Justice Across Space and Time
Chapter 36
This time I really don't have anything extra to say. It's about time to finish this fight. And set up some new plot lines in the series. On with the show.
(No POV)
"Judgement? An odd name. Even by hero standards." AFO says as he finishes dragging himself out of the crater Judgement had put him in. The man's white eyes narrowed at the villain as he floated to the ground. He cracked his knuckles before saying, "You have escaped the judgement you deserve for too long. I'm here to make sure it is-" Right as Judgement was finishing his statement, AFO rushed the man and used a variety of enhancing quirks to attack him.
But while the impact sent Judgement into the air, it appeared to do no damage to the man. In fact AFO's hand was hurting a bit afterwards. "What kind of quirk- Guck!" AFO tried to say, but Judgement was in his face again. Sending the villain into the air and striking from multiple angles. Faster than the old villain can comprehend.
"I don't know what's going on but there seems to be a new hero… Or possibly vigilante engaging the villain this time. Perhaps this is another true meta vigilante? To counter the true meta villains?" the reporter in the helicopter said as they were recording the battle between the two.
When another reporter questioned what the on-site man said, the cameraman sent the images they had recorded earlier. Of Luiz Lima defeating Mt Lady, Emma and Ray Anderson attacking the villains and heroes around them. As well as the death of Nobasu at Lima's hands.
This rattles quite a few of the quirked majority, as they were seeing powers that put most quirks known to the world to shame. And now a new vigilante appeared that seemed to be keeping pace with a villain that gave All Might trouble. Some others noted that Izuku and Saphentite were among the heroes battling against the villains.
This would later come up in talks regarding laws going forward, as well as the question of whether or not they should be stopped. Given their capabilities, and the fact that they could get more done without the bureaucracy of most of the hero world.
But that isn't at the forefront for now. Now it is back to the battle between Judgement and AFO. AFO is breathing hard after taking what he felt was over 100 blows. But in reality, he'd only been hit solidly ten times. "It's like facing another All Might! How can you be this strong!? Quirks were supposed to be what would lead humanity to the next step! They are the power we were meant for!"
Judgement just looks down at the man with contempt. And a bit of pity. "You truly are nothing but a pitiful pathetic fool. You actually believe that quirks are what is supposed to happen? That they are natural? That it's normal to have as painfully physically warping or mentally damaging powers such as yours? It is nothing more that disease."
Hearing that makes the villain stop for a time and look towards the villains in shocked anger. But what Judgement says next sends him over. "You are even more pitiful when you consider how many things you've done to try and stay alive. The machines, the taking of a power to extend your life, and this… wish of yours to pass your power and mind into a new body. You just constantly tremble and run from it. All from the fear at the idea of dying. So, you do everything you can to get away from it. Even if it is just for a bit longer. Its truly sad and pathetic." The villain is trembling indeed. But this is fury; not fear that pushes him. He shouts for the man to shut up before charging up Air Cannon with as much power as possible.
But before he can launch it, he is struck across the face with a powerful "Detroit SMASH!" from All Might. It sends the villain flying again while the number one hero stands proud. A severe frown upon his usually smiling face. "You should have left this to me. I intend to make sure he receives his due judgement."
"That may be. But I also have a duty. A duty to protect these people. A duty to stop that madman. And a duty to show more of what it means to be a hero. Even if I don't know how long it will last." All Might says to the vigilante.
Judgement just looks down at All Might while floating in the air. The man is slightly battered and bruised from his confrontation with the symbol of evil, but he is still standing. With his fist clenched tight, and a fire burning in his blue eyes. Judgement chuckles slightly before landing from his flight. "All right then. We BOTH finish this." The blue suited vigilante says with a nod.
"How sweet. Those who should be enemies finding the solidarity of taking down a common foe. But I won't let it stop me! I CAN'T!" AFO shouts as he had returned to hear the talks the hero and vigilante had. But before the man can begin to process, he is quickly double teamed by the two. A powerful punch from All Might sends him into the air, and Judgement is there to meet the man. With a kick, he shatters more of AFO's mask. All Might takes a runner's stance and blitzes forward. Unleashing a "Carolina SMASH!" on his enemy.
While the villain is wincing, Judgement comes in and punches the man in the side. After AFO bounces a bit, he is punched again. Blasting through a wrecked building. This happens two more times, before All Might is upon the villain again with a "Michigan SMASH" rapidly barraging the villain with blow after blow.
This infuriates the villain more and more. As he doesn't have enough time to respond and retaliate with all the quirks he's collected over the years. That is when he uses a different desperate move. With a radio wave pulse, the Nomu that were contained in canisters go active. And then rush the heroes. One even hitting where AFO knew All Might had been injured before.
He smirked at this, but then was dumbfounded when the number 1 barely responded. Quickly knocking out the Nomu who attacked him. "Enough of this!" AFO says after most of the Nomu had been taken out. He charges Air Cannon again with radio waves and springlike limbs and fires it at the heroes. Vaporizing the monsters, he had created and controlled in an attempt to defeat the two.
While the Nomu's were destroyed, Judgement and All Might were ready. And countered the cannon shot with their own strong blows. "No more fooling around. I had originally planned to use just a handful of powers, but now I see that I need more to defeat the two of you." AFO says in an annoyed tone. And then brutally reformatting his arm.
"Springlike Limbs, Multiplier, Hypertrophy, Rivet, Air Walk, Spearlike Bones, ten kinetic boosters and strength enhancers, as well as radio waves and the charge from Air Cannon. And Multiplier to push my power further. This is truly the Ultimate Combination of Quirks. The true symbol of their strength."
Judgement just snorts before charging up something of his own. But it is more subtle. All Might is the same as he tightly grips his fist before saying, "I don't care how strong you think you are. I…. No. WE will stop you. And defeat all of the power you have stolen throughout the years!"
AFO then rushes towards his two enemies with all the power he can muster in his enhanced right arm. All Might intercepts with his own right fist, while Judgement clashes with his left. The impact and subsequent energies unleash shockwaves throughout Kamino ward. Even more so when Impact Recoil is used. The two heroes feel it, but they push on, and are gaining ground. Even when AFO tries to taunt All Might about the fact that he can tell that OFA isn't there anymore, the hero doesn't flinch.
Even the stabs at Izuku and him saying that, "you entrust your power to someone like him! A person with a power no one understands! And should be beneath all of the others!" "Your true colors show you damn beast! But we will stop! And you will face what you deserve!" Judgement shouts as the two start to push back harder.
Culminating with AFO feeling his bones breaking under the strain. He gets blasted back and sent flying into the air. His enlarged and enhanced arm twisted, broken and bleeding from the impact against the two heroes. Judgement focuses on the final pulse he needs, and flies rapidly into the villain's path. Before double hammer fist slamming the man in the back. With a powerful radiation pulse going through the man's body. And flying once again toward All Might.
"TIME TO END THIS! GOODBYE! AFO! UNITED STATES OF SMAAAASSSSHHHH!" All Might shouts with all his might and brings down his strongest hit to AFO's face. Reversing the villain's momentum and slamming him into the ground. While causing a massive tornado that covers the sky. And tosses the news copter around until Judgement flies in and pulls the craft to safety.
As the sun is rising, and more of the devastation is seen, All Might stands vigil over his enemy. Judgement flies down toward the number one hero. He looks over the man before walking over to give the man a congratulatory pat on the shoulder. But before Judgement can walk away, All Might grabs his arm.
He looks at the man, and then raises both of their arms up into the air. Judgement scoffs a bit but follows what the hero has in mind. Both heroes have their fists held high in victory as the crowd and nation cheers them on for their victory. "All Might is victorious! He saved us yet again! And this new vigilante is ready to stand watch with the hero as well! They fought, protected and defeated the villain!" the reporter announces with a few tears in his eyes.
Once the police and the rest of the heroes arrive, they quickly load up AFO into a maiden. While the rescue type heroes get to work on finding and saving the civilians trapped below. All Might sighs before saying, "it's over." The vigilante hero looks around before letting out a sigh. "No. It has only begun." Judgement says with a narrowed gaze.
Suddenly AFO starts screaming and his body seems to almost be rupturing from the inside. While not enough to break out of the maiden, it is enough to terrify all of those nearby and even those who are watching the broadcast.
"I meant what I said about him facing judgement. That includes for all the pain he has inflicted upon those he has taken powers from for years. Let alone the manipulations and other actions that have driven others mad. He will face the judgement he deserves." Judgement says with a firm resolve in his voice.
All Might and Endeavor go over to ask what he meant. But suddenly All Might winces and is brought to his knees. This horrifies everyone again as they do no know what could be happening to their greatest hero. Suddenly a burst of smoke appears around All Might. And he is shown to be much smaller than all of them know.
"You stood too close when I was preparing to finish him. Now you have lost what you felt defined you. Just like with that monster and all the powers he has taken….. I have destroyed your quirk." Judgement says with finality. This panics the crowd and more are wondering what would happen to them without the symbol of peace.
But Judgement has this to say. "Just because All Might will not be able to be the symbol of peace, does not mean that the villains can't be stopped. Where there is light there is dark. And were there is evil, there are others willing to stand up against that evil. There will be new symbols. Ones who will save all they can and defeat those villains who threaten others." He then starts to float away, with a few of the heroes attempting to pursue.
But they can't keep up. As the vigilante flies away so fast, he breaks the sound barrier. Endeavor reaches down and asks if All Might is alright. "I think so. But I have to wonder. If the loss of my quirk is just from being too close to him…. What do you think AFO is going to be dealing with?"
Turns out, quite the horrific end for the monster known as AFO. Not only were all of the quirks the villain had collected in his body destroyed, but more and more tumors were found in his body every day. After finding over 100 in the man at one point, the doctors surmised, "that for every quirk the man had stolen and kept over the years… a tumor would form in its place. A dark type of justice for this villain. And quite the cruel judgement."
It was so bad that within a week, AFO was little more than a vegetable. One that was in constant pain from all the tumors growing inside of him. Before two weeks had passed, AFO finally died. Confirmed by coroners, AFO was screaming about wanting to live right up until he passed. With the fiery pain shooting through his limbs and voiding his bowels before he had fully died. Mostly due to fear.
No tears were shed for the end to this monster. For others they saw it as a dark but befitting for what evil the man had likely committed over the years. There was a far more pressing concern for the rest of the world. The end of the symbol of peace.
While Toshinori had not received any grievous injuries aside from many bruises and some minor fractures during the battle, the doctors confirmed that the man was growing far weaker. "It appears that rather than the rapid destruction and punishment that the villain received, All Might's condition is more akin to an accident. It is very likely that had he not been so close when the vigilante was charging up this attack, he would have been fine in the long run." This was enough to calm some, seeing it as not a deliberate attack against heroes and their quirks. But more of an unlucky incident.
Toshinori later attended a press conference to address the whole world about his condition and what it would mean going forward. "It is true that I am losing my quirk. And as such I will not be able to carry on my duties as the number one hero. Do not despair though. For though I am retiring, there will be more who can take my place and rise as heroes. From all groups of people. The quirked students, aiming to earn their licenses to use their quirks in public. To the true metas who help to protect others and stand for what is right. Even if they have little reason to. And even the police and armed forces who will do all they can as well to protect the civilians as well. They are all heroes in that same right." He would go on to say that he would still guide and teach the next generation. For UA still had the brightest students in Japan. And the next symbol to protect others could come from any one of the generation to come.
"Quite the speech to placate and try to ease the masses All Might. But now we have new problems down the line." Nezu said with a sigh. Around the world, the fact that All Might had been forced to retire due to a strange new vigilante, let alone that he could destroy quirks made plenty of the heroes nervous. "I agree. We can't just assume that this Judgement person will always be so friendly or an ally."
"It'd be logical to suspect that he could easily turn on all of us. Especially if he's also been hurt by those of us with quirks." Vlad and Aizawa note while meeting with the other heroes.
Nezu then claps his hands before noting that they will be implementing a plan brought up earlier in the year. "The Heights Alliance dorms have been finished. All that is left is getting permission from the parents." Snipe asks "Why do you feel we need to do this Nezu sir?"
"Because of the situations we more than likely will face going forward. The League of Villains is still out there. And lest we forget the Forgotten again. They in many ways are more terrifying. And even with the death of AFO, both sides now have a void where the most powerful members used to be." Toshinori looks down before agreeing with the bear mouse.
With that all said, the teachers of each year split up to discuss matters with the parents involved. Though Kan has to deal with a different issue. While it was confirmed by Izuku and Saphentite that Itsuka was at Kamino ward, no one had seen her for two days. Even with the heroes combing over the ruined ward with a fine-toothed comb."I don't think I can say anything to her parents. We were supposed to protect her….. and not only did we fail at the training camp, but we couldn't…."
"There's nothing you could have said that would have changed her mind. Besides….. these children we are teaching are aiming to be heroes. If they weren't willing to jump in to save another, the frankly they wouldn't be ready for what it truly means to be a hero." Toshinori said to Kan with a hand on the man's shoulder. The blood hero just takes a ragged breath while nodding. And then saying he'll figure something out.
Toshinori though goes to the Midoriya home to convince Inko to let her son move into the dorms. While she is a bit hesitant, she knows that the man and all of the teachers will do everything they can to protect her son.
"I would have questioned and worried more, but many of them did all they could against opponents that were beyond what most are prepared for. The world is changing again, and I'm willing to believe that you will do all you can to guide him through these changing times. Please, watch over him All Might." Inko says while placing both hands on All Might's. Toshinori's eyes widen, but he smiles slightly before saying, "its not All Might anymore ma'am. I'm just Yagi Toshinori now. But I swear….. I will do all I can to make sure that young Midoriya is ready for the fights to come."
With that said, Inko agrees to let Izuku stay at UA and to put her trust in the teachers there. But now Toshinori had to deal with a bigger problem. Meeting with Jotaro and Saphentite's parents. Or at least that was said he was going to do. The two other world teens lived one above the other in an apartment complex. Jotaro was a bit of an issue given his story about most of his family being dead. So, both teens were classified as having Mahmood Anwar as their guardian. 'Wonder how this will turn out?' Toshinori thought to himself as he knocked on the door to Saphentite's apartment. It was Jotaro though who opened the door, allowing the retired hero in. "I'm a bit curious, but some of that can wait till later. Is Sahirah here too?"
"Yeah. She's just… well you'll see." Jotaro says with dark look on his face. The large teen leads Toshinori to what he believes is just a closet. But once Jotaro punches some number in on a keypad, the closet disappears, and a portal replaces it.
Toshinori's eyes are wide as he follows Jotaro through the portal. When they come out the other side, the room they are in appears to have multiple sections just floating in space. "Does your landlord know about this?" Jotaro just gives Toshinori a raised eyebrow look before asking the man to follow him.
"Sahirah has a lab set up here. We'll all be able to discuss matters." Jotaro says while a path of stone forms in front of the two. Toshinori is bewildered, but he just shrugs and follows along to find out what his friends have in mind for matters going forward. When they arrive at the lab section, Toshinori sees Saphentite intently typing away at a computer. While a few machines around seem to be operating other pieces. Some of which appear to be radioactive in origin.
"Okay seriously. Does your landlord know about any of this stuff?!" Toshinori says after seeing the radioactive materials sign on some of the pieces in the lab. Jotaro just chuckles while Saphentite casually claims, "what he doesn't know won't hurt him. And it won't affect anything outside of this space." Toshinori just lets out an exasperated sigh while Jotaro brings all three tea and some snacks so they can discuss matters.
After a few peaceful drinks, Toshinori decides to bring up the dorm system that was being put into place. And questioning if they intended to bring all of these items into the dorms with them. "No. I'll leave the more volatile items somewhere else. I will take some of my generators and experiments with me though." Saphentite says with a shrug.
"I still don't know why you can't leave some of those things alone. You could end up blowing all of our stuff to oblivion." Jotaro noted with a roll of his eyes. "Hey you don't complain about my experiments and garden, I don't complain about your rock wall and music room." The teens go back and forth a few times while Toshinori is just watching.
He snorts before saying, "okay as funny as this whole interaction of yours is, serious moment Saph- no Sahirah. No dangerous experiments. Power Loader has enough trouble with that Hatsume girl. No reason to make the rest of us worry." Saphentite just rolls her eyes before saying "fiiiiinnnnne" as sarcastic as possible. Toshinori just laughs before bringing up another big factor to what just happened.
"So…. Judgement? That was what you went with huh?" "Seemed fitting for the situation and relating it to what Chizome probably told the police. We did give the initial J after all." Jotaro said with a shrug.
After Jotaro, or John, had blasted through the debris holding himself and Itsuka; he connected to Sahirah to meet up with him. "I'd healed Itsuka somewhat but… well we can discuss that later. For now, you want to know more about the Judgement thing, right?"
At Toshinori's nod the two explained a few details. How the suit was similar to the ones that Toshinori had used as All Might. But to better disguise John, they had gone for a full mask to cover his face. "And the swords?" the retired hero questioned. "Sword of Damocles. Seemed to be a fitting symbol for the fight ahead." They then mention John using a special piece of technology Sahirah and Melissa had started working on at I-island.
"It's a belt that adjusts mass. Its only a prototype so far. The most John could do with it was reduce his mass so he could make it appear he was flying without doing the same kind of venting trick that others might know." Saphentite explains with a little nod.
"Given how much mass I have in a very confined space, it took a bit of practice before really testing it out. But in adult form, I was able to better handle it and make use of the subtle shifts to my weight." Toshinori nodded and noted that the earlier hits John had bombarded AFO with were to set up for the punishment that the teen had in mind. "Pretty much. Just destroying all of his quirks wasn't enough. I felt he deserved to really… suffer at the end for all the cruelty he's inflicted over the years."
The older man sighed but did agree that the villain could have been more of a problem down the line if he was kept alive. "You were willing to play the bit of a villain… both in AFO's death, as well as camouflaging my depowered state. All to try and protect some of the peace I've created."
"And give you a bit of an easier out to be your new hero self. I've already got oceans of red in my own ledger. But I can make the most of-" Before John could finish his thoughts and statements, Toshinori punched the teen in the face.
It of course didn't hurt, but it did surprise the teen. Toshinori then put his hands on John's shoulders before saying, "you cannot keep holding that against yourself. You have saved more lives than you have taken. And you've strived to be a better hero. Even though you have trouble viewing yourself as one." Sahirah smiles and places her hand in John's. While giving him a warm look to confirm what the UA teacher was saying.
John doesn't know what else to say but "thank you" before taking a few moments to ease into the next point. Toshinori asks what happened to Itsuka, both teens wince before looking at one another. With a sigh, the two stand and wave for Toshinori to follow them.
In a separate room, there is a large cylindrical tank filled with fluid. And floating inside is Kendo Itsuka. The girl was naked, so Toshinori quickly averted his eyes. The only thing she had otherwise was a mask over her face. John sighed before saying, "I managed to heal a lot of the damage done to her. But the trauma was extremely deep. She's been like this for a day or two since she was injured, in a kind of coma. There's activity in her brain, so I'm hopeful she'll wake up. But…" John looked down before sighing again.
Sahirah looked back to Toshinori with a grimace on her face. Before she said, "the healing he did had the same effect it did on Chizome. Itsuka has been healed of her quirk." Toshinori's eyes are wide at that and looks between all three teens. He sighs as well before saying, "do NOT! Go thinking this is your fault, John. You were saving her life. She needed you, and you did what you had to do." John looks back to the man, and he smiles slightly. He thanks the man but isn't sure of what to tell her or her parents when she woke up.
Toshinori said to not worry about the matter for now. "Focus on what needs to be done to finish healing her. There is one thing…. Any chance you can make it seem like she's being taken care of by… well people who are not children?" Sahirah laughs before transforming into a more adult form. As well as putting on a lab coat with square glasses to accentuate the scholarly appearance. Toshinori takes a picture of the tank that Itsuka is in, as well as one of Sahirah to send to Vlad and Itsuka's parents.
"Are you sure she is safe?" Itsuka's father asked after Toshinori sent the pictures to Vlad. Toshinori was on a video call with Vlad and he explained that Judgement had found him and was directed to this doctor who was treating Itsuka. Even giving the parents an address, where they could pick up their daughter. It was enough to placate them for the time being.
Though for the time being, the Kendo's were pulling Itsuka out of UA. "Not surprising. I'll try to talk to them. I doubt you'll be able to get through to them Toshi. But maybe….. If they know how heroic she was…. Both with trusting in Izuku, Sahirah and Kazuhiko, and trying to get me away to safety. Maybe they'll be willing to trust in that and what she wants to do." John said after listening in on the conversation with the Kendo family. Toshinori agrees, and then goes to meet with Izuku.
At Dagobah beach the eighth and ninth holders of OFA meet. Toshinori punches Izuku in the gut for recklessly jumping into the rescue. "As well as the fight you go into with the villains. I know you have passing off that you don't have a quirk but still… You have to learn not to rush in without all the details. To save yourself and others. But then again if you didn't have that urge. That will save others, then you wouldn't be the perfect successor of OFA. My time as All Might has to come to an end."
"Cough! Which means….. you won't be able to be the same hero you've always been for us. But we'll be alright All Might…. Not only do I know what I need to do, but I have many friends who can help me on the way. Jotaro and Saphentite are given, but the rest of my class has it in them to become heroes in their own rights. And we won't just be saying 'We Are Here' like you would. We'll make our own marks. On what it means to be a hero." Izuku says this after shaking off the punch Toshinori gave him. The fierce determination and a few tears in his eyes, as well as the willingness to call to others. It is enough to tell Toshinori that his successor will be just fine. And will fit right into his role in this changing world again. As the symbol of peace and compassion.
The former symbol of peace sniffles before reaching a hand out before pulling Izuku into a hug. "You've already done me proud. And you will truly be the hero the world needs now. But please. Try to keep yourself safe. For all of us." Izuku's reciprocates the hug and thanks his mentor. For saving them, for trusting him, and most of all for believing in him. 'It's time to show what the symbol of compassion can do,' Izuku thinks while looking up at the moon with tears in his eyes.
This might be a lot of expositing, but I have changed quite a bit from the canon of the manga. Besides the end of the Hideout raid was a bit of an exposition chapter. Itsuka may be alive….. but now I've got two new ideas going forward. Have her leave the hero course altogether making room for Shinso or Bakugo.
Or my preferred option and a way to stick it to the quirked people as well, have Itsuka not give up her position. And learning to become a hero based around her own merit, skill, and hard work. Like the Karate Kid from the Legion of Superheroes. Please review.