Death Paradox 💥BAKUDEKU💥

Chapter 30

The Emperor

✧༺✦✮✦༻✧

Chapter 30

Katsuki stared out at the jagged silhouette of Doomspire Mountain, its peak cloaked in dark, churning mist that seemed alive with its own malevolence. Every few moments, the clouds pulsed faintly, a deep, unnatural rhythm like a heartbeat, as if the mountain itself were breathing.

Perched on a narrow, rocky ledge carved into the cliff face, they were hidden from view, but the oppressive atmosphere made it nearly impossible to feel truly safe. The air hung heavy, thick with an unnatural chill and the low, sinister whispers of the shadows that writhed below. Occasionally, the faint scuttling of unseen creatures echoed from the rocks behind them, a constant reminder of the dangers lurking just beyond their camp, moving with unnatural fluidity.

He shivered, the sight of the Maw looming in the swirling fog below sending a cold wave of goosebumps across his skin. He could still remember the way the Maw had twisted his mind, the way it had dragged him into a nightmare of his own creation, turning his worst fears into a prison he couldn't escape. His stomach churned at the memory, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow despite the freezing temperature.

The bond between him and Kirishima hummed faintly, breaking through his spiraling thoughts. Master, you alright?

Katsuki exhaled sharply, his breath curling in the air. Yeah, I'm fine, Shitty Scales. Keep your eyes on those things below.

Kirishima didn't respond immediately, but Katsuki could feel the faint flicker of concern through the bond, even as the dragon's molten gold eyes scanned their surroundings, ever watchful.

Katsuki turned his head and caught sight of Izuku sitting a few feet away, his legs crossed, his notebook balanced on his knee. His head was bent as he read, his brow furrowed in concentration. Even in the dim light, Katsuki could see the faint tremble of his breath, the way the wind tugged at the edges of his cloak. The nerd was completely engrossed, muttering softly as he worked through trying to decipher the riddle to the Major, trying to understand if they were walking into a trap.

Shoto stood nearby, his posture tense and alert, his mismatched eyes scanning the cliffs and shadows with the precision of someone who had lived through a brush with death. His hand rested on the hilt of his blade, his body radiating a quiet, focused intensity that Katsuki grudgingly appreciated.

Katsuki glanced down Shoto's shoulder where the blackened, jagged scales crept along his arm, glinting faintly in the dim light. It wasn't just the look of them that set him on edge—it was the quiet reminder that he wasn't entirely human anymore. and there was something about the royal pain in his ass himself that had been bothering him ever since the curse had started creeping further across his body.

It wasn't just the visible changes. It was the subtle way Shoto moved, the way his head tilted slightly, his gaze snapping toward even the faintest sound in the distance. Katsuki had noticed it during their fights with some of the beasts in these forests, too. Shoto's reflexes weren't just good—they were inhumanly fast, as if he could sense the shift in the air before an attack even came. His ability to pick up on things that Katsuki himself sometimes missed—it didn't sit right. It wasn't natural.

His senses were sharper than a human's had any right to be. Katsuki didn't need to ask why. He had a feeling it was thanks to the curse. Shoto's head tilted slightly, the faintest shift in his posture betraying that he'd noticed.

Shoto's eyes flicked toward him, catching his gaze in a quiet, assessing stare.

Katsuki didn't break eye contact, his eyes narrowing slightly. He lifted his lip in a silent snarl, just enough to bare his canines—a wordless challenge, a reminder of who was really in charge here. Shoto didn't flinch, didn't react beyond the faintest twitch of his mouth, as if amused by Katsuki's response.