Blossoms of the Dark

CXL Shouto: Nightmare

This is bad.

No, that's not right.

This is a nightmare.

Blue flames light up the forest like a bonfire, and poisonous gas makes it hard to focus. I was paired with Bakugou for the night walk through the woods, but after we found an unconscious student in our path and Pussycat Mandalay's telepathic message was transmitted, things took a drastic turn for the worse.

"Is this gas also the villains' doing?" I heave, sweating from the gas and carrying the student from 1-B on my back. "I'm still worried about the others, but there's not much we can do." Bakugou isn't faring much better. He's covering his mouth to prevent inhaling more of the toxic air. That makes me the voice of reason. "Let's back off of the goal point and head to the facility. We'll leave things here at the midway point to Ragdoll." Ragdoll being another of the four Pussycats.

Through his teeth and covered mouth, Bakugou complains, "Don't order me around." I don't bother responding because in front of us appears a dark figure on his knees with his back turned to us. Bakugou's irritation is instantly replaced with alertness. "Wh-who was supposed to be ahead of us?" This is the first time I've ever heard him stutter. If someone like him is worried, then things are really, really bad. The dark figure mutters incoherent words. I grit out that Tokoyami and Shouji were the group before us. The figure rises to his feet and turns around. His arms are bound in a straitjacket. He has no face. Cloth, leather, and spikes hide all facial features except his mouth, which is forcefully kept open by bite blocks. Bakugou drops his hand from his mouth. Vicious excitement fills his eyes and voice. "Like hell I'm not engaging this sick fuck!"

The reason why this figure's, this villain's, mouth is like that is revealed quickly. Long, jagged swords erupt from his mouth like a volcano, piercing every branch and leaf in the vicinity. I scramble to get back, while Bakugou stays put. Just then, a second message from Mandalay rings in my head: Members of Class A and B, I hereby authorize you all for combat! I generate a barrier of ice from the onslaught of metal coming our way. A third message echoes, one that chills me to my core. The students named 'Kacchan!' and Selene! Whoever 'Kacchan' is, as much as possible, avoid combat! Refrain from solo movements! Got it 'Kacchan!' And someone go protect Selene!

Kacchan is Midoriya's nickname for Bakugou. And Selene ... oh my God, Selene! She's confined to bed, battling the effects of the near-drowning from yesterday. She can't use her quirk to fend for herself! And she was left all by herself for the night walk. I have to keep Bakugou safe and get to her in time. "This is not a time to be reckless," I warn Bakugou. "Didn't you hear? They're targeting you."

But he's not having it. That maniacal look in his eyes only widens. "Kacchan, Kacchan, shut the fuck up! Get out of my head!" he shouts. "That little shit Deku must've done something. First they say to fight, then they say don't fight. Goddamn it! FUCK IT! I DON'T CARE!" He dashes forward, explosion ready in his palm. He nearly gets impaled by another blade that pierces my barrier. I rush to create another ice barricade.

Between breaths, I pant out, "This guy knows how to make good use of his surroundings and his quirk." There's no point to argue with Bakugou.

"Looks to me like a gangly weakass who needs his teeth kicked in!" Bakugou jeers.

The villain uses his mouth blades to rise meters above the ground, above the barricade. My instincts kick in. I analyze the villain for weaknesses. This guy's definitely fought his share of battles. And then some. I speak to Bakugou again. "If you go exploding stuff here, you might start a fire that could surround and kill us all, you know that, right?" He groans that he knows. If we try to retreat, there's the gas. Put it simply, we're caught in a bind.