𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗦 ⌈𝐈⌔𝐌 ✗ 𝔽!𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑹⌋

Chapter 108

CHAPTER 108: A Beacon Amidst Betrayal

Class 1-A's training regimen had reached new, brutal heights. Every sunrise brought fresh drills, every sunset carried aching limbs and tired minds. The war wasn't coming-it was already creeping in, inching closer with every villain sighting, every coded message intercepted, and every whispered warning from pro heroes who wore haunted eyes and weary smiles.

The halls of U.A. were quieter now. Gone were the careless jokes and playful rivalries that once echoed through the dorms. Even laughter, when it came, was brittle-carried by those trying to pretend things were still normal. But nothing was normal anymore.

Inside the strategy room, tension hung like smoke.

Momo stood at the head of the room, eyes scanning a glowing map of Japan projected on the screen. Several points blinked in red-enemy locations, movements, potential hideouts. The red dots had only grown in number in recent weeks.

"This isn't just about our strength anymore," she said, voice calm but layered with urgency. "All For One already has data on our quirks, our past battles, even our weaknesses. He's not going to let us walk into this clean. If we play by his rules, he'll corner us before we can react."

Her words were precise-tactical. But behind her calculating tone was fear. Not for herself, but for everyone else in the room.

Katsuki stood with arms crossed, his crimson eyes locked on the screen. His jaw was tight, his knuckles pale with tension. Then, he slammed his fist into his open palm, the crack sharp and jarring in the stillness.

"Screw his rules," he growled. "We don't need to outsmart that monster. We crush him. We corner him, and we end him. If he wants to play god in the shadows-fine. We'll drag him into the light and burn him down."

The heat in his voice was familiar, but there was more restraint in it now. Katsuki wasn't just angry-he was focused, honed by months of preparation and loss.

You stood nearby, your arms folded as you leaned against the wall. Even with your command over water, the weight in the room was suffocating. This wasn't about proving yourself anymore. This was about survival-yours, your friends', your family's. Aizawa's words echoed in your memory: "Control what you can. Let instinct guide the rest." But even instincts were tested in the face of fear.

Izuku who had been unusually quiet until now, finally lifted his head. His eyes were shadowed with determination. He looked not just at the map-but at all of you.

"We can't let him slip away," he said, voice low but strong. "Every time he disappears, more people die. More families are torn apart. He's like a shadow-but shadows can be caught. And this time... we don't let go."

Silence followed his words, heavy and absolute.

---

Toru during these recent days, had become more vigilant lately. That day she had taken it upon herself to patrol the outer areas of U.A., watchful for any potential threats that might be slipping under the radar. It was during one of these late-night patrols, deep within the woods surrounding U.A., that she overheard something she never expected.

Yuga the flamboyant, slightly eccentric boy who was always full of confidence and smiles. But now, as she peered through the thick brush, she saw him speaking in hushed tones to his parents, their faces filled with guilt and fear. Her heart skipped a beat as she listened to the words that cut deep.