Chapter 17: The Forest Training Camp Attack

The forest training camp was supposed to be a sanctuary, a place for Class 1-A to grow stronger. Over the past few days, the students had endured gruelling exercises that pushed their quirks and bodies to their limits. Yet amidst the exhaustion, they had found moments of joy—shared meals, laughter, and a sense of camaraderie. For many, this was the calm before the storm.

Izuku Midoriya had spent the night before pondering his progress, the determination to prove himself burning bright. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the forest in shadow, an unshakable sense of unease settled over him. It felt as though the trees themselves were holding their breath.

The attack came swiftly, like a knife in the dark.

The first sign was an explosion of flames that lit up the night sky, followed by blood-curdling screams. Villains emerged from the shadows, their presence turning the once-serene forest into a battlefield.

"Stay together!" Aizawa's commanding voice cut through the chaos. His scarf lashed out, neutralizing two attackers in an instant. "Protect each other and retreat to the camp's center!"

Izuku's heart pounded as adrenaline surged through his veins. His eyes darted around, searching for his classmates. He spotted Ochaco and Tsuyu fending off a knife-wielding Toga, their movements frantic yet coordinated. Kirishima was locked in a fierce clash with Spinner, the metallic clang of his blade meeting Kirishima's hardened skin ringing out like a war drum.

But Izuku's focus snapped to a more pressing sight: Shoto Todoroki and Katsuki Bakugo standing back-to-back, surrounded by villains. Shoto's ice erupted from the ground, freezing an enemy in place, while Bakugo's explosions blasted another away. Yet for every villain they felled, two more took their place.

Izuku charged toward them, One For All surging through his legs. "Kacchan! Todoroki!" he shouted.

"Deku, stay back!" Bakugo barked, his palms sparking with fiery intensity. "I don't need your help!"

Shoto glanced over his shoulder, his expression calm but strained. "We're fine. Focus on protecting the others."

But even as he spoke, a shadow loomed behind them. A massive Nomu emerged from the trees, its grotesque form illuminated by the moonlight. Its claws tore through the ground as it roared, the sound reverberating in Izuku's chest.

The fight against the Nomu was brutal. Shoto's ice slowed its movements, and Bakugo's explosions chipped away at its defenses. But the Nomu was relentless, shrugging off their attacks with inhuman endurance.

Izuku joined the fray, his enhanced strength delivering a bone-crushing punch to the creature's torso. It stumbled but retaliated with a sweeping blow that sent him crashing into a tree. Stars danced in his vision as he struggled to rise.

"Midoriya, fall back!" Aizawa's voice reached him, but the urgency in his tone was drowned out by another arrival.

Nine stepped into the clearing, his presence commanding and menacing. His armor gleamed under the moonlight, and his cold eyes surveyed the scene with calculated precision. He raised a hand, and the weather around them shifted violently. Thunder rumbled as lightning crackled through the air, striking dangerously close to the students.

"You've fought well," Nine said, his voice devoid of emotion. "But this is where it ends."

The combined might of Izuku, Shoto, and Bakugo was no match for Nine's overwhelming power. His control over the storm rendered their movements sluggish and disoriented. Bakugo unleashed a massive explosion, the heat of it scorching the air, but Nine deflected it effortlessly with a barrier of wind.

Shoto's dual quirks clashed with Nine's storm, fire and ice battling against wind and lightning. Yet despite his best efforts, Shoto was subdued. A bolt of lightning struck near him, the force knocking him unconscious.

Izuku's fists glowed with the full power of One For All as he charged at Nine, desperation fueling his every move. But Nine was prepared. He caught Izuku's punch with ease, the impact creating a shockwave that sent debris flying.

"Your resilience is admirable," Nine said, almost mockingly, "but futile."

With a flick of his wrist, Nine sent Izuku hurtling backward, his body slamming into the ground. Pain radiated through Izuku's limbs as he tried to crawl forward, his vision blurring.

He watched helplessly as Nine lifted both Bakugo and Shoto, their unconscious forms dangling like broken marionettes.

"No…" Izuku whispered, tears streaming down his face. "Please… don't take them…"

Nine turned to leave, the storm parting to make way for his retreat. The Nomu followed close behind, its heavy footsteps echoing in the stillness that followed.

As darkness overtook him, Izuku's outstretched hand fell limply to the ground.

The aftermath was a somber haze. The forest training camp lay in ruins, and the students were left to pick up the pieces. Rescue teams arrived, their presence a small comfort amidst the devastation.

Izuku sat in the medical tent, his head bowed low. Guilt weighed heavily on his shoulders, his mind replaying the fight over and over. He had failed to protect his friends, and the thought was unbearable.

Aizawa approached him, his face lined with fatigue. "Midoriya, this isn't over. We'll find them."

But Izuku couldn't meet his teacher's eyes. His fists clenched tightly as a single thought consumed him: I wasn't strong enough.

The loss of Bakugo and Shoto hung over Class 1-A like a dark cloud. Their absence was a wound that refused to heal, a constant reminder of their vulnerability. But even in their grief, the students resolved to fight harder. They wouldn't rest until their friends were home.