— 3rd POV —
Chaos erupts in the city as the Sludge Villain wraps himself tightly around Bakugo, the boy's explosions violently blasting in every direction. Each frantic detonation sends bursts of fire across the street, forcing nearby heroes to retreat behind cover.
BOOM!
Another explosion. Another wave of heat. Another reason for the heroes to hesitate.
Despite the damage, the sludge refuses to flee this time. Bakugo's Quirk is powerful, too powerful.A perfect vessel for the sludge villain.
"Once I take this brat's body…" the villain snarls, tightening his grip, "I'll get revenge on All Might himself!"
Crowds gather behind barricades, terrified yet unable to look away. And at the edge of the block, panting and sweat-soaked, All Might arrives in his skinny form, blending into the crowd as he analyzes the disaster.
Just as All Might is trying to assess the safest route.
Midoriya bursts from the crowd.
"Kacchan!!"
He sprints toward the sludge without thinking, without a plan, without a Quirk. Just raw panic and guilt pushing him forward.
"No… no, this is my fault. He escaped because of me… Kacchan… hold on!!"
He charges straight into danger, tears forming at the corners of his eyes.
—All Might POV—
'What… is that boy doing!?'
All Might stares, stunned, as Midoriya rushes toward the villain with nothing but trembling hands and a shaking voice.
Foolish. Reckless. Dangerous.
It is the hero's job to save others. It always has been.
All Might then turns to the pros around him, heroes who stand frozen, uncomfortable, and hesitant. They look at Bakugo and see risk. They see danger. They see a messy incident they don't want to take responsibility for.
No one moves.
But that boy…That quirkless, powerless boy…
He moved without hesitation.
Not for glory.Not for reward.Just to help someone who needed it.
That is the spirit of a hero!
All Might clenches his fists. He can feel his ribcage ache. He can taste iron in his throat. His muscles tremble, screaming at him to stop
Stop or break completely.
But he won't.
Not now.
Not when someone innocent is suffering.Not when a child needs help.Not when the world needs hope.
All Might goes inside one of the evacuated buildings.
And he transforms, ignoring the burning pain spiking through his side.
A boom of wind blasts through the street as his massive form erupts from the smoke.
"Do not fear…"He takes one towering step forward, eyes blazing with determination.
"FOR I AM—"
He leaps.
"HERE!!!"
With one swift motion, he snatches Bakugo from the sludge's grip without injuring him.
The villain howls.
"You again!?"
All Might pulls his fist back, muscles coiling, the air pressure swirling violently.
"Detroit…"
Wind spirals around him, lifting dust and rubble.
"SMASH!!!"
The shockwave tears the sludge apart, scattering it down the street and blowing away the smoke. The flames extinguish instantly under the blast.
Silence follows.
The crowd erupts into cheers.
And All Might drops to one knee, coughing blood into his hand—but smiling.
He saved them.
All of them.
—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~