No reassuring presence. The clone of All Might towered over me, it's features were twisted, it's face wore a blank smile. His power was a harbinger of destruction. A puppet of violence. It didn't speak. It didn't need to. Every movement screamed... DEATH!
I could feel the raw energy radiating off of it, the sheer pressure of it's existence suffocating the air around me. The ground cracked with a thunderous clap, debris flying everywhere with every move it made. I could almost feel the wind itself bending under it's weight.
I couldn't afford to think, to hesitate. My body moved of it's own accord, and instinctual reaction, honed through years of training and necessity. I had to act fast. Had to think faster!
With a grunt, I hoisted both Nagant and Midoriya higher, my grip tightening around their injured forms. Nagant, barely conscious, her breathing ragged and shallow, was like dead weight in my arms. Midoriya, though awake, was in no better state, his injuries were severe. But I shouldn't let them die. I couldn't let them.
The clones fist shot towards me like a meteor falling from the heavens, and I saw it coming. It's strike was too swift. It would have been impossible to dodge, except for the fact I was already planning my next move. My mind surged, assessing angles and distances in the split-second before it collided.
Without a second thought I dropped down, rolling under the clones fist. Midoriya and Nagant stayed secure in my grip as I used the momentum of the roll to push them behind a pile of debris. I didn't look back. I couldn't afford to. I was already preparing for the next move, the next attack. The clone wasn't stopping. I guessed that Nagant faded back into unconsciousness since it was solely aiming for me.
Miyu and the people she placed under her control were nowhere to be found.
I couldn't worry about her. I knew that the moment I came up from my roll, it would be back. Every move, every step, every second. I could feel it, the weight of the air, the pull of the earth beneath me, the tension and the distance between me and the clone. The world slowed and my instincts took hold. I saw every option laid out in my mind, every possible way out, no matter how minute, every way to survive. And just like that, I saw it: The Gap.
With a sharp inhale, I leapt into the air, flipping backward, narrowly avoiding another strike. The clone's fist smashed into the ground below me, the force of the blow cracking the earth beneath me. Rocks and rubble exploded into the air, but I didn't flinch. I was already focused on the ground in front of me, the trajectory of my next move, the debris I could use.
It was almost to easy. Too clean. I could see it in an instant.
The clone moved again, quicker this time. A swipe of it's arm came from the left, if I didn't move now, it would hit me, and I'd be crushed. I didn't have time to second-guess.
Left. I barely dodged, but the force of the wind pushed me sideways. I gritted my teeth. Midoriya's breath was ragged against my shoulder, and Nagant's grip on me was loose, barely holding on. I couldn't afford a slip up.
The clone followed, moving with terrifying precision. I could see the angle of it's next punch forming in the space between us, feel the shift in the air that predicted it's trajectory. But I wasn't just evading, I was outmaneuvering it, staying one step ahead, seeing it's next move before it happened and leaping distances away from him.
I was dodging blows from All Might within a hairs breath and using the debris he was cracking up to slow his punches down.
I shifted again, turning my heel, my fingers already weaving through the air. I didn't have much time to prepare, but I didn't need much. The properties of my papermaster surged and with a flick of my wrist, I summoned a wall of paper. It hardened as it formed, blocking the clone's next attack just in time. The paper shield cracked under the force, but it held, buying me the precious seconds I needed.
The clone recoiled for a moment, surprised at the resistance. It wasn't expecting this. It wasn't expecting me to be able to use the environment to my advantage. It tried to swipe again, but I wasn't waiting around. I moved as if I was already several steps ahead of it, throwing up more paper shields, each one more intricate than the last.
The clone lunged again, but this time I wasn't just defending, I was attacking, throwing paper blades in a flurry of motion. They cut through the air, aiming for the clone's face, the joints of it's body, anything that would slow it down. The blades couldn't pierce his skin, but they were distracting.
I couldn't let up. Not even for a second. The clone was fast, and if I wasn't careful, it's next attack could finish us all.
Suddenly, the temperature dropped. I felt it first in the air around me, the chill creeping over my skin, freezing the moisture in the air. My eyes darted to the side, and there he was, Shoto Todoroki, sliding into the battle with ice spiraling from his palms. His attack hit like a wall of cold, freezing the path behind me, trapping the clone's leg in a jagged lattice of ice.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze. The clone roared in frustration, thrashing against the ice, but it couldn't break free, not yet. The ice held it for just a second longer.
I didn't waste it. I dropped Midoriya and Nagant behind the rubble, checking them both quickly. Midoriya's breathing was shallow, but he was alive. Nagant, still alive. Her pulse was weak, but steady for now. They were safe.
I could hear engines revving as someone shot towards our scene. It was Ingenium, no, a family member, he appeared at my side in a flash. Without a word, he grabbed Midoriya and Nagant, lifting them both effortlessly with his enhanced speed.
"Soryu! You need to get out of here! NOW!" he called as he turned to run, his feet kicking up the dust with each burst of speed.
I glanced back at the frozen path, my mind already working overtime. I could run with them, stay hidden, regroup. But that wouldn't be enough. The clone was still chasing. And it wasn't going to stop anytime soon.
No.
I wasn't going to run.
I had a crazy idea, but it was my best shot. It was something I had rarely done before and only on myself. But I could do it again.
With a deep breath, I turned back toward the frozen path and focused. Papermaster, come to life once more. I reached out and pulled fibers together, shaping them with my mind. I was moving quickly, but I had to be precise. I had to duplicate the duplicate.
I had already met the conditions.
My fingers danced through the air as the paper took shape. I poured every bit of my focus into the clone's replication, using the original's momentum and strength against itself. The paper shifted, molded, formed into a perfect copy of the All Might clone. The same ripping muscles, the same towering figure, and the same destructive physical power I had experienced.
The only difference was colour, my All Might clone was a stark pristine white, white as paper and it seemed to shine under the sun's radiance.
And then, the clone broke free of Todoroki's ice, it's rumble shaking the very air around me. It turned, seeing me, but it didn't see the second one coming.
I took a deep breath. I would hold this clone for the short duration I could.
That's when I heard it... the sound of a figure crashing into the battlefield from above.
Her powerful legs slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave of force through the earth.
I almost didn't believe it. There she was, Mirko, a blur of powerful motion. She landed gracefully, crouched low, before shooting up into a perfect standing position. She didn't hesitate, didn't waste a single second.
"Been looking for that bastard." she muttered, her eyes glowing with a fiery intensity that matched the chaos around her. "The All Might replica, huh? I've been wanting to square up to the number 1."
She spotted me, her gaze locking onto mine. She gave a half grin, probably remembering me from our small interaction a week ago.
"You looked wiped. You don't mind if I join in, do you?"
I didn't have time to respond. The clone of All Might—my copy, my creation—charged forward, fists raised high ready to throw down. Mirko didn't need any more invitation that that. She dashed forward, her legs a blur of power as she leaped to meet the oncoming attack.
"Let's see how you handle this!" she yelled.
I didn't respond but I knew what had to be done. The clone was mine to control, and forced to stick near, I could already feel the strain. Every movement it made, I was controlling it, but at the same time, I was pushing my own abilities to their limits. The paper, the fibers—it was all fragile in comparison to the sheer strength of the All Might clone. I had five minutes before my copy would disappear.
Not enough time, but I would do everything to try and kill it.
Mirko dove into the fight with reckless abandon, using her legs like weapons of war. She aimed a series of devastating kicks directly at the clone's chest, each one powerful enough to send it staggering backwards. Her speed was a blur, too fast for the clone to react properly, and it found itself on the defensive for the first time in the fight.
I used the opportunity to send the white All Might replica surging forward, fists hammering into the air like lightning strikes. Each blow was a force of nature, it's power coming from my control but magnified by the sheer form of the copy.
The game's All Might replica blocked Mirko's powerful legs with ease and answered with it's own heavy strikes, trying to crush her with the force of it's fists.
Mirko danced away, her movements swift, precise, and filled with grit. "You've got some tricks, huh? But this things still got a hell of a punch."
I didn't waste time responding. I could see it in the my clones movements—it wasn't a perfect copy. There were gaps, weaknesses in the way it moved, in it's timing. I had to use my own creativity to guide it, to push it into angles where it could land a hit while staying out of harms way.
Mirko was quick and incredibly strong, I was almost a little scared that she wouldn't be able to keep up. I was probably holding her back somewhat. I had to change tactics.
But the replica was already making it's own decision. With a silent roar, it slammed it's fist down at the ground, sending shockwaves through the earth, and it dove in with a devastating leap, hoping to crush Mirko.
I cursed under my breath. Five Minutes.
The white All Might was already showing signs of cracking—pieces of the paper were beginning to fray and disintegrate with each movement. I could feel the strain on my body, my quirk pushing against it's limits. Every attack, every dodge, every movement—it was all weighing down on me.
Then the replica's fist came down—right towards Mirko's position. She was quick, but not quick enough. The punch landed, the sheer force of the blow sending her spiraling across the battlefield. She slammed into the ground, rolling across the concrete before coming to a halt.
Mirko gritted her teeth, blood dripping from her lip as pushed herself up. "Is that all you got?" she spat, but I could see the exhaustion in her eyes. She was starting to slow down.
I wasn't doing any better. My head pounded, sweat dripped into my eyes, and my arms felt like they'd been holding up the world. The pristine white clone stood tall.
Mirko leapt forward again, closing the distance between her and the games replica. Her legs were a blur of raw, explosive power as she unleashed a flurry of devastating kicks. Each strike was precise, aiming at joints, weak spots, anywhere that might cause the giant to falter. The sound of her attacks echoed like gunshots, but the clone met her with matching force. It raised an arm, blocking her next kick with it's forearm, the impact sending out a shockwave that cracked the pavement beneath their feet.
"Come one!" she roared, twisting mid-air to drive her other leg into the side of it's head. The blow landed, sending the replica staggering sideways, but it caught itself, it's massive fists smashing into the ground to steady it's balance. The sheer power of the movement sent debris flying, pelting me and everything around with sharp fragments of concrete.
I gritted my teeth, channeling everything I had into keeping my clone upright. My mind raced, searching for openings, for ways to counter Mirko's relentless barrage while keeping my clone's movements fluid.
"Stop playing so defensive!" the rabbit hero yelled at me, her voice cutting through the chaos. "If you're gonna fight, then fight!"
I didn't reply. Talking felt like it would take energy I couldn't spare. Instead, I focused, guiding the clone to drive it's fist forward in a wide, sweeping arc. The air whizzed with the force of the blow as the massive hand slammed down toward her. She dodged, just barely, her body twisting into a low crouch. The ground where she had stood erupted into a crater, but she didn't hesitate. With a burst of speed, she vaulted over the replica's arm and landed on it's shoulder.
The replica roared in frustration, it's massive hand swinging upward to grab her. Mirko, quick as ever, leapt again, flipping backward in mid-air before driving both legs downward in a brutal double kick to the replica's head. The impact made the entire battlefield shudder as the replica's head snapped forward, and for a moment I thought she might actually take it down.
But it didn't fall.
The All Might replica straightened, unyielding. It's golden glow burned brighter, as if mocking us, and it retaliated with a swaying punch aimed directly at Mirko. My paper clone intercepted, throwing itself in the path of the blow. The white All Might then surged forward, slamming it's shoulder into the replica's chest and driving it backward with raw power. Dust and debris exploded into the air as the two titans collided.
Mirko landed lightly next to me, her breathing uneven as she wiped the blood from her chin. "Not bad kid." she said with a weary grin. "But your paper hero's starting to come apart isn't it?"
She was right. My paper clone was unravelling. The strain of holding it together was like fire in my veins, each movement pulling more energy from me than the last. It's edges frayed, and tiny pieces of paper flaked off with every punch, scattering into the wind like snow. I could feel it—the fight wasn't going to last much longer.
But that didn't mean I was giving up.
"Lets finish it before that happens." I growled, pushing every ounce of focus into controlling the clone. It surged forward, it's fists flying in a relentless barrage of strikes. The All Might replica countered, blocking and deflecting with ease, but I wasn't aiming for a clean hit. Just needed to limit it's options.
Mirko took the opening without hesitation. She dashed in low, her legs a blur as she unleashed a rapid series of kicks at the replica's knees and lower joints. The force of her blows cracked the reinforced surface of it's body, sending faint spiderweb fractures rippling across it's legs.
"Keep it up!" I let out, directing my clone to follow her lead. The white All Might feinted high, it's massive fist swinging toward the replica's head before pulling back at the last second. The real blow came from it's knee, slamming into the replica's side with enough force to send it stumbling.
For a moment, it looked like we had the upper hand. The All Might replica wavered, it's movements slowing as it struggled to keep up with our combined assault. Mirko's relentless speed and my clone's overwhelming strength were wearing it down.
But then, everything changed.
The replica roared, it's first and only sound since spawning, the roar was so powerful it shook the very air. It's body glowed brighter, cracks sealing themselves as if it's strength was renewing. It surged with impossible speed, catching Mirko mid-attack with a backhanded swing that sent her flying. She hit the ground hard, tumbling through the rubble before coming to a stop.
My mind went blank. Mirko was down, no time to check on her. The replica was already turning it's sights to my paper clone, and I could feel it's power bearing down on me like a physical weight.
The two giants clashed again, their fists colliding with a force that sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. My clone pushed with everything it had, it's paper body straining as it matched the replica blow for blow. But I could feel it unravelling faster now, each hit pulling it closer to it's breaking point.
"Hold it together," I muttered through clenched teeth, forcing myself to ignore the fire in my chest. "Just a little longer..."
But the inevitable came too soon.
My clone's movements slowed, it's punches becoming sluggish as it's body started to collapse. The pristine white paper that made up it's form crumbled piece by piece, until it froze mid-strike. For one agonizing second, it stood there, defiant even in it's final moments.
And then it fell apart.
The All Might replica wasted no time. It turned towards me, it's glowing eyes locking onto mine as it charged. I barely had a moment to react before it's massive fist came down.
Mirko's voice cut through the chaos, "Move kid!"
I stumbled backward, throwing myself out of the way as the fist crashed into the ground where I'd been standing. The impact sent me sprawling, and I felt the air leave my lungs as I hit the ground hard.
I forced myself up, pain shooting through every part of my body. Mirko was already back on her feet, bloodied but standing tall, her eyes blazing with excitement and determination.
I tried to step forward to meet her halfway, but as I moved, it felt like my ears burst, I was slowly keeling over in pain, but I couldn't even do that... the replica's fist swung toward me. I tried to dodge but my body wouldn't cooperate. The blow connected, and the world exploded into pain. I felt my body lift off the ground, the impact crushing the air from my lungs as I was thrown backward.
The ground rushed up to meet me. And everything went black.