The journey felt endless, each second stretching taut with urgency, but we finally reached the U.A. campus. The building, normally a fortress of security and inspiration, stood shrouded in unease, its walls bearing the marks of a struggle already in progress. Smoke billowed into the sky, carrying with it the acrid stench of burning debris, and faint echoes of battle reached us, distant yet foreboding.

As I slithered closer to the edge of the vantage point, the full scale of the chaos revealed itself to me. The U.S.J., meant to be a sanctuary for training and growth, was now a battlefield, teeming with destruction. Shattered windows gleamed like jagged teeth, and the air thrummed with an unnatural energy. Then I saw it. My breath hitched, and an involuntary shiver rippled through me.

There, amidst the devastation, stood a massive black figure—a monstrosity of sinew and malice. Its brain was exposed, glistening grotesquely under the sun, pulsing like a heartbeat made visible. The sheer wrongness of the creature rooted me in place for a moment.

"That's the Nomu," I muttered, the words spilling out in a shaky mix of awe and terror. The name felt foreign on my tongue, like something that shouldn't belong in the world I knew, yet here it was, very real and very dangerous.

Beside me, All Might's presence was steady but somber, a grim weight behind his usual commanding aura. He nodded slowly, his features darkened by a rare shadow of uncertainty. "Yes," he said, his voice low but resolute. "What I don't understand is why they're still here at the U.S.J. They should have returned to their hideout by now."

His words were laced with unspoken tension, a crack in the armor of the man known as the Symbol of Peace. I could feel the same unease worming its way into my own mind, even as I forced myself to focus. My hands clenched at my sides as my gaze narrowed on the creature below.

The Nomu shifted, its grotesque form radiating raw power and menace. It wasn't just a creature—it was a statement, an open challenge to everything we stood for. As the weight of the moment pressed down on me, I realized with a sinking certainty that this wasn't just a test of strength. This was a test of resolve. Whatever came next, we had to be ready.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself as the weight of the decision settled on my shoulders. My tail coiled tightly for a moment, then released as I stepped forward. "I'm going in there," I said, my voice low but firm. "You two handle the other villains. I'll take down the big one." The words came out sharper than I intended, slicing through the thick tension like a blade.

All Might's head snapped toward me, his eyes wide with disbelief. "What? No, you can't! Remember—"

But I didn't let him finish. With a quick, precise flick of my tail, I lashed out—not to hurt, but to silence. His protests caught in his throat as I turned to face him, my red eyes blazing like twin embers in the smoke-filled chaos. A low growl rumbled from my chest, primal and unwavering. I could see the concern etched into his features, but there was no room for argument, not now.

Before he could say another word, I was already moving. My form flickered, blurring like a heatwave, and then vanished entirely as I activated my camouflage. The world around me shifted; I became a phantom among the wreckage, the chaos my cloak.

Each step forward brought me closer to the monstrous Nomu. It loomed ahead, a living nightmare of raw power and grotesque anatomy, its exposed brain pulsing like a beacon of malevolence. My senses sharpened, adrenaline coursing through my veins. There was no turning back now. This was my fight. And I was ready to face it, no matter the cost.

Soon, I landed silently among the villains stationed like sentries, their eyes scanning the chaos with smug confidence. One of them stood out immediately—a man with pale blue hair, wild and unkempt, and disembodied hands clasped grotesquely around his face and body. His presence was unsettling, his aura cold and sharp as broken glass.

He tilted his head, scratching at his neck with a feverish energy as his lips curled into a sinister grin. "Ah, yes," he hissed, his voice dripping with malice. "Finally, the Symbol of Peace. This will be an easy fight." His gaze locked on All Might with the intensity of a predator.

Then he turned to the monstrous Nomu, his voice sharp and commanding as he barked, "Nomu, take him!"

The creature responded instantly, letting out an otherworldly screech as it charged forward, each thunderous step shaking the ground beneath it. Its target was clear—All Might, who stood ready, his fists clenched, every muscle poised for battle. The villains watched with glee, their confidence in their champion unshakable.

But they hadn't seen me.

I had already slipped past their guard, a shadow unseen. Moving with precision, I coiled myself around the Nomu's thick, gnarled leg, my grip tightening like a vice. The creature barely had time to register the sudden resistance before I yanked with all my strength.

Its massive form wavered, the momentum of its charge working against it. Then, with a resounding crash, the Nomu went face-first into the ground, the earth beneath it cracking from the impact. Dust and debris shot into the air, momentarily obscuring the scene.

The blue-haired villain's confident grin faltered, his head snapping toward the fallen Nomu. "What—?" he began, his voice tinged with disbelief. But I was already moving, a phantom in the dust, ready to strike again.

I narrowed my eyes and glared at the villains standing before me, a sneer curling at the corner of my lips. "You really think this... bugger... can stand a chance against All Might?" My voice carried a quiet, dangerous confidence as I took a step forward, the tension in the air crackling with anticipation.

The villain in front of me—a figure cloaked in shadows with piercing blue hair—stared back at me with a mixture of disbelief and irritation. His crimson eyes flickered with barely contained fury, his grip tightening around the weapon he was holding. "You... who are you?" he spat, the words laced with venom. "And how... how did you stop my Nomu?"

I didn't flinch. I stood tall, my presence steady and unyielding. The battle had only just begun, but I could already feel the change in the air, the shift of power. Whatever they thought they knew, whatever they had planned, it didn't matter. They were about to learn just how wrong they were.

"You're about to find out," I muttered, my eyes narrowing further. "But you won't like the answer."

With lightning-fast reflexes, I pounced on the Nomu, tearing through its thick muscles with a sickening crack, my claws sinking deep into its flesh. In one fluid motion, I ripped its brain in two, the creature's body convulsing as its shrill screech echoed through the air. Its massive, meaty paws swiped at me in a frantic attempt to catch hold, but I was already too quick. I clawed at its grasping hands, using its own momentum against it, before springing away in a blur of motion. My quills stood on end, bristling like a fierce warning to anyone who dared come close.

The mist-covered villain stood a few paces back, eyes gleaming with recognition and malice. The air between us felt thick with tension as he muttered under his breath, a wicked smile creeping onto his face. "I've seen you before," he hissed, extending his arm toward me. From his outstretched hand, a swirling mist began to coil, moving like a living thing. "You're the Queen of Shadows."

His words hit me like a blow, sharp and unsettling, as though something buried deep within my past had been unearthed. I knew that name, that title—one that had haunted me for years. The darkness I had left behind was finally catching up. But I wasn't afraid. I had no intention of running from who I was.

"Seems you know more than you should," I said coldly, eyes narrowing, every muscle coiled and ready for what was to come.

"Young Onyx, leave now!" All Might's voice boomed with authority, his massive form swelling even larger as he stood between me and the snarling Nomu. The creature, once so terrifying, now cowered before him, its primal instinct battling against the overwhelming presence of the Symbol of Peace. "You've done more than enough. Find Bakugo," he commanded, his voice firm and unwavering, before launching himself toward the beast. The Nomu screeched in horror as it was sent flying into the ceiling, its body crashing through walls like a ragdoll.

I stood there for a moment, feeling the rush of adrenaline dissipate, only to be left with a strange emptiness. Sniffing softly, I turned my gaze to the blue-haired man—still frozen in shock. A sneer curled at the corner of my lips as I took a step toward him. "Same with you, Blondie," I snarled, my voice low and venomous, though deep down, I was more irritated than anything. The man hadn't even moved, not in a way that showed any sign of understanding just how outclassed he was.

But before I could say another word, he shimmered and vanished, his form dissolving into mist, disappearing without a trace. My eyes narrowed. I had hoped for more of a challenge.

The air felt charged, but I had a job to do. I needed something tangible, something concrete to follow. I sniffed the air again, my senses sharp and focused. The scent of battle and sweat lingered, but it was distant now. I needed to track down Bakugo, and I needed something—anything—that would lead me to him.

I turned on my heel, stalking through the wreckage of the school, my feet moving with purpose. The scent was faint, but it guided me through the hallways and down endless corridors. The school, once familiar and filled with the sounds of chatter, now felt hollow and abandoned. Every step echoed with a sense of urgency.

Finally, I came across it—the principal's office. The faint, distinctive scent of Bakugo lingered there, a mix of fire and determination, sharp and unmistakable. I didn't hesitate. My instincts screamed at me to move forward. This was where I needed to be. The search for him was over.