The storm arrived before dawn.
Izuku woke with a start, the pendant at his chest burning hot against his skin. His room was dark, but the forge's glow lit up the space with an eerie golden light, casting flickering shadows on the walls. He sat up, his heart racing as the hum of the forge grew louder, almost deafening. Something was wrong—terribly wrong.
He barely had time to process the feeling before the emergency alarm blared across the U.A. campus. Red lights flashed outside his window, and the distant sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hallways.
Instinct took over. Izuku grabbed his notebook and threw on his jacket, the pendant's warmth pulsing in time with the adrenaline coursing through him. He swung the door open and nearly collided with Iida, who was already fully dressed and charging down the hallway.
"Midoriya!" Iida said, his voice sharp but steady. "There's been a breach on the south side of campus. Principal Nezu has ordered all students to evacuate to the underground shelters immediately."
"A breach?" Izuku asked, his chest tightening. "What kind of breach?"
Iida adjusted his glasses, his expression grim. "It's unclear, but the teachers are already responding. We need to move—now!"
Izuku nodded, his mind racing. Whatever was happening, it couldn't be a coincidence. The forge's warning, the growing sense of unease—it had all led to this moment. And now, the storm was here.
---
As the students gathered in the central hall to be escorted to the shelters, Izuku's eyes darted around, searching for Mei and Momo. He spotted Momo first, standing near the edge of the crowd with her arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning the room. Relief flooded through him as he made his way toward her.
"Yaoyorozu-san!" he called, and she turned to face him, her expression softening slightly when she saw him.
"Midoriya-san," she said, her tone calm despite the chaos around them. "I was looking for you. Do you know what's going on?"
"I don't have all the details," he admitted, glancing over his shoulder at the flashing alarm lights. "But this can't be random. The forge—it's been warning me about something. And I think this might be it."
Momo frowned, her brows knitting together in concern. "If you're right, then this is bigger than just a breach. We need to be ready."
"Where's Hatsume-san?" Izuku asked quickly. "She's not here."
Momo shook her head. "I haven't seen her. She might still be in the workshop."
Izuku's stomach dropped. Mei was brilliant, but she wasn't a fighter. If the breach reached the workshop, she'd be in serious danger. He turned to Momo, his voice urgent. "I need to find her."
Momo's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't hesitate. "I'm coming with you."
"No, you should stay with the others," Izuku said, though his resolve wavered under the weight of her determined gaze.
"I'm not leaving you to face this alone," she said firmly, already moving toward the exit. "Let's go."
---
The hallways were eerily quiet as they made their way toward the workshop, the distant sound of alarms and muffled voices creating an ominous backdrop. Izuku's grip on the pendant tightened as they rounded a corner, his eyes scanning for any signs of danger.
When they reached the workshop, the door was slightly ajar, and a faint light spilled out into the hallway. Izuku's heart pounded as he pushed the door open, revealing Mei hunched over her workbench, completely absorbed in whatever she was building.
"Hatsume-san!" Izuku called, his voice startling her.
Mei looked up, her goggles reflecting the light from her lamps. "Midoriya! Yaoyorozu! What are you guys doing here? Shouldn't you be evacuating or something?"
"We came to find you," Momo said, stepping inside. "The campus is under attack. It's not safe here."
Mei blinked, as if the severity of the situation was just now sinking in. "Wait, what? Under attack? By who?"
"We don't know yet," Izuku said, his voice tight. "But we need to get out of here now."
Before Mei could respond, a loud crash echoed from somewhere nearby, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. The three of them froze, their eyes snapping to the door as the air seemed to grow colder.
Izuku moved instinctively, stepping in front of Momo and Mei as the pendant around his neck began to glow brighter. The forge's power surged within him, its hum growing louder as if it were preparing for something.
And then they saw it.
A figure appeared in the doorway, shrouded in darkness. Its form was humanoid, but there was something unnatural about the way it moved—fluid and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey. Its eyes glowed a sickly green, and the air around it seemed to ripple with an oppressive energy.
Izuku's breath caught in his throat. This wasn't just some random intruder. This was something *else*—something that should not have been here.
The figure stepped forward, its voice low and distorted. "Midoriya Izuku. The forge has chosen you."
Izuku clenched his fists, his body tense as the forge's energy coursed through him. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The figure tilted its head, its glowing eyes narrowing. "The forge's power is not yours to wield. You don't understand what you've awakened. But don't worry—I'm here to take it back."
Izuku took a step forward, his resolve hardening. "You're not taking anything."
The figure's lips curled into a twisted smile. "We'll see about that."
And then, without warning, it lunged.
---
To be continued.