Chapter 403

The End of an Era, and... the Beginning is the four hundred and third chapter of Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia.

Summary
All Might thinks about his past, including reading books as a child with his mother. He thinks about how his path was one anyone could have taken, with his earliest memories being too tender to be considered a proper origin, and he just happened to glance back at his path for what he has done, seeing something that seemed so significant. In the present, All For One snarks at All Might's attempt to choose how he would leave this world all "hero-like" and activates his Spearlike Bones to destroy his destructive gauntlet. Now that he's finally used up all his tricks, All For One uses Bloodcurdle, paralyzing All Might as he knows how terrifying a cornered hero really is. Seeing All Might's face in absolute despair, All For One grins excitedly as he sees the face he's been waiting for, him at his lowest.

La Brava warns Gentle about what is going again, as he prepares to go help him now that U.A. is floating again, but All For One unleashes a powerful blast at the structure, forcing Gentle to keep his hold on it. All For One comments that U.A. distracted him and threw off his aim, telling Gentle to be crushed under his own righteousness. The American military arrive to fire their lasers at All For One but are worried about hitting All Might. All For One recognizes them as the X-66 jets that helped Star and Stripe fight Tomura, and effortlessly takes them down before they can fire, stating that Star is no longer with them.

While still keeping his hold on Tomura, Deku looks horrified to see All For One carry All Might's body above his, ready to rip his body apart in front of everyone. All around the world, people are watching the live broadcast with fear and anxiousness, believing that his death now will mark the end of an era. As Deku desperately thinks for someone to save him, from above the floating U.A., a barely conscious Dynamight emerges from the smoke, as the two look on at each other.

Chapter Notes

 * All Might as a child, alongside his mother, is seen for the first time.
 * All For One destroys All Might's destructive gauntlet before he can sacrifice himself, then uses Bloodcurdle to completely paralyze him.
 * Gentle and the American jets attempt to assist but are all rebuffed.
 * All For One prepares to rip All Might apart in front of everyone, as those watching the broadcast react in fear.
 * Dynamight emerges from above U.A., revealed to be alive.

Author's Comment
"While I was drawing Toga’s arc, I discovered that your fingers open when you feebly lay your hand flat from the wrist."

- Kohei Horikoshi

Trivia

 * All For One's cheek-tearing smile bears a resemblance to DC Comics' supervillain, The Joker.