"Well, well… the Symbol of Peace himself."
Shigaraki Tomura tilted his head, a thin, restless smile tugging at his lips. "You look tense, All Might."
A sudden splash cut through the air.
"SMASH!"
Izuku burst out of the water, driving his fist straight toward Shigaraki.
"Nomu."
The response was immediate.
A figure moved between them.
Impact.
Izuku's punch landed—and stopped. It felt like striking dense steel that yielded just enough to swallow the force. The power of the blow vanished on contact, leaving a dull shock running up his arm.
He twisted away the moment his feet hit the ground, retreating without hesitation.
Nomu stood there, unmoved.
"Not bad," Shigaraki said, glancing at him with faint interest. "That looked familiar. Did you train under him, or are you just a fan?"
Izuku said nothing. He kept moving, widening the distance, eyes flicking between Shigaraki and Nomu.
"Backing off already?" Shigaraki scoffed.
All Might didn't acknowledge any of it. He removed his tie and stepped forward.
Then he moved.
The shift was abrupt.
One instant, he stood still. The next, he was a blur tearing through the battlefield.
Shockwaves rippled outward as villains were struck down in rapid succession. Bodies hit the ground one after another, the fight ending almost as soon as it began.
Within seconds, the area was cleared.
All Might stopped beside Aizawa, who lay unconscious amid the wreckage.
"Sorry… I'm late, Aizawa."
He lifted him carefully, his expression tightening as he took in the injuries—bruising along the face, damage to the arms. Serious, but not beyond saving.
Shigaraki watched with quiet detachment.
"Still rescuing people mid-fight," he said. "Fast, sure. Hard to track. But not quite what I expected."
His smile widened slightly.
"So the rumors are true. You've gotten weaker."
Izuku's breath caught.
How do they know that?
He edged backward, slow and deliberate.
"Trying to slip away?" Shigaraki asked, his tone sharpening. "Nomu."
The air shifted behind Izuku.
He reacted instantly, dropping and rolling as a massive fist tore through the space he'd occupied. The strike hit the ground instead, blasting a crater into the floor.
Izuku skidded to a stop, his breath uneven. "That thing's… insane."
"Lucky timing," Shigaraki muttered, already losing interest. "Forget him. Focus on All Might."
"Then come at me," All Might said, lowering Aizawa gently to the ground.
He stepped forward—and met Nomu head-on.
The collision rang out like thunder. Blow after blow landed, each strike carrying enough force to shatter concrete.
But something was wrong.
All Might's fist drove into Nomu's abdomen.
No reaction.
No recoil.
Nomu didn't even shift.
"…Not working?" All Might muttered.
Shigaraki gave a small shrug, almost amused. "Shock Absorption. It disperses impact. If you want to damage it, you'll have to tear it apart piece by piece."
All Might exhaled, steadying himself.
"Good to know."
He moved again.
In a blink, he slipped behind Nomu, arms locking around its torso as he shifted his weight, preparing a throw.
"Izuku!"
The warning rose instinctively—but Izuku's voice cut in first.
"Watch the warp!"
A shadow spread beneath All Might's feet.
He adjusted immediately, shifting his stance just before the portal could fully form.
Shigaraki clicked his tongue.
"You're really starting to get on my nerves."
His gaze snapped back to Izuku.
Then he moved.
Fast.
"Hey—don't chase side targets!" a distant voice called out.
Shigaraki ignored it.
"I'll kill you," he said, almost conversational as he closed the distance. "Right here."
Izuku stepped back, light on his feet, eyes locked on Shigaraki's hands.
Decay.
One touch was enough.
He couldn't afford a mistake.
Shigaraki lunged.
Izuku slipped past.
Again.
And again.
Each movement was tight, controlled—just enough to stay out of reach.
"Come on," Izuku said, his breathing steady despite the pressure. "Is that all you've got?"
The taunt sharpened Shigaraki's movements, turning them more erratic, more aggressive.
Good.
As he retreated, Izuku's hand slid to the last pouch at his belt.
Still there.
He waited for the opening—
Then reached in.
"Shut up and die!" Shigaraki snapped, closing the gap.
Izuku pulled out two black metal plates and pressed them against either side of his neck.
They clicked softly into place.
He looked up, calm.
"No one's ever called me that before," he said. "You're the first."
Shigaraki's hand shot forward.
"Then die."