The entire world's breath got stuck in its throat.
It was true for the Class 1-A students watching the scene on big screens, surrounded by a silent crowd of thousands of citizens.
It was true for the UA Staff, their eyes fixed on the scene.
It was true for the Pros and the Villains of not only Japan, but many, many countries.
And it was true for Star, who ground her teeth at her helplessness as she looked at the screen, stuck in America.
In only a few moments — worth only a few breaths — their emotions had jumped to the tallest heights before plunging to the deepest depths.
They had seen All Might pushing his way to victory.
Then, as if that fate-turning moment had been nothing but a mirage, they had seen the Villain reappear and attack a weakened All Might, who couldn't even move before being blasted away.
Yet, despite this ill event, despite this precarious and doomed situation, they — hadn't lost hope.
No.
It was better to say — they were forced to hold onto their hope.
Forced by none other than the most mysterious Villain of them all—Dr. Blessed!
All hearts slowed down as they saw him on the screen, appearing between the monstrously tall Villain and a defeated, dying All Might.
They saw him reaching out toward the sky as if he were part of some grand play.
They saw him snap his fingers as if he had played the grandest act in the world, tricking everyone.
Even the monstrous Villain seemed so taken aback by Dr. Blessed's appearance that he just looked at him, the same way the world was looking at him.
Then, the Villain ROARED, shaking the screens.
Then, the hearts skipped a beat, people's souls crying for a miracle.
Then, destiny gave way, and fate changed, right in front of their eyes, with a flash—as if someone had cast a mirror on their screens from very, very far away.
…
"SINNER!"
All For One's roar shook the surroundings around them.
The little sanity he had been holding onto after assuming the full, ultimate transformation, vanished, the red glow seeping out of his body intensifying to the extreme.
Standing only a few meters away from the Villain was Luke, carrying Gran Torino in his left arm.
He should move now, an instinct told him.
He should leave Gran Torino and use Flaming Jump to run away, the instinct said.
He should at least switch back to the Magician Sequence to use the Paper Substitute, if not the Flaming Jump, to buy himself a few moments once All For One attacked him, the instinct reasoned.
No matter how strong he had become as a Beyonder, one flick of All For One's finger and he would turn into a bloody paste, just like Gran Torino's legs.
Yet, other than listening to these instincts, Luke couldn't do anything else.
This All For One, fueled by Conformity's corruption, was stronger than All Might.
No matter what kind of S+ Quirk, like Absolute Zero from I-Island, he used, there was no guarantee that he would be able to change fate.
Once that happened, not only he, but even All Might would die, and the world would instantly gain a planet-level threat in the face of a corrupt All For One.
If Luke wanted things to go his way, there was only one option—to create a miracle—to go beyond—to… become insane!
…
[
Quirk: Fake Rewind
Complexity: X
Consumption:
— Spirit 250
— Stamina 100
Contact Time: 60 seconds
Activation Time: 30 seconds
]
…
Luke had already regained 280 of his 485 Spirit Points, his Stamina standing at a whopping 200 Points.
The figures of X Grade Complexity were well within his limit, even if they went well over Nyx's limits.
However, there was a reason the X Complexity level was named Blessed Gone Insane.
It wasn't just about figures; it was about its Complexity, its repercussions, and, as Luke was only realizing now, its effect on fate.
At this moment, Luke was facing such a backlash from his own Quirk that he couldn't even think properly, much less switch Sequences and run away with a simple mental command.
But, he didn't regret it.
If he failed to change fate now, then who was to say he would be able to do it later?
As All For One's roar shook his heart, making him bleed from the ears, Luke looked at All Might and tried to smile through it.
Symbol of Peace… Words bubbled in Luke's mind spontaneously. Show me… a Miracle. Give me... hope.
…
With blood washing his eyes, making his vision blurry, All Might watched as All For One's enormous fist loomed over Dr. Blessed.
Once that punch landed…
Yet, Dr. Blessed wasn't moving at all.
Why?
What was he waiting for?
Why did it feel like the masked Dr. Blessed was smiling… looking at him?
The embers within you… Do they burn strong enough to see into the future?
All Might suddenly remembered the words Dr. Blessed had said during their first meeting. Then, he remembered the little chat they had from their second meeting, when Dr. Blessed had asked if he regretted passing on the torch.
Why did those words now feel less like questions and more like the mumbles of a lost man?
And, suddenly, he realized why Dr. Blessed wasn't moving — why he was looking at him and smiling?
Those who are lost need someone to guide them… All Might realized.
He wants me…
He needs my help…
He is smiling because he thinks I will step up…
A painful, crying groan escaped All Might's throat as his body failed to listen to him.
His heart wanted to move. His spirit wanted to move. His everything wanted to get up and help the one who needed him.
Yet…
Tears of blood streamed down All Might's face.
And when that bloody tear landed on the ground, something very light, like a drop of rain, also landed on his back.
A heat rose within him.
His heart was beating, louder, stronger, and wilder than ever.
All Might felt like All For One's fist, reaching Dr. Blessed's head frame by frame, was calling to him.
It called to him, just like it had once — years ago… many, many years ago.
All Might wanted to move.
And so he did.
All Might wanted to smile.
And so he did.
All Might wanted to punch.
And so he did.
"No need to lose hope, youngster!" All Might roared, smiling, sending All For One flying with a punch. "Why—"
Millions of people's eyes popped out of their skulls as they saw All Might, standing tall behind Dr. Blessed.
But it wasn't his appearance that shocked them so.
It was his… appearance.
Young.
Barely in his late thirties.
No. Perhaps… even younger!
All Might cracked his neck, feeling awesome. "— because I am here!"
********************
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