When Kaminari returned to the venue hall, he noticed that All Might was no longer there, most likely, he had gone to support Midoriya and the others.
This made him hesitate. Should he stay and protect his parents, or should he go find Kyoka and the others?
What if he left now and villains arrived later via the elevator? The pro heroes were still incapacitated on the ground.
He had faced the same dilemma earlier when deciding whether to rescue Tetsutetsu first or head straight to his parents. Although saving Tetsutetsu had turned out to be the right choice, what if something went wrong this time?
What do I do… what do I do… Kaminari lowered his head, deep in thought, uncertainty clouding his expression.
Seeing their son's hesitation, his parents exchanged a look, immediately understanding what was on his mind.
His father spoke up first.
"Kaminari."
"Huh?" Kaminari lifted his head in confusion.
"Go for it!"
His mother followed, smiling warmly. "We're safe now. It's time for you to go help Kyoka and do what you need to do."
"But… what if more villains show up?" Kaminari hesitated. He knew there were still dozens of enemies left.
"No, didn't All Might already leave? The villains should be focusing on him now," his father reassured him.
Kaminari thought for a moment, then nodded. "That's true..."
If there were villains at All Might's location, there were definitely also villains at Kyoka and Momo's location. And it wasn't certain which group had more.
Just then, an announcement echoed through the venue.
[I-Island's security system has returned to normal mode.]
[I-Island's security system has returned to normal mode.]
At the same time, the blue restraints binding the pro heroes suddenly unlocked and disappeared into thin air.
"We're free?!"
"Has the security system been restored? That's great!"
The newly freed pro heroes quickly stood up, cheering. The ordinary civilians also breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that their safety was now much more secure.
"Did Kyoka and the others do this…?" Kaminari wondered to himself.
His mother wiped away her tears, smiling as she looked at him. "Do you feel relieved now?"
"Go on, Kaminari," she said softly. "You're a hero candidate!"
"Alright!"
Kaminari locked eyes with his parents, then gave a firm nod. Without another word, he flicked his Justice Coat, transforming into a golden flash as he rushed out of the hall.
The pro heroes around him tried to call out to him, but he ignored them.
To be honest, he didn't have much respect for these so-called "heroes."
---
As Kaminari surged forward in High-Voltage Mode, he noticed several unconscious villain soldiers lying along the way.
"All Might, huh? Looks like he was thinking the same thing about eliminating potential threats."
Realizing this, Kaminari abruptly stopped, then turned and ran in a different direction, not back to the hall, but outside the tower.
BOOM!!
In the next moment, he shot into the sky, his Coat billowing behind him as golden electricity crackled around him. He looked like a Super Saiyan, blazing through the night.
His reflection streaked across the tower's steel walls, growing longer and longer as he soared higher.
The tenth floor, the twentieth, the thirtieth, the fortieth, he was ascending at a speed far faster than Midoriya and the others could ever climb by stairs.
---
At the top of the tower, an area two floors above the 200th floor served as a helipad, large enough to accommodate ten helicopters at once.
A red-haired man wearing an iron mask strode across the rooftop.
With his right hand, he carried Dr. David Shield over his shoulder.
With his left hand, he held a bloodstained box containing the Quirk Amplification Device and its related data.
He moved toward the helicopter parked in the center of the rooftop.
"BOSS, what about the other soldiers?" A pink-haired man standing guard at the helicopter's entrance asked in surprise.
"Let them serve their final purpose." The iron-masked man's voice was ice-cold. "Start the helicopter immediately. We need to retreat before the security system is fully restored. The mission is complete."
"Understood!"
As his subordinate, the pink-haired man had no objections. After all, he wasn't the one being left behind.
"Kill… kill me!" Dr. David Shield's hoarse voice rang out.
The iron-masked man sneered. "Not yet. We still need you for more 'work.' Your wish will be granted when the time comes."
BOOM!
Just as he placed Dr. Shield and the bloodstained box onto the helicopter, rapid footsteps echoed from behind.
Midoriya, clutching his injured shoulder, staggered onto the rooftop entrance, panting heavily.
"Wait… a… minute…!"
"Hm?" The iron-masked man turned, narrowing his eyes at the familiar green-haired boy.
"Tch. You again. Looks like I was too soft on you last time."
"Give me back the doctor!!" Midoriya shouted.
The iron-masked man chuckled. "Oh? So you're not here for me—you're here to capture this criminal instead?" His white coat fluttered in the strong winds generated by the helicopter's rotors.
"Wrong!" Midoriya shouted, his body crackling with green electricity.
"I'M HERE TO SAVE THE DOCTOR!!"
BOOM!
The iron-masked man slammed his hand onto the metal ground. "Interesting. So you want to 'save' a criminal, hero candidate?"
Suddenly, a massive steel pillar shot up from the floor like a python, hurtling toward Midoriya.
One after another, steel beams emerged, swiping at him in rapid succession.
"I want to save everyone!" Midoriya yelled. "I want to get Dr. David out!!"
Agilely dodging the metallic attacks, he leaped closer to the helicopter.
"You're dreaming, kid!" The iron-masked man sneered, reinforcing his Quirk. More steel pillars rose at an alarming speed.
"Shut up!"
Midoriya roared, "This is what a hero does! A hero saves people in need!!"
With a determined cry, he punched the approaching steel pillar, shattering it into flying shards.
BOOM!
The reinforced metal crumbled like brittle tofu under the force of his fist!
"Oh? And how exactly will you 'save' him?"
The iron-masked man—no, Metal Man—grinned wickedly as he pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Dr. David's head.
Midoriya froze in place.
"See? Being a hero is such an inconvenience," Metal Man taunted. "Because of that, you're completely helpless."
Even as Midoriya stood still, the metal beams continued their relentless assault, aiming to crush him to death.
"Take off!" Metal Man ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
Without hesitation, he jumped into the helicopter. Moments later, the aircraft lifted off, quickly ascending into the starry night sky.
"Damn it!!"
"Give him back!!"
"Give me back the doctor!!!"
Midoriya's frustrated screams echoed across the rooftop.
Melissa, who had just arrived beside him, gasped as she noticed something golden streak across the night sky.
It was a meteor.
No—
It was Kaminari.
"You think you can escape?"
His voice rang out, carrying a dangerous chill.
"You and I still have unfinished business."
BZZZZZT!
The familiar sound of a thousand birds chirping filled the air.
In the next instant—
The golden lightning-clad comet collided directly with the helicopter.
"RAIKIRI!!"
(To be continued.)
***
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