**"Bang!"**
The two fists collided, creating a shockwave that sent ripples of air blasting through the battlefield.
Akira staggered back a few steps, his footing unsteady. Despite his formidable abilities, it was clear his raw strength wasn't a match for Nomu's overwhelming power. Yet, the fact that he could take the punch head-on left everyone frozen in shock.
Tomura Shigaraki's voice cracked as he yelled, "Impossible… absolutely impossible! How can he take a direct punch from Nomu and still be standing?"
Kurogiri glanced at Akira with unease, memories of their earlier clash still fresh in his mind. Even All Might, now in his frail form, couldn't hide his astonishment.
"Akira… How has your strength grown so much in such a short time?" All Might muttered under his breath.
Akira clenched his fists, his expression calm but focused. "The power of pure physical skills isn't enough against him," he murmured.
Tomura Shigaraki's frustration boiled over. "Nomu! Don't stop! Kill him! Kill him now!"
Obeying the command, Nomu charged again, its massive frame moving with unnatural speed.
"The speed… it's even faster than before," Akira noted as Nomu closed the distance.
From the sidelines, All Might's voice rang out, hoarse but urgent. "Akira, get out of there! You can't—"
Before the words could finish, Nomu's fist crashed into Akira's body. The impact resounded like a thunderclap.
For a moment, the battlefield seemed to freeze.
When the dust settled, All Might fell to his knees, his expression one of utter despair. What he saw before him was horrifying—a headless Akira, his body slumping to the ground.
Tomura Shigaraki broke into a gleeful laugh. "Look at this! The so-called hero apprentice, Kitagawa Akira, fell like the rest of them. All Might, this is all because of you! Because you were too weak to save him!"
All Might trembled, fury building in his core. His fists smashed into the ground, sending cracks spidering out across the floor. "Unforgivable!" he roared, his voice filled with rage and pain.
But then, something incredible happened.
Sand began to swirl around Akira's lifeless body, concentrating at his neck. Slowly, a new head formed, solidifying into place.
"Not bad," Akira said, brushing off the dirt. "That was a strong punch. But here's the problem: while Nomu's Quirks were designed to counter All Might, they're useless against me."
Tomura Shigaraki and Kurogiri stood frozen in disbelief.
"H-How is this possible?" Shigaraki stammered, his hands clawing at his neck in frustration. "His head was gone! Is he immortal? No… he must have a super regeneration Quirk like Nomu."
Kurogiri, still shaken, nodded. "That must be it… but even then, this level of regeneration is…"
All Might stared at Akira, his voice barely above a whisper. "Akira… what kind of power are you hiding?"
Shigaraki's voice regained its edge. "Nomu, keep going! If he regenerates, then hit him faster than he can heal! Kill him!"
Nomu obeyed, launching a relentless barrage of punches. Each strike tore through Akira's body, leaving holes and gashes in its wake.
But no matter how much damage Nomu inflicted, the sand swirled and repaired Akira's body with astonishing speed.
Minutes passed, and Nomu's assault continued, but Akira remained unfazed.
Finally, Akira looked at Shigaraki with a smirk. "Your Nomu is impressive. Impact absorption and super regeneration make it a tough opponent. But even the toughest defense has a limit."
Shigaraki sneered, masking his growing unease. "Don't act so smug! You're just stalling for time!"
Akira's smirk widened. "Stalling? No. I've already won."
Before Shigaraki could retort, Akira slammed his hand onto the ground. The sand beneath him rippled and surged like a living tide.
**"Quicksand Waterfall!"**
The ground beneath Nomu, Shigaraki, and Kurogiri collapsed into a swirling vortex of sand, pulling them downward. Nomu struggled against the pull, its massive frame sinking slowly.
"What the—?!" Shigaraki screamed, clawing at the ground as the quicksand engulfed him.
Kurogiri's portal Quirk flickered, unstable under the relentless pressure of the sandstorm. "Shigaraki! We need to retreat!"
From the sidelines, All Might watched in awe, his earlier despair replaced by newfound hope.
As the sandstorm raged, Akira stood at its center, calm and resolute. "Your reign of terror ends here."