Chapter 22: The Flames of Victory and the Shadows of Retreat
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**Chapter 22: The Flames of Victory and the Shadows of Retreat**
The battlefield was eerily quiet. Where moments ago the air had been filled with the roars of combat and the searing heat of Natsu's flames, now only the crackle of dying embers remained. The Nomu—once a towering, fearsome beast—lay on the ground, a charred and smoking husk, utterly motionless. Natsu had done the impossible. He had defeated the creature designed to kill All Might.
The students stared at the scene, their minds struggling to catch up with the reality before them. Natsu stood at the center, his chest heaving with exhaustion, beads of sweat rolling down his face as he stared at his handiwork.
Midoriya was the first to react, still wide-eyed and trembling. "He… he actually did it. He beat it…" His voice was barely a whisper, filled with disbelief and awe.
Bakugo stood rigid, his usual fiery demeanor momentarily extinguished by the sheer display of power. "Tch... that bastard," he muttered under his breath, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. But even he couldn't mask the small flicker of admiration in his eyes.
Todoroki remained still, his face unreadable, though his heart raced. The flames that Natsu wielded were like nothing he had ever seen before—far beyond anything he had imagined. "Natsu…" he whispered, the name hanging heavily on his lips.
Yaoyorozu and Iida, standing a little further back, exchanged glances. "I knew he was strong, but this… it's on another level entirely," Yaoyorozu admitted, her voice laced with both astonishment and a trace of concern.
Iida adjusted his glasses, struggling to process everything. "It's as though… he's a completely different person when he fights."
Even Aizawa, bloodied and battered on the ground, managed to crack a faint smile. "Natsu… you're full of surprises."
But amidst the shock and admiration of the students, there was one figure who was not impressed. Shigaraki, standing at the edge of the battlefield, stared in disbelief, his blue hair swaying slightly in the breeze. His hands twitched, his fingers scratching at his neck as his mind raced.
"This… this has to be some kind of joke," Shigaraki muttered, his voice trembling with barely restrained rage. "That Nomu was supposed to be unstoppable. It was supposed to kill All Might… and yet…"
His red, maddened eyes darted back to Natsu, who was now locking eyes with him. A shiver of fear crept up Shigaraki's spine. For the first time, he felt it—the weight of failure, the sting of defeat. His plan, his perfect chaos… shattered by this one boy.
"Is this really happening?" he whispered to himself, his mind spiraling into a vortex of doubt.
But Natsu had no intention of letting him escape. With fire still smoldering in his fists, he charged forward with a burst of speed that took everyone by surprise.
"You're the one behind all this, aren't you?!" Natsu's voice was filled with righteous fury as he lunged at Shigaraki, his fist glowing with fiery intent. "You're not getting away!"
Shigaraki's eyes widened in terror. In that moment, he saw his death—the fist of Natsu closing in, ready to strike him down. The air around them seemed to freeze as Natsu's flaming fist came closer and closer to Shigaraki's face.
But just as the blow was about to land, a portal of pure blackness materialized in front of Shigaraki. The darkness twisted and warped, and Natsu's fist plunged into the void, vanishing within the black mist.
Kurogiri, the black mist villain, appeared behind Shigaraki, his calm voice cutting through the tension. "Master, it's time to leave. This battle is lost."
Shigaraki, still dazed and furious, could only nod. "No… no, this isn't over," he spat, his voice trembling with frustration. "We'll finish this another time."
In an instant, both Shigaraki and Kurogiri were swallowed by the portal, disappearing into the darkness. The black void closed behind them, leaving the battlefield eerily silent once more.
The other villains, witnessing their leader's retreat, were overcome with panic. They began to scatter, fear taking hold. "He's gone! We're doomed!" one villain shouted, eyes wide with terror. "Get out of here!"
Just as the villains scrambled to flee, the front entrance of the USJ exploded with a deafening boom, sending chunks of debris flying through the air. Through the dust and smoke, the towering figure of All Might emerged, his face set in grim determination. Behind him, the other teachers followed, their expressions resolute.
"All Might is here!" one of the students shouted, relief washing over them.
The villains, now cornered, froze in place, their escape routes cut off. They had no choice. The battle was over.
As the teachers and police moved in to round up the remaining villains, Natsu stood still, his gaze fixed on the spot where his fist had disappeared into the void. His hand tingled slightly, as if it still remembered the strange sensation of the black portal. He flexed his fingers, his mind racing.
"What kind of power was that?" Natsu whispered to himself, his eyes narrowing in thought. He had never seen anything like it before.
But before he could dwell on it any further, the students began to gather around him, their faces beaming with admiration and gratitude. One by one, they cheered for him, their voices filled with excitement and relief.
"You were amazing, Natsu!" Midoriya exclaimed, his face lighting up with a huge smile. "You saved us all!"
Yaoyorozu nodded in agreement. "We couldn't have done it without you."
Even Bakugo, though scowling, couldn't completely hide the small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Tch. Don't get cocky, flame-brain."
Natsu, still catching his breath, smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Heh, it was nothing, really. I just… did what I had to do."
Before he knew it, the students had lifted Natsu into the air, hoisting him up on their shoulders as they cheered and celebrated his victory. Happy fluttered around above them, grinning ear to ear. "Aye, sir! That's Natsu for ya!"
As Natsu looked down at all the smiling faces below him, a feeling of warmth spread through his chest. It wasn't just the flames of battle that filled him with strength—it was this. His friends, his comrades. This was why he fought.
Meanwhile, All Might approached Aizawa, who was sitting on the ground, his body wrapped in bandages, blood still dripping from his injuries.
"Aizawa," All Might said, his voice filled with respect, "you held them off long enough for us to arrive. You've done well."
Aizawa, breathing heavily, gave a faint chuckle. "It wasn't me who saved the day," he muttered, his eyes drifting toward Natsu, who was still being carried by the students. "That kid… Natsu. He's something else. I've never seen anyone fight like that before. He's… extraordinary."
All Might followed Aizawa's gaze, watching as Natsu laughed with his classmates, his fiery spirit undeniable even in the aftermath of the battle. "Yes," All Might agreed, a smile forming on his lips. "He truly is remarkable."
As the police arrived to secure the scene and escort the remaining villains away, the sky above began to clear, the dark clouds of the day's battle fading into the distance. The USJ incident had come to an end.
Natsu, still smiling, looked up at the blue sky, his heart filled with a sense of peace.
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