Stuck Between Realities-Remastered

Part 12~Stand Off

"You've pinned down our way out. Well, this is a problem," Shigaraki grumbled, scratching his neck.

"You lipped up, you bastard. And it's just like I thought. The parts you can turn into that foggy warp gate are limited. And you're using that misty stuff to hide your real body, yeah? Am I right? If your whole body was mist and physical attacks didn't work, then Izuku's attack wouldn't have worked on you." Katsuki pushed Kurogiri down as Izuku chuckled.

"Woo, you worked out basic information."

Kirishima gave Izuku a weird look as the guy shivered, giving him an unsteady smile.

Shigaraki did not care about any of this going on. "Not only have you beaten our level, but most of you are at full health. Today's kids really are something. Our league of villains should be ashamed. Nomu. Take out the explosive brat. We need our escape route back."

Nomu started to move, its arms and legs shattering with the ice.

"Well, that's disturbing," Izuku muttered as All Might stepped forward, holding out his arms.

"Get back, everyone!"

"What the? I thought his quirk was shock absorption," Kirishima shouted in confusion as Nomu grew its arms and legs back.

"Clearly not," Katsuki and Izuku answered together as Shigaraki laughed.

"I don't remember saying that's all he can do. This is hyper-regeneration. Nomu is a super-powered living sandbag designed to withstand everything you've got."

Nomu attacked, aiming at Katsuki as All Might got in the way. The power shock wave rippled off them as Izuku charged forward, grabbing Katsuki as the shock wave hit his leg. Izuku transformed, using his griffin form to stay in the air. "That's not good." Izuku's leg dripped with blood, almost matching his shoulder.

"Wow, what a kid. Coming to anyone's aid just like earlier when coming to your aid and when he jumped in to save that pro. You keep coming at me with everything you have," Shigaraki muttered as Izuku glared at him. "But violence in the name of saving others is admirable? Isn't it heroic? You know what, All might? That pisses me off. Heroes and villains both thrive on violence, but we're still categorised. 'You're good.' 'You're evil.' That's how it is. Symbol of peace? In the end, you're just a tool for violence, made to keep us down. And violence only breeds more violence. I'll show the world that by killing you."

All Might did not look phased. "What a load of hooey. Idealistic criminals have a different sort of fire in their eyes. But you're just enjoying yourself, you big liar."

Izuku ignored it, dropping Katsuki down next to Kirishima and Todoroki. They were discussing what they should do as Izuku transformed back into a human, leaning against Katsuki's side.

"Get out of here," All Might shouted as the group complained. "As right as you might be. Fear not. Sit back and watch a pro get serious."

Shigaraki was not intimidated. "Nomu, Kurogiri, take him. I'll handle the kids." Izuku could barely keep his eyes open as Shigaraki glared at them. "Let's clear the game and go home."

Shigaraki ran at the students who all got ready for a fight but he was quickly distracted by the fight between All Might and Nomu.

"He's got shock-absorption; you already saw it yourself," Shigaraki stated as All Might laughed.

"That's right! It's 'absorption', not 'neglection'. So he must have a limit, no? Built to counter me, you say? Made to withstand everything I've got? Then I'll just go beyond that." All Might punched the Nomu again and again, meeting every swing the beast hit back. "A hero's always ready to smash through the trouble. Tell me, villain. Do you know the meaning of Plus Ultra?" All Might gave one last punch, blasting the Nomu into the sky and through the ceiling.

The students cheered, each watching in awe.

"Yep, I'm slowing down. In my heyday, Five of those punches would've been enough. But that was over 300 hits just now. Well, villain. How about we hurry up and finish this?" All Might stood, ready to fight as Shigaraki screamed.

"You cheated."

~~~

"hands up. And no Quirks allowed. Try anything, and I'll kill him." The villain held up Kaminari, squeezing his throat between his fingers.

"Kmainari," Momo called out as Jiro stood up.

"He got him. The kid got careless," Jiro grumbled as the villain smirked.

"As an electrical type myself. I don't want to kill him, but I will if I have to," the villain let off tiny electric sparks as Jiro rolled her eyes.

"He was waiting to ambush us when we thought they were all down. How did we not see this coming?"

"An electric type," Momo gasped. "He must be the signal jammer Todoroki mentioned."

"Get over there and don't move a muscle." The villain pointed at the side as Jiro huffed.

"I always thought this about Kaminari, but you electric types. You're all natural-born whiners, yeah?" Momo gave Jiro a confused look as she continued anyway. "Never mind being a hero. There are so many different jobs you could do. This might sound naive, but why become a villain? I just gotta wonder."

Jiro lowered her earphone jack as the villain scowled, electricity sparking around Kaminari. "Thought I wouldn't notice what you're up to? It'd take a real idiot to fall for a kid's stupid trick. Heroes in training should take hostage situations more seriously. If you two come quietly, I'll let this blockhead go, okay?"

~~~

"You've weakened? Not that I can see we're completely out-matched. How dare you do that to my Nomu. You cheated. He's not weak at all. They lied to me," Shigaraki screamed, scratching his neck violently.

"Well? Coming to get me? What happened to clearing the game? If you can take me, then bring it on." All Might got into a fighting stance.

Todoroki walked behind All Might, the hero not moving. All Might couldn't move, regardless of what he said.

"Well? What's keeping you?"

"If only we still had Nomu. If only. He was taking those hits so well," Shigaraki screamed, blood seeping out of the scratch marks.

"Tomura Shigaraki, calm yourself. It's apparent that Nomu did manage to deal some real damage. The kids are holding back for some reason. And reinforcements from the school are bound to arrive in a few minutes. But if the two of us double-team him, we still have a chance," Kurogiri explained as Shigaraki nodded.

"Right. We can do this. The final boss is standing right there."

The students shouted amongst themselves, all calling out and trying to think of a plan while Shigaraki charged.

The ground shook as spikes appeared out of the ground, forcing the villains to step back. Izuku glared through his half-open eye. "Get away from All Might."

Izuku was swaying on his feet, trying to keep both his leg and arm off the ground.

Shigaraki growled, the portal appearing behind him. He reached out, ready to finish Izuku, when the bullet shot through his leg.

"Sorry, everyone. We're a little late. We brought everyone we could. President of class 1-A Tenya Iida. Reporting for duty," Iida shouted as he stood alongside the heroes.

Izuku let out a sigh of relief as Shigaraki muttered to himself. "They're here. Game over. Guess we gotta try again another time. Kurogiri."

Bullets rained from the sky, hitting down the rest of the villains and hitting Shigaraki. "Only ne'er-do-wells we got a shot at wranglin' from this distance are."

"I may have failed here, Symbol of peace but the next time we meet. You're dead, All Might." Shigaraki disappeared through the portal as Izuku shifted back to normal.

"Great, it's over. Time for a nap." Izuku grumbled, leaning against Katsuki as he frowned in concern.

"Izuku, stay awake."

A wall appeared in the ground, separating the students from All Might as Katsuki dragged Izuku to Recovery Girl.