𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗦 ⌈𝐈⌔𝐌 ✗ 𝔽!𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑹⌋

Chapter 011

CHAPTER 11: Against the Current

The tension in the air thickened as the water around you churned violently, whipped into a frenzy by Hydrax’s power. You stood your ground, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on you, but the adrenaline surging through your veins kept you upright. Hydrax hadn’t moved from her spot at the edge of the water, but her presence was like a storm waiting to break, her gaze cold and unrelenting.

Midoriya struggled to his feet behind you, his breath coming in short gasps as he wiped the water from his face. “We need to figure out how to stop her,” he muttered, his voice strained but determined. “She’s too strong to face head-on like this.”

You nodded, swallowing hard as you tried to steady your breathing. Hydrax had barely broken a sweat, while you were already on the verge of collapse. The battle was uneven, and you knew it. But you couldn’t back down now.

"Is this really all you’ve got?" Hydrax taunted, her voice carrying over the sound of the raging water. "I expected more from someone with our family’s blood."

Your heart skipped a beat at the mention of family, but you didn’t let her words throw you off. Instead, you tighten your grip on the water around you, trying to focus on maintaining control. But Hydrax wasn’t done.

"You’re nothing more than a weak little raindrop, drifting along with the current," she sneered, her voice dripping with condescension. "It’s no wonder you’ve always been forgotten. You’ve never had the strength to stand on your own."

The nickname—Raindrop—cut deep. It was more than just an insult. It felt like an attack on everything you had struggled with, every moment of self-doubt, every time you felt like you weren’t good enough.

You clenched your fists, anger sparking in your chest. "I’m not weak," you muttered under your breath, though it felt like you were trying to convince yourself more than her.

Hydrax smirked, clearly hearing your words. "Oh, but you are. That’s why you’re still stuck with your pathetic little quirk while I’ve surpassed you in every way. You’ll never be strong enough to face me."

Her words sent a chill down your spine, but this time, instead of fear, it ignited a fire within you. You were tired of feeling helpless, tired of being mocked and underestimated. You weren’t just some weak little raindrop—there was a storm inside you, and it was time to unleash it.

---

Midoriya shifted beside you, his eyes filled with worry. "Mizushima, we need to stick together. If we’re going to get through this, we can’t fight her alone."

You nodded, but your gaze never left Hydrax. There was no doubt in your mind that she was dangerous, but you couldn’t shake the feeling that this fight was personal. She had something against you, and until you figured out what that was, you couldn’t back down.

Hydrax took a step forward, the water rising around her like an extension of her body. "What’s wrong, Raindrop?" she mocked, her voice dripping with contempt. "Are you afraid? You should be."

You narrowed your eyes, determination hardening in your chest. You wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing you scared. You wouldn’t give her the power.

"I’m not afraid of you," you said, your voice steady even as the water around you trembled with the force of her quirk.

Hydrax’s smirk widened, and in an instant, she thrust her hand forward, sending a torrent of water crashing toward you. You barely had time to react, throwing up your hands and summoning every bit of strength you had left to push the water back. The force of her attack was overwhelming, and for a moment, it felt like you were drowning, the weight of the water pressing down on you from all sides.