Summary
Winning All for One was a team effort, highlighting the importance of collaboration in My Hero Academia. Bakugo’s recognition of his teammates’ contributions shows his growth as a hero. All for One’s defeat was the result of a series of heroic actions, not just Bakugo’s efforts, and it recalls the great moment at the end of the Paranormal Liberation War.
Warning: Spoilers for My Hero Academia, Chapter #409My Hero AcademyAll For One’s greatest villain has just been dealt a crippling blow that seemed to end the fight, and the circumstances of his defeat are strikingly similar to what happened at the end of an incredible battle. Another in the series: The Occult Liberation War. This scene echoes the ending of the Mystic Liberation War arc by emphasizing that this victory was not the work of one person, even as Bakugo delivers the killing blow.
In chapter #409 of My Hero Academia, Bakugo was able to repel All For One’s ultimate attack, leaving the villain completely stunned. He tries to power up to do it again, but fails, as the Quirk inside him no longer obeys his commands. Bakugo can deliver the final blow, taking down the greatest villain in history.
However, Bakugo admits at the end of the chapter that he couldn’t have done it aloneand it was only thanks to the various opponents who had previously challenged All For One that had weakened him enough that Bakugo was able to finish the job.
Winning is always a team effort in My Hero Academia
In many ways, this is similar to how Gigantomachia was taken down in the final pages of the Paranormal Liberation War arc. Many heroes rose up against Gigantomachia, including Midnight and Majestic, the children of Class 1-A and 1-B, and Best Jeanist. Only thanks to everyone’s efforts was Gigantomachia finally defeated, a fact that completely changed the course of the battle and turned what could have been a devastating defeat into a costly victory. The story takes a moment to reiterate this fact after the villain is defeated, emphasizing that no one deserves credit for Gigantomachia’s defeat.
The same applies here to All for One. All for One fought against Endeavor’s team and the Hawks, Tokoyami’s Shadow supported by the students of Shiketsu High, Gigantomachia, Armored All Might and Stain before finally confronting Bakugo. Each of those battles made All for One grow younger and younger thanks to the Rewind drug he took, and the younger he was, the more emotional he became. With his emotional turmoil upon arriving in Bakugo, he no longer had enough willpower to keep his Quirk stable, and that was ultimately the cause of his defeat. As with Gigantomachia, it was a long series of heroic actions that led to the defeat of this ultimate villain.
All For One’s defeat shows Bakugo’s growth
It’s also impressive that Bakugo is able to admit this at the end of the chapter, as previously he would have been happy to take all the credit for All for One’s failure. Bakugo has become a true hero who can admit that he benefits from the help of others. All for One has been a fearsome character for over a hundred years, so seeing the villain finally defeated is a big deal. If All for One had been better able to control his emotions, he might have won, but losing his temper ultimately proved costly. My Hero AcademyThe biggest villain of all.