Y/N stood frozen at the edge of the arena, her golden eyes fixed on Izuku as he staggered under the weight of Shinso's Brainwashing Quirk. Her heart thudded in her chest with a blend of anxiety and determination. You can stand against him, Izuku. I know you can, she thought fiercely, her breath coming out in shallow gasps. She clenched her fists tightly, nails biting into the flesh of her palms, her body vibrating with the urge to shout, to break the silence and urge him to fight back.

But she held herself back. Y/N wasn't one to interfere so openly. Instead, she closed her eyes, breathing deeply to center herself. She could feel the familiar hum of magic swirling in her veins, the pulse of raw energy that always lay just beneath the surface. With a slow, deliberate motion, she reached out with her mind—tendrils of her magic stretching through the air toward Izuku. His mind was clouded, almost blank, a haze of confusion and helplessness.

Then, like a subtle thread pulling through a web, she found it—the poison root Shinso had planted within him, a vile seed of control. It thrived in the dark recesses of his mind, a whisper that kept him bound, muted, as Shinso's voice echoed in his head. Without hesitation, Y/N tore the root out, feeling the magic surge through her, stripping away the toxic influence with ease.

Izuku's body lurched, the pressure of Shinso's control shattered in an instant. He gasped, his breath ragged, as his legs buckled and he fell to his knees on the sand, gasping for air as though emerging from deep underwater.

Shinso felt the shift instantly—a harsh wave of discomfort rolled through him, a pain that burned in his chest as his own power recoiled against him. He grunted, disoriented, clutching his head, his confusion growing. Who did that? he thought desperately, scanning the arena with wild eyes. The crowd was silent, the air thick with tension. He didn't see anyone near Izuku, no obvious force that could have intervened.

But as his gaze fell across the arena, it landed on Y/N—standing in the distance, golden eyes staring directly at him. A shiver ran down his spine as he realized the truth. It was her. He didn't need to see her move, didn't need to hear a word—he could feel it, the cold grip of her magic curling around the edges of his mind, like a phantom touch.

Y/N's expression remained neutral, but the faintest glimmer of satisfaction danced in her eyes. She had done it—she had freed Izuku from Shinso's manipulation, without a single word, without a single movement. Her power was as subtle as it was devastating, and Shinso now knew what kind of force he was up against.

But Y/N was not done. She kept her gaze on Izuku, willing him to recover, to find his footing again. Her mind raced with strategy, always calculating, always assessing. She would not let her friends fall—she would not let anyone control them. Not while she was here.

Shinso, still reeling from the shock of his own power being undone, glared at Y/N. He knew now that this fight was far from over, and with that realization came a new sense of wariness toward the mysterious, regal force standing across from him. Y/N might have freed Izuku, but Shinso now understood: nothing was ever truly in his control when she was around.

Izuku slowly pushed himself to his feet, glaring at Shinso with newfound resolve. His body was still a little unsteady from the influence of Shinso's power, but his determination burned brightly in his eyes. His words were low, almost a growl, but they carried the weight of someone who had found strength within himself.

"I might be weak sometimes," he said, his voice rough, but filled with conviction. "But I have friends who support me... and they're there for me."

Y/N, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but smile. She knew who he meant—her, Ochaco, Tenya. It was a bond forged through hard times and shared struggles. They were always there for each other, no matter what.

Izuku turned to Shinso, his body coiling with energy. His movements were swift, and with a single, powerful surge, he rushed at the purple-haired boy. Shinso barely had time to react as Izuku launched him over his shoulder, sending him crashing onto the bonds.

Shinso's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "What? No, you shouldn't be able to break the control!" he shouted, trying to regain his footing, but the damage was already done.

Present Mic's voice boomed over the loudspeakers. "Hitoshi Shinso is out of bounds! Izuku Midoriya moves on to the next round!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, but Y/N could only let out a satisfied sigh, her heart swelling with pride. She had seen this coming. Izuku had the strength to overcome, to break free from the chains that bound him. And now, he was moving forward—stronger than before.

Smaug, sitting nearby, gave a contented sigh and a small smile. The competition was far from over, but the fight between Izuku and Shinso had been a turning point, and Y/N knew this was only the beginning of what Izuku could achieve.

-

After the tension-filled match, the arena cleared, and Y/N stood near the edge, trying to collect herself. But before she could fully process what had happened, she was interrupted by a presence. Her gaze flickered up to find none other than the second-ranked pro-hero, Endeavor, walking toward her.

"Young L/N," he greeted with a stoic expression, his voice commanding but not unkind.

Y/N's eyes narrowed, momentarily annoyed at his sudden appearance. She bowed her head slightly, trying to mask the irritation. "Endeavor... What are you doing here? Watching your son, I assume?"

Endeavor's stern expression softened slightly, but only just. "I am. But I also have a personal proposition for you."

Before Y/N could process his words, Endeavor extended his hand toward her, a wide, deliberate gesture. "Agree to marry my son, and our families will benefit greatly from this alliance."

Y/N blinked at the proposition, stunned into silence for a brief moment. Her tail flicked with irritation, and her eyes grew cold. "Excuse me?" she muttered, disbelieving. Without hesitation, she swatted his hand away, taking a step back as her sharp eyes met his.

"I will never marry anyone I don't love," she stated firmly, her voice cold. "If Shoto wanted this, he would have told me himself." The words were final, leaving no room for negotiation.

Endeavor, momentarily taken aback by her fierce rejection, stood still as Y/N turned her back to him, heading toward the arena door. She paused halfway, her wings folding slightly behind her as she glanced back over her shoulder.

"Take this to heart, Fireheart," she said, her tone sharp and carrying a weight that seemed to cut through the tension. "You treat your son with more respect, and perhaps you won't be thrown into the depths of mortgaged hell. Your son is a person, not a piece to be bartered."

With that, Y/N strode out of the arena, her presence commanding and unwavering. Endeavor remained rooted in place, dumbfounded, his pride wounded, and unsure of how to proceed. He hadn't expected this outcome, nor had he anticipated the cold, biting truth in her words. But Y/N, with her regal and unyielding spirit, had made it clear: she was no one's pawn.

-

Y/N stood at the edge of the arena, her gaze unwavering as she locked eyes with Bakugo, who was already smirking and popping his hands, preparing for the fight. The crowd buzzed with anticipation, waiting to see who would make the first move.

Bakugo, as usual, was the first to taunt, his voice sharp and aggressive. "Are you too scared to make a move on me, huh, lizard bastard?" he barked, his tone dripping with venom.

Y/N's expression remained calm, her posture relaxed despite the tension in the air. Her tail flicked lazily behind her, the only indication of her growing irritation. She wasn't one to be provoked easily, but Bakugo had a way of getting under her skin.

With a deep breath, Y/N finally broke her silence, her voice low but filled with a quiet intensity. "You talk too much, Bakugo," she replied, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "But you've never been able to back it up, have you?"

Bakugo's eyes narrowed, clearly itching to make the first move, but Y/N didn't budge. She stood there, every muscle in her body coiled like a spring, ready to react if necessary. She wasn't intimidated by his brashness or his loudmouth antics.

"Don't get too cocky, Bakugo," Y/N added, her wings fluttering slightly, the light catching the gold-tipped feathers. "You're in my arena now."

The crowd gasped, murmuring in excitement. They knew that both Y/N and Bakugo were powerhouses, but no one knew who would make the first move. Would it be Y/N, the graceful, quick-witted fighter, or Bakugo, the explosive and reckless force of nature?

Y/N took a small step forward, not rushing into anything, but making it clear that she was ready for whatever Bakugo had in store. The tension in the air thickened, and it was clear the fight was about to begin—both of them were just waiting for the right moment to strike.

The stadium shuddered under the weight of Y/N's roar, as flames billowed from her form, engulfing the arena in an intense, searing heat. The audience collectively gasped, some leaping back in terror, others in awe of the transformation before them. Her dragon form towered over the arena, her scales glistening in the scorching light of her fiery breath. She had become the very embodiment of destruction, and there was no denying the power radiating from her.

Aizawa's voice cut through the chaos, but it was clear that even his usual sternness couldn't contain the fear now lacing his tone. "Y/N!" he shouted, his eyes wide with concern. "You can't—this isn't you!" He was too far to intervene, but it was clear his words were meant to stop her before she caused irreversible damage.

But the dragon didn't listen.

Her massive form turned slowly, casting a long shadow over the audience as her golden eyes locked onto the tower where Aizawa and Present Mic sat. "I never take orders from mere humans," her voice echoed, deep and thunderous. "I kill where I wish, I burn where I wish. My armor is my shield, my claws are spears, and my breath is death." Her words were both a warning and a proclamation. "I am the death that seeks you pitiful humans. Too long have I lingered in the shadows, watching you destroy each other for no gain. Not anymore."

The crowd remained frozen in terror, some of the more seasoned heroes bracing themselves, preparing for an assault. There was fear in their eyes, and a sense of urgency. They couldn't let this go on—Y/N's transformation wasn't just a shift in form, it was a shift in temperament.

But then, through the smoke and fire, a figure emerged—Bakugo. His body was singed, his clothes burned, but there was a fire in his eyes that no amount of flames could extinguish. His hands crackled with the residual power of his explosions as he staggered toward Y/N, his expression a mix of defiance and pain.

He wiped the sweat from his brow and grinned through the pain, his voice cutting through the air. "Is that the worst you've got, scum?" he taunted, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you scare me with that? You think you're some unstoppable monster? I don't care if you've got wings or scales or whatever else you think makes you special. You're just another obstacle."

Y/N's dragon eyes narrowed as she looked down at him, the flames around her intensifying. She could feel the anger bubbling up from deep within, the primal rage coursing through her veins. She had never been one to play games with anyone, especially not a hot-headed brat like Bakugo.

With a sudden, powerful movement, she snapped her wings, sending a gust of wind so strong it sent debris flying. Her tail whipped out, crashing into the ground beside Bakugo, sending cracks through the arena floor. She hissed, low and threatening, and her claws gleamed like razors under the hot sun.

Bakugo stood his ground, his body still trembling from the aftershock of the blast, but his resolve was unwavering. He had his pride, and he would never back down, especially not to her.

"You really think I'm gonna let you destroy this whole damn arena?" he spat, his voice full of challenge. "I won't let you burn everything down, dragon. You're gonna regret this."

Y/N didn't answer with words. Instead, she lunged forward, her massive form closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. Her wings flared, blocking out the sun as she dropped down toward Bakugo with a speed that made even the seasoned heroes watching hold their breath.

Bakugo didn't flinch. Instead, he ignited his palms, creating a series of explosions in rapid succession, each one propelling him backward just as Y/N's claws scraped the ground where he had stood moments before. His body crashed into the arena floor, but he was already pushing himself up, his eyes locked onto her.

"Come on, lizard," he snarled, "You can do better than that."

The crowd gasped in disbelief, unable to tear their eyes away. The battle between these two was no longer just a fight for the win—it was a battle of pride, a fight for dominance.

And in that moment, it wasn't clear who would come out on top.