"Regular speech,"

"Flashback speech,"

'Inner dialogue,'

'Phone Text Chat'

'What?! My arm isn't broken? The big guy isn't even hurt! I missed? No, I definitely hit him. Is it his quirk? Damage nullification? Kinetic energy dissipation? No, don't think about that! Get Himiko away from him! He's way too dangerous!'

Izuku went to leap back, but the hand of the large disfigured villain closed around his arm and he wouldn't budge. The bones in Izuku's arm weren't shattered, but his broken finger still hurt and he cried out in pain.

"Izu!"

Himiko rushed forward and stabbed at the monster ineffectually; her knife bouncing off and sending sparks flying. The creature turned its bulging eyes toward Himiko and slapped her away without a second thought. She cried out as she landed in a heap in front of Asui and Ashido.

Izuku saw red.

One for All crackled through his body, and his heart thundered as he rained blow after blow on the villain with his free arm. Izuku snarled, spat, and cursed, his gloves were tearing, his knuckles were turning bloody and raw, and his arms were squealing in protest.

In a last-ditch effort, Izuku used the leverage from the villain's grip to swivel and slam a kick into the gray matter of its exposed brain.

This got a reaction. And the thing roared in his face.

The villain stood up and slammed Izuku to the ground. Once, twice, three times, and then he threw Izuku away; landing painfully beside Himiko.

"I-Izu?"

Himiko crawled painfully over to him, and he tried desperately not to pass out," I-I'm sorry, Himi-chan. I couldn't… even stall him long enough for you to… get away."

She cupped his cheek and hovered above him, her hair spilling into his face from the bun that had come undone atop her head.

"I'd never leave you, dummy." She leaned down and kissed him; their blood mixed in their mouths as his vision blurred. It took all his willpower not to pass out.

"Aww, a lovers last embrace. How sweet. Nomu, kill them."

The monster was poised over them, but Himiko didn't draw away from the kiss; instead, she intensified it. Izuku could feel her trembling, and with the last bit of strength he had, he flipped her over so that he could shield her from the attacks as long as he could.

One for All crackled to life, but instead of using it for offense, he poured all of his energy into tensing so hard that his back might as well have become a shield.

'I at least want her to live!'

A whoosh of air as the villain's fist approached made Izuku tense all the harder, but the blow never came and a booming voice filled his ears," I am here!"

Izuku and Himiko both opened their clenched eyes, turning to look at the looming figure of All Might. For once he wasn't smiling, and his entire focus was on the bloodied figures of Izuku and Himiko.

"League of Villains! I will never forgive you for this!"

In an instant he was between Nomu and the pair on the ground, his fist slamming hard into the creature's face. The wind from the blow far outstripped the powerful one that Izuku had landed earlier, but somehow All Might had kept the force of the wind focused mostly on the villain.

"You won't forgive us? What about those two? They aren't exactly blameless angels. The girl stabbed me in the forearm, and that plain-looking one; he would've killed me if Nomu hadn't caught the punch he threw a second ago."

All Might grit his teeth, as the creature called Nomu dug its clawed hand into his fist," they are blameless in that! They would never have had to do such things if you and your monstrous cohort hadn't invaded this rescue training! And besides all of that! Look at the state of those two, while you and your monstrosity remain almost unharmed."

The hand villain scratched at his raw neck," that's true, despite that green one's power, he was laughably weak; like a low tier mob in an rpg. So Nomu blew him away easily, and that blonde was even weaker than him. But I guess she can have a pass, her quirk obviously isn't power based."

"You are a child. Gloating over defeated foes, even though it's not your own accomplishment. Why don't you call off this monster and see how long you can last against me!" All Might's glowing blue eyes simmered beneath the shadows of his eyes.

"Yeah, no. I'm not an idiot, I'm not a playable character. I'm the one who controls one," he pointed at Nomu," that being said, Nomu, attack."

Nomu's free arm swung around, it was almost as fast as All Might's, but it was just slow enough for the number one hero to catch the blow.

"Strong and fast! You've got quite the ability there big guy, but—" All Might thrust the monster's arms above its head with a decisive blow, and then, in the instant its chest was exposed, he rained a flurry of blows down. "I am faster and stronger!"

Ominously, Nomu didn't budge an inch after the blows, aside from his head being thrown back after a particularly heavy punch. But the creature turned its head back down to All Might, not a single scratch apparent on its bulky body.

The hand villain chortled," that won't work, All Might! Nomu doesn't have just one quirk; he's got super regeneration—" one of All Might's surprise blows landed with great force," and shock absorption."

All Might grimaced in understanding, "So I can wail on him all I want, no matter how hard I hit him, even if it gets through, he'll just regenerate."

"That's right! He was made to be the ultimate counter to you! He is the Anti-Symbol of Peace, Nomu!"

The mist villain shifted closer," Tomura Shigaraki, it serves no purpose to disclose the powers of our ace."

Izuku turned his head painfully to get a better look at the villain he could now identify; it was the same name the mist villain had said earlier.

'Tomura Shigaraki,' he looked down to Himiko and was relieved to see she was still alright. Her side seemed bruised where Nomu had battered her away. She had fallen unconscious, but thankfully she didn't seem to have any trouble breathing.

Izuku grit his teeth and glared at the villain, wishing he could punch the bastard in the face.

But Himiko came first, so Izuku stood painfully to his feet; his back screaming in protest. One for All reinforced his joints and muscles, giving him the strength to lift Himiko in a bridal carry.

"All Might! I-I'm taking Himiko up to the others! I'll be back to help… once I'm done."

All Might waved him off," that's quite alright, young Midoriya! Just get young Toga and yourself some help, you don't need to worry about me!"

The memory of Thirteen holding up three fingers referring to All Might's lateness earlier made him pause," b-but the time—" he cut himself off and looked at the villains.

All Might seemed to catch his worry," do not fret, young Midoriya! I am more than a match for these hoodlums."

"Hoodlums?" Shigaraki scoffed," we aren't some graffitiing school kids, and we definitely aren't letting any of the kids here go. Hey greeny! If you take even one step toward your remaining classmates at the entrance, I'll kill your girlfriend and then you."

Izuku trembled under the man's stare, but he firmed his resolve and glared right back," the minute your hand touches her, I'll crush it, and slam you against the ground just like your monster did to me."

Shigaraki seemed put off by Izuku's lack of fear, but he quickly recovered," fine then, Kurogiri send the brat and his girlfriend away. Preferably separate."

"As you wish, Tomura. My apologies young man, but orders are orders."

Izuku panicked as the mist stretched toward them, and all Izuku could do was stare in horror. There was nothing he could grab onto to push the villain away, and he couldn't run; he was already barely able to walk.

'No! I won't be separated from her when she's like this,' Izuku drew Himiko as closely as he could, crouching down and curling around her to shield her.

"Die!" Izuku's eyes opened wide, but not because of the threat; because it was Kacchan who had said it.

Looking up Izuku saw that Kacchan was restraining the warp villain, his palm planted firmly against a metal apparatus. His palm sizzled and he was smiling menacingly down at the villain," move and I blow your ass up, ya smoky bastard! I noticed earlier that your smoke doesn't go far from this thing, so I figure it's where you're vulnerable and why you keep it obscured."

"T-Thank you, Kacchan. He almost got Himiko and me," Izuku stood back up with the girl in his arms.

He always thought it would be a cold day in hell before he ever thanked his old bully for anything, but it seemed hell had frozen over.

Either that, or maybe Todoroki's creeping ice rising up Nomu's body was causing Kacchan's sudden magnanimity.

"Shut up, you damn nerd! I could give less than two shits about you and your blonde skank!"

"Whoa that's not very nice, Bakugou," Kirishima grinned apologetically at Izuku.

'And there goes my gratitude.'

"Whatever, I'm taking her to the others near the exit. I'll come back to help you guys!"

"I don't need your damn help, Deku! So fuck off!"

"I hate to agree with Bakugo, but you look far more injured than Toga-san, so I think it's best if you stay with the others and wait for emergency aid." Todoroki was far more polite about his dismissal of Izuku's help than Kacchan.

"All the same, I'm not leaving you all down here with these guys. Ashido! Asui! Unless you two wanna stay follow me!"

Izuku turned and ran as fast as his aching body would allow, the two girls following behind. Himiko groaned as she rocked with his hurried stride," I'm sorry, Himi-chan. We'll get you help soon."

Her eyelids fluttered, and her eyes searched for a second before they fell on his face. She smiled goofily up at him, her teeth stained with blood," I'm glad you're alright, Izu."

He smiled back," I'm glad you're alright too. Just a little farther, and in a few minutes, the teachers will be here with help."

"Thas good," she blinked blearily," when we get back, we should take Eri out. She needsh her mama and papa."

"Of course, just try and stay awake. You might have a concussion, you're slurring your words a bit, so it's best you stay conscious."

Izuku pumped his legs harder and dialed up the power on One for All, if he had to guess he was operating at about eight percent now. His movements were a bit faster, but it felt like his sinews were slowly unraveling under the unfamiliar strain.

'Whatever it takes.'

"Midoriya!"

Uraraka was smiling down at him in relief, but her look quickly changed when she caught sight of Izuku's ragged and bloody appearance. And she looked even more worried when she saw Himiko, half conscious in his arms.

"What happened?!"

Izuku passed Himiko to Shoji giving the larger boy an intense look," guard her with your life."

"Of course," he nodded and lowered the blonde girl to the ground carefully.

"I'm heading back to help Kacchan, Todoroki, and Kirishima," Izuku turned back to Uraraka," When help gets here, tell them Himiko has bruised ribs, and a possible concussion."

"O-Okay, but don't you think you should stay back too?"

"I can't, All Might and the others need my help!"

Before she could argue for him to stay again Izuku shot back toward the square. Eight percent was far faster without needing to worry about jostling Himiko, and he was able to rejoin everyone back down in the fight.

It seemed things had deteriorated quickly in his absence, because Kacchan no longer had the warp villain restrained, and Todoroki's ice had been shattered by Nomu.

All Might was wailing away on the monstrosity, and the flurry of blows he was exchanging with the creature was creating a buffeting wind that kept everyone away from the melee.

Shigaraki yelled over the wind," are you an idiot! Nomu has shock absorption! Your punches aren't doing anything!"

All Might grit his teeth as a smear of blood dripped from his painful grin," exactly! It's shock absorption, not nullification. I figure this guy can only take so much punishment, before I send him flying!"

It didn't seem possible, but somehow All Might's fists multiplied. A flurry of blows was suddenly a storm, and where Nomu had kept up before; now he was quickly out paced and overpowered.

Fist after fist slammed into the creatures rippling black hide, and before long craters started to form in the flesh. All Might threw the villain up into the air, followed swiftly after, and slammed it back down. The creatures body bounced and as it did All Might landed with a concrete shattering stomp.

"You may have heard these words before! But allow me to show you what they truly mean! Go beyond! PLUS ULTRAAAAAA!"

The final blow slammed into the villain's chest with such force that the surrounding ground around him cratered. The shirt All Might wore ripped; leaving him in a white undershirt, and Nomu was sent flying. The villain shot through the glass dome of the U.S.J.

Everyone looked on, dumbstruck. Until All Might turned to the remaining two villains and glared menacingly.

"You're next, Tomura Shigaraki!"

The villain seemed to fall over himself, before he stumbled back to the one called Kurogiri; hiding behind him like a scared child.

"This isn't possible! Nomu is the perfect counter to you! You cheated!"

All Might took a single step forward. The villains stepped back.

Izuku wasn't sure, but he couldn't swear there was far more smoke around All Might than there should be. And he could be sure, but Izuku thought he saw the pro stumble a bit after that last step.

All at once Izuku remembered the time limit,' oh no, All Might used up all his time earlier! He only just recovered, he must be about to change back! But if he does then… he'll be helpless!"

"This doesn't make any sense!" Shigaraki was fuming, his red eyes frenzied and bulging," you should be dead! This is so unfair! I hate games that give the final boss a second faze!"

He was scratching madly at his neck, the skin turning bloody and raw as his nails dug harshly in. Just when Izuku was sure he would lose it, Kurogiri spoke," calm down, Tomura Shigaraki, Nomu's attacks were not ineffectual; look at All Might. He is wounded, and I'm sure, with the two of us, we can finish what we've started!"

Shigaraki scratched thoughtfully at his neck, and All Might took the hesitation as an excuse to bluff," well! Come on then! Test your luck, villain!"

That threat made Shigaraki step back, and rethink his sudden burst of courage.

"This is bullshit! If Nomu were here, he would rip your arms off, and beat your precious students to death with them!" He paused, hunching forward with an annoyed sigh," but you really do seem weaker now that I think about it, and we went through all the trouble… so I think we'll kill you now."

Kurogiri burst into motion, his misty form shooting at All Might. Shigaraki was seconds behind, and they were only feet away from All Might who hadn't moved.Izuku could see sweat breaking out on All Might's forehead, steam poured off of his body; reminding Izuku of the day he had met All Might when he had returned to his skeletal form.

'He's out of time! And the others won't last long against those two. I need to help, but five percent won't be fast enough to get me to him. So—"

Izuku upped the wattage of One for All and filled his legs with the full force of All Might's quirk. In an instant he was right next to Shigaraki, his arm cocked back and ready for a bone breaking punch.

"Get away from All Might and the others!"

He swung his arm forward, the air from the strike retreating to so fast there was a sharp crack. Izuku's arm was swallowed by the mist of Kurogiri's body, and it was redirected to open air where the strike was made ineffectual.

"We won't be falling for sneak attacks again, little boy." A pale cracked hand filled Izuku's vision, and he was sure he was dead.

Oddly, he was able to think one thing before all hell broke loose,' he really needs to trim his nails.'

Blood sprayed, someone yelped and retreated from Izuku. He could taste blood, and his vision was tinted with the reeking iron liquid. Izuku looked down at his shacking crimson stained hands,' What happened? I-Is this mine? Did Shigaraki touch me?'

Izuku looked around himself, but everything was tinted red; Shigaraki and Kurogiri were nowhere to be seen. All Might was safe, and still standing. Kacchan, Todoroki, and Kirishima were safe too.

'Oh… that's good.'

And then he fell unconscious.