Chapter 68: Sewage and Midnight

Just as Midoriya was hesitating over what to do next, he noticed something unsettling, villains who had been taken down by Aizawa-sensei earlier were now staggering back to their feet. Most of them seemed like brute types, with tough bodies that could withstand a beating.

These thugs, oblivious to the carnage around them, turned their bloodthirsty eyes toward Kaminari, Bakugo, and the rest of Class A. They let out wild cries and charged forward once more, undeterred by their earlier defeat.

What did Shigaraki and the League of Villains promise these guys to make them so… fanatically loyal? Midoriya wondered. He couldn't wrap his head around it. It was as though they'd been given something they were willing to die for.

The truth was, no one on the hero side knew. They couldn't possibly understand. Only those who were in the League understood what the "boss" had offered them.

"Purpose."

For those with Quirks who had been abandoned by society, those who felt invisible and discarded, the League provided a sense of purpose. For those who were born Quirkless, like Midoriya had once been, or who were frustrated with their seemingly weak Quirks, they offered an opportunity, a chance to gain power, a chance to evolve.

"Purpose" and "opportunity"—two words that were powerful motivators, especially when wielded by someone who had ruled the underworld for decades. They were more than enough to inspire fierce loyalty among the downtrodden, combined with the allure of his own powerful Quirk.

What should I do… what should I do?! Midoriya's mind raced as he glanced between All Might, who stood in the distance enveloped in faint wisps of steam, and Kaminari, who was still dazed from his short-circuited high-voltage attack.

Just then, Todoroki freed himself from Midoriya's support and gave Kaminari a complicated look, though his expression remained as stoic as ever.

"Good, then Kaminari's all yours," Midoriya said with relief, then sprinted toward All Might. Behind the towering ice wall, Bakugo and Kirishima held the line, with Tetsutetsu pinning down Kurogiri.

Suddenly, the loud crack of a gunshot rang out, drawing everyone's attention. More shots followed, each bullet finding its mark in the legs or arms of the villain minions, halting their advance.

"Finally… they're here!" All Might's tense expression softened in relief.

"I'm sorry we're late, everyone!!" came the voice of the Principal, perched atop Vlad's shoulder, with a group of other hero teachers fanning out behind him. "I called everyone who could respond immediately."

"Iida!" Uraraka's eyes widened with joy as she spotted her class rep standing at the edge of the group.

"Iida Tenya of Class 1-A, reporting for duty!" Iida's voice boomed, his enthusiasm clear as he saluted the Principal. His voice echoed across USJ, commanding everyone's attention and earning admiration from his classmates.

The booming announcement seemed to jolt Kaminari out of his short-circuited state. He blinked, quickly looking around and taking in the bewildered expressions of his classmates—especially Todoroki, who was watching him with an unreadable gaze.

Realizing what had happened, Kaminari felt his face heat up with embarrassment. He muttered to himself as he approached Todoroki. Then, leaning in close, he whispered in Todoroki's ear with a slight grin.

"If you breathe a word of this to anyone, I'll fry you."

Todoroki raised an eyebrow, unfazed, and stepped back. "Midoriya saw it too," he replied in his usual deadpan tone.

Kaminari's eye twitched. "Same goes for him! If either of you blabs, you're in for 'daily electrotherapy.'"

"Immature," Todoroki muttered, looking away as if Kaminari's threat wasn't even worth acknowledging.

With a sigh of resignation, Kaminari turned around, only to be met by another strange sight. A dark, foul-smelling sludge appeared out of thin air around Shigaraki and Kurogiri. The stench was so overpowering that Tetsutetsu, who had been holding Kurogiri down, instinctively let go and staggered back, covering his nose in disgust.

"What the…?"

Before anyone could react, the sludge fully enveloped Shigaraki, then vanished with a wet plop, leaving nothing but a lingering foul odor and damp stains on the ground. The same thing happened to Kurogiri on the other side of the ice wall, as he disappeared right in front of Cementoss, Bakugo, and the others.

"Well, that's just great," Kaminari muttered, scratching his head. "Seems like every villain these days has some kind of teleportation Quirk."

At that moment, a voice addressed him from nearby. "Did you cause all of this?"

Kaminari turned to see the sultry, whip-wielding hero Midnight watching him with an intense gaze. Her eyes were fixed on the scorched ground where Kaminari had unleashed his million-volt attack, a patch of earth that now lay blackened and lifeless.

"Uh… yeah, that was me," Kaminari replied, somewhat sheepishly. He glanced at the charred area, still littered with the remnants of his steel ball arsenal.

Midnight's gaze lingered on the destruction for a moment before her lips curved into a smirk. "Kaminari… you're stronger than I expected."

Kaminari shrugged, his usual bravado returning. "Well, I try."

Midnight's expression shifted, her tone turning serious. "But remember, strength is only valuable if it's used responsibly. Power like yours… if it's misused, it can lead to serious consequences."

"Understood." Kaminari nodded, appreciating her words of caution.

But then, to his surprise, Midnight's expression softened into a sly smile. "By the way… what's your phone number?"

"...Huh?"

*****

For every 500 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on patreon to read 30+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.