T'Chidi's heart jackhammered against his ribs like a war drum on overdrive, each beat a thunderclap in his ears. His throat tightened as he scanned the chaos—actual villains, swarming the USJ like locusts. This wasn't on his agenda. Not today. Not ever. And definitely not a reunion with that blue-haired cryptid who'd ghosted into his life like a bad omen.

Shigaraki Tomura stood at the center of the fray, his cracked lips curled into a grin that screamed chaos. The air around him buzzed with static, the portal behind him still rippling like a black hole with commitment issues. T'Chidi's claws itched to carve that smirk off his face.

"T'Chidi, come on!" Izuku's voice cut through the din, his grip vise-like on the prince's forearm. The green-haired boy's eyes were wide, frantic, sweat beading at his temples. "Aizawa-sensei said to fall back—he's handling this!"

T'Chidi snorted, a sharp, derisive sound. "You buying that, Izuku?" He wrenched his arm free, fingers brushing the obsidian panther tooth at his throat. The necklace pulsed once, warm against his skin, and then—

Shink.

A sleek, onyx-black suit slithered over his body like liquid midnight, plates of vibranium-weave armor locking into place with a series of barely audible clicks. Claws erupted from his fingertips, glinting with a predatory sheen. His eyes—now glowing crimson behind a panther-shaped visor—locked onto Shigaraki.

"I'm not some hero who hides behind orders," T'Chidi growled, his voice layered with a subsonic rumble that vibrated the floor. "And I'm damn sure not a prince who lets others fight his battles."

Before Izuku could protest, T'Chidi lunged.

He moved like a shadow with a vendetta—fluid, silent, deadly. The staircase railing crumpled under his grip as he vaulted over it, landing in a crouch that cracked the tile beneath his boots. Shigaraki's grin faltered for a split second, his red eyes narrowing.

"Oh? The king wants to play?" Shigaraki rasped, flexing his fingers. "Let's see if you bleed regal."

T'Chidi bared his teeth, the suit's neural interface syncing with his pulse. "You first, rat."

"Prince!" Aizawa's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. His capture scarf whipped around him like a living thing as he slammed his fists together, his glowing red eyes locked on the two villains. "You don't need to do this. I can handle it on my own!"

T'Chidi met his gaze, the crimson glow of his visor flickering like embers. His expression was steel—unyielding, resolute. "I can't let you do that, Sensei," he said, his voice a low rumble that carried over the din of battle. "I'm not the kind of leader who sits back while others fight for me."

Before Aizawa could argue, a guttural screech tore through the air. T'Chidi's instincts flared, and he spun on his heel, claws slashing through the air in a blur of vibranium-edged precision. The massive, bird-like creature—Nomu—reared back, its grotesque form shuddering as T'Chidi's strike carved a deep gash across its chest.

"Ah, so you've met my Nomu, young prince," Shigaraki drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. He cracked his neck, his red eyes gleaming with sadistic amusement. "He's stronger than you. Trust me."

T'Chidi didn't flinch. His claws flexed, the suit's neural interface humming in sync with his racing heartbeat. "Stronger, huh?" he shot back, his tone laced with defiance. "Let's test that theory."

The Nomu lunged, its hulking form moving faster than something that size had any right to. T'Chidi sidestepped, his movements fluid and precise, like a predator dancing on the edge of danger. He lashed out again, his claws scraping against the creature's unnaturally tough skin.

Aizawa cursed under his breath, his capture scarf snapping out to restrain one of the lesser villains. "T'Chidi, don't engage it head-on! That thing's built to take hits!"

"Noted," T'Chidi muttered, his eyes narrowing behind his visor. He dodged another swipe from the Nomu, his mind racing. Stronger, faster, and probably immune to pain. Great.

Shigaraki's laughter echoed through the USJ, grating and unhinged. "You're out of your league, Your Highness. But don't worry—I'll make sure your death is entertaining."

T'Chidi's lips curled into a feral grin. "Keep talking, crusty. It'll make shutting you up even sweeter."

T'Chidi barely had time to register the blur of motion before Aizawa's capture scarf snapped around his torso, yanking him out of the Nomu's path. The creature's massive fist slammed into the ground where he'd stood moments before, the impact cracking the floor like a spiderweb.

"Stay focused," Aizawa barked, his voice sharp but laced with urgency. His glowing red eyes locked onto T'Chidi for a split second before darting back to the Nomu. "This thing's not playing around."

Shigaraki's laughter echoed through the USJ, grating and unhinged. "Hah! Even your teacher's got snappier reflexes than you, princeling," he taunted, his cracked lips twisting into a smirk. But there was something darker in his red eyes—a flicker of obsession, a simmering anger that didn't quite match his casual tone.

T'Chidi gritted his teeth, his claws flexing as he steadied himself. The vibranium weave of his suit hummed faintly, its neural interface syncing with his racing pulse. "Big talk for a guy who needs a pet monster to do his dirty work," he shot back, his voice dripping with disdain.

Shigaraki's smirk faltered for a heartbeat, his fingers twitching as if itching to decay something. "Join us, Moyo," he said, his tone shifting to something almost... persuasive. "You're wasting your potential playing hero. With us, you'd be in the big leagues. No more babysitting brats or bowing to rules."

T'Chidi's eyes narrowed behind his visor, the crimson glow intensifying. "Big leagues, huh?" he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Funny. I don't see any leagues here—just a bunch of losers hiding behind a glorified attack dog."

Shigaraki's grin vanished, replaced by a snarl that twisted his face into something feral. "You'll regret that," he hissed, his voice trembling with barely contained rage.

Before T'Chidi could retort, the Nomu lunged again, its hulking form moving with terrifying speed. Aizawa's capture scarf whipped out, tangling around the creature's arm and slowing its momentum just enough for T'Chidi to dodge.

"Enough chatter," Aizawa growled, his voice strained as he struggled to hold the Nomu back. "Focus on the fight, Your Highness."

T'Chidi smirked, his claws gleaming in the dim light. "Yes, Sensei."

SCENEBREAK

Meanwhile, chaos reigned on the other side of the USJ. Izuku crouched beside Mineta, who was hyperventilating on the floor, his hands clutching his head like it might explode. The pint-sized student's face was pale, his eyes wide with panic as he rocked back and forth.

"I-I can't do this!" Mineta stammered, his voice cracking. "We're gonna die! We're all gonna die!"

Izuku placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, his own nerves frayed but his voice calm. "Mineta, listen to me. We're going to be okay. Just breathe, alright? In and out. Like this." He demonstrated, taking slow, deliberate breaths.

Nearby, Tsuyu stood guard, her large eyes scanning the area for threats. Her tongue flicked out nervously as she adjusted her grip on a piece of rubble, ready to use it as a makeshift weapon if needed. "Midoriya-chan," she said, her voice steady but urgent, "we need to move. That warp villain could come back any second."

Izuku nodded, his green eyes darting around the scattered debris. The warp villain had struck without warning, tearing through their group and scattering them across the USJ. It was a miracle Izuku had found Tsuyu and Mineta at all—though, given Mineta's current state, "miracle" might've been a stretch.

"Mineta, we need you," Izuku said, his tone firm but encouraging. "Your Quirk could be the key to getting us out of here. But you've got to pull it together, okay?"

Mineta shook his head violently, tears streaming down his face. "I can't! I'm not like you or Todoroki or—or T'Chidi! I'm just... I'm just a coward!"

Tsuyu crouched beside him, her froggy features softening. "You're not a coward, Mineta-chan. You're scared, and that's okay. But right now, we need you to be brave. Just for a little while."

Izuku gave her a grateful look before turning back to Mineta. "Remember what All Might says: 'It's fine now. Why? Because I am here.' Well, we're here. And we're not leaving without you."

Mineta sniffled, his trembling hands slowly unclenching. "Y-you really think I can help?"

"I know you can," Izuku said, offering a small but determined smile.

Before Mineta could respond, a low hum filled the air, and the warp villain materialized a few meters away, his inky form swirling ominously. Tsuyu's eyes narrowed, and she leapt to her feet, her tongue lashing out to grab a piece of debris.

"Midoriya-chan, we've got company!" she warned.

Izuku's fists clenched, green energy crackling around him as he stepped in front of Mineta. "Stay behind me," he said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through him.

Mineta whimpered but nodded, his hands fumbling for the sticky orbs on his head. "O-okay. I'll... I'll try."

It wasn't the most inspiring rallying cry, but it was a start.