Endeavor hovered in midair, the gloating smile from his successful hit on All Might soon fading to a frustrated scowl as he realized All Might wasn't going to jump right back into the fight.

There was no way a short burst of Prominence Burn had the firepower to put down the number one, so All Might was clearly biding his time.

Could he be hiding amongst the buildings as cover, ready to make a leap at him from an unexpecting angle?

Or was he going after the deadweight, on the off chance that the inhuman and the fool would try and intervene in their fight?

Either way, a small smirk wormed onto his face as he realized that either option meant he had forced All Might into acting carefully.

Even such a small reward for the burdens he had carried thus far was something to enjoy. If he could do this, then his plans for Shoto would surely come to fruition.

"Fore!"

Even if it had been years since he'd stepped foot on a golf course, that word triggered a dormant impulse of alarm within Endeavor, alerting his senses to his surroundings.

The whistling of something large careening toward him jolted him back, just in time to dodge a massive chunk of concrete hurtling past, a piece of a building still clinging to it.

His eyes snapped down in the direction it had come from, but no trace was left of his opponent other than a car sized crater where the ammunition was acquired.

He didn't get a moment to rest before another came hurtling to his back, and he was once again forced to dodge.

Was All Might hoping for a lucky shot?

The next one Endeavor opted to destroy, dodging would get tedious. He'd also prefer if his immediate reaction to a flying object were to attack it in case it was All Might.

Mustering forth the fire in his palms into a single point, he hold the flame at the single point, ready to burst out.

Sure enough another chunk of concrete flies toward him, and Endeavor raises his palm towards it and allows the bead of flame to be released in the direction of the flying missile.

"Jet Kindling."

In an instant the flame burst forth with enough to reduce the chunk of rock to a pile of dust floating in the air.

Endeavor isn't given the chance to develop concern over the reduction in vision that dust cloud causes before he's forced to destroy another.

Then another, and another.

Endeavor marvels at the speed All Might is traveling. Every missile is thrown at a different angle, the pace between them increasing until he loses count of how many are flying at him each second.

In his frenzy defending himself from flying debris, he doesn't notice he's destroyed the last one before its too late.

A powerful hand clamped over Endeavor's face, crushing his skull in its grip. Through the haze of dust, he glimpsed All Might's taunting smile as he swung Endeavor around by the head and throttled him downwards, slamming him into the ground.

The impact sent shockwaves through his body, creating a crater with cracks spidering out for several yards. His quirk faltered as he gasped for air, fighting off the dizziness and the pounding headache at the back of his skull.

It wasn't long before All Might landed nearby, his arrival sending a light tremor through the ground.

"Here to gloat?" Endeavor coughed, seeing All Might's shadow looming over him.

Struggling to sit up, he winced as air brushed against raw, burned skin. He looked down, realizing his suit's upper torso had been shredded, exposing injuries from training. He didn't like how All Might was looking at them.

"Gloat?" All Might looked momentarily puzzled. "Why would I gloat? You fought well. I was actually—"

"Cut the crap," Endeavor snarled, his voice bitter. "I was barely a challenge. You chose the roundabout way of defeating me. You could have just landed one good hit at the speeds you were going and I would by out like a light."

All Might fell silent at that.

"Tell me the truth." Endeavor's voice dropped, gaze fixed on the ground. "If I fought him as I am now… could I even stand a chance?"

He heard All Might's fists clench at the reference.

"..."

"Well?"

"You were there." All Might's tone had lost its usual bravado, a rare edge of honesty creeping in. "What do you think?"

The words were chilling.

"Thought so." Endeavor huffed, slowly rising to his feet. "I'm still an ant among gods, huh?"

"What? No!" All Might shook his head. "That's not what I meant."

"Don't lie," Endeavor countered, his quirk flaring to life again. "That's exactly what you meant. I saw how you looked at my injuries. You pity me—you think I'm just thrashing against an impossible wall."

"Endeavor—"

"Well, who'll fight those battles when you're gone?" Endeavor demanded, stepping forward. "I was the number two hero. If you hadn't been there, that man would've leveled the country, and we'd all be buried. I wasn't strong enough then, but now…"

The flames around him flared into an X across his chest, his face set in a fierce grin. "How did you like Hell Spider's Web? Two years to perfect that one. But this… this is something even stronger."

"Endeavor. Stop." All Might's voice was edged with a rare urgency.

Endeavor didn't care; he had to know if his theory could work.

"I call it Phosphor," he said, voice strained. "I'm channeling heat through every vein in my body—using my heart to push my quirk to its absolute limit." His gaze turned to the east. "Let's see if it's enough."

The ground under his feet began to melt, and the air around him shimmered, on the verge of ignition as he raised his palm towards the cityscape.

"Jet Burn."

A spark ignited a blazing beam that roared through the air, expanding in seconds into a fiery wave that obliterated city block after cityblock. Building after building was swallowed by the inferno before it vanished, as quickly as it had come. Leaving a trail of destruction at least half a mile in length.

All Might could only watch in awe and suppressed anxiety. The sheer destruction, the raw—it reminded him of that man's power.

A soft thud pulled him from his thoughts. Endeavor slumped forward, and All Might rushed to catch him, flinching as the superheated body stung his body even through the padding of his suit. Endeavor's hands were raw, fingers singed with second-degree burns, his forearms red and blistered.

Endeavor coughed, somehow still conscious. "See? An attack like that could get the job done," he rasped. "But... I know what you're thinking. One and done won't be enough."

"All Might," he added, his voice a hoarse whisper, "imagine someone who could do this, without the drawbacks..."

"What?" All Might asked, stunned.

"Yeah…" Endeavor gave a weak laugh. "When you're gone, don't worry. The next hero generation will have someone to fight the battles no one else can. My son… will…"

He collapsed fully into All Might's arms, finally succumbing to the searing heat of his own quirk

"Momo! What are you watching? Is that a villain attack?" Ayane Yaoyorozu asked, leaning over the back of the antique couch, her eyes wide with alarm.

"No, Mother. It's a hero battle," Momo corrected, her gaze glued to the massive wall screen before her.

"A hero battle? Against whom, if not villains?" Ayane asked, casting a wary glance at the scene unfolding onscreen.

"It's an exhibition match between All Might and some of the lower-ranked heroes," Momo replied calmly.

"Oh, my. Violence as entertainment? It all seems so barbaric!" Ayane huffed, her hand clutching the back of the couch. "Natsu, dear, are you aware of what our daughter is watching? It hardly seems appropriate."

"Mother, it isn't barbaric at all," Momo protested.

"Hush, darling, I'm speaking to your father. Natsu!"

Natsu Yaoyorozu looked up from his laptop on the far end of the couch, blinking at the screen. "Oh, that? We're sponsoring it, dear."

Ayane recoiled. "Sponsoring? Whatever for?"

Natsu closed his laptop with a sigh, eyeing Ayane with mild exasperation. "Because our daughter wants to become a hero. And I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to help her fulfill that dream. Only the very best for Momo."

"Thank you, Father!" Momo beamed, sparing a glance his way.

But Ayane frowned. "Heroics? Momo, have you been talking to those friends of yours again? They're a poor influence on you. Being a hero is an outrageously dangerous profession."

"Statistically, that is only the case for heroes who have inferior quirks, and those who received poor training. In regards to the former, I've been told my quirk is quite exceptional and in regards to the latter, UA is the best their is." Momo supplied.

"The best? This?" She gestured at the screen. "Are they really the best if this is how they use our resources? It seems quite wasteful."

Natsu stood, taking a measured breath. "I admit, I don't always understand Nezu's methods," he said, sparing a look for the screen as Endeavor unleash his Phosphor empowered display of strength. "But Nezu has proven himself an excellent steward of our investments. As long as Momo benefits from his schemes, I'll keep funding them."

He grimaced as he observed Endeavors injuries as he slumped over in the arms of All Might. "Though… I doubt Nezu's thrilled with Endeavor's self-indulgent display."

Nezu suppressed a sigh as he tapped the button on his headset.

"Midnight? Are you available?"

"Yes, sir. I saw how Endeavor was acting and already had Power Loader dispatch a medical bot to pick him up. It should be there any moment."

"Excellent. Thank you, Midnight." As the line crackled shut, Nezu felt some reassurance that he could at least rely on his team to be rational actors.

Knowing Endeavors history, maybe it was foolish for him to expect the hero to be mature enough to behave when given the opportunity to test himself against All Might.

"Midnight."

"Yes, sir?"

"Please inform Thirteen to prep the medical room and contact Recovery Girl. Tell her it's showtime."

There was a slight chuckle on the other end. "Understood, sir. I'll have everything ready."

As the line went dead, Nezu tapped his thigh thoughtfully. At least, if nothing else, this gave him the opportunity to show off UA's medical efficiency.

Turning back to his two guests, Nezu coughed to draw their attention.

"My apologies for the interruption, gentlemen, where were we?"

All Might frowned as he watched Endeavor being carted off by the medical bot.

The kind of power Endeavor had hinted at was almost unbelievable. Ordinary quirks didn't reach the scale of One for All—or of that man's power. But quirks that defied the norm did exist, and Endeavor's son having one of them… well, it wasn't impossible.

For everyone's sake, he hoped the boy would grow to be a force for good.

"All Might."

The voice drew his attention, and to his surprise, Gang Orca stepped into view, strolling confidently forward. All Might couldn't help noticing the mutant's sharp gaze sizing him up.

"Gang Orca." All Might smiled, pivoting to face his new opponent.

"You look a bit worse for wear." The man came to a stop about fifty yards away, his mobster-inspired hero suit spotless—a stark contrast to the dark burns scattered across All Might's outfit. "You sure you're up for another round, old man?"

"Old man?" All Might chuckled, shifting his stance. "You ought to watch your tone around your elders, rookie."

"Or what?" Gang Orca replied, playing up a cocky smirk. "You gonna reprimand me?"

"No, I'll just have to put you in your place using my old-man strength, punk."

They grinned, each slipping into a boxing stance.

"Well then, have at me, gramps."

Obliging, All Might surged forward, aiming a gut-wrenching blow at Gang Orca's midsection. His eyes widened as his fist collided with something far tougher than flesh—a solid, bone-like resistance that absorbed the impact.

Though the force still affected Gang Orca, forcing him to widen his stance and dig his feet into the ground, he only slid back half a dozen yards, leaving a trail of dug-up tar in his wake.

Nursing his hand, All Might quickly caught a whirring sound—something flying his way. He sidestepped as a shield-shaped object sailed past, tracking its path until he glimpsed a flash of a green cape disappearing down a nearby alley.

"Eyes on me, old man!" Gang Orca's voice rang out as he launched a punch at All Might's face.

All Might caught his fist but quickly let go as the sandpaper-like crust on Orca's knuckles scraped against his palm. He dodged the next blow, noting the sharp edges that had formed across Gang Orca's knuckles.

A smile crept onto All Might's face. This was going to be a good fight. He'd already proven his strength against Endeavor; now, it was time to let these younger heroes shine.

Though a part of him noted the toll the earlier fight had taken on his reserves, he resolved to pace himself and avoid going full throttle.

He'd start low and keep pushing harder on the gas until his opponents couldn't keep up anymore.

Hopefully this would make for good entertainment.

In a dark, damp neighborhood, a surprisingly well-maintained bar sat in defiance of its surroundings. Inside, a young man with blue-gray hair scratched furiously at his skin, his eyes glued to the screen, watching the battle unfold.

"All Might isn't fair," he muttered, his voice brimming with frustration. "Even when fighting a high level opponent in the bruiser class, backed up by another high level defensive support, that bastard still wins while holding back. He's overpowered."

The scratching stopped as he looked to the bartender. "Kurogiri, didn't they say he had a low stamina stat? Why is he still so damn strong?"

Kurogiri, pausing his methodical glass-cleaning, looked up at the screen. "Perhaps they aren't strong enough to challenge him?"

"After what Endeavor did?" Shigaraki scoffed. "Even when he overclocked his ability, he couldn't keep up with All Might. And his fire should counter brute strength like All Might's. All Might should have burnt all his stamina from how hard he pushed himself that fight."

A mechanical voice crackled from a nearby radio. "Or perhaps his injuries from my battle with him have fully healed."

"Sensei!" Shigaraki bowed, and Kurogiri did the same, lowering his head with respect.

"At ease," the voice replied, the static cutting briefly before continuing. "I spoke to the doctor regarding your special request, Shigaraki. Watching this now, both him and I agree it wouldn't meet your expectations. All Might's power—and his allies' support—would be too much for it. It might be able to keep him busy for a few minutes, but there's no way it can kill. So we're halting development on it."

Shigaraki's fists clenched. "But—"

"No. The upper-tier Nomu will stay in the warehouse unless an emergency arises. In the meantime, the doctor has learned a thing or two from this experiment, and he believes he can create even stronger Nomus, but it will take time. During that time he must be unbothered."

"How much time?" Shigaraki growled, irritation flaring in his eyes.

"More than a year, maybe two."

Shigaraki's face twisted with fury as he threw the drink Kurogiri had just served him, the glass shattering against the wall. "What am I supposed to do while I wait? I don't want patience. I want destruction. I want to kill All Might."

"Then use this time to find subtler methods of dismantling society. Strength alone will not ensure victory."

"Can't I at least use a few of the weaker Nomus?" Shigaraki asked, desperation in his voice.

"No."

The radio cut off abruptly, leaving Shigaraki seething. On the screen, All Might had just managed to overpower Gang Orca, and had turned to Crust, the battle was over, and All Might had won. Shigaraki's lip curled in disdain.

"I don't want to dismantle society," he snarled. "I want to kill All Might. I can't do that with weaklings who have no strength to stand up to heroes."

"Perhaps you could—"

"Agh! Shut up!" Shigaraki roared, slamming his hand on the bar. All five fingers made contact, and immediately, the polished wood warped, split, rotted, and disintegrated before his eyes, spreading across half the bar's surface. Shigaraki pulled his hand back, his expression flickering with guilt and annoyance.

"This is going to be costly—"

"I know how expensive it is!" he snapped, storming toward the exit. He carefully turned the doorknob with only four fingers. "I'm going for a walk. Don't even think about following me."

With a final slam, he left the bar, leaving Kurogiri in the stillness and ruin of Shigaraki's latest outburst.

Kaitsu stared wide-eyed at the screen, his jaw dropping as he watched Gang Orca go toe-to-toe with All Might, his movements confident, his power almost palpable even through the screen. If there was one mutation he'd wished he could have, it was undoubtedly this one.

This wasn't just raw strength—it was resilience, an unshakable toughness that Kaitsu felt would give him the edge he desperately wanted. Sure, All Might was holding back, and Crust's shields gave Gang Orca added defense, but none of that dulled the awe Kaitsu felt. To him, Gang Orca wasn't just another pro hero; he was the ultimate expression of what it meant to be both a powerhouse and an immovable wall. It was everything Kaitsu imagined he needed for the upcoming entrance exams: a mutation that would allow him to hold his own, regardless of what came his way.

As the screen continued to flash with scenes of Gang Orca enduring All Might's blows and returning them with thunderous intensity, Kaitsu felt a pulse of excitement building in his chest. The way Gang Orca could withstand each hit and still keep going, how he could hold his ground against the number one hero even for a few minutes—it was exhilarating. For Kaitsu, it also told him about his own potential, if he could copy that mutation, he'd be able do things like that.

He closed his eyes briefly, picturing himself on that stage, facing down opponents with the same unyielding determination and power. In his mind's eye, he saw himself blocking attacks with effortless confidence, his own counter-blows powerful enough to send shockwaves through the ground. The thought alone was enough to make his heart race faster, and his imagination soared as he envisioned himself standing among the pro heroes one day, recognized as one of their own.

As he watched, a new thought bubbled up: other kids his age were probably seeing the same thing and feeling the same drive. Maybe they were watching Endeavor, Crust, or even All Might himself and imagining that they too might wield such power one day. It was almost inspiring to think of so many aspiring heroes out there, all dreaming of greatness.

But for Kaitsu, this was more than a fleeting fantasy. It was a promise. If this was what the path to UA looked like, the bar set so high, the challenges so thrilling—then Shiketsu wasn't even in the picture anymore. There was only one school he was setting his sights on now.

He was going to UA, to hell with everyone standing in his way.