Pyro - A My Hero Academia Story

Chapter 11

Kacchan shot a sideways glance at Izuku.
"Well, Deku? You're the one who always got a plan.
Well, this one just took down All Might.
So, how d'you want to play this, you damn nerd?"
Izuku's mind was clearer than it had any right to be.
Faced with an impossible situation, his analytical brain had kicked into a higher gear, assessing the facts, dissecting their foe.
"This villain was built to defeat All Might. That's what the other one said.
The 'Anti-All-Might', right?
That means they found a way to nullify All Might's strength.
It doesn't matter how many physical attacks we throw at it, we can't hurt it. Not like that."
Kacchan spun to face Izuku.
"So what? We can't beat it? Is that what you're trying to say? Is that the best you can do!?"
Izuku was focused on maintaining the wall of fire that protected them.
"That's not what I said, Kacchan. So shut up.
I said that we can't hurt it by hurling ourselves at it like idiots.
It was built to resist All Might.
Any kinetic attacks will be ineffective."
Todoroki cut across him.
"But Midoriya and I have elemental based quirks."

Izuku nodded.
"We've already established that it doesn't like fire all that much. I'm betting ice won't agree with it either."
He glanced at Kirishima.
"Your quirk... It's hardening, right?"
Kirishima nodded.
"That's right. I can make different body parts stiffen at will."
Kacchan snorted.
"Pretty sure that's just puberty, idiot. Hate to burst you bubble."
Kirishima's cheeks flushed to match his scarlet hair.
"T-that's not what I meant! I just-"
Izuku cut across a flustered Kirishima.
"Kacchan, shut up.
Can you two keep the other two busy while Todoroki and I deal with the big one?"
Kacchan grunted.
"Hard-On here can have the skinny one. Smokey's all mine."

Kirishima shot Kacchan a venomous look.
"That is NOT my name. But yeah, we can take them."
Izuku nodded. "Fine.
Now let's show these bastards the true meaning of Plus Ultra."
                              ***
Shigaraki spun at the sound of the nomu's inhuman scream.
He saw the creature engulfed in a storm of ice and fire and started to run.
"Kurogiri! The nomu! Stop them! Those damn kids! Those da-"
A fist connected with his face, sending him sprawling.
"How about you deal with this damn kid first?" Kirishima grinned.
                                ***

** Now would be an excellent time to start playing 'You Say Run' **

                                ***
The nomu flailed, trying to escape from Todoroki's tomb of ice.

It's body regenerated, but Todoroki's ice kept reopening gashes.

Todoroki shouted over its pained cries.
"Hey Midoriya, we've got it pinned down. What do you want to do with it?"

Izuku nearly smiled.

"Leave that to me."

Izuku closed his eyes, allowing the flames to wash over him.

He felt their warmth.
Felt them ebb and flow with his heartbeat.

He felt his rage.

Izuku's fire shifted, reacting to his emotions.

The flames formed a rod, then a blade.

Then a blade.

"You won't lay a finger on him!"

Izuku wouldn't lose.

"Special Move:
Clarent - Sword of Sacred Fire!"

A single devastating slash.

A single cry of inhuman anguish.

The nomu fell.
                                ***
"NO!"
Shigaraki sunk to his knees.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? YOU, YOU BASTARDS! WHAT HAVE YOU-"
Suddenly, Kurogiri was at his side, a hand on his shoulder.
"Tomura. The day is lost. We must retreat, regroup.
There will be another day."
Shigaraki fell to the ground, in tears.
"W-we were meant to win.
I-it was all p-planned out. How did we - How did we lose?"
Izuku's voice rang out across the battlefield.
"You lost because you're broken. Because you don't know what it is to fight for something greater than itself.
That's why you lost.
That's why you'll never beat us."
Shigaraki's eyes locked with Izuku's.
His shocked face disappeared into the swirling portal.
                                ***
The pro-heroes arrived soon after, with the media in tow.
They found the place littered with limp bodies.
The students of class 1-A huddled in groups, shell-shocked.

"Eraserhead... What happened here?"
Their teacher slumped in a corner, spent.
"Don't look at me." He explained. "This... This was all them."

They found the nomu soon after.
"It was sick!"
Kirishima explained with enthusiasm.
"There was this giant villain. Super strong. But then Midoriya-"

A look of understanding passed between Izuku, Kacchan, and Todoroki.
Izuku cut across him.

"All Might saved us.
We were in real trouble before he turned up.
But once he arrived, they didn't stand a chance."
Kirishima looked around, confused.
"Wha-owwww!"
Kacchan stamped on his foot.
The reporter turned back to the camera.
"There you have it, viewers. The Symbol of Peace is once more victorious.
Fear not, viewers. Why? Because our Number 1 Hero is still out there.
Back to you, Ayako."
                                ***
All Might lay in the medical ward panting.
"Thank you, Cementoss.
I-I couldn't... I couldn't let the media catch a glimpse of me in this form."
Cementoss pulled a blanket up to cover him.
"Don't worry about it, All Might.
You need to rest."
Cementoss turned to leave.
"All Might. You can't carry on like this. You know that, don't you?
There comes a day when every hero has to hang up his cape.
The world can't afford to see its Symbol of Peace fall."
All Might nodded gravely.
"I know."
His mind wandered, but seemed invariably to settle on Izuku Midoriya. The way he had fought today.
His desire to save others.
All Might stared at his clenched fist.
"Maybe..." He thought.

*Feeling productive this weekend, hence the extra upload. I have that bonus chapter all ready to go, so get voting! Anyway, thanks for your continued support. Plus Ultra!*