Dragon's Heart, Hero's Will

Chapter 47: Echoes of Destruction

Kirishima’s POV
The chaos around U.A. is deafening. Kirishima stands frozen, feeling the raw energy in the air—the remnants of destruction left by Gigantomachia. His heart races as he witnesses the horror unfold. The students, his friends, are paralyzed with fear. Hanta’s shaky voice breaks through the cacophony, asking if the heroes who tried to stop the giant are dead. Mezo’s response is grim; they’re too far to confirm, but doubt lingers in his eyes.

Momo’s thoughts echo in Kirishima’s mind. If it weren’t for Majestic’s Quirk, they wouldn’t have escaped. Kinoko looks anxious, glancing around for signs of hope. Minoru's voice drifts in, questioning if they made the right decision, and Kirishima can’t help but agree—everything feels worse now.

He grips his fists, sensing a familiar warmth radiating from his chest. Katsuki… something is wrong. The moment his mate got hurt, Kirishima felt it deep within his core. His dragon instincts surge, overwhelming him.

Bakugou’s POV
At the hospital ruins, the air is thick with tension. Shoto stands beside Endeavor, who struggles to cool down from the intense heat of the battle. “I was assisting the heroes until I finally made it here,” Shoto explains, encasing Endeavor in ice. The sight of their injuries stirs something inside Bakugou—a mix of anger and fear.

Eraser Head lies unconscious, and Manual and Rock Lock do their best to stabilize him. “Run, Deku!” Rock Lock urges, but Bakugou can see the fire in Deku's eyes. He refuses to back down, even as Shigaraki prepares to unleash chaos once again.

Shigaraki's laughter echoes through the ruins, chilling Bakugou to the bone. As Shigaraki announces his intention to end everyone, his body suddenly convulses, blood spewing forth. Deku’s gaze sharpens; he understands. “It’s because of Mirko,” he breathes, recognizing the consequences of their battle.

Shigaraki's regeneration kicks in, but Bakugou sees the weariness in Deku’s movements as he struggles to keep him airborne with Blackwhip. Every time Tomura touches the ground, it’s like watching their last hope crumble into dust. “Stay away from him!” Bakugou barks, but Deku knows. He has to keep Shigaraki up; otherwise, they’re all finished.

Deku’s attacks land with crushing force, each strike resonating with the weight of their desperation. Bakugou watches as Deku pushes himself to the limit, determined to protect them all. His heart races. He can’t do this alone. Not again.

“Icyhot! Are you ready?” Bakugou yells, needing him to finish the first aid on Endeavor. He grabs both Shoto and Endeavor, adrenaline surging. They fly into the air, aiming for when Blackwhip is fully extended. Bakugou's mind races, recalling the talk they had back at school.

“Cursed power,” he mutters to himself, thinking about how One For All has been both a blessing and a burden. But now, they have to focus on the fight, on protecting what they care about.

As they rise into the fray, Bakugou sees Deku struggling against Shigaraki's newfound strength. The fight is wearing him down, and he can’t shake the feeling that time is running out. Memories of their past flicker in his mind—of teamwork, of battles fought side by side.

Endeavor grabs Shigaraki, yelling at Deku to get down before unleashing Prominence Burn. The heat washes over them, and for a moment, there’s a flicker of hope. But then it happens—rivet spikes shoot from Shigaraki's back, aimed straight at Deku.

Kirishima’s POV
The moment Katsuki gets hurt, Kirishima’s instincts kick in. He can’t see it, but he feels it—like a thunderclap ringing in his bones. His mate, his omega… he’s in pain. Kirishima’s inner dragon roars in fury, snapping free as he fully transforms. Power surges through him, and he’s consumed by the need to protect.