Episode 2: The Brutal Bond

The sun had not yet risen when Bakugou Katsuki arrived at the deserted beach, his breath visible in the pre-dawn chill. He stretched his arms, feeling the soreness from the previous day's training session. It had been grueling, but he thrived on the challenge. Nearby, the Beheaded waited silently, his katana gleaming faintly in the dim light. Bakugou nodded, a silent signal that he was ready to begin.

For the past month, their days had started this way, each session blending into the next in a relentless cycle of sparring, physical training, and honing combat techniques. Bakugou had quickly learned that the Beheaded was a warrior who knew only one way to train: brutally. This suited Bakugou just fine. His own explosive personality and drive to be the best meshed perfectly with the Beheaded's relentless approach.

Their training sessions were divided into three main parts, each one pushing Bakugou to his limits and beyond.

Morning: Sparring

As the first light of dawn began to crest over the horizon, Bakugou and the Beheaded faced each other, weapons at the ready. The Beheaded's movements were swift and precise, his katana a blur as it launched into a series of attacks. Bakugou met each strike with explosive force, his palms igniting with blasts that countered the blade's deadly arc.

Despite his strength and agility, Bakugou found himself constantly pushed to adapt. The Beheaded's fighting style was unlike anything he had faced before. It combined fluidity with sheer, unrelenting power, forcing Bakugou to think on his feet and use his Quirk in new, innovative ways.

One morning, as they sparred, Bakugou found himself on the defensive, the Beheaded's katana slicing through the air with terrifying speed. He narrowly avoided a blow aimed at his head, retaliating with a blast that sent sand flying into the air. The Beheaded, unfazed, continued its assault, forcing Bakugou to dig deep into his reserves of strength and strategy.

As the session drew to a close, both combatants were breathing heavily, sweat glistening on their bodies. The Beheaded sheathed its katana and gave Bakugou a nod of approval. Bakugou, though exhausted, felt a sense of accomplishment. He was getting stronger, faster, and more skilled with each passing day.

Midday: Physical Training

After a short break, they moved on to the next phase of their training. The Beheaded led Bakugou through a series of grueling physical exercises designed to build endurance, strength, and agility. They ran along the beach, the soft sand providing resistance that made each step a struggle. They lifted heavy stones, climbed steep cliffs, and swam against the powerful currents of the sea.

Bakugou's muscles burned with exertion, but he refused to slow down. The Beheaded was relentless, pushing him harder with each passing day. It demonstrated exercises that tested every part of the body, from core strength to explosive power. They performed countless push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups, often incorporating the environment into their routines. Climbing ropes hung from cliffs, dragging logs through the sand, and carrying boulders up steep inclines became regular parts of their regimen.

One particularly challenging exercise involved the Beheaded throwing heavy stones into the sea, forcing Bakugou to retrieve them as quickly as possible. The cold water sapped his strength, but he pushed through, driven by his desire to prove himself. Each time he emerged from the waves, stone in hand, the Beheaded nodded approvingly.

Evening: Combat Techniques

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the beach, they moved on to the final phase of their training: combat techniques. The Beheaded's knowledge of weaponry and hand-to-hand combat was extensive, and it shared this knowledge with Bakugou through silent demonstrations and physical corrections.

They practiced with various weapons, from swords and staves to more unconventional tools like the dual pan-chucks. Bakugou found the pan-chucks particularly challenging, their fluid movements requiring a level of coordination and precision that tested his patience. But he persisted, driven by the Beheaded's silent encouragement and his own determination to master every aspect of combat.

Hand-to-hand combat was equally rigorous. The Beheaded taught Bakugou a variety of techniques, emphasizing the importance of speed, precision, and adaptability. They practiced throws, strikes, and holds, each session leaving Bakugou bruised but exhilarated.

One evening, as they sparred hand-to-hand, the Beheaded demonstrated a particularly complex series of moves. Bakugou watched closely, then attempted to replicate the sequence. His first attempts were clumsy, but with the Beheaded's patient guidance, he gradually improved. By the end of the session, he had mastered the technique, earning a rare smile from his silent mentor.

One day, after a particularly intense training session, Bakugou sat on the sand, catching his breath. He watched as the Beheaded sheathed its katana and began to pack up their training equipment. An idea struck him. If they were to communicate more effectively, perhaps they needed a better way to convey complex thoughts.

The next day, Bakugou arrived at the beach with a gift: a smartphone. He handed it to the Beheaded, who looked at it curiously. Bakugou showed him how to use it, demonstrating the various functions and explaining how they could use it to communicate.

"This way, you can tell me more about what you're thinking," Bakugou said, his tone gruff but sincere. The Beheaded nodded, taking the smartphone and typing a simple message: "Thank you."

Over the next few weeks, their communication improved dramatically. The Beheaded used the smartphone to convey complex strategies, share its knowledge of combat, and offer encouragement. Bakugou, in turn, began to open up about his own goals and aspirations.

One evening, as they sat by a campfire, Bakugou began to speak. "I want to be the number one hero," he said, staring into the flames. "The best of the best. I want to surpass All Might and prove that I'm the strongest."

The Beheaded listened intently, then typed a message on the smartphone: "I understand. Your determination is your greatest strength. Together, we will make you the best."

Bakugou looked at the message, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah, we will," he said quietly.

Eight months passed in a blur of sweat, sand, and determination. Each day was a new test of Bakugou's limits, and each day he rose to the challenge. The Beheaded's brutal training regimen had transformed him, honing his body and mind into a weapon of unparalleled power.

Their bond grew stronger with each passing day. The Beheaded's silent, unwavering presence provided a steady source of strength and inspiration for Bakugou. In turn, Bakugou's explosive energy and unyielding drive pushed the Beheaded to refine its own techniques and strategies.