Chapter 2 :- Broken Dreams, New Hopes

"STOP! YOU IDIOT!! STOP RIGHT THERE "shouted a police officer with red goblin head.

Izuku's ran towards the trapped Bakugo, his limbs were shaky and drooping, like heavy weights were tied to his sides. Their usual movements were now hindered by a weight that seems to pull them down, paralyzed in grip of fear coursing through his whole body 'What could a Quirkless nobody like me possibly do against such strong power?!' 

Yet against this resilient cold raised embers of unwavering determination. Isn't this what true hero's do? Selfless courage that defy overwhelming adversities? This very rule drilled into him from years of religiously following and watching All Might?

'What do I do? What do I do? At a time like this?'

Izuku couldn't help but take at the oversized backpack draped over his shoulders, filled to the brim with his beloved collection of hero manuals, quirk breakdowns, and an abundance of heartfelt notes like "A true hero never lets their flame dim even in the darkest hours..." shouted Izuku. 

His brow furrowed in determination, teeth gritting with an unbreakable resolve as he ripped his battered backpack from his shoulders with a trembling hand. With every ounce of strength, he could muster and hurled it towards the villain's greenish and oozing form.

"STOP GETTING IN MY WAY! ASSHOLE!!!" villain shouted.

"Does he have a death wish or something?!"shouted many from the crowd behind him.

The impact caused the creature to recoil and loosen its grip by a hair's breadth. Seizing this momentary advantage, Izuku summoned all his courage and charged forward, knowing that one wrong move could mean facing oblivion.

His lean body collided with the slimy mass, fingers clawing at the thick goo with mad desperation. The slime recoiled and resisted. But Izuku, his jaw clenched in a determined grimace. The stench of decay and malice filled the air as he fought tooth and nail against the vile creature, his heart set on saving Bakugo in need.

His muscles bulged with power, veins throbbing, and tendons stretched to their limits as he pushed his body to the exhaustion. Time slowed down, each second felt like an eternity as he battled with slime villain. His vision blurred, but he refused to go down.

Bakugo's face twisted with a complex mix of anger, disbelief, and frustration as he shouted, "Why you!?" His voice boomed through the street.

But Izuku didn't back down. Tears filled his eyes as he defiantly replied, "You looked like you needed saving." The words were laced with determination and a fierce sense of justice.

Izuku plunged his hands into the villains body, desperately searching for any sign of Bakugo. His heart raced as he finally felt a familiar hand and yanked with all his might, determined to free Bakugo from this monstrous being. They crashed to the ground, gasping for air amidst the putrid filth that coated their bodies. Izuku didn't care about anything else in that moment except getting Bakugo out of harm's way.

Izuku felt a rush of excitement as he faced near-death and conquered it. But his triumph was short-lived as the villain charged towards two vulnerable individuals who were at his mercy.

"You are DEAD!" shouted the villain loomed above, causing Izuku to recoil in fear. He lay on the ground, exhausted. This was the consequence of being a hero, challenging nature's laws.

Suddenly, the sky quaked with the powerful declaration of a magnificent voice. "Fear not, citizens! For I have arrived!"

The ground shook as All Might, landed in a whirlwind of dust and debris. His golden aura radiated outwards, causing even the air to shimmer with his immense power. The onlookers could barely contain their awe in the face of such an overwhelming presence.

As Izuku watched All Might in action, his heart raced with excitement. He had spent countless hours studying and admiring All Might's incredible strength, but seeing it in person was like a dream come true.

All Might's body tensed, muscles bulging and rippling under his bright red suit as he raised one fist high into the air.

"DETROIT..." The syllables themselves felt like they were shaking the very foundations of nature.

"...SMASH!!!"

The resulting blast was like a tsunami of pure energy, erasing everything in its path. Izuku's jaw dropped as he felt the intense air pressure, realizing for the first time the true power of All Might's strength. It was a moment that would stick with him forever, far more impactful than any scribbled notes in his charred notebook could ever convey.

This is what it meant to go PLUS ULTRA.

Without warning, he scooped Izuku up in his arms and hoisted him onto his shoulders. Then, with a strong thrust of his legs, he propelled them both upwards into the sky. The crowd gasped in shock as they watched the reckless pair take flight.

As they landed on the rooftop of a towering building, Izuku's heart raced with fear and excitement. He took a deep breath and stepped forward, asking All Might, "Can someone without a quirk still be a hero?" Before he could finish his question, All Might's stern voice silenced him.

"You foolish, FOOLISH child!"

He was forcefully pulled back down to earth, away from his dreams. All Might loomed over him, a towering figure of disapproval and shame. The symbol of peace now felt like an insurmountable source of inner turmoil and self-doubt for Izuku.

"What were you even thinking?!! If I hadn't been there, both you and that other kid would probably be dead by now." Each word landed like a measured sledgehammer blow, threatening to reduce Izuku to raw basalt beneath its weight.

Izuku squirmed, apologizing as he explained his actions. "I didn't mean to do it, sir... my legs just moved on their own when I saw him in distress."

"It's impossible for a quirkless to become a hero. Despite your sheer courage, it's still too dangerous. Even if you made it this time, there will only be pains and hopelessness on your path." All Might's powerful voice boomed, causing Izuku to flinch. His expression was a mix of concern and disapproval as he towered over the smaller, weaker figure of Izuku.

'IS it wring to have a dream…' thought running amok in Izuku's brain.

"You are nothing but a Quirkless person, deluding yourself into thinking you could ever match this society."

With each harsh word, Izuku could feel his idol status crumbling beneath him. All Might's once shining image was now tainted with disappointment and disdain. The tears that threatened to fall were a mix of humiliation and heartbreak, blurring the disapproving look on All Might's face.

Izuku felt the weight of All Might's intense scolding like a stormy ocean crashing down on him. "Let go of these naive dreams and find contentment within the limitations fate has placed upon you."

The familiar words echoed in Izuku's mind, triggering a physical reaction that felt like a meteor striking his soul. He had always idolized the All Might and molded his entire life around emulating his greatness. But now, faced with the truth, it all crumbled. Like an unstoppable tsunami, harsh reality washed over him and he realized he would never be able to achieve the same level of success and recognition as his role model. The dream he had held onto for so long was shattered in an instant.

Izuku's shoulders shook as his fragile facade crumbled. The taste of salty tears mingled with the bitterness of betrayal on his lips. He had spent years idolizing heroes and studying their powers, convinced that he too could become one. But now, in this moment of defeat, he saw the truth: he was just a naive boy chasing an impossible dream. All that hard work, all those notebooks filled with notes and strategies, were nothing but a desperate attempt to prove himself worthy. 

'What am i if not a fool who idolized the impossible?' 

Yet...steady inhale, slow exhale...no, that was unacceptable.

"No!! You shouldn't be dishearten this easily, Midoriya Izuku!! Like All Might said "Even if you can't be a hero, you still have many other jobs to aim for!!"

"Right! It may not be a direct route, but you can still be of help! It's too early to get down!!"

As the night slowly faded into a hazy dawn, Izuku's eyes stayed glued to the moon's cycle as he poured over countless options. He was determined to find a way to contribute to society and protect lives, no matter what it took. Countless prospectuses and pamphlets coalesced into teetering stacks surrounding the solitary boy. Police academies, firefighting training regimens, paramedic certifications...any outlet that may allow him to engage in the perpetual struggle for order.

Izuku's willpower was strong enough to withstand any discouragement. His innate heroism was put through an intense transformation, shedding its naivete and emerging as a resolute force. He would give EVERYTHING to the pursuit of righteousness, helping those unable to help themselves.

He soon drifted off to sleep, his mind was filled with sweet dreams, unaware of the impending reality that would soon shatter them.