Final Performance
The episode opens with a flashback, as we see the League, with the exception of Dabi, making their way towards a mansion under the light of a full moon. As Compress begins to narrate, he reflects, 'No one asked about my past. It was a gathering of crooked, self-serving people. Even so, I...'
"Why is this showing us this now? Just take us back to the battlefield," Bakugo grumbled, not really interested in watching what these villains were doing in the past.
"Bakugo, even if you are not interested in this, that doesn't make what they are showing on the screen useless," Aizawa said. "Instead, you should keep your eyes sharp for whatever information you gather from the League's actions or words."
Upon entering the mansion, the League found themselves confronting a mysterious gathering of individuals clad in black robes, their faces concealed by eerie skull masks. One of them inquired, "Why have you entered this residence? Did you come here knowing who we were?"
"The Creature Rejection Clan, also known as the CRC," Spinner retorted with a voice that was tinged with both resentment and disdain. "You're like living fossils. You bastards discriminate against heteromorphs and commit violent acts against them. Right?"
"Ugh! These freaks!" Rumi growled and appeared visibly disgusted upon discovering the identity of the individuals in black robes. "Of course, they're hiding in this dark, abandoned house like the vermin they are."
And Rumi wasn't the only one disgusted by the CRC. Anyone familiar with The Creature Rejection Clan, their irrational hatred toward heteromorphs, and their gruesome rituals involving the torture and sacrifice of individuals with heteromorphic physical features and quirks in the name of societal purification, human supremacy, and so forth... couldn't help but show their disgust as well.
Whispers and murmurs erupted among the cultists: "There's a lizard," "How repulsive..." as their attention focused on Spinner and his quirk-induced, lizard-like appearance.
"What is wrong with these people!?" Setsuna yelled, glaring at the screen. "They're really saying all those horrible things just because of his appearance."
"This is what the Creature Rejection Clan is," Ryukyu explained calmly, though her voice carried a hint of anger and disgust. "A bunch of vile people who are delusional enough to believe that people with heteromorphic features and quirks are tainting the earth. And that's not all. They also organize and carry out coordinated attacks on heroes with heteromorphic quirks, shouting slurs and a lot of random but disgusting things at you during the fight."
"So how do you deal with them 'ribbit'?" Tsu asked.
"Just like you deal with any other villain," Rumi shrugged. "There isn't much you can do aside from giving them an extra punch or two. So most of the time, you just have to ignore their nonsense and act like a hero, even when you might want to snap their neck or rip their throat out."
Then, in an abrupt and collective moment of realization, one of them exclaimed, "Wait! They're the League of Villains!"
Compress then explained to them that they were here to steal anything valuable and expensive, as they were a little short on cash and had no other choice but to rob them.
"It seems to be from before the League merged with the MLA," Hawks remarked. "I distinctly recall Dabi mentioning raiding a villain hideout or something along those lines during one of my earlier encounters with him."
Enraged by the League's attempt to defile their 'sacred' ground, a CRC member lunged at the League. However, before he could make contact, Shigaraki's hand was already on his face. "We'll leave after we finish what we came here to do. If you don't want us to stay long, then don't get in our way," Shigaraki said as the man crumbled to dust, and the rest of the League prepared their weapons for the fight.
Once again, enraged by seeing Shigaraki kill one of their own, CRC members rushed at the League to attack. For a moment, the screen turned black before showing a brutal and bloody scene of the massacred CRC members.
"We really underestimated the threat that the League of Villains posed, didn't we," Endeavor said bitterly as he stared at the massacre on the screen.
"Yes, it was a mistake on our part not to prioritize capturing the League after All for One was defeated at Kamino," Jeanist added.
"But in our defense, we believed that the League wouldn't be able to function without their mastermind. We only began hunting them down again after their attack on Snatch and the police convoy," Edgeshot explained.
As Twice pillaged through the belongings of the CRC, he came to realize that the cult members themselves were also poor and barely getting by. While Toga and Compress voiced their complaints, pointing out the sorry state of their equipment, most of which was either broken or malfunctioning and needed to be replaced, Twice reminded them that they didn't have any money to pay Giran.
"I see. Just as we suspected, Giran is indeed connected to the League," Aizawa noted, jotting down Giran's name in his notes.
"Who is Giran?" Izuku inquired, as he and the other students were unfamiliar with the name.
"Giran is an underground broker who supplies resources like weapons, costumes, information, and henchmen, such as the ones Shigaraki had at the U.S.J., to various villains," Aizawa explained.
"But sir, if you're aware of Giran and his criminal activities, why hasn't he been arrested?" Iida asked.
Aizawa sighed, anticipating this question, and knowing it would likely come from either Iida or Yaoyorozu. "There are two reasons," Aizawa began. "First, despite his involvement with villains, Giran also works as an information broker for heroes. For the right price, he'll provide valuable information that aids in raids and other missions."
"Secondly, we lack substantial evidence against him," Aizawa continued. "Giran is a significant figure in the underground community and has ties to influential individuals. From minor mob leaders to prominent politicians and businesspeople, many owe him favors, making it nearly impossible to find a witness willing to testify against him. Furthermore, he operates with great professionalism and rarely leaves any discernible traces. On the rare occasions he does, the evidence is usually insufficient to keep him detained for more than two days at most, after which he just walks out of the station with a smug smile on his face."
The scene transitions to a secluded house nestled in the mountains, serving as the League's makeshift hideout. Inside the house, Spinner questions Shigaraki about how long they are going to live like this. Shigaraki, wearing his trademark nonchalant expression, offers a straightforward response, 'Until it's over.'
Compress jokes, saying that if they had teamed up with the Hassaikai, they would be eating sushi right now. He chuckles when he sees Shigaraki's deadpan expression. Then he adds that the League, which caused so much trouble in the country, is now reduced to this state, and he feels sorry for whoever looked up to them.
"Who the hell is going to bother looking up these dumbass villains?" Bakugo scoffed, mocking Compress's statement.
"Bakugo, have you forgotten about Stain and the fame he garnered after his speech in Hosu?" Iida spoke with a bitter tone. "As much as it pains me to talk about the man who crippled my brother, we cannot forget the impact he had on our society, not to mention how we've shown that Stain was the reason most of the League members joined the League of Villains in the first place."
"Fine, I get it!" Bakugo retorted, rolling his eyes. "But still, only morons would follow creepy idiots like these!"
While Toga and Twice were rummaging through the belongings they stole from the CRC, Dabi arrived at the hideout and was surprised to see all the League members present there. He asked if he was the only one who was hunting for new members.
Twice retorted that Dabi just wants to go around and burn people to death, emphasizing that he has never brought anyone along with him. Dabi defended himself by saying that all he finds is ambitionless trash.
"Well, I don't know if I should be happy that the League didn't find any new troublesome members or be horrified at the fact that Dabi killed who knows how many people during his hunt," Kirishima voiced his concerns.
"I'd say it's best to try and let it go," Nemuri advised. "I realize it may not sound like the best advice, but remember that this scene is from the past. Unlike other things we've witnessed, you can't alter the outcome of this particular incident, so don't get too worked up about it; instead, focus on what you can change."
As Toga and Dabi continued to bicker, Spinner suddenly asked, "Hey... What the heck is our goal?" his question grabbed everyone's attention.
The auditorium fell silent as Spinner's question hung in the air, as those in attendance were also eager to learn about Shigaraki's goal, beyond simply wanting to destroy everything.
"I'm here because I was inspired by Stain. In the countryside, where everyone still had old-fashioned values, I grew up being looked down on because of my lizard-like appearance. I thought that was just how things were. My heart was always empty. Until I saw Stain's final moments on the evening news," he said, recalling Stain's monologue during the Hosu incident. "He was trying to change the world. By himself. That was the first time that I felt constrained by the world. I couldn't sit still. And now I'm here!"
Dabi retorted by asking if he was just an empty cosplayer, to which Spinner replied, "That's right! I'm completely empty inside! That's why..." Spinner walked forward and grabbed Shigaraki by the collar. "I don't understand this listlessness! I thought we were gonna blow a huge hole in it all to change things! Answer me, Shigaraki! What's our goal?!"
"Born a Mutant in the countryside, huh? That's rough. No wonder that fanatic's words resonated with him," Rumi commented.
"Is Mutant discrimination really that severe in rural areas?" Momo inquired.
"I can't speak for every corner of the country, but based on what I've observed, people in the countryside tend to be more discriminatory towards mutants compared to the cities," Rumi explained. "Even if they don't outright treat you differently, there's often something to be said about your appearance, and most of the time, those comments carry a derogatory tone."
The scene came to a halt as narrator Compress returned. 'Until six months ago, we were so poor that we had to worry about where we would get our next meal. Our principles and opinions were all different, too. But even so, how do I put it... right,' the scene switched to the present, where Compress, Spinner, and Shigaraki were still restrained by Jeanist, and Machia was knocked out.
"Wait! What about Shigaraki's answer?" Izuku asked, a bewildered expression on his face. "I thought we were going to learn his true goal."
"Who cares about his answer?" Monoma rolled his eyes. "We've seen him cause enough destruction to know that whatever his goal is, it definitely won't be anything good or noble, and it shouldn't matter to us."
"I liked... being in... the League of Villains..." he said while struggling to speak as Jeanist applied pressure to their throats. "Spinner... the boss... is the key... I'll... buy you time... to wake up... the boss... You can't... put on a show... alone..."
"These villains are more resilient than I thought," Jeanist commented while rubbing his chin. "It's truly commendable that they remain conscious and haven't passed out from the immense pressure on their throats."
"My dream... My duty to my bloodline... The reason I'm here...!" Compress said as he carved out a mound of his own flesh with his Quirk, surprising Jeanist. 'I've gouged out part of my body to create space to move!' Compress thought as he freed his hand from Jeanist's restraint. 'Once my arm can move, this is what you'll get...' he thought as he freed himself and compressed Shigaraki and Spinner, rescuing and freeing them from the restraints as well.
Once again, the auditorium was cloaked in silence, but this time it was a mix of horror, disgust, bewilderment, and even a sense of amazement at what Compress had done to his own body.
'What the hell is wrong with these villains?' Banjo remarked, equally stunned as the audience in the hall. 'One is burning himself alive, one is walking despite being a walking corpse, and now this.'
'You know, I never thought I'd say this, but what this Compress guy did there makes Izuku breaking his bones look lame in comparison,' En added.
'Hey, stop saying stupid stuff!' Banjo exclaimed and smacked En on the top of his head. 'You never know when Ninth might take something as a challenge.'
'No way, why would I ever do anything like that!?' Izuku protested. 'First, I'm not crazy, and second, Momo would kill me if I ever attempted anything even remotely close to what Compress did.'
'The League! They've escaped their binding!' Mirio and Iida noticed as they were busy dealing with the Nomus.
"Don't think you're the only ones risking your lives! Now, let's do this!" Compress said as he started fleeing the scene, bleeding from the part he had gouged out. "The greatest show on earth!"
"Well, there's no denying it, we're truly in the last stretch of this war now," Hawks said as he assessed the situation on the field. "And honestly, I would have loved to say that we're winning, but after what Compress just did, I'm not so sure anymore."
"You're not wrong," Gran Torino added. "Most people on our side are down, and those who are still standing are almost at their breaking point. That's why no one can be sure where this war goes from here."
'I can't believe he carved into his body with his own Quirk... What an amazing gall! But that wound is fatal!' Jeanist thought as he used his Quirk, Fiber Master, to bind Compress using fibers from the villain's own clothes. 'You won't escape!'
'As expected, he's binding my clothes with his Quirk. But even if I'm tied up, since I placed my hand ahead of time...' Compress strategized, having foreseen Jeanist's response and prepositioned his hand above his shoulder. Using that hand, he freed himself by gouging more parts of his body while compressing his clothes as well. 'I can break out with some quick moves!'
'He figured out how to counter it!' Jeanist thought with wide bleeding eyes.
"Yeah, he did manage to counter Jeanist and escape his fibers, but the price he paid was immense," Kendo remarked. "I mean, can he even make it out of here after losing so much blood and injuring himself all over his body?"
"Try to see the bigger picture here," Nemuri replied, pointing at the screen. "Compress's goal isn't merely to escape; he wants Shigaraki and the other League members to get away from the heroes. If he manages to escape along with them, that's just a bonus."
"I don't get it. Weren't villains supposed to be bad and selfish people with self-serving goals? So why would this Compress guy go out of his way to assist other villains when he had a chance to escape the scene?" Kirishima inquired.
"Young Kirishima, don't forget that even if these individuals are villains and have committed selfish and harmful things, they are still human beings," All Might explained. "Just like any other humans, they can express a variety of emotions in different ways when faced with dire situations. In this case, Compress is placing his trust and faith in Shigaraki, much like you would in your classmates or friends."
As Compress was running, he noticed Skeptic shouting to be freed as well and quickly rescued him by compressing him into marble.
'The only things I'm good at are running away and tricking people,' he said as he started losing balance, bleeding more and more. 'But with just these things, I'm going to get the team out of trouble!'
"And now he's gone and saved the hacker who helped Dabi broadcast his video all over the nation," Mirio said, growing irritated by the unexpected turn of events. He thought to himself, 'My counterpart needs to stop Compress; otherwise, all the efforts everyone put into capturing the League will be in vain.'
In the midst of his desperate flight, Compress's thoughts drifted to a figure from the past – Oji Harima, an infamous thief who had operated in an era when the current system was still taking shape. Harima had targeted the corrupt heroes who exploited their positions for personal gain, distributing the stolen wealth and goods to the masses, all in the pursuit of social reform.
"Atsuhiro, in our family line, we expose unfairness and have the blood of justice flowing through us," Compress remembered these words said to him as he continued to bleed in the present.
"Oji Harima, huh? Well, that's a name I haven't heard in a very long time," All Might mused, rubbing his chin.
"Do you know who that is?" Ochako asked, tilting her head.
"I think he's talking about the Peerless Thief, Oji Hamara," Izuku chimed in. "I remember reading about him on some forums, and they mentioned that people at that time used to call him a modern-era Robin Hood."
"That's right, Young Midoriya. The Peerless Thief was a name that had inspired many thieves during my childhood and throughout my teen years. However, as the years passed, his influence died down, and the Peerless Thief was only ever mentioned on forums that discussed villains and criminals of past eras," All Might explained.
Meanwhile, the fight between the Todoroki brothers continued as two attacks, "Flashfire Fist: Jet Kindling" and "Flashfire Fist: Jet Burn" clashed, and Dabi's 'Jet Burn' overpowered Shoto, causing him to fall to the ground.
"Sorry, Masterpiece! The situation's changed. Since Enji Todoroki is not broken yet but is also unconscious, there's no point in this show anymore," Dabi said as he glanced at the unconscious figure of his father when Compress called out to him and compressed him into a marble.
"And now, Compress has all four members of the League present at the scene," Yu groaned while looking at the scene. "Now the only thing left to see is if Compress can escape or not."
Meanwhile, Shoto and Endeavor were both disappointed ... in the situation that was unfolding in front of them, in their lack of power to stop Toya, and, more importantly, in themselves. Especially Endeavor, who wondered how differently things would have turned out if he had only made a little effort to understand and resolve Toya's problems, instead of pushing him away due to his own incompetence and obsession with the No. 1 rank.
'Harima... The social reform that you couldn't accomplish... you can leave it to my boss,' Compress thought. 'Tomura Shigaraki of the Paranormal Liberation Front and the League of Villains will change the world in my place!' he thought as he caught the marble containing Dabi.
'I'm Oji Harima's great-great-grandson. I'm the man who inherited the blood of the bandit king!' Compress thought to himself as Jeanist sent wires at him, and Mirio rushed towards him while Iida and Nejire continued engaging the Nomus. 'You barely noticed me? That was all part of the trick! For when it mattered! For that time!'
"I guess we really underestimated how many legacy villains are operating in this era," Hawks sighed. "First Shigaraki, who is succeeding All for One, then there's Re-Destro following in Destro's footsteps with the Meta Liberation Movement, and now Mr. Compress, the grandson of Oji Harima. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if there are more out there, given our luck."
"Just a thought, but wouldn't Dabi also be considered a legacy villain?" Rumi remarked, drawing the attention of those around her, especially Shoto, who shot her a sharp glare. "I mean, even if he's a villain, in a twisted way, he's Endeavor's legacy..." she continued, locking eyes with Shoto and noticing his displeasure, "...no matter how much you deny it."
"More importantly," Izuku interjected before the tension between Rumi and Shoto could escalate further, "does Compress really believe he's honoring his great-great-grandfather, Oji Harima, by harming innocent people? Harima was known as Robin Hood because he helped the less fortunate by taking from the rich. What Compress is doing here is miles apart from that."
He removed his mask and posed in front of the heroes. "You need to keep an ace up your sleeve!" he said out loud.
"I won't let you do anymore!" Mirio said as he rushed towards the villain.
"Now, let us face off!" Compress declared as he released Spinner and Shigaraki. "It's time for Mr. Compress's once in a lifetime escape show!"
"Like hell I'm going to let that happen," Mirio declared, clenching his fist. "I'm going to stop them... no, I have to stop the League from escaping."
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Burnin and other heroes are struggling against the Nomus when suddenly a Nomu rushes at Burnin but a hero named Master Driller interferes but unfortunately dies as Nomu consumes the upper half of his body. Enraged by this Burnin rushes at Nomu with her flames.
One might think that watching these events for so long would have made them resistant to scenes like this, but that wasn't the case. Not at all. Even this time, their stomachs churned upon seeing a hero being brutalized by a Nomu.
The screen switches, and we find ourselves in the void as a voice calls out to Izuku. 'Wake up. Wake up. Wake up, Ninth.'
'Oh, it seems we're beginning to communicate outside of the vestige realm in that universe as well,' Hikage remarked upon hearing his voice on the screen.
Izuku slowly opens his eyes and realizes that he is still on the battlefield. 'Was I knocked out? When did that happen?!' Izuku thought, remembering getting knocked out by a combination of Dabi's heat and falling down. He then looked around and noticed Shoto a little away from him, kneeling on the ground and gritting his teeth.
"Ugh! How many times am I going to get knocked out?" Izuku grumbled to himself. "At least Todoroki is okay. That fall really seemed terrifying at the time."
'Oh, good. I'm glad he's ali-' His thoughts were abruptly cut short when something rang in his head. 'I felt it again! I've felt it a few times since coming here. This stabbing feeling was in my head,' Izuku thought, recalling the moments when he had experienced a similar ringing in his head. 'Oh, yeah! This was... in the notes from All Might. The Fourth's Quirk... Danger Sense,' he thought, remembering the notes All Might had made. 'I haven't started learning about it in my training yet. My head hurts. It's hard on my body. It's overflowing like that time with Blackwhip. I'm losing consciousness...'
"Not again!" Izuku groaned and buried his face in his hands.
Hikage chuckled at Izuku's reaction and said, 'It can't be helped, Izuku. My quirk doesn't require much effort to master, but it does take a toll on the user's head, especially when the user is surrounded by threats, just like your counterpart is.'
'I get that, but it's still frustrating to watch yourself not being able to help everyone, especially when the situation is so dire right now,' Izuku replied.
"Now, let us face off! It's time for Mr. Compress's once in a lifetime escape show! Free admission!" back on Machia's back, Compress rushed... or tried to rush at heroes with his bleeding body.
"How the hell is this guy still talking? For crying out loud, he's literally missing pieces of his body!" Setsuna exclaimed.
"It's likely a combination of adrenaline coursing through his veins, the fear of getting captured or losing this fight, and the determination to assist his comrades," Nemuri suggested.
"Relax and enjoy the sh-" but before he could complete his sentence, Mirio delivered a swift punch to his face, abruptly halting his speech.
"Dang, Mirio senpai broke the number one rule of anime showdowns," Kaminari muttered aloud.
"What rule is that?" Jiro asked, her curiosity piqued.
"The rule is that you don't interrupt or attack when your opponent is talking, powering up, or transforming," Kaminari explained, shaking his head.
"Honestly, that sounds like a stupid rule," Jiro remarked. "Why wouldn't you take advantage if you can land a free shot on your opponent?"
"Don't worry, you won't get it," Kaminari replied with a profound look on his face.
As Compress was losing concessions he thought, 'On our way here, I saw a large number of Nomus. Nomus moved on Shigaraki's orders, so they were moved after Shigaraki woke up. He was awake temporarily, but his consciousness was dim, and he wasn't completely awake. If he can completely regain consciousness, then he can do something about this fix we're in. That's why I gave them time,' Compress reflected, recalling the rationale behind giving Spinner the opportunity to awaken Shigaraki. 'That's right. It wasn't magic or anything. The plan was to leave everything up to others and luck. It was just a diversion to stall for time.'
"I see, so this is what Compress has been scheming all along. Instead of trying to escape the scene on his own, he's banking on Shigaraki waking up and using his control over the Nomus to get them all away from the battlefield," Momo analyzed. "But there's one significant variable that could disrupt his plan, and that's the uncertainty of who will regain consciousness first, Shigaraki or All for One."
"I think it'd be worse for us if it's All for One who wakes up instead of Shigaraki," Izuku remarked, his gaze fixed on the screen. "Not only would All for One have superior control over the quirks transplanted into Shigaraki and, by extension, the Nomus, but he also seems like a much more sinister person to deal with."
'I hid Dabi and Longhair in the scarf,' Compress's internal monologue continued as we see two marbles discreetly nestled in the folds of Spinner's scarf.
"Is he truly serious? A single strong jerk and those two marbles will be lost in all this chaos," Monoma remarked, mocking Compress's decision to conceal Dabi and Skeptic within Spinner's scarf.
"Well, he's already wrecked his own clothes, so what other option does he have?" Setsuna shrugged. "Besides, extreme luck has been carrying these villains the entire time."
'Please, Spinner. You were the most devoted to Shigaraki. I'm just an assistant. A supporting character. You two are the stars,' he thought as he grabbed Mirio's cape while the hero rushed towards Shigaraki.
"I know I shouldn't say this, but damn, this Compress guy is something else," Mina said. "I mean, just look at him. He's on the verge of losing consciousness, and yet he's still trying to stop Mirio senpai by latching onto his cape."
"I think he's just a stubborn idiot who doesn't know when to give up," Bakugo casually remarked, to which Mina glanced at him before she frowned and looked away.
"Wake up! Please, wake up, Shigaraki!" Spinner tried to wake Shigaraki, but he received no response. Then he noticed the dissected hand in Shigaraki's pocket, recalling Shigaraki telling him, 'When I put them all on, it's strange. Even though it makes me feel sick, my mind feels calm, in a way. Strange, isn't it?'
In a desperate attempt to wake Shigaraki up, Spinner grabbed the hand from Shigaraki's pocket. 'I wasn't sure, but when I saw the burned, crushed thing inside the melted suit, I thought, if he would just remember...' he thought as he placed the dissected hand on Shigaraki's face just as Mirio closed in, ready to strike.
"Hey, I know I might sound crazy and creepy right now, but does anyone else think that those hands Shigaraki carries around on his body might belong to real people?" Kaminari suggested with a strained smile.
"Yeah, that does sound creepy," Ochako said, feeling disturbed just thinking about it. "I don't think even Shigaraki is insane enough to—"
"There's a chance that those hands do belong to real people, but at the very least, I am pretty sure that they symbolize real people," Izuku interjected.
"How do you arrive at that conclusion?" Momo asked, intrigued by Izuku's observation.
"Remember at the beginning, we were in Shigaraki's mindscape before he returned to life. There, when his family tried to stop him from approaching All for One, all of their hands were placed on the same spot where Shigaraki had those hands during the USJ attack."
"That's unsettling if it's true, but more importantly, how do you even remember where Shigaraki had those hands during the USJ attack?" Mina asked.
"I got a very close and detailed look at him and his attire twice during that attack," Izuku explained, his face grimacing. "First when he tried to attack Asui, and second when he almost succeeded in killing me right before the teachers arrived."
The screen turns black for a moment before an image of home appears on the screen. 'A lump of lead sinks within my mind,' Shigaraki narrates as the image of the house disintegrates into flames. Then another image appears on the screen, this time showing Tenko's family. 'And anger comes gushing out of it endlessly!' Shigaraki says as, just like before, even this image disintegrates into flames as well.
'That boy is consumed by so much hatred that I don't think there's even a way to help him at this point,' Nana said, and Izuku felt the sadness, grief, and, most prominently, the helplessness that Nana was experiencing at that moment.
'I know that trying to save Shigaraki might be a completely futile endeavor at this point, but...' Izuku thought, recalling how he had waited throughout his childhood for someone to offer a hand of encouragement... for someone to reach out and tell him, even once, that his dream was attainable.
Back in reality, Shigaraki wakes up and Mirio catches a glimpse of Shigaraki's red eyes before he was sent hurtling backward, buffeted by the powerful wave generated by the amalgamation of various quirks. The impact was not limited to Mirio alone as it also sent other heroes sprawling as well, pushing them back on the battlefield.
"Darn it! I was so close!" Mirio exclaimed, clenching his fist. "And now he's awake!"
"Indeed, young Togata, the worst possible scenario has unfolded," All Might added. "Now the only thing left to determine is who exactly is in control, Shigaraki or..." Suddenly, his eyes narrowed at the screen, and anger flashed through them, "...All for One."
On the ground, Izuku weakly raised his head, and an unsettlingly familiar stabbing sensation coursed through his mind. 'My head hurts... Don't tell me... Don't tell me...' he repeats in his head, fearing the worst.
'Hey, Mr. Hikage, does Danger Sense react more intensely when it comes to All for One?' Izuku asked the fourth user of One for All.
'First of all, kid, just Hikage is fine,' Fourth reassured him. 'And as for your question, I do think that our collective dislike of All for One and our habit of being cautious around him might have influenced how the quirk works.'
On Machia's back, "Tomura really has some good friends," All for One, who had taken over Shigaraki's body, said, standing next to Spinner, who noticed that something was different about Shigaraki. "The heart is power. The stronger his heart holds onto his origin, the stronger my will becomes as I coexist with him," All for One explained as cracks started forming on Shigaraki's body.
A sense of dread washed over the room as words poured from Shigaraki's lips, and they all realized that the one in control was not Shigaraki but All for One.
Then we see a memory of All for One standing in front of the young Tenko, who says, "There's a bad feeling overflowing, and I can't stop it... I can't hold it back...," while decaying a hand placed on the table.
"Then do your best," All for One says in the memory, and in the present, he repeats those words with a gleeful smile, "Do your best, Tomura."
Izuku took a deep breath, attempting to calm himself, as he recognized that Nana's emotions, currently ablaze with anger and hatred, were influencing him too. And she wasn't alone in this, because one look at Gran Torino and All Might was enough to show him just how much those two men wished to strangle All for One with their bare hands.
Meanwhile, the Nomus that had been relentlessly assaulting the other heroes abruptly ceased their attacks and began a rapid retreat. Burnin realized what was going on. 'It's the same as earlier. They're heading for Shigaraki,' and without hesitation, she gave chase.
"If he can use Radio Waves properly, then he can send specific signals to the Nomus," All for One said as Shigaraki's body trembled, struggling even to open his palm. "It might be hard for Tomura since he's just hatched, though."
"I see, just as Midoriya mentioned, having All for One in control is truly worse because of his command over his quirks," Aizawa acknowledged. "But now there's no denying that we've lost this war."
The room's atmosphere immediately plummeted as most of them grasped the gravity of Aizawa's statement.
"No, it can't be..." Kirishima protested, unwilling to give up hope just yet. "There are still heroes who can stop the villains."
"It's not like we won't try, but..." Jeanist started, then let out a tired sigh. "You'll see."
"I won't let you go!" Jeanist exclaimed as he tried to interfere with the Nomus running towards Shigaraki by restraining them with the carbon wires. "Fight until... the end. Don't give up!" he urged, even as he continued to bleed from his eyes to the point where even his sclerae had turned red.
"Those were some encouraging words, but seriously, take a look at yourself. If you keep pushing, you'll end up with irreversible damage to your body and your quirk," Ryukyu cautioned.
"I'm aware, and I'm fairly certain my counterpart knows that too, but how can he give up now after witnessing kids half my age, with broken bones and stab wounds, still trying their best to push forward," Jeanist said somberly. "The fact that they had to be involved in this war is a significant failure on our part to begin with."
Spinner asks what they should do now to which All for One says that they are going to withdraw.
Spinner asked, "Withdraw?" with a shocked expression on his face. "Wait a minute! Compress is seriously wounded! What about the sleeping Machia? Toga's supposed to be heading here, too!" Stepping forward, he placed a hand on Shigaraki's shoulder. "Are you going to abandon your comrades?!"
"Like that bastard will ever care about anyone," Gran Torino said, glaring at the screen. "And, as far as I know that bastard, to him, people under his own command are hardly worth anything. That's why I doubt he will even spare a thought for someone working under Shigaraki."
All for One replied calmly, addressing Spinner by his real name, "It's fine, Iguchi."
"'Iguchi'...?" Spinner muttered, clearly bewildered. "Who are you?"
"Tomura has already lost. To One For All and Endeavor. It's because he woke up in the middle of his body modifications. Endeavor and One For All injured him faster than his body could regenerate," All for One explained. "That's why I came to help. Because this body needs to rest."
"Izuku has a name, stop calling him One for All," Momo frowned while fixing her glare on the screen.
"Actually, I think it's fine," Izuku said with a strained smile. "I'll always feel a bit more at ease knowing that All for One is after One for All, not me or anyone I care about."
"Izuku... you do realize that you and One for All are not separate entities, right?" Momo pointed out.
"I know..." Izuku sighed. "I just find comfort in reassuring myself that while I'm out there saving people, my mother, my friends, the people close to me, and you are safe here behind my back," he explained, rubbing the back of his head. "I understand it doesn't change anything, but it's a way to keep myself from worrying excessively."
However, Spinner remained resolute, pressing the matter further, "I don't know what you're going on about. I'm asking if you're going to abandon your comrades!"
"Yes, I am," All for One confirmed. "He'll pay for the defeat in a sportsmanlike way. It's all for my sake."
"Ugg! The bastard talks like those shitty villains from those lame-ass movies," Bakugo groaned upon hearing All for One's words.
"The League is gathering where the Nomus are heading. Dabi should be there, too," Jeanist informed the heroes. Mirio swiftly made his way back towards All For One, and Shoto propelled himself into the air using his fire. "Don't let them get away!"
"Output level 100... Spiraling flood- Nejire Flood!" Nejire declared and launched an attack on the Nomus.
The three young heroes who had just appeared on the screen clenched their fists and gritted their teeth, desperately hoping for their on-screen selves to do something... no matter how small the impact it has on the overall situation, they just wanted their counterparts to prevent All for One from escaping the battlefield.
"Recipro Turbo!" Iida exclaimed as he pushed his Engines to their limits. His thoughts raced with a singular purpose, 'I'll finish this as soon as possible. And then I'll take Midoriya and Bakugo to the hospital!' Iida thought as we see Bakugo and Izuku lying on the ground. 'Heroes are meant to save people!'
A fond and thankful smile graced Izuku's face as he saw that even in such a chaotic and dire situation, their class president was still thinking about saving them.
While Bakugo grumbled, "Focus on stopping that crusty face, Four Eyes," under his breath while rolling his eyes.
Meanwhile, Mirio, determined and phasing through the spikes on Machia's back, closed in on All for One. His resolve echoed in his thoughts, 'I won't let you escape!'
"The Permeation Quirk, huh?" All for One remarked as he launched menacing red and black tendrils at Mirio, seeking to intercept him. Mirio dodged them and was about to strike. Yet, in a sudden twist, the tendrils blindsided him, piercing his back and causing him to lose consciousness in an instant. "I can't deal with attacks I can't predict." All for One remarked.
"Darn it! I almost had him! Just a bit more, and I would've punched him in the face," Mirio exclaimed, stomping his foot on the ground. "But why the hell, did I turn off my quirk so quickly? It seems like such a stupid thing to do."
(AN: Not hating on Mirio, just pointing out how stupid that anime-only scene looked.)
"They just keep swarming..." All for One grumbled as he saw Iida and Shoto rushing towards him. He raised his hand and blasted them away using the quirk, Air Cannon.
Iida and Shoto both clicked their tongues in frustration as they watched All for One effortlessly deal with them.
"Now, shall we go?" he said, noticing that some Nomus had managed to break free from Jeanist's restraints and were once again running towards him.
"Just as I thought," Jeanist shook his head. "There's only so much I can do against the tireless Nomus who couldn't care less about their flesh getting sliced by those wires or their oxygen being cut off. Not to mention the condition my on-screen self is in; it's quite a feat that he managed to delay them for this long."
"Move... Move... Izuku Midoriya... Move, Izuku Midoriya...!" Izuku urged himself with heavy breath, his memories of Shigaraki from the vestige world flooding his thoughts. "Move!"
In the audience, Izuku's breathing quickened as his entire focus became fixed on the screen. He deliberately blocked out all external voices, whether from the people around him or the voices of the previous holders of One for All because, at that moment, all he wanted to hear and watch was what his counterpart would do next.
In a final, desperate bid to prevent the escape of All for One and Spinner, Jeanist extended a series of wires toward the departing Nomus. However, despite his valiant efforts, the wires fell short, failing to reach their intended targets.
"I suppose my counterpart has finally reached his limits," Jeanist said with a sigh. "I wish I could have done more, but honestly, I can't bring myself to blame my counterpart, considering how much he's sacrificed in this war."
Then, All For One heard a loud blast, and he saw Izuku launching himself toward him. "Still coming?" he remarked with a tone that was a blend of amusement and mild irritation.
"Hell yeah, Midoriya! Get his ass" Kaminari cheered for Izuku, joined by Kirishima and TetsuTetsu.
"His tenaciousness at least is comparable to All Might's," All For One remarked as Izuku used a combination of Float and Blackwhip: Froppy Style to advance toward him.
"If only you didn't have your ego-tainted glasses on your face, you would have realized that it's not just tenacity that is common between me and young Midoriya," All Might said, sporting a proud grin on his face.
"The old bastard is not wrong, though," Rumi added. "Even I am impressed by the kid's ability to keep hurling himself at villains in every stage of this battle. Not to mention how he finds new ways to do that, given that his hands and legs are no longer working."
He then sent red and black tendrils at Izuku, who dodged them and sent a tendril of Blackwhip, attaching it to Shigaraki's body.
"See, that's what I was talking about," Rumi said, wolf-whistling at Izuku's maneuver on the screen.
"Mirko, please don't encourage him," Momo said in a pleading voice. "We don't want him to make this a habit."
"Oh, come on. Stop treating him like a child," Rumi groaned, rolling her eyes. "Instead of trying to discourage him, why don't you all just acknowledge the fact that Midoriya is a central part of this conflict, and the outcome of this will affect his life the most."
"Even if that's the case, he's still sixteen and a student of U.A.," Aizawa countered her with a sharp look. "We can't just let one of our first-year students risk his life against seasoned criminals like we saw on the screen."
"You're talking like the kid hasn't already defeated Muscular and Overhaul, two S-rank villains," Rumi shot back, rolling her eyes once again. "Listen, I'm not telling you to throw Midoriya into the battlefield or make him stand on the front line. All I'm saying is that Midoriya could be our greatest weapon-"
"Usagiyama," All Might suddenly interjected in a stern voice, sending a chill down Rumi's spine. "I would appreciate it if you don't refer to young Midoriya as a weapon."
"Yeah, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," Rumi admitted with a strained smile. Normally, she wouldn't take back her words, let alone apologize to someone, but there was something about All Might that inspired genuine respect and fear of disappointing the retired Symbol of Peace in her.
"Anyway, as I was saying," Rumi cleared her throat and continued. "Midoriya could be a great help in the battle. Trust me, from what I've seen so far, in just a few years, the guy could probably take me."
"In a fight, right?" Momo asked, wearing a nervous smile, while Rumi flashed a wicked grin at her. This made Momo quite uneasy, so she asked again, "In a fight, right?" But Rumi didn't waver in the least and maintained that same wicked smile on her lips.
Unbothered by this, All For One said, "Let us meet again when this body is completed... Useless, Izuku Midoriya."
"Be quiet, All For One!" Izuku yelled at him, refusing to let go.
"That's the spirit, kid. No matter how much he taunts you, don't let All for One's words get to you," Gran Torino said, nodding his head. "Honestly, All for One would have been an even bigger threat to us if he didn't waste half his time boasting about himself or explaining how much of a mastermind he is."
All For One simply raised his hand as yellow light glowed from his palm. "We shall meet again," and he attacked Izuku using the quirk Air Cannon, launching him backward as Izuku saw the retreating form of Shigaraki with blurry eyes until he fell unconscious on the ground.
"This is the third time I've lost consciousness so far," Izuku said with a self-deprecating laugh. Then his mood dropped even lower as a gloomy air surrounded him. "And, more importantly, I failed to stop All for One from retreating from the battlefield."
Momo sighed, prepared to uplift her closest friend's spirits, but before she could, another hand landed on Izuku's head. Izuku turned to his side and saw All Might sitting next to him instead of Ochako, wearing a kind smile.
"It's alright, young Mid- Izuku," All Might began, opting to use Izuku's given name. "Failure is part of being a hero. You can't win every fight, and you can't save everyone," he said, as Izuku recalled the advice he had received after the mall incident. "And remember that, as long as you're breathing, you can always bounce back. So, stop beating yourself up like that, especially over something you haven't even failed at."
Izuku nodded at All Might's words and smiled, saying, "Thanks, I think I needed that."
"Don't worry about it, young man," All Might cheerfully said, patting Izuku's back.
The aftermath of the intense battle unfolded in a series of poignant scenes, reminding everyone that despite the villains' retreat, the heroes' work was far from over.
Heroes who still stood on their feet scrambled about, tirelessly rendering aid and assistance wherever it was needed.
The silence once again descended in the auditorium as they realized that they were going to witness the grim aftermath of this devastating war.
Next, we see shots of heroes like Jeanist, Bakugo, Endeavor, Mirio, Shoto, Iida, Nejire, and many others who are unconscious on the field.
The heroes shown on the screen either lowered their heads or expressed their frustration at the unfolding situation.
Another group of heroes, including Aizawa, Mirko, Gran Torino, Ryukyu, and many more, were shown confined to hospital beds, the toll of the battle evident in their injuries.
Izuku closed his eyes because no matter how much All Might, Momo, or anyone else tried to assure him, seeing everyone in such a dire state, especially Gran Torino, once again made him feel inadequate due to his lack of power to protect them from harm.
Next, we see shots of Gunga Mountain Villa, showing us injured heroes like Hawks, Mt. Lady, Fatgum, Kamui Woods, Tamaki, and others. We also see a shot of Midnight's crumbled-up mask next to the blood splattered across the ground.
Momo, Mina, Kirishima, and everyone involved in the Gunga Mountain raid felt their hearts sink as they grasped the symbolism behind Midnight's crumpled-up mask. Still, they clung to their hopes, thinking that maybe, just maybe, they could wish Midnight's well-being into existence.
Aizawa and Mic shared the same desperate train of thought as the students, fervently wanting to avoid witnessing another one of their friends perishing in the line of duty.
Finally, we return to Izuku, who lay prone on the ground, his gaze fixated on the clear sky above as he thought, 'Shigaraki...' 'You killed so many... You hurt everyone... There's no way I can forgive you... I can't forgive you. But...'
But?' the thought passed through everyone's mind as they wondered why there was a need for a 'but' in this situation.
Meanwhile, Izuku and, surprisingly, even the Vestiges remained silent, since both of them, to some degree, knew what Izuku's counterpart was going to say next.
Izuku remembers everything that happened in the vestige world, 'Back then when you were swallowed up by All For One... Back then, you looked...like you... were asking to be rescued,' and then consciousness slipped away from Izuku, and the viewer was treated to a final glimpse of the devastation that surrounded them.
After everyone heard on-screen Izuku's thoughts, silence followed as everyone in the auditorium now turned their attention to their Izuku, seeking an explanation for what his counterpart had said. Instead, they received similar silence from the boy who was calmly going through his notes.
Finally, it was Bakugo who broke the silence, growing irritated by Izuku's lack of response. "Deku! What the hell was that at the end, huh? Why are you talking about saving that crusty bastard's ass?"
"First of all, stop yelling. I can hear you loud and clear," Izuku responded in an annoyed voice. "As for your question, Kachhan, I don't know why he said what he did because if you haven't noticed, my counterpart on the screen and I are different people."
A vein throbbed on Bakugo's forehead as he grumbled in frustration. He didn't understand what had gotten into Deku, but the fact that he was talking back to him was somehow even more aggravating. "Stop with the lame excuses. He is you, so you should know what's going on in that moronic mind of yours when you're talking about saving that mass-murdering bastard."
"Listen, Bakugo," Izuku said, addressing Bakugo in a very uncharacteristic way, causing a few heads to turn in his direction. "I'm not paper or salt, tasting the same 24/7. Experiences change people, and just because I watched my counterpart go through an experience doesn't mean I experienced the same thing as well," Izuku continued. "I don't know what he saw or felt in the vestige realm during his encounter with Shigaraki and All for One, but if he's saying that Shigaraki needs saving, then I stand by his decision."
Bakugo was about to retort once again, but suddenly, the screen lit up, and they all realized that this screening was not over yet.
To be continued...
The next chapter will cover the second half of Ep 14 and will show a glimpse of prison break.