsuyu had a point. Aizawa charged the ringleader, enough of the minor villains on the ground or too far away to interfere. He tried once, twice, to land a blow before the villain caught his elbow. Said elbow began to blister, as if layer-by-layer, clothes, skin, and muscle were sliced away from his bones with the precision of a medical quirk. There was another exchange of blows as the pro hero disengaged from the villain, but that was when the massive beast moved, seizing Aizawa by the head with a meaty hand. It then slammed him into the concrete ground. Aizawa struggled, pinned to the ground by his head while the other hand grabbed the nearest arm and twisted it.

"Meet the Anti-Symbol of Peace," the ringleader said, his course voice carrying across to the young heroes. They shivered. "The bio-engineered Noumu. His…maker used his failure against All Might to shape him."

There was a snap as Aizawa's arm was crushed. Izuku could feel through the water how Tsuyu and Mineta both shook. I can't blame them. That villain…he said it was bio-engineered. That's how they plan to kill All Might…with a test tube product. One related to him. The ringleader taunted their teacher as Noumu continued its attempt to merge Aizawa with the concrete.

"This is bad, Midoriya," Mineta said, his shivers and shakes giving way to an uncontrollable tremble. "We…we have to change pl-plans…right? Do we…do we just hide here?"

Any word Izuku could offer was stuck in his throat. His heart raced, yet cold sweat stuck to his skin and the power of One for All felt far away. Those other villains, they were no more than cannon fodder, with some given an environmental advantage so they could deal with us students. But those two and the one with the warping quirk? They…they're evil, and in a league that we can't hope to face today.

A warp gate, all twisting black and purple, appeared near the ringleader. "Tomura Shigaraki," he said, voice darker than when he had faced the gathered students.

"Kurogiri. About time. I am to assume you have dealt with Thirteen?" Shigaraki responded, almost giggling.

"Incapacitated," Kurogiri said. The word sounded like the villain had been insulted to Izuku. "There were some students I failed to warp away. One of them, related to Ingenium I believe, escaped."

"Is that so?" Shigaraki said. He spiraled into uncontrolled laughter, scratching at his uncovered cheeks, thumbs tucked close to his palms. "Kurogiri. If you weren't our ticket out of here and if Sensei had someone to replace you, I'd turn you to dust. We won't stand a chance against dozens of pro heroes. I won't waste quarters on a continue today."

He turned from Aizawa. "Noumu, you can play with him later. We're leaving."

"Wait, leaving?" Mineta said.

"Did he really say that?" Tsuyu asked, hopefully.

Izuku nodded. "Sounds like it."

There was a splash as Mineta jumped onto Tsuyu, hugging her tightly. "We're saved!" Gurgling quickly followed his excitement. Izuku glanced over and saw that the smaller boy was being held underwater. Mineta, what did you do this time?

"I've got a bad feeling, Midoriya," Tsuyu said, letting Mineta up for air.

"Yeah…" Izuku pressed up against the shore. "To do all of this, and then just leave. I…I don't understand it. Why leave without achieving their primary goal?"

They came here to kill All Might, but now they're just leaving. U.A. will be in greater danger if they escape, but not as bad as if they had gotten their opportunity to kill All Might, us, and then fled. We may have won today, driving them off, but they achieved a pyrrhic victory against the world of heroes. Why strike now though?

"Before we leave," Shigaraki added, stretching. "Let's leave some dead kids." In a blink, Shigaraki was right next to them, his right hand reaching for them. "Let's wound the pride of the Symbol of Peace!" His hand considered targets before reaching for Tsuyu's head. Mineta popped off one of his balls with a shaking arm, yet Izuku could only stare in horror.

Why? Why am I not moving? It seemed so easy during the Exam. I want to move, to fight, to save a life, yet I…I'm just standing here…

Before Shigaraki could touch Tsuyu, he stopped and chuckled. "There's a reason you're my…favorite hero, Eraserhead."

The pro hero had lifted his head in defiance, eyes glowing red as he forced himself to channel his quirk, to thwart the villain. There was a gush of displaced water and Izuku realized he had finally moved, leaping from the water. One for All coursed through his body, filling body and fist as he targeted Shigaraki. The villain said something that the pounding blood in his ears blocked. The only thing audible was his voice, shouting, "NAGASAKI SMASH!"

There was a violent implosion, as if a thousand vibrating dust bunnies diverted the force of his punch. Instead of smashing apart Shigaraki's masked face, Noumu had caught his punch in a meaty hand. The palm of its hand was destroyed, skin ripped away and bones and nerves exposed. No blood flowed onto Izuku's fist, yet it begun to heal, stitching together as fibers reformed. The massive creature lifted Izuku into the air, dangling him before Shigaraki as he stood.

"That was very impressive, wounding Noumu the way you did. And was that a "Smash" I heard? I hate All Might over all heroes. Maybe…just maybe you're more than just a fan."

"…more than a fan." He…he shouldn't know about One for All, about my powers and All Might's. Unless Sensei, the one who formed Noumu is who I fear it is…

"Noumu, he won't need that hand anymore. Destroy it and then give me the other whole." Izuku screamed as the hand around his began to crush it like an ant under a boot heel. Noumu tossed him aside – perhaps to crush his head or pulverize his hand with a single strike – as Shigaraki turned on Tsuyu and Mineta, still petrified in the Flood Zone's waters.

There was a thundering sound as the main doors were blown out, launched off their hinges. A tall figure, muscular and blond, emerged from the ensuing cloud of dust. All Might stood there, removing his tie, and Izuku grinned through the pain. "FEAR NOT," his mentor bellowed so everyone in the USJ could hear him. "I AM HERE!"

While Mineta shouted and cried at the sight of All Might, Izuku noticed one thing about his mentor that chilled his spine and made his palms clammy. All Might isn't smiling.

All Might was furious. Furious that his efforts to help people was limited by injuries, that he was limited as a hero to only a few hours every day. Furious that he had to choose between the work he had dedicated himself to and teaching the generation of heroes that would uphold everything he fought for. Furious that the villains were able to attack those same students and that only one of them, Tenya Iida, was able to escape and inform him and the other heroes of what was happening at a place they thought safe. When he had encountered the young man halfway between U.A. and the USJ, what little temper he had was sparked like a lightning bolt hitting a dead tree and he could feel his capacity to use One for All growing. As he was informed about everything the boy knew of the attack, the scope and scale of the villains and their quirks, it threatened to overflow. Thirteen, terribly injured just so young Iida could escape. Aizawa, fighting against overwhelming odds. My colleagues are great heroes, and I? I wasted nearly all of my strength helping people with small incidents. I must remember my duty to the future, to my successor!

"I had a bad feeling, so I cut my talk with Nedzu short and came immediately." Students cried and grinned as he walked past. Their relief, their efforts, the fact they still held their lives filled him with hope and inspiration. Rest, my brave students. "Then I ran into Iida, who told me what had occurred. IT MADE MY BLOOD BOIL!"

A villain down below, with a hand over his face, spoke. "You kept me waiting, hero. I thought I wouldn't get my shot at you today."

All Might listened as the small time villains grumbled amongst themselves, trying to build their courage to stand against him. It will not matter, though I hope they rethink their decisions in jail. He leapt from the top of the stairs, landed softly, and in a flash bulldozed through the villains to reach Aizawa. "I should've been here, Aizawa. You have fought with the strength and heart of a dozen heroes today. Forgive my late arrival." He lifted the injured hero and set him aside, behind him. With another burst of speed, he pulled Izuku, Tsuyu, and Mineta away from their places near the villains and set them with Aizawa. Seeing Izuku's injured hand, broken and limp, sickened him. You have fought well, Young Midoriya. I will fight on for you. "To the entrance! Take Aizawa and hurry!"

He ignored their confusion, focusing on the villains before him. Their leader leaned over and picked up the hand that had fallen from his face from All Might's fast movements. Giggling, he said, "Throwing punches to save people. That's our state-sponsored violence. You're fast. Too fast for me today, but not as fast as I…expected. There were whispers in the deepest dark, but I didn't think it was true, All Might.

"Are you really getting weaker?"

"All Might, we may have to retreat," Izuku said. There was a fear in his voice that gave All Might pause. What has happened? Why are these villains here? "That brain villain, they call it Noumu. It was able to catch my punch at quarter strength and then regenerate from the blow." All Might considered the villain and noticed that while its right hand was injured, it was little more than discoloration on the palm, like a sunburn from a wintery day. "I can't tell how strong its healing factor is or how it works other than it activated after my attack."

"Young Midoriya," All Might said, turning to face his student. "Fear not!" With that, he charged, arms folded back to opposite shoulders. "CAROLINA…SMASH!" His arms flicked out in diagonal chops. Even with his speed, the villainous monster was able to deflect and counter his blows. The one Midoriya says is called Noumu. What a dangerous enemy, withstanding such a blow. He then delivered a tackling punch, using the power of his back and legs to strengthen his attack.

"The boy got lucky, being able to overpower Noumu's shock absorption," the villain said, almost gloating. "If you want to really damage Noumu, you should try and tear him apart, piece by piece. Although, I doubt you would have the time to finish."

"Thanks for the info!" All Might called out, slipping behind Noumu and with his shoulders level to the beast's hips, grabbed tight. He lifted and leaned back, slamming the villain into the ground. And while for a moment he felt success, it turned into bitter blood in his mouth. Somehow, the villain had dug sharp claws into his sides. He looked up at the ground and saw a warp portal around Noumu's body, allowing it's upper portions to reach where it otherwise shouldn't.

"You hoped to drive him into the concrete and slow him down, didn't you? Good job, Kurogiri. Perfect timing, turning everything against the Symbol of Peace…"

All Might groaned as the claws dug deeper. That's my weak point! It may know about my injury. I have to get out of this, or I may actually die!

Kurogiri begun to monologue, narrating their plan as All Might struggled to break free. Noumu has dug too deep into my sides for me to make a clean break. As he struggled, he saw Izuku hand Aizawa to Tsuyu and Mineta before turning to race to his aid. Young Midoriya! As the boy charged, Kurogiri opened a warp gates in front of his protégé.

A crackling explosion drove back the black and purple mist. All Might could've laughed if he weren't so injured, seeing Katsuki emerge from wherever he had been sent and take advantage of the villain's monologue. "The oversized cigar is mine, Deku!" he shouted, entering the fight.

As Katsuki pinned Kurogiri with glowing hands, All Might smiled at the ice spreading from Todoroki onto Noumu as Kirishima attempted to blindside the ringleader.

"I heard you people are here to kill All Might," Todoroki said, his voice so much like his father. "Scum like you could never kill the Symbol of Peace."

All Might shattered the frozen limb and freed himself, removing the bits of Noumu that remained in his sides. Blood trickled from his wounds as he separated the young heroes from the villains. I need to end this fast, or someone else may get badly injured. I won't allow such a thing to occur!

Noumu shifted, body returning from the shrinking warp gate. "You've pinned down our way out," the villain ringleader said, pulling All Might's attention away from the fiend that had injured him. "I should kill you first."

"You slipped up, Handy!" Katsuki said, sitting on Kurogiri's metal collar. He turned to the villain beneath him "It's just like thought. Those parts that can be used for his foggy warp gates are limited. You even use that misty shit to hide your real form, you piece of shit.

"If your whole body was mist and physical attacks didn't work, you'd never say remark on how close a blow was." All Might watched as Katsuki rubbed a glowing hand up and down the physical parts of the struggling Kurogiri. "Try anything fishy and they'll be sending you to a prison's infirmary to treat your burns."

Many pro heroes will want to talk to Bakugou about his attitude, although it may help him build a loyal following. Vigilantes will love him.

"How shameful, our League of Villains being thwarted by some kids," the ringleader said. "Noumu, bring me the explosive brat's hands. We need our escape route back and some of my hands stink."

They watched Noumu heal from the damage caused by Todoroki's icy attack. The remaining frozen flesh was broken as its healing factor kicked in. Flesh bubbled as destroyed limbs reformed. All Might held out his arm, saying," Get back! You were right about the healing factor, Young Midoriya. To have more than just a shock absorption quirk. It explains much about what has happened today and what they know."

"Noumu is a super-powered sandbag, designed to withstand your full power. His hyper-regeneration is just part of a multi-quirk formula designed for you, All Might," the ringleader bragged as Noumu charged Katsuki. He's fast! All Might intercepted Noumu's attack, driving the creature back and away from the students. The impact shook the trees and the Symbol of Peace was driven back a few feet, arms held in a high block.

"He doesn't know how to hold back," All Might said, spitting blood. "I would be impressed if it wasn't meant to kill me."

"Anything to save a comrade, right?" the ringleader said. He's about to monologue. He hasn't learned from earlier. "Just like earlier, with Eraserhead, before Noumu broke him. He came at me with everything he had, for violence in the name of saving others is admirable, right hero?

"What a disgusting sentiment. We all thrive on violence, on using our quirks without the limitations of your precious society. But are we the same? No! They categorize us by the labels pressed upon us. 'You're good.' 'You're evil.' That's how it is! Symbol of Peace? Bah! In the end, you're just another individual using violence to keep us down. Those of us, who would reform society, tear it down to show the world how false you truly are. In the end, violence only breeds more violence. I shall show the world the truth by killing you."

All Might snorted. "What nonsense. Idealistic criminals may have a fire in their eyes, yet the only ideal you hold is the violence you try and blame on me."

The ringleader sneered beneath the hand. "What you think changes nothing."

All Might paused as he heard his students prepare to attack the villains. "No!" he told them. "I will handle them."

"They could've succeeded in killing you if we hadn't stepped in," Todoroki said.

"All Might, you're bleeding…and, I think your time is, uh…" Midoriya added, frantic as he tried to not reveal the truth of their shared quirk.

The Symbol of Peace grinned. They'll be great heroes. But today they have done all they can. "Correct, Todoroki! Thank you for your assistance. Fear not though! It is time you all see first hand just what a true pro hero can do."

The ringleader ignored him. "Noumu, Kurogiri. All Might is yours. Four kids should be easier than Eraserhead." He approached them, fingers stretching as he prepared.

I wish Young Midoriya wasn't right. I'm close to my limit. I likely have a few minutes left. I'm weakening faster than I should, but I have no other choice! I can't turn my back on my students. Why? Because…

I AM THE SYMBOL OF PEACE!

All Might released his power, cracking the ground and startling the villains. He faced Noumu's charge head on, meeting the monster's power blow for blow. Words reached his ears from the villains, commenting on Noumu's blend of quirks. "But that's the thing," All Might said as he continued to meet each fast and furious blow with one of his own. "It's 'absorption,' not 'negation!' There is a limit, so I will go beyond it. You say its purpose is to defeat me, to withstand all of my strength.

"Watch closely as I surpass your devilish creation!" All Might shouted. Although more blood came from his mouth, he continued to meet and overpower each one of Noumu's flurry of attacks. "Tell me, villain," he said as Noumu reeled under his power. "Do you know the meaning of Plus Ultra? HERE, LET ME SHOW YOU!" He took his power –the power of those before him – and forged it into a single punch and caught Noumu right in the chest with an uppercut, sending the black monstrosity flying. It soared from his fist like a struck baseball, hit the ceiling, and powered through it and beyond the USJ.

That is how it is done. That is the truth of Plus Ultra.

"I am slowing down," he admitted to his fawning students. "At my prime, it would've taken just five punches to defeat that villain. But today, it took three hundred to achieve victory." I have little time left. I must finish this. "Now, villain. I believe it is time for you to surrender. I still have a few hundred more punches in me."

"You…you cheater!" the ringleader hissed. "You call that weak? With what you did to Noumu! Aahhh!" He scratched any part of his head not covered by his mask. "You're still strong! I…I was lied to!"

"I thought you came to kill me, or am I wrong?" All Might asked. Leave or surrender. Those are your only options, villains. "If you claim you can kill me, then try it!"

He stood there as steam mixed with the rising dust. Nearly at my limit. I fear my true form will be exposed if I have to move and fight.

"Well, do you plan to fight or will you surrender?"

The ringleader grew anxious and his scratching worsened. "If only we still had Noumu! If…if only…he took those hits…we could win!"

"Shigaraki, calm down," Kurogiri said. "Noumu caused damage, even if All Might pretends otherwise. Those kids are caught up in their hero worship and reinforcements can arrive anytime. We could kill him working together, but only if you act!"

"Yes," Shigaraki said, frantic. "Yes, yes! We…we can do this. We can kill the Symbol of Peace!"

All Might stood his ground as the villains charged. Kurogiri created a swirling vortex of blacks and purples, impeding the fastest path towards stopping them. And then from the corner of his eye, Izuku lunged into the fray, his broken hand drawn to deliver one last blow. He smiled seeing his student, especially at the declaration; "If you want All Might, you'll have to come through me!" as his fist flew forward, aiming for the reaching hand.

A gunshot tore through the USJ. The bullet hit Shigaraki's hand emerging from a warp gate and All Might relaxed. They've arrived. You did well, Iida, bringing reinforcements.

The villains retreated. Although there were several more attempts by the fresh heroes to stop them, they slipped through their fingers like warm sand on a blistering day. Toshinori looked down at Izuku, who had landed belly first on the floor, his muscular decreasing in size and power. Enough dust and smoke hung to his body to disguise his shifting body from the other students.

"You've done well today, Young Midoriya," he said with his characteristic smile. "They could've had me there, yet it was your quick thinking and reflexes that made them hesitate long enough for the others to arrive." Before the other students could approach or even get a clear look at him, Cementoss raised a barrier between mentor and student and the rest of Class 1-A.

While this is concerning, hopefully we have time to prepare before they try and strike again. I will need to speak with Tsukauchi about what the police will do to help find and stop this Shigaraki and his League of Villains. I should finish Young Midoriya's individual quirk training. The time when he will need to control all of One for All is approaching sooner than I feared.