CHAPTER 11 — "Training with Darkness"
The sun rose over U.A., golden and calm—but Devon Jackson didn't feel it.
He sat in the empty training room, knees pulled to his chest, staring at the watch on his wrist.
It hummed faintly, almost impatiently.
Devon swallowed.
"Time to… do this," he muttered.
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✅ ALL THE SHOES, ALL THE FORMS
The watch clicked.
Red Jordans — Burst Speed: Devon zipped across the training hall, dodging invisible attacks with the ease of a seasoned hero-in-training.
Blue Jordans — Aqua Step: He sprinted across pools of water, leaping over walls, controlling ripples and waves to strike targets with precision.
Gold Jordans — Strength: Weighted punches, boulder-shattering kicks, heavy-impact bursts—the shoes made him feel like he could lift a small building.
One by one, Devon cycled through the shoes he'd unlocked, each pair granting him a unique Quirk-like ability. Every form felt alive. Every form whispered. Some pushed. Some encouraged. Some were calm… but the purple-and-black ones—the Shadow Jordans—waited. Silent. Watching. Patient.
Devon felt his pulse spike.
"Not yet," he whispered.
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✅ XAYDEN'S LESSONS
The dream from before returned—the Hall of Soles, Xayden's calm voice.
"Treat them like partners. Not weapons."
Devon pressed the watch harder. The purple-black Jordans formed on his feet.
The air in the room dropped a few degrees. Shadows curled around him.
A low whisper echoed inside his mind:
Fear is control. Control is power.
Devon clenched his fists.
"No. You're my partner. Not my master."
The shadow swirled around him—dark mist coiling like a living snake—but when Devon focused on steady breathing, on calm, on respect, the shadows listened. They weren't attacking. They were flowing… responding.
The shadow wolf appeared behind him, massive but obedient. Its eyes glowed violet, but it mirrored Devon's movements, not commanding him.
A grin broke across Devon's face.
"So… this is how it feels…"
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✅ A FULL WORKOUT
For hours, Devon trained:
Red Jordans: explosive bursts, dodges, parkour maneuvers.
Blue Jordans: precision movement, water control, balance mastery.
Gold Jordans: strength drills, weight resistance, enhanced combat simulation.
Purple-and-Black Jordans: shadows for stealth, restraint, fear management exercises.
With each pair, Devon learned to respect its limits, understand its voice, and integrate the powers without losing himself.
By the end, he was exhausted. Physically drained. Mentally taxed. Emotionally on edge.
But he had done it.
For the first time, Devon had the shadow power under control—enough to use it safely, at least for practice.
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✅ AIZAWA'S SURPRISE CHECK
A sharp snap of cloth. A shadow fell across the room.
"Jackson," Aizawa's voice cut through the air. "What are you doing in here?"
Devon froze. The shadows retreated.
"I… I was training, sir."
Aizawa's eyes narrowed, scanning the room and then Devon's feet.
"You're not supposed to be using that form unsupervised."
Devon winced. "I wasn't… I mean, I controlled it."
Aizawa's eyes softened slightly, but the tension remained. "Control isn't just about obedience. It's about understanding. I can see you've made progress… but do not underestimate it. Or it will break you. Or someone else."
Devon nodded, swallowing hard. "Yes, sir. Understood."
Aizawa turned, fading into the shadows, leaving Devon alone.
Devon looked down at the purple-black Jordans.
"You're my partner," he whispered.
"Not my weapon. Not my fear. My partner."
The shoes pulsed faintly—almost approvingly.
Devon smiled for the first time in days.
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✅ NEXT STEPS
Over the next weeks, Devon continued training:
✅ Mastering each Jordan form individually.
✅ Practicing switching between them seamlessly.
✅ Shadow Jordans for stealth, defense, and fear management.
✅ Integrating his powers with real hero scenarios in the training room.
He still hadn't tested the Shadow Form in a real fight—but soon, he would. And when he did, he would need every lesson, every previous owner's guidance, and every ounce of courage.
The shoes were alive.
The spirit was patient.
And Devon was ready to become more than a hero-in-training.