The gate completely faded away, the villains disappeared, and Zoro disappeared with them.
Midoriya fell to his knees on the scorched grass. The green lightning that surrounded his body slowly faded. His body was completely intact, his arms weren't shattered and his muscles weren't torn this time, but the pain squeezing his chest was harsher than any fracture. He reached his hand out toward the empty space where Zoro had been standing just seconds ago, his fingers grasping the cold night air.
Beside him, Bakugo coughed violently, smoke rising from his palms. He raised his head, his red eyes burning with unprecedented anger. He looked at his hands, then at the empty space.
"Damn it!!" Bakugo punched the ground, sending dirt flying around him. "Why did they take that stupid swordsman instead of me?! I didn't ask for anyone's protection! I didn't ask him to step in!"
Tokoyami was breathing slowly, trying to process the shock, his hand pressing against his chest and his eyes fixed on the ground. "We were the prey all along... but he paid the price because we weren't strong enough."
Todoroki stood in silence, but his left fist was clenched so tightly that his nails almost pierced his skin. He had seen everything. He saw how Zoro lunged with his sword to cut off Dabi's path, and how he allowed his heavily wounded body to be swallowed by the darkness just to give them a chance to survive.
It only took a few minutes for the forest's searchlights to start turning on. Aizawa arrived running through the broken trees, with Vlad King behind him. When Aizawa stopped and saw his students' faces, then looked at the empty ground, he immediately realized what had happened. He gripped his scarf so tightly his knuckles turned white. Exactly what he had feared had come to pass.
A few minutes before the villains retreated.
(Inside the school building)
Tension filled the building's hall when Awase rushed inside carrying an exhausted Yaoyorozu on his back. Aizawa stepped toward them with quick strides.
"Where is Zoro? Did you meet him?" Aizawa asked with a practical tone that wasn't devoid of sharpness.
Yaoyorozu lifted her head with difficulty and nodded. "Yes... we met him. He told me the plan, and I executed what was necessary exactly as he asked."
"And where did he stay?"
"That creature belonging to the villains attacked us... the Nomu." She caught her breath. "Zoro had to engage in direct combat with it to stop it, and he ordered us to run immediately."
Upon hearing that, the students' anxious whispers rose in the hall. Kirishima stepped forward with tense features. "Mr. Aizawa! Bakugo and Zoro are the targets, let me go look for..."
"Absolutely denied." Aizawa interrupted strictly. "None of you will leave this building."
Fear was evident on everyone's faces, but amidst this anxiety, Kota moved. The child was trembling, his small fists clenched tight, the memories of blood and blue flames rushing through his head, and Mandalay's words echoing in his ears. He remembered how that swordsman stood before him like an impassable wall, and how he took the hits to protect him from Muscular.
"Please..." Kota suddenly cried, tears streaming down his cheeks in front of everyone. "Please go look for him! Don't leave him alone out there!"
Aizawa looked at the heartbroken child.
"Zoro is the one who protected me!" Kota sobbed with a broken voice. "He didn't let that villain touch me, and I... I couldn't even say thank you to him!"
Aizawa's features changed. The cruelty of the situation struck a deep chord within him. He immediately turned toward the door to head into the forest, but before he could take a single step, the window glass shattered and blue flames erupted in the corridor.
Dabi.
Before the villain could complete his step inside the building, Vlad King lunged at him like a ferocious beast, pinning him with immense force against the wall.
"Don't lose your focus." Aizawa said coldly, watching the restrained villain. "He is only here to make us nervous and distract us."
Dabi smiled his usual provocative smile. "Maybe we are few... but we did exactly what we wanted with you. You're far too late, heroes." His smile widened. "Hunting time is over. And the catch this time... was very valuable."
Aizawa lunged and punched him hard in the face. The moment the fist connected, Dabi's body turned into liquid mud that melted onto the floor and disappeared.
"A fake clone?" A student asked in shock. "Is this someone else's Quirk?"
Aizawa ignored the question. He stood staring at the mud puddle in silence. He showed no reaction to his students or to Vlad King, but his mind had connected the threads. The catch was very valuable. He realized at that exact moment that the villains had managed to capture Zoro.
(Return to the present)
In the hours following that retreat, the forest turned into a hive of chaos. Ambulances and police cars filled the area. The outcome was harsh: Pro Hero Ragdoll was missing, Pixie-Bob was in critical condition, and fifteen students were taken to the hospital due to gas inhalation or injuries. Even though none of the students were kidnapped thanks to Zoro's sacrifice, the psychological defeat was crushing.
Two days later.
While the press crowded outside the main entrance of U.A. High School, like angry waves demanding answers, the atmosphere inside the meeting room was charged and heavy.
Principal Nezu sat in his seat, surrounded by All Might, Snipe, Midnight, and Present Mic.
They were discussing the disaster that befell the camp. All Might sat with his eyes closed, his features reflecting deep sorrow, his conscience mercilessly lashing him because he wasn't there to protect them on that dark night.
Present Mic broke the silence with a serious tone, unlike his usual self: "How did the villains know the location of the summer camp in the first place? Only us teachers and the Pussycats team knew where this secret camp would be held. We can assert now... that there is a traitor among us, right?"
The attendees' eyes widened in shock at the blunt accusation.
Snipe interrupted him with cautious calmness: "If we start suspecting each other, then we will be destroyed from the inside. Looking for a traitor is not something we should do in haste or recklessly."
Principal Nezu sighed and raised his teacup. "At the very least, I trust you all. Although I cannot definitively prove that I am completely innocent in your eyes either. At present, what we must do as a school is to ensure the students' safety and restore trust."
Suddenly, All Might's phone rang in his pocket.
He excused himself and left the meeting room to answer in the quiet hallway. And before he pressed the answer button, his hand stopped. A flash of memory invaded his mind. He remembered the moment of the USJ attack, when Zoro jumped in front of him, risking his life to protect him from Shigaraki's fatal strike. All Might clenched his hand so tightly his veins popped.
What kind of Symbol of Peace is this... that cannot even save his own students? He thought with a burning heart. Oh, Roronoa... what we feared has already happened. "All For One" has finally noticed what we were trying to hide from his eyes.
He pressed the accept button and put the phone to his ear. "Sorry for the delay. What's the matter, Tsukauchi?"
On the other side, the scene shifted to an interrogation room at the police station. Detective Tsukauchi was holding the phone, and in front of him sat Aizawa and Vlad King with exhausted features.
"We just got full statements from Aizawa and Vlad King." Tsukauchi said with a tone carrying a different rhythm. "And there is a completely unexpected development."
"What is it?"
"We might be able to pinpoint the exact location of the League of Villains."
All Might's eyes widened. "Really, Tsukauchi?!"
"Yes." The detective answered firmly. "We learned from Aizawa that Roronoa Zoro is carrying a highly precise tracking device made by the student Momo Yaoyorozu. We just need to go to the hospital to talk to her and get the receiver. We are now planning to request cooperation with a large number of Pro Heroes for this rescue and cleanup mission."
The detective took a deep breath and said: "All Might... lend us your strength too, please!"
A deep silence prevailed in the hallway.
"All Might? All Might, can you hear me?" Tsukauchi called when the silence stretched.
In that empty hallway, smoke began to rise thickly. The thin bones expanded, and the bulging muscles returned to fill the large suit with immense power. All Might transformed into his muscular form, his eyes burning with unwavering determination.
He replied with a roaring, low voice: "I have a debt to repay. Roronoa... I am coming. I am here... for the counterattack."
.
.
For Advanced Chapters:
Chapter 88 is Available Now
When Pride Exploded (conqueror's Haki)
The atmosphere and events inside the factory are heated; Bakugo shocked everyone with his move.The villains are frustrated by what happened and All For One lost their special goal.
Pat re on.com/AZTh