Chapter 22 – The Architect's Return
Silence.
Not the kind that comes from peace—but the kind that waits.
Sozo opened his eyes to a field of fractured light. The world around him looked like glass suspended in motion—endless shards of the Dungeon frozen mid-collapse, pulsing faintly with his own heartbeat.
The hydra coiled nearby, its many heads half-transparent, watching.
"Containment stable," it said. "You are within the core's inner stratum. The echo is gone."
Sozo took a slow breath. Even here, the air felt heavy—like thought given form. "So this is what's left."
"More than left. It's yours again."
He looked down. Beneath his feet, the fractured crystal began to hum, each line of light syncing with his pulse. The Dungeon was responding to him. Obedient again.
He exhaled. "Then let's rebuild."
---
The Internal Forge
He raised a hand. At the gesture, the shards drew together, forming a platform of silver glass beneath him. Structures unfolded around it—part machine, part living geometry.
The hydra observed silently. "Purpose?"
"Stability first. Control second. Then…" He smiled faintly. "We create a bridge back."
With each word, patterns began to shape themselves—an inner world that wasn't just a prison, but a command hub. A space where imagination met order.
He could see through the crystal like through water. The real world shimmered on the other side: Deku and Mina standing near the containment core, talking to it as if it could answer.
He reached out mentally. "I'm still here."
The hydra's tone warmed. "They cannot hear you yet. Communication bridge offline."
"Then I'll build one."
---
Plans Within Plans
Days—if they could be called days—passed differently inside the core. Here, thought and time were fluid. Sozo used both.
He studied the Dungeon's energy flow, rebuilt control nodes, strengthened dimensional seals. But between every task, he thought about the outside world—the lives he wanted to protect and the future that couldn't wait for heroes alone.
When he spoke again, it wasn't to the hydra, but to himself. "We'll need influence. Resources. A way to develop the ores without drawing too much attention."
He paused, a name surfacing with quiet certainty. "Aunt Inko."
The hydra stirred. "The maternal figure of your ally. Compassionate. Trusted. Why her?"
"She's grounded. Careful. And Deku would never question her involvement."
He smiled a little. "And Mitsuki Bakugo… she's fire to Inko's calm. Together, they could make something no corporation could touch."
He focused, gathering small fragments of crystalline ore from the ambient flow around him. They shimmered in his palm—raw power made material.
"Arcite," he named them. "A stable derivative of my world's essence. They'll respond to human technology, not just quirk energy."
"You intend to pass it through the boy?"
"Through Deku, through Mina, through the ones who'll understand." He closed his hand, the shards vanishing into the surface of the core. "It'll look like an idea. A dream they had together. But it'll be my design guiding it."
---
The Transmission
When the next pulse of energy rippled outward, the hydra reacted first. "External contact approaching. The girl."
Mina's voice, faint but clear, echoed through the still air.
"Sozo… if you're in there, you'd better be alive. Because I'm not done yelling at you yet."
He smiled softly, fingers brushing the surface of the core. "I hear you."
Her words blurred into a quiet hum—something between frustration and hope.
He focused again, channeling a thin line of energy outward, embedding an imprint of his plan into the material world. Not a message, but a push. Inspiration.
Somewhere above, Inko Midoriya would wake up that night with a spark of an idea. Something about new composite materials, something that could change the world. She'd mention it to Mitsuki over coffee.
And that spark would grow.
---
Blueprint for the Future
Inside the core, Sozo began shaping diagrams in the air—models of factories powered by contained essence, blueprints for containment armor, prosthetics, amplifiers.
He saw Inko handling the administration with quiet precision, Mitsuki running the production floor with her usual fire. Deku and Bakugo testing prototypes under the guise of training gear.
All moving pieces in a plan that would protect them from what was coming.
He could almost hear his aunt's gentle laugh, Mitsuki's blunt tone. The sound grounded him more than he expected.
"Guess I'm trusting adults again," he muttered.
"Strategic," the hydra said dryly. "And unlike you, they are allowed to fill out tax documents."
Sozo chuckled. "Yeah. Someone has to."
---
Reflection
When the forge settled into a stable rhythm, he stood at its center and let the silence return.
The Dungeon was alive again—but not hostile. It pulsed in time with him, its will aligned with his.
He thought of Mina's voice, Deku's determination, his aunts' warmth. The normal world—messy, loud, real.
"Maybe that's the point," he said quietly. "This power was never meant to just destroy or protect. It's supposed to build."
The hydra rumbled softly. "Purpose redefined. You have grown."
"Guess so."
He turned, eyes glowing faintly silver. "Keep this realm sealed until I call for it. From now on, it's not a prison—it's a foundation."
"Acknowledged."
The Dungeon lights steadied, lines of energy forming a pulse that synced perfectly with his heart.
---
Final Beat
Far above, in the waking world, Inko stirred from a dream she wouldn't remember clearly. She scribbled something down on a notepad beside her bed—two words that didn't make sense yet: Arcite Alloy.
Across town, Mitsuki's phone buzzed with a message she didn't recall sending: Let's talk business.
And at the same moment, the containment core on Deku's desk glowed faintly silver. Just once.
Inside it, Sozo stood tall, hands clasped behind his back, eyes turned upward.
"Step one complete," he murmured. "Now we start building the world we'll need."
---
End of Chapter 22 – The Architect's Return
Chapter 23 – The Gift of Fire and Acid
The Dungeon slept again—but Sozo no longer felt like a prisoner inside it.
Every pulse of the core now moved with his will. What had been a cage had become a conduit.
The hydra's many eyes gleamed from the dark, patient as ever.
"External tether is stable. Projection possible for limited time. Roughly two hours."
"Two hours is enough," Sozo said. "Let's go see them."
He stepped forward—and the glasslike world rippled. His body broke apart into threads of light, then reformed within the soft glow of the containment chamber in Mina's hands.
---
Reappearance
Mina sat on the training hall floor, holding the faintly glowing crystal. She'd been talking to it again, even though she wasn't sure he could hear.
"I don't care how mysterious this is," she muttered. "If you can come back for one more sarcastic comment, I'll stop being mad."
The crystal pulsed.
Her eyes widened. "Wait—"
Light burst outward, harmless but blinding. When it dimmed, Sozo stood there, faintly transparent, eyes still silver.
"...Hey," he said, soft smile tugging at his mouth. "Miss me?"
Mina just stared, jaw slack. "You—you're—how—"
"Long story," he said. "Short version: I won."
She launched herself forward without thinking, stopping just short of him when her hand passed through his shoulder like mist.
"You're a ghost?"
"Projection," he said gently. "Half here, half still in the core."
Mina exhaled, torn between relief and frustration. "You idiot. You scared us half to death."
He smiled faintly. "That's fair. But I didn't come to apologize."
---
The Gift
He lifted his right hand. Energy gathered there, swirling in green and gold.
"While I was inside, I learned something new. The Arc of Embodiment doesn't just create from me—it can share creation. Transfer it."
The light in his palm solidified into a small sphere. Inside it, something moved—scales, wings, acid-green eyes.
Mina leaned closer. "What is that?"
"A piece of me," Sozo said quietly. "But tuned to you. A living construct—born from your acid, shaped by my essence."
The sphere cracked open. A creature unfolded—small at first, about the size of a cat. Its scales shimmered like liquid emerald, and when it exhaled, faint wisps of acid vapor curled into the air without burning.
It blinked once, then climbed lightly onto Mina's arm, humming.
Her eyes went wide. "Is this… a dragon?"
He nodded. "Acid Dragon. Your companion. Not just a weapon—it'll grow with you, adapt to your emotions. A mirror of your strength."
Mina swallowed hard, brushing a finger along the dragon's head. "It's beautiful."
Sozo's smile softened. "So are you."
---
Threads of the World
Outside the training hall, Musutafu was shifting in quiet ways.
Inko sat at a kitchen table, pen scratching across forms she never expected to sign. "Arcite Technologies," she murmured aloud. The name had come to her in a dream.
Across from her, Mitsuki tapped a cigarette against the edge of a saucer. "If this works, we'll be producing more than support gear. Energy cores, synthetic metals… whatever that weird alloy of yours can do."
Inko smiled faintly. "Izuku said he and his friend Sozo had talked about something similar once."
Mitsuki arched a brow. "Then maybe the kid was onto something. Guess the next generation's got their heads in the right place."
Neither of them saw the faint glimmer that traced across the papers—the same silver light that pulsed inside the core.
---
Between Worlds
Back in the hall, Mina was sitting cross-legged, the Acid Dragon curled around her shoulders like a living scarf.
"So what now?" she asked. "You just… live in a crystal forever?"
"For now," Sozo said. "But I'm still connected. I can influence the Dungeon's energy flow, guide its resources. And through that, I can keep helping."
She looked up at him. "Helping who? Us?"
He hesitated, then nodded. "You. Deku. Everyone. There's something bigger coming, and I can't fight it alone—not anymore. But I can prepare the world for it."
Mina smirked faintly. "So you're turning into some kind of cosmic architect."
"More like a glorified power plant," he said dryly.
The dragon chirped, acid steam curling playfully from its nostrils.
Mina laughed for the first time in weeks. "I guess you really can't help creating chaos, huh?"
"Only the good kind," he said.
---
The Connection
The hydra's voice flickered faintly in Sozo's mind. "Time limit approaching. Energy reserves dropping."
He sighed. "Guess I have to go."
Mina's face fell. "Again?"
He nodded. "But I'll always hear you. And if you need me—call through the dragon. It's connected to me directly."
Her expression softened, eyes searching his. "You really are impossible."
"Wouldn't be me otherwise."
She hesitated, then leaned forward—through him. Her lips brushed faintly against the energy field, enough to send ripples of light across his projection.
"For luck," she said.
Sozo blinked, then smiled, eyes bright. "Yeah. That'll help."
---
Return
He began to fade, the world of the hall giving way to the glassy depths of the core once more.
As his form dissolved, he caught one last image—Mina standing with her dragon, smiling faintly even through tears.
The hydra stirred. "Emotional interference detected."
He chuckled. "Not interference. Motivation."
"Same result."
"Maybe." He looked up, watching the silver veins of energy stretch above him like stars. "But that's what keeps us human."
The Dungeon pulsed once, steady and alive.
Above, in a small apartment in Musutafu, a neon sign flickered to life over a newly painted door:
ARCITE TECHNOLOGIES
Building the Future.
And somewhere inside the glow, a heartbeat answered from the depths.
---
End of Chapter 23 – The Gift of Fire and Acid
Chapter 24 – The Dawn of Arcite
Morning light rolled over Musutafu, catching on glass towers and half-finished rooftops. For once, the city didn't feel heavy with danger or expectation. It felt… alive.
At the heart of that change stood a building wrapped in blue-white panels of new alloy—its sign glowing bright and simple: ARCITE TECHNOLOGIES.
---
Opening Day
Mitsuki stood near the entrance in her usual no-nonsense pose, a stack of launch forms in one hand and a half-burned cigarette in the other. "Can't believe I'm doing this," she muttered.
Beside her, Inko smiled, nerves fluttering just under her calm. "You say that every five minutes."
"Because every five minutes I remember we're running a company built on mystery metal my son's friend left behind."
Inko's smile softened. "He trusted us for a reason."
The automatic doors hissed open, and a cluster of reporters crowded around, firing off questions about Arcite's debut: the rumored "miracle ore," new gear designs, a partnership with U.A. Academy.
Mitsuki adjusted her glasses. "Arcite Tech is here to build the next generation of hero support equipment," she said crisply. "Efficient, adaptable, affordable. That's all you need to know."
Behind her, Deku and Mina stood shoulder-to-shoulder, wearing matching Arcite prototype bands on their wrists. The metal shimmered faintly with inner energy—alive in ways ordinary tech wasn't.
Deku murmured, "Feels strange… like it's listening."
Mina grinned. "Maybe it's got Sozo's attitude."
---
Training Grounds
Later that afternoon, away from the crowd, Mina and her Acid Dragon—who she'd named Caustica—trained in Arcite's underground field.
The dragon hovered midair, scales reflecting the green sheen of her acid quirk. Each roar left faint burns on the reinforced barrier, but the walls repaired themselves instantly—thanks to the regenerative alloys Sozo had once described.
"Alright, Caustica," Mina called, cracking her knuckles. "Time for combo number seven!"
The dragon responded with a low hum, body glowing. Mina gathered acid into her palms, launching twin spirals toward the creature. Caustica inhaled deeply—then exhaled, turning Mina's acid into a focused beam that sliced through a training dummy clean in half.
Deku whistled from the sidelines. "That's—kind of terrifying, actually."
"Thank you," Mina said proudly, wiping her forehead.
"Bet Sozo's smiling wherever he is," Deku added softly.
Mina's grin softened. "Yeah. He better be."
---
Graymatter's Return
Deku flexed his wristband. "Okay… my turn."
A flash of emerald light. His body shrank, eyes glowing yellow, and in seconds he stood as Graymatter—the tiny, hyper-intelligent alien from his borrowed transformation quirk.
He scurried up to one of the consoles. "If my calculations are correct—which, spoiler, they always are—then these materials respond to neural intent."
Mina blinked. "Meaning?"
"Meaning Sozo made smart metal. It adapts to whoever's using it." He tapped the surface, and the training platform reshaped itself beneath his feet, becoming a moving obstacle course.
He looked over his shoulder, grin small but proud. "He made a world that listens."
Mina stepped closer, smiling faintly. "And we're learning to speak its language."
---
Company Sparks
Meanwhile, Inko and Mitsuki were already fielding new contracts. Support item designers, U.A. investors, even pro-heroes wanted Arcite materials for their next-generation suits.
Inko scrolled through the incoming messages, brow furrowed. "We'll need a logistics division if this keeps up."
Mitsuki exhaled smoke toward the ceiling. "Guess we better find one. Kid's legacy doesn't wait around."
There was something almost reverent in the way she said it. Neither woman would admit it aloud, but they both felt it—whenever the ore was near, a faint pulse of warmth passed through their fingertips.
As if someone, somewhere, was quietly saying thank you.
---
Evening Air
That night, Mina stood on the Arcite rooftop, watching the city lights shimmer against the horizon. Caustica coiled beside her, warm and protective.
"You feel that too, huh?" she murmured. The dragon lifted its head, rumbling softly.
The wind shifted, carrying faint silver motes through the air—like sparks drifting from a forge. Mina smiled. "Show-off."
She closed her eyes, remembering his words. Call through the dragon if you ever need me.
"I don't need saving," she whispered. "Just… don't stop watching."
The dragon's chest glowed softly, mirroring her heartbeat.
---
Far Below
In the deep, the Dungeon core pulsed in rhythm with that same light.
Sozo sat in the center, half-lost in the lattice of energy, eyes closed but smiling faintly.
"They're building it," he murmured. "Good."
The hydra coiled beside him. "Your plan proceeds. Yet the outer layers shift. Anomalies detected."
"I know," he said quietly. "Something's coming. But at least now… they'll have the tools to fight it."
The hydra's heads lowered in silent agreement.
Above, the first true Arcite forge came to life, its blue glow spreading like sunrise.
---
Morning After
Mina and Deku arrived early the next day, new prototypes waiting on the table: compact gauntlets for Deku's transformations, armor plating tuned to Mina's acid and dragon sync.
Mina ran a hand over the alloy surface, humming. "Sozo would've loved this."
Deku nodded. "Then we'll make sure it's worthy of him."
They turned toward the open floor, where the first batch of young support students had gathered, eager and wide-eyed.
"Welcome to Arcite Technologies," Mina said, voice strong. "Let's build something that'll change the world."
The lights above brightened, casting long, clean shadows.
Deep below, Sozo felt the echo—his creations moving, his friends thriving. For the first time since his rebirth, he felt the simple, undeniable pulse of satisfaction.
Not from power.
From purpose.
---
End of Chapter 24 – The Dawn of Arcite
Chapter 25 – The Day the World Remembered Deku
Musutafu glowed brighter than it had in years. Arcite panels shimmered on rooftops, feeding light back into the skyline. Hero work had never looked cleaner—or more human.
And at the center of it all walked Izuku Midoriya—now seventeen, tall, confident, and wrapped in a quiet energy that made people stop and stare.
No cape. No symbol of peace on his chest. Just a modified Arcite suit and the soft hum of ten transformations sleeping under his skin.
---
The Alley
He'd been on his way home from school when the air snapped. A foul stench hit like a wall—sludge, hot and suffocating.
A scream echoed from a side street.
Deku turned. The villain was exactly as Sozo had once described—an oily creature with a sneer that shouldn't have existed.
"Perfect host material," it hissed, lunging.
Deku moved before thinking.
Emerald light flared around his wristband. "Upgrade."
His body dissolved into sleek, black alloy—organic metal crawling across his skin. When the sludge struck, it splattered harmlessly against his new surface.
"Not this time," Deku muttered.
He raised his hand, energy cycling. "Wildmutt."
A beast's growl split the air. His face shifted, eyes glowing orange, senses sharpening until every ripple of the villain's body was visible.
Then—"Heatblast."
Flames burst around him, the heat flash-boiling the edges of the slime. The villain screeched, pulling back.
Onlookers stopped dead in the street as Deku's silhouette cut through smoke and fire—half-tech, half-alien, all resolve.
---
From the Depths
Far beneath, Sozo's consciousness stirred within the core.
The hydra's eyes opened. "Surface energy spike detected. Familiar pattern."
Sozo smiled faintly. "Deku."
He closed his eyes, reaching upward through the Arcite network. Data, light, emotion—all of it flowed through him like memory.
He saw Deku standing firm. Heard his voice steady with years of training.
You did it, Sozo thought. You became everything you were supposed to be.
---
The Fight
Deku didn't hesitate.
"Diamondhead!" Crystalline armor grew over his limbs. The sludge villain's next attack shattered against him like glass.
"XLR8!" His form blurred, leaving afterimages as he zipped behind the creature.
"Rath!" Claws extended, his voice dropping into a guttural snarl. "Let me tell you something, you sentient trash heap! You picked the wrong city!"
He grabbed the monster by what passed for its face and slammed it into the pavement hard enough to rattle windows.
The crowd erupted.
Even All Might—watching from a nearby rooftop, frozen mid-transformation—could only stare. This wasn't the timid kid he'd once seen scribbling hero notes.
This was a hero already written into the city's bones.
---
Aftermath
Firefighters and police rushed in. Deku stood off to the side, armor retracting, breathing steady.
All Might finally approached, still in his muscular form but with none of the usual theatrics. "Young man," he began, "that was—remarkable. You handled it like a pro."
Deku smiled faintly. "Thank you, sir."
All Might hesitated. "You… don't have a mentor, do you?"
Deku shook his head. "I did. Just not the kind you'd expect."
All Might studied him, then nodded once. "Then whoever they are—they did well."
"Yeah," Deku said quietly. "He did."
---
The Echo of Pride
Back in the Dungeon, Sozo leaned against the glowing crystal wall, watching through faint screens of light.
Mina stood beside him—projected through her dragon's link, her hair brighter now, eyes proud. "Told you he'd be fine."
Sozo chuckled. "Fine? He's better than I ever was."
"Guess you finally rubbed off on someone," she teased.
"Guess so."
They stood in silence, the echo of Deku's battle still humming through the core.
---
Newsfeed
By nightfall, every hero site and channel in Japan was talking about it.
> 'Quirkless Hero' No More: Midoriya Izuku Defeats Sludge Villain Alone!
Arcite Gear Shines in Live Test.
Is This the Dawn of a New Era of Heroes?
Mitsuki tossed the paper onto her desk, smirking. "Kid's gonna crash the internet."
Inko smiled softly, eyes damp. "He already did."
---
Quiet Between Stars
That night, Deku stood on his balcony, Arcite wristband glowing faintly in the moonlight.
"Hey, Sozo," he whispered. "You watching?"
Deep below, a single pulse of silver light answered from the Dungeon's core.
Deku grinned. "Thought so."
He looked up at the sky. "We did it. Together."
Behind him, the city buzzed with renewed hope—people whispering about the boy who'd faced a villain without borrowed power, without destiny written by someone else.
Just courage. Training. And faith in a friend who refused to vanish completely.
---
Far Below
Sozo closed his eyes. The hydra stirred around him, calm for once.
"The world shifts again."
"Yeah," he said quietly. "This time, it's theirs."
Mina's projection lingered nearby, smiling faintly. "So what now?"
He looked up at the shimmering ceiling. "Now? We make sure they have something worth saving."
The core pulsed once, brighter than before—light running through the city's veins, connecting every Arcite panel, every fragment of his design.
Above, Deku's laughter echoed through the night.
And for the first time in a long while, Sozo felt completely at peace.
---
End of Chapter 25 – The Day the World Remembered Deku
Chapter 26 – Ten More Stars
The world above slept under a thin layer of fog, the hum of Musutafu fading into quiet electricity. But far below, where the city's heartbeat ran through veins of light and crystal, the Dungeon stirred.
Sozo felt it first—a faint ripple that carried a familiar spark.
"Deku," he murmured. "You're ready."
The hydra raised one of its heads, luminous eyes flickering. "Direct transfer is possible. Will you initiate summoning?"
Sozo smiled faintly. "Yeah. Let's bring him home."
---
The Descent
Izuku Midoriya was halfway through a rooftop patrol when the world bent. One second, he was checking the Arcite band on his wrist; the next, gravity folded sideways.
Emerald light spilled across his vision.
He blinked, and suddenly he stood in a vast cavern of mirrored stone, the air humming like the inside of a dream.
"Sozo…?"
A voice answered from everywhere at once. "Welcome back."
From the light, Sozo stepped forward, solid and human again—but his presence carried weight now, something ancient threaded through it.
Deku laughed, a little unsteady. "You really don't know how to make an entrance, do you?"
Sozo shrugged. "You were due for one of these meetings."
The hydra loomed quietly behind him, its many heads swaying in rhythm. Deku, surprisingly, didn't flinch. "I can feel it," he said softly. "This place is alive."
"It's our forge," Sozo replied. "And tonight, it's time to give you something new."
---
The Gift
He waved a hand. The air thickened, pulling in shards of light until ten floating symbols spun around them, each marked with alien glyphs glowing deep green and silver.
"These are echoes of what you already carry," Sozo said. "But refined. Built for balance between your body and Arcite's neural systems. Alien Force signatures, drawn from the same spectrum that formed your original ten."
Deku stared, wide-eyed. "So… these are more transformations?"
"Not just transformations," Sozo said quietly. "Extensions of what you've already learned. They'll take shape through experience—not command."
He motioned, and the glyphs flared brighter. Images formed in the air—humanoid silhouettes, beasts of energy and power:
Swampfire, flame and regeneration entwined.
Big Chill, shadow and frost.
Chromastone, pure energy and defense.
Brainstorm, a mind sharper than any blade.
Echo Echo, sound turned to weapon.
Humungousaur, raw strength in living stone.
Jetray, flight faster than lightning.
Goop, fluid and adaptable.
Lodestar, magnetism incarnate.
Rath, primal fury with focus.
Deku swallowed hard. "This is… too much."
Sozo shook his head. "No. It's exactly enough."
He stepped closer, placing a hand over Deku's Arcite band. "These aren't gifts—they're responsibilities. You've mastered control. Now, you learn resonance."
---
Resonance
The symbols broke apart, flooding into Deku's chest like light through water. His breath caught, his entire body trembling as energy danced under his skin.
"Feel it," Sozo said calmly. "Each one has a voice. Don't silence them—listen."
Deku closed his eyes. For a heartbeat, everything was chaos—fire and ice, wings and claws, ideas and instincts screaming at once. But then he found rhythm.
Swampfire's warmth steadied against Big Chill's calm. Humungousaur's mass grounded Jetray's speed.
And through it all, Sozo's presence anchored him.
When Deku opened his eyes again, green lightning ran through his veins. His voice came out steady. "I can hear them all. Like… like a choir."
Sozo smiled, faint and proud. "Then the symphony's complete."
---
The Question
Silence settled between them.
Deku finally said, "Why now?"
Sozo's gaze drifted toward the upper layers of the Dungeon, where faint shadows pulsed beyond the crystal. "Because something's stirring. The world above is changing too fast—heroes, villains, governments, they're all waking up to Arcite's reach. And some of them want control."
"So you're arming me for it."
"Not arming. Preparing."
He turned back, eyes catching the core's light. "You'll be the bridge between what we built and what's coming. A world of heroes who make their own destiny, not one dictated by quirks or bloodlines."
Deku nodded slowly, shoulders squaring. "Then I'll protect it. All of it."
---
Old Friends
A soft laugh echoed from deeper within the chamber. Mina stepped out of the mist, wearing a training suit laced with Arcite thread, Caustica the acid dragon coiled at her side.
"Told you he'd get that dramatic tone from you," she said.
Sozo smirked. "It's contagious."
Deku grinned. "Good to see you, Mina."
She elbowed him lightly. "Good to see you not dying in alleys anymore."
They stood together for a moment—three threads of the same story, different paths converging again.
---
Departure
When it was time to go, Sozo raised a hand over Deku's shoulder. "These forms will evolve as you do. You won't need me for that. Just stay true to who you are."
Deku nodded once, expression firm. "Always."
The hydra's eyes dimmed, releasing a beam of silver light that carried Deku upward through the core, back toward the surface.
As he faded, Sozo murmured to himself, "The next era begins."
Mina glanced at him. "You trust him?"
"More than anyone," Sozo said softly. "He's the proof that this world doesn't need gods—just people who refuse to give up."
---
Surface
Back in the open air, Deku landed lightly on a rooftop, the Arcite band thrumming with new energy. He looked out over Musutafu—the city glowing brighter than ever, the air alive with promise.
He raised a hand. The ten new glyphs glowed faintly along his arm, each one pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
"Thanks, Sozo," he whispered.
And somewhere deep below, through layers of steel, stone, and memory, a faint voice answered back:
"Always, Deku."
---
End of Chapter 26 – Ten More Stars
Chapter 27 – Echoes of Evolution
The city never slept anymore. Between the glow of Arcite panels and the hum of hero patrols, Musutafu had become a living engine—a heart that never stopped beating.
And tonight, that heartbeat belonged to Izuku Midoriya.
---
Field Test
The villain was fast—too fast for the human eye. A blur of metal limbs and stolen support tech tore through an industrial block, sending sparks in every direction.
Deku appeared mid-sprint, skimming across a rail of Arcite alloy like a comet. His Arcite band pulsed through ten green glyphs, then flicked toward a new one, blue-white and sharp-edged.
"Jetray."
Energy wings unfolded from his back. He dove. The rush of wind drowned out everything but instinct.
The villain's projectile grazed his shoulder—no blood, just the hiss of energy glancing off adaptive plating.
He spun midair, landing hard on the rooftop above. "You're using stolen gear," he called. "Give it up."
The villain laughed. "You think you own Arcite?"
Deku smiled faintly. "No. But I know who does."
He raised his hand. "Chromastone!"
Crystalline armor shimmered across his body, catching the villain's next plasma shot and refracting it into a thousand beams of harmless light.
The onlookers gasped. One whispered, "That's the Arcite hero…"
But Deku didn't hear them. He was already shifting again—fluid, instinctive. "Swampfire."
Green flame erupted from his hands, tangling the villain in regenerative vines that hardened into stone.
"Fight's over," he said simply.
---
Below the Surface
Far beneath that same city, the Dungeon core glowed a color Sozo had never seen before—green threaded with silver, pulsing to a rhythm that wasn't his.
He leaned against a crystal wall, frowning slightly. "That's him."
Mina stood beside him, hand resting on Caustica's scaled neck. "Feels like the whole place is vibrating."
"It's resonance," Sozo murmured. "His new forms aren't just transformations—they're connected directly to the core's lattice. When he fights, this place reacts."
The hydra shifted behind them, a ripple of concern in its many voices. "Output levels rising beyond projected safety margin. Recommend stabilizing link."
Sozo didn't move. "No. Let it run. I want to see what happens when he pushes it."
Mina gave him a sideways look. "You sure you're not turning into the 'mad scientist' archetype?"
He smirked. "Only on weekdays."
But as he said it, another pulse ran through the chamber—this one deeper, almost like a heartbeat.
The hydra's heads turned toward the far wall, where cracks of black light began to form.
Mina's expression shifted. "That doesn't look like a good kind of reaction."
"No," Sozo said quietly. "It's the other side waking up."
---
On the Streets
Back topside, Deku crouched over the captured villain, checking vitals. The police arrived minutes later, but he barely registered them. His Arcite band wouldn't stop humming.
He tapped it. "Sozo…?"
Static. Then, faintly: —hearing you—core unstable—
Deku straightened, eyes widening. "What?"
The band flared again, the symbols flickering erratically.
Then one spoke to him—Big Chill.
Without thinking, Deku activated it. His body faded into translucent frost, and the world around him slowed to silence.
He heard it then—a pulse deep underground, resonating with his heartbeat.
Something was calling him.
---
The Core Tremor
Sozo and Mina were already running diagnostics when the hydra's tone shifted. "Containment breach imminent."
Sozo's jaw tightened. "It's the mirror lattice—the part that reflects Deku's evolution. Every new form he uses strengthens both sides."
Mina's eyes darted to him. "And the other side's catching up?"
"Exactly."
The hydra growled, low and resonant. "Anomaly taking shape."
Across the far end of the chamber, energy coalesced—a humanoid figure forming from shadowed Arcite fragments, its body pulsing with reversed color schemes. Green light burned black.
Sozo's eyes narrowed. "A reflection… of him."
Mina took a step back. "You mean—?"
"Yeah." He reached for the crystal gauntlet on his arm. "Deku's resonance just birthed his equal."
---
Above Again
On the surface, Deku staggered as a jolt of energy ran through him.
Images flickered behind his eyes—shards of glass, a figure in the dark that moved like him, fought like him.
He gritted his teeth. "Sozo… what did we wake up?"
No answer, only the sound of thunder rolling beneath the ground.
---
Below—Rising Echo
The figure in the core finished taking shape. Its eyes opened—white, empty, endless.
It raised its hand, mimicking Sozo's motion perfectly. When it spoke, its voice was warped but calm.
"The equilibrium must hold."
Sozo's eyes widened. "It can speak?"
The hydra's voice thrummed. "Designation: ECHO. Counterbalance entity."
Mina's dragon hissed, acid steam curling through the air. "So… that thing's Deku's shadow?"
"Something like it," Sozo said. "Every system creates balance. The more power we give him, the stronger this becomes."
He looked up toward the ceiling, where faint cracks of daylight filtered through.
"Guess we just found the next test."
---
Resolution
Hours later, back in the city, Deku sat on the highest rooftop, Arcite band quiet again. He could still feel the pulse, faint and rhythmic, somewhere below.
He didn't know what waited for him there—but he trusted the connection.
"Sozo's got this," he said softly. Then, after a pause: "But so do I."
A small smile flickered across his face.
Below, the hydra watched as Sozo and Mina stood before the new entity. The Dungeon's pulse slowed, but the energy never fully stilled.
Sozo folded his arms, studying the reflection of power they'd created. "The world's changing faster than we thought," he said. "Guess it's time to evolve with it."
The hydra's eyes dimmed in agreement. "Balance maintained—for now."
And as the light faded through the Dungeon's veins, both worlds—the one above and the one below—settled into a fragile, shared heartbeat.
---
End of Chapter 27 – Echoes of Evolution
Chapter 28 – Sparks in the Core
The Dungeon was restless again. The walls pulsed with low light, veins of molten color running through the crystal like arteries beneath skin. Every tremor was a reminder: the balance they'd touched wasn't finished yet.
Sozo stood in the center of the training field—bare rock surrounded by floating orbs of Arcite light. The hydra's projection coiled behind him, silent.
"Alright," he said quietly, rolling his shoulders. "Let's see how far I've come."
---
Training the Beasts
His eyes flared gold.
The first form—the Drago Aspect—unfurled from him in waves of crimson. Wings edged with liquid fire snapped open, their heat warping the air. Sozo breathed once, then launched upward, a streak of orange against the cold glow.
Boom.
The impact cratered the stone when he landed. The hydra hummed approvingly. "Stability: seventy-nine percent. Energy drift within acceptable range."
"Good," Sozo muttered. "Next."
His muscles twisted; scales folded inward; blue lines crawled under his skin. The Tigrera Form—feline, sleek, all condensed force. He sprinted, claws sparking as he struck each floating Arcite orb in sequence, moving so fast his afterimages lagged behind.
Then came Hydra Form—ten spectral heads unfurling from his back, each one breathing a different element. The chamber filled with the scent of ozone and dust.
He stood breathing hard, body flickering between man and myth.
"Improvements noted," the hydra said. "Control increasing. But emotional interference still detected."
Sozo wiped sweat from his brow. "Yeah, I noticed."
---
Arrival
Footsteps echoed across the crystal floor.
Mina walked in wearing her combat gear, pink hair tied back, Caustica slithering close behind. The dragon's acid shimmered faintly, reflecting green against the crystals.
"You've been at it for six hours," she said. "Hydra's right. You're running hot."
Sozo didn't turn. "Trying to stay ahead of the feedback. The core's getting stronger every day."
She tilted her head. "You mean he is. Deku's the reason it's pulsing like this."
"Yeah. He's the anchor."
She walked closer, crossing her arms. "Then who anchors you?"
He laughed under his breath. "You're getting good at the mentor talk."
"Someone has to when you're busy pretending you don't need anyone."
Sozo finally looked at her. "I never said that."
"No," she said softly. "You just act like it."
---
Sparring and Stillness
She motioned to the field. "Show me the new control. No energy blasts—just movement."
He smirked. "You sure?"
Mina grinned. "Don't go easy on me, Arcite boy."
They moved.
It wasn't a fight so much as a dance—flashes of gold against streaks of pink, Caustica weaving around them like liquid light. Sozo's claws met Mina's acid armor with sharp, crackling sounds. Every step shook the floor, every dodge left steam in the air.
Finally, they stopped, panting in the still glow. The hydra dimmed its lights, lowering its gaze as if giving them privacy.
Mina leaned against a crystal column. "You always fight like you're trying to outrun something."
Sozo exhaled slowly. "Maybe I am."
"What?"
"Expectations. Fate. Myself."
She smiled—tired, gentle. "You already beat all of those once."
"Maybe. But beating isn't the same as living."
---
The Moment
Silence stretched between them, filled only by the slow pulse of the Dungeon's heart.
Mina stepped closer, her voice quiet now. "Then stop fighting the quiet. Just… be here."
He looked up, surprised at how calm she sounded. "You make that sound easy."
"It isn't."
She reached up, fingertips brushing the side of his jaw. "But it's real."
For once, he didn't overthink it. The words, the warnings, even the hum of the hydra—all fell away.
He leaned forward, and their lips met.
It wasn't cinematic, not even planned—just a moment of stillness in a world built on chaos. Her warmth cut through the chill of the chamber, grounding him more than any battle could.
When they finally parted, she smiled faintly. "Guess that's one way to stabilize your energy."
Sozo laughed, low and unguarded. "I'll have to test that hypothesis again."
"Later," she said, turning toward the exit. "The core's still shifting. We've got work to do."
He watched her go, the glow of her presence lingering longer than the light itself.
---
End Scene
The hydra lifted its head, eyes gleaming. "Emotional synchronization achieved. Core resonance stabilizing."
Sozo smirked. "Guess she was right."
"She often is."
He looked out toward the far wall, where the black cracks from before had faded to silver veins. The Dungeon's heartbeat was slower now—steady, almost peaceful.
He touched the glowing crystal near him. "Balance, huh?"
"For now," the hydra said.
He smiled faintly, still feeling the warmth of her lips. "Then let's make it last."
---
End of Chapter 28 – Sparks in the Core
Chapter 29 – The Quiet Before the Shift
Ten months.
Long enough for the echoes of chaos to fade into something like rhythm.
---
Arcite Age
Morning light spilled through the glass roof of the Midoriya–Bakugo Innovations Lab—the company Sozo had coaxed into existence from sketches and scraps. Now it stood at the center of Musutafu's skyline, a tower built on living crystal and tempered steel.
Inside, Arcite hummed in every machine. It powered prosthetics that moved smoother than muscle, reinforced hero gear that could absorb explosions without breaking stride. What had begun as a family venture had turned into a quiet revolution.
Sozo stood at one of the upper decks, watching the city through a panel of clear alloy. Mina joined him, coffee in hand, hair shorter now but her eyes still bright.
"Never thought I'd see Arcite in storefronts," she said.
"You never thought I'd sit still long enough to run a company either."
She smirked. "Still not convinced you are."
Below them, engineers tested the latest suits—sleek hybrids between armor and aura. Caustica slept in the sunlight pooling near the railing, her acid scales muted to a dull emerald sheen.
Sozo leaned against the glass. "Ten months of peace. Almost feels wrong."
Mina glanced at him. "You always think calm means danger."
He didn't answer—just looked toward the horizon where the Arcite towers caught the sun like prisms.
---
Training Ground Zero
Across town, the training district roared with energy.
Deku's team was in the middle of another endurance session. He floated above the course in his Jetray form, barking instructions to the younger heroes who had started calling him "Coach Izuku."
"Focus on synergy!" he yelled. "Doesn't matter how strong your quirk—or your tech—is if your rhythm's off!"
The students—half hero candidates, half Arcite trainees—moved in precise formation. Some used alien-style constructs, others carried modified gauntlets designed by Midoriya Innovations.
Deku landed, reverting to his normal form, smiling when one of the kids nailed a perfect combo.
"Good. You're starting to get it. Keep your will steady and Arcite follows."
He looked up, and for just a second he thought he saw a flicker of green-silver in the clouds. It disappeared as quickly as it came.
---
Ripples
By dusk, the reports started coming in.
Minor Arcite anomalies—crystals forming spontaneously in the air, lights flickering in patterns that no technician had programmed. One in Hosu. Three in Kamino. A dozen along the coast.
Sozo listened to the data feeds in the tower's lower lab. The hum beneath his feet wasn't steady anymore; it carried a syncopated rhythm, almost like breath.
Mina stood beside him, brow furrowed. "We shut down every rogue core last month. Nothing should be growing."
"It's not growth," he said. "It's recall."
"Recall of what?"
He turned the screen toward her. The waveform was unmistakable—fractured symmetry with a hollow center.
"Echo," Sozo murmured.
Her face hardened. "It's back."
He nodded once. "And it's learning. Those crystals? They're signals. It's trying to communicate."
---
Convergence
That night, Deku arrived at the tower, still in his training gear. The elevator opened straight into the observation deck where Sozo and Mina were waiting.
He didn't bother with greetings. "You've seen the anomalies?"
Sozo pointed at the projection hovering between them. It showed a map of Japan lit by faint green pulses. "They're spreading fast."
Deku frowned. "Could this be a resonance surge? Maybe my transformations are overloading the network."
"Not this time," Sozo said quietly. "You've kept a perfect balance for months. This pattern doesn't trace to you—it traces from you."
Deku's eyes widened. "You mean—"
"Echo found your signature."
The hydra's low growl rolled through the floor beneath them. "Core integrity stable. External interference confirmed. Recommendation: locate source before synchronization completes."
Mina crossed her arms. "And if synchronization completes?"
The hydra's many eyes flickered. "Then Echo won't need the core to exist."
Silence hung between them. The city outside was still bright, oblivious.
Deku exhaled slowly. "Guess our peace and quiet's over."
Sozo gave a faint, dry smile. "It was nice while it lasted."
---
The Warning
Midnight.
The lab lights dimmed without command. A single line of text appeared on every active Arcite panel:
> BALANCE DEMANDS RETURN.
The words pulsed once, then vanished.
The hydra hissed, coils tightening. "Signal origin indeterminate. Surface and subsurface frequencies aligned."
Sozo met Mina's eyes. "It's coming from both worlds."
She whispered, "Then it's not just a reflection anymore."
Deku's voice was steady. "So what's the play?"
Sozo turned toward the rising hum of the core beneath them. "Same as always. We adapt first."
---
Closing Note
In the silence that followed, the Dungeon far below opened one new chamber—its walls darker than before, its heartbeat echoing in two tones.
Somewhere within that sound, a second voice whispered back to the surface.
"You've built light on top of shadow… and now the shadow learns to walk."
The glow rippled upward through the veins of Arcite, threading the city in faint green light that no one could quite explain.
Above, Sozo looked out the window—jaw tight, eyes tired but calm. Mina's hand brushed his.
He didn't pull away.
"Ten months of peace," she murmured.
He nodded. "Enough to remember what we're fighting for."
Outside, Musutafu glittered. Inside, the hum of something vast returned to life.
---
End of Chapter 29 – The Quiet Before the Shift
Chapter 30 – Entrance of the Unseen Four
The morning sky over Musutafu was a sharp, clean blue—the kind that promised heat later and nerves sooner. The plaza outside U.A. High buzzed with hundreds of students, each one trying to look confident, each one hiding the same thrum of doubt.
Sozo, Deku, Mina, and Bakugo walked through the crowd together. Four old friends who had long outgrown the word normal.
---
Arrival
Deku adjusted his bag strap, glancing up at the massive "U.A." gate. "Still feels unreal," he murmured.
Bakugo snorted. "What's unreal is you two making me walk in like a kindergarten field trip."
Mina elbowed him lightly. "Admit it, you like the company."
"Tch."
Sozo smiled faintly, eyes scanning the building. "For all the hype, it's still just a school. A good one, but still a school."
Mina grinned. "Spoken like someone who's about to make it his lab."
He didn't deny it. "Maybe."
Deku laughed softly. "Let's just try not to blow anything up before the written exam."
"Can't make promises," Bakugo muttered.
---
The Written Test
U.A.'s main auditorium was quiet except for the scratching of pens. Rows of hopefuls hunched over test papers thick with logic puzzles and hero regulation codes.
Mina chewed her pen, lips moving as she did the mental math for a physics problem. "Sozo, what's the lift coefficient for—"
He didn't look up. "Point-seven-two. Focus."
She whispered, "Showoff."
Deku, a few seats away, was already finished with his first page, muttering faintly as his pen moved in a blur—his Brainstorm form still lingering in his neural patterns.
Bakugo, of course, wrote like he was attacking the page.
When the timer finally buzzed, Sozo stretched and glanced sideways. Mina's grin said she'd passed easily. Deku looked drained but steady. Bakugo had that quiet smirk that meant I destroyed it.
---
The Arena
Present Mic's voice thundered through the loudspeakers. "WELCOME TO THE PRACTICAL EXAM! You've got ten minutes to crush as many villain bots as you can! Go beyond—PLUS ULTRA!"
The gates opened.
For a heartbeat, everyone froze. Then Sozo cracked his knuckles. "Time to move."
The four of them stepped out together.
---
Opening Volley
Bakugo was first—rocketing forward in an explosion that lit up the street. "OUTTA MY WAY!"
His blasts tore through a trio of one-pointers instantly.
Mina followed, Caustica swirling out from her side in liquid motion, acid gleaming in controlled arcs that melted down enemy cores without collateral damage.
Deku called up Humungousaur, body expanding with earthy power. "I'll handle the heavy units!" he shouted.
Sozo simply walked. The air shimmered around him—translucent spectral limbs forming from his shoulders like dragon wings. They struck out faster than any bot's sensors could react.
Each attack was precise—non-lethal, efficient. His control had matured into elegance.
---
The Synergy
By the halfway mark, the crowd of examinees had stopped fighting and started watching.
Deku and Sozo moved like mirrored reflections—one anchored in raw adaptation, the other in crafted embodiment. Mina and Bakugo flanked them, her acid beams steering foes straight into Bakugo's detonations.
"Damn," Present Mic muttered from the observation room. "They're fighting like a pro team."
Nezu leaned forward, tail flicking thoughtfully. "Not fighting. Synchronizing. Fascinating."
Beside him, All Might—still thin, in his observer form—watched silently, eyes fixed on Sozo. The readings on the monitor beside him showed spikes of energy that didn't match any quirk pattern. Not mutation. Not emitter. Something deeper.
"That boy…" All Might murmured. "What is he channeling?"
Nezu smiled faintly. "Perhaps something not from this world at all."
---
The Zero Pointer
The ground shook. The crowd of students screamed as the Zero Pointer rose from the street—taller than the surrounding buildings, its shadow falling across the plaza.
Most examinees ran.
Deku, Mina, and Bakugo didn't. Sozo looked up and cracked a grin.
"Time for a finale."
He summoned two Hydra heads, spectral and massive, their forms coiling behind him. Mina's dragon hissed beside them, acid light blending into the hydra's glow.
Deku shifted to Humungousaur again, while Bakugo launched skyward, explosions lighting the air.
"Together!" Sozo shouted.
Bakugo detonated the air near the robot's face, Mina's acid streaks cut deep into its knees, and Sozo drove both Hydra heads into its chest. The final blow came from Deku, who slammed his massive fists down, shattering the machine in a cascade of sparks and crystal shards.
The arena fell silent.
---
Aftermath
Present Mic's jaw hung open. "They… they just quadra-coordinated a Zero Pointer."
Nezu's smile sharpened. "And without a single word of discord. Excellent teamwork."
All Might only whispered, "They don't need saving. Not one of them."
---
The Walk Out
As the dust settled, the four stood side by side, breathing hard, grinning like idiots.
Bakugo wiped sweat from his forehead. "Not bad, losers."
Mina laughed. "You mean not bad for you, right?"
Deku chuckled. "We'll call it a draw."
Sozo looked up at the broken sky where the Zero Pointer had fallen. "No… this was a message."
They turned to him.
He smiled faintly. "We're not just candidates. We're the future benchmark."
Mina nudged him. "You and your dramatic lines."
"Someone's gotta narrate," he said, earning a small laugh from all three.
As they walked out, the sensors in the rubble behind them still hummed faintly, tracing residual Arcite energy no one could identify.
---
Observation Room
Nezu adjusted his glasses. "So… shall we admit all four?"
All Might's grin slowly widened. "They've already admitted themselves."
---
End of Chapter 30 – Entrance of the Unseen Four
Chapter 32 – Training Ground Alpha: Sparks and Silver
The morning sun hit U.A. like a spotlight, and even the air felt restless. Class 1-A had barely settled when the door slid open and a wall of energy walked in.
"All right, young heroes!" All Might's voice shook the room. "It's time for your first real trial!"
The class erupted in a mix of cheers and nerves.
Aizawa didn't even lift his head from the corner. "Don't break them before lunch."
All Might laughed. "No promises!"
Sozo smirked under his breath. "Feels like home already."
---
The Suit Reveal
Moments later, the students filed into the mock-city arena. The wind carried the smell of metal and concrete dust.
"Your hero costumes!" All Might announced. "Created based on your quirks and requests!"
Sozo's outfit was sleek: black reinforced fabric lined with faint silver veins that pulsed like living light when he summoned his embodiments. Mina's suit gleamed with acid-resistant plates, her dragon-mark flaring faint green across her shoulders. Deku's gear looked practical but advanced—bits of alien tech threaded through his gloves. Bakugo's, of course, looked like a grenade waiting to happen.
Mina nudged Sozo. "You look like a walking storm."
He tilted his head. "And you look like the calm before it."
Bakugo groaned. "Save the flirting for after we win."
---
Team Assignments
All Might's voice cut through the chatter. "This will be a Hero vs. Villain Simulation! Two teams per match—heroes must capture the bomb; villains must defend it!"
He shuffled the pairs.
"Team A: Sozo Midoriya and Mina Ashido—Villains.
Team B: Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo—Heroes."
Bakugo grinned like a wolf. "Finally."
Deku rubbed his neck. "Great. This won't be awkward at all."
Mina sighed. "We're doomed."
Sozo just smiled. "Not if we play it smart."
---
Villain Prep
Inside the faux office building, Sozo and Mina stood over the replica "bomb." The room was dim except for the pale light of his Arcite screen.
"We can't overpower Deku," Sozo said. "He's got versatility. And Bakugo's explosive range will wreck the structure."
"So what's the plan?"
He traced a small diagram mid-air; silver glyphs floated above his palm. "We lure them upward. Force close quarters. You'll use the acid dragon to block exits."
Mina grinned. "And you?"
He closed his hand—the glyphs flashed. "I'll make them regret underestimating 'villains.'"
---
The Battle Begins
The door burst open with a deafening blast.
Bakugo stormed in, explosions lighting the stairwell. "FOUND YOU, EXTRAS!"
Deku followed, already flickering between his alien forms—XLR8's speed for entry, Diamondhead's armor for defense.
"Split!" Sozo ordered. Mina darted down the hall, dragon acid hissing against walls to shape barriers.
Bakugo roared after her, palms sparking. "You're mine, pinky!"
"Not today!" she shouted, vaulting over a fallen desk as her acid dragon lashed behind her, forcing him to back off.
Upstairs, Sozo met Deku head-on.
"Cousin versus cousin," Deku said, half-grinning.
Sozo's tone softened. "Show me what you've learned."
---
Sozo vs. Deku
Deku lunged first, switching from Fourarms to Chromastone mid-stride. The floor cracked under the hit.
Sozo's embodiment shimmered—ten spectral arms forming in a flash. He caught the strike and redirected it, the impact shaking the walls.
"You're still thinking in single lines," Sozo said. "Try fractals."
Deku grinned, breathing hard. "You love your big words."
"And you love ignoring them."
Their blows clashed—embodiment light against alien crystal, each hit echoing like thunder.
---
Mina vs. Bakugo
Downstairs, Mina had turned the office into a maze of acid and steam.
Bakugo skidded to a halt, coughing. "What the hell is this?!"
"Science project," she called, smirking from behind a half-melted pillar.
He launched another explosion, clearing the mist, but her dragon appeared through it—smaller than Sozo's hydra, but faster. It darted forward, hissing acid, forcing him to leap aside.
"You've been training," Bakugo admitted.
"Had a good teacher."
---
Turning Point
Back upstairs, Sozo and Deku both froze—the building groaning from Bakugo's explosions.
"Ten seconds before collapse," Sozo said, reading the data feed on his wrist.
"So what's the plan?" Deku asked.
Sozo smirked. "Improvise."
He activated partial man-beast form—crimson markings glowing along his arms. "Catch me if you can."
He vanished, reappearing behind Deku with a flash step, lightly tapping the bomb's trigger.
Alarm blared.
"Villain team wins!" All Might's voice boomed.
---
Aftermath
Outside, the teams gathered. Bakugo glared, Deku still panting, Mina laughing too hard to stand straight.
"Nice coordination," All Might said. "Midoriya cousins—excellent balance. Ashido, controlled acid output was impressive. Bakugo…"
Bakugo crossed his arms. "Don't. Say. It."
"Great spirit!"
Bakugo groaned.
Mina leaned on Sozo's shoulder. "Told you we weren't doomed."
Sozo smiled faintly. "You were right."
Deku came over, extending a hand. "Guess villains win this round."
Sozo took it. "Heroes will catch up soon enough."
Bakugo muttered, "Not if I blow you up first."
Mina grinned. "Then we'll just melt your shoes again."
Laughter broke the tension.
---
Later That Night
The dorms were quiet. Mina sat on the couch sketching her next costume upgrade. Sozo leaned against the window, watching the training grounds under moonlight.
"You didn't go all out," she said softly.
He shook his head. "Didn't need to. They're strong enough now to push themselves."
She looked at him for a moment. "And you?"
He smiled, eyes still on the horizon. "Still figuring out what 'hero' means for me."
She reached over, brushing his hand. "Start with not being alone."
He didn't pull away. "I can manage that."
Outside, the stadium lights dimmed one by one until the night swallowed the city whole.
---
End of Chapter 32 – Training Ground Alpha: Sparks and Silver
Chapter 33 – Days of Quiet Motion
U.A. settled into rhythm—classes, drills, noise, and the subtle ache of exhaustion that came with being young and expected to be great.
For Sozo, it was the first time in years the world didn't feel like a battlefield.
---
Morning Routine
He woke before dawn, as usual. Mina was already in the gym, pink hair pulled into a messy knot, sweat glinting on her forehead.
"You don't sleep," he said, stepping in.
"You don't either," she shot back, smiling through her reps. "Guess we're both bad at normal."
He chuckled quietly. "Normal's still overrated."
They trained in silence after that—his embodied aura flickering faintly around him, her acid dragon coiled behind her like a loyal shadow.
By the time the sun cut through the windows, their classmates were filing in, yawning and muttering about sore muscles.
Kirishima grinned. "Man, you two never stop! Total power couple."
Mina blushed; Sozo just gave a small shrug. "Discipline's free."
---
Classroom Drift
Aizawa droned through lesson plans about rescue protocol, eyes barely open. Deku scribbled notes at light speed. Bakugo argued with Kaminari over explosion radius equations.
Sozo sat back, half-listening, half-doodling circuit patterns in the margin of his notebook. Not for weapons—just ideas. Enhancements. Interfaces.
U.A.'s tech fascinated him. Their labs used alloys less efficient than his Arcite designs, but their system worked in beautiful simplicity.
After class, Hatsume Mei from the Support Course found him near the workshop door.
"You're the one who made that glowing armor!" she said, practically bouncing. "What's your power source? Energy cell? Bio-reactive plating?"
Sozo blinked. "Something like that."
"Can I see it?"
He smiled faintly. "Probably not."
"Ah, a trade secret! I respect that!" She zipped away before he could answer. Mina's voice echoed from down the hall, amused.
"Making new fans already?"
"Apparently."
---
Lunch Break
The cafeteria was alive with chatter. Deku and Uraraka were deep in conversation about hero studies, Iida scolding Kaminari for table manners, Bakugo threatening to blow up the condiments machine again.
Mina and Sozo sat by the window. She was humming softly between bites.
"You know," she said suddenly, "it's weird seeing everyone this… normal. Like, after everything we've done, this almost feels like pretending."
He looked at her. "It's not pretending if it's earned."
She grinned. "You sound like an old man sometimes."
"I've been called worse."
"Yeah, but you wear it well."
---
Afternoon Field Training
The afternoon drills were less about power, more about precision.
Aizawa watched from a distance as pairs practiced controlled rescue scenarios. Mina used her acid to carve a clean tunnel through simulated debris; Sozo's embodiments reshaped into cranes to lift support beams.
"You two make it look easy," Deku said, joining them afterward.
Sozo smiled. "You're not far behind."
Bakugo snorted. "He's being nice. You still overthink."
Mina smirked. "Like you don't."
"Shut it, acid girl."
"Love you too, boom boy."
Aizawa rubbed his temples. "I regret everything."
---
Evening at the Dorms
The common room buzzed with music and half-finished homework. Mina sprawled on the couch, sketchbook in hand, doodling costume upgrades. Sozo sat nearby, soldering a small crystal device—a stabilizer for her acid control.
She peeked over. "Is that for me?"
He didn't look up. "You melt things faster when you're emotional. This'll help keep it stable."
She smiled. "So you're saying I'm hot-headed?"
"Among other things."
Her laugh filled the space, warm and alive.
---
Quiet Moment
Later, long after lights-out, Sozo stood on the balcony again. The city stretched below, glittering like static in a calm sea.
Mina joined him silently, leaning on the railing.
"Do you ever think about what comes next?" she asked.
"Every day."
"And?"
He exhaled. "Right now… I think this is the first time I've been allowed to just be."
She nudged him lightly. "Then let's make it last."
For a moment, they didn't speak. The night hummed around them—distant laughter, soft wind, the rustle of leaves.
Somewhere far below, the faint pulse of Arcite energy shimmered quietly in the earth. Not danger—just memory.
For now, peace held.
---
End of Chapter 33 – Days of Quiet Motion
Chapter 35 – Scars and Sparks
The world came back in fragments.
White ceiling. Soft beeping. The faint smell of antiseptic.
Sozo blinked his eyes open and immediately regretted it—his whole body ached like he'd been run over by his own embodiments. He tried to move, only for a small hand to press his chest back down.
"Don't you dare," Mina murmured.
She was half-asleep in the chair beside him, pink curls messy, uniform jacket draped over her shoulders. Her tone was light, but her fingers trembled against his chest.
"Hey," Sozo rasped. "We win?"
Her eyes opened, relief breaking across her face. "You absolute moron—we survived. That's close enough."
Sozo smiled faintly. "I'll take it."
Across the room, Deku was arguing with Recovery Girl about his own release, while Bakugo loudly insisted he didn't need healing at all. The noise was oddly comforting.
---
Scars
By evening, the room was quiet again. Sozo sat upright, watching the city fade orange outside the window.
He flexed his fingers, studying the faint shimmer that still lived under his skin. The embodiment—his quirk that wasn't a quirk—had evolved again during the fight. The power pulsed heavier now, like a heartbeat slightly out of rhythm.
He'd touched a threshold he didn't quite understand.
"Thinking too loud," Mina said from the next bed, tossing him a wrapped candy.
"Comes with the head trauma," he replied, catching it.
She smiled, though her eyes lingered on his arm. "You scared me, y'know."
"You and everyone else," he said softly. "I'll try to tone down the near-death thing next time."
She rolled her eyes, but her voice was gentler. "Next time, just let us help sooner."
He nodded once. "Deal."
---
Return to Class
A few days later, 1-A gathered in the homeroom again. Aizawa's face was bandaged, his tone dry as ever.
"First," he said, "you're all alive. Barely. That's the good part. Second—don't get cocky. You faced villains, not victory."
A few students shifted uncomfortably.
He let the silence hang before continuing. "The Sports Festival is in two weeks."
Half the class blinked in disbelief. Uraraka gasped. "But, sir—after what happened, shouldn't we—"
"Recover?" Aizawa cut in. "This is recovery. The world's watching. So are the pros. You want to prove you belong here? Show them."
Bakugo's grin cracked through the tension. "Finally."
Sozo leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable. He caught Deku's eye across the room—both knew this wasn't just about medals. It was about control, identity, and what came after the U.S.J.
---
After Class
Later, they sat under the oak by the practice field. Mina leaned against the trunk, watching clouds drift past.
"So… Sports Festival," she said. "You going to hold back or scare the nation again?"
"Depends who's watching," Sozo said, half-smile tugging at his mouth.
She bumped his shoulder. "You know, you could try being mysterious after we win something."
He chuckled, quiet. "Fine. What about you?"
Mina stretched her arms overhead, sunlight catching in her hair. "I'm going to melt the arena and make it look good doing it."
"Sounds like you already won."
"Obviously."
They sat in silence for a while, the kind that didn't need filling.
Across the field, Deku and Bakugo were already sparring—Deku shifting between aliens faster than before, Bakugo roaring threats that sounded suspiciously like encouragement.
Sozo watched them, something steady settling behind his eyes. "They're getting strong."
"So are you," Mina said.
He didn't answer, but she caught the faint curve of his mouth.
---
Evening
When the day faded, Sozo walked alone through the dorm hall, stopping at the training room.
He opened the door—dim lights, quiet hum of energy. In the corner, his latest crystal creation pulsed faintly, linked to the dungeon-dimension he'd locked down since the attack.
He placed a hand on it. "You're staying sealed for now."
The crystal responded with a low hum, like a heartbeat syncing with his own.
He could still feel the ghost of that fight, the burn of power pressing too far.
There was strength there—enough to shatter mountains—but also something else. Something that whispered cost.
He exhaled, low. "One thing at a time."
---
Closing Scene
The next morning, the U.A. campus buzzed with banners and energy. Posters went up, students from every course preparing for the Sports Festival.
In the crowd, Sozo walked beside Mina, Deku, and Bakugo—each carrying their own weight, their own scars.
The world would see them soon enough.
And whatever came next, they'd walk into it together.
End of Chapter 35 – Scars and Sparks
Chapter 36 – Heat and Harmony
The training rooms at U.A. had been rebuilt, polished, and expanded since the U.S.J. attack. Even so, the air inside still smelled faintly of ozone and plaster dust—a reminder that no matter how much the school fixed, some scars stayed visible.
Sozo stood in the center of Training Room D, shirt off, breath steady. His back gleamed with faint marks of energy—lines etched into his skin where dragon heads used to bloom.
Across from him, Mina adjusted her gloves. Her acid dragon coiled beside her, tail twitching with contained restlessness. Its translucent form shimmered, reflecting her heartbeat.
"Ready?" she asked.
Sozo nodded once. "Partial release, thirty percent."
Silver light rippled over him, five spectral dragon heads flaring to life around his shoulders before fading to half-opacity—more aura than flesh.
Mina smiled. "You're getting better at not exploding."
"High praise," he said dryly.
They moved.
---
Balance
Mina darted forward first, acid splattering in careful arcs that forced Sozo to dodge rather than counter. Her dragon mirrored her movement, claws slicing through the air like molten glass.
Sozo pivoted, catching the tail of the dragon with one spectral arm, redirecting the momentum instead of breaking it. "Control, not collision," he muttered to himself.
"Talking to yourself again?" Mina teased.
"Feedback loop."
Their spar stretched out in bursts—fluid, sharp, and wordless. The kind of training that blurred into rhythm. When they finally broke apart, both were panting but grinning.
Mina leaned against the wall. "That thirty percent feels like sixty."
"Body's adapting," he said, rolling his shoulders. "Still not perfect. The energy lags behind instinct."
"You're overthinking again."
"Probably."
---
The Workshop
Elsewhere, in the support lab, Deku was buried under a mountain of tools and schematics. His Gray Matter form had condensed back to normal, leaving him surrounded by gadgets, half-built exosuits, and coffee cups.
Bakugo stood by the doorway, arms crossed. "You're seriously building alien gear? Don't you already turn into them?"
"It's for stabilization!" Deku said, gesturing wildly. "If I can anchor the transformation matrix, I can switch faster without losing stamina."
Bakugo smirked. "You sound like Four Arms with a migraine."
"Funny. You sound like the guy who still blows up his own gloves."
Bakugo's grin widened. "Keep talking, nerd."
Despite the bickering, both were helping each other. Bakugo tested pressure resistance while Deku measured recoil dampening. For two people who pretended to hate teamwork, they worked frighteningly well together.
---
Sparks and Growth
Later that afternoon, all four gathered at Ground Beta—U.A.'s urban training field.
Sozo was already there, tracing circles of silver light in the dirt, his energy forming stable rings instead of wild bursts.
"Still alive?" Bakugo asked, landing beside him with a puff of smoke.
"Barely."
"Good. Would've been a waste to train without my favorite punching bag."
Mina snorted. "You say that like you don't end up on your back half the time."
"Keep talking, Pinky."
Deku arrived last, lugging a small device. "Alright—field test time."
He pressed a button, and a holographic barrier shimmered around them—a dome that could take a full-power blast without crumbling.
"Perfect," Sozo said, raising an eyebrow. "Means we don't have to hold back."
"Exactly."
---
Trial by Fire
They split into pairs: Sozo vs. Bakugo, Mina vs. Deku.
Bakugo came in hot—literally—launching explosions that shook the dome. Sozo met him with controlled bursts of his embodiment, redirecting the concussive waves into harmless dispersal. The training wasn't about winning; it was about endurance, restraint, adaptation.
Every impact forced Sozo to refine his control. Every dodge made Bakugo sharper.
Nearby, Mina and Deku danced around each other in a blur of acid and alien light. Mina's dragon lunged, only for Deku to switch to Big Chill, phasing through the strike.
"You're faster than before!" Mina shouted.
"Gray Matter's been busy!" Deku yelled back.
They laughed between blows. For all the seriousness that followed them, moments like this—pure motion, no fear—felt rare and precious.
---
Nightfall
By sundown, the field was quiet except for soft breathing and the hum of residual energy.
The four of them sat in the grass, watching the last light fade over U.A.'s towers.
"So," Mina said, flicking a pebble at Sozo's boot. "Tomorrow's the big day."
"Technically, the start of it," Deku corrected.
Bakugo grinned. "Doesn't matter. I'm taking first."
Mina smirked. "Confident, huh?"
He shrugged. "Always."
Deku adjusted his wristband. "We all know what we're capable of now. Let's just make sure the world sees it too."
Sozo glanced at them all—Bakugo's restless grin, Deku's steady eyes, Mina's bright resolve. He felt something loosen inside him, the kind of quiet that only came before a storm.
"Then let's give them something worth watching," he said.
Mina leaned against his shoulder, her voice soft. "We always do."
---
Closing
As the night deepened, U.A. glowed in the distance—alive, humming, unaware of how much weight the next day carried.
Four silhouettes stood at the edge of the training field, their shadows stretching long across the grass.
The Sports Festival awaited.
And for the first time, Sozo didn't feel like an outsider pretending to belong.
He felt like a contender.
End of Chapter 36 – Heat and Harmony