𝔸 𝔾𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕎𝕒𝕤 𝕆𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕖 𝕍.𝟚 💥𝔹𝕜𝔻𝕜💥

Chapter 51

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Fragmented Soul

Katsuki clung to Izuku like his goddamn life depended on it, teeth gritted against the pain ripping through his injured arm. He didn't give a single shit. The restraints clinging to Izuku's neck and arms, those cruel metal bastards, taunted him with every rattling step. His glare burned into them, despising every inch, promising destruction the second he got the chance.

The group had already decided—those restraints needed to come off, no question. But without the key, they risked maiming Izuku trying to break them open. They didn't have the luxury of time or precision, and no one was about to make him suffer even more than he already had. The plan was simple: get out, regroup, then figure out how to deal with the damn things.

Izuku's wary, half-lidded eyes flicked up to him. The suspicion hadn't gone away, but there was something softer under it now—something Katsuki couldn't quite place. Yeah, first, they'd get the hell out of here alive. Then, he'd tear every piece of those damn restraints apart.

Hitoshi straightened up, brushing blood from his cheek with the back of his hand. "They're closing in. We'll have to fight through them," he said, pulling his scarf loose.

Shoto squared his shoulders, frost creeping up his arms as he took a step forward. "I'll take point," he announced, his mismatched eyes flicked toward the group, his frost spreading across the floor in a deliberate arc. "Stick close, and follow my lead. I remember the way out."

His gaze swept over each of them in turn, his tone clipped but steady. "We'll use our quirks to create openings and neutralize any threats. Keep moving—don't stop for anything. The longer we stay, the worse this is going to get."

"I'll be your shield," Eijiro growled, his body hardening with an audible crack. He moved to the front of their formation like a walking tank, his eyes blazing with determination. "I've got Dynamight and Deku covered. No one's getting through me."

Fumikage and Dark Shadow, sensing the urgency in the chaos around them, braced for the fight ahead. Dark Shadow reared back with a predatory snarl, its massive form flickering in the dim light of the corridor. A villain lunged toward them, thinking the bird-brained hero was distracted. Big mistake.

"Pathetic," Dark Shadow growled, its claws swiping out with lightning speed. The villain went flying like a ragdoll, slamming into the opposite wall with a sickening thud.

"Compose yourself," Fumikage chided, his tone clipped but steady. "Our role is to support, not annihilate."

Dark Shadow grumbled but withdrew slightly, merging closer to Tokoyami as they fell into formation. "We shall assist as well," Fumikage stated, his voice echoing with eerie calm as he took his position near the rear. "Dark Shadow and I will provide support and cover."

The hallway ahead erupted into chaos as villains swarmed in to intercept them. Shoto, Eijiro, and Hitoshi pushed forward, creating a pathway through the bedlam. Explosions lit the corridor as Katsuki unleashed blast after blast, sending opponents flying and leaving smoldering marks along the walls and floor.

Shoto's ice spread like wildfire, freezing everything in its path and creating barriers that slowed their attackers. Every flick of his wrist was deliberate, calculated, leaving their enemies either trapped or forced to retreat.

Eijiro took the brunt of the close-range attacks, his hardened body a wall of defense. He barreled through opponents, fists cracking against weapons and quirks alike as he cleared the way. "You're not getting through me!" he roared, his voice cutting through the noise of the battle.