When Heroes Collide - Bakugou X Reader Slow Burn

Chapter 102: Chaos

As the blade slipped from my neck, I barely had a second to catch my breath before Reaper lunged forward again, his eyes narrowed with grim determination. I dodged instinctively, feeling the brush of cold steel slice past my shoulder. His inventory quirk was terrifyingly efficient—each weapon he summoned seemed to appear from thin air, a new blade, a spiked chain, and then a pair of wickedly sharp scythes that whirled at me in deadly arcs. I had no time to anticipate what he'd bring out next, every strike pushing me closer to exhaustion.

The ballroom was a chaotic blur of flashing lights and echoing shouts. Pro heroes and students alike were locked in battles across the floor, some trying to subdue villains, others desperately shielding the students from other classes as they tried to escape the mayhem. Chunks of shattered chandeliers and overturned tables littered the floor, and the scent of smoke and scorched fabric thickened the air. My friends were scattered, some fighting valiantly against the wave of villains that had broken into the ballroom, others struggling to stand after brutal attacks. I had no idea if anyone else had noticed Reaper, or if they even realized how dangerous he truly was.

Reaper's gaze flickered, reading my movement before I could finish my next teleport, and he caught me with a glancing blow to my side. Pain shot through me, my vision blurring for a split second. I staggered, clutching my side, the edges of his blade slicing into my skin with a chill that made me shudder.

"Got you," he sneered, and his tone was a mocking challenge, daring me to give up. But I couldn't, not when so many people depended on me.

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to focus, pulling together every ounce of energy I had left. With one last surge, I teleported behind him, launching a strike aimed at his unguarded side. But even then, he twisted, anticipating my move as if he'd fought me a hundred times before. His scythe lashed out, the handle cracking across my wrist and making my fingers numb. The blade hovered inches from my throat once again, his smirk returning.

"Not so different from your father, after all," he murmured, his eyes glinting. "Maybe there's some hope for you yet, but still... He was usually put up more of a fight than this,"

The sound of another explosion tore through the air, shaking the ground beneath us as the ceiling began to crack, debris raining down. Reaper glanced up, momentarily distracted by the chaos spreading around us. It was the only chance I had to break free.

Through the chaos, I could barely make out Todoroki's voice calling over the clamor, "Hylia, are you okay?" His tone was tense, concern lacing every word. A girl with golden hair looked up at him, her eyes wide with panic, cheeks streaked with the remnants of soot and ash. But then, almost defiantly, she gave a small, tight smile, and the faint scorch marks that marred her skin began to fade, vanishing as if they'd never existed.

"Self-healing..." she murmured, her voice trembling yet resolute. "Neat little trick." The smile lingered on her lips as the last of the burns smoothed away, leaving her face unmarked, though her eyes still held traces of fear.

Todoroki stared at her, his eyes widening, caught somewhere between awe and shock as he processed what he'd just witnessed. For a brief moment, he seemed entranced, as if her ability had captivated him against the brutal backdrop of the ballroom's destruction. But then he blinked, pulling himself back to the moment, his face hardening with resolve. He glanced at her once more before asking, "Have you seen... Y/N? My friend?"

Hylia's expression shifted, and she looked around, scanning the battlefield of broken tables, scattered decorations, and struggling heroes and villains. Her gaze flicked across the chaos until her eyes finally landed on me, her expression changing to one of alarm. She pointed, her hand trembling as she said, "There. With... The white haired man."