**Chapter 29: Beneath the Surface**
The water was cold, colder than Law had ever imagined. It enveloped him like a shroud, pulling him deeper into its dark embrace. His body felt heavy, unresponsive, as if it no longer belonged to him. The world above was a distant blur, the sounds of battle muffled and fading. He tried to move, to swim, but his limbs refused to obey. All he could do was sink, the weight of his exhaustion dragging him down.
As he descended, his mind began to wander. Memories, long buried, surfaced like bubbles rising to the surface. He saw himself in a hospital, standing over an operating table. The room was sterile, the air thick with tension. A young girl lay before him, her chest open, her heart struggling to beat. He had been so confident, so sure of his skills. But in that moment, he had faltered. A single mistake, a slip of the hand, and her heart had stopped. He remembered the sound of the flatline, the way her parents had screamed when he told them the news. He remembered the rain that night, how it had poured as he sat in the hospital garden, his scrubs soaked, his hands trembling. People had passed by, offering umbrellas, offering words of comfort, but he had been numb. "How long will I keep failing?" he had whispered to himself. "How many more will die because I wasn't good enough?"
The memory faded, replaced by another. He was older now, standing in the rain again, but this time he was alone. The weight of his failures had followed him, a shadow he couldn't escape. "If only I had been better," he thought. "If only I had been smarter. That girl... she could have lived a long life. But I wasn't enough."
Bubbles escaped his lips as he sank deeper, the water pressing in on him from all sides. His vision darkened, his thoughts growing hazy. *Maybe... maybe this world would be better off without me. Maybe I'm just a failure, no matter where I go.*
But just as his consciousness began to slip away, he felt something—a hand, strong and warm, gripping his arm. The touch was firm, reassuring, and it pulled him back from the edge of oblivion. His eyes, heavy and half-closed, caught a glimpse of a figure in the water. It was All Might, his face serious, his eyes filled with determination. Law's vision blurred, and then everything went black.
---
When Law awoke, it was to the sound of voices. He was lying on solid ground, the cold water replaced by the warmth of the sun. His body ached, his head throbbed, but he was alive. He blinked, his vision slowly clearing, and saw All Might standing over him, a smile on his face.
"What's this, Law Chounin?" All Might said, his voice booming but gentle. "What kind of brilliance did you just fight with?"
Law tried to speak, but his throat was dry, his voice barely a whisper. All Might chuckled softly and knelt beside him, carefully lifting him out of the water. The students, gathered around, watched in awe as All Might set Law down gently on the ground. His sword, still clutched in his hand, was placed beside him.
The students erupted into chatter, their voices overlapping as they crowded around Law. Kirishima was the first to reach him, his sharp teeth bared in a grin. "Dude, you were amazing! I've never seen anything like that!"
Kaminari was right behind him, his eyes wide with admiration. "You took down that monster all by yourself! That was insane!"
Midoriya, ever the analyst, was muttering to himself, his green eyes sparkling with excitement. "The way you used your quirk... it was like you controlled the entire battlefield! I've never seen anything like it!"
Asui, her calm demeanor intact, placed a hand on Law's shoulder. "You scared us for a moment there. Don't do that again, okay?"
Mina and Yaoyorozu stood nearby, their expressions a mix of relief and admiration. "You really are something else, Law," Mina said, her pink eyes shining. "I don't think anyone else could have done what you just did."
Even Bakugo, who had been standing at the back, was silent for once. His usual scowl was gone, replaced by a look of disbelief. "Why... why is the gap between us so big?" he muttered to himself, his voice low. "How is he so much stronger?"
Todoroki, standing a short distance away, watched Law with a quiet intensity. He hadn't seen the entire fight, but he had seen enough to know that Law was on a completely different level. "He didn't just fight," Todoroki thought. "He controlled the entire battlefield. He saved us all."
Aizawa, despite his injuries, made his way over to Law. His face was pale, his movements slow, but his concern was evident. He knelt beside Law, his hand resting on the boy's cheek. "Is he okay?" Aizawa asked, his voice hoarse.
All Might nodded, his smile reassuring. "He's fine. Just unconscious. He pushed himself too hard, but he'll recover."
Mineta, who had been staring at Nomu's severed head with wide eyes, shuddered. "That thing... it's not going to move again, right?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Yaoyorozu glanced at the water, her expression thoughtful. "Its body sank to the bottom. I don't think it's coming back."
Midoriya, ever the thinker, added, "That monster wasn't acting on its own. It was following orders. Without Shigaraki, it's just a mindless beast."
All Might's smile faded as he turned his attention to the villains. The purple portal that had brought them here was closing, the black mist dissipating. Shigaraki was gone, along with Kurogiri. They had abandoned their allies, leaving them to face the heroes alone.
The sound of approaching footsteps drew everyone's attention. Principal Nezu and the other teachers had arrived, followed by the police. The USJ was soon swarming with heroes, the villains rounded up and taken into custody...
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