Chapter 35: The Secret of the Symbol
"I apologize for the delay, everyone," Principal Nezu's calm but authoritative voice echoed across the USJ through the facility's speakers. "I gathered all the available personnel I could find."
At the top of the grand staircase, standing proudly amidst the army of Pro Heroes, Tenya Iida adjusted his glasses. He was out of breath, his engine exhaust pipes smoking. "I am Tenya Iida, Class 1-A Representative! I have returned with reinforcements!"
"YEEEAAAH!!" Present Mic unleashed a sonic scream that shattered the remaining glass in the facility, disorienting the villains.
"Split up and protect the students!" Principal Nezu ordered.
The elite teachers of U.A. surged forward like an unstoppable tide. Ectoplasm created dozens of clones to subdue the fleeing thugs, while Snipe continued his relentless barrage of pinpoint suppressing fire.
Down in the Central Plaza, Shigaraki Tomura was on his knees, clutching his bleeding, shattered hand.
"Aw man... they're here," Shigaraki muttered, his voice trembling with a mix of pain and profound frustration. "It's game over. Should we go home and try again, Kurogiri?"
Before Kurogiri could respond, a rapid succession of gunshots echoed. Snipe's bullets tore into Shigaraki's other arm and both of his thighs. The villain screamed, collapsing completely.
"Shigaraki Tomura!" Kurogiri panicked, instantly expanding his dark mist to engulf his master, shielding him from the lethal rain of bullets.
Suddenly, a massive gravitational pull tugged at the mist. At the top of the stairs, a badly injured Jusan-go was awake, using Black Hole to suck Kurogiri's warp gate into oblivion.
The mist began to distort and tear. But before Kurogiri fully closed the portal to escape, Shigaraki turned his head. Through the swirling darkness, his hateful red eyes locked onto the towering, steaming figure of All Might one last time.
"I might have failed this time..." Shigaraki hissed, his raspy voice echoing over the gunfire. "But I will kill you next time... Symbol of Peace, All Might!"
With a sharp warp, the dark mist imploded. Shigaraki and Kurogiri vanished completely, escaping the Unforeseen Simulation Joint.
Silence slowly fell over the Central Plaza.
Izuku Midoriya lay flat on the cold concrete. Both of his legs were completely shattered, twisted at horrifying angles. Tears of physical agony and profound regret streamed down his face.
I couldn't do anything... Midoriya thought, gritting his teeth. In the end, I just broke my legs again without landing a single hit.
A few feet away, a sharp click echoed as Roronoa Zoro sheathed the Wado Ichimonji and his other blades.
Unlike the relieved students, Zoro looked profoundly annoyed. He crossed his arms, glaring at the empty space where the villains had just been.
Damn it, Zoro clicked his tongue in frustration. They ran away. I was just getting warmed up to slice them to ribbons, but those pros had to show up and ruin the fun.
Zoro sighed, turning around to check on Midoriya. But as he did, his sharp eyes caught something strange.
The thick, white steam rolling off All Might's body was beginning to dissipate. However, instead of the towering, muscular Symbol of Peace standing there, Zoro saw the silhouette of a frail, skeletal man in baggy clothes. The strange, emaciated man was coughing up blood, talking quietly to Midoriya.
Zoro narrowed his eyes. Who the hell is that? Where did All Might go?
Curiosity taking over, Zoro masked his presence entirely. Moving with the silent, deadly grace of an assassin, he crept closer, hiding behind a jagged slab of broken concrete.
"Thank you, Midoriya," the skeletal man said, his voice weak but familiar. "That few seconds you bought me just now... it saved my life."
Zoro's eyes widened in absolute shock. He recognized that voice anywhere. That frail guy... is All Might?!
Before Zoro could process this world-shattering revelation, a loud voice echoed across the plaza.
"Midoriya!" Eijiro Kirishima yelled, running toward them with Bakugo and Todoroki not far behind.
Kirishima suddenly stopped, noticing the green-haired swordsman crouching behind the rubble. "Hey, Zoro! What are you doing hiding over there?"
Midoriya and the skeletal All Might froze. Their blood ran completely cold. They turned their heads, locking eyes with Zoro, who had just been exposed, and then looking in horror at the approaching Kirishima.
Oh no! Midoriya panicked. Kirishima is going to see All Might's true form!
Zoro cursed under his breath. He had been caught in a terrible position.
Suddenly, the ground violently shook.
A massive, thick wall of solid cement erupted from the concrete floor, shooting up to the ceiling and creating a perfect, impenetrable barrier between Kirishima and the trio of All Might, Midoriya, and Zoro.
The Pro Hero Cementoss stepped out from the other side.
"We want to ensure the safety of all students," Cementoss called out to Kirishima from behind the wall. "Therefore, please gather at the front gate immediately. Leave this area to us. We will handle the injured."
Kirishima paused, then pumped his fist. "That makes sense! Understood!" He turned around, waving to Bakugo and Todoroki. "Come on guys, let's head to the gate!"
Behind the cement wall, the skeletal All Might collapsed onto his knees, exhaling a massive, trembling sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Cementoss," All Might coughed. "That was incredibly close. If that boy had seen me, it would have been a disaster."
Zoro slowly stood up from behind his rubble and walked over to them. He stood over the skinny, bleeding hero and crossed his arms.
"You better explain what the hell is going on," Zoro demanded calmly, though his eyes demanded answers.
All Might looked up at the fierce swordsman. Despite the pain and exhaustion, a soft, respectful smile crossed his gaunt face.
"I owe you an explanation, Young Roronoa," All Might said gently. "But first, I want to thank you. You and Young Midoriya are the reason I am still alive right now."
Zoro remained silent, his expression unreadable.
"I was shocked," All Might continued, his sunken blue eyes filled with genuine admiration. "Your courage, your unbreakable will... you threw yourself in front of Shigaraki and Kurogiri, standing like an immovable mountain to protect me. You leaped into the jaws of death without a second thought. I have gained a tremendous amount of respect for you today, Zoro."
Zoro scoffed softly, looking away to hide a faint smirk. He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Don't overthink it," Zoro replied casually. "I just did what was right. Protecting the people standing behind me is a swordsman's duty. Those are the principles my master beat into me."
Cementoss stepped through a small opening in the wall, shaping a flat slab of cement into a makeshift stretcher. "We need to get you to the nurse's office while you are still hidden, All Might."
All Might nodded, groaning as he carefully stood up. Before he walked away, he turned his head to look at Zoro one last time.
"Young Roronoa," All Might said seriously. "If you want to know the secret behind this frail form... come see me in the nurse's office when you find a suitable chance."
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For Advanced Chapters:
Chapter 43 is Available Now
(The Gathering of Outcasts)
Finally, Zoro has formed a team for the cavalry Battle. What will they do? when they are targeted by 10 teams, including students of class B-1 , as well as Bakugo's team seeking revenge and redemption, and Todoroki's team?
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