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Shinso couldn’t wrap his mind around anything that was happening. At this point, he was just doing his best to focus on what was in front of him and keep going. The fight had been going on for days, but his mind was struggling to keep up with everything. With a quirk like mind control, he had much more of a mental struggle throughout the battles – having to focus on who he was controlling and think of what he was going to have them do on the fly while also having to figure out how to make more people talk to him was incredibly mentally draining.
Everything was getting hazy. Shinso’s eyes struggling to focus on anything before him – the dust in the building was overwhelming and his eyes were straining just from being open for so long. With the fighting happening, he was almost scared to blink; worried about what would happen if he did.
But in this room, everything seemed to fade away. The concrete walls stood firm (for now), creating an eerily quiet area in the midst of the battle. Everything was muffled, as if the fight was occurring miles away from here, yet it was just beyond a wall.
Or, Shinso thinks, Maybe it’s just my hearing going out.
As cathartic as this was, it was letting the adrenaline ease from his body – allowing the injuries and aches to truly settle into Shinso’s body. The pain blossomed from his ribs, seeping across his side; the way his joints ached with each step. Pressure in his feet continued to build, feeling like they were going to burst with each step. He felt something building in his mouth and turned, spitting onto the cold floors; it was a deep crimson, making his heart sink in his chest.
How long had I been going? He truly didn’t know, but he knew one thing for certain: it was becoming too much. Even with all the training he had done over the years – all throughout school, all leading up to him becoming a Pro Hero, all leading up to this – it wasn’t enough, it was going to unravel him from inside.
Time seemed to slow – the universe stopping for this pause, for this breath.
Then, something… shifted.
It was a soft sound, one of a mere step across the floor, echoing around the concrete room.
But it wasn’t from Shinso.
His blood ran cold, eyes darting around, fighting off the black spots that were threatening, taking his vision from him as he searched for the source of the sound. Doing his best to pull himself together, he steeled himself, begging any force above to force adrenaline through his veins once more – without it, he doubted he’d be able to get through this fight.
When Shinso’s gaze finally found the culprit, all of his thoughts stopped.
Before him stood a Noumu – size towering over him.
Shinso doubted his quirk would be functional with how strained he already was, much less effective with overpowering something like a Noumu.
Slowly, his hands tightened around his capture scarf; Shinso remembered these things, and remembered how much people struggled to defeat them. Purple eyes darted around the room, searching for a way to get out – piecing together a plan in the few moments he had before the Noumu found him. He needed to move the fight out of the building, a way to be visible to other Pro Heroes who could lend him a hand – someone whose quirk was a better fit for this battle.
Just as he wished, he was blessed with the cruel serene wash of adrenaline going through his body which coated his pain in a veil of chills.
Then the Noumu spotted him.
Shinso quickly spun on his heel, making a dash for the door – using his capture scarf to navigate the furniture by allowing him to swing from the overhead lights.
The Noumu’s steps were heavy, each one sending vibrations through the floor as it caught up to him.
All Shinso let himself think about was getting to that door.
Suddenly, the building was met with an impact outside -- the entire thing shifting with an eerie creak. Dust fell from the ceiling as the walls shuddered, the interior walls threatening to give way as they swayed.
Then, something shot through the ceiling – a person, perhaps? Or maybe a piece of concrete. Shinso couldn’t really tell – all he knew is it tore his chance away from him, leaving him in shock with no backup plans; he felt like a kid again – like someone stole his candy from his very hands.
“Shit.” his voice barely got it out, but it was the concept of the word, of the expression as he quickly swung back and over the head of the Noumu. Shinso tried to reassess the situation – to find another way out as blood seeped from his lips.
Without any care, he brought his sleeve up, wiping it away and prepared himself for the physical alteration that followed.
He used the capture scarf in turn with his physical strength – pulling the Noumu into his swings to increase the force. If he could just get it down, then he could get the chance to piece it together – get a chance to escape without more injuries at a minimum.
“You thought you could get away?” The Noumu spoke, voice sounding practically hysterical and scratchy.
But that’s all he needed.
Before Shinso even realized what he was doing, he activated his quick, having the Noumu run full force into the wall repeatedly. It was resisting, putting up such a fight that his head seared with pain. Shinso was gasping, but kept his eyes closed – fingers pressing into his temples in desperation until the Noumu’s thoughts gave in – making Shinso release his quirk instantly.
The purple-haired man watched, heaving as the Noumu’s body fell to the floor, unconscious.
And with one gasp of breath, blood pooling on the corner of his lip, slowly seeping out and down his chin, Shinso’s vision finally went black. His legs gave way underneath him, causing him to collapse onto the floor – a layer of dust scattering around him at the impact.