Flames flickered in the air as Reiji stepped forward, his golden eyes locking onto Shigaraki and the Nomu.
Shigaraki's decayed lips curled into a sneer. "And who the hell are you supposed to be?"
Reiji didn't answer immediately.
His gaze flickered to Aizawa, injured and struggling to move.
[Tch. He got wrecked fast.]
His eyes moved back to the massive Nomu, its hulking body twitching with unnatural movements.
He knew what this thing was.
It wasn't just some random thug.
It was a bioengineered monster built to kill All Might.
His smirk widened.
[And I want to see how I compare.]
Shigaraki took a slow step forward, scratching at his neck. "You look strong," he muttered. "But you're just a U.A. brat. I bet the Nomu can rip you apart in seconds."
Reiji chuckled. "Maybe."
Then he disappeared.
A burst of Hellfire erupted beneath his feet as he shot forward.
Shigaraki's eyes widened. "Nomu—!"
BOOM!
Reiji's fist collided with the Nomu's torso, the impact shattering the ground beneath them.
The shockwave sent debris flying, forcing Shigaraki to stumble back.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then—
The Nomu didn't move.
It stood there, body slightly pushed back, but otherwise completely unharmed.
Reiji narrowed his eyes.
[So that's how it is.]
The Nomu's body twitched, then regenerated instantly.
Shigaraki chuckled. "You're fast. But the Nomu has super regeneration. No matter how strong you are, it won't die."
Reiji cracked his knuckles. "Good. I was hoping it wouldn't break too easily."
The Nomu lunged.
Reiji barely dodged as a massive fist tore through the air, the sheer force cracking the air around it.
[Fast. Strong. Definitely built to kill All Might.]
But he wasn't All Might.
He was something else.
Reiji teleported behind the Nomu in a burst of Hellfire, reappearing in the air above it.
A new notification flashed in his vision.
[System Upgrade: New Ability Unlocked – Flaming Uppercut]
A smirk flickered across his lips. Perfect timing.
He clenched his fist, Hellfire exploding from his knuckles, and drove an uppercut into the Nomu's jaw.
BOOM!
The monster's head snapped upward, its entire body lifted off the ground from the sheer impact.
The force shattered the nearby pavement, sending a blast of heat across the battlefield.
Shigaraki staggered back, stunned. "What the hell?!"
But once again—
The Nomu didn't fall.
Its head twisted back into place, completely unharmed.
Reiji landed gracefully, rolling his shoulders.
[It regenerates too fast. Even a full-force hit won't put it down.]
Shigaraki grinned. "See? It's useless. The Nomu is built to withstand even All Might's power! You're just—"
Reiji tilted his head slightly.
"Who said I was trying to knock it out?"
Shigaraki blinked. "What?"
Reiji raised a single finger.
And snapped.
FWOOOM!
The Nomu's entire body ignited in black Hellfire.
Shigaraki's expression twisted in confusion.
But then he noticed.
The Nomu wasn't regenerating.
It was screaming.
The black flames burned through its muscles, flesh, and bones, preventing the regeneration from taking effect.
Shigaraki's breath hitched. "Wait—"
Reiji's smirk widened.
"I told you. I wasn't trying to knock it out."
He slowly clenched his fist.
"I was cooking it from the inside."
The Nomu thrashed wildly, its body collapsing to its knees as the flames ate away at its very existence.
Shigaraki's eyes shook. "No… that's impossible! It's supposed to be invincible!"
Reiji stepped forward, eyes glowing with pure amusement.
"What's wrong?" he asked mockingly. "Not so confident now?"
Shigaraki gritted his teeth, hands trembling.
[This kid is dangerous. Too dangerous.]
Kurogiri suddenly appeared beside him. "Shigaraki, we need to retreat."
Shigaraki's fingers twitched violently. "I… I—"
Then, before he could finish—
A massive shockwave tore through the battlefield.
BOOM!
A golden blur crashed into the ground, shaking the entire U.S.J. facility.
Dust and wind whipped through the air as a booming voice echoed across the battlefield.
"I AM HERE!"
Reiji glanced to the side, smirking.
All Might had arrived.
Shigaraki staggered backward. "No… no no no no! We weren't supposed to fight him today!"
Kurogiri grabbed his shoulder. "We're leaving."
Shigaraki clenched his fists in rage but reluctantly allowed himself to be pulled into the mist.
The League of Villains vanished.
And just like that, the battle was over.
As the dust settled, Reiji exhaled, rolling his shoulders.
[So, that's the Nomu's limit, huh?]
His golden eyes flickered toward All Might, who stood at the center of the battlefield, gaze locked onto Reiji.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—
All Might smiled.
"That was impressive, young man."
Reiji chuckled. "Yeah?"
All Might nodded. "You held your ground. But more than that… you fought like someone who has been in real battles before."
Reiji shrugged. "Maybe."
Aizawa, still injured, finally spoke up. "All Might. We need to regroup the students."
All Might nodded but kept his eyes on Reiji a moment longer.
There was something about this boy.
Something that even he, the Number One Hero, couldn't quite understand.
Reiji turned, walking away.
This world's strongest hero had acknowledged him.
But he wasn't satisfied.
Not yet.
Because now, more than ever, he knew one thing for certain—
He was only getting started.
End of Chapter 9.
_________________________________________________________________________
🔥 Hey legends! Quick updates! 🔥
💥 Can't wait for the next chapter? Good news—ALL advance chapters are available on Patreon for just $5! No more waiting, just pure binge-reading goodness! 🚀
👉 patreon.com/cyci07
✨ Power Stone Challenge! ✨
If we hit 100 power stones, I'll drop 2 bonus chapters! Let's see if you guys can make me suffer! 😂
💬 Enjoying the story? Leave a review and let me know your favorite moment so far! It helps the novel grow and reach more readers!
Thanks for all your support—you guys are awesome! ❤️