The Emerald Prince

Chapter 139: Hisashi

Oh ho...I think I can art.
I hope this chapter surprises you.

You can thank Bakugou Katsuki, whose birthday is today, for the early chapter.

———

It was a pulse.
Faint, weak...but there.
Then it was gone.

Katsuki and Shoto eyed each other, spying Aizawa crawling out the rubble opposite them, eyes gazing only at his son, a new cut bleeding on his jaw which he ignored.

Must have only been seconds, but it felt longer before the second pulse. A brief flood of warmth that made them almost preen at the feeling.
Then there was a third...and a fourth, each closer and longer than the last.

All for One clearly couldn't sense it. He strode, or more lumbered toward Izuku, as the pulses grew, strength flooding each of them Izuku had trusted enough to bestow an upgrade upon. It was euphoric.
Izuku laughed in the quiet of the street, they gazed at him, unable to look away.

The greenette had removed his grey coat, revealing under it a beautiful snow white yukata with a green bow. It rippled in the wind as the pulses became rhythmic, slowing again but lasting longer and having more power. It matched the beats of their hearts, as they gazed on at the ethereal figure facing All for One.
Long after the fight, they'd learn that after Izuku had talked to Hatsume, they'd realised this fight would be his debut to the heroes and villains of Japan, and Hatsume was determined to make it count. You can't redo a first impression.

Antlers grew from Izuku's head, later he'd explain they were the external tell of Eri's upgraded quirk, though now those watching didn't even question it, his aura was godlike.
The figure in white, vast antlers above his head, emerald wings flexing and hair green as the most vibrant of forests wafting behind him, took a step forward. Beneath his feet flowers and grasses grew up through the cracked concrete, and a ring of emerald light spread out from the ground he'd touched. It expanded outward healing everyone it reached, another forming with each step Izuku made like ripples.

All for One gave a guttural roar, falling onto all fours, he bounded toward Izuku like some feral beast, muscles rippling, eyeless face contorted with rage.
With a wave of Izuku's hand, time seemed to slow down for the monster, they watched as it ran as if through treacle toward the greenette.

The green rings that expanded from each step stopped, and without slowing his pace toward All for One, Izuku spread his hands, raising them slowly. Under his command the buildings rebuilt themselves, plants and concrete alike seeking the people buried within and depositing them on the pavement as they and the people returned to their previous state.
Gazing at his comrades, Shoto saw each was healed, they were stood shakily in the now tidy shopping street, watching Izuku's progress forward with awe, and perhaps even reverence.

As the gap closed between him and his genetic father, Izuku came to a halt, waiting calmly as the snarling beast crouched and launched into the air.
They all watched as Izuku reached out with one small frail hand, and his index finger met All for One's forehead.

It was like time froze. And perhaps it did for a moment, the boy stood, gentle smile on his lips and the man muscled, filled with anger, right hand drawn back in a punch, hovering in time.

Suddenly Izuku's antlers ignited with pure white flames, as did All for One's entire body, only his silhouette could be seen, though soon that too was obscured as what once was Eri's quirk, acted on him.
The pale flames cracked and twisted though they were nothing like Shoto's or Touya's. The elder brother was stood near his sibling, gazing in open shock, Takami at his side.

Then, as soon as they'd arrived, the flames dissipated, and there were gasps from everyone at the sight it revealed. A seven year old, with pale white hair and tattered clothes.