The ship rocked gently beneath me, but my mind was anything but calm. Villains were surrounding the vessel, their heads bobbing in the water like sharks closing in on prey. The only sound was the occasional splash as they moved closer, their grins feral and full of malice. I gripped the rusted pipe in my hands tightly, trying to suppress the fear clawing at the edges of my mind.

Think, Midoriya. Think.

Running wasn't an option. Jumping into the water would be suicide with the villains lurking below, and there was no way I could fight them all off with nothing but a rusted pipe. My only advantage was the ship itself. I looked around the deck desperately, trying to figure out what I could use. That's when I noticed something—a faint hum coming from below deck.

I froze, my eyes narrowing as I focused on the sound. It was faint, but it was definitely there: the steady vibration of machinery. My gaze darted to the ship's mast, where a frayed wire was swaying slightly in the breeze. This ship still had power.

And then it hit me. The engine. If this ship still had electricity running through it, then I could use that to my advantage. Electricity and water didn't mix well—if I could divert the electrical output into the water, I could create a barrier that would fry anything in it. The villains wouldn't stand a chance.

It was risky. No, scratch that—it was downright dangerous. But it was the only plan I had.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "Okay, Izuku," I whispered under my breath. "You've studied engineering diagrams before. You've read about electrical circuits. You can do this."

I darted toward the entrance to the lower deck, my heart pounding in my chest. The villains were starting to climb onto the ship now, their wet hands gripping the railings as they pulled themselves up. I didn't have much time.

The lower deck was dark and cramped, the smell of oil and rust filling the air. I nearly tripped over a loose cable as I made my way to the engine room, my flashlight guiding the way. The hum of the engine grew louder as I approached, and I felt a spark of hope.

I reached the engine room and paused, my eyes scanning the machinery. It was old and corroded, but it was still running. Wires and panels were exposed, some sparking slightly as the ship's systems struggled to stay functional. I swallowed hard, my mind racing as I tried to figure out how to redirect the power.

Focus, Midoriya. You've got this.

I spotted the main power junction, a large metal box with wires leading to various parts of the ship. It was risky, but if I could reroute the power to the exterior hull, it might be enough to electrify the water. I grabbed a nearby toolbox and rummaged through it, pulling out a pair of insulated gloves and a screwdriver.

The villains' footsteps echoed above me, and I knew I didn't have much time. My hands shook slightly as I unscrewed the panel, revealing the mess of wires inside. "Red to blue," I muttered under my breath, recalling the electrical diagrams I'd studied. "Blue to—wait, no, that's the ground wire..."

A loud thud came from above, and my heart leapt into my throat. They were on the deck now. I could hear their voices, taunting and jeering as they searched for me. I worked faster, my fingers fumbling with the wires as I connected them to the exterior circuits. Sparks flew, and I flinched, but I didn't stop.

Finally, I connected the last wire and flipped the switch. The hum of the engine grew louder, and I felt a slight vibration beneath my feet. It was working. Now I just had to get back to the deck and make sure the villains were in the water when the current hit.

I bolted back up to the deck, the villains turning to face me as I emerged. "There you are, kid," one of them sneered, his sharp teeth glinting in the light. "We were starting to think you ran off."

I forced a grin, holding the rusted pipe in front of me like a sword. "Ran off? Nah, I'm just getting started."

The villains lunged, and I darted to the side, using the narrow pathways of the deck to my advantage. They were clumsy, slipping on the wet surface as they tried to corner me. I led them toward the edge of the ship, where the water was lapping against the hull.

One of them grabbed for me, and I vaulted over a crate, landing lightly on the other side. "Catch me if you can!" I shouted, taunting them.

The villains growled in frustration, their movements becoming more aggressive. They were so focused on me that they didn't notice the faint hum growing louder beneath their feet.

I reached the far side of the ship and turned to face them, backing up until I was near the edge. The leader of the group stepped forward, his grin widening. "Nowhere left to run, kid."

"Who said I was running?" I shot back, my hand slipping into my pocket. I pulled out a small, broken pipe I'd grabbed earlier and hurled it at the water. It wasn't much, but it was enough to create a splash, catching their attention just long enough.

Then I hit the switch.

A loud crackle filled the air as the electricity surged through the water, lighting up the dark surface with an eerie glow. The villains screamed as the current hit them, their bodies convulsing before they collapsed into the water, unconscious.

I stood there, breathing heavily as the glow faded and the water returned to its calm state. The ship creaked beneath me, the hum of the engine settling back into a steady rhythm. I stared at the floating bodies of the villains, my hands still trembling.

It worked. It actually worked.