Finally, Izuku caps off his streak by revealing his trump card against Muscular.

Especially in light of Twice's tragic demise and Toga's question as to whether or not people saw him as a person who needed to be saved. It falls flat because of Muscular being exactly the kind of deranged maniac he seems to be on the surface but it’s heartwarming that Izuku is taking steps to try and save not only civilians, but also the villains who feel driven to their current situation because of their treatment by society.

Izuku then queries Muscular about his motivations for becoming a villain, trying to ascertain what drives him to be the way he is, showcasing how his brief meeting with Tomura in OFA’s mental world has affected his perception of villains, trying to see them as people in pain rather than monsters that have to be put down for the good of others.

Next, Izuku reveals another of his stored Quirks from OFA - Smokescreen - which isn’t very impressive on paper, especially since Izuku can’t actually see through the cover he creates, but when combined with Black Whip, Float, OFA’s natural Speed and agility enhancements and Danger Sense forewarning him of Muscular’s attacks, Izuku is able to lead him around like a Matador, constantly dodging his blind attacks until he’s able to take the psychotic villain off guard once he over-swings, wrapping him up with Black Whip and smashing him into a nearby canal for their final face-off.Even more impressively, despite Muscular being a rampaging and unreasonable brute of a man, Izuku actually manages to keep his promise. First, he deftly avoids Muscular’s charge, even carrying Shindo in his arms, leaving him with Nakagame and a promise that there won’t be any further damage done now that he’s on the scene.Chapter 308: The entire chapter is a highlight for Izuku, showing how far he’s progressed in mastering his powers and potential as the future greatest hero in Japan.It would have only escalated the situation for the worse, but despite their refusal to work with Shindo or believe in heroes anymore, the citizens prove that they weren’t all talk when they said they were going to defend their town with their own hands, immediately starting to head out to save Grand when it looks like the young kid is about to be killed before them.If there's anything heroes oughta have at this point, it's a rock-hard spirit that refuses to bend or break! Shindo:(Priming his Ultimate Move) Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. It doesn’t work, but it’s made clear that, despite his attitude, Shindo does have the heart of a true hero in him. Shindo demonstrates he’s improved enough with his Quirk that he can actually form a vibro-knife with his equipment, and when muscular has pummelled him into a building and is about to switch targets to Nakagame and the civilians in hopes of a better match, Shindo pulls his ultimate move on him - taking advantage of the fact that he can’t move anyway to unleash his vibrations to the maximum in order to push through Muscular’s defenses and reach his main body.

Bearing in mind, Shindo’s Quirk actually affects him with the knockback of his own attacks, meaning he’s at a disadvantage against a hardened slugger like Muscular in a protracted fight, but he doesn’t back down regardless of the odds. Props should be given to Grand who, despite being rudely rebuffed by the civilians he was trying to escort to safety, still goes ahead and puts his life on the line to stop Muscular, a nigh-unstoppable foe to somebody of his current training and abilities from reaching them.In combination with his tattered hero costume and Gran Torino’s raggedy cape Deku’s hero costume now looks actually pretty badass and intimidating, in contrast to the goofy-looking ensemble he had on when first wearing it, showing how far Izuku’s coming in becoming a hero from the beginning of the story. Holding the unconscious Shindo, the chapter ends with a shot of Deku standing before Muscular, revealing that he’s progressed enough in controlling OFA’s powers that he now possesses the same Glowing Eyes of Doom All Might had before. Muscular is overwhelming Shindo through the latter’s last-ditch effort to stop him from attacking the nearby citizens and Nakagame, negating his attack through wrapping himself up in more muscle fibers than Grand’s Quirk can affect, and is primed to turn the young kid into a bloody meat paste when he’s suddenly blind-sided out of nowhere and his hulking frame flying into a building.

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