"Kaminari!!"
Midoriya shouted, watching helplessly from a distance as Shigaraki lunged at Kaminari. A deep sense of frustration surged within him, knowing he couldn't protect his friends the way All Might could if he had full control over One For All.
"Boom!"
Shigaraki shattered the ice barriers Todoroki had created, breaking through with a single strike as his hand reached for Kaminari's face, a deadly glint in his eyes.
"I don't care anymore!"
At this critical moment of life and death, Kaminari could no longer think about Todoroki or anyone beside him. In order to protect himself, he discharged electricity from his entire body without hesitation, trying to force Shigaraki back.
With no time to lose, Kaminari activated his full discharge. "100,000 volts!" Lightning crackled and surged around him, surrounding his body with an intense electric field. He hoped it would be enough to force Shigaraki back.
For a moment, Shigaraki's advance slowed, his hand meeting the electric barrier Kaminari had created. But Kaminari's relief was short-lived; Shigaraki's hand continued to press forward, unaffected by the electricity.
The gloves! Kaminari realized. Those gloves were insulated against electricity. This wasn't just a random attack; they had planned for situations like this. Desperation kicked in as he struggled to think of a way to escape.
Just then, he managed to activate his High-speed movement, darting backward and grabbing Todoroki in the process. He pulled him out of harm's way, stumbling slightly as they landed back near Midoriya.
"Help me get him back on his feet," Kaminari said to Midoriya, pushing Todoroki toward him. He turned back to Shigaraki, still panting from the exertion.
Shigaraki tilted his head, watching them curiously. "What was that? Some kind of speed quirk? Or do you have more than one ability?"
Kaminari just sneered, trying to hide his exhaustion. "Wouldn't you like to know? Maybe if you'd actually read a book or two, you'd realize how out of your depth you are."
"Enough!!" Shigaraki's voice was laced with fury, his fingers twitching with deadly intent. He looked to Kaminari with an unsettling grin. "Now that your ice friend is out of the way, let's see how well you do alone!"
Shigaraki lunged again, and Kaminari acted fast. Reaching into his pocket, he grabbed the small pouch Momo had crafted for him earlier, containing fifty steel balls. He tossed them into the air, charging each with electricity, creating a shimmering barrier around them both.
"If you want me, you'll have to go through this first!" Kaminari taunted, lightning dancing around him as he activated his ability. "Chain Lightning — 500,000 volts!"
Electricity arced between each steel ball, forming a web of golden light that surrounded Shigaraki, trapping him in the center. As long as Kaminari kept supplying electricity, the barrier would hold, creating a cage of lightning. A slight smirk crossed his face. Let's see you dodge this.
"What—?!" Shigaraki hesitated, eyeing the electrified field in front of him. He'd never encountered anything like this before.
But Kaminari wasn't finished. Taking advantage of Shigaraki's pause, he rushed in, his body still charged with electricity. He leapt high above Shigaraki, lightning crackling around him, and extended his arms wide. His voice echoed with confidence and a calm fury.
"Feel the pain. Experience it. Accept it. Understand it. Those who don't know pain they will never understand true peace." He paused, looking down at Shigaraki with a fierce gaze. "One million volts!!"
With a roar, Kaminari unleashed the full extent of his power, a surge of blinding electricity crashing down like a thunderstorm. The entire battlefield lit up with a golden glow, bathing the surroundings in searing light and crackling energy. The air grew thick with the smell of ozone, the ground beneath them scorched by the intensity of the discharge.
Even Midoriya, several meters away, had to shield his eyes from the overwhelming brightness. He could feel the heat through his closed eyelids, hear the thunderous roar that filled the air. Across the battlefield, Momo, Kyoka, and the others looked on in awe at the electrified whirlwind Kaminari had created.
"That's… Kaminari?!" Momo gasped, her eyes wide with shock.
Not far from there, All Might was nearing the end of his battle with Nomu, his time limit pushing dangerously close. His muscles trembled with exhaustion, yet he stood tall, still determined to protect his students.
"Villain, do you know what it means to be a hero?" All Might's voice boomed with righteous anger, his face set in grim determination. "It means you go beyond… you push yourself further than anyone else."
He took a deep breath, focusing all his remaining power into his right fist. This would be his last chance.
"Plus… Ultra!"
With one final, devastating punch, All Might's fist connected with Nomu's chest, sending shockwaves that echoed throughout the building. The sheer force was unimaginable, causing flames and debris to erupt upon impact. Nomu was launched upward, breaking through the ceiling of USJ and vanishing into the sky.
All Might stumbled, his vision blurring. He could feel his body reaching its limit, steam beginning to rise from his skin. "In my prime, I'd only need five punches for that… but today…" He muttered to himself, grimacing. "Today, I lost count."
The shockwave of his final attack rippled through the USJ facility, shaking the other zones where the students were scattered. Tokoyami and Koda looked up, staring in disbelief as a hole was blasted through the ceiling.
In the fire zone, Ojiro braced himself as heat and dust washed over him, his tail lashing in reflex. "Was… was that All Might?!"
At the entrance, Mineta was sobbing uncontrollably, overwhelmed by both fear and relief. "He's… he's really here! All Might's really here! We're saved!"
Tetsutetsu, who was pinning Kurogiri down with Kirishima, looked up at the ceiling in awe. "The force of that punch… it broke straight through Kurogiri's defenses."
Kirishima, catching his breath, looked on with admiration. "This is what it means to be unbreakable! That's what I want to be, too… someone who can stand strong like All Might!"
Even Bakugo, standing in stunned silence, felt a shift within himself. As much as he despised feeling weak, watching All Might fight reminded him of why he wanted to become a hero. "This is the world of real heroes…"
Amid the dust and debris, All Might took a few unsteady steps back, his vision blurring. He was nearly at his limit. But as he glanced around, he could see that the students were safe. His mission was accomplished.
"All Might!"
Hearing Midoriya's voice, All Might turned to see the boy approaching, supporting Todoroki on his shoulder. Behind them, Kaminari stood, breathing heavily, golden sparks still flickering around him from his massive discharge.
"What… happened to you?" Midoriya asked Kaminari, his voice filled with awe.
Kaminari just smirked, swaying slightly as he tried to catch his breath. "I went… Plus Ultra."