For Shigaraki, as long as he could achieve his goal, he didn't care what method was used.
Whether it was despicable or inhumane didn't matter.
As long as it could keep All Might trapped, then to him, it was a good method.
At the very least, it was far superior to the backup plan he had prepared himself.
Originally, Shigaraki's idea had been to have Kurogiri monitor All Might constantly. The moment All Might shattered the spatial wall and attempted to escape, Kurogiri would immediately activate Warp Gate and send him somewhere else.
But that method required Kurogiri to keep all his attention focused on All Might at all times.
That was a complete waste of one of their most valuable combat assets.
Especially because Kurogiri was an all-purpose support specialist capable of transportation, repositioning, rescue, retreat, and battlefield control.
Compared to that, Kūgai's strategy was far better.
Not only could it keep All Might occupied and exhaust him physically and mentally, preventing him from interfering with the operation—
it also freed up their own manpower to handle other matters.
It was a method that killed two birds with one stone.
Of course, the only problem was that it was excessively cruel.
Using innocent civilians as tools and bullying the weak violated the conscience of any normal person.
But after considering it carefully, Shigaraki still chose to approve the plan.
One reason was because it was undeniably the simplest and most effective option available.
The other reason…
was because he believed All Might would save them all.
Because All Might was the Symbol of Peace.
The strongest man alive.
A monster who, even after being mortally wounded, even after having his stomach ripped open and his intestines spill out, would still crawl back to his feet, drag his entrails behind him, and punch his enemy into the dirt.
And even if something truly went wrong…
At worst, he could still have Kurogiri or Kūgai intervene at the last moment to save the civilians.
With that thought, Shigaraki approved Kūgai's proposal.
…
Meanwhile, inside All Might's alternate dimension—
with every punch he threw, cracks spread across the empty space before him like blooming spiderwebs.
Finally—
the spatial wall shattered completely.
In the next instant, a massive opening appeared before All Might.
Seeing it, joy flashed through his eyes.
But that joy quickly turned into disappointment.
Because beyond the opening, what he saw was not the room from before.
Instead, it was another desolate wasteland filled with shattered stone and ruined earth.
Clearly, even after breaking through one alternate dimension, he still had not returned to reality.
"Shit…"
All Might cursed under his breath.
Still, he wasn't overly disappointed.
After all, he had already expected the enemy wouldn't allow him to regroup with the others so easily.
So this result was still within his expectations.
Thinking that, All Might wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and prepared to step into the rocky wasteland ahead.
He suspected there might be survivors there.
After all, the grassland dimension where he had originally been imprisoned contained no one besides himself.
So perhaps the others had been trapped elsewhere.
"All Might!"
"Trying to leave already?"
"Sorry…"
"I can't allow that."
At that moment, a young and unfamiliar voice suddenly echoed from high above him.
Along with it came a tiny black dot falling rapidly from the sky.
The black figure tumbled helplessly through the air while letting out terrified screams.
"Unless you're willing to watch them splatter into paste!"
"To watch them die in their ugliest state!"
"To watch their corpses delivered back to their families like smashed meat on a plate!"
"Can you accept that?"
"No. Of course you can't."
"Because you are All Might!"
"The Symbol of Peace!"
"Then save them!"
"Save this endless stream of hostages!"
"All Might…"
"You'd better pray your transformation doesn't end too soon."
"Otherwise…"
"…you'll have no choice but to watch them die!"
Hearing the voice from above, All Might's pupils shrank violently.
He immediately looked toward the falling black dot.
And the moment he saw what it truly was, rage ignited inside his chest like wildfire.
Because that black dot…
was a child.
A boy no older than thirteen or fourteen.
"You bastard!"
Without hesitation, All Might leapt upward.
His massive body shot into the sky as if gravity itself had ceased to exist.
In the next instant, he caught the falling boy gently in his arms.
"A-All Might…?"
Seeing All Might suddenly appear beside him, the boy froze completely.
He even forgot to wipe away the tears and snot covering his face.
All Might gently rubbed the boy's head without showing the slightest disgust.
Then he spoke softly.
"It's all right now."
"Why?"
"Because I am here."
"A-All Might…!"
The boy's eyes instantly reddened.
Then tears poured down uncontrollably.
Anyone thrown from several thousand meters in the air would be terrified.
Let alone a child.
"It's okay."
"Don't be afraid."
"I'm here to save you."
While comforting the crying boy, All Might continuously struck the air with his fists and feet, using the recoil to rapidly change direction in midair and rescue the others plummeting from above.
Yes—
the boy was not the only civilian dropped from the sky.
After finally saving the latest group of innocent civilians trapped in this nightmare, All Might let out a long breath.
Thankfully, he had made it in time.
Otherwise…
But this couldn't continue.
He needed to find a way to break out of this passive situation.
If this dragged on any longer, eventually even he would run out of strength.
And once that happened—
those innocent civilians would truly die.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, the voice in the sky rang out once more.
It was almost as if the enemy had seen straight through his intentions.
And this time—
they threw out another bargaining chip.
One that All Might cared about so deeply that he could no longer leave this place at all.
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