The USJ Incident [4]

I charged forward, my heart pounding in my chest as I closed the distance between myself and the villains. The gaunt man watched me approach with a calculating gaze, his fingers twitching.

"Nomu," he said, his voice cold and commanding. "Kill him."

The monstrous creature let out a roar that shook the very ground beneath my feet. In a blur of motion, it lunged towards me, its speed far greater than anything I had ever seen before.

I twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding a punch that would have surely shattered bone. Nomu's fist barely grazed my cheek, the force of the blow sending me stumbling back. I could feel the raw power emanating from the creature, a strength that defied comprehension.

Gritting my teeth, I launched myself forward, my own fist cocked back for a strike. I channeled my Tandava energy into my arm, focusing it into a single point at the end of my knuckles.

"Heat Seeker!" I roared, my punch connecting with Nomu's chest with a resounding boom.

The creature staggered back, its body absorbing the impact like a sponge. But even as I watched, the damage began to heal, the Nomu's flesh knitting back together before my very eyes.

"Shock absorption and regeneration," I muttered, my mind racing as I tried to formulate a plan. "This thing is a monster."

Nomu attacked again, its hand lashing out, moving faster than my eyes could follow. Its backhand caught me square in the chest, the force of the blow like a runaway freight train slamming into my body. I felt my ribs crack under the impact, the air rushing from my lungs in a single, agonizing gasp.

I was sent flying, my body tumbling through the air like a rag doll caught in a hurricane. The world spun around me, a dizzying kaleidoscope of colors and shapes that made my stomach churn. I could taste blood in my mouth, feeling it trickle down my chin as I fought to draw breath.

But Nomu wasn't finished. With a roar that shook the very foundations of the USJ, it leaped into the air, its massive form hurtling towards me like a meteor from the heavens. I could see the bloodlust in its eyes, the hunger for destruction that burned in its very core.

I knew I had only seconds to react. Desperately, I reached for the Tandava's power, letting it surge through my body. I felt the heat, the energy, the rhythm of the dance coursing through my veins.

Just as Nomu's fist was about to connect with my battered body, I moved. I twisted in midair, my body contorting in ways that should have been impossible. The Nomu's attack missed me by a hair's breadth, the wind of its passage ruffling my hair.

I landed in a crouch, my chest heaving as I fought to catch my breath. Every inch of my body screamed in agony, the pain of my cracked ribs and battered muscles threatening to overwhelm me.

I needed to end this, and fast. But how could I defeat an enemy that could absorb and regenerate from my strongest attacks?

As if sensing my thoughts, the gaunt man let out a low, mocking laugh. "You're outmatched, hero," he sneered, "Nomu was created to destroy All Might himself. What chance do you think you have?"

I pushed myself to my feet, my mind racing as I tried to formulate a plan. The gaunt man's words echoed in my head, taunting me with the futility of my efforts. But I refused to give in, refused to accept defeat.

As the Nomu charged towards me once more, I focused on its movements, studying the patterns of its attacks. And then, with a sudden flash of realization, I saw it.

Nomu's techniques were simple, almost rudimentary. It relied on its raw strength and speed to overwhelm its opponents, but there was no finesse, no strategy to its attacks. If I could just stay one step ahead, if I could anticipate its movements...

I darted forward, ducking under Nomu's swinging fists. I danced around its blows, using the Tandava's rhythm to guide my steps, to keep me just out of reach.

I started grabbing hold of the debris and rubble that littered the battlefield, using my strength to hurl them at the Nomu with incredible force. The makeshift projectiles slammed into the creature, distracting it, throwing off its balance.

Nomu roared in frustration, its arms flailing as it tried to swat away the onslaught. But I didn't let up, pouring every ounce of my concentration into the assault.

I used my enhanced speed to dart in and out of the Nomu's reach, landing blow after blow, targeting the creature's joints and pressure points with surgical accuracy.

For a moment, it seemed to be working. The Nomu was slowing down, its movements becoming more sluggish and erratic. I could feel a flicker of hope rising in my chest, a sense that maybe, just maybe, I could hold out long enough for backup to arrive.

But then, disaster struck.

As I moved in for another attack, Nomu's hand shot out, catching my leg in mid-kick. I felt the bones in my ankle pop, the pain exploding through my body.

Before I could even cry out, the Nomu was on me, its fists raining down like meteors from the heavens. I tried to block, tried to shield myself, but it was no use.

With a final, devastating punch, the Nomu sent me flying, my body smashing into the concrete with a sickening crunch. I landed in a crater of my own making, my limbs splayed out like a broken doll.

Pain, unlike anything I had ever known, consumed me.

I tried to move, tried to push myself up, but my body wouldn't respond. Every breath was a struggle, every twitch of my muscles an exercise in pure torment.

Through the haze of agony, I heard Kyoka's and Momo's desperate cries, their voices raw with anguish. "IZUKU!"

I wanted to call out to them, to tell them to run, to save themselves. But my voice was lost, a mere whisper drowned out by the pounding of my own heart.

Nomu loomed over me, its eyes blazed with a feral hunger, a mindless desire to destroy. I could see the inevitability of my own death reflected in those soulless orbs.

I had fought with everything I had, had poured every ounce of my strength and will into this battle. But it hadn't been enough. Against this beast, this abomination, I was nothing more than a broken plaything, a shattered doll to be discarded.

As the darkness crept in at the edges of my vision, I saw the faces of those I had sworn to protect flash before my eyes. My mother, my friends, my classmates... I had failed them all.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, the words tasting like ashes on my tongue.

The Nomu's fist began its final descent, a harbinger of oblivion. I closed my eyes, waiting for the crushing embrace of darkness.

But in that moment, suspended between life and death, I heard a voice. A voice that seemed to echo from the very depths of my being, a voice filled with power and promise.

Drishti, Gate of Vision: Open.

My eyes snapped open, the world rushing back into focus with a clarity that stole the breath from my lungs. Nomu's fist was still there, a hair's breadth from my face. But something had changed.

Time seemed to slow, each millisecond stretching out into an eternity. I could see every detail with crystalline precision, every twitch of Nomu's muscles, every flicker of uncertainty in its eyes.

It was as if a temporary veil had been lifted. The world was sharper, brighter, more real than it had ever been before.

And with that clarity came a rush of energy that flooded through my battered body like a tide of liquid fire.

I moved, my body responding with a speed and precision that should have been impossible given my injuries. I twisted to the side, letting Nomu's fist pass harmlessly by, close enough to ruffle my hair with the wind of its passage.

In the same heartbeat, I lashed out, my own fist slamming into the creature's elbow with a sickening crack. I felt the joint give way, the bone shattering under the force of the blow.

The Nomu reeled back, a howl of pain and rage tearing from its throat. But I was already moving, the Tandava guiding my steps, my every action.

I leapt to my feet, ignoring the protest of my broken body. The pain was still there, still a constant companion, but it was distant now, muted. It was nothing compared to the power that surged through my veins, the unbreakable determination that burned in my heart.

"Heat Seeker! Heat Seeker!" I screamed, each word punctuated by another devastating blow.

With a final, thunderous impact, I sent the Nomu flying backwards, its massive form smashing through the rubble and debris that littered the battlefield. It hit the ground with an earthshaking crash, its limbs splayed out at unnatural angles.

But even as I poured every ounce of my strength into the assault, I could feel my body starting to weaken. The rush of power that had sustained me thus far was beginning to fade, the aches and pains of my battered form making themselves known in full force.

I realized that there was only one way forward. If I was going to die here today, I was going to make damn sure that I stalled long enough to save everyone else.

I charged forward, my body moving with a speed that belied my battered condition. Nomu lumbered towards me, its fists raised and its eyes blazing with a feral hunger.

I ducked under its first swing, my own fist lashing out to connect with its jaw with a sickening crunch. The creature stumbled back, its head snapping to the side from the force of the blow.

But I didn't let up. I pressed my advantage, raining down a flurry of punches and kicks. Each impact sent shockwaves rippling through Nomu's body, its flesh deforming and warping under the onslaught.

I could feel my energy surging through my veins, every cell in my body screaming with the effort of channeling its full might. I knew that I was pushing myself beyond my limits, that I was risking everything in this final, desperate gambit.

But I didn't care. All that mattered was ending this, here and now.

With a final, earth-shattering roar, I leaped into the air, my fist cocked back and my eyes locked onto Nomu's exposed brain. I poured every last ounce of my strength, every shred of my will, into this one, ultimate attack.

"HEAT SEEKER!" I screamed, the words tearing from my throat.

But even as my fist began its downward arc, even as I felt my energy reaching its crescendo, I felt something give way inside of me. The rush of strength that had sustained me thus far vanished, my body going limp and helpless as the toll of my injuries and exhaustion finally caught up with me.

I fell, my fist missing Nomu's head by mere centimeters as I plummeted towards the ground. I could hear the gaunt man's laughter, could see the triumph in his eyes as he watched me fall.

"Pathetic," he sneered. "In the end, you were just another worthless hero, another fool who thought he could stand against the inevitable."

"I hope I gave them enough time," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the ringing in my ears.

And then, just as the darkness began to close in around me again, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around my body, lifting me gently from the ground. I looked up, my vision blurry and unfocused, to see the face of All Might staring down at me.

"I'm so proud of you, Young Midoriya," he said, "We will talk after. For now, rest."

As he carried me away from the battlefield, I let my eyes drift closed. The sounds of the USJ faded away, replaced by a soft, comforting darkness.

[All Might's POV]

I sat across from Principal Nezu, our conversation about finding a successor for One For All weighing heavily on my mind. The decision was not an easy one, and I couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out.

Just as I was about to excuse myself, a frantic knock at the door interrupted our discussion. I quickly transformed into my hero form, my muscles bulging and my height increasing as I called out, "Come in!"

The door burst open, revealing a breathless and visibly shaken Tenya Iida. His eyes were wide with fear, and his voice trembled as he spoke. "All Might! Principal Nezu! The USJ is under attack! Villains have infiltrated the facility, and my classmates are in danger!"

My heart plummeted, a cold dread seeping into my veins. This was my fault. I should have been there, should have been protecting my students. 

"Young Iida," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside me. "You did well to come and inform us. Principal Nezu and I will handle the rest."

Iida nodded as he turned and raced back the way he had come. I looked to Nezu, my eyes hardening. "I have to go. I have to save them."

Nezu nodded, his expression grim. "Go, Toshinori. I''ll bring backup."

I didn't waste another moment. With a burst of speed that sent shockwaves rippling through the air, I launched myself out of the building, my body cutting through the sky like a missile.

As I raced towards the USJ, all I felt was guilt. I had failed them. I had failed my students, had left them to face this nightmare alone. The thought of what they must be going through, of the horrors they were witnessing, made my stomach churn with a sickening dread.

But I had to focus, had to be the hero that they needed me to be.

As I approached the USJ, I could hear the sounds of battle echoing through the air. Explosions rocked the ground, the shockwaves sending tremors through the earth. And there, at the center of it all, I saw him.

Izuku Midoriya, his body battered and his face streaked with blood, stood alone against a monster that towered over him. The creature was a grotesque amalgamation of flesh, its brain exposed and pulsing with a sickening rhythm.

And yet, despite the odds, despite the sheer, overwhelming power of his opponent, Midoriya refused to back down. His eyes blazed with a fierce determination, his fists clenched and his jaw set as he threw himself at the monster again and again.

I watched in awe as he unleashed a flurry of blows that would have felled a lesser man, his body moving with a speed and grace that defied belief. Energy crackled around him, the very air shimmering with the force of his will.

But even as he fought, I could see the toll it was taking on him. His movements were growing sluggish, his breathing ragged and labored. And still, he pushed on, his voice rising in a battle cry that sent shivers down my spine.

And then, just as I was about to intervene, just as I was about to throw myself into the fray and stand by his side, I heard him whisper something that made my blood run cold.

"I hope I gave them enough time."

Time. He had been buying time, had been sacrificing himself to give his classmates a chance to escape. The realization hit me hard, the air rushing from my lungs as I watched him fall, his body broken and his strength spent.

I moved without thinking, my body propelling itself forward with a speed that even I didn't know I still had in me. I picked him up, my arms wrapping around his battered form as I cradled him against my chest.

"I'm so proud of you, Young Midoriya," I whispered, "We will talk after. For now, rest."

As I carried him away from the battlefield, his body limp and unresponsive in my arms, I felt a surge of pride and admiration welling up inside of me. This boy had shown more courage and selflessness than most pros I had ever known.

And in that moment, as I laid him down beside his teachers, I knew that I had found my successor. Izuku Midoriya was the one worthy of inheriting One For All.

End of Volume 2

(A/N: Haaa volume 2 done and dusted! I probably wouldn't have been able to do something this character driven without working on the Oshi no Ko fanfic. I want to thank you guys and especially Tensei for giving me the chance to work on this story! I hope you guys loved volume 2! Volume 3's uploads will be at least 3x a week so stay tuned for next time when we tackle the Sports Festival!)