MHA; Natsu Dragneel!

**Chapter 18: The Flames of Victory and the Shadows of Retreat**

The battlefield was a haunting tableau of destruction, the air thick with the acrid scent of smoke and ash. Moments ago, the arena had been a cacophony of chaos—roars of combat, the clash of powers, and the searing heat of Natsu's flames. Now, an eerie silence draped over the scene, broken only by the faint crackle of dying embers. The Nomu, once a monstrous titan designed to annihilate even the Symbol of Peace, lay motionless, its grotesque form reduced to a smoldering husk. Natsu Dragneel had done the unthinkable. He had felled the beast.

The students stood frozen, their minds struggling to reconcile the scene before them. Natsu stood at the epicenter of the devastation, his chest heaving, sweat glistening on his brow as he stared at the charred remains of his foe. His fists, still faintly glowing with residual heat, hung at his sides, trembling slightly from the exertion. The flames that had once roared around him now flickered weakly, mirroring his exhaustion.

Midoriya was the first to break the silence, his voice a fragile whisper that barely carried through the stillness. "He… he actually did it. He beat it…" His wide green eyes reflected a mix of awe and disbelief, his analytical mind already racing to process the sheer magnitude of what he had just witnessed.

Bakugo stood rigid, his usual explosive demeanor momentarily subdued. His crimson eyes burned with a mixture of frustration and reluctant admiration. "Tch… that damn pyro," he muttered under his breath, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. Yet, even he couldn't deny the flicker of respect that sparked within him. Natsu had done what none of them could.

Todoroki remained an island of calm amidst the chaos, his heterochromatic eyes fixed on Natsu. His expression was unreadable, but beneath the surface, his mind churned. The flames Natsu wielded were unlike anything he had ever seen—wild, untamed, and devastatingly powerful. They defied logic, burning with a ferocity that made his own fire quiver in comparison. "Natsu…" he murmured, the name heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Yaoyorozu and Iida stood a few paces back, their faces etched with a mixture of relief and astonishment. "I knew he was strong, but this…" Yaoyorozu began, her voice trailing off as she shook her head. "It's beyond anything I could have imagined."

Iida adjusted his glasses, his usual composure slightly shaken. "It's as though he becomes a completely different person when he fights. That power… it's almost terrifying."

Even Aizawa, battered and bloodied, managed a faint, approving smile from where he lay on the ground. His capture weapon hung limply around his neck, and his goggles were cracked, but his sharp eyes never left Natsu. "Kid… you're full of surprises," he muttered, his voice hoarse but tinged with pride.

But amidst the stunned silence and quiet admiration, one figure seethed with rage. Shigaraki Tomura stood at the edge of the battlefield, his disheveled blue hair framing a face twisted in fury. His fingers twitched, clawing at his neck in a frantic, almost manic rhythm. His red eyes burned with a mixture of disbelief and unbridled anger.

"This… this can't be real," Shigaraki hissed, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. "That Nomu was supposed to be unstoppable. It was supposed to kill All Might… and yet…" His gaze snapped back to Natsu, who was now staring directly at him, his fiery eyes blazing with determination. For the first time, Shigaraki felt a cold shiver of fear crawl up his spine. His perfect plan, his meticulously crafted chaos, had been shattered by this one boy.

"Is this really happening?" he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the crackling embers. His mind spiraled, doubt and frustration gnawing at him like a festering wound.

Natsu, however, had no intention of letting him escape. With a burst of speed that left the students gasping, he charged forward, his fists igniting once more with fiery intensity. "You're the one behind all this, aren't you?!" Natsu roared, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "You're not getting away!"

Shigaraki's eyes widened in terror as Natsu closed the distance between them in an instant. The air around them seemed to ignite, the heat of Natsu's flames pressing down like a suffocating blanket. Shigaraki raised his hands defensively, but it was futile. He could see it—the end. Natsu's fist, wreathed in flames, was coming straight for him.

But just as the blow was about to connect, a swirling vortex of black mist materialized in front of Shigaraki. Natsu's fist plunged into the void, the flames dissipating as if swallowed by an abyss. Kurogiri, the shadowy warp-gate villain, emerged from the darkness, his glowing golden eyes calm and calculating.

"Master, it's time to retreat," Kurogiri said, his voice smooth and unhurried. "This battle is lost."

Shigaraki, still trembling with rage, clenched his teeth. "No… no, this isn't over," he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "We'll finish this another time."

With that, the black mist enveloped both Shigaraki and Kurogiri, and in an instant, they were gone. The portal closed behind them, leaving only a faint wisp of smoke in their wake.

The remaining villains, now leaderless and panicked, began to scatter like rats. "He's gone! We're done for!" one of them shouted, his voice cracking with fear. "Get out of here!"

But their escape was short-lived. The front entrance of the USJ exploded in a deafening blast, debris flying in all directions as a towering figure emerged from the dust and smoke. All Might, the Symbol of Peace, stood tall, his muscular frame radiating power and authority. Behind him, the other UA teachers followed, their expressions grim and determined.

"All Might is here!" one of the students shouted, their voice filled with relief.

The villains froze, their escape routes cut off. They had no choice but to surrender as the teachers and police moved in to secure the area.

As the chaos began to subside, Natsu stood still, his gaze fixed on the spot where Shigaraki had disappeared. His hand tingled faintly, the memory of the black portal lingering like a phantom sensation. He flexed his fingers, his mind racing. "What kind of power was that?" he muttered to himself, his brow furrowed in thought.

But before he could dwell on it further, the students surrounded him, their faces alight with admiration and gratitude. Midoriya was the first to speak, his voice brimming with excitement. "Natsu, you were incredible! You saved us all!"

Yaoyorozu nodded, her expression softening. "We couldn't have made it without you."

Even Bakugo, though scowling, couldn't completely hide the grudging respect in his eyes. "Don't let it go to your head, flame-brain," he grumbled, though the faintest hint of a smirk tugged at his lips.

Natsu, still catching his breath, grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head. "Heh, it was nothing. I just did what I had to do."

Before he knew it, the students hoisted him onto their shoulders, cheering and celebrating his victory. Happy fluttered above them, his tiny wings beating rapidly as he grinned from ear to ear. "Aye, sir! That's Natsu for ya!"

As Natsu looked down at the smiling faces of his friends, a warm feeling spread through his chest. It wasn't just the flames of battle that fueled him—it was this. His comrades, his nakama. This was why he fought.

Meanwhile, All Might approached Aizawa, who was seated on the ground, his body wrapped in bandages and his face pale from blood loss. "Aizawa," All Might said, his voice filled with respect, "you held them off long enough for us to arrive. You've done well."

Aizawa managed a faint chuckle, his dark eyes drifting toward Natsu, who was still being carried by the students. "It wasn't me who saved the day," he muttered. "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, his blue eyes softening as he watched Natsu laugh with his classmates, his fiery spirit undiminished even in the aftermath of the battle. "Yes," All Might agreed, a proud smile spreading across his face. "He truly is remarkable."

As the police began to escort the captured villains away, the sky above began to clear, the dark clouds of the day's battle giving way to a serene blue. The USJ incident had come to an end.

Natsu, still smiling, looked up at the sky, his heart filled with a sense of peace. The flames within him burned brighter than ever, not just as a weapon, but as a symbol of the bonds he had forged. And he knew, no matter what challenges lay ahead, he would face them with the same fiery determination.

---

~ More Chapters;

Patr eon. com/Ayaka0