Dekiru 10: The Symbol Of Peace And The Protector Of Earth

by Phantomdanger

Izuku Midoriya, previously quirkless, was offered One For All by the greatest hero, but during training, he discovered the Omnitrix. Now his on the journey to be the greatest hero, the Symbol of Peace and The protector of Earth. It's Hero Time!

22. Chapter 22: The Dragon

Warning: This chapter contains graphic and mature themes. You have been warned.

Ashido, Iida, Kirishima, and Uraraka returned to the dorms, looking worn out but carrying bags from their trip. When they opened the door, they found Ojiro lounging on the couch, a towel draped around his neck.

Inside, everyone seemed to be relaxing. Kendo, Yaoyorozu, Shoji, Tokoyami, Tetsutetsu, and Shishida were scattered around, some chatting, others quietly unwinding after training. Tetsutetsu was playing a heated round of Smash Heroes with Shoda, Sero, and Sen.

As soon as Yaoyorozu saw the others walk in, her face lit up with a smile, though it quickly faded as she scanned the room, noticing that one person was missing.

"How was your trip?" Ojiro asked, eyeing the bags they carried.

"Where's Midoriya?" Yaoyorozu asked, trying to sound casual as she looked around, but there was a slight tension in her tone that only those closest to her might notice.

"The trip was awesome! Until..." Kirishima sighed, slumping onto the couch, clearly troubled.

"What happened, ribbit?" Tsuyu asked, tilting her head thoughtfully.

"Please tell me Midoriya hasn't gotten himself into yet another life-threatening situation?" Kendo sighed, folding her arms. "It's like trouble finds him no matter where he goes," she muttered under her breath.

"No, nothing like that... We just happened to run into Midoriya's ex," Kirishima admitted, looking unsure how to explain.

The room went silent, everyone exchanging startled glances. Yaoyorozu blinked, momentarily frozen with a surprised look, and then, as if reflexively, her hands clenched slightly at her sides.

"A-Are you sure?" Kendo managed, her voice laced with disbelief.

Kirishima scratched his head. "Huh?"

"When I first met Midoriya, he was such a shy mess; he couldn't get through a conversation without tripping over his words and blushing," Kendo explained, and the group shared a chuckle, nodding in agreement as they remembered his awkward charm.

"Yes, I must admit, it is somewhat difficult to envision Midoriya having an ex-girlfriend, considering his... personality," Momo said. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of girl it had been. Did she make him feel comfortable? Or perhaps she made him uncomfortable? Was that why he stuttered around her so much?

A faint, unfamiliar twinge pulled at her heart, but she quickly pushed it aside, keeping her expression calm.

"What kind of person was she?" Tsuyu asked, genuinely curious.

"Bet she was a total nerd, like Izuku," Yui added in her usual deadpan tone.

"Ooh, I bet she was really nice!" Pony exclaimed.

"Was she super pretty?" Ojiro asked, glancing at Kirishima.

Yaoyorozu gave a small smile. "Knowing Midoriya, he likely appreciated her intelligence or kindness more than anything," she mused, though her voice softened. As she said it, a small flicker of hope rose within her, a thought that maybe those were the traits he might value in her as well.

"Oooh, I bet she was super strong!" Kendo said, leaning forward with a grin.

Kirishima and Ashido exchanged an uncomfortable glance. "She was, uh... well..." Kirishima started, scratching the back of his head.

"She was a mean, terrible, horrible—she was... grr, a total bitch!" Uraraka burst out, her usual cheerful tone replaced by something fiercer. The room fell silent, her words hanging in the air. Momo covered her mouth in shock, Kendo's eyes widened, and everyone stared in stunned silence.

"U-Uraraka, that's a little harsh," Tsuyu said quietly, glancing over with a worried frown.

"Someone's the jealous type," Tsuburaba muttered under his breath, and Sero nodded beside him.

"Yeah, that was totally uncalled for," Sero added, shaking his head.

"I mean, I know she's his ex, but..." Sato trailed off, unsure.

"She's not wrong," Ashido said, slumping onto the couch, a pout forming as she shoved her hands in her pockets. "What the heck did he even see in that girl?" she mumbled, frustration clear in her tone.

"She was awful," Uraraka continued, her voice thick with anger. "The way she talked to him... she made him sound like... ugh, I don't even have the words! I just want to throw her into the sun!"

Ashido stared at the floor, lost in her own thoughts, recalling something Jirou had said to her.

'I know Bakugou isn't nice to Midoriya... okay, he's an absolute piece of shit towards him, but Kirishima still vouches for him...' A gnawing feeling tugged at her. 'And Kirishima hates bullies as much as I do...'

"No, she's right," Iida said with a somber tone. "She was very unpleasant, to say the least."

"Huh?" Everyone exclaimed in unison, their eyes wide with surprise.

"Iida, you feel the same?" Yaoyorozu asked, clearly shocked by his unusual seriousness.

"Her behavior was discourteous, lacking both propriety and respect," Iida remarked firmly, his posture stiff with indignation. "She often directed threats toward Midoriya, and her words were unnecessarily harsh—bordering on cruel."

The room grew quiet as everyone exchanged concerned glances. They were all used to Midoriya being awkward and a little clumsy, but this was something else entirely.

"That wasn't even the worst part," Ashido added, her voice filled with frustration. "His old middle school classmates... they totally threatened him!"

"THEY WHAT?!" the room echoed in disbelief.

"And to think one of them even held a provisional license," Iida continued, shaking his head in disappointment. "The responsibility that comes with legally using one's quirk, yet they abused that power to threaten Midoriya."

"He what?!" they all asked, their worry replacing their earlier feelings of jealousy.

Ashido, sitting with her hands shoved in her pockets, looked away, her voice quieter now. "Yeah... they kept threatening him, insulting him..." She paused, a thought lingering in her mind, and her eyes flickered towards Kirishima.

"They were total assholes... like someone else," she muttered, the realization hitting her harder than expected.

"But Midoriya totally showed them up," Kirishima said with a grin, clearly proud. "He did the most manly thing—just walked away from them. Those guys looked like they were about to blow a gasket! You should've seen their faces!"

Yui, who had been silent up until now, stared at the floor, her usual neutral expression slightly twitching.

"It's hard to imagine him being treated like that," she said quietly, her voice devoid of emotion, but the faintest hint of anger in her eyes revealed her underlying concern.

Tsuyu, ever observant, simply sighed softly, though her eyes remained focused. "That's really awful, ribbit," she said, her tone calm but tinged with a deep concern.

...

""Who was he?" Yaoyorozu's voice grew sharper, her tone laced with growing anger. "That's an abuse of power. Using your quirk—even with a license—to threaten anyone, especially a civilian, is completely unacceptable! I'll contact Aizawa-sensei immediately..."

"Then what? It's our word against theirs. They have way more people than us," Ojiro said.

"And he has a license. We're just a couple of first-years. They're not going to believe us over him," Kirishima added, shaking his head.

"But still..." Iida began, his expression tightening with frustration.

"I'll inform Mr. Aizawa as soon as possible," Yaoyorozu said, her voice steady despite the tension. "Jirou and Hagakure can corroborate our story."

"I'll call him! I refuse to let such an abuse of power go unchallenged," Yaoyorozu declared firmly as she dialed the number.

{The number you dialed is unavailable.}

"Huh? He's not answering?" Yaoyorozu said, a note of surprise creeping into her voice, but the unease in her chest was unmistakable.

"His phone probably died," Kirishima shrugged with a wave of his hand.

"R-right..." Yaoyorozu replied, glancing at her phone. Her instincts told her something wasn't right, but she couldn't quite place it.

"It's too bad we can't find out more about them," Tsuyu said thoughtfully.

Ashido's expression darkened, a scowl crossing her face. "Oh, I know just the person we can ask—the good old friend, Bakugou."

The group fell silent, their eyes widening in surprise.

---

Kaminari took her hands gently and looked into her eyes. "Of course, tell us what you need!"

The girl blushed before pulling her hands back, clearing her throat. "My dad... He was taken. By these... humans!" She spat out the last word, her voice filled with disgust, but she winced in pain from the bullet wound on her shoulder.

The group exchanged confused glances at the way she referred to them as "humans," as if they were a different species entirely.

"Your dad... is he... a Kraaho?" Kyouka asked carefully.

The girl looked surprised, then walked up to Jirou. "Y-Yes! How do you know that?"

"The Knights were talking about making the Kraaho talk," Jirou explained, her expression darkening.

The realization hit the group all at once. "Th-they're torturing her dad," Hagakure whispered in horror.

Footsteps echoed nearby, and Jirou's face went pale. The weight of the news that her father was being tortured seemed to hit the girl harder, her expression blank and her pink skin almost catatonic.

"Hagakure! Turn her invisible, quick! If they see her, we'll all be in huge trouble!" Midoriya whispered urgently.

Hagakure looked scared. "W-Wait, I-I'm still not good at turning people invisible..."

"Hagakure, please!" Kaminari pleaded, his voice desperate.

"If they see her, then..." Jirou trailed off as the footsteps grew louder. The door suddenly slammed open, revealing three armed figures.

"Please leave the premises, children. We have... uninvited guests," Kobi said coldly, his eyes narrowing at the teenagers. Jirou quickly hid her jacks, trying to look as nonchalant as possible, but sweat was beginning to bead on her forehead.

"Uh, sure, bro! We're just looking for a book and we'll be out of your hair!" Kaminari said with a nervous grin, giving a finger gun gesture, but his sweat betrayed him.

Kobi nodded, his gaze flicking to the blade in his hand. The weapon crackled with electricity, its sharp tip gleaming dangerously.

As the group turned to leave, Hagakure groaned softly, her form still invisible but unable to hide the sound. She quickly covered her mouth, but a bead of sweat trickled down her forehead, hitting the floor with a soft splat.

Kobi turned toward them. "I recall seeing four of you. Where's the other female?"

The tension in the room escalated. The group's hearts raced, their fear palpable. Kobi had noticed something, and as his eyes narrowed, he slowly drew his blade. A scowl tugged at his lips.

"She was bewitched!" Kyouka blurted out, desperate to explain.

"Bewitched?" Kobi raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"She... she claimed your work was disgusting," Midoriya continued, his voice shaky but trying to sound convincing. "She called you wise men delusional and lunatics!"

"We couldn't have that kind of ignorance in your home, so we... we forced her to leave," Midoriya lied, though his discomfort was clear. He wasn't exactly the best at deception.

Kobi paused, then slowly lowered his weapon, eyeing the teenagers with a curious expression. "I see... You children truly wish to learn our ways. Dissonancing your friend is a sign of loyalty. Please, take some books. Learn the truth."

"Uh, right! Thank you!" Midoriya bowed respectfully, and the others followed suit, their eyes darting to the corner where blood dripped from the currently invisible girl.

'Please don't notice, please don't notice!' they all screamed silently in their minds.

The man bowed in return before leaving a few minutes later.

"Is he gone?" Kaminari asked, turning to Kyouka.

"Yep."

A collective sigh of relief escaped them as Hagakure let go of the pink girl, panting and slumping to the ground, exhausted. Jirou quickly rushed to her side, kneeling next to her friend.

"I-I'm okay. I-I think I'm getting better at this," Toru said, her voice shaky as she tried to offer a smile, but it faltered under the weight of her fatigue.

Midoriya smiled at her, grateful, and nodded. "Thank you, Hagakure."

"N-No problem..." Toru said with a breathless laugh. "So, how about we go save her father now, huh?" she added, though her voice was strained, her exhaustion clear with every word.

"Huh? B-but I thought..." Izuku stuttered, caught off guard by her sudden determination.

"I know," Toru interrupted softly, her expression hardening. "But if that were my dad, I'd do anything to save him." She glanced at the girl, Ester, her voice unwavering despite her exhaustion. "We're heroes and you wouldn't leave anyone behind especially... er..erhm..."Toru said not knowing the girls name.

Ester gave a small nod. "Oh, I'm Ester of the Kraaho," she said, bowing in a respectful gesture.

"Denki Kaminari."

"Kyouka Jirou."

"Toru Hagakure."

"Izuku Midoriya."

Ester perked up at Izuku's name. "Midoriya? I know that name," she said, squinting at him, as if trying to place it. But then her expression shifted—her father was in danger, and she needed to focus. "How were you able to get in? They don't usually allow... other humans in here, especially ones with... features," she added, gesturing toward Jirou.

Toru, still visibly drained, gave a small nod, trying to stay steady but clearly struggling to keep her energy up. "We... we had our ways," she muttered, her body sagging against the wall as she fought to stay upright.

...

"You should probably cover up your wrist," Ester said, her tone serious. "If they recognize what you're wearing, all hell will break loose. They're not going to let us leave."

Everyone was confused by her warning. "Wait, why would they be interested in Midoriya's support item?" Kaminari asked, puzzled.

Ester assumed that since Midoriya wore the Omnitrix, he must be aware of the aliens, and if he had brought his friends along, he must have trusted them enough to share the secret.

"It's the most powerful weapon in the universe—" Ester began, but as she saw the look on Midoriya's face and the subtle shushing motion from him, she realized too late that she'd said too much. The group's eyes widened in shock.

"Midoriya, what exactly is the Omnitrix?" they all asked in unison, their eyes now fixed on the device on his wrist.

Okay, there's no way I can get out of this. I'll tell them about the Omnitrix but leave out One For All, Midoriya thought to himself, mentally preparing to share the truth.

"The Omnitrix isn't exactly a support item," Izuku began, trying to sound casual. "It's what gives my quirk—well, the transformation part."

Kaminari raised an eyebrow. "So the green electricity, the speed, and strength—that's your quirk?"

"Y-Yeah," Midoriya said, lying through his teeth, hoping it would work.

"Wait, so anyone could turn into those aliens if they had your watch?!" Hagakure exclaimed in disbelief, her eyes wide.

"Well, yeah," Midoriya replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "But since it won't come off, it's... it sends out this special energy that's why I can transform into well... Aliens."

"Alright, so how did you come across the Omnitrix?" Kyouka asked, her curiosity piqued.

Ester, still tending to her bullet wound, looked at him with growing interest. "I'm curious too. It's the most powerful device in the universe. How did you get your hands on it?"

As she asked, she carefully removed her coat, using it to help fix the wound on her shoulder. The seriousness of the moment wasn't lost on anyone, but Midoriya could feel the weight of her question.

"Well, it's a long story..." Midoriya said, trying to keep his response vague while hoping the conversation would steer away from anything too revealing.

...

"W-Well, I was training on a beach, and, uh, it just came down like a shooting star," Izuku stammered, trying to keep the story simple. "It almost crushed me, and when it landed, it was just there, and it attached itself to me. I guess I was in the right place at the right time."

Ester raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "You have no idea how the Omnitrix works, do you?"

"Huh?! N-No, not really," Izuku admitted, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

Ester let out a small sigh, clearly frustrated but trying to explain. "The Omnitrix is the most powerful weapon in the universe. It's also a DNA weapon," she said as she walked over to a nearby shelf, pulling down a thick book. "That's how you can transform into all those alien species. From what I've read, it works with your DNA."

"DNA?" Midoriya echoed, still trying to grasp the full meaning of it.

Ester nodded, her tone turning more serious. "Knowing how some DNA tech works, not just anyone can use the Omnitrix. It's... it's keyed to someone's DNA. Not everyone can just put it on and start using it. It's designed for a specific person."

The group exchanged wide-eyed glances.

"Wait, so someone sent Midoriya the Omnitrix?" Kaminari asked, his voice filled with shock. "Why?"

"B-But I thought I found it by mistake! Wasn't it an accident?" Izuku said, his mind racing. He had always believed the Omnitrix had just happened to come to him.

"No one just finds the most powerful weapon in the universe," Ester countered firmly, her eyes narrowing. "Someone must have had it keyed to your DNA signature. Someone sent it to you."

She flipped open the book she'd taken from the shelf, showing them several pages filled with detailed diagrams of DNA-altering devices. "These are the kinds of devices the Knights have cataloged," she said, pointing to an entry that looked similar to the Omnitrix. "This kind of tech doesn't just fall into the hands of random people. Whoever sent it to you must have known you'd be the one to use it."

Izuku's heart sank as he stared at the device on his wrist. "Why me? I... I mean, why not send it to someone else? Someone, y'know, actually worthy?" He looked down at the Omnitrix, the weight of its power suddenly feeling heavier than ever.

The three raised an eyebrow. "Uh they did?" Kyouka said with a smirk.

"Yeah, look how many people you've helped with it," Hagakure said while gesturing to Midoriya with a smile.

"Yeah, dude, you saved so many of us at USJ!" Kaminari added with a grin.

"Right now, we're going to save her father from being tortured! You are worthy, that's just a fact," Hagakure said with confidence. Midoriya smiled, but it quickly turned into a sad smile.

He looked down at the Omnitrix on his wrist, still feeling a little unsure. Shaking his head, he spoke softly. "Y-Yeah, right... But let's focus on saving her dad."

Kaminari, Jirou, and Hagakure gave him determined looks.

Midoriya's words seemed to spark something in Ester, who was deep in thought. "Midoriya... where have I heard that name before? I swear I've heard it somewhere!"

"I can't believe this whole time you've been transforming into aliens! Ashido's going to flip out!" Kaminari said, laughing in disbelief. Ester froze, then turned to face him, her expression serious.

"You are not allowed to tell anyone about what you learned today!" Ester said, her voice sharp. "The only reason you know is because Midoriya has the Omnitrix."

"Y-Yeah, but—"

"Do you have any idea how many of us have been captured or imprisoned just for being different? People like the Forever Knights have no mercy when it comes to beings from other worlds." Ester's tone hardened, her gaze turning sharp.

"Wait, us? Are you—?"

"Yes," Ester said, her voice calm but firm. She glanced down at her skin, the lines of her alien heritage barely visible. "I'm an alien—well, an alien hybrid. Human and Kraaho."

She paused, letting it sink in before continuing. "We can blend in as heteromorphs, but we're still discriminated against. It's better than it used to be, but we're still targets."

...

"So I'm asking, no, I'm begging you—please keep this to yourselves. Including Midoriya's Omnitrix. It's better if everyone stays in the dark," Ester said, her voice filled with urgency. The three teenagers exchanged a look before nodding in agreement.

"Okay," they all said in unison.

With the Forever Knights distracted, the teens took their chance. Ester, using her natural agility, stretched to reach the window above. Hagakure helped pull her up, making quick work of the move.

"You guys take the regular way in. I'll see you on the third floor!" Ester said, giving them a confident smile.

"If they see us, they'll figure out you were lying and..." Hagakure trailed off, her voice laced with concern. "Let's just say it would be really bad."

Kaminari gave a thumbs-up, though his face was serious. "Be careful!" he said, and Ester gave him a quick nod before slipping out of sight.

...

Kaminari, Jirou, and Midoriya moved quickly down the corridor, trying to keep calm as they darted from shadow to shadow. Their steps were hurried, but they maintained the illusion of walking casually, glancing around with tense expressions. Jirou's earjacks twitched, picking up any approaching footsteps as she led the group.

"Crap!" she whispered sharply. "Two coming in from both ends!"

"Damn! Wh-what do we do? Do we fight?" Kaminari stammered, glancing nervously between the approaching threats.

Midoriya took a deep breath, his hand hovering over the Omnitrix. "No... I have a better idea," he muttered, twisting the Omnitrix's dial. A burst of green light flashed, and when it faded, Spidermonkey crouched in Midoriya's place, his powerful, fur-covered limbs braced and ready.

Both knights, clad in black robes and silver masks, turned the corner and immediately froze, eyes widening beneath their masks. "Did... did you see that strange light?" one asked, voice low and wary.

"Yes. Was it a trick of the mind?" the other muttered, scanning the hallway.

Above them, Spidermonkey clung effortlessly to the ceiling, his muscular, spider-like arms supporting his weight as he gripped Kaminari and Jirou tightly. A thin sheen of sweat dotted their faces as they clung to him, trying to stay as silent as possible.

One of the knights sneered, glancing around. "Maybe that Karhoo girl had something to do with it! We should purge all of them!" he snarled, the venom in his tone making the teens' stomachs turn.

Kaminari's fists clenched, small sparks of electricity crackling over his knuckles as his eyes narrowed in anger. Bastards, he thought, barely restraining himself from lashing out.

The two knights continued down the hall, oblivious to the trio above them, whispering vile plans for torture and punishment. Just as they turned their backs, a thin, white web shot down, attaching itself to the collars of both knights.

The knights paused, looking at each other in confusion just before Spidermonkey yanked hard, pulling them both off their feet with a sudden, jerking motion.

"GAAAH!" They screamed as they were dragged upward, flailing helplessly before Spidermonkey slammed them into the ceiling and webbed them in place with swift, fluid motions.

His arms worked like a well-trained predator's, wrapping them tightly in layers of webbing, as knights were securely pinned, unable to break free.

Kaminari's hands crackled with energy as he reached up, touching one of the squirming knights. The electrical shock surged through the webbing, and the knight's body went rigid as the jolt rendered him unconscious. Spidermonkey smirked, giving Kaminari a fist bump as the second knight passed out as well.

"Feel better?" Spidermonkey asked, his voice soft but carrying a certain edge.

Kaminari sighed, his fists still clenched. "Not really... I mean, I get she's an alien and all, but she's not here to take over Earth. She's a good person... I just know it."

Spidermonkey nodded, his large, expressive eyes narrowing with determination.

Jirou patted Spidermonkey on the shoulder as he clung to the ceiling above them. "This feels right. Let's go," he said, his voice carrying a mix of determination and confidence as he crawled ahead, leading the way.

It took them about five minutes to navigate up to the third floor, weaving around guards and keeping their footsteps light. The real challenge would be finding the alien they came to rescue. As Spidermonkey scaled the walls and ceiling, he suddenly noticed a nearby window open and close again, catching the faint sound of two sets of footsteps.

"Psst!" Spidermonkey whispered, shooting a quick web near the invisible figure. The web connected, and suddenly, a girl appeared, followed by Ester turning visible beside her.

They quickly regrouped. "Alright, so we're on the third floor. Where's your dad?" Kaminari asked, glancing around the dim hallway.

Spidermonkey's keen senses picked up the faint metallic scent of blood. At the same time, Jirou's ears twitched, catching the disturbing sound of something piercing flesh, followed by a man's muffled grunt of pain.

"This way," they both said in unison, exchanging determined looks.

As they followed the sound and scent down the hallway, the smell of blood grew stronger, making the teenagers wrinkle their noses and cover their faces, trying to block out the unsettling scent.

Ester's hands clenched as worry clouded her face. "Dad... what are they doing to you?" she murmured, her voice shaking.

Kaminari placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We're going to save him. I promise."

Ester managed a shaky smile, steeling herself as they continued.

They soon arrived at a heavy metal door with a keypad lock. Desperation filled Ester's face as she tugged at the door, but it wouldn't budge, and the faint sound of her father's strained groans came from the other side.

"Damn it, it's locked!" she exclaimed, pounding her fist against the door.

Kaminari glanced at the keypad, an idea forming. "Stand back," he said, placing his hand on the device. With a focused look, he sent a controlled jolt of electricity into the keypad. Sparks flew, and the lights on the panel flickered wildly before the device exploded with a small puff of black smoke. A satisfying click sounded, signaling the door had unlocked.

Ester pushed the door open and cautiously stepped inside. Midoriya and Jirou exchanged a worried glance at Kaminari, who looked slightly dazed from his recent jolt. "You didn't fry your brain, did you?" Jirou asked, eyebrows raised.

"N-No, I'm fine! I think..." Kaminari replied, shaking his head to clear any lingering dizziness. "Let's go!"

They all stepped into the room, Kaminari taking the lead, only to stop abruptly as they all took in their surroundings. The room was disappointingly empty. Beside a large, polished brown table and a single, expensive-looking chair, there was nothing else—no sign of life or struggle.

"This doesn't make any sense," Jirou muttered, scanning the area with suspicion.

"Yeah, I hear something too," Spidermonkey said, his head swiveling as he listened and sniffed, his spider-like senses on high alert.

"Ooh, maybe there's a secret shelf or something!" Kaminari suggested, snapping his fingers. "Y'know, like in the movies!"

Hagakure and Jirou both sighed, deadpanning as they looked at him with unimpressed expressions. "Kaminari, this isn't a movie, you idiot!" Jirou scolded, crossing her arms.

"You seriously need to cut back on anime and manga!" Hagakure added, shaking her head.

Kaminari's shoulders slumped, and a single tear rolled down his cheek as he felt his enthusiasm shrink. Meanwhile, Spidermonkey continued his search, his eyes sharp as they scanned every corner of the room. His gaze eventually fell on a small recording device, barely noticeable, tucked behind the chair leg.

"Huh?" Spidermonkey murmured, reaching down to pick it up. He examined it briefly before pressing the playback button.

The device crackled to life, and a cold, emotionless voice filtered through the silence: "The Splixson refuses to speak on the whereabouts of her family. She's now deceased. Disappointing, but she was resilient until the end."

Ester's face went pale, her eyes widening in horror as she clapped a hand over her mouth. "Th-They killed her..." she choked out, her voice trembling.

"Her?" Hagakure asked, her eyes flicking between Ester and the others.

Ester swallowed hard, tears welling up in her eyes. "Back in Undertown... there was a Splixson who lost their mother. She disappeared without a trace two years ago. Her husband and kids have been worried sick, searching for her..."

Hagakure's hand flew to her mouth, her face paling as she looked on the verge of being sick. Jirou clenched her fists, her expression twisted with disgust, and even Kaminari's usual light-hearted demeanor turned solemn as he processed the revelation.

Spidermonkey took a breath, his gaze hardening as he placed the recorder down.

He continued to search the room, and to his surprise, found another recording device tucked away under the table, its red light still blinking, as if waiting to reveal more dark secrets.

...

Spidermonkey tossed a few of the recording devices over to Kaminari and Ester. "These are basically confessions," he said, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "M-Maybe we could get a pro hero to look at these... or something."

He swiftly gathered the rest of the recording devices, spun a sticky web into a makeshift bag, and tossed it to Kaminari, who caught it with wide eyes.

Curious, Kaminari hit play on one of the recordings as Spidermonkey continued scouring the dimly lit room with the girls, his nimble, blue-furred form crawling along the walls.

The recording crackled before the sinister voice echoed again: {"Chizome Akaguro... interesting man. We've provided him with... improvements, courtesy of our best scientists. He managed to kill six of our men during his capture, but now he's restrained, his ideals of purging the hero society align with our vision perfectly."}

A shiver ran through the group as they processed the implications, the weight of the sinister plan lingering in the air.

Suddenly, Spidermonkey's eyes brightened, a glint of excitement flashing across his alien features. "Hey! I think I found something!" he called, gesturing to the floor. He glanced back at Kaminari with a grin. "Remember what you said about a bookshelf, Kaminari?"

Kaminari's face lit up with pride, while Jirou and Hagakure looked on in stunned disbelief. He pointed to the faint scratch marks along the polished marble floor, just beside a large, antique bookshelf that stood like a looming shadow.

Jirou's eyebrow twitched. "You can't be serious," she deadpanned, arms crossed, glaring at the bookshelf.

"I-It is..." Hagakure stammered, her invisible figure visibly tense, save for her twitching eyes.

Kaminari puffed out his chest, grinning with his hands on his hips. "Guess my love of anime and manga saved the day again!" He gave an exaggerated thumbs-up to his chest, drawing a giggle from Ester.

"You're pretty funny," Ester said, a soft smile on her face as her previous tension melted away for a brief moment.

Kaminari cleared his throat, attempting to keep his cool. "I-I get that a lot," he replied, suddenly bashful.

Jirou and Hagakure quickly exchanged knowing glances, sensing the blossoming camaraderie, though they couldn't help rolling their eyes at Kaminari's antics. Spidermonkey and Ester, however, remained focused on the task at hand.

Spidermonkey approached the towering shelf, his claws flexing as his muscles tensed beneath his fur. His blue body seemed to glow faintly under the dim lighting, as lightning crackled around him.

He gripped the sides of the bookshelf, green electricity crackling around him as he whispered, '6% One For All, combined with Spidermonkey... Might be overkill, but better safe than sorry.'

With a grunt, he wrenched the heavy shelf from the wall, its weight almost nothing in his powerful grasp. Dust cascaded from the wall as he pushed the shelf aside, revealing a hidden, narrow staircase spiraling downward into shadows.

The stale air that wafted up from below carried a faint, metallic smell, making everyone instinctively take a step back. Kaminari swallowed, trying to hide his nervousness with a chuckle. "Uh... ladies first?" he suggested, glancing down at the ominous staircase, each step sinking deeper into darkness.

...

"How chivalrous," Jirou muttered, her expression deadpan as she followed Kaminari's hesitant offer.

Ester moved forward down the stairs, with Spidermonkey beside her, his every sense on high alert. Midoriya could feel the start of another migraine—a troubling trend that had begun just yesterday, his head aching whenever he found himself on the edge of danger. He shook it off, focusing as they descended.

They reached a thick iron door with a narrow vent above it, the edges lined with dust and grime. Spidermonkey glanced up, then leapt with ease, latching onto the ceiling with his clawed hands. With a quick twist of his powerful arms, he tore the vent cover free, the metal bending with a dull creak.

"Midoriya, what are you doing?!" Hagakure whispered, her voice edged with panic.

Spidermonkey looked down, his four eyes narrowed with resolve. "These guys aren't afraid to kill. If they spot us, they might hurt her dad—or worse. We sneak in from above, get the drop on them before they even know we're there." With a quick movement, he shot two web lines toward Jirou and Hagakure, pulling them up one by one with surprising gentleness.

Jirou held up her hands quickly. "Wait!" she stammered, her face turning slightly red.

Spidermonkey paused, tilting his head. "Huh? What's up?"

"You and Kaminari should go first," Jirou said, her cheeks flushed as she glanced down, a bit flustered.

"What? Why?" Spidermonkey asked, blinking in confusion.

Jirou hesitated, glancing at the narrow space of the vent and realizing it would be a tight fit. "Uh... well... the vents are probably cramped, and, um..." Her voice trailed off, and suddenly they all realized the awkwardness, their faces reddening.

"Oh! Right, s-sorry about that," Spidermonkey mumbled, his own embarrassment evident in his voice. He quickly shot a web line toward Kaminari, pulling him up and into the vent with him. The two of them scrambled into the cramped space, their movements echoing softly.

Ester was the last to enter, wrapping her arms around Jirou and Hagakure to help them up, her strong, practiced movements ensuring they got in without much noise. The vent was dim and tight, every shift causing metal to creak softly beneath them as they shuffled forward.

As they crawled through the vents, thin shafts of light broke through the grates, giving them glimpses of what lay below. A few men clad in gleaming armor moved through the halls below, some donning medical gear and others handling strange weaponry that gleamed under the fluorescent lights.

"Just who are these guys?" Hagakure whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she spotted one man carefully loading a weapon that looked far more advanced than anything she'd seen before.

"They call themselves the 'Forever Knights,'" Ester said, her tone dark with a scowl on her face. "They're an organization that collects alien technology and uses it for themselves. They claim to be protectors of Earth, ridding it of 'alien threats.' But in reality? They're just a bunch of thugs who hunt down and murder anyone they consider different."

"So, basically a group of quirkist assholes who think anyone different should be killed with extreme prejudice," Kyouka muttered, her voice laced with disgust.

"So, how exactly do these guys determine who's an alien or just a heteromorph?" Hagakure whispered, her voice shaky with disbelief.

Ester continued crawling forward, her voice edged with bitterness. "If you have inhuman abilities, an unnatural skin color, or if you're even a little reluctant to comply with how the Knights... handle things... you're a target. But the worst part? If a high-ranking Knight simply has a 'gut feeling' that you're an alien, that's all the reason they need."

"That has to be outdated, right?" Kaminari stammered, the disbelief evident in his voice.

"Just think of the damage they'd cause if they were given any real authority," Jirou muttered, her voice low.

"Shh!" Spidermonkey hissed, signaling them to stop as he peered down through a grate into the room below.

The room below was dimly lit, casting long shadows over a table lined with an array of tools, their twisted metal gleaming under the flickering lights. Some of them had menacing, pointed ends; others were clamps and devices that seemed designed for torture. Many were smeared in a dark, dried red stain.

The metallic smell of blood and something acrid hit Spidermonkey's sensitive nose, and he had to press a hand over his mouth to keep from gagging.

His four eyes widened as he took in the scene. In the center of the room, a man with features strikingly similar to Ester's was bound tightly to a chair with thick black rope. His head slumped, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He looked exhausted, broken—but there was still a fierce determination in his eyes.

"I will ask you one more time..." A new voice growled, filled with cold malice. A figure in white robes stood before Ester's father. His clothes, once pristine, were splattered with a crimson stain, and a golden mask covered his face, now also smeared with blood. His grip tightened around a wickedly curved knife as he loomed over his victim.

"Where... is Undertown?" The masked man's voice was venomous, each word laced with threat.

Ester's father managed to look up, defiant even in his weakened state. "I... will... never... tell you," he rasped, his voice raw and broken. "Because... I... know... nothing."

Ester gasped. "That's my dad..." she whispered, horror etched across her face.

The masked man leaned closer, his voice dripping with mockery. "Oh, quite the contrary. You know exactly why we've targeted you, Kraaho. After all, you're the chief, aren't you?"

The man in the chair, Kraaho, only glared back in silence, refusing to break.

"Your wife... she's human, isn't she?" the man sneered, his tone taking on a sickening edge.

Kraaho's eyes burned with a fierce hatred. "You... stay... away from her! You bastard!" Blood sprayed as he spat the words out, a mix of anger and fear in his eyes.

The masked man chuckled, the sound cold and chilling. "Oh, I'd never dream of hurting your wife—though she's allowed herself to be defiled. But don't worry, I'll rectify that." The threat in his voice sent a shiver down Spidermonkey's spine, a sickening twist of rage building in his chest.

"You'll send your dogs after her, won't you? You're sick!" Kraaho's voice was filled with both contempt and despair.

A phone rang, cutting through the room's tense silence. The man in the mask let out a frustrated sigh, stepping back and lowering his weapon. "Hello?" He answered, his voice dripping with irritation.

After a brief conversation, he muttered something under his breath and gestured to a guard. "Get someone in here. I have... other matters."

As he left the room, another knight entered, his expression hidden beneath a metallic helmet as he approached Kraaho, a cruel-looking blade in hand. Kraaho's eyes widened, and he whispered, his voice filled with terror. "No... please, no more."

"Alien scum needs to be purged," the knight sneered, his tone laced with a twisted satisfaction. Though his helmet obscured his face, there was an unmistakable smugness in his stance.

But before he could take another step, there was a sudden bang as the vent crashed open. In a blur of blue fur and crackling green energy, Spidermonkey launched himself through, fists poised to strike.

His four eyes gleamed with fury as he plummeted toward the knight, landing a devastating punch to the man's face. The force of the impact sent the knight staggering back, but before he could react, Spidermonkey's hands flew out, firing rapid strands of webbing.

In seconds, the knight was cocooned in thick, sticky webbing, his weapon clattering uselessly to the ground. Spidermonkey didn't stop, flipping over the knight and sticking him to the ceiling, wrapped tightly in web, his muffled protests echoing through the room.

Panting slightly, Spidermonkey turned, his gaze softening as he looked at Kraaho. "Don't worry... we're getting you out of here."

The Kraaho looked surprised, coughing violently as he tried to make sense of the situation.

"Guys, it's clear," Spidermonkey said, pressing the dial of the Omnitrix and transforming back to his usual self.

Kaminari jumped down, landing with ease. Then Ester Kaminari tried to catch her, but instead, she tumbled into him, using his body as a cushion for her fall.

Hagakure was next. "Midoriya, catch me!" she called out, and the boy immediately opened his arms. She fell into him, and he quickly helped her back onto her feet.

"Jirou, I'll catch you," Midoriya said, his tone reassuring. The girl hesitated for a moment before leaping off, landing straight into his arms

Midoriya's arms enveloped her, his hands instinctively grasping for support. One palm cupped her rounded buttock, fingers brushing against the tender cleft between her legs.

The sudden intimacy sent a jolt of electricity through both of them.

Midoriya's face flamed with a deep crimson, his eyes wide with embarrassment.

The proximity made both of them freeze, a brief, uncomfortable tension in the air.

Jirou, her face flushed, tried to avert her gaze. "I-I'm so sorry—"

"Don't! We—We have other things to focus on right now!" Jirou stammered, trying to push past the awkwardness, her voice shaky.

Midoriya nodded before stepping forward. Ester quickly got up, rushing over to her father with a worried expression.

"Dad!" she called anxiously, grabbing at the ropes that bound him, with Hagakure joining in to help. But the ropes were thick and tightly secured, resisting their efforts.

Midoriya raised a hand, gesturing for them to step aside. Energy crackled around him as he focused. "One For All, 9%!"

With a surge of power, Midoriya tore through the ropes, his enhanced strength easily breaking them apart. The man slumped forward, still heavily injured, his body battered and bleeding.

His gaze was unfocused, and he looked around in a daze, struggling to make sense of his surroundings.

"Are you okay, sir? Can you walk?" Izuku asked with concern.

"Dad, don't worry, I'll get you out of here!" Ester said urgently, moving closer to support him.

The man's eyes flickered with recognition as they landed on his daughter. "E-Ester? Ester?!"

She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, which he returned weakly. After a moment, he pulled back, coughing heavily as he took a closer look at his rescuers. "You're all... just kids? Wha... What are you doing here?"

"Right now? Rescuing you, hopefully,' Midoriya replied, helping him to his feet. But the man could barely stand, stumbling until the others quickly steadied him.

"We don't have much time," Izuku said, glancing around.

"That freak in the golden mask is probably coming back. If they did this to you, I doubt we want to meet them!" Kyouka added nervously.

The man coughed again, struggling to catch his breath. "Kids... shouldn't a pro be handling this? You all should be at home."

Kaminari propped him up as Midoriya opened the door. "These guys have weapons... you... you shouldn't be here..." he rasped as they started moving.

"Neither should you, I bet," Kaminari replied wryly.

Midoriya looked around, his expression tense. "We need to get out of here. If it comes down to it, we may have to fight..."

"There's someone else," Ester's father interrupted, making them all turn toward him.

"They have someone who's been locked up for a very... very long time," he said, emphasizing his words before another harsh cough escaped him.

...

"I... I promise I'll save him... it's the Kraaho way; we don't leave anyone behind," he declared, voice steady even as he bled. He was thinking of someone else, determined not to abandon anyone in this place.

The teenagers exchanged determined looks. Seeing how this man had been treated, they couldn't bring themselves to leave anyone else trapped under the same captors.

"Hey!" a voice barked, snapping them out of their thoughts. They looked up to see a knight, clad in heavy metal armor from head to toe, his face concealed behind a closed helmet with small viewing slits. He slammed a gauntleted fist against the wall. An alarm went throughout "We have intruders! They're escaping with the prisoners!"

"Ah, man," Izuku muttered.

"Crap, we'd better move quickly!" Kaminari said, his eyes widening.

"Don't worry, we'll protect you!" Midoriya and Ester said in unison, sharing a glance filled with resolve.

Before they could make their move, more knights appeared, led by a man in a golden mask

The knights wore reinforced suits of medieval armor, each wielding ancient-style weapons—swords, spears, and maces—that crackled with energy. Their helmets left only thin slits for sight, while others wore masks with larger eye and mouth openings, styled to resemble grim comedy or tragedy masks.

A few knights were draped in long overcoats and flat-brimmed hats over their armor, their dark silhouettes almost blending with the dimly lit surroundings.

"Of course they have weapons! Why wouldn't the crazy masked racists have weapons?" Kaminari muttered, exasperated.

"Where's the other prisoner?" Midoriya asked quickly.

"He's... in the dungeon," Ester's father managed to say. The group collectively stared, dumbfounded.

"They have an actual dungeon?" Jirou muttered, an eye twitching in disbelief.

One of the knights, carrying a spiked mace, turned to Enoch. ''Enoch, should we eliminate these heathens?"

Another knight, with a leering grin under his mask, spoke up, "Or perhaps we could... purify the girls. Make them repent and bless us in return."

The girls recoiled in disgust, shooting him glares that could burn through steel.

Enoch, standing at the forefront in his golden mask, ignored his comrade's vulgar comment. He looked at Midoriya and the others coldly. "You children have defiled our sacred grounds," he said darkly, his gaze narrowing as it focused on Midoriya. "And bringing these vermin here..." He paused, eyes narrowing as if he recognized something.

...

Izuku rolled up his sleeve, revealing the Omnitrix. Enoch's eyes narrowed in recognition, and Esther's father looked on in shock. "That's..."

Without hesitation, Izuku pressed the Omnitrix button, and a burst of green light filled the area. His form grew, taking on a plant-like structure with a distinct rotten smell that intensified as heat radiated from his body.

"SWAMPFIRE!" Izuku shouted, his voice echoing through the space. He raised his hands and unleashed a fierce torrent of flames. The blazing heat struck the Knights, sending them reeling back as their armor heated up, groaning under the intensity.

Enoch's masked gaze was cold. "The boy possesses the Omnitrix... Eliminate the others, but capture him alive."

A Knight hesitated, a cruel glint in his eye as he glanced toward the girls. "But... the girls—"

Enoch's response was swift and merciless. His blade sliced through the air, severing the speaker's arm with a sickening crunch.

Blood sprayed everywhere, pooling around the screaming man as he collapsed.

"Save your lustful thoughts for another time," Enoch commanded, his tone dripping with disdain. "The boy wields the Omnitrix his our top priority."

More Knights advanced, weapons crackling with electricity, guns aimed at the group. Swampfire's eyes narrowed.

"Lachord Chain Prison!"

Thick, pulsing vines shot out from his arms, twisting through the air with incredible speed and forming a massive, confining structure. The Lachord Chain Prison took the Knights by surprise, wrapping them tightly in vines that constricted with relentless strength, immobilizing them at every angle.

Any attempt to struggle only made the vines tighten, leaving the Knights utterly helpless within the vine cage.

The prison expanded further, capturing multiple Knights at once in its unbreakable grasp. With their foes restrained, Ester leapt over the vines, launching into the fray with swift, powerful strikes. Her fists crashed into their armor, sending Knights stumbling under her blows.

Ester's voice pierced the din of gunfire, her words laced with desperation. "We can't hold out against these numbers!"

Swampfire's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes burning with a fierce determination. With a swift, powerful motion, he tore through the floor, the sound of shattering concrete and twisted metal echoing through the air.

"The floor's open! Go, now!" he bellowed.

The teenagers leapt into the void, their bodies silhouetted against the smoky backdrop.

Swampfire's fingers snapped, releasing a noxious green gas. It billowed into the air, a choking cloud of toxic fumes.

Enoch's eyes widened in alarm, his nostrils flaring as he recognized the acrid smell. "No, wait! Hold fire!" he shouted, but his warning was lost amidst the chaos.

BOOOM!

The explosion ripped through the floor, a seismic blast that shook the very foundations of the building.

Flames engulfed the area, scorching the armor of Enoch's men. The blast wave slammed them against the walls, armor cracking and groaning under the force.

Enoch stumbled, his resilient armor bearing the brunt of the explosion. Scorch marks etched into the metal, a testament to its durability.

The air reeked of smoke and sweat, the sound of coughing and groaning filling the aftermath.

As the smoke cleared, Enoch's gaze locked onto the void, his voice seething with rage. "They're escaping... Pursue them!"

...

""That should get the attention of the pros," Swampfire said.

"Even if it does, some pros who work for the Knights might say it's all taken care of or come up with some lame excuse," Esta replied as they ran, occasionally taking down a Knight in their path.

"Is that why we couldn't go to the police or the pros? They've got people inside both!" Kaminari concluded, his voice tense.

"Yeah," Esta admitted sadly. "I tried going to other pros and cops, but there's always someone from the Knights there! They're like... rats... everywhere!"

"We're almost there!" Esta's father shouted as they skidded to a stop in front of an elevator. As the doors slid open, Swampfire shifted back into Midoriya. Several Knights inside the elevator looked stunned as Midoriya, activating One For All, leaped in with a powerful punch, slamming one of them hard into the wall, creating a deep dent.

Before the other Knights could react, Midoriya backflipped off the wall, only to be grabbed by two pink hands—Hagakure's—and pulled out of the elevator. She tossed him back just in time as more Knights charged toward them.

Kaminari, Jirou, and Hagakure dragged the severely injured man into their elevator, quickly pressing the close button. "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, close, you stupid elevator!" Kaminari muttered anxiously as the doors finally shut.

As they began descending, Jirou glanced at the control panel. "What floor is it on?"

"It's deep below—lower than any usual level. We're going down to what they call 'The Hollow,'" Esta's dad explained, his voice grim. "But we need control of this elevator to get there."

Midoriya's hand was already on the Omnitrix, rapidly scrolling through holograms. "Time for a quick upgrade," he muttered, slamming down on the device. In a burst of green light, his form morphed, sleek black and neon green lines spreading over his body as he became Upgrade.

"Woah... a Galvanic Mechamorph," Esta murmured in awe as Upgrade extended his arms, which shifted into smooth, liquid metal, flowing seamlessly into the elevator's control panel. The entire metal surface shimmered, green circuitry branching out like vines as Upgrade merged with the elevator's inner mechanics.

The control panel flickered to life, its buttons now glowing with a vibrant green energy. "Hold on tight," Upgrade's voice echoed, his tone both smooth and mechanical as the elevator suddenly lurched downward, accelerating far beyond normal speeds. The walls vibrated with power, the hum of alien energy filling the cramped space.

The numbers on the panel blurred as they descended, the lights around them dimming, replaced by an eerie green glow that pulsed in sync with Upgrade's circuitry. The deeper they went, the more the air thickened, growing colder and more oppressive, as if they were being swallowed by something ancient and sinister.

Through the narrow elevator window, glimpses of cold, metallic walls passed by, but soon they shifted to raw, rocky surfaces, illuminated by dim, flickering lights embedded into the stone—a dungeon-like depth hidden far beneath the facility.

The elevator shot down, and everyone gripped the railings tightly, feeling the rush of wind as they were suddenly jolted to a stop.

"Please exit. Mind the door on your way out," Upgrade's voice quipped, making Jirou and Hagakure roll their eyes, though both smiled at the lame joke.

"I can't believe I'm falling for this guy," they each thought with a grin as Upgrade de-merged from the elevator as he retracted from the control panel, his form solidifying back into his usual shape

With a burst of green light, Midoriya returned to his human form. "Alright, let's get moving."

The group began to walk down the dimly lit hallway, their only source of light being the flickering torches lining the walls. As they looked around, they spotted empty cages along the corridor. But the metallic tang of blood lingered in the air, making some of them cringe.

"These guys really commit to the whole medieval dungeon vibe, huh?" Kaminari muttered, glancing around uneasily.

"They've been around for centuries," Ester replied with a shrug. "I guess some old habits die hard."

"So, who exactly are we looking for?" Hagakure asked, just as a low, menacing growl echoed through the hall.

A sudden wave of heat washed over them, prickling their skin. They all turned to see, in the darkness ahead, a pair of piercing yellow eyes glowing like embers, staring back at them. The sound of rattling chains echoed through the corridor, and a massive figure began to emerge from the shadows. Towering and menacing, the creature stretched its enormous wings, creating a gust that sent dust swirling around them. Its deep, dangerous growl vibrated through the air, promising untold power and fury.

---

[Dorms 22:30]

"Where are they?" Yaoyorozu asked, her voice full of worry. "It's way past curfew, and they haven't come back!"

Class 1-A was in a mild panic as they realized their friends hadn't returned and weren't answering their phones.

"I've tried Jirou. She's not answering," Yaoyorozu said anxiously.

"I've tried Toru and Midoriya. They aren't answering either," Mina said, her worry growing. She turned to Bakugou, who was heading to his room.

"Hey, Bakugou!" Ashido shouted, but the blonde seemed annoyed.

"I told you already! I haven't talked to those damn extras in forever, and I told you to mind your fucking business!" Bakugou shouted.

"Stupid hair, tell fucking Raccoon Eyes to leave me alone before I blow her up!" Bakugou continued, his irritation palpable.

Mina's fist clenched in anger. She had tried to get answers, but was promptly ignored, dismissed, and told to "fuck off."

"Hey, my hair isn't different from yours—"

"And stop whining about the damn nerd! That dumbass will be fine. Now fuck off!" Bakugou shouted, marching into his room. The others exchanged incredulous looks.

"A-Are you sure?"

"That pussy usually attacks someone when their guard's down. Except for Deku. He'll probably underestimate him, and the nerd will beat him. Now leave me alone, you extras are so damn annoying," Bakugou muttered as he slammed his door.

A woman's voice echoed in the background, "I saw these four teenagers go into the building. One had blonde hair with a lightning bolt, another had hair like music notes, and the most adorable boy with forest-green hair!"

"Y-You guys don't think..." Sero said, his voice laced with unease, as red flags popped up in his mind.

{Reporter: Do you think these kids had anything to do with the explosion?}

{Woman: I don't know. These guys were acting shady, talking about aliens and other weird stuff.}

{Pro Hero: Everything's okay. Someone's quirk was accidentally activated, and well... You can see the damage. The kids left earlier today. Don't worry.}

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Uraraka said, her voice shaky.

Just then, the door opened, and Aizawa walked in. Sero quickly turned off the screen.

"Shouldn't you all be sleeping?" Aizawa said, raising an eyebrow as he took in the scene.

"Uh... well, we were just about to go to sleep!" Yaoyorozu clapped her hands together nervously.

Aizawa raised an eyebrow but shrugged. "Get to sleep, everyone."

The class nodded awkwardly, and Bakugou just scoffed before heading to his room.

"Hey, where are the other three and problem child?" Bakugou asked as everyone immediately began to sweat.

"M-Midoriya worked so hard that he passed out!" Sero said, trying to keep his voice steady.

"K-Kaminari fried his brain, you know how he is," Ashido added, her sweat increasing as she silently prayed to whatever god was listening, hoping they'd buy it.

"J-Jirou is... she's on her period, and she's suffering massive—" Uraraka began, but was cut off by Aizawa raising a hand.

"I've heard enough. Please, go to sleep," Aizawa said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "God knows I need to."

"We will!" they all said in unison, rushing off quickly, each still drenched in sweat.

Once they were out of the room, Iida asked in a hushed voice, "Did we just lie to our teacher?"

"Yep," Ojiro replied matter-of-factly.

"I-I lied to Mr. Aizawa..." Momo murmured, looking as though she'd just committed a great sin. She quickly shut her mouth.

"Jirou is going to kill me!" Uraraka said, her voice trembling in fear.

"Better prepare yourself for the verbal abuse," Tsuyu said bluntly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Uraraka whimpered at the thought as they all retreated to their dorms, each knowing they'd be facing a whole different kind of punishment come morning.

...

---

[Back with Izuku]

The beast loomed behind towering iron bars, its massive, muscular form hunched within their confines, wings, legs, and even its mighty tail restrained by thick chains. These chains pulsed faintly with power, emitting a low hum that filled the cold, damp cell. The dragon's smoldering eyes burned with a fierce mix of rage and resentment, glaring out at those who dared approach.

"Y-Your friend is a dragon?" Kyouka stammered, still reeling from the sight.

"An alien dragon," Hagakure clarified softly.

"Humans." The word echoed through the chamber, spoken in a deep, gravelly tone that shook the walls. Midoriya looked around, trying to find the source, until he realized—it was coming from the dragon itself. The prison suddenly felt suffocating as the temperature spiked, like they were standing at the mouth of a volcano.

"What are you doing here?" the dragon's voice boomed, each word sending waves of heat that washed over them, as if daring them to step closer. Izuku's eyes widened as he turned to face the dragon, speechless.

"Disgusting, vile humans," the dragon growled, its chains rattling as molten light flared from its mouth, casting sharp shadows across the walls. "Will you ever tire of using me as a scapegoat for your twisted ambitions?" The dragon's sharp teeth glinted in the flickering glow, and the others shielded their faces from the overwhelming heat.

"It… it feels like I'm standing next to a furnace," Kyouka murmured, wiping beads of sweat from her brow.

"Uh, are you guys hearing that?" Midoriya asked, eyes wide with disbelief as he glanced at his friends.

They exchanged confused looks, terror still etched across their faces. "Hearing what? The growling? Or the roaring?" Kaminari asked nervously.

"They can't understand me, human," the dragon stated, its eyes fixed on Midoriya, who looked back in shock. "Y-You can talk?" Izuku managed, voice barely a whisper.

"Green, who are you talking to?" Jirou asked, clutching onto his arm as she tried to follow his gaze.

The dragon tilted its head slightly, a flicker of amusement crossing its face. "Strange, but I'm not one to judge. Females pairing together isn't uncommon on my world."

"F-Females? Do you mean Hagakure and Jirou?" Izuku gestured to them with a puzzled expression.

"No," the dragon huffed, his hot breath filling the room. "I'm referring to you and the female clutching your arm."

Midoriya's cheeks burned. "W-Wait, I'm not a girl! I'm a guy!" he blurted, completely flustered.

The dragon blinked, as though surprised. "You are? But I was told females are the more intelligent ones on your planet, and males the simpler ones—was I misinformed?"

"N-No, that's not true at all! And Jirou and I are just friends!" Midoriya said, frantically waving his hands.

"Huh?" Jirou glanced at him, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"Are you sure? The female appears eager to mate, as does the other one," the dragon stated, oblivious to the increasing redness in Midoriya's face.

"Uh, Midoriya, are you okay?" Hagakure asked, noticing how flustered he was. "Your face is really red."

Izuku cleared his throat, struggling to regain his composure. "A-Anyway, uhm, how exactly did you end up trapped here?"

The dragon's expression darkened, its growl vibrating through the stone walls. "The damn knights..." he spat, voice filled with fury. The air thickened with heat as his chains clanked. "They ambushed me without cause, binding me here!" His roar shook the cell as he slammed a clawed foot into the ground, sending tremors through the floor.

"Th-That's terrible!" Midoriya said, horror written across his face. "How long have you been trapped here?"

The dragon's eyes narrowed, a hint of sadness slipping into his fierce gaze. "Long enough to forget the taste of freedom."

"Uh, Midoriya, care to fill us in?" Kaminari asked, glancing around as everyone else looked just as confused. They could only hear half of the conversation, and none of it was making sense.

"Midoriya? Is that your name?" The dragon's intense gaze bore down on the green-haired boy, who gulped under the creature's scrutiny.

"Uh, yeah," Izuku replied nervously.

The dragon tilted his head, narrowing his eyes. "Are you the Midoriya they whispered about?"

Izuku blinked, caught off guard. "The... same? N-no, I don't think so. Why?"

The dragon eyed him with suspicion, his tone cautious. "The Knights would murmur your name in the shadows—Midoriya destroyed this, Midoriya attracted the aliens to Earth. Even their prisoners spoke it in fear. Are you saying you have no idea what they might be referring to?"

"I-I really think you've got me mistaken for someone else," Izuku stammered. He quickly turned to his friends, "Uh… the Knights attacked him and locked him up here," he explained.

"Why was he here in the first place?" Kyouka asked, still looking at the dragon with a mix of curiosity and fear.

"I was making an interstellar map," the dragon growled, his tail twitching as if the memory still infuriated him. Izuku repeated the answer.

The dragon's voice grew darker, resonating with barely-contained rage. "I wondered why anyone would ever come to this insignificant rock," he hissed, suddenly slamming a massive claw to the ground. The force rippled outward, nearly knocking them off their feet.

"But when I'm free, I will show them no mercy. No pity. No remorse. After what they've done to me, they'll beg for mercy and receive none," he snarled, his voice vibrating with vengeance. Izuku swallowed hard, feeling the dragon's fury radiate like a furnace as he translated.

"Ouch," Jirou muttered. "But honestly, if I came to some random planet and got attacked by a bunch of weirdos, I'd be pretty pissed off too."

The dragon's smoldering eyes narrowed at her, smoke flaring from his nostrils. "Pretty pissed off? Pretty pissed off?! A thousand years," he snarled, his voice raw with rage, "trapped and tortured, used as a weapon to kill! You have no idea how furious I am!"

Each word escaped his mouth in a billow of smoke and searing heat, his anger rolling over them like a volcanic storm.

Midoriya's eyes widened. "A-A thousand years?"

Everyone froze, their expressions mirroring the shock and disbelief.

"W-Wait, you're telling me he's been here for a…" Hagakure stammered, her invisible form somehow radiating astonishment.

"A thousand years…?" Jirou whispered, almost in awe.

"D-Don't worry! We'll get you out of here!" Midoriya promised, stepping forward—only to be stopped by a painful jolt. A crimson energy barrier crackled to life between him and the dragon, forcing him back with a surge of red electricity.

Kaminari narrowed his eyes at the barrier. "Stand back, guys," he muttered, determination hardening his gaze.

He placed his hands against the fence, red electricity crackling and sparking as he began to absorb its energy. The entire room seemed to shudder under the electrical overload, flickers of lightning dancing along the walls, casting eerie shadows across the dragon's massive form.

Midoriya took a cautious step back as the intensity of the electricity grew, the air heavy with the scent of ozone and the buzz of power. The barrier around the dragon began to waver, flickering with strain, while the chains binding him hummed and sparked violently, beginning to lose their grip.

"Kaminari!" Midoriya shouted.

"N-No! Let me do this, Midobro!" Kaminari's voice was strained, but he pushed forward. "USJ… I was basically useless there. Just… let me do this! Like you always say… PLUS ULTRA!" His body absorbed the energy in a last surge, drawing in the entire force field. The barrier shattered in a blaze of crimson, the chains that held the dragon finally turning black, their power drained.

Kaminari fell to his knees, panting, barely able to lift his head as he gave a shaky thumbs up. "All… yours…"

The dragon's eyes flared with a fierce intelligence, and for the first time in a millennium, it felt freedom within reach. With a primal roar, it flexed its mighty muscles, the chains shattering as its raw strength exploded outward.

Metal links burst apart, fragments raining down like shrapnel as the dragon rose to its full, towering height, casting an enormous shadow that swallowed the room. The very ground trembled beneath its weight, cracks splintering across the stone floor in jagged patterns.

With an enraged snarl, the dragon opened its colossal maw, a blazing inferno gathering at the back of its throat. The air around it rippled with unbearable heat, and in one thunderous release, it unleashed a torrent of flames.

The fire roared out, a white-hot jet that melted the iron bars, reducing them to molten slag that twisted and dripped in glowing pools.

The room exploded with a deafening BOOM, the shockwave blasting through the space. Midoriya and the others were thrown back like ragdolls, their bodies hurled across the prison as they shielded themselves from the intense heat.

The entire chamber seemed to groan under the force, walls quaking, and dust raining from the ceiling as the dragon stood unchained, its presence overwhelming, its freedom finally reclaimed.

"W-Whoa…" Kaminari murmured, his voice shaky. "Talk about power…"

Izuku nodded, a mix of awe and fear in his eyes.

The dragon took a deep, rumbling breath, tasting the first breath of freedom he'd had in centuries. His glowing eyes scanned the room, burning with long-buried vengeance as he stepped forward. From down the hall, knights could be heard banging at the elevator doors that Upgrade had sealed shut.

"At last…" the dragon growled, his voice a low, threatening rumble. "Now, I can rid this miserable planet of every last knight."

His eyes ignited with a fiery glow, and his chest swelled as he drew in air. The others ducked instinctively as the dragon's throat began to radiate a brilliant yellow light, intensifying until a blinding beam of molten energy erupted from his maw.

The concentrated blast of heat tore through the prison, striking the elevator with explosive force. The entire room shook as the impact incinerated the knights instantly, their screams smothered by the dragon's thunderous roar.

Everyone gaped in shock, the cold prison now blazing like a furnace, as the dragon's eyes blazed with fury, resentment, and a thousand years of pent-up rage. He began to stomp forward, each step echoing through the trembling stone walls, as more knights rushed into view, drawn by the commotion.

"My moment of retribution has come," the dragon declared, his voice dripping with venom. "None of these armored fools will leave this place alive."

"The beast has been unleashed, men!" one of the knights shouted, his voice quivering as he and his comrades stormed into the underground prison. Their armor clinked as their hands shook, barely gripping their weapons, fear etched across every face.

Izuku sprang up, Full Cowl sparking to life as green energy crackled around him. He darted in front of the dragon, arms thrown wide in a defensive stance. "Wait! Y-You can't do this!" he shouted, his tone desperate.

The dragon's molten gaze fell on him, unaffected. "I surely can,"he replied, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. He took a slow, deliberate step forward, each thunderous footfall echoing through the prison chamber and shaking dust loose from the cracked stone ceiling.

"Look, this… this is all a misunderstanding!" Midoriya stammered, his tone pleading. The dragon's fierce eyes narrowed, irritation blazing in their golden depths.

"A misunderstanding? A thousand years, and you call this a misunderstanding?" The dragon's voice dripped with barely-contained fury. With a sweeping swing of his massive tail, he sent several knights flying like broken dolls, the sickening crunch of armor and bone echoing through the chamber.

Izuku flinched, but held his stance as the dragon's scornful eyes bore into him. "A thousand years stolen by these so-called 'Forever Knights.' A thousand years away from my family, my kin, my mate. Do you have any idea what it's like to lose everyone you loved to the passage of time while you rot in darkness?"

Midoriya's gaze fell, a flicker of anguish surfacing. "I… I know what it's like to lose people. But that's why you don't have to do this. You're free now—"

"I know," the dragon snarled, a twisted smile curling across his massive maw. "But I want to.''

Flames crackled at the edges of his mouth, a fierce yellow and orange glow casting the chamber in a flickering, hellish light. "You would too, if they took everything you loved."

Izuku's eyes widened, desperation in his expression. "Please—revenge isn't the way. You don't have to destroy them. They can't hurt you anymore!"

His voice shook, pleading, even as he braced himself against the oppressive heat radiating from the dragon's maw. "I know what you're going through—"

A deep, guttural growl from the dragon cut him off. He stomped the ground with a force that sent a massive shockwave through the stone floor, cracks spiderwebbing outward in jagged patterns. Izuku staggered, barely able to keep his footing against the tremor. The dragon leaned down, his blazing eyes inches from Izuku's, searing heat rolling off his face.

"You know nothing of my pain, boy. If they robbed you of everything, you would burn this place to the ground too." His powerful words rang through the air, ancient and unyielding, a force of rage and sorrow that had been locked away

...

"Ten millennia of captivity! Ten thousand years in shackles and chains!" The Dragon's voice thundered, shaking the cold stone walls of the prison. His dark green scales rippled with every movement, a pale green underbelly stretching across his massive body. His bat-like wings, broad and pale greyish-green with dark accents, stirred the air with a flick of frustration. The tail behind him whipped sharply, its dark green length tapering to a deadly point, a visible manifestation of the power barely contained within him.

The heat in the room intensified as he spoke, each word punctuated with a searing fury. "Ten thousand years of being treated as... as less than fucking human! They tortured me for their own amusement!" His beak-like face twisted with rage, and his yellow eyes, gleaming like molten gold, locked onto Izuku, burning with the weight of ages of torment.

"How could you possibly know what it's like?!" he snarled, his voice deep and booming, echoing off the walls as the air grew thick with the heat of his wrath. "How could you know the agony, the humiliation?! They spit on me, for no reason at all! Tortured me with no damn justification—no reason!" His words reverberated through the chamber, the intensity of his anger turning the prison into a furnace, as if the very air was suffocating beneath the weight of his fury.

Izuku stood frozen, trembling as the full force of the Dragon's pain crashed over him. He didn't know how to respond, didn't know how anyone could truly comprehend the magnitude of what the Dragon had endured. But, in a twisted way, Izuku did understand.

His thoughts drifted back to the time when he was quirkless, the years spent feeling powerless, invisible, and humiliated. The torment he'd faced for being weak, for not having a quirk—how it had felt like he was less than human, less than everyone else.

Izuku looked down, his body shaking as memories resurfaced, ones he had tried so desperately to forget. His time in Aldrea, the whispers, the taunts. Could he ever truly erase that pain? Even with One For All, even with his newfound power, the scars of those years still clung to him.

He clenched his fists, fighting back the tremors as he forced himself to meet the Dragon's intense gaze. In that moment, he understood. He understood the Dragon's pain, its torment, and its rage. They were not so different after all.

Izuku's gaze fell to the floor, his body shaking. Memories flooded his mind—the pain, the humiliation, the years he spent powerless and invisible to the world. The cruel torment he had faced for being quirkless, for not having what others considered to be something that made you useful to society.

How could he forget? How could he pretend it didn't matter anymore? Maybe it didn't matter anymore.

Even with One For All, and the Omnitrix even with the power that now surged through his veins, the scars from those years still remained.

He wanted to forget to pretend like it never happened. Like those years were just a distant memory.

Izuku's breath hitched as he forced himself to look up, meeting the Dragon's burning yellow eyes.

"I... I know what you're going through..." Izuku's voice was barely a whisper, thick with the weight of emotions he had buried for so long. His fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his skin. The memories of torment and rejection—of being quirkless, treated as less than human—rushed back, threatening to overwhelm him. He could feel the pain all over again, gnawing at his insides.

The Dragon's eyes burned brighter, his fury palpable. "HOW DARE—" His roar filled the chamber, but Izuku's voice sliced through it, harsh and raw.

"I know exactly what you're going through, damn it!" Izuku shouted, his voice cracking with a force that seemed unfamiliar even to him. His body shook not from fear, but from the anger and pain that surged through him, emotions he'd kept bottled up for so long that they almost tore him apart.

"I know the rage you're feeling!" Izuku's voice trembled, but it was edged with the bitterness of his own suffering. "You want to make them feel every ounce of the pain they put you through! You want them to burn, to be crushed, to feel nothing but helplessness—because that's what they did! That's what they did to me!" His chest tightened, his breath coming in ragged gasps, the words spilling out faster than he could control them.

His hands shook as memories of the cruel treatment, the insults, the mocking laughter, and the brutal beatings he had endured surfaced, each one feeling as fresh as the first time it happened. "I get it," he said, his voice barely audible. "I know what it's like to be treated like dirt. To be crushed under their gaze. I know what it's like to beg for mercy... and never get it." His throat tightened, words coming out in broken sobs.

Jirou, Hagakure, and Kaminari stood motionless, eyes wide with shock. The usual cheerful, determined Izuku was gone, replaced by someone consumed by a fury none of them had ever seen before. They had no idea what he had been hiding beneath the surface.

"Green..." Jirou whispered, a shudder in her voice.

"I know what you're feeling!" Izuku shouted again, his voice hoarse and desperate. "You want them to know the pain, to feel what it's like to be nothing, to be helpless! To watch them beg for mercy when they never gave it! When they never cared!" The words were like a knife in his chest, and yet he couldn't stop himself from saying them, from letting the fury and pain escape.

Izuku's chest heaved as his body trembled, the rawness of his words hanging heavy in the air. "You want them to remember the way they treated you. To feel everything they made you feel." His voice dropped to a dangerous tone, filled with quiet venom. "When they beg... you want to remind them that they never gave you the mercy they're asking for now."

The Dragon's furious roar shook the chamber, his massive form trembling with power and pain. "Then why shouldn't I?!" he bellowed, the force of the words rattling the very walls. "Why shouldn't I become the monster they always claimed me to be?!"

Izuku's voice was softer now, but no less intense. His breath was labored, his body tense as though the very act of speaking was painful. "Because... "

"Because..." Izuku's hair fell like curtains, his voice a quiet, almost painful whisper. "Because they've already taken your dignity. Your self-esteem. Your self-respect. Even your sense of self-worth." He said the last part more to himself, as if he were reminding himself of his own struggles.

The Dragon's eyes flashed bright with fury, the heat of his rage still scorching the air between them. Izuku's words cut deep, but he pressed on, his voice growing more firm as the intensity of the moment increased.

"Why should they take your humanity?" Izuku's voice trembled with a quiet, burning conviction. "Haven't they taken enough from you already? What will lashing out—what will killing these monsters—bring back? Will it return the years you've lost? Will it heal the wounds they've carved into you?" His words were heavy with the weight of his own pain, as if he, too, was fighting the urge to give in to the fire that burned within.

The Dragon growled low, his enormous body shaking with barely contained fury. But Izuku didn't falter; he couldn't. He had to make the Dragon see, to make him understand.

"Will you ever look at your children again... knowing you have blood on your hands?" Izuku's words struck like a whip, the quiet pain in his voice turning to something darker. "Will you look at them, and say it was worth it? Can you say that after you've beaten these Forever Knights to within an inch of their lives, after you've taken everything from them, that you'll still be able to look at your family with clean hands?"

The Dragon's anger was still palpable, his chest heaving with each breath, and yet there was something else beneath it—something more vulnerable, as though Izuku's words had pierced through the impenetrable armor of rage.

The Dragon closed his eyes tightly, his massive form trembling as he fought back the tears that threatened to break free. The ground beneath them quaked as his roar echoed through the chamber, a sound of anguish and fury combined.

"Everything... They've taken everything from me," the Dragon rumbled, his voice thick with grief.

Izuku stepped closer, his tone softening, though still firm. "I know," he said quietly, meeting the Dragon's gaze with an unwavering look of understanding. "But you're not a monster. You're a mapmaker." He allowed a small, almost bittersweet smile to touch his lips, the warmth in his voice a gentle, quiet defiance against the pain.

The Dragon stared at him, his golden eyes piercing and full of conflict. For a long moment, the silence hung heavy between them, thick with the weight of the question Izuku had posed.

Then, without warning, the Dragon unhinged his massive jaw and released a roar that shook the very foundations of the underground prison. It was not a roar of fury alone, but one filled with the agony of a soul torn between the desire for vengeance and the echoes of a humanity long since crushed.

The ground cracked and splintered beneath the force of the sound, and the chamber above them began to crumble. A fiery beam of energy shot from the Dragon's maw, tearing through the stone and earth with a blinding light, until the darkness was split open, revealing the stars above.

"I'm not staying here anymore. Let's go," the Dragon growled, his voice like a low rumble, shaking the very air around them.

His massive, bat-like wings unfurled, the pale greyish-green membrane stretching wide, casting a shadow over the group as his tail lashed the air behind him. "Hop on."

Izuku's eyes gleamed, his excitement tinged with the weight of the moment. He turned to his friends, a wide grin breaking through the tension. "Guys, get on!"

The others stood in awe, stunned by the sheer magnitude of the Dragon's form under the moonlight. His dark green scales shimmered with an ethereal glow, his yellow eyes burning bright as lanterns against the night.

Kyouka's concern was evident as she looked at Izuku. From his words, it was clear he had been through something.

"Wait, hold up… a dragon?" Kaminari stammered, wide-eyed, his voice a mix of disbelief and excitement.

"Are you insane?!" Toru exclaimed, her voice sharp with panic.

Izuku, unfazed, just shrugged. "Fight the Forever Knights, or go flying on a dragon. It's your choice." He gestured toward the Dragon, who snorted a plume of smoke from his nostrils, the dark night air stirring with the force of his breath. His wings unfurled, sending a gust of wind rippling through the air, causing the group to stagger slightly as they watched in awe.

Jirou, still holding Izuku's backpack, gave him a determined nod and quickly climbed onto the Dragon's back, followed by the others.

"I'm not sure about this..." Hagakure said, her voice uncertain, her invisible form hesitating near the Dragon's colossal flank.

"Just don't look down," Izuku reassured, his voice calm but confident, as he gripped the Dragon's scales, feeling the warmth radiating from the beast's massive body.

Kyouka frowned, concerned. "Green, what about your quirk? If you use an alien, you could get in trouble for quirk usage," she said, her voice laced with worry.

Izuku's smile widened as he pulled a silver disk from his backpack. "I had a feeling this would come in handy." With a flick of his wrist, the disk unfolded, revealing a sleek hoverboard.

"Woah!" they all exclaimed in unison, eyes wide with surprise.

Kyouka swiftly pulled off her black hoodie and handed it to Izuku. "We don't want anyone recognizing you," she said firmly, her concern for him clear in her actions.

Izuku glanced up at her, then at the others. "Huh? What about you guys?"

"They've got me!" Hagakure said, her voice filled with playful confidence. Though invisible, her presence was unmistakable, floating close by.

Izuku nodded, hopping onto the hoverboard. With one smooth motion, he glided forward, as the Dragon's great wings spread wide, beating with tremendous force.

The earth trembled, cracks spider-webbing through the pavement as the Dragon surged upwards, his tail swiping the ground beneath him, shattering the remains of the underground cavern.

The night sky opened up above them, a blanket of stars scattered across the heavens. The Dragon roared, a primal sound that shattered the silence of the night. His massive body tore through the air, wings beating with strength, propelling them higher into the sky.

The group clung to the Dragon's back, feeling the rush of wind as they ascended. The moonlight bathed the Dragon's scaled body in an eerie glow, making him look like an ancient, mythical creature come to life. His wings stretched wide, the pale green edges of his bat-like wings cutting through the cold night air.

The Dragon paused, letting the cool night air wash over him. His massive head tilted back, mouth opening in a triumphant roar, his long horns arcing upward as he basked in the feeling of freedom.

His immense wings caught the air, sending gusts through the atmosphere as they hovered, soaking in the sensation of soaring once again.

Below, the streets erupted in confusion as the Dragon's immense form broke through the earth. People stopped dead in their tracks, eyes wide, staring up at the impossible sight above them. The ground shook, the rumble of the Dragon's wings vibrating through the city, as he rose into the sky, leaving behind the broken remnants of the underground.

Izuku, holding tightly to his hoverboard, smiled with excitement, his heart pounding in his chest. The moonlight reflected off the Dragon's massive wings as they cut through the night sky.

...

Ester clung tightly to Kaminari, while Jirou and Hagakure, their bodies shaking with fear, grasped the Dragon's scales with white knuckles. Despite their terror, they slowly opened their eyes, their fear momentarily forgotten as they took in the breathtaking view.

Izuku, soaring effortlessly on his hoverboard, glided alongside them, his face alight with excitement. The city stretched out beneath them, its lights twinkling like stars in the dark night.

Above, the sky was a canvas of stars, an endless sea of light. The world felt peaceful for a moment, the wind rushing through their hair as they soared higher.

"Amazing," Izuku breathed, looking around in awe.

"Yeah," Jirou said, her voice filled with wonder, her fear fading as she allowed herself to enjoy the beauty of the night.

But the moment of tranquility was shattered by a harsh, mechanical screech. The Forever Knights, mounted on sleek hover bikes, appeared out of nowhere, their laser javelins gleaming in the moonlight. They aimed their weapons, and before anyone could react, a red beam shot out toward them.

"Woah!" Izuku swerved sharply to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.

"Go! I'll handle them!" Izuku shouted, his voice filled with urgency.

"But—" Hagakure began to protest, her invisible form shifting nervously.

"GO!" Izuku shouted again, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Without waiting for another word, Izuku shot forward, his hoverboard carrying him into the fray. The Forever Knights didn't hesitate. They fired another volley of red beams, but Izuku was already weaving through their shots, narrowly dodging the laser javelins as the Dragon roared through the air beside him, moving at high speed.

Izuku executed a flawless backflip over one of the knights, his body twisting in mid-air, narrowly avoiding a blast. The knight, caught off-guard, fired into the engine of another rider's hover bike. The bike exploded in a fiery burst, sending the rider flying into a nearby wall.

Midoriya didn't slow down, his hoverboard taking him on a high-speed chase through the city. The Forever Knights pursued him relentlessly, their bikes screeching as they closed in on him.

Izuku barely had time to think as he darted between buildings, narrowly avoiding another javelin blast. In his peripheral vision, he saw a round man in a yellow hero costume standing on the street below, his eyes wide with disbelief.

The wind whipped through the man's hair as Izuku zipped past him, and the sudden gust knocked something from the man's hands. His eyes went wide, and he dropped to his knees in despair.

"No... NO! YOU FIEND! YOU CAN TAKE MY LICENSE! YOU CAN TAKE MY AMAJIKI—"

Izuku blinked, momentarily confused, but before he could process the outburst, the man screamed again.

"—BUT YOU WILL NOT TAKE MY TAKYOKI!" the man yelled, his voice filled with desperation.

Izuku, still dodging laser fire, shook his head in confusion. "Wait, what?"

A dark-haired boy standing beside the man looked just as baffled, glancing from the hero to Izuku, clearly just as confused as the rest of them.

Midoriya swerved sharply, using the power of One For All to propel himself off the side of a building. He landed hard against the wall, his muscles screaming with the effort, but he pushed through.

With a quick motion, he slammed his fist into the face of one of the Forever Knights, sending him tumbling backward.

He then grabbed the javelin the knight was holding, spun it around, and fired two quick shots directly into the engines of the two knights chasing him. The bikes erupted in sparks and flames, crashing violently into the street below.

"Phew, at least—" Izuku started, but before he could finish his sentence, massive tentacles shot out from the wreckage and wrapped around him.

"You surrender,"a voice commanded.

"Uh…" Midoriya grunted as he dodged through the squirming tentacles, his heart racing. With a burst of speed, he rocketed off into the night sky, narrowly avoiding the grasping limbs.

"Damnit," the dark-haired boy below muttered, his voice heavy with frustration. ''I'm sorry I couldn't get justice for Takyoki, Fatgum."

"It's fine, Amajiki. We will seek out justice. This crime cannot go unpunished!" Fatgum, the pro hero beside him, declared with fiery determination.

"They just took Takyoki," Amajiki muttered, looking down with regret. Fatgum shot him a sharp glare, but said nothing in response.

Izuku flew higher, the exhaustion of the day weighing heavily on him. He longed for the comfort of home and sleep, but there was no time to rest yet. His mind buzzed with everything that had happened. He soon spotted his friends ahead, hovering in the sky as well, and quickly joined them.

"So, what do we do now?" Kaminari asked, his voice tinged with concern.

"I may be able to help," a new voice called out from above.

The group turned to see a dragon descending from the night sky. Ryuko, the number 10 hero, had arrived in her dragon form, her enormous wings beating the air as she landed gracefully before them.

"When I saw you flying through the air, I knew you'd need my help," Ryuko said with a smile, her voice warm.

"Ryuko?! No way!" Midoriya exclaimed in awe, his eyes wide with excitement. "Y-You're the dragon hero, Ryuko!" His voice sped up as he began rambling in disbelief.

Ryuko chuckled softly at his reaction. "Land over there," she said, pointing to a nearby rooftop. As they made their way over, she glanced at Izuku, her expression softening. "So, that's Hisashi's son, huh?" she thought to herself, the memories of the past flooding her mind. Her cheeks flushed slightly at the realization, but she quickly masked it with a playful smirk.

...

---

After a few minutes of explaining, the group had finished giving their statements to the dragon hero.

"Okay, the knights will be held accountable for their actions. Some pro heroes are already aware of alien life, whether through family connections or past encounters," Ryuko said, her voice calm but firm.

"W-Wait, you know about aliens?!" Midoriya stammered, his eyes wide with shock as he took in the unexpected revelation. Kaminari handed Ryuko the recording devices, still processing the news.

Ryuko gave a small nod. "Even if I didn't, you are all citizens, and I'll make sure to get the names of the pro heroes and officers who blatantly ignored your pleas. They will be held accountable. I will personally investigate the knights' actions as well."

"Thank you," the dragon said, his voice heavy with gratitude.

"No problem, sir," Ryuko responded with a nod. "I'm truly sorry that you had to go through all of this. A ship will be arranged to send you back to your planet as soon as possible."

"From the rest of humanity, you're the most tolerable I've met," the dragon remarked, his voice softening slightly.

Ryuko gave a small, knowing smile. "I'll take you back to my agency. Your father will be okay," she added, turning to Ester and gently placing a hand on the girl's shoulder.

Ester smiled back, her expression softening as she watched her father being placed into an ambulance. "Thank you," she said quietly, her voice filled with relief.

Ryuko's gaze shifted to the group of teenagers, her expression shifting into something more playful. "Now, shouldn't you kids be heading home?" she asked, a teasing edge to her tone.

The four teens froze, their faces going pale. "W-We're fine, no injuries or anything," Kaminari stammered, though it was clear the idea of going home was not the first thing on their minds.

Ryuko raised an eyebrow. "None of you are injured, so you should be fine," she said, crossing her arms as she watched them.

Before dread crossed the teenagers' faces, they all exchanged nervous glances.

"Aizawa is going to kill us!" Kaminari exclaimed, his voice laced with panic.

"We're dead," Jirou muttered, her usual calm demeanor slipping.

"Not yet!" Midoriya shot back, his tone filled with determination. He rapidly dialed the Omnitrix, slamming down on the dial with urgency. In a flash of green light, a foul smell invaded the air, making everyone wrinkle their noses.

"Get on!" Stinkfly's voice echoed as he materialized, his wings buzzing. The three teenagers, still reeling from the events, quickly hopped onto his back. Midoriya's One For All crackled around the alien, ready to take off. But just as they were about to launch into the sky—

"Wait!" Ester called out.

She quickly pulled a small piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Kaminari. Then, without hesitation, she placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thanks for... y'know, helping me save my dad."

Kaminari froze, his face turning bright red. "N-No problem," he stammered, still a little dazed. "Hope I can see you again."

"Yeah, me too," Ester replied, a smile tugging at her lips.

As the moment lingered, Jirou's voice broke through, tinged with impatience. "Hate to break up this moment, but I really don't want Aizawa coming for us!" she called, her gaze flickering nervously toward the city streets.

Without wasting another second, Stinkfly blasted off into the sky, zipping through the air with a surprising burst of speed.

"Hagakure, turn us invisible!" Kyouka shouted over the rushing wind.

Hagakure, already struggling to keep up with the pace of the flight, concentrated hard, her hands placed gently on the alien's back. Slowly, her invisible form started to shimmer, and with a grunt of effort, she managed to cloak the entire group.

As they neared the school, the wind whipping past them, Hagakure's strain became evident. Just before they passed through the school gates, the last of them vanished completely from sight.

As they soared through the night sky, the city lights flickering below them, Kyouka couldn't help but ask what had happened back in the chamber.

"Hey, Green..." Jirou began, her voice hesitant. Stinkfly, his eyes focused on the path ahead, glanced at her with one of his pairs of eyes while the other kept watch on their destination.

"Hm?" Stinkfly responded, his tone neutral.

"Did... did you mean what you said back there?" Jirou asked, her curiosity evident in her voice.

Stinkfly went silent for a moment, his wings buzzing softly in the wind as the group continued their flight.

"Yeah, dude, I've never heard you sound so angry," Kaminari added, glancing over at the alien.

"You can talk to us, you know," Toru chimed in, her voice warm and encouraging.

Stinkfly's wings buzzed louder as he seemed to tense. "No, I didn't," he replied, his voice cold. "I just said that the dragon wouldn't kill any more knights. It was the only way I could think of to get through to him. Don't worry about it."

His tone was final, leaving little room for further discussion, and the group fell silent, sensing he didn't want to talk about it any more.

"Oh... uh, right, sure!" Kaminari said, a bit awkwardly, as the others nodded in understanding, respecting Stinkfly's wish for quiet.

The buzzing of Stinkfly's wings echoed as they flew across the school, the hum of his blades cutting through the air. With a sharp turn, he dropped the others onto the balcony of their room, the sound of his wings fading as he flew off to his own quarters.

"Hey, Midori! Today was kinda fun!" Hagakure grinned, stepping inside with a playful smile.

"Night, Green!" Jirou waved, already heading for her own room.

"Yeah, but maybe less crazy people trying to kill us, and more of the night sky," Stinkfly called back over his shoulder as he glided to his room.

Kaminari, beaming with excitement, rushed over to Midoriya's room. "Midobro! Dude, she gave me her number!" He proudly waved a piece of paper in the air. "I got a girl's number and was way past curfew! And totally got away with it!"

"Don't jinx it, Kaminari!" Stinkfly called out from his room, chuckling lightly.

Stinkfly, now back in his human form, collapsed onto his bed with a sigh. "I just need some sleep," he muttered, pulling the covers over himself.

Meanwhile, in Kyouka's room, she groaned as she flopped onto her bed. "I'm going to sleep for a week," she mumbled, her exhaustion weighing her down.

"Man, I missed my bed," Hagakure said, eyes already closed as she lay down beside her.

"I'm never waking up," Kaminari muttered sleepily as he passed out, his words barely intelligible.

Just as they all drifted into much-needed sleep, the shrill sound of alarms rang throughout the building, jolting everyone awake.

Kaminari's groan filled the room as he sat up, his face a mix of confusion and annoyance. "Noooo..." he whined.

Kyouka muffled a groan, burying her head in her pillow, wishing for five more minutes of peace.

Hagakure, on the other hand, reached over and violently destroyed her alarm, tossing it out the window with a frustrated growl.

Midoriya's eye twitched in irritation as he sat up, already dreading the start of another day. "Ah, man..."

...

As everyone slowly made their way out to the common area, each one looking a bit bleary-eyed, they were met with the concerned faces of Class 1-A.

"Oh, man, you guys are okay!" Mina said, relief flooding her voice.

"Why weren't you answering your phones?" Iida scolded, his brow furrowed.

"We were all worried!" Momo added, her concern evident.

"I expect this kind of reckless, complete disregard of the rules from Bakugou! But you, Midoriya? I'm disappointed," Sero said, shaking his head with mock disapproval.

"Did you guys sneak back in?" Sato asked, his voice tinged with surprise.

Jirou's eye twitched as the comments piled up. "Give us a minute!" she snapped, causing the group to step back, except for Kaminari, Midoriya, and Hagakure, who were too busy pouring themselves coffee. Kaminari, in typical fashion, drank straight from the coffee pot.

"Wait, why isn't Aizawa wondering where we were?" Hagakure asked, eyeing the group as she sipped her coffee.

"Oh, um, we may have told him you guys went to bed early. Hopefully, he bought it," Sero said with a sheepish grin.

Class B walked in just as the conversation was winding down. When the girls spotted Jirou, they immediately flocked to her.

"We overheard Uraraka... well, we hope you feel better," Kiniko said with a smile, though the comment left Jirou confused, while Uraraka slowly backed away.

"Here, this will make you feel better," Yangi added, handing Jirou a small bottle of pills.

The blank expression on Jirou's face made it clear she wasn't sure how to feel about the offer, but she accepted it anyway. A few other girls handed out similar bottles. "These work way better," one said with a knowing smile.

"T-Thank you..." Jirou muttered, a vein popping on her head in frustration as they left. Uraraka, still hanging back, tried to make a break for it but was caught off guard by Kyouka's sudden menacing aura.

"Pink cheeks," Kyouka remarked with a deadly calm, causing Uraraka to freeze in place.

The verbal assault Uraraka received made her curl up into a small ball in a corner, her face flushed in embarrassment. Kyouka let out a deep breath and finally calmed herself down. "T-Thank you, anyways. I know you didn't do it on purpose," she said, her voice softening.

"S-So, I'm forgiven?" Uraraka asked, her voice hopeful.

Kyouka chuckled, wiping away her tears. "That's cute," she teased, making Uraraka gulp nervously.

"Midoriya, what happened?" Iida asked, his tone serious as he swung his arm around.

Izuku scratched the back of his head, nervously glancing at the others. "Uh, we'll tell you later," he said, offering a small wave to Yui, who had just walked into the room.

"Morning, Yui," Izuku said, his voice casual.

"Morning, Izuku," Yui replied, her voice calm. Uraraka, still curled up in a corner, froze.

"Where were you? You weren't responding to my texts," Yui said, walking over to Izuku. He scratched behind his head again, looking sheepish.

"S-Sorry, I was, uh, occupied with something," Izuku said quickly.

"Mh," Kodai muttered, glancing over at the pair.

"I promise I wasn't ignoring you or anything like that! Don't worry, I'll make it up to you," Izuku added defensively.

Kodai shot him a sharp look, feeling the weight of her glare. She shrugged it off, moving to the kitchen to make herself some breakfast.

"You better," she said

"So... you're on a first-name basis with Kodai?" Ashido and Uraraka asked, their curiosity piqued.

Midoriya, though flustered, was too exhausted to react. "Yes," he simply replied.

"You don't call us by our first names," Ashido pouted, crossing her arms.

Midoriya raised an eyebrow. "You don't either."

"Well, that's— but—" Ashido faltered, unable to come up with a valid counter, and instead just pouted, realizing she couldn't argue this time.

"He has a point," Yaoyorozu chimed in, drawing an irritated glare from the other girls. She quickly raised her hands in defense. "I'm just saying."

"Plus, she started calling me by my first name, and I thought it'd be rude if I didn't," Midoriya continued, sipping his black coffee, which had been made by Kendo. "This is really good coffee."

"Oh, I made it. Thanks," Kendo said, giving a small smile.

"It's really good," Kaminari, Jirou, and Hagakure agreed as they sipped from their cups.

"Oh look, the Class A brats hogging all the coffee," Monoma's voice cut through the conversation, dripping with his usual arrogance.

"Monoma, shut up," all four of them groaned in unison, too tired to deal with him.

The whole day, the four teenagers barely stayed awake at their desks. Kaminari was fast asleep, while Kyouka, Midoriya, and Hagakure fought to keep their eyes open.

Yaoyorozu, ever the diligent student, made sure to take extra notes for the group. Hero class was a nightmare, especially since Aizawa and All Might had decided to make the day's training even harder than usual.

"Do you really think they deserve this?" All Might asked, glancing over at the tired teens.

"They stayed up late, rampaged through the city... I can't exactly punish them for saving lives," Aizawa replied, his voice steady. "And they don't know we know about the aliens, so they're not going to come clean, especially to protect their friend. This is the best punishment I can give them."

"But I'll admit, I'm impressed," Aizawa continued, his tone softening slightly. "They uncovered an operation, snuck in, saved two lives, and managed to return to their dorms without anyone noticing. That's impressive."

"Midoriya! Ten more push-ups!" Aizawa shouted, and Midoriya grunted in response, pushing through the pain.

"Hey, Young Kaminari, Young Jirou! Stop slacking off and give me 20!" All Might shouted, making the two groan in unison.

"Come on, Class 1-A! Strain those muscles!" Aizawa barked, his voice laced with authority as everyone struggled through the grueling training.

"I get why those four are being punished, but why is the rest of the class being put through this?" All Might asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked around at the exhausted students.

"Oh, they lied about the four's absence. That, I can't let go, but everything worked out just fine," Aizawa said, his gaze sweeping over the class.

Izuku, Kaminari, Hagakure, and Jirou all began pushing themselves through the grueling set of push-ups.

"Heroes always get the short end of the stick," Kyouka grunted, her arms shaking as she struggled to keep going.

"Damn straight," the others groaned in agreement, their muscles burning from the intense workout.

...

---

As the day came to an end, Class 1-A packed up their things, eager to head home. Izuku yawned, feeling the weight of exhaustion, but his mind was still racing. He glanced around at his classmates, and his usual optimism felt a little distant.

"Hey, Ashido, me, Sero, Kaminari, and Bakugou are heading out to grab some food. You coming?" Kirishima called out.

Ashido, who had been chatting animatedly with Toru, flinched at the mention of Bakugou's name. Toru, still half-asleep, blinked confusedly. Ashido turned to face Kirishima, her unease palpable.

"Er... Not sure..." Ashido hesitated, clearly uncomfortable at the idea of hanging out with Bakugou.

"Huh?" Kirishima asked, confused.

"Yeah, you always come with us," Sero added, looking at her expectantly.

Ashido fidgeted, clearly caught in a difficult position. Her eyes flicked over to Bakugou, who was leaning against the wall, staring at his phone. Izuku, who had been packing his bag, paused with it over his shoulder. He felt the anger from earlier rise in his chest again, like a pressure he couldn't quite shake off.

Kirishima noticed Ashido's hesitation and quickly connected the dots. "Oh, you're still thinking Bakugou's some kind of bully?"

Izuku gripped the door handle a little too tightly, his knuckles turning white. He tried to push the feelings down, but the anger simmered beneath the surface. He could feel his jaw tightening as he fought to keep it under control.

"Okay, look, Kirishima, I know you vouch for him, but he's kind of a jerk..." Ashido said in a low voice.

"Yeah, but that's only when Midoriya's around," Kirishima replied casually. "Those two have a history, but when Midoriya's not around, he's actually pretty chill."

Toru, still sleepy, mumbled, "Why do you even hang out with him? He's such an asshole."

Kirishima chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "The guy's manly," he said with a grin. "I respect his drive. The way he pushes himself, never giving up—he's strong, and he knows it."

"The way he never backs down from anyone, and wants everyone to give their best. I get it, though," Kirishima added with a thoughtful look. "You don't want to lose to someone who's not giving their all."

Izuku's fingers curled around the door handle, his breath catching in his chest as his emotions swirled. He stared at the ground, trying desperately to push everything back down before he said something he might regret.

Toru and Ashido exchanged glances, both trying to process Kirishima's words. But something about Izuku's demeanor made the air around them feel thick. He stood there, silent, fists clenched, a storm brewing behind his usually warm eyes. Izuku couldn't quite place it, but the anger was bubbling up again, stronger than ever.

He had felt this way before, but it was different now—sharp, intense, and almost overwhelming. Everything Bakugou did—every taunt, every insult—made his blood boil. And it wasn't like this until yesterday.

"Yeah, I guess..." Mina muttered, still unsure, but her voice trailed off as Bakugou suddenly spoke up.

"If Raccoon Eyes doesn't want to fucking join us, then that's her problem!" Bakugou barked, throwing his bag over his shoulder with an irritated grunt.

Ashido's eyes narrowed at the nickname, her frustration evident. But it wasn't just Ashido who felt anger stirring in the pit of her stomach—Izuku's entire body tensed as the words hit him like a slap in the face.

He clenched his fists, the memories of every time Bakugou had called him "Deku" flashing through his mind. Worthless. Useless. Words that dug into his heart, dragging him into a place of despair. But now? Now, all he felt was pure, unfiltered rage.

His body surged with power. One For All crackled to life around him, a raw energy that hummed in his veins like an electric storm. His vision blurred, the world around him growing foggy as his senses sharpened. The noise of the classroom, the chatter of his friends, even the faint buzz of the lights—it all seemed distant, fading into the background. All that mattered now was Bakugou and the anger he had been holding in for so long.

"Uh, Green?" Jirou asked, her voice tentative as she noticed the change in Izuku's expression. He was walking toward Bakugou, but it wasn't the usual friendly approach he took.

"Dekiru?" Ochako called out, her voice filled with concern. She tried to reach him, but Izuku was already past the point of hearing.

Bakugou, oblivious to the rising tension, was still engaged in his usual argument with Kirishima and Sero. They were bickering, but then Bakugou's words caught in the air like a match to gasoline.

Izuku reeled back his fist, and the sound of his knuckles cracking through the air was almost drowned out by the sound of his heart pounding. For a moment, everything went still. His classmates froze, eyes wide in shock.

The punch landed with a force that shook the entire room. Izuku's fist collided with Bakugou's face with a sickening crack, sending Bakugou's head snapping back violently. His body was lifted off the ground like a ragdoll, propelled through the air as he was sent crashing into a row of desks and chairs. The impact was deafening, and Bakugou smashed into the window with a horrifying crunch, glass shattering around him.

For a moment, there was silence. No one moved. Even Todoroki, who was usually the picture of composure, looked stunned.

Izuku stood over Bakugou, his fist dripping with blood, his chest heaving. His voice was a roar of fury, raw and dangerous. "Either use our damn names, or SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!" His words rang out, vibrating the air with their intensity.

The entire class was frozen, unsure of what to do.

...

Aizawa's eyes widened in shock. The usually calm and compassionate green-haired boy—Izuku Midoriya—was a completely different person now.

His usual kindness was gone, replaced by an overwhelming rage that sent shockwaves through the entire room.

The boy who would never hurt anyone, who always looked out for others, had just launched a violent punch without hesitation. This wasn't the Izuku they knew.

Bakugou, not one to back down from any challenge, snarled, the rage in his eyes burning brighter than ever. His palms crackled with sparks of electricity, his body tense as he wiped blood from his face. "You damn nerd!" he spat, his voice venomous as he gritted his teeth."Deku you bastard!"

Izuku's expression twisted into a fierce snarl. The insult echoed in his ears, and the nickname "Deku"—a word that had haunted him for years—sent a wave of searing anger through him.

His body moved before he could even think, throwing another sickening punch at Bakugou. This time, the impact was even more brutal, Bakugou's head slamming into the classroom floor with a sickening thud.

The class gasped, the realization settling in that Izuku was no longer holding back. He wasn't the same person who always tried to resolve conflicts peacefully. This wasn't just a burst of anger—it was something deeper. Something much darker.

Bakugou, furious and not about to be bested, gritted his teeth and retaliated. Explosions roared from his palms, sending a burst of fire and smoke in Izuku's direction. The blast was powerful enough to send Izuku flying back, his uniform singed and scorched from the force of the explosion.

Yet, even as he stumbled, Izuku remained on his feet, a dangerous glint in his eyes as he faced Bakugou once more. The air around them was thick with tension, the room charged with an almost palpable sense of impending chaos.

It became clear that the situation was spiraling out of control. The students exchanged fearful glances, unsure how to intervene. It was no longer a simple dispute between two classmates.

As the tension mounted, Izuku's hand instinctively moved to the Omnitrix on his wrist, the device glowing ominously.

Everyone in the room froze, the realization dawning on them—Izuku wasn't just angry; he was on the brink of releasing something far more dangerous. They knew that if he activated the Omnitrix now, things would go way beyond their control.

Before anyone could react, Iida and Ochako rushed forward, their faces filled with concern. Iida, desperate to stop Izuku from making a move, grabbed his arm. "Midoriya, stop!" he shouted, his voice firm yet laced with panic. "He's had enough!"

"Dekiru, that's enough!" Ochako called out, her voice shaking as she reached for her friend.

But it was too late. The tension around Izuku was so thick, so raw, that One For All crackled even more fiercely. With a sharp motion, both Iida and Ochako were sent flying backward, crashing into the desks behind them as though they were weightless. Izuku didn't even look back. His entire focus was on Bakugou and the raging storm that was consuming him.

Izuku didn't even glance back as he made his way toward the Omnitrix. Bakugou, grinning with the thrill of a fight, cracked his knuckles, explosions sparking in his palms. But before the situation could escalate any further, Aizawa had had enough.

With a quick motion, he wrapped his capture tape around both of them, his eyes glowing red as he activated his quirk.

"That's enough, Midoriya!" Aizawa barked, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. Izuku, hell-bent on reaching the Omnitrix, struggled against the restraint, his eyes still locked on Bakugou with a burning intensity.

"Midoriya, stand down now," Aizawa commanded, his voice firm, but Izuku only seemed to fight harder. Bakugou was equally stubborn, his glare matching Izuku's as they both prepared for another round of conflict.

"I said stand down!" Aizawa's voice grew louder, a command that shook the room. Bakugou, though still seething, seemed to gradually calm down, his explosions fading. But Izuku… Izuku was a different story. His rage was like a storm that wouldn't settle.

"Dekiru!" Ochako's voice pierced the charged air, her words cutting through the fog of Izuku's anger. Something in her voice, perhaps the concern and familiarity, reached him. Slowly, the storm inside Izuku began to subside. The fog of rage that had enveloped him lifted, and he took a steadying breath.

The room fell silent. Aizawa, still holding both of them with his quirk, took a deep breath, his exhaustion evident.

His gaze flickered from Izuku's trembling fists, still dripping with Bakugou's blood, to Bakugou, who was seething but no longer charging.

"Midoriya, this is your first warning. Cool off and leave Bakugou alone," Aizawa said sternly. Izuku stood motionless for a moment, his breath coming in shaky gasps as the last remnants of his fury ebbed away.

He didn't respond, only turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him so forcefully that it rattled on its hinges, nearly coming off.

Ochako's eyes were wide in shock, and the rest of the class stood frozen, the weight of what just happened settling in.

They had all witnessed something that none of them had ever expected: Izuku Midoriya, normally the most compassionate and kind-hearted among them, had just been consumed by rage.

Aizawa let out a heavy sigh, remembering the conversation with Iida from earlier. He had been warned that some of Izuku's past classmates might try to provoke him. That conversation, coupled with everything that had happened, made him even more concerned.

"Iida, I need a full report on what happened yesterday," Aizawa said, his voice low but commanding. "Who did you all meet? What did they say? Every single detail."

Aizawa's attention shifted back to Bakugou, who was still standing, clearly agitated, blood dripping from his face. "Bakugou, go to Recovery Girl. You're getting blood all over the floor."

Bakugou grunted in annoyance, but he didn't argue, making his way toward the door. Aizawa, however, remained focused on the class, his sharp eyes scanning the room. The tension had barely begun to dissipate.

"I've never seen Dekiru so angry," Ochako whispered, still in shock.

"Ribbit…" Tsuyu added softly, nodding in agreement.

Shoji, his concern evident, spoke up. "What could have gotten to him?"

The class was left in stunned silence, trying to process what had just happened.

...

---

Izuku stumbled down the hallway, his body trembling as he leaned against the wall, struggling to catch his breath. His chest heaved with each ragged inhale, his mind racing, but the anger… the anger wouldn't let go. It surged inside him like an uncontrollable wave, overwhelming him. His pupils shrank as his heart raced.

"Wh-What was that?" he gasped, his voice barely a whisper. "Did I… did I really punch Bakugou just because he called Ashido that nickname?" His eyes dropped to his fist, still dripping with Bakugou's blood, the crimson stain standing out starkly against his trembling hand.

He shook violently, the weight of what he'd just done crashing down on him, but the rage… it wouldn't subside. His body quaked, and every nerve in his body screamed at him, urging him to lash out again, to let it all out. But why? Why was he so angry?

Izuku gritted his teeth, trying to push the feeling back, but the more he struggled, the more intense it became, swirling inside him like a storm that refused to quiet. It felt like his own emotions were slipping out of his control.

He wanted it to stop. He wanted to calm down. But no matter how hard he tried, the rage only grew stronger, clawing its way back to the surface.