The moment Shigaraki's strange, grating laughter echoed through the plaza, Igarashi Masata knew something was wrong.
"Kid," Shigaraki said slowly, spreading his arms wide, peering at Masata through the gaps between the severed hand covering his face,
"your Quirk is indeed extremely lethal."
"But it still won't save you."
"This is Nomu."
Shigaraki's voice was filled with absolute confidence.
"This thing can block All Might's punches."
As the smoke dispersed, Nomu's massive figure became fully visible once more. The arm that had clashed with Masata earlier was still scorched black—but in the very next moment, muscle fibers twisted, flesh regenerated, and a completely new arm reformed in front of Masata's eyes.
"This Nomu doesn't just have Super Regeneration," Shigaraki continued calmly.
"It also possesses Shock Absorption."
"Your fists are useless against it."
Shigaraki revealed Nomu's abilities without the slightest concern, as if he were already holding the winning hand.
Masata clenched his teeth.
His right arm was already completely useless.
Understanding a villain's Quirk didn't automatically mean you could defeat them—and this monster was proof of that.
"Two Quirks… Shock Absorption and Super Regeneration," Masata thought rapidly.
"This thing was designed specifically to counter All Might."
"But…" his eyes narrowed,
"its brain is exposed, and it doesn't seem capable of independent thought."
"So it can only follow orders from this hand-obsessed lunatic."
Masata recalled All Might's straightforward, overwhelming fighting style and quickly compared it to his own situation.
"My right arm is finished. Only my left hand can still move."
"And judging from Nomu's speed earlier, I can't outrun it."
"Close combat is suicide."
Masata wasn't foolish enough to blindly charge at a monster with the same physical build as All Might. That wasn't bravery—it was death. He'd already lost an arm to a single punch. One more direct hit anywhere vital, and he'd be finished.
"Normal attacks don't work," he calculated grimly.
"And judging by the regeneration speed… this isn't anywhere near its limit."
All these thoughts passed through his mind in only a few seconds—barely any time at all since he'd been blasted away earlier.
"Then there's only one option…"
"Big Eruption!!!"
Magma surged violently from Masata's left arm, flooding over it in waves. The lava expanded, stacking layer upon layer, until it formed a massive, towering magma fist at his side.
Nomu was fast. Nomu healed endlessly.
So Masata chose an attack that couldn't be dodged.
If he couldn't outpace Nomu, he would drown it.
He intended to bury the monster in magma and grind down its regeneration through sheer volume and heat.
"If my magma doesn't disappear," Masata thought,
"then even this thing won't enjoy being submerged in it."
But as the magma roared outward, Masata felt it clearly—
His strength was being torn from his body.
The pain from his ruined right arm surged again, mixing with the exhaustion ripping through his muscles.
"My current physical condition… isn't enough."
His body had already reached its limit.
With a fierce roar, Masata hurled the massive lava fist forward—
But not at Nomu.
The true target was Shigaraki, standing off to the side.
"What—?!" Shigaraki's eyes widened.
"Nomu! Get back here!"
He hadn't expected Masata to suddenly abandon his duel with Nomu and attack him directly.
Nomu reacted instantly.
Its massive body blurred forward, positioning itself in front of Shigaraki, crossing both arms to block the incoming magma fist.
The lava engulfed Nomu.
Flesh melted. Bones charred.
Yet the regeneration activated nonstop, repairing its body as quickly as it was destroyed. The two forces locked together in a horrifying stalemate.
"Aaaaaaah!!!"
Masata screamed, forcing every remaining drop of strength from his body.
The magma fist pushed forward—just a little more.
Then—
BOOM!!!
The sheer mass and weight of the lava fist slammed Nomu straight into the ground, detonating with a deafening roar.
The earth shattered.
The plaza trembled.
Masata collapsed to his knees, completely drained, staring at the ground where molten rock slowly spread outward into a growing magma pool.
"…Did it work…?" he murmured weakly.
Then—
"Kid… you almost killed me."
Masata's pupils shrank.
The voice came from behind him.
"When did—?!" He twisted his head sharply, but he hadn't sensed any movement at all.
Black mist swirled behind him.
Kurogiri emerged from the darkness, and Shigaraki stepped out beside him.
"If Kurogiri hadn't arrived in time," Shigaraki snarled,
"I would've really died there!"
Burn marks scarred his body—proof that Masata's attack had nearly succeeded.
Hatred poured off Shigaraki like a tangible substance.
He straightened, glaring down at Masata.
"I'll kill you."
Shigaraki extended his thin, trembling hand toward Masata, who desperately tried—and failed—to stand.
At the same time, Nomu crawled out of the magma pool.
Its body was still burning, but the muscles were regenerating rapidly. Even Masata's strongest move hadn't pushed it anywhere near its limit.
Then—
An ice wall erupted between Masata and Shigaraki.
"What?"
Shigaraki froze, staring at the sudden barrier.
"Huh… so you caught up."
Shoto Todoroki stood on the far side of the ice wall, his breath steady, eyes cold.
He'd been delayed by a group of far stronger villains earlier—not the cannon fodder from before. After finally defeating them, he rushed here just in time to see Shigaraki reaching for Masata.
"Annoying brats, one after another!" Shigaraki snapped.
"Nomu—kill him!"
But before Nomu could move, Kurogiri raised a hand.
"Shigaraki, we can't stay here."
"Although Thirteen has lost combat capability, one student escaped."
Kurogiri's words hit their mark.
Shigaraki's breathing grew erratic. He clawed violently at his own neck, scratching until blood seeped out beneath his fingers.
"Kurogiri… if you weren't a warp gate," he hissed,
"you'd already be ash."
"Even with Nomu, we can't fight dozens of professional Heroes."
"And Nomu has already regenerated far too many times."
"…This round is over."
His tone abruptly turned calm.
"We're leaving."
With that, Shigaraki turned his back, preparing to withdraw.
"…Did they retreat?"
From a distance, Midoriya Izuku, who had been hiding the entire time, finally let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Mineta burst into tears, overwhelmed with relief.
"After causing this much chaos… they're just leaving?"
Izuku stared, unable to understand their thinking.
"But—"
Shigaraki suddenly stopped.
He turned back, placing a hand against the ice wall.
"Before we go…"
"Let me first trample on All Might's dignity as the Symbol of Peace."