**Chapter 20: Nomu!**
The Nomu hurtled across the battlefield, its massive frame crashing violently into the ground, tearing through stone and dirt. As it skidded to a halt, its claws dug deep into the earth, leaving jagged furrows in its wake, an indication of the sheer force behind the blow. Dust swirled in the air, but the beast remained motionless for a moment, still processing the impact.
Standing tall amidst the chaos, Natsu's hand still blazed with fiery energy. The lingering flames danced wildly around his clenched fist. He stared down the Nomu with a confident grin, recalling an old battle from long ago. "That thing," Natsu muttered, "reminds me of the gorilla we fought on the icy mountain… during my first mission with Lucy."
The battlefield was eerily quiet for a moment, save for the crackling of the flames and the heavy breathing of those around him. The sun hung low in the sky, casting an orange glow across the shattered landscape, and in that light, Natsu's pink hair shimmered like embers. His eyes, ablaze with determination, burned as fiercely as the flames around him.
Happy, his loyal companion, fluttered down gently, wings buzzing. He landed beside Natsu, a calm, almost amused expression on his face. "You know," Happy said, his voice soft yet playful, "I've always told you your strength doesn't exactly fit in here." He gestured toward Aizawa, who lay battered and bloodied, his arm hanging at an unnatural angle. The sight of their fallen mentor stirred a flicker of concern in Happy's eyes. "Just look at Aizawa-sensei. That monster nearly destroyed him. Maybe you shouldn't make this fight look too easy. Play it cool, or they might figure out just how strong you are."
For a moment, Natsu didn't respond, his gaze locked on Aizawa's beaten form. His fists clenched tighter, causing the flames to flare more intensely, casting long shadows across his face. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, but laced with anger. "How am I supposed to hold back after what they did to Aizawa-sensei?" he said, barely controlling the fury building up inside him. "I'll crush that thing into the ground."
As Natsu's fiery resolve took hold, a raspy voice cut through the tension. Shigaraki, with his chaotic blue hair and crazed eyes, stepped forward from the shadows, his hand twitching ominously at his side. He observed the pink-haired intruder with a mixture of curiosity and malice. "You," Shigaraki began, his tone dripping with disdain, "who do you think you are? Throwing the Nomu with a single punch?"
Natsu's eyes shifted toward the villain, sizing him up with a smirk. The air around him seemed to thrum with heat, distorting the space slightly as his magic swirled. "That thing—Nomu, you called it? Smells like death. Like it's already halfway to the grave."
Shigaraki's expression darkened. A twisted smile crept across his face as he pointed a decaying finger toward Natsu. "You've got a keen nose, I'll give you that," Shigaraki hissed. "But that's exactly why you need to die. Nomu, kill him."
The order was given, and the Nomu charged like an unstoppable force, its towering form thundering across the battlefield. The ground cracked beneath its feet with each monstrous step as it closed in on Natsu, its claws raised for a devastating strike. But Natsu was quicker—just before the blow could land, he leaped into the air, flames roaring around him.
The Nomu's attack collided with the earth, sending chunks of rock flying as a deep crater formed beneath its fist. Hovering mid-air, his hair billowing wildly in the heat, Natsu grinned. "Heh, not bad," he remarked, a spark of excitement lighting up his eyes. "But can you do more than follow orders? Or are you just a mindless puppet?"
For a fleeting moment, Natsu waited, as though expecting an answer. But the Nomu, without a shred of hesitation, leaped again on Shigaraki's command, hurling itself straight at Natsu with terrifying speed. The force of the attack sent a shockwave through the air as it closed the gap. Natsu barely had time to react, crossing his arms in defense, bracing himself.
**BOOM!**
The impact was ferocious. The Nomu's fist connected with Natsu's guard, and the sheer power of it sent him crashing back to the ground with a thunderous thud. Dust and debris exploded into the air, shrouding the scene in a thick cloud. For a moment, there was silence—everyone watched, waiting for the dust to settle.
From a distance, a few of the other students, including Momo Yaoyorozu and Tenya Iida, ran toward the battlefield, their faces filled with concern. Midoriya, clutching the injured fingers of his left arm, also stared ahead, his heart pounding as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. Even Shoto Todoroki had paused his own fight, his heterochromatic eyes narrowing at the sight of the colossal impact.
The dust finally began to clear, revealing Natsu's form. He stood, his body covered in minor bruises, but his expression had shifted. The playful grin was gone, replaced by a look of unyielding resolve. His fists tightened, and around his eyes, small cracks like scales appeared—an eerie reminder of the Dragon Slayer within.
Natsu spoke, his voice calm yet deadly serious. "You can't talk. You can't think for yourself. You're nothing but a tool following orders." His fiery gaze fixed on the Nomu as flames began to swirl around him once more. "Once I'm done with you, I'll find the one who did this to you. And I'll make them pay."
The tension in the air grew heavier, the clash between the fiery Dragon Slayer and the monstrous Nomu far from over. Shigaraki's smile twisted into something darker as he watched, realizing that the real battle had only just begun.
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