As My Hero Academia nears its conclusion, the latest chapter brings us to a pivotal moment. After chapters of buildup, the epic showdown between All For One and One For All reaches its climax and we witness the aftermath of Deku’s ultimate strike.
In Chapter 423, we are surprised by the appearance of Bakugou Katsuki, who joins forces with Shigaraki and Kurogiri to finally overthrow All For One’s tyrannical rule. The title of the chapter, “One For All vs All For One,”is perfectly appropriate.
All For One’s Mental Decline
The opening of the chapter sees AFO bewildered by the failure of his regeneration. Furthermore, the animosity of the heroes on the battlefield interferes with his danger sense, allowing Deku to conceal himself and successfully land a punch on AFO.
Ever since Yoichi’s passing, AFO has experienced a gradual deterioration in both his mental and physical well-being. This is reminiscent of a conversation in the earlier chapters of My Hero Academia where All Might warned that One For All could potentially destroy a weaker body, which appears to be happening as AFO’s body begins to deteriorate.
Kurogiri Saves Shigaraki
Despite the crumbling appearance of AFO, the heroes believe the battle to be won. However, AFO is determined to achieve his goals and utilizes various quirks to remain intact. If he successfully transfers All For One to a different host, he can potentially make a comeback.
As AFO heads towards Deku, Kurogiri intercepts him with the determination to save Shigaraki. He pleads for AFO to return Shigaraki, as his friends are anxiously waiting for his return. However, AFO apologizes and explains that he must go to protect Tomura Shigaraki. These words from Kurogiri touch Present Mic’s heart, reminding him of Shirakumo’s kind nature and how he always assisted those in need.
Bakugo Returns To Cheer On Deku
As Kurogiri begins to fade, Bakugou arrives and uses his explosive powers to propel Deku towards AFO. Despite being severely injured, Bakugou continues to fight by creating explosions with his mouth in order to assist Deku.
Despite being scheduled to be in the hospital, Bakugou managed to convince Shoto to create an ice ramp to help him reach the battlefield. This also suggests that Shoto had recovered well after the Todoroki family’s confrontation with Dabi. Bakugou then encourages Izuku to defeat All For One once and for all.
AFO Is Just A Lonely Man
Despite his unwavering resolve not to forgive All For One, Deku holds the belief that AFO is not an unfathomable monster or a self-proclaimed demon lord. In reality, All For One is simply a deeply lonely individual.
After transitioning to the vestige world, we find AFO conversing with Yoichi’s flame. Deku’s final punch had passed on the remaining embers of One For All – remnants of Yoichi himself, as he is the one who originated OFA. In this moment, we witness AFO’s emotional collapse as he grapples with the loss of his brother.
The End of All For One
It appears that All For One has lost interest in his quirk and is eager to reunite with Yoichi. In return, Yoichi expresses regret to AFO for not being a supportive brother and guiding him towards a better path.
Despite Deku’s final attack that would ultimately bring peace to both brothers, AFO stubbornly rejects the result. He throws a tantrum, insisting on having Yoichi by his side and refusing to accept this as the end of his story. However, Yoichi remains resolute in making AFO pay for all of his wrongdoings.
As the vestiges of One For All and Shigaraki make themselves known from within the vestige world, Deku and Shigaraki join forces to strike AFO’s vestige. As AFO vanishes, their hands make contact, potentially marking a pivotal moment in the future.
Shigaraki’s Final Thoughts
Shigaraki reveals to Deku that he was indeed consumed by AFO, but thanks to Shimura’s vestige, he was saved from vanishing completely. He also confesses to being the tearful young boy that Deku had always observed, unable to destroy anything he desired.
Deku explains to Shigaraki that his determination to keep fighting stemmed from his inability to forgive Shigaraki’s actions. As Shigaraki reaches his final moments, he asks Deku to relay a message to Spinner, stating that he fought until the very end to bring about destruction. Deku reassures him that he succeeded in destroying what truly needed to be destroyed.
After returning to reality, we see Shigaraki’s body disintegrating. Deku stands with his hand raised high, representing both his final punch and his triumph as a hero. Similar to All Might, Deku was able to alter the weather, with the rain ceasing and the sun shining down on the remnants of the battlefield.
Deku’s Potential Quirkless Future: A Cause for Concern
Deku’s commitment to his own definition of a hero, “save to win,”led him to sacrifice One For All. He has always prioritized saving lives over taking them, as evidenced by his sacrifice of his most treasured possession to rescue a weeping boy he encountered while facing Shigaraki.
Despite Shigaraki’s demise, Deku’s sacrifice may now seem futile. He was unable to save the life he desired, yet he did succeed in rescuing Japan and ultimately, the entire world. Unfortunately, this still leaves Deku in a difficult position, as he loses both his quirk and the gratification of fulfilling his determination to save the weeping child.
If Deku were to become quirkless, he would not have fulfilled his ideals due to Tenko’s death, and he would also be unable to continue his efforts to save others as he lost his quirk. While the ending may seem sudden, there are still many unresolved plot points that Horikoshi needs to address. All we can do is hope for a satisfying resolution.
What This Means For Deku’s Future As a Hero
With the demise of Shigaraki, both his physical form and soul, All For One has also disintegrated into nothingness, providing strong evidence that One For All has also vanished. As one cannot exist without the other, AFO’s disappearance with Yoichi, his brother and the source of One For All, further suggests that Deku’s quirk has been lost for good.
Despite coming full circle, Deku will end the story just as he began it—without a quirk. However, he has risen to become a hero to all, surpassing the living legend that is All Might.
Despite not knowing the outcome of Deku’s journey, My Hero Academia has remained faithful to its origins. Ultimately, it is the tale of Izuku Midoriya’s transformation into a hero.
About the Anime Series My Hero Academia
Kōhei Horikoshi is the author and illustrator of the Japanese superhero manga series, My Hero Academia. The series has been running in Weekly Shōnen Jump since July 2014 and has been compiled into 37 tankōbon volumes as of February 2023.
It centers around a boy named Izuku Midoriya who, despite being born without a quirk in a world where almost everyone has one, still idolizes and strives to become the greatest Hero alive. From the moment he was born, Midoriya has been fascinated by heroes and their accomplishments.
On a momentous day, he encounters All Might, the greatest Hero of all time, and learns that he too was born without a quirk. Through his dedicated determination and unshakeable desire to become a hero, Midoriya impresses All Might and is selected as the successor to the One for All power.
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