Chapter 14: Mercenary's Creed

The Nomu lunged.

Its monstrous frame tore through the air like a freight train, its claws glinting with the promise of destruction. The air cracked with the force of its charge. Cloud didn't move. His grip on the Buster Sword tightened, the massive blade resting steadily on his shoulder.

With a guttural roar, the Nomu swiped down, aiming to crush him.

CLANG!

Steel met flesh.

Cloud's sword cleaved downward in a brutal arc, slicing clean through the Nomu's outstretched arm. Blackish blood sprayed across the ruined floor. The creature barely faltered. Its severed limb twitched on the ground for mere seconds before muscles regenerated and bone snapped back into place.

Cloud narrowed his eyes behind the wolf mask.

"So it heals, huh?" he muttered, stepping back into a defensive stance.

The Nomu howled and charged again, faster this time, swinging its regenerated fists with wild ferocity. Cloud dodged effortlessly, weaving through its attacks, each movement precise and deliberate.

He pivoted and slashed, severing the Nomu's leg at the knee. The beast crumbled for a moment but immediately began to regrow.

Cloud clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Tch. Persistent."

A Voice of Protest

"Stop!"

A desperate voice cut through the chaos.

Cloud's gaze briefly shifted.

Midoriya stood at the edge of the battle, his fists clenched in frustration. His green hair was matted with sweat and dust, his eyes wide with concern.

"You can't just keep slicing it up!" Midoriya shouted. "There has to be another way! We need to figure out how it works—how to stop it for good!"

Cloud didn't respond at first. He dodged another swing, letting the Nomu's massive fist slam into the concrete, cracking the ground.

"Another way?" Cloud muttered, almost to himself.

Without looking at Midoriya, Cloud launched himself forward, bringing his sword down hard.

SHUNK.

The Nomu's other arm was cleaved off. Black blood gushed out, hissing on the ground.

"Listen, kid." Cloud's voice was cold and steady, barely audible over the chaos. "Monsters like this? They only understand force. Mercy's wasted on them."

Mercenary's Creed

The Nomu lunged again. Cloud sidestepped and smashed the flat of his blade into the creature's head, sending it crashing into the ground. Dust and rubble exploded into the air.

Cloud exhaled slowly, then spoke—not to the Nomu, but to the students behind him.

His voice, deep and steady, echoed through the battlefield.

"Hold onto your dreams."

The words seemed to hang in the air.

Cloud lifted the Buster Sword, resting it across his broad shoulder.

"Whatever happens… protect your honor, as HEROES!"

His head turned slightly, and though the wolf mask concealed his face, the weight of his stare was palpable.

"But me? I'm no hero. I'm a mercenary. I fight on my own terms."

The students of Class 1-A stared in stunned silence.

Bakugou stiffened.

That voice. That tone. That overwhelming pressure.

He knew it.

Cloud.

His trainer.

Bakugou gritted his teeth, gripping his fists tighter.

Cloud's masked gaze lingered on him for a heartbeat longer, a silent message passing between them.

Then, Cloud turned back to the Nomu.

"But you…" His voice sharpened. "You're heroes in training. So hold onto those dreams. No matter what."

Resuming the Battle

The Nomu screeched, its body fully healed, rage burning in its lifeless eyes. It lunged again, faster and more feral.

Cloud welcomed it.

The Buster Sword flashed, a blur of deadly steel.

But this time, Cloud didn't just slice. He shifted his stance, driving his foot into the ground and slamming the flat of his blade into the Nomu's side with crushing force.

The beast was sent hurtling through several concrete walls.

Cloud cracked his neck.

"Guess cutting won't work," he muttered. "Time to break it."

Watching in Awe

Midoriya's breath caught in his throat.

"His strength... it's unreal."

"He's fighting that monster alone," Uraraka whispered.

"He's not even using a Quirk," Todoroki muttered, eyes narrowed. "Or if he is, it's unlike anything I've seen."

Bakugou stayed silent, watching every move Cloud made.

That speech. That power.

Bakugou's fists trembled—not with fear, but anticipation.

That's the strength I need.

Shigaraki's Fury

From the center of the ruined battlefield, Shigaraki trembled with rage.

"WHY ISN'T THE NOMU KILLING HIM?!" he screamed, scratching at his neck until it bled.

Kurogiri remained composed.

"This man… is far more dangerous than we anticipated."

Shigaraki's eyes burned with fury.

"I told you to kill him! Nomu, rip him apart!"

The Nomu roared, rising from the rubble, more furious than before.

Cloud readied his sword, planting his feet.

"Let's try this again."

End of Chapter 14
A/N: no shit it's the end of Chapter 14... ohhh a dollar