It had been two days since his chaotic yet heartwarming experience with Classes 1-A and 1-B. The initial burst of excitement had quieted down, giving way to a monotonous routine that was both comforting and strange to someone like him.
Each morning began with Eraserhead or Vlad King escorting him out of his holding area. He'd spend most of his time wandering the school grounds, though always under supervision limited to select zones that had been reinforced and cleared of other students for safety. Despite his monstrous form, many students had grown used to his presence, some even offering casual greetings or snacks as they passed by.
The Big Three, especially Nejire, often came to hang out with him. Nejire's boundless curiosity never seemed to fade, and Amajiki, though still timid had warmed up enough to sit silently beside Nyxia and eat lunch with him. Mirio always brought energy to the group, sometimes initiating silly games that even Nyxia would join, albeit awkwardly due to his size.
But once the fun ended, the pattern resumed.
Midday was filled with psychological evaluations long stretches of silent observation and written tests conducted by a rotating group of professionals. Some tried to probe his mind; others just wanted to see how he reacted under various stimuli.
Afternoons were dedicated to therapy sessions with Hound Dog. The counselor was blunt and emotionally charged, but not unkind. He tried to get Nyxia to open up not just about his powers, but about his emotions, fears, and memories.
"You've got a lot of guilt weighing you down," Hound Dog had said during one session. "But guilt ain't a cage unless you let it be."
Nyxia had stared in silence, tail twitching slowly, as the words echoed in his mind.
Despite the routine and the restrictions, a strange sense of peace had started to settle over him. The students, the laughter, the structure it reminded him of Evolto City's daycare and his quiet days before the guilt clawed into him. He wasn't trusted yet, not fully, but he was being given a chance. And that, perhaps, was what he needed most.
Still, in the back of his mind… he wondered how long it would last.
Nezu walked in with his ever-present smile, clipboard in paw, tail swaying as he stepped into the softly lit containment room. His eyes scanned the peaceful sight of Nyxia sitting in the corner, the low hum of energy emanating from him subdued and calm. A brand-new reinforced whiteboard had been mounted nearby, installed after they realized Nyxia preferred to communicate through written words when possible.
"Hello, Nyxia. How are you doing today?" Nezu asked cheerfully, tilting his head
.
Nyxia stood slowly, pads of his heavy feet pressing gently against the floor. He turned, took up the thick marker in his clawed hand, and began to write on the whiteboard in neat, deliberate strokes.
"I'm doing fine."
Nezu smiled brightly. "That's good, very good. We've all seen how well you've adjusted these last two days. The students have grown quite fond of you, and you've handled the structure here quite gracefully."
Nyxia tilted his head slightly, waiting.
Nezu continued, a bit more serious now. "But… the world outside these walls is not so quick to trust. Many members of the public are still afraid. They don't see what we see. Because of this, your full integration into Class 1-A has been… delayed. Temporarily."
Nyxia's body stiffened slightly. Not in aggression, but disappointment.
"However, we've devised a solution. You'll be shadowing a Pro Hero during their agency work. It'll help you interact with civilians and show the world that you're not a threat but an ally. A protector." Nezu said with a hopeful glint in his eye.
Nyxia moved toward the board again.
"Which one?"
"Ah, yes! You get to choose," Nezu said, pulling out a small tablet and turning it around to show Nyxia holographic profiles of the heroes who had volunteered. "All of them have reviewed your file and agreed to take you under their wing, even if the public is still on the fence. Here are your options:"
Mirko – Uncompromising and fierce. She volunteered immediately, claiming, "If the beast wants to fight, he better be able to keep up."
Gang Orca – Calm, commanding, and focused on rehabilitation. He believes in second chances and sees your strength as something that can be refined.
Hawks – Smart, sly, and unshakably cool. He said, "He's scary, sure but I've worked with worse. Let's give the guy a shot."
All Might – The Symbol of Peace himself, now a mentor. He spoke with warmth: "If he's here to protect, then he deserves the chance to learn how."
A few other brave heroes – Lower-ranked but passionate. They might not be famous, but they offered out of genuine belief in redemption.
"So, Nyxia," Nezu said, stepping back and folding his paws behind his back, "who would you like to shadow?"
Nyxia stared at the screen, processing. The decision he made would shape how the world saw him and maybe how he saw himself.
Nezu nodded as Nyxia's gaze locked onto Mirko's profile fierce, unyielding, and full of raw power.
"Ah, Mirko, the Rabbit Hero. Bold choice!" Nezu said, adjusting his glasses. "She doesn't have a permanent agency but operates independently, traveling across Japan to tackle high-risk missions. You'll get to see the true front lines of hero work fast-paced, dangerous, and unpredictable."
Nyxia's eyes glimmered with a mix of curiosity and excitement.
Nezu continued, "She volunteered herself immediately after hearing about you. Said, and I quote, 'If the beast wants to fight, he better be able to keep up.' So, you won't be coddled. But it'll be a chance to show the world what you're really capable of."
Nyxia wrote back on the board: "I'm ready."
Nezu smiled. "Excellent! I'll arrange for her to meet you shortly. You'll be leaving the confines of UA and seeing the world outside soon. Prepare yourself Mirko's style is direct and relentless. But if anyone can help you earn respect from the public, it's her."
Nyxia felt the shift in the air as the transport settled onto the bustling streets of Hosu City. The hum of distant sirens and chatter of civilians surrounded him, a sharp contrast to the sterile halls of UA.
As the transport door slid open, two figures stepped forward. One was unmistakably Mirko fierce, confident, and standing tall with her trademark smirk that radiated challenge and determination. Beside her, Ryukyu stood calmly, her serene presence a sharp but comforting contrast.
Mirko crossed her arms and flashed Nyxia a wide, mischievous grin. "Well, giant beast, ready to see how the real world works? Hosu's no playground, but I'm sure you'll manage." Her voice carried that fierce edge but with a hint of encouragement.
Ryukyu gave a nod, smiling gently. "Don't worry, Nyxia. We'll watch each other's backs. This won't be easy, but together, we're strong."
Nyxia took a moment, adjusting to the new surroundings, then nodded back, ready for whatever came next.
Mirko's grin grew wider. "Good. Let's get moving. There's no rest for heroes especially when they're proving themselves."
Nyxia felt the shift in the air as the transport settled onto the bustling streets of Hosu City. The hum of distant sirens and chatter of civilians surrounded him, a sharp contrast to the sterile halls of UA.
As the transport door slid open, two figures stepped forward. One was unmistakably Mirko fierce, confident, and standing tall with her trademark smirk that radiated challenge and determination. Beside her, Ryukyu stood calmly, her serene presence a sharp but comforting contrast.
Mirko crossed her arms and flashed Nyxia a wide, mischievous grin. "Well, giant beast, ready to see how the real world works? Hosu's no playground, but I'm sure you'll manage." Her voice carried that fierce edge but with a hint of encouragement.
Ryukyu gave a nod, smiling gently. "Don't worry, Nyxia. We'll watch each other's backs. This won't be easy, but together, we're strong."
Nyxia took a moment, adjusting to the new surroundings, then nodded back, ready for whatever came next.
Mirko's grin grew wider. "Good. Let's get moving. There's no rest for heroes especially when they're proving themselves."
As Mirko burst into the bank, her fierce presence instantly unsettled the robbers. With a single powerful kick, she sent the nearest villain crashing into the counter, shards of glass and papers flying everywhere.
"Drop your weapons and surrender!" Mirko commanded, her voice sharp like a whip.
Inside, the robbers scrambled, some pulling out guns, others brandishing knives. But Mirko's speed was unmatched she dodged bullets with ease, closing the distance in an instant and disarming them with brutal efficiency.
Outside, Nyxia stood guard, his shadow soldiers silently patrolling the perimeter, ready to intercept anyone trying to flee or any reinforcements arriving. His greatsword rested against his back, but he didn't need to draw it yet; his imposing presence alone was a deterrent.
Suddenly, one of the robbers managed to slip past Mirko's reach and dashed toward the back exit, firing wildly. Nyxia's eyes narrowed. With a swift motion, he summoned a shadow tendril that wrapped around the fleeing criminal's ankle, tripping him to the ground.
Ryukyu swooped low, landing just beside Nyxia. "Nice catch," she said, nodding approvingly.
Mirko was already moving on to the next threat inside the bank. She flipped over a counter, delivering a powerful elbow strike that sent another robber crashing into the wall.
The criminals realized they were outmatched, and one by one, they dropped their weapons. Mirko quickly rounded them up, tying their hands with her own quick knots.
With the robbery foiled and the robbers secured, Nyxia exhaled slowly, feeling a rare sense of accomplishment.
Ryukyu turned to him, her dragon eyes warm. "See? You're a hero too. They just have to see it."
Mirko smirked, brushing dust from her hands. "Not bad for a giant shadow beast."
Nyxia's lips twitched into a small smile for the first time in a while.
The crowd that had gathered watching from a safe distance started to murmur and clap, some even cheering. The shift in their attitude was subtle but present perhaps fear was slowly giving way to acceptance.
The skies darkened unnaturally as the battle against the Nomu escalated in the distance the telltale screeches and thunderous impacts of destruction rang out across Hosu. Heroes and civilians scrambled in all directions, but amidst the chaos, Nyxia froze.
His nose twitched.
The scent. Blood. Familiar. Fresh. Izuka.
Without a second thought, Nyxia's body tensed his tendrils shot out, forming a communication gesture in the air: "Danger. Friend. Bleeding."
Mirko, locked in a mid-air battle with a winged Nomu, only half-glanced at him. "Yeah, yeah! Go on! Handle it, beast-boy!"
Ryukyu, nearby in her half-dragon form, narrowed her eyes in concern. "Wait Nyxia, where are you going?!"
He turned his golden, swirling gaze to her eyes full of urgency. She recognized it instantly. A bond beyond orders.
She hesitated... then gave a reluctant nod. "Be careful."
With that, Nyxia sprinted off, the pavement cracking under his massive feet. Shadow tendrils surged out from him, vaulting him across rooftops like a monstrous spider as he followed the scent trail, dodging debris and leaping over buildings.
The blood trail led him to a dark, narrow alley. The stench of violence was thick in the air.
There Izuka lay wounded, breathing heavily, blood leaking from a deep gash in her side. Iida was sprawled out behind her, bruised and winded, while Stain, the Hero Killer, stood tall and composed, blade still dripping red.
Stain looked up slowly, eyes locking with Nyxia's the scent of death and righteous fury hanging between them.
"…You're no hero," Stain said, voice cold. "But you're not like the rest, either."
Nyxia's tentacles curled violently, golden eyes glowing brighter.
He stepped between Stain and the injured students, letting out a low growl that echoed with Void-touched malice. His form slowly began to shift fur bristling, claws cracking stone beneath them. The monstrous side of Nyxia awoke.
This wasn't patrol anymore.
This was war.
The alley went silent too silent.
The dim glow of streetlamps barely pierced the suffocating darkness as Stain stood motionless, his breath fogging the cold night air. His blade gleamed, slick with fresh blood, still dripping onto the cracked pavement. Behind Nyxia, Izuka let out a strangled groan, fingers twitching weakly, blood pooling beneath him.
But Nyxia…
He did not move.
He watched.
Tendrils slithered across the concrete, spreading like roots from his back, forming a crouched, primal stance not unlike a beast at the edge of instinct. His golden eyes blinked in chaotic, stuttering patterns. Not rage. Not vengeance. Something deeper.
Something protective.
Stain moved first.
He blurred forward, faster than most could track, blade flashing in a silent arc meant to paralyze, not kill. But
CLANG.
A tendril intercepted it, instantly hardening into a jagged, obsidian-like shield. Sparks exploded in the air, scattering like fireflies.
Before Stain could recoil, a second tendril wrapped around his leg.
Nyxia pulled.
CRASH.
Stain slammed into the alley wall, bricks cracking behind him. He twisted midair, slashing through the tendril and landing on the side of a dumpster. He launched himself back like a spring
Only to be met mid-air by Nyxia's massive gorilla-arm, swinging in a wide arc. Time slowed for a half-second as the impact connected.
BOOM.
Stain flew backward, tumbling across the concrete in a blur of red and steel, crashing through a fire escape ladder and landing in a crouch, coughing up blood.
"Impressive…" he rasped, wiping his lip and grinning through broken teeth. "You fight like a beast. But are you fighting for something?"
Nyxia's answer was silence only the soft, glitched static hum emanating from his body as the Void in his chest pulsed, a flickering core of pure data and memory. His muscles spasmed, shifting his form glitching between monstrous and almost human, as if his existence couldn't decide what it was.
Then, a whisper: "They're under my protection."
His voice was layered, echoing with fractured tones as if multiple versions of himself spoke at once.
Stain's grin vanished.
This time, he attacked with intent. Slashes came rapid-fire feints, flips, spins. One blade went low, another high, and he flipped over Nyxia's shoulders mid-strike. A lesser foe would've been shredded
But Nyxia adapted.
Tendrils wrapped around lampposts and walls, swinging his body unnaturally, pulling him out of range. Sparks danced as claws deflected blades. At one point, Stain stabbed directly into Nyxia's shoulder but the blade passed through empty static, his form momentarily non-corporeal.
Nyxia phased through him, reappearing behind.
WHAM.
A tendril slammed into Stain's gut and launched him skyward, smashing through a rusted balcony. Stain grabbed the falling debris, threw it down like shrapnel, and Nyxia shielded himself with a web of black, shielded tendrils.
In a blink, Stain dove back in, stabbing only for a wave of Void energy to erupt from Nyxia's chest.
Time stuttered.
Stain froze mid-motion, his blade caught mid-air by shimmering code. His eyes widened.
"What… are you?"
Nyxia's tendrils lashed out, forming a spiral of data and muscle that hurled Stain into the ground so hard the pavement spidered outward. A moment later, Nyxia was atop him massive fist raised.
CRACK.
The pavement shattered under the force of the blow inches beside Stain's skull.
Dust swirled.
Stain stared up at the monster, barely breathing. A tendril lifted his katana and bent it in half, the metal groaning like a dying animal.
"You… could kill me," Stain gasped, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. "But you won't… will you?"
Nyxia stepped back slowly. His body pulsed again his form flickering as the monstrous features began to retract. His golden eyes dimmed slightly.
Behind him, Izuka stirred, whispering, "D-don't… hurt him…"
Nyxia turned toward the boy, limbs slowly losing their grotesque proportions. The glitching tail flickered once before dissolving into nothing. His claws retracted, replaced by trembling human fingers.
Stain, bruised and battered, let out a wheezing chuckle.
"You're a monster… but you have a code…"
Suddenly
CRASH.
Ryukyu slammed down at the alley's edge in full dragon form, wings flaring with force, rubble flying everywhere.
She scanned the scene the crumpled fire escape, the ruined ground, the unconscious students and then locked eyes with Nyxia.
"Get away from them," she commanded, voice cold, ready to strike.
Nyxia held up both hands, claws gone. One tendril extended, gently pointing toward Izuka and Iida, still breathing.
Ryukyu hesitated. Her gaze swept over Nyxia's hunched, trembling form. She approached cautiously, then, reaching out placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You did good," she said softly.
The words hit harder than any attack.
In the distance, sirens wailed. The alley flickered with the first hints of red and blue light.
Nyxia looked down at Izuka, who smiled weakly. "T-thanks… buddy…"
And in that moment, for the first time since arriving in this world…
Nyxia felt something warm inside.
Acceptance.
AFTERMATH – U.A. Meeting Room
The mood was tense.
Teachers, pro heroes, and a few government officials sat around the long table in the U.A. conference room. On the screen at the far end, a live news broadcast played: "In an unprecedented turn of events, the creature known as Nyxia previously seen as a potential threat intervened in the hero-killer Stain's latest attack, preventing further bloodshed and ensuring the capture of the infamous vigilante. Stain is now in custody thanks to the efforts of the pro heroes… and one very unexpected protector."
The footage cuts to a still image: Nyxia, sitting on the curb outside the alley, his massive form hunched over. A large cloth had been wrapped around his body like a makeshift cloak. His eyes blinked gently in a relaxed pattern, and…
He was smiling.
Or at least, his version of a smile.
A low curl of his lip and a proud tilt of his monstrous head.
The next shot showed Stain bound in reinforced shackles, bloodied but alive, being loaded into a containment vehicle.
Back in the room, a moment of silence.
Aizawa folded his arms. "Well. He saved three students and helped take down one of the most dangerous vigilantes in Japan."
Midnight tapped her pen on the table. "And earned more sympathy than most of us combined with that smile."
Present Mic muttered, "Dude's getting fan mail now."
Nezu, perched at the head of the table, sipped his tea and chuckled. "It's fascinating, isn't it? Fear turns to awe, then to admiration. The question is… will it last?"
Endeavor, standing in the back with arms crossed, growled, "He's not a hero. Not yet."
But then Ryukyu spoke, her voice calm and certain. "He acted like one."
Everyone turned to her.
She nodded. "I saw him fight. He didn't just win. He chose mercy. He could have killed Stain with a thought. But he didn't."
Then came the knock on the door.
Mirko, looking proud and smug as ever, kicked it open slightly and leaned in. "Told ya he was cool."
"Still reckless," Ryukyu added with a sigh, "but cool."
Nezu glanced toward the footage on the screen again. Then he turned to the group and said, "Public opinion is shifting. Some still fear him. But many… are beginning to see a hero."
A quiet beat passed.
Aizawa finally broke it. "Then maybe it's time."
Nezu nodded. "Yes. Let's finalize Nyxia's integration into Class 1-A."
U.A. High – Class 1-A Homeroom (The Next Day)
The morning sunlight filtered through the windows of U.A., glinting across the polished floors as the students of Class 1-A approached their classroom, groggy and curious after their internships.
As they neared the door, Uraraka tilted her head. "Uh… guys? Was the door always this wide?"
The classroom door, already built to accommodate students like Kōda and Sato, had been enlarged dramatically. It now looked like something meant for a kaiju or… a tank.
Bakugo narrowed his eyes. "Tch. What the hell is this?"
Iida adjusted his glasses. "It seems the school made modifications perhaps a new student with… extreme spatial requirements?"
Mina gasped. "OMG do we have a giant classmate?!"
The door whirred open automatically, and one by one, they stepped inside.
And then they froze.
At the very back of the classroom, taking up an entire reinforced platform specially built for his size, sat none other than…
Nyxia.
His massive quadrupedal frame was coiled comfortably into the space, almost cat-like. His gorilla-like arm was lifted delicately, holding an absurdly tiny copy of The Shining — Stephen King's chilling classic mere inches from his many blinking golden eyes. On his face sat a pair of clearly custom-made comically tiny glasses, perched delicately on his writhing tendrils.
He was reading quietly.
Like a grandparent.
If the grandparent was a writhing void creature that could punch through tanks.
Silence.
Then
Kirishima: "...Bro, is that some weird old book? What even is that?"
Denki (snickering): "And he's got glasses on? What's next, a monocle? I'm dying."
Sero: "He's reading The Whispering Shadows or something… my little cousin tried that once. Totally confusing!"
Midoriya, meanwhile, was already sparkling with admiration. "He's trying to adjust… This is amazing! He must be putting in effort to appear less threatening!"
Bakugo, twitching slightly: "I don't care what he's reading, if he so much as breathes in my direction weird, I'm blowing him up."
Nyxia, finally aware of them, slowly turned his head.
Dozens of golden eyes blinked slowly, one by one.
Then… He gently tilted his glasses down, gave them a long stare…
…and then raised a single thumb using his gorilla arm.
A tentative gesture.
Silence again.
Then Mina screamed joyfully, "OKAY THAT'S KINDA ADORABLE."
Even Todoroki cracked a small, confused smile. "He's… very committed to the bit."
At that moment, Aizawa slid into the room through the side door, coffee in hand, as though none of this were strange.
"Alright. Nyxia's with us now. Be nice. No screaming. No prodding. No trying to climb him."
Mineta (already eyeing Nyxia's tendrils): "…No promises."
Aizawa's eyes narrowed. "I'll expel you."
Mineta froze.
Aizawa yawned and gestured to the board. "Now, we'll be covering combat coordination drills and psychological integration procedures for monsters I mean, alternative anatomy heroes."
Nyxia tilted his head.
Mina raised her hand. "Wait are we gonna train with him?"
Aizawa, completely deadpan: "Yes. You'll all be paired up with Nyxia at least once this semester."
Bakugo: "HELL no"
Aizawa: "HELL yes."
As the students continued to chatter, Nyxia sat there silently, a soft warbling hum coming from his core.
And though he didn't say a word…
A small tendril quietly reached down under the desk…
…and offered Midoriya a lollipop.