The next day, when Izuku walked into the classroom, he was met by Denki, Sato, Mina, and Kirishima — all of them wearing gloomy expressions.
Mina sighed dramatically, trying to smile. "E-everyone… I'm really looking forward to hearing all your stories about how fun camp was."
Izuku lifted his arm in an attempt to encourage her. "Hey, don't be so down. Maybe they'll end up letting you guys go! There could be a last-minute change or something."
Sero placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder with a knowing look. "Dude, don't say that out loud — you'll jinx it."
Before anyone could reply, the classroom door slammed open. Aizawa stood there, his tired expression as sharp as ever."Once the bell rings, you should already be in your seats," he said, stepping inside.
The students scattered back to their desks immediately, the chatter dying down.
When the bell rang, Aizawa stood at the podium and began, "Morning. Unfortunately, there are a few of you who didn't pass the final exam. So when it comes to the training camp in the woods…"
He paused just long enough to make everyone tense.
"…everyone is going."
The four students who had been sulking shot upright, shouting in disbelief, "It's a last-minute twist?!"
Kirishima's grin nearly split his face. "Wait, so we actually get to go?"
"Yeah," Aizawa confirmed simply. "The good news is that no one bombed the written exam. But five of you failed the practical — two teams, plus Sero."
Sero groaned. "Yeah, that tracks."
Aizawa folded his arms. "Allow me to explain. During the practical battles, the teachers made sure to leave some opportunity for you to win — otherwise, none of you would've stood a chance. Well… except maybe Midoriya." He turned his eyes toward Izuku. "But he realized that All Might had far too much combat experience to challenge head-on. So, he fled. Isn't that right, Midoriya?"
Izuku nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Exactly," Aizawa continued. "We were observing how you all worked together and approached the task at hand. That being said—" He turned his gaze to Bakugo. "You need to understand that you aren't the strongest here. Even if you were, if you refuse to rely on others, you'll get people killed."
Bakugo scowled but stayed silent.
Ojiro raised his hand. "Didn't you say the teachers weren't holding back?"
"That was to keep you on edge," Aizawa said flatly. "The training camp will focus on improving your Quirks and teamwork. Those who failed need those lessons the most. We were never actually going to separate you."
At the end of the day, as everyone packed up, Ojiro grinned. "This is gonna be great. I'm glad we're all going together."
Ida adjusted his glasses. "It appears we'll be at this training camp for an entire week."
Izuku chuckled. "Guess I'll need a bigger suitcase."
Denki groaned. "Yeah, and I don't even have a bathing suit. Guess I need to buy some stuff."
Mineta, of course, butted in. "I'm thinking of getting some night vision goggles! You know, for—"
He was immediately ignored.
Hagakure's voice piped up cheerfully. "Since we're all off tomorrow and we've finally finished exams, I've got the best idea! Why don't we all go shopping together?"
Most of the class agreed happily, though Bakugo and Todoroki both declined, muttering that they were busy.
The next day, Izuku met his classmates at the Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall. The place was massive — bright banners, music from every floor, and the smell of fresh food drifting from the food court. As Izuku looked around, he noticed how every shop seemed to cater to every kind of body type and hero training need. There was gear for everyone — from growing teens to retired heroes.
A few people in the crowd recognized them and called out."Hey, it's Class 1-A!""You guys were amazing at the Sports Festival!""Thank you for saving us!" one woman added, her voice emotional as she looked at Izuku.
Izuku scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "Ah, I was just doing what any hero-in-training would do."
Once the crowd finally thinned, the class broke into small groups.
Jiro tugged on Momo's sleeve. "Hey, I want a new duffle bag. Wanna help me pick one?"Denki turned to Hagakure. "I'm gonna find some new outdoor shoes. You in?"Mineta, meanwhile, leaned toward no one in particular. "Does anyone know where I can get a lockpick and a drill?"
Everyone ignored him.
Kirishima clapped his hands together. "Alright, how about we split up and meet back here once we're done? Say… three o'clock?"
Mina nodded enthusiastically. "Sounds good to me!"
Izuku looked up at the nearby clock. "It's two now, so that gives us an hour."
When everyone scattered, only Izuku and Uraraka were left standing by the fountain.
Izuku turned to her, smiling. "So, what do you need to get?"
She thought for a moment. "Mostly just bug spray," she said with a small laugh. "I don't do well with mosquitoes."
When Uraraka finally left with her shopping bags, Izuku realized he was alone. The mall felt quieter now, filled only with the hum of chatter and the echo of footsteps bouncing off the high ceilings. With nothing else to do, he decided to do a little window shopping before meeting back with everyone.
He hadn't made it more than a few steps before a man in a black hoodie brushed past him. The stranger tried to sling an arm around Izuku's shoulders, but Izuku was too tall, so the man's hand settled awkwardly on his back instead.
"I want an autograph," the man said in a gravelly, almost amused tone. "You're the one who lifted that massive meteoroid during the Sports Festival, right?"
Izuku blinked, caught off guard. "Uh—yeah, that was… me." His voice stumbled slightly; something about the man's tone didn't feel right.
The man chuckled, the sound dark and slow. "And you're also the one who took down the Hero Killer, huh? You sure make a lot of headlines for a student."
Izuku's unease deepened. "You sure know a lot about me," he said carefully, trying to step back.
"What can I say…" the man murmured, finally lifting his head. "I'm a big fan of yours. And I can't believe I'm running into you again. Makes me think this isn't just coincidence. No, no… this feels like destiny."
Izuku's stomach dropped. He recognized that voice instantly.
His eyes widened as the hood shifted — revealing pale, cracked skin and a twisted grin.
"Shigaraki…"
Before anything else could happen, Izuku spun around with blinding speed, moving faster than most people could see. He grabbed both of Shigaraki's wrists in an iron grip, pinning them in a way that prevented his fingers from touching anything.
"HELP!" Izuku shouted, his voice echoing through the mall.
Shigaraki snarled, thrashing wildly. "Let me go, you brat!"
But Izuku's grip didn't waver. Even with all his strength, he made sure not to crush Shigaraki's bones — just hold him tight enough to keep him from using his Quirk.
The sudden noise drew attention immediately. Shoppers screamed, backing away in panic. Within moments, the rest of Class 1-A came running, their faces pale with shock.
"Midoriya!" Ida shouted, arriving first. "What's going on?!"
Security guards surrounded Izuku, shouting orders."Let him go!" one yelled. "You're hurting him—!"
Izuku shook his head fiercely. "No! This man is part of the League of Villains! His Quirk lets him decay anything he touches — if he lays a hand on someone, they'll die!"
The guards froze, glancing uncertainly between Izuku's serious expression and the struggling villain in his arms.
"Call the police!" Izuku ordered, his voice sharp and steady. "And heroes — now!"
Shigaraki twisted and kicked, screaming in rage. "You think this changes anything?! You think this matters?!"
Across town, a police radio crackled."Code red — suspect identified as Shigaraki Tomura, leader of the League of Villains, currently detained at Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall. Hero students on-site."
Detective Tsukauchi's eyes widened. He grabbed his coat and sprinted to his car. "All available units, respond! Get there now!" he barked into the radio. Then, without hesitation, he dialed."All Might, it's Shigaraki — he's been found. Midoriya's holding him."
He could hear All Might's shocked intake of breath on the other end."I'm on my way."
And then he called one more person — Principal Nezu.
By the time Tsukauchi's car screeched to a halt in front of the mall, police lights painted the area red and blue. Several heroes were already on-site, forming a perimeter. Inside, the sight was surreal — Izuku still stood there, calm but tense, holding a struggling Shigaraki like a steel vice.
Class 1-A had formed a protective circle around them, keeping the crowd back.
When the officers and heroes approached, Ida stepped aside and motioned them through. "Midoriya's got him restrained — please hurry!"
A police officer ran forward with a pair of Quirk-suppressing cuffs. "We've got it!"
As soon as the cuffs clicked onto Shigaraki's wrists, Izuku finally loosened his hold and stepped back, breathing out slowly.
The villain slumped to the floor, still glaring up at him with venom in his eyes. "You can't stop what's coming, boy."
Izuku didn't reply. He just stood tall as the officers dragged Shigaraki away, the air around them buzzing with tension and disbelief.
The mall stayed closed long after the lights had been switched off. Heroes and police swept every floor, every service corridor, and the loading docks with meticulous intensity — flashlights carving cones through dust and holiday decorations, radios barking orders, the occasional low rumble of a hero's voice cutting through. They found nothing else. No backpacks left suspiciously in a stairwell, no lingering figures in the camera footage, no quick getaway trails. The perimeter held tight until the last civilian was safely escorted away.
Class 1-A was put into police cars and driven home under escort. They were shaken, silent on the way back: murmured questions, pale faces pressed to the windows, Denki nervously scrolling through his phone, Mina hugging her shopping bags like a shield. Ida sat beside Izuku, her eyes reflecting the blue-red police lights as if she were trying to memorize how ordinary nights could turn dangerous at any moment. Izuku kept replaying the moment he'd pinned Shigaraki's wrists — the cold thrum of adrenaline, the heaviness in his palms when he held someone that dangerous. Superman-level strength didn't make restraint any easier; it made the consequences of a mistake feel heavier, not lighter.
That night, the school tried to keep a lid on things. UA issued a statement asking for patience while authorities handled the investigation. News vans gathered at the entrance in the morning, but Aizawa moved quickly to shut the press out. "This isn't for public spectacle," he said flatly. Present Mic kept up a wall of voices and charm for the reporters who tried to peek through, but even his booming optimism had an edge of caution to it now.
Then came the call that ripped the fragile sense of closure apart.
The squad car transporting Shigaraki disappeared on the way to the station.
At first everyone assumed a technical glitch. GPS pinged. Then the ping placed the vehicle — not on the highway, but inside a run-down warehouse on the far side of the industrial district. When a tactical team forced entry, the scene they found made even seasoned detectives pale: two police officers dead, their radios still warm, and the transport van — the prisoner compartment torn open from the inside. No sign of Shigaraki. No obvious footprints beyond the van's ramp. The warehouse cameras had been disabled, and the ransacked evidence of a break was chillingly efficient.
Detective Tsukauchi briefed the UA staff in a quiet conference room. He didn't sugarcoat it. "This was not an opportunistic breakout. Whoever did this had inside knowledge — timing, routes, the suppression cuff specs. They wanted him free." The words hovered in the air, heavy as iron.
UA tightened security like a fist. Students were assigned check-ins, dorm doors were reinforced, and faculty schedules were rearranged. All Might and Nezu convened with Aizawa and the pro-hero liaison. Training plans for the upcoming camp were reevaluated. Aizawa's expression was the same unreadable mask, but his instructions were precise and sharp: increased patrols around the campus, zero unsupervised outings, and immediate reporting for anything suspicious. "We go to the woods next week," he said. "We proceed — but with the assumption that the League will try to test us."
For several days that followed, the city held its breath. There were rumors — some true, some not; tip lines lit up; the League's usual chatter on the darker corners of the network fell silent, as if someone had told them to hush.
The following days passed in a blur for Izuku. Between shopping, packing, double-checking his supplies, and reviewing emergency procedures, he wanted to be sure he was ready for the training camp. Even with his immense strength, he refused to fall behind his classmates in technical knowledge or strategy. Every morning he jogged at sunrise, every afternoon he reviewed rescue tactics, and every evening he triple-checked his suit's repairs. His mother kept telling him he was over-preparing, but Izuku knew better — villains didn't wait for convenience.
But while Izuku trained, an entirely different atmosphere filled a dim, hidden bar deep within the city.
Shigaraki hunched over a table in the League of Villains' bar, his pale fingers methodically stacking delicate cards. His house of cards wobbled with each subtle flick of his hand, yet he seemed oddly proud of its growing height. Kurogiri stood behind the bar, polishing a glass as a low hum of the TV played softly in the background.
"The Master is good," Shigaraki muttered suddenly, eyes fixed on the card tower. "Tried so hard to figure out where those idiots were sending the kids… but he found it instantly. Like it was nothing."
The final card trembled in Shigaraki's hand before he set it down. The whole structure quivered but didn't fall.
Kurogiri's voice drifted lazily across the room. "All for One has always possessed a keen intuition. It was fortunate we had a team on standby."
Before Shigaraki could respond, a bell chimed sharply as the front door opened. Cool air flooded into the bar — along with the smell of smoke.
Dabi strolled inside with his usual bored expression, hands stuffed deep in his pockets. His mismatched, stapled skin gave him a menacing silhouette in the dim light.
"So," Dabi said, eyes narrowing slightly as he approached the bar. "What's the plan for Izuku Midoriya? Last time you failed to bring him in. You seemed pretty fixated on the kid."
Shigaraki let out a low growl at the reminder. He reached under the counter and pulled out a small, metal box. Dust flaked from its edges when he set it down with a heavy thud.
"Given the short notice…" Shigaraki said, flipping the latch open, "…this is the best we could do. But it'll be enough to weaken him."
Inside the box lay dozens of jagged green shards. They pulsed faintly with a sickly glow, like something alive and poisonous. Some of the shards had been threaded together with wire, forming crude necklaces or straps. Others had been sharpened to points, like makeshift weapons.
Dabi raised a brow. "You're kidding. This is what's supposed to stop that monster they call a hero? The kid lifted a building last time you saw him."
Shigaraki smirked.
"You'll be surprised," he murmured.
Kurogiri drifted closer, his misty form coiling protectively around the box as though guarding something precious. "We have information," he said. "A reliable source gave us access to something extremely valuable."
Dabi's expression sharpened. "A spy."
"Correct," Kurogiri confirmed. "Someone planted in U.A. A student. One Izuku Midoriya trusted enough to talk to."
Shigaraki leaned forward, eyes gleaming like cracked glass. "Midoriya told them something important. Something about a weakness he has."
Kurogiri lifted one of the glowing shards gently. The green light reflected off the metal of his fog-shrouded fingers.
"This substance," he said, "is called kryptonite. According to our informant, exposure to it weakens him severely. Even small amounts drain his strength."
Dabi stared at the glowing shard for a long moment. "So the golden boy bleeds, huh?" His smirk stretched lazily across his face. "Good. I was getting bored thinking he was unkillable."
Shigaraki closed the box with a decisive click. "With this," he said, "we can finally break him. And once he falls, U.A. falls with him."
Kurogiri bowed slightly. "We have already prepared the team. They are waiting for your signal."
"And they'll get it soon…" Shigaraki said, staring at the flickering TV screen. A news broadcast showed Class 1-A shopping, smiling, carefree.
Shigaraki's fingers twitched.
"Enjoy your last peaceful day, Midoriya…"
A week after the mall incident, Izuku was in the middle of his afternoon training when his phone buzzed. He slowed to a stop, hovering a few feet above the ground before landing lightly and pulling it out. When he saw the caller ID, his expression softened.
"Melissa?" he answered.
"Izuku!" Melissa Shield's voice crackled with excitement. "I was hoping you'd pick up. I wanted to ask—would you come to I-Island for the I-Expo?"
Izuku's eyes widened. The I-Expo was one of the biggest technology showcases in the world, especially famous for hero support gear. "The I-Expo? Really? Yeah, I'd love to!"
Melissa laughed in relief. "Great! I knew you'd say yes. Oh—and um… my dad wanted to ask you for help with something. So when you get here, go see him, okay?"
"Of course," Izuku said immediately. "Just tell me when."
"You can come right away if you want," Melissa replied. "You can fly, right?"
Izuku smiled. "I'll be there soon."
After hanging up, Izuku went inside and let his mom know where he was going. She worried, of course, but she trusted him—and I-Island was one of the safest places in the world. With a quick hug and a promise to call, Izuku stepped outside, crouched slightly, and launched into the sky.
The wind rushed past him as he flew, clouds parting around his body. He adjusted his speed until he spotted a commercial plane cruising beneath him. Curious, Izuku slowed and drifted alongside it, matching its pace.
Through one of the windows, he noticed a kid staring wide-eyed at him. Izuku grinned and waved. The kid nearly jumped out of his seat in excitement.
With a small chuckle, Izuku angled upward and accelerated, red and blue streaks flashing briefly behind him as he shot ahead of the plane and vanished into the distance.
When Izuku landed at I-Island's airport, the sleek, futuristic design immediately caught his attention. Glass towers shimmered in the sunlight, and holographic signs welcomed visitors from around the world.
As he stepped inside the terminal, he spotted a familiar tall figure disembarking from the same plane he'd just passed—All Might, now in his slimmer form, alongside Mirio Togata.
Izuku jogged over. "All Might! Mirio! What are you doing here?"
They turned, surprised, then smiled.
"Ah, young Midoriya!" All Might boomed quietly. "It seems we've arrived at the same destination."
Mirio laughed. "Yeah, we were invited by someone All Might knows. Guess it's one of those 'small world' things."
Once outside the airport, the moment All Might stepped into view, chaos erupted. Crowds swarmed him instantly—fans, reporters, tourists all shouting questions and trying to get closer.
Izuku and Mirio were pushed back as they watched the spectacle unfold.
Several minutes later, the crowd finally dispersed. All Might staggered back toward them, his face completely covered in lipstick marks.
"I… didn't think it would take quite that long," he said, coughing awkwardly.
Izuku burst out laughing, and Mirio nearly doubled over. "You look like you lost a battle, sir."
"All in a day's work," All Might sighed.
Just then, Izuku noticed something odd—a girl appeared briefly on a rooftop nearby… then vanished.
He narrowed his eyes. "Wait… Melissa?"
A moment later, she bounced into view, rapidly approaching them. Izuku realized she wasn't jumping naturally—she was using a pogo-stick-like device, springing effortlessly across the ground.
When she finally stopped in front of them, All Might gestured proudly. "Young Togata, allow me to introduce you. This is Melissa Shield."
"Nice to meet you!" Melissa said brightly.
All Might glanced around. "So, where's your father?"
Melissa smiled mischievously. "He's still in the lab, buried in test results from the data we gathered on Midoriya. Actually… he had a breakthrough in his research."
Izuku perked up. "A breakthrough?"
She nodded. "Yeah. He's so focused he doesn't even know I invited you all here. It's a surprise—to celebrate his work."
All Might's eyes lit up. "Splendid! Then let us pay him a visit."
Once they reached the massive research building, its glass walls reflecting the ocean and sky, Melissa led them straight toward one of the upper labs. Just before the doors slid open, she stopped and turned back to them.
"Wait here for just a second, okay?" she said with a grin before slipping inside.
Inside the lab, the sound of machines humming filled the air. Screens were covered in graphs, energy readings, and detailed schematics. David Shield stood near a central console, deep in thought, while his assistant Sam typed rapidly at a nearby terminal.
Melissa waved. "Hi, Sam."
Sam looked up and smiled. "Hey, Melissa."
David turned around, adjusting his glasses. "Hmm? To what do we owe the pleasure, Melissa? You're usually busy this time of day."
Melissa clasped her hands behind her back, rocking slightly on her heels. "Oh, you'll see. Since you completed the first stage of your research, I thought we should celebrate. So… I invited a special guest."
Before David could ask anything else, the lab doors suddenly burst open.
"I AM HERE!" All Might boomed, striking a dramatic pose. His voice trembled with emotion. "Shaking with excitement for our heartfelt reunion!"
Izuku stepped in behind him, smiling awkwardly. "Hi, David."
David froze.
His eyes widened as he looked from All Might to Izuku, disbelief washing over his face. "A-All Might?! Midoriya?! You're here?!"
All Might laughed heartily. "It has been far too long, my friend!"
David pushed his glasses up, still stunned. "I… I wasn't expecting this at all."
All Might gestured behind him. "Ah, and this is Mirio Togata, one of U.A.'s finest students."
Mirio waved enthusiastically. "Nice to meet you, sir!"
David smiled politely but quickly noticed the strain in All Might's posture, the subtle signs of fatigue he knew all too well. His expression softened.
"All Might," David said gently, "why don't you sit down for a bit?"
Then he turned to Melissa. "Melissa, why don't you show Izuku and Mirio around the island while I talk with All Might?"
Melissa nodded immediately. "Sure!"
David looked at Izuku. "I'll call you once I'm finished here."
Izuku nodded respectfully. "Okay. I'll be nearby."
With that, Izuku, Mirio, and Melissa left the lab.
As they walked through the island, Izuku couldn't help but stare. The last time he'd been here for his work study, everything had been a blur of training and research. Now that he could actually look around, the scale of I-Island amazed him.
Futuristic buildings stretched upward, connected by skybridges. Hovering transports zipped through the air, and holographic signs displayed upcoming I-Expo attractions.
"This place is incredible," Izuku said quietly.
"Right?!" Mirio added, eyes sparkling. "It's like a whole city built for heroes!"
Melissa smiled proudly. "The island has everything you could ever need—housing, research facilities, entertainment, medical centers."
She hesitated slightly before adding, "The downside is… we're not allowed to travel freely."
Mirio blinked. "Huh? Why not?"
"To keep everything secure," Melissa explained. "The scientists and their families have to keep their work top secret. No leaks, no outside interference."
Izuku nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense."
As they continued, they passed heroes from all over the world—some in full costume, others in casual wear. Melissa gestured excitedly. "Most of them are here for the I-Expo! There's a big party tonight, too."
Izuku tilted his head. "Party? I didn't bring anything formal."
Melissa laughed. "Don't worry. It's fine if you wear your hero costume. Most heroes do."
Mirio grinned. "Perfect! I don't even own formal clothes."
As they explored the expo displays, Mirio's curiosity went into overdrive.
"That thing flies?""And that one does what?""How much force can it take?"
Melissa showed them a sleek aircraft. "This plane can also transform into a submarine."
Mirio gasped. "That's AWESOME."
She moved on to another display, lifting a helmet. "This allows full 360-degree vision."
Izuku leaned in, impressed. "That would be amazing for rescue missions."
Melissa nodded. "I want to follow in my dad's footsteps… and help as many heroes as possible."
Before Izuku could respond, a familiar voice cut in.
"Midoriya?! What are you doing here?"
Izuku turned to see Uraraka approaching, clearly surprised. "Uraraka!"
He scratched the back of his head. "David Shield is who I worked with during my work study. He called me here to help with something."
He gestured to the others. "This is Mirio Togata, and this is Melissa Shield. All Might brought Mirio along, and while he's talking with David, Melissa's been showing us around."
Uraraka smiled. "That's amazing!"
Before the conversation could continue, Izuku's phone rang. He checked the screen.
"David," he said, answering. "Okay. I'll be right there."
He looked back at the group. "He's done. I'll meet up with you all later—enjoy the expo."
With that, Izuku stepped outside the building, took a deep breath, and launched into the sky, flying toward David's office—unaware that events on I-Island were already beginning to move in a dangerous direction.
Meanwhile, far from I-Island, the warm sun shone over Themyscira as Diana Prince returned home for the summer. Marble columns and ancient stone pathways welcomed her back, the air filled with the familiar scent of sea breeze and blooming flowers. Though she had walked these paths her entire life, something about returning after time in the outside world made everything feel… smaller.
Waiting for her at the palace steps was Queen Hippolyta.
"My daughter," Hippolyta said warmly, stepping forward and embracing her. "Welcome home."
Diana returned the hug, smiling. "It's good to be back, Mother."
They walked together through the palace gardens, warriors training nearby and scholars discussing ancient texts. Hippolyta studied Diana closely as they walked.
"So," Hippolyta said gently, "how is the hero school treating you? Has the world of men caused you any trouble?"
Diana shook her head. "No, Mother. I've been doing well. Better than I expected, actually." She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "The principal spoke with me before I left. He asked if I would consider a student exchange program… with a school called U.A."
Hippolyta stopped walking.
"U.A.?" she repeated. "Another school of warriors? Why would you leave again, and travel even farther from the island?"
Diana turned to face her mother, her expression serious but respectful. "Because I've reached the top of my class. My teachers admit I no longer face any real challenge. I'm learning, yes—but I'm not growing."
Hippolyta folded her arms. "And you believe this U.A. can challenge you?"
Diana nodded. "I do."
Hippolyta raised an eyebrow. "And how could you possibly know that?"
Without a word, Diana reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. She tapped the screen and held it up.
A video began to play—the U.A. Sports Festival.
Students clashed in dazzling displays of power, strategy, and teamwork. Hippolyta watched silently as Diana skipped ahead, stopping at a particular moment.
The screen showed Izuku Midoriya.
First, footage of him racing across the battlefield, a red-and-blue blur as he moved faster than the eye could follow. Then another clip—him standing beneath the sky, arms raised as a massive meteor descended toward the city.
Hippolyta's eyes narrowed as she watched Izuku lift the meteor—a chunk of rock larger than Japan itself—his body glowing as he carried it away from the population below.
Diana paused the video.
"He had help stabilizing the impact," Diana said calmly, "but the strength itself was his. He carried that alone."
Hippolyta stared at the frozen image. "…That is no ordinary man."
"He's not," Diana replied. "And he's only a student. U.A. trains people like him. If I stay where I am, I'll never test my limits."
For a long moment, Hippolyta said nothing. Then she exhaled slowly.
"…I see," she said at last. "If this path will make you stronger—and wiser—then I will not stand in your way. But remember who you are, Diana. And where you come from."
Diana smiled and bowed her head. "Always."
Back on I-Island, Izuku floated gently down in front of David Shield's office and stepped inside.
"David? You said you needed me?"
He immediately noticed All Might, sitting nearby in his weakened form. Izuku paused for a fraction of a second, nodded respectfully, then turned his attention back to David.
David adjusted his glasses, his expression serious but excited. "Thank you for coming so quickly, Izuku. What I'm about to show you… could change everything."
All Might looked up, concern and curiosity mixing in his eyes.
Izuku straightened, fully focused. "What do you need my help with?"
David cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's nothing of great importance," he said casually, though the request itself was anything but. "NASA contacted me earlier today. Apparently, the Mars rover is starting to fail. Some critical parts need to be replaced, and they were… wondering if you could do it."
Izuku blinked once. "…Go to Mars?"
David nodded. "You're capable of flying there under your own power. From their perspective, you're the safest and fastest option."
Izuku glanced down at his watch, mentally calculating the time difference. A small, apologetic smile crossed his face. "Looks like I'll miss the party," he said. "But I don't mind. Helping comes first." He looked back up. "How am I transporting the parts?"
Without another word, David reached behind his desk and pulled out a large, reinforced backpack. He handed it to Izuku with care."It's made from a special composite material," David explained. "Radiation-resistant, vacuum-sealed, and temperature-stabilized. It'll keep everything safe in space."
Izuku slipped the straps over his shoulders and nodded. "Got it."
As they walked outside, David was already dialing his phone. "NASA? Yes. Midoriya will handle it." He paused, listening, then sighed lightly. "Yes… yes, he can bring back soil samples too."
Izuku overheard and smiled. "No problem."
"I'll send you the contact details," David said, handing him a small data chip and reading off a number. "They want you to stop by headquarters in Washington first."
"Understood," Izuku said.
The moment they stepped fully outside, Izuku bent his knees slightly—then shot into the sky with a thunderous boom, the air rippling behind him as a red-and-blue streak vanished into the clouds.
Back on I-Island, Melissa had been guiding Class 1-A and Mirio through another section of the expo when the sound hit them.
BOOM.
Everyone stopped.
They looked up just in time to see Izuku streak across the sky, accelerating faster and faster until he disappeared over the horizon.
"…Was that Midoriya?" Denki asked, shielding his eyes.
Melissa nodded, smiling proudly. "Yeah. He had something important to take care of."
Mirio laughed. "Of course he did."
After a brief discussion, they agreed to meet later and head to the party together. Whatever Izuku was doing, he'd probably reappear when things mattered most—he always did.
That night, the island glowed with lights as the I-Expo opening reception began. Class 1-A gathered at the entrance to the main tower, where music drifted out into the warm night air.
Denki whistled. "Wow, everyone looks great!"
Ida adjusted his tie. "Formal wear is appropriate for such an event."
Mineta stared far too obviously until Jiro smacked him.Todoroki stood quietly beside them, hands in his pockets.Momo and Jiro chatted softly, while Uraraka smiled, glancing around in awe.
Mirio and Melissa joined them moments later.
Inside the tower, the party was already in full swing.
A voice echoed through the hall."Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the I-Expo Opening Night Reception! We at I-Island hope you enjoy yourselves."
Applause filled the room.
"And now," the host continued, "may we invite the Number One Hero—All Might!"
All Might stiffened beside David. He leaned over and muttered, "Really, Dave? You could've warned me."
David smiled sheepishly. "It was bound to happen once they realized you were here."
All Might chuckled. "I suppose I owe you one."
He stepped onto the stage, waving to the crowd as cheers erupted. "Thank you all! It's a pleasure to be here. Formal speeches aren't really my thing—"
Suddenly, the massive screen behind him flashed red.
EMERGENCY.
A harsh alarm blared, drowning out the music.
"This is an announcement from the I-Island security system," a mechanical voice echoed through the P.A. "An explosive device has been discovered somewhere on the I-Expo grounds. I-Island is now in high-alert mode. Your safety is our top priority. All residents and tourists are to return to their lodging immediately. Anyone remaining on the streets after ten minutes will be in violation of the law."
Panic rippled through the crowd.
At the entrance of the tower, Class 1-A felt the floor vibrate.
THUD.
Thick metal walls slammed down from the ceiling, sealing off the exits.
Denki's smile vanished. "…That's not good."
Ida clenched his fists. "We're trapped."
At the same time, heavy footsteps echoed through the grand dining hall where dozens of pro heroes had gathered. Conversations died instantly as a line of armed guards marched in, weapons raised and expressions cold. The atmosphere shifted from celebration to tension in a heartbeat.
Behind them walked a tall, broad-shouldered man with metal plates lining his arms and jaw, his presence oppressive and confident.
Wolfram.
He stopped at the center of the room, boots clicking against the polished floor, and gave a slow, mocking smile.
"In case you haven't caught on yet," Wolfram said calmly, his voice carrying easily across the hall, "the I-Island security system is now under my control."
Murmurs rippled through the heroes, several immediately shifting into defensive stances.
Wolfram raised a hand lazily. "Now, now. I know we've got a lot of heroes in here. Strong ones, too." His eyes flicked toward All Might. "But if any of you decide to make a scene, I'll simply have the security sentries reclassify their targets."
The lights in the hall flickered briefly.
"They'll think the 'dangerous criminals' they've locked onto are standing right here in front of them," Wolfram continued. "So play nice. Everyone on this island is my hostage."
His grin widened. "That includes you."
A few heroes clenched their fists, but none moved.
Wolfram touched the device at his ear. "Do it."
With a deep mechanical whirr, sections of the floor suddenly split apart. From the openings, light-blue energy strips shot upward at blinding speed, wrapping around the heroes' arms, legs, and torsos. The restraints tightened instantly, glowing brighter as they locked in place.
"Gah—!""What is this?!""Energy restraints?!"
Heroes struggled, but the bindings only constricted further.
All Might stepped forward, muscles tensing as he tried to force his way free. The restraints creaked under the strain.
Wolfram didn't even look worried.
Instead, he casually raised his arm and fired a shot into the air.
BANG.
The sound cracked like thunder, echoing through the hall.
All Might froze mid-step.
Wolfram lowered his arm slowly. "Don't move," he said coldly. "If you take so much as another step, I'll kill everyone in this room."
For the first time that night, true silence fell.
All Might's teeth clenched. His fists shook with restrained power—but he stopped. Slowly, painfully, he relaxed his stance.
Wolfram chuckled. "Good choice."
Around them, the heroes glared helplessly, bound and furious, forced to watch as the island they were meant to protect slipped into enemy hands.
Far away—millions of miles from Earth—Izuku Midoriya flew through the void of space, unaware that the world's strongest heroes had just been taken hostage… and that I-Island desperately needed him to come back.
Todoroki frowned as he checked his phone again, swiping across the screen with growing irritation."No signal," he said flatly. "Not even emergency channels. My service is completely blocked."
Mineta's eyes widened. "W-What the heck is going on?! Even my phone's dead!"
Melissa looked unsettled now, her earlier confidence slipping. "That's… strange," she said slowly. "This isn't how the system is supposed to work. When explosives are discovered, the island goes into a controlled evacuation—not a full lockdown. Communications aren't supposed to be cut."
Mirio's expression hardened. "Then something's seriously wrong."
He turned sharply to Ida. "Let's head to the party."
Ida blinked. "For what reason?"
"That's where All Might would be," Mirio said without hesitation.
Several of them froze. "All Might is here?" Uraraka asked in disbelief.
Mirio nodded. "Yeah. If something's happening, he'll know what to do."
Without wasting time, the group moved quickly through the tower corridors, keeping low and quiet. When they reached the elevator bank, the doors were sealed shut with thick metal plating.
"Tch," Todoroki muttered.
Mirio turned to Melissa. "Is there another way down?"
She nodded. "Emergency stairwells. They won't get us all the way there, but they'll get us close."
Mirio smiled. "Alright. We'll follow your lead."
Back in the dining hall, Wolfram strode across the polished floor, his boots echoing loudly. He stopped in front of David Shield and Sam.
"You," Wolfram said, pointing at Sam. "You're coming with me."
David stepped forward immediately. "If you need someone familiar with the system, I'm the better choice."
Wolfram studied him for a moment, then smirked. "Fine. Both of you."
All Might strained against the glowing restraints, muscles trembling. "Let them go!"
Wolfram didn't even turn around.
As All Might struggled, his eyes flicked upward—and that's when he saw it.
Through the glass ceiling above the hall, a familiar blond figure phased halfway through the structure, carefully peering down.
Mirio…
All Might's heart lurched.
Mirio noticed instantly. Their eyes met.
Mirio's expression sharpened with understanding. He raised a hand subtly, then glanced back at Jiro. "You got your jack in place?"
Jiro nodded, sliding an earphone jack discreetly into a nearby panel.
Mirio looked back up and gave All Might a small signal.
All Might leaned forward just enough to whisper, his voice barely audible—but carried through Jiro's Quirk.
"Villains have taken over the tower… and the security system," All Might said gravely. "Everyone on the island is a hostage. It's dangerous. Get away from here as soon as you can."
Jiro's eyes widened. She pulled back and turned to Mirio. "This is bad."
They quickly regrouped with the others in a maintenance corridor and relayed All Might's message.
Ida straightened, adjusting his glasses. "Then we have received our orders. Our priority should be evacuation."
Denki nodded rapidly. "Yeah! If we can get out, we can call heroes from outside!"
Melissa shook her head. "That won't be easy. I-Island's security system is on the same level as Tartarus. It's designed to contain the most dangerous criminals in the world."
Silence fell over the group.
They exchanged uneasy looks, tension building.
Uraraka clenched her fists. "If we leave… the people here are stuck."
Todoroki exhaled slowly. "And All Might can't move."
Mirio looked around at each of them. "Then there's only one option."
They all turned to Melissa.
"I know where the security control room is," she said. "It's at the top of the tower."
Ida's eyes widened. "The most fortified location on the island…"
Denki swallowed. "That's insane."
Mirio grinned. "Sounds like our kind of problem."
They thanked Melissa for her help, and Ida opened his mouth to suggest she stay behind—but she shook her head immediately.
"I don't suppose any of you know how to change the security system's settings," she said pointedly.
The group paused.
"…Good point," Denki admitted.
Mirio laughed softly. "Alright. You're with us."
They ran up the emergency stairs as fast as their legs would carry them. The stairwell echoed with heavy footsteps, labored breathing, and the distant hum of the tower's systems. By the time they reached the 30th floor, everyone slowed to a stop.
Mirio leaned forward slightly, hands on his knees. "Okay… quick question," he said between breaths. "How tall is this tower?"
Melissa panted, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Two… hundred… floors."
The words hit them like a punch.
Denki groaned loudly. "You're joking."
"I wish," Melissa replied weakly.
Despite the despair creeping in, no one suggested turning back. They pushed on.
By the time they reached the 60th floor, Uraraka glanced behind her and noticed Melissa lagging, her steps uneven but stubborn.
"Melissa," Uraraka said gently, slowing down. "I can use my Quirk on you. It'll make this way easier."
Melissa shook her head immediately. "No—save it. You might need it if we run into the villains."
Uraraka hesitated, then nodded. "Okay… but tell me if you change your mind."
They continued upward.
At the 79th floor, they came to a sudden halt.
A massive metal door blocked the stairwell leading upward, thick and reinforced, clearly not meant to be broken easily.
Todoroki frowned. "What should we do?" He raised a hand slightly. "I could freeze it and break through."
Melissa quickly shook her head. "No. If we damage it, the system will instantly flag our location."
Before anyone could respond—
"Why don't we just use this door instead?" Mineta said casually.
Everyone turned too late.
Mineta grabbed the handle of a side door labeled 79F ACCESS and pulled it open.
"WAIT—!" Melissa shouted.
BEEP.
Red lights flashed overhead.
A mechanical voice echoed softly through the hall:Unauthorized access detected.
"…Oops," Mineta muttered.
Deep within the tower, Wolfram tilted his head as a new alert appeared on his display.
"Students," he said with mild interest. "On the upper floors."
He tapped his communicator. "Activate the barriers on the 80th floor. Trap them. Don't let those kids escape."
He turned slightly. "Send a squad to intercept."
Back in the dining hall, All Might saw security units mobilize on nearby screens. His eyes widened.
Be careful… everyone, he thought.
The moment the students burst onto the 80th floor, the atmosphere changed. Long metallic hallways stretched ahead, lights flickering as energy barriers began to hum to life.
Todoroki glanced around. "Is there another way up?"
"There should be," Melissa replied quickly. "Another emergency staircase—at the end of this hallway."
That's when they heard it.
SHHHNNNK.
A massive gate ahead of them began to slide shut.
"Move!" Ida shouted.
"Todoroki—ice wall!"
Todoroki slammed his palm to the floor, ice surging forward and slamming into the gate, freezing it mid-motion.
Ida didn't hesitate.
He sprinted forward, leapt, and delivered a powerful kick straight through the frozen metal. The door shattered outward, collapsing in a shower of ice and steel.
"Everyone—through!" Ida ordered.
The moment they burst through the shattered doorway, Mirio slowed to a stop in surprise.
The room beyond was nothing like the cold metal halls of the tower.
Tall trees stretched toward the ceiling, their leaves glowing faintly under artificial sunlight. Thick vines crawled along glass walls, and rows of unfamiliar plants filled wide platforms layered with soil and mist. The air was warm and damp, smelling of earth instead of steel.
Mirio blinked. "Uh… why does this place look like a jungle?"
Melissa didn't slow down as she answered. "This is one of I-Island's plant factories. They study how Quirks affect plant life—growth acceleration, mutation resistance, elemental adaptation, that kind of thing."
Denki stared around in awe. "You mean heroes accidentally create super-plants?"
"Sometimes on purpose," Melissa said grimly.
They moved quickly between rows of trees, heading toward the far end of the facility where the emergency staircase should be. The rustling leaves and soft hum of machines almost masked the danger—almost.
Suddenly, Jiro froze.
"Stop," she whispered sharply.
Everyone halted.
She pointed upward. One of the glass elevator shafts along the wall was active, the number display ticking upward fast.
"Elevator," she said. "Coming this way."
Mirio reacted instantly. "Hide. Let them pass."
They scattered, ducking behind thick bushes, tree trunks, and large planters. Leaves brushed against their faces as they pressed low, holding their breath.
The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding.
Two armed men stepped out, scanning the room.
"Split up," one of them said. "They're on this floor."
They moved cautiously between the plants, weapons raised.
Then one of them suddenly shouted, "Hey! We see you, stupid kids!"
The hidden students tensed.
Mineta swallowed hard. We're caught…
Before anyone could move—
"What did you just say, you bastard?"
The voice was sharp, loud, and furious.
Every student's eyes widened.
Jiro peeked through the leaves—and nearly gasped out loud.
Bakugo Katsuki stood in the open, hands already sparking faintly, with Kirishima at his side.
"The hell are you two doing here?" one of the henchmen snapped.
Bakugo scoffed. "Funny. That's what I was gonna ask you."
Kirishima scratched the back of his head, forcing an awkward grin. "Hey, man, let's all chill, yeah? We kinda… got lost lookin' for the party."
Mineta whispered furiously from behind a bush, "HOW DO YOU GET LOST TO THE 80TH FLOOR?!"
One of the men narrowed his eyes. "Don't lie to me."
Without warning, he activated his Quirk, launching a compressed blast of air straight at Bakugo and Kirishima.
"Watch out!" Bakugo barked.
They didn't have time to dodge.
Ice exploded upward.
Todoroki stepped out from cover, slamming his foot down as a thick wall of ice formed instantly, absorbing the air blast with a deafening BOOM. Frost spread across the floor as the force dissipated harmlessly.
Bakugo ran up to the ice wall, slammed a hand against it, and scowled."Tch… figures."
He turned his head and locked eyes with Todoroki. For a brief moment, the noise of alarms and shouting faded.
Todoroki spoke calmly. "The three of us can keep them busy down here."
Bakugo grinned, sparks crackling in his palms. "Good. I was getting bored."
Before the villains could react, Todoroki slammed his foot down again. Ice surged across the floor, racing beneath the enemies' feet before erupting upward. Pillars of ice exploded from below, lifting the villains off the ground and slamming them onto a narrow catwalk above.
"Move!" Mirio shouted.
The rest of the group sprinted forward, bursting through another reinforced door. On the other side was yet another long metal hallway—cold, sterile, and identical to the last.
A heavy metal gate was already slammed shut at the far end.
Ida skidded to a stop. "The path ahead is blocked as well!"
Mineta panicked. "S-so what are we supposed to do now?!"
Mirio scanned the walls quickly, eyes sharp. "There."
He pointed to a large vent panel high on the wall.
Melissa nodded, breathing hard. "That should lead underneath the maintenance room for the artificial sunlight system. From there, you could reach the top floors."
Momo stepped forward immediately. "I can open it."
She created a compact explosive charge and carefully placed it against the vent. "Everyone, cover your ears."
BOOM.
The vent cover blasted inward, clattering deep into the shaft.
Momo continued, thinking fast. "If someone climbs through the vent, they could scale the outside of the tower and enter the maintenance room from above—"
Mirio cut in, already smiling. "Or I could take a shortcut."
Before anyone could stop him, Mirio bent his knees and jumped straight up.
He phased clean through the ceiling.
A second later—
"UH—GUYS?!"
Something fluttered down from above.
His clothes.
They hit the floor in an embarrassing pile.
Uraraka screamed and turned away instantly. "M-MIRIO?!"
Mineta's eyes nearly popped out of his head before Ida chopped him on the skull. "DO NOT LOOK!"
A hatch opened above them and Mirio's head popped back through, face bright red. "S-SORRY! I FORGOT ABOUT THAT PART!"
Momo didn't hesitate. Her face was flushed, but her voice was firm. "Hold on."
She created a simple set of basic clothes—plain shirt and pants—and tossed them upward.
Mirio grabbed them desperately. "You're a lifesaver!"
A few seconds later, properly dressed, Mirio opened the hatch fully and lowered a ladder. "All clear! Come on up!"
One by one, they climbed into the next area.
As they entered the new room, everyone froze.
Dozens of robotic sentries activated at once, red lights snapping on as they turned toward the group.
Ida clenched his fists. "This is no longer just obstruction. They are attempting to capture us."
Mirio narrowed his eyes. "Which means they've realized who we are—hero course students."
Momo acted instantly. "Then we shouldn't hold back."
She created a large insulated blanket and threw it over Mirio and herself. "This will protect us from electricity."
Ida grabbed Denki by the arm. "Kaminari, with me!"
Before Denki could protest, Ida began spinning rapidly, building momentum, then hurled him straight toward the robots.
Denki spread his arms and yelled, "INDISCRIMINATE SHOCK—ONE POINT THREE MILLION VOLTS!"
Electricity exploded outward, frying circuits and dropping several robots instantly.
Mirio peeked out from under the blanket. "Uh… guys?"
The robots were still moving.
Denki gritted his teeth. "F-Fine! TWO MILLION—"
"NO!" Jiro shouted. "If you do that, you'll fry your brain!"
The surge finally knocked the robots down—but Denki collapsed to his knees, eyes unfocused.
"He's stupid now," Mineta whispered.
Mirio sighed. "At least he stopped them—"
CLICK.
The robots powered back on.
Metal wires shot out, wrapping around Denki's arms and legs, yanking him off the ground.
"KAMINARI!" Jiro shouted.
Ida reacted instantly. "Plan B!"
Momo threw a smoke bomb at the floor. Thick smoke filled the room—but this wasn't ordinary smoke.
"The particles jam communication signals," Momo explained quickly.
More smoke bombs followed, filling the area completely.
Through the haze, Ida shouted, "Mineta! Now!"
Mineta began throwing his sticky spheres wildly. Robots rushed forward—only to get stuck, piling on top of one another as more units crashed into them.
Some robots managed to leap over the pile, red eyes glowing through the smoke.
Ida pointed sharply down the corridor. "Mirio, follow my lead!"
Mirio grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Alright—let's do it!"
He lunged forward, muscles tensing as he drove his fist straight into the nearest robot."SMASH—thirty percent!"
The impact sent the robot flying upward, its metal body crumpling as it smashed into several others midair. The sudden opening was all Ida needed.
"Now!" Ida shouted.
He shot forward in a burst of speed, weaving through falling debris and sparking machines. In one smooth motion, he grabbed Denki, tore the wires free, and carried him back out of danger before the robots hit the ground.
Denki blinked, eyes unfocused. "Huh… are we winning?"
"Yes," Ida said firmly. "And you are no longer allowed to use your Quirk."
Jiro pressed her earphone jacks into the wall. "We've got backup coming from the left—lots of it."
Ida adjusted his glasses. "Then we go the opposite direction. Move!"
Elsewhere in the tower, one of Wolfram's subordinates spoke urgently into his communicator."Boss, we've got a problem. Something's interfering with the robot sensors—we lost the kids."
Wolfram scowled. "Stop talking. If they have someone who can listen in, you're giving them everything."
He cut the line, eyes narrowing. "So… they're smarter than expected."
Back with the students, Jiro continued listening as they moved."There's a huge concentration of robots below us," she said. "But above… nothing."
Mirio looked up. "Then up it is."
They burst onto the 138th floor—and immediately slowed.
The entire floor was packed wall-to-wall with servers, blinking lights and humming machinery filling the massive room. At the far end, a door slid open.
Robots poured out in waves.
Ida grimaced. "It's a trap."
Mirio clenched his fists. "I can smash through—"
"No!" Melissa shouted. "You can't damage the servers! If these go down, the whole security system could collapse—or worse!"
Momo stepped forward, calm but determined. "Then we neutralize them without collateral damage."
Ida nodded. "Mirio—take Melissa and find another route."
Mirio hesitated only a second, then nodded. "Got it. Leave this to them."
Melissa turned to Uraraka. "I'll need your help."
"On it!" Uraraka replied instantly.
Mirio grabbed Melissa and sprinted off down a side passage, Uraraka following close behind.
They burst outside onto a massive open structure, wind howling around them.
Mirio looked around. "Where are we?"
Melissa raised her voice over the noise. "This is the wind power generator! Most of the robots are concentrated inside the tower—if we climb from here, we can avoid them. There's an emergency entrance near the top!"
Mirio nodded. "Alright—on my back!"
Melissa climbed on, gripping tightly. Uraraka touched both of them. "Zero Gravity!"
The three of them floated upward, carried by the strong air currents from the massive fans below.
But halfway up, alarms blared.
Doors burst open.
Robots emerged, firing grappling cables toward them.
Uraraka panicked. "I can't let go—if I cancel my Quirk now—!"
Before the cables could reach them, a massive wall of ice erupted out of nowhere, blocking the attack.
"Did you miss us?!" Bakugo shouted.
Todoroki, Bakugo, and Kirishima landed hard on the platform below.
"One of the fans is throwing off the air flow," Todoroki said calmly. "Bakugo—aim it."
Bakugo grinned. "With pleasure."
He blasted the fan housing, twisting it just enough. Todoroki activated his fire side, superheating the airflow.
A surge of hot wind blasted upward, pushing Mirio and Melissa straight toward the tower wall.
As they hurtled closer, Mirio pulled his fist back.
"Alright… last push!"
He slammed his fist forward.
The wall shattered inward, debris flying as the three of them crashed through and rolled into another emergency stairwell.
They came to a stop, breathing hard.
Mirio laughed. "Okay. That was awesome."
Melissa pushed herself up, eyes sharp despite her exhaustion. "We're close now. The control room should be just a few levels above us."
back with wolfram he yelled into his comms send sword kill and the others defend the control room until i can get there all might watched wolfram walk into the elevator
all might thought to himself keep it up all might just a little long your student will prevail you know they will
Mirio and Melissa barely had time to catch their breath before danger struck again.
A figure stepped out from the shadows at the top of the stairwell, his arm reshaping itself with a wet metallic sound. His forearm elongated and hardened into a jagged blade, the edge gleaming under the emergency lights.
"Move!" Mirio shouted.
The man lunged. Mirio brought his arms up just in time, blocking the slash. The force skidded him backward across the floor, shoes screeching. His eyes sharpened.
"Alright… no holding back."
He activated One For All and drove a punch straight into the man's chest. The impact sent the villain flying, smashing into the wall hard enough to crater it before he slumped to the ground unconscious.
"No time," Mirio said, already moving.
They sprinted up the final stretch of stairs. At the top, several armed thugs were waiting, guns raised. Mirio didn't slow down. He phased through the first barrage of bullets, reappeared behind one thug, and dropped him with a precise chop. A spinning kick took down another, and a final punch slammed the last guard into the floor before he could pull the trigger.
The door ahead slid open.
They stepped into a vault-like room—and froze.
Inside were two men standing over an open case filled with documents and devices. One of them was unmistakable.
"Professor… David Shield?" Mirio said.
Melissa's breath caught. "Papa…?"
David clenched his fists, staring down at the case as if afraid it might vanish. "Finally," he said, voice trembling with emotion. "I got it back. All my research… everything they took from me."
Sam, the other man, nodded eagerly. "Just like we planned, Professor. Everything's here. Perfect."
Melissa stepped forward, confusion and hurt written across her face. "What do you mean… your plan?"
David looked up sharply. "Melissa—"
"Don't," she said, voice shaking. "Don't lie to me. You're behind this, aren't you?"
Silence hung heavy in the room.
"Yes," David finally admitted.
Sam spoke quickly, almost defensively. "The Professor was only trying to reclaim what was stolen. The device in that briefcase can amplify a Quirk beyond its limits. The sponsors panicked. They said it would destabilize hero society, so they confiscated everything."
Melissa shook her head. "That doesn't explain any of this. The hostages. The danger. The heroes—"
"I had to," David said, anguish clear on his face. "For All Might."
Mirio stiffened.
"You don't know this," David continued, "but All Might's power is fading. Disappearing. But with this device… he could return to his prime. No—he'd be even stronger."
Mirio's fists clenched. He knew the truth behind All Might's condition, and hearing it spoken so casually felt wrong.
Melissa stepped closer, tears in her eyes. "Do you have any idea what Mirio and Class 1-A went through to get here? What people could've lost because of this?!"
David blinked. "What are you talking about? The villains were supposed to be fake. Actors. Just a show."
Slow, mocking applause echoed from behind them.
"Of course it was a performance," Wolfram said as he walked in, towering and calm. "The only real act was pretending we weren't criminals."
Mirio turned, eyes blazing. "You're the boss."
He activated One For All fully and charged—but Wolfram ripped a metal railing from the floor and hurled it like a spear. Mirio phased through it and reappeared mid-punch—
Only for Swordkill to intercept, his blade-arm clashing with Mirio's fist. Sparks flew as the two locked together, trading blows at blinding speed.
Behind them, Sam grabbed the briefcase and rushed to Wolfram, handing it over.
Wolfram didn't even look at him.
He raised his gun and fired.
Sam screamed as the bullet tore into his shoulder, sending him crashing to the floor.
Melissa shouted, "STOP!"
Wolfram turned the gun again—but David stepped in front of Sam without hesitation.
The shot hit him square in the back.
"PAPA!" Melissa screamed.
Wolfram grabbed David and dragged him away, retreating toward the roof. A helicopter's blades roared to life above.
Swordkill moved to finish the job—but Mirio slammed a gut punch into him, then followed with a full-powered strike to the face, knocking him unconscious.
"Go!" Mirio yelled to Melissa. "Get to the security room! I'll save the Professor!"
Melissa hesitated, then nodded and ran.
Minutes later, alarms shifted tone across I-Island. Systems unlocked. Restraints disengaged.
In the dining hall, heroes were freed—and immediately sprang into action.
All Might didn't wait.
He burst out of the tower and leapt straight up all two hundred floors, landing hard on the roof.
There, a helicopter hovered—David inside, bleeding, with Wolfram standing over him.
Mirio lay on the rooftop nearby, struggling to rise.
"Bring him back!" Mirio shouted.
All Might's eyes burned with resolve. "Don't you dare lose that smile, young Togata."
He launched himself forward, blasting past the tower and sending a massive burst of air upward. The shockwave slammed into the helicopter, forcing it down onto the rooftop.
All Might landed atop it. "It's fine now. Do you know why?"
He smiled.
"Because I am here."
Wolfram emerged from the wreckage with the device strapped to his head, power surging through him. The final battle shook the roof as Mirio and All Might fought side by side, joined soon by the arriving students of Class 1-A.
Together, they finally brought Wolfram down, his massive frame crashing against the rooftop as the combined force of All Might, Mirio, and the students overwhelmed him. Metal restraints snapped shut around his arms and legs, and for a brief moment, the wind above I-Island went still.
That moment didn't last.
While everyone's attention was on Wolfram, the helicopter pilot—his face twisted with wild excitement—slowly crept forward. No one noticed him until his hand closed around the fallen device. In one smooth, frantic motion, he tore it free and jammed it onto his own head.
"WAIT—!" Mirio shouted.
Too late.
The man slammed his palm against the tower floor.
Crimson lines exploded outward from his hand, racing across the metal like veins of living light. In seconds, those red lines spread beyond the tower, crawling over buildings, walkways, vehicles—every non-living structure on I-Island. The entire island began to glow ominously.
All Might spun around instantly. "What did you do?!"
The pilot laughed, eyes wide, voice trembling with manic joy. "My Quirk lets me make anything I touch explode. Normally, I could never affect something this big… but with this device?" He spread his arms. "Now the whole island is my bomb."
Ida clenched his fists. "E-explode… the entire island?!"
All Might grabbed the man by the collar and lifted him off the ground. "Turn it off. NOW."
The pilot only laughed harder. "It doesn't work that way. Once I touch something, it's guaranteed to explode. No off switch."
All Might's grip tightened. "How long."
The man tilted his head, pretending to think. "Bigger object, longer delay. I'd say… about two hours."
Silence fell over the rooftop.
All Might turned to David, urgency written across his face. "How long would it take to evacuate everyone?"
David's shoulders slumped. "We can't. We don't have enough transport. Even under perfect conditions, it would take days. I-Island usually holds around a hundred thousand people… with the I-Expo?" He swallowed. "At least fifty thousand more."
All Might immediately pulled out his phone. "Nezu."
The call connected almost instantly.
"All Might," Nezu said calmly. "I assume this is serious."
"All of I-Island has been turned into a bomb. We have roughly two hours. Can you help?"
There was a brief pause. "Do you have an ice hero capable of large-scale creation?"
All Might glanced toward Todoroki. "Yes."
"Then have him begin immediately. Create an iceberg large enough to hold the entire population. Float them off the island."
All Might nodded. "It'll take time."
"I know," Nezu replied. "Put me on speaker."
They heard Nezu turn away from the phone. "Kelex—call Midoriya."
The ringing echoed through the speaker.
Izuku picked up almost instantly. "Principal Nezu? Is everyone okay?"
"All are safe for now," Nezu said. "We need you. I-Island is off the coast of Greece."
"I'm on my way."
A sonic boom cracked through the phone as the call abruptly cut off.
Far away, high above the clouds, Izuku altered his trajectory. As he approached the Mediterranean, he descended close to the ocean's surface. Suddenly, an island seemed to appear out of nowhere beneath him. He hovered above it, hearing a woman's voice carried on the wind—calm, powerful, ancient.
Izuku paused only thirty seconds.
Then he shot forward again.
When I-Island came into view, it was impossible to miss. Red lines pulsed across its surface like a heartbeat. Izuku didn't slow down. He flew straight to the tower, landing softly behind Todoroki.
Without a word, he placed one hand on Todoroki's lower back and the other at the base of his neck.
In the next instant, Todoroki was standing at the very edge of the island, staring in shock as Izuku vanished.
"W-What—?!" Todoroki barely had time to react before instinct took over. He slammed his foot down, ice surging outward, forming a massive platform over the water.
One by one, heroes and students appeared at the island's edge in blurs of red and blue.
Izuku hovered above them. "I'm evacuating civilians. Help them onto the ice."
Everyone nodded—except Bakugo.
"Tch! Don't think you can order me around!"
Izuku didn't respond. He vanished again.
People began appearing every few seconds—families, scientists, tourists—confused, terrified, but unharmed. Heroes guided them onto the growing ice platform. Panic slowly turned into hope.
All Might stood tall, projecting calm. "You're safe. Please move carefully."
David approached Izuku when he reappeared briefly. "Is there any way… any way to save the research data? Years of work—"
Izuku nodded. "Tell me where."
Minutes later, Izuku hovered in front of a terminal. "Kelex, download everything."
"Confirmed."
An hour passed.
Everyone was off the island.
Izuku stood beside All Might and Nezu when he heard quiet crying.
He turned and saw a small boy clutching his mother's coat, tears streaming down his face.
Izuku knelt down until they were eye level.
"Hey," he said gently. "It's okay to be scared."
The boy sniffed. "I—I don't wanna blow up…"
Izuku smiled softly, not the big heroic grin, but something warm and real. "Can I tell you a secret?"
The boy hesitated, then nodded.
"Do you know why I'm never scared?" Izuku asked.
The boy shook his head.
Izuku reached back and tugged on his cape. "It's because of this."
The boy blinked. "Your cape?"
"Yeah," Izuku said. "This cape makes whoever wears it really brave. Even when things look impossible."
Slowly, Izuku unclasped it and held it out.
"I'll lend it to you until everything's over," he said. "That way, you can be brave for me."
The boy stared, eyes wide. "R-Really? But… you need it."
Izuku chuckled. "I'll be okay without it. But I'll need it back later, alright?"
The boy nodded hard and wrapped the cape around himself, holding it like a shield. "I'll keep it safe!"
"Good," Izuku said, standing. "Then I'll count on you."
Cameras caught everything, but Izuku didn't notice.
All Might watched, smiling proudly.
Izuku returned to the others. "Kelex. Can we push the ice platform far enough away?"
"Negative," Kelex replied. "Ice structure too fragile."
Izuku nodded. "Then I'll lift the island."
All Might grabbed his arm. "No. You could die."
"One life," Izuku said softly, "for hundreds of thousands."
Jiro relayed everything to Class 1-A. They ran forward—but Izuku floated up, heat vision slicing the ice platform free. He dove into the water.
"This is Channel 9 World News, broadcasting live to every major network worldwide, coming to you from i-Island"
The broadcast cut in without warning, interrupting regular programming across continents. In homes, city squares, airports, and command centers around the globe, screens flickered as the image shifted from the studio to a shaky helicopter camera hovering over dark blue water.
The reporter's voice was tight, controlled, but strained.
"What you're seeing behind me was, until moments ago, I-Island—home to the I-Expo and one of the most advanced centers of hero research on Earth. Authorities have confirmed that a large-scale villain attack has transformed the entire island into a single explosive device."
The camera pulled back.
Below it, an enormous ice platform stretched across the sea like a frozen continent. Emergency lights flashed red and blue as heroes moved through the crowd in organized lines. Tens of thousands of civilians huddled together, wrapped in blankets, clutching children, staring upward in fear.
"According to official counts," the reporter continued, wind battering her words, "approximately one hundred and fifty thousand civilians have been evacuated from I-Island. Thanks to the coordinated response of Pro Heroes from multiple nations and students from U.A. High School, there have been zero civilian casualties reported so far."
The feed split briefly—maps appeared, highlighting broadcasts from Europe, North America, Asia, and beyond. Commentators in different languages repeated the same word.
Unbelievable.
Suddenly, the helicopter camera jolted.
Gasps echoed—not just from the reporter, but from millions watching.
Red, glowing lines pulsed across the surface of the island above them, spreading like veins across concrete, steel, and glass.
"W-wait—something's happening," the reporter said, her professional composure cracking.
The island moved.
At first, it was subtle—just enough to make the water around it churn.
Then unmistakable.
The entire landmass began to rise.
Water poured off its edges in massive waterfalls, crashing back into the sea below. Waves exploded outward in every direction.
"The island is— it's lifting off the ocean!" the reporter shouted. "Viewers around the world, this is not a visual malfunction. I-Island is being lifted into the air."
The camera zoomed in, struggling to stabilize as the island climbed higher and higher, blotting out the sky.
"At the base—zoom in there!"
The image sharpened.
Beneath the island, barely visible at first, was a single figure.
A lone young man hovered under the massive weight, arms fully extended, muscles locked. His body glowed faintly, power rippling around him as hurricane-force winds tore at the air. The ocean beneath him boiled from displaced pressure alone.
The reporter went silent.
Then, softly:
"…That's him."
Her voice dropped into awe-filled disbelief.
"Izuku Midoriya."
Across the world, the name exploded.
Social media feeds crashed. Emergency broadcasts overlapped. Crowds gathered in the streets, staring up at giant screens.
"Yes—the same Izuku Midoriya who stunned the world during the U.A. Sports Festival by stopping a falling meteor over Japan," the reporter continued. "Multiple eyewitnesses confirm that Midoriya has chosen to lift the island himself—carrying it away from the evacuation zone to prevent catastrophic loss of life."
The feed split again.
In New York, people stood frozen in Times Square.In Tokyo, entire train stations fell silent.In Europe, heroes stopped mid-mission to look skyward.
On Themyscira, the Amazons lined the shore, weapons forgotten. Queen Hippolyta slowly lowered the telescope from her eye, her expression grave.
"That boy…" she murmured. ."
Diana stood beside her, fists clenched, eyes shining. "That's the one I told you about."
The broadcast returned fully to the live feed.
The island was now hundreds of feet in the air, trembling under the strain.
"Experts across multiple nations are calling this act unprecedented," the reporter said quietly. "There is no data suggesting that any human—Quirked or otherwise—should be capable of sustaining this level of force."
She swallowed.
"There is also no confirmation that Midoriya will survive the detonation if it occurs. Heroes on the scene appear unable to intervene."
The camera zoomed in one last time.
The cameras lost sight of the island as Izuku ascended beyond the cloud line. The last thing visible on every screen across the world was a single red light, pulsing weakly in the sky.It blinked once… then again… faster and faster, like a racing heartbeat.
Below, the ice platform fell into an unnatural silence.
No screams.No orders.No cheering.
Some people dropped to their knees, hands clasped together in prayer, tears freezing on their cheeks in the cold air. Others simply stood there, staring upward, eyes empty, as if refusing to believe what they were watching. Heroes—men and women who had faced monsters and disasters—could do nothing now but wait.
The clouds above slowly began to change.
White turned to orange.Orange to deep, burning red.
Then—
BOOM.
The sound hit like the end of the world.
A shockwave tore through the sky and slammed into the ice platform, throwing civilians and heroes alike to the ground. The ice cracked violently, massive fractures racing outward like shattered glass. Screams erupted as the platform groaned under the strain.
Ice heroes reacted instantly, spreading their quirks across the surface, sealing the fractures before the platform could break apart. Frost reformed, locking the damage in place—but no one spoke.
Because everyone knew what that sound meant.
The sky above thundered again.
Not one explosion—but many.
A rapid series of sonic booms tore through the atmosphere as burning fragments punched through the clouds. Pieces of I-Island rained down, glowing orange as they burned up on reentry. Some debris disintegrated into ash before reaching the sea. Others did not.
Heroes moved into defensive formations, shielding civilians as chunks of molten metal and shattered structures fell around them. Steam exploded where debris struck the water.
One of the evacuation helicopters was struck by falling wreckage, spinning out of control.
Before anyone could react—
A blur of red and blue streaked upward.
All Might caught the helicopter mid-fall, muscles straining as he steadied it, gently lowering it back toward safety. Even as he saved them, his eyes never left the sky.
It only took a couple of minutes for the last of the debris to fall into the ocean. Heroes moved nonstop, destroying or redirecting anything that came too close to the ice platform. Flaming fragments hissed as they struck the sea, sending up clouds of steam, but none were allowed to reach the civilians.
On Themyscira, Hippolyta ordered the Amazons to move back from the shoreline as the sky began to rain fire. Spears were raised, shields lifted, yet none of the debris reached the island.
Then—before any large fragment was even visible in the sky—
A body fell.
Izuku's unconscious form crashed through a small stone pier that jutted just above the water, the impact shattering it, before he struck the sand of the beach and went still.
Diana reacted instantly.
She ran.
Hippolyta called out to her, commanding her to stop, but the words never reached her. Diana dropped to her knees beside him—and froze.
This was not the six-foot, broad-shouldered boy she had seen lift an island.
This was a skeletal version of him.
His skin looked stretched tight over bone, muscles burned away, his face hollow and sunken. His costume was gone, torn to nothing, and his breathing—if it was there at all—was impossible to see.
Diana gathered him into her arms and carried him back toward the others. She laid him gently on the sand, hands shaking despite her strength.
An Amazon nearby whispered the question no one wanted to ask.
"Is he… dead?"
No one answered.
Even Diana feared the truth.
Then the sun crested the horizon.
Its first rays touched Izuku's body—and his fingers twitched.
Just barely.But enough.
A collective gasp rippled through the Amazons.
At the same moment, the device on Izuku's wrist—what looked like an ordinary watch—shifted. The surface flowed like liquid crystal, reshaping itself as Kelex emerged, forming a small robotic figure atop Izuku's arm.
Swords were drawn instantly.
Kelex raised his hands calmly. "He is alive. But his condition is critical."
Hippolyta stepped forward, blade leveled. "Speak quickly, machine."
Kelex turned his gaze skyward. "Izuku's power is solar in origin. His body has been completely depleted. Without focused solar exposure, survival probability is minimal."
Diana clenched her fists. "What do you need?"
Kelex's optics flickered. "I have transmitted a distress signal to the Fortress of Solitude. Autonomous units are en route with a solar focusing device."
Hippolyta's expression hardened. "No. This island must not be known to mankind."
Kelex did not hesitate. "The fortress answers to no nation, no government. My sole directive is the preservation of Izuku Midoriya's life."
The Queen held her sword there for a long moment… then lowered it.
"Very well," she said coldly. "But be quick."
Less than ten minutes later, two sleek machines descended from the sky, landing softly on the beach. The Amazons watched in tense silence as one gently lifted Izuku's fragile body and carried him to an open stretch of sand.
The second unit rose into the air, unfolding a crystalline device that shimmered in the sunlight.
"Warning," one robot said. "Solar regeneration may cause extreme pain. Assistance with restraint is advised."
Diana stepped forward without hesitation. "I will do it."
She knelt beside Izuku, carefully holding him in place, afraid that even her strength might hurt him. The device above activated—
And the sunlight changed.
It sharpened, focused into a brilliant beam that poured down onto Izuku's body.
He screamed.
The sound tore from his chest, raw and broken, echoing across the beach. Diana held him tighter, tears streaking down her face as his body arched against her grip.
But beneath the pain—
Color slowly returned to his skin.Breath grew stronger.Life, inch by inch, fought its way back.