✅ CHAPTER 8 — "When Fear Wears the Crown"
The air inside the USJ shook.
Distant crashes. Screams. Walls collapsing.
Devon, Midoriya, Tsuyu, Tokoyami, and Mineta sprinted across the Flood Zone's edge, heading toward the central plaza—where Aizawa was still fighting alone.
Midoriya's voice cracked:
"A-All Might isn't here… there's no one else…"
Devon didn't answer.
He couldn't.
His chest felt tight—like the air itself was warning him.
The Shadow shoes weren't whispering anymore.
They were watching.
---
✅ THE BATTLEFIELD
They reached the plaza—and froze.
Aizawa was down. Face slammed into the floor. Goggles cracked. His elbow twisted wrong.
Shigaraki crouched over him, fingers twitching with excitement.
"If I just touch him with all five fingers… he crumbles."
Midoriya gasped.
"He's—he's going to kill him!"
Bakugo and Todoroki appeared from opposite sides—wounded, out of breath—but too far to intervene.
Devon stepped forward.
He didn't think.
He moved.
His Blue Jordans skidded across the ground— water rippling beneath each step.
"HEY!"
Shigaraki turned.
That hand-covered face tilted, curious.
"Oh? You're the shoe kid."
Devon's stomach flipped.
"What do you want with us?"
Shigaraki's voice came out soft, almost playful.
"To break All Might."
His head twitched.
"And to break anyone who believes in him."
Devon's pulse thundered.
Aizawa wasn't just hurt.
He was dying.
---
✅ THE NOMU UNLEASHED
Shigaraki's finger hovered over Aizawa's cheek.
"Nomu."
The monster stepped forward.
Massive. Veins bulging. Eyes empty.
Shigaraki pointed at Devon.
"Kill him."
The Nomu vanished—
FWOOOOOM—
Reappeared right in front of Devon.
Midoriya screamed:
"HE'S FAST—!!"
---
✅ IMPACT
The Nomu swung.
Devon barely crossed his arms before—
CRASH!
He was sent flying—slamming through a chunk of concrete, skidding across the floor.
His Blue Jordans flickered.
The watch sparked.
Devon coughed, vision shaking.
That punch wasn't strength.
It was despair in muscle form.
Tsuyu cried out, "We—We can't fight something like that!"
Tokoyami tensed.
"It feels… unstoppable."
Shigaraki laughed.
"It was made to kill All Might."
Devon froze.
Made… to kill All Might?
Then what chance did he—
His hands started shaking.
His breath sped up.
His heart dropped into ice.
Fear.
Pure. Unfiltered. Paralyzing.
---
✅ THE BREAKING POINT
The Nomu charged again.
No thinking. No mercy. Just death on legs.
Midoriya sprinted toward Aizawa—
"I HAVE TO SAVE HIM!"
Devon saw it.
The Nomu turning. Raising its arm. Aimed straight for Midoriya.
Time snapped.
Devon screamed—
"DEKU, MOVE!"
But Midoriya couldn't.
He was too slow.
Too far.
Too human.
And Devon—
Devon wasn't fast enough.
Not like this.
Not in blue.
Not today.
His hand flew to the watch on instinct—
Not choice.
Not strategy.
Fear.
CLICK.
---
✅ SHADOW AWAKENS
Purple-black electricity EXPLODED around Devon.
The floor cracked. Lights shattered. A cold wind surged outward—
Shoes materialized on his feet:
Purple.
Black.
Alive.
The air went silent.
Like the world was holding its breath.
Devon's eyes glowed violet.
The Shadow Form had chosen.
Not because he was ready.
But because he was terrified.
Shigaraki's voice trembled—
"Wha… what is that?"
---
✅ THE SPIRIT MOVES
The Nomu swung—
But Devon wasn't there.
He blurred—
Not like speed— Not like teleportation—
More like he melted into darkness.
Then reappeared behind the Nomu as a towering wolf-shaped shadow rose behind him—eyes burning violet.
Midoriya gasped.
"T-that's not a quirk… that's—"
A voice layered over Devon's:
"FEAR IS NOT YOUR MASTER."
The Shadow Spirit loomed— Fusing with Devon's silhouette— Doubling his presence— Amplifying his aura.
Devon raised his hand.
His voice echoed, deeper, colder:
"Step away from my class."
The shadows beneath the Nomu erupted—
BOOOOM—
Slamming it sideways, pinning it to the ground with chains made of darkness.
Bakugo staggered back.
"WHAT THE HELL—?!"
Even Shigaraki froze.
For the first time—
He looked afraid.
---
✅ TOO MUCH POWER
The shadows climbed higher— Tighter— Stronger—
The Nomu's muscles strained—but it couldn't move.
Devon stepped closer— Each footstep dimming the lights.
The spirit whispered in his mind:
"CRUSH. END. ERASE."
Devon's breath shook.
The power wanted destruction.
Wanted dominance.
Wanted control.
His vision flickered.
Shigaraki backed away.
"This kid… he's dangerous."
Devon's hand lifted—
Shadows tightened—
Midoriya screamed:
"DEVON, STOP! YOU'RE HURTING YOURSELF!"
---
✅ THE CHOICE
Devon froze.
His reflection shimmered in the darkness—
Eyes glowing. Face twisted. Not a hero.
A monster.
Xayden's voice echoed from memory:
"If you use Shadow for rage… it will use YOU."
Devon's trembling hand clenched.
He forced air into his lungs.
Whispered—
"We're partners."
Not monsters.
Not weapons.
Partners.
The shadows loosened— The spirit dimmed— The Nomu broke free—
Just as—
THE DOORS BLEW OPEN.
---
✅ HE ARRIVES
Wind blasted through the USJ.
A voice roared:
"I AM HERE!"
All Might exploded into the arena— Eyes blazing— Fists clenched—
Ready to face the Nomu.
And Devon collapsed to one knee— Shadow shoes fading— Power draining—
Heart pounding like a war drum.