Capítulo 46: [46] Apex
{A/N: In a good mood so here is another chapter! Thanks for all the support!}
(Unknown Location)
In a dim, secluded alley, the metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air. A pro hero lay crumpled on the ground, his once vibrant costume now stained a dark, sickening red. His shallow breaths came in ragged gasps, each one a struggle against the crushing weight of his injuries.
A figure loomed over him, their face shrouded in shadow. They surveyed the fallen hero with a mix of disdain and disgust, a sneer twisting their lips.
"You call yourself a hero?" the figure scoffed, their voice dripping with contempt. "You're nothing but a pretender, a false idol."
The hero tried to respond, but all that came out was a gurgling cough, blood bubbling from his lips.
The figure crouched down, bringing their face closer to the hero's. In the faint light, their eyes gleamed with a fanatic intensity.
"There's only one true hero," they hissed. "Only one worthy of the title. All Might."
They stood, their gaze distant, as if seeing something beyond the confines of the alley.
"He's the symbol, the pinnacle," they whispered, the name almost reverent on their tongue. "The only one strong enough, righteous enough, to be called a hero."
A harsh laugh tore from their throat, the sound echoing off the narrow walls.
"And he's the only one worthy of taking me down," they declared, their voice rising with a fevered intensity. "The only one I'll allow to stop me, to end me."
They looked back down at the hero, their expression twisting into something ugly, something cruel.
"But you?" they sneered. "You're just a message. A warning to the world that their false heroes are nothing, that their faith is misplaced."
They reached behind their back, their hand grasping the hilt of a wicked-looking blade.
"Let's see how society reacts when they find their heroes bleeding in the gutters."
The hero's eyes widened, fear and desperation mingling in his gaze.
But before the figure could draw their blade, the distant wail of police sirens cut through the air. They froze, their head snapping towards the sound.
"Tch," they spat, annoyance flashing across their features. "Out of time."
They looked back at the hero, a cold smile spreading across their lips.
"Looks like you get to live another day, 'hero'."
With a swirl of their tattered cloak, the figure vanished into the shadows, leaving the hero bleeding and broken in the empty alley.
The sirens grew louder, closer, but the hero's vision was already fading, the world turning gray at the edges.
As he slipped into unconsciousness, a single thought echoed through his mind, a desperate, terrified plea.
Tenya... I'm sorry.
(Izuku Midoriya's POV)
I stood in the entrance tunnel, breathing in and out. The roar of the crowd was a distant thunder, muffled by the thick concrete walls.
This was it. The final match. The one that would begin the dawn of a new era.
"ALRIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" he shouted, his voice filled with manic energy. "ARE YOU READY FOR THE MATCH OF THE CENTURY?"
The crowd roared in response, the sound shaking the very foundations of the stadium.
"THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR!" Present Mic crowed. "BECAUSE HAVE WE GOT A TREAT FOR YOU TODAY!"
I could almost see him, leaning forward in his announcer's booth, his grin stretching from ear to ear.
"IN THE RED CORNER, WE HAVE THE EXPLOSIVE POWERHOUSE, THE HUMAN DYNAMO, THE ONE AND ONLY... KATSUKI BAKUGO!"
The crowd went wild, their cheers and stomps merging into a deafening cacophony.
"AND IN THE BLUE CORNER," Present Mic continued, "WE HAVE THE RISING STAR, THE FAN FAVORITE, THE EMBODIMENT OF 'PLUS ULTRA' HIMSELF... IZUKU MIDORIYA!"
If possible, the noise from the stands grew even louder. I could feel it in my bones, a physical force that threatened to sweep me away.
"NOW, FOLKS, WHAT MAKES THIS MATCH SO SPECIAL, YOU ASK? WELL, LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY."
I blinked. What was Present Mic doing?
"YOU SEE, THESE TWO YOUNG HEROES-IN-TRAINING AREN'T JUST RIVALS. THEY'RE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS, FOLKS. THAT'S RIGHT, THEY'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER SINCE THEY WERE KNEE-HIGH TO A GRASSHOPPER."
Huh? How the hell did Present Mic know about that?
"NOW, HERE THEY ARE, ON THE BIGGEST STAGE OF THEM ALL, READY TO PROVE ONCE AND FOR ALL WHO'S THE TOP DOG. BUT HERE'S THE THING, FOLKS. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT WINNING OR LOSING. FOR THESE TWO, THIS FIGHT IS PERSONAL. IT'S ABOUT PRIDE, ABOUT HONOR, ABOUT SHOWING THE WORLD WHAT THEY'RE MADE OF."
"SO GET READY, LADIES AND GENTS. BECAUSE WHEN THESE TWO TITANS COLLIDE, IT'S GONNA BE A BATTLE FOR THE AGES. A CLASH OF WILLS, A TEST OF STRENGTH AND SPIRIT. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! MIDORIYA! BAKUGO! TAKE YOUR PLACES!"
I stepped out into the sunlight, the roar of the crowd washing over me. Across the arena, I saw Bakugo emerge from his own tunnel, his face set in a determined scowl.
"READY? START!"
I barely had time to register Present Mic's words before Kacchan made his move. A massive explosion rocked the arena, the heat searing my skin even from a distance. The crowd gasped, some shielding their faces from the intensity.
But I was ready. As the blast approached, I channeled One For All, feeling its power surge through my body. I leapt, soaring over the scorching wave.
"A powerful start from Bakugo, but Midoriya saw it coming," Mr. Aizawa's calm analysis filtered through the speakers, a stark contrast to Present Mic's excited shouts.
I landed smoothly, my body moving with a fluidity that still surprised me sometimes. Kacchan's eyes narrowed, a hint of grudging respect in his gaze.
"Not bad, Deku," he growled. "But don't think you can dodge forever!"
He lunged forward, palms sparking. I met him halfway, my fist cocked back. We clashed in a furious exchange of blows, each impact sending shockwaves through the arena.
Kacchan's fist grazed my cheek, and I tasted blood. But I didn't falter, countering with a kick that sent him skidding back.
He's gotten stronger, but so have I.
I took a deep breath, centering myself. One For All responded, its energy flowing through me like lightning. My senses sharpened, the world around me slowing down.
Kacchan charged again, his palms crackling with barely contained explosions. I sidestepped his first blast, feeling the heat singe my hair. My fist shot out, catching him in the stomach. He grunted, eyes widening in surprise.
"Don't get cocky, you bastard!" he snarled, recovering quickly. His hands came together, and I knew what was coming.
"STUN GRENADE!"
The blinding flash erupted from Kacchan's palms. I closed my eyes just in time, relying on my heightened senses to guide me. I ducked and rolled, feeling the heat of an explosion pass over me.
"Nice dodge, Deku," Kacchan's voice came from my left. "But how long can you keep this up?"
I opened my eyes, blinking away the afterimages. Kacchan stood a few meters away, his chest heaving.
"As long as it takes," I replied. "I'm not gonna let my rival surpass me, Kacchan."
"Prove it then," he growled.
We charged at each other again, the ground cracking beneath our feet. My fist met his palm, and the resulting explosion sent us both flying back. I skidded to a stop at the edge of the ring, my heart pounding.
As we continued to trade blows, I saw it. The tiniest flaw in Kacchan's form as he unleashed another massive explosion. His right foot shifted just a fraction too far, throwing off his balance.
I launched forward, my fist connecting with Kacchan's chest. The impact sent shockwaves through the arena.
Kacchan flew backward, his eyes wide. He twisted mid-air, hands exploding to slow his momentum. The edge of the ring loomed behind him, but a final blast kept him in bounds.
Kacchan staggered to his feet, one arm wrapped around his ribs. His breath came in ragged gasps, but his eyes still burned with that familiar intensity.
We clashed again, all pretense of holding back forgotten. Every punch, every kick, every explosion was aimed to end the fight. The concrete cracked beneath our feet as we traded blows.
Suddenly, Kacchan rocketed upward, propelled by his explosions. I knew what this meant. One final attack. Everything on the line.
I grinned up at Kacchan. "COME ON, KACCHAN! LET'S FINISH THIS LIKE WE STARTED IT - WITH A BANG!"
I crouched low, channeling every ounce of power I could muster. One For All raged through me, hotter than I'd ever felt it. My muscles screamed in protest, but I pushed past the pain.
"RAIJIN!" I yelled, launching myself skyward.
Above me, Kacchan's hands glowed with an intensity I'd never seen before. "HOWITZER IMPACT!"
We collided in a maelstrom of fire and force. The shockwave shattered Cementoss's barriers like glass. For a moment, everything went white.
Then, as suddenly as it began, it was over.
Silence fell over the arena like a heavy blanket. The dust slowly began to settle, revealing the devastation our clash had wrought. Craters pockmarked the ground, debris scattered everywhere.
I blinked, my vision clearing. My legs trembled, threatening to give out, but I forced myself to stand tall. My UA gym shirt was gone, shredded by the blast. Blood trickled from a dozen cuts across my body, but I barely felt the pain.
At my feet lay Bakugo, his chest heaving with ragged breaths. His eyes fluttered, struggling to stay open.
The silence shattered.
"IT'S OVER!" Present Mic's voice boomed, somehow cutting through the cacophony. "IN A BATTLE FOR THE AGES, IZUKU MIDORIYA STANDS VICTORIOUS!"
I turned to the nearest camera, giving it my best smile. Then, almost on instinct, I struck a pose. Face down, right arm raised to the sky, fist clenched tight.
All Might's pose.
The crowd, if possible, got even louder. Their cheers reverberated through my bones, a tangible force of approval and excitement.
I looked down at Bakugo, still lying motionless at my feet.
"You okay, Kacchan?" I asked, my voice hoarse.
His eyes cracked open, that familiar scowl etching itself across his face. "This... isn't over."
I chuckled, wincing as the motion sent pain lancing through my ribs. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
I offered him my hand. For a long moment, he just stared at it, his expression unreadable. Then, with a grunt of effort, he reached up and grasped it.
I helped Bakugo to his feet, feeling the weight of his arm across my shoulders. The roar of the crowd washed over us, but I barely heard it. My mind was already racing, analyzing every moment of our fight, cataloging strengths and weaknesses - both his and mine.
This victory wasn't just about proving myself stronger than Kacchan. It was about positioning, about image. The cameras had caught every moment - my power, my sportsmanship, my homage to All Might. Each element carefully calculated to build the persona I needed.
The crowd's cheers shifted, becoming something warmer, more approving. They weren't just celebrating a victor; they were embracing a narrative. The childhood friends turned rivals, pushing each other to greater heights. It was perfect.
I glanced at Bakugo from the corner of my eye. "You've gotten stronger," he muttered, almost reluctantly.
"So have you," I replied, keeping my tone light. "That last explosion... I thought you had me for a second there."
It wasn't entirely a lie. Bakugo's power was impressive, and in another world, it might have been enough. But I had planned for this moment, trained for it. My victory was never really in doubt.
As we neared the tunnel, I saw the medical team rushing towards us. Recovery Girl would be waiting, no doubt ready to scold us both for our recklessness. I suppressed a sigh. Her quirk was invaluable, but the lectures were getting old.
I closed my eyes, letting the exhaustion finally hit me. There would be time for planning later. For now, I had earned this moment of triumph. The first of many, if everything went according to plan.
And with me at the helm, how could it not?
{Inko Midoriya's POV}
I clutched the edge of my seat, my heart racing as I watched Izuku and Katsuki's fierce battle unfold on the arena floor.
"Look at my Katsuki go!" Mitsuki crowed beside me, her voice carrying over the roar of the crowd. "He's gonna blast your boy right out of the ring, Inko!"
I took a deep breath, willing my nerves to settle. "Oh, I wouldn't count Izuku out just yet. He's got a few tricks up his sleeve, you know."
As if hearing my words, Izuku gracefully sidestepped one of Katsuki's explosions, retaliating with a powerful kick that sent the blonde skidding back.
"Ha!" I couldn't help the triumphant grin that spread across my face. "See? My Izuku's not going down without a fight!"
Mitsuki snorted, elbowing me playfully. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Inko. Katsuki's just getting warmed up!"
We watched, transfixed, as our sons clashed again and again. Each thunderous impact made me flinch, but I couldn't look away. This was the culmination of years of dreams and hard work.
"They've both grown so much," I murmured, a bittersweet ache in my chest.
Mitsuki nodded, her usual brash demeanor softening for a moment. "Yeah, they have. Remember when they used to run around the neighborhood, pretending to be pro heroes?"
I chuckled, the memories bittersweet. "How could I forget? They would always fight about who got to be All Might."
"And now look at them," Mitsuki said. "Two of UA's rising stars, duking it out in the Sports Festival finals. Who'd have thought, huh?"
As we watched, Izuku and Katsuki launched into a final, earth-shattering clash. The force of their collision sent shockwaves through the stadium, kicking up a cloud of dust and debris.
"Come on, Izuku," I whispered, my hands clasped tightly. "You've got this, sweetie."
When the dust settled, my heart soared. There stood Izuku, battered but unbowed, with Katsuki sprawled at his feet.
"YES!" I leapt to my feet, my voice joining the thunderous roar of the crowd. "That's my boy!"
Mitsuki stood beside me, her expression a mix of pride and disappointment. "Well, I'll be damned. Your kid actually did it, Inko."
I turned to her, grinning. "He sure did. But Katsuki gave him one hell of a fight."
Mitsuki nodded, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, he did. Those two... they really bring out the best in each other, don't they?"
"They always have," I agreed, watching as Izuku helped Katsuki to his feet. The sight of them supporting each other off the field made my heart swell with affection for both boys.
Mitsuki turned to me. "What do you say we go fuss over our young heroes, Inko? Win or lose, I bet they could use some TLC right about now."
I smiled back, linking my arm through hers. "I think that's a grand idea, Mitsuki."
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