Chapter 34: Chaos

**Chapter 34: Chaos**

The arena was a tempest of tension, a storm of desperation and determination swirling in the air. The final moments of the Cavalry Battle loomed, and the stakes had never been higher. Teams that had once stood tall now teetered on the edge, scrambling for every last point to secure their place in the coveted top four. The crowd's roar was deafening, a symphony of gasps, cheers, and cries that reverberated through the colossal hall. Every second was a heartbeat, every moment a battle for survival.

In the announcer's booth, Yamada's voice thundered through the speakers, electrifying the atmosphere. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are down to the final two minutes! What a spectacle this has been! The game has escalated to a whole new level of intensity—students are pushing themselves to the absolute limit, but only the top four teams will advance! Who will seize their place in the next round? In these final moments, anything can happen!"

The stands trembled under the weight of the crowd's fervor. In a modest apartment, Natsu's elderly landlady sat glued to the screen, her fists clenched and her voice rising above the din. "Come on, you fool! Push harder! Don't you dare give up now!" she shouted, her eyes blazing with a mix of hope and frustration.

On the battlefield, the pressure was suffocating. Kaminari's voice cracked with anxiety as he stared at the countdown timer. "Two minutes? That's all we've got left? How are we supposed to pull this off when we're sitting at zero points and dead last?"

Jiro, ever the pragmatist, tried to inject a sliver of optimism. "At least we're not the only ones with zero points, Kaminari."

But Yaoyorozu wasn't in the mood for consolation. Her brow furrowed, her mind racing as she assessed their dire situation. "This isn't the time for jokes. We need a strategy—and fast. We can't afford to waste another second. We have to figure out how to reclaim the ten-million-point headband."

Natsu's fists clenched at his sides, his eyes blazing with unyielding resolve. "No. I'm not leaving without that specific headband. I'm taking it back."

Yaoyorozu shook her head, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "We don't have the luxury of being picky! Time is running out!"

Her gaze flicked to the scoreboard, her mind calculating the odds. "Only the top four teams will advance, and right now, the fourth-place team has 1,500 points."

Kaminari's face paled as the gravity of their situation sank in. "Wait… so we need more than 1,500 points in the next two minutes just to qualify? How are we supposed to do that when the entire field is in chaos?"

Yaoyorozu's expression darkened. "It's worse than that. By the time the game ends, the rankings will have shifted again. We'll need closer to 2,000 or even 2,500 points to secure fourth place."

Jiro's sharp eyes darted between her teammates, her voice cutting through the tension. "That's all well and good, but we're wasting time talking about it. How are we supposed to gather that many points in two minutes?"

Natsu's gaze remained locked on Todoroki, who was steadily retreating, flanked by Iida. His jaw tightened, his resolve unshakable. "I'm not going anywhere until we get that headband back."

Yaoyorozu exhaled sharply, her mind racing. "Fine. But if we're going to challenge Todoroki again, we need at least 2,000 points first. Can you lead us to that, Natsu?"

Natsu's eyes never wavered, his focus unwavering as Todoroki's figure grew smaller in the distance. "Alright," he said finally, his voice steady. "Where are the teams we need to take down?"

In the glass observation room, Yamada's voice crackled with excitement. "Incredible, folks! Natsu's team, once at the pinnacle, has plummeted to the bottom after their clash with Todoroki and Iida. The question on everyone's mind is, can they claw their way back up in time?"

Beside him, Happy perched on Yamada's shoulder, his tiny blue wings drooping as he watched the scene below. "Natsu," he whispered, his voice tinged with sorrow. "Don't give up…"

But on the battlefield, Natsu's focus was abruptly shattered by an unfamiliar voice.

"You don't need to worry about taking down any team," the voice sneered. "You're finished."

Natsu's eyes narrowed as he turned toward the sound. Standing before him was a boy with purple hair and matching eyes—Shinso. He wasn't from the Hero Course, yet here he was, leading a team that included Ojiro, a student from Class 1-A.

Yaoyorozu, Jiro, and Kaminari exchanged bewildered glances, their confusion palpable. Why was Ojiro teaming up with someone from General Studies? And who was this Shinso?

Shinso's grin widened as he took in their stunned expressions. "I was hoping to humiliate you in front of everyone—to make you the laughingstock of this event. But look at you now. You've already been reduced to nothing. First place to last in a matter of minutes. Impressive, really. You're a star, just like they say—the star of the USJ attack. But you're only good at falling, and even your falls are meaningless. You're worthless."

Natsu's eyes burned with a fierce light, his lips curling into a tight, dangerous smile. "So… 2,350 points? I didn't think the team in third place would come looking for us. Guess we're lucky after all."

Kaminari and Yaoyorozu gaped at Natsu's calm response, their shock evident. They had expected him to erupt in anger, but instead, he radiated a quiet, unshakable confidence.

Shinso's smile didn't falter. "That's all I needed to hear."

In an instant, Shinso's eyes glowed with a soft, violet light, and Natsu's pupils flashed white. His body stiffened, his expression going blank.

"Brainwashed," Shinso murmured, his voice barely audible.

The shock was immediate. Jiro's heart skipped a beat as she stared at Natsu, her voice trembling. "Natsu? What just happened?"

Yaoyorozu reached out to him, panic seizing her. "Natsu, snap out of it!"

Kaminari's face was a mask of horror. "We only have a minute and a half left! How are we supposed to win without him?"

The arena descended into chaos. Teams clashed in a frenzy, each fighting for their survival. Bakugo's team surged into second place, while Midoriya's team clawed their way into fourth. Shinso's team held firm in third, their position secure.

Time was slipping away, and the battlefield was a maelstrom of desperation. Jiro, Kaminari, and Yaoyorozu stood frozen, their hopes crumbling as they watched their leader, their strongest player, fall under Shinso's control. The clock ticked down, and the chaos only grew, leaving them stranded in a sea of uncertainty.

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