The air in the Hero Committee Headquarters' conference room in Japan was thick with tension, the polished mahogany table reflecting the stern faces of the council members.
All Might stood at the head of the room, his towering frame still imposing despite the faint strain in his posture. His blue eyes, once a beacon of unshakeable resolve, now burned with a mixture of frustration and disbelief as the committee's chairman, a gray-haired man with a clipped tone, delivered the verdict.
"Toshinori Yagi," the chairman began, his voice cold and measured, "we've decided it's in the best interest of the world for you to resign from this mission effective immediately."
The words hit All Might like a physical blow, his broad shoulders tensing as a surge of fury coursed through him. His fists clenched at his sides, the familiar ache of his waning power a dull reminder of his limitations, but his spirit roared against the decision.
"Resign?" he bellowed, his voice shaking the room with its might. "You're pulling me from this fight when young Ishiro and Voidflare are out there facing a monster born of All for One's cruelty? I should be with them! I've trained Kael, I know their strengths, their limits! This is where I belong!"
The chairman raised a hand, his expression unmoved. "Your passion is noted, All Might, but the world cannot afford to lose its Symbol of Peace. If something were to happen to you, the morale of every hero, every citizen, would crumble. This is not a reflection of your ability, but a strategic necessity."
All Might's jaw tightened, his mind flashing to the countless battles he'd fought, the lives he'd saved, the hope he'd inspired. "Strategic necessity?" he roared, stepping forward, his voice cracking with emotion.
"I didn't become the Symbol of Peace to sit in safety while others bleed! I became it to protect those who can't protect themselves—children trembling in alleys, families torn apart by villains, heroes like Kael and Voidflare who carry that same fire in their hearts! Kael is one of the most heroic souls I've ever met—brave, selfless, a beacon of light even in the darkest moments. And Voidflare, with his unwavering dedication, his strength—he's shaped Kael into the hero he is today. They're out there risking everything, and you want me to abandon them?"
The room fell silent, the committee members exchanging uneasy glances. The chairman sighed, his tone softening but firm. "We understand your loyalty, Toshinori. But the world's best interest—"
"Is served by heroes who stand together!" All Might interrupted, his voice a thunderclap. "Not by symbols hiding in shadows! I won't let fear dictate my actions. I won't let Kael and Voidflare face this alone!" With that, he turned on his heel, walking out the door and slamming behind him with a resonant thud.
His boots echoed against the marble floors of the Hero Committee Headquarters as he made his way to the rooftop, his mind a whirlwind of determination and grief.
He'd accessed the latest intel from his resources—Kael's location, a decommissioned Hero facility where a battle raged far across the ocean. Reaching the rooftop, he took a deep breath, the sprawling city of Musutafu beneath him under a gray, rain-soaked predawn sky.
With a powerful leap, he launched himself into the air, the Hero Committee Headquarters trembling beneath the force of his departure.
His figure disappeared into the clouds, a streak of blue and gold against the horizon, racing toward the distant base where his protégés fought for their lives, a journey spanning thousands of miles.
…
Outside the dome, far from Japan, the battle had escalated beyond its confines. The creature—once Blotshade, now a demon forged by All for One's twisted design—had burst through the dome's roof, shattering stone and metal in a shower of debris. Its wings beat furiously, lifting it into the stormy sky above the mountain.
The beast possessed super strength, its clawed hands capable of rending steel; durability that shrugged off lesser blows; speed that blurred its form; and flight that allowed it to dominate the air.
From its twisted horns, it unleashed compressed beams of dark energy, each blast carving craters into the earth below. It had a unique quirk, *Essence Devour*, that allowed it to absorb ambient energy—flames, kinetic force, even sound waves—amplifying its power with every strike it weathered, making it a relentless juggernaut.
Kael and Voidflare soared after it, their figures illuminated by flashes of light and flame against the roiling clouds. Their movements flowed together naturally, a testament to their shared history. Kael triggered *Flashstep*, a burst of speed carrying him upward to evade a horn beam.
The dark energy grazed his shoulder, sending a jolt of pain through him. Gritting his teeth, he used *Kinetic Forge* to harness the impact's energy, launching an explosive punch that erupted against the beast's chest in a dazzling fireball. The shockwave echoed, but the creature's *Essence Devour* absorbed some of the force, leaving only a faint scorch mark on its ashen skin.
Voidflare responded with a swirl of flames, violet fire spiraling like a galaxy, searing the beast's wings with bursts of starlight. The heat turned rain into steam, but the creature roared, its *Essence Devour* swelling its muscles as it absorbed the flames.
It lashed out with a clawed hand, slashing Voidflare's chest. Blood sprayed, and he grunted, spiraling downward before stabilizing with a flicker of cosmic energy.
Kael darted in, activating *Breathlock* to hold his breath and push through the pain, then used *Fake Mortal* to reinforce his arm with temporary durability. He struck with *Titan Strength*, the impact sounding like thunder, but the beast's durability held firm. It retaliated with a wing swipe, tearing through his clothes and drawing blood as he tumbled.
Voidflare swooped down, his flames cushioning Kael's fall with a burst of indigo light. He unleashed a concentrated *Cosmic Flame* blast, a vortex of stars engulfing the beast. Kael followed with *Sound Spike*, a sharp burst disorienting it, though the creature's *Essence Devour* absorbed the sound, its form growing bulkier. It charged with blinding speed, slamming into Voidflare and sending him crashing into Kael. Voidflare's jaw took a brutal hit, blood dripping, while Kael's *Iron Resilience* strained, his arm bruising deeply.
Voidflare's flames flared as he rose, launching a wide arc of cosmic fire that turned rain into glittering sparks. Kael activated *Cloak*, vanishing from the beast's sight to flank it, then used *electricity* to jolt its frame. The creature staggered, but its speed returned, firing a beam that Kael dodged with *Flashstep*, the energy scorching the mountainside in a molten streak.
Inside the building connected to the dome, the tremor from the battle's shockwaves rattled the walls, dust sifting from the ceiling. A wiry villain with a scarred face, known as Razorfang, leapt to his feet, knocking over a chair. "What the hell's going on out there?" he barked, his yellow eyes glinting with irritation. "Feels like the whole place is coming down!"
A lanky figure with a cybernetic arm, Gearlock, tapped frantically at a console, his voice tense. "It's Kael and Voidflare—they've blown the dome sky-high! That beast's taking a beating, but it's fighting back hard."
A hulking brute, Crushbone, grinned wickedly, cracking his knuckles. "Let 'em tear each other apart! More fun for us when they're worn out."
A woman with glowing eyes, leaning against the wall, smirked. "Or maybe those heroes will bring this dump down on our heads. Either way, I'm out. You guys have fun rotting in jail."
The building groaned as another shockwave hit, the monitors flickering with the aerial battle's intensity.
Outside, Kael used *Thoughtography* to study the beast's movements, spotting a weakness in its wing joints. He nodded subtly, and Voidflare unleashed a flame torrent, twisting into a stellar dragon that roared through the sky. Kael followed with *DarkBind*, tendrils wrapping the beast wings, and a *Kinetic Forge* punch that cracked the membrane, the explosion lighting the night.
The beast's *Essence Devour* absorbed the energy, its strength surging as it tackled Voidflare into a cliff face. Rocks crumbled, Voidflare's flames dimming as blood stained his suit of fire. Kael *Flashstepped* in, *Silent Sole* to close in the distance silently, landing a *Titan Strength* infused strike. The creature swung its tail, snapping Kael's leg bone, and he cried out, *Healing Aura* struggling to mend the damage as he fell.
Voidflare caught him, his flames shielding against a horn beam that scorched his back, drawing a scream. Kael activated *Insomnia* to fight exhaustion, then used *Quickcode* to analyze the beast's pattern, guiding Voidflare's next *Cosmic Flame* helix.
The flames spiraled with bursting stars, and Kael's *Sound Spike* added pressure, but the beast thrashed, firing another beam. Kael dodged with *Flexweave*, the molten trench glowing below.
The sky blazed with cosmic fire and dark energy. Kael's *Eagle Hunting* tracked the beast as he landed a final *Titan Strength* punch, the fireball dazzling, while Voidflare's flames roared with aggression. The creature crashed, trembling but unbowed, its wings flapping weakly.
Voidflare's breath came in ragged gasps, his flames dimming. "To win this… I'll have to use my ultimate move," he muttered, his voice heavy with resolve, the cosmic flames flickering with intensity.
Kael's eyes widened, his body aching, blood staining his torn cloak. "No, Voidflare! You can't—there's another way!" he protested, stepping forward despite the pain, his voice thick with concern.
The beast loomed, its power surging, the air crackling with tension as the fight's outcome hung in the balance.
…