Dragon's Heart, Hero's Will

Chapter 45: The Heart of Battle

Bakugou's POV:
Gran Torino’s kick lands square on Shigaraki's face, the impact echoing through the chaos of the battlefield. “Hold him off and counter!” he barks, urgency slicing through the tension. “Don’t trample all over Nana Shimura’s heart with your vile essence!”

“Who…?” Shigaraki sneers, oblivious to the legacy he’s challenging, igniting a fresh wave of anger within Bakugou. That bastard has no idea who he’s messing with.

Endeavor steps in, ready to back him up, but Shigaraki is too quick. He launches himself into the air, eyes locking onto Deku, who’s setting himself up as bait. “Deku was baiting you out!” Bakugou roars, leaping above Shigaraki. His gauntlets ignite with power, and he won’t let the villain escape. He unleashes a massive explosion, the force ripping through the air and catching Shigaraki completely off guard.

As the smoke clears, Bakugou spots Deku boosting his strength, delivering a solid kick that sends Shigaraki reeling. Pride swells within him; his friend is holding his own against this menace.

Endeavor’s eyes widen, reflecting the same determination Bakugou feels. He charges forward, unleashing his Ultimate Move—Vanishing Fist—striking Shigaraki square in the chest. The impact resonates, and Bakugou hears All Might’s voice echoing in his head, reminding him, “You don’t need to copy him to be the new Symbol of Peace!”

Kirishima’s POV:
From his spot in the rear, Kirishima watches as Jirou’s eyes widen in shock. “Something big is coming!” she warns, urgency sweeping through the other heroes as they spring into action. But they need to hang back and find their footing. The students can’t rush in recklessly.

“Momo!” Kirishima calls out, noticing her brows knit together as she loses contact with Midnight. There’s a fire in her eyes; she’s already thinking of a plan.

“Kyoka, Mezo, use your hearing to track how long it’ll take him to get here,” Momo orders, her voice steady despite the chaos. “And Mezo, your Quirk can help too. We need to know what path he’s taking.”

Juzo steps in, ready to assist. As Kyoka and Mezo share their findings, Kirishima catches sight of Mt. Lady and Kamui Woods gripping Gigantomachia’s leg. “They’re slowing him down!” he shouts, a surge of hope igniting within him.

Momo hands out canisters filled with anesthetics, determination shining in her eyes. “I never learned to be a hero that shows their back to an enemy. We’re fighting!” Denki nods beside her, and Kirishima feels the energy of their group shifting. They’re united, ready to face this challenge.

As they set the trap for Gigantomachia, worry gnaws at Kirishima about Midnight. “Is she okay?” he wonders aloud, glancing at Mina, who looks equally uneasy. “Once we win, she’ll be back,” Mina reassures him, and he can only hope she’s right.

Juzo softens the ground while Momo plants explosives, and Minoru sticks his Pop Off spheres onto ropes. The tension mounts as they finish their preparations. “Get ready!” Setsuna warns, and a knot of anxiety tightens in Kirishima's stomach.

The ground shakes as Gigantomachia’s massive footsteps approach, and Kirishima braces himself. “No way!” he shouts. “We’ve got to keep him from reaching Shigaraki!” His heart pounds with adrenaline as he prepares for whatever comes next.

Then, like an avalanche, Gigantomachia falls into their trap. Kirishima’s heart races with hope as Mt. Lady and Kamui Woods finally let go of his leg, and for a brief moment, the world stills.

“Go!” he yells, watching as his classmates charge forward, wrapping Hanta’s tape and Ibara’s vines around the giant’s neck. Panic flickers in the villains’ eyes as they realize they’re outmatched.

They all spring into action as Gigantomachia raises his head, fighting against the restraints. “Pull harder!” Kirishima shouts, his heart pounding in his chest. They have to keep him down!

The villains start to fight back, but they won’t let themselves be distracted. With everything they have, they yank at the ropes, trying to pry Gigantomachia’s mouth open wide enough for the sedative to be thrown inside.

Just as they’re making progress, a breath from the titan sends them flying back. Kirishima scrambles to his feet, but Dabi’s flames erupt around them, keeping them at bay.

“This guy’s got a Quirk that makes him bigger the more he fights!” Dabi taunts, and Kirishima feels a chill run down his spine. “He’s the perfect bodyguard!”

“No!” Kirishima shouts, anger bubbling to the surface. They can’t lose here.

Gigantomachia begins to shake off the trap, and Kirishima sees the panic in his classmates’ eyes. “Detonate!” he roars, and Momo activates the explosives. The ground erupts beneath him, and a glimmer of hope returns.

“Now’s our chance!” he yells, charging in alongside his classmates. “We can’t let him get up!”

Just as he’s about to leap into action, Kirishima sees Mina moving in with her Acidman. She’s fearless, ready to give it her all. “Fall asleep, you giant!” she yells, but then he sees her falter.

Mina stumbles back, and before Kirishima can react, Gigantomachia’s massive hand comes crashing down. “No!” he shouts, but it’s too late. He pushes Mina out of the way, taking the full force of the attack.

Tetsutetsu arrives, ready to help Mina escape, and Kirishima can’t let them down. He climbs up the giant’s body, determination etched on his face. “I won’t let there be any blood!” he shouts, and he won’t back down.

Just as he's about to throw a canister into Gigantomachia’s mouth, Himiko throws a knife that shatters it. But he manages to grab Mina’s canister and toss it inside. “I won’t let her chivalry go to waste!”

Setsuna swoops in and carries him away just as Momo unleashes a series of cannons, bombarding Gigantomachia. “Now that he’s ingested the sedative, we need to make him move!” Momo commands, determination glinting in her eyes.

Majestic arrives with several Pro Heroes, and a wave of energy washes over them. “We’ve got this!” Kirishima yells, his heart racing with pride for his friends.

Gigantomachia growls, annoyance evident in his features. Kirishima knows they can’t give up now. This is their moment to shine.