Chapter 10: Destruction of Japan!

“Ever since the attack on Hinode Academy, crime rates have plummeted across the nation. Reports show fewer villains on the streets, fewer clashes with heroes, and even a sharp decline in organized crime. While no clear reason has surfaced, many are hoping this marks the beginning of—” The news anchor’s words cut short as the broadcast flickered. The screen erupted in static, the sharp buzz echoing through every home, office, and street-side monitor. Gasps filled living rooms across Japan as the image stuttered and bled into darkness. Then—he appeared. A figure cloaked in black, motionless against the static-filled backdrop. His eyes were pits of endless black, void of warmth, void of humanity. His presence alone pressed like a weight on the chest of anyone watching. When he spoke, his voice was low, steady, and terrifyingly calm—each word slicing through the static like a blade. “Japan… you’ve grown comfortable. You cheer for your heroes, you cling to your fragile peace, believing the worst has passed. You convince yourselves the monsters in the dark have vanished.” He leaned closer, the screen distorting with every movement, his face still hidden in the shadows. “But you are wrong. I am the reminder of the truth you’ve ignored. Heroes cannot save you. Laws cannot protect you. And today… I will prove it.” The camera flickered again, his features slowly coming into focus. Sharp lines, emotionless, skin pale against the black void of his eyes. He didn’t smile, didn’t sneer—his face was utterly empty, colder than the static surrounding him. “Today marks the end of your illusion. Japan will burn, not as punishment… but as revelation. I will show you the fragility of everything you believe in. Your cities, your heroes, your hope—shattered into nothing but ash.” The signal cracked, his voice growing louder, more distorted, as if the world itself strained under his words. “You wanted peace. What you will have… is ruin. Watch closely, because from this day forward—Japan will break.” The broadcast cut abruptly to black. For a long moment, there was silence across the nation. Then, the ground trembled. Shadow’s war had begun. The screen went black. For a heartbeat, Japan was silent—an eerie, suffocating stillness as every citizen processed what they had just witnessed. Then, like a dam bursting, chaos flooded the streets. Sirens wailed. Explosions tore through city blocks. Smoke began curling into the sky from all directions. Every villain who had been lying dormant, every criminal lurking in the shadows, answered Shadow’s declaration with violence. In Tokyo, a towering figure wrapped in steel chains swung them through the streets, crushing cars and storefronts with each strike. Flames licked across Shibuya as arsonists and fire-wielders ignited buildings, their laughter carried on the wind. A group of masked thieves stormed Shinjuku Station, weapons flashing as civilians scattered in blind panic. Osaka was no different—gangs spilled into the open, seizing the moment to terrorize neighborhoods. Glass shattered, alarms blared, and the air was filled with the chaos of anarchy unleashed. It wasn’t random destruction—it was coordinated, orchestrated. Shadow’s message had been a signal, and across the nation, villains moved in unison as if they had been waiting for this very moment. The camera of a shaken news drone caught footage of a collapsing bridge, cars tumbling into the river below. Another captured towering plumes of black smoke rising from factories set ablaze. Broadcasts tried to continue, but one by one, stations went dark, hijacked by Shadow’s reach. Inside homes, families huddled together as the sounds of sirens, explosions, and screams echoed through the night. Fear spread faster than the fires themselves. Shadow’s voice, cold and unyielding, seemed to linger even though the broadcast had ended: “Japan will break.” And now, it was breaking. The static from the hijacked broadcast still hung in the air like a lingering curse. The students of Class 1-C sat frozen in their dorm common room, eyes wide, faces pale. No one dared to speak at first—the weight of Shadow’s words was too heavy. Then the world outside shattered. A deep rumble shook the academy walls, followed by the faint, distant echo of explosions. Red light from the burning city beyond the academy gates flickered through the windows. Hana was the first to break the silence, her voice trembling. “Th-that… that wasn’t just a threat. It’s already happening…” Chloe clutched the hem of her sleeve, fear flashing in her eyes though she tried to hide it with a shaky smile. “He’s—he’s serious. Every villain out there… they’re answering his call.” Akane slammed her fist onto the table, standing abruptly. “We can’t just sit here! People are dying out there!” Ren’s usual calm demeanor cracked as he stepped forward, placing a hand on Akane’s shoulder. “And what would you do? Run into the middle of hellfire without a plan? You’d be throwing your life away.” His voice was sharp, but beneath it was fear he couldn’t fully mask. Leo cursed under his breath, pacing back and forth. “Damn it… I knew something big was coming, but this—this is war.” Kaito sat with his hands trembling against his knees, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. “Shadow… he’s starting with Japan. If we don’t stop him, this won’t end here.” Yumi’s gaze went to Rin. She hadn’t moved since the broadcast ended, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. The black aura she had awakened half a month ago flickered faintly around her, responding to her turbulent emotions. “Rin…” Yumi whispered, reaching toward her. Rin finally exhaled, standing slowly, her shadowed eyes fixed on the flickering skyline outside. “He’s calling me out. This isn’t random destruction—it’s his stage. And I’m the one he wants.” The door to the common room burst open. Mr. Arashi entered, his face more grim than any of them had ever seen. “Everyone—listen closely. Japan is under siege. Hinode Academy is officially on lockdown, and all students are to remain inside unless directly ordered otherwise. The staff will handle the perimeter. Do not leave these grounds.” “Lockdown?” Akane shouted, incredulous. “While the whole country’s burning!?” Arashi’s gaze swept over the class, sharp and unyielding. “This isn’t a debate. You are still students—if you rush out there now, you’ll die. Shadow has unleashed every villain across Japan. The heroes are already mobilizing, but this… this is unlike anything we’ve ever faced.” The room fell into silence again. Distant screams and sirens bled into the academy grounds, reminding them that chaos was only a breath away. And in the center of it all, Rin clenched her fists tighter, her heart pounding like war drums. Rin’s chair scraped back sharply, the sound cutting through the heavy silence like a blade. Without a word, she stormed down the hall, her footsteps pounding against the polished floor. In her room, her cloak hung neatly folded on the edge of her bed—waiting, almost calling to her. She snatched it up, throwing it over her shoulders in one swift motion, the fabric snapping with the sudden movement. Her chest heaved as she turned toward the window. The muffled echoes of explosions and screams outside only fueled the fire in her veins. “Shadow…” she whispered, her eyes burning with resolve. With a single leap, she launched herself forward. Glass shattered around her in a violent spray of shards as she broke through the window, the pieces glittering like falling stars in the firelit night. The cloak billowed behind her as she soared into the open air, vanishing into the chaos below. The violent crash of shattering glass made every student in Class 1-C flinch. They spun around just in time to see Rin’s cloak whipping behind her as she hurled herself out of the dorm window, shards scattering like falling ice. For a moment, silence choked the room, the only sound the wind howling through the jagged frame she left behind. “Rin?!” Hana shrieked, stumbling forward, her hands slamming onto the sill as she leaned out desperately. “She—she just jumped! She’s gone!” Chloe’s eyes were wide, her voice trembling with disbelief. “Is she crazy? Out there—it’s pure chaos! She’ll never—” She cut herself off, teeth sinking into her lip. Akane’s fists clenched at her sides, anger mixing with fear. “That idiot… she didn’t even think twice.” Her voice cracked despite her hard words, her eyes locked on the empty night where Rin had vanished. Ren stood frozen, his chair toppled behind him, gaze hard but unreadable. Slowly, his fists tightened, knuckles white. “…She’s going after him. She’s going after Shadow.” Leo cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair. “Damn it, Rin…” Yumi’s knees buckled as the weight of it hit her. She sank onto the nearest cushion, her hands trembling violently. Her eyes shimmered as she whispered, almost too softly to hear: “Why didn’t you tell me first…?” The room was heavy with panic, shock, and something worse—helplessness. They could only watch as Rin hurled herself into the firestorm outside, leaving them behind with nothing but the sound of glass still clattering on the floor. The last shards of glass hadn’t even settled on the floor before the shrill wail of alarms tore through Hinode Academy. Red emergency lights flashed across the hallways, bathing the walls in a harsh, pulsing glow. Students spilled out of classrooms and dorms, voices colliding in a storm of panic and confusion. “What’s happening?!” “Is it another attack?!” “Where’s the staff?!” The once-orderly halls of Hinode were now flooded with chaos. Teachers barked commands over the alarms, trying to corral students into safety bunkers beneath the academy. But the fear spreading through the building was contagious, overwhelming. Down the main corridor, Mr. Arashi sprinted past stunned first-years, his usually calm face twisted with urgency. “All students to the lower levels! Now!” His voice cut through the noise, but his eyes flicked toward the east wing—where Class 1-C’s dorm was. He already knew. Rin. Principal Jako appeared at the head of the chaos, his long coat flaring as he strode into the courtyard. His gaze swept across the campus, then to the city beyond the walls. The horizon was aflame—Tokyo’s skyline bathed in smoke and fire. The world outside Hinode wasn’t just in danger. It was collapsing. “She’s gone.” Shiro’s voice was calm, but grim, as he approached the principal from the shadows of the corridor. His hands were buried in his pockets, his sharp eyes tracking the broken dorm window high above. “Rin made her choice.” Jako’s jaw tightened. “And if she faces Shadow now, unprepared, she’ll fall.” Shiro gave a faint smirk, though his tone was cold. “Or she’ll rise. Either way, this was inevitable.” Another explosion rattled the academy walls, glass shivering in its frames. Students screamed as debris shook loose from the ceiling. “Get them underground!” Jako ordered, his voice commanding like thunder. “Shadow’s chaos won’t reach these halls—not while I stand.” His coat snapped in the wind as he turned toward the skyline once more, eyes narrowing. From the courtyard, the students of Class 1-C caught a final glimpse of Rin’s cloak vanishing into the night beyond the academy gates. Their hearts pounded with dread and awe—because in that moment, it was clear. Shadow hovered high above Tokyo, his form outlined against the burning skyline. From that height, the city looked fragile—tiny, helpless, a cluster of ants waiting to be crushed. His cold, empty eyes scanned the horizon before narrowing. “Japan…” His voice boomed unnaturally, amplified as if carried by the wind itself. “It’s over.” He raised his arms slowly, deliberately, savoring the dread his words cast below. All around him, spheres of pulsing black energy flickered into existence—dozens, then hundreds, each one glowing like a malignant star. The air shuddered under their presence, the sheer pressure bending the sky around them. Shadow tilted his head, his lips curling into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Release…” His arms snapped outward. “Orbs of Destruction!” The sky ignited with motion as the spheres shot outward, streaking like comets across the city. Every time one struck, the world quaked—skyscrapers shattered into rubble, entire blocks erupted in fire and smoke, bridges split apart like paper. But the horror didn’t end there. Each impact caused the orbs to split, multiplying, swarming, raining down faster and faster until it seemed the heavens themselves were breaking apart. The earth shook beneath the onslaught, sirens drowned beneath the thunder of collapsing stone and steel. From the streets, civilians looked up in terror as the sky itself became a storm of annihilation. Screams rose with the smoke, mothers clutching their children as the ground tore apart, flames engulfing everything in sight. The military scrambled, fighter jets streaking toward Shadow’s position—only to be shredded by swarms of orbs before they even came within range. Tanks rolled into Tokyo’s streets, but entire battalions were erased in bursts of black light, leaving nothing but craters. Shadow floated above it all, untouched, unbothered. His expression was devoid of joy, sorrow, or rage—only the cold stillness of inevitability. “Break,” he whispered, as the city below was consumed by fire and ruin. The orbs streaked across Tokyo, detonating block after block. The earth shook with every impact, and within minutes, the once-bright capital was drowning in fire and ruin. But the destruction didn’t stop there—Shadow’s power spread outward like ripples in a pond. Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Sapporo… every major city fell under siege as villains poured into the streets, emboldened by the chaos. News broadcasts tried to cover the catastrophe, their shaky footage catching glimpses of destruction—until one by one, channels went dark, hijacked or destroyed. Across Japan, the call went out. Heroes mobilized. Within minutes, patrol teams flooded the cities. Bright streaks of light cut across the skies as pro-heroes flew toward disaster zones, others leaping across rooftops, teleporting, or riding into the chaos on summoned beasts. In Tokyo, a towering hero wrapped in crystalline armor crashed into the streets, shattering half a dozen Orbs of Destruction with his fists before they could level an evacuation route. Civilians cheered in desperate relief as he carved a safe path for them. But just a block away, another scene played out—the same crystalline hero suddenly swarmed by three villains at once: a brute cloaked in flames, a masked assassin with twin blades, and a telekinetic who hurled cars at him like toys. He fought bravely, but was dragged down into the smoke, his screams lost to the roar of destruction. Elsewhere, a squad of heroes in Osaka clashed with a villain gang tearing through a hospital. A woman with wings of silver light shielded civilians, while her partner unleashed tidal waves to smother the fires. Together, they pushed the villains back, overwhelming them with sheer coordination and force. Their victory was hard-earned, but it gave hundreds of evacuees a chance to escape. Yet in Sapporo, the opposite was true. A group of heroes, outnumbered and unprepared, were crushed under a coordinated villain assault. Their defeat was swift, their bodies left broken as criminals raised Shadow’s banner over the burning city. The nation became a chessboard—villains claiming blocks, districts, entire prefectures, while heroes scrambled desperately to hold the line. Some stood tall, turning the tide through sheer willpower and strength. Others were snuffed out, their legacies ending in the smoke and rubble of a country under siege. And above it all, Shadow floated silently, watching his prophecy unfold. His voice carried again, as if the very sky obeyed him. “Heroes. Villains. Civilians. None of it matters. You will all break… and I will watch as your world burns.” The air inside Hinode Academy was electric with dread. The alarms still wailed in shrill tones, red lights flashing across the ceilings of every hall. The once-disciplined corridors of the nation’s most promising hero academy now felt like the heart of a storm—fear and urgency colliding at every turn. Inside the main assembly hall, the staff gathered. Principal Jako stood at the center, his usually calm and composed presence weighed down with the weight of the nation. His cloak dragged against the floor as he turned to face the rows of teachers and frightened yet determined students who had been herded inside. “...We can’t hide anymore.” His voice was low, but it carried through the hall like thunder. “The villains are spreading faster than the heroes can contain. Tokyo burns, Osaka’s already in chaos, and we’re getting reports of destruction reaching as far as Hiroshima.” The students gasped—whispers broke out among Class 1-A, 1-B, and even 1-C. Some clutched their desks, others shook their heads in disbelief. “Then what do we do…?” one student shouted, fear cracking their voice. Before Jako could answer, Shiro stepped forward, her white hair swaying as her piercing eyes scanned the room. “What we’ve trained for. Hiding here will only delay the inevitable. You all came to Hinode to become heroes—well, this is the moment that proves whether those words mean something.” A heavy silence fell. Even the teachers exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether unleashing so many half-trained students into the battlefield was courage… or a death sentence. But then Professor Kaien, the combat instructor, slammed his fist against the podium. “Shiro’s right. The pros can’t handle this alone. Some of you may not be ready, but if you wait in here, you’ll just watch your home burn. Out there, you at least stand a chance to fight for it.” Principal Jako exhaled sharply and turned his gaze over the hundreds of eyes staring at him—terrified, but burning with something deeper. Resolve. “…Then it’s settled. Every capable student, every teacher—we mobilize now. Hinode Academy will not be remembered as a shelter, but as a shield.” The announcement set the hall ablaze with noise. Some cheered with raw determination, others cried in panic, and many stood frozen in conflict. Sirens outside wailed louder as news feeds broadcast across massive projectors: villains swarming Shibuya Station, heroes falling in Shinjuku, villain gangs storming hospitals and government buildings. And yet, amidst the horror, students began to rise from their seats, strapping on cloaks, pulling on combat gear, powering up their Quirks with trembling fists. The academy gates creaked open, and for the first time in Hinode’s history, every class, every instructor, and even Principal Jako himself prepared to march into the battlefield alongside the nation’s pro-heroes. The line between student and hero was gone. The assembly hall grew tense, the weight of the moment pressing down on every student and teacher present. Principal Jako stepped forward, his voice carrying with a commanding authority that cut through the panic. “Listen carefully! This is not a drill. The nation is under attack, and the villains are spreading across every city. Hinode Academy will not stand idle while Japan burns. Every class—from Class 1-A to Class 1-Z—will be assigned a sector. Your mission is simple: protect civilians, intercept villains, and secure key locations until reinforcements arrive.” A ripple of murmurs spread through the hall, eyes widening at the enormity of the task. Jako’s gaze swept the room, sharp and unwavering. “Class 1-A, you will take the central Tokyo district. 1-B, you will secure Shibuya Station and surrounding residential areas. 1-C…” “…1-C will support Class 1-A and focus on villain suppression around the entertainment and business district. Every class after them will be deployed according to sector maps now being uploaded to your devices.” A holographic map flickered above the podium, highlighting every district and street, color-coded to each class. The scale was staggering—26 classes, from A to Z, stretching across the entire metropolitan area. “Teachers,” Jako continued, his voice ringing with authority, “you will accompany your assigned classes. Lead them, protect them, and ensure they survive. No hesitation. No excuses.” Shiro stepped to the side, adding her own words. “Communication is key. Stick to your sectors, support each other, and remember that villains outnumber us. You will face overwhelming odds, but hesitation will cost lives. Activate your cores. Move swiftly, move together, and don’t underestimate the enemy.” The hall erupted with nervous energy. Some students clenched their fists, cores glowing faintly as they responded to their emotions, resolve hardening; others muttered prayers under their breath, trembling with fear. Jako raised his hand again. “This is the moment you were trained for. Hinode Academy does not run. Hinode Academy fights. All classes—move out. Now.” The doors to the assembly hall slammed open simultaneously as students surged forward, teachers following close behind. Cores ignited in flashes of light and energy, powers flaring in anticipation. The academy that had been a place of learning was now a war machine, ready to deploy every student from Class 1-A to Class 1-Z into the chaos consuming Japan. From the top floor, Principal Jako and Shiro watched the tide of students and teachers pour into the streets. The sound of boots hitting pavement, cloaks snapping in the wind, and cores igniting filled the academy like a war drum. The nation’s heroes would not be alone. Hinode Academy had arrived. Rin soared above the crumbling streets of Tokyo, her cloak snapping violently behind her, shards of debris scattering in her wake. The city below was a burning inferno: villains rioting unchecked, explosions carving gaping holes in the ground, and heroes struggling to hold the line. Every step of her path was a gauntlet. From above, a villain with a magma core hurled molten projectiles. Rin twisted in midair, fireballs evaporated before they could touch her. A group of rogue heroes tried to intercept her, thinking to stop her recklessness—but she dodged effortlessly, weaving through the chaos with lethal precision. “Focus on the civilians!” one shouted, realizing too late that Rin had no interest in stopping for anyone else. Rin’s eyes burned with determination, jagged pupils flaring as she powered her core to maximum. Streets crumbled beneath her as she leapt from building to building, dodging falling steel, collapsing bridges, and firestorm explosions. Each attack she avoided only hardened her resolve; Shadow’s figure loomed ahead, floating high above the skyline, indifferent to the destruction he’d already wrought. “Shadow…” she murmured through gritted teeth, “This ends now.” Around her, chaos continued unabated. Villains hurled attacks, bombs detonated, and heroes clashed desperately—but Rin’s presence was a streak of black and red light weaving through it all. No projectile, no strike, no villain or hero could stop her. It was as if the world itself had bent around her path. From the rooftops, civilians and fleeing heroes alike caught glimpses of her: a single figure, almost unstoppable, slicing through the devastation with uncanny grace. Her aura left trails in the smoke-filled sky, warning both allies and enemies alike that the real confrontation was imminent. Shadow waited, arms crossed, as Rin approached. The destruction of Japan raged around them, but neither seemed fazed by the firestorm. “You came quickly,” Shadow said, his voice echoing like a death knell. “I expected hesitation. But I see… courage. Or foolishness. Perhaps both.” Rin landed lightly on the roof of a crumbling skyscraper, debris skittering past her. Her core flared violently, black and red flames licking her form as she prepared for the inevitable clash. “I’m not here to hesitate,” she replied, eyes blazing. “I’m here to stop you. No matter what it takes.” And with that, the battle between Rin and Shadow—the fate of Japan hanging in the balance—was about to begin.