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The night air is thick with screams and the sound of powerful blows being exchanged, air currents so strong they threaten to knock the news helicopters out of the air. Izuku stands helpless in Shigaraki’s grasp, four fingers placed on his neck, just like at the mall, watching the fight taking place not 100 yards away.
“How disappointed Shimura would be. She trusted you, and you failed her. She must be ashamed of you, all might,” All For One said, voice carrying across the battlefield. All might roared, rearing back his fist, but All For One catches it easily, throwing all might into a pile of rubble about ten yards from Izuku’s position.
dust and dirt obscures the view, and When it clears, All For One is standing triumphantly over all might, with red and black blades through his chest. Time seems to stop, frozen on that moment where the villain won, and then everything comes rushing back, All For One pulling the quirked blades from all might’s chest, laughing as the hero choked on his own blood.
Izuku wanted to scream, to fight, to do something, but he was frozen in shock, watching his father in all but blood die. Two people rushed out of the crowd—gran Torino and sir Nighteye—but All For One teleported to them, cutting their heads clean off.
As their bodies fell to the ground, Izuku heard Shigaraki begin to laugh, the rasping, grating, nails-on-chalkboard sound snapping izuku out of his shock. All For One teleported the league away, and as soon as he was free, Izuku rushed to all mights side, frantically checking for a pulse.
He knew what he would find, but it didn’t stop the tears in his eyes as he realized that his mentor was truly dead. Despite that, Izuku coated his hand in blood, licking up as much of the coppery liquid as he could stomach. He knew it was a long shot so long that it passed the horizon, but he had to try something.
The last thing he saw was a team of paramedics rushing over before everything went black.
☆ ☆ ☆
The drive from the hospital to UA was done in somber silence, with Izuku starring out the window, not really seeing anything. All might was dead—Yagi-San was dead, One For All dying with him, while All For One was alive and scheming.
It was only a matter of time before All For One ruled once again.
But, a small part of him whispered. But, there is a chance.
So now he stood in the forest surrounding UA, moonlight shining through the trees as he took a deep breath and dove deep into himself. He searched for the knot of emotion in his chest, finding a thread and slowly unraveling, understanding what he was feeling.
Grief, sadness, anger, despair, fear, because his mentor and father figure was dead and the world and his loved ones were in danger. But also hope and determination, because he would not give up, would not just let All For One win, not without a fight, would not let their sacrifices be in vain. As he dove deeper into that determined hope, he felt something swell within his chest, felt a warmth spread throughout his body.
He opened his eyes, seeing green sparks dancing around his body, illuminating his surroundings, and a many voices—exactly eight, he knew—whispering to him.
“Hello, nine.”