The Symbol of Peace

"Damn it!" Kurogiri was stunned by Bakugo's attack, his body restrained and completely unable to move. "How did you know my weakness?"

"Huh? Anyone with a working brain could've figured it out, right?" Bakugo grinned viciously. "Most of your body's clearly made of mist, but when you got attacked, you said that was close. Doesn't that mean there's a part of your body that's vulnerable?" He paused for two seconds, then continued, "And you put something that obvious around your neck. Who wouldn't know that's your weak spot?"

Kurogiri suddenly said, "...Aren't you going to make me close Warp Gate?"

Bakugo hesitated. He had Kurogiri restrained, so he could make him close Warp Gate and cut the Nomu in half, freeing All Might and taking out an enemy at the same time... But that would mean the Nomu would definitely die...

To be honest, although Bakugo believed there was no need to show an enemy any sympathy, he still couldn't bring himself to decide someone's life or death like that...

"Shut up, and don't try anything! Move an inch and I'll blast you to pieces!"

Bakugo shouted viciously.

Suddenly, a stream of ice formed on the ground and spread toward All Might and the Nomu at tremendous speed, completely covering half the Nomu's body. Yet it didn't freeze any part of All Might's body, and even his waist, where the Nomu's hand was gripping him, was unharmed!

"Was that you, young Todoroki...? Well done! Now I can break free!" All Might easily pried open the Nomu's frozen fingers, his great strength even snapping a few of them.

All Might lightly pushed off the ground, flipped over to the others, and gave them a thumbs-up.

"You really saved me there... Well done, everyone!"

The Nomu's body was frozen, and Kurogiri was in their hands. Only Tomura Shigaraki remained facing them.

"Ah, honestly, Kurogiri, I just finished praising you and you go and mess up. You've really put us on hard mode." Tomura Shigaraki clutched his still-burned hand, looking troubled. "Whether it's that guy or you students, you've really surprised me..."

"But did you think that was the end? Nomu!"

Answering Shigaraki's call, the Nomu slowly pulled his upper body out of Warp Gate, revealing his half-frozen body. He gave a slight shake, and his body shattered!

Did he die...? Shoto Todoroki felt some regret, thinking he had gone too far. But the next moment, shock appeared on his usually calm, icy face!

Lumps of flesh bulged from the broken end of his arm, filling the gap like constantly reproducing cells. They churned and wriggled into the shape of an arm, gradually forming muscle. Then the skin on the outside formed in an instant...

It hardly seemed like a Quirk that should exist in this world, completely defying every law of physics!

"A body on par with mine, Shock Absorption, and Super Regeneration...? This really is dangerous." All Might still wore a smile, his blue eyes radiating an intimidating presence. No one could tell what he was thinking. He struck a pose, flexing his arm, and laughed loudly. "But this much is nothing!"

"Is that so...? This punching bag was created to withstand you at 100 percent!" Tomura Shigaraki said with a loud laugh. "Every one of you keeps getting in my way. I won't hold back this time!"

"Nomu, save Kurogiri!"

At Shigaraki's command, the Nomu charged over in an instant. All Might only had time to pull Bakugo aside before colliding with him. The Nomu was a monster who could rival All Might at 100 percent, and caught unprepared, All Might naturally couldn't hold him back. Protecting his body, All Might was pushed several meters straight back, the soles of his feet scraping against the ground.

Taking the opportunity, Kurogiri opened a Warp Gate beside himself and rolled straight through it, emerging at Shigaraki's side.

"All Might, I've been angry for a long time. It's the same violence, yet it's divided into heroes and villains, and good and evil are decided. In this world, what exactly is the Symbol of Peace?" Tomura Shigaraki gestured extravagantly, as though this were his podium. "When you get right down to it, you're nothing but a tool of violence used to suppress others. Violence can only give rise to more violence. That's what you've taught the whole world through killing!"

"Nonsense!" All Might stood in front of the others and laughed. "There's a quiet fire in the eyes of people who commit crimes for their convictions. But you're no such ideologue. You're just a brat doing this for your own amusement!"

At All Might's assessment of him, the color changed in Shigaraki's face beneath the hand covering it. Naturally, he had no such resolve to change the world. Annoyed that All Might had seen through him, he said to Kurogiri, "You're pathetic, Kurogiri, getting caught by a brat like that. If I were you, I'd kill myself out of shame."

Kurogiri remained perfectly composed and didn't argue. He only said, "This is our only chance to kill All Might. Are you really going to waste it and wait for the U.A. High School staff to arrive?"

Seeing the enemies across from them preparing to charge, All Might held back Bakugo and the others, who were eager to fight, with one arm. "Run! Leave this to me!"

Shoto Todoroki looked at All Might's back and said calmly, "Do you really want us to run? You would've been in pretty bad shape just now without our help, wouldn't you?"

Midoriya also said, "All Might, your time..."

"Young Todoroki! Thank you all for your help just now, but...!" All Might turned around and gave them a reassuring smile. "I'm a Pro Hero. Now... I'll show you what it looks like when a Pro Hero gets serious!"

With that, All Might turned and collided with the charging Nomu. After being pushed back a step, All Might steadied himself and began trading punishing blows with the Nomu, their fists moving faster and faster!

"Ora ora ora ora ora ora!!"

"Muda muda muda muda muda muda!!"

Countless fists met precisely in midair, but soon All Might's punches grew faster and faster, and the Nomu gradually began to falter. Then, during one exchange, All Might struck the Nomu's body. Like the last straw that broke the camel's back, it forced the Nomu to stop attacking, leaving him to endure All Might's furious barrage!

"Your Quirk is damage absorption, not nullification, which means you have a limit too. If you can withstand me at 100 percent, then I'll go beyond my limits and use 200 percent of my power, or even more! A hero is someone who can break through even the most desperate situation, no matter when it comes!!"

Under All Might's assault, every blow tore through the Nomu's body, and the spreading air pressure whipped up a gale throughout the area. The Nomu was gradually reduced to a punching bag, his body battered and torn.

"Villain, have you ever heard this phrase-Plus Ultra (go even further beyond)!"

Blood spilling from his mouth, All Might threw one final punch, smashing it into the Nomu's jaw and sending him flying straight through the roof of the USJ and into the sky like a shooting star!

"Is this a manga...? He overwhelmed Shock Absorption. That insane power is too much for regeneration to keep up with..."

"So this is the world of a top Pro Hero..."

The students still in the plaza could only stare blankly up at All Might's feat. Their hearts held nothing but shock and admiration, followed by a surge of boundless pride-pride in being the students of this hero!

"Hey, hey, you've got to be kidding..." Tomura Shigaraki gave a hollow laugh as he backed away. "Didn't they say All Might had gotten weaker? He's still absurdly strong..."

All Might's shirt had already become a T-shirt. Amid the thick smoke, he raised his head, looked at Tomura Shigaraki, and flashed his trademark smile.

"Now then, villain, let's bring this to an end."