NOVEL WEB Chapter 62: 62: Late to the party
As Tomura's hand seemingly grazed Aiden's shoulder, a triumphant sneer spread across his face.
"Gotcha," Tomura hissed, fingers curling for his devastating Decay quirk to take effect.
But instead of crumbling to dust, Aiden turned his head lazily toward Tomura, his body shimmering faintly. The supposed touch passed through like a mirage, leaving Tomura grasping at thin air.
"Really?" Aiden said, his voice dripping with mock pity. "Sneak attacks? That's your big move?"
Before Tomura could process what had happened, Aiden's figure flickered out of sight. A fraction of a second later, Tomura was flying across the battlefield, the force of a golden-tinged punch propelling him like a ragdoll. He crashed into a pile of debris with a yelp, sending clouds of dust into the air.
The students watching from a safe distance gasped in amazement. Kaminari whispered, "Did he just… teleport?"
"No," said Momo, her eyes wide with both awe and analysis. "It's more like he manipulated reality to make it appear he hadn't moved at all."
Tomura struggled to his feet, his breathing ragged and his rage palpable. He rubbed his neck furiously, glaring daggers at Aiden, who was now standing leisurely in the same spot. The faint glow around Aiden's body was fading, but his golden eyes gleamed with determination.
"Y-you arrogant little brat!" Tomura screeched, stomping his foot like a petulant child. "Do you think this is a joke?! I'll kill you!"
"Kill me?" Aiden tilted his head, his voice smooth and amused. "Buddy, you couldn't even touch me."
Fueled by frustration, Tomura lunged again, only for Aiden to sidestep effortlessly, flicking Tomura's forehead mid-dodge. The sheer force of the flick sent Tomura sprawling onto the ground.
"Ow!" Tomura cried out, clutching his head. "You're mocking me! Stop mocking me!"
Aiden leaned down slightly, hands on his knees, looking Tomura in the eye like a parent scolding a tantrum-throwing child. "Mocking you? Nah, I'm just giving you a taste of humility. You should try it sometime—it's good for the soul."
Tomura screamed in frustration, scrambling back to his feet, but Aiden was already behind him, tapping his shoulder. Tomura whirled around, only to eat a solid, glowing punch to the gut that sent him hurtling backward once again.
"I call that one Star Punch," Aiden said, shaking his glowing fist theatrically. "I could do this all day, pal."
The other students, now having rounded up the villains they were facing, started gathering to watch the spectacle unfold.
"Man," Kirishima said, crossing his arms. "Remind me to never get on Aiden's bad side."
"Is it just me," Jirou whispered, "or does he look like he's actually enjoying this?"
Tomura, meanwhile, was on the verge of tears, flailing on the ground. His once-intimidating presence had devolved into pure childish fury. "Why won't you just DIE?!" he screamed, pounding the ground with his fists.
Aiden yawned exaggeratedly. "Boring. This is getting sad, dude."
Suddenly, a loud crash interrupted the scene as the Nomu, glowing faintly with regeneration, burst out from beneath the anvil. With a deafening roar, it lunged toward Aiden, claws outstretched and ready to strike.
Aiden turned toward the Nomu, his golden eyes narrowing as he prepared to counter the attack. But before he could move, a resounding BOOM echoed through the arena. A massive gust of wind followed, nearly knocking everyone off their feet.
When the dust settled, All Might stood in front of Aiden, his iconic smile glowing brighter than the sun. The Nomu lay crumpled in a heap several meters away, steam rising from its mangled body.
"Sorry I'm late, young man," All Might said, flexing his fists as he turned slightly toward Aiden. "I'll take it from here."
Aiden smirked, stepping back with a theatrical bow. "All yours, Symbol of Peace. Knock 'em dead."
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All Might wasted no time capitalising on the Nomu's weakened state. With his trademark smile unwavering, he launched himself at the creature, delivering a flurry of devastating blows, each one creating shockwaves that echoed across the facility.
The Nomu tried to retaliate, but its movements were sluggish and disoriented from Aiden's earlier punishment.
"UNITED STATES OF—SMASH!" All Might roared, driving his fist into the Nomu's chest with enough force to send it skidding across the ground. The earth trembled beneath the impact, and the creature lay unresponsive, its regeneration clearly taxed beyond its limits.
As the dust settled, All Might glanced around, spotting a steel support beam dislodged from a nearby structure. He hefted it effortlessly and wrapped it around the Nomu's limp body, binding it securely.
"Let's make sure this one doesn't get back up," he declared, patting the makeshift restraint with a satisfied nod.
The students, gathered at a safe distance, erupted into a mix of cheers and chatter. Mina clasped her hands together dramatically. "Wow, All Might is amazing! Look at him go!"
Toru, standing close to Aiden, crossed her arms with a huff. "I mean, sure, but Aiden's fight was way cooler."
Mina smirked and nudged Toru teasingly. "Oh? Someone sounds a little biased. Is there something you'd like to tell the class, Toru?"
Toru's face turned beet red, and she waved her hands defensively. "N-no! I'm just saying, that's all!"
Meanwhile, Deku was lost in his own world, rambling to anyone who would listen—or, more accurately, no one in particular.
"All Might's technique is flawless as always, but Aiden's use of his quirk in conjunction with physical combat is incredible! And that punch—oh, I need to write that down!"
Shoto stood silently, his heterochromatic eyes fixed on Aiden with a calculating intensity. His expression betrayed no emotion, but the slightest furrow of his brow suggested something akin to rivalry brewing beneath the surface.
Bakugo, on the other hand, was fuming. His hands sparked with small explosions as he stomped around, muttering under his breath. "Tch, stupid extras hogging the spotlight. I didn't even get a decent fight! Weaklings, all of them!"
Celeste, unfazed by the chaos around her, leaned casually against Aiden's shoulder, her golden-trimmed glasses catching the light. "That was entertaining," she murmured, her tone nonchalant. "You didn't even break a sweat."
Aiden chuckled, placing a hand on her head. "Gotta leave something for All Might, right?"
Amidst the chatter, Tomura, seething and defeated, managed to signal Kurogiri. The swirling purple mist enveloped them both, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished. Tomura's voice echoed faintly as he left. "This isn't over… All Might… Aiden… You'll pay for this."
"Cowards," Aiden muttered, shaking his head. "They always run."
Moments later, a fleet of pro heroes arrived on the scene, led by Endeavor and Midnight. The police followed closely behind, their sirens wailing. The heroes quickly secured the remaining villains, while the police inspected the immobilised Nomu, now wrapped in its steel cocoon.
Endeavor approached All Might, his expression stern. "Late to the party, as always," he said, his tone clipped.
All Might chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Had to give the students a chance to show their stuff (Lies!!). They're the future, after all."
The students watched in awe as the scene unfolded, the realisation of their ordeal sinking in. Aiden, however, remained calm, offering a reassuring smile to those around him.
"Everyone okay?" he asked, his voice steady.
Toru gave him a playful punch on the arm. "Yeah, thanks to you. But next time, let's skip the life-threatening stuff, okay?"
Aiden laughed. "I'll see what I can do."
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