MHA Rewrite: Plus Ultra

Izuku looks up, vision unsteady. “…All… Might…?” No answer. All Might doesn’t look at him. Doesn’t move. “Fuckin’ finally!” Shigaraki approaches, seething. “Do you know how late you are?! Aren’t heroes supposed to be on fucking time?!” He throws his hands out, sharp. “I almost killed three of your students, All Might!” A beat. “That’s irresponsible of you!” Nothing. No response. Shigaraki slows. “…Hah?” A scratch at his neck, slow. Uncertain— then faster. “Oi.” A step closer. “Look at me.” Nothing. “Don’t you fucking ignore me!” His voice spikes, cracking. “That’s rude!!” Without looking— All Might moves. A punch. Fast. Direct. It slips into a portal, vanishing— and bursts out beside Shigaraki, the force grazing past him, just enough. His hand— the one clutching his face— is knocked away— sent crashing to the ground. Silence. For the first time— his face is exposed. Pale. Too pale. Skin stretched thin over sharp angles— lips dry—cracked— pulled tight in irritation. His eyes— sunken— dark— ringed in exhaustion— yet wide— burning with something restless. Wrong. Shigaraki looks down— eyes narrowing— his jaw tightens— “…Tsk!”  All Might surges up the stairway— fast— carrying Izuku. He reaches the entrance— stops— just long enough. Uraraka looks up— relief crashing through her— tears spilling over. “Deku—!!” “Midoriya!” the others shout. Nearby— Mina is already crying— breath uneven— tears streaming— relief still clinging to her— fragile. All Might lowers Izuku carefully— gentle, despite everything. Uraraka is already there— dropping beside him. “Thank you, All Might!” “Reinforcements are on their way,” he says— steady— focused. “He’ll be fine.” A beat. “Stay here.” He’s already turning— already moving— rushing back down the stairs. Silence settles. Uraraka hovers— hands trembling— afraid to touch him. Mina steps closer— still crying— trying to steady herself— and then— she sees. “…Oh my God…” Her voice breaks. Whatever relief she had— shatters. Her hand flies to her mouth, a sob escaping— sharp— uncontrolled. Izuku’s arms— ruined— bones exposed— torn— wrong. Tears trails down Uraraka’s cheeks. “…Deku… why…?” Her voice cracks. “Why does this always happen to you…?!” She slides her hands beneath his head, lifting gently, resting him in her lap. Careful. So careful. Her fingers brush his face, wiping away blood,  cupping his cheek. Tears fall, dotting his skin. “Ura…raka…” Barely a whisper. Uraraka hitches a breath. His eyes struggle to focus. “Tell… All Might…” A breath— uneven— “…it’s too strong…” His gaze drifts— fading— His eyes close. Uraraka stiffens.  Her eyes wide.  She continues to cry, thumb over his cheek. “Deku…” —— As All Might speeds back down the stairs— Shigaraki exhales— a slow, irritated breath— his gaze dropping. The hand lies on the ground. “…Father…” His voice lowers— quieter— different. “I’m sorry.” Around him— the villains hesitate. A shift— uncertain. One steps back. Another follows. They’ve seen enough. Behind him— a rush of movement— fast— All Might already there— Mineta and Tsuyu pulled free— and gone. The retreat spreads. Low murmurs— panic creeping in. “—He’s here—” “Fall back—!” “Don’t get close—!” They begin to scatter— keeping distance— eyes locked on the stairway. Shigaraki doesn’t look. He bends, reaching for the hand— then hesitates. Fingers hovering just above. Behind him— again— that same rush— returning— All Might descending once more— Aizawa lifted— carried away. The villains give ground— instinctive— forming space around the plaza. No one dares step forward. All Might speeds back up the stairs. “…I’ll be more careful.” A whisper. Shigaraki picks up the hand carefully. “I promise…” He straightens, placing it back onto his face. A breath. Settling. Complete. Footsteps. Heavy. Fast. Returning. The scattered villains still, attention snapping back. All Might comes back down and stops behind him. Looking at his back. Shigaraki does not turn.  “…You’re fast.” A pause. “Yet I still had time for reminiscing.” Silence. “And now you’re just standing there.” A beat. “Evaluating me?” Another. “…Or are you tired?” He tilts his head, just slightly. “…Could it be…? Are the rumors true?” He turns his head. Not fully. Only enough. The side of his face comes into view. A grin snaps into place. Too wide. Immediate. “…Are you getting weaker?” Silence. All Might barely reacts. He reaches up— loosens his tie. Pulls it free. Lets it fall. “…Carolina—” The ground shatters. He’s gone. A blur— air splitting— arms crossing into an X— Shigaraki turns, facing him. Casual. “Nomu.” “Smash.” Impact— A body intercepts. The shockwave tears through the plaza— concrete ruptures— dust bursts outward— Nomu stands there. Unmoved. Its feet grind against the ground— but it holds. Its head tilts. Breathing— wet. Wrong. Its arm— twists— muscle stretching— bone reforming— regenerating. All Might’s eyes narrow. “…Huh?” Shigaraki leans slightly to the side, peering past the monster. “Meet Nomu.” A grin. “Have fun.” Nomu moves— Both arms shoot forward— fast— grabbing— All Might bends back— just enough— the grip closes on empty air— His eyes flick— sharp. No recoil… No damage…  Seriously…? All Might twists— driving a punch into Nomu’s gut. WHAM. No effect at all…?! He jumps back— a second strike— driving straight into Nomu’s exposed brain. Impact— Nothing. Shigaraki cackles. “No effect! Because he’s got shock absorption.” A grin stretches. “If you really want to damage Nomu…” A beat. “…you should try slowly ripping him apart. Piece by piece…!” He scratches slowly. “Not that he’ll give you a chance…” All Might moves. He’s gone— reappearing behind Nomu. “I appreciate the info!” He hooks his arms— lifts— setting for a suplex. Shigaraki grins.  “No problem!” All Might slams Nomu into the ground— The impact detonates— A violent burst of force erupts upward— Concrete fractures— Air tears outward— Dust floods the plaza. All Might coughs— blood spills from his mouth— his body jerks— locks— “…Ghk—!” Something clamps down— tight— centered— his side caves inward— fingers digging in— precise— crushing between his ribs— His grip falters— still holding Nomu’s lower half— but— Above— a portal flickers. Empty. Nomu’s upper body— gone. Below— darkness opens— and from it— Nomu’s head and arm surge through— twisting upward— its hand buried into All Might’s side— locking him in place. Crushing. Pulling. Not wild. Not frantic. Deliberate. All Might’s body bends— dragged forward— his footing slipping— forced toward the dark beneath him— breath cut short— another cough— blood hitting the ground. His eyes sharpen— realization settling in. “…So that’s how it is…!!” Behind him, Kurogiri stands— silent— watching the geometry of the trap hold.  A loud cackle— Shigaraki throws two fingers up. “Twice, All Might! Twice! This is the second time! When will you learn…?” He claps— once. Twice. “I’ll give some credit—trapping Nomu under the concrete was pretty clever.” A tilt of his head. “But it wouldn’t have worked.” He crouches— close— too close— right in All Might’s space. “I’m sure you understand by now…” His finger drags lightly through the blood at the corner of All Might’s mouth— smearing it. “Nomu is as powerful as you.” All Might’s body jerks— the pull tightening— his muscles strain— refusing to be dragged under— “Argh…!” Shigaraki watches. Interested. Tilting his head just slightly. “…Maybe more.” Shit… He’s gripping my weak spot… “I-impressive for first time offenders! But prepare yourselves…—!” Kurogiri watches. Silent. Measured. All Might’s body strains— held in place— dragged inch by inch toward the void beneath him— “I can’t say I much like the idea of having blood and guts inside my gate…” A pause. The mist shifts— subtle— calm. “But…” His gaze fixes on All Might. “If they’re yours… I’ll happily oblige.” Shigaraki grins. “Mhm… make it easier for us, All Might…” He lifts a single finger— rests it against All Might’s forehead— light. Mocking. A low cackle slips out. He presses down. “And get cut in two…” The skin beneath his finger cracks—fine fractures spreading outward like glass. “…!” I have to do something…! BOOM. An explosion rips through the plaza— Shigaraki’s hand is blown away— forced back. Bakugo crashes through— already moving— He slams straight into Kurogiri’s core— grabs the metal collar— and drives him into the ground. Smoke pours from his palms as he pins him there. All Might exhales— the pressure on his ribs loosening— Nomu’s grip falters. All Might’s brows shoot up. Is that… that blonde brat…?! The portal flickers— unstable. Ice surges across the ground— fast— precise— locking onto Nomu’s lower half— freezing it solid— anchoring it in place. The pull stutters— breaks— Nomu’s grip falters— All Might drops— hits the ground hard— a rough breath tearing from his lungs— blood at his lips. Todoroki steps forward. Calm. Measured. “Sorry we’re late…” Shigaraki tilts his head, irritation flickering. “…No problem…” “Gahhh!” Kirishima lunges— hardened fingers striking— Shigaraki shifts— just enough— the attack misses. Kirishima lands, stumbling forward. “Crap! Almost had ‘em!” Bakugo doesn’t look away— still restraining Kurogiri— eyes locked on Shigaraki. Todoroki’s gaze stays fixed— watching— analyzing. “Hope we didn’t interrupt something.” All Might clutches his side— blood at his lips— breath unsteady— But he smiles.