Stranded Beyond Worlds

Uneasy Alliances

The first few days on the island had been tense, but they had fallen into a routine of sorts. Each of them had a role to play in ensuring their survival. Dabi was a source of warmth, his blue flames keeping the campfire alive, while Toga—much to Izuku's surprise—proved to be skilled in navigating the strange foliage, discovering edible plants and water sources. Shigaraki's strength came in bursts, unpredictable but effective when clearing areas or hunting, though he often sulked, as if the very notion of manual labor was beneath him.

Izuku took it upon himself to scout the island, gathering supplies and mapping out their surroundings. It gave him time to think—and more importantly, distance from the others. He didn't trust them, and he couldn't afford to.

On the third morning, the group gathered at the edge of the forest, contemplating a venture deeper into the unknown. There was still no sign of how they got here, and more troubling, no sign of a way out. Izuku looked at the dense jungle ahead of them, already sweating from the tropical heat.

"We need to search for higher ground," he suggested, wiping the sweat from his brow. "There might be a way to signal for help. Maybe we'll find signs of other people."

Dabi snorted, arms crossed. "You really think there's anyone out there? We've been walking in circles for days. This place feels... wrong."

"You're just scared," Toga teased, playfully tapping Dabi's shoulder. She then turned to Izuku, her golden eyes wide and mischievous. "But I'm with Izuku! Let's explore! Who knows what fun things we'll find out there?"

Izuku suppressed a shudder, still uncomfortable with Toga's sudden shifts in mood. Shigaraki, meanwhile, stood apart from them, his red eyes scanning the horizon, deep in thought. He hadn't said much since the second day, which made Izuku nervous. He knew better than to underestimate Shigaraki's silence.

As they moved through the jungle, Izuku kept his guard up, his senses on high alert. The trees were massive, their canopies nearly blocking out the sunlight, and the air was thick with humidity. The sounds of distant, unfamiliar creatures echoed around them.

After an hour of trekking, they came across a rocky clearing, and in the center stood a large, weathered stone structure. It was ancient, with vines creeping over the sides, and strange carvings etched into its surface.

Toga's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oooh, this looks fun! Maybe there's treasure inside!"

Dabi raised an eyebrow. "Or a trap."

Shigaraki stepped forward, eyes narrowing as he approached the structure. "It's old. Really old." He ran his fingers over the carvings but was careful not to touch too long. "This might have answers."

Izuku studied the carvings, trying to make sense of them. They looked like symbols, but none he recognized. Something about this place felt... unsettling. "We should be careful," he warned. "We don't know what this is."

Shigaraki glared at him. "Obviously. But we're not getting anywhere sitting around the camp, are we?"

Izuku clenched his fists, biting back a retort. They needed to work together, even if every part of him screamed that this was a bad idea.

Suddenly, a low rumbling noise came from the temple. The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly, and from the depths of the jungle, an eerie howl cut through the air.

"Great," Dabi muttered, stepping back. "We woke something up."

Before any of them could react, the trees around the clearing rustled violently. Out of the shadows came creatures that looked like a twisted fusion of reptile and mammal, their glowing red eyes fixating on the group.

Toga's grin widened in excitement. "Finally, some action!"

Izuku's instincts kicked in, immediately preparing to activate One For All. "Stay back!" he warned, though he knew none of them would listen.

The creatures lunged.

Izuku leapt forward, delivering a devastating smash that sent one of the creatures crashing into the temple wall. It wasn't dead, but it was dazed. Toga danced around the beasts, gleefully dodging their attacks, her blade flashing in the sunlight as she carved deep gashes into their sides.

Dabi ignited his flames, a wicked grin on his face as blue fire engulfed the creatures, their howls turning into shrieks of agony.

But it was Shigaraki who moved with deadly efficiency. He stepped forward, his hand brushing lightly against the ground, and the creatures disintegrated on contact, turning to dust in seconds.

Izuku watched, torn between relief and unease. It wasn't just Shigaraki's power that disturbed him—it was the look in his eyes, a cold, detached focus as he erased the creatures from existence.

When the last of the beasts had fallen, the jungle fell quiet again. Toga giggled, wiping blood from her cheek. "Well, that was fun! But what were those things?"

"I don't know," Izuku said, breathing heavily, scanning the jungle for more. "But this island is more dangerous than we thought."

Shigaraki wiped his hand on his pants, his expression unreadable. "Dangerous, maybe. But it means there's something here. Something powerful."

Dabi extinguished the last of his flames, smirking. "Yeah, and if we're lucky, it'll lead us off this rock."

Izuku looked up at the temple again, uneasy. There was something more to this island, something beyond the creatures, the jungle, and the strange architecture. A feeling gnawed at him, like they were being watched, like the island itself was alive and testing them.

"Let's move," Shigaraki ordered, his voice hard. "We're going inside."

Izuku wanted to protest, but the reality was, they needed answers. And whatever this island was, the key to their survival—or their doom—might be hidden within that ancient temple.

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To be continued...