The Wraith Within (On Hold Indefinitely)

The sun had begun to set, casting a golden hue over the city as Izumi walked home from school. The weight of her backpack pressed against her shoulders, but her thoughts were far from the mundane events of the day. Her mind raced with plans for the upcoming months—training, refining her abilities, and preparing for the UA Entrance Exam. She couldn’t afford to slip up. Her dream of becoming a hero was within reach, but there was still so much to prove, to herself and to the world.

As she passed a narrow alleyway on her usual route home, Izumi felt a strange sense of unease settle over her. The air grew heavy, the sounds of the city fading into an eerie silence. She paused for a moment, instinctively glancing around.

Something’s not right.

That’s when she heard it—a muffled scream, followed by the unmistakable sound of a struggle. Her heart skipped a beat, and before she could think, her body reacted. She moved with blinding speed, warping toward the sound of the commotion without a second thought.

She arrived in the alley just as a figure was thrown against the wall with a sickening crash. The sight that greeted her made her stomach churn—a giant, writhing mass of sludge, its limbs composed of black goo that dripped and sloshed with every movement. The villain—no doubt the infamous Sludge Villain—was hunched over a struggling man.

Izumi’s eyes flicked to the man. It was obvious from the bright, vibrant blue suit that this was no ordinary person. This was All Might, the symbol of peace himself, struggling to maintain his composure as the villain’s slime began to seep into his body, threatening to overwhelm him.

Her breath caught in her throat. The man she had idolized since childhood was in danger. But it wasn’t just that. There was something more—something in her that stirred at the sight of a hero being attacked. She could feel it, the same drive that had pushed her to train harder, to become stronger. All Might needed help, and Izumi knew she was the only one nearby who could do anything about it.

I can’t let him fall.

Her purple eyes blazed with resolve.

In an instant, Izumi warped forward, her ghostly form flickering in and out of sight as she launched herself at the Sludge Villain. She moved so fast that she was a blur, appearing from behind the creature and slashing at the gooey mass with her razor-sharp arms. The force of the strike caused a small burst of black slime to splatter against the alley walls, but the villain only let out a low, guttural growl, unfazed by her assault.

All Might, though still struggling, turned his head toward the sudden interruption. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw the slender, ghostly figure standing in front of the sludge monster, her glowing purple eyes locked onto him.

“Who…?” All Might began, his voice weak but still carrying a sense of command.

Izumi didn’t answer. She had no time for introductions. With another warp, she appeared beside the villain, slashing with both of her scythe-like arms. The attack landed with a sharp hiss, cutting through the slime but failing to fully disarm the villain.

“Damn you, girl!” the Sludge Villain hissed, its voice dripping with malice. “You’re gonna regret that!”

Without warning, the villain sent a massive wave of sludge forward, trying to engulf Izumi in its sticky mass. She dodged in a flash, but the wave hit the ground near her, causing the surrounding area to erupt in goo. Izumi’s tentacle-like legs shot forward, allowing her to leap into the air, narrowly avoiding the wave.

But as she landed, something caught her attention—something much more disturbing.

A familiar figure, struggling and choking, was emerging from the sludge. Izumi’s heart sank as she realized who it was.