Kapitel 108: Chapter 107: Big Crisis! Tetsutetsu!

Thirty minutes sounds short, but if you convert it to 1,800,000 milliseconds, it starts to feel even shorter. Well, in reality, it's barely enough time to grab a quick drink or use the restroom. During the break, Kaminari didn't really chat with Kyoka, Momo, or the others. His mood had soured after the encounter with Endeavor, and he was still processing the interaction.

The more he thought about it, the more he grudgingly acknowledged that Endeavor's words had a point. In a world where superpowers were tied to physical attributes, there might not be a clear "hierarchy" like in fantasy novels, but everyone knew that some Quirks started out stronger than others. A child born with a flame that could incinerate buildings was, in pure potential, a step ahead of someone with a weaker fire-based Quirk.

It was a reality that stung. No matter how much he trained, he couldn't ignore the advantage that Todoroki's heritage gave him. And Endeavor's words only served to highlight that difference.

But knowing this didn't make it any less infuriating. Kaminari wasn't one to back down just because of someone else's "noble lineage." If anything, it pushed him to fight harder.

"Kaminari?"

He was jolted out of his thoughts by Kyoka nudging him. "The match is starting," she said, pointing down at the arena.

He looked over the railing just in time to see Tetsutetsu and Bakugo facing each other. Tetsutetsu stood with a calm expression, though there was a flicker of tension in his eyes.

Kaminari narrowed his eyes. Facing Bakugo's relentless aggression, Tetsutetsu's judo skills wouldn't be much help here. So, what's your plan, Tetsutetsu?

As Present Mic's voice boomed, the match began.

"Start!"

With the shout of "Start!", Bakugo immediately sprang forward, launching himself toward Tetsutetsu like a beast unleashed, his palms crackling with explosive force.

Tetsutetsu didn't say a word in response. He hardened his body, his skin turning to steel, and met Bakugo's charge head-on. All of his focus was trained on his opponent.

What followed was an intense exchange in the middle of the arena. Tetsutetsu, completely abandoning the judo he'd trained in, relied solely on his strength. He swung his iron-clad legs with brutal force, each kick backed by raw power. Bakugo, meanwhile, used smaller explosions to deflect or dodge Tetsutetsu's strikes, but he was clearly struggling against Tetsutetsu's iron defenses.

"Boom!"

Each clash sent shockwaves through the stadium. Tetsutetsu's kicks were powerful enough to make Bakugo backpedal, each impact ringing out as metal met force.

Bakugo's usual explosions aren't enough to get through Tetsutetsu's iron defense, Kaminari realized, watching the battle unfold. In terms of sheer physical power, Tetsutetsu's leg strength is formidable.

Bakugo was starting to realize this as well. Every time he tried to get close, Tetsutetsu would swing his legs with enough power to force him back. Bakugo's explosions were leaving superficial damage at best, but they weren't stopping his opponent.

"Looks like I'll need something bigger if I want to bring him down!" Bakugo thought, his mind already working out his next move.

Without warning, Bakugo fired an explosion behind himself, launching into the air above Tetsutetsu.

Tetsutetsu's eyes widened in shock as he looked up.

"Die, you iron bastard!" Bakugo shouted, his expression twisted with intensity. He raised both hands, palms facing down toward Tetsutetsu.

The audience collectively held their breath as Bakugo brought his hands together, readying his signature move.

"Flashbang!"

In a blinding flash of light, Bakugo's combined explosions created a flare that momentarily turned the entire arena white. Tetsutetsu's vision was overwhelmed, and he instinctively staggered, momentarily blinded.

"Perfect," Bakugo muttered, dropping down toward his opponent with a cruel grin. "Now take this—"

Bakugo's palms, now inches from Tetsutetsu, sparked with an intense charge, prepared for a devastating explosion.

"Kaminari!!!" Kyoka exclaimed, noticing Kaminari's stricken expression as he realized what was about to happen.

"That move…" Kaminari stood abruptly, dread creeping up his spine. "If that connects…"

From his spot against the wall, Todoroki's eyes narrowed as well. "If Bakugo lands that, Tetsutetsu could be seriously hurt," he muttered, concern flashing across his face.

Present Mic's voice was panicked. "Bakugo, don't—! Stop him!"

But before the teachers could react, Bakugo's Howitzer Impact had already fired.

"HOWITZER IMPACT!"

A thunderous explosion engulfed the area, sending a massive shockwave throughout the stadium. Debris and smoke filled the air, obscuring everything from view.

Kaminari watched with clenched fists, his mind racing. With the Flashbang, Tetsutetsu wouldn't have been able to see or react in time… Did he get caught in that blast?

The crowd was silent, holding their breath as the smoke began to clear, slowly revealing the aftermath of Bakugo's attack.

But as the last remnants of smoke faded, what they saw left everyone in stunned disbelief.

There, standing amidst the rubble, was Tetsutetsu—completely unharmed. Somehow, he'd managed to avoid the brunt of the attack, standing in a different spot from where he had been just moments before. Bakugo, meanwhile, was on the ground, panting heavily, his arms trembling from the effort.

"H-How?" Bakugo muttered, staring at Tetsutetsu in shock.

The teachers, too, were dumbfounded. Cementoss, Midnight, and Vlad King stood frozen, unable to comprehend what they were seeing.

"How did he dodge that?" Present Mic yelled, disbelief clear in his voice.

Even Aizawa was taken aback, squinting down at Tetsutetsu. "What… happened?"

Kaminari, however, had an idea. A bold, impossible thought crossed his mind, but he couldn't shake it. "Could he have…?"

***

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Kapitel 109: Chapter 108: The Big Dark Horse

"Hey, you... how did you dodge that?!"

Bakugo stared in shock at Tetsutetsu, who had somehow managed to move from directly in front of him to the left sideline. Caught up in trying to figure out how his opponent had escaped, he momentarily forgot about the intense pain in his arms.

"Heh."

Tetsutetsu gave a small, smug grin, but he wasn't going to explain. No one noticed that his right leg was trembling slightly. The technique he'd just used would have seriously injured anyone else if they hadn't trained for it.

In truth, he hadn't fully mastered this move. It was something he'd pulled off on instinct, more of a "lucky escape" than a fully controlled technique. To put it bluntly, he'd used it like a makeshift teleport.

Yes, he'd somehow managed to utilize the Marine-style technique "Shave," but barely. He'd been fortunate to dodge the blast radius of Bakugo's Howitzer Impact, and he knew it.

"Bakugo," Tetsutetsu said as he took a step closer, "after using that huge explosion, your Quirk probably needs a moment to recover!"

He continued to approach Bakugo, voice steady, "If you admit defeat now, at least you'll lose with a little dignity."

"Hahahahaha!"

Bakugo's arms trembled, but he grinned through the pain, his eyes filled with defiance. "You really think you've won, don't you? Ironhead?!"

"Listen up, I might not be able to use my Quirk right now, but I'm not done!"

Bakugo's voice was fierce, filled with an intense resolve. "If you want to beat me, you'll have to work for it, you steel bastard!"

Tetsutetsu wasn't surprised by Bakugo's answer. After all, he knew this guy's stubbornness.

"In that case, I'm not holding back."

He took a step forward, determination burning in his eyes. "I want to reach Kaminari in the finals..."

With that, Tetsutetsu, his body hardened into steel once again, surged forward. This time, he went in with his hands instead of his legs.

Bakugo didn't retreat. He could have bought time to recover his Quirk, but that wasn't his style. He wanted to win, but more than that, he wanted to win on his terms. Running away wasn't an option.

So, Bakugo braced himself, his sharp gaze fixed on Tetsutetsu's movements, analyzing every shift in stance. Without his explosions, he'd have to rely entirely on his reflexes.

"Whoosh!"

"Wham!"

Tetsutetsu's fists came swinging in heavy arcs, but Bakugo's agility allowed him to dodge each strike with almost unnatural precision. He ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding the onslaught of punches and kicks. His raw instincts were on full display, showcasing the kind of fighting talent that set him apart.

Despite the intense pressure from Tetsutetsu's attacks, Bakugo was managing to hold his ground, frustrating his opponent with each missed strike. Every time Tetsutetsu threw a powerful punch, Bakugo sidestepped it. When Tetsutetsu went for a kick, Bakugo leaned back just far enough to avoid getting hit.

The professional heroes in the audience watched with wide eyes. Bakugo's erratic, yet precise, dodges were a sight to behold, displaying an almost feral sense of survival.

"Is this kid... a genius or something?" one pro hero muttered in awe.

But just when Bakugo was getting used to the rhythm, Tetsutetsu did something unexpected.

"Boom!"

This time, instead of throwing another punch or kick, Tetsutetsu stomped hard on the ground, sending a spray of loose cement rocks flying like shrapnel. The debris, remnants from Bakugo's earlier explosions, hurtled towards him with alarming speed.

Caught off guard, Bakugo couldn't dodge all of it. Several pieces of jagged cement struck him, causing him to stumble. The pain forced a groan from his lips, and his movements faltered.

"Gotcha!" Tetsutetsu growled, seizing his chance.

In one swift move, Tetsutetsu closed the distance, grabbed Bakugo, and used his judo training to lift him into the air. Without a moment's hesitation, he hurled Bakugo towards the edge of the arena, aiming to throw him out.

The battle had reached its peak.

"LET GO, YOU BASTARD!"

As Bakugo was airborne, he managed to free one arm. Summoning the last reserves of his strength, he fired off an explosion at Tetsutetsu's head.

"BOOM!"

Both fighters went crashing down, engulfed in a cloud of smoke and dust. The dull thud of a heavy impact followed, echoing across the silent stadium.

As the smoke cleared, everyone held their breath.

Tetsutetsu was standing.

Bakugo was sprawled on the ground… just outside the boundary line.

"Tetsutetsu wins by ring-out!"

Midnight, the referee, raised her voice to announce the result, flicking her whip dramatically as she declared, "Bakugo Katsuki is out! Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu advances to the finals!"

Tetsutetsu, still standing at the edge of the ring, looked down at Bakugo, who was glaring up at him with a mixture of anger and disbelief.

"Bakugo," Tetsutetsu said calmly, "I'm just following my own path… a promise I made to myself."

He then turned and looked up toward the Class 1-A section, where Kaminari was standing, a faint smile on his face.

"Kaminari… see you in the finals."

As Tetsutetsu walked away, the crowd finally erupted, cheering wildly. The entire stadium was electrified, stunned by the unexpected result.

"I never thought Bakugo would actually lose!!"

"Yeah, I thought he was a shoo-in for the finals! I mean, with his attitude and strength, he seemed unstoppable!"

"What's the name of that steel guy again? Tetsutetsu, right? Total dark horse!"

Meanwhile, in the Class 1-A stands, his classmates were equally shocked.

"I... I can't believe it…" Mineta stammered. "Bakugo actually lost?"

Ashido's mouth hung open. "Tetsutetsu… he just… he just became a total dark horse in this competition!"

Even Midoriya was struggling to process what he'd seen. "K-Kacchan… he… he lost… to Tetsutetsu?"

Todoroki, who'd been watching from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes. Even he hadn't expected Bakugo to lose.

But Kaminari wasn't particularly surprised. He'd seen something change in Tetsutetsu recently, a calm confidence and a determination that had taken his skills to another level.

Looks like Tetsutetsu's been holding back more than I thought, Kaminari thought, a faint smile crossing his lips. He began to piece together a theory, remembering a few hints he'd picked up on.

If he's mastered 'Shave,' then his combat style is on a different level now. An opponent who combines iron defense, raw strength, and speed? Yeah, that's gonna be tough.

He couldn't help but chuckle to himself, already thinking of ways he might have to adapt for their final showdown.

***

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