Nyxia sat quietly beside Eri, his massive frame hunched in a protective curve, casting a gentle shadow over the small, sleeping girl. The crackling remains of the campfire gave off a soft, amber glow that danced across their features, the light flickering against the gentle sway of the forest trees around them. Most of Class 1-A had gone off to the hot springs after dinner, laughter and splashes echoing faintly in the distance, but Nyxia had stayed behind he always did when it came to Eri.
His tentacles, normally a terrifying tangle of shadow and motion in battle, now moved with deliberate tenderness. One coiled softly around Eri like a blanket, another gently brushed against her snow-white hair, caressing her scalp with slow, careful strokes almost like a lullaby made of movement. Her breathing was steady, her tiny hands curled up by her face as she lay curled on the blanket, tucked safely within the warm embrace of his presence.
He watched her for a long while, his golden eyes flickering like dim lanterns in the quiet, contemplative stillness. There was a kind of peace in this moment that he rarely allowed himself to feel. Eri had finished her meal earlier, sitting quietly at his side, occasionally giggling at the shapes he made with his tendrils or the small glowing eyes he detached and made dance like fireflies for her amusement. She had laughed a soft, genuine sound that Nyxia cherished more than anything.
Now she slept, and he remained, his monstrous form oddly serene. He adjusted his body slightly so the warmth of his chest radiated toward her, a living shield against the night's chill. The other students trusted him with this. Even Aizawa had simply nodded in his direction earlier, a silent confirmation that Nyxia would keep her safe until morning.
He didn't mind the solitude. In fact, he preferred it. It gave him time to think. Time to feel. Time to be more than the creature everyone whispered about. With Eri beside him, sleeping peacefully under the stars, he wasn't a monster. He wasn't a weapon. He was just… a guardian.
Slowly, Nyxia rose from his seated position, careful not to disturb Eri's peaceful sleep. The soft rustling of his tendrils blended with the whispering breeze as he stepped away from the camp, his eyes lingering for a moment on the small girl curled beneath a blanket of stars. He moved deeper into the forest, into a secluded stretch of woods that felt vaguely familiar perhaps a whisper of memory from watching My Hero Academia with Vidarath. If those recollections were accurate, then something terrible was coming.
Nyxia didn't hesitate.
The moment he was out of sight, his monstrous form began to shift. His tentacles slithered free from his back and shoulders, detaching themselves with a wet, pulsing sound before twitching to life on their own. He planted them at strategic intervals throughout the undergrowth, where they burrowed beneath moss and soil twisting, anchoring, and transforming. In seconds, they reshaped themselves into grotesque organic devices: bio-bombs, pressure-triggered mines, and spore-like tripwires humming with latent energy. Each one pulsed faintly with Nyxia's essence, synchronized to his awareness.
Then came the eyes.
He plucked several from his body slick, golden orbs that blinked in his palms, each one a watching sentinel. With practiced motion, he flung them into the trees, where they latched onto bark and branches, adjusting their vision to cover wide arcs of the surrounding terrain. They blinked, hissed softly, then fell silent watchers in the dark.
Every movement was methodical. Efficient. Calculated.
Because if danger was coming if this forest was to become a battlefield then Nyxia would not be caught unprepared. Not with Eri nearby. Not with his classmates resting just beyond the trees. Let them laugh and relax at the hot springs. Let them believe it was just another training camp.
Morning light filtered softly through the thin fabric of the tent, casting warm patterns on the ground where Eri lay curled up. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, and she blinked a few times, still caught between dreams and waking. But as she sat up and looked around, a sudden unease washed over her Nyxia was nowhere to be seen.
Her small heart tightened in her chest. Had he gone? Had he left her alone? The fear that he might have abandoned her surged up, sharp and sudden, and without hesitation, she scrambled out of the tent, her bare feet brushing against the cool grass.
She ran, her little legs carrying her toward the faint smell of cooking drifting through the morning air. There, in a small clearing bathed in sunlight, she saw him Nyxia.
He sat quietly, surrounded by the gentle rustling of the forest, his many tentacles moving with surprising grace and care as they prepared breakfast. He expertly flipped ingredients over a low fire, each motion smooth and deliberate. The sight of him, so calm and focused, eased some of the fear in her chest, but not all.
Without thinking, Eri dashed toward him and threw her arms around his thick, scaly neck. Her tiny fingers gripped tightly as if anchoring herself to something solid, something she could trust. "Don't leave me," she whispered, voice trembling with the weight of her worry.
Nyxia's golden eyes softened as he gently wrapped a tentacle around her, pulling her closer. The warmth of his embrace, so steady and protective, reassured her in a way words never could. "I'm here," he rumbled quietly, a low comfort. "I won't leave you."
As the forest awoke with birdsong and golden rays stretched across the clearing, Nyxia continued his work, his movements precise and practiced. Despite his monstrous form hulking limbs, shifting tendrils, and a silhouette most would call terrifying there was a serenity to him this morning. His tentacles moved with rhythm and care, chopping, stirring, flipping, and plating with surprising elegance. The sizzling of food over the fire blended with the soft rustling of leaves above.
Eri sat nearby on a blanket, legs crossed, munching on a warm rice ball as she watched him with admiration in her eyes. Though she had cried just moments before, now her face was bright with comfort. She didn't need him to speak. His actions were louder than any words. He was there. That was enough.
Then, in the distance, came the sleepy murmurs of Class 1-A.
Yawns echoed from the tents, followed by the unmistakable sounds of stretching limbs, shuffled footsteps, and one by one, the students began to emerge half-awake, hair tousled, blinking in the morning sun. And then it hit them the smell.
Sweet soy glaze, grilled vegetables, perfectly cooked rice, fresh eggs spiced and wrapped in leaves. The aroma lingered in the air like a delicious spell.
"Whoa… what is that smell?" Kaminari sniffed the air, his stomach growling.
"Someone's cooking!" exclaimed Mina, her eyes lighting up.
"I-Is that breakfast?" Sero muttered, still rubbing sleep from his eyes.
They followed the scent like moths to flame until they reached the clearing.
And there he was.
Nyxia, towering and still, his form a mass of shifting tendrils and alien anatomy, sat beside the fire. He looked up slowly as they arrived, golden eyes blinking in a quiet, unreadable expression. No words left his jagged maw. He couldn't speak like this. But he didn't need to.
One of his tentacles reached over, gently lifting a wooden crate lid. Inside were neatly stacked plates and bowls. Another tendril grabbed a large leaf, folded into a container, filled it with steaming food, and passed it forward.
Silently, methodically, Nyxia began preparing additional portions one for each classmate.
"...He made us breakfast?" Kirishima blinked.
Bakugo crossed her arms, eyes narrowing. "Tch. At least he knows how to cook."
Uraraka stepped forward cautiously, accepting a plate from one of Nyxia's tentacles with a warm smile. "Thank you," she said sincerely.
Nyxia simply blinked in response, then handed another to Todoroki, then one to Iida, then the next. Each movement was calm, unhurried, deliberate never once making a show of it, never asking for praise. He didn't speak, but every action told a story of quiet care.
As the class settled around the fire, eating together beneath the dappled sunlight, it was easy to forget the fear his form could inspire.
Just as the mood had begun to settle warm food in their hands, laughter beginning to bubble between bites, and even Bakugo grumbling with slightly less hostility peace had wrapped itself around the clearing like a blanket.
Nyxia sat at the edge, tentacles coiled loosely as he kept an eye on Eri, who giggled softly while nibbling her second rice ball. For a rare moment, all felt calm.
Then, without warning, a voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Don't get too comfortable. You're not here on vacation."
The entire class froze mid-bite.
"Sensei?!" several voices yelped in unison as they turned toward the source.
There, standing just a few steps away from the edge of the clearing, was Aizawa Shouta, clad in his usual capture gear, hair slightly messy though it was hard to tell whether that was from sleep or just his permanent state. No one had seen or heard him approach, not even Nyxia's sensory eyes hidden in the trees.
"I gave you all the morning to rest," he continued in his dry monotone, stepping closer with the weight of inevitability. "That time is up. Training begins in twenty minutes."
Collective groans echoed across the clearing.
"But Sensei, we just started eating!" Mina whined, cheeks still stuffed.
"Then eat faster," he replied without missing a beat.
"Are we even going to digest properly?" Kaminari muttered.
"I'll have Recovery Girl on standby," Aizawa said flatly. "Now move."
Nyxia didn't react much, but one of his eyes rolled slightly in its socket as if sighing on his behalf.
Eri, sensing the shift in mood, tugged gently at one of Nyxia's tendrils. "Will you be okay?" she whispered.
He answered not with words, but with a soft coil around her wrist a silent promise.
Then he stood, his monstrous form rising to full height, a few tentacles retreating back into his body as others reformed into spined limbs ready for mobility and combat. Plates were gently pushed into a basket, leftovers sealed and covered.
A new day had begun and training, trials were already peeling away the peace, and the ever-looming unknown.
Katsumi Bakugo: Repeatedly soaked her hands in hot water to expand her sweat glands, aiming to increase the potency and consistency of her explosions. The heat helped stimulate her body's natural ability to generate more explosive sweat, pushing her Quirk to new limits.
Shoto Todoroki: Alternated between freezing and heating water to regulate his body temperature, working to sharpen his control over both ice and fire. This training helped him maintain balance in using his dual-element Quirk without fatigue or loss of precision.
Izuka Midoriya: Concentrated on boosting her physical endurance and stamina, striving to better handle the immense power of One For All. By reinforcing her body's limits, she aimed to reduce the risk of injury during intense combat.
Mina Ashido: Practiced fine-tuning her acid production, learning to regulate the amount and strength of her secretion. This helped her avoid self-harm and use her corrosive abilities more strategically in battle.
Denki Kaminari: Focused on controlling his electric discharges with greater precision to prevent accidental short circuits. His goal was to improve accuracy and conserve energy during prolonged fights.
Rikido Sato: Trained to manage his Sugar Rush Quirk by balancing bursts of enhanced strength with the inevitable crash afterward. Learning this control allowed him to optimize his power spikes without risking exhaustion.
Momo Yaoyorozu: Worked on accelerating her creation speed and enhancing the versatility of her objects. She aimed to maximize her efficiency in various combat and support scenarios.
Hanta Sero: Improved the precision and range of his tape, practicing advanced maneuvers to use it effectively for both mobility and offense.
Koji Koda: Expanded his Anivoice Quirk's range, training to communicate with a wider variety of animals. This enhanced his utility during reconnaissance and environmental support.
Mashirao Ojiro: Integrated his tail more fluidly into his martial arts techniques, refining his movements for smoother transitions and increased combat effectiveness.
Toru Hagakure: Practiced advanced stealth techniques, using her invisibility to move undetected and gather vital information on opponents.
Fumikage Tokoyami: Worked on controlling Dark Shadow across different lighting conditions, focusing on preventing it from becoming uncontrollable in darkness.
Yuga Aoyama: Refined his Navel Laser to deliver more precise and powerful shots, while learning to manage the risk of overusing his Quirk.
Tsuyu Asui: Enhanced her frog-like abilities for reconnaissance, quick escapes, and diverse combat situations, improving her overall versatility.
Eijiro Kirishima: Trained to maintain his Hardening Quirk for longer durations, increasing his durability and effectiveness in sustained battles.
Tenya Iida: Concentrated on boosting the speed and efficiency of his engine-powered legs, aiming for faster reaction times and greater mobility.
Aizawa encouraged Nyxia to utilize his tentacles and eyes more aggressively during combat, emphasizing the strategic advantage they provide. Moreover, Nyxia was instructed to unleash the full potential of his shadow soldiers. Previously, when Nyxia showcased his abilities, the class believed he could only summon a limited number of these spectral warriors. In truth, Nyxia possessed the power to summon an infinite number without strain—he had simply been keeping this ability secret and unused in battle. Now, under Aizawa's guidance, Nyxia was beginning to explore the limitless scale of his summoning, preparing for the battles ahead.
Eri's development centered on mastering control over her emotions, as her Quirk was closely tied to her emotional state. Learning to remain calm and focused became essential to using her power effectively and safely. Alongside this emotional regulation, she trained to harness and refine her Quirk, transforming her innate abilities into reliable tools rather than unpredictable forces.
They trained relentlessly from dawn until dusk, pushing their limits with fierce determination. The forest echoed with the sounds of exertion panting breaths, shouted commands, the clash of Quirks in practice and yet, they only paused briefly around midday to prepare and share a simple lunch together. The students helped each other gather ingredients, cook over small fires, and pass around plates, laughter and camaraderie easing the strain of the day.
As the sun began to dip low, casting long golden shadows through the trees, their bodies weary but spirits high, the group started the trek back to camp.
But then, something stopped them in their tracks.
Ahead, standing in a clearing bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, was Nyxia.
What they saw took their breath away.
His tentacles stretched out infinitely in every direction, weaving and twisting like living shadows that defied all sense of limit. Some morphed seamlessly into massive hammers that crashed with barely contained power. Others transformed into razor-sharp barbs, gleaming with deadly precision. A few were adorned with spikes, ready to impale and rend.
But that was just the beginning.
Nyxia's golden eyes had multiplied and scattered all around him, each one floating independently to grant a full, unblinking 360-degree vision. They blinked and glimmered, scanning the surroundings with a vigilance that no ordinary being could match.
And then there were the shadow soldiers.
Hundreds of them.
Arrayed in ranks, spread across the clearing like a dark army summoned from the depths of legend and nightmare. Some bore the proud armor of knights, their silhouettes noble and resolute. Others were monstrous and grotesque, exuding raw, primal menace.
But the most astonishing were those that resembled mythological beasts living echoes of the stories whispered through the ages. There were Medusas, their serpentine hair writhing as if alive. Hydra-like figures with multiple heads snapping in unison. Cyclopes with single, glowing eyes radiating raw power. Winged Pegasi soaring just above the ground, their forms shimmering in shadow.
Cerberi, their multiple heads snarling in silent warning. Harpies with talons sharp enough to rend steel. Minotaurs with massive, muscular frames. Dragons coiled in poised readiness, their scaled forms blending into the darkness. Basilisks, Sphinxes, Chimeras, Rakshasas all stood ready, manifestations of Nyxia's incredible command over shadow and spirit.
The sight was both mesmerizing and terrifying.
The students could only stare, awe-struck and silent, as the full extent of Nyxia's power unfolded before them a power they had only glimpsed in fragments until now.
Nyxia's golden eyes flicked toward the treeline, and in that instant, he noticed them Class 1-A, frozen in awe at the edge of the clearing. His massive form, still surrounded by the infinite spread of tentacles and mythic shadow-beasts, loomed in near silence.
And yet, when he saw them tired, wide-eyed, and muddied from training he began to reel it all back in.
Slowly, deliberately, the tentacles withdrew. The barbs softened into tendrils and retracted like whispers into his back. His floating eyes blinked once more before vanishing into the dusk, leaving behind nothing but the glow in his core. The shadow soldiers bowed silently before dissolving into black smoke, their legendary forms unraveling into the ether knights, monsters, and myths fading away like forgotten dreams.
For a brief moment, no one said anything. The weight of what they had witnessed still clung to them like mist.
Then Kirishima muttered, "...That was so manly."
Kaminari, mouth slightly agape, added, "Bro's been holding back this whole time?"
"Of course he was," Momo said, brushing a leaf from her shoulder. "He's always been more thoughtful than he lets on."
"Let's go," Todoroki said quietly. "He's walking with us now."
They resumed their walk, this time with Nyxia at the back, his monstrous form now reduced to its more familiar, compact state. The air was filled with soft chatter again, the awe mellowing into respect as they made their way back to camp under the darkening sky.
As they stepped into camp, torches flickering in the gentle evening breeze, a small voice cried out:
"Nyxia!"
Eri.
She ran across the clearing as fast as her little legs could carry her, barefoot and breathless. Her eyes shimmered with relief but behind that shimmer was fear. The same fear she always carried. That he might vanish. That he might leave and never return.
She collided with him in a tight hug, arms barely able to wrap around his leg. Her face buried against his scales, her little fingers clinging to him like he was the last real thing in the world.
Flashback: Earlier That Morning
After Aizawa handed out the individual training regimens, the students had departed into the forest, eager if a bit nervous to begin their intensive drills. Eri remained behind at the base camp, watching them go with a flicker of worry in her wide, red eyes.
Aizawa stood quietly nearby, arms crossed, and Kota sat on a log, munching on a peach.
But time dragged on.
As the sun rose higher, the noise of the forest training faded away, and with it, Eri's fragile calm. She hugged her knees, eyes darting toward the trees where Nyxia had disappeared. Minutes turned into an hour. Then more.
She began to tremble.
And then it happened her Quirk sparked to life. The air shimmered around her as her emotions spilled over, panic and longing twisting into something dangerous.
But Aizawa's scarf whipped out in an instant. His eyes flared red. Her power shorted out.
"I'm here," he said firmly. "You're safe."
Still, tears welled up in her eyes, and just then, Mandalay appeared, crouching gently beside her.
"Eri," she said softly, her tone as calm and warm as a summer breeze, "I know it's scary. But he's not gone. He wouldn't leave you. He promised, right?"
Eri sniffled, nodding slowly.
"He'll be back before dinner," Mandalay smiled. "And when he comes back, you'll be the first one he wants to see."
End Flashback
Now, as Eri clung to him once more, Nyxia gently curled a tentacle around her in return, shielding her from the wind.
After the emotional return and the settling weight of a long day of training, the camp slowly shifted back into motion. The evening air was cool and crisp, with stars beginning to blink into view overhead. The forest around them quieted, save for the occasional rustle of wind through the leaves or the distant call of a nocturnal bird.
Despite the fatigue etched into every limb, the comforting rumble of stomachs reminded the class they still had one final task: dinner.
Naturally, they looked to Nyxia.
He had already begun.
By the time the students gathered near the central fire pit, Nyxia had laid out several flat stones, each heated by an array of controlled bio-thermal tendrils beneath them. A cluster of tentacles reached into crates, pulling out utensils, pots, and pans. Others sliced vegetables with frightening efficiency, while one stirred a simmering pot with a rhythm so smooth it could have been a lullaby.
Without a word, Nyxia began assigning silent roles.
One tentacle pointed at Yaoyorozu, who was already creating makeshift ladles and containers.
Another gestured to Sato, who was hauling a crate of fresh-cut root vegetables.
Katsumi Bakugo, surprisingly, was allowed near the stove stones her Quirk perfect for flash-searing meat. She grumbled but followed orders. Todoroki used his ice to chill ingredients while heating broth with his other side. Even Kaminari, clumsy as he was, was given basic prep tasks like washing herbs.
"You're all sous chefs now," Mina laughed, tying her hair back. "Nyxia's the head chef and we're his kitchen brigade."
Eri sat close to Nyxia, sorting small ingredients into neat bowls onions, peeled garlic, herbs, tiny bits of fruit. Her expression was serious, brows furrowed in concentration as she worked hard to get everything in the right pile.
"I'm helping," she whispered proudly to herself, and Nyxia gave her a small approving pat with one of his gentler tendrils.
The entire scene became a beautiful mix of chaos and coordination—students running to and from supply crates, steam rising into the air, and the scent of roasted meat and stewed vegetables filling the camp.
Even Aizawa, who had been silently watching from a distance, finally sighed and muttered, "...At least they're being productive."
As the food came together, bowls were passed out, the central campfire crackled louder, and laughter slowly replaced the day's exhaustion.
With dinner finished and the stars now fully draped across the sky like a glittering blanket, Class 1-A gathered around the campfire. Plates scraped clean, bodies warm with food, and fatigue softened by the gentle lull of crackling flames, they all settled into the rhythm of nighttime storytelling a tradition as old as the fire itself.
Mina started it off with a ridiculous tale of her first attempt at making cupcakes that ended in a minor kitchen fire and a frosted ceiling. Denki followed up with a story of the time he shocked himself so hard he forgot his own name for ten minutes—"It came back eventually!" he insisted, to everyone's laughter. Even Todoroki, in his typically calm tone, shared a memory of his sister trying to teach him how to make snow bunnies as a kid he failed miserably, of course.
One by one, stories flowed some funny, others heartwarming or awkwardly embarrassing. Eri snuggled into a blanket beside Nyxia, her eyes fluttering sleepily, listening to every word. The firelight danced across their faces, casting long shadows that flickered with each log that cracked and popped.
Then all eyes turned to Nyxia.
A hush fell.
He looked at them, then down at the fire, his expression unreadable. No one expected him to speak he couldn't in his monstrous form but they waited, curious.
And then, Nyxia began to move.
His tentacles slowly unfurled, rising into the firelight like dark ribbons. They began to twist, bend, and shift shaping the very air around them into a story.
First, they formed a figure a small, scared creature huddled in the dark, surrounded by massive, looming shapes. The tentacles created flickers of flame-like images, casting silhouettes on the trees. A tale began to take shape: a being feared by all, rejected, wandering through shadows, always watching from afar but never stepping into the light.
Then, the tentacles changed.
The shadowy being saved a bird caught in a trap crafted from curled tendrils. Then a child from a flood depicted through rippling illusions in the firelight. Slowly, figures began approaching the shadow. One by one. Not with weapons, but with kindness. Acceptance. Trust.
More tentacles wove forms of laughter, hands held out, and a little girl Eri's likeness standing bravely beside the shadow. The once-lonely figure, still monstrous in shape, stood at the center of a growing circle. It hadn't changed form, but the world around it had.
The final image was simple: the shadow resting peacefully under a tree, surrounded by small figures each one a stylized version of Class 1-A.
There was silence.
And then applause.
Mina wiped her eyes. "That was beautiful…"
Even Bakugo didn't say anything, just stared into the fire with an unreadable expression.
Aizawa, watching from behind, gave a subtle nod. He understood the story better than anyone: the tale of a monster who became more than what the world feared through kindness, trust, and connection.
After looking at Nyxia's story they went back to telling more stories and as the night grew The laughter and conversations dwindled into tired murmurs, and the weight of the day's training began to settle into sore limbs and drooping eyelids.
One by one, the students stood, stretching and yawning.
"I'm gonna feel this tomorrow," Kirishima groaned with a grin.
"Same," Jirou muttered, already half-asleep as she shuffled toward her tent.
"Don't forget to brush your teeth," Iida reminded everyone sternly, even as he swayed slightly from exhaustion.
As the group slowly dispersed, the warm glow of the campfire flickered across their retreating backs. Some whispered their goodnights. Others gave quiet nods. The clearing slowly grew still again, shadows lengthening under the starlit sky.
Eri had fallen asleep sometime during the stories, curled beside Nyxia with her tiny hand still loosely gripping the edge of his tentacle. Her breaths were slow, even, peaceful.
Nyxia remained motionless for a moment, watching the last of the students disappear into their tents. Then, with a smooth, practiced motion, one of his stronger tentacles gently lifted Eri into his arms. Her head rested against his chest, and she barely stirred, murmuring something incomprehensible in her sleep.
He rose slowly, careful not to wake her, and turned his gaze toward the fire pit.
Another tentacle extended outward and hovered over the flames. The fire hissed softly as it met a wave of cold shadow, and in seconds, the pit was extinguished, leaving only curling wisps of smoke and glowing coals beneath a star-swept sky.
With Eri still asleep in his arms, Nyxia padded quietly through the camp, his footsteps soundless, the glow of his eyes flickering like dying stars.
He reached their tent and stepped inside, lowering her gently onto her bedroll. One tentacle pulled a blanket over her small frame with practiced care. She mumbled something again, perhaps his name, but didn't wake. Her face remained relaxed, free of fear, safe.
Nyxia sat beside her, his massive form curling slightly to shield her from the cool air.
Outside, the forest hummed softly. The world held its breath in peace.
And for now, there were no nightmares.
Only rest.