MHA Rewrite: Plus Ultra

Chapter 20, Hollow (Add Shigaraki gradually sitting up after being knocked down) Scene: USJ Plaza, Fountain The man covered in hands claps above his head— erratic. Childlike. Balancing on one foot, then the other, like a restless animal. Watching Aizawa dismantle the villains. Cackling. Clap. Clap. Clap. He stops mid-motion. "...Okay. I'm bored." He moves. Fast. Closing the distance. Aizawa glances over. "Was wondering when the annoying fan would show up...!" The man lifts his hands— fingers twitching— ready to close. "Twenty-six." Aizawa's scarf lashes out— The man catches it. Effortless. One hand. Aizawa's eyes widen—just slightly. "...Twenty-four." A brief pause. "...Twenty." The man closes in. "Tch!" Aizawa slips past a lunging villain and moves to meet him head-on. Within range— "Seventeen~," he sing-songs. Aizawa drops low— yanks the scarf— and drives his elbow forward. Impact. A pause— Then— A cackle. "It's hard to tell when you're scrambling around..." A beat. "...but there are moments when your hair falls in front of your eyes." A tilt of the head. "Does that mean your Quirk stops working?" Aizawa stiffens. "...Ngh—" Pain spikes through his arm. He looks— The man has caught his elbow. Fingers digging in. Skin— cracking. "Every time you finish a move..." The man leans in, grinning wider. His grip tightens. Aizawa's sleeve unravels into nothing. Skin— crumbling. Flesh exposed. "...and your limit keeps getting shorter and shorter...-" A low cackle. Manic eyes poking through the hands. "Don't overdo it now, Eraser Head! Your students are counting on you!" Aizawa drives his fist toward his face. "Oof—!" The man crashes to the ground— still cackling. Aizawa leaps back. My arm... He disintegrates on contact. Two villains rush him— Aizawa slips past them— countering in one motion. Behind him— cackling. Unbroken. The man pushes himself up— still cackling. "Your Quirk..." The cackle lowers. "...It's not suited for long, drawn-out group fights, is it?" He tilts his head. "This is different from your usual work, yeah?" A cackle— louder. "You specialize in quick, stealth takedowns." Another— sharper. "Yet you jumped straight into this." His shoulders begin to shake— cackling rising. "For the kids?! So cool...! So cool..." The cackling slowly subsides. He scratches his neck. Slow. "By the way...” A shadow falls over Aizawa. He glances back, eyes widening. The man stands still. No longer scratching. Grinning. "This one's the real annoying fan..." A massive hand descends— —— Scene change — USJ Plaza "Sensei!!!" Mina screams. "Thirteen..." the portal user says calmly. "It seems the disaster relief hero cannot measure up to even the most ordinary of heroes when it comes to combat." Thirteen's black hole roars— pulling toward Kurogiri— —but behind him— a dark warp hangs open. The suction twists— bending— redirected. Thirteen's body jerks— dragged backward— his own back beginning to vanish into the void. Kurogiri stands in front of him— untouched. "I—...Iida... Run..." Iida stiffens, horrified. Uraraka looks on, fear tightening her expression. "Iida! Sensei told you to run! Run!!!" Sato shouts. Iida's face tightens. And the next millisecond— DRRRR— His engines roar to life. He launches forward. His face twisting in agony. Damn it...! "My dear, scattered children..." the portal user murmurs. A warp blooms in front of Iida. "It would hardly benefit us if you notified the teachers." Iida's eyes widen— —but Shoji moves. He lunges— arms extending— wrapping around the portal user, covering him completely. "Go!" Iida's brows shoot up. They're counting on me...! I must reach the exit—! He frowns, determined. DRRRR— Iida surges forward again. "Quickly!" Shoji's voice urges. The portal user slips free— reforming— gliding after Iida. Iida's eyes narrow. Everyone... just hold on...! Uraraka watches— Iida is almost at the exit— —but the gap is closing. He's not going to make it—! Her gaze sharpens. That metal collar— floating inside the portal user. Flash— Iida's arms locking around her— holding her in place. Bakugo— Izuku forcing his way through— snapping fingers— just to save her. I couldn't do anything... Another flash— Izuku tilts his head. "...Uraraka?" Her hands tremble. Then—clench. "I'll get stronger!" Back to the present— Her grip tightens. Not this time...! She moves. "Uraraka! It's dangerous!" Mina shouts— crouched beside Thirteen's fallen form. Iida sees the doors. The automatic doors—! Can I break through?! He grits his teeth. If that’s what it takes, I will! “AHHHHH!!” He accelerates. A warp expands— cutting into his path. "You underestimate me, young man. Now—begone." Then— Kurogiri's body jerks. Pulled upward. "—?!" The opening clears— Iida drops low— and bursts through beneath him. Behind— Uraraka clings to the metal collar at his neck. "If you're wearing this... then you must have a real body in there!" Her grip tightens. She activates her Quirk— Weightless. With a sharp motion— she hurls him upward. "Now go! Iida!!" Sero fires his tape— It latches onto the metal collar. "Go! Do it!!" Iida surges forward. Everyone...! He plants his hands against the seam— "Nghhh...! AGHHHH....!" I will definitely…! He forces it sideways— metal grinding— the door giving way— just enough. …save you…! He slips through the opening. The sunlight shining on him. He speeds away. Sero yanks— hard— "Hah!" The portal user is dragged off-balance— and flung away from them. The mist swirls slowly, eyes following Iida's smoke trail. "...It seems we have lost." —— Scene change — USJ Plaza, Fountain "I'd like you to meet Nomu, Eraser Head." He raises a finger. "This 'mindless thing' was bioengineered for one purpose." A slight tilt of the head. "To kill All Might." A grin tugs at his lips. "Isn't that cool? Say 'hi'..." Nomu crouches over Aizawa, his face pressed into the ground. One hand grips Aizawa's arm— the elbow partially decayed— the limb twisted unnaturally— broken. Blood seeps through the torn sleeve. Its breathing is wrong. Wet. Uneven. A cackle. "I'll admit—canceling Quirks? Even for a short time?" A slow scratch at his neck. "...Pretty cool." A beat. The cackling fades— quieter now. "But nothing special." Another cackle— sharper— his shoulders twitching. "Up against this kind of strength..." A pause. "You might as well be Quirkless." He goes still. "...Feels hollow, doesn't it?" Nomu's hand drifts to Aizawa's other arm— slow— gentle— almost curious. And snaps it. "GAHHHH—!" Aizawa stifles his scream by biting on his scarf. A cackle cuts through the air. "He likes to play!" Nomu's hand shifts— grabbing Aizawa by the head— and slams him into the ground. The concrete cracks. —— Mountain Zone. Izuku sees it. His eyes are already narrowed. His jaw is set— a scowl carved into his face. Blood slips from where he's bitten his lip. Beside Izuku— Momo, Jiro, and Kaminari stare at the scene below. Horror settles in. Momo’s hand trembles against her mouth. A choked sob escapes her. “…Aizawa-sensei…” "This is so messed up..." Kaminari mutters. Jiro's expression tightens, uneasy. Then— her eyes shift. To Izuku. His legs— power gathering— coiled. Ready. Her hand shoots out. "Midoriya, don't—!" Too late. He's already gone. As Izuku cuts through the air— That thing... All Might killer— No hesitation. I have to go all out! The man covered in hands tilts his head. "...Oh?" Something tears through the air— Fast. Impact— Izuku lands between them. Dust bursts outward. His gaze locks onto Nomu. Cold. Aizawa's head shifts—barely. "...Deku... get out of here...!" A cackle. "'Deku'...?" His head tilts further. "One of your students?" A grin spreads. "Oh, how cute!" A scratch at his neck. "He's taking your lessons seriously, huh, Eraser Head-sensei?" He gives a thumbs up. "A+ student!" Nomu releases Aizawa— rising— unfolding to its full height. Towering. Dwarfing Izuku. Izuku doesn’t hesitate. He moves. A step— A burst— He closes the distance— A punch— “AAAH—!” Impact— The air cracks. A shockwave tears across the plaza. Nomu doesn’t move. Not enough. His eyes flare. Another strike— faster— “NGH—!” Concrete shatters beneath their feet. Dust erupts. Nomu doesn’t move. Not enough…! A third— He commits fully— “AGHHHHH!” The ground fractures beneath him. Impact— A deafening boom. The force ripples through Nomu’s body— muscles compressing— absorbing it. Taking it. Nomu staggers— just slightly. Still standing. Izuku breathes hard— his fist still pressed into Nomu— his expression shifting— dread settling in. It's not enough... Aizawa's face tightens. "Run...!" A deep sigh. A slow scratch at his neck. "This is why I hate heroes..." Another scratch— faster. "Sacrifice everything—" Nomu moves. A hand shoots out— grabs Izuku by the head. "—Gah—!" His body jerks— caught. Aizawa's voice tears out— "DEKU—!" The scratching quickens— ragged— impatient. "—but themselves!" Nomu lifts him— effortless— his legs dangling. Izuku struggles— power surges through his arm— a strike to Nomu's limb— another to its torso— Shock ripples outward— cracks splinter beneath its footing— Nothing. The grip tightens. His body thrashes— then— slows— trembles— his arms fall— fingers twitching for a moment— goes still. Aizawa's eyes widen— something in his expression breaks. "...Deku..." A breath— ragged— dragged from deep in his chest— "DEKUUUUU!!!"