𝔸 𝔾𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕎𝕒𝕤 𝕆𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕖 💥𝔹𝕒𝕜𝕦𝔻𝕖𝕜𝕦💥

Resurgence of Death

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Chapter 52

IZUKU POV

When Katsuki's fingers brushed against Izuku's, it was like a lightning bolt straight to his core. Panic surged through him, making his heart pound like a relentless drum. It felt like time itself stretched, then snapped back, ripping their connection apart. Katsuki disappeared into the mist, and all Izuku could hear was the sound of his own desperate cries. Tears mixed with the swirling fog on his cheeks as he screamed for Katsuki. All he saw was the consuming haze, and he leaned over the railing, voice raw with desperation.

"KACCHAN!" he screamed, the sound tearing from his chest, a primal howl that reverberated through the cavern. Tears blurred his vision as he strained to catch any glimpse of Katsuki amidst the oppressive fog, but it was like trying to capture smoke with his bare hands. The eerie, ghostly shroud swallowed everything, leaving him helpless.

Izuku's mind raced with a torrent of emotions—fear, guilt, and an overwhelming sense of rage. He had been powerless to free himself from that damn restraint, powerless to protect Katsuki when he needed it the most. The weight of it all pressed upon him, threatening to crush him entirely.

Frozen in place, his breathing erratic, Izuku struggled to process the overwhelming sense of loss that began overtaking him. But then, a faint sound reached his ears—a soft splash that pierced through the silence of the mist. It snapped him out of his paralyzed state, jolting him into action.

His eyes locked onto the source of the sound, and through the dissipating mist, he could just barely make out a large crater in the floor, brimming with water. It was there, in that well, that Katsuki had fallen. Without hesitation, Izuku hurled himself from the railing, his body moving on pure instinct. He plummeted weightless for a few moments before landing with a splash, the impact jarring him and momentarily disorienting him. His ragged clothes soaked through as he submerged himself in the cool water. Panic and adrenaline surged as he swam towards Katsuki.

Izuku's frail arms sliced through the water as he closed the distance. Katsuki's motionless form floated just above the crater's bottom. Time stood still as Izuku reached out, his trembling hands gently cradling Katsuki's limp body.

Summoning every ounce of strength, he fought to swim the ten feet to the surface, his muscles screaming with effort The weight of Katsuki's unconscious body made it all the more challenging, but Izuku refused to give up. His lungs were on fire, and he kicked and paddled frantically, desperate to reach the surface.

Darkness closed in on his vision, but just before it could swallow him, Izuku exploded through the water's surface, gasping for air. He coughed and sputtered, the taste of ash and water filling his mouth. He clung to the edge of the crater, muscles straining as he pulled Katsuki to safety.

Water continued to pour from the busted pipes above, forming a pool on the ground as Izuku finally managed to drag Katsuki out of the crater. Collapsing beside him, he felt like his chest was about to explode. Kneeling over Katsuki, he couldn't help but think, please, don't let this be it.

Trembling hands met reality as Izuku realized Katsuki wasn't breathing. He immediately pressed his lips to Katsuki's, delivering rescue breaths, his heart pounding in his chest. He could taste the bitterness of the water on his lips, but he ignored it, focusing solely on saving Katsuki. He tilted Katsuki's head back slightly, pinched his nose shut, and blew two quick breaths into his mouth, watching for any sign of life.

Nothing.

Panic clawed at Izuku's mind as that insidious sensation began to creep in, whispering doubt. What if this wasn't real? He shook that thought away; he couldn't afford to lose his grip now. He had to keep going, because if he gambled wrong, it would shatter him.  He quickly switched to chest compressions, placing his trembling hands on Katsuki's chest, just below the sternum. He pushed down hard, trying to remember the rhythm he had learned in his first aid training all those years ago.