The air was thick with tension as the first rounds of battle continued. Students who had already faced their teachers were now gathering, sharing their experiences, exchanging strategies, and learning from one another's mistakes. It had been an intense start, but nothing could prepare you for the real test ahead—your turn against All Might.

You watched as Bakugo paced back and forth, his usual fire burning in his eyes. Izuku was silent, his brow furrowed in concentration, but you could see the nervous energy radiating from him. The others had gone before you, but now, it was your turn. You could already feel the weight of the upcoming battle pressing on you, even though you weren't going to be facing All Might in your full dragon form.

In human form, the playing field was leveled, at least in terms of raw strength. All Might, even in the compressed weights Nezu had mentioned, was a force of nature. But strength wasn't everything. As powerful as he was, you knew there was one thing that could give you the edge: your mind.

You weren't just relying on physical prowess. You had a weapon most didn't—your intellect. You'd trained your mind during the internship and learned to rely on your ability to think two steps ahead. Strength may win battles, but strategy won wars. All Might was a genius when it came to combat, but your mind was your greatest asset.

"Ready?" Bakugo's gruff voice pulled you from your thoughts, and you glanced at him, feeling the surge of adrenaline that always accompanied him in battle. Izuku, who stood on the other side of you, nodded, determination in his green eyes.

You nodded back, your wings flicking lightly behind you. "I'll keep them distracted. You focus on keeping All Might off balance."

"You just make sure not to screw it up," Bakugo snarled, cracking his knuckles.

Izuku turned to you, offering a reassuring smile. "We've got this. We just need to work together."

As you walked to the battlefield, your mind was already running calculations—every potential move, every possible counterattack. All Might might be faster, stronger, and more experienced, but there was one thing you were sure of: He would underestimate you. And that, right there, was your key to success.

All Might stood across from you, towering in his altered form, the weight of his costume and the compressed weights making his movements slightly slower. He smiled, the very picture of confidence, as always.

"Well then," he boomed, "let's see what you've got, Class 1-A."

You met his gaze, a spark of excitement running through you. "We're going to surprise you, All Might. I hope you're ready."

The battle was about to begin.

The moment the signal was given, you sprang forward, using your tail with deadly precision to lash at All Might. He was fast, but not fast enough to avoid your calculated strike. However, with a burst of energy, he leapt high over you, avoiding the whip of your tail with ease.

"Oh ho! Not that fast, L/N," All Might's booming voice echoed in the open field, his words filled with a challenge.

But before he could land, you unfurled your wings in one swift motion, sending a gust of wind that knocked him off balance. He stumbled backward, his feet slipping on the ground as the weight of his costume and the added compression slowed him down. The power of your wing strike sent a ripple through the air, giving you a brief moment of control.

"Go!" you shouted over your shoulder, turning toward Bakugo and Izuku. Without hesitation, they sprang into action, sprinting toward the exit as you kept All Might occupied, using your agility and speed to stay just out of his reach.

All Might grinned, clearly impressed by your strategy. "Ah, so you're relying on distraction and running to win, hmm?" He began charging after them, his voice booming in the vast training field.

But just as he was closing the distance, you whirled back around, using your tail to create space and give them more time. The battle wasn't over yet, and you knew that the real test was still ahead—keeping him distracted long enough for your team to make it to the finish line.

Your tail swished in the air, but suddenly, All Might reached out and grabbed it, halting your movement. You froze, startled by his grip, and for a moment, the world seemed to slow as your heart skipped a beat. He was strong, and his hand felt impossibly firm around your tail, like a vice.

"Ah, you've got me," you muttered, trying to tug free. "But this is just a distraction, All Might."

His grin only widened, though his eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and respect. "You're resourceful, L/N. I can't say I didn't expect that from you."

You gritted your teeth, a slight blush rising to your cheeks as you struggled to break free, but you knew you had to keep your focus. This was just a minor setback in a much bigger game. Time was on your side. All Might might be strong, but with your quick thinking and teamwork, you were confident that victory was still within reach.

The impact was brutal, the force of All Might's swing sending you crashing into the stone wall with a sickening thud. The wind was knocked out of you, and for a moment, everything went dark as you slumped to the ground near the gate. The sharp pain in your chest was the only thing reminding you that you were still conscious, but it took a few seconds for your vision to clear. You could hear the faint sound of your friends' voices from a distance, but they were faint—muffled.

"Y/N!" Izuku's voice cut through the haze, and you blinked rapidly, trying to regain your bearings. You could hear the panic in his voice, but it was quickly replaced by the sound of Bakugo's aggravated tone.

"What are you doing, you damn nerd? Get going!" Bakugo yelled, clearly frustrated. He hadn't even looked back to see if you were okay—he knew better than anyone not to get distracted in a fight.

Izuku, on the other hand, hesitated. His eyes widened in concern as he looked back at you, his expression conflicted. "No, we can't leave without Y/N. We're winning this together!" he called out, determination flooding his words.

Bakugo groaned, as if he were being tortured by Izuku's persistence. He didn't want to be the one to leave you behind either, but the objective was clear. "Oh, you damn nerd, just go!" he snapped, his palm crackling with power as he clenched his fist. "I'll take care of this. Win the fight for us."

Izuku hesitated, his eyes flicking back to you. He wasn't sure if leaving you was the right decision, but Bakugo was right. The mission wasn't over, and they needed to win this.

With one last worried glance at you, Izuku nodded, his eyes determined. "We'll win this together, Y/N!" he shouted over his shoulder, his voice filled with confidence, even as his heart ached to leave you behind. He and Bakugo surged forward, their feet pounding the ground as they pushed toward the exit.

You sat up slowly, shaking off the cobwebs in your head. It hurt to breathe, but you knew you had to stay focused. All Might wasn't going to go easy on you, not for a second, and the clock was ticking.

You blinked and saw All Might towering over you, his expression not one of anger, but of admiration. "You're still in the game, huh?" His voice was deep, his tone respectful but serious. "That's the spirit I like to see."

You gritted your teeth, pushing yourself up with a grunt. "I'm not done yet, All Might," you muttered through clenched teeth. "I've still got a few tricks left up my sleeve."

He smiled, stepping back to give you space. "I'll be waiting for those tricks."

With the gate ahead of you and your teammates moving closer to victory, you knew this wasn't over. You might have been knocked down, but you weren't out. It was time to finish this.

You knew the rules, the risks, and the warnings, but in that moment, something deep within you refused to stay contained. You couldn't win this by playing nice or holding back. Not when the prize was so close. Not when your friends were counting on you.

With a sharp exhale, you let go of control, allowing that primal force to flood through you, taking over. Your body shifted, your form growing larger, the familiar sensation of scales and wings bursting forth as the dragon within you was freed. The rusty red of your wings unfurled with a thunderous sound, the sheer weight of your power crackling through the air.

For a brief moment, All Might's confident smile faltered. His ice-blue eyes widened in recognition—fear, genuine fear, flickered through them for the first time in years. He knew what this meant. He knew you weren't going to hold back. His body stiffened as a massive head—your head—snapped its teeth just inches from his face, the dragon's jaws open and menacing.

The words that followed were chilling. "Run, little hero. Run for your life."

Aizawa's voice crackled through the commlink in your ear, frantic. "Y/N! What are you doing? Stop!"

You growled, irritated by the noise, and in one swift motion, you twitched your head, snapping the commlink from your ear and letting it fall into the dirt below. You had no intention of listening to him. No intention of stopping now.

All Might was still standing there, seemingly frozen, and you couldn't help but take advantage of that moment of hesitation. Your tail swung with incredible force, smashing into his side. The impact sent him flying back a few feet, his feet scraping against the ground as he fought to regain his balance.

But you weren't done yet.

With a roar, you breathed in deeply, feeling the fire gather in your chest. You released it in a tremendous blast that shot skyward, a column of flame so intense that the sky itself seemed to turn blood-red from its power. You could feel the heat even from where you stood, the rush of adrenaline surging through your veins.

When the fire finally dissipated, you narrowed your eyes at the fallen hero, now on the ground, clearly shaken and too stunned to get back up immediately. A soft snarl escaped your lips as you watched him struggle, but the battle was over. It had been decided.

You spread your wings wide, catching the wind beneath them with a great flap, sending a gust of air rushing through the training grounds. The force was enough to make the earth tremble, and in an instant, you shot into the sky, leaving the ground far behind.

You were flying high, the battle won. All Might and the others were left below, staring up at the dragon who had taken control. The sound of your powerful wings was all that remained, echoing across the field as you soared toward victory.

You'd won, but it was more than that. It was a statement.

And you would never be underestimated again.