Chapter Text
“Watch out!”
The green-haired hero’s head snapped around. The shout cut through the chaos—muffled and distant. His eyes searched aimlessly. The sounds around him felt dull and far away; several explosions had clearly damaged his hearing.
It was hard to orient himself. His body ached, every movement screaming in protest. A sharp throbbing pulsed in his side. Every breath was agony. The main fight was over. Maybe. Or maybe not. For him, everything felt eerily still. The only thing he could hear was his own heartbeat pounding in his ears.
The villains were part of a large organization with no conscience. He had once believed that the worst was over after the League of Villains, but new enemies kept emerging. These ones kidnapped helpless people and sold them—prices depending on their Quirks.
Deku had ended up here after the fight with the boss of the human-trafficking ring. The man had rigged his office with explosives and detonated them when he realized he was losing.
“Urgh.”
Deku leaned forward, dropping to his knees and bracing himself on both arms with the last of his strength. Nausea churned in his stomach, and a piercing ringing echoed in his ears. His vision refused to focus, but he couldn’t give in. He didn’t know how the others were—or if the danger was really over.
Fear crept through his limbs.
What if the others were worse off?
What if someone was dead?
“Shoto…” he whispered hoarsely. His voice was barely audible.
Blood filled his mouth. Izuku clenched his teeth. It was still too dangerous. He had to move. Had to endure.
Trembling, he forced himself to stand. Sharp pain flared across his whole body—probably broken bones. His left thigh throbbed violently. He looked down and saw shards of glass embedded in his skin.
He lifted his head, trying to focus and assess the situation. Everything swam before his eyes. Smoke burned in his lungs, making it hard to breathe.
Debris lay everywhere. Smoke curled into the sky, small fires flickered between the ruins. If he hadn’t been with Endeavor and his sidekicks, he wouldn’t have stood a chance. It had all happened so suddenly. He still remembered how Endeavor had thrown Shoto and him out of the window at the last second—mere moments before the explosion tore the building apart.
“Izuku!”
The shouts reached him only faintly. His gaze drifted over the wreckage, but he couldn’t see anyone moving. Just fire, trying to devour everything.
“Izuku! Where are you?!”
Who was calling?
The voice sounded familiar. He wanted to answer, but all that came out was a hoarse noise. His throat burned as if pierced by a thousand needles.
“Hey! Stop right there!”
Deku didn’t understand the words and couldn’t tell where they were coming from. It felt like his head was submerged underwater.
Suddenly something slammed into his back.
Pain tore through his entire body like a lightning strike. The air was knocked from his lungs as he pitched forward toward the ground. Just before his face hit, his body reacted on instinct—his hands barely managed to catch him.
A sharp sting shot through his palms. Rubble and glass bit into his skin.
Adrenaline surged through his veins. He looked up, though everything was blurred. A man was running away between the ruins.
Without thinking, he raised his right arm, trying to bind the fleeing villain with Blackwhip. Dark mist wavered weakly around his fingers.
I’ll get him…
Then pain exploded inside him.
Brutal. Unlike anything he had ever felt before.
Paralyzing.
“Aagh!” A raw scream tore from his throat. He collapsed forward, unable to hold himself up, curling into the debris. His limbs began to twitch—like he was being electrocuted. The pain spread through his entire body, and a burning heat surged inside him, like fire flowing through his veins.
Bile rose in his throat. He gagged. A metallic taste filled his mouth.
What… what’s happening to me?!
His gaze snapped forward, just in time to see the villain disappear behind the rubble with one last glance back. Everything blurred.
“Izuku!”
This time the call was louder, sharper—panic ringing through it. He tried to respond, but only screams and ragged gasps left his lips. The burning grew stronger, so intense he thought he might lose his mind. He had endured countless injuries—but never pain like this.
Suddenly, arms wrapped around him. Normally it would have been comforting, but now every touch felt like thousands of needles piercing his skin.
“Aaaah!” His scream was loud. Full of agony.
“Izuku! What’s wrong?!”
The words were thick with fear.
Deku turned his head. He could barely see—tears burned in his eyes, blurring everything. He only made out a haze of red, white, and blue. A vague silhouette beside him.
He kept screaming. The pain never stopped.
“Dad! Help!” the person next to him shouted, desperation unmistakable. The grip around him tightened, only making the pain worse. It was overwhelming.
His screams echoed through the wreckage—bouncing back in a terrifying chorus.
He barely noticed more people gathering around him. The agony was too much, too consuming. His strength drained away. The pain dulled—
—and then there was only darkness.
At last, it was quiet.