Chapter 33: Plus Ultra
The air in the Central Plaza was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the freezing chill of Todoroki's ice.
Zoro stood with his three swords drawn, his eyes locked onto the newly regenerated arm of the Nomu. The monstrous biological weapon roared, flexing its new muscles as if it had never been cut in the first place.
"First, we need to get our gate back," Shigaraki muttered, his red eyes darting toward Bakugo, who was still pinning Kurogiri to the ground. "Nomu. Kill the explosive brat."
The Nomu vanished.
There was no build-up, no warning. It moved with a speed that completely defied the laws of physics, shattering the concrete beneath it.
"Kacchan!" Midoriya screamed from the sidelines.
Bakugo didn't even have time to blink. His eyes widened as the massive, towering shadow of the beast instantly eclipsed the light above him. Its massive fist was already descending, carrying enough kinetic force to turn the teenager into a bloody smear on the ground.
Fast! Zoro's mind raced. His raw instincts flared, and he pushed off his back foot, propelling himself toward Bakugo with the Wado Ichimonji raised to block the lethal blow.
But someone else was faster.
A violent tornado of wind pressure erupted, throwing Bakugo, Todoroki, Kirishima, and even Zoro several feet backward.
BOOM!
A deafening shockwave shattered the windows across the USJ dome. The dust settled slowly, revealing a sight that made the students gasp.
All Might stood exactly where Bakugo had been a fraction of a second prior. He had his arms crossed in a defensive block, taking the absolute full, earth-shattering force of the Nomu's punch. His boots were buried deep into the concrete, and a fresh trail of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he hadn't moved an inch.
"All Might!" Midoriya yelled in horror.
"Do not fear, young ones," All Might grunted, his muscles bulging as he slowly pushed the Nomu's fist back. He turned his head slightly to look at the students, his trademark smile finally returning. "Because I am here!"
All Might shoved the beast back with a massive heave, creating a few yards of distance.
"Everyone, step back!" All Might commanded, his voice unwavering despite the blood dripping from his chin. "And watch a pro give it everything he's got!"
Midoriya took a desperate step forward, his eyes wide with pure terror. He knew the secret. He knew the Number One Hero was running on fumes.
"All Might, you can't!" Midoriya yelled, panic seizing his chest. "You're bleeding! And your time—!"
Midoriya violently slapped both hands over his own mouth, his face turning pale. He had almost spilled the biggest secret in the world in front of everyone.
But All Might didn't look angry. He simply glanced back at his secret successor and raised his hand, giving him a silent, confident thumbs-up. It's going to be okay.
Zoro stabilized himself, sliding his boots against the ground. He looked at the Number One Hero. All Might was bleeding, his breathing was heavy, and the wound on his side from Kurogiri's warp gate was taking its toll. Yet, the sheer aura of absolute determination radiating from the man was blinding.
This guy... Zoro thought, his eyes widening slightly. He's injured. He's way past his limit. But his spirit... it's like looking at a true King.
"Young Roronoa," All Might said, his voice booming over the chaos. "Your swordsmanship is truly magnificent. You saved my life, and you protected your classmates. But you must step back now."
"It regenerates," Zoro warned around the blade in his teeth, not lowering his guard. "If you don't cut it, you can't put it down."
"If it has Shock Absorption, I just have to hit it harder than it can absorb!" All Might roared, a fiery, golden aura seeming to explode from his massive frame. "If it has Super Regeneration, I'll just smash it so fast it doesn't have time to heal! A hero can always break out of a tough spot!"
With a battle cry that shook the very foundations of the building, All Might lunged forward.
The Nomu met him head-on.
What followed wasn't a fight. It was a localized natural disaster.
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
The two titans exchanged punches at speeds that broke the sound barrier. The shockwaves from their fists colliding tore through the plaza, creating miniature hurricanes that forced Zoro and the students to brace themselves just to avoid being blown away. The sheer air pressure was slicing the concrete floor into ribbons.
"He's bleeding... but he's not stopping!" Kirishima yelled over the roaring wind, shielding his face.
"This is insane!" Bakugo gritted his teeth, his eyes glued to the blindingly fast exchange.
Zoro stood his ground, the harsh winds whipping his green hair. A genuine, deeply respectful smile formed around the hilt of his sword.
He's doing exactly what he said, Zoro realized, watching All Might's fists blur. He's completely overwhelming the Shock Absorption with pure, brute force. He's ignoring strategy and rewriting the rules with his own strength. What a monster.
"Hey, Villain!" All Might roared, his voice echoing like thunder. Blood sprayed from his mouth, but his punches only grew faster and heavier. "Have you ever heard these words?!"
All Might pulled his right fist back. His entire arm seemed to double in size, packing every single ounce of his remaining willpower, strength, and life force into one final, devastating strike.
"GO BEYOND!"
The Nomu swung wildly, but All Might's fist connected directly with its exposed chest.
"PLUS... ULTRA!!!"
The impact didn't just create a shockwave. It created a crater in the atmosphere. The sheer kinetic energy compressed and exploded, launching the Nomu into the air with the speed of a fired missile.
The massive biological weapon tore through the air, completely obliterating the thick glass and reinforced steel of the USJ dome ceiling. It shot into the clouds, vanishing into the sky, never to be seen again.
The dome was silent, save for the sound of falling glass and debris.
A massive hole now existed in the ceiling, sunlight pouring down onto the ruined Central Plaza.
All Might stood in the center of the destruction, a massive cloud of steam rolling off his body. He was panting heavily, his massive chest heaving.
"That was a comic book punch..." Kirishima whispered in pure awe. "He completely blew the Shock Absorption away!"
"As expected of All Might!" Todoroki added.
Shigaraki Tomura was trembling violently. He scratched his neck so hard that chunks of his own skin tore off, blood dripping down his collar.
"He... he beat him..." Shigaraki gasped in panic. "He beat my Nomu! He cheated! He's not weaker at all! He's a monster!"
"Shigaraki Tomura, please calm down," Kurogiri's mist gathered beside him. "Look closely at the Symbol of Peace."
Shigaraki stopped scratching. His red eyes narrowed through the dust.
All Might was standing tall, smiling his confident smile. But his body was enveloped in thick, white steam. He wasn't moving to attack them. He was completely frozen in place.
"I see..." Shigaraki's panic slowly morphed into a wicked, chilling grin. "That last punch took everything he had. He's completely empty. He's bluffing."
Shigaraki stepped forward, followed by Kurogiri.
"Let's finish this, Kurogiri," Shigaraki declared, raising his decaying hands. "We just need one touch. We can kill the Symbol of Peace right here, right now!"
All Might kept his smile, but a cold drop of sweat rolled down his cheek. He couldn't move. He was completely out of time. If they attacked now, he would revert to his skinny form and die.
Is this it? All Might thought, gritting his teeth. I can't even lift my arm...
Shigaraki and Kurogiri charged forward, crossing the distance in a heartbeat.
"DIE, ALL MIGHT!" Shigaraki screamed, his hand inches away from the hero's chest.
SHING!
A flash of white and cursed steel intercepted the villain.
Shigaraki violently pulled his hand back to avoid having it sliced clean off, stumbling backward. Kurogiri immediately halted his mist.
Standing directly in front of the paralyzed Number One Hero was Roronoa Zoro.
The black bandana was tied securely around his head. His stance was low, wide, and perfectly balanced. The pure white Wado Ichimonji was clamped in his teeth, and his two other blades were pointed directly at Shigaraki's throat.
The demonic, suffocating aura radiating from the swordsman made the air drop by ten degrees.
"You guys talk too much," Zoro growled, his eyes glowing with an intense, unyielding killing intent. "If you want to reach the King..."
Zoro shifted his blades, a bloodthirsty smirk appearing on his face.
"...You're going to have to get through me first."
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