Episode 10 - Awakening the Dragon Within

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❛ HELLFIRE ❜

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The setting was steeped in an air of urgency, the grandeur of the U.A. faculty conference room overshadowed by the weight of the recent events. Gleaming gold filigree lined the high arched windows, through which the late-afternoon sunlight poured, casting long shadows over the marble floor. The head of the table, a majestic oak masterpiece with intricate carvings of heroic symbols, was claimed by Principal Nezu. The diminutive, yet enigmatic, figure tapped his clawed paw thoughtfully against his chin, his sharp eyes glinting with curiosity and concern.

"Most of the barrier..." Vlad King began, his deep voice trailing off as he adjusted his crimson tie, "...is gone." He looked around, meeting the eyes of his peers. "Disintegrated, as if an immense, otherworldly force bore down upon it. Someone infiltrated U.A. That much is certain."

Midnight, lounging with calculated elegance against her chair's armrest, her whip-like hair cascading down her shoulder, interjected. "A reporter with a grudge wouldn't have the capacity to undo one of the world's most secure barriers." Her sultry voice betrayed an edge of tension. "But if not them, then who?"

Eraser Head, always the practical one, rubbed the bridge of his nose, his perpetually tired eyes narrowing. "That kind of destruction wasn't random. It was methodical. Intentional." He sighed. "And we're left guessing their aim."

Nezu's tiny paw rose to silence the murmurs. "This was not the work of an ordinary force. This reeks of deliberate malice, an element of evil keen on sending a message." His voice, despite its light pitch, carried a weight that silenced the room. "This might very well be a declaration of war."

A hush fell over the chamber, the gravity of the suggestion settling like a heavy crown upon their collective consciousness.

It was All Might, ever the stalwart presence, who broke the silence. Dressed impeccably in his faculty attire, his bright smile gone, he looked pensive. "But what of young Y/N?" he asked, leaning slightly forward. His golden bangs caught the light as his face twisted with concern. "She reacted to that alarm like it was something... primal. A terror unlike anything I've seen from her before."

Aizawa nodded grimly. "True. I've never seen anyone lose their composure in that way. She's always been sharp, controlled—" he glanced out the window, his voice dipping lower, "—regal, even. But in that moment, it was like watching an unstoppable storm unravel."

Nezu tapped his nose with his paw, his tone shifting to something almost playful. "She's a curious one, isn't she? An enigma. A queen in her own right, or so she carries herself." His black eyes twinkled, betraying the labyrinth of thoughts behind them. "She is, without question, a danger to us all."

Midnight gasped softly, her hand brushing her lips in surprise, but before she could speak, Nezu continued, his tone a mix of whimsy and solemnity. "And yet... I do like her."

The room's occupants exchanged uneasy glances, the dichotomy of the principal's words leaving an indelible mark on the conversation.

All Might stood, his towering form casting a long shadow over the others. "Then we must not let this mystery fester. Y/N's power is staggering, but her restraint—her loyalty to our cause—cannot be overlooked." His voice rose slightly, the beacon of hope the world relied on shining through. "We owe it to her, to all our students, to understand the source of this danger—both outside and within."

Nezu's grin widened. "Agreed. But tread carefully, my friends. For if this was a declaration of war, we may soon find ourselves with far more to unravel than the mystery of Y/N's true nature."

And with that, the meeting adjourned, leaving an air thick with unanswered questions, lingering dread, and a glimmer of curiosity—particularly about the enigmatic student whose golden gaze seemed to pierce through time itself.

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The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon as the bus carrying Class 1-A rolled along the winding roads toward their destination. Inside, the mood was lively, a contrast to the quiet storm brewing within Y/N. She sat toward the back, her crimson and gold hair falling in waves around her shoulders as she twirled her talons absentmindedly. The conversation buzzing through the bus barely registered in her mind, her golden eyes clouded with unease.

She had lost control once before. I can't let that happen again... Not here. Not with them.

"Y/N, what's wrong?" Izuku's gentle voice broke through her spiraling thoughts. He leaned slightly closer, his wide green eyes filled with concern.

Y/N shook her head quickly, offering a tight-lipped smile. "Nothing, Midoriya. Just... thinking."

Izuku didn't push further, but his worry lingered as he returned to the animated discussion happening among the other students.

"Your Quirk is insane, Bakugo!" Eijiro Kirishima exclaimed, his voice filled with awe. "And Todoroki's too! You guys are practically made to be pro heroes."

Katsuki scoffed from his seat, crossing his arms. "Damn right. I've got the best Quirk here."

Tsuyu Asui, perched on a seat nearby, tilted her head. "I think Midoriya's Quirk is pretty impressive too. It's kind of like All Might's, isn't it?"

"Yeah, except he breaks himself using it!" Katsuki barked, earning a flinch from Izuku.

Eijiro shook his head. "Still, it's not about the drawbacks—it's about what you do with it. And Midoriya's got that part down. You'll make an awesome hero one day!"

The compliment brought a sheepish smile to Izuku's face, but Eijiro continued, turning to Y/N. "And you, Y/N—your Quirk? It's like something out of a legend. I mean, those wings, that fire—it's perfect hero material!"

Y/N forced another smile, but her claws twisted tighter in her hair. "Thanks, Kirishima," she murmured, but her tone was distant.

The bus fell silent as they finally arrived at the Unforeseen Simulation Joint (U.S.J.), an impressive structure designed for rescue training. The students filed out, greeted by the famed rescue hero, Thirteen.

Thirteen stood at the entrance, her commanding presence enhanced by her billowing black cloak. "Welcome, students, to the U.S.J.!" she said with a sweeping gesture. "This facility was built to teach you the essence of heroism: rescuing those in need. Remember, your Quirks are tools meant to save lives, not harm them."

Y/N's jaw tightened as she absorbed Thirteen's words, the weight of her earlier thoughts pressing down harder.

Before she could dwell further, the air in the facility seemed to shift. A low, eerie rumble echoed through the vast chamber as a swirling black portal tore open in the middle of the training area. From within the darkness emerged a horde of unfamiliar figures—villains.

The students froze in shock. A massive figure with a grotesque appearance stepped forward, flanked by a man with pale blue hair whose decaying hands clutched his own face.

Shota Aizawa immediately stepped in front of his students, his capture weapon snapping into readiness. "Stay back. Thirteen, protect the kids."

Y/N's wings twitched involuntarily, the primal side of her roaring to the surface at the sight of the invaders. Her claws clenched into fists, and for a moment, the weight in her belly was replaced by a flicker of fire in her chest.

Stay calm. Focus.

But as the villains surged forward, the dragon within her began to stir, and she knew this fight would test her resolve like never before.