Chapter 54 - Sacrifice of the Dragon

You awoke suddenly, a sharp jolt of coldness wrapping around your body like an iron vice. Your breath hitched as the freezing air bit into your skin, its chill seeping into your very bones. Slowly, your eyes blinked open, but the world around you was a haze of murky shadows and dim, flickering light. It took a few moments for your vision to clear, but when it did, an unsettling realization struck you like a heavy blow: you were trapped.

The room was dark, the only illumination coming from a few flickering torches that cast weak, tremulous shadows on the jagged stone walls. The air smelled stale, thick with dust and a faint metallic scent. The oppressive silence was broken only by the sound of your shallow, frantic breaths. Panic gnawed at your insides as you tried to make sense of your surroundings, but no familiar markers of your world could be found. This wasn't the place you knew—the place where you were once a powerful chancellor, commanding respect, feared by enemies.

Instead, you were bound, helpless. Your body was secured tightly to a cold, wooden board, the rough surface digging into your back. Every muscle screamed in protest as you tried to move, but the ropes around your limbs were unforgiving, cutting into your skin with each small, desperate shift. A bitter taste lingered in your mouth, and you quickly realized that your lips were sealed by a tight muzzle. Your breath came in shallow bursts, suffocated by the restraints that held you in place.

A sinking dread pooled in the pit of your stomach as the enormity of your situation took hold. You weren't in control. You weren't the one who wielded power anymore. You were a prisoner in a place that felt both strange and hauntingly familiar, yet foreign all the same.

Your pulse quickened as a low, unsettling hum filled the space. A dark figure seemed to materialize before you, suspended in the air, defying all logic. You couldn't make out many details at first—just the form of a man, or perhaps something else entirely. His presence was suffocating, casting an overwhelming shadow over your body. He hovered effortlessly, his form motionless but his very essence vibrating with an unnatural power. He was the one who held control now. The one who had reduced you to this.

The world seemed to hold its breath as the figure moved closer. There were no eyes, no face, just an absence where one should have been—an unsettling void that seemed to swallow up all light, all hope. His lack of features was worse than any mask could ever be. It made him impossible to read, his intentions unreadable. Fear spiked through your veins like ice water.

You struggled, pulling and twisting against the restraints with all your strength. The ropes bit into your wrists and ankles, but the sensation barely registered over the fear that flooded your mind. Your pulse thundered in your ears, your chest tightening with each strained breath. You thrashed, desperate to break free, to do something, anything, but your efforts were futile. Your movements were sluggish, restrained by the cruel limitations of your bonds.

Despite the terror that seized you, despite the overwhelming sense of helplessness that clawed at your insides, there was a fire inside you—a flicker of defiance that refused to be extinguished. You would not give in, not to this man, not to this place. Not to whatever nightmare you had been dragged into.

Your eyes locked onto his, or at least where his eyes should have been, and for a fleeting moment, you felt something more than fear—a sharp, burning rage that ignited in the depths of your chest. You wouldn't allow yourself to break. You wouldn't let him win. Even if it meant fighting until every last breath was stolen from your lungs, you refused to surrender.

Your body trembled with the effort of restraint, but your mind stayed strong, unwavering in its resolve. You would survive this.

The faceless man's voice sliced through the silence, his words hauntingly calm and measured. "It's a pity it had to come to this, Your Highness," he murmured, his voice carrying an eerie weight that made the room seem colder, darker. The sound of your forgotten title echoed in your ears, a chilling reminder of the life you once led, now lost to you. It was as though he'd reached into the depths of your past and pulled out your most vulnerable secret, twisting it against you. The shiver that ran down your spine was involuntary, a reflex of pure dread. You hadn't been her in so long—that person was gone, buried under time and the burdens of what had transpired.

But the fear, though deep and palpable, did little to stop the growing fire in your chest. Despite the overwhelming sensation of helplessness, a flicker of defiance caught hold within you. It burned hotter with each word he spoke, urging you to stand your ground, to face this threat head-on. You weren't a weakling, not anymore. You wouldn't be reduced to the victim again. Your lips, bound by the muzzle, twitched in a low, feral growl—an instinctive reaction that came from deep within, warning him not to underestimate you.

The faceless man seemed unfazed by your anger. His gaze, though featureless, lingered with a sense of knowing, like he could see right through your struggles and to the core of your resistance. You flexed your wrists, pushing against the ropes that held you. You strained, your body trembling with the effort to break free. For a moment, you felt the bond between you and freedom, a slim thread of hope—I can do this, I just need a little more time...

But just as quickly, that hope crumbled.

The man's hand shot out with startling speed, clamping around your chin in a vice-like grip. His fingers were cold, unyielding, and his strength was enough to lift your head, forcing you to look into the void where his eyes should have been. The air thickened, and panic threatened to overtake you as you realized just how vulnerable you were. You couldn't move, couldn't escape. You were his prisoner now.

His voice, smooth and venomous, crawled into your ear like a serpent. "You don't get to go free now, little dragon," he sneered. His words were slow, deliberate, savoring your helplessness. The grip on your chin tightened as he leaned in, his presence suffocating. The metal taste of fear filled your mouth as you struggled against his grasp, but it was no use. You were trapped.

His touch disappeared as quickly as it had come, and with a cruel chuckle, he stepped back, studying you as if you were an object to be admired. "I am in awe of your strength, little dragon," he said, a strange mix of admiration and disdain in his tone. "But I'm not so sure my colleagues would share my appreciation." His words hung in the air like a heavy fog, their meaning sinking deep into your bones.

"I see now why they were so eager to have you here," he mused aloud, a cold satisfaction curling his voice.

The uncertainty in his words gnawed at you. Who were his colleagues? What did he mean by 'eager to have you here'? The questions swirled in your mind, but the fear clawing at your chest made it impossible to think clearly. What had they done to you? What had they planned for you in this dark, unfamiliar place? The answers eluded you, leaving you grasping for something, anything that would explain why you were here.

But then, you felt it—a surge of quiet resolve. The fear might have been there, lurking beneath the surface, but you weren't going to let it consume you. You were still you, no matter how twisted this world had become. You would survive. You had to.

Taking a steadying breath, you lifted your chin, despite the ache from his grip. You could still fight. You would never let them take that from you.

A portal materialized beside the faceless man, a rip in the fabric of reality itself. The moment it opened, you froze, your breath catching in your throat. The figures that emerged were enough to make your blood run cold—Shigaraki, Kurogiri, and Bakugo, all standing in alignment with the League of Villains. The unexpected sight of these familiar yet formidable adversaries struck you like a bolt of lightning, and the weight of your dire situation came crashing down. You were outnumbered, trapped, and powerless.

Despite the overwhelming odds stacked against you, the fire within you flared brighter. A spark of defiance surged through your veins, and for a brief, fleeting moment, you felt the stirrings of hope—hope that you could still escape, still fight back, even in the face of insurmountable odds. You braced yourself, determined to face this nightmare head-on.

But then Bakugo's eyes locked with yours, and for a split second, everything seemed to stop. His expression, one of disbelief, shock, and even a hint of fear, was etched across his face as he gasped your name. Before he could take a step forward, Shigaraki's hand shot out, gripping Bakugo's throat with terrifying precision. The cruel, unrelenting power in Shigaraki's touch sent a wave of panic rushing through you. A jolt of horror twisted in your chest as you watched Bakugo's face turn an alarming shade of purple, gasping for air.

Shigaraki's voice, cold and threatening, slithered through the air like poison. "You move, you die," he declared, his pinky finger pointed skyward, a simple, yet deadly threat that rang clear in the silence. The tension in the room grew thick, and all eyes shifted between you and the terrifying figures that surrounded you.

But then, something unbelievable happened. A sensation you hadn't felt in ages surged through you—your mind control ability. It started off as a faint, involuntary pulse, but then it surged, like a tide of raw power breaking free. In an instant, All For One, the very face of villainy, fell to his knees, clutching his throat as though he were being strangled by some invisible force. You felt a strange, chilling connection between you and the infamous villain, and you realized with horror that it was you, you who was causing his agony.

The room seemed to freeze. You could barely comprehend what was happening, but the undeniable truth settled in your chest. You were controlling him.

All For One, struggling to breathe, turned his gaze toward his protégé. "Tomura, what's going on?" he rasped, his voice strained with desperation. His words were barely a whisper as he struggled against the crushing force tightening around his throat. Shigaraki, coughing and gasping for air himself, remained still, his eyes widening with a mix of fear and confusion.

Mr. Compress, who had been watching the scene unfold in stunned silence, rushed forward to help Shigaraki. But to everyone's surprise, All For One waved him away with a feeble gesture, his face contorted in pain, his body trembling from the force of your power.

Twice, whose eyes had been wide with disbelief, finally snapped out of his shock. "He's choking him!" he shouted, his voice a mix of fear and awe. The room was thick with tension, the silence broken only by the sound of All For One's labored breathing. All eyes were on you, waiting to see what you would do next.

With a swift, decisive motion, you twisted your head, a crack echoing through the air as you shattered the muzzle that had been keeping you silenced. A ball of plasma formed in your mouth, glowing with an eerie intensity as your power surged once again, fueled by the pure, raw emotion coursing through your veins.

You turned your gaze toward All For One, your eyes flashing with an unmistakable fire. And then, with a voice that was both a whisper and a roar, you spoke into his mind, broadcasting your words across the room, letting everyone hear what you had to say.

"You underestimated me for the last time, All For One," your voice echoed in his mind, sharp and unforgiving. "You're nothing but a human with some fancy powers."

The reaction was instantaneous.

All For One's face twisted in agony as you tightened your hold on him, the pressure on his throat intensifying. His entire body shook with the excruciating pain, and with a guttural cry, he ripped one of his fingers off, the blood splattering across the floor as he screamed. The once mighty villain, a being who had instilled fear in countless hearts, now knelt before you, helpless.

"Master!" Shigaraki cried out, his voice a mixture of panic and concern. He reached toward All For One, desperate to help, but the once indomitable villain remained on his knees, shaking, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The air in the room was thick with tension, and your mind raced, the weight of what you had just done sinking in.

But even as All For One writhed in pain, you knew this was far from over. You could feel their eyes on you—watching, waiting. You were outnumbered, and yet, you had the power to turn the tide.

You turned your gaze toward Bakugo, urgency lacing your every word as you commanded, "Run!" Your voice was sharp, but underneath it, there was a pleading desperation—one that made it clear you were willing to face whatever came next to keep him safe. His eyes locked onto yours, a fierce defiance and determination swimming in his gaze.

"What? No! I'm not leaving you here!" Bakugo's words were laced with stubbornness, his loyalty to you unwavering. He wasn't one to turn his back on a fight, especially not when it involved someone he cared for. His body tensed, ready to rush toward you, to fight alongside you despite the odds stacked against both of you.

But you knew the dangers that lay ahead, the perilous path you had no choice but to walk alone. Your heart clenched at the thought of him in harm's way because of you. You knew he wouldn't run, not unless you made him. The thought of him being caught in the chaos, suffering because of your fight, was unbearable. In that moment, you made a decision. A sacrifice that would haunt you, but it was the only way to give him a chance.

With a deep, shaky breath, you pleaded one final time, hoping the gravity of your words would reach him. "Go, my hero," you whispered, your voice breaking as you spoke. It wasn't just a command—it was a heartfelt plea, a desperate wish for him to survive and find a way out. You gave him one last, bittersweet smile as your wings unfurled behind you, each feather gleaming with the resolve to protect him, to shield him from the horrors that awaited.

The world around you seemed to stop, your heart heavy with the weight of your decision. You spread your wings wide, feeling the pulse of power surge through your body. With one final glance, you turned toward the chaos that loomed ahead, knowing that if you didn't act now, there would be no hope left.

With all the strength you could muster, you slammed your wings down, the force of the impact shattering the ground beneath you. The room erupted in an explosion of force and energy, debris flying in every direction, obscuring Bakugo's view of you. The air was filled with dust and smoke, the walls of the hideout trembling from the violent shockwave.

Bakugo stood frozen, his chest tight with fear and confusion, his heart racing as he scanned the room. The last image of you, the one he would hold in his mind forever, was the glint of your wings as you disappeared into the chaos. The dust clouded everything, leaving him in the midst of a terrifying silence.

He called your name, his voice a mix of desperation and disbelief, but the only answer he received was the distant sound of rubble shifting and the faint echoes of a battle far beyond his reach.

As the dust settled and the landscape around them returned to some semblance of order, Bakugo stood motionless, his mind racing with panic. Was this really happening? Had you truly sacrificed yourself for him? His fists clenched at his sides, his heart heavy with guilt and fear. He could only hope that you were still alive, still fighting, somewhere in the chaos. Your sacrifice would not be in vain, not if he could help it.

But for now, there was nothing more he could do. The bitter weight of your absence was something he would carry with him forever, but it was also a reminder—he couldn't let your sacrifice be for nothing. He had to keep fighting, keep pushing forward, because if you were still out there, alive or not, he owed it to you to make sure he could do whatever it took to survive this nightmare.

And with that thought, Bakugo steeled himself, his resolve burning brighter than ever as he prepared for the storm that was still yet to come.