The UA battleship groaned and shrieked as it crossed the threshold. The sky outside the reinforced windows turned a bruised purple, and then, the world became heavy. It wasn't just a weight on the shoulders; it was a force that pulled at the blood in their veins and the air in their lungs.
Midoriya slammed a hand against the bulkhead, the metal denting under his grip. His legs trembled, the sheer pressure of the Blue Star trying to fold him like paper. He took a sharp breath and focused. A deep, ink-black sheen spread from his fingertips up to his shoulders. He forced his back straight, his Haki pushing back against the planet's crushing intent.
Bakugo stood in the center of the deck, his eyes wild. He didn't grab onto anything. Instead, he let out a series of small, rapid-fire pops from his palms, the shockwaves hitting the floor to keep himself upright. His spiky hair was matted down by the force, but he gritted his teeth, his Haki flaring in a golden-red aura around his feet. He wasn't just surviving the gravity; he was fighting it like an enemy.
The heavyweights of the class were the first to find their rhythm. Kirishima and Tetsutetsu were practically fused to the deck, their skin transformed into jagged obsidian and matte silver. They stood like statues, their Haki-reinforced forms soaking up the pressure. Inasa Yoarashi lowered his center of gravity, his Haki swirling like a dark cyclone around him as he let out a roar of defiance against the atmosphere.
In the back, Shinso used his capturing scarves to lash himself to a support pillar. His face was pale, his Binding Haki working overtime to keep his body from collapsing. Beside him, Camie had dropped her playful persona entirely. She sat cross-legged, using her Mirage Haki to trick her own nervous system into ignoring the crushing weight.
The Big Three stood near the front, providing the anchor the younger students needed. Mirio moved with a fluid ease, shifting his density so the gravity passed through him like water. Nejire spun slowly, her energy creating a spiral of force that balanced the downward pull, while Tamaki leaned against a crate, his arms transformed into the thick, armored limbs of a Kraken.
The Marine Academy
As the ship leveled out, the students adapted. Through the mist ahead, the Marine Academy appeared. It was a gargantuan fortress rising out of the sea, built from white stone and black steel. Dozens of massive warships, flying flags of the other elite academies, were already docked. The sheer amount of Haki radiating from the fortress was enough to make the sea around it boil.
The fortress was a gargantuan crescent of white stone and black steel. In the center stood the towering main building with the word MARINE emblazoned in massive, navy-blue letters. The harbor was a forest of steel. Massive battleships were docked in perfect rows, and thousands of soldiers in white uniforms moved across the stone docks in synchronized patterns.
"There it is," Midoriya whispered, gripping the railing. "The Marine Academy."
As the UA ship glided toward its assigned pier, the engines let out a deep, bass thrum. The heavy iron ramp began to lower, hitting the stone dock with a thunderous boom. All Might stepped to the front, his smile replaced by the serious expression of a warrior.
"Listen up! We are guests in this fortress, but we are also UA's finest. Walk tall and show them the strength of our school!"
The students followed their teachers down the ramp. Bakugo led the line, his head held high and his hands steady. Right behind him, Midoriya walked with a solid, grounded stride, his muscular frame cutting an imposing figure. As they stepped onto the plaza, the Marine soldiers stood at attention. The air suddenly grew cold and still, the gravity here feeling even more refined.
From the shadows of the massive main gate, three figures emerged. They wore heavy white coats draped over their shoulders like capes, the sleeves dangling empty, with the word JUSTICE written on the back. The pressure they emitted was so immense it felt like the very air was being pushed out of the plaza.
The Marine Admirals were waiting.
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To be continued