✅ CHAPTER 10 — "The Watch's Secret"
The dorm was quiet.
Devon sat stiff, hands folded on his knees, as All Might—tired, serious, but imposing—entered. The aura of authority made Devon straighten up immediately.
"All Might… sir," Devon said, voice barely above a whisper.
All Might sat on the edge of the bed opposite him, a gravity in his posture Devon had never seen before. No smile. No booming voice. Just eyes sharp enough to pierce through his thoughts.
"Devon Jackson," All Might began slowly, "what happened at the USJ today… was extraordinary. But I need to know something."
Devon swallowed. "Yes… sir?"
All Might leaned forward. "That power—the shadows… it's not like any Quirk I've seen. Tell me how it works."
Devon froze. He wanted to lie. To say he just used the shoes, that they were nothing special. But he couldn't. The truth was… too dangerous.
"It's… not just me," he admitted quietly. "The shoes… they're alive. There's… a spirit inside them. It's like it has its own mind. It wants me to fight. Wants me to—" He stopped, shuddering.
All Might nodded slowly, unsurprised. "I see. And you resisted… most of the time?"
Devon nodded. "I think. But I… I don't know how long I can hold it back. It feeds on fear."
All Might's expression hardened. "Then you must understand, Devon, that fear is a weapon, and the moment it overwhelms you… that power becomes a threat not just to villains—but to your friends, to everyone around you."
Devon clenched his fists. "I know, sir. That's why I'm careful. That's why I haven't used it since the USJ battle."
All Might leaned back, eyes distant, as if recalling something long buried. "These shoes… are not ordinary support items. The watch, the Jordans, the power inside—they are part of an old U.A. experiment. Designed to bond with one user at a time, to channel abilities from previous heroes. But the Shadow Form… is… unstable."
Devon's stomach sank. "Unstable? How unstable?"
All Might looked him dead in the eye. "It can amplify fear. That amplification can lead to chaos. Some previous holders… didn't survive the bond."
Devon's heart skipped a beat. "Didn't survive…"
"Yes," All Might said, voice tight. "That is why you must be careful. You are not just a hero in training, Devon. You are a guardian of a power that could destroy more than villains—it could destroy you."
The weight of it pressed down on Devon. He clenched his watch, feeling the cool metal against his skin.
"Sir… the watch… it just pulsed once after the battle. It hasn't done anything since," he said.
All Might nodded. "That pulse… was the spirit checking you. It is aware of your choices, your hesitation, your fear. That hesitation is both a shield and a danger. You must learn to befriend it, not just resist it."
Devon's jaw tightened. "Befriend it? After everything it did at the USJ?"
All Might's eyes softened slightly. "Yes. Because one day, Devon, you may not have a choice. A time will come when only that power can save lives. And if you cannot control it, lives will be lost—including yours."
The dorm room felt smaller. Devon's chest ached. He looked down at the watch. The faint shimmer of violet still lingered in his memory.
"I… I don't know if I'm ready," he whispered.
All Might placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "You are stronger than you realize. Stronger than the Shadow. But strength alone is not enough. Courage, trust, understanding… that is what will allow you to control it. And you will need it sooner than you think."
A silence fell. Devon's mind raced, images of the USJ—Shigaraki, the Nomu, the fear, the shadows—flashing before him.
Then, faintly… the watch on his wrist pulsed again.
Not violent. Not demanding. But alive. Waiting.
Devon swallowed hard.
"All right," he whispered. "I'll learn… how to control it."
All Might nodded. "Good. But you will need guidance. I will not be able to watch over you every time it stirs. Seek help wisely. And Devon…"
"Yes, sir?"
"You are not alone in this. Remember that. The power chooses you—but it does not define you."
Devon closed his eyes, feeling the weight of responsibility settle over him. The shadow spirit inside the shoes waited, patient, silent… but alive.
And for the first time since the USJ, Devon felt the tiniest spark of determination.
He would not let it control him.
He would not become a weapon of fear.
He would become a hero.
And the shadow watched.
Waiting.