The battle was reaching its climax.
Umak, the Dragon Emperor, had never been wounded like this since he first carved his name into the annals of history. His body, once an unyielding fortress, was now marred with deep golden cuts, his blood dripping onto the charred ruins below. Yet, despite the pain, his grin never wavered.
Hovering high above the decimated cityscape, Izuku Midoriya, now the fabled Gold Legion was breathing heavily, his body aching from the relentless exchange. His golden wings shimmered, their thousands of feathers rippling like a living storm.
With a grunt, Izuku forged a massive morning star, the weight of the weapon enough to make the air tremble. He swung his leg, using the momentum to hurl the devastating weapon straight at Umak. The morning star struck with the force of a meteor, sending the dragon villain hurtling through the sky and crashing into the distant mountains, reducing them to rubble.
But the impact didn't faze Umak in the slightest. From the ruins, he emerged, laughing, cracking his neck as if shaking off the pain.
"You're stalling, Deku," Umak taunted, rolling his shoulders. "Or should I call you something else? 'Goldie'?" He smirked, watching Izuku's expression. "Nah, that doesn't do justice to this moment. What do you prefer?"
Izuku wiped the blood from his lips, exhaling sharply. "Gold Legion."
Umak let out a bark of laughter. "Fine, Goldie."
Then, in an instant, he lunged forward, his claws outstretched. Izuku barely had time to react before he was grabbed and hurled through the air. He crashed into the mountainside, the force of the impact splintering the rock face.
"I thought you were here to *kill* me, not drag this out," Umak sneered as Izuku climbed out of the wreckage. "And just so we're clear, you're not taking me in alive."
Izuku's grip tightened. His golden wings flared as he hovered, surveying the destruction. He met Umak's gaze and sighed. "What is this really about, Umak?"
The dragon villain chuckled, shaking his head. "Does it matter?"
"It does."
Umak scoffed before cracking his knuckles. "Fine. Here's the deal, Goldie I'm dying. This old body of mine has maybe a year left in it. But I refuse to rot away like some pathetic weakling." He grinned. "So I decided, I'll go out fighting the strongest warrior I can find. And guess what? That's you."
Izuku frowned. "You destroyed this city, killed thousands… just because you wanted a warrior's death?"
Umak shrugged. "Not my fault. You disappeared, didn't you? If I knew you were still playing hero, I would've come straight for you instead."
Izuku's heart clenched as he heard the voices of his army through their mental link confirming the staggering number of casualties. Men, women, children… all gone because of this man's selfish desire to die in battle.
Umak cracked his neck. "And if you don't kill me? Well…" His eyes gleamed with sadistic amusement. "I'll just escape, head to Japan, slaughter your little friends, and maybe leave a few reminders for you, little heirs to my throne, born from your girlfriends." He laughed darkly. "A fair price for your hesitation, don't you think?"
Izuku closed his eyes, exhaling slowly.
Seven years ago, he might have desperately searched for another way. He might have begged Umak to stop.
But he had long since learned a harsh truth.
There are some threats that can't be reasoned with.
There are some monsters that have to be erased for the sake of the world.
Izuku's golden army his legion relayed their findings.
They had infiltrated Umak's body, analyzing the core of his power.
The result was grim: There was no removing his Quirk now. It was bound to his will to die. As long as Umak sought destruction, his Quirk would remain at its peak.
If Izuku didn't stop him here, now, millions would suffer.
Umak's body was starting to glow, heat radiating from his skin like a living furnace. Izuku knew what was coming next. If the Dragon Emperor wasn't given the death he desired, he would burn the entire city to the ground with him.
With a single motion, Izuku forged twenty feathers into a golden dome, enclosing himself and Umak within its walls.
The world held its breath.
In Japan, the bar fell into chaos as the girls panicked.
Momo clenched the table, her face pale. "Why did the news feed cut out?!"
The newscaster, who possessed a clairvoyant Quirk, looked visibly shaken. "Something… cut off my vision. I can't see inside."
The bar was silent for a moment.
Then, Uraraka took a shaky breath, pressing her hands together. "Deku… please come back to me."
Mina held onto Toru, who was trembling uncontrollably.
Tsuyu's fingers dug into her sleeves, her usual calm shattered.
Jirou bit down on her jack, tears streaming down her face as she struggled against the deafening sound of her friends' racing heartbeats.
Then
A pillar of golden light erupted from the battlefield.
The sky seemed to split apart as the heavens were drawn toward the epicenter.
The world froze.
The explosion of golden energy swallowed the sky, a swirling vortex of power unlike anything humanity had ever seen. The air itself crackled with its might.
In U.A., the faculty room was thrown into chaos.
In the bar, no one dared to breathe.
Then
The golden light faded.
The news caster reactivated his Quirk. "I-I can see again! I " His breath caught.
The camera feed stabilized.
And there
Floating above the ruins, bathed in golden light, stood Izuku Midoriya.
And Umak was gone.
There was no body.
There was no trace.
Just Izuku, victorious.
As if sensing the world's eyes on him, Izuku slowly raised his hand into the air.
A silent declaration.
A reminder to all.
A moment later, the bar erupted into cheers.
The UA faculty roared in celebration.
And All Might, his proud smile trembling with emotion, let out a choked sob.
"My boy… You did it again…"
The world, once again, was reminded of a single truth.
Izuku Midoriya was the world greatest hero.