A deep, overwhelming voice suddenly rose from within the crowd.
The sound was calm—yet carried a weight that pressed directly against the chest.
There was no time to think about where it came from.
The sludge monster's body was already swelling grotesquely, its Quirk reaching a critical point. Thick, mud-like limbs twisted and expanded, surging outward in every direction. Panic erupted among the civilians as screams tore through the air.
If the attack landed, countless bystanders would be crushed, suffocated, or torn apart.
All Might's expression changed instantly.
If innocent people died here—if even one life was lost—he knew he would never forgive himself.
Without hesitation, All Might stomped down with terrifying force.
Boom!
The ground caved in violently beneath his foot. The street shattered as if struck by a meteor, chunks of earth compressing and detonating forward. The shockwave transformed the broken ground into a massive earthen shell that shot outward like a cannonball.
The sludge monster was obliterated mid-expansion.
Mud and debris exploded into the air, scattering harmlessly as the crowd was shielded by the shockwave's redirection. The crisis ended in a single instant.
Silence followed.
Dust drifted down slowly, illuminated by emergency lights and the glow of shattered streetlamps. The crowd stood frozen, staring at the scene in disbelief.
All Might straightened, exhaling slowly.
But his eyes—sharp, alert—did not relax.
Something felt wrong.
Moments earlier, just before the sludge monster screamed in terror, All Might had clearly heard something else.
A sound.
Not from the monster.
From behind him.
And whatever it was… had frightened the villain more than death itself.
All Might turned his head slightly, scanning the crowd.