MHA Rewrite: Plus Ultra

Stillness. Izuku’s body hangs— limp. Aizawa’s voice rips through the plaza— “DEKUUUU!!!” It echoes. Carries. Cuts through the USJ— —— Uraraka hears it. Her breath catches. She runs— skids to a stop— sees— Her throat locks. “…No…” It comes out small. Broken. Then— “No—no—!” She lunges forward. A hand grabs her— then another— Sero—Sato— holding her back. “Don’t—!” “You’ll get killed!” “No—please—!” She struggles— reaching— “Let me go—please—!” Her voice cracks— shaking— “He’s—he’s—!” She can’t say it. Her strength gives out— She collapses to her knees— hands trembling as they fly to her mouth— a choked scream forcing its way out. Sero, Sato, and Shoji fall still beside her. Their faces sink. —— Elsewhere— Todoroki hears it. His eyes narrow. Something shifts. He moves— fast— toward the sound. —— Another zone— “What was that…?” Kirishima asks. Bakugo’s frown deepens. He moves. “Hey—wait!” Kirishima follows. —— Mountain Zone— Jiro trembles— anger and fear bleeding together. “That fucking...—!” Momo’s shoulders shake— tears slipping free. Kaminari stares— lost— “…Midoriya…?” His voice falters. “You’re not actually—” He can’t finish. “…Right?” —— A cackle. Low. Slow. It builds— until his whole body trembles— head tipped back toward the sky. Aizawa grits his teeth— glaring. “Oh man…! That was FANTASTIC, Eraser Head!” His body jerks—snapping toward Aizawa— still cackling. “That scream was pure… mmm, you know?! So raw! So visceral!” He points at him, twitching. “If they’re making this into an anime, they’d have to hire someone real good!” A tilt of the head. “Or actually kill his kid in front of him.” Aizawa’s glare sharpens— breathing ragged— fury burning through the pain. The villain scratches his neck slowly— stepping closer— then squats in front of him. “…Oh. I love that look you’re giving me… So much hate… So much passion. You’re going to be thinking about me a lot, huh?” A grin spreads. “Of course you are… I just made you watch your student die.” He tilts his head. “Wasn’t he your responsibility? Wonder what you’re going to tell his parents…” Aizawa clenches his teeth. “You… bastard…!” A sharp cackle. Then, it cuts off.  Clean. “Logic dictates I kill you. I mean, after this, you’re going to hunt me to the ends of the world…” He tilts his head. “But I like this. I’ll keep you alive.” Aizawa’s eyes widen, his face tightening. The villain stands, cackling again. “Aw, man… This totally makes up for All Might not showing up.” A glance down. A grin. “Thank you, Eraser Head-sensei...~” A beat. “And thank you, dead student!” The back of his hand smacks Izuku’s body— letting it sway. “Don’t you touch him!!” Aizawa roars. “Whoa!” The man hops back slightly, hands raised in mock surrender. “Touchy…” He cackles lowly. A small portal swirls beside him. “Shigaraki Tomura.” He exhales— scratching his neck slowly. “Kurogiri… Here to rain on my parade?” The mist thickens— forming— the metal collar— the tie— those glowing eyes— flicking, briefly, to Izuku— then settling back on Shigaraki. “Thirteen has been incapacitated, but—” The scratching quickens. “—there were students I could not warp away.” A beat. “And one… escaped.” The scratching stops. A beat. An uncomfortable silence. “…Hmm.” A small shrug. “Oh well!” A crooked grin tugs at his lips. “It’s what God ordained. We’ll get All Might next time.” He exhales suddenly, shoulders slumping. “Ahh… Kurogiri… If you weren’t so damn useful, I’d take this out on you…” Then, his head twists. Sharp— locking onto Tsuyu and Mineta. Mineta inhales sharply— frozen.  Tsuyu freezes— too still. “Guess I’ll take it out on you two.” Shigaraki starts forward. Kurogiri watches Shigaraki pass him. “Shigaraki, we do not have the luxury of time…—” “Shut up…” “No! Don’t do it! Deal with me instead!” Aizawa pleads— Aizawa forces himself up— his body buckles— he collapses back down. His gaze snaps to Tsuyu and Mineta. “Run!” “A-Asui—we gotta go!” Mineta grabs her arms— shakes her— Nothing. She doesn’t move. She just stares. Mineta gasps— seeing her face. Shigaraki keeps walking. Closer. Aizawa grits his teeth— and forces himself forward— his chin scraping against the ground— his body dragging after it— “Stop—! Stop it!!!” “Asui! Snap out of it!” Mineta pulls at her arm— desperate— She doesn’t budge. Shigaraki’s almost there. His fingers twitch— anticipation. Mineta looks up— fear flooding his face. “Ngh—!” He yanks a ball free— about to throw— Shigaraki’s hand lashes out— smack— Mineta is sent flying— crashing to the ground. “Agh—!” Silence. Shigaraki stands over her. Towering. “What’s wrong, little hero?” A tilt of the head. “You scared?” His hand lowers— closing in on her face. “Don’t worry… Or maybe, worry a little.” A grin creeps in. “I’m told this hurts a lot…” Tsuyu watches the hand slowly reaching for her. About to be covered in darkness. “NOOOOO!!!” Aizawa screams. Mineta pushes himself up— eyes wide— “A-Asui!!!” In Nomu’s grasp— Izuku’s hand twitches. …Asui…? His arm slowly lifts— trembling— barely. Why is she here…? The other follows— weak— unsteady— reaching. Why didn’t she leave…? His hands find Nomu’s arm— grip. One hand slips.  Comes back up and grips. Tight. Why didn’t I notice…? A breath— ragged— shaking— Endure. His fingers dig in. Mineta blinks— something off— “…Midoriya…?” Endure. Power surges— his muscles swell— straining— too much— too fast— Aizawa’s eyes widen— “…Midoriya…” Endure…! “Urghhh….” His sleeves split— threads snapping— flesh tightening— stretching— then— something gives. A sharp protrusion— bone pressing against skin— warping it— pushing outward— Kurogiri stills. “…This is—” Shigaraki stops. Mid-step. His head tilts— slight— irritation flashing across his face. “…What.” Endure!!! “AGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!” The skin tears— white forcing through red— his arms trembling violently— but he doesn’t stop— He squeezes— harder— deeper— and— something bursts free. Bone punches through flesh. A wet crack. Then another. Jagged white spikes erupt from his forearms— tearing through muscle— through skin— through the shredded remains of his sleeves. Blood sprays across the pavement. Still— he doesn’t let go. He rips. Nomu’s arm tears free. For a split second— No one understands what they’re seeing. Aizawa’s eyes widen—fully now.  Mineta’s jaw drops. Kurogiri stills.  Shigaraki scowls. Izuku drops— barely catching himself— staggering forward— but he doesn’t fall. Nomu’s severed arm slams into the ground beside him. His own arms hang at his sides— limp. Ruined. Jagged bone protrudes through torn flesh— blood spilling down his fingers and dripping from the white spikes jutting from his forearms. Yet somehow— he remains standing. “Deku!” Aizawa shouts. Mineta’s face lights— hope breaking through tears. “Midoriya!” Shigaraki’s expression twists— his hand tearing at his neck— faster— sharper. “‘Midoriya’… huh…?!” Izuku lifts his head— eyes locked— a scowl carved deep. No hesitation. “Don’t—!” Aizawa shouts. Power surges— he launches forward— “AGHHHHHHHH!!” Shigaraki raises his hands— grinning, furious. “Yeah… that’s right—come here! Come here, you little shit—!” Izuku closes the distance— head driving forward— — A blur cuts through the space— A figure crashes in— arms wrapping around Izuku mid-charge— Momentum halts— dead. They land— hard— the ground cracking beneath the impact. Stillness. Silence. Mineta’s eyes widen. Aizawa exhales, head drops— hitting the ground— still. Kurogiri watches. Silent. Shigaraki scratches at his neck— fast— irritated— “Fuckin’ finally!” Izuku blinks— dazed— caught in the figure’s grip. “…All… Might…?” A pause. “Fear not…” The voice is steady. Unshaken. His body straightens— holding Izuku firm— unmoving. All Might is not smiling. He is scowling. “I am here.”