[027]

The air is thick with the metallic tang of tension as your sharp senses lead you to a desolate alleyway bathed in pale moonlight. You land silently, your dragon senses honing in on the scene ahead. Izuku, Todoroki, and Tenya stand tense and battered, facing a tall, ominous man with wild, dark hair and a red bandana tied around his head—Stain, the Hero Killer. His blade gleams menacingly as he prepares to strike at Tenya, who struggles to stand.

Without hesitation, a deep growl escapes your throat, primal and furious. You lunge forward with the force of a tempest, talons gleaming in the moonlight as they tear through the night. Stain's eyes widen slightly, caught off guard by the sudden ferocity. His blade deflects too late, and your claws collide with his arm, sending his weapon skittering across the cobblestones.

He yelps as you grasp him in your iron grip, your wings beating fiercely as you lift him high above the ground. The sound of the wind rushing past you drowns out his guttural grunts of resistance. With a calculated motion, you release him, sending his form careening into the ground below. He crashes with a heavy thud, rolling to a stop with a pained groan.

You land gracefully behind Izuku, Todoroki, and Tenya, your wings folding around you like a regal cloak. Your scales glimmer faintly in the moonlight, and the three boys turn to you in shock and awe.

"Y/N!" they exclaim in unison, their voices laced with surprise and relief.

You stand tall, your glowing eyes fixed on Stain as he rises slowly, his body bruised but his resolve unshaken. Smoke curls from your nostrils as you let out a warning snarl, a low rumble that reverberates through the alley.

"Stay behind me," you command, your voice a perfect blend of authority and protective instinct.

Stain wipes a trail of blood from the corner of his mouth, his lips curling into a twisted smirk. He picks up his jagged katana, the rusted blade catching the moonlight. His voice, raspy and dripping with disdain, echoes in the tense stillness of the alley.

"So... you're the dragon girl the League is so eager to find," he sneers, his sharp eyes narrowing as they rake over your form. "I gotta say, you're prettier than I expected. But sharp... oh, you're sharper than their words let on." He chuckles darkly, the sound sending a chill through the boys behind you. "Maybe I won't hand you over to the League after all. No, I think I'd rather see what makes you tick."

You tilt your head, your eyes narrowing into dangerous slits, glowing faintly with your inner fire. The air around you crackles with a rising energy, and your tail lashes against the ground, sending small sparks flying.

"You won't see anything except the ground beneath my claws, Hero Killer," you growl, your voice low and deadly, each word laced with a promise of retribution.

Stain readies himself, his stance widening as his jagged blade gleams in the moonlight. "Let's see if your fire is all for show," he taunts. "Come on, dragon girl. Show me your fury."

Behind you, Izuku takes a cautious step forward, his voice urgent. "Y/N, be careful! He's not like anyone we've faced before!"

You glance over your shoulder at him, your expression softening slightly. "I'll handle this. Protect each other," you say firmly, before turning your full attention back to Stain.

The tension hangs thick as a stand-off forms between you and the Hero Killer. He takes a slow step forward, his tongue darting out to lick the blood on his blade. You, however, remain still, coiled like a spring, every muscle ready to strike.

"Your move," you hiss, flames beginning to curl around your lips.

Stain's jagged katana comes slicing through the air, aiming straight for your chest. Izuku's voice shouts your name in warning, but you don't flinch, your focus unwavering. Instead, you remain still, eyes locked on the blade as it comes closer, the air between you and him thick with tension. You watch as the glint of the blade nears, and just as it's about to make contact, you shift.

In one fluid movement, you slam your head forward, your skull colliding with his stomach with the force of a battering ram. Stain gasps, the wind knocked from his lungs as his body bends from the impact, the blade slicing only the air where your chest once was. He stumbles back, crashing into the ground, the jagged katana clattering away from his reach.

The impact sends a shockwave through the alleyway, the ground shaking beneath you as Stain rolls to a stop, gasping for air. His eyes widen, shocked by the speed and strength you just displayed. His breath comes in harsh, shallow gasps, but his smirk never fades.

"You..." he coughs, pushing himself up on one elbow. "You're a lot stronger than I thought."

You don't answer, your gaze cold and calculating. You step forward, your claws flexing as the air around you begins to hum with dangerous energy. "You're right about one thing," you say, your voice low and deadly. "I'm stronger than you think. And you're about to find out just how much."

Stain's hand grips his katana tightly, but he doesn't get the chance to raise it. Before he can react, your tail whips around, slamming into his chest, sending him sprawling backward again. You step toward him, the ground beneath you crackling with your presence.

Behind you, Izuku, Todoroki, and Tenya watch in silence, stunned by your raw power. Izuku clenches his fists, torn between worry and admiration for you.

Stain groans, slowly getting to his feet again. His eyes narrow, a twisted smirk curling on his lips as he readies his blade. "You're fast," he mutters, "but speed and strength won't save you forever."

You meet his gaze, and for the first time, a flicker of amusement dances in your eyes. "I'm not done yet, Hero Killer."

The battle is far from over.

Shoto leaps forward, his flames erupting in a brilliant wave of fire, aiming directly at Stain. The fire surges through the air like a roaring beast, but as the heat intensifies, you spring into action. Your instincts flare, and with a flash of movement, your tail whips out and coils around Shoto and the boys, pulling them away from the path of the flame.

You hiss, a low, warning sound vibrating through the air, and with a single flick of your tail, you send them soaring to the safety of the alley's edge. They crash softly against the brick wall, all of them wide-eyed and taken aback by the force and precision of your move. They don't have time to say anything before you turn your full attention back to Stain.

"Stay away," you growl, your voice a low, menacing rumble as your tail flicks again to ensure the boys stay back. "This is my fight, not yours."

Stain, who had been momentarily distracted by the sudden fire, regains his stance, eyeing you closely with a mix of admiration and annoyance. The Hero Killer grins again, his bloodlust clear as ever, but now he seems more intrigued by you than before.

"You think you can handle me, Dragon Girl?" He steps forward, his jagged katana gleaming in the dim light. "Let's see what you've got."

You lower your stance, claws flexing, tail lashing behind you. "You're not even worthy of my full attention," you sneer, and with a mighty roar, you charge toward him.

The battle resumes in a blur of fire, claws, and flashing steel, as the Hero Killer rushes forward to meet you. But you're faster, more ruthless, and in your fury, it's clear that Stain has underestimated the true power of the DragonQueen.

Your roar cuts through the noise of the battle, and once again, the ground trembles beneath your feet. "I'm not finished yet," you say, your voice tinged with fury. "And you won't be either when I'm done with you."

Izuku, Shoto, and Tenya watch from the sidelines, each of them feeling a strange mixture of awe and helplessness as they see just how far you're willing to go to protect them... and how powerful you truly are.

The battle is over, and Stain lies on the ground, broken and defeated, his jagged sword shattered beside him. You stand tall above him, smoke billowing from your scales, the remnants of your fiery battle swirling in the air. Your claws twitch, the power still coursing through you as you gaze down at the fallen hero killer, who now looks nothing more than a defeated man.

The city around you has quieted. The heroes, police, and ambulance teams have arrived in force, rushing toward the scene, but you're the one who stands as the center of attention. Your power is palpable, and even the seasoned heroes feel the weight of your presence.

Endeavor is among the first to approach you, his eyes wide with an unusual mix of concern and respect. Hawks hovers nearby, his wings spread, and there's a moment where the entire scene seems to pause.

"Y/N," Endeavor calls, his voice strained, as though he's trying to keep his composure. "Please, what were you thinking? I thought we lost you."

Your head lowers slightly in response, the steam from your nostrils rising in slow puffs. You don't answer him immediately, but your eyes soften just a little. You nudge your mentor, the air around you warm, and a slow, almost predatory smile curls on your lips. It's a dragon's smile—one that speaks of power, but also of something more... something personal.

Despite the gravity of the situation, you can't help but chuckle darkly. "I wasn't about to let him walk away." Your voice is low and dangerous, the lingering heat in your breath making the air shimmer.

But just as you start to move away, something catches your eye.

A Nomu crashes down from the air, its grotesque form landing with a sickening thud nearby. You can already see its eye bleeding, the thing's immense power radiating off it as it rises to face you. You don't hesitate. With a single, swift motion, you lunge at the creature, your powerful jaws snapping shut around its neck. In a flash, you tear through its flesh, biting it in half with brutal precision. The remains of the Nomu fall to the ground with a thundering crash, scattering debris around you.

You turn back to the chaos of the scene, your gaze sweeping over the wreckage before focusing on the officers and the paramedics. Your voice cuts through the noise with authority. "Take them to the hospital," you tell them, your eyes narrowing at the dazed and unconscious Stain, whose life now lies in the hands of the heroes who've arrived.

Izuku, Shoto, Tenya, and the others stand nearby, their faces filled with concern and disbelief. Izuku calls out to you, his voice filled with urgency. "Wait, you need to heal too!" he says, his expression frantic.

You don't respond right away, your gaze focused elsewhere—on the wreckage, on the fallen hero killer. Your eyes narrow as you survey the chaos. The weight of what you've done lingers in the air, but there's a quiet satisfaction in it, too.

Hawks, ever the observer, steps forward, crouching slightly. "So this is the famed hero killer," he hums thoughtfully, his tone nonchalant. "I thought he'd be scarier."

You can't help but snort, the sound almost animalistic. "I'm sure he's scared now," you mutter, your gaze still on Stain, but your mind is already thinking about the next step, about what happens after this moment.

The heroes begin to step forward, securing Stain and the wreckage around you. But you don't look back at them. Not yet. The night is yours, and your dragon's heart feels at ease.

For now, you've won.