𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗦 ⌈𝐈⌔𝐌 ✗ 𝔽!𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑹⌋

Chapter 017

CHAPTER 17: Chaos Unfolds

The second half of the Cavalry Battle began with renewed intensity. The chaotic rush of teams scrambling to steal headbands only grew more frenzied as the timer ticked down. With Midoriya's ten-million-point headband still in play, every group on the field was hungry to secure a winning position. But your own team wasn't exactly in the clear, either-your fourth-place headband had drawn attention from the other students, and defending it was proving to be just as difficult as you'd imagined.

"You've got to stay focused!" Iida called out as he propelled the team forward, his legs moving in a blur as his Engine quirk pushed you away from another charging group. Todoroki, balanced above the team as the rider, kept a sharp eye on the surrounding chaos, his ice quirk ready to defend at a moment's notice.

"Get ready," Todoroki said, his voice calm but firm. "They're coming for us again."

Another team, led by a student from Class 1-B, had locked onto you. Their rider, grinning confidently, reached out for your headband, but you were already moving. You summoned water from the air around you, forming a thin shield of liquid that distorted the space between you and your attackers. The rider's hand swiped through the water, but they couldn't quite reach the headband.

"Not so fast!" Kaminari grinned, unleashing a burst of electricity that surged through the water shield, shocking the attackers and forcing them to retreat.

The combined efforts of your team-Todoroki's ice, Iida's speed, Kaminari's electricity, and your water manipulation-allowed you to keep your headband intact. But you could feel the mounting pressure. The longer you stayed in the game, the more relentless the attacks would become.

---

Meanwhile, in the center of the battlefield, Midoriya's team was barely holding it together. With Uraraka, Tokoyami, and Hatsume supporting him, Midoriya was doing everything he could to avoid the onslaught of teams gunning for the ten-million-point headband. But as agile as they were, it was clear they were running out of options.

"Midoriya's not gonna last much longer at this rate," you muttered, watching as his team narrowly avoided another attack from Bakugo, whose explosions were sending shockwaves through the field. Bakugo's eyes were locked onto Midoriya, his usual fiery determination fueled by his desire to claim victory.

"We need to keep our distance for now," Todoroki said, his voice calm. "Midoriya's the biggest target, and as long as we're not in the middle of that, we can focus on defense."

But you knew that wouldn't be enough for long. The other teams were starting to get more aggressive, and even with Todoroki's ice and Iida's speed, you could feel the tide turning. You needed a plan.

---

"We need to go on the offensive," you said suddenly, the idea forming in your mind as you scanned the battlefield. "If we keep dodging, we're just waiting for someone to catch us off guard. But if we take the initiative and steal another team's headband, we can secure our position."

Todoroki glanced at you, considering your suggestion. "Which team?"

You pointed toward one of the smaller groups nearby. They had a decent amount of points, and while they weren't as high on the leaderboard as Midoriya's team or Bakugo's, they were a manageable target.

"Iida, can you get us close enough?" you asked.

Iida nodded, his engines roaring to life. "Just leave it to me!"

With a burst of speed, your team shot forward, weaving through the chaos as Iida expertly navigated the field. Todoroki summoned a wave of ice beneath you, lifting the team higher as you approached your target. Kaminari charged up his electricity, ready to unleash it if necessary.